Jammu: The successful conduct of paragliding
test trials by an internationally acclaimed pilot in the lofty
and scenic hills of Udhampur has opened new vistas of
adventure sports in the country.
Indian-born paragliding pilot Adie Kumar, settled in
Japan for the last 13 years, had booming test flights for the
last three days in Panchari area, about 95-kms from here,
according to an official release here.
Admiring the scenic beauty of Udhampur, Adie said the
Panchari area has many potential tourism sites for
international paragliders to test their adventure skills.
Adie, who took number of test flights from Sankri and
other adjoining hills of the area, described these site as one
of the best locations anywhere in the world.
"Owing to all the favourable conditions for having a
good paragliding flights in the area, we will plan some thing
different during the month of April next year," said Adie, who
holds the Indian League Championship for the last three years.
"Efforts would be made to initiate paragliding
expeditions from Panchari area with the involvement of top 15
paraglider pilots from across the world," he added.
After covering a distance of 1400 kms, the expedition
captioned "Across Himalayas" would finally culminate at
Sikkim, the pilot further apprised.
The District Development Commissioner (DDC) Udhampur Ajay
Khajuria, who was also present at the trial site, said that
Panchari block of the district has vast adventure tourism
potential.
To explore these destinations, the paragliding pilots
were given a proposal to see the feasibility of such events in
the area, he said.
After the successful trial of test flights by a most
capable paraglider pilot, Khajuria hoped that new vistas of
adventure sports would open in the district which will have a
positive impact on the economic prosperity of the locals.
On the initiatives of DDC Udhampur, a group of
international paraglider pilot from USA, Sweden, France, Czech
Republic and India carried out a recce to assess the potential
of the Panchari and Mada hills for national and international
paragliding events during the month of April 2009 and spotted
out these locations as best for holding the event.
Bureau Report