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Of all the adventure sports out there, river rafting has to be my all time favourite. It’s like nature’s perfectly designed roller-coaster ride. The thrill of navigating tricky rapids as a team, the spray of cold water on your face, the breath taking scenery around you are just few aspects that make rafting the wholesome, adventurous experience it is. With our country’s bountiful rivers and geographical diversity, the sub-continent boasts a hoard of rafting experiences, each as unique as the next. From gentler rides through peaceful forests to more intense ones at the heights of the Himalayas, Homegrown has curated a list of some of India’s best rafting hubs.
You can book river rafting expeditions through companies such as Get Up And Go , Mercury Himalayan Explorations Ltd, and Aqua Terra, or even once you reach the area, your residence will have contacts of local companies providing rafting experiences.
I. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
This zone at the foothills of the Himalayas remains to be one of the most popular destinations for river rafting, offering a range of paces depending on your personal level of adventure. You can find level one till level five or six rapids here, depending on which stretch of the river you opt for. Rafting remains closed during the monsoons, from July to mid- September, the peak season being March. It is also advisable to avoid it towards December as the water gets too cold.
Difficulty: Easy to Challenging, depending on stretch
Best time to go: March
II. Kali River, Karnataka
Kali river is an ideal rafting spot among the lush forests of Dandeli, with around grade three or four rapids, giving it a good balance between mild and more intense stretches. It is open year round, with the exception of certain times during September when the monsoon makes the river untraversable.
Difficulty: Moderate
Best time to go: Anytime except for July till September
III. Rangeet and Teesta Rivers, Sikhim
The rafting experience at Teesta and Rangeet is acclaimed to be one of the best for thrill-seekers in the world. The rapids are of different grades ranging between one to four, Rangeet being more turbulent than the Teesta. There are also different stretches depending on whether one can swim or not. River rafting trips in these areas are often clubbed with overnight camping on the banks of the rivers.
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging, depending on area
Best time to go: December to June
IV. Orrcha, Madhya Pradesh
The Betwa river is on the relatively calmer side during summer months, providing rapids of grade one or two. River rafting here is a much gentler experience than places like Zanskar, making it ideal for beginners wishing to start out with a softer adventurous experience. River expeditions here are arranged by Madhya Pradesh Tourism and run through the year except for monsoon months.
Difficulty: Easy
Best time to go: Anytime except July-September
V. Barapole River, Coorg
Rafting through the scenic river of Barapole will take you through a range of rapids from grade one to grade four (from the calm “morning coffee” rapid to more intense“big bang” rapid), and offers one of the most challenging stretches in southern India. The expedition also takes you through a section of Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, making it a nature lover’s delight.
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Best time to go: Monsoon months, from July to September
VI. Zanskar, Jammu and Kashmir
Rafting in Zanskar is a unique experience for the very adventurous type. The gorge in the land also known as the ‘land of white copper’, is placed about 12,000 feet above sea level and has grade four to five rapids. Adding to the adventurous ride is the gorgeous scenery you’ll spot as you make your way through the river— of snow-clad mountains, Himalayan villages, hilltop monasteries and more.
Difficulty: Challenging
Best time to go: Monsoon months, from June to August
VII. Lohit River, Arunachal Pradesh
This is one of the lesser known hubs for water sports, an ideal place for those looking to avoid the water-sport lover’s crowd during peak seasons. The river starts out in Tibet and flows into the fields of Assam, and offers good grade four or five rapids along with beautiful views of the Mishmi valley. The best time to visit it for a rafting experience would be from November to March.
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Best time to go: November to March
VIII. Kundalika River, Maharashtra
Kolad is an ideal place for a weekend getaway from Pune or Maharashtra, and can fulfill your rafting cravings if you can’t make it to the northern mountains. The course will take you through picture-perfect forests under the Mulshi and Bhira dams, and offers grade two and three rapids. The best time to visit Kolad for white-water rafting would be between June and October.
Difficulty: Moderate
Best time to go: June to October
IX. Tons River, Uttarakhand
Battling the Tons river is considered one of the most difficult rafting experiences ever, and is only open to experienced rafters. Situated at the Garhwal Himalayas, it flows from the Bandarpoonch Glacier and joins the Yamuna river during its course. Containing rapids up to grade five, manoeuvring them requires quite some skill. The rapids are aptly named after their difficult nature such as Kunighad Rapid, meaning ‘bloody creek’.
Difficulty: Challenging
Best time to go: April to June
X. Subansiri River, Arunachal Pradesh
Also known as the ‘Gold River’, it is one of the biggest tributaries of the Upper Brahmaputra and is characterised by rough terrain unmapped by roads. Coursing through the challenging river would give you a wonderful glimpse of the hidden Subansiri valley, with the lush rainforest and hilltop tribal villages watching over you. Another ideal rafting spot in the Upper Brahmaputra is Tuting in Arunachal Pradesh.
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Best time to go: March to June, September to November (avoid monsoon months)
Feature image courtesy of
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