A private cruise service showcasing the cultural and religious diversity of West Bengal along the river Ganga from Kolkata to Murshidabad, was launched today.
Offering three trips a month from Kolkata to Murshidabad, the high-end liner MV Ganges Voyager built by Heritage River Journeys, has 28 rooms along with lounges, dining rooms, conference facilities, company's director Vishnu Singh said.
Their first halt would be at Bandel where the Portuguese had once settled. In the small Metiyari village tourists would be able to experience how rural artisans make copper and brass pots. The stopover at Kalna in Burdwan district has old temples and a rustic feel of rural Bengal.
Khusbag has the graveyard of Nawab Siraj-Ud-Doullah while other stops would be the holy town of Mayapur, the famous Hazarduari palace, Baranagar, Chuchura Imambara and former French colony of Chandannagar.
"There is a huge amount of cultural and religious diversity in this route. The response has been very good and we have full bookings for the next 3-4 years," Singh said.
Those on cruise would also get a first-hand experience of life along the banks of the river.
"So many rituals are performed in the river. This would also be very interesting for tourists from outside especially foreigners," he said.
