The two words I have for Adlabs iMagica, the theme park near
Khopoli, are - ‘Distinctly Indian’; and I mean it in a good way.
Rides:
Every ride/attraction at iMagica, I have seen before at one
theme park or the other. But never before have I seen it with a beautiful
Indian touch. Mr. India reminded me of The Simpson’s ride (Universal) but the
fact that we were helping Mr. India fight evil Mogambo made it so much more appealing.
If Soarin (Epcot) made me proud to be associated with California, ‘I for India’
based on the same lines, gave me a bird’s eye view of My India. From Kashmir to
Kanyakumari it covered the beauty of my country, making me so proud I had goose
bumps at the end of the show. The ‘Wrath of Gods’ reminded me of ‘Songs of the
Sea’ (Sentosa) – the elements of nature working in harmony – this depicted in a
mesmerizing show with water jets and pyrotechnics. Rajasaurus is Jurrasic Park (Universal) in
Hindi. Then there were the usual roller coaster rides with Nitro being the
scariest of all; it made me scream even when I watched it from a distance. For the real dare devils the Scream Machine is
a must-do. There are many rides for the little ones too – like the favorite
‘Dumbo the elephant’ - they call him Tubby here. But I wouldn’t say it’s a ‘paisa vasool’ experience for them. Also some of the rides can
make you pretty wet, so pack some extra clothes if you don’t want to stay wet
for long.
The Park:
It wasn’t just the rides; the entire park had so much to
offer. The location of the park was breath taking, a vast open area with the
Sahyadri’s in the back drop. The landscaping in the park was also lovely – a
lake with artificial lotuses, bridges built over them, water jets for the
soak-enthusiasts, Alladin’s city, a
castle that resembled Cinderella’s castle, a dash of the Wild wild west, simple
rustic huts in the Africana region –all spotlessly clean! And here’s where it
passed the real test - plenty of restrooms and all pretty clean. Also found in every nook and corner, souvenir
shops that sold everything from fridge magnets to soft toys.
Wait times:
There’s something else I cannot help but compare with theme
parks around the world. I have stood for
almost 2 hours for a ride in Universal. Here, it might be due to the fact that
we went on a Friday or due to the fact that the foot fall is still low, there
was no wait time at all. In fact for some rides we had to wait because the
minimum requirement was not being met. J
Now that’s a first time experience in India! I have heard weekends are slightly
busier with wait times up to 15 minutes, but don’t bother to pay more for the
Express Pass (front of line pass to escape the lines).
Food:
Nothing can give you more content than a cup of Masala Chai
on a rain soaked evening in a theme park. You will realize the significance of
this if you have had to manage elsewhere with dark coffee that’s turned cold
after, in an attempt to make it potable, you’ve poured huge portions of creamers!
The food court had a variety of choices, even a special Jain Thali. The
American Diner had everything to satiate your International taste buds. And
then there was the usual sandwich, salad place too. Note, as expected, you
cannot carry any food items inside the park.
Thoughtfulness:
Keeping in mind that rain could be a frequent visitor, the
park provides big umbrellas for free use in the park. Use it while you want it;
keep it in one of the umbrella bins available near every attraction when you
are done. Helpful park representatives are also available around every corner
to provide all the information we need.
The future:
All in all it was a fun experience for the entire family.
Glad something like this came up close to Mumbai and Pune. I hope that Adlabs
keeps up with the standard that they have started off with. They are working on
more attractions and I heard from one park member that a water park is also
coming up next to it. Grab your tickets
before the crowds gather and the ticket prices rise. Just remember to bring an
open mind; I promise you’ll leave with aching legs and a full heart.
