Lidder River Rafting

The Lidder River offers white-water rafting for most of the period from March to September, on a section of river below Pahalgam town. The rapids are rated Grade II to III — powerful enough to be exciting but suitable for beginners and intermediate paddlers without prior experience. Several operators in Pahalgam offer 1–2 hour sessions on the river; the standard trip covers about 5 km of the best rapids.

The river scenery is excellent: pine-forested banks, occasional kingfishers, and the valley walls rising steeply on both sides. The water is cold (snowmelt) even in summer. Wetsuits are provided by most operators. The flow peaks in late May to early June; by September the rapids are milder. Most reputable operators will assess conditions before putting beginners on the river.

things to do sight
A story
The Lidder emerges from the Kolahoi Glacier at around 3,800 m and drops nearly 2,000 m over its 72 km length before joining the Jhelum River near Islamabad (Anantnag). The section above Pahalgam is too steep and boulder-strewn for rafting; the section below town, where the gradient eases, is ideal. The river is at its most powerful during the snow-melt in May and June; by August the flow drops and the rapids become more manageable.