(Ecomonic Times, The (India) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Mar. 12--Forget Disney World, the way to your child's heart today is to plan a trip to Dachigam or Dodabetta.

"Indian destinations are being rediscovered and today's kids are quite aware that India has a lot to offer in terms of excitement and variety," says Delhi homemaker Aarti Manektala who regularly takes her sons Rishii (12) and Pradyut (8) for exhilarating eco-friendly holidays in the mountains.

Col Nirmal Mahajan of Colonels' Camps and Tours, an outfit run by ex-Army men from Dehra Dun which has taken more than 5,000 school kids on adventure oriented trips, says there are many avenues for children in this sphere.

"They could be initiated into parasailing, rock climbing, river crossing, rappelling and trekking. Those above 12 could go for white water rafting, kayaking, water surfing, and water skiing.

Kids also love to participate in outdoor obstacle courses like the Burma Bridge, Flying Fox and Tarzan Swing. We also take students to the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) at Uttar Kashi, which has the biggest artificial rock climbing facility in India."

Architect Karl Almeida, whose 14-year-old daughter Mischa has been on several river rafting trips in the last three years says, "Kids are adventurous by nature so they are always happy to go and try something new. But we as parents have also learnt to let go earlier.

I did have some initial qualms about sending Mischa for rafting and camping along the Ganga but I realised it would benefit her in the long run. She has developed into such a confident, capable young adult today that she makes me proud."

Aloke Bajpai, CEO of The Explorers, a reputed organisation that specialises in catering to adventure and nature travel needs, concurs.

"Not only do such experiences make children more independent and teach them more than they could ever learn from a book, but they also realise the importance of roughing it out. A lot of important values like discipline, responsibility, co-operation and helpfulness get instilled when you're living in such an environment.

Survival exercises-where the children are given challenges like making their own shelter, cooking their own food and surviving in the wilderness with limited resources for a day-make them more self-sufficient as well as more giving towards others."

Bajpai, who has seen an increase in schools taking students on river rafting, camping, skiing and adventure camps in the last few years, is all for such l earning-oriented trips for children above the age of 10, but cautions that without the right operator, the experience might not be such a rewarding one.

"The organiser has to be very aware that children have a limited capacity-both physical and mental-to cope with levels of difficulty of a particular adventure activity. If you don't choose the operator properly, putting your child through potentially scarring situations could have a negative effect on the psyche."

According to him, "It's safer to pay a couple of 100 bucks more to ensure that your child is in the right hands. The values being instilled, the little things that are pointed out which remain in a child's mind, make the difference between being an active traveller or a passive one. Briefing and debriefing are just as important as the activity itself in shaping the child's personality as well as ensuring that he or she gets the maximum benefit."

So how does one get going?

--Adventure camps: These combine activities like basic mountaineering, rock climbing, nature trails, stargazing and bird-watching. You pay between Rs 800 and Rs 1,800 a day, depending on the activity.

There are also longer adventure courses conducted by the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute at Darjeeling , the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering at Uttar Kashi and the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports at Manali. These are suitable for 13-14-year-olds.

--White water rafting: Conducted on Rishikesh (river Ganga), Sikkim (the Teesta), Manali (the Beas), Dandeli in Goa, on the Bharali between Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. A stretch of 20 km of river rafting costs between Rs 700 and Rs 900. The level of difficulty runs between 0-8 grades. Above the fifth, the raft can overturn, so it's best to send your child to a maximum of level four.

--Wildlife safari: There are wildlife sanctuaries and nature parks in every Indian state. Take your pick depending on the season, the kind of flora and fauna you'd like your child to see and the kind of accommodation you'd prefer for him or her. It costs between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 per day.

Your child needs to be told how to behave properly in a sanctuary and taught the importance of observing the laws of the jungle and basic safety.

--Trekking and hiking: Although the Himalayan trails are the most popular, hill stations and places of natural splendour abound all over the country.

Pick a place with temperature conditions that best suit your child's comfort levels. It costs between Rs 900 and Rs 1,200 per day. Don't ascend too quickly and don't expose your child to high altitude trekking (beyond 12,000 ft above sea level).

--Rock climbing and rappelling: Go to Uttar Kashi, where NIM's artificial facility gives the thrill of climbing in a controlled environment. Otherwise, you can sign up with any reputed adventure sports firm to find a suitable destination closer to where you live.

Cost starts from about Rs 150 for a basic 40 ft of rappelling down a cliff face and goes up depending on the level of difficulty and the individual operator. Don't let your child go beyond a height of 15-20 feet at the elementary level. Ensure that the safety gear is of good quality and properly secured.

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