Manali emerges as India's adventure capital; sets global benchmark for heli-skiing, paragliding?

Nestled in the picturesque Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh Manali is bestowed with the inimitable gift of having thrilling adventure sports snow sports aerosports and watersports within a span of 50 kilometresOnce known primarily as a honeymoon and sightseeing destination Manali has repositioned itself as Indias trendsetter in adventure tourism offering allweather and aroundtheyear adventure activities Rock climbing ice climbing bungee jumping zipline and mountain biking are a few more to mentionWith improved access certified operators and a growing pool of trained local guides Manali has now become a magnet attracting thrillseekers across India and abroad looking for structured safe and highaltitude adventureOfficials and industry stakeholders assert that the shift has proved a boon for tourism in Himachal as facilities are not seasonal or timeboundManali is considered the pioneer of commercial heliskiing in India It started in 1990 serving as the operations base for helicopterassisted skiing in the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges particularly around Hanuman Tibba Deo Tibba and the slopes above SolangManalis topography provides a distinct advantage over other mountain destinations and powder skiing at Manali is exceptional as it has a variety of exposures says Chuni Thakur the only certified heli skiing guide in IndiaThe altitude allows much greater back radiation than other areas which creates excellent recrystallised powder he addsThe heliskiing season in Manali normally lasts from midJanuary to March depending on snowfallHelicopters drop skiers at altitudes above 3500 metres where they get access to vertical runs of 800 to 1200 metres on untouched snow unlike the ski resorts with lifts and crowdsPrakash Thakur Budhi president of the Hotel Owners Association in Manali said If the government promotes adventure activities through proper platforms theres a lot of scope to attract domestic and international touristsIndustry operators claim that while Gulmarg is more famous for liftbased skiing Manali remains Indias primary hub for heliaccessed terrain with the clientele including experienced skiers from Europe Australia Japan and Indian metrosWhile heliskiing caters to experts snowshoe trekking is being promoted as a quiet winter adventure on foot that has opened up Himalayan winters to beginners and families between December and February when snow depth in Solang Sethan Hamta and the forests around Old Manali reaches 2 to 4 feetWith snowshoes on popular summer trekking routes transform into magical winter trails through silent forests frozen streams and wide open snowfields with breathtaking mountain views said Sunny a local guide who leads regular snowshoe walks out of Sethan villageHimachal Pradesh Tourism has been promoting Manali as part of its Adventure Himachal campaign with the focus on safety standards waste management on trails and training for youth from nearby villagesTour operators have also altered their itinerary Earlier 70 per cent of visitors came for leisure and shopping but today about 3540 per cent come specifically for other activitiesHowever the Industry stakeholders see more challenges like the need for capacity building more certified instructors and guides especially for winter sports environmental management effective checks on littering on popular trails and erosion during peak seasonThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever