Yamuna Recreational River Cruise inaugurated and launched at Sonia Vihar in Delhi. Here's the details
Delhi adds a new attraction to its tourism landscape with the launch of a recreational river cruise service along the Yamuna river.
This is Delhi's very first recreational river cruise. It operates along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch of the Yamuna river. This initiative aims to promote river-based tourism and offer visitors a new recreational experience in the national capital of India.
This river cruise features a 30-seater electric cruise vessel offering visitors a scenic experience along an approximately 6-kilometre round-trip stretch of the river. Electric-powered vessels are used here to highlight the potential of inland waterways for clean and sustainable mobility.
Envisioned as a wider eco-tourism destination, the Yamuna project includes a range of recreational attractions and amenities for the visitors. A key attraction is a musical fountain featuring a coordinated light and sound show in the evenings, depicting the history and spiritual significance of Yamuna, including its association with Surya Dev, Yama, and the divine leela of Shri Krishna, particularly the legendary Kaliya Daman.
The Yamuna River Cruise Jetty at Sonia Vihar also includes a food court and cafeteria, shopping area, children's play zone and adventure sports facilities, including skating and rock climbing.
It features modern floating jetties, dedicated ticket counters and online booking facilities, restrooms (toilets), waiting areas, parking space for vehicles, and illuminated approach pathways for the convenience of the visitors.
Location: It is located near the Sonia Vihar Water Sports Club in the North East district of Delhi State. View in Google Maps.
This River Cruise service on the Yamuna was inaugurated today on 10 November 2026 by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, in presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and others at Sonia Vihar in the North East district of Delhi, India, which is situated on the eastern bank of the Yamuna River.
The River Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The use of electric-powered cruise vessels aims to promote clean and sustainable mobility, while adding a new recreational attraction to the National Capital Region.
This Recreational Yamuna River Cruise Service is developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), in collaboration with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Government of Delhi.
As per the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Govt. of India, this launch also marks another milestone in the Centre's efforts to develop India's rivers as vibrant avenues for tourism, passenger movement, and economic activity.
The Yamuna River Cruise initiative is part of a wider national transformation of India's inland waterways, of which, river cruise tourism is an emerging part.
The number of river cruise vessels offering overnight journeys has increased from 5 in 2013-14 to 26 in 2025-26.
The landmark journey of MV Ganga Vilas is recognised in the Limca Book of Records as the world's longest river cruise. Covering more than 3,200 kilometres across India and Bangladesh, the journey connected 50 tourist destinations, traversed two countries, five states and 27 river systems.
Other popular cruise circuits in India are the Sundarbans in West Bengal, Brahmaputra in Assam, and Alappuzha in Kerala.
- Delhi's River Tourism Begins with the Launch of Yamuna Recreational Cruise Service - Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Govt. of India, on PIB. Posted On: 10 NOV 2026 5:47PM by PIB Delhi.
- Delhi Set to Get Its First Recreational Yamuna Cruise Service - Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Govt. of India, on PIB. Posted On: 09 NOV 2026 5:11PM by PIB Delhi.