MANALI: Popular tourist hub Manali is preparing to add another milestone to its adventure sports portfolio as it hosts the ‘Paragliding Pre-World Cup’ for the first time from October 5 to October 8. The international competition will feature gliders from across India and several foreign nations displaying aerial maneuvers over the local hills.
Organizers have chosen the world-renowned Solang Nallah as the central base for the four-day championship. Participating pilots will launch from ‘Fatru,’ a take-off site situated approximately 10,000 feet above sea level, before landing in the scenic valleys of Manali.
According to Dev Thakur, President of the Manali Paragliding Association, enthusiasm among participants is high. More than 61 aviators, including four female pilots, have already registered for the event, while the application process remains open for further domestic and international entries.
The primary objective of hosting this international spectacle is to project Manali’s mountains as safe, ideal, and top-tier terrain for high-altitude paragliding. Stakeholders expect the event to give the town a stronger global identity in adventure tourism, building on the reputation established by venues like Bir Billing.
The announcement comes during a temporary hold on regional adventure activities. Due to monsoon conditions and safety regulations, all adventure sports in Kullu district remain suspended until September 15. Once the Tourism Department gives clearance post-September 15, commercial paragliding will resume across nine notified sites in the district, setting the stage for October’s high-profile competition to boost local tourism.
