It was not so long ago, that that one of our desperate ancestors risked his life and limb and the future of the small troop which called him their leader when he attempted to climb over a sheer rock face to scale the heights of what was considered an insurmountable peak. His goal – to breach the mountain range and lead his people to lower ground for temperate weather, sustenance and pasture.
With ingenuity and resourcefulness, we devised means and ways which obliterated the need for taking life threatening risks repeatedly. And with them gradually closed the door for the majority of mankind to experience the simplest response to life’s most brooded question. “Why are we here?”
The answer has and will always be – to experience adventure. Escalators, elevators, bridges, trains, roads, automobiles, sailing vessels and aircrafts have made for a sanitised and secure world. Thankfully just before these products of human imagination could make it a boring world; the vagrant genome in the human DNA staged a rather spectacular revolution. Using the technologies that made the world saner, we applied it to the old; once necessary experiences. The civilised man is once again on the prowl for new experiences and in this quest is completing the proverbial circle.
Welcome to the world of adventure sports.
The outdoors, world over, have always been witness to people doing what others called ‘stupid things’ like trying to fly and put wheels on the feet and go down slopes. It is from this bunch that the Wright brothers emerged. The same barrel which held the likes of Leonardo daVinci. While their technological and commercial applications have produced industries which have today become integral to human survival, there are still some who, with a little modification to the original, derive the same pleasure that these inventors might have. In current terms of what we define as sport, unarguably, the western world has set the standards and helped proliferation of these experiences by putting into place rigid measures to ensure safety of those participating, even if just as enthusiasts out for a one time rush.
The result is that several people are wanting to try out these sports and willing to travel the world for the safest and best experience. Gradually, but steadily, this stream is trickling into India. The industry of adventure sports in India is still in its infancy, but there is no doubt that it is growing at a remarkable rate. I consider myself an enthusiast of adventure sports though trekking and hiking have been my poison for many years. Of late, due to their much easier access, I have tried my hand and participated at many more of these new age sports in various parts of the country. Experiences I will cherish for a long time to come. Often, the indulgence in an adventure sport has been possible just because I knew that in a particular area I am visiting, there is scope to participate in a particular adventure sport. Some places are well known globally for the amazing experience they provide for a particular adventure sport, like scuba diving in the Andamans or Lakshwadweep or mountaineering in the Himalayas. Owing to the natural environment prerequisite, some are endemic to parts of the country, like caving in the north east. Still others, like sky diving, are popular because infrastructure necessary for them are available at only certain places.
This write-up is intended as a practical guide that informs about the most popular adventure sports, what they entail and the most noteworthy places in the country where they can be experienced.
Trekking & Hiking
Of all the adventure sports, these are definitely the ones most widely attempted. Though these words are often used interchangeably, there is actually a slight difference. Any walk through a natural environment can be a hike, but to be excruciatingly exact, a trek would mean a journey on foot to a place where alternative means of transport are generally not available.
Depending on levels of physical fitness and sizes of groups, this activity can have innumerable permutations and combinations. There are thousands of organisations and clubs across the globe which encourage and facilitate these activities. In India, we are spoilt for choice for the number of hiking trails and trekking routes that are available from any part of the country. Novices and enthusiasts can choose routes anddestinations in any part of the country for a pleasurable experience. The various mountain ranges, plateaus, the river banks, sea shores and colossal plains – all of which have their own charm and fan following.
The biggest blessing and in the adventure world, the best of challenges bestowed on serious takers of this sport is that indomitable mountain range – the Himalayas. In themselves, they offer so many routes, trails and temptations that they could singlehandedly sustain the interest of the most avid of trekkers with their inexhaustible range of options.
Many of the classical trekking routes in the Himalayas have been trodden for centuries owing to their religious affiliations. Several of these lie in the mountains of Uttarakhand – the Gomukh trek – to one of the primary sources of the Ganges; the trek to Kedarnath – the most remote on the Char Dham pilgrimage and Hemkund – a high altitude lake with a Sikh gurudwara on its banks. Kafni, Pindari and Milam glaciers are also noteworthy. The Valley of Flowers National Park and Nanda Devi Sanctuary – both UNESCO World Heritage Sites are also popular trekking routes for nature enthusiasts. The high altitude lakes of Kedartal and Roopkund see many trekkers too. Roopkund is well known for the several human skeletons that can be seen at the bottom of the lake when the snow melts in summer.
In Himachal, the Chandra Taal trek in Spiti Valley and Sar Pass trek in Kullu are worth mentioning. Of the several trekking routes in the Sikkim Himalayas, the Richenpong trek to the Rigsum monastery and the Singalila route from West Bengal which borders on Nepal are well known. The latter offers stunning views of Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest.
