Rafting
is a white water sport. The term white water refers
to foamy and whitish appearance of fast flowing
water. During the past 20 years or so, Rubber Rafts,
Canoes and Kayaks and other crafts, have run many
of the great rivers in India. Apart from the logistic
arrangements regarding the transportation of boats
to the starting points and again at the end of the
journey to transport them back there are no serious
problems in river running. River running in the
white waters is extremely thrilling but it can also
be risky. One of the great advantages of rafting
is to travel leisurely through the varied terrain
and enjoy interaction with the locals and take photographs.
In river running each day could hold promise of
new discoveries. We at OASIS use the most modern
unsinkable rubber rafts and have a set of reasonably
trained river guides who are also been given some
expertise in cooking and first aid.
River running is usually organized early in the
morning until mid or late afternoon when the camp
is set up on some secluded area on the beach. At
OASIS we have good logistic support and delicious
meals are cooked in the camp. River trips are generally
safe and can be enjoyed by families and holidaymakers
of all ages. It would be desirable to insure that
the inflatable rubber rafts are of reasonably good
quality and are specially meant for river running.
Most rafts are specially outfitted for safety and
are virtually unsinkable with an independently inflatable
compartment. Each traveler is provided with a life
jacket as well as waterproof kitbags for clothes
and watertight boxes for cameras etc. Our trained
crew does the rowing of these rafts, and they usually
confirm to international standards.
As with trekking, mountaineering and other adventurous
sports, river rafting too has been classified and
graded in terms of degrees of difficulty. The degree
of difficulty would depend on the river gradient
and its rapids.
The following are the grades of rafting:
Grade I : Small moving water, which is very easy
to negotiate.
Grade II : Moving water with occasional rocks, moderately
difficult.
Grade III : Moving water with rocks high irregular
waves, narrow passages, action required.
Grade IV : Large falls but not continuous, very
difficult, powerful waves.
Grade V : Long continuous stretches of rapids, extremely
difficult.
Grade VI : The hardest grade with ultimate risk
to life, also known as Suicidal grade.
Some of the main Rivers where River Running is undertaken
in INDIA are: Ganga, Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Kali
Ganga, Brahmputra, Beas, Indus, Teesta, Spiti and
Zanskar.
Best Season : September-November and March-April-May
Recommended Duration : 05 to 15 Days.
Places where river running is Possible : Rishikesh,
Rudraprayag, Deoprayag, Kumaon, Gharwal, Kullu,
Manali, Ladakh, Zanskar, Spiti, Sikkim and Assam.
(However we can tailor-make or customise
a tour for any duration based on multiple destination
& interests.)
