Posts tagged Subhasish Chakraborty

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport: Redefining Air Travel

Jun 18th

by Subhasish Chakraborty

With the successful completion of the construction of phase I of the GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), the Ministry of Civil Aviation granted permission to officially begin operations from 00:01 hours on the 23^rd of March 2008. The government notification also meant that the old airport at Hyderabad’s Begumpet will no longer cater to commercial flights.

The day 23^rd March 2008 is a red-letter day in the history of India’s civil aviation industry as it is for the first time that a mega airport project has been successfully completed with a private-public partnership.

This gem of an airport, which is well spread out over an area of 5,500 acres was designed and constructed by GMR-HIAL – a joint venture of GMR Infrastructure Ltd., which has a 63% stake. Apart from GMR, the other stakeholders are the renowned Malaysian Airports Holding Berhad (11%), Airports Authority of India (13%) and the Government of Andhra Pradesh (13%). The airport which is located in the Shamshabad neighborhood of Hyderabad, immediately became the centre of attention for the international aviation fraternity.

The launch of this futuristic airport couldn’t have come at a better time, particularly when the city of Hyderabad was then as it is now, on a roll with international IT giants like Microsoft, Deloitte, HSBC, Oracle, GE along with their Indian counterparts like Infosys, TCS, Wipro and Satyam, all of whom have their presence in the city of Charminar, and literally ruling the global IT landscape with their billion dollar turnovers.

Another fact worth remembering is the strategic position of the city of Hyderabad. All the metropolitan cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata can be reached within 2 hours while the aviation hubs in the Middle East and South East Asia can be reached within 4 hours traveling time. This geographical advantage hasn’t been lost by the global aviation biggies like British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates etc…

A high level delegation of British Airways representatives paid a visit to the new airport shortly after it was officially opened and were full of praise for the infrastructure and other miscellaneous facilities that have been made available for the discerning world traveler. BA officially commenced operations on the Hyderabad-London sector on 27^th October 2008. Other renowned international airlines like KLM, Kuwait Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa, Malaysian Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air Lanka, Thai Airways etc…. too, had keen interest for Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

The popularity of the new airport has remained phenomenal and it can be gauged from the fact that in little over the first month’s time, the RGIA had recorded a 16% increase in air traffic and a whooping 13% increase in passenger flow as compared to last year’s statistics.

With the successful launch of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, many seasoned international travelers are of the opinion that ultimately Hyderabad has come of age as a truly world class business destination and if things continue to move in the right direction, in the years to come, the RGIA is going to play a pivotal role in the hugely competitive global aviation landscape.

From the get-go, Hyderabad was a much preferred aviation hub of Southern India and aviation experts are of the opinion that in the long run the RGIA will considerably reduce travel time as well as the fuel costs. Already this relatively new airport has handled over 1,90,000 passengers of which 30,000 were international and the rest 1,60,000 domestic.

My first brush with RGIA was on 25^th March 2008 and I had gone to receive my aunt who was scheduled to arrive at the RGIA airport by a Malaysian Airlines flight. At first glance I couldn’t believe such a hi-tech airport could be built in India.

I knew a guy from Calcutta who worked for the Malaysian carrier and was based at Hyderabad. I contacted the Malaysian Airline counter and inquired about my friend from Calcutta only to be politely informed by the smart looking Reservations Asst. that he was on -leave. But being a thoroughbred professional that she was, the slender looking Reservations Assistant asked whether I needed any further assistance. Once she got to know that my aunt was scheduled to arrive by the Malaysian Airlines flight, which was still a good 1.5 hour away and that I was keen to have a look at this futuristic airport she herself escorted me and gave me a virtual tour of this stunningly beautiful airport.

Nafisa, the Reservations Asst. from Malaysian Airlines was my guide and we began our exploration of the airport right from the scene of action – the Terminal Building. I was told that there were 12 boarding bridges, which in itself is commendable apart from the 30 odd remote stands and hundreds of Common User Terminal Equipments. I was most impressed by the easy availability of self check-in kiosks.

On my frequent visits abroad, I like many others of my ilk were most embarrassed with the state of affairs at the Immigration Desks in Indian airports. Earlier, one had to queue up and bide his time until his call came from the mischievous clerk at the Immigration counter. The RGIA has changed all these and I was amazed at the pace at which the Immigration counters disposed off the cases. In all there are as many as 46 Immigration counters and at no point of time is there any likelihood of inordinate delays. Nafisa also came out with a startling revelation that the RGIA was the first airport in India to introduce the cutting edge Airport Operational Database (AODB) Technology.

As far as the design and layout of the airport is concerned, it is undoubtedly very user-friendly and the architects have kept things simple. The Terminal Building is conspicuous by its sense of space that aids in free movement. The building is well spread out covering an area, which is all of 100,000 Sq. meters. The innovative manner in which the architects have designed the Domestic and International terminals is commendable as there is enough provision of space interconnecting the two terminals thereby facilitating smooth transit.

After circumnavigating this incredible airport, I needed some rest and some breathing space to fathom all that I had seen. Seeing me perspire in the hot and humid Hyderabad afternoon, Nafisa and I decided to check into a signature restaurant. And what restaurants!!! The leading international brands like Café Coffee Day, Hard Rock Café, Cookie Man, HMS Host were all there, lined up to pamper anybody who took the trouble of stepping inside their respective premises. We were spoilt for a choice but ultimately settled for Café Coffee Day. I simply couldn’t stop admiring the hi-tech features of the airport and kept on eulogizing the marvelous work that the engineers and architects have put in to Nafisa, all the while munching my Chicken Sandwich and Cold Coffee.

After the brief siesta, Nafisa and me proceeded to inspect the Lounge facilities on offer at RGIA. The absolutely gorgeous Lounge area is under the supervision of Plaza Premium. The sheer class and elegance of the Lounge area with a few discerning world travelers relaxing in the soothing ambience of the Lounge made for a truly professional airport service, which would be at par with the best anywhere in the world.

The Lounge facilities at the RGIA is accessible to both Domestic as well as International passengers. I have seen the impeccably maintained Lounges at Changi Airport as well as the ones at Bangkok, but somehow the facilities on offer at RGIA like the exclusive Business Center, Gymnasium, Baggage Pick up and Delivery, Shower Facilities, exclusive napping areas and that rejuvenating massage therapy seemed far classier. The Limousine service is especially top-notch.

As far as Duty Free shops and retail outlets are concerned, the RGIA has already roped in one of the best retail consortiums – “Shopper’s Stop” to cater to the exacting demands of the new age world traveler. According to Nafisa, there will be an exclusive retail zone that is being designed by a leading UK based architectural firm with years of exposure in the designing of global retail marts.

The need for a world-class hotel in close proximity to the airport is a perennial need of any tourist destination. One of the world’s foremost hotel chains – the one and only NOVOTEL, has that taken care of.

As far as state-of-the-art communications is concerned, the RGIA has left no stone unturned and the big names like BSNL and Tata Teleservice Ltd. provides both Voice and Data based services, in complete compliance to the exacting international telecommunication standards. PCO’s and Internet kiosks dot the entire stretch for the convenience of the passengers.

As far as Foreign Exchange is concerned, two of the trusted names in the domain of Foreign Exchange – Travelex India Private Limited and Weizmann Forex Ltd, have been roped in to provide truly world-class money exchanging facilities. And there is no dearth of ATMs. The big names like Axis, HDFC, Kotak, Vijaya, Canara and ING Vysya have all made their presence felt with their exclusive ATM counters at strategic points of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

On the technical aspects of this futuristic airport, there is adequate provisions for parking aircrafts on the stands, which in turn are connected to the boarding bridges thus enabling a majority of the passengers to use the gates. Unlike other Indian airports, the state-of-the-art Ramp Handling equipments are strategically positioned in close proximity to the pier. What is more, there are provisions for smaller aircrafts to be transported to the terminal pier without causing any interruption on the adjacent apron taxiway. An innovation at the RGIA has been the introduction of the Fuel Hydrants, which is connected through underground pipelines from the principal Fuel Farm.

