Paragliding

Established clubs all over the world including The United States Hang Gliding Association Inc., The Finnish Aeronautical Association, The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, and the Norsk Aero Klubb sent information, materials and valuable advice. Edel - Korea the world's largest manufacturers of paragliders sent an instructor and equipment. The Western Paragliding Association was now ready to set out on its mission. For people unfamiliar with the sport, a paraglider can be very simply be described as being a non-porous cloth wing which is inflated by the air through which it flies via openings in the leading edge of the wing.

The pilot is suspended beneath the wing on a harness and he has the controls of the paraglider in his hands. Paragliding differs substantially from other forms of gliding. For one it is less expensive. One can buy a canopy for just as much as it costs to buy a scooter. Paragliding is the most convenient, affordable and least difficult way to fly. A paraglider can be folded into a back pack, carried with ease to the takeoff site and readied for flying in minutes.

It takes about three to five minutes to pack and unpack the paraglider as against the thirty minutes required to prepare a hang glider. When packed a paraglider looks like an ordinary back pack and the entire equipment along with the helmet weighs between ten to twelve kilograms and can be transported with ease. Unlike hang gliders which are semi rigid in structure, the paraglider canopy has no solid parts at all. A paraglider is also more manoevreable, flies more slowly, lands more softly and needs much less space to take off and land than any other form of gliding.

Like any other air sport paragliding has its own risks. Veterans however feel that its greatest danger lies in the fact that it is so easy to learn. Most people make the mistake of learning for four days and then taking their paragliders out on their own and flying off any site. While people do learn to control the paraglider in their basic courses, there's a lot more to be learnt before one flies without any supervision. Critical judgements in reading the weather are only learnt over a period of time. So if you are flying in India and someone offers you a four day course with promises of unsupervised flying after that, Take Care ! Currently paragliding in India is a free sport. There are no regulations and no licence is required for a paraglider.

Worse still if training is not regulated, which means that unqualified. This could result in fatalities and kill the sport in its infancy. By adhering to high training standards, comparable to international levels, the WPA is trying to ensure flying which is absolutely safe. It is almost impossible to find Indians with instructor's ratings and consequently all instructors with the WPA are foreigners.

A Korean instructor and competition pilot, deputed by Edel and an American powered pilot and paragliding enthusiast have been running courses for the WPA. The WPA is still in its formative stages and is always looking for new talent in training. Qualified instructors who have wished to holiday in India might find this the chance of a lifetime. Facilities are improving by the day and remuneration is handsome by Indian standards. Paragliding in India, holds a special lure for the foreign tourist. India is a paraglider's paradise.

There are a wide range of flying conditions and sites that cater for the beginner through intermediate to advanced pilots. Whether it is the laminar sea breezes of Goa, to the more thermic flying conditions of the Western Ghats or whether it is the tiny bumps in the grounds, to the table top land at Panchgani or the peaks in the Himalayas, they are all here in one country.

Essel World

Mumbai's first and largest amusement park, Essel World, located just a few kilometres outside city limits at Gorai, is situated on a green landscaped, island on an area of 64 acres. It can be reached by ferry from Gorai creek or Marve beach.

Alternately you can drive down by Western Express Highway, take the Bhayender turn and reach Gorai Island. Essel World offers over thirty four thrilling and scintilllating rides, games and amusements.

Ridings for Children:
Commando Park, Kinder Carousel, Yard Train, Caterpillar, Big Apple, Mini Tele Combat, Junior Crazy Cars, Boat Ride.

Ridings for Adults:
Zyclone, Rock-o-plane, Snowball Rainbow, Senior Dodgem, Senior Crazy Cars, Super Round Up, Rock-N-Roll, Slippery Sultan.

Family Rides:
Maha Nimboo Dive, Monster, Tilt-A-Wheel, Fun Net, Zipper Dipper, Road Train, Highway Cars, Haunted Hotel.

Besides these rides there are also coin-operated games, like Crazy Shuttle, Derby Racer, Aqua Blasta, Water Lazer etc. For the food lovers, Essel World caters to all palates. Whether your choice is quick pizza or a bhel-puri or a leisurely chinese meal, one outlet or other, spread throughout the park.

Essel World has recently started Wet World (a park within the park) with separate entry charges. It is a dream come true in the hot summer months. This has six water-related rides - Rain pool, Splash pool, Croc pool, Lazy river, Large activity pool and Small activity pool.

Fantasy Land

The park opened to the public in September 1992 and has since grown from strength to strength adding new innovative entertainment and sporting attractions that have been one of their kind in India.

Fantasy Land is a fun park within the city limits of Mumbai. Located at Jogeshwari on the Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road off the Western Express Highway, the park is enveloped in lush green landscape, spread on an area of 30 acres.

There is an array of international rides and games. An Italian merry-go-round in porcelain finish. A Dragon that clocks to and fro like a pendulum, swinging scores of people at one go. A Master blaster with a dozen arms that lift you high up in the air and then lower you suddenly.

A Slam Bob in which boats surf the air at great speeds. A grand Slam where you crash your car into another and walk out smiling. And topping all these and other rides is the Roller Coaster (Ze Ulta Fulta Express) the only one of its kind in India.

It takes a full 360 degree turn in the sky, leaving you suspended in mid-air. Besides these rides there are also coin operated games, pedal boats in an artificial lake and horse rides.

There are restaurants providing Indian, Chinese and American foods. The Special events are organised on the following days - New Year's day, Summer Weekends, Valentines Day, Monsoon Specials, Holi Festival and Children's Day.