Archive · 5 Dec 2025
Delhi's Forgotten Hot Air Balloon History
A long time ago, in 1970, a man named Vishwabandhu Gupta started a club to make hot air ballooning popular in India.
He offered free rides to people in Delhi and even had balloons shaped like the Taj Mahal and Mahatma Gandhi.
The club had big events and even flew balloons from one end of India to another.
But after some time, it became hard to get permission and people didn't come as much, so the club had to move to other places.
Still, it was a fun and exciting time for everyone who got to see or ride in the balloons!
The Ballooning Club of India was founded by Vishwabandhu Gupta in 1970 to popularize hot air ballooning in Delhi.
The club offered free, untethered rides to the public and had balloons in unique shapes like the Taj Mahal and Mahatma Gandhi.
After 1985, security clearance issues forced the club to move its operations to other locations like Damdama Lake and Jaipur.
The club organized the India International Balloon Mela in Delhi, attracting participants from countries like Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, the USSR, and the USA.
Despite challenges, the club conducted cross-country trips and displayed balloons shaped like the Congress 'Hand' symbol and the national emblem.
- Who
- Vishwabandhu Gupta and the Ballooning Club of India
- What
- Hot air ballooning activities in Delhi and India
- When
- 1970 to 1997
- Where
- Delhi, Damdama Lake, Vrindavan, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and various locations across India
- Why
- To popularize hot air ballooning in India and offer free rides to the public
- First Ballooning Club
- Ballooning Club of India
- Founder
- Vishwabandhu Gupta
- Founding Year
- 1970
- Notable Balloon Shapes
- Taj Mahal, Mahatma Gandhi, Dinosaur, Congress 'Hand' Symbol, National Emblem
- International Participation
- Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, USSR, USA
- Major Events
- India International Balloon Mela, Cross-country trips (Hyderabad to Calcutta, Leh to Kanyakumari)
- Challenges
- Security clearance issues, commercial viability, logistical difficulties