Adventure Tourism

Adventure Tourism

For sheer geographical diversity,
few places in the world are as richly endowed as Himachal Pradesh. Low rolling
hills, just a couple of hundred meters above sea level, climb on to touch the
core of the Himalaya mountains. Here lie peaks that are several thousand meters
high and never lose their perennial snows. Then, past these forbidding heights,
lie the visually stunning cold deserts of the Trans Himalaya.

Rivers
in deep gorges and placid mountains lakes, thick forest and acres of spree,
mountain sides draped in snow, and green alpine meadows, all form a part of this
immense spectrum. And the possibilities for a wide range of adventure activities
is enormous. There are day-hikes by the thousand, and trek routes follow trails
that last couple of days or can even extend over few weeks. These vary from
gentle walks over easy terrain, to grueling expeditions. There is skiing,
heliskiing and ice-skating. there is the thrill of paragliding and the test of
stamina with mountain-cycling. You can go camping and fishing and play golf or
take a safari by car, jeep or on motorcycle. Then there is mountaineering and
rock climbing. All you have to do is make up your mind and select your own
activity. No special training is required for most things, age is no
consideration and all you need is reasonable level of fitness. Equipment,
training and instructors are available. And then, all this comes at a fraction
of what it would cost elsewhere in the world.

Sedentary or strenuous, for the
experts or beginer, Himachal has a niche of adventure for everyone.

GOLF

At Naldera, 23 km. from beyond

Shimla
is one of the oldest golf courses in India. The course, whose topography is
absolutely natural, was originally placed by the British Viceroy of India,
Lord Curzon, at the turn of the centuary. He was so enhanted by the spot that he
named one of his daughters ‘Naldera’ after the spot. This is a par 68, nine hole
course which is regarded as one of the most challenging in the country. In the
repeat nine, the yardage some – what increases. The links are maintained by
Himachal Tourism and accomodation is available at Hotel Golf Glade. There are
other hotels in the private sector near Naldera.

Annandale, in Shimla has nine
hole course managed by the army and there is another at the exquisite glade of
Khajjiar, 22 km from Dalhousie and 24 km from

Chamba.
Putting greens are available at several resorts and hotels. Golf courses are
also coming up elsewhere in the state.

TREKKING

The main trekking areas in
Himachal are the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges, routes over the passes
between the
Shimla
region and the
Kullu
valley, the numerous treks out of Kullu and
select tracks in the Trans-Himalyan regions of

Kinnaur,
Lahaul and Spiti. Most trekking areas are between 1500 metres and 6000 metres.

With well over two hundred and
seventy defined trails, the variation in terrain is also enormous. Low
scrub-land and paths through paddy fields, give way to trails strewn with pine
needles. Then come woods of oak and flowering rhododendron, which merge into
forest of Himalyan cedar – ‘deodar’ – and spruce. On most trails, small pastoral
hamlets dot the way. Cunningly hidden between the high mountains are passes
which were once known only to migrant shepherds and dare all traders. These lead
to the fabulous wastes and swift rivers of the arid Trans-Himalya. A host of
combinations and variations take the trails through changing countryside. The
degree of physical output can also be changed to suit your requirements. For
example, the same trek can be developed from a week to last longer. Or, the two
ends of a trek can be the same, but the trails can be designed to be taxing, or
gentle.

There are several agencies that
conduct treks. Guides, equipment, porters, pack animals and maps are available
at major starting points. The old Forest ‘dak bunglows’ that are strategically
placed along many trek routes, add a considerable measure of nostalgic charm and
convenience for trekkers. Practically all have an aura of the past, and lie
nestled in deep woods. In addition, the State Electricity Board and the PWD also
have rest houses. Most of these are marked out on trekking maps and advance
booking is possible. The Forest Rest Houses are booked by the area’s Divisional
Forest Officer (DFO) and the PWD and Electricity Board ones are booked by the
concerned Executive Engineer.

Training facilities, with basic
and intermediate courses are available at Manali’s (Kullu) Mountaineering
Institute and at its Regional centres at Dharamsala (Kangra)
and Bharmour (Chamba).
Excellent camping facilities exists at these points.

HELI-SKIING

For high mountain thrills perhaps
nothing can surpass the magic of heli-skiing. Under a deep
blue sky, you are carried by a helicopter to a snow-draped peak. And after that
there is nothing except steadiely distancing whirr of rotor blades, the sky and
the snow. It is a thrilling experience as you rapidly zoom down the slopes. The
icy winds slaps your face and the swiftly slithering hiss of skies remindes you
that you are racing away on your own steam.

