Winter Sports in India

About Winter Sports

India is considered one of the best destinations for winter sports in the world. And it has many places to offer for Winter Sports. What makes it a better place is the feasibility to these locations. The best places, the best facilities of a hill top and the range of winter sports, makes India a better place to be in. Winter Sports in India means skiing, sledging and trekking, All of these are religiously carried out by thousands of local tourists and foreign tourists who come India to enjoy the winter sports as well the natural beauty of the hills. From the Himalayan Range in the North to the K2 in East, India has a number of places to enjoy the Winter Sports.

Winter comes and the air gets filled with the soft breeze. As weather gets intensified, the air gets more of the snow or the wintery air. It is this season which becomes a travelers heaven and a skiers happening time. Moving towards some of the best treks in India one can go for trekking in the snow filled high peaks. Packing ones bags and raffling towards the high peaks is a totally different experience at this time of the season. Some of the best destinations in India to go for Winter Sports are Sikkim, Gangtok, Kumaon, Deo Tibba, Narkanda Hills, Kumaon, Kufri, Auli and the Himalayas. These are some of the best places of India where you can enjoy the winter sports to the fullest. These places are best known for skiing and snow trekking. Himalayas provide the best of adventure especially for the experienced ones.

As you watch little kids making snowman or playing cricket in the snow filled lands, you can also go for something as thrilling as skiing. Not everyones cup of tea, skiing comes out to be one of the best sports to be done during the winters. Another exciting winter sports in India is Sledging. Though not as popular and prevalent as Sledging in the Polar region, it is one of the best entertainment for kids. Holding their grips tight they can enjoy the little rides while sliding down from a little height. As for you, there is the Ice Skating awaiting for you. The best options to try out ice-skating in India is Shimla, where every year a winter sports festival is held and this sport is one of the major attractions of it.

Types of Winter sports in India

Heli Skiing in India
If you have ever dreamed of going heli skiing in the mountains- well you can fulfill all your dreams in of India. India takes you into the amazing mountain terrain, where you can heli-ski in the white snow as long as your legs will allow. This sport challenges the risk-taking explorer in you, as you have to ski down through unknown routes and ridges. The helicopter leaves you at the top of a snow capped peak and from there you just have to criss-cross your way downward, sometimes on completely unknown routes. Some of the best places in the Indian Himalayan region include Hanuman Tibba, Deo Tibba, Rohtang Pass and Chandrakhani Pass near Manali. Auli in Himachal and Gulmarg in Kashmir also offer this sport.

Major Regions of Heli-skiing in India
Himalyas
It is full of ultimate skiing destinations and if you an extreme sports lover and experienced enough to climb the glacial regions, then take up you heli skiing venture among the Indian Himalayas. Consistent heavy snowfalls and variety of mountain ranges, the Himalayas provide the best attributes for any skier.

Manali
The Manali heli skiing expeditions involve helicopters, which are going to drop keen skiers onto peaks as high as 6,500m. The high peaks reduce the wind speed at lower levels where one skis, resulting in consistent, light and powdery snow. Powder skiing is easier to learn with the new thick kind of skis, especially if you are new to skiing.

Fitness
To fully enjoy heli-skiing, you should be in very good physical shape. We recommend that you engage in some kind of exercise program for eight to ten weeks prior to your ski trip. It stands to reason that the fitter you are, the better you will be able to take the skiing challenges, and the less likely that you will injure yourself.

Safety Precautions & Equipment
The guide is in constant contact with the helicopters and the other guides in the local area. The helicopter, in turn, carries periodic location reports with the base. Most emergencies can be handled with the equipment that guides carry in their packs. Oxygen and essential rescue equipment is carried in the helicopter.
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Mountaineering & Ice Climbing In India

The White Mountains of India offer the perfect place to display your climbing skills. The revered Himalayas stretch along the north and eastern borders of North-east India and embrace a Kaleidoscope of cultural and physical wonders, appropriate for Mountaineering & Ice Climbing. Cloud capped snowy peaks, densely forested mountain slopes, undulating foothills, infinite variety of flora and fauna - there is everything you need for an unmatched Mountaineering & Ice Climbing adventure.

Major Regions of Mountaineering & Ice Climbing In India

Himalayas
Among the Indian Himalayas, the most challenging peaks that climbers crave to climb are Nanda Devi and Kanchenjunga. For the biggest mountaineering challenges in India, a climber can opt the Garhwal Himalayas, the Zanskar range in Jammu & Kashmir, Kullu & Lahaul in Himachal Pradesh and the eastern Himalayan range of Sikkim & Darjeeling.

