Adventure lovers line up for white river rafting at Rishikesh
The state of Uttarakhand is witnessing a continuous upsurge in the number of tourists ever since the Government has allowed relaxations in the protocols being followed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The recent announcement on the opening up of adventure tourism in the state has already pumped up the adrenaline among the adventure seekers who have lined up to participate in various adventure sports activities like rafting, bungee jumping, flying fox, etc.
According to the recent data shared by Dinesh Bhatt, President, Rafting Association, Rishikesh alone-recorded over 4000 tourist’s inflow since September 26, following the reopening of the popular white water river rafting adventure activity in the city. The adventure tour operators who conduct river rafting in Rishikesh received almost 90 per cent more bookings from places like UP, Delhi and Haryana, which was way above their expectations for the first day itself. Enquiries for bookings continue to pour in for the next two weeks.
Rajpal Yadav, owner of rafting operator agency in Rishikesh says, “We are extremely elated with the opening up of adventure tourism in Rishikesh and are seeing a continuous increase in the number of rafting lovers. We hope that the tourists visiting for rafting activities will adhere to all the safety norms in regards to COVID and enjoy their visit to Uttarakhand.”
Dilip Jawalkar, Secretary, Uttarakhand Tourism said, “Adventure Tourism contributes to a majority part in the state’s overall tourism industry. I am happy that our step towards resuming the adventure sports activities has heeded the desired results and has attracted a large number of adventure seekers in the state. While we have opened up the activities for the tourists, I also expect full cooperation from all the stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of rules and guidelines to control the spread of COVID-19 in the state. There has been a steady increase in the number of tourists appearing for rafting in the last four years. 68,604 tourists arrived in the year 2017 from September to December, over 3,49,736 in 2018, 3,34,753 in 2019, and 29,932 tourists till March 2020 have enjoyed river rafting. On the other hand, after the commencement of adventure sports activities in Uttarakhand over 19,872 tourists had arrived in the state from October 2nd to 5th.”
In order to ensure maximum health safety, the Government of Uttarakhand has also issued guidelines for the tourists as well as the adventure activity operators. As per the guidelines, the owner of the adventure company has to ensure that the employees undergo proper training for the prevention of COVID-19 and ensure the proper implementation of health measures like thermal screening, social distancing, and covering of the face by masks, and regular washing of hands.
USP of Rishikesh’s White River Rafting Memorable experience
The White River Rafting in Rishikesh has always been one of the most preferred activities for all adventure enthusiasts looking for adrenaline-pumping outdoor sports after the six months of lockdown. The sport adds those essential elements of surprise and excitement in tourists’ trips to make it memorable. Riding the currents of a temperamental river on an inflatable raft and bouncing over rapids is an experience like no other and is guaranteed to make the trip a truly memorable one.
Stunning views
Additionally, the River rafting in Rishikesh offers breath-taking views of the surrounding Himalayan range. On clear days, the mountains are a sight to behold with the sun lighting up their snowy peaks with myriad hues. The rafting trips allow tourists to visit different stretches of the Ganga so that they can enjoy the views of the mountains from various angles.
Budget-friendly River rafting trips
Adventure Sports companies in Rishikesh offers some great budgetfriendly trips, which can be enjoyed by everybody. Typically the half-day and full-day Rishikesh rafting packages start from as little as `900 per person. It’s a great opportunity for both beginners and experienced rafters with the former getting a quick taste of the sport with an outing that they can easily fit into their trip itinerary. The experienced rafters get the chance to tackle some great rapids and challenge themselves.