Bollywood Parks Dubai

Bollywood Parks Dubai was one of the three theme parks that opened at Dubai Parks and Resorts at the end of 2016, and was the world's first theme park created to celebrate Bollywood movies. Western visitors might have been tempted to dismiss the park as they would be largely unfamiliar with Indian films and the characters portrayed, but that would have been a huge mistake - Bollywood Parks Dubai was superb.

The park's centerpiece was the Rajmahal, a Taj Mahal like building which towered over much of the park and hosted the park's nightly premium show. Rajmahal was a good example of the two stand-out features of Bollywood Parks Dubai: theming and show. The park was beautiful, and the attention paid to the detailed theming was up to Disney standards and second-to-none in the UAE. Scattered throughout the park were outdoor stages and other venues where various shows capturing the energy of Bollywood movies were performed regularly throughout the day.

Together with the nightly separately ticketed show in the Rajmahal, the park's other headline show was Dabangg - Stunt Show Spectacular. This took place in a large warehouse towards the back of the park, and featured a variety of stunts together with Bollywood music and dancing. The storyline was typically cheesy - a girl was captured by a gang of gun-swinging bad guys and a police officer had to risk his life to fight them off and rescue the damsel in distress. The show didn't take itself too seriously, and was mainly an excuse for loud music, explosions, fight scenes and a lot of dancing.

While shows took top billing, Bollywood Parks Dubai also had a number of other attractions. The park didn't feature any rollercoasters or thrill rides when it opened (although a large GCI woodie was under construction when it closed), but instead presented more experience-type rides using bleeding edge 3D and virtual reality technologies.

The best among them was Krrish - Hero's Flight. This followed Krrish, a Bollywood science fiction superhero, as he took guests on a flight around India by way of an immersive flying theatre. Of course, the trip didn't go smoothly and peaceful soaring over grasslands was soon interrupted by an alien invasion ... naturally. In common with a lot of rides at the park, the storyline was a bit mad but visitors willing to embrace it and be carried along were rewarded with an engrossing, hypnotic, sparkling experience.

Another example of the craziness of Bollywood Parks Dubai was Lagaan - Thrill of Victory. The ride could be described as a virtual reality cricket simulator, but that only tells half the story. The crazy ride gave guests the experience of an adventure in a fantasy world, all from the point of view of a cricket ball as it is flew through the air, was struck by various obstacles and ended up rolling down a virtual rollercoaster track. Brilliant fun, and another of the park's highlights.

Very sadly, after having shut temporarily for Ramadan on 22 March 2023, the park announced via its website and social media channels on 20 April 2023 that it would not reopen and had closed permanently.

Bollywood Parks Dubai was a rarity - it was a park full of life and colour, wonderfully capturing the spirit of India and Bollywood film - all without a major thrill ride or rollercoaster. Of the three parks that opened at Dubai Parks and Resorts in 2016, it was the most well-rounded, well themed and had the best all-round feel-good atmosphere.

Attractions

Shows and Entertainment

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More on Bollywood Parks Dubai

• Trip: ECC Arabian Adventure: Theme Parks of the UAE (18 Mar to 22 Mar 2017)