Assam Bengal Navigation
Assam Bengal Navigation
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Assam Bengal Navigation is the pioneer of river cruising in India. With a fleet of 4 boutique ships and a private houseboat on the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, the company offers a unique way to experience India and her riverine cultures.
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5.0
37 reviews
Excellent
33
Very good
2
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Martin D
1 contribution
Oct. 2023 • Family
What a gorgeous trip. We were completely spoilt by an excellent staff, a fantastic chef and knowledgeable guides. There can be no better way of seeing the Indian countryside than by gliding gently past it whilst on the sundeck with a nice cold drink. The trips out were fascinating, whether seeing terracotta temples, the Nawab's palace or just walking through villages. On returning to the boat we were given a cold, wet towel and a refreshing dring whilst our shoes were taken to be cleaned. The food was excellent, with a choice of Indian, european or vegetarian main courses - don't come if you want to lose weight. I cannot fault this trip.
Written 11 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wrmomxg
Florida338 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
I would suggest all who board the riverboat to read the book “The Braided River”. It will give you some of the back story to the people, politics and the river and not only it’s confluence but influence! The riverboat was finely cared for and our cabin was perfectly suited for us ( deck). The staff is very caring in a genuine manner and make it all possible for you to see what the journey has to offer. Truly the means of transportation, the mighty
River, the Kaziranga Park and the people of this company and Assam are a treasure!
River, the Kaziranga Park and the people of this company and Assam are a treasure!
Written 5 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David F
Sydney, Australia529 contributions
Apr. 2023 • Couples
In 2019 we cruised the Ganges for 7 nights with Assam Bengal Navigation (ABN) and had such a good time we booked the Brahmaputra Maximum 10-night cruise for 2020 also with ABN. Due to Covid the cruise was postponed to 2021, then to 2022. Finally, we recently returned from Brahmaputra River Cruise from Dibrugarh/Jorhat to Guwahati on ABN Charaidew II commencing on 1st April 2023.
The Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary river which flows through Tibet, North-eastern India, and Bangladesh. It is the 9th largest river in the world by discharge, and the 15th longest. At about 3,969 km long, the Brahmaputra is an important river for irrigation and transportation in the region. The average depth of the river is 30m with the average width said to be 5km however is also said to be as wide as 12km to 24km.
There were 20 passengers on this cruise with 16 crew members so once again the service was excellent. Having said that, I suspect that the service would have been the same, even with a full complement of 36 passengers.
Embarkation point for the cruise was Neamati Ghat and we chose to fly into Dibrugarh to take in the countryside on the 4 hour drive rather than to fly into Jorhat for a 1.5 hour drive.
Starting from our hotel pick in Dibrugarh up to our transfer to Guwahati airport on completion of the cruise, everything ran like clockwork. The cruise manager Pratik Mazumder was always visible and helpful.
Our delux cabin was enormous and included a private balcony which we fully utilized. The ABN Charaidew II is a flat bottom vessel and as such is wider which allows for larger cabins than other vessels.
The excursions each day, sometimes two, were well organized by the onboard guide Mohan Borah who is knowledgeable and personable. Each night we assembled in the saloon where Mohan reviewed the day’s events and what to expect the next day. Some nights were treated to documentaries.
On all our excursion there were always crew to help us on and off the vessel as well as at each excursion point. Although all the excursions were excellent, there were some standouts:
- The visit to two river villages mixing with the villagers.
One, a Mishing village called Chowguri, was said to have probably never been visited before by tourists.
- Three safaris to various parts of Kaziranga National Park
o especially the second where, on the return to the vessel driving through a tea field, a female tiger was resting only 20 metres from the road.
o on the third safari, whilst leaving the park, a mother elephant trumpeting, charged out of the bushes at a jeep two in front of ours and finished within 5 metres of the jeep - quite an experience
The chefs do a great job and all meals were served in the dining room, apart from one dinner BBQ held on a sandbank. Breakfast was a pretty standard affair but adequate. Lunches consisted of soup, buffet and dessert. Dinner included all that plus an appetizer. There was always plenty of choices and no one went hungry.
All the crew were great but cannot be named individually. Unlike the Ganges cruise this cruise included two ladies Adin and Esther (with the enormous smile) in the dining room. Mohan Borah was a standout, and I had a lot of fun with the naturalist, Deep.
Another thing that was very pleasing was that all the crew that we encountered had good English which for us made the cruise even more enjoyable.
