One can play golf like a pro anywhere and anytime in Florida. The Sunshine State has 1,000-plus courses – more than any other state. Add world-renowned restaurants and top-rated hotels and spas that are often adjoining or nearby and, yes, Florida is a golfer’s paradise. South Florida The birthplace of Florida golf is the Breakers Ocean Course. Henry Flagler, railroad tycoon and the “Father of Florida Tourism,” opened the Breakers hotel in 1896. More than 100 years later, Palm Beach stills calls itself Florida’s Golf Capital. From that first 9-hole course, Palm Beach County’s golf menu has expanded to 160 public and private courses. The Tom Fazio-designed Emerald Dunes is one of Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 Courses You Can Play.” After a round, relax at The Spa at The Breakers, a sea
Read MoreMonth: February 2014
The Sun fell perpendicularly on the face of the Statue of King Ramses II in Abu Simbel Temple in Aswan on Saturday, 22nd February 2014. The unique astronomical phenomenon, which occurs twice a year, started at about 6:23 am and lasted for 20 minutes. The sun-struck event was seen by 5,000 tourists along with Social Solidarity Minister, Aswan Governor, 30 Ambassadors and representatives of the world media and press. The sun falling perpendicularly on Ramses II face at Abu Simbel Temple, a rare astronomical and engineering phenomenon, happens on February 22, the day he ascended to the throne and October 22, his birthday, every year. On these two days of the year, shafts of sunlight enter the temple and illuminate the statues of the great King Ramses II himself, and the two sun gods to which
Read Moreहवा में ठंडक कम हुई है। लेकिन सर्दी अभी गई नहीं है। हजारों किलोमीटर दूर सुदूर उत्तर के यहां से भी ज्यादा ठंडे इलाकों से प्रवासी पक्षी भारत में कई जगहों पर अभी बसेरा बनाए हैं। ऐसा वे हर साल करते हैं। बड़ी लंबी व दुष्कर उड़ान के बाद उनका अपने तय ठिकानों पर हर साल आना, वाकई कुदरत का बड़ा हैरतअंगेज करिश्मा है। अब जरा कल्पना कीजिए कि साइबेरिया (रूस, चीन व उत्तर कोरियाई इलाकों) के अमूर फॉल्कन हर साल 22 हजार किलोमीटर दूर अफ्रीका में प्रवास के लिए जाते हैं और इस दौरान वे बीच में भारत के उत्तर-पूर्व में नगालैंड में थोड़ा आराम करते हैं। यहां से अफ्रीका जाने के लिए यह पक्षी समुद्र के ऊपर चार हजार किलोमीटर की उड़ान बिना रुके भरता है। ऐसे ही कई पक्षी भारत में प्रवास के लिए आते हैं। दुनियाभर के पक्षी प्रेमी इस मौसम में भारत आते हैं, परिंदों की इस खूबसूरत दुनिया का नजारा लेने के लिए। बर्ड वाचिंग के श...
Read MoreOver the weekend of 29 and 30 March, several municipalities, quarters and hotels of the Brussels-Capital Region will be flinging their doors wide open to WELCOME BRUSSELS, a scheme set up by the Brussels-Capital Region, in association with VISITBRUSSELS, Brussels Hotels Association (BHA), Brussels Airlines, Bed & Brussels and Windbag Communication. Especially for the occasion, Brussels Airlines offers a 20% discount on flights to Brussels. Brussels hotels, under the crook of the Brussels Hotels Association (BHA), will also participate by offering to all their rooms at friendly rates. It is a golden opportunity to introduce family and friends to the authentic flavours of our region. “The Welcome Brussels weekend calls for celebration in no less than thirty quarters spread across the
Read MoreDang Darbar to be held on 13th March 14 upto 15th March 14 honours a tradition that began in British times when the rulers and other leaders of villages got together for gathering called “Darbar”. The tradition continues today in the Dangs, a tribal dominated district in South Gujarat in India as many of the former Rajas and Naiks are still accorded status unlike the princely families whose titles and privy purses were abolished. Dang Darbar is such only annual event where this cultural heritage is preserved. Kings of village Gadhvi, Daher, Linga, Vasurna and Pimpri along with 9 Naiks and 476 Bhavbands are awarded Political Pension till date. This is a time for great festivity for 3 days at Ahwa, the district headquarter of Dangs. The exact venue of this festival is Ahwa near Saputara, but
Read MoreSitting next to their desktops, people across the world will now be able to explore iconic Indian world heritage sites like the Taj Mahal, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar and Red Fort, besides other monuments. Google and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have jointly launched 360-degree panoramic imagery of 30 out of 100 "nationally-important monuments". Apart from getting access to high resolution pictures of 30 such old monuments manifesting the aesthetic sensibilities of the erstwhile rulers, people living abroad would get vital information on these monuments which are an interesting combination of Persian and Islamic architecture. Along with high resolution pictures, the written text would explain why these monuments have become national treasures and their relevance in contemporary...
Read MoreTwo days back Golconda fort at Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh was awarded as the best monument with the facilities for the physically challenged in the National Tourism Awards. As the peace outside is shattered due to issue of separate statehood for Telangana, this light is unassumingly soothing and relaxing- ...
Read MoreStates of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have jointly been declared as the best in Comprehensive Development of Tourism at National Tourism awards in India. Awards, considered to be showcase of the Indian tourism industry were given on Tuesday. Two hotels from the city of lakes Udaipur were also among the winners in their categories. Although the Indian Tourism Minister Chiranjeev stayed away from the awards function because of seemingly larger issue of bifurcation of his state Andhra Pradesh, the Andhra stamp writ large in the Awards. Andhra Pradesh shared the first prize for Best State for Comprehensive Development of Tourism with Madhya Pradesh, while Kerala came second, and Gujarat at the third place. In the Best Heritage City category, Tourism Minister’s own constituency, ...
Read MoreBird lovers across India including Delhi spent the entire day on Sunday, 16th February trailing birds in different bird-rich locations. As part of the Big Bird Day 2014, 384 birder teams-comprising about 3,000 to 5,000 people-documented the diversity of bird species. In the capital, 27 teams participated. They covered Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Asola Wildlife Sanctuary, Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Aravalli Biodiversity Park and other sites. For the first time, six teams from Pakistan joined the bird race. Teams also came from Spain, Dubai and the US. Every state and union territory including Daman and Diu, Pondicherry, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and others participated, organizers said. "The response has been huge this year. Last year, there were only 160 teams," sai
Read MoreIndia is not on top in numbers of foreign tourist arrivals but the average amount of money spent by international travelers in the country, on a per-capita basis, is more than anywhere else. Also, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) data, though the country is ranked 41st in terms of inbound tourist arrivals, it is 16th in total tourism receipts. Major tourist destinations like the US, China, the United Kingdom and France see far higher annual foreign tourist arrivals, but their per-capita receipts from inbound foreign travelers is much lower than India. This is mainly because of a large number of business visitors to India and longer duration of their stay. Data from the tourism ministry and UNWTO show international tourists' per-capita spend in India as
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