AHMEDABAD MICE ON THE RISE
Women On The Move Europe’s Pink City: Toulouse An Oasis in the Desert: Nachna Haveli The Coolest Spa Experiences in the South of India Celtic Fairytale: Destination Ireland
THIS ISSUE EDITORS’ PAGE
Dear Readers,
AHMEDABAD MICE ON THE RISE
Women On The Move Europe’s Pink City: Toulouse An Oasis in the Desert: Nachna Haveli The Coolest Spa Experiences in the South of India Celtic Fairytale: Destination Ireland
If travel incites you just the way it incites us, share your experiences on /gonowlifestylemagazine /gonowmagazine
This vacation season we take you to interesting destinations and events around the world. Starting with Ireland we share with you its celebrations, and its lively culture. This place has a lot to explore in its wild gardens and tranquil lakes. If you are planning your wedding this season or wish to go for a second honeymoon, then we have a perfect choice for you – Turkey, a land of immense historical beauty and architectural magnificence; a very picturesque host for you and your love. Also, discover the Pink City of Europe, Toulouse, known more widely as the headquarters of the aircraft maker Airbus, in our Leisure Destination section. Moving to our Metro Travel section, explore the exciting options that Ahmedabad holds for you. Growing at a very fast rate in terms of MICE opportunities, it promises to be a great emerging venue for your next meeting or conference. Along with this, also find out what Puducherry, the land of beauty has to offer you through its numerous attractions. We have a lot more to offer in our special sections like Niche Travel – we explore the best of Indian heritage from exploring the Nachana Haveli of Jaisalmer, to discovering various options of royal heritage properties in the hills around India... So, spend your summers the royal way in the cool hills. We have added a Travel Gear section where you can choose from the amazing range of gadgets to make your journey more comfortable and exciting. South India is known for its varied options of spa and Ayurveda treatments, taking it further select your favourite from our exclusive list of the best treatments from that part of the country. Taking you beyond travel and tourism we bring to you the vibrant heritage festivals and art exhibitions in different parts of India. Enjoy!!
/gonowmagazine
READERS WRITE IN Phuket – Pearl of the Andamans
The guide to Phuket in the April Issue helped me perfectly as I was planning my honeymoon to the same. From hotels, to eating outlets, spa, adventures, sightseeing and a lot more you had it all. I did not have to look any further and selected my favourites to plan out the perfect journey with my beloved. Rahul Gupta, Mumbai
Therapies without frontiers: Soukya
After reading your article on Soukya I could not wait to visit the holistic centre. Being from Bengaluru, it was very easily accessible for me. It is a great place to unwind at and relax away from the hustle bustle of the city. The soothing ambience and the warm hospitality made it all the more special. Soniya Shah, Bengaluru
Experience Amritsar in a Day and a Half
While coming from Canada to Delhi I had a couple of days in hand which I was planning to spend at a truly Indian destination. Nothing could be better than Amritsar and I could never think of getting a gist of its warm nature and beauty in such short span. Amreek Singh, Delhi
Creole Class – Mauritius
I have been to Mauritius before but did not experience the way you had mentioned in the magazine. It definitely is a different facet of that place which is lost in its other bundle of attractions. The horse riding, rum tastings, sugar beach resort, everything seems to be mesmerising. Nikhil Shroff, Chennai
Editor: Navin Berry Managing Editor: Priyaanka Berry Advertising: Saurabh Shukla Design: Ashok Saxena, Neelam Aswani Go Now is printed and published by Navin Berry, on behalf of Cross Section Media Pvt. Ltd. Printed at Rakesh Press A-7, Naraina, Phase II, New Delhi. 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 72 pages plus 4 pages cover
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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GO NOW MAY 2013
CONTENTS Destination Leisure
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30 46
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14 Celtic Fairytale – Ireland: From the vibrant St. Patrick’s Day to the wild gardens and serene lakes, come along to discover the haven of tranquillity hidden in Ireland.
52 An Oasis in the Desert:
20 The Pink City – Toulouse: Narrating the evolution of the ‘Pink City’, we take you to France’s 4th biggest city, which houses some of the best architectural delights.
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26 Turkey: The best choice for your destination wedding or your honeymoon, it has a beautiful history behind it making it ideal for picture perfect celebrations.
30 MICE on the Rise – Ahmedabad: With a regular flow of business visitors and executives, it is now mushrooming new hotels including big brands offering excellent opportunities for MICE. 36 Cambay Hotels: Serving you with best hotels all over Gujarat, this niche group is ideal for your weekend getaways, conferences, meetings, etc. 42 Puducherry: Puducherry is known to bewilder even the seasoned traveller, so plan your trip to experience the best of all.
46 A weekend in Goa: Enjoy the cinematic view of the beachside and the laidback music filling the air.
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48 Women on the move: Join hands with these adventurous women only
When you are in the golden city, Jaisalmer, experience the lifestyle of the maharajas at Nachana Haveli which is owned by Jaisalmer’s royal family. The Royal Summer Getaways: Spend your summers in a royal way. The heritage properties add to the scenic beauty and historical brilliance of our country. The Coolest Spa Experiences: From a spa treatment fit for the royals to a laid back massage on the beach, we round up some of the most enchanting experiences from the south of India. The SUFI Collection: Experience the new launched collection of exclusive products by The Imperial Spa & Salon to soothe your skin and massage your stress away. Travel Gear: To make your trip more comfortable, add amazing travel gadgets to your luggage. C
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Metro Travel
Niche Travel
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travel clubs to explore exciting places.
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Travel & Tourism Beyond Boundaries 66 Inviting Indian Tourists to Dubai 67 Celebrating Heritage in Goa 68 Gangaur Keeps its date with Tradition 70 Portraying Women Through Art 71 Calligraphy Art Exhibition at the MET
On the Cover PRAG MAHAL, BHUJ Photo: Gujarat Tourism
Go Now : Packages & Promotions
UNLIMITED HOTELS WITH MAKE MY TRIP
Make My Trip takes its brand promise a step ahead from Memories Unlimited to Hotels Unlimited. It promises to serve you with the widest range of hotels and the best deals available. You need not suffer the high prices of hotels when you have a spontaneous trip planned as you can avail discounts of at least 30% with Make My Trip on your Last-Minute Hotel bookings. Get 100% Money Back Guarantee if the services and amenities are not as they were mentioned on the website. For people on the move, these services are available on their mobile applications too. For More Information, Visit: www.makemytrip.com
SPECIAL DEALS FROM THE LEELA
Make your summer vacations more special with the exciting packages at different hotels of The Leela Group. Book for two nights and get the third night’s stay complimentary at The Leela Palace, Udaipur. Avail exciting discounts on booking for more than three nights at The Leela Goa in various categories of rooms. If you are planning a trip to Kerala then stay at The Leela kovalam and enjoy a two or three night’s stay at discounted prices. All these packages include all meals along with round trip coach transfers. When: Valid till 30th September 2013 For Reservations, mail at: reservations@theleela.com or call at: 1800 1031 444
ADVENTUROUS SUMMERS WITH MANA HOTELS
Spend your summer vacations experiencing some quirky activities at Mana Hotels, Ranakpur. They have packages for children and adults looking to have fun this summer. The activities include, leopard safari, bullock cart rides, horse riding and much more. With luxurious villas, swimming pool and many other recreational activities the hotel ensures to serve you with best facilities within your budget. The packages include a night’s stay along with complimentary breakfast and these fun activities. Along with these, you can use the sports and recreational activities at no extra cost. When: Till 30th September 2013 Price: Starting from ` 3,499 For reservations, visit: www.manahotels.in
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Go Now : Packages & Promotions
FAMILY SOJOURN AT WONDERLA
COMPLIMENTARY ROOM OFFERS AT THE OBEROI
To make your vacation all the more special, The Oberoi has some great offers for its patrons in some of its best destination hotels. If travelling with friends, then you can get a complimentary third room on booking of two rooms. If you are travelling with your family, then you can avail an additional complimentary room for your children (up to 16 years of age). Along with this, you can also enjoy discounts on various services of the hotel and transfer from airport or railway station to the hotel. Both the offers are available at different properties. When: The offer is valid till 31st July For Further Details, Visit: www.oberoihotels.com
Surrounded by lush greenery, this 84 room luxury resort is perfect for an escape from the daily life to a serene place. They have recently launched some amazing packages for adults and kids which include complimentary breakfast and free entry to the amusement park. It is the perfect destination for entertainment, fun, adventure and relaxation, all at one place. They have a themed restaurant and a swish rest-o-bar to serve you delectable delights. Where: Wonderla Holidays Limited, Bangalore. When: 1st May to 31st May 2013 For Further Details, visit: www.wonderla.com
STAY LONGER AT TAJ SAFARIS
Taj Safaris brings to you a thrilling experience in the jungles of India. To make your trip more thrilling and fulfilling, you can extend your trip of two days as Taj Safaris is offering the third day complimentary. So now you can enjoy even more with an added day to revel the majesty of the wildlife and natural beauty. Every lodge at the Taj Safaris has its own characteristic and a unique setting to give you an exclusive experience. When: Till 30th June 2013. Price: ` 7,500 + Taxes onwards. For Reservations, Call: 022-660-11825
DIVERSE EXPERIENCES OF THE SARAI
Experience the three distinctive resorts of The Serai, with its newly launched package of Pure Extravaganza. The itinerary covers all the three Serai resorts in Chikmagalur, Kabini and Bandipur. From the dense forests of Bandipur to the tranquil backwaters of the River Kabini to the lush coffee estates of Chikmagalur, The Serai takes you on an unforgettable journey. With all the taxes and meals included within the price of the package. Price: ` 50,000 per person on twin sharing basis When: Valid till 15th June, 2013. For Further Information, Visit: www.theserai.in
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Go Now : Packages & Promotions STAY HEALTHY IN NEW YORK Mandarin Oriental presents to you a very exciting package which includes soothing spa treatments and luxurious accommodations. The package includes The Clearing Factor spa treatment which lasts for around 3 hours and 50 minutes. Along with this, you can also experience private yoga classes and complimentary spa gift. To complete the whole experience, you can also receive one day’s worth of organic BluePrint Cleanse juices. You are required to book seven days prior to your arrival and this package is based on single occupancy for on-night stay.
LAVISH SUITES OF CHIANG MAI Experience the perfect blend of style and comfort nestled in the charming northern Thai Landscape. Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai’s lavish villas and suites are an epitome of luxury and class. They have wonderful packages for you to choose from for your stay in the same. The Grand Deluxe Pool Villa package starts from THB 48,499 per night and the Splendour
When: Valid through 31st August 2013. Price: USD 1,925. For Reservations, visit: www.mandarinoriental.com/newyork
of Dhara dhevi Package starts from THB 74,499. The packages include many interesting activities, buffet breakfasts and a lot more. The former package is valid till 19 December 2013, and the latter is valid till 30 September 2013. For Further Information and Reservation, Contact: +66 53 888 888 or mail at: mocnx-reservations@ mohg.com
FINEST GOLFING AT THE ANAHITA
The beautiful setting of The Anahita golf Course, offers you an exclusive golfing experience in Mauritius. Learn how to play golf and improve your skills during the one hour of free golf everyday at 11am. Get a complimentary suite accommodation if you are a group of six paying golf trainees. Along with this, you will also get complimentary green fee including golf carts with GPS and 55 practice balls in both the offerings. This 7,440 yard golf course has 18 holes with the 18th hole being the most impressive in the world. When: till 20 December 2013 For Further Information, visit: www.anahita.mu
S-CLASS TAKES YOU TO ATLANTIS THE PALM
Taking its legacy of providing unique experiences to guests, Atlantis, The Palm has yet again taken luxury to the next level. They would now offer their guests with transportation in the new economically efficient Mercedes-Benz S 400 Hybrid cars. With this, Atlantis becomes the first resort in the region with an entire fleet of hybrid cars. With luxurious services being provided at its best, guests can expect a comfortable and relaxing stay. This car has a compact design and smooth operation and it does not compromise on space and abundant features that define extravagant qualities. For Reservations, visit: www.atlantisthepalm.com
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Go Now : Packages & Promotions
DISCOVER LIFE AT CHIVA SOM, THAILAND
This is an exclusive diary of different weekly programmes prepared for likeminded people. It will help you discover a new perspective of life. It would be conducted ever y week amongst small groups of not more than 15 people. Each group will cover specific topics like, health, the balance of life, relationship, creativity, and a lot more. These weekly programmes are held with sessions by some great speakers, doctors, etc. These weekly programmes range from five nights to seven nights. Cooking classes, wellness wisdom, inner reflection, posture and emotions are a few more elements of these programmes. When: 2nd June to 15th September 2013 For Further Details, Visit: www.chivasom.com
HEALING SKIN AT SHUIQUI SPA
With the wide new range of fitness available at ShuiQui Spa & Fitness, you are surely going to feel relaxed on your trip. Four new and unique services have been introduced, including Rodial treatments, which is used to heal specific skin concerns naturally. Botolium toxin injections and soft tissue fillers is another signature treatment for the guests. Specialised doctors perform these specific treatments for the guests to look more pretty and attractive. ShuiQui Spa is also offering Mesotherapy exclusively in Dubai which stimulates the middle layer of skin with proteins and vitamins. For Reservations, Mail at: dxb-spa@atlantisthepalm.com For Further Information, visit: www.atlantisthepalm.com
EXCLUSIVE HOT SPRING IN CHINA
With 107 suites and villas, Banyan Tree Chongqing Beibei brings the healing waters of North Hot Springs to its guests. Its spa will also feature different kinds of hot spring pools to serve their guests with an exhilarating holiday experience. The interiors of the resort are a great combination of traditional and contemporary designs. The pristine waters are known for soothing skin and curing muscular ailments. Adding on to this, the resort also includes a well appointed gymnasium, yoga room and many more relaxing amenities. The resort is located in the Chengjiang Town that is 40 minutes drive from the Chongqing Airport. For Further Details, Visit: www.banyantree.com
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Go Now : Packages & Promotions
THE EXQUISITE IRISH DANCING Experience the magical Irish dancing at Riverdance – The Gathering with around 50 of the best Irish dancers. The weeklong festival will showcase magnificent performances, master classes and a record breaking attempt to form the longest Riverdance line along the River Liffey. In this festive mood you can also try your hand on learning the
Riverdance from the professionals. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Irish dance fans to experience this art of dance at its best. You can be a part of this event as dancers, as families and even as spectators and experience this dance at its spiritual home. For Further Information, visit: www.discoverireland.com/in
THE BUN FESTIVAL OF HONG KONG
A festival full of enthusiasm and zeal, it will take you closer to the cultural heritage of this place. Celebrated on the tiny island of Cheung Chau, it is also known as Cheung Chau Jiao Festival. The residents of the island participate in the festival to thank god for blessing and protecting them. The Floating Colours Parade and the Bun Scrambling competition being the major attractions, involve the residents in interesting activities with kids dressed up in colourful costumes as deities, celebrities, etc. The King and Queen of the Buns titles are also awarded on basis of the Bun Scrambling Competition. For Further Information, visit: www. DiscoverHongKong.com
