Manali is the famous hill resort set in the snow clad Himalayan ranges, about 40 kilometers from Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. The place surrounded by the snow covered valleys and the alpine forest is considered as a sacred place to the Hindus. It is believed that this place is the "Abode of Manu", the creator of the new human life when the world was submerged in floods.
Along with the religious fervor tourists throng this place to enjoy the charm and the natural beauty which is in abundance. The adventure seekers spend jolly good time by indulging in trekking, skiing, biking and paragliding in different exotic locales. The state tourism department has come forward to promote these wide varieties of adventure sports to satisfy the needs of all tourists.
Paragliding in Manali
Paragliding is the combination of hand gliding and parachuting. This adventure sport is very popular in the Himalayan ranges and the pilots can fulfill the most cherished dream of the humans being able to fly. Paragliding is carried out in the Solang Valley located about 14 kilometers from Manali. Other important paragliding spots are Bijli Mahadev, Marhi, Fartu etc.
Two types of flights are taken in paragliding. One is the short flight that lasts for 20-30 seconds. The tourist is taken up to a height of 150- 200 meters in a two seated paraglide accompanied by an experienced guide. The tourist must run along the slope following the steps of the guide for a perfect take off. The tourist just firmly fastens himself to the seat of the glide and all the maneuvering is done by the guide. This is very much suitable for the inexperienced gliders and fresher.
In high flying, the tourist can fly up to 1000-2000 meter for 20-30 minutes. This is mainly carried out by the experienced gliders. While soaring up like an eagle the excitement and the thrill sends shiver down the spine and the bird's eye view of the snow covered valleys leaves the tourist enchanted. The paragliding in Solang valley is carried throughout the year and if the climatic conditions are fine without any rain or clouds one can fly for hours at a stretch. On a bright and sunny day colorful parachutes are seen dotted along the blue sky which itself presents a photogenic scene.
For the inexperienced, a 5 day course for paragliding is provided which starts from the take off, driving the flight and safe landing, as training is very important regarding the safety aspect of this sport. People aged above 15 and weighing below 80 kgs can take part in paragliding courses to enjoy its fun.
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