Oct 18 2007

Adventure sports in J&K

Published by Adam at 1:00 am under Adventure sports, States

The state of Jammu and Kashmir offers a lot of adventure sporting action, right from mountaineering to trekking, to parasailing, Para gliding, white water rafting and numerous other winter sports.

You can indulge in a series of a little less rigorous adventure sports, such as Water Skiing, on Srinagar’s Dal and Nagin Lakes, a popular part time in the valley. Water trekking is calculated to delight anyone wanting to explore the valley in a boat. A Gondala, locally known as Shikara, takes sightseers along a five-day route along rivers and lakes situated within the valley. Enjoy spending nights camping along the way. Trout fishing is another delightful water sport in Kashmir and fishing season lasts all through summer. The amazing trekking trails in Zanskar, Ladakh, Kargil, Jammu and the Kashmir valley act as a major allure for the people looking for some adventure.

Golf:

You can go for a game of Golf at the world’s highest green golf courses in Gulmarg. The Gulmarg course is usually open between April and November, as it is covered by snow for the rest of the year and its gentle slopes are transformed into mini ski runs for beginners.

River Rafting:

River Rafting is gaining popularity in the state among tourists. Rafting can be done in the Indus river and its tributaries. Ladakh. provides the best opportunity to enjoy and experience the natural beauty of the spectacular landscape with deep gorges, towering snow-capped peaks, hilltop monasteries, hillside villages, and glimpses of the unique wildlife. Ladakh offers a range of rafting options on the Indus and its major tributaries.

river rafting

Mountaineering and trekking:

People from both within the country as well as outside, come in huge numbers to scale the heights of the peaks that surround the state, making it a ideal place for all the adventure loving people.

Pir Panjal, Himalayas, Zanskar, Ladakh and Karakoram are some of the areas in the state that serve as popular Mountaineering destination.

The climbing season extends from mid - May to mid -October, the ideal period being from June to September because during this time only Ladakh remains unaffected by the monsoon, which holds sway over most of the Himalayas. Foreign climbing expeditions are required to obtain permission from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation for climbing all listed peaks.

You could also choose trekking possibilities which include short, daylong walks up and down mountain slopes to visit isolated villages or monastic settlements, or across a ridge to enjoy the sheer beauty of the lunar mountainscape. Or long, trans-mountain treks involving weeks of walking and camping in the wilderness.

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Fishing:

Fishing is big business in Kashmir through spring and summer. The British introduced the brown and rainbow trout to the streams of Kashmir, where they have thrived. At the same time they introduced the system of anglers reserving ‘ beats’ on their favorite river. Trout fishing in Kashmir is far cheaper than it is in any other part of the world. Kashmir is home to innumerable streams and rivers meandering through it. The geographical variation along the course of each river is immense, affording endless possibilities for the angler.

There are 61 beats open for reservation throughout the season, ranging from the turbulence of the Sindh and Wangat Rivers to the tranquility of the high altitude lakes Krishanshar, Vishanshar, Gangabal and Nunkhol.

Paragliding:

Jammu and Sanasar are the popular destinations for Para gliding in the region. They are the only destination infact, where Para gliding is held in an organized manner ensuring full safety of the adventurers. Batote that is located at a distance of 125 kilometers from Jammu is also a center for paragliding. Hot air ballooning in the Suru valley and the Zanskar area is a challenging activity.

Winter sports:

If you love winter sports J&K can be a fun place to be in winters when everything is covered with thick snow. Gulmarg, in Kashmir, has world-class ski slopes varying between 8,700 and 10,500 feet, the highest in India, with the ski and chair lifts providing basic utilitarian facilities along with simple link-up for beginners.

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So there is a lot to explore and experience in this rich state of India.

One Response to “Adventure sports in J&K”

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