‘Cruising the Majestic Brahmaputra River’
ASSAM BENGAL NAVIGATION. Co
Cruising on Indian Rivers since 2003, Assam Bengal Navigation, this Indo-British company was the
first to open the doors to luxury long-distance Indian River expeditions to the world and we have since,
expanded our portfolio to own and operate a fleet of 4 specially-designed small ships on the Ganges and
Brahmaputra Rivers as well as safari eco-lodges and houseboats. We create unique, authentic culture &
nature - engaged expeditions, experienced in relative luxury on India’s greatest rivers.
Assam, which literally means ‘a peerless land’, is the gateway to Northeast India. With its blue
rivers that often resemble the sea; green mountains that are home to leopards and elephants;
and swathes of aromatic tea gardens forming the world’s largest tea-growing region, it’s easy to
understand why this state is a very special place on earth.
Assam is blessed with 5 national parks and 18 wildlife sanctuaries. Its topography is a melange
of tropical rainforests, deciduous forests, riverine grasslands, bamboo orchards and wetlands -
all of which support intricate ecosystems. In Assam, you can find the world’s largest
population of the Indian one-horned rhino, wild Asiactic water buffalo and eastern swamp deer
as well as one of the world’s highest densities of the Royal Bengal tiger. The state is also the
natural habitat of more than half of the 1200 varieties of birds recorded in the entire Indian
subcontinent - a resounding testimony of Assam’s place among the world’s richest biodiversity
zones.
Abundant not just in flora and fauna, the Brahmaputra river valley in Assam has long been
home to a multitude of ethno-cultural groups under various political-economic systems
throughout history. It’s believed that the source of Assamese culture developed when the
Tai-Shans (traced to either the South China or Myanmar regions) established the Ahom
kingdom in Assam and ruled it - unbroken - for 600 years, successfully fending off waves upon
waves of Mughal invasion until the dawn of the British Raj. Present-day Assam has a hybrid
culture that is largely rooted to the simple agrarian way of life that these fertile plains have
bestowed on the Assamese people.
This exceptional river cruising experience of the majestic Brahmaputra River offered by the
pioneers of luxury expedition cruising of the Indian subcontinent -
‘Assam Bengal Navigation’.Co, is the ideal introduction to the Brahmaputra river valley, while
experiencing vignettes of Assam’s rich culture and history.
Not only is the Brahmaputra one of the greatest rivers in the Indian Subcontinent, but it’s also
immensely vast, often resembling the sea in certain parts of its course. We are introducing three
short river cruising itineraries that cover stretches of the Brahmaputra river, taking guests from
the capital city all the way to the upper reaches of the state of Assam. The ‘Brahmaputra River
City & Beyond’ is a 2-night cruise that covers the beautiful outskirts of the capital, a perfect
taster of Assam for those that are short on time. We cruise upstream in the ‘Brahmaputra
Vignettes’, a 3-night itinerary that takes you from Guwahati to Silghat, close to the UNESCO
World Heritage Site of Kaziranga National Park. And, finally, the ‘Dancing Monks & Riverine
Culture’ 3-night cruise between Silghat and Neamati Ghat takes you on a journey to upper
‘ BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER CITY & BEYOND’
2 nights itinerary - ABN CHARAIDEW II
Guwahati - Sualkuchi (westerly direction) - South Bank Guwahati - Kurua (easterly direction) - Guwahati
Your River Cruise Itinerary
This cruise is for those who want to discover a different part of India whilst spending time truly
relaxing in the luxury of the Brahmaputra river. Just beyond the Brahmaputra River City, are
scenic hills and riverine village settlements which offer picturesque views to behold. Unique to
this river are its shifting sand islands that pop up and down every year, changing with the
currents. One of the many highlights of this cruise is a BBQ on one of these sand islands (or
sand bank) under a starry night, with no one else around for miles. Learn about Assam’s
unique indigeneous silks & textiles and why this silk-weaving epicentre of Sualkuchi is
thriving. In addition to meeting the artisans and weavers in this cluster, there is a folk cultural
performance at an idyllic Assam riverine village setting.
