Page 35 - Hospitality Recreation
Leopard spotted at Thane shopping mall caught after 6 hrs
A leopard was spotted at a shopping mall and a hotel in Thane city of Maharashtra on Wednesday morning and later caught by forest officials after over six hours, an official said. The big cat was initially thought to be a panther but it was later found to be a leopard. The feline was caught from the basement of the hotel located on Pokhran Road around 11.50 am, a senior forest official said. The carnivore was first seen at Korum Mall located in Samata Nagar around 5.30 am by some persons who alerted police and forest officials, he said. The police and forest officials rushed to the mall but after searching the premises for around two to three hours, they concluded that the animal must have escaped from there by jumping off its compound wall, the official said. The leopard was later spotted at a housing complex and then in the basement of the hotel near the mall, he said. The forest officials finally managed to tranquilise the feline in the hotel basement before taking it .
Cabinet approves Swadesh Darshan Scheme
Aims at Integrated Development of Theme-based Tourist Circuits
Panther spotted at shopping mall, hotel in Thane
A panther was spotted at a popular shopping mall and at a hotel in Thane city of Maharashtra on Wednesday morning, triggering panic among people, an official said. The big cat was first seen in the parking area of Korum Mall by some persons following which they alerted police and forest officials, Thane civic body's regional disaster management cell chief Santosh Kadam said. The police and forest officials rushed to the mall, located in Samata Nagar, and after a hectic search for around two to three hours, they concluded that the feline must have escaped from the premises by jumping off its compound wall, Kadam said. The panther was later spotted by some people in the basement of a hotel located near the mall, he said, adding that efforts were being made to catch the animal.
Ram Sethu Express: Railways offers new tour package to cover TN temples
The Indian Railways through its public sector undertaking (PSU), Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) on Tuesday announced to offer a tour package covering the temples situated in the state of Tamil Nadu.The package in the name of "Ram Sethu Express - Tamil Nadu Temple Tour" will commence on February 28 early morning from Chennai (Tambaram Railway Station) and will return to Chennai on the evening of March 3, read a statement.The package cost for the 4 days, all inclusive tour, is Rs 4,885 per person.This temple tour will provide an opportunity to "witness rich architecture and history of these temples," the statement added.The three nights and four days all-inclusive tour package will cover 18 temples of Tamil Nadu."Temples to be covered in Trichy, Srirangam are Ranganathaswamy Temple, Samayapuram Mariamman, Jambukeswarar and Thiruvanaikaval. In Rameswaram, Ramanathaswamy temple along with a holy bath in sea and in the 21 Teerth Kunds will be included and ..
Beijing's Forbidden City illuminated for Lantern Festival
Beijing's Forbidden City has been illuminated and opened to the general public for night visits for the first time to celebrate China's Lantern Festival. As night fell, visitors were welcomed by a light show at the Meridian Gate exhibition hall. A dazzling array of lights also lit up the Supreme Harmony Hall. Chinese characters and traditional decorations were projected on the outer walls. Along a corridor, the ancient Chinese painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" was projected on rooftops. The Forbidden City, which served as China's political center for more than 500 years, is now known as the Palace Museum. China's Lantern Festival marks the end of Lunar New Year festivities.
Karol Bagh fire: Licence holder of hotel arrested
The Delhi Police has arrested Shardendu Goel, the licence holder of Hotel Arpit Palace where a massive fire killed 17 people last week, officials said on Tuesday. Goel was produced in the Tis Hazari court, which sent him to a four-day police custody, a senior police officer said. His brother Rakesh Goel, the owner of Hotel Arpit Palace, was arrested from the Delhi airport on Saturday after he landed from Qatar. Shardendu had applied for anticipatory bail, which was rejected by the Tis Hazari court, the officer said, adding that he later surrendered to the police. The police said they would be jointly interrogating the Goel brothers to know about the lapses that had led to the incident. Shardendu was in Delhi at the time of the incident. After he learnt about the incident, he fled home and kept visiting his relatives' places at between Sonipat and Delhi. Rakesh has admitted that norms were violated by the hotel and that an illegal construction was carried on an entire land when the ...
Modi opens Virtual Experiential Museum in Varanasi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated a Virtual Experiential Museum (VEM) at Man Mahal, a centrally-protected observatory under the Archeological Survey of India, here.
