Prayagraj: Prayagraj, long known for its deep religious and cultural heritage, is now preparing to establish itself as a major destination for water adventure sports following the launch of a new river-based tourism initiative on the Yamuna.
The project has been introduced by the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation under the Smart City Mission, with modern water sports facilities developed at the Yamuna River Bank Boat Club.
The initiative was officially inaugurated by Mayor Umesh Chandra Ganesh Kesarwani, who described the project as a significant step toward expanding the city’s tourism and recreational infrastructure.
According to municipal officials, nearly ₹2.5 crore has been invested in creating advanced facilities and acquiring modern equipment for various adventure sports activities. Visitors can now experience speed boating, jet skiing, kayaking, canoeing and rowing along the Yamuna River.
Authorities believe the initiative will reduce the need for local adventure enthusiasts to travel to destinations such as Mumbai or Goa for water sports experiences. Officials also expect the project to attract tourists from other states, boosting the city’s tourism profile beyond its traditional religious appeal.
Mayor Umesh Chandra Ganesh Kesarwani said the presence of the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers gives Prayagraj enormous untapped potential for water-based tourism and sports activities. He noted that despite these natural advantages, no major initiative had previously been undertaken in this sector until the municipal corporation approved the proposal.
The operational management of the adventure activities is being overseen by organiser Abhishek Singh, who said multiple categories of boats and recreational equipment have been introduced for tourists. These include speed boats, jet skis, seven-seater Bayliner boats and large 30-seater catamaran boats.
Officials added that the catamaran boats will also be available for private celebrations such as birthday parties, wedding anniversaries and haldi ceremonies, creating a unique riverfront event experience for visitors.
Adventure seekers will additionally be able to enjoy activities such as banana rides, while the city will, for the first time, offer organised facilities for competitive sports including kayaking, canoeing and rowing on a regular basis.
International kayaking and canoeing athlete Nitin Chandra and coach Rohit Nishad welcomed the initiative, stating that Prayagraj had previously hosted mainly state-level competitions due to limited infrastructure. With the new facilities now in place, they believe the city has the potential to host national and international-level water sports events in the future.
Sports experts say the initiative could provide local athletes with improved training opportunities and greater exposure at competitive levels, while simultaneously helping Prayagraj emerge as a prominent centre for water adventure tourism in northern India.