Mountaineering
Trekking and mountaineering are often colloquially used interchangeably. However, there is a very important distinction. The easiest way to describe mountaineering is as a super-set which includes trekking and hiking along with knowledge and application of other crafts which help scale mountain peaks. The history of mountaineering began with the attempts of man to conquer previously unclimbed peaks of mountains. Once again, the Himalayas offered the most challenging and tallest peaks to conquer and the chain continues to see expeditions from across the world attempting to scale in better time and with different approaches the mighty peaks whose conquests have been the stuff of lore.
the Western Ghats
However, with the tallest peaks world over having been scaled, mountaineering is now more a sport than an exploratory vehicle. There are three main branches to mountaineering – rock craft, ice craft and skiing. While ice craft is rarely experienced recreationally in India, various components of rock craft and skiing are quite popular and available to experience quite freely.
Rock-Climbing & Bouldering
As the name suggests, rock climbing involves climbing across various kinds of rock and stone surfaces. The objective is generally to reach the end point of a rock formation without falling. In mountaineering, it is an extremely important aspect as several parts of the climb to the mountain’s summit would require scaling rock surfaces. Climbers use a variety of techniques, holds, equipment and safety ropes to accomplish this.Bouldering is a type of free climbing of rock surfaces without the use of a safety rope. It relies entirely on the skill of the climber to navigate the comparatively low rock routes. Rock climbing is set apart from other ways of climbing a mountain – like scrambling – by the sustained use of hands necessary to support the climber’s weight as well as to provide balance.
It is a general misconception that rock climbing is a solo sport. It requires at least two people to complete a climb safely. A successful climb is one in which the climber reaches the base safely. To ensure this, it is the responsibility of the second person to belay the climber. Belaying is a technique of increasing friction on the safety ropes so that the fall may be arrested. This said, there are solo-climbers who use various methods of ensuring their own safety. Solo climbing is an important skill to learn for rescue efforts. For beginners and enthusiasts alike, it is best to climb in at least twos and before attempting it, learning about the various equipment, climbing and belaying techniques and the use of the safety rope are absolutely essential.
Rock climbing can be a dangerous activity and given its nature where strength, agility, balance and mental prowess of the participant are tested, it flourishes as a sport. While not yet an Olympic event, the International Olympic Committee does recognise it as a sport. In its purest form, it is practised in the outdoors on natural rock surfaces. However, there are now several indoor artificial walls which use devices called ‘holds’ to simulate the feel of a real wall. Many prestigious rock climbing competitions are held on such walls as it is possible to control and set the difficulty levels on an artificial wall inside a single room without having to cross mountain peaks for more challenging rock faces.
Rappelling & Waterfall Rappelling
Rappelling is a technique to control descent over a rock face. It is used when a particular rock face or slope is too dangerous to climb down without protections. The technique involves the use of some easily available equipment in the mountaineering world. Once again, it is best to try this activity with professionals, and even when adept, to have another person for belaying. Rappelling is known by various names and slangs in various parts of the world.
The other most common name for it is abseiling, which derives from the German, meaning ‘to rope down’. While rappelling has many styles and techniques and has found various applications besides the outdoors as a method for reaching difficult to access areas, its most fun variation, that proliferates quite liberally during monsoon in every part of the country is waterfall rappelling – a very ‘to-the-point’ name which denotes the activity of walking down a waterfall. It is an exciting variation that adds the force of the water and the slipperiness of the rocks for the climber to contend with besides all the intricacies of rappelling. It is strongly recommended to try this with professionals who also know the nature of the waterfall and have taken the climate conditions in mind. Several instances of a mild, good natured waterfall out of a soap ad turning into a raging monster sweeping away anything in its path are all too common.
Valley/River Crossing & Zip Line
Before there were highways or skywalks; there were simple rope bridges – essentially one rope stretched over a river or valley and people would use that to cross over. The safest technique for doing that was the good old fashioned monkey crawl. Hold the rope, get the leg up and pull yourself across. This ancient form of traversing chasms and other gorges is today’s experiential adventure activity of valley crossing. Though seemingly easy to the eye and much safer now because of improved equipment; it is one heck of a task pulling the body across – especially when the route begins at a lower level than what it ends at. Like any other activity, it is good to have another person at the other end to ensure safety and if need be – pull you across!
Zip line is a progressive upgrade from valley crossing, where the line is generally made of stainless steel and arranged in a way that gravity can propel the person from one end to the other. Depending on the ‘extreme’ quotient of the activity, the line may be arranged at a low level from the ground or very high up. A low level zip line mainly for children is also called flying fox. Longer and higher rides are also found at outdoor camps and upscale resorts. The thrill of falling with a control on the speed by the participant is the main takeaway from this activity.
