Call it Eidi or ‘Onakkodi’ (Onam gift)…or call the above instagran story the celebration of India across all times. We are blessed to be part of this land of festivities. For now Eid, Saavan, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtmi, Parsi New Year, Onam…and India’s Birthday.
Andaman is Sun, Sand, Sea & Showers
Andaman is sun, sand, sea and showers . Yes, it rains any time of the year in Andamans. And if it does, get to the other side of the beach road. The hangover of these unexpected memories will surpass many an expected ones. Happy Andamans!
Meaningful Greetings for Holidays Entrepreneurs
Whether we want them or not, the New Year will bring new challenges; whether we seize them or not, the New Year will bring new opportunities. The year is ours to make of it what we will.
And perhaps thats how dependent business can greet each other – wishing & mentioning opportunities!
data inspired by:http://www.tnooz.com/article/Indian-online-travel-has-come-a-long-way-but-what-the-offline-tour-operators-think/
Eco Friendly Story
THE STORY: THE YEAR 1988
There was a small hotelier,
with just one small hotel under his name,
Who won the Bid,
for an Island Hotel to be privatized.
Here’s the line that stole the bid
from the Taj, Leela, Oberoi and others
“… don’t spoil this beautiful island with a hotel,
but keep it original and authentic.
We do not need to do anything here
and that’s my proposal.”
The hotel outgrew itself from Casino Group of Hotels to Clean, Green & Healthy – Earth Hotels
P.S: The Administration Panel or Tourism Ministary who approved his proposal deserves equal if not more praise.
A Moment in Kerala
While snaking through the Munnar tea gardens, by far the most photogenic in India, the breathtaking misty mountains called us to have this 12-sec stopover. Munnar is one destination in India, which prizes an ordinary equipment and effort with extraordinary results.
Hotelier and Travel Agents – The Fun side !
Anything for you dear Customer!!! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Why in Kerala for Snake Boat Races that too during the monsoons
As famous as Spanish Bull Run/Bull fighting or the World’s Biggest Food Fight (La Tomatina) (ref. Jindegi Milegi Na Dobara). Just that it doesn’t breach any animal rights or wastes any food!
Biggest Team Sport in the World. Crews of more than hundred men, each on 130 ft long traditional canoe, striving hard to win the desirous trophy!
Entertaining, Exciting & Traditionally Indian (Keralan) to the Core!Fully paisa vasool
Nehru Trophy always falls on 2nd Saturday (10 Aug 2013). Champakulam on Sunday for 2013 (23 June 2013). Busy Souls, a long weekend banta hai!
You are catching the game Live towards the finishing point either from the comfort of an exclusive Boat or that of a resort’s Pavilion. Whileyou are being served juices & snacks as per the holiday packages, the racing paddlers sweat it out for the prized trophies which are inscribed “To the winner of the boat-race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore-Cochin”
Have more from the backwaters. Clubbing your visit around a fest, to here or any other destination, is a smart tourist’s strategy!
Should I mention, the destination is Keralaahaa – one of “The Ten Paradises of the World” and “50 places of a lifetime” by Nat Geo & all.
Ideal time for Ayurvedic Massages & Treatment and literally, to well-spend your savings for the rainy days. It is during the monsoon that the ‘doshas’ or problems of the body surface. It’s the best time to detect these troubles and so the best time to give the right treatments as well. The roots that are ready in the winter are powdered and kept ready… and at this time we get fresh leaves as well. Also, due to the pleasant, moist & dust-free atmosphere during the rainy season from June to September, the body’s pores open up and make it most receptive to herbal oils and therapy.
If this inspires, here are two holiday packages worth the experience from Thomas Cook India….that’s where I presently work (in case, it bothers you, I am not paid for these blogs 
. Not even for saying Apna holiday Book nahi Thomas Cook Karein!)
Champakulam Boat Race on 23 Jun 2013 : With This the season for boat races in Kerala begins, with 100% frenzy, with the below – the oldest one & also one of the most popular. Next Weekend. RUSH
Nehru Trophy Boat Race on 10 August 2013: The greatest backwaters extravaganza is held in Kerala on the second Saturday of August every year. Magnificent snake boats compete for the prized trophy instituted by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, in the year 1952. Apart from the races of chundan valloms (snake boats) and of smaller country crafts, the event offers many fascinating sights such as ceremonial water processions, spectacular floats and decorated boats. Around 2 months to go before crewmen take up the Oars. You plan & book & cook!
An Iconic, Legendary, Inspiring Indian Hotel
Every hotel has a story – real and reel in varying degree. One of the most popular ones being that of the making of Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.
But before we re-share the mystique a billionth time let’s get inspired by Bombay’s (now Mumbai) first harbor landmark, built some 20 years before Gateway of India.
