Hyderabad Rockathon set to thrill all ages

Hyderabad: The twin cities have witnessed many Walkathons, Marathons, Triathlons etc,. but a few can claim to combine fitness and adventure with a genuine concern for the environment. It is the annual Hyderabad Rockathon that goes the extra mile to remind citizens of their responsibility to protect our rich Natural Heritage, especially rocks and their importance in our lives. Organized jointly by the Society to Save Rocks and the Great Hyderabad Adventure Club (GHAC) with the support of Telangana Tourism, Hyderabad Rockathons are being held consecutively for the last six years drawing larger crowds each year.

Frakhruddingutta, also known as Khajjaguda, the chosen venue for Hyderabad Rockathon 2018 will come alive on Sunday with rock balancing, rock walks, trail biking, zip lining, the all-time popular rappelling and rock quiz, even an introduction to highlighting rocks through Ikebana. With an emphasis on quality family time, the Rockathon offers to capture the heart of all age groups with activities for parents, children and grand parents. While the adults can fulfil their spirit of adventure and push their fitness levels, children can experiment with their eye - hand coordination and concentration balancing rocks while seniors can put their awareness to test participating in the quiz.

The Hyderabad Rockathon is a daylong reminder of the priceless natural heritage that we are surrounded by. The Rocks of the Deccan Plateau have been dated by geologists as 250 crore-year-old, making them some of the oldest formations on earth. Besides, their unique feature of being prone to aquifers makes them a rich source of water – a scarce commodity in present times. We see water bodies near rock sites and seldom realize that the rocks are responsible for the water being there. The Society to Save Rocks is the only NGO in the country working exclusively for rocks for over two decades. Monthly Rock walks, cultural events on the rocks, awareness programmes for students etc. by the Society attempt to make people understand the crucial man-rock relation.

The event will be inaugurated by Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary of the Industries & Commerce (I&C) and Information Technology (IT) Departments of the Telangana government, at 8am and will provide ample adventure experience to the participants. The event will conclude with a snake awareness programme at 4pm.