Sir Edmund Hillary, the great Everester, who's thirst for adventure had proved enduring and never-ending, had found Rajasthan ideal for undertaking a journey on a camel caravan. It was an unusual way to choose to cross the arid Thar desert. And, following in his footsteps, one can re-live the adventure.
Fortunately, one can choose from a number of adventure sports options. Relax with golf, go vintage, or practice archery, go boating - in the Chambal river through the gorges of the Vindhayan plateau of Hadoti, or, go up in the air, for a bit of aerial sightseeing over heritage cities by small aircraft or in hot air balloons.
The terrain in Rajasthan is tailor-made for most adventure sports, what with its Aravalli and Vindhayan hills, the open desert tracts, the vast lakes and rivers, the wildlife parks, and little villages abandoned by the march of civilization as is known, but no less hospitable for it. And threading these together, a landscape where the paths and trails weave through a history rich with forts and palaces, mansions and cenotaphs. And a culture that binds these together into a fascinating journey. Just spot and sport it out.
POLO
Rajputs have been keen equestrian and they take to the horses like a fish to water. Their taking to polo in big way was only natural. Their association with polo dates back to the Mughal period and miniature paintings at the Mehrangarh Fort bear testimony to this early introduction to the game. However, Polo did not become a passion until the British period when it 
became a natural and a marvelous peacetime pursuit.
It was in 1889, when the colourful Prime Minister of Jodhpur, Sir Pratap Singh invited the Bengal Lancers to raise the Jodhpur Lancers; Polo was introduced to Jodhpur in its current modern form. Three years later Jodhpur raised its Polo Team, which won many accolades home and abroad. In 1897, when Sir Pratap travelled to London for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, he took his polo team along, amongst the very first Indian teams to travel abroad, and, for that matter, foreign teams to defeat England and create history. They won many matches there, at Hurlingham and Ranelagh, and returned with their reputation enhanced; the finest Indian team during those years. Rajasthan produced many great polo players, which include Sir Partap Singh, Rao Raja Hanut Singh, Thakur Hari Singh and the colourful Maharaja Man Singh II of Jaipur, who took over the pride of Jodhpur as an inevitable gift by being the suave son in law of Jodhpur. Thus the best of the players and the finest of the polo ponies were shifted to the royal house of Jaipur. The rest is history.
This super premium category sport still thrives in Rajasthan and has seen a quantum jump in its popularity as a life style sport. It has attracted attention from corporate houses for sponsorship. It has also attracted interest of the Prime Minister of India, many celebrities and the army. Today, polo is not just restricted to the royalty and the Indian Army, many companies and firms too patronise the sport. Polo facilities are on the rise and polo holidays in India too are in vogue, especially in Rajasthan.
The superb synchronization between man and his horse, the amazing speed, the brute power, with the backdrop of the green arena makes for the most exclusive and glorious sport of all. Rajasthan also gave the game its Royal Tradition with patronage of the Maharajas, which earns it the nickname 'The Game of Kings-The King of Games'. Rajasthan still stages exciting Polo games and is a treat for the tourist who watch this game that demands extreme physical and mental condition.
Kite flying
The people of Rajasthan have adopted different sporting events over the years, and these have provided a great deal of variety to their lives. Interestingly, there is an eclectic quality to these sporting events that can range from more sophisticated sports such as golf to the well-known Rajasthani's passion for kite-flying.
The passion for kite-flying in Jaipur is legendary, and every city has community clubs where the sport is ardently practiced. Every city skyline is alive with kites during the early morning and evening, and sometimes even during the day. Children gather at rooftops to compete both their prowess as well as the resilience of their strings. Makar Sankranti on 14th of January is when the sport of kite flying is almost endemic, with an International Kite Flying Competition in Jaipur and Jodhpur, while the monsoon period is another favourite. However, but for a brief spell during the peak months of summer, kite flying continues throughout the year.
Visitors can participate through the simple process of buying colourful kites and string inexpensively for only a few rupees and joining the Rajasthani people at what could almost qualify as the state festival.
Water sports
Water sports may appear an alien concept in Rajasthan b
ut the presence of large lakes has actually made the development of such sports possible. Even though they are not popular yet, the opportunities exist, a fact that was brought home when the water games during the prestigious Asian Games in 1982 were held at Jamua Ramgarh on the outskirts of Jaipur.
STEAMER RIDES: Facilities like Kayaking and water scooter, etc. can be made available.
BOATING: Regular boating is offered at several places in Rajasthan, whether on the lakes in Udaipur, or at places such as Siliserh near Alwar. Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation has made paddle boats available at a number of lakes.
WATER- SKIING: This is a new sport in the arena. An upcoming added sport for visitors.
ANGLING: For the angler, Rajasthan's lakes and streams teem with game fish. The fishing expeditions can be undertaken with appropriate licenses in most of the lakes in Rajasthan. Expensive angling equipment is difficult to hire locally, and thus is recommended to carry your own rod.
