The Madhya Pradesh tourism department has given a 50 per cent discount to tourists visiting the state before September 30.
Talking to mediapersons here today at Kolkatta, MPTD executive director G S Chahal said the department runs a network of 44 accommodation units with a total bed capacity of 1500 at over 30 different locations. Mr Chahal said about one crore people visit the state every year of which 60 per cent are pilgrims and about 10 per cent are from West Bengal.
''Keeping in mind the spurt in number of tourists we have started a direct Kingfisher flight from Kolkata to Indore and will soon start one from Bhopal,'' Mr Chahal said. Welcoming the people to the 'land of tigers', Mr Chahal said the state has some nine national parks and 11 sanctuaries, of them the Kanha National park is famous for having the largest number of tigers in India.''Pench is another place full of wild life that had inspired Rudyard Kipling to pen down his famous 'Jungle Book' and its most lovable character 'Mowgli'.
It also offers some of the exotic world heritage destinations like Khajuraho, Bhimbhetka, Gwalior and Mandu, an ancient medieval city, also know as 'City of Joy', he said. Besides, the state has some of the holiest places for piligrims like Amarkantak, Omkareshwar and Mahareswar.
He also offered film makers, the state's vast rough sites to make 'good' thriller movies.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
A 'Taj Mahal' In Ruins
Sanjay Sharma
The Taj Mahal in Agra might have made it to the seven new wonders of the world but another architectural gem by the same name, built by Begum Shah Jahan of Bhopal in 1874, is in danger of being erased from the heritage map of Madhya Pradesh.
Though very different from the celebrated monument in Agra, this one was built by Begum Shah Jahan for the purpose of living in Bhopal, which was the only Muslim state to be ruled by four women monarchs in succession.
The complex, once called the 'Raj Mahal', has elaborate stone-pillared arches, with the ceilings having iron rings where coloured glass lamps used to be hung at one time.
'When the British Resident called on Shah Jahan Begum, he was so impressed with its architecture that he looked around with admiration and remarked that this splendid palace should be known as the 'Taj Mahal'. After all, it is the creation of Shah Jahan Begum. Thereafter, the Raj Mahal was renamed Taj Mahal,' recalls an old timer.
Today large parts of the heritage complex have collapsed. Its ceiling near the entrance has buckled and the huge garden with a complex of palaces and covered walkways have disintegrated.
As a result, one can easily see narrow bricks peering out from wherever the plaster has peeled off or the walls have caved in.
But it is said that the palace was once beautiful, as the Begum - ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Bhopal for two terms (1844-60 and 1868-1901) - was quite passionate about architecture like her namesake Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
She not only built the Taj Mahal here for herself but also got a mini city called Shahjahanabad developed.
The grand palace, which was home to Begum Shah Jahan and built as part of her ambitious construction of the Shahjehanabad suburb, has a huge gate with its menacing spikes still intact.
Born in Islamnagar near the city of Bhopal, the begum was known as a lady of learning and piety. She was credited with the authorship of several books in Urdu.
She also made sizable donations towards the building of a mosque at Woking, Surrey, in Britain and contributed generously towards the founding of the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh, which developed into the Aligarh Muslim University.
Though much of Bhopal's architecture is said to bear the Mughal, French, British, Rajasthani, Persian, Arabic and Islamic designs, the ruins of Taj Mahal distinctly reflect Islamic architecture.
Observes conservation architect Meera Das, who studied the palace in great detail in her capacity as regional convener of the conservation group INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) : 'The Taj Mahal had a long courtyard with a fountain structure constructed in carved red stone. This exquisite fountain structure - the Sawan Bhadon Sahan - is the attraction of this large complex.'
According to Das, the palace was a mixture of Islamic and Hindu architectural elements with cusped arches, massive gateways, screen windows at upper levels, extensive mouldings, decorative plasterwork and squat homes with 'jharokhas'.
'The detailing on the inner courtyard facades seemed to have a colonial influence. The entrance dome of the Taj Mahal was so large that a 12-horse buggy (cart) could turn under it with ease. The begum would alight from the coach here as she observed purdah,' says Das in a booklet on Bhopal's architecture.
