By Scheduled to recommence paragliding operations in Darjeeling from the second week of April, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) is reviving adventure tourism in the region, which had been halted since 2017 due to the Gorkhaland agitation. Dawa Sherpa, the chief coordinator of adventure tourism, revealed plans for enhancing facilities and possibly increasing fees in Kalimpong to bolster adventure tourism in the upcoming season. Only registered adventure companies will be eligible to apply for paragliding operations in Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
The paragliding experience in Darjeeling, spanning from St Paul’s to Lebong, offers breathtaking views of the city’s architecture and natural beauty, lasting between 15 to 30 minutes depending on weather conditions. Optimal paragliding conditions prevail from October to March when the weather tends to be predominantly sunny, offering the best visibility of Kanchenjunga.
Sherpa outlined proposals to augment yearly fees to accommodate training, routine inspections, and other operational activities for paragliding companies, stressing the necessity of generating adequate revenue to cover training expenses. “The primary goal is to create employment opportunities for locals rather than depending on pilots from other states,” he emphasized.
Despite a hiatus of seven years, Kalimpong has been offering a similar paragliding experience in recent years. The rides, which last 10 to 15 minutes, have a price of Rs 3,000, with an additional Rs 500 for videography and photography. Longer rides, lasting 20 to 30 minutes, are priced at Rs 5,500, inclusive of videography and photography services.
