How to plan a winter vacation with adventure sports?

A hard core winter weather turns cushy with a vacation. Despite you warm yourself under the comfy blanket, its better to warm up the environment. Your mind map may design a lot but a systematic plan may drag your path to profit. Let not mess up with words; lets get set to the main theme- the plan. A winter vacation with winter adventure sports demands a pinch of time, a bundle of patience and an ample of knowledge about the place.

To work out the plan is more then to plan. A orderly wise plan provides a great moment with cheap expense. The following suggested steps will help you to schedule a wonderful adventure trip during the winter season.

Make a list of the winter adventure sports like snow-skiing snowmobiling, ice-football, ice-skating, ice-climbing.
Choose one from the many sport activities and understand its merits and demerits.
Collect adequate information about the sport, its availability and the desired quality.
Choose the perfect sport destination via conversation with friends and travel agents, searching on Internet and studying the world map.
Buy guidebooks expressing the climatic condition of your chosen area of interest. You can also read blogs and sites relating to winter sport in India and gather the reviews about the field of interest.
Look into the communication and transport facilities serving the desired destination.
One very important point lies in the health and safety corner of the area. Explore the recreation center of the place before you plan a visit.
Carry necessary documents, field guide, contact of the tour operators and above all the sporting equipments.
In addition to packing your basic necessities, weigh your luggage with a first-aid kit.

Winter Sports in Uttarakhand

Winter sports demands enthusiast sport-lovers and so do the adventure spots. India is blessed with a number of thrilling areas which offers some great adventure tour to snow-clad mountains and high peaks. If adventure is your cup of tea than do make a sharp turn towards Uttarakhand, the evermore beauty of India.

Uttarakhand is is sprinkled with complicated roadways, hugging the Garhwal to the western region of and Kumaon to its eastern side. The rugged terrain provides the stunning opportunity to prove your skill in mountaineering in Bhagirathi, Chowkhamba, Nanda Devi Kamet, Pindari, Sahastrataal, Milam, Kafni, Khatling and Gaumukh mountains. Trekkers and snow-skiers can explore the thrilling spot at Auli, Dayara Bugyal, Munsyari and Mundali.

Adventure activities on this areas requires an acute attention towards certain points like-
The snow covered slopes are at great altitude and calls for enthusiast who are strong at heart and good in health.
The high mountains and peaks are restricted for novices. Participants should be skillful in mountaineering, trekking and ice-skating.
Avoid swooshing down from snow-slopes and use the technique of gliding.
Wrap yourself with necessary clothes and do carry all equipment during any of the process.
Be sure take you are apt in handling and balancing unparallel situation.

Players roar with Ice-Football this winter

The enthusiasm to play on plain dry field is as common as having the daily bread and butter. A unique score lies playing with adventure and breath taking situation. Peep into the the world of winter sports and you are sure to grab at least one of the many. Like all the snowy sports like ice-sakting, snow-skiing its time to get hot with playing football on the icy grounds. But before we take the game into account lets notice some worthy facts:
The rule of thumb lies in strong determination, ability and intelligence of an individual.
Balance in handling sticks, checking, shooting and passing is the requisite skills.
Ice hockey requires the a skillful skating with forwards, backwards and lateral movements. Quick decision with necessary steps and hand-eye coordination outcome a fruitful result.
Player must be tricky enough while handling the opponent and the football. While you skate to the opponent, try to take back the puck with a body check.
Activities happens in a second so have good co-ordination with your team members.
While you are set for the game, keep your feet shoulder width apart and toes facing out.
Position yourself as slightly bent with the weight on the balls of your feet and your head up.
Follow the procedure of stride i.e dig or skate blade into the ice and push out to the side with the back leg extending through the push from the ankle to the tip of the blade.
At times apply the steps of recovery; wherein the back leg is brought back to its original position along side the front leg ready to take the next stride
To generate a quick speed, use the process of Strides and recovery simultaneously.
Exercise regularly for a strong leg as your leg carries the whole physical attributes that defines you as a challenging skater.
One most important thing is the hard work and practice which makes a every hard job easy and achieving.

Gulmarg Global Derby, 2009

Gulmarg dazzles with the arrival of March 2009. The dawn is set to stage the international events which are going to rock Jammu and Kashmir. As per the gleaned information, this winter adventure sport carnival will kick the town with a four-day international snow-skiing championship at the world-famous resort from March 1 followed by three-day national ice-rafting from March 6.

