Category Archives: Travel & Tourism

US tourists top international footfall list at Taj

August 7, 2014Travel & Tourismmpositiveone@gmail.com

Agra :

At 12%, US nationals formed the largest chunk of international tourists to the Taj Mahal in 2013 followed by UK (8%) and Germany (7%), stated a June 2014 World Bank presented to the Agra district administration. The report titled ‘Destination profiling, tourism enterprises and value chain assessment’ aimed at assessing Agra’s potential to be developed as a tourism hub under a pro-poor tourism development programme.

The programme aims to provide better tourist facilities in the state so that the poor can earn a livelihood via revenue generated off tourism. The report states that every year, over 7 lakh foreigners visit the Taj – one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the focal point of tourism in Agra. But only one-third of foreign nationals who visit the 17th century mausoleum make a trip to the equally noteworthy Agra Fort and Fatherpur Sikri.

Delhi tops the list of domestic visitors to the Taj with 17.9% share, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan. However, the report cautioned that the figures, based on ticket sales at the ASI monuments and check-ins at Agra hotels are approximations only. Agra’s potential for development as a pro-poor tourist hub remains unrealized as only a little over 50% of foreign tourists stay overnight, while others prefer leaving the city by evening after visiting the Taj.

In other words, out of 7.4 lakh foreign tourists who came to Agra in 2013, 4.03 lakh stayed overnight. On the other hand, only 5% domestic tourists stayed overnight. “Overnight stays can have greater impact on the local economy.

Hoteliers largely attribute this decline to opening of the Yamuna Expressway facilitating day trip from the national capital. Adverse publicity (crime) and lack of tourism options beyond major monuments are other factors for less night stay” the report said, adding that in comparison to 94-330 US dollar a foreign tourist should spend on a one-day tour in Agra, only 40-110 Us dollars are spent. The 2013 Uttarakhand deluge has also affected the number of tourists visiting Agra, it stated. Foreign tourists’ inflow to Taj Mahal decreased by over 29% in June 2013 as compared to June 2012.

This is attributable to the rising number of crimes in the country sand the 2013 Uttarakhand flashfloods. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), 4.29 lakh foreigners visited Taj between June and December 2012, while only 3.29 lakh turned up during the corresponding period in 2013. The trend continues in 2014 as well with 1.55 lakh visitors in January and February, compared to 1.75 lakh in 2013 fort he same period.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Agra / Aditya Dev, TNN / July 22nd, 204

Dry Gobi awarded the Best Street Food

July 23, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Travel & Tourismmpositiveone@gmail.com

Usman is seen displaying the award presented to him by Zee Kannada while his father Abid is seen preparing the delicious Dry Gobi at the Chat Street on Krishna Vilas Road.

Mysore :

Every Mysorean who has visited the ‘Chat Street’ on Krishna Vilas Road, in front of Devaraja Traffic Police Station, would be familiar with the mouth-watering ‘Dry Gobi’ that is available hot and crispy every day.

People stand in queue to put their hands on the yummy Dry Gobi prepared by Abid and Usman, his son. The father-son duo recently won the ‘Best Street Food Award’ at the ‘Oggarane Dabbi’, cookery competition organised by Zee Kannada, a regional channel.

Abid was previously selling ball-point pens at Shivarampet before preparing and selling Dry Gobi. He has been selling dry gobi since 18 years. Earlier, Abid was selling dry gobi for six years at NR Road before moving to Krishna Vilas Road, now popular as ‘Chat Street’.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Abid said that it was former Mayor D. Dhruvakumar, who gave him an opportunity to sell Gobi at the Dasara Exhibition Grounds and added that it was because of his help that day he was able to look after his family and it was yielding good results.

Abid also expressed his happiness for his delicacy being awarded the Best Street Food- 2014 by Zee Kannada.

To prepare dry dobi, Abid uses around 15 kg oil and 100-150 kg cauliflower. Earlier, Dry Gobi was being sold at Rs. 10 per plate. But with the rise in prices of essential commodities, it is being sold at Rs. 30 per plate.

The cuisine is so famous that people from across India who visit Mysore come to Chat Street to tickle their taste buds with Dry Gobi. This apart, local MLAs, Corporators and senior officials also visit Abid’s Usman Dry Gobi Stall to taste the delicacy.

Award for Green Leaf Food Court

Zee Kannada “Oggarane Dabbi” has presented the best family restaurant award to Hotel Green Leaf Food Court on Kalidasa Road in city.

The award was presented at a function held in Mysore on July 6. The awards programme was telecast in Zee Kannada Channel on July 12 and 13. It will be telecast once again on July 19 and 20 at 9 pm.

