BY STANZIN PALKIT
Adventure Sports in Ladakh, An ideal destination for adventure enthusiasts, the valley of Leh Ladakh is no match for the various other tough regions of India. Adventure in this Himalayan region of India has its very own taste and meaning. Leh Ladakh is blessed by high altitude ranges, substantial lakes; scenic trails, deep valleys as well as high passes there are a lot of Adventure activities in Ladakh which fit the bill
1.WORLD HIGHEST BUNGEE JUMPING:
Bungee jumping, also spelled bungy jumping, is an activity that involves a person jumping from a great height while connected to a large elastic cord. The launching pad is usually erected on a tall structure such as a building or crane, a bridge across a deep ravine, or on a natural geographic feature such as a cliff. It is also possible to jump from a type of aircraft that has the ability to hover above the ground, such as a hot-air-balloon or helicopter. The thrill comes from the free-falling and the rebound.[1] When the person jumps, the cord stretches and the jumper flies upwards again as the cord recoils, and continues to oscillate up and down until all the kinetic energy is dissipated.
Ladakh, known for its pristine Himalayan view and long never-ending roads, has another surprise for adventure lovers. To boost the adventure side of the region, Ladakh has launched a new bungee jumping experience. It is said to be the world’s highest bungee jumping site. It is situated just 35km away from Leh and 7 km away from the Confluence of Zanskar and Indus river towards Chilling. The site offers an extraordinary view of Zanskar River and Tsogsti Village.
This new initiative aims to bring tourists from all across the world to the village and boost tourism in the region.The founder of Ladakh Bungee Jumping, Sonam Wangyal, is a trained professional in bungee jumping. Bungee jumping has the potential to boost adventure tourism in the region apart from the existing rafting, trekking and skiing.
The site of the bungee jumping offers an extraordinarily view of the Zanskar river and the Tsogsti village. The cliff is located the 90-degree and people can jump upto 190 feet from the ground. The total time duration for this sport ranges from three and a half to four minutes.
What is the history of Bungee Jumping?
Bungee jumping, sport in which the jumper falls from a high place with a rubber (“bungee”) cord attached both to his or her feet and to the jump site, and, after a period of headfirst free fall, is bounced partway back when the cord rebounds from its maximum stretch. It traces its roots to the “land diving” practiced on Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, in which divers jump off a high tower, their feet connected to it by a vine whose length is calculated to allow the jumper to fall until his hair just brushes the ground below. The Oxford Dangerous Sports Club, inspired by reports of the Pentecost Island divers, made the first Western bungee jumps, and bungee jumping was first offered commercially to the public in New Zealand in 1988.
2. QUAD BIKING OR ATV RIDES:
Quad biking in Leh Ladakh is a thrilling adventure activity that involves riding a quad bike or an ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) on rough and rugged terrains. Leh Ladakh is located in the northernmost region of India, and it is surrounded by beautiful mountains and valleys, making it a perfect location for quad biking.
• One of the most amazing activities for adventure seekers is Quad Biking.
• The best time to enjoy this activity is between May and October.
• The best season to go for this activity is summer.
• Places, where you can enjoy the adventure activity of quad biking, are Nubra Valley and Magnetic Hills.
• The activity gives you a chance to ride the 4×4 wheel drive quad bike in the cold desert of Ladakh.
• What makes Ladakh quad biking so important and enjoyable is the cold desert that stretches for a long distance here. Make sure you do enjoy it near Magnetic Hills.
3. River Rafting
River rafting in Ladakh is an exhilarating adventure sport. It involves navigating through the challenging rapids of the Indus and Zanskar rivers, surrounded by stunning landscapes and breathtaking views.
• The majority of the river stretch in Ladakh offers white water rafting which is even more adventurous for Brave hearts.
• You can enjoy river rafting and white water rafting in the Zanskar River and Indus River.
• The best season to take this thrilling sport is during the summer season.
• The best time to enjoy river rafting in Ladakh is between July and September.
• Many people don’t know that river rafting is one of the best things to do in Ladakh. And the best part is the white water rafting that can be enjoyed on the Indus River.
4. Paragliding
Paragliding here typically takes place at an altitude of around 3000 meters above sea level. The takeoff point is usually a high hill or mountain. The flight can last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the weather conditions.
