June2016

Corporate

June 2016 • VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 6 • ` 50

Paris:

always a good idea

Kerala

God’s own c ountry

Velavadar Blackbuck National Park June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 1

Contents

20 Other Stories

Managing Editor: Anurag Gupta Editorial: Garima Singhal 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

04

Aviation News

06

Hospitality News

14

Kerala- God’s Own Country

20

Weekend Getaway- Lonavala

24

Velavadar Blackbuck National Park

28

State Tourism News

14

08 Paris

always a good idea!!!!

2 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 3

Buzz

Aviation

Air India Express expands its network in the Middle East with the launch of new flights from Kozhikode to Dubai and Doha.

T

he airline has already doubled its capacity on the Kozhikode-Dubai route by introducing a second flight. This new flight will leave Kozhikode at 0910 and reaches Dubai at 1135. The return flight then leaves Dubai at 1700 and arrives back in Kozhikode at 2230.

Air India Express has also introduced another daily flight on the Kozhikode-Doha sector. This flight will leave Kozhikode at 1145 and arrive in Doha at 1325. The return flight will depart the Qatari capital at 1420 and arrive back in Kozhikode at 2110.

Vistara increases frequency of its Delhi-Guwahati route

T

he airline launched a new daily point-to-point service on the route. Flights will depart Delhi at 1340 and arrive in Guwahati at 1600. The flight will return from Guwahati at 1635 and arrive back in Delhi at 1900.

At present, Vistara operates a triangular route connecting Delhi with Guwahati and Bagdogra, so the new service will offer the first non-stop connection from Guwahati to Delhi.

Passengers in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Srinagar will be offered one-stop connections to Guwahati, via Delhi.

4 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

China Eastern Airlines will launch a daily flight from Hangzhou to Kolkata

S

tarting soon the new service will depart Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport at 1905, arriving at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at 0210 the next day. The return service will then leave Kolkata at 0300 and arrives back in Hangzhou at 0955. China Eastern will deploy a single-aisle Airbus A320 aircraft on the route. The new route will make a stop in Kunming, southwest China, in both directions. This marks an extension of the existing Kunming-Kolkata route which China Eastern first launched in 2007.

Air India launched additional flight services on its Delhi-Surat route

A

ir India will add two more weekly flights on the route, operating every Thursday and Sunday, using an ATR turboprop aircraft. Flight AI 9607 will depart Delhi at 0525 on both days of the week and arrive in Surat at 0755. The return flight, AI 9608, will take off from Surat at 0825 and arrive back to Delhi at 1110.Presently; the airline operates a Bombardier CRJ-700 aircraft on the route five times a week, every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. So the extra flights will mean Air India operates daily flights on the route.

Fly Scoot from Amritsar to Singapore

S

preading its wings to India, Scoot launches services from Singapore to Amritsar (fares starting Rs 4700 one way) and Singapore to Chennai (fares starting Rs 5700 one way). Scoot’s service to Amritsar commences three times weekly and will increase frequency with an additional Monday service from July, restarting the Singapore-Amritsar route for the SIA Group.

Air India connects Bhopal with Pune via Raipur

A

ir India boosts regional connectivity by commencing operations to Pune via Raipur from Bhopal. Flight AI 9865 will ply on the route Bhopal-Raipur-Pune thrice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The flight will leave Bhopal at 0845 hrs and land at Raipur at 1015 hrs, will depart from Raipur at 1045 hrs and arrive in to Pune at 1300 hrs. The return flight AI 9866 will leave Pune at 1330 hrs and reach Raipur at 1545 hrs, depart Raipur at 1615 hrs and will touch down at Bhopal at 1745 hrs.

June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 5

Buzz

Hospitality

Sarovar Hotels launch Seyfert Sarovar Portico in Dehradun

S

arovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd. has launched Seyfert Sarovar Portico, Dehradun, a contemporary and upscale.

The hotel brings to the city exceptional facilities and houses the largest banquet in the city in terms of capacity and size covering 10,000 square feet. Located close to Dehradun’s Airport, bus stand and railway station, the hotel is conveniently accessible to guests. The hotel also brings the choicest of bites to its guests at Café Travertine, an all-day multi-cuisine restaurant with live counters and a poolside banquet lawn covering 23,000 square feet for social gatherings. Whether it’s a corporate event, a social event or a private occasion, Seyfert Sarovar Portico, Dehradun, helps you host a seamless event managed by professionals.

Svatma, a restored family mansion at Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu, has been transformed into a boutique hotel.

I

n the city of UNESCO world Heritage Chola Temples, birthplace of Tanjore Paintings, classical dance Bhartnatyam and Carnatic Music this 38-room hotel offers three restaurants, a spa, swimming pool, yoga centre, library and facilities for private dining and events. The property will also offer its guests a series of cultural activities, including visits to temples, culinary classes, dance demonstrations, and traditional painting, bronze casting and weaving demonstrations. The property is accessible by air from Chennai or Trichy airports and by train.

Clarks Inn Suites Gwalior is now open

A

modern and contemporary hotel, Clarks Inn Suites Gwalior recently launched by Clarks Inn Group of Hotels is a four star hotel offering luxury amenities and services; the hotel is situated in the heart of the city.

The hotel is just 2 km away from railway station/bus station, 8 km from airport and is adjacent to shopping mall.

