Latest news with #Karjat
Business Mayor
18-05-2025
- Business Mayor
So long, vacation! Time for summer of staycations: Indians dive into shorter, curated experiences closer to home
Befitting his daughter's achievement, he zeroed in on Landour in Uttarakhand—often called the tiara of the Queen of Hills—a safe, scenic retreat that allowed the family to escape without venturing too far, lest the situation deteriorate. This Sunday, they return home after what many are now calling the trend defining summer vacations: a staycation. And he's not alone. As summer sets in, a growing number of Indian travellers are opting for short, hyper-local, and experiential getaways. 'The appeal lies in convenience, rising disposable incomes, geopolitical caution, and the desire for instant gratification, with cost savings on flights and logistics making frequent local escapes more achievable,' said Rajeev Kale, president, Thomas Cook (India). According to Kale, 'This summer marks a clear evolution in leisure travel—from traditional vacations to deeply experiential staycations. Curated experiences like heritage walks, rooftop glamping, culinary staycations, spa retreats, and work-from-hotel escapes are driving this shift, offering a seamless blend of leisure and productivity.' Micro-Destinations Major Attractions Micro-destinations such as Alibaug, Coorg, and Mashobra remain top picks for clients of Thomas Cook (India), alongside emerging favourites like Karjat and Panchgani. Staycation bookings surged early in March 2025, typically ranging from ₹6,000-15,000 per night. At SOTC Travel, the trend is similar. SD Nandakumar, president, SOTC Travel, noted, 'This summer, we're seeing Indians prioritise hyper-local experiences that offer rejuvenation and discovery, giving an uptick to the trend of Staycations.' 'Our data highlights strong traction across micro-destinations—Lonavala, Igatpuri, Kabini, and Lansdowne—with rising interest in boutique homestays, private villas, and experience-led itineraries like vineyard brunches or riverside yoga,' he said. In addition to families, solo travellers and corporate teams are jumping on the bandwagon, said experts. Rikant Pittie, chief executive of EaseMyTrip, said, 'About half of urban holidaymakers are now opting for quick breaks instead of extended vacations.' Sleep Tourism He observed, 'Interestingly, 'sleep tourism' is also catching on — nearly one in five travellers now cite rest as their main holiday goal, leading hospitality brands to offer amenities like herbal teas and wellness therapies.' Pittie pointed out that even a resort-heavy location like Manesar near Delhi NCR is drawing interest. 'A noticeable uptick of 20% in staycation bookings for summer 2025 began around March 2025, with peak demand expected in May-June.' Travel choices are being shaped more than ever by viral content and social media chatter. Manjari Singhal, chief growth and business officer, Cleartrip, said, 'What's interesting is how much social media and trending content are influencing these choices. They're shaped by what's viral, what's been shared, or what feels culturally relevant. People are actively seeking, sharing them, and turning them into plans.' During their annual summer sale, customers of Cleartrip showed high interest in staycationing in Manali, Solan, Mussoorie, Chail, Jim Corbett, Wayanad, and Goa, as well as within-city homestays. For those craving nature and adventure, staycations are the go-to gateway. Aviral Gupta, chief strategy officer, Zostel, Zo World, said, 'With our offbeat offerings ranging from homely stays to jungle walks and starry nights catering to all kinds of travellers, most staycations this year have been more nature-focused, attracting adventure lovers.' According to Gupta, 'Around 73% of our staycation bookings are made within 2–3 days of travel, reflecting a last-minute, impulse-driven pattern.' Packages are priced 15–20% lower than the daily rate by bundling stay and food. As school holidays kick in and border unease continues to simmer just below the surface, the staycation is stepping into the spotlight—not as a compromise, but as the modern traveller's first choice.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Time of India
So long, vacation! Time for summer of staycations: Indians dive into shorter, curated experiences closer to home
