Although women have taken to adventure sports since its inception it is sad to note that they have not been recognized for their participations. Speculations about whether a woman can take physical strain or not have been going on for a long time now. But the debate is being questioned severely as more and more women are seen indulging in extreme sports.

Be it Niki Gudex, a pro snowboarder or Lynn Hill an ace rock climber. There is no denying that women like in every other domain of their life are becoming known for pushing their limits and taking on themselves some self – directed action.

As much there is a need to clear the myth about women being able to do well in adventure sports there is also a dire need educate the masses about the accessibility of adventure sports. Adventure sports are not just for the tough ones. They are for everyone. They are so varied in their style that anyone who has the faintest of the idea about adventure can give it a try.

If I say adventure sports and you think of climbing the steepest hill on the planet, or spending days alone in Antarctica, you may also see that although these extreme sports sum up the essence of adventure they are not the only ones.  There are several other sports which do not require extreme training, neither great fitness levels. Paragliding, parasailing, hot-air ballooning, scuba diving and snorkeling are to name a few.

The misconceptions that adventure sports create in everyone’s mind can be challenged when you try out some of these sports. You would discover how all of these have a charm of their own. They all are addictive and so fun-filled that you would prefer adventure breaks to any other. The best about these sports is that they are more of a recreational activity, more for instant fun and thrill rather than something that has a long set of pre-requisites.

You may ask what pre-requisites I speak of here. Seasoned adventurers believe in constant practice and thorough training. For them climbing a mountain peak or swimming an ocean is serious business and probably the only task at hand for the time being. Hence being well toned and masculine becomes a priority for them. The dedication of these seasoned adventurers however should not stop us from trying out different activities. As said before adventure sports are many, not all require the participant to be perfect and fit.

In fact what you can try out is to indulge in the fun activities and gradually proceed onto the tougher more challenging tasks. It may take time but don’t you worry people, if you have the will to move ahead, there is no stopping you.

Ladakh or the land of passes is a famous tourist destination. It is on every trekker’s must-visit list. It is bounded by Himalayan range on one side and Karakoram Range on the other. The normal temperatures here are extremely low and in winters they go as low as -20 degree centigrade.  Leh which is the capital of Ladakh has many tourist attractions. Ladakh has a strong Tibetan influence. Hence there are several Buddhist monasteries which are also open to public visits. The main adventure activities here are trekking, rock climbing, rappelling, river crossing and white water rafting. To reach Ladakh you can take flight from Delhi to Leh or drive down here.

Uttaranchal

Uttaranchal famous as the land of gods is what you can dream of to have on a perfect holiday. Fresh air, pure water, green surroundings, mountains in the background and snow on top of them.. all this and more is what Uttaranchal has on offer. It has brilliant little tourist spots like Nainital, Mussourie, Kausani and many more places. Uttaranchal is famous for trekking, skiing, water rafting, hang gliding, paragliding, boating, canoeing and angling.

Sikkim

Sikkim in the east India is a paradise for tourists. It is the most scantily populated place in India. The landscapes here are incomparable, the weather is uplifting and the mountain ranges here are not to be found anywhere. Coffee plantations here add to the lush voluminous greenery of this place. Rafting and mountaineering here are famous amongst tourists as adventure tourists. Sikkim can be reached at by Darjeeling, Siliguri or Kalimpong.

Himachal

Himachal is a state located right in the centre of Hmalaya mountain ranges with Jammu to its north, UP is South East and Haryana in South. It has trekkable mountain peaks and raftable rivers, green forests and good roads for safaris. Himachal is famous for adventure activities such as skiing, heli-skiing and ice skating. You can also try safaris by jeeps, cars or motorcycles. Aero sports like paragliding is also available here. Trekking, camping and river rafting are also famous here. You can reach here by bus, car, train or flight.

Rajasthan

This North West state of India is surrounded by Thar Desert. It shares a long border with our neighbouring country. Rajasthan also is the place where the oldest mountain ranges of Aravalli stand. Rajasthan has a lot of forts, fortresses and palaces. In fact this place is land of the royal families whose battles are legendary in India. Rajasthan has always been welcoming tourist from all over the globe. It offers adventure sports such as camel safaris, trekking, aero sports, fishing, water sports, wildlife extravaganza. It is accessible by flights, trains and buses.

Karnataka

Karnataka is a place with lot of places that are of tourist interest. There is a whole range of sculptures temples, hills, forests and sea shores that Karnataka has on offer. No wonder it is voted as the 4th most popular destination in India. It also stands 2nd in having the highest number of national monuments. Karnataka has an array of adventure sports that suit various temperaments. You have endless trekking options in the Karnataka hills and lots of white water rafting opportunities in the Kali river. Wildlife here is rich too and tourists are crazy about the Bheemeshwari, Bandipur, Nagarhole sanctuaries. It has several weekend getaway options as well. Karnataka is reachable by flight, train and bus.

