ASSAM DESPATCH 2 (ABN CHARAIDEW II) - RHINOS & MORE

Itinerary

Day 01 : Arrive Guwahati/Sualkuchi/Saraighat bridge
Meet at Guwahati airport and transfer to our cruise at Pandu port, Enjoy lunch while crusing downstream to Sualkuchi. PM walk through Sualkuchi, a bustling little town that is the centre of Assamese silk production, to visit weaving workshops. Witness the whole process of silk manufacture, from cocoon and spinning to dyeing and hand-weaving into exquisite mekhela chadars (a two-piece sari, the traditional attire of an Assamese woman). We then sail up to dock close to the great Saraighat bridge

Day 02 : Saraighat bridge/Nilachal Hill (Drive)/Kurua
AM drive up Nilachal Hill to see the holy Kamakhya temple. With its tantric rites and animal sacrifice, the more squeamish among us may prefer to content themselves with the exteriors. Visit the poignant Commonwealth War Graves cemetery before embarking on your cruise vessel at Uzan bazaar. We set sail and cruise pass Kurua on the north bank.

Day 03 : Kurua/Jotiabari
AM cruise up and visit a river side village, with its lush green fields of vegetables. The day is spent mostly cruising upstream with jungle-covered hills rising on either side, often battling against strong currents to reach Jotiabari. Enjoy Indian cooking demonstration onboard.

Day 04 : Jotiabari/Tezpur
AM cruise on to reach Tezpur where, after lunch, we will visit the 6th century Da Parbatia temple ruins with its beautifully carved portal. Later, explore the town by cycle rickshaw, stopping at Cole Park with its medieval stone carvings saved from sites all over the region. Enjoy free time in local market. Our ship will be waiting at the town’s waterfront for us to reboard.

Day 05 : Tezpur/Nameri National Park (Drive)
After an early breakfast, drive for some two hours to the Nameri National Park at the foot of the blue hills of Arunachal Pradesh, the old North East Frontier Agency. Here, we take a float trip of around two hours down the Jia-Bhoreli River through the park. There are excellent bird-watching opportunities here (look out for the great Hornbills) and, perhaps, the chance of sighting wild elephants. After lunch, take a village walk before returning to the ship. Continue upstream, passing below a seemingly endless new bridge across the vast width of the riverbed, to moor at Steemer Ghat.

Day 06 : Kaziranga
Today drive to Kaziranga’s Central Range for a morning jeep safari. Enjoy lunch at DRL. Afterwards take another jeep safari in the little visited Burapahar Range before returning to the boat. Covering an area of approximately 430 sq kms, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kaziranga National Park is home to the world’s largest population of the Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros as well as the Indian Wild Water Buffalo. It has also earned the distinction of having the highest density of Royal Bengal Tigers (one every five sq. km.) making this park an incredibly rich biodiversity hotspot. With its marshy swamps and thickets of elephant grass, this park supports large populations of Indian elephants, Indian bison, swamp deer, and Capped Langurs. Besides wildlife, Kaziranga National Park is also a birding paradise. A few of the bird species found here are the Oriental Honey Buzzard, Black-shouldered Kite, White-tailed Eagle, Himalayan Griffon and so on. Kaziranga National Park also frequently draws comparisons to the Serengeti in Africa due to the park`s abundance of wildlife and birds.

Day 07 : Uloni/Kaziranga’s Western range
AM enjoy visit local tea garden and weekly market of Uloni. PM drive to Kaziranga’s Western range (Bagori Range) for jeep safar.

Day 08 : Kaziranga/Guwahati (4 Hrs drive) Departure
Rise early for a 4-hour drive back to Guwahati airport. Alternatively, we can arrange a 40-minute transfer to Tezpur airport or a 2 ½ hr transfer to Jorhat airport.

Note : Kaziranga National Park has low-lying grassland, which may not be visitable when the river is at or near flood level. This itinerary, including the cruise and approximate driving durations, is subject to river and weather conditions.