New adventure winter sport of Zorbing entices tourists in India’s Kashmir

Reuters: Zorbing, a new adventure sport introduced in Gulmarg of India’s Kashmir attracted hordes of tourists to the snow covered picturesque and pristine valley.

Tourists were thrilled with their Zorbing experience, and the weather proved to be an icing on the cake.

Zorbing originated in New Zealand in the twentieth century. In this sport, one rolls down a slope in a large plastic ball known as ‘Zorb’.

The rider is strapped inside the transparent inflatable ball and then pushed from a slope.

While rolling, the Zorb can pick up a speed of 40 km an hour.

The snow Zorbing instructor, Imran Malik said on Wednesday (9 January) that the introduction of many winter activities has attracted many tourists to the town, which would provide an impetus to tourism industry.

“It will provide a boost to tourism in Gulmarg. The tourists when they will come and enjoy the sport will go back and share their experience with their relatives.

“We have many activities including sledge ride, skiing and so on. Earlier, all this things were not available but it has started two to three years back,” said Malik.

Apart from Zorbing, the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) has introduced three snow scooters, which provide a thrilling experience to the visitors.

Gulmarg, at present, provides a picture postcard look with snow-capped mountains, beautiful valleys and miniature wooden cottages, which attract most people to this place.

One of the tourists, Sunita Singh said that the new Zorbing game is attracting large number of children.

“I think it is a great idea and especially for the children. There are several activities for us but the new Zorbing game is attracting children.

“My son is very excited. I think it is really good. They should organize many such activities,” said Singh.

Jammu and Kashmir is a well known tourist destination for winter activities such as snow boarding, skating, sledge rides, gondola jaunts, cable car rides and snow skiing making tourism one of the mainstays of the state’s economy.

Kashmir was once dubbed the Switzerland of the east. It was once a Mecca for climbers, skiers, honeymooners and filmmakers drawn to the state’s soaring peaks, fruit orchards and timber houseboats bobbing on Dal Lake in Srinagar, the summer capital.

Planeloads of India’s upwardly mobile middle classes have visited the picture postcard-perfect Kashmir Valley this summer, making it the busiest tourist season since the armed revolt began in 1989.

In wake of the decline in violence in India’s Kashmir, one gets to see various development activities taking place in every sector.