Winter Sports in India

India is well known for its highest peak and big mountains ranges, these ranges offers all kind of mountaineering, aero sports as well as the winter sports in India. Himalayan region of India are ideal destinations for chill and thrill adventures winter sports. The Snow-capped Mountains, lush greenery and a cool breeze are the assets to the north Indian, which makes them one of the best destinations for the snow sports. The hill station of India like Shimla, Darjeeling, Nainital, Gulmarg and Srinagar are counted as best for the snow sports. The unexplored valleys, snow-capped mountains with stunning glaciers, and towering peaks are the major adventures places for snow sports such as Skiing, Ice skating, Ice Climbing and Snowboarding. Other recreational sports include Ice hockey, Figure skating, Snowmobile, Ice fishing, snow cycling, snow football and snowball fight can also be enjoyed some time.

Skiing: 

This recreational activity is most famous snow sports, used skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are connect to the toe and heels with the use of a binding. Many different types of skiing are also popular such as Alpine skiing, Freestyle skiing and Military skiing. The major destination with fine, flowing, snowy slopes for skiing in India are Auli, Pahalgam, Manali, Narkanda, Uttarakhand and Sikkim. Gulmarg is one of the most popular skiing destinations in India.

Skiing in Gulmarg - India

Skating:

Ice skating is one of the major attractions of snow sports in India. The destination for Ice-skating in India is shimla, himachal pradesh. Ice-skating carnival of Shimla is famous for major winter sports like ice hockey, dance performances and figure skating. Ice Skating Association of India is take care of the all ice skating sports.

Ice Skating in Shimla

Snowboarding: 

Snowboard is board attached to a rider’s feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The free-ride style of snowboarding is the most common and easily accessible style of snowboarding,consists of riding down any terrain. Another style of snowboarding is Freestyles, In freestyle, the rider uses man-made terrain features to perform tricks. The chill and thrill Snowboarding needs skills and exercises like maintain body balance, turning of the board,Edging,control and timing.

Snowboarding in Shimla and Gulmarg

Sledding: 

Sledding or sledge is similar to sliding in seated position on a device called as sledge. In sledding riders, ride down from a snow covered hill and determines the path by twists and turns. Lying on the stomach can also be a good technique to improve the fun of sledge ride.

Sledding in Shimla

Ice climbing: 

India is a paradise for mountaineering lovers, its large belt of mountain ranges are well known for climbing. As a sport, ice climbing is still evolving in India, it is one of the fastest growing sports of India. The thrilling and adventures winter sport ice climbing is one of the major attractions of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh tourism.

Ice Climbing - Himachal Pradesh

Traditional Sports in India

India has a vast and unique culture, so every state has its own traditional sports to follow. India become the land of traditional sports like Kushti The Indian Wrestling, Vallamkali,  Jallikattu and many more. India is also known for its diversified culture and traditions. One of the traditional sports in India is Mallakhamb also known as the pole dance of India, it is one of the very difficult sports in India. There are few famous villages sports are also very adventures sports in India. I am listing few most popular traditional sports in India.

Kushti: 

The Indian wrestling is the best sports to play and maintain the physic. It needs to be follow some set rules to become a wrestler. A heavy diet and strict discipline is to be maintain by the wrestler. Famous Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar is the Indian world wrestling champion of 66 kg freestyle wrestling games and winner of Bijing and London Olympics. Indian wrestling is one of most popular and difficult type of traditional sport in India,mostly played at North Indian state of Punjab and Haryana along with Maharashtra.

Kushti practice in Akhara - Haryana - India

Mallakhamb: 

Mallakhamb is a traditional Indian sport in which a gymnast performs poses and feats while hanging from a vertical wooden pole or rope. It is also used as a form of exercise to get high level of fitness by the Phalwan or Indian Wrestlers. This is the one of the beautiful Indian sports.

Mallakhamb in Mumbai playground

Kabaddi: 

It is one of the most popular sports in India played by the people in villages as well as in small towns. Kabaddi is an Indian game which requires both power and skill for its play. It is a simple and inexpensive game and doesn’t require any playing equipment. Regular Kabaddi tournaments are held throughout the country.

