Agra: Imagine flying high in the sky and gazing at the Taj Mahal from a hot air balloon. This will soon become a reality for tourists visiting Agra in the new tourist season beginning Sunday.
The Agra administration has planned to launch hot air balloon rides from the Shilp Gram — a cultural hub near the Taj Mahal — that will offer tourists an aerial view of the iconic monument and other attractions in Agra.
The balloon rides will be part of the Taj Carnival — a cultural festival that begins Sunday at the Shilp Gram and will continue till 25 November.
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Ritu Maheshwari, Agra divisional commissioner, told ThePrint that the Taj Carnival is being organised on the lines of the 10-day Taj Mahotsav, which is held at the end of the tourism season in February.
However, unlike the Taj Mahotsav, which charges an entry fee, the Taj Carnival will be free for all visitors, added Maheshwari.
The carnival will feature a variety of cuisines from different regions of India, such as Brij, Rajasthani, Awadhi, Mughlai, Gujarati, and South Indian, as well as local dishes from various districts of Uttar Pradesh. More than 50 food stalls will cater to the taste buds of the tourists.
There will also be stalls selling handicrafts, pottery, wood carvings, and other products made by local artisans. A special stall dedicated to millet products will also be set up, as the United Nations has designated 2023 as the Year of Millet at the request of the Government of India to promote its nutritional and environmental benefits.
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The carnival will also showcase folk performances by artists from different states.
Charchit Gaur, Agra Development Authority vice-chairman, said that the administration was looking for parties who could offer balloon rides in Agra on a regular basis. He said that three bids had been received so far and a contract would be finalised by the end of November.
Prahalad Agarwal, president of the Agra Tourist Welfare Chamber president, also told ThePrint that attractions such as the Taj Carnival, hot air balloon rides, and night bazaars should be made permanent in Agra, as they could increase the number of tourists staying the night in the city.
Hot air balloon rides not new
The highlight of the carnival will be the hot air balloon rides that will start from 17 October. The rides will initially be on offer for five days and may be extended if there is demand.
Talking about making balloon rides in Agra permanent, Gaur said that after the contract is finalised, tourists will be able to enjoy a scenic air trip on a 3.5-km loop that will go near the Taj Mahal, but not over it as it is a no-fly zone.
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“The balloons will take off from the bank of the Yamuna, about 1 km away from the Taj Mahal, and fly past the Taj Mahal, Mehtab Bagh, and Agra Fort. The balloons will have a capacity of up to eight passengers at a time, depending on the weather conditions, and the price of the rides will be decided after the contract is awarded,” he added.
Pushing for these attractions to be made permanent in Agra, Agarwal said that most tourists visit the city for a day trip to see the Taj Mahal, which benefits the local tourist industry less.
“Only if tourists spend a night or more in Agra will they contribute to the growth of tourism,” he added.
However, this is not the first time Agra has experimented with providing tourists with an aerial perspective of the Taj Mahal.
In 2013, a private company launched tethered helium balloon rides that took tourists up to 250m above the ground, offering a unique glimpse of the Taj Mahal from above. However, the project was abandoned after a storm damaged the balloon in 2014.
The Uttar Pradesh tourism department also organised Taj Balloon festivals in November 2015 and 2021, inviting hot air balloon pilots from across the world to participate. However, the government did not continue these events.
