Forget the exotic international locations, go to these at home
There is an unmatched joy to see people free flying from the sky and gliding their way through the clouds. An adventure sport, paragliding gives one the freedom for once to have wings. While the world flocks exotic destinations abroad to experience paragliding, India is filled with spots that are picturesque perfect for the sport. Here are some beautifully mesmerising locations in India that are ideal for the sport of paragliding.
Bir Billing in Palampur
Located near Kangra Valley, Bir Billing is one of the most famous and attractive paragliding destinations in India. The take-off point at Billing is Asia’s highest and the world’s second-highest at around 8000 feet above sea level. The landing from here is at around 4000 feet. The spot also offers a panoramic view of the Dhauladhar mountain range and the lush green lands surrounding it. The best months are from October to June. In fact, Bir Billing is also known as the Paragliding capital of India.
Manali in Himachal Pradesh
Apart from being one of the hippie and youth places to be, Manali is also counted among the paragliding destinations of India. Some of the best spots are Kullu Valley, Sethan, Halan, Barot, and Solang Valley. Herein you can do hand diving and skydiving sessions, besides paragliding. You can experience a one-hour-long paragliding session soaking in the scenic beauty of the Himalayas and water bodies. While paragliding is one thing, you can also go camping, trekking, and paragliding. The best time to visit is between February to March and May to October. Monsoons are not the preferred time for paragliding.
Kamshet in Maharashtra
A small hilly town situated just 100 km from Mumbai and 50 km from Pune, Kamshet has over the years grown as one of the best paragliding destinations in western India. The Sahyadri Ranges give the best skies and mountains. You can go for paragliding sessions, take certified courses, and can even take a few hours of lessons.
Yelagiri in Tamil Nadu
This is a much lesser-known spot but a famous one from Tamil Nadu. This location is just as exotic as the Himalayas. This hill town will give you light paragliding at 2000 feet above sea level.
Other places for paragliding are Sanasar, Jammu, Panchgani, Nainital in Uttarakhand, Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand, Gangtok, Sikkim, Vagamon in Kerala, Mussoorie, Ranikhet, Kunjapuri, Pawna, Shillong, BedniBugyal, Lahaul and Spiti, Arambol in Goa, Satpura in Gujarat, Jaipur, and Nandi Hills in Bangalore to name a few.
