You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>JTI</strong> <strong>GROUP</strong><br />
HANDCRAFTED EXPERIENCES OF EASTERN INDIA<br />
DESTINATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES | RIVER CRUISES | BOUTIQUE LODGES AND RESORTS | TEXTILES AND HANDICRAFTS
2
Contents<br />
p. 5<br />
<strong>JTI</strong> Group<br />
p. 6<br />
Eastern<br />
Odyssey<br />
p. 10<br />
Jungle<br />
Travels India<br />
Namaste!<br />
This year, <strong>JTI</strong> Group turns 29 and continues to be recognised as a forerunner in East India’s tourism and<br />
hospitality industry, offering incredible experiences with our collection of brands in wildlife and birding,<br />
cultural immersion tours, river cruising, boutique lodges and resorts, and textile and handicrafts. To date, we<br />
are the first and only company based in Northeast India to have won the National Tourism Award.<br />
Constantly looking to improve and grow our products and services, we have a number of exciting news to share.<br />
Under Eastern Odyssey, we have launched MV Rudra Singha, our new elegant houseboat that now makes it<br />
possible to cruise the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra river to areas hitherto unexplored by boat.<br />
Assam Bengal Navigation, the pioneer in Indian river cruising, turns 15 this year. As India’s first, largest and<br />
most experienced river cruise operator, we are proud to announce that we have begun design work on our<br />
fourth cruise ship that will set sail on the Ganges in due course.<br />
In April 2016, the state of Assam was honoured when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, HRH Prince<br />
William and Catherine Middleton, chose to visit Kaziranga National Park. And that the royal family chose to<br />
stay at Diphlu River Lodge, our boutique safari lodge, further reaffirms our ecotourism ethos and standards<br />
of excellence.<br />
<strong>JTI</strong> Group has always maintained that as our family of brands grows, the local communities that support<br />
us in our tourism endeavours too should grow. Under Assam Bengal Navigation, we have set up ABN<br />
Foundation, pledging to contribute 5% of all bookings to the causes of local community development,<br />
wildlife conservation and environment protection.<br />
This brochure aims to provide just a flavour of what’s on offer in Eastern India. This region is fast-emerging as<br />
the next favoured destination, offering discerning travellers fascinating experiences to write home about.<br />
We look forward to welcoming you to Eastern India!<br />
Ashish Phookan<br />
Founder and CEO, <strong>JTI</strong> Group<br />
p. 12<br />
<strong>JTI</strong><br />
Holidays<br />
p. 15<br />
Assam Bengal<br />
Navigation<br />
p. 22<br />
Diphlu River<br />
Lodge and<br />
Bansbari<br />
Lodge<br />
p. 25<br />
Tribal Heritage<br />
p. 26<br />
ABN Foundation<br />
3
4
INTRODUCING <strong>JTI</strong> <strong>GROUP</strong><br />
<strong>JTI</strong> <strong>GROUP</strong> IS A FAMILY-OWNED AND -MANAGED ENTERPRISE<br />
THAT IS COMMITTED TO CRAFTING UNIQUE TRAVEL<br />
EXPERIENCES AND CHAMPIONING RESPONSIBLE TOURISM.<br />
Comprising river cruises,<br />
boutique lodges and resorts,<br />
destination management<br />
services, and textiles and<br />
handicrafts, <strong>JTI</strong> Group is a<br />
collection of brands that<br />
all operate under the same<br />
management and maintain an<br />
equal standard of excellence.<br />
In 1989, in a tiny back-room<br />
with nothing more than<br />
a telephone and a solid<br />
knowledge of the destination,<br />
husband-wife traveller duo<br />
Ashish and Jahnabi Phookan<br />
established Jungle Travels<br />
India Pvt Ltd, an award-winning<br />
boutique travel company that<br />
has been in operation for over<br />
29 years.<br />
Today, Jungle Travels India Pvt<br />
Ltd remains the registered<br />
name of the enterprise but we<br />
refer to ourselves as <strong>JTI</strong> Group<br />
to encapsulate all our other<br />
new products and services.<br />
Our destination management<br />
services operate under two<br />
companies: Jungle Travels<br />
India, which focuses on<br />
wildlife and birding tours in<br />
Eastern India; and Eastern<br />
Odyssey, a cultural travel<br />
specialist that crafts bespoke<br />
experiences in Eastern India.<br />
In 2003, Ashish and Jahnabi<br />
Phookan partnered with<br />
Andrew and Grania Brock<br />
to found Assam Bengal<br />
Navigation, an Indo-British<br />
joint venture offering boutique<br />
river expeditions on the<br />
Brahmaputra and Ganges<br />
rivers. Our pioneering effort in<br />
opening up India’s waterways<br />
to tourism won us the National<br />
Tourism Award in 2004-5.<br />
We are also the largest and<br />
most experienced river cruise<br />
operator in India.<br />
<strong>JTI</strong> Group has also expanded<br />
into creating boutique lodges<br />
and resorts in the vicinity<br />
of Assam’s national parks.<br />
Bansbari Lodge is a simple<br />
but comfortable lodge<br />
outside Manas National Park<br />
and Diphlu River Lodge is an<br />
award-winning lodge, built on<br />
ecotourism principles, located<br />
on the periphery of Kaziranga<br />
National Park. We are also in<br />
the process of building a resort<br />
outside of Manas National<br />
Park; landscaping work is<br />
currently underway.<br />
Weaving is an intrinsic part<br />
of Assam but handspun<br />
textiles may soon become a<br />
lost art. Tribal Heritage, under<br />
<strong>JTI</strong> Group, was established<br />
to preserve Assam’s rich<br />
textile heritage by offering<br />
skills training in design and<br />
hand-weaving to rural men and<br />
women.<br />
Our philosophy at <strong>JTI</strong> Group is<br />
simple: travel and do good. In<br />
April 2017, our commitment to<br />
rural community development,<br />
wildlife conservation and<br />
