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Taking advantage of a package holiday to India certainly can mean something different to everyone who visits this very enticing and exotic land. It ‘s often chaotic streets and vibrant markets offer a slice of life never usually experienced by people from Western society, it is certainly an incredible and yet daunting experience.
India is certainly huge in terms of the size of the country and its massive and diversified population. Many are shocked to learn that there are over 100 million Indian people’s first language is English, not one of the Indian dialects, this is of course a legacy left over from British colonial days.
The British were not the only colonialists, other countries also carved out small areas of this vast land. One of those countries was Portugal who occupied the area that is now known as Goa.
Goa is far more European in its nature, culture and architecture than other parts of the subcontinent. It has an extremely European feel, with a unique and very Indian twist. The Portuguese arrived in the very early 1500s and brought with them the culture of the Mediterranean and that almost Latin, Portuguese influence, can still be felt today.
Goa is an ideal stepping stone for those who want to escape the all too familiar Costa-del-holiday resorts and spread their wings with a more exotic package holiday and discover what lies beyond the beaches of the Mediterranean.
Goa does of course have beaches, but these are a little different, these are the wonderful picture postcard white sand, palm fringed beaches, sitting on the edge of stunning waters that are warm every single day of the year, offering an ideal family package holiday destination.
Tourism has expanded considerably over the last decade with Dabolim International Airport able to bring tourists from all over the world right into the heart of Goa, allowing visitors to spend far more time enjoying its perfumed delights.
Goa has a wealth of attractions away from the beaches such as the Basilica of Bom Jesus, which is to be found in Old Goa, and is regarded as is one of Portugal’s finest exports and is now a UNESCO world Heritage site due to its incredible Baroque architecture.
There are also many other stunning religious monuments including Shanta Durga temple, and the Ganapati temple. As well as a wealth of natural wonders such as the Dudhsagar waterfalls and the Mayem Lake, and ancient buildings such as the Chapora Fort that are just waiting to be discovered.
Unlike other tropical destinations Goa is not overpriced, and has not been overwhelmed by unwanted concrete developments. Goa can offer visitors an extremely reasonably priced range of package holidays.
Take a look at the discount vouchers available here from household name travel companies such as providers First Choice, Thomson’s, and Thomas Cook available as follows:
Thomas Cook discount codes
Thomson discount codes
First Choice discount codes
A solo exhibition by Natasha Kumar at Asia House, 63 New Cavendish St W1 March 4th – 17th 2010
‘BLOW HORN’ IS THE IMPERIOUS ADVICE to drivers painted on the back-end of Indian Lorries, buses and rickshaws. A warning and encouragement, its one illustration of a mindset that considers every flat surface a potential canvas. In India If it stays still long enough to be painted, it will be, with a graffiti of spiritual texts, underwear ads, personal and folk expression.
NATASHA KUMAR IS AN ESTABLISHED ANGLO-INDIAN ARTIST, from long line of noted English artists. In this solo show of oils and original prints, her award-winning talent for figurative art merges with her love of signs and life in India in a truly original departure. In ‘Blow Horn’ she has taken up the bold, fluorescing colours of Indian advertising art in its various forms to cut through the picturesque, giving a sharp contemporary twist to traditional Indian motifs.
THE SACRED HINDU BOVINE IN Holy Cow competes for attention with a brazen wall advert, oblivious to it. In Tuff Cemento a woman waits patiently, timelessly, the gaudy colours of her sari muted by the insistent green of the cement company’s message.
A SENSE OF PLACE IS AN ELUSIVE THING, but she shows her undoubted ability to capture it in these works, with simple, powerful images. It is there in the folds of the old man’s dhoti in Last Light, Nagaur, and the bright saris of the women in the soft dusty landscape of On the Road, and in the unique inward-turning ears of the iconic Rajasthani horse, in Marwari Horse and Boy.
THE PRINTED WORKS, a new collection, mingle Warhol-style repetition with Indian brands and ephemera. The humble matchbox label is reworked in a unique mixed-media work of print and oils, combining the best of both Natasha Kumar’s considerable talents. She takes too, the abstract Moghul fretwork of jali windows and zenana entrances as the central motif in print works that mix raw pigment with gold or silver leaf.
MORE THAN SIMPLY PICTURESQUE INDIA, Natasha Kumar paints the lived culture of India, its streets and villages. ‘Blow Horn’ is not just a command. Here, it’s the cue for the visual cacophony that is modern India.
ABOUT NATASHA KUMAR
ART AND INDIA ARE IN NATASHA KUMAR’S GENES. On her English side she comes from a line of established artists. Her Indian heritage she traces back to Kashmiri princes via tales of partition and lost family gold.
