Introducing a dash of spice to the conventional Dasara fare this time, the Department of Youth Services and Sports is conducting adventure sports to pump up the adrenalin of the youth.
The Department of Youth Services and Sports in association with General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure (GETHNAA) will organise water sports like jet skiing, banana rides, kayaking, canoeing and rafting.
The event will be on till October 3 at Varuna Lake, about 10 km from the city on the Mysore – T. Narsipur Road. A team of 40 qualified instructors and trained personnel are at hand to help participants.
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Mr. Prabhakar, one of the instructors for water sports, said that Dasara adventure sports offers a chance to savour adventure sports at subsidised rates. Jet skiing costs Rs. 300 per head while a banana ride would cost Rs. 250, much lower than rates quoted by private operators.
Public response, which was muted on the inaugural day on Thursday due to the rain, picked up subsequently. The organisers are happy about the turnout.
The popularity of trekking, cycling, rafting, and rock climbing is picking up in Mysore. C.K. Muralidharan, a veteran sports journalist, pointed out that youngsters make a beeline for Tonnur Kere near Melukote during weekends for water-based sports, while cycling has picked up in Mysore.
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The city recently held a mountain biking competition which received a positive response.
Trekking camps in the Himalayan region organised by veteran trekker S.D. Solanki of the International Academy of Mountaineering and Allied Sports too have become popular.