Vol 2 | Issue 6 | Jan 2018
Scenic National Parks of the United States of America
The United States of America has a stunning variety of landscapes, from dramatic canyons and expansive deserts to snowy mountain peaks and verdant valleys. It has a rich outdoor heritage of over 60 national parksthat attract millions of visitors each year. In 2019...
Candida Louis Solo Biking From India to Australia
Candida Louis is an Indian girl from Hubli who has not only biked across 24 states in India and covered over 34,000 kms but also completed her incredible solo bike journey from Bangalore to Sydney. She has also led biking tours in seven countries and ridden in more than 25 countries. But just about five or six years ago, Candida wasn’t the Candida Louis we know today. She was just one of us who left her hometown in Hubli and relocated to Bangalore to work full time with an MNC. “I’d just sit there in the office and keep staring out of the window, desperately wanting to be out there and not indoors. I wanted to feel free which I hardly did while sitting in the office for long hours. My passion to be outdoors, riding my bike and travelling to wherever I wanted got the better of my patience with the routine at the office, and the day finally came when I decided to quit my job and choose biking as my career.”
Dexter Manning Longboarder
Dexter Manning flies so fast and smooth it is often under the radar. Hailing from the middle east of Canada, Dexter has a classic Ontario skate resume from Club 54 to an ES patch and like many of the legends before him, all the skills despite none of the hills. Making regular skate trips to find the hills he craves, Dex even spent last year in BC making the most of the terrain, events and community. Dexter is never aiming to be in the spotlight. He’s humble, happy, funny and friendly. More often than not you’ll find Dexter on a speedboard, ripping hands down and taking as many runs as he can with the homies versus filming and chasing insta likes.
20 Extremely Dangerous Adventure Sports
Have you ever slept high above the surface of the land or sea, suspended in mid-air? Or does the thought of doing that makes your tummy roll? Well, cliff camping may sound easy, but it’s one of those extremely dangerous adventure sports in the world that are best suited for experts in the field of rock climbing and rappelling.
White Tailed Eagle
The white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) is a very large species of sea eagle widely distributed across temperate Eurasia. As are all eagles, it is a member of the family Accipitridae (or accipitrids) which includes other diurnal raptors such as hawks, kites, and harriers. One of up to eleven members in the genus Haliaeetus, which are commonly called sea eagles, it is also referred to as the white-tailed sea-eagle. Sometimes, it is known as the ern or erne (depending on spelling by sources), gray sea eagle and Eurasian sea eagle
Rushikulya A Safe Refuge for Olive Ridley Turtles
At just three and half hours distance from the city of Bhubaneswar, there is a place where almost every year nature unfolds one of its most amazing mysteries, a must visit in the bucket list of every nature-lover. The barren beaches of Rushikulya come alive with the beating of the heavy flippers of hundreds of thousands of Olive Ridley turtles who come en-masse to nest in the beaches of these coastal hamlets of Odisha.
Vivek Menon Honoured with RG Samsara Lifetime Achievement Award
In recognition of his exceptional contribution to the field of wildlife conservation during a career spanning three decades, Vivek Menon, Founder and CEO of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), was honoured with the RG Samsara Lifetime Achievement Award on October 7. The award was conferred upon Mr Menon by Shri DH Shankaramurthy, Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council, at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru during an Environmental Summit organised as part of the Round Glass Samsara Festival. The Hon’ble Anote Tong, a three time former President of the Republic of Kiribati, which will be the first nation to be submerged due to climate change, and Mr Robert Swann,
legendary explorer and the first person to walk to both the Poles, were also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Summit.
Elephant Conservation in India
More than half of Asia’s elephants are found in India, but the country’s elephant population has dipped in the past few years – by nearly 10 percent across 23 states between 2012 and 2017.
Owls Matters for our Farmers and Environment
Owls are nocturnal species and they play a key role in checking rodent population in farms and agricultural lands. because of that they are well known as farmers’ friend. Occasionally they feed on insects, birds, reptiles and all.
HCL Steps in to Support Animals
While HCL’s efforts to provide nutritious food to strays continues with over 550 animal meals being provided daily in Noida, it is now also working on a long-term sustainable model for animal sterilization, vaccination, regular care and management to ensure their well-being on a continued basis
Sustainable Design A Good Change
A Sustainable design always reduces depletion of resources around like Lands, Water, Energy and Raw materials which basically averts the destruction of ecosystem.
