Corporate
April 2015 • VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 4 • `. 50
Thailand
the land of smiles
Savour Corner Trek to Kedarkantha A Travelogue
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
An Emerging Destination
April 2015 | Corporate Outbound 1
Contents
From Editor’s Desk
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08
BEAT THE HEAT!!
Managing Editor: Mr. Anurag Gupta Editor: Ms. Meenakshi Gupta Creative: Raj Toppo Marketing: Don Jose Printed, Published & Owned by Mr. Anurag Gupta @ 348, Amarjyoti Layout, Domlur Bangalore- 560 071 Ph: +91 80 41224331 Email: corporateoutbound@gmail.com Printed at Cosmos Printers & Publishers, Wilson Garden, Bangalore- 560 027
18........... Trek to KedarkanthaA Travelogue
22 ...........Heritage Resort, Hampi 26........... FUNtastic Fiesta
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Temperature across the country is already soaring. Except few serious travellers everyone else to beat the heat is heading towards their favourite destination either a hill station or a beach holiday. Yes the same old beaches, same old hill stations. For few travellers in India, the ideal or the perfect family vacation is going to the same resort to get some respite from the scorching temperatures. This is again those conventional places like Shimla, Ooty, DehradunMussoorie, Kullu – Manalí or the same old all time hits like Goa and Kerala beaches. Lying on smooth sandy beaches and watching waves or walking barefoot on these beaches is still the definition of a holiday for some. Along its 7000 km of coastline, India boasts of a number of beautiful beaches. Beaches are for everyone. The calming effect for senior citizens, romantic sunsets for honeymooners, playful waves for kids and adventurous water rides & the hippy culture , the nightlife and culinary for young enthusiasts. Even the new government’s initiative to promote Indian Ocean Rim(IOR) will promote beach tourism not only in India but also neighbouring countries. Thailand is regaining its popularity and is again the most sought outbound beach destination from India. Similarly Andaman Nicobar Islands is known for its unique beaches and its water sports and scuba diving. Covered in this issue are two such beautiful beach locations to BEAT THE HEAT!!!!
(Meenakshi Gupta)
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Buzz
Aviation
2 new Indigo flights for Delhi, Mumbai
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ne of the biggest private airlines, Indigo, rolled out two new flights from Indore to Mumbai and Delhi. The new flight is expected to provide better connectivity for International flights from New Delhi. The flight for Delhi departs at 9.20 pm and reaches in Delhi at 10.55pm. Similarly, it leaves from Delhi at 5.50 pm and reaches here at the city airport at 7.20pm. New flight for Mumbai departs Indore city airport at 8.10am and reaches Mumbai at 9.45am and leaves Mumbai for Indore at 7.30 pm and reaches Indore at 8.50 pm.
AI Delhi-Bhubaneswar Flight
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ational carrier Air India (AI) started its new flight from Delhi to Bhubaneswar and back. The flight AI873 will leave Delhi at 11.05 am and land in Bhubaneswar at 1.05 pm. The return flight AI874 will depart Bhubaneswar at 1.45 pm and land in Delhi at 3.45 pm. The flight will offer mixed class for passengers.With the introduction of AI’s new flight and Indigo also set to fly an additional one to Kolkata from April 15, Bhubaneswar airport will see 20 incoming and as many outgoing flights daily besides general aviation this summer.
Canada bets on direct Delhi flight to push tourism
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anada will re-launch the direct non-stop Delhi–Toronto air link which should increase the number of Indians travelling to the country. Air Canada is acquiring 50 787-900 aircraft and India is the first market where the airline will operate the newly delivered aircraft. At present, travellers between the two countries fly on Asian or European carriers. The direct link is part of Canada’s plan to bring more Indian tourists to its destinations this year, in particular from Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai. They are looking at attracting more tourists, students and immigrants to Canada.
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AirAsia India launches Inflight Reader App
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irAsia India, in collaboration with Demansol/Inflight Digital LLC, has launched an app called ‘AirAsia Inflight Reader’. This app will allow travellers across all airports in India to read magazines with a single download. Eighty-seven magazines from some of the top publishers in Asia are available for download on the app. The app has been launched with the aim of making it more convenient for travellers to fly on AirAsia India. Users can download the app from iTunes or the Android app store. Guests can read magazines for free on their mobile devices (iPhone/iPad/Android smartphones and tablets) for the first 24 hours at any airport premises in India. In addition, 500 airports across international destinations recognise the AirAsia Inflight Reader app. The app, which is accessible to flyers at all airlines, has a library of magazine titles for travellers to read on their devices. On downloading the app, one needs to create an account, free of cost, which will entitle them to access to hundreds of magazines at the airports. If users wish to continue reading longer than the first free 24 hours, they have the option of buying a single issue of the magazine within the app.
New flights to operate from Mangaluru
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wo new daily flights an international and a domestic would start operations from the International Airport. The Jet Airways would introduce its daily flight between Mangaluru and Abu Dhabi which would arrive here daily at 1.45 pm and depart at 5.50 pm. The Jet Airways had been already operating a daily flight between Mangaluru and Dubai. It is operating eight domestic flights from the airport. The new flight would be its 10th daily flight from here. Besides this the Spice Jet would operate a daily flight between Mangaluru and Bengaluru. The flight would arrive here from Bengaluru at 4.55 pm and leave at 5.15pm. It would be the third domestic daily flight of Spice Jet from here. The airline had been operating a flight each to Bengaluru and Mumbai from here.
