Timely Yours - June 2014
Dear Partners,

Besides the stunning natural scenery, the enduring image of the country for most visitors is the strong sense of culture and tradition that binds the kingdom and clearly distinguishes it from its larger neighbors. Bhutan is the only Vajrayana Buddhist nation in the world, and the profound teachings of this tradition remain well preserved and exert a strong influence in all aspects of life. Due to its pristine environment and harmonious society, the tiny Kingdom of Bhutan has been called "The Last Shangrila."

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

Rgds: Sanjeev Joshi

 

         
         

Tourism Development
Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area enlisted as World Heritage Site

The World Heritage Committee has inscribed the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (GHNPCA) on the World Heritage List on the basis of criterion X of UNESCO Guidelines. Criterion X is for destinations that contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation, as per a release.The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is located in the Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh. The concept of environmental conservation in the Kullu Valley is very ancient. The names of many places in this valley commemorate saints who came here to meditate in the great sanctuary of Himalayas. Some of these sanctuaries are still preserved as sacred groves of trees. GHNPCA has GHNP - 754.4 sq kms, Sainj - 90 sq kms, and Tirthan - 61 sq kms Wildlife Sanctuaries. The 905.40-sq-km GHNPCA includes the upper mountain glacial and snow melt water source origins of the westerly flowing JiwaNal, Sainj and Tirthan Rivers and the north-westerly flowing Parvati River.GHNPCA is home to several rare and endangered species, including the Western Tragopan, Chir Pheasant, Snow Leopard, Himalayan Musk Deer, Asiatic Black Bear, Himalayan Tahr, Blue Sheep and Serow. Some 25 threatened IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red-listed plant species are recorded from the park.
GHNP has more than 35 peaks of greater than 5,000 mts and two greater than 6,000 mts, which taken together are arguably more exceptional than a few isolated higher peaks in the region. The boundaries of GHNP are also contiguous with the recently established Khirganga National Park of 710 sq kms, the Pin Valley National Park of 675 sq kms in Trans-Himalaya, Rupi-Bhabha Wildlife Sanctuary of 503 sq kms in Sutlej watershed and Kanawar Wildlife Sanctuary of 61 sq kms.
Together these four protected areas add 1,949 sq kms to the area around GHNP and its buffer zone, making the total contiguous protected area associated with the nominated property approximately 2,854.4 sq kms, not including the Ecozone.
GHNP inscription would serve to expedite integration of other protected areas into a huge GHNP Conservation Area of around 2,850 sq kms.

                  

Rani ki vav to be included in World Heritage List

Rani ki vav in Patan town, Gujarat has been approved for inscription on the World Heritage List. The recognition was granted by UNESCO at the World Heritage Committee Session, currently on at Doha, Qatar. UNESCO has recognised the masterpiece as an exceptional example of technological development in utilising ground water resources in a single component, water management system and its exceptional capacity to break large spaces into smaller volumes following ideal aesthetic proportions, as per a release.
Rani ki vav, a stepwell built in the 11th century, is the most developed, elaborate and ornate example of a unique type of Indian subterranean architectural structure, and it marks the zenith in the evolution of stepwells in India. It is a particularly large and complex example of a stepwell, with seven storeys of ornamented panels of sculptures and relief representing the height of the Maru-Gurjara style.
Following the flooding and disappearance of the Saraswati River due to geotectonic changes, the property was buried under layers of silt for almost seven centuries and has been preserved underneath in a state of conservation by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The stepwell is digitally documented through collaboration between ASI, CyArk and the Scottish Ten.
                                                      

Goa named ‘Best Indian Destination for Relaxation – 2014’

Goa has won the title of ‘Best Indian Destination for Relaxation – 2014’ at the recently concluded Lonely Planet Magazine India Awards. Commenting on this development, Dilip Parulekar, Minister for Tourism, Woman & Child Development, Government of Goa, said, “We are very proud and happy to have received the Lonely Planet Travel Award 2014 for Best Indian Destination for Relaxation. Goa is a state with many facets and we have observed that tourists come here mainly because the relaxed vibe in the state is something that attracts them. We have people visiting the state for everything right from bird watching to exploring culture and even just beach hopping. Goa Tourism recognises and understands that every tourist is distinct and important, that is why safety and cleanliness is always at the top of our list of priorities. In order to cater to a larger volume of tourists and ensure that they go back with pleasant memories we have initiated several projects to improve infrastructure, accommodation and connectivity to Goa.”

