Quote
Success is never found. Failure is never fatal. Courage is the only thing. - Winston Churchill
SINDHU DARSHAN FESTIVAL 2013
The Sindhu Darshan Festival, as the name suggests, is a celebration of river Sindhu, also known as the Indus. The festival was held on 1 June this year and the celebrations continued till 3rd June, livened up by the presence of a wide variety of cultural troupes from various corners of India. The Sindhu Darshan Festival is organised annually at Leh. People travel for a Darshan and Puja of the River rindhu (Indus), which originates from Mansarovar in Tibet. The festival is a celebration of this river. Troupes from states where the mighty rivers of India run, bring the water of all those rivers in earthen pots and immerse them in the river Indus. Thereby mingling the waters from all over India with that of the mighty 'Indus', the river that gave India its name. The festival aims at projecting the Sindhu River as a symbol of multi-dimensional cultural identity, communal harmony and peaceful co-existence in India.
It is also an opportunity for people from around the country and overseas to visit the beautiful regions of Leh and Ladakh. Whilst promoting tourism to this area, this festival is also a symbolic salute to the brave soldiers of India who have bravely fought the odds at Siachin, Kargil & other places. The three day programme is organized by the Government of Jammu and of Kashmir with the support of Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Govt. of India. The festival promises a kaleidoscope of Indian culture and an exciting array of performing arts being brought together at an exciting place.
FIRST SEAPLANE SERVICE FROM JUNE 2
Marking a new era in the history of Civil aviation in the country, the first sea plane commercial operations will commence on June 2, with flagging off the service at Ashtamudi lake, in the scenic backwaters of Kollam district in Kerala. The government had already set up four water domes in Ashtamudi, Kumarakam, Punnamada and Bakel, and the tourists from across the world could be able to choose the service at affordable charges.
RISING DEMAND PROMPTS MADHYA PRADESH TOURISM TO INCREASE NUMBER OF CARAVANS FROM THREE TO TEN
The Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) is set to increase the number of its caravans from three to ten. The state tourism board decided to increase the number of caravans in view of the rising number of tourists in the state, and the demand for caravans, especially during the summer. MPSTDC has also received a national permit for its caravans. At present, the three caravans are being operated in Jabalpur, Indore and Bhopal.
PURI- KONARK TO BE DEVELOPED INTO MODERN TOURIST HUB
The Puri-Konark tourist cum pilgrim circuit is all set to be transformed into a modern tourist hub. The proposed development plan was prepared keeping in view the possible increase in tourist traffic. Two important places, including 131 villages under Astarang, Konark, Gop, Brhmagiri, Puri Sadar and Kakatpur were undertaken. A contingent plan for the 2015 for the Nabakalebar ritual of Lord Jagannath was also incorporated in the development plan. Construction of a number of bus stands, multistoried parking lots, market complexes, pilgrim shelter for ten thousand persons would be erected. This apart an ecological friendly tourist spot would be developed in an area of hundred acres along the Puri- Korak marine drive road near Ramchandi temple to woo the tourists. The security of visitors and pilgrims also figured in the report which suggested to remove all encroachments and to develop the Puri -Konark beaches.
ANDHRA PRADESH TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO DEVELOP BEACH RESORTS AT SEVEN PLACES
Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation plans to develop new beach resorts at seven places. Andhra Pradesh Tourism is planning to develop new beach resorts at seven places - Baruva and Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam district, Chintapally in Vizianagaram district, Kakinada in East Godavari, Perupalem in West Godavari, Ramayapatnam in Prakasam district, Tummalapenta and Kotta Kudur in Nellore district. The beach resort at Maypadu in Nellore district has been opened recently. Government is also concentrating on restoration of old heritage sites.
KALKA-SHIMLA TRAIN TO GET CHARTERED LOUNGE CAR AND TOURIST COACH FACILITY
UNESCO World Heritage Kalka-Shimla train is going to have two new added attractions for tourists as catering to the need of high-end tourists, Indian Railways has decided to introduce chartered lounge car and tourist coach facility. Attached with compact pantry, these two coaches have been fitted with sofas, that would make the 97-km journey from Kalka to uphill Shimla more comfortable. Popularity of rail journey on the 97-km heritage track having 917 sharp curves, besides 102 tunnels and 988 bridges, could be gauged from the fact that during holidays Northern Railways is forced to run special holiday trains to cater to the high demand. Trial for the luxury coach has already been done while the trial of lounge car would be done after June 12. Facilities created inside these new chartered coaches will match the quality of "palace on wheels". While the lounge car would be 8-seater, the coach would be 9-seater.
