The Ganga

Rudraprayag to Rishikesh : One of the popular but strenuous runs is the 150km run from Rudraprayag to Rishikesh. Rudraprayag is situated at the confluence of the Alakananda and the glossy dark Mandakini rivers, two of the main tributaries of the Ganga. The starting point is situated a little further from the main town of Rudraprayag. It is a four hour run from Rudraprayag to the town of Srinagar through calm stretches, a series of rapids, boiling whirlpools and freezing temperatures. It is dangerous when the water level is low, because sharp rocks at the surface can rip a raft apart. The stretch from Srinagar to Devprayag where the Bhagirathi and the Alakananda rivers meet and create the Ganga, is rough. Between the thrashing rapids there are long stretches of flat water. From Devprayag to Kaudiyala is another four hours calm ride where rapids are scarce. From Kaudiyala, the stretch to Shivpuri which takes 5-6 hrs of rafting and on to Rishikesh is a fairly demanding one, with the grade IV rapid called 'The Wall' at Byasi and the less graded huge thrashing waves of rapids like the Roller Coaster (grade III), Clubhouse and the Golf Course, 4km below Shivpuri village. The stretch around 70km from Devprayag to Shivpuri is multigraded, but near the last sign post ahead of Rishikesh the Ganga turns calm. The expedition takes about four or five days depending on the pace. The run is picturesque through the densely forested Himalayan foothills. There are regular buses to Rudraprayag from Rishikesh and Haridwar.

Tehri to Shivpuri : This run starts at the Tehri town, the district headquarters of the Tehri Garwal on the Bhagirathi river. The run goes through rapids mostly Grade III- IV and reaches Devprayag. At Devprayag The Bhagirathi merges with the Alakananda and the run is more calm and manageable than the upper reaches till it reaches Kaudiyala. Then again on to Shivpuri it is demanding with grade IV foaming rapids like the Wall at Byasi and the Golf course, 4km below Shivpuri village. Details given above in the Rudraprayag to Rishikesh run. Tehri is connected by buses to Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun.  

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