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How to kill a wetland, India style

Upendra SwamiApril 25, 20245278 Views3

Water bodies and wetlands in the heart of the city are rare and need to be preserved. That’s exactly what we don’t do and try to milk whatever we can at any cost, even at the cost of the existence of the wetland. That is what I have learnt and witnessed in last more than 20 years, and that too in the National Capital. Sanjay lake was conceived and developed in 1970s and was opened in 1982 by the DDA. It is everyone’s guess that whom it was named after. Few years back a big flock of painted storks used to visit the lake. Sanjay Lake has been dear to me, as I have been living around it for almost 25 years now. My life has grown with this lake being witness to it. It has been part of my morning walk and fitness schedule and it also had been a playground for my naïve photo...

IndiaNews

Kerala goes big on Caravan Tourism

Upendra SwamiSeptember 16, 20218429 Views2

Next big thing for Kerala Tourism in three decades since houseboats After Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand, now it is Kerala’s turn to promote Caravan Tourism in state. But it does this in a bigger and proper way, by bringing out a dedicated comprehensive policy, thus becoming the only state to have a comprehensive Caravan Tourism policy. This policy encompasses everything from approvals to vehicles and parks.With its diverse but accessible landscape, Kerala is one of the best places worth exploring in a caravan. Last two years have changed the way we perceive leisure travel, Now, rising to the demands and preferences of tourists in the post-pandemic world, Kerala has announced a comprehensive, stakeholder-friendly Caravan Tourism Policy, promising the visitors safe, customized ...

IndiaNews

Its opening up, may be just time to pack the bags

Upendra SwamiSeptember 19, 20206347 Views0

It was a hectic past month or perhaps more than that, as I was busy in working on my new travel website. That didn't leave me with enough time to write my scheduled blog posts. It is perhaps first time since I started writing blogs almost eight years ago, that I haven't done a blog post for more than 30 days. Feel sorry for that, but still relived that I was doing something equally dear to me. I do have this travel blog, but there was much of other content that I always wanted to share- informations, news, updates and features. Hence, a dynamic travel site was always on cards. Then this pandemic resulted in applying the brakes on my print travel magazine--yes I have one (Awara Musafir)--as the printing press was shut down. It was then, I started working fanatically on my website. W...

AdventureIndiaNews

Time back to travel! Madhya Pradesh opens its National Parks today

Upendra SwamiJune 15, 20203427 Views2

For all those with travel lust and right now feel like being chained in their homes due to COVID19 situation, there is a trickle of some good news. Among the first states to do this, Madhya Pradesh has reopened its State Tourism Development Corporation Hotels, resorts and many private hotels at tourist destinations for tourists and hoteliers. A tiger at Panna Tiger reserve in Madhya Prdesh Among the efforts to promote domestic tourism state is now allowing all tourists from within the Country. Not just that, another big news is that Madhya Pradesh Forest department has also issued a circular regarding re-opening of its National Parks from 15th June 2020. Buffer zones in these national parks will remain open during monsoon season as well. Normally, all the national parks a...

InternationalNews

Where will you travel after COVID-19 lockdown ends!

Upendra SwamiMay 10, 20202803 Views0

It is indeed very frustrating to get locked up at home. Most of us love to travel and we would like to pack our bags and move out on the very first opportunity provided. But that does not seem to be happening in the near future. It is just a wild guess; everyone is making that when can we travel like a free bird again. But we can certainly make our priorities on where are we going to travel first, once this damn lockdown is lifted. As most of the countries are in lockdown and at least 93 percent of the global population now lives in countries with coronavirus-related travel restrictions, Tourism and Travel has become one of the most affected industries by COVID-19. iVisa has tried to understand how this context of fear and uncertainty is going to affect the future of travel. It conducted ...

IndiaInternationalNews

Lockdown reads: INDIA among most photogenic spiritual destinations in the World!

Upendra SwamiMarch 27, 20205471 Views4

Well, during this almost global lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic, all type of travels are suspended. Instagrammers who are used to post daily for their accounts are either digging photos from past travels or posting ‘stay safe’ messages. Until when the travels resume, that’s what they have to be content with. Afterall, what’s Instagram without daily dose of photographs from exotic locations around the world! So, while we wait anxiously to travel again, let’s look on some other interesting details about posts on Instagram. Ibiza Do you know, the tags on Instagram posts speak a lot about popularity of places and inclination of posts. Since these tags make your Insta posts searchable on Google, they also gives researchers some very interesting insights. For example, have you ever a...

IndiaNews

When story transcends literature and becomes an art and drama

Upendra SwamiFebruary 8, 20201527 Views0

We all have listened to stories in our childhood. And, I am certainly not talking here about text book stories but about bedtime stories listening to grandmas in particular. It never used to be a simple narration. Grandmas will be sourcing all elements of theatrics to make it as dramatic as possible. That used to be its most fascinating part even if content in the story was good for nothing. That is perhaps the strength of story telling. A very good content can be very boring to listen, while an ordinary story can be made captivating by a story teller. And, it has nothing to do with being a kid. A good story mesmerises adults equally. Fortunately, art of storytelling has seen a great revival recently. From audio stories to story telling festivals, people are enjoying it. Udaipur Ta...

InternationalNews

Diwali in Brussels! Almost, with the illuminated city

Upendra SwamiJanuary 18, 20202856 Views2

When it comes to Brussels, things keep getting bigger and brighter, literally! Its time for capital city to get illuminated again as we are nearing the Bright Brussels, a festival of magnificent lights. This time a new route of around 20 works and animated illuminations will light up the capital. From 13 to 16 February 2020, Festival of Light will enchant several of Brussels’ neighbourhoods. A new route of monumental luminous installations created by Belgian and international artists will take over several of the capital's emblematic sites. This year, for the first time, a luminous bicycle parade will kick off the festival on Thursday 13 February. Bright Brussels Festival © visit.brussels - Jean-Paul Remy For 4 days, the Halle Gate, Marolles, Sablon/Zavel and Mont des Arts/Kunstberg...

IndiaNews

Madhya Pradesh welcomes you to Orchha with a brand new festival

Upendra SwamiJanuary 11, 20203591 Views10

Adding to its ongoing initiatives to promote Madhya Pradesh as a leading tourism destination in the country, the State Tourism Board will be organising “Namaste Orchha”, a new festival scheduled to be held from 6-8 March 2020, celebrating the cultural landscape of the state in the historic town of Orchha. This will be an annual event now onwards in the MP tourism calendar. Festival was announced in a curtain raiser in Delhi on Friday. View of Orchha from the other side of Betwa river The three day extravaganza in this ancient and quaint town will feature diverse activities of music, art, wellness, travel, nature, adventure, history and culture. These activities would be led by experts in their respective fields with participants comprising invited delegates. An immers...

InternationalNews

In-flight services—not ticket prices—boost passenger satisfaction on international flights

Upendra SwamiDecember 26, 20191994 Views4

Booking a domestic flight for a quick trip or a business meeting or a visit to a relative! You are certainly going to look for a cheaper—if not the cheapest—option. All the booking apps even work in that way. So far, so good! But when it comes to long international travel and preferably vacation travel, what we perceive is something else. Our choices and preferences become different, ticket prices are definitely not on the top of it. Now there is a study to show that. Great food—the spicier the better—plus good customer service and a positive track record are the primary drivers of passenger satisfaction on international airline flights. In a stark departure from the price-driven culture of domestic airline customer behaviour, the J.D. Power 2019 Airline International Destination S...