TOAA signs MoU with Bangladesh tour operators Association
The tour operators of Assam Tuesday signed an MoU with their Bangladesh counterpart to jointly promote tourism spots of each other. As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Tour Operators Association of Assam (TOAA) and Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) will launch a joint website listing all highlights of Assam and Bangladesh in the coming days. "Both parties will form a committee to chalk out a marketing plan, to provide tourism package at a concessional rate, promotion and publicity of tourism spots of each other and joint effort in pushing more connectivity along with transportation to the governments," a release from Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh said. The two associations will also collaborate with the governments for enhancing safety, security and comfortable immigration of the esteemed tourists of both the countries, it added. The Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Guwahati, Shah Mohammad Tanvir Monsur expressed his ...
Railways launches TN-specific temple tourism package
The Railways is offering a tour package covering temples in Tamil Nadu, christening it the "Ram Sethu ExpressTamil Nadu Temple Tour", an IRCTC statement said Tuesday. Last year, the Railways introduced the Ramayana Express for those wishing to travel to spots associated with Hindu gods in India and Sri Lanka. It had also launched a seven-day tour to religious destinations in Maharashtra and the Samanta Express tourist train to cover places of Buddhist importance. In continuation of its series on religious packages, this tour for temples in Tamil Nadu will start on February 28 from Chennai (Tambaram Railway Station) and return to Chennai on March 3. The three nights and four days all-inclusive tour package will cover 18 temples in Tamil Nadu. It will provide an exclusive opportunity to see the rich architecture and history of these temples, the release said. Some of the temples to be covered are Ranganathaswamy, Samayapuram Mariamman, Jambukeswarar and Thiruvanaikaval temples in ...
Speculation swirls over Kim's travel plans for Hanoi summit
A visit by a North Korean delegation to a Vietnamese city on a popular train route from China has sparked fevered speculation that Kim Jong Un could travel by rail -- or road -- for his summit with US President Donald Trump. The US and North Korea have dispatched several teams to Vietnam ahead of the summit in Hanoi on February 27-28, though officials have remained tight-lipped on their movements and meetings. On Tuesday, a Vietnamese source with knowledge of planning for high-level diplomatic meetings told AFP that several North Korean officials had visited the China border area on Monday. "A team from North Korea was in Lang Son (city) on Monday. They travelled there from Hanoi by car," the source said, requesting anonymity. Japan's Asahi TV reported that a North Korean team visited a rail station in a city near the China border and also surveyed road conditions in the area. There is no airport in Lang Son city, prompting a swirl of speculation that Kim may make the long, overland .
Film shows Kerala's signature assets, promotes it as global tourism destination
Kerala Tourism has launched a three-minute film showcasing the state's spectacular assets serene backwaters, tranquil beaches, traditional houseboats, exotic wildlife, relaxing hill stations and Theyyam artistes to woo foreign tourists to its shores. The film, "Human by nature", is part of a marketing blitzkrieg to refurbish Kerala's tourism appeal, which escaped the fury of the devastating floods last year. Kerala Tourism said the campaign, unveiled on February 18 by famed classical danseuse and actress Shobana, also celebrates the local people as heroes; it draws from "warm, authentic human stories" that travellers rummage through for a liberating experience. The film offers a snapshot of the state through its catamarans, magical festivals and scrumptious cuisines. Shot in enchanting locations like Kumarakom, Alappuzha, Arthungal, Chellanam, Fort Kochi, Munambam, Wayanad, Kannur and Thaliparambu, there is a surreal feel to the film that is both real and fantastical for tourists, ..
Kerala expects 5-10% increase in tourist footfall in 2019
After recovering from devastating floods last year, Kerala is expecting 5-10 per cent increase in tourists' arrival in 2019 and its revenue from the sector is expected to grow by about 3-6 per cent in the current year, an official said here on Tuesday.
Mongolia shuts KFC after dozens hospitalised
Mongolian authorities have temporarily closed all KFC restaurants in the country after more than 200 customers suffered food poisoning symptoms and dozens were hospitalised. The first cases emerged earlier this month, with 16 people showing symptoms of food poisoning, including diarrhoea, vomiting and high fever after eating at the fried chicken franchise. Ulaanbaatar's Metropolitan Professional Inspection Department said 247 similar cases have been reported and 42 people have been hospitalised. The department decided to shut down the country's 11 KFC restaurants -- all based in the capital - while it investigates what happened. A preliminary investigation found that 35 employees at a restaurant were not thoroughly vetted to handle food, with most of them having blank medical examination reports, which is illegal. The restaurant also lacked internal hygiene management. A strong bacteria known as Klebsiella spp was detected in water at the restaurant. Traces of E-coli were also found ..
