Northeast India is a land of uninhibited joy and adventures. If you are an adventure lover, there is no dearth of options for you, as it offers so much more than just snowy mountains and pristine lakes. You will always find something or the other to satisfy your adventurous instincts.
For instance, the adventure sports in Northeast India can easily make you feel a kind of adrenaline rush that you haven’t felt in a long time. Be it rafting or parasailing, you can try out all sorts of adventure sports for a unique holiday experience.
Here, we have compiled a list of the five best adventure sports in Northeast India that you must try!
1. White Water Rafting
White water rafting is one of those adventure sports that you can experience in many places of Northeast India. It is one of the main activities in Along. You can go for rafting there in the gushing rivers of Sipu and Yomgo. Also, water rafting in the Brahmaputra is an adventure to remember for a lifetime. It is one of the longest rivers in our country and rafting there is surely a thrilling experience. You can cover around 180 km through rafting in the Brahmaputra River, right from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh ( It is known as River Siang in Arunachal Pradesh). Some of the other places/rivers where you can enjoy white water rafting in Northeast India are Manas River near Manas National Park, Teesta and Rangit Rivers in Sikkim, Kameng river in Guwahati and Jia Bhorali river in Nameri National Park.
2. Parasailing and Hang Gliding
People in India are opening up to newer adventure options such as parasailing and hand gliding these days. You can’t even imagine what a liberating experience it can be to rise over snow-capped hills and mountains and lush-green valleys all by yourself. After all, it is the closest one can come to flying like a bird. Some of the hottest destinations for parasailing and hang gliding in Northeast India are Sikkim and the Kanchenjunga peak. The best time to go for paragliding in Sikkim is between October to January and September to February for Kanchenjunga peak. Over the years, paragliding has also become quite popular in Arunachal Pradesh with special paragliding classes being offered during Tawang festival.
3. Trekking
Trekking is one of the most loved outdoor activities for people in Northeast India. There are trekking routes in almost all the states here. No wonder trekking enthusiasts come to Northeast from all over the country. Also, not to forget, walking is extremely good for health. Assam, because of its coarse terrain, is quite suitable for trekkers. The Pobitora Eco Camp in Assam allows trekking in Mayong. Arunachal Pradesh has a number of popular trekking points around the Bomdila-Tawang area and Nagaland is, of course, known for its famous trekking and camping place, Dzuko Valley. Meghalaya is probably the most visited trekking destination in Northeast India. Some of the most popular trekking tails here are Living Root Bridge, David Scott Trail, Kyllang Rock and Laitlum grand canyon.
4. Mountaineering
If you love Mountaineering, Northeast India is the place to be. There is just so much scope for mountaineers here. From the snowy Alps of Sikkim to greenery everywhere in Mizoram, Northeast offers your unlimited options for mountaineering. Sikkim is, in fact, the home to some of the tallest peaks in the world. There are certainly a lot of challenges on the way as the roads are covered with snow, but if you are someone who loves challenges, this place would more than makeup for it with its enchanting beauty. However, if you really don’t like cold weather and conditions, Mizoram is a great choice for mountaineering as well. The 21 peaks here would more than satisfy your mountaineering dreams. In Assam, the best choices for rock and hill climbing are Elephant Rocks, Nilachal Hills and Basistha Hils.
5. Caving
Meghalaya is known all over the country for its dark and mysterious caves. And why not? After all, it is home to some of the longest and deepest caves in Asia. Cavers from everywhere around the world come here to explore and learn. If you want to experience this place in the best ways possible, try to get a local guide who would take you to all the best caves there. The most popular ones are, of course, Mawsmai cave, Krem Mawmiuh (Seventh longest cave in India), Krem Dam and Awrah cave. However, these are not all and there are many more caves to explore in Jowai, Tura and Cherrapunji.
The adventure sports in Northeast India would give you all the fun that you had been looking for. For an adventure lover, this region is nothing short of a paradise. From trekking to caving, there are countless options and each place would give you a unique and memorable experience. We hope that you found this article useful and the next time you want to get some adventure in your life, you would know where to go!
