Have you ever wondered how does it feel to do white water river rafting in Kolad, where Kundalika river flows? Kundalika River is a dam-controlled river but it is the fastest flowing river in India. It is now a full-fledged rafting destination India after Rishikesh. For a quick weekend getaway, you can plan river rafting in Kolad and depending on the time of the year you are going, you will encounter the grade rapids. No matter what may come, Kolad river rafting promises nerve thrilling rafting experience. Be prepared to drown all your worries by the first water current splashing on to you.
Places For River Rafting In Kolad
If you are looking for location of river rafting in Kolad then river rafting starts around 20-25 km away from Kolad. Apparently, one needs to start early to get there on time. This is because rafting starts at 8 AM and the roads aren’t great to say the least. So, make sure you have enough time for traveling and reaching the destination. Mind you, the rafting time is 2.5 hours so it is better to choose the early morning at 8 AM raft.
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Price of River Rafting in Kolad
The cost of river rafting in Kolad keeps differing. If you are booking well in advance, you may find the river rafting to be cheap. But, if you are booking a stay along with river rafting, the price is different. Since the regular rafting ride is about 2.5-3 hours, you can expect it to cost around INR 1200-1500 per person. They will provide you with high-quality safety equipment, training. There are a few camps who offer river rafting for INR 900 per person.
If you are camping and choosing a few other activities along with white water river rafting in Kolad, it can start from INR 2000. These prices are only when you book well in advance. If you are looking for a great experience in budget, then the key here is to book everything in advance. You will also have great deals along with just river rafting in Kolad.
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Best Time For River Rafting In Kolad
When one is prepping up to go rafting on the Kundalika river, it depends on the water which is released from the nearby dam. The best time generally is during the monsoon season. So before the monsoon season ends, do visit Kolad for best rafting experience. In fact, we suggest monsoon season because you can easily find the foliage around the Kundalika River which will light up with green glow and scenic views. If you are not comfortable with thrilling rapids and currents, then you probably should visit Kolad during the winter. The river is calm and rafting is not very difficult.
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Ideal Trip Duration For Kolad
Many people think the smart way to choose weekdays to avoid the rush. But that is the main mistake you are making. People in Kolad who own guest rooms or hotels do not accept bookings that are made during the weekdays. There are power cuts that happen frequently and they cannot afford to run the power generator for a few people on weekdays. Thus, the ideal and the best trip duration is on weekends when there are more people.
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Stay Options In Kolad
If you are planning for river rafting in Kolad Maharashtra then you naturally would want to know the stay options. Well, you will have to travel a few kilometers from the village to find accommodation. There are resorts and farmhouses in Kolad. The average cost here is around INR 1500-2500 for an overnight stay. There is a MTDC hotel that offers some reasonable accommodation. There are some beautiful homestays in Kolad as well. You can plan for a stay at the Pooja Farm House, which is a wooden cottage and offers picturesque views. There are many riverside camp stay options as well which include food and river rafting.
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How To Reach Kolad
If you are thinking of traveling to Kolad to try Kolad river rafting from Mumbai or Pune, then you have three options: Car, Train, Bus.
Kolad by Car: The total distance from Mumbai to Kolad is 120 km. the complete driving time is around 2 hours 30 minutes. You can rent a car or hire a cab or drive by yourself. You can choose this travel mode if you are with a group of friends or with family or with kids. The route to Kolad is simply superb and you will have the picturesque view of everything- from the mountains to the waterfalls or ponds or the simple existence of greenery. You can either choose the Vashi- Karnala route or the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Khapoli exit way.
Kolad by Train: If you are traveling solo or with just two-three friends, then railways are the best option. Kolad railway station is with Konkan railways and from Mumbai, you have two direct passenger trains to Kolad. The good news is they run on a daily basis! One train is Diva Sawantwadi Passenger (50105). It departs from Panvel at 7.05 AM and reaches Kolad by 9.20 AM.
The other one is Dadar Ratnagiri Passenger (50103) which is from Dadar to Ratnagiri. It departs at 3.35 PM and arrives Kolad by 7.30 PM.
Kolad by Bus: If you want to travel by bus you have a lot of options from Mumbai towards Ratnagiri. There are state transport buses that drop you off at Kolad which is on the Mumbai-Goa Highway. It takes about 3 hours to reach there. You can always check the state transport bus timetable online. Try booking tickets online from various bus service operators online.
If you are traveling from Pune:
By road, you can take the Mumbai – Pune Expressway and you can reach Kolad in 3 hours. The fastest route to Kolad from Pune is via Tamhini Ghat road. If you are going via rail, then you can take a train to Lonavala from Pune and then get down to take private transport.
