Page 728 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

726  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES &

SPECIALIST HOLIDAYS

India offers a wide range of sporting and offer a memorable way to explore the
outdoor activities. The larger cities have Rajasthan desert. For the more spiritually
facilities for golf, tennis, swimming and inclined, there are yoga and meditation
riding. Winter (Oct–Feb) is the main season centres, and opportunities to spend time
for sports, such as polo and cricket. For the with renowned gurus at their ashrams. An
more adventurous, there are treks in the increasing number of visitors are attracted
Himalayas, tiger tracking in India’s many by India’s Ayurvedic health spas, and other
wildlife parks, and a choice of rivers for holistic healing centres, which emphasize
white-water rafting. Camel or horse safaris nature-based treatments.
Spectator Sports
residents are allowed to use League, an IPL-style tennis
Indians are cricket-crazy and hotel pools for a fee. In North tournament played in multiple
grab at any chance to watch India, outdoor pools close in countries, with the Indian leg
or play the game. Through the winter. Beach resorts have pools held in December. Matches
year, world-class teams tour the as well as access to beaches. involve tennis legends such as
country and test matches and Before swimming in the sea, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer,
one-day internationals are held check with the lifeguard that who play in Delhi.
in cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, it is safe. Swimming and sun-
Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, bathing in the nude are strictly Golf
Kanpur and many other prohibited. Major cities have
so-called Tier-2 cities. The Indian government- and privately-run A vast network of clubs with
Premier League (IPL), a clubs that offer tennis, squash well-maintained courses
Twenty20 cricket competition, and swimming facilities. Non- has made India a popular
has made the sport even more members are allowed in for a fee. destination for golfers. The
popular. Announcements of Hotels offer grass- or hard- Royal Calcutta Golf Club was
match schedules and ticket court tennis facilities and can set up as early as 1829, and was
details appear in the national also arrange games at certain followed by others in Raj-era
and local newspapers. local clubs, especially in the hill stations, tea estates and
Football does not have the larger cities. India joined the cantonments. Exclusive golf
high profile that cricket enjoys, Davis Cup fraternity in 1921, and resorts such as the ITC Classic
but in certain places, such as has hosted the event numerous Resort near Manesar, designed
Kolkata, Goa and Kerala, it is times. The RK Khanna Tennis by the international golfer Jack
as popular. The game creates Stadium also organizes Nicklaus, are much frequented,
great hysteria in Kolkata, and tournaments. Among India’s especially by top executives,
professional clubs such as pride are Leander Paes, Mahesh who like to combine a round
Mohun Bagan and its rival Bhupathi and Sania Mirza. All of golf with negotiating
team East Bengal have mass three are multiple Grand Slam business deals.
followings. Check the local winners in either the singles The Indian Golf Union in
press for matches in the city. or mixed-doubles categories. Kolkata organizes a choice
The Indian Super League (ISL), Mahesh is the founder of the of activities, ranging from
played in the second half of International Premier Tennis international events to leisurely
the year, is gaining popularity.
It has football teams owned by
millionaires and business houses,
with a mix of Indian and famous
former international players.
IPL-style leagues have started
for badminton and kabaddi.
Hockey, although a national
passion, is not yet big enough
to attract international events.

Swimming and Tennis
All five-star hotels have
excellent swimming pools with
attached fitness centres. Non- A golfer beneath the ramparts of Jaipur’s Moti Doongri Fort

726-729_EW_India.indd 726 26/04/17 11:55 am