WITH A STRING OF SUCCESSFUL SHOWS, she has made her own name as an artist from the age of 17, when, earning a place by right in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition she found her work hanging on the same wall as her grandfather, and uncle’s work.
Natasha Kumar initially excelled as a printmaker; going from a first class degree at Manchester to studying in Venice at the Accademia. She did her MA in London in 2000, winning the London Printmaking Prize that year. Since then she has been regularly selected for group shows that include The New English Art Club, The Discerning Eye, The National Print and Art Expo New York. She has a dedicated and growing following of collectors. Her work is represented in private and national collections worldwide. She lives and works in London.
‘Blow Horn’ will be at Asia House, 63 New Cavendish Street, London, W1 from March 4th until 17th, 2010. Her last show in 2008 was a sell out.
For further information:
Natasha Kumar 0777 9590921
info@natashakumar.co.uk
www.natashakumar.co.uk
An early Oscar favourite, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire is out this Friday.
Telling the story of a slum-dweller’s appearance on India’s ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’, the film is a riot of colour, capers and crazy characters, and was shot on location in the vibrant streets of Mumbai.
Travel to the city with Real Holidays and take a slum tour, plus see hectic bazaars, pretty waterfront scenes, Bollywood studios and elegant Victorian architecture in a city recovering impressively from its recent terrorist tragedies. Stay at the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers, with onyx columns, hand-woven silk carpets and crystal chandeliers.
Prices from £150 pp per night (two sharing) including transfers. Flights can be arranged. Call Real Holidays on 020 7359 3938 (www.indiaportfolio.co.uk).
India – it’s a spiritual heartland, a nation filled with colour and life, and a destination which is quickly climbing to the top of tourists’ ‘Must See’ lists. In an effort to appeal to a larger variety of tourists instead of the traditional clientèle of back-packers and spiritualists, India has in recent years been pushing for the construction of large family-friendly resorts that will draw in more international visitors. Global hospitality and tourism companies are also seeing the potential of India as a tourist destination and have begun investing in accommodation and entertainment facilities aimed at bringing several key demographics. As a direct result of this sudden increase in interest there are now a number of tour companies and businesses that offer cheap holiday packages to India that include flights, accommodation, guides and transport. It is also possible to organize a cheap Indian holiday all on your own, especially if you trawl through the flight deals that are often listed by travel agents and airlines. It’s important to keep in mind that India is still a modernizing country which has a huge and incredibly diverse population that ranges from being extremely wealthy to unimaginably poor, and for this reason alone it is crucial that you invest in proper travel insurance and protection if you do decide to visit the country.
One of the first places many visitors to India stop off is in the capital, Delhi (New Delhi). New Delhi is home to the Red Fort, a beautiful complex which was initially the palace and administrative centre of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The Red Fort contains a number of fantastic buildings including several palaces and the Swatantra Sangrama Sangrahalaya (Museum of the Independence Movement). Another popular tourist spot is the Qutub Complex which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The complex stretches back to the Slave Dynasty which ruled in the thirteenth century and is the proud home of the Qutub Minar (a minaret which claimed to be the tallest structure in the world when it was initially constructed). Whilst in Delhi it is also advisable that you visit Humayun’s Tomb (also UNESCO listed), the Jama Masjid (the largest mosque in India), and the National Museum. Other popular city destinations within India include Mumbai (home to Bollywood), Amritsar (home to the Golden Temple), Agra (home to the Taj Mahal) and Kolkata (formerly Calcutta).
Outside of the cities the rest of India awaits, and what a huge selection of sights and sounds it has to offer tourists! One of the best loved destinations within India (both by tourists and locals) is the region of Goa, famous for it’s cuisine, it’s beautiful beaches and it’s relaxed atmosphere. Panaji is the district capital and is the main starting point for most tours. The beaches are the main attraction and it’s little wonder – Palolem, Anjuna, Baga and Calangute Beaches are a few of the many which offer tourists the chance to swim, relax, party and sample the delicious Indian-Portuguese cuisine which the region is famous for.
Indian Medical Tourism Industry is burgeoning and is becoming a favorite destination for medical tourists around the world because of the plethora of advantages it offers.
India may be fast emerging as one of the most sought-after destinations for medical tourists in west, but Mr. Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, wants quality and affordable treatment for his countrymen first.
He emphasized on the need to seriously consider the pubic-private alliance in high-level healthcare facilities, particularly in view of resource restraints in India. He accepted the truth that a large majority of Indians is still not able to afford good medical treatment.
