Timely Yours - July,2016

Dear Partners,

Namaste from !ndia!

An idyllic destination for the vacationing and business traveler, Wayanad is a quaint hill District in north western Kerala, in a region of immense beauty and a dazzling variety of wildlife and fauna. The majestic landscape is strewn with lofty ridges, dense tropical forests, spectacular waterfalls and gurgling mountain streams. Numerous trekking trails snake through the forests, with numerous spots ideal for adventure sports.

This month we bring to you Wayanad, as the destination of the month.

Rgds: Sanjeev Joshi

 

         
         

Tourism Development
Archaeological site of Nalanda Mahavihara gets inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage


“The Excavated Remains at Nalanda” have got included in the Tentative List of World Heritage. The nomination dossier for ‘Excavated Remains of Nalanda Mahavihara’ was prepared by the ASI and submitted in January 2015 to the World Heritage Committee for the purpose of its inscription in the year 2016 and on July 15, 2016 it has got inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Nalanda is a rare combination of outstanding achievements in institution-building, site-planning, art and architecture. Nalanda symbolized the multiplicity of knowledge production, the innovative processes of the organized transmission of ideas through education, and a shared heritage of people living in multiple regions of Asia.

                   

                        

Deccan Odyssey experience becomes cheaper for Indians

Experiencing the luxury train Deccan Odyssey has now become cheaper, as the Cox & Kings-operated train has slashed prices for Indian citizens who are resident in India , as part of its “Companion Offer” exclusively Indian citizens who are resident in India.
Indian travellers can avail the discounts on the new set of journeys commencing from October 2016. Travellers can book a cabin and avail 50 per cent discount for their companions.
Deccan Odyssey will embark on its journeys from October 1, 2016 covering some of the renowed sites. The offer is applicable on bookings made from June 16 to September 30, 2016. Besides Indian citizens who are resident in India, foreign diplomats / Expats resident in India having work / resident permit can also avail of the special offer.
Cox & Kings is the outsourced partner of The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) for Deccan Odyssey. The luxury train stands out for its superlative service combined with world-class amenities. It has been refurbished in keeping with the aspirations of the new-age traveller. The journeys offer a glimpse of “Incredible India” with stops at destinations that have historical significance and diverse cultural offering.

     

                        

 White water rafting commences in Goa                       

White water rafting, one of the most popular monsoon activities in Goa, that draws thousands of water sports enthusiasts and tourists to Goa has now commenced. With the monsoons, the activity offers adventure experience on river Mhadei.
Nilesh Cabral, chairman, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), said, “White water rafting is a water sport adventure activity that has become very popular during the monsoons. Both tourists and Goans have been availing this facility during the last three years and we are confident that the 2016 edition will also get an overwhelming response.”
The river rafting facility will be available from July to October 2016 subject to availability of rapids and adequate water currents, and suitable weather conditions. There will be two trips beginning at 9.30 am and 2.30 pm every day. The rafting activity is open to both adults and children above 12 years of age.
The trip starts at the rafters meeting point next to Earthen Pot Restaurant, Valpoi in North Goa from where a vehicle transports the rafters through the jungle on a 25 minute drive, followed by a 10 minute walk into the Mhadei river valley before reaching the river side.
The rafting expedition on rafts for six to eight persons through numerous class II and III rapids covers a distance of approx 10 km in 90 minutes. Prior to departure, a briefing is conducted for safety and other procedures. Charges are fixed at INR 1,800 per head. The total charges with transportation from Panjim (Paryatan Bhavan) is INR 2,500 per head and from Calangute Residency INR 2,600 per head.

     

                        

Travel With TIME

In today’s world where man and machine are synonyms due to fast growing technology, a holiday has become must for us to relax and rejuvenate. The tourism industry therefore has become one of the fast growing industries and is changing its dimensions every minute. We at TIME understand the changing time and demands of travelers and therefore aim to provide all our clients with an experience, which is unparalleled. TIME was established in 1998 with the sole aim of providing quality services viz a viz value for money. The Indian sub-continent being one of the most challenging destinations requires lot of expertise and dedication, therefore we at TIME ensure to provide all our Travel Partners services which not only make their clients happy but gives us a repeat value. Our motto, “The Company that cares”, says it all.

