When it comes to transport in India, the subcontinent isn’t short of options. Its one-and-a-half billion inhabitants navigate the nation by plane, train and automobile (and rickshaw, bike and metro). Many of the roads and throughfares are incredibly well-trodden, yet there are still sections of the country that remain untarnished by tourist crowds and can only be accessed by water. This is where boat trips come in. A long-cherished mode of travel, particularly for reaching remote islands and backwater cities, boats offer more than just a means of getting around. The best boat trips in India showcase the country’s resplendent scenery, fully immerse you in the culture and deliver you to a yet-undiscovered destination. Our travel experts have shared some of their favourites, in the hopes of ensuring that your journey is all plane sailing…
The Backwaters of Kerala
One of the ‘special K’s’ of southern India (the other being Karnataka), the state of Kerala, sits pretty on India’s tropical Malabar Coast. Its backwaters are a delicate ecosystem of canals, lakes and rivers, which are home to thriving rice paddy fields and banana tree plantations. A cruise here takes you through 600 miles of waterways and brings you into close proximity with the region’s abundant wildlife, namely kingfishers, cormorants and otters. You’ll travel aboard kettuvallams (traditional barges once used to transport rice), which have been converted into more luxurious iterations, made of wood, bamboo and with thatched roofs. This is a magical experience at the best of times, but opt for a sunset slot (or sunrise if you’re an early bird) to see the region bathed in the ethereal glow of sparse sunlight - it’s easy to see why they call it ‘golden hour’.
Ganges River Cruise
Often hailed as the ‘lifeblood of India’, the significance of the River Ganges is difficult to overstate. The mighty waterway snakes across 1550 miles and is so wide at points that the opposite bank is hidden from view. Its magnitude extends far beyond these sizeable dimensions too, with Hindus worshipping it as the goddess Ganga and the prevailing belief that bathing in the river will wash away your sins. A Ganges River cruise is an excellent way of absorbing the river’s importance, while exploring peaceful river-dwelling villages and supporting local communities that rely on the river. This is also one of the best boat trips in India for history buffs, with a smattering of architectural marvels situated along the riverbank, including Bengali terracotta temples and intricately designed palaces.
The Andaman Islands
Inject a dose of island life into your India holiday with a visit to the Andaman Islands, located 177 miles off the coast of Burma in the Bay of Bengal. Of the 572 islands, only 36 are inhabited, with even fewer open to travellers. The islands’ sun-toasted beaches and icing-sugar sand are hard to resist, and hopping aboard a cruise to reach them means that the relaxation can begin as soon as you hit the water. Enjoy delectable dishes served during the boat ride and feel every semblance of stress disappear upon catching sight of their palm-fringed shores. Diving can also be part of the deal here and our experts can arrange liveaboard boat trips that will take you to the more remote islands of the archipelago, each blessed with pristine reefs.
Sundarbans Boat Tour
The Sundarbans - meaning ‘beautiful forest’ in the local Bengali dialect - holds the impressive accolade of being the largest mangrove ecosystem in the world. In recognition of its ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ as a habitat, the region was inscribed into the UNESCO hall of fame in 1997 and wildlife continues to flourish here. A boat tour around the Sundarbans claims a spot on our list of the best boat tours in India for the biodiversity alone; sheltering three wildlife sanctuaries, the delta is home to freshwater crocodiles, wild hogs and a multitude of birdlife. It’s also a favourite hangout of the highly endangered Royal Bengal tiger, playing host to one of the highest population concentrations of these majestic big cats.
Written by Luisa Watts
