Balvatika at Kankaria Lake Ahmedabad is a children's amusement and edutainment park featuring 28 activities that span snow experiences, museums, motion theatres, adventure rides and interactive installations. Originally inaugurated in 1956 as Chacha Nehru Balvatika, the park was completely redeveloped in 2025 with a ₹22 crore investment under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, introducing Gujarat's first Wax Museum, India's first transparent Glass Tower at a children's park, and a Snow Park with simulated sub-zero temperatures. Entry costs ₹50 per person and includes 6 free activities. Premium attractions range from ₹60 to ₹450 with separate tickets. Balvatika operates from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, closed every Monday.
What Is Balvatika at Kankaria Lake
Balvatika — formally Chacha Nehru Balvatika — is a children's park named after Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, fondly called "Chacha Nehru" (Uncle Nehru). The original park was inaugurated in 1956 on the Kankaria Lakefront with a full-size bust of Pandit Nehru at the entrance, and it was managed by the Zoo Department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation for nearly seven decades.
In 2025, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation completed a ₹22 crore redevelopment under a PPP arrangement with Superstar Amusement Pvt. Ltd, transforming the ageing park into a modern entertainment complex with 28 attractions. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the redeveloped Balvatika in mid-2025.
The redevelopment introduced three landmark firsts: Gujarat's first wax museum, India's first transparent glass tower at a children's park, and an indoor Snow Park that brings sub-zero temperatures to a city where summer highs reach 45 °C.
Premium Attractions at Balvatika
Snow Park
The Snow Park at Balvatika costs ₹450 per person and is the highest-priced attraction at the park. The ticket includes a winter jacket and snow-appropriate shoes, eliminating the need for visitors to carry cold-weather gear.
Inside, the Snow Park maintains simulated sub-zero temperatures (approximately −5 °C to 0 °C) with artificial snowfall, ice formations and snow-play zones. Visitors step from Ahmedabad's ambient 35–45 °C outdoor heat into a controlled winter environment within seconds. This thermal shock experience is the Snow Park's primary draw, particularly during the March–June summer season.
Wax Museum — Gujarat's First
The Wax Museum is Gujarat's first wax museum and costs ₹130 per person. It displays lifelike wax figures of notable personalities, sculpted with precision down to skin texture, hair follicles and facial expression details. The museum is housed in a climate-controlled indoor space — wax figures require stable temperatures between 18–22 °C to prevent softening.
Glass Tower (Selfie Tower) — India's First Transparent Tower at a Children's Park
The Glass Tower — marketed as the Selfie Tower — costs ₹170 per person and is India's first transparent glass tower installed at a children's park. The structure uses transparent glass panels on all sides, including the floor, creating an unobstructed 360-degree panoramic view of the Kankaria Lakefront. The transparent floor panel is the signature feature — visitors stand on glass and look directly down.
Flying Theater
The Flying Theater costs ₹200 per person and seats 8 visitors per session in an air-conditioned motion-simulation theatre. Visitors sit in suspended seats that tilt, swing and rotate while a curved screen displays aerial footage. The experience includes synchronised wind, mist and scent effects — classifying it as a 4D simulation experience.
Illusion House & Dinosaur Park
The Illusion House (₹150) consists of interconnected rooms using optical illusion techniques. The walkthrough takes approximately 10–15 minutes.
The Dinosaur Park (₹100) features 20 animatronic dinosaur installations — mechanised models that move, roar and simulate breathing. Species represented include Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops and Brachiosaurus.
Children's Rides and Adventure Activities
Mud Bike, Gokart & Adventure Rides
Mud Bike costs ₹150 and includes 7 rides on motorised bikes across a dirt-track circuit. Children Gokart costs ₹70 for 5 rounds on a scaled-down go-kart track. Adventure Rides cost ₹80 per person — climbing structures, rope courses and obstacle elements.
The Lazy River (₹70) provides a gentle, slow-moving water channel ride. Bhul Bhulaiya (maze, ₹60) is a physical labyrinth that takes 8–12 minutes to complete.
Jumping Adventure, Dinosaur Train & Interactive Rides
Jumping Adventure accommodates 4 children on a trampoline-style platform. X Warrior is a self-drive vehicle activity. Royal Ride, Robot Ride and Dinosaur Train (8 children) round out the lower-cost tier suitable for ages 3–8.
For children who prefer guided educational experiences over rides, Kids City at Gate 7 offers 18 supervised professional role-play zones.
Free Activities Included with Entry Ticket
The ₹50 entry ticket includes 6 activities at no additional charge:
- Coin House — themed house with oversized coin and currency replicas
- Glass House — mirrored-wall structure creating infinite reflection patterns
- Shoe House — giant shoe-shaped structure inspired by the nursery rhyme
- Landscape Garden — open green space with manicured lawns and shaded seating
- Selfie Zone — Instagram-ready backdrops and themed photo frames
- Glow Station — UV lighting and fluorescent elements (best after 7 PM)
The free attractions ensure that even the base ₹50 entry delivers a 45-minute to 1-hour experience.
