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September 12th, 2007more information.
adventure sports—india
August 26th, 2007Manali
Location : Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh The best skiing slopes located near Manali are Solang Nullah (Solang Valley), Kothi, Patalsu, Marhi, Gulaba, Dhundi and Rohtang. These peaks offer some of the best powder covered slopes in the world. Generally Manali region is blessed with excellent weather, but the conditions are subject to sudden changes. In Patalsu and Rohtang slopes, summer skiing is also possible. Manali is also a hot spot for Heli Skiing organised by Himachal Heli Skiing (HHS) since 1989. Hanuman Tibba, Deo Tibba, Chanderkhani Pass and Rohtang Pass near Manali are known for their high peaks, thus forming a perfect destination for Heli-skiers with experience. Powerful helicopters including Bell 407, AS 315B Lama and AS 350B3 Squirrel carry the skiers to the top of a 14000 feet high snow draped slope within ten minutes. They are accompanied by internationally-certified heli-ski guides who are experts in snow safety, rescue techniques and mountain travel. After the ascend by helicopter Skiers and Snowboarders can have a thrilling ride down to the deep valleys through changing terrain, steep slopes and through trees in a wide variety of conditions. Mostly Skiing is done in high valley floors over 2000 mts through Cedar forests and long rolling ridges over four thousand metres high, in clearings between birch and oak forests. The terrain offers skiing facilities sometimes as high as 5000 mts with vertical averaging between nine hundred metres and twelve hundred metres. Solang Valley Solang valley, located about 13kms northwest of Manali at an altitude of around 8000 feet, is one of the most spectacular ski slopes in the western Himalayas. Popularly known as ’snow point’, the valley has an extensive view of glaciers and snow capped mountains and peaks. For the beginners, Solang is an ideal skiing spot with introductory slopes and ski lifts. Its ski slopes, a paradise for skiers offers unexpected excitement with smooth-curved ridges and gentle gradients. Cross- country skiing is also practiced here. There are options for a Moderate skier/ snowboarder to be driven up the slopes on four wheel drive jeeps accompanied by guides. The best season for skiing here is from January to March. There are skiing/ snowboard packages available on daily or weekly basis. The Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports in Manali is one of the premier institutions for skiing in the Himalayas. DMAS offers 7 days Snow Skiing course under the guidance of highly professional skiing Instructors. The institute has sufficient lodging and boarding arrangements and equipment can be hired for trekking purposes. The Mountaineering Institute has installed a 300m ski lift to enhance the ski training activities. Solang is the venue of national level skiing competitions and the major attraction is the Winter Carnival held around the middle of February. The Winter Games are organised by Himachal Pradesh Government through the training institutes in collaboration with the Indian Olympic Association and the Winter Games Federation of India. Ballooning can also be done in Solang Valley and the best season during summer. Useful Contacts : Tourist Information Centres : How to get there : Air: The nearest airport is Bhuntar, which is about 50 km from Manali and 10 kms from Kullu. From Bhuntar one can hire a taxi or bus. Bhunter is connected by Vayudoot services with Delhi and Chandigarh. Jagson & Continental Airlines also operates flights from Delhi to Kullu. Rail : The nearest narrow gauge railhead is at Joginder Nagar which is about 135 km from Manali and about 95-km from Kullu. The nearest broad gauge railheads are at Chandigarh (310 km) and Ambala (355 km). Road : The road to Manali passes through the picturesque valley of Kullu. The motorable road (NH 21) to Manali connect the town with other major tourist places in Himachal as well as the nearby states. There’s a large bus station on the Mall, with daily buses from Kullu, Chandigarh, Shimla (280 km) and other major towns and cities in this part of the country. Both private and state government buses are in service over here. By road the distance from Delhi to Manali is 570 km. Accommodation : There are numerous places to stay around Manali. HHS (Himachal Heli skiing ) provides mountain lodging for guests. The hotel has a restaurant and bar, and heated rooms with private baths. Contacts of some of the hotels in Manali are Solang Valley Resort Hotel Iceland, Sollang Valley Leela Huts (Sunshine Orchards), Hotel Renuka Snow Valley Resorts Hotel Woodrock Lord’s Regency Banon Resorts, Manali
Best time for skiing : December - February
Facilities : Skiing, Snow boarding, Heli skiing
Manali, famous for the lavish display of natural scenery, is situated at the northern end of Kullu Valley by the Beas river. Perched at an altitude of 2050 meters above sea level, this beautiful hill station is an ideal spot for adventure sport lovers. It offers skiing / snow boarding opportunities not only for professionals but also for beginners. Manali is surrounded by beautiful deodar cedar forests and huge peaks soaring to more than six thousand metres.
Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports,
Manali, HP - 175131 ( INDIA )
Phone: 01902-250337, 253789, 252342
Fax: 252137
Email: Contact I, Contact II
website : visit
Winter Sports Skiing Centre,
PO Palchan, Manali, Kullu, HP
Phone: 01902-256011
E-mail : Contact I
Winter Games Federation of India
7/19, Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, New DelhiI:110 002
Phone : +91 - 11 - 2325 7985, 23252574
Fax: +91 - 11 - 23252572
The Mall, Manali -175131
Tel: (01902) 253531, Fax: (01902) 252325
E-mail: Contact I
Dhalpur, Kullu - 175101
Tel: (01902) 222349
E-Mail: Contact I
Solang Valley, VPO Palchan, Manali,
Distt. Kulu, Himachal Pradesh, India
Phone: +91 (01902) 256132, +91 (01902) 256134
Fax: +91 (01902) 256228
E-mail: Contact I
Village Solang, PO Palchan 175103
Tehsil Manali, Himachal Pradesh
Tel: 91-1902-256008
Cell:91- 98160-6508
Email : Contact I, Contact II
Club House Road, Manali. 175131 (H.P.).
Tel: +91-1902-252464, 253286.
Fax: +91-1902-254035.
E-mail: Contact I
The Mall, Manali - 175131 (H.P.) India.
Phone : 01902- 253294
Log Hut Area, Manali - 175 131 (HP).