Green Food Court is a 12-year-old venture managed by Pandiyanda Anil Kariappa and team of Mysore. It is known all over the city for excellent quality service and tasty vegetarian delicacies.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 18th, 2014

Shah Jahan’s summer palace found near Taj

July 3, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Travel & Tourismmpositiveone@gmail.com

The Taj Mahal, built between 1632 and 1653, is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture.

Agra :

In an interesting discovery following excavations carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India recently, remains of a summer palace, presumably a baradari, a pavilion designed to allow free flow of air – have been reportedly found at the centuries-old Mughal-era garden Mehtab Bagh located opposite the Taj Mahal.

The garden was reputedly Shah Jahan’s favourite spot which he used to visit to get a view of the Taj at night, hence it’s name (Mehtab means moonlight in Urdu).

“The remains of the baradari-like structure have been found just opposite the Taj Mahal which strengthens our belief that the Mughal emperor must have built this place to enjoy the view of the Taj sitting near the bank of river.

The place seems to have sunk beneath the surface either due to floods or because of the presence of hollow space under the structure,” said a senior ASI official.

The excavated remains of the walls at the garden complex, situated on the opposite bank of the Taj Mahal in Agra. (PTI photo)

Incidentally, Mehtab Bagh has been associated with the myth of the black Taj which is believed to have been spun by guides to fascinate foreign tourists. According to the story, Shah Jahan wanted to build another Taj in black marble across the Yamuna and connect the two by a bridge. Mehtab Bagh is pointed out by some as the possible site where the black Taj would have come up.

“There has never been any historical evidence to prove the existence of a black Taj,” said the official.

During excavation work carried out between 1997 and 1999 at Mehtab Bagh, the ASI had found remains of a huge octagonal tank furnished with 25 fountains, a small central tank and a baradari in the east of the garden. “The present work is going in the south direction of the garden in the straight alignment of the Taj Mahal which makes the discovery an interesting one,” added the official.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> India / by Adithya Dev, TNN / July 02nd, 2014

A ‘Taj Mahal’ in Kuwait

June 26, 2014Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Travel & Tourism, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

Taj Mahal of India is widely recognized as “the jewel of art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”. It’s a unique monument built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and one of the best examples of Islamic architecture.

Millions visit India to get glimpses of this unique architectural beauty and this includes a large number from Middle East. How about seeing the beauty of Taj Mahal here itself in Kuwait?

Inspired by the architecture of Taj Mahal, Kuwait has designed a mosque exactly like Taj Mahal, a replica. The mosque is a bigger version of India’s Taj Mahal. It’s 3 times bigger.

Sadeeqa Fatimatul Zahra Mosque, a prayer place for the Kuwaitis, looks similar to India’s Taj Mahal from the outside. Located at Block 6, Abdullah Al-Mubarak area, West of Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, the mosque is already gaining a reputation as one of Kuwait’s most distinctive buildings and is called the “Taj Mahal of Kuwait”.

It’s learned that Hassan Johar, a Member of Parliament, who was behind this unique project here, received the blessing of the Indian embassy before building the mosque.

Internal design of the mosque differs from the original. It consists of carvings of verses from the Quran. The four minarets and central dome of the mosque are adorned with brass crescents. The main prayer area is at the ground floor with library and utilities. It has a separate prayer hall for the women in the first floor. The Mosque was officially opened for the public in 2011.

The beauty of the mosque in middle of the desert is mesmerizing. It’s a proud feeling for all Indians here in Kuwait to witness a replica of the Taj Mahal in Kuwait. Those who have not seen the Taj Mahal in India, they can now see it in Kuwait.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> NRI> Contributions> Contributors / by Deepika Nambiar, TOI Contributor / April 30th, 2014

UK Marks Centenary of Indian-Origin WW II Spy Noor Inayat Khan

June 23, 2014Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, NRI's / PIO's, Travel & Tourism, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

London:

The birth centenary year of Noor Inayat Khan, the famous Indian-origin World War II spy, was observed in the UK this week.

Popular English novelist and political commentator Frederick Forsyth was among the key guests at a special memorial event in London to celebrate the life of Noor, the great-great-great-grand-daughter of Tipu Sultan, who became the first female radio operator to be sent from Britain into occupied France.

“What is so remarkable about Noor Inayat Khan is that she owed us nothing; she didn’t have to go,” said Forsyth, the well-known thriller writer behind books such as ‘The Day of the Jackal’ and ‘The Odessa File’ who compared her to the 18th century ruler, Tipu Sultan, known as the ‘Tiger of Mysore’.

“When it came to being recruited for the SOE (Special Operations Executive), she could have said ‘thank you but no’…but she volunteered. There must be something of the old tiger in her genes. It is recorded that she fought like a tigress…Noor absolutely did not die for nothing.

“She is an amazement, a remarkable and extraordinarily brave woman who did what she did for a country to which she owed nothing,” Forsyth said.

The memorial event was organised by the Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Trust set up by Shrabani Basu – author of the World War II heroine’s biography ‘Spy Princess’.

