Adventures & Sports

Water Sports
The lakes of Rajasthan are known for water sports. During the 1982 Asian games, rowing competitions were held at Ramgarh lake near Jaipur. Ramgarh lake is a man-made reservoir around 4 kms. In length and 2 kms in width.

Throughout the year, water sports of all kinds can be arranged here. Facilities for swimming, boating etc. are available. Boating is a regular feature, conducted by trained Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation staff. A fully equipped tourist village with 10 huts is situated here.

Drive for about 10 kms fromAlwar and you enter dreamland. The undulating hills flaming with bougainvillea and gulmohar cradle the majestic Siliserh Lake. A beautiful Palace Hotel which is run by RTDC provides all facilities.

Udaipur - the lake city of India, is also good for water sports with boating being a regular feature. The ideal place for water sports is Jaisamand Lake situated 50 kms south of Udiapur. This lake is the second largest artificial lake in Asia (the water spread area is 90 sq kms. ). Throughout the year, water sports of all kinds can be arranged here.

The Chambal river offers the exhilaration of water rafting in the Kota region. From Jawahar Sagar to Dholpur, the intricate network of the Chambal river, flowing through rock gorges and forests, provides ideal locales for the perfect water adventure. While traversing the river by boat, one can see the gavia (crocodile)basking in the sun on river banks. Plans are underway to introduce a ferry service on the chambal river from Kota barrage upstream to Bhensordgarh - a fine opportunity to ride on the gushing waters. Rajasthan also offers angling sites. Bandh Baretha in Bharatpur, Siliserh and Jaisamand in Alwar, Mansarover near Sariska, Kukas, Chhaparwara and Ramgarh in Jaipur are an angler’s paradise. However, the enthusiasts are advised to carry their own equipment and obtain permission from the Fisheries Department. Patience and perseverance in angling , as in life, has rich rewards.

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Bird Watching
Rajasthan’s lakes, ponds, marshlands and grasslands are a haven for bird lovers. One can find around 550 species of birds and most of these are residents. The best colony of birds in the world is Kealodeo National Park situated in Bharatpur.It has more than 400 species of birds and more than 130 of them breed inside the park. Being a unique bird place, the UNSECO has recognized it as a world heritage site. It is truly a paradise of feathered life which provides unlimited opportunities to bird watchers.

Various other lakes and ponds, spread over the state offer the enthusiast an opportunity to watch the activities of the birds. The major wetlands other than Bharatpur are Kukas, Kalah, Bund, Buchora Chandi, Chhaparwara and Ramgarh in Jaipur, Silislerh Jaisamand and Mansarover in Alwar, Ana Sagar and Faterhsagar in Ajmer, Jaisamand,Pichhola and Badi ka Talab in Udaipur, Balsamand and Sardar Samand in Jodhpur, Bassi Dam in Chittaurgarh and Meja Dam in Bhilwara.

The best season for bird watching starts with the onset of winter marshlands and lakes are inhabited by migratory birds as well as resident birds. In salt-water lakes, flamingos are also found, like in Pachpadra near Barmer and Sambhar near Jaipur. Bird watching is a hobby which has minimum requirements. All you need is a binocular.

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Para Sailing and Balooning
The joy of being aloft in the wind and the thrill of defying the elements is what parasailing and ballooning are all about. Unlike other aerosports, in these, once off the ground, the sportsman is on his own. Since the skies are an element foreign to us, it would be judicious to take all precautions before indulging in the joy afforded by the sports. Responsibility for the safety for the sportsman depends to a large extent on the team helping out in this sport. Ballooning on other hand,permits the balloonist to soar high in the sky and drift over the picturesque terrain.

Parasailing and ballooning are annual events held in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Pushkar and attract a large number of tourists and adventure seekers.

The RTDC has set up an Adventure Cell in Jaipur from where you can obtain assistance and information about different outlets the adventure in Rajasthan.

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Horse Safari
Rajasthan’ - the land of the Rajputs, is known for its kings, fearless warriors and beautiful women. It’s also known for its forts, palaces, and temples which are a reminder of t he glorious past. Kingdoms were carved and established by the Rajputs on horseback, while swords were stained with enemy blood. Horses were highly priced and a Rajput warrior would give anything to own a good horse. Great care was taken to breed horses and to keepa clean and pure lineage. The result of many years of dedication and hardwork helped create breeds like the Marwari, Kathiawadi and the Sindhi, each having its own distinct characteristics and bred solely for the purpose of war. These horses were noted for their stamina and fierce loyalty to their masters. With these gallant steeds, the Rajputs became famous worldwide. There is an old saying:

"If God didn’t create the horse, He wouldn’t have created the Rajputs.