The hotel comprises 60 centrally air-conditioned contemporary rooms (1 Royale Suite, 3 Premiere Suites, 6 Executive Suites and 50 Executive Rooms), out of which 33 rooms offer the Gwalior Fort view. An 8500 sq. ft. terrace provides guests with the most versatile venue for meetings and social gatherings, with state of the art conferencing equipment’s. Among the F&B offerings, the hotel includes The Bridge, with live kitchen. Fort view restaurant overlooking a verdant courtyard, serves a variety of nutrimental, Asian and Indian preparations including Bar-be-que, Mughlai, Maratha and Nepalese delicacies. Café lounge is a 32 cover fine lounge located on fourth floor.

6 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts launches new meetings and events loyalty programme for trade partners

S

hangri-La Hotels and Resorts launched Shangri-La Events Collection and Golden Circle Event Planner Rewards, an industry-leading meeting and events loyalty programme for meeting and travel professionals. This programme will offer meeting and travel professionals and any Golden Circle member the ability to earn elite status as well as earn and redeem points for groups, meetings, conferences and events across the Shangri-La, Kerry and Hotel Jen portfolio. Golden Circle Event Planner Rewards offers the highest level of rewards of any meetings and events loyalty programme. Planners can earn up to 40,000 Golden Circle Points on an event booking – the equivalent of 40 complimentary room nights. In addition, it is the only programme that allows members to earn double points for any subsequent meetings or events booked in the same calendar year.

New addition to WelcomHeritage launched WelcomHeritage Mani Mansion, a Heritage Hotel in Ahmedabad

W

elcom Heritage has launched a new property, Mani Mansion under its portfolio of Heritage Hotels recently.Mani Mansion a 94 year old heritage property that was once home to the Dalal family located on the Ashram road in the heart of the city is a boutique heritage hotel with 21 rooms and suites providing an experience of ancient era and yet equipped with modern facilities.

The hotel offers a multi-cuisine Restaurant serving an array of food options including authentic Gujarati cuisine prepared by chefs who have been associated with the family since past 2 generations thus giving a taste of true Gujarati culinary expertise.

From an ancestral Mansion, it has been suitably modified as one of the city’s finest heritage hotel.

Golden Tulip Hotels launches its first service apartment facility in Bhiwadi

G

olden Tulip Hotels has launched their first Service Apartment facility at Bhiwadi, Haryana catering to growing demand for small to longer duration stay demand of expatriates coming to the city which is an industrial hub with lot of Japanese investments.

Hotel has well-furnished 16 service apartments along with kitchens which are equipped with all the modern amenities to comfort the customers looking out for a long stay. The hotel also has multiple options for fine dining. Golden Tulip Bhiwadi has kept in mind the requirements of contemporary businesses hence they have built a modern set up of the conference room with latest technologies and a banquet hall which caters to MICE, wedding or any other functions. The hotel has a ‘Japanese Concierge Services’ specially designed for their Japanese expats arranging tours, accommodation and other facilities.

June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 7

Featured

Paris Skyline

Paris: is always a good idea!!

We’ll always have PARIS. Enough and more has been written about this mecca for the traveler, the seeker of the arts, the student of fashion, the apprentice of gastronomy, the connoisseur of the written word and much, much more that this unique conurbation stands for.

A

lso known as the city of light, both for its leading role during the religious Age of Enlightenment and more literally, because it is the first European city to adopt gas street lighting, Paris is situated on both the banks of the river Seine and located in the north of France, it is in the center of the Île-de-France, or the region parisienne. It is named after its 3rd century BC founders of the Celtic origins, the Parisii, a sub tribe of the Celtic Senones, and retains the nearly two-centuryold administrative boundaries.

8 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

What to see Paris is also one of the most visited cities in the world. It is home to some of the most iconic and well-known monuments and buildings in the world. This city is an architectural wonder in itself, without even taking into account the pieces of architecture that litter the city around every corner. The Eiffel tower, which looks like steel and lace entwined, the 12th century Notre Dame cathedral with its imposing gargoyles peering down at your from moving heights, the Sainte-Chapelle from the 13th century, the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur on the hill of Montmartre.

Also of significant interest are the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, The Grand Mosque of Paris, the Arc de Triomphe, the Paris opera house, the Romanesque church of the Abbey of Saint-Germaindes-Prés, the Gothic Basilica of Saint-Denis, the Baroque churches of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis, neoclassical church of La Madeleine, Les Invalides, which houses Napoleon’s tomb and many more.

Palais Garnier June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 9

Farmer’s market

Boat on Seine

plaza eiffel

Home of the artists and their art

Eiffel tower

Paris is also home to the most visited art museum in the world, the Louvre, which is along the historical axis of the Axe Historique of Paris, through the Tuileries Garden, the Luxor Column in the place de la concorde, as well as the Musée d’Orsay, noted for its collection of French impressionist art, and the Musée National d’Art Moderne, a museum of modern and contemporary art.

