Sports and Adventure Travel in India

Alexis Devan
Alexis Devan, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Sep 27, 2010 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
Most people envision the Taj Mahal and bleak, desert scenery when they conjure images of India. However, India offers a diverse landscape throughout the country ranging from crystal clear ocean waters, lapping onto white sand beaches to skiing in the Himalayas. While India is a popular destination for spiritual and historical tourism, the country is becoming more popular as a destination for adventure tourism.

Camel Safaris
Popular in Rajasthan, India's westernmost state, camel safaris are popular in the winter, ranging from November through March, when the weather is cooler. Rajasthan's capital, Jaipur, is a popular starting point for most camel safaris through the desert. The safari can be anywhere from several days to a month long. The tour guide provides camping gear, mineral water, and all the essentials for the trek through the desert and the cold nights camping in the desert. There are several popular routes, and abridged versions of the popular routes, with most providing occasional entertainment in the evenings.

Diving
There are several diverse diving sites in Indian offering everything from tropical Goa's marine life that mirrors that of the Maldives to the volcanic islands of Andaman and Nicobar, in the Bay of Bengal. All dive sites in Goa are typically closed during monsoon season, lasting between November and May, while the best time to visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands is during this time. The last popular diving site is at Lakshadweep, composed of 36 coral islands filled with diverse marine life including sharks, tuna, and sting rays in the blue green waters of the Indian ocean.

The Principal, National Institute of Water Sports
Ministry of Tourism - Government of India
Sundial Apartments, A. S. Road
Altino, Panaji, Goa - 403 001
India
91-832-2436400

White Water Rafting
Rafting down the full length of the Zanskar, dubbed the "Grand Canyon of India" takes 12 days to complete the entire journey with most trips starting in Leh, allowing rafters a day or two to acclimate to the high altitude at 11,000 feet. The river passes through a desolate area of India, past mountain and glaciers. For thrill seekers, rafting down the Brahmaputra River allows rafter the opportunity to pass a grade six rapid, the highest rated rapid there is, through tropical forest on a self-contained river. For a more relaxing, and scenic route, the Spiti River expedition, passes through the lower portion of the Himalayas, passing monasteries and Buddhist temples.

References

Published by Alexis Devan

Alexis is a vegetarian and a world traveler. She has been to 20 countries on 5 continents so far, all before the age of 28. Alexis obtained a BS degree in paralegal studies and is currently a graduate studen...  View profile

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