jharkhand

Tata steel adventure foundation

Where: In Jamshedpur, about 110 km from

Ranchi.

What: Test your fitness and daring quotient with an action-packed weekend at this professional adventure sports training academy.

HOW: You can drive two-and-a-half hours out from Ranchi. Jamshedpur (or Tatanagar) also has both rail and air connections with Kolkata.

Why: You don’t have to go to the mountains or hillstations every time you want to paraglide, or learn the basic of rafting, kayaking, river crossing or trekking. Surprised? We were too. The Foundation offers courses in all these activities right here in Jamshedpur, and the whole process is made more enjoyable by the fact that you will live in tents and share stories around a bonfire in the evenings(visit during the winter). Some of the courses are just perfect for the weekend-their duration being about three days.

Good to know

MUST-have: a certificate from the doctor to say that you are fit for adventure sports.

DAY TRIP:visit Dalma hills near Jamshedpur, with a vast elephant population.

STAY:: You are unlikely to find anything fancy. There are many mid-range and budget hotels in Jamshedpur, among which a good option is the The Sonnet: starts at 24,500 a night; tel: (0657) 661 9000

Kiriburu

Where: a hillstation in the West Singhbhum district; about 150 km from Ranchi.

What: a relaxing holiday in the calm and salubrious environs of one of the lesser-known and safer parts of Jharkhand.

HOW: a drive up to Kiriburu will take about four hours from Ranchi. Why: It’s not a sight that one gets to see everyday—a landscape that is dotted with more than 700 hills. Base yourself at Kiriburu, a town developed by the Steel authority of India (SaIL), which is surrounded on three sides by hills. From there, you can drive through forests of sal to the ancient Swapneswari temple. Less than 20 km from Kiriburu are the pundul Falls. Keep aside a day to drive to Meghataburu, also a mining town, which gets a great sunset.

Good to know

SEASON: Summers are sultry; rains make the roads slippery and potholed; so winter is the best time to be here. Be prepared with thick woollens.

SAFETY: While Kiriburu is completely safe for tourists, there are many checkposts on the way to the hillstation. This is mainly because the forest range of Saranda, also in the same district, is considered to be on the Red Corridor. STaY: at the SaIL Guesthouse in Kiriburu—great views, basic comforts: 2200 per day; tel: (06596) 244 303