Ganga river-cruise tourism is booming, and Varanasi sits at its heart

Good news for anyone who loves seeing Kashi from the water: India's river-cruise tourism is on a remarkable upswing, and Varanasi remains one of its brightest stars. The Inland Waterways Authority of India recently noted that river-cruise passenger numbers nationwide have climbed from around 84,000 to nearly 50 lakh — a leap that says a lot about how travellers now want to experience the country's great rivers. Varanasi has long been central to that story. The city is the celebrated starting point of long-distance Ganga cruising, and a steady stream of day cruises and well-appointed vessels now glide past its ghats, offering a calmer, postcard view of the riverfront and its timeless rituals. There is more on the horizon, too: a water-transport service has been proposed between Ramnagar and Namo Ghat, which would give both residents and visitors an easy, scenic way to move along the river rather than through the city's busy lanes. For travellers, it all adds up to more ways to enjoy the Ganga at its own pace. And for Banaras, the growth is another sign that its riverfront — already the soul of the city — is becoming a gateway to one of India's most promising forms of slow, sustainable tourism.

Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: Inland Waterways Authority of India (Instagram) · Ramnagar–Namo Ghat water transport (Instagram)