7th Edition of ILTM Scheduled for June’13

International Luxury Travel Market, Asia
International Luxury Travel Market
The 7th edition of ILTM (International Luxury Travel Market) Asia is scheduled to take place on 3rd - 6th June’13, at Shanghai Exhibition Centre. Luxury travel agents and buyers, across Asia Pacific, are expected to attend this travel mart.

Through this meet, the agents and buyers will come across almost 500 of the latest travel experiences from 70 nations across the globe. These experiences will help the visitors to identify upcoming travel trends to offer their clients. For the exhibitors, the increasing demand for elite travel across Asia is also one of the attracting attribute of ILTM.

The event will also be featured by some of the specialists of cruise industry such as Poseidon Expeditions which offers elite icebreaker cruises in the North Pole, and South East Asia Exotic Cruise`s Indonesian cruise. Orion Expeditions, Silversea Cruises, Aqua Expeditions and Sea Dream Yacht Club will also be joining them at the event.

The 7th edition of the ILTM’13 is strictly to host buyers from across Asian Countries such as  India, Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Australia and Malaysia. Strict qualification method is to be adopted for the both exhibitors and buyers. To build business communities and relationships, the exhibitors and buyers will be meeting on a strict one-to-one ratio. Pre-scheduling will be done for all business appointments.

For more information, please visit www.iltm.net/asia
Read more...

Is Tourism in Kashmir Reviving?

After a long lull, tourism in Kashmir is making a grand comeback. There was a time when Kashmir Tourism was the most sought after thing in India. Referred to as the “Paradise on Earth”, Kashmir not only drew tourists from all corners of the world but was a favorite hotspot for shooting of Bollywood cinema.

Kashmir Tourism
Tourism in Kashmir is all set to return
Shammi Kapoor singing “Ye chand sa roushan chehhra; julfon ka rang sunehra” (A face glowing like the moon/ and hair as soft as silk) on a shikara in Dal Lake to woo his lady in the movie Kashmir ki Kali is etched in the consciousness on India masses.

Kashmir’s innate charm lies in its soaring mountains, British-inspired colonial houseboats,  majestic Mughal Gardens, lush valleys and charming people. Kashmir Tourism flourished until the terrorism arrived in the valley in the 1980s. The tourism almost stopped due to violence and unrest but with the turn of the century, things are looking to be brightening up for Kashmir Valley.

It is said then Mughal Emperor Jehangir was so mesmerized by the pristine beauty of Kashmir, that he said “Agar Firdaus bar ru-e-zamin ast, Hami ast o- hami ast o- hami ast” (If there is heaven on earth, it is here, it is here it is here).

Kashmir was used as the summer capital of Mughals and later by British. During Mughal Empire several Mughal gardens, pleasure pavilion and other structures were constructed in Kashmir which are now the major tourist attraction on Kashmir.

During the winter season, adventure enthusiast flock to Gulmarg to enjoy snow sports like skiing and Gondola ride. The entire valley becomes shrouded with snow.

Gondola ride in Gulmarg
Gondola Ride in Gulmarg is a popular tourist activity
Gulmarg Tourism
Skiing is yet another popular activity in Gulmarg
Although threat in the valley is not eliminated, more and more tourists including travelers from overseas are arriving in Kashmir giving new hope to the valley both politically and economically. Last year Kashmir was visited by over 1 million tourists over 35,000 of them from foreign countries. Ladakh region in Kashmir also attracts high numbers of foreign tourists every year.

Like other thriving tourist places in India, development is fast catching up in Kashmir. Many premium hospitality brands have opened up their properties in valley which include the first 5 star hotel Vivanta by Taj. This hotel was opened up way back in 1957. The latest 5 star hotel in Kashmir is the 85 room Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa in Gulmarg. Accommodations of all types are easily available in the valley with British-styled houseboats moored by the Dal Lake in Srinagar attracting chunk of them.

Vivanta by Taj Dal View
Vivanta by Taj Dal View is all Elegance and Class offering sweeping view of the valley and Dal Lake.
Today, Kashmir may mostly attract the adventurous type tourists and the young generation of Indian travelers as well as bulk of pilgrims who travel to Amarnath Cave. The easing of travel advisory by the British and German government has come as a boost for Kashmir.