Research will show that the river is full of sandbanks which move and change shape on a regular basis. However, none of the research could match the beauty and splendour of the Brahmaputra – it has to be seen to be believed and is totally different to the Ganges/Hooghly rivers.
In summary we totally enjoyed our cruise and would have no trouble in recommending it to anyone.
The Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary river which flows through Tibet, North-eastern India, and Bangladesh. It is the 9th largest river in the world by discharge, and the 15th longest. At about 3,969 km long, the Brahmaputra is an important river for irrigation and transportation in the region. The average depth of the river is 30m with the average width said to be 5km however is also said to be as wide as 12km to 24km.
There were 20 passengers on this cruise with 16 crew members so once again the service was excellent. Having said that, I suspect that the service would have been the same, even with a full complement of 36 passengers.
Embarkation point for the cruise was Neamati Ghat and we chose to fly into Dibrugarh to take in the countryside on the 4 hour drive rather than to fly into Jorhat for a 1.5 hour drive.
Starting from our hotel pick in Dibrugarh up to our transfer to Guwahati airport on completion of the cruise, everything ran like clockwork. The cruise manager Pratik Mazumder was always visible and helpful.
Our delux cabin was enormous and included a private balcony which we fully utilized. The ABN Charaidew II is a flat bottom vessel and as such is wider which allows for larger cabins than other vessels.
The excursions each day, sometimes two, were well organized by the onboard guide Mohan Borah who is knowledgeable and personable. Each night we assembled in the saloon where Mohan reviewed the day’s events and what to expect the next day. Some nights were treated to documentaries.
On all our excursion there were always crew to help us on and off the vessel as well as at each excursion point. Although all the excursions were excellent, there were some standouts:
- The visit to two river villages mixing with the villagers.
One, a Mishing village called Chowguri, was said to have probably never been visited before by tourists.
- Three safaris to various parts of Kaziranga National Park
o especially the second where, on the return to the vessel driving through a tea field, a female tiger was resting only 20 metres from the road.
o on the third safari, whilst leaving the park, a mother elephant trumpeting, charged out of the bushes at a jeep two in front of ours and finished within 5 metres of the jeep - quite an experience
The chefs do a great job and all meals were served in the dining room, apart from one dinner BBQ held on a sandbank. Breakfast was a pretty standard affair but adequate. Lunches consisted of soup, buffet and dessert. Dinner included all that plus an appetizer. There was always plenty of choices and no one went hungry.
All the crew were great but cannot be named individually. Unlike the Ganges cruise this cruise included two ladies Adin and Esther (with the enormous smile) in the dining room. Mohan Borah was a standout, and I had a lot of fun with the naturalist, Deep.
Another thing that was very pleasing was that all the crew that we encountered had good English which for us made the cruise even more enjoyable.
Research will show that the river is full of sandbanks which move and change shape on a regular basis. However, none of the research could match the beauty and splendour of the Brahmaputra – it has to be seen to be believed and is totally different to the Ganges/Hooghly rivers.
In summary we totally enjoyed our cruise and would have no trouble in recommending it to anyone.
Written 8 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
luandanjenny
Somerset, UK22 contributions
Mar. 2023
We could not have been better looked after on our 7 day cruise along the Brahmaputra River last month.
Mr. Pratik, our Cruise Director, and his staff took wonderful care of us all. Our ship was stylish and our cabin very comfortable.
We also enjoyed the excursions offering a window into a little known part of that huge country.
Mr. Pratik, our Cruise Director, and his staff took wonderful care of us all. Our ship was stylish and our cabin very comfortable.
We also enjoyed the excursions offering a window into a little known part of that huge country.
Written 27 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Esther P
Chicago, IL1,402 contributions
Mar. 2023 • Solo
I enjoyed a week on the RajMahal in March 2023. It is a wonderful experience and an opportunity to see the “real” India. I chose to do the Hoogli River itinerary as it us narrower than the Brahmaputra (which can be over a mile wide at some points), and I wanted to see life along the shore.
Everything about it is perfect: the nice size cabins with floor to ceiling windows, the food and the professional, yet friendly service. I came to learn that the managers hire and train locals to work on the boat, and with this training they can continue to work in other areas of tourism. So not only are they giving passengers a wonderful experience, but are giving locals opportunity.
