Asian Traveller _ October 2015 by Mediasteps

Vol. 8

No. 13

Pages 54

` 100

US $10 (Overseas)

October 2015

www.mediastepsindia.com

OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

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Highlights Vol. 8 I No. 13 I October 2015

Gujarat Traveller

The breathtaking state of Gujarat situated in the western coast of India is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. The state is reputed for its rich cultural heritage, historical significance, handicrafts and innumerable tourist attractions.

Live Like Gandhi

Tourists searching for peace and simplicity can check in to Mahatma Gandhi’s most famous ashram in India. But don’t expect modern comforts.

The Land of Ancient Dynasties Telangana is a newly formed and 29th state of India. After the division, the state got 10 districts which comprise major tourist attractions and places to see.

26 Vaishakh Surendran TEN QUESTIONS

General Manager, Keys Hotel, Trivandrum

24 4

Top eco friendly destinations in the world An eco friendly vacation does not always mean roughing it in the wild, there are many travel destinations that offer five star luxuries while being aware of the environment.

First Edition of MITM Gets Launched The Government of Maharashtra’s ambitious international tourism promotion project, Maharashtra International Travel Mart 2015 - popularly known as MITM

35 ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

INCREDIBLE TAJ

Editor & Publisher : Dr. G Biju Krishnan*

Group Vice President : Santhosh Kumaar K

Executive Editor : Sunny Thomas

Chief Mentor : Rajashekharan Nair

Editorial Team : Sane K P

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“It’s incredible what people can build — and what love can motivate us to build,” Mark Zuckerberg wrote after seeing Taj Mahal, the immortal monument of love. It is “even more stunning than I expected.” Within seven minutes of his post, his page was flooded with more than 2,000 comments, 22,000 likes and 435 shares from his followers across the world. This white marble mausoleum, built in the 1600s by Emperor Shah Jahan for the tomb of one of his wives, has fascinated many foreign visitors as well as Indians. Flattering news for the Indian traveller. For many countries, Indians are the most sought-after group. The reason, they spend! Countries like Seychelles, Malaysia, Spain, Hong Kong, and New Zealand are competing with each other for the Indian tourists’ money. Last year, Indians were the highest spending travelling community in Singapore, with an average daily spend of S$200300. Indians splurge on shopping, of course, makes them the favourites of various countries. But shopping isn’t the only thing they spend heavily on. Most Indians prefer to stay in 4-star and 5- star accommodation. Moreover, most Indians travel with families and so the average spending goes up. Also, they are very enthusiastic when it comes to trying out new things. New Zealand has slightly different reasons for attracting the Indians. The country is trying to develop tourism in the May-June period, which is peak outbound traffic from India. By promoting tourism in the shoulder season (before summer and after winter), New Zealand ensures that there is sufficient tourist traffic throughout the year. Similarly, Singapore is promoting itself in four main areas: leisure, education, healthcare, and BT-MICE (conferences). While leisure and business tourism has been the mainstay for the last decade, Singapore offers education and healthcare opportunities that it wishes to promote.

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The news items and Advertisements published herein have been collected from various source, which are considered to be reliable. Readers are however requested to verif y the facts before making business decisions using the same. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the writ ten permission from the Publisher. OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER 5 All rights reserved. Copyright © 2015 *Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

KERALA TRAVELLER along the length of the cliff, bordered by coconut palms, quaint shops, beach shacks, hotels, and guest houses. Nestled at the bottom of the cliff is a long stretch of sparkling beach, reached by steps leading down from the cliff top. It’s not surprising that Varkala is one of India’s best beaches.

Wayanad

erala, in south India, is often referred to as “God’s Own Country”. This coastal state is rich in distinctive traditions and culture, and lush unspoiled tropical beauty. Most of all, Kerala is known for its elephants, elaborate temple festivals, and the tranquil backwaters. The pace of life is slow, making Kerala the perfect place for a leisurely vacation.

plantations. See tea being picked and processed, and try fresh tea straight from the gardens. There’s even a tea museum. The area is blessed with the natural beauty of winding lanes, misty hills, and forests full of exotic plants and wildlife. Adventure enthusiasts can trek to Anamudi, the highest peak in south India, explore Eravikulam National Park, or go rock climbing and para gliding.

Fort Kochi

Varkala

Known as the “Gateway to Kerala”, Kochi is an enchanting city that’s had an eclectic influence. Arabs, British, Dutch, Chinese, and Portuguese have all left their mark there. The architecture and historical sites in Fort Kochi attract most of the visitors to the area.

The setting of this Varkala beach is striking enough to take your breath away, with a long winding stretch of cliff and views that extend over the Arabian Sea. A paved footpath runs

Wayanad is a bright green mountainous region that stretches along the Western Ghats. It has a great deal of scenic appeal. Abundant coconut palms, thick forests, paddy fields, and lofty peaks form the landscape. Due to the nature of its terrain, the area also has much to offer adventure enthusiasts. Popular attractions include trekking to Chembra Peak and Meenmutty Falls, exploring old Jain temples, climbing to Edakkal Caves, and wildlife spotting at Muthanga and Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuaries. Another highlight of Wayanad is the many delightful homestays in the area.

Periyar National Park Kerala’s Periyar National Park, in the Thekkady district, is one of the most popular national parks in southern India. One of the best things about the park is that it stays open all year round, even during the monsoon season. Periyar is known for its elephants, and 30 minute elephant rides through the jungle are offered. Safaris are carried out by boat, with the lake being particularly captivating at sunset. Visitors can also take part in an excellent variety of eco-tourism activities there.

Kerala Backwaters One of the most tranquil and relaxing things you can do in Kerala is take a trip in a houseboat along the palmfringed Kerala canals, known as the backwaters. Freshly cooked Indian food and chilled beer on board the boat make the experience even more enjoyable. You can even spend the night out on the middle of a lake. Stay a few nights at a hotel or resort along the backwaters too.

Munnar If you like tea, a visit to Munnar is a must! The surrounding region is renowned for its sprawling tea 6

ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

ANDHRA PRADESH TRAVELLER verdant forests. Besides the Sri Venkateswara Temple, other shrines located in the region include the Sri Govindrajaswamy Temple, Sri Kondandaramaswami Temple, Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple and the Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami Temple.

Mahanandi

nown for its rich cultural heritage and scenic beauty, Andhra Pradesh tourism attracts a large number of tourists from all parts of the country. Tourism in Andhra Pradesh includes historical monuments, museums, palatial havelis, tombs, hill stations, natural caves, temples, churches, mosques and many sacred pilgrimage shrines.

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Visakhapatnam is located on the national highway and covers an area of 250 hectares. This is the second largest zoological park in the state, after Hyderabad Zoo. It boasts of a rich collection of flora and fauna, including some exotic species of animals from Australia. The Park has more than 400 varieties of fauna. The Park opened its doors to the public in 1972 and today offers deer safari, has five enclosures for monkeys and primates, special dens for lions and tigers, six enclosures for deer and eight specially designed enclosures for small mammals. The main attraction of Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is undoubtedly the big cats, in particular the white tiger.

Kolleru Lake Bird Sanctuary Kolleru Bird Sanctuary is perhaps the best fresh water sanctuary in India. There is a host of wildlife within the sanctuary, which is located in the deltaic region between the rivers of Krishna and Godavari. The sanctuary is a haven for migratory birds, which fly all the way from Siberia, the Philippines, Australia and Egypt. During the winter season in India, these birds come to nest at the sanctuary. The sanctuary is situated about 65 kilometres from the city of Vijayawada and offers a wonderful opportunity to bird watchers and nature lovers to see some really rare species of birds. Kolleru Bird Sanctuary was established in 1999 and is protected by the Wildlife Protection Act. The placid lake and the lush greenery makes it an ideal refuge for birds, such as red-chested pod chards, pintails, herons, egrets, migratory ducks, water birds, pelicans, teals, ibises and storks. It also is home to 63 species of fish, crustaceans and molluscs.

Rushi Konda Beach Located just 8 kilometres from the port city of Visakhapatnam, RushiKonda Beach is known as the Jewel of the

OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

East Coast. The unspoiled beauty of the beach is its main attraction and offers a unique opportunity to relax and enjoy the golden sands and gentle ocean currents. The beach is a haven for watersports lovers and is popular among windsurfers and jet skiers. However, it is the scenic beauty of the beach that lures visitors throughout the year, who come to enjoy spending time amidst greenery, golden sands and azure waters. The day the city celebrates the festival of colours, Holi, the beach gets transformed to a hue of vibrant colours, with people splashing color and water on each other.

Tirupathi The king of all temples lies in Tirupati, which is located in the Chittoor District. The town is located at the foothills of Tirumala Hills, which is home to one of the most ancient and holy temples of India. This temple attracts millions of devotees each year and is called Sri Venkateswara Temple. It is claimed that the temple get more pilgrims than Mecca and Jerusalem. Tirupati is about 525 kilometres from Hyderabad and is surrounded by seven panoramic hills, which are home to perennial waterfalls, lush valleys and

The picturesque village of Mahanandi is located east of Nallamala Hills, near Nandyal, in Kurnool District. The village is enveloped by dense verdant forest. About 15 kilometres from the village are nine shrines to Nandi. Mahanandi is one of the nine shrines. The other eight are Shivanandi, Vinayakanandi, Somanandi, Prathamanandi, Garudanandi, Suryanandi, Krishnanandi (also known as Vishnunandi) and Naganandi The Mahanandiswara Swamy Temple is about 1,500 years old and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The shivalinga in the temple is considered to be unique because it is formed by a rough, uncut rock containing two cavities. Devotees are allowed to touch the shivalinga. There is a huge Nandi located in front of the main shrine. The tower above the shivalinga is what makes this temple unique. It is constructed in the North Indian style of architecture.

ASSAM TRAVELLER

f you are looking for variety while choosing your holiday destination, Assam could be the perfect spot. Be it the natural scenery or culture of the people of Assam, you are sure to be awed by the variety and color Assam has to offer. People belonging to various cultures and races live here. The land has people following various faiths. Assam is home for various crafts as well.

Kaziranga National Park Kaziranga National Park has been declared a World Heritage Site. The park is spread over 430 sq. kms and you will find various wild species such as tiger, elephant, rhinoceros, Indian bison, sambar, deer and many more. If you love birds, you need to be here during winter as migratory birds are seen in great numbers. You could go round the park in a jeep or car. If you fancy elephant 8

ride, you are most welcome. The nearest cities from Kaziranga National Park are Jorhat and Tezpur.

Agnigarh Hill Agnigarh hill is situated in Tezpur in Assam. As per Hindu mythology, a fortress was built here by King Banasura with a view to isolate his daughter Usha. The legend further goes to say that the place derived the name owing to the fire that surrounded the fortress always to avoid movement in and out of the place. The word Agni means fire.

Kamakhya Temple Kamakhya Temple is located on Nilachal Hill, Guwahati top at an altitude of 800 feet above sea level. River Brahmaputra flows on the northern side of the hill. The temple is over 2200 years old. Apart from its rich cultural heritage, Kamakhya is beauty personified. It offers a stunning view of rivers and hills. Whatever faith one follows in life,

being at this location would make one experience divinity.

Dibru Saikhowa National Park Dibru Saikhowa National Park is situated in Tinsukia in Assam. It owns the credit of being one among the major biodiversity hotspots of the world and one among the largest parks in Assam. The park is a blend of deciduous forests, semi-evergreen forests and swamp surface making it bio-diverse. You will find many rare wildlife species here and feral horses are one of the most famous species seen here.

Orang National Park Orang National Park is situated on the northern banks of the river Brahmaputra. It is the only National Park in the country, which was created naturally. The tribes who lived there had abandoned 78.81-sq.km area. Some of the animals found here

include royal Bengal tiger, one horned rhinoceros, leopard, elephant and many more. The place offers great delight to bird watchers as one could find various local birds and migratory birds here.

Haflong Lake Haflong Lake is situated at the centre of Haflong hill town, which is famously called the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Switzerland of the Eastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The picturesque landscape with blue hills, large and beautiful lakes, enthralling streams, waterfalls and abundance of pineapple trees and orange trees earns the title for Haflong town. Haflong Lake is one among the two lakes of the town. It is situated at an altitude of 1683 feet above MSL and no wonder you will find clouds and mists touching your arms as they gently move away. The beauty not only enthralls you but also offers various water sports and hence both your body and mind are rejuvenated.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

GOA TRAVELLER time as you wander past colorful old Portuguese homes, belonging to the last surviving Portuguese families of Goa. Narrow winding streets and lanes, quaint shops, art galleries, bakeries, and restaurants give it undeniable charm.

Wildlife Sanctuaries

oa is one of the most well known tourist destinations in India. People travel from far and wide to this small state for its diverse mix of beaches, adrenaline activities, parties, nature, and history. One of the best ways to see all that Goa India has to offer is by hiring a motorbike or scooter, and exploring at leisure.

Markets The Anjuna flea market is held every Wednesday from morning until evening, except during the monsoon season, on the southern end of Anjuna Beach. The market has exploded in size and attracts people from all over Goa. It’s now got over 500 stalls, and is still growing. You’ll find a huge assortment of goods there, but make sure you bargain. After a day of shopping till you drop, head over to Curly’s beach shack and take in the sunset scene there. If one market isn’t enough for you, the Saturday Night Market and Mackie’s Night Bazaar, both in the Arpora Baga area, are also worth checking out. They offer entertainment, including live music, as well as an eclectic range of food.

Goa Beaches Goa’s long stretch of sandy coastline is renowned for its multitude of beaches. There’s something on offer for everyone, from luxury resorts to makeshift huts, and trance parties to tranquility. The Goa India beach that’s right for you will depend on the kind of experience you want to have. Want water sports? Head to Baga. Want to hang with the hippies. Try Arambol. Prefer isolation? Agonda or Patnem might be the beach for you.

Xavier, a revered missionary and the patron saint of Goa. Old Goa is situated not far from Panjim, Goa’s current capital.

Latin Quarter Capital city Panjim is worth visiting for its Fontainhas neighborhood. Declared a UNESCO Heritage Zone in 1984, it gets its name (meaning “fountain”) from the fountain at the foot of the hill. You’ll be transported back in

Goa isn’t just all about beaches and churches. The state’s location along the mountainous Western Ghats is home to an array of birds and animals. Around 20% of Goa consists of wildlife sanctuaries. They’re open all year round, although October to March is the best time to visit. The two main sanctuaries are Bhagwan Mahvir (of which Mollem National Park is a part) and Cotigao. On the fringe of the Mollem National Park you’ll find the imposing Dudhsagar Falls, where the water rages down from a huge height during and just after the monsoon season. Accommodations, provided by the Goa Forest Department, are available at both sanctuaries. For a very eco-friendly stay, try a mud hut at the Shanti Nature Resort in Mollem National Park.

