In search of adventure in India

India offers excellent opportunities for enthusiasts to indulge in hair-raising, spine-tingling adventure sports, right from the river rapids giving us the opportunity to go on rafting to the beautiful yet challenging roads leading to the dreamland of Ladakh. From seeking out vibrant marine life to charting new routes across majestic mountains – here is a snapshot of some of India’s premier adventure destinations.

Must Read: Winter sports and activities for adventure lovers in India

Ladakh, lying on the northern tip of India’s frontiers, is truly unparalleled in its majestic beauty. Biking in Ladakh is the holy grail of adventure cyclists all over the world. Terrifying mountain passes, thin air, and awe-inspiring beauty in a remote frontier landscape make this one heck of an adventure. Adding to the kick of adventure in this place is the unparalleled beauty of nature which inspires even the regular tourists to become explorers and ordinary shutterbugs to become genuine photographers.

A destination that’s as breathtakingly beautiful as it’s adventurous, Gulmarg has, over the years, become a magnet for those who love the thrill of extreme skiing on its big, jagged slopes. One of the best places for adventure tours in India, Gulmarg is a place which is pine-fringed and blanketed in snow, and it exudes a charm few other places do. Among the very few places in India that are just perfect for the skiers, Gulmarg is definitely one. Skiing in this hill town is a travel experience you wouldn’t want to miss.

Trekking in Zanskar is an adventure into one of the only truly remote frontiers in the country. The ancient monasteries and high passes in this cold and isolated erstwhile kingdom are mostly reachable only on foot or on horseback. What makes the Zanskar trek both special and challenging at the same time is the fact that a trekker needs to hike on a sheet of ice which is basically the frozen Zanskar River during the winters. While the landscape around turns out to be no less than stunning, walking on the ice can be both tricky and strenuous.

The archipelago of Andaman and Nicobar is home to a diverse marine life, one that is a magnet for those in search of amazing underwater life. The pristine waters of these islands offer many opportunities for snorkelling and scuba diving, as well as chances to try out other water sports. In fact, the Andaman Islands can easily be called the most amazing place in India to do scuba diving. The clean water of the ocean and the stunning aquamarine life couple with the presence of coral reefs make it just the perfect place for this adventure activity.

Although one of the smallest states in the country, the state of Sikkim makes a strong statement for travellers with its amazing topographical diversity; the landscape changes its form from one place to another, starting with the tropical and going up to alpine. Along with stunning bio-diversity, it is also home to old monasteries and superlatively pretty towns like Pelling. It’s one of the few places in the country where it’s entirely safe to travel without fixed plans, and set up camp pretty much anywhere along the way.

Surrounded by the fast-flowing Ganga and forested hills, Rishikesh is a hotspot for adrenaline-pumping rafting adventures, thanks to the presence of river rapids of all grades. While rafting draws most travellers to Rishikesh, it’s entirely possible to camp on the riverfront and lounge by bonfires under the stars. In fact, those from Delhi love to drive up here for an adventurous weekend getaway.

This sprawling abode for tigers and scores of other species is one of India’s top havens for wildlife enthusiasts. What makes the Jim Corbett National Park one of the best places for tiger sightings in India is the presence of long stretches of grasslands that increases the chances of visibility of the big cat even more. One word of advice: don’t get so preoccupied with tiger spotting that you miss other animals, and just the romance of traversing through what is genuinely wild territory.

With mountain adventures beckoning from all directions, Manali is the perfect destination for those looking to unwind during the summers. Backpackers come to hang around in the villages near the main town and adventure tourists come for trekking, paragliding, rafting and skiing. But paragliding is easily the most popular adventure activity in this extremely popular hill station. This is especially because most of the tourists make the drive up to the Solang are for experiencing paragliding in Manali.

A twelve-hour-long drive from Delhi, Auli, India’s premier ski resort, is a picturesque destination located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Temperatures plummet to minus four degrees during the months of January to March, and ski enthusiasts gravitate here by the truckloads. Thanks to the presence of long stretches of snow fields in this place, Auli has gradually become a paradise for skiing enthusiasts. Besides, the ropeway rides in Auli are also very popular as they allow the traveller to soak in the natural beauty of the destination.

For those who like walking in the hills but don’t want to commit to full-fledged treks, Dharamsala, with its crisp, pine-fresh air, and magnificent vistas of the Dhauladhar range, is an ideal retreat. Thanks to the presence of beautiful towering trees and unparalleled views of the Dhauladhar mountain range, Dharamshala is one of the best Indian hill towns to take a walk in. There are a number of short interesting walks around including popular ones like Triund and Chamba Valley.