If you’re a woman who loves adventure, here are 8 adventure activities in India and the adventure travel destinations in India where you can do them.
If you love adventure travel activities, you’ll love India. The climate, the seasons, the landscape – every corner of this country is filled with diversity that makes India a huge attraction for adventure travel junkies.
Studies on adventure tourism in India have found that adventure sports are gaining popularity with domestic travellers in India and the demand by domestic tourists for adventure sports in India has shown a 400% rise.
India is blessed with Nature’s bounty over its vast geography, from mountains to beaches, rivers to oceans, islands to deserts. Today Indian women are defining new ways of exploring the world, either solo or in groups.
But who usually embarks on adventure travel? While many studies say college-educated males in their 20s typically embark on hard adventures, baby boomers and seniors significantly impact the rise in the number of soft travellers.
However, adventure-seeking women have substantially contributed to the growth of the adventure travel industry. For example, divorcees aged 40 and 60 usually turn to adventure travel to celebrate a new life on their own.
In addition, adventure travel is physically and psychologically beneficial to women. Physical challenges like mountain climbing require both physical fitness and focus. It develops muscles and serves as an excellent mental workout.
Achieving difficult tasks also help build self-esteem for people going through a midlife crisis. From fun-filled leisure travel to exciting adventure tours in India, women are leaving no stone unturned to push the boundaries of what they are capable of.
Women have become avid participants in adventure tourism, now one of the fastest-growing trends in the travel business. As a woman who loves adventure sports, you’ll find no dearth of adventure activities offered by adventure tour groups that specialize in adventure travel in India.
What is Adventure Tourism?
Adventure tourism started with Leo Le Bon who co-founded the world’s first adventure travel company, Mountain Tours, with other eight travel mates.
Le Bon and others made the first commercial journey to the Annapurna region of Nepal. Since then, the travel business has grown rapidly resulting in a plethora of travel companies that offer adventure vacations.
The way adventure travel is classified depends on the level of strenuousness of the activities involved. The two categories of adventure travel are hard and soft adventures.
Hard adventures fall under extreme and mostly dangerous sporting activity. Examples of hard adventures are rock climbing, surfing, paragliding, and scuba diving in remote locations.
Soft adventures, on the other hand, are often educational or leisure activities that do not involve strenuous activity. Bird watching, religious pilgrimages and architectural tours are all soft adventures.
Whether you choose to go leisure biking and hiking or base jumping into an underground cave in Mexico, adventure travel typically involves a journey to far-flung areas, intermingling with various cultures, and doing physical activity.
Your first task is to determine first how adventurous you would like to be. Sports-themed vacations are well-liked for athletes. Examples of these are baseball fantasy camps and NASCAR driving schools.
Safari tours are one example of popular soft adventures. This may involve driving and walking through the African plains and come into close contact with lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo.
Long-time popular tours include biking and hiking to the Seven Wonders of World, which include the pyramids of Egypt, cultural tours in Japan and Ethiopia, the Great Wall of China, and the Taj Mahal in India.
8 Adventure Activities In India
If you’re a woman who loves adventure, here are 8 adventure activities in India and the adventure travel destinations in India where you can do them.
1. Rafting or Kayaking
Rafting or kayaking is a common adventure travel activity in India. It’s an outdoor activity that involves navigating a water body (mostly a river) along different degrees of rough water.
Teamwork is the key to dealing with the risks you’ll face and when the journey is complete, it’s an exhilarating experience for everyone.
Some of the most popular places for rafting in India include Rishikesh, Kullu-Manali, Tons River in Uttarakhand, Zanskar River, Barapole, Coorg and many more.
You don’t have to be an expert rafter to take part in this activity. An experienced rafter accompanies every team so as to lead the team and help them navigate easily.
2. Zip-lining
Imagine yourself beneath the sky, flying like a bird, at an elevation of around 1000 ft to 1500 ft above the ground, and moving with a speed of 50 km per hour.
The best part is you can decide the place to fly from a wide number of options. You can go to the mountains, jungles, or beaches. Zip-lining is an adventure activity that can be undertaken at any time of the year.
Some well-known places for zip-lining in India include Neemrana Fort, Mussorie, Munnar, Rishikesh, and Goa.
3. Waterfall Rappelling
Descending from a waterfall cliff is not for the weak-hearted. Apart from sheer guts, you need to be a daredevil or a thrill-seeker to experience this unforgettable experience.
Waterfall rappelling is not so popular in India, that’s why it is available only in a few places. It is similar to rappelling except that you have to slide down through a waterfall with the help of a rope.
This is a difficult activity, but it can be accomplished under the guidance of an expert professional. The best time to experience this daring activity is during the monsoon season.
Some preferred places for waterfall rappelling in India are the Chelavara waterfalls in Coorg, Kondana caves in Maharashtra, Neer Gaddu waterfalls in Rishikesh, and Bekare Waterfalls in Bhivpuri, Karjat.
4. Scuba Diving
Grab your scuba, pull on your wetsuit and diving mask, and get ready to touch the bottom of the ocean. Scuba diving is your opportunity to experience a magical world under the sea and make memories for a lifetime.
The preferred places in India for scuba diving are the Havelock islands in Andaman and Nicobar islands. The best time to visit is between October and April.
Other good places for scuba diving are Corruption Rock in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, from December to March, Grand Island, Goa from November to March, and Netrani Island, Karnataka, from December to January.
5. Paragliding
Would you like to spread your wings and fly free like a bird? Some crazy dreamers took this to the next level by inventing paragliding, a thrilling adventurous sport that has fulfilled the dream of many adventure junkies.
