If in a quest of real adventure, boost up that daring spirit in you and challenge the snow clad terrains while skiing in some awesome destinations in India. You will certainly ask for more sliding down the snowy slopes. The Himalayan ranges have been the hottest spot for skiing since times unknown. The lavish landscape and slopes of different heights make skiing in India more sweeping. Skiing time arrives in the India as soon as the green meadows and the trees dominating the landscape of various hill stations are carpeted by sheets of soft snow. Skiing is a winter sport so can be enjoyed only during winters ideally from January to March.
Various destinations for an exciting skiing expedition are:
- Himalayas
Gulmarg
- Uttranchal (Garwhal and Kumnaun )
Auli
Mundali
Munsiyari
Dayara Bugyal
- Himachal Pradesh
Kufri
Narkanda
Manali
The Himalayas serve as a home to several famous playgrounds for conducting winter sports. Gulmarg in Kashmir is the best and the most favorite spot for winter sports. Gulmarg has the only ski resort in Asia that is equipped with facilities for heli-skiing. The skiers here are lifted from the slopes of the peak of Affarwat. Auli is a major tourist interest destination in Uttaranchal. The credit for the popularity of the place goes to the mountain slopes of the place equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and the conditions for skiing are perfect at Auli.
Mundali offers an unforgettable panoramic view of the snow-capped Himalayas. This place has vast ski slopes on which you can enjoy skiing. Yet another region in Garwhal, Dayara Bugyal, provides excellent ski slopes rendering a charming view of the breathtakingly magnificent Himalayas. There is a small lake in the area that provides an excellent camping site. Munsyari is the center as well as the gateway of the Johar region. Munsyari, Kumaun, is the base of treks to Milam, Namik and Ralam glaciers. Khalia Top and Betulidhar are two high altitude places that offer excellent opportunities for skiing in Munsiyari.
In Himachal Pradesh Kufri is a famous centre for skiing Kufri. It is a major attraction for tourists from all parts of the world. To propagate skiing here a sports festival is held in Kufri in the month of February each year. The long ski routes in Narkanda are difficult for a beginner but the best for a professional. During the winter months, the whole of Narkanda serves as an excellent ski ground. The slopes of Narkanda appeal greatly to the adventure enthusiasts . Several skiing races are also held in Narkanda that make the sport even more interesting. Manali offers skiing opportunities for the professionals and beginners. It has excellent natural slopes which makes it favourite among ski lovers.
In your skiing expedition you can rent a snow board after presenting your credit card and photo ID proof. Your first experience as a skier will surely be fun-filled. Capture those memorable memories in a camera. Other things that you must carry include sunglasses, sun block cream, a hat, water-proof gloves and lip balm. At such a high altitude, the rays of the sun are very strong.
Be safe than sorry. While you indulge in snow skiing, you will have to make an effort to balance your weight on your feet. Do not ski flat-footed rather ski on your heels. As you bash into the lumps of snow, you should have strong legs in order to withstand the beating knocks received while you ski. Learn to handle your skiing equipments and deal with the high altitude related sickness. Try to protect yourself from snow blindness, frostbiting, and sun burning during your excursion.
The thrill of skiing over snow covered terrain remains ultimately unmatched. As the elements are defeated and unimaginable distances traversed, exhilaration swells up. In skiing the use of only the simplest form of implements serve to add to the adventure. So when are you planning to have a rosy-cheeked time swishing down the temperating slopes, an experience of a lifetime
Aparana Chauhan