ROHTANG PASS OPENED FOR TOURISTS AFTER SIX MONTHS IN MAY
Rohtang pass, the gateway to fascinating Lahaul and Pangi tribal valleys, has been was opened for tourists after six months. The tribal areas received several spells of moderate and heavy snowfalls during the winters and the Pass was covered under eight to ten feet of impeccable snow and even after the winter was over and people had to wait for the pass to reopen. The thick blanket of snow which was likely to last till July end would add to delight of the tourists and thousands of visitors are expected to throng the tribal valleys. Hundreds of vehicles headed towards the Rohtang pass were witnessed on Manali-Rohtang Pass throughout the day and tourists held photo sessions on the crescent of the Pass. After making preparations and arrangements of adequate parking and security, tourists have finally been allowed to drive past Rohtang top, the most preferred tourist destination of Himachal.
KARNATAKA'S FIRST-EVER MEDICAL TOURISM EXPO TO BE HELD IN OCTOBER 2013
SRS Global Industry Solutions (SRSGIS) and Creative Associates will organise Karnataka's first-ever premier healthcare and Medical Tourism expo 2013 in October. The expo will bring together over 1,000 delegates, 3,500 healthcare professionals, hospital owners, diagnostic centres, medical directors, biomedical engineers, Health Tourism, Ayurveda and holistic medicine centres and health spas from across the country. In addition to scientific deliberations and interactions, the expo will provide an opportunity for Indian and international hospitals to showcase their products and services. The expo will be organised in association with the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH). The expo is a platform dedicated to knowledge sharing and it brings together experts from major government and private institutions. During the three days of the exhibition, one can witness a unique concurrent conference and exhibition—a forum on innovative trends and practices in the medical, dental, Ayurveda and Medical Tourism industry," Rajesh said. A fashion show on hospital garments will be an added attraction of the expo.
THREE DELHI RESTAURANTS AMONG ASIA'S BEST
Three of the capital's tony eateries are among a list of 101 Best Restaurants in Asia 2013. Varq at The Taj Mahal Hotel that serves Indian cuisine was ranked at number six and ITC Maurya's Bukhara, frequented for its delectable north Indian cuisine, was at number 24. The Taj Palace Hotel's Orient Express, which specialises in French cuisine, was ranked at 55. The other Indian restaurants which made it to the list include Indigo in Mumbai and Karavalli in Bangalore. The former serves modern European cuisine and the latter serves Indian cuisine. The restaurants have been judged on the basis of cuisine, style, decor, service, value and don't miss categories by the panelists of 101 Best Restaurants in Asia 2013, which was conducted by New York-based food website The Daily Meal.
FORTUNE PARK HOTELS UNVEILS 2ND PROPERTY IN MUSSOORIE
Fortune Park Hotels Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITC Ltd, has expanded its bouquet of hotels with the opening of the brand’s 40th hotel, in India and second in Mussoorie - Fortune The Savoy, Mussoorie. Established in 1902, the 50-room Victorian resort has been restored to reflect the glory of its century-old past, aided by thoughtfully conceived services and state of the art-technology. The hotel is a judicious blend of old-world charm and new-age conveniences and an expression of the Fortune brand promise of unparalleled experience and exceptional value. The guest rooms and suites at Fortune The Savoy have been specially crafted with muted shades and unique design, combining elements of comfort and convenience. The well-appointed rooms include 26 Savoy Chambers, 12 Fortune Exclusive Rooms and 12 Fortune Suites. The hotel also offers state-of-the-art meeting and convention facilities that can accommodate upto 60 guests, with an open-to-sky venue that can host a gathering of approximately 200 guests. Dining options include The Grand Dining Room - A three-meal period restaurant; Nostradamus, The Writer’s Bar that serves the finest premium spirits, in a relaxed atmosphere; and the Fortune Deli featuring light snacks and sumptuous confectionery.
TUNE HOTELS OPENS ITS FIRST HOTEL IN INDIA
The 100-room Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, annexed to the newly-developed 4D Square Mall in the city’s Motera area, is well-positioned on the main thoroughfare to the state capital of Gandhinagar and a stone’s throw away from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel cricket stadium. Tune Hotels will have five to six hotels in Gujarat as part of the company’s 20 planned hotels across India in the next three years. The very first Tune Hotel, the Tune Hotel Downtown Kuala Lumpur opened in 2007. With the opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad, there are now 29 Tune Hotels in operation globally. There are eleven in Malaysia, five in the UK, four in the Philippines four in Thailand and four in Indonesia.
STARBUCKS EXPANDS FOOTPRINTS IN DELHI AND MUMBAI
Tata Starbucks Limited, the 50-50 joint venture between Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Global Beverages Limited, has opened three new stores across Delhi and Mumbai, located at Greater Kailash I - M block market, Nehru Place Metro in New Delhi and R-city Mall, in Mumbai. The total number of stores in India has gone up to 15 with 8 stores in Mumbai and 7 stores in Delhi. Each of their store is strategically located in both cities and caters to people of diverse ethnic, income and age groups with varying tastes and interests.
