|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
JET AIRWAYS AND AIR DECCAN MAY FLY TO DUBAI: Private airlines – Jet Airways, its subsidiary JetLite and Air Deccan - may get the nod for the lucrative Dubai route this month. At the moment, Air India is the only carrier which is allowed to fly to Dubai from India. While Jet Airways has sought permission to operate 56 weekly services including a daily service from Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai by July this year, it has also sought permission to increase the frequency of the Mumbai flight to a double daily service from October next year. It also plans to start a daily flight from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Bangalore from October next year. The low cost airline, Air Deccan, which plans to operate 70 weekly flights to Dubai, has sought permission to launch a twice-a-day flight from Mumbai from summer this year. In addition, the airline plans to operate a daily service from Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kochi. The airline is planning to launch a daily flight from Chennai Goa, Mangalore, Pune during the winter schedule 2008 which traditionally runs from October till the end of March the following year. JetLite has sought permission to operate 28 weekly flights including a daily from Jaipur, Amritsar, Hyderabad and Nagpur.
LUFTHANSA COMMENCES MUNICH-MUMBAI NON-STOP SERVICE: Recently Lufthansa embarked upon their new non-stop journey between Mumbai and Munich. The flight is scheduled thrice a week along with Lufthansa’s other existing daily services. Moreover the airline will be operating to Pune from July 2008. It is also working for a tie-up with MTDC for joint tourism promotion between Maharashtra and Germany. Lufthansa will have a maximum of 68 flights a week from India to Europe via three hubs: Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich. The airline is now keen to tap the growing Indian market and has plans for flights to Goa and Ahmedabad in 2009.
DRAGONAIR RESCHEDULES BANGALORE TAKE-OFF: Dragonair, a part of the Cathay Pacific Group, announced that it will reschedule the launch of its new service, to Bengaluru (Bangalore) a first in India to July 1. The decision was made after taking into consideration factors such as the availability of local facilities and the amount of time needed to prepare for operations after the opening of the new Bengaluru International Airport. Passengers who have already booked Dragonair's flight to and from Bengaluru before July 1 will be diverted to flights operated by other carriers to minimise any possible inconvenience.
QATAR AIRWAYS ADDS KOZHIKODE TO NETWORK: Beginning June 15, Qatar Airways will operate scheduled flights, using an Airbus A320, to the southwest Indian coastal city of Kozhikode – the airline’s third gateway in the state of Kerala. With a current capacity of 51 flights a week spread across Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Cochin, Trivandrum, Nagpur and Hyderabad, the addition of Kozhikode, Qatar Airway’s ninth destination in India takes the airline’s frequency into the country up to 58 flights a week.
BRITISH AIRWAYS HYDERABAD-LONDON FLIGHT TO TAKE OFF FROM HYDERABAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON OCTOBER 28: British Airways will commence its operations from the GMR Hyderabad International Airport on October 28, 2008 with five flights a week. The flights will operate on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The BA 276 flight will depart from Hyderabad at 07:15 and arrive at London Heathrow at 13:00. The BA 277 will depart London Heathrow at 13:30 and arrive at Hyderabad the following morning at 04:25. The Boeing 777 aircraft with an overall seating capacity of 270 will offer economy cabin, ‘World Traveller;’ premier economy cabin, ‘World Traveller Plus’ and business class cabin, ‘Club World’. The new route will compliment the five routes that British Airways already services in India - Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata. It will further increase the network from Hyderabad in the coming months.
EMIRATES INTRODUCES COMPLIMENTARY CHAUFFER-DRIVEN SERVICE IN MUMBAI: To extend their luxurious Emirates experience, First and Business Class customers arriving / departing from Mumbai’s International Airport will be treated to a personal chauffeur service to whisk them to / from any Mumbai home or business address within 50 kilometres of the airport. Not one to compromise on quality, Emirates will employ top-of-the-range luxury cars: the Mercedes-Benz C Class series. All vehicles have been equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) Tracker to provide real time information on the vehicle’s location. Furthermore, the vehicles will follow a pre-determined path to their destination and will not exceed the 60 kilometres / hour speed limit. For destinations that fall beyond the 50 kilometres radius of the airport, an additional charge of Rs 51 per kilometre will be charged and payment can be made directly to the chauffeur via credit card.
