In the outskirts of Delhi, a craggy wilderness imposes upon the arid plains. Sudden eruptions of rock formations rise in surprising outgrowths. Naked rock faces thrust upward, layered in twisting colour tones of uncompromising monotony which are held fast to the earth - ideal for rock climbing. Rock climbing needs persistence and patience, but it is an almost year-round sport, though restricted to early mornings in the summers, and made impossible during the monsoons. Most equipment required for rock climbing are available in India, though more sophisticated gear for the professional may have to be imported from overseas.

Delhi is the centre for most rock climbing activity, the prime area being Tughlaqabad, close to the Ladosami Mughal watchtower, only one kilometre from the Qutab Minar. In this arid vastness there are very good practice rocks of about 25 feet high that are ideal for learning the sport. For veterans, the polo grounds in the President's Estate, surrounded by thorny bushes and scrub also have rock heights of 25 feet, but with a very good length that make them ideal for traversing. Offering a stretch of as much as 125 feet the best option in lieu of an artificial climbing wall is provided close to the Indian Mountaineering Federation (IMF) building.

While the rocks here offer good climbing scope, there are many more which offer equal or more traversing opportunities. The Aravalli hills skirt Delhi, and these are pocketed by naked rockfaces that test the capabilities of experienced rock climbers. Among these centres is Dumdama, 52 km from Delhi, where the presence of a lake and a large number of water birds make the climbing experience more scenically pleasant. Dhauj 55 kms, also lake-founded, is a popular climbing spot. Nuh, with its rocky escarpments, is 70km from Delhi. All three centres are connected by major highways.

The other major centre is beyond Pune, on the Western Ghats, where the gentle hills form picturesque rock formations. On the Bombay-Nasik highway, at places like Mumbra and Dudha, and in Pune, rocks gather into pinnacles, often rising as high as 1,000 feet. These result in some very challenging rock climbing, with the heights calling a duel between the climber and the hill.

In Himachal Pradesh, the best rocks are within the radius of 3 to 20km around the Manali valley, across from the river, and with heights of 100 to 200 feet. But for sheer climbing pleasure, little can beat the 12,000 to 14,000 feet high rock needles of Manikaran. Also excellent are the rock peaks in the basic mountain ranges across Rohtang pass.

The Chammundi Hills in Karnataka and rock formations along the Bangalore-Mysore highway offer the best rock climbing options in South India, While in Kashmir, Sonamarg is a popular base with its high altitude trails that match with very best in the world.

As in Sonamarg, Gangotri in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttar Pradesh has excellent high attitude rock climbing. But the seasons are often limited to the summer months. The traverses extend over great lengths and the rocks merit championship status. The climbs can often prove gruelling and punishing, but the magic of the mountain keeps up the spirit. More gentle than the Himalayan rocks are two venues in Rajasthan: Mount Abu and Sariska. Mount Abu has thickly forested hill cragtops, and overlooking sweeping views of the Nakki Lake, the rocks ascend in clean cliff faces. The Sariska hills are a part of the great Aravalli range and the dry climate of the sanctuary makes rock climbing here a very rewarding experience, even though the rocks are not of very great heights.

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