RAFTING AND PARAGLIDING RESUME AFTER TWO-MONTH MONSOON BREAK
Beas comes alive with 60-plus rafts as colourful gliders return to Manali skies; revival expected to bring relief to around 10,000 people linked to adventure tourism
Munish Sood
MANALI
The two-month wait for adventure lovers has finally ended, with Manali and the Kullu Valley once again coming alive with the thrill of adventure sports. River rafting and paragliding resumed after the seasonal monsoon restrictions were lifted, bringing back one of the region’s biggest tourism attractions.
The adventure activities had remained suspended from July 15 to September 15 as a precautionary measure during the monsoon season. With the reopening, the familiar sights and sounds of adventure tourism have returned to the valley — rafts cutting through the rapids of the Beas and colourful paragliders soaring over the mountains.
The reopening has brought cheer not only to tourists but also to hundreds of adventure operators, guides, pilots, taxi operators, hoteliers, restaurant owners and other people whose livelihoods are linked directly or indirectly to tourism.
More than 60 rafts take to the Beas
The first day of reopening witnessed an enthusiastic response at Babeli, one of the major rafting points between Kullu and Manali, where more than 60 rafts entered the Beas.
The administration has cleared Pirdi, Babeli and Raisan routes for rafting after assessing the prevailing conditions. Depending on the route, tourists can experience rafting stretches ranging from approximately seven to 14 kilometres.
The district has around 600 registered rafting boats and 176 operators, supported by 572 trained rafting guides. For tourists, the reopening means the return of an activity that has become an integral part of the Kullu-Manali holiday experience.
Manali skies turn colourful again
While the Beas was witnessing the return of rafting, the skies over Dobhi and Solangnala were also beginning to regain their familiar colours.
Paragliding operations resumed from the approved sites, with flights beginning during suitable weather conditions. The district has nine approved paragliding sites, including Gadsa, Raisan, Dobhi, Solangnala, Kothi, Peej and Gulaba.
Around 671 registered paragliding pilots are associated with the activity in the district. The flying sites have undergone technical and safety checks before the resumption of commercial operations, while tourists are required to fly with trained pilots.
The sight of tandem paragliders gliding over the mountain landscape is expected to once again become a major attraction for visitors arriving in Manali and other parts of the valley.
A much-needed boost for the local tourism economy
The suspension of adventure activities during the monsoon had affected a substantial section of the tourism industry. With the reopening, operators are hoping to recover part of the business lost during the two-month closure.
Adventure tourism in Kullu district supports an estimated 10,000 people directly and indirectly. These include rafting operators, pilots, instructors, guides, booking staff, transporters and several businesses that benefit from tourist spending.
The resumption is therefore being viewed as more than just the return of recreational activities. It is also a fresh economic opportunity for the local tourism sector, particularly as the post-monsoon period generally brings favourable conditions for outdoor activities.
Hotels, homestays, restaurants, taxi operators and adventure companies are expecting tourist movement to increase in the coming days, particularly over weekends.
Strict safety norms remain in place
The reopening has been accompanied by strict safety and operational requirements. Designated registration and booking arrangements are being put in place for tourists, while advance booking is not necessarily mandatory.
For paragliding pilots, a limit of five flights a day has been prescribed. Operators are also required to maintain daily logbooks so that flights and operations can be properly monitored.
The administration has made it clear that safety norms cannot be compromised and violations may invite strict action, including cancellation of licences.
The prescribed charge for a river rafting experience is ₹3,000 per person, while the official charge for a paragliding flight of more than 30 minutes is ₹3,500 per person, though packages offered by local agencies may vary according to routes and services.
Adventure returns, confidence returns
The reopening comes at a crucial time for the Kullu-Manali tourism industry. For visitors, rafting on the Beas and paragliding over the Himalayan landscape offer the excitement that has long made the valley one of Himachal Pradesh’s most sought-after adventure destinations.
For local residents and tourism workers, however, the return of these activities carries an equally important message — business has begun moving again after two quiet months.
As rafts once again navigate the rapids of the Beas and paragliders rise above the mountains of Manali, the valley is witnessing the return of its adventure spirit, with hopes that the coming tourist season will bring renewed activity, employment and income to thousands dependent on tourism.
