The
Major Adventure Sports At Ladakh
Ladakh offers great cope for undertaking adventure activities amidst
landscapes of breathtaking, rugged beauty. The most popular and best
established among these are trekking, mountaineering and river-rafting.
Some Adventure Tourism in Ladakh
River Rafting : River rafting in Ladakh is quite unlike
anywhere else in the world. It provides the best opportunity to enjoy and
experience the natural beauty of the spectacular landscape with deep gorges,
towering snow-capped peaks, hilltop monasteries, hillside villages, and
glimpses of the unique wildlife. Ladakh offers a range of rafting options on
the Indus and its major tributaries. The best stretch for professionally
guided runs in white water is on the Indus between Spituk and Nimu or
Saspol, which rates 2 to 3 in the international river grading scale of 1 to
6.
Participants are required to be trained rafters themselves while the
arrangements should be assigned to a dependable professional agency.
Adequate arrangements for rescue coverage is an essential pre-requisite for
embarking upon a white -water expedition on river like the Zanskar.
Several agencies in Leh offer attractive rafting packages. Ask for details
at the Tourist Office at Leh. They will also be able to provide some rafts
on hire.
Mountain Climbing : The area most
frequented by foreign climbers is the Nun-Kun massif in the Great Himalayan
Range. Its easy accessibility from the Kargil-Padum road and the shortest
possible approach march to the base camps makes this massif the most
attractive climbing destination in the Great Himalayan. Among its six known
peaks accessible from the Suru Valley, Nun (7,135 m) and Kun (7,087 m) are
the highest summits.
The climbing season extends from mid - May to mid -October, the ideal
period being from June to September because during this time only Ladakh
remains unaffected by the monsoon which holds sway over most of the
Himalaya. Foreign climbing expeditions are required to obtain permission
from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation for climbing all listed peaks. A
booking fee, based on the height and popularity of the allotted peak, is
charged and a Liaison Officer is assigned to every climbing team. The
minimum period required for processing applications is six months. Every
authorized expedition is provided with adequate rescue coverage in the
events of accidents and illness.
Trekking
: The trekking options range from short, day-long walks up and down
mountain slopes to visit monuments or monastic settlements (or across a
ridge to enjoy the sheer beauty of the lunar landscape), or long,
trans-mountain treks involving weeks of walking and camping in the
wilderness. The trek from Lamayuru in the Indus Valley to Darcha in Lahoul,
across Zanskar Valley, takes nearly three weeks and crosses 2 major mountain
ranges.
The easiest way to go on a trek is through a travel operators, who will
take care of all necessities including camping gear, provisions, porterage,
staff, etc. But if you intend to make you own arrangements, it is
recommended to carry as much of your provision and fuel from Leh or Kargil
as possible. Ladakh is a harsh land where most villagers cannot part with
their foodstock. In some villages along the trek, fresh yoghurt and some
tsampa can be procured, but these sources are not reliable. Kerosene or gas
for cooking stoves must be carried in sufficient amount to last the duration
of the trek as fuel is unlikely to be available along most of the routes.
The J&K Tourism Department maintains trekking equipment hire shops in
its Srinagar, Leh and Kargil Offices. Imported items like tow-man tents,
insulated ground sheets, sleeping bags, insulated jackets, trekking shoes
and rucksacks are available at these sops at reasonable charges fixed by the
Government. Some private establishments and , trekking agencies in Leh also
provide similar trekking gear on hire.
