Rafting or whitewater rafting is entertaining water sport; using a raft to navigate a river or other watery sources. This is typically done on whitewater or diverse levels of forceful water, in order to adventure and excite the propel passengers. The progress of this movement as a vacation sport has gained popularity since the mid 1970s. A rafting is one of the primitive means of transportation, used for shipping people, transferring of food and hunting etc. Lieutenant John Fremont of the U.S. Army had introduced his rafting expedition on Platte River publicly in 1842. Horace H. Day had invented the equipments of rafting, made of independent rubber cloth tubes and wrap-around floor. In 1960s, rafting was introduced and paths were made like Grand Canyon while whitewater rafting companies were founded on the regular basis. In 1970s, river rafting had undergone the developmental process as a recreational water sport when it was also included in the Munich Olympic Games. In 1980s, rafting has attained immense popularity; several paths of rivers of South America and Africa were opened for river rafting activities.

In 1990s, whitewater rafting had become the major part of all water sports and reputable gaming events like Barcelona Games in 1992, Summer Olympic Games hosted by Ocoee River in Tennessee Valley, Atlanta Games in 1996 etc. additionally, International Federation of Rafting was founded in 1997 and 1999. Presently, river rafting is still attaining immense popularity among wonderful water sports in order to create thrilling and breathtaking spirits of raft passengers. Typically, rafts were originated from the primitive means of transportation in water and were constructed with different logs, reeds, planks which are interconnected together. In the current age, sail vessels were used as rafts which were latterly put into practice by the military for beach assaults. It comprise of very durable, different layers of rubberized or vinyl fabrics and diverse kinds of free-style air chambers. Its length ranges from 3.5 m to 6m while its width is commonly between 1.8 to 2.5 m. the sizes, shapes and styles of rafts are very different from each other.

In European countries, the most ordinary form of rafts is symmetrical one, driven with the assistance of a paddle. There are a number of other forms of rafts including asymmetrical, symmetrical raft with central helm and rudder-controlled raft.  A powerful force is inserted on rafts with the help of common kind of paddles, driven by 4-12 persons. Rivers with forceful current is used for whitewater rafting. In Nepal, whitewater rafting is very famous as there are a number of hill stations and rocky mountains from where currents of water fall forcefully to direct rafts.

Like most outdoor watery sports, inflatable rafts have been played with great safety measures. Proficiency in the water sport has been improved, and gears have become more advanced and specialized in quality. Consequently, the complicated issues of river rafting have been improved with the utilization of advanced tools. In ancient times, colorado river rafting in the Grand Canyon had been gulped down the entire expeditions and there were very risky issues but nowadays, these are done without any such accidental risks which were impending in the primitive age due to the limited resources and untrained passengers.