Water Sports in India

Water sports in India are fast gaining popularity among the people. India, as a country, has fast emerged as one of the most famous destination for water sports in the world. As a country, India offers great opportunities for adventure lovers who are looking for a variety of experience.

Kayaking and Rafting is one of the popular adventure sports in India. White water rafting happens to be the high adrenaline and high altitude water adventure that has few adventure matching its thrill and adventure. The unstable water, the irrepressible speeds, and also the challenges of making it over the churning rapids are a hair rising experience, inspires one to take the challenge.

This sport, white water rafting, has actually not caught on as a popular adventure sport in India, but it is certainly being recognized as a sport that involves a lot of excitement, novelty and thrill. The risk involves in this sport is as high as the waves that goes sweeping past, and the life of a rafter actually depends on a fragile, inflatable rubber raft on dinghy. However, with time, more and more people are turning to this interesting experience, for its unmatchable excitement and thrill. In order to quality to take part in this game, one needs to meet certain levels of fitness. Mental and physical fitness levels have to be reached. People with mental or cardiac ailment should never try their hand at rafting. Pregnant mother and children below the age of 14 should be cautious while undertaking this activity.

Scuba Diving and Snorkelling in India has fast become a popular adventure sport. Of late, India as a country has successfully carved a niche for itself in the world of adventure tourism. The sheer variety of things available in the marine life adds to the exoticness and ecstasy of things. Diving and snorkelling is certainly the best way to get the feel of excitement and thrill of the India`s underwater world. The pristine clear waters of coasts of India and the sea shores also promises new and improved charm of diving and snorkelling that will leave anyone mesmerized. In India there is ample opportunity for scuba diving and snorkelling in India. There are many destinations that have not been explored so far, and some are pretty popular ones as well. All one has to do, is, don the scuba gear and get rolling. Regardless of being a professional or amateur in the fields the underwater experience of India will leave the person amazed.

The great expanse of Indian coastline offers good options for snorkelling in India that tourists can experience during their vacations. Indian coastlines that stretches many thousands kilometres holds mighty waters of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal that offers great opportunity for snorkelling in India. In India there are many places that have dotted beaches, cliff promontories, mangroves, jewel like island, mangroves and marine life, and many snorkelling possibilities.

Angling and Fishing in India are two of the most popular activities related to adventure sports. These are specially suited for Indian sub continent because of many rivers that course through the expansive Gangetic Plains, and also originate in the upper reaches of the beautiful Himalaya Mountains. The clean and rushing waters of the many rivers and their tributaries provide great angling and fishing holiday spots that are engaging and captivating in their clean and crisp mountain beauty, as well as rich breeding ground of a number of different varieties of fish. The adventurous location for fishing and angling range from the great Himalayas Mountains, to snow-fed streams and high altitude lakes, and to the wide coastal stretches of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal

Swimming is a popular sporting activity in India. The game of swimming involves the act of moving the body in water with the help of arms and legs. In a swimming competition, the speed of the swimmer is tested. Swimming activity is loved by people from across the country and around the world. The earliest records of swimming competitions are traced to as early as 36 BC, in Japan during the reign of Emperor Suigiu. The game was included in the modern Olympics Games in 1896, in Athens. Since the 1968, Mexico Olympic Games, 31 races (15 for men and 16 for women) have come into existence.

Parasailing, also known as parascending or parakiting is a recreational activity popular in India. This is in the process where a person is towed behind a vehicle (usually a boat) while attached to a specially designed canopy wing that reminds one of a parachute, known as a parasail wing. The manned kite`s moving anchor may be a car, truck, or boat. The harness attaches the pilot to the parasail, which is connected to the boat, or land vehicle, by the tow rope. The vehicle then drives off carrying the parascender (or wing) and person into the air. If the boat is powerful enough, two or three persons can parasail behind it at the same time. The parascender has little or no control over the parachute. The activity is primarily a fun ride for the adventure lovers and the tourists.

Water sports in Lakshwadeep is a most enjoyable experience and with its vast lagoon around all the islands, Lakshwadeep has emerged as a major water sport destination in the country. The vast expanses of the shallow lagoons provide an ideal setting for water sports enthusiasts. All the islands offer kayaks, canoes, pedal boats, sail boats, wind surfers, snorkels sets glass-bottomed boats and other facilities to tourists who wish to indulge in water sports in the unpolluted lagoons. Kadmat, Kavaratti and Bangaram have facilities for scuba diving. Deep-sea fishing enthusiasts can pursue big game fishing. Barracuda, Sail Fish, Yellow Fin Tuna, Triveli and sharks are abundant in the seas around Lakshadweep. Local boats with experienced crew can also be hired. Some of the popular water sport centers are discussed below.

