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Sabarimala: KSRTC announces 900 buses for pilgrims returning after Makaravilakku

Pathanamthitta: The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has announced 900 buses for pilgrims returning to Pamba after Makaravilakku Festival at Sabarimala Temple on January 14. There are 170 buses in operation from Pamba at present, including 120 Pamba-Nilackal chain services and 50 long-distance buses. According to a KSRTC update, 260 buses from the south zone, 410 from central and 230 from the north zone will be made available at Pamba for the pilgrims. At least 500 buses will be parked at Pamba and Nilackal. The Pamba-Nilackal chain service buses will be parked on the roadside, along a 21km distance between the hilltop parking ground and Nilackal. The KSRTC has informed that after every five chain service bus a longdistance service will be operated. The chain services will be operational immediately after the Makara Jyoti is witnessed. For details contact toll-free number 18005994011 or dial 0471- 2463799/2471011.

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IndiGo Offers ‘Plan B’ To Passengers Of Flights Cancelled Or Rescheduled Due To COVID Restriction, Weather. Check Details Here

New Delhi: Domestic carrier IndiGo airlines has come up with a ‘Plan B’ for passengers whose travel plans were derailed this weekend due to cancelled or rescheduling of flights for various reasons. The airline has notified the passengers that if the flight was cancelled or rescheduled from Indigo’s end, they don’t need to worry. “We have Plan B for you! With Plan B, you can change the time and/or date of your flight or cancel and process the refund, at no additional cost,” said IndiGo on its official webiste. In a post on its official Twitter handle, the airlines urged the passengers to not wait in the queue, for any cancelled or rescheduled flight for more than 2 hours. “It said that owing to the current COVID-19 travel restrictions and changes in the weather, our flight operations might get impacted. Passengers will be notified on their registered contact number for any changes or cancellations,” it said. It also asked the passengers to ensure that their contact details are updated with so that they don;t miss out on any important communication.

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MEA aims to open 'Passport Seva Kendra' in every LS constituency

The Ministry of External Affairs signed an agreement for the second phase of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP-V2.0) with Tata Consultancy Services, for opening of a Seva Kendra in every Lok Sabha constituency- where there is no Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK). As on date 93 PSKs, 428 POPSKs and 36 Passport Offices are operational. The programme has recently been connected to more than 176 Indian Missions/Posts through Global Passport Seva Programme (GPSP), providing "seamless" delivery of passport services to the Indian diaspora, the Ministry has said. The PSP-V2.0 is a continuation and enhancement of PSP-V1.0, an eGovernance instrument, which introduced "unprecedented transformation" in delivery of passport related services to citizens, the Ministry added. The key elements of PSP-V2.0 are setting up of a state-of-art digital ecosystem, process overhauling and integration among various stakeholders and databases, improving citizen interface, upgrading technology, adopting best practices and strengthening data security. Security aspects, including strategic assets such as data centres, database and the application software will be owned by the government. There would be strict access controls across the system, incorporating biometrics. On the digital front, the programme envisages a Data Centre, Disaster Recovery Centre and Government Secure Repository networked to all PSKs/POPSKs, Passport Offices and also to Indian Missions/Posts abroad, an electronic file system for passport processing running across the passport issuance ecosystem and 24x7x365 monitoring and supervision through state of-art Network Operation Centre (NOC) and Security Operation Centre (SOC). According to the ministry, the Passport Seva Programme would be embarking on technology upgrade with the use of biometrics, artificial intelligence, advance data analytics, chat-bot, auto-response, natural language processing, cloud enablement. "The issuance of e-Passports for enhanced customer satisfaction, increased security and next level of citizen experience will also be unveiled in the upgraded PSP-V2.0."

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Thailand to let go of its quarantine-free visa policy for now

Thailand has decided to suspend its quarantine-free visa programme for vaccinated visitors, in view of the ongoing Omicron variant outbreak. The country has also taken some other measures in regard to this latest outbreak. The country has decided to put a ban on sale of alcohol at restaurants in areas that are at high risk of COVID infections. The virus task force of Thailand has however not included Bangkok, Phuket, and six other tourist destinations from any strict containment measures. In these areas, alcohol will be banned for consumption at restaurants and other commercial places after 9 PM. Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said that overseas visitors, who are holding valid visas for the quarantine waiver, will still be allowed to enter the country. Moreover, those who already have approvals under the government’s Test and Go programme will be allowed to enter the country with their approved length of stay. The government will be monitoring the situation in the coming days. Thailand is one of Asia's most popular travel destinations, and is known for some amazing travel experiences. The country is heavily reliant on tourism, but the lockdowns are causing its tourism industry to face hardship in the last two years. Once again, the new virus of COVID has resulted in lockdowns worldwide.

