River rafting is undoubtedly one of the most enthralling and physically demanding adventures sports in the world. The adrenaline rush and the excitement experienced while riding and tumbling down the white waters of fast flowing rivers across boulder-strewn beds is simply unmatched by any other sport.
River Rafting in India
In fact, India is the go-to destination for river rafting, owing to the powerful rivers that offer `raft-worthy’ Rapids, like Teesta, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Zanskar, and Indus, gushing down from the enormous heights of the Himalayas across suspended gorges and high cliffs, bordered by lush greenery.
The ideal destinations to enjoy river rafting in India are the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. They are easily accessible, have scenic locale and varied levels of rapids to choose from, according to the level of expertise and skill of none- swimmers, first-timers, and serious adventure enthusiasts.
On the basis of difficulty in whitewater rafting, the rivers are graded on five grades, ranging from easy and simple to extremely dangerous.
- Grade 1(Skill required-Very basic): Smooth water with little current.
- Grade 2 (Skill required-Basic paddling skills): Small Rapids with bubbling current, rough water and maybe few rocks.
- Grade 3(Skill required-Experienced paddling skills): Small waves with a small drop that’s not dangerous. It is exciting and technical and therefore calls for a professional guide.
- Grade 4(Skill required-Whitewater rafting experience): Big Rapids with medium waves, maybe a few rocks and a considerable drop.
- Grade 5(Skill required-Advanced whitewater rafting experience): Large waves with large volume and possibility of huge rocks, a large drop, and hazards.
Some of the popular places for River Rafting in India are:
1. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
Rishikesh, world-renowned as the River Rafting Capital of India, offers some of the most sought after rafting tours. There are mainly four starting points for rafting in Rishikesh, namely Kaudiyala(35km, 5hrs), Shivpuri (16km, 3hrs), Marine drive (27km, 4hrs), and Brahmapuri (9km, 2hrs). The 16 km stretch from Shivpuri to Lakshman Jhula, rich with whirlpools, on the Ganges River at Rishikesh is acclaimed as one of India’s most popular stretches for white water rafting. In fact, with about 13 curiously named rapids like the Roller Coaster, Return to Sender, Three Blind Mice, Tee Off, Double Trouble and Golf Course, ranging from grade 1 to grade 4, along with this stretch, it is a perfect escapade for amateur rafters as well as the hardened veterans. In the grade 4 rapids, the currents are so powerful that once in the water, one can get sucked in instantly for over a couple of seconds and only expert maneuvering and firm rafting can save the day.
Being the nearest river rafting destination to Delhi, about 225 km’s away, Rishikesh lures in many tourists every year looking to beat the summer heat and engage in adventure sports. It is well connected via road to most of northern India with regular bus service to Rishikesh from Haridwar, Delhi, and Dehradun; the nearest airport is at Dehradun while the closest railway station is at Haridwar. Once at Rishikesh, hire a cab to reach the river camp and if possible, hire the cab for the complete stay to easily explore the famous religious hotspots in the vicinity like Haridwar.
The best time to go to Rishikesh is between September and June when one can enjoy rafting along with the cool and serene white sand beaches set against the picturesque Kumaon Mountains. One can camp along the river banks at night and battle the rapids during the day to have an intense experience at Rishikesh.
2. Zanskar, Ladakh Region
Rafting on Zanskar River, arisen from the confluence of the Tsarap and Stod Rivers near the border of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, is one of the world’s most exotic rafting expeditions. While rafting down the Zanskar in Ladakh, enthrall witnessing the unparalleled beauty of the region; discover the spectacular landscape with hillside villages, hilltop monasteries, lofty snow-capped peaks, deep gorges and glimpses of the exceptional wildlife.
The Padum–Nimmu runs, with grade 3 and 4 rapids in between, is a popular run on the Zanskar, suitable only for the fairly experienced whitewater rafters as it is a 10 to 14 days trip that involves camping out in the wild.
In fact, Padum (approx. 12,000 ft) is the highest rafting location in the world, from where the river traverses through the deep gorges and flows across the coarse hostile terrain of Ladakh, the world’s one of the sparsely inhabited and remotest regions. The sheer walls of the deep gorges, found on the way, rise thousands of feet above the river bed and are renowned as the ‘Grand Canyon’ of Asia.
The Phey–Nimmu runs, situated about 36 km from Leh at the confluence of the Indus and the Zanskar Rivers, with mostly grade 2 and 3 rapids is an easy run that begins at They and terminates at Nimmu. In this run, you will witness some amazingly beautiful mountains, most of them housing magnificent old monasteries and small villages nestling amongst the valleys.
One can reach Leh via direct flight from Delhi and from there one can reach Kargil by cab or local bus. Regular buses run between Kargil and Padum every alternate day between July and October. The ideal months to go river rafting in Zanskar are July- August, as the River freezes in winters. Even in July- August, the river water is extremely cold (about 7 degrees Celsius), and therefore cold water gear is compulsory for rafting.
3. Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
As you go rafting on the rapids of the turbulent River Betwa, you will be charmed at the views of various cenotaphs lined up across the banks of the river. To add to your experience are the lush green environs, making for a soothing locale to enjoy a high adrenaline adventure activity like rafting. The rafting tours are organised by MP Tourism, and starts from the scenic Kanchana Ghat.
Sources – Wikitravel
