Para Gliding and Hang Gliding
What are Para gliding and Hang gliding ?
Para gliding can be great fun because you will be using a parachute without
actually jumping off an aircraft. The difference between para gliding and hang
gliding lies, primarily, in the gear. The para glider is essentially a parachute
wing, has no frame and is almost elliptical. The hang glider has an aluminium
frame inside a triangular-shaped sail that typically has a pointed nose. It is a
flexible wing aircraft that is piloted by shifting your weight. Powered hang
gliding is growing in popularity as a sport.
Where to go ?
Para gliding and hang gliding are well-developed aero sports in Kamshet and
Panchgani near Pune in Maharashtra, Jakkur and Hoskote near Bangalore in
Karnataka. Other emerging destinations are Sohna near Delhi, Solan valley and
Billing in Himachal Pradesh, Darjeeling and Gangtok in the Eastern Himalayas.
It is also practised in other hilly regions of India like Dasauli,
Dharamshala, Satra, Sinhgarh, Shimla, Mhow, Indore, Mysore, Ooty and Shillong,
where it is more of an individual hobby sport. In north India (Rishikesh and
Sohna), the ideal season to go gliding would be between October and March, while
in Kamshet and Panchgani (in western India), May to October is a good season.
Avoid going gliding during the monsoons.
What you need to know ?
There are professional para gliding and hang gliding operators with
well-trained pilots. Operators in Kamshet and Panchgani offer a complete package
that includes usage of the equipment, food and accommodation. The rides include
tandem joy rides (wherein the pilot accompanies you in a twin seater glider) for
amateurs. Operators in Rishikesh and Sohna (60 km from Delhi) have packages
limited to the sport only and do not include accommodation. Billing in the
Kangra valley in Himachal Pradesh is a very popular spot for para gliding. It
hosted India’s first para gliding competition according to the rules of
Federation Aeronautique International (www.fai.org).
What you must carry ?
You don’t have to buy the equipment to experience the sport. You can rent it
from your tour operator. However, check your gear for wear and tear before you
are ready to soar. The rental cost is included in the packages that operators
offer. The main equipment consists of the glider, also called the wing, the
harness and safety gear.
Para Gliding and Hang Gliding : Hotspots
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Kamshet, Panchgani (Maharashtra) |
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Sohna (Haryana) |
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Rishikesh (Uttaranchal) |
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Hoskote, Jakkur (Karnataka) |
Para Gliding and Hang Gliding : Do's and Don'ts
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Ensure that the equipment is reliable. |
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Make sure that your operator takes all safety precautions. |
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Don’t fly in extreme weather conditions. |