Phone: 01902- 253228, 253027 M.D. (Resi.) : 252579
Fax: 252613
Mobile No. 09816043027, 09417036480
E-mail: Contact I
Visit : visit
Circuit House Road, Manali, Distt. Kullu
Phone : +91-1902-251218, Fax: +91-1902-251165
Mobile : 098160 40073, 098160 86405
E-mail : Contact I
New Manali-175131, Himachal Pradesh
Tel.: 01902-250323, Cell. : 98160-58641/44355
E-mail : Contact I
New Hope Orchards, Manali-175131
Himachal Pradesh, India
Tel: +91-1902-253026, 252490, 253994
Fax:+91-1902-252378
e-mail: Contact I, Contact II
adventure sports—india
August 26th, 2007Gulmarg
Location : Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir The 3.5 km long and up to a km wide valley of Gulmarg which is about 3-sq-kms in area stands at an altitude of 2,650 metres. Known as Kashmir’s premier upland hill resort, the gentle undulating meadows of Gulmarg are carpeted in a thick layer of snow. The resort has one T-bar lift, three very modern ski-lifts and a chair-lift. The ski school, Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering located here conducts 10 day and 21 day short ski courses for beginners and advanced skiers. Gulmarg is considered to be the cheapest in the world to learn skiing. Gulmarg’s slopes are all natural slopes. Among the multitudes of slopes, a few gentle slope of ski runs ranging from 200 m to 3kms are specially suited for beginners. Ski lifts and chair lifts take skiers up to the top of the ski slopes from where skiers can choose the beginners, intermediate or more advanced slopes. The best and longest skiing in Gulmarg is accessed by the Gandola Cable Car Lift, which allows a ski run of 2,213 m. Designed by Poma of France, gondola ascends extends almost to the peak of Apharwat, at an elevation of 3980 metres above sea level, providing lift served access to 1330 vertical metres of vast snow riding terrain. Due to the setting-up of Gandola Cable Car Lift from Gulmarg to Apharwat top, Gulmarg holds a position as one of the highest lift-served ski resorts in the world. The gondola terrain is divided into two sections, i.e an upper and a lower section. The first section is 2,350 m long and rises 450m vertically from Gulmarg ski resort to slopes at 3300m up the side of Apharwat Mountain. The newly built second section runs to over 4,000m, just below the peak of Apharwat. From the top station, it will take a 30 minute walk to reach the peak. One can glide from there, in either direction over a couple of kilometers, before descending the mountain’s multiple ridges, faces and bowls. The gliding from the northwest direction includes magnificent and consistent advanced slopes to distant parts of the Gulmarg meadow. The southeast direction provides a total ride of over 1700 vertical metres of serious off-piste terrain. The gliding from gondola’s top to mid stations provides a superb array of high alpine slopes for advanced and expert level skiing. Presently, only the first section of the Gandola, from Gulmarg to Kongdori is operational, giving a downhill ski run of about 3.5 kms. The gentle slope area, with plenty of gigantic pines and firs, served by first section or stage one of the gondola provides well protected riding in all weather conditions. The poma slopes which are a few hundred metres walk from the gondola, provides an excellent variety of wide open beginner and intermediate practice terrain. The area is the venue for Gulmarg’s ski school and race clinics The skiing season in Gulmarg usually commences before Christmas (around middle of December) and continues till middle of April. Trained instructors are available for guiding the tourists and also casual skiers. Good quality equipment, including skis, boots, sticks, gloves and goggles are available on hire on the spot from the Government-run ski shop. Toboggans and snow scooters are also available on hire. Heli-skiing is also possible at Gulmarg which is an ultimate winter sports thrill for the adventure sports lover. In heli-skiing, helicopters lift the heli-skiers to the high, snow-covered peak of their choice from where they can ski down the slopes. Accommodation : For the tourist, numerous hotels and lodges are available for various standards of budget. Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation also runs hotels which offers accommodation on reasonable price. In the peak season, it is advisable to go in for advance reservations. All the basic facilities are available to make the stay in Gulmarg comfortable. Contacts : How to Get There Air : Gulmarg is in Baramula District which is approximately 2 hours from the nearest airport of Srinagar (57km). There are regular flights from Srinagar to all the major cities in the country. Rail : The nearest railway station is at Jammu which is well served by trains from many parts of India including Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta. Road : All sorts of transport are available to Gulmarg from Srinagar bus stand at Batmallo and from private transport operators. J&K SRTC operates regular deluxe and ordinary bus services from Srinagar. In winter, the buses operate up to Tangmarg (11 kms from Gulmarg), the remaining distance being covered with smaller vehicles. Tourist taxis also operate between Srinagar and Gulmarg. During winter, traveling by road to Gulmarg is not recommended as the roads can get blocked due to bad weather conditions.
Best time for skiing : mid December- mid April
Facilities : Gondola Lift, Ski Lift, Chair Lift, Toboggans, Sledges and Snow Cycles, imported snow beaters, ski equipment’s available, ski instructors, etc
Located 56-km south west of Srinagar, Gulmarg is a mountain shelf which nestles under the protective 4124 metre height and 5 km spread of Mount Apharwat. From here it has a view over the valley of Kashmir to 8126 metre Nanga Parbat and other distant peaks. Gulmarg, one of the ultimate skiing hot spot for intermediate skiers, is in the western extremity of Pir Panjal, one of the six ranges which make up the world’s highest peak Himalayas. The place gets some of the heaviest snowfalls in India and has earned the distinction of being the best ski resort in the Himalayas. This resort was established in the year 1927 by two British Army officers who set up the first skiing club in Gulmarg. Festivals like Christmas and Easter are occasions for organized skiing races here.
Hotel Highland Park (Phone : 01954-254430, 254407)
Gulmarg Winter Sports Project,
House No.183, Kursoo, Rajbagh,
Srinagar, Kashmir
Phone / Fax : 91- 0194-2458627
Mobile : 09419006808,09419076335
Tourist Reception Centre
Srinagar
Phone: 91-0194- 2452690-91,
Ph/Fax: 0194-2479548
Tourist Reception Centre
Vir Marg, Jammu.