Akshay Kumar Adventure Travel Visionary
Akshay Kumar, CEO of Mercury Himalayan Explorations. The former President of ATOAI (Adventure Tour Operators Association of India) and ex-vice Chairman of FAITH (Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality)
Effects of lockdowns on pollution around the world
• One-third of the world is under lockdown as a response to the coronavirus pandemic.
• Air traffic is down, fewer cars are on the road, and factories are closed; this means that air
pollution has drastically decreased in many parts of the world.
Air Pollution
Particulate matter, or PM, represents a category of pollution describing airborne particles measuring 10 micrograms or smaller. Particulate matter can include, but is not limited to, dust, soot, dirt, smoke, chemicals, bacteria, viruses, and liquid droplets. Since particle pollution has a range of chemical makeups and sources, the level of risk and associated health effects are ascribed to the size of particles rather than their composition.
World-Class Diving Tours & Destinations in Iceland
Iceland, with its clear water and a stunning underwater landscape, is an amazing country not only for divers, but also for those that want to try snorkeling. Plus you don’t need any certificates or experience.
Mystical Floating Islands of Loktak Lake
Loktak Lake, the largest fresh water lake in Northeast India known as the only floating lake in the world. You can even live on these floating islands.
Sustainability….
Whatever it is, Conserving life means conserving nature, without which ecosystems will fall apart and life becomes extinct.
Wildlife Week: Forest Dept. To Undertake Survey Of Butterflies At Nagarahole
Mysore/Mysuru: Identifying the number of species of butterflies present at Nagarahole National Park will be part of the 66th Wildlife Week celebrations, according to Deputy Conservator of Forests and Director of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, Mahesh Kumar....
Tata zoo gets ready for annual wildlife week from September 30
Wildlife conservation and protection will take centrestage in Jamshedpur with Tata Steel Zoological Park gearing up for the annual wildlife week celebrations beginning on September 30. The celebrations will start with an essay writing competition (1,000 words in...
Adventure activities in Pong Lake soon
For the first time in northern India, adventure water tourism activities will start in the man-made Pong Lake in the foothills of Kangra. To attract tourists, the Society of Western Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Manali, has set up the requisite infrastructure in...
Grey seals discovered clapping underwater to communicate
Marine mammals like whales and seals usually communicate vocally using calls and whistles. But now a Monash University-led international study has discovered that wild grey seals can also clap their flippers underwater during the breeding season, as a show of strength...
How India’s First Dedicated Underpass for Wildlife Was Built on India’s NH-7/44
India’s first dedicated corridor for wild animals, this cave-like underpass connects two famous wildlife parks — Kanha and Pench — and could be vital for the long-term viability of tiger populations in the central Indian landscape. Experts at the Wildlife Institute of...
In 2 years, India added a Delhi and Goa in green cover
India’s green cover increased by 5,188 sq km (0.6%), an area the size of Goa and Delhi put together, in the past two years, shows a new assessment report of the government on the status of forest and tree covers in the country, released on Monday. The increase...
Wildlife officials launch project to conserve wood turtles
Massachusetts wildlife officials are launching a three-year project to help conserve wood turtles in eastern Massachusetts. The turtles were once common in the cool, free-flowing streams of the Merrimack River Valley, but their populations have declined so much that...
Human-animal conflict: 89% of dwellers are willing to move out from protected forest areas.
The killing of Avni The Tigress-(Labelled as the man-eating tigress of Yavatmal by a section of the media) and the subsequent controversy has brought into focus the lack of man-animal conflict management in habitats outside Protected forest areas (PAs) such as...
Water Sport Tours – Karnataka
Bangalore is one of the most progressive and cosmopolitan cities in India. The salubrious weather and many exquisite cafés, restaurants and pubs make it a perfect place to unwind. The city has earned its name as ‘the gardencity’ because of its many peaceful lush green gardens. A concoction of modernity and conventionality.The silicon valley of India has retained its colonial charm with beautiful parks and the striking Victorian era architecture. The undulating terrain,lakes, and rivers around
The Rarámuri Tribe – running people / foot-runner / swift of foot.
