Tourism Dept to Cap Rishikesh Rafting Trips Per Day; New Safety Regulation Takes Effect Next Week
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The Ganga does not negotiate. In its rapids — Roller Coaster, Golf Course, Club House — the river demands respect, preparation, and a guide whose arms have not already pulled ten hours of oars that day.
For years, the rafting economy of Rishikesh has quietly run on a tension between thrill and risk. Guides conducting four, even five runs a day on the same raft. Final trips pushing into twilight. Fatigued hands on paddles in waters that tolerate no half-measures. The Department of Tourism has now decided to act.
Starting next week, a new trip-limit regulation will come into force across Rishikesh’s rafting corridors. Rafts operating on the two longest routes — Marine Drive to Kharasrot (24 km, averaging 3.5 hours) and Shivpuri to Kharasrot (18 km, approximately 2.5 hours) — will be capped at three trips per day. Shorter routes, including Brahmapuri–Kharasrot, will be permitted a maximum of four.
According to Jaspal Chauhan, Officer for Rafting and Adventure Sports, the department’s rafting centers at Marine Drive, Shivpuri, and Brahmapuri will maintain a record of every raft’s daily runs. Once the permissible limit is reached, the raft will not be allowed to enter the Ganga — full stop.
The system launches in offline mode, but the department has already begun development of dedicated monitoring software to track trips across all centers and close loopholes before they widen.
Rishikesh welcomes millions who come to test themselves against the river. The least it can offer them is a guide who is rested, alert, and ready — should the Ganga decide to test back.
