PM Launches Worlds Longest River Cruise $20,000 10 Facts

Raj Singh, the cruise's director, estimated that each passenger's total cost for the 51-day trip would be about 20 lakh. The cost would range from 25,000 to 50,000 each day.

In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today used video conferencing to officially launch the MV Ganga Vilas, the longest river cruise in the world. For the first time, 32 Swiss visitors will travel to Dibrugarh, Assam, via Bangladesh.

Here are your top 10 takeaways from this major story:

1.On the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi, the PM opened a "tent city" constructed in the same manner as comparable structures in Rajasthan and Gujarat's Kutch region. Along with live classical music, "aarti" in the evenings, and yoga classes, more than 200 tents will provide visitors a panoramic view of the renowned ghats of the holy city on the opposite side of the river. A number of inland canal projects worth more than Rs 1,000 crore were also set forth by him.

2.Many locations in eastern India will now be visible on the international tourism map thanks to this cruise... What could be more unlucky than the Ganges River banks remaining undeveloped since Independence, causing lakhs of residents to relocate in search of employment?

3.The first cruise ship built in India is the MV Ganga Vilas. 3,200 kilometres will be covered in 51 days. At the dock in Varanasi, the 32 Swiss visitors who would embark on the inaugural voyage were welcomed with flowers and shehnai music. Before embarking on the trip, they will tour a number of historical and religious sites in Varanasi.

4.According to Raj Singh, the cruise's director, this five-star moving hotel features 18 suites and can accommodate 36 passengers. In addition to this, it can house 40 crew personnel. The modernist ship is 62 metres long, 12 metres broad, and needs a 1.4 metre draught.

5.Tourists will go via a variety of well-known locations and 27 different river systems. The cruise will visit 50 tourist destinations, including world heritage sites, national parks, river ghats, and major cities like Patna in Bihar, Shahiganj in Jharkhand, Kolkata in West Bengal, Dhaka in Bangladesh, and Guwahati in Assam, according to a statement from Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh issued in Lucknow.

6.Additionally, the trip is equipped with amenities including a spa, a salon, and a gym. According to Raj Singh, each passenger's share of the expense for the 51-day trip will be between $25,000 and $50,000. He stated that the voyage is outfitted with noise cancellation equipment and a pollution-free system.

7.The cruise director explained there is a sewage treatment system on this voyage to ensure that no sewage goes into the Ganges and a filter plant to purify the Ganga water for bathing and other uses.

8.According to Union Minister for Port Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, "the expedition would provide the international visitors an opportunity to go upon an experience adventure and delight in the art, culture, history, and spirituality of India and Bangladesh."

9.Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, has criticised the idea. Mr. Yadav said in a Hindi tweet that included a picture of the tour, "Now will the BJP take away the jobs of the sailors as well?" It is unacceptable for the BJP to promote sacred sites as tourist destinations in order to make money. "BJP will no longer be able to disguise the gloom of actual difficulties with outward glare." People travel from all over the globe to Kashi to experience the spiritual splendour, not for the luxury.

10."Everything you can think of is in India." It has more than you could ever imagine. India is difficult to put into words. In his address to travellers, Prime Minister Modi remarked, "It can only be experienced from the heart.