Appu Ghar

Ask anyone in Delhi of their favorite amusement park ever and most of them will name Appu Ghar as the one. Appu Ghar was one of the first amusement parks in Delhi and was instant hit with children and families.It was first in the line of amusement parks that were to serve as its successors.

The cinema going population of Delhi started heading towards Appu Ghar to spend the leisure hours before it was finally closed on 17th February 2008. But this was only after the park served and catered to the amusement needs of people for more than two decades. Expiring of the lease of the land at which the park was set and requirement of the same land by Delhi Metro to construct the Pragati Maidan Metro Station for thr Delhi Metro served as the two reasons leading to closure of the park.

Appu Ghar was opened to the general public on 19th November 1984. It was built in commemoration of Asian Games that were held in India in the year 1982. This amusement Park derived its name from an elephant name Appu. This elephant was the live mascot of the Asian Games and represented them in a similar way as Shera represented the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010. Popularity of Appu made government of Delhi dedicate an amusement park to him and it became a hot spot for recreation purposes as soon as it was launched, as were the expectations.

The rides at the Appu Ghar included:

• The Roller Coaster
• My Fair lady
• Columbus
• The Giant Wheel
• The Tower of Thrills
• Hi Waves

Besides, there was also a swimming pool, ice games like skiing, sledding, ice boating and The Disney land which had rides designed specifically for the children. The rides like Rope Crossing and Oyester required special tickets to be bought in addition to the entry ticket which ensured access to maximum rides in the park.

Stretching over 15.5 acres of land, this amusement park in Delhi formed a major weekend gateway into a world of utmost excitement and fun. Be it the most sought after rides, a water park or a party zone this park encompassed all of it. A major tourist attraction in the city, Appu Ghar was a prime precedent of unique architecture, planning, entertainment and facilities. Appu Ghar remained open on all days of the week and operated from 1:30 pm to 9:30 pm on weekdays. On Sundays, the park remained open from noon to 9:30 pm.

Last Updated on 11/9/2011