New Delhi|Bengaluru: On May 13, when an IT professional in Noida learnt that his daughter had scored 96% in her Class 10 board exams, he set about planning a celebratory family getaway. With temperatures rising, a trip to the mountains seemed fitting—until he was reminded of the recent border tensions. Even though the situation was beginning to normalise, the uncertainty made him rethink. Befitting his daughter's achievement, he zeroed in on Landour in Uttarakhand—often called the tiara of the Queen of Hills—a safe, scenic retreat that allowed the family to escape without venturing too far, lest the situation deteriorate. This Sunday, they return home after what many are now calling the trend defining summer vacations: a staycation . And he's not alone. As summer sets in, a growing number of Indian travellers are opting for short, hyper-local, and experiential getaways. 'The appeal lies in convenience, rising disposable incomes, geopolitical caution, and the desire for instant gratification, with cost savings on flights and logistics making frequent local escapes more achievable,' said Rajeev Kale, president, Thomas Cook (India). According to Kale, 'This summer marks a clear evolution in leisure travel—from traditional vacations to deeply experiential staycations. Curated experiences like heritage walks, rooftop glamping, culinary staycations , spa retreats, and work-from-hotel escapes are driving this shift, offering a seamless blend of leisure and productivity.' Micro-Destinations Major Attractions Micro-destinations such as Alibaug, Coorg, and Mashobra remain top picks for clients of Thomas Cook (India), alongside emerging favourites like Karjat and Panchgani. Staycation bookings surged early in March 2025, typically ranging from ₹6,000-15,000 per night. At SOTC Travel, the trend is similar. SD Nandakumar, president, SOTC Travel, noted, 'This summer, we're seeing Indians prioritise hyper-local experiences that offer rejuvenation and discovery, giving an uptick to the trend of Staycations.' 'Our data highlights strong traction across micro-destinations—Lonavala, Igatpuri, Kabini, and Lansdowne—with rising interest in boutique homestays, private villas, and experience-led itineraries like vineyard brunches or riverside yoga,' he said. In addition to families, solo travellers and corporate teams are jumping on the bandwagon, said experts. Rikant Pittie, chief executive of EaseMyTrip, said, 'About half of urban holidaymakers are now opting for quick breaks instead of extended vacations.' Sleep Tourism He observed, 'Interestingly, 'sleep tourism' is also catching on — nearly one in five travellers now cite rest as their main holiday goal, leading hospitality brands to offer amenities like herbal teas and wellness therapies.' Pittie pointed out that even a resort-heavy location like Manesar near Delhi NCR is drawing interest. 'A noticeable uptick of 20% in staycation bookings for summer 2025 began around March 2025, with peak demand expected in May-June.' Travel choices are being shaped more than ever by viral content and social media chatter. Manjari Singhal, chief growth and business officer, Cleartrip, said, 'What's interesting is how much social media and trending content are influencing these choices. They're shaped by what's viral, what's been shared, or what feels culturally relevant. People are actively seeking, sharing them, and turning them into plans.'
Economic Times
18-05-2025
- Economic Times
So long, vacation! Time for summer of staycations: Indians dive into shorter, curated experiences closer to home
Amidst geopolitical uncertainties and rising temperatures, Indian travelers are increasingly favoring staycations. Families are opting for short, local, and experiential getaways, driven by convenience, disposable incomes, and a desire for instant gratification. This summer, curated experiences like heritage walks and culinary retreats are defining the trend, blending leisure and productivity for a seamless escape. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Micro-Destinations Major Attractions Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi|Bengaluru: On May 13, when an IT professional in Noida learnt that his daughter had scored 96% in her Class 10 board exams, he set about planning a celebratory family getaway. With temperatures rising, a trip to the mountains seemed fitting—until he was reminded of the recent border tensions. Even though the situation was beginning to normalise, the uncertainty made him his daughter's achievement, he zeroed in on Landour in Uttarakhand—often called the tiara of the Queen of Hills—a safe, scenic retreat that allowed the family to escape without venturing too far, lest the situation Sunday, they return home after what many are now calling the trend defining summer vacations: a staycation And he's not summer sets in, a growing number of Indian travellers are opting for short, hyper-local, and experiential getaways.'The appeal lies in convenience, rising disposable incomes, geopolitical caution, and the desire for instant gratification, with cost savings on flights and logistics making frequent local escapes more achievable,' said Rajeev Kale, president, Thomas