Guwahati: World’s longest river cruise ‘Ganga Vilas’ ship reached Guwahati at 03:30 pm on 42nd day of the voyage on February 20.

All the 28 Swiss tourists travelling on board were given a rousing reception at the IWAI Pandu port after it anchored with Saraighat bridge on the backdrop. The ship was escorted by SL Subansiri and HPT Ambedkar.

The tourists were received by Additional Chief Secretary, Maninder Singh; Deputy Commissioner (Kamrup Metro), Pallav Gopal Jha; Regional Director, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) A Selvakumar and others.

The visiting tourists from Switzerland will be visiting the Kamakhya Temple along with the Assam State Museum tomorrow morning before they leave for their onward journey to Mayong and further.

Earlier during the day, the tourists visited Sualkuchi to witness the rich and vibrant textile and handloom industry of Assam. Mesmerised by the craft, the tourists exalted at the sight of magical motifs weaved onto the Muga and Pat Silk.

The weavers showcased the brilliance of Assam’s handloom industry to the visiting tourists who enjoyed the sheer genius of the artisans.

Flagged off by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the historic cruise set sail from Varanasi on January 13.

Dubbed as the longest river cruise in the world, the Varanasi to Bogibeel voyage by the Ganga Vilas is scheduled to complete the journey when it anchors at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh drawing a close to this exotic experience of river cruise.

Earlier, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal termed the arrival of Ganga Vilas cruise ship at Dhubri in Assam, India as a ‘watershed moment’ in the inland waterways transportation towards transformation of the Northeast India.

The Minister congratulated the people of Assam and the Northeast on this historic moment that is set to unlock huge potential of river tourism, allowing trickle down development for people across the bank of the Brahmaputra.

ALSO READ: Production capacity of BVFCL Biofertilizer Plant doubled