Sports Tourism in India
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In 2005 The Times of India newspaper reported a rise in interest in sports tourism by Indians with predictions that the trend could increase dramatically. The report looked at outbound travel by Indians, but there has also been a rise in sports tourism to and within the sub-continent. The country's diverse landscape offers plenty of scope, from skiing in the north, to snake boat racing in the backwaters of Kerala in the south. There are plenty of sports events in India for spectators and the chance to get involved.
1. North India
o The northern state of Himachal Pradesh in the Himalayas is where you'll find the world's highest mountains and is a prime location for adrenaline sports like para-gliding, rock-climbing and hang-gliding. It is also where you'll find the annual Himalayan Car Rally, which starts and ends in New Delhi and runs for 2,000 miles through the mountains of Uttaranchal and the eastern Himalayas. There is also the chance to watch the 100-mile Mount Everest Challenge marathon, or take part in a bicycle safari to the Top of the World.
Central India
o Stadium sports like basketball, football and volleyball are popular in the central states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The Ravishankar Shukla Stadium in the city of Durg is one of the most important in India, while Priyadarshini Indira Stadium in Korba has a seating capacity of 45,000. Cricket has become a national pastime, but the official national game in India is field hockey and visiting a game on vacation is a must.
South India
o If you can brave the late monsoon season in Kerala, on the southwest tip of India you will catch a snake boat race. This traditional Indian sport is as much a water carnival as a competition. The snake boats, also known as chundans, are festooned with decorations and rowed by up to 125 oarsmen who are accompanied by 25 singers as they re-enact religious legends. There are separate competitions for men and women, but both provide a memorable experience.
Winter Sports
o The high peaks of the Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal provide exciting conditions for snow sports, activities and competitions. There is an annual Winter Carnival at Manali in January and the winter festival in Shimla, from mid-December to January, features skiing and ice-skating competitions. Heli-skiing and ice-climbing are also popular options, as are more leisurely yak rides.
Sports Events
o New Delhi will host the 19th Commonwealth Games in October 2010 and the government is taking the opportunity to launch the nation as a significant sporting nation and to promote tourism. It is the first time the games, held every four years, have been hosted by India and only the second time in Asia. There are major football, cricket and hockey events held annually as well as festivals celebrating India's traditional sports, like kabbadi and camel racing.
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Category Article India, Sports, tourism
