Gliding in India

Flying like a bird, soaring through the sky with heedless enthusiasm-- floating in the cool breeze, swooping high and low looking down from a new paradise the running life, endless stretch of green vegetation and other targets below!

Gliding invites zealot to scrupulously hold the wind and trust the Mother Nature-- as you ride on your man-made wings in to her open arms. Just have confidence, you can control it of course, some times there comes is a feeling of helplessness during your flight that makes gliding sports much of an excitement.

Gliding in India is like a dream comes true--- this adventurous sport enables die-hard adventure enthusiast to experience the unique gift of silent flight, at an affordable price.

It is a sport that will always offer you to indulge in the breathtaking challenges of the vast sky. To undertake gliding as an adventure sport, you might endure a basic training program and if you get it clear then head towards solo training program, the solo pilot then tries to amend their ability of flying so that they can propelled through the air little longer. With growing navigation talents, one could also endeavor the 'cross country flights'. It all depends on the adventure seeker....... how far he can reach after taking up gliding as an aero adventurous sport. Share Results

Where to go for gliding?

Himachal PradeshMany of India’s foremost sites for hang gliding are in Himachal Pradesh: Billing, about 14 km from Bir, and Dharamshala, both in the Kangra Valley, Kasauli, Shimla and Solang. Himachal Tourism involves itself actively in aerial sports, and offers equipment for hire, training courses, and other infrastructure.

Billing is by far and away Himachal’s most prominent site for hang gliding and parasailing. It offers nearly a 100 km of clear, beautiful countryside where gliding is possible, and the Aero Sports Club at nearby Bir is a good place to go for assistance of any kind. An annual Himalayan Hang Gliding Rally is organised at Billing every May.

Dharamkot, near Dharamshala, also offers excellent gliding, but is a little more difficult to approach. The nearest roadhead is about 2 km away, so you need to trek that distance before you can start.

Himachal’s capital, Shimla, is one of the most convenient places in the state to get to, with train and road connections to Delhi and other important towns in northern India. Shimla’s connected to Kasauli, Solang and Kangra by bus. Kangra, in addition, is served by the pretty Kangra Valley Railway, which starts from Pathankot (Punjab) and wends its way through the valley. Kangra has its own domestic airport at Guggal, which is about 40 km from Palampur.

MaharashtraMore a year-round destination than the sites in the Himalayas, the Maharashtrian sites of Satara, Kamshet, Talegaon and Murud Janjira use the low hills of the Sahyadris as take off points.Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, has excellent transport connections by air, sea, rail and road to the rest of India. It’s also home to one of India’s busiest international airports, with regular flights to a large number of destinations across the world.From Mumbai, trains and roads go further inland, to other towns and cities in the state.

TamilnaduThe mist-shrouded blue hills of southern India- the lovely Nilgiris- are known not just for their picture-pretty towns, tea gardens and coffee plantations, but also for the fact that they make for some good gliding. The town of Ooty, in particular, offers plenty of scope for gliding; Kalhatti, which is about 14 km from the town, is the launch pad for glides which take you over the thickly forested areas around. It is possible, if you’re lucky, to catch a glimpse of some wildlife, but don’t count on it. The spectacular Kalhatti Waterfalls are an added attraction on this route.

The airport nearest Ooty is Coimbatore, which has frequent connections to Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai. The nearest lowland railhead is Mettupalayam, from where a narrow gauge railway known as the Swiss Vintage Hill Train runs to Ooty. Ooty’s also linked by road to most major towns in southern India, including Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore and Mysore.

From Ooty, private taxis or cars can be hired to get to Kalhatti; besides this, there are buses between the two points.

KarnatakaIn Karnataka, the two main areas which offer opportunities for aerial sports are the Chamundi Hills and the Nandi Hills.65 km from Bangalore are the Nandi Hills, locally known as Nandidurg, and rising to a height of about 1478 mt. The hills are extremely pretty, and besides being popular among trekkers, are also good for gliding.

The Chamundi Hills overlook the city of Mysore, and are known primarily for the temple to the goddess Chamundeshwari and a royal palace, now owned by the Wodeyars of Mysore. The hills are also good for hang gliding, facilities for which are available with certain adventure tour operators in Mysore.

Both Bangalore and Mysore are easily accessible from within India. Bangalore’s airport, one of India’s largest, receives flights from all across the country as well as a few destinations abroad (mainly within Asia), and both cities- especially Bangalore- have good rail and road connections to the rest of the country.

Madhya PradeshThe town of Mhow is one of India’s foremost military installations and home to a beautifully landscaped cantonment. It is also Madhya Pradesh’s prime gliding destination, with flights being organised by the military both for themselves and for civilians.Mhow is 23 km from the city of Indore, which is one of the most important railway and road junctions of Madhya Pradesh. It also has an airport, which has regular flights coming in from Delhi, Bhopal, Mumbai and Gwalior as well as other major cities. Buses and taxis can be taken from Indore to Mhow.

Mhow has its own railway station as well, which is connected to a number of destinations in India.

Other DestinationsBesides these sites in the Himalayas, the Sahyadris and the Nilgiris, India has a number of other destinations where aerosports facilities are available. Auli, a well-known skiing destination near Joshimath (Uttaranchal) is also used for paragliding, as is Shillong, in Meghalaya.