                     

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.
         

               Humayun's Tomb(New Delhi)

                    (A World Heritage Site)
Airline News                                                                                                                                                                       Go To Top
AirAsia India starts operation with Bengaluru-Goa flight


The country's fourth budget carrier AirAsia India, the domestic arm of Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia Berhad, finally commenced operations yesterday with its first flight taking off from Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport for Goa, as per a PTI report. The flight, which took of at 3.44 pm, was operated by a former IndiGo pilot Capt Manish Uppal with Diganta, a former pilot of the now-grounded Kingfisher Airlines, as the first officer.
                                                                               


SpiceJet to increase capacity by operating new flights on four existing routes

In order to meet the increasing passenger demand, SpiceJet is set to add service on its four existing sectors with effect from June 15, 2014, as per a release. The sectors are Bengaluru-Mangalore, Chennai-Madurai, Bengaluru-Hyderabad and Delhi-Lucknow. All the new flights will be served with a 189-seater Boeing 737 aircraft. SpiceJet is introducing a daily new flight on Bengaluru-Mangalore route in addition to the existing flight being operated with 78-seater Bombardier Q400.
The low-cost carrier is also adding a daily service on Chennai-Madurai-Chennai sector which will operate on Tuesday and Saturday. The airline already operates a daily flight on this route and with this new connection capacity on this sector would get doubled. A new flight on Delhi-Lucknow route is being introduced that will operate daily except Saturdays. With this, SpiceJet will make Delhi-Lucknow a day return service both ways. This new addition will make SpiceJet the first departing airline from Lucknow as well as Delhi, stated the release. Further, an additional flight is being deployed on Saturdays on the Bengaluru-Hyderabad route.
 

                                                                                

                                                                  

IndiGo announces the launch of 500th daily flight

Strengthening its commitment to the domestic market, IndiGo, India’s largest and fastest growing low-cost and low-carbon airline, announces operation of 500 daily flights with launch of four new flights connecting Delhi, Jammu, Pune, Chennai. Effective June 10, 2014, the schedule sees the introduction of second daily non-stop flights between Delhi-Jammu and effective 15th June, third daily non-stop flights between Pune-Chennai.

                                                                                              

                                                                         
 Air India commences operations to Rome and Milan from Delhi

Air India has started operations of its direct flights between India and Italy. The airline will operate flights from Delhi to Rome (Fiumicino, Leonardo da Vinci Airport) and Milan (Malpensa Airport). The flight will be operated on a triangular route with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Delhi-Rome-Milan-Delhi - will operate four days a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. AI-123 will depart from Delhi at 1420 hrs and arrive in Rome at 1905 hrs. The flight will leave Rome at 2040 hrs (as AI 122) and reach Milan at 2200 hrs. The return flight AI 122 will depart from Milan at 2330 hrs and arrive in Delhi at 1015 hrs the following day.
Delhi-Milan-Rome-Delhi - will operate thrice a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. AI 123 from Delhi to Milan will depart at 1420 hrs and arrive in Milan at 1930 hrs. It will then proceed to Rome (as AI 122) at 2100 hrs and arrive at 2210 hrs. The return flight AI 122 from Rome will depart at 2335 hrs and arrive in Delhi on the following day at 1015 hrs. By offering direct services to Italy, Air India will be fulfilling a long-standing demand of not only Indians residing in Italy but also the travel and tourism industry. So far, passengers have been changing to other airlines or transiting at international hubs in West-Asia. This move will make Air India the only Indian carrier with direct flights to and from Italy. Air India’s B-787 Dreamliner has a two-class configuration, with 18 business class seats and 238 economy class. It is one of the most advanced aircraft in the sky. Its wing, tail, nose and flight deck windows have all been engineered for the maximum aerodynamic efficiency, reducing fuel burn. The Dreamliner’s spacious architecture, stowage space, lower cabin altitude, dimmable-windows ensure a smooth and unrivalled passenger experience.                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                               
 
Hotel News                                                                                                                 Go To Top
 

ITC Grand Chola bags ‘Best Business Hotel’ at the Lonely Planet Travel Awards 2014

ITC Grand Chola was awarded the ‘Best Business Hotel’ at the third annual Lonely Planet Magazine Travel Awards 2014, held in Mumbai on June 11, 2014. The winner was selected through an online readers’ poll conducted by the magazine. The awards recognise the best travel experiences, service providers, the preferred places to stay and the destinations Indians most love to visit.

