We were on a stretch down the Ganga, beyond the town of Rishikesh, towards Shivpuri and Kaudiyala

Jumping off a steep cliff

We were on a stretch down the Ganga, beyond the town of Rishikesh, towards Shivpuri and Kaudiyala. If rafting wasn't enough of an adrenaline rush, amidst the whirling, unpredictability of Grade 4 rapids, near-freezing waters and picture postcard scenery of the mid-Himalayan ranges, our instructor decided to arrange for a slight twist in the plot, midway.

Pointing out to a rather harmless-looking cliff nearby, he explained to unsuspecting occupants seated in the raft that the time had come for us to abandon its safe environs and try our skills at... jumping off it! We were supposed to climb the top of a craggy cliff, wearing our life jackets and, take the plunge... just like that. The heightu00a0-- imagine you are standing atop the terrace from your five-storied apartment. All very dramatic, you think. Remember Leonardo diCaprio in The Beach. Now, alter that vision to a jittery non-swimmer hoping to save face in front of gutsy teenagers.

Slowly but surely, my turn came. This, after being extra courteous so everybody but me got their chance to jump. Gulp. After invoking the names of every saint I could think of, a well-meaning friend yelled aloud, "don't look down". The timing couldn't have been better. I looked straight into the aquamarine blue not-so-inviting waters below, even as fellow rafters wading in the waters below egged me on. "Think Tom Cruise is in the water," shouted another. Right. Even if he were ready to play lifeguard, I'd need more than foolish bravado for this dismount.u00a0

After several heart stopping moments and trembling knee attacks, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, gripped my life jacket, and splash! I felt myself go feet first into the icy waters of the Ganga. The impact led me to do a cartwheel underwater only to bob up instantly to the surface. My 30 seconds of rapid air movement!

Pugmarks Holidays organises river-rafting trips that include cliff-jumping detours. Check www.pugmarksholidays.com or call 020-25457414 for further details.