I visited Dubai in June 2017. I had always heard about Burj Khalifa and saw its pictures over the internet and always wished to visit there at once. So, when I did get a chance to visit, I must tell you that I was obsessed with this skyscraper and I still am and I think I can never get over it. So, a short tour for you guys about how I booked the tickets, about Burj and more...
About :
Burj Khalifa is a skyscraper in Dubai, UAE. With a height of 2722 ft and a roof height of 2717 ft, Burj Khalifa is the tallest structure and building in the world.
Construction began on 6 January 2004, with the exterior of the structure completed on 1 October 2009. The building officially opened on 4 January 2010.
The mystery behind the 'Name' :
The building was originally named Burj Dubai but was renamed in honour of the ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the United Arab Emirates, Khalifa Bin Zayd Al Nahyan. At a certain point in the architectural and engineering process, the original Emaar developers ran into financial issues and required more money and economic funding. Sheikh Khalifa, the ruler of the United Arab Emirates, granted monetary aid and funding, hence resulting in the changing of the name to "Burj Khalifa".
World Records :
Burj Khalifa holds the following world records -
1. Tallest building in the world
2. Tallest free-standing structure in the world
3. Highest number of stories in the world
4. Highest occupied floor in the world
5. Highest outdoor observation deck in the world
6. Elevator with the longest travel distance in the world
7. Tallest service elevator in the world
There are a total of 154 floors + 9 maintenance. It contains a total of 57 elevators and 8 escalators.
Entry :
Entry tickets can be booked online as well as can be booked on the spot also, but try to book it online to avoid the queue and rush if your date and time has been decided in advance. Since there are time slots, it is best to choose the evening time before an hour of sunset so that you can take back the memories with most of it. Since they are the prime hours, tickets are costly for the time slot.
However, I thought of booking tickets for non-prime hours as close as possible to prime hours to still get a beautiful view of the sunset and have to pay a lesser amount. Fortunately, I reached early and was allowed to go in the prime hours as it was not a peak season which was cherry on the top. I went to 124th and 125th level, which are named as 'At the Top' which is the highest Observation Deck.
The entry to Burj Khalifa is through 'The Dubai Mall', which is itself the second-largest shopping mall in the world.
Experience :
The view from the top is amazing and lovable. The Elevators are so efficient that they just take less than a minute to reach the observation deck (124th floor),i.e., less than the time taken in the queue to reach the elevator (LOL).
Once I reached the top, I was surrounded by glass doors. The 124th floor observation deck also features the electronic telescope, an augmented reality device, which allows visitors to view the surrounding landscape in real-time, and to view previously saved images such as those taken at different times of the day or under different weather conditions. The floor also includes a multimedia presentation on the history of Dubai. You can also shop some souvenirs from the gift shop.
Level 125 offers you a spacious deck to enjoy the stunning 360-degree view of the city. You can catch a bird's eye view of the entire city. It is mesmerising at the top. I also did witness change in temperature as I went to the top since I was almost in the clouds.
It was certainly a jaw-dropping experience with unforgettable panoramic views. Once you reach the top, you can stay for as much time as you want to and explore the best of it.
After that, I saw the Dubai Fountain show which is a choreographed fountain system. It is a light and music show next to Burj Khalifa only. I certainly loved every part of it.
