The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Paragliding camp, joy rides set to change Yelagiri’s face

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Friday, Jun 05, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Paragliding camp, joy rides set to change Yelagiri’s face

N. Anand

Programme to be conducted from June 5 to 21

Temple Pilots, a Pune-based flight training school, to conduct the camp
Tourism Department to introduce parasailing at Mudaliarkuppam soon

CHENNAI: The Yelagiri Adventure Sports Association (YASA), in association with Yelagiri Paragliding Club (YPC), will conduct a paragliding pilots training camp and joy ride for flying enthusiasts in the Yelagiri hills from June 5 to 21, said Tourism Secretary V.Irai Anbu on Wednesday.

“This is for the first time, paragliding pilot training camps and joy rides will be conducted in Tamil Nadu with the help of experts. Around 42 pilots have registered for the camp. Last year, we conducted paragliding event for three days in September and the response from the public encouraged us to hold the event on a regular basis and on a large scale to attract more tourists to this spot,” he told The Hindu.

Itinerary

Flying enthusiasts can take part in tandems (a two-seater joyride with an experienced pilot); attend a one-day course in the basics of paragliding; four-day course to become an independent pilot; ‘flying day’ session for non-certified club pilots and certified club pilots; and a four-day ‘thermalling’ clinic.

“We have authorised Temple Pilots, a Pune-based flight training school, to conduct the camp. Temple Pilots is rated among the top schools in South East Asia and they have been conducting flying tours and advanced courses in different parts of the city. We will also promote trekking and rock climbing soon,” said YASA joint secretary C.Jayakrishnan.

Perfect setting

A Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) official said that though there were several hill stations in the State, Yelagiri offered the perfect setting for paragliding. Besides, it was strategically located between Chennai and Bangalore.

“While it might take a few hours to return to the base camp after the initial take-off, the same task can be accomplished in Yelagiri within 30 minutes. We have carried out several improvement works in the last few months to encourage adventure tourism. So far, Yelagiri was known for boating, trekking, golfing and vacation. The introduction of paragliding will change its face. We will be introducing parasailing in Mudaliarkuppam soon,” the official said.

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