Sights of merry-go-round and ferris wheel invoke nostalgia for the times when fun fairs were a matter of great excitement. While then fairs were more popular for their fun rides, they have now metamorphosed into nomadic amusement parks with many attractive features. The ongoing Wonder World Exhibition at Andhra University Grounds, Beach Road, takes people on a journey through many of the world’s iconic monuments including some from the Seven Wonders of the World with elaborate sets replicating the famous places. Right at the entrance, a tall replica of the Taj Mahal beckons visitors into its white, pristine beauty. Set up at a sprawling space, the fair has replicas of the Great Pyramids, the Colosseum, statue of Christ the Redeemer, Eiffel Tower and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. And for those who want to get a feel of how magnificent the Baahubali set looked like, the other entrance of the fair attempts to recreate parts of the superhit fantasy film set — albeit in a smaller scale — for the fans. Here, one can catch a glimpse of a façade of the Mahishmati kingdom. All the key scenes from the blockbuster flick are depicted with golden statues and models.
The fair’s towering replicas have been a big draw for visitors. On a weekday, the footfalls are around 3,000 to 4,000 and it doubles over the weekends.
“The replicas are a great way to see world famous monuments. For the kids, it is also a way to learn about these structures, their geographical location and significance,” says SVK Prasad, who came to visit the fair along with his two children. Every Friday, an entertainment show is organised at the centre of the fair. From folk dances of different Indian states to performances by differently-abled artistes, the weekly cultural evenings offer a platform to showcase various talents. Last weekend, visually impaired artistes of Swara Malika presented a slew of Telugu and Hindi songs during the cultural show. Apart from the replicas, there are 40 fun rides and around 100 stalls at the venue. Then, there are also the usual shopping stalls selling accessories, household items and toys.
And if you are drained out after enjoying all the fun rides, the Snow World will make you shiver even on hot summer days. Here, squeals of delight echo through the icy dance floor lit up with disco lights while the revellers get a taste of snow elixir.
The fair will be on till the end of June and is open from 4 pm to 10 pm.