environment protection will be<br />
legitimised in the form of the<br />
ABN Foundation. Every time<br />
you travel with Assam Bengal<br />
Navigation, ABN Foundation<br />
will pay it forward to the<br />
communities and national<br />
parks you visited.<br />
Delivering the most exclusive<br />
experiences in East India,<br />
<strong>JTI</strong> Group is honoured to<br />
introduce travellers to our part<br />
of the world.<br />
5
Eastern Odyssey is a boutique travel specialist of Eastern India,<br />
from Varanasi to the Indo-Myanmar border, from the Eastern<br />
Himalayas to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Bhutan, our<br />
next-door neighbour.<br />
EASTERN<br />
ODYSSEY<br />
We focus on bespoke private travel and small group tours to<br />
Eastern India. Whether your interest is in cultures and customs,<br />
wildlife and birding, or hiking, biking and other types of adventures,<br />
Eastern Odyssey can plan, prepare and arrange everything for you<br />
so that you can have the best introduction to our corner of the<br />
world.<br />
We also conduct photography, textiles, tea and other special<br />
interest tours.<br />
WHY EASTERN INDIA?<br />
Eastern India is a wondrous collection of varied cultures,<br />
topography, and flora and fauna. This stretch of India prides itself<br />
on its sacred rivers, diverse cultures, the lofty Himalayas, exotic<br />
tribes, abundant wildlife and birding, and swathes of forests.<br />
UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF<br />
INDIA’S EASTERN CORNERS,<br />
AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT<br />
REGION ALTOGETHER.<br />
From the holy Ganges to the mighty Brahmaputra river; from idyllic<br />
Majuli, a microcosm of culture and the world’s largest river island,<br />
to Tawang Monastery, the second largest monastery in the world;<br />
from the living root bridges of Nongriat to the rhinos and tigers<br />
of Kaziranga, National Park, Eastern India is a land of staggering<br />
diversity and an unexplored region for many.<br />
6
You could rub shoulders with the<br />
tattooed Konyak tribesmen of<br />
Nagaland one day and two days<br />
later, find yourself mesmerised<br />
with the 13th century Sun<br />
Temple of Konark in Orissa. It is<br />
this polarity that makes Eastern<br />
India such an exciting<br />
destination to discover.<br />
AUTHENTIC,<br />
LOCAL EXPERIENCES<br />
At Eastern Odyssey, our aim is to<br />
offer you authentic experiences<br />
that go beneath the surface<br />
of a destination. Gain firsthand<br />
knowledge of the history and<br />
everyday life of a place from<br />
locals; immerse yourself in the<br />
cultures and traditions of tribes<br />
and communities; and step back<br />
in time as you discover some of<br />
the last remote frontiers of this<br />
diverse region.<br />
This might mean a conversation<br />
with a wildlife conservationist,<br />
an invite to a tribal chief’s home<br />
or a delightfully humble meal at a<br />
homestay.<br />
Whichever experience you<br />
choose, there will always be an<br />
earnest attempt by Eastern<br />
Odyssey to create a connection<br />
between you and the places you<br />
visit, the people you meet and<br />
the experiences you feel.<br />
As a small way of being true to<br />
our commitment of offering<br />
authentic experiences to<br />
travellers, Eastern Odyssey<br />
employs only local guides who<br />
we train and support to cultivate<br />
their interest.<br />
TOP 5 EXPERIENCES IN<br />
EASTERN INDIA<br />
1. Spend a week or two weeks cruising the<br />
Ganges, India’s most sacred river and lifeline<br />
to millions of people.<br />
2. Hike through evergreen forests and valleys<br />
or visit the Buddhist monasteries of the states<br />
of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.<br />
3. Experience the staggering wildlife diversity<br />
of the greenest part of India - go on safaris<br />
to UNESCO World Heritage Sites for close<br />
encounters with rhinos, tigers, gibbons and<br />
exotic birds.<br />
4. Learn about the customs, traditions and<br />
histories of the tribes of Nagaland at the<br />
Hornbill Festival, a vibrant display of colour and<br />
a photographer’s dream.<br />
5. Go on a cruise on the mighty Brahmaputra<br />
river, rated one of the world’s top 10<br />
adventurous cruises by CNN - visit national<br />
parks, ancient temples and tribal villages along<br />
the way.<br />
7
TASTE OF ASSAM:<br />
TEMPLES, TIGERS &<br />
TEXTILES<br />
MV Rudra Singha<br />
Spend three nights/four days in your<br />
comfortable riverboat and sail up and<br />
down the Brahmaputra river, checking off<br />
the best of Assam’s temples, textiles and<br />
wildlife.<br />
• Visit the Umananda and Aswaklanta<br />
temples, two important shrines of worship<br />
for the local populace that date back to the<br />
18th century;<br />
• Enjoy a bicycle ride through Vijayanagar, a<br />
tiny town bustling with activity;<br />
• Go from home to home in Sualkuchi to<br />
learn about Assamese silks; watch in awe<br />
as weavers deftly use their handlooms to<br />
create beautiful garments;<br />
• Track rhinos and tigers by jeep safari in<br />
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary;<br />
• Go on a guided walk through old<br />
Guwahati’s streets and visit the local<br />
museum.<br />
In February 2017, Eastern Odyssey<br />
launched MV Rudra Singha, a tastefully<br />
appointed, air-conditioned houseboat<br />
for private river cruises on the entire<br />
stretch of the Brahmaputra river in<br />
the Assam plains. Built to sail all the<br />
way upstream to river ports near<br />
the remote, mountainous state<br />
of Arunachal Pradesh, where the<br />
mighty Brahmaputra river starts its<br />
tumultuous journey from Tibet, MV<br />
Rudra Singha is well-equipped to<br />
explore seldom navigated parts of<br />
