Dare to fly high and touch the skies! Then how about getting involved in some air sports and make sky as your playground. Paragliding is a blend of skydiving and hang gliding and also the best way to conquer your fear of heights

The fascinating sport of Paragliding, is one of the most popular aero sports all over the world. A large number of people across the world enjoy this sport, as it is convenient and safe medium of soaring high in the air. Paragliding is the latest aero sport, whose origin goes back to1940s, but it expended rapidly after 1980s. The adventure sport is a blend of skydiving and hand gliding, but a para-glider is different from a hand-glider or a parachute. A para-glider is much lighter, easy to open and it take a short time to glide, as there is no any need to jump from a helicopter or plane. Paragliding is somewhat similar to Para Sailing, the only difference is that Para Sailing is done on the beach while the launch sides for Para Gliding are gentle hill sides. One needs some basic training and strong determination to successfully glide high in the air.

Paragliding in India
The Himalayan mountain ranges in India are world famous as they offer enough Para gliding opportunities. The lofty peaks of these mountains, sprawling from north to east are considered amongst the best gliding sites of the world. Some of the famous Para gliding sites in India include :

Paragliding in Himachal Pradesh:
Billing in Himachal is a renowned Paragliding site and to check out the panoramic views of the Dhauladhar ranges. Solang makes a good beginner site in Paragliding. Bijli Mahadev is an excellent site for hill launching and has ideal conditions for thermal soaring. This ridge site can be approached fom Kullu and landing can be made at the Bhuntar airport. Another popular site in Bandla ridge, near Bilaspur at a height of 2, 600ft. Some other paragliding sites are located in the Trans-Himalayan region of Himachal, that is Lahaul & Spiti, Arhaul-Anu near Rohru and Garhalla Talab in Chopal in Shimal district.

Para Gliding in Uttaranchal
Garhwal Himalayan ranges in Uttaranchal are considered ideal for both professionals as well as beginners. For Paragliding training courses are available in Garhwal. Most famous Paragliding sites of the regions are Naukutchiyatal, Dayara Bugyal, Dhanolti Ridge and Bedni Bugyal in Kumaon.

Garhwal makes para gliders paradise, with the Great Himalayas in North and the plains of Terai region in the south. The unique topography makes Garhwal an excellent destination for both experinced and beginner para gliders. Joy rides as well as trauining courses are also availabe for Paragliding in Garhwal. While joy rides are ususally tandem flights, accompained by a trained flier, training are for those who are new to paragliding and para sailing. Some ideal gliding sites include Naukutchiyatal in Nainital, Dayara Bugyal, Pratap Nagar, Dhanolti Ridge in Garhwal and Bedni Bugyal in Kumaon.

Paragliding Equipments
The essential equipment consists of a glider, which when inflated offers resistance to the thermal currents and retards the rate of descent, a harness that attaches the paraglider firmly and safely to the pilot. It is so designed that it can be released quickly to avoid injury, by dragging the pilot over the ground after landing.

A helmet and a reserve parachute are for the pilot's safety and a variometer to gauge the ascent or descent of the glider. For those who cannot afford the equipment cost or do not have the time to learn flying, there is an alternative. One can sit alongwith an experienced pilot in a Tandem Glider, a two-seater and while the pilot manoeuvers the glider, one can sit back and enjoy the thrill of nonpowered flying. Similar to any other adventure sport, there is a risk factor involved in paragliding, but in recent years, improved equipment and techniques have created an amazing safety record for the sport.