Stok
Across the Indus River to the south of Leh, beyond the village of Stok, there is a range of mountains that is popular with climbers. The base camp for climbing in this region is about two days trek from Stok, along the trail towards the Ganda La, one of the entrances over the range to the Markha Valley. Most of the peaks in this area are unnamed, but Stok Kangri at 6,150m, Gulap Kangri at 5,900m, Mashiro Kangri at 7,537 m are among some of the named peaks that any mountaineer would love to conquer.

Suru and Zanskar
The Suru and Zanskar valleys provide some of the more spectacular and difficult climbing in Ladakh. The Nun Kun Massif is one of the most frequent climbing areas of the region and is booked out for months ahead, sometimes years, by climbing expeditions. The approach to the twin peaks is from the Kargil-Padum Road, about 70-km south of Kargil.

Nun Kun Massif
It is the one which lies on the great Himalayan range, is the highest peak in Ladakh at 7,077m. Other named peaks within the Suru and Zanskar areas are Pinnacle at 6,930m, White Needle at 6,500m, Z1 at 6,400m and D41 at 5,600m.

Pir Panjal
Pir Panjal mountaineering range is situated south of the Himalayas. The vale of Kashmir is sandwiched between the Pir Panjals and the Himalayas. Similarly the Lahaul valley, north of Manali and south of Ladakh, is sandwiched between the two ranges.

Safety Requirement & Equipments while doing mountaineering &ice climbing in india
The most important things to be taken for mountaineering are: a map, compass, extra clothing for changing, matches, fire starter, knife or multi purpose camp tool, sunglasses, extra food, first aid kit, headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries, sunscreen, water filter or other method of water purification and whistle. These are crucial security items to keep handy when exploring unpredictable terrain. Check your equipment carefully and prepare to adventure to some of the best ice climbs and mountaineering experiences in the world. Before going for ice climbing a short course on Ice Climbing Tool Maintenance is recommended. Do simple exercise to improve your grip on the your Ice Tools. Reduce exercise induced muscle soreness with anti-oxidants.
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Snow Skiing in India

India is blessed with majestic white mountains and snowy trails. You'll find a family-friendly snow-land without much crowds. So, strap on the sticks, as it's time to catch the skiing excitement. Try ice skating with the kids as your adventure is waiting for you.

Major Skiing Regions in India

Gulmarg
It is known as Kashmir's premier upland hill resort at the the altitude of 2, 730m and offers one of the largest and best equipped winter sports opportunities in India. The snow conditions over here remain excellent over here from the months of December to April. Skiers can find all kind of modern facilities and world class equipments for skiing in Gulmarg.

Garhwal and Kumaon
The large slopes of Garhwal and Kumaon covered with seasonal snow become an ideal place for skiing in the winter months. With their wide open spaces above the snowline, Garhwal and Kumaon offer yet another exciting possibility for the skier - the ski touring amongst the majestic glaciers. Auli in Garhwal Himalayas in Uttaranchal is also counted as another major skiing resort of India. It has fine snowy slopes, magnificent fine forests and overlooks the towering Himalayan peaks of Nanda Devi, Kamet, Mana Parbat and Dunagiri.

Himachal Pradesh
No one can forget the ultimate destinations such as Kufri, Narkanda, Manali in Himachal. The Manali Region in Himachal Pradesh also offers scope for winters as well as summer skiing. It has excellent natural slopes and in the summer months has limited skiing possibilities at Narkanda. Last but not the least is Kufri, which has always been a favorite among ski lovers who visit Shimla in winters. So prepare your skies and zoom through the snow.

Safety Requirements and equipments while doing Snow Skiing in India
Skiing requires speed and skate skis on a prepared track. Edges provide stopping control and the construction of the ski is much tougher. Check with ski clubs in the area for more information. Most clubs hold classes for beginners throughout the winter season. Good skiing requires a lot of practice, patience and energy. Pay attention to posted signs, ski in control & don't ski in closed areas.

Exercises
A very good exercise is required for skiing so simple exercises such as work on your legs is "wall sits" is recommended.

What to wear
Depends on what level skier you are. If you're a beginner, any loud colour will do, the brighter the better. This will enable other beginners to see you clearly from a distance, and plan a course, such that no matter what you do, they will run into you. If you're an expert skier, you'll prefer pastels, earth tones and lighter colours, making you a less visible target for crash and burn types. The basic skiing gear that is counted for skiing is the flexibility of the clothing. The fabrics that can keep the body's temperature balanced according to the outside climate.

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