For the bouncing bubble experience, contact: • Zice Holidays D-P Gulmohar Park (basement) New Delhi — 110049 Ph: (011) 4174 0424 • Ashex Tourism for Solang Valley Resort, Himachal Pradesh and Dhanaulti Woods Swiss Camp, Uttaranchal 267, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase-3, New Delhi — 110020 Ph: (011) 4161 210

You’ve been bungee jumping and tried hurtling down the fiercest whitewater rapids. You’ve been parasailing high in the sky and you’ve tasted saltwater thrills on the crest of the waves. What’s next?

How about getting strapped-up inside an enormous plastic, air-cushioned ball and going for a quick roll? It’s called zorbing and for those who enjoy adventure, it’s worth trying.

What is it in the New Zealand air that gives rise to extreme sports? This is where zorbing began around six years ago when inventors Dwane van der Sluis and Andrew Akers created these unique PVC spheres called zorbs and rolled them down slopes with people inside.

Since then, the sport has travelled to other corners of the globe and undergone subtle changes as it rolled along. In India, the diameter of a zorb is either 10 feet or 12 feet depending on the number of people that are harnessed inside. There are nylon ropes in the transparent orbs that keep the brave souls inside firmly in position throughout the entire topsy-turvy ride.

At least two adults or three kids can be safely ensconced inside the bouncing bubble and enthusiasts say it’s not as scary as it seems. Therefore, both adrenalin junkies and the weak-hearted dig it with equal zeal. Says Ashish Sawhney, director and CEO, Ashex Tourism, “It’s a sport that is absolutely safe for even kids. No formal training is required to experience it.”

There are other logistic specifications that have to be kept in mind while adapting this sport to Indian conditions. Says Anurag Mehra of Zice holidays, “Zorbing is best experienced on golf courses and open manicured grounds with a slight elevation where there is an absence of sharp objects. Uneven plains that are interspersed with pebbles and rocks are likely to cause punctures in the zorbs.”

Zice holidays, therefore, has chosen its field of action with great care. Prospective zorbonauts have to travel to Camp Mustang in Manesar, just 50km away from Delhi to let their adventure genes get into overdrive. With the imposing Aravalli hills as the backdrop, the picturesque site offers miles of unimpeded movement letting gravity do all the talking.

Sawhney of Ashex Tourism says that a gentle slope is a pre-requisite for zorbing. “A steep gradient will make the ball hurtle down,” he points out. The two properties marketed by Ashex Tourism in India, namely the Solang Valley Resort in Himachal Pradesh and Dhanaulti Woods Swiss Camp in Uttaranchal have slopes that are ideal for zorbs to roll down at a uniform speed.

There are other safety precautions to prevent casualties. Usually a team of four people handles the zorbing sessions and keeps an eye on the comfort levels of the zorbonauts. The team is responsible for pushing the transparent bubble, controlling its direction and stopping it immediately if any participant is scared. “The ball usually traverses a distance of anything between 35mt and 50mt, but the maximum limit has been fixed at 100mt,” says Mehra. The entire session lasts approximately four minutes and participants usually come out asking for more.

Since you can’t go zorbing for any great length of time, Zice holidays includes it as a part of a comprehensive adventure sports package that offers other activities like parasailing, hot air ballooning, paramotoring and quad biking. The day package is for Rs 1,300 per person with a meal and snacks thrown in. In case you want to soak in the ambience of camp life for a longer period, you can avail of the night package priced at Rs 2,200. This will include other activities like Chinese kite flying, stargazing and time round the bonfire.

For young urbanites on the look out for new lifestyle statements, zorbing is definitely a new experience ? and it’s often advertised as the perfect leisure activity to counter high levels of stress at work. In fact, Ambika Warrier, who works with a leading multinational in Noida is adding zorbing to her list of team-building activities.

Warrier feels that zorbing is an ideal way for people in her company to get to know each other. And everyone in the company found it a liberating experience. “I conducted a survey amongst my team members after this outing and everyone was simply elated with their experience. Zorbing was the priority sport without an exception,” says Warrier.

Another factor going in its favour is its accessibility. Says Sairee Chahal, who runs a 2,200- member online network in Delhi, “I am an adventure sports freak and I’ve done river rafting and parasailing before I stumbled upon zorbing. I had to travel long distances, sometimes as far as Goa, to participate in outdoor activities. But zorbing is just a stone’s throw away.” Chahal claims that it’s one of the best ways to spend a Sunday afternoon and has already visited Manesar twice to go for a quick trip to topsy-turvy land.

It is a long trek from New Zealand to India. But this is one sport that’s literally on a roll in modern India.

My favourite holiday

Chandreyee Ghosh,
actress

My most memorable holiday was when I went to Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Gangtok some years ago. I remember that it was soon after sitting for my Madhyamik exams that I had made the trip with my mother, my aunt and two other families who were very close to us. We were there for 11 days and it was great fun sightseeing and just enjoying everyone’s company.

It had always been a dream of mine to see snowfal and although I didn’t really get to see it happening, I did see snow at Tsongmo Lake in Sikkim.

While I’ve returned to these places several times after that for shoots, my very first trip was extra special. I was not a child anymore then, but a young lady who loved to dress up. Also, the two families that came along with us had two young male members ? so it was even more fun hanging around with them.

Route map

• As Europe thaws, you can plan a holiday taking advantage of the fact that the next few months are perhaps the best to visit European countries. Take Travel Corporation of India (TCI) up on its offers and book a train tour. Here’s what is in store: hop on to a train anytime before October 31 on any of TCI’s Rail Europe packages and get great deals. Explore Switzerland at Rs 28,599 (per head) for seven days and travel to Geneva, Lausanne, Interlaken, Lucerne and Zurich. If that’s not enough, spend nine days in Switzerland (Geneva, Interlaken, Lucerne, Montreux, Zurich) and Paris for Rs 42,499 (per head). But if you want more, then for Rs 58,299 (per head) you can spend 15 days traveling through Switzerland, Italy, Austria and France. To avail of this fare, two people must travel together. The price includes accommodation, breakfasts and cost of some excursions.

• And if you’re headed to Zurich anytime soon, take note. About 13 hotels in the city are offering ZurichBREAK, a deal by which you can stay in a particular hotel for three days, but pay for only two. The hotels in question are located in a variety of spots from downtown to by the lake. The offer is valid till December 31 this year and reservations can be made online at www.zuerich.com. Of course the number of rooms is limited and the prices and hotels may vary. For more, contact Zurich Tourism, www. zuerich.com.