TREKKING 

The main trekking areas in Himachal are the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges, routes over the passes between the Shimla region and the Kullu valley, the numerous treks out of Kullu and select tracks in the Trans-HimaI-ayan regions of Kinnaur, lahaul and Spiti. Most trekking areas are between 1 ,500 metres and 6,000 metres.  

With well over two hundred and seventy defined trails, the variation in terrain is also enormous. low scrub-land and paths through paddy fields, give way to trails strewn with pine needles. Then come woods of oak and flowering rhododendron, which merge into forests of Himalayan cedar -'deodar' -.and spruce. On most trails, small pastoral hamlets dot the way. Cunningly hidden between the high mountains, are passes which were once known only to migrant shepherds and dare-all traders. These lead the fabulous wastes and swift rivers of the arid Trans-Himalaya. A host of combinations and variations take the trails through changing countryside. The degree of physical output can also be changed to  

At Manali, the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports offers a variety of courses and facilities for skiing in winter. Winter and summer skiing are possible in the Solang area near Manali. Here are also some companies in the private sector that offer ski courses and facilities. 

CAMPING  

Camping is perhaps the best way of enjoying the wonders of nature given to Himachal and sharing the warmth of its people. You can carry your own gear along -or opt for any of the several camps that are pitched in various parts of the state. These camps offer accommodation, catering and a variety of activities like hikes, fishing, nature-tours and rafting. Most of these offer quality facilities and services.  

Himachal Tourism has camp at Sarchu in Lahaul, and in addition to built- accommodation,tents are available at Sangla and Kalpa in Kinnaur, and at Kaza in Spiti.

The Youth Hostel Association of India, runs camps at Dalhousie and at Kullu- Manali. Camps run by the private sector are in the Baspa (Sangla) valley and at Kalpa in Kinnaur, at Tabo in Spiti, at AlHilal (Taragarh) and Dharamsala in Kangra, at Shoja near Kullu, and at Mashobra and Baldian near Shimla. Adventure camps are likely to be available soon in the Pabbar valley, in the Jubbal- Hatkoti-Rohru area. 

Fancy-dress carnivals, 'gymkhanas', ice-hockey and dances enliven every season.  

PARA-GLIDING  

Riding the warm thermal currents of the air, is perhaps the closest man has ever come to sailing the skies as free as a bird. Almost at will, you dip and wheel high over the hills and valleys. The bald peak of Billing, above the Buddhist monastery of Bir in Kangra, has been the venue for five national and three international hang-gliding rallies since 1984. The site is perfect for para-gliding too. And this sport is a mix of sky-diving and hang-gliding. A fairly recent sport that is steadily gaining popularity, para-gliding is possible at various places in the state. Places where para-gliding is done regularly are -Bundla Dhar near Bilaspur, in the Kullu valley and at Intkali in the Pabbar valley near Rohru.  

Himachal Tourism sponsors training programmes and events at various times of the year, in different places. There is an Adventure Sports Hostel at Dharamsala and an Aero Sports Complex at Bir. For details of training facilities, contact sports associations, or the Divisional Tourism Development  Officers of Himachal Tourism.             

Hang Gliding –The Spirit of Adventure

SPORTSMEN all over the world are looking for something different. With conventional sport having lost their initial challenge, the adventurous are experimenting with different, arduous and risky games that wil reinstil the spirit of adventure in modern day sport. 
Even as people are taking to trekking, hiding and skiing with a zest there is a small group of dare- devils that are looking for extra. For those few, hang gliding is just what the doctor ordered. 
A few spirals of springy metal, some wire attached to a couple of levers. All bolted onto a frame made up of steel pipes. And a piece of cloth over it as the final touch. That's all that goes into one of the things that these daring few strap onto their backand plunge off the steepest cliff they can find in the neighbourhood. First seen-almost disbelievingly-almost 20 years ago in faraway America, people in India have also risen to the challenge of doing something different. Transporting the flimsy rig to a hilltop, all you have to do is to strap yourself in, get a bearing of the wind direction-not too tough, and just watch the birds-and take the plunge. A few steps and off you go. Soaring on the currents, as free as the birds. From then on, it's just you and the glider. Manipulating the currents that criss-cross the surface of the earth, taking maximum advantage of one stream only to switch and gently waft into the heights. There is no engine to keep in trim, no fuel costto worry about. All you need is your glider and your daring. 
First seen in India almost two decade ago, hang gliding was brought to the Western Ghats by Bombay's Deepak Mahajan and Armyman Mundukar who had a lot of help from Neil Kinnier. Even as people feasted on the beauty of the Dhauladhar ranges in the Western Himalayas a veritable paradise for mountain climbers, trekkers and hikers-an innovative foreigner took off from Triund for the first Indian flight. Very popular with trekkers, Triund was not the ideal place for hang gliding. Some time later. Enthusiasts discovered the Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh to be the best-suited place to practice their daring sport. 
                       Set at an attitude of 8,000 feet above sea level and about 90 km from Dharamsala Billing is chosen as the ideal' place to launch the sport with the First World Himalayan Hang Gliding Rally. Since thesix national and three international hang gliding rallies have been organised at Billing. The best time for hang gliding is May-June and September-October when the temperature is moderate and thermal effect are extremely good. Billing in Kangra district, Bundla Dhar in Bilaspur and Kullu Valley are ideal locations. Billing is described as one of the best launch site in the world. It offer opportunities for high attitude and cross country gliding for more than 200 km. Billing commands panoramic view of Kangra Valley and snow covered ranges of Dhauladhar mountain and valley below offers a safe land ground at Bir.      

