Founded by Raj Singh—an entrepreneur with a passion for luxury travel and a deep love for India’s rivers—Antara Cruises launched its first voyage in 2009, charting a course from Kolkata to Varanasi. Over time, the company introduced additional routes: Kolkata to Dhaka in 2018, and by 2023 had added a multi-city itinerary linking Varanasi–Kolkata–Dhaka–Guwahati.
Cruises operate across major river systems: the Ganges (National Waterway 1), Brahmaputra (NW2), Brahmani (NW5 in Odisha), and even an Indo‑Bangladesh cross‑border route. Onboard, passengers enjoy all-suite accommodations, fully vegetarian restaurants, spa services, cultural performances, expert-led excursions, shore power connections, sewage treatment systems, eco‑friendly lighting, and initiatives like bamboo straws and dolphin-deterrent devices for sustainable travel. In February 2025, Antara signed a landmark MoU with the West Bengal government to invest ₹800 crore over five years. As of mid‑2025, Antara operates nine ships—with four more under development—and continues to explore new regional waterways in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Goa, and Odisha.
Since its debut in 2009, Antara Cruises has charted a transformative course through India’s inland waterways, evolving from a pioneering venture into a comprehensive luxury fleet. Its offering now spans short weekend escapes to grand multi‑week cultural odysseys—backed by strong environmental policies and a ₹800 crore investment into infrastructure.