Louvre

Invalides

French food and wine, some of the best in the world But Paris is so much more than the historical monuments and architecture. It is about the culture, food and people of the city that make it what it is. Dinner along the Seine is one of the most exciting experiences to be had in the world. Find a little bistro that serves exciting pairings of cheese and wine, like the Verjus Wine Bar near the Palais Royal or just buy a crepe Nutella from the nearest vendor and just walk along the historical river, enjoying the Parisian river breeze as boats and ferries pass you by. Splurge a little and enter a fine dining restaurant at Loiseau Rive Droite, recently renamed from Tante Louise. This restaurant, founded in 1929 has the old world art-deco charm, and even the signage and menus, and is right next to Madeline and chic luxury shops like Cartier and Hermes. Eating at this restaurant will make you feel like a grown up, the kind of grown up that slows down and goes out for an exquisite meal every once in a while. Brasserie Lola opened their second vegan restaurant in the Etienne Marcel/ Montorgueil neighborhood. Drink at Wine by One, a great place to try over a hundred types of French wines at the Rue des Capucines. Paris is a great city to brunch on Sunday. Brunch places about, serving the best brunch fare there is. Most of them a stone’s throw from the canals of the River Seine, they offer magnificent views and make Sundays unbelievable again.

10 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

Petit Palais June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 11

Kid friendly city Paris is also a very child friendly city and there is much to do, which supersedes just going to Disneyland. Ride the Line1 of the metro, wait on the far right of the platform and get a front row seat on the driverless metro car. Pick up a metro map and help your kids discover the route.

If you wish to be above the ground, ride the bus. Take a River Seine tour on a boat, which leave typically every hour or so. Go to a park, which are literally all over the city, and let your child run into other kids who are there.

The playground at Jardinde’Luxembourg is one of the best. Luxembourg and Tuileries also have sailboats for the ponds. Trampolines at Tuileries and air sculptures will keep your child entertained.

From Left to Right: Theater of Champ Elyses, Notre Dame, Mont Martre

Offbeat The city of lights twinkles in the night. The night is a great time to discover Paris passages or even areas that are less known, such as Belleville or trek to the 18th arrondissement, and spend some time wandering around the ‘bad’ neighborhood of La Goutte D’or, where you will find some of the best roasts and the coffee shop Café Lomi, right across from the most artistic graffiti wall that hides an old factory. Or just carry a picnic basket to the Tuileries and watch the Tour Eiffel come alive at 10 pm with twinkling lights dancing up and down the metal lace and hear the collective gasp that emanates from the mere human populace in front of this majestic spectacle.

One of the most beautiful flower shops is hidden on Rue 12 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

Saint Denis, and they are called L’Histoired’une Fleur at number 152. Fresh flowers, and great if you are near the 2nd arrondissement or Etienne Marcel. Hotel Mathis has a splendid bar for cocktails on the Champs Elysees if you want something swank and are willing to splurge a little. If you have access to a kitchen at your friend’s house, at L’Épicerie des Environs, you’ll find local produce and a version of nearly everything to make a delicious dinner. Fruits and vegetables, rice from Camargue, pickles from Burgundy, fruity sorbet from Essonne. Rue Cremieux has that colorful street that every Parisian photographer loves to photograph, and hopefully, you will wander there too. Out of the ancient and proper 17th arrondissement at Place du Docteur Felix Lobligeois comes a new wind and it smells of young, fresh coffee. Dose, dealer de café is an urban, cool coffee shop, cut from simple, clean pine and laid with beautiful blue tiles.

Express Info Connectivity : Air India and Air France fly directly to the Charles de Gaulle airport. All major airlines fly to Paris via codeshare.

Currency – 1 Euro= 75.5 INR . The cost of living in Paris is fairly high, with a pint of beer going for as high as Euro 10.

Accomodation: There are some beautiful Air BNBs and hostels as well as deluxe hotels dotted across the city. The fare per night can range between Euro 40 for shared hostel dormitory rooms.

Getting around: The easiest way to get around in Paris is the metro and the buses. Taxis can be expensive, so planning excursions based on the timing on the metro is easier on the pocket. If you are planning to stay for a longer time, buying a long-term metro-bus-tram transferrable pass from the central metro station is useful. Also, Paris is one of the most walk able cities in the world.

Visa: One needs to apply visa before going to France.

The approx cost of visa is 4500 INR. June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 13

Featured

Kerala God’s own country Being a heavily water dependent state, with the Arabian sea on the West and over 40 rivers and their tributaries crisscrossing through the state, and nestled in the bosom of the western ghats, Kerala enjoys unique geographical features that have made it one of the most sought after tourist destination in the country and in Asia.

T

he state has been blessed with a moderate climate, a serene and long coastline with many people-friendly and scenic beaches, tranquil green backwaters (the estuaries and deltas formed by the forty many rivers of the state which form a massive network, particularly in the Periyar region), lush mountains and hillsides, exotic flora and fauna biodiversity, tea and coffee plantations, sprawling paddy fields with resident pisciculture, enchanting art, culture, festivals, historical monuments, exciting cuisine teaming with the goodness of the sea, a rich tradition of Ayurvedic treatments, and all these destinations within two hours of driving distance from each other. The amalgamation of these and many more makes Kerala a must visit destination with a singular advantage that is not found anywhere else.

History: The state is closely linked with commerce, being a major seaport, and up until recently, was closely linked with the spice trade. This is also the spice state of India, and in the past, has played host to travellers and traders from across the world. During the colonial times, it was heavily visited by the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Chinese, Portugese, Dutch, French and the British, but largely occupied by the Dutch. Regardless, all the invaders left an indelible mark on this land, be it architecture, cuisine, art, or literature. From Kannur in the north all the way to Thiruvanathapuram in the south, the cities are littered with these monuments standing tall, telling the stories of their trading and colonial history.

14 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

Varkala Beach June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 15

the Lord Krishna, it is one of the most important places of worship for the Hindus.

It is often referred to as the Bhooloka Vaikuntha, or Heaven on earth, or the holy abode of Lord Vishnu or Krishna on Earth. The historic temple is shrouded in mystery. According to belief, the temple is the creation of the Guru, the preceptor of Gods and Vayu, the God of the winds.

Mattancherry Palace- Kochi

Further south, one reaches the town of Ernakulam, which is the hometown of the Dutch cemetery. The tombstones here are the most authentic records of the hundreds of Europeans who left their homeland and changed the course and history of this land. Also in Fort Kochi is Synagogue of Mattanacherry or the Paradesi synagogue, which is the oldest building in the commonwealth. Destroyed and rebuilt by the Dutch, hand painted, willow patterned floor tiles and clock tower, the Hebrew inscriptions; scrolls of the Old Testament are articles of interest here. This is one of the seven synagogues of the Malabar Yehudan, or Yehudan Mapilla people of Cochin. The term Paradesi is derived from many Indian languages, which means ‘foreigners’, because the synagogue was build by the Sephardic of Spanish speaking Jews. The synagogue is located in the quarter of Old Cochin known as Jew Town.

The streets of Jew town are littered with shops and stalls selling Jewish arte-facts, traditional arts and crafts of Kerala and many other visual and foodie delights.

Sampaloor, a small town by the Chalakudy River is known as the Goa of Kerala.

Close to the towns of Thrissur, Alapuzha and Cochin, this place witnessed the arrival of series of Clergy. The first to arrive was St. Francis Xavier, who came a place located in Kodungalloorr (muziris). This town has since been the centre for Jesuit Missionary and here stand the St. Paul’s Monastery, St. Paul’s Press and the St. Francis Xavier’s church. These were largely destroyed by the invader Tipu Sultan from Karnataka, who used cannon balls, which destroyed the holy vestments of the monastery, old liturgical tablets and instruments used to make the host. Many of these arte-facts such as Tabernacle of the old church, statues of saints made of wood and metals, Lamps used for adoration, lamp-sticks, the Cross made of metal belongs to 15Th century and ''Vazhuthayodukal" of the same century are some of the attractions of this Museum which stands in place of the Cathedral now. ] Thalassery lighthouse

What to see:

and opening to the sea give the fort an aura.

Each city of Kerala is unique in the experience it offers you, but at the same time, very much bound together by the same feeling of happiness and goodwill that it promotes. It is ideal to find enough time to travel the state and being able to see the various sights that the state offers. Start in the north at Kannur. A massive triangular laterite fort, the St. Angelo Fort is the leftover from the times of the Dutch colonization.

The fort was later seized by the British and became their most important military station in the Malabar region. The views of the Moppila Bay and Dharmadom Island can be seen from here and a sea wall separates the rough sea from the inland water.

The Mattanacherry Dutch palace found in Ernakulam, near fort Kochi was presented by Raja Ravi Veera Varma of Kochi to the Dutch. The palace has a Bhagavathi, or goddess temple in the central courtyard and is built in the traditional Kerala style mansion, or the home of the aristocracy. It offers a panoramic view of the Kochi backwaters and has an exquisite collection of murals from the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Also in Kannur is the Thalassery fort, 22 km north of the city in the small town of Thalassery where the exotic art form of Theyyam originated. The fort was the settlement of the East India Company in the Malabar region, and is a testament to their imperialism and also served as the nucleus for the development of the town. Doors, secret pass ways and tunnels 16 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

Odathil Mosque- Kannur

St.Angelo Fort- Kannur

Religious establishments: The Odathil Palli Mosque in Thalassery is a 500-year-old mosque located in the old town of Thalassery, 20 kms from Kannur. This was built by an Arab merchant in the typical Kerala Hindu temple style. This mosque has neither domes nor minarets and is not open to non-Muslims.

As one starts to travel south from Kannur, one comes upon the majestic Guruvayur temple. A Hindu temple dedicated to June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 17

Beachy beach towns!

for centuries. Here, it is not an alternative form of treatment, but rather mainstream and is practiced with absolute dedication. Being the only resort of treatment for the people, the Vaidyars of Kerala were challenged to interpret the theories of Ayurveda and adapt them actively into effective healing systems in everyday life. Thus almost all the contemporary procedures and protocols of Ayurveda have evolved in and around Kerala.

The state of Kerala has an unbroken coastline, which means many beautiful, quiet, secluded, white sandy beaches, which attract tourists and locals equally throughout the year. The Payyambalam, Meenkunnu and Kizhunna beaches in Kannur, which slightly rocky coastline that washed up molluscs and crustaceans in abundance and is spotted with blowholes, are some of the windiest beaches in the south of India. The Payyambalam is different in that it is a beautiful stretch of sea and sand and surf, and offers the best locale for a relaxed evening and jaw dropping sunsets.

The Chavakkad Beach in Thrissur is a delight for the sore city eyes. This easy to access beach is famous for the Azhimukam, or the confluence of the river and the sea. The other side of the beach is the Ramachapadam, a vast farmland for the Ayurvedic herb, Ramacham. The Cherai beach of Kochi is picture perfect, and the smooth, gentle waters great for swimming. It is lined with coconut groves and paddy fields and offers a unique combination of the ocean and backwaters, with seashells of various hues and shapes washing up.

