Maharashtra Is To Promote Tourism in Larger Scale with the Inaugural of Hot Air Balloons

Mumbai: Officials stated that after Rajasthan, Maharashtra will become the second state to host Hot Air Ballooning adventure tourism from this upcoming Diwali festival.

The first ride will be commenced from Oct 29, which will carry eight passengers to a height of around 4,000 feet above sea level at Lonavala, which is a popular hill station, located at a distance os about 90 km from here, said Sangram Pawar, director of Rainbow Riderss, the Sky Waltz franchisee operating the hot air balloons.

Pawar said, "Starting with two hot air balloons, we shall organize flights in Lonavala, Pune and surrounding areas. As for Mumbai, we shall install a balloon which would only be used during special events or promotions, as the city has too many tall buildings that would obstruct a free flight."

Some of the top officials who were present in the official launch are State Tourism Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation managing director Jagdish Patil, Sky Waltz top executives Samit Garg and Jai Thakore and few others.

Sky Waltz and MTDC along with Rainbow Riderss have tied up to make the experience of "solitary floating in the clouds" possible in the region of Western Ghats.

The place will hold two one-hour flights daily, which would provide a total experience of three hours involving the exciting experience how air is filled and a guided tour of the balloon for enthusiasts who can afford Rs.12,000 per head.

Sky Waltz has a fleet of seven hot air balloons."The booming tourism in the nation has not only provided platform for more development but also has encouraged innovative ideas and exciting tourism products," said Bhujbal while launching the new adventure-cum-aero sports in the state, which drives the largest number of tourists, around six million per year all around the world.

More than 15,000 people have already experienced the adventure of hot air balloons since it was launched by Sky Waltz launched for hot air balloon safaris in Rajasthan, in the year 2008.

As for the fact, Sky Waltz is the first Indian company, which is licensed by the ministry of civil aviation to operate commercial hot air balloon flights across the country.