BIRD GROUP JOINS RACE TO SELL AIRCRAFTS TO INDIA: Aviation is the new buzzword in the luxury market today. The latest to join the race is Bird Air Services a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Delhi-based travel conglomerate the Bird Group that has signed an exclusive agreement with global aircraft dealer and broker, Regourd Aviation of France to sell business airplanes and helicopters in the country.
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TIVOLI TO LAUNCH INDIA’S FIRST EVER HOLIDAY-HOSPITALITY VILLAGE IN DHARUHERA: Tivoli Group presents India’s first ever holiday and hospitality village with fully-furnished designer holiday homes, penthouses just 20 minutes from Gurgaon in Dharuhera. Tivoli Holiday village is a pre-eminent holiday destination closest to the national capital region. This project further strengthens the Tivoli group’s image as an up coming leisure and condo destination.
KAIRALI AYURVEDIC HEALTH RESORT AMONGST ASIA’S AND WORLD’S BEST: Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort, Palakkad, Kerala, India was selected as one among the top 10 in Asia and one among the top 50 in the world by National Geographic Traveller in March 2008, as one-of-a-kind-place dedicated to physical, mental and spiritual well being.
LEELA HOTELS TO SET UP HOTEL NEAR TAJ MAHAL: Hospitality major Leela Hotels has acquired seven acres of land near the Taj Mahal to build a five star deluxe hotel with 300 rooms. The site is within a kilometre of the Taj Mahal. The only other hotel with such a close proximity to the Taj is the Oberoi Group’s Amar Vilas Hotel, which is 600 metres away from the monument.
CARLSON LAUNCHES RADISSON RESORT & SPA ALIBAUG: Carlson Hotels-Asia Pacific announced the launch of its fourth resort and spa facility- Radisson Resort & Spa Alibaug. The resort is spread over 16 acres of land housing 144 luxury rooms, suites and villas. The Carlson group has also tied up with MSpa International-Thailand for a Mandara Spa spread over 20,000 sq feet for the property. Scheduled to open by mid-May, the resort is approximately 108 km from the Bombay airport and about 45 minutes by boat from the Gateway of India in Mumbai. Facilities include a multi-cuisine restaurant along with resto-bars, a conference venue accommodating up to 200 people, a business centre and a board room.
HAMPTON BY HILTON MAKES FORAY INTO INDIA: US-based Hilton Hotels Corporation has entered into an agreement to franchise its Hampton by Hilton business hotel brand to Pune-based Marigold Hospitality, which will develop 16 hotels under the Hampton by Hilton brand. While Marigold will acquire and develop the sites, Hilton will provide expertise in site selection and brand marketing, technical and technology support. The hotels will be managed by Palm Holdings group. The first Hampton hotel in the country is expected to open in the next two years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR INDIAN RAILWAYS: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has achieved another milestone. The Union Ministry of Railways has accorded Mini Ratna Category-1 Status to IRCTC. This status allows greater financial autonomy and delegation of powers to companies in recognition of its performance history. IRCTC is also mandated to set up 100 budget hotels at railway stations all over the country and is to launch a pan India luxury train shortly.
CALCUTTA - DHAKA RAIL LINK: The Calcutta-Dhaka Moitree (friendship) Express began its operations on April 14, the Bengali New Year’s day, also known as Poila Baisakh, is an auspicious day in the Bengali calendar.
FLYING CATS AVIATION ACADEMY TIES UP WITH TOP 9 INTERNATIONAL CORPORATE GIANTS: Flying Cats announced the formation of a grand alliance with 9 top international corporate giants to provide a unique training experience to its students across the country, in the capital recently, Flying Cats will offer its students curriculum and training at par with any international training school abroad.
