Rediscover Bengal as an Adventure Hotspot

The state of West Bengal has always captivated travellers and tourists alike for its abundant monuments, tourists’ attraction, cultural heritage and the lip-smacking cuisine. But little do people know that West Bengal is also a haven of adventure sports. Be it trekking in the Himalayan ranges, water skiing on its scenic beaches, or rock-climbing in the Dooars- Bengal has every adventure sport to offer on its palette.

 

With the state enjoying a good percentage of annual visitors from every art of the globe, it also has worked on reviving some aspects of the state tourism. With these reforms there has been an active participation in catering to adventure enthusiasts. We can certainly say that West Bengal is slowly emerging as an Adventure tourist destination, attracting people not only from within the country but also from all parts of the globe.

Let’s take a look at the many adventure sports that the state has to offer and where does one need to visit, to experience the thrill attached with these insane sports!

West Bengal has emerged as a major arena for trekkers as well as adventure seekers who come to experience trekking in the Himalayan ranges. The most famous spots in the state for trekking are Darjeelingand Kalimpong, facilitated by many trekking camps. It is truly an unforgettable experience that will take you through the splendour of the Himalayas- endowed with lush valleys which are dotted with amazing fauna all around. Some of the famous trekking trails are: The Tiger Hill Trek, The Singalila Trek and Neora Valley National Park trek (Kalimpong) which attract huge number of tourists from all around the world.

 

For those of you who enjoy the extreme sides of adventure and need to feel the adrenaline pumping at its highest, West Bengal has come up with Mountain Biking in a couple of destinations. It happens to be a relatively newer adventure sport in the state and hence is available only at selected locations. Many training centres and local adventure agencies take care of your safety and properly train you to take these rides atop mid-level ranges. Some of the selected locations to enjoy this sport in the state are: Darjeeling, Mongpu, Kalimpong and Mirik.

In addition to the mountain climbing and Trekking options, West Bengal has also started to offer a variety in Rock Climbing adventures. Many adventure aficionados and rock-climbers have started to flock the state of West Bengal which has a natural topography the sits fit for rock-climbing. For those of you who have never have had any formal or prior experience in rock-climbing need not worry as there are plenty of centres which impart training for the same, before you hit the rock! Some of the most common places in the state are: Surrounding hills of the Dooars, the town of Darjeeling, rocks on banks of the Murti and Teesta River, and the Samsing Rocky Island in Dooars: which serves as the ideal places for this thrilling sport. In addition to these, the Darjeeling hills and the Shushunia are the centres for rock-climbing in the state. So what is keeping you from visiting this adventure haven?!

An esteemed event which is conducted annually in Kolkata, The Monsoon Car Rally. This elite event is conducted between the months of June and August which is attended by a large number of participants from all around the country. The Monsoon Car Rally starts from Kolkata and passes through nearby cities like Jamshedpur and Kharagpur and finally ends in Kolkata. As Monsoon Car Rally is a monsoonal event, so be prepared to get wet and earn points. One can witness the participants being highly motivated, competitive and possessive about their cars. It comes under the category of an elite adventure sport as the participants spend a lot of money in the upkeep of their cars for this event.

People assume the northern region of India to be the hub of river rafting sports, but at the same time, many would agree on the thrill factor being higher when you indulge in River Rafting in the state of West Bengal. With the Himalayan ranges bordering the northern side of the state and its terrain being fed by numerous rivers, it happens to be a rafter’s paradise. The adventure of river rafting is eased in the deep gorges, series of rapids with different intensity. With rivers like Teesta and Murti, which stretch for miles and miles, they set the perfect pace needed for this sport. Other adventure sports like canoeing and kayaking can also be enjoyed on the river Teesta as well as the lake in Mirik. All rafting agencies offer proper training and safety guidelines to the participants before entering the river. Also two guides accompany every boat and each participant is made to wear a float-suit, hence guaranteeing your safety at all times.

West Bengal is bestowed with numerous beautiful beaches, some of which are perfect for water sports as they give you the perfect torque for the sport and aren’t too rough at the same time. Owing to these factors, West Bengal has always been a haven for water sports in India. Some of the famous beaches where one can enjoy this sport are: The Bakkhali beach, The Sagardwip beach and Digha. The Tajpurbeach, set between the gorgeous beach destinations of Mandermoni and Shankarpur (near Digha) have started to get quite popular over the last few years for hosting a large number of water sport activities like para-sailing, water zorbing, water skiing and snorkelling. Pristinely clean and blue beaches, the sun-kissed waters and the adrenaline pumping through your veins- Sounds like quite a treat eh?!