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  01 MAIN
   
   
  02 NEWSMAKER
   
   
  03 INVESTMENT UPDATE
   
   
  04 TRADE & ECONOMY
   
   
  05 INFOTECH
   
   
  06 FEATURE
   
   
  07 TRAVEL
   
   
  08 CALENDAR
   

   
  HIGHLIGHTS
   
 

Industrial output grows 9.1 pc in Sept
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Restoration of Lakes
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  Meghalaya Timeless Enhancement
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07 TRAVEL
 

WANDER AMONGST THOSE MIST-WREATHED MOUNTAINS OF MEGHALAYA AND YOU'RE CAUGHT IN MAGICAL TIME WARP. NEVER BEFORE DID THE APPEAL OF NATURE'S BOUNTY CATCH YOUR BREATH SO OFTEN AS YOU MOVE FROM ORCHID-RICH TRAILS TO THUNDERING WATERFALLS AND THEN BURROW DEEP IN THE EARTH TO EXPLORE THE ENIGMATIC EMBELLISHMENTS OF ITS AMAZING CAVES, THIS TIMELESS BEAUTY REASSERTS ITSELF WITH SEAMLESS EASE IN ITS ROLLING MEADOWS AND SCENTED PINE FORESTS, ITS SPARKLING STREAMS AND PLUNGING CORGES, LEAVE THE BUZZ AND CLAMOUR OF ITS PEOPLE CITIES TO UNCOVER THE INTRIGUING TRADITION OF SACRED FORESTS WHERE TIME STAND STILL... AND THROUGH BUTTERFLIES IN THEIR PLENTY HAVE DESERTED SHILLONG PROPER, FOLLOW THE TRAIL OF A MOUNTAIN STREAM TO FIND THEM IN SOME ENHANCEMENT WOOD.

Shillong: Shillong Those smoky blue hills with their winding orchid trails and tantalising butterfly population were created for days of leisure. Little wonder then that the British who developed it as a garrison town found it the perfect place to raise kids and set about establishing a slew of schools and followed it up with picture- perfect churches from which rose voices in melodious harmony praising God for his bounty. Scottish highland it may not be but Shillong came to represent the wild beauty of that far away home for many of its colonial inhabitants who filled it with pretty gardens and fairy tale cottages scattered amongst its sylvan walks and heather strewn slopes.

Take time to explore these hidden trails to discover the old Shillong. Shillong is tailor-made for family holidays. Picnics, boating and day-long hikes can be punctuated with leisurely explorations of the serene Ward's Lake and the landscaped Lady Hydari Park, which also has a mini-zoo.

Close to town are the Spread Eagle Falls (6 km), the Sweet Falls (8 km) in Happy Valley and if you are here on a longer sojourn, make time for trips to the Bishop Falls, Beadon Falls and the Elephant Falls. The Butterfly Museum has an excellent collection of these winged beauties, many of which are facing extinction. This pretty hilltown has something for all age-groups. Keep a look out for announcements of pop, jazz, blues, and rock concerts, which are in great demand. When in town, find out if there's a cultural programme on. It's the perfect opportunity to enjoy the traditional song and dance rituals, which are an integral part of the Meghalaya culture.

The bazars with their flanks of shops and restaurants are an excellent setting for interaction with the local people. Archery is a popular sport here and competitions - pretty much like horse racing - are part of everyday life. Shillong is fondly referred to as the 'Gleneagles of the East' and its I8-hole Golf Course is the venue of the muchawaited annual golf tournament in October.

For the more actively inclined, there is Shillong Peak (1965 m and just 10 km from town) for a jaunt into one of the enchanting parts of the state, with its tropical vegetation, rocky promontories and deep chasms falling away from the road. Enjoy those stunning views of city strung along verdant hills from this vantage point. Diengie Peak, west of the Shillong plateau, offers commanding views of the Umiam Lake and the hilltown. Sohpetbneng Peak (20 km), held sacred by the Hynniewtrep people, has captivating views of a sacred forest and its lush environs.

Mawphlang Sacred Forest
Just 20 km away from the city is Mawphlang Sacred Forest, one of Meghalaya's most celebrated sacred forests, in all its pristine wonder. Meghalaya's traditional sacred forests, as the world over, are steeped in spiritual belief and held in great veneration. They also represent some of the earliest representations of preserving the ancient eco- systems. The state is also home to exotic varieties of orchids. Some of its unique species include that carnivorous plant - the Pitcher Plant. Look out for the Blue Vanda, Lady's Slipper and other rare orchid varieties in the flower gardens of Shillong.

UmiamLake
Along the Guwahati-Shillong Road, 16 km away from Shillong, is Umiam Lake, the biggest artificial lake of Meghalaya. It is a popular picnic site and a favourite place for anglers. Take a picnic basket and pile the kids into the car to enjoy a leisurely day at Umiam Lake. The Orchid Lake Resort designed by renowned architect Charles Correa offers accommodation and watersports facilities. Adjacent to the resort is the Lum Nehru Park.

Shopping
Explore Shillong's crowded bazars for trendy souvenirs. Good buys include mounted butterflies, handwoven shawls, orange honey, black mushrooms, Khasi dresses for women, pineapple, orange and other fruit products. Bara Bazar is not just a shopping place but also a tourist attraction.

For more information, visit
www.incredibleindia.org

Branding Incredible India

Tourism Ministry’s ‘Incredible India’ campaign won the World Travel Award 2009 for being the year’s best campaign, while the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2010 raised the bar of expectations. Travel sector’s most sought after four-day long event, World travel Market that held from November 9-12, celebrated its 30th anniversary. Like every year, the event was organized at Excel Exhibition Centre, London. Tourism Minister Kumari Selja inaugurated the Indian Tourism Pavilion at the program. Appropriately conceived, this year’s theme of India’s pavilion was branded on Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi from October 3-14, 2010. The new creative of the Ministry for promoting the games as well as images of the mascot of the games Shera were also on display at the pavilion. India Tourism is promoting this these across the world with the help of Organizing Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi. WTM attracted about 200 countries from all over the world to showcase their tourism potential every year.

The Incredible India campaign, an initiative by the Indian Government to promote tourism, won the World travel award 2009 for being the best campaign of the year.Miss World, Ksenia Kukhinova of Russia, presented the award to Kumari Selja at a gala function held at the Grosvenor House. The latter also received the Asian Guild Award for promoting the Incredible India campaign at a function held at the House of Lords. Joint Director General, Marketing & Revenue OC CWG Delhi 2010.

TS Darbari said that Delhi is getting ready with world class infrastructure and looking forward to welcome about 1 lakh visitors which see further growth of tourism sector in the country. He said, It has been our endeavor to create a networking environment for business leaders of the Commonwealth and the partnership with FICCI will go a long way in ensuring that our objectives are achieved. We want to project India not only as a tourist destination, but also as great business investment destinations.” We have planned Commonwealth Business Club of India road shows along with FICCI and CII in 10 cities that will be part of the Queen’s Baton Relay.” It is estimated that the revenue of Rs 450 crores in Delhi Tourism.

West Bengal eyeing joint venture to develop river tourism

Buoyed by the success of the Ganga river cruise, the first in India along the lines of international standard cruises on the Nile in Egypt and the Irrawady in Burma, the West Bengal Government is inviting joint venture partners to set up a company to give river tourism a fillip. “We want to put up a Rs 130-200-crore project to develop river tourism in joint venture with a private company,” Mr T. V. N. Rao, Managing Director, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd, told Business Line.

Source : Business Line

 
 
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