ALL WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN DELHI TO BE DISABLED - FRIENDLY: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun a project to make all World Heritage sites in Delhi disabled-friendly. The move has started with the Qutub Minar, where ASI has constructed access ramps in the complex. The project includes putting up signages, maps and facilities for parking and toilets for the disabled. ASI plans to construct hand railings on each of the ramps — at a height of 800-900 mm — for safety purposes.
DELHI’S CHANDNI CHOWK MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL TO BECOME HERITAGE HOTEL: The government plans to convert the 142-year-old Municipal Town Hall building in Chandni Chowk into a hotel that will offer a slice of the Raj along with Old Delhi culture and cuisine. The hotel, likely to come up by 2010, will be pitched as one of the most luxurious properties in the segment The Town Hall, conceived by the British soon after the 1857 rebellion and completed in 1866, will shift to the 27-storey City Centre being built on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg. ITDC will take possession of the old Town Hall and undertake a major renovation of the Victorian building that has become dilapidated over the years. The work should be complete by 2010.
LEGACY OF NIZAM OF HYDERABAD ON DISPLAY: In perhaps one of the biggest salvaging exercises undertaken by any royals in India, a team of archivists, academics and Urdu and Persian language experts are getting ready to sift through tens of thousands of documents at Chowmohalla Palace that are expected to put the 224-year-old legacy of the Nizams in a completely new light. The preserved documents would then be microfilmed and digitized and before some of them are put on public display at Chowmohalla Palace where old armoury, photographs, dresses etc. are on show. The papers could give glimpse of hitherto unknown dimensions of the tussle between the French and British for control over Hyderabad and Mysore; the acceptance of British supremacy by the second Nizam; the effects of the First War of Independence in 1857; the dream of the seventh Nizam to become the Caliph of the Muslims worldwide; the construction of monuments; family relations; the Independence struggle and its effects on Hyderabad and; finally the Police Action that ended the Nizams era.
INDIAN ROCKET PUTS RECORD 10 SATELLITES IN ORBIT: India's space programme made history with the successful launch of a rocket that placed in orbit 10 satellites - two Indian and eight foreign. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C9 placed in orbit an Indian cartography and a mini satellite to maintain leadership in the remote sensing domain. It also slung eight nano satellites into outer space - marking the world's second largest such mission.
JAIPUR PLAYS HOST TO GREAT INDIA TRAVEL BAZAAR: A three-day travel mart, The Great India Travel Bazaar was jointly organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and the Rajasthan Tourism department. Over 160 foreign buyers from 42 countries participated in the event, which it is hoped will become an annual feature. Twenty mega projects have been identified for upgradation on the basis of the number of national and international travellers visiting the place. Being a world heritage site was also a factor in selection.
INDER RAJ AHLUWALIA’S BOOK ON TRAVEL EXPLOITS “MEET ME AT THE BORDER” RELEASED: Mr. Inder Raj Ahluwalia, one of India’s best known travel writers, has written a book “MEET ME AT THE BORDER, Confessions of an International Travel Writer”, listing Ahluwalia's experiences, adventures and exploits of thirty years in some fifty countries. MEET ME AT THE BORDER was launched jointly by the Ambassador of Ireland and Minister & Deputy High Commissioner of Australia at the Australian High Commission New Delhi.
BODHI TREE TO BE CLONED: Worried over the health of the Bodhi tree, Bodh Gaya temple authorities have prepared a plan to preserve the sacred tree, which grew from the banyan tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago. The cloning will be done by scientists to preserve its origin. The Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee, which looks after the temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, fears that the tree may collapse because of diseases or natural causes. Scientists will do a ‘virtual modelling’ using cells of the existing tree through a DNA finger printing exercise. The tree is one of the most important icons of Buddhism.