ANGLING  

An anglers'  paradise, Himachal has several spots for both trout and mahaseer -as well as other fish. Acclaimed as the best sport fish in the world, both Brown and Rainbow  Trout are to be found in Himachal's streams. Up- stream of Rohru in the Pabbar valley, there are several spots ideal for fishing. Chirgaon has the trout hatchery, and other sites are -Seema, Mandil, Sandasu, Tikri and Dhamvari; all are within 5 to 25km of Rohru. Kinnaur's Baspa river in the Sangla valley also holds trout. The fish also abounds in the Uhl river near Barot. Good spots on this beat are -Luhandi, the Puran hachery, Tikkar and Kamand. The upper reaches of the river Beas in the Kullu valley, and its side streams like the Sarvari, Parbati, Sainj, Hurla and Tirthan - especially the areas around Aut, Patlikuhf, Katrain, Raison and Largi -are excellent for the sport. These are all the up-stream of the Pandoh reservoir and are close to, or on the Mandi -Manali highway.  

The picturesque Kangra valley has several spots that offer mahaseer -river carp. The reservoir of the Pong Dam right up to the town of Dehra has good spots. The area around Nadaun along the river Beas has some good beats, and some are Chamba Pattan near Garli (accessible from Nadaun or Jwalamukhi), Amtar (2km from Nadaun), Harsi Pattan (30km from Tira Sujanpur) and Lambagaon (15km from Tira Sujanpur). On the river Giri, Gaura (30km from Solan on the Rajgarh road) and the beat near Dadahu (5km from Renuka Lake) and the river  Yamuna, downstream of Paonta Sahib are good spots for mahaseer. The waters of the Gobind Sagar near Bilaspur, also have a variety of fish. Fishing fees are nominal. The trout fishing season is from 31 March to 31 October. Generally, the best months for mahaseer are those that have an 'r' in their spelling -January, Feburary, March, April, September, October, November and December. 

WATER AND RIVER SPORTS  

The Pong Dam reservoir in Kangra, and its 42km length and 2km breadth, offers a variety of activities in close collaboration with the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports. Year- long activities include swimming, water- skiing, surfing, kayaking, rowing, canoeing and sailing. Three levels of courses are also conducted -beginner, intermediate and advanced. Similar activities are also available on the waters of the Gobind Sagar near Bilaspur, the Chamera lake near Dalhousie and the Pandoh lake on the Mandi-Kullu National Highway.  

River-rafting -or white-water rafting, as it is also called -is swiftly making Himachal a focus for the sport. For a torrent of adrenalin to gush through every vein and surge over every muscle, you can race over the State's river rapids in an inflatable rubber dinghy. The sport is now being held on the Sutlej near Shimla, on the Beas near Kullu, the Ravi near Chamba and the Chandra in Lahaul. Possibilities are also being explored on the river Spiti. Non swimmers and novices can also experience this on some of the gentler rapids. The sport takes a break during winter and in portions of the monsoons. 

Himachal Tourism sponsors courses in river rafting, and there are operators in the private sector who offer this experience.

MOUNTAIN CYCLING 

Gear yourself for high adventure with  an expedition on cycles. You can pedal your way past high passes or simply, make a day-adventure. Quite literally, the whole of Himachal is your playground. The tour can be coupled with camping and can be carried on for several weeks over diverse terrain. The lower regions of the State- Kangra, Una, Hamirpur and Bilaspur - offer gentle routes. Or you can stretch mind, muscle and stamina to reach out to the Trans Himalayan tracts of Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur. Milder -but no less interesting -excursions can be done out of any holiday station.For the higher regions, the summer and autumn months are suggested. 

VEHICLE SAFARIS  

By jeep, car or on motorcycle, you can explore the variety Himachal has to offer. By jeep, the Trans Himalayan tracts can steadily unfold their natural and man-made wonders. Along one of the world's highest highways, you can drive out of Manali, cross the Rohtang pass (3980m), and move through arid Lahaul to Leh and Ladakh. From Shimla, through picturesque Kinnaur, you drive through the haunting landscapes of Spiti -and over the Kunzam pass (4551 m), enter Lahaul. Himachal has an extensive network of roads and tracks-and apart from the routes mentioned above, there are several others you can traverse on. By car, driving over the more demanding routes may not be possible, but in no way does this curtail the range of experience. And motorcycles may impose some limitations, but are again a wonderful way of sharing the wonders of Himachal.All you have to do is buy a route map, plan your trip -and you are on your way.  

MOUNTAINEERING  AND ROCKCLIMBING