BRUSSELS JAZZ MARATHON This festival has been drawing public from all over Europe since a decade. It is a huge jazz party which makes the capital of Europe swing for one weekend, with more than 450 musicians performing on the main squares in Brussels (Grand Place, place du Sablon, place Ste-Catherine & place Fernand Cocq) as well as in 50 other venues. The reputation and high quality of Belgian jazz is undeniable. You can also discover renowned artists of international reputation, as well as a new generation of exceptional young talents at this do. When: May 24 to May 26, 2013 Where: Grote Markt 1000 Brussel For more information, visit: www.visitflanders.in
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Go Now : Packages & Promotions
AFFORDABLE VACATIONS BY WEGO Go for an exotic trip and discover the diverse cultures and lifestyle of the tropical islands of South East Asia. WEGO has made these places more special with their interesting affordable packages and their comfortable accommodations. From Bali to Bangkok and from Phuket to Malaysia, they have it all set for your summer vacations. WEGO books comfortable hotels for its guests to relax and have a great time away from the hustle bustle of their day-to-day life. You can go for a romantic getaway with your loved one with these packages and let your imaginations come alive. When: Valid till 31st December 2013 For Further Information, Visit: www.wego.co.in
CALIFORNIA INVITES YOU THIS MONTH California is bustling with lively events and happenings all over. Starting with the Amgen Tour of California, 12th May it goes from Escondido to San Francisco to Santa Rosa ending on 19th May. It gives the riders a glimpse of the diverse landscape of various cities. The I Madonari Italian Street Painting Festival
is held from 25th May to 27th May at the Old Mission Santa Barbara. It brings together artists with various background and experience. Then from May 28th to 2nd June you can enjoy the America’s Cup world series of the world’s fastest boats. For Further Information, Visit: www.visitcalifornia.in/events/
NEW ZEALAND EXPERIENCE WITH MAKEMYTRIP Get the best of all that New Zealand has to offer you with the customised itineraries by MakeMyTrip. It has a complete experience of both south as well as the north islands. It covers major attractions like, Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater world and Antarctic Encounter, a tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves and a lot more... you can also visit the Te Puis Thermal Reserve to see the boiling mud pools and roaring geysers. The family package starts from ` 2,05,990 (ex-Bangaluru), whereas the honeymooner’s package start from ` 1,25,900. For Further Information, Visit: www.makemytrip.com
SPA RETREATS AT ST. MORITZ
Serving an ultimate wellness experience to their guests, this place holds in many world renowned spas within its boundaries. The day spas at most of the five-star hotels at this place are open for non-residents too. You have an array of options to choose from, such as the St. Moritz High Alpine Spa at the Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains. Located amidst the splendid scenery of Engadin Alps, Badrutt’s Palace hotel’s Alpine Spa Retreat offers a stylish and relaxing experience. Adding on, the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz offers great new and innovative services to its guests. So, go ahead and pamper your mind, body and soul. For Further Information, visit: www.engadin.stmoritz.ch
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Go Now : Packages & Promotions
THE GOAN FLAVOUR BY THE BEACH
Beleza...by the beach, a boutique resort very primly located on the white sandy beaches of Colva in South Goa has great offers for its patrons for the coming season. The resort offers two packages for you to choose from, the Getaway package is suitable for a couple whereas the Friends & Family Package is for a group of friends travelling together. Both the packages are for 3 Nights and 4 Days and include great services like airport transfers, a warm welcome with refreshing drinks, and much more. If you are looking for a ‘home away from home’ experience and a relaxing atmosphere then this is the perfect place for you. You can also enjoy a wide spread buffet breakfast along with complimentary couple massage under these two packages. If you have a child below the age of 5 years, he can stay with the compliments of the hotel with breakfast and without an extra bed. You also get a dinner credit of ` 500 per night at Tentação. During your stay at the resort you can also enjoy the DVD movie library, gym and swimming pool on complimentary basis. Along with this, the resort also offers special packages for corporate conferences or off-sites. When: 15th May to 30th September 2013. Price: Getaway Package –
` 13,499 Friends & Family Package – ` 36,999 For Reservations & Further Details, Call: 91 – 832 2781300, 832 2781301 or mail: reservations@belezagoa.com
SUMMERS WITH NATURE AT LAVASA Get set to experience the best vacations ever this summer with adventurous packages of Lavasa. Here, you can start your day in the lap of nature and enjoy the water sports and many more thrilling activities. They offer various packages each of them having different kind of activities for you to enjoy. From Lakeshore Water sports, spa treatments, archery, to Paint Ball Shooting and much more in the best way possible you have it all. It also serves different cuisines to the visitors from around the world. Along with, Continental, Mediterranean, Oriental and many more it also serves Satvic food. For Further Details, Visit: www.lavasa.com
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POWER LUNCH AT CASABLANCA Reenergise you day with the delicious power lunches at Casablanca, Double Tree by Hilton, Gurgaon. This Moroccan restaurant has introduced a very exciting menu with various courses that you can choose from for your meals. These quick executive lunches are a great option for people piled up with work in the office and looking for a quick bite to freshen up and start with a bright mind again. The dishes included in the courses of the Power Lunch are filled with protein and many such energising ingredients which will give a kick-start to your day. Timings: 12:30pm – 3:00pm Price: Starting from ` 1,200 per person For Reservations, Call: 0124-4911234
Go Now : IPL Promotions
IPL FEVER AT ISLAND BAR
They welcome all the game lovers to experience the thrill of watching the matches live in a stadium at their restaurant. The decor of Island Bar has been recreated to give it a stadium look and feel. They have different packages available to tantalize different taste buds. To savour unlimited premium liquor along with Chef’s signature snacks go for the ‘Beverage Premium League’ which is available for Rs. 2000. If this doesn’t suit your taste, you can enjoy the signature snacks platter with ‘Straight Drive’ at Rs. 1500. Beer lovers can relish ‘Budweiser Bucket’ at Rs. 999 all inclusive. Where: Island Bar, Shangri-La’s Eros Hotel, Delhi For Reservations, Call: 011-41191030
SAVOUR COMBO MEALS AT FLLUID Rejoice with the interesting vegetarian and non vegetarian combinations of wraps, rolls and much more at Flluid at Mosaic Hotels. They have a special Ala Carte menu introduced for the IPL season with different meal combos named after teams of different states. Along with this their regular buffet would also be available during the promotion. The live
screening of the 55 day action is the best way to unite cricket lovers over food. The combo meals will be accompanied by 1 pint of domestic beer to add to the thrilling flavours. Where: Flluid, Mosaic Hotels, Noida Timings: 7am to 11pm For Reservations, Call: 0120-4025000 / 0120-4025234
CRICKET UNLIMITED AT PARK HYATT CHENNAI Free Hits, Strategic Time Out and Power Play; experience it all at The Flying Elephant. The Free Hit package includes unlimited local beer along with popcorn at Rs. 1010. The Strategic Time Out package includes unlimited local and international beer to be enjoyed with popcorn and set snacks menu. This is available at Rs. 1515. The Power Play package includes unlimited selection of beer and 50% off on (Havana Club rum, Gordon’s gin, Chivas Regal 12 yrs whisky, Absolut vodka) along with popcorn and set snack menu. This is available for Rs. 2020. All these packages are valid during one match. Where: The Flying elephant, Park Hyatt, Chennai Timings: Duration of the match For Reservations, Call: 044 7177 1234
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Go Now : IPL Promotions
UNLIMITED BEER AT COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT, GURGAON
Have total fun of the Indian Premier League with your friends and family in a sporty ambience of Bar Zen, Courtyard by Marriott, Gurgaon. Enjoy unlimited starters and beer with their IPL package while cheering for your favourite team. The unlimited starters and beer package start at Rs. 7999 plus taxes. Get along with cricket fanatics and make every moment of the IPL moreover special. The delectable starters would enhance your mood and enthusiastic atmosphere of the Bar Zen. The live screening of the matches, the screaming crowd, raising beer mugs and cheering for your favourite team, it is the best mood set for this IPL season. Where: Bar Zen, Courtyard by Marriott, Gurgaon For Reservation, Call: 0124-4888444 For Further Details, Visit: www.marriott.com
TEAM UP FLAVOURS AT TAPAS
Enjoy the live screening of cricket matches along with lip smacking food items, interesting mocktails and cocktails topped up with the IPL flavour. To make the everyday action of IPL 2013 memorable cheer your favourite team and enjoy the interesting packages at TAPAS – The Lounge Bar. Starting from Rs. 1099 with Delhi Daredevils’ Flavour, and going up to Rs. 5999 with Chennai Super Kings’ Beamer, these packages have interesting names associated with different teams. Also, make predictions of the ‘Man of the Match’ or the ‘Final Match Score’ and you can get a discount of 50% at ‘Patra’ or ‘Eggspectation’. Where: TAPAS, Jaypee Siddharth, New Delhi For Reservations, Call: 011-25760000/43662500
BET AND WIN AT ALILA HOTELS, BANGALORE
Madness of this season’s cricket festival can be made more exciting and delicious at Pasha Bar and Grill. You can enjoy the perfect setting on a rooftop poolside with live screening of the match and scrumptious kebabs coupled with ideal drinks. Along with all this, they have also introduced a betting game where if the team you have bet on wins then your dinner turns free. So cheer, hoot, and enjoy this nail-biting experience of the Indian Premier League. You can avail a four beer bucket and an array of scrumptious kebabs at just ` 799. Where: Pasha Bar and Grill, Alila Bangalore Hotel and Residence For Reservations, Call: 91-807154 4444
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IRELAND
CELTIC FAIRYTALE
Beyond the beat of the Bodhran and the bulge of the barrel, there lies a haven of tranquillity. KRISHNARAJ IYENGAR unravelles fairytale Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Dublin
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LEISURE : DESTINATION
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n a merry Irish March, if a pint of Ale, a pair of manicured European legs and a cloudless summer sky appear green to you, not to worry. To any ophthalmologist’s dismay, its nothing but the aftermath of one of the greenest fiestas in humanity’s history. Celebrating St.Patrick’s Day in Dublin means soaking the spirit in green. Right from nappies to nose rings, lingerie to leprechaun hats, green takes the stage! Barely managing to catch my breath after a week of tap dancing, pub-hopping and St.Patrick’s parades with hilariously innovative acts, Dubliners of varied nationalities grinning from every street corner and terrace of every brownish-red Georgian building, I seek another canvas for Ireland’s national colour, heading South-Eastwards to the verdant County Wicklow, a haven of tranquillity.
VERDANT VIBES Revelling in the near-to Sanskrit sonorocity of Ireland’s traditional language, Gaelic radio somehow enriches the heart as one drives along the scenic Irish motorways. However long the journey, the ‘An ceol...um...agus... an contae chorcaí’ mesmerizes you into the world of enchanting syllables, twangs and an unpretentiously simplistic expressiveness the Irish reflect even in their heavily accented English! At Enniskerry in County Wicklow stands the Powerscourt Estate, a sprawling heritage mansion, originally a 13th century castle later refurbished by German architect Richard Cassels leading me to the surreally pretty Japanese gardens, an abode of tranquillity and solace to visitors from the world over, a haven for picnickers, trekkers and honeymooners. A fleet of stairs and then a relaxing Neptune fountain, Japanese-style bridges and pools and a weeping grotto made from volcanic stone where ferns and mosses flourish take me back to the Land of the Rising Sun. Beyond the lake are groves of towering trees, a dolphin pond and a splendid gate with gilded roses, thistles and shamrocks symbolizing England, Scotland and Ireland reveal another facet of the beautiful garden. Seated on moist gra s s be side s the fountain, a gentle breeze seemed to be whispering the lines of legendary Gujarati poet Kalapi “Jyaan jyaan nazar maari thare, yaadi bhari tyaan aapni. Jyaan jyaan chaman, jyaan jyaan gulo, tyaan nishaani aapni” (wherever I turn my face, its you Oh divine
beloved that I am reminded of. Wherever be the garden, wherever be the flowers abloom, your signs do I read, your signs do I read!) A pet cemetery in the garden moves you to tears as you find graves of horses, dogs and other pets with their names, birth and death dates and special attributes! “Swift, children’s pony for over twenty years at Powerscourt” and “Bully, American Pony, Died 6th May 1915” were two unforgettable tomb stones of mankind’s best friends.
FROTHING FABLES Yet another short drive brings me to what an art connoisseur would deem a Claude Monet come alive. Sprawling pastures of green leading to a magnificent expanse of blue of an inlet of the Irish Sea with a distant ship gently pulling-in to the harbour, lazily grazing cattle unmoved by the arrival of a stranger, or the baritone of the ship’s horn vanishing with the breeze! Wexford, any sea lover’s paradise had loads to offer contrary to what a cloudy summer afternoon had promised. After a hearty meal of jacket potatoes at an all-sea food joint plunk on the harbour of Wexford town,
I stroll on the promenade watching colourful fishing boats lay still, painted as if to match the blue, red, pink and yellow old pubs on the other side of the street. At Newross awaited a déjà vous with Ireland’s history aboard the ‘Dunbrody’, the astoundingly realistic model of a ‘famine ship’, one of the many that ferried thousands of Irish refugees to the United States during the great famine of the 1840’s. Its old-style wooden facades, large white sails, towering masts and a large ship’s wheel were reminders of Ireland’s era of starvation, deprivation and poverty. An old granny dressed in a typical 1800’s costume playing an emaciated refugee aboard the ship with guttural coughs punctuating her feeble narration brought the instant shudders to tourists! Enhancing the misery were the old wooden bunkers and life size models of families sleeping under old and torn rugs. Ahead, at Hook Lighthouse, Europe’s oldest, I burn-out the jacket potatoes with the steep, winding ascend onto its zenith where I behold the sheer grandeur of the raging Irish Sea, tangoing with a wind that could have easily blown away this 85 Kgs
St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Dublin
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Famine ship Dunbrody – New Ross – County Wexford
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LEISURE : DESTINATION endomorphic Indian! With her wildly flowing wine-hued hair, sharp and observant brown eyes and a weather-beaten, ruggedly pretty face, the lighthouse keeper’s granddaughter spoke volumes through her appearance even though she narrated tales of her ancestors, their saga of solitude and their equation with the aquatic jungle that stretched to eternity, greeting them from out of every window they looked. The passion in her voice revealed the bewilderment of the eternal enigma that the sea has always been since time immemorial.
LAKE-LORNE Two hours of sweet sleep and two hours of Sean Nos singing on ‘Raido Na Life’, Ireland’s
traditional Gaelic radio station with my local guide Paudy’s feather-touch driving brought me to the town of Killarney in the west of Ireland. The clickaticlack of an old horse carriage, the giggle of blonde lassies, a wayside tin whistler, the fragrance of fresh roses and me on a Ukulele outside a bright pink and green fish n chips place were like a childhood fairytale come alive! At the Lakes of Killarney, the quitetude had me lapse into Buddahesque stillness, watching a lone hiker disappearing into the green, a Japanese couple acrobatically capturing every swan and a tiny bird from beyond the weeds incessantly singing in its jigsaw rhythm. Ahead, at the Killarney National Park stands the sprawling Muckross House, a heritage 19th century Victorian Mansion surrounded by a grassy expanse leading to the lake and the imposing late 15th century Ross Castle, home to many intriguing legends. “It is said that the O’Donoghue chieftain (of the ruling clan of the region) was sucked
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away from his window by a monstrous creature and disappeared into the lake opposite the castle.” explained Paudy, making it sound more mysterious with his Connemara Accent! In the environs of the castle is a tiny canal with a pretty array of colourful boats, occasional country lads with their fishing lines, picnickers and frolicking toddlers...an Enid Blyton classic in form!
