Adventure Destinations

India is a land of amazing possibilities and spectacular sceneries to charm one and all. And while every region is a delight in itself, the wonders of north India are one surely not to be missed for the sheer adventure they offer.

The rugged terrains, snow covered mountains, dizzying heights, rapid rivers- all this calls for an adventure not to be missed out. The Himalayan range covers most part of the northern Indian states. If you love active adventure sports, then you can choose from a wide variety of numerous trekking routes, rafting, mountaineering and much more. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in North India are a particular favourite in this regard.

Here are some of the popular adventure options in North India region broadly explained state wise:

Uttarakhand
The geographical conditions and the topography of the place make Uttarakhand perfect for adventure activities. Some of the must try activities here are:

Trekking
Uttarakhand offers numerous trekking trails; pass through the tiny mountain villages, meet the locales, explore the valleys, meadows and lakes.

River Rafting
Since most of the rivers of North India originate in Uttarakhand, river rafting lets you explore the speed of rivers, the natural path, cross the jungles and rock terrains of Himalayas. The River Ganges and its tributaries such as Bhagirathi, Alakananda and Mandakini, offers one of the most popular and adventurous river rafting.

Skiing
The long, snow white slopes of Garhwal and Kumaon are perfect for skiing. The main sites for skiing are Auli, Dayara Bugyal, Mundali and Munsyar.
Jungle Safari- Uttarakhand has vast covers of forests and meadows across the state. Jim Corbett National Park, Rajaji National Park and Nanda Devi Wildlife Sanctuary are the three largest sanctuaries of Uttarakhand. They can be explored on jeeps, elephants, trekking or a bus ride.

Himachal Pradesh
The state offers a wide range of activities for you to indulge in. The snow covered peaks, difficult terrains and diverse landscape all lures one into adventure. The popular adventure sports here are:

Trekking
In the lower ranges of Kangra Valley and Kullu, there are campgrounds for trekkers. Kinnaur, Lahaul, Spiti and Chail are other popular trekking regions.

Golfing
Shimla is home to some of the oldest golf course in the state. Other popular courses are the Annandale in Shimla and one in Khajjar.

Paragliding
Bir and Billing are famous for hang gliding and paragliding. Bilaspur, Kangra, Kullu and Pabbar Valley are great spots for paragliding too.

Jammu and Kashmir
The presence of the Himalayas and isolated from commercialization arguably makes Jammu and Kashmir the best for adventure in India. The vast rivers here give opportunity for rafting, fishing and houseboats. Here you have land adventure sports such as skiing in Gulmarg and mountaineering sports in Zanskar and Ladakh. Jammu is the best for aero sports like hot-air ballooning and paragliding. The main rivers here for adventure activities are River Indus and River Zanskar, also there are many lakes in Pahalgam for angling.

Leh Ladakh
The highest altitude and easily one of the most remote regions in North India; Ladakh offers to you most famous adventure sports that include mountaineering, jeep safari, trekking and river rafting. Cycling is also popular with some of the famous cycling routes such as Leh-Alchi Road, Leh-Hemis road, Jispa-Gondla, Marhi-Manali and so on.

In short, India is a fascinating destination when it comes to adventure sports. The variety, the sheer beauty and the ease to explore is what keeps drawing tourists year after year to get their dose of adventure.