February 2016 by corporateoutbound

Corporate

February 2016 • VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 2 • ` 50

Mysterious BELUM CAVES Singapore’s

Refreshingly New Attractions!

The Quieter Side of

Himachal

Februray 2016 | Corporate Outbound 1

Contents

24 Other Stories

Managing Editor: Anurag Gupta Marketing: Don Jose Creative: Raj Toppo Printed, Published & Owned by 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

Aviation News

Hospitality News

Mysterious BELUM CAVES

FUNtastic Fiestas

Cover Pic: Belum Caves,Karnool District Andhra Pradesh Picture Courtesy: Nandy Photography

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Buzz

Aviation

Tigerair to have additional flights connecting Hyderabad and Tiruchirappalli to Singapore

o-frills carrier Tigerair will start additional flights from Hyderabad and Tiruchirappalli to Singapore. The subsidiary of Singapore Airlines Ltd. has decided to operate one seasonal additional flight each - from both places, seeing good response during peak seasons. From April 25 to June 15, 2016, the airline will increase flight frequency on its Hyderabad-Singapore route, taking the total count to seven weekly flights while Tiruchirappalli-Singapore route would have a total of 14 weekly flights

AirAsia's third flight on Delhi-Bengaluru sector

irAsia India will commence operations of its third flight connecting Bengaluru and New Delhi. With the new service, the airline will operate 40 flights connecting 10 destinations across India. The new service will be operational on a daily basis from March 1.

IndiGo adds eight new daily flights

ndiGo has added eight new flights in its panIndia network including its 2nd non-stop daily flight between Chennai and Kochi, 3rd direct daily connection to Guwahati from Delhi, 9th daily non-stop flight between Hyderabad and Delhi and 10th daily non-stop flight between Delhi and Chennai. These services took the total number of daily flights, operated by the airline, to 679.

Go Air starting direct flight from Ranchi to Bengaluru

ir travelers of the Jharkhand capital Ranchi will have a direct flight from Go Air with the airline announcing that it will offer a direct flight to Bengaluru from March 27. The direct flight will take off from Ranchiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Birsa Munda International Airport daily at 2.00 pm and arrive at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru airport at 6.00 pm. The returning flight will arrive in Ranchi via Patna. Go Air will be operating an Airbus 300 with seating capacity of 180 passengers on this sector.

SpiceJet launching two new flights connecting Dubai with Jaipur, Hyderabad

ow cost carrier SpiceJet announced the launch of two new flights connecting Jaipur and Hyderabad to Dubai from February 16. Also, it announced introductory one-way fare of Rs.6,499 (all-inclusive) between Jaipur and Dubai. SpiceJet also pegged the introductory one-way fare on the Hyderabad-Dubai route which starts at Rs.7,999 (allinclusive), while the Dubai-Hyderabad fares are available at Rs.7,199 (all-inclusive). With the introduction of these new flights, SpiceJet now connects ten Indian cities with Dubai every day.

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Buzz

Hospitality

The Pride Group opens first 5-Star Pride Hyatt Place Goa/Candolim opens for guests Plaza branded hotel at New Delhi Aerocity

ride Group of Hotels has announced the launch of their first 5-Star upper upscale Pride Plaza hotel at Aerocity in New Delhi. The hotel offers 385 rooms to its guests. Created to serve leisure and business clients, the hotel has 12,000 sq. ft. of conference space contained in 5 spacious halls and 2 meeting rooms. The hotel has 2 dining areas – the all-day diner, Café Pride, and the specialty restaurant – Oriental Spice. It also houses Stallion - a lounge bar, Mr. Confectioner the patisserie and the ORA spa & fitness centre. Pride Plaza Aerocity, New Delhi is now the 12th hotel the Pride Group portfolio.

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yatt Place Goa/Candolim is the latest Hyatt property to officially open in Goa, India. The hotel brings the Hyatt Place brand’s intuitive designs, casual atmosphere and amenities. Hyatt Place Goa/Candolim is located in North Goa and is in close proximity to the popular beaches including Candolim, Calangute and also one of the famous monuments - Fort Aguada. It is just 36 km from Dabolim Airport. The hotel offers 147 guestrooms, Gallery Kitchen Breakfast, Coffee to Cocktails Bar, Meeting spaces, 24-hour gym and outdoor swimming pool among other facilities.

