Last Updated on November 26, 2021 at 6:21 pm
Jammu and Kashmir besides offering scenic beauty through its snow-clad valleys and lush-green meadows also offers various options for adventure enthusiast in form of sports.
Beauty of J&K gets etched in one’s memory for a long time whosoever visits the place. So as the fun and adventure one experiences in the region. To name few, here are some fun and adventurous activities one can do in the region.
River Rafting
River rafting in Kashmir has emerged as one of the popular adventure sports and one of the most famous among the tourists in Kashmir. The thrilling experience in waves of water gets etched in one’s memory. Mountain river rafting in Kashmir involves rapids from grade 1 to grade 3. Some areas, however run-through grade 4 rapids. Nevertheless, the rapids in Kashmir are moderate, making rafting an easy adventure.
The Lidder River in Pahalgam offers a great challenge to the adventure enthusiasts with the touch of beauty. The rafting in Lidder River, Sindh River, Indus River and Jhelum River is very popular where people enjoy this activity tremendously.
Mountain Biking
The Srinagar Leh highway provides the adventure enthusiasts with an opportunity to explore the majestic Himalayas through ten mountain trails. The main areas to go mountain biking include Gulmarg to Pahalgam, Srinagar to Gulmarg, Pahalgam to Srinagar, Srinagar to Sonamarg and then to Wular and then back to.
For mounting biking one needs a geared motorcycle, biking helmet, shoes, gloves, water bags, first aid kit, sunscreen lotion, and sunglasses. It’s advisable to carry a repair kit containing non-toxic degreaser, tubes, grease tubes to grease bearings and an aero spray to clean bike, tool kit, bike pump, speedometer, batteries, maps, etc. It is considered to be one of the cheapest adventure sports in Kashmir.
Paragliding
One can enjoy paragliding in the clouds of Patnitop at Billoo Di Powri point in Dawariyai (about 2 KM away from Patnitop along the Patnitop-Sansar road). There are paragliding trips organized at this venue. Each session spans between 15 minutes to 1 hour (depending on the wind speed and weather conditions). A paragliding session in Patnitop offers majestic views of the western-Himalayas.
Skiing
Skiing can be enjoyed all around the year. The shimmering snow provides tourists with the ideal setting to enjoy a winter delight like skiing. Gulmarg is the perfect place for such sport and relishes the game with your heart’s content. Equipment necessary for skiing like skis, sticks, boots, goggles, and gloves is all available in the local Gulmarg ski shops. Also one can enjoy skiing sessions at Madhatop (along the Sanasar Road). While the beginners are taught on gentle gradient slopes, experienced skiing enthusiasts can choose a more challenging scenario.
Trekking
For the people who love to explore new things, trekking provides it all. This sport provides adventurers with various opportunities of discovering the rugged terrain and mountains of the Himalayas. The snow-covered peaks, the cascading streams, the deep, lush green valleys make for the perfect trekking destination. The Shankaracharya hill on the Zabarwan hills offers ideal spots for trekking. Also, Patnitop offers with some trekking points.
The best trekking route here starts from Patnitop and culminates at the sacred Sudh Mahadev temple. Through this expedition tourists can trek at an altitude of 2500 metres, pass through some scenic hamlets, view the rare Himalayan vultures, visit the Chamunda Mata temple and move past the winding Chenab River. Another impressive trekking trail is along the Sundrani-Jungal Gali-Nagarkot-Sanasar route.