The Rarámuri or Tarahumara are a group of Indigenous people ofthe Americas living in the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. They are renowned fortheir long-distance running ability.Nestled in northern Mexico and the canyons of the Sierra Madre Occidentalis a small tribe of indigenous people known as the Tarahumara. They callthemselves Rarámuri, loosely translated as “running people,” “foot-runner,”“swift of foot,” or “he who walks well.”Originally inhabitants of much of Chihuahua, the Rarámuriretrea
TCS World 10K – Bengaluru
The 11th edition of the TCS World 10K, a Gold Label race onSunday the 27th of May and was sponsored by the Tata Consultancy Services to mark the 50 years of TCS and the150th anniversary of the Tata Group. TheIndian Elite line-up boasts of a complementary mix of recent champions andcourse record holders, while registrations for all other categories was peggedat 24,088 runners.The ‘Mirchi Get Active’ Expo was held on the 24th, 25th &26th at Elaan Convention Centre and powered by Godrej Prope
One-third of the world’s nature reserves threatened by humans
In the 146 years since Yellowstone National Park in thenorth-western United States became the world’s first protected area, nationsaround the world have created more than 200,000 terrestrial nature reserves.Together they cover more than 20 million km², or almost 15% of the planet’sland surface – an area bigger than South America.Governments establish protected areas so that plants and animalscan live without human pressures thatmight otherwise drive them towards extinction. These are special p
My Path To Find Chi…
I stared across the length of the Zambezi River wearing a redhelmet and a life jacket wrapped around my upper body. The nonchalant winds ofan October morning brushed my face and the sun shone bright above my head. Ilooked across to my left and right and saw my fellow passengers who were goingto take this thrilling journey down the Zambezi river in a raft. The river wasroaring and we could see the high waves lashing against the stony shores. Mywife who supported me throughout stood next to me hol
Kayaking in India
What is KayakingKayaks have been described as ‘those smart little, slim littlecrafts’. The sight of a kayaker going through a rapid will definitely make its Eskimo inventor (who designedsuch a vessel for huntingseals) turn in his icy grave! Alternately known as paddling, kayaking involvestravelling on water using a kayak, a narrow boat manoeuvred by a double-blade paddle. A kayaksomewhat resembles a fishing boat, and usually comes fitted with a covered deck. There are two forms of kayaking – whi
Importance of Adventure in Life
What is adventure? Anadventure is something challenging. In addition, an adventure is something that takes us out of ourordinary lives. An adventure usually involves challenging ourselves or tryingout something new. The word ‘venture’ can mean to try something without knowingwhere it will take us.The word ‘adventure’usually has positive connotations. Though it may be challenging, an adventureusually makes us feel excited and energized.There are many differenttypes of adventure. It might be
How to Prepare for a White Water Rafting Trip
Rafting excursions are offered at travel destinations worldwide and can last for a few hours or an entire week. Whether riding the rapids on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe,or floating downstream in Alaska, you can arrive prepared for the great adventure with a proper pre-raft workout plan, attire, and raft-and-paddle know-how.Building a Pre-RaftWorkout1) Warm up by stretching.Shoulder strain is a common white-water rafting injury and proper stretching
How Do You Count Endangered Species? Look to the Stars
The conversation startedover a fence dividing two backyards. On one side, an ecologist remarked thatsurveying animals is a pain. His neighbor, an astronomer, said he could see objectsin space billions of light years away.And so began an unusualpartnership to adapt tools originally developed to detect stars in the sky tomonitor animals on the ground.The neighbours, StevenLongmore, the astronomer, and Serge Wich, the ecologist, both of Liverpool’sJohn Moores University in England, made their bac
Glossary of Canoe Terminology
ABEAM To the right, or at right angles to the centreof a craft.AFLOAT Floating. Not stuck on a rock or sandbar.AFT Towards the rear, or stern, of the canoe.AGROUND Stuck-usually on a shoal or rock-when you didn’tintend it to be.ASTERN Towards the rear, behind, or at the back of yourcanoe.BACK-PADDLE Paddling backward to slow or reverse the forward motion of acanoe.BEAM
First Indian ‘father-daughter’ – duo scale Mount Everest
Deeya Bajaj and Ajeet Bajajbecame the first Indian father-daughter duo to summit Mount Everest. Theysummitted world’s highest peak at dawn on May 16, 2018.Ajeet Bajaj, a renownedadventurer-explorer, and Deeya, his fearless daughter-protégé and mountaineer,embarked on this incredible journey last month on April 16 when they reachedbase camp at 16,700 feet above sea level. Their expedition offeredthem varied experiences from hard acclimatisation hikes to North Col at 23,000feet to easy Uno days a
