Tourists visiting the ancient city of Varanasi are in for a treat. Now, hot air balloon rides on the banks of the Ganga River at Assi Ghat provide a magnificent aerial view of the surroundings below. This is also the best time to plan a holiday to this holy city as it’s immersed in Christmas and New Year festivities this time of the year. The 10-day long festival, which was organized as a test run to assess the feasibility of holding adventure sports, commenced on Sunday. The hot-balloon ride, which is open to all tourists, has been fixed at Rs. 500 per head. Varanasi holds several attractions for the tourists visiting it, however, this kind of experience is completely different from the rest. On the occasion of the inaugural ride, hundreds of people assembled at the Assi Ghat to witness domestic and foreign tourists enjoy these exciting rides above the Ganga. One of the tourists, who was also amongst the first to have enjoyed the ride said, “The view from the top was breathtaking and the Varanasi skyline looked spectacular.” The hot-air balloon rides, which are part of the adventure tourism policy in the state, are scheduled to continue until 2nd January the next year. These rides have been started with the aim of promoting adventure tourism in the state. The entire event was organized by a private firm under the auspices of UP Tourism, and inaugurated by the mahant of Sri Sankat Mochan Temple, Prof. Vishambar Nath Mishra. According to the organizers, the balloon would remain fastened to the river bank, while the balloon rides would be open from 7am to 10pm. The organizers are expecting a huge rush in the coming days and towards that end, have offered bookings in advance. The ticket for a single balloon ride is Rs. 500 and the carrying capacity of each balloon is not more than five riders.
Most Hindus lovingly refer to Varanasi as Kashi, or the 'City of Lights'. Its very first residents are said to have arrived in the city in 1000 BC. Brought to life by the Hindu deity Lord Shiva, Varanasi is believed to be 3000-years old. A cacophony of sights and sounds ushers you in, the second you step onto the ghats– congregations of pilgrims flooding the steep steps sidling up to the river, saffron-clad Hindu priests bustling about the temple squares, and uninitiated travellers bumbling around Chowk, the city's primary thoroughfare. The banks are almost always awash with stark bodies of the sadhus, caked in grey ash, distant mournful melodies adrift the burning ghats and mystical dwellings of astrologers and palm readers, punctuating the landscape. Making way for an indelible, immersive experience, Varanasi's ghats are a visual and aural delight.