News

Palace on Wheels to start offering tours to Ayodhya, Kashi, and Varanasi from May; full report

As per the latest development, the famous luxury train, Palace on Wheels, is all set to alter its route after 42 years. If reports are to go by, this luxury train will now be making a historic journey to the sacred city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. Having earned the fame of the world's second most luxurious train, Palace on Wheels officials announced a shift in focus, introducing religious tours starting from May. If reports are to go by, the six-day spiritual journey will commence in Delhi, and take travellers across Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mathura, and Vrindavan. Referring to this, officials from the Palace on Wheels said that during its regular journeys, the train traditionally served non-vegetarian cuisine and alcoholic beverages to cater to both foreign and domestic tourists. They added that however, for the religious tours, non-vegetarian options will be excluded from the menu, and dishes will abstain from onion and garlic. The religious tours will be scheduled twice a month, thereby providing flexibility for local tourists who may opt for specific destinations like Ayodhya or Prayagraj, with special discounts offered for such tailored trips. The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) has delegated the management of Palace on Wheels to Cube Construction Company Pvt Ltd, a Gujarat-based private firm, for the next seven years. The private operator will initiate religious tour services in May, featuring a comprehensive six-day itinerary starting from Delhi and covering Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mathura, and Vrindavan.

Read more

Delhi Traffic Police issues advisory: Which routes to avoid ahead of farmers' protest on Tuesday? | Details here

In view of the proposed farmers' ''Delhi Chalo March'' on February 13, Delhi Traffic Police has issued traffic advisory. Police have advised vehicle owners to follow the advisory to know about the traffic restrictions/diversions. Massive security arrangements are in place at Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders, with the installation of nails and barricades to prevent vehicles carrying protesters from entering Delhi, officials said on Sunday. The 'Delhi Chalo March' organised by around 200 farmers' unions and a large number of farmers is expected to reach the national capital on February 13 from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. Here are details of the traffic advisory issued by the Delhi Traffic Police Diversions around Singhu Border (Delhi-Haryana) Traffic restrictions will be in place at Singhu Border from 12 February for commercial vehicles and from 13 February for all types of vehicles. 1) Interstate buses: The buses intending to go towards Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal etc. via NH-44 will take ISBT to Majnu Ka Tilla to Signature Bridge to Khajuri Chowk to Loni Border to KMP via Khekra. 2) Heavy Goods Vehicles(HGVs): Such vehicles intending to go towards Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal etc. via NH-44 are suggested to take exit no. 2 on NH-44 (DSIIDC) Cut to reach Auchandi Border to KMP via Saidpur Chowki. HGVs intending to go towards Bahadurgarh, Rohtak etc. are suggested to take Outer Ring Road from Mukarba Chowk to Madhuban Chowk to reach Jaunti Border/Nizampur Border and enter in Haryana village Bamnoli and may go further via Nahra-Nahari road to Bahadurgarh road. 3) Cars/LGVs: Restrictions will be in place for cars/LGVs intending to go towards Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal etc. via NH-44 and also for such vehicles intending to go towards Bahadurgarh, Rohtak etc.

Read more

Taiwan Launches ‘Tourism Information Centre’ in Mumbai

Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA) announces the opening of Taiwan Tourism Information Centre (TTIC) in Mumbai, India, declaring with it, it’s determined comeback into the Indian market after more than three-years of Covid-19 pandemic induced break from the market. The Information Center is located at the famous Raheja Platinum on the prominent Andheri-Kurla Road, a landmark business hub. TTIC Mumbai will act as a one-stop shop for every possible information related to travel, tourism and hospitality in the picturesque island country. The inauguration announcement of the Tourism Information Centre was attended by who’s who of travel trade attracting close to 85 leading Indian tour operators based out of Mumbai. The event witnessed attendance by high-level tourism delegation from Taiwan led by Dr. Trust Lin, Deputy Director General of Taiwan Tourism Administration, Taiwanese Ministry of Transportation and Communication. Other prominent members of the delegation in attendance at the event included Homar Chang, Director General, Taipei Economic Cultural Centre, Mumbai; Joseph Chang, Director, Taiwan Tourism Administration, Singapore office; Shiang Tsao, Director, Taiwan Visitors Association. Along with several prominent Taiwanese tourism stakeholders like Paul Hsieh from Edison Travels Service, Emily Chiu From Apple Travel Services and Paul Yeh from Shin Chun Travels and Noel Saxena, CEO and Co-founder, Blink Brand Solutions. Hailing the opening of TTIC in Mumbai as a mark of significant milestorn in the journey of Taiwan’s tourism outreach in India, Lin said, “The Indian market has always been a cherished treasure, close to my heart – This is the primary reason for my return to Mumbai, and it feels like coming home. Today isn’t just a formal announcement of TTIC inauguration, it’s a celebration of reconnection, a renewal of our bond with this incredible land and its people.” Furthermore, Lin added, “Our plans for the Indian market are ambitious and far-reaching. So, to everyone here, your support, your belief in us, means the world. We’re here not just to say ‘We are back,’ but to show our commitment, our dedication, and most importantly, our heartfelt gratitude for welcoming us back into your vibrant community.” According to TTA Singapore Office Director Joseph Chang, “The initiative is aimed at deepening ties with the Indian outbound tourism trade and the outbound travel tourism market from the region by facilitating easy access to information and education through this Tourism Information Center. Going forward, we also seek to posit Taiwan as an attractive MICE destination, a sector that will be under far greater focus than before, as well as to attract middle to high-income groups for travel to Taiwan.” The event also witnessed some exhilarating street dance performances combined with Taiwanese pop music by renowned Taiwanese dance group ‘FunTo Art.’

