Kodagu district is synonymous with adventure. Be it ardous treks in idyllic forests, rappelling down awesome waterfalls, climbing up treacherous rocks or rafting down rivers, the district beckons the daring.
Rafting in the Cauvery is an exhilarating experience at Dubare near Kushalnagar. Rafting would start once the inflow into the Cauvery increases and the level rises. A raft is a rubberised, inflatable boat with different carrying capacity.
Waterflow has come down in the last couple of days and rafting in the Cauvery at Dubare may not be as thrilling as when it is in full flow, says Ratish, one of the nine raft company owners who operate in Dubare. He charges Rs. 500 per person for a seven-kilometre journey, which would take about two hours. The rafters are brought back by road.
The tranquil water may be a deceitful thing along the course of the Cauvery as one hits the rapids (a section of the river where the water moves very fast particularly over or bisecting the rocks). The thrill, however, is not without a certain amount of risk though the rafters wear enough gadgets, including life jackets.
Rafting in the Cauvery was started about 10 years ago by a few adventure loving youth in the district. June to November is the ‘whitewater’ season and November to June is ‘stillwater’ season. Rafting in the KKR (Kakkattu-Kith River) near Srimangala in Virajpet taluk is also exciting.
Safety is of paramount importance to us, says Mr. Ratish. Two experts who operated at Kali River near Dandeli had trained his staff recently, he said. The local gram panchayat would get an annual revenue of Rs. 7,500 from each operator while they also pay an entertainment tax of six per cent apart from paying insurance premia, he said.
However, the Kodagu District Administration recently came out with a 23-point formula to ensure safety. The operators must secure permission from the Departments of Police, Forests, Fire Force and Tourism, and employ trained guards to accompany the rafters. Every one of them should have identity cards issued by the Department of Tourism and should be trained in first-aid methods. Smoking and drinking is prohibited during rafting. The rafters should also obtain permission from the Karnataka Inland Water Transport Department.
Kushalnagar Range Forest Officer M.A. Achappa, who is in-charge of the Dubate elephant camp, said that rafting operations were suspended by the department for two months last year following a mishap, but it has been going on well.