As far as the connectivity to the airport is concerned, it is very efficient to say the least. There are multiple ways of reaching to the airport. Be it the 4 lane NH-7 to the West, the 4 lane Srisailam Highway to the East, the 4 lane P.V. Narasimha Rao Elevated Highway or the proposed 8 lane Outer Ring Road, the choice is yours.

I was personally advised to travel to the airport by the all-new Aero Express instead of the self-drive option that I had previously thought of by my close door Banjara Hills neighbor. I was circumspect at first but the moment I hopped into the luxurious coach all my preconceived notions were swept away.

This unique airport shuttle facility is the first of its kind in India. On can board the Aero Express at neighborhoods like Begumpet, Secunderabad, Charminar, Mehdipatnam and the HITECH city.

The prices have been kept competitive and is pegged at Rs.95/ at the time of my writing. The best thing about the Aero Express is that the air-conditioned buses are non-stop with no halts midway whatsoever.

The airport has also introduced a novel method of hassle free travel from airport to Hyderabad city by way of Radio Taxi service. This air-conditioned cab service is provided by the renowned Meru group and operates on the meter system. Each of the taxis that operate on the Radio Taxi domain are licensed taxi/cab operators issued by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and are reliable. The minimum fare up front is Rs.30/-.

For those who rely on the self-drive option, the car parking facilities at RGIA is very well planned. At any point of time the RGIA parking bay can cater to 3000 vehicles. The parking area is fully automated and the state-of-the-art parking automated system is provided by the renowned Skidata-AG of Austria.

The parking charges vary with the grade. There is Economy Car Parking, Premium Car, Parking for buses and coaches and exclusive parking bays for motorcycles and two-wheelers.

Post liberalization, the successful construction of the RGIA is by far the biggest achievement of India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation. The ball was set rolling ever since the Ministry of Civil Aviation floated a global tender notice to develop and operate the Greenfield international airport at Shamshabad and the rest as it is known is history.

Today, thanks to the Government of India’s liberalized civil aviation policies with regard to private participation in the development of airports, it is hoped that many new airports in India would be developed with the private-public mode of operation. India is blessed with incredible natural beauty in terms of tourism but there was always a feeling that India with all its technological prowesses could do better in terms of a few hi-tech airports.

One has to remember that it is the airport, which is the first point of contact for the discerning global traveler. Thus, the airport plays a huge role in determining the perception of a country – negative or positive, by the jet set global traveler.

With each round of my “Reconnaissance Mission” of the airport with Nafisa, I hardly had any remarks to make. It was all admiration. Admiration of an India on the rise. Admiration of an India as one of the world’s most exotic tourist destination and admiration for an India which is on its way to achieving aviation glory.

As I put my earphones one last time before I went to receive my Malaysia -based aunt who was scheduled to arrive any moment, the patriotic song – “Sare Jaha Se Accha. Hindu Sita Hamara” never felt this patriotic before.

Air Travel, Airport, India, Rajiv Gandhi, Subhasish Chakraborty

Resurrecting Kalyani Through Tourism – A World War II US Army Base and an interestisng experience.

Jun 11th

No comments

by Subhasish Chakraborty

The eco-friendly township of Kalyani, located at a distance of 50 kms. from the City of Joy – Kolkata -comes as a breath of fresh air for tourists. This little known township was launched with a lot of fanfare and expectations by the great Bengali statesman of yesteryears – Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.

This township in the district of Nadia, renowned for its spiritual legacy was popular at a time when the “City of Joy” ,was reeling under the pressure of the influx of refugees .The then Chief Minister of West Bengal – Dr. Bidhan Roy -had dreamt of a satellite township to ease the population from the city and that is how Kalyani was born, Like a phoenix out of the ashes of World War II, at the site of what was once an American Military Base “Roosevelt Nagar”, aptly named after the former President of USA – Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of USA , it is now Kalyani.

Many believed that Kalyani would evolve as one of India’s model towns in terms of planning with an exclusive industrial belt that would propel the local economy to even greater heights. However, the so called “Industrial Growth” never saw the light of the day.

In its present avatar as India’s “Cleanest Urban City” or India’s first “Open Defecation Free City” Kalyani has evolved into a much sought after residential district and for the past decade has been attracting a lot of NRBs (Non Resident Bengalis) many of whom have set up their dream homes in Kalyani’s pristine environment. Much of the credit for winning the hearts of the discerning global Bengali diaspora goes to Kalyani Municipality, which has been consistently receiving the coveted “Best Municipality Award” for a number of years now.

Apart from its cleanest Indian city image, the outside world is largely unaware of Kalyani’s rich virile past – that of being an American Military Base during World War II when Asia became the centre of war activity. A leisurely stroll through the township’s mettaled roads and tree lined avenues, reveal remnants of the war like the military barracks, truck and tractor garages, Utarborath’s Army Hospital, the Air Force Station at Kapa, a drinking well with names of soldiers engraved etc… all of which transports one to a bygone era.
Chairman’s Vision:

I was fortunate to interact with Dr. Sur, the Chairman of Kalyani Municipality at a recently held seminar in Kalyani and during the brief tete-a-tete over a cup of piping hot Cappuccino coffee, Dr. Sur revealed his plans for the promotion of Tourism in Kalyani and the District of Nadia thus – “We will promote Tourism that is Unconventional as well as Responsible. Mass homogenized Tourism in the form of hotel-sightseeing and back-to-the-hotel stuff will have no place here. In the coming years I foresee tourists in Kalyani staying in Tree houses instead of luxurious multi storied apartment hotels, promote indigenous Bengali cuisine in place of noveau international cuisine, promote tribal folklore and music instead of Rock Concerts, promote eco-friendly farm and agriculture tourism instead of five star luxury tourist experiences and of course set a trend for horse driven carriages instead of the polluting vehicular traffic as far as transportation is concerned”.

Dr. Sur seemed particularly interested in highlighting Kalyani’s unique “Colonial” image and with the red molten ball dipping across the shimmering Kalyani Lake horizon providing for a truly ethereal setting to our conversation, Dr. Sur was a touch poignant when he declared – “The sheer immensity of launching this one-of-its-kind Colonial Tourism project in Kalyani baffles me. Although the concept is still in its infancy, we are preparing the blueprint which should be ready in six month’s time. Apart from the Ministry of Tourism, we have to garner support and technical knowhow from the Indian Army. The key landmark is to build a world class War Memorial Centre, which will have a dedicated arena where the World War II, India’s struggle for independence as well as Indian Army’s present status as a global military giant will be represented pictorially”.

Let us hope Dr. Sur’s “Mission Tourism” is successful.

Futuristic Tourism Development Avenues in Kalyani and the District of Nadia

The overall tourism scenario in the state of West Bengal is dismal to say the least and the Left Front government, which has been in power for the last almost 4 decades have clearly missed out on the tourism front. Kalyani and the district of Nadia today is a sad tale of retarded growth.

All said and done, let us not keep bickering about what went wrong with West Bengal’s tourism industry, vis-à-vis the district of Nadia and Kalyani township in particular. Instead, let us consider a set of “Futuristic Tourism Development Avenues” which if implemented in a planned manner, promises to usher in a second Bengali renaissance, which is “Renaissance through Tourism” in Tagore’s land.

(1) Tourist Holiday Village at Kalyani

Being centrally located in the District of Nadia and proximity to places of tourist interest like Nabadweep Dham, Mayapur, Krishnagar, Plassey (site of the famous Battle of Plassey), the haunting wilderness of Bethuadari forest, Murshidabad etc… an Eco-friendly Tourist Holiday village at Kalyani will indeed be very advantageous for the discerning tourists who come to visit this fascinating district.

The proposed tourist village in Kalyani will essentially serve as a base from where the discerning tourists will have the opportunity to explore the District of Nadia and beyond.

