10 Best Amusement Parks of India

IHR is unveiling a new series of informative articles this summer. To be termed as the “10 Best” Series it will showcase some of India’s best loved places, big and small, entertaining and learning across the four corners and beyond. These places would be based on actual experience on the basis of journeys undertaken by our researchers and writers.

Amusement Parks amuses kids and no less the elders. So we thought of starting our series with 10 Best Amusement Parks in India. At the outset we must clear that it is the fun quotient that will be the deciding factor.

Essel World and Water Kingdom, Mumbai IHR Rating: *****

The Essel World together with Water Kingdom is a water theme park of international class. Essel World is located at Gorai village few kilometers away from Mumbai city limits. This amusement center, spread over an area of 64 acres is claimed to be the largest in Asia. The journey to the park is equally exciting if you opt for a ferry ride from the Marve Beach.

Essel world in Mumbai

An assortment of rides makes kids and adults alike to go berserk. Some of the attractions include Ricki’s Rocking Alley, Arctic Circle the ice skating ring, Coin operated Game Arcade, the Convoy Truck, Rio Grande Train and a host of other attractions makes for a perfect break.

Shanku Water Park, Ahmedabad IHR Rating: ****

Shanku Water Park is just 60 km from Ahmedabad on the Mehsana Highway. Shanku Water Park is supposed to be the first of its kind in the country. This park has some amazing rides for the children that include towering slides, twisting rides, Aqua Tubes and rollicking wave pools. A beautiful lake with a crystal clear water and full fledged, fitness club and sports complex are the other attractions here. Children below 2 years are allowed free entry and for adults the tariff is Rs 160.

Veega Land, Kochi, IHR Rating: ***

Veega land located to the east of Kochi in god’s own country Kerala is just 24 kms from the city limits is an amusement park with excellent water sports facilities. The place is very picturesque as it is nestled against a verdant hillside. Attractions here include wet and dry, adventure rides, laser shows, musical fountains, virtual reality theater et al. kids below 90 cm in height are allowed free entry.

Snow World, Hyderabad IHR Rating: ***

Want to experience the snowfall of Kashmir or Switzerland in the scorching heat of the Deccan summer? The place to head straight is the Snow World. Located Lower Tank Bund Road in Hyderabad, the place is one helluva of a place that thrills kids and adults alike.

Snow World in Hyderabad

At temperature below zero degree centigrade visitors can look forward to a snow –filled fun holiday. So along with sliding and skating one can also indulge in throwing snowballs at each other. However, the snowfall the prime attraction here takes place for ten minutes in a session of every one-hour.

Worlds of Wonder, Noida IHR Rating: *****

Coming to our very own Noida, Worlds of Wonder amusement park located as part of the Great India Place, in front of the sector- 18 market is perfect for adventure seekers. We have no hesitation to say that it is the best amusement park in the national capital region(NCR) of Delhi. Spread over an area of 145 acres, the park has a gaming zone, open air cafeteria, rain dance music and more than 30 rides, including those for which you need some real nerves.

Worlds of Wonder Noida

The park has been segmented into three entertainment zones – for kids, teenagers and one for the families with own set of attractions. Children above 3 feet of height are allowed to take rides. For 3 rides the price is Rs 200 and Rs 400 for unlimited rides.

Baywatch, Kanyakumari IHR Rating: ****

Baywatch proves wrong the popular notion that Kanyakumari is all about pilgrimage and temple. High on the fun quotient Baywatch is located on the Kovalam Road just 2 km from the Bus Stand. Though it is the namesake of the famous TV serial featuring Pamela Anderson, but it has got absolutely nothing to do with it. It is the first Amusement park in India that has received ISO 9001:2000 certification. Apart from the usual rides what makes it stand apart is a Wax museum something of a first in India. The celebrities who have their wax models here include Mother Theresa, Manmohan Sigh, Tamil Nadu’s ex CM J. Jayalalitha, Saddam Hussein, superstars Amitab Bacchan, Rajanikanth, Mohan Lal etal. Kids below 90 cm are allowed free entry into this theme park.

MGM Dizzee World, Chennai IHR Rating: ****

MGM Dizzee World located on the East Coast Road (ECR) in Chennai, is a good place to visit for young and olds alike. The park has all the ingredients for a fun filled day. The usual rides include the Roller Coaster, Flying ship, Flying Train. Musical shows in the evening, artificial Wave Pool, amphitheatre and an artificial water falls called as Chinna Kutrallam draws huge crowd here.

