Top Spots For Rafting In India

If you're interested in a holiday packed with enough colour and joy to last you a lifetime, you should consider White Water Rafting in the Upper Himalayan River Systems. The rivers of these mountains cut against rocky terrain, crash against rocks and crevices and form swirling rapids. The ranges of the Himalayas, cutting across several states, offer some of the toughest and most exciting river runs in the world. The rivers Tons, Mandakini, Yamuna, Kalisor, Alaknanda, Bhilangana and Bhagirathi offer many stretches for both professionals as well as amateur rafters. The ranges of Leh-Ladakh, Sikkim etc are also home to great stretches of water that are amazing for rafting. May to November is the best period for the adventure seekers to indulge in rafting in India. If you're healthy enough and have a passion for the outdoors, you can safely embark on one of the rafting expeditions offered by numerous rafting agencies. Here are some of the best spots for rafting in India.

Rishikesh has earned the title of River Rafting Capital of India. This stretch in Uttarakhand offers numerous camps which have trained professionals to help you with your rafting experience. Almost all the camps are located on the river bank, 13 to 22 kms out of Rishikesh town, on the road leading to Devprayag and Badrinath. The rapids in this 70-km stretch go as far as Devprayag from Rishikesh and are graded according to difficulty levels, so you can choose the rapids you wish to encounter according to your level of skill and expertise. The most exciting rapids to encounter are: Roller Coaster, Golf Course, Initiation, Return to Sender, Club house, Double Trouble and Hilton.

River rafting in Ladakh is a wild ride through some of the most dreamy landscapes, sights of rugged canyons and tall snow-covered peaks, hilltop monasteries and idle hamlets, coupled with a unique wildlife. The best time for river rafting in Ladakh is from June to October. There are two main rivers that are rafting friendly. The Indus and the Zanskar. On the Indus, the most popular rafting stretch is from Phey to Sapsol. It's a mild series of rapids and you can really enjoy the changing landscape while you're at it. On the Zanskar, rafting is a challenging experience. The adventure in the river spans thorugh four very tough and thrilling days. You will cover about 155 km of fast-paced churning water in these days.

The Tons River makes its way through Garhwal region in the western Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. The greatest tributary of River Yamuna, Tons is believed to be fiercer than River Yamuna, even having more water than it. A river rafting expedition in the Tons provides you the thrill of rafting in a river that has grade III, IV and even some grade V rapids. It is believed to be one of the most challenging white-water river rafting routes in India.

The elusive and mystical Brahmaputra River of the North-East provinces is filled with enough character and fury to provide any rafter the experience of a lifetime! The expedition begins at Tuting (Arunachal Pradesh) and ends after 180 km of hair-raising rafting at Pasighat. The rafting is very difficult - Level IV, and requires great expertise as you swoosh your way through churning cold water, remote inaccessible gorges, and impenetrable dense tropical rain forests. Do not miss this if you're an experienced rafter!

Sikkim is home to two great rivers, the Teesta and the Rangit. From October to April, day trips are conducted down both these rivers. The rivers offer good grade two, moderately challenging rapids.

Beas is a fierce and beautiful river flowing through Kullu-Manali, Himachal Pradesh. River rafting down this river is a very coveted adventure sport in this region, so much so that people come to Kullu specially to raft. Two kinds of raftings are available here - the short river rafting that covers a 7 km distance and is easier, or the long river rafting that is double the length and stretches up to 14 km. You have 4 grades of rapids and can choose depending on your level of comfort as well as expertise. 

Coorg is a hillstation in the South of India, famous for its hills and valleys that resemble Scotland. The place is also a great delight for adventure enthusiasts as it hosts some great river rafting opportunities with grades I to V and challenges such as rocky terrain, meandering streams and loads of rain. River Barapole here is a fierce one, with only 3-4 km of river rafting but one as difficult as Grade IV. Some of the best rapids on your way include Morning Coffee, Grasshopper, Ramba Samba, Big Bang and Wicked Witch. Dubare also has a few rafting options, where Cauvery river flows.

Dandeli in Karnataka is another famous spot for white water rafting. Located only 125 km from the party capital Goa, Dandeli has options of 9 km and 4 km river rafting expeditions. The Kali river makes its way through Dandeli and roars like a tigress, making river rafting a real adrenaline-pumping sport. This one is definitely not for the faint hearted. The best time to visit for river rafting is from September to November. Summers shrink the river and monsoons swell it beyond your wildest dreams.