It is hoped by the local tourism authorities that more European countries will follow suit. Looking at recent trends of both foreign and it won’t be an overstatement to say that it’s high time that tourist returned to Kashmir to get a first hand glimpse of “Paradise on Earth”.
Read more...

Why Choose Indian Railways for Traveling in India

Man is a social animal. He loves socializing and traveling gives him a great opportunity to reach out to various parts of the world to learn about various cultures and lifestyle. India being rich in varied culture and heritage, traveling to various parts of India makes an interesting and informative study. The best option to travel the length and breadth of India would be to opt for train journey. Indian railways network is huge covering almost all parts of the nation and hence, it is naturally the top favorite for the traveling lot. People prefer traveling by train more than by flight and bus.

Duronto Express by Nikhil
Indian Railways Photograph
Railway Tracks Wins In Its Race with Road and Air 
  • Traveling by air has its own benefits. One could reach the destination faster and where time is the key factor, air might be the best route. As far as bus journey is concerned, people opt for buses whenever they need to reach a place, which does not have a railway station. Another reason for preferring bus is that bus services are more and hence one need not worry about missing a bus, as there will always be another in a few minutes. If one does not get a direct bus to his or her destination, they can always get down at a nearby place and take another mode of transport to their destination. 
  • However, train ultimately wins, as it is always a favorite with travelers. With online booking making reservation easier, more and more people prefer traveling by train. It is evident from statistics that e-booking makes a heavy contribution to online travel in India. Let us have a look at the reasons behind the popularity of train journey. 
  • Opting for a flight might save you time spent in reaching your destination. However, if you were to take into account the time spent on reaching the airport and from airport to your place, check in time and the time you need spend to have your luggage cleared, you would find train journey to be time-wise economical as well. In train journey, all you need to do is to just reach the railway station and settle in the seat reserved for you. You get off where you have to and just proceed towards your destination without having to wait to complete any formalities.
  • Your baggage will be with you in train journey. Therefore, you will have no cause to worry regarding baggage handling or your baggage not traveling with you in your plane as it happens in some cases.
  • Train fares are economical when compared to flight and bus travel. Hence, people prefer train journey more. If you look to have a more sophisticated journey, you might have an a/c compartment booked for you to make your train journey more comfortable.
  • If you are a businessperson, the journey by train could be great as it offers quality time to you. Unlike in flight or in bus, a train offers you the comfort of catching up with your pending work, like going through files or documents, do work that is not connected to internet (unless you carry your laptop) and so on. 
  • You stay connected in train journey unlike in a journey by flight. You can look through the window and enjoy what nature has in store and how beautiful the landscapes are in between cities. Bus journey could offer you this but not with the comfort a train journey could provide.
  • Environmental benefits associated with train travel is the most important factor you need to take into account with talks about global warming gaining more attention globally. The pollution caused by flights is 85% higher than that caused by train and one could not ignore the fact that train consumes much lesser energy for its functioning.
Trains offer the best to every traveler, as the rates are economical and the journey comfortable. Trains give you an opportunity to interact with more people and you feel a sense of belonging as train journey is always near to the hearts of people. Trains are comfortable for all ages and all wallets. Above all, as mentioned it is wise to go green with train journey and act your part in saving the environment.

Contributed by Himanshu who writes at Trans India Travels: http://www.transindiatravels.com/
Read more...

Is time travel possible?

Time travel into future may well be the Next most luxurious experience
In previous posts, we talked about world’s most expensive package which is there for the taking. It made us wonder if anything could come in future to beat that. Space travel is already on the offer so what could it be that could beat the most expensive luxury tour package in the world? Well, our vote goes to time travel.

time travel
Traveling forward in time may well be the next big thing to happen in luxury travel niche
So is it possible to travel in time?

The answer to this question is that yes, traveling forward in time (to see the future) is indeed possible. So why isn't it done? 

To travel forward in time requires that you are moving at a speed which is equal to or greater than the speed of light. The reason you could not travel forward in time our scientists are yet to find a way to attain that kind of momentum.

Traveling forward in time at a faster rate than you are used to is a simple matter of traveling at, or near, the speed of light.  As you approach the speed of light, time will slow down for you, meaning it will speed up for the rest of us.

