India - JAXFAX Travel Marketing Magazine

RIDING THE RAILS
Last fall, India welcomed two new attractions: The Vidarbha
Queen Express, India’s first jungle safari train and the Deccan
Odyssey. Vidarbha visits Tadoba National Park, Maharashtra’s oldest
Tiger Reserve, endowed with biodiversity and home to the
Royal Bengal Tiger, India’s national animal, currently in danger of
extinction. Other tiger reserves in Maharashtra are the Melghat
Tiger Reserve located on the southern region of the Satpura Hill
Range, 140 miles from the Nagpur Airport close to Chikaldhara, in
the north east of the State and the Pench Tiger Reserve.
The Government of Maharashtra along with the Japanese
Bank of International Cooperation, have embarked on a $95 million
investment to conserve the Ajanta and Ellora regions. Other
conservation projects include restoration of Elephanta Island,
another UNESCO World Heritage site in Mumbai, the Lonar
Crater, and other archaeological museums in the region.
A joint venture between the Indian Railways and the Government
of Maharashtra represented by the Maharashtra Tourism Development
Corporation, the Deccan Odyssey showcases the
tourism assets of Maharashtra, the grandeur of Konkan coast, the
art, culture, the heritage of Maharashtra as well as local arts, crafts
and cuisine of the state during the journey. It takes 80 passengers
on a tour of the Konkan region, including Goa, and northwestern
Maharashtra, stopping at Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Goa, Pune, Aurangabad,
(for Ajanta and Ellora) and Nashik, visiting forts, historical
places, museums, beaches and boat rides in the backwaters. The
Deccan Odyssey takes visitors on a seven-night journey departing
every Wednesday from the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) in
Mumbai between October and April. The Deccan Odyssey features
21 air-conditioned coaches which include two world-class
restaurants, a spa, gym, hair salon, steam/sauna, and massage,
yoga and business centers. The world-renowned Taj Group operates
the spa, dining and housekeeping facilities, which includes 24hour
room service. www.maharashtratourism.gov.in
Palace Tours offers a wide variety of luxury tours to India
quite possibly setting the standard for touring excellence by
providing ease, flexibility and a multitude of choices for your
clients. The company offers the luxury train tours in India retaining
nearly 50% of the worldwide market share for Palace
on Wheels in Rajasthan, India's flagship luxury tourist offering.
As the General Sales Agent of several Indian State Tourism Departments,
Palace Tours also represents India's newest trains:
The Deccan Odyssey and Heritage on Wheels. Call 800-724-
5120; www.palacetours.net
Greaves Tours has just the ticket for those seeking an enchanting
rail-journey across India. Palace on Wheels is regularly featured
in Greaves’ portfolio. The “Deccan Odyssey” is scheduled to leave
Mumbai weekly on Wednesday evenings, from September to
April each year. Both packages include an elephant ride in Jaipur;
camel ride in Jaisalmer; canter ride in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve;
boat ride in Udaipur; cycle rickshaw ride in Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.
Call 800-318-7801; www.greavesindia.com
ACCOMMODATIONS
India is rich with a wealth of
accommodations from five-star
deluxe palaces to rural tourism,
which is fast taking off among
visitors. Visit www.exploreruralindia.org
Aman Resorts, www.amanresorts.com: Just south of the
Delhi Golf Course, is The Aman, New Delhi. This city-based resort
rises nine stories and houses 39 rooms (31 are poolside) and suites
with private plunge pools.
Aman Resorts in northern India include the Aman-i-Khás, a 3 3/4
hour train journey from New Delhi. It is a tented camp for wildlife safaris
set on the outskirts of Ranthambhore National Park. Amanbagh,
a verdant oasis of mature palm, fruit and eucalyptus trees
lying within a walled compound once the staging grounds for royal
hunts, is 4 1/2 hours by car from New Delhi.
The Leela Palace Kempinski, www.theleela.com: Glamour,
characterized The Leela Palace Kempinski in Bangalore. The
Leela Palaces-Hotels-Resorts group, in fact is among the most
expensive lodging in India and its executives like it that way as
they embark on an aggressive three-year expansion plan that
will double room capacity by introducing six new properties,
bringing the group’s total to 10. The new properties will be in
Gurgaon Delhi, to open Spring, 2008; Udaipur, winter, 2008;
Chennai, winter, 2009; and by 2010 in South Delhi; Hyderabade;
and Pune, representing a total investment of $300 million.
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, www.shangri-la.com: Among
Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel groups, recently signed an
agreement with Pallazzio Hotel and Leisure Limited to manage
the Shangri-La Hotel, Mumbai, opening at the end of 2009. The
Shangri-La Hotel, Bangalore; Palm Retreat Shangri-La, Bangalore;
and Traders Hotel, Bangalore, all will open in 2009.
Wyndham Hotel Group, www.wyndham.com: The Wyndham
Hotel Group recently reached an agreement to construct
at least 38 Super 8 and Days Inn hotels in India.
Breaking new ground in India, CC Africa and Taj Hotels Resorts
and Palaces, www.tajsafaris.com, joint venture offers
the country’s first and only wildlife circuit. This partnership provides
guests with the ultimate wildlife experience based on a
proven sustainable ecotourism model. CC Africa’s two new jungle
safari lodges are on track to open next month, in October 2008.
Pashan Garh in Panna National Park and Banjaar Tola in Kanha National
Park will join CC Africa’s award-winning lodges, Mahua Kothi
and Baghvan, offering an unmatched wildlife circuit highlighting
Madhya Pradesh’s diverse national parks.
Dan Hotels, www.danhotels.com, expands its luxury hotel
operations with new properties to open in India.
Construction of the first of the new Dan Hotels in India will
begin in the next few months in Bangalore, and is scheduled to
be completed by 2011. More hotels will follow throughout
India, building on the success of the Dan Hotels Israel, including
the legendary King David Hotel in Jerusalem and the Dan Tel
Aviv, both Leading Hotels of the World.
12 SEPTEMBER 2008 • JAXFAX INDIA SALES GUIDE SUPPLEMENT