The oblong shaped Kalyani Lake, which is all of 1.25 kms. in length and its width is 0.4 kms. on the northern side and widens to 0.6 kms. to the south could be an ideal place for building an eco-friendly Tourist Holiday Village. Already, the lake is well connected by a mettaled road that connects the lake area to the city of Kolkata.

Designer eco-friendly products like floating hotels, houseboats, machans, bird observatories etc…may be incorporated to heighten the touristy experience.

(2) Agro Tourism or Agriculture Tourism

The district of Nadia is primarily an agriculture driven district and a vast majority of the population (70%) depend upon agriculture for earning their livelihood. The district is self-reliant when it comes to food production. The land pattern though is fragmented in most parts.

The days of hotel, sightseeing and back to the hotel, are gone. These days tourists demand real experiences during his /her holidays. The demand is for pleasant surroundings, usually at reasonable rates which West Bengal does have in abundance.

The essential ingredient of this new kind of tourism package is the organization of recreation which alone can enrich the tourism experience by allowing greater integration with the place visited and fuller involvement in the social and cultural life of the rural destination.

A common place in a village is selected, particularly the land which is for common use. This place will provide a podium for artisans, snake charmers and other rural artists who solely depend on roadshows for their livlihood. Other places in the village like the cultivated pond, vegetable and fruit gardens etc.. are impeccably preserved for the visiting tourists.

The tourists on their arrival to the village are allowed to fish in the pond at a very concessional rate. The gardens are open for the tourists so that they can “Pay, Eat and Pluck” the vegetables and fruits. When this system is fully evolved, the middle man who gets a major share of the income finds no place and the market is brought close to the village.

It has to be borne in mind that the Village Tourism which would be developed will not at all be a simulated one. The configuration of the village which has the set-up according to the caste and class would be explicitly exhibited. The city residents who have not seen the authentic village life would get a glimpse of the village life without paying the charges which the travel agents sell.

(3) Fishing & Angling Tours

The district of Nadia is crisscrossed by rivulets and wetland bodies The Bengali and his fish are inseparable and a variety of fishes are reared. Historically, the boatmen of Bengal are a unique lot. Their slow, uncluttered and philosophical outlook on life has been a rich literary source of Bengali folklore. A lot of films too have been produced depicting the strange lifestyle of Bengal’s boatmen / Fishermen.

The local government (Kalyani Municipality) first needs to identify a bunch of fishing villages for accelerated tourism development. The pivotal idea is to construct rural fishermen’s huts made of straw and bamboo alongside the water bodies so as to provide shelter to the tourists. Their unique folk songs and traditions can be showcased in the central podium of the fishing village. For the diehard fishing and angling enthusiasts, leisurely boat rides on the water bodies may be encouraged and permission may be granted for fishing in the waters, which will come at a price. Fishing equipments may be rented out to the tourists as well to heighten the touristy experience.

(4) Introducing Horse Cart Rides:

These days, horse driven carriages are indeed a novelty. Being the hub of British India, horse driven carriages were introduced in a phased manner by the British East India Company in Kolkata and many other parts of West Bengal.

If one delves into the history of horse driven carriages, they were in vogue even during the Mughal era and came in different shapes and sizes. In the 17th and 18th centuries, not only were these carriages the primary mode of transportation, they were also extensively used by the members of the erstwhile royal families. The carriages then were fine pieces of craftsmanship. It is such a pity that today in the guise of modernity, we have to axe these wonderful eco-friendly vehicles.

This concept can be profitably launched in Kalyani and in other places of tourist interest in the district of Nadia. The prospect of riding through intriguing by lanes, which has history written all over and the exotic Bengal countryside, can be a heady feeling for the uninitiated.

Exclusive horse riding retreats may be introduced in places with a colonial past like for instance Kalyani, Murshidabad, Plassey, Krishnagar etc…. which were intimately connected with the British Raj as well as the Mughals. The introduction of exclusive horse riding retreats in the above mentioned places would not only usher in an innovative tourism experience, it would also be a wonderful way of reviving the past glory of Bengal.

The Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal along with the local Municipal bodies like the Kalyani municipality, may first identify the sites suitable for rural Horse Riding Retreats and then come up with a comprehensive tourism development plan.

(5) Tree House Tourism:

Tree house recreation has of late made its mark as a much sought after alternative form of recreation. This concept has become hugely popular in the state of Kerala and some parts of Rajasthan.
Even a decade back, tree houses used to be kid stuff, but not anymore as more adults are building houses in trees to get high. The joy of being tucked up in a remote arboreal hideaway is the stuff that dreams are made of and they have even been the subjects of best-selling books and popular exhibitions.

Apart from Kalyani, the ideal location for introducing Tree House Tourism would be the lush green Bethuadhari Reserve Forest in the district of Nadia, which is a pleasant place to relax in the midst of tropical forest cover, chirping of the birds and a few species of fauna like Spotted Deers, Pythons, Monitor Lizards and Turtles.

The fact that the National Highway passes right next to the Bethuadari Reserve Forest and being easily accessible from Kolkata, this wildlife sanctuary has always been an enigma for many weekend tourists.

(6) Colonial Tourism in Kalyani

The Government of West Bengal would do well to declare Kalyani as a colonial tourist destination, given the fact that Kalyani used to be an American Military Base during World War II and was referred to as “Roosevelt Nagar”, after the then President of USA – Franklin Roosevelt. Also, now that the Indo-US joint military initiatives are at an all time high, both the Indian army and its counterparts in USA would do well to co-operate in shaping up Kalyani as a much-preferred colonial tourist destination.

A few possible touristy landmarks for Kalyani are mentioned below:

(i) Setting up a War Memorial Center in Kalyani with photographs and pictures of World War II. Pictorial representation of India’s struggle for Independence.

(ii) Photographs, write-ups and audiovisuals etc…. depicting the Indo-US military exchanges till the present time.

(iii) Develop Kalyani Lake, which is 1.25 Kms. long into a state of the art Lake Retreat with luxurious accommodation units, convention center, musical fountain and all the modern paraphernalia expected of a super deluxe retreat.

(iv) Develop the Picnic Garden into a world class Botanical Garden with exclusive garden villas for up market tourists.

(7) Declare the District of Nadia as a Spiritual Tourist Destination:

As far as the question of spirituality is concerned, it would perhaps be apt to state that the district of Nadia has a great spiritual past and that great spiritual heritage and tradition of thousands of years is still alive. In fact, Nabadweep Dham, a small town of Nadia district happens to be the birthplace of one of India’s greatest spiritual personality – Sri Chaitainya Mahaprabhu who is regarded as the avatara of Lord Krishna in this age whose mission it was to teach love of god through chanting his holy name.

Also, in the district of Nadia is Mayapur, where the headquarters of the world famous International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is located. The Hare-Krishna movement made so popular and acceptable in the modern era by one of the world’s most outstanding spiritual teachers – His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, has its magnificent headquarters at Mayapur, which is just 3.5 hours drive from Calcutta.

ISKCON in particular has mega tourism plans for Mayapur and Nabadweep Dham and the government can effectively play the role of a catalyst.

(8) Bengali Fairs & Festivals to be Promoted Aggressively:
West Bengal is a land of festivals and fairs. Be it the Gangasagar Mela, the Poush Mela of Santineketan or the 300 years old Sati Ma’s Mela at Kalyani, West Bengal is never short of fairs and festivals. The Fairs and festivals of Bengal are unique and one-of-a-kind to be found nowhere else on earth.

The Indian state of Rajasthan has shown how by proper marketing and planned infrastructure developments, fairs and festivals can win the admiration of the world’s tourism fraternity. The world famous Pushkar Fair as well as the Jaisalmer Desert Festival are today ranked amongst the world’s most colorful fairs.

The 400-year-old Satima’s Fair at Kalyani, which is held annually transforms Kalyani into a fairy tale land with thousands of Sati Ma’s devotees who converge into her sacred estate and make merry with intoxicating Baul music and a plethora of ethnic entertainment. Kalyani Municipality would do well to seek the support and co-peration of the Ministry of Tourism for better management of the Sati Ma’s fair, which has the potential to become the Indian version of “Mardi Grass”.

