Rishikesh: White Waters, Beaches, Adventure and My First Time as a Trip Leader
The rafts were parked on the shore just before the biggest
rapid ‘The Wall’.
‘Anyone who is scared
or anxious, you can walk on the beach and cross the stretch. You don’t need to
raft down. It is not recommended for non-swimmers,’ the guides told us.
I got out of the raft and was walking towards the other one
where my entire group stood to check with them. Before I could reach I was told
they all were in for it. “We are going to
do the Wall. If not now, then when,” they all said in unison. I felt proud.
This was a set of complete newbies, first time rafters in this dangerous
stretch, and their confidence was unbeatable.
9 out of 10 rafts flip at The Wall or get stuck in the whirlpool
after hitting the rocks. But all four of our rafts crossed the huge waves,
unharmed, quick. It was over in a matter of seconds. We had crossed the biggest
rapid on the Ganga without coming anywhere close to flipping or getting stuck.
The confidence level had just received a huge boost.
By the time the rafting ended at Shivpuri after completing a
28 km stretch, we saw the usual rafters getting into the boats to raft till
Rishikesh. ‘It’s kids play,’ we
thought, having just finished the longest and most difficult stretch on the
Ganga. It was past 2 in the afternoon. Over 4 hours had passed, the energy
levels had not gone down. Our spirits were soaring high.
When my Masters ended two years back, I had two options in
my head for the career path to be chosen. One, move to Mumbai and implement
what I learnt in college to make a career in the media industry. Two, start a
travel startup and lead people on trips to satiate my lust for travel. I chose
the first as it looked easier of the two and I was prepared academically for
it. I got a good job in a media company and had lots of fun for a year. The
second option was lurking quietly all the while in the back of my head. 6
months ago I quit the job with no plan in hand.
Since then I have met a lot of travellers who inspired me
beyond how I could have ever imagined. They pushed me to go ahead and try out
what I have wanted to do for so long. They gave their expertise and support. I
finally decided to take the risk. I needed to try it before I could decide if I
can do it or not. So I went ahead and put up a weeklong trip plan at the start
of 2017. No one turned up. The first attempt failed miserably. Jokes were made.
People laughed. I laughed it off. I knew I had to give it another try. And so I
designed the Rishikesh itinerary for the Good Friday long weekend. The trip got
fully booked more than a week before it was to begin.
On 13th April night, twelve trippers from across
Mumbai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Meerut, Delhi and Spain, met in Connaught
Place to go on this much awaited trip. It was to be three days of camping in
the midst of nature with adventure at every turn. A trek to reach the campsite
located in the middle of nowhere, stay in tents next to the flowing Ganga, a
private waterfall to dip in for as long as one wished, jumping off a cliff into
the flowing river, climbing up a steep rock and rappelling down it, four hours
of white water rafting, and all of it in the best spirit of adventure. Limited
mobile connectivity. Limited electricity. Loads of stars. Chilly waters.
Absolute bliss.
The 3 days went by in the blink of an eye. Our tired bodies
craved for sleep, but we wouldn't head into the tents till late in the night
and instead sit at the white sand beach playing games, making stories, having
the weirdest conversations, and lots of fun. Fears were overcome. People were
dunked in the waters. The biggest rapid on the Ganga was crossed by newbie
rafters. It was a set of people from different backgrounds, different cultures,
(and different countries) with just one thing in mind- let's do some crazy
adventures and have loads of fun in the short time we are together- something
that I had to ensure happens. When expectations have been set, they ought to be
met.
The long weekend also came with its set of disadvantages.
Our plan of one evening got disrupted due to the massive traffic jam on the
Rishikesh road. When nothing seemed to be going right and we satiated our
hunger with some spicy masala Maggi and Coke, the best conversations happened. We
sat outside our tents and played games without realizing how the hours passed.
On the way back to Delhi, although we remained stuck in
traffic jams for several hours, the spirits didn’t see any dampening. The
faltering music system in the tempo traveler became our 2-minute commercial
break from the games, singing and dancing. Our old Sardar driver, who had been
the most caring throughout the trip, joined in the fun with his once in a while
Punjabi dialogues.
One of the SD cards with the entire video footage of the
rafting was lost in the bus. An intricate six hour search later, the dreaded
card was found. The joy that was visible on the face of every single tripper in
that moment summed up the success of the trip for me. Here were 12 people, most
of whom didn’t know each other until 3 days back, sharing the sadness and the
joy together, exchanging contact numbers, connecting on social media, making
promises of staying in touch and planning the next trip. I just sat there
looking at everyone and smiled as the sun went down colouring the sky scarlet
on the Muzaffarnagar bypass.
The Rishikesh story was now complete, but it was perhaps
just the start of a long journey.
Subscribe to 'on second thoughts...' by Email to receive updates whenever we publish a new post.
Amazingly described... Moments revived.. 😇😇
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it Somya :)
DeleteGreat write up! Unfortunately the most funny moments can't be told in a public post for risk of being banned forever for being too gross... hahahah
ReplyDeleteHahahaha...so true Tomas. Glad you joined for the trip :)
DeleteOne of the best trips I ever had. I am glad I was a part of this trip.
ReplyDeleteI know Dev. Thanks :P
Delete