Taj announces opening of its luxury hotel in Mumbai

aj Hotels Resorts and Palaces announced the opening of its luxury hotel in Santacruz in the mega-polis. Located just off the Western Express Highway, the hotel also offers a vantage point of access, with proximity to the city’s financial and entertainment centres.141 rooms would be available in the initial phase and by March 31 it is expected to be fully operational including Taj Club Rooms. The property offers spacious rooms, which begins with 580 sq. ft. for the base rooms. Having a total of 279 rooms and suites, this new addition takes the number of luxury properties of the group to 23 globally.

Chennai's second Ibis hotel opened

ccorHotels and InterGlobe Hotels inaugurated their second hotel in Chennai - Ibis Chennai City Centre – on Anna Salai. The 155-room hotel is the 12th Ibis to open in India. With consistency, comfort and affordability combined, the brand offers most modern and wellequipped services to both business as well as the leisure travelers.

Radisson Udaipur opens with 56 rooms

adisson Udaipur has opened its doors to welcome guests visiting the City of Lakes in Rajasthan. The hotel is situated along the city centre at the Lake City Mall of Riddhi Siddhi Group. Radisson Udaipur features 56 well-appointed rooms and suites with central heating and cooling. Each room has amenities like workstation, cordless phone, LED satellite television, tea/coffee maker, electronic safe and Dove amenities. In addition, all rooms feature free Wi-Fi internet access for guests. Besides, the property offers banquet hall measuring above 3,000 sq. ft., a multi-cuisine restaurant, a Lounge Bar, 24-hour In-Room dining service and a Fitness Centre. Season’s Café - The All Day Dining restaurant - at the hotel, serves Indian and continental cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as drinks. Februray 2016 | Corporate Outbound 7

The Quieter Side of Himachal

he Shimla-Kullu-Manali circuit aside, Himachal can be explored with a much different approach, visiting the less-crowded and the quieter side of the Himalayan state. Not many know about the Dhauladhar Circuit that takes you to picturesque valleys of Khajjiar and Chamba, the ever peaceful Dalhousie and the Buddhist town of McLeodganj.

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Dalhousie:

For trekkers, there is a trekking point at Khajjiar, which is a stretch of 4km. A trek atop the peak pays off as from there one can have a view of all the surrounding hills and the forest cover with one or the other cloudy peaks peeping out here and there.

Dalhousie is located at just 80km from Pathankot, the nearest train and bus station, buses connecting other cities like Amritsar, Delhi and trains connecting major rail stations across the country. Dalhousie is a traveler’s pleasure for its engrossing tranquil environment and is not crowded as Shimla is. The hill destination has a spring of its own named ‘Satdhara’ – a visit here takes half a day, or even a full day for a relaxed visit. On the Punchpula route, placed at an altitude of 2085m above sea level, this strikingly beautiful spot has acquired its name from the seven gorgeous springs. It is very popular sightseeing and also picnic spot in Dalhousie. Dalhousie is a calm place to go and walk on its Mall Road in the evenings, see the old GPO (post office building) and also the Tibetan Market there. Dalhousie stands as an ideal place to halt, for a further tour of the much-serene and charming Khajjiar Valley above it.

Khajjiar:

Just 22 km from Dalhousie, is Khajjiar – often referred as the most scenic place among all the Himalayan destinations. From Panchpula, one needs to go towards Gandhi Chowk which leads a road towards Lakkadmandi / Khajjiar (signboards can guide you). 10 Corporate Outbound | February 2016

For people who would love to stay at Khajjiar, there are a few accommodations available offering a longer stay in the valley for an undisturbed holiday.

Chamba:

The valley is a splendidly placed saucer shaped meadow, surrounded and fenced by strings of dark green Deodar trees. To rest there and gaze farther makes a visitor find peace at once. More interestingly, the valley has a lake in the middle with a small floating island. This is a perfect place for photography and horse-riding or at least taking a stroll in the meadows.

Chamba Valley is a quiet and isolated valley in Himachal. The valley is cut off from the Kangra Valley by Dhauladhar Range and from Lahaul (Kashmir) by the Pir Panjal Range of inner Himalayan region. This scenic area was once ruled for centuries when it was known to the world as the princely state of Chamba, one of the most ancient states in North India. Chamba was founded in 920 AD and King Sahil Verma named it after his daughter Champavati. Just 26km from Khajjiar and 42km from Dalhousie, often a visit to Chamba is clubbed together with Khajjiar by visitors. However, Chamba has its own charm and shoppers love its miniature paintings, its 'Rumal' (handkerchief) - said to be

painting done in embroidery, 'chukh' - a pickle of chilly - and even 'chappals' (slippers) - all of which have a special Chamba appeal. It’s where colonial India meets India’s age-old folk culture. With high mountain ranges and forests around this tiny town, Chamba also is home to the elusive snow leopards, brown bears, leopards and the musk deer.

Bharmour:

A historical town that remained capital of Chamba for around 400 long years, Bharmour was once known as Brahmpura. Situated at an altitude of 2130m above sea level, Bharmour is 101km from Dalhousie. Bharmour is also popular because of its proximity with Manimahesh Lake, with ‘Manimahesh Yatra’ being one of the famous pilgrimage trips in Hinduism. The town is regarded as a place of Lord Shiva and hence the entire region is also called ‘Shiv Bhumi’. There are numerous temples here – most of which are Shiva temples. There is a towering ‘shikara’ of Manimahesh temple on the town’s centre, a square, and a life size bull idol of ‘Nandi’, in polished brass – at the entrance. Bharmour is inhabited by ‘Gaddis’, a semi-nomadic community which resides exclusively on the snowy ranges. There are many archaeological remains in Bharmour which are said to be of far older temples, as some of the presently seen temples too date back to 10th century. The town is also famous Februray 2016 | Corporate Outbound 11

for its red apples, medicinal herbs and locally woven woolen blankets. Bharmour can take one full day’s excursion from either of Dalhousie or Dharamsala / McLeodganj. Travelers exclusively looking for a peaceful break can even bank on some of the decent accommodations that have come up in Bharmour itself, to remain cut-off from common tourist circuits and relax there.

McLeodganj:

McLeodganj is a suburb of Dharamsala, at 2082m altitude, behind which stands the highest peak in Dhauladhar Range – ‘Hanuman Tibba’ (5928m). The reason why McLeodganj is famous is that the Tibetal Governement in Exile is headquartered here. McLeodganj is a pleasant option for stay, avoiding Dharamsala. It is a town - 10km from Dharamsala and is very much British in its nature, being named after Sir David McLeod, a Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, while the suffix ‘Ganj’ is common Hindi word for neighborhood. Founded in 1850, it

became famous after the arrival of the Dalai Lama with his followers, who claimed asylum here and settled down – making it an important destination for Tibetans and also followers of Buddhism, from across the world. Besides the residence of the Dalai Lama, McLeodganj has its own set of tourist sites. Dal Lake, a lake just 2km from the town, named after Kashmir’s famous Dal Lake – is where one can just walk and reach. Taxis and buses can also be availed to visit it. A serene place, with greeneries of Deodar trees surrounding it, the lake is a pleasant spot for tourists. Also, McLeodganj boasts of the popular Bhagsu Falls, near which there is Bhagsunath temple. This is a beautifully located falls, also loved by picnic goers. 9 kms Triund Trek is also one of the important attractions of McLeodganj. Triund offers spectacular views of the Moon Peak-Indera Pass. This trek, in the Dhauladhar range, gives trekkers an unforgettable experience with the eco-friendly as well as undisturbed environs along the trek route. A tour in this Dhauladhar Circuit can be planned in different ways. One can be by air, wherein you would fly to Dharamsala and back. One more option is to reach Pathankot by rail and cover the routes, reaching Pathankot back or even going to Chandigarh for the return journey. Whichever route it may be, by the time the circuit is complete - there would be a lot of takeaways with you, ranging from the Chamba ‘Rumals’ to the eatables like Chilly Pickles and many more memorabilia besides the photographs and the memories of Himachal!.

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Express Info

Accessibility: By Train: Chakki Bank and Pathankot railway stations are the nearest rail heads. It is around 3 hoursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; drive from Chakki Bank / Pathankot to Dalhosie (80km) and Dharamsala (90km). By Air: Gaggal Airport in Dharamsala is the nearest airport. It is 15 kms from airport to Dharamsala, 18km to McLeodganj and 4 hoursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; drive to Dalhousie (150 km). Season: March to June & September to December.

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Mysterious BELUM CAVES

ehind every Google map, there is a much unexpected route taking you to mysterious destinations!

Road Trip stands as the best choice when you leave Bangalore and head towards the longest cave in the plains of Indian Subcontinent. Bike riders’ dream-come-true journey, Geography lovers’ moment-of-truth and a wholesome surprise for the regular tourist – Belum Caves in Andhra Pradesh are - gigantic, handsome and truly mysterious! Located just 324km away from Bangalore, Belum Caves offers a good road trip for weekend-explorers. Around four hours’ ride or a drive takes you to Gandikota. Gandikota is a small village on the bank of the river Pennar. It is exciting to have a stare at the rugged sights in Gandikota - sight of the Rocks, Canyon and River beneath, apart from the fort, temples & a mosque. These all take you to a different world altogether, far from the chaos of urban life. Belum Caves is 65km from Gandikota. A drive of around an hour can take you to the caves’ entrance. The name ‘Belum’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Bilum’ meaning ‘cave’. These natural caves are located in the midst of flat agricultural land in the limestone area - close to Kolimigundla village in Kurnool district. There are three sink-holes in the cave system, one of which has been converted into the main entrance. One can take help of the easily available guides to have a tour inside. There is a meditation hall inside, and moreover the presence of a temple and ‘mandap’ affirm the presence of people doing meditation in this place. Relics have been found inside 16 Corporate Outbound | February 2016

Picture Courtesy: LetsClick Photography & Nandy Photography

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l atura n a is There all named e h rf wate nga, at t e a g id Patal point ins is as t lowes es, which elow b av the c 150 feet s low a und level ro the g

dating back to 4500 BC and pre-Buddhist era as well. The feeling of being inside a wholly unknown world altogether, inside the cave, makes it special for the visitors. Belum Caves create wonder in one’s mind, how it was created and how water still passes through some parts inside and most astonishingly – even the locals or the guides can’t say where the water further goes. A 40-feet-tall giant statue of Buddha, outside the caves, further creates a spiritual atmosphere around. Though the total explored length of the cave complex is around 3.5km, only around 2km of it is open to public. It still has several passages that are yet to be explored and the entire cave system stands as the second longest overall - in the Indian Subcontinent, the longest being in Meghalaya (Krem Liat Prah - at 22 km). The caves were there for thousands of years, as they are supposed to have been used as shelters by Buddhist monks once upon a time. However, scientifically analyzing, limestone is a sedimentary rock that was originally formed millions of years ago at the bottom of the pre-historic seas and affected by tectonic movements, these were pushed above sea-level across different parts on earth. When rainwater has a fall 18 Corporate Outbound | February 2016

through the atmosphere, with Carbon Dioxide it forms Carbonic acid which slowly dissolves the limestone and makes its way to the rocks finally to form caves. As water trickles into the rocks and forms pools - thus those underground chambers, passages etc. get created. The first records about Belum Caves - are from 1884, written by Robert Bruce Foote, a British geologist and archaeologist who explored various regions of India for the Geological Survey of India. Still, it took hundred more years to place the caves into the tourist map, when a German team headed by Herbert Daniel Gebauer conducted a detailed exploration in 1982-83. This was assisted by locals as well and this is how today we have such a wonderful tourist site here! There is an option to go back to Gandikota and stay one more night, or to cover Lepakshi on the way back, which is close to Anantpur. Belum Caves stands as a witness of the ever-changing geographic as well as demographic history around it. Millions of years passed, and it still holds

its mysterious existence with many narrow passages inviting you to peep inside, bend your body and enter there to unfold the unknown. Express Info Accessibility: By Road: Except a few patches, overall there is good road connectivity to Belum Caves from Bangalore (324km), Hyderabad (364km) and Vijayawada (378km). Buses are available from Bangalore as well as Hyderabad and Vijayawada to Thadipatri, 30km from Belum caves, and autos can be availed there to visit the caves. By Rail: Thadipatri is well connected by rail with major cities like – Bangalore, Hyderabad and Vijayawada. Stay: There is only one accommodation near the caves, ‘Punnami Hotel’ operated by Andhra Pradesh Tourism that offers a 32-bed dormitory. Some travelers even prefer to stay at Thadpatri, a town 30km from Belum Caves, where there are a few budget accommodations available. But Haritha Hotel, also a property of Andhra Pradesh Tourism, at Gandikota is recommended for a comfortable stay. Season: November to March – as maximum temperature stays at around 30º C (other months, it is very hot and dry with temperatures soaring above 40º C). Februray 2016 | Corporate Outbound 19

