Jammu's riverfront just got a lot more fun. On July 3, 2026, Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) opened a brand-new boating facility at the Tawi Riverfront, giving young residents a fresh, affordable way to spend an evening on the water without leaving the city.
The facility was inaugurated by Dr Devansh Yadav, Chief Executive Officer of Jammu Smart City Limited and Commissioner of the Jammu Municipal Corporation. While the launch was timed to welcome pilgrims arriving for the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, the attraction is just as much for Jammuites looking for something new to do close to home.
What you get for Rs 100
Here are the essentials before you head down:
Timings: open daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Price: Rs 100 per person.
Ride length: each session lasts about 15 minutes.
Choice of boats: paddle boats, rafts, motor boats and shikaras, so whether you want a lazy pedal with friends or a proper motor ride, there is an option.
You can also book online in advance through tawiboating.myjammu.in, handy for weekends when footfall is likely to be higher.
Safety first
For anyone (or any parent) wondering about safety on the Tawi, the organisers say the basics are covered: life jackets are provided to all passengers, trained boat operators and rescue personnel are on duty, and standard operating procedures and emergency-response mechanisms are in place. Dr Yadav said the facility aims at giving visitors a "safe, enjoyable and memorable recreational activity."
A new evening spot for young Jammu
Beyond the novelty, the boating point adds to the slow transformation of the Tawi Riverfront into a genuine leisure destination, one that already hosts the Tawi Aarti and a light-and-sound show. For students and young professionals short on affordable places to unwind, a Rs 100 ride at sunset is an easy, low-cost outing, a good shout for a group of friends, a first date, or just a change of scene after class.
It also nudges Jammu a little closer to the riverfront culture that cities like Ahmedabad and Srinagar have built around their water, spaces where an evening out does not have to mean a mall or a restaurant bill. For a generation that has grown up watching the Tawi mostly from bridges and bypass flyovers, the chance to actually be on the river, life jacket on and phone camera out, is a small but real upgrade to what a weekend in Jammu can look like.
If you go, the golden hour before the 7:00 PM closing is likely the prettiest time to be on the water. Confirm timings and booking on the official page before heading out, and enjoy the view of your city from the middle of its river.
Source: Daily Excelsior.