Royal Jordanian offers discounts to attract tourists to Jordan
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oyal Jordanian is offering discounted tickets, with the aim of attracting tourists to Jordan. The King urged the sector to come up with creative initiatives in order to attract tourists and investment, highlighting the diversity and richness of the Jordanian tourism product. The discounted prices are offered to incoming tour operators bringing tourists to Jordan who will use Royal Jordanian prices in integrated tourist programmes as a package with accommodation, restaurants, transportation, and monument entries, to encourage groups to visit the kingdom. Royal Jordanian recently offered Jordan Tourism Board 140 free tickets to invite international media representatives and global TV channels to visit the kingdom and highlight its security and stability, and the diversity of its tourism product during the different seasons, in addition to Royal Jordanian’s role in supporting social media and bloggers that promote Jordan abroad.
Qatar Airways increases its capacity from Bangalore
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atar Airways is continuing its expansion plans in India with a significant increase in capacity on its flights from Doha to Bengaluru to meet the increasing passenger demand on the route. Currently Qatar Airways operates a Boeing 787 on the Doha– Bengaluru route with 254 seats. Starting August 1, the Boeing 787 will be replaced by a Boeing 777, with a capacity of 335 seats, which will connect to more than 140 destinations worldwide via the airline’s state-of-the-art hub in Doha. With the new upgraded service between Doha and Bengaluru, more passengers flying to Doha, or onwards to their final destination, will have the opportunity to experience the new state-ofthe-art Hamad International Airport which has been designed with customer experience firmly to the fore. Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777 has been designed to ensure that its passengers can fly long distances while immersed in complete comfort and enjoy the five-star airline’s legendary hospitality, all while enjoying fine cuisine and more than 1,000 on-board entertainment options. The airline recently announced that it will double the number of movies and TV shows on-board over the coming months, increasing the choice of entertainment channels to more than 2,000. Qatar Airways offers a wide selection of flights from 12 cities in India via its hub in Doha to an exciting choice of destinations – Barcelona, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, London, Miami, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Rome, and Washington DC as well as many more. The Doha – Bengaluru daily flight schedules from 1st August 2015 are: Depart Doha QR572 at 20:00, arrive Bengaluru at 02:45 (next day) Depart Bengaluru QR573 at 04:15, arrive Doha at 05:40
April 2015 | Corporate Outbound 5
Buzz
WelcomHeritage adds another Nature Resort in Kullu Valley
Hospitality
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elcomHeritage Hotels has signed a new property in Kullu Valley in Manali, Himachal Pradesh under its Nature Collection. WelcomHeritage Urvashi’s Retreat situated at an altitude of 6,750 feet in the Beas River Valley and offers a spectacular view of snow covered peaks, lush green valleys, mountain lakes and flowery gardens. The resort is located near the famous hanging bridge at Nehru Kund, five km on Manali-Leh National Highway. The resort will open in two phases. In the first phase the resort will have eight rooms divided into three cottages, a dining area that serves multi-cuisine, a bar lounge and landscaped gardens. In the second phase it will have eight more rooms and will extend facilities like Gym and spa complex, an art house café, Tennis court and a Conference room.
Taj Dubai opens in Burj Khalifa
Cygnett Inn Repose Guwahati opens in North East India
The Fern opens its new hotel in Mundra Gujarat
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Cygnet Park, and Cygnet Plaza.
largest private ports in India.
Hilton Worldwide introduces ‘The Great Indian Travel Deal’
V Resorts opens its first Day Resort in Delhi NCR
ygnett Hotels & Resorts forayed into North East region of India with the opening of Cygnett Inn Repose in Guwahati. The hotel is centrally located at ABC – GS Road, Tarun Nagar area of the city with efficient service, comfortable rooms and delicious dining with state-of-the-art modern amenities and facilities. The 42-key hotel has three categories of rooms in Executive (12), Deluxe (21) and Junior Suites (9). Cygnett Hotels & Resorts, a hotel management and brand franchising company, is the Master Franchisee for US-based Vantage Hospitality’s Jameson brand in India , and also has their own mid-market Cygnett brands- Cygnotel, Cygnet Inn,
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ilton Worldwide recently announced the launch of ‘The Great Indian Travel Deal’, a special summer offer that presents travellers the opportunity to enjoy exceptional rates from as low as Rs. 3,800 (conditions apply) on stays until July 31, 2015, at 14 selective hotels in the Hilton Worldwide portfolio in India. With the participating hotels located in most leading cities, this offer is ideal for guests travelling on business as well as on leisure. For those planning a holiday or weekend getaway, this offer also includes free accommodation and meals for two children. The offer is available at hotels and resorts located across 11 cities including New Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Trivandrum, Vadodara, Pune, Shillim, Goa, Jaipur and Agra.
