Indian movies have taught many things. But the most important amongst them: “A life lived without adventure is a life wasted.” How true indeed! Adventure is necessary to bring spice to our boring, sedentary lifestyle. And what best than giving Adventure Sports a try? Once you try adventure sports, the adrenaline rush of that experience will never be matched by any other thing.
And unlike in the movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, you don’t have to go all the way to Spain in order to try various adventures. There is nothing you can’t experience in India. So here is our list of 25 adventure sports you definitely need to try before turning 30.
List of 25 Adventure Sports In India
| S.N | Adventure Sports | Best Places |
| 1 | Paragliding | Bir Billing, Mussoorie, Bangalore – Nandi Hills |
| 2 | Bungee Jumping | Rishikesh |
| 3 | Skydiving | Mysore, Aamby Valley – Maharashtra, Deesa – Gujarat |
| 4 | Scuba Diving | Andaman |
| 5 | Waterfall Rappelling | Chelavara Waterfalls, Coorg Karnataka. Jogini Waterfall, Manali Himachal Pradesh. Kondane Caves, Lonavala |
| 6 | Trekking | Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim |
| 7 | Mountain Biking | Munnar, Manali – Leh |
| 8 | River Rafting | Ganga river Rishikesh. Zanskar River, Ladakh. Beas River, Kullu & Manali. Lohit River, Arunachal Pradesh |
| 9 | Flyboarding | Baina Beach in Goa |
| 10 | Flying Fox | Neemrana in Rajasthan |
| 11 | Kayaking | Rishikesh |
| 12 | Rock Climbing | Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim |
| 13 | Skiing | Auli, Kashmir |
| 14 | Snorkeling | Goa, Andaman |
| 15 | Snowboarding | Auli, Kashmir |
| 16 | Surfing | Goa, Kerala |
| 17 | Dirt biking | Ramakrishna Beach, Andhra Pradesh. Kovalam Beach, Kerala. Gokarna, Karnataka |
| 18 | Hang Gliding | Bir Billing |
| 19 | Caving | Meghalaya |
| 20 | Zipline | Munnar, Kerala. Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. Kerwa Dam, Madhya Pradesh |
| 21 | Hot Air Ballooning | Lonavala, Maharashtra. Uttar Pradesh. Goa. Rajasthan |
| 22 | Parasailing | Manali, Solang Valley- Himachal Pradesh. Varkala Beach – Kerala |
| 23 | Dune Bashing | Rajasthan |
| 24 | Wingsuit Flying | Not In India |
| 25 | Bulls Chase | Some parts of T.N |
Adventure Sports: Paragliding
Paragliding – Our very own way of flying around like a bird and enjoying the beauty of nature from the air. A foot-launched aircraft is used in Paragliding where the pressure of the air forms the shape of the fabric wing. A harness is suspended below the wing where one can sit and be stunned by the beauty of nature.
There are a number of places in India where you can experience Paragliding. The key is to choose a picturesque place which you can enjoy from the air. Stok Kangri is, without a doubt, one of the best places to enjoy Paragliding. The only problem is, it is the highest mountain in the Stok Range of the Himalayas in the Ladakh region. So one must be an exceptional trekker to get to Stok Kangri first.
Other than that, Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh is also one of the most popular places for Paragliding not just in India but also around the world. It ranks second in the World after Europe’s Chamonix. Kamshet in Maharashtra and Darjeeling are also famous for the same.
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Adventure Sports: Bungee Jumping
How would you like to experience a free fall from the height of 83m and swing in the air like a ball of pendulum tied to nothing but a rope? Excited? Scared?
Although a relatively new sport in India, Bungee Jumping has always been one of the most adventurous but dangerous sport at the same time. It is definitely not for the faint-hearted people.
A long and extremely strong rope is tied to the jumper’s ankles and all that will be left is taking a leap of faith! The weightlessness you will feel will never be a match for anything else. After the initial jump, the rope will swing around for a while where you can enjoy the 360 degree – Literally!
Rishikesh is the best place for Bungee Jumping in India with a height of 83m. Bangalore, Delhi, and Lonavala in Maharashtra are also popular for this sport.
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Adventure Sports: Skydiving
If you were scared of jumping from less than 100m with a rope tied to your body, wait till we explain the next one. Skydiving is without a doubt, one of the craziest adventure sport there is. One has to be exceptionally brave to try something like jumping from 10,000 ft without a single harness attached to the body.
