Incredible India - Tourism places

[Bombaywalla]

Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa | Shillimb | MH

cc: Hilton Hotels India

 

[RISING SUN]

Tourist inflow to Meghalaya has doubled in last 10 years
Shillong: Tourists inflow to Meghalaya has doubled in the past 10-years and the number is increasing at a rapid rate, officials said.

The primary reason for this increase was the improved internal security within the state and the free publicity of the exotic and pristine spots on social networks and in the public domain, they said.

Tourist inflow, both domestic and international, has increased from 4.04 lakh in 2006 to 8.39 lakh till last year, according to statistics from the tourism department.

In 2006, a little over 4 lakh domestic tourists visited the state while in 2016, there were 8.3 lakh domestic footfalls whereas during the same period, the foreign tourist visits has increased from a little over four thousand to nearly 8500 footfalls till December last year.

There was a steady increase of about 50,000 more footfalls every year and going by the current rate, the number of tourists visiting the state will double in the next 7–8 years. The state government has also increased investment under the tourism mission and implemented several schemes, which include construction of tourist lodges, guest houses, roadside amenities and restaurants to promote tourism, according to chief minister Mukul Sangma.

With the inflow increasing, management experts warned that it could cause serious damage on fragile ecological spots like the double-decked rootbirdges in Sohra (erstwhile Cherrapunji), the sacred groves at Mawphlang (both in East Khasi Hills) or the limestone caves in East Jaintia Hills.

Sanjib Kakoty who teaches at the IIM-Shillong, said while inflow of tourists is good, preference should be given to attract quality tourists and not just quantity or the bulk visitors who could cause serious damage to the ecology of the area. “The double-decked bridge or the sacred groves cannot take in certain number of people at a given time. Proper regulation of visitors by the concerned authorities is a must given the present conditions,” he said.

In fact recently, there were massive traffic jams for over 30km along the Guwahati-Shillong-Sohra highway. This is particular witnessed during weekends when thousands of cars from neighbouring Assam flock the state.

Cautioning the 100% increase of tourists inflow into the state, founding chairman of the Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum and a former minister, R.G. Lyngdoh said, “Many things could go wrong if we depend management of tourism on the government. The public at large should take ownership and should look for solutions for itself.” “Village durbars should ensure proper management of a particular area and to also take stock of the ecology and to ensure that culture and local habits are intact,” he said.

The tourist inflow has also witnessed an increase of beds even in far flung villages. The state government has identified over 40 tourist spots and East Khasi Hills district, in which Sohra, the wettest place on earth is located, attracts the bulk of tourists, a senior government official said.
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/eT...o-Meghalaya-has-doubled-in-last-10-years.html

 

[Hindustani78]

Royal Enfield Himalayan

The engine, dubbed LS410, is a new 410cc powerplant which produces 24.5bhp and a healthy 32Nm peak torque at 4,250rpm, to help with tricky off-roading situations. The ground clearance is an impressive 220mm, a massive improvement on the 135mm on the low-slung Classic. A huge 21-inch front tyre aids it in tackling uneven terrain with greater dexterity than its stablemates

 

[swnjo]

Kovalam, Chennai, India

Vitamin Sea - Covelong Point

 

[Hindustani78]

Gajapayana, the elephants’ march from Nagapura near Nagarahole to Mysuru to participate in Dasara festivities, began on Saturday. Photo: M.A. Sriram

 

[Hindustani78]

Nehru Boat Race in Alappuzha

 

[swnjo]

This was posted before ??

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[Hindustani78]

Taming the beast: A Gangireddu man training the Ongole bull at Nagallamudipi village in Prakasam district.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...love-of-the-majestic-bull/article19483528.ece

Members of the Gangireddu community rear it much against odds for a living

The majestic Ongole bull has long been the farmers’ favourite because of its draught power and disease-resistant characteristic.

But the docile animal, the much sought-after breed across the globe, including Brazil, has fallen from grace because the farmers, under constant pressure to cut costs, have switched over to tractors.

However, the one community that still rears the sturdy animal with passion in the villages close to the Nallamala forest for a living is the ‘Gangireddu’. Members of the community train the bulls handed over to them by farmers and the ones dedicated to temples by the villagers.

The nomadic people spend about six months in their native village training the cattle and the remaining months touring different parts of Andhra Pradesh and other States to exhibit the skills of the bulls.

