THE PITSTOPS AND SCENERIES OF GANGA

What makes traveling long-distance fun?

It's the window seat, billboards, munchies on small breaks, and the interesting characters we meet on the way.

Long-distance travel has always been an integral part of my life since childhood. Staying in the outskirts of Chennai, my school was 30 kilometers away from home, college 55 kilometers, and even my first job was a good 40 kilometers away. This involved traveling for hours by bus, train, cycle, and bike. There were no smartphones, social networking apps, and no internet during those times. I had plenty of time on my hand. Over the years, I have even learned the art of getting my desired window seat at the perfect time. If I have to express my experience musically, the daily trips were like a concert of characters, colors, and interesting backdrops. No matter how strenuous they were, the journeys were always refreshing. I believe this kind of lifestyle from my past cultivated a taste for people, places, and stories. Maybe because of luck or destiny, I got what I wanted. Today I am an on-field writer at Bikat Adventures, living a fancy life. My job is to go on adventure trips and write about them.

Now, let me share an exciting tale from just this summer. I was working from home in Chennai. Guess I don't have to tell you about Chennai's harsh weather. On a casual Monday noon, the scorching sun smiled brightly with heatwaves. I was not able to bear it. I was waiting for my boss to call me back to the mountains. Around 3 PM, I received an official email to come back to Dehradun. Finally, I felt relieved. I never knew there was a surprise waiting for me. As soon as I landed and went to Bikat Adventures’ Guesthouse in Dehradun, I met my boss there. I settled down for a bit and exchanged pleasantries. Suddenly from nowhere, he asked me to get ready for swimming. That was new for me. We had fun for a while, flashed our cool strokes in the swimming pool, and played for some time. It was refreshing. When I thought the surprise was over, my boss came into my room with a magic question. Here’s the conversation that ensued:

Boss: You have reasonable control over water.

Me: Thank you, Sir. I love water sports.

Boss: Hmm…how about white-water kayaking in Rishikesh?

Me: …… (silence…Faking a flat face but surprised from inside)

Boss: Are you interested?

Me: Yes, Sir. (trying to control my excitement)

Me: When?

Boss: Tomorrow….

Me: Ok, Sir.

I felt a strange sensation in my heart. It was like someone was giving a sweet CPR. A dam of smiles, joy, and happiness opened and flooded my senses. Rishikesh was one of the exotic spots from my past explorations. Once, when I was walking on the iconic Ram Jhula, I saw a lone kayaker gliding with style under the bridge. I let out a sigh and said to myself – maybe someday. I never knew that moment was happening now. Just within two hours, I packed my bags, made the plan, did my homework, and left to explore the White-Water Kayaking Course for Beginners on the olive-green glacial waters of Ganga. Before I go into the central part of the story, let me share my perspective about the waters of Ganga. Legends say Ganga is the purest and one of the fiercest rivers of India. But, in my opinion, it is the friendliest river of all. Kayaking was daunting in the beginning. But, learning from great instructors was the most thrilling experience I ever had. It gave me ample confidence. Let me take you through the fascinating pitstops of Ganga I encountered while kayaking on its white waters.

Pit stop 1: The vistas on the shoreline

It was Day 1. My course mate and I wore our wet suits, life jackets, and all the necessary accessories to get into the water. My instructor, Dev, made us practice the detailed process of basic skills like paddling strokes, wet exits, and turning techniques for four hours. In the beginning, I was like Tom (cat) from Tom and Jerry. As soon as I dipped my toes into the cold waters of Ganga, shivers ran through my spine. But, after spending some time with the kayak, I felt like a goldfish ready to swim. Dev asked us to get out of the water and relax. I thought the day was almost over. But Dev said we are going for an 8 km river run.

Me: River, what?

Dev: River run! We will kayak for 8 km today from Neem Beach to Janki Setu Bridge.

My partner and I looked at each other with funny smiles. We never expected to go on a long ride so soon. I was going to live the moment I had always wanted to. I was going to become the kayaker I admired several years back. We launched our kayaks into the water and followed Dev. The sight I experienced there was totally different. I have always been on the shores, wondering what goes in on the other side. But, observing the shore from the middle was new for me. The shores of Ganga were filled with so many unique sceneries and people. Greyish silver rocks and slim trees dipped their feet into the olive-green waters. Small groups of notorious monkeys were stealing food from tourists. White ladies from foreign countries were chilling under the sun for some tan. The holy sages in saffron with long beards were meditating on round boulders. Overall, it was a treat to my ears and eyes. The show stopper was the three iconic bridges, Ram Jhula, Lakshman Jhula, and Janki Sethu. As I was gliding under them in style, I saw small kids waving their hands. The irony here was the expression of a guy I noticed. I believe he was letting out a sigh looking at me. I am sure he will hit the waters soon, too. That day, a beautiful revelation came to my mind – "The grass is green on both sides."

