Ride The Wild Rapids Of The South: River Rafting In Karnataka

Be it white-water rafting on the more turbulent rivers or just rafting with milder rapids for the noobs, this adventure sport has taken over thrill-seekers in a huge way, and how! We’ve also jumped on to this wagon {or rather this raft}, and thoroughly love ourselves some exhilaration in navigating the waters. That said, if you’re bored of all the rafting options in the Himalayas, make your way to Karnataka for some good ol’ water action. No wonder their tourism tagline is ‘One state. Many Worlds’.

Life-vest on? Ready? Off we go.

The river Cauvery gathers plenty of force here to give you a great rafting experience. But don’t worry about it being scary. There’s a lot of flat grounds for tamer rapids. In fact, you can even hop off the raft for a quick dip in the water. When the monsoon hits in full glory, however, be careful. The rapids here can go up a notch or so to grade 3, and can be quite a thrilling affair.

Find out more about rafting at Bheemeshwari here.

Just a short way from Davangere, this course is not really for the rapids, but for the lovely views. Though there’s enough turbulence on the surface of the waters to give you an adrenaline rush, cruising through lush green forests while watching exotic birds on the banks is quite a treat, too.

Find out more about rafting at Kondaji here.

It’s best to hit up Dandeli in the mornings, more so during the rainy season {which means now}. Licking off at Ganeshgudi, you’ll start of cool as a cucumber, and end up screaming as the quiet waters rapidly turn wild. Graded at about 3 for the most part, expect the unexpected, as there are sudden dips and sharp slopes on the river bed. And that can only mean one thing; stellar rapids. About 9.5 kilometres, the route means business, though unfortunately it’s quite dependent on the rains.

Find out more about rafting at Dandeli here.

Looking for some serious rapids up to grade 4 and 5? You’ve got to go to Agumbe. Unpredictable currents, an ever-changing course and very vociferous during the monsoons, river Sita is a real treat for adrenaline junkies. July to August is the best time to go, as the rains will make sure you have terrific levels of water, even enough to intimidate; after all, it’s known to get the highest rainfall in the world.

Find out more about rafting at Agumbe here.

The sports is divided into two styles; still-water and white-water rafting. They’ve even made it easier by splitting the zone into Dubare river if you’re in the north of the county {that is Madikeri, Kushalnagar, Somwarpet, Suntikoppa etc.}, and the Barapole River for those holidaying in the south of the region {including Kutta, Gonicoppa, Ammathi, Ponnampet, Virajpet etc.}. While still-water rafting is almost therapeutic, thanks to the calm river, when the clouds burst, water levels rise and rapids are back in full swing.

Find out more about rafting in Coorg here.

Set sail {so to speak} on the marginally menacing Sharavathi river. Weaving through forests, grasslands and even gentle backwaters, there’s ample opportunity to take your adrenaline levels up. The islands are a part of the river, which means the waters can get a bit rough in parts.

Find out more about rafting with here.

So you thought you could only be a beach bum in Gokarna? No, sir! If you’re looking for some excitement, the river Kali, like the goddess it is named after, is wild, powerful and rather unpredictable. With rock formations, oodles of uneven terrain and thunderous waters rushing through its gorges, you’re up for one solid adventure bobbing down this river. It’s also close to Dandeli, so you can even make it a two-nighter for maximum effect.

Find out more about rafting in Gokarna here.