the region.<br />
Assam is arguably one of India’s most<br />
beautiful states, with its tea<br />
gardens, river islands, national parks<br />
and temples. Located close to<br />
Southeast Asia, Assam was ruled<br />
by the Ahom dynasty (kings of Thai<br />
stock) for 600 years and, as such, has<br />
cultures and customs that have been<br />
influenced by those of the kingdoms<br />
of Myanmar, Bhutan, Thailand and<br />
other parts of that region.<br />
Large parts of Assam are carpeted<br />
in greenery – from evergreen forests<br />
to dense grasslands – making this<br />
state a very suitable home for rhinos,<br />
elephants, tigers and other wildlife.<br />
The state is also renowned for its tea,<br />
an industry that was brought to life<br />
during the British Raj.<br />
The mighty Brahmaputra river is<br />
Assam’s lifeline, depositing silt along<br />
its course and contributing to the<br />
rich fertility of its soil. The river bed<br />
is often 20 or 30 km across, a calm<br />
vista of sand spits and water. Deep<br />
water channels change their course<br />
from week to week, making every<br />
cruise an adventure. Watch out for the<br />
endangered Gangetic Dolphin, a sight<br />
not uncommon along these waters,<br />
and discover bucolic riverside scenes<br />
as your boat sails past towns and<br />
villages.<br />
8
Experience riverside idyll as you glide<br />
down the Brahmaputra river of Assam,<br />
one of India’s greenest states.<br />
FEATURES AND TECHNICALITIES<br />
MV Rudra Singha is built by local<br />
craftsmen in the traditional style<br />
of Assamese Pansoinau (flatbottomed<br />
large boat), entirely<br />
made of local wood and elegantly<br />
adorned with local weavings. The<br />
houseboat is perfect for couples<br />
and small families to explore<br />
the Brahmaputra river and the<br />
numerous attractions close to its<br />
banks. A crew of four – Captain,<br />
sailor, chef and cruise manager/<br />
guide – will be present at all times<br />
to ensure your comfort.<br />
A unique feature of MV Rudra<br />
Singha is its shallow draft that<br />
enables it to glide through the<br />
shallowest of channels on the<br />
river, even at the peak of winter<br />
(dry season) in Assam. This<br />
capability of the houseboat<br />
enables travellers to explore tribal<br />
communities and wildlife reserves<br />
across Assam and up to the upper<br />
reachers of the Brahmaputra<br />
river, near the Eastern Himalayas.<br />
In other words, MV Rudra Singha<br />
takes travellers to places hitherto<br />
unexplored by boat.<br />
MV Rudra Singha is 70 ft. (l) x<br />
13 ft. (w) and is equipped with<br />
modern on-board waste-water<br />
treatment plant, safety<br />
equipment (including life jackets,<br />
life buoys and a fire-fighting<br />
system), and an electric generator<br />
with a battery pack that ensures a<br />
quiet night.<br />
The cabin is 121 sq. ft. and has<br />
double or twin occupancy.<br />
It is air-conditioned with a private<br />
bathroom and a lounge that offers<br />
panoramic views. On prior request,<br />
the lounge can also be converted<br />
into an additional bedroom with a<br />
sofa bed.<br />
9
JUNGLE<br />
TRAVELS<br />
INDIA<br />
GO DEEP INTO THE<br />
WILDERNESS OF INDIA FOR<br />
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH<br />
RHINOS, TIGERS AND EXOTIC<br />
BIRDS.<br />
Jungle Travels India is an<br />
award-winning destination management<br />
company that specialises in wildlife and<br />
birding tours throughout India and with<br />
particular emphasis on Eastern India.<br />
For over 29 years now, we have been<br />
leading wildlife and birding tours to<br />
some of India’s best national parks and<br />
sanctuaries, including lesser-known ones<br />
that may not be large in size but are still<br />
teeming with life.<br />
One of 17 megadiverse countries in the<br />
world, India is incredibly rich in wildlife<br />
and birds. There are 103 national parks<br />
and 537 wildlife sanctuaries in India,<br />
out of which 37 national parks and 137<br />
wildlife sanctuaries are<br />
located in India’s eastern belt.<br />
Within this belt, Northeast India<br />
deserves special mention for its<br />
abundant flora and fauna. Supporting<br />
the world’s highest density of the Royal<br />
Bengal Tiger (Kaziranga National Park) and<br />
the One-horned Rhinoceros<br />
(Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary),<br />
Northeast India is also home to more than<br />
850 species of birds, including hornbills,<br />
White-winged Wood Duck, Firetailed<br />
Myzornis, Bengal Florican and Temminck’s<br />
Tragopan, making this region<br />
one of the most biodiverse<br />
in the country.<br />
In addition to India’s eastern belt, other<br />
areas of the country are also notable for<br />
their diversity in flora and fauna.<br />
10
Central India has many renowned<br />
national parks – such as<br />
Bandhavgarh, Pench, Kanha and<br />
Satpura national parks – that present<br />
ample opportunity to spot tigers,<br />
gaur, nilgai and chital.<br />
Gir National Park, in West India, is the<br />
only home of the Asiatic lion and is<br />
considered to be one of the most<br />
important protected areas in Asia.<br />
Ranthambore National Park, in<br />
Northwest India, is one of the best<br />
places in India to spot big cats, and<br />
Periyar National Park, in South India,<br />
is an important elephant and tiger<br />
reserve.<br />
WHY TRAVEL WITH <strong>JTI</strong>?<br />
Simply put, with many years of<br />
experience comes not only<br />
improved services and excellent<br />
client feedback but also an<br />
extremely detailed knowledge of the<br />
land.<br />
In Eastern India, we employ our own<br />
naturalists, spotters and guides,<br />
which means that you can be sure<br />
of receiving the highest level of<br />
service that has been vouched<br />