If one had to describe India in just one word, it would have to be Cornucopia – a cornucopia of people, traditions, culture, climate and even topography. It is referred to as the largest democracy in the world, by virtue of the fact that it has the largest electing population among democratic countries. The echo of her heroes and her freedom fighters is felt not just in India but also all over the world. It is the land of “Ahimsa” the land of Mahatma Gandhi. India occupies its own niche in the world. The Himalayas surround it from the north acting as a wall on one side, the Thar Desert acts as a barrier towards the northwest and the rest is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. We at TIME welcome you to experience the arid grandeur of Rajasthani kingdoms to the exquisite serenity of Kerala – each shines with its own uniqueness. Our personalized services with an eye for your comfort at each point of your travel will truly make your trip a memorable one.

                                                                    

Mamallapuram Shore Temples

(A World Heritage Site)

Airline News                                                                                                                                                                       Go To Top
Air India adds seven more routes to its Rajdhani last minute fare scheme


Air India will now offer last minute ticket prices equivalent to AC II tier fares of Rajdhani trains on seven additional routes including from the national capital to Ahmedabad, Goa and Hyderabad. These tickets priced from INR 2,240, would be available within four hours of the scheduled departure of the flights. The carrier is already offering these fares on four routes and with the new additions, the total number of such sectors would increase to 11.
In a release on Monday, Air India said it has decided to add seven more routes for the reduced rates "on account of popular response and with an aim to enhance growth.” The routes are Delhi-Ranchi-Delhi, Delhi-Ahmedabad-Delhi, Delhi-Hyderabad-Delhi, Delhi-Bhubaneshwar-Delhi, Delhi-Goa-Delhi, Delhi-Patna-Delhi and Delhi-Raipur-Delhi.

                                                                   

Delhi Airport check-in facility commences from Shivaji Stadium Metro Station

Delhi International Airport (P) Limited (DIAL) a GMR led in association with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced the Delhi Airport City check-In facility from Shivaji Stadium Metro station. Jet Airways has started the operations from both New Delhi Railway Station as well as Shivaji Stadium Metro Station. This facility would help many airport bound passengers who can now check-in at these two city centres for their convenience. So far, limited city-check-in facility was available for Air India passengers only at New Delhi station of the Airport Express Line.
Passengers of Air India and Jet Airways can check in their baggage from these two Metro stations from 02 hours to 12 hours before the scheduled departure of the flight. The flight check-in facility from the stations would close two hours prior to the departure time.
The airport passengers can obtain their boarding pass at the city check-in counter and check-in the luggage as well. The checked-in baggage will be transferred to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport’s T-3, through a secured Baggage Handling System (BHS). The highly sophisticated BHS ensures that baggage reaches airport in time. Free luggage trolleys are also available for passengers at the entry gates and platforms at all Metro stations of the Airport Express Line.


Vistara adds Port Blair to its fast growing network

Vistara, India’s fastest growing full service carrier that is setting new service and customer experience standards, announced the addition of Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, as its 18th destination, effective September 30, 2016. Port Blair will be served daily from Kolkata and from New Delhi (same aircraft service via Kolkata). With this new flight, frequency between Delhi and Kolkata will also increase to three flights daily. Twice daily service to Kolkata from Delhi had commenced on June 10 this year, and has seen very high demand for Vistara’s product.

                                                                             
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                     

Hotel News                                                                                                                 Go To Top

Stayzilla expands presence in North East India
Stayzilla.com has expanded the number of homestays in North East, Sikkim and Bengal, given the remoteness and demand for stays in these areas. Stayzilla works closely with various state tourism departments for opening up more homestays across the hilly terrain of the East.
Among diverse offbeat destinations, Stayzilla has become the only homestay consolidator to facilitate accommodation in and around the northern part of West Bengal. Stayzilla has also introduced homestays in Tawang, Bhalukpong and Bomdila, located along the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. While homestays in Bhalukpong are supervised by the forest division, the stays in Bomdilla are run by Monpa, Sherdukpen, Miji, Bugun and Aka tribes.
Identifying the undersupply of stay options relative to demand in India, Stayzilla stays are surpassing geographical barriers to welcome diverse cultures experiences across remote places such as Majuli. With over ten homestays, local tribes of Majuli have been promoting spiritual and eco-tourism vigorously in the region. Majuli is located on the river Brahmaputra in Assam and is known as the largest river island in the country.



