Latest news with #TourismDepartment
Khaleej Times
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Miss World 2025 contestants visit Buddhist heritage site in India
Contestants of the 72nd Miss World Festival from the Asian and Oceanic regions marked the Buddha Purnima festival by visiting Buddhavanam, a renowned Buddhist heritage site at Nagarjunasagar in the south Indian state of Telangana. The heritage tour aims to highlight Telangana's rich history and diverse cultural heritage to offer the contestants the region's profound spiritual and historical legacy. The day's itinerary included a stopover at a guest house near Chintapalli, followed by a photo session at Vijay Vihar, set against the Nagarjunasagar reservoir. The contestants then proceeded to Buddhavanam, the Buddhist theme park developed on the northern bank of the Krishna river, spanning 279 acres. This project, taken up by the Telangana Government as part of an integrated Buddhist Circuit, is designed to showcase the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha. The site features intricately carved structures, including the Mahastupa, known for its breathtaking drum and dome carvings, and a virtual hanging sky with lotus petals, offering a mesmerising experience. Dr Shivanagi Reddy, a representative of the state's Archaeology and Tourism Department, emphasised the historical and architectural significance of the site, stating, "Buddhavanam is a testament to India's ancient Buddhist heritage and its role in spreading the message of peace and compassion across the world," the official said. "It's a privilege to share this rich history with the world through the Miss World pageant." The contestants explored the Buddhacharitha Vanam, depicting the life of Buddha, Jataka Park, which highlights stories from Buddha's previous lives, Dhyana Vanam for meditation, and the Stupa Vanam, home to the imposing Maha Stupa, before visiting the Buddhist Heritage Museum, which houses ancient relics and sculptural panels depicting key events from Buddha's life. The visit concluded with a theatrical performance by 18 artists, capturing key episodes from the life of the Buddha. Julia Morley CBE, chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organisation, expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Operation Sindoor: Installation inaugurated at Dilli Haat
NEW DELHI: An installation based on Operation Sindoor dedicated to the valour of the Indian Armed Forces was inaugurated at Dilli Haat by Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra on Wednesday. The installation highlights how the Indian forces destroyed terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and PoK. Noting its significance, Mishra expressed, 'The Operation Sindoor installation is an effort to pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the Indian Army. This installation will serve as a reminder to both Indian citizens and international visitors of the extraordinary bravery and heroism of the Indian soldiers.' In a symbolic gesture, visitors were invited to apply 'sindoor' (vermilion) at the installation as a 'tilak' in tribute to the armed forces. The Tourism Department of the Delhi government has planned to set up similar installations at various locations in the city as part of the initiative. The installation in Dilli Haat will remain on display for the next 15 days, officials said.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Collector explains importance of yoga for physical and mental well-being
Puttaparthi: Collector T S Chetan spoke about the role ofyoga in enhancing both physical and mental health, urging everyone to incorporate yoga into their daily lives. He inaugurated the 'Yogandra-2025' program organized by the Tourism Department on Vidyagiri Road in Puttaparthi with a ceremonial lighting of the lamp. Speaking on the occasion, the Collector stated that the Andhra Pradesh government aims to conduct large-scale yoga demonstrations across the state on the occasion of International Yoga Day on June 21. He noted that the initiative is intended to improve public health, reduce medical expenses for citizens, and lower healthcare spending by the state. He encouraged professionals and business people to practice yoga regularly to improve efficiency and achieve better results in their respective fields. He also highlighted the benefits of introducing yoga to children at an early age, such as improved concentration and memory, leading to better academic performance. The Collector mentioned that yoga outreach programs under 'Yogandra' are being conducted intensively across the district. He announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, and other ministers will participate in the Yoga Day celebrations in Visakhapatnam on June 21. Simultaneously, mass yoga events will be organized in Lepakshi, where thousands are expected to participate. Later, the Collector, Joint Collector Abhishek Kumar, SP V. Ratna, and other officials joined over 2,000 participants in a large-scale community yoga session. The event concluded with the felicitation of yoga instructors. Various departmental officials and the public took part in the celebrations.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Ride along Vizag Beach Road on double-decker bus to be a reality soon
Ever dreamt of travelling along the scenic Beach Road from RK Beach to Bheemunipatnam in a double-decker open-top bus, covering the pristine coastline on one side and lush green hills on the other? Well, it may become a reality soon as the Greater Visakhapatnam Smart City Corporation Limited (GVSCCL), in collaboration with the Tourism Department, is planning to introduce double-decker bus services, covering key tourist hotspots in Visakhapatnam. The Ashok Leyland Group donated a double-decker bus to the Andhra Pradesh government to promote tourism in the State. IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh has ensured that the bus is allocated to Visakhapatnam, recognising the strong tourism potential of the city. Tender floated Building on this, the GVSCCL, with the support of the Tourism Department, is planning to procure two more double-decker buses by using the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. Tenders (Request for Proposal) have already been floated for this purpose and the last date for accepting the proposals is May 31. Chief Engineer G. Siva Prasad Raju states that the new service will operate on a 'hop-on, hop-off' model, providing tourists with an innovative and flexible way to explore the city's tourist attractions. 'For example, a tourist can board the bus at RK Beach and get off at Tenneti Park to spend some time there and hop onto another bus to reach Rushikonda. The buses will operate on a circuit, with high frequency to suit passengers' needs, allowing tourists to explore the city at their own pace,' he explains. Of the three proposed bus services, two will feature closed-top decks, while one will have an open-top design. The decision has been taken, keeping in the view of the local weather conditions and preferences of tourists. The authorities are yet to finalise the routes and fare structures. The initial plan focuses on the Beach Road stretch from RK Beach to Bheemunipatnam, which features a string of tourist spots including Kursura Submarine Museum, Visakha Museum, Kailasagiri Ropeway, Tenneti Park, Jodugullapalem View Point, Rushikonda Beach, and Erra Matti Dibbalu. Future expansions may include other popular locations such as the Simhachalam temple and One Town.
