You get a spectacular aerial view of Neemrana Fort-Palace as you zip line over it

I had some interesting winged friends for company as I secured the monster safety clip of my harness, tightened the waist belt and tugged at the loop of my pulley. It was time for a sub-orbital journey.

Here I was flying through the air at a height of 100ft, gliding down five steel cables called zip lines. The trip down was made in five stages, each one lasting approximately 60 seconds, and after the first one I even managed to open my eyes and gawk at the ridiculously beautiful Neemrana Fort nestled in a charming rustic landscape.

There’s one rule here that you must remember: when you are zip lining, you can’t see the landscape unless you are brave enough to keep your eyes open while holding on to your harness in a perfect James Bond impersonation (yes, 007 did zip down a cable car wire in Moonraker).

Well, I did turn brave for a few precious nano seconds as I zipped past an endless expanse of arid landscape, baked golden by the sun, punctuated by an 18th century stepwell and spectacular watchtowers used by Rajput warriors to keep the enemy at bay.

Let’s rewind to the point where it all started. We were a mixed crowd of supremely fit adventure sport geeks and treadmill challenged journalists on the ramparts of Neemrana Fort, on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, which has become famous as a luxury weekend getaway for Delhiites. It’s also the location where Flying Fox, an adventure tour outfit run by British entrepreneurs Richard McCallum and Jonathan Walter were introducing India’s first heritage zip tours or an aerial journey that involves whooshing down steel cables across hill forts and ridge tops.

The double bill of luxury and adventure begins at the top of the fort from where we had to trek 1km to reach the first zipping platform. This takes approximately 20 minutes for gym geeks and a time not be disclosed for the fitness impaired. A word of encouragement — you have help at hand.

A bevy of trained instructors follow you at every step. And while physically carrying you uphill might be asking for a bit too much, there are refreshments on offer along the way. Of course, you are fitted with a harness and administered an elaborate safety brief before you commence your journey in the skies.

The most important briefing was, however, on the length of the entire zipping tour and the modus operandi. The tour actually consists of five zip lines or steel cables connecting one ridge top to another. After gliding down each zip line which can vary in length from anything between 175m (574ft) to 390m (1,279ft), there is a customary stop.

During that break, one has to trek to the next zipping station in order to continue the zipping tour. The fifth and final line concludes the zip tour by bringing you back to an elevated platform inside the fort. The entire duration of the zip tour along with the treks to reach the take-off platforms is approximately two to three hours.

Interestingly, at the first zipping station, we found company in the British high commissioner who also happens to be a supremely fit sports enthusiast, who had taken time off to check out this aerial activity.

It was a while before we could take in the startling scene at our first take-off point — people kicking and thrashing about in their harness in an effort to settle down. There were mock demonstration sessions before we actually took off into thin air and instructions on safety precautions regarding take-offs and landings. We went for innumerable demonstrations stopping midway to ask what seemed like a thousand questions to patient instructors on anything from gravity to free-fall.

Neemrana’s luxury suites are all richly furnished and have innovative touches everywhere; (Below) An alfresco dining area within the fort

But we scared souls were gently reminded that the Flying Fox’s Zip wires are constructed and installed by a Swiss adventure course manufacturer, using imported materials that meet the most stringent European safety standards. And to hold our hands, there are five trained European instructors to operate the course along with a team of Indian trainers. Anyone above the age of 10 and weighing less than 127kg can experience this aerial gliding.

Fortified with all the information, I finally leapt on to the take-off platform but suspiciously enquired about the origin of a deafening sound that suddenly filled up the air. Pat came the reply from one of the instructors: “That must be British high commissioner’s voice as he goes down the zip line.”

Actually, it was the eardrum-splitting noise those steel cables were making as they took participants from one point to the other. But whoever has ever heard of settling scores with the instructor on the verge of take-off?

Once you are up in the air, the fort comes alive in all its glory. The property is spread over 10 hectares (its foundations were laid around 1464 AD) and is about a two-hour drive from Delhi. The place is believed to be one of the capitals of the descendants of Prithviraj Chauhan III and is named after a local chieftain called Nimola Meo.

The towering citadel with its intricate stonework detailing is positioned on a sloping plateau and is surrounded by the ancient Aravalli ranges in a horseshoe formation. Even the fort-palace, built over 10 levels is an architectural wonder, offering 360 degree views of the natural biodiversity of the plateau and its resident peacocks.

Well, glimpses of peacocks gambolling in the lushly landscaped plateau could be a pleasant activity while taking a swig of your favourite potion by the in-house vista pool. But serious exotica hunters can actually pick and choose in this spectacular heritage resort. There are quaint wooden carts upholstered with traditional furnishings that are pulled by camels dressed up in splendid finery outside the fort premises.

The whole place reeks of old-style glamour and there are eight luxury suites with grand monikers like Deva Mahal, Chandra Mahal (an upscale suite which Hollywood glamdoll Kate Winslet praised to the skies) and even Francisi Mahal that’s named after one of the proprietors of the hotel.

Well, the fort is a mesmerising sight to behold once you are in the company of birds and the sun is slowly splashing buckets of colour on the skyline which is almost too close for comfort. But then again, this is a sport that’s definitely not just for the birds.

Ready reckoner

Pocket pinch: Tariffs for a luxury suite at the heritage resort are between Rs 10,000 and Rs 21,000 per day for triple occupancy excluding meals. For more, log on to www. neemranahotels.com. Additionally, the cost of the zip tour with Flying Fox (www.flyingfox.asia) is Rs 1,490 per adult and Rs 1,195 per child.