Assam Bengal Navigation - Brahmaputra Cruise

We are planning a once in a lifetime trip to India. We are more interested in wildlife India than big cities etc.

We are hoping to visit Ranthambhor National Park and hve noticed that the Khem Villas has been highly recommended. We are also very interested in the Brahmaputra River cruise.

Can anyone advise us?

Is the cruise worth doing, is it luxery (as advertised) or not. We are not concerned as long as we are comfortable - bed, food, shower etc. Mose interested in wildlife, experience, something different.

Travelling from UK tours are offered by big companies and its a bit scary to book direct ourselves. Can anyone suggest someone in India that can help us.

We would like to stay at Ranthambhor for at least 3 nights.

Please give us the benefit of your experiences.

Thans for reading.

Assam Bengal Navigation - Brahmaputra Cruise

The Khem Villas will celeberate its first year of operation in November this year. They have a combination of 4 rooms, 6 cottage/ bungalows and 5 tents.

In less than a year they have gone to number one position in the Ranthambhore area because of fabulous reviews posted by guests.

Dr.Goverdhan Singh and wife Usha Rathor manage and run this %26#39;Vegetarian food only%26#39; lodge which they co-own with the ownres of %26#39;Anokhi%26#39;, a clothing faishon house from Jaipur. They do serve alchol though. A 3 night stay should be minimum at Ranthambor.

The Bhramaputra Cruise is comfortable and all that you are looking for. This should not be compared to the %26#39;Irrawadi Cruise%26#39; of Burma.

As serious wildlife enthuisiasts, you should try to visit Kaziranga National Park since you are in Assam.

There are many operators in India who deal almost exclusively in adventure and wildlife tourim.

Cheers.

Assam Bengal Navigation - Brahmaputra Cruise

An excellent Indian travel agent is: Triangle Voyages pvt. ltd, 252 Defence Colony, Flyover Market, (Jangpura Side) New Delhi-110 024. triangelvoyages@rediffmail.com

This is run by Mr. Claire who for many years worked for a larger agency and went on his own a couple of years ago. He has arranged our travel in India for the past ten yearsand we would always recommend him.

Another excellent hotel in Ranthambore is the Dev Vilas, very comfortable, delicious food, charming owner and near the park for the early morning start!

We are doing the Brahmaputra cruise (for three nights only) next February, followed by Kazaringa, so will be interested to see what it is like.

I hope you have an enjoyable trip,

Very interested to hear from you after you have done your cruise. Are you cruising with Assam Bengal Navigation? did you look at Vivada Cruises on the Sunderbans? I am finding it hard to decide which option to take.

We have booked with Assam Bengal Navigation through the Delhi travel agent I mentioned.

We did a trip to the Sunderbans about three or four years ago, after spending a week in Calcutta. We found the problem was that once you%26#39;ve seen one mangrove you%26#39;ve seen them all. We stayed in a small hotel, which was very simple, for a couple of nights and it was really long enough. You don%26#39;t see much wildlife, the odd small crocodile and no birds and you are extremely unlikely to see a tiger, unlike at Ranthambore where we%26#39;ve seen at least seven!

However, the boat looks very smart and much more luxurious than the one on the Brahmaputra and it may take you to places that we didn%26#39;t get to. There were no European tourists at all when we were there and things may have changed.

I hope this is of some help.

All the best

thank you so much for your reply. It has certainly helped. We are definitly visiting Ranthambhor as we hope very much to see tigers.

I expect we will do the three night cruise with Vivada as your advise on the mangrove%26#39;s was very usefull. We may go to the Sunderban Tiger Camp for a couple of nights to see the work they are doing at the tiger project and to support the local people. Have you ever been there?

Will contact Mr Claire once we have finally decided on our trip details, do you find it cheaper to book with him than UK agents?

As experienced travellers in India do you have any do%26#39;s and dont%26#39;s that may help us benefit from your travells in India, we do not know anyone in our circle of family and friends who has been!!!!

Thank you again for your time.

Have you considered Bandhavgarh %26amp; Kanha? You have along hop from Ranthambore to Assam, maybe you could stop of on the way.

I have not heard of those places, could you tell me a bit more about them.

At the moment we are planning to fly to Assam to get the boat. We only have limited holiday time, three weeks, and have to try to fit in what will be best. Thank you for your interest.

You could fit in Kanha between Rantahmbore and Assam. Assuming you take a 7 day cruise in Asam, you still have 2 weeks to cover Rbore %26amp; Kanha. You need not more than 3 night sin Rbore. The itinerary could be -

Day 1 - Delhi - Jaipur flight and drive to Rbore.

Day 2, 3 - In Rbore

Day 4 - Rbore-Jaipur

Day 5 - Jaipur - Delhi

Day 6 - Delhi - Nagpur fly %26amp; drive to Kanha. Best option for stay would be www.tajsafaris.com/about_us/default.php but several other rgood accommodation available.

Day 7 - 13 between Kanha %26amp; Bandhavgarh

Day 14 - Nagpur - Calcutta-Guwahati %26amp; on to the cruise

Hope it works out for you!!

Bandavgarh is supposedly one of the best wildlife sancutaires for tigers. There are quite afew reservces in that area, and a two day stay at each might give you a fairly good idea-Bandavgarh, Kanha and Pench, Another option is to take a flight from Delhi to Jabalpur and then by road.

We have not been to the Sunderbans Tiger Camp, so can%26#39;t help you with that. We find the Delhi travel agent cheaper than the English ones and he works everything out exactly as we want it. We then send the money directly to his bank in Delhi, at the moment in US$ as the exchange rate is favourable for us, but in the past we have done this in sterling.

Do bear in mind that it takes much longer than you think to get from A-B. The traffic and the driving are an experience in itself and can be very tiring though well worth the agro!

I will be in touch again if I have any ideas that may be of interest. However, if you are visiting either Assam or the Sunderbans, Calcutta is very interesting and there are no tourists, providing you don%26#39;t mind the mass of people, and worth a couple of nights stop. Good shopping for the girls as well, though possibly not quite as good as Jaipur depending on what you end up doing.