The sport is available in the
area bound by Hanuman Tibba, Rohtang Pass, Deo Tibba and Chanderkhani Pass near
the resort town of Manali (Kullu).
A major feature is the compactness of heli skiing area. A sortie of ten minutes
can carry the skiers to the top of a 14000 feet high slope.

 

SKIING

Kufri, near


Shimla
is one of the oldest places in India to be associated with skiing and the slopes
are still in use during winter. Above Kufri, the Mahasu ridge also has good slopes.

Comprehensive facilities exist at
Narkanda, 64 km from Shimla. There is a range of slopes, including a beginer’s
run, an advanced slope and a slalom run. Himachal Tourism offers ski courses,
instruction
and has equipment on hire at Narkanda.

At Manali (Kullu),
the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports offers a variety of courses
and facilities for skiing are possible in the Solang area near Manali. There are
also some companies in the private sector that offer ski courses and allied
facilities.

ICE – SKATING

The

Shimla
ice-skating rink has the largest open-air area with naturally frozen ice in this
part of the world. The Ice Skating Club has already celebrated its Diamond
Jubilee.

Ice-skating normally begins in
early December and carries on to February. Clear skies and low
temperatures provide series of uninterrupted sessions. There are two sessions
every day, in the morning and in the evening.

Membership is available for the
season as well as for shorter terms and even for single sessions. Skates are
available at the rink.

Fancy dress carnivals,
‘gymkhanas’ ice-hockey and dances enliven every season.

PARA-GLIDING

Riding the warm thermal currents
of the air is perhaps the closest man has ever come to sailingthe
skies as free as a bird. Almost at will, you dip and wheel high over the hills
and valleys.

The bald peak of Billing, above
the Buddhist monastery of Bir in


Kangra,
has been the venue for five national and three international hang-gliding
rallies since 1984. The site is perfect for para-gliding too. And this sport is
a mix of sky-diving and hang-gliding. A fairly recent sport that is steadily
gaining popularity, para-gliding is possible at various places in the state.
Places where para-gliding is done regularly are – Bundla Dhar near

Bilaspur,
in the
kullu
valley and at Intkali in the Pabbar valley near Rohru in

Shimla
district.

Himachal Tourism sponsors
training programmes and events at various times of the year, in different
places. There is an Adventure Sports Hostel at Dharamsala (Kangra) and an Aero
Sports Complex at Bir. For details of training facilities, contact sports
associations or Divisional Tourism Development Officers of Himachal Tourism. 

 

ANGLING

An anglers paradise, Himachal has
several spots for both trout and mahaseer as well as other fish.

Acclaimed as the best sport fish
in the world, both Brown and Rainbow Trout are to be found in Himachal’s
streams. Upstreams of Rohru in the Pabbar valley (Shimla),
there are several spots ideal for fishing. Chirgaon has a trout hatchery and
other sites are – Seema, Mandil, Sandsu, Tikri and Dhamvari all are within 5 to
25 km of Rohru (Shimla).
Kinnaur’s
Baspa river in the Sangla valley also holds trout. Fish also abounds in Uhl
river near Barot. Good spots on this beat are – Luhandi, Puran hatchery, Tikkar
and Kamand. The upper reaches of the river Beas in the

Kullu
valley and its side streams like the Sarvari, Parbati, Sainj, Hurla and Tirthan,
especially the areas around Aut, Patlikuhl, Katrain, Raison and Largi are
excellent for the sport. These are all upstream of the Pandoh reservoir and are
close to, or on the Mandi-Manali highway.

The picturesque

Kangra
valley has several spots that offer mahaseer river carp. The reservoir of the
Maharana Pratap sagar right up to the town of Dehra has good spots. Nadaun along
the river Beas has some good beats, besides Chamba Pattan near Garli (accessible
from Nadaun or Jwalamukhi), Amtar (2 km from Nadaun), Harsi Pattan (30 km from
Tira Sujanpur) and Lambagaon (15 km from Tira Sujanpur).

On the river Giri, Gaura (30 km
from Solan on the Rajgarh road) and the beat near Dadahu (5 km from Renuka lake)
and the river Yamuna, downstream of Paonta Sahib (Sirmour)
are good spots for mahaseer.

