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River running thrills the heart by its intimacy with swift strreams powering through  the high mountains.As with trekking , mountaineering and other sports,river running too has been classotied and graded in terms of degrees  of  difficulty .The river  must be carefully studied from the land route.

There is, firstly the pleasure of a gentle canoe trip in a light weight alloy-metal craft which holds two to three people.The gradient  best sutied for canoeing is the stage near the river's entry into the plains where the trip can be combined with moderate hiking and a naturalist's holiday in the forest.For this ,the sui table  areas are Rishikesh,Dakpathar and the Ramganga in Corbett National Park.For the slightly more adventrous,Kayaking is appealing as it enables innovation on the river by a solitary oarsman or two,seated in tandem.The degree of difficulty would depend on the river gradient and its rapids.Experience of paddling is desirable.

The most spectacular community river sport is white water rafting. The equipment for this is an oarframe raft which usually accommodates a maximum of eight persons.It is navigated by an experienced oarsman using two large oars.Sometimes , a modified version is launched with all persons on the board using paddle rafts thereby enabliing greater power to match the river.However, keen coordination is necessary and it is important not to fight if adrift.The rafts have inflatable compartments with vulcanised rubber bodies reinforced by nylon fabric beneath an exterior of neoprene.

The suitable period for river running depends on the adequacy of water volume.Thus ,September_November  and March -April -May are most appropriate.The equipment required is ordinary outdoorgear,goggles,antisepticcream and a linking for getting wet!

The Kumaon and Garhwal regions, particularly the latter ,are among the better known areas for the sports at present.One of the less well known descents was in September 1979 by an Indo-NewZealand team which made a successful canoe and raft run down the Mandakini and Alaknanda 28 km above their confluence  at Rucdraprayag and down to Devparayag and Rishikesh.This was done after climbing Rataban(6,166 m) and  another peak at the head of the Tipra Glacier close to the valley of Flowers.However, with reconnaissance of newer  and more remote stretches ,the thrills of river running can be spread to greater areas of Garhwal and Kumaon.