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Elephant Safari
Doesn’t it present a picture of the old maharaja’s and the british officers on elephant back, going on tiger hunts? Elephant safaris are popular in the various wildlife sanctuaries scattered all over India and in the forestlands of Kerala. It is the best way to see wildlife from close quarters. Despite their size, elephants can move like a cat. At times, they are so soundless that they surprise an unsuspecting tiger!
Elephant safaris are an elaborate affair. They require several attendants for the elephants as well. These safari camps tend to be more lavish than either camel or horse safaris. However, rides through jungles on elephants is an affair to remember!
In the north and the north-east, elephant safaris are undertaken to explore wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The elephant is extremely versatility in negotiating the difficult Himalayan terrain. There are places where even a jeep cannot traverse, while an elephant makes it look like a well-laid highway! Assam, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh use the immense power of the elephants. National Park's such as Kaziranga in Assam, with its swamps and grasslands and evergreen forests, support the largest number of Rhinos in the subcontinent. At Kaziranga, the open country makes wildlife viewing easy. Another Rhino habitat in Assam although more famous as a Tiger Reserve, is the Manas Tiger Reserve. Far from human inhabitation, this reserve is a world of its own.
There are the Kanha and Bandhavgarh National Parks where Elephants are used for Tiger-tracking. The Corbett National Park in Uttar Pradesh is another place where elephant safaris are widely popular.
Safaris in Hardwar, Kotdwar, Kalagarh, Ramnagar, Kaladhungi and Haldwani, Uttarakhand are available.
In the west, the Amber Fort in Jaipur and the Harmara Lake in Rajasthan also offer short elephant safaris.
In the south, the Periyar Widlife Sanctuary in the state of Kerala is a great place for an elephant safari. Herds of elephants safaris may be seen here spotting wildlife. It is also the safest elephant sanctuary in India.
BUNGEE JUMPING
This is an exhilarating sport and has recently become a source of great attraction among all age groups. Although it was a part of the native Vanuatu (in the South Pacific) island’s manhood ritual, falling down from bamboo towers with wines tied to their ankles, the sport, today, has nothing to suggest the ritualistic.
In India, the sport has not yet caught on because of high quality infrastructure is hard to come by. However, it is not non-existent. A few adventure tour specialists in Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Goa offer opportunities for bungee jumping.
PARAGLIDING
Paragliding is a combination of hang gliding and parachuting. Whereas in parachuting one has to jump from an aircraft, in paragliding one has to run down hill. Famous for its glaciers and snow-capped mountains and winter festival, Solang Valley near Manali and Deori Ghat, Himachal Pradesh, facilitate perfect slopes for paragliding during summers.
In the Eastern Himalayas in the Darjeeling/Gangtok area, Auli in Uttar Pradesh, while in the northernmost state, it is Sansar in Jammu & Kashmir.
Satara, Kamshet, Talegaon and Murud Janjira in the state of Maharashtra use the low hills of the Sahyadris as take-off points.
The misty blue hills of southern India, the Nilgiris, are good for gliding. The town of Ooty, in particular, offers scope for gliding. Kalhatti, about 14 km from the town, is the launch pad for glides which take you over the thickly forested areas around.
In the state of Karnataka, the two main areas that offer opportunities for aerial sports are the Chamundi Hills and the Nandi Hills.
65 km from Bangalore, the state’s capital, are the Nandi Hills, known as Nandidurg, 1478 m high. The Chamundi Hills overlook the city of Mysore.
The town of Mhow in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, is one of India’s foremost military installations and is the state’s prime gliding destination.
Along the western coastline, it is north Goa, Rantnagari and other smaller seaside villages that support the sport. Unlike the Himalayan experience, here, the sea breezes creates lift bands that give pilots the scope of smooth flying. The most beautiful experience is when you sail into the sunset.
Right at the base of the Indian peninsular, Kodaikanal provides ample opportunities for this adventurous sport. |
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