16-Mar-2024
Ooty’s toy train which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site will be offering a special service this summer. From 29th March to 1st July special trains will be launched on this route. April – May is the peak tourism season in Ooty and this move has been planned to benefit maximum tourists arriving here. On Fridays
and Sundays a special train will be run connecting Mettupalayam to Ooty while on Saturdays and Sundays the special train will run between Ooty to Mettupalayam. Traversing 46km of beautiful terrain the train will cross 206 bridges and 16 tunnels, running through the Nilgiris offering mesmerizing views to the travelers. Along with the toy trains at Matheran, Darjeeling & Kalka-Shimla, the Ooty toy train is among one of the oldest toy trains running in India.
15-Mar-2024
The T3 terminal of Lucknow was inaugurated by PM Modi along with five more airports at Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad & Shravasti in Uttar Pradesh. PM Modi has repeatedly emphasized the need for urbanization of 2 and 3 tier cities and airports will provide the necessary push in that direction by making travel for business as well as tourism easier. Shravasti is a part of the Buddha circuit and its airport can now handle small planes. The other airports too have received clearance from AAI & DGCA. The Lucknow T3 terminal is expected to cater to nearly 8 million passengers annually with almost 4000 passengers per hour daily.
14-Mar-2024
The names of 8 suburban railway stations of Mumbai are set to change after the State Government approved the same. Stations bearing old colonial names will now be renamed. Curry Road will be Lalbaug, Sandhurst Road will be Dongri, Marine Lines will be Mumbadevi, Charni Road will be Girgaon, Cotton Green will be Kalachowki, Dockyard will be Mazgaon, King’s Circle will be Tirthankar Parshwanath & finally Mumbai Central will be Nana Jagannath Shankarsheth. Earlier too VT, Elphistone road & Oshiwara had been renamed as CST, Prabhadevi & Ram Mandir. This change will come into effect once the Central Government approves of this change.
13-Mar-2024
Assam will soon be introducing tourism police for the safety of tourists. The new Assam Tourism Bill includes provisions to introduce tourist police stations to help safeguard tourists visiting the state. Every hotel & accommodation facility in the state will now have to register with the tourism department. Many
states like Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, and Uttar Pradesh already have tourism police. This step was initiated under the direction of the Union Government.
12-Mar-2024
Fly91, a private airline based in Goa has just received its air operator’s certificate (AOC) from the DGCA. The airline will begin its operations with two aircrafts and by September the total number is slated to increase to six. The first flight of Fly91 was on 2nd March from Goa’s MOPA airport to Bengaluru airport.
The airline code is IC and Lakshadweep will be a major destination for Fly91. At present only Alliance Air is running flights to Lakshadweep. The airline will focus on connecting destinations with rare flight flight frequencies like Agatti, Sindhudurga, Jalgaon, Nanded, Pune, etc with busy airports like Bengaluru & Goa.
11-Mar-2024
The US H-1B visa registrations for fiscal year 2025 have begun! The H-1B visa registration began from 6th Mar and will end on 22nd Mar. From 31st Mar the USCIS will begin to inform those selected and from 1st Apr those selected can begin to submit their H-1B petitions. The registration fee will be USD10 per application.
09-Mar-2024
The country’s first underwater metro service was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in Kolkata on 06th Mar 2024. This latest mode of transport will not only help save time during commute but will also help in reducing traffic jams and air pollution. The 16.6km long metro tunnel runs under the Hooghly river. The
underwater metro connects Howrah with Kolkata and has 6 stations, of which 3 are underground. The metro has ATO (Automatic Train Operation) which means that the train goes to the next station at the mere press of a button by the driver. Th 520m long stretch under water will be covered in just 45 seconds. In the future the Kolkata Metro plans to start operating between Salt Later Sector V and Howrah Maidan.
08-Mar-2024
Madhya Pradesh will soon have 2 new airports at Guna and Shivpuri. This will help facilitate better connectivity to the state as well as between different cities in the state. Both airports will be developed under the Central Government’s UDAN scheme. Spirit Air, a startup airlines company has already come forward to offer services between Shivpuri and Bhopal. Not only will this ensure better regional connect but it will also help in tourism & provide jobs, trade and commerce to seekers in related industries. Shivpuri is known for its ancient forts from a rich past, beautiful lakes and will attract nature & history lovers while Guna is known for its bustling markets.
