NEWS MEANS GOOD NEWS (India) BACK

 OLYMPIC TORCH PASSED THROUGH DELHI: The Olympic torch arrived Delhi on 10 June from Beijing. Almost 105 sportspersons greeted the torch and Asiad & Olympic medallists ran the relay distance of 38 kms/24 miles carrying the torch. The relay began at Qutab Minar, stopped at Humayun’s Tomb and landmarks like Parliament House and Lodhi Gardens. In all 300 torch bearers followed a Greek runner who will held the torch. Thus the message “pass the flame, unite the world” was spread.

DELHI TO GET ITS OWN FOOD STREET: Chandni Chowk will soon be open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. to pedestrians wanting to savour the culinary delights of Old Delhi. Only pedestrian traffic will be permitted at this time along the one mile route from Red Fort to Fathepuri Mosque, with kiosks selling food and souvenirs lining this famous street. Chandni Chowk will relive the glory of the Mughal era as it comes alive at night from October to March as Food Street. Only cycle rickshaws will be permitted to ferry those who do not like to walk.

Tourism industry to get massive boost in Kashmir: With increasing number of tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir, the state government has decided to develop the world famous Sonamarg, Yousmarg, Kokernag, Pahalgam and Gulmarg resorts into world class destinations at par with Switzerland. The government will utilize the services of world famous Swiss architect Karn Damschen for this purpose. He has the distinction of developing Kerala & Switzerland. Tourism is the mainstay of the economy in Jammu and Kashmir and provides livelihood to more than 300,000 people. Last year nearly 191,164 tourists visited the state and the total revenue generated was pegged at Rs 100 crore (US$20.53 million). This year estimates show that more tourists will visit Jammu and Kashmir resulting in earnings of more than Rs 300 crore (US$61.6 million).

Attempts are also being to persuade foreign embassies in New Delhi to withdraw the advisories to their citizens against visiting the disturbed state.

CHANGES IN OOTY TOY TRAIN SCHEDULE: The Southern Railway, in its annual revision of train timings with effect from July 1. The Passenger (train No 567) between Udhagamandalam and Mettuppalayam is curtailed between Coonoor and Mettuppalayam and renumbered as Train No 667, Udhagamandalam - Coonoor Passenger.

Train No. 564 Mettuppalayam-Udhagamandalam is curtailed between between Mettuppalayam-Coonoor and renumbered as Train No 664 Coonoor-Udhagamandalam Passenger. For more information on other trains, please visit www.indianrail.gov.in

BOMBAY’S MARINE DRIVE TO BE PAINTED IN ART DECO COLOURS: Marine Drive is set for make over; colourfully painted art deco buildings, twinkling lights and all. Pretty street furniture will add to the charm of the one mile curved stretch known as the Queen’s Necklace. In all 25 of the buildings built in the 1940s have been selected for painting in vibrant colours. When finished Marine Drive will resemble Miami, USA, and the other city with art deco architecture. Mornings and evenings, joggers and visitors can be seen here enjoying the sea breeze. The makeover will add to the charm of the area.

DELHI MAY SOON GET AN OPERA HOUSE: The owners of Neemrana Hotels (www.neemranahotels.com) plan to bring opera to Delhi and even build an opera house. A two month long workshop to train choir conductors and singers will begin in the capital in July. Two operas are being planned “Pearl Fisher” set in Sri Lanka and “Lakme” – a story of a Brahmin girl who falls in love with a British officer. Lakme is perhaps a distortion of Lakshmi. Two years ago they had staged an opera “The Fakir of Benares”. Their India International Music foundation plans to support the opera initiatives of embassies especially Italian, German and French.

CHHATTISGARH, INDIA’S HEARTLAND EXPLORED ON NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL: Chhattisgarh, one of India’s best kept secrets and relatively untainted and unexplored tourism havens has been featured on National Geographic Channel. The National Geographic Channel telecast the following three outstanding documentaries on the unexpectedly surprising facets of this area: 1. Crossings along the Indravati. Tom Alter takes you on a fascinating journey to the southern Chhattisgarh. 2. Uncharted Chhattisgarh; 3. A Journey to Chhattisgarh, The Heart of India...

ROPEWAY PROJECT FOR VAISHNO DEVI SHRINE: In an effort to boost pilgrim tourism, the Vaishno Devi cave shrine will be connected by a Rs. 18 crore cable ropeway project between Bhawan and Bhairon Ghati. The project will give a big boost to pilgrim tourism as the facility will be immensely beneficial to the yatris. various facilities being arranged all along this route and that over 54 shrine had emerged as the second most revered shrine in terms of devotees after the Tirupati Balaji shrine in South India.

UNIQUE HERITAGE VILLAGE IN HIMACHAL TO SPEARHEAD RURAL TOURISM: 75-year-old Mrs. Durga Devi Kuthiala a village elder of Paragpur village donated her ancestral haveli to be converted into a museum. The sprawling three storey complex in the heritage courtyard of the village was built by her ancestors who were among the early settlers and founders of the village. Paragpur is the first village to get heritage village status and intends to promote rural tourism. There are several important temples and in the vicinity 400 old havelis in the twin villages of Paragpur and Gurli. Money from tourism would not only bring prosperity but also help save the old heritage buildings.

FIRST MOBILE PHONE SERVICE AT ROHTANG PASS: Much awaited mobile service has been started at the Rohtang pass (from Manali en route to Leh) at a height of approx 4000 m (13050 feet) by Reliance Infocomm.

INFOSYS SETTING UP WORLD’S LARGEST TRAINING CENTER IN MYSORE: Infosys Technologies – one of India biggest software companies, is setting up the world’s largest corporate training center at Mysore at an investment of US Dollar 160 million. The center, which will be ready by October 2004, will have the facility to train 4,000 people at a time. According to Chairman Mr. N R Narayanan Murthy, the biggest corporate training facility in the world will have 2,000 rooms which can house 4,000 people on a twin sharing basis at Mysore.

CHARTER TRAFFIC TO INDIA TO BRING IN US $ 110 MILLION: Approximately 150000 people are expected to come on tourist charters to India in 2004. The Russians will soon overtake the Europeans to become the second largest charter group to India the first being the British. With safety becoming a major concern after the Spain bombings more charters may shift to Goa. Charters to India have been booked from Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Manchester and Munich, as also from Israel and Scandinavia. The average stay will be 7 to 14 days with the bulk of the charters destined for Goa and some to Rajasthan. Tourists will spend US $ 110 million (excluding air travel element) adding to the group tourism picture.

BY SCOOTER RICKSHAW ON THE GRAND TRUNK ROAD: Three brothers from Canada rode an auto rickshaw in the peak of India’s summer along the famous Grand Trunk Road built by Sher Shah Suri in the 15th century. This famous artery still exists and carries the bulk of road traffic prom Calcutta in the east to Punjab in the west continuing into Pakistan and ending at the Khyber Pass in Afghanistan. The brothers began their travels in March from Howrah (Calcutta) and will end their odyssey in July in Punjab. They plan to take the rickshaw back and sell it to a University and donate the money to an Indian charity. They love to travel and like the proverbial “Sadhus” (ascetics) they carry no baggage only the road is the journey.    BACK