Patna: The luxury Ganga Vilas Cruise departed from Patna for Varanasi on Thursday with 15 foreign tourists from European countries, after travelling around 815km along Ganga from Kolkata. The vessel had arrived in Patna on Tuesday and was docked near Mitan Ghat, east of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) jetty at Gaighat.According to IWAI officials, the tourists will continue their journey along the river, with their onward movement dependent on the water level and navigability of Ganga. The cruise is expected to make several trips between Kolkata, Patna and Varanasi until December, carrying international tourists.“The vessel was departed at 12 noon from Mitan Ghat for Varanasi. It is expected to return to Patna on Nov 2 and then depart for Kolkata,” the officials said on Thursday.During its halt in Patna, passengers watched the immersion of Durga idols and crowds of devotees at Bhadra Ghat on Vijayadashami from the cruise deck through binoculars. The visit offered them a glimpse of the city’s religious traditions and life along the river.IWAI officials said passenger and cargo vessel movement had increased on National Waterway-1, which runs along Ganga. The cruise’s journey through Bihar also highlights the potential of inland waterways for tourism, connecting historic cities, religious sites and riverfront destinations, the officials added.Ganga Vilas offers accommodation in 18 suites spread across three decks and has an official capacity of 36 tourists. The vessel is 62 metres long and 12 metres wide, and was designed for luxury river travel with modern amenities.PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the cruise in Varanasi on Jan 13, 2023. During its maiden voyage, the vessel covered around 3,200 km over 51 days, crossing 27 river systems in India and Bangladesh and visiting more than 50 tourist destinations before reaching Dibrugarh in Assam.The cruise operator’s published schedule also lists a Kolkata-Varanasi voyage from Oct 10 to 29 this year, followed by a return journey from Varanasi to Kolkata from Oct 30 to Nov 18.
