November 2010

 

 

Destination News.....................click
India extends Visa on Arrival facility to four ASEAN countries......
Kingdom of dreams formally opens to public.....

  Hotel News...............................click
Hotels in Goa to take tourist's pictures as security measure...
Ananda in the Himalayas voted Favourite Spa......

  Aviation News..........................click
Jet Airways introduces 46 new domestic flights across India.....
Kingfisher Airlines to launch 22 additional domestic flights.....

Special Feature.......................click
Pushkar Cattle Fair.....

 

We at Creative Travel and our specialist brands - "Signature Tours", the luxury travel specialist and "Plan it!", the finest conference management team in India are proud to offer the best of India and her neighboring countries to the discerning traveller. With a 33 year award winning history behind us, we look forward to the opportunity to show you what true destination management is all about. To read more about us, you can download a copy of our company profile at -
http://www.travel2india.com/who-we-are.htm

We appreciate the support our partners all over the world have shown us. It is with your partnership that Creative is where it is today. For those of you with whom we have not had the pleasure of working with, all I can say is try us and see the Creative magic for yourself. Through "Creatively Yours" we hope to keep you informed on the latest news in Team Creative and the destination. We hope you find this to be useful.

 

Rajeev Kohli, Joint Managing Director

 

 

Welcome to another edition of "Creatively Yours"
the newsletter from Creative Travel India

 

Dear Industry Colleagues:

Here is another edition of the award winning "Creatively Yours".

The season has started well. The Commonwealth Games were extremely successful in October. November has seen a good pick-up on inbound travelers and the mood in the industry is more positive than last year.

 

This year, we also saw a very colorful and vibrant Pushkar Camel fair. Read more about that in our "Personally Experienced" section.

Our product development team is busy creating different tours for all our partners all over the world. If you would like to see how can we add some magic to what you do, let us know. We after all take pride in our ability to make a trip to the Indian sub-continent something very different.
 

Have a Creative Day - Rajeev

www.travel2india.com          www.creative.travel

International Representative Offices in:
Argentina | Belgium | Brazil | France | Indonesia | Italy
Philippines | Spain | UK | USA.
Click here for full contact list



 

 

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In this Edition....

 
  • Where you can find us next - EIBTM 2010 , ILTM 2010

  • Guest Comment of the Month - Find out what our clients have to say about us in this section

  • Personally Experienced - Pushkar Cattle Fair

  • Destination News -  India extends Visa on Arrival facility to four ASEAN countries, Karnataka chases luxury market, Kingdom of dreams formally opens to public, Shantiniketan, Western Ghats may be next world heritage sites.....all this and more update on hotels

  • Hotel News - Hotels in Goa to take tourist's pictures as security measure, ‘Ananda in the Himalayas’ voted ‘Favourite Spa in Asia’ by Readers’ Choice Crystal Awards, The Sri Lanka's Heritage in Hospitality....all this and more update on hotels.

  • Aviation News - Visakhapatnam Airport awaits Indian Navy’s nod to begin international operations , Jet Airways introduces 46 new domestic flights across India, Kingfisher Airlines to launch 22 additional domestic flights from October 31, 2010, Air India introduces Hyderabad-Delhi-Chicago flight from October 31, 2010......and more

  • Indian Recipe of the month - Fish Cutlets

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Where you can find us next.....

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To meet us at EIBTM, Barcelona, click here and email us your details
 

To meet us at ILTM, Cannes click here and email us your details

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Guest Comment of the Month.....

     
 

We at Creative track guest feedback very carefully. Each evaluation form gives us an insight on our operations and allows us to constantly refine our service delivery process. Now and then we get a few letters that brighten up our days. This is one of them :

Wednesday, October 27, 2010
From - Alex Hilgers
To - Creative Travel


Dear Mr. Bhatt & Mr. Sharma,

The Benz family was very happy with all your arrangements and services!

