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Getting adventurous in the lap of nature

Experiencing nature from close quarters is a funny risk, discovers Murli Menon, fresh from river rafting on the Ganga

RAPID FIRE River rafting demands not only love for nature but dollops of courage as well

I have just returned from one of the closest encounters one could have with the nature. I was part of the river rafting team that completed a 60-kilometre rafting expedition over the Ganges. Though it was over in about six hours , I am already making plans to raft down the Kaliganga in Kumaon next!

I reached Rishikesh via Delhi having boarded the Shatabdi Express in the wee hours . The drive to Kaudiyala took three hours. The students of Chinmaya Vidyalaya from different cities were my compatriots in this thrill-a-minute experience. . The rafting distance from Devprayag to Rishikesh is approximately 50-60 km.

The first 15 minutes were spent in introductions and consoling each other that the experience would not be as dangerous as it looked! We began paddling gently and aided by the current, were cruising along when we were jolted out of our reverie by a grade-II rapid, which almost toppled the raft. Gallons of white water began gushing into the raft and a few team members forgot to paddle. Some of us slipped into the boat from our seats. The snowy water numbed our senses and within minutes we were floating to safety. We used our helmets as buckets to empty the raft.

We had barely heaved a sigh of relief, when our instructor informed us to be ready for `Double Trouble' - a grade-III rapid, which was more ferocious than the earlier one. This time our team was prepared. Some of our team members started chanting from the Gita as our raft gathered speed. `Double Trouble' nearly toppled our raft and we almost felt that an invisible force was playing with our raft like a toy. Our raft was bouncing like a rubber ball and though it was all over in 10 minutes, our hearts had almost leapt into our mouths while surmounting `Double Trouble'.

Our instructor bellowed, "You have not seen anything yet!" One of the young ladies in our team decided to take rest and she was advised to sit in the centre of the raft holding a rope. We were also instructed to lie down on the floor of the raft as soon as the instructor yelled "Down". This was a precautionary measure to ensure none of us slipped into the water during the 10 feet descent at the `Wall'.

Exciting experience

Every minute of our approach to the wall was exciting. Our hearts were thumping wildly and every pore in my body was absorbing this adventure. Soon, all of us were crouching down as we heard the instructor yell and we hit the `Wall'. As we descended this 10 feet wall of water, we could almost see the craggy edges of the rocks that flanked this rapid. We could hear a thud, as our raft hit rocks, stones and boulders. Fortunately in a matter of minutes we found ourselves floating gently.

`Roller Coaster' the name of the next rapid said it all. A Grade IV rapid, it was the most challenging one till now. It reminded me of the roller coasters I rode on at fun fairs at St. Xavier's school as a kid. A giant heave, a steep fall, incredible twists and turns. White foamy water enters your eyes, mouth and ears. You get drenched as never before and this is no short rapid. As our raft bobbed up and down, we realised that this was not over in minutes. It seemed to go on forever. As we entered calmer waters, the relief on the faces of our team members was plainly visible.

It was time for body surfing, floating and relaxing. There were no more rapids till Rishikesh. We enjoyed the setting sun and indulged in small talk and banter. My camera had survived the ordeal too. I took a few pictures of our team members and enjoyed the natural beauty from close quarters. Thick forests of oak and conifers lined both banks of these sacred waters. I wondered whether I took a holy dip in the Ganges or the holy river showered her blessings on me throughout my river rafting experience!

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