Huge hot-air balloons dotted the skies of the Araku valley as the three-day Araku Balloon Festival got under way to a perfect start on Friday morning.
Misty weather in the early hours of Friday soon gave way to clear, blue skies as 20 balloons in various sizes and shapes soared thousands of feet up in the air, piloted by balloonists who came from 15 countries to participate in the second edition of the festival.
Marvellous sight
Hundreds of locals and enthusiasts gathered at NTR Grounds, the venue of the festival, to witness the towering balloons — some as large as 2.10 lakh cubic feet — gently soar up into the sky to a maximum height of 4,500 feet.
A few people who got the chance to fly in the balloons marvelled at the breathtaking aerial views of the valley, enveloped in a thin veil of fog.
Wout Bakker, a balloonist from the Netherlands with 25 years of experience, said, “Araku is an excellent place to explore for balloonists. The vast expanse of fields and valleys surrounding it makes it a fascinating sight. We like to fly in the dry season after the harvest as it makes the landing easier.”
Mr. Bakker was flying one of the biggest balloons of the festival that stood tall at 2.10 lakh cubic feet. Each balloonist has two gadgets to monitor the direction, speed and height at which they fly.
The highlight of the festival was balloons featuring iconic characters like Bruno Clown, Honey Bee, Baby Car and Happy Children.
Akshaya Nori, who got an opportunity to fly on a hot air balloon on Friday, described it as an experience of a lifetime. Mr. Nori flew aboard the ‘Friendship Balloon’ that aims to promote a message. “The Friendship Balloon aims to promote friendship, trust and unity between people worldwide,” said Craig, an Australian balloonist. “The basic concept is that the balloon will be shared among many different pilots who will make a record of their flight, such as the timing and location of the flight. The balloon is then handed over to the next pilot,” he said.
The evening sky at the NTR Grounds came alive with the glow of the hot-air balloons which were securely tethered to the ground, floating just a few metres above the ground. Scores of people lined up at the balloons to take pictures, while some got the chance to experience a tethered flight.
The camping site had 74 tents hosting the international pilots, crew and media delegates at the site located near Bosubeda village in Araku. More visitors are expected on the last two days of the festival as it coincides with the weekend, and most hotels, resorts and tourist lodges are reporting full occupancy for the next two days.
Tourism boost
Tourism Bhuma Akhila Priya, who visited Araku on Friday and took a ride on a hot-air balloon, said the festival will lend more impetus to Araku as a tourism destination. “The response has been fantastic for the second edition and this will continue to be an annual feature. We have planned 20 events every year to showcase the best of Andhra Pradesh,” Ms. Akhila Priya said.