Context:
Recently, the Prime Minister of India flagged off the world’s longest river cruise, MV Ganga Vilas in Varanasi.
Relevance:
Facts for prelims
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Ganga Vilas Cruise
- Significance
About Ganga Vilas Cruise
- The cruise on the river Ganges will be operated by private companies and is being supported by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), which falls under the Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Waterways (MoPSW).
- The cruise will cover 40 historic sites along the river, such as the Mahabodhi temple, Hazarduari Palace, and Katra Masjid, as well as connecting National Waterway 1 (NW-1) and National Waterway 2 (NW-2) on the Brahmaputra River.
- The cruise will also traverse 27 river systems and pass through 50 tourist destinations, including World Heritage Sites, National Parks, and major cities like Patna, Sahibganj, Kolkata, Dhaka, and Guwahati.
- The 51-day cruise is planned to travel along the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River system between Haldia (Sagar) and Allahabad, which was declared as National Waterway 1 (NW-1) in 1986.
Significance:
- The project is significant as it has the potential to create job opportunities in the hinterland and promote river cruise tourism in India.
- It aims to introduce a new era of tourism in India by highlighting the country’s best features to the world.
- The cruise is designed to provide foreign tourists with an immersive and authentic experience, allowing them to explore India’s art, culture, history, and spirituality, as well as that of Bangladesh.
-Source: Indian Express