Oberoi Hotels voted World’s Best Hotel Brand
Oberoi Hotels & Resorts has been voted World’s Best Hotel Brand by Travel + Leisure for the second consecutive year.
These rankings are the result of a Readers’ Poll conducted by the magazine. Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards are amongst the most prestigious in the travel industry as it is the readers who define excellence in hospitality and travel. Readers rate their experiences and evaluate hotels across the world on the following parameters – rooms and facilities, location, service, restaurants, food and value.
P.R.S. Oberoi, Executive Chairman, The Oberoi Group said, “I am very proud that Oberoi Hotels & Resorts have been voted the World’s Best Hotel Brand for the second consecutive year. The awards are an affirmation of The Oberoi Group’s unwavering commitment towards offering guests world-class facilities and unparalleled service. I dedicate the award to our people who are our biggest asset and who have worked passionately to ensure our guests receive warm, personalised and caring service”.

                         

 

AccorHotels opens Varun Beach Bheemili Resort
AccorHotels has announced the opening of Varun Beach Bheemili Resort managed by AccorHotels. Located 25 kms North-East of Visakhapatnam, the resort features 28 exotic rooms overlooking the scenic Bay of Bengal. For outdoor team building activities or social events the resort offers five acres of outdoor space, perfect for any corporate weekend retreats.
Madhav Bellamkonda, General Manager, Varun Beach Bheemili Resort managed by AccorHotels and Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach said, “Varun Beach Bheemili Resort infuses local architectural elements with the warmth of Novotel hospitality, elegance and simplicity focused on the needs of the leisure or business traveller. Our large sea-facing rooms with balconies are the closest to a cruise experience on land made even more real with the rising Sun over the East coast, making it a memorable stay for our guests. We look forward to welcoming guests to this pristine property.”

 

‘Zone by The Park’ Raipur opens door for guest
The Park Hotels, pioneers of luxury boutique hotels in India, enters Raipur (Chhattisgarh) with the fourth property of its Social-Catalyst brand ‘Zone by The Park’. Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels inaugurated the hotel along with Ramesh Kalash, Group Chairman of Gurusukh Vintrade Services and its three Directors- Dharampal Kalash, Prakash Kalash and Ankit Kalash. The hotel will be operational from July 1, 2016.
Zone by The Park Raipur, the 72 room hotel is strategically located at VIP Junction which is minutes away from Central Business District of Raipur and Swami Vivekananda Airport.

                                               

Planet Hollywood Goa to introduce luxury tented accommodation
Planet Hollywood Resort, Goa, a Hollywood themed resort by the Wyndham Hotel Group has witnessed an excellent response from the Indian market. This property is the second Planet Hollywood brand property globally, after the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino at Las Vegas Hotel. Currently, this 115-room resort is planning to add luxury tented accommodations at the beach, which will be the first in South Goa market.
Speaking about Planet Hollywood’s move to enter Goa market, Anand Chatterjee, General Manager, Planet Hollywood Resort, Goa said, “Goa is primarily a leisure destination be it for pure family/friends leisure trip or business leisure like off-sites and incentives. It’s also a great wedding destination. Although it generates some amount of rooms’ nights from the local Industrial Zones, the leisure tourists dominate the business. Post the Defexpo event in Goa, it has also turned in to big destination for large conventions.”
Spread across 10 acres of land, Planet Hollywood is an upscale property with a collection of rooms, each with its own one of a kind touch of Hollywood memorabilia and richly appointed amenities. The property is designed by Jonathan Adler, and the hotel is built in elegant and modern Goan style low-rise architecture.
                              