Exciting Water Sports in India
If you are a water sportsenthusiast or an adventure junkie, you have come to the right place. We aregoing to talk about all there is to know about water sports in India. India is increasingly becomingone of the top adventure sports destinations of the world. Some of the topwater sports activitiesin India include Scuba Diving, River Rafting, Knee-boarding, Kayaking, JetSkiing and much more. Read on to know more about the top 10 water sportsactivities in India and the best destinations in India yo
CLASSIFICATION OF RAPIDS IN RAFTING
Rafting and white-waterrafting are recreational outdoor activities which use an inflatable raft to navigatea river or other body of water. This is often done on white-water or differentdegrees of rough water. Rapids are hydrologicalfeatures between a run (a smoothly flowing part of a stream) and a cascade. Rapids are characterised by the river becoming shallower with somerocks exposed above the flow surface. ‘White Water’ Rafting. …White-water is formed in a rapid, when a river’s gradient incr
Climate change threatens one of the world’s most resilient lizards
Sporting a bright red-and-yellow dewlap under its chin, the color-changing Bahamian anole lizards a popular exotic pet. This wily alone has escaped captivity on enough occasions to successfully invade large areas across the Western Hemisphere. At first glance, this suggests that the anole is well-suited to adapt to changing climate. But a new study led by a Smithsonian researcher, suggests that may not be the case.Michael Logan, post-doctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institut
Biodiversity and Conservation
What is Biodiversity?Biodiversity is a modern term which simply means “the variety oflife on earth”. This variety can be measured on several different levels.Genetic – variation between individuals of the same species. Thisincludes genetic variation between individuals in a single population , as well as variations between different populations of the same species. Genetic differences can now be measured using increasinglysophisticated techniques. These differences are the raw material of evolut
15 River Rafting Destinations in India
River rafting in India hasemerged as one of the most popular sports? Pointing through the unbridled water and passing through parlous rapids, he who is an adventurer at heart onlyrealizes. If you haven’t got a chance to experience this utterly water sport then pack your bagsand be ready to become adventurer this summer.1. Indus RiverNothing can be moreadventurous than river rafting in the Indus river- known as ‘Singhe Khababs’ or‘Out of the Lion’s Mouth’. Offering magnificent views of Ladak
10 Best Places for Adventure Travel in Europe – 2018
Tired of a humdrum existence and looking for a real adventure?Why not have European adventures? Explore the wilderness ofIceland,bungee jump off a bridge in Interlaken, or go up, up, and away in a hot airballoon over Cappadocia! With top adventures in Europe, you get to spend money onexperiences, not things, and collect cool stories like other folks collectluxury handbags.Adventure travel in Europe doesn’t always mean risking yourpersonal safety. It’s also about getting out of your comfort zone
Clean vs green: Will India’s offshore wind energy push threaten biodiversity?
Multiple research reports find decrease in forest area in India, contrary to the government’s claim. Experts point out that government estimates include plantations which are different from natural forests and should not be included in the forest survey. Scientists...
History of the Royal Madras Yacht Club (RMYC)
The Royal Madras Yacht Club as founded by Sir Francis Spring, the first Chairman of the Madras Port Trust in 1911, then it was known as the Madras Sailing Club. The Club was accorded ‘Royal’ status by a Warrant from the
K. M. Chinnappa The Guardian of the Forest
K. M. Chinnappa was born and raised in a village on the edge of Nagarahole. He was forced to seek a job without getting a chance to acquire a college degree. He got a job in the forest department in the 60s
Backpacking…
Backpackers generally travel for a longer period of time than most other tourists, and they tend to travel across several countries during their time away. The number of countries differs. A backpacker can be on the road from a few
Sailing Basics!
Sailing employs the wind-acting on sails, wingsails or kites to propel a craft on thesurface of the water (sailing ship, sailboat, windsurfer, or kitesurfer), on ice (iceboat) or on land (land yacht) over a chosen course,
Thiruvambadi Sivasundar a divine pachyderm
People of Thrissur, Kerala gathered in huge numbers to pay respect to one of their own, someone whom they considered a part of their extended family. Their superstar, who was an integral part of their culture and festivities
The World’s Last Male Northern White Rhino is No More. Now What?
Sudan, the world’s last male Northern white rhino, has died. But the effort to save the subspecies from extinction lives on.For nearly a decade, ‘Sudan’ lived in a 700-acre enclosure at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, against the backdrop
The Last Flight into Oblivion?
