Imagine a journey to the world's largest mangrove gene pool abroad a luxury liner surfing the Internet and yet savouring the beauty of the awe-inspiring Gangetic delta.

If that sounds impossible, think again. The mystic Sundarbans with its tidal crisscrossing waterways, countless islands, mangrove forests and royal Bengal tigers would now be offered to tourists from home and abroad with the experience of luxury cruising.

Kolkata-based Vivada Cruises, a project of Vivada Inland Waterways Ltd., is launching this month a day-and-night luxury river cruise service with top star facilities to the Sundarbans from here.

The cruise comes as a complete package that combines luxury with eco-tourism, adventure sports, leisure and nature trek on a 400-km trip.

Vivada is launching the service, the first such cruising experience in India, along with West Bengal Forest Development Corporation (WBFDC).

'It will provide a unique experience of Bengal hospitality, art and culture and service of international standards. It will be a lifetime experience,' said M.V. Nath, chairman of Vivada Inland Waterways Ltd.

'We will take the tourists to the creeks in smaller crafts from the cruiser,' Nath told reporters.

The three-deck cruiser with AC rooms will take tourists to heritage sites like Bandel, Chandannagore and Murshidabad along the Ganges during April, May and June when people visit Sundarbans less, he said.

'Thanks to the cruiser now Sundarbans can be experienced even in monsoon. Though it is considered off season the place looks best during monsoon,' said WBFDC managing director Arin Ghosh.

The cruise will have facilities ranging from conferencing, Internet, global positioning system, multi-cuisine restaurant, art gallery, library and open-air gym among others.

The packages are between Rs.15,000 and Rs.20,000 covering Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary, tiger reserves, Bhagbatpur Crocodile Project and other forest reserves.

Any takers for a star cruise to Sundarbans while reading Amitava Ghosh's 'The Hungry Tide' set in the wild water world?

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