and vetted by us. All of our clientfacing<br />
employees (including your<br />
tour vehicle drivers) are young men<br />
and women who have grown up in<br />
villages near the national parks<br />
and wildlife sanctuaries or the<br />
adjoining region. Whilst some were<br />
experienced naturalists and guides<br />
before joining <strong>JTI</strong>, many have been<br />
trained by us to become the best in<br />
their fields.<br />
<strong>JTI</strong> is also conscious of the damage<br />
that tourism - unless checked and<br />
conducted properly - can have on a<br />
place and its residing community. We<br />
follow responsible tourism<br />
practices and engage partners in<br />
other areas of India who lead their<br />
operations with the same ethos.<br />
Just as we have done in our 29 years<br />
of operations, <strong>JTI</strong> will continue to go<br />
to great lengths to ensure that your<br />
experience in India is a memorable<br />
experience .<br />
MEET A <strong>JTI</strong> NATURALIST<br />
Abidur Rahman is a gifted naturalist who<br />
has been leading birding and wildlife<br />
tours in Eastern India and other parts of<br />
the subcontinent for the past 12 years.<br />
Born and brought up near the Eastern<br />
range of Kaziranga National Park, Abidur<br />
developed a deep respect and<br />
appreciation for the natural world from a<br />
young age. He is not only a professional<br />
naturalist but also a conservation<br />
activist who has contributed valuable<br />
work to the Threatened Birds of India<br />
Project, the Bengal Florican<br />
Conservation Project and many others.<br />
He is a member of the Bombay Natural<br />
History Society and Indian Bird<br />
Conservation Network.<br />
11
<strong>JTI</strong> HOLIDAYS<br />
ESTABLISHED IN 1989, <strong>JTI</strong> HOLIDAYS IS THE<br />
FIRST AND MOST EXPERIENCED IATA AGENT IN<br />
NORTHEAST INDIA. AS A FORERUNNER IN THE<br />
TRAVEL INDUSTRY OF THE REGION, WE OFFER<br />
<strong>GROUP</strong> TOURS AND PERSONALISED HOLIDAYS<br />
TO ANY DESTINATION WORLDWIDE.<br />
<strong>JTI</strong> Holidays provides specialist<br />
travel information and services<br />
in bespoke international and<br />
domestic luxury travel, special<br />
interest tours and small group<br />
tours to travel enthusiasts<br />
from Northeast India.<br />
We are proud to be the first<br />
IATA accredited travel agency<br />
and the first to be a part of the<br />
American Express network in<br />
all eight states of Northeast<br />
India, making us the most<br />
experienced and<br />
reputable one in the region.<br />
<strong>JTI</strong> Holidays looks after the<br />
end-to-end management of all<br />
your travel needs. We provide<br />
the following services:<br />
• international tour packages<br />
by global group travel<br />
operators<br />
• specialist small group tours<br />
• visas and foreign exchange<br />
services<br />
Our small group tours deserve<br />
special mention. Designed for<br />
8 friends or family, these<br />
cost-effective small group<br />
tours allow travellers to<br />
explore Europe, Asia and the<br />
Americas in the comfort of a<br />
chauffeured car, local guides<br />
with deep knowledge for the<br />
region, personalised service,<br />
and the luxury of privacy and<br />
travelling at their own pace.<br />
This year, <strong>JTI</strong> Holidays is also<br />
introducing a loyalty program<br />
that will offer our clients<br />
exclusive promotions and<br />
holiday discounts to share<br />
among their friends and family.<br />
Whether you wish to glide over<br />
the Bayan temples of Myanmar<br />
in a hot-air balloon or go on a<br />
winery tour of France; seek<br />
blessings at the Golden Temple<br />
at Amritsar or relax on the<br />
beaches of the Caribbean, <strong>JTI</strong><br />
Holidays can plan and prepare<br />
every detail for you.<br />
• hotel bookings<br />
• group tours<br />
• MICE and incentive travel.<br />
12
13
14
ASSAM BENGAL<br />
NAVIGATION<br />
ESTABLISHED IN 2003, ASSAM BENGAL NAVIGATION CO.<br />
IS THE LARGEST AND MOST EXPERIENCED RIVER<br />
CRUISE OPERATOR ON THE GANGES AND BRAHMAPUTRA<br />
RIVERS AND THE PIONEER OF LONG-DISTANCE RIVER<br />
CRUISING IN INDIA.<br />
Anyone who has travelled by train<br />
or plane through India, or who has<br />
been driven on Indian roads, will<br />
be amazed to learn that there is<br />
actually a way to travel through the<br />
country in total serenity and comfort.<br />
It is, in fact, possible to cruise for<br />
some 1750 miles on the rivers and<br />
inland waterways of India, passing<br />
through great cities, alongside<br />
wildlife sanctuaries and historical<br />
monuments and into the heart of rural<br />
India. Assam Bengal Navigation are<br />
pioneers in this exploration.<br />
A sister concern of <strong>JTI</strong> Group, Assam<br />
Bengal Navigation is an Indo-British<br />
joint venture founded by Ashish and<br />
Jahnabi Phookan along with their<br />
partners, Andrew and Grania Brock.<br />
With three cruise ships, we are<br />
the largest and most experienced<br />
operator on Indian rivers. In 2003, we<br />
pioneered long-distance river cruising<br />
in India with our boutique expedition<br />
cruises on the Brahmaputra river in<br />
Assam, and in 2007, we were also the<br />
first to run cruises on the Ganges.<br />
Our first riverboat, the ABN<br />
Charaidew, with 12 air-conditioned<br />
en-suite cabins was joined in 2006<br />
by her near-identical sister ship ABN<br />
Sukapha. Cruises operate on the<br />
Brahmaputra River from October to<br />
April and virtually all through the year<br />
on the Ganges. The size of our fleet<br />
increased with the launch of ABN<br />
Rajmahal in 2014, a 22-cabin<br />
riverboat specifically designed for<br />
water levels on the Ganges.<br />
We also own and operate two<br />
boutique lodges. Diphlu River Lodge<br />
is an award-winning lodge located on<br />
the periphery of the UNESCO World<br />
Heritage Site of Kaziranga National<br />
Park and Bansbari Lodge in Manas<br />
National Park, on the other hand, is<br />
simpler in style but still comfortable.<br />
Experience counts for everything<br />
and our expertise in the field of river<br />
cruising and hospitality is unrivalled.<br />
We were awarded the Indian National<br />
Tourism Award for Innovation<br />
in 2004-5.<br />
15
ABN RAJMAHAL &<br />
ABN SUKAPHA<br />
The Ganges cruises<br />
presents a variety of<br />
delights, with a fascinating<br />
mix of visits each day. From<br />
stunning and little-known<br />
terracotta temples to the<br />
echoing corridors of princely<br />
palaces; from the impressive<br />
archaeological sites<br />
associated with the life of<br />
Buddha to the walks through<br />
villages and amongst rice<br />
paddies and fields of jute,<br />
the Ganges cruises offers<br />
travellers a chance to<br />
experience the heart of India,<br />
far from the bustle of the<br />
big cities and into the quaint<br />
little towns and villages on<br />
the banks of the river.<br />
Worshipped as a goddess,<br />
the Ganges is the most<br />
sacred river to the Hindus;<br />
it is also the cultural and<br />
economic lifeline to millions<br />
of Indians who along its<br />
2525 km course and<br />
depend on it it for their daily<br />
needs. Once a significant<br />
trade route, the historical<br />
importance of the Ganges is<br />
proven by the many former<br />
provincial or imperial capitals<br />
that sprung up along its<br />
banks over the centuries.<br />
Assam Bengal Navigation<br />
cruises the 1200 km of<br />
navigable river between<br />
Kolkata and Varanasi, with<br />
ABN Rajmahal being the first<br />
and only riverboat to sail this<br />
entire stretch.<br />
SIGHTS ALONG<br />
THE GANGES<br />
In Kolkata, visit the Victoria<br />
Memorial, a structure built<br />
during the British Raj to rival<br />
the Taj Mahal. From there,<br />
cruise up to the riverside<br />
towns of Chandernagore, an<br />
erstwhile French colony, and<br />
Murshidabad, the capital of<br />
the Nawabs of Bengal and<br />
once larger than London.<br />
Explore the terracotta<br />
temples of Kalna and the<br />
Mughal fort of Chunar; learn<br />
about India’s colonial history<br />
at Plassey and the spread<br />
of Buddhism at Nalanda,<br />
an 8th century stupa and<br />
monastery.<br />
Arresting to all the senses,<br />
Varanasi is the world’s oldest<br />
continuously inhabited town<br />
and a culture enthusiast’s<br />
dream. Experience the<br />
evening aarti ceremony, a<br />
very powerful and uplifting<br />
ritual, and take rowing boats<br />
at dawn past the busy and<br />
colourful bathing ghats.<br />
ABN RAJMAHAL<br />
ABN Rajmahal, the latest<br />
addition to our fleet, was<br />
built in Kolkata and launched<br />
in 2014.<br />
She has been designed<br />
specifically for river<br />
conditions on the Ganges;<br />
with her extra-shallow<br />
draught and reduced<br />
16
17
air draught, she will be able to<br />
cruise further upstream than<br />
any of her competitors, making<br />
her the only riverboat to<br />
access the ghats of Varanasi.<br />
ABN Rajmahal has 22<br />
spacious, air-conditioned<br />
cabins over two decks, all<br />
with floor-to-ceiling sliding<br />
windows and French balconies.<br />
In addition to the double/twin<br />
cabins on both decks, there<br />
are 4 single cabins for which<br />
no supplement is charged.<br />
The decor is stylish and fresh,<br />
using hand-blocked cotton<br />
textiles with traditional Indian<br />
motifs, while the floors are<br />
polished teak. There is a<br />
comfortable saloon and bar<br />
as well as a dining room and<br />
a spa. The very large sundeck,<br />
with both open and shaded<br />
areas, offers generous<br />
amounts of seating in both<br />
comfortable rattan chairs and<br />
teak steamer chairs.<br />
ABN SUKAPHA<br />
ABN Sukapha was built in<br />
Kolkata in 2006. She has 12<br />
air-conditioned cabins (10<br />
x twin-bedded, 2 x doublebedded)<br />
with large sliding<br />
windows.<br />
In an effort to conserve<br />
India’s forests, the interiors<br />
are bamboo-paneled, airconditioned<br />
and roomy with<br />
en suite bathrooms. There is a<br />
spa and a saloon with a library.<br />
The dining room is on the main<br />
deck and a spacious sundeck<br />
at the very top.<br />
Fabrics on board have been<br />
handwoven by Bodo tribal<br />
villagers; the comfortable<br />
rattan chairs are locally<br />
sourced and made; and our<br />
gift shop stocks only arts and<br />
crafts made by local artisans.<br />
18<br />
LIFE ON BOARD<br />
ALL ABN CRUISE SHIPS<br />
Enjoy a cup of tea on the sundeck in the early hours<br />
of the morning when the sun has just risen and rural<br />
life begins to unfold on the banks. While sailing times<br />
vary, guests are able to watch lush scenery glide<br />
by as they dig into a hearty breakfast. Excursions<br />
differ each day but there is usually plenty of time for<br />
relaxation; return the waves of village children on their<br />
way to school or enjoy a glass of beer on the sundeck<br />
from the honesty bar.<br />
Our chef’s talents are much appreciated, whether for<br />
the continental dishes usually served at lunchtime or<br />
for the varied Indian cuisine at dinner. Most guests<br />
tend to have a drink beforehand in the saloon - a<br />
good time to chat over the day’s experiences and<br />
to discuss the next day’s programme with our<br />
guide. Those wishing to unwind further can indulge<br />
themselves at the spa on board (on our Ganges<br />
cruises). Coffee in the saloon, accompanied by a<br />
liqueur, is a fitting prelude to a comfortable night far<br />
from the hurly-burly of modern life.
