5 Reasons Why Rafting in Rishikesh is Must for Adventure Lovers
It is better not to count the reasons to visit Rishikesh because there are plenty. White-Water Rafting is one of the most thrilling water based adventure sports here. It gives you an up-close splash of an untamed nature in a world where the majestic river is what you are up against. Ganga and its offshoots have so far been the most famous rivers for rafting in India. There is no greater destination than Rishikesh in Uttarakhand for rafting where river Ganga is in its best form. With plenty camping and adventure options, Rishikesh has today evolved into a trending tourist spot as this place offers a dramatic experience of its diverse natural settings.
Here are some reasons to hop on a raft at least once in a lifetime while in Rishikesh.
1) Strategic location in the foothills of Himalayas
Lying in the foothills of the Himalayas in the Garhwal region, Rishikesh is the gateway to the Himalayas. With myriad rivers gushing through the mountains and running into Rishikesh are some of those few interesting features that make this place an exciting destination for River rafting and other sightseeing activities.
The ideal time to enjoy rafting here is during the post-monsoon seasons that are from September to until June. Barring the monsoons as during this period the currents could turn uncontrollable and rise very high.
2) Adventure for everyone!
Rishikesh gained a tremendous admiration for being one of the top river rafting destinations in the world because it offers close to 37 Km long length of the Holy Ganges. Due to this unusual natural phenomenon, the town observes a vast influx of tourists every year from all over the world who come here to satiate their zest for rafting.
Most enthusiastic adventurers have found solace in the sacred Himalayan waters of Rishikesh where the popular Rapids go by exotic names like “Golf Course,” “Initiation,” “The Wall,” etc. This long stretch of the river offers various grades of a thrill to meet the interest of both experts and novices. Rafting in Rishikesh will certainly keep you fascinated with its unusual charm and delight! You may refer the image for the classification of rapids, that can be enjoyed in Rishikesh.
3) Every part of the river is a magical experience
The rafting activities have been categorized based on its rapid rate to get the adventure suitable for both beginners and pros. Based on one’s capacities, tourists are free to choose a rafting level that meets their expertise from Basic, Standard, Moderate, and Advanced.
The entire Ganga stretch has different starting points, although the finishing spots for all levels stay same, i.e., Laxman Jhula.
The greatest point of rafting in Rishikesh is Kaudiyala which is intended for advanced level rafting professionals and is 37 km from the city. This winding and splashing stage with numerous whirlpools pass through famous sandy banks of Byasi, Marine Drive, Shivpuri, and Brahmpuri. Random waves, rocks and many other hindrances come along when you are rafting in this stretch of the Ganges. It takes roughly 8-9 hours battling against all the 13 major rapids and other obstructions.
Kaudiyala to Marine Drive
It is the first and the highest stretch, which is almost 9-10 kilometers and takes about 3 hours of a deadly row. Some of the major rapids here ranges from rapid type 3 to 4. The big rapids on this stretch are named as Denial Dip, Sweet Sixteen, and The Great Wall.
Marine Drive to Shivpuri
It is one of the most favorite stretches of river Ganges. This is the second track of 11 kilometers which takes about 2-3 hrs of row. The few popular Rapids that one will be tackling in this route include Cross Fire, Black Money, and Three Blind Mice that range from rapid type 2 to 3.
Shivpuri to Brahmpuri
This is the third stretch from Shivpuri to Brahmpuri and one crosses a distance of another 10-11 kilometers which takes approximately 2-3 hours to fight its rapids.The main rapids on this stretch are Roller Coaster, Golf Course, Return to Sender, and Club House.
Brahmpuri to Rishikesh:
The lowest point is Brahmpuri and is mainly for beginners. It is about 9 km above from Rishikesh. It is the easiest and the last track from Brahmpuri to Rishikesh that throws Rapids like Hilton, Double Trouble, and Terminator that ranges from rapid rate 1 to 2, at you.
4) Camping out all day and night
It is always difficult for a traveler to define the mystical charm of Rishikesh. Although it is a spiritual destination for many, the main attraction of the place lies in the exciting activities that it offers in abundance. With a scenic and a pleasant environment, Rishikesh makes up for a perfect camping destination. The picturesque views of the Himalayas lighten the moods of its visitors, and the daring adventures bubble up to the excitement. A camping experience in Rishikesh is set amid the heavenly beauty and provides ample opportunities to explore the exciting outdoors. Savour its delicious and authentic local cuisines while away in leisure amidst the surrounding beauty.