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he Fern Hotels & Resorts managed by Concept Hospitality has opened yet another hotel property in Gujarat at Mundra. The Fern Residency, Mundra is a mid-scale business hotel in the Kutch district of Gujarat. The hotel has 74 rooms, a multi-cuisine restaurant, a coffee shop, state-of-the-art Banquet Hall and Meeting Room. The 74 exquisitely designed guest rooms reflect modern amenities and facilities. There are three types of rooms - Winter Green Room, Fern Club and Hazel Suites. Laziz, the all-day-diner, offers a wide selection of local and international cuisines. The hotel has Café Rolling Beans at the lobby level. The Fern Residency is the only branded hotel in the vicinity of Mundra Port, one of the
V
Resorts, a chain of boutique resorts, launched its first property in NCR. Located in the heart of the city in Chattarpur, V Resorts Delhi is the brand’s first ever Day Resort meant to offer unique experience-based programmes and events for guests on an invitation only basis. This property in Delhi is meant to be a one-of-its kind day destination for various wellness programs, sports events and rejuvenation treatments. V Resorts Delhi is spread across six acres of landscaped area, equipped with four rooms, a common splash pool, restaurant, open lawn with gazebo and a wellness centre. The property also has extensive green area for herb gardening and relaxation. It is suited to both expats and locals wanting to spend a relaxing day far from chaotic city life. The brand’s first restaurant chain Spice Walk offers authentic Old Delhi cuisine prepared from 100 per cent organic and locally produced herbs.
Taj Group has opened a luxury hotel, Taj Dubai, located in the Burj Khalifa downtown area. Accommodation at Taj Dubai includes a total of 296 rooms, comprising Taj Club Rooms, 16 Junior Suites, and 15 Luxury Suites with panoramic views of the Burj Khalifa, dancing fountains, and Dubai Mall. Taj Dubai houses the Maharaja Suite - inspired by opulent Maharaja’s palaces in Rajasthan, including a roof terrace on the 33rd floor of the hotel, and the Presidential Suite, measuring 680 sq mtr on the entire 35th floor, with its own fitness suite and yoga room. The new property features its members’only private club for the first time outside of India. Chambers has been created to suit the needs of discerning business traveller and membership is by invitation only. It entitles guests to benefits such as private dining, bespoke conference, and business facilities. The culinary offerings at Taj Dubai include Tesoro, which offers Peruvian-themed cuisine for lunch and dinner and an international breakfast within a glass and metal conservatory area; Kui’s al fresco setting, with the Burj Khalifa on the backdrop; The Eloquent Elephant, an informal gastro-pub with tapa’s style dining; Byzantium Lounge, an art-deco-inspired venue that offers light bites and afternoon tea, with cocktails in the evening, and Bombay Brasserie, the Indian restaurant that is located on the fourth floor with views of the Burj Khalifa.
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S D N A R ISL
A B ON I O T A C N I I T &N G DES
N IN G A R E M M A AN E AND
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way from the main land in India, situated in the Bay of Bengal is a fine tropical island belonging to India but closer to South East Asia is The Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The place is surrounded with magnificent beaches that give way to an ocean brimming with interesting marine life and coral gardens are just one of the reasons to visit the beautiful Andaman and Nicobar Islands. If we look into last 5 to 6 years we will find a healthy and an average growth of 14% in the arrival figure. The island records over 2 lakhs visitors in the recent years of which about 10% are foreigners. The increase in tourist’s helps in terms of its capacity and scope for development. The main USP of this island is that it is blessed with world’s premiere dive sites and beaches of which many of them are still unexplored. They also offer many adventure sports such as scuba diving, water sports, game fishing, sea walk, snorkeling and so on. Port Blair, the Headquarters of The Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Havelock, Neil Islands and other upcoming tourist’s spots like Rangat, Diglipur have good budget class accommodation for tourists. Port Blair alone has more than hundred of hotels, lodges, private accommodation and home stay accommodations (bed& breakfast scheme) to choose from. The availability of number of beds in hotels in Port Blair has soared above 4300.
Places of historical importance The Andaman & Nicobar Islands is very famous for its rich history for the role in the national freedom struggle ‘the national memorial cellular jail’ at Port Blair where freedom fighters from mainland were incarcerated, which draws about 90 % of the tourists visiting the islands. The jail house is a museum and the added attraction is the highlighting of the saga of freedom struggle. They also have sound & light show in the premises every evening. Besides the cellular jail, Ross Island (just across Port Blair Aberdeen jetty) is a place of historical significance for tourists as it was once the seat of British administrative machinery. The island is now maintained by the Indian Navy. Viper Island, Chatham Island, Humphrygunj memorial are other places near Port Blair of historical importance. Private ferry operators conduct Harbour Cruise from Aberdeen Jetty connecting historical Viper & Ross Island every day.
Sightseeing in Port Blair Corbyn’s Cove Beach - This is not a usual seaside but Corbyn’s cove beach have got coastal road here makes a scenic journey, and on the way one can passes several Japanese WWII bunkers along the way. The coconut palm fringed beach, ideal for sun basking is 6 km away from Port Blair town. The
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Picture Courtesy- Andaman Tourism
tourism department operates a restaurant at the beach named “Waves”. Changing room, sun lounges, drinking water facility, water sport equipments are available near the beach. The Snake Island, situated just across the beach is famous for Scuba Diving.
