River Rafting in India

River Rafting in India

River Rafting in India

If thrill and adventure are on your mind, then river rafting in India offers you an exciting experience of sailing on the untamed waters. It has become one of the most popular activities for the ultimate thrilling experience. This outdoor recreational activity has given adventurers a whole new level of challenge and excitement.

For one of the best experiences, streams originating from the Himalayas and Western Ghats present the wild side of theirs to challenge both your mind and body. The most frequented sites for this water sport are mostly situated in the lap and foothills of these mountain ranges.

This expedition through wild streams is not limited to professionals as amateurs can also have the fun, albeit with some safety precautions. It is advised to take the right precautions and professional guidance to enjoy this water activity to its fullest.

About River Rafting

Rafting is a recreational adventure sport, in which a raft is used to sail through the waters. It was popularised as a leisure sport in the mid 1970s, and has now become an immensely popular activity that people love to conduct during their holidays. This challenging expedition is usually done on different degrees and rapids of untamed waters. A lot of challenges are involved in this activity, which is why it demands some specific techniques of manoeuvring.

Two of the main techniques required to conduct this activity successfully are punching and high siding. Punching requires the crew to paddle the raft fast, so that it gains enough speed to push through the hydraulic current. High siding is required if the raft go sideways; so in order to stop the raft from flipping, rafters move to its higher side to balance the raft. As it is a dangerous sport, proper safety precautions should be observed while undertaking it.

Best Locations for River Rafting in India

River rafting in India offers you an excursion through a series of adrenaline-rushing rapids down the fast streams. There are a number of sites, which offer you a chance to tame the waters at their furious best. The most popular sites for this adventure sport are Rishikesh, Kolad and the Tons in Garhwal. The thrill and dare involved vary from site to site, depending upon the water currents and topographies.

  •  Ganga River, Rishikesh: One of the most idyllic places to enjoy this water sport is Rishikesh. Together with the crashing waves of the Ganga River and the surrounding undulating hills, Rishikesh provides adventure seekers a perfect landscape to enjoy this activity. It will be great fun to sail through the narrow gorges, rocky gradients and falls. The best time to enjoy this activity here is from September to June; however you can access the place throughout the year. Know more about Rishikesh Rafting.

  • Kundalika River, Kolad: Located in the Sahyadri Ranges, Kolad is a place that earns top spots in the list of rafting sites in India. Passing through the thick forests, the Kundalika River here is the only site in Maharashtra that provides for an exciting daring experience. It is a hotspot for this water sport, because of the rugged topography and scenic expedition route. Know more about River Kundalika Rafting.

  • Tons River, Garhwal: Enjoy the thrilling expedition on the raft in the aggressive waters of Tons River, which is the largest tributary of Yamuna. Originating from the Bandarpunch Range, the water body with its challenging waters will provide you one of the most thrilling experiences.

Rafting in India

Grades of Rapids

It defines the relative gradient of the river bed and is generally classified into six grades according to the level of difficulty. Grade I and II rapids are easy and needs slight manoeuvring skills, whereas Grade III rapids are moderate; however the strong currents and irregular waves at these may require significant manoeuvring. The rapids at Grade IV and V are a bit dangerous, with a possibility of considerable drops and intense waves; thus demanding for skilled and precise manoeuvring. But the most dangerous are Grade VI rapids, with the extreme level of difficulty, and are limited to experts only.

You can enjoy river rafting in India on the famous rapids in the Kundalika, Ganga and Tons Rivers. Rishikesh has ample of rapids like Sweet Sixteen, Roller Coaster and The Wall, categorised as grades I, III and IV, respectively. Three Blind Mice is another popular rapid in the category of Grade III. Rafting is generally carried in the 14 km stretch of Kundalika, which has rapids of grade II and III. Emerging as a prominent site for this water sport, Tons offers a Grade IV rapid for those who seek an adrenaline rush.

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