History of bungee jumping |

History of Bungee Jumping

Posted on 01. Dec, 2011 by Thrillchimp in Best Reads, Offbeat

History of bungee jumping

Often we are all faced with challenges and most of us love to give it our best shot and fight it head on. Well, talking of challenges, fear of heights is something inherent in many. And when this fear can be turned into a catalyst for a challenging adventure sport, what better way to get your adrenalines pumping? Adrenaline junkies make friends with this phobia of heights by indulging in a gravity defying sport called Bungee jumping!

This is an extreme sport activity that involves jumping off a high elevated structure such as a tall building or a bridge, while being tethered by the ankle to a strong elastic chord. The safety of the harness allow the person to enjoy a freefall as he jumps off and also pulls him back into the air as he nears the ground. And thanks to the elasticity of the rope, the rebound is as much exciting as the freefall.

History of bungee jumping goes back to 1979. It was a few members from the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club who introduced to the world the modern bungee jumping sport. On the 1^st of April 1979, they jumped off the 250-foot Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. An arrest after their first jump did not stop the jumpers from continuing their jumps off the Golden Gate Bridge and Royal Gorge Bridge in the United States.

In spite of the grave dangers of this extreme adventure sport, it has made its way into the hearts of millions of adventure seekers and equal number of successful jumps has been performed since the 1980s. A lot of credit for this success rate goes to the dedication of bungee operators to better the standard of their safety equipments and guidelines.

Soon after the sport was commercialized in the mid 80s, Indian adventure enthusiasts too got attracted to it. Bungee jumping made its entry into India in the early 1990s. And since then, several jumping sites have been established all over India. While Mohanchatti village in Rishikesh is the most famous of the lot, some metro cities too have jumping centers, such as Wonderlust in Delhi, Ozone in Bangalore and Gravity Zone in Goa.

There are no physical requirements for taking part in this activity. You just need a whole lot of mental strength, trust in yourself and determination to face your worst fear. It wouldn’t hurt to have a consultation with a general physician prior to taking on this adventure activity, just to be sure you are fit and your heart is healthy to stand the pressure. Also, since not much is known of the long-term effects, being cautious is always better than being sorry!

Sounds like fun? Why don’t you give it a try and see if this is for you? You never know unless you give it a shot! Just go up there, say a little prayer, shout your lungs out as fall freely, and then again as you get pulled up just on time!

What’s even better, for those who need extreme thrill, try bungee jumping at the Bermuda Triangle. The thrill of the jump coupled with the mysterious shroud of the Bermuda Triangle is sure to offer an experience of a lifetime.