Hyderabad, Jan. 16 -- It felt like Turkey's world-famous Cappadocia, as the three-day Hot Air Balloon Festival began near Hyderabad's Golconda Fort early on Friday, January 16, with at least 18 balloons taking off from the Golf Club.

Concluding on January 18, the festival was inaugurated by Telangana Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, who took a hot air balloon ride as part of the opening ceremony. He covered a distance of 13 kilometres in nearly 1.5 hours in the hot air balloon.

At least 50 people, including those who booked tickets and VIPs, participated in the festival.

Tickets for the festival are priced at Rs 2,000, even as the event is fully booked. As part of the festival, shorter distance rides are arranged at the Parade Gro...