After such an early start the day before, it was lovely to enjoy a later breakfast, served between 08:00 and 09:00 on this Indian River Cruise. After our bellies were full, we settled down to some informative talks from Payal and Shagzill, our hospitality crew, before setting off on our Assam river cruise.
Although we didn’t visit all the places they talked about, it was incredibly interesting to hear about Assamese and Indian culture and the vast history behind the country’s traditions and beautiful buildings.
We learned about the Kamakhya Temple, which we were to visit the next day. It sits atop of a steep hill to the West of Assam and offers the most incredible vantage point over the beautiful state. It is the most famous Hindu temple in Assam and dedicated to the mother goddess Kamakhya.
We spent the rest of the morning relaxing on deck and enjoying the views of the riverbank. What I loved about this Indian river cruise is that we never sailed far from Brahmaputra’s banks.
Having had so many cruise experiences, I found this Indian river cruise to be such a unique and novel experience, and I felt a special connection with Assam, its landscapes and its people, because of this. It felt like we never missed out on anything.
After lunch, we took a peek at other types of cabins, including the suite. Some cabins do not have balconies, although their layout and size were not too dissimilar from our own cabin, the ‘Superior Balcony Cabin’. The suite, situated at the back of the cruise ship, had a seating area which offered fabulous views of the river.
Late afternoon we arrived at a deserted island and the crew proceeded to moor up. Sadly it was our last night, but we were very much looking forward to the Assamese themed evening ahead. The guests were invited to wear traditional Assamese clothing for the evening, which were provided for us by the crew. It was wonderful to try on the garments!
As we made our way across the bamboo gangway in our new attire, we saw a bonfire had been built for us on the deserted island, and perhaps more importantly, the cocktail bar was ready in waiting!
The crew came around offering us a fabulous choice of kebabs, chicken, and paneer from the BBQ, it was delicious!
As we ate, some of the crew sang and danced for us, and it was clear from their enthusiasm that they enjoyed it as much as we did.
The crew had a rapport with one another, and for some it was a family affair; we met a young waiter whose mother and father both worked on the boat too! No request was too much trouble and we were looked after from the moment we first stepped on board. The crew is a real credit to Far Horizons and I cannot praise them enough.
With a cocktail (or two) in hand, we went back on board to enjoy the Chef’s Farewell Dinner in the Mungram Restaurant. And as always it was exquisite.
Day 1 Brahmaputra River Cruise Review
Day 2 Brahmaputra River Cruise Review
Day 3 Brahmaputra River Cruise Review
Day 4 Brahmaputra River Cruise Review
Day 5 Brahmaputra River Cruise Review
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