Assam Bengal Navigation Company

Darius4522 · Mar 13th, 2007, 12:36

I'm doing a cruise with ABN later this month - a 7-night cruise along the Brahmaputra between Guwahati and Dibrugarh. Prior to that I am staying at the company's jungle lodge - Bansbari - near the entrance to Manas National Park.

Interested to hear from anyone who has stayed at Bansbari or done the cruise, expecially in relation to tips and suggestions. Any info on Manas NP would also be great. I'm spending my last night in Assam staying at Dibrugarh in the Mancotta Chang Bungalows before flying to Delhi.

I lob into Kolkata late at night, stay that night at The Fairlawns, and then fly to Guwahati. Is there a domestic air terminal in Kolkata? Or do international and domestic flights use the same terminal?

mikewill · Mar 14th, 2007, 06:10

Hi Darius

V and I stayed at Bansbari for a few days last spring. It's a very pleasant lodge - we were the only guests. Are you staying on a jungle plan basis?
Food was good, staff attentive. Nice village walks from the lodge.

Manas was interesting. We had spent a few days in Kaziranga just before, which was magnificent. Manas had not long opened after several years closed because of Bodo separatist activity. Unfortunately this has resulted in great loss of wildlife - for example the hog deer population has been greatly reduced. Elephant and wild buffalo were very shy. Because the grazing pressure is much reduced they are burning grass more frequently and as a result the ecology is changing.

Go up to the lodge on the north side of the park and get a boat across to Bhutan if you can. We were able to go for a short walk on the Bhutanese side, with an armed guard to make sure we didn't go too far. We failed to see golden langur (see them on the island in the middle of the Brahmaputra in Guwahati - beautiful) but it was well worth going anyway. River is impressive.

You should be able to go on elephant back into Manas for an hour and a half or so; we did and saw Bengal florican, though we missed out on pygmy hog. It was probably the most uncomfortable elephant ride I've ever had!

You should also be able to go into the park by jeep which is worth doing. Try to come out in the dark and look for owls and nightjars on and by the road. Only trouble is that the road carries a fair bit of traffic to and from Bhutan and there's a lot of dust!

Pretty rough road from Barpeta road to Bansbari. Nowhere to change money once there.

The Brahmaputra is amazing - didn't do a cruise but spent a bit of time around it in Guwahati. Did meet some folk who had done the cruise and enjoyed it.

Hope you have a fantastic time in Assam - we did!

Mike

Darius4522 · Mar 16th, 2007, 09:41

Thanks, Mike. Your comments are greatly appreciated. Incidentally, I'm staying iu the Mancotta Chang Bungalow when I complete the brahmaputra cruise. Any info on it?

arunchs · Mar 16th, 2007, 10:33

About the wildlife mentioned by Mike:

The island where you can see golden langurs in Guwahati is called Peacock Island or Umananda Island. You can get a ferry to go there from Kacheri Ghat. The Langurs here are not exactly wild but they roam the island free.

Pygmy Hogs are small, shy and also critically endangered and it is nearly impossible to see them in the wild. Infact they were once assumed to be extinct. If you are keen to see them, there are two places where an NGO is rearing them to build up their population and release them to the wild. One is in Nameri National Park near Potasali Angling Camp. The other one is in Guwahati but I don't know where exactly.

Mar 13th, 2007, 12:36	#1
Darius4522 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 14	Assam Bengal Navigation Company I'm doing a cruise with ABN later this month - a 7-night cruise along the Brahmaputra between Guwahati and Dibrugarh. Prior to that I am staying at the company's jungle lodge - Bansbari - near the entrance to Manas National Park. Interested to hear from anyone who has stayed at Bansbari or done the cruise, expecially in relation to tips and suggestions. Any info on Manas NP would also be great. I'm spending my last night in Assam staying at Dibrugarh in the Mancotta Chang Bungalows before flying to Delhi. I lob into Kolkata late at night, stay that night at The Fairlawns, and then fly to Guwahati. Is there a domestic air terminal in Kolkata? Or do international and domestic flights use the same terminal?

Mar 16th, 2007, 10:33	#4
arunchs Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 323	About the wildlife mentioned by Mike: The island where you can see golden langurs in Guwahati is called Peacock Island or Umananda Island. You can get a ferry to go there from Kacheri Ghat. The Langurs here are not exactly wild but they roam the island free. Pygmy Hogs are small, shy and also critically endangered and it is nearly impossible to see them in the wild. Infact they were once assumed to be extinct. If you are keen to see them, there are two places where an NGO is rearing them to build up their population and release them to the wild. One is in Nameri National Park near Potasali Angling Camp. The other one is in Guwahati but I don't know where exactly. __________________ My India travel blog and my Images from India

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Mar 14th, 2007, 06:10	#2
mikewill Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Exeter, England Posts: 276	Hi Darius V and I stayed at Bansbari for a few days last spring. It's a very pleasant lodge - we were the only guests. Are you staying on a jungle plan basis? Food was good, staff attentive. Nice village walks from the lodge. Manas was interesting. We had spent a few days in Kaziranga just before, which was magnificent. Manas had not long opened after several years closed because of Bodo separatist activity. Unfortunately this has resulted in great loss of wildlife - for example the hog deer population has been greatly reduced. Elephant and wild buffalo were very shy. Because the grazing pressure is much reduced they are burning grass more frequently and as a result the ecology is changing. Go up to the lodge on the north side of the park and get a boat across to Bhutan if you can. We were able to go for a short walk on the Bhutanese side, with an armed guard to make sure we didn't go too far. We failed to see golden langur (see them on the island in the middle of the Brahmaputra in Guwahati - beautiful) but it was well worth going anyway. River is impressive. You should be able to go on elephant back into Manas for an hour and a half or so; we did and saw Bengal florican, though we missed out on pygmy hog. It was probably the most uncomfortable elephant ride I've ever had! You should also be able to go into the park by jeep which is worth doing. Try to come out in the dark and look for owls and nightjars on and by the road. Only trouble is that the road carries a fair bit of traffic to and from Bhutan and there's a lot of dust! Pretty rough road from Barpeta road to Bansbari. Nowhere to change money once there. The Brahmaputra is amazing - didn't do a cruise but spent a bit of time around it in Guwahati. Did meet some folk who had done the cruise and enjoyed it. Hope you have a fantastic time in Assam - we did! Mike

Mar 16th, 2007, 09:41	#3
Darius4522 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 14	Thanks, Mike. Your comments are greatly appreciated. Incidentally, I'm staying iu the Mancotta Chang Bungalow when I complete the brahmaputra cruise. Any info on it?

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