Gn april web

gonow

a cross section publication

Volume 14. Issue 10. April 2014. ` 50

a l l a b o u t t r av e l a n d t o ur i s m

travelling with

Around the world with Chef Ritu Dalmia

metro travel

Ranjit’s Svaasa: Heritage in Amritsar hotel guide

Business Districts of Berlin

Rain of Rainbow

Lathmar Holi in Vrindavan

this issue pg 28

destination guide

14 Places to visit in Panama in the centenary of the Panama Canal 12 travelling with Around the world with Chef Ritu Dalmia 14 niche destination Cities for art lovers 20 lesser known Relish a slice of ‘Pai’ destination guide 4 Of Battlefields, Baroque & Blini 2 28 Places to visit in Panama in the centenary of the Panama Canal 3 2 Fine fables of Fiji For business travellers 36 Berlin: A hotel guide to its major commercial districts photo feature

0 Rain of Rainbow: Lathmar Holi in Vrindavan 4 etro travel m 44 Mussoorie: Lodgings overlooking nature 4 8 Ranjit’s Svaasa: Warm hospitality with complete wellness 52 P une Sunday Brunches elhi update d 6 Champagne Appreciation with Taittinger 5 5 7 Taj Mahal sets up an exclusive with His Holiness The Dalai Lama 5 9 Go desi with Dhaba by Claridges tourism connect 6 2 Golf Courses through the eyes of Rishi Narain 6 4 National Science Museum: An interactive platform where learning is fun last page 6 6 Your Star Trek moment

From the Editor Saint Augustine, a theologian and philosopher once said “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.” In this issue of GoNow we bring you some delightful pages from this book of the world that will captivate you as they did us. We commence our journey with an interview with Chef Ritu Dalmia who has a special love for both travelling and cooking and who shares some of the magic of her travels with us. If you are an art lover, you will not quarrel with our choice of destinations for our next feature, for we have a rendezvous with some of the cities across the world that have a vibrant art scene. Our issue would not be complete without an exploration of the life of Pai, a tiny town nestled in a picturesque valley and one of Thailand’s best kept secrets. We next journey into Budapest and Ieper, two of Europe’s most enchanting cities, full of history, key battlefields and places where the destiny of empires has been decided. We would not have done our duty had we not noted that this year is also the centenary of the Panama Canal. There is much more to Panama than just feats of modern engineering and we bring to you some choice destinations in this isthmus country.

From Panama it is but an aeroplane ride to the spectacular islands of Fiji which is our next destination. Well beyond the fables of Fiji, we bring you a hotel guide to the city of Berlin for business travelers.

Quite likely, you will enjoy our photo-feature on Lathmar Holi as it is celebrated in two villages of Uttar Pradesh. Mussoorie has its attractions and we bring to you a guide to exceptional lodgings that overlook immense natural beauty. We next visit Ranjit’s SVAASA, a Heritage Boutique Spa Haveli in Amritsar through an interview with Rama Ranjit Mehra, the lady behind the venture. Our issue wouldn’t be complete without a feature for food lovers and we bring to you the sumptuous Sunday brunches of Pune. Next, to the delight of Golf lovers, Rishi Narain talks about his favorite golf courses around the world. Exploring the world of science and technology, D Rama Sarma, Director, National Science Centre, Delhi shares the vision of his museum with us. The more adventurous among our readers will appreciate our final feature on space tourism, the co-mingling of science and adventure – the final frontier as far as tourism is concerned.

photo feature

pg 40

Tanmoy Das has been travelling extensively around the world, based in New Zealand. This Holi, he was in India, travelled to Mathura and Vrindavan and comprehensively captured the spirit of Lathmar Holi, in keeping with his fascination for Lord Krishna.

Form-4 (See Rule 8) Cross Section Media Pvt. Ltd. 1. Place of Publication : New Delhi 2. Periodicity of Publication : Monthly 3. Printers’s Name : Navin S. Berry Nationality : Indian (a) Whether Citizen of India? : Yes (b) If foreigner, state the country of origin : No Address : IIIrd Floor, Rajendra Bhawan, 210, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi – 110002 4. Publisher’s Name : Navin S. Berry Nationality : Indian (a) Whether Citizen of India? : Yes (b) If foreigner, state the country of origin : No. Address : IIIrd Floor, Rajendra Bhawan, 210, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi – 110 002 5. Editor’s Name : Navin S. Berry Nationality : Indian (a) Whether Citizen of India? : Yes (b) If foreigner, state the country of origin : No. Address : IIIrd Floor, Rajendra Bhawan, 210, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi – 110 002 6. Name and address of individuals : Cross Section Publications Pvt. Ltd. IIIrd Floor, Rajendra Bhawan, 210, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi – 110 002. Who own the Newspapers and Partners or Shareholders holding more than one per cent of the total capital 1. Mr. Navin S. Berry, W-11, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi 2. Mrs. Archana Berry, W-11, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi 3. Mr. Rajat S. Berry, W-11, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi I, Navin S. Berry, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date: March 1, 2014 S/d Navin S. Berry (Publisher)

Editor: Navin Berry Managing Editor: Priyaanka Berry Features Desk: Anupriya Bishnoi, Nikita Chopra Advertising: Saurabh Shukla Design: Ashok Saxena, Neelam Aswani Circulation: Chandra Tamang Go Now is printed and published by Navin Berry, on behalf of Cross Section Media Pvt. Ltd. Printed at Anupam Art Printers, B-52, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase II, New Delhi - 110 028 Go Now is published from IIIrd Floor, Rajendra Bhawan, 210, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi - 110002.

Tel: 91-11-43784444. Fax: 91-11-41001627.

E-mail: info@crosssectionmedia.com This issue of gonow contains 68 pages

On the cover Lathmar Holi in Vrindavan, photograph

by Tanmoy Das If travel excites you just the way it excites us, share your experiences on /gonowlifestylemagazine /gonowmagazine /gonowmagazine

drop us a line.

Like something we wrote? Wondering how to get somewhere? Or been to a place you want to talk about? Write to us and let us know. Don’t have the words to describe a place? Don’t worry – send us your best travel pictures and we’ll let them speak for you. If your letter or photo is published, you will get a year’s subscription to gonow absolutely free! Send your letters and photographs to E-mail: info@crosssectionmedia.com Material not used will not be returned

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with travellers in mind

Epicurean delights from Lahore at TGKF

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isit The Great Kabab Factor y for a unique dining experience and relish recipes that combine ancient with the contemporary.

Here, you can experience mouth-watering kababs prepared in seven different styles, roasted on the tandoor or on a singhri, shallow-fried in a tawa or a mahi tawa, deep-fried in a kadhai, steamed in pots or even grilled on a stone.

Their latest offering is the Lahori Food

Festival which brings along flavours from the Afghan-Turkic-Iranian roots. Lahori dishes are known for comprising aromatic and sometimes spicy flavours, and some dishes often contain liberal quantities of oil which adds to a richer, fuller mouthfeel and flavour.

A different menu is set for each day and guests are served unlimited servings of each dish, either vegetarian or nonvegetarian. Besides their signature kababs such as the Galauti and the Burrah, the meal comprises of daal factory, biryani, a selection of Indian breads and the best of seasonal vegetables and desserts.

Where: The Great Kabab Factory MGF Metropolitan Mall, Saket, New Delhi – 110017 When: From 11th April to 27th April 2014 Time: 12 noon till 11 pm For Reservations, 011-46695500/46695555

Take a weekend break in Nashik with ibis

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bis hotel, the only international hotel invites you for a short break in Nashik.

The city has a lot to offer, from the famous Trimbakeshwar temple and infant Jesus shrine to ancient ruins like, Pandav Leni, Sita Gufa, Panchvati and more. A breath of fresh air will help you relax and unwind and take a break from your hectic daily routine. Go around the beautiful vineyards nestled cosily between thick morning fog, mountains and dense trees. The hotel offers its guests with a total of 123 rooms and is situated at the Nashik Triambakeshwar road. The Nashik Road Railway Station is just 16 km away from the hotel and takes around 30 minutes to travel by car. The closest International Airport is Chatrapati Shivaji Terminal 2 in Mumbai, which is 180km from the hotel and around 3 hours and 30 minutes by car.

Where: Plot No 9, Nashik Trimbakeshwar Road, Satpur, MIDC, Nashik, Maharashtra.

For reservations, +91 (253) 6635555

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vSnippets ‘Unforgettable Holidays’ at Oberoi Hotels & Resorts

Providing a unique opportunity to relax and rejuvenate at some of the best hotels in India, Oberoi Hotels and Resorts has a special offer on a minimum stay of two nights. It includes accommodation in a Premier room on double occupancy (Luxury Tent at The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore) along with daily breakfast and transfers between local city airport and hotel.

The guests can also enjoy Cocktail hour every evening from 6 pm to 7 pm with select wines, spirits and beers. You can also save 20 per cent on food, beverages and spa therapies. The offer is available at The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur; The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra and The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore.

Price: `23,250 per night When: Valid from 1st April till 30th June For Reservations, 1800-11-2030 or mail at: reservations@oberoigroup.com

Luxurious Treat for Ladies at Waterstones, Mumbai

With a combinat ion of c om for t, style and design, Waterstones Hotel, Mumbai has a special package to pamper the divas w ith luxur y and their best hospitality. The package i ncludes stay at one of the hotel’s n at u re i n s pi re d theme rooms with a serene view of the waterfall. Also, the ladies can enjoy complimentary wine, assorted chocolate and fruit platters. The hotel has prepared a day full of various experiences for you, where you can indulge in different services that the hotel has to offer. You can also enjoy watching a private screening of any of the movies available at the Movie Lounge. Pamper yourself with a complimentary massage at Bliss- the Spa or indulge in beauty treatments at Allure-the Salon.

For further information, 9819836846 or visit: www.waterstoneshotel.com

with travellers in mind

vSnippets

Aqua Aerobics at Jaypee Vasant Continental

Fly Etihad direct from Jaipur to Abu Dhabi and beyond

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tihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, commenced its daily operations between Jaipur and Abu Dhabi. This is the airline’s tenth destination in India.

Craig Thomas, Etihad Airways’ Regional General Manager-Asia Pacific North and Indian Subcontinent, said, “The addition of the Jaipur service reinforces Etihad Airways’ commitment to the Indian Subcontinent. We are confident that the new flights will continue the strong passenger growth between India and the UAE.” The new service will provide travellers from Jaipur with seamless connections to the Gulf region and Middle East, as well as Africa, Europe and North America, via their Abu Dhabi hub. The flight from Abu Dhabi will depart at 00:20 (local time) and arrive in Jaipur at 05:05 (local time).

On its return journey, it will depart from Jaipur at 05:50 and arrive in Abu Dhabi

at 07:50. The aircraft used on this route will be A320. With the addition of Jaipur, Etihad now serves a total of 10 Indian cities including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, New Delhi and Trivandrum.

As Jaipur is a premium destination and attracts leisure and business travellers from around the world, Neerja Bhatia, General Manager – India, Etihad Airways, said that Jaipur is the perfect addition to their growing network of destinations.

This place is also known for hosting many international cultural events, including the renowned Jaipur Literature Festival. “With the addition of the new Jaipur flights, to our existing Delhi services, we now fly to two destinations in the world-renowned Golden Triangle, offering our guests more choice and convenient travel options,” she adds.

For bookings, visit: www.etihad.co

Cristiana Pipoli, the renowned Brazilian instructor reunites with Jaypee hotels for aqua aerobic classes at Jaypee Vasant Continental. Aqua Aerobics is one of the fastest and easiest ways to burn a great amount of calories. Now you can enjoy all the advantages of a great workout, but with far less effort and exhaustion than other land based exercises. This is the third time that Cristina has associated with this hotel to make Delhi healthier with her vast experience and excellent guidance.

Earlier they had introduced the same in 2007 and 2013. You can go in for a trial class before enrolling for eight or 12 classes a month.

When: 9:30 am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Price: Trial Session `600; 8 classes a month `4,400; 12 classes a month `6,600 For Bookings, 9871266344

Family fun at Shangri-La’s Eros Hotel, New Delhi

This summer create everlasting memories during your holiday at Shangri-La’s Eros Hotel, New Delhi with their special family package. The package includes a complimentary room adjacent or closer to the suite. You can also go for your choice of cooking class or yoga session for one hour per stay for the family. Along with complimentary breakfast for the whole family, the package also includes 50 percent discount for meals for kids above 12 years old. The package is only valid for a minimum of two-night stay and families with up to two adults and three kids.

When: Valid till 30th September 2014 For Reservations, 011-41196125 or Mail: reservations.slnd@shangri-la.com

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with travellers in mind

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aj Lands End, the luxury urban retreat is a perfect choice for your leisure as well as business trips.

Along with world class accommodation, impeccable service and unmatched dining options, the hotel also has The Classroom, which is a perfect place for learning. With the ideal environment and contemporary facilities, it also has a fixed lectern with AV controls. It offers a separate lounge and reception area and has a seating capacity of up to 82 people. It is identical to the Harvard Business School’s MBA classrooms in Boston and has a large format LED confidence monitor, ceiling speakers for program audio and speech reinforcements. It is equipped with camera input plates at front and rear for additional AV inputs and ceiling microphones for recording and conferencing. It is in close proximity to important business hubs like the Bandra Kurla Complex and the Airport. The hotel offers spectacular views of the sea and you can feel the bustling energy of the city life.

For further information, + 91 22 66681234 (Extn. 1340) or mail: tlesales.bom@tajhotels.com

j a T t a m o o r ss a l C e h T i a b m u M d n E s d n a L

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with travellers in mind

vSnippets

Celebrate Easter at One&Only in Maldives

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he luxurious accommodations at the resort comprise exclusive villas and the natural beauty of the island. Celebrating rebirth of Jesus Christ on the occasion of Easter, One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives has a number of special offers, brunches and activities going on at the resort. On 17th April, they are organising an Easter cocktail party with kids and teens fashion show on Sunrise Beach, opposite the reception from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. On 19th April you can have fun at the Willy Wonka’s Factory with impressive international buffet and live performances by the Glenn Aitken Band. On Easter Sunday that is 20th April 2014 they have the

traditional Reethi Rah Easter Parade and Egg Hunt at the Lawn Club from 10:45 am. Here, the kids can go for the hunt of eggs, while the parents and friends can have fun from the side-lines and enjoy a chilled champagne and delectable treats.

A sumptuous feast awaits you at the Rah Bar this Easter. The brunch is priced at `8,000 per person for adults and `3,000 per child (4 to 12 years). Internationally renowned Australian artist, Christopher Hogan will also be held art classes for families and couples at the resort during his stay in the Maldives.

When: From 17th to 20th April 2014 For further information, visit: www.oneandonlyresorts.com

Luxury Hunter Lodges now open in Wales

The Celtic Manor Resort in South Wales has launched their first three of the stunning Hunter Lodges for guests. These luxurious lodges provide a comfortable home-from-home experience to its guests along with five-star amenities and services of Celtic Manor at their doorstep. These Scandinavian style lodges have four twin bedrooms, spacious dining and living areas, and built-in kitchens. The lodges are well-equipped and furnished along with fluffy towels and crisp bed linen and it also boasts of outdoor hot tubs and indoor saunas. A total of 10 lodges in the first phase are scheduled to be launched by mid-May. Price: Starts from ÂŁ48 per person, per night For further information, visit: www.celtic-manor.com/hunterlodges For reservations, 01633 410262

Tee off at the Els Club Teluk Datai, Langkawi

While staying at The Datai, Langkawi you can enjoy two 18 hole rounds of golf at Els Club Teluk Datai with the 4 Days 3 Nights package by The Datai Langkawi. The two rounds of golf are valid for two persons per stay. The clubs can be rented complementary and you can also use the golf cart, GPS, bag tag, repair tool and practice range on complimentary basis. The package also includes Champagne buffet breakfast, roundtrip airport transfer and welcome drinks upon arrival.

When: Valid till 10th January 2015 Price: MYR 2,252.33 incl. of taxes & fees For further information, visit: www.dataihotels.com

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Luxury calling at The Lalit Golf & Spa Resort Goa

Volvo Lounge at T3, Delhi International Airport

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erminal 3, Domestic departure Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi gets its first luxury automobile lounge

by Volvo Auto India. The Lounge is spread across an area of 925 sq ft and located at the entry of the departure concourse next to the information desk. The lounge serves a typical Scandinavian luxury experience to its guests. Tomas Ernberg, Managing Director, Volvo Auto India says, “Terminal 3 IGI Airport is one of the largest aviation hubs in South Asia with a heavy influx of high profile fliers. Creating a Volvo lounge at such a strategic location is yet another step closer towards our existing and prospective customers. It gives them an experience of Volvo’s brand philosophy ‘Designed Around You’, up close and personal. Partnering with GMR for our Lounge is a perfect synergy of

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service wherein together we continuously work towards the comfort of our customers.” The lounge is a place where the travellers can relax before boarding the flight and gives them an exclusive Volvo Retail Experience.

Volvo carlines would be on public display at the lounge entrance accessible to all the travellers. However, the entry into the Lounge would be only ‘by invitation’. Platinum and gold cards respectively for Volvo customers and VIP guests. With the Volvo Cars Lounge, Volvo Auto India looks forward to extending the experience and going that extra mile to understand its customers better.

I. Prabhakara Rao, CEO, Delhi International Airport (P) Limited says, “DIAL is privileged to partner with an iconic brand like Volvo Cars. Ever since the commissioning of T3, our retail footprint has registered a 30 per cent growth and today we are proud of our retail diversity and mix. At IGIA we now host over 500 reputed brands spread across 30,000 Sq mtrs, catering to the diverse passenger profiles. We have tailored our retail showcase by continuously studying the evolving needs and preferences of our passengers – the Volvo Cars Lounge is one such unique offering.” The lounge boasts of advanced technology with engineering that is executed around human values. Volvo is looking forward to redefine the concept of luxury and comfort with this lounge at the T3.