Everything worked out well and there were no complaints at all. Mr. Benz told me that he does not see one single point which could have been improved. Everything was just perfect.

Thanks for all your efforts and best regards,

Axel Hilgers
Germany

 
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Personally Experienced......

         
  Been There.....Seen it.....Experienced it.....Loved it.....

The Pushkar Cattle Fair
by Rajeev Kohli, Joint Managing Director, Creative Travel India

What is nice about having a product like India is that every day it throws up experiences that amaze.

Earlier this month I went down to a small town called Pushkar to inspect our camp that had been set-up for the annual Pushkar fair which takes place for about 8 days in October – November of the year. Exacts dates are determined by the lunar calendar.

The visit was a magical experience. Festivals and fairs like these express the vibrancy, colours, sights and sounds that India is famous for. I am taking the liberty of sharing some images I took of what is probably one of the most amazing display of colors and faces anywhere in the world. The annual fair at Pushkar is the largest gathering of camels in the world and the sea of these majestic animals supplemented by thousands of horses, cattle and colourful villagers in all their finery makes the Pushkar fair a photographers delight. Below is a link to a few of the 1065 pictures I took over two days....

http://gallery.me.com/rajeevkohli69

Some more details on the fair are below.

Rajeev
 
     
 

 
     
  Pushkar is a sacred town for the Hindus, situated 11 kms. to the north-west of Ajmer in Rajasthan (an approximate 3 hours drive from Jaipur). About 400 temples and shrines are located at Pushkar around its holy lake, which finds a mention in the Padma Purana. Legend has it that Lord Brahma in search for a spot to hold his 'yagna' (religious ritual), dropped the lotus from his hand, the three spots touched by this flower were turned into lakes. These are today known as the 'Jyeshtha Pushkar' (main Pushkar), the 'Madhyam Pushkar' (medium Pushkar) and the 'Kanishtha Pushkar' (little Pushkar). A temple dedicated to Lord Brahma is located at Pushkar; the other important temples are those of Gayatri, Savitri, Shiv and Badri Narayan. Click here to read more....  
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Destination News.....

         
      India  
         
 

  India extends Visa on Arrival facility to four ASEAN countries
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently announced Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility for nationals of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines. In an initiative to boost tourist traffic from Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) nations, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently announced Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility for nationals of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines. The facility can be availed starting January 1, 2011. While addressing the 8th India-ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam Singh said, “We invite many more tourists from the ASEAN countries to visit India to see the splendour of its rich cultural heritage. As a concrete measure, I am happy to announce that we will extend our Visa-on-Arrival facility to the nationals of Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and Laos with effect from January 1, 2011.
 
         
 



 

Kingdom of dreams formally opens to public
The biggest recreation hub in north India Kingdom of Dreams was formally opened to the public last month. India's first live entertainment and leisure destination house spread across 6 acres was inaugurated recently in Gurgaon. Set up by `Great Indian Nautanki Company' in the Millennium City, it promises to bring about a refreshing change and generate interest in the musical theatre genre. Kingdom of Dreams has four distinct entertainment zones each offering a unique proposition.

  • Nautanki Mahal, India’s first dynamic state of the art 4D theatre designed and conceptualised to offer breath-taking & magical experiences
  • Showshaa Theatre presenting a kaleidoscope of fabulous colorful drama marquee spotlighting ancient Indian Epics and Mythology, mock wedding shows and the great Indian talent.
  • IIFA Buzz Café – a glamorous Indian cinema lounge that will buzz with starry energy and the glitzy dazzle of India’s filmdom.
  • Culture Gully one of the core attractions, is an elaborate boulevard of culture, arts & crafts and cuisine. Spread over 100,000 square feet, this magical avenue offers an exciting experience of a busy Indian street showcasing India as a delightful destination to savour the best of local cuisines, sample many of India’s renowned handicrafts and enjoy live performances by traditional artists. The Culture Gully presents a magnificent Indian carnival showcasing 14 states of India in its entire splendor on a single street enveloped under a breathtaking skydRome.
 
