This summer are you game to let loose your wild side? Do you want to allow your city-weary soul to take in the pristine beauty of nature, even as you indulge yourself in an adventure holiday? If yes, take your pick from a mind-boggling variety of options available this season.

From gentle walks on the shaded pine slopes to hard treks over rough and rocky trails in the high passes of Himalayas; from white water rafting, heli-skiing and kayaking to rock climbing and rappling, the choices on hand are aplenty to rejuvenate both the mind and the body. Hot on the list of nature-seeking vacationers, and not just for those who cannot afford a trip to the phoren lands, are Lahaul and Spiti, Raison and Malana (in Kulu) and Palampur in Himachal Pradesh; Zanskar, Kargil and Leh in the Ladakh region; and Rishikesh in Uttaranchal.

Adventure tourism was initially popularised by private tour operators in the late 1990s but once it became a big draw with foreign tourists, the HP Government too began to focus on it. On offer are treks, paragliding, camping and mountaineering in tribal areas and hot air ballooning, besides water skiing, motorbiking and car rallies. The state also offers challenging safaris in the outback, exhilarating skiing on the snow-covered mountains as well as soaring flights on hang gliders.

Nine kilometres north of Rishikesh In Uttaranchal, river rafting is the preferred sport, while trekking and camping are enjoyed in the Har ki Doon valley near Mussoorie. Even Nainital offers a number of trekking and water sports options. Morni hills, the quaint and only hill station in Haryana (about 40 km from Chandigarh) presents refreshing sports activities like rock climbing, rappling, water sports and trekking. Paragliding is available at the Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation near Pinjore, about 25 km from Chandigarh.

Manoj Sharma, Deputy Director, Department of Tourism, Himachal Pradesh, says that the Department has been actively promoting adventure sports among tourists. “Though only a small percentage  of domestic tourists coming to Himachal indulge in adventure sports, their percentage has been increasing. Seeing the foreign tourists’ interest in adventure sports, we are now all out to promote it. We have organised two India Rafting Championships on the Sutlej near Tatta Pani, three paragliding Pre World Cup Tournaments at Bir Biling near Palampur, besides the Great Himalayan Rally, in order to bring Himachal on the world adventure tourism circuit.”

Gone are the days when the trekking and camping trips were restricted to NCC students or foreigners. Now, the new global Indian has realised the worth of a ‘holiday with a difference’. Adventure tourism options in North India are high on the list of yuppies, especially business executives and professionals like doctors, lawyers and engineers, who have seen the world. Even the middle-aged are willing to let the adrenaline flow as they opt for camping and soft trekking tours. Cashing in on the trend, a few luxury hotels in Shimla now offer trekking packages and organise picnics for their guests.

Need for tourism zones N K Sharma, Dean, Institute of Tourism and Future Trends, Chandigarh, warns that unplanned and unregulated tourism kills tourism. He says that the government, while promoting adventure tourism, should encourage a community approach towards tourism, so that the local community is benefited. The tourists could be asked not to carry routine supplies so that these could be bought from the local people. “Employment generation through tourism is high. If you invest Rs 10 lakh in a hotel, 89 jobs are created in the hotel and 46 in tourism. In other capital- intensive industry like the manufacturing industry, similar investment would yield only 13 jobs,” he says. “Create special tourism zones, with adequate facilities, without degrading the pristine environment — physical and social,” he recommends. He also advocates the setting up of tented colonies on the lines of Banjara camps and Snowline camps in Kinnaur district.

Harish Saxena, Chairman, Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI), says till a few years ago the Association was running adventure activities primarily for youth. “But now, we have people in the age group of 15-65 years, who are going for trekking and camping trips. However, most of the people are either from metros or from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. Since the hills are a small distance from the plains of Punjab and Haryana, tourists from these places go uphill for cooler climes and rarely indulge in adventure sports,” he says.