If you leave the earth at a speed that is close to the speed of light, keep traveling for some time and travel back and reached earth. During your travel assume that you just spent 5 birthdays in your spaceship, then you would find upon returning that everyone other than you had aged 50 years during what was just 5 years for you.

Going backwards is much more theoretical than going forward, but it's easy to imagine if you can wrap your brain around the idea that time is just another dimension. 

Although Einstein’s theory allows for travel back into time, scientists all agree that in theory, it should only be possible to travel back to the point when the first time machine was created.

What this would mean that if time travel machine are to be built today to take us into future, time travelers from the future would be able to visit us. So readers what do you think?

Do you think time traveling will become reality in near future? Leave us your comments.
Read more...

India Emerges a Favorite With Global travelers at Arabian Travel Market

Arabian Travel Market
The recently concluded Arabian Travel Market, 2013 hinted some promising prospects for Indian Tourism. India has emerged a global favorite with globetrotters, as per recent travel statistics. India’s image as a geographically, culturally and demographically diverse country has helped it gain incomparable mileage among international travelers.

Vikas Rustagi, Regional Director at a major Tours and Travel company based in Dubai, commented “In 2011, total foreign tourist arrivals (FTA) in India stood at 6.29 million as compared to 5.58 million FTAs in 2010. India Tourism has set a target of increasing the share of India in world tourist arrivals from the current 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent by the year 2017 and has prepared a multi-pronged strategy to increase India’s global share of tourist arrivals. This includes development of world class infrastructure and undertaking aggressive promotional and marketing activities,”

Another interesting trend observed was the growing liking for India as a tourist destination between travelers from the Middle East.

“There has been a consistent and positive growth of foreign tourist arrivals from the Gulf and the Middle Eastern region to India over the last two to three years, with the year 2011 registering an overall growth of around 14 per cent over the previous year. Some of the countries, particularly the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen and Turkey are emerging as major tourism generating markets in India from this region,” Rustagi added.

Concerns about travelers’ safety in India were quickly dispelled with statistics proving that visitors to India enjoyed safe holidays and a major percentage were actually repeat visitors.

“It is a safe destination and the recent instances are only aberrations. Forty percent of 6.65 million foreign visitors to India last year were women who did not report any major problems during their visit. While the country continues to receive repeat visitors, it remains a safe destination for international visitors including women tourists. However, foreign visitors need to exercise caution, just as local residents do, while travelling through or staying at isolated places, to guard against becoming victims of undesirable elements.”

Due to the disparity between its climate and other geographical features, India is fit for year round travel, experts believe. Since there is no possible land form that India isn’t blessed with, there are plenty of tourist destinations in India that tourists can head to at different times of the year. In the summer months of May-July, Ladakh in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are popular tourist jaunts, while during winters in the December-Feburary period beach destinations like Goa and Cochin receive a massive footfall. The period between October and April is especially important for luxury travel since this is when all Indian luxury trains are in operation. Some of the most important luxury trains are Palace on Wheels, Maharaja's Express, The Golden Chariot and The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels.
Read more...

World’s Most Expensive Tour Package gets Attention



About a month ago we told you about the Most Expensive Luxury Travel Package ever which is priced well over £1 million. The unbelievable tour package spanning over 2 years now has two buyers. The trip that would encompass touring to more than 150 countries and 962 World Heritage Site, is an extravagant affair and its announcement managed to leave every person unanswered as to who would dare to buy this, first.

The founder of the company has announced that 2 persons have expressed firm interest in becoming the first ones to undertake this epic odyssey spanning across the continents. The first one who has expressed his interest is from the ‘land of dragons’  China and a student currently pursuing PhD whereas the other one is a wealthy industrialist from Italy.

The Chinese man is pursuing his Ph.D and could  begin this tour only after completing his doctorate, which is not before next  year. The Industralist from Italy is all set to book this and become the first lucky person and the prospective buyer of this tour package that is nailed to be the costliest one in history. The process of finalizing his itinerary is still being carried out.

The founder of the company that launched this offer, VeryFirstTo.com, Mr. Knobil said that more such positive responses have been collected from many more interested well-to-do travelers, ready to spend this fortune. Seeing the amount people spend on a one or two week trip, the duration and places this would cover, the figure does not seem that exaggerated. However, there are a few who have shown interest in travelling in breaks, covering one continent at a time.