         
 

  Fairy Queen Heritage train begins trips again next month
Fairy Queen, the world's oldest working steam engine will run from Delhi Cantonment railway station in New Delhi to the national park in Alwar district of Rajasthan between Oct 23, 2010 and March 12, 2011. The tourist train will take about two trips every month from next month to March 2011. The first trip will commence on October 23, 2010 and the subsequent trips will be on November 13; November 27; December 11; December 25; January 8, 2011; January 22, 2011; February 12, 2011; February 26, 2011 and the last trip will be on March 12, 2011. The full package would include on-ground catering, boarding, lodging, transfer facilities, visit to Sariska National Park and a cultural programme show. The train will depart from Delhi on day one at 9 a.m. and reach Alwar at 3 p.m. the same day. On day two, the train will depart from Alwar at 1 p.m. to reach Delhi at 6.45 p.m. the same day.
 
         
 

  Karnataka chases luxury market
SOUTH India’s gateway state Karnataka is targeting luxury travellers by adding a second itinerary to its luxury train Golden Chariot and setting up a heli-tourism facility linking important historical sites. The southern circuit on the Golden Chariot was launched on October 4, and will cover Chennai, Mamallapuram, Kumbakonam, Pondicherry, Tanjore, Madurai and Kochi on its week-long journey. The new itinerary will alternate with the existing itinerary that covers Karnataka and Goa. The state will also launch heli-tourism in a month or so. In the pipeline are 23 helipads, one in every district and at every important tourist destination. Heli-tourism will first connect the heritage circuit that includes the World Heritage sites of Hampi and Pattadakal along with Bijapur, Badami, Belur and Halebidu. It will later be introduced to other circuits.
 
         
 

  Shantiniketan, Western Ghats may be next world heritage sites
Shantiniketan in West Bengal, the abode of Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore, and Western Ghats can well be the country’s next world heritage sites if India’s proposal in this regard is accepted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Shantiniketan, which houses the world-famous Visva Bharati University and attracts thousands of tourists from across the globe every year, is India’s official entry this year for UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. Besides Shantiniketan, the Western Ghats has also been nominated for the World Heritage Site honour. Click here to read more....
 

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Hotel News.....

         
 

 

  India  
         
 

  Hotels in Goa to take tourist's pictures as security measure
In Goa tourists will not be the only ones capturing treasured moments on their camera. Now, as a security measure, hotel managements in the tourist state will be snapping a quick picture of every guest that checks into the hotel. "Photos of all guests checking into the hotel may be clicked at the reception counter and kept for record," a Goa police advisory recently issued to hotels in the tourist state says. The advisory also insists that hotels should not entertain "walk-in guests" (without reference or pre-bookings) and allow visitors for hotel guests no further than the reception. "Visitors wanting to meet guests should not be allowed to go to the guest's room but the guest should be asked to meet the visitor in the lobby/reception itself. All visitors must be given a visitor pass," the advisory states. Click here to read more....
 
         
 

  ‘Ananda in the Himalayas’ voted ‘Favourite Spa in Asia’ by Readers’ Choice Crystal Awards
‘Ananda in the Himalayas’ has received the eighth annual award of SpaFinder, Inc., the global spa resource. It has been declared as ‘Favourite Spa in Asia’ in the most coveted Readers’ Choice Crystal Awards. Besides, it has received five more awards including the ‘Country Award for Favourite Spa in India’, ‘Award for one of the Top 10 Favourite Spa Professionals’, ‘Top 10 Best for Cooking Classes’, ‘Top 10 best for Cuisine’ top 10 best for Mind-Body-Spirit and Yoga’. According to the company release, the Crystal Awards Asia Pacific is an annual event that recognises and honours the best of the spa and wellness industry in the Asia Pacific region through a stringent voting process. Awarding brands and properties in various categories, The Crystal Awards Asia Pacific 2010 endorsed through a collective voice of spa-goers and experts of the industry. The Crystal Awards process is entirely criteria-based with customised and specific audit processes for each category.
 
