Welcome to our little fleet of traditional Bangladeshi boats, each painstakingly built and outfitted for your cruising pleasure...
The "B613" - the largest sailing boat in Bengal!
Our first boat, lovingly known as the "B613" , named after the 'Little Prince' story by Saint Exupéry. She was painstakingly converted in 1997 from one of the largest wooden hulled country river boats in the country. It was transformed using traditional carpenters into a cruising boat of international standard, with not a little input by Yves Marre. The star of our little fleet is of the 'Malar' type, a traditional variety of Bangladeshi river boat. She measures 93 feets in length and is 23 feets wide, has six double cabins, four bathrooms, two showers, a well-equipped kitchen and both covered and open decks on the prow. The original rigging was rebuilt with a twenty meter tall mast supporting two trapezoidal magnificent, hand-woven sails that are over 250 square meters in size and make a remarkable sight with their deep red ochre color. The polished teakwood deck measures eleven meters in length and six and a half meters broad. The woven, arched bamboo roof platform is a favorite place from which to admire the beautiful sunsets. One of the few compromises with the 'present', are the two American 110 hp engines (Detroit Diesel). B613 is the largest traditional sailing boat in Bengal!
The "Flêche d'Or"
The second boat in our fleet was also built by the famous Brahmaputra carpenters, according to their traditions and ancestral technologies. It is of the traditional 'Panchi' class. These boats were used a few thousand years ago for rowing races between villages. They were broadened later, (without loosing any of their very original elegance) for a fast transport of troops across the region's numerous rivers. Later on, this hybrid version was kept and is still used to transport passengers. This boat is the longest of its type in the country, measuring over 72 feet long. She is fully equipped to offer comfortable day or half-day cruises around Dhaka, its old city and the surrounding countryside. The Flêche d'Or is perfect for offering convenient cruises for airline crew and transit passengers, even if halting for only 3 hours to take a short, very scenic and comfortable cruise on the waters of the 'Country of a Thousand Rivers'.
Our
"Little Prince"
The Little Prince is our latest baby, a beautiful custom-built traditional boat, just perfect for small groups and short river journeys. We've also built this boat with the same respect for the local traditions. He is fitted with a little double sail, a 6hp diesel engine, cushions & bolsters and of course oars for pleasure paddling. This allows a unique experience of riverine realities of the country. Although this type of boat usually carries up to 20 passengers, we limit its capacity to 6, to let you comfortably discover the life along the river.
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CONTIC
TOURS & CRUISES
Your tour & cruise specialists in Bangladesh
House 183, Road 69,
Gulshan 2, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
Phones:
+88 02 881 4851, 881 4823, 881 4824
Fax:
+88 02 881 4824
Email:
mail@contic.com
Website: www.contic.com
Updated: March 2004
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