Mission Rafting Rishikesh 2006 - Day 01

White Water Rafting at Shivpuri

Day 01

Our real journey started from Rishikesh, from where we were lifted by the Rafters in their Bolero Camper and we were taken to a secluded place near Shiv Puri (15kms from Rishikesh). The path was rough, un-concreted and hence, real tiring.
Soon after lunch, we started exploring the space.

No Electricity, No Newspapers, No Telephones (apart from BSNL mobiles). Toilets were in the form of dry-pits somehow covered with Indian and Western Seats but no advanced flushing systems – just do it and spill loads of water onto it. Nobody knows what happens afterwards. :)

Anyways, going further, there were only tents and normal “charpoys” over which we were supposed to sleep. We were allotted tents which were only 9 ft in width and 8 ft in height (that too only at the centre). Our tents were located in a row facing the Ganges just 30 ft away from the fast-flowing river.

Quickly, we changed to shorts and t-shirts and off we were on the coast, packing our selves with the life-jacket and the helmet. The Rafters began explaining the cause and with every word, the adrenalin was flowing at a much higher pace.

Excerpts: “…… And if at certain point,\nsomebody falls into the river, PLEASE DON’T PANIC. Try to hold the\nlife-rope which has been tied at the sides of the Raft. If you miss it, anybody\nof us will extend the rowing bat “chappoo” to you. Please hold the “T” and we can pull you in. If you are far away, then we have a 10 meter rope which we will throw at you to grip fast………….. And please, guys, if anybody falls, first protect yourself then anybody else. Self-Safety is the prime concern………”

Just imagine how much thrill these words would induce in your mind and body.
Without even realizing, we were off the shore on the river and soon the first rapid came on, called “Money Maker”. It was a Grade 3 and the first tide gave a shock to everybody. The whole raft bouncing up and down and it seemed that if we do not shout out loud, this thrill would kill our hearts. (The thrill that comes while coming down on a Giant Wheel multiplied by 50 times).

After the first rapid, we were all wet and the chilling wind of the mountains was just adding on to the thrill. The words of Jack Dawson in Titanic coming into our minds … “Cold Water feels like a million needles piercing through your body and you just cannot think anything……”

What followed, feels just like a dream… Many more Rapids of Grade 3 (named as “Black Money”, “Black Mouse”, “Black Hole”…came on and just before approaching them, Rafters shouted out to attack the rapid with the josh and enthusiasm. Maximum fear got instilled when the Rafters shouted and warned to check the life-jacket and to tighten the helmet and to grip the foot hold properly. This meant that the coming rapid is a fierce one and it has swallowed human beings before.

I remember, once he said “Aaah, you are from IIT Roorkee, naa. Some days ago, there was a girl who fell in the river in this coming rapid. She didn’t know swimming but fortunately, we were able to catch her in time. This one’s called “Golf Course” and it’s a Grade 4. BE VERY ATTENTIVE AND GRIP YOUR FOOT HOLD VERY TIGHT…” Thankfully, all of us were very alert and held very tight to our foot holds. Nobody fell inside the river during the rapid. There was a Grade 2 Rapid called “Initiator” in which we were asked to jump and then, we got to know how “Body-Surfing” is done. As we jumped into the river for the first time, we already realized how tough the Titanic passengers would have gone through before succumbing to the chilled water. Life-jacket can not do anything when the water is so cold. To worsen our condition, as soon as the clock struck 5 PM, the sunrays got blocked by the high cliffs and all we were left was the fading darkness of brown mountains and haunting loneliness in the river.

As we “swam” along the Ganges, we encountered a few “Tapasvis” who stood in the River – half of their body submerged in that cold water. Their eyes were closed and their hands were joined in prayers and despite of the water being so chilled, their body was stand-still that we could realize the actual meaning of “tapasya”.

Anyways, going forward, we stopped and were asked to step out and climb a tall cliff. Soon, we realized (on watching other people jumping off the cliff), that we are standing on the infamous Jumping Point – a cliff pointed and hanging over the water – HEIGHT: a whopping 25 feet. Somehow managing the courage to climb that cliff, when I took a first look at the water below, I realized the meaning of “Acrophobia”. It just scares the hell out of you.

Whopping 25 Feet!

But, learning from past experience and after watching the people who could not jump; I did what I had decided – I jumped off without thinking and without taking the sight of the water below to the brain. When it was over a second and I had not reached the water; I thought “What have I done? So much time has passed away and I have not reached the water yet.”And then suddenly, there was a huge splash and I felt myself submerging in the deep waters. It was a completely different sight when I re-appeared on the surface – all cloudy as the water was still dripping from my hair on to my eyes. But I was glad that unlike others, all of my things on my body were intact, including my shorts, my floaters, and even my handkerchief.

Well, the day ended with a mountain trek followed by a heavy dinner and a music session by a bonfire. We spent almost all time by lying on the sand. The Surroundings felt just remarkable and an awesome sight with a “lalten” studded mountain landscape. Several tents with one “lalten” each spread all over the sandy beaches as far as one could see. Since there was no electricity and no pollution, we could see the sky above so clearly. You won’t believe but in a period of 2 hours, we actually saw around 20 shooting stars in the sky that night. Finally, we slept at 1 AM.