The amusement parks industry, which is yet to enter the take-off stage, is set for healthy growth. With an investment of around Rs.2,000 crores already having been made in the industry over the last two decades, the Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries (IAAPI) expects fresh investments to cross Rs. 4,000 crores over the next five years. Besides Essel World in Mumbai, the major players in this industry include Nicco, Fantasyland and Appu Ghar. The amusement parks business has the potential to generate a lot of economic activity in its location and create better traffic flow and tourist revenue. In India, fun business, which started slowly some two decades ago, is beginning to take off and pay rich dividends.
Essel World is India's answer to Disney Land. It is largest amusement parks for children, spread over a sprawling 64 acres, at Gorai, which is one hour from Goregaon Mumbai. It offers more than 45 thrilling and scintillating rides and games. Essel World Mumbai has something for each and every taste - joyrides, water world, excitement, adventure and thrill, nothing is left out. The Water Kingdom is said to be the largest of its kind in Asia. It is an unmatched leisure destination, offering enthralling attractions to the entire family. There are a number of travel agencies which operate daily package tours to Essel World and Water Kingdom which includes transport, entry charges, all rides with food costs optional. The entrance fee normally takes care of a fixed number of rides, which include the standard roller coaster and adventure themes, plus a water world section where kids can literally run amok. The peak season in Mumbai is summer when the park is crowded, but Essel World now offers low budget monsoon packages and special weekend deals.
Just recently Essel World, introduced a new attraction at the amusement park, which became an instant hit with the crowds across all ages - an ice skating rink, "The Arctic Circle". In summer it is an extremely inviting and pleasant way to relax and have fun among the young and old alike. Now, people of Mumbai and around do not need to go to mountain resorts for enjoying the excitement of ice-skating. Mumbai is not the only city with a skating rink. Delhi also has a rink, which was set up in 1998 at the amusement park Fun Fair, and Kolkata has Fire on Ice, which was set up last November at the Clown Town amusement park.
Essel World Mumbai provides to the public skates in three sizes, made specifically for artificial ice, and which cannot be used on natural ice. These were first imported from China, but now are assembled at Delhi. And for those who think that fun business is cheap, "The Arctic Circle" cost the company about Rs.1.5 crores ($3571428) to set up. The rink of "The Arctic Circle" measures 4000 sq. ft and is flanked on one side by a viewing gallery. An Australian architectural firm designed the rink based on Scandinavian and Norwegian designs. The "Arctic Circle" is beautiful in its total simplicity.