Wonderla
{{Short description|Indian chain of amusement parks}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox water park
|name = Wonderla
|image = Wonderla Amusements Parks Logo.png
|caption =
|location = Kochi
|location2 = Hyderabad
|location3 = Bengaluru,
|coordinates =
|theme = Amusement Park
|rides = Bengaluru - 62, Hyderabad - 46, Kochi - 56, Bhubaneswar - 21
|coasters=2
|slides = 72
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.wonderla.com/}}
|owner = {{Unbulleted_list|Kochouseph Chittilappilly|Arun Chittilappilly}}
|headquarters = Bengaluru
|opening_date = {{Unbulleted_list|{{Start date and age|2000}} in Kochi|{{Start date and age|2005}} in Bengaluru|{{Start date and age|2016|04||df=yes}} in Hyderabad|{{Start date and age|2024|05||df=yes}} in Bhubaneswar}}
|closing_date =
|operator = Wonderla Holidays Limited
|previous_names= Veegaland at Kochi
|season = All year round
|area =
|visitors= 25 million{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}
}}
Wonderla is the largest chain of amusement parks in India. It is owned and operated by Wonderla Holidays Limited which is headquartered near Bidadi, {{convert|28|km}} from Bengaluru, Karnataka. It operates 4 amusement parks in Kochi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wonderla.com/about-us/about-wonderla.html|title=About Wonderla {{!}} Kochi, Bangalore and Hyderabad Amusement Parks {{!}} Bangalore Resort|website=www.wonderla.com|language=en|access-date=2017-10-25}}
Wonderla is promoted by Kochouseph Chittilappilly and his son Arun Chittilappilly. The first amusement park project Wonderla Kochi (then called Veegaland Amusement Park) was set up in 2000, followed by the second in Bengaluru in 2005, the third in Hyderabad was commissioned in April 2016, and finally the fourth in Bhubaneswar in May 2024.
History
File:Kochouseph Chittilappilly DS.jpg
In the year 2000, Kochouseph Chittilappilly started the flagship amusement water theme park under the name Veegaland in Kochi, Kerala. {{currency|75|INR}} crore was invested in the construction and development of Veegaland. In 2005, with the overwhelming success of the Veegaland project, Kochouseph Chittilappilly and his son, Arun Chittilappily, launched another amusement park on a larger scale at a cost of around {{INR|105}} crore in Bengaluru by the name Wonderla, spread over an area of 82 acres. A third amusement park, Wonderla Hyderabad, was commissioned in April 2016. Currently the company is run by Arun Chittilappilly as managing director.
Locations
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| image1 = Veegaland full view.JPG
| width1 = 200
| alt1 =
| caption1 = Wonderla Kochi
| image2 = Wonderla Bangalore BNC.jpg
| width2 = 200
| alt2 =
| caption2 = Wonderla Bangalore
| image3 = Wonderla.jpg
| width3 = 200
| alt3 =
| caption3 = Wonderla Amusement Park, Raviryal, Hyderabad
}}
=Kochi=
The Kochi park was re-branded in 2011.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2012-02-24 |title=Wonderla to expand presence in South India |work=Business Standard India |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/wonderla-to-expand-presence-in-south-india-112022400052_1.html |access-date=2017-10-25}}{{cite web|title=Wonderla Kochi|url=http://advicesacademy.com/travel/wonderla/|publisher=AdvicesAcademy|access-date=12 October 2015}} This park is situated on the top of a hill at Pallikkara, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the city center. The park was set up in 2000 and was designed by architect Joseph John.{{Cite web|url=http://kochiservnet.com/hangouts/hangouts_action.php/41/Veega-Land/|title=Kochi : Veega Land{{!}}Hangouts in Kochi/Cochin - Kochiservnet|website=kochiservnet.com|access-date=2017-10-25}}
Wonderla Kochi is the first park in India to get ISO 14001 certificate for eco-friendliness and OHSAS 18001 certificate for safety.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wonderla.com/about-us/about-wonderla.html|title=Wonderla Amusement Park Kochi|website=wonderla.com|access-date=2018-08-16}} The park is spread over 30 acres of landscaped space with more than 60 amusement rides. In July 2018, Wonderla Kochi was ranked eleventh in the TripAdvisor 'Travellers' choice awards for amusement parks and water parks in Asia.{{Cite news |date=29 July 2018 |title=Ramoji Film City, Wonderla in top in Asia theme parks |newspaper=Business Standard India |publisher= |agency=Press Trust of India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/ramoji-film-city-wonderla-in-top-in-asia-theme-parks-118072900287_1.html |access-date=2018-08-16}}
=Bangalore=
The park features a wide variety of attractions including 55 land and water rides, a musical fountain, laser shows, and a virtual reality show. Wonderla Bangalore has a full-fledged dance floor with a twist, electronically controlled rain showers. Wonderla also has attractions specially designed for children, and these are gentle yet unusual like a kiddies free fall ride. It uses solar-heated water for all its pools during winter. It has conference facilities for up to 1,000 persons and features five restaurants with a total seating capacity of 1,150. It has locker rooms with over 2,350 lockers and restrooms and showers.{{Cite web |last=Daniels |first=Christina |title=Top 5 Water Parks in Bangalore - Hello Travel Buzz |url=https://www.hellotravel.com/stories/top-5-water-parks-in-bangalore |access-date=2017-10-25 |website=www.hellotravel.com}} Wonderla Bangalore has been ranked 1st in India and 7th best in Asia by Tripadvisor for 2014, the highest for any Amusement park in India.{{cite news |date=Jul 16, 2014 |title=Five amusement parks in India feature among top 25 in Asia |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/five-amusement-parks-in-india-feature-among-top-25-in-asia/articleshow/38495409.cms |url-access=registration |access-date=2023-12-28}}
