Cricket, the great popular sport
For European malicious tongues, it would be so boring that the British would never have succeeded in exporting it anywhere other than their colonies! India played its first official match against England in 1932. After its second World Cup victory (in 2011), created in 1975, it ranks second in the number of victories behind Australia (5). A semi-finalist at the last edition in 2019, India will host the next World Cup in autumn 2023. Cricket is even more enthusiastic in India than soccer is in France - it's a real passion! And, since the 1980s, the sport has also helped to ease relations between India and Pakistan, another famous national team. Some political scientists even speak of "cricket diplomacy".
Field hockey, a national sport
Field field hockey was introduced to India by the British. India played for the first time at the Amsterdam Olympics in 1928. A national sport, field hockey brought India a string of Olympic gold medals (8 gold). Between 1928 and 1956, the country broke all records, winning 6 consecutive gold medals, scoring 178 goals and conceding just 7. The last field field hockey World Cup was held in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela in January 2023, and India was eliminated in the Round of 16 by New Zealand.
A land of badminton
Badminton is the direct descendant of poona, an Indian racket game played by officers of the British Empire in the 1860s. It is played indoors, on a court 13.40 m long and 5.18 m wide, with lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock. Although the competitions are largely dominated by neighboring China, this Olympic sport has won three medals, one silver and two bronze, for the Indian delegation. India will host the 30th World Championships in 2026.
Kabaddi, an age-old sport
It's a popular team sport in India, but also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Southeast Asia, Japan and Iran. Over 4,000 years old, kabaddi is a popular team sport in rural India. It comes from a Hindi word meaning "to hold one's breath", an important action in the sport itself. It's a kind of "dodgeball" between two teams of seven men who compete on a field.
Discovering yoga
The country is steeped in two different philosophies, each encompassing very different currents of practice. There are the stika philosophies, which recognize the authority of the Vedas such as Hinduism, and those that reject them. The aim of yoga teaching is to achieve liberation from the conditioning that generates suffering. The yoga practitioner is called a yogi. There are two distinct forms of yoga: Hatha Yoga and Bhakti Yoga.
Hatha Yoga consists in the practice of specific exercises, the aim of which is to strengthen the mastery of body and mind until the liberation of a higher consciousness. Yoga as we know it in the West is a derivative form, often stripped of its spiritual substance.
Bhakti Yoga consists in the adoration and devotional worship of a personal god. Its founder, Basava, rejected the supremacy of Brahmins and the caste system. The practice of Bhakti is immediately accessible to all.
Farniente and water sports
Since the 1970s, seaside tourism has developed, especially in Goa, but also in Kovalam, in Kerala. You'll find large beaches lined with coconut palms in the north and south of the state of Goa, but also in Gokarna and northern Kerala. The beaches of Mamallapuram and Varkala are among the most popular in South India, and are a must-see. Here you can enjoy all kinds of water sports: surfing, paddleboarding, jet-skiing, water-skiing, wakeboarding, parasailing and towed buoys.
Unforgettable dives
Off the coast of Goa, you'll discover a number of underwater wonders, including reef sharks, turtles and a host of multicolored fish. Particularly around the few shipwrecks that lie in the depths.
But if you're a diving enthusiast on a budget, you'll want to head for the Andaman Islands. In the archipelago, Havelock Island is THE paradise for divers and snorkelers. You can take your tanks to Pilot Reef to observe corals, Nemo Reef for its corals and multicolored fish, or Jackson Bar for sharks, rays and turtles. Also worth mentioning are South Button for deep dives and geological formations, and Minerva's Delight. On a more original note, some dive centers can take you to Barren Island (80 km away) to witness the spectacle of the ash spewing into the sea from the country's only active volcano. As for snorkelling, the most popular spots are Elephant Beach and Le Phare.
Also worth mentioning is the isolated Lakshadweep archipelago off the coast of Kerala and just above the Maldives. It comprises some 30 islands, barely a dozen of which are inhabited, and offers superb diving with excellent visibility down to 40-50 meters. Ideal for encountering the white-tip sharks, clownfish and manta rays that inhabit these waters.
On land, nature activities
On land, you can discover sumptuous landscapes by trekking through the jungle or tea plantations, particularly in Tamil Nadu, Kerala or Karnataka. Karnataka also offers a number of climbing possibilities for the keen climber: don't hesitate to visit Golden Boulders in Hampi, who will be able to advise you according to your level. If you're looking for more adrenaline, you'll also find some rafting and paragliding opportunities.
Whatever your chosen activity, you'll find an extraordinary number of local agencies. Make sure you check the professionalism of the company, the equipment and the instructors.
