The adrenaline rush from soaring across the blue sky gives a special kind of joy, making one feel like a free bird. Be it deserts, beaches or mountains — paragliding is one adventure sport that gives an opportunity to enjoy the panoramic views of a place’s diverse landscapes. Thrill and adventure seekers who aspire to fly one day can experience the best of paragliding in India at these iconic destinations.
One doesn’t need to be an expert to try paragliding, as tandem paragliding allows flying with a trained paraglider (also known as a paragliding pilot). It is the easiest way to experience the fun of paragliding without worrying much. All these places in the list below offer tandem paragliding. A session usually lasts for around 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the package you choose.
11 of the best places for paragliding in India
Bir, Himachal Pradesh
If there is one place that can be called the ‘paragliding capital of India’, it is Bir. Known to be one of the highest paragliding points in Asia, you can enjoy incredible views of the Joginder Nagar Valley and the Dhauladhar mountain range while flying here. This small village in Himachal Pradesh even held the Paragliding World Cup in 2015.
How to reach Bir:
By air: Kangra Airport is just around 80 km away
By train: Pathankot Junction railway station is around 156 km away
By road: Delhi is at a distance of around 518 km.
Cost of paragliding: Starting from INR 1,500
Best time to visit: October to June
Manali, Himachal Pradesh
Another popular destination for paragliding in India is Manali. The Solang Valley is the best place for beginners to try paragliding. However, experienced paragliders prefer Fatru, as the duration for paragliding is longer there. Besides monsoons, you can enjoy flying in Manali throughout the year.
How to reach Manali:
By air: The nearest airport is Bhuntar Airport, about 50 km away.
By train: The main railway station is in Chandigarh, around 314 km away.
By road: You can drive down from Delhi, which is 598 km from Manali.
Cost of paragliding: Starting from INR 2,000
Best time to visit: Any time except the monsoon months from July to September
Yelagiri, Tamil Nadu
Considered one of the best places for paragliding in South India, Yelagiri is not very far from cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai. The breathtaking view of the lush greenery makes paragliding at Yelagiri exceptional.
How to reach Yelagiri:
By air: Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru is about 199 km away.
By train: Jolarpettai railway station, which is 20 km away.
By road: Bengaluru is around 158 km and Chennai is about 226 km away.
Cost of paragliding: Starting from INR 2,000
Best time to visit: October to March
Nainital, Uttarakhand
Also known as the ‘lake district’, this beautiful hill station is located amid the Kumaon mountain range of the Himalayas and is home to several beautiful lakes, including Naini Lake, Bhimtal Lake and Naukuchiatal Lake. Surrounded by seven hills, Nainital offers a birds-eye view of the pristine lakes and the verdant forests while paragliding. Bhimtal and Naukuchiatal are destinations around Nainital that offer the ideal terrain and climate for the activity.
How to reach Nainital:
By air: Pantnagar Airport is 70 km away.
By train: The closest railway station is in Kathgodam, about 36 km from Nainital.
By road: Delhi to Nainital is around 300 km.
Cost of paragliding: Starting from INR 1,500
Best time to visit: March to June and September to December
Kamshet, Maharashtra
The fantastic weather of Kamshet makes it an excellent escapade for people living in Pune and Mumbai. The Maharashtrian village has the ideal geography and wind conditions for paragliding and is the perfect destination for people to take to the skies. Tower Hill is where most of the paragliding activities take place.
How to reach Kamshet :
By air: Pune International Airport is around 50 km away.
By train: Lonavala railway station is 18 km from Kamshet.
By road: Pune is 46 km away and Mumbai is 101 km away.
Cost of paragliding: Starting from INR 2,500
Best time to visit: October to June
Gangtok, Sikkim
The land of monasteries is also one of the most beautiful hill stations in the country. You can see the entire city from the sky and enjoy the spectacular views of Mount Kanchenjunga while paragliding here. Baliman Dara and Bulbuley Dara are two main spots where you can take off from.
How to reach Gangtok:
By air: The closest airport is Bagdogra International Airport, 123 km away.