Highlights:
● Cruise the Brahmaputra river - one of the greatest rivers in the Indian Subcontinent -
on your boutique luxury ship, the ABN Charaidew II
● Wake up in the mornings to panoramic views of Assam’s natural beauty from the
middle of the river
● Immerse yourself in Assamese culture on walk into idyllic village settlements on
the river bank and temple visits
● Learn about Assam’s indigenous silks & textiles and enjoy a tribal folk cultural
dance performance
● Treat your taste buds to an array of indigenous cuisines from Assam
● Enjoy a BBQ on a private sandbank or sand island under a starry night with live
music, far away from urban life
Price: INR 66,400++ per person for 2 nights inclusiveof tax
BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER VALLEY MAP (NOT TO SCALE)
BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER CITY & BEYOND - EAST & WEST DIRECTION OF THE CAPITAL OUTSKIRTS
BRAHMAPUTRA VIGNETTES
- REPRESENTED BY THE BLACK LINE
DANCING MONKS & RIVERINE CULTURE - REPRESENTED BY THE WHITE LINE
‘BRAHMAPUTRA VIGNETTES’
Upstream or Downstream - 3 nights itinerary
‘Only available for private charter’
BRAHMAPUTRA UPSTREAM | 3N/4D | GUWAHATI TO SILGHAT
Your river journey on the Brahmaputra
India's Brahmaputra River is a massive waterway, being the only river on Earth clearly visible
from the moon during the Apollo missions. Flowing down from central Tibet through the
legendary Tsangpo gorges, the Brahmaputra river opens out as it enters Assam to flow across
that state and then through Bangladesh to flow out through the vast Sundarbans Delta,
merging with the Ganges River as they discharge into the Bay of Bengal.
The Brahmaputra river may be little-navigated today in comparison to the colonial times - the
pioneering river cruise company, ‘Assam Bengal Navigation’ established in 2003 is the only
private family-run luxury operator besides government tie-ups. The river in places can be up to
20 miles wide and in the monsoon it floods the entire Assam plain.The river is so vast that any
river cruise expedition undertaken here can be movingly wondrous, as you pass through this
great emptiness of water, sand and shoal. Passengers of our Brahmaputra river cruises enjoy
their river trips in peace and tranquility with very little human activity on the riverbank. That
means the wildlife and bird life are profuse.
This particular itinerary is primarily about the beauty of the river cruising journey in itself as it
takes you upstream against the heavy undercurrents of this mighty river, from the capital city,
the gateway of north-east India to Silghat, the nearest docking area before reaching Kaziranga
National Park. One of the many highlights of this cruise is a BBQ on one of these sand islands
(or sand bank) under a starry night, with no one else around for miles. Enjoy an exclusive visit
to an Assam tea plantation during the tea plucking season as well as a chance to discover a
traditional Assamese village.
Highlights:
● Cruising the Brahmaputra river - one of the greatest rivers in the Indian Subcontinent -
on your boutique expedition ship, offering everchanging panoramic views of Assam’s
natural beauty
● Immerse yourself in Assamese culture on walks to the villages of riverside communities
and temple visits
● Assam Tea Plantation visit and tea tasting session
● Treat your taste buds to an array of exciting cuisines from Assam with an introduction to
indigenous tribal cuisine, seldom before tasted outside of this region
● Enjoy a BBQ on a private sandbank or sand island under a starry night, far away from
urban life
Price - Only available for private charter of the entire ship. Please inquire separately.
‘DANCING MONKS & RIVERINE CULTURE’
3 nights itinerary - ABN Sukapha
BRAHMAPUTRA UPSTREAM | 3N/4D | SILGHAT TO NEAMATI GHAT
Fixed Departures based on advance bookings only
or private charter the ship of your choosing
Your Cruising Itinerary in Upper Assam
The Brahmaputra river valley is not only blessed with abundant forest cover, but also a unique
culture that’s rooted in a simple, agrarian, self-sufficient way of life for the Assamese people.