         
 

  Taj Falaknuma Palace Hyderabad opens
Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad is now open after 10 years of sensitive restoration. The Taj has infused new life into this sixty room private palace which was once the residence of Nizam Mehboob Ali Khan. Falaknuma Palace is also known as the ‘mirror of the sky’ because at 2000 feet, it was built in the clouds and reflects the ever-changing moods of the sky. It is set in 32 acres of land and spread over 19400 square meters. The Palace offers 60 rooms and suites including a Grand Presidential Suite. The dining options include Celeste (serves Italian and Mediterranean cuisine), Ada (Indian fine dining), Jade Verandah (serving a la carte menu or traditional Hyderabadi, Turkish and South Indian dishes for breakfast), Hookah Lounge, the Jade Room (serving Tea from all over the globe). The hotel also offers an outdoor pool and the signature Jiva Spa. The Palace Library, a replica of the one at Windsor Castle, is a collector’s envy as it is home to the rarest of manuscripts, books and one of the most acclaimed collections of the Holy Quran in the country, all of which were selected and brought back by the Nizam himself.
 
         
 

  The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi opens
The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi is located on the National Highway in the city's growing business and entertainment district, just 15 minutes from Delhi's Indira Gandhi Airport. The Hotel offers 313 spacious guest rooms and suites Westin Heavenly Beds, rainforest showers and more. There are 2 exclusive Westin Executive Club floors which provide access to the duplex Club Lounge with panoramic views of Millennium City. Hotel facilities include the Westin Workout Gym, 24-Hour Business Centre, Outdoor Pool and Heavenly Spa by Westin. The F&B outlets include EEST (pan Asian cuisine), Progo (Italian cuisine), Seasonal Taste (all day dining), Splash (pool side restaurant) and Mix Lounge and Bar. With more than 1,360 square meters of flexible indoor space and 820 square meters of garden space, The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi is designed to host meetings and events of virtually any shape and size.
 
         
      Sri Lanka  
         
 

  The Sri Lanka's Heritage in Hospitality
The Galle Face Hotel was awarded the Heritage Hotel Award at the Presidential Awards for Travel and Tourism, The Galle Face Hotel which was built in year 1864 was adjudged the winner of the Heritage Hotels on comprehensive evaluation criteria comprising revenue generation, Innovation, History and Culture. In the heart of Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, regally stands the Galle Face Hotel, a premier legend, one of Asia's best! With an impressive arched façade that overlooks the Galle Face Green, the hotel borrowed its name from this charming promenade way back in 1864. Built by four British entrepreneurs who were looking to start a business in the city, Galle Face Hotel is the only city hotel bordering the Indian Ocean. Having been in Business continuously since 1864 this Sea front Luxury city hotel is the "Sri Lanka's Heritage in Hospitality.
 

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Aviation News......

         
      Domestic  
         
 

  Jet Airways introduces 46 new domestic flights across India
Jet Airways has introduced 46 new flights across India as part of its winter schedule. In addition to the launch of new flights on existing sectors, the airline has introduced services on nine additional sectors across India, with immediate effect. Jet Airways Konnect will inaugurate a daily service on the tenth sector, Aurangabad - Pune, effective March 1, 2011. The airline has introduced direct services between Vishakhapatnam and three important Indian metros- Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad. It has also connected Delhi with Bhopal and Ahmedabad and Aurangabad with Pune.
 
         
 

  JetLite introduces 30 new domestic flights across India
JetLite, Jet Airways’ all-economy subsidiary, has introduced 30 new domestic flights, including the launch of its services on eight additional sectors across India. The airline now connects Mumbai and Hyderabad with Raipur, Nagpur with Bengaluru, Delhi and Indore respectively. JetLite also connects Delhi with Pune and Chandigarh, and will launch a daily service between Bengaluru and Chandigarh from December 5, 2010. Click here for the flight schedule.....
 