Read more

In pictures: Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple to be inaugurated by PM Modi on Feb 14

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to head to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a two-day visit starting Tuesday. During this visit, he will be inaugurating Abu Dhabi's first Hindu temple, marking his seventh visit to the UAE since 2015. The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple in Abu Dhabi, will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister on February 14, which will then open its doors to the public from March 1. The temple complex features a visitors' center, exhibitions, prayer halls, learning areas, sports facilities for children and youth, a food court, thematic gardens, book and gift shop, along with various other amenities. BAPS stated that the temple, as a symbol of harmony, will be open to people of all faiths to explore and learn more about Hindu culture and spirituality. During Prime Minister Modi's visit to the UAE in 2018, the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi was officially announced, and the foundation stone-laying ceremony took place in April 2019. The temple features seven shikhars, each representing an Emirate of the UAE, and includes elements like an amphitheater resembling the ghats of the Indian river Ganga, a replicated sand dune, and symbolic streams representing the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in India. The mandir also incorporates teachings from various cultures, showcasing the universal theme of love across religions.

Read more

Sri Lanka, Mauritius join the list of countries where India’s UPI is present

As per reports, today, February 12, will mark the launch of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Sri Lanka and Mauritius. The expansion of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to these two popular tourist hotspots marks a significant milestone in fostering digital connectivity and facilitating faster, seamless transactions between nations. The inclusion of RuPay card services in Mauritius further enhances the scope of digital financial services in the region. With India's strong cultural and people-to-people ties with Sri Lanka and Mauritius, this launch is poised to benefit a diverse range of individuals, contributing to greater economic integration and cooperation. This move reflects the growing acceptance and adoption of India's digital payment infrastructure globally, reinforcing its position as a leader in the fintech space. It also highlights the potential for cross-border collaboration to drive innovation and improve financial inclusion across borders.

Read more

Dream of the Desert: Saudi Arabia is launching its own luxury train

Crossing the desert could be about to get much more glamorous. State-owned railway company Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) recently struck a 200 million Saudi riyals ($53.33 million) deal with Italian hospitality company Arsenale Group to launch the first luxury train in the Middle Eastern kingdom. Saudi Arabia officially opened its doors to international tourists in a “historic moment” back in 2019 and the Middle Eastern kingdom has been pulling out all the stops to lure visitors over ever since. The destination has made a number of high-profile tourism investments in recent years – a $500 billion model city in the desert of northwest Saudi Arabia among them. Now Saudi Arabia is getting on board with the slow travel movement in a big way by moving into the luxury train market. ‘Luxury train cruise’ According to Saudi-Arabia’s State run media, the new train is due to begin operations in late 2025, Dream of the Desert will offer “luxury train cruise” journeys from the capital city of Riyadh to Qurayyat, which is situated close to the northern border with Jordan, according to a press release issued by SAR last week. The 1,300-kilometer route is to stretch across Saudi Arabia’s stunning desert landscapes, along with the city of Hail. With a design inspired by “Saudi style and tradition,” the “fully-customized” trains, made up of 40 luxury cabins, are already under construction, with reservations scheduled to open at the end of the year. One or two-night trips will be available to book, with a maximum capacity of 82 passengers, according to Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenale. “The initial production phases of the Dream of the Desert carriages in Italy have recently commenced, and we can’t wait for the debut of our first train in the kingdom in the coming years,” Barletta said in an official statement.

Read more