Himachal Pradesh or the ‘abode of Gods’ is a hill state that never ever fails to surprise its visitors with every visit they make. There is invariably something or the other new to the place whenever you visit it, be it for sightseeing, nature tour, adventure or for a laid back Himachal holiday package.
Endowed with some amazing and gorgeous mountainous terrains and river valleys make it an ideal playground for outdoor adventure sports in Himachal Pradesh. The captivating landscape of Himachal Pradesh with its high and mighty hills can thrill and enthrall the back packers. Another main reason for Himachal Pradesh being a favourite destination for tourists and adventurists is the fact that it offers every adventurer from novices to the most experienced, their choice of adventure and the related adventure sports, in short from ease to moderate to high adrenalin adventure it is all here to be experienced in Himachal Pradesh.
Adventure activities like the high adrenalin Heli skiing in Manali, rock climbing in the treacherous terrain of Kinnaur and the surroundings and rappelling in the mountains of the Spiti valley. Himachal is also known as the “Paragliding Capital of India” so much so that the “First Paragliding World Cup of India” too was held here from 24th to the 31st October 2015. Bir and Billing are the most popular paragliding, one of the most popular adventure sport in Himachal, sites in the state. For the weak hearted? The ideal activities they can indulge in are angling and fishing, as this place is the home to world famous trout fish.
Another very popular and interesting activity to indulge in when in Himachal Pradesh is an amazing opportunity for the motorcyclists and paddlers to revel in the thrilling activity of mountain biking and spanning the state on their motorbikes, while trekking still remains the most affordable and the most popular thrilling activity, catering to all categories of trekkers from novices to high end adventure buffs, and not to forget another high adrenalin sport in river rafting on the gushing mountainous rivers, that too is catered for In Himachal Pradesh. So, in short, there exist ample opportunities in the state for enjoyable to hair-raising to spine-chilling adventure sports.
For your convenience we have drawn up a list of some of the most popular adventure sports that are promoted and encouraged in Himachal Pradesh.
- River Rafting
- Camping
- Trekking
- Rappelling
- Ice skiing
- Rock climbing
- Heli-Skiing
- Paragliding
- Hiking
- Zorbing
- Mountain Biking
- Ice skating
- Jeep safari
- Over land motorbike safari
- Angling
River Rafting
Himachal Pradesh is home to a number of glaciers from which some of the major Indian rivers emanate. These rivers are well known the ferocity of their flow in the initial stages of their origination while mellowing down as they approach the plains.
These rivers offer a multitude of water sports opportunities, in as, rowing, canoeing, river rafting, and water skiing etc. Of all these water sports the most popular water sport in Himachal Pradesh is the white water river rafting as the rapids that exist in these fast flowing rivers range from grade I to grade IV rapids thus catering to the novices to the most experienced rafters. The thrill that you get to experience while rafting down the course through some exotic surroundings of tall pine forests, snowcapped peaks, lush green meadows, and blooming rhododendrons is something that automatically gets etched in ones memory for life.
While the ideal time period for indulgence of such a sport is from April to June, the best rafting route are in the Satluj, Beas, Ravi and Chenab Rivers.
Camping
It won’t be very much off the mark to term Himachal Pradesh as the Camping capital of India so much so that there are established companies, now, organizing camping sites for this top of the shelf adventure activity for the tourists/travelers visiting Himachal Pradesh since camping in Himachal is a new adventure sport norm these days.
You will be surprised to see some of the camping sites with complete parking facilities, bonfires, and special care areas for kids, modern day tents suites etc. The reason for such advancement in the camping facilities is the fact that the present day populace looks forward to getting value for their money in whatever sport they indulge in and moreover they seek an escape from the worldly chaotic life and spend some quality time among the marvels of nature and revel in the charm peace and tranquility that the Himalayas have to offer and be one with nature, in particular to the honeymooners having chosen to visit the state on a Himachal honeymoon tour package.
To further add to the thrill of camping, the organizers provide the campers with various activities that they can indulge in while camping at their sites like aqua zorbing, some water activities, some in house games and activities etc.
Camping is something that caters to all types from solo travelers to groups to families with children etc. These camping sites are located at some of the most exotic sites in Lahaul and Spiti, Manali, Dalhousie, and Kullu. To plan for a camping trip April to June is the most appropriate time period.
