Mahendragarh (Haryana) [India]: Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat skydived at Skyhigh, India’s only civilian skydiving drop zone at Narnaul Airstrip, Haryana, on World Skydiving Day.
“On the occasion of World Skydiving Day, had the pleasure of flagging off the new skydiving aircraft and taking a tandem skydive this morning at Skyhigh–India’s only civilian skydiving drop zone at Narnaul Airstrip, Haryana. For new and adventurous Bharat, the skies too are no limit,” Shekhawat said in a post on X.
Truly exhilarating!
— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) July 13, 2024
On the occasion of World Skydiving Day, had the pleasure of flagging off the new skydiving aircraft and taking a tandem skydive this morning at Skyhigh—India’s only civilian skydiving drop zone at Narnaul Airstrip, Haryana.
For new and adventurous Bharat,… pic.twitter.com/0Clb8iykw4
दिन विशेष: स्काई डाइविंग का रोमांच। pic.twitter.com/iGoaQLDeyL
— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) July 13, 2024
On this occasion, the minister told media, “I am feeling ecstatic after my skydive jump and convinced that skydiving in India has a bright future. Thousands of people from our country travel to Dubai, Singapore, Thailand and New Zealand to experience the thrill of skydiving, but no more.”
Shekhawat also impressed upon the importance of aero sports for a boost to the tourism industry.
“Skydiving in India will be a huge boost to the adventure tourism industry and will go a long way in promoting new tourism destinations. The government is working closely with Team Skyhigh to make sure the (Skydiving) sport is available and accessible across different parts of the country. We are focusing in Goa and Madhya Pradesh for now,” he said.
The minister further said, “I am very thankful to Skyhigh India for this exceptional experience and I wish them all the best. From where I am standing, I am looking at a wonderful future for aerosports in India.”
Shekhawat also flagged off VT-SBS, India’s first dedicated skydiving aircraft. This Cessna-182P Skylane, imported from the USA, is exclusively configured for skydiving and marks a new chapter in India’s aviation and adventure sports landscape.
Rudra Bhanu Solanki, founder of Skyhigh India, said “We’re not just offering a sport, we’re creating an experience. The Tourism Minister’s participation is a testament to the rigorous safety measures and unparalleled thrill that we provide. In collaboration with various state governments, Skyhigh India has embarked on several exciting projects.”
Notably, Skyhigh India, established in 2016, is the nation’s premier and only international skydiving drop zone. Located just two hours from Delhi at the Narnaul Airstrip.
The DGCA is diligently working towards comprehensive regulations for aerosports, particularly skydiving, ensuring a secure and thriving future for the sport.