HDFC ERGO launches the first-of-its-kind 'Trip Protector' policy
HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company, India's third-largest non-life insurance provider in the private sector, today announced the launch of 'Trip Protector' insurance policy, a pioneering policy in the non-life insurance segment in India. In the event of a cancellation, either a flight or hotel booking, Trip Protector insurance policy will safeguard travellers financially against the cost of cancellation levied by Hotels or Airlines. In addition, the policy will also cover the travellers against cancellation of a pre-booked room, in case they are refused accommodation on arriving at the Hotel due to overbooking.Travellers often plan their vacations in advance basis either public holidays, festivals or school academic year thereby allowing them to avail of the early bird fares offered by hotels and airlines. However, sometime these plans may be altered closer to date, thereby leaving the traveller with a huge financial loss by the way of cancellation fees/charges. In such an ...
'Take a vacation to rekindle the romance', confirms the Postcard Hotel Survey
For Valentine's Day, consider planning a trip for you and your partner, rather than spending on an expensive gift, suggests a new research by The Postcard Hotel, India's all-new experiential luxury hospitality brand. The Postcard conducted the research with individuals in a relationship, ahead of Valentine's Day to authoritatively confirm what is known anecdotally, that vacations have a positive effect on relationships and romance. The survey also determines what destination is most preferred for a romantic getaway, activities couples wish to engage in and hotel attributes that are preferred.Key research findings are:Vacation preferred over an expensive gift for Valentine's Day: An overwhelming 78% of respondents agreed that a vacation tops any other gift as the ultimate Valentine's Day gift.Yes, say respondents, vacations equal romance: An overwhelming 61% of respondents confirmed that vacations help to rekindle the romance in their relationship. However, there exists a gap between ..
Arpit Palace owners violated norms, greased palms: Crime Branch
The gutted Arpit Palace Hotel appears to have been built on a slew of violations, one of them is not leaving any free space as per municipal bylaws, and using 100 per cent of the land for building the hotel.
Man kills son for not serving him chicken meat
Irked over not being served chicken meat in his meal, a 60-year-old man allegedly killed his 32-year-old son in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh Monday, police said. Accused Chhotu Baghel stabbed his son Hira Singh to death in a fit of rage at their residence in Kharwali village, around 90 kms from here, after the latter ate chicken meat himself this morning, said Tanda police station in-charge MT Baig. The wife of the deceased said that Chhotu was angry after Hira didn't share the meat with him. Chhotu has been arrested and further investigation is underway, the officer said.
Pak opens 2,200 years old Buddhist remains for foreign tourists
Pakistan has opened for the first time 2,200 years old Buddhist remains for foreign tourists in northwestern part of the country. The Buddhist remains at Jamal Garhi in Mardan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were visited for the first time by British and Chinese tourists. The tourists evinced keen interests in the Buddhist remains which have been preserved in original shape. A UK tourist said it's really commendable that 2,200 years old relics have been preserved with great care. "The law and order situation in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is also satisfactory and the foreign tourists can visit these historical sites without any fear," the tourist said.
India & Bangladesh working to improve connectivity: Envoy
Both Dhaka and New Delhi are working to improve connectivity between the two countries to boost trade and tourism, Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner to India, Shah Mohammad Tanvir Monsur said on Monday. The Governments of Bangladesh and India are working on river routes, rail and air connectivity to boost tourism, he said. "... From next month, the Civil Aviation Ministry of the Government of India is going to launch a direct flight between Guwahati and Dhaka. I am sure that this will address connectivity and boost tourism growth manifold between the two countries," Monsur said, addressing a tourism convention here. "Currently, I am issuing 150 visas daily. I am sure from next month, the number of visas will increase three times or at least 400 every day," he said. Monsur said Bangladesh will put its best efforts to export and enhance tourism medical, religious, archaeological tourism, between the two countries. "The Government of Bangladesh is working on river ...
International Annual Desert Festival begins in Jaisalmer
The 40th International Annual Desert Festival kicked-off on the sand dune here on Sunday with thousands of tourists participating in the colourful event. The three-day festival, which exhibits rich cultural heritage of the desert state, commenced with a colourful procession from Gadsisar lake fort. It will have interesting events like Mr Desert and Ms Moomal competitions, moustache competitions, turban tying, tug of war, musical and cultural performances, among others. The Border Security Force presented a camel tattoo show on the opening day of the festival. Folk artists also gave their enthralling performance. Before the inaugural ceremony of the festival, organisers kept a two-minute silence in respect of the 40 CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack on Thursday.