This is also the place for occasional Dolphin spotting.

Thiruvananthapuram is home to several gorgeous beaches, the Poovar Beach, Samudra beach, Shankhumugham Beach and the famous Varkala beach with the coconut grove studded cliffs lining the beach and double rainbows appearing on the regular. A calm and quiet hamlet, it has several other things to do as well, the 2000 year old Vishnu temple, the Janardhanaswamy temple on the cliffs and the Sivagiri Mutt, founded by the great Hindu reformer Sree Narayana Guru, 18 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

The artistic traditions of Kerala:

which is a little distance from the beach. The Papasnanam (also known as Varkala) beach is a renowned natural spring and is considered to have medicinal and curative properties.

Ayurveda tourism Ayurveda is the harmony of the body, mind and soul. The pristine land of India where it originated over 5000- years ago, Ayurveda is the science of life and longevity, and combines profound thoughts of medicine and philosophy.

This discipline stands for the wholesome physical, mental and spiritual growth of humanity. Kerala is the land of the Ayurveda as it possesses an unbroken tradition that has surpassed the many invasions and intrusions, both foreign and native. The vaidyas, or the practitioners of Ayurvedas believed to have been healing every disease using the teachings of this discipline. The eight legendary families of Vaidyas (practitioners) and their successors treated the entire state

Kerala has a rich custom and tradition of various art forms, which include performing arts such as several classical and semi classical dance forms, some of which include elaborate facial and body painting.

Most of these dance forms found their origins in the history of the King Mahabali, revered by the people of the state. Ritual art, which includes celebrations of a several festivals and days of significance using the natural means available to them will make you appreciate and celebrate your environment as well.

From Left to Right: Thalassery, Fort Kochi sea-food shack,Heritage art museum- Kochi

Express Info The major cities in Kerala include Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), Cochin (Kochi/Ernakulam), Kannur, Thrissur, Kozhikode and many others. All these towns are very close to each other in the small state and easily connected by road and train.

The Thiruvananthapuram airport, Cochin International Airport and the Calicut International airport are well connected to all major airports of India by most commercial airlines.

The state has an equable and moderate climate throughout the year, with predominantly tropical weather. The monsoon and summer are harsh, and a visit during the relatively cooler winter months is advisable.

June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 19

Weekend Getaway

Bedse Cave

Kune Sakur Waterfall

Lonavla The town of Lonavla and that of the adjacent town of Khandala are beautiful hill stations in the state of Maharashtra and wonderful weekend destinations for Mumbai and Pune. These charming twin hill stations at the elevation of 622 m. above sea level and 5 km from each other are nestled in the Sahyadri ranges.

20 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

L

onavla is known as the jewel of the Sahyadri, located in the western part of Maharashtra. They are known for their scenic beauty, green hills, deep valleys, historic forts, lakes, waterfalls, tea plantations and the fog which envelopes the city with the changes in the humidity in the air.

and excellent temple architecture. The interiors of the caves have lion pillars, huge elephant carvings, forms of Buddha and dancing couples. The entrance to the Karla caves is in the shape of the Peepul leaf, and the hall following the entrance is semicircular in shape.

To See

Similar to Karla caves are the Bhaja caves, which houses many monasteries. As the sun illuminates the interior of these caves, one can see the deities and other dancing figures carved on the rock. They have huge pillar with various animals and human figures. There is a roof, which is supported by a 2000-year-old woodwork, which lights up the entire cave.

The great caves: The main attraction for coming to Lonavla is the sequence of great caves like Bhoja, dating back to the 2nd century BC and continuing into the Bedsa caves from the 1st century BC, and the last, but not the least, the Karla range of caves.

Karla is the site of the largest Chaitya caves or the prayer halls from 80 BC. The temples represent the purity in design

June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 21

Tiger’s Leap

Karla Cave

Karla Cave- inside view

Forts:

The Rajmachi fort was used by the great Shivaji, and is a must add to your itinerary. Deep valleys on three sides and a thick forest on the fourth side surround it. Today, the only remnant is the Rajmachi point, a green hillock with remnants of the fort. Other forts of interest are the Manoranjan fort, Visapur fort, Shrivardhan fort, Tunga fort and the Lohagarh fort. Lohagarh fort (the iron fort), is a robust climb of 11.2 km from Malavalli Railway station. The fort was a formidable battle station for the great Maratha Shivaji, and it commands a majestic view of the surrounding hills and hamlets.

Ryewood park and Shivaji Udyan are massive gardens that cover Lonavla. They cover a significant part of land and are full of tall trees. There is an old Shiva temple in the park with place for children to play.

Dams and hydroelectricity

Valvan dam is a picturesque spot with a garden at the base and the Khopoli power station at the foothills of the Sahyadris for generating electricity, which is fed by the Kundali River. The lovely Tungarli lake supplies water to the Lonavla dam. Both of these are major hydroelectricity stations of Maharashtra and sites of great interest.

Tiger’s leap, also known as Tiger point is a clifftop with a sheer drop of over 650m and gives an extensive view of the hill and the valleys. Also of interest is the Duke’s nose, about 22 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

12 km from Lonavla and clearly visible from the highway. This is the finest landmark and is very popular if you enjoy hiking.