Any mountain, hill or rocky patch in the country can provide an opportunity to experience these elements of mountaineering. Outdoor and adventure groups across the country hold events where one can experience rock climbing. Increasingly hotels, resorts and adventure parks are equipping themselves with facilities and personnel who can facilitate climbing for their patrons. Depending on the skill and experience of the person, climbing different levels of walls and mountains can be a perennially challenging and engaging experience which also goes a long way in maintaining physical fitness.
Skiing
Skiing is an important element of what constitutes the sport of mountaineering. It basically involves strapping long runners to the feet to travel over snow. It is another one of today’s adventure sports which has its roots in the evolutionary need to overcome obstacles presented by nature. With the oldest evidence of the activity found in Norway from 5000 BC; the word itself is one of the few contributions from Scandinavia to the English language where its root – skio, in old Norse, means ‘split piece of wood’.
While it is a popular recreational activity worldwide, the scope and availability of this winter Olympic sport is quite restricted in India. It is only recently that people are becoming increasingly aware of winter tourism to cold places to enjoy the snow. Still, its development as a sport the way it is in Europe and America is a long time coming; primarily due to the lack of infrastructure. Yet the age old Himalayas offer fantastic avenues for this developing sport.
Gulmarg in Kashmir remains undoubtedly the most frequented and hyped place for skiing. Its meagre 20 km distance from the Line of Control with Pakistan is a little intimidating, but the general peaceful atmosphere for a decade is reassuring and every year, the number of skiers is on the rise. Pahalgam, also in Kashmir, is another emerging skiing destination. Mundli, Dayara Bugyal, and Auli in Uttarakhand; along with Manali, Kufri and Narkanda in Himachal are the other two destinations for skiing in the country which are fast gaining recognition. Simultaneously Lachung and Yumthang in Sikkim and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh are developing facilities and attracting more serious skiers in search of a pristine skiing environment.
The individual components of mountaineering are proliferating in a variety of settings and environs and providing a thrill break over many weekends and holidays. The sport itself for the serious campaigners has obviously less takers in terms of numbers, but those who do from India and the world over have the most magnificent chain of mountains with peaks and valleys where no human has ever set foot at their disposal.
Paragliding & Parasailing
With the mountains and land challenges conquered, humans had to have a go at flying. Perhaps the most honest attempt at it is the modern adventure and recreational sport of paragliding. Paragliding is basically one person in a harness attached to large wings – known as gliders. These gliders are made of polyester, nylon or other nonporous material. The art of paragliding is the most basic principle of flying, where a heavier than air object is supported in flight by a device and its design of lifted surfaces without the presence of an engine. The paragliding harness is a proper bag and allows for the pilot to sit quite comfortably in it. Through bitter experience, I can also vouch that in case of a not so pleasant landing, it does cushion the fall to a large extent!
Though the maze of cables extending to that colourful canopy which promises a free flight may be intimidating, it is not very difficult to learn and what seems like a constant uncontrolled descent is actually quite maneuverable. Despite not having an engine, paragliders can fly many hours and cover thousands of kilometers. This depends strictly on the skill of the pilot as pockets of hot air must be exploited to gain altitude. Flights of 1-2 hours over tens of kilometres are more common. Modern gliders are also equipped with GPS devices and altimeters which can more accurately determine flight paths and altitudes. Paragliding is generally done off mountain ridges, which allow for a good launch. In flatter countrysides, towed launches are also common.
Parasailing consists of a similar apparatus to paragliding, but is done with a tow line attached to a vehicle, generally a boat. The origins of parasailing, though, are quite interesting. It was invented as a method to train people to jump with a parachute. The parasail apparatus would raise the person to heights sufficient to replicate a flight jump at a fraction of the cost. When the desired height was achieved, the line would be cut and it would simulate a jump from an airplane. Over time, the sport achieved a joy ride status in itself. Also known as parascending, the parascender has little or no control over the parachute or flight path. It is primarily a fun ride and should not be confused with paragliding. India has a plethora of possibilities for both these sports across its many mountain ranges and the long coastline. Most popular beach destinations in coastal states offer an opportunity to try out parasailing. India’s oldest commercial paragliding school with accommodation – Nirvana Adventures is in Kamshet Maharashtra and offers various courses modelled on international standards. Of late a couple of more have sprouted in the same area, which also boasts of a good paragliding experience in the Western Ghats. Billing in Himachal Pradesh has accrued legendary status having hosted international and world cup competitions. Mussoorie, Nainital, Manali, places around Kullu are also frequented by experienced paragliders who marvel that in the Himalayas, you do not really need flying sites. You can fly from anywhere!
