Share With Others

Today, India is one of the most popular destinations for adventure sports, especially among the foreign tourists; offers a vast range of events: from trekking to scuba diving, from skydiving to rock climbing.

A lot of my friends often say they are tired of their daily mundane routine: wearing the same blue formal shirt or the same old denim, gorging the same old steamy noodles, sitting at the same old corner of the window table, driving to the same old restaurant, meeting the same bunch of school friends, submitting the same work status report to the grumpy boss and sleeping in the same bed over and over again. And this chain never breaks. But, trust me! We are born in a country where there is all the fun. All you got to do is to get into your fun shoes and be ready to embrace the thrill of mountains, water and skies. Let’s begin our journey by knowing what things we can do and which places we can pick to get some adrenalin rush. 

Talking about rush, you need to first know the varied sports you get to play in the air, water and land of India. Most of the travel blog sites say trekking, skydiving, rock climbing, paragliding/ parasailing and scuba diving are on heavy demand. So, let’s pump some action into our quest and get set for the bouncy activities.

Trekking: If danger thrills you and challenges excite you, then you must be carved for the mountains. All you need to do now is stretch your muscles and multiply your strength. The best way to start the body engine by taking a brisk walk or doing light jogging daily for 30 minutes, covering at least 2-3 kms. Don’t let warm ups bore you. Increase the light exercise in the second and third week. In the fourth week, do a 5-minute spot jogging, followed by a 30-minute light jogging. You should be able to cover at least 4-5 kms. Don’t ditch the squats. Do at least 20, thrice.

Also, you must keep the equipment check list and personal medical kit ready. Your equipment check list should have footwear (trekking boots, normal walking boots, and floaters, backpack (at least 50 liters), daypack (20-30 ltr), waterproof breathable jacket & pants, jacket, insulated pants, poncho, sweatshirt, inner thermal (upper & lower), fleece, t-shirts, cotton trekking pants, shorts.  clothing as per the season, gear for hand & head: liner glove, sun hat, woolen caps, face mask, accessories like sunglasses/goggles, anti-glare glasses, water bottle, hydra pack, headlamp with extra batteries and bulbs, trekking gears like protection and first-aid like sunscreen, toiletry kit, water purification tablets, zip-lock bags, ear plugs, first-aid and all essential medicines and camping equipment like sleeping bags (extreme -5 to +5 Celsius) with liner, trekking poles, etc. A number of southern, eastern, western and northern states offer exciting treks.

Karnataka (Huliyurdurga, Varlakonda Fort)

Tamil Nadu (Ooty Trek, Yelagiri Trek), Kerala (Banasura Hill Trek, Parunthumala Trek),

Maharashtra (Sinhagad Fort, Devkund Waterfall, Ratangad Trek)

West Bengal (Chatakpur Tiger Hill Trek, Buxa Fort Trek)

Uttarakhand (Kugina Pass Trek, Maldaru Trek, Ajan’s Top, Auden’s Col Trek)

Himachal Pradesh (Patalsu Peak Trek, Tirath Trek, Miyar Valley Trek, Kali-Cho Pass trek)

Delhi (Qila Lal Kot Trek)

Sikkim (Mulkarkha Lake trek) have a plethora of options.

 

Karnataka

Huliyurdurga, Varlakonda Fort

 

Tamil Nadu

Ooty Trek, Yelagiri Trek

 

Kerala

Banasura Hill Trek, Parunthumala Trek

 

Maharashtra

Sinhagad Fort, Devkund Waterfall, Ratangad Trek

 

Uttrakhand

Auden’s Col Trek

 

Skydiving: Do you believe in the ancient adage, ‘Sky is the limit’? If so, it’s time to spread your wings and dive into the incognito. And, for skydiving enthusiasts, India has an amazing sky. The top nine places where this adventure sport has risen ambitious heights are Mysore (Karnataka), Deesa (Gujarat), Pondicherry (Tamil Nadu), Aamby Valley (Maharashtra), Dhana (Madhya Pradesh), Hyderabad, Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh), Narnaul (Haryana), and Bir Billing (Himachal Pradesh). However, before you intimidate the fear in you, it’s good and safe to know your must-do list.

