| India
Adventure |
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 India
is fast emerging as
one of the most popular
adventure sports destination
in the world. India
offers immense opportunities
for an adventure traveler,
who is looking for
a varied experience.
The topography of
India is diverse that
varies from snow capped
mountains on the one
hand to dessert and
sea on the other,
all this make India
an ideal adventure
sports destination.
India is a country,
which has immense
potential for adventure
sports. Right from
mountaineering, trekking,
paragliding and rafting
to scuba diving, India
promises to offer
the discerning traveler
an experience that
will last a lifetime.
If northern India
offers wonderful opportunities
for trekking, mountaineering,
paragliding, skiing
and river rafting,
southern India is
wonderful destination
for water sports.
If you love scuba
diving or snorkelling,
Lakshadweep and Andaman
islands are the places
to visit.
India is arguably
the only country in
the world, which offers
such a sheer variety
of adventure opportunities.
And surely enough,
this diversity is
utterly amazing -
from heli-skiing and
rock climbing in the
mighty Himalayas to
river-rafting in the
white waters of the
raging Ganga, Teesta
or Indus; from ballooning
and hang-gliding over
the great Indian plains
to an exotic encounter
with the camel-safaris
in the vast expanse
of the Thar desert
of Rajasthan; from
tracking the legendary
Royal Bengal Tiger
on the backs of elephants
to trekking in the
Himalayan ranges -
the options are endless.
Angling
and Fishing:
Angling and fishing
are two remarkable
adventure activities
among the many others
that are offered in
the India. They are
specially suited to
the Indian sub continent
because of innumerable
rivers that course
through the expansive
Gangetic Plains, and
originate in the upper
reaches of the magnificent
Himalayas. The clear
rushing waters of
these various rivers
and their tributaries
provide excellent
fishing and angling
holidays spots that
are captivating in
their crisp and clean
mountain beauty, as
well as rich breeding
ground of a number
of different varieties
of fish. The adventurous
settings for angling
and fishing range
from the majestic
Himalayan valleys,
snow-fed streams and
high altitude lakes
to the wide coastal
stretches of the Arabian
Sea and the Bay of
Bengal.
The Indian water world
is home to a large
variety of fish. Some
of the favorite fishing
prey here are the
trout, mahseer and
shark. The Mahseer
is the toughest fresh
water fighting fish
in the world, and
India is the only
breeding ground for
it. Nowhere else in
the world does this
hardy fish ever breed,
though in India you
can find all four
of its varieties.
The Golden, the Silver,
the Silver Grey and
the Black Mahseers
are all prey worthy
of any fishing aficionados
attention.
Cycling
and Motor Biking in
Himalayas:
Cycling and motor
biking are two of
the adventure activities
that many people enjoy
on adventure tours
in India. The Himalayan
region in India with
its varied geographical
landscape provides
some great trails
for cycling and motor
biking. As you trudge
up the Himalayan roads
to reach some of the
highest towns and
villages, you see
a different India
unfold -which is rustic,
pollution free, serene
and charming. In fact
there is no better
way to discover a
tiny hamlet or a non-descript
town in the foothills
of the Himalayas than
on a mountain bike
or cycle.
For all biking tours
in the Himalayan region,
one needs to take
clearance six months
prior to the tour
from the Indian Mountaineering
Foundation. A Liaison
Officer is deputed
for the expedition,
who is of immense
help in case of emergency.
He is the one who
coordinates with various
government agencies
for the smooth completion
of the adventure tour.
Travelers need to
pay royalty for mountain
biking, which is charged
according to the popularity
and height of the
destination.
Terai areas in the
Himalayas like Nanital
in Uttaranchal and
some stretches in
Himachal Pradesh are
ideal for cycling.
These stretches offer
magnificent views
of the surrounding
areas.
 Scuba
Diving and Snorkeling
Scuba diving is like
discovering a new
world that never existed
before you dived into
the azure blue waters.
Scuba diving is all
about exploring a
new world under turquoise
blue waters and taking
back a wonderful experience.
India provides an
excellent opportunity
for scuba diving and
snorkelling.
India offers a number
of beautiful destinations
for scuba diving and
snorkelling that include
Goa, Lakshadweep and
Andaman and Nicobar
Islands. The coral
reefs and underwater
formations is a treat
to watch in Andaman
and Nicobar Islands.
The marine life in
India is so diverse
and exotic that every
year a number of tourists
dive in the cool blue
waters to enjoy the
under water wonders.
India has numerous
easily accessible
scuba diving and snorkelling
sites and there are
many others that are
still to be explored.
There are a number
of places in India
that are fabulous
destinations for scuba
diving. Kadmat Island
in Lakshadweep is
one such place that
is teeming with colourful
marine life. Apart
from a number of exotic
fish and other sea
life (plants and animals
included), Sharks
are what evokes excitement
as well as fear. If
you are lucky, you
may get a chance to
see this wonderful
sea creature on your
scuba diving tours.