The holiday would be charged at £990,000 per two passengers and includes a small donation of £10,000 to UNESCO as well. Although a few among the 962 World Heritage Sites featured in the itinerary are considered unsafe for travel, which the company says can be worked on. Like the Chinese student most people are in the favor of travelling to places that are safe, even if it would mean cutting few on the list. Still for those who are interested in completing the list, arrangements would be made accordingly.

The trip would include travelling in business class or finer for most part of the journey and staying at the most luxurious properties in different continents. The founding company has always tried to offer something unique and out of the league. “The Trip to Space” and “ A chance to wake up surrounded by 1 million rose petals” are two more such exquisite, out of the box tours by them.

Well, luxury comes at its price, and when it’s the most expensive tour packages, everybody has the right to think twice. So, let's just wait to know will these interested travelers actually become buyers of this most talked about thing currently?

Till then, stay glued on to get  more useful news and updates on this front.
Read more...

13 Vacation Ideas for 2013 - Make Your Choice

Because of the hustle-bustle of the daily city life, one does not have much quality time to spend with  loved ones. Going on a holiday is the perfect way to spend quality time with family and friends where one can also indulge in the activities of their interest.  Are you also planning a vacation but are not sure where to go? If yes then here are 13 vacation ideas for 2013 which will surely create unforgettable memories for you:

Luxury Train Tours

Luxury Train Tours
Luxury Train Tours
Indian luxury trains are a great way to spend fun-filled holiday while getting a royal treatment. One can enjoy great hospitality in opulent interiors while availing  every world-class facility on-board. The traveler also gets a chance to visit some well-known destinations  of the country. There are 6 luxury trains: Palace on Wheels, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, Maharajas’ Express, The Deccan Odyssey, Golden Chariot, and the Indian Maharaja.

Heritage and Historical Tours

Heritage and Historical Tours
India is a country with a rich historical past and a great heritage.Various parts of the country Agra, Delhi, Rajasthan, Kerala are abounded with historical artifacts and monuments where you can marvel at the architectural prowess of yesteryears. 

Beach/ Islands Tours

Beach/ Islands Tours
For the water babies, beach/Island tours are the perfect option. With an extended coastline covering Goa, Kerala, Andaman and Nicobar islands and many more cities, India is a great place for such a vacation.  You can enjoy sightseeing, sunbathing, surfing, go-carting and various other water activities. Enjoy houseboats in Kerala.

Wildlife Tours

Wildlife Tours
Wildlife Tours & Jeep safaris
If you are a wildlife enthusiast then India will be an absolute treat, with its numerous species of animals and birds. You can plan a trip to various wildlife sanctuaries and national parks that are sprinkled all around the Indian landscape – Sundarbans, Kaziranga National Park, Jim Corbett National Park to name a few. We recommend you try elephant or jeep safaris.

Religious Tours

Religious Tours
A Glimpse of the Aarti at the Ganga at Varanasi
India is a religion-dominant country which boasts of numerous pilgrim destinations. Every year, there are millions who undertake pilgrimages such as Varanasi, Char Dham Yatra, Haridwar, Vaishno Devi to name a few.

Adventure and Trekking Tours 

Adventure and Trekking Tours
Adventure and Trekking Tours
No other country can offer a geography as vivid as India. It is a paradise for adventure lovers who can enjoy various activities like trekking, camping, mountain climbing, biking, rafting, para-gliding, and more.

Backpacking Holiday 

Backpacking Holiday
Backpacking Holiday
If you like to spend your vacations on bare minimums, even then India is perfect for a backpacking tour. Every city in India has plenty of inexpensive accommodation, and dining options. The general standard of living in India is a little on the lower side.

Hill station Tours 

Hill station Tours
Hill station Tours
India has been blessed with some amazing hill towns with breathtaking beauty, like Shimla, Ladakh, Manali, Mussoorie and many more. Enjoy houseboats in Kashmir.

Cultural Tours 

Cultural Tours
Cultural Tours
Every nook and corner of India reeks of its cultural kaleidoscope. Every city of the county offers distinctly great food, music, dance, art, architecture and more which a traveler can enjoy.

