ESSEL WORLD – Island of fun…

Essel world, India’s largest adventure park. When I was in school, every year our school used to takes us to Essel world for our annual Picnic. After many years , last year I had this opportunity  to visit Essel world again in the month of May 2012.All of us were very excited and mostly because this time we were taking our kids to Essel World. So this post is  dedicated to dear children. Please ask your parents to take you to this place. This post is more of Pictures rather than description. Hope children,  parents and Grandparents and all others will enjoy going through this post.
We decided to go on a weekday so that we will find less crowd. We started at around 0930 hrs from Thane and took a road route to reach Essel world in a car rather than Ferry .

Road route from Thane to Essel World

We met with heavy traffic due to working day. After passing Mira road we had taken turn towards Gorai from where the route was scenic. At last by 1130 hrs we reached Essel world parking area. There was a designated parking area at Essel world where one can park their vehicle and further journey will be taken care by Essel world bus. We had taken our bags and boarded the bus. In no time we were at the entrance of Essel world.

Essel world entrance

There was not much of rush at the ticket counter. At the counter there were Essel world staffs who were explaining the benefits of buying Passport for Essel world which was far far cheaper as compared to ticket rates. Since we were very much aware of Passport benefits, we had purchased passports for all of us. Along with passport we also received detailed guide map/ route map of Essel world. Also we had plan to go to dry park first and if kids do not like any rides interesting over there then we will go inside water park i.e. Water Kingdom.

Entry ticket rates

Essel World Guide Map

We had then deposited our bags at the cloak room which was right next to the ticket counter and took entry. We had carried 2-3 water bottles (2.5 liter) with us which was quite heavy to carry but was saving our money. Here comes surprise and our kids got excited. We were welcomed by a superb band team and various cartoon characters.

Warm Welcome at Essel World

Welcome band

As you see the map we had entered at Point no 64 which is the main entrance. There were many rides under maintenance. Also battery operated vehicle runs on chargeable basis  starting from this point and will take you inside till the end of park. All of us opted to walk rather than taking vehicle. At the same point the first ride we saw was AERO SWINGER. It was a family ride but we found it scary and risky for kids so we skipped this ride.

Aero Swingers

We moved further. It was a wide road with rides on both sides of road. We had decided to go for rides which we find exciting rather than going serial wise. So first ride we had chosen to go was Sr.Dodgem. It is car dashing rides for adults.

Sr.Dodgem

Then it was a turn for kids for car dashing so we move to next ride i.e. car dashing for kids.

Jr.Dodgem

Dashing car is what I feel is always attracted by both adults as well as kids.
Then we move to next ride; Rio Grande Train. It was a kid’s ride.

Rio Grande Train

Rio Grande Train

The next ride was Jr.Carousel. It is a swinging horse ride for kids.

Jr Carousel

After kids had enjoyed this ride we then moved to next family ride ”Crazy cups”.

Funny Wastebin

Crazy Cups

By finishing crazy cup rides, we came to a roundabout where few eatery shops were there. Although reaching up to this point was not even half of distances to be covered, but we were very tired. So we stopped at the roundabout, had light snacks and then proceeded further. We were supposed to walk fast as still a large area and rides were uncovered. But with children’s with us we were unable to walk that fast.
The next ride was “Bull” and it was a chargeable (CG) ride. We had purchased tickets for it and went ahead to enjoy.

Enjoying Bull

This place we enjoyed a lot .Clicked many pictures, made many videos. After spending a lot and lot of time at BULL we went to next Children’s ride “Big Apple”.
On our way we had come across Arctic Circle. It is an ice skating rink but entry inside it was chargeable. We had skipped this and move further.

Arctic Circle

Big Apple is a small roller coaster ride for children. Both kids sat on the ride and then it started moving. Initially it was smooth and slow, but slowly -2 the ride gained speed and it reached at the highest point i.e. inside the big apple. At that point my son started crying and we realized we should not have sent him on this ride. We were also blaming the ride operator that he should not have allowed my son on that. But thankfully he returned safely and with smiley face. So my advices to future visitor that send your kids only on your decision, not by just seeing the board of Children ride.

Big Apple Ride

Big Apple ride at the highest point

Next was Zipper Driver. It is a family ride. It is like a car on an elevated rail. It was very nice and comfortable ride of just 1-2 minutes. We enjoyed this as well.
Then we went to many more children rides like yard train, jr. go kart, convoy track, boat ride, caterpillar and mini Tele combat.

Convoy Track

Jr Kart

In the mean while we also took another family ride “Highway cars”, went to watch “Monsters in the mist” ,rain dance and Prabal- Actual Navy ship.

Highway cars

There were many adults ride also, but our main focus was on children so we didn’t enjoy any adult rides except Hoola-loop which was sort of Roller coaster. Me and my brother has taken this ride and closed our eyes at the start of the ride only. It was a real thrilling adventurous rides, but very scary for people like us.

Enjoying at Essel World

So almost we were done with children rides, and then the turn came for the best ever ride of Essel World “Aqua Dive”. It is like a train climbing on an elevated level and then coming down in a splash of water. There was a huge queue for this ride. People were enjoying this ride for 3-4 times. Now the problem in this ride was that we would all have got wet if we are going to take this ride. Luckily we realized that we had brought an extra pair of clothing for water park. But all these clothes are in bag and bag is at the main entrance clock room. So, the question was who will go to walk all the way till main entrance. Then we saw this battery operated vehicle. We asked him if he can take one of us to main entrance and brings us back to Aqua dive. So the problem solved and we all got ready to enjoy Aqua dive. It is a family ride and even kids above 6 year can accompany their parents.
I must say, this is the best ride at Essel world and one should not miss this ride. So if you are planning to visit Essel world, ensure to carry extra clothing for dry park as well.We all were now tired and hungry, so we all went to Domino’s pizza corner and ordered pizza for all of us.

It was now 1700 Hrs and we have just 02 hrs left with us and still there were many unseen places and rides. When we were having Pizza, we heard band sound and we quickly got up to see what is happening.WOW, big procession with all the cartoon characters, beautiful girls attires in Arabian nights drama dress dancing on the road, Aladdin and Jasmine on a magical car and many more…

Procession

Procession then stopped at the front of Water Kingdom gate. At this place all the troop member got down from their vehicle performed a play describing Aladdin’s story with a mixture of Bollywood songs. Below I am attaching a small video to get a feel of the play.

We were now very much tired and really wanted to return home as fast as we can. But there were two places which we promised to our kids that on our return we will take you to both the place. First was coin games and another was bouncy castle. Both games were chargeable games (Rs 20/- for each game). So, we took them to Coin games section.Enjoyed at this section for almost half an hour and then moved to Bouncy Castle.

Bouncy Castle

Illuminated Rides

As the clock was ticking 1900 hrs we were now ready to come out of this perfect fun island especially for kids.

This finishes our day fun .For any details regarding Essel World one can always check www.esselworld.in.