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Tips For River Rafting In Kolad
If you are planning for river rafting in Kolad then plan well in advance because you may not find any accommodation later. No, you cannot go on a weekday too because the hotel owners do not accept bookings then.
- Reach the starting point on time and plan in advance when you are going to start. Wear clothes that can easily dry and are comfortable. You can shop in Decathlon before you heading for the trip.
- Pack light because if you have too many things with you, you may not be able to carry around everywhere.
- Apart from that, don’t bring any valuables while you are heading to river rafting. Last two kilometers, you can swim in the river and enjoy. Thus, don’t worry about photos because you can get your whole experience video recorded by paying some more.
- Do not eat too much in the morning and try having light food. This is because if you eat heavy and you go to do the river rafting right after, then it is going to be tough because you will fall sick.
- You can take your cars if you have self-drive ones till the starting point. The rafting organizers do offer some transport from the end point to the starting point or they can arrange someone to bring your ride to the end point at an additional charge.
This is better because there isn’t any other form of transport, so you can ask for this service if they are providing. Once the rafting starts, forget all the worries and have a blast!
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Why To Go River Rafting In Kolad
It is advised to go river rafting in Kolad in monsoon season. The rains here make the rapids in the river Kundalika to become the grade 3+ and is all the more thrilling. Apart from that, you are sure to fall in love with the lush greenery and scenic views it offers. Kolad river rafting is known to make a thrilling and adventurous trip you can ever have. Apart from that, you can do other activities like Kayaking, parasailing, zip-lining here.
Apart from that, if you are a stressed corporate professional or a simple college student, this is that small weekend getaway filled with the adrenaline rush. It is a great place to visit with family too. Two days and one night are enough to enjoy this scenic beauty! If you are looking for a budget trip, this place can be your first choice. The overall trip budget cost would be around 3,500- 5,000 bucks depending upon the stay, food, activities you have planned to do, transportation, etc.
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Thus, river rafting in Kolad is a perfect weekend getaway. It is sure to be a medley of adventure, thrill, and adrenaline! If you are an adventure junkie, then this is going to be your paradise. Enjoy all the adventure activities which test your endurance skills and let go of the fear you have. Challenge yourself in the scenic landscape beauty and explore yourself with these fun-filled activities. Well, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags this weekend and plan your trip to Maharashtra!.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Kolad River Rafting
Is River rafting safe in Kolad?
The Kundalika River is one of the fastest rivers in India. It is a very exciting and adrenaline rush experience to try river rafting in Kolad. And, yes, it is completely safe.
What is Kolad famous for?
Kolad is mainly famous for its white water rafting in the Kundalika River. It is a great and tiny village in Raigad district in Maharashtra. One can try other adventure activities too if they are done river rafting.
How does one get to Kolad?
Travelers can get to Kolad by road or train (although there are no direct trains from Pune). Travelers can get a bus to Kolad from Mumbai or Pune. This is the best option one has. It is about 120 kms away from Mumbai and around 130 km away from Pune. Travelers can also hire a car from Pune or Mumbai though. By train, there is one Diva or Ratnagiri Passenger train to Kolad which operates daily. Pune is the nearest available airport.
How far is Kolad from Pune?
It is just 136 km away from Pune and one can easily drive down here or take a private vehicle/ bus. It is a great weekend getaway!
What does one wear during river rafting?
If one is going during the summer, one should prefer wearing a swimsuit or shorts and a t-shirt. An old tennis shirt or river sandals will also do. Avoid wearing flip-flops. Bring a towel and an extra pair of clothes, as a change of clothes, is also required after the river rafting in the Kundalika River.
Is river rafting dangerous?
It is about the 1:558 and a 1:100,000 chance of being fatal during rafting dangerous. So no, it is not dangerous because the travelers will definitely have a guide and safety equipment with them, always. It is a fun adventure sport.
Does one need to know how to swim for river rafting?
Though it is recommended, it is not always required. It can come handy if you are in a high water situation where the river level is a bit higher.
Who can go to river rafting?
River rafting is suitable for all people and age groups. However, there are certain restrictions imposed on individuals who have physical disabilities, asthma, pregnant ladies.
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Exploring new places and trying out new food cuisines are two things that bring Seema all the happiness. Travel freak and a die-hard foodie are the synonyms that define her the best. Popular on social media by the name of ‘PandaReviewz’, lazing around the beaches, exploiting the sunset points, visiting the farthermost villages, exploring the renowned cities, trying out new food cuisines, and blogging about them are few things that keep Seema occupied, and happy!
