Paragliding and River Rafting Operators in Kullu-Manali: Aero Sports Rules, Pilot Licences, Insurance and Inspections (2026)
Paragliding in Himachal Pradesh is regulated by the HP Aero Sports Rules, 2021, notified on 19 February 2021 and often cited as the 2022 Rules. A paragliding company registers as an operator for ₹10,000 and each tandem pilot registers separately for ₹2,000, both valid for three years, after the district Technical Committee has checked the people and the equipment. Tandem pilots need P4 training, 100 hours of solo flying and a safety course, and since the 2025 amendment a simulation module, which existing pilots had to complete by 31 August 2026. River rafting runs under separate rules from 2005, with yearly raft inspections on the Beas. This guide sets out what an operator in Solang, Dobhi or Pirdi needs to be legal, insured and inspection-ready.
Paragliding: registration at a glance
| Item | Requirement (HP Aero Sports Rules) |
|---|---|
| Operator registration | ₹10,000 by demand draft, valid 3 years (Rule 4) |
| Tandem pilot registration | ₹2,000 by demand draft, valid 3 years (Rule 5) |
| Annual user fee | ₹1,500 per aircraft and ₹500 per guide (Rule 17) |
| Where to apply | District Tourism Development Officer (DTDO) or Assistant Tourism Development Officer, after Technical Committee approval |
| Application windows | 1 November to 1 March and 1 June to 16 August; no new operator mid-season |
| Operator eligibility | Indian citizen, at least 21, Class 10 pass |
Paragliding registration sits on top of the general registration under the HP Tourism Development and Registration Act, 2002, which we cover in our guide to travel, taxi and adventure businesses in Kullu-Manali.
Tandem pilot qualifications
- Indian citizen, at least 21 years old, Class 12 pass (relaxable for pilots already flying).
- P4 solo training, at least 100 hours of solo flying and at least one cross-country flight of 35 km.
- First aid and CPR training, a digital logbook and a safety (SIV) course.
- Simulation module (2025 amendment): the amendment to Rule 5(3)(j), notified in draft in September 2025, requires tandem pilots to complete a simulation as part of the safety course before applying. Pilots already registered were given until 31 August 2026. A pilot who has missed it should not fly commercially until it is done.
- Medical insurance cover of ₹5 lakh.
Equipment and insurance
- Gliders must carry FAI, EN, SHV, DHV or AFNOR certification. Imported gliders need the bill of import; a second-hand glider needs a manufacturer’s airworthiness certificate not more than six months old.
- Each set needs a reserve parachute, helmets and a maintenance logbook. The Technical Committee inspects and stamps the equipment.
- Operator insurance: third-party liability of ₹10 lakh including rescue, and comprehensive cover of ₹10 lakh for equipment and participants.
- Keep the insurance current all season. An accident on lapsed cover leaves the operator personally liable and is grounds for cancellation.
Flying limits that inspections check
- No flying after 6 pm or later than one hour before sunset, whichever is earlier.
- No passengers under 12 years or under 30 kg.
- Alcohol or drugs within 8 hours of flying leads to cancellation of the pilot’s licence.
- Flights only from take-off and landing sites approved by the Technical Committee, within the carrying capacity fixed for each site, and with an ambulance at the sites.
- Flying only during the season notified by the Technical Committee. In 2026 the Kullu district administration banned paragliding, rafting, river crossing and bungee jumping from 15 July to 15 September.
Sites in Kullu district
Reports from October 2025 list seven approved sites in Kullu district: Solang Nala, Marhi, Majhach, Dobhi, Kothi, Gadsa and Nangabag, with 442 registered pilots, most of them at Dobhi and Solang. Individual sites have been closed after inspections or accidents, and the High Court suspended paragliding statewide in 2022 until inspections were in place, so confirm that your site is approved for the current season before taking bookings.
River rafting on the Beas
- Rules: rafting companies register under the HP River Rafting Rules, 2005 as adventure sports operators, and pay fees per raft and per guide.