Old Goa Once the magnificent Portuguese capital of Goa India, these days all that remains of Old Goa is a handful of imposing churches and cathedrals. They are amongst the largest in Asia though. Some of the buildings have now become archeological museums, and provide a fascinating display of Goa’s history. One of the most interesting buildings in Old Goa is the Convent and Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, built in 1521. Just opposite is the Basilica of Bom Jesus, which contains the preserved remains of the body of Saint Francis

OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

GUJARAT TRAVELLER

he breathtaking state of Gujarat situated in the western coast of India is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. The state is reputed for its rich cultural heritage, historical significance, handicrafts and innumerable tourist attractions. Apart from being one of the most industrialized regions in India Gujarat is also a major tourist hub of the nation. A land of romance, charisma, mysticism, vibrant colors and infinite natural beauty Gujarat never fails to charm its many visitors.

Sun Temple The peaceful village of Modhera is home to one of the most significant sun temples in India. Built in the 11th century by Solanki dynasty rulers, it’s dedicated to Surya the Sun God. The temple is a substantial structure, consisting of a carved stepped tank, assembly hall, and main shrine. It’s covered in intricate stone sculptures. The sanctum is positioned in a way that it receives the first rays of the morning sun at the equinox.

Rani ki Vav A UNESCO’s World Heritage Site, Rani ki Vav is an ancient stepwell dating back to the 11th century. It was also constructed during the Solanki dynasty, apparently in memory of ruler Bhimdev I, by his widowed wife. The stepwell has stairs going down seven levels, and panels containing more than 500 main sculptures and over 1,000 minor ones. Only discovered relatively recently, the stepwell was flooded by the nearby Saraswati River and silted over until the late 1980s. When it was excavated by the Archeological Survey of India, its carvings were found in pristine condition.

Dwarka One of the four most sacred char dham Hindu pilgrimage sites and seven most ancient sapta puri religious cities in India, Dwarka is considered to be the ancient kingdom of Lord Krishna and the first capital of Gujarat. The Krishna Janmashtami festival is a major event there. Of special 10

importance are Dwarkadhish Temple, built around 200 BC, and Jagat Mandir. Head down to Gomti Ghat, at the holy water’s edge, for a spectacle of decorated camels, tea stalls, and seashell jewelery sellers.

Marine National Park Isolated and exotic Marine National Park lies along the coast on the way to Dwarka. It was established as a national park in 1982 and is the first of its kind in India. Yet, not many people know about it. The national park is made up of 42 islands, 33 of which are surrounded by coral reef, and is home to diverse marine and bird life. Tourists are only permitted to visit a couple of the islands though. The main one, Narara Island, is accessible by car and a long walk during low tide. Visit during the winter, and be prepared to wade through ankle deep water on the seabed. Local guides are available. Pirotin Island can be accessed by charter boat but it’s difficult and permission needs to be obtained from numerous government departments in advance.

Gir National Park Gir National Park, one of the Top Parks to see wildlife in India, is the only place in the world where the Asiatic lion can now be found. Thanks to conservation efforts, their numbers have been increasing. Gir is considered to be the largest dry deciduous forest in western India. There’s plenty of other wildlife there, including around 300 types of birds. You’ll have the best chance of spotting a lion if you go during March until May, although the most comfortable time to visit the park is from December until March. Safaris run daily.

Saputara Saputara, meaning “Abode of Serpents” is situated on a densely forested plateau on top of the Sahyadri range. This hill station has been developed as a tourist destination with hotels around a large lake, boat club, tribal museum, cable car, artist village, and other attractions. It’s a popular weekend getaway, especially during the monsoon season when it’s misty there. ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

KARNATAKA TRAVELLER

riginally known as the princely State of Mysore, Karnataka was formed on 1st November 1956 and is located in the South-Western region of India. Close to the Arabian Sea and the Laccadive Sea, Karnataka is known for its beautiful yet unpopulated beaches and rich culture. The land has also seen the reign of the ancient kingdoms of the south such as the Chola, Chera, Vijaynagar, Sathavahanas, Maurya, Hoysala and many more right upto the Mighty Tipu Sultan and subsequently the British. The state is famous for its natural, cultural and architectural heritage and there are plenty of places one can visit on his/her trip to Karnataka.

Bangalore Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, is a contemporary, fast growing, and prosperous place that’s home to India’s IT industry. It’s full of young professionals and has a vibrant, cosmopolitan air about it. Although it’s not really a must-visit city in India, many people love Bangalore because it’s full of greenery, interesting buildings and temples.

Hampi One of India’s top historical destinations, the laid back village of Hampi was once the last capital of Vijayanagar, one of the greatest Hindu empires in India’s history. It has some extremely captivating ruins, intriguingly intermingled with large boulders that rear up all over the landscape. The ruins, which date 12

back to the 14th century, stretch for just over 25 kilometers (10 miles) and comprise more than 500 monuments. An incredible energy can be felt at this ancient place.

Chitradurga Fort The well-maintained ruins of sprawling Chitradurga Fort are a hidden, lesser-known gem in the heart of the Deccan Plateau northwest of Bangalore, on the way to Hampi. Much of the fort was built by the Palegar Nayakas between the 15th and 18th centuries. It was later expanded by Hyder Ali, who defeated the Nayakas. Its rocky landscape on a granite hill is peppered with boulders and valleys. Notable features include seven circular walls, 19 gateways, 35 secret entrances, four invisible passages, 2,000 watchtowers, 18 temples in the upper fort, and a huge temple in the lower fort.

Mysore Mysore has an impressive royal heritage, with the city’s main tourist attraction being the imposing Mysore Palace. There are many other interesting buildings, palaces, and temples to see. Its zoo is one of the best in India. Mysore is also an excellent place to shop for sandalwood, and study Ashtanga yoga.

Coorg The Kodagu region, often referred to as Coorg (the English version of its name), is an extremely picturesque and alluring mountainous area in

southern Karnataka, not far from Bangalore and Mysore. The area is renowned for its plentiful coffee estates and stunning scenic beauty. The highlight of a visit to Coorg is undoubtedly a stay amid the coffee plantations. The magnificent Golden Temple, one of the top Buddhist monasteries in India, is not to be missed as well.

Nagahole National Park Karnataka’s Nagarhole National Park is one of the top national parks in India, and is an excellent palace to see elephants close up in their natural habitat. It’s not unusual to see herds of elephants on the river bank. The park is a place of unspoiled wilderness, with serene forest, bubbling streams, and a tranquil lake. Nagarhole can be explored by jeep safari. Many people go trekking in the area too.

Belur Around 25 kilometers southeast of Chikmagalur on the banks of Yagachi river, historic Belur has many glorious temples belonging to the Hoysala Empire, which had its capital there. These temples are the best examples of Hoysala architecture, with the highlight being their intricate carvings. The main temple, constructed to commemorate the victory of the Hoysalas over the Cholas, took 103 years to build. Belur was attacked by the Mughals in the 14th century, beginning the downfall of Hoysala rule and relocation of their capital to Halebidu. ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

ODISHA TRAVELLER

rissa (renamed Odisha) is one of India’s less frequented states, as it’s predominantly rural and “off the beaten track”. However, tourist interest in Orissa’s eclectic combination of attractions is growing. Orissa offers picturesque national parks and wildlife, unpolluted beaches, traditional music and dance, temples, handicrafts, tribal culture, and Buddhist relics.

Bhubaneshwar The capital city of Orissa, Bhubaneshwar is most famous for its temples (there are over 700, mostly devoted to Lord Shiva) including the largest temple in the state -- the Lingraj Mandir. The motley collection of caves cut into the hillside on the outskirts of the city is another popular attraction. They were once home to Jain aesthetics. The most interesting ones can be found at Udayagiri (Sunrise Hill). The complex is open from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. If you’re interested in natural medicine, the ethereal Ekamravan garden of medicinal plants is notable and well worth visiting.

Konark Sun Temple Designed to be a huge chariot for the Sun God Surya, the intricately carved Sun Temple was constructed in the 13th century. It stands 30 meters high on 12 massive wheels. Erotic carvings similar to those on the Khajuraho temples are a renowned feature.

Puri Puri is located on the beach, but don’t go there expecting a beach paradise. You’ll need to head far away from the center to find an unpolluted patch

of sand. Instead, Puri’s appeal lies in its holiness. The imposing Jagannath Temple is only open to Hindus, but the roofs nearby buildings offer decent views (for a small fee). Puri is also a good place to organize tribal tours and day trips. Another attraction is the Rath Yatra festival, which takes place in July/August each year. It’s the only occasion when non-Hindus can get to see the temple deities. A mere glimpse of Lord Jagannath on the chariot, or even to touch the chariot, is considered to be very auspicious. A Puri Beach Festival is also held every November.

Handicrafts Villages Orissa is a state in that’s renowned for its handicrafts. There are two villages between Puri and Bhubaneshwar that you can visit where the residents are all artisans. They are interesting places to interact with the artisans, see demonstrations, and of course

buy their beautiful handicrafts. The specialties are Pattachitra paintings and colorful applique works.

Chilika Lake If you want to spend time amongst nature, head to the remarkable Chilika Lake. Asia’s largest brackish water (a combination of sea and fresh water) lagoon is an ecological wonder spanning around 1,000 square kilometers. It’s full of wildlife, particularly fish and migratory birds from far off lands. There are even dolphins! The Lake also has a number of islands. Grassroutes Journeys offers eco-friendly Chilika Lake camping trips and birdwatching cruises. Also check out Mangalajodi Ecotourism. Explore Chilika Lake and its various islands by boat. Most departures are from Satapada (where the dolphins are), located at the mouth of the Lake around 50 kilometers from Puri. Other departures are possible from Barkul, Rambha, and Balugaon.

Chandipur Beach Casuarina trees, sand dunes, and a tide that receeds out for miles all make Chandipur Beach special. This little known beach is the place to come if you want a tranquil beach getaway. Of course, if you’re looking for crystal clear water and golden sand, there are better beaches in India. However, this one is unique! It’s also very safe. Chandipur Beach is readily accessible by train from Bhubaneshwar and also Kolkata in West Bengal. Walk on the huge stretch of seabed when the tide is out. It’s brilliant for beach-combing. Discover small puddles of water with tiny fish, sea shells, and crabs. OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

RAJASTHAN TRAVELLER

ajasthan is one of the most visited states in India. It’s not surprising because it shows India at its most colorful and exotic best. All the things that come to mind when you think of India can be found in Rajasthan -- palaces, forts, desert, camels, elephants, and snake charmers.

Jaipur The “Pink City” of Jaipur is full of ancient palaces and forts, with most of them boasting stunning views and elaborate architecture. Jaipur forms part of India’s popular Golden Triangle Tourist Circuit, and lures visitors with its evocative remnants of a bygone era. A visit to Jaipur will give you a feel for how the monarchy once lived in all its glory. Staying in Jaipur is also particularly enjoyable. The city has some incredible heritage hotels that have been converted from old palaces, giving guests a very regal experience! 14

Udaipur Udaipur is an enchanting place full of old mansions, beautiful gardens, intricate temples and grand palaces overlooking expansive shimmering lakes. The City Palace, which stretches along the eastern shore of Lake Pichola, is a highlight. The way it has been constructed is exquisite, with Rajput military architecture and Mughal style decorative techniques both combined together. Its museum displays many royal heirlooms, family photos, and other memorabilia.

Jaisalmer Jaisalmer is often referred to as being straight out of a romantic Arabian Nights fable. It’s a cliche, but how better to describe this remarkable sandstone city that rises magically from the sand dunes of the Rajasthan desert? Jaisalmer’s mesmerizing ancient fort, built in 1156, is perched high on a pedestal overlooking the city. Inside, the fort is

alive and spellbinding. It houses five palaces, several temples, and some exquisite havelis (mansions), as well as shops and other residences.

Jodhpur Affectionately known as the “Blue City” for its blue painted buildings, Jodhpur is the second largest city in Rajasthan. The walled old part of the city is presided over by the looming Mehrangarh Fort. One of the largest forts in India, it’s the pride of Jodhpur. Every October it has the honor of providing the setting for the Rajasthan International Folk Festival. Inside the fort are a number of palaces, and a museum. The fort is also an excellent place to view Jodhpur’s blue buildings.

Ranthambore National Park Ranthambore National Park is full of history, having witnessed many battles played out on its land, and the rise and fall of many rulers. The chances

of spotting a tiger in the wild at Ranthambore are amongst the best in India. In contrast with many national parks in India, Ranthambore is also really accessible and easy to get to. The landscape is dominated by the formidable 10th century Ranthambore Fort. It’s a huge structure that contains ruined pavilions, splendid monuments, and three Hindu temples.

Bikaner The vibrant desert town of Bikaner receives fewer tourists than many other prominent destinations in Rajasthan. It’s an excellent place to go on a camel safari, as an alternative to Jaisalmer. The main attractions are the atmospheric walled Old City and fort. Bikaner is also renowned for the infamous Karni Mata rat temple nearby. The Karni Mata Festival, held to worship the rats there, is one of the quirkiest festivals in India. A Camel Fair is also held in Bikaner every January.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

TELANGANA

THE LAND OF

Ancient Dynasties Telangana is a newly formed and 29th state of India. After the division, the state got 10 districts which comprise major tourist attractions and places to see. Telangana might be new but its history and culture have endless opportunities for an avid traveler. Forts and palaces, monuments, religious places, waterfalls and many more attractions can be found and explored in this newly founded state. Let's have a look at some of the major attractions of Telangana. 16

ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

Charminar The Charminar is as much the signature of Hyderabad as the Taj Mahal is of Agra or the Eiffel Tower is of Paris. Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah, the founder of Hyderabad, built Charminar in 1591 at the centre of the original city layout. It was said to be built as a charm to ward off a deadly epidemic raging at that time. Four graceful minarets soar to a height of 48.7 metre above the ground. Charminar has 45 prayer spaces and a mosque in it. Visitors can view the architectural splendour inside the Charminar. The monument is illuminated in the evenings and a pedestrianisation project around the monument is under implementation.

