Trekking :- Himachal
Pradesh, nestled in the great Himalayas of India, is one such
spot where you will love to tread through the designated trek
paths. Also, it is not that you need to be an experienced or
professional trekkers to enjoy yourself here. The trek routes
here vary a lot - from very gentle to rugged and very tough.
Rafting :
- There are four rivers in Himachal that offer opportunities
to enjoy white water rafting. These rivers flow in the north
westerly direction and are almost parallel to one another. The
first of these, Beas has its genesis in the Rohtang Pass and
flows through the Kullu valley.
Skiing : - skiing
areas in Himachal Pradesh include the Solang Nallah, Patalsu,
Kothi, Marhi and Rohtang slopes. All these are the nearby areas
of Manali and are considered extremely good for skiing. The
Rohatnag Pass and Patalsu are the only slopes in the country
where you can enjoy skiing in summer season. Solang Nallah also
plays host to the National level ski competition.
Paragliding
: - Paragliding is a combination of hang gliding and
parachuting. However, it is not parachuting altogether as many
of you might think. The difference between the two lies in the
fact that a paraglider is made of non porous sail cloth. Its
cells are open in the front while at the back they are closed.
Also, a paraglider is collapsible wing made of light weight
space age material.
Camping: - Camping
is perhaps the best way to enjoy the natural outdoors of
Himachal and being part of the life of its people. You can carry
your own gear along or opt for any one of the several camps
pitched in various parts of the state. These camps offer
accommodation, catering and a variety of activities like hiking,
fishing, nature-tours and rafting. Most of these offer quality
facilities and services. Himachal Tourism operates camps at
Sarchu in Lahaul besides built accommodation. Tents are
available at Sangla and Kalpa in Kinnaur and at Kaza in Spiti.
The Youth Hostel Association of India runs camps at Dalhousie (Chamba)
and at Kullu-Manali. Camps run by the private sector are at
Baspa (Sangla) valley and Kalpa in Kinnaur, at Tabo in Spiti, at
Al Hilal (Taragarh) and Dharamsala in Kangra, at Shoja near
Kullu and Mashobra and Baldian near Shimla. Adventure camps are
also expected to be set-up in the Pabbar valley in the Jubbal -
Hatkoti - Rohru area in Shimla district.
Mountaineering & Rock Climbing :- Rock climbing is often
seen as the basic stage for mountain climbing. It can also be
treated as an independent sport, since it is climbing a rock
face, using only hands and feet with a safety rope. The area
around Manali, presently forms the core of mountaineering in
Himachal. The Beas Kund region and lower reaches of the Hanuman
Tibba (5930 m), the Manali and Shitidhar peaks around the source
of river Beas and Deo Tibba (6001 m) (Kullu) area are suggested
for amateurs. The Chandra Bhaga ranges, the Pir Panjal and
Dhalaudhar ranges may be suitable for more experienced climbers.
The Allied Sports Institute at Manali and its branch at
Dharamsala (Kangra) conduct mountaineering tours. Courses are
also available at the institute.
Water
Sports: - The Maharana Pratap Sagar reservoir in Kangra with
its 42 km length and 2 km breadth, offers a variety of
activities in close collaboration with the Directorate of
Mountaineering and Allied Sports. Year long activities include
swimming, water-skiing, surfing, kayaking, rowing, canoeing and
sailing. Three levels of courses are conducted - beginner,
intermediate and advanced. Similar activities are also available
on the waters of Gobind Sagar near Bilaspur, the Chamera lake
near Dalhousie (Chamba) and the Pandoh lake on the Mandi-Kullu
National Highway.