Age no bar for an adventure sports

Each one of us has a desire to do something extreme in our life. When we dream we do not think of what could be the possible barriers. The reality to a great extend does not always match with dreams. But there is one place where age is no criteria. Where you can simple pin point your choice and go for it. It is adventure sports.

Although the myth related with Adventure Sport make people think otherwise but the reality is that Adventure sports is a fun activity. It is risk free and can be done by anyone. If you are fifty years old and wish to do a mountain expedition then go for it. Tough or easy is in the mind. If you have the will and excitement half the battle is won.

Adventures can be classified in two parts. One kind is known as Soft adventures and other type is hardcore. Soft adventures are the ones which do not require any kind of skills. They are more a leisure activity but they also provide certain level of challenge that is needed for any adventure to be adventure. Hard core adventure is anything that requires you to fight the nature like Trekking, mountaineering, skiing and River Rafting.

Soft adventures are very popular amongst families. The idea of Scuba Diving in the blue waters of Andman or Lakshwadeep or hot air ballooning above the desert of Thar is a very appealing idea among all age groups. And the extreme sports like bungee jumping or skiing the highest slopes or even trekking the highest mountain passes generally chosen by experts or risked by youngsters.

The reason why most of the grown ups prefer the safe options of luxury holidays or soft adventures is because the thought patterns formed from their young age is that this is the time to play and have fun because when you have more responsibilities all this wont suit you. Other reason is that people do not take care of their health from start and then make old age an excuse for not being adventurous. The reasons can be any but the fact remains that if a person has the will then he can definitely try any adventure sports and succeed.

A few facts that will make this fact more believable are that most of the trekkers in America are middle aged men. There are even some older than that. They have climbed some of the most feared mountains and performed some of the most thrilling stunts. Most of the single travelers from abroad are females aged 40 or more. The popularity of adventure sports and the safety attached to it has grown so much that even oldies do not mind giving it a shot.

The popularity of adventure sports has caught up with everyone. When the media is going out of the way to promote people from all age group are lured by it.

Acclimatization - Adjusting to change in environment

Importance of acclimatization:

Acclimatization is essential for high altitude activity. An inevitable and normal process is acclimatization. It takes different timing on every individual. Generally people get relaxed and get adjusted before they hike lofty peaks. It is process which is performed while Adventure Traveling to high elevation lands. This process slowly adapts your body to the lower atmospherically pressure. At lower elevations, many people don’t want to go for acclimatization. But on higher altitudes, they have to take it easy with the climate.

How to Acclimatize?

Below are some precautions that will help you out:

• Better to stay at a lower elevation during daytime.

• Get your body adjusted with the climate and the higher altitudes.

• Be normal when you are taken to high altitude treks. Be comfortable and take it easy the first couple of days.

• Avoid any kind of drinks or alcohol.

• Water should be drunk every hour. It will help your kidneys flush out the bicarbonates.

• Stay hydrated at higher altitudes.

• Try to have light food, have too much of carbohydrates and eat less protein and fats.

• Do not take any remedy which disturbs your normal sleeping habits such as sleeping pills.

Medicines to overcome acclimatization:

No such remedies are available for acclimatization but can help you slowly to overcome. Many a times, fit youngsters suffer more problems when they are on high altitude treks.

Diamox (Acetazolamide)

It will allow you to breathe faster so that you produce more oxygen. This will be useful at night. Better if you take Diamox before 24 hours of your hiking period. Take ii twice a day, one at night and one in morning. Continue this medicine for at least five days. It is sulfonamide drug, not for the people who are allergic to sulfa drugs.

Dexamethasone

It is a steroid that drop-offs brain and other swelling reversing the effects of AMS. This medicine will prevent you from altitude illness. Take advice from your doctor, because extreme use of this medicine can cause serious problem. It may be compared with Diamox. No other medicines have been tested important for precluding AMS.