- Rescue cover: Rule 11(b) requires each operator to keep two rescue rafts, or one raft and one kayak. In 2023 the High Court found operators not complying and called for a report on penalties from the Deputy Commissioner, Kullu.
- Annual inspection: a technical committee headed by the Director of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports inspects every raft before the season. In May 2024 it found 11 of 173 rafts at Pirdi and 10 of 230 at Babeli faulty, and barred them until repaired.
- Customers: the High Court has also directed an upper age limit and fitness certificates for older rafters.
- Stretches: commercial rafting runs on the Beas between Pirdi, Babeli and Raison; rafting below Bajaura was halted in 2022.
Fees under the Rafting Rules have been revised over the years; confirm the current per-raft and per-guide amounts with the DTDO at Dhalpur before paying.
Penalties
The Aero Sports and Rafting Rules allow suspension and cancellation of registration. Fines come from the HP Tourism Development and Registration Act, 2002: operating without registration or in breach of conditions attracts a fine under section 46, raised in 2024 to ₹1 lakh plus ₹200 to ₹2,000 for each day the default continues, and malpractice such as substandard equipment or untrained staff is punishable under section 50. After a fatal accident, police cases are commonly registered against the pilot and the operator as well.
Tax and books
- GST: paragliding and rafting are recreational services at 18% with input tax credit. Registration is needed once turnover crosses ₹20 lakh. Online booking platforms do not pay the GST for you on these activities; the operator does.
- Income tax: from tax year 2026-27, an individual or firm (not an LLP) with turnover up to ₹2 crore, or ₹3 crore where cash receipts are 5% or less, can use the presumptive scheme under section 58 of the Income-tax Act, 2025 at 6% of digital and 8% of other receipts.
- Records: keep a daily flight or trip register that ties to receipts, because tourism and tax officers both use it to test turnover.
Pre-season checklist for operators
- Check that operator and pilot registrations are valid for the full season (three-year validity).
- Confirm every pilot has completed the simulation module required by the 2025 amendment.
- Renew third-party, comprehensive and pilot medical insurance.
- Get gliders, reserves and rafts inspected and stamped before the first booking.
- Pay the annual user fee per aircraft and per guide.
- Confirm the site or river stretch is open for the season.
Frequently asked questions
How do I register a paragliding company in Himachal Pradesh?
Apply to the DTDO of your district during an application window. The Technical Committee checks your pilots, equipment and site, and the DTDO then issues the operator registration on payment of ₹10,000, valid for three years.
What is the fee for a tandem pilot licence in Himachal?
₹2,000 by demand draft for three years, plus the annual user fee paid through the operator.
What insurance does a paragliding operator need?
Third-party liability of ₹10 lakh including rescue and comprehensive cover of ₹10 lakh for equipment and participants. Each tandem pilot also needs ₹5 lakh medical cover.
Is there a minimum age for paragliding passengers in Himachal?
Yes. Children under 12 and anyone under 30 kg cannot fly.
TAXAJ’s Manali team handles tourism registration paperwork, GST, books and income tax for adventure operators in Kullu district. Talk to our Manali office.
Last updated 26 October 2026. Sources: HP Aero Sports Rules, 2021 (notification Tourism-F(6)-3/2001-IV of 19 February 2021), Rules 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14 to 17; draft HP Aero Sports (Amendment) Rules, 2025; HP River Rafting Rules, 2005; HP Tourism Development and Registration Act, 2002, sections 46 and 50, as amended; High Court of Himachal Pradesh, CWPIL 33 of 2023; Kullu district orders on adventure activities, July 2026; reports in The Tribune (2022, 2024 and 2025) and ETV Bharat (October 2025); CGST notification 11/2017-Central Tax (Rate), heading 9996; Income-tax Act, 2025, section 58. General information only; confirm current fees and site approvals with the DTDO, Kullu.
