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  Adventure Sports / Operators

  Aero Club of India

  You don’t need wings when the Aero Club of India can provide them for you in the form of paragliders, bungee cords, micro light flying, skydiving and hang gliding. The club is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports by the Government of India and is a member of the international aviation organization, Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI). This is ideal for children 12 and older.

  >Safdarjung Airport, Aurobindo Marg

  Tel: 011 2461 8931

  Web: www.aeroclubofindia.org

  The Ballooning Club of India

  Before security became an issue, hot air balloons from The Ballooning Club of India used to soar above Delhi’s monuments, forts and parks, allowing a breathtaking aerial view of the city. Now, the balloon takes off from Damdama Lake. Instead of spying monuments, one is likely to see wild rabbits and foxes, and is a wonderful way to view nature from above. The balloons hold up to 10 people and rise to heights of over 800 feet. The basket has no seats, so you will have to stand. The ride is best suited for children 5 and older. They will have to be accompanied by an adult. Kids love the thrill of taking off and landing and regular rides last one hour. It costs Rs 10,000 for 10 people, but a 15% discount is given for groups of 10. There are no toilets on board the balloon so do the needful before the ascent. It can get windy so pack a sweater or pull-over. Winter months are best for the balloon ride. The club also organizes the International Balloon Mela every year (see also Day Trippin’, p.116).

  >Office: 8-B Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg

  Tel: 011 2371 6665; Mr Gupta (chairman) 98100 11382

  Departure point: Damdama Lake, Haryana

  Entry: Rs 300 per child, Rs 500 for adults with a minimum of 10 people.

  Timings: Sept to March 6:30 am. It’s usually too hot from April to May, but it really depends on the weather. You can call and make a booking if the weather is fine.

  Delhi Tourism Adventure division

  From day picnics, water sports, rock climbing, parasailing, rafting and other activities that will have you gliding, sliding, flying and swimming, Delhi Tourism organizes it all. You can go parasailing at Kanwarshikha near Sohna in Haryana, about 60 km from Delhi. Professional instructors on hand make sure you land in one piece. Make bookings through the Delhi Tourism Development Corporation. Gather relatives or friends as a minimum of 10 people is required. Larger group sizes are required for the trekking trips, but smaller groups can pay slightly more per person and tailor their own trips.

  >Central Reservation Office Baba Kharak Singh Marg

  Tel: 011 2336 3607

  Entry: Depend on group size and activity

  Web: www.delhitourism.nic.in/publicpage/adventurelist.aspx

  Indian Mountaineering Foundation

  The Indian Mountaineering Foundation offers rock climbing and rappelling (also see Beauty and the Beast, p.26).

  >Indian Mountaineering Federation

  6 Benito Jaurez Marg, opposite Anand Niketan

  Tel: 011 2411 1211

  Entry: Rs 50 per 4 hours

  Timings: 3 pm to 7 pm daily, except national holidays

  Isan Sky Explorers

  Isan Sky Explorers provides all kinds of adventure sports including hot air ballooning, parasailing, rappelling and camping. Rates include breakfast and lunch or all meals for overnight stays. The activities are organized all year round in Gurgaon and Damdama Lake.

  >C-123 Defence Colony

  Tel: Ms Singh 98103 72327

  Entry: From 650 without meals depending on the activity; minimum group of 20 for trekking; smaller groups are OK for camping and other activities

  Peak Adventure Travel

  Specializes in trekking, camping, climbing and river expeditions.

  Corporate Office

  >C-114, Sector 2, Noida

  Tel: 0120 405 2615 to 99; 9811636814/9810352536

  Web: www.peakadventuretour.com

  Operational Office

  >A/2A-2, 1st Flr Shiv Arcade

  Acharya Niketan, Mayur Vihar Phase I

  Wanderlust

  Other than the Ballooning Club, balloon rides are also offered by Wanderlust.

  >G-18, 2nd Flr, Masjid Moth, GK Part II

  Tel: 011 4163 6757

  Timings: 10 am to 10 pm mainly in the month of July. According to a representative, it really depends on permissions from the Indian government.

