Sports and leisure activities North India

Budget & Tips

Ecotourism. Treks, hikes, climbing, rafting, paragliding, zip-lining and other activities are available in Himalayan regions and nature reserves. If you're a nature lover, the national parks will bring you into direct contact with the country's lush flora and fauna.

Wellness. You'll find many activities linked to physical, mental and spiritual well-being: yoga, meditation, ayurvedic massages and treatments, ashram retreats... If you're interested in yoga or Ayurveda, many establishments offer training courses, from the most superficial to the most advanced.

What's very local

Cricket. The country's most popular sport! All over the country, you'll find young and old alike enjoying this sport on makeshift pitches (beach, street, wasteland...). Cricket can claim a longer history than any other team game. Historians have attempted to trace its origins back to various ball games, and we know that 250 years ago the game was played in a form very similar to that of today. Hampshire, Surrey and Kent paved the way... Cricket, like field hockey, was introduced to India by the English, and was already being played in the ^18th century. In the early ^19th century, cricket spread to Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. Games began in 1892-1893, between Parsis and Europeans, culminating in the creation of the so-called "Bombay Triangle" tournament, with Hindus forming a team in 1907-1908. In 1912-1913, the tournament became quadrangular with the entry of Muslims. Thanks to the efforts of several princes, the Ranji Trophy came into being in 1935. India played its first official match against England in 1932. India became world champions in 2011. The next edition of the Cricket World Cup will be held in India in 2023.

Kabbadi. This is a very popular traditional Indian game, especially in rural areas, whose origins go back over 4,000 years. Two teams of several men (the rules are not fixed) face each other on a field. One team sends a "hunter" into enemy territory. His aim is to hit an opponent while continuously repeating the word "kabaddi" in a single breath. Once the opponent has been hit, the hunter tries to return to his camp without taking another breath, while the men of the opposing team try to prevent him from doing so by restraining him until he loses his breath. If the hunter fails, he is eliminated. If the hunter returns victorious, the opponent who has been hit leaves the field. In the next round, the roles are reversed. In South India, this game, or rather sport, is better known as "Chedugudu". The popularity of kabaddi has spread far beyond India's borders. A demonstration match took place at the Berlin Olympics in 1936, and a few years later, in 1950, precise rules were introduced. The first clubs were set up in the UK in the late 1960s.

Tourist traps

There is an extraordinary amount of agencies that offer a wide range of activities. At this point, we must warn you, not all of them are serious, some will put you in danger by pure amateurism or incompetence. Take the time to check the professionalism of the company, the equipment and the instructors.