Longest solar eclipse: Travel companies line up exotic packages

This is like seeing the bright side of an eclipse. Travel companies in India are planning to cash in on the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century on July 22. You can watch the eclipse from a Boeing flying above the clouds in Gaya, or learn about the phenomenon from experts on the ghats of Varanasi or even fly to China, ride the Maglev, attend a workshop and then get down to business in the city of Anqing.

Cox & Kings is offering a special flight to witness the spectacle from up close. For Rs 29,000-79,000 you can take up a plum window seat on a Boeing 737-700 and watch the eclipse from above the clouds. Says executive director Arup Sen, “This is the first time we have attempted this journey. We already have a number of bookings.”

The eclipse flight will last for three hours. It will take off from New Delhi, fly towards and hold over Gaya till the eclipse time. The aircraft will be intercepting the middle of the eclipse shadow at a height of 41,000 feet.

Those who take the right side window seats will get to see the ‘sun side’, while those who take the left side window seats can see the ‘earth side’ and will witness the shadow on the earth, Sen adds.