A thousand feet above sea level, just after dawn, I have a 360-degree view of rows and rows of coconut trees bathed in morning light; An unforgettable view of a hot air balloon flying over the treetops of Pollachi, located 45 km from Coimbatore. “The first rule,” reminds pilot Oliver Stallwood, 23, from the UK, as he controls the balloon’s ascent, “is to put your phone away and enjoy the scenery.” As the balloon floats over the fields, cows and dogs look up. People from the villages below, awestruck by the towering structure over their tile-roofed homes, wave at us.
The balloon safari ride, launched by Tamil Nadu Balloon Adventures in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Tourism in Pollachi, Madurai and Tiruvannamalai in Coimbatore district, can take off with a maximum of eight passengers, and only once in the morning at sunrise.
“Each location offers something unique from the air,” says Benedict Savio, founder of the Tamil Nadu International Balloon Festival (TNIBF) and director of Global Media Box. He further added, “In Pollachi, you see oceans of coconut trees, something you will never see anywhere else. Madurai’s landscape is completely different. Tiruvannamalai has Arunachala Hill.” He recalls that Benedict’s first balloon ride was in Germany in 2005. “It was magical. I had never experienced anything like that before. That’s when I knew I wanted to bring it to Tamil Nadu.”
Panoramic view of coconut trees in Pollachi. Photo Credit: Periyasamy M
Balloon flying in Tamil Nadu has been introduced on a large scale through festivals in the last 11 years. However, careful study was required to convert it into a permanent safari. “So we are doing it in phases: 20 days each in Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruvannamalai. We will assess the feasibility starting from weather conditions, landing area, tourist response, cost and long-term scalability. Based on this, we will decide where to set up a permanent base,” explains Benedict, who has also designed and operated special-shaped balloons, including ones for Emirates Airlines and the Angry Birds franchise. Balloons fly in more than 30 countries.
Balloon flying in Tamil Nadu has been introduced on a large scale through festivals in the last 11 years. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The initiative aims to introduce hot air ballooning as a safe and immersive adventure tourism experience to domestic and international travelers while supporting local employment and regional tourism economies.
Since hot air balloons are classified as aircraft, DGCA rules, clearances, weather studies and air traffic permissions apply. Airport and air traffic control clearance is mandatory. Flights are always launched from the outskirts of cities. “Balloons fly with the wind. We need quiet areas, open landing spaces and no active airports nearby,” he says, adding that pilot costs, crew, maintenance and the range with DGCA-mandated inspections make balloons expensive. “Realistically, we need to charge ₹12,000 to ₹14,000 per person. However, sponsorship can change this. If a brand sponsors the balloon, like Qatar Airways does in Australia, our costs go down by about 50%. My dream is to get it down to under $100.”
Britain’s 23-year-old pilot Oliver Stallwood. Photo Credit: Periyasamy M
Unlike other adventure sports, ballooning anywhere in the world is completely dependent on the weather. Flying in India also comes with unique challenges. “In Europe or Australia, road access and landing recovery are easy. Here, terrain, accessibility and public awareness are challenges. We have to educate people that a balloon is an aircraft. The pilot is actually flying, controlling altitude, reading the winds, making real-time decisions,” says Benedict who has flown celebrities like AR Rahman in Las Vegas.
Ballooning, unlike other adventure sports, is completely dependent on the weather anywhere in the world. Photo Credit: Periyasamy M
He says that selection of pilot is important. Oswald has already been in the job for seven years, and is the youngest commercial hot air balloon pilot in the UK with over 300 hours of flying time. “I’ve done most of my flying in the UK and across Europe. Places like Saudi Arabia and Qatar are mostly desert, but still beautiful,” says Oswald.
Views of coconut trees and tiled roof houses of Pollachi. Photo Credit: Periyasamy M
As our 30-minute journey ends with an incredibly smooth landing, Oswald thinks about flying to India. “People look up, stop, look. That curiosity is what makes it special. And the greenery is just something else. It’s lovely.”
According to Benedict, his long-term vision is to build an aviation ecosystem. “We want to set up a small aviation park where there will be balloon flights, aviation exhibitions and eventually a pilot training school. Skill-based training to build a pilot network from here. Currently, Jaipur is the only place in India with regular balloon safaris. Tamil Nadu is leading the way with balloon festivals. Hyderabad has recently added one,” says Benedict, adding that every flight is unique.
Each place offers something unique from the air. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“It’s never from point A to point B. You just go with the flow. There’s also silence. It calms you. Makes you reflect. It’s a natural way of moving, what nature tells you to do,” he says, “unexpected but not dangerous.”
People in villages near Pollachi look up and wave. Photo Credit: Periyasamy M
The balloon safari ride is going on till January 26 at Pollachi Institute of Engineering and Technology in Poosaraipatti, Pollachi. The trial operations will be conducted at Vishal Swarnabhoomi in Madurai (from January 30 to February 22) and Loyola College Ground, Vettaivalam in Tiruvannamalai (from February 26 to March 29). For details, visit www.tamilnaduballoonadventures.com
published – January 22, 2026 04:47 PM IST