Singapore’s Refreshingly New Attractions! So, did you ever think that Singapore is just an urban traveler’s delight with lots of shopping and glitzy building around, with the iconic Merlion statue welcoming you to the small but ever-attractive hotspot of Southeast Asia?

MOSH

MOSH is redefining family-edutainment with latest digital technology! It is the first Creative Future-Space in Singapore, located at Sentosa. Can you imagine a world where your creativity comes to life? It’s an immersive creative space that challenges the boundaries of your imagination. You could light up the skies with dancing fireworks, soar through the air with your dream aircraft and even give life to the quirkiest of doodles. MOSH gives you a chance to experience the exciting journey of self-discovery and adventure.

Singapore has always surprised its visitors with newer attractions and tourists too loved visiting it again and again for various reasons. Now that Singapore offers something special for kids, for families and for fun-loving tourists, we introduce you to these refreshingly new attractions.

CABLE CAR

A 360-degree visual treat of the entire Sentosa Harbour Front skyline from the top! Yes that’s what you see on the Singapore Cable Car ‘joyride’ at the ever vibrant Sentosa Island.

KIDZANIA

KidZania is an indoor kid-sized city. Here the children can feel and work like adults through over 80 realistic role-play activities. Children can experience all the role-play activities, earn salary in the form of kidZos, the official currency of KidZania, and pay for goods and services.

This is the only cable car in the world that goes over a forest and a highway, through an office building, over a cruise bay and into the State of Fun, Sentosa! And, with the new unique ‘joyride’ connecting Faber Peak Singapore at Mount Faber to Sentosa, you must get ready to get high on happiness – on your next Singapore trip.

The exciting activities include piloting an airplane, putting out fires, being a surgeon or a chef. Through these specially crafted activities, children are able to pick up values and life skills such as responsibility, independence and decision-making. A fun and learn attraction for kids for sure! 20 Corporate Outbound | February 2016

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Grand Prix The Singapore ne Racing's is Formula O ce in the only night ra world

LUGE

only sists n o c ore d and Singap main islan ds e an of on er tiny isl e h ar 63 ot of which t - mos ited ab uninh

Skyline Luge at Sentosa is a fun outdoor experience that one won't find anywhere else in Southeast Asia! It offers a fun family friendly adventure activity. One can navigate down 650 metres of the Jungle Trail or the 688 metres Dragon Trail as thrillingly fast or cruising slow. There is an option, after the Luge, to board the Skyride chairlift and take in the fantastic panoramic scenery of the Singapore city skyline and beautiful coastline of Sentosa Island. This new stuff is indeed worth trying.

GARDENS BY THE BAY

Described as “Top 10 Indoor Gardens of the World” by FoxNews.com, this one destination is what making ripples in the tourist circuit. Featuring more than 1 million plants from more than 5,000 species, Gardens by the Bay showcases the best of horticulture, sustainability and architectural design. It is a must-see destination filled with wonders from around the world. Flower Dome, awarded by Guinness World Record as the World’s Largest Glass Greenhouse – houses unique plants from 5 continents. The vivid floral displays on the Flower Field are refreshed periodically to bring ever-changing horticultural experiences to visitors. The Flower Dome sits alongside the 0.8-hectare Cloud Forest which is a mysterious world veiled in mist, surrounded by over 60,000 plants and floral gems from the Tropical Montane regions. Be amazed as you come face-to-face with the world’s tallest indoor waterfall at 35 metres! OCBC Skyway & Supertrees is another hotspot at a height of 22 metres and surrounded by panoramic vistas of the Gardens and Marina Bay skyline. This 128-metre long aerial walkway is an experience not to be missed. During the day, a stroll along the OCBC Skyway presents glorious photo-taking opportunities. 22 Corporate Outbound | February 2016

