Paragliding is as safe as you make it. The safety checks, quality of equipment, preparedness, wind, air pressure and visibility are the main factors that decide how safe the flight would be. With a large number of paragliding sites came up in recent years, Himachal has emerged as the top destination for paragliding in the country. With nearly a lakh tourist trying hand at (tandem) paragliding, Kullu-Manali tops the list in terms of number. And the Kullu district is also topping the list of most fatal paragliding accidents. Five persons have died in four accidents this year only while many have sustained injuries. Human error is the main reason behind maximum accidents. Tourists generally go for a tandem flight but nobody asks pilots for their license, registration and quality of the equipment. In many accidents, pilots were found to be flying without a valid license and registration with the tourism department. The pilots, who always remain in hurry to finish the flight to catch another customer, never brief the dos and don’ts to the customers who always remain in suspense that what to do next. Almost 100 per cent of the clients here are tourists. On Monday, a tourist from Chennai was killed in similar accident where tourist slipped off the safety harness and fell on the ground from altitude of hundreds of feet near Falayan in Kullu. He died on the spot. The matter, according to police, appeared to be negligence in safety check. Similar incident had happened in May 2015 when a Mumbai tourist had died of harness failure at Solang valley. Falayan, Solang, Majhach, Diyar and Kharahal are the main paragliding spots in Kullu district where thousands of tourists enjoy joy-rides. The most operators at these sites are not following the proper safety procedures. While some are
Paragliding is as safe as you make it. The safety checks, quality of equipment, preparedness, wind, air pressure and visibility are the main factors that decide how safe the flight would be. With a large number of paragliding sites came up in recent years, Himachal has emerged as the top destination for paragliding in the
A group of 13 adventure sports instructors has set a world record by rafting the Beas from close to its origin till its end point in Himachal Pradesh in four days. The feat was achieved by rafting day and night. Two rafts and three kayaks were used in the expedition. All the participants were the instructors from Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali, led by director of the institute Colonel Neeraj Rana, who wanted to prove their mettle in the adventure sport besides popularizing water sports in Himachal. The expedition starts from Manali on October 23 and ended near Pong Dam in Kangra. Formal announcement of the record would be made by Limca Book of Records in a few days after analyzing the video footage and other records. “This was much difficult than we had imagined. I am extremely happy that my team has made it to the record books by being first to raft from Manali to Dehra in four days,” Col Rana said. He added that the total distance calculated by the expedition was 210km. “None of us had knowledge about the river flow, depth, falls, speed and entire geography. It was full of adventure and two days we had to raft in night time – one day till 2:30am as well – to achieve the deadline of four days.” Rana added that contrary to their belief that the stretch between Manali and Kullu has the most challenging rapids, the stretch between Mandi and Sandol had the grade-4 and grade-5 rapids. He further added that with the fast flow, high rapids and tight gorge, this area challenged them where it was difficult to maneuver the rafts. As a large number of tributaries meet the Beas, its water level keeps increasing. While water was
A group of 13 adventure sports instructors has set a world record by rafting the Beas from close to its origin till its end point in Himachal Pradesh in four days. The feat was achieved by rafting day and night. Two rafts and three kayaks were used in the expedition. All the participants were the
As Himachal is preparing to host Asian Rafting Championships next year, a 13 member team of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS) has set out on a 230km-long rafting expedition on Beas on Wednesday. Aiming for a world record, the team will raft across the length of the Beas river in Himachal from Manali to Dehra in Kangra. Led by ABVIMAS director Col Neeraj Rana, the expedition was flagged off by forest, transport, sports and youth services minister Govind Singh Thakur from Manali. The minister himself experienced the thrill of rafting in wild rapids of Beas in first 15km stretch. “The team has challenge to complete the expedition in four days. Nobody did rafting in majority of the stretch of Beas till date. They are confident to set a world record. This will popularize water sports in Himachal. They are using two rafts and three kayaks,” Thakur said. The sports minister informed that