Archive for the ‘Adventure Sports’ Category

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary – Adobe of Colorful Flying Creature

 Bharatpur
Bharatpur

Chirping of birds on rooftop always captivated my attention and often leads me to follow it hopping. Since my childhood days, birds the colorful flying creatures always remained close to my heart. For me birds are among the best creations of nature. They are small, colorful with melodious tune of expression.

In order to have the best glimpses of this mystic creature I visited the Keoladeo National Park or Keoladeo Ghana National Park formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan. It is one of the world’s best wetland eco-systems that supports over 350 species of birds out of which every third one is a migrant. This rich collection of bird species makes this place a paradise for birds lover, research ground for Ornithologists and perfect place for birds photographers.

I booked a room in the Bharatpur Forest Lodge in order to enjoy this mystic place at its best. The lodge is located in the middle of the bird sanctuary which provides mystic views of the surroundings. Next morning after having my breakfast I took my camera and went deep into the woods.

No vehicles are allowed here so this place can be visited by the approved cycle-rickshaws that ply inside the park or by electric van. But for me the best way to explore is on foot following jungle trail. Amidst jungle the calmness of nature is shattered through bird’s cacophony. It is really tough to identify any particular bird’s sound among these.

I wandered here and there following one bird but soon it was out of my vision and I started following another. I enjoyed this colorful and lively hide and seek game with birds. Every time I tried to concentrate on a particular bird species, soon the consistency was broken by another colorful bird which flies overhead making a peculiar sound.

The Bharatpur National Park houses wide varieties of birds. Some of them are Pelicans, Spoonbills, Wheatears, Flycatchers, Larks, Buntings, Ibis, Cranes, Hawks, Eagles, Pipits, Hawks, Larks, Shanks, Grey Herons, Warblers and many more.

Amidst this National Park there is a pond which is among the main attractions because it is the center stage of bird activities. This was the most fascinating place I had ever visited in my life. Here one can see several bird species involved in different activities like playing, eating, singing and dancing. Until the day drew to a close I stayed back at the pond so that I could enjoy birds roosting. It is the time when birds return to their nests in evening and in groups they make loud noise. It is the perfect time to watch several species of birds at a time.

After enjoying my long cherished dream I returned to the forest lodge from where I checked out and left for Delhi. During my return journey I continuously scrolled images in my camera which I had captured during this enchanting trip.

 

Extreme Adventure With Water Sports In Goa

 

Water Sport in Goa
Water Sport in Goa

Being an adventure enthusiast, I consider Goa as my dream destination for holidays. Blessed with the waves of pleasure, Goa has India’s most famous and justly popular beaches. As I arrived there, I found excellent tourist infrastructure, right from a host of stay options to innumerable operators offering a range of water sports. As I was looking for quiet alternatives, Goa offered me beaches that promise relative seclusion. I was simply overwhelmed to see the rustic beauty of the landscape, shopping opportunities, pubs that stay open till late and the shacks that offer superlative food from across the world.

It was the last week of October when I arrived here and I found the skies cloudless and blue, and the waters placid. Facilities for the most thrilling water sports were open for all. I had two days with me and I decided to devote one entire day to the water sports in Goa. I first visited the Dona Paula beach and enjoyed windsurfing. My assistant there told me that it is a unique blend of surfing and sailing, which requires the surfer to adjust his strength and balance to the changing patterns of wind and water. I could see a number of people there indulged in the same sport, as they all were practicing for Windsurfing Regatta, which is an annual event.

Next I also enjoyed scuba diving and water skiing a lot. Both these sports are gaining popularity among tourists. As the underwater visibility in the more tranquil of Goa’s bays and lagoons ranges from 5 to 10 meters, I could not reach in more deep areas. But what I enjoyed most during scuba diving were attractive coral heads, lobsters, bright colored fish, and other marine life patterns. Similarly, water skiing was also quite exciting. It is like combating the sea on speedboats.

I paid short visits to the Calangute, Colva, Palolem, Vagator and Baga beaches as well, and enjoyed activities like Dinghly Sailing (cruising on long crafts that can accommodate 3-4 people comfortably), Angling (fishing), Water Scootering and Swimming. Apart from that, Parasailing is another fun activity that involves a parachute attached to a motorboat. The parachute goes up in the air as the motorboat starts moving.

My visit was undoubtedly superb as I could satisfy my hunger for adventure. I had never thought that this small state could offer such a range of exciting sports.

 

India Trekking Tour: Relishing Senses

Being a human, I was always fascinated by the unexplored. Trekking in

Ladakh Trek
Ladakh

India is undoubtedly one of the famous adventure sports awaiting the trekking enthusiasts. I am sharing the best of my experiences what I have enjoyed in the mountain ranges of India offer breathtaking, enthralling trekking routes. Out of all the trekking routes, I found the Himalayas the best that have attracted geologists, geographers, trekkers and nature lovers.

Another superb destination was the entire Ladakh – the snow desert. The isolated mountain expanses here generate the mystery of the Central Asian Silk Route. It is simply the most rugged region of the entire Himalayan range. While trekking on this Trans Himalayan Zone, I enjoyed the incomparable views of the Great Himalayan Range and the vast Tibetan plateau. Alpine trees and beautiful flower meadows are the prominent features of trekking routes in Jammu and Kashmir. Zanskar is again one of the most sought after regions for trekking in India. The trekking routes in Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal were again a jackpot for me. I guess these passes are the most enchanting gifts of nature to the north India.

Coming to the north-east belt, Darjeeling and Sikkim are blessed

with well-defined forest trails. What I enjoyed most were the superb views of Kanchenjunga and glimpses of Everest, Lhotsa and Makalu.

If you are seeking for the best of adventure tour in India, I would suggest you to visit trekking sites like Ladakh-Zanskar Via Lahaul, Manali to Beas Kund, Garhwal, Himachal-Manikaran to Spiti, Gangotri Nandvan Trek, Kinner-Kailash Parikrama, Adi Kailash Trek, Hemkund Trek etc. Some of the other popular and long trek routes in India are Bukki to Dokriani Glacier, Bukki to Kheratal, Bukki to Uttarkashi, Uttarkashi to Rishikesh and so on.

Indian high altitude passes offer limitless possibilities for trekking tours,

Sikkim
Sikkim

mountaineering, skiing, and river rafting tours. But trekking is not an adventure activity that anyone can try out. If you are doing it first time then you must take some precautions and guidance of the experts. I will recommend to go for a physical and dental examination before undertaking a trek. Moreover, one should also carry things like UV proof glasses, sunscreen lotion, water bottle etc. during the entire activity.