1. Descend the untamed waters of the Brahmaputra
Experience true wilderness and adventure on the great Brahmaputra descent. (Nirad Grover)
Vaibhav Kala, founder-director of Aquaterra Adventures, the only Indian company to make it to National Geographic’s list of best adventure travel companies cites the reasons why you should embark on their Great Brahmaputra Descent which culminates at Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh:
u 180km of class 4 and class 4+ rapids (sometimes even straddling up to class 6)
u Reliable old-timers as guides means even beginners are welcome
u Eight nights of camping on large, untouched river beaches
u A chance to explore the virgin rainforests in Arunachal Pradesh
u A peek into the ancient way of life of the Adi tribals and their hunter-gatherer lifestyle
(Aquaterra Adventures organizes The Great Brahmaputra Descent in November. The trip costs $3,600 (Rs1.42 lakh), including roundtrip airfare from New Delhi. Log on to www.aquaterra.in)
2. Scuba-dive in Lakshadweep
Diving season: October-May. Why you should give it a shot: “The feeling of weightlessness and natural buoyancy along with the warm tropical waters with a maximum visibility of 40-50m make this experience an absolute bliss,” says Sumer Verma, a Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques course director at Lacadives diving school started by ad-man Prahlad Kakar.
Where in Lakshadweep: Lacadives offers diving facilities in Kadmat and Bangaram.
How much: The five-day beginners’ course operated by Lacadives costs Rs18,000 (plus 5% service tax)in Kadmat and Rs19,000 (plus 5% service tax) in Bangaram, at the end of which you get a sport-diving licence.
How to get there: Kingfisher Airlines operates flights between Kochi and Agatti.
(For more details on the courses, call Lacadives at 022-66627381 or log on to www.lacadives.com.)
3. Trek on the beach from Honavar to Kumta
The 15-16km trek from Honavar to Kumta in Karnataka is littered with beautiful virgin beaches and small hillocks. “There is an island along the way that you see only in summer. Our trek ended just as the sun was setting and the view over the sea was amazing,” says Pavan K.P., a chartered accountant with Britannia Industries Ltd. Though it is not recommended that you camp on the beaches as there isn’t a soul in sight, you can stop to rest at Kumta. Carry water and food.
4. Walk down the precarious rope bridges in Meghalaya
Many of these bridges are as old as 200 years and are recognized as bioengineering wonders. The village decides where it wants the bridge, and the villagers then plant an Indian Rubber tree at the spot on the banks of the river or stream. Once it grows big enough, the roots are trained to grow through beetle nut trunks that connect to the other side. It might take 20-25 years to make a bridge usable.