Adventure Tourism in India

India is the land, yet unexplored, can easily be the new millenniums adventure tourism destination. Its vast geographical diversity of Himalayan mountains plenty of Rivers and Hill stations offers adventures, from the gentlest to the fast paced and for people of every level of competence- the beginner and the expert. From the daunting Himalayan peaks in the North to the azure coastal areas on the South, from the rain forests of the North East to the coral paradise in the South West, it is variety that is as bewildering as it is diverse.

Adventure Tourism Destinations india

Camel Safari

Foreign and Indian tourist can experience the adventure of a camel safari as they ride through golden sandy landscapes of vast Thar and Kutch desert and remote villages in distant Rajasthan and Gujarat. The rolling landscape of the unrelieved ocean of sand and changing landscape is a sight to cherish. The special cultural performances on the sand dunes, the camps set up for the travelers, the traditional Rajasthani cuisines and the pretty and colorful locals, all add up to the adventure of camel safari. Camel safaris generally cover the area around Jaisalmer, Bikaner or Jodhpur, popularly known as the desert circuit. Camel Safari trips duration can be vary from one day to two weeks.

Horse Safari

Ride on the trails that once reverberated with the galloping of the mighty Rajput horses. The itineraries are planned to give an interesting experience with horses along with a complete insight into the desert lifestyle and scenic views across a wide range of terrain. Stay in comfortable, luxurious camps/ancient castles, palaces and revel in the traditional music brought to you by accompanying folk musicians.

Mountaineering

Himalaya is always attracts the mountaineers as nothing is more challenging in the world then the mighty Himalayan peaks. Indian hills have all the facilities for adventures with excitement and thrills and lots of unexplored valleys, towering peaks and snow-capped mountains and glaciers. Nanda Devi and Kanchenjunga are among the highest peaks, which offer an enchanting and exhilarating environment for mountaineers from far corners of the world. Some of the biggest challenges for the intrepid climbers are in the Garhwal Himalayas, Zanskar range in Ladakh, Kulu & Lahaul in Himachal Pradesh.

White Water Rafting

The rapids and rivers of North India are excellent spots for the high adventurer. The early stages of the Ganges offer the exhilarating Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers, near Rishikesh, which is the most popular stretch for river rafting sport. While the Indus snakes through Ladakh, the Zanskar and the Chenab in Jammu & Kashmir is very different river rafting experience. Other rivers like Beas, Sutlej and Yamuna invite you to have some time on wild water of Indian rivers.

Trekking

India offers you a unique opportunity to experience the varied shades of nature in the most adventurous way of trekking to short and easy excursions or long and tough challenges of snow covered peaks, lush green meadows and fragrant and floral valleys.. Kumaon and Garhwal hills are famous for the numerous trekking opportunities. The Chamba-Manali areas in Himachal Pradesh and Kishtwar and Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir are two most famous areas that are regarded as the trekker's paradise. Two spectacular treks in the Eastern Himalayas are the Darjeeling - Thalut route and the routes through Sikkim are also very popular between the tourists from India and overseas.

Winter Sports

Winters of India means boom time for tourism and adventure sport lovers. Lush green mountains of himalaya turn to a winter wonderland of India .Winter sports that tourist can enjoy are ice-skating, ice hockey, heliskiing and cross country skiing. The awesome height of mountains and spread of the snow on all over the valleys makes these destinations are tempting enough to hard to ignore, Gulmarg, Pahalgam in Jammu Kashmir and shimla, Manali, Kufri, Rohtang in Himachal , Auli , Dayara Bugyal , Mundali in Uttranchal.

Paragliding

Adventure tours to Kashmir are incomplete without a view of the green valleys, blue sea and majestic mountains from the air, as the wind rushes past you. Paragliding is such a sport that lets you soar high above in the skies, and feel completely detached from your daily tensions. Paragliding Places in India are Billing, Kullu, Solang, Lahaul & Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, Nainital, Dayara Bugyal, Dhanolti Ridge, Bedni Bugyal in Uttranchal, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur in Rajasthan , Matheran, Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra , Sanasar and batote in Jammu and Kashmir.

Ecotourism

ECOTOURISM

The United Nations has designated 2002 as the "International Year of Ecotourism" and rightly so. Today only highly responsible tourism will help the world preserve and sustain its environmental and cultural heritage.

What is Ecotourism

Fundamentally, ecotourism means making as little environmental impact as possible and helping to sustain the indigenous populace, thereby encouraging the preservation of wildlife and habitats when visiting a place. This is responsible form of tourism and tourism development, which encourages going back to natural products in every aspect of life. It is also the key to sustainable ecological development.

Aware of the Environment

Today the "Green Laws" of conservation are making people aware of how man and the environment can live symbiotically for more time to come and ecotourism is the only way maximize the economic, environmental and social benefits of tourism. Everyone is a stakeholder in the process and we clearly need to avoid our past shortcomings and negative impact that they have had.

In India too the movement is gathering momentum with more and more travel and travel related organization’s are addressing the needs of the eco-tourists and promoting eco-tourism in the country. Some basic do's and don'ts of eco-tourism that we promote in the country are listed below:

Do's

• Carry back all non-degradable litter such as empty bottles, tins, plastic bags etc. These must not litter the environment or be buried. They must be disposed in municipal dustbins only.

• Observe the sanctity of holy sites, temples and local cultures.

• Cut noise pollution. Do not blare aloud radios, tape recorders or other electronic entertainment equipment in nature resorts, sanctuaries and wildlife parks.

• In case temporary toilets are set-up near campsites, after defecation, cover with mud or sand. Make sure that the spot is at least 30 meters away from the water source.

• Respect people's privacy while taking photographs. Ask for prior permission before taking a photograph.

Don'ts

• Do not take away flora and fauna in the forms of cuttings, seeds or roots. It is illegal, especially in the Himalayas. The environment is really delicate in this region and the bio-diversity of the region has to be protected at all costs.

• Do not use pollutants such as detergent, in streams or springs while washing and bathing.

• Do not use wood as fuel to cook food at the campsite.

• Do not leave cigarettes butts or make open fires in the forests.

• Do not consume aerated drinks, alcohol, drugs or any other intoxicant and throw bottles in the wild.

• Do not tempt the locals, especially children by offering them foodstuff or sweets. Respect local traditions.

• Polythene and plastics are non bio-degradable and unhealthy for the environment and must not be used and littered.