(9) Son et lumiere on Nadia’s Spiritual Heritage:

The renaissance period after the infamous 1857 rebellion against the British rule saw a spontaneous outburst of Bengali art and literature. It was during this period that the great spiritual giant Sri Ramakrishna made his appearance and it was left to Swami Vivekananda – the cyclonic monk of Bengal to spread the tentacles of Vedanta to the world community. This period also saw the emergence of great souls like Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Rishi Aurobindoo and others of their ilk.

It is high time the government comes up with a state-of-the-art “Son et lumiere” on the great Bengal Renaissance which may be showcased for the entertainment of the discerning international travelers. There are still many facts that the rest of the world doesn’t know about the Bengal Renaissance, which may be unraveled to the new age traveler to Bengal.

Nadia being the birth place of the great spiritual giant Sri Chaitainya Mahaprabhu is also much revered by ISKCON devotees because one the modern world’s most renowned religious ambassadors – Srila Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON had an intimate spiritual attachment for Nabadweep Dham in particular, and it would be in the fitness of things that a ‘Son et lumiere’ be produced, which highlights the spiritual greatness of the district of Nadia.

(10) Bengali Wedding Tours:
A Bengali marriage is always very special. It is high on drama, there is great pomp and merrymaking and the food is lip-smacking good. One has all the ingredients of a soap opera. The Municipalities and village panchayats may be given a grant to build community halls and the residents of the concerned town or village may be encouraged to hold marriage ceremonies at these community halls.

(11) Craft Bazaar in Kalyani:
The district of Nadia is a virtual treasure house of Bengali art and crafts. This region has encouraged people to carry on the century’s old traditional way of earning ones livelihood like jewellery, carpentry, blacksmithy etc…and this district has set a great example of keeping one’s traditions alive even in the face of urbanization and cut throat consumerism.

As there is no dearth of wide open spaces in Kalyani, the concept of a Craft Bazaar is an innovative idea and this kind of congregation of the local artisans in a common market place will serve in the best interest of the local village folks who can earn their livelihood by selling their products.

A nominal rate will be charged from each artisan, which will be ultimately utilized for the further development of the Craft Bazaar and also for the day to day maintenance. The Bazaar will be so designed that it blends harmoniously with the local environment and is eco-friendly. Small huts will be allocated to each local entrepreneur for a maximum of two weeks after which the next in line will be given a chance to set up his stall.

Apart from stalls allotted to the artisan community, food plazas too can be constructed with the help of eco-friendly materials and food may be served to visitors in environmentally safe, disposable earthen cups and leaf plates, basketry and coconut shells. A minimal built up area with a food plaza centre and plenty of open space can serve as a venue for different types of food festivals. Open air theatre will be a very important feature at the proposed Craft Bazaar. Spectacular glimpses of the vast storehouse of Bengal’s culture ranging from Rabindra Sangeet to the intoxicating Baul music may be conducted. Apart from portraying the unique Bengali culture and folklore, the Kalyani Craft Bazzar can also offer a Pan-Indian cultural experience in a microcosm where folk dancers of other states of India can showcase their unique dance forms ranging from the graceful Bharatnatyam to the vigorous Bhangra.

(12) Japanese Garden

Given Kalyani’s verdant greenery and vast open spaces, a Japanese Garden will bring about a magnificent contrast to the landscape. The characteristic feature of Japanese Garden is the unmistakable influence of Buddhism. The garden is intended as a place for quiet reflection and this intention is based on a religious philosophical demand. To achieve this impression of quietness, all brilliant colors are renounced and preference is given to the various kinds of predominantly green plants so that a uniform color is attained.

Most Japanese Gardens are monochrome, whereas the European Gardens are polychrome. In a monochrome garden flowers are of course almost entirely absent while European gardens bear bright colors. However, despite the differences in form and style, a good Japanese garden invariably reveals three fundamental characteristics – naturalism, asymmetry and a drawing together of natural and architectural forms into a unified harmonious composition. It is a work of art built on a human scale and naturalistic in content but subjective in spirit.

Although the special quality of the Japanese landscape is naturally also reflected in the garden, one of the most striking elements in this landscape is water and stone arrangements. Water fulfills the special function in the garden of making more tolerable the heat of the Japanese summer.

The Roshanara garden belongs to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Some other small gardens or portions of Japanese style were developed at 1 Safdarjung Road, Qudsia garden and in other parts of India. An important addition of Japanese garden in India could be Kalyani.

It is true that there are problems galore when it comes to developing the Tourism industry in a state like West Bengal. What is heartening though is that there seems to be awareness in the minds of the people as well as of the government of West Bengal that everyone has to unite together, whether he or she is a sage or an ordinary person. With the people’s power and the power of grassroots institutions, the deteriorating tourism standards can be arrested and improved upon. Apart from the government, NGOs and International organizations also have to share the responsibility and help and guide the local citizenry in developing a sound and sustainable tourism platform for West Bengal.

One of the key areas in terms of tourism development in West Bengal is creation of a more appropriate form of tourism to replace “Mass Tourism”. Appropriate Tourism is a kind of tourism that is more favorable and beneficial to the local community and the challenge ahead for West Bengal’s tourism industry is to implement and establish Appropriate Tourism at the ground level.

The future relationship between tourism and environment is going to be the key issue for West Bengal’s tourism industry as it will be for the rest of India and the world. Being sensitive towards environment in our pursuit of pleasure in the hills and dales, beaches, grassland and fragile areas would be the wise thing to do.

India, Kalyani, Subhasish Chakraborty, World War

Greece – Sculpture Workshop Hellenistic Period

Jun 6th

No comments

by Subhasish Chakraborty

The Hellenistic period ushered in the last great stage of Greek art and sculpture. The significance of Athens as the hub of Greek culture steadily declined. With the dawn of the Hellenistic period the Greek cultural renaissance began to spread to other islands of Greece. The Hellenistic sculptures, particularly the terra-cotta figurines began to evolve artistically. This period also saw the distinct tendency in the direction of enhanced spatial illusionism which found expression in the sculptures of that period and on closer observation of the Roman copies one can clearly see that this aspect even infiltrated into the paintings, Odyssey’s Landscapes, Vatican for instance.

Later on from the beginning of the 2^nd century B.C. reproductions of previous masterpieces of sculpture, with their rough archetypes emerged along with dynamic group compositions directly linked to the renowned Pergamene school. Examples can be cited of Laocoön and His Sons. Greek artists created astonishing copies of previous masterpieces for primarily for confidential clients or in certain cases for the Roman state. It is a fact that the major chunk of the knowledge with regard to the classical Greek art is obtained from them.

Even though the creative uniqueness of Greek culture was at a low ebb during the Hellenistic period, its influence was significant during the Roman and Byzantine eras. Needless to say, it continued to act as a stimulating force and had played a pioneering role in shaping the history of Western culture as a whole, which indeed is exemplary.

The transition from Classical to the Hellenistic period took place from the 4th century BC. In the aftermath of the conquest of Alexander the Great (336BC to 323 BC), historians are unanimous in their opinion that Greek culture spread to faraway countries like India. The excavations of Ai-Khanoum in present day Afghanistan is symbolic of this fact. The highly evolved civilizations of the Greco-Bactrians and the Indo-Greeks are enough of an evidence of the tremendous popularity of Greek art and sculpture. In the Hellenistic period, there appears to be a very close link between Greek art and sculpture with Buddhist art, particularly Buddhist visual expre4ssion which have blended harmoniously in the Greco-Buddhist art.

With the passage of time, Greek art & sculpture began to evolve as far as diversity of themes are concerned as a result of increasing contact with the outside world. On the hindsight, historians and scholars are of the opinion that there was a negative side too by way of a deterioration of quality and creativity.

Greek art and culture began to emerge in places like Alexandria, Antioch, Pergamum and other culture friendly cities. With the passage of time, in the 2^nd century the Roman empire began to flourish which in turn absorbed all that was glorious in Greek art and culture.