The Avifauna of Bangalore is in deep existential crisis…A flying Indian CormerantImage Credit: Debaditya DasIt was not too long ago that the city of Bengaluru (Bangalore) was known for its existential crisis…numerous water bodies
Sparrows of India!
The House Sparrow (Passer Domesticus) is found naturally in most of Europe, the Mediterranean region, and much of Asia. This species has also been intentionally or accidentally introduced to many parts of the world, making it the most
Seema Rao has been training India’s Special Forces for 20 years!
Seema Rao is a 7th-degree black belt holder in military martial arts and is India’s only female commando trainer. A prominent expert in close quarter battle, Seema has been giving commando training
Royal Madras Yacht Club (RMYC) J80 AFTON CUP 2018
The Royal Madras Yacht Club estd 1911 is located inside the Chennai Harbour and has been producing international and national medallists making India proud. The Club is the first one in South India
Man spends 19 years planting trees to save village from drought
A 65-year-old man from Wonogiri regency, Central Java, has managed to turn his drought-prone village into a groundwater-rich region by leading a campaign to replant trees on a nearby hill
Kaustubh Radkar India’s Ironman Triathlete.
Being a Doctor what made you take up the Ironman Challenge?Ironman happened for me in early 2008, couple of my friends In Boulder, Colorado had returned earlier from an Ironman event,
J80 AFTON CUP 2018 at RMYC
The Royal Madras Yacht Club estd 1911 is located inside the Chennai Harbour and has been producing international and national medallists making India proud. The Club is the first one in South India to be recognized as an Accredited
How do I find my way while sailing?
When you start sailing, you’ll navigate by looking where you want to go, and keep going there. Some people spend their whole sailing careers that way. But it’s a good idea to learn basic navigation – to be able
Biking – The Spirit of Riding
Four Wheels Move the Body. . . Two Wheels Move the Soul!” – This adage goes well with the boys of any city who grew up on bikes!Today any big city has these bunch of progressive bikers who come from
Beginners Sailing Tips!
New to sailing? Let us help you master the basics with these handy sailing tips and instructions for beginners. You can also read a sailboat buying guide and watch videos on sailing, plus compare sailboat brands to find the right one for you.
Anything is Possible!
In 1978, U.S. Naval Commander John Collins and his wife Judy issued a challenge. They proposed combining Oahu’s 2.4 mile swim race, 112 mile bike race and 26.2 mile marathon. On February 18, 1978 fifteen competitors,
Ajeet Bajaj – Adventurer and Explorer
First Indian skier to complete the Polar Trilogy of North Pole, South Pole and Greenland. There is almost no adventure activity that Ajeet hasn’t pursued. Certainly, one would have to search hard to find another chap with a
A day at the cleanest village in Asia Mawlynnong, Meghalaya
Mawlynnong won the status of being the cleanest village in Asia, in 2003.I have lived my entire life in an urban jungle. The opportunity to get away to the mountains and stay at a village for a night was like a cherry on the cake.
20 Backpackers Hostels In India That Every Traveller Should Know.
Low on budget but love travelling? Step aside, hotels from the days of yore! With crunched timelines and the high costs of hotel bookings, backpackers’ hostels in India are growing to be a very popular concept among
11 Indian Triathlon Athletes Who Have Won The Ironman Title
The internet basically lost its composure entirely when 50-year-old Milind Soman managed to complete the Ironman triathlon at Zurich earlier this year. It was partly his age and partly his celebrity status that got him to collect the
