White Water Rafting India

The mighty Himalayas are not only a mountain climber's dream destination, but also the source of the major perennial rivers of India. The meandering course of these rivers through the rocky stream-beds, cutting deep ravines, and then breaking into shiny, frothy, white rapids offer every level of challenge in white water rafting - from the very basic, to the expert level. These white water rapids also offer a wide range of picturesque locales as they flow through innumerable colors of rocky canyons, woods, flowers and rustic villages dotting the mountains.

White water rapids

If you are the kind who likes the adrenalin rushes, then, white water rafting is a recreational sport that you must consider seriously. The thrills and spills that river rafting adventures provide are truly invigorating. White water rafting is a very exciting water sport - an adventure sport that can be described as intense. Though river rafting involves risks to keep you really pumped up, it is safe even for children to try. All that it requires for you to take up the sport is that you are fit, healthy and have no fear of water. You can get trained in no matter of time - just a few hours are enough to acquire the basic skills needed to negotiate the rapids. Once you experience it, you will keep coming back for more of the same or perhaps look for higher levels of challenge.

Family water rafting

Rafting in white water rapids is an outdoor sport that you can combine with your family vacations. Family white water rafting has also gained considerable ground in recent years. As a family, white water rapids help you bond well as the whole group faces and overcomes the same challenges. It would be one of the most unforgettable experiences for the family. The entire crew in the raft has to encounter and skillfully maneuver the white water rapids together as a team. This will require a combined will and skill of the team riding in the raft.

There are several levels of challenges in river rafting adventure - graded from one through six - based on the maneuvering required and the hazards posed by the rivers. The leisure sport of the white water rapids in India has developed in the last two decades with rapid strides being made from the latter half of the previous decade.

One striking aspect of white water rafting in India is that the Indian rivers offer all levels of challenges of white water rapids starting from level 1 where slight or no maneuvering is required to level 5 where expertise and experience is the key. Hence, white water trips in India are suited for both amateurs and highly-skilled and trained professionals.

River rafting tours are arranged, mostly in the northern parts of India, in the upper Himalayan rivers, between September and June every year. The timing of river rafting would depend on the sufficiency of water level.

There are wide ranges of river rafting tours that are made available - starting from ones that last a few hours to multi-day expeditions. These river rafting tours are usually led by well-experienced guides, who know their rivers well enough.

River rafting in India

There are several white water rapids in the Garhwal Himalayas - in the Garhwal and Kumaon region of Uttaranchal. These river rafting adventures are more for the highly skilled rafters - with rapids ranging usually from four to five on the international grading scale for rapids

Rishikesh, considered to be the yoga capital of the world with its numerous ashrams and mystics, additionally offers white water rapids for the adventuresome. The best season for river rafting here is between September and November. River rafting tours are organized between March and May as well. Besides the holy Ganga, Alaknanda, Bhagirati and Mandakini rivers are also popular for their river rafting adventures.

• In Ladakh, the Indus River is a prime attraction for those seeking the thrill and excitement of river rafting tours. Expeditions that last even up to weeks are organized on the Zanskar and are for the highly skilled rafters.
  
  
• Himachal Pradesh is another sought-after destination for white water trips on the Beas River being the most popular. The other rivers in this tourists' paradise that cater to adventure sport lovers are Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab and Spiti.
  
  
• The Brahmaputra River in Arunachal Pradesh, which has recently joined the white water map of India, is for the adventuresome, professional rafters who thrive on the challenges of the wild, untamed river.
  
  
• The Teesta River in Sikkim in the North-East offers white water enthusiasts an opportunity to experience the thrill rides that they seek.
  
  

Karnataka, in the southern part of India, a recent entrant in the radar of white water rapids, too has river rafting tours to offer during the monsoon season. The rivers Kaveri and Kali are major attractions for this adventure sport enthusiasts. While the former is only for beginners, the river Kali is for the more skilled rafters with experience.

Mumbai, the financial capital of India too offers getaways from the monotony of everyday life in the form of river rafting adventures in the Kundalika River. These white water trips are organized from the monsoon season in Mumbai even up to as late as mid-December.

Pack your bags and hit the mountain rivers of India to have the experience of your life. Sure, you'll keep coming back for more.