Hyderabad’s Hot Air Balloon Festival Takes Flight Jan 16-18
Hyderabad’s Hot Air Balloon Festival Takes Flight Jan 16-18
Tickets are selling fast as Hyderabad hosts a three-day Hot Air Balloon Festival with morning flights near Golconda Fort and evening tethered rides at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad.
Hyderabad is hosting a three-day Hot Air Balloon Festival from January 16 to 18, offering a mix of morning heighs and evening tethered flights that spell a colorful backdrop over the city. Morning flights launch from the Hyderabad Golf Club near the iconic Golconda Fort, with around 18 balloons taking to the skies and about 40 passengers aboard. The event brings together print and electronic media professionals along with social media influencers who get a first-hand look at the spectacle.
By evening, the crowd shifts to the Parade Grounds in Secunderabad where 10 to 15 balloons are tethered and ascend to a limited height. These rides accommodate roughly 130 to 133 visitors who booked online, delivering a safe, controlled experience as riders hover gently above the ground for about seven minutes at around 50 feet.
The festival opened with an inauguration by the Minister for Tourism and Culture, Jupally Krishna Rao, who also joined a morning flight. He spent about 1.5 hours in the air, covering an estimated 13 kilometers, before concluding the journey near Appajiguda. Tickets for the popular rides sold out within minutes, underscoring the strong public interest in this Telangana showcase.
Officials emphasize that the dual-format design – unbridled morning flights and tethered evening rides – allows broader participation while maintaining safety protocols. The festival aims to boost tourism and provide a memorable aerial experience against Hyderabad’s historic skyline, including views of the Golconda Fort and surrounding neighborhoods as day turns to evening.