• Not just Ladakh, Paragliding is one of the major adventure activities in many different places in India.
• The best time to enjoy Paragliding is between May to September when the sky is clear and India experiences the summer season.
• Paragliding in Ladakh is offered in Leh, Kargil, and a few more places but it is subject to a lot of things.
• Weather and climate are two important aspects of this.
• You can look for companies that are offering this amazing adventure activity in Ladakh on the internet.
• Just remember that the flight does not last for long because the altitude is already astonishing
5.Trekking
• Ladakh is a trekker’s paradise because there are multiple trails to enjoy this adventure activity.
• Ladakh is the only place in India where you can enjoy trekking on a frozen river.
• Zanskar Valley is the place where avid adventurers enjoy the Chadar Trek which is also known as the frozen river trek.
• The best time to enjoy trekking in Ladakh is between June and October but those who want to go for the winter trek are also welcomed here.
• The best season to enjoy trekking in Leh Ladakh is summer as well as winter. It depends on the travelers as to which kind of trek they want.
• The prominent or popular treks in Ladakh are Lamayuru to Darcha trek, The Chadar trek, Spituk to Markha Valley Trek, Snow Leopard Trek, Hemis to Tsomoriri, and Lamayuru to Padum.
• If you plan to visit Ladakh in winter, you can also take short hikes on the frozen lakes in the newly made union territory.
6. Camel Safari or Camel Ride:
Camel Ride is a unique ways to explore the sterilized elegance of Ladakh due to the existence of double-humped camel also known as Bactrian Camel Safari. These camels are known for their two humps, rather than the one-humped camels usually seen. Riding a double-humped camel as well as traveling with the landscapes of this high elevation desert is simply unique journey.
You can enjoy in Camel Safari in Nubra Valley and with Desert get to the nooks and also edges of the valley which is usually impossible to reach by vehicle. Camel safari is additionally popular in Diskit and also Hunder valley. It is believed that the best time for the camel safari in Ladakh is from June to September.
7. Ice Hockey
Ladakh is well-known for its pristine natural beauty and spiritual places like monasteries and stupas, but now it has also come to be known as emerging destination for lovers of winter sports like Ladakh ice hockey and ice skating. Since Ladakh is one of the few places in India that freezes in winter. As north India comes under the grip of chill, the cold desert of Ladakh gears up for winter sports, skating and ice-hockey which are hugely popular. Ice hockey Ladakh, also called shinny or pond hockey, are a way of life during the long winters in Ladakh.
In winter Karzoo Ice Hockey Rink witnessed an enlivening and festive atmosphere. The natural ice is good for skating every January, plus a week or two of December and February. The mountainous region of Ladakh has possibly the country's highest ice-skating rink at 3483 m above sea level. There is a tremendous potential for Ladakh ice hockey to grow in Ladakh. With the superior snow conditions and the convenience of frozen stream and lakes in the region enthusiasts for the sport is growing.
In 2008 first time an Indian ice hockey Ladakh team participated in the 'Asian Challenge Cup' which was in Abu Dhabi. In this team the majority of the players were Ladakhis. By this news we can determined the fame of winter sports in Ladakh.
The history of ice hockey in Ladakh dates back to the early 70s when the Ladakh Scouts Battalion of the Indian army, who were posted in the higher reaches of the border regions, started playing the game. The local Ladakhis took pleasure in this Ice hockey but due to lack of sports equipments it began difficult to manage and the first teams started by getting the ice skating blades from Shimla. They nailing them to the army boots which was rather a feat to stability those giant boots wearing 3 – 4 coats of socks inside on the blades but this were how they started. The few locals who have contacts outside Ladakh have requested friends to get ice hockey skates. The Ladakh Scouts are well fortified as they get their gear through the army. The Jammu & Kashmir department of tourism also has a full set of equipment, but is unwilling to spare any. The only place in India where ice sports equipment is willingly available is Shimla, a small hill station in the northwestern part of India, where two Chinese brothers began making skates that are still used today.
Roller skates and ground hockey sticks were also used. To create pucks, locals cut the thick, rubber heels of army boots into a rounded shape. Goal keepers wore ground hockey pads but lacked helmets; neither helmets nor knee and elbow pads were used by other players. Despite injuries due to this lack of defensive gear, the game has sustained to grow in popularity in the region.