While most of the flooring has been coarsely cemented over, blue-painted Jaipuri tiles are still visible in a few spots. One can well imagine how beautiful it would all have looked with the coloured glass lamps, terracotta painted walls and floors with blue tiles.
The begum also initiated the construction at Bhopal of Taj-ul-Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India.
The begum married Baqi Muhammad Khan, a nobleman of Bhopal and became his third wife in 1855. Four years after Muhammad Khan's death in 1867, Shah Jahan married Sadiq Hasan Khan of Bareilly in the then United Provinces.
After India's independence, a few members of the royal family lived at the Taj Mahal. But since they had no money for repairs, gradually they all moved away and the palace now lies in ruins.
The Taj Mahal in Agra might have made it to the seven new wonders of the world but another architectural gem by the same name, built by Begum Shah Jahan of Bhopal in 1874, is in danger of being erased from the heritage map of Madhya Pradesh.
Though very different from the celebrated monument in Agra, this one was built by Begum Shah Jahan for the purpose of living in Bhopal, which was the only Muslim state to be ruled by four women monarchs in succession.
The complex, once called the 'Raj Mahal', has elaborate stone-pillared arches, with the ceilings having iron rings where coloured glass lamps used to be hung at one time.
'When the British Resident called on Shah Jahan Begum, he was so impressed with its architecture that he looked around with admiration and remarked that this splendid palace should be known as the 'Taj Mahal'. After all, it is the creation of Shah Jahan Begum. Thereafter, the Raj Mahal was renamed Taj Mahal,' recalls an old timer.
Today large parts of the heritage complex have collapsed. Its ceiling near the entrance has buckled and the huge garden with a complex of palaces and covered walkways have disintegrated.
As a result, one can easily see narrow bricks peering out from wherever the plaster has peeled off or the walls have caved in.
But it is said that the palace was once beautiful, as the Begum - ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Bhopal for two terms (1844-60 and 1868-1901) - was quite passionate about architecture like her namesake Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
She not only built the Taj Mahal here for herself but also got a mini city called Shahjahanabad developed.
The grand palace, which was home to Begum Shah Jahan and built as part of her ambitious construction of the Shahjehanabad suburb, has a huge gate with its menacing spikes still intact.
Born in Islamnagar near the city of Bhopal, the begum was known as a lady of learning and piety. She was credited with the authorship of several books in Urdu.
She also made sizable donations towards the building of a mosque at Woking, Surrey, in Britain and contributed generously towards the founding of the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh, which developed into the Aligarh Muslim University.
Though much of Bhopal's architecture is said to bear the Mughal, French, British, Rajasthani, Persian, Arabic and Islamic designs, the ruins of Taj Mahal distinctly reflect Islamic architecture.
Observes conservation architect Meera Das, who studied the palace in great detail in her capacity as regional convener of the conservation group INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) : 'The Taj Mahal had a long courtyard with a fountain structure constructed in carved red stone. This exquisite fountain structure - the Sawan Bhadon Sahan - is the attraction of this large complex.'
According to Das, the palace was a mixture of Islamic and Hindu architectural elements with cusped arches, massive gateways, screen windows at upper levels, extensive mouldings, decorative plasterwork and squat homes with 'jharokhas'.
'The detailing on the inner courtyard facades seemed to have a colonial influence. The entrance dome of the Taj Mahal was so large that a 12-horse buggy (cart) could turn under it with ease. The begum would alight from the coach here as she observed purdah,' says Das in a booklet on Bhopal's architecture.
While most of the flooring has been coarsely cemented over, blue-painted Jaipuri tiles are still visible in a few spots. One can well imagine how beautiful it would all have looked with the coloured glass lamps, terracotta painted walls and floors with blue tiles.
The begum also initiated the construction at Bhopal of Taj-ul-Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India.
The begum married Baqi Muhammad Khan, a nobleman of Bhopal and became his third wife in 1855. Four years after Muhammad Khan's death in 1867, Shah Jahan married Sadiq Hasan Khan of Bareilly in the then United Provinces.
