Srinagar: The Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM), Gulmarg, a premier institute functioning under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, successfully concluded a 14-day Water Skiing Course at the iconic Dal Lake, Srinagar, on September 20th, 2025.
A total of 25 students from across India participated in the course, receiving structured training and practical exposure to this internationally recognized sport.
The closing ceremony of 1st water skiing course was graced by Colonel IS Thapa, SM, VSM, MID, Principal of IISM, who awarded certificates to the participants and addressed the gathering. In his inspiring remarks, he emphasized the role of adventure sports in developing confidence and discipline among youth, while also highlighting their potential to boost tourism and generate new opportunities in India’s water sports sector.
Col Thapa further noted that Dal Lake in Srinagar have long been the traditional hubs for IISM’s water sports activities. He reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to strengthening Jammu & Kashmir’s position as a premier destination for water-based adventure sports, while also expanding similar initiatives to other regions such as Tehri Lake in Uttarakhand.
He also underlined that IISM regularly conducts a wide range of adventure courses outside Jammu & Kashmir as well, at highly subsidised rates, with the twin objectives of promoting adventure activities and fostering skill development among India’s youth. These initiatives reflect the institute’s vision of democratizing access to adventure training and creating a new generation of skilled adventure enthusiasts.
With this successful course, IISM continues its legacy of promoting adventure sports and nurturing young talent, while diversifying its training programs beyond skiing and mountaineering to include water-based disciplines. The institute remains dedicated to supporting the Government of India’s vision of positioning the country as a global adventure tourism destination.
