MANALI
Only fly with operators registered with Himachal Tourism who show a certified-pilot ID card and give a proper harness/helmet briefing - roadside touts near the parking lot undercut registered operators by ₹300-500 but skip insurance and use worn equipment. Ask to see the pilot's license before paying.
Paragliding developed at Solang from the 1990s onward as trained local and Himachal Pradesh Tourism-linked pilots began offering tandem flights off the valley's open ridges, taking advantage of reliable thermals and a gentle landing meadow well suited to beginners. The activity grew alongside Solang's broader shift from shepherd pastureland to organized adventure-sports center, and it is now regulated under state aero-sports safety guidelines following past accidents that prompted stricter operator licensing. Flights typically launch from a ridge above the valley and descend to the valley floor, a route that traces the same slopes once used for sheep grazing and, in winter, skiing.
