ADVENTURE & TREKKING AT HIMACHAL

For sheer geographical diversity, few places in the world are as richly endowed as Himachal Pradesh. Low rolling hills, just a couple of hundred meters above sea level, climb on to touch the core of the Himalaya mountains. Here lie peaks that are several thousand meters high and never lose their perennial snows. Then, past these forbidding heights, lie the visually stunning cold deserts of the Trans Himalaya.

Rivers in deep gorges and placid mountains lakes, thick forest and acres of spree, mountain sides draped in snow, and green alpine meadows, all form a part of this immense spectrum. And the possibilities for a wide range of adventure activities is enormous. There are day-hikes by the thousand, and trek routes follow trails that last couple of days or can even extend over few weeks. These vary from gentle walks over easy terrain, to grueling expeditions. There is skiing, heli skiing and ice-skating. there is the thrill of paragliding and the test of stamina with mountain-cycling. You can go camping and fishing and play golf or take a safari by car, jeep or on motorcycle.

Then there is mountaineering and rock climbing. All you have to do is make up your mind and select your own activity. No special training is required for most things, age is no consideration and all you need is reasonable level of fitness. Equipment, training and instructors are available. And then, all this comes at a fraction of what it would cost elsewhere in the world. Sedentary or strenuous, for the experts or beginer, Himachal has a niche of adventure for everyone.