Imagine a life where all you get to do is relax, have fun, eat lip-smacking finger food, and enjoy some quality time with friends and family. Perfect, isn’t it? That’s the kind of respite that amusement parks provide us from the daily grind of our busy lives. We all know about the famous Disneyland, Disney World, and Universal Studios, but back home too, there are such endeavors that have been built to give us a chance to become kids once again, and enjoy ourselves to the fullest. Add to the merriment, some thrills and a sense of adventure, and there could be nothing more ideal than this. India is home to many amusement parks that have been inspired by the same in other international locations. Each such place has a unique element, something that makes them different from one another. Other than the usual rides, each park has its own theme and that is what makes them special, not just to children, but also to adults who want to relive their playful childhood. So, here are the top 12 most famous amusement parks in India.
1. Appu Ghar, Gurgaon
The earliest amusement park in India,’ Appu Ghar’ in New Delhi is extremely popular with visitors and is also a huge tourist attraction. Kids simply adore the mascot, “Appu” the elephant. The theme park in Delhi closed down in 2008. Presently, a new ‘Appu Ghar’ has been inaugurated in Gurgaon, spread over an area of 60 acres. Inside the premises, you can find a water park, the exciting Ferris wheel, a family entertainment center which conducts various activities for children and adults, a night club, amongst others. A sports academy on the property is also under construction.
Photo Credit
http://www.appughar.com/Photo_Gallery_Details.aspx?mpgid=21&pgid1=59&pgidtrail=60&Gallery_ID=1
2. Nicco Park, Kolkata
Located in Kolkata, ‘Nicco Park’ lies on a property measuring 40 acres, and is known for its eco-friendly atmosphere. More than 35 different adventure rides are on offer here. What makes this fun land unique is the fact that it incorporates education with entertainment. Each ride comes with a note on the principles behind its working. The place also houses a ‘Solar Energy Village’ which provides visitors with extensive knowledge about the uses of various kinds of energy sources. The Green House in the premises also sells a wide range of plants. The popular rides here include the Moonraker, Cyclone, and Magic Carpet. The Giant Cyclone has won many awards, including ‘Best Indigenously Manufactured Ride,’ presented by the ‘Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries’.
3. EsselWorld, Mumbai
The largest fun park in India, ‘EsselWorld’ is the star attraction of Mumbai. Its Water kingdom is the Largest Theme Water Park in Asia. The ice skating rink, roller coasters, dance zone, bowling alley, and rides such as ‘Monsters In The Mist,’ are the hot picks if you are ever planning to spend a day at the park. The location also provides an affordable restaurant which provides a variety of cuisines to suit the Indian palate.
Photo Credit http://www.joinfilms.com/amusement-park/essel-world
4. Wonderla, Bangalore
Launched in 2005, this pride of Bangalore is one of the most sought-after adventure parks, offering a wide variety of dry as well as water rides. Like its counterpart in Kochi, Wonderla has an XD MAX theatre and also contains rides like the Pirate Ship, Toon Tango, Dungeon Ride, Flash Tower, Equinox, Y-Scream, Drop zone, Harakiri and Boomerang.
Photo Credit http://www.wonderla.com/bangalore-amusement-park/high-thrill-rides/insanity.html
5. Wonderla (previously Veegaland), Kochi
Earlier known famously as Veegaland, this Kerala attraction is now called Wonderla, and is located atop the Pallikkara hill, near Kochi. Maintaining high quality standards, this amusement park is environment friendly, using electricity generated form solar power and resorting regularly to rainwater harvesting. The theme park houses attractions such as the XD MAX film theatre, the spooky Balarama Cave, laser shows, dancing fountain, and the Cinemagic Ride. Apart from these, the water sports like the Slides and Rapids are always popular.
Photo Credit http://paradise-kerala.com/blog/top-tourist-places-in-kerala/
6. Adlabs Imagica, Mumbai & Pune
Located on the highway connecting Mumbai to Pune, this entertainment ground boasts of having a varied choice of rides, ranging from the thrilling ones to those that are family-friendly. The property also has a water zone that is frequented by people of all ages. The most favored ones are the Wrath of the Gods, Prince of the Dark Waters, Bump It Boats, Scream Machine, and Deep Space. The park also provides accommodation facilities for up to 300 visitors.
Photo Credit http://www.indiamarks.com/adlabs-imagica-where-stories-come-alive/#
7. Queensland, Chennai
This entertainment ground was established on the Chennai-Bangalore Trunk Road, in 2003, on a 70-acre property. Some of the most thrilling divertissements are the Free Fall Tower, Cable Car, Alpen Blitz, Hanging Coaster, Centrox, and the GoKart track. The reason why this place is so popular is because it is one of the most economical of its kind. Once the entry fee has been paid, the rides are free of cost. It is advisable that appropriate protective clothing is worn while embarking on the water sports.
Photo Credit
http://thepoetrywagon.blogspot.in/2011/04/thursday-challengehappy.html
8. Worlds of Wonder, Noida
‘Worlds of Wonder’ at Noida is a branch of the ‘Appu Ghar’ franchise located in the 150-acre Noida Entertainment City. This recently launched park offers several rides of global standards along with other games and activities. Amongst these, boating is a hot favorite with children and parents alike. It also has a water park, with rides like the Rip Tide, Tunnel, Free Fall, and Boomerango. And if all you want to do is laze around for some time, the Wave Pool is the ideal place to hang out in.
Photo Credit http://www.appughar.com/worlds-of-wonder/
9. Kingdom of Dreams, Gurgaon
The Kingdom of Dreams is a one of a kind destination, with auditoriums meant for live performances. The site looks like a scene straight out of a fantasy movie. The USPs of this place are its Nautanki Mahal, a concert hall with a capacity of 835 people, meant for staging plays, the Culture Gully, which sells rare handmade souvenirs, and the Showshaa amphitheater especially for mythological dramas.
10. Aquatica, Kolkata
Built on a property measuring seventeen acres, Kolkata’s Aquatica is one of the biggest water parks in the whole of eastern India. The Wave Pool, Tornado, Aqua Dance Floor, Black Hole, and GoKarting are the most common crowd-pleasers. This place is popular especially with school students, as regular trips are conducted to this place by many educational institutes.
Photo Credit http://www.makemytrip.com/travel-guide/kolkata/aquatica-water-park-theme-parks.html
11. Ramoji Film city, Andhra Pradesh
The Ramoji Film City, located in the Telangana state, is a major attraction for locals and outsiders alike. It is famous for its various movie sets, such as the Aksari, Japanese, Mughal and Sanctuary Gardens, the Princess Street and the North Town. Another crowd-puller is the Movie Magic Park, with its plethora of simulations and the activities involved in making movies. The beautiful place houses a bird park, which incorporates specially made surroundings resembling the creatures’ natural environment. All in all, a day at the Film City would translate into an out-of-the-world experience.
Photo Credit http://www.funiskool.com/ramoji-flim-studio-tour.html#.VYpTOBuqqko
12. Funtasia Water Park, Patna
The Funtasia Water Park, constructed in Patna, is the first of its kind in the state of Bihar. It has an array of entertainment options including various kinds of swimming pools, slides, and wave pools. Though compared to other such places in India this park is small, located on an area of only 5 acres, it is still flocked by thousands of visitors.