STARWOOD OPENS TWO HOTELS IN AHMEDABAD; FOCUSES ON TIER II, III CITIES
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the opening of two hotels in Ahmedabad, simultaneously, under different brands, and the multinational hospitality major is looking at Tier II and III towns and cities across India for expansion. While its new 5-Star hotel, Aloft, is Starwood’s fifth in India under this brand, the other one, Four Points By Sheraton, is a conversion from an existing hotel and will be the Group’s first one to be managed under this brand in India. Aloft Ahmedabad has 176 rooms. Globally, the Aloft brand has 60 hotels in 10 countries. In 2012, seven Aloft hotels were opened worldwide – five of them in India – while 18 are set to open in 2013. Four Points by Sheraton Ahmedabad has 104 rooms. Globally, this brand has 170 hotels in 30 countries, including four in India. Under the Four Points by Sheraton brand, the company is looking at opening more hotels in Gujarat towns like Rajkot, Jamnagar, Vadodara, Surat and Dahej.
KEMPINSKI AMBIENCE HOTEL DELHI LAUNCHES CHERRY BAR
Kempinski Ambience Hotel Delhi has recently launched Cherry Bar. The addition is part of the hotel’s culinary offerings apart from the three restaurants—Cafe Knosh, Mei Kun, and Dilli 32. The Bar serves a variety of cocktails and premium beverages within an ambience of lounge music. With a seating capacity of 65 covers, the 30-metre-long Bar features sofas for groups. It prominently offers cherry-flavoured drinks, while live instrumental music along with vocal performances are part of the entertainment quotient. The Bar, housed on the third floor of the hotel, is open from 12 pm-12.30 am everyday. The elegant and relaxed ambience at the Bar is the perfect setting for a pre- or post-dinner cocktail or a late-night drink. This will especially be a great place to unwind for guests at the hotel.
GATEWAY HOTELS & RESORTS OPENS NEW RESORT IN GURGAON
The Gateway Hotels & Resorts has signed a new resort in Damdama, Gurgaon, to be developed in association with Samak Dhoot Resorts and Spa Private Limited. This is the first resort that has been signed under the brand. Located adjacent to the Damdama Lake, The Gateway Resort Damdama will be spread over 16 acres of land. It will have 78 villas and rooms in the main block. The property will be well equipped with restaurants, meeting facilities and a wellness area, comprising a fitness centre and spa. The signing of The Gateway Resort Damdama follows the very successful launch of their 100th hotel in India, Vivanta by Taj, Gurgaon, also in the National Capital Region of Gurgaon. The Gateway Resort Damdama promises to be an idyllic lakeside resort, set amidst very lush landscaping, catering to travellers looking for unique and exotic destinations in India.
BEST WESTERN INDIA LAUNCHES BEST WESTERN AVN AROGYA IN MADURAI TO PROMOTE MEDICAL TOURISM
Best Western India, with 41 hotels in operation and under development, recently launched the Best Western AVN Arogya in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, following a tie-up with AVN Arogya & Ayurvedic Hospital. Through this launch, Best Western India aims to give a boost to Medical Tourism in the region. The three-star Best Western AVN Arogya features 20 cottages and rooms with up to two bedrooms with a private Jacuzzi and attached private therapy suites. The property also includes deluxe villas that can accommodate four persons; classic villas; and deluxe AC rooms. Other facilities include Dhyana (yoga centre), Saffron (Ayurvedic restaurant), Tamarind tree (garden restaurant), Hotpot (coffee shop), Tejus (beauty spa), Kaya (health club), Vilasa (indoor games area), Apanika (gift and boutique shop), Bodhini (library ), Sabha, (board room), Indraprastha (banquet hall), and an organic dairy and vegetable garden. This is a unique tie-up in the region. The Best Western International standards and experience of over 4,000 hotels worldwide and the AVN Arogya’s 80 years' experience in the Ayurvedic field offer a unique blend to attract international medical and wellness tourists to the region.
INDIGO ADDS 7 FLIGHTS TO DOMESTIC OPERATIONS
IndiGo recently launched seven flights on its domestic network—a daily, direct flight between Mumbai and Jammu; a direct flight between Chennai and Kochi; a daily Mumbai-Srinagar service; a second direct flight from Chennai to Thiruvananthapuram; a second direct flight between Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram; a second daily, direct flight from Jammu to Srinagar; and a third direct flight between Mumbai and Kochi. The additions take the airline's total number of domestic services to 422, connecting 33 destinations.