North Bay Beach - This beach is one of the popular beaches in Port Blair over here we can do snorkeling, scuba diving & sea walk. Opportunities in its fringing coral reefs are the closest ones you will find to Port Blair. A ferry (9 am and 2 pm; 30mins) will take you across Aberdeen Jetty and bring you back after 3 hour. One is likely to spot many fishes, a lobster or two, or even clams on the coral reef. Snacks and basic meals are available in some shacks on the beach. Sea walk –an activity to view under water life is the latest attraction in the beach. Munda Pahar Beach, Chidiya Tapu - Munda Pahar Beach is
close to nature and is filled with serene setting of the Emerald islands a beach frequented for swimming is 1 km ahead of the bus stand at Chidiya Tapu .Regular bus services are available from Port Blair Bus Terminus to Chidiya Tapu. A biological park is maintained by Forest Department for tourists at Chidiyatapu. Wandoor Beach - Wandoor is a small village near the southern tip of South Andaman Twenty five Kilometer from west of Port Blair is famous for swimming & for coral viewing. One can also go to Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park from Wandoor by boat. The Marine Interpretation Centre at Wandoor is the latest attraction.
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park - The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park at Wandoor is at a distance of 29 Kms. from Port Blair and covers an area of 281.5 Sq. kms. This Marine Park, made-up of open sea, creeks and 15 small and large islands, is one of the best found anywhere in the world. Viewing of rare corals and underwater marine life through glass bottom boats, scuba-diving and snorkeling are lifetime experience.
Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex - This is the first of its kind in India that offers all possible aqua sports facilities including safe-water sports and adventure- water sports, under one water sports complex. In the safe-water sport complex, 10 Corporate Outbound | April 2015
paddle-boats, row-boats, glass-bottom boats are available. In the adventure-water sport front, Jet-Ski, Para-sailing, etc are offered. The Marina Park nearby, also houses a memorial of the Battle of Aberdeen fought between the Britishers and Andamanese aboriginals in 1859.
Mount Harriet - Mount Harriet (55 Kms by road/15 Kms by
ferry and trek from Port Blair) The summer headquarters of the Chief Commissioner during British Raj, this place is ideal for fascinating over view of the nearby islands and the sea. It is the highest peak in the South Andamans (365 meters high).
Island destinations - South Andaman Havelock Island (50 Kms by sea from Port Blair, via Neil Island 62 Kms.)
This island with beautiful sandy beaches fringed with green canopy of the rain forest beckons everyone to enjoy the fun at the azure sea. Vijaynagar beach, 5 Kms away from the jetty on the eastern side and Elephant beach, 10 Kms from the jetty(including trekking through the forest) on the north western part of the island are other breath-taking beaches. Sunset at world famous Radhanagar beach is an experience to cherish. Havelock is connected by daily speed boat services from Port Blair. Dolphin Resort provides comfortable accommodation at Havelock. Private Hotels are also offering excellent accommodation facilities. Snorkeling and scuba diving facilities are offered by scuba dive centre operators seasonally.
Hut bay in Little Andaman) Whisper Wave (20 Kms from Hut bay) are famous waterfalls. Butler bay beach, Harminder bay beach are suited for surfing .Limited accommodations are available. Seaplane service operates from Port Blair to Hut bay besides passenger ferries.
North& Middle Andaman North and Middle Andaman - the latest of districts in Andaman Group of Islands, is connected by road from Port Blair. Rangat (170 Kms) Mayabunder (242 Kms) and Diglipur (325 Kms) respectively from Port Blair have several tourists spots calling visitors attention. Fairs and Festival: The tourism department, in its effort to provide opportunities for tourists and local public for entertainment, have begun to organize different fairs and festivals in various parts of the island. Some of the popular events are: the Island Tourism Festival (5 to 15 Jan) Beach Festival (April) Monsoon Festival (June) Food Festival & World Tourism Day (September) Film Festival (November) Rural Tourism Fair (December).
Accomodation:
There are number of hotels and resorts in Andamans to suit everyone’s pocket. However, there are some of the homestays approved by tourism department are Shree Raghunath’s Paradise, Coorg Niwas Home stay, Deepantar Residency, Roxel Inn, Kapoor Tourist Cottage, Chaukhat Bed & Breakfast, Raj n Raj Residency, Seven Seas Dream Castle, Dutta’s Residency, Andaman Homestay, Andaman Galley, Bhola Residency, Ocean Terrace.
Neil Island (36 Kms by Sea from Port Blair)
This beautiful island with lush green forest and sandy beaches is the vegetable bowl of Andamans. Connected by boat from Port Blair daily, it provides an ideal holiday for eco-friendly tourists. The beaches at Lakshmanpur, Bharatpur & Sitapur, and natural bridge formations on the sea-shore are fascinating. Snorkeling and scuba diving are activity options.
Little Andaman (120 Kms by Sea from Port Blair)
Little Andaman located south to South Andaman Island has various attractions for tourists. White surf water fall (6 KM from
For Further enquiry please contact: Tourist Information Centre Directorate of Tourism A&N Administration, Port Blair -744101 Ph: 03192-232694.Telefax: 03192 230933 Website: www.andamans.Gov.in
Express Info Best time to Travel: October to May is ideal for sightseeing and also to engage in water sports activities. Events & Festivals: October is a month for many festivals in Andaman including Durga Pooja and Mari Amman festivals. December - January is mesmerizing with the 10 day Island Tourism Festival. Vaccination: Carry Anti-malarial tablets. Travel: Direct Flights from Kolkata, Chennai and New Delhi to Port Blair. And also there are connecting flights from Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad. Average Fare starts from INR 7000 onwards for one way. Ships to Port Blair also sail on fixed schedules from Chennai, Kolkata, and Visakhapatnam. However, tickets must be purchased well in advance, the voyage takes about 50 to 60 hours. Average Fare starts from INR 1700 onwards for one way.
