River Rafting in India

Cleansing your spirit, learn yoga Asanas, gasping mountain, fresh air are just some of the essentials desired for an ideal holiday. Rishikesh is a recognized pilgrimage centre but it is as well a haunt for exciting activity seekers. The melting snow from the Himalayas passes through this city providing the optimum current required for rafting.

According to Hinduism, Goddess Ganga descends to cleanse our souls flowing from the Jata (Hair Locks) of Lord Shiva, who resides in the Himalayas. A dip in this sacred water washes all the sins and provides liberation to the departed souls.

The water flows down with such great speed that it looks white. The chilled water also reminds you of global warming. In spite of the river and its tributaries getting polluted in various cities like Haridwar and Varanasi, you will still find the water here very clear and clean.

Rishikesh is the most excellent place for adventure sports in India. Rafting is as well available in Manali, Himachal Pradesh but that does not have the current or the rapids like here. This sport is seasonal and usually opens after the monsoon, somewhere in the month of October and ends around March. These areas receive a lot of rainfall so it is most excellent to inquire when the rafting season begins.

I was lucky when I visited in October as the water levels were recorded the highest compared to the previous years. Throughout this season, you do not have to book in advance as several operators offer this service. There are several packages depending on how brave you are. You can try 10 km, 15 km and so on. I am a daredevil so I took up the entire stretch of 32 km. There are kayaking opportunities available also.

I choose the RaftinginRishikesh4u.com to handle my rafting tour. They were thoroughly professional and well equipped to handle any emergencies. I was impatient for the tour to start but that did not alter until the induction on safety was completed. The trainer covered every phase of how to handle oneself, remain calm and maintain discipline so that security of others was not compromised. Further directions included steps on how to save one another and methods to hold on if anyone fell into the water. This took around 45 minutes.

The trainer who was handling my raft was a no-nonsense guy and did not like any jokes and laughter until he was sure everyone understood the possible dangers of rafting and not think of this activity as all fun and games outing.

There were 12 people in a raft along with the instructor. Each of us were given lifejacket and helmet. He checked every individual’s jacket and selected where each one should sit. After understanding the commands, we lastly set off. The full day rafting event started from Marine Drive to Munni Ki Reti, while other smaller routes are from Shivpuri to Munni Ki Reti and Brahmapuri to Munni Ki Reti.

Once I was in the raft, paddling and feeling the water gurgling around was magical. I felt in touch with my inner self, the surroundings and the higher beings.

White Water Rafting Rishikesh

The calm water rapidly got bumpy and the trainer yelled out commands how to steer the raft. People seated on the left had their set of directions and the right ones theirs. As this was our life first rapid, all of us were nervous and uncoordinated. This caused the raft to spin.

The cold burst of water, the attacking current was enough to panic even the trained swimmers. I had never imagined the quiet water would have such a raging side. We managed to end with and yelled out in ecstasy after we passed it. Each rapid had a name like roller coaster, butterfly and so on. The names befitted them suitably as they behaved just like that.

My adrenalin rush was at its peak. It made my determination stronger as I took on every rapid with all my strength. Years of weight-training and building stamina were challenged to the utmost here. It was not all concerning physical ability but as well the determination of the mind to see danger a few seconds ahead and yet have the steadfastness not to deter and exceed it.

If one member gave up, there were odds that the raft would capsize. But that was as well a challenge on how to manage yourself and your fellow travelers securely.

White water rafting in Rishikesh is once in a life experience and travelers from all over the humanity come to be a division of it. So buckle up, enjoy the nature and be a part of its wildness.