With the lapse of time, Greek sculptures incorporated subjects like the average people, females, children, animals and even depicted scenes from the household. The sculptures were financed by wealthy merchants and their families for the purpose of decorating their residences. Life size portraits of male and female of all ages were sculpted and sculptors shed their inhibition to portray people as symbols of beauty.

The Hellenistic era also saw a surge in demand for idols of gods and goddesses for the purpose of worshipping. This phenomenon paved the way for making the trade of sculpturing into an industry. This is one of the principal reasons why more numbers of Hellenistic sculptures and statues have been discovered than the ones belonging to the Classical era.

Some of the masterpieces belonging to the Hellenistic period like Winged Victory of Samothrace, the statue of Aphrodite, the Dying Gaul, the Laocoon and his sons are of immense significance which clearly reveals the highly evolved craftsmanship of that period. Although the above mentioned masterpieces have a predominant Classical theme, the manner in which they have been sculpted is infinitely more sensitive and emotional than the Classical period would have permitted.

Greece, Hellenistic Period, Subhasish Chakraborty

Delphi – Where Celebration is a Way of Life

Jun 6th

No comments

by Subhasish Chakraborty

I was told that festivals are an integral part of the people of Greece. They are fun filled and a spirit of joy-de-verve pervades these festivities. The festivals not only have religious rituals but also activities like poetry competition, religious offerings, sports and of course feasting.

The religious sacrifices were not only meant to appease gods but also the everyday needs of the people. It was through the festivals that people of Delphi and elsewhere in Greece could gauge the time and seasons. In the days of yore the Greek city-states depended on the twelve-month calendar, with each month commencing on the new moon. Every city got their own distinctive names from the corresponding festivals that were held in the respective months.

The everlasting memory of Delphi has been in existence and has always been symbolic of the creative and humanistic outlook of Greece which not only stirred the artistic imagination of the people of Greece but also to a large extent influenced the most important artistic works in Europe and elsewhere in the world.

One person who played a pivotal role in the revitalization of the Delphic Idea was the renowned poet Angelos Sikelianos who along with his wife Eva Palmer-Sikelianos played a pioneering role as far as reviving the classical Greek traditions by way of celebrating the Delphic Festival, which has been hosted ever since the year1927. The Sikelianos couple believed that celebrating the Delphic Festival would go a long way in revitalizing all that was glorious in ancient Greek tradition and culture.

In many ways the celebration of the Delphic Festival was a great milestone in Greece’s artistic, intellectual and cultural life. This Festival laid the foundation towards healthy co-operation between the culturally inclined people of Greece and the rest of the world. In the everlasting memory of Angelos and Eva Sikelianos, their modest house in Delphi has been extensively renovated and today it serves as a Museum of Delphic Festivals. The European Cultural Centre has taken the responsibility of the safe keeping of the Sikelianos home and is a must visit site for every culturally inclined visitors.

The Festival of Delphi is celebrated in the month of June. Traditional Greek drama and creative works are an integral feature of the festival. You would do well to get in touch with the European Cultural Center at Delphi prior to your departure with regard to the exact dates and tickets for the festival.

To me Delphi is a destination that captivates the artistic and cultural senses of the visitors. With the lofty Mount Parnassus and the magnificent remnants of the Temple of Apollo, Delphi indeed is a fascinating cultural destination in the whole of Greece.

What amazed me most was that Delphi is steadfast and resolute enough to confidently restore its past glory and serve as the cultural hub of Greece. As a matter of fact, Delphi’s dynamic and visionary Mayor is hell bent on reviving the early Pan-Hellenic Games that has a history which is thousands of years.

Towards popularizing the ancient cultural heritage of Delphi, mention must be made of the internationally acclaimed Culture buff – Jeanne Bresciani who along with the active co-operation and patronage of the esteemed Isadora Duncan Institute, has been conducting a gala eight days arts festival.

I was told that to further lure visitors from all over the world to witness this one-of-a-kind Arts Festival, discounted room rates and a plethora of excing value-for-money holiday packages are being offered to the discerning international travelers. Of special significance are the community presentations on the backdrop of Biblical sites which are otherwise inaccessible to the ordinary tourists.

During the major festivals held at Delphi, students, academicians and artists from varied disciplines are offered a unique opportunity to take part in these fascinating festivals. To further arose the curiosity of scholars and researchers, practical workshops on art and culture of ancient Greece which is inclusive of poetry, dance and music are conducted during the festival. Renowned scholars are provided with opportunities to make presentations on the mythological aspects of Delphi, all of which makes for a truly stimulating atmosphere that is surcharged with an air of classicism which is indeed rare in today’s jet set technocratic world that we live in.

Delphi Theatre:

I found the theatre in Delphi sanctuary to be one of the finest specimens of traditional Greek architecture. The theater has been rather innovatively designed in such a manner so as to take the advantage of mountain’s natural undulation for the purpose of seating the crowds, which in turn limited construction. All the characteristic features of Greek theatre are found in the Delphi Theatre like the hemispherical orchestra and covering seats. The theater has been constructed in such a manner that it provides breathtaking views of picturesque valley. In the days of yore, the theatre hosted many of the popular festivals of Delphi and it was the platform for many musical performances, drama and dance recitals.

We were told that the Delphi theatre was built way back in the 4^th century B.C. and the locally available Parnassus limestone was used in constructing the theatre. It has undergone several renovations in the past. The theatre’s 35 rows can easily accommodate approximately five thousand spectators. The seats on the lower rows are believed to have been built during the Hellenic and Roman era.

Delphi Stadium:

The approach to the magnificent Delphi Stadium is through a meandering path that leads all the way to Mount Parnassos and finishes at the stadium. In the days of yore the stadium was the venue of the all-important Pythian Games. The Pythian Games were the forerunner to the modern day Olympic Games. The name “Olympic” is derived from the site of the temple compound of “Olympia”. The Pythian Games were the biggest sporting activity of ancient Greece and apart from athletics, there were also events like Chariot races and a race in full body armor. Given its ancient origin, the stadium is very well preserved and one can bask in breathtaking views of the natural panorama. The picture perfect Krisan plains and the stunning beauty of the Gulf of Itea makes for a kaleidoscopic vignette.

The Delphi stadium was built in the city’s uppermost part and it is a fine piece of craftsmanship as it is to some extent cut into the rock. The original stadium was located in the Delphian plains. Later on in the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries it was moved to its present position. The athletic track was all of 600 feet in length and could easily accommodate 18 atheletes. The athletic events were introduced in 591 B.C. in the Pythian Games. The games were organized at an interval of every eight years in honor of Apollo’s killing of the serpent. The stadium had a capacity to accommodate around 6500 spectators.

The stadium is conspicuous by its Roman triumphal arches. If one takes a closer look on the walls there hoarding which prohibits the consumption of wine. The entire stadium is all of 187 meters in length while the athletic track measures to 178 meters.

Castalia Spring:

Our next stop was the Castalia Spring, which is one of the most sanctified springs found in Delphi. It is located in the canyon of Phaedriades. The spring is still very conspicuous by its two enormous fountains that reportedly received water from the spring in ancient times. The later fountain has niches that are cut in the rocky cliff, which in all probability held the offerings to Nymph Castalia.

Greek legend has it that Mimir who was an ancient giant was given the task of protecting a well and it was he who permitted Odin to drink the water of the well in his quest to acquire primal knowledge. There are numerous references of sanctified springs and wells that offered knowledge of the other world, the spiritual world. There are many renowned poets who are of the opinion that Castalian Spring at Delphi indeed has qualities that stimulate ingenuity. Renowned poet John Milton was unanimous in his opinion that the waters of the Castalian Spring had the quality to stimulate poetic motivation.

The origins of Castalian Spring is believed to have been formed with the symbolic winged-horse Pegasus walloping the earth with his hoof.