A while back, a couple of pilots flew from Dharamshala to Nepal; flying 50-100 kms. a day and landing in places where people had never seen a car, forget paragliders! Such is the reach, possibility and thrill of this sport. And of course, you can fly!
White Water Rafting
This is perhaps the most popular adventure sport and much in demand across the length and breadth of the country. A group sport where the activity can be conducted by professionals and people can get a joyride also adds to its charm and allure. For the very few who have not heard or seen this adventure sport, a raft is a flat structure for travelling on water. It is the most basic and primitive of boat design which keeps afloat by using buoyant materials like wood or sealed air chambers. They are generally used for inland water exploration along lakes and rivers. The rafts used for white water rafting are usually inflatable ones with sealed air in independent chambers as the buoyant element.
The thrill factor is brought in by navigating the raft in areas of rough water which creates the white spray leading to the term white water. Depending on the gradient of difficulty, measured keeping in mind the combination of rough water patches, their strength and length, the presence of rocks and other obstacles, the white waters are graded from level 1 to level 6. Level 6 is considered by even the most experienced as a suicidal venture requiring not just great skill but also dumb luck to pull through.
While it seems like an amusement park ride, especially with many organisers taking people along for a joyride, the challenge and danger on any trip should not be taken lightly. Rishikesh in India has over the years grown as the number one destination for river rafting owing to the various grades available on the Ganga in the area. However, phenomenal experiences can be had on the Zanskar river in Ladakh (level 4) which traverses some of the most remote places in Ladakh and the Indus in Jammu & Kashmir (level 2-3) while being flanked by snow clad peaks. The Teesta river in Sikkim and through Darjeeling (level 2-3) and Kundalika in Maharashtra which is one of the fastest rivers south of the Himalayas (level 3) offer incredible experiences. The Brahmaputra Rafting Expedition which begins in Arunachal Pradesh and entails a ride through 180 kms of rapids unto level 4 is a once in a lifetime experience.
Surfing & Windsurfing
The thrills associated with surfing and windsurfing can be equated as the ocean equivalent of white water rafting. The white water being the surf – the breaking of waves on the shore. The objective of surfing is to ride on the front face of the wave which carries the surface to the shore. Modern surfing consists of a board made of fibreglass foam – a huge evolution from long boards of heavy wood! In places where the velocity of waves breaking is very hard and fast, boats tow the board out for the surfers to catch the surf.
To best understand windsurfing is to imagine the sail from a sailboat, reduced in size and then assembled on a large surfboard – an amalgamation of sailing and surfing. To windsurf is to harness the power of wind to move an open boat with a sail from a single mast, which the surfer handles – for both balance and steering. Windsurfing can be experienced on lakes as well as the open sea. It was added as an Olympic sport in 1984 yet it is a relatively new sport and there are many combinations and variations already evolving and vying for supremacy, of which sailing the waves and racing are more popular.
Both these surface water sports can technically be played out almost anywhere on India’s 7000 km plus coastline. However, there are only a few clubs which are accredited by the Surfing Federation of India and before checking into a class with one of them, it would be good to check their affiliation first. For those raring to go and try it out, Gokarna in Karnataka, beaches in south Goa, Kovalam, Trivandrum, Chennai, Mulki near Mangalore and Jagannath Puri beach in Orissa are considered great places for surfing and other surf sports.
Kayaking
Invariably, the first question on hearing this name is, “What’s a kayak?” So, a kayak is basically a small, narrow boat which is manually propelled with a double bladed paddle. “What is so adventurous about it?” is then the next question. Nothing, if you sit on it on dry land, that is. Being able to effectively manoeuvre one on a body of water, as there is no ‘boatman’, is only the beginning. Having mastered the boat so as to be able to ride in a straight line from point A to point B is suddenly a minor accomplishment when it has to be done on a river with a current. Taking it a step further is doing it in white water rapids, with similar grades as with white water rafting.
Besides being an adventure sport on white water rapids, it is also a popular method of exploration around coast lines. In its avatar of sea kayaking, surf kayaking is gaining popularity internationally. Similar to surfing, the kayak holds the advantage of being able to go further on the coast to look for surf waves. There are slight variations in the make of a kayak depending on what it will be used for. Of late, inflatable kayaks are in vogue for the convenience of transportation and stability they offer.
From the first Eskimos who invented a kayak by stretching seal skin on whalebone as trees weren’t available in that part of the world, this form of boating has come a long way. Recreational kayaking is now freely available in most parts of the country, generally on lakes and other placid river bodies and is often at the expense of the traditional boats of the region. However, for experiencing the thrill of extreme kayaking, one must look much at the same regions as white water rafting and surfing.