Express Info

Accessibility: Being one of Southeast Asia's largest aviation hubs, the easiest way to enter Singapore is by air. In addition to flagcarrier Singapore Airlines Singapore is also home to low-cost carriers Tiger Air. Air Asia is another option that flies from India at low cost. Currency: 1 Singapore Dollar = 48.75 Indian Rupees Visa: 2 months Valid Visa Rs.3500/- (maximum stay on each entry will be only 30 days) 60 Days continuous Stay without exit Rs.7000/More Information: Visit www.stb.gov.sg, the official site of Singapore Tourism Board Information and Picture Courtesy: Kidzania, Mosh, Singapore Cable car, Luge and Gardens by the bay

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Method • In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar and food coloring until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder. Make smooth batter beating evenly. • Pour the batter into pre greased rose moulds. • Bake in a pre heated oven at 200 degree Celsius for 10 minutes. • Serve warm with assortment of seasonal fruits, zest, mint leaves and appropriate sauce like toffee sauce or jam sauce. 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.

Pink Velvet Rose Cupcake

Valentines special

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and most of you must be planning something special for your Valentine. Every year, on the 14th day of February, millions across the world present their loved ones with candy, flowers, chocolates and such other Valentine's Day gifts. The reason behind this celebration is the story of a cleric named Valentine who was executed over a thousand years ago. Therefore I am presenting a simple recipe of a pink cupcake which one can customize and surprise your valentine with the same. “Happy Valentine’s Day”.

INGREDIENTS

• Sugar :70 gms • Salted Butter: 100 gms • Refined flour: 80 gms • Eggs: 3 no • Pink Paste food color: few drops • Baking powder: Pinch • Vanilla essence :15 ml • Mint leaves : For Garnish • Colored confetti : For garnish 24 Corporate Outbound | February 2016

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FUNtastic Fiestas

LAS FALLAS

Mar 15 - 19, 2016 - Valencia, Spain

BALISPIRIT FESTIVAL

March 29 - April 3, 2016 - Bali, Indonesia relatively new phenomenon, BaliSpirit, is a festival where health and wellness presenters from around the world and participants representing more than 50 countries gather to give you a feel of wellness throughout the festive days. It’s a festival that makes the visitors feel good both physically and emotionally. Yoga teachers from more than a dozen countries attend, as yoga is a foundational part of BaliSpirit. The day-time activities are held in the Purnati Center for the Arts in Ubud. At night, festivities shift to Agung Rai Museum of Art and the events offer everything from local gamelan orchestras to popular world music stars and even the traditional Balinese puppet shows. Dharma Fair and the Night Market has a number of vendors who advise how to live a healthier life. There are healing-huts where one can get a Reiki, Chakra-Balancing, Esalen-style massage, Balinese traditional healing and Tama-Do Sound medicine among others. And, there are tarot card readers and astrologists - being the icing on the cake!

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hough the celebration dates back to the middle ages, the current version takes a real flamboyant approach, invoking Spain’s rich heritage, history, tradition and culture with spectacular displays of pyrotechnics. The original pagan tradition got blended with the church's commemoration of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of the carpenters, and thus the festival of Las Fallas was created. It’s hard to find time for a nap, forget a good sleep! Every day at 2 pm, right from the 1st through the 19th of March at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, blasts of gunpowder echo citywide in an event

called La Mascletá, which is nothing but a competition between each neighborhood pyrotechnic enthusiast to set off the loudest show of explosives. All throughout the festive period, participants dress up in traditional clothing, dance to the beats of the bands and offer flowers to the Virgen de los Desamparados, the patron saint of Valencia. The celebration reaches its climax on the final night, during La Cremá or burning. The smaller fallas are set on fire at about 10 pm, while the larger ones go up in flames closer to midnight. Laced with pyrotechnics, the massive sculptures burn at such high temperatures that the crowds are forced to step far back and then watch.

BYRON BAY BLUESFEST

March 24 - 28, 2016 - Byron Bay, Australia

hen it comes to music festivals, Byron Bay Bluefest is considered one of the bests in the whole world. With as many as seven stages, nearly 20,000 attendees each day and 200 performances over five days, Bluesfest gives a lot of choices in musical styles. It’s unique in the sense that the organizers maintain a low-key atmosphere with high-producing aesthetics.