THE WILD WEST
Musician Michael Herlihi with button accordion – Dingle Gaeltacht village
At Dingle, one of County Kerry’s most pretty Gaeltachts (traditional Gaelic speaking villages), I am charmed by the array of quaint, colourful old pubs, a tiny fishing harbour and Michael Herlihy’s cramped
Heaven on earth – Powerscourt Gardens – County Wicklow
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factfile The Republic of Ireland can be reached via several destinations in the Middle East and Europe. There are no direct flights from anywhere in India. From Dublin, its capital, a two hour drive gets you to County Wicklow to the south east, four hours by road to County Kerry in the west. One can enjoy pub-hopping at Temple Bar, traditional music, Trinity College, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Old Jameson Distillery, Guinness Storehouse and the verdant St. Stephens Green in Dublin city. Besides travelling by road, Dublin is well connected by an efficient train service.
and cute music shop where we jam all morning, the old chap (as he calls himself!) on his famous bright-red button accordion, me on an old goat-skin Bodhran frame drum. Hopping on to a bicycle, I dash off into the forbidding Ring of Kerry, dogging a slippery, rocky terrain to behold the most stunningly breathtaking views of the frothing marvel that the turquoise Atlantic with grey clouds descending on her was as a storm was about the brew. With their sheer 90 degree plunges, the cliffs roared as towering waves crashed at their feet, as if devotees in passionate surrender to a lofty prophet’s decree. Taking momentar y refuge in a lone, ancient monastic site, I settle in its conical stone cubical with just a small, roughly carved window overlooking the disappearing horizon. The vibrations of the monks who once inhabited it were alive enough to transport me into what the Indian Mystics described as the meditative Nispanda Bhaav (unmoving observation) as the past, present and future seemed like the damp breeze riding the waves, from outside the window. Then, throwing all fear to the winds, I head downhill onto a deserted beach enveloped in a gigantic rocky bowl, the Atlantic in full glory washing my weathered shoes as I stood on the water’s edge, Omar Khayyam’s famous lines “This ocean of existence, from a mystery has emerged, the secret of which, none has ever unveiled. What you and I believe are mere opinions, the truth of it, none could ever tell” seemed etched on every wave that rushed towards me like an enraged lion. Just as I revelled in my solitude, I suddenly felt a familiar tap and an unmistakable twang, it was my childhood buddy and sailor! As we relived our kindergarten seashore picnics, only this time as fully grown daredevils, the same innocence prevailed!
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LEISURE : DESTINATION
TOULOUSE, FRANCE
THE PINK CITY
BETWEEN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND ATLANTIC OCEAN Along with some of the best examples of architecture, Toulouse is a very vivacious city with soothing shades of pinks, violets and blues all over. It is France’s fourth biggest city, and houses monuments and museums which are not worth missing.
T
A musician mesmerising with his music
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he city of Toulouse, in southern France can be traced back to ancient times. It was the capital of the County of ‘Occitania’ Toulouse (Tolosa – old name of Toulouse) in the Middle Ages and today is the capital of the MidiPyrénées region. Toulouse known as the Ville rose, means ‘Pink City’, is situated on the banks of the beautiful river Garonne, in between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The city bordering Spain, is full of friendly people and interesting, ancient architecture. Toulouse is a city of history and heritage that is in its various architectural marvels – its standing churches, magnificent mansions, its Hotels Particuliers, suburban excellence, trees that give the effect of being ‘designer’ horticulture lining the roads, sunflower fields and sloping vineyards. It is warm and welcoming and easy to get on with. Such a descriptive view can be endless till one stands on the banks of the Garonne river, which is a quiet reminiscent of the history seen through its marvelous buildings, its architecture and the bridges – each with its unending legends that makes most local inhabitants yet another historian. The Garonne river has always been the focal point of local life and activity. Its riverbanks are laid out as promenades and the riverside buildings have been restored. Today, shuttles cross the tamed river during major public events and there are boat trips and floating restaurants. The violet is the emblem of Toulouse. The town is sometimes called the City of Violets. The Violet of Toulouse is characterised by its bluish purple colour. It has a double
flower (twice the usual number of petals) and is therefore larger than most other varieties of violet. It flowers from October to April. Before the widespread use of greenhouses, it was one of the rare fresh flowers sold during the winter. Then there are the art museums with a collection of Roman and Gothic pieces of art and paintings, some so large that it easily dwarfs its admirers. The aerospace industry there, by comparison, is nascent and has its contribution in the development of the region. The Universities are an important institutional landmark which has cultural melting pot of the variety of students that come from all over while the elderly natives at the romantic bistros and cafes at all popular places in the city, the university student community keeps the evening and night spots active. The city’s university accommodates over 90000 students and 10000 researchers, having set its sight on becoming one of the leading 50 universities in the world, given its commitment to superlative science and technology hub. A city of intelligence and research, Toulouse is also becoming a centre of innovation and employment. History goes back to recordings of 13th century and the crusade against the Albigensians when the County of Toulouse was annexed to the Crown of France. Then, after Paris, Toulouse became the second town in France to have a University. It was a few centuries later that Toulouse experienced a flamboyant Renaissance period till the 18th century when the French Revolution brought the Capitalist system to an end. In the subsequent century the town undertook a significant programme of urban building, such as the development of the Capitole and Wilson Square.
Garonne River and St Pierre Bridge
Rue de Metz
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The suburbs of Saint-Michel and Saint Cyprien were built during the 11th century. The Daurade bridge connected in 1181 the Saint-Cyprien suburb to the gates of the city. The suburbs of Saint-Sernin and Saint-Pierre des Cuisines also had a remarkable expansion. The opening of Matabiau station in 1856 heralded the age of transportation, while boulevards replaced the city walls and main thoroughfares were created at the end of the 19th century. The beginning of the 20th century was characterized by a huge population increase, caused by the arrival of immigrants fleeing the numerous fascist regimes of the period (immigrants came from the north of France in 1914, from Italy in the 1920s and Spain in 1934). World-wide conflict forced the city, due to its strategic position close to Spain, to change and undergo its own industrial revolution, which resulted in the arrival of chemical industries in 1915, the Latécoère aircraft factory, and the setting up of Aéropostale, the French airmail service. Aérospatiale (the internationally-known aeronautics firm) was created here in 1920. During the Second World War, Toulouse’s resistance network went from strength to strength during the Occupation. A new wave of immigrants arrived just after the
Basillique St Sernin
In 1190 began the construction of the future Capitole, the common house, the town council headquarters. With 24 members, probably elected, the Capitouls granted themselves the rights of police, trade, imposition and started some conflicts with the closest cities. Despite the intervention of the King, the administration of the Capitouls gave a relative independence to the city, for nearly 600 years, until the French Revolution. Le Capitole which is now the headquarters of the city council and the Capitole theatre has been in existence since the 18th century. Going in from the central square into the inner courtyard, it is the place where regular exhibitions are hosted, one reaches the Tourist Office, located in the Donjon du Capitole, the ancient tower which was home 22
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to the magistrate’s archives. At a time when the city was in the period of impressive expansion, attracting exceptional artists, it became a focal point for Roman art. In this momentum, three major construction projects were initiated. The most remarkable among them is the basilica of Saint-Sernin and this vast cathedral has become the essential feature of Toulouse landscape, becoming the largest roman building in Western Europe. The roman sculptures in the Musee des BeauxArts de Toulouse are a key landmark in the history of roman sculpture. The majority of the exhibits originate from three main religious buildings of Toulouse’s Roman era – the monastery of Notre-Dame de la Daurade, the basilica of Saint-Sernin and the Cathedral of Saint-Etienne.
Crowne Plaza Hotel in Toulouse
LEISURE : DESTINATION war in Algeria and forced the city to spread further west towards the suburbs. Since then, industries - particularly the aviation industry have continued to flourish, as have electronics and space exploration sectors. France’s fourth biggest city, home to the country’s second biggest university and France’s aeronautics capital, Toulouse is a dynamic, forward-looking city whose pinks (for its buildings) and blues (for its pastel) are a constant reminder of its rich and colourful past.
MONUMENTS & MUSEUMSU
Aquinas was buried here in the year 1974.
Le Bazacle Situated on the banks of the river Garonne, Le Bazacle is an old bridge that is now a wellknown tourist spot. This was the first bridge built in the 12th century on the river Garonne, where the water was never too deep.
Basilique de la Daurade The place got its name after the golden mosaics. This was a Roman temple but was
later on converted into a Christian church. The construction of the present building was being done for over a century. It is the best example of ancient French architecture, with those heavy columns that support a triangular pediment and a classical stone facade.
Cite de l’Espace In French, the term means ‘space city’. It is a theme park that also consists of the planetarium. It provides a good insight on space adventures and even on the history
Place du Capitole Capitole is the heart of the city. It is the best example of 19th century architecture, along with the works of Jean-Paul Laurens and Henry Martin. The square outside, is surrounded by red-bricked buildings and the ground marked with the Toulouse cross. Just across the square, there are various street cafes under beautiful stone canopies.
Eglise des Jacobins To the west of the Place du Capitole, is this Gothic church of the Jacobins. It has 1307 cloisters and the tower is built on the model of the Saint-Sernin. It has a two-aisled nave and the remains of the great saint, Thomas
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LEISURE : DESTINATION of space, right from the Big Bang to the whole solar system. It was inaugurated in the year 1997.
Musee des Augustins This museum is situated in a Gothic convent and boasts of having a huge collection of paintings and sculptures from the medieval times to the 20th century. These sculptures represent the Occitan culture. There are many paintings of famous French artists and especially Toulouse-based painters like - Guercino, Rubens, etc.
Jardin des Plantes This basically means, ‘garden of plants’ and was crowned the first botanical garden ever created in the city of Toulouse. It is spread across an area of seven acres. Today it is known as ‘Jardin Botanique Henri Gaussen’. Jardin des Plantes is situated in the downtown area near the Canal du Midi.
Musee Georges Labit
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Canal du Midi This canal connects the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Designed by Pierre-Paul Riquet, it took over a decade and more than 12,000 workers to build this canal. This canal stretches almost 241 km. It is believed to be one of the masterpieces of Louis XIV’s reign, which is now a world heritage site (UNESCO)
Fondation Bemberg This beautiful mansion was built in 1555 for Pierre Assezat, a rich pastel merchant. Presently it has the personal collections of Georges Bemberg. It’s mainly the renaissance of the 17th century France. Many significant moments from the history of France are presented here in the form of sculptures. As one travels through the modern Toulouse, it is easy to see the century old houses and their styles which have the large windows on the ground floor and the smaller
ones on the floors above. Then there are well designed roads with “platane” trees lined up very artistically and functionally that it provided the shade and safety for the people travelling at that time. Napoleon III, French Emperor, a great lover of greenery, encouraged planting of these trees in parks, gardens and alongside the roads. History goes back to the time in 1629, when 20 such “platane” trees are planted in Archevéché’s gardens in Aix-en-Provence. It is fascinating to see some houses which are habited, called Pigeonniers, where there is the pigeon resting place at the top and the residents were once using their domestic flock of pigeons to communicate with their friends and relatives. Construction of pigeon houses date between the 16th and 19th centuries, and the construction style ranged from a wooden house supported by wooden posts, to solid square towers of stone, supported on stone
Hotel d’Assezat
pillars. Many are also inlayed with bricks. Most of these are isolated constructions in the countryside for three main reasons: 1. Pigeons need tranquillity, and peace. They must at all times, be able to keep watch over their homes and the countryside in case of an attack from predator birds or other animals. 2. And it’s advisable to keep the houses away from useable wells or drinking water used by the farmers. 3. Also the farmers set them distinctly away from the main house to ‘show off’ their pride and joy. It seems that they tried to outdo each other, with better and different designs. A word about these pigeons, no other farm animal or bird has ever received so much pampering. Pigeon meat was, and still is, highly appreciated when the birds are young. Their droppings were used for precious fertilizer. In wine producing regions, pigeon manure was used to fertilize the vines. The pigeon was used also as ‘air mail’ messengers, up until World War I – when a military pigeon house was constructed in Albi. Thus the curious relationship between pigeon and man has evolved over the centuries. The high status of the pigeon stayed around until the Industrial Revolution when modern technol-
ogy took over from our winged friends. Also awareness of public health increased and thus fewer pigeonniers were built. The passenger traffic data for 2012 was 7.56 million which registered a growth of 8.2% over the same period last year. This volume of traffic is composed of 4.3 million international passengers and 3.2 million domestic passengers. The other way of looking at this traffic size is that the regular airline passengers added to 7.2 million numbers and the charter market brought in 0.3 million people and a bare 0.06 million people were in transit and these are likely the ones who go to the nearby skinning resorts in the Pyrennes or the Mediterrean sea-resorts. The places to see around Toulouse are Carcassone, Albi, Lourdes, Andorra and of course the Pyrennes, and a host of favourable choices of attractive locations between the Atlantic side and the Mediterrean side of France. There are a host of good hotels in Toulouse, the best one being the Grand Crowne Plaza in the downtown Capitole Square and the regular others in the city and the suburbs are the popular brands like Radisson, Pullman, Holiday Inn, Ibis etc. Finally, the sport that is the part of the his-
factfile Getting There: It is reachable from Paris by air in 1 hour and from London and Frankfurt in 1.5 hours. Toulouse has direct flight connection within France to 16 major cities and is conveniently to 69 international cities in 38 countries in Europe and Northern America. There are 15 regular international airlines flying into Toulouse daily.
tory is Rugby. Stade Toulousain is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in MidiPyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times (record) – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps and Munster, respectively. Stade Toulousain have also won a record 19 French Championship titles. It is traditionally one of the main providers for the French national team. Their home ground is the Stade Ernest-Wallon. However, big Top 14 matches along with Heineken Cup games are often played at the Stadium Municipal de Toulouse. The club’s colours are red, black and white. Text and photos by AJAY MEHRA adequately supported by FRANCIS MEYSSELLE
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LEISURE : DESTINATION
TURKEY
CHOOSE TURKEY FOR PICTURE PERFECT CELEBRATIONS Turkey - an ideal destination for weddings and honeymoons
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D
estination weddings are more popular now than ever before. Choosing your dream destination for your wedding, renewing wedding vows or honeymoons is an exciting process. Couples and their families looking for unique ways to commemorate their union in an intimate celebration surrounded by just their close friends and relatives are on the rise. The beauty of destination weddings is in the theme, locations and setting. With
Beauty of Antalya
Hot air balloon tours in Cappadocia
multiple cultural and historical attractions in Turkey, it is a country that is fast growing as one of the most sought after destinations. Turkey is like a mosaic made up of many different reliefs and formations: parallel mountain ranges, extinct volcanoes, plateaux fissured by valleys and plains. Surrounded on its three sides by warm seas, it falls in the temperate climate zone which make options plenty to celebrate a wedding and a honeymoon. One can choose from picturesque mountain tops, laid back beach flairs, whimsy backdrops, warm tropical climate and of course the friendly culture to make your celebration a memorable one.
WEDDING DESTINATIONSU The picturesque deep blue sea surrounding Turkey
Kaleiçi & Antalya Part of the Turkish Riviera, Antalya is set
around a Roman harbor and old town and enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year which makes it one of the best wedding destinations globally. For more active travelers, there are plenty of water sports on offer including windsurfing, waterskiing and sailing too. Kaleiçi also known as Old Antalya, is also a great place to spend some time if you love history and culture. Not only is there a lot to see and do inside Kaleici itself, but you’re also within a tram ride of the Antalya Museum, one of the best in the country.
Bozcaada Bozcaada is a little, mysterious island in the north of the Aegean Sea. There are not many places left along the coast that retains their original architecture, but Bozcaada is an island, and the cute little stone houses of the town have managed to weather both May 2013 GO NOW
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Photogenic Sultanahmet Mosque, Istanbul
the years and Turkey’s tourism boom. The castle here is fatally photogenic, and the fish restaurants lively and fun. Toss in a couple of decent cafés and Greek-style tavernas, sprinkle with soft sandy beaches, and the recipe is complete. The ferry-crossing from the mainland is short and sweet. For Bozcaada, coaches leave only from big cities (Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, Bursa). The bus journey from Istanbul takes approximately 7½ hours.
Islamlar & Kalkan With its swimming clubs carved into the cliff and yachts bobbing on the sea, Kalkan has 28
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certain old-school glamour. A wedding party can also head to the hills – the picturesque mountain village of Islamlar is a short drive away. Here you’ll find elegant villas, fruit trees and olive groves, and a teeming trout stream flowing down the hill.
Blue Lagoon Islands, Olu Deniz, Dalaman You can’t get a more romantic and scenic destination than the glimmering waters of the famous Blue Lagoon. It takes pride as one of Turkey’s Turquoise-Coast’s top waterside spots. If you are thinking of making your mar-
riage ceremony memorable then this is one destination you should definitely seek out.
