Incredible river cruises you need to experience in India

India is blessed with magnificent waterways that need to be explored more. Cruising along these inland waterways are a great way to explore and experience the cities, towns and villages that are right there along the banks. If you have a laid back holiday in mind, river cruises are the best.

These are not rushed trips, you are in the company of nature all around you; not to forget, some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

These river cruises in India are definitely worth a try.

The Brahmaputra River Cruise is a 10-night cruise between Guwahati and Jorhat-Dibrugarh. The cruise will bring you to Sibsagar – the erstwhile kingdom of the Ahom kings, Majuli island, Kaziranga National Park, heritage tour around Tezpur, and Sualkuchi, the famous silk weaving village.

This is a perfect vacation on the river Ganges. The six-day Ganges Heritage River Cruise is one of the most exciting things to do when in Kolkata. The cruise will start with the beautiful Howrah Bridge in all its glory on the first day, and it will move on to a tour of Kolkata’s British colonial past in Barrackpore, Chandannagar, Serampore and Bandel.

The onward journey will bring you to Shantipur’s terracotta temples and the famous Weavers Colony (tant cotton). Mayapur’s famous ISKCON temple and Kansari Artisans village are next. The best is saved for the last – Murshidabad, one of the oldest cities in West Bengal. Mushidabad’s Hazarduari Palace Museum is an experience one must have.

Experience Goa’s culture and sights via the Mandovi River Cruise. The cruise is just a couple of hours long but an incredible experience nonetheless. Enjoy Goan folk songs, dances and food as you cruise through Chorao and Divar Islands. The cruise boat’s atmosphere is nothing but fun. Definitely a memorable Goa experience.

The calm Phalguni River in Mangalore is where this happens. Phalguni River’s end journey is to the Arabian sea but before that happens, the river plays host to those who would like to take a tour of the coastal areas in Mangalore. The 3-hour river cruise will take you to beautiful coastal villages. The highlight of the cruise is the delicious traditional Mangalorean cuisine that’s served onboard.

That’s one excellent way to experience Odisha. Chilika Lake Cruise is making avid bird watchers come back for more. The bird life on this lake is exceptional. As you cruise along, you will see many species of residents and migratory water birds. Watch out for those cool cranes! Your cruise will start from Mangalajodi; thereon, it will take you to Rajahamsa Beach for river dolphins, mangroves and little island villages.

If you love nature, and most importantly, if you love mangroves, Sundarbans River Cruise is for you. Cruise along the famous Sundarban mangroves and enjoy nature along the way. The cruise takes place on the Malta river and passes through the famous Sundarban Tiger Reserve.