Celebrating Women's Day

My travel plans for 2019 kicked off in Dec 2018 itself. But for 2020, nothing seems to work out. During mid-Jan, while I was browsing through the Veena World Website; I came across the Women’s Day Out. This Imagica Tour on 7^th and 8^th March had four departures from Mumbai (Borivali, Dadar, Thane, Vashi) and one from Pune. I booked the tour for 7^th March at the Veena World Vasai Office. Now there was at least something to look forward to in coming months.

7^th March 2020

We were informed to meet at the Borivali Departure Point (Sanjay Gandhi National Park Entrance Gate) at 7am. Sahil Patil was our Tour Manager for the day. We started off from Borivali at 7:30am. The road journey included guest introductions and Housie. The Housie prizes included Fast Five, Top row, Top and Middle row, Full Housie and a lucky draw. The winners got a luggage tag as prize. Then we had breakfast halt at Kalamboli McD. All groups were having their breakfast here. The breakfast included Mc Aloo Tikki, French fries and coke. Then we queued up for the washroom. Post breakfast, we continued our journey towards Khopoli, playing Film names Antakshari. I have never heard of most of the film names!! When we were at a half an hour distance away from Imagica, Sahil started briefing on the next steps. He also WhatsApped the list of rides, highlighting the Must To Do rides. We reached Imagica at 10:30am. Our first glimpse was the roller coaster Nitro!!! Alighting from the bus, we were welcomed with a soft drink. We captured memories into our cameras at the IMAGICAA word. Here’s one of those:

We passed through the security scan and waited in the entrance area watching the Nitro ride. Then we were handed over the Imagica band, tickets and coupons by Sahil. The tickets included Theme Park ticket worth Rs. 1299, Snow Park ticket worth Rs. 399, Express ticket worth Rs. 200 while the coupons included lunch coupon, high tea and snacks coupon and Ice Gola coupon. We were provided the Imagica Theme Park Map. We also witnessed the Imagica Theme Dance near the entrance. We scanned the ticket at the entry point and were all set for a thrilling experience. As suggested by Sahil, we did Shri Ganesha with Nitro!! The Express ticket did help us cut the long queue and save time. Six of us, Archana, Akshita, Geeta, Karnali, Vidya and me grouped for the ride. For most of the thriller rides, we were instructed not to carry sunglasses and loose items like scarfs, caps, etc. There was also an alert for who should not take the ride. There were luggage boxes for keeping our bags.

Ride 1: Nitro

Having seen the demo, I was all set to experience the thrill and adrenaline rush on this biggest and wildest roller coaster ride, which is over 2800 feet of the yellow and orange track. The ride consists of six cars with four seats on each. We had to hop into the seat, the safety bar was placed on upper body safely holding our arms and it was attached to the string on the center of the seat (between our legs). The crew did a final check on all the seats and announced 3 2 1 Go! The platform was detached, the gates were opened, and we slowly started ascending on the steep slope. The ride reached 132 feet high and halted for a moment. Then the thrill began with a twisted free fall towards the right (hell I was on the right side!) nearly close to the ground and again rolling up in consecutive two elliptical big loops and then twisting and turning and ended with one more inverted loop to the finishing point. All the while we were screaming at the top of our voices and the fear did go away! The 150 seconds of exhilaration did make us confident enough for the next rides. The ride was back to the same position, the platform was attached and we got off the seats. It was a task to get off the seat without hurting yourself. The exit section included souvenirs and shopping stuff.

Ride 2: Scream Machine

Here the Express queue was longer than normal queue. This ride is a rotating pendulum which goes up to 120 degrees high in both directions. While in the queue, we did see an enthusiastic Granny taking the ride and showing a thumbs up on completion. The giant wheel has 40-seats with the safety bar same as the Nitro. The crew checked the seats thrice and gave a go ahead for the ride to start. The platform was detached, and the wheel began to rotate slowly, picking momentum, like a merry go round. After a few seconds, the wheel slightly rose to a height giving the feeling of performing an aerial act. Then the thrill began with the wheel rising to a height on one side and suddenly coming closer to the ground and again rising to a height on the other side and suddenly coming closer to the ground and so on. The wheel rotated all the while in this parabola path giving a feeling of swinging freely in the air. Gradually the speed was slowed down and we returned to the ground. What an awe-inspiring experience it was!

Ride 3: Dare 2 Drop

Take this ride if you really dare to drop! Well after doing a Nitro and Scream Machine, who cannot dare to drop? This ride is a 132 feet square pillar with four seats attached on each side of the square. The seat safety is same as Nitro. It’s a lift, taking you vertically up at a speed of 73 km/h to the top and after a second, drops suddenly. Its like a free fall into your seat; for a moment you absolutely feel nothing and then you fall on the seat. There are three consecutive shots and falls. The fall intensity reduces each time and then you are lowered to the ground.