The week long winter sport carnival will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir. Sources confirmed that rafting events will highlight an approximate number of 30 foreign and 25 local skiers, all skiing down from 13, 000 ft. high Apharwat range to Gulmarg. Participants from all over the India and abroad including Australia, New Zealand and England will also represents other international events like Alpine run super slalom and cross country ski.
Organiser of this master event- ESSAR group and the tourism department is leaving no stone unturned to facilitate the region with flights to Ladakh region from Jammu and other major cities of India.
In the coming days similar event would be held at Patnipot in Jammu, so friends lets stop gazing stars in the sky; lets move on and hold a few.

Kids adventure glitters this Winter

Think! when you come across the world of adventure your eyes gets wide automatically and surprisingly your lips utter a word ' woh'. Today enthusiast adventure lovers has broken the edge of age and now children are the new players. The worth watching winter sports has turned worth trying. Where the children gets busy with snow ball fight and ice-hockey game, the adult groups lingers for an ideal trekking and snow-skiing spot.
Zipping down the icy hills gets hilarious with both mama, papa and their kids. The heart-beats gets faster and yet the atmosphere jig out with giggling conversation of the family members. The winter adventure sports with children gets fruitful with following the cited safety tips :

Dress your children with a layer of warm clothes.
Use a neck warmer rather then a scarf.
Cover their hat with halmet/ hat.
Children below 6 years should replace hockey halmets with normal hats.
Choose a low hill-top to practice the adventure.
Avoid spots nearby to lakes and rivers.
Keep a close eyes at your kids and keep them up on the crowd sides.
Check if the routes are properly carpeted with snow and no barriers are in between.
Teach your children slide down the middle of the hill, climb up the side and watch up the hill.
Check if your child is physically fit and comfortable with the game.
While you set out for the trip make sure that your luggage is loaded with medical kit, food stuffs and drinking water .

A hot winter adventure with Ice- Climbing.

Who don't desires to enjoy the melting ice, the snowballs in the snow way? One very thrilling, yet adventure winter sport comes with Ice climbing, a bit similar to what we had a talk about rock climbing in our blog. The task involves a challenging journey on the hard core snowy spots.

Know-how
Take the climbing venture with your three three limbs and one hand plying the ice-axe. The ice are hard and rough as rocks in the mountain and as such keep a strong hold on yourself and the equipments you are handling. No holds and anchors are accessible in the icy mountains and the climber themselves have to position them with pistons or screw. On thin ice, cat climbing is preferred with clawing up the ice walls and ice edges.

Adventure peaks
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Garhwal, Sikkim and Kumaon

Tip-Top Tips
Take all the essentials of ice climbing like sticky-soled boots, ropes, single axe, one pick axe and one hammer model.
Wear a strong, light and comfortable Helmet.
Carry a headlamp, spare bulbs and extra batteries for more darker zones.
Pack a light, handles double ropes designed with icy cords for the purpose of belaying and rappelling in the ice.
In the early morning, the freezy ice are cold and brittle so climbing on those hours requires a cautious practice.
Ice grades are subtle and indistinct and as such climbers need to collect accurate information about the spot the are set to undergo.
Have a fitness certificate before you proceed for this breath-taking activity.
The climbs often involve long accessibility and halts at high altitudes so wrap yourself with comfy woolen garments.
Get going with other adventure sports like skiing, running, hiking, and cycling, specially on hilly areas and prepare yourself for ice climbing.

Plan a pleasure with Snowmobiling

Skim across the frozen water and feel like a sail through the cushy clouds at the sky. Its none other than the wonderful 'Snowmobiling' , a race worthy enough to take part during the days of winter.

Know-how:
Snowmobiling calls for a ride in snow mobile, a vehicle which moves over the snowy grounds and is impelled by a continuous track or tracks at the rear and guided by skies at the front. Snow mobiles are easy to drive and sharp enough to take you across the hillsides preventing you from sliding down slope. This slim and stylish vehicle can take you into the remote snow filled areas,which is other wise impossible by any normal automobile or motorcycle.

Tip-Top Tips for Amateurs:
Practice a good drive in roads and carry a permit to drive a snow mobile.

Have a precise control over Snowmobiles and make repeated attempt to move it over the snow balls.

