India's Kaziranga & Brahmaputra River

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INDIA’S KAZIRANGA & BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER WITH A CRUISE ABOARD MV MAHABAAHU ARPIL 6-17, 2017 INDIA & THE BRAHMAPUTRA ITINERARY

Day 1, April 6 EN ROUTE Day 4, April 9 KOLKATA / JORHAT /EMBARK Depart your home city on independent flights. (Meals Aloft) Fly to Jorhat to embark the MV Mahabaahu and start our adventure on the Brahmaputra River. Prayed to by members Day 2, April 7 ARRIVE KOLKATA of four religions — Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bonpas —the Arrive in Kolkata where you are met and transferred to our Brahmaputra is perhaps the holiest river on Earth. Along the home for two nights, Lalit Great Eastern, where rooms are way we’ll encounter the unique and exciting cultures of Assam pre-blocked to ensure immediate occupancy. The balance as well as the wildlife along its shores. Brahma is the creator in of the day is at leisure to rest or explore before an authentic the Hindu religion. In Hindi, “putra” means “son.” Brahmaputra Bengali dinner. (D) means the son of Brahma and is the only male river in India. The Brahmaputra has its origins in Angsi Glacier in Tibet, from Day 3, April 8 KOLKATA where it winds 1,571 miles through China, India and Bangladesh Early this morning, experience a unique highpoint of visit- before meeting the Bay of Bengal. (BLD) ing Kolkata; a heritage walk through White Town (British Calcutta). Your guide will set the stage for a trip back in time as you wander through these historic and significant areas to the time when Calcutta was the capital of the British

Empire in India. Among the many architectural marvels MAJULI are the Treasury Building, St. John’s Church, Kolkata GPO & SIBSAGAR Postal Museum, the Old Currency Building and the Central Telegraph Office. Return to the hotel for some rest and relaxation. This afternoon partake in an overview of the SILGHAT KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK Arrive via Kolkata BORGOS prominent sites that not only make Kolkata a unique and Depart via Delhi RESORT interesting city but also showcase its deeply rooted cultur- al traditions as well as its place in modern history. These include Mother House, the Book Market, the Flower Market, Victoria Memorial, Kalighat Kali Temple and Kumartuli idol Delhi market (if in operation). (BLD) Kolkata

