Agra hosts its first ever ‘Taj Balloon Festival’ Saturday Nov 14,2015

 

Agra's first ever international balloon festival entitled - 'Taj Balloon Festival' -kick-started with a bang on Saturday morning Nov 14,2015

 

Tourists, locals thronged the venue for the festival since early morning hours as 15 different hot air balloons were all set to deck up the skies above Taj city.

 

The 5- day event will be organized at PAC ground along with various other activities.

The tourism department along with sky vaults is organizing this festival and also balloonists from 12 countries including United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and United Arab Emirates (UAE) are a part of the event.

The balloons will take off in the morning from three sites near the Taj Mahal. The sites will be outside the 500m heritage periphery as mandated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Besides, 100 locals also got a chance to of a free flights on the hot air balloons through a lucky draw by state tourism department.

Earlier on Friday Tourism Director, Amrit Abhijaat called a meeting of the officials concerned to check the arrangements and also agreed to extend the festival dates.

It may be noted here that the tourism department of Agra had earlier decided to organize international festival in order to boost tourism and attract them.

The festival will include lots of  activities for the tourists as well as the locals. From Holi mahotsav to travel mart, car rally to melas etc