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Leh-Manali highway reopens: Reasons why you should not miss the scenic route this summer

This Leh-Manali highway has reopened post the winter closure. The route is synonymous with motorheads, especially adventure seekers, who travel through the mountainous region to soak in its vast landscapes that are postcard perfect. Here are 10 reasons why you should not miss travelling on the route this summer season. This route is synonymous with motorheads, especially adventure seekers, who travel through the mountainous region to soak in its vast landscape that's postcard perfect. Here are 10 reasons, why you should not miss travelling on this route this summer season. No 1. Spectacular scenery: The Leh-Manali Highway offers breathtaking views of the Himalayan mountain range, with snow-capped peaks, lush valleys, and meandering rivers along the route. No 2. Adventure of a lifetime: Driving on the Leh-Manali Highway is an adventure in itself, offering thrilling experiences such as crossing high-altitude passes, navigating through winding roads, and encountering diverse landscapes. (Image: Indian Army) No 3. Experience the unique culture: Along the journey, travelers have the opportunity to visit remote villages and interact with local communities, providing insights into the rich cultural heritage of the region. No 4. Every view is postcard perfect: With its stunning landscapes and ever-changing vistas, the Leh-Manali Highway offers endless opportunities for photography enthusiasts to capture awe-inspiring shots of nature's beauty.

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Bhutan removes mandatory travel insurance requirement for tourists

Bhutan's Department of Tourism has made a significant announcement indicating the removal of the mandatory travel insurance requirement for tourists. This requirement was initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide coverage for unforeseen emergencies, particularly medical expenses related to the pandemic. However, with the situation improving and as part of efforts to facilitate smoother travel experiences, the department has decided to lift this requirement. The decision aims to streamline travel procedures and make the process more convenient for tourists visiting the country. While the mandatory requirement for travel insurance has been withdrawn for visa processing, the department still encourages tourists to possess travel insurance as a precautionary measure. This is to ensure they are adequately covered in case of any unlikely emergencies associated with international travel. By removing the mandatory travel insurance requirement, Bhutan hopes to simplify the visa application process and encourage more visitors to explore its unique culture, landscapes, and heritage. This adjustment reflects Bhutan's commitment to providing a welcoming and hassle-free experience for tourists while maintaining the necessary precautions for their safety and well-being. Is Bhutan visa-free for Indians? Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free travel to Bhutan due to the strong diplomatic ties between the two countries. Bhutan is one of the few nations that shares a border with India, maintaining excellent relations. Do we need an entry permit to visit Bhutan? Indian passport holders planning to visit Bhutan are required to obtain an entry permit from the Immigration Office in Phuentsholing. This permit, valid for a period of 7 days, is necessary for travellers entering Bhutan by road and must be presented at every checkpoint along the way for verification. However, those intending to extend their stay beyond the initial 7 days need to visit the immigration office in Thimphu and apply for an extension of the permit's validity. Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan and serves as the administrative centre where such extensions can be processed. This process ensures that visitors can enjoy their stay in Bhutan without any hassles while adhering to the country's immigration regulations. The entry permit issued by the Bhutan Immigration Department for Indian citizens is provided at no charge.

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India travel trends: Search for spiritual destinations surges 97%, Delhi scores high in inquiries