10 Nautical & Sailing Terms To Know!
Terms used in sailing confusing you? We’ve compiled this short list of 10 beginners. sailing terms that everyone should know. If you’re just learning how to sail, these handy terms can provide a helpful overview
7 Helpful tips on how to pack for a long Motorbike Ride
1.Create A SystemHaving a system will help you save a lot of time during your bike journey as you will know
exactly where the thing you need is and you can get it whenever and wherever you need it. Compartmentalization
Personal Anchors for Climbing
A personal anchor system allows you to secure yourself at the anchor stations during single pitch climbs or multi pitches. While using a PAS (Personal Anchor System) you can secure yourself by building a SRENE (Strong Equalised Redundant Efficient No Extension) anchor
Wingsuit Flying Record in India
An Indian will attempt a High Altitude Wingsuit Flight from an altitude of 20,000 feet and fly as far & as long as possible till he opens his parachute at 4,000 feet.He will use a Hot Air Balloon to reach the altitude of 20,000 feet and DRDO is supporting by provisioning High Altitude survival equipment (Oxygen system) through Defence Bio-Engineering and Electro-Medical
Laboratory (DEBEL).This, first of its kind attempt in India, will establish four new Asian records in Wingsuit Flying1. Longes
Wild Encounters – Bandhavgarh
When I was invited recently to be a part of the Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart,I had a tough choice to make – to visitany one of the two famed National parks of the state – Bandhavgarh or Kanha.I finally decided on the former and soon I found myself outside the Park on a chilly morning on the last day of October. In spite of having been on numerous safaris for the last 13 years, tigers had still remained elusive to my sight.The safari I did before this in Madhya Pradesh’s Pench was a no show as far
Waging war on the poaching trade
Hero dogs skydiving 7,500 ft out of helicopter into danger zones to snare hunters slaughtering elephants and rhinos in the African bush. Sounds right out of a script from Hollywood, doesn’t it?Conservationists waging war on the multi-million pound poaching trade have employed a new breed of operatives to help them catch poaching criminals.Equipped with goggles, harnesses, muzzles and earmuffs, dogs are being trained to skydive from 7,500ft into danger zones and snare poachers.Giant, Killer, Ve
Adventure Rock Hill opens for visitors
The ‘Adventure Rock Hill’ at Jatayupara Nature Park, Kerala’s first build operate transfer (BOT) model eco-tourism project rechristened as Jatayu Earth’s Center, is now open for travellers and visitors. It covers four hills at Chadayamangalam in the Kollam district, and the park will be fully operational by April 2018.This Rock Hill will be open for groups of 10-100 people, with an entry fee of Rs 3,500 per person. This adventure zone provides over 20 different games including paintball, archer
Sea lions unique adaptation in Galapagos coast
A stounding footage of the Galapagos sea lions hunting was perhaps the highlight of the latest Blue Planet II. For the first time ever, these marine mammals were filmed working as a pack to drive tuna fish in to shallow and rocky waters where they could be caught. The Yellowfin tuna generally possess the ability to swim faster than most predators, except the fastest sharks and the marlins. However,the much slower sea lions were able to outsmart them thanks to an amazing display of movement and c
Road to London 2018
After the tremendous success of our epic Road To London 2017 journey, the launch of Road To London 2018 has taken place due to popular demand. On this overwhelmingdrive, you will cross multiple international borders every few days.
Orangutan Rehabilitation at Samboja Lestari Orangutan Project
Earlier this month we received news that five orangutans were going to be released into the wild from the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Project in Borneo. The releases were found to be successful as the resident volunteer coordinator Kate was on scene to witness the whole release process. Kate has written about her experience on the release, so let’s see what happened!The Build Up To The ReleaseHaving worked alongside the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BosF) for the last 2 half years at Sam
Mathsya Mela 2017 Bangalore – An Exhibition of Ornamental Fish & Accessories
In conversation with Dr. T Mahesh, Deputy Director and Dr. Ramacharya, Joint Director, Dept. of Fisheries, Govt. of Karnataka. at Mathsya Mela 2017 held at the Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, Bangalore.A&W: What is the purpose of having an ornamental fish exhibition?Dr. Mahesh: In this age of stress caused by work pressures, traffic, pollution and competition, people need to have ways to relax. Having an aquarium at home is a great stress buster as spending time in front of an aquarium and taking car
Knots for Climbing
Unless you’re an expert who gets off on the knowledge of ‘thousands of knots’ and hitches, knowing a handful of them will suffice for your entire rock climbing career. The important factor is to understand the appropriate application of knots and hitches, rather than knowing a wide variety of them. The essential knots required and its use in specific scenarios has been listed below, for avid rock climbers and adventure enthusiasts.Tie in knotsTie in knots come in handy when you need to tie the
Aboriginal owners ban climbing Australia’s sacred Red Rock (AYERS Rock)
As the first rays of sunlight hit Uluru, Australia’s most famous rock of sandstone glows a deep scarlet red against the orange-blue sky. This beautiful monolith has visitors from all over the world coming to climb its pinnacle. However,from October next year climbing the big red rock, that has become the global icon of the Australian Outback, is said to be banned.The decision to impose such a ban was taken unanimously by the Board Members of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The outlawing of this
