At Camp Splendor, you can dive in Thirumurthy Dam. Or paddle across it. “Halfway through, I didn’t think I could go any further,” says Ramya Vikas, a social media marketing consultant. She was trying out for the first time paddling in the clear blue waters of the dam at Udumalpet near Coimbatore.
“But I gathered my remaining strength and made it last. It was one of the most exciting experiences of my life,” smiles Ramya. After more than a year indoors, travelers are ready to hang out, take risks, and live in the moment. And, they’re turning to fast-paced, action-packed options for adventure—from jet skiing to rappelling.
Adventure tourism has picked up in the state, especially after the tourism department eased travel restrictions at hill stations like Yercaud, Nilgiris and Kodaikanal. “There has been an increase of 30 to 40 per cent in tourists coming from Tamil Nadu.
K Dhananjayan, CEO, Eagles Dare Adventure (P) Ltd., located near Doddabetta Peak in Udhagamandalam, says, “Most families encourage children to participate in zip lines, where they are tied on a wire rope. move from point to point.”
Abrar Khan, an IT employee from Hyderabad, embarked on his first rock-climbing adventure at Eagles Dare. “Throwing myself into the climb was the best way to relieve all the built-up stress from staying at home during the pandemic for over a year,” says Abrar. “After the climb, the view of Dhund Doddabetta, the highest peak in South India, made it more special.” For 22-year-old Nikhilesh SD, who is a student and part-time employee in Bengaluru, simply being able to try something new like zip lining, rock climbing and sky walking pushed her limits and helped her overcome her fears. helped in
view from a link
“The sense of accomplishment triggers dopamine release from the brain and they will remember the experience. Self-confidence remains. There has been an increase in families traveling in small groups with children to enjoy adventure sports,” says Manjakombai in Udhagamandalam Seshadri Venkatesan, Director, National Adventure and Leadership Skills (NALS) Pvt Ltd.
While zip lining and rappelling are popular, rope walking, where people walk about 30 feet between trees on tied ropes, is a survival training process, he explains. “Everyone goes through some kind of fear in their life and people must face those challenges. This quest is possible on a rope walk. There are different ways: we call it Burma Bridge, Sloth Walk etc. We attach them to a mobile anchor and they get the real feel of walking 40 feet without any support. ”
Bungee swinging is another great attraction at Eagles Dare, which also houses a tea museum and tea factory.
L Varadarajan, general manager, says, “After a fall, they get on the swing. “Sky cycling is like a cable car where people can paddle as they walk on a rope and enjoy the view. We also have a 100-foot wall for rock climbing.
safety first
- placenta ( www.nals.in) Licensed by the Ministry of Tourism in Udhagamandalam, Government of India. They also have night treks to help them deal with their fear of the dark, especially those led by a facilitator in children’s and team-building games. Call: 94422-75501
- Eagles Dare (www.eaglesdareooty.com) is recognized by Tamil Nadu Tourism and Government of India Tourism for adventure activities. It has also received approval from Triple AAA headed by Hill Area Conservation Authority and Aesthetics Aspect Administrative Committee or Collector. Tourists can take a tour of the tea factory, buy silver dips and white dips, visit the tea museum and see how chocolate is made in the chocolate factory. Call: 96264-84528.
- Camp Splendor, which has the necessary government approvals, adopts a sustainable model where they support the livelihood of tribals. They also assist police, fire and security in rescue and training efforts. meeting: www.campsplendour.com
- Go Kotagiri Tourism (www.gokotagiritourism.com) offers exclusive treks and rock climbing experiences in Kotagiri. Call: 96555-52099
While adventure travel has many physical health benefits, it also contributes to mental health. Nature and fresh oxygen is rejuvenating, says Ruchi Mohanta, a seasoned teacher from Chennai whose company Nature Diaries has organized over 100 camps for women and children. “Nature therapy helps children get rid of gadget addiction, and enhances their communication and leadership skills. Adventure helps in self-development and improves one’s personality.”
never too late
Gokul Bhiraman of Go Kotagiri Tourism says that the adventure bug has also bitten people above 50, especially after the pandemic. “We had an all-girls team (who acted as a football player in Vijay’s film bigilo) participates enthusiastically in rock climbing, ridge walking and trekking with his parents. He enjoyed bathing in a pond in the forest area, then visited the strawberry fields. He called it a day after witnessing the beautiful sunset view of Coimbatore-Kallar.
Another noticeable trend is a renewed interest in water sports in the Udumalpet belt, which includes Aliyar, Amaravati, Bhavani as well as the Thirumurthy Dam.
Be it kayaking, canoeing or stand-up paddling, any water sport teaches you a new skill, says Jaishankar, Group Captain of the National Adventure Foundation, who runs Camp Splendor. “A 30-minute trek takes them to Panchalinga Falls. This adventure circuit starting from Munnar to Thirumurthy Dam and Valparai to Athirapally falls in Kerala and is a big hit among tourists.
Meanwhile, Praveen Shanmughanandam, a travel expert at Pollachi Papyrus, points to a trend where travelers want to take it slow. He manages By the Riverside, a boutique resort in Sethumdai at the foothills of Top Slip. “They don’t want to do a million things. The visible change I’m seeing is that domestic travelers are now looking to local tours. They go for nature walks, and visit mountains and peanut and coconut fields. Enjoy the pristine scenery, a cool breeze and a nice sunset where the birds vocalize,” he says.
“This is often followed by barbecue nights, morning visits to the organic farm, and walking around, recharging before heading back,” says Praveen.
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