Hot Air Balloon Festival

• History
• Places to visit
• How to reach

Held in various parts of Karnataka, the Hot Air Balloon Festival is a magical extravaganza of myriad colours. Needless to say that watching several hot air balloons sail through the sky with the illuminating backdrop of the setting sun is a treat to the eyes; it is something every travel enthusiast must look forward to. It gives a sense of freedom or liberation and keeps you away from stress and worries of life for at least some time. 

Hot Air Balloon Festival Dates & Venue

Organized by Karnataka Tourism for the purpose of promoting aero sports, the Hot Air Balloon Festival, Karnataka is held for a period of 4 days. It is one of the most prominent balloon events in India. What’s interesting to know is that this festival cum event takes place in majorly three regions of Karnataka - Bangalore, Mysore, and Hampi. So, if you want to discover the local flavours of Karnataka, then you can always choose to visit any of these places and enjoy to your heart’s content. Visiting and exploring these places around will only add to your happy memories of life, adventure, and travel. Usually, this event is celebrated in the month of January but sometimes extends up to February. 

History of Hot Air Balloon Festival

The Hot Air Balloon Festival came into existence after Karnataka State Tourism Department decided to facilitate the event and make it a focus of attraction for tourists visiting Karnataka in January and February. Earlier, the event used to take place in Bidar, Hampi, and Mysore simultaneously. Later, the organisers had to shift venues from Bidar to Bangalore due to some venue-related issues. Since then, Bangalore has become the beneficiary attracting a lot of tourists and participants from all over the world to witness this colourful extravaganza. 

Major Attractions Of Hot Air Balloon Festival India

1. Variety of Events

Apart from the vivid magical aura of the giant balloons, the Hot Air Balloon Festival also witnesses many other events in the form of competitions, demonstrations, paragliding, bungee jumping, and more. All of this proves to be quite an exciting blend of everything exciting and interesting. 

2. The Balloon Rides

Usually, the rides take place early in the morning and during the time of sunset. These are perfect timings as not just you get to enjoy the spectacular panoramic scenery below but also escape the daytime heat of the sun. So, all we can say is that don’t forget to take your camera along, otherwise, you may miss out on some really cool aerial shots. 

3. A Serene Experience

For any adventure aficionado, this is truly a great way to quench their thirst for doing something daring and out of the box. And as all the important safety protocols are followed, there is no reason to worry at all but every reason to relax, rejuvenate and unwind. For a more personal experience, you can choose to ride in the smaller balloons as it will help you in having a more intimate flying experience. 

How To Reach Bangalore

It is to be noted that the Hot Air Balloon Festival happens at three locations in Karnataka which are Mysuru, Hampi, Bangalore. To reach Hampi and Mysore, you can use any of the three modes of transportation and check out the easiest ways to visit there. However, in the following section, we will discuss how you can reach Bangalore.

• Nearest City. Bangalore
• Nearest Airbase. Kempegowda International Airport
• Nearest Railhead. Yesvantpur Junction

By Air

Deboard at the Kempegowda International Airport situated in Devanahalli. The aerodrome is well connected to other major Indian cities via direct and connecting flights. From the airport, you can take some means of public transport like a cab or a bus to reach the venue of the Hot Air Balloon Festival.

• Distance between Bangalore International Airport and Jakkur. 26.6 Km

By Train

You can deboard at the Yesvantpur Junction and after deboarding at the station, you can consider taking some means of public transport like a cab or an auto-rickshaw to reach your respective destination. 

• Distance Between Yesvantpur Junction and Jakkur. 13.3 Km

By Road

Depending upon your geographical location, you can also travel here via roads. The roadways connecting Bangalore to other nearby as well as faraway places are well-maintained and easy to traverse. For travelling you can choose cabs, buses or self-drive from here. 

• Distance From Aurangabad - 450 km via NH52 and NH65
• Distance From Latur - 188 km via NH65
• Distance From Hubli - 450 km via NH52
• Distance From Delhi. 1,559 Km
• Distance From Mumbai. 597 Km
• Distance From Kolkata. 1690 Km

Frequently Asked Questions Related to Hot Air Balloon Festival

Ques 1. Where is the most happening Hot Air Balloon Festival organised in India?

Ans 1. The most happening hot air balloon festival is organised in Karnataka in India. It takes place in the months of January, sometimes extending up to February in Hampi, Mysore, and Bangalore. 

Ques 2. What is the best time to enjoy a Hot Air Balloon ride?

Ans 2. The best time to enjoy a Hot air balloon ride is in the early mornings or in the evenings to enjoy magnificent views of sunrise and sunset. It is recommended to carry a camera to capture these stunning views from a high vantage point. 

You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here.

PLEASE NOTE : Dates can vary due to cancellation or last-minute changes.