07-Mar-2024
Kerala has outdone itself once again in tourism! Breaking its own record from the previous year, in 2023 Kerala witnessed 2.18 crore tourist footfalls. This is a massive increase of 15.92% over the previous year. Ernakulum district welcomed maximum tourists followed by Idukki, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and
Wayanad. Nearly 6,49,057 international tourists visited the state. Despite this surge in visitors the tourism minister pointed out that they are yet to reach the pre-Pandemic level in terms of international tourists.
06-Mar-2024
The Supreme Court has banned tiger safaris in the core areas of Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand. According to instructions from the Supreme Court, tiger safaris will now be conducted only in the peripheral areas and buffer zones of the park. This decision was taken in order to preserve the balance between tourism and the sensitive forest ecosystem.
05-Mar-2024
Overcrowding is a growing concern for almost every popular tourist destination and various places have been taking different mentions to tackle this issue so that those visiting can have a quality time at the place of interest and the locals too are not disturbed. Japan too is facing an overcrowding issue
at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mount Fuji. Other than overcrowding there is also littering and hikers visiting without a proper gear. To tackle the overcrowding issue a fee of ₹1108 per person has been introduced by the Government. There are also plans to allow only 4000 visitors per day. Guides too
will be trained and deployed to guide visitors and make them aware about the risks involved in the climb & the necessary safety measures. After the pandemic even other areas of Japan like Kyoto and Hatsukaichi are straining under the pressure of over-tourism and the locals have been demanding imposition of fines and penalties to ensure better behaviour from tourists. The Hatsukaichi town has already introduced a visitor fee of ₹55 per person to visit the famous floating shrine torii gate.
04-Mar-2024
Air India has introduced special discounted rates for Premium Economy Class for select sectors to the USA. This discount will be valid for bookings made between 23rd Feb 2024 to 19th Apr 2024 and for travel dates from 23rd Feb to 31st May 2024. Special fares from India to USA will be starting from ₹136,699 while those from USA to India will be starting from USA1599.
02-Mar-2024
Indians are now eligible for a 96 hour free visa to Saudi Arabia. Indians are also now eligible to take Umrah on business, tourism & Umrah visas. Indians traveling through Saudi on a layover or traveling through Flynas, a low-cost Saudi airline are being offered a 96 hour free visa. Also visitors holding a
US, UK or Schengen visa are eligible for an e-Visa or visa on arrival. This visa will be issued for free and will be valid for 90 days. Applicants will be able to apply 90 days before their date of travel. This 96 hour visa will help visitors to participate in business or other events, visit the Prophet’s mosque, etc. Once applied the digital visa will come directly into the applicant’s mailbox.
01-Mar-2024
Along one of the banks of the Saryu river near Ram ki Paidi will soon be developed a beach! The authorities have given permission to develop a chowpatty at Ayodhya where a variety of hygienically prepared food will be available for visitors. Temporary food stalls will be set up at the chowpatty with special attention being paid to hygiene as well as cleanliness. A seating area will also be developed along the riverbanks where visitors can assemble and spend some time eating or relaxing next to the river.
29-Feb-2024
The International Yoga Festival will be held from 8th March to 14th March at Parmartha Niketan in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. People attending will get an opportunity to meet & be guided by Yoga experts from across the world during the 70 hour session. Various forms of yoga like Kriya Yoga, Kundalini,
Iyengar, Power Vinyasa will be practiced during this session. There will other cultural events, dance & music performances and a chance to watch the Ganga arti. Parmath Niketan where the Yoga Festival will be held is situated on the banks of the Ganga and surrounding by the towering Himalayas offering a perfect place to exercise the body and calm the mind.
28-Feb-2024
The Pamban railway bridge connecting the mainland to Rameshwaram is nearing completion and will soon be open for public use. It is India’s first ever vertical light bridge over sea. Extraordinary challenges have been faced and overcome in making this one of a kind bridge. Its foundation stone was laid in 2019. This bridge will allow boats and ship to travel underneath while trains will run over it. The older bridge had limited vertical clearance and hence this new bridge has been built.
27-Feb-2024
The Hemkund Sahib Yatra will begin from 25th May and will go on till 10th Oct. The Hemkund Sahib is currently covered in snow which will be cleared by the army once the date of the yatra draws near. Last year nearly 1.7 lakh devotees had visited this holy place for darshan trekking 15km from Govind ghat to reach Hemkund Sahib.The nearest airport is at Dehradun while the nearest railway station is at Rishikesh.
