Entrance to the Jurassic Jungle at BDA City Centre in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 14: Adventurous kids will no longer need to go backpacking to the hinterland to enjoy the thrills of a forest trek. They can now hitch a hike to Jurassic Jungle, a theme park at the BDA City Centre, which was inaugurated today to mark Children’s Day.

Set up over a 1,500sqft area, Jurassic Jungle is a walk-through park, with the dark and creepy feel of a dense forest.

Visitors will encounter dummies of wild animals, snakes and even dinosaurs, which will be driven by pneumatic technology or compressed air propelling movement. “Sensors have been installed at various points and upon detecting footsteps, animals will emerge to scare the visitors. A cobra will suddenly descend on your head or a tiger will roar and pounce on you,” said Prakash Ranjan Mohapatra, operations manager of the BDA City Centre, which was earlier known as BDA Nicco Park.

He said visitors would follow dim lights to tour the park, which also features an artificial fountain.

“We have also made thunder and lightning arrangements to raise the scare factor. Cardiac patients, pregnant women and elderly persons will not be allowed in the park,” he added.

Bhubaneswar Development Authority vice-chairman Vishal Kumar Dev inaugurated the park this evening. A visitor has to shell out Rs 150 to enjoy this latest attraction. “The regular entry charges are Rs 130 and we have added just Rs 20 for the Jurassic Jungle, which is the first-of-its-kind in the state. Mumbai and Chennai are the only two cities in the country to have this theme park,” said Mohapatra.

At the exit point of the park is Vortex — a rotating tunnel — that was added in May this year. “I have not visited the BDA City Centre for a long time. I am looking forward to this weekend to enjoy the Jurassic Jungle with my parents and friends,” said Adwait Singh, a Class VII student of a city school.

Children’s day was celebrated in all schools across the city with gusto today. Kids paid glowing tributes to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of the country, whose birthday is celebrated as Children’s Day. Cultural programmes and various creative and intellectual competitions marked the day. ODM Public School observed it in a special way by launching a disaster management club on the occasion.

The 12th Anjali National Children’s Festival, which brings children with disabilities and students of mainstream schools on a common platform, drew to a close today with chief minister Naveen Patnaik addressing the valedictory session.

The 24th Sishu Mela, a weeklong children’s festival organised by voluntary organisation People’s Cultural Centre, also commenced today with the participation of children from disadvantaged sections. Blossoms School is also celebrating Children’s Week by conducting a host of activities.