The waters of the Gobind Sagar
near

Bilaspur
also have a variety of fish.

Fishing fee are nominal. The
trout fishing season is from 31 March to 31 October. Generally best months for
mahaseer are those that have an ‘r’ in their spelling – January, February,
March, April, September, October, November and December.

WATER AND RIVER SPORTS

The Maharana Pratap Sagar
reservoir in

Kangra
with its 42 km length and 2 km breadth, offers a variety of activities in close
collabration with the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports. Year long
activities include swimming, water-skiing, surfing, kayaking, rowing, canoeing
and sailing. Three levels of courses are conducted – beginner, intermediate and
advanced. Similar activities are also available on the waters of Gobind Sagar
near
Bilaspur,
the Chamera lake near Dalhousie (Chamba)
and the Pandoh lake on the Mandi-Kullu
National Highway.

River-rafting or white-water
rafting as it is also called is swiftly making Himachal a focus for the sport.
For a torrent of adrenalin to gush through every vein and surge over every
muscle you can race over the State’s river rapids in an inflatable rubber
dinghy. Sport is now being held on the Sutlej near

Shimla
on the Beas near Kullu, the Ravi near Chamba and Chandra in

Lahaul.
Possibilities are also being explored on the river Spiti. This sport takes a
break during winter and during the monsons.

Himachal Tourism sponsors courses
in river rafting and there are operators in the private sector also that offer
this experience.  (Register
Yourself as River Rafting Operator)

MOUNTAIN CYCLING

Gear yourself for high adventure
with an expedition on cycles. You can pedal your way past high passes or simply
make a day-adventure. Quite literally the whole of Himachal is your playground.
The tour can be coupled with camping and can be carried on for several weeks
over diverse terrain. The lower regions of the State – Kangra, Una, Hamirpur and
Bilaspur offer gentle routes. Or you can streach your mind, muscle and stamina
to reach out to the Trans Himalyan tract of

Lahaul, Spiti
and
Kinnaur.
Milder but no less interesting excursions can be done out at any holiday
station. For the higher regions the summer
and automn months are suggested.

 

VEHICLE SAFARIES

By jeep, car or on motorcycle you
can explore the variety Himachal has to offer. By jeep, the Trans Himalyan tract
can steadily unfold their natural and man made wonders. Along one of the world’s
highest highways, you can drive out of Manali, cross the Rohtang Pass (3980 m)
and move through arid

Lahaul,
you drive through the haunting landscapes of Spiti and over the Kunzum pass
(4551 m), enter Lahaul. Himachal has an extensive network of roads and treks and
apart from the routes mentioned above, there are several others you can traverse
on. By car, driving over the more demanding routes may not be possible, but in
no way does this curtail the range of experience. And motorcycles may impose
some limitations, but are again a wonderful way of sharing the wonders of
Himachal.

All you have to do is buy a route
map, plan your trip and you are on your way.

MOUNTAINEERING AND ROCK CLIMBING

Rock climbing is often seen as
the basic stage for mountain climbing. It can also be treated as an independent
sport, since it is basically climbing a rock face, using only hands and feet
with a safety rope.

The area around Manali, presently
forms the core of mountaineering in Himachal. The Beas Kund region and lower
reaches of the Hanuman Tibba (5930 m), the Manali and Shitidhar peaks around the
source of river Beas and Deo Tibba (6001 m) (Kullu)
area are suggested for beginners with some experience. The Chandra Bhaga ranges,
the Pir Panjal and Dhalaudhar ranges are existing. The State also has several
other areas where
Institute of
Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali
and its branch at Dharamsala (Kangra)
offer this activity. Courses are also available with the institute. (Indian
Mountaineering Association)

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Himachal also hosts a Winter
Festival and Snow Carnival. Tobogganing is possible in winter. Various water
sports competitions are also hosted. Especially during the monsoons at Naldera,
several golf tournaments are held. Angling and para-gliding competitions are
also hosted in the state.

TREKKING – AN EQUIPMENT
CHECKLIST

Comfortable walking boots with
good grip on ankles. Waterproof warm jacket. Woollen/tennis socks and stockings.
Personal toileteries and clothes. Sunglasses, Headgear, Rucksack other bags too
if you plan to hire ponies and porters. Water bottle, Swiss army knife, Sleeping
bag and foam ground sheet. Gloves, Umbrella, Rope, Medical and first aid
equipment.