Golconda Fort Golconda is one of the famous forts of India. The name originates OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

from the Telugu words “Golla Konda” meaning “Shepherd’s Hill”. The origins of the fort can be traced back to the Yadava dynasty of Deogiri and the Kakatiyas of Warangal. Golconda was originally a mud fort, which passed to the Bahmani dynasty and later to the Qutub Shahis, who held it from 1518 to 1687 A.D. The first three Qutub Shahi kings rebuilt Golconda, over a span of 62 years. The fort is famous for its acoustics, palaces, ingenious water supply system and the famous Fateh Rahben gun, one of the cannons used in the last siege of Golconda by Aurangzeb, to whom the fort ultimately fell. Sound & Light Show at Golconda Fort: The glorious past of Golconda Fort is narrated effectively with matchless Sound and Light effects. The unique Sound & Light Show takes you right back in time, when Golconda was full of life, glory and grandeur. 17

Qutub Shahi Tombs The tombs of the legendary Qutub Shahi kings lie about a kilometre away from Banjara Darwaza of the Golconda Fort. Planned and built by the Qutub Shahis themselves, these tombs are said to be the oldest historical monuments in Hyderabad. They form a large group and stand on a raised platform. The tombs are built in Persian, Pathan and Hindu architectural styles using grey granite, with stucco ornamentation, the only one of its kind in the world where an entire dynasty has been buried at one place.

Mecca Masjid A two hundred yards southwest of the Charminar is the Mecca Masjid, so named because the bricks were brought from Mecca to build the central arch. The Qutub Shahis never finished the building of the mosque, which was completed by Aurangzeb in 1694. Mecca Masjid is poetry in stone, with a hall measuring 67m and soaring to a height of 54m. Fifteen graceful arches - five to each of the three sides, support the roof. Towards the southern end of the mosque lie the marble graves of members of the Asaf Jahi dynasty.

Salar Jung Museum This museum houses one of the biggest one-man collections of antiques of the world by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III. The objects dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;art include Persian carpets, Moghal miniatures, Chinese porcelain, Japanese lacquerware, famous statues including the Veiled Rebecca and Marguerite and Mephistopheles, a superb collection of jade, daggers belonging to Queen Noor Jahan and the Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan, Aurangzebâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sword and many other fabulous items.

Andhra Pradesh State Archaeological Museum A visit to the Andhra Pradesh State Archaeological Museum is a delight for art lovers. Located in the picturesque Public Gardens, the museum boasts of one of the richest repositories of antiques and art objects in the country. Built in 1920 by the Nizam VII, the museum building itself is a fine example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. The museum contains a Buddhist gallery, Brahmanical & Jain gallery, Bronze gallery, Arms & Armour gallery, 18

ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

Numismatics gallery, Ajanta gallery and more. Adjacent to the State Museum is the Contemporary Art Museu.

The Nizam‘s Silver Jubilee Museum The stately Purani Haveli, the palace acquired around the year 1750 by the second Nizam, is now converted into a museum with a fascinating collection. The museum exhibits the gifts and mementos presented to the last Nizam on the occasion of the silver jubilee celebrations in 1937. A 1930 Rolls Royce, Packard and a Mark V Jaguar are among the vintage cars displayed. There is an interesting collection of models made in silver of all the prominent buildings of the city and citations in Urdu about H.E.H. Mir Osman Ali Khan, gold burnished wooden throne used for the silver jubilee celebrations, gold tiffin box inlaid with diamonds, and a gold model of Jubilee Pavilion.

Birla Planetarium/ Birla Science Museum Birla Planetarium is India’s most modern planetarium and first of its kind in the country. It is equipped with advanced technology from Japan and is built on Naubat Pahad adjacent to Kala Pahad. And the Science Museum stands tribute to the advancement achieved by Science and Technology.

Nehru Zoological Park Spanning 300 lush green acres, the Nehru Zoological Park is a must for nature lovers. It has over 250 species of animals and birds, most of which are kept in conditions as close to their natural habitats as possible. This is the first zoo to create moated enclosures for animals. The Lion Safari Park, Natural 20

History Museum and Children’s Train are the added attractions. APTDC runs an ice-cream parlour and restaurant here.

Shilparamam - The Arts & Crafts village Another attraction at Madhapur beyond Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad is the 30-acre village, which showcases arts and crafts of the country. India is an ocean of various arts and crafts but the talent of most of the artisans and artists goes unrecognized. To encourage them and give the necessary boost to their art, the crafts village hosts annual bazaars, where artists and artisans from all over the country exhibit their talent.

Public Gardens Hyderabad has several beautiful gardens, one of the most popular being the Public Gardens, which also encloses the State Legislature, State Archaeological Museum, Jubilee Hall, Jawahar Bal Bhavan and Telugu Lalita Kala Thoranam, an open-air theatre.

Lumbini Park This beautiful entertainment park is situated on the shore of Hussainsagar Lake. The landscaping here is a visual treat. A musically synchronized water fountain and a floral clock are major attractions here. Lumbini Park jetty is a major point for pleasure boating of AP Tourism.

Ramoji Film City A dream world created for the celluloid on a sprawling 1000 acres, with every imaginable set and location, Ramoji Film City on the outskirts of Hyderabad offers facilities to produce any kind of movie. Apart from sets, there are hotels where artistes and technicians can stay. ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

Visitors too can go round in conducted tours that the management organises.

Hyderabad Botanical Gardens The first Botanical Gardens in Andhra Pradesh, spread over 120 acres. Already open to public is the first phase, with the completion of some sections. The sections include medicinal plants, timber trees, fruit trees, ornamental plants, aquatic plants and bamboos. The Park has been designed to have large water bodies, rolling meadows, natural forests, rich grasslands and exquisite rock formations.

Hussainsagar Lake Excavated in 1562 A.D. by Hussain Shah Wali during the time of Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah, the lake has a promenade that is a busy thoroughfare today. Boating and water sports are a regular feature in the Hussainsagar. One of the World’s tallest monolithic statues of the Buddha stands on the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’, in the middle of the lake. Added to all these, AP Tourism has additional boating facilities like speed boats, motor boats, 48 seater launch etc. Starlit dinner on-board and private parties also can be arranged on the launch.

Osmansagar Lake Osmansagar, better known as Gandipet, on the outskirts of Hyderabad is an excellent picnic spot. Osmansagar is one of the two lakes on the city’s periphery that supplies drinking water to the great metropolis. The lake is a reservoir created by a dam across the Isa, a tributary of the River Musi. Abutting the lake and the bund are lush gardens that provide the ideal ambience for an outing. Overlooking the lake is the heritage building, Sagar Mahal, built

as a resort by the Nizam of Hyderabad and converted now into a lake resort managed by AP Tourism.

KBR National Park One of the largest parks within the city KBR National Park is a Southern tropical deciduous forest and the last vestigial representative of the endemic flora of Hyderabad region, with over 100 species of birds, 20 species of reptiles and 15 species of butterflies.

Thousand Pillars Temple Perched elegantly on the slopes of the hills at Hanamkonda, the thousand pillars temple is fine specimen of Kakatiya Architecture and sculpture. Built by Rudra Deva in 1163 AD in the Chalunkan style, the star-shaped, triple shrine temple is dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Surya. The temple is notable for its richly carved pillars, preformatted screens and exquisite icons, specially impressive are the rock cut elephants and the Nandi.

Warangal Fort The Warangal Fort with its impressive and beautifully carved thoranan arches, and pillars inside spread over a radius of 19 kms between Hanamkonda and Warangal, the impregnable fort was popularly known as the seat of power. The fort consists of seven towers, with a radius of 8 kms. The main fort has 45 towers, and a temple of mother earth in the middle of the fort (Swayam Bhudevi Alayam). A legendary master piece known as Khush Mahal built by Shittabh Khan (Reign 1504-1512) is situated close to the glorious Warangal Fort. Even today, the beautifully carved gateway located within the fort-the famous ‘Ekashila’symbolises the Kakatiya

OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

Empire and Warangal like the Charminar does for Hyderabad.

Ramappa Temple The medieval Deccan Ramappa Temple dating back to 1213 AD, built by the 7th Kakatiya king Rudra Senani, is the right choice for architectural lovers with a panoramic view of scenic beauty, situated at Palamet village 64 kms away from Warangal, the Temple has several idols in dancing postures. It documents the glory and grandeur of the Kakatiya kingdom with rich intricate culture on walls, pillars and ceilings brackets and ceiling will captivate you. The main attraction of this temple is the floating bricks and a warrior queen.

Nagarjunasagar Dam There would be very few modern constructions you will come across that evoke such a response. A feeling of awe and significance overcomes you when you lay eyes upon the Nagarjuna 22

Sagar Dam for the first time. Its sheer size and magnitude leaves you breathless and astounded. As the tallest and largest masonry dam in the world, truly stands as one of the wonders of engineering excellence. Stretching across the mighty river Krishna, the barrage also has another distinction to its credit it has created one of the world’s largest man-made lake! The reservoir is a vital source of irrigation for vast tracts of the surroundings region. The two left and right canals, called Bahadur Canal and Jawahar canal respectively, cater to the watering needs of a very large area of the state. Successfully transforming a barren, thirsty land into a lush verdant landscape with acres and acres of green fields swaying in the breeze as far as the eye can see. Naturally, it has played a leading role in helping the state of Andhra Pradesh emerge as ‘the Rice Bowl

of India’. Significantly, the creation of this lake has submerged the excavations that were carried out here in 1926 which unearthed three historical sitesDhanyakataka, capital of the Satavahanas; Sriparvata, Vijayapuri, capital of the Ikshvakus and a Buddist civilization that thrived here in the third and fourth centuries B.C. What is of special interest to historians is the fact that the excavations also revealed the existence of Brahmanical temples here which indicates that Hinduism and Buddhism flourished together in peaceful co-existence. All the archeological findings and relics have been removed from here and carefully preserved on an island in the middle of the lake - Nagarjunakonda.

Nagarjunakonda Nagarjunakonda was one of the largest and most important Buddhist centres in South India

from the second century BC until the third century AD. It was named after Acharya Nagarjuna, a renowed Buddhist scholar and philosopher, who had migrated here from Amarvati to propagate and spread the Buddha’s message of universal peace and brotherhood. The founder of Mahayana Buddhism, this revered monk governed the sangha for almost 60 years and the Madhyamika School established attracted students from far and wide including Sri Lanka and China.

Kuntala Waterfalls The Kuntala Waterfalls is located in Adilabad district of Telangana, about 260 kilometres from Hyderabad. The place is far away from the hustle and bustle of the city life, and offers the best of nature. It is filled with dense forests, valleys and chirping birds. Visitors can also enjoy trekking here. ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

TRAVELOGUE

Top eco friendly destinations in the world

Dr. Prem

An eco friendly vacation does not always mean roughing it in the wild, there are many travel destinations that offer five star luxuries while being aware of the environment.

he first destination is the Guludo Beach Lodge that is located in the Quirmbas National park in Mozambique. Here you can enjoy long walks on unspoiled beaches, the underwater marvels, learn how to scuba dive and much more. The Guludo beach was built with the aim of using tourism as a platform to develop the poorer and more rural communities and 5% of the profits of the Guludo lodge go towards the Nema Foundations that over sees the community and conservations projects. The lodge is made using services and materials that are locally sourced. Another green global vacation spot is the Jungle bay Resort in

ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

The Cradle Mountain Lodge in Tasmania offers a wilderness experience that is truly unique and is located right on the Cradle MountainLake at the St. Clair national park. the Dominica, which is known for its natural beauty and hot sulfur springs. The eco friendly aspect of this destination is that it uses tourism to preserve the local communities and the environment. This Caribbean island is different from the others in that it moves away from the seas and beaches and draws attention on the nature based activities that promotes awareness of the forests and the other natural wonders of the Caribbean. The Cradle Mountain Lodge in Tasmania offers a wilderness experience that is truly unique and is located right on the Cradle MountainLake at the St. Clair national park. The lodge operates on an elaborate system that uses tourism and its revenues to conserve the natural fauna, flora and upgrade the natural tracks of the National park. The White Pod resort in Switzerland is the best snow retreat that looks after the environment as well; here you will find tents shaped like domes through within you can experience the Alps in a low impact way. The lodge is only accessible through hiking during the summers, snow shoes and dog sleds. The pods are put on wooden platforms and can even be dismantled and reassembled without creating a very big impact. The White Pod resort also uses energy sources that are renewable and the spa sources their materials from the natural, local resources. They have even been awarded for their innovation efforts in eco tourism. If you are in British Columbia make sure you go to the Nimmo Bay Resort in the Great Bear forest, here you can enjoy rock climbing, hiking, fishing and kayaking in natural surroundings. The lodge is powered by a hydro system and also has refugeelimination and extensive recycling. OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

TEN QUESTIONS

Hospitality Stalwart Vaishakh Surendran General Manager Keys Hotel, Trivandrum

You have been in the hospitality industry for the past several years. Could you tell us about your early days? What made you enter the hospitality sector? I’ve been in this industry since 2001. Well, if you consider my college days and internships, then the relation goes back to 1997 onwards. I had a second cousin who used to work at Taj Malabar while I was in my tenth standard. He was managing the Rice Boat there. Trips to Rice Boat impressed me and I made up my mind to join hotels and take it up as a career. He cautioned me on joining this industry, but I was enthusiastic. Support and encouragement from my parents to take up a career of my choice was also a good reason. I joined Oriental School of Hotel Management at Wayanad, under Irfan Mirza, who, along with his team of faculty had a big role in pruning and polishing me. Days at college were tough and involved lot of physical labour, but when I reflect on those days now, I feel it was worth the effort as I can handle more or less any role in this 26

industry. After 3 years at OSHM, I went to Institut Hotelier Cesar Ritz at Switzerland to gain more knowledge. I had my internship at Noga Hilton Geneva. A campus recruitment at the College placed me for a management training program at Opryland Hotel, USA – but I was unable to go due to the infamous 9/11 attacks. I started my career with The Leela Mumbai as a Management Trainee and was with them at Mumbai, Goa and later at Kovalam. Stints at Taj include Fort Aguada, Taj Holiday Village and Taj Kumarakom. Had a brief stint with CGH Earth as AGM at Brunton Boatyard Cochin. Few Years at Radisson Blu Kuwait, Alila Maldives and Goa, Sarovar Premiere Hyderabad have shaped my outlook into hoteliering. I am currently the General Manager at Keys Hotel Thiruvananthapuram.