  Amusement / Water Parks

  Aapno Ghar

  Aapno Ghar gives entertainment a whole new meaning and for an entry fee of Rs 200 that gives you access to all the rides all day long. You just cannot beat the price on what you get. There are rides of every shape, speed, for every age group so even the little kids won’t feel left out; coin-operated, flying saucers, trains and merry-go-rounds too. Large green open spaces means you don’t have to buy the food from the concession stands and can pitch a blanket and have a picnic as you recover from the activities. Aapno Ghar would make a wonderful venue for a kids’ birthday party.

  >43rd Mile Stone Village Shikhopur

  Delhi–Jaipur Road, NH-8 Gurgaon

  Tel: 0124 237 1281

  Timings: Daily 11 am to 7 pm

  Entry: Rs 200

  Web: www.aapnoghar.com

  Adventure Island

  Taking up a massive 62 acres in northwest Delhi, Adventure Island is chock full of rides and a water park. The park is adjacent to Metro Walk Mall. The 26 rides cater to kids from age 2 and up. Teens will especially like the cyclone and the Derby Devil bumper cars are perfect for the 4 and under set. There are lots of food options, rides, shows and parking spaces. The water park is nice to look at but perilous to be in. We would advise against it unless you can guarantee that you and your kids will not laugh with your mouths open and ingest any water!

  >Metro Walk, Sector 10, Rohini, opposite Rithala Metro Station

  Metro: Rithala

  Phone information centre: 120 465 0000

  Timings: Mon to Fri noon to 9 pm; Sat and Sun 2 pm to 11 pm

  Entry: Mon to Fri Rs 300 for adults, Rs 250 for children; Weekends and holidays Rs 375 for adults, Rs 300 for children

  Ansal Plaza

  Funkie Orbits (See below, pp.67–8.)

  > CG-5/A, (near South Extension)

  Tel: 011 2626 1365

  Timings: 11 am to 10:30 pm

  Drizzling Land

  Drizzling Land is more amusement park than water park but the water rides are a nice way to cool off during the summer.

  >Delhi–Rohtak Road Asauda More, Bahadurgarh

  Tel: 011 4234 0980

  Timings: Daily 10 am to 7 pm

  Entry: Rs 250

  >Ghaziabad Duhai, NH-58, near NRIMR College, Ghaziabad

  Tel: 95120 323 4130

  Timings: Daily 11 am to 9 pm

  Entry: Rs 100

  Fun ‘n’ Food Village

  Spread over an area of 10 acres, the Fun ‘n’ Food Village has the largest wave pool in Delhi, longest water slide in the country and the largest indoor snow park which includes ice skating in the winter. The water park has a wide range of water rides, pools and other rides. The seemingly never-ending water slides are the biggest draw. It also showcases culture and traditional arts and crafts of India. There are many performances by the local artists and crafts displays inside the park. There are more than 20 rides in the amusement park, of which the most popular are the Mono Rail and the Flying Carpet. There’s also a play area with balls, a ferris wheel and mini-train.

  >Old Delhi–Gurgaon Road, Kapashera

  Metro: From Rohini and get off at the Kapashera station

  Tel: 011 2506 4503

  Timings: Daily 10 am to 10 pm in summer; 10 am to 8 pm in winter; closed Diwali

  Entry: Rs 350 adults, Rs 300 children; Rs 50 extra on weekends and holidays

  Web: www.funfood.com

  Fun Town

  Fun Town is an amusement park and water park with lots of big slides; resort fac
ilities, swimming pool and restaurant.

  >Delhi–Rohtak Highway, Asauda Mod, Bahadurgarh

  Tel: 951276 280180

  Timings: Daily 10 am to 8 pm

  Entry: Rs 250 adults, Rs 200 children; free for kids less than 33 inches

  Splash Water Park

  Go splash about in a wave pool, kiddie pool, curving slides, family slide, cyclone slide, straight slide or get jiggy and do the electric slide under the sprinklers at Splash Water Park. You can even glide down the lazy river in a tube. Essentially, water, water everywhere but please don’t have a drink. Amusement park rides such as bumper cars, a sky train and tea cup rides are also on offer after you’ve put on dry clothes.