Indulge in a luxurious escapade at The Lalit Resort and Spa Goa, with their special summer stay offers. Along with accommodation on double occupancy, this 3 Nights/4 Days offer includes, complimentary daily breakfast, lunch and dinner at Canacona and two-way airport/ railway transfer. The hotel would also welcome you with a fresh fruit platter and a welcome drink on arrival. Along with the complimentary use of the swimming pool, tennis and squash court you can also go on a half-day sightseeing tour of South Goa. Enjoy a 10 per cent discount on the food and beverage and on the therapies at Rejuve – the Spa and a late checkout, i.e. till 2:00 pm as a part of this package.

When: Valid till 15th October, 2014 Price: Garden View Suite – ` 32,999; Sea View Suite – ` 37,499. For further information, visit: www.thelalit.com

Spend a royal summer in Mysore, Karnataka

Spend a royal summer vacation this year, in Mysore at the Royal Orchid Metropole. The hotel is situated in the heart of the city and blends old-world charm and modernity perfectly. With their special package, enjoy a two night and three days stay at The Royal Wing of the hotel at just `12,999 for a couple. The entire package will include scrumptious buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner along with exciting upgrades to heritage room at `2,000 or a maharaja suite at Rs 6000, half day sightseeing of Mysore Palace, Mysore Zoo, the local market for shopping and much more. For children below 6 years the stay is free.

When: Valid till 30th September 2014 Where: Royal Orchid Metropole, No. 5, Jhansi Lakshmibai Road, Mysore +91 9902000141

with travellers in mind

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Take a Dip at the Rooftop at Changi Airport

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he three terminals at the Singapore Changi Airport offer travellers a range of first-class experiences and services, including a rooftop swimming pool, movie theatres, unique themed garden spaces, a free city bus tour, and the world’s tallest indoor slide – all linked via a free, inter-terminal Skytrain. The airport has been voted as the World’s Best Airport for the second year in a row by SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2014.

The travellers can enjoy a relaxing dip at the Balinese-themed swimming pool

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and poolside area. The passengers who are staying at the Ambassador Transit Hotel can use the pool and Jacuzzi for free whereas, it is chargeable for non-residents.

The fee for non-residents is just $13.91 which includes the use of swimming pool and Jacuzzi, shower facilities, a towel and a complimentary non-alcoholic drink at the bar. The pool is located at Level 3, near Transit Hotel at Departure Transit Lounge East.

For further information, visit: www.changiairport.com or +65 9388 4321

IndiGo now flies from Delhi to Dilbrugarh

treng thening its commitment to the domestic market, IndiGo announces eight new flights connecting seven destinations, Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Srinagar, Bhubaneshwar, Guwahati and Dibrugarh. IndiGo is now operating new daily non-stop flights between Delhi to Dibrugarh and return via Guwahati – Kolkata & Lucknow to Srinagar via Delhi. The airline also announced third non-stop flight from Delhi to Bhubaneshwar and Guwahati, fifth non-stop flight from Delhi to Lucknow and Srinagar and sixth non-stop flight between Delhi and Hyderabad. With 485 flights connecting 36 destinations across the nation, these new flights will further consolidate IndiGo’s position as the fastest growing airline in India.

Elaborating on the new flights, Aditya Ghosh, President and Executive Director, IndiGo said, “Dibrugarh is going to be an important part of our destination network because it holds good prospect for travellers and the students belonging to the region in the metros. We at IndiGo are committed to providing the best travel experience to all those who wish to fly these destinations. We are committed to providing maximum connectivity on our network by catering to various segments and we are confident that these additional flights will prove immensely convenient for our passengers.” The new flights from Delhi to Dilbrugarh flies at 11 am from Delhi and arrives at Dilbrugarh at 1:35 pm. The same returns back from Dilbrugarh via Guwahati at 2:05 pm and arrive in Delhi at 6:05 pm.

For further details, visit: book.goindigo.in

Travel smart with ixigo by MakeMyTrip

Now you can book your holidays while in the car or anywhere through your mobile even more smartly. MakeMyTrip introduces ixigo, a smart trip planner in your pocket. With this, you can search and compare the best hotel and flight details. It will help you in planning your stay, flights, bus, railways, and in all the whole vacation too. So, the next time you think about travelling, you must think about ixigo and travel smart. It helps you with details of both domestic and international hotels and flights. The application is available at the Apple app store and Google Play for android.

For further details, visit: www.ixigo.com

Jet Airways enhances booking experience

To enhance your experience of booking flight tickets, Jet Airways integrates Google Now for guest bookings on its website and mobile apps. While making the bookings if the guest syncs their Gmail address in the booking, then they will be able to view travel information on Google Now several hours before their flight departure. Information includes updates on their flight schedule, and the airport terminal for their flight. This information is automatically updated in Google Now. If the flight is delayed or the status changes, the latest information will be reflected in the Google Now card via Google Search. Google Now additionally provides relevant information about the destination like weather, local happenings, updates and much more.

For further information, visit: www.jetairways.com

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Around the world with Chef Ritu Dalmia

Chef Ritu Dalmia exploring South Africa 12

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travelling with Ritu Dalmia, the chef and co-owner of the popular Italian restaurant Diva in Delhi, has special love for both travelling and cooking in her life. She says that Italy always tops the list for her when it comes to travelling for the sake of food. She discovered cuisines from different countries around the world during her show ‘Travelling Diva’ aired on NDTV Good Times. She shares some of her experiences in an exclusive conversation with GoNow.

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as it your love for travel that encouraged you to go into the food industry or was it vice-a-versa?

I always loved to eat, and always loved to travel, so in some ways they were always two separate loves of mine, but when I took to cooking as a profession, travel greatly increased my exposure levels.

What inspiration as a chef do you derive from travelling around the world?

There are such amazing young chefs who are doing such wonderful things, yes.

Meeting them, tasting their food, always is an inspiration and a push to strive for better.

We are aware of your love for Italy and Italian cuisine, Which cities in Italy are gastronomic hubs though relatively lesser known and which restaurants are a must-visit?

I just love Peppe Zullo’s farm and restaurant in Puglia; the food in Puglia is superb. There is another amazing restaurant called Uliassi in Senagalia in Marche region of Italy. The meal at Uliassi is always

sublime.

Which other global cities would you recommend for a food enthusiast to travel?

Auckland has some amazing restaurants.

So does Melbourne. New York and London will always rule the roost, but today you will be surprised to see some very special restaurants in Vienna, in Berlin and in Norway.

Any country whose gastronomic significance is yet to be discovered?

I think New Zealand is still very under rated and so is South Africa. But let’s face it, human nature will ensure wherever there is good food, people will find their way to it.

Are your travels influenced by the cuisine of a region? Which city/ country do you plan to explore next for its cuisine?

For me, Italy is always my top country to travel for the sake of food. But I do not travel just for food. For example the food in Burma and in Morocco doesn’t particularly tease my taste buds, but I just love Burma, and had an amazing holiday

in Morocco.

What is the standard of quality and authenticity of food served in standalone restaurants and hotel restaurants in India?

Today, the quality of stand-alone restaurants is far better than many 5 star hotels.

The amazing thing that is happening in India right now is that chefs, who know and are passionate about food, open restaurants. This is just a tip of the iceberg; we are going to see some great things happening in the coming years.

Apart from Diva, which other restaurants in India would you highly recommend?

I am very partial to Indian Accent – I have never had a bad meal there. I also like Karavali in Bangalore. Royal china always has great dim sums. I have heard amazing things about Nido in Mumbai but still have to visit.

What is the best part about your profession?

The ego massage.

As told to Nikita chopra

About Ritu Dalmia

Having a fun time in New Zealand

Chef Ritu Dalmia is an Indian celebrity chef and restaurateur. Her restaurants in New Delhi include the award-winning Diva, Café Diva and Latitude 28. She also runs the popular café at the Italian Cultural Centre and hosts two immensely successful cookery shows on nat iona l telev i sion, Italian Khana and Travelling Diva. She is the brand ambassador for, Fisher & Paykel Appliances. She is the author of various cookery books, including, Italian Khana, Travelling Diva and Diva Green.

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niche destination

Cities for art lovers A city with vibrant art scene can be a rejuvenating experience for the world travellers. But where should art lovers head to when they have a desire to visit places rich in art and culture?

Though there are many cities in the world exhibiting exotic architecture and culture, GoNow selects some of the best ones that are loved by art fanatics worldwide, giving you details about the must-visits in these destinations.

Madrid, Spain

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adrid, the capital of Spain, is a cosmopolitan city with a large cultural and artistic heritage, a legacy of centuries of exciting history. This city has one of the most important historic centers of all the great European cities. This heritage merges seamlessly with the city’s modern and convenient infrastructures, a wide-ranging offer of accommodation and services, and all the latest state-of-the-art technologies in audiovisual and communications media. These conditions, together with all the drive of a dynamic and open society – as well as high-spirited and friendly – have made this metropolis one of the great capitals of the Western world.

Places to see

The Prado Museum: This is the most important point of the “triangle” of art museums, and houses perhaps the most valuable collection of paintings on the planet. Its protagonists include Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Rubens, Zurbarán, Ribera, Murillo, Bosch, Titian and Rembrandt, together with the major representatives of

painting in Europe. The Prado currently holds close to 9000 paintings, mainly from the Spanish, Italian, Flemish, French and German schools, distributed throughout the museum’s different buildings: the Palacio de Villanueva and the Casón del Buen Retiro. The museum also contains more than 5,000 drawings, 2,000 prints, nearly 1,000 coins and medals and almost 2,000 pieces of sumptuary or decorative art The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum: It has over 800 paintings ranging from primitive Flemish artists through to the avant-garde movements. From Monet to Van Gogh, Picasso to Mondrian or Klee, from Bacon to Lichtenstein, Duccio to Kalf, from Saenredam to Goya, the list of artists represented here is long and diverse. From the time the Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza took over the collection he began to make outstanding contributions to it until it reached its present value. In general, said collection ranges from classical works to the most important artistic trends of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Museo Real de Pintura y Escultura (Royal Museum of Painting and Sculpture): Already during the reign of Carlos III it was suggested that Madrid be endowed with a collection of paintings on

This city has one of the most important historic centers of all the great European cities. This heritage merges seamlessly with the city’s modern and convenient infrastructures.

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Caixa Forum

a par with that of the Louvre in Paris. But not until Fernando VII took the throne would such a project take shape. Thanks in large part to the wishes of María Isabel de Braganza, the king’s second wife and considered the museum’s founder, the Prado opened its doors on 19 November 1819 under the name “Museo Real de Pintura y Escultura” (Royal Museum of Painting and Sculpture).

The Reina Sofía National Art Centre: It is dedicated to contemporary Spanish art and containing works by Picasso, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí and Juan Gris, among

others.

The Royal Theatre in Madrid- The Royal Theatre is located in Plaza de Oriente Square, and is one of the top opera houses in Europe due to its modern facilities and unrivalled acoustics. The building was started by Ferdinand VII in 1817 on the site of an old theatre, and work was completed in 1850 under Custodio Moreno.

The building has an irregular hexagonal floor plan. It underwent a period of great splendor until it was closed in the early 20th century due to its poor state of repair.

It was then restored and re-opened in

1966 as a concert hall, until it underwent further refurbishments before finally opening again in 1997.

Aristocratic Centre: Near the Plaza Mayor is the Aristocratic Centre which is home to the stunning Royal Plaza, an imposing building dating from the 17th century featuring a mixture of Baroque and classicist styles.

factfile Go to www.citywonders.com/Madrid-Tours‎, www.myspaintour.com/Madrid, to know more about the archaeological and local trips.

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niche destination

Prague, Czech Republic

P

rague is said to be the “heart of Europe” and is sometimes called the “mother of cities” for its richness in culture and art and its mystical attraction. Prague is a highly spiritual place as well. This city developed over the centuries as a crossroads of Christian and Jewish cultures. Dozens of churches, from the Romanesque to modern times, as well as many celebrated Jewish synagogues bear silent witness to the city´s rich spiritual life.

Places to visit

St. Vitus Cathedral: Gothic architecture experienced its greatest period of expansion in Prague in the 14th century, during the reign of the Holy Roman Emperor and Bohemian King Charles IV. The most striking place in the cathedral is the Chapel of St. Wenceslas, where the relics of the saint 16

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are kept. The decoration of this chapel is outstanding. The walls are all embellished with over 1300 semi-precious stones and paintings about the Passion of Christ dating from the original decoration of the chapel in 1372–1373.

Prague Astronomical Clock: The fame of this clock is spread throughout Europe.

Many wanted the Czech clockmaker Master Hanuš to construct in their city an equally wondrous instrument for measuring time. The Prague city councillors did not want to lose the uniqueness of their clock, so they had Master Hanuš blinded.

Other legend says that when the instrument at the Astronomical Clock stops working war will come to the land.

Wenceslas Square : It is one of the main city squares and the centre of the business and cultural communities.

This square is divided into two parts, Old Town and New Town Square. At the top of Wenceslas Square a statue of St. Wenceslas on his horse cuts a striking figure. This is good King Wenceslas (Svatý Václav) himself, murdered a thousand years ago by his brother, and a Czech national hero. It is part of

Prague is said to be the “heart of Europe” and is sometimes called the “mother of cities” for its richness in culture and art and its mystical attraction.

niche destination

Nice, France

A

rt is alive, vibrant and everywhere in Nice. It finds expression in the works of inspired artists who can be found painting along the Promenade des Anglais or in a pine-shaded garden of the city. Nice can best be described as an open-air contemporar y museum. You can discover by foot, an itinerary dedicated to discovering the 13 artworks created by famous artists or opt for a guided evening tour by tramway to spot each of the pieces of art. A very strong culture of art is prevalent in Nice. Culture is very much a part of the city’s vibe. This can be felt as the melodies of a saxophonist playing in the street drift through the air, or in a good jazz concert in a bar or an uplifting opera at the theatre.

Places to visit

Nice offers a selection of 20 museums and municipal galleries that house prestigious collections of Chagall, Matisse or artists belonging to the famous Ecole de Nice - an artistic movement that developed in the late 1950s. In addition, one can also find a large number of private contemporary art galleries and artists’ workshops.

Some must-visit venues include: The Matisse Museum: Housed in a renovated villa, this single-artist museum is set in the pleasing confines of an olive grove located in the Cimiez Gardens. The

the historic centre of Prague, a World Heritage Site.

Loreto Church: The sacred shrine of the Loreto is the main Marian pilgrimage destination in Bohemia. The pilgrimage site is conceived as a selfcontained complex of buildings around a central Santa Casa, with an oblong, two-storey arcade courtyard. Construction of the Prague Loreto Santa Casa began on 3 June 1626, at the instigation of Baroness Benigna Katharina von Lobkowitz. The interiors were partly renovated in the 19th century; and in the 1950s and 1960s, a new treasury was built, accessible to the public.

factfile Go to www.viator.com/nice, www.localnicetours.com to know more about the archaeological and local trips.

A very strong culture of art is prevalent in Nice. Culture is very much a part of the city’s vibe.

Photo: OT Nice

Prague Carnival

museum follows the history of the painter who resided here in the early part of the 20th century. The collection provides an overview from Matisse’s first paintings to his gouache drawings that the artist produced at the end of his life as well as techniques the artist used to express his art.

The Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (MAMAC): It is special for its original architecture and a major permanent collection tracing the history of the European and American avant-garde art since the early sixties.

Marc Chagall Museum: It was specifically built to host the artist’s most important biblical works: the 17 paintings which make up the world renowned Biblical Message. The collection includes paintings, sculptures, stained-glass windows, mosaics, tapestries and lithographs.

The Fondation Maeght: Not far from Nice lies one of the most beautiful villages of France - St Paul de Vence - which hosts one of the most amazing collections of modern and contemporary art in a uniquely designed building. The Fondation Maeght houses an exquisite collection of paintings, sculptures, collages, ceramics and all forms of modern art.

Matisse Museum

factfile Go to www.pragueexperience.com www.private-prague-guide.com to know more about the archeological and local trips.

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niche destination

S

Dresden, Germany

axony is Germany’s no. 1 art and cultural destination. In Saxony and in the whole of Germany, Dresden stands out. The city is known as the “Florence on the Elbe River” for its combination of outstanding architecture and art collections.

Places to visit

Among the 12 museums of the Dresden State Art Collections, which are housed in famous buildings like the Royal Palace, the Zwinger and the Albertinum, there are some of the best museums in the world.

The Green Vault: It is one of the best treasury museums and also the oldest public museum in the world, open to the public since the beginning of the 18th century. In the historic part, the exhibits are not behind glass but stand free as part of the original baroque décor. In the modern part, there are a number of exhibits relating to India.

“Court of the Great Mogul Aurangzeb’’ was created in Dresden from gold and precious stones and depicts the Indian Mogul ruler on the occasion of his birthday receiving gifts from all over his empire. The “Dresden Green” is the largest green diamond in the world and hails from India. There are also some pieces where art from Gujarat was modified to appeal to European tastes.

Old Masters Picture Gallery: It houses the “Sistine Madonna” by Raffael with the famous tow angels at the bottom and the Porcelain Collection, the best collection of

its kind, showing priceless Asian porcelain and porcelain from Meissen in Saxony, the oldest porcelain manufacturer in Europe which has been making fine porcelain for more than 300 years. It is impossible to list all the traces that artists who have lived in Dresden have left over the centuries. The top-selling living artist, Gerhard Richter, hails from Dresden and has his own room in the New Masters Picture Gallery.

The Semper Opera House: This opera house is the epitome of art since time immemorial and is home of the Saxon State Opera and the Saxon State Orchestra, the oldest orchestra in the world in terms of uninterrupted performance. The opera house was originally built by the architect Gottfried Semper in 1841. After a devastating fire in 1869, the opera house was rebuilt, partly again by Semper, and completed in 1878. This building is considered to be a prime example of Dresden Baroque architecture. The building houses artists like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, William Shakespeare etc.

