About
The Brahmaputra River is a major trans-boundary waterway that flows through Tibet, India and Bangladesh. Known in Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo and in Bangladesh as the Jamuna, it is one of the few great rivers in the world that cuts directly through the Himalayas, which gives its course a character unlike most others in Asia.
What a visit offers
The river is best appreciated for its landscape. Its dramatic gorges, carved as the water passes through the mountains, are the feature most often associated with it, and they make for a striking setting for anyone interested in natural scenery. Because the river crosses three countries, its banks reflect a range of landscapes and communities, from high Tibetan terrain to the lowland plains of India and Bangladesh.
Planning your trip
- Type of visit: a natural landscape suited to sightseeing and photography rather than a single fixed attraction.
- Where it lies: across Tibet, northeast India and Bangladesh, so routes will depend on which stretch you wish to see.
- Names to know: Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, Brahmaputra in India, and Jamuna in Bangladesh, which can help when reading local signs or maps.
Because the river runs through remote high country as well as populated lowlands, travellers should check access and local conditions before setting out. Those with an interest in geography, mountain scenery or river journeys will find the Brahmaputra a rewarding subject, and its gorges in particular repay unhurried attention.