Skift
3 days ago
- Business
- Skift
Now, Philippines Becomes Visa-Free for Indian Tourists
The impact of visa waivers on Indian travelers' destination preference is well documented. As the Philippines struggles with the loss of Chinese tourists, it seems to be taking a page from Thailand's notebook to attract outbound surge from India. The Philippines has introduced visa-free entry for Indian tourists. The archipelago is offering two different types of visa waivers to Indians. Indian passport holders can enter the Philippines without a visa for a period of 14 days for tourism only. Tourists entering the Southeast Asian country through this program can neither extend their stay beyond the 14 days nor convert it into any other type of visa. Apart from this, Indian nationals can also get a 30-day non-extendable visa-free entry for tourism purposes if they hold valid visas or residency permits for Australia, Japan, America, Canada, Schengen nations, Singapore, or the United Kingdom. The country's e-visa facility will also be available. The policy came into effect this month itself. India's Importance for Philippines: Last year, while the Philippines recorded its highest-ever tourism receipts at about $13 billion, it also lost out significantly on tourists from China: Only 300,000 Chinese tourists visited as against the target of 2 million. At the Skift Asia Forum earlier this month, Christina Garcia Frasco, tourism secretary of the Republic of the Philippines said, 'The lesson that we learned from that is to really diversify our dependency into other markets as well.' India has now become one of the focus markets for the Philippines. She is also hopeful that direct flights between India and the Philippines will commence 'very soon.' On the development, Gaurav Malik, country director - India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal at online travel platform Agoda, said, "The Philippines' decision to grant visa-free entry to Indian travelers recognizes India as a key market for tourism. The move also reflects Indian travelers' growing interest in Southeast Asia as a whole.' He added that the move is likely to further boost the demand for the Philippines as a preferred travel destination among Indians, as also seen in other destination countries and highlighted by Skift in a feature last September. Philippines Tourism Secretary at the Skift Asia Forum ITC's Welcomhotel Brand Enters Bihar ITC Hotels has signed a Welcomhotel-branded property in Bihar's Bodhgaya. The 98-key hotel marks the brand's debut in the state of Bihar. Bodhgaya is a key destination for Buddhist pilgrims. This came just days after ITC signed a Welcomhotel in Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, which is a major religious destination for Hindus. The company has recognized this segment as a growth driver in the country's tourism landscape. At the signing of Welcomhotel in Vrindavan, ITC Hotels Managing Director Anil Chadha said, 'India's pilgrimage tourism has witnessed a big upswing. As the country witnesses a surge in domestic travel, spiritual destinations have become vibrant tourism hubs, driving footfall and economic opportunity across various cities and heritage sites.' IndiGo Promoter Sells 6% Stake in Airline IndiGo-parent Interglobe Aviation's promoter Rakesh Gangwal and his family trust on Tuesday sold a 5.72% stake in the low-cost airline, according to exchange filings. Of this, Gangwal sold 0.57% out of his total 5.3% stake in IndiGo, while the family trust sold 5.15% out of a total 8.23% stake in the airline. The shares were offloaded for about INR 113.8 billion ($1.35 billion) through a block deal. A total of 220 million shares were sold in the deal. Last August as well, Gangwal's family trust sold a 5.2% stake in the airline. In March 2024, Gangwal also sold some shares in IndiGo. The stake sale is due to a February 2022 decision by Gangwal to reduce his stake in the budget airline after his alleged fall out with co-founder Rahul Bhatia over corporate governance issues. Last year, Southwest Airlines announced adding Gangwal to its board of directors. Manipur's Move to Boost Homestays The Northeastern state of Manipur has launched a dedicated portal for registration of homestays in the state. The digital initiative is aimed to encourage local communities through tourism. Residents across the state will be able to register their properties as certified homestays using this portal, which will strengthen rural economies while also providing travelers with authentic travel experiences. The state's new homestay policy came into effect this month, in which the government detailed the infrastructure and service benchmarks required from homestays. These looked at guest safety, comfort, and transparency. The policy also standardized room tariffs. Cruise-Focused OTA Int2Cruises Enters India Cruise-focused online travel company Int2Cruises has entered the Indian market. The OTA is headquartered in India, but was first introduced in Singapore and is expanding its presence into other markets such as the United Arab Emirates. In a statement, the company said that the platform aims to make cruise bookings convenient, transparent, and affordable. 'Indian travelers today are confident, digitally savvy, and looking for memorable experiences. But cruise booking remains fragmented and often overwhelming,' said Akansha Agarwal, chief marketing officer at the OTA. Cruise vacations are quickly gaining momentum among Indian travelers, for leisure as well as corporate travel. The government is also looking to ramp up this segment, targeting 1 million cruise tourists by 2029. According to the Indian government, 'The cruise market in India has the potential to grow by 800% over the next decade, driven by rising demand and disposable incomes.' IHG Now Has 50 Operational Hotels in India IHG Hotels & Resorts on Tuesday opened its 50th operational hotel in India - Crowne Plaza Lucknow. The 110-key hotel has been equipped with meeting and event spaces across 40,000 square feet in order to target leisure and business travelers. The hotel chain is continuing to expand its presence across the country. Last year, IHG signed 18 new hotels in India, with around 30% of the signings being in the premium and luxury segments. Currently, the company has almost 70 hotels in its pipeline as it looks to more than double its portfolio in India over the next five years.
