Jodhpur Hot Air Balloon

Jodhpur is a city which is known for its captivating beauty and is the second largest city in the state of Rajasthan. The famous city is known for its picturesque landscape and vibrant atmosphere. So, if you are willing to explore this city while soaring up in the sky then you should choose the hot-air balloon ride. The old city is painted in blue and also you can have a bird’s -eye view of the Mehrangarh Fort. It will be a wonderful experience and you will enjoy the ballooning as the best part of your itinerary.

Hot air ballooning in Rajasthan will give you a sneak peek of the royal Rajasthan from a height. You will surely be able to have an mesmerizing experience during the rides as you will be flying over a number of palaces, forts, and lakes. Conducted in both morning and evening hours, this ride is one of the best things to try out in Rajasthan.

Taking part in the hot air balloon ride in Rajasthan, you will be offered an opportunity to experience Rajasthan from an exclusive perspective. The ride will let you fly in the air along with your loved ones capturing the sight of the beautiful Rajasthan. You can choose to go ahead with this activity in Jaipur if you want to enjoy time riding over heritage sites and historical monuments, Pushkar if you wish to move over rural fields of Rajasthan, and Jodhpur if you wish to get mesmerized by the majestic forts and palaces. You will truly fall in love with the views and get some unforgettable experiences with your loved ones.

The cost of Hot Air Ballooning in Jodhpur is INR 8,500 per person.

• It is necessary to organize balloon safari by observing the wind conditions in the region. So, these are generally a couple of hours prior to sunrise/ sunset as the winds are ideal at this time.
• The weather is ideal for smooth rides which are 5.30 am / 4 pm. Based on wind conditions the balloon rides are cancelled at times but chances are more at noon.
• Though the ride is one hour formally, it is better to keep aside at least 3 hours of your time. This includes inflating, gearing up, duration of flight ride, etc. Generally, it takes around three hours in duration.
• The balloon flies as high as up to 1200 feet above ground level. However, it all depends on weather conditions, topography to fly at a particular altitude.
• There are some requirements taken into consideration like height, age of the individual who is on flight etc. Although there is no age bar, kids less than 5 years are not allowed to alight. Moreover, any kid or adult should be a minimum height of 1.5 meters.
• Those who are weak or have fear of heights may not want to alight as you have to remain standing throughout the flight. On a single ride there are a total of 4 -5 members on flight. Pregnant women are not allowed to fly the hot air balloon for safety reasons.
• If there are cancellations then passengers are notified about it prior to the Balloon Safari Start. However, cancellations are few.

• Sheesh Mahal – Sheesh Mahal is also known as the Mirror Palace in Jaipur; Rajasthan is located at Amer fort. It is situated on the Jaipur-Delhi Highway in Amber Fort, is 11 km from Jaipur, and was constructed with red sandstone and marble. The Sheesh Mahal was commissioned by Raja Man Singh in the 16th century for the queen to be able to look at the stars, or less, have an alternative to one since the women were not allowed to sleep in the open. The Sheesh Mahal comes under the list of tourist destination in Jaipur.
• Mehrangarh Fort – Also known as Mehran Fort, Mehrangarh Fort was built by Rao Jodha in 1459 in Jodhpur, and is one of the largest forts in the country. It is situated atop a 410 feet elevated hill and guarded by massive walls. The entrance of the fort, atop a hill, is majestic and has seven gates. These are called Victory Gate, Fateh Gate, Gopal Gate, Bhairon Gate, Dedh Kamgra Gate, Marti Gate and finally Loha Gate. Each of these was built at different times and serves a very specific purpose. While one still has marks of cannon balls being hit on it, the other has spikes that can protect it from elephant and animal attacks. However, Victory Gate was built to commemorate the win of Maharaja Man Singh over Jaipur and Bikaner armies.
• Chamunda Mata Temple – Located at the end of Mehrangarh Fort, Chamunda Mata Temple is among the oldest and most revered temples in Jodhpur. The Goddess is considered the main deity of the inhabitants of Jodhpur and is regarded as the 'Isht Devi' or foremost goddess of the royal family. This holy temple attracts a lot of devotees and worshippers, especially during festivals of Dussehra and Navratri, and is considered a pilgrimage site among many Hindus.
• Toorji Ka Jhalra – Constructed in 1740, Toorji Ka Jhalra, commonly called stepwell of Jodhpur, is an intricate design of stepwell, one of the few remaining structures depicting the traditional water management systems of Jodhpur. This architectural wonder was built by the queen-consort of Maharaja Abhaya Singh, a sign of the age-old tradition of the region where royal women were in charge of overseeing the public water works. The design and structure help onlookers comprehend the lifestyle of the earlier generations who had used it in its prime, with the site serving as the local watering hole for its time.
• Mahamandir Temple – Located two kilometres away from Jodhpur on the road towards Mandore, it is a very big temple with the fantastically carved 84 pillars which are a sight to behold. Other important temples of Jodhpur include Chamunda Mataji Temple which is located inside the Mehrangarh Fort, Baba Ramdev Temple, Ganesh Temple and Pal Balaji Temple.
• Jaswant Thada – In the royal state of Jodhpur lies Jaswant Thada, a splendid marble cenotaph monument that is also a mausoleum for the kings of Marwar. The memorial was built in the honour and memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II by his son Maharaja Sardar Singh in 1899 and is still used by the Marwar Royal Family as cremation grounds. The beautiful edifice is made out of intricately carved marble that is offset vibrantly against the red steps that lead up to the entrance.
• Umaid Bhawan Palace – Built-in 1943, the palace was commissioned in 1929, in order to provide employment to the drought and grief-stricken farmers of the area and thus took longer to complete. Umaid Bhavan Palace offers amazing hospitality along with heritage walks to unforgettable dining experiences. It was recently in the news for being the site of the Bollywood Superstar Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas - a renowned Pop Star from the Band - One Direction.

November to February are the best months to visit Jodhpur, although, the weather is cold, with temperatures going close to 0 degree Celsius for a few days in January, it is a good weather to visit the forts of Jodhpur and indulge in all the outdoor activities. October and March also provide pleasant weather for a trip to Jodhpur. However, being in an arid land, Rajasthan and also Jodhpur is extremely hot during summers, so April to September must be avoided.

• By Flight – Jodhpur has a well-functioning airport with direct flights to Mumbai/Delhi/Ahmedabad and some other cities in Gujarat/Rajasthan. Flights could be a little expensive as there are just a few flights to here, but if you book in advance, you should be able to get a good price.
• By Road – Jodhpur has great road connectivity from other parts of the state. You can book sleeper bus tickets from Delhi or Ahmedabad - these typically have an overnight schedule and drop you in Jodhpur early morning. They are quite cheap and comfortable, and a good way to reach Jodhpur if you're not able to get train tickets but want to do a budget trip.
• By Train – Jodhpur railway station has good train connectivity with almost all the major cities in Rajasthan, and from Delhi/Mumbai/Ahmedabad and even Kolkata. From Delhi, taking a train is a very convenient option since you can take an overnight train to reach Jodhpur early morning. It takes a little long (around 16-18 hours) to reach from Mumbai. Jodhpur is well connected to Jaipur/Udaipur by train, so if you are planning a whole Rajasthan trip, traveling by train within Rajasthan is a good and cheap option.