WHITE WATER RAFTING The entire world hails India, as the repository of the greatest range of treasures nature has to offer. And it does so with good reason. For this ancient land of ours rules supreme in the boundless variety of natural features and phenomena. The magnificence of white water rafting is yet another facet of India's natural treasures. A vast number of white water sources exist, many explored and some yet virgin. The mighty Himalayas give rise to some of India's greatest rivers. At various phases of their journey, they race over rugged boulder beds, carving deep gorges and erupting in magnificent silver rapids. A sojourn on the white waters is perfect for actually living and soaking up every aspect of India's river waters and the variegated paths in their journeys - tortuous rocks, the captivating sight of deep, dark forests, exotic flora and high mountain villages along the way, the myriad hues of rocky gorges… The turbulent waters provide for the adrenaline rush, thrills that are an intrinsic part of the memorable aquatic adventure of White Water Rafting. And then, of course, there is also the blissful languor of gently floating past forests and canyons, terraced hillsides and remote settlements; and pitching tent on a river bank high up in the mountains. All encountering your rendezvous with the glorious white waters, nothing short of enthralling. White Water Rafting in India has developed as a major adventure sport and offbeat recreation. White Water Rafting on Ganga at Rishikesh/Shivpuri for instance has become an intrinsic part of corporate outbound training programmes and family offbeat holidays. With the boom in the rafting industry in India, plus being a great and accessible adventure/offbeat holiday destination close to Delhi/NCR, all contributed to the ever increasing popularity of White Water Rafting and riverside/beach camping at Shivpuri (Rishikesh). Various other destinations in India too have developed in India as great White Water Rafting spots. From Rafting in Tons Valley and Rafting on Teesta in North East to Rafting on Beas in Himachal and Rafting in Zanskar region and from enjoying the bumps and swirls of rafting at Dandeli on river Kali to negotiating the rapids at Brahmaputra, White Water Rafting in India is no longer a regional phenomenon. Moreover, White Water Rafting Expeditions have gained a lot of popularity among International travellers, corporates and adventure loving individuals in India. In North India / Himalayas, especially the Bhagirathi Expeditions, Alaknanda Expeditions and Rafting Expeditions on Tons are immensely popular. The challenges of the sport of White Water Rafting entail successfully negotiating the swirling currents, the foaming rapids and the torrential rush of the river s it makes its way along the mountains. The sport is undertaken mostly in the upper reaches of the river where the water is at its foaming wildest, pounding against rocks, dropping from sharp gradients. So now those adventure hormones have started getting restless and you're itching to get those hands on a helmet, let's acquaint you with some useful facts. White Water Rafting uses an Oar Frame Raft (the largest of which is an 8-seater). The rafts have inflatable compartments with vulcanized rubber bodies. To withstand the impact of rocks and the onslaught of crashing waves, the neoprene exteriors are reinforced by nylon fabric. The size of raft suitable for a particular stretch would vary with the anatomy of that stretch - greater the gradient and narrower the gorge, smaller the viable raft size. The raft is navigated by 2 large oars. At times when greater power is required to combat the force of the river, all the occupants must use paddles, whereupon coordination is an imperative and one must remember not to fight the current when adrift. Rafts are found mostly on whitewater rivers (Class II+). You can also use them on flatwater, but the going is usually slow. Next >>