Legend has it that Castalia was actually the daughter of Achelous – the river-god. When Apollo was in hot pursuit of Achelous, Castalia committed suicide by falling from a great height from Mount Parnassus and thus the name of the spring – “Castalia”. The spring was also very much holy to Apollo and the Muses and in the ancient times pilgrims who visited Delphi almost as a ritual took a holy dip in the Castalia springs.

The spring is all of 36 feet by 10 feet in width and is principally replenished by profound subterranean sources.

Tholos Temple:

We rounded off our Delphi trip with a visit to the temple of Tholos located at the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia is in fact a circular edifice. It was built way back between 380 and 360 B.C. The temple is conspicuos by its 20 elegant Doric columns. The exterior columns have a diameter of 14.76 meters. The interior columns are distinctly Corinthian in style and there are 10 Corinthian columns in all.

The Tholos Temple is located in close proximity to the Delphi Sanctuary which is a mere 800 meters away. The temple’s Doric columns are majestic and three of them have been renovated making them the most photographed site in the whole of Delphi.

Memories of Delphi will linger on for a lifetime!!!

Delphi, Greece, Subhasish Chakraborty

Athens – Awesome, Awe-Inspiring and Ambivalent

Jun 3rd

No comments

by Subhasish Chakraborty

As a much harried travel writer and always on the move, I take liberty once a year to be splendidly alone and unaided in a destination of my choice. Being domiciled in Kolkata – a city that is bursting at its seams and with a burgeoning tourism industry, I like other travel writers am courted by tour operators to provide them with that elusive travel column highlighting their most fabulous destination. And why not?

Last year it was Geneva and this time around it was Athens – the city that can rightfully claim to be blessed with the most fascinating history in the world, a city that is ethereal and adored by not only humanity but also by divinity. This captivating capital city of Greece has witnessed the origin of civilization. India aside, Athens and Greece has been the place where some of the most prudent and far-sighted men were born that shaped the world society from the ancient times.

Walking through Athens’ meandering streets and alleyways, you will come across some of the most enduring historical landmarks – the Acropolis, the Plaka neighborhood, the Syntagma Square, Odeion of Herodes Atticus, Olymbion, Roman Market, Panathinaiko Stadium or Kallimarmaro to name just a few. Being a Kolkatan, I found many similarities between these two great cities that ooze with a sense of history and achievement. The only thing that wasn’t similar was the restoration and preservation of the edifices. While each of the historical Athenian edifices were impeccably preserved, the ones at Kolkata are in utter ruins that tells a sad tale of retarded growth.

Athens immediately reminds one of the “Acropolis”, considered to be the most renowned historical monument of Europe and is amongst the 7 wonders of the world. The Acropolis is to Greece what the Taj is to India.
The city of Athens is ideally perched on the prefecture of Attica and extends all the way to the peninsular region of Central Greece. Athens is marvelously surrounded by undulating mountains with Ymmytos, Pendeli and Parnitha being the most prominent ones. The best part of being in Athens is that it is a year round destination and blessed with a salubrious climate and plenty of sunshine.

The sheer historical diversity of Athens is of such great magnitude that it becomes imperative for the discerning traveler to hire the services of a knowledgeable guide to make a sense of the city’s rich virile past. I was advised by a museum curator in downtown Athens to drop in at the Tsoha neighborhood of the city where the Greek National Tourism Organization was located and seek the services of a guide. Dimitri Kourlianos, the ever smiling guide was to be my friend, philosopher and guide for the entire week long Athens sojourn.

In one of our leisurely stroll through the boulevard, Dimitri informed me that the city has been continuously been inhabited since the Neolithic Age, which is some time period! Ain’t it? The golden period of Athens commenced from the 5^th century and in course of time the city became the cradle of western civilization. Over the centuries that went by, wave after wave of marauding armed conquerors tried to capture Athens.

The Hellenistic Period:

With the passage of time, Greek art & sculpture began to evolve as far as diversity of themes are concerned due largely to increasing contact with the outside world. On the hindsight, historians and scholars are of the opinion that there was a negative side too by way of a deterioration of quality and creativity.

It was only in the year1834 that Athens was chosen to be the capital of Greece. As of today, the city hosts a population in access of 4.5 million people and was largely built around the Acropolis neighborhood.

Make it a point to visit the all important Syntagma Square, which is where the Greek Parliament is located. In close proximity are the neighborhoods of Monastiraki, Kolonaki and Lycabettus Hill that have become a rage with tourists from all over the world. If you go further upfront to the north of the city, the classy neighborhoods of Marousi, Melissia, Vrilissia and Kifisia will leave you speechless.

Apart from neoclassical edifices, Athens like all great cities of the world has its share of museums, each one of them a treasure house of Greek art and culture. The stupendous Archaeological Museum, Military Museum, the Byzantine Museum are among the most popular haunt of the discerning world travelers.

Dimitri, my guide in one of his more emotional moods revealed that Athens has always been the cynosure of all eyes and that this irresistible city came out with all guns blazing by successfully hosting the 2004 Olympic Games, which for the native Athenians was a huge test of their endurance and capabilities. The older city lot even today take a lot of pride on the homecoming of the modern Olympic Games to its birthplace.

Athens By Night:

The entire kaleidoscope of Athens undergoes a transformation as the red molten ball dips down the far horizion and with dusk descending on the city, it truly is “The Time to Disco” and it is no holds barred party time.

The uniqueness of Athens by Night is the fact that there is an element of authentic Greek and the famous “Bouzoukia” leads the city’s entertainment pulse. The numerous theaters that dots the Athens landscape offer a type of entertainment, that is high on class, often bordering on the surreal, true to the city’s divine charm.

The district of Gazi is the most happening place in all of Athens when it comes to night time entertainment. Most of the mainstream bars, chic restaurants and clubs featuring live Greek pop are to be found in this cool neighborhood.

Apart from Gazi, I found the Syggrou Avenue and Iera Odos to be great places for an evening’s entertainment.

Seaside Athens:

If you are a beach bum, all you have to do is hop into a tram or car to reach the coastal town of Paleo Faliro, which is a mere 30 minutes away from the Syntagma neighborhood. The balmy Mediterranean Sea and the Saronic Gulf is visible from the Poseidon Avenue. The 2004 Olympic Games have had a huge impact in popularising the charming towns like Paleo Faliro, Alimos, Agios Kosmas, Kalamaki, Elliniko, Glyfada etc… extending up to Varkiza.

The marinas Mikrolimano and Zeas located ideally in the port town Pireaus also offers excellent seaside hospitality and entertainment.

When it comes to high end yachting facilities, the Flisvos Marina, which is popularly referred to as the “Athenian Riviera”, much like the “French Riviera”, has evolved as a much sought after yachting zone replete with uninterrupted sea views, luxurious yachts and quintessential expansive walkways. The entire neighborhood is replete with award winning restaurants, cozy bars and endless shopping options.

In close proximity to the Flisvos Marina is another yachting venue, although much smaller in size – the Marina Alimou that caters to the exacting needs of the mid-budget yacht aficionados. The essence here is on gastronomy. Try out the American Cheeseburgers at Kitchen Bar and Skippers for heady cocktails right beside the dockside.

Getting There:

The new award-winning Athens International Airport, Eleftherios Venizelos, is an award-winning airport and is renowned for its hi-tech design and today ranks as one of the world’s leading airports in terms of overall passenger satisfaction. The strategic location of Athens at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Athens is a city that is well connected by routine air services by some of the world’s leading airlines.

Accommodation:

As the city of Athens gained in popularity as a much preferred tourist destination, so has been the burgeoning growth of the hospitality industry, which is right now booming with new hotels. The 2004 Olympic Games acted as a kind of harbinger towards the rapid development of the city’s hospitality landscape and a vast majority of the hotel owners modernized, expanded and remodeled their properties to meet the exacting hospitality needs of the global traveler.

From stunning hotel suites with soothing spas by the seaside or just bed & breakfast stuff, Athens caters to all kinds hospitality options. A vast majority of the upscale hotels are to be found in the neighborhood of the city centre like the Acropolis, Plaka, Omonia Square, Kolonaki, Parliament Square, Sygrou Avenue Athens presently boasts of 500 hotels with 29,000 rooms and there is no reason why you will not find one that caters to your needs.

