| Traveling to India is by itself an adventure and | | | | It is important to note that all foreign nationals will |
| nothing prepares the first time traveler for the | | | | need permits for their expeditions, which may weeks |
| amazing range of languages, cultures, religions, and | | | | or months to obtain from the Indian Mountaineering |
| experiences--the ones you look for and the ones | | | | Foundation (IMF). Mountain climbing in J&K will |
| that find you! If you who want to step away from | | | | also need special clearances and some regions might |
| the usual tourist haunts and check out adventure | | | | be restricted as this area borders Pakistan. All |
| tourism options available in India, here are some | | | | mountaineers must have an X Mountaineering Visa |
| suggestions. | | | | endorsed on their Indian visa by the Indian Embassy. |
| White Water Rafting - in India | | | | Tigers and More...at Corbett National Park |
| The Garhwal and Kumaon hills situated at the foothills | | | | This is the best and easiest place to get a few of |
| of the Himalayas provide some of the best white | | | | your adrenaline rushes all in one go. Elephant safaris |
| water rafting in India. These rapids are fed by the | | | | to find tigers, crocodiles and some friendlier beasties |
| melting ice and snow through a network of mountain | | | | like deer and birds. Then you can bungee jump, rock |
| rivers from the Himalayas that tower above this | | | | climb and cross rivers. |
| region. Because of this, the best times to try these | | | | Get Up Close and Personal with an Elephant |
| silvery rushing waters is during September-November | | | | There are many ways of seeing this magnificent |
| and March-May. The waters here are graded and | | | | animal in India, you can ride up to Amber (Amer) Fort |
| classified to cater to the both amateurs and | | | | from the road, take a tiger spotting safari on |
| professionals. | | | | Elephant-back, or even see them wild at a special |
| There are sandy beaches here at regular intervals | | | | Elephant reserve. But you can also spot them |
| and the slopes of the mountains are covered with | | | | occasionally in large cities walking on the roads |
| oak, pine, spruce and fir trees. Some rafters would | | | | collecting bananas that passers-by give them, with an |
| be lucky enough to spot some spotted deer, | | | | occasional coin for his mahout. An aside, if you |
| monkeys and even the occasional leopard. | | | | happen to be driving behind an Elephant in traffic, |
| For the spiritually inclined, you can also find many | | | | keep your distance. I once read about an unfortunate |
| Ashrams (spiritual retreats) near the rivers. | | | | person who died when an Elephant got tired and sat |
| Mountaineering | | | | down...on their car. |
| The states of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), | | | | You can even help a Mahout wash his Elephant at a |
| Himachal Pradesh and the region of Garhwal have | | | | South Indian Elephant Temple. If you're really good, |
| some of the best and well organized mountain | | | | you might be given the responsibility to scrub him |
| climbing expeditions in India. | | | | with the coconut-husk loofah. |
