No wonder, Maharashtra is known mainly as a commercial hotspot across the
world, but the state is not behind in the area of adventure sports too.
Blessed with a varied topography including the imposing Sahyadri ranges with
their steep hair-raising cliffs, shimmering waterfalls, rivers and lakes
making their way through ridges, dense lush forests which house a variety of
animals and birds, Maharashtra is a perfect heaven for adventure
enthusiasts. Besides, several spectacular sights of sheer beauty mark the
nook and crook of this enchanting state which will leave you spellbound.
Whatever might be your interest, be assured that the state will never
disappoint you in offering scopes of adventure. So, just plan a trip to this
beautiful land and indulge yourself in a wide array of adventure options
such as Para Gliding, Wildlife Safari, Water Sports (Windsurfing, Speed
boating, Kayaking, sailing etc.), Trekking, Rock Climbing etc.
Trekking
in Maharashtra
Bhandardara is a noted place for the adventure sport of trekking in
Maharashtra. You can go on trekking expeditions around the surrounding hills
like Ratangadh - the highest peak in Maharashtra or to the enchanting Randha
falls or to 1,200 year Amriteshwar temple.
Pratapgarh near Mahabaleshwar, Torna near Bhor and Panhala near Kolhapur
are the popular places in Maharashtra which offer exciting trekking
opportunities. In addition to these, there are several forts in the Sahyadri
range where you enjoy trekking. Forts around Pune namely - Sinhgad Fort,
Lohagad Fort, Raigadh Fort, Visapur Fort, Rajgadh Fort, Shivneri Fort and
Purandar Fort provide an ideal base for trekking activities.
In Maharashtra, there are a number of clubs and private institutions that
organize trekking expeditions most of the year.
Para
Gliding in Maharashtra
One of the major adventure option, Para Gliding in Maharashtra is mainly
centred around the Western Ghat ranges that run unbroken from Gujarat in the
north to the Nilgiri Hills on the South India. In Maharashtra, the Western
Ghat ranges offer you some amazing flatland flying and promises a lot of fun
and excitement.
You can enjoy Para Gliding in and around major cities like Mumbai and Pune.
Some of the popular Para Gliding sites include Matheran, Mahabaleshwar,
Deolali, Singhgad and Panchgani. In addition to these, there are several
other sites in Maharashtra which offer plenty of flying opportunities to
you.
October to June is the ideal time to undertake Para Gliding in Maharashtra.
You need to be physically fit for taking up the sport and must remain
mentally alert to pass any hurdle while you are in the air. Para Gliding
trainings are offered at various places of Maharashtra, just learn the basic
techniques from the institutes and reach any of the gliding sites to fly in
the air like a bird.
Wildlife Safari in Maharashtra
Maharashtra’s extremely scenic landscape abound with a wide array of
vegetation types and dense lush forests. Maharashtra has four National Parks
where you can see a large number of wild animals, birds and floral species.
Wildlife Safari is the best way to explore the wildlife sanctuaries and
national parks of Maharashtra.
Tadoba and Nawegaon National Park are the most picturesque National Parks
in Maharashtra. Here, you can see Nilgai, Chinkara, Crocodiles and large
number of migratory birds. If you are a bird lover, then Salim Ali Bird
Sanctuary is a must visit place for you. A bird-water’s paradise, Salim
Ali Bird Sanctuary is home to resident as well as migratory birds, popular
among them is winged birds like the Golden Oriole.
Visit the Melghat Tiger Reserve at Chikhaladara near Nagpur which is full
of Tigers and several other animals like Panthers, Sambar, Chital, Bison and
Flying Squirrel. Known for its verdant hills and valleys, Nagzira Wildlife
Sanctuary is another popular wildlife sanctuary of Maharashtra, where you
can spot Tiger, Panther, Sloth Bear, Four Horned Antelope, Chital, Bison,
Barking Deer, Blue Bull etc.
Water Sports in Maharashtra
With
its enchanting long coastline, beautiful lakes and several areas near
irrigation dams, Maharashtra offers excellent water sports opportunities for
adventure seekers. MTDC (Mahrashtra Tourism Development Corporation) and
various private clubs have introduced water sports in these water bodies.
Take a 40 kms drive from Pune to reach Panshet Aqua Sports centres where you
can enjoy various water sports like windsurfing, speed boating, kayaking,
water scooters etc. Close to Mumbai, Esselworld at Gorai is an amusement
park which has roller coasters and water slides.
Sailing in Maharashtra : First introduced by the British
during 19th - 20th centuries, even today Sailing in Maharashtra is very
popular among the die-hard water sports lovers. One of the most popular
water sports in India, Sailing in Maharashtra can be enjoyed in Mumbai and
Pune. Both these cities have a number of lovely lakes where you can
undertake the adventure sport of sailing.
Sailing on the crystal clear water of the Maharashtra lakes is a thrilling
experience. During summers, you can even enjoy some super-sonic rides on the
fresh water lakes of Maharashtra. Before taking on the sport, learn the
basics and take safety tips from the experts because you may take hours to
sail back a distance which took only a few minutes. In Maharashtra, sailing
equipments are available only at the Khadakvasla Lake. Apart from
Khadakvasla Windsurfing Centre, rescue is not available at any place across
Maharashtra.
Rock Climbing in Maharashtra
In Maharashtra the famous Karla mountains, believed to be dating back to
160 BC. is home to the huge cluster of Chaitya caves. Their sheer rock faces
offer you the perfect terrain to the reach up to the top and touch the
lovely fluffy clouds. Bhandardara is another famous adventure spot of
Maharashtra, where you can undertake rock climbing on the high hills
surrounding the lovely lakes.
