Although known by different names throughout its journey, the Brahmaputra flows all the way from the Tibetan Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, making it one Asia’s major rivers. In Tibet it is called the Yarlung Tsangpo River, during its time in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh it is known as Dihang or Siang and then, as it travels through Bangladesh, it’s referred to as the Jamuna. The name Brahmaputra is only really used during its time in the Indian state of Assam.

Prone to heavy flooding, the water level of the river is constantly changing. Therefore, the ships that take you on your Brahmaputra river cruise are purpose-built with shallow drafts so that they can deal with these variations. The Brahmaputra is home to the largest river island in the world, Majuli. The name derives from a word that means ‘land in the middle of two parallel rivers’ and it was formed during the flood of 1750; a catastrophic event that lives on in the folklore of this part of the world.

Itineraries along the Brahmaputra include visits to Guwahati (Assam’s largest city), the island of Majuli, and the stunning Kaziranga and Nameri National Parks. Culture and nature await, as you search for tigers, rhinos and elephants whilst learning about the history of this part of India.