The Department of Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of Sikkim has encouraged and sponsored many interested youth in adventure sports like paragliding. As a result, paragliding has gradually become a popular Adventure Sport in Sikkim. The government has promoted adventure tourism in the state and Sikkim has emerged on the nation’s paragliding map.
DETAILS OF PARAGLIDING TRAINING TO EDUCATED UNEMPLOYED YOUTH
BY DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS & YOUTH AFAIRS, GOVERNMENT OF SIKKIM
| Year | Course | Duration | Venue | Beneficiaries |
| 2006 | Basic | 1 month | Solang Valley, Manali, | 31 boys & girls |
| 2007. | Advance | 3 months | Solang Valley, Manali, | 7 Boys & Girls |
| 2008 | Basic and Intermediate Paragliding training | 1 month (1st to 30th Jan 2008) |
Lachung, North Sikkim. | 40 youths |
| 2008 | Basic & Intermediate course | 20 days (15th March to 4th April ) |
Yumthang, North Sikkim | 30 youth (20 ST and 10 SC ) |
| 2008 | Advance | 2 months (10th Aug to 16th Oct ) |
Manali | 12 youths |
| 2010 | Advance Tendum Paragliding course | 2 months (15th May to 15th July ) |
Manali. | 4 Advance Paragliders |
After completion of above training more than 25 youths pilot took the paragliding as a career and became self reliant. They have started operating agencies for commercial flying to Local and foreign tourist at Reshithang Ranka East Sikkim and Jorethang and other part of Sikkim.
These trained paragliders have played an instrumental role in promoting Sikkim as a preferred paragliding venue at the global level. Many of Sikkim’s trained paragliding pilots, such as Arjun Rai, have not only participated in international events but are also imparting trainer for local youths in the state. Arjun Rai has also received the Sikkim Khel Samman. Sikkim’s first woman paragliding pilot Ms. Rinzing Doma Bhutia has represented Sikkim in the World Paragliding Championship. Paragliding sessions at Bulbuley Dara, Ranka and Chakung are conducted by many such commercially qualified and expert paragliders pilots.
The following are the agencies of Sikkim which operates Paragliding activities.
- i.Sikkim Paragliding Cooperative Society.
- ii.Adventure Zone, Near Ban Jhakri Falls.
- iii.Fly Sikkim Adventure.
- iv.High Fly Sikkim.