World Rafting Federation has given its nod to Himachal for hosting Asian Rafting Championships in 2020. “We shall leave no stone unturned in smooth conduct of the championship on the Beas. This will open doors for Himachal to host World Rafting Championship. Our 25 rafters are going to Serbia to get advanced training,” he added. Rafting is forbidden for tourists in some stretches of Beas where rapids are high and water flow is fast. There are some stretches where water is deep but water flow is almost still. Shallow water and sharp edged rocks are another challenge. Col Neeraj Rana said the boys are full of enthusiasm and want to accomplish the task as soon as possible. “We have to reach Dehra bridge on October 26. We are taking care of our safety. We will be lifting our rafts and kayaks to the
As Himachal is preparing to host Asian Rafting Championships next year, a 13 member team of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS) has set out on a 230km-long rafting expedition on Beas on Wednesday. Aiming for a world record, the team will raft across the length of the Beas river in
A 13-member team of adventure enthusiasts from Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali, will attempt to set a world record this month by scaling the length of the Beas river riding two rafts and three kayaks. ABVIMAS instructors under the leadership of director of the institute will start the arduous journey from Manali on October 23. The challenge is to reach Dehra in Kangra district in four days after covering distance of about 230km. So far nobody has attempted to do this. Limca Book of Records officials will closely observe the expedition. If successful, it will be a world record. The river is wild and fast with high rapids and sharp boulder between Manali and Raison, while water can be shallow and slow at some places. The Beas river has two reservoirs – one at Larji and another near Pandoh in Mandi where rafts and kayaks will be lifted manually to the other side of the dam from where the members will start rowing their rafts. The team did a recce of the Beas and discovered that they will have to lift the rafts and kayaks for 5km beyond Larji dam as the stretch has very shallow water due to all waters being diverted through reservoir to generate electricity. Most stretches of Beas are dangerous for rafting and only a few stretches have been approved by government where tourists enjoy rafting. ABVIMAS director Colonel Neeraj Rana said each raft will have five rafters while three kayakers will give them the company. “The kayaks will ensure the safety of the rafters. Our target is to reach Dehra bridge on October 26. If we feel that we are unable to cover the distance on time, we shall travel in night time too. It’s a big challenge but
A 13-member team of adventure enthusiasts from Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali, will attempt to set a world record this month by scaling the length of the Beas river riding two rafts and three kayaks. ABVIMAS instructors under the leadership of director of the institute will start the arduous
World’s highest bungee jumping site at an altitude of about 10,500ft will come up at steep but beautiful gorge near Marhi in Manali very soon. In an effort to attract more tourists to Manali, the government is developing different adventure activities which are either longest, tallest or are located at the highest altitude in the world. After making a 350m-long sky-cycling track at Gulaba, which is the highest such track of the world at an altitude of 9,300ft, the proposed bungee jumping site is at staggering 10,500ft from sea level. As the site has been finalized, the work on the project will start very soon. Manali based Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS) will supervise the construction work. ABVIMAS director Col Neeraj Rana said the jumping platform will be 182m (596ft) high from the ground which is highest in Asia. “No country in the world has bungee jumping site at this altitude. We shall fit four 32mm metal cables across the gorge and a motorized cage will take the jumper to the jumping site. The whole project is based on a latest technique which has been adopted recently by the New Zealand and the USA,” he said. He added that the purpose of setting up of longest or highest adventure activities at highest altitude in the world is to make them extreme and catchy. “We want to make Manali an adventure sports destination for the world. We are introducing all popular activities and are brining latest techniques. We are taking care of the safety and environment as well.” This will be the first and the only bungee jumping of Himachal while second in North India. While all other adventure activities are available in Kullu-Manali, the absence of bungee jumping was upsetting the adventure enthusiasts. The high
