The Hindu : Karnataka News : Adventure sports to add glitter to Dasara festivities

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 04, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Adventure sports to add glitter to Dasara festivities

By Our Staff Correspondent

Parasailing is set to be a crowd puller at the Dasara Adventure Sports Festival .

MYSORE, OCT. 3. Fasten your seat belts and take a deep breath.

For, you are about to embark on an exciting journey to the land of caparisoned elephants and illuminated palace for a dash of adventure sports.

Hop on to the hot air balloon or strap yourself to a highflying microlite; dive into the swirling Cauvery or just go afloat a hot air balloon, the action is all here in Mysore.

For, the authorities will launch "Dasara Sahasotsava'' or Dasara Adventure Sports Festival to synchronise with the nine-day cultural extravaganza from October 15.

The organisers said the "adventure sports will encompass many events on land, air and water alike.''

Parasailing

But there is more to aero sports. Parasailing for instance is reckoned to be basic and safest form of aero sports.

Harness yourself to a parasail and take off like a winged beauty from the Mandakalli airport.

Bungee jumping

Hot air ballooning will provide you all the thrills and frills of aero sports, but in comparison is more leisurely.

The venue is the Mysore University Ground.

Here is something new for the first time in Mysore - bungee jumping. Though there are no natural, steep - bordering on vertical - cliffs here, cranes with a hoist will do the trick.

Imagine falling free from 100 feet above the ground only to go up and come down again. Thanks to the bungee cord strapped to your legs from a crane.

The event will be organised at the Mysore University Ground.

Aqua sports

There will be aqua sports at the Kukkarahalli Lake.

Rowing, canoeing, kayaking, coracle, wind surfing, water scooter, motor boat rides and a lot more to choose from. With enough water in the Cauvery can rafting be ignored at the fishing camp near Malavalli, about 85 km from Mysore. All the events will be held from 6.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. under the joint auspices of NOPASANA, a voluntary organisation and GETHNAA (Gen. Thimmaiah National Academy of Adventure Sports and Nature Awareness).

Safety measures

Safety measures will be in place and ambulance with doctors will be posted at the venue just in case there is an emergency.

NCC cadets will be there to regulate the crowd while certified and trained coaches from GETHNAA will guide the participants.

Sports card

The Dasara Sahasotsava Committee will bring out an adventure sports card, which will give access to cardholders to participate in all the events to be organised.

To promote the event, the organisers have lined up freebies, including lucky draws and the winner will get a free ride.

The price of the card is Rs. 2,000 while there are tickets for individual events also.

For more details, contact the Dasara Sahasotsava 2004 Office, Room No. 11, ULC Room, Deputy Commissioner's office, Mysore (Ph. 9448602767), or the Dasara Exhibition Ground Office and the Mysore Palace Office.

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