Adventure tours in Kashmir are increasingly attracting Indian
and overseas lovers of the outdoors.
Mountaineering
With the mighty ranges of the Himalayas towering 10,000 to
28,000 feet above the sea level, mountaineering options in
Kashmir are almost unlimited. The Pir Panjal, Karakoram and
Zanskar ranges are the mountaineer's delight. Add to that the
charm of the green pine forests, the rich plant and animal life
on the mountains, and mountaineering has never looked so good!
The peaks of Sonamarg facilitate quick ascent and decent, while
the lower peaks of Kishtwar are more challenging owing to their
ruggedness.
Trekking
The nature trails of Kashmir make it a trekker's paradise. Any
adventure tour to Kashmir is incomplete without trekking the
alpine meadows, high mountain passes and rugged cold deserts of
the state. Most trekking expeditions in Kashmir start from the
capital Srinagar, and move on to the Kashmir or Zanskar Valley.
Adventure tours like trekking and mountaineering are offered by
Taj Mahal Tours.
Winter Sports
The snowfall of Kashmir Valley means boom time for winter sports
lovers from around the world. The mountain resorts of Gulmarg
are transformed from a sleepy agricultural town to a winter
wonderland during this time. With chair lifts, and ski slopes of
varying gradients, Gulmarg offers you the best winter sport
facilities on your adventure tour to Kashmir. Pahalgam is
another destination you can head to for winter sports in
Kashmir.
Para Gliding
Para Gliding is the latest among the long line of adventure
sports facilities to be made available in Kashmir. Adventure
tours to Kashmir are incomplete without a view of the green
valleys and majestic mountains from the air, as the wind rushes
past you. Adventure clubs in Jammu and Sanasar offer paragliding
facilities to adventure sports lovers. Batote is another good
site for paragliding
Fishing
With many mountain brooks, rivers and lakes dotting the fertile
state of Kashmir, you are at a loss to select the best fishing
spot. The abundant fish in the clear freshwaters, as well as the
breathtaking beauty of the fishing spots, are an added
attraction of your Adventure Tour to Kashmir. The lakes like
Vishansar, Gangabal and Kishansar are known for an abundant fish
population. A permit is needed from the authorities before you
can fish, and Taj Mahal Tourism helps you with the details of
applying for one.
Aero-Sports:
J&K Tourism has introduced Equipment can be hired from the
Tourist Office in Jammu city. May-June and September-October are
suitable months for paragliding at Sanasar. 19 kms from Patnitop
with a good approachable road and transport links. You can reach
Sanasar from Jammu via Kud and Patnitop by bus or taxi.
Accommodation is available in J&K TDC huts for aero-sport
enthusiasts. Shortly, other aero-sports like Parasailing and
Hot-Air Ballooning will also become operational in the area.
Skiing:
At Patnitop, ski courses are conducted in
the
months of January and February. During the winter months, there
are introductory courses for tourists. The gently graded ski
slopes of Patnitop are ideal for beginners. Madha Top (5-6 kms.
from Patnitop on the Sanasar Road) has excellent possibilities
for all levels of skiing. After the newly planned ski-lift
becomes operational, Madha Top will offer a range of skiing
options for both professional skiers biggners.
Facilities Available:
For tourists taking the J&K TDC package tour, 40 sets of ski
equipment are available at Patnitop and Sanasar. Also available
are wooden sledges locally. For beginners and for people who
want to brush up their skills, the J&K Tourism Department Ski
Instructors are at your service. Accommodation for skiers is
available in huts of J&K TDC at Patnitop, Kud and Sanasar. There
are also several private hotels at Patnitop and Kud. Restaurants
and 'Dhabas' (roadside eateries) serve tourists round-the-year.
Trekking:
A range of trekking options is available in the Jammu area. Ask
for a free copy of our trekking brochure for a detailed
description of the many short and long treks you can take.
Summer is the season when all the routes are open but some
trekking routes are open in winter. There are excellent camping
sites in the wilderness where you can camp when you are trekking
for 2-3 days. The Sudarani-Jungal Gali- Jasar Kote-Sanasar route
in the jungal gali area lets you choose from any of the three
exciting treks.
Facilities Available:
The Tourism Department has Trekking Equipment Hire Shops at
Jammu, Kud and Rajouri. These stock local and imported trekking
gear. Trekking parties and trekkers can hire the equipment at
fixed rates.
Equipment available: are as under: Tents (Indian and Imported);
4-man tent (Indian); 2-man tent (Imported); Sleeping Bags
(Imported); Carry mat (Indian & Imported); Jackets (Indian &
Imported); Windcheaters (Indian); Rucksack (Indian & Imported);
Trekking Boots (Indian & Imported). The equipment is issued
against a cash security deposit equivalent to the cost or on a
guarantee letter from any Officer of the rank of Deputy
Director, Tourism/Deputy Secretary of State Government or
Central Govt. If you are a foreign tourist, your passport will
be held as security deposit against equipment taken on hire.
Some Travel Agencies in the city can also organise trekking on
different routes in Jammu.
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