         
 

  IndiGo to launch three new flights from Kolkata next month
IndiGo is set to launch three new flights. The airline will operate its third non-stop daily flight on the Kolkata-Agartala route, and second non-stop daily flights on Kolkata to Jaipur sector. In addition, Kolkata will be now connected with Ahmedabad with three daily flights. The new flights will provide increased frequencies on the routes and offer greater travel options for its customers and will commence effective November 7, 2010 and November 18, 2010 respectively. Click here for the flight schedule.....
 
         
 

  Kingfisher Airlines to launch 22 additional domestic flights from October 31, 2010
Kingfisher Airlines has announced that from October 31, 2010 its winter schedule would feature 22 more flights covering four winter routes, four additional frequencies on existing routes and reinstatement of two routes.
The key highlights of the 2010 Winter Schedule are:-
  • Four new routes in the 2010 winter schedule namely Varanasi- Khajuraho, Udaipur-Jaipur, Jaipur-Jodhpur and New Delhi-Agra
  • Two additional flights have been introduced on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route taking the total number of daily flights on this route to three flights a day in each direction.
  • An additional flight has also been introduced on the New Delhi-Lucknow route taking the total number of daily flights on this route to three flights a day
  • An additional flight has been introduced between Mumbai-New Delhi and New Delhi- Mumbai
  • One flight each on the Mumbai–Kolkata–Mumbai route and the New Delhi – Indore – New Delhi route has been reinstated.
 
         
      International  
         
 

  Etihad Airways commences ‘all Economy’ Class service from October 31, 2010
Etihad Airways started its first ‘all Economy’ Class service to Colombo, Thiruvananthapuram, Calicut and Peshawar from October 31, 2010. The A320 will be configured to carry 162 Economy Class passengers, an increase of 42 from the current economy capacity. The ‘all Economy’ services to the Indian Subcontinent will operate daily to Thiruvananthapuram on EY272/273; three times weekly on Calicut flights EY 250/251; twice weekly on flights to Peshawar in Pakistan on EY261/262; and four times weekly to the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, operating on EY 266/267. Click here for the flight schedule.....
 
         
 

  Alitalia and Jet Airways sign MoU to operate codeshare flights between Milan Malpensa-New Delhi from December 5, 2010
Alitalia and Jet Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that confirms the airlines’ intention to operate codeshare flights this winter season. With the agreement Jet Airways customers around the world will be able to fly to new Italian destinations, served by Alitalia. Alitalia customers will be able to fly directly from Italy to India with new destinations. Jet Airways will operate daily direct services between Milan Malpensa and New Delhi starting on December 5, 2010. Click here for the flight schedule.....
 
         
 

  Air India introduces Hyderabad-Delhi-Chicago flight from October 31, 2010
Air India introduced a flight to Chicago from Hyderabad via Delhi from October 31, 2010. Click here for the flight schedule.....
 

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Indian Recipe of the month......

         
 

  Fish Cutlets

The Fish Cutlet recipe is very easy to make. It can be served as an appetizer, snack or a side dish. Click here to read the recipe.....
 

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Newsletters Archive.....

     
  Click here to visit the 'Creatively Yours' Newsletter Archive.....  

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Contact Us......

     
  Creative Travel Pvt. Ltd.
Creative Plaza, Nanakpura, Moti Bagh, New Delhi 110021. India.
Tel: 24679192, 26872257-58-59, 26114281     Fax: +91-11-26885886 / 26889764     Email: creative@travel2india.com
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24 Hours International Emergency Contact Number : +91 - 99 11 266 277
(prefix a "0" before the number if dialing from outside
New Delhi but from within India
)
 

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Contact Us......

 
  You may contact us or any of our regional sales team nearest to you.  
 

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Brazil
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          manila@travel2india.com
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          sandra@sandraleach.co.uk
         
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