Scuba Diving & Snorkelling
People have been known to hold their breaths for around five minutes while underwater. They do dive to impressive depths in this time; but this is negligible compared to the possibilities that lie under water. There is a whole new world to discover and experience. Enter self contained underwater breathing apparatus diving, shortened to SCUBA diving, which literally opens up this whole new world.
Scuba diving is a type of underwater diving in which the diver submerges while equipped with breathing gas in tanks to allow for a longer stay underwater. Ideally, scuba diving requires some amount of training before one can attempt it. There are however service providers who offer a limited scuba diving experience for rank beginners without any formal training. It is best to take at least 3 days off to learn the basics and then have some great dives.
Snorkelling, for me, is like scuba diving light; basically the no frills version of observing underwater life in its natural environment without the hassles, equipment and training required for scuba diving. It consists of a basic apparatus consisting of diving glasses and a long tube through which the person can breathe while swimming normally.
There are various sites in the country which offer scuba diving and snorkelling experiences, though undoubtedly, the best places are Andaman and Nicobar islands and Lakshadweep with their turquoise waters and uninterrupted coral reefs and wealth of aquamarine life. On the mainland, Netrani on the coast of Karnataka, near Murdeshwar is much touted for its clear waters and great environs. Tourists also frequent some spots in Goa and at Tarkarli in Maharashtra to experience the sport. Snorkelling too can be experienced at all these locations.
Caving
With all the elements conquered, the only place left to wander about to seek thrills in under the earth and why should that be left unexplored? Short of drilling holes in the earth, the easiest way to peer into its bowels is through caves. While most of us know caves as small rotund formations in hills used as temporary forms of shelter and then as meditation and temple zones; there are hidden away in not so frequented parts of the country large interlinking cave systems which reveal a netherworld much more gratifying than popular descriptions. Caving, also known as spelunking, is the recreational sport of exploring wild cave systems. Depending on the caves being explored, it would entail having or learning certain skills. There are caves large and long enough where one can walk through with just some squatting and duck walks required. On the other hand, there are others which would require a certain level of experience and expertise in climbing and descending techniques like the ones required in mountaineering.
The best place in India to explore caves is definitely the north east where the Khasi hills in Meghalaya are riddled with complex cave systems which are a joy to explore. For a hardcore experience, it is best to tie up with local service providers from Shillong. The biggest danger in caving is losing one’s way inside the cave and for those entering one for the first time, it is absolutely essential that while exploring a cave they do it in a group led by people who know the routes in and more importantly, out of the cave.
For a country, which within its borders houses a mini planet earth, the possibilities are endless. With new adventure sports as combinations of existing ones being thought of and taken to with zest at commendable regularity, the scope and outlook for the outdoor adventure industry in the country is very optimistic. The major challenge that they face is one of infrastructure – both on a macro level with regulations, bureaucracy and physical utilities like electricity, roads etc., and the lack of organisations and bodies which reliably and viably lay down guidelines and empower professionals in the field to aspire and meet international standards of safety, responsibility and service. Institutions which involve and train locals of areas where these sports proliferate to engage and excel in facilitating them would go a long way in fortifying these sports at their very roots.
Some of these aspects, mainly the equipment and skilled manpower are addressed by private commercial service providers who have the pockets and the patience to train or call trained people from elsewhere and engage their services to provide for the increasing demand. This too however, is quite haphazard and the industry is in its growing throes. Safety remains the primary concern for everybody – those practicing the sport and others indulging in it. While larger popular destinations see trained professionals and big companies who do not compromise on safety aspects of the sport, it is unfortunate but true that many small operators do not always lay the same emphasis, in large part due to a lack of knowledge.
In this, it is heartening when local private bodies take the initiative of self regulation before arbitrary rules are unilaterally enforced by governing authorities. A recent example of this is the Maharashtra Outdoor Professionals Association (MOPA), headquartered in Mumbai and comprising the most active outdoor professionals in the region. They aim to bring all agencies and companies catering to the outdoor and adventure market under their umbrella.
I, for one would be very reassured seeing the label of an organisation like MOPA having certified the providers I decide to seek the raw pleasure of adventure with. In a zone where life thrives on danger, knowing that it is not about a random fall of the dice would make me appreciate the experience much more and have me coming back too! Meanwhile, let the adrenaline flow and be safe. Like the guys at Nirvana paragliding say – “Peace, bliss & happy landings.”
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Akul Tripathi
The writer is a media professional and freelance writer.[/column]