6 Indian Destinations for Adventure Lovers

Walking on ice is scary. Now imagine walking on a frozen river. The Chadar Trek on the frozen Zanskar River in Leh allows you to do this. With a temperature of about 15C to 20C (59F to 68F) during the day and about –25C to –35C (–15F to –31F) at night, January and February are the ideal months to participate in this trek. One can cover the total distance of this 105km (65mi) tour while treading steadily and carefully.

Skiing in Auli is the answer if you love snow and want to try a sport during the winter. Situated in Uttarakhand, this is one of the finest ski slopes in the Himalayas. The altitude is 2,500 to 3,050m (8,200ft to 10,000ft) above sea level, and skiing here offers a panoramic view of the snow-capped mountain ranges and Mount Nanda Devi.

Another adrenaline-pumping experience in India is river rafting in Rishikesh. With grades one to five of rafting available, this is one of the popular activities all travellers to Uttarakhand do not miss. Adventure junkies have a blast here; enthusiasts from across India and the world at large make it a point to go river rafting in Rishikesh.

For those who love to be high up in the skies, try paragliding and parasailing in Goa, Kerala and Maharashtra. Each of these places offers beautiful views of the shoreline, foliage, valleys and hills. Easily managed for children and adults, this activity can be done by families together.

If you are not one who loves the cold and the blue but are still hungry for adventure, rock climbing in Hampi, Karnataka, is an exhilarating experience. Lots of stamina is all you need for this adventurous activity. The boulders and mountains of rock defy all laws of gravity and provide a distinct picturesque landscape to explore.

It’s no fun if you only remain on the surface of the water and don’t delve deeper. Scuba diving and snorkelling in the Andamans and Lakshadweep make for excellent underwater adventure activities. The Andamans are well known for their clear water visibility and marine life. Hiring a trawler on these islands and going fishing in the clear blue waters also makes for an exciting activity.