Hot Air Ballooning in India

Posted on 13. Jan, 2012 by Thrillchimp in Activities, Adventure

There are some high intensity adventure sport activities such as paragliding and sky diving, that gives you the joy of flying high up in the skies, like a bird. But if you simply want to enjoy the experience of flying with minimal risk, there’s nothing like Hot Air Ballooning. People, who have experienced this adventure, describe it as one of the most peaceful, enjoyable activities they’ve ever done.

How hot air ballooning originated:

Hot air ballooning as an adventure sport started in the year 1783, when two French brothers, Joseph Michel Montgolfier and Jacques Etienne Montgolfier, created and set aloft a 17.37-m high ‘fire balloon’ from the courtyard of the Versailles palace. This massive balloon did not carry human passengers but a sheep, a rooster and a duck. After a flight that lasted 8 minutes, the balloon landed safely at a distance of 3.2 km from the Versailles palace. In the honor of these brothers, hot air balloons created during the period were generally known as Montgolfier balloons.

It was in the same year, when Jean Francois Pilatre de Rozier along with his companion Marquis d’Arlandes decided to travel in a hot air balloon. It became the first journey made by man through air, which was powered by steam/hot air. This historic event occurred in the beautiful city of Paris and the success of this flight gave birth to the sport of hot air ballooning.

Its entry into India:

In India, hot air ballooning as an adventure sport is quite new. Established in 1970, The Balloon Club of India in New Delhi is the premiere organization pertaining to this adventure sport in India. The sport is rapidly gaining popularity among the adventure seekers.

Physical requirements:

There are no special or prescribed physical requirements for a person interested in taking up the sport of hot air ballooning. However, it is advisable that expectant mothers and people suffering from high blood pressure and heart problems stay away from it. If you suffer from a fear of heights, then hot air ballooning is definitely not for you. In short, if you are fit physically as well as mentally to enjoy the thrills of hot air ballooning, you are good to go!

Necessary equipments:

The main equipment required for hot air ballooning is the balloon! It is made up of rip-stop nylon which is a special fire-resistant material, load tape, steel wire ropes, basket/gondola, an altimeter, a compass, cylinders of propane or butane gas, burners, ropes. The basket/gondola, which is suspended below the balloon, is made from resilient wicker and enforced with a mesh of steel wire ropes.

Major destinations in India:

Delhi is the main center for hot air ballooning in India. The Balloon Club of India carries out its activities from the Safdarjung Airport in Delhi. Every year, this club organizes a ‘Balloon Mela’ or balloon fair in the month of November. A number of competitions and events are held during this fair. The three major events of this fair are the hare and hound race, the spot-landing race and the cross-country event.

Sky Waltz, a government approved hot air balloon company, organizes hot air balloon tours over the greens of Ranthambore, palaces of Jaipur and Udaipur, and even over Pushkar, NCR and Neemrana for those who love to see the beautiful places of India from above. One fantastic experience is of sitting in a hot air balloon and watching the colourful attire of the city of Mysore during the Dusshera celebrations. While Mysore Dusshera is wonderful at ground level, watch it from above for a different experience altogether – and this is an experience that the Dasara Adventure Sports offers at the festival. You can either ride during the day or night, but the best time would be during sunset when you get to watch the best of both!

Best time for hot air ballooning in India:

The best time for hot air ballooning is from October to March when the temperature becomes cooler. The cold climate makes the hot air inside the balloon lighter and enables it to rise and stay up for a longer period.

Physical requirements:

There are no special or prescribed physical requirements for a person interested in taking up the sport of hot air ballooning. However, it is advisable that expectant mothers and people suffering from high blood pressure and heart problems stay away from it. If you suffer from a fear of heights, then hot air ballooning is definitely not for you. In short, if you are fit physically as well as mentally to enjoy the thrills of hot air ballooning, you are good to go!

Necessary equipments:

The main equipment required for hot air ballooning is the balloon! It is made up of rip-stop nylon which is a special fire-resistant material, load tape, steel wire ropes, basket/gondola, an altimeter, a compass, cylinders of propane or butane gas, burners, ropes. The basket/gondola, which is suspended below the balloon, is made from resilient wicker and enforced with a mesh of steel wire ropes.

Safety tips:

• Never venture out on a turbulent day. The mild winter winds are the ideal time for going up in a balloon.
• If the wind velocity on the ground exceeds 8 miles per hour (12.87 km per hour), abandon any attempt to take flight. This is because the balloon will not fill up smoothly and will be dragged along the ground, which might damage it.
• During descent, be wary of electric poles, wires and spires. Land only on a clear piece of ground.

While all these safety tips are sure essentials, what would you do if an unexpected natural calamity comes your way? High up in the air, you never know what may hit you. So it’s best advised that you keep yourself well prepared to survive a sandstorm or a snowstorm, depending on where you are hot air ballooning. After all, adventure sports are high on adrenalin and sure make for stories to be retold for years.

Tags: air balloon, India