What plans do you have for the company? While I was working with Keys Hotel Chennai, I managed to procure 2 awards from Trip advisor during the 2 consecutive years I was running the

unit. I want to replicate that success story in all my properties. Needless to say, it’s a team effort and I love to lead and guide so that we reach there. Happy guests would translate to more business and that adds to the bottom line.

How do you see the role of a hotel in developing a destination? What all things can hospitality sector do in this regard? Hotels and resorts can make or break a destination. Pioneers start ventures in less travelled destinations, invests efforts into developing the place, manpower, guest experience and the overall eco system that thrives on the business. Others follow and set up more properties hoping to replicate the pioneer’s path and get a share of the business. Hotels make an effort to market the destination to people in the travel trade who in turn influence guests to visit and eventually make it popular over a period of time. Uncontrolled addition of inventory in any destination needs to be curtailed ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

as that would kill the market and the destination. I feel there should be a legislation in this regard, to prevent the mushrooming of properties in eco sensitive destinations.

Would you please share with us the proudest and some of the unforgettable moments in your professional life? There are quite a few. I had the opportunity of looking after Barak Obama during his stay with us at Radisson Blu Kuwait. I still have an autograph and a picture with him. I was rewarded with a lapel from the US Secret Service for handling the entourage in the most professional way. I also have a lapel from The Dept of Homeland Security, USA for looking after the stay of Secretary Napolitano. That was followed by a postcard from Washington DC from the office of Secretary Napolitano, asking if I managed to get some rest ! I have a coin of appreciation from the Chairman of joint chief of staff, CENTCOM (US Central Command) and coin of excellence from US Army. I am told that my name features on numerous reports of Secret Service and CIA for handling these delegations. An Arab leaders summit at Kuwait, where rulers of different Arab countries attended was another opportunity, where I was gifted a watch (Boucheron) which was worth around 21000 Qatari Riyals by the guests after they checked out. They sent the gift addressed to me via the Qatari Embassy at Kuwait. While at a previous assignment with Taj Kumarakom, I received an award from the COO for empowerment initiative towards guest satisfaction. I was also blessed to handle the stay and conference involving Chinese Executive Vice Foreign Minister, Chinese Ambassador to India and Indian Ambassador to China. At Maldives, I’ve looked after business icons like the owners of Nestle and Swarovski. Recent moments include a recommendation letter from the Hotel Owners of Keys Chennai, (where I was the Hotel Manager) proposing my candidature for a FHRAI award. Last but not the least, I had the good fortune of being a member of HRACC, Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India for inspecting and classification of two hotels, as a representative of FHRAI.

In your career, have you ever worked abroad? What according to you are the advantages of working overseas? OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

I have three stints at working abroad. First was during my internship at Noga Hilton, Geneva. That was a 400 room hotel and I was a waiter in room service and mini bars. That hotel had very good occupancies and yet the staffing was very minimal. There were only two people in room service on any given shift and 1 person in kitchen. Manpower is expensive in Europe, so they make the best of trainees. I learnt a lot through tremendous hard work. At college, we learn about wines, here I was serving wines every day, almost with every meal during lunch or dinner. Handling 400 rooms for minibars is not a joke, that too alone. Those days, the hotel had the latest minibars in their rooms, with sensors that billed an item to the guest folio automatically, if the guest removed it from the fridge. The biggest hurdle was the language – French. Class room French is no way similar to spoken French, that too with natives. I struggled for 2 months but later picked it up. Second stint was at Kuwait, at the iconic Radisson Blu Hotel, which had a security plan designed on par with US Embassy standards. I lead the Front Office team there and was blessed to handle numerous delegations of American and British statesmen. I’ve also handled US Army and Air force. We’ve also had numerous Hollywood stars at our hotel. In Kuwait, there is a cartel among 5 star hotels. It’s an official body of hotel owners, which decides what rates are to be sold for every piece of business. So, guests coming to Kuwait would get the same room rate irrespective of the brand. Be it Radisson / Marriott / Crowne Plaza. The challenge was to retain business as rate was no longer a cause of business erosion. We retained our guests by offering a high level of personalized service. The stint at Kuwait also taught me to manage multi-cultural, multilinguistic and multi- national teams and work in harmony. The third stint was at Maldives, where I was a Front Office Manager of a high end luxury resort. Peak season rates were as high as US$ 1800 per night. Working in Maldives teaches you to improvise to go the extra mile to ensure that every guest is not just delighted but will make a reservation to come back. It teaches you to plan well, again manage a team of locals, expats and work within an ecosystem where there is no room for error. Every location has taught me something new. My biggest learning is that while you are working abroad, never ever work for an Indian

Boss, especially ones from Kerala. They will do all it takes to pull you down and never let you climb the ladder or pay you well. My best managers were Germans and Australians.

Where would you like to see yourself, say, 10 years from now? Hospitality – Hotels, resorts or perhaps even managing lodges. I would be like a fish out of water, anywhere else.

How do you see the growth prospects of Indian hospitality sector? The industry is evolving from an asset heavy model to an asset light model. Everybody is cost conscious and want the best deals, so it’s tough to run a 5 star hotel, when there is a surge in budget and mid- market properties which offer similar standards as 5 stars for a fraction of the price. Every brand is making a conscious attempt to bring in a sub brand or a brand for every segment. Another factor which is spoiling the game is high costs of flying to most Indian destinations. It’s cheaper to fly to Malaysia / Other south east Asian countries than travelling within India. The Indian hospitality sector is now making its presence felt in tier 2 and 3 towns and cities as against the trend to restrict itself to major metros. The latest game changer is the Oyo rooms model or similar brands which provides a digital / online presence and brand to thousands of non - branded hotels, guest houses, serviced apartments etc. to sell their rooms at a throw away price.

About your Family? My wife is a Branch Manager with Catholic Syrian Bank at Chengannur. Our daughter turns 3 this November. My parents are retired bankers and they run a serviced apartment in Ernakulam as a post retirement job. My brother and his wife are also with Catholic Syrian Bank at Thrissur.

Please tell us about your hobbies and other interests? I love to cook, drive, travel, read, sketch ( only automobiles ), sleep and of course dream ! I am fond of music and movies too.

Which is your favourite destination? Why? I haven’t found a favourite one yet. More miles to go before I hang up my boots and perhaps then, I can think about one. 27

TAMILNADU TRAVELLER

Bewitching Coonoor

Set in Tamil Nadu, Coonoor (Kunoor) is a quaint hill station. Enchanting views of the Nilgiri hills welcome you to this hidden hamlet. Massive tea plantations, rare fauna and flora and uncharted trekking trails offer a plethora of treats for travellers. Dr. S. Bakthavatchalam Additional Director, Tamil Nadu Tourism

ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

midst lush green tea plantations, Coonoor (Kunoor) is an ideal escape. A paradise for hikers, trekkers and nature buffs, the hidden beauty of the town will astound you. Birdwatchers are in for a special treat with spectacular species of birds like the cormorants, pipits, thrushes, parakeets in abundance. The town also boasts of trekking trails, craggy walking paths and a number of unexplored spots for the adventurous. A spellbinding train ride in the toy train offers you panoramic views of the Nilgiri hills. Touches of the Raj remain all over in Coonoor (Kunoor): in honeysucklefronted cottages named ‘The Gables’ and ‘Gorse View’ which sit prettily on the side of winding pine-hedged lanes; in areas called Bedford and Elk Hill; and in the graveyards where many a Colonel Hughes and Miss Jones rest in peace.

Sim’s Park Located in Upper Coonoor, Sim’s Park is the town’s most famous tourist attraction. Laid out in 1874, it runs down a hillside with a small lake at the bottom, with winding footpaths, pergolas, gazebos, and a dense shola skirting it. There’s a marvellous collection of trees — some dignified and scholarly, some happy, some content — from as far as Mexico, Australia and the West Indies. There is Burma teak, rudraksh, mahogany, birch, Spanish cherry and more. The effect is very atmospheric — worth a leisurely stroll or two. The popular park is situated in a deep ravine on the Northern side of Coonoor Railway Station at an elevation of 1768 to 1798 m. The natural shola with winding footpaths all over the higher slopes of the park is the most picturesque aspect of the park. The numerous tree specimens planted in a scattered way all over the place gives a charming look to the place. Sim’s Park is an unusual parkcum-botanical garden, which was laid more than a hundred years ago on the natural hill ranges. The garden features ethnic trees along with shrubs and creepers which co-habit with various other trees brought from thought the world. The park is named after Mr. J.D. Sim, former Secretary to Government, OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

Touches of the Raj remain all over in Coonoor (Kunoor) : in honeysuckle-fronted cottages named ‘The Gables’ and ‘Gorse View’ which sit prettily on the side of winding pine-hedged lanes; in areas called Bedford and Elk Hill ; and in the graveyards where many a Colonel Hughes and Miss Jones rest in peace.

and Major Murray, a pioneer whose efforts helped to set up garden in 1874. The site is positioned in the north side of Coonoor railway station, at an altitude of 1,770 m above sea level. Sprawling over an area of 12 hectares, the garden occupies the inclined area and base of a ravine. Highlights of the garden are Queensland Karry Pine, Rudraksha (the bead tree) and Handsome Ornamental tree. Sim’s park along with Botanical Garden has the largest repository of temperate plants in India. Due to this fact, Sim’s Park is a destination of significance for botanists. The garden also hosts an annual vegetable and fruit show that showcases various exotic species of systematic and economic significance. It links with the well known institutions like Pomological Station, 29

Pasteur Institute and Silk Worm Seed Station. Beautiful gardens featuring flowering plants or shrub grab attention of the tourists.

Dolphins Nose At a distance of 10 km from Coonoor, it is an important place to visit. It not only provides a panoramic view of the vast expanse of the Nilgiri hills but also of the famous Catherine Falls.

Law Falls

to shoot song sequences.

Located at a distance of 7 kms from Coonoor, these falls are a nature lover’s paradise. Cascading down from a height of 180 feet, they are a major tourist attraction due to their magnetic scenic beauty.

Hidden Valley

Golf Course The Golf Course is hugely popular and hordes of film crews descend here

Hidden Valley over a pristine gem of a place when you visit the Hidden Valley, Coonoor!

Heritage Train Revel in the old world charm when you take the Heritage Train to Coonoor.

Dolphin’s Nose is a popular tourist attraction, which is named after a rock resembling to the appearance of Dolphin’s nose. It is located at a distance of 12 km from centre of Coonoor nearby Tiger Hills. Travellers can sight a beautiful view of ravines along with St. Catherine’s Falls, standing atop on the site. Coonoor river intersecting with river stream from Kotagiri can also be witnessed from the location. The deep forest valleys are covered with greenery and mash of tree tops.

Lamb’s Rock Lamb’s Rock, one of the main tourist attractions in the area, is 8 km from Coonoor. The cliff top provides a bird-view of the hill station of Coonoor and plains of Coimbatore. It is among favoured tourist spots, which can be approached on the way to Dolphin’s Nose or the Seat. The sight featuring giant rock is named after Captain Lamb, who made earnest attempts to create a gateway to the place in the Burliar village. Beneath the rock, lies a vast forest reserve. On the right, there is a Hullical ravine featuring Coonoor river.

St. Catherine Falls Catherine Falls is one of the beautiful tourist locations in the region that features a stream of water falling from an altitude of 250 ft. Known as St. Catherine’s Falls, the waterfall is located in the outskirts of the town. Tourists can also witness the beautiful waterfall from the top of Dolphin’s Nose, advancing on a motorable road to the top of the Catherine Falls. From this extreme point, the waterfall flows down and creates a pool of water beneath on the fall 30

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EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHOICE

Live Like

Gandhi

Tourists searching for peace and simplicity can check in to Mahatma Gandhi's most famous ashram in India. But don't expect modern comforts. And chastity is required. Feel free to sit, pray, spin the spinning wheel and even dress in a cotton dhoti. Just be sure to leave your aggression - along with any lust, laziness or foreign goods - at the door.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

ourists from around the world are for the first time being invited to sample the lifestyle of Mahatma Gandhi at the first ashram the independence leader established in India. For 1800 rupees ($28) a night, tourists can sample the lifestyle of India’s famously ascetic independence leader by staying at the ashram set up in 1915 in the western state of Gujarat. Guests at Kochrab Ashram, which opened to holidaymakers in October, can try their hand at spinning, visit local communities, and pray and meditate, all while wearing khadi handwoven cloth - during their stay. But they must adhere to Gandhi’s 11 vows, including non-violence, renunciation of material possessions, use of local goods, working for daily food, self-discipline (including chastity) and control of the palate/ diet. Visitors are also encouraged to follow Gandhi’s austere daily routine, such as waking at 5 am and undertaking domestic chores. The ashram, or retreat, was established at Kochrab on the outskirts of Ahmedabad by Mohandas Gandhi when he returned to India from South Africa in 1915. It would be where he would spend several crucial years and where he would further develop many of his ideas for which he has become known.

“This might change perceptions of tourists towards life, society and our natural resources. This might also help tourists find peace and satisfaction within.” At the bungalow owned by a fellow lawyer, Gandhi rejected luxury or even comfort and stressed a simple and austere lifestyle. He upset many followers when he admitted a lowcaste man, in those days called an Untouchable, to live at the ashram with his family. Guests will be asked to stay for a minimum of five days. They will also be asked to observe the 11 vows that Gandhi promoted, including nonaggression, truthfulness, control of desires, and equality of religions. They OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

will be asked to wear khadi, the thick, self-woven cotton fabric favoured by Gandhi and his followers. “The objective of this programme is to allow people to experience a sustainable lifestyle, to enjoy the simplicity of Gandhi, experience the virtue of Mahatma,” said Nischalavalamb Barot, a travel agent who helped develop the programme, called Live Gandhi for a While, launched on October 2 to coincide with the 144th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth.