The Nicobar Islands are an archipelagic island chain in the Eastern Indian Ocean and one of the most isolated in the world.
April 2015 | Corporate Outbound 11
Thailand- the land of smiles
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here is an abundance of activities and destinations for families visiting Thailand. Friendly and fun-loving, exotic and tropical, cultured and historic, Thailand radiates a golden hue from its glittering temples and tropical beaches to the ever-comforting Thai smile. One can choose from Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Khao Yai National Park, Phuket, Kanchanaburi, and Ayuttaya. These destinations are great starting points for your family to visit, as they either have major airports, or are accessible very easily from Bangkok, as is the case with Ayuttaya, Khao Yai, and Kanchanaburi. A good idea is to discuss what type of holiday you want to take, and what type of activities and destinations you want to experience. If it is being outdoors and in nature, you might want to visit Khao Yai National Park or Kanchanaburi, close to the border with Myanmar yet only a few hour’s drive from Bangkok. Experience a bit more of the local culture by taking the morning train to Kanchanaburi – a very enjoyable ride indeed. If it’s beaches you and your kids are after, please see all the activities below in Phuket and Pattaya and if it’s culture and history, you should visit Ayuttaya, the ancient capital, perhaps on your way to Chiang Mai and the mountains in the north. The following pages will introduce you to all these destinations, including the always exciting and fascinating capital city, Bangkok. Each of these destinations has now developed many family-friendly activities, hotels, and resorts, which offer many services you may want to take advantage of, including child care services.
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Picture Courtesy- Thailand Tourism, Mumbai Office
Bangkok
While the parents are marveling at the splendor and beauty of the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Dawn, and other magnificent sites around Thailand’s bustling capital, the kids may well be wondering how you’ll be getting to your next attraction: by boat, or tuk-tuk, or motorcycle, Skytrain, or subway. The key to families enjoying the big city is choosing the right hotel or resort in the right location.Be sure to book a family-friendly hotel not far from a mass transit station.The best places will offer many services for children, as well as special prices. Some will have baby-sitting services, game rooms and libraries, and special meals; others will have special tours, activities, and events for the kids. And remember, Bangkok is one the world’s great cities, so if the kids want to do it, or eat it, or buy it, you can probably find it: from shopping to sports, from i-phones to ice skating, and from golfing to go-carts; all you have to do is ask and someone will point you in the right direction.
Pattaya
Pattaya, a short two-hour drive from Bangkok, is a wonderful destination for family vacationers, as it has it all in one place.The biggest problem most people have with Pattaya is time; there’s so much to do and so many things to see, and only so many days to do it in. If Dad’s a golfer, chances are he’ll need some time on the links, while the family goes exploring all those wild and exotic things you may have been expecting – or hoping – to see in Thailand: tigers, crocodiles, albino bears, snakes, ostriches, and other wildlife you won’t readily find at home. If that’s not enough, there’s always Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Mini Siam, or the incredible Million Years Stone Park & Crocodile Farm, complete with magic shows and animal performances. The World’s First Cartoon Network Amazone Water Park in Pattaya, that features state of the art water rides and interactive water play fun for the entire Family. 14 Corporate Outbound | April 2015
All this and we haven’t even been to the beach yet! Snorkeling, sailing, diving, and daytrips to nearby islands are popular activities. And for your finicky 5-year-old, Pattaya has everything from your particular brand of international cuisine to their favorite fast food chain.
Phuket
Phuket is a perfect complement to the northern mountains or the jungles of Khao Yai: it is the bright, sunny, yang to the dark, quiet yin of the forests. Thailand is nothing if not a land of contrasts, with ancient temples situated next to giant skyscrapers; with sleepy, traditional villages often minutes away from teeming cities. Together, they create a perfect balance and harmony. Accordingly, be sure to take advantage of Thailand’s great diversity by having both beaches and jungles in your itinerary, as well as both cities and country villages. Phuket, being a world class marine destination, has everything you could ever ask of an island, and much more. It is a wonderful place to relax and recharge, where the only thing you should have to work on is your tan. Accommodation runs the gamut from surfside bungalows to 5-star resorts, and everything in between. So look around for a place that specializes in families and you’ll get a great deal more out of your holiday, since many places will be able to give you a break from parenting, while you enjoy a private cruise, or perhaps even a private retreat to a spa for an invigorating Thai massage.
Kanchanaburi
Take the road less traveled – or the rail for that matter – and head a couple hours west of Bangkok to Kanchanaburi with your family for some excellent historical and natural sightseeing. Although Kanchanaburi’s claim to fame is the infamous Bridge over the River Kwai, there are many additional reasons to spend a few days in this beautiful and less-visited area.
