Adventure Sport Activities In Himachal Pradesh
¤ Kufri
Distance :16km east of
Shimla.
Altitude : 2,622 m
For sheer geographical diversity, few places in the world are as
richly endowed as Himachal. Rivers gurgling through deep stony gorges,
low rolling hills, peaks that are several thousand feet high, green
alpine meadows, placid lakes, so on and so forth. At the little
village of Kufri, you’ll see lengths of mountainsides draped with
pure white snow.
¤ Winter Sports In Kufri
Kufri’s a great place for adventure winter sports, especially
skiing. In fact, Kufri boasts of the oldest ski slopes in the whole of
Himachal. The sport was popularized about 20 years ago by some local
youngsters. Thanks to their efforts, the slopes at Kufri remain dotted
with skiers in the winter months. You can also enjoy tobogganing
,hiking and horse riding here. But do not expect European or American
resort slopes or facilities. Kufri also has heli-skiing facilities.
Kufri holds the National Snow Statue Competition sometime in January.
For more details contact the HPTDC office at Shimla.
 ¤
Himalayan Wildlife Park
Do check out the Himalayan NaturePark in Kufri which has animals like
the musk deer, ibex, ghoral (goat-like stout animal), black and brown
bears and pheasants. But you won’t see much unless you’re on
a vehicle.
The nearby Indira Tourist Park offers some great views. The hike up
to the Mahasu Peak through woods of spruce and deodar (Himalayan
cedar) can be good fun. The peak is crowned by a small temple. The
Mahasu Ridge also has some food slopes for skiing.
¤ Note
Skiing : Snows from December
to February, though irregular. Inquire at the HPTDC office at Shimla
for details of current costs and package deals.
Horse Riding : Horses can be hired at Rs 30 to Rs 160 for
trips around the valleys and hills.
Himalayan Nature Park : Open 1000-1700hrs.
¤ Facilities
Accommodation : Try the
Kufri Holiday Resort .
Transport :
Kufri is a regular stop for buses that travel between Shimla and
Narkanda or up to Rampur (via Fagu). Taxis are also available.
¤ Narkanda
Distance : 64km from Shimla
Narkanda is basically a transit point between Shimla and Rampur,
along a hill road with superb views. It’s a popular adventure
spot with those who enjoy hiking and skiing. Located among fragrant
pine forests, it has a ski resort at 2,700m. The skiing season starts
at the end of December and goes on till early March. There’s a
choice of slopes ranging from a beginner’s run and slalom to the
sharper descents for the experienced skier.
¤ Solang Nullah
Distance :13km from Manali.
Solang Nullah offers marvellous views of snow-capped peaks and
glaciers. But the valley is best known for Himachal’s best ski
slopes.
There are about 2.5km of runs, with black, red and blue routes mainly
for beginners, and one 300m ski lift. February and March are the best
months to ski while January is bitterly cold.
Domestic tourists throng the place at Christmas time. However, Solang
should not be dismissed as just a winter destination, it also have lot
of scope for adventure sports in the valley. It looks terrific in
spring and summer.
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