Home

Contact Us

Nov 2004
Back to index

SA troupe dancers perform in Jaipur to lure Indian tourists

     Jaipur: With the aim of attracting Indian tourists to its land, South Africa has sent one of its folk dance troupes who is performing in Jaipur these days. And, their performance is more than enough to lure the Indian tourists. The African dance named Zuru, which is one of the few being performed here, is basically a safari dance and is most famous in the African continent. According to these artists, South Africa is rich in culture and art, and there is a lot more for a visitor to see. Venjulaa, a folk dancer said, "I am wearing this attire for the Zuru dance. It is a special attire." Another folk dancer Zimi said, "One needs to do a lot of training before being able to perform this dance without any difficulty. It has a lot of movements."

     Many Indians are currently living in South Africa and have lent a helping hand in the growth of the South African society. Derick, a South African official said, "Our relationship in South Africa with the Indians...The Indians have come as business people there.........Indians are like our brothers, they help us with everything." Even Indians find many similarities with South Africa in terms of folk arts and culture, and say that both the countries have a healthy cultural exchange when events such as these are held. Maharaja Gaj Singh of Jodhpur said, "Over there is the wildlife, beaches, folk culture. The Sun City resort is very popular over there. I myself have visited that resort. While for them it is our tradition, culture and heritage that pulls them here." South Africans find Indians to be good tourists and they welcome Indians as they have historical relations with India since Mahatma Ghandhi's time. According to these people, there is a lot to be seen by the Indians like their Jungles, wild life and their life style. In South Africa, around 30 million international tourists visit every year and they wish to increase this figure with a large number from India.
- Nov 22, 2004

Pushkar desert camps to promote tourism in Rajasthan (Go to Top)

     Jaipur: For the first time in the history of Rajsthan tourism, a desert camp was organized to shelter foreign tourists. Around 300 French tourists spent a night in a tent. Organizing such desert camps has turned out to be the new mantra for the Rajasthan tourism industry. First time near Jaipur a huge camp dotted with hundreds of tents was organized. The arrangement was made to give the foreign tourists a feel of adventure sport. And, no doubt such adventure trips are also on high demand and tourists were excited for what they call a new experience in life. "It's very nice, absolutely incredible to have everything here in the desert", said Zupie, a French national. Vinson, another French tourist, said, "Yes it's very nice, its very very beautiful, the camp." "It's a wonderful idea. Its a very good feeling, very sympathetic, change of town," said Gystif, a French tourist who came to India for the irst time and wants to visit again. Rauf has the same feeling for the desert camp that he has never seen in life. "We feel its very different experience. We would not have done it, if we were ourselves. So we are pleased that the state has prepared this. Its going to be an experience," he Rauf.

     For one night the charges are 20,000 rupees which is equivalent to any five star hotel. But, tourists are not complaining. Probably this is the first time that such experiment is done in such a grand manner where around 350 French national have stayed for a night. To give a complete adventure and rural touch these tourists were brought on the camel carts from a long distance of around ten km. On the arrival near the tent they were welcomed with traditional Rajasthani music and dance. Such arrangements were highly appreciated by the tourists. To meet the daily requirements of a person, temporary utilities like toilet, wash basin, two beds and chair were also made available within the tent. So, besides providing rural ambience and touch to the whole arrangement the quality in services was not compromised.
- Nov 21, 2004

ASI objections to Taj night viewing (Go to Top)

     Lucknow: With the Uttar Pradesh government set to submit its report on the security aspect of tourist visits to the Taj both during the day and at night next week, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has imposed a further obstacle to allowing the moonlight viewing of the 17th century monument from November 26, citing technical difficulties. According to ASI sources, problems have surfaced over the issue of computer ticketing and the installation of X-ray machines. State government sources are also blaming the ASI for not replying to their query on these two issues. ''The ASI has opposed the state government's earlier plan to set up the X-ray machines near the gate of Taj saying that it would affect the structure there. Now, it has been decided that the X- ray machines would be used in a mobile form," a news report quoted an informed source as saying. The state government, however, is being cautious about making any commitment on night viewing of the Taj, saying that it does anticipate this facility taking off before the end of December. Night viewing would be permitted for five nights at a stretch during a full-moon (one full-moon night and two nights each prior and after the full-moon). No viewing will permitted on Friday and seven teams of 50 tourists each will be allowed per night. Night viewing of the Taj was banned in 1984. It was opened for a couple of days in December, 2000, but since then has not been permitted. Nov 20, 2004

Roerrich Art Gallery, a major tourist attraction (Go to Top)