After India's independence, a few members of the royal family lived at the Taj Mahal. But since they had no money for repairs, gradually they all moved away and the palace now lies in ruins.
Monday, August 20, 2007
'My FM' and 'Big FM' in Indore now
Last week saw the launch of My FM and Big FM airwaves in the city of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. This is My FM’s third radio station in the state, while it’s the second one for Big FM radio.
Synergy Media Entertainment Ltd (SMEL), a fully owned company of the Bhaskar Group owns the ‘My FM’ brand and had previously launched the station in the cities of Bhopal and Gwalior in the state. The launch in Indore marked rocking performance by the Indi-pop band Euphoria, and the unveiling of the station’s new logo.
The launch was supported by 360-degree promotions comprising outdoor events, hoardings, fliers, etc. The launch was also supported by the group newspaper Dainik Bhaskar, which covered the pre-launch activities extensively.
The Adlabs-owned Big FM’s launch in the city marked the launch of the network’s second station in Madhya Pradesh. With this launch in the city, the station will also cover the adjoining areas of Dewas, Mhow, Pithampur, Sanwer, Depalpur, Manpur in the 40 square kilometre aerial distance.
Synergy Media Entertainment Ltd (SMEL), a fully owned company of the Bhaskar Group owns the ‘My FM’ brand and had previously launched the station in the cities of Bhopal and Gwalior in the state. The launch in Indore marked rocking performance by the Indi-pop band Euphoria, and the unveiling of the station’s new logo.
The launch was supported by 360-degree promotions comprising outdoor events, hoardings, fliers, etc. The launch was also supported by the group newspaper Dainik Bhaskar, which covered the pre-launch activities extensively.
The Adlabs-owned Big FM’s launch in the city marked the launch of the network’s second station in Madhya Pradesh. With this launch in the city, the station will also cover the adjoining areas of Dewas, Mhow, Pithampur, Sanwer, Depalpur, Manpur in the 40 square kilometre aerial distance.
New Welcome heritage property at Pachmari
Welcomheritage launched its 52nd property 'Golf View Retreat'. The retreat is situated at Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh, at the state's hill station. Spread over four acres, WelcomHeritage Golf Retreat has 15 air-conditioned suites decorated with period furniture and live fire places, LCD television, tea and coffee makers and mini bars. The baths are fitted with shower closets, whirlpools and steam enclosures. The Retreat also has a jogging track, an open-air restaurant, with a live kitchen serving barbeque vegetarian cuisine.
Madhya Pradesh to get new national park
Madhya Pradesh is all set to get new eco-tourism attractions near the Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar reservoirs in Khandwa district where a 651 sq km lush green forest is being transformed into a national park, two sanctuaries and two conservation reserves. This eco-restoration area would attract tourists with the unique scenic beauty of the nearly 100 islands in the reservoirs, officials said. The area demarcated for the national park, sanctuaries and conservation reserves is a treasure trove of flora and fauna and has a unique belt of thousands of elegant Anjan trees.
'We have sought help from the Wildlife Institute of India and the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) to protect and provide a natural habitat to the displaced wildlife of the area submerged by the reservoir,' said Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) vice chairman Uday Kumar Verma.
'The eco-restoration and development project report of the IIFM has been made the basis of the working plan for the Omkareshwar National Park, slated to open on Oct 1,' he added.
'The development work is going on at a war footing. A sum of Rs.103 million has been spent on work undertaken in the current year, including wildlife habitat management, construction of an interpretation centre at Narmada Nagar and development of camp sites. Livelihood diversification work has also been undertaken in 29 villages around the protected area,' Verma said. VDA conservator Vinay Kumar Varman said: 'The upcoming Omkareshwar National Park would be the new habitat for a variety of animals like tigers, panthers, bison, neelgai, sambhar, chital and chinkara. And the islands would provide a natural habitat to thousands of local as well migratory birds.
IANS,Madhya Pradesh,Staff Correspondent
'We have sought help from the Wildlife Institute of India and the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) to protect and provide a natural habitat to the displaced wildlife of the area submerged by the reservoir,' said Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) vice chairman Uday Kumar Verma.