Take a wonderful daytrip with the family to one of Thailand’s most beautiful waterfalls, the 7-tiered Erawan Falls. On the way back to town, enjoy a stop at one of several elephant camps, several of which are very big and famous. Here you can ride, feed, and even bathe with the elephants. Impress your friends at home with your picture on an elephant in a frame made out of real elephant dung! Of course, don’t miss the infamous Bridge over the River Kwai, and the cemeteries of the allied soldiers that died building the bridge and carving their way through rock cliffs under the ruthless command of the Japanese during World War II.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, Thailand’s “second city”, is many visitor’s second stop in Thailand after Bangkok, and many immediately fall in love with it. Understandably so, as it is indeed one of Asia’s great cities and it has been a cultural crossroads for centuries. Chiang Mai has mastered its role as the perfect host over the ages, and the 21st Century is no exception. The only difference now is the number of activities and attractions available to children of all ages, from 2 to 92. All children love animals and the giant pandas at the Chiang Mai Zoo are a big draw, all the more. So, since they had baby Lin Ping, the only baby panda in Southeast Asia at this time. After the zoo, you may want to relax on the tram touring around the night safari, enjoying even more animals and an exciting light show. Rounding out the evening might be a visit to the famous Night Bazaar, where array of gifts and souvenirs can be found, from textiles to jewelry to painting to ethnic handicrafts. After seeing the Akha people in the Night Bazaar, you’ll probably want to visit a mountain village while you’re in the north, be it Akha, Karen, Lisu, Lahu, Hmong, or Yao.Daytrips are available, but spending at least one night in a comfortable guesthouse in a village may well be the highlight of your northern sojourn.
Express Info Currency: 1.00 THB = 1.91 INR Visa:Single Entry visa fee for tourist (60 Days): INR 2,000. Travel: Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) serves as the primary international airport in Thailand for numerous International airlines; most with direct flights from abroad landing in the Thai capital. There are flights connecting from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and other cities. The average fare starts from INR20000.
Thais don't normally shake hands when they greet one another, but instead press Tha their palms together in a i prayer-like gesture called with is a to ing 5 ton nal la a wai. , Tha high es (m nguag i a i son alph nd ri d, low e s a a i and nts, 1 bet h ng). , fall4 to 5 vo as 44 The w ne ma el sy conmb rks ols .
April 2015 | Corporate Outbound 15
INGREDIENTS
Choco lava
• • • • • • • • • •
Dark chocolate :100 gms Sugar :70 gms Salted Butter: 100 gms Refined flour: 80 gms Eggs: 3 no Baking powder: Pinch Vanilla essence :15 ml Seasonal fruits: For Garnish Mint leaves : For Garnish Orange Zest: For Garnish
Chef Vipul, a Professional in Industry with over 11 years of experience in India and Abroad, specializes in South East Asian and Modern Continental Cuisine. Currently, he is inspiring and nurturing young chefs as a Chef Trainer at IHM PUSA New Delhi. Method 1. Melt chocolate and butter using double boiler in a mixing bowl and keep it aside. 2. Whisk eggs, add sugar and vanilla essence and beat over double boiler so as to melt sugar. Do not aerate. 3. Sift flour and add pinch of baking powder. 4. Now mix all the ingredients from three bowls together and pour into pre greased moulds. 5. Bake in a pre heated oven at 200 degree Celsius for 7 minutes. 6. Serve hot with assortment of seasonal fruits, zest, mint leaves and appropriate sauce like toffee sauce or jam sauce.
Variation: • • • •
Any fruit coulis like blueberry or raspberry can be added along with chocolate which flows out with lava. This recipe can be tried with white chocolate or milk chocolate as well. Variation may include addition of a fresh herb like coriander or lavender. Low sugar chocolate may also be tried with this recipe.
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April 2015 | Corporate Outbound 17
Manjula Rajagopal from Bangalore, Karnataka, India. She is a software Engineer by profession working for Oracle India who loves photography. She is an avid traveler and a trekker... and this makes her love for travelling ..! she loves to travel without plans, slowly and without any expectations.
Trek to
Kedarkantha
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A Travelogue
rek! Well the dictionary meaning of it is a long, adventurous journey undertaken on foot in areas where common means of transport are generally not available. Never had I imagined my life to this adventurous that I would be able to survive in the wilderness for 5 days in a row at 0 degree amidst the snow! The Kedarkantha base camp impresses you the moment you step on it. The 360 degree view of the famous mountain summits around you is jaw dropping. From Sankri, the base camp, one can see a great blanket of stars on a clear night. The view from the village is splendid. You can see snow capped mountains in the distance. It is a 6-8 hour journey from Dehradun by Jeep taxi. The first day of the trek from Sankri is not a great challenge. You will see water freeze only a few meters into the trek. Snow makes its appearance on ascending just few meters. The woods and the ankle-deep snow will drive you to the first camp. The camp itself is on a beautiful setting by a small pond. In our case, all our camps were on snow itself. For a first timer, the first night at the camp is difficult as one can hardly sleep – though the sleeping bag keeps you very warm, the altitude makes its presence felt. The 2nd day’s trek is also fairly moderate in terms of difficulty. Walking in greater than ankle-deep snow will make your feet wet and numb (inspite of the recommended shoes).
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But the evening/ night at the Kedarkantha base camp is one of the coldest you will ever experience. So much so that conversation drops to a minimum and the only fireside activity is the impossible task of drying the shoes and the socks. The trek to the peak starts early (about 5 am) is a fair challenge. Knee deep snow makes it an effort to walk and the feet will be numb all day. Ascending the peak gives a great sense of fulfillment and you get to see one of the best views of the mighty Himalayan peaks from anywhere. When you get to the Kedarkantha summit, it is as if you have touched the sky and all the summits are at your eye level! The summit day is really long and ends only in the late evening as the descent to the next camp is a long one – in total day 3 is about 10-12 hours of trekking! Day 4, the descent back to Sankri, is really a walk in the park!
