India Offers a wide range of adventure sports for tourists. Trekking and Skiing in the Himalayas, White Water Rafting on the Ganges and Beas, Camel and Jeep safaris in the deserts of Rajasthan, Paragliding in Himachal, Watersports in Goa and Scuba Diving in Lakshadweep and Andaman are just some of the options available to the adventure seeking tourists.
The perennial challenge of the Himalayas for mountaineers. Coniferous forests and flower meadows welcome the trekker. And the rapids of snow-fed rivers are ideal for white water rafting. Lakshadweep offers excellent wind surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving in the crystal clear waters of the lagoons which surround each island.
Mountaineering in India
If you're fired by the spirit of adventure, let the sparks in your heart fly...... in India, a land blessed with lofty snow-clad peaks, crystal glaciers, rolling meadows, jagged rock faces, verdant valleys, meandering rivers, cascading waterfalls, dense forests, and hospitable people, blessed with a rich culture - a land perfect for mountaineering, trekking, and rock climbing.
For those fascinated by the unexplored, the mountain ranges of India offer breathtaking, enthralling trekking routes. In the vast amphitheatre of the Indian Himalayas and Karakorams, there are limitless possibilities for trekking, mountaineering, skiing, and river rafting. Within this alluring arena, the Garhwal and Kumaon regions, occupy the central place, with special points of interest for the trekker.
Camping is perhaps the best way of enjoying the wonders of nature given to Himachal and sharing the warmth of its people. You can carry your own gear along or opt for any one of the several camps that are pitched in various parts of the State. These camps offer accomodation, catering and variety of activities like hiking, fishing, nature-tours and rafting. Most of these offer quality facilities and services.
The challenge of the daunting, turbulent rivers is no less, than that of the rugged mountains. The icy heights of the Himalayas, are the source of some of India's mighty rivers. Fed by innumerable streams, they race along tortuous boulder - strewn beds, cutting deep gorges, and breaking into silvery white rapids.
With their vast open spaces, above the snowline, the Garhwal and Kumaon hills of Uttaranchal, offer a plethora of ski locales. For the avid skier, cross - country runs of 10-20 km are now available, with the added advantage of fresh powder snow. Due to their awesome height and spread, Garhwal and Kumaon, like other areas in the Himalayas, offer the thrills of exploratory long distance skiing, round the year. Winter skiing in Garhwal is, now, professionally conducted at the Auli slopes.
Deserts have since long exerted an irresistible charm on the psyche of the humans, the landscape inspiring different emotions in different people. And what better way to explore this magical realm than on a camel back, for a camel safari is one of the most adventurous of experiences, and indeed a novel way to 'discover' the desert. Camel safaris trace their origins to the time of trade between India and China, when camel caravans would journey along established trade routes laden with spices and herbs and jewels. They provide an opportunity to get a glimpse of traditional Indian life in the desert, with all the hardships, the beauty and the desolation.
Like Camel and Horse safaris, another popular form is the Jeep Safari. The Jeep Safari not only refreshes and revitalises but one feels close to nature while driving through the quiet and beautiful countryside. Let your senses sway to the romance of the surroundings as you pass forts, palaces, historical landmarks and villages. The average daily move is about 150 kms. consisting of approximately five to six hours of jeep-driving. Spend lazy evenings in bed or swing to the folk dances.
To experience that rush of blood and the pump of the adrenalin, get behind a wheel. For those interested, India is a major venue on the international rally circuit, with quite a few rallies now established as annual events, attracting not only national level participation but also from the international level. The terrain that India provides -from the deserts to the beaches, to the mountains -tests not only the skills of the rallyists but also their mettle.
Hang gliding, at its most primitive level, fulfils humankind's desire to emulate the birds. Though a relatively recent entrant within the ambit of adventure sports, hang gliding has really caught on with clubs coming up in cities such as Pune, Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla, Mumbai, Devlali, Bangalore and Kalaheti.
A thrill-a-minute adventure sport where split-second decisions can literally make or mar, heli-skiing is probably the most exciting sport to be introduced in the sub-continent. The first Asian country to offer facilities for this sport, heli-skiing made its debut in Kashmir in January 1988.
