Growing up, every Indian learns of India being known as a sub-continent as the result of the presence of diverse topography and varying climate. What we failed to infer as kids is the immense potential this diversity possesses to house a band of unlimited adventure sports.
Land, water or air, the Indian sub-continent has something to offer to enthusiasts of all kinds. The magnificent mountain ranges of North India are home to one of the best sites for skiing, white water rafting, bungee jumping, paragliding and much more whereas the sultry seas of the Indian Ocean house some of the finest spots for snorkelling and deep-sea diving.
The dense forests provide for some of the best experiences in jungle safaris and the deserts welcome you to a whole new area of adventure.
In many ways, adventure tourism in India couples the rush of adrenalin with minute facets of the splendid Indian culture that once extended from the Hindukush mountain range to the Arakan Yoma.
It is only in India that one can live the experience of jumping off a bridge, diving deep into the ocean, walk with the tigers or battle the mighty rapids of the turbulent rivers in a single trip. It is only fair to say that the concept of a ‘one-stop-shop’ gets its right meaning in this country. Surprisingly enough, despite such potential, adventure tourism in India wasn’t as big a few years ago as it is today.
The industry veteran sports like river rafting and trekking have been around for a long time now, but the newer ones like bungee jumping, snorkelling, skiing and many others have started gathering a following only in the recent years. Here is the ‘go-to’ list if you ever want to make something of the weekend you have which you wanted to remember for a lifetime –
TREKKING
Trekking and hiking trails in India amount to some of the best terrains to push your body to its limit. Home to some of the highest passes and mountain peaks in the world, the varied landscape scattered across the country include low altitude meadows, to harsh terrain that can pose a challenge even to the most experienced trekker.
The picturesque plateau of Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir, rugged terrain of the Garhwali Mountains in Uttarakhand and the unexplored heights of India’s north-eastern states provide an array of choices for a trekker.
Many travel companies offer services like bike and equipment renting, planning one’s trek, guiding batches of trekkers across the terrain and much more.
WHITE WATER RAFTING
Indian mountain ranges are home not only to breath taking trekking routes but also the birth place of numerous turbulent rivers perfect for rafting. These rivers overflow with water throughout the year and cut through the rugged mountain ranges making their way from their Himalayan homes through various states before they meet the sea at the Bay of Bengal. The numerous kinds of rapids that these rivers hurtle through offer ample options for both amateur and professional rafters.
The perfect time to go rafting is during September and November and between March and April. The rapids are fatally turbulent during monsoons and tour operators generally do not carry out expeditions during that time. Winter isn’t as dangerous a season but the water proves too cold for action and hence isn’t advisable.
River rafting is very popular in the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Beas and other rivers in regions like Rishikesh, Manali, Devprayag, Kumaon Ranges and so on.
AEROSPORTS
Owing to the generous presence of high mountain ranges and favourable winds, aerial sporting business in India has grown a lot in the past two decades.
States like Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra have many a spot where one can go paragliding. One has many an option to choose from like a single day adventure or a proper training program where one can learn the sport from professionals. One of the perks of going paragliding in these states is the exhilarating view of the mystical lands from the heavens above.
BUNGEE JUMPING
Bungee Jumping, a sport which was earlier absent in the Indian adventure sport scenario has recently made a grand entrance in the country with its first location at Shivpuri near Rishikesh in Uttarakhand. Designed by David Allardice of New Zealand, professional jump masters from New Zealand carry out the operations personally.
The jumpers are lowered in the water from a cantilever platform constructer between two rocky ridges on both sides of the river and once the jump is over, one can breathe easy at the nearby café to enjoy the photos and videos of their jump.
SCUBA DIVING
India, owing to it being blessed with an extensive coastline, sea-based adventure sports have gained much popularity in the recent years. Although India’s Las Vegas, Goa is famous for water sports, LakshadweepIslands off the coast of India offers numerous avenues for the most exciting experiences in underwater sports. Places like Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Havelock Island etc have many tour operators who cater to enthusiasts.
Apart from experiencing the act of scuba diving as a one-time-only act, these schools also offer courses for those who prefer to learn scuba diving professionally. Certified trainers teach the students and enthusiasts alike and safety measures are taken good care of.
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