Category: India

The central government has sanctioned Rs 361.97 crore for five projects Buddhist Circuit programme of the Uninon Ministry, which connects the heritage sites with significance of Buddhism across the country. It was informed by the Union Tourism Minister, KJ Alphons in the Lok Sabha. The Ministry of Tourism has identified Buddhist Circuit as one of the fifteen thematic circuits for development under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. The Buddhist Circuit projects are in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, connecting the Buddhist centers in each states. Development of Buddhist Circuit in Sanchi-Satna-Rewa-Mandsaur-Dhar, Madhya Pradesh will be implemented with cost ... Read more

As part of the government’s green initiative, the union ministry to encourage electric vehicles on roads. It was announced by Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Road Transport in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha. Electric bus introduced by KSRTC The ministry also plan to grand driving license to children in the age group of 16-18 years, mainly school/ tuition students, to drive gearless E-scooters/ Bikes up to 4.0 KW. A policy on charging infrastructure has been issued by Ministry of Power which clarifies that charging electric vehicles will be a service, not a sale of electricity. ... Read more

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in association with Malshej Ghat MTDC Resort, Junnar is organizing a four-day ‘Junnar Grape Festival’ in Galegaon village from February 16 February 2019. Junnar taluka is a taluka (subdivision) of the Pune district in Maharashtra. It is northernmost taluka of the District.The area is well known for two of the Ashtavinayak temples at Lenyadri and Ozar respectively. The taluka is also the home of Shivneri Fort, GMRT (Khodad), and Vikram Sarabhai Earth Station at Arvi. Though famous for its historical places, Junnar is less known as a destination for wine tourism. The festival aims at ... Read more

Travel Agents Association of Kashmir in collaboration with the department of tourism Kashmir is conducting a tourism promotional campaign in Bangkok. The delegation TAAK is led by its President Ashfaq Siddiq Dug who will be holding several meeting with the travel and tour bodies in Bangkok and Suchitra Durai, Republic of India High Commission in Bangkok, President Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) Thanapol Cheewarattanaporn and others to apprise them about the tourism potential of the Jammu and Kashmir State. Photo from last years ‘Incredible India’ programme in Bangkok The participating delegation includes office bearers of TAAK, ex officious and general ... Read more

The Telengana government plans to develop the Jogulamba temple in the Jogulamba Gadwal district into a leading heritage tourism hub of the country and is planning to attract tourists and large number of pilgrims. Alampur is the meeting point of the sacred rivers Tungabhadra and Krishna and is referred to as Dakshina Kashi (also Navabrahmeshwara Theertha) and the Western Gateway of Srisailam, the famous Shaivite pilgrim center. The principal deities at the Jogulamba temple are Jogulamba and Balabrahmeshwara. Goddess Jogulamba is considered the 5th Shakti Peeta among 18 shakti peetams in the country. Here Goddess Jogulamba is seen seated on the Corpse with scorpion, frog, and lizard on the head. ... Read more

In order to bring the offbeat destinations of the country to the limelight, the ministry of tourism is seeking association from travel bloggers. It is reported that the ministry has selected 8 bloggers, to write about eight destinations, which will be selected by next week. As per an official from the tourism department, the write-ups will be published in the blogger’s personal blogs, and promoted on other social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram. Later, they will also be published on tourism ministry’s website incredibleindia.com. “We had a meeting with around 17 travel bloggers a few days back. We have ... Read more

The Palm Beach Hotel, a sister concern of LeSutra, Mumbai, opened the doors to its heritage wing, ‘Andhra Arts and Crafts Hotel’ recently in Vishakapatnam. Talking of being different, their new wing, a ‘Microcosm of Andhra’ boasts of around 70 sculptures and 50 art installations. Photo courtesy: DBPost The hotel, designed on the three qualities namely, Tamas, Rajas and Satva, aims to preserve and bring forth the local craftsmanship of Andhra Pradesh. It is also the world’s first Indian art hotel and tribal art home. Designed exclusively by Andhra national award winning artisans, interior designers, craftsmen and sculptors the property for the ... Read more