Mr. Manmohan Singh was inaugurating the 52nd meeting of the National Development Council for approval of the Draft Approach Paper to the Eleventh Plan. The Approach Paper talks about the requirement for a significant rise in resource commitment in healthcare sector, where India is not as advanced as other developing Asian countries.
He stated that the government should ensure the improvement in the functioning of the public healthcare system. He also stressed on the need to frame steps to make the Integrated Child Development Scheme successful. The scheme aims to provide children below six a healthy and right start in life.
According to a Research Analyst at RNCOS, who has recently researched a report on “Opportunities in Medical Tourism in India (2007)”, while the Indian government has done a commendable job by providing initiating several incentive programs for the development of private healthcare sector, the public healthcare sector has faced the problem of lack of funds. The assurance by Prime Minister to improve the functioning of public healthcare sector is a positive move by the government to better the condition of public sector.
The market research report on medical tourism in India also deals with the facts and issues critical for today’s Global business environment like:
- Market trends
- Growth sectors and factors propelling change
- Competitive scenario and the leaders in the medical tourism industry
- Growth opportunities in the Medical Tourism Industry
- Obstacles and challenges in the market growth
- Strategies for market expansion
- Future outlook
The report provides extensive research and rational analysis on the Indian Medical Tourism Industry. The report also covers the future prospects of this industry and help clients in analyzing the growth vistas in the medical tourism.
For more information visit: http://www.rncos.com/Report/IM091.htm
Tralliance Corporation, the .travel Registry, is sponsoring the latest travel adventure in the name of charity, The Rickshaw Run – a 2,000-mile trek across India’s toughest terrain in the world’s most unsuitable vehicle, the auto-rickshaw.
Based on the success of this year’s Mongol Rally, an 8,000-mile charity race from London to Mongolia, the League of Adventurists and .travel, the top-level Internet domain created exclusively for the travel and tourism industry, have once again teamed up to bring travelers a memorable charity event.
Beginning in Cochin in Southern India on December 28, 2006 with a game of cricket, 34 teams from seven countries will embark on the two-week journey through India’s mountains and jungles, encountering everything from searing heat and mud to mechanical failure along the way – all in an effort to cross the finish line in Darjeeling for a spot of afternoon tea.
“These auto-rickshaws are uncomfortable, loud, smelly and totally unsuitable in every way imaginable,” says event organizer Tom Morgan. “They’re the perfect vehicle to tackle a monstrous 2000-mile adventure over wild terrain and dirt tracks. Each rickshaw is only 150cc and is sure to break down on us at every possible and inconvenient point. Think of them as a motorized mule.”
Throughout the course of the Rickshaw Run, the teams will travel through very remote areas with no support system of any kind. While there is no specific route, drivers have the option to cross a number of prearranged checkpoints. The knackered, bruised and dirty teams that manage to cross the finish line are expected to arrive for a celebratory cup of tea in Darjeeling after roughly two weeks. ”The Rickshaw Run is going to be incredible fun,” explains Morgan. “It’s a great adventure, but also a great opportunity to contribute to a worthwhile cause and help out some of the poorer members of the communities we’ll be visiting.”
“We are proud to be the title sponsor for this amazing event and worthwhile cause,” expressed Andruff. “As part of an initiative that promotes a new age of how travel information will be found and with a goal to galvanize the global travel community under its exclusive space on the Internet, we believe .travel provides the perfect ally for the League of Adventurists and their Rickshaw Run.”
Like the Mongol Rally, the Rickshaw Run also aims to make a significant contribution to charity. Each team must raise a minimum of about $1,300 to cover the cost of purchasing their auto-rickshaw, as well as any necessary repairs. At the end of the race, all vehicles will be donated in an effort to combat the injustices of excessive hire charges and exorbitant loans common to poor auto-rickshaw drivers. The process is being coordinated by a local NGO, monitored by Mercy Corps UK.
Established to lift the tourism industry out of the anonymity of the ‘.com’ web, .travel empowers the broad spectrum of bona fide travel-related businesses and organizations to better promote their products and services within their own industry specific space on the Internet. Travel entities that wish to purchase a .travel domain name can e-mail placenames@travel.travel or call 001-954-769-5999.
NEW DELHI, India, November 27 /PRNewswire/ — As part of its global development strategy aiming at opening 200,000 new hotel rooms by 2010, of which 60% in emerging markets, Accor has signed today significant partnerships that trigger a major expansion in India. This expansion plan covers the full spectrum of the hotel market in India, including budget Formule 1 hotels, economy Ibis hotels, mid-market Novotel hotels and upper-upscale Sofitel properties.
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