Wonder La, Bangalore IHR Rating: ***

Wonder La is located on the Bangalore- Mysore Highway just 30 kms from Bangalore city near Bidadi. The park may not be that5 big but scores on the cleanliness and maintenance front. It provides enough entertainment for the whole family to keep them engaged for the whole day. Water slides, Crazy cars, Termite Coaster, Kiddies Wheel, Mini Express, Toon Tango are some of the rides to look forward to. Kids below 90 cm are allowed free entry.

Ocean Park, Hyderabad IHR Rating: ***

Ocean Park is located at Gandipet near Osman Sagar Lake just 20 km. from Hyderabad. The amusement park spread over a 20 acres of landscaped garden is divided into different sections. In the section for kids there is a wading pool and fountain along with other rides.

For the adults, apart from some really thrilling rides, water slides are also aplenty. A swimming pool and facility for Jet skiing is also available. For the entry tickets, Children above 4 feet five inches height are charged the same as that of adults.

Fun and food Village,Gurgaon IHR Rating: ***

Fun N Food Village is an amusement park for all age groups. It is located just 3 kilometers from the international airport on the Old Delhi – Gurgaon Highway. Special attractions include a large wave pool, indoor Snow Park, amusement rides, water slides etal. Children, when accompanied by adult below the height of 33 inches is granted free entry to the park and Senior citizens( above 65 years of age) are granted some special privileges.

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Perfect Breaks: Weekend Hideaways North of Mumbai

We are back again this week with more destinations off Mumbai. This time we decided to stick to NH8 and ventured north of Mumbai to make inroads into the territory known as North Konkan. Lo and behold! We came out with some startling gems of a destination – on and off National Highway 8 and further into the Gujarat Coast. We were greeted with myriad attractions ranging from hot springs, dense greens, Chikoo orchards, pristine beaches, meandering roads, sacred religious spots…. The attractions never cease. So stop dreaming and start journeying with us to these Konkan getaways and make the most of your weekends.

Marve, Manaori and Gorai: Beaches to Begin with

Marve is just 50 km north of Mumbai in the Thane district. Marve though is home to a large number of high society Mumbaikars but offers many things to enjoy for common mortals. Marve Beach is a tiny beach with clear waters. The Beachfront is filled with stalls selling fresh seafood. The place sees heavy rush on the last day of the Ganesha Chatuthi as immersions take place here amidst the sound of drums and chants.

Other attractions include low hills along the beach and the beautiful bungalows to envy upon. Look forward to magnificent views of sunrise and sunset.

Just across the creek from Marve, a fifteen-minute ferry ride will take you to Gorai and Manori. Gorai and Manori used to be the part of the Portuguese colony of Bassein.

Gorai Beach is a good place to have a swim but be careful as the waters are known to have strong underwater currents. Nearby attractions include the crumbling Holy Magi Church, Church of Our Lady of the sea at Utan and Esselworld, the amusement park.

Manori has 2 km long stretch of beach lined with palm trees and rows of seafront hotels is an ideal place for parties and picnics. Aksa and Erangal Beach are nearby attractions.

Vajreshwari: Get Soaked in Devotion and Hot Springs too

Vajreshwari is 81 km north of Mumbai and is a meeting place of devotees and weekend travelers. The Vajreshwari temple a relic of Maratha glory is the main attraction of this place. The temple is supposed to have been built by Chimaji Appa, the younger brother of the great Peshwa Bajirao I. to celebrate the fall of the Portugese Bassein(Vasai)n 1739.

The temple dedicated to goddess Vajreshwari stands atop a hillock and you can take your car halfway up the temple. Apart from the grand temple other attractions here include the cluster of Hot water springs at a place called Aklola a km away from the temple.

Ganeshpuri the place synonymous with the great saint Swamy Nityanand is 2 kms from here. Do not miss the Nityanand Mandir housing the Samadhi of Swami Niyananand and Sri Gurudev Ashram.

Palghar: Bask in Nature amidst the Chaos

A 3 hours journey takes you Palghar around 120 km north of Mumbai. Palghar offers some serene beaches for you to take leisurely strolls. The first point is a little known beach Shirgaon. The backdrop to the beach is formed by the imposing Shirgaon fort. This 18^th century fort now almost in a ruinous state once housed the brave Chatrapati Shivaji and his soldiers. Nothing much to see on the fort though, other than catching a good view of the Arabian Sea and the Shiragaon village from the roof of the fort.