Pit stop 2: The view underwater on the calm belt

If I have to personify Ganga, she is a complex lady with unique features and dense emotions. Kayaking helped me feel this from the front seat. Sometimes she expresses her raw energy with force; sometimes, she shows her versatility with mixed currents, and most of the time, she shows her quiet side with a calm zone. My moment of realization happened in the calm area of Brahmapuri, the practicing shore of day 2. Though we practiced rolling on the first day, the second day was different. Rolling is an activity where we flip our kayak, go underwater, and feel the body of the kayak. This is done to practice exit, gain familiarity and confidence underwater. While doing this on the first day, most of my effort went into remembering the technique. I never observed the view underwater. On the second day, the waters of Brahmapuri were somehow different. When I flipped my kayak and went into the water, I somehow felt like going into space. The calm currents underwater humbly swayed me like an aquatic plant. The cold sensation of water seeped in through my skin and rejuvenated my thoughts. I was witnessing an upside-down world filled with blurriness. For 10 seconds, I could feel and hear my heartbeat. I was feeling lively and being myself after a long time. I think – "I found my lost self in the middle of nowhere underwater."

Pit stop 3: The roaring rapids

The main highlight of the kayaking course is riding the kayak through rapids. Rapids are the special zones in a river where the river's flow runs faster and rough currents clash & crash with extreme velocity. They are classified into different classes according to their intensities. We go through class 2 rapids ideal for beginners in the Basic Kayaking Course. The names of the rapids encountered are Clubhouse, Cashflow, Initiation, Double Trouble, and Hill Turn. My favorite rapid of all was Double Trouble. Unlike the other rapids, Double Trouble has a different kind of nature. Just like the name says, it has two sections of currents. You go through one thrilling ride, drop down and immediately enter into a new section.

On the second day of the course, when we started our river run from initiation, I could hear the water thundering from a distance. It was like rain clouds aggressively rumbling with each other. I stopped in the calm belt before the rapid and observed the wave trail from a distance. Like the opening scene of the movie Mad Max Fury Road, I felt like an army of 100 soldiers was waiting to challenge me. The cinematic scenario gave me a rush. With my brows furrowed and eyes focused, I moved in to face it head-on. All the wavering thoughts disappeared; my body was producing tremendous energy. I paddled hard and pierced through the waves. My senses were sharp, and I was highly attentive. The waters tried their best to flip me over, but like a forward in a football game, I dodged through the splashes and moved ahead with momentum. After crossing the first rapid level, my kayak flowed down with force and crossed the second section with ease. I successfully came out of the rapids and felt like a legend. At that moment, an interesting revelation came to my mind – Life is all about living in the moment and moving forward.

Pit stop 4: The resting spot

On the extensions of the shorelines of Ganga, you can find small spots of sands piled up in the corner. Those are the perfect spots to rest. These small areas are chosen to avoid touristy crowd. Every day, after kayaking for 5 hours, we settle down in the resting areas for refreshments. As we would sit together on moist mud, Dev would tell us tales of his kayaking explorations from the past. His words and expressions engrossed me and introduced me to a challenging world of adventure. I also had my particular sitting area there. I remove my heavy gears, fix a glass of fresh juice, and sit on a small boulder to observe the serene flow of Ganga. The water never stops. It keeps running without any question. No matter where it comes from, no matter where it goes, it keeps on moving for long distances. The concept of time, form, and space never affects it. It is tenacious, and it is disciplined. At the end of our kayaking session on the third day, a sweet revelation came to mind – "Life is in the flow of everything." Just flow!

Pit stop 5: The view of the Ganga from the road 

It was the last day of the course. With a heavy heart and heavy kayak on my shoulder, I walked towards the vehicle and offloaded my equipment onto it. More than Ganga, the closest buddy I adored was my kayak. I felt as if I had given away a part of my body. Gradually the noise around me diminished. For one last time, I took a deep breath, turned back, and saw the magnificent view of Ganga from the road. A tranquil, subtle, and positive feeling embraced my heart. It was peace and a complete sense of satisfaction. This view will stay forever in my heart. The last and final revelation I realized in my mind is – “True peace awaits us after turbulence”.

Of all the exciting travels I experienced until now, nothing was as exciting as kayaking in Ganga. The rush, freedom, fun, and revelations I got from kayaking can never be recreated with any other outdoor activity. I believe this basic course for kayaking is just the beginning of more incredible adventures in my life. Quite a tantalizing tale, isn't it? Join me. Together let's explore the depths and splendors of water. See you next time with another wild tale.