Rafting is most developed and popular sport in India. India’s rafting stretches are mainly on the rivers Ganges, Beas, and Sutlej of which Ganges is the considered the safest. River trips and rafting can be organized in the Indian Himalayas from Zanskar and Indus rivers in Ladakh to the Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers in Arunachal Pradesh. River rafting is also done on the Sutlej, Chenab and Tons.
White water rafting in India are organized and managed by professional Indian teams who have trained abroad in some of the most difficult water stretches of the world. The Ganges affords some of the most spectacular river running in the country Ideal for both paddle rafting and oar rafting, the river descends towards Rishikesh, passes under the Lakshman Jhoola and the run concludes at the dam beyond Rishikesh. The early stages of the Ganges offer the exhilarating Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi rivers. The India snaking through Ladakh and the Zanskar and Chenab in Kashmir provide very different river running experience. Rafting on the magnificent River Kali s is also popular in the Western Ghats of north eastern Karnataka
The Ganga
WHITE WATER RAFTING - Kaudiyala Rishikesh
Unspoilt, untouched and breathtakingly spectacular, wild, lush green and icy blu at the same time. That’s Uttaranchal. Cradled in the majestic beauty and calm serenity of the Himalayas. It is undoubtedly one of India’s most beautiful states. It enfolds within itself captivating glimpses of Kumaon and Garhwal and enchants every one who comes here into believing that it is the ultimate definition of beauty on earth.
Kaudiyala - Shivpuri Alaknanda cradled in the lap of the lower Himalayas, Rishikesh is surrounded by hills on three sides with the holy Ganga flowering through it. Rishikesh is also a focal point for white water rafting and acts as a base for treks and hikes in the beautiful Himalayas. The river Ganga cuts against the rocky banks, crashing, into rocks and breaking into white water rapids, foaming, swirling amidst a thunderous din. From the camp you can raft down about 30 kms till Rishikesh through grade 1 rapids like Sweet sixteen and grade 4 rapids like the wall. As your journey down, the frothing waters of the untamed river rush to meet you to test your adventure skills to the extreme. At the end of an exhilarating rafting stretch, you can enjoy a dip in the cool waters and then sun yourself dry on sandy bordered by oak, pine, spruce and fir trees. If you are lucky, you may also spot deer drinking water from the river.
About 28 km upstream from the town of Rishikesh, on the Alaknanda, is one of India’s best known- and most popular- stretches for white water rafting. The stretch between Kaudiyala and Shivpuri has several camps, each catering to river rafting outfits. Most of these operate between Octobers to March, through the winter. The run starts at Kaudiyala and passes through thickly wooded hills; along the way are two of the river’s best rapids- one known as the `wall’ and the other called the `golf course’- which are succeeded by deep, tranquil pools. The river route makes it way past riverside temples, under the Laxman Jhoola. The run finally terminates at the dam beyond Rishikesh.
Distance from Delhi by Road
250 kms from Delhi via Ghaziababd – Modinagar- Meerut, Muzaffarnagar-Roorkee-Rishikesh – Tehri
Rudraprayag-Rishikesh (Alaknanda): Situated at the confluence of the Alaknanda and the Mandakini- two of the main tributaries of the Ganga, Rudraprayag is known to many wildlife buffs as the place where the famous Jim Corbett shot a man eating leopard in 1926. Although no longer as thickly wooded as it once was, Rudraprayag is still close enough to the jungles to make it a very charming place- and the starting point of an exhilarating, if strenuous, bit of river running.
Starting a little beyond the main town of Rudraprayag, the river makes its way through a series of rapids, narrow gorges and quieter stretches, passing through the towns of Srinagar and Devprayag (at the junction of the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi). Further on, the river reaches Kaudiyala, from where the stretch to Shivpuri and on to Rishikesh is a fairly demanding one. The entire expedition takes about four or five days, depending upon the pace.
What is particularly appealing about the Rudraprayag-Rishikesh run is that other than the adventure of river rafting on one of India’s best stretches; it also offers the chance to see the densely forested Himalayan foothills at close quarters. Furthermore, the river passes through the heart of `sacred’ India- with plenty of opportunity to visit old temples. Anyway, river rafting on the Alaknanda can mean loads of dips- intentional and otherwise- in the holy river!
