Delhi Conducts Trial Hot Air Balloon Flights; DDA Plans Public Launch Between November-February

Delhi successfully conducted its first tethered hot air balloon trial flight on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, with Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on board at Baansera Park, marking the beginning of a new aerial tourism attraction for the capital. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) confirmed that public rides are expected to launch soon at four locations: Baansera Bamboo Park, Asita Riverfront, Yamuna Sports Complex, and Commonwealth Games Village Sports Complex. The initiative, timed for the ideal ballooning season from November to February, aims to showcase the city’s revitalized Yamuna floodplains and restored green spaces from 150–200 feet above ground.

The tethered rides, anchored to the ground for safety, will last 7–12 minutes and accommodate up to four passengers per flight. Ticket prices are likely to be around ₹3,000 plus taxes, with operations planned for four hours daily and possible extensions based on demand. Flights will offer panoramic views of the Yamuna riverfront, restored wetlands, and landmarks such as the Signature Bridge and Akshardham Temple, positioning the experience as a premium eco-tourism draw.

The project forms part of the DDA’s broader mission to transform once-degraded floodplains into vibrant public spaces. Baansera, formerly a construction debris dump, now hosts over 30,000 bamboo plants, water bodies, and a musical fountain, while Asita has been reclaimed from encroachments into a lush green corridor. The Yamuna Sports Complex and CWG Village Sports Complex, already popular recreational hubs, will add the balloon rides as a new attraction for families and tourists.

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A private operator selected through a competitive bidding process will manage the service under strict safety and environmental guidelines. Officials emphasized that tethered balloons eliminate weather-related risks associated with free-flying ones while still delivering a thrilling bird’s-eye perspective of Delhi’s transformation.

With trial flights declared successful and all approvals in place, the DDA is finalizing operational protocols and expects to open bookings within weeks. The launch is seen as a major boost for winter tourism in the capital, especially as pollution levels drop and visibility improves during the cooler months.

Once operational, the tethered hot air balloon rides will make Delhi one of the few Indian cities offering such experiences, joining Jaipur and Lonavala as destinations where visitors can soar above historic and natural landscapes. For residents and tourists alike, the initiative promises a fresh way to experience the city’s green resurgence from the sky.

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