HONEYMOON DESTINATIONSU
Istanbul - Horse backed carriage rides A short boat or ferry ride can take you away from all the hustle bustle in Istanbul to princess island a motor free zone which in itself is an oasis of peace and quiet. The sound of horse feed on the ground as they tick is quite peaceful; it is as if you are meditating. Apart from using horse-backed carriages as a form of transportation, it is also possible to
Horse backed carriage rides in Istanbul
taking a breath here at the Park. There are nice tea gardens (cafes) inside and around the park where you can relax and watch it all -sipping into traditional Turkish tea. Finally, Bebek Park has one thing that most other parks in the world do not; and that is the Sea, the port and the fishermen.
Istanbul - Aya Yorgi Aya Yorgi church was built in the name of Saint George and is located on the highest hill of Büyükada, called Yücetepe. In order to fulfill their wish-making rituals, crowds of every religion visit Aya Yorgi twice a year i.e. on April 23 and September 24. The hill is too steep for the horses so everyone must walk up or go on Donkey back. Benches are scattered around for those who need to take a breath during this tiring climb. However, you don’t really notice the steepness of the ascent with the spectacular view of the forest and the stunning sights of the other islands and sea through the trees.
Safranbolu
do a long or a short guided sightseeing tour around the islands.
Istanbul – Bebek Park Bebek Park is located on the Bosphorus shores of Bebek, a luxurious district in Istanbul and there are variety of dining and wining alternatives in and around the park for the visitors. Bebek Park is not one of the biggest parks that other tourist cities have to offer, but with its lush green trees, wooden benches it is an invincible hub for locals of Bebek. On any sunny Sunday you are likely to find both celebrities and local residents,
Safranbolu is famous for its Ottoman houses both in Çarsı (old town) and the neighborhood of Baglar (literally “orchards”), and qualifies as a UNESCO world heritage site. To step back into Turkey’s Ottoman past, explore Safranbolu. Spend your days strolling around the cobbled streets of a townscape that’s hardly changed since the nineteenth century, and then go for a soak and a scrub in the lovely Cinci Hamami (Turkish bath) will ensure an exciting honeymoon offering. Buses from Istanbul take about 6 hours and buses from Ankara take around 3 hours. If you want to go by car from Ankara, it is 220 kms.
Cappadocia: Hot Air Balloon Tours The Cappadocian Region located in the cent-
Fun activities for couples
factfile Turkey is a country of many contrasts: It has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters. The coastal areas have a temperate Oceanic climate with warm, wet summers and cool to cold, wet winters. Getting There: Fly to Istanbul from Delhi or Mumbai with Turkish Airlines (www. turkishairlines.com) or most other international Airlines with respective stopovers including Qatar Airways or Emirates. Indian passport holders can get visas on arrival for `1100 if they have a valid UK, US or Schengen visa. Alternatively, one can also apply for a tourist visa at the Turkish Embassy, New Delhi (http://newdelhi.emb.mfa.gov.tr.in).
er of the Anatolian Region of Turkey, with its valley, canyon, hills and unusual rock formation created as a result of the eroding rains and winds of thousands of years is by far one on the most magnificent structures created by nature. One can rent a luxurious room in one of the many boutique cave hotels for a truly cherished travel memory. The hot air balloon tours in Cappadocia are world famous and a must for any honeymooning couple visiting the region. by NAUSHEEN TAREEN May 2013 GO NOW
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METRO TRAVEL : AHMEDABAD
MICE ON THE RISE The largest city of Gujarat, Ahmedabad is one of India’s major industrial hubs – it is a leading manufacturing centre for textiles, pharmaceuticals, dyes, chemicals, plastics, jewellery and engineering goods, and the headquarters of many industrial houses like Adani Group, Nirma, Zydus, Cadila and Torrent. It also has a strong presence of multinationals like Vodafone and Shell. Today, Ahmedabad is well-known as an emerging auto hub and is expected to grow as a technology hub. Yet another reason to visit Ahmedabad are its premium institutes like IIM-A, NID, MICA, CEPT, etc that have regular programs for corporate execs, techies, designers and entrepreneurs. With a regular flow of business visitors and execs, Ahmedabad is now mushrooming new hotels including big brands. These hotels offer excellent opportunities for meetings, conferences and events.
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METRO TRAVEL : AHMEDABAD
Conference Room at Courtyard by Marriott
COURTYARD BY MARRIOTTT
Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad enjoys an excellent location on Satellite Road, near corporate offices, BPOs and upmarket areas on this road and SG Road. This hotel is also ideal for those who want to spend time at malls, multiplexes and clubs after work hours, as most of these entertainment complexes are on nearby SG Road. The lobby is a signature feature of the Courtyard by Marriott brand, with flexible and functional open spaces where you can meet for conversations, business facilities, reception and a huge all-day dining space called MoMo Cafe which stands for modern living and modern eating. The hotel offers 130 deluxe rooms (King or Twin beds), 22 club rooms designed with king size and twin beds, and 12 Courtyard Suites in deluxe or executive categories. All the rooms offer TV, high speed internet, 2-line phone, iHome docking station and data ports. For MICE, the hotel has a 4,513 sq ft grand ballroom on the lower ground floor with a separate entrance, which can be divided into 3 separate meeting rooms, a sizeable pre – function area of 3,876.5 sq ft and 5 additional boardrooms at The Business Centre’s meeting facility. The boardroom features
a fully interactive environment and comes equipped with high speed internet connectivity, teleconferencing, secretarial support staff and faxing facilities to ensure that your business is conducted seamlessly. For recreation, the hotel has a Spa, Fitness Centre, Swimming Pool and Whirlpool. Shakahari is a signature vegetarian restaurant. LE MERIDIENA
Le Meridien is a part of Ahmedabad’s major hotel strip of Khanpur Road, stretching
along the east banks of the Sabarmati River between Nehru Bridge and Gandhi Bridge. This road developed as the fashionable hotel street from the 1960s and ’70s because of its proximity to the textile mills and cloth markets of eastern Ahmedabad, and continues to be the convenient location for business visitors to industrial areas and wholesale markets. One of the USPs of Le Meridien is that it has a secured parking area despite its location on a bustling main road, with Valet Parking as an added bonus. The hotel’s
Le Meridien
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Ballroom at Hyatt Ahmedabad
atrium has sitting arrangements in a lobby with glass-lifts. Just off the atrium is the Waterfall, a popular all-day dining restaurant named for its glassed-in artificial waterfall – it is specially known for its buffet meals. The restaurant faces the Sabarmati Riverfront. The 66 rooms in the hotel include eight deluxe rooms and two suites. Though this is one of the older five-stars in Ahmedabad, the rooms have modern conveniences like wi-fi, plasma TV, mini-bar, etc. The hotel also has a beautiful indoor swimming pool, in the
basement, with mosaic figures, besides a health club. For MICE, the Canterbury Hall can accommodate 200 guests and there are also smaller meeting arrangements. For a nightly event, ask about the rooftop which has an amazing view of the lights along the Sabarmati River.
HYATT AHMEDABADT
Hyatt Ahmedabad is located in a complex that includes a retail mall, a cinema multiplex and other facilities, near Vastrapur Lake. The lobby at Holiday Inn Express
This is a ‘happening’ area of Ahmedabad, near posh residential areas, corporate offices and recreational hot-spots. The hotel shares the entrance with the mall and multiplex, but is well tucked away from the bustle. The lobby is aesthetically pleasing and full of artefacts. The hotel has 178 contemporary guestrooms, including ten suites, with state-of-the-art facilities. The two restaurants are on the first floor – Collage is an all-day dining multi-cuisine restaurant cum coffee shop, while Nonya is a specialty restaurant for Chinese and South-East Asian cuisines. At the lobby level, Chocolart is a cake shop and café, with an attached art gallery. For MICE, the hotel has options for 10 to 600 delegates including a chandelier-lit banquet hall. To unwind, there is a spa. Hyatt also has an outdoor swimming pool with a refreshment area on the poolside.
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESSU
This contemporary-styled hotel is located on Ashram Road, the Central Business District of Ahmedabad, and is convenient for those heading in from the airport to the western parts of the city. The hotel price includes free Express Start breakfast and free Wi-Fi 32
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Gardenia, an all day dining restaurant at Park Plaza
throughout the hotel. The hotel has a 24-hour Business Centre and two modern meeting rooms for 35 people. The rooms are provided with an iPod docking station and a 32-inch LED TV. The hotel also has a gym and a restaurant.
PARK PLAZAU
Park Plaza Ahmedabad is located in the Ellisbridge area of the city, near the Central Business District of Ashram Road and a number of corporate office buildings. The hotel is quite appealing with passages running past a small lawn and garden. The appropriately named Gardenia, an all day dining multi-cuisine restaurant, faces the lawns, while a new specialty restaurant called Oriental Blossom is expected to open soon. The 90 rooms are all equipped with modern facilities. For MICE, there are a number of meeting rooms. The hotel has special child menus, baby sitting and other facilities, making it ideal for those travelling with kids.
distance from the hotel. The hotel is ideally located near the buzz but not in a noisy locality. The 99 rooms are equipped with sleek furniture, bright furnishings, orthopedic mattress, excellent sound insulation, near-perfect black-out curtains, WiFi, satellite television, mini bars, work station and other modern conveniences. The Citrus Café is a bright and appealing dining option and the hotel has a fitness centre too. For meetings, Tangarine is a 60 seater venue and there is also a 24 hour business centre in the hotel.
THE PRIDEU
The Pride Ahmedabad is located in Bodakdev, well-situated to visit the corporate complexes of SG Road, Satellite Road and Judges Bungalow Road. It is one of the popular hotels in Ahmedabad for banquets and business visitors. The hotel is entered through a lobby which leads to Café Treat, one of Ahmedabad’s largest 24-hour coffee shops. Off the lobby are the outdoor swimming pool, the fitness centre and other facilities. The 164 rooms have the expected
LEMON TREEU
Lemon Tree Ahmedabad is located near CG Road and Mithakali, with a number of corporate offices and retail complexes in walking
Tangarine, the meeting room at Lemon Tree
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Radisson Blue Ahmedabad
Lobby at The Gatewat Hotel Ummed
in the motifs. For gatherings, it is possible to book the private dining room (PDR) at the restaurant for eight guests. They even have a networking table with wired internet access. For those with a sweet tooth, Radisson’s The Cake Place is known for its confectionery and desserts.
THE GATEWAY HOTEL UMMEDT
Silver Pavilion, Ramada Ahmedabad
range of modern facilities. Upstairs is Casablanca, the fine dining restaurant. For MICE, the venues range from a board room to large ballrooms.
RADISSON BLUU
Radisson Blu is one of Ahmedabad’s much talked about hotels. Opened in 2012, this smart hotel is situated just off CG Road which is Ahmedabad’s upscale shopping and commercial street, and near the offices of many leading corporate houses, with banks, restaurants, coffee bars and other facilities nearby. It is just a few minutes from the University area where most of the exhibition halls, convention centres and institutes are located. The hotel has a parking space with valet parking services. The 116-room hotel offers 77 Superior Rooms, 24 Business Class Rooms, 8 Executive Suites, 6 Business Class Suites and One Presidential suite, each with a 40 inch LCD television, individual climate control, free high-speed internet access, etc. The suites have the added benefit of Digivalet, which uses the ipad for controlling the AC and TV. Those staying in the businessclass rooms and suites can use the Business 34
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Lounge. The hotel also has a state of the art fitness centre and a spa. For MICE, the hotel has over 3000 sq ft of space between two ballrooms, Antra and Raag which can accommodate 220 and 120 guests, respectively. The Business Centre, called Manthan, can accommodate 12 people and is equipped with all business support services and browsing station. A key feature of Radisson Blu is its restaurants. It has The Great Kabab Factory which is an Indian specialty restaurant brand that, as the name suggests, is known for serving delectable kababs from all over the Indian sub-continent and beyond. The signature specialties are the melt-in-the-mouth Galauti Kebab from the Awadh region and the Burrah Kebab, and the dal. Given the large vegetarian patronage in Ahmedabad, tandoori broccoli, subz galouti and tandoori chaat are extremely popular. The other restaurant is Timpani, an allday dining restaurant cum 24 hour coffee shop that has also become a happening place. Timpani gets its name from the Italian word for kettledrums and these brass and copper percussion instruments are reflected
The USP of this hotel is its location near the airport, making it ideal for transit passengers or those who want to make quick getaways to Gujarat’s capital city, Gandhinagar, which is an upcoming knowledge and infotech city. Another feature of the hotel is that it has few touches of Rajasthani-Gujarati character in the architecture, which flows around an open courtyard. The hotel has 91 Rooms including four suites with the modern amenities associated with The Gateway Hotels brand, a swimming pool, a spa, shopping area, all-day dining GAD restaurant and an Indian specialty restaurant called Narmada with some ethnic décor. The hotel is quite popular for MICE – besides two banquet halls, you can also host your event in one of the two garden venues.
RAMADA AHMEDABADU
Ramada is conveniently situated on Corporate Road, the emerging new business centre of Ahmedabad with swanky office buildings, luxe residential complexes and entertainment zones on this road and nearby Prahladnagar. The hotel has 82 superior rooms, 6 premium rooms and 2 executive suites. The Sigri Restaurant specializes in Awadhi and frontier cuisine, while Sun Dew is the all-day dining restaurant where you will find people dropping in for a midnight meal after work or the movies. The hotel is becoming popular for MICE with two banquet halls and a business centre. by ANIL MULCHANDANI
GONOW : PROMOTION
CAMBAY HOTELS
A NICHE GROUP THAT IS SERVICE-ORIENTED, POPULAR FOR CORPORATE EVENTS, WEDDINGS AND F&B CAMBAY GRAND, AHMEDABAD
A Paradise for Business Traveller
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ocated near the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, in the heart of a bustling city and its key business areas, Cambay Grand is an illustrious property rendering manifold facilities including tasteful accommodation, ambrosial dining, refined conferencing and banqueting, spa, swimming pool, discotheque and fitness centre. The hotel is an ideal choice for stay owing to its easy accessibility to the domestic and international airport. T he hotel embo die s 16 8 elegantly designed rooms inLocation: Thaltej, off SG Highway Facilities: • Two multi-cuisine restaurants • five banquets – accommodating 100 to 700 people • fully equipped rooms • Spa • Swimming pool
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cluding deluxe, premium and Cambay Club rooms. The hotel also encompasses multi-cuisine restaurants and food & beverages outlets. The hotel is well appointed with state-of-the-art meeting rooms and banquet halls with a capacity of up to 1000 persons.
Ideal forU
Meeting, Conference, Wedding & Corporate Stay
GONOW : PROMOTION CAMBAY SPA AND GOLF RESORT, GANDHINAGAR
CAMBAY GOLF RESORT, JAMDOLI, JAIPUR
The Finest Tranquil Experience
The Upscale Royal Sojourn
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ambay Spa & Golf Resort is a refuge to sheer luxury, spread over a purview of 28 acres. It is located approximately 1 km away from Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat. It is a complete resort full of rich texture, stately furnishings and statuesque articles of art. The resort embodies 199 rooms including executive rooms, presidential suites, golf facing cottages, golf facing villas and presidential villas. The resort also offers other facilities such as restaurants, conference rooms, convention centre, banquet halls and amphitheatre. It also has facilities for recreation and games such as gymnasium, billiards and gaming zone. A perfect amalgam of sporting and entertainment options that include an all-weather tennis court, squash court, billiards, virtual golf and a mini theatre, this resort is a perfect destination conducive for leisure. This resort renders services in inLocation: Gandhinagar Facilities: • Multi cuisine Restaurant • Oriental Spa • golf course • swimming pool • lawns • Conference rooms
ternational and ayurvedic spa therapies. The nine-hole golf course is the most remarkable feature of Cambay Spa & Golf Resort. The golf course has two levels and sixteen driving stations, with a driving range that is 240 mtr. long and 40 mtr. wide. The golf course also has a segment for virtual golfing that involves a high technology simulation golfing. The resort has a golf training academy to provide professional training to members and nonmembers, and it also hosts professional golf tournaments.