A 1000 YEARS LATER, 11TH CENTURY BHOJPUR TEMPLE GETS FINISHING TOUCHES: A huge linga in an 11th-century Shiva temple in the small village of Bhojpur, near Bhopal faces west towards the setting sun instead of facing east towards the rising sun, as prescribed by vastu. Rising to a height of 22 feet, this massive linga made of a single block of polished stone is believed to be the tallest in the country. For some unknown reason, the temple never got completed. The Archeological Society of India has now undertaken the task after a thousand years. For centuries, the temple was without a ceiling, with its Shiva linga exposed to the open sky and at the mercy of the elements. The Shiva linga has now been meticulously restored and the open ceiling covered with a fibre glass sheet that has been decorated to blend in with the rest of the architectural patterns. The ASI hopes that the resorted temple will declared as a World Heritage site soon.
‘FILM CELL’ FOR BOLLYWOOD AT THE RAILWAYS: Having undergone a spectacular profit making journey in its passenger and freight carrying business, Indian Railways is now turning to Bollywood to boost its coffers. The Railways would provide the film-makers its vast infrastructure - trains, platforms, stations - for shooting and has in fact come up with a ‘Film Cell’ to felicitate its business with the tinsel industry. Through this venture the railways hope to generate additional revenue which will help in providing better facilities and basic amenities to our passengers.
TRIPURA TO PROMOTE ECO TOURISM: The new government in Tripura is keen to promote the State rich tourism potential. Under the action plans, eco-tourism, archeological sites and historical sites will be developed. The state has proposed some projects to the government of India for the development of tourism destinations in the state.
GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION OF INDIAN MOUNTAINEERING FOUNDATION IN SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir organized a three day Golden Jubilee Celebration of Indian Mountaineering Foundation in Srinagar from May 15. The government is developing three golf courses, likely to be ready by September this year, at Gulmarg, Pahalgaon and Jammu to promote golf tourism. The state will also organise international rafting competitions to promote tourism.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INDIA’S INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED DIRECTOR MN SHYAMALAN HONOURED WITH PADMA SHRI: Very few directors of Indian origin have been able to make a mark for themselves in Hollywood and probably one of the most prominent among them is director Manoj Night Shyamalan impacting audiences worldwide with remarkable films like The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs and The Village. The Indian born director who has been living in the US for a long time is now all set to make a visit to his motherland after nearly a decade. And the reason for his making a visit to India is two-fold. First and foremost the director, who has won many international awards for his work is set to receive the prestigious Padma Shri Award from the President of India. Another reason is the release of his forthcoming film The Happening.
TUSSAUDS WAXES TO DEBUT IN INDIA: Come 2010 and Madame Tussauds museum will make its India debut in Bombay followed by Delhi. The world-famous house of wax, Madame Tussauds, is all set to foray into India. Besides, the museums, it will feature wax replicas of global personalities.
INDIAN ARTIST AWARDED UK ARTES MUNDI PRIZE: Indian artist N.S. Harsha, known for combining details for everyday life with world events and images, has bagged the UK's prestigious 40,000 pound Artes Mundi Prize, in recognition of his outstanding work focusing on human conditions. Harsha beat off competition from eight other finalists, including a duo, to win the prize. Awarded every two years, the Artes Mundi Prize is the largest international art prize in Britain and one of the largest art prizes in the world. Harsha is the third person to win the prize since it was launched in 2004.
News source: GOIPO Newsletter
SAM PITRODA RECEIVES CHANCHLANI GLOBAL INDIAN AWARD IN CANADA: Former Indian President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper presented the Canada India Foundation's first Chanchlani Global Indian Award to Sam Pitroda, Chairman, India's National Knowledge Commission, at a gala dinner April 18 in Toronto. The specially crafted trophy was presented to Pitroda in a glittering ceremony at the prestigious Liberty Grand, part of a 200-year-old Canadian National Exhibition complex in Toronto, in the presence of about 500 guests, including federal and provincial politicians, and with town criers ushering in the guests and helping onstage. The award includes a check of $50,000 which could go to a charity of the recipient's choice.
News source: GOIPO Newsletter
BRITISH INDIAN ARUN SARIN TOPS AMONG BRITIAN BUSINESSMEN IN TELECOM SECTOR: Arun Sarin, the Indian-born head of Vodafone, has topped a list of Britain's leading businessmen in the technology and telecoms sector. The Daily Telegraph, which will run lists of the top 100 businessmen in all leading sectors through the week, also put Nikesh Arora, Google's 40-year-old president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, at number four.
