Para Gliding and Hang Gliding

What are Para gliding and Hang gliding ?

Para gliding can be great fun because you will be using a parachute without actually jumping off an aircraft. The difference between para gliding and hang gliding lies, primarily, in the gear. The para glider is essentially a parachute wing, has no frame and is almost elliptical. The hang glider has an aluminium frame inside a triangular-shaped sail that typically has a pointed nose. It is a flexible wing aircraft that is piloted by shifting your weight. Powered hang gliding is growing in popularity as a sport.

Where to go ?

Para gliding and hang gliding are well-developed aero sports in Kamshet and Panchgani near Pune in Maharashtra, Jakkur and Hoskote near Bangalore in Karnataka. Other emerging destinations are Sohna near Delhi, Solan valley and Billing in Himachal Pradesh, Darjeeling and Gangtok in the Eastern Himalayas.

It is also practised in other hilly regions of India like Dasauli, Dharamshala, Satra, Sinhgarh, Shimla, Mhow, Indore, Mysore, Ooty and Shillong, where it is more of an individual hobby sport. In north India (Rishikesh and Sohna), the ideal season to go gliding would be between October and March, while in Kamshet and Panchgani (in western India), May to October is a good season. Avoid going gliding during the monsoons.

What you need to know ?

There are professional para gliding and hang gliding operators with well-trained pilots. Operators in Kamshet and Panchgani offer a complete package that includes usage of the equipment, food and accommodation. The rides include tandem joy rides (wherein the pilot accompanies you in a twin seater glider) for amateurs. Operators in Rishikesh and Sohna (60 km from Delhi) have packages limited to the sport only and do not include accommodation. Billing in the Kangra valley in Himachal Pradesh is a very popular spot for para gliding. It hosted India’s first para gliding competition according to the rules of Federation Aeronautique International (www.fai.org).

What you must carry ?

You don’t have to buy the equipment to experience the sport. You can rent it from your tour operator. However, check your gear for wear and tear before you are ready to soar. The rental cost is included in the packages that operators offer. The main equipment consists of the glider, also called the wing, the harness and safety gear.

Para Gliding and Hang Gliding : Hotspots

Para Gliding and Hang Gliding : Do's and Don'ts