Ideal forU
Destination weddings, Golf tournaments, recreation, weekend getaway, conferences
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oc ated at Ja mdoli ne a r Jaipur, Cambay Golf Resort is an upscale property spread over an area of 44 acres. The immense natural beauty surrounding this resort adds to the location advantage. This resort has well equipped and luxurious rooms including cottages and villas. This resort further provides a range of facilities to its guests and members, which include a business center, spa, swimming pool and fitness center. The resort has multicuisine restaurants, and food & beverage outlets. This resort Location: Jamdoli, Jaipur Facilities: • Swimming pool • multi cuisine restaurants • Oriental spa • banquet • gaming zone • golf course
also has meeting rooms and banquet halls with capacity for up to 1,500 persons. This resort also has a nine hole golf course that provides services including virtual golfing and golf academy.
Ideal forU
Destination Weddings, Conferences, Golf Tournaments, Parties/ Gatherings, Weekend getaway May 2013 GO NOW
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GONOW : PROMOTION
CAMBAY PALM LAGOON, KOLLAM
Luxury Close to Nature
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SP: The Cambay Palm Lagoon is a boutique property with facilities spread over an area of 15672 Sq. Mtrs. in a coconut palm forest on the banks of Lake Ashtamudi. This resort offers 26 cottage
rooms, including house boats and floating cottages. In addition, it provides a range of facilities which include restaurants, floating conference facility, spa, yoga centre, swimming pool, fishing and boating. Location: Vellimon West, Kollam (Quilon) Facilities: • Orient Spa • Yoga & Meditation • Health Club • Swimming Pool • Boating & Fishing • Water Boat • Card room • Kids Gaming Zone
Ideal forU
Honeymoon destination, family vacation, spa and wellness therapies 38
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GONOW : PROMOTION CAMBAY SPA AND RESORT, UDAIPUR
CAMBAY SPA RESORT, KUKAS, JAIPUR
Modern Picturesque Splendour
Perfect Blend of Convenience
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SP: T he Cambay Spa & Resort is an Upscale business-cum-leisure resort situated at Udaipur, Rajasthan offering
Location: Kaladwas, Udaipur Facilities: • Oriental Spa • Multi cuisine Restaurant • Health club • Swimming pool
facilities and is spread over an area of 11407 Sq. Mtrs. This resort is 3 hours drive from Ahmedabad and is a gateway to places like Nathdwara, Chittorgarh etc. The resort’s design is inspired by the city’s unique architectural eminence set against a scenic back drop of hills. This resort provides a range of facilities which include restaurants, spa, swimming pool and fitness centre. The resort has meeting rooms and banquet halls.
Ideal forU
Destination Weddings, Conferences, Parties / Gatherings, Weekend getaway
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SP: The Cambay Spa Resort is an Upscale property located at Kukas, Jaipur. This resort offers 126 rooms including suites. This resort further provides a range of facilities to its guests and members, including a business centre, spa, swimming pool, fitness centre, beauty salon and AV hall. The resort has multi-cuisine restaurants and food & beverLocation: Kukas, Delhi-Jaipur Highway Facilities: • Orient Spa • Health Club • Swimming Pool • Billiards • Air hockey • Card room • Computer Games • AV Theater • Multi cuisine restaurant
age outlets. The resort also has meeting rooms and banquet halls with capacity of up to 800 persons. This spa facility at this property is built over an area of 2,787.09 sq. m. and we believe is one of the largest such facility in the State of Rajasthan.
Ideal forU
Conferences, Weddings, Gatherings/Parties May 2013 GO NOW
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GONOW : PROMOTION CAMBAY SAPPHIRE – BUSINESS HOTEL AHMEDABAD
NEEMRANA : CAMBAY SAPPHIRE, NEEMRANA
Serving with Opulence
Unwind Amid Scenic Majesty
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ambay Sapphire, Neemrana is an upscale prop er t y that offer s unmatched facilities. This property is operational with 60 guest rooms and 3 meeting rooms. Located 95 km from Gurgaon, Neemrana is already a well-known tourist and business destination. It is also in the midst of rapid industrial development. The resort is also in close proximity to the famous Neemrana Fort. The resort provides a range of facilities to its guests and members, such as restaurants, spa, swimming pool, gaming zone and fitness centre. The resort also has a business centre and meeting rooms with Location: Neesa a capacity of accommodating 90 Square, Neemrana Facilities: • Oriental persons. Spa • Swimming pool • Health Club • Billiards • AV Theatre • Card Room
Ideal forU
Meetings, Conferences and Corporate stay
CAMBAY HOTELS & RESORTS, DAHEJ
Exquisite Business Experience
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ocated in the hear t of Ahmedabad, Cambay Sapphire is an elegant business hotel spread over an area of 1771 sq. mtrs. The hotel offers tasteful accommodation; comfort dining, fitness centre and state-of-the-art conferencing and banqueting. The hotel has an easy access to the domestic and international airport. Cambay Sapphire has 52 tastefully designed rooms including Location: Vejalpur Cross Road, Ahmedabad Facilities: • Business Centre • Special handicap facility • Banquet Halls • Comfortable Dining • Smoking Area
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Standard and Superior rooms and Executive Suites. The hotel also houses a multi-cuisine restaurant and food & beverages outlets. The hotel is well appointed with state-of-the-art meeting rooms and banquet halls with a capacity to seat up to 300 persons.
Ideal forU
Conferences, recreation, weekend getaway and meetings
a mbay Hotel s & Re sor t s is now expanding its re ach w it h C a m bay Sapphire, an all new exquisite business hotel at Dahej. Cambay Sapphire is replete with facilities and services to meet each and every need of a business traveller. The hotel has a multitude of well appointed facilities ranging from 100 tastefully designed standard and suite rooms, a Pan Asian Cuisine restaurant with a capacity to accommodate 84 persons to an impressive health club and Wi-Fi connectivity. The rooms are equipped with state-of-theart facilities such as double bed, twin bed, mini bar, work desk, electronic safe, LCD TV, tea and coffee maker, in-room dining, direct dial phone, laundry and more. Location: Village – Dahej, Taluka – Vagra, Gujarat Facilities: • Health Club • Car rental • Multi-cuisine restaurant • Travel desk • Special handicap facilities
Ideal forU
Business meetings, small gatherings and conferences
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METRO TRAVEL : PUDUCHERRY
A TASTE OF THE FRENCH RIVIERA OF THE EAST From relaxing traditional Ayurveda to the modern Spa Treatments, Puducherry has a taste of all. Along with sweeping views of the laid back beaches you can unwind at the luxurious hotels and resorts which make your experience all the more special at this picturesque destination.
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ords cannot do justice to the unparalleled beauty of the wonderland we know as Pondicherry, now called Puducherry. If you decide to travel to this region, be sure to go armed with a plan of action since numerous options and attractions here have been known to bewilder even the most seasoned travelers. It has seen students with backpacks, couples on honeymoons and families looking for a retreat that allows them to reconnect with the pure and unadulterated pleasure of being alive. Its first impression on a visitor is that of a place that is proud of its contraries, as opposed to cities that shy away from accusations of disparities. Nobody visits Puducherry just once but no trip is ever the same, even in its essence. Interestingly, the hotels and guest houses that have established themselves here have only contributed to the charm of the former colony instead of draping a veil of capitalism over it. We recommend a few favorites along with some of the well known names for their excellent management and unique experience.
La Villa Shanti
the Scuba Diving packages at the reception.
Picture a destination crafted out of a 19th century house near a beach, where you are welcome to sip on Long Island Iced Tea under coconut trees before checking into your rooms that boast of natural light. Villa Shanti, located in the old French town, White Town of Puducherry is an extraordinary amalgamation of colonial architecture and a dash of Indian pop art. The dining experience here is known to be off-beat, especially since patrons have the options of patio and air conditioned seating arrangements. Both, the beverages and food are well acclaimed and the management is proud of its choice in wine as well as its decision to give priority to local organic produce for the ingredients. The guest satisfaction rate is remarkably high even though some did comment on prices being slightly higher than the average in Puducherry. One very happy young gentleman even expressed his surprise at finding exciting vegetarian food done to perfection around a coastal area. We suggest booking a top suite for maximum privacy and would definitely encourage you to enquire about
USP: Service. www.lavillashanti.com. Price: ` 7,000-11,000
The Dune Eco Beach Hotel The Dune Eco Beach Hotel has a huge location advantage because of its sprawling estate and private beach. It is almost like a village unto itself, apt for a long family getaway. The Artists in Residence program run by The Dune has further taken shape with the innovative Artist Studio rooms. They are priced much higher than the others but come with unexpected perks like a private pool and facilities that speak volumes for the effort put into the hospitality and maintenance. We urge you to go through their website thoroughly before finalizing a room especially because guests are spoilt for choice here! The eco-village concept is not very common in India and has been received well by most of the people who have stayed at The Dune. Be prepared to use a bicycle around the entire resort as cars are not allowed to enter the premises. The uniquely refreshing Bonjour Bonheur Ocean Spray Hotel
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METRO TRAVEL : AHMEDABAD
The Dune Eco Beach Hotel
concepts that form the foundation of this hotel will increase your chances of having a healthy holiday as you spend most of your time surrounded by the sea breeze, exercising and eating freshly prepared dishes. The spa services are basic and cover the essentials, which is, why we wouldn’t recommend The Dune to someone looking for a holiday centered around the spa. There are prearranged activities for all ages, and we call on every city-dweller to try feeding the cows, learning yoga and dabbling in pottery. What enhances the stay for some and dampens it for others is the distance from Puducherry’s main attractions. USP: Health-quotient www.thedunehotel.com. Price: ` 5,500- 17,950
Hotel De L’Orient The appeal of this property lies in the fact that like all Neemrana outfits, it was not originally built to be a hotel. The mansion dates back to the 18th century and transports patrons to the luxurious abode of those times, untainted by garish embellishments in a manner that we hardly get the opportunity to enjoy today. Everything, even the art and furniture in the rooms here tell stories of its time. If you are looking for a hotel that makes time stand still whilst helping you pack a complete retreat into however many days you can spare, De L’Orient would be the obvious choice. The
La Villa Shanti
charges aren’t modest, but neither are they exorbitant. All the rooms and suites have been maintained in a manner that is true to the French inspiration of the hotel and you can take your pick based on your requirement without compromising on opulence. What really caught our eye was how even the rooms have been given names like Calicut and Chandernagore to reflect the identity adopted by their interiors. Do make it a point
to spend an evening dining at Carte Blanche, the in-house restaurant. It is known for its Creole eating and the magnificent lighting at night completes the courtyard experience brilliantly. Try the Tenderloin Steak and Crepes with Seafood Filling but be sure to inform the staff in advance if you desire spicy curries since the food is prepared keeping the typical international traveler’s palate in mind. As far as travel across Puducherry goes, the May 2013 GO NOW
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location of De L’Orient is conveniently close to the Aurobindo Ashram and Chunnabar beach. In case you are looking to purchase something that reminds you of Puducherry even years after your trip, do stop by the Neemrana Shop. USP: The French touch. www.hotel-de-lorient. neemranahotels.com Price: ` 3,500- 7,500 Off-season discount: 20% off (1st May-31st June’13)
Bonjour Bonheur Ocean Spray Hotel
Guestroom, The Promenade
The open-air sitting of the Carte Blanche Restaurant, Hotel D L’Orient
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This hotel could teach its metropolitan counterparts a thing or two about luxury. Everything about it leaves guests awestruck and completely cared for. It is built around a manmade lake
and covers five acres of land, located just six kilometers away from Auroville. Ocean Spray makes the most of the very beautiful element of the coast, water. The rooms and villas are exquisitely crafted and pay homage to the waves in ingenious ways. The royal villas (Tahiti) come with private infinite pools and live barbeque stations, the luxury villas (Guadeloupe) are surrounded by water along three sides open to sky cascade and some rooms that come with special Jacuzzis (Heavens) are placed at the highest point in the property that gets the imagination racing even thinking about it. The villas (Bermudas) even have independent piers that open on to the lake. We love their fine dining specialty restaurant, Lotosas, which is breathtaking with bamboo roofing and appears to float on water because of the transparent flooring and waves beneath your feet. Regardless of what you order, the meal will certainly be worth recalling due to the ambience. The in-house discotheque and the wet bar ensure an interesting night life even in this quaint town. On the downside, you may find that the beach isn’t as easily accessible as it seems. This is a popular hotel, so
if it is peace and quiet that you seek, it may not have what it takes to feature on the top of your list. USP: Luxury www.oceanspray.in. Price: ` 7,500 onwards
The Windflower Resort and Spa Tucked away in Little Veerampattinam, between the backwaters and ocean, The Windflower Resort and Spa is a one stop destination for anybody who desires the spa wonders South India is commended for. Treatments here are inspired by the Ayurvedic and Balinese schools of therapeutic massage, and while they aren’t particularly cheap, their value for money is evident. The allure of the accommodation at Windflower is inviting and we were mesmerized by the seashell chandeliers and private seating overlooking the backwaters in their villas. Guests have confessed to being enthralled by the adorable ducks on the property and the view of the river meeting the sea, accessible from the resort. We approve of the dining hall décor here, artistically designed with ceiling made completely of beaten gold, antique furniture and live counters where you can interact with the person preparing your meal. The prospect of a massage followed by a meal that can be enjoyed in an affluent setting without being rushed up appeals to both the spiritual and material sides of an individual, perfect for a stress-free vacation. Each and every detail at this resort is paid attention to and one can rely on the play area between the backwaters and the resort for its safety due to the well trained security personnel that are always around. USP: Spa treatments www.thewindflower.com/pondicherry/spa.html Price: ` 13,540-24,880
Le Pondy Le Pondy does justice to the title, ‘the French Riviera of the East’ given to Puducherry. It offers its guests just about everything under the sun, from splendid rooms to Ayurveda and spa treatments. It is located at an estuary between Chunnambar beach and the Bay of Bengal and has a private beach that has been appreciated as one of the best maintained and enjoyable spots in town, fully equipped with a personal coast guard. We were attracted to their rejuvenation therapy and beauty care packages, all infused with touch of Ayurveda for the authentic Puducherry experience. Not surprisingly, Le Pondy’s
The Windflower Resort & Spa
Le Pondy
multi-cuisine restaurant is overshadowed in popularity by the poolside barbeque and private dining gazebos. With 42 lake view rooms and 12 facing the sea, this hotel has definitely worked on getting the best out of its location. While you might not get impeccable service at all times, the homely feel of the place makes up for any shortcomings that may exist. USP: Comfort www.lepondy.com. Price: ` 5,500-19,500
The Promenade Facing the Bay of Bengal and located right on the beach, this hotel managed by the Sarovar group lives up to its five star rating. The Promenade has around 38 rooms, each crafted specifically to ensure that patrons enjoy the tranquility that Puducherry offers but not without a taste of luxury. Even a one day trip to Puducherry demands that
one eats at The Promenade. Lighthouse, a rooftop restaurant that has been praised for its grills and barbeque menu by great many hungry souls is a must-see, followed by some exquisite cocktails at the lounge Risque. It is impossible to resist the lure of a poolside bar that surpasses expectations and is the right place to find some company since it is bustling with life at all hours. We suggest making the most of their sumptuous breakfast buffet and trying ‘pizza by the bay’ here later in the day. Opt for a sea facing room if your budget allows it, and spend more than just a few days mixing the perfect boutique hotel experience into your holiday adventures. USP: Food www.sarovarhotels.com/pondicherry-thepromenade Price: ` 6,500 onwards by SHIRIN RAI GUPTA
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Relaxing lobby at The Park Goa
A WEEKEND IN GOA
THE PARK ON HOLIDAY BEACH
Go Now went luxury hunting to Goa and encountered hospitality like never before at this ravishing property. Read on to know why we still dream to go back…
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inematic view of the beachside, the laidback music filling the air by resident DJ’s, daybeds and cabanas surrounding the purple pool, and the Miami whites of The Park on Holiday Beach will make you feel nostalgic the moment you leave this property. That’s the kind of unpretentious homelike comfort you receive at this 30-room luxury boutique hotel located on the juncture of two of Goa’s most popular and lively beaches (Candolim Beach and Calangute Beach). We entered the lobby and were greeted with open smiles and shell garlands. The open air lounge right in front was so inviting that we could already picture ourselves unwinding at the space with a cocktail in hand, as the moist March sea breeze blows.