History of Climbing Around Bangalore
The history of Bangalore’s Rock Climbing tradition can be dated back to the 1960’s. The early pioneers Govind Raju from Mysore, establisher of the Deccan Mountaineering League and Usha Ramaiah co-founder of the Karnataka Mountaineering Association, set the foundation for rock climbing. To climb difficult routes, technical climbing gear is critical. The acquisition of this gear, although still expensive, was prohibited in those days.EVOLUTION OF TECHNICAL ROCK CLIMBINGHowever, in the 1980s, a co
GETHNAA – General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure
MissionThe ‘General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure’, is helping in developing a spirit of adventure amongst the people of Karnataka.They provide sports related activities at various centres around the beautiful state. This enables great ways in which people can understand the environment, experience what nature has to offer and satisfy their inner adventurist!GETHNAA currently has four centers.Badami – Rock Climbing CentreSituated at a distance of 510kms fromBangalore, Badami has arou
‘Aanchal Thakur’ – India’s 1st International Medal Winner in Skiing
The 21year-old, Aanchal Thakur clinched the bronze in the coveted Alpine Ejder 3200 Cup Federation International Ski Race (FIS) at Turkey in January. She won the medal in the Slalom race category.“Months of training have finally borne fruit. I started well and managed to take a good lead, which helped later in getting the third-place finish,” Aanchal told the press from Turkey. Her feat is special given that there is no culture or even infrastructure for winter sports in India. Also, those par
Friedi Kühne Free Solos 110 Meter Highline
The year 2017 has been quite an year for free soloing. On September 19th, just a few months after Alex Honnold completed the first free solo climb of El Capitan, the German slack liner Friedi Kühne set a new record for the longest free solo highline ever recorded by walking a 110-meter long line suspended roughly 200 meters above the ground in the Verdon Gorge, he beat all records in the South of France. To set the new benchmark, Kühne had to best the previous world record of a 72 meter highlin
A Kill in the Kabini!
It was a morning during the monsoons, the best time to drive through the lush green forest. This season is very challenging for a big cat sighting. Yet, just 30 minutes into the drive, we spotted a calm, young and healthy leopard sitting by the track. A few scars of territorial fights were visible on his face and neck, as he looked very focused and was unperturbed by the presence of humans.The foliage with the leopard amidst the greenery, gave us a great opportunity to take excellent habitat sho
Basic Rock-Climbing equipment
Rope The climbing rope is the main component of a safety system. Modern nylon climbing ropes use a ‘Kernmantle’ design, meaning they have a thick ‘kern’ or core, providing most of the strength, plus a thin ‘mantle’ or sheath, to protect the core.Webbing Webbing is a strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube of varying width and fibres, often used in place of rope. It is a versatile component used in climbing & slack-lining.Climbing Shoes A climbing shoe is a specialized type of footwear des
ATOAI – Celebrating 2018 as ‘The Year of Adventure Tourism’.
On the behest of Adventure Tour Operators Association of Inda (ATOAI), the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) has announced the year 2018 as ‘The Year of Adventure Tourism’. The Association will spearhead various activities across the country to promote adventure travel to celebrate the year of adventure tourism. “The goal is to double the adventure travel in the country in the next two years.” Said Capt. Swadesh Kumar – President ATOAI.For the past few years, the focus of ATOAI has created widespread
4×4 Adventure Expedition Kashmir 2017
Kashmir Expeditions & Events organized the 4×4 Adventure Expedition, a first of its kind, followed by a Snow AutoCross Race. It roped in 4×4 enthusiasts from in and outside the valley as part of the glorious event. Having commenced on December 23rd it continued till December 26th, as announced at the press conference held at Hotel Comrade Inn, Rajbagh in the presence of:Mr. Sanjay Razdan – An avid car racer, a leader of cross country rallying, winner of the 19th edition of Raid de Himalaya held
Assam – Man-Animal Conflict increases
Data collected by conservationists has revealed that 40 elephants have died in Assam in the last 100 days. All of them have been killed due to unnatural causes, with the primary reason being mowing down by moving trains, electrocution, poisoning and accidental falls in ditches especially near tea garden areas.Since back in the day, herds of elephants have been regularly invading human settlements in search of food, thereby damaging houses and crops in the process. As a result, incidents of man-a
The Race of a Lifetime
Abhilash Tomy, the first Indian to do a solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe, is preparing for a bigger challenge in 2018.Commander Abhilash Tomy is not afraid to be alone at sea. “Solitude in itself causes me no turmoil,” he says,
Arunachal’s Anshu Jamsenpa The first woman to scale Mt Everest twice in 5 days
Arunachal Pradesh mountaineer Anshu Jamsenpa has recently become the world’s first woman to scale Mt. Everest twice in five days.Her ascent of the world’s tallest peak in the mighty Himalayas at 7.45 am on 21st May 2017 was her fifth ascent of the Everest overall, and the second after May 16.