Best Places for adventure in India

Ladakh

Ladakh is the land of passes is a famous tourist destination. It is on every trekker’s must-visit list. It is bounded by Himalayan range on one side and Karakoram Range on the other. The normal temperatures here are extremely low and in winters they go as low as -20 degree centigrade. Leh which is the capital of Ladakh has many tourist attractions. Ladakh has a strong

main adventure activities here are trekking, rock climbing, rappelling, river crossing and white water River Rafting. To reach Ladakh you can take flight from Delhi to Leh or drive down here. Tibetan influence. Hence there

are several Buddhist monasteries which are also open to public visits. The

Uttaranchal

Uttaranchal is famous as the land of g

ods is what you can dream of to have on a perfect holiday. Fresh air, pure water, green surroundings, mountains in the background and snow on top of them.. all this and more is what Uttaranchal has on offer. It has brilliant little tourist spots like Nainital, Mussourie, Kausani and many more places. Uttaranchal is famous for Trekking, skiing, water rafting, hang gliding, Paragliding, boating, canoeing and angling.

Sikkim

Sikkim is in the North East India is a paradise for tourists. It is the most scantily populated place in India. The landscapes here are incomparable, the weather is uplifting and the mountain ranges here are not to be found anywhere. Coffee plantatio

ns here add to the lush voluminous greenery of this place. Rafting and mountaineering here are famous amongst tourists as adventure tourists. Sikkim can be reached at by Darjeeling, Siliguri or Kalimpong.

Himachal

Himachal is a state located right in the centre of Hmalaya mountain ranges with Jammu to its north, UP is South East and Haryana in South. It has trekkable mountain peaks and raftable rivers, green forests and good roads for safaris. Himachal is famous for adventure activities such as skiing, heli-skiing and ice skating. You can also try safaris by jeeps, cars or motorcycles. Aero sports like paragliding is also available here. Trekking, Camping and river rafting are also famous here. You can reach here by bus, car, train or flight.

Rajasthan

This North West state of India is surrounded by Thar Desert. It shares a long border with our neighbouring country. Rajasthan also is the place where the oldest mountain ranges of Aravalli

stand. Rajasthan has a lot of forts, fortresses and palaces. In fact this place is land of the roy

al families whose battles are legendary in India. Rajasthan has always been welcoming tourist

from all over the globe. It offers adventure sports such as camel safaris, trekking, aero sports, fishing, water sports, Wildlife extravaganza. It is accessible by flights, trains and buses.

Karnataka

Karnataka is a place with lot of places that are of tourist interest. There is a whole range of sculptures temples, hills, forests and sea shores that Karnataka has on offer. No wonder it is voted as the 4^th most popular destination in India. It also stands 2^nd in having the highest number of national monuments. Karnataka has an array of adventure sports that suit various temperaments. You have endless trekking options in the Karnataka hills and lots of white water rafting opportunities in the Kali river. Wildlife here is rich too and tourists are crazy about the Bheemeshwari, Bandipur, Nagarhole sanctuaries. It has several weekend getaway options as well. Karnataka is reachable by flight, train and bus.

Goa

Goa is called the Rome of East. The Portugese influence here is very strong here. The place is a destination popular amongst youngsters, hippies, party-crazy people. Besides the hippie culture that Goa has it also has a great history behind it. It has century old temples, churches and ancient houses which stand for the old Goan culture. Goa too is a place for water sport lovers. The Arabian Sea touching the Konkan coast is an exciting place to experiment with water. The Water Sports you can try here are scuba diving, snorkeling, jet-skiing, parasailing, surfing, water-skiing, windsurfing, and deep sea fishing. Goa is easily reachable by air, sea and land.

Andaman & Nicobar

Andaman and Nicobar is a cluster of 572 small and big islands. This place has great opportunities for water sports. Andaman has a water sports complex where you can indulges in a variety of water sports. You can experience scuba diving, sailing, parasailing, windsurfing, snorkeling and trekking in the ocean. You can also enjoy sail boats, speed boats and paddle boats. Glass bottom rides are a hit here. The extensive marine life here is striking and a wonderful experience. Andaman also has an amusement park and central jail which are great tourist spots. You can reach here by flight which flies from Kerala, Kochi to Port Blair or by ship which leaves from the Kochi port.

Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep is a beautiful island 240 km away from Malabar Coat. The island is rich in marine wealth and that is what people come to see here from across the globe. Water sports in Lakshwadeep are quiet popular as there is availability of equipments of very high standards. Water sports here include snorkeling, scuba divng, glass-bottom rides, para sailing, surfing and water skiing. The islands of Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Kadmath and Minicoy offer activities like kayaking, sailing, paddling and inflatable motor boats. Staying facilities here are good but expensive as it is still not so tourism inflicted. Lakshwadeep can be reached by a flight from Kerala or Cochin. You can also come here by ship that commences its journey from Kochi.

Kerala

Kerala is a place where all the elements of nature exist in their purest form. The seas tranquilize, the skies mesmerize and the lands are ablaze with the fire of light that blows from the human settlements. Kerala is voted as the third best tourist destination in Asia. It is connected with all the major cities of India and is accessible by air, train and bus. The Kerala tourism is the most developed and it has facilities that suit people of all classes.

There is plenty for everyone to do here. People come here for adventure trips, trekking expeditions and water sports. Some also come here for soft adventures like Wildlife Safaris, the infamous boat race-Allepy, Kollam and backwater vacations. Kerala also offers a huge range of wellness holidays like spa getaways or Yog and meditation tours. Whatever way you wish to come here as a backpacker of an elite guest, Kerala will never fail to impress you.

Adventure India

Trekking and rafting in Arunachal Pradesh
Known as the land of rising sun, Arunachal Pradesh is situated in the north-eastern part of India. Also known as the ‘Treasure Trove of Nature’ it is famous for its 500 rare species of orchids. It has a galore of adventure sports
which one can indulge in; from angling to boating, river rafting, hiking and trekking. There are several trekking destinations along Pasighat-

Jengging-Yinkiang, Bhalukpong-Bomdila-Tawang, Roing-Mayodia-Anono and Tezu-Hauliang routes. These routes pass through Kamesng River, orchidarium, Lake Sanctuary and gives opportunities to raft, angle bird watch and trek.
Arunachal is also popular for its white water rafting. Siang, Brahmaputra and Subansari are the rivers which have white water rafting opportunities. Brahmaputra river is a wild river where grade IV and V rafting can be easily done.
Its biggest tributary Subansari offers similar rafting chances. The best times to be on these rivers are the months between November and March.
Scuba diving at Netrani Island

Netrani also known as Pigeoon Island is located 220 km south of Goa, 10 nautical miles offshore from the village Murudeshwar. The dive sites in this region are 10-30 meter deep and there is a
15-20 meter range of visibility around the island. The dive site is rich with coral reefs on the east and rock walls on the west and northwest of the island. Going underwater you may discover rare species of fishes and corals. There are private operators which provide tourists with Scuba Diving packages where diving gears are provided and diving training is given after which a certain number of dives in the sea are allowed.
Angling at Cauvery
If fishing is your idea of relaxing then what better place then Cauvery. The tourism and the forest departments run Cauvery Fishing Camp. Fishing of Mahseer can be easily done during the camps. Cauvery River supports a very good population of humpbacked Mahseer. Many other important fishing camps along the way are Galibore, Bheemeshwari and Doddamakali. The camps are indeed the best bet for a green holiday

topped up with a bit of adventure.
Water Sports in Goa
Goa is indisputably the best place for all sorts of Waters Sports. Be it windsurfing on the seas of

Dona Paula or angling in Agonda or parasailing on Majorda beach and Condolim beaches or water
skiing on the Calangute beaches. The ideal time for water sports is the months between October
and May when the skies here are clear and the sea is at ease. If you love water sports then Goa is the place to be.
Bungee Jumping in Bangalore
Bangalore is one of the first places in India which introduced it to this sport. In this sport the person’s ankle is tied to a harness and he is dropped from thin air. Safety gears are provided but the few hundred meters free fall is worth all the trouble.
Hot air ballooning at Bir Billing
Billing, a little place in Himachal Pradesh is considered one of the best hot air ballooning sites in the world. Found in Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh, Bir is a small village which acts as the landing ground and Billing is the meadow from where one takes off.
It offers panoramic views and is ideal as a launching ground for hang-gliding and paragliding.