Visitors to Ayodhya may soon be able to go on a luxurious ‘Ramayan Cruise’ on the Saryu river or take a ‘Ramcharitmanas Tour’ culminating in the ‘Saryu Aarti’ to get a complete experience of the city, considered holy according to Hindu scriptures. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, recently chaired a review meeting for implementation of the cruise service on river Saryu in Ayodhya, and discussed the details.
The ‘Ramayan Cruise’ will be aimed at providing a mesmerizing experience to pilgrims and tourists while cruising along the ghats of the river Saryu. The luxury cruise vessel will be equipped with comfort and essential facilities, with safety and security features according to global standards. The interiors of the cruise vessel and the boarding point will be theme-based, picking up nuances from the Ramcharitmanas. The fully air-conditioned 80-seater cruise will have large glass windows for people to experience the scenic beauty of the ghats. The cruise vessel will be equipped with kitchen and pantry facilities for the comfort of tourists. It will also have bio-toilets and a hybrid engine system for ‘zero pollution effect’ on the environment.
Tourists will be taken on a ‘Ramcharitmanas Tour’ of 1-1.5 hour duration, which will include watching a video film of 45-60 minutes, based on the ‘Ramcharitmanas’ by Goswami Tulsidas, covering the period from the birth of Lord Ram to his coronation. The entire tour will cover a distance of approximately 15-16 km. There will be several activities and selfie points inspired by different episodes of the Ramayan. The tour will end with the Saryu Aarti, in which every tour participant will be able to take part actively.
Approximately two crore tourists visit Ayodhya every year, as per data collected by Uttar PradeshTourism for the year 2019. After completion of the Ram Mandir, the inflow of tourists is expected to increase. The ‘Ramayan Cruise Tour’ will not only attract a large number of tourists, but will also generate direct and indirect employment opportunities in the region.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways will provide all necessary infrastructural support for smooth operation of the cruise service, said a press release from the Ministry.