German Museum of Military History: It is the military museum of the German Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr. Originally this building was built between 1873-1876 and later became a museum. In 1989, the museum was closed because the newly unified German state was unsure how the museum would fit into the history being created. This museum houses huge collection of military history from technology

Dresden is known as the “Florence on the Elbe River” for its combination of outstanding architecture and art collections.

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and handguns to artistic renderings of war.

The museum has tried to inform visitors about the causes and consequences of the war in German territory by showcasing the history of military technology, handguns, uniforms and incignia, order, art, an image archive, records, and a library. One of the historically significant items displayed is the ship’s bell from SMS Schleswig-Holstein, a pre-dreadnought battleship that fired what are generally regarded as the first shots of World War II (in Europe).

Yenidze: It is the former cigarette factory building in the city. Yenidze was the name of a tobacco company started by the Jewish entrepreneur Hugo Zietz, which imported tobacco from Ottoman Yenidze, Thrace. The architect Martin Hammitzsch has designed this building in such a manner that it resembles minarets. Basically the attraction here lies with the unusual architecture (coloured dome chimneys).

Since the building resembles a mosque it was often called as a ‘’tobacco mosque’’.

Presently this building is an office building.

Pfunds Dairy: How can a dairy qualify to be an art? In Dresden this diary does.

Pfunds Dairy is said to be the most beautiful dairy in the world, and was once a part of the dairy empire. The interior decoration of the dairy shop founded by the Pfund brothers in 1880 comprises fantastically embellished tile paintings which has hints of the neo-Renaissance period. The motifs on the wall are hand-painted and were produced in the art department of the Dresden stoneware factory Villeroy and Boch.

factfile Go to www.eat-the-world.com/Kulinarische-Tour‎, www.getyourguide.com/Germany‎, to know more about the archaeological and local trips.

niche destination

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rtists set up prestigious academies in the historic city centre, such as the Summer Salzburg, the city of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Here the hills are alive with the sound of music, here the famous Christmas carol ‘Silent Night’ was first penned and sung; the region transports you to an enchanting world of medieval charm, of magnificent palaces and picturesque panoramas. The wealth of art and culture found in Salzburg is unparalleled. A variety of museums and galleries of international repute, over 4,000 cultural events each year, projects by highly acclaimed international Academy, high-profile fairs and exhibitions and the world-famous Salzburg Festival make the city a true El Dorado for the culturally interested visitor. The city of Salzburg – and especially its historic city centre – is in fact one of the loveliest places in Europe, winning international acclaim in 1997 when it was designated a world heritage site by UNESCO.

back to 80 0 s. T he Benedictine monastery’s abbey church has a Romanesque structure and lavish rococo interior. The abbey librar y is a treasure trove of musical manuscript s, and the abbey also

Salzburg, Austria

Places to visit

The countless narrow streets (the most famous being the Getreidegasse, Judengasse, Goldgasse, Kaigasse, Linzergasse and Steingasse) feature buildings from the Middle Ages, Romanesque, Baroque and Renaissance periods as well as elegant classical burghers’ houses dating from the monarchy.

Hohensalzburg Fortress: It is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe. Hohensalzburg Fortress, built in 1077 by Archbishop Gebhard and considerably enlarged by Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach (1495-1519), is largest, fullypreserved fortress. Having served as a fortification and temporary residence of the prince archbishops for many years, the fortress also served as military barracks and a prison. Besides the medieval rooms the romantic courtyard and the bastions regularly serve as scenery for events like the Fortress Concerts.

Hangar-7 at Salzburg Airport: It is much more than just an extraordinary shelter for a passionate collection of aircraft. The impressive glass and steel building is also a venue for art, passion, technology and an upscale lifestyle.

St Peter’s Abbey: It is a Benedictine monastery and is considered one of the oldest monasteries in the German-speaking area. St Peter’s Abbey is famed for its cemetery and ancient roots dating

houses a prized collection of artworks, musical instruments and treasures. In the abbey cemetery lie the tombs of Mozart’s beloved sister and the brother of Haydn.

Residenzplatz and Residenzbrunnen: Residence Square is a splendid forecourt between the archiepiscopal residences in the heart of Salzburg’s Old City. Five

The city of Salzburg - especially historic city centre – is one of the loveliest places in Europe and a world heritage site by UNESCO. squares were built under Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau: Residence Square with its richly decorated baroque fountain is probably the largest and most beautiful square. Fifty-five medieval buildings were devastated to build the square. Residence Square was designed in terms with the Mannerist plans of the Italian architect, Vincenzo Scamozzi. Residence Fountain is thought to be an asset in the city of Salzburg and certainly deserves a closer look. Four snorting horses seem to spring forth from the spouting rock. Giants rooted in the rock carry the lower basin, in which three dolphins balance the scalloped upper basin. The upper basin holds a Triton, a jet of water shooting into the air from his conch-shell trumpet.

Hellbrunn Palace: In 1612, only a few months after ascending the throne, Salzburg’s Prince Archbishop Markus Sittikus

von Hohenems commissioned a country residence to be built at the foot of the well-watered Hellbrunn Mountain. The famous Cathedral architect, Santino Solari was commissioned to design a ‘villa suburbana’, a summer residence identical to the Italian architecture, which he had a fondness for. Within a relatively short period of time an architectural masterpiece was created just south of the city.

It remains one of the most magnificent Renaissance buildings north of the Alps: the Lustschloss (‘pleasure palace’) of Hellbrunn with its spacious park and its unique Wasserspiele (trick fountains).

factfile Go to www.edelweisstours.at, www.localmunichtours.com/Salzburg, to know more about the archaeological and local trips.

Researched by anupriya bishnoi

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Relish a slice of ‘Pai’ Text and photos by Amita sarwal

P

ai (pronounced baai) is one of northern Thailand’s best kept secrets. It is a tiny town which nestles in a picturesque valley amidst rice terraces and fruit groves. Ringed in by mountains in the Mae Hong Son Province near the Myanmar border, it’s an ideal location for a leisurely vacation with plenty to do – and very easy on the purse strings too.

At Chiang Mai, we are cautioned

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about the hairpin U-turns – guesstimates range from 750 to over 1800 – on the 149 km Route 1095 to Pai. The motion sickness tablet supplied thoughtfully by our hosts combined with the gently-inclined meandering road and the experienced driver of our 12-seater van made it a very comfortable, picturesque three-hour ride.

We halt for a coffee-and-toilet break at the quaint all-white French-style Le Vintage guest house. A landscaped courtyard with fountains, statues, a clock tower and flower-filled beds is ideal for photo

ops. The café serves beverages, snacks and strawberries in season.

The last zigzagging leg is a steeper 50m incline followed by a 20km descent into Pai valley. The Border checkpost’s ceremonial arch with a portrait of HH the King of Thailand, welcomes us. Resorts dot the valley heralding the tourist interest in this little known entity. Evidence of the genteel, gracious Thais’ artistic skills and penchant for vibrant colours is manifested everywhere – at times cheerfully quirky!

lesser known Located along the Pai River, (pop.

3,000), what keeps Pai alive and bustling is the ‘floating population’ – read ‘tourists’ – primarily non-Asian foreigners who have discovered this township. Originating as a backpacker-dominated venue, the profile has upgraded to families, retirees and upwardly mobile visitors.

This has resulted in a mushrooming of accommodation of varying standards and tariff. Abundantly wi-fied Thai and Western-style restaurants, cafes and bars sit alongside the ubiquitous 7-Elevens, Starbucks, McDonalds, souvenir and clothes outlets and massage and tattoo parlours.

Our ‘home’ for the next three days, the creatively decorated, well-equipped Belle Villa Resort envelopes us in its tranquil environs overlooking rice fields, floral meadows and mountains, with chirping birds and a crowing cock waking us at sunrise.

Am glad I was introduced to Pai for this laid-back, yet busy, small-town holiday – before it turns into another commercial tourist hub.

Outings

Sunrise at Yun Lai Mist Sea Point: It’s a chilly pre-dawn 5.30am start from Belle Villa. At the Santichon (Yunnan) village, a 4WD pick-up (round trip 30 BHT / person) drives us to the plateaued Yun Lai observation point at 440 metres above sea level.

A massive red cut-out heart becomes a favoured backdrop for photographs. Below, a dense sea of mist shrouds the sleeping Chinese village as a cacophony of crowing cocks announce the new day. Herbal tea served in porcelain thimble-sized cups from a miniature teapot sold at the mud thatched shop keeps us awake and warm.

The dark mountains lighten as a flameorange rim sprays the sky with golden rays – and the mist slowly dissipates.

Tha Pai Hot Spring: Sulphur fumes fill the air as the 80 deg C natural spring bubbles and spouts from below the earth’s surface. A few meters downstream the medicinal water cools to a cosy 35 degree inviting bathers to soak in. Located in the Huai Nam Dang National Park, the forest department, realising its potential, is busy constructing and upgrading the area. (Entrance 200 BHT per person for foreigners).

Pai Canyon: The locals optimistically call this their Grand Canyon! A banner announces a Korean movie shooting in progress. A long multi-stepped incline leads to the observation plateau. Narrow red sandy ridges drop 50 metres down April 2014 go now

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lesser known into a pine tree-studded valley. The elevated viewing gallery is ideal for sunset watching over a glass of wine.

Pom Rom Ruan Community: An over100 year old Bodhi tree gives this multicoloured and unusual area its name.

Lining a narrow street are Merges Space, a home office; Owlish House owned by Nok Hook (means owl) selling thematic owl-inspired items. Brilliant tourquoise Moroccan-style Jicko (means gangster) Bar stands next door followed by a potential art gallery-cum-studio. The redbricked Kha Tha Cafe has murals decorating its walls. Across, the vibrant-hued Baan Ku Heartbreak Café shares a wall with the oldest ‘resident’ – eight-year old Fruit Factory with its invitingly thematic painted steps and beaded curtains. Owner Tone serves homemade ice creams and much else. The adjacent Carrot on the Moon attracts with its baked products.

the air as the 80 degree C Tha Pai Hot Spring: Sulphur fumes fill m below the earth’s surface. natural spring bubbles and spouts fro l water cools to a cosy 35 A few meters downstream the medicina degree inviting bathers to soak in.

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factfile

WWII Memorial Bridge: The original bridge built in 1942 by the occupying Japanese to connect Chiang Mai to Myanmar was burnt down by retreating Japanese soldiers in 1946.

The present steel truss bridge (1976) invites loose comparison with the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai.

Thai Massage: Parlours are found at every nook and corner. We relaxed with a special two-hour session at the simple yet clean Mamalon Massage Parlour. Ten sheet-covered mattresses lined the floor while experienced hands rhythmically kneaded and stretched the entire body. (550THB / 2 hours).

Shopping: At 6 pm Walking Street turns into a Pedestrian Only Night Market. Tribal women sell brilliantly hued hand embroidered bags, shoes

and hats. Additionally, find reasonably-priced Thai clothes, costume jewellery, local street food, herbal tea served in bamboo, apparel for dogs and cats, portrait painters – and even fried insects! Bargain – but the astute shopkeepers are quite firm!

Love Strawberry Pai: Coinciding with the high winter season, go strawberry picking – or buy them quite cheaply everywhere. This popular eye-catching café serves everything with strawberry – ice creams, cakes, drinks, snacks and souvenirs.

Bamboo or River Rafting: Drift leisurely on bamboo rafts or opt for thrilling white water rafting. www. thairafting.com Mountain biking / trekking: Other options for outdoor buffs. http://www. thailandpai.net/tindex.php

Getting There

By Road: Bus: Chiang Mai Arcade bus terminal www.tagzania.com/pt/chiang -maiarcade-bus-terminal (4 hours). 200THB / person. Half hourly departures 8.30am to 3pm.

Private car or van: 3 to 3-1/2 hours.

Between 2,000-4000THB / day.

Standard Tour: www.standardtour.com

+66 88 2686663 Chiang Mai Expert Driver: www.chiangmaiexpertdriver.com: +66 80 5013943 Chiang Mai Minibus: www. chiangmaiminibus.com: +66 89 435 4172

By Air: Kan Airlines (www.kanairlines. com) Every Fri /Sat /Sun. ETD Chian g Mai 10.20am. 25-minute flight via 12-seater Cessna.

Currency: 1INR=0.53 THB / US$1= 32.25 THB Seasons: October through February with highly (15 deg) fluctuating temperatu res between day and night. April to October – Summer and Monsoons. Hot but later the rains turn everything lush green and offers exciting white water rafting.

Stay: Belle Villa Resort: www.bellevillaresor t.com / bkkreservation@bellevillaresort.com Baan Pai Village: http://www.baanp aivillage. com/intro.html Rim Pai Cottage: www.rimpaicottage .com Montis Resort: www.montisresort.com Eat: (Vegetarian options available on request) Pailanna: Best Thai food in Pai in attra ctive surroundings. http://www.pailanna.co m/ Santichon, Yunnan Chinese Village: Authentic Yunnan pork hocks and black chicken with herbs. http://www.lonelyp lanet. com/thailand/mae-hong-son-province / pai/restaurants/chinese/yunnaneserestaurant Sa Pan Pai: Pleasant ambience along the Pai River. Japanese, Chinese and Western cuisine. http://www.buralu mpai. comrestaurant.htm Cake Go-O: A floral English country gard en setting. Freshly baked breads, desserts and rich filter coffee.

Pongyang Angdoi: Returning to Chian g Mai lunch was overlooking a cascading waterfall amidst a green valley. Order palm heart with basil, capsicum and garlic ; spicy tom yum soup with grilled pork leg. www . pongyangangdoi.com Thai Street Food: Plentiful on Walking Street Night Market.

Getting Around: City centre is accessible on foot. Rent bicycles, motorcycle or car from several locations around town. Moto rcycle taxis can be hired from taxi stands or at bus stops. (100-200THB/day)

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destination guide

T

he Hungarian capital of Budapest serves up a double whammy alright. In one fell swoop, I get to savor two cities for the price of one – the medieval Buda and the mod-

ern Pest!

Apparently, when Nobel Prize winner Enrico Fermi was asked if he believed in extraterrestrials, he offered a classic riposte: “They are among us, but they call themselves Hungarians!” As an extension perhaps, Hungary’s capital city is endowed with competing imperatives.

It is peaceful and bustling, sprawling and convivial, historic and cosmopolitan, all at the same time.

Known as the ‘Pearl of the Danube’, the glutinous river is the pivot around which the city seems to flow. And the best place to soak it all in – as I discovered during my sojourn – is the promenade on Chain Bridge. From here, you can imbibe the twin faces of the city: the hilly Buda and the flat-as-a-pancake Pest. The latter crisscrossed with elegant boulevards and monuments like the neoclassical Museum of Fine Arts on Heroes’ Square, St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Parliament, a neo-Gothic masterpiece on the Danube modeled after the Westminster.

Not for nothing is Budapest nicknamed the “Paris of the East”. Indeed comparisons to the French capital city can be trite, but are inevitable. The elegant tree-lined Andrássy Avenue, for one, will transport you straight to the Champs-Élysées.

Shopping anyone? Emporio Armani, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, all the big daddies of the branded world seem to have a presence on Budapest’s thriving commercial landscape like Paris.

Heroes’ Square is undeniably Budapest’s most impressive slice of real estate, evident from the camera toting crowds milling here. Smack dab in the middle of the square stands the magnificent Millenium Monument with Archangel Gabriel on top holding the double cross of Christianity and the Holy Hungarian Crown. No less gobsmacking is the Hungarian State Opera building with its gold-patinated ceilings and baroque features.

I saunter into Old Town and get sucked into the vortex of its gravelly, medieval charm. Its cobble-stoned streets offer kaleidoscopic images of a bygone era that have dominated the country’s social matrix for centuries. There’s a whiff of Hungarian history here, the imperiousness 24

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destination guide of the Ottoman Empire and the majesty of the Hapsburg presence.

The Turks’ 150-year occupation, I notice, has left behind a tangible legacy – mosques, hamams and an enduring coffee culture as showcased by the city’s cafes.

Beer lovers can quaff the local flavorful Dreher beer here while caffeine addicts (like me) can enjoy a froth-topped cappuccino.

With warm liquid flowing through my veins, I do as the locals do – walk.

The jazz bars peppering the city play live peppy numbers as days meld into luminescent evenings. Street performers enchant onlookers at every other street corner…

Its cultural heft notwithstanding, Budapest sends out a fun and energising vibe with its sun-splattered streets offering tonnes of atmosphere. Trams are everywhere. The quirky wooden carriages radiate the charm of a museum piece as they rattle and shake their way along metallic tramlines cutting through the cobbles!

The city is also justifiably proud of its culinary tradition. I sup at the acclaimed Fakanál Restaurant at the bustling Great Market Hall. Here, amidst the happy chatter of weekend brunch-ies, I partake of local goodies: lángos (a deep-fried savory pastry napped in garlic, cheese and sour cream), flavor-charged blini, Hungarian stew (with a hint of local rosé) while volleying between multiple dessert counters, fighting the urge to not wolf down everything in sight!

The Hungarian approach to food, I notice, is reflective of its peoples’ pride in their own culinary traditions coupled with an embrace of external influences.

Of Battlefields, Baroque & Blini Enchanting European cities never fail to surprise – or delight – visitors with their riveting sense of history. Budapest and Ieper are two interesting examples.

Text and photos by NEETA LAL

The result is a delightful eclecticism that revolves around meat (pork, beef, veal, poultry), a liberal use of spices (paprika, thyme, rosemary) and toothsome desserts (pastries/cakes called ‘torta’). However, the star in Budapest’s culinary constellation is goulash – the fiery Hungarian soup – which turned out to be a treat for my Asian palate with its piquant roghan josh-like overtones.

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destination guide One iridescent evening, we nip up to the stunning Buda Castle, where at Halászbástya Restaurant we experience magic.

Musicians serenade us with violins while we sip pink champagne and soak in the gorgeous cityscape from this vertiginous structure.