     Naggar: Domestic and International tourists visiting the twin-tourists spots of Kull-Manali have another destination now in the vicinity, the Roerich Art gallery housing collection of art pieces of the great Russian painter, who made Manali his home. The beginnings of Nicholas Roerich's remarkable journey through life that ended at Naggar, were in Russia. Born in 1874 at St. Petersburg, he graduated in law, but his real interests were in art, culture and archaeology. During his lifetime he is said to have made nearly 7,000 paintings, published 30 volumes of writings, besides archaeological and scientific findings in Russia and the Himalayas. In 1923, already a world figure in the realm of art, science and culture he came to India, drawn by its ancient philosophy, and settled down at Naggar. Now the Roerich Art gallery has become a major tourist attraction not only for the domestic tourists but tourists from other countries as well. "We have heard a lot about Roerich. When we made a trip to this part of India, we made it a point to visit this place. As we had heard it before, its all true, its exquisitely maitained, exquisitely done, the painting ,the artifacts are well laid out. It has a great ambience, it is a privilege to visit this place," said Amit Suri, a tourist. "Very beautiful, very strong, magical, colourful. The paintings were very strong and very original", said Jade, a tourist from New Zealand.

     Roerich transformed Naggar with his creative personality into a place of pilgrimage for art and culture lovers. From here his influence radiated to art lovers all over the world. After his death, the message and spirit of Nicholas Roerich was kept alive by his equally eminent and talented son, Dr. Svetoslav Roerich, married to the actress Devika Rani. "Our main aim is to turn this place into a city of science and culture as Nicholas had pointed out that he wanted to see this place as a real cultural and scientific place. So this is our main purpose, we are working in this direction. We had opened a school of art for local children last year. We also teach music, art and drama",said Alena Adamkova, curator from Russia. Although the small art gallery has now grown in scale and grandeur, one sincerely hopes it will always retain the timeless peace and beauty of the hills it epitomises.
- Nov 19, 2004

Himachal comes up with first river-rafting tourney (Go to Top)

     Padua (Himachal Pradesh): The country's first national rafting championship began in Pandua, near Shimla, yesterday. A total of ten teams, including from the Indian Army and one each from Air force and the Punjab Police, would be battling the fast swirling currents of the River Sutlej during the five-day championship. The championship is being held in three categories - `Sprint', `Slalom' and `Marathon'. Nine men teams and one women team are participating in the event. On the first day of the event, the Border Security Force (BSF) team stood first in the sprint category while the Indian Army's 11 Corps stood the runners up. Pawan Sharma, the captain of BSF team, said river rafting could be popular if international teams participate in such tournaments. "The sport could be popular in India if maximum number of tournaments are held with more participation from international teams. We are aware of the level of competition at the national level but if teams from abroad come then our standard will also increase," he said. Shaukat Sikand, secretary of the Indian Rafting Foundation, said that he hoped the championship would attract more teams in the coming days. "This will be an annual event, this year we have 10 teams and hopefully next year we will have 15-16 teams and we are trying to develop a sport for international competition," he said. Nov 19, 2004

Danger lurks due to overcrowding at New Delhi railway station (Go to Top)

     New Delhi: Nothing has quite changed at New Delhi railway station, among India's busiest and most crowded, less than a week after a mishap. Five people, including an 80-year-old woman, were killed and 10 others injured in a stampede at the city's main railway station on Saturday. The incident occurred on a bridge leading to a platform from where a train was set to depart for Muzaffarpur in eastern state of Bihar. A large number of migrant workers from Bihar head to their homes during this period for the Hindu Chhat festival on Thursday (November 18), the sixth day after Diwali, the festival of lights. "The trains are overcrowded. I had earlier booked on the Janseva Express but could not go. I tried to board this train but even this is overcrowded. I have the ticket but I cannot travel like this." said Ram Vilas, a passenger. "We have the ticket but the trains are so crowded that we cannot even think of travelling in them. There was a special train to Chapra (in eastern Bihar) but it has been cancelled. Now I have to return the ticket and I would not be able to go," said Jag Lal, another passenger. The problem compounds as there is no restriction on the number of people coming to receive or see off the passengers. Authorities, however, said they are taking steps to de-congest the station. "We now have inducted a number of paramilitary troops like Rapid Action Force at the station, now the management is much better. We have also restricted the unreserved trains to Bihar to a particular platform at New Delhi railway station specialy platform number 12," said D.P.S. Sandhu, chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railways. The railway authorities have constituted an inquiry committee to probe into Saturday's stampede. On the unfateful day around 3,000 passengers were to board the train.
-Nov 17, 2004

                              Back to index                   Go to Top