Phone: 91-0194- 2520432, 2548172
Fax: 0191-2548358
adventure sports—india
August 26th, 2007Location : Garhwal, Uttaranchal Auli can be reached by road or ropeway from Joshimath. Locally called trolley, this 500m long ski-lift system which is the longest cable car in Asia, connects Joshimath with Gorson, above Auli. A short distance beyond Gorson lies the hill of Gorson Top, which provides an excellent view of the giant mountain peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet and Dunagiri. From Gorson, an 800m long chair lift travels to the base lodge that marks the starting point for all the ski runs. It is Auli’s only chair lift that connects the lower slopes with the upper slopes. From there, the skiers can ski down to enjoy almost 20 km of virgin slopes of the unexplored terrain and others can walk down through the snow capped paths. Sliding down on skis at a speed of 20-40 Kms per hour, provide a thrilling experience. Skiing and Tourist resort, run by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), provides accommodation as well as all other facilities to the tourist. It has two snow-beaters imported from Germany which beat the snow to keep the slopes fit for skiing at all times. Auli is the venue of the Indian winter games. This skier’s paradise is an active destination for the ski enthusiasts. GMVN offers fortnight-long skiing courses for amateurs. This includes a 7 day non-certificate course and 14 days certificate skiing courses by qualified instructors from Skiing and Tourist Resorts, Auli and Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering, Gulmarg. These courses are conducted from the month of January to March. Special provisions for day tourists are also available. All the skiing equipment are available with GMVN on hire including the most modern alpine skis, Nordic skis, gloves and goggles. As the weather of Auli is really chilled, tourists are advised to bring woolen clothing, socks, wind-proof jackets etc. Medical facilities, microwave telephones, wireless sets and walkie-talkies are also available. Another option for accommodation is the Cliff Top Club Resort. Auli’s slopes are ideal for hosting skiing festivals and competitions of national and international standards. Winter games Federation of India organises championships in February or March, which adds charm to the experience of the adventure seekers. Apart from skiing, other attractions of Auli includes cable car rides, rope lifts and wonderful views of Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi (7817 m), Mana Parbat (7273 m), Drona Giri, Trishuli, Hathi Ghora etc. Accommodation and facilities: Skiing and Tourist resort run by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), provides accommodation including deluxe rooms, dorms etc and vegetarian meals, in Auli. Phone: 01389-223208, 223305 How to get there : Air: The nearest airport is at Jolly Grant near Dehradun which is about 273 km from Joshimath. Rail: The nearest railheads are Haridwar (about 299km from Auli) and Dehradun. One can take the Dehradun Shatabdi Express to reach Rishikesh. Joshimath is about 250 km from Rishikesh. Road: Auli is about 16 kms drive from Joshimath. From Joshimath one can hire jeeps through the PWD road to Auli, but the roads are closed after dusk. The most popular way to drop in at Auli is by the famed cable car service. State transport and union buses ply regularly between Joshimath and Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and Delhi. Joshimath is a 10 hour drive from Delhi.
Auli
Best time for skiing : December End to March
Facilities : Cable car, Ski lift, chair lift, snow beaters 
Auli, the winter sport destination, is nestled in the peak of Garhwal hills in the Chamoli district of Uttaranchal. Situated 16 kms from Joshimath, at an altitude of 2895 m, it is one of the most popular ski resorts in India. Auli’s 7kms long sloped ranges with an elevation of 500m offers exciting skiing opportunities for both experienced skiers as well as beginners. The beautiful slopes covered with oak and coniferous trees against the backdrop of lofty snow clad mountains, heightens the spirit of the skiers.
Cable car : General Operation Timings: 8:00 am to 6:50 pm (May to October), 8:00 am to 5:10 pm (November to April).
Ski lift : Operational Months: January to March
adventure sports—india
August 26th, 2007Location : Kamshet,Pune, Maharashtra Kamshet, Situated in Pune district, Maharashtra; 110km from Mumbai and 56km from Pune, the area in and around Kamshet, with its low hills, rocky terrain and flatlands has scores of favourable sites with enough ridges just right for take off. Kamshet, 2200feet above sea level has perfect flying conditions with cloud base usually over 2000m and reliable thermic cycles ideal for basic, intermediate and cross country flying. Here flying is possible almost every day of the long season from October to June. The topography and temperatures allow for both ridge and thermal soaring. The pleasant weather, lush greenery, the huge pristine lake, the dramatic scenery and the easy accessibility to the place adds to its charm. Historically too, the place holds great significance. While you are there, check out the ancient cave temples at Bedsa located just before Kamshet. Another thing that strikes you is the presence of ever friendly and supportive villagers. One of the widely known sites is the ‘Tower Hill’ just off the highway on the road to Pavna dam. The take off site, on a north south ridge is visible from the highway and is accessed by a 30minute uphill drive and a 10minute walk. The site is larger than a football field rising 250m (700ft) above the valley floor overlooking the highway, the railway track and the Indrayani river. The site offers good launches everyday with the two prevailing winds- from the east face in the morning and from the west face late in the afternoon. One has to look out for high tension cable lines and the highway when launching from the west face. The mountain ridge is excellent for cross country flying with beautiful views of lakes and open fields. This site hosted the Indian Nationals 2000. ‘Temple Hill’ situated at Talegaon- Bhandar Dongar 22 km ahead of Kamshet on the road to Pune was once host to the famous ‘ Temple Hill Hang Gliding Trophy’. An old favourite for hang gliding, this is an excellent site for paragliding as well especially for beginners, with a gentle slope ending in a very clear landing zone. The site gets its name from the medieval temple of Saint Thukaram located here. It is mostly flyable in the mornings and if the winds holds out, up to late afternoon. The site is drivable to the take off point. ‘Shelar’ is another site 8 km from the highway, a north south ridge about a mile long with a wide take off at 175feet above ground level. This quiet L- shaped ridge free from power cables for miles around, is suitable for training and intermediate flying with perfect conditions for soaring and thermalling. There is usually a reliable lift that will easily carry one to 200-600m above launch. Best for long hours of evening flying with the vultures and eagles, from December to June. The take off point is reachable by a 10 minute walk uphill. ‘Kondeshwar Cliff’ is another site 15-20km off the highway from Kamshet town near the two monsoonal waterfalls. The take off height is 2200ft above ground level on a north south ridge suitable for advanced pilots. The ridge takes on the Westerlies wind coming from the Arabian sea, 70km away. The slopes of these hills are thickly forested but there is a clear landing area in the fields below. The site is drivable to the take off. Clothing Accommodation How to get there Contacts For basic, intermediate courses on Para -gliding and tandem (accompanied) joy rides contact Om’ Air Paragliding United India Paragliding Association
Kamshet
Best time for Gliding : October to June
Suitable for : Basic, Intermediate and ‘cross country’ flights
Facilities : Tandem Flights (accompanied Flights) or Joy rides, Five day beginners course available 
a sleepy village along the Mumbai-Pune Highway #4, 16 km east of Lonavala has developed into one of the sought after Paragliding destination in Maharashtra with its perfect flying conditions. The picturesque hills of the Western Ghats which run along the west coast of India from Gujarat in the north through Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka to the Nilgiri hills of Kerala in the southern tip, locally known as the Sahyadris in Maharashtra, offer many sites such as Kamshet, Satara, Talegaon, Deodali, Murud Janjira, Matheran, Panchgani, Singhgad and more with plenty of potential distance wise, suitable for gliding. The western Ghats offer almost a year round destinations than those sites in the Himalayas which are restricted by extreme weather conditions. 