The food is wonderful -- there are always two or three salads, vegetable dishes, main dishes, lots of fruit, a cheese tray, and very tempting desserts
There is an egg chef at breakfast.
Normally there are two excursions a day. There is a briefing the night before so you know what to expect. The guide includes a short intro. on the site or village we will be visiting and also info on what to wear (sometimes you have to cover your knees,etc), if photos are allowed, and any other details.
When you return to the boat, there is a cold towel waiting for you and a juice or non-alcoholic drink. This is a good way to know some of the drinks that are served upstairs. I especially liked their “Blue Lagoon.”
There are on-board cultural programs and on the day where there was one short excursion in the morning and the rest of the day is sailing, there were “classes” like a Wheelhouse and Engine room tour, a Saree and Dhoti dress-up (lots of fun), a cooking demo, and a talk on India after independence.
I loved the spa -- the masseur (male) does all the treatments. He is also trained in Ayurveda. Prices are super-reasonable. It is tempting to have a massage every day!
They use purified river water in the taps, showers and for laundry. Drinking water comes aboard in huge containers and they refill the carafes in the cabins. There is a refill station on the second level and you can also ask at any bar for a refill.
They make it easy at the end of the tour - you can pay your bill with a credit card, USD, euro, GBP or rupees for any extras like alcoholic drinks, laundry, spa treatments, gratuities and any other incidentals.
I would love to return and do another of this company’s cruises on the Brahmaputra.
Everything about it is perfect: the nice size cabins with floor to ceiling windows, the food and the professional, yet friendly service. I came to learn that the managers hire and train locals to work on the boat, and with this training they can continue to work in other areas of tourism. So not only are they giving passengers a wonderful experience, but are giving locals opportunity.
The food is wonderful -- there are always two or three salads, vegetable dishes, main dishes, lots of fruit, a cheese tray, and very tempting desserts
There is an egg chef at breakfast.
Normally there are two excursions a day. There is a briefing the night before so you know what to expect. The guide includes a short intro. on the site or village we will be visiting and also info on what to wear (sometimes you have to cover your knees,etc), if photos are allowed, and any other details.
When you return to the boat, there is a cold towel waiting for you and a juice or non-alcoholic drink. This is a good way to know some of the drinks that are served upstairs. I especially liked their “Blue Lagoon.”
There are on-board cultural programs and on the day where there was one short excursion in the morning and the rest of the day is sailing, there were “classes” like a Wheelhouse and Engine room tour, a Saree and Dhoti dress-up (lots of fun), a cooking demo, and a talk on India after independence.
I loved the spa -- the masseur (male) does all the treatments. He is also trained in Ayurveda. Prices are super-reasonable. It is tempting to have a massage every day!
They use purified river water in the taps, showers and for laundry. Drinking water comes aboard in huge containers and they refill the carafes in the cabins. There is a refill station on the second level and you can also ask at any bar for a refill.
They make it easy at the end of the tour - you can pay your bill with a credit card, USD, euro, GBP or rupees for any extras like alcoholic drinks, laundry, spa treatments, gratuities and any other incidentals.
I would love to return and do another of this company’s cruises on the Brahmaputra.
Written 24 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1land2ps
Australia902 contributions
Jan. 2023
We did a 7-night cruise with ABN in January 2023 - the River Island Cruise.
Travelling this way is expensive (for us, anyway) but the Brahmaputra is central to life in Assam, and this is an inimitable way to see and experience it.
Overall we enjoyed it. But 7 nights was long enough - although there are longer cruise options for people who want them.
1. The itinerary was slow-paced - we spent the first 2 days moored in the same place. There was variety of activities - natural attractions, cultural experiences (including dance and music performances on the boat) and built heritage - and they were mostly all interesting. I would have liked more.
2. The boat was relatively small (18 cabins). It was tastefully decorated, with dining room, lounge and good-sized outdoor deck - all pretty low key. No casinos or tacky stuff like that. The cabins are comfortable but not luxurious - ours (bottom of the range) was like a double room in a 4 star hotel - just enough space around the bed but a good-sized bathroom with strangely spacious walk-in shower.
3. The staff were uniformly well-managed, professional and friendly - all local people. The naturalists, who lead safaris and give evening presentations, were well-informed.
4. We were disappointed with the food, given Assam is a state with wonderful local cuisine (which we enjoyed at other accommodation). Offerings were mostly mainstream Indian and international (latter sometimes bland and/or not well done).
