Riding in a hot air balloon is one of the most surreal experiences one can have. Looking down to see the landscape pass by, the hills, rivers and trees and breathing in fresh air is one of the most special experiences of my life.
Hot Air Ballooning is one of the best ways to explore some of the most stunning locations in the world. Picture yourself flying over the annual migration that happens in Serengeti, Tanzania. The stunning sight of animals crossing over plains. Hot Air Balloon rides in Cappadocia in Turkey are legendary. Even our neighbouring Myanmar has ballooning rides which show off their stunning temple ruins.
WHAT
For those wanting to experience the joys of flying in the sky and watching the world go by, there’s a way for you to score a ride without travelling the distance. Chennai and Pollachi in Tamil Nadu are hosting the Tamil Nadu International Balloon Fest 2019 between 4-6 Jan and 13-15 Jan respectively.
WHERE
The first leg of the festival will take place at Mahindra World City in Chennai while the Pollachi leg will be held at the Sakhti Mills Ground.
TELL ME MORE!
The Hot Air Balloon Festival promises to pack in adventure, thrill with a host of non balloon activities to keep you occupied. There’s a music festival, activities for children, food festivals and plays for everyone. Since entry to the festival is free, if you’ve not decided about ballooning, you can check it out and enjoy these other activities.
The festival takes safety very seriously. The festival is a ground for experienced balloon pilots to show their skills. Since the first edition of the festival, the participation has continued to swell. The balloon patterns have evolved and the festival sees a fair share eccentric balloon patterns.
ALL ABOUT POLLACHI
The Hot Air Balloon festival is not the only thing one can do in Pollachi. Here are some of the other things to do around Pollachi.
1. Parambikulam Tiger Reserve:
This reserve is located in the Palakkad district of Kerala. It is home to a wide variety of animals and plants, like tigers, elephants, langurs, bears, bison, deer among others. Tickets to the reserve can be booked online.
2. Parambikulam Wildlife Reserve:
The Wildlife Reserve is a serene spot located inside the Tiger Reserve. It is located in a valley between the Anaimalai Hills of Tamil Nadu and the Nelliampathi range in Kerala.
3. Sethumadai:
Sethumadai is a popular and stunning village located 25kms from Pollachi. It is famous for the Arulmigu Masani Amman Temple.
4. Zamin Samathur:
This is a stunning palace which has been preserved. It showcases the life of the royal family through the ages. It is possible to have an interaction with the family still living here, since they are very active socially.
5. Valparai:
This hill station is located about 65kms from Pollachi. This place is also known as the ‘7th Heaven’. It is also famous for 40 hairpin bends on the way to reach there.
6. Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park:
This Wildlife Sanctuary houses 250 different species of birds. It is also called Anamalai Tiger Reserve. It is Tamil Nadu’s biggest and most well kept sanctuary.
How to get there:
1. Pollachi is well connected by road from Coimbatore and Chennai. It is 8 hours from Bangalore, 7 hours from Chennai and 2 hours from Coimbatore City.
2. Coimbatore airport is the nearest airport to Pollachi. Coimbatore Airport is 1 hour away from Pollachi.
3. The nearest rail station is Coimbatore, although a more recent Pallani-Pollachi line has also started.
If you want to attend the Chennai leg of the festival, click here for the ultimate guide to planning a trip to the city.
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