“This might change perceptions of tourists towards life, society and our natural resources. This might also help tourists find peace and satisfaction within.” The ashram is managed by a nearby university called Gujarat Vidyapith, which Gandhi himself founded in 1920 to “liberate the Indian youths from the shackles of British colonial rule”. India has plenty of museums and monuments to honour the country’s independence icon, whose personal 33

philosophy and ideas are now considered outdated by many in rapidly modernising India. Known as Mahatma or Great Soul, Gandhi spearheaded a non-violent campaign against the British Raj that finally saw India gain its freedom from colonial rule in 1947. He was shot dead by a Hindu hardliner in New Delhi just months later in 1948. Despite the many existing commemorations for Gandhi, Barot, who developed the programme with the university, said he hoped the ashram offered something different. “This is the first time that we are attempting to understand the value and principles of a sustainable life, which Gandhi believed in and practised,” said Barot, who operates a sustainabletourism agency. However, he stressed a stay at the ashram would not be an easy one. “They will have to follow the vows that Gandhi himself followed in the ashram ... They will also wear the khadi throughout the programme.” Gandhi spun his own cloth and encouraged others to follow suit. He considered this an important part of his anti-colonial philosophy of self-reliance, known as “swadeshi”. Khadi also became a symbol of how then India should base its economy - on village-based craft instead of industrially produced cotton often imported from mills in Britain. The idea is a far cry from modern-day India, which dismantled government control over its economy in the 1990s and opened up India, a member of the G20, to foreign investment. Sudarshan Iyengar, vicechancellor of the Gujarat Vidyapith University that manages the ashram, said he was confident that opening it to tourists would help promote Gandhi’s ideals. “This is a unique programme which will actually bring change in society gradually at an individual level and, hopefully, we will witness a sustainable future.” 34

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First Edition of Maharashtra International Travel Mart Gets Launched The Government of Maharashtra’s ambitious international tourism promotion project, Maharashtra International Travel Mart 2015 - popularly known as MITM – was launched amid huge number of buyers and sellers of the tourism industry from various countries. The first ever edition of MITM, which is set to take Maharashtra’s robust tourism growth story on a global level was launched at the gracious hands of Devendra Fadanvis, Chief Minister, Maharashtra State. Among eminent dignitaries present at the occasion were Ram Shinde, Minister of State for Tourism, Home (Rural), Public Health and Marketing, Subhash Desai, Minister of Industries, Maharashtra State, Vidya Thakur, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Gajanan Kirtikar, Member of Parliament, Swadhin Kshatriya, IAS, Chief Secretary, Maharashtra Valsa Singh Nair, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism & Culture, Maharashtra State, Paraag Jaiin Nainuttia, IAS, Managing Director, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). A three-day event, Maharashtra International Travel Mart is a flagship global tourism promotion platform conceived by the Department of Tourism, Maharashtra State to attract buyers and sellers of tourism industry from all across the globe to explore common growth opportunities in the robust tourism prospects of Maharashtra. A single forum of MITM witnessed an exciting response from the global tourism stakeholders with more than 250 registrations coming in from hoteliers, travel agents and tour operators from abroad and India. A strategic promotional forum of MITM assumes a special significance; particularly when Maharashtra Tourism is going through an exciting phase with ever increasing footfalls from global and domestic tourists crossing the 4.5 million and the 8.4 million mark in the recent past. It also bears a great significance when the State Tourism Department and its flagship agency MTDC have been strategically building and promoting the unexplored tourism wealth of Maharashtra besides boosting conventional tourism assets on Indian and global circuits. OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

On the occasion of the inauguration of the first edition of MITM, 2015, said Valsa Singh Nair, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Maharashtra State, “While the Government of Maharashtra is intending to bring the State tourism on a global map, it becomes imperative to build further on the existing credentials of the State as the most preferred tourism destination and explore avenues to consolidate its positioning. With vast tourism assets at disposal, it is an opportune time for the State to win a prominent position in a global tourism league. This is possible only when we build and expand a strong tourism buyer and seller network within the State, within the country and on a global level.” Adding further, she said, “MITM is an endeavour to bring in the maximum number of tourism buyers and sellers on a single platform and empower them to explore economic growth opportunities in Maharashtra’s tourism sector. We are happy to witness such a promising response from buyers and sellers from the globe. We are sure to see a number of partnerships, tie-ups happening among tour operators, hoteliers and travel agents. It will also pave the way to attract foreign investments in the sector.” Paraag Jaiin Nainuttia IAS, Managing Director MTDC, said, “MITM will help our dedicated campaign of ‘Unlimited Maharashtra’ to reach the next level on a global platform, as more buyers and sellers can witness the State’s tourism prospects. When the State is striving hard to ensure a fast-track growth in tourism sector, MITM will open up an array of economic opportunities for buyers and sellers that will strengthen the eco-system of the State’s tourism. The participation from global tourism players will allow the deliveries of world-class tourism products and services to the visitors enriching their experiences.” MITM will showcase buyers and sellers economic opportunities in Maharashtra’s compelling tourism destinations, cultural festivals, beaches, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, pilgrimage destinations, wildlife, national parks, social and study tourism and few others. It will also host various seminars. 35

MAHARASHTRA INTERNATIONAL

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TRAVEL MART - IN PICTURES

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Jammu to Be Developed As an Independent Tourism Hub The Department of Tourism is implementing envisaged projects under the sector and ensure their timely completion to promote Jammu as an independent tourist destination and plans to bring the region’s Dogra heritage into focus as was committed by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The department has informed that the ambitious Raghunath Bazaar Beautification Project and the Golf Course expected to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister during this month will be a major tourist attraction in Jammu. As per the spokesperson of Tourism department the government has started number of tourist projects like Rope way, Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex, beautification of Raghunath Market, Sidhra Golf course, Border Tourism, Rural Tourism and many other ambitions tourism projects which will remove the apprehensions of the stakeholders regarding low turn tourists in Jammu and decline in trade activities after direct rail link to Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra. Director Tourism informed that the work on 18 hole Sidhra Golf course has been completed and besides other logistic facilities there is a provision of a club for the members. The work on Sidhra Golf Course began in the year 2007, spread over 1385 kanal of land the approximate cost of the project was 37.39 crores but enhanced to INR 6070 crore, INR 40.08 crore were spent till this time and INR 14.5 crore is likely to be spent in the year 2015-16 for the completion of this Golf course.

TAT Organizes Biking Competition to Promote Northeastern Region The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT ) is organising the ‘Ride to Khong’s Legendary’ long-distance biking competition along the scenic routes of four provinces in Thailand’s Northeastern region during 29 October – 1 November, 2015. The event is being organised as part of TAT’s plans to promote the Northeastern region as the hub of sports and tourism and as the ideal gateway to the Mekong countries. H.E. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports said, “The Ride to Khong’s Legendary biking competition will mark a new era of tourism for Thailand’s Northeastern region, which is poised to become an important hub for sports tourism in the Mekong area. This region is complete with picturesque natural landscapes, rich historical and cultural legacies, international standard sporting facilities, and convenient transportation access to the neighbouring Mekong countries; hence, it is the ideal destination for those who seek to enjoy sports challenges and cultural tourism at the same time.” The ‘Ride to Khong’s Legendary’ biking competition is a long bike ride, covering a 248-kilometre route in four provinces – Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan. The route features beautiful natural scenery, including the scenic routes along the Mekong River, allowing bikers to experience the charming Thai way of life along the ride. The three-day competition will be divided into three different stages, smooth, steep and challenging rides. Each 38

day will feature different stages of difficulty. The winners of the event will be awarded with the Royal Trophy of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. The event is set to attract biking enthusiasts from Australia, Korea, Malaysia, the UK and other European countries as well as from ASEAN countries. H.E. Kobkarn added, “Following the recent tremendous success of the Bike for Mom activity presided over by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, we have seen a growing demand and increasing trend for such biking activity. We anticipate this Ride to the Khong’s Legendary will be another successful biking event that draws both local and international enthusiasts to enjoy the challenge and the scenic and culturally-rich region of Thailand.”

MP Tourism to Develop Zoo-like Circuits in National Parks Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department and MP Ecotourism Board are going to develop Wildlife Circuits in buffer zones of national parks to reduce the pressure of tourists in selected national parks. The circuit would be developed on the lines of zoo and all types of animals would be kept there. The Central government has cleared the proposal of MP Tourism to create wildlife circuits in five national parks in the state and has sanctioned a fund of INR 92 crore for this work. The project would be launched in the national parks of Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench, Panna and Sanjay National Park, Sidhi. The purpose of developing wildlife circuit is to control the growing number of tourists visiting national parks. Tourism activities would be encouraged in the circuit which would be developed in the buffer zone of these five national parks on 500 hectare pieces of land. After developing these circuits, the entry fee of national parks would be hiked so that lesser number of tourists enter the Parks. MP Tourism Development Corporation (MPTDC), Managing Director, Hariranjan Rao said the proposal has been sanctioned by the Central government. He said with the developing of circuit, tourism activities would rise in buffer zone whereas core area would be preserved.

Luxury Travel Market in India to Reach 1.2 Million By 2030 Addressing the trade at the 2nd edition of Vkonect Luxury, a B2B meetings platform for the outbound and domestic luxury travel industry, Punam Singh, Promoter and Director, Vkonect Events said that the luxury travel market in India, which was 0.2 million in 2011 is bound to grow to 1.2 million by 2030. She further added that the segment would record 25% increase in India by 2030 and a record 26 fold rise in High Networth Individual (HNI) travellers. The event was organised at The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi and witnessed 25 exhibitors and buyers, informed Vineet Gopal, Director, Vkonect Events. Addressing the business session, Ankur Bhatia, Executive Director, Bird Group said that India still has a long way to go to establish itself as a high-end luxury travel destination. “India has an undersized share in the global luxury travel market and together the stakeholders ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

NEWSLINE and policy makers need to relook into the potential and positioning of the segment,” he outlined. Alongside, the Delhi Government’s decision to raise the Luxury Tax to 15% is a major setback for the hotel industry. Lamenting on the development of the basics, Bhatia called for a collaborative approach with privatisation of infrastructure development. Speaking at the event, Guldeep Singh Sahni, President, OTOAI highlighted that luxury travel is all about the experience. “Nowadays, even the mid-segment traveller has gone aspirational and is willing to shed extra money to stay at a luxury hotel for a day or two. However, the travellers always call for a new itinerary,” he added. Sandeep Arora, Director, Spiritual Luxury Living too shared how travellers have gone experiential today and are keen to explore the key destinations related to spirits. He feels that the evolution of luxury travel in the spirit segment is revolutionary. A number of Whisky Tours are taken to Sweden and Ireland and many new destinations are aiming to open up to this segment, he added. Talking about this year’s edition, Singh elaborated that considering the demand for the domestic tourism segment, this time they have kept the outbound to domestic ratio as 80:20 and included domestic players such as Kairali and Aamby Valley City & Hotel Sahara Star. The agents who are doing outbound are mostly doing domestic as well, thus for them it is a value opportunity, she added. First time participants include Air Canada, Jordan, Palazzo Versace and St. Regis, Mauritius. The 1st edition of Vkonect Weddings is slated to take place by April next year. Thereafter, the 2nd edition of Vkonect MICE will take place in July 2016 and 3rd edition of Vkonect Luxury by October 2016. The host city for the same will be New Delhi and venues would be announced in due course of time.

Hong Kong Your Winter Wonderland Winter is here loaded with the spirit of warmth, joy and giving nature of Christmas and New Years. With Jingle Bells rocking from every corner, lights aglow and Christmas Trees decorated with red and gold, Hong Kong is your Winter Wonderland. As the festive season draws near, Hong Kong Winter Fest emits a magical and romantic ambience, with Christmas trees amidst glittering skyscrapers, citywide decorations, festive foods and a spectacular New Year countdown. Hong Kong is the perfect getaway for people who are travelling this winter with lots of love, songs and lights to cheer you and your dear ones. As 2015 draw to a close, lovers will soak in the enchanting atmosphere at the Statue Square Christmas Tree and hung ‘Love Locks’ on the railings to seal their romance and create lasting memories. The Winter Fest 2015 is going to be spectacular and extravagant with Hong Kong Winter Fest been acclaimed as one of the Top 10 places in the world to be to celebrate Christmas by American CNN network. This is the perfect opportunity for people of all ages to explore and experience Hong Kong. Families who are travelling with young children can explore all the theme parks like Disney Land, Ocean Park and Noah’s Ark which will all come alive with Santa Claus Ho Ho Ho-ing and all OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

that is Christmas. This is just an excuse for the adults to bring out the child in them that they thought have been tucked away quite safely. Join in the fun in 2015 and enjoy romantic winter moments with your loved ones in Hong Kong! Just when you think you have had the best time you could imagine, New Year’s Eve will sweep you off your feet. Every New Year’s Eve, hundreds and thousands of spectators gather at Victoria Harbour to celebrate the countdown with spectacular fireworks display. In 2014, revellers wished upon the ‘shooting stars’ as they counted down to midnight, when the city erupted into an eight-minute pyromusical that started on the waters of the harbour and moved landwards, with glittering rings and iridescent colours of the rainbow enveloping the skyscrapers around the iconic Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and this year is going be more phenomenal. Get yourself to Asia’s world city next New Year’s Eve. Pick a spot, join the party and welcome the New Year with all the breathless excitement and glamour of a Hong Kong celebration!

Government to Develop 78 Lighthouses across India as Tourist Spots

Enthused by a higher tourist footfall at historic lighthouses of Mahabalipuram and Cannanore, the government has decided to develop 78 more such structures across India in PPP mode in the first phase to unlock their rich history and heritage. India has 189 lighthouses dotting its 7,517-km vast coastline, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea. “The Ministry of Shipping, along with the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), has drawn up an ambitious programme to develop 78 lighthouses in the country as centres of tourism in the first phase under public private partnership (PPP),” an official statement said. The identified lighthouses are in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar. Steeped in rich maritime heritage, each lighthouse has its own story to tell and has tremendous tourism potential to be tapped. “The land adjacent to these lighthouses may have hotels, resorts, viewing galleries, maritime museums and heritage museums, adventure sports facilities, thematic restaurants, souvenir shops, LASER shows, spa and rejuvenation centres, amphitheatres and allied tourism facilities to attract tourists, subject to viability and clearances,” it said. DGLL has already invited requests for qualification (RFQ) from prospective and potential developers for eight lighthouses at Aguada (Goa), Chandrabhaga (Odisha), Mahabalipuram, Kanyakumari and Muttom (Tamil Nadu), Kadalur Point (Thikkodi, Kerala), Kanhoji Angre and Sunk Rock (Maharashtra) and Minicoy (Lakshadweep). An expression of interest (EoI) has also been issued by DGLL for another 70 lighthouses. “To generate greater interest of the public and private players, the Ministry of 39

NEWSLINE Shipping is also organising 3 roadshows in Kochi, Vizag and Chennai, and Investor Summit in Mumbai on October 29,” it said. Traditionally, lighthouses have been beacons of navigation for mariners for centuries, but of late these are transforming into major tourist destinations. The world over, lighthouses attract tourists with their scenic and serene surroundings and rich maritime heritage.

