Adventure Tourism in Uttarakhand

chillibreeze writer — Mrigank Gutgutia

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There are three kinds of people in the world. The first kind is characterized by a total lack of interest in pursuing adventurous activity and the tendency to pity the ‘poor’ adventure seeker for being foolhardy and suicidal. The second kind envies the ‘brave’ adventurers and prays for similar courage. The third kind, kayaking down a nasty river and overflowing with adrenaline, wish they could keep on doing this for ever.

Adventure tourism has caught on in a big way in India and the rapidly mushrooming tour operators offer a plethora of experiences ranging from the merely docile (trekking) to the positively exhilarating (paragliding). Nowhere is this phenomenon more visible than in the state of Uttarakhand. The state is well known to the devout as the state of the ‘Char Dham’ and subsequently, religious tourism is a major source of revenue. Carved out from Uttar Pradesh in the year 2001, Uttarakhand has also inherited a remarkable geography which begs to be experienced, the thrilling way.

The majestic Himalayas to the north, a favourite haunt of the trekkers, gradually transform into the plains where the mighty Ganges offers salvation for the pious and the white water rafter alike. Best of all, with the enforcement of strict laws regarding tourist safety and the safety measures taken by the operators, adventure tourism in Uttarakhand has become very safe. Hence, without further ado, let us have a glimpse into the bouquet of adventure activities this state has to offer:

White-water Rafting: Navigating a river doesn’t get more exciting than this. Accoutred in an ill-fitting life jacket and armed with a feeble-looking oar, the adrenaline fairly oozes out of your ears as the mighty river unleashes torrent after torrent of whitewater at the inflatable raft. After straining every sinew in a battle against the perilous rapids, an overpowering feeling of exultation at having vanquished the river envelops you as you wish for an encore.

Rishikesh has emerged as the hotbed of rafting activity and has a wide variety of (often ludicrously named) rapids, ranging from the meek Grade I streams to the raft-shattering Grade IV monsters. Various short and long courses are available and they may be customized with the option of a riverside camp which offers a relaxing as well as a spiritual experience. Additionally, the camp may include other activities like rappelling and rock climbing to enhance your thrill quotient.

If the thought of navigating the slow and at times, dull Ganges puts you off, you always have the option of going north. There, the river Tons, a tributary of the Yamuna, thunders down the craggy valley at great speed and requires precise manoeuvring. Short but powerful rapids ensure that the customer gets his money’s worth. Here too, plentiful adventure camps are present, especially in Mori (187km from Dehradun).

Note: Even in the months of April and May, the river waters are extremely cold. Better to be prepared before attempting the almost-customary cliff jump into the river. Think before you leap.

Trekking: Those who snigger at the categorization of trekking as an adventure activity would do well to become cognizant of the endurance that a typical trek requires. Lugging heavy rucksacks for inhuman distances through steep slopes is common while trekking, but the means justify the end.

Take the trek to Har-Ki-Doon valley. Starting out from Taluka, you walk through all kinds of terrain: green grass, concrete and loose gravel, all the while admiring the picturesque scene that unfolds around you. The beautiful forests of chestnut and oak and the lush green grass covered meadows combine to create scenery that would not look out of place in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings.

The effect is completed by the snow covered peaks and rocky hillocks which overlook gorgeous tree-lined valleys. Night-time spent in tents is a unique experience in itself: the cacophony of the nocturnal wildlife along with the pitch darkness produces a strangely eerie feeling. In short, the trek offers a perfect way to experience nature at its pristine and enchanting best.

Nor is this the only mesmerizing trek in Uttarakhand. Other relatively virgin trek routes include the treks to Roopkund Lake and Gangotri-Badrinath, which are replete with snow, virgin forests and amazing campsites. However, these treks are categorized as strenuous (read: very difficult) and proper mountaineering equipment is required to complete the challenging sections of the ascent.

Those who lack the stomach for such tribulations but are intent on admiring natural beauty anyway should consider the relatively easy trek to the Valley of Flowers in which nature’s bounty is no less magnificent. Gently flowing waterfalls and beautiful lakes give way to the aforementioned valley which is in fact a meadow filled with a staggering variety of orchids, rhododendron, irises and what-not. The wonderfully colourful sight simply overpowers the senses.

Note: Most of these trekking routes may not be accessible prior to April due to snowfall. May-June is the ideal trekking season because it also gives you a chance to experience nature’s beauty in its full glory as the monsoons lash the snow covered peaks.

Skiing: For those who have always dreamt of skiing down the lush white slopes of the Swiss Alps but are fearful of the terrible toll such a deed would exact on their wallets, Uttarakhand has the perfect solution. Known as ‘Bugyal’(meadow) in the local dialect, Auli has ski-slopes which compare favourably with their more illustrious counterparts in Europe. The Auli ski resort is not only equipped with chairlifts and ski lifts but also employs snow beaters to maintain the snow in ski-able condition. Professional trainers conduct week-long training camps for novices in the month of January.

Note: The slopes are open to skiing from December to March. Take along heavy woollen clothing and protective equipment like dark glasses, helmets etc. in order to survive the bone-chilling temperatures and the blinding expanse of snow.

Uttarakhand is a relatively new addition to the adventure junkie’s itinerary and thus, many places remain virgin and unexplored. For example, you would encounter precious few co-travellers on the trek to Har-Ki-Dun. While this means that the natural beauty of the place remains unspoilt, the lack of teashops and rest houses along the path is often jarring.

However, the demand for activities like rafting and skiing is rising at a phenomenal rate. The fact that the safety of the tourists is not compromised while on these trips has also contributed to their appeal. On the flip side, this popularity means that every second guy in town has done rafting/skiing/rappelling and as his Facebook snaps prove, he is terribly smug about it. Now if that’s not reason enough for you to pack your bags and set out for that thrilling Himalayan adventure, I don’t know what is.

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Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in August, 2010. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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