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River cruises on ships in India may seem a novel way to experience the country. However, Indian river cruises have been around since colonial times. Here’s a historical view of Indian river cruises and travels.
How Ships on the River became Popular in India
Stories about the Ganga generally begin at its origin at Gangotri in the western Himalayas. Our story on the other hand, begins in Kolkata. Do you know why? Because a branch of the Ganga becomes the Bhagirathi and then the Hooghly, and Kolkata sits on the banks of this sleepy river. It is also where the first commercial steamships in British India began to ply the waters of the Ganga for trade in opium, tea, indigo and people. In fact, after some initial commercial failure, the 1830s saw steamship navigation on inland waters become very popular.
“Bourne’s river steam train,” from the Illustrated London News, 1849
“The East India Steam Navigation Company’s steamer Stanley, steaming on the Ganges,” from Illustrated London News, 1862
At the British Library in London, the India special collections have several early images which show European and British photographers’ enchantment with the romance of the river. Varied boats and ships sailed on it – at least fourteen different types. The photos also give a clear picture of historic monuments, natural wonders and life on the river’s banks.
These British travellers, like the inimitable Fanny Parks, move between fear and aversion and awe at the splendour of this landscape. It is similar to their reaction to the rest of the Indian subcontinent: swinging between the sublime quality of the landscape which they felt had the potential to destroy them, and of its beauty and all the forms of aesthetic pleasure it offered.
Cruises in India: Pleasure and Commerce
When the steamship came to the river, it had two primary purposes. As the illustration of the steam river train indicates, one was to move goods between Allahabad and Calcutta (today designated as National Waterway 1). The other illustration, of the steamer Stanley, shows the other purpose – to move people. What would today be river cruises from Kolkata to other places. However, as the steam locomotive was introduced in 1851, this river cruises in India soon lost their viability. Steam trains adapted more easily to different terrains, goods and economies. By the last quarter of the century, the steamship primarily became either a ferry or a luxurious vessel for outings by wealthy officials of the Raj. The ferries have been in continuous use but the days of chandeliers, velvet covered sofas and elegant hunt parties on boats are long over.
The reign of the East India Companies, including the Dutch, the Danish, the French, the Portuguese, even the Americans, (who once contemplated establishing their own company in India), created a split image of the Ganga, and indeed of all Indian rivers, which persists to this day. On the one hand, the earliest texts produced in the subcontinent, as in all major world civilizations, value rivers as sources of fertility and salvation. On the other hand, the British, Europeans and many of the Indians who participated in the Companies’ commercial activities, saw the water primarily as a resource to use and thus approached it from a utilitarian perspective. The river is something to be reigned, dammed and channelled to ease transport, irrigate fields and thus increase tax revenue.
River Cruises in India: Then and Now
For both Europeans and Indians, the Ganga was also a source of pleasure. Sailing in wooden pleasure boats, especially crafted as peacocks (mor pankhi) or beautifully carved huts, was a form of leisure for the urbane elite, who borrowed this cultural expression of luxuriousness from the act of worshiping gods by pleasing them with boat rides. These are the river cruises trips of today. Since 2009, Heritage River Cruises and now its sister company, Heritage River Journeys through Antara have sought to imagine these diverse historical and life experiences for contemporary travellers on their cruise ships in India.
FAQ
What is the significance of sailing the Ganga for the British?
Explore the historical importance of the Ganga for the British and how it shaped their presence in India.
Which British figures were associated with sailing on the Ganga?
Learn about prominent British personalities who navigated the Ganga and their impact on the region.
What experiences can one expect when sailing the Ganga with Antara Cruises?
Discover the unique and enriching experiences offered by Antara Cruises on Ganga river voyages, blending history and luxury.
Are there specific routes covered during Ganga river cruises?
Find details about the routes taken during Ganga river cruises, showcasing the picturesque landscapes and cultural highlights.