INDIGO TO OPERATE DAILY FLIGHTS ON MUSCAT-MUMBAI ROUTE
IndiGo has announced that it is set to increase the frequency of its flights on Muscat-Mumbai route from June 16, 2013. The airline which started its flights to Oman in October 2011 with four weekly flights to Muscat will now operate daily flights from Mumbai. The flight is operated by an A320 aircraft with a capacity of 180 economy class seats. Flight 6E 81 will leave Mumbai at 8.20 pm and reach Muscat at 09:30 pm. Flight 6E 82 will leave Muscat at 10.45 pm and reach Mumbai at 3 am. IndiGo is also considering operating flights to New Delhi and a South Indian destination by the end of this year.
HYDERABAD AIRPORT AWARDED 5-STAR RATING
The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), operated by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), has been awarded the prestigious 5-star rating by the British Safety Council for its health and safety management system. RGIA is the only airport in the world to receive this award. The award criterion is very stringent. There are 995 safety compliance requirements for the health and safety management system covering 57 elements. In order to get a 5-star rating, a minimum of 92 percent has to be obtained out of a total score of 5,000, whereas RGIA scored 96 percent.
AJMER AIRPORT UP BY 2016
The proposed airport in Kishangarh near Ajmer will come up by June 2016. The possession of 441 acres of land, being provided free by the Rajasthan Government for the purpose, was today handed to the Airport Authority of India(AAI). Earlier too, 221.2 acre of land was provided to the AAI in 2009. The work is expected to be launched by July 15. Initially 2152-Mt run-way will be laid for facilitating landing and take-off, of 90-seater aero planes but at a later stage the run-way would be extended to 2,500-Mt for facilitating landing/ take off of 320 seater air-buses.
DRAGONAIR TO INCREASE FLIGHT FREQUENCY ON KOLKATA-HONG KONG ROUTE FROM OCT 4, 2013
Dragonair will operate an additional service between Kolkata and Hong Kong from October 4, 2013. This will bring the total number of flights between the two cities from four to five flights per week. Flight KA168 will depart from Hong Kong at 2050 hrs to reach Kolkata at 2315 hrs, operating on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Flight KA169 will depart from Kolkata at 0010 hrs to reach Hong Kong at 0600 hrs on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
IRAN ASEMAN AIRLINES TO START FLIGHTS ON HYDERABAD-MASHHAD ROUTE ON JUNE 30, 2013
Private carrier Iran Aseman Airlines is set to start direct bi-weekly flights from Hyderabad to Mashhad on June 30, 2013, With the introduction of this service, Mashhad will become the second city in Iran after Tehran to have direct air connectivity with India. Currently, there are bi-weekly flights from Mumbai and four times a week flights from Delhi to Tehran. Mahan Air, also a private carrier, is set to make the Delhi-Tehran route a daily flight.
SPICEJET TO START FLIGHTS ON NEW DELHI-DHARAMSHALA ROUTE FROM JUNE 7
SpiceJet Ltd is set to start operating flights from New Delhi to Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh from June 7. Flight 2382 will leave Delhi at 5.55 am and reach Dharamshala at 7.30 am. The return flight 2384 will depart from Dharamshala at 7:50 am to reach Delhi at 9:20 am. The airline would be deploying a Bombardier Q400 aircraft on this route. The Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft can accommodate 78 passengers.
MALAYSIA AIRLINES ADDS DAYTIME SERVICE TO MUMBAI FROM JUNE 3, FREQUENCY UP TO 12 TIMES A WEEK
Malaysia Airlines will be increasing the frequency on Kuala Lumpur-Mumbai route to 12 times a week. Following the increase in demand on this route, one additional service will be added on the mentioned route operating on every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The airline will deploy B738 aircraft on this route. Flight MH-174 will depart Kuala Lumpur at 09:20 hrs and arrive in Mumbai at 11:45 hrs; while on the return leg, Flight MH-175 (on the same day) will depart Mumbai at 12:40hrs and arrive Kuala Lumpur at 20:20 hrs. Malaysia Airlines currently operates 54 flights a week from India, specifically to New Delhi (12), Bengaluru (10), Mumbai (11), Chennai (14), Hyderabad (7).
AIR CHINA PLANS TO OPERATE DAILY FLIGHTS ON MUMBAI-SHANGHAI ROUTE
Air China, the national carrier of China and a member of Star Alliance Services GmbH, is planning to operate daily flights between Mumbai and Shanghai. Currently, Air China flies to three destinations (Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru) in India with 11 flights a week (four each from Mumbai and Delhi, and three from Bengaluru). Additionally, Air China is looking at increasing the frequency of flights on Bengaluru-Chengdu route to four times a week.
DID YOU KNOW ?
When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilization)