Adilabad will host the first ever waterfall rappelling pre-World Cup at the rather unknown but picturesque Mukde or Gayatri waterfall in Neredigonda mandal between September 2 and 4 this year. This event is expected to project the district as a nature and environmental haven, thereby boosting adventure sports and tourism.
“The hilly Adilabad can actually be a prime destination for people who love adventure,” said well-known mountaineer K. Ranga Rao, founder director of Telangana State Adventure Club and Adventure Club of Andhra Pradesh. “The numerous waterfalls here, many of which are unexplored still, are best suited for adventure sports like waterfall rappelling,” he added, speaking about the event that TSAC is organising.
Waterfall rappelling is the latest to catch the fancy of adventure lovers across the world. It is being organised in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana since 2011, and Indian adventurists hold numerous world records in various categories.
“The drop at Gayatri waterfall is almost 350 feet, which makes it the highest natural wonder where the sport has been held. The last World Cup in waterfall rappelling was held at Lonavala waterfall in February this year, where the drop is just 135 ft.,” the pioneering adventure sportsman said.
Waterfall rappelling and other adventure sports like rafting were held at the famous Kuntala waterfall three years ago by the ACAP, but the event did not receive desired publicity. In Adilabad’s case, however, there could be a response from the Tourism Department in terms of popularising the possible destinations of adventure sports in the backward district of Adilabad, according to those associated with the impending event.
The pre-World Cup will see at least 300 participants divided into 30 teams from across the country, and some even from outside of India. The events will be organised for different age groups classified under senior, junior and veteran men and women categories.
The participants will get to test their endurance and adventure quotient in normal, reverse, blindfold, tandem rappelling, and vertical waterfall climbing, among others. “There is some problem at the foot of the waterfall for landing, but we will take care of it in the next few days,” Mr. Rao said.
Gayatri waterfall can be reached from Tarnam (K) when the Kadem stream is not in spate, Tarnam (B), and from Gundivagu village in Ichoda mandal. The first two involve a few kilometres of trekking.
