India's River Cruise Tourism Set to Flourish with Viking Brahmaputra Launch
Viking Brahmaputra: A New Era for River Cruises
New Delhi, July 22: The tourism potential of the Brahmaputra River is about to be unlocked with the introduction of the Viking Brahmaputra cruise vessel, which is set to commence operations on National Waterway-2 (NW-2) by late 2027. This waterway stretches 891 kilometers from the Bangladesh border to Sadiya.
Viking Cruises has officially announced its entry into India's river cruise sector with the Viking Brahmaputra, an 80-passenger vessel that will begin its journey in late 2027. This move indicates a growing interest and investment in river cruise tourism, as stated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The vessel will be built by Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kolkata and will operate on NW-2.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is also working on establishing dedicated cruise terminals along the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers. Planned locations include Varanasi, Guwahati, Kolkata, and Patna, with four additional terminals in Assam at Silghat, Biswanath Ghat, Nimatighat, and Guijan expected to be completed by 2027.
Over the past 11 years, river cruise tourism in India has experienced remarkable growth. The number of vessels has surged from five operating on three waterways in 2013-14 to 25 vessels across 13 national waterways by 2024-25. This expansion is largely due to IWAI's proactive initiatives aimed at improving navigational safety and infrastructure on national waterways.
IWAI has enhanced navigation for river cruise vessels by developing terminals and facilities, ensuring sufficient water depth, and providing 24-hour navigation aids and pilotage services. These improvements have significantly elevated the passenger experience and operational logistics, fostering greater confidence among operators.
In a notable achievement, MV Ganga Vilas, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2023, completed the world's longest river cruise, traveling 3,200 kilometers from Varanasi to Dibrugarh through 27 river systems across five Indian states and Bangladesh. This historic journey has been recognized in the Limca Book of Records.
Other popular cruise routes, such as the Sundarbans in West Bengal, the Brahmaputra in Assam, and Alappuzha in Kerala, are also gaining popularity. IWAI aims to establish 51 new river cruise circuits across 47 national waterways in 14 states and three Union territories by 2027. With the launch of the Cruise Bharat Mission, the government seeks to triple the number of river cruise passengers from 0.5 million to 1.5 million.
This mission emphasizes the enhancement of cruise terminals and ports, the promotion of eco-friendly tourism through green vessels, and the creation of numerous job opportunities within the cruise industry over the next two years.