‘Shinde Wadi’ is another site just off the highway around 2km from Kamshet town. A gentle sloping hill, take off height is just 100- 200 ft from ground level. Ideal for beginners, this site is best for hops and first solo flights. Historically this site holds significance as there is a saying that this is the place where in a battle between the British and the Marathas, Madhavrao Shinde’s soldiers fired a cannon from the top of the hill and blew the head off the leader of the advancing British Battalion. Here Village kids always keep company to the fliers.
Very light and airy clothing is suitable as the temperature tends to be warm. Wide hat, light weight hiking or flying shoes, Sun glasses and sunscreen etc will be fine.
Melissa’s guest house off the highway near Kamshet town has clean rooms overlooking the serene Vadivali lake. Rates are 600Rs for a double room / day, 450 Rs for the Dormitory and 400Rs for pitching tents or for a couch in the balcony. Cafeteria serves vegetarian meals.
Air: Nearest airport is Pune-56 km. and the nearest International airport is Bombay - 110 km away from Kamshet. In Pune, the airport is situated in the Lohagaon area, about 12-km from the city.
Rail: There are regular local trains from Pune to Kamshet and main line trains from Bombay’s VT station via Karjat / Lonavala. Get down at Lonavala and take a local train to Kamshet.
Road: Kamshet, 16km east of Lonavala is a three hour ride from Mumbai. State Transport, Luxury & Air Conditioned buses ply the Bombay -Pune route at regular intervals. New Bombay-Pune highway recommended all the way from Bombay to Lonvala. But from Lonavala take the Old highway to Pune which runs by Kamshet. The new highway bypasses Kamshet entirely. You can alternatively take a taxi straight to Kamshet or share a taxi from Bombay- Pune route and get down at Rangoli restaurant off the highway in Kamshet.
Cost: Tandem Flights (accompanied Flights) or Joy rides cost around Rs 1500 for a ten minute flight, Rs. 9000 for the three day ‘paragliding experience’, Rs 14500 for the five day beginners course
Nirvana Adventures
2A, Takshashila, Tagore Road,
Santacruz(W), Mumbai- 400 054
Phone: 91-022-6493110, Fax: 91-22-6493110.
E-mail: Contact Us , Contact Us
1, Shankar Niwas, Pai Nagar
SVP Road, Borivali (W)
Bombay 400 092
Phone: 91 - 22 - 8918184, Fax: 91 - 22- 8918183
Email: Contact Us or Contact Us
B11/9, Salunkhe Vihar, Kondhwa, Pune
Phone: 91-020-6992021, Mobile :(0)9822023790
E-mail: Contact Us
adventure sports—india
August 26th, 2007Location : Billing, Bir Village, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh Sheltered by the The massive Dhauladar mountain range and the Kangra valley below with its panoramic views offer opportunities for high altitude ‘up and down’ and ‘cross-country’ flying for more than 200-km. The Dhauladar range runs from Dalhousie in the North West of the state, in a curving arc south-east to Mandi. Billing lies roughly midway between Dharamsala and Mandi and to the south west of Manali and Kulu valley. From Billing, the range runs all the way to Dharamsala, separating theKangra valley from Champa. To the north of the meadow is the high peaks and to the south the plains. The fall from the meadow is about one kilometre and an average straight TTB ( top to bottom) flight to the Chaughan landing area lasts for about 25-30 minutes. If the conditions (like weather, wind speed and direction, cloud base of 4000-5000m etc) are right, one can make a ‘Cross Country’ distance flight from Billing to Manali or Billing to Dharamsala (90km). The flying is generally ‘ridge-hopping’ ie. getting lift from the ridges or cliff edges running down from the main spine of the range. ‘Ridge lifts’ caused by wind hitting a hillside and ‘Thermals’ (columns of hot air) are used by the glider to rise higher. Thermalling is an essential skill for flying in Billing. In Billing, thermals are found on a regular basis over a temple hence called the ‘Thermal Devta’, halfway down the eastern spur running down to Bir. The temple can be identified from the air by a red ribbon tied to a tree top. In the Billing - Dharamsala flight route there are 15 or so ridges. You can have the company of the Huge Himalayan Griffin Vultures during flight. Billing is also easily top- landable. Clothing Accommodation There is the Bir guest house with just basic amenities charged at around Rs 100/room. Then there is the Forest rest House in Upper Bir which is a charming colonial bungalow with 5 spacious rooms having attached baths & a beautiful garden. Rs 300/day for Indians and Rs 1000/day for foreigners. Advance booking should be made with the District Forestry Officer (DFO) in Palampur. There is no facility for food and you can arrange with the caretaker or some chai stalls to make basic food for you. In the Chaughan Tibetan colony, Shakya guest house which is a guest house of the monasteries has basic amenities with shared bathrooms and no hot water. A basic room is about Rs70 double or Rs50 for single occupancy. Paldin’s Guesthouse has solar heating, hot running water and reasonable rooms in the range of Rs 100-200. Taragarh Palace Hotel just 8km from Baijnath, a luxurious palace hotel of the Welcomgroup. Rooms range from Rs 1100 to around Rs 2,500 per day. Ph: 01894- 242034. Baijanth is famous for its ancient 804 AD temple of Lord Shiva. At Billing there is only a tea (chai) shop. Fiberglass tents and tented accommodation can be arranged through Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation. How to Get There Air: Kangra has its own domestic airport at Guggal, which is 7km away from Kangra town and about 40 km from Palampur. There are straight flights from Delhi to Guggal. Contacts The only STD booth in Bir is at the Chaughan Tibetan Colony in front of Cafe Amaho. Contact Suresh Phone: 01894- 268350 For flying Instructions or Tandem flights, Cost : Half hour Tandem flights cost about Rs 2000 For information on Paragliding tournament, check out www.himachaltourism.nic.in and contact Deputy Commissioner, Free Flight Association of India
Billing
Best time for Gliding : March to May before the monsoon & September to November
Suitable for : TTB and ‘cross country’ flights
Facilities : Tandem Flights (accompanied Flights) or Joy rides available 
mountains and surrounded by tea gardens, Bir a small village with a Tibetan Colony and monasteries in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh; serves as a landing ground and a base for Hang and Para gliders. Their launching (take-off) destination ‘Billing’, is a little meadow at 2,400m (8500 ft) on the Dhauladhar ranges, 14-km up from Bir. This meadow one of the wonders of nature, perfectly designed as a launch pad, has become a legend on the international paragliding circuits and a destination for World Champion Paraglider pilots. The meadow directly above the villages of Bir and Chaugan, is one of the best gliding sites in the world.
