Kashmir adventure tourism offers the tourists with a wonderful opportunity to explore the vast terrains of the exotic Himalayan mountain ranges. Kashmir is one of the most sought after Adventure Tourist destinations of World ! Apart from natural beauty, the unique landscape of Jammu and Kashmir also encourages one to find out one's inherent sporting caliber.
Some of the main adventure sports in Kashmir valley of India are: Fishing, Golf, Mountaineering, Skiing, Trekking, River Rafting, Paragliding in Kashmir, Aero Sports, Backpacking, Canoe Trips, Camping, Kayaking etc.
Mountaineering in Kashmir
For mountaineering in Kashmir, you need to take permission from the
Government of India through the Indian Mountaineering Foundation
(IMF). The relief and terrain of Kashmir offers exciting
opportunities for mountaineering in the state. High peaks of the
Himalayas attract thousands of adventure sports lovers to the
state.
These mountains can be categorized as Alpine and Himalaya. The four
important mountaineering zones in the state of Jammu and Kashmir
are Kashmir, Zanskar, Kishtwar and Ladakh. With the mighty ranges
of the Himalayas towering 10,000 to 28,000 feet above the sea
level, mountaineering options in Kashmir are almost
unlimited.
The Pir Panjal, Karakoram and Zanskar ranges are the
mountaineer's delight. Add to that the charm of the green pine
forests, the rich plants and animal life on the mountains. The
peaks of Sonamarg facilitate quick ascent and decent, while the
lower peaks of Kishtwar are more challenging owing to their
ruggedness.
Foreign climbing expeditions are required to obtain permission from
the Indian Mountaineering Foundation for climbing all listed peaks.
Application forms for booking along with other requisite documents
can be obtained from the Director, Indian Mountaineering
Foundation, Benito Jurez Road, New Delhi-110021.The climbing season
extends from mid-May to mid-October
Skiing in Kashmir
Snow skiing in Jammu and Kashmir is like a dream come
true to any adventure sports enthusiast. The snow capped mountains
in Kashmir offer great opportunities for snow skiing. The best
place for skiing in Kashmir is Gulmarg. Infact, Gulmarg is the best
ski resort in the Himalayas.
Trekking in Kashmir
Trekking in Kashmir is one of the highlights of tourism
in the Kashmir valley. Some of the popular and famous routes for
trekking in Kashmir valley of India are: Amarnath Yatra,
Gulmarg,Marwah Valley,Daksum,Margen Top,Famber,Sinthen Top Sonamarg
etc.
River Rafting in Kashmir
Kashmir is quite famous for a number of picturesque
lakes and rivers. These water bodies of Kashmir not only serve as
delight to the eyes, but are also a hub of a number of
activity-oriented leisure sports. The less adventurous people go
for the quiet Shikara boat rides on the Dal Lake and Nagin Lake of
Srinagar. The Shikara rides offer peace and serenity as well as the
option of sightseeing some of the beautiful places on the
embankments. Other options include riding motorboats or going for
water skiing.
However, what takes the cake is white water rafting in Kashmir
Rivers. River rafting tourism was introduced quite recently in the
Kashmir valley. The best season for River rafting in Kashmir is
from August to September. The following rivers of the Kashmir
valley are quite popular from the river rafting point of
view:
• Lidder River
• Sindh River
• Drass River
• Suru River
• Indus River
• Zanskar River
• Chenab River
• Jhelum River
Paragliding in Kashmir
Aero sports are a rage amongst those visiting the Kashmir valley. Amongst the numerous aero sports, paragliding is the most popular in Kashmir. Also, it is one of the latest adventure sports that are picking up fast in the Kashmir valley. Para gliding takes you on a tour of the green valleys and majestic mountains of Kashmir. Looking from above, you will find the sight of the valley almost breathtaking. There are a number of adventure clubs in Jammu, Sanasar and Batote that offer paragliding facilities. At Jammu and Sanasar, proper training camps for both paragliding as well as parasailing are organized. Paragliding equipments are easily available at the tourist office in Jammu and the local agencies in Jammu and Sanasar. The best time for paragliding, especially in Sanasar, is the period of May-June and September-October.