April 2020
Dear Friends, Guests, Patrons and Partners in Travel,
Namaste!
In the pursuit of 'Wealth' better known as Knowledge, it is with great pleasure we launch Jigyasaa - our very first newsletter and information platform where we would be sharing much with all of you.
As Time holds us back, to reflect and do some soul-searching, we will come with new dimensions and new avenues of travel and its hitherto less travelled paths.
Here we set foot to unravel new journeys, new experiences!
With best wishes to all of being safe and well!
Yours truly,
Anjali Babbar CEO
IHCL kicks off 2020 with revamped Historical property: Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur
South Asia’s largest hospitality organization, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has provided lavish travelers with yet another magnificent option for a palatial ‘stay’cation in Udaipur, by unveiling its new property - Fateh Prakash Palace. Renamed Taj Fateh Prakash Palace, the aesthetic edifice rests like a jewel within the historic City Palace on the shores of Lake Pichhola in Udaipur, offering panoramic views of the serene lake. Adding to its visual exquisiteness are the ancient Aravalli Hills, Jagmandir Island and the renowned Taj Lake Palace that accentuate the property’s periphery.
Udaipur is the capital of the historic Kingdom of Mewar which was founded by one of the oldest ruling dynasties in the world - the Mori Rajput Clan, that traces its lineage to 530 AD. The very same palace, now a Taj property was built by its 19th century monarch Maharana Fateh Singh Mewar who used it as an exclusive venue for royal functions. Meticulously preserved, the Taj Fateh Prakash Palace is no less than a living museum, having a total of 65 heritage rooms and suites, an award-winning restaurant and a bar that uncannily takes the prize in providing the palace’s best sunset views. Furthermore, its pièce de résistance - the ‘Durbar’ hall, boasts to be India’s most flamboyant reception hall that can put many a European palace to shame!
The heritage banquet venue with a dramatic 1000 kilogram central crystal chandelier is all set to hypnotize the ever-dreaming Indian (even Western or European!) bride. For more compact events like corporate conferences, Taj Fateh Prakash also renders smaller meeting venues and specially curated royal experiences such as a chauffeured vintage at your disposal and unparalleled dining choices - all in all providing guests with a rare opportunity to relive the regal splendour and ambience of a bygone era.
Kashi Mahakal of Tejas Express, engineered to impress: IRCTC Launches India’s Third Private Train
Auspiciously named ‘Kashi Mahakal’ Express, the train has been launched to run between Varanasi and Indore. A much celebrated news for pilgrims and worshipers alike, the train connects the three important ‘Jyotirlinga’ temples of Shiva - Omkareshwar (near Indore), Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain) and Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi). Third, in the ensemble of Tejas Express trains, the Kashi Mahakal too boasts its stature as that of a semi high-speed and fully air-conditioned locomotive.
The route and schedule of the train are as below:
- Varanasi: Train Start Here & depart at 14:45
- Sultanpur: Arrive at 16:38 & depart at 16:40
- Lucknow: Arrive at 19:05 & depart at 19:15
- Kanpur: Arrive at 20:50 & depart at 20:55
- Jhansi: Arrive at 01:32 & depart at 01:37
- Bina: Arrive at 03:20 & depart at 03:22
- Sant Hirdaramnagar: Arrive at 05:25 & depart at 05:30
- Ujjain: Arrive at 08:00 & depart at 08:10
- Indore: Arrive at 09:40 & Train End Here
Being IRCTC’s first private overnight train, travelers will be indulged on board in a manner only the airline industry is famed for - with elegant stewardesses, housekeeping services, on-board bedrolls, high-quality vegetarian food, and onboard security services.
IRCTC shall also provide an automatic full refund of the train fare for both wait-listed and confirmed e-tickets in case of cancellation of the train. Extending its ‘bogie’ of amenities, passengers furthermore will also be covered with complimentary travel insurance of Rs. 10 Lakhs during the journey.
As with the two Tejas Express trains, the Kashi Mahakal too will only be available for booking on the ITCRC website and the mobile app ‘Irctc Rail Connect’. The booking window will open 120 days prior to the travel date, under the general and foreign tourist quota.
* A Jyotirlinga or Jyotirlingam, is a devotional representation of the Supreme God Shiva. Jyoti means 'radiance' and lingam the 'Image or Sign' of Shiva. Jyotir Lingam thus means the Radiant Sign of The Almighty Shiva. There are twelve traditional Jyotirlinga shrines in India.
The world vs. COVID-19 : How the Coronavirus is turning livelihoods into sinking ships
Wars, natural disasters and even epidemics have come and gone while lives still carried on, but this deadly pandemic has put time to a standstill, and mankind nearly over the edge. Having spread to more than a million people (real time figure 1,432,373, vide worldmeters.info ) across the globe and killing 82,114 (worldmeters.info), the disease is bringing the world economy and most importantly humanity, down to its knees.
On the Indian home-front, the figures seem relatively contained but are threatening to escalate everyday. On Wednesday, as of April 8, 2020, India records the figures as the total number of 5,194 infected cases, 402 cured and 149 having fatally succumbed to the virus. The government has enforced urgent steps to curb Covid-19’s wildfire like escalation:
- Suspension of all domestic and International flights except Cargo flights
- Suspension of all public transports such as metros, interstate railways and buses, and private taxis. Places of religious worship also follow suit
- Nationwide Complete lockdown to include 30 states & Union Territories till April 15
- Banning any kind of gathering of people.
- Imposition of curfew in some states till April 15
- Essential services such as medical stores and facilities, groceries, local ration stores, ATMs and online grocery delivery services exempted from this lockdown
- 144 testing laboratories with a capability to do 20,000 tests daily
- Prompt evacuation of Indians stranded in China, Italy, and Iran
Moreover, the Prime Minister announced the constitution of the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) Fund which he has appealed donations for, to allocate abundant medical supplies and to enhance research that will help combat the virus. The fund has seen contributions from citizens, from all strata of the country, with the PM even praising and motivating people who came forward to donate a sum total of Rs. 500 (USD 7) as well, further advocating the solidarity India needs to defeat Covid-19.
Observing India’s pro-activeness on the same, Henk Bekedam, WHO Representative to India shares, “The commitment from the Indian government, the Prime Minister's Office has been very impressive”. Another UN official expressed solidarity with India in its fight against the virus, praising the Prime Minister’s nationwide lockdown as “a comprehensive and robust” response to the raging Covid-19 pandemic.
The global economy being inevitably on the front-line, its impact will be impossible to avoid, leaving only the medical industry to spare in its line of fire. The United Nations’ Trade and Development Agency predicts that the economy’s slowdown is likely to cost at least USD 1 trillion.
The industries facing the brunt of this global crisis are majorly transport, tourism, and retail. With countries like Britain and Australia on the verge of extending their lockdown period to 6 months, the recovery time period for these industries among many, from this recessive damage remains unforeseeable. To make matters worse, top scientists and medical professionals such as that of the CDC (Centers for Diseases Control & Prevention, Atlanta USA) further speculate that Covid-19 could become a seasonal disease and that the world will have to prepare for a second cycle.
Little light can be seen at the end of the tunnel and tackling another wall of challenges such as fake health messages and fake news on social media is making sure that a panic attack reaches a person way before Coronavirus does!
But as the thumb rule of primitive human survival goes - “to see an opportunity in every difficulty”, this testing time has provided people a chance to reconnect with their families, health and fitness, hobbies and to further expand their professional and personal horizons.