Spiritual destinations are stealing the show in India's travel market with such locations recording a 97 percent surge in searches in the last two years, according to an analysis by online travel aggregator (OTA) MakeMyTrip. Searches for Ayodhya grew 585 percent, Ujjain by 359 percent and Badrinath by 343 percent in 2023 over the previous year, said the report launched by the OTA on April 22. Tier-2 and tier-3 cities are embracing spiritual journeys, it added. The report also added that people taking more than three trips per year has grown by 25 percent in 2023 as compared to 2019. Where India travels On the international front, 30 percent of all foreign travel searches from India are for Dubai, Bangkok and Singapore, while London, Toronto and New York are the most searched long-haul destinations. Searches for emerging international destinations grew by multi-fold in 2023 and the hot favourites include Hong Kong, Almaty, Paro, Baku, Da Nang and Tbilisi. Travel to unexplored destinations has increased which has led to over 30 percent growth in searches for 16 emerging destinations. As many as 31 unique destinations contribute to 60 percent of searches from all six metros including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. Delhi NCR and Goa are the most searched destination from all six metros. Delhi has the highest share in terms of searches in 2023 at 11.4 percent, followed by Mumbai at 7.2 percent, Bengaluru at 5.4 percent, and Goa at 5.3 percent. In the domestic flights category, tier II cities have emerged as the highest growth destinations. Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram Indore and Bhubaneshwar lead with maximum searches. Travel sentiment touched an all-time high in November 2022 with seven out of 10 people planning travel, the OTA said. It added that there has been 45 percent growth in searches as compared to the pre-pandemic period. As many as 100 million people are actively searching for travel on MakeMyTrip platform annually. How India travels Family travel bookings surged by 64 percent in 2023 as compared to 2022, followed by solo travel booking a 23 percent growth. Two people travelling together make for 50 percent of all bookings. Indians continue to make last minute travel plans with a significant portion of travel bookings in India are made spontaneously, with 46 percent of domestic flights booked less than a week before the travel date. On the other hand, about half of all international bookings are made at least two weeks in advance. Only one-third of international bookings are made more than a month before the travel date, suggesting a flexible approach to international travel planning among Indian travellers. For flight bookings, women prefer to pre-book window seats and men pick aisle seats. Tomato cucumber cheese lettuce sandwich is the most ordered in-flight meal on domestic flights. Vegetarian Hindu meal is the most ordered in-flight meal on international flights. Delhi travellers are over-indexed on booking domestic flights less than a week ahead of travel date while travellers from Kolkata have a higher inclination to book flights over three months in advance for both international and domestic destinations. Where India stays Alternative accommodations including homestays and villas recorded 24 percent growth in bookings in 2023 on MakeMyTrip as Indians are searching for stays that provide an emotional connection with culture and nature, the platform said. Hostels and apartments recorded maximum search growth of 39 percent and 31 percent respectively in 2023. For hostels and apartments, the preference is for those properties which cost less than Rs 2,500 per night but for villas, it is higher. Close to 20 percent of family travellers searched for properties with tariffs over Rs 10,000 per night last year. More than 50 percent of the family travellers and 75 percent of the solo travellers booked a property for stay below Rs 4,500 . Weekend getaways emerged as the highest growth destinations in the domestic hotels category. Jim Corbett leads with 131 percent growth in searches on MakeMyTrip followed by Ooty and Munnar. A large number of these hotel customers are driving to these destinations from nearby metros. People from Maharashtra contribute to highest domestic hotel searches. Travellers from Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka searched more for villas while maximum searches were done for hostels in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Goa.

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Traffic warning as 10,000 Sikhs expected to take part in Leicester's Nagar Kirtan parade

About 10,000 Sikhs are expected to join an annual procession across the city this weekend. Every spring, people from across the region flock to Leicester to join the Nagar Kirtan parade. The huge event has been taking place in Leicester for the past two decades and this year's procession will begin on Sunday morning at the temple in Holy Bones, near St Nicolas Circle, on the west side of the city centre. The route will pass over St Nicolas Circle, through the city centre and across to the Spinney Hills area, ending at the back of the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara in East Park Road. The procession will be starting at about 11.30am and ending at about 3pm, so there will be traffic disruption for several hours on Sunday. The roads where traffic will be halted while the parade goes past include St Nicolas Circle, St Georges Way and St Peters Road. Nagar Kirtan has been celebrated in Leicester since 1986 and involves people in the procession walking from temple to temple, singing hymns and filling up on food at langars, or community kitchens, where it is freely given to those taking part and anyone who wants any. There will be rolling road closures during the parade and some buses will be re-directed for a short time on Sunday. The roads affected by the Nagar Kirtan parade on Sunday will be: Holy Bones Great Central Street Vaughan Way St Nicholas Circle, St Nicholas Place High Street East Gates Gallowtree Gate Granby Street Northampton Street Charles Street St Georges Way Swain Street Sparkenhoe Street St Peters Road East Park Road Leicester Street Rosebery Street

