Category: Top Stories

As a leader in championing gender diversity and inclusion, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), South Asia’s largest hospitality company has announced South Asia’s first all women-managed luxury residences, Taj Wellington Mews in Chennai. This initiative is in line with the Company’s ongoing efforts in creating an equitable workplace and ecosystem, while empowering women in the hospitality industry. Speaking on the occasion, Rakhee Lalvani, Vice President – Public Relations and Corporate Communications, IHCL, said, “Women at IHCL have played a very vital role in the organisation with their contribution and by pushing boundaries. The upcoming Taj Wellington Mews, Chennai managed by an all-women team is indeed a proud moment ... Read more

An unruly Indian passenger who was on board an Air France flight to New Delhi from Ghana via Paris forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, according to media reports. As per the Bulgarian News Agency BTA, the Indian national, whose identity was not disclosed to the public , has been detained for 72 hours, quoted Sofia City Prosecutor Iliana Kirilova Kirilova said “After the troublemaker’s detention, the flight proceeded to its destination.” The Indian passenger has been charged with endangering the safety of an airborne aircraft, said Ivailo Angelov of the National Investigation Service. If ... Read more

Verdant green landscapes, misty mountains, romantic waterfalls, scores of folk art forms… the picturesque district of Wayanad is all this and much more. But if you are a true adventure lover, you may enjoy yourself at Karlad Lake in Wayanad, Kerala, India. The Wayanad Adventure Camp (WAC), the first of its kind in south India, run by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) Wayanad, is an ideal place for adrenaline junkies. Karlad Lake is perfect for adventurous activities. The DTPC offers a smorgasbord of adventure sports in this pretty place. It is the best place for those who love to ... Read more

The long-postponed and much-awaited elections for the Indian Association of Tour Operators IATO elections were held on 06 March’21. The elections initially were scheduled to be held in April 2020 but could not be conducted due to COVID-19. IATO is one of the largest travel bodies in India and hence the elections always generated much interest, and this year all the industry is going through one of the worst crises in history, and the question of survival and revival looming large. The outgoing Vice President of IATO, Rajiv Mehra of Uday Tours & Travels was up against Lally Mathews of ... Read more

The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) considered the first-ever biodiversity museum in the country was established in 2018 at Thiruvananthapuram and aims to generate awareness about biodiversity and Nature among people. The key groups of people the museum targets include farmers, students, forest-dependent communities, artisans, students and scholars. The museum has been structured in such a way that the many wonders of the natural world are vivified in all their splendour. The museum takes the visitors on a journey right from the Big Bang Theory to the origin of life and all other living forms on earth. With interactive panels, ... Read more

Vistara, one of India’s leading airline and full-service carrier, a joint venture of Tata group and Singapore Airlines, on 03rd March, inaugurated its non-stop flights between Mumbai, India and Malé, Republic of Maldives. Vistara, thus, becomes the only airline to offer the choice of Premium Economy class of travel on the route, in addition to Business class and Economy class. The inaugural flight, operated by Vistara’s Airbus A320neo aircraft, departed Mumbai at 1010 hours (IST) today and landed in Malé at 1225 hours (MVT). The airline will fly three times a week on the route under India’s transport bubble agreement ... Read more

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) called on leadership from the EU to save the Travel & Tourism sector which has been left in ruin by the COVID-19 pandemic. “On behalf of WTTC and our 200 members, I would like to thank the Portuguese Presidency of the EU, Commissioner Breton and all European ministers for their alignment to do everything they can to prepare for the summer season. According to our recent data, 174 million jobs have been impacted globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Europe alone, the most important region in the world, a staggering 23 million jobs ... Read more

In yet another endorsement of the globally-renowned Responsible Tourism project of Kerala as a path-breaking model, the community-driven initiative has bagged the coveted gold in the “Best Future Forward State” category at the sixth edition of the Indian Responsible Tourism Awards held at Konark in Odisha. Odisha received the Silver in this segment. For Kerala’s Responsible Tourism Mission, this is the 11th award since its launch in 2017. The honors amassed by the RT Mission within the short period included six international awards like WTM’s Gold, Gran, Highly Commented and Outstanding Achievement awards, PATA Gold, World Sustainable Tourism Award for ... Read more

Google Arts & Culture launched Wonders of Vietnam—an online project featuring multiple highlights of Vietnam’s UNESCO heritage sites for the first time, including natural sites and tangible and intangible heritage. Completed in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, local tourism boards of Da Nang, Quang Nam, Thua Thien Hue and Quang Binh, National Geographic award-winning photographer Tran Tuan Viet and Oxalis Adventure, the new project aims to capture and preserve the beauty of Vietnam for audiences all over the world. The online project features 35 exhibitions and 1,369 stunning pictures, bringing ... Read more

As in most parts of the world, full-time artists and artisans are drawn together, tending to form communities throughout the country, where locales are aesthetically inspiring and economically viable.  Bucharest and a few of the larger towns boast a few galleries showcasing work from such artist communities, but most don’t have galleries.  A few examples of local artists’ and artisans’ work are shown and sold in town museums, but most are sold in street markets adjoining major attractions.  Sellers usually are also the makers and many speak English.  A conversation with them can reveal fascinating facets of Romanian culture.  Craft ... Read more

The lights dim, as at the start of any theatre performance, and the audience leans forward to look through a letter-box slot or peephole in the door in front of them as the performers break out into dance. Japanese dance company Moonlight Mobile Theater has come up with a novel way of bringing people back to their avant-garde performances while maintaining social distancing. Audience members sit on stools in separated cubicles surrounding the stage, each with its own door and letter-drop slots through which they can watch the dancers. “We intentionally created small holes and slots resembling mailbox slots,” said ... Read more

An hour’s drive from Kannur lies a hidden hillock that boasts of some of the rarest floral species in God’s Own Country. Welcome to Madayipara, home to over 500 plant species, 300 flowering plants, and rare breeds of butterflies. Drive down here and the locals will inform you of the seasonal beauties at this laterite hill. Many are used during major festivals in decorative styles across the State. The bio-diversity of the place has slowly helped it gain traction among tourists and nature lovers alike. In ancient times, this place once served as the administrative center of the Ezhimala kings. ... Read more

The Director-General of Civil Aviation has extended the restrictions on international passenger flights due to the Covid disease until March 31. However, the restrictions do not apply to cargo flights approved by the DGCI. At the same time, the order states that international services will be allowed on selected routes depending on the circumstances. In the wake of Covid, the country imposed restrictions on international flights last March. Since then, regulation in other parts of the country has eased, but restrictions on international flights remain. By the end of last year, domestic flights were allowed in the country.

There is nothing better than Indian Railways to offer the most beautiful views at a low cost. What makes each train journey different is the pocket-sized cost and unlimited views and experiences. IRCTC has designed special Bharat Darshan Yatras for travelers who want to see India at a low cost. This is the latest in a series of IRCTC Bharat Darshan Yatras and the first Bharat Darshan Yatra from Kerala to Jammu and Kashmir. The Bharat Darshan Yatra to the world-famous Vaishnav Devi Temple will start on March 31. The journey passes through major tourist destinations like Jaipur, Chandigarh, and ... Read more

The world is predicted to have two major catastrophes that will make life impossible. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and the billionaire of the world, has been warned. Bill Gates warns of two more catastrophes than Covid. He said climate change and bio-terrorism were the two biggest challenges facing the world. In any case, the progress he is making to the world can now be discussed. These two disasters will make life impossible for people in different parts of the world. He warns that the economic loss and loss of life from climate change could be far greater than ... Read more