Billing is renowned the world over for having the distinction of organizing the very first Paragliding competition according to the rules of Federation Aeronautique International. The Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Himachal Pradesh will be organising the ‘Para Gliding Pre world Cup’ at Billing- Bir in the month of October 2003. It is also ‘the place’ for Hang gliding and Para Sailing. Every May, an annual Himalayan Hang Gliding Rally is organised at Billing. Aero sports club at Bir and Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department ( Phone: 91-177-223959, E-mail: Contact Us ) gives assistance.
It is advisable to bring warm flight clothing, wind proof jackets, winter flight suits, rough trousers, ankle support shoes since the weather tends to be chilly when one is air borne. Thick gloves/socks are also recommended.
Basic accommodation is available at Bir and Chaughan Tibetan colony. The facilities are limited so its better to make arrangements in advance especially during season. There is an Aero sports complex with a hostel at Bir.
Billing is 14Km or an hours rough jeep-taxi or van ride from Bir. The starting point is in front of Cape Amaho in the Chaughan Tibetan colony at around 10 am every morning during the season.
Rail : Pathankot is the nearest railhead. There is an overnight train from Delhi to Pathankot. From Pathankot Palampur is connected by narrow guage railway. One can also take a bus or taxi to Bir from Pathankot.
Road : There are ordinary, semi deluxe or deluxe buses available from Delhi and other major towns of Himachal Pradesh to Dharamsala, Palampur, Baijnath, Jogindernagar or Mandi. All Kulu- Manali buses go via Mandi. Bir can be reached easily from all these towns by buses or taxi. The distances from the different places to Bir are Dharamsala (70km), Mandi (70km), Palampur (35km), Jogindernagar (12km), Baijanath (12km). From Delhi, the overnight services of DTC Indraprastha Service to Baijanth, HTPC Super Deluxe to Palampur both leaving from ISBT Delhi around 6pm are preferable. From the junction which turns off to Bir Road, Taxis and Rikshaws are available.
contact Bruce, Dhondup ( the person who runs cafe Amaho) or Tsering Phone: 01894- 268350, 268603 or E-mail : Contact Us , Contact Us
Commissioner, Tourism & Civil Aviation Dept
Block No. 28, SDA Complex, Shimla 171009, Himachal Pradesh, India
Phone: 91-177-223959, Telefax: 91-177-225864
E-mail: Contact Us or Contact Us
Kangra at Dharamshala
Phone : 91-1892-22103, 23323 or
A 247, 1st floor, Shivalik, New Delhi 110017, India
Phone: 91-11-6682685, 09810432621, Telefax: 91-11-6675821
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adventure sports—india
August 26th, 2007Location : Arambol, Goa Arambol a small remote fishing village in Goa, lies 50kms from Panaji. The place has two beaches, more popular is the main beach (Harmal beach), the northernmost beach in Goa with clean sand, some bays and fresh water pools good for swimming. The beach is beautiful and the village is quiet and friendly, with just a few hundred locals mostly fishing people. The rocky headland or the cliffs near the beaches are popular for paragliding. The second, more picturesque beach lies beyond the rocky headband and can only be reached on foot and is bordered by steep cliffs on both sides. Arambol is popular as the best gliding site in Goa. Other sites include Anjuna, Vagator etc. Arambol is best for beginners with its regular, smooth and steady sea breeze perfect for easy, no break flying. The site has ridges which are flyable in North-Westerly winds as well as South Westerly winds. The winds set in by late morning right through the flying season from October to June and some days its possible to fly all day- at least 5-6 hours till sunset. There are three take off sites depending on the wind direction- ‘Om’ rock face is flyable in the South West direction, Kerry take off and the 1km long ridge to the right of the sweet water lake is flyable in the West to North West winds. The ridge is about 100 ft high and is normally used by beginners for top to bottom (TTB) flights and landings are usually on the beach in front of the lake. There are facilities available for training and tandem (accompanied flights at about Rs.900/flight ) rides using imported paragliders, from Arambol. Equipment also available on hire for qualified tourists from the Relax Inn on the beach. Accommodation How to get there Rail : Goa’s two main stations are at Margao and Vasco da Gama. Vasco-da-Gama and Margoa are connected by train with Bangalore, Belgaum, Hospet and Hyderabad and via Miraj to Bombay, Delhi and Agra. Road : Goa is well connected by NH17A with Maharashtra and Karnataka state. There are regular bus services to Mumbai, Bangalore, Hampi and other destinations from the Kadamba bus stand at Panaji. There are buses available to and fro between Panjim and Arambol every thirty minutes until noon, and every ninety minutes thereafter and between Mapusa and Arambol which takes three hours. The bus stand here is on the main road. There is a faster private minibus service from Panjim daily with a stop opposite to the tea stalls at the beach end of the village. From the main road, there is a bumpy side road which leads 1km to the village, past a large school and a church. The main beach is 200m further to the north of the village. Contacts Tourist Information Counter, Interstate Bus Terminus, Panaji. Tel : 225620. Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd For Training and Tandem Rides off the coast of Arambol
Arambol
Best time for gliding : October to June
Best Suitable for : Beginners for TTB and for Tandem flights
Facilities : Training for certified courses and Tandem flights 
The problem with beach landing is the accumulation of sand inside the glider which tends to reduce glider life and make it difficult to pack the glider. Because of the strong, steady wind in Arambol, reverse launches are preferable and pilots should have the necessary ground handling skills for successful inflation and takeoff. Top landing is also possible from the site and tree landings are common. Check out the top landing area before itself and watch out for large rocks.
