Adventure tours in Kashmir are increasingly attracting Indian and overseas lovers of the outdoors.

Mountaineering

With the mighty ranges of the Himalayas towering 10,000 to 28,000 feet above the sea level, mountaineering options in Kashmir are almost unlimited. The Pir Panjal, Karakoram and Zanskar ranges are the mountaineer's delight. Add to that the charm of the green pine forests, the rich plant and animal life on the mountains, and mountaineering has never looked so good! The peaks of Sonamarg facilitate quick ascent and decent, while the lower peaks of Kishtwar are more challenging owing to their ruggedness.

Trekking

The nature trails of Kashmir make it a trekker's paradise. Any adventure tour to Kashmir is incomplete without trekking the alpine meadows, high mountain passes and rugged cold deserts of the state. Most trekking expeditions in Kashmir start from the capital Srinagar, and move on to the Kashmir or Zanskar Valley. Adventure tours like trekking and mountaineering are offered by Taj Mahal Tours.

Winter Sports

The snowfall of Kashmir Valley means boom time for winter sports lovers from around the world. The mountain resorts of Gulmarg are transformed from a sleepy agricultural town to a winter wonderland during this time. With chair lifts, and ski slopes of varying gradients, Gulmarg offers you the best winter sport facilities on your adventure tour to Kashmir. Pahalgam is another destination you can head to for winter sports in Kashmir.

Para Gliding

Para Gliding is the latest among the long line of adventure sports facilities to be made available in Kashmir. Adventure tours to Kashmir are incomplete without a view of the green valleys and majestic mountains from the air, as the wind rushes past you. Adventure clubs in Jammu and Sanasar offer paragliding facilities to adventure sports lovers. Batote is another good site for paragliding

Fishing

With many mountain brooks, rivers and lakes dotting the fertile state of Kashmir, you are at a loss to select the best fishing spot. The abundant fish in the clear freshwaters, as well as the breathtaking beauty of the fishing spots, are an added attraction of your Adventure Tour to Kashmir. The lakes like Vishansar, Gangabal and Kishansar are known for an abundant fish population. A permit is needed from the authorities before you can fish, and Taj Mahal Tourism helps you with the details of applying for one.

Aero-Sports:

J&K Tourism has introduced Equipment can be hired from the Tourist Office in Jammu city. May-June and September-October are suitable months for paragliding at Sanasar. 19 kms from Patnitop with a good approachable road and transport links. You can reach Sanasar from Jammu via Kud and Patnitop by bus or taxi. Accommodation is available in J&K TDC huts for aero-sport enthusiasts. Shortly, other aero-sports like Parasailing and Hot-Air Ballooning will also become operational in the area.

Skiing:

At Patnitop, ski courses are conducted in the months of January and February. During the winter months, there are introductory courses for tourists. The gently graded ski slopes of Patnitop are ideal for beginners. Madha Top (5-6 kms. from Patnitop on the Sanasar Road) has excellent possibilities for all levels of skiing. After the newly planned ski-lift becomes operational, Madha Top will offer a range of skiing options for both professional skiers biggners.

Facilities Available:

For tourists taking the J&K TDC package tour, 40 sets of ski equipment are available at Patnitop and Sanasar. Also available are wooden sledges locally. For beginners and for people who want to brush up their skills, the J&K Tourism Department Ski Instructors are at your service. Accommodation for skiers is available in huts of J&K TDC at Patnitop, Kud and Sanasar. There are also several private hotels at Patnitop and Kud. Restaurants and 'Dhabas' (roadside eateries) serve tourists round-the-year.

Trekking:

A range of trekking options is available in the Jammu area. Ask for a free copy of our trekking brochure for a detailed description of the many short and long treks you can take. Summer is the season when all the routes are open but some trekking routes are open in winter. There are excellent camping sites in the wilderness where you can camp when you are trekking for 2-3 days. The Sudarani-Jungal Gali- Jasar Kote-Sanasar route in the jungal gali area lets you choose from any of the three exciting treks.

Facilities Available:

The Tourism Department has Trekking Equipment Hire Shops at Jammu, Kud and Rajouri. These stock local and imported trekking gear. Trekking parties and trekkers can hire the equipment at fixed rates.

Equipment available: are as under: Tents (Indian and Imported); 4-man tent (Indian); 2-man tent (Imported); Sleeping Bags (Imported); Carry mat (Indian & Imported); Jackets (Indian & Imported); Windcheaters (Indian); Rucksack (Indian & Imported); Trekking Boots (Indian & Imported). The equipment is issued against a cash security deposit equivalent to the cost or on a guarantee letter from any Officer of the rank of Deputy Director, Tourism/Deputy Secretary of State Government or Central Govt. If you are a foreign tourist, your passport will be held as security deposit against equipment taken on hire. Some Travel Agencies in the city can also organise trekking on different routes in Jammu.