'The eco-restoration and development project report of the IIFM has been made the basis of the working plan for the Omkareshwar National Park, slated to open on Oct 1,' he added.
'The development work is going on at a war footing. A sum of Rs.103 million has been spent on work undertaken in the current year, including wildlife habitat management, construction of an interpretation centre at Narmada Nagar and development of camp sites. Livelihood diversification work has also been undertaken in 29 villages around the protected area,' Verma said. VDA conservator Vinay Kumar Varman said: 'The upcoming Omkareshwar National Park would be the new habitat for a variety of animals like tigers, panthers, bison, neelgai, sambhar, chital and chinkara. And the islands would provide a natural habitat to thousands of local as well migratory birds.
IANS,Madhya Pradesh,Staff Correspondent
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Hiked entry fee to MP forests may hit arrival figures
Jyoti Koul - New Delhi
The irrational increase in entrance fee for the national parks of Madhya Pradesh has become a major concern for the tourism and hospitality industries. While in the short term they have suffered from last minute fee hikes, they fear plummeting tourist arrivals in the long term.
Hoteliers and the travel trade have complained that these hikes have occurred close to the park opening dates leaving no time for them to revise their brochures or tariff cards. As a result, they were forced to cancel tourist groups that were booked a year in advance. Many hotels also had to absorb this hike last year but have continued with the season because international agents refused to go ahead with their groups with the new tariff. The entry fee for a foreign tourist has jumped from Rs 100 to 500 in the last couple of years.
According to Madhya Pradesh operators, the park authorities are planning to change the tariff this year - instead of implementing entry fee per person, they will charge a vehicle entry of Rs 2,500 per trip, regardless of the number of visitors sitting inside. This means a total of Rs 5,000 per day. According to park authorities, this is an attempt to reduce the pressure on the park by limiting the number of vehicles.
According to Amit Sankhala, managing director of Tiger Resorts, tourists usually stay for three nights, which means an entry fee of Rs 15,000 to visit one national park. "If it's a week's stay at Kanha and Bandhavgarh, which is what a lot of clients do, then they pay Rs 35,000. This will definitely have serious repercussions for the inbound tourism market specialising in wildlife tours. This will also harm the image of Madhya Pradesh tourism as the foreign clientele will feel we are not a tourist-friendly state," he said. While only 19 per cent of visitors to Bandhavgarh are foreigners, they contribute almost 70 per cent of the revenue from entrance fees.
Subhash Goyal, president of IATO, who has written to the concerned ministry, said, "The concerned authorities must take steps to save tourism. Such hikes go against the promotional efforts of the industry." Madhya Pradesh is the only state where the lodge owners and park authorities are working closely, thereby showing concern towards saving the wildlife in Madhya Pradesh.
However, when Express TravelWorld took up the issue with the forest minister of the state - Himmat Kothari - he said that his ministry would not discourage the industry by taking any unhealthy step. "I assure everyone that we will take the tourism stakeholders into confidence in case we plan to implement any changes with respect to the entry fee, etc. We do not like to be deterrents in the promotion of tourism in the state," he said.
Express Travel World
The irrational increase in entrance fee for the national parks of Madhya Pradesh has become a major concern for the tourism and hospitality industries. While in the short term they have suffered from last minute fee hikes, they fear plummeting tourist arrivals in the long term.
Hoteliers and the travel trade have complained that these hikes have occurred close to the park opening dates leaving no time for them to revise their brochures or tariff cards. As a result, they were forced to cancel tourist groups that were booked a year in advance. Many hotels also had to absorb this hike last year but have continued with the season because international agents refused to go ahead with their groups with the new tariff. The entry fee for a foreign tourist has jumped from Rs 100 to 500 in the last couple of years.
According to Madhya Pradesh operators, the park authorities are planning to change the tariff this year - instead of implementing entry fee per person, they will charge a vehicle entry of Rs 2,500 per trip, regardless of the number of visitors sitting inside. This means a total of Rs 5,000 per day. According to park authorities, this is an attempt to reduce the pressure on the park by limiting the number of vehicles.