19
ABN CHARAIDEW<br />
One of Asia’s major rivers, the<br />
Brahmaputra river flows through three<br />
countries: born in Tibet, reaching<br />
maturity in India, and ending its journey<br />
to the sea in Bangladesh. It bears<br />
many names along its course: Tsangpo<br />
in Tibet, Lohit or Brahmaputra in India,<br />
and Jamuna in Bangladesh.<br />
Navigable for most of its length, the<br />
Brahmaputra is known for its floods,<br />
which are essential to the ecosystems<br />
of the wildlife sanctuaries along<br />
its banks. The river bed, miles wide,<br />
forms a natural corridor for birds<br />
and mammals, while industry and<br />
development are absent from the<br />
scene.<br />
Wilderness and wildlife are, in fact, the<br />
dominant aspects of the Brahmaputra<br />
cruise but the distinctive nature of<br />
Assamese culture is also equally<br />
fascinating. Assam was the only area<br />
of India that remained unconquered by<br />
the Mughals; instead, the influence of<br />
Buddhist traditions of Southeast Asia<br />
spread through the land.<br />
Rated by CNN as one of the world’s<br />
top 10 adventurous cruises (albeit of<br />
a gentler variety), the Brahmaputra<br />
cruises are a passage to a little-known<br />
corner of the subcontinent and the<br />
natural and cultural treasures it<br />
harbours.<br />
SIGHTS ALONG<br />
THE BRAHMAPUTRA<br />
On the Brahmaputra, our cruises take<br />
you to riverside villages where the<br />
locals will be as enchanted by us as we<br />
by them. Our guide will be able to fill in<br />
about their background and to point<br />
out the differences between the<br />
various tribal communities, whether<br />
they be Mishing, Dimasa, Kachari or<br />
Bodo.<br />
Where we cannot moor the riverboat<br />
alongside the bank, we take our<br />
country boat to explore temples such<br />
as Kamakhya, where tantric rites are<br />
practised, or the ruins of the Ahom<br />
dynasty, kings of Thai stock who ruled<br />
Assam for 600 years.<br />
20
The riverine island of Majuli is<br />
also another highlight of the<br />
Brahmaputra cruises. A stronghold<br />
of the peaceful religion of neo-<br />
Vaishnavism, Majuli’s elegant island<br />
satras showcase a unique way of<br />
life where the faithful live simply,<br />
offering worship through music<br />
and readings.<br />
On certain mornings, rise early to go<br />
on wildlife safaris with our expert<br />
naturalists. Venture deep into the<br />
UNESCO World Heritage of Kaziranga<br />
National Park, and come across<br />
rhinos, tigers, elephants and wild<br />
water buffaloes in their<br />
natural habitat.<br />
A favourite evening is a barbeque<br />
on a mid-river sand island around a<br />
campfire. The wilderness setting<br />
under a vast canopy of stars adds<br />
to the appreciation of our chef’s<br />
kebabs, cooked to perfection.<br />
ABN CHARAIDEW<br />
Built in Guwahati in 1973 and<br />
entirely rebuilt there in 2003, ABN<br />
Charaidew is 38m x 8.5m in size.<br />
The grand old lady of our fleet, she<br />
has 10 twin-bedded and 2<br />
double-bedded cabins with<br />
en-suite bathrooms. All cabin<br />
accommodation is on the upper<br />
deck, as is a bar and saloon opening<br />
onto a front deck. A dining room with<br />
full-length opening glass doors on<br />
each side is on the lower deck, while<br />
a large top sundeck offers additional<br />
comfortable open-air seating in<br />
shade or sun. Local handloom<br />
fabrics specially woven for us and<br />
comfortable cane sofas and chairs<br />
contribute to the attractive décor.<br />
21<br />
SERVICES ON<br />
ALL ABN CRUISE SHIPS<br />
• Shore excursion programme including all<br />
admissions<br />
• Maximum 20 guests per guide on all excursions<br />
• Cold tower service after excursions<br />
• Welcome drink after excursions<br />
• Shoe-cleaning after excursions<br />
• Turndown service in all cabins<br />
• Expertly trained culinary staff<br />
• Acclaimed combination of Indian and Western<br />
dishes<br />
• Wide choice of wines, spirits and beer<br />
• Complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water<br />
throughout trip<br />
• Welcome reception<br />
• Farewell reception<br />
• Local on-board song and dance performances<br />
• Vast sundeck, both open and shaded, with<br />
sunloungers or steamer chairs<br />
• Spa with a choice of treatments (except ABN<br />
Charaidew)
DIPHLU RIVER LODGE<br />
& BANSBARI LODGE<br />
DIPHLU RIVER LODGE<br />
Established in 2008, Diphlu River<br />
Lodge is a boutique safari lodge<br />
that is spectacularly situated on<br />
the periphery of Kaziranga National<br />
Park, a UNESCO World Heritage<br />
Site in Assam. It is separated from<br />
the park only by its namesake river,<br />
a watering hole for wild<br />
buffaloes and elephants.<br />
The lodge exemplifies rustic luxe<br />
and was adjudged as the first<br />
runner-up in the ‘Best Wildlife<br />
Resorts in India’ category by Lonely<br />
Planet, placing between billiondollar<br />
hospitality chains of the<br />