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Magical, giant trees and fountains: Kochi's secret cave sanctuary

If you are looking for a quick weekend getaway near Kochi, this is the perfect spot. The trnquil, serene atmosphere of Kochareekkal Caves Sanctuaryin Ernakulam is the perefect remedy to get rid of a week's worth of weariness. There is a cave, a fountain, and a pond inside a forest that makes it a magical experience for you. Not only is this a quick getaway but also ideal for a family trip and offers some adventure as well. From Ernakulam, it will take an hour and a half drive to reach Kochareekkal caves which are located at Piramadam. That means it is just 12 km from Piravam. It’s also a great place to spend some quality time with your family in the evenings. Since the area hasn’t yet caught the fancy of tourists, there won’t be much of a crowd. You can see those cave sanctuaries if you walk a short distance from the parking area. The place is famous for its ancient caves hidden in the roots of the giant ancient trees. And the whole place is richly green, untouched by modernity, with giant ancient trees looming over. As you climb down, you can see giant ancient trees slumped all around. In fact, that’s one of the prime attractions of this sanctuary – these intimidatingly giant trees! As if they are hiding some dark secrets within. There is a mystery, a sort of haunted feel, that almost transports you back in time. You can find two caves here. A fountain springs up from the first cave and the water from that spring will flow downstream and fill the adjacent pond. The source of the spring is pure freshwater. The spring is the source of drinking water for the locals. Therefore, water bodies should be kept clean. Be careful not to dump waste even if you carry food. Vistors have to be careful not to pollute the water. According to locals, the first cave is about 3 km long. But there is no evidence for that. This is a narrow cave. The second cave is nearby. Unlike the first one, this cave is essentially large. Vehicles are parked on top of this. The cave is about one person high and wide enough to accommodate up to 40 people. The roots of the grandmother tree are spread out like owl hands inside the cave. The entrance to the cave is by stepping on these roots. You almost get the feeling that the roots of this large tree are the walls of the cave. The locals have many stories around the cave. One story goes that one could walk inside the cave for up to three kilometers. Another story is that these caves were once a hideout for war soldiers. All said and done, when we stand here, we get the feeling of being part of a sorcerer’s cave, where they are brewing magic potions. There is a pond here to accentuate that feeling. We can bravely go down to the shallow pool but be careful as there are rocks. The water from the upper stream flows here. During the monsoons, the stream reaches the pond like a small waterfall. The journey to this place would not be complete without knowing more about the huge trees that surround the cave. It is a Chinese tree up to 40 metres tall. This Chinese tree which also falls in the category of deciduous trees can be found in evergreen forests. These trees add a mystery to this place. One can comfortably hide among the roots of the trees that stand by the pond. In the evening, this place gives out a fantastical feel. Like we are in the middle of an ancient Kavu, pond, and witchcraft. No one can be blamed if one hears chants and clinging of bells while standing amidst the pool, quietly enjoying the ambiance of the forest. That's the best experience Kochareekkal can give us. How to reach? It is located at a distance of 40 km from Ernakulam. Piramadam can be reached from Piravom town via Ramamangalam. That's where the Kocharikkal caves are. What makes Kochareekkal caves different is that it takes half a day to see the place. There are no shops or other establishments near Kochareekkal Caves. There is only a small tea shop here. You can buy food and other necessities for children at Ramamangalam. ATMs and hospitals are also located at Ramamangalam.

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IndiGo reinstates flight operations on Delhi-Port Blair route

IndiGo has announced that it is reinstating four weekly flights between DelhiPort Blair effective January 9, 2022. The airline in a communication, said that the flights on the route will operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, and bookings for the sector are now open, with fares starting from INR 8,522. Commenting on the development, Sanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer, IndiGo said, “We are pleased to strengthen our domestic presence and recommence operations between Delhi-Port Blair. These flights will enhance connectivity and promote tourism, trade, and commerce on the island. IndiGo is committed to providing wider networks with an affordable, on-time, safe, and hassle-free travel experience on board our lean clean flying machine.” These connections will enhance tourism and travel opportunities on the island, said the airline. Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is famous for its pristine waters, seafood joints, and beach shopping. Travel guidelines to enter Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has announced that all travellers arriving in the Union Territory will have to present a negative Covid-19 test report effective January 5. All incoming travellers, above two years of age, including partially or fully vaccinated will have to show the negative RT-PCR test report, with the sample taken within 48 hours before departure. Further, all passengers with a history of foreign travel in the last 30 days, all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers shall also be tested by RTPCR on arrival at the Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair. Travellers will have to isolate until the rest results are released. If passengers on arrival are tested Covid-19 positive, then the prescribed quarantine protocol will be followed.

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