As soon as the names of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand and Yoga city Rishikesh come up, the first exciting thought that comes to mind is river rafting. The thrill of rafting amidst the gushing streams of Ganga and the high and low rocky rapids attracts adventure lovers from across the country and the world. If you are also planning to go to Rishikesh these days, then you should have complete information about the various rafting routes on the Ganga river, their distances and per person fares. As per the local administrative guidelines and rafting association rules, a total of 4 major and popular rafting routes are operated in Rishikesh, offering different experiences to beginners ranging from tourists to professionals who can handle dangerous waves. Let us know the complete information about all these four routes and their charges.
For those tourists coming to Rishikesh who want to experience rafting for the first time or who have families and children, this 9 kilometer route starting from Brahmapuri is considered to be the best. The water of river Ganga on this route is relatively calm and one has to face small rapids of Grade-1 and Grade-2 level. It takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours to complete this entire journey. The official fare for this route is around Rs 600 per person. During this short and exciting journey, tourists get a chance to enjoy cliff jumping and body surfing, making it completely safe and entertaining even for children and those with less swimming knowledge.
If you want to experience the real and balanced thrill of rafting, more than 80% of the tourists choose the 16 km route from Shivpuri to Neem Beach. This route has famous Grade-3 and Grade-3+ dangerous rapids like ‘Roller Coaster’ and ‘Golf Course’, which throw the rafts into the air. It takes about two and a half to three hours to cover this entire track. The government and official fare for this popular route has been fixed at around Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per person. The experience of paddling amidst the strong waves of water on this route gives goosebumps to the tourists and is the first choice for adventure lovers.
Tourists who want something more thrilling than the usual rafting can opt for the 24 to 26 km long route starting from Marine Drive. Difficult Grade-3 and Grade-4 rapids like ‘Three Blind Minds’, ‘Cross Fire’ and ‘Return to Sunday’ test the tourists on this route. Handling the raft in this stream with narrow valleys and fast flow is no less than a challenge. It takes about 4 to 5 hours to complete this long journey. The per person fare for this route has been fixed at around Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000. During this time, the view of the huge gorge and natural beauty of Ganga becomes memorable for life.
The last, longest and most dangerous route of Rishikesh rafting starts from Kaudiyala, the total distance of which is about 32 to 35 kilometers. On this route, there is the world famous ‘The Wall’, the most dangerous rapid of Grade-4 and Grade-5, where even experienced rafters lose their sweat and often even boats capsize. This is the reason why only those tourists who are physically fit and have previous experience of rafting are allowed to go on this route. It takes 5 to 6 hours to complete this mega campaign. The fare for this Kaudiyala expedition is around Rs 2,500 per person. Before setting out on a journey, it is mandatory to follow all the safety standards and instructions of the guide so that your water journey can be completely safe and pleasant.