Kalimpong Paragliding - Kalimpong back on adventurer’s radar

Kalimpong, March 20.TT: An earlier attempt to introduce paragliding as part of adventure tourism in Kalimpong didn’t quite take off, but the steely resolve of a former army commando could well see the thrilling sport taking wing this time round.

Prashant Rana, who retired from the army in 2009, is awaiting permission to start paragliding on a commercial basis. The 38-year-old will have two gliders at his disposal to fly tourists and local people.

The flying machines will take off from Deolo, 5km from here, and descend into various spots nearby. The football ground of Dr Graham’s Homes, barely a kilometre away, and Relli, some 10km away, are some of the landing points. The gliders will touch down at Pudung, close to Relli, too.

Rana has set up Tez Tours and Travels to conduct tandem flights for tourists and local people alike. Tandem flight involves a well-trained and experienced pilot flying with a passenger. Both have separate harnesses that are attached to each other and the wing. The passenger has to simply sit on a harness in front of the pilot, who does all the manoeuvring.

“A passenger only has to relax and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the town and the beautiful scenery around,” said Rana.

The ex-armyman took to paragliding in 2001 and worked as a paragliding instructor in the army for three years. Rana and his friend from Himachal Pradesh with years of experience in paragliding will fly the gliders in Kalimpong.

“With the help and blessings of everybody, I hope to make a success of my venture. We have plans to charge Rs 2,500 per flight from tourists, while the minimum fare for local people will be Rs 500,” said Rana.

He added that the fares would be same for all flights irrespective of distance.

Bimal Gazmer, the assistant director of the DGHC’s tourism department, said Rana deserved praise for his effort to introduce paragliding in Kalimpong. “A European had introduced paragliding here (in 2009) on his own, but for some reason, it did not prove successful. I think the best way forward is to start the sport in a professional manner like we have done with rafting in the Teesta. All 25 rafting units have got licence issued by us,” he said.

Gazmer said documents seeking permission for Rana’s mission had been sent to the district administration. “Once the permission is received, he can start commercial flights,” he added.