1. Day 1-(10 Mar 10) The expedition team left Dehli at 0600 by bus towards Rishikesh. A light breakfast at Muzafurpur on the way was oragised at Chital Restaurant where members freshened up . The campsite (base) at Sivpuri was reached at 1415 hrs . A nutritious lunch at 1430 hrs was followed by a briefing by the guides and a swim across the river . Training in basic raft handling and gears were also imparted . The session folded up at 1700 hrs followed by light snacks and tea. In the evening a campfire was lit where we were joined by some other civilians who were a part of the camp at Shivpuri. Rounds of songs and discussions around the campfire were followed by some serious tips by the organisers ,Neeraj Dahiya and Sanjeev , on safety and camp rules.Dinner was served at 2115 hrs and we retired for the night.
2. Day 2-(11Mar 10) The day started with a volleyball match at 0630 hrs and breakfast at 0830 hrs . The team started for the site of launch of rafting (a few kms ahead of a famous stretch called “marine Drive”) .Two teams were created which manned one raft each. The rafts were inflated and prepared by the team themselves and put into water at 0930. The rafting teams in this stretch negotiated some rapids of grade 2-4 like “wall”, “three blind mice’ and “investment”. The most memorable of the rapids was the “Wall” which threw all of the members (from both rafts) into the swirling rapids.
The base camp (shivpuri)was reached at 1330 hrs . A well deserved lunch followed by rest till 1700 hrs put the team in a rejuvenated mode for volleyball matches in the evening. Campfire discussions were filled with animated discussions on the “wall” and what happened to each member after the “flipping “ of the rafts. An “antakhari” between the members of two rafts saw a melodious closing in for the night.
3. Day 3- This day was the drive from Rishikesh to Chamoli. The drive took around 8 hrs to reach a place called “Gauchar” which was supposed to be our base camp . We pitched in our tents and after a short lecture on camp etiquettes we had our dinner and retired for the night.
4. Day 4(13 Mar 10) Start of Expedition.
0810- We move from Gauchar towards chamoli by bus.
0930-Reach Chamoli
0930-1030- Preparation of gears and rafts . Warming up and stretching exercises by OiC and Guides.
1030- Breif Puja followed by flag Off of the two rafts carrying 12 members plus the two guides (in all)
Rapids encountered- Apart from many small rapids we encountered two major ones “KrishnaPrayag-1” and “KrishnaPrayag-2”.
1230- Stand easy break on the river with fruits and chocolates (from the dry bag)
1300- Start for Gauchar
1410- Reach Gauchar Camp site.
Lunch and rest followed by Evening games and Campfire.
5. Day 5(14 Mar 10)
0930- Packing up of Camp and preparation of rafts followed by rafting towards Rudraprayag.
1230- Stand easy on river bank
1330- Reach the Sumerpur Camp(off Rudraprayag Town by 5 kms) and hoist the raft to the camp. This was done so that we could skip a rapid called “Kakad fall” which was a dangerous one and is not attempted by a raft of this size because of the low width of the rapid. The raft was supposed to be taken by vehicle a few kms ahead of the fall from which rafting again could start.
1330-1430 Lunch followed by rest.
1600- The team visited the town of Rudraprayag (famous as the meeting point of Mandakini and Alaknanda). Highlights of the visit included a walk across a market called “Achanak Market”.
6. Day 6(15 Mar 10) The day started with a “shramdaan” at 0700 hrs in which the team carried out cleanship of the place by picking up plastic waste which was left over by tourists around our campsite.
0900- Leave Sumerpur by Vehicle towards Rudraprayag and reach in half an hour
0930 – Start rafting from Rudraprayag
1130- Reach the temple of Dhari Mata by raft and hoist raft out so as to skip the stretch in which a dam was being built.
1230- Travel by Road to Srinagar
1430 –Start by Raft from Srinagar towards Bagban
1615- Reach Bagban
Breif break followed by an interesting game (with paddles)by our guide Chotak, kept the teams engaged till campfire and dinner
7. Day 7(16 Mar10)-
1000- Start from Bagban
1230- Reach Dev Prayag(confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda). Visit the temple of Gangamata.
1330- Lunch
1400- Start for Kodiali by raft.
Enroute the still waters provided us with an opportunity for testing our strength as guides and also for some kayaking tips .
1730 – Reach Kodiali and have tea at the stall there. Hoist the rafts to the banks . While guides camp at Kodialli we move to the base camp at shivpuri.
8. Day 8(16 Mar10)-
1000- Start from Bagban
1230- Reach Dev Prayag(confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda). Visit the temple of Gangamata.
1330- Lunch
1400- Start for Kodiali by raft.
Enroute the still waters provided us with an opportunity for testing our strength as guides and also for some kayaking tips .
1730 – Reach Kodiali and have tea at the stall there. Hoist the rafts to the banks . While guides camp at Kodialli we move to the base camp at shivpuri.
9.Day 9 (17 Mar 10)
0815- Start from Shivpuri camp towards Kodialli
0930- Start from Kodiali on rafts
Enroute towards Shivpuri we encountered rapids such as “roller Coaster” , “Initiation” and of course our greatest nemesis “Wall”.
Our determination and grit came to the fore during the “wall” rapid when none of the rafts “flipped” despite the force of the water.
1330- Reach Shivpuri camp and have lunch
1415- Start for Rishikesh
En Route we do a jump from cliff before Risshikesh
1700- Reach tapovan and Culminate the expedition to the cries of “Jai Ganga Maata ki”
10. Day 10(18 Mar 10)- Visit to Haridwar
11. Day 11(19 Mar 10)- Return trip to Delhi
