Question 2392
Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Ganga river cruise from Varanasi on Friday, 13 January 2022. The 51-day cruise, being pitched as the world’s longest river cruise, is expected to reach its final destination - Dibrugarh in Assam - on 1 March. “The beginning of the world’s longest river cruise service on river Ganga is a landmark moment. It will herald a new age of tourism in India,” the Prime Minister said while flagging off the cruise virtually via video conference. He added that the cruise service will boost tourism and create new job opportunities. Set to sail from Varanasi, the cruise ship, MV Ganga Vilas, will cover 3,200 km over 51 days, crossing 27 river systems and several states before ending its journey at Dibrugarh. The voyage is packed with visits to 50 tourist spots, including World Heritage spots, national parks, river ghats, and major cities like Patna in Bihar, Sahibganj in Jharkhand, Kolkata in West Bengal, Dhaka in Bangladesh and Guwahati in Assam. It will make pit-stops to cover the famous Ganga Arti in Varanasi, the Buddhist site of Sarnath; and even Majuli, the largest river island in Assam. The travellers will also visit the Bihar School Of Yoga and Vikramshila University. The cruise will traverse through the Sunderbans in the Bay of Bengal delta, as well as the Kaziranga National Park. The vessel has three decks, 18 suites on board with a capacity of 36 tourists, with all the luxury amenities. The maiden voyage has 32 tourists from Switzerland signing up for the entire length of the journey. While it will be managed by private operators, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Waterways (MoPSW), has supported the project. The operator has already planned MV Ganga Vilas’s next voyage for the month of September this year, and bookings will open shortly. The tickets can be booked from the website of Antara river cruises. Match the following. Name of the place Its special feature a. Sarnath 1. Ganga Aarti b. Majuli 2. Buddhist site c. Varanasi 3. Largest river island in Assam
Answer
a - 2, b - 3, c - 1
Why?
The correct answer is 'Option (a-2, b-3, c-1)'. Key Points Sarnath is known for being a significant Buddhist site where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon. Majuli is recognized as the largest river island in Assam and is notable for its monastic and cultural heritage. Varanasi is famous for its religious significance and the Ganga Aarti, a spiritual and vibrant ritual performed on the banks of the River Ganges. Therefore, the correct answer is- 'Option (a-2, b-3, c-1)'. Additional Information Ganga Aarti in Varanasi: This spiritual ritual involves lighting lamps and chanting hymns on the Ganges' banks, attracting numerous tourists and pilgrims. Buddhist site at Sarnath: Important for its historical and religious significance in Buddhism. Majuli in Assam: An important cultural and ecological hotspot known for being the world's largest river island.