VOYAGE ROUTE

Day 5, April 10 INDIA VOYAGE: SIBSAGAR Swamp and hog deer come to the shores to graze while Travel to historic Sibsagar, once the stronghold of the Ahom eagles and kingfisher hunt along the surface of the rivers. kingdom. It was here the Ahom people retained their sover- The ship’s naturalists will be with you to help identify the eignty for almost 600 years. Rang Ghar, which means “house various species and interpret their behaviors. Onboard, enjoy of entertainment” in Assamese, is a two-storied building educational presentations about upcoming activities and built by Ahom royalty to serve as a private area to observe attractions. A dance performance by Vaishnav girls depicts local sporting events and other forms of entertainment. Visit the Dashavatar, or ten avatars of Vishnu, the preserver of Shiva Dol, a bustling 18th century temple where local Hindus the universe who comes to life at different times to protect come to pray, and Talatal Ghar, possibly the greatest example mankind from being annihilated by evil. (BLD) of Tai Ahom architecture. Enjoy a family-hosted lunch at a tea estate. (BLD) Day 8, April 13 INDIA VOYAGE: KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK Early this morning we return to Kaziranga National Day 6, April 11 INDIA VOYAGE: MAJULI ISLAND Park to enjoy a safari before we sail to Bishwanath Ghat. Walk At Majuli Island, the world’s largest inhabited river island, through this village of friendly locals and children eager to witness temple priests perform a powerful chant and melody shake hands and practice their English to visit Shiva temple called Gayan Bayan, meant to bring the priests into a trance- and learn about local silk weaving. Watch for gangetic like state of prayer. Enjoy a performance called Mukha Bhavana dolphins in the water and buffalo, elephant, deer and even where masks are used by actors to enact an episode from the rhino on the shores as we sail along Kaziranga National Park. epic Ramayana. The scene is set in a forest from where Sita is This afternoon we’ll visit a tea estate to see how local women abducted by the demon King Ravan and then the battle fought pluck and harvest the leaves that make some of the world’s by Ram, helped by Hunuman and his monkey warriors, to best coffee. (BLD) rescue Sita. Pay a visit to a Mishing village. Known for their textiles, Mishing people are a Southeast Asian race believed Days 9 & 10, April 14 & 15 KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK to have originated in Mongolia. (BLD) Explore biodiverse Kaziranga National Park on morning and afternoon jeep safaris. Kaziranga National Park is home to Day 7, April 12 INDIA VOYAGE: KAZIRANGA NATIONAL the largest number of one-horned rhinoceros in the world, PARK Continue our exploration of the Kaziranga area with the true star of the park. However, rhinos are not the park’s a boat safari along the shores of the park’s eastern range, only attraction. 35 major mammals, including elephant, where the waters of the Brahmaputra and Dhansiri Rivers tiger, hoolock gibbon, capped langur, bristly hare, hog meet. Gangetic dolphins in particular like this area for the badger, otter, leopard, wild boar, sambar, swamp deer, hog confluence of waters and the fertile feeding that provides. deer, muntjac, water buffalo and gaur all call this park home. Among the rich birdlife are the rare greater adjutant stork, 12-DAY EXPEDITION Bengal florican, black-necked stork, lesser adjutant stork, Pallas’s fish eagle, swamp partridge, grey peacock-pheasant, Arpil 6-17, 2017 great pied hornbill, green imperial pigeon, babblers and PRICE PER PERSON thousands of migratory birds, seasonally attracted to the park from as far away as Siberia. One morning visit nearby SUPERIOR Double Occupancy �� $6,698 Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, a gem in the rough that few Single Occupancy ��$10,098 visitors to India visit. This sanctuary is home to seven species SUPERIOR WITH BALCONY of primate, including India’s only ape, the endangered western Double Occupancy �� $6,948 hoolock gibbon, which can be heard and often seen in the early Single Occupancy ��$10,598 morning hours. Their haunting and riotous calls can be heard SUITE for miles around as they announce their presence in defense of Double Occupancy ��$7,448 their territory. Enjoy a ranger-led walk through the reserve to Single Occupancy ��$11,598 spot the gibbons as well as some of the park’s six other primate species. While primate spotting cannot be Plus In-Country Airfare ��$484 guaranteed the most commonly seen are northern pig-tailed macaque, capped langur and Rhesus macaque. Three types of INCLUDED civet, four types of squirrel and at least 219 species of bird are known to live in the park. Spend two nights at Borgos Resort. Accommodations as listed, Excursions as listed, Transportation The quaint bungalows feature forest-view terraces, each as listed, Meals as listed, Park and entrance fees, Bottled surrounded by fragrant tea gardens. (BLD) water at each group lunch and dinner, on all excursions and in rooms/cabins daily, Local Expedition Leader throughout, Day 11, April 16 KAZIRANGA / HOOLLONGAPAR GIBBON Airport transfers, Daily informative presentations onboard SANCTUARY / DELHI / DEPART Fly to Delhi. Dayrooms ship, Gratuities to all group services staff, other than Expedition are reserved at Radisson Blue Park Delhi prior to evening Leader and ship’s crew transfers for independent flights home. (BLD) NOT INCLUDED Passport and visa fees, Domestic air, International air, Internal Day 12, April 17 ARRIVE U.S. Arrive in the U.S. and meet air (priced separately), Items of a personal nature such your connecting flights home. (Meals Aloft) as laundry, souvenirs, phone calls, etc., Drinks other than those listed as included, Gratuities to Expedition Leader and ship’s crew

MV Mahabaahu “Mahabaahu” comes from “Maha” (mighty) and “Baahu” (arms). Arms in Indian deities represent energies. Hence, Mahabaahu is an entity with mighty energies. Every spacious cabin offers satellite TV, personal safe, mini bar, in-house telephone and en-suite bathrooms. While dining, enjoy a chef-prepared menu of local/Indian and Continental specialties using locally-sourced ingredients. Evenings are spent watching local tribal dances, enjoying an immersive lecture, or simply relax in the swimming pool or library.

Cabins: 23 Crew: 28 Guests: 58 Swimming Pool Salon Spa Onboard Currency: Indian Rupee Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express Elevator: Yes Smoking: Only in open areas Length: 180 ft. Gross tonnage: 675 Speed: 12 knots Registry: India FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A RESERVATION CONTACT:

Massachusetts Audubon Society Karen O’Neill 208 South Great Road Lincoln, Massachusetts 01773

(800) 289-9504 or (781) 259-2166 [email protected]