News

Kerala minister launches water taxi service

Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Friday said that the government was aiming at completing the first phase of the Malabar River Cruise Tourism Project this year itself. He was speaking through videoconferencing after inaugurating the water taxi allotted at Parassinikkadavu as part of the cruise project. The water taxi named “Thacholi Othenan” was designed by the Tourism Department and Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) as part of the project. Malabar had great potential for tourism. However, full advantage of the possibilities could not be taken till now, Mr. Surendran said. With the opening of the Kannur airport, such possibilities had increased. It was in this context that the government had formulated a massive tourism project connecting the rivers of Kasaragod and Kannur districts for the development of tourism in north Malabar. Mr. Surendran said the project was being jointly implemented by the Central and State governments at a cost of ₹325 crore. The government planned to inaugurate the first phase of the project this year, adding that 85% of the projects proposed to be implemented in the tourism sector had been commissioned after the LDF came to power. He said the State government had sanctioned ₹4.67 crore for the purchase of six boats. One of these boats was built and given to the Tourism Department. The KSINC had said that one boat would be available in March and the remaining four in May.

Read more

Delhi Tourism department plans more events for garden festival

Buoyed by the response of public, the Delhi Tourism department is planning to organise multiple cultural events during the ongoing ‘Garden Tourism Festival’ at The Garden of Five Senses. The officials of tourism department said the footfall at the festival venue is encouraging and more visitors are expected in coming days once the school exams are over. “We have planned several activities on weekends so that people in large numbers can witness them. In the first three days, more than 18,000 visitors, excluding children, had come to the festival and on weekdays, the average daily footfall was around 1,200. This weekend, apart from a rock band concert, folkdance performances are also planned. On next Saturday and Sunday, we have lined up a Qwwali programme and folk dances from different states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat,” said a senior official. The festival is the first big public event being organised in the city since the outbreak of the pandemic. As the department was expecting a high footfall for the event, it decided to stretch this annual three-day feature to 23 days this year. The festival will conclude on March 13. The official said every year, nearly 18,000 people would come to The Garden of Five Senses during the festival. To facilitate the visitors, the tourism department provides free shuttle service from Saket Metro station to the venue. Officials said the section which offers tips for gardening is drawing more crowd. “Visitors are given information about plants and gardening in small areas. We educate people about recycling of waste containers and converting them into pots. The festival has become the biggest flower show in the capital.”

Read more

Rajasthan goes into new normal mode with Maru Mahotsav festival

Covid, despair, and dampened spirits mark the festivities of 2020 but with the advent of vaccines against Coronavirus, the vibes are gradually making comeback. Encompassing the vivid colours of Rajasthan’s glorious culture, the iconic ‘Maru Mahotsav’ or ‘Desert Festival’ returns to Jaisalmer. A globally famed annual festival, the Mahotsav was held back last year due to the COVID pandemic along with other major social and public events. However, as the festival takes place amid safety measures and COVID prevention guidelines, it also marks the return of other designated festivities. Rajasthan is home to several festivals of global prestige, the tourism department has categorised the festivals in 41 minor, 9 medium and 15 large events. In addition, there are many privately promoted cultural and other events that attract a large number of visitors. All these have been on hold but are making a gradual return with “Maru Mahotsav” in the lead. The three day Desert Festival has started on February 24 and in consideration of the COVID situation it has an increased focus on live broadcast also this year. The festival is having interesting events like the performing of renowned singer Khailash Kher, moustache and turban tying competitions as well as a sand art display, camel decorative show and musical and cultural shows. The highlights of “Desert Festival 2021” in Jaisalmer are Night Bazar till 1 am, theme restaurant at a fort, all monuments to remain open till 11 pm, light and sound show every day from 10.11 pm during the festival. District Administration appealed to residents of the district to decorate their homes during the festival and make ‘rangolis’ in front of their houses. Owners of houses best decorated will be awarded by the administration. Signages in the Golden City have been coloured with a golden yellow colour. The live broadcast of “Maru Mahotsav-2021” is being done on YouTube, Instagram handles of Rajasthan Tourism, the official said. Digital walls have installed at railway stations, airports, and other places in the city to provide tourists with information about the daily programmes at the festival. The festival showcases the colourful culture of Rajasthan through various activities, competitions, and cultural performances. One can witness folk performances, fascinating competitions, and beauty pageants during the three-day-long annual festival at Jaisalmer. Apart from this, exquisite handicrafts will be displayed at the fair. “Rajasthan is known for its colourful culture and our festivals are a reflection of the same. These have traditionally attracted visitors from all over the world,” said Nishant Jain, Director, Department of Tourism, Rajasthan. He also said, “Unfortunately, the pandemic of COVID halted these for almost a year, however, due to effective control on the disease in the state, we are now confidently opening up with safety measures.”