A former General Manager with Himachal Tourism and Dean at the Institute of Tourism and Future Trends, NK Sharma, says, “With lifestyles getting more stressful, people look forward to a vacation that allows them to unwind and relax. The new breed of tourist wants time and space to be on their own — in the lap of nature.”

Agreeing with him, Mohit Bansal, legal executive in an MNC in Delhi, points out, “On a holiday, we just wanted to shut out the outside world. This time we have decided to camp in the Sangla valley. We’ll camp amidst the woods near the Baspa river.” His wife, Noyonika, a fashion designer, chips in, “No television, no newspapers, no frantic calls from office or business associates. We plan to trek in the woods and meadows, and engage in fishing.”

Trekking routes

Himachal Pradesh can be rightly called the trekkers’ paradise. Some of the popular treks are as follows:

Kinner Kailash Parikrama

Mount Kinner Kailash in Chamba district is a place of religious significance. The circuit around the whole range attracts trekkers and pilgrims. The trek begins from Kalpa, goes through Thangi, Charang and Chitkul. It terminates at Kalpa.

Manali- Hamta Pass- Chandratal

This is one of the finest treks and can be completed in six days. The trek from Manali passes through Jagatsukh-Hamta Pass and descends to Chattru before reaching Chandratal from the Shigri glacier.

Manali-Chandrakhani-Malana

The trek starts from Naggar, 27 km from Manali. After passing through the Chandrakhani pass, one reaches Malana, home to an aboriginal tribe.

Sarahan-Sangla

This trek in the Kinnaur district starts from Sarahan and passes through Barua, Chasu and Dumer before reaching Sangla via the Shibling pass.

This summer you can also opt for the Himalayan Trekking Expedition-2005, organised by the YHAI, in the Kulu valley and Har ki Doon. The details are given below.

a) Malana-Kiksa Yanker Pass April 25 – May 25

Rs 1,750 (11 days)

Reporting Camp at Seobagh, Kulu 

b) Sar Pass Expedition May 1 – 31

Rs 1,900 (11 days)

Reporting Camp at Kasol
c) Nature Study April 25 – May 25
Rs1,200 (8 days)

Reporting Camp Dobhi

(For students below 15 years)

d) Har ki Doon May 1- 31

Rs 2,400 (16days)

Reporting Camp at Mussoorie Youth Hostel

e) Nature Study – Dalhousie April 21 – 26, May 1, 6 and 11

Rs.1,200 (6 days)

The fee includes tented accommodation, vegetarian food, expert guidance and equipment. One group will leave daily from the base camps during the above-mentioned periods.

Water sports

Water rafting is popular on the Sutlej and Beas, especially at Pirdi near Kulu and near Rohru and Tatta Paani in Shimla. A water sports centre has been set up at Piridi to provide a one-stop water sports adventure treat to tourists. Water skiing, motorcycling, canoeing and sailing are offered in Pong Dam and the Gobind Sagar, while kayaking is possible at Pandoh Dam on the way to Mandi. Other than this, one of the best areas for rafting is just nine kilometres from Rishikesh.

Heli skiing

Rohtang Pass and the Solang nallah offer a variety of slopes for skiers. Col H S Chauhan, Director, Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, says that the institute provides ski equipment all through the year as well as makes available instructors for beginners. In Auli, near Joshimath in Uttaranchal, skiing is possible during winter months.

Heli-skiing can be done on the Pathalsu slopes above the Solang valley from December to mid-April. By a joint venture of Himachal Tourism and Himachal Helicopter Skiing, a helicopter leaves the skier on a mountaintop, from where they can glide down on their own. It is very popular with foreign tourists, and it costs $ 6000 to 7000 US per person per week.

Other attractions

Other adventure sports like hang gliding and paragliding in Bir Biling near Palampur; rock climbing and rappling in Dharamsala, Bharmour, Narkanda and Jispa; jeep safari from Manali to Leh; and mountain biking and motor cycling are also available in HP.