Oberoi and Taj group of hotels.<br />
In April 2016, Diphlu River Lodge<br />
was also honoured to have had the<br />
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge,<br />
HRH Prince William and Catherine<br />
Middleton, stay with us on their<br />
maiden trip to India.<br />
Cottages and other areas<br />
Purposely built to blend into<br />
surrounding foliage and terrain,<br />
Diphlu River Lodge has 12<br />
twin-bedded, air-conditioned<br />
thatch-and-bamboo cottages<br />
on stilts that is set amid paddy<br />
or mustard farmland (depending<br />
on the season); this style of<br />
architecture was inspired by the<br />
simple tribal homes of the Mishing<br />
people of Assam.<br />
Besides comfortable beds, each<br />
cottage has a pleasant sit-out as<br />
well as a writing desk, mini-bar and<br />
a small fridge. Our complimentary<br />
selection of tea and coffee and an<br />
electric kettle is also at hand. The<br />
bathroom has a rain shower and a<br />
roomy dressing area.<br />
The main area where guests dine<br />
and congregate in the evenings<br />
to socialise over a sundowner is<br />
called Machaan. The Machaan has<br />
lounge areas with balconies on<br />
22
two floors that face the park, a<br />
perfect vantage point to watch<br />
the wild. While walking around<br />
the lodge, one can also spot<br />
over 57 species of birds.<br />
Our chef is a talented<br />
individual from a nearby village<br />
who uses fresh produce<br />
from our organic garden or<br />
from the local market to<br />
rustle up Indian, Assamese<br />
and continental fare. Meals<br />
are typically in the style of a<br />
buffet.<br />
Diphlu River Lodge is a proud<br />
supporter of local artisanship<br />
- the unique weaves and<br />
artefacts that adorn the lodge<br />
are all handmade, fair trade<br />
products by local artisans.<br />
Shop our curated collection<br />
of handicrafts and handlooms<br />
from our in-house boutique or<br />
visit our in-house weaving unit<br />
to learn more about handloom<br />
textiles.<br />
Responsible tourism<br />
Committed to responsible<br />
tourism, Diphlu River Lodge<br />
takes great care to ensure<br />
that nature, the wild and local<br />
communities always come<br />
first. This means recycling our<br />
greywater, practising organic<br />
farming, providing hospitality<br />
training to young men and<br />
women from neighbouring<br />
villages, starting an in-house<br />
weaving unit, and subscribing<br />
to a low light and noise policy<br />
within the lodge premises,<br />
among other initiatives.<br />
Additionally, Diphlu River<br />
Lodge is associated with the<br />
Ecotourism Society of India,<br />
the peak advocacy body for<br />
ecotourism, and is part of<br />
Travel Operators for Tigers<br />
(TOFT), a global campaign that<br />
supports responsible tourism<br />
as a way to save the Royal<br />
Bengal Tiger and other wildlife.<br />
BANSBARI LODGE<br />
The Bansbari Lodge is situated<br />
in prime position right at the<br />
entrance to the UNESCO<br />
World Heritage Site of Manas<br />
National park, with tea<br />
gardens on one side, jungle<br />
and views of the Himalayan<br />
foothills on the other. The 16<br />
large twin-bedded rooms all<br />
have attached bathrooms<br />
and the lodge is simply but<br />
comfortably furnished.<br />
There is a welcoming<br />
atmosphere to the lodge,<br />
which includes an attractive<br />
dining room and a lobby where<br />
you can relax on sofas,<br />
browsing through books from<br />
our library. In fine weather,<br />
tables and chairs are set<br />
outside for breakfast and the<br />
spacious grounds are fast<br />
becoming a delightful<br />
garden in which to stroll. Each<br />
bedroom has comfortable<br />
twin beds, a writing/dressing<br />
table, cane chairs to relax in,<br />
and en suite bathrooms. Our<br />
policy at Bansbari Lodge is to<br />
generate local employment<br />
opportunities by training men<br />
and women from nearby<br />
villages and using locally<br />
sourced furniture and<br />
hand-spun fabrics.<br />
23
24
TRIBAL HERITAGE<br />
WITH A SINGULAR MISSION OF<br />
PRESERVING THE HANDWOVEN TEXTILES<br />
OF ASSAM, TRIBAL HERITAGE PROVIDES<br />
WEAVERS AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT<br />
TO CONTINUE THEIR CRAFT.<br />
“Assamese women weave fairy tales<br />
in their looms”, said Mahatma Gandhi in<br />
1921 when he first visited the state.<br />
Weaving has been an intrinsic part of<br />
Assam’s culture and heritage and a<br />
cottage industry of the state as the<br />
women are traditionally the weavers in<br />
Northeast India, unlike the rest of the<br />
country.<br />
The silks and weaves of this state in<br />
Northeast India are beautifully unique,<br />
with intricate patterns of native animals,<br />
human figurines, flowers and birds that<br />
depict everyday rural scenes. Assam<br />
also has the Geographical Indicator<br />
status for Muga, the golden silk which is<br />
endemic to Assam.<br />
Tribal Heritage started with one<br />
