Ganga rafting fares may rise by 20-30% this season

Tourists may pay more for white-water rafting in Rishikesh this season. Rafting companies will hike fares by 20% to 30% due to inflation. The first hike in five years. The rafting industry helps the tourism sector and creates jobs.

Rishikesh, a popular destination for adventurous white-water rafting trips on the Ganga, has started its rafting season last weekend after a long wait. The Rafting Association officials have informed that the rafting fares are likely to go up by 20 per cent to 30 per cent this season, which is the first hike in the last five years. There are five different locations in Rishikesh where rafting facilities are available, namely Brahmpuri, Phoolchatti, Shivpuri, Marine Drive, and Kaudiyala, as reported by TOI.

Kaudiyala is the most exciting option as it offers the longest rafting route, which takes a whole day of thrilling rafting adventures. The other options are Brahmpuri, Shivpuri, and Marine Drive, which offer rafting experiences of three, four, and five hours, respectively. According to the Ganga River Rafting Rotation Committee, the current rates for these rafting experiences are as follows: Rs 2,500 for Kaudiyala, Rs 1,500 for Marine Drive, Rs 1,000 for Shivpuri, and Rs 600 for Brahmpuri per person. However, these prices are subject to change as the rafting companies plan to increase them.

Dinesh Bhatt, the committee's head, said to TOI, "We have not raised rafting fares for the last five years, even though we faced significant losses during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, inflation has become a serious issue. We will soon meet to discuss the possibility of increasing the fares."

The rafting industry is a vital part of the local tourism sector in Rishikesh and Muni-ki-Reti, where around 260 rafting companies operate. They provide many direct and indirect employment opportunities for the locals. Moreover, the rafting association has often expressed its dissatisfaction with the tourism department for its "poor arrangements at rafting points and creating problems for both rafting companies and tourists."