World’s highest bungee jumping site at an altitude of about 10,500ft will come up at steep but beautiful gorge near Marhi in Manali very soon. In an effort to attract more tourists to Manali, the government is developing different adventure activities which are either longest, tallest or are located at the highest altitude in the
With an aim to provide tourists with a unique and eco-friendly adventure sports experience, Himachal government has established a “sky cycling” park at an altitude of 9,300ft at Gulaba, just below Rohtang pass. Officials believe tourists will make a beeline to experience cycling at the park which is perhaps the world’s highest sky-cycling park at such an altitude. Tourists would be able to run the bicycle on 350m-long metal cable while getting a 360 degree view of Rohtang pass, snow-clad Dhauladhar, and Pir Panjal range and Beas river. To ensure maximum safety of the visitors, the activity is being developed under the supervision of Manali based Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS). The government is developing a “Prakriti Vatika” at Gulaba where forest department is spending lakhs of rupees. The vatika (garden) spread over a vast area has hundreds of trees of different species including pine, deodar, maple and Himalayan horse chestnut. Forest department is planting more species to make the garden unique and beautiful. The sky-cycling trek is being developed inside the prakriti vatika. ABVIMAS director Col Neeraj Rana on Thursday did a successful trial of sky cycling here along with the divisional forest officer Dr Neeraj Chadha. The cycling cable at some points is over 70f above the ground. Some local youth are being trained to operate this activity by the institute. The activity is expected to open for tourists by October. Officials said a 450m-long zip line, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trek, kids play area, picnic area, walking trail, yoga and meditation area, a waterfall, shopping area, camping site, snow games, rappelling, toilets and many other activities are also being developed inside the prakriti vatika. While some activities will be operated in winter season during snowfall, others can be enjoyed in rest of the
With an aim to provide tourists with a unique and eco-friendly adventure sports experience, Himachal government has established a “sky cycling” park at an altitude of 9,300ft at Gulaba, just below Rohtang pass. Officials believe tourists will make a beeline to experience cycling at the park which is perhaps the world’s highest sky-cycling park at
The lure of a forbidding mountain, with its sheets of deceptively beautiful snow, is a powerful draw for adventurers. Over the ages, countless explorers have heeded that primal call, scaling the treacherous ranges of the Himalayas. Still, there a few virgin peaks in the mountains – though no one knows how many. Japanese and British climbers were the first to organise expeditions to challenging peaks of the hill state, but in the absence of official records of explorers’ and mountaineers’ routes, the words “first ascent” and “unclimbed peak” become controversial. Easy approach to base camp and the relatively hassle-free procedure of obtaining permit make climbing expeditions in Himachal cheap and highly popular. A few peaks are more difficult to conquer than Mt Everest, a few have been scaled repeatedly and a few remain unexplored. While many peaks have good success rates, scaling attempts have remained unsuccessful for the most part on a few. Senior climber Rajeev Sharma, retired deputy director from Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), says there are many virgin peaks in the Mulkila and Dhauladhar ranges of Himachal. “The Akela-kela near Rohtang is a virgin peak. Many have been attempted and a few are still to be explored. Some are more challenging than the Everest. A large number of peaks in Himachal were explored by the British in the 1930s and 40s. These include White Sail, Ladakhi, Hanuman Tibba and Deo Tibba. Over 100 peaks are still virgin and unnamed,” he said. Rajeev, who has scaled the Everest twice, now organises climbing expeditions. His Japanese expedition teams have scaled seven virgin peaks in Karcha Nullah and Parang-La over the past decade. The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) coordinator for Himachal says, “The IMF is creating a database of all the peaks with details of first ascents.” As it is, there is no dearth of explorers who want to go down in history as the first
The lure of a forbidding mountain, with its sheets of deceptively beautiful snow, is a powerful draw for adventurers. Over the ages, countless explorers have heeded that primal call, scaling the treacherous ranges of the Himalayas. Still, there a few virgin peaks in the mountains – though no one knows how many. Japanese and British climbers