Most of the accommodation is basic, in simple houses in the woods behind the beach. Majority are bare huts but some have fully equipped kitchens and showers. Long stay visitors should either bring their own bedding and cooking stuff or kit themselves out at Mapusa Market. There are restaurants, travel agencies (handling foreign exchange), Internet and other services along the road leading to the northern end of the beach and a few stores in the village.
Air : Goa’s international airport, Dabolim, is 29 km from the capital Panaji. Indian Airlines has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai daily.
Trionora Apartments, Dr. Alvares Costa Road, Panaji. Tel : 226515, 224132, 226728. Grams : GOA TOURISM, Telex - 194-334 TDC IN. Fax : (832) 223926. Ponda : 314524.
Contact :
Mr. Jitendra Deshprabhu
Cunha Rivara Road, Panaji, Goa - 403 001.
Tel.: (0832) 221840 Fax: (0832) 225763.
E-mail: Contact Us
adventure sports—india
August 26th, 2007TheZanskar Ladakh’sZanskarValleytakesitsnamefromtheZanskarriverwhichhascutitselfadeepgorgethroughtheZanskarrange,travelingthrughsolidrock,firstnorththeneast,finallyjoiningtheIndusriveratNemu.Thisriver150kmlongoriginatesfromthehighaltitudePlateauofSarchuattheborderofHimachalPradeshandJammuandKashmir.OriginallyknownastheTsarapriver,itpassespastPadum,thecapitaloftheZanskarvalleyandjoinswiththeStodriverwhichflowsdownfromthePensi-lapassanditisfromthisconfluencethattheZanskartakesbirth.ZanskarriverexpeditionsinsummeristheultimateforarafterwhichtakesonethroughtheoneofthemostbreathtakinggorgesinAsia.Fewplacesonearthcanmatchthegrandeurofthisgorgeknownforitsdramaticbeauty. Thezanskargorgefaceoneithersideoftheriverisnearverticalwithitswallsrisingafewthousandfeetoutoftheriverbed.Thestark,barrenandrockymassifsareinterspersedwithcolorfulbandsofmineraldeposits,whichrunthroughentiremountainsidesgivingitapicturebookfinish.TherearemanyexpeditionsthroughtheriverinsummerwhichfinishesattheconfluenceoftheIndusandtheZanskarriversatNemu.Thesameriverinwinter(besttimemidJanuary-midFebruary)isfamousforthegreatIcewalkonthe6-10feetdeepfrozenriverfromNemutillPadumandbackwhichtakes12daysoratendaytrekfromChilingtothevillageofLingshedandback. OnlyexperiencedraftersshouldattemptthechallengingriverofZanskar,whichoffergoodrunsforaprofessionalgenerallyonthe15thofJulyandAugust,whenthewaterlevelishigh.ThewaterofZanskarriverisfrigidat6-7degreesCelsius.TherearesmallcampsitesnestledwithintheZanskargorgeforstopoversinbetweenruns.Wetsuitsandsleepingbagsareessential.Lifevestsandhelmetscanberented.Thearrangementsshouldbemadeonlythroughadependableagency.Adequatearrangementsforrescuecoverageisanessentialpre-requisiteforembarkinguponanexpeditionontheZanskar.Makesurewhilebookingthatthepriceincludestransporttoandfromtheriver,rentaloflifevestsandhelmets,andmeals,andthattherafthasawaterproofstrongboxforvaluables AmongthemostexcitingrunsontheZanskaristhe120kmrunfromPadumtoNemu,atripwhichtakesseveraldaysandinvolveshavingtocampoutinutterwilderness.It’srepletewithexhilaratingrapids,GradeIII-IVwhicharefrequentandcanbedangerous.Itissuggestedonlyforthosewithgoodtrainingandexperienceinwhitewaterraftingandwiththerightequipments. AnothergoodrunisthePhey–Nemuroute,easierthanthePadum-Nemurun,mostlyGradeIIorIII.Themainattractionoftherunisthatitpassesthroughastoundinglybeautifulmountains,manyofthemwithtinyvillagesandimposingoldmonasteriesnestlingamongthevalleys.TherunstartsatPheyandendsabout36kmfromLeh,atNemu. InbothLadakhaswellasZanskar,publictransportandotherfacilities-includingtouristaccommodationareverylimited.Zanskar’sadministrativecentre,Padum,isaccessiblefromKargil.Thesinglemotor-ableroadwhichconnectsthetwoplacesduringthesummermonths,passesoverthe14,500ftPensi-lapassintheSuruValley.BusesrunbetweenthetwotownsonalternatedaysbetweenJulyandOctober,therestofthemonthstheroadissnowboundandinaccessible.AlternativelyvehiclescanbehiredinKargilforthetriptoPadum. Inadditiontothis,partsofthearea,especiallythoselyingclosetoIndia’sinternationalborders,requirespecialpermitstobeobtained.Toovercomeallthesedifficulties,it’sbettertogothroughawellorganisedprofessionalagencywhichorganisesriverruns.They’llmakeallthenecessaryarrangements,includingpermits,transport,equipmentandaccommodation.ManysuchagencieshavetheirofficesinLeh,andsomealsohaveofficesinothercitiesinIndia,suchasNewDelhi. RaftingOperatorsinLehandDelhi RiMoRafting,whoworkfromtheHotelKangLaChenneartheEcologyCentre Highlandadventures,onthefirstflooroftheHotelIbexComplex. IndusHimalaya,oppositetheHotelYakTailonFortRoad. HimalayanRiverrunnersPh:011-6852602 MercuryHimalayanExplorationsPh:011-3346209 SnowLeopardPh:011-6891473 HowtoGetThere
Location:ZanskarValley,LadakhRegion,Jammu&Kashmir
BestSeason:JulytoSeptember
StartingPoints:Padum,Pheyetc
Highestgrade:GradeIV
Highlight:ZanskaristheonlyriverinIndiahighenoughtoraftinthesummer
Air:Leh,thecapitalofLadakhisconnectedbyIndianAirlinesandJetAirwaystoChandigarh,Delhi,SrinagarandJammu.