It looks like the hood of a snake, and is sometimes called Nagfani (hood of snake). The cliff gets its name after the Duke of Wellington.

Express Info Getting there:

Shopping:

The most important import of Lonavla is the sweet jiggerypeanut candy called Chikki. Various kinds of chikkis are available with various nuts and dry fruits and variety of flavors.

This sweetmeat is a must sample for everyone who visits Lonavla. Maganlals and Coopers have some of the best chikki in town. The mall road is another popular shopping destination.

Go off Road

The cities are a must visit during the monsoon season. The skies are bursting open and it is exhilarating to get drenched and play in the waterfall near Tiger’s leap. Be careful to carry enough dry things, as it is very easy to fall sick in the mountainous, wet weather. Bush dam is a great place to visit round the year, for just dipping your feet in the cool water and enjoying the force of nature that is water. In summer, the lake dries up and can be hiked or trekked, or simply walked along the edge. A little up from the Bhushi dam is the beautiful waterfall, which can be reached by wading through the gushing waters of the dam, and makes for a one of a kind experience.

Road Lonavla is situated on the Mumbai-Pune expressway and is well connected to several towns of Maharashtra, such as Karjat, Dabhade and Khopoli. It is 64 kms from Pune and 96 kms from Mumbai.

Bhaja Cave Lohagarh

Rail: Lonavla is well connected by train. Local trains from Pune and trains plying between Mumbai and Pune stop there. Karjat is the nearest railway station.

Air: Lohegaon Airport at Pune is the nearest to Lonavla, well connected by most domestic and some international airlines. A sea plane service is also available between Juhu and Pawana dam, 14 kms from Lonavla.

June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 23

Velavadar Blackbuck National Park

S

24 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

Francolin, Desert and Variable Wheatear, Chestnut Bellied Sandgrouse, Spotted Sandgrouse (winter), Painted Sandgrouse, Quails and Saras Crane.

Birds

Among the many raptors that can be seen are Pallid Harrier (winter), Montagu's Harrier (winter), Marsh Harrier (winter), Laggar Falcon, Eurasian Hobby, Kestrel, Red-necked Falcon, Saker Falcon (winter), Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Shikra, Imperial Eagle ( winter), Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle (winter) and Short-toed Eagle. In winter, you can see pelicans, cranes, storks and other birds at the water bodies and nearby marshes.

Notified by Birdlife International this park and nearby wetlands comprise an important bird area. The park is a good place to watch grassland birds like larks, bushchats, wheatears, sandgrouse, francolins and quails. The park’s specialties include Saras Crane and Stolikza’s Bushchat.

Magnificent eagles, falcons and endangered vultures can be seen at Velavadar. In winter, Velavadar National Park hosts the world’s largest harrier roost – Montagu’s Harrier, Pallid Harrier and Marsh Harrier can be seen in large numbers, while Hen Harrier is occasionally spotted.

The lakes and sea-

Picture courtesy: Gujarat Tourism

ituated in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat this national part was established in 1976 and is located around 42 kms from the district headquarters is spread over an area of approximately 34 square kilometres. The national park has been classified as 4B Gujarat-Rajwada biotic province of semi-arid bio-geographical zone. The park with grassland ecosystem, flat land, dry grasses and herds of antelope always attracts visitors. Successful conservation programs for the blackbuck, wolf and lesser florican (a bustard) are ongoing. Considered to be an endemic Indian species, the lesser florican, which once lived throughout the country, has become endangered in recent decades. The park supports a variety of grass, 95 species of flowering plants, 14 species of mammals, over 140 species of birds and many reptiles. The Alang and Paravalio Rivers, three artificial ponds, two checks dams and nearby coastal marshes provide an ideal habitat for aquatic flora and fauna. This park is a paradise for birdwatchers. As you travel by jeep in the park for an exquisite journey through the wilderness with cameras and binoculars in hand cautious to any movement and ears alert to the sound of the forest.

gered Indian Grey Wolf, the nocturnal Striped Hyena, Indian Fox, Golden Jackal, Jungle Cat and many small mammals like hare, gerbil, field mice, mongoose and hedgehog.

Animals Velavadar has India’s largest population of Blackbuck, the elegant Indian antelope. One of the fastest mammals in the world, the Blackbuck is capable of achieving high speeds when leaping over the plains of Velavadar. India’s largest antelope, the Nilgai or Blue Bull, is easily seen in this national park. If you plan to stay longer you can also see the endan-

sonal marshes are important places to watch the Lesser Floricans, pelicans, cranes, storks, ducks, herons and other water birds.

Velavadar National Park is a possible site for birdwatchers who want to see specialty birds of the tropical Indian grassland like the Stolizka's Bushchat (winter), Rufoustailed Lark, Greater Short-toed Lark, Ashycrowned and Black-crowned Sparrow Lark, Indian Bushlark, Singing Bushlark, Syke's Crested Lark, Crested Lark, Painted and Grey

The park can be visited mostly by vehicle but one can also hike through the grasslands. There is a nominal fee of Rs 20 for Indians and $20 for foreigners. Guides can be hired at the park or you may hire a guide from elsewhere (many private tourism companies are available in Ahmedabad or Bhavnagar), but note that a private guide has to pay the entry fee for himself too.

So what are you waiting for! Pack your bags!