What better way to conclude one’s trip in this uber city, I thought, than to go for a high-octane whirl on the Danube? I hold tight on to dear life as the Dunarama Cruise ship rips through the river water at breakneck speed. I capture some of the splendid architectural masterpieces that crowd this riverside Legoland on my Nikon.

An unexpected downpour aborts my photographic ambitions. But heck, it’s been one hell of a ride. I disembark – wind-whipped and wet – but basking nonetheless in the afterglow of an adrenaline-rich adventure!

Ieper, Belgium

My next port of call is the historic city of Ieper in western Belgium.

A

nd as my gaze sweeps across the idyllic montage of grazing cattle, verdant pastures, sleepy hamlets and red-roofed farms in Ieper, I muse to myself: Could this tranquil topography have been the amphitheatre for blood-soaked battles? A place where a deadly alchemy of bellicose bullets and poisonous gases wreaked havoc on a genteel populace? Was this the land which resonated with the shrill cries of intrepid soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the First World War? For Ieper was the venue of one of the most intense wars known to mankind –

The Hungarian approach to food, ’ pride I notice, is reflective of its peoples upled in their own culinary traditions co nces. with an embrace of external influe

Delicious Hungarian food

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the first World War. And starting this year until 2018, the city and its surrounding areas are commemorating World War I which witnessed a significant participation by Indian soldiers as part of the Commonwealth Forces.

It was in Ieper (formerly Ypres) that soldiers from 50 countries – including India – fought and died during the three bloodiest battles of the First World War from 1914 to 1918. The Ypres Salient – one of the longest unchanged frontlines in the world -- is still noted in history books as ‘one of the most feared battlefields of the whole Western Front’.

Also referred to as ‘wiper’ by the Allied soldiers in a lighter vein, Ieper can scarcely be associated with humor. It bore the brunt of the world’s first chemical warfare when on April 22, 1915, a green-yellowish cloud billowed from the German lines at Streenstraat decimating entire swathes of the countryside. People fled from these killing fields to the safety of neighboring France or the United Kingdom. Sucked into the vortex of a tragic battle, families got separated, women were widowed and thousands of children orphaned.

Yet in this city of contrasts, troops covered themselves in glory. They executed a

destination guide For Ieper was the venue of one of the most intense wars known to mankind – the first World War.

Flanders War Cemetary

spirited plan of digging tunnels filled with explosives over many months. These cavernous constructions later blew up German defenses on the ground, our guide informs us, resulting in blasts that could be heard in London and Switzerland as ‘the debris took five minutes to tumble back to earth’.

The ensuing devastation was catastrophic. “You could sit on horseback and look over the town without a single building interrupting your view”, one eyewitness reported after the Armistice in Nov 1918.

One hundred years after the great Armageddon, reminders of that wreckage are everywhere. In Ieper’s ravaged buildings, soot-covered edifices, its somber war memorials and museums. This war landscape, and World War 1 heritage, is being kept alive by the local authorities in Ieper now known as the ‘city of peace’.

“First World War battlefield tourism is flourishing in Ieper,” city guide Didier Rochette, a native of the area for 50 years, tells me. “Up to three million tourists are expected to visit the city during four years of a worldwide commemoration,” he adds.

“The city’s memorials and cemeteries will also draw thousands of visitors each year with special exhibitions and events.”

Yet as I turn my gaze around – looking

for photo-ops in a city that seems like one big ‘war album’ – what strikes me more than the sobering aftermath of war is the way Ieper pulled itself up by its bootstraps to reinvent itself. Vigorous rebuilding efforts of ruined towns and villages by the local authorities, coupled with strategic planning and a gargantuan civic overhaul, helped it rise like the proverbial Phoenix from its ashes; a near perfect copy of its original pretty template.

It helps that the overarching narrative of pathos in Ieper is leavened somewhat by its commercial energy. Quaint cafes, shopping arcades, spiffy boutiques and waffle kiosks blend in seamlessly into the city’s cultural tapestry. Even so, the reality of war remains ostensible. The war relics which dot the city and its countryside guarantee that the memory of that tragic moment in history is never erased. Nor should it be. After all, thousands of young lives were lost in a senseless war!

Perhaps the most pivotal symbol of the war – and the city’s subsequent resurrection – is in the Flanders Fields Museum housed on the second floor of the rebuilt Cloth Hall. It narrates – through a cachet of startling exhibits and installations – the invasion of Belgium and four horrifying

years of trench warfare.

Life in the trenches is recreated spectacularly using animated models. I’m drawn to the smorgasbord of sepia-hued photographs, frayed maps, military uniforms, broken bullets, torn shoes, statues and gas masks of soldiers, all of which were reduced to rubble by artillery fire.

No less heart-rending are the city’s memorials. I stand at the Menin Gate Memorial designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield – under its imposing facade contoured like a Roman Triumphal arch. It was ‘dedicated on 24 July 1927 as a memorial to the missing British and Commonwealth soldiers’. The exquisite sandstone monolithic structure stands on the very spot where the troops marched out to face the German enemy.

The names of 54,896 Commonwealth soldiers – who went missing in action, and whose remains were never found – are displayed here on a buff marble plaque. Brave men from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Africa. And 410 from India. To remember these brave hearts, the memorial conducts a `Last Post Ceremony’ each night at 8:00 PM in the roadway under the Memorial’s arches.

I nip up the 37 steps of the Menin Gate and a pleasant sight greets me. Amidst a verdant park stands a recently constructed four-lion statue dedicated to Indian martyrs with ‘Satyamev Jayate’ etched on it. Reads a plaque: “Over 1,30,000 soldiers of the Indian corps comprising two cavalry and two infantry divisions fought in the Flanders Fields.

Over 9,000 were killed. India lost 1,60,000 in the two World Wars.” I read the heartwrenching numbers again, and am awash with grief and pride at the same time.

Yet Menin Gate isn’t the sole memorial dedicated to soldiers who went missing during the war. In the Ieper Bedford Cemetery, nearly 5,000 graves are laid out with military precision, row after row marked in alphabetical order with a sizeable Cross in their midst. Not far from the Cross are 21 tombstones dedicated to Indians, their nomenclatures etched on tombstones and prayers inscribed in Arabic or Gurmukhi.

The poignant narrative continues to unfold in other memorials. In Tyne Cot Cemetery, the world’s largest war cemetery and in over 150 other cemeteries and three other memorials. Clearly, Ieper has not forgotten its putative brave hearts!

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destination guide

Places to visit in Panama in the centenary of the Panama Canal

I

n the year of the celebration of the centenary of the Panama Canal the country of Panama may just be ripe for a visit. The Panama Canal has connected the world since August 15, 1914, shortening the distance between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans by weeks. Though the celebrations have been somewhat marred because the widening of the canal and the construction of new locks has been delayed, nevertheless they will still take place.

Besides a tribute to human ingenuity Panama has much more to offer. The country has highland jungles, beautiful beaches and a rich cultural heritage all within an area so small it can all be seen in a single vacation. Justly known as the ‘cross roads of the Americas,’ Panama is where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Pacific in the famous Panama canal and it is also where North America meets South America. It is a country of incomparable natural beauty with a variety of tourist attractions, and with a tropical climate all the year round. It has diversified flora and fauna making it one of the most important for ecotourism in Latin America.

There are several places to visit and see and things to do in Panama. The foremost is the Panama Canal, which is one of the world’s greatest feats of engineering.

As part of the centenary celebrations, the Panama Canal Authority will hold different events throughout the year highlighting the aspects that have made the Panama Canal an international symbol.

Visitors can take either a partial or complete crossing of the canal. Crossings take four to eight hours. First opened in 1914, 28

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With its pristine beaches, tropical rain forests and a rich cultural heritage, Panama has been rated as among the 20 best places to visit in the world.

GoNow reviews some of the choice destinations in this isthmus country. and celebrating 100 years of its creation this year it is the mainstay of the economy of Panama, It is 80-km long. Ships come up from the Pacific sail through Panama, then get lowered into the Caribbean through an intricate system of locks, and vice versa. The canal uses three sets of locks: Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks on the Pacific side and Gatun Locks on the Caribbean side. Most tourists visit the Miraflores Locks from Panama city. You can also take a boat trip on the canal The Amador Causeway connects the islands near the entrance to the Panama Canal to the mainland. There is a road that connects the mainland of Panama City with four islands in the Pacific Ocean that form a small archipelago. These islands are Naos, Perico, Culebra, and Flamenco. The road begins in an area near the southern entrance of the Panama canal, near the township of Ancón. From the causeway, there is a fabulous view of Panama City, and the Bridge of the Americas. This causeway was built in 1913 with rocks excavated during the construction of the Panama Canal.

The site was originally part of a U.S. military complex known as Fort Amador, established to protect the entrance to the canal.

There are plenty of restaurants and other touristy shops to stop at along the way.

The Ruins at Panama Viejo, Old Panama, are worth seeing. This is the location of the famous ruins of the former capital of Panama. In addition to serving as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Panama, Panama Viejo offers its visitors an amazing display of the country’s rich and vibrant history. Established in 1519 by Pedro Arias Dávila under the royal decree

of Charles V of Spain, Panama Viejo was Cultura y Folclor the first permanent European settlement in South America. The city soon gained prominence as the capital of one of the most important colonies under the Spanish crown, and was actively used as the base for Spanish expeditions in South America. The growth of commerce in Panama Viejo can be measured by the fact that by the end of the 16th century, the population of the city had increased manifold, to an estimated 10,000. However Old Panama’s history was plagued by a host of natural and manmade catastrophes. Panama was the Pacific coast’s most important Spanish trading town until it was destroyed by Captain Henry Morgan in 1671. The remaining ruins cover quite a large area, encompassing streets, squares, a cathedral, churches, convents, a hospital, walls and bridges, all made of stone.

Bocas del Toro is the capital of the Bocas del Toro Province, Bocas del Toro is a favorite spot for scuba divers, and as the dives are shallow, it’s particularly suited for beginners. This archipelago is Panama’s most popular tourist destination, It has a beautiful natural setting of jungles, forests and mangroves. It is seductive, primitive and unforgettable. Bocas del Toro captivates visitors because of its amazing vegetation, its biodiversity, and its ancients customs. Surfing is extremely popular here and there are always water taxis around to take you to secluded coves or to the best snorkelling spots.

Casco Viejo is the historic district of Panama city. Settled in 1673, it was built following the near-total destruction of the original Panamá city, Panana Viejo

niche destination in 1671, when the latter was attacked by pirates. In 1998 its cultural and historical significance was recognized by UNESCO and it was declared a World Heritage Site.

Embera Indian Village is an authentic Indian village. This is a journey into the lives of the Embera Indian Tribe, one of the seven living cultures of the country.

They are a proud people, who have been able to maintain their traditions and lifestyle as it was before the Spaniards colonised the region To get to the village you’ll travel up the Chagres river in a dugout canoe then walk through a rainforest, giving you the chance to come face to face with local wildlife and amazing plant-life.

Boquete has been voted as the world’s second best place to retire,. Boquete is a charming little village located in the mountainous region of the Chiriquí High-

Archipiélago de las Perlas

Besides a tribute to human ingenuity Panama has much more to offer.

Bocas del Toro

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Emberá-Wounaan en el Río Chagres

Canopy

lands. Known as the “Valley of the Flowers,” Boquete offers a true bouquet of delightful travel experiences. Whether soaking in the hot springs along the Caldera River or whitewater river rafting on the Chiriquí Viejo, travelers will find plenty to do around the mountain village of Boquete Most of the area’s scenery is built up of coffee plantations, and this town is home to ‘Mi Jardin es Su Jardin’ one of the top three private gardens in the world. There are great hiking opportunities around and this area is a great place in which to relax for a few days.

The Panama Canal Railway connects Panama City with Colón and runs from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. It played a significant role in the building of the Panama Canal during both the French and American eras. It transported workers, equipment, goods to work sites and carried miles of spoil away from the construction sites. The train is an old-fashioned locomotive complete with a great observation car which offers views of the canal, Gutan Lake, and passing rainforests.

Volcan Baru, also called Volcán de Chiriqui, is an active volcano 35 km east of the border to Costa Rica in the Talamanca Range of western in Panama. It is Panama´s highest peak. Volcán Barú offers a true adventure for experienced hikers and mountain climbers. Less adventurous visitors will enjoy the hot springs located around 30 minutes from the town. The springs are fed from the thermal waters below the dormant vol30

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cano. A large explosive eruption occurred at about 700 AD destroyed settlements around the volcano. Excavations at the Cerro Punta archaeological site NW of the volcano have brought back to life their ruins. The lower slopes are home to dozens of coffee plantations, while the higher ground is part of the Volcan Baru National Park. This is a good place to spot the Resplendent Quetzal which is one of the most beautiful birds in the world.

Portobelo is a sleepy little town which was first given the name “Puerto Bello” (Beautiful Port) by Christopher Columbus in 1502 and over time, the name was shortened to Portobelo. The town’s 18thcentury fortifications were built by the Spanish to protect their gold from pirates.

Along with Fort San Lorenzo, the fortifications have achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

San Blas islands are a group of islands in

factfile How to get there Panama city has the Tocumen Internatio nal Airport. There are several connectin g flights to this airport from various internatio nal airlines. Air India is also planning to start flights to Panama City in late 2014. Within Panama various destinations are serviced by Air Panama and other airlines. Taxis are a good way to get around town in Panama city and the other destinations. Car rentals are availa ble as are buses.

Where to stay There is a choice of budget, mid-range and luxury hotels to stay in within Panama City and in the various other destinations. The Bristol Hotel, The Canal House, Las Clementin as Chambers, InterContinental Miramar, Panama Marriott Hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Panama Real Hotel are among some of the luxurious stay options in Panama city.

the Golfo de San Blas in the North of Panama. There are 378 San Blas islands and they are scattered in an area of about 100 square miles. Most of the 378 islands have no inhabitants, but on the major island, around 50, one can find local people known as the Kuna Indians. These islands are a popular spot for sailing and for boat tours. There are many great and beautiful spots for good sailing, diving, and snorkeling.

Pedasi is a town situated on the southeastern tip of the Azuero peninsula on the Pacific coast This town is about five hours from Panama City and is famous for its great surfing. The water is bathtub warm and just right.

The rainforests of Panama are worth a watch. Panama has a forest cover on 58 per cent of its land. It has a combination of evergreen forests, mangrove forests, and seasonal swamp forests within the rainforest itself. In addition, the location of Panama on the isthmus connecting North and South America offers a one-of-a-kind combination of flora and fauna from both continents. Parque Soberania, Parque Metropolitano, and Parque Chagres are three areas of rainforest park that lie just outside of Panama City. These parks are a great place to get in some hiking, birdwatching, and wildlife spotting. You can see sloths, monkeys, and anteaters here.

Santa Catalina is located on the Chiriquí Gulf in the state of Veraguas, Panama. It is a fishing village which existed in quiet seclusion until discovered by adventurous surfers in the 1970s. .

This is the place to be if you want to catch some fantastic waves, and relax on some beautiful beaches.

Researched by AMIT JETLEY

destination guide The spectacular Islands of FIJI mesmerize KISHORE AND SMITA IYENGAR with their scenic world class luxury resorts, fine cuisine, award-winning rums and mind-stilling oceanscapes.

Fine fables of

Havens of hospitality

World class luxury resorts perched on strategic panoramic anvils create the quintessential Fijian magnetism that no island country in the world can boast of. Each commanding their own USP sovereignty, honeymooners, romantic couples, MICE and FIT guests, all can soak the unique offerings that are diversely delightful.

Fine fusion flavors

Creating waves of tropical charm from the exclusive, only hilltop escape into revival and calm is the Bebe Spa of The Outrigger On The Lagoon Fiji at Sigatoka, with stunning wide glass therapy lounges overlooking the vast resort to the Pacific Ocean beyond. In teakwood and fine finish veneer, complete with tranquil music and couples’ therapy rooms. It is a much sought after haven for twosomes. The only hillock chapel in all Fiji is their Bure Ni Loloma Chapel where boutique wedding ceremonies are solemnised. More than the views is the ambience in warm wood, redolent with cheerful floral decorations.

On ground at The Outrigger on The Lagoon Fiji their splendid fine wining and dining outpost IVI is conducted with excellence by Indian origin Executive Chef Shailesh Naidu and his energetic team.

His bespoke menu paired with premium world wines spoke volumes beyond the calibrated, customised presentation. ‘A Taste of Fiji – fresh coconut, avocado, 32

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orange tian, spinach Manchurian on mint raita, Kumala cake with tomato chutney’, ‘Creamy Blue Vein Souffle delicately baked with baby Fijian Saijan leaves and served with a petite Waldorf salad’. The Moet Et Chandon Rose Champagne paired with sleek finish.

Ot her wonder s he created were ‘Pumpkin and Persian Canellini rested on a saffron enhanced coconut bisque with toasted almond and tomato relish’ and ‘Vegetarain Filo –delicate parcels of spinach, shallots, mushroom and creamy Brie with green pea mousse and Pinot glaze’. The red Penfolds Shiraz from South Australia was a brilliant wine symphony of full-bodied and luscious flavors.

Island grandeur

A scenic causeway bridge connects mainland Fiji to Yanuca Island, home of private island luxury to the hilt. Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa spans the entire island with calm lagoon shores, panoramic sunsets and tranquil spots for aqua activities.

The highlight of this fabulous hospitality address is their inimitable super luxury Ocean Bures(villas) on the water’s edge replete with modern amenities, FijianPhoto: Kishore & Smita Iyengar

“N

i Sa Bula! ” The full-throated greeting we were to hear countless times during our stay in Fiji encapsulates the very cheer and vitality of these sun-soaked, dazzling islands in the South Pacific. A fascinating package deal of the very high-end lifestyle package the destination spreads out, the experiences are honestly unforgettable.

by Kishore and smita iyengar

Fiji

Edge-of-the-Ocean Bar, Likuliku Lagoon

inspired decor and luscious comfort, the views oh-so-captivating from the snugly appointed bedrooms.