Rail:ThenearestrailheadisJammu(690km),whichislinkedtotherestofthecountrybyexpresstrains.
Road:Insummermonths,Lehcanbereachedonastatehighway,fromSrinagar(432kms)intwodaysbuttheroadisnotsafeduetotheunrestintheKashmirvalley.ThecurvingmountainousroadpassesthroughSonamarg,theZojilapass(8,413m)andtheDrassvalley(thecoldestinhabitedregionintheworld,afterSiberia),culminatinginanight’shaltatKargil(2750m).FromKargilthesinglemotor-ableroadtoPadumpassesoverthe14,500ftPensi-lapassintheSuruValley.BusesrunbetweenthetwotownsonalternatedaysbetweenJulyandOctober,therestofthemonthstheroadissnowboundandinaccessible.AlternativelyvehiclescanbehiredinKargilforthetriptoPadum.
adventure sports—india
August 26th, 2007Location : Leh, Ladakh Region, Jammu & Kashmir The Indus river which lends India its name also known as the ‘Lion River’, The Indus, having originated hundreds of kilometers further east from near the Kailash mountain and the Mansarovar lake in Tibet, enters India in the region of Skardu in Baltistan. While water levels are high, between the end of June and late August, travel agents in Leh, the capital of Ladakh offers many fascinating rafting expeditions lasting one or three-four days in the river. The best time to raft this river is during July - September when daily trips are organised. Indus river is one of the most scenic white water runs anywhere in the Himalayas. The view is breathtaking which takes one through the Canyons in the Ladakh and Zanskar ranges with various monasteries or gompas along the river bank.The icy cold and clear river have rapids generally of I and II grades and at some places, has grade III rapids. The river offers most popular day trips from Phey to Nemu and also from Upshi to Khaltsey or from Upshi to Nemu. There are also runs from Spituk to Saspol or Spituk to the Indus Zanskar confluence at Nemu and from Nemu to the ancient temple complex at Alchi. Experienced rafters may also want to try the more challenging route between Alchi and Khalsey, which takes in the kilometre long series of rapids at Nurla. Easier runs include the run between Hemis (40km south of Leh) situated along a road crossing the Indus and Choglamsar, which is a three-hour trip that goes through quiet, calm waters, and passes through the riverside villages of Stakna, Shey and Thikse (25km south of Leh), before ending at Choglamsar, just short of Leh city. Upshi - Khalsey route : The Upshi-Khalsey run is somewhat long, but not too difficult. Most of the river along this stretch consists of grade I and II rapids, although there are some grade III rapids too. The run starts at Upshi, which lies upriver from Leh, along the road which leads south to Manali. From Upshi, the river makes its way westwards to Khalsey, along the road to Kargil. Spituk- Saspol : Spituk, just short of Leh and on the bank of the Indus, is the starting point for Spituk - Karo : Upward of Spituk, the Indus has the easiest stretch up to Karu, ideal for basic training and for day-return ’scenic floating’ for amateurs. How to Get There Rafting Operators in Leh Ri Mo Rafting, who work from the Hotel Kang La Chen near the Ecology Centre Highland adventures, on the first floor of the Hotel Ibex Complex. Indus Himalaya, opposite the Hotel Yak Tail on Fort Road.
Indus River
Best time for rafting : July to September
Starting Points : Upshi, Phey, Spituk, Nemu, Alchi etc along the Indus
Highest grade : Grade III 
flows across the high altitude cold desert region of Ladakh in an almost straight line from the north west to the south east, passes through the Leh valley and flows into Pakistan.
Phey - Nemu route : The main attraction of the run, mostly with Grade II or III easy rapids is that it passes through astoundingly beautiful mountains, many of them with tiny villages and imposing old monasteries nestling among the valleys. The run starts at Phey and ends about 36 km from Leh, at Nemu. 
an easy and short trip downriver. The route goes up to the village of Saspol, near Alchi, and comprises a run of a few hours. A short and scenic run, the Spituk-Saspol route is relaxed enough to allow you to admire the beauty of the Indus Valley; beyond Saspol, however, the river starts getting a fraction wild, and is recommended only for experts.
Air: Leh, the capital of Ladakh is connected by Indian Airlines and Jet Airways to Chandigarh, Delhi, Srinagar and Jammu.
Rail: The nearest railhead is Jammu (690 km), which is linked to the rest of the country by express trains.
Road: In summer months, Leh can be reached on a state highway, from Srinagar (432 kms) in two days but the road is not safe due to the unrest in the Kashmir valley. The curving mountainous road passes through Sonamarg, the Zojila pass (8,413 m) and the Drass valley (the coldest inhabited region in the world, after Siberia), culminating in a night’s halt at Kargil (2750m). Leh is reached on the second day. Leh is also linked by road to Manali in Himachal Pradesh. Within Ladakh, buses ply between the main towns and villages, and vehicles can be hired in Leh to get to the more inaccessible areas.
