We heard about the Thames river cruise or a gondola ride in Venice but, the first time we are going to experience the Kolkata river cruise on the river Ganges from October 1st, 2020.
Personally, I wasn’t quite sure about how will it be at Rs 39 only and that too one and half an hour ride. But, it was a completely different experience altogether.
Boat Ride in Kolkata: More Than You Expect
The silverish moon peeks through thick clouds. You sit on a cruise illuminated by beautiful lights as Rabindra Sangeet plays in the background. Sounds like the perfect weekend getaway right?
Would you believe it if we told you that it is possible to take a 90-minute ride on a river cruise for as little as Rs 39? Sounds unbelievable?
Well, guess what? The West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) is going to launch a river cruise over the Ganges from October 1, 2020, in Kolkata. The intention behind this move is to make the divine heritage of Kolkata accessible to anyone and everyone.
The cruise will pass along many historically important landmarks of the City of Joy such as Mayer Ghat in Bagbazar which was visited by Ma Sarada, Babughat where Durga idols are immersed, the towering Vidyasagar Setu, and the burning ghat of Nimtala where several eminent personalities have been cremated such as Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore.
The magnificent Howrah Bridge, Eden Gardens, and Howrah Station are the other iconic spots that will be visible on the tour.
The ride will commence at the Millennium Park jetty and end at the same. Most of the previous river cruises along the Ganges were earlier operated by private companies and cost a fortune. So the idea is to make river cruises feasible for everyone.
The cruise will operate twice daily at 4 pm and 6 pm on weekdays. And, two additional slots at 12 pm and 2 pm on weekends and holidays.
Keeping in mind the safety protocols due to the pandemic, they are strict in certain factors. As a result maximum of 150 people will be allowed in a single ride in order to maintain social distancing.
A free tour guide to help visitors identify the important landmarks and familiarize them with their historical background. Each guest can take home a complimentary navigation brochure as a souvenir.
To keep your hunger pangs in check, a cruise cafe will serve hot beverages and packed snacks at a cost. Likewise, there will be a selfie booth for our Insta-crazy generation. Tickets have to be booked at the WBTC offline ticket counter. They may offer special booking arrangements in the future for such tours.
Vivada Evening Cruise: Plus & Minus
For a change, you could also visit Vivada Evening Cruise which costs Rs 500 per head. The Cruise is golden resembling a palace with a magnificent figurine at the front.
The insides look royal and the walls are engraved with fine effigies. Although this cruise has a grand appearance, we think the price is exorbitant especially when we can experience the beauty of the river Hooghly at Rs 39.
Read my another experience on river cruising on the Sal river in Goa where I explained why you should visit Goa during the monsoon. Generally, I use my mobile phone to click around what you see through my travel blog.