Cruising through India's majestic rivers might soon become one of the most accessible and exciting ways to travel, thanks to an ambitious initiative by the central government. Under the Cruise Bharat Mission, India has announced plans to develop 51 new cruise circuits across 14 states and three union territories by the year 2027. The expansion comes in response to the rapid growth of inland water tourism and marks a major leap forward in the country's efforts to make river cruises a mainstream travel experience.
The project aims to transform India's riverine landscapes into thriving tourist hubs. From the Ganges in the north to the Brahmaputra in the east and the backwaters of Kerala in the south, the initiative will bring more travellers closer to the country’s lesser-known cultural and ecological treasures. At the heart of this transformation is a strategic focus on national waterways and world-class infrastructure.
A key highlight of this mission is the entry of global cruise giant Viking Cruises into India's river cruise market. The company has announced its new vessel, Viking Brahmaputra, which will begin operations in late 2027. Designed to accommodate 80 guests, the ship is being built indigenously by Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kolkata. It will operate on National Waterway 2, cruising through the Brahmaputra River and opening up a new frontier in luxury travel through India’s northeast.
The numbers reflect a growing appetite for such experiences. India recorded 443 river cruise voyages on national waterways in 2024 to 2025, compared to 371 voyages the previous year. This nearly 20 percent increase demonstrates both the rising demand for inland cruises and improvements in operational logistics. What was once a niche offering is now poised to become a regular feature on India’s travel map.
In just a decade, river cruise operations in India have seen remarkable expansion. Back in 2013, the country had only five cruise vessels operating on three waterways. Today, that number stands at 25 vessels cruising along 13 major waterways. This growth story is being powered by the Inland Waterways Authority of India, which is actively building cruise-specific infrastructure across the country.
Several new cruise terminals are being developed to support this growth. These include planned terminals in key cities such as Varanasi, Patna, Kolkata, and Guwahati. In the northeast, additional terminals are in the works at Silghat, Biswanath Ghat, Neamati, and Guijan, promising easier access and more seamless operations along the Brahmaputra.
India’s maritime tourism received another significant boost earlier this year when the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal began operations. As the largest cruise terminal in the country, it signals the government's intent to integrate ocean and river cruising into a unified national tourism strategy.
The Cruise Bharat Mission is more than just a tourism plan. It is a vision to create a new ecosystem for slow, scenic, and sustainable travel. These river cruises offer travellers a unique way to experience India’s heartlands, away from crowded tourist centers, while creating new job opportunities and economic avenues in the interior regions.
As India navigates this ambitious path, the experience of gliding past ancient ghats, green islands, rural hamlets, and historic trade routes is expected to become a major draw for both domestic and international travellers.
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