White Water Rafting In Coorg
If you thought misty mountains and the best coffee flavors are all that Coorg is famous for, think again! Get away from the mundane rigmarole that life often tends to be with the exhilarating experience of white water rafting in Coorg.
Lead under the expert supervision of Southern River Adventures And Sports Private Limited run by John Pollard of the U.K, you are sure to turn into a die-hard fan of this amazing adventure sport after your stint with white water rafting in Coorg if you are new to the experience; as for regular white water rafters, gear up for one of the greatest thrills of your life, right here in Coorg!
Mother Nature’s perfect design for white water rafting - Coorg
Coorg has slowly but surely evolved from merely being a haven for those on the look out for a summer respite, into one of the most sought after river rafting destinations in South India during the monsoons. Approximately 250 kilo meters away from Bangalore, it is easy to make an unplanned Coorg rafting adventure trip to this rugged hilly district!
Be it complete peace and calm or the need to drown in the best caffeine treats or else to enjoy the all-time high that the rush of adrenaline gives you with the best white water rafting adventures in South India lead by Southern River Adventures – you can have it all, right here at Coorg!
Coorg River Rafting - the best white water rafting destination in South India
Being located in Dakshina Kannada (southern part of the state of Karnataka in India), this area is naturally endowed with the topography that is conducive to the south-west monsoon effectively finding their way into rain-fed streams and rivers, which in turn is ideal for rapids suitable for white water rafting.
River Barapole is one such river that is born in South Kodagu (another name for Coorg), and empties into the Arabian Sea after flowing through the state of Kerala. The Upper Barapole River, given the right water conditions, is undoubtedly the top spot in South India for white water rafting.
This fast flowing river, as most other westward flowing rivers of south India, covers a rather short distance to the ocean and also has a steep gradient since it drops through the Brahmagiri range, a part of the Western Ghats, draining it off massive rain fall whilst doing so.
Coorg Rafting - Monsoon Fun Unlimited!
The outcome of these aspects combined is several breath-taking water-falls along its course; the Barapole has two huge falls on its main course hidden away in the Brahmagiri Sanctuary and impossible to access in the monsoon, along with the Saaratabbi Falls on one of its tributaries that jumps from a height of 434 ft. In spite of being above these falls, the rafting stretch has a mean gradient which ensures maximum fun!
The fact that this river receives huge amounts of rainfall during the south-west monsoon ensures that it has a better flow than many other rivers that traverse the Western Ghats. That gives it the huge advantage of facilitating a rather extended season for rafting in Coorg – at least 4 months of ‘raftable’ water; from June (at the onset of the south-west monsoons) right into October, rafting in Coorg in varied degrees of turbulence ranging from Class 3 to Class 5 rapids is usually possible.
However it is dependant on how heavy the rainfall is that tours can be run, and the season’s start and end dates also do vary along with the intensity and length of the monsoon season.
Lead by the white water rafting experts – Southern River Adventures And Sports Private Limited run by John Pollard of the U.K
Here’s your chance to get rid of your ‘hydrophobia’ – without the disastrous results that you are accustomed to imagining, of course! Even if you are a novice at white water rafting, you are sure to be put at ease as soon as you meet up with our rafting operators – Southern River Adventures And Sports Private Limited run by John Pollard of the U.K, who is a pioneer in the realm of white water rafting in South India.
Experienced rafters will also get to learn more about this adventure sport from these rafting experts. Right from providing vital inputs on how to conduct yourself while on the rafting expedition to assisting you at each stage of the actual adventure, they have the expertise and the skills to match. Having taken nearly 30,000 people down rivers safely in South India since 1999, you can be rest assured you are in absolutely safe hands!
What to expect while at your white water rafting experience at Coorg
When you do make it to Coorg for rafting, it might take you by surprise to see the facilities that have been provided at our rafting base right on the river in the Ponya Organic Coffee Estate. You are likely to begin your adventure at the briefing area where you will be met and briefed by our guides, away from the incessant rain. You can relax here too whilst you enjoy the blazing fire and after-trip hot organic coffee and snacks. Changing rooms are provided with wash rooms and hot water showers, to ensure your comfort.
Southern River Adventures has the best of technical rafting gear at your disposal along with well-trained white water rafting experts who are vastly experienced, qualified and capable of taking care of any situation. Contrary to popular belief, this sport can also be indulged in by non swimmers as well; we provide extensive training and instructions before the group leaves on the rafting trips.
Here’s an important note: Since the Ponya Estate has a very ‘green philosophy’ on growing organic coffee, we need to adhere to very strict guidelines here in terms of no alcohol, snacks or non rafting guests being permitted at the base. After the trips are over, the base is closed for the evening; it is needless to say that the premises must be kept spotless and litter-free.
A few pre-requisites for engaging in white water rafting in Coorg is that you need to be at least 14 years of age for the normal rafting trip on the Upper Gorge and 16 or above for the full day and overnight trips. For the safety of you and your unborn child, pregnant women are not allowed on our trips. A reasonable level of fitness is also required to be able to participate in our rafting tours; anybody weighing over 110kg will not be taken on the river rafting expedition, and very strictly nobody under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be allowed to enter Ponya Estate.
Further, we also do not allow the use of long, loose clothing while rafting; secure foot wear is required – no slippers please! Detailed instructions and further clarifications can be made available at the time of booking – do remember that these rules will all contribute to the safety and well-being of all you rafting guests, who are genuinely interested in this adventure sport!
How to find your way to this rafting adventure spot in Coorg
By air: The nearest airports are Bangalore (260 kilo meters) and Mangalore (135 kilo meters).
By rail: The nearest rail-heads are at Mangalore, Mysore and Hassan (146 kilo meters).
By road:
In case you intend to catch a bus to Coorg, there are regular buses from and to Mysore, Mangalore and Hassan. For travel within the district, the bus service in Madikeri has connections to almost every place in Coorg.
If you are driving down from Bangalore, of the two routes to Coorg (almost the same distance of 250-260 kilo meters), the route via Mysore is the more frequently chosen one owing to the fact that the stretch after Hunsur with coffee plantations surrounding you is very scenic, while the other route is essentially along the National and State highways.
Here are the distances to Coorg from important cities:
Bangalore: 256 kilo meters
Mysore: 120 kilo meters
Mangalore: 136 kilo meters
Hassan: 115 kilo meters
Goa: 525 kilo meters
Karwar: 400 kilo meters
Calicut: 170 kilo meters
Tellechery: 110 kilo meters
Cannanore: 110 kilo meters
Kasargod: 106 kilo meters
A final note: White water rafting in Coorg is not to be missed if you are a fan of this amazing sport. Prepare for ‘the time of your life’ – Southern River Adventures will see you at the river!
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