Biking is an amazingly popular and exciting sport. And, when practiced amongst sky high snow covered mountains, multi-shaped rocks, steep roads and gullies, exotic terrains and varied topography, the experience is simply beyond words. Imagine biking along miles stretched glaciers, rivers, foothills and barren land with absolutely no limits. Mystifying beauty with glimpses of nature at its best, everything gets pretty proximate while practicing mountain biking.

It refers to an activity of traversing in rocks and washouts, sharp declines on dirt trails, logging roads and other unpaved region with a mountain bike, created  especially for off-road cycling.

The Indian landscape encloses some of the best biking escapades offering a thrilling, once in a lifetime experience.  Be it the magnificent mountain ranges of the Himalayas or the south Indian mountain treks, biking is a sheer pleasure in India. Set amongst the ever-changing and lavishly booming scenery, Himalayan mountains offer some hard to beat tracks for adventure enthusiasts. Kufri, Narkanda, Sungri, Jeori, Basantpur in Shimla and Paonta Sahib are exceptional biking locations in the Himalayan region. Himachal Pradesh again offers a plethora of riveting tracks. Manali, Solang Valley, Kullu, Larji and Khanag are some good biking destinations here.

The South Indian region also enfolds excellent biking treks. Green fields and the tea and coffee plantation are great for eco biking in this locale. This region provides one with clean and pure ambience, windy trails of mountainside tropical rainforest and beautiful grasslands. Cochin, Munar, Periyar, Kottayam, Kumarakom, Erattupetta and Chinnakanal are few such sites.

Try mountain biking and feel the euphoria of cycling in the majestic Himalayas or other splendid corners of the Indian terrain. Wonder the excitement of being at the top of the mountain with your bike as the only companion. High altitudes, uneven roads and erratic weather, there is no leeway left for ultimate adventure when mountain biking in India.

In general mountain biking is divided into categories like, trail riding, cross country, all mountains, downhill, free road, street riding, dirt jumping and trials. Mountain biking in the foothills and hillocks across the countryside is comparatively easier and less challenging than biking on high altitudes, the level of difficulty rises with the level of altitude. Factors like distance, obstacles faced, inhospitable stretches, steep inclines and forest tracts are also responsible for defining the difficulty level of biking.

Before you hit the road make sure that you are equipped with all the basic biking gear.  Helmets, headlight, tent, sleeping bag, drinking water, snacks and first aid box are some of the necessary equipments one needs to carry on a biking trip. With all the gear in place now come to the most important step of choosing the right bike. There two main types of bikes: the Hardtail, which has a frame with no gear suspension and Softail which has a frame with a small amount of rear suspension. The best bike however is the one with dual suspension- a front suspension fork and a rear shock.

Mountain biking guarantees unlimited thrill and excitement, on the top of this it’s a sport which is completely environment friendly. It does not emit any form of pollution hence is good for our ecosystem.  Whether you are riding on a smooth surface or a hard one, mountain biking promises a fantastic drive in every terrain.

So, cycle into the unbeaten track and conquer the endless climbs!

Challenging the spirit for exploring new heights, to boost the boundless imagination to obtain ultimate adrenalin rush is what the sport of rock climbing is all about. Some rock climbers define it as an adventure of the greatest magnitude and some a fight against self, against the elements where the ultimate goal is to is to reach the pinnacle. Rock climbing puts to test one’s strength, concentration and coordination. For those who love to conquer new heights, take challenges and live for excitement, rock climbing is an ideal sport.

Rock climbing is a mountain based adventure sport. Rock climbers generally define three different styles of climbing; Free climbing, Aid climbing and combination of Free and Aid climbing.  When a climber depends totally on his skills and performs the sport without any technical equipment then it’s called Free Climbing. Practicing rock climbing using technical instruments to reach the summit is known as Aid Climbing. As the name suggests a combination of Free and Aid climbing is where climbers climbs some part with equipments and some without them. The equipments required for rock climbing are ascenders, climbing rope, helmets, karabiner, chalk harness, harness seat, nut, cliff-hanger, climbing shoes and tape slings. 

Rock climbing has always fascinated adventure sport enthusiasts. It’s a sport which gives thrill and a sense of achievement. It teaches to maintain a control over physical as well as mental strength.

India is a wonderful place to practice this sport as it has a good distribution of great climbing rocks all around. Down south there are a number of rock climbing sites around Bangalore like Badami, Ramanagram, Savandurga, Thuralli, Kabbal and many more. Kambakkam close to Chennai and Hampi in Karnataka has some of the best granite rocks in India providing an excellent site for practicing the sport. Going east, close to Calcutta there are some fabulous rock climbing sites like Purulia, Matha Bura, Jai Chandi and Susunia hills. Again if we go west one can practice rock climbing at Kanheri Caves in the Borivilli National Park, Mumbra Boulders and Manori rocks near Mumbai. In Gujarat, Pavagadh is a popular rock climbing destination.  Rajasthan also offers variety of options for rock climbing enthusiasts around Mount Abu, Golen Horn spire and Adhar Devi Slabs.

Some of the best and toughest rock climbing sites are present in North India. The mighty Himalayas have always inspired and challenged rock climbers. In Himachal Pradesh Manali, Dharamshala and the adjoining regions provide excellent sites. New Delhi has also been a good option for rock climbers. There is Lado Sarai, Dhauj and Dam-Dam Lake which are one of the best known rock climbing destinations in India.

So, if you like taking challenges and braving the heights then rock climbing is the perfect sport for you. Select a good climbing location, gather your rock climbing equipment and set out for an unforgettable exhilarating experience

The white snow covered mountains are not only a treat to the eye but also prove to be a great location for some exhilarating adventure sports. Snow skiing is one such exciting sport. It refers to the activity of gliding over the snow with the help of skis on a ski board.

For those who love winters and have a n-ach for adventure sports, skiing serves as the best option. Gliding freely amidst the spectacular terrain, feeling the cool breeze and having a close encounter with nature at its best, is an experience worth treasuring.

Blessed with majestic white mountains and snowy trails, India offers a plethora of wonderful skiing locations.  Jammu and Kashmir, the hills of kumaon, Himachal Pradesh and north eastern states of India have become popular hubs for adventure enthusiasts.

The Himalayan range is undoubtedly one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the world, thereby is a perfect site for skiing. The hills here have all the ingredients like unexplored valleys, towering peaks, glaciers with vast tracks of virgin snow and splendid combination of flora and fauna calling you for a breathtaking experience.

Moreover slopes in these skiing locations give an opportunity for enjoying both snow skiing and heli-skiing. The difference between the two is that a helicopter is involved in the latter. The helicopter will drop you to the top of the snow capped peak and from there you have to glide your way downwards. In snow skiing itself you can enjoy both Alpine and Nordic. Wherein you can slide downhill in a straight or zigzag course or jump from an elevated position. Both the types challenge the risk taking explorer in you and guarantee a tremendous adrenaline rush.

Skiing is certainly arousing but at the same time, it can be risky if performed without basic training or guidance. For a content and fun filled experience with skiing make sure to use good quality ski gear. Essential gear for skiing includes skis, ski bindings, ski boots, ski poles, ski wax, ski suit, ski helmet, ski gloves and sunglasses.  With all the gear and precautions in place get ready to glide for an unforgettable experience with the snow