Over the years, people in India have become much more interested in water sports. Because of this, there are now more and more places in India where people can go river rafting. If you too are planning to take a trip to the river rafting destination, then Rishikesh is the best one. This place is the hub of river rafting. The river Ganga which is surrounded by Garhwal Himalayas flows at a fast pace which makes river rafting in Rishikesh, a fun-filled yet thrilling experience.

River Rafting is an ideal activity for those who love to indulge in water sports. Crossing the rapids and steering through the unstoppable water to reach the target point give the adventure junkies something to look forward to.

It is up to you whether you want to opt for river rafting for a full-day or a half-day trip. There are 4 parts of the stretches from which you can pick depending upon your preferred difficulty level. As the difficulty level increases, the rapids also increase. These rapids are given some curious names like double trouble, crossfire and many more.

Brahmapuri to Rishikesh (Covers 9 KM)

This is the gentle mid-ride rafting stretch. This is perfect for those who have never been on a river before and are afraid of rafting. You will enjoy this stretch as in this you will go through only Grade II rapids. To add some extra fun to your rafting experience, you can also do body surfing in this section.

• Total rapid - 7
• Time taken - 1 hour and 30 minutes

Shivpuri to Rishikesh (Covers 16 KM)

This is the most popular River Rafting section in Rishikesh. This is from Shivpuri to Neam Beach in Rishikesh. Amidst the stretch from Shivpuri to Rishikesh, you'll experience rapids from grade I to grade IV. It is that stretch that is filled with rapids and whirlpools. It has been tried by a renowned celebrity like Brad Pitt.

• Total rapid - 9
• Major rapids - Roller coaster, Return to sender, and Golf course
• Time taken - 2 hours

Marine Drive to Shivpuri(covers 26 km)

In this stretch of rafting, you will go through most of the big rapids. You can do a lot more activities during this section of rafting. Such as jumping off a cliff and riding a bodyboard.

• Total rapid - 16
• Major rapids - Black Money, Cross Fire, and Three Blind Mice
• Time taken - 2 to 2.5 hours

Kaudiyala to Rishikesh (covers 36 km)

It is the longest stretch of river rafting in Rishikesh and has the toughest grades of rapids. After a comprehensive safety briefing, we change into the rafting gear and get on the water. This rafting is covered into two parts. One is from Kaudiyala to Shivpuri and the second one is from Shivpuri to Rishikesh.

• Total rapid - 20
• Major rapids - it has the toughest grades that are Grade III, Grade IV, Grade V
• Time taken - 3.5 to 4.5 hours

Conditions before opting for River Rafting in Rishikesh

Age requirement

• Minimum age - 14 years
• Maximum age- 40 years

The weight requirement is

• Minimum weight - 35kg
• Maximum weight - 100kg

Physical health

Every participant needs to be physically fit. They should not have any medical conditions like heart problems, recent fractures, dislocation, blood pressure, back or neck injury, etc.

There are professional guides who will provide a great rafting experience to you while taking care of the safety measures. The rafting operators here take great care of their guest's concerns. So, if you have any queries, you can talk them out with one of the guides. You will be provided with complete safety gear which includes life jackets and helmets. Also, a well-experienced and trained guide will be present with you on the raft so that you can enjoy your time with the rapids in the river Ganga safely.

Selecting stretch based on your preferred difficulty level

The rapids of the Ganges are assigned grades depending on the level of difficulty. It is crucial for you to comprehend the degree of difficulty in each grade. So that you can decide which grade is the best for you. If this is your first time rafting, then you should go for the easiest one.

Follow all the safety instructions carefully

You need to listen carefully to the instructions given to you by your guide. If you follow all the instructions and listen to your guide, then there is nothing to worry about safety.

Do not carry valuable things

Your valuables like your wallet, keys, etc must not be there with you on the raft. It must be in a safe place before going on the adventure.