Viking Brahmaputra: New Horizons in Indian River Cruising

Viking Cruises is set to enter India’s river cruise market with the launch of Viking Brahmaputra, an indigenous cruise vessel expected to begin operations by late 2027. The 80-guest ship will be built by Hooghly Cochin Shipyard in Kolkata and will sail along National Waterway-2, covering 891 km from the Bangladesh border to Sadiya in Assam.

According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the move marks a significant boost to India’s river cruise tourism, drawing increased global interest and investment.

To support this growth, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is developing cruise terminals in Varanasi, Guwahati, Kolkata, Patna, and four key locations in Assam—Silghat, Biswanath Ghat, Nimatighat, and Guijan.

India’s river cruise sector has seen notable expansion, growing from five vessels in 2013–14 to 25 vessels across 13 national waterways by 2024–25. Among the milestones is the MV Ganga Vilas, flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023, which completed a 3,200-km journey and entered the Limca Book of Records.

Under the Cruise Bharat Mission, the government aims to triple cruise passenger numbers to 1.5 million by 2027, while promoting sustainable and eco-friendly tourism across India’s inland waterways.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.