It is that soft-shouldered time of year in Kolkata, when the rains have gathered their hems and departed, leaving the sun diffused and forgiving. Making our way through the tree-lined avenues of Fairley Place, we arrive at BBD Bagh Railway Crossing. Beyond the railway tracks lies the ferry ghat, a narrow ledge between departure and return. The river gleams in the waning orange of dusk, alongside the Howrah Bridge rises like the city’s steely guardian.
As we wait, a ferry moors at the ghat. We step aboard. On setting sail, the city recedes.
Out in the heart of the Ganges, the real marvel awaits — Nautilus, a two storeyed passenger cruise, 70 by 13 feet wide, 24,000 square feet long, with its anchor deep in the unseen bed of the river. Supported by the turning of the tides and currents, it turns almost imperceptibly, a full 360 degrees. Through its glass belly and the open deck on the second floor, the city scatters itself on the far edges of the river. Lying before us, the length and breadth of the SBI headquarters, the giant radar resembling a football on top of the New Secretariat, the white dome of the GPO, Eastern Railway Headquarters, and the Howrah Bridge with countless cars traversing it every second.
Nautilus is Ayan Banerjee’s brainchild. Ayan, a marine captain, understands the world of shipping and navigation like the back of his palm. Telling us about the idea behind the project, he explains, “In Kolkata everybody likes to party. All over India, if anything is on a boat, you have to book the whole boat or go somewhere where ticketing is happening. I wanted to find a way for people to come to the water and enjoy the water. I could have done it anywhere in India but I wanted to do something for my city. I would have made more money in Goa. But since I like to party, I want other guys to be able to party and enjoy the ambience of the Ganges. Nowhere in India do they have this concept.”
He adds, “The ship used to be a banquet vessel. I have listed it. We didn’t touch the structure. Everything you see here — all my employees put their heads together and gave ideas for the interior decor, ” says Ayan.
Explaining the name, he says, “Nautilus has two meanings. In Jules Verne’s novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Captain Nemo’s imaginary ship is called Nautilus. Secondly, the Nautilus shell is claimed to have a golden ratio, which makes it the most beautiful in the world.”
Recalling his experience at sea, the captain recalls, “The biggest vessel I’ve navigated is five times this size of Nautilus which is merely 72 metres long. The entire vessel runs on diesel, including the electrical connections which power the bar, nightclub and upper deck. This has been my dream project for my city.”
Inside Nautilus
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Nautilus was inaugurated during Durga Puja on September 26, 2025. The one of a kind concept features a nightclub and hookah bar on the first floor, while the upper deck offers a cabana style seating arrangement alongside a larger open air lounge.
In the near future, the owner plans to introduce live seafood counters “like you would see in Singapore,” he says where guests can pick their fish, crab, or lobster, and have it prepared fresh at the counter.
Nautilus bar
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Food and beverage
The bar and food menu spans Indian, Continental, Chinese, Italian, and fusion dishes. From Don Julio shots to GH Mumm for celebrations, the customary Martini, margarita, gimlet, and an array of liqueurs, the offerings are neither ostentatious nor basic but manage to straddle both. The menu includes Kolkata favourites such as lobster, river fresh bhetki in fish kalia or daab chingri, mahi mahi in kasundi (mustard), along with pizza, pasta, Thai curries to baked roshogolla, Japanese cheesecake, and darsaan for dessert and a lot more. While the food and beverage menu does not experiment, the dishes are comfortingly familiar and tailored to suit Kolkata’s eclectic palate — indulgent and without pretence.
The menu has options like Thai curry, lobster, and pizza.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
On special occasions like Bhai Phonta, Deepavali, or Durga Puja, curated thalis priced between ₹1,300–₹1,500 are prepared by the chef on board.
When asked about the safety of guests returning by ferry after alcohol consumption, Ayan assures that measures are being put in place. “The ferry that carries guests to and from the vessel will soon be covered with a net, and several bouncers will be stationed on board,” he says. The ferry, he adds, is exclusively reserved for patrons of Nautilus.
In a city where nostalgia often outweighs novelty, Nautilus offers a slice of innovation that does not estrange itself from heritage. It brings Kolkata’s relationship with its river full circle: once the artery of trade and empire, the Ganges now becomes a stage for leisure, light, and belonging.
Located at BBD Bagh Kolkata, Fairley Place 1, the price for two is approximately between ₹1,800 – ₹2,000. No cover charges. For reservations call +91 9147762462
Published – December 05, 2025 05:10 pm IST
