Women in Paragliding: 25 Years of Flight, Courage & Empowerment
Anita Deshpande’s Journey Into Flight
The First Flight That Changed Everything
I remember the day my life changed. As I took off from the top of the hill, looking ahead as my feet gently left the ground, it was so beautiful I forgot to be scared. With the wind on my face it felt so free. There was a giddy nervousness and as I landed softly on Mother Earth I sat down and cried with joy. No thoughts no reason. Just pure joy. Paragliding lifted me up…in life too.
Building Temple Pilots in a Male-Dominated Industry
The Journey of setting up temple pilots with Avi Malik 25 years back was an adventure in itself. This was at a time when there were no women heading adventure sports institutes in India, pre-social media. As I went around giving talks, presentations and business meetings in a male-dominated industry of adventure sports, it was amusing to see the reactions of many. It was a fight to be seen and heard. The aim was to make paragliding accessible and affordable to anyone who wanted to fly. To make safe and competent pilots.
Now, 25 years later that struggle has faded away in light of how this sport and Temple Pilots has grown. Training almost 500 student pilots in an 8-month season. With International licenses these pilots can continue flying all over the world.
The real success is to be able to touch so many lives in such a tremendous way…to learn to fly you have to face your fears, know yourself better, take risks, take sharp decisions, be able to share and express yourself, be bold, trust yourself and your teacher, to get yourself out of your comfort zone and know more about yourself and what you can achieve.
We have passionately advocated for women in adventure aviation, believing that their innate connection with nature makes them exceptional pilots. Paragliding requires the pilot to align and harmonise with elements of nature. Instead of force it needs technique. It requires one to respect the outdoors and be open to learning. Women have all these qualities in abundance. But the most important quality they have is the ability to have fun… to laugh and share happiness. This makes the learning easy and interesting.
In early years women from all walks of life used to call me to talk to their families to allow them to learn to fly. I have spent many many hours talking to families, husbands and friends to get women flying. These women came, learnt, and flew… with such grace and happiness. They needed nothing from anyone other than a space where they could be themselves – free and fearless.
We have had housewives from Surat who had never left their city coming and learning to fly with their daughters. Young students who had lead such sheltered lives never done anything outdoors, women from demanding professions who were burnt out with demands on them who simply wanted to fly to feel free, housewives who broke stereotypes and surprised themselves. Each one with her own story, but they left it all behind to do something valuable for themselves. I am such a fan of each one of them. And so grateful for their courage to teach us all that anything is possible.
Creating a Safe Space for Women Pilots
Right from the beginning we have made our school a safe space for women to come and learn to fly. We are a no judgement zone. Our Instructors teach with patience and reward curiosity. They know when to support and when a gentle push is needed. We allow our students to go by their own pace, enjoy learning and most importantly HAVE FUN!
In recent times women from different walks of life have flocked to our school with a singular dream: to fly. These are my Sheroes. They get out of their comfort zones, go against social norms, stand up for themselves, struggle, work hard, try something so new and unknown and yet rise above it all. That courage and beauty is within them already. Paragliding simply gives them a chance to realise it.
With many of our women pilots buying their own gliders and continuing to fly in India and abroad it has shattered gender norms and fostered empowerment. They are an inspiration to an entire generation of women who have dreams to fly.
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Begin Your Own Flying Journey
Begin Your Own Flying Journey
At Temple Pilots, we believe every woman deserves the opportunity to experience flight — whether it is your first step into adventure or the beginning of becoming a certified pilot.
For over 25 years, our school has created a safe, supportive, and encouraging learning environment where women from all walks of life discover confidence, freedom, and self-belief through paragliding.
You don’t need prior experience.
You don’t need to be “adventurous.”
You only need the desire to fly.
Why Women Choose Temple Pilots
25 Years of Experience
Led by Ex-Indian Air Force Pilot
APPI International School
Structured Aviation Training
Women-Friendly Learning Environment
Hundreds of Women Pilots Trained
Who Joins Our Programs
First-time adventurers
Working professionals
Solo travellers
Mothers & daughters
Students
Women rediscovering themselves
Two Ways to Begin
🪂 Experience Flying — Tandem Joyride
No experience needed. Just arrive and fly.
✈️ Become a Pilot — Certified Courses
Learn to launch, fly and land independently.
For Women Who Want to Experience Flying — Joyrides
Not ready for training yet? Start with a 2-Seater Tandem Paragliding Joyride.
Fly with an experienced certified pilot while you relax, enjoy the views, and experience the magic of free flight safely.
✔ Professional safety briefing
✔ Certified pilots
✔ In-flight photos & videos
✔ Flight certificate memories
Your first flight often becomes the beginning of something bigger.
For Women Who Want to Learn to Fly — Certified Courses
Many women who started with a joyride returned to become independent pilots.
Our internationally certified training programs focus on:
Confidence building
Understanding weather & nature
Safe decision making
Step-by-step skill progression
Learning at your own pace
Led by an Ex-Indian Air Force pilot and APPI Master Instructor, our courses combine structured aviation training with a supportive community atmosphere.
Training Includes:
Ground handling & launch skills
Theory & classroom sessions
Radio-guided solo flights
Video debriefs & simulator learning
Internationally recognized pilot certification
A Safe Space for Women Pilots
From the beginning, Temple Pilots has been a no-judgement learning environment where curiosity is encouraged and individuality is respected.
Our instructors understand when to support, when to guide, and when to gently push students beyond their comfort zones — creating confident, capable pilots.
Today, many of our women pilots fly independently across India and internationally, continuing their flying journeys long after training.
Take Your First Step
The sky has never belonged to one gender.
It belongs to those who choose to fly.
Whether you wish to experience flight or become a pilot, your journey can begin here.
👉 Book you first flight (Joyrides) : Talk to Arshi
+91 9920120243
👉 Become a Certified Pilot : Talk to Shriya
+91 9970053359
👉 Schedule a call with Anita :
+91 9920120243/ +91 9970053359
Contact us to receive course details, upcoming batch dates, and personalised advice for women pilots.