Marriott opens first luxury JW Marriott resort in India in Mussoorie

Marriott International has recently opened its first luxury JW Marriott in India in Mussoorie. The JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa is located in the foothills of the Himalayas with all its 115 rooms and suites featuring their own private balconies, overlooking the surrounding hills and gardens.

“The opening of the first JW Marriott resort in India is undoubtedly a milestone for the JW Marriott brand and Marriott International at large,” said Rajeev Menon, Area Vice President of South Asia, Marriott International. “JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa reflects the sophistication, style and exceptional service, attributes that have grown synonymous with the JW Marriott brand worldwide.”

Embark on a luxury retreat in the heart of India's Himalayan mountains. The new JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa welcomes you with 115 deluxe hotel rooms and suites, each boasting flat-screen televisions, high-speed Internet access and attached balcony. Spacious bathrooms include high-end bath amenities and bathrobes and slippers. Rejuvenate your senses at the Cedar Spa by L'Occitane or dine at one of our several onsite restaurants. Planning a family holiday? Our hotel also features Mussoorie's largest entertainment center- The Den comprising bowling alleys, gaming consoles, billiard room and more. Our 4,000 square feet of modern venue space is ideal for weddings, social gatherings and off site meetings. Finally, our location in Uttarakhand, India, enables you to fully appreciate the stunning natural beauty of the Himalayas. Refined luxury awaits you at the JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa.

Top Reasons to Stay at Hotel The Leela Palace Kempinski Udaipur

Experience the uniqueness of The Leela Palace Kempinski Udaipur.

• Located on the banks of Lake Pichola
• 80 elegant and spacious rooms & suites
• 2 Restaurants and a Bar
• 2 Large banquets and 4 meeting rooms
• Single aisle Hotel with all rooms and public spaces overlooking the lake
• Internationally acclaimed Spa Brand ESPA
• Personalize your stay amenities
• French Chef

1. Location and View: Without exception every room at the Palace offers a lake view or lake and heritage view.

The Leela Palace Kempinski Udaipur

2. Arrival experience: As part of your journey to the palace, experience Lake Pichola with a scenic boat ride.

Royal Welcome - Leela Palace Udaipur

Leela Palace Udaipur

Meeting Room

Banquet - Leela Palace Udaipur

3. ESPA: World class tented SPA overlooking the lake with plunge pools and open air treatment facility.

The Grandeur of North India Is Being Celebrated this year

India is a vast country with 29 states and has been divided into different zones such as north, south, east and west. North India is that part of the country which is distinguished by its lush greenery of grasslands, snow peaked mountains, impressive forts, pacifying hill stations, religious shrines, and exotic flora and fauna. We are celebrating the grandeur of North India with the famous North India tour.

North India comprises of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttaranchal. This part of the country spreads its own charm through its culture, heritage, environment, architect and tradition and these aspects tend to allure a lot of tourists. Not only tourist, but also photographers are also allured by this charm. 

North India tour is a wise decision as jewels of India are discovered during this tour. The northern region of India welcomes its visitors with its myriad colors of its cultural diversity, geographical splendor, culinary delights and historical heritage.

This tour is also combined with photographic tour and forms the best tour known as North India Photo Tour. This would be great experience for the photographers as well as for the travelers as this region has been a witness of a great dynasty and cultures and they have left their imprints which have given birth to a rich cultural variety which is a rare masterpiece and impossible to be found anywhere. This is a great opportunity for all to capture it through the photographic lens. 

These tours can interweave countless breathtaking experiences such as speculating colorful live performances of art scenes, bowing at vintage temples to stone replicas of Gods and Goddess, trekking at the snowcapped peaks of the majestic Himalayas, enlivens oneself in soothing hill stations, gobbling upon the mouthwatering cuisines. 

This tour has enchanted everyone with its calm natural beauty and magnificent architecture which has gained a lot of fame over the years.

Tourist Visas on Arrival issued increase by 28.9 percent in September, 2014 over September, 2013

Largest TVAs issued to tourists from South Korea & Japan in September, 2014 

As a facilitative measure to attract more foreign tourists to India, the Government launched the “Visa on Arrival” (VoA) Scheme in January 2010 for citizens of five countries, viz. Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore, visiting India for tourism purposes. The Government extended this Scheme to the citizens of six more countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos and Myanmar in January 2011. Recently Govt of India extended Visa on Arrival (VoA) Scheme for South Korea for which Ministry has started receiving data w.e.f 15th April 2014. The following are the important highlights of VoAs issued during September, 2014. 

(i) During the month of September 2014, a total of 2,170 VoAs were issued under this Scheme as compared to 1,683 VoAs during the month of September 2013, showing an increase of 28.9%. 

(ii) During January-September 2014, a total number of 19,290 VoAs were issued as compared to 13,859 VoA during corresponding period of 2013 showing an increase of 39.2%. 

(iii) The number of VoAs issued under this scheme during September 2014 for nationals of the twelve countries were South Korea (530), Japan (496), Singapore (310), New Zealand (300), the Philippines (201), Indonesia (200), Finland (68), Vietnam (27), Myanmar (27), Cambodia (6) Laos (3) and Luxembourg (2) . 

