Where To Go On A Hot Air Balloon Adventure In India

Going on hot air balloon ride is a wish many people harbour, and for good reason. There's nothing quite like stepping into a basket, zooming out for a while and floating away in a gigantic, colourful balloon.

So what if Cappadochia in Turkey is far away? Here's a list of places closer home where you can tick this adventure off your bucket list.

Rajasthan

The usual suspect when it comes to hot air ballooning in India is Rajasthan. Most tourist towns in this state offer this slow adventure activity, and the vista from each destination is unique because of the stunning landscape.

Gaze at the beautiful pink-speckled houses in Jaipur, while you can look down at Pushkar’s stretched out sand dunes and waters. Flying over Udaipur is another way to feel like your gliding over its lakes, while Ranthambore’s experiences gives you a bird’s eye view to the green national park.

Travel companies such as Sky Waltz organise the activity in Rajasthan.

Maharashtra

Who would’ve thought that Maharashtra is the land for the adventurous? But with activities such as river-rafting in Kolad, paragliding in Kamshet and even bungee jumping in Lonavala, how could hot air balloons be left behind?

One can drive down to Lonavala (2 hours from Mumbai) to take part in this adventure above the Sahyadri ranges.

Take a look at the rides organised by Adventure Nation and Sky Waltz.

Karnataka

In November 2018, the blue-sheet skies of Karnataka were polka-dotted with floating hot air balloons of all kinds. It was the first International Hot Air Balloon Festival held at Araku, a valley in this southern State.

But of course, that isn’t the only such time you can have a slice of the skies when in Karnataka. Bangalore, Hampi, and even Mysore are other such locations in which hot air balloon rides are organised at other times of the year. GetAwayNow organises rides in Bangalore.

Goa

Palm trees, never-ending coasts and seafood—our Goa vacations are often so similar they merge into one another. Shake it up a little by giving your soul a little adventure. A hot air balloon ride is one of the best ways to see this favourite holiday destination from a different view—at least 2000ft above the ground! Goa Tourism organises hot air balloons in association with Tiger Balloon Safaris.

Wandertrails is another such organiser in Goa.