Paragliding World Cup: Time to fly in the mountains

“We make you fly,” read posters as you touch down at Gaggal airport in Dharamshala. The serene, beautiful state of Himachal Pradesh is playing host to the AAI Paragliding World Cup and even though it’s a sport far removed from the minds and hearts of Indians who thrive on cricket and English football, for the localites here it is the “biggest event” they have witnessed.

Taxi drivers, shopkeepers, the little lamas, everyone knows why you are here. “To watch people fly,” they say.

The pilots are a lively lot every morning as they gather at the base station, Bir, 70 kms away from Dhamshala.

The take-off site at Billing offers a breathtaking view. Snow covered mountains, clear blue skies and plenty of sunshine and wind. In 33 minutes, all 117 pilots take off ready for the day’s task. Soon, the sky is filled with tiny ribbons of yellow, green, blue, orange and purple as the pilots await the go ahead to begin.

“Would you like to fly madam ” asks the organiser. “What better!” I reply with enthusiasm and a tandem flight is arranged.

For someone uninitiated into aero sport, it can be quite a task. There are technicalities to keep in mind. The take off is from an elevated position, usually the top of a hill or mountain and one needs to keep running unless the feet are off the ground.

“Are you ready ” asks my pilot and I nod. “Just run when I say. Don’t think too much, just run and don’t sit back unless I am in the air,” are his precise instructions.

We wait till the wind is strong — which is a good 10 minutes — and then I hear “run”. The equipment is heavy and I try my best It is a little scary and in excitement and fear, I forget the vital part: Not to sit on the harness until the pilot’s feet are off the ground too!

Result: We crash, just at the take off point.

It takes another 10 minutes to get things in order and the pilot repeats his instructions. “Please keep running even if you cannot feel the ground beneath your feet. I will take care of your safety.”

This time, I make no mistake and off we go above the mountains, flying through the Dhauladhar range of the lower Himalayas. It’s incredible looking down, floating above the valleys suspended by nothing but a canopy and a harness.

“Madam, open you arms like a bird and feel the wind. Haven’t you seen Titanic ” says the pilot. I smile and do as he says.

Arms stretched, I close my eyes and soak in the experience. All at once, it makes the world feel tiny. Up there in the sky, nothing matters. It’s pure serenity and nature.

No sound, no thoughts. It’s just you and the vastness of the universe.

My concentration is broken when I hear a mobile ring. How on earth is that possible here, I wonder and realise it’s the pilot’s phone. “Are you getting network here ” I ask and he laughs heartily. “Yes madam, we have made good arrangements.”

We take a 360-degree turn and Yashpal, my pilot, shows me a few more aerobatics before we begin the descent. The landing is quite smooth and soon we are among the sea of colours and humans, and back to reality!

They do make you fly here.