Holidaying with friends or family can be really rejuvenating especially after prolonged days or even months of our busy work schedules. Holidaying can be a pilgrimage to holy sites, historical tour of a city, beach vacation or an adventure trail and these are probably the most popular types of holidaying in a country like India. Today I will be talking on adventure destinations in India that are packed with great attractions such as mountainous terrains, wildlife sanctuaries, rivers, valleys and ski resorts which will surely interest all adventure seekers. As these are adventure destinations I highly recommend travelling in groups as most adventure trips can be best enjoyed this way, just make sure you have your adventure gear in place like first aid kit, sunglasses, sunscreens, backpacks, tents for camping and food stocks to name a few. You can expect to do off beat activities like hiking, trekking, kayaking, zip-lining, paragliding and skiing at these adventure spots. Here are our top adventure picks in India for you.
Manali
Manali is a top tourist delight for both adventure junkies and honeymooners. Manali is widely popular for mountain hiking trails, paragliding in Solang valley, jeep safaris and water sports such as white water rafting and canoeing on its rivers. The must-do things for you are:
- Try the trek up to Rohotang Pass in winter for stunning views of the Rohotang valley. This 20 km trek is a little dangerous but worth trying and don’t forget to take pictures of the scenic views on your way.
- Paragliding is another adventure activity that you cannot miss in Manali. Travel to Solang valley which is a popular spot for paragliding in Manali. You can take paragliding lessons from experts to learn this sport, if you are a novice I recommend paragliding in tandem with an experienced pilot so that you will get the hang of the sport before you can do it all by yourself.
- Do white water rafting in an inflated boat on the river waters from Pirdi to Jheri which is a cool 14 km stretch and takes close to 45 minutes.
- A tour of the Pin Valley National Park in Manali is a must-do activity for sighting some deers, tigers, marmots and cheetahs.
Manali is easily accessible by HRTC busses from major cities like Delhi, Srinagar and Rishikesh and if you like to fly to Manali then you must land in Bhuntar, the nearest airport.
Bandhavgarh
Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh boasts of having the highest density of tiger population in India and is mainly popular for housing the famous Royal Bengal tiger. Besides tigers you can also sight some elephants as this place is famous for taking elephant rides in its lush green park.
Taking a flight is the best way to reach the national park, you will be landing at Jabalpur airport as this is the nearest airport and from there I suggest getting on a tourist bus to reach the park.
Nagarhole
Nagarhole National Park located in the coffee country of Coorg (Kodagu) is home to some very thrilling wildlife such as tigers, leopards and elephants and spans an area of 650 square kilometers. Taking snapshots of the stunning mountains in the backdrop while you move around the sanctuary is a must-do thing for you.
The easiest way to reach the park is using a combination of flight and taxi. Take a flight to Bangalore city and from there you can find umpteen Taxis to Nagarhole National Park.
Lahaul-Spiti
If you are looking at an offbeat adventure destination then Lahaul-Spiti is what I recommend for you. This tourist spot boasts of some amazing mountain views, riverside views, gorgeous valleys and picturesque mountain terrain. You just cannot think of any better place than this for taking photographs of the natural wonders of this destination.
The easiest way to reach Lahaul-Spiti is using a combination of flight and taxi. Take a flight to Bhuntar airport near Manali and from there you will find umpteen taxis to reach your destination.
Zanskar
If trekking is on your mind for a while then this hangout will interest you. During the months of January and February the Zanskar River freezes over and gets covered with a thick coating of ice and becomes the Chadar Trek. Trekking on Chadar Trek can be really exciting and adventurous but also risky! During your trek on this snow covered trail you will be sighting a few frozen waterfalls and some ancient monasteries. The only catch with this destination is you cannot rent any accommodation as it lies in wilderness, you will need to camp in a tent on the open space for your night’s stay.
The easiest way to reach this popular trekking delight is using a combination of flight and taxi. Take a flight to Leh and from there you will find umpteen taxis to reach Zanskar. You can find daily flights to Leh from Delhi, Jammu and Srinagar.
