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Think mountains! Think this: snow-capped peaks,
apple-cheeked giggling groups of children, cool,
mist-shadowed streams and rugged terrain that
is wild, free and unending as the wind. While
all of this is true, what stands apart when a
mountain holiday with a difference is spoken of,
is the fact that one now has the ability and professional
support systems to indulge the streak for adventure
in an organized, safe and fun-filled way. Mountain
vacations today have risen beyond the traditional
mantle of a trip to the hills armed with a striped
eagle flask, monkey-caps in dull colors and hardy
shoes to spend exploring the hillside's natural
bounties in: they can be an exhilarating, expansive
and unforgettable experience for those with a
zest for living life to the lees.
With professionally managed tour operating companies
stepping into the picture, the dream of a camp-out
at 12,000 feet in the lap of Himalayan splendors
is not far-fetched; neither is a bird's eye view
of exotic locales and memorable wild-flower dotted,
rugged mountain slopes and green valleys from
a Para-glider's point of view-literally sky-high
with excitement, adventure and overdosed on the
gift of life!
If adventure sports are your staple form of bodily
sustenance for overall well-being, then a week's
time-off to Shimla
hills or a fortnightly visit elsewhere in the
remotest Himalayas
can have you packing plentiful opportunities for
slipping, sliding, warding off mosquitoes, deer
and stray boulders while gasping from exhaustion
and exhilaration at the sheer glory of mountain
vacations and their accompanying constant: breathtaking
views! Solang Valley and Deori ghat are some top-spots.
Adventure tour operators advice travelers on mountain
vacations to carry some essentials in their kit,
whether they are outward bound for hi-speed, nerve-wrecking
mountain sports like trekking to glaciers, river
rafting on rapids, paragliding, sky-diving or
extreme rock-climbing or even simple camping and
easy trekking trips. These include a compass,
GPS trekking shoes or hardy-sports shoes, layered
clothing to protect against wind-chill, 3-4 pairs
of socks, lightweight jackets in colors that can
be detected from afar, flashlights, fire starter
kit, multi-utility knife or tool set, sunscreen,
first aid kit, some amount of emergency food and
water supplies, maps, binoculars, toiletries,
a handy radio/CB, emergency strobe, sunglasses
and plastic bags (makes for eco-friendly hill
tourism!)
Rock climbing is a fast-emerging first-choice
for adventure sports lovers opting for mountain
vacations. Those with a mountain to climb and
a thirst for challenges will find rock climbing
on steep, rocky cliffs and mountain sides akin
to Alexander's zeal to conquer and refuse to allow
the safety equipment like ropes, body harness,
friends like cramming devices that contract to
the pulling of a trigger and can be wedged in
the crevices or nuts to hamper their spirit of
freedom. Rappelling offers a safer diversion and
is equally popular choice for mountain vacations
with a reasonable touch of adventure. Himachal
Pradesh offers many opportunities for this
and other adventure sports like River rafting
for the stout-hearted and trout-fishing for softer
souls.
Solitude and spectacular snow lines for a snow-skiing
experience that is unforgettable, is offered in
Uttaranchal,
Jammu-Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh while cycling,
trekking and camping are great outdoor pleasures
that can be enjoyed in Gangtok,
Darjeeling,
Ooty,
Mahabaleshwar, Ranikhet, Kasauli and other hill
station towns all over India.
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