The Jammu Tourism Department is set to redefine the region’s skies by launching commercial paragliding near Jammu by early next year. This initiative is notably spearheaded by Dolly Sharma, the sole female pilot among 20 trainees preparing for professional flying. Aitham, a paragliding site close to Jammu, has successfully completed trials and is being developed to enhance adventure tourism. The launch site is approximately 19 km from Jammu city, with the landing area situated on the sand bed of the Sardhan stream. The trial flight lasts around four minutes.
Joint Director of Jammu Tourism, Aijaz Qaiser, stated, “This is the only site recommended for paragliding, and we aim to operationalize it within the next five to six months, before the current financial year’s conclusion,” during the final day of a six-day refresher course for the pilots. This refresher course is part of advanced training for those who have already completed their P1, P2, and P3 courses at the National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports. The pilots will soon begin P4 training at Bir-Billing and Bilaspur, which are recognized as premier paragliding training institutes in Asia.
“These 20 pilots have just finished their SIV course in Himachal Pradesh and will depart in two batches for Bir-Billing for P4 training shortly. We have partnered with the A B Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, and have one instructor along with a two-member technical team from Himachal Pradesh overseeing the training program,” Qaiser explained. Upon completing their advanced training, the department intends to have these pilots fly regularly to meet their required flying hours for conducting solo and tandem flights with passengers. The designated area spans 190 sq km, featuring optimal take-off slopes, stable wind patterns, and stunning views.
Plans are underway to establish necessary infrastructure, including an uphill track, multi-cuisine restaurants, a sunset point, and a yoga platform. This initiative is part of a larger strategy to develop adventure tourism in Jammu, aiming to transform it into a year-round destination for tourists seeking experiences beyond pilgrimages and heritage trails. Sharma, who has engaged in adventure sports for five years, emphasized that this opportunity signifies both professional advancement and empowerment for women in her community. “The experience has been fantastic. Being a woman does not hinder one’s capabilities—there is nothing a woman cannot achieve,” she stated confidently before her flight. For Sharma, the project embodies more than just tourism or business; it symbolizes self-assurance.
“Adventure tourism will attract visitors, but it will also provide local youth, particularly women, the chance to acquire new skills and gain a fresh perspective on themselves,” she added. Qaiser reiterated that his department’s mission is to foster adventure tourism and create opportunities that benefit local youth.
