Trekking :- Himachal Pradesh, nestled in the great
Himalayas of India, is one such spot where you will love to
tread through the designated trek paths. Also, it is not that
you need to be an experienced or professional trekkers to enjoy
yourself here. The trek routes here vary a lot - from very
gentle to rugged and very tough.
Rafting : - There are four rivers in Himachal that offer
opportunities to enjoy white water rafting. These rivers flow in
the north westerly direction and are almost parallel to one
another. The first of these, Beas has its genesis in the Rohtang
Pass and flows through the Kullu valley.
Skiing : - skiing areas in Himachal Pradesh include the
Solang Nallah, Patalsu, Kothi, Marhi and Rohtang slopes. All
these are the nearby areas of Manali and are considered
extremely good for skiing. The Rohatnag Pass and Patalsu are the
only slopes in the country where you can enjoy skiing in summer
season. Solang Nallah also plays host to the National level ski
competition.
Paragliding : - Paragliding is a combination of hang
gliding and parachuting. However, it is not parachuting
altogether as many of you might think. The difference between
the two lies in the fact that a paraglider is made of non porous
sail cloth. Its cells are open in the front while at the back
they are closed. Also, a paraglider is collapsible wing made of
light weight space age material.
Camping: - Camping is perhaps the best way to enjoy the
natural outdoors of Himachal and being part of the life of its
people. You can carry your own gear along or opt for any one of
the several camps pitched in various parts of the state. These
camps offer accommodation, catering and a variety of activities
like hiking, fishing, nature-tours and rafting. Most of these
offer quality facilities and services. Himachal Tourism operates
camps at Sarchu in Lahaul besides built accommodation. Tents are
available at Sangla and Kalpa in Kinnaur and at Kaza in Spiti.
The Youth Hostel Association of India runs camps at Dalhousie (Chamba)
and at Kullu-Manali. Camps run by the private sector are at
Baspa (Sangla) valley and Kalpa in Kinnaur, at Tabo in Spiti, at
Al Hilal (Taragarh) and Dharamsala in Kangra, at Shoja near
Kullu and Mashobra and Baldian near Shimla. Adventure camps are
also expected to be set-up in the Pabbar valley in the Jubbal -
Hatkoti - Rohru area in Shimla district.
Mountaineering & Rock Climbing :- Rock climbing is often
seen as the basic stage for mountain climbing. It can also be
treated as an independent sport, since it is climbing a rock
face, using only hands and feet with a safety rope. The area
around Manali, presently forms the core of mountaineering in
Himachal. The Beas Kund region and lower reaches of the Hanuman
Tibba (5930 m), the Manali and Shitidhar peaks around the source
of river Beas and Deo Tibba (6001 m) (Kullu) area are suggested
for amateurs. The Chandra Bhaga ranges, the Pir Panjal and
Dhalaudhar ranges may be suitable for more experienced climbers.
The Allied Sports Institute at Manali and its branch at
Dharamsala (Kangra) conduct mountaineering tours. Courses are
also available at the institute.
Mountain Cycling:- Gear yourself for high adventure with
an expedition on cycles. You can pedal your way past high passes
or simply make a day-adventure. Quite literally, the whole of
Himachal is your playground. The tour can be coupled with
camping and can be carried on for several weeks over diverse
terrain. The lower regions of the state - Kangra, Una, Hamirpur
and Bilaspur offer gentle routes. Or you can stretch your mind,
muscle and stamina to reach out to the trans-Himalyan tract of
Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur. Milder but no less interesting
excursions can be undertaken at any holiday station. For
mountain biking in the higher regions, summer and autumn months
are suggested.
Water Sports: - The Maharana Pratap Sagar reservoir in
Kangra with its 42 km length and 2 km breadth, offers a variety
of activities in close collaboration with the Directorate of
Mountaineering and Allied Sports. Year long activities include
swimming, water-skiing, surfing, kayaking, rowing, canoeing and
sailing. Three levels of courses are conducted - beginner,
intermediate and advanced. Similar activities are also available
on the waters of Gobind Sagar near Bilaspur, the Chamera lake
near Dalhousie (Chamba) and the Pandoh lake on the Mandi-Kullu
National Highway.
Angling: - An angler's paradise, Himachal has several
spots for trout and mahaseer as well as other fish. Acclaimed as
the best sport fish in the world, both brown and rainbow trout
are to be found in Himachal`s streams.
Upstreams of Rohru in the Pabbar valley (Shimla), there are
several spots ideal for fishing. Chirgaon has a trout hatchery
and other sites are Seema, Mandil, Sandsu, Tikri and Dhamvari -
all are within 5 to 25 km of Rohru (Shimla). Kinnaur`s Baspa
river in the Sangla valley also holds trout. Fish also abounds
in Uhl river near Barot. Good spots on this beat are Luhandi,
Puran hatchery, Tikkar and Kamand.
The upper reaches of the river Beas in the Kullu valley and its
side streams such as the Sarvari, Parbati, Sainj, Hurla and
Tirthan, especially the areas around Aut, Patlikuhl, Katrain,
Raison and Largi are excellent for the sport. These are all
upstream of the Pandoh reservoir and are close to, or on the
Mandi-Manali highway.