Whether it’s the breathtaking white chapel on the lagoon’s edge where romantic weddings wow couples into marital bliss (the Fijian way!) or the wide-angle turquoise vistas from the Takali restaurant and the Bilo Bar or the idyllic stilling blues from the signature Golden Cowrie fine dining landmark, the ocean is always magnificent to behold. Manicured golf acres and Ratu Makutu Events Center in grand Fijian design occupy spacious presence amidst glorious greens.

The Shangri-La Marine Education Centre – a collaborative project with the local community – is our first stop after lunch.

We got up close and personal with the coral reef and the resort’s initiatives in marine life preservation and eco-sensitivity measures, including encouraging visitors to adopt fish houses to nurture the frail marine habitat.

But the icing of our visit was ShangriLa’s Fijian Resort & Spa Executive Chef Glen Roberts’ marvelous fine wining and dining spread of contemporary Italian specialties that paid culinary homage to

a gorgeous sunset dipping out the active day. Yellow Tail Chardonnay 2010 from Australia commenced the wine-n-cuisine combo with ‘Minestrone Soup’ and ‘Spinach and cheese Tortellini with green olives, fresh basil and tomato puree’. The pairing was further perfected by a crisp, medium-bodied Anakena Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Chile with ‘Fijian Pumpkin encased in pastry Trellis served with red pepper compote and snake beans’.

The gentle jazz flute made merry in the caressing ambience.

Spatial splendor

Spread out with grand repose across the bracing Denarau Beach waterfront, the sparkling white Fiji Beach Resort & Spa managed by Hilton is complemented by sprawling well tended, and landscaped lawns, from the ultra-chic luxury ocean and Studio Suites, extending to the white sand fringes of the azure blue ocean. The grand infiniti plunge pool bordering the shores offers seamless aqua mirrors of magnificent frames along the waterfront that stretches endlessly, the flaming torches adding a magical, twilight glow against the mauve and crimson sky.

Single floor dazzling white ultra-modern Bure row suites and rooms, all sea facing, offer uninterrupted vistas of the ocean expanse. In their chic, avant-garde suites honeymooning lovers savor the choicest premium cheese platter and crackers with handmade chocolates with Champagne in waiting.

The Studio Suite at The Fiji Beach Resort & Spa, managed by Hilton, allures as a complete, truly romantic experience with extra large King beds, feather touch

controls, super mood-lit interiors, a spacious kitchenette and living hall, a liberal bathroom with generous vanities, flat screen TVs, a verandah opening out to the beach front and a spot-lit smart dining area. The décor is uber chic, minimalistic, international class and evoking a lingering seduction that welcomes a memorable fine wining and dining conclusion.

A seductive prelude to a truly romantic, very private table for two waiting by the ocean edge at their colorful Nuku Restaurant in opulent Fijian-colonial style décor, overlooking the fabulous seascapes.

Spirited sophistication

At the ultra-elite Denarau Golf and Racquet Club, where the city’s super rich descend for some real muscle-flexing over the golf tees and championship holes on the weekends, enterprising folks can cheer their visit with a true blue-blood, highly privileged ‘spiritual experience’. Effusive Liam Costello unscrews the surprisingly delightful and imploring award-winning flavours of Bounty Dark, Bounty Spiced, White and coffee flavored rums (for robust gentlemen) while the genteel, caressing aromas and bouquets of White Chocolate, Golden Honey and Banana flavored rums and liqueurs (for dainty maidens) make for a dedicated, well-rounded tasting at the Fiji Rum Co. It’s a very uplifting and educative tasting session with the extremely creative and enterprising Liam whose talkative disposition adds verve and mildly sensuous tease to a lazy tropical afternoon!

The tiny and boutique Fiji Rum Co; creates the world’s ver y finest award winning rum range that is available exclusively only at their Fiji outlet and Fiji Duty Free, making it a very, very prized, limited edition possession for rum connoisseurs the world over. With the sun, sand and surf waiting to welcome us to a bouncy speed boat ride into the blue ocean, the rum tastings added ‘energy’ with eclectic ease.

Hideaway hospitality

The unpredictable day in Fiji unfolds as a shimmering moving canvas of ceaseless aquatic concertos. Fijian lifestyle is totally incomplete without the liquid surge, -para-surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, jet boating, kayaking, jet boat thrills and loads more. Island hopping is the crown indulgence on these Pacific islands and our jet boat leap-frogged and zigzagged across the breakers, across the blue ocean expanse, onto the scenic Castaway Island.

Here as twosomes frolicked in the mid-day lagoon waters and ambled aimlessly on white sandy stretches, Daniel Roy, Manager Operations of Castaway Island invited us to savor their intriguingly sumptuous Fijian-Indian Thali created conversation on the alfresco cabana deck restaurant. The typically explosive myriad mini Fijian red chilli flavors mingled with well made true-to-taste Indian specialties with spicy Pacific prawns and char-grilled lobster and some chilled New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc white wine.

Matching the merry rhythm, sensuous suntanned belles in Panama caps cavorted in the blue waters nearby.

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Outrigger Beachside

factfile

Photo: Kishore & Smita Iyengar

ury Champagne, chocolates, Fiji is accessible conveniently from Mum bai flowers and signature Pure and Delhi to Hong Kong by several airlin es. Fiji Airw ays connects Hong Kong to Nadi (Nandi Fiji beauty vanities gracing in Fijian) non-stop direct. Island hopping the Fijian hospitality gesture. is facilitated by speed boat transfers and swift T he on- the - ocean Bucatamaran passenger ferries plying regularly res (villas) at the Likuliku to and from Port Denarau to island luxur y resorts. On land pre-booked private tour Lagoon Resort are self contaxis and car rentals are available. Prior book tained and can be reached ings are advisable. Cuisine is international, only by the walkway. Fijian Chinese, Indian and Fijian fare. The world ’s folk architecture blending in best award-winning rum from Fiji Rum Co. nature’s ample bounty, sleek is a must buy, besides local handcraft ed ware, beads and trinklets, colorful T-shi modern design and stylish rts and wood en handicrafts. The currency is woodwork and artistry spell the Fijian Dollar (1 US$ = 1.70 Fijian $ and immediate warmth and disINR 34 approx.). Carry US$ for convenien ce. tinction. A thick glass floor Climate is warm tropical, but its mild winter time from peek-a-boo offers gleeful inApril to July in the Southern Hemisphere. sights into the lagoon floor Mouth-watering Fijian-Indian below. ‘Pure Fiji’ vanities seafood thali, The Castaway Resort and amenities complete the eco-friendly organic high-end Lagoon lure lifestyle for discerning guests. cuisine is celebrated. The meticulous creaExcitement, romance and action is ever alive At the far end of the Island lagoon’s shal- tor, Likuliku Lagoon Resort’s Executive on the restless waves, sands and lagoons in low waters , a seaplane gracefully zips in Chef Ihaka Peri offers his passionate best Fiji. We caught some serene moments of qui- quietly. Eager couples alight to barefoot up as fine wines create culinary seduction of etude. We saw some idyllic alcoves that offer the graveled sandy path round the resort. another kind. total privacy and uninhibited intimacy for But get up close to this, a once-in-a-lifetime It was a grand menu of culinary magic those hopelessly infatuated lovers seeking Robinson Crusoe adventure awaits the cho- for us. ‘Grilled King Prawn, smoked coral exclusivity. Except for speedboats etching sen couples as the resort jet boats them to trout kedgeree, crayfish foam chervil and a frothy white tail on the cerulean Pacific their private, secluded Honeymoon Island baby coriander’ matching a fine Villa Maexpanse, all is quiet and breezy, cool and for a day’s leisurely ‘sweet something’ pic- ria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc from Marcomfortingly calm at the multi-award win- nic! Except for the wind and gentle surf, lborough –New Zealand while ‘marinated ning Likuliku Lagoon Resort. privacy is paramount in its totality. pork cutlet, Kim Chi, Baby cos lettuce, Boutique, high-end, eco-sensitively creThe sun orchestrates a grand celestial Sushi rice and soy and sesame dressing’ ated as a very private and intimate escape, spectacle by evening as we trot up the pair with a crisp Yalumba the ‘Y’ Series its a favorite of high spending honeymoon- walkway, admiring the changing mauve- Viognier, Barossa Valley-Australia. ers cozying and retreating into the select to-peach-to-deep crimson moods with a Out on our remote Bure ocean deck on-the-ocean Bures with private sun-n-sea finely chilled 2009 Yarra Valley Austral- as we sipped our night cap – a 2008 Nodecks. This is the getaway that dreams are ian Chardonnay in our hands. The ocean ble One Botrytis Semillon, a light dessert colored with. From a tiny island jetty with sways in tandem to greet the magic on the wine from New South Wales – Australia, a spectacularly located open oceanfront horizon, the villas twinkle with soft amber we catch the wispy nocturnal contrasts of lounge bar and high water walkway at glows and the scene is set for fine wining an invoking sunset, the gentle lapping of the exquisite, eco-accented Likuliku La- and dining on the Lagoon’s edge. Table for reef waters bidding a soft Bon Nuit. Did goon Resort on Malolo Island welcomes romantic two is under a tree on a platform we seem to hear ‘Can I hold you in my couples to their honeymoon Bure, the overlooking a deep Prussian night, Fijian arms?”….’ in the distance? The soft breeze chilled Veuve Clicquot Brut Ponsardin lux- instrumentals linger on as fine signature spoke the language of silence.

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for business travellers

Berlin A hotel guide to its major commercial districts

City of unlimited possibilities

Berlin, the German capital is a trend setter in lifestyle, music, art and fashion.

Wherever you go, you can experience the pulsating life: on boulevards, in art galleries, at flea markets or in the city’s 300 clubs and 7,000 bars and restaurants.

Mixed up with the unique history of Berlin shaped by changes and upheavals, the city is worth a visit.

Whether you are a business traveller,

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a family, a couple or a single visitor even young or elderly, Berlin is always a special highlight of any visit to Germany. The ‘Brandenburg Gate’, Berlin’s most famous landmark, as well as the Potsdamer Platz, the showpiece of the New Berlin, are only two examples for the innumerable symbols of the city.

Whether city adventure, nightlife or the most modern hotels in Europe – Berlin visitors can explore a variety of affordable options. Although Berlin is one of Europe’s top destinations for art, fashion and events, the city offers much more for your money

than other major cities like London, Paris or Rome. In short: a stay in a metropolis with world city status will not cost you the earth, but your memories of it will be priceless.

for business travellers

Key Business Districts Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf

Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf is not a typical industrial area, and yet still hosts some long-established industrial firms. To this day, the district has interesting locations for production-related companies.

If you’re after a prestigious address for your business, there’s no better place than Berlin. The Kurfürstendamm Boulevard and adjacent streets are regarded as top locations for high-end retailers as well as lawyers, tax consultants, auditors, the film industry and other businesses. The leafy suburbs of Grunewald and Westend are also especially attractive for the selfemployed.

Key Hotels Hotel Wyndham Berlin Excelsior: The 4 star Wyndham Berlin Excelsior is located in the heart of the city and only a few minutes from the prestigious Kurfürstendamm boulevard and within walking distance to the metro, train and bus stops.

Accor Hotels: The Hotel is an excellent place for all kinds of visitors and from this hotel you can easily travel to other districts in Berlin by jumping on one of the many buses and trains, which connect you to other parts of the city. The numerous Accor hotels in Berlin can cater to your every need. Consider an Accor hotel in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf when you are next in Berlin on business as we are located near the ICC Messe Nord.

Shui hotel in the lively Prenzlauer Berg district of Berlin is just 5 minutes’ walk from the Volkspark Friedrichshain. It features rooms with no electronic waves.

Victor’s Residenz-Hotel Berlin: Enjoying a quiet location between the popular Berlin districts of Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain, this stylish 4-star hotel offers elegant accommodation, only 2 tram stops from Alexanderplatz square.

The rooms and studio apartments of Victor’s Residenz-Hotel Berlin are tastefully furnished and decorated in warm shades, providing a relaxing base from which to explore Berlin.

Lichtenberg

The Lichtenberg district has a long-standing tradition as a location for industry. It enjoys excellent infrastructure and transportation connections. Together with its neighbouring district Marzahn-Hellersdorf, Lichtenberg today boasts Berlin’s largest commercial area. Roughly 30 percent of its space is devoted to recreation, agriculture, forests, and water.

This district, located at the eastern outskirts of the inner city, offers favourable conditions for investors, and in particular: • This Business District of Berlin has excellent infrastructure.

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

It is an attractive location on the Spree River with a high density of commercial space. This district is a unique mixture of start-ups and traditional companies. It is pronounced, yet it has a diverse creative scene. The district also has various sites of companies like MTV, Universal Music, and Labels Berlin. The O2 World – Europe’s most modern multi-purpose venue along the East Side Gallery is also situated in this district. Geographically, it is the smallest district with a high level of population growth. It is also the youngest district: two thirds of the residents are younger than 45. It is also culturally diverse district with internationally renowned museums and theatres. It is also a melting pot for people from more than 120 countries.

Key Hotels Melarose Feng Shui Hotel: This Feng April 2014 go now

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for business travellers • It has more than 400 hectares of developed commercial space.

• People here are well qualified and are skilled specialists.

• This district is also an important educational hub with major educational institutions situated here which offer a diverse selection of culture and educational courses.

• It is a long-standing site with potential for forward-minded development in industry and trade.

• This district also has attractive shopping centers which encourages retail business.

• Besides, it also has always encouraged environment friendly industries. This district has green areas, nature reserves, and conservation areas in abundance.

Key Hotels Abacus Tierpark Hotel: This hotel is located in Berlin (Lichtenberg), close to Tierpark Berlin, Bim and Boom Children’s Playground, and Treptower Park.

Local attractions also include SimonDach-Strasse. In addition to a restaurant, Abacus Tierpark Hotel features a sauna.

Other amenities include a bar/lounge and a coffee shop/cafe.

NH Berlin Frankfur ter Alle : This family-friendly hotel is located in Berlin (Lichtenberg), close to Simon-DachStrasse, O2 World, and East Side Gallery.

Also nearby are Oberbaum Bridge and Sportforum. In addition to a restaurant, NH Berlin Frankfurter Allee features a sauna. Other amenities include a bar/

lounge and complimentary wireless Internet access.

Marzahn – Hellersdorf

The Marzahn-Hellersdorf district is located in Berlin’s northeast, merely a few minutes by car from the city center and the Berlin autobahn beltway.

Together with its neighboring district Lichtenberg, Marzahn-Hellersdorf today boasts Berlin’s largest commercial area.

More than 2,500 companies have located on more than 1,200 hectares, including well-known names like NILES, Knorr Bremse and Inventux. The district offers excellent conditions for living and working.

Location advantages • This district offers a diverse selection of industrial and commercial space with zoning approval.

• Berlin’s largest industry site (90 ha) is under development at the CleanTech Business Park • It has excellent transport connections.

• The district’s Business-friendly administration as the first stop for investors.

• More than 18,000 business people are active in the district.

• This district also has engaged companies and research networks.

• It also offers an attractive environment for companies, in particular from industry, clean tech, manufacturing, education, retail and healthcare industries sectors.

• The area has a very large pool of skilled

specialists.

• Excellent opportunities for education and continuing education.

The economic development office supports companies and entrepreneurs/startups with information and consultations. As the district economic development office it cooperates with other economic partners.

As part of its engagement for MarzahnHellersdorf’s development as a location for business, the district office is active alongside Lichtenberg as the “Berlin eastside” economic region.

Key Hotels • 1a-PARK HOTEL BERLIN Schloss Kaulsdorf: Just 25 minutes from Berlin’s Alexanderplatz square by city rail, this exclusive 4-star hotel in the Kaulsdorf district enjoys good transport links and an idyllic location near the Wuhletal reserve.

• Hotel & Restaurant An den Birken: Set in tranquil surroundings in the stylish Mahlsdorf suburb of Berlin, this hotel restaurant offers cosy rooms and a restaurant serving French and German specialities

Neukölln

The district of Neukölln, located in southeast Berlin, is traditionally one of the city’s major industrial districts. About 22,000 people currently operate their businesses in Neukölln. The district’s 5,500 enterprises and operations support over 60,000 jobs that require social insurance contributions.

Locational advantages • This district has a very close connection to the science and technology park Adlershof (WISTA), with its focus on research, development and marketing of technologies of the future.

• It has an outstanding infrastructure facility.

• It is also quite accessible as it is close to Berlin Brandenburg International Airport (BER).

• Besides, the Autobahn connections are a major thrust to the booming industrial district.

Key Hotels • Hotel Ludwig van Beethoven: This 3-star hotel is 200 metres from Hermannplatz Square, between Berlin’s lively Kreuzberg and Neukölln districts • Motelplus Berlin: Located in the heart of the trendy district Neukölln, Motel Plus Berlin offers comfortable rooms a short walk from modern bars and galleries. Free WiFi is available in public areas of the hotel.

Contributed by German National Tourist Office

photo feature

Rain of Rainbows Text & photographs by Tanmoy das

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athmar Holi is celebrated by the villagers of two adjacent villages, Barsana and Nandagaon in Uttar Pradesh about four hours’ drive north of Delhi in the sacred land of Vrinda-

vana for two consecutive days about a week before the full moon day when the rest of the country celebrates Holi the festival of colour.

Following the tradition set by Sri Krishna Himself during His earthly pastimes as a young boy of Nandgaon who adventured to Barsana village where His eternal consort Sri Radha resides to unfold their pastimes of conjugal love. Till today the villagers of Nandgaon visit the nearby village of Barsana where Srimati Radharani awaits them in a beautiful hilltop temple, the villagers of Nandgaon dance, chant and sing all the way Barsana, they are welcomed by the villagers of barsana who first shower laddoos on them, then the village ladies come out with stick in their hand to lovingly chastise the young men of nandgaon for invading their village to play Holi with them.