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Camel Safari
Rajasthan invites you to feel the adventure of a Camel Safari, which takes you through the golden sands of the vast Thar Desert. Like horse safaris, camel safaris are also popular in Rajasthan. The camel, popularly known as the ship of the desert, is not only common in the Thar desert, but also the only means of transportation in remote areas.

Ride through sandy tracks, passing through remote villages. Pitch your tent at a new place each night. Spend the evenings next to the camp fire and dance to the folk music.

The safari is organised to take one through the golden sands of the vast Thar desert and untamed countryside, enabling one to experience the days gone by when time drifted at a leisurely pace. The rolling landscape of the sand an shrub covered area is breathtakingly beautiful and the range of flora and fauna surprisingly large for desert area.

The camel breeders of Raika are the best guides. They know every pasture, waterhole and village of the region. One can ride or walk along leisurely with the safari and the enjoy the desertscape. The camel-carts are fully equipped and tourists need not bother about comfort in the desert.

Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation arranges the camel safari on request from Delhi and Jaipur during Nagaur Fair and desert festival.

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Treeking
Lying in the west of India, the topography of Rajasthan varies from sand-dunes of the desert to the lofty hill ranges of the Aravallis which makes Rajasthan a trekker’s paradise.

There are many beautiful meadows, dense forests,crystal lakes, waterfalls and rivulets meandering through the countryside. One of the oldest mountain ranges of the world, the Aravallis, extending from north-east to south-west have some beautiful forest areas. Mount Abu, about 1300 mts. Above sea level is an ideal locale.

Kumbhalgarh is another area in the Aravllis which is also good for trekking. Kumbhalgarh is just 90 kms from Udaipur off theUdiapur-Pali-Jodhpur road. Trek upto the historic Kumbhalgarh fort. There is also a wildlife sanctuary. The famous Jain temples of Ranakpur are close by. Trekking routes in Mount Abu, Kumbhalgarh and Rawali Tatgarh are not restricted to any particular area.The entire mountain system offers exciting trails which originate at starting points spread over the entire length and breadth of the Aravallis. One can trek from Abu road to Guru Shikhar( the highest peak of Aravalli), Thandi Beri to Kumbhalgarh fort or Ranakpur to Rawali Tatgarh.

The best time for trekking in Rajasthan is from November to February. But mid-September to end of October and March-April is also pleasant. There is ample space for camping under starlit rights or in the Dak Bungalow and Forest Rest House depending on the tourists preference.

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Other Safari
Like Camel and Horse safaris, another popular form is the jeep safari. The jeep safari not only refreshes and revitalises but one feels close to nature while driving through the quiet and beautiful countryside. Let your senses away to the romance of the surroundings as you pass forts, palaces historical landmarks and villages. The average daily move is about 150 kms. Consisting of approximately five to six hours of jeep driving. Spend lazy evenings in bed or swing to the folk dances.


Jeep safaris are organised in every part of Rajasthan, but safaris organised to the Bishnoi village near Jodhpur have a special attraction for tourists. Motorcycle and Bicycle safaris can also be done in every part of Rajasthan. For those who want to turn cycling into a keenly contested game, there is Cycle Polo too. This year cycle polo was organised at Nawalgarh , Shekhawati.

Elephant Safaris are exciting for those in search of an experience of a lifetime.Some tour operators organise elephant safaris between Jaipur and Pushkar. An exciting sport is Elephant Polo which provides a spectacle for the audience and enjoyment to the participants. The bulky animals move around with surprisingly speed and poise.

The Jaipur Vintage Car Rally held annually in the month of January has beocme a big draw for carl lovers, sports lovers, vintage beauty lovers and tourists alike. A keenly contested event, this rally is an inimitable display of well-maintained cars of yesteryears.Among the vintage models which had come in from different cities of India to take part in the 1997 Vintage Car Rally, one could spot the 1903 Humber, 1919 Fiat 501, 1923 rover, 1936 Mercedes Benz 170 V,1938 Morris 8, 1923 Austin and the 1926 Erskine. Some of these are available on hire for pleasure rides and marriages.

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