Camping
Camping is a fine art in Rajasthan with established camps in set locations that would be fit for royalty. Especially created tents include those with bedrooms, a small hallway or leisure area, and attached bath.
These tents use hand-block printed fabrics within the interiors, to create a rich ambience. Such tented camps can be found at places like Samode Bagh, an hour's journey outside Jaipur, or at Pushkar for the duration of the fair in November. However, such tents can also be hired, and agents use them to create cities wherever required; or for moving visitors to different places, where these tents are pegged each night. Such camping expeditions bring the outdoors alive, albeit in style. From the food to the entertainment, everything takes on a more exciting edge while at camp.
became a natural and a marvelous peacetime pursuit.It was in 1889, when the colourful Prime Minister of Jodhpur, Sir Pratap Singh invited the Bengal Lancers to raise the Jodhpur Lancers; Polo was introduced to Jodhpur in its current modern form. Three years later Jodhpur raised its Polo Team, which won many accolades home and abroad. In 1897, when Sir Pratap travelled to London for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, he took his polo team along, amongst the very first Indian teams to travel abroad, and, for that matter, foreign teams to defeat England and create history. They won many matches there, at Hurlingham and Ranelagh, and returned with their reputation enhanced; the finest Indian team during those years. Rajasthan produced many great polo players, which include Sir Partap Singh, Rao Raja Hanut Singh, Thakur Hari Singh and the colourful Maharaja Man Singh II of Jaipur, who took over the pride of Jodhpur as an inevitable gift by being the suave son in law of Jodhpur. Thus the best of the players and the finest of the polo ponies were shifted to the royal house of Jaipur. The rest is history.
This super premium category sport still thrives in Rajasthan and has seen a quantum jump in its popularity as a life style sport. It has attracted attention from corporate houses for sponsorship. It has also attracted interest of the Prime Minister of India, many celebrities and the army. Today, polo is not just restricted to the royalty and the Indian Army, many companies and firms too patronise the sport. Polo facilities are on the rise and polo holidays in India too are in vogue, especially in Rajasthan.
The superb synchronization between man and his horse, the amazing speed, the brute power, with the backdrop of the green arena makes for the most exclusive and glorious sport of all. Rajasthan also gave the game its Royal Tradition with patronage of the Maharajas, which earns it the nickname 'The Game of Kings-The King of Games'. Rajasthan still stages exciting Polo games and is a treat for the tourist who watch this game that demands extreme physical and mental condition.
Kite flying
The people of Rajasthan have adopted different sporting events over the years, and these have provided a great deal of variety to their lives. Interestingly, there is an eclectic quality to these sporting events that can range from more sophisticated sports such as golf to the well-known Rajasthani's passion for kite-flying.
The passion for kite-flying in Jaipur is legendary, and every city has community clubs where the sport is ardently practiced. Every city skyline is alive with kites during the early morning and evening, and sometimes even during the day. Children gather at rooftops to compete both their prowess as well as the resilience of their strings. Makar Sankranti on 14th of January is when the sport of kite flying is almost endemic, with an International Kite Flying Competition in Jaipur and Jodhpur, while the monsoon period is another favourite. However, but for a brief spell during the peak months of summer, kite flying continues throughout the year.
Visitors can participate through the simple process of buying colourful kites and string inexpensively for only a few rupees and joining the Rajasthani people at what could almost qualify as the state festival.
Water sports
Water sports may appear an alien concept in Rajasthan b
ut the presence of large lakes has actually made the development of such sports possible. Even though they are not popular yet, the opportunities exist, a fact that was brought home when the water games during the prestigious Asian Games in 1982 were held at Jamua Ramgarh on the outskirts of Jaipur.STEAMER RIDES: Facilities like Kayaking and water scooter, etc. can be made available.
BOATING: Regular boating is offered at several places in Rajasthan, whether on the lakes in Udaipur, or at places such as Siliserh near Alwar. Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation has made paddle boats available at a number of lakes.
WATER- SKIING: This is a new sport in the arena. An upcoming added sport for visitors.
ANGLING: For the angler, Rajasthan's lakes and streams teem with game fish. The fishing expeditions can be undertaken with appropriate licenses in most of the lakes in Rajasthan. Expensive angling equipment is difficult to hire locally, and thus is recommended to carry your own rod.
Camping
Camping is a fine art in Rajasthan with established camps in set locations that would be fit for royalty. Especially created tents include those with bedrooms, a small hallway or leisure area, and attached bath.
These tents use hand-block printed fabrics within the interiors, to create a rich ambience. Such tented camps can be found at places like Samode Bagh, an hour's journey outside Jaipur, or at Pushkar for the duration of the fair in November. However, such tents can also be hired, and agents use them to create cities wherever required; or for moving visitors to different places, where these tents are pegged each night. Such camping expeditions bring the outdoors alive, albeit in style. From the food to the entertainment, everything takes on a more exciting edge while at camp.