Indian restaurants already operate in various cities in Israel. However, serving Indian food in hotels has several constraints on account of kosher requirements. Kosher are Jewish dietary laws where there is total separation of meat and dairy and certain foods are forbidden. Keeping in view of these restrictions, Israel will introduce Kosher Indian meals for the tourists which will suit both vegetarian and non-vegetarian palettes.

VisitBritain Partners With ‘Shaandaar’ 4th International Tourism Mart To Promote Bollywood Tourism Starts At Gangtok In order to leverage on the popularity of Bollywood movies in India, VisitBritain has partnered with the Bollywood movie Shaandaar, as a part of its Bollywood themed campaign which was launched this year. Memories, passion and adventure are the latest offerings of this campaign by the Tourism Board, on the sidelines which VisitBritain, along with Lonely Planet India, have also published the guide ‘Great Britain – The Bollywood Way’. This guide, aimed at the young discerning Indian traveller, assists them in planning their Bollywood Britain travel better and draws special focus on all the landscapes of Britain where iconic Bollywood films have been shot. Britain welcomed over 390,000 visitors from India in 2014, making India the biggest source market for visitor numbers from the BRIC markets. Therefore, the need to create bespoke campaigns that appeal to the Indian visitors is a priority for VisitBritain. The synergies with the film Shaandaar are well matched, as the film has been extensively shot in the English Countryside. Sumathi Ramanathan, Regional Manager - Asia Pacific & Middle East, VisitBritain, said, “Britain is known for its lush countryside and picturesque locations and this opportunity helps us celebrate that and much more. We hope that this film is a blockbuster and encourages all the Indian travellers to come relive their Bollywood memories in Britain.” Bollywood Britain – Shaandaar, a contest based campaign, launches the TVC with a strong digital focus in association with sponsor partner Turkish Airlines. The airline is offering 2 Couple Business Class flights to Britain for the winners to explore the British countryside.

Israel Focuses on Indian Cuisine to Woo Indian Tourists Realising the importance of the availability of Indian food for the Indian traveller, the Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) has invited India’s prestigious flight kitchen company, Taj Sats to conduct workshops at the culinary institutions in Israel to familiarise chefs of the leading hotel chains with the Indian cuisine. “We feel that our leading chefs will be able to assist Israeli chefs to make a difference in making the Indian tourist feel at home in Israel,” added Sagar Dighe, CEO, Taj Sats. “This is a positive step to further boost tourism and facilitate the needs of the Indian traveller to Israel,” said Hassan Madah, Director – India, Israel Tourism. Over the years, Israel has been receiving growing number of Indian tourists and the demand for Indian cuisine has always been high. The tourism industry in Israel is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the same. 40

Inaugurating the 4th International Tourism Mart (ITM) at Gangtok in Sikkim, Dr Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister for Tourism & Culture and Minister of State for Civil Aviation, said that that road and air connectivity is the biggest stumbling block in promoting tourism in the region and improving connectivity is key to promote tourism in the North East. He said that the Prime Minister has a great vision and the government is committed to develop North East as a preferred destination. Minister informed that Sikkim will have its own airport in Pakyong, 35 Km away from Gangtok by December 2016. Centre will work to create better road connectivity for the public through National Highways for the North East. He assured that he will discuss the matter of road connectivity with the concerned ministry. The ITM is organised by the Union Ministry of Tourism in association with the North Eastern States and the state of West Bengal. Sharma appreciated the efforts of Sikkim government to transform the state as the first 100% organic state in the country. The Prime Minister is due to declare this achievement in January, 2016. Mahesh Sharma praised the cleanliness and ‘no smoking drive’ of the Sikkim Government and said that the state has all the potential to become an ideal tourism state. Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim delivering the keynote address, highlighted the initiatives taken by his government to make the State a most preferred tourism destination in the region. Chamling said, “We have created a comprehensive action plan to develop tourism in order to showcase and share the cultural and natural heritage of Sikkim with the world. Village Tourism and Home Stays have a tremendous potential in Sikkim as the villages are well developed and well connected.” A Village Development Action Plan has been prepared for the purpose, he explained. Vinod Zutshi, Secretary- Tourism, Government of India said that the Government is committed to develop North East region in its entirety - tourism, education, health, transport networks, telecommunications, information technology, electricity grids, trade, etc. so that the region can harness its economic and commercial potential and raise the standards of living of the people in this region. 52 international delegates comprising tour operators and media persons are attending the 3-day event. These delegates are drawn from 23 countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, UK, USA and Vietnam. The mart also has participation of 71 tour operators from eight north eastern States and West Bengal besides domestic buyers (tour operators) from different regions of the country. ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

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Thailand Partners With Cinema Tourism Summit

Through this MoU, TAAI will enhance and cultivate on the job value to the students and create an industry and academia platform for nurturing new talent. The The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Mumbai college shall also seek TAAI’s assistance in organising Office has partnered with Cinema Tourism Summit (CTS) speakers from the industry for guest lectures to the in its 2015 edition in order to showcase the destination students, sourcing live projects for students and many to Bollywood film producers. TAT Mumbai also roped in more activities. Students will get an opportunity to attend Thai attraction Siam Niramit to invest in impressing local industry related seminars/programmes and specialist film-makers through a 10-member delegation of performers presentations organised by TAAI or its partners. to the CTS Awards evening, which was hosted by TAT The faculty of the Institute shall also assist in training Mumbai, and therefore themed Thai Night. personnel of TAAI members and ensuring continuous Umbrella paintings, flower arrangements and education. traditionally crafted fruit carvings formed the backdrop of the networking session and dance performances. The audience witnessed performances depicting the battle between Ram and Ravana. Soraya Homchuen, Director, TAT Mumbai Office illustrated the beautiful locations and experiences that offer dramatic backdrops to Bollywood’s riveting tales. Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt said, “I must congratulate the hosts of Thai Night for the amazing audio visual experience we just saw. Indian states too could take a cue from it – this is the kind of mesmerizing visuals that will attract filmmakers to a destination.” Sirin Surathin, Deputy Consul General of Thailand, said, “Recent films shot in Thailand include Houseful 2 which was shot in Krabi and Student Of The Year which was shot in Samui, Bangkok and Krabi. Additionally, All Is Well, starring Abhishek Bachchan showcased many parts of Thailand. From our understanding, Indian film-makers flock to Thailand because production costs remain lower in Thailand as compared to most traditional as well as upcoming film-location destinations.” She added that the popular destination’s authorities are open to the idea and very supportive because they recognise that films “act as a virtual holiday brochure.”

TAAI - Karnataka inks MoU with Garden City College B’lore The Karnataka Chapter of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) signed a MoU with the Garden City College of Management in Bangalore on 20 October by the Chairman of TAAI Karnataka Chapter, M.S Raghavan for a period of three years. Affiliated to Bangalore University, Garden City College conducts a three-year B.A degree in Tourism, History & Journalism and Masters in Tourism Administration for two years. 42

Visit California Organizes Dream Big California Contest

Visit California India has recently launched the “Dream Big California Contest” exclusively for travel trade partners in India during the Brand USA India Mission 2015 held in the second week of September. The contest is one of the numerous initiatives undertaken by Visit California in the Indian market to directly engage with the travel trade. The fun and educational contest requires agents to complete the “California Expert” program, followed by participation in a California themed, interactive crossword puzzle on the travel trade website of Visit California. Visit California India has been awarding prizes to successful applicants on a weekly basis and will continue doing so till the first week of January, 2016. The grand prize will be a trip to California. The Online Training Program “California Expert,” has more than 1700 accomplished “California Experts” in India till now and is proving to be yet another remarkable success in the market. The travel trade website of Visit California, trade. visitcalifornia.in, is a trade friendly website that provides an easy information access to travel agents including images, videos, itineraries and other relevant information. ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

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InterContinental Resort Opens in Chennai

Hahn Air Celebrates Top Performing Agencies for Bangalore Hahn Air hosted an Awards Ceremony to celebrate its top performing travel agencies and valued business partners for the year 2015. With India being one of Hahn Air’s top 10 markets worldwide, Hahn Air has established itself as one of the leading ticketing specialists across the sub-continent. Over 50 travel agents from Bangalore attended the prestigious awards ceremony at The Gateway Hotel Residency Road Bangalore. At the event, Hahn Air awarded a certificate of appreciation recognising its top ten agencies for their continued support and for being among its top business partners. The top three agencies, based on the criteria of highest revenue per travel agency, took home trophies featuring Hahn Air’s mascot “Martin, the smart travel agent”.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of world’s leading hotel companies, announced the opening of the highly-anticipated InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort in India. The Resort will join InterContinental Mumbai Marine Drive to be the second hotel under the company’s luxury portfolio in India. Located 30 kilometres from the Chennai International Airport, InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram offers world-class accommodation to discerning guests who can unwind, and be pampered in the lap of luxury. The resort is located in a picturesque location overlooking the Bay of Bengal on East Coast Road, making it one of the most exclusive properties in the city and joins the award winning InterContinental Hotels & Resorts around the world such as InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula in Vietnam. The 105 room resort offers a full range of facilities and amenities to guests, including an outdoor swimming pool, a fully-equipped health club and a spa that offers relaxing therapies including indigenous sea-inspired beauty treatments and yoga. The resorts expansive and versatile indoor and outdoor venues are ideal for conferences, meetings, and special occasions such as wedding celebrations. InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram offers three gourmet dining options which includes The Melting Pot with three live kitchens that serves the best in European, South Asian and Peninsular Indian cuisine, a Chinese Specialty Restaurant, Tao Of Peng & Lounge Bar. The luxury resort has been designed by CV Sydney, a firm which is an offspring of the renowned Singapore based Kerry Hill design firm. All rooms are elegantly designed and furnished to provide maximum comfort to guests. In addition to the breath-taking view, the hotel has stateof-the-art architecture and décor to add to the luxurious experience of world-class accommodation, personalized service, and dedicated amenities. Vijai Singh, General Manager, InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort said, “The InterContinental brand is trusted around the world for its superior service which guests have come to know and appreciate. InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort will be one of the first five star beach resorts on the east coast of India and is sure to offer unforgettable memories to the guests visiting the city.” OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

The top agency for the evening was Riya Travel & Tours (India) PVT LTD, while FCM Travel Solutions (India) PVT LTD was awarded second place. GBT India Private Limited took home the third trophy. Kimberley Long-Urbanetz, Vice President Sales and Agency Distribution, was there to present the awards along with Hahn Air’s Director Global Account Management for Southern India, Bharat Kapoor. Kimberley mentioned in her speech, “We are very optimistic about the Indian market as it holds great potential and Indian travel agencies have increased their business with Hahn Air to date by over 20% in 2015 compared to 2014. Our outlook for 2016 is extremely promising and we look forward to even greater cooperation with our valued business partners.”

Ezeego1.com Organizes Roadshow for Travel Agents Ezeego1.com, India’s biggest online travel bazaar successfully organized a roadshow in Mumbai for the travel agent fraternity. The event was attended by around 150 leading travel agents in the city. Ezeego1.com showcased some of the top selling Diwali and winter products for domestic and international destinations such as Seychelles, New Zealand, Korea, Macau, Dubai, Thailand, Ladakh and Andaman. In addition to this, limited period special offers on Instant holidays to the Far East, Dubai and Seychelles for B2B customers were the key highlights of the show. Ezeego1.com has kick-started the roadshow with Mumbai and will proceed to Delhi and Bangalore in the coming months. This is a brilliant platform to get some of the best travel agents under one roof and educate them about the company products and future developments. It also gives the agents an opportunity to network and get exposure to exciting packages and newer destinations. Speaking on the event, Neelu Singh, Director & CEO, Ezeego1.com said, “The community of travel agents forms an integral part of our business. It is our constant endeavor to delight our customers with unique packages and special offers. Such events help us synergize with the travel agent ecosystem who understands our products better and give us a wider reach.” 43

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Mobile App Launched For Badrinath Pilgrims An android-based mobile application was launched by the Government to provide Badrinath pilgrims with yatra-related information like the availability of ATMs, petrol stations, hotels and public convenience on the most dangerous 44-km stretch between Joshimath and Badrinath. Named ‘Shubh Badrinath Yatra’, the mobile application, which provides information related to the Himalayan pilgrimage between Joshimath and Badrinath, was launched by Harish Rawat, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. The app has been developed by the Chamoli district administration for the convenience of pilgrims bound for the Himalayan shrine, said Chandra Singh Napchyal, Commissioner of Garhwal. ‘Shubh Badrinath Yatra’ app also tells yatris about the distance between their present location and Badrinath and phone numbers which could be very helpful in case of a crisis. It would tell pilgrims about alternative routes available in case of a landslide on the way and important villages and ration shops located nearby. Launched as a pilot project, the app can subsequently be extended with the help of experts to the remaining three Himalayan shrines — Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, and other major tourist destinations in the state, said Rawat.

Dubai Motor Festival 2015 Gears Up To Offer ‘Feel The Rush’ Motoring Experiences

put together an even more exciting line-up of motoring entertainment that includes several activations and appearances by the international motoring icon and professional rally driver, Ken Block. Commenting on his participation in DMF 2015, Ken Block said, “I’m really excited to be coming to Dubai for the Motor Festival in November. I had an amazing time visiting Dubai for the first time earlier this year and ever since then I’ve been looking forward to coming back with my Ford Mustang Hoonicorn RTR from Gymkhana SEVEN. I think the fans in Dubai are really going to enjoy seeing that on display, as well as in action during some of my demos!” DMF 2015 will serve a world-class array of events and activities designed to delight and make motoring entertainment accessible to the entire family and create a memorable experience for motor enthusiasts of all age groups and nationalities.

Trafalgar Square Beats to ‘Chenda’ in ‘Visit Kerala’ London Campaign

The famed Trafalgar Square reverberated with the beats of ‘chenda’ and movements of ‘Kathakali’ performers as ‘God’s Own Country’ captured the hearts of visitors to the ‘Mayor of London’ event in the British capital. More than half-a-lakh people thronged the London landmark visited by tourists from around the world to witness a series of traditional music, dance and martial arts performances organised by Kerala Tourism on October 11. “The Trafalgar Square presented a grand stage to introduce the cultural diversity of our state to the people of the United Kingdom and visitors from the rest of the world,” said Kerala Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar.

