![]() ![]() Trash is everywhere, as are animals such as free-ranging cows, as well as goats, pigs and dogs eating the trash. ![]() Even if you try to mentally prepare, the lack of hygiene along the river can be startling, with people using it for everything, including cleaning clothes, bathing, drinking and bodily functions. Don't be surprised if people approach you for a selfie or a child asks for your autograph.īefore you go, think about how you feel about the Third World. River cruises in the area are still relatively new and the Westerners who go are a source of extreme interest to the people who live along the river. The best attraction is the people you'll see and interact with. Excursions are run to temples and colonial buildings, but these are really beside the point. Instead of grand monuments, the Ganges River cruise focuses on the human side of India. Almost all itineraries supplied by Western operators include a Golden Triangle land tour - visiting Delhi, Agra and Jaipur - with the river cruise portion of the trip to see major monuments like the Taj Mahal and other UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Guides will tell you that as part of the Ganges Delta, these rivers are all considered the same Mother Ganges and certainly that's what you'll see when you visit West Bengal's small towns and villages. Instead, well-known companies like Uniworld, Abercrombie & Kent and Vantage sail round trip from Kolkata on three different Ganges tributaries: the Hooghly, Jalangi and Bhagirathi.ĭon't worry about these semantics. The main section of the river falls prey to low water levels that keep it from being navigable during the best months of the year for visiting India (November through March). It's the type of experience that isn't for everyone, but if you have an open mind, a sense of adventure and are willing to see beyond the surface, a Ganges River cruise should take a place on your traveler bucket list.įirst things first: On most offerings from Western river cruise companies, you are technically not on the Ganges. This article attempts to present a macro view of the Ganges and provide a broader context encompassing its historical, spiritual, cultural and socioeconomic attributes and considerations which often remain untouched in scientific papers.Spiritual, chaotic, beautiful colors, devastating poverty: a river cruise on India's Ganges will expose you to the country's extremes. By supporting agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries, tourism, river-based trade and transport, the river contributes significantly to the livelihood, food and nutritional security of about one-third of Indian and two-thirds of the Bangladeshi population. The Ganges and its tributaries provide a perennial source of irrigation to a large area, in addition to recharging the groundwater table all along their course. The Ganges basin, with its fertile soil, is a significant contributor to the agricultural economies of both India and Bangladesh. Its extensive basin accounts for one-fourth of India's water resources and is home to more than 407 million Indians, or some one-third of India's population. The Ganges alone drains an area of over a million square kilometers. ![]() The history of Ganga in nurturing culture and civilizations is appreciated through fostering native culture in its basin, shifting of the Indus-Sarasvati basin civilization into its fold, and promoting integration of cultures to develop Indian civilization. In fact, respect for Ganga is a part of Indian identity and the very symbol of Indian culture. These are amply reflected in such ancient Indian scriptures as: Vedas, Puranas, Mahabharata, Ramayana and several others. The very special faith and respect for the River Ganges in India are as old as Indian culture itself. She is the centre of social and religious tradition in the Indian sub-continent and particularly sacred in Hinduism. The River Ganges (also referred to as Ganga) is a symbol of faith, hope, culture and sanity, as well as a source of livelihood for millions since time immemorial. ![]()
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