Winter Sport in India is an emblematic form of sport, which is commonly played during the cold season. Although in its original sense winter sports only refers to the sports played on snow or ice, however, in the recent days it refer to the exciting sports that are generally played during winter and also often throughout the year. In India, winter sports have carved a special niche for itself. The snow capped Himalayas, the lush wilderness, the serene ravines all add to the grandeur of winter sports in India. Heli skiing, hang gliding, rock climbing, motor rallies, camel safaris and ballooning are some of the common winter sports in India which with their style, verve and pulse stands as the insignia of the very expression "Fun in the Sun".
Heli Skiing: This is a special type of winter sport Heli where the skiers are dropped at the peak of a mountain by a helicopter. This action saves the skiers to do the job of climbing up. This requires a lot of experience, courage and careful study of physical features, wind direction, etc. India is the first Asian country to offer Heli Skiing facility. The sport is best enjoyed at the Himalayan ranges of Kashmir. The other important destinations for Heli Skiing in India are:
* Hanuman Tibba at Manali in Himachal Pradesh (H.P).
* Auli in Uttaranchal
* Pithoragarh at Kumaon Himalayas in Uttarakhand
* Rohtang Pass, Manali, H.P.
* Chandrakhani Pass, Kulu & Manali, Himachal Pradesh.
* Gulmarg in Jammu & Kashmir
* Deo Tibba in Manali, H.P
Hang Gliding: This is also an important winter sport in India. This is a game where the gamers can actually gaze beyond the heights of mountain ranges, rivers, forests or even plains. Even the sky is clean a Hang Gliding Gamer can also trace the route of the river until it vanishes into a haze. Hang gliding is very much popular in the region of Srinagar Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, the Nilgiri hills in Tamil Nadu, Mysore in Karnataka, Shillong in Meghalaya as well.
Rock Climbing: There are limitless opportunities for the rock climbers in the Indian sub-continent because of its abundant rocks and hills. This game is an adventure of highest magnitude, where you need to fight against your own self, where you are required to fight all odds and reach your destination and then return back alive. For some gamers this game is a passion to challenge their spirit and attain new heights. Rock climbing is test of concentration, coordination and strength, and at the same time it tests your technique and skills as well. An experienced climber will know that the mountains can never be taken for granted. For the first time it can be antagonistic and rough, but for adventure lovers it can be filled with excitement and thrills. Some of the major centers for rock climbing are foothills in the Garhwal Himalayas, Western Ghats around Pune, Mount Abu and Sariska in Rajasthan, etc. In case the terrain is unfamiliar a professional climber is required to avoid any mishaps.
Motor Rallies: This winter sport is very famous as India offers an excellent terrain for running motor rallies starting from hilly, mountainous place to beaches. This is a sport that needs no introduction to all those who love to drive and enjoy adventure. Driving through the rough mountain terrains can be tough, and here the instinct of the driver comes handy. There are some important car rallies which are organized at this region like Himalayan car rally, Vintage Car Rally, The Monsoon Rally, Kolkata, The Charminar Challenge Rally Karnataka 1000 rally, the rally D`Endurance, etc.
Ballooning: This sport is regarded as a fancy winter sport in India. Every November balloon festival is organized all over the world and this is enjoyed by all the participants as well. The Balloon Club of India at Delhi`s Safdarjung Airport is the headquarters for this aero-sport. Some of the important ballooning destinations are as follows;
* Agra, Uttar Pradesh
* Pushkar in Rajasthan
* Beneshwar in Rajasthan
* Nagaur in Rajasthan
Camel Safaries: This is a famous winter sport. The best camel safaris are held in the heart of the Thar. The places around Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner are also good options. Other than these, towns like Ramgarh, Nawalgarh, Dundlod and Churu are other good spots for camel Safaris. The safari organizers also try to create the atmosphere of old caravan`s journeys accompanied with the musicians. They also organize some campfire so that the tourists can enjoy it the most.