Adventure Tour Operators Association of India 13th Annual Convention held at Kumarakom
Making India the Adventure Capital of the World* India is the only country in the world that offers every possible adventure activity.*ATOAI (Adventure Tour Operators Association of India) has taken upon itself to develop and market India as the adventure capital of the world.*
The Jaguars of Pantanal
While Amazon gets all the attention, the Pantanal is undoubtedly the best place on earth to spot Jaguars in the wild, the dense foliage of the Amazon makes it difficult to observe the animals, unlike the open marshes of the Pantanal and these marshes are home to some
A Life in the day of a Snake Eagle
A Short Toed Snake Eagle is a resident of most parts of the Indian Subcontinent. It is more popularly known as ‘The Snake Slayer’. It preys on reptiles, mainly snakes. It spots its prey either by hovering at a great height or by watching from a nearby vantage point such as a tall tree.
Karnataka Darshana Cycle Expedition
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, 52 Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) personnel embarked on a two-week 1,700-km cycling expedition.During the cyclothon, named “Karnataka Darshan,” the policemen pedaled imported bicycles, spreading message about Swachh Bharat.
A Racey Morris Major!
Who said boys should have all the fun, right? This Bengalurean lass has a mind of her own and a list of achievements including first runner-up Ladies Open Class at the CEAT Sprint Rally 2017 & second runner-up Ladies Open Class at Maruti Suzuki Dakshin Dare 2017.
Photography Contest 2017
Theme : Elephants of IndiaAdventure & Wildlife Magazine held a photography exhibition on the occasion of World Elephant Day on 12th Aug 2017 at Honeycomb Art Gallery, Koramangala, Bangalore.The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr. Shafeeque K A, Co-Founder and Director of Honeycomb Art Gallery in the presence of Dr. Simha Shastry, Editor & Publisher, Adventure & Wildlife magazine and other stake holders.Nearly 75 entries were received from the photographer fraternity across the country, out of wh
Six women in a boat
A strong breeze blows across the placid Mandovi river bay in Goa as Lt. Cdr. Vartika Joshi expertly steers INSV (Indian Navy sailing vessel) Tarini towards the Mandovi jetty. Joshi’s all-woman crew is at their respective work stations as the gleaming white sailing vessel sails majestically towards the coast
Mesmerising Manas!
Ranjit Mondal, of Svasara Resorts, an avid Wildlife enthusiast, visits the mystical ranges of the Manas National Park during a month long vacation to his hometown Guwahati. After a week in the hustle-bustle of the city, his yearning for the wilderness led him to Manas.
Fitness is a way of life!
Actress Sangeeta Bijlani talks to our Editor Dr. Simha Shastry during the 5k walkathon organised by Sri Krishna Wellness, Yoga & Cultural Centre, to raise funds for students of Ashwini Charitable Trust.Dr. Simha: Hi Sangeeta, so fitness is a way of life to you.Sangeeta Bijlani: Yes, for me Fitness is a way of life, I can’t think of a life without exercise. Not just that, Yoga, Pranayama & Meditation is also part of my life. It is a way of being. I’ve been doing it for many many years. Exercise
The Mountain Gorilla
Mountain gorillas are found in three countries Uganda, Rwanda & Democratic Republic of Congo. The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is one of the two subspecies of the eastern gorilla. There are two populations. One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa,
Kopal Goyal – Adventure Photographer, Climber & Filmmaker
Kopal Goyal – the first Indian female adventure sport photographer, and a Climber. Kopal Specializes in taking photos and Videos of the sport of Climbing.Born in 1992, Kopal Goyal completed her basic schooling in Ranchi. After Schooling, She did her graduation in Mass communication,
MV Mahabaahu
The ship MV Mahabaahu is India’s only five star ship with a very large common space area.The Mighty Brahmaputra river which is rated as amongst the top ten major rivers of the world flows in from Tibet and the Himalayan ranges to flood the valley of Assam and an entire nation of Bangladesh.
