Akorn Destination Management

Nepal-based Buddha Air to fly Kathmandu-Varanasi from March 1, 2012

Buddha Air, a Nepal based airline, will operate scheduled flights from Kathmandu to Varanasi from March 1, 2012. The Airline will operate four flights a week on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This one-hour flight aims to target pilgrimage tourism between Kathmandu and Varanasi. Buddha air is also planning to expand its services to Kolkata.

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Indira Gandhi International Airport ranked second best in the world

Indira Gandhi International Airport has been ranked second in the 25-40 MPPA category in the airport service quality awards given by the Airports Council International for 2011. The management for the airport was transferred to Delhi International Airport limited five years ago. Airports Council International is a global trade representative of airports with 580 members operating 1,650 airports in 179 countries and territories.

Visa on arrival scheme registers 72% growth in January 2012

During January 2012, a total of 1,359 visas on arrival were issued as compared to 790 issued during January 2011, registering a growth rate of 72%. According to the Government of India’s Press Information Bureau, the number of visas on arrival issued under the scheme, during January 2012 for the nationals of eleven countries was New Zealand (360), Japan (263), Indonesia (220), The Philippines (206), Singapore (173), Finland (95), Cambodia (5), Vietnam (13), Luxemburg (11) Laos (1) and Myanmar (12).

Jaipur's Elephant Festival

Earlier this month saw Jaipur’s Elephant Festival take place – an annual celebration held on the eve of Holi – where elephants are the centre of attraction. In times gone by, huge male elephants were used exclusively for the Maharajas, especially in royal processions. Today Jaipur comes alive with elephants, dancers, and musicians, and draws visitors in from all over the world to witness this amazing spectacle. The elephants stride majestically parading their decorated trunks and tusks. The festival begins with a procession of elephants, camels, and horses, painted and decorated in a glittering array of colourful materials. The animals are then followed by lively folk dancers. The elephants greet the visitors, offer garlands to the guests and walk past a panel of expert judges who go on to choose the winner of the ‘Best decorated Elephant’. The ensuing Elephant races and polo matches aren’t to be missed. They players, dressed in saffron and wearing red turbans, try to score goals using long sticks and a plastic football. A human/elephant game of tug of war is also played – providing yet more interesting entertainment. In addition to the activities outside you can also visit the ‘Gaj Shringar’ exhibition that displays everything connected with the elephant festival – the ornaments, textiles (Jhoo), howdahs and carriages, paintings, medicines and food.

There’s no doubt that this is one of the year’s highlights in India. Contact us to add this or another of India’s colourful festivals into your itinerary.