'Ganga Vilas' returns to Kashi with 30 foreign tourists: Visitors to stay for 3 nights and 2 days; visit Ka...

Varanasi2 days ago

The indigenous luxury river cruise 'Ganga Vilas', known for undertaking the world's longest river journey, has arrived in Kashi once again. The cruise, which departed from Kolkata, reached Varanasi via Ghazipur.

It is carrying 30 tourists from several countries, including Germany and Switzerland. During their two-day, three-night stay in Kashi, the foreign guests will visit the Baba Vishwanath temple. They will also explore Sarnath's historical heritage and attend the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

The cruise was welcomed in Kashi.

They will travel from the Vishwanath temple to Sarnath

Preparations were made at the multi-modal terminal for the cruise's arrival. Arrangements are being made for the tourists' visit to Kashi. According to Raj Singh, chairman of the cruise operator Heritage River Journey (Antara), the tourists will visit Kashi's major religious and tourist sites. The 17 tourists travelling to Kolkata on the return journey will include 12 foreign nationals and five Indians.

Hotel-like facilities inside the cruise.

The Prime Minister had flagged it off in 2023

'Ganga Vilas' first arrived in Varanasi in January 2023. At the time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off the cruise from Ravidas Ghat in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The cruise then departed for Dibrugarh in Assam. Thirty-two foreign tourists were on board that journey. The cruise covered around 3,200 kilometres in 51 days.

This is the cruise route.

The route passes through the rivers of India and Bangladesh

The 'Ganga Vilas' journey offers an opportunity to see historical sites, religious centres and natural landscapes along the rivers. Its designated route passes through the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system, the India-Bangladesh Protocol Route and the Brahmaputra River. The journey includes several rivers, including the Ganga, Bhagirathi, Hooghly, Meghna, Padma, Jamuna and Brahmaputra.

The cruise route passes through Bangladesh and the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Assam. During the journey, tourists can closely experience the cultural diversity and historical heritage of India and Bangladesh, as well as the cities located along the riverbanks.