Read more

Uttarakhand: Plans to develop Chota Kailash as major pilgrimage site

With no clarity on whether the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra will be held this year, the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam proposes to develop Chota Kailash, the original abode of Lord Shiva on the Indian side of the border with China, as a major pilgrimage site. "Chota Kailash, also called Adi Kailash is considered the original abode of Lord Shiva and can be the best pilgrimage site to visit for Shiva devotees from across the country," KMVN Chairperson Kedar Joshi said. Connectivity to Chota Kailash has also improved with the BRO connecting Vyas valley with a motor road in June last year making it much more convenient for pilgrims to reach the site, he said. KMVN is the nodal agency for the annual Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra which was not held last year due to the coronavirus pandemic and is not likely to be held this year as well with the preparatory meetings not held so far. The meetings are held in the first week of February by the Ministry of External Affairs. The KMVN Chairperson said he is planning to visit Chota Kailash himself in April to take stock of the infrastructure on way to the pilgrimage site. Though well known among Shiva devotees, infrastructure around Chota Kailash needs to be upgraded to attract more and more pilgrims on the lines of the chardham yatra, he said. "For instance we want construction of a civilian helipad at Jolingkong for the convenience of Chota Kailash bound pilgrims," Joshi said. At present around 1000 pilgrims visit Chota Kailash each year beginning from the month of June. "I will be accompanied by Nigam officials who will find possibilities of connecting Vyas Gufa, situated on the eastern corner of Vyas with Chota Kailash that is situated on its western corner," Joshi said. He said KMVN wants to extend an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Chota Kailash which will go a long way in promoting it as a destination for religious tourism.

Read more

Covid test mandatory for travellers coming to Rajasthan from Maharashtra, Kerala

Amid the rising number of Covid-19 cases across the country, the Rajasthan government on Thursday tightened restrictions for travellers arriving from Maharashtra and Kerala. The state government has made it mandatory for travellers from these states to produce a negative Covid-19 test report upon their arrival in the state. "Travellers from Maharashtra and Kerala to Rajasthan should provide negative RT-PCR report not older than 72 hours on their arrival," read the statement by the government. On February 24, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) deputed high-level multi-disciplinary teams to Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir for supporting them in public health measures for targeted Covid response and management. According to the official release, the three-member multidisciplinary teams will work closely with the states and UT administration and ascertain the reasons for the recent surge in the number of Covid-19 cases. They will also coordinate with health authorities of the states and UT for requisite Covid-19 control measures to break the chain of transmission.

Read more

Your Flight ticket set to become cheaper as DGCA issues guidelines! Here is how

In a piece of good news for flyers, passengers carrying no check-in luggage get concessions in flight tickets! According to a circular issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), airlines have been directed to provide concessions in flight ticket prices to passengers who carry no baggage. The circular reads that the airfares charged by the airlines include charges of some of the services rendered by them. However, based on the feedback, the DGCA has decided that often several services provided by the airlines by the airlines may not be required by the flyers while traveling. These services are preferential seating, meal or snack or drink charges (except for water), charges for using airline lounges, check-in baggage charges, sports equipment charges, music instrument charges, and fees for special declaration of valuable baggage. Check-in baggage fee: As part of the airline baggage policy, airlines will be allowed to offer free baggage allowance as well as “Zero Baggage or No Check-In baggage fares”. However, the flyers purchasing tickets under the scheme must not carry check-in baggage at the airline counter. If they carry check-in luggage, “reasonable charges” will be levied, the DGCA said in the circular. “Sub-rule (1) of rule 135 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 states that every air transport undertaking engaged in scheduled air services shall establish tariff having regard to all relevant factors, including the cost of operation, characteristics of service, reasonable profit and the generally prevailing tariff,” the DGCA stated. “The airfares so established by the airlines also include charges for some of the services rendered by them. On the basis of various feedback received, it is felt that many a time these services provided by the airlines may not be required by the passengers while travelling. Considering the fact that unbundling of services and charges thereto has the potential to make basic fare more affordable and provides the consumer an option of paying for the services which she or he wishes to avail, it has been decided by the Government to allow the following services to be unbundled and charged separately to allow a number of services to remain unbundled and charged separately,” the DGCA stated.

Read more