  >Main GT Karnal Road near Alipur

  Tel: 011 6515 0989, 011 2770 8503, 011 2770 8504

  Timings: Daily 10 am to 8 pm

  Entry: Rs 250 adults (above 4 ft 6 in); Rs 200 children (below 4 ft 6 in); Weekends adults Rs 300, children Rs 250

  Web: www.splashwaterpark.co.in

  Wet ‘n’ Wild Resort

  Wet ‘n’ Wild Resort lives up to the name. Located at about 30 km from Daula Kuan near Gurgaon, the water rides and bowling alley attract hordes of visitors. There is an amusement park within the amusement park where children have regular playground equipment including swings. Huge green lawns almost beg to be played on.

  >45 Milestone, National Highway 8 Village Naurangpur, Gurgaon

  Tel: 0124 237 2931

  Timings: Daily 10 am to 8 pm

  Entry: Adults Rs 200; Children Rs 150 ages 10 and younger

  Worlds of Wonder @ Entertainment City

  Ideal for kids 10 and older as there is a strict height requirement of at least 5 feet at Worlds of Wonder. The rides are for those who possess a lot of courage, certainly not for the faint-hearted, and can rival rides at international amusement parks. The park has more than 30 rides and is divided into entertainment zones for kids, teenagers and for families. Each zone has a specific set of entertainment and food courts geared toward that segment. If there’s any energy left, go next door to The Great India Place and catch a flick at the 6-screen cinema.

  > The Great India Place, Plot No. A-2, Sector 38, Noida

  Tel: 0120 465 0000

  Timings: Daily noon to 8 pm

  Entry: Rs 275 adults, Rs 225 children

  Bowling

  Amoeba (4 lanes)

  >Shop No. 4A, Metropolitan Mall (MGF), MG Road Gurgaon

  Tel: 0124 320 8288

  Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm

  Entry: Rs 100 to Rs 125 per game

  Blu-O (24 lanes)

  Spread over 42,500 square feet in Ambi Mall in Gurgaon, it is a complete gaming experience with karaoke rooms, a tattoo bar, gaming stations, i.e., an X-box 360 room, and live music. Located on level 4, lanes can be booked for birthday parties also.

  > NH-8 Road, Ambience Mall, Level 4, Gurgaon

  Tel: 0124 466 5611

  Timings: 11 am to 11:30 pm

  Entry: Rs 100 per game before 5 pm; Rs 175 after 5 pm; Rs 35 for shoe rental

  City Bowl (4 lanes)

  >Shopprix Mall, 2nd Flr, Sector 61, Noida

  Tel: 0120 433 4477

  Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm

  Entry: Rs 125 per game

  Destination Point (4 lanes) Also offers a video game parlour, rock climbing and has a restaurant.

  >12/2 Main Mathura Road, Faridabad

  Tel: 95129 2275139

  Timings: Daily 11 am to 9 pm

  Entry: Rs 100 per game

  First Bowl (4 lanes)

  >32nd Milestone, NH-8 Gurgaon

  Tel: 0124 233 2571

  Timings: Daily 11:30 am to 11:30 pm

  Entry: Rs 150 per game

  Fun ‘n’ Fair (2 lanes)

  >A-38 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area, Main Mathura Road

  Tel: 011 2695 9563

  Timings: Daily 10 am to 9 pm

  Entry: Rs 100 per game

  Future Bowl (6 lanes)

  Video game parlour and snack bar

  >Essex Farms, Aurobindo Marg, under IIT Flyover

  Tel: 011 2652 8080

  Timings: Daily 11 am to 11:30 pm

  Entry: Rs 200 per game

  Galaxy Entertainment (6 lanes)

  >The Great India Place, 3rd Flr, Entertainment City, Plot No. A-2, Noida

  Tel: 93507 43866

  Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm

  Entry: Weekdays Rs 150 per game; weekends Rs 200 per game

  Planet Bowling (4 lanes)

  >A-38 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Estate Mathura Road, Badarpur (near Ford showroom)

  Tel: 011 2695 9665

  Timings: Daily 10 am to 9:30 pm

  Entry: Rs 100 per game

  Thirty Second Milestone (4 lanes)

  >Chander Nagar Gurgaon (Near Signature Tower)

  Tel: 0124 233 2571

  Timings: Daily 11:30 am to 11:30 pm

  Entry: Rs 150 per game

  Web: www.32ndmilestone.com

  Bungee Jumping

  If braving Delhi traffic at rush hour doesn’t produce enough of a high, then bungee jumping is the way to go. Landlocked city dwellers don’t have to venture beyond Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium where a mobile crane has been set up. Wanderlust also has sites outside the city for those looking for adventure-themed outings.

