The view from a bubble

"Living in a bubble can be a beautiful thing."                                                    HT Photo
      --Pallavi Gurtoo, the girl in the bubble                                                                        `     

Picture this: the open sky, breeze in the air, a fort in the backdrop, and you, lounging in a big bubble, floating on a lake. 
Alternatively, think of this: the same setting, except you’re crawling, walking running, bouncing and falling—doing whatever it takes to manoeuvre the bubble you’re inside. Sounds interesting? 


Well, it is. 


Delhi Tourism, last week, introduced Zorbing or “water walking” at the Purana Quila lake. For now, they have four water balls, with a diameter of 6.5 feet. You climb into the deflated plastic ball through a zipper, and one of the staff will fill the bubble with air from what looks like a big hair dryer. Once the ball is inflated, it is zipped up, and the ball-enclosed-you are pushed in the water. A rope is attached to the ball, which a staff-member holds on to, for pulling you back to the shore when your time’s up. 


You can attempt to walk, but odds are you will fall. “It needs practice, you can only crawl at first, but once you get the balance right you’ll be able to walk on the water,” says Vikram Paul, Assistant Manager (Water Sports), Delhi Tourism. 
The staff certainly can. It looks easy as ABC when they demonstrate it, but once you’re in it, you’re in for a big fall. Crawling, and attempting, however, to walk is a lot of fun in itself. 
“You can hear your own breathing magnified. Like those movies when you’re stuck in a well—except this is fun,” pants Pallavi, 21, as she is unzipped from the ball.


“It was very nice. I’m definitely coming here again, and again—all the way from Pitampura,” says Shefali Agarwal, a jewellery designer. 


One water walking session is 15 minutes long and costs Rs 50. “It also burns as many calories as jogging for 30 minutes on the treadmill,” adds Paul. 


You can also lie on your back and relax, while the big bubble lazily floats. The cool water below and the warm sunshine above: it’s a great way to unwind in this weather. The fort looks even more beautiful through this giant clear ball. 


More to float your boat


The lake also has pedal boats and shikara boats (motor boats). A 30 minute ride on the pedal boat costs Rs 50, while two rounds of the lake in a Shikara, approximately 5-10 minutes, are for Rs 120. 


The area can keep you occupied for a week. The Purana Quila—Delhi’s old fort with it’s magnificent pre-Mughal design mosque Qila-i-Kuhna, gateways and other structures make for a fun trip for history enthusiasts. The fort is also a venue for the spectacular sound and light shows (Rs 80) every evening—in Hindi and English. A good way to end the day. 


Adjacent to the fort is the massive Delhi Zoo with over 2,000 animal and bird species from all over the world. You can visit it (Rs 20 a ticket) on all days, except Friday. 


List of Lifeboats:


1. One person per ball 
2. Take off all sharp objects like earrings, belts, hair clips, you don’t want to puncture the ball 
3. No footwear allowed 
4. Leave your dupattas and scarves outside. You don’t want things getting in your way inside. 
5. Not for the claustrophobic or pregnant women.
6. The ball has enough air to last over 30 minutes


What: Zorbing
When: 11am to 6pm (Oct 1 to March 31) and 12pm to 7pm (April 1 to Sept 30) 
Where: Purana Quila lake 
How much: Rs 50 for 15 minutes 
Closest metro station: Pragati Maidan on the blue line