The winter sports festival organized each year in December in the capital city – Shimla has ice skating as one of the major attractions. The ice skating rink in Shimla covers a large area. You will be amazed to see the natural frozen ice here that enables you to indulge in ice skating. Not only those who are fond of adventure sports but all the tourists who come over to Himachal will surely have a great time ice skating in the oldest skating rink of Asia.
Ice skating is somewhat similar to another ice sport, skiing. Instead of sliding down the snow-clad mountain slopes, you are required to put on the ice skates and glide in a skating rink. You can do it alone or with a partner. But keep the fact in mind that ice skating is not as simple as ordinary skating. You will to balance extremely well in order to skate on ice.
Ice-skating in Himachal begins during the early December and continues till the month of February. Low temperature and clear sky make these months the ideal time for continuing uninterrupted skating. You can choose to skate either during the morning hours or evening hours. Ice skates are available on rent in the rink only. In case you are experienced in the sport, you can go for figure skating or ice hockey that are much more adventurous. So, what are you still waiting for? Plan a visit to Shimla in Himachal Pradesh to enjoy ice skating.
Gears and Clothing:
One always have to prepare beforehand, before going on any such winter camp,. The most significant thing is the tent as one has to spend most of the time within it. The tent should be large enough to hold an individual and should be strong enough so as to bear the winter winds, which blow very strongly. The tents should be made of nylon and the frame should be of aluminum. One should also carry an air mattress, which is self-inflating. One should be fully clothed so as to avoid the rough winter condition. One should always dress in layers as it maintains the body temperature and moisture.
Camping Destinations In India:
Auli
Andaman
Darjeeling
Gir
Himalayas
Jim Corbett
Kerala
Kangra Valley
Kovalam
Kumaon
Ladakh
Lakshadweep
Manali
North East India
Periyar
Rishikesh
Ranthambore
Shimla
Sikkim
Uttaranchal
Camping Tips and Precautions:
Everything takes longer and moves slower in cold and snow. Equipment is more bulky and heavy. The days are shorter and much of your camp activities will take place In the dark. Patience is not simply a virtue at this point, it is fundamental.
Keep your camera inside your shirt or your jacket so it stays warm enough to operate, Film should also be carried close to your body because it tens to get brittle when cold. Wind film slowly to avoid tearing.
Keep flashlight batteries inside a pocket. What may seem like dead batteries could be just cold batteries.
Carry a small whiskbroom to brush off boots and gaiters, and a sponge to mop up damp spots.
Keep clothing in stuff sacks so they don't accumulate snow while opening and closing your pack.
If you can, tie a string to your flashlight and keep around your neck. Headlamps are best as they allow your hands to be free.
Whenever you take off hats and mittens, always stow them in a secure place. Things will dry out in the winter, believe it or not. It's a process called sublimation. The dampness turns to ice and evaporates from ice. So damp things should be hung on dry surfaces such as tarp lines.
Personal organization is crucial during the winter. You must know exactly where each and every single bit of your gear is at all times.
Never set things in the snow. It is possible to drop a lit flashlight in the snow and never find it again.
Avoid cotton like the plaque. It becomes a frozen lump by the second morning.
Avoid metal cups (except for double-wall thermal), metal whistles etc. which will adhere to warm mouth tissue when cooled to winter's subzero temperatures.
Practice working with all of your equipment with mittens on and modify any equipment that can only operated with bare hands.
In winter camping there is very little margin for mistakes. If you forget to waterproof your boots and get wet feet, you will need to take action immediately to prevent frozen toes or feet.
Be careful around an open fire. Winter clothes and boots which provide good insulation from the cold, will also stop you from feeling the heat until the boots. mittens etc. are burning or melted.
Cotton kills because once it gets wet, it takes forever to dry in winter, leaving the door wide open for hypothermia. This is an essentially useless winter fabric, so leave the jeans at home. One caveat: bring a cotton bandana to clean your sunglasses.
Get ready to get wild with Skiing along with other winter sports at Dhramshala.
Travel to Himachal Pradesh and come to Dharamshala, where the winds of change are rushing to shatter its quiet calm. The term Dharamashala means 'The Holy Refuge' and this scenic town is roosted in the Kangra valley and belongs to the group of the 80 hills that were developed by the British to help them fight the dust and sweltering sun.
This home of the present Dalai Lama is a scenic hill station located at an altitude of 4,550 ft above sea level, this small petite beauty is located at a very convenient distance from the Kangra valley and the beauteous McLeodganj. Divided into two parts as Upper Dharamshala and Lower Dharamshala, here you will see hills, bungalows, churches, monasteries and cantonment. Surrounded by the mighty Dhauladhar mountains, Dharamshala has an incomparable distinction of being the chosen home of the spiritual and temporal head of the Tibetan people.