Wonderla Holidays opened its first luxury resort, an 84-room hotel complex spread over 100,000 square feet and operational since 2012.{{Cite web |date=2017-04-06 |title=Wonderla Holidays plans to expand operations outside southern states: Report |url=https://www.moneyworks4me.com/company/news/index/id/246356 |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=MoneyWorks4Me |language=en}} The resort features a dedicated children's play area as well as recreational and conferencing facilities.{{cite news |author=Gupta |first=Jitendra Kumar |date=22 April 2014 |title=Wonderla: Worth the ride |work=Business Standard India |publisher= |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/wonderla-worth-the-ride-114042200790_1.html}} The resort is located next to Wonderla Bangalore.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wonderla.com/bangalore-resort/|title=Wonderla Resort Bangalore {{!}} Resort in Bangalore {{!}} Hotel on Mysore Road|website=www.wonderla.com|language=en|access-date=2017-10-25}}
=Hyderabad=
Wonderla Hyderabad offers 28 land-based rides and 18 water-based attractions on 50 acres of land.{{cite news |date=8 May 2016 |title=Wonderla Hyderabad Amusement Park |work=Telangana Tourism |location=Hyderabad |url=http://telanganatourisminfo.com/wonderla-hyderabad-amusement-park-launched/ |url-status=usurped |access-date=2023-12-28 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20170819145421/http://telanganatourisminfo.com/wonderla-hyderabad-amusement-park-launched/ |archive-date=2017-08-19}} Wonderla Amusement Park is situated in Raviryal, which is 28 kms from Hyderabad City. Its most notable ride is Recoil, a reverse looping roller coaster. It was launched on January 20, 2018 by Managing Director Arun K Chittilappilly and Chief Executive Officer DS Sachdeva.{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=V. Rishi|title=Wonderla Holidays to open ₹250-cr facility in Hyderabad next month|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/wonderla-holidays-to-open-250cr-facility-in-hyderabad-next-month/article8384738.ece|access-date=2021-10-16|website=@businessline|date=22 March 2016 |language=en}}
=Bhubaneswar=
Wonderla Holidays has set up an amusement park on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. The property is developed as one of the biggest parks in the country on a 50-acre patch of land at an investment of 115 crore. The company has signed an agreement with the State government for leasing of land for a period of 90 years for the amusement park on an asset-light business model at Kumbharbasta village in Bhubaneswar.{{cite web |date=2022-07-02 |title=Wonderla Holidays to set up amusement park in Bhubaneswar, investment of Rs 115 crore |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bhubaneswar/2022/jul/02/wonderla-holidays-to-set-up-amusement-park-in-bhubaneswar-investment-of-rs-115-crore-2472020.html |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=The New Indian Express}} The park opened to the public on 24 May 2024.{{cite web |date=2024-05-06 |title=Wonderla Bhubaneswar Announces Special Soft Launch Offer: Tickets Starting At Just Rs.649* |url=https://orissadiary.com/wonderla-bhubaneswar-announces-special-soft-launch-offer-tickets-starting-at-just-rs-649/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=Orissa Diary}}
=Chennai (under construction)=
Wonderla holidays is currently working on its 5th amusement park in Chennai and the park awaiting final approval from the Chennai Department of Town & Country Planning to commence its project.{{Cite news |date=2020-07-27 |title=Clearance awaited from Town & Country Planning dept: Wonderla Holidays on Chennai project |language=en |work=The Economic Times |agency=PTI |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/indl-goods/svs/construction/clearance-awaited-from-town-country-planning-dept-wonderla-holidays-on-chennai-project/articleshow/77191728.cms |url-access=registration |access-date=2021-05-24}} Amusement park in Chennai will cost {{INR Convert|3|b}}, spread over {{convert|55|acre|m2}} of land.{{cite news |author=Ramalingam |first=Aparna |date=10 September 2015 |title=Global Investors Meet: Wonderla signs MoU with TN govt to set up amusement park in Chennai |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Global-Investors-Meet-Wonderla-signs-MoU-with-TN-govt-to-set-up-amusement-park-in-Chennai/articleshow/48901648.cms}}
IPO
The initial public offering (IPO) of Wonderla Holidays for about {{currency|180|INR}} crores received overwhelming response. The IPO proceeds were to be used for its upcoming theme park project in Hyderabad.[http://www.livemint.com/Companies/X6mDzgztPc8YMGtyyY1iJI/Wonderla-Holidays-IPO-oversubscribed-38-times-on-last-day.html Wonderla Holidays IPO oversubscribed 38 times on last day] LiveMint April 23, 2014{{cite news |author=Krishnamoorthy |first=Suresh |date=February 28, 2012 |title=Wonderla to set foot in Hyderabad with water theme park |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/wonderla-to-set-foot-in-hyderabad-with-water-theme-park/article2940184.ece}}
References
External links
{{commons category|Wonderla, Bangalore}}
{{official|https://www.wonderla.com/}}
{{Bangalore topics}}
{{Amusement Parks in India}}
{{Tourism in Kerala}}
Category:Amusement parks in Karnataka
Category:Tourist attractions in Bengaluru
Category:2000 establishments in Kerala
Category:Amusement parks opened in 2000
Category:Amusement parks opened in 2005
Category:Amusement parks opened in 2016
Category:Amusement parks opened in 2024
Category:Buildings and structures in Bengaluru
Category:Amusement parks in Kerala
Category:Buildings and structures in Kochi
Category:Amusement parks in Hyderabad, India
Category:Tourist attractions in Hyderabad, India
Category:Tourist attractions in Telangana
Category:Companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange
Category:Companies listed on the National Stock Exchange of India