Sheikh Imran Bashir
Agence India Press

05 May 2010
Srinagar: White water-rafting is fast emerging as a popular sport in Kashmir with tourists and adventure sport-lovers thronging Pahalgam town to enjoy the experience.

Pahalgam is surrounded by lofty mountain ranges and is washed by gushing streams and rivulets, which provide opportunities for adventure sports like white water rafting.

The aquatic adventure sport is attracting lot of domestic as well as international tourists.

A tourist from Mumbai Sanjay told Agence India Press that I have come here for the first time and I am feeling very good here. People say that this place is like heaven and actually it is heaven. I am feeling good here, I enjoyed river-rafting and this is my first time. I am happy that I have done rafting here. I will miss all this adventure when I will go back.

White water rafting in Pahalgam starts in the month of June, but the tourist rush this year has caused tour operators to take bookings much earlier.

Another tourist from Kolkata told Agence India Press that White water-rafting is the most attractive adventure sport here and since last year, some private agencies operating this commercial white water rafting. We started white water rafting last year in the month of June but this time because of advance season, we have started early, and as compared to last year, number of tourists is increasing day by day, and because of the early season we have started white water-rafting from 1st April.

Pahalgam used to have only 10-13 boats sailing along the ice-cold white waters of Lidder Nallah, but now their number has touched 40-45 boats to cater to the needs of tourists interested in this adventure sport.