Desert Safaris 


Desert Safaris
Desert Safaris
Enjoy a desert safari in the vast Thar Desert of Rajasthan while visiting this royal Indian state.

Road Trips

Road Trips
Road trips the possibilities are endless!
India presents a great opportunity for road trip vacations, especially off-roading and highway cruises. Some examples of well-maintained highway stretches are Delhi-Ladakh, Mahabaleshwar-Mumbai and Bangalore-Ooty.

Spiritual Tours 

Spiritual Tours
spiritual tours
If you are seeking rejuvenation for your tired mind, body and soul, then you have the option of spiritual tours where you can invigorate yourself with Aurvedic spa treatments, yoga and meditation sessions. Indian boasts of several such world-renowned centers offering these services.

Medical Tourism 

Medical Tourism
Medical Tourism services
India is a country that offers excellent-quality medical services at absolutely affordable rates. So if you are coming to India for medical purposes, you can plan a little off-time during your visit here.

Author Bio : 

Geetika Handa is a travel writer who has an interest in sharing her experiences with all. She provides a detailed account of any travel topic she chooses to write on. You can get detailed information and tips about choosing the right kind of holiday packages in the country from her write-ups.

Read more...

Early Bird Discounts Announced for Pre-Bookings on Luxury Trains Season 2013-14

Indian Luxury Trains, the leading luxury tour management company, has announced 5-10% discounts on all pre-bookings made before 15th May, 2013 for Palace on Wheels and Royal Rajasthan on Wheels.

Palace on Wheels has served as an excellent precedent to the other Indian luxury trains incepted after it and has set a benchmark in terms of hospitality and facilities on-board. While aboard the Palace on Wheels, not only will  you admire the quality of its decor but also experience the hospitality that is worthy of the Maharajas... Read full story
Read more...

Google Doodles Indian Railways


Google doodles first passenger train journey in India to mark 160 years of the inaugural train run
Google is paying tribute to the 160th anniversary of the historical first passenger train journey in India today - albeit with some inaccuracy some might say - by depicting a single steam engine hauling a train towards the Google users through its Doodle. The front part of the engine forms the first 'O' in Google with a doodle on its homepage.
Steam Rail: Celebrating 160 Years of Passenger Trains in India
Steam Rail: Celebrating 160 Years of First Passenger Train in India
During the inaugural run, 3 steam loco named Sultan, Sindh and Sahib, carried 400 passengers in 14 carriages on a journey stretching just under an hour that had one halt. The inaugural run from Bori Bunder, in Bombay (now Mumbai) to Thane located 34 kilometers away lasted 57 minutes.

The first train for localized hauling of canal construction material became operational on December 22, 1851 in Roorkee. It was only after that the two railway companies, Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIPR) and East Indian Railway (EIR) launched the first passenger train service jointly in 1853-54.
Google Doodle Celebrates First Passenger Train Journey in India

Google Doodle offers a glimpse into the history of Indian Railways and first run of passenger railway by depicting a train pulled by a steam engine along the palm-lined railway track. Currently, India has the 4th largest railway network in the world.
Read more...

Elephant Polo Match


Elephant Polo Match
 Polo has not been “The King of Games” and “The Game of Kings” for nothing. The game exudes royalty, passion and heritage. The horses, all thoroughbreds and maintained in the personal stables of erstwhile Indian Maharajas, are an absolute sight when running  in  full glory. Now, imagine the same game played with elephants instead of horses. Picture 7-8 colossal pachyderms doing forced sprints, all vying for control of a relatively miniature ball. That’s Elephant Polo for you!

It may seem otherwise, but Elephant Polo is soon catching up in popularity. First played in Meghauli, Nepal, Elephant Polo is today practiced and played in India, Sri Lanka, England, Nepal and Thailand. In fact, Jaipur in India is the only place in the world where Elephant Polo is played all around the year. Watching the game is a part of the itinerary of premium tour packages as that of the Maharaja Express luxury train. The game’s headquarter is in Tiger Tops, Nepal, which also doubles up as the venue for the World Elephant Polo Championship. The game’s rules are few and simple to understand and played with a lot of caution and extreme safety measures are advised.
Read more...

Like it! Share this