Looking to discover a new you this year? Here we offer a sampler that allows people of different dare levels to go out there and figure their adrenaline rush.
Brahmaputra descent
The descent of the mighty Brahmaputra (Siang here) river takes participants through one of the most inaccessible regions of the country - the North Eastern Himalayas. The week-long expedition starts in Arunachal Pradesh when the river enters India after traversing its upper reaches in Tibet. A must for rafting enthusiasts, the epic adventure has been voted one of the best in the world. A trip not for the faint-hearted, though.
Chadar Trek
Chadar, in Hindi, stands for a sheet. The Chadar Trek travels the seldom-taken route in the mountains of the Zanskar Range, south west of Leh, where enthusiasts trek on a frozen blanket of ice after the river Zanskar freezes up during the winters. The valley is inaccessible for almost eight months of the year due to heavy snowfall, apart from this pathway. The 15-day-long trek also takes a look at the esoteric nature of life in the remote mountains, giving trekkers a glimpse of an ancient and still-unchanged culture.
Go, Raid
Since 1999 India has conducted the world's highest motorsport event that runs for an average of 2000-plus km. Traversing the high Himalaya, the Raid is the ultimate test for a biker in India. The Xtreme category offers bikers with guts and others with money enough to prop up the veteran Gypsy well enough a chance to take on the mountains.
Then, there is the softer Adventure Trail which has had honeymoon couples as participants. Bad roads and bad food are par for the course.
Andaman diving
Dunked in the pristine emerald waters of the Indian Ocean, while schools of fish glide past you and sea anemones swirl at the sea bed. Heavenly? Diving in the Andamans certainly is. The coastal waters surrounding these islands are home to one of the richest coral reef ecosystems in the world. The underwater formations and reefs here are still uncontaminated and unspoiled by human activities. The best season for diving is from December to April when the sea becomes almost like a large placid lake. For those who are cagey about going down deep, there are enough sites for snorkelling. A number of top-notch diving instructors are easily available for basic lessons.
Andaman diving
Dunked in the pristine emerald waters of the Indian Ocean, while schools of fish glide past you and sea anemones swirl at the sea bed. Heavenly? Diving in the Andamans certainly is. The coastal waters surrounding these islands are home to one of the richest coral reef ecosystems in the world. The underwater formations and reefs here are still uncontaminated and unspoiled by human activities. The best season for diving is from December to April when the sea becomes almost like a large placid lake. For those who are cagey about going down deep, there are enough sites for snorkelling. A number of top-notch diving instructors are easily available for basic lessons.
Karting
Ever fantasised while watching F1? The first step into the world of track racing is through karting. Anyone from 8 to 80 can have a go and it's largely safe given the limited speed that most karts in India manage. However, to taste the real action, enroll for the JK Tyre Indian National Rotax Max Karting Championship from where winners go on to participate in the world finals. For details go to fmsci.in