Trekking
Blessed with some amazing landscapes owing to its geographic features, Himachal Pradesh is characterized by some high and mighty snow capped mountains, dense and lush green forests, meadows and pastures etc. suitable for some of the best adventure tours in Himachal, and offer a number of trails along which you can indulge in, in one of the cheapest adventure sport, trekking in Himachal Pradesh.
Himachal Pradesh with approximately 270 trekking trails, caters to all the difficulty levels of trekking from easy to moderate to most difficult treks. These trials lead you through some of the most exotic sites, meadows, pastures, valleys, snowcapped mountains and passes, and some amazing landscapes leading to an unforgettable experience that gets etched into your memory for life. The best time to indulge in trekking regardless of the difficulty level is between the periods from June to September.
Rapelling
Very different from rock climbing that calls for immense concentration, body control and physical strength rappelling is a much easier option as it uses a rope that supports you while ascending or descending a rocky cliff or a steep incline. Moreover it an adventure sport which can be performed by any and every one with some grit and courage well apart from rock climbing that demands a off an individual. Moreover the most enjoyable part of this famous adventure sport is the thrill and the scenic beauty and the views that you get to see while descending the cliffs or steep inclines using a rope as affirm support.
Some of the places popular for this sport are Dahousie, Chhatru, Kasol, Tirthan Valley, Shuru,Aleo, Nehruy Kund and Kothi. The time period most suited for this activity is from the month of January to December.
Ice Skiing
Himachal Pradesh being the mighty mountainous region, it happens to be amply endowed with places that receive snow or are perpetually snow bound the year round, making it an ideal place for the adventurous sport of Skiing in Himachal. Tourists from within the country and abroad, flock to the Himalayas for this most popular of the adventure activities as Himachal Pradesh offers them both the kinds of skiing experiences, namely the Alpine kin and the Nordic type.
The Alpine type skiing basically involves skiing down steep slopes while the Nordic is more challenging as it involves jumping across and cross country skiing. While the Pir Panjal and the Shivalik ranges are ideally suited to this kind of sport the ldeal time to practice this sport is the winter months from December to February. All the skiing enthusiasts are sure to get all the fun and the adrenalin rush that they look for in such a sport.
Rock Climbing
Himachal Pradesh, owing to its topography, is a state abundantly blessed with hills cliffs and rocks for such a sport. Being just the opposite of rappelling, this sport is something that calls on your human strength, mind and body control and shear concentration, it is definitely not meant for the weak hearted.
Most of the adventure sport of rock climbing is essentially carried out in Manali, which also has an institute that imparts the necessary training and skills to perform this. The A B V Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports are dedicated to train the aspirants of this sport. This is where all the enthusiasts interested in this sport can get trained to indulge in this sport. The most suited time period for this sport is from April to mid June.
The sites where this can be practiced are Mount Deo Tibba, Shitidhar Mountain (Beas), Patalsu Peak in Manali and the Friendship Peakin the Pir Panjal ranges.
Heli Skiing
This adventure sport of Heli skiing is considered to an extreme sport performed along the high altitude slopes of the lesser explored mountains around the Rohtang Pass, Chandrakhani Pass, Deo Tibba, and the Hanuman Tibba mountains. A private operator in Manali is the facilitator for this amazing adventure sport while it also happens to be the perfect sport for the hard core adventure junkies to experience the adrenalin rush that they look for in jumping off heights of more than 6000 mtrs and then skiing down the slopes of mountains and breathtaking glaciers. December through February is the time to best enjoy this sport. The sites where you can practice this are the Hanuman Tibba, Rohtang Pass, Chandrakhani Pas and the Deo Tibba.
Paragliding
Another extreme adventure sport that Himachal Pradesh is famous for is the sport of Paragliding. Incidentally the very first Paragliding World Cup of India was in fact held in the year 2015 at Bir & Billing in Himachal Pradesh. The Solang Valley near Manali is also a very famous spot for Paragliding.
The experience of paragliding, the best adventure sport in Himachal, is something that is difficult to put in words all that can be said about it is that it is simply amazing!!!!, to say the least. Just imagine yourself flying high up in the air and then looking down on the vast expanse of lush green landscape and mystic mountains beneath you, it’s an experience par excellence.
Any and every body cannot just get up and indulge in paragliding, it is essential that you seek some professional training to really single handedly enjoy this sport. An institute by the name Himachal Aero Institute located at Bilaspur is one such institute that trains you for this sport.