Gastronomy:

The city of Athens is a gastronomic delight with a eclectic mix of restaurants that range from traditional Greek and Mediterranean fare to Asian and Arabic cuisine.

Fine dining options are readily available in Athens due largely to the exodus of talented chefs and award-winning restaurateurs from the world’s food capitals. In fact the entire culinary landscape of Greece has evolved and undergone a transformation, which is very apparent to both the local residents as well as the discerning world travelers.

When it comes to Nouveau International Cuisine, which sprung up from Omonia Square, has by now become an integral part of the Athens’ gastronomic landscape. I was taken aback by the ready availability of the Indian Tandoor and the Hyderabadi Biriyani at a restaurant in downtown Athens.

Fresh Seafood delicacies are best savored at the Attica. The fishermen of the locality daily bring back the freshest catches that are ultimately savored by the discerning foodie. Some of the most popular fish tavernas are – Glyfada, Sounio, Piraeus, Vouliagmeni and Microlimano.

The Street Food scene too has an authentic stamp of traditional Athenian cuisine. The city’s landsacape is dotted with hundreds of street vendors who offer local delicacies. In the fall and winter seasons, Athens crowded streets are packed with pushcarts frying chestnuts, corn and dried nuts. Try out the sesame and raisin bread that happen to be the staple food of Athens.

Public Transport:

Public transportation in Athens is well organized and offers a variety of routes and combine varied means like the metro, railway, buses and trams. With a 1,00€ ticket you can crisscross the entire city by using one or more modes of transport within 1.5 hour. Tickets can be purchased from metro and train stations as well as from the street kiosks. The most economical option is to purchase day or weekly passes which are heavily discounted.

When using public transport, be sure to validate tickets after purchasing. One has to bear in mind that for unvalidated tickets, one has to pay 40 times its actual value. The validation machines are easily sighted in the buses and trolleybuses in the form of orange colored boxes. In the case of the metro, the boxes are positioned on the station lobby, while on the tram, there are beige boxes that are to be found on the platform.

Car Hire & Rentals:

Car rental agencies abound in Athens. They are operated by licensed drivers and can be relied upon. Before renting a car make sure you check the vehicle insurance cover against accident, theft, fire, etc… Hiring a taxi in Athens is inexpensive by European standards. All licensed taxis are fitted with meters and the fare is charged on the basis of kilometers and hours.

For further information and reservations, please feel free to get in touch with

Greek National Tourism Organization,

7, Tsoha,

11521, Athens,

Tel: +30 210 8707000

E-mail: info@gnto.gr

Athens, Greece, Subhasish Chakraborty, tourism

Sir Edmund Hillary’s Observations on Mount Everest – The World’s Highest Junkyard: No Luxury Here.

May 28th

No comments

By Subhasish Chakraborty

Perhaps after the capital city of Kathmandu, Mount Everest is Nepal’s second most popular tourist landmark. From a distance, Mount Everest looks pristine, rising out of the Himalayas like a monument to nature’s power. It is only up close that the evidence of man’s neglect can be seen.
The South Co, holds the key for mountaineers determined to climb Mount Everest. It is the launching pad from which all the expeditions make their way up to the summit. Considered the most hostile place on planet earth, it is 26,000 feet above sea level, lashed by 100 to 140 mph winds and frozen by temperatures running below minus 40 to 100 degree Celsius.

Over the years, it has come to enjoy the dubious distinction of having become the world’s highest graveyard. Strewn with garbage and dead bodies of unfortunate climbers, mountaineers dread having to camp there today. Santosh Yadav, the Indian woman mountaineer who enjoys the distinction of having climbed the Everest a number of times has this to say – “ I spent the night resting my head against a rock which was jutting into the tent. Imagine my horror when I woke up in the morning to find that it was not a rock but a dead body”.

Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed Everest in the year 1953. Then it seemed to be a feat. Today anyone could do it. It is quite common to find 300 people from 15 teams simultaneously camped at the Everest Base Camp. The figures of climbers are rising. Two people climbed the summit in 1970, ten in 1980, but with the advancement of technology, as many as 72 had conquered the Everest in the year 1990. By May of 2012, three climbers died on the descent due to the delay and traffic getting back to their base.
The most disturbing fact is that with the increase in the number of successful climbers, there has also been a corresponding rise in mortality figures. Today the number of deaths per annum has crossed the 150 mark. The reason for this sharp increase according to Sir Edmund Hillary I is that one can conquer Everest with the state of the art equipments which includes Titanium bottles, packed power bars and Gatorade for nourishment. The climbers wear six layers of space age thermal clothing, designed to give protection from temperatures upto minus 30 to 40 degree Celsius. What is more, each climber has a hand held radio set for the progress of the expedition through satellites and computers. The climbers can call home and even send E-mails from the summit.
A majority of the climbers tend to blame the weather for the high number of causalities, but apparently this is not the case. According to Sir Edmund Hillary, “A storm does not strike out of the blue. There is sufficient warning, which if heeded, can prevent tragedy”. In today’s age of instant communication, such information is not hard to come by.

Another fact worth noting is that summit climb must be made as early as possible since the weather in this region tends to deteriorate by afternoon. Today, summit attempts take place even in the afternoon. According to Sonam Gyaltgen – “ Fischer and his climbers reached the summit after 2 P.M. and Rob Hall and his climbers reached their summit after 3 P.M. when the winds had reached hurricane velocity and a wintry storm was howling in all its fury.

As part of the Sustainable Tourism agenda, it is imperative to clean up the mess so that one of the world’s greatest natural wonders can be restored to its pristine glory. For many years, mountaineers worldwide have been clamoring that Government of Nepal pass a law making it mandatory for expeditions to bring down the bodies of dead climbers. The Everest experience also has lessons with regard to mankind’s forays into virgin territories like the Antarctica and the unexplored realms of outer space, which are also getting cluttered with debris of our civilization.
Below, I quote the observation of Sir Edmund Hillary, a few month’s prior to his passing away in January 11, 2008, on the sorry state of affairs on Mount Everest–

“ Those of us who climbed Everest in the early days were the lucky ones. We had to defeat the problems ourselves. When we stood on the summit we had only our good friends for company.These conditions can only be renewed by limiting the number of expeditions on the mountain at any one time. Governments must put safety ahead of financial profit. Only then will the challenge and joy of climbing Mount Everest return. A golden rule, which is being flouted, is one of gradual acclimatization. But with climbers not having much time at their disposal, they want to reach the summit in the shortest possible time. From a test of endurance, discipline and skill, the climb has been transformed into a battle of modern technology”.

He further goes on to quote that – “I can hardly imagine myself climbing Everest in the present scenario. I remember vividly the time spent on South Col and my climb to the summit on May 29, 1965.It was 9 A.M. when I stood on the summit. I took a long wheeling look from the highest point on earth. There was Makalu, Lhotse, Nuptse and Kanchenjunga looming large on the horizon and many other peaks far below us. I gazed north towards the Tibetan plateau and south towards the plains of India. The view was unforgettable. Of all the emotions, which surged through me, the most dominant one was of humility and sadness. Having climbed the highest peak hereafter there would be nothing higher to climb since all roads would necessarily lead downwards”.

During his last years, Sir Edmund Hillary was dead against the annual increase in the number of expeditions and the commercialization of the climb, which has had sad consequences for many of those wishing to reach the summit. During his lifetime, Sir Edmund Hillary was vehemently drawing the attention of the environmentalists and pointing out one critical area of neglect, which is care for ones environment. Now with Everest already becoming a junkyard as well as a graveyard, a lot of combined effort and co-operation will be needed to clean up the mess. And once cleaned, a restricted and environment friendly climb up the summit is the only way out to preserve one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. And this where a Sustainable Tourism policy will prove to be a step in the right direction.