News source: GOIPO Newsletter
SHAH JAHAN’S DAGGER SOLD FOR US DOLLARS 3.4 MILLION: A gold-encrusted personal dagger of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan was sold for (£1.7 million), more than three times the expected amount by London’s international fine arts auction house Bonham. The dagger dates back to 1629-30. Shah Jahan’s name is engraved in gold on a plaque at the bottom of the hilt. The inscriptions on the blade include Shah Jahan’s official titles, its date and place of manufacture, and the honorific parasol (an ancient pan-Asian symbol of divinity of royalty). It was possibly handed over to the emperor on his 39th birthday.
LUXURY CRUISE LINER ‘NAUTICA’ ANCHORS AT NEW MANGALORE PORT: The luxury cruise vessel m.v. Nautica with more than 600 passengers on board called at the newly built cruise lounge at the New Mangalore Port on 25 April. New Mangalore is the first port of call for m.v. Nautica in India after it visited Port Klang in Malaysia earlier. The liner then headed for Goa.
FERRARI TO TEST INDIAN ROADS: Two F 612 Scaglietti cars, the latest from the Italian stable, are on a 74-day, 13,000-km, 54-city Magic India Discovery Tour that kicked off in Bombay on February 26. Ferrari has roped in 50 top journalists from various countries to drive the cars on the Indian highways. The cars chosen is the GT or the Grand Tourismo, a luxury sports car, which is suitable for long drives in the countryside and maneuvers harsh road conditions with ease. The Scaglietti is named in honour of Sergio Scaglietti, the coachbuilder from Modena who, during the early years of Enzo Ferrari’s adventure, modeled some of the most beautiful cars ever to emerge from his auto stable. The 2 cars drove into the capital with much fanfare on 20 April. From Delhi the cars move to Agra, Jaipur and Jodhpur to complete the penultimate leg of the journey. Each leg comprises four journalists and takes at least 5-6 days to complete.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PUNJAB’S BAISAKHI AND GREEK CEREALIA SHARE COMMON FOLKLORE: Cybele is an Asiatic goddess, 'the great mother,' a nature goddess identified by the Greeks with Rhea (Earth). Ceres, the goddess of cereals or agriculture, also represents the generative power of nature, which Indians celebrate as Baisakhi and Vishu. In the ancient Roman world, the "Cerealia" festival was held in honour of Ceres (the goddess of cereals or grains) from April 12 to 19 every year. As this festival was connected with the harvest of corn, it was the practice to tie burning brands to the tails of foxes and let them loose in the Circus Maximus, the chief place of amusement of the Roman people, where races and public spectacles the ancient Romans and the Indians followed the lunar calendar. Like Baisakhi continues to be, the Cerealia was celebrated with great happiness and merrymaking in a spirit of thanksgiving to Nature.
KINNAUR HOSTS SANGLA VALLEY TRIBAL HOUSEHOLD TOURISM FESTIVAL: Around 150 tribals from a dozen odd villages in Sangla valley of Kinnaur have come together under an umbrella to develop household tourism. Cashing in on the richness of original tribal culture, the group reached out to tourists from India and abroad through a Sangla Valley Household Tourism Festival on May 9 and 10. Tourists were able to savour the true essence of the Sangla valley through the local cuisine, tribal culture and handlooms. Thirty-five tribal households have already applied for registration with the tourism department so they can open their homes and offer other services to the tourists.
