Due to its vast variety in scenery and terrain, India is a haven for adventure sports. One of the sports that is growing in popularity is rappelling. It doesn’t require any experience to begin rappelling in India. All you need to have is a good pair of shoes, and an operator whom you can trust. Once you’re safely strapped into your harness, it takes some practice to learn how to balance your body weight and centre of gravity. After that, you’re set to take on the rock face!
Some of the most popular destinations to try waterfall rappelling in India are Dodhani Waterfalls, Bekre, Torna spread out across Maharashtra. You can also give rappelling a go at parts of Karnataka like Coorg and Bangalore.
Waterfall Rappelling in India: MaharashtraClose to Matheran, the Dodhani Waterfalls is perfect for a fun waterfall rappelling session during the monsoons. You’ll rappel down a 75 foot rock face, with a waterfall in full flow. The views around are gorgeous, but you’ll be more focused on finding the right foothold.
You can also check out Bekre Falls, close to Bhivpuri. There’s a short trek through lush greenery to get to the waterfall. It’s almost a 100-foot descent, so you might want to save that till you have some experience. After your rappelling session, you can take a dip in the natural pool formed at the bottom of the waterfall.
Around Pune in the middle of the Western Ghats, Torna is a spot that has attracted enthusiasts for years. Standing at 100 feet tall, the waterfall is a thrilling spot for rappelling. It is at its peak strength during the monsoon season, so it’s wise to listen to all the instructions given. The area becomes overcast and misty, so it an absolutely delightful attraction for adventure lovers to try rappelling!
Rappelling in India: KarnatakaAlthough Coorg is ideally known to provide a quiet escape, it is also a hidden gem for adventure sports. Aside from rappelling, there’s also night safari, trekking, and bicycling, just to name a few. Seasoned experts head to the Chelavara waterfalls that is a glorious adventure for waterfall rappelling. You could even try rock rappelling on the granite rocks of Ramanagaram and Savandurga, close to Bangalore.
Rappelling in India: The rest of IndiaThe mighty rocks and cliffs of the Himalayas and the Aravalli ranges provide plenty of rappelling and rock rappelling opportunities. There are gorgeous views all around, and if you pick the right season, you’ll have good visibility.
Best time for rappelling in IndiaIf you’re going waterfall rappelling, you have to go during the peak monsoon months, from mid-July to September. By this time, the waterfalls are flowing strongly, and the area around is green and cool.
If you’re going rock climbing in the Aravalli range, pick winter months so you can climb in pleasant weather. For travelers going anywhere further up north in the Himalayas, you’ll need to check with the operator about the best season. While rock climbing in India, do remember that you need to wear appropriate shoes and empty your pockets.