Sharad Mahotsav @ Jharkhand

Buoyed by the idea of Jharkhand ranking at the 12th slot in terms of domestic tourism footfall, the Sharad Mahotsav conducted by the Dept of Tourism (JTDC), Government of Jharkhand brings in selected tourist spots for picnickers in and around Jharkhand state. These picnic spots will offer visitors a total package with a rural ambience and all details.
JTDC will depute more than 15 Govt. tourist buses and erect tents and huts for the comfort of travelers under this scheme. Tribal cuisine and craft items will also be a part of the package along with arrangement for overnight stays. .

A solar festival of a lunar calendar

India celebrates Sankranti as a Harvest festival, Kite festival and Rangoli (intricate designs drawn in the front yard) festival. Astrologically Makar Sankranti marks the movement of the Sun from Dhanu rashi (Sagittarius) to Makara rashi (Capricorn). This marks the beginning of the Uttarayan that is the northward journey of the Sun considered as the day time for the divine. It is also the time to take a holy bath at a confluence of rivers (Sangam). Makar Sankranti, Uttarayan, Maghi, Pongal and Makar Vilakku are some of the names by which this festival is referred as. This is celebrated 21 days after the winter solstice every year and is based on a solar event unlike the lunar calendar followed by Hindus. This Hindu festival of Sun God holds a great social, geographical, historical and religious significance. This year Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on 15 January 2012.

Kudos to Kashmir Tourism!

The Tourism figures for 2011 are out and the scoop is that Kashmir has recorded more than 10, 00, 000 (more than 1 million) tourists in the 2011 – apart from the 1 crore-plus pilgrims who visited Mata Vaishnodevi's Shrine and the 6.75 lakh pilgrims who embarked upon the Amarnath Yatra – the highest in the last 20 years!
No prizes for guessing the primary draws – Gulmarg, Srinagar and Leh - the chief revenue-generator being Gulmarg Cable Car which provides a 5-kilometre ride to the world's highest ski-resort which alone earned Rs. 10 crores in 2011. It's no coincidence that in the same year 2011, violence in the State took a beating to a sudden and massive drop by 60% and thus Kashmir Tourism rose inversely proportional.
So this summer….its Kashmir ahoy!

Mon Amour Bhubaneshwar!

The annual Mukteswar Odissi dance festival being hosted by the Department of Tourism on the lawns of the magnificent Mukteswar-Parsurameswar temple complex is set to find expression in the profoundly aesthetic and sculpture filled ancient temple, from the 14th to the 16th of Jan 2012. The festive season that started with Bali Yatra in November is all set to enthrall the dance and music mon amours and end with the Rajarani Music Festival on the 20th of Jan 2012.