Assam Bengal Navigation River Cruise, Kolkata

Assam Bengal Navigation (ABN) offers a choice of cruise experiences, navigating both the Brahmaputra and Ganges rivers on their fleet of heritage-style boats. Their carefully tailored routes and boutique-style accommodation provide a unique way to explore lesser-known India’s culture, history, and wildlife.

Currently, 12 different routes are available, varying from 3 to 10 nights. Cruises on the Brahmaputra River through Assam operate from October to April and offer an insight into life in the region with stop-offs at countryside towns, holy temples, tea gardens, and national parks home to one-horned rhinos.

The routes along the Ganges also only operate in winter, although the cruises on the Lower Ganges (the Hooghly) can be taken year-round. These tours will take you through historic towns and cities such as Varanasi with countryside walks, fascinating museums, and cities filled with history and religious significance.

The fleet currently consists of 4 boats: the Charaidew I, the Sukapha, the Rajmahal, and the Charaidew II. All the boats have air conditioning, dining facilities, spacious cabins, and tasteful decor. The largest boats are the Rajmahal and Charaidew II, with 22 cabins, while the Sukapha has 12 and the Charaidew I only have 10. Charaidew was initially built in the 70s, although it has been completely renovated except for some of its heritage features. Other points of difference include the small gym on the Charaidew II, and the library on the Sukapha. The cabins on the Charaidew II and the Rajmahal have French balconies, as opposed to the large windows on the smaller vessels. Which boat you travel on will depend on which route you choose, as they all operate different journeys.