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While being led to the rooms, we took down the details – The Park on Holiday Beach is a luxury boutique hotel of 30 rooms, a part of Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Ltd. which is India’s first collection of luxury boutique hotels and associated with the prestigious Design Hotels. The hotel has recently been rated amongst the best new hotels in 2012 by Conde Nast Traveller, UK. Quite an appealing fact, considering that it took just about 18 months for this property to be ready and operational. And as Saurabh Khanna, Director-Operations, told us, “Priya Paul, the Chairperson, was very focused towards the overall design of the place. The original concept was designed by a Frenchman Pierre Masia and the finishing design inputs (like the artwork behind the reception area and
on the room doors) were provided by Ms. Paul herself.” Curious to know the nearby markets, we were informed that the Saturday market on the nearby Calangute-Baga strip is a must visit event for visitors. The staff guy pushed open our room door which had punk pictures of tattoo laden men and women, and an absolute white décor attracted us in. The 290 square feet deluxe room was well lit and had a city view. During the two day-two night stay, we grew more at ease with the evident mini bar carrying miniature gin, Bacardi rum, Absolut vodka and Chivas Regal whiskey, the red wine and chocolates kept alongside the television, the rain and massage showers inside the bathroom, and a lot many other small but special facilities.
METRO TRAVEL : GOA
Lavish room at The Park Goa
Beach view from the hotel To tell you readers, there was a pleasant surprise in form of a chocolate muffin cake kept on the table the next evening, and the staff had an ever smiling face every time we came back from the beach soiling their clean floors. Rest of the room choices are Luxury Rooms offering large windows and a private balcony with a view of the sea; Studio Suites which are pool facing with a private plunge pool; and Deluxe Suites with private balconies offering 180 degrees sea view and spacious living. After a good night sleep on the lavish beds and huge cotton pillows, we strolled to the restaurant by the name of LOVE and savoured the breakfast, while Saurabh Khanna attempted to make sure that each guest was looked after well. They even have a cocktail menu out of the ingredients made in breakfast. The bill of fare carries options in Goan, European, Mediterranean, Italian and a bit of Indian throughout the day. Having direct access to the beach as well factfile as the swimming pool, we ran to the beach The Park on Holiday Beach Holiday Street, instead! Lane opposite Calangute Mall, Calangute, Goa While frolicking in and out of The Park, For information and online reservations: Log on there were a few particulars worthy to be to www.theparkhotels.com or call toll free in India: soaked in - The Park in Goa has been doing 1800 11 PARK (7275). International toll free: 0800 055 6817. extremely well since the first day of the open-
ing. They opened right in the middle of the season in 2011 (23rd December). When they positioned themselves at Calangute, there were only two other branded hotels in the location - Lemon Tree and Taj. They are a small boutique hotel and do not have the space for a big property, but are more intimate than them. So they really don’t see too many competitors. But inspite of the existence of a tough market, there is one factor that keeps the guest impressed and that is ‘personalization of service’. Saurabh Khanna explains, “We help our guests achieve what they want, whether relaxation or celebration. We engage them during the course of the stay. Sometimes, we give them a session on bartending, teaching them about Goan cuisine; some guests like to see the local culture, so what better than going fishing with the fisherman at 4 in the morning!” While awaiting the next and final morning of the stay, we took delight in a foot rub after a long night out and figured out how our entire visit was executed with absolute perfection. After writing a thank you note to the most humble staff, we bid goodbye to this home away from home, visualizing a come back very soon. by VARALIKA VIJ
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NICHE TRAVEL : TRAVEL CLUBS
WOMEN ON THE MOVE Not too long ago, adventurous women who travelled solo or together were looked upon as ‘unusual.’ Thankfully, those days are over, and today, the world of women’s travel is wide open. This summer plan an adventurous or leisure trip with women from different spheres of life looking to have fun on their own. GoNow talks to some of the best exclusive women travel clubs in India.
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he past decade has been good for the travel industry with more Indians touring far and wide to exotic locations, quite willing to spend that extra cash on a nice holiday. And it has been particularly good for women travelling on their own, a trend which is already huge in the west and is quickly becoming popular among their Indian counterparts as well. For all those women who want to explore new places and love the outdoors, but don’t want to or can’t travel alone due to social pressures, concerns about safety or other issues, there are now many ‘women’s only’ travel clubs to plan their vacation itinerary. These exclusively-for-women travel clubs serve the twin objectives of travelling and Farming in Karjat by Girls on The Go Club
Girls on The Go Club on a trip to Greece
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NICHE TRAVEL : TRAVEL CLUBS socialising at the same time. They are becoming a popular option for more and more women who want to see the world on their own leaving behind the monotony of their daily schedules. Several such clubs have sprung up across India too in the last few years. You’ll find a range of options on their leisure and adventure trips to different parts of the world that appeal to every kind of woman. You’ll get acquainted as well with exciting women travel companions from different spheres of life including home makers, business head honchos, teenagers and many more. These young at heart ladies are in age groups ranging from as young as a girl in her pre-teens to a grandmother in her seventies. So, forget the stress of your home and your work and spare some time exclusively for yourself. And without having to worry about your family, you can just be yourself and let your spirits fly high.
were restricted by various reasons. “I am a woman who loves my space, individuality and independence. So some years ago, when I was toying with the thought that there must be a lot of women, like me, who want to travel, explore places, have fun, and reconnect with themselves but are restricted by safety considerations, or by family and friends being too busy, or the drudgery of
organising details etc., I thought to provide a platform where women can be safe and have fun travelling without worrying about who is free to accompany her or how the trip will be organised. Also, husbands feel secure sending their wives on women only trips. I further believed that a platform like this would bring like-minded women together to network, share thoughts and views and even
Women on Clouds on a rafting trip
Women on Clouds Started in the year 2008, Shireen Mehra wanted to help women like herself who wanted to go and explore the world but
A trip to Ladakh with Women on Clouds
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NICHE TRAVEL : TRAVEL CLUBS make new friends. With Women On Clouds, they get to be the pampered ones and have fun for themselves,” says Shireen. “There is no pressure of being somebody else’s idea of how you should be. Instead of worrying if friends and family are having fun, whether they are eating, enjoying themselves or not, on our trips, women have to just think of themselves, and that is quite refreshing and rejuvenating. Also, after a certain age, it’s not so easy to make new friends. So travelling with like-minded women actually is greatly enjoyable. Not only can you make new friends, you can bond and learn so much from each other.” The club takes a lot of safety measures
Ladies on a trip with Femmes En Voyage
so that the travelers don’t face any problems. Shireen points out the most important one of all, “One female coordinator stays with the group from start to finish. Also, our hotels, airlines, trains, transport etc. are all well recognised, certified and established. We arrange point to point travel so that women are never alone and we always travel in groups. For night journeys, we have a male coordinator along with a female one.” The travel fee includes everything, from accommodation to meals, sight-seeing, transfers, etc. The average cost for a weekend trip would be around `15,000 for three days, `35,000 for a six day trip to Ladakh and `120,000 for a trip to Europe. You just need
to fill in a small registration form on their website to get yourself enrolled and then select the trip that suits you.
Girls on the Go After travelling solo at a very young age, Piya Bose planned to share this joyful experience with other ladies as well, and formed the ‘Girls on The Go club’. “I took off on an overland trip between Lucknow-Nepal-Tibet. The experience of travelling to the highest plateau in the world and staring at the Everest in the face inspired me greatly to come back to ground zero and do something more meaningful with my life. I decided to use the experience I had gained as a solo traveller to start planning trips for other women who wanted to travel but did not have company,” she says. Travelling with women you have never met before can sometimes turn out to be bizarre too, but at the same time it can be a lot fun and exciting. “Half the fun is travelling with people you don’t know. This reduces unnecessary gossiping and by the time you might even start forming judgments, the trip is over. So, your experiences are largely positive.” The club takes utmost care in booking hotels, and ground handling agents and makes it a point to have a GOTG representative at all times with the group. “The fee ranges from `20,000 to `1, 00, 000. The ladies travelling vary a lot in terms of age, from 12 year olds, accompanied by their moms to 80 year olds who are delightfully young at heart. You never travel alone, wherever you go, you meet people and make friends and can always find travel buddies. Travelling solo makes you independent, more observant and respectful of local customs and forces you out of your comfort zone to interact and exchange new ideas. It is a liberating experience,” Piya says. She has some very interesting suggestions for women planning to travel solo, “Wear a pair of sunglasses when you want to be left to yourself. Strangers usually come up to speak to you if there is an eye contact. Always, travel really light. Remember to take exactly half of what you think you may need. And, international roaming costs a bomb. Get a local SIM card wherever you go and only get it from the airport as those are authentic.”
Femmes En Voyage The Journeyer Women Club on their way
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After working with airlines and travel compa-
Fun with Girls on The Go Club
nies for almost a decade and experiencing that men take major decisions while on trips and women simply have to adjust, Prema Lakshmi started her exclusive women’s travel club, Femmes En Voyage. “I always saw that entertainment and activities for women travellers in the group were not given due importance. The idea of starting a travel club for women so that they can have the time of their life in the company of like minded ladies struck me,” she said. “On these trips, the women are strangers only in the beginning... Women seem to gel well the moment they meet. Of course we have a welcome dinner on the first day of the tour where everyone gets a chance to get introduced and almost all of them depart as friends at the end of the tour,” adds Prema. “The trip to Ladakh in 2009 has been the most memorable trip for us in India. We were held up in difficult terrain due to landslides. But all the ladies managed well. The trip to the Everest Base camp which we did last year was also very challenging.” The charges for a trip vary from `7,000– `10,000 for a domestic weekend trip to `50,000 for an international trip. They have almost everything included in the fee so that the travellers don’t face any problem during
their trip. “Usually the fees include transport/ airfare, visa charges, most of the meals, transfers, local sightseeing and some activity charges like spa treatments, usage of health clubs, cultural entertainment in the evening and all taxes,” Prema elucidates. Women travelling alone can have a great time on their own without bothering about their spouse, children, family, etc. – Prema Lakshmi encourages women to get going, enjoy their life and live it to the fullest, and believes that travelling is a very amazing experience. She says, “Travel makes one look at things and situations from a different perspective. As a traveller, one tends to grow all the time. Above all meeting new people every time and making them your lasting friends is a spectacular idea. Travelling gives them a chance to expand their horizons, ideas, networking and of course to make new friends. Though there are safety concerns, if one keeps their eyes and ears open to the surroundings, women can certainly have a holiday with safety and comfort.”
The Journeyer Women Club The Journeyer Women Club was recently started by Ruhee Chopra Dube. This club is a very friendly group for women to enjoy a
comfortable trip amongst like-minded people. Ruhee said, “I was doing travel for some time on business and I realised that there is a burgeoning market for women travellers especially in metro cities where there are a lot of women who are independent and doing well for themselves. They are financially independent and love travelling in groups. They call it the stress buster group as they can be themselves and enjoy the break to the fullest.” The club’s most memorable trip has been to Goa till now. “We had a small group of friends and we took a trip to Goa at a luxury resort. It was absolute fun since the group was small and there were like minded friends together. The trip was for four days and the group experienced a lot of sea adventures,” Ruhee says. Women of all ages love to shop, roam around and have fun, which is why variedly aged women are a part of these travel groups. “The age groups vary from 21 year olds to 60 plus ladies. Recently we are working out a group of 10 ladies in the 65 year plus age segment to travel to Sri Lanka. The maximum queries come from 25 year to 40 year olds.” by NIKITA CHOPRA
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NICHE TRAVEL : HERITAGE
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raditionally, the desert is a place which produces a simultaneous imagery of an oasis or a mirage which keeps slipping away even before it is sighted. While most travelers to Jaisalmer seek vast stretches of sand and stories of following treacherous mirages, and visions of camels leaving their gigantic footprints on their endless odyssey, few tourists actually experience being in an oasis in the midst of a desert. Unless, of course the tourist is a guest in one of the palace hotels or havelis owned by
Jaisalmer’s royal families. At Nachana Haveli, an 18th century structure (built by Maharaj Kesri Singh of Nachana, the then officiating Maharawal or king of Jaisalmer, for his younger son Bairisal Singh), you can enjoy many such luxuries which are out of bounds for regular tourists. For instance, a visit to the Mool Sagar and Amar Sagar Mughal gardens (built in 16th & 18th century). “These gardens are like oasis in the desert. We specialize in organizing hi-teas and dinners at these lush green gardens. Since these properties are still owned by the cur-
rent inheritor of the title of Maharawal of Jaisalmer, only family members and their guests have access to these spots,” explains Kesri Singh Bhati who runs the property with his elder brother Vikram Singh Bhati. Bairisal Singh’s descendant, Kishan Singh Bhati and his wife Surya Prabha lived in this sprawling sand-stone haveli with his two sons Vikram and Kesri and daughter Divya till 1996 when Vikram and Divya decided to convert a part of the haveli into a heritage hotel opening the gates of their home to tourists seeking an authentic experience of
NACHANA HAVELI, JAISALMER
AN OASIS IN THE DESERT Jaisalmer, the golden city is the land of most opulent forts of Rajasthan. Many travelers live in luxurious hotels when visiting this desert city, but the experience of spending time at a haveli will take you closer to the heritage of Jaisalmer.
