Climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow…. and the pot of gold is there for the taking, right here in India. This is one country which offers plenty of scope for outdoor activities. Whether it’s climbing or river-running, skiing or para- gliding, snorkelling or windsurfing, India has it all. The Himalayas, stretching in a majestic arc across the northern part of the country, are perfect for trekking and mountaineering; the rivers of the north, tumbling down from the mountains, are excellent for white water rafting. Auli and Narkanda, even if they aren’t as well known as Switzerland, have ski slopes which are worth a run.

Further south, the Sahyadris and the Nilgiris are tailor-made for more relaxed trekking; set up base camp at the picture-pretty towns of Coonoor or Ooty, and strike out on your own- through tea gardens, coffee plantations and forests of fragrant sandalwood. Head for the coast- or for the islands of Andaman & Nicobar and the Lakshadweep, where windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkelling and swimming are just some of the ways of enjoying yourself.

So put on your sneakers, haul on a backpack- and set out to conquer the great wilderness which lies beyond the teeming cities of India. You can be pretty sure to make some interesting discoveries every step along the way.