January

The coolest way to begin the year is ? obviously ? by going skiing. In the last five years, the sport has increased its popularity in India by, literally, leaps and bounds. Once limited to a privileged few, skiing is now within the budget of the average tourist. And with local sports bodies and adventure sports companies in the arena, you can pick up skiing skills within a few weeks. January, often recording maximum snowfall, is the best time to hit the slopes.

Places recommendedn • Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir; Auli, Garhwal region of Uttar Pradesh; Shimla, Kullu and Manali, Kurfi and Narkanda in Himachal Pradesh.

Contact • Western Himalaya Mountaineering Institute, Manali; Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi; Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, Dehra Dun (www.gmvnl.com).

February

It?s still not hot, nor too cold. February is best for desert treks to the west of India, as also to venture into the wilds. Those with a passion for bird watching should set off now. The weather is also right for some aerosports: parajumping, parasailing and microlight flying.

Places recommended • For desert treks, head for the Thar, Rajasthan. Bird watchers, go to Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur; the Rann of Kutch; Keibul-Lamjao National Park, Manipur; Sunderbans. You can also start at Botanical Gardens, Howrah, or Purbasthali, Salt Lake. For aerosports, Nandi Hills in Karnataka and the airstrip next to Bangalore?s Hebbal Lake.

Note • For desert trek, you must obtain permission from the district collector in Jaisalmer and officials of the Desert National Park. Try and coincide your trek with the Desert Festival.

March

The waters are relatively friendly now, so surfers can safely venture off the coast. (Surfing, contrary to popular notion, is best done on placid waters.) Try snorkelling.

Places recommended • Mahaba- lipuram; Pondicherry; Goa; Andaman and Nicobar Islands; Lakshadweep.

Note • Barracuda Diving India, Goa (www.barracudadivingindia.com); Goa Diving Pvt. Ltd (www.goadiving.com); Banagaram Island Resort (www.casino- group.com).

April

It all depends on the volume of water, but April is usually the peak time for white water-rafting. This is also a good time to get initiated into sport fishing.

Places recommended • Rishikesh, Leh, Teesta Bazaar, Kullu, and Assam. The Ganga at Shivpuri and the Beas at Kullu are the best starting points for beginners. For an unusual take, try the Cauvery and some stretches of the Kali river in Karnataka. Anglers, enjoy trout-fishing on the Beas, Ganga, Ramganga, Pancheswar and Sarju rivers.

Contact • For rafting: Snow Leopard Adventures Pvt. Ltd (www.snowleopardadventures.com); Himalayan River Runners (www.hrrindia.com); Himalay- an Adventure Institute, Mussoorie.

May

Oh, dizzy, dizzy heights! The May sun is wonderful to reach for via paragliding and ballooning. And for those who prefer to be on water level, there are canoeing and kayaking.

Places recommended • For aero-sports: Kangra Valley; Dharamsala; Shimla; Pune; Indore; Mysore; Ooty; Shillong. For kayaking or canoeing: Rishikesh; Ramaganga in Uttaranchal; Dal Lake, Nagin Lake, Wular Lake in Jammu; Teesta river in Sikkim.

Contact • For canoeing or kayaking, you may contact the organisations mentioned above for white water-rafting. For aerosports, get in touch with: The Balloon Club of India (balloonindia@yahoo .com); Nirvana Adventures (srao@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in); Himalayan Journeys (himjourn@del3.vsnl.net.in).

June

Mountain biking should be done just before the monsoons set in. (In the case of early monsoons, put all your biking plans on hold.) The mountain roads are open to traffic and the balmy weather in the higher altitudes positively beckons you.

Places recommended • Leh-Manali Highway (the second highest motorable road in the world); foothills of the Himalayan ranges in and around the towns of Haridwar; Rishikesh; Dehra Dun; Mussoorie; Kullu and Manali; foothills of the eastern Himalayas in Sikkim and West Bengal.

Contact • Mercury Himalayan Explorations Ltd, Mumbai (www.himalay- anadventures.com); West Bengal State Academy of Adventure Sports, Salt Lake Stadium, Calcutta; Outdoor Centre, Nagpur (www.outdoorscentre.org).