The yellow sand-stone of the Haveli gives the courtyard inside a golden glow when its lit in the evening
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A heritage room with old portraits adorning the walls
Jaisalmer’s regal life. They were joined by the youngest sibling Kesri Singh in 2000 who also started the popular Saffron restaurant in the hotel a few years ago. The restaurant offers a flavour of royal cuisine to all those who can withstand the blistering flavours of Rajasthan’s royal kitchens such as jungli maas, jungli chicken, haandi boothey and mutton ke sule. “Rajasthan being an arid region was not really a hub for vegetarian food. Game meat was quite popular once upon a time. But over the years with the lifestyle of the Maharajas changing, even in our kitchens we have adapted and assimilated traditional styles of cooking using popular variants such as chicken and mutton instead of game meat. Of course, if you want to enjoy authentic flavours, you have to be ready to brave the red chillies, but we do milder versions for tourists,” explains Kesri. The Haveli in itself is an alcove of antiquities – from a vast collection of weapons to wild-life trophies and an original model of the Haveli carved on a single sand-stone are relics that offer a peek into the manifold stories of the royal heritage of Jaisalmer which have been passed down to its current stakeholders since the time of its first
The open corridor with furniture covered with Jaisalmer colours - orange and yellow
ruler Jaisal Singh who founded Jaisalmer. Nachana Haveli and its inhabitants are full of stories of the exploits, excesses and the majesty of the past rulers of Jaisalmer that trace their origin to Lord Krishna. At the Haveli, an extra touch of personal hospitality doled by family members, Vikram, his wife Meghna and Kesri adds to the overall experience – in a way that visitors to this heritage property enjoy the living traditions of regal living with the family who don’t mind sharing a slice of their life with their guests. The Haveli is located in the old city area, 500 metres from the fort and the main market of the town starts from the hotel post itself. Nachana haveli serves the purpose of a heritage hotel as well as offers modern amenities such as internet and in-room spa facilities apart from offering a host of touristy regular services such as temples and fort visits to camel safaris and sun-set experiences at the
A room with a romantic candle-lit setting
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NICHE TRAVEL : HERITAGE
factfile Named after his founder, Maharawal Jaisal Singh, Jaisalmer is situated near the border of India and Pakistan in the Western region of Rajasthan. Summers are roasting with a maximum temperature around 41.6 Degree Celsius and minimum going up to 25 Degree Celsius It is a sandy land forming a part of the Great Indian Desert, Thar Desert. Jaisalmer is easily accessible through road and trains. Buses are very well connected from the capital and other parts of Rajasthan to this city. You can also experience the Palace on Wheels which has a scheduled stop at Jaisalmer
A sit-out fraught with old furniture and antique decorations
sand dunes with dance and music. But some of the most exclusive tours organized by the hotel include a visit to the abandoned Paliwal villages, where the beautiful ruins offer a spectacular backdrop for a hi-tea or dinner! While Jaisalmer’s er stwhile r uler s enjoyed hunting, there were a few like Maharaj Govardhan Singh, (Vikram and Kesri’s grand-father) who understood the significance of preserving the wild. Godavan, the 54
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beautiful state bird of Rajasthan was at the risk of extinction as it was being hunted indiscriminately. The former ruler realized that the bird was under threat and circulated the story that the meat of the bird was the worst of its kind and unfit for consumption. Thanks to his efforts in saving the bird, Godavan sightings are still a popular tourist activity in Jaisalmer. Nachana Haveli specializes in birding expeditions for tourists where spot-
ting the Godavan or the great Indian bustard, the lesser Indian bustard and the demoiselle cranes locally known as the kurja are attractions for bird watchers. It helps that Kesri Singh and Vikram’s wife Meghna are avid wildlife lovers and bird-watchers and take time out to narrate stories of birds and birding expeditions to interested tourists. A visit to Desert National Park in Sudasari range to spot migratory cranes and birds of prey such as falcons, buzzards tawny eagles are strongly recommended by the family. “Everything in our part of the desert is related to popular folk-culture. We have stories about the kurja which are also sung by local musicians. There is a popular ballad about a beloved tying a love-letter to the feet of a kurja for her lover,’ says Vikram. The leading musicians of the region, whose families were patronized by the royal family for generations, continue to render their melodious folk tunes in the so-called modern durbars of these havelis and palace hotels. “The advantage that family-owned hotels have that most of these master musicians only perform for us,” adds Kesri. From personal musical durbars to wildlife tours in open jeeps or just a relaxed afternoon soaking in the desert sun at Nachana Haveli are experiences that cannot be compared. Its biggest tourist advantage is the warmth that the family extends – of treating each visitor as a personal guest. The family believes in offering personalized experiences which can be tailor-made to the guest’s request – from a romantic meal on the dunes to an expedition to the old ruins in faraway hamlets, it can be the guest’s chosen prerogative once they decide to step into Nachana Haveli making it their home away from their own. by SANGHITA SINGH
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NICHE TRAVEL : HERITAGE
THE ROYAL SUMMER GETAWAYS
The heritage properties of our country strongly hold together the royalty and culture of earlier times. There are a number of properties in various attractive tourist destinations of India, ready to give travellers a royal experience. These add to the scenic beauty and the historical brilliance of our country. To beat the heat this season and bring you a royal experience, we have chosen some opulent heritage resorts in the hills, from Jammu to Ooty and from Shimla to Gangtok.
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oodville Palace, Shimla
nature with your meal. Also, they serve deliLocated in the ‘Queen of cious spreads at ‘The House of the Rising The Hills’, Shimla, this pal- Sun’ which is made out of clear glass. Adding ace is at a height of 7000 up to this all, Woodville Palace also offers feet. On entering the palace you can feel you with various fun activities like, nature the era of 1930s, i.e. of the British Raj. With walks, pony and horse rides, river rafting, multi level rose gardens and lawns the table tennis and many more sport activities. Woodville Palace has a wide range of dining options. Owned Woodville Palace, Shimla by the royal family of Jubbal, the palace is like a gateway to Kufri and Chail. Spread over 4 acres of land, the palace also boasts of lush greenery with deodar and pine trees. Built like an English Country Manor, it houses around 31 rooms, with each room having a different decor and theme of its own. The one of their kind rooms are categorised differently like, Deluxe Bedroom, Imperial Room, Majestic Suite, Royal Suite and Princely Suite. A perfect mixture of vintage ambience and modern facilities, these rooms tell a tale of the bygone era. The interiors of the rooms are done with centuries old carpets with intricate artistic designs. The charming restaurants of the palace provide a scenic view and delectable delicacies. Firstly, they have the Imperial banquet hall and the Hollywood Bar 1930’s for formal meetings and are generally hosted for state and international dignitaries. Then they have the amazing Garden Cafe for you to enjoy 56
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factfile Price: Starting at `7000 Address: Raj Bhawan Road, Shimla-171002, H.P. India. Tel: 91-0177-2623919 www.woodvillepalacehotel.com
Fernhills Royaal Palace, Ooty
Living room, Fernhills Royaal Palace, Ooty
Wadiyar dynasty. The award winning chef of the restaurant specialises in health food in various cuisines including Nilgiri cuisine. The palace also is the perfect option if you are planning to have your big fat wedding in Ooty. Their banquet halls are very well equipped to make your celebration perfect without any hindrance. Bedroom, Fernhills Royaal Palace, Ooty
Ferrnhills Royaal Palace, Ooty
junior suite... the super luxury suite is the one Located in the charming Blue Hills of Nil- where once the Maharaja of Mysore used to giris, this palace is spread over an area of reside. The suites are very well appointed 40 acres. This 150 year old majestic palace with modern amenities and provide sweepis owned by the Maharaja of Mysore, Sri- ing views of nature and lush green gardens kanta Datta Narasimha Raja Wadiyar and of the palace. It boasts of a total of 19 suites provides the premium royal hospitality to its equipped with luxuriant in-room facilities. guests. With word class services, ambience, The royal culinary delights of the palace amenities, delectable cuisines are served in the Curry and and much more, this place is a Rice restaurant. The ambience factfile must visit. With intricate royal of the restaurant entails scentdesigning and colourful inteed candles, soothing music Price: starting at `9,700 Address: Fernhill Post, riors, the palace has various and twinkling stars peeping Fernhill Ooty, Tamil Nadu options of suites for its guests. through the glass walls. It 643004, India These suites range from, super serves the Anglo Indian cuisine Tel: +91 423 luxury suite, luxury suite, deand many more secret recipes 2443910/15 www.fernhillspalace.co.in luxe suite, executive suite and from the royal kitchen of the
Hari Niwas Palace, Jammu Located amongst mango groves and lush green lawns, this is the only luxury heritage hotel in Jammu and Kashmir. The location of the Hari Niwas Palace is very pleasing as it overlooks the Tawi River on one side and Trikuta Hills of the Vaishno Devi shrine on the other. This artistic palace was converted into a heritage hotel in the year 1990 and factfile is looked after by Price: Starting at son and daughter ` 3,000 –in-law of MaharaAddress: Palace Road, ja Hari Singh. The Near Amar Palace, Jammu Tawi, Jammu palace boasts 40 and Kashmir, India luxurious rooms, Tel: 0191-2543303royally named 2547216 like, Rajmata, Mawww.hariniwaspalace. in haraja, Maharani, May 2013 GO NOW
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The Gulmohar Room, Wallwood Garden, Coonoor
Yuvraj and Rajkumari suites. The Deluxe rooms have private balconies delivering a picturesque view of the river valley and the mountains. The rooms are well equipped with modern amenities and adorned with Victorian furniture. To meet your gastronomic desires, they offer delectable options of restaurants. Starting with, it has a multi-cuisine restaurant Nilaya which serves food from Indian, Oriental and Continental cuisines. A unique Kashmiri and Dogri menu adds up to its glory. The 24 hour coffee shop, Samovar, located on the lobby level serves a’ la carte food with a marvellous view. The Garden Restaurant of the palace specialises in Kashmiri, Arabic, Indian and western barbecue spread. The old world charm is very perfectly reflected at the Polo Bar which offers a range of fine wines, spirits and cigars. To adequately cater to any weddings or meetings, the palace also consists of a modern banquet set up which can cater to 1500 to 2000 people in its gardens. The Durbar Hall can host up to 300 people in theatre style seating.
Wallwood Garden, Coonoor Close to nature in all aspects, this place is 58
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perfect for ones factfile who are looking for a stre s s -free Price: Starting at `2,200 atmosphere away Address: Blair from t he hustle Athol, Kotagiri Road bustle of the city. Coonoor, Tamil Nadu T his is a Scot643101, India Tel: +91 423 223 tish style majestic 0584 home managed by www.wallwood-garden. Neemrana Hotels neemranahotels.com for a heritage experience in Coonoor. The hotel has award winning gardens added to its beauty where you can find the rarest of trees and plants. So a walk to the botanical gardens is a must! The airy old-style rooms have been very interestingly named under different kinds of flowers. The honeymoon suites include the Cherry Blossom suite and the Silver Oak suite. The other room categories are Eucalyptus, Pine, Camphor, Jacaranda, Gulmohar, Laburnum and Red Cedar. Most of the rooms have sweeping views of the gardens and comfortable interiors to make their guests feel at home. The friendly staffs of the hotel strives their best to make your stay pleasurable and make you feel comfortable at every point. The feast at Wallwood is made up of fresh products
Gardens at the Elgin Nor-Khill
and serves delectable local cuisine. With the regular Tamil cuisine and Anglo-Indian dishes, Italian and Continental dishes are also added to enhance the palate. If you have ever dreamed of an intimate wedding, then Wallwood Garden, Coonoor can be the perfect option to fulfil it. It has a private setting which can make your special moments even more magical. They also have Scottish style meeting space to adhere to your professional requirements. With an indoor conference room which can comfortably accommodate 20 people, you can conduct your professional get-together privately.
Elgin Nor-Khill, Gangtok Built in the year 1932 by the King of Sikkim to receive his dignitaries and serve as a royal guest house, has now been converted into a luxury heritage hotel. Entering into the hotel, the warm ambience hugs you with its elegance and grace. Located in the Himalayas within the heart of Gangtok, the interior of the hotel is done with bright folk arts, motifs and symbols having a story of their factfile ow n. T he hotel Price: Starting at `7,900 Address: Paljore Stadium Road, Gangtok, Sikkim, India Tel: +91-3592205637 www.elginhotels.com
Hari Niwas Palace, Jammu
has played host to many international and national dignitaries including various ambassadors and celebrities. The hotel swanks off 25 luxurious rooms and suites with magnificent views of the mountains and the valleys. The rooms are categorised in deluxe single or double rooms and deluxe suites which have a peculiar Sikkimese architecture. The rooms have the perfect environment for you to unwind. The rooms have Burma teak flooring to add up to the luxurious feel. From light evening snacks to enjoying a quiet drink, and a hefty dinner, you can relish it all at an assortment of gastronomic options available at the hotel. The dining options serving exclusive culinary delights include, The Gazebo at the Garden, The Tea Lounge, The Dragon Bar and The Shangri-La Dining Room. To rejuvenate you and take out all the stress, the Elgin spa has many effective massages with essential oils and many more ingredients. The trained therapists will soothe down your mind, body and soul and transform it to the next level. Adding on further, they can also very well serve your professional needs of meetings and small conferences with their lobby lounge area. Compiled by NIKITA CHOPRA
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NICHE TRAVEL : SPA & WELLNESS
SOUTH OF INDIA
THE COOLEST SPA EXPERIENCES
From a spa treat fit for royals to a massage on the beach we round up some of the most enchanting experiences from south of India.
Angsana Spa at Sheraton Bengaluru
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NICHE TRAVEL : SPA & WELLNESS
Spa on the beach at Park on Holiday Beach, Goa
Escape to a holiday resort in the heart of Bengaluru Javanese massage at Angsana Spa at Sheraton
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ngsana is not just one of the world’s most chic holiday resort brands but also one of the most respected spa brands with a large collection of boutique spas across the world. The Angsana Spa at the Sheraton in Bengaluru is one of the only Angsana day spas in India and is located close to the hotel’s infinity pool. The spa gives you the illusion of being compact from the outside but once you descend one level below the reception you realise that this is comfortingly large for a day spa. The dimly lit corridors and secluded treatment rooms add to the spa’s tranquil ambience. Once you sip the refreshing tamarind juice on arrival you are ready for the spa’s signature Javanese massage that takes just one hour but leaves you longing for more. Some of the spa’s skilled therapists are from South East Asia and their Javanese massage uses classical Balinese strokes with refreshing citrus-infused oil. The best part is the calming spray that follows the massage that almost transports you to your favourite beach resort.
factfile Angsana Spa Website: www.angsanaspa.com Tel: +91 80 4252 0230 E-mail: spa-sheratonbangalore@ angsana.com
Spa on the Beach
beach that also doubles up as the resort’s bar. Make sure you pick a time when the beach is not too crowded – unless you like onlookf you’ve been to Phuket on a holiday there’s ers, and the entire spa unit will pitch base on a good chance you would have indulged in the sands. Also make sure you don’t choose a a foot massage on the beach when you were time when the sun is too harsh but even if you busy island hopping. There may have been do there’s always the option of shifting base times when you wished you could get a whole to the deck with a roof that is sandwiched spa experience on one of those powdery white between the beach and the hotel’s sparkling beaches. You can now do that at the Park Goa pool. There are quite a few treatments to which is located just next to choose from including reone of Goa’s most popular juvenating back and foot factfile beaches – Calangute. The massages with a view and The Park on Holiday Beach setting is perfect – the hoexperience that most day Website: www.theparkhotels.com tel’s pool leads to a wide spas in the metros can Tel: 1800 11 Park (7275) E-mail: resv.goa@theparkhotels.com deck with a view of the never replicate. Park on Holiday Beach, Calangute, Goa
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The Oma Spa at The Serai, Chikmagalur
The Coffee scrub in Coffee country The Oma Spa at The Serai, Chikmagalur
Nawab-e-Khaas – A spa experience fit for the royals
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Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
he Serai is one of South India’s most luxurious holiday hideouts and is ensconced within a 70 acre coffee estate. There are just 29 villas each with their own pool or Jacuzzi and there is little reason for you to leave the luxury of your room. But the Oma Spa within the confines of the resort is a tempting proposition. The interiors don’t just keep with the resort’s understated luxury but also use the same comforting hues of dark wood and white. The Spa features a range of therapies and scrubs but it’s the signature coffee scrub that is truly unique. The extracts of the coffee berry have thrice the antioxidant potential of green tea and are ideal for skin blemishes. This signature scrub at the Oma Spa uses coffee grown on the Serai estate and the rhythmic strokes of the therapists enhance the exfoliating properties of this scrub. So the next time you are in India’s coffee capital you don’t have to be content with ju s t wa k in g up factfile and smelling the The Serai Chikmagalur coffee but you can Website: www.theserai.in smell like the cofTel: 8262 224903/14 E-mail: enquiries@theserai.in fee yourself.