enterprising woman weaver, Anjali, who<br />
understood the design intervention<br />
that we wanted to provide to make her<br />
hand-weaves more appealing for urban<br />
women. She would go village to village to<br />
engage rural women in their looms and<br />
collect at the months’ end from them.<br />
This provided a sustainable<br />
livelihood generation model at the<br />
doorsteps of the rural women weavers.<br />
Today, Tribal Heritage has its own<br />
weaving centre in Kaziranga National<br />
Park with Anjali managing women as well<br />
as men weavers in our own looms. It is<br />
located right next to our wildlife lodge,<br />
the Diphlu River Lodge. Our guests have<br />
the opportunity to observe at close<br />
quarters basic bamboo looms and the<br />
heavier wooden looms that are used<br />
for the tedious and intricate craft of<br />
hand-weaving. This has led to a greater<br />
appreciation of the handloom over the<br />
machine-run loom and an acceptance of<br />
the price differences involved that our<br />
weavers get to benefit from.<br />
Tribal Heritage provides an enabling<br />
environment for an experiential textile<br />
tourism model and a training ground<br />
for learning design and weaving skills.<br />
Our ethos remains to revive, sustain<br />
and celebrate the weaving heritage of<br />
Assam’s tribal communities.<br />
Alongside Tribal Heritage, Jahnabi and<br />
her partner, Jesmina Zeliang, also set<br />
up Konyak, a fair trade platform for the<br />
grassroots artisans of Northeast India.<br />
With three boutiques in Assam, Konyak<br />
takes pride in introducing the world<br />
to the handicrafts and handlooms of<br />
Northeast India.<br />
<strong>JTI</strong> Group, under Tribal Heritage, runs<br />
textile tours and workshops in Assam.<br />
From the riverside town of Sualkuchi<br />
to the island hamlet of Majuli, explore<br />
weaving hubs, interact with talented<br />
weavers and try your hand at the loom<br />
as you learn more about Assam’s history<br />
and future in handwoven textiles.<br />
25
ABN FOUNDATION<br />
LAUNCHING OFFICIALLY IN APRIL 2017,<br />
THE ABN FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT<br />
ORGANISATION THAT AIMS TO SUPPORT<br />
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, RURAL<br />
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND<br />
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EFFORTS.<br />
As a company, Assam Bengal<br />
Navigation has always prided itself<br />
on adhering strongly to the principles<br />
of responsible tourism. Since our<br />
inception, we have invested heavily<br />
in many rural community development<br />
initiatives; one such example is our<br />
choice to train and employ young men<br />
and women from villages in hospitality<br />
and English language skills.<br />
In April 2017, we are taking our<br />
existing efforts a step further and<br />
formalising ABN’s philanthropy into a<br />
legitimate charitable body, the ABN<br />
Foundation.<br />
With the aim to support wildlife<br />
conservation, rural community<br />
development and environmental<br />
protection efforts, ABN Foundation<br />
pledges to contribute 5% of every<br />
tour booked with Assam Bengal<br />
Navigation to fund these causes.<br />
By travelling with Assam Bengal<br />
Navigation on the Brahmaputra and<br />
Ganges rivers and to the UNESCO<br />
World Heritage sites of Kaziranga<br />
and Manas national parks, you can<br />
be assured that your support of our<br />
cruises and boutique lodges will be<br />
paid forward to the villages,<br />
forest officials and other NGOs<br />
operating in these areas.<br />
EXISTING AND<br />
PLANNED INITIATIVES<br />
Through Assam Bengal Navigation’s<br />
15-year history, we have been involved<br />
in hospitality and English language<br />
training, women’s empowerment<br />
through the set-up of weaving microenterprises,<br />
talent development,<br />
reforestation programs and education<br />
sponsorships.<br />
The planned initiatives for 2017<br />
include investments in health<br />
and hygiene programs in rural<br />
communities, our fair-trade weaving<br />
unit, more education sponsorships for<br />
employees’ children and flood relief<br />
efforts. Financial contributions to local<br />
schools and the wildlife rescue centre<br />
in Kaziranga National Park will also be<br />
made. In future, ABN Foundation also<br />
plans to organise skilled volunteer<br />
programs.<br />
We believe that working in tandem<br />
with rural communities and local<br />
non-profit organisations is one of the<br />
most effective ways by which we can<br />
foster the growth of sustainable and<br />
responsible tourism in India.We are<br />
dedicated to positively impacting lives<br />
and livelihoods in the communities<br />
along the rivers and national parks we<br />
operate in.<br />
26
27
3B, DIRANG ARCADE, GNB ROAD, CHANDMARI,<br />
GUWAHATI - 781003, ASSAM, INDIA<br />
W: www.jtigroup.co.in E: info@jtigroup.co.in<br />
T: +91 920 920 0013<br />
Member: