ASSAM BENGAL NAVIGATION, is an Indo-British joint venture, with offices in Guwahati and London. In 2003 ABN pioneered long-distance river cruising in India with our unique cruises on the River Brahmaputra in Assam, and in 2007 we were also the first to run cruises on the River Hugli between Kolkata and the Ganges. We were awarded the Indian National Tourism Award for Innovation in 2004-5. Our expertise in the field of river cruising, on both waterways, is unrivalled.

Our first luxury river boat, the "Charaidew" with 12 air-conditioned en-suite cabins was joined in 2006 by her near-identical sister ship "Sukapha". The ships operate on the Brahmaputra from October to April, and on the Hugli during the summer months.

Wildlife and wilderness are the main features of a Brahmaputra cruise - the river bed is often 20 or 30km across, an empty world of sand spits and water with marvellous bird life and the occasional Gangetic Dolphin. The cruises here also give access to a number of India's National Parks, including Kaziranga, perhaps the finest of all, and Manas, a Project Tiger Reserve on the Bhutan border.

The Hugli is a more intimate waterway, bordered by villages and rural landscape of jute fields and mango orchards. The emphasis here is on monuments and culture, whether Hindu, Muslim or Colonial.

At Manas National Park, ABN now has its own jungle accommodation, "The Bansbari Lodge", situated right at the entrance to the park. The 16 large twin-bedded rooms all have attached bathrooms and the lodge is simply but comfortably furnished.

At Kaziranga National Park, the "Diphlu River Lodge" opened in January 2008 and is run by ABN. In prime position, its first phase of cottages provide premier quality accommodation for a total of 16 guests. The cottages are built on stilts with generous thatched verandahs and en-suite bathrooms and have fantastic views directly overlooking the river and National Park.