Motor mania will hit the streets of Dubai as the organizers of the 3rd edition of Dubai Motor Festival (DMF) revealed a sneak peak of what motoring fans can expect in the 12-day high octane, one-of-a-kind festival. Being held from 10 -21 November, DMF 2015 will further cement Dubai’s position as a hub for world class events and festivals. Held under the patronage of His Highness, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the citywide festival organized by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), promises families and tourists from around the world unique motoring experiences that embody its tagline for this year, ‘Feel The Rush’. The organizers have 44

“Our objective is to present the ‘Best of Kerala’, its natural beauty and rich culture and heritage, to our distinguished visitors from around the world so that we can contribute to the development of our state and empowerment of our communities,” Anilkumar said. Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson introduced the cultural extravaganza to the audience at a function attended by Deputy Mayor of London, Mr Roger Evans at the ceremony, held in collaboration with the Indian diaspora’s ‘Diwali in London’ committee. Kerala Tourism Secretary G Kamala Vardhana Rao was also present on the occasion. “Kerala is a top destination on the world tourism map because of the harmony between our land and culture as seen in the beautiful backwaters, majestic hills or calm countrysides in the state,” Thomson said after the event, which also had cultural presentations like ‘Garba’ ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

NEWSLINE and ‘Bhangra’ dances, fusion, Bollywood songs and performances by Indian children. The Kerala cultural presentation included ‘Chendamelam’, ‘Thiruvathirakali’ and a ‘BharathanatyamMohiniyattom - Kathakali fusion. Another attraction was a ‘Kerala Nadanam’ classical dance fusion. The Chief Secretary, who called upon the large Indian community in London to invest in the tourism sector in Kerala, said, “Investing in Kerala’s tourism sector is being part of the mission to save the nature and the planet as we are the world leaders in practising sustainable and responsible tourism.” Britain is the biggest tourism market for Kerala. A whopping 151,497 travellers from the United Kingdom had visited the state last year. The Kerala delegation also met with prominent tour operators and top media persons in London to promote ‘Visit Kerala’ campaign. “The tens of thousands of visitors at the ‘Mayor of London’ event were happy to learn more about Kerala,” said Rao. “We are confident of a major increase in foreign tourist arrivals in the state during the ‘Visit Kerala’ year and beyond,” the Tourism Secretary said. While the ‘Thiruvathirakali’ and ‘Kerala Nadanam’ were presented by the Chitra Lakshmi and team, Vinod Navathara and team performed ‘Chendamelam’ and the ‘Mohiniyattom-Bharathanatyam-‘Kathakali’ fusion was performed by Vinod Nair. Launched in April this year in New Delhi by Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma and the state Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar, ‘Visit Kerala’ campaign, which will run until April next year, brings together a variety of tourism products, presenting a unique opportunity for a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience in ‘God’s Own Country’.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Appoints New Deputy Governors and Advisor The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced the appointments of three internal executives to the Deputy Governor posts and one executive to be Advisor 10 effective from 1 October, 2015. Sujitra Jongchansitto, Executive Director for the Northern Region, has become Deputy Governor for Domestic Marketing while Visanu Jaroensilp, Executive Director at the Office of the Governor, has been named the Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, and Srisuda Wanapinyosak, TAT’s Executive Director for the East Asia Region, has been promoted to Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Asia and South Pacific). In addition, Charun Ohnmee, Executive Director for Planning Department has become Advisor 10. They have replaced the former Deputy Governors and Advisor 10 who retired on 30 September, 2015. The retiring executives are Pongsathorn Kessasamli, Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Asia and South Pacific), Anupharp Thirarath, Deputy Governor for Domestic Marketing, Vilaiwan Twichasri, Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, and Apichart Intharapongpan, Advisor 10. OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

Kerala Tourism Conducts Road show in Poland Kerala Tourism reached Poland capital Warsaw, as part of its marketing efforts in Eastern Europe and to promote the state’s tourist attractions like Ayurveda and the pristine beaches. A roadshow in Warsaw by the department drew a large number of visitors and representatives from the tourism sector. “With its vast geography, diverse culture and a fast growing economy, East Europe is a very important market for tourism,” said Kerala Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar. “Poland is today considered Europe’s growth champion following its successful economic reforms and building of vital institutions since 1989,” he added. Kerala Tourism director P I Sheik Pareeth led the state delegation at the Warsaw roadshow and India’s Ambassador to Poland and Lithuania Ajay Bisaria was also present. Trade partners from the private sector also showcased their products. “They were all very eager to know about Kerala. The trade partners on both ends are confident about conducting business due to the easy flight connectivity, via Dubai and introduction of e-tourist visa facility,” said Pareeth. According to Bisaria, a “focused marketing campaign” in East Europe will be able to attract more tourists to Kerala from the region. As many as 4,824 Polish tourists visited Kerala last year.

Cox & Kings Acquires LateRooms From TUI Group The Cox & Kings Group has acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of LateRooms Ltd (UK) for GBP 8.5 million, as per a release. LateRooms is an online hotel booking specialist in the UK. Its offering encompasses a range of accommodation options with over 54,800 properties globally, which can be booked up to a year in advance. LateRooms has a 3.5 million opted-in and active consumer database and had c93 million online visits in the financial year ending September 30, 2015, generating total transaction value (TTV) of c.GBP 300 million and net revenues of c.GBP 50 million. LateRooms operates a single web platform, which optimises the website for mobile device usage. In FY15 c57% of traffic was driven from smartphones and tablets. LateRooms also owns various brands and domain names including AsiaRooms.com. The acquisition fits the group’s strategic intent to expand its global online and B2C leisure proposition. The group also expects to drive synergies and value from LateRooms’ association with the Cox & Kings subsidiary, SuperBreak Mini-Holidays Limited, a short break packaged holiday specialist in the UK. LateRooms’ technology platform, now built for mobile, is a key strength which Cox & Kings will look to leverage more widely across its footprint. Peter Kerkar, Director, Cox & Kings, said, “We are confident that bringing the LateRooms brand and technology into the fold will provide a significant boost to Cox & Kings’ growth trajectory and technology capabilities”. 45

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Haryana to Rope in Dharmendra as Tourism Ambassador Haryana government has approached Bollywood actor Dharmendra to endorse state as a tourist destination. Haryana’s tourism minister Ram Bilas Sharma recently met the veteran actor in Chandigarh to discuss the matter with him. As the state government is planning to improve the image of the pilgrimage places in the area it is trying to rope in Dharmendra to promote state’s tourism. Both Dharmendra and his actor wife Hema Malini have linkage with BJP which is in power in the State. While Hema is currently MP from Mathura, Dharmendra was earlier a Lok Sabha member from Bikaner, Rajasthan. The government is working out on a plan to promote the religious circuits of the state. According to sources, the procedure of appointing Dharmendra as the brand ambassador is still under consideration. The actor has not yet finalised anything. Recently the state government had appointed Baba Ram Dev as the Yoga ambassador for the State and Actress Parineeti Chopra, has been chosen as the brand ambassador of the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign for Haryana. In Gurgaon, the state government has focussed on developing Bharat Yatra Kendra as a tourism destination. Spread in about 100 acres in Aravali Hills on Sohna Road, which has been recently handed over to Haryana Forest Development Corporation (HFDC) for developing the site for eco-tourism. The department plans to conduct few free nature camps for Haryana school students along with the centre for environment and education.

MTDC and IIPT Honor Ezeego1. com’s Neelu Singh

September 29, 2015 at JW Marriott, Andheri East, Mumbai. The event was presided by Ram Shinde, Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism Maharashtra in the presence of Sudhir Mungantiwar, Minister for Finance, Planning and Forests and Parag M. Alavani, Hon’ble MLA, amongst others. Speaking on the occasion Neelu Singh, Director & CEO, Ezeego1.com said, “It is a great honor to receive this coveted award, especially in the presence of some of the industry’s biggest stalwarts. Technology and Innovation have been the backbone of Ezeego1.com’s business, and this award testifies our commitment towards promoting Technology in Tourism.” This day and age is all about technological advancement and Ezeego1.com’s innovative technology is the best in class. Ezeego1.com has carved a niche for itself as being one of India’s leading online travel portals, under Neelu’s impeccable leadership. She has been the force behind the robust technology that makes Ezeego1.com a trusted brand in the entire travel fraternity. Neelu is one of the very few women leaders in the travel industry and an inspiration for several creative minds to enter this dynamic industry.

Seychelles Tourism India Launches Social Media Campaign Seychelles Tourist Office, India has launched the social media campaign for Indian market and has appointed TheSmallBigIdea (TSBI) to drive their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Seychelles, one of the most exotic travel destinations in the African continent is a cluster of 115 islands, and is in close proximity with Madagascar. The independent African state with the lowest population, the country is famous for its colourful culture, diverse activities, world’s best beaches, island hopping, exotic flora and fauna, heart-touching music and lip-smacking cuisine. The account was awarded to TSBI following a multi-agency pitch. Seychelles Tourist Office, India’s mandates require TSBI to be responsible for creating brand awareness and leveraging the overarching positioning of ‘Another World’ across digital platforms by creating engaging content and building interactive campaigns, involving bloggers, influencers and travellers. The social media campaign has been launched to enable Seychelles Tourist Office, India to reach the affluent online Indian. With the world looking towards India as the major tourist source market, Seychelles believes in making the most of the same especially because the internet medium is one of the tourist office’s larger customer-reach-out initiatives. The tourist office’s aim is to make Seychelles synonymous to the best and most beautiful holidaying destination for the Indian tourist.

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in association with The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT), a non-profit organization, has awarded Neelu Singh, Director & CEO, Ezeego1. com for her contribution in promoting Technology in Tourism. The award was conferred under the category of ‘Empowered Women in Indian Tourism’. Neelu Singh received the award at the hands of CH. Vidyasagar Rao, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra. The event took place on 46

Speaking about the same Lubaina Sheerazi, COO Blue Square Consultants, Seychelles Tourist, India said, “With the growing online community in India that proves to the game changer in the global tourism industry, we hope to cash in the trend and create an effective image of Seychelles amongst the Indian Traveller. Seychelles’ positioning, ‘Another World’ will be at the core of all the campaigns and the content that will be made for the target audience. We’re excited to work with TSBI as they bring both the aptitude and attitude that Seychelles requires at the moment.” ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

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TAT Mumbai & Wedding Sutra Host Masterclass

fun games, this coupled with a variety of food and drink options makes Aquamagica the place to be this October. Pooja Shetty, of Adlabs, says, “We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than by calling all our guests to party at Aquamagica for the entire month. These attractive offers will ensure that all roads lead to Khopoli.” Located conveniently off the Mumbai-Pune Express Highway, Aquamagica is just quick 90 minute drive away from Mumbai and Pune.

Belmond British Pullman Launches Festive Family Express

Wedding Sutra in association with the Tourism Authority of Thailand – Mumbai office hosted a Masterclass for wedding planners looking to host destination weddings in Thailand. 30 wedding planners attended the session on 14 September 2015. It showcased tips on hosting a wedding in Thailand, actual wedding videos in Thailand, secrets from bachelor & bachelorette party hosts and a presentation by one of the most desirable wedding hotels – the Shangrila Bangkok and a presentation by honeymoon planners, Travel Duet. Soraya Homchuen, director, TAT Mumbai presented the various incentives available to wedding planners for their Thailand events.

AQUAMAGICA Completes One Year

Adlabs Aquamagica, India’s first international standard waterpark, completes one year this October. And it’s time to indulge in some celebration with thrilling water rides, good music, carnival games and fun at this Mykonos themed water nation. As a part of the birthday celebrations, the park has introduced exciting offers for visitors that are valid through the entire month of October. To begin with, there is the Buy 2, get 1 ticket FREE offer that spells serious valuefor-money. Those who are looking for a fun, chilled out day party destination can check out the Go With the flow weekenders, where various DJ’s will perform & keep the party going at Aquamagica every weekend. Additionally, there will be a Carnival games section with some simple OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

Families are invited to step aboard the first ever ‘Festive Express’ this Christmas on board Belmond British Pullman. Departing London Victoria on Saturday 5th December, the festive journey, in the nostalgic 1920s carriages of this luxury train, is set to be filled with music, magic and family entertainment as the train travels through the Kent countryside. The Big Local Community Choir, from Bermondsey, London will send this journey off in style with performances of favourite carols and festive tunes at Belmond’s private check-in lounge at London Victoria. Aboard the elegant carriages, bedecked with baubles and wreaths, families are treated to a festive lunch served by livered stewards whilst musicians and magicians keep all ages entertained. For this magical new event, Belmond has partnered with children’s party experts Sharky and George, purveyors of good honest fun, who will entertain children with an unending series of traditional games and crafts along with some seasonal surprises. The Festive Express journey is part of a varied Christmas programme aboard both Belmond British Pullman and Belmond Northern Belle, sister trains of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Each December, both UK day trains operate a full programme of Christmas lunch, dinner and day trips to cities such as Bath and Canterbury for carol singing and Christmas shopping. These festive trips are available between the 1st – 19th December departing from London Victoria (Belmond British Pullman) and regional cities (Belmond Northern Belle), such as Bath, Bristol, Chester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle. Prices for the Festive Express journey start from £370 per adult and £295 per child and include a decadent festive meal, with children’s options available, Champagne and wine for each adult, entertainment and seasonal surprises for the children. 47

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VISIT FLORIDA Hosts VIP Luncheon in Delhi

SriLankan Airlines Becomes PATA’s Newest Aviation Member

In an endeavor to promote Florida as a must-visit destination in the U.S., VISIT FLORIDA recently played host to top travel agents and tour operators at a VIP Luncheon at Olive Bar and Kitchen in New Delhi. Greeting each one with the warmth of the destination were the VISIT FLORIDA delegates and its Partners: The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Visit Orlando, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Universal Orlando Resort and Sawgrass Mills & The Colonnade Outlets.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to announce that SriLankan Airlines has joined PATA as its newest Aviation member.