Kabaddi - Punjab India

Kho-Kho: 

Kho-Kho is one of the most popular traditional sports in India. Kho Kho is a ‘run and touch’ game that is very simple to play and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It does need any good physical fitness just need skills to play.

Girls playing Kho Kho 

Vallamkali: 

The snake boat race, known as Vallamkali in Kerala. It is an interesting traditional game held on the occasion of Onam. It is a famous water sport and one of the main attraction held in Kerala. Boat Race is truly a feast to the eyes of the visitors, who come from far off places to see it.

Vallamkali - Fmous "Kerala Boat Racing" 

Jallikattu: 

Jallikattu is one of the oldest living ancient sports seen in the modern era. The ancient sport of Jallikattu pits crowds of brave young men against angry bulls. It is similar to the Spanish running of the bulls but a traditional part of Pongal celebrations in Tamil Nadu.

Jallikkattu race1 in TamilNadu

In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, people don’t need red capes and sharp swords to tame bulls, they do it with their bare hands, in a sport called Jallikkattu.

The ancient sport of Jallikattu pits crowds of brave young men against angry bulls who will tear anyone apart, if they get in the way. The name of the sport comes from the words “salli”, which translates as “coin”, and “kadu”, which means tying the coin to the horns of the raging bull. The goal of Jallikattu players is to tame the bull long enough to claim the prize.

But that’s is a lot harder than it sounds, especially since the bulls used for Jallikattu are extremely aggressive, and the players aren’t allowed to defend themselves with anything else but their bare hands. The bravest of the young men will try to grab the hump of the bull, and hang on, while the beast will most often grab him with its long horns and plunge him into the ground.

Jallikkattu race2 in TamilNadu

In ancient times, Jallikattu was used by kings, to test their potential son-in-laws. Whichever of the players managed to tame the bull, would win the princess’ hand. Nowadays, prizes consist of money, gold chains, watches and motorcycles. if none of the would-be bull tamers manage to ride it into submission, the prize goes to the bull owner.

Tens of thousands of participants and onlookers gather whenever a Jallikattu game is scheduled, and most of the times hundreds of them end up in the hospital, with serious injuries, and some of them lose their lives. A centuries old tradition, in the Tamil Nadu region, Jallikattu was banned in 2008, following accusations that the bulls are fed alcohol and chili is sprayed in their face, to make them more aggressive. The ban was later removed, but the animals are now checked by a team of veterinarians, before Jallikattu.

Camel Race: 

Camel racing in Pushkar is one of the major attractions for tourist in Rajasthan. Camels are very important part of desert life, These camels are decorated beautifully at the time of race. Pushkar is one of the oldest living city in India, and it is gaining popularity for one of the biggest annual fair of camels. It was really a good experience to watch the camel race in Pushkar.

Camel Race in Pushkar - Rajasthan , India

Archery: 

Archery is one of the most ancient sports originated in India. This is the favorite pastime or sports of the people of Manipur, It’s an everyday activity of the state dwellers. During every festival archery matches are held.

Archery practice in Manipur - India

Martial Arts: 

Martial art is a part of India’s ancient culture. Kalarippayattu is the one of the oldest form of Indian martial art. This famous art is from Kerala. Indian martial art is a gift to the modern world and mother of all other Asian martial arts.

Kalarippayattu Practice in Kerala India

10 Adventure Sports in India

Though some of the adventures sports are very new to India like Scuba diving and snorkeling, Ballooning and Paragliding etc but few place in India are well known for its kind of adventures and traditional sports such as Rock climbing,trekking and Jallikattu. In the last few year India has become one of the hotspot for the adventures travel and well known as one of the best place in the world for its traditional and adventures games.Gulmarg Kashmir, Adaman Nicorbar, Uttarakhand and north East India are few best destination to try these adventures sports in India. Kalaripayattu, Kushti and Mallakhamb are few ancient traditional Indian sport to try in the different region of the country for different taste of sports.

Skiing in Kashmir: 

Kashmir, the heaven of earth is offer best one of the place for extreme snow sports like Snowboarding, ice-skating and Skiing. Gulmarg in Kashmir,Kufri in Shimla and Auli in Uttarakhand are well known destination in India for adventure skiing and other winter sports. Skiing is the major attractions of Kashmir along with ice-skating in frozen lakes and hiking in deep valleys.