Dharamsala over looks the plains and is surrounded by dense pine trees and Deodar forests. A nearby snow line with numerous streams and cool healthy atmosphere makes the surroundings very attractive. Spend a vacation in this cocktail of Tibetan and Kangra culture with a tinge of colonial origin, that makes this destination, the sweetheart favorite of the tourists. Enjoy a holiday that you had always dreamt of, but had never endeavored.
Dharamshala's Attractions
Among the primed Deodar and Pine covered hillocks, where nature has used its brush to add the colorful strokes of life, there is no dearth of attractions. This Indian hill settlement is a traveler;s delight, where in the lower part is the Kotwali Bazaar, while the upper part for the town is more residential. Elegant bungalows and the cantonment greets the tourist. This is a place where short walks are the best way to explore the lush and greens of Dharamshala. Enjoy a trip to Himachal Pradesh to see the most famous attractions of Dharamshala.
Fame finds it way to the Namgyal Monastery near Dharamshala, where resides the 14th Dalai Lama. Thousands of people beat their path to visit this monastery, which has been the centre of Buddhist pilgrim for the past four decades. A visit to the this monastery, posing in the Center of Tibetan Studies is nothing but mandatory. 'Tsuglagkhang', opposite the Dalai Lama's residence, will remind you of Lhasa as it contains large gilded bronzes of the Buddha, Avalokiteswara and Padmasambhava. Other monasteries that you cannot miss is Geludpa Monastery, that adjoins the Dalai Lama's monastery. Here you should see the giant statue of Buddha, Thankas and other ritual and consecrated subjects. The Nechung Monastery in Lgangchen Kyishobn has Tibetan libnrary lwith a good rang of books, magazines & photo-copying facilities and a museum.
While in Dharamshala you should enjoy shopping in Kotwali Bazaar. This joint along with array of shops, little cafes and eating outlets makes it an attraction in its own. While here you cannot miss checking the Kangra Art Museum that has wonderful collection of miniatures, arts, crafts, and rich past, displays artifacts that date back to the 5th century. This treasure trove also displays collection of sculptures, pottery, and anthropological items.
You should pay homage to Himachali war heroes in War Memorial lying near the museum. Get off at upper Dharamshala and pass through the deep wooded Forsytheganj that has eye catching bungalows. Here you should visit the St. John's Church, that holds the Viceroy Lord Elgin's Memorial. This church has some beautiful stained glasses that mustn't be missed.
Move towards the Sidhpur to Norbulingka, lying at a distance of 16 kms. This halt will reveal to you the preservation of Tibetan arts and crafts in a centre that will demand a day's trip, and its worth it. Set in the style of a Japenese garden, Norbulingka has a temple, souvenir shop and Losel Dolls Museum and a beautiful cafe, Norling. There are also metal and wood workshops where you can see people indulged in crafting.
The Shrine of Bhagsunath, just 11-km from the town center of Dharamsala is the ancient temple of Bhagsunath. There are many fresh hot water springs close to the temple, which are considered sacred by the Hindus. The most important ones are the Tatwani & Machhrial. Surrounded by the high and green Deodar trees is the lake, which fills a mountain bowl. This is Dal Lake, Situated 11 kms away from the town and is an enchanting picnic spot.
Just at a distance of 12 kms from Dharamshala is an oasis of mediation calm. Several meditation centres have mushroomed here due to the calm and scenic ambiance. You should try the Vipassana or Tushita Meditation Centres. For Yoga lessons, head for the Iyengar Himalayan Yoga center.
112 kms from Jammu, this famous hill resort is perched on a beautiful plateau, at an altitude of 2024 metres across which the Jammu-Srinagar Highway passes. Enveloped by thickly wooded forests, Patnitop offers beautiful picnic spots, peaceful walks and breathtaking views of the of the Chenab basin. In winter, the resort is generally covered with a thick mantle of snow thus providing opportunities for various snow games including skiing. It is the best-developed tourist spot of Jammu and is second to none in its natural charm, climate, pine forests and lush green cover. There is an ambitious plan of Patnitop Development Authority to develop Patnitop, Kud, Sud-Mahadev, Mantalai circuit. The construction work of Mall Road at Kud is to be taken up in the near future. Trekking route from Kud to Patnitop-Sanasar has already been completed. The complete tourist circuit covers Jammu-Katra-VaishnoDeviji, Kud-Sanasar, Patnitop-Gourikund, Sudmahadev, Mantali, extending upto Latti-Dhuna.
Things To Do At Patnitop
Trekking - A range of trekking options is available here. Summer is the season when all trekking routes are open while some are open in winter too. There are excellent camping sites also enroute. The Sundarani- Jungal Gali-Jasarkote-Sanasar route in Jangal Gali area lets you choose any of three exciting treks. There are Trekking equipment hire shops of tourism Department at Jammu and Kud. They stock imported and local gear. These are available for fixed prices.
