The River and the Riviera

The river, mother Ganges, rising from Asia’s largest glacier Gangotri in the greater Himalayas and fed by innumerable others like Nanda devi, Nanda kot, Trishul, Satopanth and Kedarnath. During her 2500 Km odyssey to the Bay of Bengal, she feeds millions of people and supports numerous flora and fauna on both sides of her course. People have agriculture, hydel projects and many other business related to their daily needs. So also do people who love adventures come near this river, taking treks to visit its source and raft down the river. People of small income too take the privilege of the river during the fair weather season when tourists from around the globe visit places near the river. Apart from hotels, there are cottages and camps in serenity and vicinity of the Ganges.

Every year, I undertake a journey that is specific to the mother Ganges as I love to touch the water or just enjoy the atmosphere around her. Watching people coming and going through the alleys, bathing, worshiping or walking down the stairs, simply keeping my feet dipped in water. During one such journey, I stayed in a camp near Kaudiala by the river, on her one of the white sand beaches. The camps are make-shift tents, run by local business operators, in accordance to the State Forest Department. They provide dinner, breakfast and moderate arrangements within 1500-2000 INR; some of them take the visitors for rock climbing and white river rafting, the latter is a life time experience. The river has 0 to 4 grade rapids which is in ascending order with the roughness. Earlier, rafting for normal tourists were open from Shivpuri, a small drop by place 16 Km from Rishikesh, which warms up during September to May, depending on monsoon and weather. Now they have extending the service from Kaudiala itself.

 During that exciting 25 Km rafting, we had a beautiful and audacious experience to control the rapids with the paddle before they could actually held us capsized. The rafts are guided by local youths which are by far excellent and helpful in their undertaking. We stayed in The Riviera which is run by a Delhi businessman. They have eight cottages, all named after the Himalayan rivers. Their rates too vary from 3500 INR during monsoon to 5000 INR during rafting season. They provide air-conditioned rooms with TV and attached bath with dinner and breakfast. My odyssey about the Ganges does not stop here. With the river and its beautiful surroundings, I go back to the mountains each time I could make an opportunity.