White Water Rafting in Rishikesh – a common adventure sport among tourists. Everything you need to know about river rafting – charges, operators, and my experience.

White Water rafting is one of the most thrilling adventure sports in Rishikesh, along with bungee jumping and cliff jumping. During my two weeks travelling across Rishikesh, I was typically drawn towards the thrill of rafting! Since I have vertigo (height issues), water is always my first choice when it comes to adventurous sports.

How to Book White Water Rafting in Rishikesh

Online or offline, there’re numerous options to choose from. At every corner of Rishikesh, on each road, you will be approached by plenty of rafting agents and organizers willing to assist you throughout.

However, I am going to share how I booked my rafting slot and had an amazing experience trying out river rafting for the very first time. My slot was booked through Mounty.com on the previous evening of my rafting day. They called me the next morning and enquired about my availability. They sent a jeep accordingly to take me to Shivpuri.

There are three variants of White Water Rafting:

• 16 km Rafting with 7 Rapids from Shivpuri (the one I did). They will pick you up from Tapovan and take you to Shivpuri.

Charges: Rs. 550 per person

Time: 2 hours

• 24 km Rafting with 10 rapids from Marin Drive.

Charges: Rs. 1000 per person

Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

• 9 km River Rafting with 4 rapids from Bramhapuri.

Charges: Rs. 500 per person

Time: 1 hour

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What are rapids?

Rapids are those parts of a river where the water flow and velocity are relatively turbulent, as the river bed has a steeper gradient. In simpler words, the water is relatively rough, alternatively known as ‘whitewater’. Oars are used to push the rapids behind to make the boat carry forward.

My First Experience of White Water Rafting 

As the jeep picked me up from Tapovan, a group of four tourists joined me after a few miles, along with another couple. That made us a group of seven. The general divide is 4:4 (four on each side of the boat). But our divide turned out to be 4:3, and two experienced rafter-cum-instructors on board. We were briefed beforehand about the equipment and commands we needed to follow during our first White Water Rafting in Rishikesh.

It was a 16 km stretch and we ended up having a hell of a time altogether. Particularly at Roller Coaster (the name of one of the major rapids), the boat rolled itself around so fast that two rafters fell into the water. Our Rafting instructor immediately forced them into the boat. The trick is you need to lock your feet in a certain position (you will be well briefed about this before the ride) and keep rowing unless the instructor asks you to relax. You need to hold on to the rope and keep your weight outwards. If the weight is too inwards, the chances of a boat being toppled down increases.

In fact, we jumped into the water after a few kilometres, keeping a firm hold of the rope, and stayed that way in still water for almost half an hour. In January, the water remains ferociously cold, but to my surprise, the cold water was bearable without the least bit of trepidation. Acclimatization! In this way, we rowed up to the Maggi Point of Rishikesh after the whole River Rafting experience, where you get the chance to try out Cliff Jumping (next time for me). 

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Things to Remember While White Water Rafting

• Please don’t go for it if you have a serious medical condition. An accident took place in Rishikesh once, when the rafter did not inform the guide about his medical condition, so that he could have his share of fun with his friends. Your life should matter to you the most, above all. (The article on the white water rafting accident is right here in The Times of India).

• The rope is your best friend. No matter what, always try to hold on to the rope in case you fall down.

• Don’t keep any valuables with you in your pockets (even if you are wearing a water-resistant jacket). You will be asked to take out your belongings in the beginning.

• Always listen to your guide. Even if this is your first time, you should not worry about the risk factor too much. You may fall off the boat, but your life jacket and the instructor would be wholeheartedly at your service. You can, at most, float on the water, and the flow will take you further up or downstream. So, don’t panic if you happen to fall down.

Also read – ‘Tumaru Nau Kisso?’ Living Rural Life in the Garhwal Region

How to Reach Rishikesh

For rafting, you have to reach the base of it all, Rishikesh. Here is how you can reach Rishikesh:

By bus: Overnight buses run every day from Delhi to Rishikesh (from near Kashmiri Gate). Not just Delhi, all the big cities are connected to Rishikesh via regular bus services. There’s no need to reserve the buses prior to your journey, as the connectivity via roadways is smooth enough.

By rail: The nearest railway station is in Dehradun. Direct buses and shared cabs come to Rishikesh from the railway station on a daily basis.

By air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, being the closest to Rishikesh, is the best option if you are flying in here. You can opt for a shared cab or local bus from the airport.

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Where to Stay in Rishikesh

Both luxurious and budget-friendly accommodations are available in Rishikesh for your post-White Water Rafting stay. The Art Bliss is the best choice if you are a budget-friendly traveller (Rs. 200 per night). Also, since the hostel is close to Tapovan, it is easy for the Rafting instructors to pick you up.

Record your Rishikesh white water rafting adventure on your GoPro as the green water of the Ganges frolics with you! You can get the footage from your instructor later!

How has your experience been River Rafting in Rishikesh?

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