LONAVALA HOT AIR BALLOONING
Lonavala, a popular hill station near Pune, is known for its lush green mountains and valleys, especially during the monsoons. Located at an altitude of 2047 feet above sea level, the lovely little mountain hamlet is well known for its caves, waterfalls and fortresses from the Maratha era. People come here to enjoy the town’s monsoon chills, just as they come here for activities such as trekking, hiking, caving and adventure sports.
Lonavala’s proximity to both Pune and Mumbai helps it in retaining its popularity as a top tourist destination in India. But what makes it a must-visit destination for all are the variety of things to do here. Of course, there are theme parks, wax museums and more, but the pull of Lonavala’s tranquil lakes and gorgeous views from atop fortresses such as Lohagad Fort and Tikona Fort is far bigger.
And you can exactly see why stunning aerial visuals of Lonavala, that do a wonderful job of capturing its full monsoon glory in vivid shades of green.
If you are ever in Lonavala, especially after a good monsoon, you absolutely must try hot air ballooning. The experience is to die for.
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Hot Air Ballooning in Lonavala
A hot air balloon safari in Lonavala takes you on an adventure to view the majestic Sahyadri mountains, its forts, misty lakes, caves, waterfalls and forests from an aerial vantage point. Flying high above the mountains you can view greenery that takes your breath away during sunrise or sunset. Getting an aerial hawk-eye view of Lonavala’s forts, such as the Tikona Fort, is truly an unparalleled experience.
Here are some stunning visuals of Lonavala’s famous Tikona Fort. Follow Treks and Trails India for more such amazing videos.
The hot air balloon rides last approximately an hour and takes you to a height of about 1200 feet above land. Anywhere between 4 to 8 people are aboard each air balloon, giving you adequate space to enjoy the unhindered views. Flights are times twice during the day, usually 2 hours before sunrise and 2 hours before sunset. This allows the flight to take optimal height for the best views before the sun rises or sets.
Though customized packages are available, most general hot air ballooning packages offer hotel pick up and light snacks. Ballooning activities usually don’t operate during the monsoon. Lonavala is a lovely hill station when viewed on the ground, but it is uncommonly beautiful when viewed from up above.
Here’s a video of Lonavala’s hot air ballooning experience with Skywaltz Balloon Safaris posted by Kamal Raghani.
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Hot Air Balloon Safari Package Prices
Hot Air Balloon rides in Lonavala are usually offered as part of packages and package prices during the week are lower than the prices on weekends. Adult tickets are anywhere between INR 8,400 to INR 10,000 per person excluding an 18% GST. Kids under 5 are not allowed on these rides. Child tickets are between INR 5,700 and INR 6,500. There are no extra fees for foreign nationals. Rides are generally open on public holidays as well.
Here’s some more aerial footage of Lonavala and Khandala ghats to wow you. Follow DJ Blog for more such videos.
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Other Information
Flights are fully insured and pilots are licensed as well as experienced. Still, hot air ballooning can be scary for most people, so do be mentally prepared before you fly. Try to get there early if you are getting there by yourself. Inflating the hot air balloons is quite a process and you shouldn’t miss watching this captivating process. Safe hot air ballooning requires cooperative weather. So if the weather is bad, be prepared for your ride to be cancelled or rescheduled.
Apart from hot air ballooning and other adventure activities, here are the top 20 things you should see and do in Lonavala. Subscribe to ONLY in INDIA for more such videos.
