15 Best River Rafting Places In India You Must Visit

River rafting is emerging as one of the popular water sports in India that tickles the adventurer in you! River rafting in India is something an adventurer at heart would want to try that lets you experience steering through the unbridled water and passing through parlous rapids. It is one of the perfect addition to your itineraries that can include your friends and family.

River rafting in India gives you a thrilling experience making you an addict to this adventurous water sport with many rivers in reach. Read on to know some of the best river rafting spots in India.

What is River Rafting / Whitewater Rafting?:

River rafting or white river rafting is an adventurous water sport that uses a raft to sail through waters. It was initially popularized in the mid-1970s and still maintains its trendy popularity as a leisure sport, especially during holidays. There are different rapids of untamed water in this challenging expedition.

River rafting requires specific techniques of maneuvering since a lot of challenges are involved in this activity. Depending upon the difficulty level, you can choose from the many places that provide river rafting in India. Different difficulty grades are:

Grade I – Basic level.
Grade II – Easy.
Grade III – Moderate.
Grade IV – Extremely challenging.

15 Best River Rafting Spots in India:

If you plan for an individual or group adventure experience, river rafting is a perfect option, and it is rapidly gaining popularity in India. We present you with the best destinations for river rafting in India; you can explore and enjoy this beautiful outdoor experience.

1. Barapole River, Coorg:

If you think the adventure and thrill of white river rafting are confined to Northern India, you are sorely mistaken. You can have a phenomenal experience at the river Barpole in Coorg. It is one of the best and most famous river rafting destinations in India. Situated in the Deccan plateau in the western ghats, the Barapole river of Dakshina Kannada has two river sections. The lower section has six to seven rapids, and the upper section has about five rapids. Depending upon the level of water, the intensity of rapids varies from two to four. The months between July to September are perfect for white water rafting in this spot.

Covering Distance: Around 150 km.
Difficulty Levels: Upper section has level IV to V rapids, and the Lower area has VI to VII rapids.
Best Time for Rafting: July to August.

2. Kali River, Dandeli:

Although the river rafting in Dandeli is relatively recent compared to the other spots on the list, the fun and excitement are no less. The Kali river swiftly flows along the western ghats offering us an exciting and winding path. Amidst a variety of flora and fauna, this river gives you an exhilarating ride downstream, flowing at an altitude of over 1200 km. It is considered one of the best white water rafting locations in south India.

Covering Distance: 12 km.
Difficulty Levels: Grade II.
Best Time for Rafting: November to June.

3. Kabini River, Wayanad:

Kabini river is one of the best spots to experience river rafting in South India. The excellent wildlife spotting combined with an enthralling river rafting experience is what you get during this trial. The trail is suitable for both beginners and experienced rafters and quenches your taste for adventure. You can also share the beauty of Wayanad by opting for bamboo rafting at the Kabini river. The bamboo rafts help you relax and experience the beauty of the surroundings.

Difficulty Levels: Level II-III.
Best Time for Rafting: June to October.

4. Kundalika River, Maharashtra:

Kundalika river flows into the Arabian sea from the magnificent Sahyadri hills. This is the only spot in India that offers white water river rafting all around the year and is one of the best weekend getaways in the region. The splendid surroundings, lush green flora add to the scenic beauty of the exhilarating river rafting experience.

Covering Distance: 16 km.

Difficulty Levels: Grade III- Grade IV.

Best Time for Rafting: June to March.

5. Brahmaputra River, Arunachal Pradesh:

Brahmaputra River in Arunachal Pradesh is rightly considered one of India’s best river rafting spots and offers thrilling and adventurous river rafting experiences. The initial point of rafting for this river is at Tuting, and the endpoint is in Pasighat. The entire expedition takes almost a week to cover, and you can experience the culture, tradition, and lifestyle of Arunachal Pradesh quite intimately.

Covering Distance: 180 km.
Difficulty Levels: Challenging.
Best Time for Rafting: September to June.

See Also: Most Important Rivers in India

6. Lohith River, Arunachal Pradesh:

Lohith river flows over 200 km in Arunachal Pradesh, entering India through Tibet at its eastmost tip Kibithu. Although this river is a lesser-known spot for rafting in Arunachal Pradesh, it offers a scenic view of some of the densest jungles in the country, creating a unique place for itself. So Lohith river can be an ideal choice for rafting and kayaking in the Northeast.

Covering Distance: 100 km approximately.
Difficulty Levels: Moderate to Grade IV rapid.
Best Time for Rafting: September to June.

7. Indus River, Ladakh:

Travellers are bound to be surprised in the enthralling land of Ladakh. Indus is the longest river in Asia. River rafting in the Indus river is not only adventurous but gives you a view of the beautiful snow-capped peaks, hillside villages, deep gorges, and hilltop monasteries. There are many river rafting spots along the Indus river in Ladakh, like Upshi to Kharu, Upshi to Nimo, Phey to Nimo. The rafting experience in Indus river can be adventurous with majestic views.

Covering Distance: 25 km.
Difficulty Levels: Grade I rapids.
Best Time for Rafting: Early November to ending of March.

