Paragliding Over The Himalayan Valley

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Have you ever dreamt of flying like a bird, unhinged and free? Does the spirit of Icharus inspire you? If so, then paragliding is the adventure sport you are looking for. Fortunately, there are places in India that offer this experience at very reasonable prices.

Nainital

Nestled in the heart of Uttarakhand at an altitude of about 8,000 feet, is a small lake district called Nainital, touted by the British as the most beautiful hamlet in India. This region is home to a surprisingly large number of lakes. Picture a network of ridges in scenic valleys, interspersed with ravines and lakes that receive annual snowfall and you have the Nainital district. If you need more reasons to visit the place, here is one. Nainital tourism also offers hill paragliding in one its lake towns, Bhimtal.

Paragliding in Bhimtal

Near the town of Bhimtal, which has a beautiful lake with an island, lies a network of lakes called Naukuchiyatal. It is actually a series of interconnected lakes; the name Naukuchiyatal means that there were actually nine interconnected lakes in the hamlet. However, due to erosion and human involvement some of the lakes have drained completely. It still is a very scenic place with a very deep and clean network of lakes.

It is in this town that paragliding happens. Paragliding is a comparatively new practice, especially in India. Something about paragliding. As the name suggests, the glider is a wing quite unlike the parachute. It enables you to glide gently instead of just descending. Maneuvering a glider is actually quite simple. You need to run along a slope to launch yourself and then you’re free to ride the winds. Remember, when you’re standing in the edge you don’t look down, until you’re ready. The best part, you will have an efficiently trained pilot to steer you. It is perfectly safe. The glider generally flies at a speed of 30 to 40 kmph. Another fact about Kumaon Himalayas, they are always windy. The contraption has two harnesses to bind you securely, the steering is done by an experienced pilot and you feel the wind in your hair and the beautiful Himalayan sunshine on your face. What can be a more liberating experience than flying free? When you land, the pilot finds a gentle slope to gently descend, and then you get a ride back on a bike on very well maintained and scenic mountain road.

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Paragliding requires little to no athletic ability, all you need is a will to fly. Bhimtal offers you the chance to fly at your whim. So start packing!! Bhimtal, here we come!

About Author

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Arjan Kripal
Arjan comes from a family of professional cricketers. His grandfather, father and uncle have all represented India. Arjan himself captained the Indian Under 19 Team, and has played first class cricket for Tamil Nadu. He is a qualified coach, a BCCI match referee and even holds a world record in cricket! Arjan’s cricket career saw him travel extensively across the world. He has since discovered that he has an insatiable wander lust and a flair for planning itineraries for family and friends – a love and skill that has naturally progressed into setting up Get Up and Go. Arjan is a certified scuba diver and has bungee jumped, sky dived and paraglided several times. He has been to every continent and corner of the world, reveling in exotic foods and myriad photo ops; from walking the Inca Trail in Peru, to swimming with Whale sharks in Mexico… Arjan has even come face to face with a Great White Shark in South Africa! “I want to share all my varied journeys with fellow travellers so they can experience, first hand, something that has been so rewarding for me.”