According to Amit Sankhala, managing director of Tiger Resorts, tourists usually stay for three nights, which means an entry fee of Rs 15,000 to visit one national park. "If it's a week's stay at Kanha and Bandhavgarh, which is what a lot of clients do, then they pay Rs 35,000. This will definitely have serious repercussions for the inbound tourism market specialising in wildlife tours. This will also harm the image of Madhya Pradesh tourism as the foreign clientele will feel we are not a tourist-friendly state," he said. While only 19 per cent of visitors to Bandhavgarh are foreigners, they contribute almost 70 per cent of the revenue from entrance fees.
Subhash Goyal, president of IATO, who has written to the concerned ministry, said, "The concerned authorities must take steps to save tourism. Such hikes go against the promotional efforts of the industry." Madhya Pradesh is the only state where the lodge owners and park authorities are working closely, thereby showing concern towards saving the wildlife in Madhya Pradesh.
However, when Express TravelWorld took up the issue with the forest minister of the state - Himmat Kothari - he said that his ministry would not discourage the industry by taking any unhealthy step. "I assure everyone that we will take the tourism stakeholders into confidence in case we plan to implement any changes with respect to the entry fee, etc. We do not like to be deterrents in the promotion of tourism in the state," he said.
Express Travel World
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Sushmita's now to act as 'Jhansi ki Rani'
Film to be shot in MP
Sushmita Sen is all set to don the avatar of a producer. The diva's dream project will not be the kind you have seen her doing on screen but it's inspired by a real life character straight out of our history books -- Rani Lakshmi Bai, the fiery Queen of Jhansi, also known as the Rani of Jhansi and no prizes for guessing who will play the lead in the historic epic 'Jhansi ki Rani'.
"I am very excited," exclaims Sush as she goes on to elaborate about her work on the character. "I have been working very hard for last 2 years and if everything goes right then Inshallah by 2009 you'll see the release."
With two years already devoted to her epic, looks like Ms Sen is no novice at filmmaking. These days the actress in neck deep in deciding the nitty gritties of the project -- after all, this film will be her way to pay homage to the warrior queen.
Also to make her film 'Jhansi ki Rani' more relevant for gen next, it will be predominantly in English and will be shot extensively in Madhya Pradesh, but till the time her film doesn't hit the floors, Sush will be occupied portraying and promoting 'Ramu ki Aag'.
"This is the first time I have played such a silent character and it was my dream to work with RGV," says Sush, who plays the subdued character of Durga Devi in the film.
Sush is leaving no stone unturned for her big debut as a producer. We understand, because apart from her not-so-impressive acting career, she has another worry that of Ketan Mehta's 'Jhansi Ki Rani', which has her rival Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the lead. Well, to know what happens next, we'll have to wait and watch.
Re- Timesnow.tv
Sushmita Sen is all set to don the avatar of a producer. The diva's dream project will not be the kind you have seen her doing on screen but it's inspired by a real life character straight out of our history books -- Rani Lakshmi Bai, the fiery Queen of Jhansi, also known as the Rani of Jhansi and no prizes for guessing who will play the lead in the historic epic 'Jhansi ki Rani'.
"I am very excited," exclaims Sush as she goes on to elaborate about her work on the character. "I have been working very hard for last 2 years and if everything goes right then Inshallah by 2009 you'll see the release."
With two years already devoted to her epic, looks like Ms Sen is no novice at filmmaking. These days the actress in neck deep in deciding the nitty gritties of the project -- after all, this film will be her way to pay homage to the warrior queen.
Also to make her film 'Jhansi ki Rani' more relevant for gen next, it will be predominantly in English and will be shot extensively in Madhya Pradesh, but till the time her film doesn't hit the floors, Sush will be occupied portraying and promoting 'Ramu ki Aag'.
"This is the first time I have played such a silent character and it was my dream to work with RGV," says Sush, who plays the subdued character of Durga Devi in the film.
Sush is leaving no stone unturned for her big debut as a producer. We understand, because apart from her not-so-impressive acting career, she has another worry that of Ketan Mehta's 'Jhansi Ki Rani', which has her rival Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the lead. Well, to know what happens next, we'll have to wait and watch.
Re- Timesnow.tv
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