Cook (India).According to Kale, 'This summer marks a clear evolution in leisure travel—from traditional vacations to deeply experiential staycations . Curated experiences like heritage walks, rooftop glamping, culinary staycations, spa retreats, and work-from-hotel escapes are driving this shift, offering a seamless blend of leisure and productivity.'Micro-destinations such as Alibaug, Coorg, and Mashobra remain top picks for clients of Thomas Cook (India), alongside emerging favourites like Karjat and Panchgani. Staycation bookings surged early in March 2025, typically ranging from ₹6,000-15,000 per SOTC Travel, the trend is similar. SD Nandakumar, president, SOTC Travel, noted, 'This summer, we're seeing Indians prioritise hyper-local experiences that offer rejuvenation and discovery, giving an uptick to the trend of Staycations.''Our data highlights strong traction across micro-destinations—Lonavala, Igatpuri, Kabini, and Lansdowne—with rising interest in boutique homestays, private villas, and experience-led itineraries like vineyard brunches or riverside yoga,' he said. In addition to families, solo travellers and corporate teams are jumping on the bandwagon, said Pittie, chief executive of EaseMyTrip, said, 'About half of urban holidaymakers are now opting for quick breaks instead of extended vacations.'He observed, 'Interestingly, 'sleep tourism' is also catching on — nearly one in five travellers now cite rest as their main holiday goal, leading hospitality brands to offer amenities like herbal teas and wellness therapies.'Pittie pointed out that even a resort-heavy location like Manesar near Delhi NCR is drawing interest. 'A noticeable uptick of 20% in staycation bookings for summer 2025 began around March 2025, with peak demand expected in May-June.'Travel choices are being shaped more than ever by viral content and social media Singhal, chief growth and business officer, Cleartrip, said, 'What's interesting is how much social media and trending content are influencing these choices. They're shaped by what's viral, what's been shared, or what feels culturally relevant. People are actively seeking, sharing them, and turning them into plans.'
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Business Standard
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Rich using farmhouses to save crores in taxes, legally: CA explains how
Wealthy Indians are investing in agricultural land, not only for farming but also to build farmhouses. Such properties, when structured correctly in the law, help them accumulate wealth that appreciates in value and is exempt from tax, said Sarthak Ahuja, a chartered accountant, in a recent social media post. He highlighted how high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) are using farmhouses as a means to make tax-free wealth. Farmhouses for More Than Just Organic Living 'It's not just for organic vegetables and a big lawn…but to save crores in taxes,' Ahuja wrote on LinkedIn, the professional networking website, discussing the sudden surge in demand for farmhouses among HNIs. He cited examples of Mumbai residents buying in Karjat or Alibaug, Delhi-based investors looking beyond Manesar, and Bangaloreans targeting Coonoor. Agricultural Income is Tax-Free The primary incentive, according to Ahuja, lies in the tax treatment of agricultural income. 'Any businessman who has undisclosed cash coming in, can easily tell the tax authorities that they sold vegetables grown at the farm or milk from their farm animals… and keep depositing cash in their bank accounts,' he said. This also results in savings in Goods and Services Tax (GST). 'Most farm produce has either zero tax, or a minimal rate of 5 per cent. So both the Income Tax and GST saving can add up to almost +40per cent (sic) tax saving on the amount while making it tax free.' Cash transactions Ahuja pointed out 'The Tax Department requires one to submit the PAN of any person who buys something from you in cash for over Rs 2 lakhs… which is completely circumvented because they say many passersby stop by to buy fruits worth Rs five - ten thousand, pay in cash and just go away.' Additional benefits Stamp duty on agricultural land purchases is often negligible, depending on the state. 'Just tax benefits in itself can go into over a crore for someone who owns a couple of acres,' he said. Some investors are also monetising the properties. 'There's using the place for private parties, and then putting it on AirBnB for 6–7 days a month to recover the actual cost of maintenance.' Ahuja highlighted benefits under capital gains provisions: 'If you sell the piece of land, the capital gains are tax free under Section 54B, and you can invest that money in a bigger piece of agricultural land.'