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photo feature The men of Nandgaon enter the temple campus with heavy downpour of liquid colours thrown on them from the balconies where the young villagers of Barsana have been strategically positioning themselves since morning, stocking up drums filled with liquid colour made from Tesu flower... Being completely drenched in myriads of liquid colours the Nandgaon men sit face to face to the men of Varsana village in “Samaj” and both the parties start singing kirtan describing the glories of the eternal couple Sri Radha and Sri Krishna playing different musical instruments, this is when the magic begins, the

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villagers start throwing sacks full of “Gulal” or coloured powders over the group of villagers and on the crowd of devotees gathered to have a darshan, myriads of colour fills up the air and forms thick clouds of red, yellow, green, pink and many mixed colour. At times visibility is overpowered by one colour and next moment as the wind clears it another cloud of colours takes over, it creates a surreal, psychedelic scene, the villagers keep singing kirtan softly and loudly sometimes as they meditate and worship the deities with colour, this continues for hours and at dusk the Nandgaon villag-

ers returns after offering their prayers to Srimati Radharani.

The next day the scene changes as the villagers of Barsana visits Nandgaon in the temple of Krishna Balaram, the young village boys of nandgaon get their dreams fulfilled in soaking their friends from barsana village to their heart content and the ladies or the gopis of the nandgaon village get to lovingly beat up the young men of the varsana village this time and put colours on them to enact the pastimes of the eternal couple od Sri Radha Krishna who initiated this festival of colour- Holi.

It’s been over a week since I returned

photo feature from Vrindavana experiencing and photographing the Lathmar Holi. Still struggling to brush off colours off my cameras, lenses and toe nails what to speak of my mind which is still saturated with multitudes of colour I saw pouring over me from all directions, back in the freezing winter of southern hemisphere now, life is mostly black & white in the west, the warmth of the colours of Holi and the vrajabasis (the locals of Vrindavana) keep beckoning me to play Holi with them,and add some colour to life, can’t wait to be back for the next Holi in Barsana and Nandgaon, when is the lathmar Holi next year?

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metro travel

Mussoorie Lodgings overlooking nature Mussoorie has the magnificent Doon Valley and the busy Mall road along with a lot more. Hotels are spread across various serene locations at the destination and offer a unique experience for its guests to relish at the Queen of Hill Stations. We bring you an overview of the hotels that you can choose from for your stay. fortune the savoyA

Telling a Regal Story

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rom a breathtaking view of the hills to an enthralling view of the Doon Valley, Fortune The Savoy lets you enjoy the best of Mussoorie. Located around 32 km from Dehradun Railway Station, the hotel is at the Library end of the Mall Road at Gandhi Chowk.

It is just 55 km away from the Jolly Grant Airport.

The architecture of the hotel takes you back to a bygone era. The Guest Rooms and Suites at the hotel have soft colours and unique designs. All the 50 wellappointed rooms have an old-world charm and rustic warmth which create a memorable experience with its traditional English designs. With shades of grey, mustard, white and teal, the hotel gives a sense of royalty to its guests.

To pamper yourself, you can spend time at the spa, steam and sauna facilities of the hotel. It also has a well-equipped gymnasium and wellness centre. Also, go on a delightful epicurean journey at the diverse dine and wine options available in the hotel.

From the Grand Dining Room, which offers a sumptuous spread of buffet breakfast and a la carte lunch and dinner menu to Fortune Deli, which is perfect for savouring light snacks and delicious confectionary. Serving the premium spirits, Nostradamus – The Writer’s Bar is the right place to relax with friends.

If you are heading to Mussoorie for MICE, then too you won’t be disappointed at Fortune The Savoy, as it has a number of venues to host your event such as the Central Lawn, Beer Garden and State Room 2.

Offers

The summer package at the hotel for two includes, airport/railway transfers, complimentary accommodation for two children below the age of five years in the same room. It also includes welcome drink, breakfast and 15% off on food and soft beverages. The Package starts at `11,999 (at the Savoy Chambers), `15,999 (at the Fortune Exclusive Room), and `17,999 (at the Fortune Suite). factfile Address: Library Bazar, Gandhi Chowk, P.O. Savoy, Mussoorie – 248 179, Uttarakhand, India Call: +91-135-2637000. Website: www.fortunehotels.in 44

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 Royal Orchid Fort ResortA

Grace and Grandeur

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his hotel is located on the beautiful Tara Hall Estate which spans six acres. Jolly Grant Airport is about 58 kms away from the resort, whereas the railway station is only 36 kms away. The hotel is located on the south-facing slopes of the 2,000 m high Garhwa Himalayan foothills, with scenic views from various rooms.

The resort is a representation of grace and grandeur along with natural beauty. The rooms and other facilities at the hotel are tastefully done. All the rooms have wooden laminated flooring for the comfort of the guests.

It serves scrumptious delicacies at its multi-cuisine restaurant PinXX. The resort also boasts of facilities such as a well appointed gym, a spa, steam, sauna and Jacuzzi. You can also try your

hands at various sports as it has a badminton court, pool table, table tennis, softball cricket area and a Putting range (mini golf.

This hotel has remarkable banqueting and conferencing facilities.

It has two different halls, namely, summer and winter hall, which are spread in an area of about 2000 sq ft each.

Offers

They have an executive summer package with their Garden View Room for the guests. Along with accommodation and welcome drinks, this package includes buffet breakfast and buffet dinner, goodnight chocolates every evening with turndown services and complementary use of fitness centre. The stay and food for two children of up to the age of seven years is also complementary in this package if the kids are sharing the same bed with the parents. You can also enjoy live musical evenings everyday at the restaurants and 10% discount on F&B, laundry and spa and salon services. The package is available at a price of `22,000. factfile Address: Tara Hall Estate, Picture Palace Road, Mussoorie Call: 0135 2631611. Website: www.royalorchidhotels.com

 The Claridges Nabha ResidenceA

Amidst Serenity and Calm

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he royal Claridges Nabha Residence is in Barlowganj, 4 Kms away from the main city. It is serene and calm and is surrounded by dense forest and tranquillity. It is around 45 kms away from the airport, and 35 kms away from the railway station.

With its old world charm intact, the architecture is reminiscent of the Victorian era. It is spread over 13 acres, surrounded by cedar and silver oak forests. The 140 year old heritage property holds immense historical relevance. Built by the British in the 20th century it was first sold to the Nawab of Bhopal in 1929

before it rested in the hands of Maharaja Nabha in 1949.

The property boasts 22 well-appointed rooms divided in to four different categories, deluxe room, Duplex room, The Claridges room and the Club room. The rooms are spacious and elegantly designed with all the modern facilities available. Other facilities at the hotel include spa, gym, recreation, and outdoor activities such as badminton, tennis and basketball. The corridors of the beautiful mansion also allow the guests to sit and enjoy the ambience. For dining, the hotel offers different kinds of options, such as The Pavillion, which is a multi cuisine all day diner, The Victorian Bar, which serves a luxurious experience over drinks and snacks, and they also have The Library, where one can sit and relax over a cup of coffee and a favourite book.

Offers

The Claridges Nabha Reidence, Mussoorie specialises in customising stays by offering personalised services. They have a list of packages which one can choose as per their requirements and comforts. The couple package starts at `20,4999 for two nights.

Also, the Family package starts at `22,499 + taxes and includes accommodation in a Deluxe Duplex room for two adults and two children for two nights. factfile Address: Airfield Barlowgunj, Mussoorie - 248 179 Call: +91 135 2631 426/427. Website: www.claridges.com

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metro travel Jaypee Residency ManorA

A Picturesque Location

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ne of the finest luxury hotels of Mussoorie, Jaypee Residency Manor is a five star deluxe hotel located at a height of approximately 7, 000 feet. The hotel is located is about 65 kms away from the airport and can be accessed by all means of transport.

The hotel is divided into two different wings, with one with a view of the valley named the valley view tower and the other being the main block.

Jaypee Residency Manor is spread over nine acres of lush green area, on a hilltop. The hotel has a total of 135 well appointed rooms with 360 degree breathtaking view of the mighty Himalayas.

The hotel is an ultimate destination for the food connoisseurs. One can indulge in Cafe Manor, the multi-cuisine restaurant with contemporary interiors and elegant settings. Regency, Marshal's Lounge and The Old Baker offer an eclectic mix of international flavours and cuisines. The hotel also houses the iconic Tamaya Spa. The hotel also offers leisure facilities like an indoor temperature controlled swimming pool, a leisure mall with electronic games, bowling alley, kid’s room and outdoor play areas.

Offers

The hotel is all set for the summers, and is offering some of the most exhilarating summer packages.

Keeping in mind the need of every guest they have incorporated an array of choices which have something for everyone. Starting from Rs. 6,500 (1Night/2 Days) to Rs. 27,000 (2 Nights/ 3 Days) plus taxes, it has a variety of packages to offer. There are many more options of packages to choose from for the couples planning to head to Mussoorie. factfile Address: P.O. Barlowganj, Mussoorie, Barlow Ganj, Mussoorie. Call: +91-135-2631800.

Website: www.jaypeehotels.com

welcomheritage kasmanda palaceA

Magnificent Views

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ituated 200 metres uphill from the Mall, the hotel has magnificent views of the best parts of Mussoorie, the town, as well as of the Doon Valley. The location of the Palace is very strategic as it is spread over three acres of land with pine forest, terraced gardens and green lawns.

Before becoming the summer retreat for the Kasmanda Palace, the hotel first served as a sanatorium for the British armed forces and then as a school. This is the reason for its gleaming white stately mansion built in an Anglo-French style. The old world charm is coupled with modern facilities, making it a memorable experience. It has a total of 23 rooms for its guests, and all of them have interesting royal interiors with a lot of wood work involved.

The restaurants have delicious cuisines ranging from Indian and Chinese, to Continental and Regional.

The garden restaurant is named Magnolia because one can see the Magnolia trees and the flowers from it. The hotel also has a badminton court for entertainment and conference facilities for meetings to be held by the guests.

Offers

The hotel offers a special Mapai package from 1st April to 30th September which is available for two nights and includes accommodation with breakfast and dinner for two and 10% discount on food and soft beverages.

It also includes late checkout for the guests, which is till 1600 hrs. factfile Address: The Mall Road, Mussoorie. Call: +91 0135 2632424 Website: www.welcomheritagehotels.in

Researched by nikita chopra

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metro travel

Ranjit’s Svaasa Warm hospitality with complete wellness

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ow did Ranjit’s SVAASA come into being?

We had this heritage property. It was our home, and I got married in that home. In previous generations it was used as a guest house for the main Haveli house, for foreigners and English people coming in and staying there. My eldest son, Ved Iqbal Mehra had fallen very ill after my husband’s death. The doctors couldn’t do anything and I decided to get him home and treat him with my knowledge that I had gained during my three year course in medicine. I thought it was the best time to use it for my own son and it worked very well. Ved then decided to convert the guest house into a heritage home with a twist and add a theme of complete wellness to it. I conceptualised it in 2001. It was ready by around 2004. He knows I had all the expertise for it, being an interior architect by profession and having done a course of alternative medicine, which is also known as a nutritional therapist.

How are you personally involved in running the property?

There are various things that I can count as the USP of the property; the first would definitely be the character of the heritage, and the foliage that we have which is untouched.”

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I am totally responsible for the all good and the bad. So, I definitely keep myself apprised with everything that is happening.

Keep things perfectly running at the property, because I have given the brand to it.

And I tell to my sons, that even though you are family members, I am running it professionally. I will take it as a professional entity. If you meet my norms, you get the brand, if you don’t meet it you don’t get the brand. I will take it away. So, they also take it professionally and keep it up. Abhimanyu Rattan Mehra is more into operations and Vishal Chand Mehra makes it happen with Abhimanyu and looks after some new ideas and innovations that we can go for.

What personal touch have you added to the hotel?

The whole architecture, interiors, everything is done by me. We have kept the essence of the original property intact. The walls and the floors are the same but we re-did the roofs of the property. From the environment, raw materials, walls, roofs, to the paints everything that we have used at the property is healthy. We have around 6 – 10 rain water harvesting systems. The

Ranjit’s SVAASA, Heritage Boutique Spa Haveli in Amritsar is a place which serves authenticity, wellness, and comfort with luxury. Rama Ranjit Mehra, the lady behind this great venture along with her sons brings a personal touch to the experience served to every guest that arrives. She talks exclusively to GoNow about the property, its experience, and more. whole architecture stands the same way, planning of the land stands the same way.

The walls are around two feet thick.

The walls are insulated walls because in summers they are cool and in winters they are warm. I would say that the architecture of those days was a complete architecture; the architects knew architecture in its complete form. They didn’t only know the wall distribution but they also knew how to bring in light and how to circulate the air. They also knew which area of the house will get more heated up, so the ceilings were adjusted to the height.

When I started restoring the place and I realised this was a Vastu perfect house, nothing could go wrong with it. The addons which were made with the course of time were all wrong. We broke off those add-ons and kept the Vastu intact. My son, Ved Iqbal studied Vastu and we used it to

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We make them feel that India is very welcoming, India is very caring, we are not only just doing it as a hotel service, we are doing it like this is what Indians are.

the core.

As the hotel is being run directly by the owner, what differences/ enhancements does it bring to the hotel?

Many times we do introspect on what would it be like. If we were to give it to a management company, we have friends in the management companies and all, but they say no, we cannot give what you have.

The personal touch is just not possible without you being there to run that place.

Even if the management was to take the place, they still would need us, not for the operations for the place, but for its character to speak and the essence of the place.

What is the USP of the property?

There are various things that I can count as the USP of the property; the first would definitely be the character of the herit50

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age, and the foliage that we have which is untouched. We were the first one to use organic food in the hospitality industry and we grow our own wheat and use it throughout the year. We also grow our own fruits and vegetables for use in the hotel. We go to the extent that we don’t let any synthetic pesticides to be used in the complex; instead we use the herbal pesticides which have healthy fumes. All the environmental aspects are covered very beautifully at the property. Giving today’s comfort in an environmental setup was a challenge but it came out beautifully. People like it, enjoy it, there is a lot of good feel when you enter the place, it is healthy of course. For that reason I got the spa, and got trained manpower from the hospitals of Kerala. Also, we do not adulterate or dilute our oils, and we use till

the body soaks the oils. These are the little details that we go into. We let the person feel comfortable. We also let him relax in the room after the massage.

What kind of guests do you receive at Ranjit’s SVAASA, Amritsar?

We get so many Indians guests also, but of course foreigners are plenty. It is around 60-70 per cent foreigners and the rest are Indians. In summers, there are mostly Indians. And, the Indians also want to come for an experience. They come with their children and want them to see what the life was and how their parents and grandparents lived. A lot of Indians especially from the south, east, and west come a lot.

Europeans are the standard visitors. They definitely love coming to our place. The new ones that I am seeing joining in are from South Africa and Middle East, etc.

How specialized do you get to deliver the perfect experience to your guests?

For us the guest doesn’t come only for the spa, f&b or the room. For us when the guest calls the hotel for a reservation,

it starts from there. The person who is talking ensures that the other person is comfortable, gives the other person the feeling that yes he will be taken care of and he is not going to a place where it’s totally a stranger’s home, or a stranger’s country. We make them feel that India is very warm. We make them feel that India is very welcoming, India is very caring. We are not only just doing it as a hotel service, we are doing it like this is what Indians are. This is the personal touch, right from the time when the person asks for the room, the availability, rate, services, and package. We also ask them and tell them if they would like to interact with the village, interact with the local people, would they like to go shopping and see things around. So, we give comfort of that level.

When they enter the hotel, they literally relate with the names. The person who attends the call for reservation not only takes the booking but also personally makes sure that during the stay that the guests are comfortable and prepares their itinerary as per their schedule.

Do you know your guests personally?

I have to travel around, but when I am there, I definitely meet the guests but when I am away then that’s not possible.

But my daughter-in-law and my son, they personally greet the guests. So, someone from the family is always there.

How is the experience at Ranjit’s SVAASA, Amritsar different for guests from other hotels?

When guests come, and stay in the other hotels also, they do a lot of bookings with us for food. They want to come and see the place. They also do bookings with us for the packages where we take them out to villages and local attractions of Amritsar. So, they do feel that their visit to Amritsar is not complete if they did not visit us. I want wellness to spread, so our spa is also open for non-guests.

What more are you planning to add to your hotel in the near future?

I am looking forward to starting a live a-la carte station. It is not anywhere. I have started already to an extent. Like, if anybody already asks for a particular menu, we can cook it right in front of them. That’s something which I have got a little feedback for from the people. But it’s only for people who have leisure time because once they order, then the 20 minutes margin is not looked into, then we ask them to give us about an hour or so.

It’s a residential hotel, so they can always ask for the items early.

Svaasa Village Excursion with Abhimanyu Rattan Mehra

Vishal Chand Mehra

Talking about the experience and warmth that they serve to the guests and what they receive back from them, Vishal says, “We keep getting referral now. It has started increasing. Now, this indicates that people want to be more and more personalised. We get mails, SMSs from our guests giving feedback. Also, every room at the hotel has a name, and all the rooms are named after the ancestors of the Mehra family. We have been giving personalised services since the beginning but now we have started receiving it back from our guests, when they remember all the names of the staffs, rooms, etc. Our staffs are our extended family. We conduct village excursions for our guests, and it is not any random village that we take our guests to; it’s a village of one of our staff only. That day we instruct that staff member that your duty is not at the hotel; your duty is at the village. Someone from here escorts the guests to the village; the guests are welcomed at our staff’s house only in the village so that they can feel the warmth. We also have other representatives from the hotel who are well versed in English and show the guests around the village.

Every second hotel is doing village excursions in hotels, many of them take these excursions from us, because they know how authentic we are. We have a proper itinerary for the guests but we also allow them to go and explore themselves. We give them a certain freedom; it’s not a very tight scheduled excursion. There is not greater entertainment over there than this reality of life.”

Are you in any way involving the local community, if so, how?

