31-12-2020 | 17:42 PM
India's 1st hot air balloon safari
Context
On 25 December 2020, India's 1st hot air balloon safari was launched by Madhya Pradesh forest minister Vijay Shah at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh. There are several hot air balloon rides in the country. However, this is the first hot air balloon safari.
Key Highlights
This hot air balloon safari service is being operated by the company Sky Waltz, which is a Jaipur-based company.
Visitors will be able to see leopards, tigers, Wild Cat, Indian sloth bear, Black Buck, and other animals from a height through this hot air balloon safari.
This service will be restricted only to the buffer area (which is is spread over an area of 820.03 Sq Km.) of the reserve.
The state government was also planning to introduce similar service in other tiger reserves of the state sch as Pench Tiger Reserve, Kanha Tiger Reserve, etc.
It is the first in any tiger reserve in the country.
About Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
In the year 1968, Bandhavgarh National Park was proclaimed a national park and in the year 1993 it became a Tiger Reserve.
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is located in the eastern Satpura hill range of Katni and Umaria districts of M.P.
It is renowned for its Evergreen Sal forest.
The total area of the reserve is 1536.93 Sq Km. Out of which 716.90 Sq Km is the core area, and 820.03 Sq Km is the buffer area.
How a Hot Air Balloon works?
The hot air balloons work on the principle “Hot air rises”. When the air inside the balloon is heated, it becomes lighter than the cooler air outside. This causes the balloon to float upwards. When the air is allowed to cool, the balloon begins to come down. The hot air balloons do not have separate mechanism for steering or propulsion. The balloons use the speed of the wind to move.