Several agents around Fort Road in Leh offer white water rafting on the Indus, but all are acting as agents for Delhi based operators who bring the equipment up during the season. Tickets should be booked at least a day in advance, preferably through the operators themselves. Contact Tourist office at Leh for details. Rafts are available for hire here.
adventure sports—india
August 26th, 2007Location : Rishikesh, Uttaranchal Ganga or the Ganges is held in high esteem in Hindu ethics and is regarded as the holiest of all rivers. The Ganga and its tributaries such as Bhagirathi, Alakananda and Mandakini, offers one of the most popular and adventurous river rafting expeditions in the country. Ganga is full of surprises with its diversities for the rafter, at some places it is calm and tranquil; while at others it is equally turbulent and rapid. The best time to capture the thrill of the Himalayan white waters is from February to April, and September to December. Rishikesh near Shivpuri forms the base from where one can participate in one of the many expeditions through the Ganga. Vehicles can be hired from Rishikesh to the various starting points. There are calm paced runs suitable for the amateur as well as expert professionals with rapids as high as grade IV to V. The river runs through picturesque surroundings with thick forested slopes of oak, pine, fir etc, occasional villages with its terraced fields and sandy beaches at intervals suitable for stop overs in between runs. Wild life can be sighted at a distance along with Ashrams and spiritual retreats overlooking the river. Rudraprayag to Rishikesh : One of the popular but strenuous runs is the 150km run from Rudraprayag to Rishikesh. Rudraprayag is situated at the confluence of the Alakananda and the glossy dark Mandakini rivers, two of the main tributaries of the Ganga. The starting point is situated a little further from the main town of Rudraprayag. It is a four hour run from Rudraprayag to the town of Srinagar through calm stretches, a series of rapids, boiling whirlpools and freezing temperatures. It is dangerous when the water level is low, because sharp rocks at the surface can rip a raft apart. The stretch from Srinagar to Devprayag where the Bhagirathi and the Alakananda rivers meet and create the Ganga, is rough. Between the thrashing rapids there are long stretches of flat water. From Devprayag to Kaudiyala is another four hours calm ride where rapids are scarce. From Kaudiyala, the stretch to Shivpuri which takes 5-6 hrs of rafting and on to Rishikesh is a fairly demanding one, with the grade IV rapid called ‘The Wall’ at Byasi and the less graded huge thrashing waves of rapids like the Roller Coaster (grade III), Clubhouse and the Golf Course, 4km below Shivpuri village. The stretch around 70km from Devprayag to Shivpuri is multigraded, but near the last sign post ahead of Rishikesh the Ganga turns calm. The expedition takes about four or five days depending on the pace. The run is picturesque through the densely forested Himalayan foothills. There are regular buses to Rudraprayag from Rishikesh and Haridwar. Kaudiyala to Shivpuri: Kaudiyala is situated 28km upstream from Rishikesh. The run from Kaudiyala to Shivpuri on the Alakananda which takes 5-6 hrs of rafting is a fairly demanding one and passes through thickly wooded hills, past riverside temples and two of the river’s best rapids the ‘Wall’ and the the ‘Golf course’- both graded IV which are succeeded by deep, tranquil pools. There are several camping sites in between the stretch. The run finishes at the dam beyond Rishikesh. Besides these routes, there are some other popular stretches for rafting on the Ganga and its tributaries, like low graded Kaliasaur to Srinagar (16km), Srinagar to Bagwan (20km)on the Alakananda river, Multi graded Matli -Dunda (12km), Jnagla -Jhala(20km), Harsil - Uttarkashi(12km) on the Bhagirathi river and High graded Chandrapuri - Rudraprayag (26km) on the Mandakini river. Ganga Rally How to get there Rafting Operators Himalayan River Runners Camp Riverwilds, Mercury Himalayan Explorations, Leopard Beach Camps Silver Sands
The Ganga
Best time for rafting : Mid September to End-April
Starting Points : Tehri, Rudraprayag, Srinagar, Devprayag, Kaudiyala
Highest grade : Grade IV 
Ganga Devi venerated as a goddess finds mention in the holy book of the Hindus the Bhagavat Gita, the Puranas and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Hindus believe that a dip in the holy Ganges redeems them of all sins. The perennial river traces its source from the Bhagirathi river which originates from the Gangotri glacier at Gaumukh (14000ft) located between the Bhagirathi and the Shivling peaks of the Himalayas in northern Uttaranchal. The Bhagirathi gushes through a small opening from under the glacier formed of sheer icy walls 500 metres high on two sides and rock on one side. The Bhagirathi joins with the Alakananda at the sacred town of Devprayag to form the Ganga. From Devprayag the Ganga flows some 1,550 miles to the Bay of Bengal and the vast Sundarbans Delta in West Bengal, passing and giving life to some of the most populous cities of India, including Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna and Kolkata. Ganga joins with the Brahmaputra near Dacca, the capital of Bangladesh, to form the river Padma.
Tehri to Shivpuri : This run starts at the Tehri town, the district headquarters of the Tehri Garwal on the Bhagirathi river. The run goes through rapids mostly Grade III- IV and reaches Devprayag. At Devprayag The Bhagirathi merges with the Alakananda and the run is more calm and manageable than the upper reaches till it reaches Kaudiyala. Then again on to Shivpuri it is demanding with grade IV foaming rapids like the Wall at Byasi and the Golf course, 4km below Shivpuri village. Details given above in the Rudraprayag to Rishikesh run. Tehri is connected by buses to Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun.
A three days rally in the ganga is organised in February every year on a stretch linking Allahabad and Varanasi. The participants take off in Kayaks, Canoes, rowing boats etc. The last leg of the rally, known as Ganga Marathon is on a 40kms stretch from Chunar Fort (37kms from Varanasi) to Rajendra Prasad Ghat in Varanasi. The prize of the Marathon is the Benaras Cup Trophy.
Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant at Dehradun which is well connected with Delhi
Rail: The nearest railhead is Haridwar and the nearest railway station is Dehradun (43 km) which is well connected with major cities of India. Dehradun Shatabdi, Dehradun Janshatabdi, Mussoorie Express are some of the trains that ply between Delhi and Rishikesh. Rishikesh is a 30 min drive from Haridwar.
Road: Rishikesh and Haridwar is well connected by road with Dehradun, Delhi (257km), Shimla, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Jaipur etc. Buses ply regularly between these places. Rishikesh is a 5-6 hr drive from Delhi.
Besides many private rafting operators, the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) and UP Tourism also offer river runs along the stretch.
Shivpuri. Eco - Friendly Tents
Phone- 011-6852602
Byasi
Facilities : Swiss Cottages, Free transfers fro Rafting points
Phone-011-6413304, 6293905
14kms ahead of Rishikesh
Facilities : A frame luxury tents with verandahs, shared bath and western toilets, free transfers from rafting points and Haridwar
Phone: 011-3362008, 3346209
Shivpuri
Facilities : A frame luxury tents with verandahs, shared bath and western toilets, free transfers from rafting points
Malakhunti
Facilities : Tents, Quilts, dry pit toilets
Phone: 011-6231641/92760