A 25 minutes drive through uneven narrow roads surrounded by thick trees takes you to Satapati Beach. The Beach is nothing unusual with a fish market very near. If you are a fish aficionado this is the place to be to pack some fresh sea fish before they are transported to Mumbai and sold at exorbitant prices. Local Ram Mandir is another attraction here. Another attraction of Palghar is the Kelva Beach stretches for 7 kilometers and is relatively a clean and unexplored beach. Rows of Suru trees line the beach. The16^th century Portugese built Kelva Fort lies at the southern end of Kelva which is accessible only during the times of low tides. Good for trekkers, not advisable for persons with low energy though. Sheetladevi Temple is located very close to the Kelva beach. It houses a shrine with an unique idol of Goddess Devi. Kelva Dam is located around 10 kms away but the journey can be a bit tumultuous considering the roads.

Manor is 18 km before Palghar if you are coming from Mumbai. Manor is also known as the gateway to Kelva-Mahim coast. Manor is the confluence Point of Vaitarna River and its tributary Deherja. Do not miss the local Baazar here for striking some good bargains. A very scenic place but hidden behind the façade of secrecy is a pplace called Devkop that falls on the way between Palghar and Manor. Devkop Lake and the accompanying dam is almost picture perfect. Have a boat ride here, trust us you will remember it for a long long time.

Sajan: Awakening the Sleeping Beauty

The Sleepy town of Sajan is 134 km north of Mumbai and a slight detour from the NH 8. Sajan with the natural beauty as its USP provides the perfect getaway from the humdrum of urban stress. Palusa Waterfall 12 km from Sajan is a thrilling sight. The waterfall plunging from the height of 30 feet is shaped like a horse-shoe. The pool extending beyond some distance provides the perfect spot for a leisurely swim. However during the non monsoon months when the water dries up but the place is used in river crossing activities. A light trek across the jungle would lead you to Mohkrud Dam. It is one-and-a-half kilometres from Vikramgad. If you are in the right season then get ready to be greeted by a large flock of migratory birds. Another nearby attraction of Sajan is the Tiger Caves 16 km on the Vikramgad Manor Road.

Jawhar: The Cradle of Civilization

Jawahar just 25 km from Sajan and 166 north of Mumbai is the seat of the Warli tribals. “Nature at its very best”- that’s what sums up the innate beauty of Jawahar. Things to see here include the Jay Vilas palace, the residence of the tribal kings here. Then there is the seasonal Dadra-Kopra falls. Hanuman Point allows you to get a good view of the valley. Sunset Point is a vantage point here from where you can see one of the best sunsets ever. Shirpamal just outside Jawahar on the Nashik Road is as much sought after as a historic place as also for its riveting natural beauty. Besides, Jawhar is also known for its now world famous Warli paintings.

Bordi: Look beyond the Chikoo Bowl

Long stretches of white beaches, miles and miles of Chiku orchards and hospitable people makes Bordi a much sought after destination of the harried Mumbaikars. Yes Bordi has come of age in comparison to its better known neighbours of Dahanu, Umergaon and Daman. The prime attraction of Bordi is the 17 km beach. Here you can be at peace with yourself without getting disturbed by anyone. The Casurina Trees and The backdrop chikoo orchards add to the beauty of the beach. Nearby attractions include Dahanu 14 kms away and Umergaon (10 km). Dahanu- Bordi is 179 km north of Mumbai.

Silvassa: Drool to the old-world charm

Sandwiched between the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, Silvassa still shows sign of the old-world and has an air of relaxation.. For the uninitiated Silvassa is just 185 km north of Mumbai. Silvassa very much part of the Portuguese control is yet to shed its colonial past fully. Infact the very name Silvassa has Portuguese connotations. Silva means ‘woods’ and ‘glades’ in Portuguese One of the remnants of the past colonial masters is the Our Lady of Piety Church located on the Naroli Road. Attractions of Silvassa include Hirwa Van or the Pipariya Udyan a fun place for kids with a mini zoo. 6 kms away is the Vanganga Lake and the Island Garden, complete with c wooden bridges, paddle boats jogging paths, thatched huts lures you for an old-world romance.

Just 25 Km away from Silvassa is a place called Nargol. Nargol with its breathtakingly beautiful coastline offers unspoilt virgin Beaches- all for you to explore

Daman: The last of the Portuguese Bastions

Daman our last destination is 192 km north of Mumbai. Daman also shows a strong Portuguese influence who left the place as late as in 1961. Daman is essentially divided into two parts Nani Daman and Moti Daman. Some of the attractions of Moti Daman includes Governor’s palace, Cathedral of Bom Jesu, The Church of our Lady, the ruins of Dominican Monastery. Satya Sagar Udyan offers a good place for evening stroll. St. Jerome fort is the prime attraction of Nani Daman. Devka Beach (5 km north of Daman) and Jampore Beach to the south of Nani Daman are the other attractions. Hope you enjoyed these journeys as much as we did.