Top 10 Destinations for Adventure Lovers in India

Prachi Joshi

Last updated: Apr 7, 2022

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See

Manali: Solang Valley, Rohtang Pass and Old Manali
Bandhavgarh: Spot the big cats on a jungle safari Lahaul-Spiti : Untouched mountain terrain, ancient monasteries Zanskar : Frozen waterfalls, ancient monasteries Punakha : The famous fertility temple and Chini Lhakhang Rishikesh : Head to lakshman jhula and visit multiple temples in this holy city

Do

Kaziranga: Take an elephant safari and spot rhinos and other wildlife
Coorg: Take a tour in the coffee plantations Manali : Trek to Rohtang pass or do paragliding in Solang Pokhara : Indulge yourself in adventure sports like rafting, kayaking, hiking, zip-lining, cave exploring and canyoning Rishikesh : Adventure sports like white water rafting, bungee jumping, long ziplining, trekking

Eat

Lahaul-Spiti: Thukpa and Momos
Punakha: Ema datshi (a Bhutanese rice dish), Jasha maru (dish comprising of minced chicken and tomatoes) and Jasha tshoem (Bhutanese chicken curry) Manali : Dham, river trout, kadi chawal and the famous lugdi (special drink made by fermenting rice) Coorg : Sannakki ( a special kind of rice cultivated in coorg) , Pandhi kari, Mangye Pajji (Mango chutney) and Mudrakani (chutney made with Bengal-gram)

Shop

Pokhara: A Nepalese khukuri, carpets and handicrafts
Auli: Woolen clothes and beaded jewellery Coorg : spices and dry fruits, coorg honey, chicory coffee, oranges and chocolates Manali : tibetan and himalayan handicrafts, kinnauri and kullu shawls,kullu caps and dorjes

Want To Go ? 
   

What would be your dream holiday? ​Do you prefer relaxing on the beach or exploring a historical city? Or does the spirit of adventure dictate your holiday destination? Adventure getaways are the latest in terms of experiential holidays – whether you’re travelling with your partner or a group of friends. Imagine getting lost in the surreal mountains or taking a tour of the amazing National Park or Sanctuary. If adrenaline rush and a sense of satisfaction is all you require at the end of a trip, then adventure trip is all you need to plan for your next outing with friends. Here are some adventure trip ideas for you.

1. Manali

Gorgeous trails through pine forests, apple orchards on the way and the incredible view of the Himalayas – Manali is an adventure-seeker’s and nature-lover’s delight. It possess a reputation as a backpacking center and honeymoon destination teamed up with adventure getaway.​ Try the trek up to Rohtang Pass or go paragliding in Solang Valley. A number of trekking trails are available from Manali. You can trek to Malana , a hidden village in the Himalayas known for its strict rules and regulations. You can also trek to Jogini falls, which is an hour trek from Manali. 

manali adventure destination
The mesmerizing view of Rohtang Valley

 

How to reach: Manali is well connected by road with a number of HRTC buses plying from all the major cities like Srinagar, Delhi, Rishikesh. You can also fly to Manali, the nearest airport being at Bhuntar.

Where to stay: If you want a budget stay, a number of budget hotels are available at Hadimba road and old Manali road. There are multiple resorts where you can enjoy a luxurious stay as well.

2. Bandhavgarh

Madhya Pradesh, ‘the heart of India’, reverberates with the roar of the Royal Bengal Tiger. Of its many national parks, Bandhavgarh offers the most thrilling wildlife safari. There are high chances of spotting a tiger since here as the density of its population is the highest known in India. You can go for Elephant ride as well in the lush green park of Bandhavgarh.

bandhavgarh adventure destination
An elephant ride ab Bandhavgarh is all to set your adrenaline rush to a great height

 

How to reach: Jabalpur airport is the nearest airport to reach Bandhavgarh. You can then take a bus to Umaria which is at a distance of 45 mins from the park. You can hire a cab or simply a tourist bus from Umaria to the park.

Where to stay: ​Bandhav Vilas and Arnayak Resorts are the two most recommended places to stay.

3. Kaziranga

Perhaps you’d like to come face to face with the endangered Indian Rhinoceros. Assam’s Kaziranga National Park has more than 2,000 rhinos and you can take a jeep safari or an elephant-back ride into the grasslands to spot them. The park is also a home to a large breeding population of elephants, wild water buffalo and swamp deer.​

kaziiranga holiday destination

How to reach: The nearest airport from Kaziranga is located 74 kilometers away in Jorhat, Assam.

If one is coming by rail, the nearest rail head is located in Helem (30 kms), Jorhat (90 km ), Furketing ( 75 km ) and Guwahati ( 200 km)

Kaziranga National Park can be approached from either side via national highway NH 37. The nearest bus stop to reach Kaziranga is in Kohara. Buses operating from Guwahati, Tezpur, Dimapur and Upper Assam all pass through Kohara.

Where to stay: Kaziranga Resort and Resort Borgos

4. Nagarhole

Deep in the coffee country of Coorg (Kodagu), lie the lush forests of Nagarhole National Park. You’re likely to come across tigers, leopards, elephants and many other animals in this 650 square kilometre sanctuary. Teamed with an amazing view of mountains at the backdrop and a jungle safari, Nagarhole is sure to pump up the adrenaline rush in your body. This national park is a home to a thick flora and fauna cover and can turn out to be an amazing adventure trip when traveled solo or even in group.

coorg adventure destination
A calm and quiet evening in the park is all you need to enjoy the nature

 

How to reach: Flights to major Indian and International cities operate from Bengaluru. Taxis can be hired to reach Nagarhole National Park from Mysore and Bengaluru. The nearest railway station is again in Mysore at a distance of 87 km. Trains from major cities in the country are linked with Mysore.

