Paragliding with Nirvana Adventures at Kamshet, Maharashtra - best place to learn paragliding in India

Paragliding is the latest adventure I've added on my list after trekking and scuba diving. The thought of being able to fly like a bird in the endless skies had always fascinated me, but also given me jitters. Being an adventure traveler, I started climbing the mountains that covers 6% of the earth's surface. After that I started diving in the oceans that cover covers 71% of the earth's surface. It took me a while to venture into the infinite sky. I had presumed that it's going to be difficult. However, I kept my inhibitions away and learnt to jump off the cliffs with a paraglider.

Paragliding course in Kamshet, India - Nirvana Adventures

​Paragliding courses in India

Nirvana Adventures is the pioneering paragliding school in India which offers courses in paragliding following the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA) standards.. They had discovered an ideal paragliding site in Kamshet, near Lonavala in Maharashtra in 1996 and setup a paragliding school which offers. A few more schools have opened up in other parts of India (Nandi Hills near Bangalore, Munnar in Kerala, Bir in Himachal Pradesh)

Elementary Pilot course (4 days): This course is for beginners who are serious about taking paragliding as a hobby. After this course you will have learnt to take 2-3 minutes solo flights.

Club Pilot course (5 days): This course is for Elementary pilots who have logged a minimum of 15 solo flights and want to fly longer and higher. After this course you will have learnt to take extended solo flights upto an hour.

Paragliding course in Kamshet - Nirvana Adventures

​Ground Handling - Learning Paragliding

My course started with theory and videos and I relearnt physics (aerodynamics) for my adventure. How I wish I had learnt all the subjects in the school through practical implementation in adventures! I was then taken to the Ashram paragliding site for Ground Handling. I learnt to use the equipment and launch the canopy. I was made to run multiple times on the ground just to learn to handle the glider. Running into the wind with an open glider was not an easy task and I was still scared to jump off the cliff the next day!

Ground Handling - Paragliding course in Kamshet, India - Nirvana Adventures

​Bunny Hops - Learning Paragliding

The second morning I was taken to another site called Shinde Hill for Bunny hops. I soon started taking short flights from the height of 20 metres on the cliff. The instructor constantly gave me instructions on the walky-talky for a smooth learning process. After multiple bunny hops I learnt to take-off and land smoothly. Of course I had my own tumbles and bruises while learning to take-ff and land in different wind conditions. But it started building up my confidence, I had actually started flying smoothly for 30-40 seconds. After each flight, I had to hike up the cliff with the glider for the next one. I had the double pleasure of hiking + flying with this exercise which continued on the thrid day as well and I had taken 9 bunny hops in total.

Paragliding course in Kamshet, India - Nirvana Adventures

​Short Solo Flights - Learning Paragliding

In the second half of the 3rd day I was taken to the top of the cliff at the height of 45 metres. The instructor asked me if I was ready to fly from there. For the first time, a cliff looked high to me and I wasn't sure if I would land at the landing site and not on any of the trees or walls around. But that didn't stop me from jumping off the cliff! I learnt to take turns while flying so that I would land at the correct spot. My first solo flight of 2 mins seconds was a "dream-come-true" moment for me. I was a pleasing smile on my face while flying! I practiced flying on my fourth day from the same cliff, completed a total of 10 solo flights under direct supervision and got certified as an "Elementary Pilot".

Paragliding course in Kamshet, India - Nirvana Adventures

Where to stay in Kamshet - Native Place overlooking Vadivali lake

Native Place, overlooking the Vadivally lake in Kamshet, is is the eco-friendly dream house of the owners - Sanjay and Astrid. Native Place had taken its existence even before Nirvana Adventures was conceptualised. It was Astrid's wish of having a home which her kids can call a native place, where she would grow different trees and plants which she rightly feared her kids won't get to see in Mumbai once they grow up. Every inch of Native Place is build with love which is felt in the air the moment you enter.

Scarlet Clock Vine - entrance to Native Place, Kamshet

Native Place is now a homestay with 4 dorm rooms for the paragliding learners who generally opt for budget accommodation, 8 private rooms for the ones who wish to enjoy the positive vibe of Native Place and serenity of Vadivali lake. For the ones who like to camp under the stars and enjoy their barbecues under the skies, they also have a camping ground with tents in the garden.

Camping in the garden at Native Place, Kamshet

A small courtyard makes one of the most beautiful dining areas I've ever had my dinner at. They sometimes arrange barbecue dinner at the roof-top with the view of Vadivali lake. It makes a lovely ambiance to interact with pilots with different experiences. During my visit to Native Place, I met some very experienced pilots from Sweden who travel every year to fly with Nirvana Adventures. Expect some farm-to-table lip-smacking fresh food in the menu. The positivity of this place was so high that I didn't want to go back to Mumbai. Astrid rightly calls it a native place.

Dining in courtyard at Native Place, Kamshet

Astrid has grown indigenous trees and plants in her garden that attract variety of birds and butterflies. She follows permaculture principles to grow organic food in her garden. Take an early morning walk with her to feel her passion for her garden. She served me a purple coloured tea made from a flower called Clitoria which she picked up from the garden during the walk. She couldn't have made my day better!

Fresh tea made from Clitoria flower

​Review: Nirvana Adventures Paragliding

I can't thank Nirvana Adventures enough for building the confidence to fly in me. Paragliding sounded as a deadly affair to me until I came to Nirvana Adventures. They have highly experienced instructors trained by the Swiss instructors. They follow high standards for their equipment. They have simulator training at their accommodation. Their teaching pace is as per the comfort of the learner. They would let you take as many flights as you want under favourable weather conditions. Nirvana Adventures would make sure that you return as confident pilots only wishing to come back to practice and enhance your skills with them.
I'm equally tempted to go back to Native Place just for the positive vibe and the garden. I'll surely visit this place often to practice flying and complete my Club Pilot course.
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To have an idea on what it takes to be able to fly, check out my video here:

​How to reach Kamshet

Nirvana Adventures and Native Place are nestled between the Sahyadri Mountains, 30 kms from Lonavla, off the Mumbai-Pune express highway. 
You can take any bus to Lonavla either from Mumbai or Pune. From Lonavla you need to hire a taxi to reach Native Place / Nirvana Adventures. I had driven down 125 kms from Mumbai to Kamshet.

Native place overlooking Vadivali lake, Kamshet

P.S. I was invited by Nirvana Adventures to do the Elementary Pilot course with them and was hosted at Native Place.

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