I have got nearly all the staff trained from scratch, and they are all local. That was my wish that I would train the people from here. It was not easy because locals does not feel comfortable working in their own hometown, as much as they feel comfortable in any other place.

It was very tough to get the work done. They would think that this is their domain and they can have the way they want. But this couldn’t go well with me, so I had to make them professional.

Local involvement is quite high at the property.

How are the different family members working? What department are they handling?

My eldest son, Ved Iqbal Mehra looks into the paper work, finance, and other such things.

And, Abhimanyu Rattan Mehra is totally into operations at the site and Vishal Chand Mehra looks after any twists and turns, new ideas, which are like every three months. Once something is to be done he is the one who makes it happen. The first people that I always talk to are Abhimanyu and Vishal. The hotel’s interiors, looks, the way everything is placed, cannot change without Vishal’s permission, he is an overall incharge. What I have seen while travelling around the world

is that the companies or the businesses that are run by a family has got passion involved with it and in the passion, we don’t feel comfortable if doing wrong.

We never feel satisfied. So, family doesn’t need as much as a company needs to run its over heads. So it’s not putting its burden on anyone else.

As told to nikita chopra

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metro travel

Pune Sunday Brunches

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Westin Sunday brunch

undays are about taking it easy, waking up late and lazing around. It is about leisurely meals coupled with interesting conversations and entertainment.

The city of Peshwas has taken to the concept of Sunday brunches like never before. Apart from locals, one spots a lot of the expatriate population frequenting Sunday brunches in Pune. Brunches also work towards adding to the food and beverage revenue of these hotels. These attract a larger guest list that consists of all ages and also help hotels showcase all their outlets on Sundays.

The westin, puneP

Food and art in a brunch The Westin organises a unique concept for Sunday brunches that combines food with art displays coupled with an exclusive opportunity to buy popular artworks, paintings and artifacts. The elaborate menu includes signature dishes like Esterhazy, prepared with almonds and merged in va52

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nilla crust with bubbly strawberry champagne mousse, Beer Drunken Prawns with Chimichuri, Floating Martini, PaniPuri Podium and Chicken Rillette with white sangria espuma. This Art Brunch helps source talented artists who showcase their paintings in a collective art display by two or three artists. As an additional attraction, live painting sessions are scheduled for the afternoon. “We sell approximately 210 covers every Brunch. Sunday brunch is a time every family looks forward to.

The Peshwa city has a plethora of options for Sunday brunches what with hotels dishing up a vast array of cuisines to please locals and expats. by jyoti balani

Westin Pune concept of Bubbalicious Brunch has been very successful in giving the right combination to all types of guest.

From Prego exclusive Art brunch where guest can not only buy coveted artworks, paintings and artifacts but also experience the best fresh seafood, farm grown fresh exotic vegetables with Serenaders at the background to Cointreauversial Art Brunch at Seasonal Taste where different liquor packages and wide array of popular live stations make it the most vibrant atmosphere. The added attraction is our exclusive kids activities where the entire restaurant lobby is divided into different kids activities areas. From storytelling to movies, united games, art and crafts and joint activities for parents and kids creates a very welcoming and fun filled atmosphere. We have realized that Sunday brunch leaves a big impression on guests and it becomes a very decisive meal that develops a positive or negative impact about the hotel food and beverage offerings. Our Sunday brunches are priced at `1,299 plus taxes for the Cointreauversial Brunch at Seasonal Taste and `1,699 plus taxes for the Bubbalicious Art Brunch in Prego,” reveals Devesh Rawat, Director of Food and Beverage. factfile

Timings: 12-3.30 pm Address: Seasonal Tastes, The Westin Pune, 36/3-B, Koregaon Park Annexe, Mundhwa Road, Ghorpadi, Pune 411001

“From Prego exclusive Art brunch where guest can not only buy coveted artworks, paintings and artifacts but also experience the best fresh Seafood” Devesh Rawat

Director of Food and Beverage, The Westin Pune

hyatt puneP

A mouth watering Asiatic journey Hyatt Pune offers the ‘Sunday Crossover Brunch’ in which guests can choose from varied cuisines. The culinary journey includes Indian specialties, European and Asian from all their outlets namely Baan Tao, Eighty Eight and the pastry shop. A live band and a kids activity centre adds to the excitement in the Sunday brunch. Live counters from both the restaurants Baan Tao and Eighty Eight Live counters dish up a wide variety of canapés,

dimsums, satays, Asian pancakes, salads, a pasta and pizza counter, a cocktail bar, including a counter for kids. What makes this brunch unique is a station dedicated to dishes that one normally doesn’t see in hotels and restaurants or dishes with long forgotten recipes. This includes dishes that come straight from the homes of chefs adding to the experience.

Some examples are Hainanese Chicken Rice, Singapore Chilli crab with Chinese Bread, Mori Ghonto, Cottage Pies, Hungar-

ian Goulash and Bangers and Mash.

“We sell about 70- 80 covers. Sunday brunches are usually family or social affairs but gives the much required exposure to the food and beverage outlets of the hotel for usage during other days of the week. Our Sunday brunches are priced at `988 plus taxes with unlimited soft beverages,” says Vishal Singh, General Manager. factfile

Timings: 12-3.30 pm Address: Hyatt Pune, Adjacent to Aga Khan Palace, 88 Nagar Road, Kalyaninagar, Pune-411006

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metro travel JW marriott, puneP

Tasteful random act of kindness Every Sunday, the JW Marriott sets up the “Brunner”, a concept takes you onto a culinary journey that is so filling that one doesn’t feel the need to have anything for dinner. A lavish kids play area along with the best gourmet indulgence, complete with a soul stirring Liveband make this Brunner very popular with Puneites. A brunch buffet at Alto Vino includes traditional Italian antipasti, soup and desserts on the buffet, while the pasta, pizzas and main course is served on the table.

Shakahari brunch is a unique combination of five different cuisines of Asia. It includes Thai, Japanese, Malay, Cantonese and Indian in a contemporary style. Says Nishanth Vishwanath, Director Food and Beverage, “We sell 275 covers for Sunday brunches in Spice Kitchen, which is the most popular outlet for Sunday brunches in the hotel, 120 covers in Shakahari and 70 covers in Alto Vino. In Spice Kitchen,

a non-alcoholic brunch is priced at Rs. 1050 plus taxes and a domestic alcoholic brunch is priced at `1,525 plus taxes. Alto Vino showcases a non-alcoholic brunch which is priced at `1,150 plus taxes whereas a domestic alcoholic brunch is priced at `1,750 plus taxes. An imported alcoholic brunch in Alto Vino is priced at `2,200

Le Meridien, PuneP

A Indian, European and Oriental wine brunch La Brasserie was the first restaurant in Pune to give impetus to the wine culture in the city by starting the concept of Sunday wine brunches. The atmosphere here is vivacious with the presence of a very popular live band. A fleet of entertainers for kids such as a tattoo artist, a caricature artist, a balloon artist, magician, a game show for kids and a bracelet maker, keeps the entertainment quotient high each Sunday. The Buffet for Sunday Brunch in La Brasserie is widespread and comprises numerous cheese platters, live stations, soups, salads, desserts in a various styles, Indian, European and Oriental. “With multi-cuisine menus and extended hours, brunches in the city have become a top draw on lazy Sunday afternoons. At Le Meridien Pune, we offer an extensive international buffet spread with live cooking stations that offer multiple cuisines. The ambience is very cheerful with a live band performance and a special kids corner offering various fun activities for the kids making it a perfect relaxing day for the entire family”, says Jaswinder Narang, General Manager. “We sell on an average between 60 to 80 covers on Sundays. We look at the Sunday brunch business more 54

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from the view point of goodwill among the corporate and socialites than hard core sales. Brunches attract a lot of fami-

plus taxes. In Shakahari, a non-alcoholic brunch is priced at `900 plus taxes whereas a domestic alcoholic brunch is priced at `1,350 plus taxes.” factfile

Timings: 12.30-3.30 pm Address: JW Marriott, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune, 411053

lies who want to catch up on great cuisine, live music and drinks. Our Sunday brunches are priced at `1,175 plus taxes and `1,935 with unlimited wine,” he adds. factfile

Timings: 12 -3.30 pm Address: La Brasserie, Le Meridien, Pune

?????????? four points by sheratonP

Sunday’s are fun days with world class cuisine The highlight of The “Best Brew Barbecue Brunch” at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel and Service Apartments brunch are the authentic chaats and Indian sweets that are dished up by expert chefs. The fact that a guest can toss up his own food and prepare his/her own barbecued meats and veggies with marinades of one’s choice adds appeal to this popular brunch. A tarot card reader, a tattoo artist, a caricature artist, a face painter, a magician, a mehendi artist, a bangle maker add to the fervor in this Sunday Brunch. “Our Sunday brunches are priced at `750 plus taxes inclusive of a glass of draught beer or a mocktail. We sell around 45-50 covers

for our Sunday Br unch.

We serve Fresh Best Brew (draught beer) along with live grills. It also helps us to showcase the Eatery Buffet and Alfresco dining area to guests who come up with corporate lunch/ dinners at these venues on the basis of their dining experience on a Sunday at the Four Point s. By way of ser ving fresh draught beer, we also able to promote Best Brew to our guests and talk about the wide selection of beers available with us,” says Vinesh Gupta, General Manager. factfile

Timings: 12 to 3.30 pm.

Address: Four Points by Sheraton, Hotel and Serviced Apartments, Viman Nagar, Pune, 411014

vivanta by taj-blue diamondP

Recipes from a golden age An elaborate brunch is hosted ever y Sunday at Latitude which also has an outdoor patio seating next to the pool.

Adventurous foodies can look forward to a different menu every week in this Sunday brunch. A live chaat counter, Khaosuey stations, live appam counters, a roast counter (whole surmai, lagan ka gosht, murgh musallam), shewerma with pita, a lettuce counter, a Moroccon counter, and a dosa counter, an ice slush counter, a bread counter with several varieties of breads makes this brunch truly unique. An appetising buffet in a lovely ambiance complete with live music as well as indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the pool makes this one of the most popular buffets in town. There is also a pizza making class for kids after which they are given certificates. “We normally sell 60 to 70 covers for brunch.

Our Sunday brunches help us to sustain foot falls both in terms of resident and non-resident guests. It is a unique dining experience for our guests and we have lot of regulars who look forward to this

activity on Sundays. They like the fact that they have varied options in the buffet and it is a great value for money. Our brunches are priced at `1,100 plus taxes (alcohol not included), `1,500 plus taxes

including alcohol,” says Mahipal Singh, General Manager. factfile

Timings: 12.30-4 pm. Address: Latitude, Vivanta

by Taj-Blue Diamond, Pune April 2014 go now

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delhi update

Champagne Appreciation with Taittinger

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restige Wines and Spirits, the sole distributor and marketer of Taittinger in India held an exclusive champagne appreciation evening at The Oval Bar, JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity with Taittinger. Taittinger is the Official Champagne of FIFA World Cup – 2014 held in Brazil.

The evening started with

the pouring of the ‘Taittinger Br ut Reser ve’ Champagne with seductive elegance and a golden yellow hues depicting complexity. The champagne has very strong aromas of apples, pears, white flowers and brioche. Nicolas Delion from Taittinger explained the brand to the guests and also talked about some aspects of cher-

ishing a glass of champagne.

The spirit during the evening hit a higher level when the second champagne ‘Taittinger Prestige Rose’ was served to the guests. The strong body of the Champagne with the bright pink colour was appreciated by all. It gives off the aromas of red fruits (freshly crushed wild raspberry, cherry, and black-

The Vintage Glanfarclas

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lanfarclas, another brand by Prestige Wines and Spirits is a 175 year old single malt whiskey from the Highlands of Scotland. It maintains its premium quality as it is prepared at the family owned distillery for six generations. It has gone through 100% maturation in Sherry cask and so brings with it the experience of the real and true single malt. It is 100% naturally flavoured with no artificial flavours and colours. The malt has been heated traditional way, by external heating of the pot-still, hence, the flavour of the malt have not been tempered due to direct internal heating. It is one of the purest forms of whiskey as only the heart is used and it is bottled directly from the cask and not diluted with water.

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currant). This wine is a fine combination of being velvety and full-bodied. The flavours are reminiscent of fresh, crisp red fruits.

The showstopper of the evening was, ‘Taittinger Nocturne’ – The Party Bubbly. It is a new introduction to the Indian market. The disco bottle packing caught the eyes of all the guests. Its body is pale yellow in colour with shimmering highlights, and it reveals the delightful aromas of yellow peaches and dried apricots.

The palate gives way to flavours of raisins and fruits in syrup.

The long and smooth finish is distinctively sweet and full of flavour. Overall it was ecstatic evening which left all attendees raving for more action.

delhi update

Taj Mahal sets up an exclusive with His Holiness The Dalai Lama

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he Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people has a lot to teach people in society and he bestowed his blessings upon the people of Delhi at the Taj Mahal New Delhi on 22nd March 2014. This was the third year consecutively when the hotel conducted sessions with His Holiness and invited its patrons to attend the same.

The session, ‘Teachings by His Holiness The Dalai Lama’ went on for three days comprising of different session. An exclusive session was held on 22nd March on the topic, ‘Ethics and compassion for young minds’. Speaking on the occasion Satyajeet Krishnan, General Manager, The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi said, “It is our privilege and an honour to host His Holiness The Dalai Lama yet again. We have made special arrangements to ensure the comfort

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of His Holiness during his stay at The Taj Mahal Hotel. His indispensable knowledge and wisdom has always helped individuals lead a harmonious and meaningful life and we are delighted to be a partner in this enlightening session. I thank his Holiness for this honour as we all feel richer and happier leaving this room today than from the time we walked in to it!”

Over 250 students from 13 different schools of Delhi/NCR came to attend the session. The schools included names like, GD Goenka, Step by Step, Springdales, The Sriram School, Salwan amongst others. His Holiness shed light on genuine compassion – unbiased and unattached, based on wanting others to be happy and overcome sufferings. He also highlighted religious values, equality amongst human beings as well as various cultural philosophies.

The Vintage Appeal

he 48th edition of the prestigious Statesman Vintage and Classic Car rally saw much enthusiasm and excitement. The rally was flagged off by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha at Statesman House, New Delhi and made its ways to Vidya Sanskar International School in Faridabad.

Participating were 79 cars in different categories including the 1914 John Morris Fire Engine, the oldest entrant, which was originally part of the Nizam of Hyderabad’s heritage, celebrating its centenary.

It was heartening to see women drivers, such as the second time participant and a winner in 2013, Prekshi Sharma behind the wheels of her Fiat Balila 1936 repeating her winning streak in 2014 and winning the Mrs Kanti Kathpalia Trophy.

Joining her for the first time in her Austin 1946, was Radhika Anand winning the Depauls Trophy. She put up a spirited performance.

An amazing feat this year was her son Shivraj Anand also winning The Brijendra Challenge Trophy in his 1934 Ford – nicknamed the Flying Ford, for its power and beauty.

Ankur Bhatia of the Bird Group won 2 Trophies – one for his Austin 1937 – the Y. P. Kathpalia Trophy and the other for his Ford Jeep 1942 – the 21 Gun Salute Trophy. Asim Roy drove the Austin with élan and within the perfect timing limits.

Other major notable winners were Diljeet Titus, winning six trophies.

A new trend witnessed was the enthusiasm amongst youngsters to value India’s automotive history and preserve originality with attention to detail.

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New Entrants

Photo: Anupriya Bishnoi

Imperfecto comes to DLF Cyber Hub Gurgaon

The delicious awe at The Surya

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o offer our readers the precise experience we had while visiting a new eatery, an obvious methodology would be – explaining the interiors, artefacts, crowd and of course the food! But at Ssense, Suryaa Hotel’s new initiative, we would talk about FOOD and its presentation without delay.

It was tricky for my partner since her taste buds demanded sea food that day.

While we hesitated ordering at the first instance, fearing the usual ‘excessively fishy’ taste, she was staggered by ingenious cooking that totally matched her North Indian palate. Some of the must tries that we figured out were – Veg Galouti, Seafood Coriander Soup, which is basically splendid pieces of prawns, squid, basa and green shell mussels floating in an aptly thick clear broth with greens; also, Sea Food Medley, which lured us with its well-cooked curry. To start off your evening well you can also try Mushroom Croquettes with Feta Cigar Roll. Not to forget, the Chutney River Sole (brown basmati

served with a bowl of yellow dal and fish, neatly wrapped in a banana leaf) was a darling to our appetite. The presentation of Veg biryani and Tomato Pelati surprized us more than the usual. While the biryani was covered with a thin crust warm ‘’roti’’, (to keep the temperature of the biryani appropriate), pilati was served to us in a bread bowl which was a delicacy to the palate as well as to our sight.

To finish off on a ‘light’ note, the person sitting opposite me chose Prunes with a selection of cheese, which she licked off within minutes, while I went for Valrohna Mousse. At Ssence guests will see how well the presentation has been balanced out with the taste. Ssence is the new fresh air from the usual dining of the capital where every table is attended by the chef himself.

Vedict: People for whom food presentation matters should surely give Ssence a try.

One of Delhi’s most loved Mediterranean restaurants recently launched its 2nd branch at DLF Cyber hub, Gurgaon. Celebrating the beauty of imperfection, this restaurant does a great job of glorifying the Mediterranean culture of living life to the fullest. The creative interior design represents the various facets of imperfection.

Warped paintings, chairs hung on the walls and beds used for tables. There's a surprise in every nook and cranny of this place.

Also you will find live bands and artists charming your evening by many notches.

Address; DLF Cyber Hub, DLF City II, Sector 24, Gurgaon 9811597696

Chew Pan Asian Café This restaurant targets all the food lovers who love to experiment with Pan Asian cuisine. The menu boasts with Chinese, Japanese, Thai and the Indonesian Cuisine. The open kitchen as well as a live Teppanyaki grill counter decked up with glass jars filled with spices is a delightful sight. Chew’s walls are adorned with the eye-catching black and white Aztec-patterned tiles which have been carefully contrasted with Dholpur stone and Asian-themed pop-coloured posters with wooden furniture that includes tables with swings and turquoise blue chairs.