26-Feb-2024
Dubai which is a very popular destination among Indians for vacations as well as business has started offering a 5 year multiple entry visa to Indians. Once approved the visa holder will be able to stay in Dubai for 90 days. The visa can be extended once after the 90 day period is over. The maximum stay allowed will be for 180 days annually. This move is expected to further boost tourism in the country as visitors will be able to move in and out of the country multiple times with ease thus boosting business as well as leisure travel.
24-Feb-2024
Japan is all set to launch its digital nomad program. Japan, a destination popular among tourists will be starting a digital nomad visa program from March 2024. This visa will be valid for 6 months, thus solving the long-standing problem of 90 day stay limit. This move will help boost tourism in Japan as more and more tourists are curious to explore Eastern countries like Japan, Korea, Russia, etc. Just last year American tourists visiting Japan saw a massive hike of 26% as compared to 2019. Workers with minimum annual salary of ¥10 million (approximately $66,400) and belonging to 49 select countries will be eligible to apply for the digital nomad visa. Self-employed individuals too can apply so long as they have private health insurance. This visa will cover not just the applicant but also his/her spouse & children. Immediate extensions after expiry of visa will not be granted for nomad visas.
23-Feb-2024
Thailand, whose tourism industry is still recovering from the impact of COVID related lockdown & travel bans has been coming up with various initiatives to attract tourists to the country. One of its latest initiative is offering medical coverage of up to USD14,000 to tourists in case of accidents. However, accidents caused by negligence, intent, illegal acts or risky behaviour will not be covered under this scheme. In case of the unfortunate death of a tourist the government will provide compensation of approximately USD37,270. The government believes that these measures will improve visitor’s trust in the safety of the country & help rebuild confidence about the country & boost tourism. These initiatives will be on till 31st August 2024
22-Feb-2024
The first sea zipline facility in India is now open at Ratnagiri in Maharashtra at the Aare Waare beach. Called the Ocean Fly Zipline it is close to other popular destinations like Ganpatipule. Konkan is well known for its beautiful beaches, temples and is slowly also becoming popular for its water sports
activities. The Ocean Fly Zipline will operate from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM and will cost INR600 per person.
21-Feb-2024
The Eiffel Tower in Paris has been closed down for tourists for an indefinite period. Owing to labour strike the world famous monument has been closed for tourists & they are being advised to check the official website of Eiffel Tower to get all the latest updates about the strike before visiting. People who
have already purchased their tickets online in advance have been asked to check their messages for updates. Earlier too the Eiffel Tower had been closed during Christmas & New Year’s due to labour strike.
20-Feb-2024
A recently developed selfie-point at the LOC is becoming popular amongst tourists. This point lies against the backdrop of Uri offering a beautiful view of the Jhelum river. This point is called the INDIA selfie point was opened up to the public on Republic Day this year. It is situated on the NH-44 and was designed by artist Rouble Nagi’s foundation. Rouble has also designed & set up the selfie points at Polo view market, Rajbagh & Dal Lake.
19-Feb-2024
Dubai International Airport (DXB) saw a footfall of a record 11.9 million guests . India was at the first spot in terms of passengers traveling through DXB followed by Saudi Arabia & UK. DXB recently achieved 4.5 in ACI World’s globally recognized Airport Service Quality (ASQ) program owing to its excellent service record at the airport where waiting time is less than 4min at security check-in & less than 7min at departure passport control. Indians mainly visit Dubai for shopping, business or for tourism. It is a great option to visit with family and is easily accessible with most airports in India having a direct connection to DXB.
17-Feb-2024
Rajasthan is among the most popular places for domestic as well as international tourists in India. This year too Rajasthan saw a 12% growth in the domestic tourists visiting the state. Foreigners too visited the state in large numbers. In 2023 32.44 crore domestic tourists and 22.20 lakh international tourists
visited Rajasthan. After the pandemic the state has recovered magnificently in tourism. Foreign leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron & Czech Republic PM Petr Fiala too visited the state recently which has brought the state in the limelight in international media.
16-Feb-2024
Vietnam has achieved the title of “World’s Leading Heritage Destination 2023” recently. At the World Travel Awards Vietnam was recognized as a prime heritage destination in the world. Vietnam is not only known for its natural beauty but its culture manages to draw a huge number of tourists to the nation. Tourists prefer to visit not just the various forests, islands & mountains but also take special interest in visiting the heritage monuments of the country. Vietnam plans to boost its tourism by 2030 following a sustainable development path ensuring long term growth in tourism without harming its environment and natural beauty. From bustling city markets, to tranquil bays, from ancient temples to lip-smacking delicacies Vietnam has a little something to offer to everyone.
