Come November 14 and colourful hot air balloons will dot the sky above the picturesque Araku Valley, the hill station near Vizag, for three days. “Araku Balloon Festival”, an international festival organised by Andhra Pradesh Tourism, is set to pull travel writers, photographers, hot air balloon enthusiasts from across the world to the valley in the mountainous range of the Eastern Ghats.

To be held till November 16, the festival will lit up the sky throughout the day and night on all the three days and enthusiasts would get to witness balloons of different shapes and sizes adorn the sky in the non-ticketed festival.

“It’s an international festival so there will be fifteen teams of balloons and their pilots from eleven countries coming in. This is a tourism department initiative and the AP tourism has launched this event to increase tourism in the area. We will also have fifteen hot air balloons flown in for the do,” says Paul, one of the organisers of the festival.

When prod, Tourism ED Sriramulu Naidu refrained from confirming any details but said that he will make everything public once he receives the information. “So far I have not received the final concept from the organisers. There are a few details that need to be ironed out. Maybe it will reach me in the next few days,” he informed.
Paul however, states that if they manage to pull off the festival as planned, it will be one of the best balloon fests in the country. “There will be balloons operating during sunrise, and also have other balloons that will operate on a night glow concept in the evening,” he says.

But what has gotten the youngsters in the city excited are the three special-shaped balloons that will be displayed at the festival. Namely a massive ‘Bee’, a seahorse shaped balloon called ‘Neptuno’ and ‘Iwi the Kiwi’, are expected to pull a large gatherings to the festival.

Apart from the colourful and dazzling hot air balloons, para-motoring displays, a hare and hound race and others events will also be a part of the festival itinerary to keep festival-goers hooked on all there days.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Visakhapatnam News / Neeshita Nyayapati / TNN / November 03rd, 2017