Abhimanyu Kale, Maharashtra State Tourism Development Corporation, has asked the district collectors and other officials to launch an awareness programme to prevent tourists from taking selfies at accident prone spots. Devan Bharti, Joint commissioner of police, said that they have identified around 25 such spots in the state. “We have identified the 25 dangerous spots in the city and launched a massive awareness camp; utmost vigil will be maintained around such spots,” said Bharti. It was reported that around a dozen people were killed in the state by accidents, while taking selfies at dangerous places. Earlier, Shiv Sena MP Rajan ... Read more

Following the success of the ‘Open Bus’ rides introduced during Dasara celebrations, Karnataka state government has now decided to put double-decker buses in Mysuru. A double-decker bus from the fleet of BMTC in Bengaluru was procured during the Dasara festivities to promote tourism, and take tourists around the city for sight-seeing. This initiative was well-received. This was perhaps the driving force behind the announcement, the stakeholders say. The bus service will be implemented with the fund received under Mahatma Gandhi City Development Plan announced by the Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. The CM has allocated ₹5 crore for launching six double-decker ... Read more

Tamil Nadu government is planning to launch a massive tourism promotion project with an objective to attract more domestic and international tourists to the state. Specific circuits and regions will be identified to implement the projects. It was announced by O Paneer Selvam, Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Basic infrastructure like logistics, hotels and restaurants in the tourism destinations will upgraded to international standards under the Public Private Partnership model. The project also expected to generate employment opportunities in the State. Detailed Project Reports will be prepared using the project preparation fund under the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board ... Read more

A National Highways Project worth Rs 1938 crore is coming up in Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the four laning of the Falakata-Salsalabari section of NH -31 D in the northern part of West Bengal on 8th February 2019. This 41.7 km long section of National Highways falls in the Jalpaiguri district of the state. Photo for representative purpose only The project envisages to reduce the distance from Salsalabari and Alipurduar to Siliguri by nearly 50 km. This is significant as better access to Siliguri means better access to railways ... Read more

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Brazil on cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy. Photo Courtesy: ayurvatraveller.com The MoU will enhance bilateral cooperation between India and Brazil in the areas of Traditional Systems of Medicine. This will be of immense importance to both countries considering their shared cultural heritage. India is blessed with well-developed systems of traditional medicine including medicinal plants, which hold tremendous potential in the global health scenario. India and Brazil share a very close and multi-faceted relationship at bilateral as well ... Read more

Rajasthan, the land of deserts, camels, colourful turbans, delectable food, warm people, folklore royal palaces, is also famous for its grand forts. The majestic forts of this enchanting state are the truest symbol of its glorious past. They are not just sagas in stone but also a testament to the heroism and indomitable spirit of the Rajputs, the mighty warrior clan. But if there is one fort that personifies the spirit and grandeur of Rajasthan more than anything else, it is the impressive and overwhelming Kumbhalgarh fort in Rajsamand district. The fort is engulfed by thirteen elevated mountain peaks and ... Read more

Telengana government plans to ban tobacco in all the tourism destinations of the state. As part of implementing ban on tobacco in public places, Sunita M Bhagwat, the Commissioner, Department of Tourism, has sought declaration of all the tourist and heritage precincts managed by the department in the State as ‘Tobacco Free’. She wrote letters to the Managing Director, Telengana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC), Director, Heritage Telangana, and also the Commissioners of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) in this regard. In the letter she suggested to make all the tourism departments of the ... Read more

The 3rd edition of the Guwahati International Music Festival will be held at Pragjyoti ITA Center for Arts, Machkhowa on February 8. From the 2nd edition of the festival Conceptualized in 2010 by North-east based writer and cultural activist Aiyushman Dutta, to fill the need for a premier music festival in the country, Guwahati International Music Festival had been, showcasing the best of regional, national and international talents in the music field to the people of the region. Besides serving as a platform for interaction among musicians, music professionals, music lovers, music trade firms and music institutes, the festival was ... Read more