Entry Fee, Ticket Prices & Budget Planner
Kankaria Lake general entry (prerequisite): Adults ₹25, children (3–12) ₹10, seniors and children under 3 free.
Balvatika entry: ₹50 per person (all ages) — includes 6 free activities.
Premium attraction tickets (purchased separately inside Balvatika)
| Attraction | Price (₹) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Snow Park (jacket + shoes included) | 450 | 30–40 min |
| Flying Theater (AC, 8 seats) | 200 | 10–15 min |
| Glass Tower / Selfie Tower | 170 | 10–15 min |
| Mud Bike (7 rides) | 150 | 15–20 min |
| Illusion House | 150 | 10–15 min |
| Wax Museum | 130 | 15–20 min |
| Dinosaur Park (20 dinosaurs) | 100 | 15–20 min |
| Adventure Rides | 80 | 10–15 min |
| Lazy River | 70 | 10 min |
| Children Gokart (5 rounds) | 70 | 10 min |
| Bhul Bhulaiya (Maze) | 60 | 8–12 min |
Budget visit (entry + free activities): ₹270 total · Mid-range (3 premium attractions): ~₹1,190 · Full experience: ~₹5,500–₹6,000.
Timings, Best Time to Visit & How to Reach
- Opening: 10:00 AM · Closing: 10:00 PM
- Closed: Every Monday
- Visit duration: 1.5 hours (free + 2 paid) to 4–5 hours (all 28 activities)
Best time: The evening window (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM) delivers the optimal Balvatika experience — the Glow Station and Selfie Zone are most impressive under evening lighting, and the Glass Tower offers sunset and illuminated lakefront views. For Snow Park and air-conditioned attractions, midday (12:00 PM – 3:00 PM) provides a climate-controlled escape from Ahmedabad's peak heat.
How to reach
- By auto-rickshaw: Maninagar Railway Station is 2 km. Cost ₹30–40.
- By AMTS bus: Alight at Kankaria Circle stop, then walk to the lakefront entrance.
- By private vehicle: Paid parking near Gate 5 and Gate 6.
The Atal Express Toy Train that circles the 2.3 km lakefront stops near Balvatika and connects to the Zoo, Amusement Park and other gates.
Other Kankaria Attractions Near Balvatika
- Kids City — 4,240 sq.m edutainment centre with 18 supervised role-play zones for ages 5–14. Entry ₹100 per child.
- Kankaria Zoo — 450+ mammals, 2,000+ birds and 140+ reptiles. Entry ₹20 adults, ₹10 children.
- Amusement Park — Amrapali Funland and Adventure World.
- Butterfly Park — biodome with ~50 species and lifecycle signage.
- Naginawadi Island — central island with musical fountain.
- Aquarium — freshwater fish and turtles.
- Game Zone — arcade games, VR experiences.
- Toy Train — Atal Express, 25-minute circuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the entry fee for Balvatika Kankaria?
₹50 per person (all ages). The entry ticket includes 6 free activities: Coin House, Glass House, Shoe House, Landscape Garden, Selfie Zone and Glow Station. Premium attractions require separate tickets ranging from ₹60 to ₹450. A Kankaria Lake general entry ticket (₹25 adults, ₹10 children) is required before accessing Balvatika.
How many activities are at Balvatika?
28 activities across premium attractions, children's rides and free installations. Premium experiences include Snow Park, Flying Theater, Wax Museum, Glass Tower, Illusion House and Dinosaur Park. Six activities are free with entry.
What is the Snow Park ticket price at Balvatika?
₹450 per person. The Snow Park ticket includes a winter jacket and snow-appropriate shoes. The indoor facility maintains simulated sub-zero temperatures with artificial snowfall and snow-play zones.
What are the timings for Balvatika Ahmedabad?
10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Tuesday through Sunday. Balvatika is closed every Monday. The best visiting window is 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM for the Glow Station, Selfie Zone and Glass Tower evening views.
Is the Wax Museum at Balvatika included in the entry fee?
The Wax Museum requires a separate ticket of ₹130 per person and is not included in the ₹50 entry fee. It is Gujarat's first wax museum.
What age group is Balvatika designed for?
Children aged 3 to 14 are the primary audience, though premium attractions like the Snow Park, Flying Theater, Glass Tower and Wax Museum appeal equally to adults. Free activities (Coin House, Shoe House, Glow Station) are best suited for ages 3–8.
Is Balvatika open on Monday?
Balvatika is closed every Monday for weekly maintenance. All other Kankaria Lake attractions also remain closed on Mondays.