Skiing in Kashmir

River Rafting in Himachal: 

Rivers of Great Himalayas like Chanderbhaga,bhagirathi Satluj and Ravi are some of the best river for white water rafting in India. River rafting is an extreme sport with thrills till the end in the highly dangerous rivers of Great Himalayas. The rolling white water of these rivers are offer tremendous opportunities for the challenging adventure sports activities of river Rrafting. Manali along with Kullu are some of the excellent option for adventure river rafting along with kayaking and other water sports.

River Rafting in Himachal Pradesh India

Mountaineering in Uttarakhand: 

The peak of Greater Himalaya make Uttarakhand as one of the best place for mountaineering and climbing activities. Most of the area of Uttarakhand is either covered by forest or snow covered mountains with rocky hills and beautiful meadows. Mountain Climbing is a very challenging sport and needs skills to choose and perform the right technique at the right time, effectively and efficiently Garhwal and Kumon region of Uttarakhand offers mountaineering, ski,rafting, hiking and rock climbing sports in India.

Mountaineering in Uttarakhand - India

Trekking in Arunachal: 

The slice of paradise is still untouched and unexplored, northeast India offers rare and wild experience of Trekking and adventure caving. The famous Bomdila Dirang Trek, Twang Mago Trek, Se La Nuranang Trek are the few destinations in the world to offer a wonderful experience of trekking. Trekking is the various beautiful valleys of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh with variety of flora and fauna should be a great experience. Its dense forests, rolling hills and lush green beauty also offers hiking,jungle camping and other mountain sports.

Trekking in Arunachal Pradesh - India

Scuba Diving in Andaman: 

The Andaman and Nicobar islands are union territories of India and famous for its virgin beaches and unexplored beauty of nature.These small islands are known for exciting scuba diving and snorkeling. Havelock Island is one of best sport to explore the under water untouched beauty of the Andaman Islands.

Scuba Diving - Andaman Nicobar - India

Flying Fox in Kerala: 

Apart from adventures water sports, Kerala offers one of the extreme and fascinating sport called FlyingFox.FlyingFox a unique journey from above the hills,rivers or valley’s with ultra-strong steel zip lines and at the same time enjoy the breath-taking view of down earth. As you fly through the steel zip lines like a giant fox from the valleys of Kerala also Fort in Rajasthan offers the same. Kerala also offers extreme adventures sports like Mountaineering, Valley crossing and Trampoline.

Flying Fox in Kerala

Bungee Jumping in Karnataka: 

The extreme sport bungee jumping is very young sport in India and yet to get popular in the country. Feel the fun along with thrill of Bungee Jumping in India, Mysore in Karnataka,Rishikesh in uttaranchal and Anjuna village in Goa are only few destination in India to experience the exciting thrill of weightlessness.Rishikesh get India’s Highest Bungee Jump Platform of 83 Meters.

Bungee Jumping in Karnataka

Water Sports in Goa: 

Goa is most popular tourist destination in India and its sea beaches are known as best in the world. Arabian Sea beaches of Goa offers some of the most popular water sports like Jet Skiing, Parasailing, Swimming, Snorkeling and Kayaking. Ocean water Sports also includes In the water and On the water sports.

Surfing in Goa 

Paragliding in Maharashtra: 

The Western Ghat hills of Maharashtra are one of the most preferred adventures sport destination in India. Place of Maharashtra like Panchgani,Kamshet,Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar are well known for recreational flying sport Paragliding in India. Paragliding is the another most special and thrilling sport after Parachuting or skydiving.

Paragliding in Maharashtra

Rock climbing in Madhya Pradesh:

Rock climbing is one of the popular adventure sports in Madhya Pradesh along with Rappling Valley Crossing,Jumaring and mountain climbing. The Satpura mountain ranges offers terrain for adventure activities like Rock Climbing and Trekking. Pachmarhi, Orchha Gwalior,Chanderi and Jabalpur are few best place who host good facilities and experiences of rock sports. The capital city of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal is well known for adventure Boat Racing.

Rock Climbing in Madhya Pradesh