It was the winter of 1984 when Delhi’s skyline changed—not with buildings, but with the laughter of children and the rise of a giant Ferris wheel. That year, on November 19, Appu Ghar, India’s first-ever amusement park, opened its gates at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, forever redefining leisure in the country.
Inaugurated by then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi, Appu Ghar was named after the lovable elephant mascot of the 1982 Asian Games, Appu. It quickly earned the moniker “India’s Disneyland” and became a rite of passage for children, schools, and families for more than two decades.
- Over 22 thrilling rides including My Fair Lady, Columbus, Bumper Cars, Haunted House, and Water Splash
- A first-of-its-kind water park zone in the city
- Set across 15.5 acres in the heart of Delhi
- Host to countless school trips, birthday parties, and summer holiday excursions
After 24 years of unforgettable joy, Appu Ghar closed on February 17, 2008, following a Supreme Court order to vacate the Pragati Maidan premises for government infrastructure projects, including the Delhi Metro Supreme Court Station.
Even after its closure, Appu Ghar’s spirit continued:
- Adventure Island in Rohini and Worlds of Wonder in Noida, developed by the same group
- A new Appu Ghar Water Park opened in Gurgaon in 2014, rekindling the magic for a new generation
“It was more than a theme park—it was where my childhood lived,” says Aakash Mehta, a Delhi resident who visited Appu Ghar every summer as a child. “Even today, the name brings a smile.”