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Your Trip To Europe Just Got Easier With New Schengen Visa Rules

Previously, obtaining a Schengen visa, which allows travel within the Schengen Area was a time-consuming process. The new rules introduce a "cascade system" specifically for Indian travellers. Here's what this means for you: What Is A Schengen Visa A Schengen visa is a travel document that allows individuals to enter and travel within the Schengen Area. Today, the Schengen Area encompasses most EU countries, except for Cyprus and Ireland. The Schengen Area has abolished internal borders, allowing for passport-free movement between member countries. The visa is typically issued for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period for purposes such as tourism, business, or family visits. Extended Validity: If you've used your Schengen visa responsibly in the past, you're eligible for longer validity periods. After obtaining and utilising two visas within a three-year timeframe, you can qualify for a two-year multi-entry visa. Following successful use of this two-year visa, with sufficient passport validity remaining, you could even be granted a coveted five-year multi-entry visa! These longer-validity visas essentially translate to more time to explore the diverse landscapes, rich cultures, and vibrant cities of the Schengen Area. Who Does This Benefit: The relaxed visa norms extend beyond leisure travel. Business professionals can benefit from extended stays, facilitating the strengthening of trade ties between India and the EU. Students pursuing higher education in Europe will also find the new rules advantageous. While there is no purpose of travel included in these visas, they do not allow the right to work within the Schengen area.

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Bali urges foreign tourists to get dengue fever vaccines amid increasing cases

The regional government of Bali, Indonesia, is advising foreign tourists to consider getting vaccinated against dengue fever as the number of cases continues to rise in the country. Gusti Ayu Raka Susanti, acting head of Disease Prevention and Control at the Bali Health Agency, emphasised that while dengue vaccines are not mandatory for tourists, it is highly recommended for their health, especially when visiting areas where dengue is prevalent. She stressed the importance of this precautionary measure for both tourists and Balinese residents, emphasising that dengue fever vaccinations can help protect individuals from infections. By encouraging tourists to get vaccinated, the Bali Health Agency aims to ensure the well-being of travellers during their stay in Bali, particularly when entering endemic areas, and to minimise the risk of dengue outbreaks in the region. The increasing rate of dengue fever cases nationwide in Indonesia has sparked concerns about the spread of the disease in Bali. While the Bali regional government doesn't have precise data on the number of tourists affected by dengue fever, the province has seen a significant uptick in cases. From January to April 2024, Bali reported a total of 4,177 cases and five deaths due to dengue fever. This surge in cases has prompted authorities to take proactive measures to address the situation and ensure the health and safety of both residents and visitors to the island. Bali – visa-free for Indian passport holders Indian tourists visiting Bali for less than 30 days do not require a visa on arrival. However, if your stay exceeds 30 days but is less than 60 days, you will need to obtain a visa on arrival, which costs ₹2400. How to reach Bali? Bali, a popular tourist destination in Indonesia, can be reached by air and sea. The most common way to reach Bali is by flying into Ngurah Rai International Airport, also known as Denpasar International Airport, located in the capital city of Denpasar. This airport serves both domestic and international flights, making it convenient for travellers from various parts of the world. Many major airlines operate direct flights to Bali from major cities around the globe. Alternatively, travellers can also reach Bali by sea, with ferries connecting the island to neighbouring islands such as Java and Lombok. These ferries depart from various ports in Java and Lombok and arrive at ports in Bali, providing an alternative mode of transportation for those who prefer sea travel. Once in Bali, various transportation options, including taxis, rental cars, and shuttle services, are available to explore the island's attractions.

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