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he Falaknuma is probably India’s last grand palace and takes you back to the glory days of Hyderabad’s Nizams. The building that houses the Jiva Spa was originally an ancillary unit of the palace and has been painstakingly restored just recently. The treatment rooms in the spa are set with wooden floors, soak tubs and Indian love swings and overlook the palace’s manicured gardens creating the perfect relaxed ambience. The signature therapy here is the Nawab-e-Khaas (regal splendour) that has been inspired by the city’s princely heritage and features the most
factfile Taj Falaknuma Palace Website: www.tajhotels.com Tel: 91-40 2438 8888 E-mail: falaknuma.hyderabad@tajhotels. com
exquisite ingredients. It begins with a soothing foot wash and is followed by an exfoliating body scrub of almonds, rose petals, vetiver and saffron that completely relaxes your body. The Nawab-e-Khaas also includes a light facial scrub with handpicked herbs that soothes the mind and nourishes the Spa at Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
Siddh Spa at Hyatt Regency Chennai
Travel back 10,000 years with the Pottanam therapy Siddh Spa, Hyatt Regency Chennai
skin. A gentle restorative massage with hand-blended oil is next and elevates you to a state of bliss. This indulgent treatment takes close to two and a half hours but there’s a good chance you wouldn’t notice the minutes tick away as you sip on the refreshing sherbet with the fragrance of flowers, fruits and herbs.
Spa room at Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
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ost international chains are content with replicating successful international experiences even in their hotels in India. The Siddh Spa at the Hyatt might have its share of June Jacobs body and facial treatments but the entire experience here is built around the Siddha traditions of Tamil Nadu that date back 10,000 years. This unique system was believed to have been developed by 18 mythical saints or siddhas and seeks to find the balance between Vatham, Pitham and Kapam that make up the five elements and control the physiological balance of the body. If you are one of those who find the that combines wheat bran, rock salt, eucamassage oils used in traditional ayurvedic lyptus and camphor. This money bag shaped massages too greasy and uncomfortable the bundle generates just the right amount of Siddh Spa’s Pottanam therapy is a welcome warmth to relax your body and leaves you change. T he Bala completely r ejuvenate d. Ashwangandha oil is That’s probably the reason factfile used sparingly with why this wonder treatment Hyatt Regency Chennai the per fect stroke s survived so many centuries Website: chennai.regency.hyatt.com and is interspersed and remains ver y relevant Tel: 044-6100-1234 with mild dabs from even today. E-mail: spa.chenn@hyatt.com a warm cloth bundle by ASHWIN RAJAGOPALAN May 2013 GO NOW
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NICHE TRAVEL : SPA & WELLNESS
THE IMPERIAL SPA & SALON
THE SUFI COLLECTION
Let your skin relax the SUFI way this summer. Whether you are a guest at The Imperial or not, still you can have the pleasure of experiencing its SUFI Massage Room.
J Tara Herron, Director, The Imperial Spa and Salon
Corridor at the Spa
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ith summers approaching, skin care is becoming a huge concern for all; Imperial Spa & Salon has launched an amazing range for you to get rid of that stress. With their exclusive range of SUFI products venturing into its second phase, they have also launched an exclusive SUFI Massage Room which the non-resident guests can also access. This new range includes botanical and organic skin care products. It includes various options for you to choose from, body cream, make up removal, moisturizer, cleanser and other nourishing products. Speaking about the exclusivity of these products, Jacqualine Tara Herron, Director
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SUFI travel kit
Spa, Salon, Health & Racquet Club says, “Our signature SUFI skin care reflects The Imperial Spa concept and philosophy beautifully and I am glad that it is now available for retail purposes to use in your own home, or to enjoy while on a journey with the convenient travel pack. The development process has involved extensive research and the products are created in an eco- friendly manner without following any animal testing procedure. Thus this exotic line of SUFI was born, exclusive and not available at any other city or destination spa�. With the SUFI Massage Room being not only restricted for guests of the hotel, it widens the scope for local residents looking for
a pampering session. The ingredients of these products are perfectly packed in recyclable airtight containers which are light weight and easy to carry. The products of this range are available for retail in 100ml airtight pump containers. They have a special 50 ml travel pack which contains a small portion of all the products and is easy to carry. The products included in this new Botanical range are, Monsoon Rose, which is a pure Damascus Rose Water and can be used as a toner. The Open Pore cleanser has the essence of Neroli, Pettigrain, Vitamin C and Zinc, it is an astringent and light lotion for oily and combination skin. The Down pore cleanser with active ingredients of Sandalwood and rose essential oils and much more, creates a hydrating cleanse. Lift Off make-up is a very essential product to remove off the make up from your skin; it is also safe for the eyes. With the essentials like, Shea Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil, Fig and Rose essential oils the Night Rose Moisturizer is perfect blend for dry skin. The SUFI range also includes a Daylight Moisturizer which has pearl extracts and Willow Bark extracts to even out the skin. The 200ml Ultra Soft body Cream deeply nourishes your skin and Sufi eyes, is an excellent mix for reducing dark shadows and sign of stress from the eyes. The price of these products range from `1100 to `3000 + taxes. These are available at The Imperial Spa and The Imperial Boutique; they are also available at The Imperial Spa & Salon for the non-resident guests. by NIKITA CHOPRA
METRO TRAVEL : ????????
TRAVEL GEAR Make your trip more comfortable by adding these amazing things to your luggage Victorinox Standard Backpack
Price: `3,270 Availability: at all leading outlets including Basecamp, Westside, Central and Shoppers Stop.
SpareOne Emergency Mobile Phone Price: $99.99 www.spareone.com
JBL Flip, Portable stereo speakers Price: `5,990 Availability: Harman International Pvt. Ltd. www.harman.in
Recharge+ Power Bank, Portable Mobile Charger by PM Powerpack Price: `1,499. Availability: www.pmpowerpack.com
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Travel & Tourism Beyond Boundaries
INVITING INDIAN TOURISTS TO DUBAI H
Participants at the Lama Tours Roadshow 2013
NAME OF EVENT LAMA TOURS INDIA ROAD SHOW
Venue
DELHI, CHENNAI, BANGALORE, MUMBAI
Date
08 TO 12-04-2013
Lucky draw winner along with Kulwant Singh (extreme left), MD, Lama Tours
Team of Lama Tours
Representatives from Atlantis, The Palm with the visitors
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otels, airlines and many more attractions came from UAE to India for a road show spanning around four different cities and invite Indians to visit Dubai. The show started from New Delhi followed by Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai. Lama Tours have been organizing this since last 11 years and believe that this time they had the largest delegation in terms of seller’s participation. It was a great interactive session for travel agents, wedding planners, etc from India to know more about Dubai and what all it has to offer. The road show also had a lucky draw for the visitors in which the lucky winners won free stays at hotels, air tickets, and much more.
Travel & Tourism Beyond Boundaries
CELEBRATING HERITAGE IN GOA Traditional welcome at Goa Heritage Festival
G
oa is a city with vibrant colours and diverse cultures. It has a very different characteristic which the tourists love experiencing. The Heritage Festival of Goa was celebrated with great enthusiasm and cultural pomp. The rich heritage was displayed during this four day festival through fashion shows, dances and a lot more. T he local residents were seen portraying some distinct characteristics from the city of Goa which in some way were related to the heritage of this city. The audience was kicked up with the exciting performances and had a great celebration. Stalls were also put up all around the circumference of the venue where people were selling their beautiful creations. The government is planning a bigger celebration of this festival next year.
NAME OF THE EVENT GOA HERITAGE FESTIVAL VENUE SALIGAO, GOA DATE 18 TO 21-04-2013 Fashion Show at the festival
Mesmerising musical performances
Interesting characters in traditional dresses
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Travel & Tourism Beyond Boundaries
GANGAUR KEEPS ITS DATE WITH TRADITION C
Men performing in traditional attire at the Gangaur procession
elebrating the marital happiness of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, this is one of the most important local festivals of Rajasthan. The whole procession is a great show of the colourful culture and dances of Rajasthan. The parade started from the Tripoliya Gate i.e. the City Palace at six in the evening with great enthusiasm and zeal. Then making its way through many more interesting places like Tripolia Bazaar and Chhoti Chaupar, Gangauri Bazaar it concluded at the Talkatora. This festival is still celebrated in the most traditional way with dancers performing, Kachhi ghodi, Kalibaliya, Algoza, Gair and Chakri and many more dance forms. The whole march was headed by a colourfully decorated elephant, chariots, decorated raths and a number of bands. The procession Decorated chariots and raths, a part of the procession
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Travel & Tourism Beyond Boundaries
Women performing traditional dance of Rajasthan
took place for two consecutive days and the whole march was taken out at the same time on the same route during the second day too. Men and women were dressed up in traditional attires, with men wearing colourful headgear which added vibrancy to the parade. The idol of Lord Gangaur was carried on a silver palanquin very well decorated with colourful flowers. This festival has been and will be carried out with the same traditional fervor every year. Worshipping the idol of Lord Gangaur
Name of event GANGAUR PROCESSION Venue JAIPUR Date 13 & 14-04-2013
The colourful elephant leading the procession
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Travel & Tourism Beyond Boundaries
PORTRAYING WOMEN THROUGH ART S
howcasing in India for the first time, Ella Prakash illustrated how a women fulfills everyone’s wishes, as a lover, a wife, a daughter, sister and a mother in the most perfect manner. The exhibition featured a wide variety of artworks depicting fine and conceptual genres which brought out Ella’s feelings of freely using the brushwork technique. The exhibition went on for a stretch of 14 days running in abstract and giving out the message to the viewers. The theme of the exhibition displaying various stages of a women’s life had some masterpieces of artworks and was very thought provoking. The exhibition was organized by Courtyard by Marriott in association with TAD Artists. The art works by the renowned artist were very well appreciated by the audience.
Niten Mehta with TJ and GM Kanika Hasrat
Manya Mehta and Archana Prakash Art lovers at the exhibition
NAME OF EVENT ENCHANTED
Venue
Artworks by Ella Prakash at the exhibition
Atul and Reeya Naahar with artist Rohit Sharma and Neten Mehta
COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT, GURGAON
Date
16 TO 29-04-2013
Ella Prakash, Niten Mehta with Archana Prakash
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Niten Mehta with Mrs. and Mr. Karanjit Singh
Travel & Tourism Beyond Boundaries
CALLIGRAPHY ART EXHIBITION AT THE MET A
NAME OF THE EVENT ‘SACRED IS THE PASSION OF SACRED INTEGRITY’ EXHIBITION VENUE ART SPICE, THE METROPOLITAN HOTEL & SPA, NEW DELHI DATE 26-04-2013
Miss Babita and Thailand Ambassador Pisan Manawapat
rt Spice, the art gallery of T he M et hosted an exhibition of calligraphy art by contemporary artist Poosapati Parameshwar Raju. The exhibition showcased works in calligraphy ink on archival paper inspired from Shiva, Ganesha, Jagannath Temple of Puri, Surya and Krishna Leela from the Bhagavatam, Allah, Buddhist symbols, the story of Jesus, conceptual trees et al. Babita Gupta, Director, Art Spice said, “the artist believes in all Gods, and that comes across in his works that God in any and every form or religion is one. What I like about his work is that its minimalist.” Raju uses only paper, ink and nibs, and the inks are all imported. The art pieces are priced from Rs 25,000 to Rs 3 lakh. The exhibition is on till 9th June. On a lighter note, Babita said, “Since I am from Andhra I have invited Raju who also hails from Hyderabad.” Interestingly, the finger foods served over the evening also had touches of A ndhra, and there were some wines to match the hors d’oeuvres.
Gndjon Bjarnason,Eva Dogg Atladottir, Gaurav Khanna
Artist Poosapati Parmeshwar Raju
Sarika Gupta, Manisha Jain and Manika Jain
Shangreiso Shimray and kiran Sindwani from Tourism Authority of Thailand
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FOOD REVIEW
FUN DINING CHINA FLAVOUR China Doll pushes the envelope and injects freshness into Delhi’s somewhat jaded Chinese culinary vocabulary.
I
t was with great expectations that I visited the freshly-minted China Doll in New Delhi’s bustling South Extension recently. Rave reviews toplining the eatery’s ‘splendid’ offerings had already whetted my curiosity (and appetite), so inclement weather (4˚C) notwithstanding, I decided to check out its offerings and (truth be told) look for the proverbial chinks in its armor! To begin with, parking at the eater y was irksome. We spent a good 20 minutes looking for a suitable slot for our vehicle in bone-freezing weather but got it only after some deft negotiation with the parking attendant. But then I reckon you can’t blame restaurants for this lacuna in an increasingly space-crunched Delhi where dining establishments are mushrooming faster than you could say ‘Open Sesame’? As the restaurant is located on the third floor, we’re whisked up in an elevator. The ascent also gives us a chance to savor a neoninfused avatar of South-Ex, an area that looks decidedly unglamorous in cold daylight. The capacious (70 covers) restaurant’s décor is pleasing. It is done up in muted beige and gold tones rather than in the in-your-face redness that engulfs most of Delhi’s Oriental food restaurants. The entire space is also Vaastu-compliant which explains the smatteri n g of water bodies and bamboo plants all across the eatery. The bar, near the entrance, stretches towards a well-appointed ‘step-out’, edged with an end-to end water fountain complete with a sit out illuminated by candles and vibrant yellow cushions. There’s also a `Terrace Lounge’ here with an L-shaped seating arrangement
cluster and wooden couches offset by comfy leather cushions in bright hues. However, all that stunning décor couldn’t take the sting out of the bitter cold we felt while tucking in due to a dysfunctional heating system. The food thankfully, was heartwarming. My hot and sour seafood soup – a rich hearty broth that smelt of the ocean with its multifarious seafood embellishments – was done just so. However, my partner’s chicken sweet corn soup was bland, one that couldn’t even be salvaged by generous lashings of chilly-vinegar/soy sauce. ‘China Doll’, lest you misconstrue, is no fragile toy but (as the menu informs us) is a small, rich house plant that symbolizes “elegance, exquisiteness, tranquility and simplicity”. This message is skillfully incorporated into the food as well which stays true to its Oriental roots. We feast on a mélange of fares from China’s prime epicurean regions – Hunan cuisine with a histor y of more
than 2,100 years, dishes from the Xiangjiang River Valley as well as Guangdong and Sichuan. The eatery truly deserves a pat on its back for pushing the envelope and injecting freshness into Delhi’s somewhat jaded Chinese culinary vocabulary. Our starters – crispy fried lotus stem, spicy shredded lamb and sweet and spicy crispy fish too – score top marks, especially the honey-encrusted fish that retained its crunch till the end and the lotus stem that vamoosed from our plates before we could say ‘Chandni Chowk to China’! The restaurant also has a full-fledged bar, stocked with an impressive array of fine wines. However, we stick to our mocktails and juices (canned, fresh aren’t available), eschewing alcohol as looming ahead was a long drive back home. Our main course comprised of sliced fish tossed in oyster sauce (superb), jumbo prawns with Hunan chilly sauce (yum), crispy fish in garlic sauce (delectable), prawn in spicy sauce (passable) and dry pot chicken (good). Blending customary styles, essences, ingredients and presentation techniques from the Chinese culture, China Doll had reinterpreted contemporary Chinese cuisine with aplomb for us. And at about ` 2,500 for two, it was good value for money too. A word about the service though. It’s a tad iffy right now, with confused and clueless waiters who forget to fill glasses and also seem decidedly uncomfortable with English-speaking guests. For restaurateur-owner Yuvraj Kohli, who also straddles the Moti Mahal Delux chain of restaurants around the country, China Doll clearly seems like a labour of love. One that is bound to add heft to Delhi’s Oriental eating out scene after it finesses its act. The restaurant has character, luxury of space, a prime location, great food and ambience to match. For talented executive Chef Zhu Can, we have just one simple poser: how to say “bliss” in Chinese? by NEETA LAL
factfile Address: D 14, 3rd Floor, South Extension 2, New Delhi. Tel: 011-46075888 Meal for Two: ` 1,600 + Taxes Timings: 12 noon to 12 midnight
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RNI No. DELENG/2000/3645 Posting Dt. 4-9/05/2013 Licence No. U(C)-299/2012-2014 W.P.P. at MCB-1 Reg No. DL-(C)-01/1250/2012-14
7th Annual Expo: Mumbai: 19th October, 2013
Date of Publication: 03/05/2013
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7th Annual Conference & Expo October 19th 2013. Mumbai.
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