Top 10 adventure sports in India and where to do them

There are a few places in India where people go just to test themselves in the adventure sports they have to offer. Adventure sports is catching the fancy of people who want to get out and do something different in their lives.From a great way to bond with your family and loved ones to testing yourself in the harshest of conditions, there is an option for everyone. Here, we chart 10 adventure sports and where one can experience them:

#10 Trekking

There are very few better ways of exploring nature while not exhausting oneself than Trekking. It is best done with a group, although some trekkers vouch that a solo trek is a life-changing experience. Losing all the luxuries in life, sleeping in tents in the jungles or mountains after a day's trek connects one to nature like no other.

Trekking can be done wherever, but trek along the Himalayan range is one of the most popular destinations for this adventure sport.

#9 Paragliding

A recreational and a flying sport activity, paragliding involves one sitting in a harness suspended below a fabric which helps in the flight. The sport gives one a feel of sitting in an open aircraft. Due to its very low requirements – wind and a cliff, paragliding is one of the most popular sport as it can be done by people from all walks of life.

Some of the most popular destinations in India include Darjeeling, Goa, Ladakh and Khamshet.

#8 Rock Climbing

Reaching the summit by using your bare hands to propel yourself up a rock would remind you of the days men used to live in caves. Rock climbing is an adrenaline pumping activity where participants climb up, down or across rock formations with the support of just a rope.

Feel like Tom Cruise from Mission Impossible in the Satpura mountain range in Madhya Pradesh while Gwalior, Jabalpur and Chanderi also provide you a chance to experience this adventure sport.

#7 Bunjee Jumping

The adrenaline rush you get when jumping off a cliff and letting gravity take you down at mind-boggling speeds can hardly be matched and that is why Bungee Jumping is so sought after. This sport is not for the faint-hearted and requires courage and belief to take the plunge. You can’t even imagine the kind of thoughts that would be racing your mind when you jump off from a height with just a rope tied to you.

Rishikesh, Goa, Delhi and Bengaluru are some of the most famous destinations for bungee jumping enthusiasts.

#6 Scuba Diving and Snorkelling

Scuba Diving and snorkelling are one of the best ways to explore the beautiful azure underwater world. As they are done in sea/ocean, one needs to have great knowledge before going into the unknown. Snorkelling is one of the safest ways to explore life beneath waters as it is done from the surface of the water and requires minumum equipments like a breathing tube, fins, a diving mask. Scuba diving has plenty of obvious and hidden dangers associated with it, which adds to its beauty.

In India, both these adventure sports can be done near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with Havelock Islands one of the most popular destinations.

#5 Waterfall Rappelling

There is not a single time in the world when you would say no to going to a waterfall and just watch the Earth gobble up water falling down from an astronomical height. Imagine walking down that waterfall with just a rope tied around you. Gives you the chills, doesn't it? That is precisely what waterfall rapelling is. Going down a rock with water flowing all over your feet is no mean feet and that is why it requires a lot of practice.

Coorg in Karnataka and Vihigaon in Maharashtra are two places where people go to experience this unique amalgamation.

#4 River Rafting

If you are into hardcore adventure activities, yet need a peaceful ambience, river rafting is for you. It is one of the most popular adventure sport in India with over hundreds of operators offering their services to you. Wading your way through stormy waters with your loved ones is an experience of a lifetime.

Rishikesh, Manali, Kullu, Coorg and Zanskar are some of the locations where river rafting can be done.

#3 Skiing

One of the best ways to get acquainted with snow is gliding on it on a pair of skiis while you leave the world behind. Racing down a mountain while skiing is a completely different thrill you get than while experiencing other adventure sports. Although skiing can also double up as a recreational activity, there are some extremely dangerous variations of the sport like Heli Skiing which even the most experienced skiers shy away from.

Gulmarg in Kashmir and Manali in Himachal Pradesh offer people a chance of experiencing this sport.

#2 Mountain Biking

A still from Hero MTB Himalaya, which is India’s premier Mountain Bike race

Imagine reliving your childhood when you used to hop on your favourite two wheeler and pedal your way wherever you felt like it. Now, add a scenic background to that and the most satisfying feeling after the completion of the event. That in a nutshell is mountain biking. It also doubles up as one of the best forms of exercise as it targets a wide range of muscles.

For cycle trekking, the Himalayan region and the mountainous regions of Kerala are some of the favourite spots for Indians.

#1 Skydiving

Imagine going in a plane and being forced to jump from heights reaching 10,000 metres. It is an adventure sport which is also your worst dreams realised. You need guts by the dozen to be able to jump off a moving aircraft mid air with nothing but a parachute tied to your back. This sport requires expert training before you can do it by yourself.

Feel like a bird in Dhana from Madhya Pradesh, Amby Valley in Maharashtra, Mysore in Karnataka and Deesa in Gujarat.