As many as 6,072,501 domestic and foreign tourists visited the Taj Mahal in 2014 against 5,835,342 in 2013. Taj Mahal, a centrally protected monument, is looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). There has been no decrease in the number of total tourist foot-falls in the past two years. No guidelines have been issued by ASI on the issue pertaining to religious grounds. This information was given by Minister of State for Tourism.

Extension of e-TV scheme to the nationals of China, Hong Kong & Macau from 30th July

You will be pleased to know that China along with Hong Kong and Macau have been included in the list and this facility has been extended to these three countries w.e.f. 30th July 2015.  Now the total number of countries/territories covered under the e-Tourist Visa scheme has gone up from 74 to 77, with the inclusion of these 3 countries. We hope,  soon Government will announce extension of this scheme to more countries.

Free Wi-Fi service at 25 heritage sites soon

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has identified 25 Adarsh Monuments (centrally protected monuments), to provide Wi-Fi facility, which would be available free of cost for the first 30 minutes and thereafter it is chargeable on additional usage. The 25 monuments identified for providing Wi-Fi facility are Rang Ghar, Sibsagar (Assam); Vaishali, Kolhua (Bihar); Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Complex and Red Fort in Delhi; Rani-ki-Vav, Patan (Gujarat); Rock-cut Temples, Masroor (Himachal Pradesh); Leh Palace, Leh and Sun Temple at Martand in Jammu and Kashmir; Ruins at Hampi, Bellary and group of monuments at Pattadakal in Karnataka; Elephanta Caves, Mumbai and Fort at Daultabad in Maharashtra; monuments at Mandu and group of temples at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh; Sun Temple, Konark (Odisha); Kumbhalgarh Fort, Kelwada (Rajasthan); Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu); Brihadeshwar Temple, Thanjavur; Taj Mahal, Agra, group of monuments at Fatehpur Sikri, ancient site at Sravasti, and excavated site Sarnath, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh; group of temples at Jageshwar (Uttarakhand); and Hazardwari Palace, Murshidabad (West Bengal). This information was given by The Minister of State for Tourism.

HOTEL NEWS

Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel with 272 rooms opens doors

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, announced the opening of Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel, a newly renovated property set to welcome business and leisure travelers visiting the world-renowned heritage city that has quickly become one of India’s industrial hubs. Owned by SAMHI Hotels (Ahmedabad), Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel marks the 44th Starwood hotel in India, the third Starwood hotel in the south-central Indian city, and the third Sheraton in India.

Boasting 272 modern and stylishly designed rooms, the property also features a spa for guests to unwind, a pool and the state-of-the-art Sheraton Fitness center. Feast, the brand’s signature all-day dining venue, offers an interactive dining experience with live cooking stations and show kitchens

127-room Holiday Inn Chandigarh opens

Holiday Inn Chandigarh Panchkula is located on the Kalka Shimla Highway away from the maddening crowd at the foot of the Morni Hills, next to Panchkula Golf Course. It is only 9 kms from the Chandigarh International Airport. The hotel has 127 rooms delivering a great work and sleep experience, equipped with modern facilities with versatile meeting space, attractive choices of indoor/outdoor venues, catering to conferences and social events, and can accommodate up to 500 guests. The hotel has signature dining options of ‘Cafe G’- All Day Dining with International Cuisine ‘Still Bar’, ‘Deli’ the Pastry Shop to make the hotel a perfect destination for people traveling on business and leisure. The hotel also has a gym, outdoor swimming pool, and spa.

Gingers Hotels debuts in Tirupati

Ginger Hotels, from Roots Corporation – a subsidiary of the Indian Hotels Company, has launched its first hotel in Tirupati. Situated in the heart of the temple city, the hotel provides guests an easy access to places of worship, key transport modes and basic amenities of the city.

The Ginger Hotel – Tirupati comprises 119 rooms (Single/Double), twin rooms and superior room. The one-of-its-kind Smart Basics features are intended to provide guests with a comfortable and convenient hotel stay experience. Business and connectivity needs are taken care of with free high-speed Internet connectivity and well equipped options for banqueting with a capacity of 400 guests, especially for conferences and events.

AIRLINES NEWS

Non-stop Mumbai-Beijing from Oct 25

Air China, China’s national air carrier, will launch direct international flight from Mumbai to Beijing with effect from October 25, 2015. The strategic move of Air China is a step to strengthen its existing route network in India. Air China introduced Airbus A330-300 to its service to Mumbai.

Joy ride in Udaipur

You may have travelled the length and breadth of your city but an aerial view is something else. The familiar landscape may seem mundane on the ground but the view from the sky is awe-inspiring. This is a unique sight-seeing opportunity to enjoy the beauty of your city. The thrill of flying a helicopter has made joyrides a fascinating pastime for many.

The Joy ride would be for 15 minutes. It will be operational from 01st September 2015 to 31st March 2016.

BA’s Boeing 787-9 to debut on Delhi-London route

British Airways’ new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, complete with a new First class cabin, will start flying to Delhi from October 25, 2015. With this development, Delhi will become the first route for British Airways globally to benefit from the brand new aircraft and a new first.

The 787-9, the first of which is due to arrive with British Airways in September, is 20ft longer that its 787-8 predecessor (of which the airline has eight), so as well as offering World Traveller (Economy), World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy) and Club World (Business Class), there’s also room for a new First class cabin – a first for the airline’s 787 fleet.

Air India plans direct flights to Toronto

National carrier Air India is mulling to launch direct flight services from New Delhi to San Francisco and Toronto this winters following removal of restrictions on the domestic carriers to expand their operations in the US after safety upgrade by the FAA.

Events & Festivals in September 2015

5 Sep– Janamashtami (Janamashtami is the celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna. The festival is celebrated all over the country with great fervor. People fast and stay up until midnight as it is believed that it at that time that Krishna was born)
17-27 Sep- Ganesh Chathurthi (Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated by Hindus all over the world as the birthday of Lord Ganesha)
20-26 Sep– Ladakh Festival (The Ladakh festival is an annual fiesta celebrating the tradition and heritage of Ladakh )
27 Sep-27 Oct- Ramnagar Ramlila (Ramnagar, on the banks of the Ganga, opposite Varanasi, was the capital of the former princely state of Banaras. It is now best known for its nearly-200-year-old Ramlila, the longest in the world)