On this boutique expedition cruise up the Brahmaputra river, discover one of the highlights of
Assam - Majuli, one of the world’s largest river islands and a microcosm of Assamese culture
that can be accessed only by ferry or country boats. Furthermore, we will be crossing Kaziranga
National Park on your right with expansive views of the flora and fauna of this scenic park.
Many a times, our cruise guests have been lucky enough to spot wildlife on these banks,
especially the royal Bengal tiger who loves to bask in the winter sun. And no trip to Assam can
be complete without a taste of its delightful cuisine and tea, so there’ll be plenty of interesting
dishes to try from indigenous cuisines and - of course - lots of cups of the finest tea-garden
fresh tea!
Highlights:
● Cruising the majestic Brahmaputra river - one of the greatest rivers in the Indian
Subcontinent.
● Discover the rural idyll of Majuli, one of the world’s largest river islands and a
microcosm of Assamese culture
● Watch in delight as the ‘dancing monks’ of Majuli perform Sattriya, a graceful classical
dance from Assam originating in the 15th century
● Wake up in the mornings to panoramic views of Assam’s natural beauty from your cabin
● Immerse yourself in tribal culture on walks to the riverside villages of indigenous
communities
● Savour indigenous tribal cuisines and various blends of Assam teas at a cooking
demonstration and tasting session
● Experience the magic of an Assamese sunset as you relax on our comfortable loungers
on the sundeck
● Keep an eye out for the endangered Gangetic river dolphin - a wondrous sight on the
Brahmaputra river
● Cruise along the Kaziranga national park and spot wild animals from the ship
Price: INR 75,000++ per person for 3 nights inclusiveof taxes
PRICE INCLUSIONS:
The cost per person for each river cruise itinerary includes all meals, all activities as mentioned above including
folk cultural performances, your stay aboard our ship, English/Hindi speaking Guide and Naturalist, freshly
brewed Assam Tea all day and GST. Pick up or drop to Airport/Hotel is at an additional charge for a private
transfer using a Toyota Innova.
Your luxury boutique ship - ABN Charaidew II
Our latest cruise vessel ABN Charaidew II started cruising on the Brahmaputra in January 2019
and is the ideal way to explore the river valley in style and comfort. The decor of the vessel
reflects a sense of homecoming to Assam, with touches of colonial elegance, brought to life by
traditional Assamese designs on hand-woven cotton fabrics.
The ship has 18 cabins spread over two decks and can host a total of 36 clients at a time. While
the 2 deluxe cabins (with private balcony) along with the 12 twin/double standard cabins are
on the upper deck, the main deck offers the 04 standard cabins with Queen size bed. The main
deck also holds the dining hall and a small gym and spa; while the saloon and bar is on the sun
deck.
To watch a video of our upper deck standard cabin -
To watch a video of our upper deck deluxe cabin with balcony -
PLEASE NOTE
* All the above cruising itineraries are subject to river and weather conditions.
*To operate any of the fixed departures, we will need a minimum booking of 15 passengers. The other
more flexible option is to privately charter the ship for your group.
* We will hold a provisional booking on receipt of 10% advance which will be refundable if the clients
cancel 10 days in advance of the departure date.
*Booking confirmation is subject to receipt of full payment (non-refundable, non-transferable) a week in
advance.
* We reserve the right to cancel the cruise a week in advance if we have not received the confirmed
booking of 15 full-paying passengers in the fixed departures and likewise, if we have not received the
full payment of the charter prior to a week in advance.
*All pick up and drop transfers between airports or hotels are at an additional cost.
*For any special event or celebration, all details must be informed before as last-minute set-ups will not
be entertained.
* Please ensure that the clients are committed to respect the environment, the people they will meet, the
culture, the ship and the crew onboard.