15-Feb-2024
In view of the farmers protest the Red Fort in Delhi has been shut down for visitors. It will be reopened only once clearance is granted by the security agencies. A lot of diversions have been created in & around Delhi, barricades have been put up, concrete blocks & nails have been erected to prevent the
agitators from reaching the capital. In 2021 the same farmers had reached Red Fort & pulled down the national flag on Republic Day leading to chaos & riots.
14-Feb-2024
India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) will be launched in Sri Lanka & Mauritius on 12th February. The introduction of UPI at these two countries popular amongst Indian tourists will help enhance digital connectivity. RuPay card too will be introduced by Mauritius which will help with economic integration and cooperation. This move will not just help Indian tourists visiting the countries but also a wide range of individuals in the country & those traveling from there to India. UPI has already been linked with UAE’s Instant Payment Platform while discussions to implement the same in Singapore, France, Indonesia, etc
are underway. Other than Sri Lanka & Mauritius, UPI also works in Bhutan, Oman & UAE, Nepal Southeast Asia & France.
13-Feb-2024
The first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi will be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 14th Feb 2024. The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple in Abu Dhabi will open to public from 1st March. The temple construction was announced in 2018 while the foundation stone was laid in 2019. The land for the BAPS Mandir has been gifted & is at Abu Mureikhah, Al Rahba area, close to the Abu Dhabi-Sweihan-Al Ain Road, near the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway. Over 2000 artists from Rajasthan & Gujarat have completed the intricate carvings of this temple which is built in pink sandstone from Rajasthan.
12-Feb-2024
Your visit to Bali is set to get costlier. From 14th Feb Bali will now impose a USD10 tourism tax. Seven categories are exempt from this tax but they will have to apply online for an exemption a month in advance. Tourists will be able to pay the levy at the arrival terminals of the international airport & port
. Bali had announced a tourism tax last year in order to safeguard their culture from an ever increasing number of tourists. Its main aim is to strike the perfect balance between remaining a calm, tropical paradise while also welcoming tourists visiting the country. All foreign tourists visiting Bali, including
children, will be required to pay the tourism tax, even if they are visiting Bali from other parts of the country.
10-Feb-2024
The Schengen visa is set to get costlier. The European Commission has proposed an increase in the base fee of the visas which will lead to increase in the overall visa fees. If this proposal is accepted Schengen visa fees will see a hike of 12.5%. Also travelers from countries which do not follow the citizen readmission laws strictly will have to pay an even higher fee while entering the EU. The fee for extending an existing Schengen visa will remain unchanged.
09-Feb-2024
The world’s second most luxurious train ‘Palace on Wheels‘ will be modifying its route for the first time in 42 years. The Palace on Wheels officials had announced plans to start religious tours from May. This new route will cover Delhi, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mathura & Vrindavan. On these religious tours alcohol & non-veg will not be served and food will be prepared without onion & garlic. These trains will run twice a month & will cover the 6 destinations in 6 days. These religious tours will initially be conducted for 2 months.
08-Feb-2024
Snow arrived weeks behind schedule in Kashmir this year. However now that its arrived its led to disruption of services in the valley. Many flights to & from Srinagar airport have been cancelled. Due to landslide traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was stopped for almost 4 hours halting all kinds of transport. Snow is being continuously cleared but vehicular movement is affected due to the now slippery roads. Indigo had to cancel almost six flights to Srinagar airport & two to Leh due to the bad weather conditions. While transport woes persist the locals are rejoicing to see their home decked in white with worries of global warming and no snow being put to rest for the time being.
07-Feb-2024
With most Indians cancelling their vacation plans to Maldives due to the objectionable comments made by their ministers against Indians & PM Modi, Sri Lanka has gained considerably in terms of tourism. Most Indians who cancelled their Maldives plan chose to travel to Sri Lanka, another island paradise near to India with a much friendlier attitude towards Indians. The number of Indian visitors to Sri Lanka almost doubled in January 2024 as compared to 2023. Sri Lanka is also being preferred as it is much more than mere beaches & also boasts of pilgrimage sites, beautiful landscapes, rich cultural & historical heritage sites as well. There are also an increased number of flights connecting the two countries leading to this upsurge.