Ride 4: Gold Rush Express

The Wild West County welcomes you to the Gold Rush Express. We got a direct entry with the Express ticket. The mine express has an engine with 6 coaches; two riders have a seat with the engine; rest of the coaches have two sections with two seats each. Here there was only a safety rod tucked to the waist. You must bend your knees to sit in this coach. Watching the ride while in the queue at Dare 2 Drop, it did not seem to have any inversions. The train left the platform and started ascending a steep slope to the height of 66 feet and halted for a moment. And the thriller begins at the speed of 65km/h diving close to the ground and again rising up and taking an elliptical round across the county and again diving into the tunnel (County Jail) and again rising up and taking an elliptical round at an height lower to the earlier one and then after the last dive it comes back to the platform.

Well one day is not enough to enjoy all the rides and attractions even with an Express ticket. We watched a few rides while walking on the streets of Imagica.

Chhota Bheem – The Ride: It’s a roller coaster for the family.

Humpty’s Fall: It’s a mini drop ride for kids.

Tubby Takes Off: It’s a merry go round for the family, riding on Tubby the flying elephant.

The Magic Carousel: It’s a merry go round with horse rides and horse carriages.

Wagon-o-o-Wheel: It’s a 6 carts mini ferry wheel for kids.

Happy Wheels: It’s a car ride for kids.

Save the Pirate: It’s a kid ride, the boat rises to the top.

Splash Ahoy: It’s a pirate boat ride equipped with water guns to target the enemy (other riders).

Bump it Boats: It’s a water version of dashing cars.

Having wandered so far, we walked back to our lunch point. We spotted a ride on the way.

Ride 5: Alibaba aur Chalis chor

We boarded the ride and had our laser guns ready to shoot the 40 thieves hidden in the city. The scene resembled those of Arabian times. My laser gun was not working at all, spoiled the fun for me; while Archana and Akshita were shooting the thieves and collecting points.

We took a lunch break at around 1:30pm at the Imagica Capital. The lunch consisted of both Veg and Non-Veg. There was a soup counter as well. Veg food included two sabzis, rice, dal, rotis, papad and salad. Desert included vanilla ice-cream scoop with liquid chocolate and moong dal halwa. Post lunch we had to reach Snow Park. In between, we managed one more ride.

Ride 6: i for India

There was no queue at all. There were theater seats placed in three rows in front of a 90 feet wide screen. A rod was lowered on till our waist for safety. Then the seats were elevated to a height and we experienced a helicopter ride over INDIA for 10 minutes. It started with the Heaven on Earth – Kashmir: its Dal lake and shikaras. Memories flashed back as we moved to Leh Ladakh: Diskit Buddha, fifty shades of Pangong lake, Khardung La Pass, Indus Valley and the snow-clad mountains. We hovered over the deserts of Rajasthan and the Lake Palace followed by the Rann of Kutch in the garba-land Gujarat. The proudest and close to the heart moment for a Mumbaikar was the glimpse of Gateway of India, Sea Link, Taj Hotel and Ganesh Visarjan. South India included Hampi, Madurai and the snake boat races in God’s own country – Kerala. North India included one of the wonders of the world – Taj Mahal, pilgrimages like Kedarnath, Badrinath and Hrishikesh. While a lot was covered, a lot was yet to be covered from our Incredible India.

Attraction: Snow Park

We arrived here at 2:45pm; got readied with the gum boots, heavy woolen jackets and gloves for a -5-degree Celsius experience. We walked down the slope into the snow land. People were getting clicked with the snow bear, reindeer and snowman. There were two slopes for snow sliding and one for snow hiking. For the first timers, it’s a wow experience. Having been to Mt. Titlis, the snow park didn’t amuse me much. So, I was sitting at the Exit, waiting for Archana and Akshita to come out, planning for the next set of rides.

Again, we passed through a few attractions adjacent to the Snow Park:

House of Stars: It’s a Hall of Fame for iconic Bollywood characters like Neerja Bhanot, Bahubali, etc.

Glowmagica – Wonders of the World: Experience the Wonders of the World with a unique light effect.

Eyelusion (3D + AR Park): experience a visual illusion and pose with different themes.

Arrmada: It’s a pirate ship restaurant anchored at the shore of the lagoon.