For tandem skydiving — when people are trying it for the first time — it’s scary but smooth. Once you are strapped to the instructor, there’s no looking back! This is an ideal start for those who feel a little stumped at the beginning.

The two essential requirements for solo jump are: one has to be an adult and has to meet the weight-and-height requirement as per gender.

However, making a solo dive is a thrill second to none. The eligibility is same as that of tandem skydiving. The only other requirement is that one has to be able to flare a parachute, meaning one has to be strong enough to pull down a handle (or a toggle) that will slow down the parachute down before landing. Your cardio fitness is a must here. Competitive skydiving, on the other hand, is great battle to watch. Each participant has to have a great physical fitness apart from super stamina. The various teams hold each other’s arms and legs to make different shapes. The flying is either free-flying (in three dimensional orientations) or freestyle (like gymnastics in the sky).

Rock climbing: With its diverse landscape, India is true heaven for rock climbers. People of age groups, mostly between 20 and 40 years, get high with this sport. With instructors and equipment mushrooming across the country, the sport is thriving and attracting hordes of foreigners. Also known as bouldering, rock climbing is also a good way of testing one’s physical endurance. The most renowned rock-climbing destinations are Parvati Valley in Himachal, Shey Rock in Kashmir region, Sar Pass, Malshej Ghat in Maharashtra, Ramanagaraa, near Bengaluru, Paithalmala in Kerala, and Hampi in Karnataka. There are a number of natural rock-climbing activities in Sikkim, too. The game definitely tests your body flexibility to the core, and pushes you beyond the limits. A lot of stamina depends on the strength of your arms, legs and back. Your forearms struggle and wear a lot during the workout sessions. Experience says our main power comes from the upper arms and shoulders. The climbing speed and potential also depend on our legs. The third important thing on your checklist is glutes. Remember, this is a full-body workout along with the leg muscles. And, finally, the back. Muscles like your rhomboids, trapezius, and lats work with the core vitals to keep us on the go.

Paragliding/ Parasailing:  Paragliding is another way to keep yourself fit and healthy. The best places to do the sport are Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Kerala. There are a million of destinations in Himachal, where panoramic views of Dhauladhar Range and Kangra Valley offer stunning scenes. While Uttarakhand is a scenic state positioned at the middle of snowclad mountains, Rajasthan is very colourful and unconventional. The sandy expanse gives adventurers an adrenaline rush.

Scuba Diving: “The sea is the same as it has been since before men ever went on it in boats,” said Ernest Hemingway. My real feeling is ditto, when I look at the blue and the green waters from below the surface. Havelock Islands in the Andaman is one of the major scuba diving spots in India. The vibrant underwater life of the Bay of Bengal offers an excellent backdrop for the sport. The corals and reefs make an ideal scenario for the activity. Scuba diving in Lakshadweep is also a delight. The blue transparent lagoons, turtles and fishes create the most adventurous setting.

And, when you talk of beaches, you have to talk of Goa. The Grand Island here is the most talked-of destination for adventure junkies, who push themselves beyond the limits of the mighty currents of the waves. The island is located few kilometres westwards of the Mormugao peninsula. Last but not the least is Netrani Island in Karnataka. This beautiful spot is shaped in the form of a heart, fondly known as ‘The heart of India’s diving’. It is one of the coral islands comprising varieties of coral, butterfly fish, parrot fish, eels and shrimps.

I hope you shall immediately speak to your pals and book your holidays after you read my blog. Go. Book it!

About the Author

By adityabakshi729 / Administrator, bbp_keymaster on Apr 10, 2020

GIVE A REPLY