Travel News Europe - #88 - November 2008 - (Page 16)

n destination/ INDIA ible Ayurveda; Central India; Come to Paradise; and Fair & Festivals of India. New microsites, soon to be online include: MICE; Crafts of India; Pilgrimage; Wildlife; Buddha; Medical Tourism; Adventure; 150 Years of India’s Freedom Movement; The Himalayas; and Indian Heritage. Tourism developments The Indian Ministry of Tourism has invested in developing the following 4 mega destinations/circuits: 1) Hampi World Heritage site, Karnataka 2) Heritage Tourist Circuit in Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh 3) Ganga Heritage River Cruise Circuit, West Bengal 4) Gangtok Mega Destination, Sikkim. The projects are expected to be completed in 2-3 years. Hampi World Heritage site has immense potential as a cultural destination. The project includes improvement of areas in Hampi’s environs, illumination of historical buildings, a sound and light show, solid waste management, creation of public conveniences, improvement of last mile connectivity, construction of rural haat and construction of an arena for cultural performances and music festivals. Kadapa, which has historical links with Hampi, also has several historical and cultural sites. The project for development of a heritage tourist circuit in Kadapa district includes the creation of tourist facilities around important temples, dams, reservoirs and forts. India has strong potential for river cruise tourism. The Ganges Heritage Cruise circuit will offer river cruises and visits to historical settlements along the banks of Ganges in West Bengal. This project includes creation of jetties, beautification of river fronts, illumination of monuments, development of parking areas and construction of tourist reception centres at Belur, Barrackpore, Serampore, Chandannagar, Hooghly, Nabadwip, Mayapur, Plassey, Behrampur, MurshidabadLalbagh and Ajimganj-Baranagar. Sikkim is a major up-and-coming tourist destination. The project will create tourist facilities including a taxi stand, development of view point, beautification of ridge road, development of millennium park and construction of tourist facilitation centres at Gangtok, to meet the growing demands for better tourist facilities in this hilly state. Adventure Tourism Blessed with snow-clad peaks, crystal glaciers, rolling meadows and ski slopes, beautiful valleys, meandering and roaring rivers, gushing waterfalls, thick forests rich in wildlife, swampy deltas, long coastlines and magical moonscapes, India has something for everyone looking for adventure. Water sports on offer include white water rafting and kayaking, diving and water skiing. The Himalayas offer some of the toughest and most exciting river runs in the world. River sports in the rapids are popular throughout the summer and really get the adrenaline pumping. Coastal regions provide excellent opportunities for water skiing, wind surfing, yachting, snorkelling and scuba diving. The islands of Andaman and Nicobar in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep in the Indian Ocean are virtually untouched and are some of the best spots for scuba diving and snorkelling. The beaches of Goa and Kerala offer water skiing, wind surfing and sailing. The west coast offers sailing in Mumbai and the lakes around Pune. Many rivers in north India are excellent for white water rafting - a number of lakes in the Kumaon region and the Ganges with its upper tributaries (Alaknanda, Bhagirathi) amongst others. The Association of Professional Rafting Outfitters (IAPRO) coordinates and controls all white water rafting operations in the country. All rafting outfitters/operators must have a mandatory permission from the state tourism department for running operations. Rafting can be classified in to 2 categories; day trips, or multiple day/expedition runs. Most licensed outfitters can organise introductory white water kayaking at their riverside camps on the Ganges. The majority of white water sports knowledge is centred around the Rishikesh region (in Uttarakhand state) in the Himalayan foothills. The area boasts skilled instructors, working with high quality equipment. The Himalayas represent the ultimate challenge for keen mountaineers. With more than 100 peaks over 6000 metres (some as yet unclimbed) the Himalayas promise adventure. Unlike trekking or hiking, extreme mountaineering requires a high degree of fitness and experience, especially above the permanent snowline (about 5200 metres). The mountain road starts from Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata or Mumbai and the Himalayan regions of Garhwal and Kumaon can usually be reached within 2 – 5 days. The mountaineering seasons tends to be concentrated during April – November. Mountaineering routes are graded according to the degree of difficult and accessibility. Prior medical examination is essential. All expeditions have to be cleared by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) and accompanied by a government liaison officer. The IMF also maintains a list of available peaks, peak booking fees, access restrictions, medical aid, rescue and weather forecasting. Of course, for those who enjoy walking in the great outdoors and communing with nature, but do not wish to push themselves to their physical limit, there are also many lower level trekking, hiking and camping routes in India. Visitors have the option to trek for a day or a month, backpack all their gear and wander off in to the wilderness or stroll comfortably whilst animals transport camping gear and heavier baggage. Trekkers can set a challenging pace and go over difficult grades or high passes, or just amble along, enjoying the wild flowers, magnificent scenery and uncomplicated lives of the people living close to nature. Many agencies organise the logistics of treks, including a guide. Many treks are offered in the following states: Kashmir (in northern India), Uttarakhand (which borders Tibet to the north and Nepal to the east), Himachal Pradesh (in the Punjab region of north west India, its name translates as “region of snowy mountains), Leh & Ladakh (the “Land of high passes” region lies between the Kunlun mountain range and the Himalayas), Sikkim (a land-locked state nestled in the Himalayas, which borders Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan), Darjeeling (in the Shiwalik Hills on the lower range of the Himalayas). Treks can also be found in the southern states of Karnataka (which boasts the coastal region of Karavali, the hilly Malnad region, comprising the Western Ghats and the Bayaluseeme region, comprising the plains of the Deccan plateau), Maharashtra (in western India, which also features the Western Ghats and coastal plains), Orissa (in eastern India, by the Bay of Bengal, which boasts unspoiled natural landscape that offers a protected natural habitat for the state’s incredible wildlife), and Kerala (this southern region boasts the eastern highlands, with their cool mountainous terrain, the central midlands with their rolling hills and the western lowlands and their coastal plains). The Youth Hostel Association of India offers many trekking holidays. Other adventure sports on offer in India include aero sports, such as paragliding, parasailing, hang glid- TRAVEL NEWS EUROPE october 2008 www.travelnewseurope.com http://www.travelnewseurope.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Travel News Europe - #88 - November 2008

Cover&Contents
NEWS
WTM News Pages
DESTINATIONS - Tanzania
DESTINATIONS - India
BUSINESS - Winter Holidays
BUSINESS - Exhibitions

Travel News Europe - #88 - November 2008