In India, rock climbing, as most other adventure sports, is a relatively new sport. However, in a short span of time, it has become the most popular adventure sport. Because of the good distribution of great climbing rocks throughout India, coupled the element of excitement involved, rock climbing has become a major attraction with tourists, young and the old, who have adventure in their heart. This mountain-based adventure sports is not to be missed for those seeking adventure vacations in India. One can find the equipments for rock climbing at most of the major cities in India.
Major Destinations
The best thing about this sport is the almost equal distribution of rock climbing destinations in India. The availability of the good climbing rocks not too far from the city gives greater access and participation from the professionals as well as from the amateurs alike.
Southern India
Badami, a five-hour drive from Bangalore, is a good place for rock climbing. Bangalore is in the center of a number of rock-climbing destinations like Ramanagaram (the setting for the Hindi blockbuster Sholay), Savandurga, Thuralli, Kabbal, Raogodhu, and others. Kambakkam at a distance of around 100 km from Chennai provides good climbing in many grades while Hampi in Karnataka has some of the best granite rocks in India providing the climbers ample opportunities to test their skills.
Eastern India
In a 300-km radius adjoining Kolkata, there are some good rock-climbing destinations like Purulia, Matha Bura, Jai Chandi, and Susunia Hills. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute provides some courses in Mountaineering at Gobu and Tenzing Norgay Rocks.
Western India
There are several good rock-climbing destinations near Mumbai like Kanheri Caves in the Borivili National Park, Mumbra Boulders, and Manori Rocks. In Gujarat, Pavagadh is a favorite rock-climbing destination. In Rajasthan, the region around Mount Abu like State Mountaineering Institute's training area, Golden Horn Spire, and Adhar Devi Slabs are the best rock-climbing destinations.
Northern India
North India offers some of the best and toughest challenges in rock climbing both for amateurs as well as for the professionals. The might of Himalayan rocks have always been the inspiration for many professional climbers. New Delhi and the region around it provide some very good options in rock-climbing arena. Lado Sarai in Delhi, Dhauj (55 km from Delhi), and Dam Dama Lake (around 65 km off Delhi) are some of the best-known rock-climbing destinations in this part of the country. In Himachal Pradesh, Manali and Dharamshala and the adjoining region provide some of the toughest and most exciting rock climbing options in the world. Professional climbers from all over the world come here to negotiate the rocks and to find new challenges.
Besides these, there are many artificial climbing walls in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Darjeeling, Manali, Uttarkashi, Bikaner and at Mathura Road near Badarpur border in Haryana state.
Best Time
Rock climbing can be undertaken throughout
the year. India is a vast country and different parts of the country
have different climatic conditions. Although you can practice rock
climbing in most parts of the country, the fact remains that the
Himalayan region provides the best rock-climbing challenges to the
professional. The ideal months to practice this sport in the
Himalayas are from April to June. In Delhi, however, the winter
months are better than the rest of the year because this is the time
when you can combine rock climbing with the pleasure of sightseeing.
The weather in South India is ideal for rock climbing throughout the
year.