Pack clothes in earthy colours (dark browns, greens, greys and beiges), sun block and a hat, good walking shoes, torch, binoculars and a camera are highly recommended. A jacket or a pullover is a must in winters.

June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 25

Express Info When to Go October to June is the best time to visit. The park is closed for the monsoon from June to October, and the best time to visit is winter, from December to March, when you can catch the bird population at its greatest, and avoid the stifling summer heat.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport is at Bhavnagar (65 km.).

By Rail: Bhavnagar, 65 km. from Velavadar is a convenient railhead. There are direct trains everyday from Ahmedabad to Bhavnagar (299 km.) Bhavnagar is 65 km. from the Park.

By Road: The Park is 315 km. from Rajkot and 170 km. from Ahmedabad. It is most easily accessible from Bhavnagar city (65km.) Buses ply everyday between Bhavnagar and Velavadar. You can also hire taxis if you want to simply make a day trip to the park.

26 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 27

State Tourism News Karnataka appoints 111 tourist guides, inducts 298 ‘tourist mitras’

I

promote this place for composite adventure tourism in which tourists would be taken from Harwan in All Terrain Vehicles to starting point at Astan Marg

n a bid to promote tourism to the state, Karnataka’s Department of Tourism appointed 111 Tourist Guides and 298 ‘Tourist Mitras’. The tourist guides who went through a Comprehensive Guide Training Programme at five universities were issued guide licenses and identity cards, while “Tourist Mitras” are part of a programme of the Department of Tourism and the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) in association with the state Home Department.

“The Tourist Mitras will be working in co-ordination with the local police stations. They have been given basic training to provide information on art, culture, cuisine, heritage, etiquette, first aid, disaster control and etc. The 298-strong third batch includes 84 women. Besides training in languages like French, Russian and German, the tourist guides were imparted knowledge on history of tourist destinations, communication skills and friendly behaviour among others.

Dara in Jammu & Kashmir is being developed as adventure tourism site

I

n order to tap adventure tourism potential in Srinagar, the department of tourism is promoting paragliding at Dara which is very close to Srinagar City.

Tourists have started taking flights from start point at Astan Marg in Dara which flies for about 10 to 15 minutes and lands at Harwan giving a breathtakingly adventurous experience to tourists. Around 5 to 6 flights sail in the air on daily basis. A local company Karakorum Explorers has hired the services of expert pilots from Himachal Pradesh for paragliding which started in April this year.

Tourism Department is planning to

28 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

where from they will paraglide back to Harwan. During the 15 minutes flight the tourists would have a bird’s eye view of the Dal Lake also. Those who have flown at Bir Billing consider Astan Marg far better than that. With the introduction of ATVs, the paragliding at Dara would prove more beneficial for composite adventure package to visitors and locals.

Andhra Pradesh allures tourists with water sports launch in Vijayawada

T

ourist preference patterns over the years have shown a gradual shift from traditional tourism, with more and more tourists now inclined towards additional entertainments such as water sports, adventure tourism etc. To cater to this ever rising group of tourists and with a vision to

make Andhra Pradesh, the most preferred destination, the Sunrise state is all set to give its visitors a memorable yet thrilling experience with the launch of a host of water sports and adventure tourism facilities.

In line with the surge in tourist interest in water sport activities, the state has already introduced a plethora of such facilitates for example parasailing, jeep parasailing, para-motoring, water skiing, speed boat etc. in Bhavani Islands in Vijayawada. Work is also well underway to replicate the same across other key beaches such as Rishikonda, Bheemili, Mangamaripeta, Thotlakonda, among others.

In the popular tourist destination of Papikondalu in Rajahmundry, blessed with scenic splendor, two houseboats have been launched with one and three bedroom capacities respectively.

These boats are fitted with best-in-class amenities to suit the tourists.

To strengthen the tourism development in the state, Andhra Pradesh is also launching 33 hotels offering more than 2766 rooms and with a total investment of Rs. 2400 Cr. Notable global brands such as Taj group, ITC group, Accor group Holiday Inn Associates and JW Marriot Associates etc. has already invested in such projects. For patrons of adventure tourism, the stage is set to take their experience to a new height with the launch of facilities such as waterfall rappelling, rock climbing, high rope courses, zorbing etc. in popular hill stations of Horsley Hills, Puligundu and Talakona.

Rajkot th 19 , 20 , 21 Aug 2016

Indore rd 21 , 22 , 23 Oct 2016

Mangalore 18th, 19th, 20th Nov 2016

Madurai 16th, 17th, 18th Dec 2016

th

th

Nagpur th th th 27 , 28 , 29 Jan 2017

st

nd

Vijayawada th th th 24 , 25 , 26 Feb 2017

Bhubaneshwar 24 , 25th, 26th Mar 2017 th

For Stall Bookings Contact: No. 348, Amarjyothi Layout, Domlur, Bangalore - 560 071 Ph : +80 41224331, Telefax : +91 80 41483066 June 2016 | Corporate Outbound Email : iiteindia@gmail.com, admin@iiteindia.com Website : www.iiteindia.com

