The world nowadays is veering towards everything new, and tourists are yearning to try out things different from plain old sightseeing. They are going for adventure sports. Adventure sports come in various ways, and are beautiful to participate in, but mostly thrilling. India is following the tide with adventure sports like trekking, bungee jumping, and now, newly, paragliding. Paragliding provides beautiful vistas from high up, beautiful sights from the ground, and extremely memorable experiences. Available at many Indian hill stations like Uttarakhand, Himachal and Sikkim nowadays, we have foreign pilots to thank for this. Here we explore the 10 best places to paraglide in India, now.
1. Sikkim
Sikkim is known for its remarkable natural beauty, snow and tourism scene since long ago, but is now gaining acclaim as one of the best paragliding spots in the country. It is great for the landing and taking off, and offers training.
2. Kunjapuri, Uttarakhand
Kunjapuri is nestled in the cosy hills of Uttarakhand, and provides glimpses of the tops of mountains like the Shiwaliks and Gangotri to paragliders. This also has magnificent views of the hills from which you take off, the vegetation looking like cut terraces.
3. Bir Billing, Himachal Pradesh
One of the most notable paragliding spots in India, Bir Billing is located high up, close to other attractions like Kullu and Manali. It provides spectacular views of all around, training, equipment and overall great experiences.
4. Pavana, Maharashtra
Pavana in Maharashtra is perhaps one of the few places not located right in the heart of snowy hills where you can still paraglide. Instead, this is surprisingly located on a lake, and you can see historical spots when you go up. The sunsets are mesmerizing.
5. Nandi Hills, Bangalore
Bangalore is slowly making a name for itself as an adventure sport hotspot, and offers several types of it. Paragliding is one of the more popular ones, with views that look like you are above and on clouds- which you really are. You get glimpses of lovely lakes, and landing facility is superb.
6. Yelagiri, Tamil Nadu
The south of India is very diverse in terms of climate and tourism opportunity, so it is not surprising to find paragliding, a hilly sport, in such warm weather here. Many landing strips and take off areas are present, as are clubs and organizations that offer to train and provide equipment. So you’ll be in safe hands and grow agile in Yelagiri. Need we say more?
7. Bedni Bugyal, Uttarakhand
This also is located in sleepy, beautifully hilly Uttarakhand. Will the greenery all around, it is also located very high, almost one of the highest paragliding take off points in the country. Bedni Bugyal provides awe through closeness to the Himalayas, almost located inside the mountain ranges.
8. Meghalaya, Shillong
Situated in the land literally named the land of the clouds, it is not unexpected that you have views of above the clouds when you are paragliding up here. Also, it looks like every movie scene ever. Meghalaya also provides world class equipment, and in flight control through radio.
9. Arambol Beach, Goa
Goa is generally known for its party scene, and that international culture has been surely followed up by the global appeal sport of paragliding. The glide culture is very developed here, with many takers and even professionals. There’s also viewing with a twist here- instead of clouds and mountains of very high up, you get to watch earthier yellow green hills and grass mounds.
10. Aravalli Hills, Rajasthan
Now Rajasthan is a desert area, but it earns its tourism hotspot stripes through the paragliding opportunities it still affords. Done in the beautiful Aravalli Hills, it has picturesque views which look yellow and most breathtaking at sunsets. The equipment is also perfect as are the many numbers of landing strips.
Paragliding is for the new and happening of this generation. It needs guts, and the knowledge of the risk is scary at first, but after you overcome all this it is an enriching experience like no other. Fortunately, many Indian places offer opportunity, from hills like Sikkim and Uttarakhand to planes and even desert lands like Rajasthan. Plan ahead, book good training programs, and then, sail right on ahead!