By train: New Jalpaiguri railway station is 117 from Gangtok.
By road: You can drive from Kolkata, which is 711 km from Gangtok.
Cost of paragliding: Starting from INR 1,000
Best time to visit: March to June and September to November
Arambol, Goa
Imagine flying high in the sky over the ocean without any restrictions and with a gorgeous view; this is precisely what paragliding in Arambol offers. Goa is famous for being India’s ‘party capital’, but it is also a great place for adventure sports like paragliding. Located in North Goa, the Arambol mountain is from where paragliding pilots take off and glide along the coast, offering the one-of-a-kind experience of flying over the beach.
How to reach Arambol:
By air: Manohar International Airport is 27 km away and Dabolim Airport is 70 km away.
By train: Vasco-Da-Gama railway station is 69 km away and Madgaon railway station is 77 km away.
By road: Mumbai is 553 km from Arambol.
Cost of paragliding: Starting from INR 2,000
Best time to visit: October to June
Sanasar, Jammu and Kashmir
Less than an hour-long drive from the famous hill station Patnitop, Sanasar was named after the tiny local lakes Sana and Sar. This little slope village is covered with conifers and dense forest. Paragliding from Sanasar promises panoramic views of the valleys in Jammu and Kashmir, along with the snow-capped Himalayas.
How to reach Sanasar:
By air: Jammu Airport is 133 km away and Srinagar Airport is 187 km away.
By train: Udhampur railway station is 63 km away.
By road: The drive from Jammu is 127 km and from Srinagar is 189 km.
Cost of paragliding: Starting from INR 1,500
Best time to visit: March to June
Shillong, Meghalaya
The beauty of this city is so mesmerising that it is popularly known as ‘Scotland of the East’. You can enjoy serene views of Shillong and the scintillating greenery of Meghalaya’s capital is sure to leave you amazed. The Open Paragliding Accuracy Championship Asian League was held near Shillong in East Khasi Hills in December 2022.
How to reach Shillong:
By air: Shillong Airport is the closest, but it doesn’t have many flights. The next best is the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, 115 km away.
By train: The Guwahati railway station is 97 km away.
By road: Guwahati is 101 km away.
Cost of paragliding: Starting from INR 2,000
Best time to visit: March to June
Vagamon, Kerala
This tiny hill station in Kerala has become famous just for paragliding. Located in the Idukki district, people mainly come here to experience what flying over the velvety greens of Vagamon’s hills is like.
How to reach Vagamon:
By air: The closest airport is Cochin International Airport in Kochi, 95 km away.
By train: The Kottayam railway station is 70 km from Vagamon.
By road: Kochi is 102 km away.
Cost of paragliding: Starting from INR 3,500
Best time to visit: March to May and September to January
Jodhpur, Rajasthan
The blue city is famous for many reasons, and one of them is paragliding. Jodhpur is where people can glide over the Thar desert. The aerial view of the city and the desert is quite exciting.
How to reach Jodhpur:
By air: Jodhpur Airport is seven km from the city.
By train: The train station in the city is the Jodhpur Junction railway station.
By road: Delhi is 642 km from Jodhpur.
Cost of paragliding: Starting from INR 2,500
Best time to visit: October to March
Main and featured image credit: Sebastian Mittermeier/Unsplash
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answer: Paragliding in India starts from around INR 1,000 and can go up to INR 3,500.
Answer: Yes, India has many trained professionals who offer tandem paragliding experience for beginners.
Answer: Monsoon season is not the right time for paragliding. The months from March to June and September to October are considered the best. However, always check the weather conditions before making your bookings.
Answer: Typically, a paragliding session can be around 10 to 30 minutes long.
Priyaja took her love for reading to the next level by majoring in English and minoring in Journalism at Lady Shri Ram College For Women (DU). She is extremely curious about the world and wishes to visit all the countries once in her life. She identifies as a foodie and loves to spend her free time exploring different cuisine and curating new dishes. As a former Food Writer at NDTV, she can help you find the best places to eat in Delhi!
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