Equipment Available
Tents :
i) 4 man tent
ii) 2 man tent
2. Carry mat
3. Sleeping bags
4. Jackets
5. Windcheaters
6. Rucksacks, Boots
The equipment is issued against cash receipt or on Guarantee letter from Dy.Dir Tourism/Dy.Secy of State or central govt. For a foreign tourist Passport is held as security deposit. Some travel agencies in Jammu city also organize Trekking in the area.
Winter Sports In Patnitop
Skiing at Patnitop- Skiing courses are conducted at Patnitop in the months of January and Feburary. During winter mionths there are introductory courses for tourists/beginners at gentle gradient slopes of Patnitop. At Madhatop (5/6 Kms from Patni top on Sanasar Road) excellent possibilities for all kind of skiing exist. A ski-lift in the area is also proposed.
As for facilities 40 sets of equipment is available at Patnitop and Sanasar. Also available are wooden sledges locally. For beginners Instructors are also available.
Aero sports at Patnitop - Paragliding has been introduced at Sanasar and Jammu. Equipment is available on Hire from tourist office in Jammu city. May-June and Septemer October are best suited for paragliding. Other aero sports like Parasailing and Hotair ballooning are also becoming operational shortly.
Trekking in Grahwal :
Treks in Garhwal gives ample opportunities of trekking to adventure enthusiast. Garhwal Himalayas offers all ranges of trekking tours from soft treks to hard treks as well as trekking expedition.
Trekking in Ladakh :
Ladakh offers adventurous trekking tours. The attraction here for the tourists are snow clad peaks, translucent lakes, barren terrain etc. The best season to go on trekking tours and expeditions in ladakh in this region is between July and September.
Trekking in Sikkim :
Sikkim is one of the best kept secrets in the Himalayas and trekking tours in Sikkim can be a wonderful experience and antidote of city stress and daily life. Experience of trekking in Sikkim can be memorable and cherished for a lifetime. While trekking one can relish the pure air and silence of wilderness,Himalayan Land of Nature Grandeur Spiritual Beauty.
Trekking in Himachal :
Trekking in Himachal requires adequate preparation as majority of trekking route falls in those areas which are perennially cold. Himachal offers trekking tours from moderate to strenuous and best time for trekking in himachal is from June to October. The four great mountain ranges and a fluctuating snow very cold climate.
Trekking in Jammu & Kashmir :
Jammu & Kashmir the trekking season extends from July through September. Trekking in Jammu & Kashmir is of different kind, one may go for trekking for a week or for a day. People can not feel like they are away from the human life, even on hills the huts of Gujars can be seen made up of log of wood, they use to graze their sheeps on the lonely hills. In Ladakh s some treks have monasteries as their focus and in Kashmir some treks have mountain lakes as their focus. One trek in particular covers half a dozen high altitude lakes, encircled by snow covered mountains. In Jammu, Kishtwar and Bhadarwar regions have excellent trekking routes.
"These mountains are associated with the best memories of our race: Here, therefore, must be one of centers, not merely of activity, but more of calmness of meditation, and of peace and I hope some one to realize it." - Swami Vivekananda
The beautiful region of Kumaon in the East of Uttaranchal in India have one of the most popular hill station of Almora. This horse shoe shaped hill station is located on a 5 km long mountain range away from the chaos of the cities, it offers the tourists a perfect calm and placid atmosphere with true colors of beautiful nature . One can experience every inch of Almora dipped into scenic beauty along with its famous ever lasting traditions. Renowned as the paradise for all the adventure enthusiasts, it offer loads of options for the ones who love to take their adventure to great heights. Facilities for adventure sports in Almora like Trekking, River Rafting, Mountaineering, paragliding and Skiing makes it one the famous winter sports destination in India.
Famous Almora 's Attractions
Bright End Corner
Chitai Temple
Bright End Corner
Nanda Devi Temple
Kasar Devi
State Museum
Located at an altitude of 1,638 meters, Almora experiences a moderate climate. The summers are warm in the morning and pleasant in the evenings. The winters are cold and sunny during the daytime while the nights are very cold with snowfall a couple of time during the season. The best time to witness snowfall is from the end of December till the early February.
Places To Shop, Eat And Stay
Shopping in Almora:
Lala Bazar
Karkhana Bazar
Khajanchi Mohalla
Where To Eat in Almora:
Madras Cafe
Swagat Restaurant
New Glory Restaurant
Mount View Restaurant
Accommodation in Almora :
Holiday Home
Hotel Himsagar
Snow View Resort
How To Reach Almora
By Air: The nearest airport to Almora is at Pantnagar, the seat of a famous agricultural university, about 127 KMs from Almora.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is at Kathgodam situated around 90 KMs away. Kathgodam is connected by rail directly with Delhi, the capital of India, Lucknow, the capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh, Dehradun the capital of the state of Uttaranchal and Calcutta.
By Road: From Kathgodam local transport, private taxis as well as buses run by private operators, and buses run by the state government corporation - UASRTC are available at all hours. By road Almora is connected conveniently and is merely 380 kms away from Delhi, 466 kms from Lucknow and 415 km from Dehradun.
