Mount Abu’s New Tourist Attraction

Mount Abu’s New Tourist Attraction, floated by Mars Enterprise

Mount Abu’s New Tourist Attraction, floated by Mars Enterprise, At the beginning of this month Mount Abu inaugurated.“The Tethered Helium Balloon”. I really don’t know if it has had its maiden flight. As of the moment, it seems grounded. I believe the formalities towards the aviation department have yet to be met.

If it has anything to do with the differences between the Forest Department and that of the Municipality regarding permission of allowing this operation of going through then it could take a while as these two departments don’t see eye to eye. Like the Salgoan Dam project that was sanctioned aeons ago, but is still lying in limbo.

The place where the balloon is parked right now is the same spot that was made into a musical park years before for the entertainment of the tourists. It was a lovely spot, but somehow it seems to be jinxed and the musical park, with all its lovely lights and sounds, faded away like the mist that visits this lake regularly. I really wonder how long this present project will last, guess as long as it ropes in enough dinero and is workable.

 The tariff for an 8 minute spin to a height of about 350 feet is Rs300/- almost a buck per foot, pretty steep and for a child its goanna be Rs 200/-. Tourists know that you are to buy your ticket in advance and only mount the podium after 20 individuals have bought tickets. Your waiting period would amount to the ratio and volume of visitors on a particular day. Take your time to read the rules and regulations carefully.                          

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Monsoons & the Weatherman MT. ABU

Monsoons and the meteorologist MT. ABU

The monsoons this year have been unpredictable, with meteorologists’ forecasts missing the mark and leaving everyone in a state of uncertainty. Despite predictions of an above-average monsoon, the rains have been sparse and scattered.

It began raining on July 10, 2010, followed by a significant downpour on August 8, bringing 6.2 cm of rain. There was a brief pause until a modest 5 cm rainfall on August 11. On the night of August 12, the rain gained momentum, and by morning, Brother Gale had recorded another 3 cm. The rains continued throughout the day, with the gauge reaching 3.6 cm by around 3 PM. Afterwards, a thick mist descended, shrouding the Abode in a heavy, silent blanket.

Today, the lake overflowed, reminiscent of the Lower Khodra Dam’s overflow from August 13 to September 28 last year. This year, the dam’s level was at 36 feet on July 10 and has now risen to 40 feet after today’s rain. GOSH! We still need 20 more feet! Will the gods perform a miracle to reach this target? I hope not to face the ordeal of a flooded house this year. After every heavy and prolonged shower, friends and well-wishers call to check if everything is alright, reflecting the collective concern and cautious optimism we share during these unpredictable monsoons.

Taken with my mobile