The beaches of the area are dotted with lighthouses, visitors can have a swim too, and subtropical rainforests like Nightcap National Park with Minyon Falls are not far from Byron Bay which is why even adventurelovers flock to this event to have their share of treks, nature walks and even surfing! Being held during the long Easter weekend, it’s a popular family vacation. Februray 2016 | Corporate Outbound 27

FESTIMA February 26 - March 5, 2016 - Burkina Faso

ome late winter, the International Festival of Masks and the Arts (FESTIMA) brings up hoards of masked dancers posing as crocodiles, monkeys and birds on the city of Dédougou in Burkina Faso. For centuries, masked-dancers have been an integral part of events like - weddings, crop harvesting and several other rituals. Locals believe that once the performer puts on the mask he becomes the animal or spirit he is wearing. Most of the wooden masks represent animals, while others embody spirits from the bush. The week-long festival draws dance-troupes from within Burkina Faso, and also from neighboring West African countries such as Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Mali and Senegal. Troupes include musicians and masked dancers who know how to move to the beats. The eventful days also offer cabaret-nights, where storytellers compete with one another. A slew of scholarly presentations on mask traditions and local culture take place throughout the week. More than 100,000 people watch the hypnotic shows. FESTIMA's purpose is to protect and promote the custom.

INTERNATIONAL YOGA FESTIVAL Mar 1-7, 2016 – Rishikesh, India

he International Yoga Festival explores the eight limbs of Yoga and how they apply to our lives. The festive days see yoga classes from world-class yoga experts, opportunities to have conversations with India's famous spiritual leaders besides other events including vegetarian cooking classes and the Yoga Aid Challenge – a charity fundraiser activity. The International Yoga Festival is held at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. The weeklong program is a must for anyone interested in yoga-enthusiasts! With 400+ people from 30 or more nations, the festival has grown to become one of the largest yoga gatherings in the world. Moreover, the saintly atmosphere at Rishikesh, makes this extravaganza more authentic and offers a holistic way of spending the days among a crowd completely dipped into the passion for wellness.

Picture Courtesy: internationalyogafestival.com 28 Corporate Outbound | February 2016

Picture Courtesy: Fest300.com

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U Q H E B T I R A E H K U N P R T A V S

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U U M K H A N D A G H R I O H Y V B N D

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FIND OUT TEN POPULAR DESTINATIONS FOR WATER SPORTS & ACTIVITIES IN INDIA

Winner of the puzzle published in the last issue is Mr. Soumya Ranjan Sahoo from Cuttack. .

Answer of the puzzle published in the last issue

Answers • • • • • • • • • •

TAKLAMAKAN- CHINA SALAR DE UYUNI- BOLIVIA FARAFRA- EGYPT ATACAMA- CHILE NAMIB- NAMIBIA SIMPSON- AUSTRALIA BLACK- EGYPT ANTARCTICA SAHARA- AFRICA PAINTED- ARIZONA, USA

30 Corporate Outbound | February 2016

Q T A K L A M A K A N A S E E T Y R V S

C H I K H A L D A R G X Y Z C H O P T A

T Y S R F V G Y U I A E D F F D F G S T

E F A R A F R A A A N M A N A W Q A D I

T F L Q A Z Q T S X T K S A S E W W F R

H M A W S X W A D S A I D M D R E E G T

J G R E S C E C F E R O F I F T R F H Y

F H D R D C R A G D C P G B L A C K J U

Z C E T F

X V U Y G V B T Y M A G H F V T I U H H J F F G H T Y T Y B H K L W F

C B Y U H N U S J G C B K G J U Y U E B

V T U U J N U D K T A J L G K U U I P H

A Q N I J M I F K Y F T O H K I U M A J

S D W E I A O P K L N M O O G H L R J N F S F A U H J A L R O A I I L P I N I O

F R S P L J P J T J A S D F G Y O T T P

G S I M P S O N Y I R F V G Y Y O H E S

H Y W S X X X D U O W E D C T F P J D F

K U R F V G Y Y I L T G B G B G Y K U I

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32 Corporate Outbound | February 2016