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  HIGHLIGHTS
   
 

IT majors bag $1.5-billion outsourcing deal from BP
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Tibetian Medicine
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  Lucknow: The City of Nawabs
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07 TRAVEL
 


Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, extends along the banks of the River Gomti. The creator of Lucknow as it is today was Nawab Asaf ud Daula. The city became known as a centre for Urdu poetry and courtly diction, and reached its zenith during the reign of Wajid Ali Shah who was a connoisseur of music and poetry. It was during his reign that the British appropriated Awadh. Today, the city is dotted with remnants of its rich historic past.

Hussainabad Imambara - Near the Rumi Darwaza, this structure houses the tombs of Muhammad Ali Shah, its builder, and of his mother. Built between 1837 and 1842, it is also called the Chhota Imambara. It is approached through a fine garden. The Imambara has a white dome and numerous turrets and minarets. The walls of the mausoleum are decorated with verses in Arabic. Chandeliers, gilded mirrors, colorful stucco, the King's throne and ornate tazia or replicas of the tombs at Karbala adorn the interior.



Shah Najaf Imambara - This white-domed structure derives its name from the town of Najaf, about 200 km south of Baghdad where the saint Hazrat Ali is buries. It is situated on the right bank of the Gomti, In this mausoleum are buried the remains of Ghazi-ud-din Haider and his wives, including Mubarak Mahal, his European wife. The entrance leads to a beautiful garden.

The silver tomb of Ghazi-ud-din Haider lies in the centre of the building and is flanked by the more imposing silver and gold tomb of Mubarak Mahal on one side, and another tomb on the other.

Residency - Built for the British Resident in 1780-1800, it was originally a very extensive and beautiful building, It was a scene of dramatic events during the War of 1857. The scarred ruins tell the story of the British community besieged by the rebels. The main house overlooks the river and is surrounded by terraced lawns and gardens.

Asafi Imambara - Also known as the Bara Imambara, it was built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784 and is one of the architectural highlights of the era. The central hall is said to be the largest vaulted chamber in the world. Except for the galleries in the interior, there is no woodwork used in the structure. A staircase from outside leads to a series of labyrinths which visitors are advised to visit only with authorized guides. Within the compound of the Imambara is a grand Asafi mosque.

Rumi Darwaza - This colossal, ornate gateway is said to be a facsimile of one of the gates of Constantinople. It was built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784, to create employment during the terrible famine of 1784.

Kaiserbagh Palace Complex - The construction of the Kaiserbagh Palaces was started in 1848 by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah and completed in 1850. They were built to create the eighth wonder of the world. The yellow buildings on three sides of the quadrangle, now the property of Taluqdars, once provided quarters for the ladies of the harem. In the centre stands the Baradari, a picturesque white stone edifice which was earlier paved with silver.

National Botanical Research institute - Located at Sikandarbagh, where pitched battles took place during the Mutiny of 1857, the institute garden is open to the public from 6 AM to 5 PM.

State Museum / Zoo - A favorite spot for recreation, Lucknow, Museum houses a large collection of artifacts and memorabilia and is located at Banarasi Bagh, within the zoo premises. The zoo has a large collection of animals, Museum timings : 10.30 AM to 4.30 PM Weekly holiday : Monday. Zoo timings : 5 AM to 7 PM. Other places of interest include Chhatar Manzil, Maqbara Saadat Ali Khan, Moti Mahal, Dilkusha Garden, La Martiniere, Alambagh Palace


General Information:
Area : 79 sq. km.
Altitude : 123 mtrs. above sea level.
Season : October - March
Clothing (Summer) : Cottons Winter : Woolens
Language : Hindi, Urdu, English
Local Transport : Bus/Tempo/Auto-rickshaw/Taxi Tonga/Cycle-rickshaw
Telephone Access Code :
+91 522

For more information, visit
www.incredibleindia.org
lucknow.nic.in

Hotel Industry in India witnesses tremendous boom

A touch of tenderness, a helping hand, a welcoming visage... the Indian hospitality sector is certainly the most apt replication of the belief 'Atithi devo bhava'. Good quality products and services at affordable prices should be the USP of any successful venture - and hotels in the country boast of exactly this! According to the world travel and tourism council, the growth in the hospitality industry is pegged at 15% every year, and with 2,00,000 rooms (both luxury and budget) needed in the country, the segment is poised for a stupendous growth.

Travel tales

While the high influx of foreign tourists has ensured huge footfalls for the sector over the years, internal tourism too has, off late, begun offering great potential. With travelers taking new interests in the country, players in the hospitality sector have had to offer the best of services, at affordable prices. Also, with the USD 23 billion software services sector pushing the Indian economy skywards, more and more IT professionals are flocking to Indian metro cities, thus signaling a boomtime for the hotel and hospitality segment. Several other factors such as Commonwealth Games in Delhi are fueling the need further.

The best bet

The Indian hospitality industry is projected to grow at a rate of 8.8% between 2007-16, placing India as the second-fastest growing tourism market in the world. Initiatives like massive investment in hotel infrastructure and open sky policies made by the government are all aimed at propelling growth in the hospitality sector. "Hotel and hospitality industries are among the biggest employment generators in the country. Towards propelling its growth, while the government should confer infrastructure status to the hotel industries, several taxation issues also need to be rationalised.

Further permits and licenses required for the hotel operations need to be rationalised by offering a "single window" mechanism," says Sanjay Gupta, CMD, Neesa Leisure Ltd - the Group which boasts of providing state-of-the-art facilities and services at its hotels. The government's decision to substantially upgrade 28 regional airports in smaller towns and privatization & expansion of Delhi and Mumbai airport has improved the business prospects of hotel industry in India. Combining unparalleled growth prospects and unlimited business potential, this industry is certainly on the foyer towards being a key player in the nation's changing face.

Source : The Economic Times
 
 
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