Over 50 individuals from the travel trade fraternity who attended this event got a glimpse of the destination as they were greeted by flamingos, a light house with an alligator and a selfie booth, which provided the perfect backdrop for a fun afternoon. This intimate luncheon gave the guests a chance to meet and greet the delegates as well as gain an in-depth understanding of what the Sunshine State has to offer. Speaking on the occasion, Shari Bailey, Director, International Sales & Market Development, said, “We would like to thank the Indian market for its enormous support. The significance of this outbound market is growing at a steady pace for us. In 2014, 56,000 Indians visited Florida indicating a 21% increase in visitation as compared to the previous year. The Indian travellers who came into the Sunshine State spent $77.3 million, thereby becoming an attractive market for our partners.” She also added, “The year has already begun on a wonderful note for us as the global music superstar Pitbull is now our ambassador and will be encouraging people from across the globe to travel to Florida. On the aviation front, we are happy to welcome passengers flying Emirates & Turkish Airlines as both the carriers have introduced flights into Orlando & Miami respectively. Lufthansa is further expanding its routes within the state by adding Tampa Bay.” A lucky draw was conducted wherein one of the agents won a trip for 2 people to the destination. The prize included a 5-night stay at the Swan and Dolphin hotel, a one day pass each to Walt Disney World resort, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Kennedy space Center, tickets to an airboat ride and tickets to an NBA game. Two other lucky winners received exciting goodies from Partners. 48

SriLankan Airlines, the National Airline of Sri Lanka, is an award-winning carrier with a firm reputation as a global leader in service, comfort, safety, reliability, and punctuality. Launched in 1979, SriLankan is currently expanding and further diversifying its wide range of products and services in order to drive the country’s ongoing boom in tourism and economic development. The airline’s hub is located at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, providing convenient connections to its global route network of 99 destinations in 47 countries (including codeshare operations) in Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Far East, North America, Australia and Africa. PATA CEO Mario Hardy said, “We are extremely pleased to welcome SriLankan Airlines to the PATA family, as our newest aviation member. As a PATA member, we look forward to working with them to help build their business and brand through our extensive networks and our indepth research and insights into the Asia Pacific region. We will also have the extra benefit of close cooperation, when we hold our PATA Annual Summit 2017 in Negombo, Sri Lanka.” According to PATA, international visitor arrivals (IVAs) to Sri Lanka are forecast to reach above the 2 million mark by 2019, with tourism expenditures expected to reach US$8 billion. SriLankan Airlines’ Chairman Ajith Dias said, “Sri Lanka is emerging as one of the most exciting tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Conferences and Exhibitions) destinations in Asia. Sri Lanka’s MICE industry experienced a leap forward in the last few years recording over 144,000 MICE visitors to the country in the year 2014 of which majority has emerged from the Incentive Travel segment. The total tourist arrivals into the country exceeded 1.5 million in 2014 from mere 500,000 in 2009. At a time when we look at attracting tourists from new markets, our membership in PATA and our role in the PATA Annual Summit 2017 will provide an ideal opportunity to share insights and look for collaborative ventures to promote MICE tourism within the region.” ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

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TAT Supports Asian Organic Gourmet Festival 2015

It is set to enable the building of healthy gourmet into the Thai community and to support organic farming community, organic produce sales, and to encourage Thai and expat community to a healthy dining and living as well as promoting Thai and Asian organic cuisine and Thai organic produce. Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, TAT’s Executive Director of Advertising and Public Relations Department, said “The Asian Organic Gourmet Festival 2015 indeed coincides with TAT’s Discover Thainess campaign in which the promotion of Thailand’s unique culinary heritage plays a large part alongside the kingdom’s cultural and artistic legacy. Healthy living also forms core part of the Thai way of life; such as, the use of exotic herbs and spices to enrich the flavours and offer nutrition.”

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is supporting the annual Asian Organic Gourmet Festival 2015, to be held from 2 to 4 October, 2015 at the Riva Surya Bangkok, on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. The three-day event will highlight healthy gourmet dishes especially prepared to mark the event by four famous Thai chefs – Chef Sompong Suksuwan, Chef Satawat Kunarasai, Chef Surasing Viratsakul, and Chef Arnon Masalong. Many interesting activities include live cooking demonstration, healthy bread baking demonstration, farmer’s market outdoor, nutritional talks, healthy dessert making demonstration, and much more. Organised by Riva Surya Bangkok & SilverNeedle Collection, the event is designed to enhance the development of healthy living along with the art of Thai and Asian cooking within the food and beverage industry.

OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

As one of the key advocates of health and organic cuisine, Riva Surya will include the first six main menus concocted by the event’s guest chefs at its restaurant for the next three months. Following which, the hotel will create and promote a new organic menu on a monthly basis. The cooking demonstration, including an organic lunch, coffee and tea, soft drinks, apron, and recipe book is priced at 1,950 Baht net per person. The four-course dinners includes welcome drinks and soft drinks, free flowing wine, coffee and tea, and is priced at 2,500 Bat net per meal and per person. Participation in the afternoon activities and farmer’s market at Riva Surya will be free of charge. Riva Surya Bangkok’s Asian Organic Gourmet Festival Dinner’s revenue will be partly donated to FOOD4GOOD program – involving solving the problem of malnutrition among under-privileged children in Thai society.

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Odisha Tourism Celebrates World Tourism Day

Saurabhbhai Patel, Minister for Tourism, Government of Gujarat said that “Since the foundation of Gujarat state, it is for the first time that Tourism sector has been granted status of an industry.” He also added that with the steady increase of tourists and pilgrims, tourism sector needs more boost. For this there is a need to develop infrastructural and other facilities at tourist spots across Gujarat. With this initiative, tourism sector will now get all the benefits that industry gets. It includes providing capital subsidy for setting up new hotels in the state, unique incentives for female entrepreneurs, to create employment opportunities for over 20 lakhs people by year 2025 with reforms in skills and knowledge development, to attract fresh investments to the tune of Rs. 15,000 crore etc. The new policy will give greater encouragement for selfemployment. Professionals in Khadi, Handicraft and other such sectors will also benefit a lot.

For the first time, a unique tourism carnival was organised jointly by Department of Tourism & FHRAI in Bhubaneswar on the occasion of World Tourism Day 2015 which ran from Master Canteen Square to Rupali Square in the morning. The carnival showcased the rich cultural diversity and tourist potential of Odisha and it was flagged off by S. C. Jamir, His Excellency the Governor of Odisha in presence of Debiprasad Mishra, Hon’ble Minister, Industries and School & Mass Education; Ashok Chandra Panda, Hon’ble Minister, Tourism & Culture; Prasanna Kumar Patsani, Hon’ble MP; B. K. Mohanty, Hon’ble MLA, Priyadarshi Mishra, Hon’ble MLA; Ananta Naryan Jena, Hon’ble Mayer, G. C. Pati, Chief Secretary; L. N. Gupta, Principal Secretary; Tourism; Anil Kumar Samal, Director, Tourism; Dillip Ray, Hon’ble MLA, T. S. Walia, President, FHRAI; Consulate Generals of France and USA, representatives from Italy and many other dignitaries. The carnival was a spectacular show of variety of tourism products with a dozen tableaux depicting Buddhist heritage of Odisha, Wildlife, Tribal Art & ancient Buddhist treasures of Dhauli, Dancing troupes of Odisha, West Bengal, Jammu Kashmir, Punjab, Assam, etc and vintage cars, motor cycles, College & School children carrying placards of the World Tourism Day theme “1 Billion Tourists - 1 Million Opportunities. The carnival was a unique effort made for the first time in the history of Odisha Tourism. The local people as well as delegates of FHRAI enjoyed the carnival. The city witnessed a festive look on the occasion. Odisha is emerging as friendly to tourists and facilitator to investors as observed from successful show-casing of its tourism potentials today. Odisha Tourism officials led by Principal Secretary Tourism L. N. Gupta and Director Tourism Anil Kumar Samal and India Tourism officials welcomed the passengers at Bhubaneswar airport with flowers and souvenirs.

Gujarat Unveils New Tourism Policy To promote tourism in the state, Gujarat government under the leadership of Honorable Chief Minister Anandiben Patel announced the new tourism policy for the first time which gives ‘Industry’ status to the tourism sector in the Gujarat state. 50

Kerala Tourism Launches International Photography Contest Kerala Tourism has launched an ‘International Photography Contest’ through its website, calling for entries that would highlight the state’s tourism potential. With www.keralatourism.org facilitating participation from across the world, the competition—with the theme ‘Kerala’—will have the topper gifted with Rs 5 lakh. The second and third prizes are purses of Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh respectively. Plus, there are five consolation prizes of Rs 1 lakh each. “It’s for the first time we are coming out with a contest endowed with such huge amounts as prize money,” said Kerala Tourism Minister, A P Anil Kumar. Each contestant can make a maximum of three entries. The photographs should be original and taken between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2015; the participant should hold its copyright. Digitally manipulated photographs will be disqualified. The submissions must have at least 1000 pixels but not more than 3000 pixels in either height or width. They should be saved as Jpegs (.jpg), and not exceed 4MB per file, at 72dpi resolution. The selected images, which will depict Kerala in multiple perspectives, will be further added to Kerala tourism’s image bank. Kerala, known for its varied topography and colourful festivals, has always served as a photographer’s paradise. Considered as one of the countries with the highest brand recall, the tropical and green southern Indian state has already made its mark in the international tourism map. “This competition that attracts participants from across the globe will further expand the state’s tourism market and encourage more visitors to explore our land,” said Kerala Tourism Secretary, G Kamala Vardhana Rao. Kerala Tourism Director P I Sheik Pareeth noted that nearly one crore people visit the state every year on holiday. “Of these, many are photography enthusiasts,” he added. The competition that ends on December 31st will give visitors to the website, an opportunity to submit their ratings on the competing photographs. ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

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Top Indian Tourism Award for Lulu

a nesting place for migratory birds and is surrounded by mesmeric mountains of Kalimpong, Lava, Lolegaon and Bhutan on its eastern and southern borders respectively and on the west, by the Baikanthapur National forest known for its vivid wild life. The site is situated at a convenient distance of 25kms from Siliguri and 40kms from Bagdogra Airport. Mr Ramesh Ramanathan, Managing Director, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited said, “Sterling Holidays is enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with the West Bengal government to establish one of the country’s largest eco-tourism hubs. Keeping with Sterling’s commitment to bringing new destinations to India’s holiday travellers and to building eco-resorts, we are happy to be a part of this initiative as a key stakeholder.”

The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee gave away the National Tourism Awards for the year 2013-14 at a function held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. Lulu International Travel & Tourism, a division of Lulu Group bagged the best Overseas Tour Operator from West Asia & Africa region. Abhilash Valiyavalappil, Commercial Manager of Lulu Group along with Biju Nair, Sales & Marketing Manager Lulu International Travels received the prestigious award from the President of India in the presence of Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Tourism & Culture. The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India annually presents National Tourism Awards to various segments of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. These awards are being given to State Governments/Union Territories, classified hotels, heritage hotels, approved travel agents, tour operators and tourist transport operators, individuals and other private organizations in recognition of their performance in their respective fields. Commenting on this, Yusuff Ali MA, Managing Director of Lulu Group said, “We are honoured to have won this prestigious award from the Government of India. This will give us further encouragement to boost the potential of Indian tourism in the Middle East and Africa. Tourism sector is very important for the future growth of India as it is one of the top foreign exchange generator”.

Sterling Holidays to Expand Base in West Bengal Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, India’s leading holiday lifestyle company has won a bid to build a 3-star resort property at the proposed eco-tourism hub in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. The company plans to build a 50-70 room eco-resort spread over a three-acre land with an investment of about Rs.25-30 crore. The resort will be built at Gajoldoba, the eco-tourism hub planned by chief minister Mamta Banerjee in Jalpaiguri. With the government of West Bengal having invested Rs.100cr in building infrastructure of the hub, all interior and arterial roads, power stations for supply of electricity and drainage systems are expected to be in place soon. The ecotourism hub is in Gajoldoba, an unexplored destination on the bank of Teesta River in Jalpaiguri district offers a picturesque view of Mount Kanchenjunga. The resort site is located opposite a huge marshland which is OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

Experience Thanjavur with Svatma Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu stands at a point of confluence of arts, music, culture and dance leading you to explore other places like Thiruvaiyaru, Srirangam, and Kumbakonam. You are in the very heart of Tamil culture, here as it was centuries ago you will discover expressions of grace and richness of life… in its temples and sabhas, in its music and lost wax sculptures, in its specific style of Bharatanatyam, its soulful Carnatic music compositions that every proud Tamilian will wake up to every day of his life even as the aroma of filter coffee wafts around him and the fragrance of sparkling jasmines call him to prayer. Each day begins here in the wee hours waking up even as the gentle light of the morning sun lights up ‘peria kovil’ – the Brihadeeswara temple. Suprabatham and classical music nights here are as sacred as night-life is to any metro dweller. Precisely why Svatma – The Heritage Residence will be your perfect address to experience Thanjavur as it stands today reflecting the glories of a past that it proudly sustains. Svatma aspires to beguile you with all of the regions charms in one singular experience you will surrender to. The property is the result of Sumanth Subramaniyan and Krithika Subramanian’s painstaking labour and a profound love for the traditional art and culture that seamlessly combine to give a magical experience that is Svatma. Comprising of a central restored Heritage building, built as a family residence some hundred years ago Svatma’s 38 suites faithfully follow the architectural framework of the heritage building. Highlighting the experience that Svatma is, Krithika Subramanian says, “SVATMA aims to create a base for researchers and culturally inclined travel addicts like myself in reaching the ancient architectural monuments of the district while enjoying the luxury of international standards. I aim to make Tamil Nadu a destination of choice for the discerning“. Svatma opened its doors to guests on 18th September 2015. The occasion was marked by an exclusive event held on 26th September organized by Krithika Subramanian and Sumanth Subramaniyan, who are the hosts at Svatma, along with RARE that saw a participation of some high profile Destination Management Companies as well as some of our media partners. Every world traveller who wishes to touch upon an era of the past will find his soul seeking to rest in Svatma – That’s the promise. 51

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE CONTEST - 92 1) What geographic feature separates Europe from Asia? 2) What are the only primates in Europe (besides humans)?

Mike Bonner

appointed as Vice President, Marketing, One & Only Resorts

Jacob John

appointed as General Manager, Hotel City Tower, Coimbatore

3) What European country was the last to grant women the right to vote? 4) What is the most widely spoken first language in Europe? 5) What is the highest point in Europe? 6) What staple food was not introduced to Europe from the New World?

Dushan Gunarathna appointed as Director of Revenue, TIME Hotels

Roddy Gordon

appointed as VP Sales and Marketing, TIME Hotels

7) What is called the Horn of Africa? 8) What is the smallest country in mainland Africa? 9) How much of Africa is desert? 10) What African country was the only known home of the now extinct dodo?

Ashok Vashist

appointed as CEO, Micar

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Answers to TYKC - 91

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ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015

OCTOBER 2015 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

ASIAN TRAVELLER | OCTOBER 2015