5) Spicing up the stay with adventure
The camping experience gets more intoxicating when one gets the pleasure of fixing up their own campsites in the heart of nature and under the sky full of twinkling stars. Every campsite at Rishikesh offers a mind-boggling rundown of choices and goals like trekking, whitewater rafting, kayaking etc. One of the favorite campsites of Rishikesh is Camp Majestic. Not only these camps offer incredible comfort stay along with rafting experience but also has some fantastic activities planned for its guests like cliff jumping, rock climbing, trekking, Bungee Jumping, Fox Flying, Rappelling and other outdoor games.
Bonus Tips to remember while on a Rishikesh trip
The experience of river rafting can be fun and game if you remember a few safety rules and keep some quintessential tips in mind. Double check all your belongings before starting this exhilarating trail to the Ganges in order to have the right punch of water splashing all over you. Never miss out on carrying essentials like sunscreen and sunglasses since you will have to face a lot of rough sun. Pack many synthetic clothes to keep your body warm during the river rafting trip. For a better experience of rafting, you may opt to take professional training and guidance much before the actual event.
How to reach
Rishikesh is one of the fondest destinations of tourists, and because it is the gateway to the Garhwal Himalayan region, the town is well knitted by railway, road, and air either directly with other major Indian cities or indirectly. Rishikesh has its own bus terminal, and the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation connects the town with all the major North Indian cities by road. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is almost 260 kilometers away and ideal for international guests, whereas the Dehradun Airport, also known as Jolly Grant Airport, is the adjoining domestic airport. Further, the Rishikesh Railway Station is the nearest major railhead and is well linked with all the other main cities in India.
Best time to visit
A beautiful location affording an enchanting view of the Himalayas throughout the year has a climate of a continental kind. One can opt to visit Rishikesh at any point of the year.
However, the ideal time to visit this town would be February, March, and August to October. Rishikesh temperature reaches + 35 °C in May and June and can be a trouble to those who cannot acclimatize to its hot climate. The best time to visit Rishikesh for River Rafting is from late September – October to mid-November, and then the next best time to visit Rishikesh is from early March – April to the first week of May. It is a sound thought to avoid traveling to Rishikesh during July as there is a festival in Rishikesh called Savan where thousands of people throng here. Many roads are blocked, and hotels are crowded during this time.
Other things to do in Rishikesh
When we think about things to do in Rishikesh, the first idea that hits is the river-rafting. However, Rishikesh is not all about it. There are plenty other activities to pursue in Rishikesh that are equally entertaining and exciting.
Practice Yoga and become a professional yoga trainer. Meditate on the Ganga river side during the sunset and feel rejuvenated. Visit the religious attraction of Lakshman Jhula and see the ancient engineering wonder.
Witness the glory of the Ganga Aarti at Triveni. Also visit the Neelkanth, Trayambakeshwar that are few amazing architectural gems from the prehistoric era with images of God, Goddesses, and demons carved on its roof and walls.
Finally, the jumping heights is a must visit for some adrenaline rush. The amusement park is extremely prevalent here as it attracts tourists with an array of adventure sports such as bungee jumping, giant canyon swings and with Asia’s longest flying fox ride. In fact, one can spend an entire day trying various extreme activities at Jumpin Heights.
So, this is the adventure that wondrous Rishikesh offers and makes its tourists fall in absolute love with its charm. The city rightly captures the essence of Incredible India to its fullest.
Author Bio:
Manoj Roy is marketing professional working with Majestic Journey Pvt Ltd. Apart from his challenging professional life he likes to adventure travel and explores wildlife of India to get close to nature.
5 Responses
theamazing uttarakhand
Rishikesh is one of the best places for adventure lovers in India. The Rafting and Camping will give the satisfaction of adventure. Thanks for sharing this information.
Shree & Himanshu
totally agree 🙂
Chaturvedi
It is the ideal time for river Rafting in Rishikesh as the monsoon has already left Uttarakhand and the stream pressure in River Ganges offers variations that are considered excellent for rafting. I also had a little tour to Rishikesh and yes I did go on a rafting experience which was quite remarkable. If you are scheduling to visit Rishikesh anytime soon then you could enjoy camping, hiking, bike riding, jungle safari and rafting. Bike on rent in Rishikesh is an efficient way to discover the untouched places in Rishikesh and the enchanted surroundings. Just go there and experience for yourself with your friends and loved ones.
Website:- http://chardhamtourandtravels.com/
campingAtRishikesh
Beautifully described about the Lap of Himalayas Rishikesh Uttarakhand
I am Totally agree with this. Thanks
CampingAtRishikesh
Yes agree