(iv) The number of VoAs issued under the Scheme, during January-September 2014 were Japan (3,950), South Korea (3,560), New Zealand (2,890), Singapore (2,682), the Philippines (2,527), Indonesia (2,225), Finland (760), Myanmar (293), Vietnam (196), Cambodia (99), Luxembourg (91) and Laos (17). 
(v) During January-September 2014, the highest number of VoAs were issued at New Delhi airport (9,114) followed by Mumbai (3,636), Chennai (2,664), Bangalore (1,324), Kolkata (1,254), Kochi (614), Hyderabad (490) and Trivandrum (194).

Source: Government of India Ministry of Tourism

India to launch e-Visa by the end of October - Government’s gift to tourists

Tourists from about 30 countries, including the US, Japan and South Korea, may get the benefit of  e-visa from October-end.

Government's gift to tourists — electronic visa — is likely to be launched by October-end. There are about 30 countries including the US, Japan and South Korea where the facility will be extended first while Germany, Israel and Russia are under consideration.

Sources said countries already being given visa-on-arrival including New Zealand, Luxembourg, Finland and Singapore besides Japan, South Korea and the US will be able to apply for electronic travel authorization (ETA) or e-visa. There are at least a couple of countries from the African continent that are also in consideration. Sources said Germany, Israel and Russia were also being actively considered.

Once implemented, ETA will allow foreign travelers to apply for a visa and receive an online confirmation within three to five working days. ETA will be available for a 30-day period from the date of the tourist's arrival in India. The government plans to establish a separate website to extend the facility to foreigners intending to visit India as tourists. To get the visa, they would need to apply through the designated website along with the required fees.

The e-visa scheme received PMO nod in June and is expected to be implemented in time for the country's tourist season.

The countries that are unlikely to be on the list include Saarc nations and countries that are on "prior reference'' list which include Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Afghanistan.

This is the first time that electronic visas will be implemented in the country. Officials said plans were afoot to include all 109 countries in a phased manner.

The government has been encouraged by the good response to the visa on arrival scheme to extend ETA to the 12 countries. Between January and September 2014, 19,290 visas on arrival were issued compared to 13,859 during the same time last year, reflecting an increase of 39.2%. The countries that already have visa on arrival scheme include Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Finland, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Luxembourg.

Source: timesofindia

Explore Rajasthan During the Festival of Colors - HOLI

We brings a bonanza for its travellers during the eve of color festival. The company has introduced a new package known as Holi festival with Rajasthan. India is a country which is known for its cultural heritance. The best way to experience this is through fairs and festivals where you get to explore the rich traditions of India.

Now you can beautifully avail the opportunity to explore the rich heritance of the country by opting for the Holi Festival tour package which is being offered by us. Holi is a festival of colors which is celebrated in the month of March and is one of the important festivals of the country. This festival marks the onset of the spring season in the country. The festival of colors starts with a holika bonfire on the night before holi and next day is celebrated with the carnival of colors. The best place to experience this festival is the Pink city of the country, Jaipur. 

Holi festival with Rajasthan is one of the best way to explore rich Indian Traditions and they even told us that this colorful trip would begin from the capital city Delhi which has multi-faceted history in the country which is followed by the visit to the desert state of India, Rajasthan where travellers would explore rich, exotic and beautiful cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur. 

Travellers would also visit Agra the city of eternal love towards the end of the trip without which a tour to India would be incomplete. 

They even told us how enthusiast would be celebrating the festival of colors. They told us that travellers would be taken to Old Haveli where they would enjoy the carnival of colors. The enthusiast would enjoy in totally traditional way as it is celebrated. They would be celebrating with “gulaal” and other vibrant colors. 

Excellent opportunity to witness the colorful Camel Fair, India

Pushkar Fair

Have you ever heard about live stock or camel Fair that takes place annually in the country? You might have surely heard about Pushkar fair that takes place in the state of Rajasthan. We provides a Golden opportunity to explore India in its Fairs and Festivals. We introduces a new Tour package in the name of  Pushkar Fair tour package for the travellers to explore the country to its best in these five days.

Pushkar fair is an annual five day fair that is held in the city of Pushkar in Rajasthan. It is one of the largest camels fair that is held in the world. This festival has recently become one of the tourist hotspot in the country as there are various competitions that are conducted such as longest moustache, bridal competition, and ‘matka phod’ that allures a group of tourists in the country. This festival takes place near the Pushkar Lake and is celebrated on the full moon day. 

Most interesting aspect of the fair is that there is a football match as well as kabaddi match that are held between the locals and group of visitors. Tourist will also enjoy speculating the dance performances of camels and horses which can be witnessed on November.

This festival is basically celebrated to attract camels and cattle traders so that they can make some earning on this auspicious day and this festival is for those who want to explore the old traditional style of celebrating festivals.

They even told us that many a times when travellers arrive late at the Pushkar camel Fair in India and miss the main attraction of the fair. The camel attraction takes place in the first days of the festival where as in the last days of festival the main attraction is the huge religious celebrations.