Guest Post: Top 10 adventure activities to do in India

By Divij Pasrija

New Zealand may be the adventure destination of the world, but you don’t necessarily have to cross seven seas to have some thrilling travel moments. India as an adventure destination packs quite a punch. There are fantastic trekking trails of the Himalayan region to be explored, amazing white water rapids to be experienced and much more.Here is the top 10 list of adventure activities to do in India. It should give you a glimpse of what all can be experienced in this nation of more than a billion.

1. Chadar Trek- Trekking lovers will absolutely gorge on this trekking journey. You get to walk on a frozen river in Ladakh on this trek. There is a white sheet of ice for as far as you can see, and some really treacherous regions to cross. You have to keep your nerves on this trek, and keep your wits too, since it can be dangerous. Danger is what makes it exciting, apart from the awe-inspiring beauty.

2. Jungle safari in Jim Corbett National Park- How about a chance to see a majestic tiger out in the open? Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand is one of the best habitats for tigers in India. It is also India’s oldest wildlife reserve and home to plenty of other species of animals. Take a wildlife safari through the reserve for some thrilling moments.

3. Dune Bashing in Rajasthan- It might not be an adventure per se, but nevertheless, it is a really fun experience. You hop on to a 4*4 and travel through the sand dunes of Jaisalmer, crushing each one under you. The rugged ride brings out the child in you, as you go on a fun destruction spree, that in no way harms the environment.

4. Rafting in Rishikesh- An adventure trip of India cannot be complete without rafting in Rishikesh. The destination is one of the best in India for white water rafting. There are Grade III and Grade IV rapids to be encountered in the raging River Ganga here. Apart from rafting, you could take part in other adventure activities too in Rishikesh, such as mountain climbing, or even bungee jumping.

5. Trekking and mountaineering- India is blessed with some really beautiful and challenging treks. You will most of these treks in the Himalayan region, which take you to remote places and villages at great heights. There are some exciting peaks to be climbed too in India, which make for a thrilling experience. For avid mountaineers, consider climbing Stok Kangri or Kang Yatse in Ladakh.

6. Heli skiing in Manali- Skiing always makes for a really adventurous experience, even if you don’t have the technical skills to do it properly. For avid skiers, and for beginners too, there is heli skiing opportunity in Manali. You are taken to some fantastic slopes in the upper reaches of the valley and get to ski your heart out. Rohtang Pass is particularly famous as a skiing destination.

7. Hot air ballooning- This is the newest entrant in the field of adventure activities in India. You could take a hot air balloon trip in Rajasthan. Seeing the forts and palaces of the region from high above is a different experience altogether. Watch out for that wind, and the goosebumps!

8. Caving in Meghalaya- There are about 1000 different caves in Meghalaya. The heavy rainfall and limestone deposits in the region have resulted in a network of caves, which keeps getting wider with time. There are some simple caves to be explored in Meghalaya, and some really difficult ones, which require a lot of technical training.

9. Snorkeling with elephant- You may have taken an elephant safari before, but this one is totally different. An Andaman trip gives you an opportunity to go snorkeling with an elephant. Rajan, the snorkeling elephant, is a resident of Havelock Island. You get to swim with him underwater and explore the beautiful marine life of the region.

10. Camel Safari in Ladakh- A camel safari is not so much an adventurous experience. But when it happens on a rare, double humped back camel, in freezing temperatures, it does make for an adventurous experience. You can take a camel safari in Ladakh, in the sand dunes between Deskit and Hunder villages. The overlooking snow capped peaks almost make it look like an unreal experience.

About author: Divij Pasrija is an adventurer, budding photographer and a digital marketing strategist. He has been to various trekking trails and to many offbeat destinations in India. He has been writing since he was 12. Currently, he writes articles on travel for www.Thrillophilia.com.

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