Startup Originals Team
India is set to welcome its longest glass skywalk located atop the scenic Kailasagiri Hill in Visakhapatnam (Vizag). While business magnate Anand Mahindra called it “absolutely stunning,” he humorously admitted that because of his fear of heights, this architectural marvel “probably” won’t make it to his own bucket list. The skywalk, which is nearing inauguration, promises to captivate tourists with breathtaking views and cutting-edge design.
A Visual Marvel with Global Ambitions:
Anand Mahindra recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a video of the skywalk, describing it as one of the tallest of its kind in the world. He noted that while China’s Zhangjiajie glass bridge still holds the global record, at 300 m above ground and 430 m long, Vizag’s skywalk isn’t far behind, with a vertical drop of 262 m.
Still Spectacular from Afar:
Despite admiring the engineering marvel, Mahindra candidly confessed, “It looks absolutely stunning, but will it make it to my bucket list? Probably not. Heights and I have a complicated relationship. For now, I’ll stay an armchair #SundayWanderer and enjoy the views through videos instead.” His honesty resonated widely, as many followers echoed their own fear of heights and preferred to experience thrill vicariously.
Engineering Excellence: What Makes the Skywalk Stand Out
- Size & Location: Stretching 55 metres, this is India’s longest glass skywalk and will tower approximately 262 m (≈ 862 ft) above ground atop Kailasagiri Hill.
- Spectacular Views: The bridge offers sweeping panoramas of the Bay of Bengal, the city of Vizag, and the Eastern Ghats.
- Safety-Centric Design: Constructed with three layers of toughened laminated glass (40 mm thick) imported from Germany and supported by 40 tonnes of steel, the skywalk is resilient against impacts, even from hammer strikes. It’s rated to withstand wind speeds up to 250 km/h, accounting for extreme weather events like past cyclones.
- Capacity & Access Control: Although structurally capable of holding over 100 people, visitor numbers will be capped at 40 at a time to ensure safety and quality of experience.
- Swift Construction: The 7- to 8-month construction project, executed through a public-private partnership led by VMRDA, comes with an investment of around ₹7 crore. It’s designed to boost tourism and reinforce Vizag’s infrastructure.
Why Visitors Should Be Excited:
This glass skywalk is poised to become a major tourist hotspot, thanks to its exceptional design, breathtaking vantage points, and modern safety features. Whether you’re an adventure seeker or simply someone who loves majestic views, this attraction elevates Vizag’s tourism charm in a big way.
Conclusion:
Vizag’s new glass skywalk is more than just a structural achievement, it’s a symbol of India’s growing capacity for world-class tourism experiences. Although Anand Mahindra, with his brave-hearted humor, may opt to enjoy it via a screen, many others are likely to take the leap, both literally and figuratively-and tread its transparent platform to soak in the views firsthand.
