River Rafting in Maharashtra
If thrill and adventure are things that you love, then river rafting in Maharashtra welcomes you with the most exciting and breathtaking adventure expedition. With a 14 km long stretch of thrilling rapids, the Kundalika River in Maharashtra calls you for this daring activity. Nestled in the Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats, this is the only river in Maharashtra where rafting is conducted. Fed chiefly by the waters of the Bhira Dam, this water stream is ideally suited for water sports.
The adrenaline rush of rafting through thick forests and rocky mountains is something that will give you one of a kind experience. This activity here is dam-controlled, which means that the currents in the stream are produced by the excess water released from the dam. A large number of travellers flock to this site during monsoons as the water levels are high in this season.
The increasing fascination of people towards adventure activities has given this water sport a great thrust. This is a water sport, in which a raft is used to navigate through the aggressive waters and abrupt bends. It has emerged as a favourite activity of thrill seekers looking for adventure activities amidst scenic locales. A lot of challenges are faced while sailing through the untamed waters; thus the activity requires some specific manoeuvring techniques like punching and high siding.
Punching is required to push the raft through the hydraulics, and demands for crew paddling as it allows the raft to sail speedily. Another technique is high siding, which is required in the case raft moves sideways. In this technique, the rafters move to the higher side of the raft in order to balance it. River rafting in Maharashtra is something that you must try, but with apt safety measures to enjoy it to the fullest.
Kolad: Located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, Kolad is a hotspot for adventure sports. It is home to the Kundalika River, which is one of the fastest flowing rivers in the state. Wrapped in the picturesque green carpet of nature, this village boasts natural beauty, which is in its full bloom during monsoons – the best time to visit this place. In recent times, it has gained prominence for being a hub of adventure activities, which include trekking, paragliding, rappelling, mountain biking and rafting.
Apart from being an adventure hub, it is also home to several waterfalls, dams, caves and forts. Some of the main sightseeing points here are Bhira Dam, Tamhini Falls, Raigad Fort and Kuda Caves. Along with the serene locales and astonishing sights, this flourishing village offers an exhilarating experience of river rafting in Maharashtra.
These grades represent the approximate measures of difficulty experienced while sailing on the raft, and are accordingly divided into six categories.
• Grade I: Rapids with small and regular waves are assigned Grade I.
• Grade II: These rapids require basic paddling skills as they have medium sized waves and easy gradual bends.
• Grade III: The ones with fairly high waves, strong eddies and small falls are placed in this grade.
• Grade IV: Rapids with high and irregular waves, powerful eddies and rocky passages are put into this category.
• Grade V: Rapids with strong currents, high falls and abrupt turns are categorised under Grade V, and require precise manoeuvring.
• Grade VI: These rapids are the most dangerous, with less predictability about the flow; thus, are limited to professionals only.
If thrills and spills are on your mind, then enjoy river rafting in Maharashtra on rapids of Kundalika that are put into category II and III.
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