 Camel
Safari
When on a camel safari
in India, the ubiquitous
hump-backed camel
will be your ride
and your constant
companion, be it in
the searing heat of
the day, or the biting
chilliness of the
night. And as you
travel through the
desert, you will get
a close glimpse of
the rich culture,
heritage and life
styles of the colorful
and royal state of
Rajasthan.
The camel is known
the ‘desert ship’
since time immemorial.
It has been the confidant
of the travails, disputes,
laughter and love
of the desert people
as they roamed from
place to place in
search of water. The
desert safaris in
India are mainly centered
around the princely
kingdoms of Jaisalmer,
Jodhpur and Bikaner,
all of which are integral
to the royal state
of Rajasthan.
A typical safari will
take you to the architectural
ruins of Lodurva that
are close to Jaisalmer,
the oasis at Anasagar,
the sand dunes of
the Samm and the water
source of Moolsagar.
Mountaineering
Mountaineering in
India was introduced
by the Europeans in
the 18th century.
It was the time when
new regions were either
explored or conquered.
Mountaineering as
an adventure sport
at this time was just
taking shape. But
later on, mountaineering
became a serious business
and man's quest to
conquer new heights
took him close to
many high peaks around
the world. This quest
for challenging the
might of mountains
and the curiosity
to explore what lies
in the upper reaches
of snow capped peaks
has virtually made
man a conqueror. Today
there is hardly any
mountain or peak left
in the world that
has not been scaled.
India offers an exciting
mountaineering experience
to an adventure sport
lover. The Himalayas
that stretch from
north-west of India
to far north-east
offers a number of
high rise peaks that
are considered ideal
for mountaineering.
Some of the wonderful
places for mountaineering
in India are Leh Ladakh
in Jammu and Kashmir,
Garhwal and Kumaon
Himalayas in Uttaranchal,
Kullu valley and Lahul
Spiti in Himachal
Pradesh, and Sikkim
and some other parts
of north-eastern region.
 Skiing
The snow-capped hills
of the Himalayas have
played host to skiing
sportsmen over several
years. They offer
the best of the skiing
opportunities that
can be loads of fun,
often with freezing
temperatures that
will need you to be
bundled up in warm
clothes. The risk
involved and the courage
required for the activity
thrills one and all.
The pulsating winds
that gush by as you
ski is the most exciting
part of the adventure
sport. Like most of
the adventure sports
in India, skiing too
was introduced by
the Europeans.
This high altitude
adventure sport is
an ideal escape from
the summers of the
plains. The heat and
dust are replaced
with the cool environs
of the happy hills.
With the ever-increasing
number of skiing enthusiasts,
the skiing slopes
in India have improved
with time. Tourists
not only from India
but from all over
the world are trained
for skiing here. The
increased facilities
are easily available
and are affordable
in the major skiing
spots in India.
Trekking
Nature is at its generous
best in India and
draws people to its
beauty from all over
the world. The beauty
and purity of the
surroundings are most
enjoyed when you are
trekking at your own
pace in these beautiful
environs. Nothing
can match the peace
of mind and the joy
felt deep inside the
heart while trekking
the high hills of
the Himalayan range
in India. No wonder
then that tourists
flock here not only
for spiritual guidance
but also to quench
their thirst to travel
to the unexplored.
The Europeans introduced
the concept of adventure
sports in India after
they established hill
stations all over
India. These hill
stations became the
starting points for
treks that were undertaken.
Then base camps were
introduced and the
adventurers gradually
explored the neighboring
areas on their own.
The amateur trekkers
turned professional
and the most often
traversed routes were
explored and recorded
for future travelers.
Today, trekking is
indulged in by many
people who whole-heartedly
participate in this
sport, without any
discrimination on
the basis of age or
sex.
The Western Himalayas
covering the states
of Jammu & Kashmir,
Himachal Pradesh,
and Uttaranchal form
a major trekking area
in India. It is followed
by the Eastern Himalayas
covering Darjeeling
in West Bengal, Sikkim,
and Arunachal Pradesh.
The treks in the area
around Gangotri and
Yamunotri and the
areas beneath the
Kumaon region are
also renowned. In
the east the area
with the tea gardens
and the green environs
is provided in the
states of Sikkim,
Arunachal Pradesh,
and West Bengal.
 White
Water Rafting
India has a host of
rivers and plenty
of locations that
are ideal for white
water rafting. Most
of the water rafting
destinations are located
in the Himalayas,
and the River Ganges
is the most popular
of them all. Several
camps are organized
along the 70-km stretch
from Devprayag to
Rishikesh. Rapids
have been graded according
to the difficulty
of their run. The
rivers Yamuna, Tons,
Kalisor, Alaknanda,
Bhilangana, Mandakini
and Bhagirathi offer
many stretches, both
for professionals
as well as amateur
rafters. Other ranges
in Ladakh and Sikkim
also offer great river
stretches for rafting.
There is no particular
best time can be marked
for rafting in India
since the flow and
fury of various rivers
are individual. However,
on the whole the months
from May to November
are the best months
for the adventure
seekers to indulge
in rafting. |
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