29

Subscription Form

CORPORATE Business & Leisure Travel Magazine

A L R J G V X W T C C B V X B B X E T S

S K T H H B C D H G V M B V N G C R B D

D I S F J N V F B T G A N G H T F T S V

E M P R K M B G F Y T W K T Y Y R Y U G

R H I R K T N G R U Y S H O J A T H I Y

F U T H I Y N H T I U Y R W U B Y U O U

V R I J N J M J Y O Y N Y E K R H I P I

C W B K F K E K U P U R U F L C N I M O

R A N I K H

E T I A I A I G P E H O T Y

E Y H Y A T S V T S I M A J U L I P K U

R A J J D G R B U D O X D W D E W P S B

T N H K F B B N I F O F F E G D E T A H

Y A G U M B E J O G L T G R H C R K P J

J D

U B G F N M K K Y I I B Y T K R T M T O

V

S A N J U N Z T Y T T J F T I U I

K H T G D R O T T R L J U Y L T Y U A P

I Y Y H U H U U R O J U I U Y B U G R S

L N T J V Y Y T E A U J O I B J M T A F

O M Y K B R T R G D Y K K I H U I R D I

1 Year - Rs. 500/-

U R R H V J F Y J N L K F U A Y V B N D

2 Year - Rs. 1000/-

New Subscriber Renewal Subscriber Subscription Number (If Renewing).................................................................................................................

Address : .........................................................................................................................................................

City/District : ........................................................... Pin Code : ......................................................................

Phone(Off/Mob) : ......................................... Phone(Residence) : ..................................................................

Email Address : ...............................................................................................................................................

Answers WORLD’S BEST CASTLES • HOWARD- NORTH YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND • MALBORK- POLAND • CHATEAU DE CHAMBORD- CHANMORD, FRANCE • MIRANDA- CELLES, BELGIUM • BRAN- ROMANIA • HEIDELBERG- HEIDELBERG, GERMANY • KILKENNY-KILKENNY-IRELAND • CATHEERINE-RUSSIA • PELES-ROMANIA • SLEEPING BEAUTY- FRANCE

30 Corporate Outbound | June 2016

W S S H H G X C T N X D A R N V D T T V

E C D O J Y F G P H C F T T B D R H Y G

R F F W K U T H E Y V G E Y G R V E U Y

T R G A L N H J L H G Y A B Y T G R I U

Y G H R L I J I E U H I U J V Y H I N I

U Y J D T O U O S I J K D U Y U J N J O

I U K J R L

K P T T K L E I V N U E K Y

H M A L B O R K J F L T C L H V K V I U

J N R T R D Q B K T E Y H L F H M B O B

W J G H A B X M O T T U A M G U U N E H

E K H B N J D J P D Y I M I R A N D A J

R M J

N V U R Y U E U O B D T Q X Z X I

H E I D E L B E R G I P O G F W D R T O

T R X H A I Y F B T O P R J V E V T Y P

Y T C Y D T H H J E T Y D U H X T Y U S

U B V H F E V J K F J J E I H R H U N F

E T RA

O

O P

Payment Details

Please Find enclosed Cheque / Demand Draft Number...........................................................................

Dated.. .............................For Rs : 500/Rs. 1000/DATE : ........................................................................... SIGNATURE : .................................................

R O

C

Please Note : Cheques, DDs & MOs to be drawn only in favour of

CORPORATE OUTBOUND

Please fill in this order form & mail it with your remittance to CORPORATE OUTBOUND No.348, Amarjyothi Layout Domlur, Bangalore - 560071. Please allow 4-6 Weeks for delivery to start. Please write your name & address on the reverse side of the Cheque/DD/MO. Do not send cash. For Subscription or any other Clarification, please contact : +91 80 41224331 / 41483066 / 25350322 or Email us at corporateoutbound@gmail.com. We take utmost care to dispatch the copies safely. CORPORATE OUTBOUND does not take the responsibility for postal delay & damaged copies.

ADVERTISEMENT TARIFF CARD Full Page 20.5CM X 29CM Half of the Page 20.5CM X 14.5CM Quarter of the Page 10.25x14.5CM

Answer of the puzzle published in the last issue Q A A B C R Q A W M Z S H X M T Z A C D

B T U

Subscription

Winner of the puzzle published in the last issue is Ms. Ajal Tom from Mangalore.

K I L K E N N Y V C W A C E E T Y C V S

U O

Name : Mr. / Ms. / M/s: ..............................................................................................................................

Designation : .............................................................................................................................................

Company : ...................................................................................................................................................

Send your answers to corporateoutbound@gmail.com and grab attractive gifts. Correct answers will be given in the next issue of Corporate Outbound.

FIND OUT 10 OFFBEAT MONSOON DESTINATIONS IN INDIA

D N

S L E E P I N G B E A U T Y J T J I U I

U R R H V J F Y J N L K F U A Y V B N D

FULL COLOUR DISPLAY ADVERTISING

Full Page

20.5x29cm

Half Page Horizontal 20.5x14.5cm

Half Page Vertical 10.25x29cm

Quarter Page 10.25x14.5cm

ART DESIGN : is accepted as PDFs, TIFFs, or other high quality digital formats. jpegs, gifs, and ads scanned from other publications are NOT acceptable.

FOR ADVERTISING QUERIES CONTACT 348, Amarjyoti Layout, Domlur, Bangalore – 71 Karnataka, India. Phone : +91 80 41224331, 41483066, Mob : + 91 98863 26567 June 2016 | Corporate Outbound 31 Email : corporateoutbound@gmail.com

RNI NO.KARENG/2011/39909

32 Corporate Outbound | June 2016