                                                                     

The Lalit Temple View Khajuraho bags ‘Best Hotel Award’

The Lalit Temple View Khajuraho was recognised as the ‘Best Hotel in Madhya Pradesh’ at the State Tourism Awards held at Bhopal on Madhya Pradesh Tourism Day. The award was presented by Babulal Gaur, Minister for Home and Jail, Madhya Pradesh and Surendra Patwa, Minister for Culture and Tourism, Madhya Pradesh, as per a release.
Commenting on this recognition, Debasish Chandra, General Manager, The Lalit Temple View Khajuraho, said, “The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group believes in the ethos of limitless hospitality and this recognition further inspires us to provide an unparalleled experience to our guests while upholding the traditional heritage and culture of the city of Khajuraho.”

                                                                     

Nine Taj Hotels accredited with Gold Certification by EarthCheck

EarthCheck, a global leader in environmental benchmarking and certification, will today present nine Taj hotels with Gold Certification for five years of continuous benchmarking and reporting under the EarthCheck Standard.
The hotels are the first of 76 EarthCheck accredited hotels across the Taj portfolio to achieve the five year milestone, with 54 more properties on track to reach the target by 2016.
Using the EarthCheck program, the nine honored hotels are proving they can deliver robust environmental savings to complement Taj’s existing CSR programs. In 2013, they collectively reduced energy consumption by 174,766,344MJ, enough energy to power 53,940 homes in India and cut waste by 7,172,259.2 litres, the equivalent of removing 186 shipping containers filled with rubbish.
The nine properties that have been gold certified include, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa in the Maldives, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa; Vivanta by Taj – Ambassador, New Delhi; Rambagh Palace in Jaipur; Taj West End Hotel, Bangalore, Taj Lands End Hotel in Mumbai, Vivanta by Taj – M G Road, Bangalore, Vivanta by Taj – President, Mumbai, and Blue Sydney A Taj Hotel located in Sydney’s Woolloomoolloo Wharf.

                                                                                                                                      
                                                  


                                                                     
                                                                                                           

Recommended Tour of the Month                                                                                                                                 Go To Top

Thunder Dragon

Paro (2 Nights), Punakha (2 Nights), Thimphu (2 Nights), Paro (1 Night)

 
Days 1 to 2: Delhi / Paro Arrive into Paro on Druk Air and transfer to hotel for a two night stay. In the afternoon, there is an opportunity for a quick stroll to the nearby ruins or down Paro’s main street. Evenings at the hotel include informative lectures on the history, religion, flora and fauna of the region. The second day offers a full tour of Paro with a visit to the National Museum, Paro Dzong and trek up to Taktshang Goemba (Tiger’s Nest).

Days 3 to 4: Paro /Punakha After breakfast , the drive follows the river and climbs up the mountain pass of Dochu La. Sights en route include Simtokha Dzong and ancient wallpaintings at the Hongtsho Goemba monastery. Overnight at the hotel. The next day offers further exploration of this scenic valley with a relaxing picnic lunch.

Day 5 to 6: Punakha-Thimphu Overnight at the hotel after an afternoon exploring the area.

Day 6 : Thimphu This day is devoted to sightseeing of Thimpu.

Day 7: Thimphu-Paro Enjoy a trip to the untouched Haa Valley only recently opened to tourists, returning to Paro for a final overnight astay at the hotel.

Day 8: Paro-Onward Journey Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
                    

TOURISM INDIA MANAGEMENT ENTERPRISES PVT.LTD
Plot No. 78, Sector - 44,Gurgaon-122002,Haryana India
Phone :0091-124-4932450  Fax :0091-124-4932499
E-MAIL: timepl@tourismindiamanagement.com