RIVER CRUISING
ONE HORNED RHINOCEROS
These prehistoric herbivorous survivors from 40 million years ago weigh in at around 3,000kg. They can live up to 60 years, have acute senses of smell and hearing, but feeble eyesight, and can sprint in short bursts to 40kph. Fully two thirds of India’s rhinos live in Assam.
struck children; and see their time-honoured techniques, from winnowing wheat to harnessed cows trampling lentils from their husks, as well as the livestock nurturing their newly-born. For this, there would be forays in our tender, a
traditional wood river-craft known as the ‘country- boat,’ a 36ft diesel-powered craft with a ‘pointy’ prow fore and aft, tough enough for running on sand banks and coping with the strong currents. Towards sunset, Sukapha would be moored with stakes alongside a bank, with the crew disembark- ing for their daily break of volleyball on a sand- mapped pitch. Being a swift river and Assam benefi tting from cool months in January and February, there was little bother from insects. Evening sun-downers on deck were enjoyed without aromas of Deet, but a sweater was essential for events such as the beach BBQs. One discipline that all aboard endured was the 11.30pm close-down of the generator, when cabin lighting sank to a ‘reaching the bathroom’ level of suffi ciency. On the fourth day, we stepped ashore for our fi rst jeep wildlife safari at the Orang Wildlife Refuge with our nature guides, bumping along the trails through habitats of marsh, woods and brush thickets. Whilst Orang is a home to both Assam’s big cats – tiger and panther – sightings were unlikely, let alone there being any danger of us becoming a dish of
KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK
This World Heritage sanctuary is a hotspot for wildlife, covering as it does 430sq km of varied habitats, from broadleaf woodlands and rain forest to reed marshes, pools and grasslands.
It is home to the world’s largest number of one-horned Rhino. Kaziranga is
also rich with other creatures, such as wild elephant, buffalo, many monkey and deer species, sloths, giant monitor lizards and more than 100 tigers.
It is also on a major migrant fl y-way, where more than 800 birds species have been recorded.
ASSAM TEA
Much of the world wakes up to a ‘cuppa’ grown in one of over Assam’s 600 Tea Gardens.
In 1823, Scotsman Robert Bruce identifi ed a wild variety much enjoyed by locals, but it was his brother Charles who sent specimens to Calcutta’s Botanical Garden in the 1830s. There, plants were hybridised with the Chinese variety to Camellia Assamica to suit the rich alluvial soil in the low hills and valleys in Assam’s cool winters.
Summer 2010 I WORLD OF CRUISING
51
photos courtesy of Assam Bengal Navigation
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92