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Day 01: Arrive Guwahati / Manas
National Park (4 hrs)
Our tour starts from Guwahati. There are different routes that
one can take to get to Guwahati including Delhi, Calcutta,
Darjeeling or Phuntsioling in Bhutan – please ask for details.
Upon arrival at Guwahati we are welcomed the traditional Indian
way with hands clapped together. After lunch, we drive to Manas
National Park a World Heritage site bordering Bhutan. Manas Park
has a count of 50 tigers with 500 wild elephants. It will be our
attempt to seek out some of them during our stay at the Jungle
Lodge.
Overnight: Bansbari Lodge
Day 02: Manas National Park
Early morning we start our adventure on elephant backs viewing
the different species of deer, monkeys, Bengal Floricans, Great
Hornbills and some of the 380 different species of birds that
reside in this park. Later we walk through a local village and
get a good insight on how the Bodo tribes’ hand weave
traditional clothes followed by a visit the famous Assam tea
estates. At the Beki River, it is an ideal to view elephants
bathing. From here we take our 4 wheeler to Mothanguri Lodge to
observe a spectacular sunset over the Manas River and the Bhutan
hills –another moment for camera clicks. While returning at dusk
we may be fortunate to view some wildlife, like wild buffalo and
elephants and if we are lucky, tigers. Dinner is followed by
tribal dances around the campfire.
Overnight: Bansbari Lodge
Day 03: Hajo
Rural scenery as we drive to Hajo, an ancient pilgrimage centre
for three religions, Hindus, Moslems and Buddhists. We visit the
Moslem shrine known as Poa Mecca with its beautiful hilltop
views followed by Hayagriva Madhava Mandir – a famous Hindu
temple. Some Buddhists believe that Buddha attained Nirvana at
this temple. After lunch we drive to Sualkuchi to visit silk
weaving workshops learning the complete process of silk
manufacturing, from cocoon to spinning to dyeing and to hand
weaving, from cocoon to spinning, dyeing and finally to hand
weaving into exquisite saris. Crossing the river to Guwahati at
Nilachi Hill, we visit the aesthetic Kamakhya temple on Nilachal
Hill, which has five temples depicting different forms of Shiva
and several forms of the Goddess Kali.
Overnight: Dynasty or similar hotel, Guwahati
Day 04: Kaziranga
Morning we drive to Kaziranga National Park, a World Heritage
site where over a thousand rhinoceros habitat with a large
number of tigers, wild elephant, Sambar, swamp deer, hog deer,
wild pig and many other species. It will be a scene from the
jungle wilderness before we drive to Kaziranga’s Western Range
for a jeep safari. Our night halt as at a beautiful Bamboo built
Jungle Lodge on the bank of Diphlu River.
Overnight: Diphlu River Lodge
Day 05: Kaziranga
A pre-dawn start for the Kaziranga’s Central Range for an
elephant ride. The timing is the best suited to get us very
close to the rhinos and other animals. We return to our lodge
for breakfast. Late morning we enjoy a walk through terraced tea
gardens and Karbi tribal village. From here we drive to a Mising
tribal village, with their distinctive houses raised on piles.
After lunch we drive to Steamer Ghat to embark on our cruise
boat on the Brahmaputra.
Overnight: Cruise ship
Day 06: Vishnath: Cruise
Another opportunity to get offshore and experience an elephant
safari after which we sail upstream viewing the Kaziranga
National Park – spotting wild elephants. Around midday we reach
Vishnath and get off shore to see the Ahom-period Shiva temple.
There are other temples of later period here, which we also see
before continuing our river cruising. Overnight: Cruise ship
Day 07: Dhansiri Mulkh: Cruise
Relaxing on the boat, we spend the day cruising the mighty
Brahmaputra River. We will see the Genetic dolphin and other
aquatic and wild animals. Also, observing the bank side villages
as we sail through. Evening, we arrive at Dhansiri Mukh where
the common birds and wild ducks graze. Overnight: Cruise ship
Day 08: Kaziranga: Cruise
This morning we disembark and take a jeep safari into
Kaziranga’s little-visited Eastern Range. This is an area known
for its good woodland and grasslands a favorite site for nature
lovers. Here we may spot the rare Bengal Florican. Overnight:
Cruise ship
Day 09: Further upstream
Another day spent cruising upstream. We disembark to see several
villages and get a good insight into the life of Indian
villagers. An excellent opportunity to intermingle with the
village folks who live in perfect harmony with nature. It is
really fascinating to see the simple and beautiful life of local
folks. Overnight: Cruise ship
Day 10: Majuli Island: Cruise
Around breakfast time we should reach Majuli Island, reputed to
be the world’s largest river island. Macula is also known for
flora and fauna harboring many rare and endangered avifauna
species. This island is home to unique Hindu monasteries famed
for their dance-drama performances – the whole island is now
short listed for future UNESCO World Heritage status. We visit a
monastery at Auniati with an eclectic museum and another at
Kamalbari where we attend a dance performance. Before cruising
cross to Neamati Ghat on the opposite bank.
Overnight: Cruise ship
Day 11: Sibsagar: Cruise
Today we visit the Gatoonga Tea Estate and are walked through
the various stages in tea processing (factory do not operate
between Dec and Mar). From here, we drive to Sibsagar – one-time
capital of the Kings of Assam. The architecture is a strange and
delightful amalgam of Indian and S.E. Asia. We see temples with
stupa-like profiles, and palaces of distinctive form- note the
crocodiles and rather sexy caryatids that adorn the roof of the
Rang Mahal. For the record book, the temple tank here is
believed to be the world’s largest hand excavated reservoir. We
return to our boat, which has cruised to Dikhou Mukh close to
Sibsagar, and spend our last night on board. (Dependent on river
conditions, the last night may be spent at Neamati, close to
Jorhat). Overnight: Cruise ship
Day 12: Departure
After a wonderful time experiencing Assam, we are transferred on
a 2.5 hours drive to Dibrugarh airport. En route we pass through
a typical colonial town which was a major base for the US flight
over “The Hump” to China in WWII. Alternatively we can drive for
1.5 hours to Jorhat airport. To take our flights to Delhi or
Calcutta to take our international flights home |
