Leap of faith

Go where adventure beckons. Conquer the skies, triumph over the waters for unlimited fun and excitement.

February 11, 2016 02:28 pm | Updated 02:28 pm IST

Heli-skiing. Photo: Nissar Ahmad

Heli-skiing. Photo: Nissar Ahmad

Some go for a stroll in the park, while others jog, run or swim. Then there are those who scale walls, jump off cliffs with nothing but a rope holding them back before they hit rock bottom, literally, or leap across buildings, and swoosh down waterfalls. These are adrenaline junkies who constantly crave excitement and desire the feeling of momentary dread followed by the thrill of conquering their favourite sports. No more does one have to head to faraway lands or exotic locations to indulge in abseiling, bungee jumping or even scuba diving and parasailing. Here are a few adventure sports that are now a rage in India. Check them out…

Scale it up a notch

You scale walls, hurdle over fences and leap over columns in ways that defy gravity. This is parkour. The word parkour is derived from parcours du combattant , the characteristic obstacle-course method of military training. Referred to as the “art of displacement” by French actor David Belle, who is a pioneer in this sport, it involves moving from one point to another as efficiently as possible using jumps, power climbs and flips. Today, it is popular in Nasik, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai. It however, demands a good deal of grit, mental strength and perseverance. What makes it a fun sport is that it has no specific age limit — anyone from five to 50 can indulge in the sport and revel in its excitement.

Making a splash

For those of you who nurture a love for the water and open skies, kayaking is the way to go. Kayaks were created thousands of years ago by the Inuits, or Eskimos. They used driftwood to construct the frame of the kayak and animal skin, especially seal skin, to construct the body. Their main purpose was for hunting and fishing. Over the years, however, kayaks have become synonymous with sport. It has garnered immense popularity among enthusiasts and it is common to see kayakers in the backwaters of Kerala, the Dal, Nagin and Wular lakes in Jammu and Kashmir, Rishikesh in Uttarkhand and Teesta in Sikkim.

Highly recreational in nature, the sport involves paddling across sites in a kayak, fully equipped with safety gear. It also gives you the freedom to take part in other activities like diving, fishing and wilderness exploration.

Off the beaten trail

In the mood for some fun in the snow? Envisioned yourself attired in those stylish snow suits as you go zipping down snowy slopes? Well, you do not have to travel to remote corners of the world to watch your dream become a reality. Heli-skiing, is off-trail downhill skiing that can be accessed by a helicopter. Skiers board helicopters and are carried to a landing zone on the mountain. Once they alight, skis, snowboards and poles are unloaded by the guide or instructor, and before you know it, you’re off trailing the mountains. Manali in Himachal Pradesh and Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir are home to some of the best heli-skiing conditions in the world. While there are certain risks such as avalanches, precautionary measures trump the possibility of nasty after-effects.

Reach for the skies

How many times have you looked at birds and wistfully yearned for their ability to touch the skies? Your wish could be fulfilled by going up in a hot air balloon. Drifting away in the vast expanse of the azure sky is thrilling and calming, all at once. Head to Rajasthan for the ride of your life. Or get in touch with Sky Waltz, a company that organises hot air balloon rides in the country. There is also a Balloon Club of India that organises rides in New Delhi.

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