New Delhi: India’s inland waterway tourism is cruising ahead, with a significant 19.4% increase in river cruise voyages in 2024–25, rising from 371 to 443 trips across the country. This growth reflects the expanding appeal and improved infrastructure supporting river-based tourism under the ambitious Cruise Bharat Mission.
Backed by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and guided by Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is spearheading the transformation of river cruise tourism into a sustainable and thriving sector.
Global Players Enter Indian Market: Viking Cruises Sets Sail
Marking a milestone in international interest, Viking Cruises has announced its foray into India’s inland waterways. Its upcoming vessel, Viking Brahmaputra, an 80-guest luxury cruise ship, will begin operations on National Waterway-2 in late 2027. The ship is being indigenously built by Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kolkata, boosting the Make in India initiative while signaling foreign confidence in India’s growing cruise economy.
From 3 Waterways to 13: A Decade of Growth
River cruise tourism has expanded dramatically over the last decade. In 2013–14, the country had only 5 operational cruise vessels on 3 waterways. As of 2024–25, 25 cruise vessels now operate across 13 national waterways, made possible through IWAI’s consistent infrastructure development and safety enhancements.
IWAI has facilitated this growth by:
- Developing cruise terminals and on/off-shore facilities
- Ensuring navigational depth
- Installing 24/7 navigation aids
- Providing pilotage services for safe vessel movement
Record-Breaking Journeys and Popular Circuits
India made global headlines in January 2023, when MV Ganga Vilas—the world’s longest river cruise—was flagged off by PM Modi. The 3,200 km journey from Varanasi to Dibrugarh, passing through 27 river systems and 5 Indian states (plus Bangladesh), earned a place in the Limca Book of Records.
Other river cruise hotspots gaining momentum include:
- Sundarbans (West Bengal)
- Brahmaputra River (Assam)
- Alappuzha Backwaters (Kerala)
51 New Cruise Circuits Planned by 2027
Under the Cruise Bharat Mission, IWAI plans to develop 51 new river cruise circuits on 47 National Waterways across 14 states and 3 Union Territories by 2027. The government’s target is to triple river cruise passenger volume from 0.5 million to 1.5 million in the next two years.
The mission emphasizes:
- Terminal and port upgrades
- Eco-friendly tourism via green vessels
- Employment generation across tourism and transport sectors
Strategic State Collaborations and Regional Expansion
Recent IWAI agreements aim to broaden cruise tourism in both central and regional rivers:
- Gujarat & Madhya Pradesh: Tourism on River Narmada
- Delhi Government: Ferries and cruises on Yamuna
- Jammu & Kashmir: Sustainable tourism on Jhelum, Ravi, and Chenab rivers
Dedicated cruise terminals are being developed at:
- Ganga River: Varanasi, Patna, Kolkata
- Brahmaputra River: Guwahati, Silghat, Biswanath Ghat, Neamati, and Guijan (by 2027)