                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                         
                                                    
                                                             
                                            

Recommended Tour of the Month                                                                                                                                 Go To Top

 

Wayanad


A discreet hill station located in north western Kerala, Wayanad is set along the higher slopes of the Nilagiri Biosphere on the southern fringe of the Deccan Plateau. The region is a part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in India and Wyanad's evergreen forests mark the transition zone between the northern and southern eco regions of the Western Ghats. This is the most species-rich eco region in peninsular India with eighty percent of the flowering plant species of the entire mountain range found here.

Wayanad is ideal for travelers with a passion for the outdoors. The landscape is majestic, composed of rugged, lofty ridges interspersed with dense forests, deep valleys, spectacular waterfalls and mountain streams. Numerous outback trails and trekking routes snake through the forests with many spots ideal for adventure sports. Visitors will also find delight in the dazzling profusion of flora and fauna endemic to the Western Ghats. Wayanad is home to many ancient, indigenous nomadic tribes who still practice their age-old customs and rituals. The forests also contain the fascinating Edakkal Caves, a Neolithic cave dwelling with Petroglyphs, the only known example in South India and a protected UNESCO Heritage Site.


History
According to archaeological evidence, the Wayanad forests have been inhabited for more than 3,000 years. Historians are of the view that human settlement existed in these parts for at least ten centuries before Christ. Much evidences of New Stone Age civilization can be seen in the hills throughout the present day Wayanad district. The two caves of Ampukuthimala, with pictures on their walls and pictorial writings, speak volumes of a bygone civilization. The recorded history of this district exists only from the 18th century onward.


Activities
The distinctive environs of Wayanad offer a host of options that make the area ideal for trekking, to visit a village of indigenous tribals who still follow an ancient way of life, to go on plantation tours nearby, take part in Yoga and meditation sessions or visit the many other attractions in Wayanad.


Pookot Lake
Set in a beautiful valley and surrounded by evergreen forests and wooded hills, Pookote is one of Wayanad's top visitor draws.

Soojipara Waterfalls
It is a thundering three-tiered waterfall. These falls capture nature at her best. This place is also famous for rock climbing. Best season is from June till January. Distance-38 Kms.

Kuruva Islands
The Kuruva Island with 950 acres of evergreen forest lies on one of the tributaries of the Kabini. The island is home to various species of rare birds, orchids and herbs.

Kuruva Dweep
These are little islets in the river Kabini. This is an ideal picnic spot for people to just spend one whole day with nature.

Thirunelli Temple
The temple is on the banks of the beautiful Papanasi River. It is believed that people can wash out their sins by immersing themselves here in the water.

Chembra Peak
At 2100 meters, the spectacular Chembra Peak located towards the southern part of Wayanad is the tallest summit in the region. Climbing this peak is a challenging mountaineering endeavor and would take a full day.
The surrounding areas offer exceptional photo opportunities. Camping on the peak is a unforgettable experience.

Chain Tree
Even today, a chain still hangs from a Banyan tree to mark the spot where a British Colonialist murdered an Adivasi tribesman (and thus, the name). (9kms - 20mins drive) Edakkal Caves 1000mts above sea level, this ancient natural cave exhibits ancient carvings, paintings and inscriptions dating back to the stone ages.

Wildlife Sanctuaries
Wayanad abounds in wildlife sanctuaries. Elephants, spotted deer, sloth bear, samba and gaur are just some of the species you can spot. The distances of the various sanctuaries from the resort are as follows: Muthanga - 55kms, Nagarhole - 70kms, Bandipur - 75kms, Muthumala - 100kms, Tholpatti - 70kms.

Muthanga
Spread over a vast area Muthanga is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Region. Located 18 kms East of Sultan Bathery, it is a rain forest reserve connected to two other major sanctuaries: Bandipur National Park in Karnataka and Mudumalai Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.

Banasura Sagar Dam
Considered to be the second largest earth dam in Asia, the Banasura project precincts are an ideal starting point for treks to the Banasura Peak. An interesting feature is a set of islands that were formed when the reservoir submerged the surrounding areas. Speed boating facility is available in this place.

 


                                                   
 

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