Address: First Floor, M16, Outer Circle, Block M, Connaught Place, New Delhi 097 18 700060

Address: The Suryaa, New Friend’s Colony, New Delhi

by Anupriya Bishnoi

Promotion It’s raining Kebabs and Beer at Hilton Garden Inn New Delhi Hilton Garden Inn New Delhi/Saket has introduced an extensive selection of succulent and spicy Kebabs promotion at India Grill, the multi-cuisine restaurant at the hotel. Guests of the hotel, located within the DLF Place Mall Saket, will be able to relish these tender and delicious kebabs cooked to perfection along with a glass of chilled beer. There is a wide 58

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range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian kebabs to choose from. Some of the delicacies on display are Kastoori Kebab, Murg Potlikebab, Murg Shahi Chargha, Dahi Ke kebab and Sabudana aur Aloo ki tikki ka kebab among others.

Date: March 15 – April 15, 2014 Address: India Grill, second floor, A4, DLF Place, Saket District Centre,

delhi update

New Entrants Johnny Rockets

Prime Gourmet Private Limited opens its second Johnny Rockets in India, just over a month after the launch of the country’s first restaurant of its kind in New Delhi. This restaurant delivers its signature allAmerican fare, with localized options and a focus on chicken breast sandwiches and buffalo tenderloin burgers, to a large swath of dining consumers. With its energetic music,

Go desi with Dhaba by Claridges

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alking into Dhaba by Claridges, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by the décor and the upbeat vibe of the restaurant. Dressed in vibrant colours and Indian motifs with a scattering of vintage Bollywood posters and desi artwork on tyres hung on walls; the thematic décor was fresh and inviting. Moving through the space you will continue to find other quirky desi elements such as ‘nalka’ chandeliers, nimbu-mirchi lights and even a real truck converted into dining space! It appears now that no new restaurant today can afford to not play up the interiors and craft eye–catching design aspects, hopefully not forgetting the seasoning!

Located in a popular Delhi mall, the corporate chef, Ravi Saxena informed us that the intention was to make the restaurant more accessible to a larger audience than the original at the Claridges hotel. He spoke passionately about the menu which was finalised after extensive research and several stops at dhabas along the DelhiAmritsar route. Regularly seen dishes at these dhabas were then tweaked and incorporated in the menu and even their style of presentation. For instance, ‘tharra’ which are the cocktails are served in ‘pahua’ bottles with a good dose of Indian elements. The ‘tiffin chicken’ is served in a two-dabba tiffin box and there is extensive use of copper utensils. Completing the

quintessential dhaba experience are the popular Bollywood tracks.

After a long list of recommendations from the chef, we move on to ordering from a selection of tawa, tandoor and patila dishes. The dishes were clean and flavourful with Indian spices. Worth a special mention is the galuoti kebab (`425) and tiffin chicken (`445). The vegetarian options that are recommended include the Daal Dhaba (`375), Kanastari Baingan (`425) and Amritsari Chole (`375).

Verdict: A successful effort in creating a kitsch and vibrant 21st century dhaba and not to forget the all-important, good wholesome Indian food.

Address: DLF Saket Delhi (011 4175 0555), DLF Cyber Hub Gurgaon (0124 490 0155)

friendly service, dancing servers and twirled straws, the restaurant provides an engaging, interactive dining experience that appeals to both local residents and area visitors. Much like its Select Citywalk counterpart, the Ambience Mall menu brings the iconic brand’s classic American favourites to India in addition to a handful of custom menu items that cater specifically to the local and regional palates.

Address: Ambience Mall, Gurgaon/ 2nd floor, Select City Walk, New Delhi 01130146025

by Priyaanka berry

Promotion Mexican Food Fiesta at Rodeo

Rodeo, Delhi’s first standalone Tex Mexican restaurant, recently completed 20 joyous years of serving the capital with Mexican delights in an ultimate cowboy setting. Chef Eduardo Pérez Romero from México will be showcasing his repertoire of classic Mexican dishes.

Date: 11 April to 20 April Address: A-12 Inner Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi April 2014 go now

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delhi update promotion

Luxury has a new address in East Delhi with Kempinski Ambience Hotel

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ast Delhi has taped its spot as the new hub of luxury and lifestyle in India with the emergence of Kempinski Ambience Hotel Delhi, the first flagship hotel by Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group, Kempinski. Its strategic location in East Delhi and connectivity to the city centre and business districts of Ghaziabad and Noida, makes it a perfect address for the luxury destination that it has evolved into. As a prominent luxury hotel in the region, Kempinski Ambience Delhi caters to the eclectic needs of the travelling gentry as well as presents them with a well laid array of warm hospitality, finest services, speciality cuisines, luxurious recreational facilities and fitness services.

The newest landmark in the city, Kempinski Ambience Delhi has a modern architecture, aesthetic interiors and a convenient location. Exhibiting sheer grandeur within its two towers (the Club and the Hotel Tower) and encompassing 480 rooms and suites, two swimming pools, 25,000 sq.ft. of pillar-less ballroom, the hotel boasts of India’s largest meeting space of 70,000 sq.ft. to accommodate 6000 guests. The pillar-less ballroom can further be divided into five ballrooms.

The venue is ideal for large conferences

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and weddings. With impressive colour changing light arrangements in the ceiling, this adds more charm to the nature of the occasion. The vibrant blue carpeting and onyx wall lamps give a spectacular look to the events. The ballroom, located on the ground floor, offers a dedicated entrance apart from two more entrances from either tower.

The expansive pre-function area gives the guests an opportunity to get the most lavish display of food from a choice of customised menus. For conference and other related events, the hotel team prepares them breaks between major meals.

For weddings, the chefs prepare Indian specialty cuisines on request for Marwari, Jain and Aggarwal communities respecting their religious sentiments with the majority of mouth-watering food on live counters and a separate vegetarian cooking area in the kitchen. The team of experienced chefs also prepares international cuisines like Japanese, Thai, Mexican and Mediterranean. A variety of wedding cakes also find their place of pride in the extensive menu for the guests. For prewedding occasions like Mehndi and Sangeet, customised cocktail snacks menu is also available.

Kempinski Ambience Delhi spoils its

patrons with a choice for myriad cuisines through its specialty restaurants namely the all-day dining restaurant Café Knosh, Indian specialty restaurant Dilli 32, Asian dining Mei Kun and a cocktail bar Cherry Bar. The hotel’s Executive Chef and his team have designed interesting menus that delight both the local and international palates with the very best of local and seasonal produce.

Taking its promise of providing truly world class hospitality beyond mere banalities, Kempinski Ambience Delhi offers recreational facilities including a luxurious spa, Shanaya. It specialises in Asian and European therapies, and also offers Ayurvedic treatments. For the most stylish haircuts, advanced make-ups, modern hairstyles and other hair and body grooming facilities, the hotel offers a modern salon, Hair By Dar that also provides beauty and grooming packages for the would be groom and bride.

For details on bookings, please call at +91 11 4908 8888.

Address: Kempinski Ambience Hotel Delhi 1, CBD, Maharaja Surajmal Road, Near Yamuna Sports Complex, Delhi – 110032 E: reservation.delhi@kempinski.com W: www.kempinski.com/delhi

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?????????

He has been travelling around USA and Asia for Golf, and has played at some of the best golf courses around the world. We talk to Rishi Narain about his favourite golf courses in India and abroad and what makes a perfect golfing experience for him.

Golf Courses through the eyes of

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tourism connect

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hat made you choose golf as a profession?

After graduating from college in USA, I worked as a Chartered Accountant there for 3 years but then realised that all I really wanted to do was play golf. So I took the plunge and started entering pro tournaments and worked part time as a golf coach.

How do you train yourself to improve your game?

Fitness and stretching daily is a must.

And of course the constant checks on technique and trying the latest equipment keeps the improvement going.

What types of clubs do you use?

I use a HONMA Driver from Japan and Titleist irons and Odyssey Putter.

How much difference does golfing balls make in a game?

What type of golf balls do you use?

Big difference when you play competitively as the construction quality and technology vary a lot. I use the Titleist ProV1 golf ball which is used by 70 per cent of pro golfers around the world.

Describe the top three golf courses where you had the best golfing experience around the world?

Definitely Pebble Beach, California because of the spectacular clifftop views and great sense of playing where all the great names of golf have played and won major championships.

I also enjoyed playing the No 1 Links (seaside) course in Ireland – Royal County Down. It is so natural looking, rugged and challenging that I can never forget it.

I also remember fondly the course in East Malaysia – Sabah Golf &

Country Club – a great classic style championship course where I had my best international tour finish at 2nd place when I was still active on the pro tours.

What are the elements involved in making a desired golfing experience?

A well designed golf course with turf in good smooth condition, great weather and temperature, good friends and good service from the club staff and caddy is what makes for a good experience.

How significant are the surroundings and backgrounds of the golf course in creating the perfect experience?

If you have a spectacular natural location like seaside or mountain, then its great but if not, you can still create a great experience on a flat, plain site with proper imagination and good design principles.

What would you recommend an amateur golfer to know before selecting his golf course?

He should check weather conditions if travelling and book an experienced caddy who knows the course and can guide him around. If you visit a course for the first time, it is difficult for the average golfer to enjoy the game without a knowledgeable caddy to help him around.

Where are you playing next?

I hope to play KGA, Bengaluru next week when we have the Asia Pacific vs Europe Amateur Team matches and then Oxford Golf Club, Pune during the Mercedes Trophy tournament finals.

As told to nikita chopra

When you learn, start with a good coach and get the basics like grip, posture, alignment correct. The swing will develop correctly thereafter. If you try to start without proper coaching you will develop bad habits and progress slowly.

Favourite golf course in India and overseas In Indiaa The new Nicklaus designed Kalhaar Blues and Greens course, Ahmedabad overseasa Pebble Beach, California Most challenging golf course Muirfield GC, Edinburgh, Scotland. The rough lining the fairway combined with the wind, made it a brutal test.

Best destination for golfing around the world Belek, Turkey is great because 15 courses can be reached within 15 minutes drive from 40 hotels which all have beach access.

The golfer that inspires you Jack Nicklaus – he has 18 major titles , the record that Tiger Woods is chasing (Tiger has 14 major titles). Jack was at his prime while I was growing up and was my inspiration.

Most picturesque golf course Pehelgam Golf Club, Kashmir is surrounded by snow capped peaks and is absolutely spectacular!

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tourism connect

National Science Museum

An interactive platform Featuring the history and future of Indian Science and Technology, National Science Centre, a unit of the National Council of Science Museums, works with an objective of popularising science among the general public at large and students in particular. D Rama Sarma, Director, National Science Centre, Delhi, in conversation with GoNow talks about the exhibits of the museum and more.

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hat are the heritage elements at the National Science Museum?

The National Science Centre has a 10,000 sq. ft. gallery in which we have several exhibits pertaining to the 8000 year old heritage of Indian Science and Technology, starting from the Mehrgarh civilization right up to the Mughal age. Several exhibits showcasing different technologies that originated and were developed in India have been shown in the form of interactive, dioramas, period settings and multimedia.

Which are the major exhibits at the museum?

All exhibits in the museums are dear to me but I might mention some exhibits like the Energy Ball, which is a single exhibit 64

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that covers 4 floors/stories, the recreation of a Harappan village, Susruta’s Surgical theater, the several animated dinosaurs in the Prehistoric Life gallery, a special penny farthing bicycle, which was gifted by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and many more.

Are you adding new elements with the passing years? What was the recent addition?

We keep adding to the galleries and exhibits very now and then. The most recent exhibition gallery we opened to public was “Water: The Elixir of Life”. The most recent addition to the centre is the “Innovation Hub” which was inaugurated on 23rd January 2014 by Shri Sam Pitroda, Chairman of National Innovation Council, Govt. of India.

Several exhibits showcasing different technologies that originated and were developed in India have been shown in the form of interactive, dioramas, period settings and multimedia.”

D Rana sarma

Director, National Science Centre

m where learning is fun What more are you planning to add in the future?

Space has been a great constraint for the Science Centre. Within the available space, we try to make new exhibitions and programmes. that would portray contemporary areas of interests and concerns of the people. We will soon be opening a permanent gallery on Nuclear Power and a new Biotechnology Lab. We will be refurbishing our Human Biology gallery in the near future. In addition to this, we get two or three travelling exhibitions to the centre every year.

How is the visitor flow at the museum? Which is the peak season?

The number of visitors to the museum showed a sudden rise from around 2.0 lac/ year to 5 lakh/year visitors figure around 2008. Thereafter, we have been regularly increasing our visitor figures and have already crossed 6.5 lakhs visitors this year.

Usually summer vacations and winter are the times when maximum visitors come to Science Centre. We get half of our visitors during the month of November, December and January.

Who are typically the visitors at the museum?

This is a place which is open and accessible to all cross section of society irrespective of age, gender, educational background and social standing. However, we have found that children, especially students, favour us with their visit more than other groups. Of late, we are getting reasonably good number of family visitors which is a welcome sign.

What more do you think can be done to popularize the museum?

I would like to believe that the museum is already fairly popular but not extensively known in all corners of Delhi and NCR.

However, we still have a lot of scope to attract local family groups, Indian and international tourists, under privileged sections of the society and such other groups. We rely a lot on word of mouth publicity rather than advertising.

How is your museum different from others in the country?

I would like to say that the National Science Centre unlike other museums encourages its visitors to interact with exhibits physically and intellectually, and arrive at an understanding of concepts on their own.

We aim, not to teach science, but to create an ambience that can spark curiosity in the visitors, which we hope, will go a long way in fostering scientific thinking and public understanding of science and technology.

When public spend their time and energy in going to malls and cinemas other such places. More often, they should make it a habit to visit the science centres and museums, at least once in a year. This would gradually result in a culture that recognizes and values the huge repository of knowledge that existed earlier as well present day developments in the field of science and technology for the better tomorrow. by nikita chopra

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Your Star Trek moment

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f you are tired of earthbound travels and tours, it’s perhaps time to realize your science fiction dreams and take off for a rollicking adventure into space. It may be time for the ultimate vacation, to take a spin in a spacecraft and cross the final frontier into space, well beyond the blue sky. Float in zero gravity and literally explore new horizons as space tourism is very much with us with Virgin Galactic likely to take off with the first passenger astronauts this year provided there is no last minute hitch.

The cost of a booking is US $ 250,000 and deposits are refundable.

Humans went into space forty years ago. These were expensive government missions. Since then ordinary humans have dreamt of space flight. The moment may have come for them to actualise their dream.

Virgin Galactic is owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, and is on track to be the world’s first commercial spaceline.

The company started test flights this year and plans to offer commercial flights to space by the end of the year. It has already sold about 680 tickets Branson has promised to take hundreds of tourists about 60 miles up in a futuristic craft known as the SpaceShipTwo in a flight that lasts about two hours, with a five minutes spent of weightlessness thrown in.

Branson has said he and his family will be board Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo 66

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Space tourism is likely to convert itself into a mass activity sooner or later. when the vehicle makes its first commercial suborbital spaceflight. Branson and a number of other Virgin Galactic customers have already taken off for a training flight aboard the so-called “vomit comet” – a jet airplane modified to offer brief periods of weightlessness.

The six-passenger SpaceShipTwo is designed to be carried to an altitude of about 50,000 feet (15,000 metres) by a huge airplane called WhiteKnightTwo. This plane may well be an aviation milestone. It is the largest of all carbon composite aviation vehicle ever built and the most fuel efficient for its size. It has a unique capability to carry heavy payload (around 35,000lbs) to high altitude (around 50,000 ft) and has a range of over 2000 nautical miles.

At 50,000 ft, the spaceliner will be unhitched, and its onboard rocket engine will kick in, accelerating the craft into suborbital space. Passengers can then unbuckle from their seats, float in weightlessness and take photos.

SpaceShipTwo has successfully completed three rocket-powered flight tests, as well as more than two dozen unpowered “glide flights.”

The spaceship is rather like an advanced air launched glider. As it rides beyond aerodynamic forces into the quiet emptiness of space, it follows a purely ballistic trajectory but has small thrusters which allow the pilots to maneuver it in space thereby providing a changing view for the passenger astronauts. It can carry up to six passengers and two pilots. Two large windows give you the view which is just out of this world.

Virgin Galactic will operate its space flights from Spaceport America, the world's first purpose built commercial spaceport, still under construction.

Virgin is just one of the companies offering a space ride to the final frontier.

XCOR Aerospace, amongst others, has a one-passenger rocket plane called Lynx, which may also begin commercial operations later in the year. Tickets to ride Lynx are selling for $95,000. Excalibur Almaz, based on the Isle of Man, may soon sent tourists to a point near the moon for the ultimate get-away-from-it-all for the price of about $ 150 million. For $ 50 million, Space Adventures, in Virginia, plans to take you to the International Space Station. If you are not happy with that, the owner of the hotel chain Budget Suites of America, Robert T. Bigelow, plans to launch a variety of private space stations for your stay.

The idea of space tourism is thus not futuristic but is one whose time has come.

The first steps are short sub-orbital flights but the technical know-how to make passenger launch vehicles and orbiting hotel accommodation is available. So is the demand. Once space tourism gets started, it will develop progressively. In the first phase customers may be relatively few but are soon to be in their tens of thousands as tickets become cheaper. Space tourism is likely to convert itself into a mass activity sooner or later.

Besides a view of the stars and the earth, the fabulous rides will give you a chance to explore some cutting edge science and technology. The early pioneers have already been there and done that.

American businessman Denis Tito became the world’s first space tourist when he flew into space aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket all the way to the International Space Station on April 30, 2001. He was quickly followed by South African businessman Mark Shuttleworth, Greg Olsen, Anousheh Ansari and Charles Simonyi, making such travel just routine.

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Date of Publication: 03/04/2014

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