Category Archives: Travel

Business, Government, Jobs, Travel

Air India Pilots on Strike -29Sep2009

Air India canceled over 15 flights and bookings have been suspended for next 15 days after the talks have failed between the pilot and Management. Some 100 non-unionized pilot have gone for agitation, and have been reporting sick, against the cut in the Productivity Linked Incentives. Note that the strike by any union had already been declared illegal as the matter is under the conciliation of Labour commissioner. The cash trapped AI is under pressure to reduce it costs, which everyday owes Rs 4.7 crores in interest alone. AI wants to reduce its costs by 1300 crore a third of this has to come by restructuring the manpower cost.

Our View: This issue needs an early resolution as the passengers are losing out of this battle between management and Pilots. If this elongates the airline would see a costlier impact due to diversion of its customer traffic to other Airlines.

References:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/business/india-business/Air-India-cancels-over-20-flights-suspends-bookings-for-15-days/articleshow/5066873.cms
http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/air_india_strike_no_headway_15_flights_cancelled.php
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5067094.cms
http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/mar/15ai.htm

Heritage, Nature, Travel

National Parks of India

Besides having numerous wildlife sanctuaries, India also has about 20 national parks, which are aimed to offer the highest quality conservation efforts. Really impressive range of flora and fauna can be found within the boundaries of these national parks.  Following are some of the most popular National Parks of India:

Kaziranga National Park lies on the south bank of the Brahamaputra. The Park was established in 1908 and was declared a National Park in 1974.

Hemis High-Altitude National Park is the largest high-altitude reserve of India. Very close to Leh, in the area of Markha and Rumbak Valleys, the area in general is rocky and sparsely covered. The park comes under the district of Ladakh and represents the Trans-Himalayan ecosystem. The park was established in the year 1981 to preserve the dwindling population of wildlife in Ladakh region with an area of 600 sq km. The park has been earmarked as one of the snow leopard reserves under a central government project to conserve the species, its prey population, and fragile mountain habitat. It takes its name from the world famous Buddhist Gompa situated here.

Sunderbans National Park is located in the Ganga delta in West Bengal and was declared a National Park in 1984. It covers a vast stretch of mangrove swamp, lush forested islands and small rivers near the Bay of Bengal and comprises mainly of estuarine mangrove forests and swamps. The Sajnakhali sanctuary, famous for its rich avian population, is regarded as a part of the Sunderbans National Park.

Sri Venkateshwara National Park extends over two districts of Chittoor and Cuddapah of Andhra Pradesh in an area of 353.62 sq.km. The park established in October 1989, is named after Lord Venkateshwara of Tirupati. It is located in Rajampet of Cuddapah district and Chandragiri and Bailapadu of Chittoor district. The hilly terrain bounded by Seshachalam and Tirumala hills is rugged and beautiful with gorges, steep slopes, plateaus and valleys. The park is also famous for its beautiful waterfalls like Talakona, Gundalakona and Gunjana.

Economy, Heritage, Travel

Indian Arts and Crafts

India is rich in artistic works.  It is often confusing for foreign visitors on how to decide which crafts they should take with them.  The choices are many, widely varied and often inexpensive.

Some of the best quality merchandise can often be found in the bazaars that populate large cities such as Delhi, Mumbai in Bombay, Kolkata in Calcutta and Chennai in Madras.  Literally thousands of places, from quaint shops to roadside stands, sell crafts to visitors.

Every state in India produces its own special arts and crafts. Rajasthan and Kashmir are the two largest producers of crafts made for mass distribution.  In Rajasthan, you will find bargains on fabrics, jewelry, glass, pottery, rugs and camel-hide products.  Carpets, shawls and embroidery dominate the products produced in Kashmir.  These are often considered to be of the finest quality available.

The many tribal communities of India produce unusual crafts that are popular with tourists.  These crafts include wire animal tarakashi of Orissa and large bronze sculptures in Nagaland.  The Himalaya areas produce a vast amount of silver, turquoise and coral jewelry.

Indian jewelry shops specialize in bright, 22-carat gold items.  Many of the local tribes trade in their traditional silver jewelry for the more widely preferred gold.  Often jewelers have bags of silver jewelry for sale by the pound.  Brass and copper are worked into trays, cups and plates.  Some of the best works can be found in Varanasi and Moradabad in UP.

No mention of India’s crafts would be complete without a mention of Bidriwork, a specialty of Aurangabad and Hyderabad.  This craft is a matte gunmetal alloy finely inlaid with silver and gold.  It is then used in making boxes, vases.  These are sure to be treasured by all who obtain one.

This article only touches on the rich craft culture of India.  Spend plenty of time looking at the variety and choosing.  You are bound to find the perfect souvenir of your trip to India.

Heritage, Travel

Akshardham Temple in Delhi

Akshardham Temple built in New Delhi by Mskadu.
Akshardham Temple Delhi at Night by ramesh_lalwani.

Image source: flickr.com/photos/ramesh_lalwani/3784131664

The Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in New Delhi, India was constructed by the BAPS foundation, who are the builders of the various Swaminaryan Temples across the world. The temple went live in 2005.

Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in New Delhi symbolizes 100 centuries of Indian culture in breathtaking grandeur. The temple showcases the essence of India’s ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spiritual messages.

Swaminarayan Akhshardham Temple in Delhi, which was originally a pilgrimage place, is also becoming a major tourist attraction for the India tourists today. Entry to the complex is free however entry into the theater and exhibition has a nominal fee.

Swaminarayan Akshardham temple is located in the eastern part of Delhi, India with its monumental creations and breathtaking grandeur stands apart amongst the country’s most fascinating structures of all time, with intricately carved pillars, statues of deities and divinites adorned on its walls.

The temple is constructed with pink sandstone from Rajasthan and white marble from Italy. The pink stone symbolizes Bhakti (Devotion) in eternal bloom while the white marble stands for absolute purity and eternal peace.

Constructed under the patronage of Bochasanvasi Aksharpurushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), the temple is a tribute to the glorious culture of India while, at the same time giving a unique glimpse of Hinduism as well.

Heritage, Travel

Jama Masjid in Delhi

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/2423323058_6132a8445d.jpg

Image Source: www.flickr.com/photos/sanzen/2423323058/

Built in 1656, the Jama Masjid in Delhi, India is an eloquent reminder of the Mughal cultural heritage. Its spacious courtyard holds thousands of the faithful who offer their prayers here. Built by Shah Jahan, Jama Masjid was begun in 1650 and it took hard work of six years of more than 5000 workers to build the largest mosque in India.

It was customary for the emperor and his courtiers to go to the mosque every Friday for attending ‘Jumme ki namaaz’, the congressional prayers. Built by a workforce of 5,000 people, the mosque’s three gateways, four towers and two minarets are testimony to the fine architecture of that period. The slender minarets grace the facade, one on each side, rising to a height of 130-feet.

Built between 1644 and 1658, Jama Masjid is one of the last architectural works of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The spacious courtyard of the Jama Masjid holds thousands of faithful. Built of red sandstone, the Jama Masjid faces towards west. The mosque measures 261 feet (80 m) in length and 90 feet in width.

Tourists are permitted to enter the mosque arena through the northern and the southern gates. The mosque is about 80 meters long and 27 meters wide and 130 feet in height. Tourists from All over the world come to India to explore its beauty. These places are full of with captivating and natural beauty.