*We are limited to daylight hours (The winter sun sets at 16:00hrs in north-east India), winter fog and
the flow of the heavy underlying currents of this river.
Your boutique expedition ship - ABN Sukapha
Our second ship, ABN Sukapha , joined the fleet in Assam in October 2006. With a maximum
group size of 24 guests, she was designed to closely resemble ABN Charaidew (our grand old
lady of the fleet that is only operational for very exclusive itineraries), both as a result of
popular demand and reasons of practicality, retaining many of the features which make our
original vessel so popular but adding a small spa.
In an effort to conserve India’s forests, her 12 upper deck cabins are bamboo-paneled,
air-conditioned, roomy with en suite bathrooms and floor to ceiling panoramic windows.
There is a spa and a saloon with a library. The dining room is on the main deck and a spacious
sundeck at the very top. Furniture on board is locally made; objet d'arts in the saloon are from
Assam and Bengal; and fabrics are all locally sourced by the finest artisans in all of the state.
To watch a video of our cruise onboard ABN Sukapha -
KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK, A UNESCO World heritage site
Combine your River cruising holiday with an Assam wildlife safari experience
( 10 rhino sightings guaranteed per jeep safari :)
Kaziranga National Park is a World Heritage Site, a tiger reserve and home to some of the finest wildlife
viewing in Asia. With extensive grasslands, marshes and forests, the vast expanse of the park stretches
from the banks of the Brahmaputra River to the dense forests of the Karbi Mikir Hills. Wildlife includes
the world’s largest population of great Indian one-horned Rhinoceros, tigers, leopards, panthers, bears,
elephants, wild pigs, hog deer, swamp deer, buffalo, and pelicans, storks, and other waterfowl. The
national park has been recognised as a conservation success where a small population of 12 rhinos has
increased to over 2,000. Everything appears larger than life at Kaziranga - even some of the largest
snakes in the world, including the reticulated and Indian pythons, king cobra and branded krait, are
found here. The reserve is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with almost 500 species encountered here.
SAFARI ECO-LODGE IN KAZIRANGA - DIPHLU RIVER LODGE
Ideal stay in Kaziranga National Park, located in front of Diphlu River overlooking the park
For an extension to Kaziranga National Park, we recommend a minimum of a 3-night stay at our
property, Diphlu River Lodge to truly enjoy the experience of Kaziranga. Set in the lap of nature on the
periphery of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Diphlu River
Lodge is a boutique eco-chic safari lodge that’s built in the style of a rustic Assamese village with all
creature comforts. With only a small rivulet separating the lodge from the national park, it’s not
uncommon for guests at Diphlu River Lodge to sight one-horned rhinos and wild buffaloes bathing
from the Machaan or river-facing cottages. In addition to jeep safari’s with 4 different ranges to choose
from, we offer a boat safari picnic, or buffer zone nature walk with picnic or Assam tea plantation visit
with tea in lieu of a jeep safari. Furthermore, guests can enjoy the services of our new spa in Diphlu
River Lodge and also visit the rural weaving centre in our premises. Over the years Diphlu River Lodge
played host to wildlife enthusiasts worldwide as well to the TRH William and Catherine, Duke &
Duchess of Cambridge chose to stay at Diphlu River Lodge during their royal visit to India in 2016. Our
PRIVATE HOUSEBOAT CRUISE ON THE BRAHMAPUTRA
Ideal for couples or a small family with kids
The private houseboat cruise aboard M.V. Rudra Singha on the Brahmaputra river includes premium
accommodation (double or twin-bedded room with a private bathroom) in an air-conditioned wooden
houseboat; personalised service from a captain and guide/naturalist; delicious meals and snacks,
showcasing the best of regional cuisine prepared by our chef; endless cups of tea and coffee; daily
housekeeping; and Wi-Fi. The decor is thoughtful yet tasteful, adorned with exquisite handlooms from
Northeast India and furniture made by local craftsmen. There are also two bicycles on board for guests
to use on shore whenever they fancy a ride.
