Entertaining the entire family

WITH GRS Fantasy Park and Fun Fort in its backyard, Mysore is an ideal destination for travellers, especially children.

Having become one of Mysore's most frequented tourist spots in recent years, attracting almost 400,000 visitors every year, the Rs.22-crore GRS Fantasy Park offers treats like water chutes, adventure cruises and pendulum slides.

The `Dragon's Den' is the theme park's latest offering and the first of its kind in India. Here, visitors are transported to the Jurassic age of dinosaurs by computer simulation and synchronized sound, light and movement.

Yogesh Dange, director, GRS Fantasy Park says: "The name of the theme park business is constant innovation. That is the only way to get your customers back. We have been adding one new offering every year. We have also been using to good effect the 18-metre natural gradient on our 32-acre site. Our next offering will be a giant 60-foot, theme-based waterfall". Other attractions at the Park are two multi-cuisine restaurants, and a 1,000-seat amphitheatre, which is used for corporate parties, dealer conferences and marriages. GRS Fantasy Park also boasts a filtration process that constantly monitors the Ph and free chlorine levels of the water, an effluent treatment plant, as well as an effective rainwater harvesting system. Conscious of safety, the park authorities have deployed 15 trained lifeguards.

FUN Fort, located in the heart of Srirangapatnam on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway, recreates the old world charm. Surrounded by lush green fields and bordered by the Cauvery river, the park is designed to look like a fort, and features landscaped gardens, a natural lake complete with boats, play pools, rides and slides. It is also equipped with a go-karting flyover track; a conference hall, an art gallery and a specially-designed children's play area.

Fun Fort prides itself on its 50-foot-tall and 300-foot-long `Grand Canyon' water slide, which is perhaps the largest of its kind in India. The walls of the park are beautifully coloured and depict various themes.

According to Santosh Kumar, managing director of Fun Fort, the park's four theme-based restaurants will attract every visitor. `Baghdad Street' will be a hub of activity with shows, merchandise, food and a hookah parlour. The `African Settlement' is an ethnic seafood restaurant located on the banks of the lake.