Goa

Goa is called the Rome of East. The Portugese influence here is very strong here. The place is a destination popular amongst youngsters, hippies, party-crazy people.  Besides the hippie culture that Goa has it also has a great history behind it. It has century old temples, churches and ancient houses which stand for the old Goan culture.  Goa too is a place for water sport lovers. The Arabian Sea touching the Konkan coast is an exciting place to experiment with water. The water sports you can try here are scuba diving, snorkeling, jet-skiing, parasailing, surfing, water-skiing, windsurfing, and deep sea fishing. Goa is easily reachable by air, sea and land.

Andaman & Nicobar

Andaman and Nicobar is a cluster of 572 small and big islands. This place has great opportunities for water sports. Andaman has a water sports complex where you can indulges in a variety of water sports. You can experience scuba diving, sailing, parasailing, windsurfing, snorkeling and trekking in the ocean. You can also enjoy sail boats, speed boats and paddle boats. Glass bottom rides are a hit here. The extensive marine life here is striking and a wonderful experience. Andaman also has an amusement park and central jail which are great tourist spots. You can reach here by flight which flies from Kerala, Kochi to Port Blair or by ship which leaves from the Kochi port.

Lakshadweep

Lakshwadeep is a beautiful island 240 km away from Malabar Coat. The island is rich in marine wealth and that is what people come to see here from across the globe.  Water sports in Lakshwadeep are quiet popular as there is availability of equipments of very high standards. Water sports here include snorkeling, scuba divng, glass-bottom rides, para sailing, surfing and water skiing. The islands of Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Kadmath and Minicoy offer activities like kayaking, sailing, paddling and inflatable motor boats. Staying facilities here are good but expensive as it is still not so tourism inflicted. Lakshwadeep can be reached by a flight from Kerala or Cochin. You can also come here by ship that commences its journey from Kochi.

Kerala

Kerala is a place where all the elements of nature exist in their purest form. The seas tranquilize, the skies mesmerize and the lands are ablaze with the fire of light that blows from the human settlements. Kerala is voted as the third best tourist destination in Asia. It is connected with all the major cities of India and is accessible by air, train and bus. The Kerala tourism is the most developed and it has facilities that suit people of all classes.

There is plenty for everyone to do here. People come here for adventure trips, trekking expeditions and water sports. Some also come here for soft adventures like Wildlife Safaris, the infamous boat race-Allepy, Kollam and backwater vacations. Kerala also offers a huge range of wellness holidays like spa getaways or Yog and meditation tours. Whatever way you wish to come here as a backpacker of an elite guest, Kerala will never fail to impress you.

Known as the land of rising sun, Arunachal Pradesh is situated in the north-eastern part of India. Also known as the ‘Treasure Trove of Nature’ it is famous for its 500 rare species of orchids. It has a galore of adventure sports which one can indulge in; from angling to boating, river rafting, hiking and trekking. There are several trekking destinations along Pasighat-Jengging-Yinkiang, Bhalukpong-Bomdila-Tawang, Roing-Mayodia-Anono and Tezu-Hauliang routes. These routes pass through Kamesng River, orchidarium, Lake Sanctuary and gives opportunities to raft, angle bird watch and trek.

Arunachal is also popular for its white water rafting. Siang, Brahmaputra and Subansari are the rivers which have white water rafting opportunities. Brahmaputra river is a wild river where grade IV and V rafting can be easily done. Its biggest tributary Subansari offers similar rafting chances. The best times to be on these rivers are the months between November and March.

Scuba diving at Netrani Island

Netrani also known as Pigeoon Island is located 220 km south of Goa, 10 nautical miles offshore from the village Murudeshwar. The dive sites in this region are 10-30 meter deep and there is a 15-20 meter range of visibility around the island. The dive site is rich with coral reefs on the east and rock walls on the west and northwest of the island. Going underwater you may discover rare species of fishes and corals. There are private operators which provide tourists with scuba diving packages where diving gears are provided and diving training is given after which  a certain number of dives in the sea are allowed.

Angling at Cauvery

If fishing is your idea of relaxing then what better place then Cauvery. The tourism and the forest departments run Cauvery Fishing Camp. Fishing of Mahseer can be easily done during the camps. Cauvery River supports a very good population of humpbacked Mahseer. Many other important fishing camps along the way are Galibore, Bheemeshwari and Doddamakali. The camps are indeed the best bet for a green holiday topped up with a bit of adventure.

Water Sports in Goa

Goa is indisputably the best place for all sorts of waters sports. Be it windsurfing on the seas of Dona Paula or angling in Agonda or parasailing on Majorda beach and Condolim beaches or water skiing on the Calangute beaches. The ideal time for water sports is the months between October and May when the skies here are clear and the sea is at ease. If you love water sports then Goa is the place to be.

Bungee Jumping in Bangalore

Bangalore is one of the first places in India which introduced it to this sport. In this sport the person’s ankle is tied to a harness and he is dropped from thin air. Safety gears are provided but the few hundred meters free fall is worth all the trouble.

Hot air ballooning at Bir Billing

Billing, a little place in Himachal Pradesh is considered one of the best hot air ballooning sites in the world. Found in Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh, Bir is a small village which acts as the landing ground and Billing is the meadow from where one takes off.

It offers panoramic views and is ideal as a launching ground for hang-gliding and paragliding.