5. There was a long list of cruises on the ABN website, but we were told our 1st preference was not running (after initially being told it was). We were offered only a few other dates for 7-night Brahmaputra cruises in early 2023. We ended up on a full boat (unusual, according to fellow passengers with experience of ABN cruises).
On this cruise one group accounted for 75% of passengers: there were 6 passengers not in the group, and sometimes it felt as if we were an afterthought.
6. There were no children, and it's an environment more appropriate for adults with insufficient space for noise and play. Check with ABN if you're worried there might be children/younger people on a cruise - I'm not sure of the rules around this.
All the Assam cruises that I researched were similarly pricey - and, of course, this style of travel isn't for everybody (not us, usually). But because of the extraordinary access to this mighty river, it was a memorable experience.
Travelling this way is expensive (for us, anyway) but the Brahmaputra is central to life in Assam, and this is an inimitable way to see and experience it.
Overall we enjoyed it. But 7 nights was long enough - although there are longer cruise options for people who want them.
1. The itinerary was slow-paced - we spent the first 2 days moored in the same place. There was variety of activities - natural attractions, cultural experiences (including dance and music performances on the boat) and built heritage - and they were mostly all interesting. I would have liked more.
2. The boat was relatively small (18 cabins). It was tastefully decorated, with dining room, lounge and good-sized outdoor deck - all pretty low key. No casinos or tacky stuff like that. The cabins are comfortable but not luxurious - ours (bottom of the range) was like a double room in a 4 star hotel - just enough space around the bed but a good-sized bathroom with strangely spacious walk-in shower.
3. The staff were uniformly well-managed, professional and friendly - all local people. The naturalists, who lead safaris and give evening presentations, were well-informed.
4. We were disappointed with the food, given Assam is a state with wonderful local cuisine (which we enjoyed at other accommodation). Offerings were mostly mainstream Indian and international (latter sometimes bland and/or not well done).
5. There was a long list of cruises on the ABN website, but we were told our 1st preference was not running (after initially being told it was). We were offered only a few other dates for 7-night Brahmaputra cruises in early 2023. We ended up on a full boat (unusual, according to fellow passengers with experience of ABN cruises).
On this cruise one group accounted for 75% of passengers: there were 6 passengers not in the group, and sometimes it felt as if we were an afterthought.
6. There were no children, and it's an environment more appropriate for adults with insufficient space for noise and play. Check with ABN if you're worried there might be children/younger people on a cruise - I'm not sure of the rules around this.
All the Assam cruises that I researched were similarly pricey - and, of course, this style of travel isn't for everybody (not us, usually). But because of the extraordinary access to this mighty river, it was a memorable experience.
Written 7 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrea H
18 contributions
Jan. 2023 • Couples
The boat is wonderful - not only comfortable but elegant as well. The cabins were very pleasant with big sliding doors so you can sit and watch life on the river banks. Bathroom was small but had a good shower.
All the staff are lovely and the food excellent.
All the staff are lovely and the food excellent.
Written 6 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jyoti
New Delhi, India27 contributions
Jan. 2023
Me and my daughter went on a one night cruise on the Rudrasinga 1.
Our first impresssion of the boat was that it was a beautifully done up boat … true to the place where it sails …with the decor taking from the local crafts and weaves…very well done. Beautiful .
Kirti ,the manager ,met us and escorted us to the boat .He discussed our plans and since we were not keen on doing the pobitara which we had already done a couple of days back ,he suggested Sualkuchi .So after discussion ,it was decided that we would do sualkuchi the first day and then sail upstream the next day . And so we set sail …
Throughout Kirti was always at hand pointing out interesting things or spotting birds and making our stay overall comfortable .He also has a good knowledge of the entire area and is a good conversationist.
The food was very good with lots of variety and the chef is to be complemented for that .He ensured that we had ample variety at each meal and all well done.
The other staff too whether it was Sagar or the other boys were all very courteous and nice .
The boat is ideal for 2 people and can fit even 3. The sit outs ,the dining area -all are very spacious and well done.