ROOTS FESTIVAL ROCKS MANIPUR: The sixth edition of the Roots Festival is rocking Northeast India when the sixth edition of the Roots Festival, a musical tour of northeastern states, started its journey with rock bands from the UK and Israel in the trouble-torn state of Manipur. After Imphal, similar shows were held in Dimapur, Diphu, Itanagar, Gauhati, Aizawl and Shillong. The festival will continue till May 24. The first three editions of the Roots Festival were held in Shillong.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INDIA’S FIRST MARINE CONSERVATION RESERVE TO BE SET UP IN LAKSHADWEEP: India’s first marine conservation reserve is coming up around Lakshadweep Islands. The project is funded by UK-based Darwin Institute which has roped in the local community to help preserve the unique biodiversity in the region. This will also be India’s first co-managed marine protected area (MPA). The project was started in 2005. It has now emerged as the most successful conservation initiative in the country. In 2005, it started with conservation of Giant Clam, a type of coral reef that comprises an extremely vital part of marine ecosystem. The protected area will be located in the Agatti atoll, the western most land formation off of Lakshadweep archipelago, about 500 km from the mainland of India.
TIGERS TO BE REINTRODUCED TO SARISKA RESERVE: The much-maligned Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar district of Rajasthan is going to get back its flagship species soon. Four years after the disappearance of its famous tigers, the reserve is getting ready now for re-introduction of the animal. Much deliberations and some ground level action, including shifting of at least one of the forest villages inside the reserve and improvement in the habitat, have gone into the preparations for the pioneering act. Three tigers from Ranthambhore National Park, the other tiger reserve in Rajasthan, will be shifted to Sariska. There is no green corridor between the two reserves; located at a distance of less than 200 km.
SAVE GAUMUKH GLACIER – NUMBER OF VISITORS TO BE RESTRICTED: With the opening of the portals of the Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kedarnath shrines and start of the annual ‘Char Dham’ yatra in the Garhwal Himalayas on 8 May, the Uttarakhand government in a significant step to stop further degradation of the Gaumukh and other glaciers, the origin of the Ganga, has restricted the number of pilgrims or tourists to the area. From this pilgrim season, only 150 persons will be allowed to go to the Gaumukh glacier and that too with the permission of the Uttarkhand chief wildlife warden. The government has also imposed a fee of Rs 50 (about US$ 1.25) per day for the first two days for Indian visitors and Rs 350 (about US$ 8) for foreign visitors. If they stay for more than two days in the area, Indians will have to pay at the rate of Rs. 25 per day, while foreigners will have to pay Rs 175 (about US$ 4) per day. The state government has also completely prohibited any movement within 500-m radius of the Gaumukh glacier.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GOA TO OBSERVE 2008-2009 AS YEARS OF ROADS: Goa is trying to attract domestic tourists through its advertisement campaign. Goa Tourism has advertised in a campaign in shopping malls in major cities in India in order to attract the domestic tourists targeting high spending tourists. The government plans to market Goa as a heritage, medical, beach, eco-friendly, spiritual tourist destination by reaching out to tourists through promotional activities. The government is also in the process of setting up a modern garbage disposal plant in South Goa. The year 2008-2009 will be observed as ‘years of roads’.
FOURTH STATE FILM FESTIVAL: Goa held its fourth Goa State film Festival at the Kala Academy in Panjim from May 1. The three day festival showcased local Goan talent in Konkani.
GOAN CRICKETER SWAPNIL DOES GOA PROUD AT IPL CONTEST: Goa’s prolific Ranji Star, Porvorim based, Swapnil A. Asnodkar was the cynosure of the Indian Premier League contest played at Jaipur, when he produced a match-winning 60 off 34 balls to silence the might of the Kolkata Knight Riders. His innings won him the man-of-the match and his exploits won the team an important fixture of 45 runs to push them into the second position in the standings after five games.
Swapnil who flew down to Goa for a well deserved break was joined by Shane Warne and six other team mates of the Rajasthan Royals who stayed at a five star resort in North Goa.
MEGA HOLLYWOOD STAR MEG RYAN HOLIDAYS IN GOA: Famous Hollywood Star Meg Ryan spent a week holidaying in Goa. Shopping at India’s top fashion designer Wendell Rodrick’s boutique in Panjim, the star splurged on a collection of white kurtas pants and blouses.
EDMUNDO DA CUNHA WORKS HIS MAGIC AT INTERNATIONAL MAGIC CONVENTION: Illusionist Edmundo Da Cunha was awarded the second place at the International Magic Convention Vismayam 2008 held in Kerala from May 1-4. Edmundo edged out contestants from around the world including USA and Russia by excelling in seven minute act in the art of close-up magic, considered to be the most difficult branch of magic.
