Imagine this: you're on your own in the middle of the Arabian Sea. The wind runs its fingers through your hair. The early morning sun kisses your face. The open ocean is in front of you. Your kayak rises and falls with every passing wave. You're in this moment. You feel everything — the sun, the wind, the waves, every little movement of your boat, and the silence of the sea — with your entire body and being.
If this sounds like the perfect way to spend the morning in Mumbai to you, you're in luck. After Goa and Rameshwaram, sea-kayaking has now arrived at the Juhu beach in Mumbai's own backyard.
In recent years, sea-kayaking has seen a steady rise in popularity across India's coastal seas. An adventure sport that traces its origins to the native sea-fishing boats of the indigenous Inuit, Yupiak, and Aleut communities of Alaska, northern Canada, and southwestern Greenland, sea-kayaks were originally developed to hunt seals and walrus. The earliest kayaks — known as 'iqyak' in Aleut — were made of a light wooden frame covered in sea-lion or seal-skin and date back to almost 4,000 years ago. Once the vessel-of-choice for experienced seal and sea-lion hunters and extreme open ocean expeditioners, sea-kayaks have now become a mainstay in adventure tourism hotspots across the world.
Until recently, you'd have to travel to Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, or the northern Himalayan foothills in Zanskar, Srinagar, and Rishikesh to experience kayaking in India. But now, you can experience the rush and tranquillity of sea-kayaking right in Mumbai at the Juhu beach in Santacruz. Facilitated by Indo Kayak Juhu — a Maharashtra Tourism certified kayak operator in Mumbai — each expedition begins with a short training session followed by a 10-minute kayaking trip to the open Arabian Sea starting at 199 rupees per person.
What:
Maharashtra's first sea-kayaking experience by Indo Kayak Juhu.
Where:
At Juhu Beach, Santacruz, Mumbai (next to Sagar Vada Pav).
When:
Weekdays: 5:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM.
Weekends: 5:30 AM to 05:30 PM.
How much:
INR 199 to 1,200 per person.
To book, call or WhatsApp 7039600679.
Follow Indo Kayak Juhu here.
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