06-Feb-2024
Indians visiting Eiffel Tower, Paris can now buy the entry ticket to Eiffel Tower by using UPI. NIPL announced that this will help Indian tourists abroad in making digital payments. It also announced that UPI will also be extended among the tourism & retail sectors in France & other European countries. With this move Eiffel Tower has become the first tourist spot to accept UPI payments while France has become the first country in Europe to do so. Indians form the second largest group of tourists visit Eiffel Tower.
05-Feb-2024
Indians now will no longer need a visa to visit Iran, provided they fulfill 4 conditions. Travelers will be allowed to enter only through airports. They will be allowed to stay for no more than 15 days. Iran recently has started a visa-waiver for 33 countries including India along with others like Russia,
UAE, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, etc. Indians will be allowed to visit Iran once every six months only & only tourists will be allowed to visit. Anyone who wishes to travel more frequently or stay for longer durations in the country will need to apply for a visa before travelling to Iran.
03-Feb-2024
The Ministry of Culture has proposed 12 forts of the Maratha Empire collectively called the “Maratha Military Landscape” for the UNESCO World Heritage List for 2024-25. These forts include Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, Lohagad, Khanderi Fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala Fort, Vijay Durg,
Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. These forts cover a variety of landscapes, some are hill forts, some forest forts, some sea forts, etc. and nearly 8 out of these 12 forts are protected by the ASI. India has 42 World Heritage sites at the moment with six of them being present in Maharashtra.
02-Feb-2024
In the interim budget the Government has announced certain welcome policies for the tourism sector as well as passionate travelers. The Government plans to convert 40,000 regular train bogies into Vande Bharat coaches as well as increase the number of Vande Bharat, NAMO trains & metro trains in cities. This
will greatly help reduce travel time & offer more comfortable yet affordable travel options to tourists. Funds have been allocated for development of tourism in islands like Lakshadweep in order to tap into their potential & turn them into tourist destinations.
01-Feb-2024
While the snowfall in Kashmir & Himalayas has been disappointing this year, conditions are much better down south. In Ooty the temperatures have fallen to an extreme low of 1.3 degree Celsius. This cold weather is accompanied by frost which has turned this hill station into a winter paradise. The frozen water
droplets led to some amazing picturesque views even as locals struggled going about their daily lives. While the day temperatures reached up to 25 degree Celsius in the Nilgiri districts they plummeted to 1.3 degree Celsius at night leading to a vast difference in day & night temperatures which disrupted the
routines of locals who are unaccustomed to such conditions.
31-Jan-2024
The first mountain flight to Kailash Manasarovar took place on 28th Jan this year. The flight took off from Nepalgunj with 38 Indians onboard & flying at a height of 27,000 feet provided spectacular views of the holy Mount Kailash & Manasarovar lake & its surroundings. The Kailash Mansarovar are extremely
important religious sites for not just Hindus but also Buddhists, Jains & some Tibetans. After COVID when China reopened the routes for Kailash Mansarovar they had hiked the fees considerably & put in lot of stringent measures of visas which made it difficult for commoners to visit the holy sites. Hence this
charter plane run by Shri Airlines was welcomed by pilgrims which helped them see the holy places & return back in 1.5hrs. The next flight is scheduled for first week of February and more flights will be made available in case there is more demand. Due to this flight Indians need not travel to Kathmandu anymore for going to Kailash Mansarovar as Nepalgunj is just 200km NE of Lucknow.
30-Jan-2024
There had been little to no snow in Kashmir & the Himalyan ranges over the past few months. However snow has finally arrived and has brought much cheer to tourists. Many tourists were cancelling their trips to Kashmir as places like Gulmarg which look doubly beautiful with a blanket of snow had received little
snowfall. However its finally snowing at the very end of Chilla-i-Kalan – a 40 day harsh winter period when maximum snow is received. Hundreds of tourists are now enjoying the fresh snow at Gulmarg & Sonmarg. With no snow at these popular tourist destinations, tourists were heading towards higher areas like Sinthan Top which is snow-clad most of the year.
29-Jan-2024
Odisha is starting a one of its kind safari featuring the melanistic black tiger. This safari of 3 black tigers found only in the Simplipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha will provide visitors a rare opportunity to see this rare species in its natural habitat. This will also be the world’s first melanistic tiger safari which will take place at Mayurbhanj in the Simplipal Tiger Reserve. This area is the exclusive ground of the melanistic tiger whose stripes are denser & darker than its cousins. The Simplipal Tiger Reserve covers an area of 2750 sq. km. and is home to over 50 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles among many more other animals along with 12 rivers flowing through it.