Dolphin Dive Center, Kavaratti
Kavaratti is the headquarter island situated around 404 km off the coast of Cochin. The beautiful calm lagoon in the island is ideal for scuba dive beginners. Open water outside the reef is equally beautiful. The dive center is conveniently located on the northern tip of the island very close to the entrance. Therefore access to dive spots is easy and quick from the dive center. The island has a 10-bedded resort catering to divers. It is well known for turtles, soft corals sharks, rays and all kinds of tropical fishes. Dive Spots like Harbour Mouth, very close to the entrance, is abundant with Giant Sea Fans, Giant Triveli, Gorgonians. A dive at Governors Reef is a lesson in different types of soft corals of attractive colours especially of bright red. One can enjoy amazing cave dives at Wall of Wonder in the north-west side of the island. A dive at Turtle Nest is worth all different types of turtles there. One can swim with grey reef sharks, spotted rays, bat fish and lot of groupers at Wind Mill Point.

Kadmat Scuba Diving Centre
Kadmat is one of the most beautiful diving locations in India. It is an idyllic little island which forms part of the Lakshadweep archipelago, situated 407km. off the coast of Kerala in the Arabian Sea. Kadmat is just 8km long and only 550m wide at its broadest point. The crystal clear water and the abundant marine life enhance the beauty of Kadmat. Against the vast expanse of the blue sea, the island looks like emerald. Clear water with 20-50 meter visibility and a variety of fishes like Lion fish, Lobsters, Tuna, rays, sharks, shoaling jacks, fusiliers, sweet lips, groupers, eels, turtles makes it a memorable destination for scuba divers. Pristine beaches, lovely lagoons and the wealth of marine habitat make Kadmat a dream diving locale.

Kadmat is home to the first Laccadives Dive Centre and School. The Laccadives Kadmat Dive School offers beginner to advanced courses throughout the season (1st October to 1st May). The centre caters to certified divers as well. This is the only Dive school in India offering CMAS certification courses from Beginner (1 Star) to Instructor levels.

Minicoy Dive Center
Minicoy is the southern-most island in the Lakshadweep group of islands. Situated 398 kms from Cochin, it is the second largest island in size. A crescent shaped island, it has a huge lagoon on the western side. It has a tiny islet called Viringili on the southern tip of the island. The island is set apart from other islands as culture, language and tradition are different from other islands. It has a 20-bedded resort for accommodating divers and other tourists. Independent tourist cottages are also available in the island.

Minicoy is the only island in Lakshadweep having three large ship wrecks believed to be that of S.S Hoechst and other ships, within 8 meters depth on the island reef. These wrecks are virtual underwater museums and fish species found here are larger than average normal size found else where perhaps due to consumption of Ferrous of the wrecks. Manta Ray can be cited in almost all dive sites like Ragganmathi, Mulimatti, Rabberufarai during September - October and January - February. Sharks, bull rays, turtles, school of jacks, red snappers, black snappers, napoleon wrasse, barracuda, and sweet lips are in abundance at Bose Point, Murambu and Boduhavaligang. Other interesting species found here are hump back parrot fish and Giant Sweet Lips.

The rivers of Uttarakhand invite both the layperson as well as the die-hard professionals. One can choose for Canoeing, Kayaking or Rafting, depending upon the nature of the water. Pit the will and skill against nature as you negotiate the white water, manoeuvre the bends, speed along gorges and break into sparkling surf. Water sports are for those adventure seekers for whom land is not enough.

White Water River Rafting , Uttarakhand
The challenge of the unbalanced rivers is no less than that of the Rocky Mountains. The icy heights of the Himalayas are the source of some of India`s forceful rivers. Fed by countless streams they battle along winding stone, scattered beds, cutting deep gorges and breaking into silvery white rapids. With the complex network of Mountain Rivers flowing through numerous different colours of rocky gorges, forests, flowers and high mountain villages, Uttaranchal provide ideal tourists for the perfect water adventure. The sport of White Water River rafting calls for a victory over the speedy swirling river as it gushes past impressive mountains. It is practiced mainly in the upper reaches where the water is wild and white as it froths and foams, crashing against narrow gorges, rocky outcrops and falls at deep gradients. As with trekking, mountaineering and other sports, river rafting too has been classified and graded in terms of degrees of difficulty.

White Water Rafting On Ganga , Uttarakhand
Interest in river running is increasing fast in India among the youth and the foreign tourists ever since the `Ocean to Sky` journey by Sir Edmund Hillary1977 on jet boats from the mouth of river Ganga, to the higher reaches of the river Alaknanda has been accomplished. According to Sir Hillary: "Ganga is a beautiful river, particularly in the upper reaches with fast flowing water and many lively fast-moving water. It is a splendid river for blown up rafts and challenging too for Kayaks and Canoes." Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant White Water Festival in water-running between Deoprayag and Rishikesh, which takes 3 days, with riverbank camping, is encouraging "river runners from many overseas countries and a wide variety of adventurers of India, both young and old. Uttaranchal`s premium Outdoors arrange this sport where one "sweeps over the rapids and crashes through the stopper waves". One will get wet certainly but the solid hearts and strong arms will always reach the destination. Having all necessary safety precautions and trained guides, one is quite confident of the same. They arrange all the gears, equipment, riverside camping items etc.

