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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Assam Bengal Navigation
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5.0
45 reviews
Excellent
41
Very good
2
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Gabi Dick
Brisbane, Australia5 contributions
Mar 2020
This was the best and most memorable birthday trip ever, organised by historian Dr Irene Rogers and Antara Phookan (ABN) a historic river cruise along the lower Ganges.Our Cruise manager Romeet Kashyap, the best guide ever, Subhankar Sengupta,Chef Jatin Deka ensured that all our expectations were met and even more.
The moment we stepped on the boat we were not only honored guests but treated as family .
The food entertainment and service was all that you could wish for .The highlight for us was visiting the Berangar village and joining in the Holi celebrations with the children
I left my brand new Ipad in The Oberoi Hotel ,7 days later it was retrieved and given back all thanks to Rameet.
I cannot recommend Assam Bengal Navigation highly enough, in fact as soon as we are able to travel we will be on another cruise with them
The moment we stepped on the boat we were not only honored guests but treated as family .
The food entertainment and service was all that you could wish for .The highlight for us was visiting the Berangar village and joining in the Holi celebrations with the children
I left my brand new Ipad in The Oberoi Hotel ,7 days later it was retrieved and given back all thanks to Rameet.
I cannot recommend Assam Bengal Navigation highly enough, in fact as soon as we are able to travel we will be on another cruise with them
Written 12 May 2020
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.
"... we were not only honored guests but treated as family" - it's these very words that are music to our ears for it's exactly the way we want you to feel. Thank you, Gabi, for your beautiful review - we're so glad to know that it was the best birthday trip for you and we're grateful to have played a part in it. Thank you again and we hope to welcome you again.
Written 3 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kay B
9 contributions
Mar 2020
This holiday was the best escorted tour that I have ever been on. The staff, the itinerary and the memories are something I will always cherish. Our hostess has become a great friend, the boat manager and his staff anticipated our every need, and the guide was the best. He told the stories so we could live the experience. I have been on other exclusive escorted tours, they do not reach this benchmark in ensuring the safety of travellers, friendliness and empathy for a party of golden oldies. So impressive. Do yourself a favour and experience India through the care of ABNC to enjoy and immerse yourself in the colour, beauty and life of an emerging India. I was left wondering who lived in a third world country. Certainly not East Bengal.
Written 28 March 2020
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.
For this to be the best escorted tour you have ever been on is indeed a huge call, and we thank you for that. Thank you for your kind words and for choosing to travel to this little-visited corner of the world with Assam Bengal Navigation.
Written 3 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gabi D
1 contribution
Mar 2020 • Couples
We could not fault the Raj Mahal cruise .The Cruise manager Romet Kashyap and the staff who welcomed on board and treated us like family ,cared for our safety and all our needs while on board and onshore excursions.
Our guide Subhankar Sengupta bought alive the rich tapestry of life of the region by his vivid recounting history and customs.
Chef Jatin Deka produced delicious ,authentic food
Antara Phookan was our delightful host
We are looking forward to another journey with Assam Bengal Navigation and we highly recommend this company
Our guide Subhankar Sengupta bought alive the rich tapestry of life of the region by his vivid recounting history and customs.
Chef Jatin Deka produced delicious ,authentic food
Antara Phookan was our delightful host
We are looking forward to another journey with Assam Bengal Navigation and we highly recommend this company
Written 1 February 2021
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.
Thank you so much for a wonderful review of our Ganges cruise on ABN Rajmahal. Romeet, Jatin, Subhankar and Antara all thank you for choosing ABN. We do hope to welcome you again!
Written 20 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Irene R
4 contributions
Mar 2020
I travelled with a group from Australia who had a fascination for the history of the Hoogly, Kolkata and the British East India Company and Raj. It is hard to put into words the amazing trip we had. We were the last trip before the COVID-19 shutdown and we have all vowed to be one of the first groups back when the borders are re-opened to foreigners. It is easy to talk about the staff who provided exceptional service but harder to talk about the way they shared their lives and experiences with us, made us feel part of their family and cared for us in a really special way. It is also easy to talk about the chef and his food and specialties but not without feeling that nothing has tasted as good since. It is easy to talk about our Indian Guide Subhar whose knowledge was encyclopaedic but hard to talk about the life changing wisdom he imparted. Our host Antara Phookan of ABN ended up with a lot of "aunties" and "uncles" because of the way she embraced her guests and shared so much of life with us.
Most of our group were well travelled older people who have many other experiences to compare this one to. It was unanimous - ABN is special and unique and delivered well and truly beyond any expectations we had. Testament to this is the fact we are all managing to survive the shutdown because we can dream about our celebration cruise on the Brahmaputra when we are allowed back to India. Let's all get behind this company and make sure it can continue to make dreams come true.