Much against odds, the bull trainers feed and train the animals to do a variety of tricks such as stamping the master without hurting him and dancing to the tunes of dhol and shehnai played by the master to amuse the audience.

Each bull gains a weight of 800 kg as they feed the cattle with highly nutritive diet that includes palm dates, coconut, and horse gram, says expert bull trainer N. Kotaiah after a tiring training session at Nagallamudipi near Tarlupadu in Prakasam district.

His bulls won the first prize in the cattle show organised in Nellore recently. Mr. Kotaiah shows with pride the prize won.

Such is the passion for these animals that the bull trainers don’t milk the cows.

“We leave all the milk to the calves, especially the male ones, to get healthy bulls,” adds Pullaiah, another trainer in the village with 1,000 bulls.

Special feature

The special feature of the Ongole bull is that it attains maximum height and weight when they are reared in the land between Gundlakamma and Musi in the district, claims another bull trainer Veeraiah, who takes pride in taking the animals to cattle shows held at periodic intervals in Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Nellore.

Out of sheer love for the majestic bull, considered down the ages as the vehicle of Lord Mallanna, they rear it despite difficulties in view of shortage of fodder and other feed.

They want the government to supply fodder at a subsidised price as severe drought in the last three years has led to acute fodder and water scarcity.

Conduct of cattle shows and bull races will kindle interest in the bull trainers and farmers to rear the animals, they feel.

 

[swnjo]

Dzükou Valley

cc: unknown
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cc: Gloria Tep @gloriatep (instagram)

 

[Hindustani78]

The first batch of Dasara elephants being welcomed on their arrival at Mysuru Palace on Thursday.

 

[Hindustani78]

The banyan tree being replanted with the help of a crane on the MIT campus in Manipal on Monday. | Photo Credit: handout_mail

 

[hembo]

The banyan tree being replanted with the help of a crane on the MIT campus in Manipal on Monday. | Photo Credit: handout_mail

How the hell is this related to Indian tourism places???

 

[swnjo]

You Could Land Up in Jail If Found Littering in Meghalaya

August 24
12:45 2017

Tourists visiting scenic Meghalaya could land themselves in jail if they are found littering the roads or tourists spots, according to an advisory from the state police.

Citizens are to keep order on public roads, streets and all the tourist spots and desist from causing obstruction, injury or annoyance to passersby, or cause pollution and littering in any public roads and tourist spot, East Khasi Hills district superintendent of police Davis N R Marak said in a statement on Wednesday.

He said that any person not obeying the orders is liable to be arrested under sections of Meghalaya Police Act, 2010 and on conviction by a court of law will be liable to be fined Rs 5000. The advisory is being enforced by the state police in East Khasi Hills district, which attract major tourist inflow in the state.

Tourists visiting the tourist spots are also advised to carry garbage bags in their vehicles to throw wrappers of food materials and water bottles and finally dump them in appropriate bins, it said. Tourists footfall in the state has doubled in the last 10 years according to the tourism department and the amount of trash being dumped by visitors could create trouble for the beautiful hill state.

In 2006, a little over 4 lakh domestic tourists visited the state while in 2016, there were 8.3 lakh of them. During the period the number of foreigner tourists increased from a little over four thousand to nearly 8500 till December last year. A tourism official said that there was steady increase of about 50,000 tourists in Meghalya every year and going by the current rate their number is likely to double within the next five years.

source

 

[Hindustani78]

Farmers takes part in oxen race of Kalapoottu in Pullaloor in Kozhikode on Saturday. PTI Photo

 

[Hindustani78]

Every drop matters Joseph N.M. stores rainwater in 12 interconnected plastic tanks on the terrace of his house at Madanthyar in Belthangady taluk.

The family has been using rainwater for drinking, cooking and washing from the last four years. “None of us has suffered from any water-borne disease in the four years. Water analysis reports have termed the harvested rainwater fit for drinking,” Mr. Joseph said.

The 12 tanks store 22,500 litres of water at a time and the sump 69,500 litres. The terrace has a 2,700 sq. ft roof. Mr. Joseph said one litre of water could be collected if there is 1 mm rainfall on a one sq. m area.

He said he harvests 10.7 lakh litres of water in a rainy season. The family uses about half of it directly and the remaining flows to the wells for recharging. He said the tanks on the terrace should be placed only on top of beams or pillars to withstand their weight.