As for the background to its foundation, it is said, Jamshedji N Tata, founder of India’s top business house Tata, was once not allowed entry into Watson’s Hotel (or perhaps Pyrke’s Apollo Hotel) in Mumbai, the then Bombay, on account of his being a non-white. This racial discrimination pushed him to foray into the hospitality industry with the launch of the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers in 1903. Another story goes that he (Mr. Tata) already had the idea of ‘a world class hotel worthy of Bombay’ in his mind, and had made much study of the subject. No matter which version you believe but then took off India’s first and largest chain of hotels – Indian Hotels Company, better known by its flagship brand the Taj. And with this Taj pioneered the Indian hospitality with many firsts in infrastructure and services.
This was the only hotel of Taj till 1971 after which the group added two to three hotels each year to reach 117 hotels globally including 100 in India. The 100th hotel milestone was marked last week only with the opening of 208-room Vivanta by Taj at Gurgaon, 17 miles from New Delhi.
The decaying entrance to the former Watson Hotel, “white only hotel” that refused Tata entry (http://www.flickr.com/photos/meanestindian/2167744881/ )
“Who’s Who” who were guests at the hotel. Taj Mumbai has played host to guests ranging from Mick Jagger and Andrew Lloyd Weber to Margaret Thatcher and Jacqueline Onassis. (img src: http://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/2012/jul/290712-Wah-Taj-When-sentiment-and-luxury-graced-a-heritage-walk.htm )
Background to the original reception this painting was done by Ratan Tata and Laxman Shrestha in 2006. Tata practised for two weeks with the artist. (img src:http://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/2012/jul/290712-Wah-Taj-When-sentiment-and-luxury-graced-a-heritage-walk.htm)
The memorial with the Tree of Life (right) near the main lobby is a subtle reminder of the November 2008 terror attacks. It mentions the names of those who lost their lives, including sniffer dog Lucy (Courtery:http://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/2012/jul/290712-Wah-Taj-When-sentiment-and-luxury-graced-a-heritage-walk.htm)
Vintage Pic ( img src: http://www.oldindianphotos.in/2009/01/taj-mahal-hotel-mumbai-in-1908.html )
Few trivia:
» The Ballroom is made from steel that was used to build the Eiffel Tower.
» On December 16, 1903, the doors of the Taj opened to the public at Rs 6 per room. Post renovation in the 1970’s the rooms cost Rs 90 for a single room on without meals.Today, a room costs Rs 28,000!
Good reads on Taj Mahal Palace
- In the Lap of Luxury (featured story on Tata Group Hotels)
- The Taj Mahal hotel will, as before, survive the threat of destruction
- Wah Taj! When sentiment and luxury graced a heritage walk
This post is written while updating my company’s revamped website http://www.india-heritage-hotels.com. Just got inspired by the hotel’s past and felt like recollecting and sharing.
Ausome Web Tourism with World’s Biggest Social Media Team: All Unofficial but 3
There are officially just three people with ‘social media’ titles at Tourism Australia and 95% of the content on their social media platforms is created by fans !
from TourismAustralia
Chandni Chowk goes Online
Over 2,500 businesses in the New Delhi”s iconic Chandni Chowk market are now online with their own websites as part of an initiative by Google, owner of the world’s most popular search engine.
Google, as part of its ‘India Get Your Business Online’ initiative launched in November 2011, offers free websites and domains to small and medium businesses (SMBs) in the country.
“With over 137 million Internet users in the country, an increasing number of users are now looking for local information online,” Google India VP and Managing Director (Sales and Operations) Rajan Anandan said at an event.
Over 2,500 businesses in Chandni Chowk market are now online as part of an initiative by Google.
An initiative like this helps SMBs get started on the Internet, he added.
“There are 47 million SMBs in the country, but only 4,00,000 have a web presence. Of this, only 1,00,000 have a decent quality web presence,” Anandan said.
As part of the project, Google India and HostGator went to each shop in Chandni Chowk and built over 2,500 free websites for businesses operating from the market.
In addition to creating these websites, Google India has also launched a common website www.chandnichowknowonline.in to provide a directory of businesses from Chandni Chowk.
Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal, who is also a Member of Parliament from the Chandni Chowk constituency, said the move will help these shop owners increase their business as information about them would be more widely available.
“Internet is becoming an engine of economic growth and is expected to contribute over USD 100 billion by 2015 to India’s GDP. Embracing Internet will increase competitiveness of these businesses in the global economy,” Sibal said.
Google aims to build over 500,000 free websites for SMBs in the country by 2014. “We have created over 150,000 websites across 7,850 cities in India within a year. Next year, we expect to cover 300,000 businesses and by 2014-end, we will meet the target of 500,000,” Anandan said.
He added the company is looking at some other major business hubs to take more small businesses online but did not disclose any details.
Chandni Chowk is a hub of small and medium businesses in north India with over 5,000 businesses including suppliers, exporters and wholesalers, but very few own a website.
“This initiative from Google has provided all businesses with a professional website, which will now make it easier for customers to find us online and help us to grow our businesses,” Kinari Bazaar Gota Zari Association of Chandni Chowk spokesperson Pradeep Jain said.
Under the ‘India Get Your Business Online’ initiative, small businesses can set up a website for free and after a year, they need to pay just the website hosting charges. Google runs similar initiatives in other parts of the world as well.
TATO & TECH 