Fisherman in a small boat on the calm Brahmaputra near Biswanath Chariali, Assam, a quieter river cruise in India

Which River Cruise in India?

History on the Ganges, wildlife on the Brahmaputra, calm in Kerala.

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Choosing a River Cruise in India

Picking a river cruise in India comes down to what you want from the trip. Each river has a strong character, and the best one for you depends on how you feel about history versus wildlife, busy riverbanks versus empty ones, and a week on board versus a night on a houseboat.

The Ganges and the Hooghly

Most Ganges cruises sail the Hooghly, the Ganges’ westernmost branch, which flows through Kolkata. North of the city lie the old European trading towns — Dutch Chinsurah, French Chandernagore, Danish Serampore — then Kalna with its ring of 108 Shiva temples, the brass workers of Matiari, the battlefield of Plassey and the palaces of Murshidabad, once capital of the Nawabs of Bengal. Longer voyages continue up the main Ganges toward Patna and Varanasi when water levels allow.

Choose it for: history, architecture, village life and easy connections. Our sister site Ganges River Cruises goes stop by stop.

Passenger boat on the Yamuna, a tributary of the Ganges, passing the riverside buildings of Mathura

The Brahmaputra

Dancers in red and gold costume performing the Bihu dance of Assam — Assam’s Bihu dances are often performed for visiting ships.

The Brahmaputra is one of the world’s great rivers, miles wide in places and dotted with sandbars and islands. Cruises in Assam typically center on Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for the greater one-horned rhinoceros; Majuli, a large river island known for its Vaishnavite monasteries (satras); Sivasagar and its monuments of the Ahom kings; and the tea gardens around Dibrugarh.

Choose it for: wildlife, culture you will not see elsewhere in India and very few other tourists. See Brahmaputra River Cruise for ships and routes.

Kerala’s Backwaters

In the south, the backwaters are a different kind of river trip altogether: a network of lagoons, lakes and canals behind the Arabian Sea coast, explored by converted rice barges called kettuvallam. Trips are short and private or small-group, and pair well with a beach stay or an ocean cruise call at Kochi. Read the Kerala backwaters cruise page.

Side by Side

	Ganges / Hooghly	Brahmaputra	Kerala backwaters
Scenery	Busy, historic riverbanks	Vast, open river and islands	Palms, paddies and canals
Highlights	Temples, colonial towns, Varanasi	Rhinos, Majuli, tea estates	Village life, birdlife, calm
Ships	Small luxury and boutique ships	Expedition-style small ships	Houseboats and small boats
Getting there	Fly to Kolkata	Fly to Guwahati or Dibrugarh	Fly to Kochi

Which River Questions

Ganges or Brahmaputra: which is better for a first river cruise in India?

For most first-timers, the Ganges from Kolkata: it is easier to reach, more varied in history and easy to combine with Varanasi and the Golden Triangle. Choose the Brahmaputra if wildlife and remoteness matter most.

Can I do both rivers?

Yes, though rarely on one ship. The Ganga Vilas’s long voyages between Varanasi and Assam have crossed through Bangladesh to link them, and some travelers simply book two cruises with a flight between Kolkata and Guwahati.

Not Sure Which River?

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