Andaman tourism promoted for middle class

Port Blair, Feb 5: Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Island Lt Gen(Retd) Bhopinder Singh today said that Andaman Tourism should concentrate on the middle class tourists more than high value tourists.

''This should be done so that more and more people in Mainland India could visit these islands, which are considered as a pilgrimage of India's freedom struggle,'' Mr Singh, the newly appointed Lt Governor of the remote archipelago told reporters in Port Blair.

He said the model of tourism should be developed in a way so as to find employment for more youths and the tourism revenue earned may be utilised for various welfare measures in these island.

Surprisingly, the statement made by Mr Singh was in contrast with the year old tourism policy of Andaman and Nicobar tourism, which is always targeting for high value tourists.

''I am not against high value tourism,'' he, however clarified, ''but I want that those who build five star hotels in these islands should also contribute for the welfare of these remote islands,'' he added.

He said if profit earned from tourism remains among the islanders then only one can say that true tourism development have taken place in these islands.
''When I was attached to the Rastrapati Bhawan, I had visited many countries of the world but there is something very special about these islands,'' he said.

Andaman and Nicobar Tourism is a booming business since the past two years. Thousands visit the islands every day. Last year's local tourist arrival figure was recorded at nearly 1,20,000 tourists.

Travel Niagara Fall

America, located on the Niagara River, in western New York and southeastern Ontario. Niagara Falls consists of two cataracts: the Horseshoe, or Canadian, Falls (57 m/187 ft high), on the Canadian side of the river, and the American Falls (55 m/182 ft high), on the United States side. The waterfalls are separated by Goat Island, New York. The crestline of the crescent-shaped Horseshoe Falls, which carries about nine times more water than the U.S. cataract, is about 670 m (about 2,200 ft) long, and the fairly straight crest of the American Falls measures 328 m (1,075 ft). A small section of the American Falls near Goat Island is also known as Bridal Veil Falls.

Niagara Falls was formed about 12,000 years ago, when glaciers retreated north, allowing water from Lake Erie to flow over the Niagara Escarpment, a ridge that extends in an arc across the northern Great Lakes region, from Wisconsin to New York. Erosion slowly pushed the waterfall about 11 km (about 7 mi) upstream, forming the Niagara Gorge. Before large water-diversion projects were built in the 1950s and 1960s, Horseshoe Falls was receding at a rate of more than 1 m (3 ft) per year. With reduced flows slowing erosion, it will take about 30 years for the falls to recede the distance it once did in a year. In 1954 a considerable portion of the American Falls broke off, creating a large talus, or rock slope, at the base of the cataract. In order to study ways of preventing further rockfalls and to remove some of the talus, the American Falls was successfully “shut off” for several months in 1969 by a dam that was constructed between the U.S. mainland and Goat Island.

Niagara Falls is a great tourist attraction, luring millions of visitors each year. The falls may be viewed from parks located on either side of the river, from observation towers, from boats, from Goat Island, and from the Rainbow Bridge, located a short distance downstream. Visitors also may enter the Cave of the Winds, situated behind a curtain of falling water near the base of the American Falls.

The Maharaja Tent

The Maharaja Tent Company presents its line of specially fabricated custom-made and bespoke Raj Style Indian Tents, now available to America, Europe and the world. Our tents are produced at our fabricating studios in the regal kingdom city of Jodhpur in India, and are made in the traditions of H.H. The Maharaja of Jodhpur and his family. We are happy to deliver these tents anywhere in the world. We have a number of standard tents in our Collection and can also produce custom made sizes and styles.

The styles, fabrics and designs have been developed over many years from exclusive designs from the palaces of Jodhpur. The tents are made of the finest natural materials and the fabrics are all hand-dyed, and hand block-printed. Each tent and canopy is individually hand produced by skill craftsman. The tents are used on private properties, estates, luxury resorts and spas, and in many exclusive safari and eco-camps in India and around the world.

