MV Mahabaahu
The ship MV Mahabaahu is India’s only five star ship with a very large common space area.
The Mighty Brahmaputra river which is rated as amongst the top ten major rivers of the world flows in from Tibet and the Himalayan ranges to flood the valley of Assam and an entire nation of Bangladesh. This is a river which during the floods rises by 8 meters and covers the surrounding land till it is nearly 20 kms across. At the narrowest point this river in low waters is 1 km wide only because there are mountains on both sides.
It is the only river of the world from which on a clear day you can see three Himalayan peaks which are over 7,000 meters high. It is also the only river of the world apart from the Zambezi River of Africa from which you can do elephant, jeep and boat safaris. These safaris are inside the Kaziranga National Park which is possibly the only Indian park to rival Africa in the scale of the wildlife seen. It is India’s first UNESCO Natural Heritage Site.
From being home to the largest population of rhinos and wild buffaloes anywhere in the world along with, over one thousand elephants, 115 tigers making it the greatest density of tigers anywhere in the world, over 480 species of migratory birds, highest density of freshwater dolphins in any Indian waters to, a vast number of herbivores like swamp and hog deer and turtles, otters, monitor lizards, great horn-bills, hoolock gibbons, etc.
Along with the great array of wildlife experiences is the entire history and culture of tea, visits to tribal and weaver’s villages, palaces, temples and monasteries. It is indeed a great voyage into one of the most pristinely natural regions of India on one of the most pristine rivers of the world! The voyage itself is through a constantly changing countryside where on some days you are sailing between a multitude of river islands as the rahmaputra River is the world’s largest riverine island system. The Guinness Book of World Records lists the Majuli Island as the largest river island of the world. The Ummanada or, Peacock Island in called as the World’s smallest inhabited island though, this is not mentioned officially anywhere.
On some days the voyage sails through green hills and snowy mountains as it enters valleys with dense rainforests and wonderful wildlife. The river is completely unpolluted and the air is fresh. The sunrises and sunsets are absolutely spectacular and most memorable. Photo opportunities abound almost every moment. From herds of swimming elephants now seen only in these waters to, flocks of migratory birds swarming over the ship, it is a nature lover’s paradise.
The ship MV Mahabaahu is India’s only five star ship with a very large common space area with a covered sun deck, open second deck, a swimming pool and pool deck, the main deck has the main restaurant, lounge, bar and in the lower deck there is a complete Spa with two jacuzzis, steam, sauna, hair salon, massage rooms, etc. The ship boasts of 23 cabins including 2 suites, 2 luxury cabins with balcony, 7 superior cabins with balcony and 12 superior cabins without balcony. All cabins have amenities like attached toilets with hair dryers, running hot and cold water and the cabins have tea-coffee makers, phones, twin and double beds with thick mattresses, satellite connected television sets, cupboards, luggage racks, cabinets, robes, slippers, etc.
The ship has two 29 seated tenders that double up for safaris, excursions and boat transfers and also, as life boats. The ship is built to international class certification by the Indian Register of Shipping making it an international class cruise ship, the only one in India! It is a double bottom ship with three engines and three propellers, making it a very safe ship to take a voyage in.
The Sunday Times of UK called this as amongst the Top Fifty Adventure Holidays of the World, the Nat Geo People Channel carried a program in it’s Dream Cruise series on a worldwide basis twice, for a one hour screening. Daily Telegraph of UK has featured it five times, www.cruisecritic.com has internationally rated it as a four star cruise, it has been featured in Australian News, Times of India and many, more publications all over the world.