27-Jan-2024
The UP government has approved development of a Rapid Rail Corridor connecting the upcoming Noida airport with Delhi and NCR. This route will be on the Delhi-Meerut line and will be 72.3km long. This route is still in the infant stage and is expected to be completed only in 2041. The Noida airport will start operating by end of 2024. This rapid rail will also ensure smooth connectivity between NIA and Delhi’s IGI.
25-Jan-2024
Neemach Mata Mandir Ropeway is now open in Udaipur. The ropeway makes it easier to reach the temple. What is usually a 45min climb will now be reduced to just 3min due to this ropeway which covers a distance of 429.19m. This ropeway has 12 ventilated cabins which can carry 400 passengers hourly. These cabins have automated doors. The ropeway will operate from 7AM to 8PM daily and a round trip will cost INR185 per pax. While climbing the passengers will be treated to a wonderful view of the surrounding southern Aravali region.
24-Jan-2024
Japan will now impose a toll on those climbing Mount Fuji as well as limit the number of people allowed to climb the mountain every day. From July 1st when the 70 day summer climbing season begins only 4000 visitors will be allowed to climb Mount Fuji every day on the Yoshida trail. The existing facilities are
under a lot of strain due to over crowding & there is increase in the number of injuries as well as lot of littering on the mountain which has led the Government to introduce such measures. Climbers will also not be allowed to start their climb between 4PM to 2AM. The toll amount will be finalized in February.
23-Jan-2024
The Indian Railways has introduced 200 Aastha Special Trains to Ayodhya from 22nd Jan 2024. This comes after many leading airlines announcing direct flights to Ayodhya from major Indian cities. Railway trains will focus on connecting Tier 1 & Tier 2 cities to Ayodhya and these will in operation for the next 100 days after the grand opening of the temple on 22nd Jan. These trains will depart from various states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Jammu & Kashmir & Delhi with more connections coming up for the remaining states soon. Tickets for these special trains can be booked only on the IRCTC app or website and only vegetarian meals will be served on these trains.
22-Jan-2024
On 22nd Jan 2024 the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. He did Pranpratishtha of the murti in the presence of many saints & distinguished guests. From 23rd Jan onwards the temple was opened for darshan for everyone & more than 5 lakh devotees had darshan on the very first day. Seeing the massive number of devotees visiting the temple all bus services from Lucknow to Ayodhya have been suspended till the rush abates a little in order to avoid overcrowding at the temple. Devotees can visit the temple from 7AM to 11:30AM & from 2PM to 7PM.
20-Jan-2024
Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh has become India’s first Dark Sky Park (DSP). It is also the fifth DSP in Asia. A DSP is a region developed to promote astronomy & help star gazing enthusiasts observe the night sky by restricting aritifical light pollution. The view of the night sky unobstructed by any
light pollution is recognized as a natural resource today and efforts are underway to ensure the protection & conservation of such areas. DSP places take extra efforts in lighting policies & also on reaching out to masses & educating them about this natural resource. A night observatory has already been inaugurated at Pench while a telescope will soon be placed at an observation tower at Wagholi. Special accommodation for overnight stays are also being made available for stargazers visiting Pench to enjoy a view of the night sky.
19-Jan-2024
The Palace of Aigai in Greece where Alexander’s coronation took place has been fully restored and is now open to visitors. Also known as the Royal Metropolis of the Macedonians the Palace is spread across 15,000 sq.m. Built in the 4th century by Alexander’s father Philip II of Macedonia this was where Alexander
was crowned King after his father’s assassination. The Palace of Aigai was destroyed by the Romans in 148BCE but after 16 long years it has finally been restored to its former glory.
18-Jan-2024
Lakshadweep has been in the news recently after PM Modi’s visit to the tropical archipelago to promote it as an ideal beach vacation spot. Amidst all this the Tata Group has announced that they will be setting up two Taj hotels on the island by 2026. These hotels will be located at Suheli and Kadmat. The resort
at Suheli will be a 110 rooms property with 60 beachfront villas and 50 water villas. Kadmat which is also known as Cardamom island and is well known for its lagoon and corals will have a Taj hotel with 35 water villas and 75 beach villas. Lakshadweep is not just a beautiful spot for family vacations but also a great
place for water sports enthusiasts.
