Rishikesh

Rishikesh is the cheapest adventure weekend in the country and the one most groups repeat. Rafting on the Ganga, riverside camps at Shivpuri, bungee at Mohan Chatti and the evening aarti at Triveni Ghat — all within a six-hour drive of Delhi.

Choosing a rafting stretch

The 16 km Shivpuri to Rishikesh stretch is the popular one and suits first-timers, with Grade II and III rapids. The 26 km Marine Drive run is longer and rougher and is worth booking only if most of the group has rafted before. The 9 km Club House stretch is the short option for groups with children or nervous first-timers.

Camps or hotels

Riverside camps bundle meals, a bonfire and rafting into one package and are built for groups. Hotels and hostels in Tapovan make more sense if the group wants cafes, yoga classes and late checkouts instead of tents.

Good to know

Rafting shuts down through the peak monsoon months, roughly July to mid-September, when the river runs too high. Rishikesh is an alcohol-free and largely vegetarian town, which is worth telling the group before anyone books. Bungee slots at Mohan Chatti sell out on weekends and are best reserved online in advance for the whole group.