Rock Climbing as an adventure tourism option is rather new to India. As more and more tourists discover the plethora of bare rock faces ideal for rock climbing in India, this activity is on the list of most popular adventure sports in India. Rock climbing is not very different from mountaineering, just that it requires one to scale steep and bare rocky cliffs instead of snow capped slopes. The sport needs one to be strong physically as well as mentally – because this activity is truly a test of one's stamina and grit.

India has many destinations where one can do rock climbing. In the state of Maharashtra, we have the Sahyadris, which have some of the best rock climbing faces in India. The places for rock climbing in Maharashtra are as follows:

Maharashtra, situated on the western frontier of India, is naturally blessed with rock climbing sites. The Sahyadris and the Western Ghats give ample rock climbing opportunities to visiters. Places of interest to rock climbers are:

Outskirts of Mumbai – The Borivali National Park, Mumbra Boulders, Manori rocks are some of the destinations of the area.

Lonavala/Khandala – The twin hill stations nearby Mumbai also have some great rock climbing sites. Khandala is 101 kms from Mumbai and about 69 kms from Pune. Lonavla is just 5 kms from Khandala.

The Karla Mountains, about 16 kms from Khandala, are home to the largest cluster of Chaitya caves dating back to around 160 BC. Their sheer rock faces provide the appropriate terrain for a rock climber to reach up to the white, fluffy clouds. Duke's Peak is the rock climbing destination here.

Igatpuri – This is one of the most interesting and challenging regions of the Sahayadris. It has some of the most interesting hill forts, the highest peaks and many of the places are challenging for rock climbers. There are sharp rocky features and remotely placed hill forts which are a speciality of this region.The countryside is beautiful with plenty of water.

For rock climbing in Maharashtra, the best times are from October to May. Since the Sahyadris are heavily hit by monsoon during June to September, it is not advisable to venture for this sport. The rock faces are wet and slippery and may be dangerous for rock climbing.

By Air – Mumbai is well connected to all major national and international cities. Pune is connected to all major cities in India.

By Rail – Mumbai is well connected to other parts on India through railways. From Mumbai, one can take trains to their rock climbing destinations near Igatpuri, Nasik, Pune, etc.

By Road – Mumbai being the capital of the state has a good bus service plying between the cities of Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Igatpuri, Nasik, etc.

When rock climbing in Igatpuri, check out the famous Vipassana Kendra or the Igatpuri Resort where one can practice this 2,500 year old art of meditation. The resort offers a ten-day residential course in which no contact with the outside world is permitted. A demanding daily schedule is followed which includes about ten hours of sitting meditation, complete silence and no communication with fellow students. Vipassana is a great way to get face to face with your inner self, and your environment.

Plus, you can also try your hands at trekking through the hills in the Nasik region, which offers some of the most beautiful natural scenery. As you pass through the tiny Marathi villages, you get glimpses of unadulterated Maharashtrian culture that is still alive in the interior parts of the state. You can enjoy Lavni, the Marathi folk dance form, organised by the villagers – it still is the form of entertainment for these people.