Bird's eye view of Mumbai

Visitors to Mumbai can enjoy a bird&rsquos eye view of the city from a helicopter. Promoted by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), the helicopter ride is being operated by the Pune-based Girisons Airways. The rides are held every Sunday. The helicopter will take off from the Juhu airport. Some of the key sites that you will see from the helicopter are&mdashthe Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Race Course, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the Sea Link, the Film City, etc. The scheduled 15-minute ride costs Rs 3,939 (excluding taxes) per head. A government-issued photo identity card will be required to book the flight and to enter the airport. According to Paraag Jaiin Nainuttia, Managing Director, MTDC, "The idea is to provide an enthralling experience to the tourists and boost potential tourism in state. Mumbai attracts a lot of foreign and domestic tourist and heli-tourism will definitely help in increasing the footfall.&rdquo  Helicopter tours to Elephanta Island, Ajanta and Ellora caves and to Shirdi are also on the anvil.