Hyderabad, Jan. 16 -- 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.

The festival will conclude on January 18. It 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 kilometers in nearly 1.5 hours in the hot air balloon.

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

Tickets for the festival are worth Rs 2000 plus GST and taxes excluding tickets for VIPs. As part of the festival, rides for shorter distances are arranged at the Parade Ground in Secuderabad on Friday evening...