Dress yourself with warm clothes, a helmet, goggles and avoid keeping loose piece of clothes which may be caught up in the vehicle.

Carry a First Aid kit and give a practical study to the different parts of the vehicle like the emergency off buttons,rear view mirror etc.

Take an experienced guide with you and avoid night ride.
Ride in low speed and be around your local limit.

Be a skilled snowmobiler with basic ways of turning,driving,reversing and stopping properly.

Carrying a map is the most important things to remember. Check the local area before going there and fill your dairy with a few address of the local amenities and some place of stay.

Before planning a ride its important to note the weather forecast of the particular area you are spotted to.

For a better guide,its apt to proceed for a course in snowmobile organizations and study the vacation guides of varying price.

So friends, lets have a safe ride in snow and squeeze our cold days.

A winter wonder with snowballs

When the evergreen nature wrap up itself into the snowy blanket, people all around covers themselves with wintry clothes. The cold weather then warms up with a number of sports and sprays its magic every now and then. The most common games are skating, snow-boarding,ice hockey, sledging and above all snow ball fight. Of all the mentioned adventure games, the most simple and interesting activity lies in Snow-ball fight suitable for both teens and elderly group of people.

Know-how:
Snowball fight is not restricted to any rules or regulation. One can enjoy to the fullest with a small group of people or a chain of members throwing freezy balls at each other. The game calls for atleast two members and can add more fun with more number of people. The basic funda lies in making two or more groups with each team comprising equal number of participants. The main idea is to hit the opponents with the snowballs and to conquer the enemies.

Fun Time:
Practicing snow ball fight is a great fun reliable to enjoy in almost any areas clogged with snows and peoples. One very important point lies in proper dressing and discipline while playing. Many Bollywood movies and various entertaining scenes have adorned the game and is still wondering around it. Its high time to tour a place of snow and store some of your good time.

Golf Tourism in India

Golf holidays in India are much in demand by tourists coming from different parts of the world. Though golfing is a part of adventure, it offers travellers a laid back holiday option with sophisticated charm. The luxury of the golfing adventure at ones reminds one of the glorious days of the colonial era. There are many travel agents in India selling golfing holiday packages in various locations of the country.

A wonderful experience awaits you as you set off on your golfing adventure in India. Golf tourism in India has now more meaning as more and more advanced and well maintained golf courses have come up, many of them being world renowned. While you choose to embark on a golf tour in India, you can also visit places like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Pune, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Gulmarg , Srinagar etc. There are a number of other places where golf tours will take you.

What attracts travellers for a golfing tour to India is the variety of locales in the country. One can choose to enjoy the game across mountains, plains, deserts and at beach resorts among others. As you visit the Indian golf courses, you are sure to be spellbound by the variety of landscape in the country.

The golf courses of India are quite well compatible with other state-of-the-art golf courses across the Asian continent. Whether in terms of facilities or environment, travellers can really look forward to a great golfing holiday in India. Facilities at these golf courses include club houses, changing facilities, caddies, pro shops, post-tournament function rooms etc.

Popular Winter Festivals in India

India is a country of fairs and festivals. Even during the winters, the country celebrates a number of festivals attracting a good number of visitors from all
festivals in India are as follows :

Lohri
A popular festival of the Punjabis, Lohri is celebrated mainly in the state of Punjab on the 13th day of January. Festivities of Lohri include the very famous Bhangra dance. It marks the beginning of a new financial year for people engaged in agriculture and farming. The Lohri festival of Punjab is celebrated all across the world the Punjabis with great pomp and show.

Pongal
The festival of Pongal is also celebrated around the same time as Lorhi. It is the most popular festival of the Tamil people or Tamilians. Pongal is also a harvest festival and is celebrated on a large scale in Tamil Nadu. The Pongal festival continues for five days.

Makar Sankranthi
Also referred to as Uttarayan Sankranthi, Makar Sankranthi festival is the day when devotees and pilgrims take a holy dip in the divine Ganges and other streams. It is also the day of giving alms to the poor.

Vasant Panchami
Vasant Panchami or Sri Panchami is considered to be the prince of all seasons. The festival of Vasant Panchami is dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and learning. It is celebrated on the 5th day of Magh (Jan-Feb) every year.