Now the only reason that I have given a 4 rating is that the downstream to Sualkuchi and then upstream the next day was not a good idea. Even if we had done it the other way around, which was initially suggested by Kirti , it still would not have been a good idea. The reason is that we started from Guwahati and took some time to get away from the construction of the city ….the urban built feel ….before we felt surrounded by the quiet of the countryside / nature and really started enjoying being on the river…but the next day we were again crossing the entire city to go upstream …so a major part of the cruise time went in again going past this constructed concrete feel which is of course no fun …. And by the time we crossed it and started enjoying the open nature feel ,it was time to turn back and again go past half the city to the docking point . So all in all at least 50 to 60 % time was just spent across the city . I feel this could have been avoided if we had kept going in one direction since we wanted to do longer sailing . Also I feel that especially for Indian guests who are on this one night cruise,the focus should be sailing and not these short excursions. They take away from the cruise rather than adding to it is what I felt . Or at least the guests should be given this option .If I were to do it again from Guwahati, I would ask not to be taken off board at all except to the sand bank in the evening but to just sail in one direction whichever side is prettier and then to return back just to deboard . This would make the experience much more memorable and experiential .
Overall , it was a unique experience which I would highly recommend.
Our first impresssion of the boat was that it was a beautifully done up boat … true to the place where it sails …with the decor taking from the local crafts and weaves…very well done. Beautiful .
Kirti ,the manager ,met us and escorted us to the boat .He discussed our plans and since we were not keen on doing the pobitara which we had already done a couple of days back ,he suggested Sualkuchi .So after discussion ,it was decided that we would do sualkuchi the first day and then sail upstream the next day . And so we set sail …
Throughout Kirti was always at hand pointing out interesting things or spotting birds and making our stay overall comfortable .He also has a good knowledge of the entire area and is a good conversationist.
The food was very good with lots of variety and the chef is to be complemented for that .He ensured that we had ample variety at each meal and all well done.
The other staff too whether it was Sagar or the other boys were all very courteous and nice .
The boat is ideal for 2 people and can fit even 3. The sit outs ,the dining area -all are very spacious and well done.
Now the only reason that I have given a 4 rating is that the downstream to Sualkuchi and then upstream the next day was not a good idea. Even if we had done it the other way around, which was initially suggested by Kirti , it still would not have been a good idea. The reason is that we started from Guwahati and took some time to get away from the construction of the city ….the urban built feel ….before we felt surrounded by the quiet of the countryside / nature and really started enjoying being on the river…but the next day we were again crossing the entire city to go upstream …so a major part of the cruise time went in again going past this constructed concrete feel which is of course no fun …. And by the time we crossed it and started enjoying the open nature feel ,it was time to turn back and again go past half the city to the docking point . So all in all at least 50 to 60 % time was just spent across the city . I feel this could have been avoided if we had kept going in one direction since we wanted to do longer sailing . Also I feel that especially for Indian guests who are on this one night cruise,the focus should be sailing and not these short excursions. They take away from the cruise rather than adding to it is what I felt . Or at least the guests should be given this option .If I were to do it again from Guwahati, I would ask not to be taken off board at all except to the sand bank in the evening but to just sail in one direction whichever side is prettier and then to return back just to deboard . This would make the experience much more memorable and experiential .
Overall , it was a unique experience which I would highly recommend.
Written 18 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg B
12 contributions
Dec. 2022
Our ten day trip down the Brahmaputra on the CharaidewII was luxurious. We could not have been better looked after. All the staff were wonderful. The guided day trips from the boat were diverse, interesting and well organised.We saw many birds, wild boar, elephants, rhinos and wild buffalo. The villages we visited were friendly and kind. It was a wonderful opportunity to met locals and see how they live and work. The access to the temples was excellent, The history of Assam was well covered by visits to interesting archeological sites. the commentary of the guides was well done.The dancing at the monastery was outstanding.
This is the second cruise we have done with Assam Bengal Navigation and the were both top quality and very good value for money.
This is the second cruise we have done with Assam Bengal Navigation and the were both top quality and very good value for money.
Written 4 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karan K
1 contribution
Aug. 2022 • Friends
Worst managing service.👎
Manager is so rude. He doesn't even know how to behave with crew and staff
Manager is so rude. He doesn't even know how to behave with crew and staff
Written 30 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flecka
Mumbai, India2 contributions
Hi what are your sailing dates for the ganges cruise this year
Andy C
Llandysul, UK
HI we are due to cruise with you very soon and need to know if we will have any 4/5g coverage and mobile phone signal, it is very important as we are both self employed? Andy
ABN
2 contributions
Hi Andy, thanks for your question. We do have 4G network in India but the signal strength differs greatly as we cruise into more and more rural areas. Could you tell us which dates you're cruising and the river?