This sport again is not for the weak hearted persons and is always performed under expert guidance of expert guides duly trained for it. Want to try a hand at it? Then there is no better time than December through February to do so.. The best identified sites for this sport are Bir & Billing, Pabbar Valley, Bijli Mahadeo, and Solang in Manali.
Zorbing
An extremely thrilling adventure sport of Zorbing is a rather new sport added to the sports calendar of Himachal Pradesh. In this sport a person who homes himself in a huge transparent plastic ball or a bubble, known as the Zorb, rolls downhill on a slope while experiencing the entire 360 degree view of the surroundings and watching all the activities going on around him/her. The other names for this amazing recreational sport are shpering or globe riding. The best part of this sport is that persons of all ages, visiting the state on their best Himachal Pradesh tour package, can indulge in it, even children. You can get to experience this at Solang Valley in Manali during the months from March to June
Mountain Biking
Image Credits: Paul Jerry for Wikimedia Commons
Another thrilling adventure activity in Himachal Pradesh fast gaining popularity is the adventure sport of Mountain Biking. It involves cycling on metteled and unmetalled rugged countryside terrains and sometimes even cross country.
In fact Himachal Pradesh has its very own Himachal Mountain Biking Association that conducts marathon mountain biking expeditions that are spread over a period of 6 to 7 days and cover a major portion of the higher regions of the state. The various circuits for such an event are Tabo – Kaza, Kaza – Losar, Leh – Manali highway, Shimla – Rampur and Manali – Damp Hug. This is around the year activity.
Ice Skating
Truly one of the most offbeat adventure activities of Himachal Pradesh namely Ice skating is equally thrilling when compared to the other activities though it is definitely safer than those. Just as in skiing there are two different aspects of this sport- figure skating and ice hockey, both of which are equally thrilling and exhilarating.
Incidentally Himachal Pradesh also happens to be the home to Asia’s oldest ice skating rink built of natural snow, although there are artificial indoor skating rinks as well, within the state. While you enjoy this sport in the natural skating rink from the months of December to February the indoor skating rinks are generally open the year round. Shimla and Kalpa are the places where you could practice this amazing sport.
Jeep Safari
Ideally suited for couples, visiting the state having chosen the Himachal honeymoon package, the Jeep Safar is in itself a very unique type of adventure activity in Himachal Pradesh. It imparts a very unique experience to those indulging in this safari since they literally experience the Himalayas while going up and down the country terrains while negotiating the curves all along the route of their travel.
Such a Trans Himalayan safari is a must do for every adventure enthusiast on their trip to Himachal Pradesh. The starting point such a safari is at Shimla and goes all round to Kinnaur, Spiti up to Lahaul while passing through the Kunzum pass.
Such a safari throws open some of the most exotic and mesmerizing views of the landscapes that you transgress through. You could go on this safari during May to October.
Manali – Leh Overland Motor Bike Safari
The mother of all the major adventure activities in Himachal Pradesh is the thrill and excitement of the Manali – Leh Overland Motor Bike Safari It is literally a dream come true for any avid biker and lies invariably on top of the bucket list for any adventurer junkies visiting Himachal Pradesh, from around the globe.
The route to Leh from Manali is something that gives a chance to explore a wide range of vistas while crossing some of the high altitude passes like the Rohtang Pass, Baralacha Pass at 4,900 Mtrs, Naki La 4,740 Mtrs, and the Lachalung La at 4, 850 Mtrs. to reach Leh.
En route you get the chance to drive through the famous Gata Loops comprising some stunning hairpins as you drive along, giving you an experience that gets ensconced in your memory forever and ever. It is an adventure that I would suggest you to not miss out on for anything when planning a trip to the state on a Himachal Pradesh adventure tour package.
Described above are some of the sites off the numerous places where you could indulge in adventure activities specific to Himachal Pradesh. In order to get the best of all these activities just let us know of your program and leave the rest to us while resting assured of the best trip of your life on any one of our Himachal tour packages.
Author Bio
Rahul Arora likes to explore by interacting with people and learning about their culture and traditions. Travel freak and a die-hard foodie are the synonyms that define him the best. He loves to explore new terrains in a different corner of the world. He believes in the idea of ‘Live and let live’.
Connect him on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter for a quick chat