If it’s extreme, it’s exciting : The Tribune India

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If it’s extreme, it’s exciting

River rafting sounds fun but what about waterfall rafting? Sounds quite scary. This extreme sport is fast entering the bucket list of many who believe in taking adventure to crazy levels.

If it’s extreme, it’s exciting


Take a deep breath: Waterfall rafting

River rafting sounds fun but what about waterfall rafting? Sounds quite scary. This extreme sport is fast entering the bucket list of many who believe in taking adventure to crazy levels. This rafting involves steering a rubber boat through the gushing waters of a river, and then plunging down from a waterfall — sometimes as high as 20 feet. Insane it is, but the adrenaline rush of bouncing through the rocky waters in a raft gives an unmatched experience. The best part is that the sport is quite inexpensive in India compared to locations in other parts of the world. “That’s why many budget adventure enthusiasts from abroad come here to take part in the sport,” says Manali-based rafter Ginmath Sadh. The best time for waterfall rafting is from September to November and April to May. 

Risks involved

Drowning, hypothermia, overexertion, smashing into rocks and getting stuck in the river features are some of the serious risks involved. But even all these cannot stop a diehard rafter to wade through a cascading river.

Skills needed

To do rafting, it is not necessary to know swimming, though, it is a desirable skill. One needs to know the basic paddling and holding on the rafter, with a life jacket on. 

But, the foremost thing is sturdiness of the raft. Gear such as wetsuit, fleeces, booties, splash jackets, buoyancy aids and helmets are a must-have.  

Where to do

The extreme sport has very few takers in India but it is fast catching up in northern India where Rishikesh, Devprayag, Kullu, Manali and Ladakh provide some of the best locations in the world. 


Dare to dare: Waterfall rappelling

The daredevil act of climbing down a waterfall, popularly known as waterfall rappelling, is catching the fancy of adrenaline junkies in Maharashtra and down South. Monsoon in the Western Ghats opens up countless waterfalls, making it ideal for the extreme sport. There is thrill in braving the gushing waters from a height of a few hundred feet, the challenge of negotiating a slippery rocky surface while enjoying the verdant greens. The sound of the cascading waters and the spray that accompanies make the descent hypnotic. It is not just rappelling down a waterfall. It begins with hiking to the actual location. Then climbing up the waterfall by taking a detour, and finally, rappelling down the water body.

Risks involved

Waterfall rappelling, or canyoning to some, is thrilling yet demanding too. It appears simple: suit up in a harness and belay your way down a waterfall but there are risks involved in it too. One needs to be physically fit and agile to enjoy this sport. Slippery surface, moving downwards while facing an onslaught of a foamy spray of water are the biggest challenges one faces while rappelling down.

Where to do

Vihigaon, Vardayini, Kundalika waterfalls, Sandhan Valley, Ulhas Valley, Kondhana Caves (all in Maharashtra),  Jogini waterfall (Manali, HP) and Neer Gaddu (Uttarakhand) are some of the hotspots for waterfall rappelling. — GK


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