दिल में कुछ कर गुजरने की तमन्ना हो तो कोई भी बाधा मंजिल के आड़े नहीं आ सकती। इस बात को सार्थक कर दिखाया है अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्कीयर बन चुकी मनाली के एक छोटे से गांव बुरूआ की आंचल ने। नन्हीं आंचल जब नंगे पांव बर्फ पर बेखौफ भाग जाया करती थी और मां के बार-बार टोकने पर भी माईनस तापमान में अठखेलियां करने से बाज नहीं आती थी। भूख-प्यास सब कुछ भूल जाती थी। आंचल दूसरे बच्चों की तरह लकड़ी के तीन फट्टे जोड़कर आईस बन चुकी बर्फ पर फिसलने के बचपन के आनंद को कभी नहीं भुला सकती। गांव के स्कूल सरस्वती विद्या मंदिर में प्रारम्भिक शिक्षा प्राप्त करने के दौरान वह कई बार स्कूल से छुट्टी के बाद सीधे घर नहीं आती थी, बल्कि बस्ते और किताबों की परवाह किए बगैर बर्फ की ढलानों की ओर चली जाती और देर सांय ही घर वापिस लौटती। कई बार आंचल के पिता को उसे घर वापिस लाने के लिए स्वयं जाना पड़ता था। हालांकि, आंचल के पिता भी साहसिक खेल स्कीइंग के काफी शौकीन रहे हैं जिसके चलते वह अपनी बेटी की जिद्द पर कदापि उसे फटकार नहीं लगाते थे। आंचल अब आठवीं कक्षा में हो चुकी थी और बिना बताए चुपके से एक दिन वह अपने पिता का स्कीइंग सैट लेकर बर्फ की ढलानों पर चली गई। चूंकि वह अभी स्कीइंग सैट को संभालने के काबिल नहीं थी जिसके कारण उसके पैरों और टांगों में अनेक जगहों पर चोटें आई। उसे अच्छे से स्कीइंग सैट को लगाना भी नहीं आ रहा था। पिता को यह सब देखकर एक बार बुरा अवश्य लगा, लेकिन वह आंचल के जुनून से बेखबर भी नहीं थे। वह समझ चुके थे कि आंचल अब रूकने वाली नहीं है और डांट-फटकार तो फिजूल है। आंचल के पिता रोशन लाल ने उस दिन के बाद स्वयं
दिल में कुछ कर गुजरने की तमन्ना हो तो कोई भी बाधा मंजिल के आड़े नहीं आ सकती। इस बात को सार्थक कर दिखाया है अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्कीयर बन चुकी मनाली के एक छोटे से गांव बुरूआ की आंचल ने। नन्हीं आंचल जब नंगे पांव बर्फ पर बेखौफ भाग जाया करती थी और मां के बार-बार
Kullu administration on Tuesday imposed complete ban on water sports including river rafting and paragliding with immediate effect. The decision was taken given the monsoon rains and swelling water level of all rivers and their tributaries in the district. Tourism and civil aviation deputy director Bhag Chand Negi said water level is very high in Beas and other streams following the rain. “Taking precautionary measure to avoid any accident, river rafting in Beas and paragliding at all sites in Kullu have been stopped till September 15. Strict compliance of the order would be ensured,” he said. Both water and aero sports become very risky during this time. Administration bans rafting every year in monsoon season under River Rafting Act 2005 and bans paragliding under section Himachal Pradesh Aero Sports Rules, 2004. The ban is generally lifted on September 15. The administration has also requested people to stay away from rivers and nullahs during rain as sudden rise in water level can result in flood like situation. The hydel projects here also release surplus water from reservoir which causes sudden rise in water level in rivers.
Kullu administration on Tuesday imposed complete ban on water sports including river rafting and paragliding with immediate effect. The decision was taken given the monsoon rains and swelling water level of all rivers and their tributaries in the district. Tourism and civil aviation deputy director Bhag Chand Negi said water level is very high in
A five-member rafting team from India is participating in Senior World Rafting Championships at Tunceli city of Turkey. This is the first time that the Indian team is participating in the world rafting championship. Four athletes and a coach-cum-reserve player from Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali, are representing the country in the championships being organized by World Rafting Federation (WRF) and Turkish Rafting Federation (TRF). The event is being organized in the Munzur river from June 8 to 13. The Indian team reached Tunceli on Sunday morning and did some practice runs to warm up. The opening ceremony was held on Sunday evening and competition will start from Monday. Gimnar Singh, Naveen Kumar, Akshat Kumar and Panne Lal are the athletes while ABVIMAS director Colonel Neeraj Rana is the coach and reserve athlete. The competitions will consist of downriver, 600m sprint, 1.2km slalom and cross country. Over 20 countries are participating in the championships. Col Neeraj Rana said they got an invitation from Turkish Rafting Federation based on their performances in national games. “ABVIMAS team had won first prize in national rafting championship in Satluj river last year. This is the first time that our country is taking part in the world rafting championship. After some warm-up runs, we are sure about good performance,” he said. Tunceli is the home to 36-km-long Munzur river. The city which had hosted Turkey Rafting Championship in May last year is hosting world championship for the first time. TRF has spent a huge amount on the improvement of the infrastructure in the city and has developed two courses – one for training and warm up and other for main races.
A five-member rafting team from India is participating in Senior World Rafting Championships at Tunceli city of Turkey. This is the first time that the Indian team is participating in the world rafting championship. Four athletes and a coach-cum-reserve player from Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali, are representing the