Difficulty :Easy. Nearest Railway Station :Dehradun is the nearest rail head to the base camp. Altitude :The trek starts at 6,000ft climbs to 12,500 ft. Base Camp :Sankri (10 hrs drive from Dehradun) Best Season :Round the year except monsoon. Expect good snow in the winter months untill mid April. Snow :December last week to mid April. Temperature in Spring Sankri(Base camp) : 5°C Juda Ka Talab : 1 to 2°C Kedarkantha Base : -1 to -2°C Temperature in winter Sankri(Base camp) : -1°C Juda Ka Talab : -3°C Kedarkantha Base : -10°C to -15°C mid April. Snow :December last week to mid April.
Humbled by the mighty Himalayas, felt no more than a speck in the whole eternity. So sensuous. So mesmerizing. So ethereal. So pure. Felt as if I belonged there. Felt as if I have missed something in life. Standing on top of a summit, looking down at the panorama below, the only word that comes to our lips is, “Bloodyhell, what a view!” April 2015 | Corporate Outbound 19
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April 2015 | Corporate Outbound 21
Heritage Resort, Hampi
H
ampi a World Heritage Site with historical monuments providing a spellbinding description of life during the rule of Vijayanagar Empire is the quintessential art and culture, intricately depicted on the walls and pillars of these edifices, fascinates thousands of art lovers across the globe. It takes from 3 days to months together to really explore and understand Hampi. Bewitching, magical, surreal – the historical ruins of Hampi offer every tourist a much sought after escape to a world that is beyond compare. Giant rocks perched atop large swarthes of land - dotted with ancient wonders keep you engaged as you soak in every piece of history. But while this World Heritage Site is known for its historical artefacts and architecture, this former kingdom is also a paradise where you can
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just relax and be at peace. The long stretches of green palm groves, banana plantations, paddy fields, coupled with the lounging places across the river. There are lots of options for staying in Hampi. Experience your stay at an un-spoilt world, detached from the maddening crowd, filled with intoxicating smells of mangoes, lemons, custard apples, mud apples, coconuts and varieties of Bananas and fresh vegetables, grown at the resort's unique pastoral countryside. Yes!! Heritage Resort Hampi a brand new resort built on 9 acres of mango and coconut plantations is very thoughtfully designed with utmost sensibility and an eye for detail. You don’t have to take your ipod or any other music because as you wake up with the first rays of sun, your soul will
feel the collectively composed chants by various species of birds. Located just 6 kms from Hampi ruins and 8 kms from Hospet, Heritage Resort is an ideal destination for explorers, business travellers as well as families wanting to escape mundane affairs. Owing to the finest level of accommodation, dining, conference hall and banqueting we are committed to offer, the resort remains the preferred choice of the travellers to Hampi and nearby cities. The resort is equipped with 40 beautiful cottages built in a cluster of 2 or 4 rooms, a multi-cuisine restaurant, a nice and cosy bar , a conference hall with 250 seating capacity and banquet facilities for up to 500 guests (including manicured lawns), small cosy board room can accommodate 20, free internet facilities at the bar and lobby ,a lovely and inviting swimming pool with a separate kiddie area, children’s activity room, indoor and outdoor games, spa and wellness center, doctor on call,money exchange
facilities.
Conference and other Meeting Venues
Illkul - A well equipped conference cum-banquet hall is a tribute to the traditional weavers of Illkul who have been creating beautiful fabric in cotton and silk for the past 800 years. With an independent entrance and ample parking, it is very practically designed and can take 100 in a class room type environment. A spaciously and modishly appointed Banquet Hall is suitable place to host any event one can imagine of.The Hall can Comfortably Accommodate 200 Guests in Floating Crowd Setting, 150 Guests in Theatre Style Setting, 100 Guests in Class Room Setting, 80 Guests in U Shape Setting, 50 Guests in Cluster Settingand 20 Guests in Board Room Setting with all required amenities like Air-conditioning,Wi-Fi, Projector, Audio-Visual equipment, and General supplies. April 2015 | Corporate Outbound 23
Restaurant
Kishkinda is named after the Epic city of Hanuman and his clan. The hand sketched murals decorating the restaurant will keep you spell bound and rekindle your love for the stories from the Ramayana. The restaurant has 100 seats and a lovely sit-out veranda overlooking a garden and mango grove.With the finest level of hospitality in Hampi, comes a bouquet of delicious dishes offered at Kishkinda .The moment you enter the restaurant, we bet you will not hold yourself from tasting the amazing dishes prepared with authentic ingredients and traditional way of cooking.