Maghi Poornima
It is the full moon day of the Hindu month of Magh (Jan-Feb). On this day, people pay homage to their dead ancestors and give alms to the poor. The Magh Mela is organised on the day of Maghi Poornima in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Mahashivratri
The popular Hindu festival falls in the month of Phalgun. It symbolises the mythological marriage of Parvati and Lord Shiva. On this day, the married women pray for the long life and the prosperity of their husbands. Bhajans and devotional songs are a part of this festival.

Diwali
Goddes Lakshmi is worshipped on the day of Diwali, the festival of lights. Houses are cleaned and given a fresh paint of coat. People wear new clothes and send gifts to one another. The young in the family also enjoy bursting crackers.

Winter Tourism in India

Winter tourism in India is being promoted through exciting adventure sports and winter festivals. Major states that are playing a vital role in attracting travellers to India during winters include Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim. To promote this concept, the state governments are taking measures to meet the upcoming challenges, implementing new strategies and marketing latest and advanced winter gear.

Jammu & Kashmir
Picturesque mountains and beautiful lakes make Jammu & Kashmir a favourite of adventure lovers from all across the world. Gulmarg proves to the biggest draw for visitors during winters. Apart from this, Patnitop and Ladakh are also great winter destinations in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.

Himachal Pradesh
The state of Himachal Pradesh is mainly visited for skiing during winters. Popular skiing destinations in the state include Kufri, Narkanda and Solang Nala. The hill station of Manali also offers adventurers a number of winter activities to indulge in. Ice skating in Shimla is also much liked by adventure lovers.

Uttaranchal
The Garhwal Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand are a wonderful resource of adventure activities during winters. Auli is a great destination for travellers who love skiing. The 270 degrees view of the Himalayas add much to the joy of skiers in Auli.

Sikkim
Phuni in Lachung region of Sikkim is a newly introduced winter tourism destination. The ski slopes of Phuni are located at a height of 3,500 m above sea level. Introduced in March 2008, the ski slopes are Phuni are now counted among the highest in the world.

Mountain Biking In India

This is something that is really new. This adventure sports of mountain biking involves some amount of physical toughness. Generally every biking tour in India takes about 8 – 10 days to complete. You are given sports bikes and are made to go through the mountains. In the interim period you also get to do stuff like camping and group co ordination. Let us some good mountain biking places in India.

1- Sikkim
2- Himachal
3- Kumaon
4- Ladakh
5- Garwhal

Hiking places in India

Hiking is one sport that is light and a lot of fun. It is meant for those who have aliking for adventure but don't wish to be a part of highly physically demanding activities. Here are some place of hiking in India.

Har Ki Doon Valley, Uttaranchal
Mussoorie, Uttaranchal
Kullu to Manikaran. HP
Shimla via Narkanda, HP
Sutlej-Beas Watershed, HP
Darjeeling to Kurseong through the Old Military Road
Darjeeling to Singla
Darjeeling to Bijabbari
Darjeeling to Tiger Hill

Upcoming trekking events in India

Here is the list of some upcomimg trekking events in India. For more information please visit: India Tour Guide


One Day Trek to Kalwarbetta (Skandagiri) - [Saturday 10th January 2009]
Bouldering, Rock Climbing & Rappelling at Ramnagaram - [11th January 2009]
Trek to Kudremukha [10th-11th January 2009
Mullyangiri Bababudangiri Kemmangundi Trek [17-18th Jan 2009]
Adventure Camp at Bheemeshwari [24-25th January 2009]
Paragliding Training Program in Bangalore [24-25th Jan 2009]
One Day Trek and Cave Exploring at Antargange - [31st Jan 2009]
Day Trek to Madhugiri - [1st Feb 2009]

Ice Skating carnival in Shimla

The hill station of Shimla is full of fun and frolic throughout the year. But, the excitement doubles up in the winter season as the place turns out to be a winter sport destination in India.

The ice skating rink of Shimla is located in Dalhousie. This mega carnival takes place between December to February. Two sessions for skating are arranged every day. Moreover The Shimla ice-skating rink has got the largest open-air frozen ice in this belt. You can easily avail membership of the club and be a part of this thrilling event.

This is not all. Along with ice skating adventure activities like fancy dress competition, ice hockey and dance performances are also conducted. Tourists from all over world come in large numbers to be a part of this carnival.

All arrangements are put in place for the carnival. From ice skating shoes to the dress gear, you get it readily available at this place.