It coincided with the dates of June 16-17, 1943, when Noor – under her codename Madeleine – was flown to the landing ground in Northern France.

“She combined the rational side of her personality with her hatred of injustice and became one of our greatest heroines. My hope is that she would have gone back to that inner life that sustained her,” said Christine Crawley, a Labour party politician who has campaigned for the contribution of women agents in the war to be commemorated.

The SOE was an underground force established in Britain in 1940 by war-time Prime Minister Winston Churchill to “set Europe ablaze”.

It recruited men and women to launch a guerilla war against Hitler’s forces.

Noor, born in September 1914 to an Indian Muslim father and an American mother, grew up in Britain and France.

Despite her pacifist views, she decided to join the war effort to defeat the Nazis and was eventually captured.

In spite of being repeatedly tortured and interrogated, she revealed nothing and was executed by an SS officer on September 13, 1944, at Dachau concentration camp at the age of 30.

She was later awarded the George Cross, the highest civilian decoration in the UK, in recognition of her bravery.

A bust in Noor’s memory now stands at Gordon Square in central London, a stone’s throw from the home she briefly lived in.

source: http://www.ndtv.com / NDTV / Home> Diaspora / Press Trust of India / June 19th, 2014

MELANGE : A mouthful of goodness

May 20, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Travel & Tourismmpositiveone@gmail.com

Tradition rules at Albert Bakery./ Photo Murali Kumar K. / The Hindu

Come one, come all to Albert Bakery and indulge in an array of nostalgic slices of confectionaries that are a rich part of Bangalore’s culinary heritage

Nestled in the heart of Frazer Town on the famous Mosque Road is a slice of the city’s history so unassumingly located that you would miss it entirely if you were walking or driving fast enough. And yet, Albert Bakery is one spot you would always want to stop by and taste their array of confectionaries. Bangalore is famous not only for its music and climate but also, over the years, for its food and Albert Bakery has been a major player in the city foodscape forever. The 112-year-old bakery is easily the city’s oldest and has been upholding a gastronomical tradition over the decades.

A thriving hotspot, the bakery is open only from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is sometimes so packed that there are traffic snarls on Mosque Road.

And for those who frequent the street during the festive season of Ramzan, if you haven’t stopped at Albert Bakery to grab a bite of their goodies, then everyone will tell you that you haven’t lived life to the fullest.

Mohammad Sabir Faizan, the son of the proprietor Nawab Jan, says they strive to uphold the traditional baking practises. “We have always opened from 3 to 9 p.m. because we make the confectionaries fresh in the morning. Other bakeries may belong to a chain of supplies so they add preservatives and improvers which we never do. We make batches that are sufficient for each day.”

Established in 1902 by Sabir’s great grandfather Mohammad Yacoob, the bakery was initially a godown in Sangam lane off Kamaraj Road. “We used to deliver only buns and bread. That used to be the usual catering back then. We cycled down the roads with baskets of bread and buns delivering it to people in the locality. We shifted to Mosque Road in 1921 and since then we have stayed here,” recalls Sabir.

When my grandfather Mohammad Ibrahim was around, they had bread, biscuits, rusks, tea biscuits and other regular items. “It was only after my father Nawab took over that he introduced the kova naans, coconut cherry cookies, mini cocktail samosas and other specialities.”

From delicious hot kova and keema naans and mini cocktail samosas to butter salt biscuits and coconut cherry cookies, Albert Bakery boasts of a variety of foodstuffs that make mouths water at the mention of the bakeries name.

The spread available at Albert Bakery / Photo Murali Kumar K. / The Hindu

On the name, Sabir says back in the early 1900s, “My great grandfather felt it would appeal to everyone if it had an English name. There is a common misconception that the shop was started by some foreigner called Albert. We had a lot of Britishers as customers so a common name like Albert would make it easy to relate to and the name stuck.”

Being the fourth generation in this line, Sabir hopes to carry this legacy forward. “We may launch an outlet elsewhere but all the production will always be here. We don’t want to expand much because of the freshness factor. We will never compromise on quality.”

A bakery like Albert in a city like Bangalore is a blessing, says Sabir. “There were no shops in this area when we started. Now there is a huge boom in development. The city has helped us come up. We also have a lot of competition so that helps us strive to be more creative and innovative. We are proud to be part of Bangalore’s rich cultural and culinary heritage.” The bakery’s other specialties are the hot cross buns on Good Friday, marzipan Easter eggs on Easter Sunday, non-alcoholic plum cakes for Christmas and brain puff for Ramzan.

They also have daily specialties like the chocolate lava cake, chicken Swiss and mayo rolls, tarts, quiches, banana and grape muffins, chocolate croissants and donuts and pizzas.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Food / by Allan Moses Rodricks / Bangalore – May 16th, 2014