Where sto stay: Orange County,Kabini, Bheerambali Village.

5. Lahaul-Spiti

If your idea of adventure trip involves heading into a largely untouched terrain, dotted here and there with tiny villages, go to the Lahaul-Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh. A picturesque mountain terrain, amazing valleys, beautiful river side views and a calm and serene aura, Yes! Lahaul-Spiti is surely a place to visit if you are planning to attain a divine solace in the lap of nature. Excellent treks, riverside camps and ancient monasteries – what more could you ask for?

lahaul and spiti holiday destination
a perfect destination to click amazing pictures of mountains

 

How to reach: From the airport tourists can reach Lahaul & Spiti by private taxi or bus. Train Route : Jogindernagar is the nearest narrow gauge railhead to Lahaul &Spiti. Apart from it Shimla & Chandigarh are two broad gauge railheads for Lahaul & Spiti.

Where to stay: Hotel Deyzor, The Nomad’s Cottage.

6. Punakha

Apart from adventure trips in India, our neighbouring countries also offer some thrilling adventure holidays. Punakha in Bhutan has some lovely treks as well as quirky attractions such as the fertility temple, Chimi Lhakhang. Hot springs and caves add to the beauty of Punakha. To add up to an amazing experience, the weather here favours all. You can visit this place anytime of the year and at any hour of the day, the weather will be just right for you to take a silent walk taking in the mesmerizing beauty of this town. 

Did you know that now with MakeMyTrip you can reach Bhutan in just 3 hours by a direct flight? Check out our Bhutan Charter flight packages with special inclusions like a complimentary SIM Card, services of Indian Tour Managers, luxury vehicles and much more.

punakha adventure destination
The pristine view from a mountain top at Punakha

 

How to reach: By Air. The best way to travel to Punakha is to take a flight to Paro International Airport. From the airport, buses and taxis are available to go to Punakha Valley.

Where to stay: Damchen Resort, Meri Puensum resort.

7. Pokhara

Pokhara in Nepal offers many adventure activities – from rafting and kayaking on its many rivers to hiking the Himalayan hills, there is something for everyone. Offbeat activities include exploring caves, zip-lining down a sheer drop of 600 metres and canyoning – jumping and sliding down multiple cascading waterfalls! Visit Bengas Tal and Rupa Tal, the two serene lakes at a distance of 10kms from Pokhara.

pokhara adventure destination
want an adrenaline rush: try river rafting in pokhara

 

How to reach: The International airport at Kathmandu is the nearest airport for tourist near Pokhara. You can take a bus from there to reach Pokhara.

Where to stay: Hotel Orchid, Hotel trekker’s Inn.

8. Auli

Do you like your adventure holidays to include a spot of skiing? Head to Auli in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand – with its 3 kilometre long slope and a 500 metre long ski lift, Auli can give many ski resorts a run for their money. Ski equipment is provided and the tourist board (GMVN) offers 7-14 day skiing courses.

auli adventure destination
Skiing in Auli is the best experience you can have

 

How to reach: Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport to Auli at a distance of 286 kms. You can take the train to Rishikesh and take a bus from there. Auli is well connected by road from Rishikesh, Rudraprayag, Srinagar and Chamoli.

Where to stay: A number of budget hotels are available in and around Auli. You can also switch to guest houses and homestay. 

9. Rishikesh

Some 260 kilometres from Auli is the holy city of Rishikesh. Apart from its temples, Rishikesh is also a magnet for adventure junkies – white water rafting on the rapids of the Ganga, bungee jumping, 1-kilometre long zip-lining, cliff-jumping, trekking and many more. It is also nicknamed as the “YOGA CAPITAL OF INDIA”. So next time you want a serious place for meditation after you have indulged yourself with some extraordinary adventure sports-  head to rishikesh.

rishikesh adventure destination
rafting in white waters of Rishikesh is the best experience you can have

 

How to reach:Jolly Grant airport at Dehradun is the nearest airport to Rishikesh which is approximately 35 kilometres away.Rishikesh has a good network of buses connecting it with important places such as Haridwar,Dehradun and New Delhi.

Where to stay: Rishikesh is best known for its camps. So if you are there try to book a tent in any one of the campsite. You can also stay at Hotel Yog Vashisht.

10. Zanskar

Imagine trekking on a precarious, frozen river! Every year during January and February, the Zanskar River freezes over and a blanket of snow envelops it – this is the Chadar trek. Walking on snow and ice is a bit tricky, but when you have beautiful Himalayan vistas, frozen waterfalls and ancient monasteries to encounter, a bit of risk seems worth it.

zanskar adventure destination
The mesmerimizing Chadar Trek is bound take your breath away

 

How to reach: Leh is the nearest airport at a distance of 105 km. Flights from Delhi, Jammu and Srinagar connectLeh by air. Taxis are easily available from Leh to reach Zanskar.Delhi is the nearest  international airport at a distance of 1250 km. Delhi is well connected to most major domestic and international cities by air.

Where to stay: As it has no accommodation available, one has to carry his/her own tents when trekking to Zanskar valley.

MakeMyTrip has special packages for all these destinations. So book your flight or train tickets today and enjoy a holiday with a difference!

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