Ride 7: Cinema 360 – Prince of the Dark Waters

We got a direct entry with the Express Ticket. It was a virtual movie experience screened on the 3100 sq. feet 360-degree home theater. We had to completely lie down on the floor and then the lights were off. The screen got illuminated with the title – Prince of the Dark Waters. It’s an underwater mermaid love story of Neera and Vajraaksh. The movie started with princess Neera and Shera (her best friend) playing joyfully among the water creepers and hills. They come across a precious white pearl; Neera picks it up immediately even after been alarmed by Shera. This leads to the entry of the hero Vajraaksh (a cursed prince) who is look-a-like to a beast; and he assumes that the precious pearl will help him to get rid of the curse. The story moves further with a fight with the bad mermaids, who are trying to steal the pearl. Vajraaksh rescues Neera, who in turn expresses her gratitude by kissing on his forehead. Vajraaksh gets rid from his curse, transforms into a handsome prince and realizes that the most precious thing in world is LOVE. The story ends with the pearl getting back to its original shell.

Ride 8: Deep Space

We got a direct entry to this indoor dark roller coaster ride. Here again there was only a waist support rod. The ride consisted of two sections with three rows each and a seat for two per row. The ride was launched into space, all routine checks were done. Suddenly, we dived with the speed of 69 km/h into the two inverted loops which was enough to give an interstellar experience.

Ride 9: Motion Box Theater

The Express ticket don’t apply here; so, we had to stand in the waiting queue. It’s a 4D cinema motion simulator ride of traversing The Great Wall of China. The theater seats were elevated; there was a safety rod tucked to the waist. The film began with a Chinese bicycle rider taking us through the path on the Great Wall. Suddenly, he loses control of the ride and is thrown off. We are then left to cross the wall on the mercy of our uncontrollable vehicle. There were many deep dives and elevations, dead ends and thrilling twists and turns until we reached the destination.

Ride 10: Rajasaurus River Adventure

This Splash water boat ride takes you back to the dinosaur age. We got a direct entry to the dinosaur expedition. The room had various types of dinosaur eggs kept in glass boxes, dusty research books in Dr. Roy’s bookshelves, etc. The boat had four sections with four seats on each; with a safety rod locked against the seat. We rowed into the dinosaur world with a voice guide, describing the various types of dinosaurs we passed by. Some dinosaurs were spitting water on the ride. At the end of the boat tour, we were lifted to the closed door. The door opened and we dived through the 45-degree slope into the water. Floating in the river, we reached the finish point.

Ride 11: Mr. India – The Ride

We got a direct entry to the room. A short film was displayed on the screen on 2^nd floor in which Toota Phoota, the monkey robot was introduced. Mr. India and Seema must rescue Calendar and children from the falling ship and fight with Mogambo. They need our help! We opened the door and got seated into the iconic car remotely controlled by Toota Phoota. The safety rod was attached to the seats. The adventure gave a feel of the other rides: from riding the mighty Nitro, dropping to the ground in the Dare2Drop, walk through the Rajasaurus land and many more. At last Mogambo was defeated.

Ride 12: Salimgarh

We got a direct entry to the room filled with posters having animated eyes. The ride includes two sections with three seats on each. Salimgarh is a haunted fortress including a dark, dangerous and gloomy experience. As we traversed through the dungeons, many creepy hands crawled up to catch hold of us. A horrifying voice guide was accompanying us throughout the journey. There was a room in which Anarkali was trapped forever. The corridors were decorated with hanging skeletons and the ceiling with spider webs. One inverted body was hanging like a chandelier. Skulls were spread all over the way. While taking a left turn, the ride was slightly elevated. We saw another ride approaching from the opposite direction, as we neared, it was a mirror! Then we got stuck at the dead end. Having done rest of the rides, we were sure to get a shock. Suddenly the ride dropped down.

Wrath of the Gods: This ride was under maintenance.

Mambo Chai Chama: It’s a crazy teacup ride wherein the cup spins and the saucer moves across the platform.

The Grand Imagica Parade started at 5:30pm. The parade included big carriages having all the star characters of Imagica. Later we had high tea with pav bhaji at the Imagica Capital. We gathered at the open space in front of Arrmada ship for a group photo session. There were stunning live performances by the Imagica crew, including the rope act and a few dance forms. Queen awards were distributed with a sash and yellow pouch. There was cake-cutting and dance party to conclude the day. We left Imagica and boarded our bus. Few more prizes were won by answering the Ride Names, for max no. of different currency notes, max no. of food items, max no. of cosmetics, etc. All of us got a glass bottle as a Women’s Day Gift. The bus dropped ladies at their venues and the final halt was at Borivali Station where Karnali, Geeta and me waved goodbye to Sahil and ran for our Virar train. The Women’s Day Out at Imagica was indeed an awe-inspiring experience for all of us. True to the tagline:

We Travelled to Imagica. We Explored the rides. We Celebrated Women’s Day.