Byasi - Garhwal camping and rafting

Rafting is such a passionate thing to do that it has always pulled me to this region year after year. Last year we scheduled our rafting trip at camp Nirvana near Byasi in Garhwal during March. This is one of the best times of the year to carry our such adventurous tasks without getting tired. The ascent to the Himalayas from Delhi was indeed a breathtaking experience. As soon as you cross Haridwar, you can encounter hills and slope, which become steeper as you go ahead. We entered the Himalayas and then eventually the road started circumventing around the river Ganges till we reached our camp. The camp was situated almost 35 kms ahead of Rishikesh, near Byasi, on the white sand shore of Alaknanda, a tributary to Ganges. The camp and its surrounding were a real heaven for outdoor lovers. The calm blue water of the river just stretching out and surrounded by mountain on the opposite shore, was scenic. On our side, the white sand along the shore went ahead till it was consumed by the rocky banks of the river beyond which the river attained its full flow. Our tents on the white sand were small and temporary, set for few months only. It lacked the comfort of a permanent setup, but still it was enough for two people to sleep, if not much. Since the blowing wind gets the sleeping beds covered with sand, it is imperative that you are not allergic to sand or dust. Besides, the must-haves include a mosquito repellent lotion, an torch with battery, and toiletries in your backpack. To kill the second half of the first day, which included no major activities, we floated in calm waters, played games (coach was our guide there) and in the night, drank beer alongside the bonfire.

Day 2: was the rafting day, which starts at Shivpuri, nearly 10 km away from our camp towards Rishikesh. The 26 Km stretch towards Rishikesh was filled with level II and III rapids. We were given basic lessons before jumping in our rafts and even forced to jump from the rafts in the middle of the river (we were all buckeld to life jackets, so it was rather fun).

(Our rafting trail on Google Map, C=Camp, A=Rishikesh)

The rapids encountered during the trail are real fun. Boat or the sailor might get tumbled also due to the highly powerful rapids and whirlpools. We hardly encountered a level IV rapid in our way, which is still one notch down to the most dangerous of all, a level V rapid. Those rapids are only for the trained rafters and are not found along Alaknanda river. You have to go up to Himachal or Nepal to encounter them, if you are brave enough. Our double-bladed paddles were useful for paddling as well as saving a fallen sailor from the raft by offering him/her the handle of the shaft. Of cource, be ready to get pampered by you co-sailors in case you loose your paddle to the waters. At the end of the trail, we had a cliff jumping which no one except me in my team dared to do and which left my jaw bleeding.

Overall, the tour was a fun and I am hoping to continue my voyage this year as well with some decent fun in the water and sky (planning to try paragliding ;)