8. Beas River, Kullu & Manali:

Kullu & Manali is one of the typical holiday spots for families and couples in India. The Beas river offers an exhilarating, idyllic, and scenic river rafting experience initiated at Pirdi and ends at Jhuri. The Beas river remains one of India’s favorite whitewater rafting spots, with rapids from one to four.

Covering Distance: 14 km.
Difficulty Levels: Grade I to Grade IV.
Best Time for Rafting: June to July.

9. Spiti River, Himachal Pradesh:

If you seek a thrilling yet fun rafting experience, rafting along the winding Spiti river in Himachal Pradesh can be an ideal option. It offers you a glimpse of the spectacles of Himachal Pradesh from the local villages, snow-covered glaciers, foliage. You can expect to spend at least six days in the river while the starting point being the Tuting region, the endpoint being Sumdo, covering the area of Pasighat

Covering Distance: 180 km.
Difficulty Levels: Moderate.
Best Time for Rafting: N/A.

10. Bhagirathi River, Uttarakhand:

Bhagirathi river offers another challenging river rafting experience in the state of Uttarakhand. The rafters are exposed to some significant rapids like elephant rock, the chute, sharp S, and confluence through the turbulent waters and rushing streams. In addition, rafters can access two of the Ganga’s best rapids, the wall, and Daniel dip. Rafting through the Bhagirathi river offers a glance of the exquisite landscape as the course of the river takes you through the two parallel mountains with the rushing stream.

Covering Distance: 150 km.
Difficulty Levels: Challenging.
Best Time for Rafting: April to June.

11. Zanskar River, Ladakh:

Zanskar river in Ladakh is frozen through most of the year. But rafting through the icy cold waters of the Zanskar river is genuinely exhilarating. This river covers some of the pristine, isolated terrains of Ladakh, located in the Padum and Zimo regions, promises to offer a memorable and unique rafting experience. The special feature of this river is that you can raft during the summers and trek on the river in winters.

Covering Distance:120 km.
Difficulty Levels: Grade III-IV rapids.
Best Time for Rafting: May to October.

12. Alaknanda River, Uttarakhand:

The Alakananda river in Uttarakhand is the second largest tributary of Ganga that flows through Chamoli and Rudraprayag, originating from the Garhwal. It offers you a beautiful view of Uttarakhand’s valleys and a challenging river rafting experience. The rafter needs to survive grade IV and V rapids, and it is indeed tricky. However, by the end of the river rafting experience, you will not only have a good dose of thrill but also have a boatload of knowledge and experience.

Covering Distance: 25 km.
Difficulty Levels: Difficult and challenging.
Best Time for Rafting: October to April.

13. Tons River, Uttarakhand:

Tons river is considered one of India’s challenging white water rafting spots and is the tributary of river Yamuna. You can observe the core traditions and culture of Uttarakhand as the river meanders through the remote areas. If you are a daredevil, you must try river rafting in the glinting waters of the Tons river.

Covering Distance: 10 km.
Difficulty Levels: Grade III and IV rapids.
Best Time for Rafting: N/A.

14. Teesta River, Sikkim:

One of the famous rivers in Sikkim is the Teesta river that flows through the hill regions of Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and Sikkim. With a series of rapids with varying intensity, the wild Teesta river offers a thrilling experience to the rafters. It provides more challenging rapids to the rafter getting the name raging Rangit as a tribute. The beautiful landscape around Teesta, the rocky terrain nearby, amplifies the river’s glory invigorating your rafting experience.

Covering Distance: 309 km.
Difficulty Levels: Challenging.
Best Time for Rafting: December to June.

15. Kameng River, Tawang:

The Kameng rive in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, is a perfect white water rafting location because of its scenic beauty. The thrill from the river increases with every kilometer giving you a unique and exhilarating experience. The impulsive river never lets the thrill end, and the location looks picture perfect. So, if you are a seeker of neverending thrill, this is the spot you need to choose.

Covering Distance: 25 km.
Difficulty Levels: Grade IV rapids.
Best Time for Rafting: April to early June.

The river rafting spots in India mentioned in this article promise you a thrilling and memorable experience for travellers and adventurers alike. So, take a look at the list of river rafting spots in India, and have you covered all of them? If not, it is time you start planning an adventurous trip. Don’t forget to let us know if this article was helpful.

FAQ:

1. What are the safety tips you need to keep in mind when you are doing river rafting?

Ans: Here are some of the tips you need to keep in mind when you are doing river rafting without fail:

Choose a professional and licensed rafting process.
Wear a life jacket at all times.
Be comfortable.
Make sure to wear the right and comfortable clothing.
Learn proper techniques in swimming.
Know the commands.
Make sure to hold the paddle correctly.

2. Is river rafting a thrilling experience?

Ans: Navigating and maneuvering the raft through the turbulent or rapid water is the crucial goal of the river rafting sport, making it a thrilling experience for many. The strong currents are what make the experience more enthralling.

3. How dangerous is water rafting?

Ans: Although several precautions are taken during water rafting, there is about a 1:558 chance of getting injured on a rafting trip; and a fatality is 1:100,000.