KONKAN FRUIT FEST ON MAY 16: The fifth annual Goa Konkan Fruit Fest will be held at Campal on the IFFI Promenade from May 16 to 18. While showcasing the various fruits of Goa, especially the king of fruits ‘Mango’, the festival will also hold competitions for fresh ripe fruits like mango, guava, chickoo, cashew, rose-apple, jamun, egg fruit as well as jams, squashes etc. A Spot fruit eating competition will be another highlight of the festival. As has been done in the past the festival will also showcase some rare and less popular fruits.
AMITABH BACHCHAN RELEASES BOOK ON GOA: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan released a book titled “Goa: Aparanta – Land Beyond the End” on May 13 at a special function held at the Marriott Hotel in Panjim. The book is published by noted industrialist Dattaraj V Salgaocar, Chairman of Goa Publications Pvt. Ltd.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INDIA MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT AMONG LEADING EMERGING NATIONS: Defying the logic that a growing Economy consumes more energy, India has emerged as the most energy efficient country among leading emerging nations including China, Brazil and South Africa. Latest findings from the Emerging Economy Report by research and consulting firm, Center for Knowledge Societies, show emerging economies could play pivotal roles in reducing the growing environmental anxieties worldwide. The findings are based on the fact that these economies have opportunity to voluntarily moderate their carbon emissions for global environmental benefit and market advantage. India's per capita energy consumption of 12.6 million Btu and Indonesia's (21.5) are almost negligible when compared to more economically developed nations like South Korea (170.2 mBtu per capita) and Taiwan (181.5). Interestingly, emerging economies employ a number of innovative just-in-time and very local techniques for energy creation, redistribution and management. Emerging economies could become energy innovators in future as they are confronted with the high costs of energy as well as the prospect of climatic changes. (Source Indian Express)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top
|
|
Just Answer Five Simple Questions to win a book on India: |
| |
|
|
1 Ornithology is the study of…
|
|
a. Bees
|
b. Birds |
|
c. Wild Cats |
d. Frogs
|
|
|
|
2 Where does the Char Dham Yatra take place?
|
|
a. Garhwal, Himalayas
|
b. Madhya Pradesh |
|
c. Darjeeling |
d. Kolkata
|
|
|
|
3 Oberoi have rebranded properties from Hilton to…
|
|
a. Welcomgroup
|
b. Trident |
|
c. Lemon Tree |
d. Kamat Hotels
|
|
|
|
4 The annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath will commence on …
|
|
a. July 16
|
b. June 18 |
|
c. August 18 |
d. May 31
|
|
|
|
5 Shishupalgar is |
|
a. A Temple
|
b. A ruined city unearthed in Orissa |
|
c. A tribal festival |
d. An extinct bird
|
|
|
|
|
Last Date:
2008-06-10 to send your entries to the email address pmaurya@vsnl.net or pmaurya@indiainvites.com
|
|
|
|
ANSWERS OF LAST CONTEST:
|
|
1 Goa is often referred to as the…
|
|
ANS: Pearl of the Orient
|
|
2 India’s first Aerotropolis is likely to come up at….
|
|
ANS: Durgapur, Bengal
|
|
3 Where is India’s first Wax Museum likely to come up?
|
|
ANS: Kanyakumari
|
|
4 Air Arabia has set up a hub in Kathmandu in a joint venture with ……
|
|
ANS: Yeti Airlines
|
|
5 Narkanda in Himachal Pradesh is famous for it’s ……
|
|
ANS: Winter Sports
|
|
|
| WINNER OF LAST CONTEST: |
| We received a good response and there were quite a few correct answers, however Maya Mahale is the lucky winner out of the lot! Warm congratulations! The other people with all correct entries are: Marycon Kruijf Amsterdam, Mervyn A. Furtado Kuwait & Meena Chhichhia, Mumbai . We thank you all for your kind participation, better luck next time!!! |
|
|
|
|