From garden rooms, pool houses, living quarters, settings for parties and weddings to entertaining the Royals, the tents offer wonderful, enchanting possibilities.
They feature strong exterior protection from harsh elements, and fantastic interiors in a variety of fabrics and designs. All styles are handcrafted using local fabrics and natural materials using designs that carry centuries old ancient meanings.

The tents can be decorated into vibrant living and play areas with the addition of flooring, intricate carpets, furniture, decorative cushions, pillows, lamps and art-pieces.

Visit Darjeeling

Gifted to the British East India Company in 1817, Darjeeling is the hill station of West Bengal and is 2134 m or 7000ft above sea level. In 1835, Darjeeling was given to the East India Company by the King of Sikkim. It became a popular resort for the British who wanted to escape from the sweltering heat of the plains. Tiger hills, the highest point in the area provides the most exotic view of the Kanchenjunga peaks.

Kerala Back water in Houseboats

Backwaters are unique to Kerala and the area, over the last couple of years has seen unprecedented tourist interest. The backwaters are essentially inland lakes connected by a network of canals. The backwaters stretch to almost 1900 km even though Kerala's coastline is only 700 km.

Backwaters of Kumarakom between Alappuzha and Kottayam is a popular tourist destination. Backwaters of Kuttanad region, the rice bowl of Kerala, is also very famous. The life style in the area is unique as 3/4 of the year, the land is flooded. This area is probably the one and only place in world where farming is done below sea level. The Kollam Alappuzha backwater trip is a tourist favorite. This slow journey by boat takes almost seven hours. One can see villages life at close quarters besides the farming and fishing activities.

There are motorboats are available for hire to travel through the backwaters. The major places for backwater activities are Kollam, Cochin, Alappuzha, Vaikom and Kumarakom. Snake boat race through backwaters are a major tourist attraction.

Hogenakkal Falls

En route to Hogenakkal, stop by at Pennagram, a village where you will come across brightly coloured giant terracotta statues. Referred to as Aiyanars, these are regarded as guardian deities by the villagers. They depict everything from moustached warriors to even a modern day policemen! Once in Hogenakkal, you can take a coracle ride across the river. The coracles or circular basket boats are covered with buffalo hide or black plastic sheets and ferry tourists across the shimmering, rippling river. The ride will take you to the foot the majestic waterfalls – an exhilarating yet intimidating experience. The water here surges under the coracle, tossing it around, raging and hissing as though it might flood and capsize the boat any moment. The sight of Hogenakkal up close is as spellbinding, imposing and even a bit frightening. This white water fall is particularly impressive soon after the monsoon months when the river is brimming.Though the boats might seem flimsy on first glance, their basic design has remained unchanged for hundred of years and are in fact quite safe. If you are feeling adventurous, you can even ask your boatman to spin the boat - the experience is akin to sitting on a spinning top. Once you have had enough of the boat ride and want to calm down your wrecked nerves, try getting a massage from the famed Hogenakkal masseurs. The local malishkarans or the mystic masseurs are armed with oils, powders and esoteric knowledge about the different massage points in the human body and they are good! There are also a few women masseurs. If you plan to stay longer than a day, you can take long treks in the surrounding Melagiri Hills and explore the lush, rugged, landscape.

Kairali Ayurvedic Resort

Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resorts lies in Palakkad, the granary of Kerala, known as God's Own Country and one that boasts of rich traditions and unique lifestyles. Kairali is the first of its kind to combine an elevating health experience with total luxury. A health resort where every villa conforms to Vaastu and emanates only positive vibrations with their own Valmbari Conches. A place where time stands still. A place where you simply lie back and relax and allow Ayurveda to do the rest.

In and around

• Get the Ayurvedic massages in Kairali Health Resort that help in various ways such as improving blood circulation, streamlining the body, building up immunity, ridding the body of toxins and decreasing excess fat in the body
• Stay in luxurious air-conditioned villas and have natural fruits and vegetables that are cultivated organically.
• Visit Palakkad, Thrissur, Guruvayur
• Visit Ooty that is just 2 hours drive away from Kairali