  Aero Club of India

  Bungee jumping and other adventure sports. (See Adventure Sports, p.57.)

  >Safdarjung Airport, Aurobindo Marg

  Tel: 011 2462 1341

  Wanderlust Travels

  >G-18, 2nd Flr, Masjid Moth, GK Part II

  Tel: 011 4163 6757

  Timings: July 10 am to 10 pm. According to a representative, it really depends on permissions from the Indian government.

  Specifications: From 90 to 330 feet.

  Restrictions: For ages 14 to 50. Teens will need a parent signature and over 50s will need a doctor’s note regarding their health.

  Entry: From Rs 600 to Rs 1000 per person.

  Web: www.wanderlustindia.com/bungee_jumping.htm

  Cycling

  DelhiByCycle

  If you’re looking for a pure street experience that will embrace the sights, sounds, smells and colours that make Delhi the dynamic place that it is, DelhiByCycle guided tours on bicycle will provide just that. The 3-hour tours that can take 2 routes in Old Delhi and one in New Delhi, cover the usual suspects like the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and the spice market. However, this tour takes a meandering ride through the many bazaars that are like no other place in the world. It is ideal for riders ages 12 and older. The only real criterion is that those interested already know how to ride a bike. The bikes, Atlas Sharp Shooters, are provided by the guide, Jack, a Dutch man who now calls New Delhi home. Water bottles are provided and helmets are available for those who request them. There are 2 rest stops along the way, one which includes a Mughal breakfast on the Old Delhi route. The average group size is 7 people, but there is a minimum of 4 for riding.

  >Meet: New Delhi Railway Station Ajmeri Gate side

  Tel: 98189 81194

  Timings: Daily from 8:30 am in winter; 7:30 am in spring; 7 am in summer

  Entry: Rs 950 per person for groups of 4 to 7. The cost includes bicycle usage, tour, breakfast and water; smaller groups can be customized but the price will have to be worked out with the guide.

  Web: www.delhibycycle.com for bookings

  Delhi Cycling Club

  The Initiative for Transport and Development Programme organizes heritage bike tours, rallies and events to promote a cleaner city. It also runs the Delhi Cycling Club.

  >11/1 Jangpura Road

  Tel: 011 2437 3584

  Web: www.itdp.org for more information

  Go-Karting

  Bowling and go-karting naturally go together and it is great when they can be found under one roof at some of the places below. Go-karting is suited for kids 10 and older so the little ones can enjoy bowling while the older siblings zoom around the
track.

  Chandigarh (15 Scorpion cars)

  >Albert Ross Racing, 41/8 Milestone, Ambala–Chandigarh highway, Zikrakpur. On the Delhi–Chandigarh GT Road at the union territory border just 20 minutes from Delhi.

  Timings: Daily 3 pm to 10 pm

  Entry: Rs 50 for 3 laps; Rs 100 for 8 laps; Rs 150 for 15 laps.

  Length of track: 350 metres

  Destination Point (10 Scorpion cars)

  >12/2 Main Mathura Road, Faridabad

  Tel: 0129 227 5139

  Timings: Daily 11 am to 9 pm

  Entry: Rs 100 for 6 laps; Rs 120 for 8 laps; Rs 180 for 15 laps

  Length of track: 320 metres

  Fun and Fair (10 Scorpion cars)

  >A-38 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area Main Mathura Road

  Tel: 011 2695 9563

  Timings: Daily 10 am to 9 pm

  Entry: Rs 100 for 8 laps

  Length of track: Less than 1 km

  Planet Bowling (5 go-karts)

  >A-38 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Estate

  Mathura Road, Badarpur

  Tel: 011 2695 9665

  Timings: Daily 10 am to 9:30 pm

  Entry: Rs 100 per go-kart; Rs 50 per bumper car

  Thirty Second Milestone (8 Mobile go-karts)

  >Chander Nagar Gurgaon (Near Signature Tower)