You can enjoy paragliding at almost any time of year, except during the monsoons. This competitive and recreational adventure sport requires a lightweight, glider-aircraft without any primary rigid structure. It needs to be foot-launched.
Some of the preferred places for paragliding are Solang valley and Marhi in Manali, Pithoragarh, and Ranikhet in Uttrakhand, Panchgani and Panshet in Maharashtra.
6. Caving
Imagine yourself going overcoming the fear of the unknown, exploring Nature’s incredible and amazing spaces beneath mountains, deserts, or even the ice.
Caving is an adventure travel activity that involves the exploration of wild cave systems. It is most suited for thrill-seekers who love to explore the unknown and are fascinated by the intricate creations of nature.
Caving can be conducted as a recreational as well as a scientific activity. The best time to do it is from November to March because the water level in the caves remains low during these months.
Some well-known places in India to experience caving are Krem Liat Prach in Meghalaya (Longest Natural Cave), Kreem Kotsati cave in Meghalaya, Belum Borra cave in Andhra Pradesh, and the Kailash caves in Chattisgarh.
7. Trekking
Trekking is bliss for nature lovers and suitable for many levels of fitness! You get to spend time in nature, go camping, and sleep under clear skies filled with stars and enjoy a diversity of flora and fauna during the day.
You don’t need to be a pro to go trekking in India. You can simply pack your bags and go for easy treks on the weekend. If you’ve already gone on trekking tours in India, you can try trekking in Nepal, for an entirely different experience.
From experiencing lush green forests to pristine valleys, green meadows and friendly locals, trekking gives you an experience that not only thrills your soul but makes you appreciate your significance as a human being.
You can go to Nepal for trekking, or just go for long nature walks in India. It is not necessary to be a part of a group to experience this adventure activity. You can even try it solo, but only after you’ve gained some experience.
The Annapurna Base camp trek is one of the better-known treks in Nepal. It starts from Pakhora to Manang and be as short as two days to as long as one-month long treks, so there are different options to choose from.
Some other well-known treks are Chadar Trek and Markha Valley in Ladakh, Roopkund trek and Kedartal trek in Uttrakhand, Goecha La Trek, Pin – Parvati, Chandrakheni trek in Himachal Pradesh.
The Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, Hampta pass trek in Manali, Kashmir great lakes trek, Chandrashila trek in Haridwar and Bhrigu Lake in Manali are some more famous locations for trekking trips in India.
8. Cliff Jumping
If you’re afraid of heights, jumping off a cliff is the ideal opportunity to face your fears and conquer them. Most adrenaline junkies would love the thrill of jumping from 30 to 40 ft above the ground.
Depending upon your interests and physical abilities, you can grow your cliff jumping abilities. Some people take it on as a hobby, while others consider it an adventure sport, but most people are still afraid of giving it a shot.
In my opinion, you should definitely give it a try at least once in your lifetime. Cliff jumping is an unforgettable experience for thrill-seekers on adventure holidays in India.
Some preferred places for this adventure travel activity are Hampi, in Karnataka, Bhedaghat in Jabalpur district in Madhya Pradesh, Rishikesh in Uttrakhand, Goa, and St. Mary’s Island in Karnataka.
Safety Precautions For Your Trips In India
As a woman, here are a few precautions you should take to be safe, whether you’re going solo on an India tour or with India group tours on your adventure in India.
- Learn about the local customs before going to a new place and try to blend with the locals. Standing out makes you a target for unscrupulous people who prey on tourists.
- It’s also important not to lose your bearings or be preoccupied with your phone. Always stay alert and keep a close watch on your surroundings.
- Getting drunk or using drugs is never a good idea when travelling to an unknown place, as you need to stay sharp and keep your wits about you.
- Don’t share your personal details with strangers, and avoid sharing where you’re staying. Sharing information should be on a need-to-know basis.
- Join local tours to get to know a city and avoid being alone on secluded roads at night.
- Follow the rules and laws of the state you’re visiting on your India trip. As a tourist, breaking the law can get you in a lot of trouble.
- Learn to read the situation and trust your instincts, especially when someone or something makes you uncomfortable.
- Keep in mind that politeness is not as important as staying safe. Trust your gut, when something seems off and get out of that situation as soon as possible.
- Don’t rely on last moment bookings. Try to book beforehand so you never have to wander the roads at night looking for a place to stay.
- Wear a travel safety whistle around your neck for life-threatening situations.
- Be positive and optimistic. There’s no need to be afraid in every situation.
- Avoid misplacing cash, passport, and important documents. Be extra aware of them. Get a travel wallet that you can wear to keep them safe.
- Read a few travel guides, visit travel forums and learn about the place you’re heading to.
- Be aware of places that are known to be dangerous and popular scams in the place you’re travelling to.
- If you’re worried about travelling solo, you can join a number of travel groups for singles in India.
India is an amazing country and the majority of women who have travelled solo to this country have returned again and again. From trekking in the Himalayas to rafting in the gushing rivers of Ladakh to paragliding in Goa, you’ll never fall short of adventure travel activities while you’re in India.
As long as you have a confident and positive attitude and use your common sense, you should be able to avoid uncomfortable situations. Enjoy your adventure activities in India and be sure to bring back tons of amazing memories of your adventure trip in India.
Also read:
- Travel gear, travel essentials and travel accessories for women
- India trip packing list for women travelling to India
- Top 10 travel destinations for Indian women
- Goa beach guide to the best beaches of Goa
Author Bio :
Manmohan Singh is a passionate Yogi, Yoga Teacher and Traveller in India. He conducts Yoga Teacher Training in India in different cities. He loves writing and reading books related to yoga, health, nature, Himalayas and trekking in Nepal.
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