Eighty-six participants from 11 countries will participate in paragliding competitions organised as part of the International Paragliding Festival at Kolahalamedu in Vagamon along the Western Ghats. The five-day competition for the International Top Landing Accuracy Cup in six categories will begin on March 19.
The paragliding festival enjoys the official recognition of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), which is the 1905-founded world governing body for air sports. The FAI and the Aero Club of India are also lending technical support while Fly Vagamon provides local coordination.
The competitions at the Vagamon Adventure Park in Kolahalamedu are held in the following categories: Paragliding Accuracy (Overall), Paragliding Accuracy (Women), Paragliding Accuracy (Team), Paragliding Accuracy (Indian Overall), Paragliding Accuracy (Indian Women) and Paragliding Accuracy (Junior).
The mega event, which is being organised by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS) under the State Tourism Department in collaboration with Orange Life Paragliding School, will give away ₹1.5 lakh, ₹1 lakh, and ₹50,000 respectively as prize money for the first, second and third place winners in each category.
The State has been fully exploiting its potential of adventure tourism in the last three years. Vagamon is an ideal venue for the paragliders across the world to explore.
Kolahalamedu, located 7 km from Vagamon, near Peerumedu, in Idukki district is among the best places for paragliding. Situated at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the place is particularly favourable for take-off and landing. Adding to its advantage are its cool climate, tea plantations, grasslands and the woods.
Published – March 16, 2025 06:02 pm IST
