For some time now, I was waiting for an opportunity to do hot air ballooning. I once inquired from Kandalama hotel but it was an expensive affair at the list price of LKR 18,000 per person and it could only be done during the NE monsoon season (apparently November to April is when the wind conditions are suitable for balooning in Sigiriya/Kandalama area).

This year annual office trip was planned to Sigiriya in November. Luckily it was the season for ballooning.  When I mentioned the possibility of hot air ballooning to the trip organizers they managed to negotiate a bulk discount of 50% with one of the operator called Air Magic. It was still expensive but we thought “worth doing” at LKR 9000 per person!

The first day of the trip was literally spent on the raod! It was around 2.00 p.m. by the time we reached Hotel Sigiriya.

Since we had about 15 people who opted to go Ballooning, the operator planned two flights on the two consecutive mornings. I was in the first group to go on the very next morning.

We were supposed to meet the operator in Dambulla town at 5.00 a.m. (Yes, you read it right it is 5 in the morning!). They sent Van to pick us up from the Hotel and we were at the Kandalama Tank by 5.30 a.m. Dawn at Kandalama tank was a sight to see!

Early Morning - Kandalama Tank (5.45 a.m)

Daily Routines start Early

By that time we reached the location  the crew had arrived in a truck with the balloon in the trailer. Setting up started in no time.

The Balloon and the crew came in this truck with the trailer	Laying the balloon on the ground and attaching it to the basket
Pumping cold air to inflate it using two large fans	Pilot checking things out (particulalry the control lines) before burners are fired for hot air
Burners are ON and hot air gushing in to the balloon	The gentle giant rising with the Kandalama Lake in the back drop

Time was 6.25 in the morning when the balloon fully rose up and the pilot said “Get in; we are about to go”. We had been told how to climb in to the basket and where each one of us should stand in it well in advance. So in a matter of seconds all eight of us were in side, pilot released the anchor cable and we gradually started to climb up.

Balloon fully inflated, burners at full throttle - We are ready to be air borne

Rising over the Kandalama Tank - It was 6.30 a.m.

There was a second balloon which took off few minutes after us from a nearby location. Apparently there are two operators currently operating in Sri Lanka. We were with Air Magic and the other out fit is operating from the Kandalama Hotel.

After we took off, we steadily climbed up about 100m from the ground. The scenary around was heavenly. All we could see was the Kandalama Lake in a veil of mist on one side and tree tops reaching out of a sea of mist on the other side.

The second Balloon took off few minutes later	Kandalama Lake in a Veil of mist on one side
Tree tops reaching out from a sea of mist on the other side	Sigiriya and Pidurangala

The pilot told us that once in air its all up to the wind to decide where we go! He had very little control over the direction of the flight. All he could do it to control the altitude. Pumping hot air (burner at high throttle) would gradually elevate us and if he keep the burners low, air inside the balloon will cool down and we would gradually descend. apparently the direction of wind at different elevations can be drastically different. He was trying hard to make sure that we float away from the lake and not towards it! So it was a series of gentle ups and downs. Sometimes moving up as much as 200m and some time touching the tree tops and occasionally climbing down as low as couple of feet off the ground.

Minutes later, first rays of the sun started to break out from the Kandalama lake side. The whole scenary on that side started to change and came to life by the minute while the side opposite to the lake was still burried in the mist.

scenary on the side of Kandalama lake started to come to life with the first rays of the day breaking through the mist

Sun rays braking through the veil of mist

Breathtaking!

While the side of the lake gradually came to life, the opposite side continued to be burried in the sea of mist

The side opposite to the lake continued to be buried is mist

The golden temple of Dambulla

It was great to have some company!

Wow!

For the next 30 minutes or so, we continued to drift toward Habarana over diverse landscapes passing paddy fields and other crops with people occasionally stopping by to wave at us. We climbed up and climed down many times, almost hitting the ground at certain points.

Over Paddy Fields	..and the mist had not given up completely
Well above the ground sometimes	All most touching ground at some other times
Flying over farm Lands	..and paddy fields which looked more like a geometrical drawing
Life as usual below us	Occasionally stopping to wave at us
Over plots of Banana	papaya
Coconut	and colorful land prepared for cultivation
Balloon and the Burners	Gas Tanks and the Control Lines
Pilot Busy at Work	Pilot's Dashboard was very simple
He had an altimeter	Something to find out wind direction and a GPS in his watch
We were up again	..and down in the next moment

We had been flying for about 45 minutes and it was time to land. First of all, the Pilot had to find a suitable place for landing. It should be clear of electrical lines, should be dry, flat and has enough space to deflate the giant balloon, clear of any crops and have some road access so that the truck and the trailer can approach to recover the balloon and the basket. And remember, the pilot had little control over were he was going!

Obviously it took several attempts and about 20 minutes to complete the landing process. Finally when we landed, we learnt that we were in Pelwehera CIC farm! The Balloon’s buddy too landed somewhere close by few minutes before us.

Over the Pelwehera CIC Farm	Finally found a place to land
Our buddy was on the ground before us	We had quite a number of CIC employees watching us landing in the middle of their farm with no prior notice!
Touched down and some from the audience volunteered to help us position in on the ground	All good. We have finally landed!
The giant gradually collapsing	Half way down
Horizontally on the graound	Relaxed Pilot
Ready to be loaded in to the truck	The recovery team had arrived!

Elevation Profile of the flight route - Lots of "Ups and Downs" (Click Image to Enlarge)

While the crew was busy loading the ballooon in to the truck. We had some drinks with the pilot and more imporatntly received our Air Magic Certificate!

Celebrating the successful flight!

Air Magic Certified!

The van which picked us up from the hotel in the morning came to the landing site to pick us up and we were back in Hotel Sigiriya by 8.45 a.m.