But if you try it, there is nothing quite adventurous and ‘One in a Lifetime’ like sky diving. A diver jumps from an aircraft from the height of around 10000 ft and is provided with the parachute which is opened mid-air.
Dhana in Madhya Pradesh, Aamby Valley in Maharashtra, and Mysore in Karnataka are a few famous places for Skydiving in India.
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Adventure Sports Water: Scuba Diving
From the air to the water! Scuba diving is the best way to explore underwater beauty. India is surrounded by oceans from three sides and it would be a shame if we didn’t try and explore various animals and plants 50ft under the water.
Although it is not a very dangerous sport, one needs to know all the important factors before going into the water. Things like managing Oxygen supply, dangerous animals or plants in the water must be known to the diver beforehand. Quick courses are offered to beginners at places where Scuba Diving is available.
Andaman and Nicobar Island is the best place for Scuba Diving given the variety of underwater life and cleanliness of the ocean. Goa, Pondicherry, and Netrani islands are also famous for this sport.
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Adventure Sports Water: Waterfall Rappelling
We have all heard about Rock Climbing and a lot people have even tried it on a few comparatively easier rocks. But what if you have to climb up the rock while the constant flow of water from the waterfall keeps coming in your direction?
Waterfall Rappelling allows you to take your love for the waterfalls to the next level and experience them like never before. A harness is tied to the climber’s waist while he/she tries to climb the rock through the waterfall. The slippery surfaces on the rock make the experience even more challenging.
Coorg in Karnataka and Vihigaon in Maharashtra are best known for waterfall rappelling. If you are planning to try this sport out, we would suggest you to visit during the monsoon for the best experience.
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Trekking
Yes, it is one of the most common adventure sports known to us. But for those who want to be challenged by nature’s creation, we have the names of a few really difficult treks.
North-Eastern India remains one of the biggest unexplored areas on the map of adventure sports in India. But with the beautiful valleys and forests in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, treks through the mountains can be a pleasing experience.
Bomdila Dirang Trek, Twang Mago Trek, and Se La Nuranang Trek are some of the most famous trekking destinations for adventure lovers. In North India, the trek of Roopkund is famous amongst the Indians with May-June being the best time to visit.
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Mountain Biking
With the Himalayan Range in North India and the 1600 km long Western Ghats, one can understand why Indians are crazy about Mountaineering and trekking. But lately, Mountain Biking has become very famous in India with a number of great options to explore.
Although, mountain biking is not as easy as it seems. It is never easy to ride a bicycle off track and on the mountain ranges in India, the task becomes even more difficult with rocks, forests, and water bodies. One has to be completely aware of the road to follow or risk getting lost in the endless range of mountains.
Leh-Ladakh and Manali are the most popular amongst the bikers. But a few other places like Kangra valley in Himachal, Kumaon in Uttarakhand, and Singalila Ridge in West Bengal are also great options to explore.
Adventure Sports Water: River Rafting
River Rafting – India’s simple and risk-free answer to adventure sports. It is one of the most common sports in India but is still loved by everyone, from beginners to pro adventurers.
And how can you not like it? Racing through the water in nothing but a small rafting boat, experiencing the madness of the water first hand and that too with a group of people who love the adventurous life just like you – There is hardly anything better than that.
Although river rafting is available at almost every tourist place nowadays, it is worth experiencing it at some famous places like Rishikesh and Manali.
Adventure Sports Water: Flyboarding
There are a number of water sports like river rafting that we are familiar with. But Flyboarding still remains the adventure sport as “The one which Hrithik Roshan did in the movie Bang Bang”. Don’t worry, we know a place where you can recreate that scene all by yourself.
First of all, flyboarding is nothing but a combination of jet skis and jetpacks. Remember Tony Stark’s fire booster which helped him fly? Yes, that but water! The fly board is attached to a jet ski that pumps the water to send you almost 15m high in the air.
Baina Beach in Goa is the only place in India where you can experience Fly Boarding. And while it will definitely catch up in a few years, you should pay a visit to Baina Beach to experience this crazy sport.
Flying Fox
A safe and unique but one of the most mesmerizing adventure sport on this list – Flying Fox. Quite like its name, you are tied to a big rope which has its two ends on two different mountains/forts and you come flying in from one end to the other.
This sport is famous in Kerala, where you can journey through the forest while enjoying the view of hills, waterfalls valleys, and rivers. Neemrana in Rajasthan is also famous for Flying Fox where you can enjoy the forest all around you. Kikar in Punjab and Rishikesh are a few other places to visit if you want to try this sport.