July

Monsoons in full swing and the waters teeming with the mahseer and carp, it?s the angler?s favourite time of year.

Places recommended • Kashmir ? Aru and Sheshnag tributaries of the Lidder river; Bringhi river; Kokernag and Verinag streams; high-altitude lakes like Tarsar, Marsar and Gangabal; Jhelum river; Lake Wular. Anyplace along the coast of Cauvery is also recommended. Further down south, Munnar in Kerala is a good bet. Closer home, try your luck at Calcutta?s Subhash Sarobar and Rabindra Sarobar.

Contact • Every city and town has its set of anglers? clubs. But if you want a package angling tour, contact: Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department, Srinagar; Kerala High Range Angling Association, Munnar; Karnataka Wildlife Association of South India, Bangalore.

August

Now that the rains are nearly gone, the trails are beckoning. Get your backpack ready for the trekking season in India. A trekking holiday will offer you everything from short excursions to long and winding trails. Post-monsoon, the trails ? mostly through mountain passes, forest areas and hilly slopes ? become more accessible. And the weather can?t get any better for you.

Places recommended • Plenty to choose from, but the most popular venues are: Lahaul, Kangra, Spiti, Kinnaur and Sangla Valley; Satpuras near Panchmarhi hill station; the Nilgiris with its trekking centres in Ooty and Coonoor; Shillong, Kalimpong, Gangtok and the forest trails around Darjeeling. Ladakh and Zanskar, two more popular trekking destinations, are best visited in July.

Contact • There are too many trekking clubs and organisations all over India to list here. Just go over to the nearest travel operator for more info.

September

Pack your bags for the desert now. The scorching heat is gone and the temperatures relatively moderate. This is the best time for camel safaris. It may not seem to be a great idea to ride on these smelly and even ungainly creatures. It won?t be the easiest experience, of course, but it?s more than value for money for thrill-seekers. However, do not extend the safari to more than a week. Kind of ass-busting.

Places recommended • Quite obviously, Rajasthan and then Gujarat. The best trails are in Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur and Shekhawati.

Contact • The tourism offices of Rajasthan and Gujarat in your town.

October

It?s the time to get real. Yes, it?s rock climbing we are talking about. It?s not very sunny now and the chill in the altitudes is yet to set in. But if you are wary of climbing rock faces, then try out man-made obstacles. Try artificial rock climbing. This sport is mostly safe and the dangers referred to are grossly exaggerated. The chances of injuries are also minimal, except for a few chipped nails.

Places recommended • For rock climbing, the Aravalli Hills with a number of good climbing faces at Dumdaba, Dhauj and Nuh, all situated near Delhi; Mumbra and Dudha beyond Pune in the Western Ghats; Chamundi Hills in Karnataka; Sonmarg in Kashmir; Gangotri in Garhwal; and Manali Valley. Susunia hills in Bankura district of West Bengal is also a popular venue.

Contact • Nature Oriented Venturous Association, Palta (nova_mountain@rediffmail.com); Himalayan Mou- ntaineering Institute, Darjeeling (hmi@ dte.vsnl.net.in); Western Himalaya Mountaineering Institute, Manali; The Pioneers Adventure Society, Bikaner.

November

If you?re tired of altitudes, go delve into the deep. How about scuba diving and deep sea diving? The diving season in India begins from November and continues till April. The waters are cold, but calm. The only thing one has to negotiate is the darkness in the sea. So go only as deep as 20 feet to begin with. Later, dive to 300!

Places recommended • Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep; some parts of the Konkan coast, including Goa.

Contact • Same as surfing and snorkelling.

December

It?s the best time to do some ice climbing. When a waterfall first freezes every winter, the ice is thin and the climbing very, very difficult. As the ice thickens, it becomes easier. The techniques are the same as rock climbing.

Places recommended • The Himalayan range in the Garhwals; the Zanskar range in Jammu and Kashmir; Kullu and Lahaul in Himachal Pradesh.

Contact • Same as rock climbing.