Accommodation
The resort has 40 villas built, in a cluster of two to four rooms, each surrounded by its own private landscaped garden, set amidst mango and coconut groves and fruit plantations. The villas are unique, subtly decorated dens of fine wood, bricks and granite. A Couple equipped with their own plunge pools, a few rooms even have Jacuzzis. Each Heritage Deluxe Villa covers more than 400 sq ft including a sit down veranda, dressing area and modern toilet amenities all in sync with nature. A pool villa is a well furnished suit, consisting of a large and comfortable bedroom with a dressing area and a bathroom, a separate sitting room overlooking the romantic, private, lap-pool. The Pool Villas have exclusive Ayurveda and wellness packages, so you can lie around, get massaged while enjoying the drinks and fruits which are on the house. Be it a work or pleasure trip, you are sure to get what you expect at the Heritage resort; perhaps a little more.Even as you take in the immense greenery around you, you are greeted with an equally awe-inspiring architecture. Built on the lines of Hampi’s ancient architecture, the place oers a mesmerising opening act for a great tour of the city that lies ahead. 24 Corporate Outbound | April 2015
April 2015 | Corporate Outbound 25
FUNtastic Fiestas Cannes International film Festival- Cannes, France
Galungan- Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
N
o place on earth celebrates collective effervescence more frequently than the Indonesian island of Bali. Galungan is the most important feast for Balinese Hindus, a celebration to honor the creator of the universe and the spirits of the ancestors. The festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and encourages the Balinese to show their gratitude to the creator and sainted ancestors. The whole island sprouts tall bamboo poles called penjor - these are usually decorated with fruit, coconut leaves, and flowers, and set up on the right of every residence entrance. At each gate, you'll also find small bamboo altars set up especially for the holiday, each one bearing woven palmleaf offerings for the spirits. Troupes move from village to village and temple to temple to perform this classic dance that describes the fight between good and evil - Barong and Rangda. This year the festival will be celebrated from 5th to 7th June.
O
ne of the most prestigious and publicized film festivals in the world, Cannes International Film Festival preview new films of all genres, including documentaries, from around the world. The entire industry, and frankly the entire world, has its eyes on Cannes during the festival. The festival might be a ritzy, glamorous affair, but it’s still a place where you could arrive a nobody and leave a somebody. This year the film festival will be held from 13th May to 24th May.
Lightning in a Bottle- Temecula, California, USA
Mawazine- Rabat, Morocco
H
eld on eight stages around town, Mawazine seems to take over Morocco’s capital city of Rabat for its eight-day run. Millions of people (more than 3 times the population of Rabat) attend the festival’s more than 100 concerts. Since Mawazine’s debut in 2002, big-name headliners have included Stevie Wonder, Kylie Minogue, Quincy Jones, Elton John and Whitney Houston, and musicians and singers from across Africa, India, Europe, the Caribbean and South America have rounded out the roster. Opening and closing acts tend to be internationally famous artists, but the bulk of the festival highlights artists who are best known in their own countries. This year the festival will be held from 29th May to 6th June.
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T
his 4-day celebration of art, sustainability, music, performance and life aims to spread the proverbial lightning beyond the bottle and into the daily lives of all its participants. Produced by the Do LaB, a creative collective based out of Southern California, LIB began in 2000 as a private birthday party in the Santa Ynez Mountains outside Santa Barbara and has grown into a public event. While many festivals brag about being “more than just a music festival,” LIB actually delivers. LIB was one of the first in a genre of “transformational festivals” that combine personal-growth workshops with electronic beats in a mind-expansive setting. Here you’ll find three-dimensional interactive art installations, yoga and meditation services, a colorful cityscape of vendors, performers and games, and a vibe that’s more like a chill psychedelic circus sideshow than a big-box music festival. This year the festival will be celebrated from 21st May to 25th May.
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iite
EVENT CALENDAR AURANGABAD th th th 14 , 15 , 16 Aug 2015
INDORE th th th 9 , 10 , 11 Oct 2015
MADURAI 11th, 12th, 13th Dec 2015
NAGPUR 22nd, 23rd, 24th Jan 2016
VIJAYAWADA th th 26 , 27 , 28 Feb 2016
RAIPUR 11 , 12 , 13th Mar 2016
th
th
th
OOTY summer festival- OOTY, Tamil Nadu
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oty or Udhagamandalam popular by the name of ‘Queen of Hills’, it is a cultural extravagant event which also shows off the bountiful natural endowments of Nilgiris in the form of flowers, fruits, spices exhibitions and much more! A fortnight long Ooty summer festival is organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu, and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.. During the Ooty Summer Festival, various cultural programmes, fairs and carnivals are organized apart from the trademark events of Flower Show, Rose Show, Dog Show, Fruit Show, Spice Show, Vegetable Show, Boat Race and Boat pageantry! The cultural programmes held during the Ooty summer festival include dance, drama and musical programmes, usually in the open air stadium of Ooty. The water sports lovers too get their share of joy through the Boat Race and Boat pageantry held at Ooty Lakef or two days. It can be called an extension of the boat race tradition in South India. Arrangements are also made for some adventure sports like trekking for the ones who are interested. This year the festival is from 15th to 17th May.
Stars of the White Nights - St. Petersburg, Russia
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his festival is an extravaganza of the arts, music, opera, ballet, film and outdoor celebrations including the Scarlet Sails, a fleet of red sailed, tall ships with a gunpowder-packed Russian style fireworks show. Long walks along the River Neva reveal roving gypsy bands, jugglers, sword swallowers, fire eaters, even stoic Russian mimes who might surprise you with their humor. White Nights isn’t really one festival but a collection of events around the longest days of the year, from mid-May to midJuly. This year the festival will be held from 23rd May to 10th July.
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