17-Jan-2024
Indians can now travel to 62 countries without the additional headache of visa applications. In this list are included many Southeast Asian countries, African countries as well as a few European and Caribbean nations. Indian passport ranks 80th on the Henley Passport Index. The most powerful passports belong to
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore and Spain with their citizens being able to travel visa-free to 194 countries. Meanwhile Indian passport holders can travel visa free to 62 countries with countries like Bhutan, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka & Thailand being the most preferred travel destinations for most
Indians.
16-Jan-2024
In order to attract more tourists and support local guides the Himachal Pradesh government has announced a 50% reduction in entry fee and tenting fee at popular trekking destinations like Triund and others. The Forest Department has reduced the entry fee to INR 100 from INR 200 earlier making these routes more affordable to tourists. The tenting fee too has been reduced to INR 550 from INR 1100 on twin sharing which will be inclusive of the entry fee! Guides registered with Miscellaneous Adventure Activities Operators will not need to pay any fee which will further encourage local community participation.
15-Jan-2024
With K-pop & Korean dramas becoming a huge hit among international audiences, especially the youth, a lot of people are now interested in visiting South Korea. South Korea is introducing two new visa categories in 2024 – the digital nomad visa (workation visa) and the K-culture training visa (Hallyu visa). The country wishes to turn into a major tourist hotspot and is doing everything to attract tourists. It has introduced foreign mobile payments & traveler mobility app which will help international tourist shop & travel easily within the country. The workation visa will help tourists work as well as travel and will be valid
for a period of 1 year. The Hallyu visa will be for those individuals who enroll in cultural academies and will be valid for two years.
13-Jan-2024
Due to a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases the Leh administration has made use of mask in public places compulsory. This is a proactive measure taken to ensure that the disease does not spread further. Face masks have been made compulsory in offices, public spaces public transport, tourist attractions, etc.
The administration has also requested that social distance be maintained by public & avoid over-crowding. Strict monitoring will be done to ensure that these advisories are followed.
12-Jan-2024
From March Schengen visa holders will be able to visit Bulgaria & Romania on their Schengen visas. The EU has permitted these two nations to use the Schengen system for entry in to their ports & airports. Both these nations have been a part of EU since 2007 but faced opposition from a few countries within the EU owing to the prevalence of a high rate of corruption, crimes, etc. But they have managed to overcome these concerns. At present the approvals are only for airport & port entries but entry through land borders too is soon expected to be granted.
11-Jan-2024
Wildlife enthusiasts on their next visit to Pench Tiger Reserve will be able to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the place. Recently paramotoring and hot air balloon rides have been introduced at Kolitmara near Pench in the buffer zone area of this park. These rides will cost INR2500 and INR1500 respectively and this will be the first tiger reserve to have these adventure sports options. Most tourists visit Sillari in East Pench for tiger sightings but with the introduction of these adventure sports more tourists are now expected to visit Kolitmara which had been ignored so far. Paramotoring flights can carry 1 person and a pilot while hot air balloons can carry up to 4 persons and rise up to a height of 300 feet. So far Kolitmara had been popular for school picnics, agrotourism, boat rides bullock cart rides, machans, bird watching etc. There are plans to start a 25km nature-safari and a river safari using motorboats.
10-Jan-2024
Venice has been battling high tourist traffic for the past few years. In order to reduce issues caused due to ever increasing tourist load Venice has decided to limit tourist walking groups to 25 people. They will also be banning use of loudspeakers. These rules will come into effect from June 2024 and will also be applicable to islands of Burano, Murano & Torcello. These measures are expected to reduce chaos & bring in some much needed calm to the city & provide a better experience to the visitors as well. The city is committed to take a balanced stance on the needs to locals as well as tourism. Earlier it had introduced a visitors fee of €5 ($5.40)per person for day trips. Venice museums too have started allowing groups of max 25 people only. The mass tourism issues faced by Venice had been so intense that UNESCO had added it to its heritage danger list.
09-Jan-2024
The first submarine tour in India will be launched in the western state of Gujarat around Bet Dwaraka. This will enable visitors to explore the underwater world. The tentative date for its launch is some time before Diwali 2024. Tourists will have the chance to dive 100m below the sea surface on the submarine
and explore the marine beauty of the area which is also believed to be the place where Shri Krishna’s Dwaraka submerged into the sea. A group of 30 passengers will be able to travel on the submarine at a time. Passengers will be seated in 2 rows and everyone will have a window seat to ensure no one misses out on the beautiful marine life. An official announcement about the same is expected to be made during the Vibrant Gujarat Summit.