Garhwal Region , Uttarakhand
The sacred river Ganga offers the excitement of white water Rafting to the professionals as well as the amateurs. The Alaknanda and Bhagirathi are the main tributaries of the Ganga and meet at Devprayag, frothing from their racy fall. The Ganga changes into a pool drop river from Devprayag. This stretch of almost 70 km is perfect for amateur and the learner; the river offers some fine Grade III rapids and two Grade IV. `GOLF COURSE` is 4 km below Shivpuri village; each followed by rapids, the `WALL` at Byasi and the deep and easygoing pools.

Sandy beaches line the river at internals, allowing river rafters to pull up alongside. The slopes on either side are covered with oak, pine, spruce and fir, with the occasional village and its terraced fields dotting the landscape. Wildlife is visible at a distance, comprising mainly spotted deer, monkey, leopard, white multi-hued butterfly`s flies among flowering bushes. Spiritual retreats and ashrams overlook the river and add to the spiritual experience.

Kaudiyala Rafters Camp , Uttarakhand
GMVN conducts river-rafting courses at Kaudiyala. They provide rafts, equipment, riverside camping items besides all safety precautions and trained guides who make the sport a pleasure. Situated among the dense forest on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway, here the mighty water of Ganga are ideal for white water rafting there is also many opportunities to view wildlife in its natural environment. A natural walk along the river is a real treat for adventure lovers; rock climbing can also be approved.

Kumaon Region , Uttarakhand
The Kali Ganga (Sharda) flows down from the Nepal border, the Kali and the Gori rivers meet at Jauljibi where the water volume increases, offering adventure to professionals. Professionals do the tough 3 days of rafting. The forested slopes, lower down and the river become calmer offering the layperson a sporting challenge before flowing out into the plains of Uttar Pradesh. Mahakali Ganga river flows along the border between India and Nepal, a self contained river journey as well as an expedition or mega trip upto Tanakpur can be undertaken.

River Rafting By Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam , Uttarakhand
The rivers of Kumaon have never been opened for commercial rafting before. Therefore ancient culture of its inhabitants and enormous stretches of untouched, unspoiled landscape crowded with wildlife and migratory birds like cormorants and Siberian cranes are encountered in these rivers. The river, ever moving, signifies life truly. The river chooses wild, unfamiliar, mysterious and beautiful path. There is no better way to let yourself go and get such an in-sight`. KMVN provides rafts, equipment, camping tents, cook, and outdoor cooking provisions besides all safety precautions and trained guides. KMVN has set up a wireless communication network in the working area and all rafts are equipped with wireless sets. KMVN have set up a fully equipped river rafting unit together with experienced and skilled professionals to operate commercial rafting trips for tourists.

Kaliganga , Uttarakhand
Originating from Kalapani, the last immigration post on the Indo Tibet border (on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route) the Kaliganga actually determines the International boundary between India and Nepal. Together with its tributaries, the Kali River forms the major natural drainage system of Kumaon and western Nepal Himalaya. The average grade of the river is class III. The river and rafts flow past a constantly changing landscape of terraced hills of Nepali and Kumaoni villages, unique in architecture and culture. Due to the absence of road communication, the river valley is lesser explored, with virgin beaches visited only by migratory birds and an occasional thirsty animal. Incidentally, for fishing enthusiasts, Pancheshwar is Eldora do. The Kali is home to the famous Golden Mahseer and promises excellent fish game. The only catch is, you have to leave the big catches back where they belong.

Saryuiramganga , Uttarakhand
The Ramganga (E) originates from the Namik glacier, which is one of the most beautiful glaciers in the Kumaon Himalaya. Like its origin, the river follows a picturesque route through a lesser-inhabited valley, meets the Saryu at Rameshwar, and goes out to flowing together with the Kali Ganga at Pancheshwar. A rafting trip on the Saryu takes past remote villages, giving an insight into rural Kumaoni life and a complete leisure-rafting trip. It is ideal for beginners and the leisure rafters. The rafting section is a 30 km relaxing journey on the bright green waters down the river.

Canoeing And Kayaking , Uttarakhand
There is, firstly, the pleasure of a gentle canoe trip in a lightweight ally-metal craft that holds two to three people. The slope best suited for canoeing is the stage near the river`s entry into the plains where the trip can be combined with reasonable hiking and a naturalist`s holiday in the forest. For this, the suitable areas are Rishikesh, Dakpathar and the Ramganga in Corbett National Park. For the slightly more adventurous, kayaking is appealing as it enables originality on the river by a solitary oarsman or two, seated in cycle. The degree of difficulty would depend on the river gradient and its rapids. The suitable period for river running depends on the adequacy of water volume. Thus, September-November and March-April-May are most appropriate.