There are regular buses to Rudraprayag from Rishikesh and Haridwar.
Tehri-Shivpuri (Bhagirathi/Alaknanda): The Tehri-Shivpuri run, on the Bhagirathi river, is considered to be one of India’s best runs- scenic and heart-stoppingly exhilarating. Beginning at the town of Tehri, the district headquarters of Tehri Garhwal, this run goes down the Bhagirathi river, passing through foaming rapids- mostly grade III or IV- till it reaches Devprayag. At Devprayag, the Bhagirathi merges with the Alaknanda, beyond which the river becomes- in places- more manageable than in the upper reaches. Passing Kaudiyala, the run goes on to Shivpuri, and then to Rishikesh (for more details, see the Rudraprayag-Rishikesh run, above).
When to go
The Himalayan Rivers, being the main river rafting routes, are virtually inaccessible during the winters. Some, like the Zanskar, are frozen over, and most of the others are too cold too allow rafting. Getting soaked could lead to a long and perhaps dangerous bout of hypothermia- or worse.
The monsoon brings heavy rain to the lower reaches of the Himalayas, and melting snows in the mountains result in higher waters in all of the rivers. Summers, therefore, though a good time to go river rafting, can be a little unsafe, especially for novices who haven’t travelled on a river in spate. For novices, August and September- when waters are lower and more manageable- are the best months to go river running; veterans can opt for expeditions earlier in the summer. Spring or early summer is also usually suitable for river running.
The Teesta is one of the few rivers where river rafting is confined to the winter months, between October and April.
What to bring
A love for adventure and a passion for the great outdoors is top priority. More practical things to pack include a good sunscreen, dark glasses, shorts, T-shirts (or other light, quick-dry clothing) and suitable shoes- sneakers or heavy duty rubber sandals may be a good idea. Also pack in a windproof jacket, a light sweater, towels, and a flashlight- and don’t forget the first aid box and the camera!
Accommodation
Riverside tent camps exist along all the main routes, especially in Garhwal. These will generally consist of Swiss tents where accommodation is on a shared basis, with separate dry-waste toilet tents. All camps have their own arrangements for dining and entertainment- the latter invariably consisting of bonfires, beach volleyball and singing. Some of the longer runs may include stops en route at riverside villages or other settlements.
In Ladakh, Lahaul, Sikkim and some of the less developed areas, pitching a tent will usually be the only course open for rafters.
Rafting Runs
There are two main sets of routes along the rivers, graded I to III (for amateurs) and IV to VI, for veterans. The Zanskar and the Indus, both in Ladakh, are graded I - III, while the more southern stretches of the Beas, Chenab, Sutlej and Teesta are graded IV – VI. Briefly,
Grade I : Small, easy waves; mainly flat water.
Grade II : Mainly clear passages; some areas of difficulty.
Grade III : Difficult passages; narrow in places and with high waves.
Grade IV : Very difficult, narrow and requiring precise manoeuvring.
Grade V : Extremely difficult. Very fast-flowing waters which can be manoeuvred only by experts.
Grade VI : For all practical purposes, unmanageable- even suicidal.
Rafting & Auli
07 Nights/06 Days
Summer option with Cliff top Club
Day by Day Iteneray
Day 01
Depart for Haridwar by Shatabdi Express
Lunch at Haridwar
Board bus/ taxi for Joshimath
Reach Rudraprayag by evening
Dinner and overnight at Monal Resorts, Rudraprayag
Day 02
Depart after breakfast for Joshimath-2hrs
Take Cable car to Clifftop Club and check in
Settling down time and lunch at Clifftop club
Soft trek to RR point
Campfire and dinner at Clifftop Club
Day3
Trek to Gorson top after breakfast and with packed lunch
Return to Cliff top Club for tea, bonfire and dinner
Day 4
Day trip to Badrinath and Mana village, the last Indian village
Optional sightseeing to Sanjeevani/tapovan/Joshimath with mythological significance explained Return to Clifftop Club for campfire and dinner
Day 5
Check out for Joshimath after breakfast
Onward journey to Rishikesh
Overnight at river rafting beach camp (optional)
Day6
River rafting in Ganges (optional)
Lunch at camp
Outdoor activities post lunch
Overnight at beach camp
Day 7
Onward journey to Delhi
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