River rafting is undoubtedly one of the most exciting adventure sports anybody can enjoy. As the raft is caught in the grip of the Dragon rapid and tossed about, as though you're doing battle with an invisible, mythical beast, even ten seconds seems like a lifetime…

Nestled in the foothills of the Garwhal range lies the bustling pilgrim city of Rishikesh. A city that's teeming with citizens from all over the world, seeking solace and spiritual guidance. People settle in Rishikesh for many reasons, but the most motivating one would probably its proximity to the holiest river in the country- The Ganges. The Ganges is the only river in the country to have an aura of purity about it. Little wonder then that the Valley of the Ganges, where Rishikesh is situated is called the Valley of The Gods. It's the only valley in India, where you can actually feel the presence of a higher power, an omnipotence that pervade all it touches. The rivers, the hills and the valleys are all masterpieces of The Creator and there's no escaping it once you arrive here.

"For the thrill-seeker, the Ganges has more to offer than any other river in the world."

The Mother of all Rivers, the Ganges, is actually the confluence of two rivers, the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda at Dev Priya, 60 Kms from Rishikesh. And from that point onwards, the river takes on a new dimension, demanding respect from pilgrim, tourist and rafter alike. For he who ventures on the Ganges, leaves himself to Her mercy. Mother Ganga is not just a purifier, she's love and caring embodied. But be warned, for just as love has its perils, so does the Ganges. The Ganges is a river-rafter's dream come true. For one moment, she's tickling your imagination and lulling you into a false sense of security, and before you know it you're enveloped in her foaming, frothy arms, paddling for your life. But for the thrill-seeker, the Ganges has more to offer than any other river in the world. Considering that it's also one of the safest rivers in the country to raft on. Are you ready for the ride of your life?

River rafting is one of the few adventure sports, which can be enjoyed by an absolute novice, without endangering himself or herself in any way. Upto eight persons can be accommodated in an inflatable raft that's specially designed to handles the various surprises a river might throw up. Every rafter is equipped with a helmet, life jacket and a paddle, while the guide and his assistant use long oars to power and steer the raft. You don't have to be an athlete or even a swimmer to enjoy the thrill of riding the river. But you do have to have nerves of steel and an immense amount of faith in your guide. The rest is pure thrill.

A river like the Ganges has a personality of her own. Sometimes she's calm and violent at others. Just like you read a person, your guide must be able to read the river like a book. For she changes her colours every season, creating troughs where there was a wall of water, just a few months ago. The water in a river moves over and around rocks and other obstructions to create various types of water formations that add to the thrill `of rafting. For example, breaks are cause when a rock juts out above water level, causing the water to crash against it and flow around it. A curler on the other hand is formed when water thrashes onto a rock and actually curls back onto itself. When a boulder is just under water, the water rushes over in and falls into a dip called a hole. A hole is particularly treacherous as it sucks the raft in at whatever angle it hits the hole, churns it around and threatens to flip it over. An anti-directional, is formed when two currents clash, causing a whirlpool effect which traps any floating object and keeps it spinning in the same area. Finally, when, a rock, at a considerable depth under water is hit by an undercurrent, a mass of water s raised to form a standing wave. A rapid is a combination of one or more of all these elements. It just depends on the level of water in the river, when you're rafting.

"This run is ideal for the novice wanting to get a taste of a real might of the Ganges, without the dangers involved in rafting on other rivers."

One of the most exhilarating runs on the Ganges is the stretch from Kaudiala to Rishikesh. The 25 km run is broken up into three stretches and is best covered over 3 days. This run is ideal for the novice wanting to get a taste of a real might of the Ganges, without the dangers involved in rafting on other rivers. For, the Ganges is one giant mass of water rushing towards the sea, many, many miles away and this section doesn't have any serious undercurrents or hidden rocks that could suck a rafter in or injure him or her in any way. What's more, on most stretches along the Ganges, the rapids are interspersed with long stretches of calm water, which give you a chance to unwind and also facilitate an easy rescue, just in case it's needed. After all, the Ganges has to keep a reputation of benevolence, doesn't she?

Our adventure begins at the tiny town of Shivpuri, a few kilomteres from Rishikesh. You drive amid spectacular mountain scenery to a large campsite seventeen kilometres upstream at Shivpuri.. The Beach Camp is situated on the other side of the river and the only way to get across is, you guessed it…by raft. So, you get into the raft, charged with excitement and before you know it, you're doing battle with the mighty Ganges herself. A giant anti-directional, imaginatively titled, 'Return to Sender' blocks your path and it's only the guide's sheer experience and knowledge of the area that keep the raft clear of being sucked into the vortex. Quite a start, wot?

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