08-Jan-2024
The ASI has started cafes, restrooms & other tourist facilities in Hampi circle near the Vijaya Vittala temple premises and the Ugra Narasimha temple. At present a few eateries providing tea, coffee, and light snacks is present at the place but there are plans to start lodging facilities for tourists soon. Restaurants too will be opened up to provide visitors with hygienic and fresh food. Hampi is a UNESCO world heritage site where lie the ruins of the Vijaynagara Empire.
06-Jan-2024
Thiruvananthapuram has opened the its first ever floating bridge at Papanasam Beach in Varkala and there are plans to open more such floating bridges across the state. The Tourism Ministry wishes to popularize water tourism in the state and also encourage water sports on the lines of Goa and Thailand. There are plans to turn Varkala into an international tourist destination. The floating bridge is 100m long & 3m wide. There is a viewing platform at the end which will be able to accommodate 300 people at any given time. The bridge will be open from 11AM to 6PM. Safety measures have been put in place including life jackets, lifeguards and safety boats. Additionally for water sports enthusiasts there will be various activities at the beach like boat rides, jetski, ATV rides, speedboats, etc. The entry fee to the bridge has been fixed at INR120 for 20min.
05-Jan-2024
Indonesia has recently announced certain changes to its visa policy. According to these changes visitors will now be granted a visa valid for 60 days as opposed to the 30 days earlier. Also the 60 day visa will allow multiple entries as opposed to the single entry granted earlier. Applications can be done online with payments now possible through credit cards. This is expected to make traveling to Indonesia easier for tourists and help it compete against its neighbours like Vietnam, Thailand & Malaysia which have so far welcomed the maximum number of the visitors in SE Asia.
04-Jan-2024
Phuket which is very popular among tourists and especially among Indians has introduced an online visa extension (e-Extension) in order to make the visa process easier and quicker. Foreigner in Phuket under any of the 12 visa categories can apply for visa extensions online. Thailand has already waived visa requirements for Indians. Foreigners will be able to submit their documents on the portal online and schedule an appointment after which they will get an extension stamp on their passport. Russian tourists formed the bulk of visitors to Phuket in Dec 2023 followed closely by Chinese, British & Indian.
03-Jan-2024
USA has hiked the visa application processing fees across multiple categories again! Premium processing fees for forms I-129, I-140, I-539 & I-765 has been increased. I-129 is concerned with H1-B visas and L-1 visas and it has been hiked by 12% to USD2805. Premium processing charges for Form I-539 has increased to USD 1965 & for Form I-765 (for F-1 students) has been increased to USD 1685.Student visa applications will now be more thoroughly scrutinized. Students applying for visa type F, M and J will need to enter their passport details when creating their profile for visa and scheduling the visa appointment.
02-Jan-2024
On 9th & 10th Jan 2024 the Kaziranga National Park will be celebrating the Kaziranga Bird Conservation Festival which is happening in partnership with Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). The festival which has invited all nature lovers, conservationists, students will be celebrating the diversity in bird life in the park & will promote safeguarding it. The 5th water bird census will be a part of this festival. Many VIPs, wildlife experts etc are expected to attend this festival and there will photography competitions, webinars, live interactions during these two days. The theme of the festival is “Conserving Birds using Citizen Science” and will aim to have common citizens take a more active part in the conservation and safety efforts. In the water bird survey conducted last year it was revealed that 122 different species of water birds, 62 of which are on the threatened & endangered list globally, make Kaziranga their home and
the numbers also showed a steady increase over the previous years.
01-Jan-2024
On 30th Dec 2023 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ayodhya airport which will now be called Maharishi Valmiki International Airport. The airport looks similar to the upcoming Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and is just 15km from the main city. Indigo flew its first flight to Ayodhya from New Delhi on 30th Dec after the inauguration. Regular commercial services of aircrafts to Ayodhya will begin from 6th Jan 2024. Three flights will run every week from Ahmedabad in Gujarat to Ayodhya from 11th Jan. The Ayodhya airport is currently in its Phase 1 and in Phase 2 will be adding over 50,000sq.ft. area. It has 9 check-in counters, 3 conveyer belts and 5 X-BIS machines. The Ayodhya Dham railway station which offers airport like amenities was also inaugurated on the same day.