Most of our group were well travelled older people who have many other experiences to compare this one to. It was unanimous - ABN is special and unique and delivered well and truly beyond any expectations we had. Testament to this is the fact we are all managing to survive the shutdown because we can dream about our celebration cruise on the Brahmaputra when we are allowed back to India. Let's all get behind this company and make sure it can continue to make dreams come true.
Written 11 May 2020
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.
Thank you, Irene, for your heartfelt words. It's difficult for us to respond to such a wonderful review as you have so authentically (and eloquently) encapsulated everything that we try to do at ABN that we are at a loss for words. All we can say is that we truly enjoyed the company of your group from Australia, and this cruise with your group will forever remain one of the most memorable. Thank you again.
Written 3 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
CaMK
Nelson, New Zealand28 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
I sailed up the Hooghli on the ABN Sukapha ship with some friends and we all had an amazing time. The crew took us ashore at so many amazing sites: a sari weaving village, a former Danish traiding post, brass making towns, and the hare Krishna temple ISKCON.
The crew shared such interesting stories about the local culture, pointed out great photo opportunities, kept us very safe and were wonderful company.
I've got to single out the ship's kitchen for praise. Our group had some tricky dietary requirements and the kitchen met them incredibly well. They prepared great fructose free, vegan, fodmap free and elimination meals for our group. It was uniquely attentive in a country where local cooking can be hard for dietary restrictions.
We had an incredible time, we'll always remember the amazing sites that ABN took us to. Their crew are very friendly and professional. Highly highly recommended!
(Some photos of the sites we visited attached)
The crew shared such interesting stories about the local culture, pointed out great photo opportunities, kept us very safe and were wonderful company.
I've got to single out the ship's kitchen for praise. Our group had some tricky dietary requirements and the kitchen met them incredibly well. They prepared great fructose free, vegan, fodmap free and elimination meals for our group. It was uniquely attentive in a country where local cooking can be hard for dietary restrictions.
We had an incredible time, we'll always remember the amazing sites that ABN took us to. Their crew are very friendly and professional. Highly highly recommended!
(Some photos of the sites we visited attached)
Written 27 February 2020
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.
Thank you for your review - it was a pleasure hosting you and your friends. No dietary restriction is too challenging for our amazing kitchen staff, so it's great to know that their efforts were appreciated. We hope to welcome you back to India again, perhaps this time on our Brahmaputra cruises. Thank you again!
Written 1 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Robyn W
Melbourne, Australia9 contributions
Dec 2019
My husband and I spent 4 nights cruising along Ganges from Kolkarta with friends aboard the ABN Rajmahal in December. From the pick up at Kolkarta airport to the drop off 4 days later we experienced hospitality at this finest. On board we enjoyed very comfortable surroundings, well organised and varied excursions, delicious food and drinks catering for all dietary requirements. The staff with no exception were very friendly and extremely helpful. We would thoroughly recommend travelling with this cruise company for an experience of a lifetime.
Written 28 February 2020
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.
Thank you for your wonderful review. It's so thrilling to hear that your cruise with us was an experience of a lifetime! We take great pride in our charming and helpful staff, and we'll be sure to let them know of your appreciation. Thank you again and we hope to welcome you back to India in the future.
Written 1 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jyoti
New Delhi, India29 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.
Melia R
Melbourne, Australia1 contribution
Dec 2019
We were fortunate enough to cruise the Ganges onboard the Sukapha in December 2019. We really enjoyed our time on the boat and all the staff, particularly Kunal, Ranjeet, Shubankah and Baba were a credit to the business. They made us feel so welcome from the moment we stepped on to the boat, and we learned so much about the local culture (not to mention sampling so much delicious food) on our river cruise.
We found the boat to be very clean, comfortable and beautifully appointed, with everything you could need to relax over a few days on the river. We also enjoyed the activities organised as part of the cruise and found this to be a valuable way to get a sense of the local lifestyle and learn about the history and cultural context of the region.
All in all a wonderful experience and we are looking forward to cruising with ABN in Assam in the future.
We found the boat to be very clean, comfortable and beautifully appointed, with everything you could need to relax over a few days on the river. We also enjoyed the activities organised as part of the cruise and found this to be a valuable way to get a sense of the local lifestyle and learn about the history and cultural context of the region.
All in all a wonderful experience and we are looking forward to cruising with ABN in Assam in the future.
Written 1 March 2020
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.
Thank you, Melia, for your wonderful review. Kunal, Ranjeet, Shubhankar and Baba are indeed a credit to our business, just like all of our staff. It's a pleasure to know that you had a relaxing few days on the Ganges and had an in-depth cultural introduction to West Bengal. We look forward to welcoming you again on our Brahmaputra cruises in Assam!
Written 9 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Greg B
11 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.
wrmomxg
Florida371 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.
Hi what are your sailing dates for the ganges cruise this year
Written 10 March 2021
Andy C
Llandysul, United Kingdom
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
Written 11 January 2020
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?
Written 12 January 2020
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