TRAVEL SPECIAL ......Challenge your inner spirit

Challenge your inner spirit

Nature’s bounty can be witnessed when you overcome the biggest hurdles in a sporty fun way

WALK ON FROZEN ZANSKAR

Soft adventure activities are a big hit with families who like to go on active vacations with their kids. With homestay options on the rise along with camping opportunities in pristine locations, embarking on a tailormade adventure trip in the beautiful countryside in India can turn out to be great fun. As luck would have it, upcoming long weekend of Republic Day (Jan 26) falls on a Friday. With many such options upcoming the entire year, visit wildlife sanctuaries, go trekking at hill stations, try surfing at the lovely beaches and try farm stays near green villages. Urban lifestyle can be made healthier with quick breaks that get you on your feet amidst nature. So, let you kids choose the destination activity this time. Ready?

TREKKING ON FROZEN RIVER THIS SEASON

Region: Zanskar (J&K)

Suggested Days for trip: 7-8 days Itinerary

Destinations: Take a flight from your city to Leh. After a day’s acclimatisation, drive to Tilad Do via Chilling. Walk from Tilad Do to Shingra Koma. Trek from Shingra Koma to Tibb Cave. Trek from Tibb Cave to Naerak camp. Naerak to Tibb Cave. Tibb Cave to Shingra Koma. Shingra Koma to Tilad Do and drive to Leh and onward to your city.

The Zanskar River ‘Chadar Trek’ is often on the bucketlist of many keen trekkers who wish to challenge their limits. The months of January and February are considered apt for the trek. The reason being that the winter temperature freezes the Zanskar River water into a white sheet (chadar in Hindi) and makes it easy to walk on it. Enrol if you are keen to tick this trek off your list.

RARE BIRD SPOTTING

SPOT RARE BIRDS IN A FOREST

Region: Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary, Odisha Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Gujarat Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Kerala Eaglenest Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka

Things to carry: Wear comfortable clothing that are not too brightly coloured so that you look one amongst nature. Binoculars, hat, a notepad and a bird book to refer to.

Bird watching is a soft adventure that you can do with your kids and family members at a leisurely pace. What works for this activity is that you venture into lush forests, breathe in fresh air, you let go of your gadgets and concentrate on nature’s beautiful avians amidst tall flora.

A hobby like this can bring your kids closer to you as it binds in a common interest to enjoy green environs and gain insights.

RIVER RAFTING

OFF-ROADING ON BIKES AND CARS

Region: Mumbai to Lonavala-Khandala Bengaluru to Udupi Chennai to Ooty Delhi to Jaipur

It is perhaps the zeal to face the crisp breeze as you rule the roads. In terrains that are off-beat and lead to picturesque spots,‘Offroading’ is a trend that has caught up with bike riders and four wheeler driving enthusiasts. Men and women both love it and big motor companies are extending goup activities in fun locations. The biking groups often result in lasting bonds and such groups are on the rise in India. Leh-Ladakh and Spiti Valley have picked up much tourism thanks to riders. Riding merchandise can also make for a slick fashion statement.

LET’S SURF & SAIL

BEST SPOTS FOR SURFING

Region: Dwarka, Goa, Gokarna, Murdeswara, Kapu, Maravanthe, Varkala, Kovalam, Rameswaram, Auroville, Mahabalipuram, Visakhapatnam and Puri

Surfing is one of the oldest practiced sports on the planet and is essentially all about the art of wave riding. Experts claim that if an individual can blend athleticism and the comprehension of the power of the blue seas, surfing can be a good bet for him or her. History has it that the act of riding waves with a wooden board first originated in Western Polynesia more than three thousand years ago. Quite naturally, the first surfers were fishermen who discovered riding waves as an efficient manner to reach the shore with their catch. Today, surfing championships in India draws many enthusiasts and the adventure sport is fast catching up.

CAMPING WITH KID

FOREST HIKES & CAMPING BY THE LAKE

Region: Pavana River (Lonavla), Damdama Lake (outskirts of Delhi), Himachal Pradesh

The outskirts of your city are often a good bet to drive out on weekends. A trend nowadays is to camp along the river or lake and professional camping agencies are busy adding kid-centric activities such as river swimming, star-gazing and barbecue sessions as part of this fun outing. Kids take to the natural surroundings well as the drive is not long, they can make new friends and camping tents can give them a smart way to connect with nature. De-stress by joining in the fun!

Compiled By Nimisha Tiwari
Nimisha.Tiwari@timesgroup.com

ETTR 18JAN18