Edmund Hillary, Mount Everest, Nepal, Subhasish Chakraborty, tourism

Sustainable And Value Based Tourism In Nepal – A Perspective

May 28th

No comments

by Subhasish Chakraborty

Introduction:

Nepal – A country of amazing extremes, with a total land area of 147,181 sq.kms. is bordered by China in the North and by India in the South, West and East. The landmass is divided into three geographical zones – the high Himalayas, the mid Himalayas or Mountainsus Region with long terraced slopes leading to fertile valleys and the flat sub-tropical Terai region.
The high Himalayan region extends in the North from West to East at an altitude of 4000 meters to 8848 meters. The world famous peaks of Mt.Everest (8848 m), Kanchenjunga (8586 m), Makalu (7463 m), Dhaulagiri (8167 m), Annapurna (8091 m) and many more dominate the formidable range of eternal snows. The mid Himalayas consist of mountain ranges varying in height from 1525 meters to 4877 meters. Below these ranges lies the Churia range at 610 meters to 1524 meters. Fertile valleys of various widths and altitudes lie between these mountain and hill ranges. The southern belt stretches East-West with a width 26 to 32 Kms. and a maximum elevation of about 305 meters.
Several major rivers, tributaries and streams flow south originating from the glaciers, snow fed lakes and high Himalayas of the North. The major rivers are the Seti, Karnali, Gandaki and the Koshi.

Nepal experiences four seasons – Spring (March – May), Summer (June – August), Autumn (September – November) and Winter (December – February). Rainfall is widespread during the southwest monsoon period from June-August with the eastern part receiving maximum rainfall. In the winter season, the western part receives a larger share of rainfall. The period from October to May is generally dry in most parts of the country.

Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, is full of shrines, temples, palaces, palace squares and ageless sculptures that are now an integral part of Kathmandu city. Amazingly, Kathmandu cityis the only city in the world with as many as seven World Heritage Sites (Cultural) located within a distance of 20 Kms. radius. Being in Kathmandu is like walking through the pages of history. It is a stupendous city in its own right. In Nepal, tourism is the most important industry after agriculture and contributes substantially to the the quality of life of her people. As a socio-economic activity, tourism touches the life of every Nepali citizen in one way or the other trying to revitalize the tourism industry through Sustainable & Value Based Tourism.

Relevance of Sustainable Tourism in Nepal:

Tourists worldwide demand higher quality products, services and real life experiences during their holidays and while they do not necessarily seek luxury, they do crave for pleasant surroundings usually at a reasonable price. The essential ingredient of this new type of tourism package is not transport and accommodation but the organization of recreation, which alone can enrich the tourism experience by allowing greater integration with the holiday destination. In other words, Value Based Tourism, where the key factors are quality products, excellence in service (human relations), fully involve all the citizens in tourism and obtain the maximum yield from it to benefit the country, its people, business partners and visitors.
Though the idea sounds very simple, it is in fact a lot complex to make it practically viable at the grassroots level. A lot of research and meticulous planning is required. Not only that, the entire marketing strategy as well as professionals engaged in marketing Value Based Tourism products need to be perfectly oriented and trained since herein they do not necessarily sell features but the actual benefits accrued from the tourism phenomenon.

Benefits of Sustainable Tourism in Nepal:

A list of benefits that would accrue from Sustainable Tourism in Nepal is mentioned below –

The greatest benefit from Sustainable and Value Based Tourism in Nepal would be the

(1) people of Nepal, the common man on the street and particularly the youths on whom the future of Nepal lies. Innovative Sustainable Tourism products like Snow Leopard Treks, Ethnological Tours, Flora & Fauna Tours or for that matter Wet Land Bird Watching Tours means that the best people to don the mantle of Sustainable Tourism professionals would be the indigenous local people themselves. Since they are the people who know their surroundings, recruitment would take place from amongst the local populace, which would go a long way in redressing the acute unemployment problems that the youths of Nepal are faced with today.

(2) Nepal’s share in the world tourism market in terms of revenue earnings could increase substantially since Value Based Tourism products are experience oriented and the duration of visit is definitely longer than the run-of-the-mill packages. For example, the soothing effect of Yoga cannot be realized by a mere one session of activity. It has to go on at least for a week and it is only then that the person starts experiencing the benefits. Thus, Value Based Tourism would make visitors to extend their stay in Nepal, which means more visitor spending and more hard currency earned by Nepal.

(3) Nepal is a landlocked country where Adventure Tourism has flourished but this rise in popularity of Adventure Tourism has placed undue pressure on the natural and cultural environment in a lot of strategic tourist zones like the Annapurna region where environmental degradation has occurred.

Through Sustainable & Value Based Tourism, the National Parks and Conservation areas can be brought under the ambit of tourism by including the local people to take part in the tourism phenomenon. Such areas provide a unique setting where natural resources like the flora and fauna are best utilized for recreational purposes without any damages to the environment with the corresponding revenues earned through tourism being re-spent on National Parks and conservation area management.
(4) Another relevance of Sustainable Tourism in Nepal is the fact that this kind of tourism generally attract persons who are tolerant and even interested in experiencing small scale local or vernacular accommodation (Tharu tribal settlement for example) that are built of indigenous materials, thus keeping the ecological and cultural balance of the region in tact.

(5) Eco-Tourism and Green Tourism does figure prominently in the World Tourism Organization, UNDP and PATA’s priority list of agendas and they are committed towards developing such concepts through monetary benefits, research, planning, training and orientation which Nepal could exploit for the furtherance of Sustainable and Value Based Tourism.

(6) Countries like Japan and Germany are important sources of tourist generating countries for Nepal. Also, Nepal figures in the priority list of countries for German economic co-operation. According to Dr. Woolf Donner, former President of the German-Nepal Friendship Association – “Nepal is one of the countries chosen for German economic co-operation. Nepal’s commitment towards spreading the concept of Sustainable and Value Based Tourism thus, would go a long way in seeking financial aid and assistance from friendly nations at very liberal terms and conditions”.

(7) Last but not the least, there will be better awareness of Nepal as a destination for the discerning international traveler.

Balancing Casino Culture With Sustainable & Value Based Tourism:

Significantly enough, Nepal is best known for its casinos and holds a special charm for the honeymooners. Every year during the peak tourist season (March, October and November), people flock to the Kathmandu valley from all over the world. Nepal is a favorite destination for Indians and Indians also form the largest visitors in terms of numbers to the valley.
Some of the outstanding hospitality properties in the valley like the Soaltee, Yak & Yeti,Annapurna and Everest each year comes up with scintillating packages to pamper the honeymooners and leisure tourists and to say the least are treated royally with an exciting range of services and incentives.
To trace back the history of Casino / Pleasure Tourism in Kathmandu valley, one has to go back to the 60’s decade when the so called “Hippies” or the “Flower Children” as they are popularly referred to, made a beeline for Nepal to satiate their huge appetites for fun, pleasure and recreation. Add to it the fact that the Soaltee, which was launched by the Oberoi group – a magnificent property by any standard, threw open the concept of Casinos in the high Himalayas and it was an instant hit with the visitors that gave them a sense of de-ja-vu.
With the passage of time,casino outlets were also opened by the other 5 Star properties, all of which meant that Kathmandu became the center stage for indulging in electrifying fun and leisure where one could play baccarat, roulette and blackjacks, all night long.

In fact even today, Nepal is perceived as a moderately prized Casino destination by the prospective international traveler. Awareness about other aspects of Nepal as a destination is low.In order to bring about a harmony, Casino Tourism should be comprehensively merged with Sustainable Tourism, which will enable Nepal to make the most out of its rare natural and cultural resources. Switzerland has done it long back and Nepal too can take a leaf out of the great Swiss example.
A one-dimensional approach towards projecting a destination for a considerable period of time has its own pitfalls and there is a constant threat of the concerned destination being sold out and giving way to newer tourist destinations and thereby loosing its market share. Also, it is a fact that the lifestyle and the entire concept of recreation is increasingly taking a different turn worldwide. Twenty years back it was high society lifestyle and luxury. Today it is environment, socio-cultural issues and concepts like Green Tourism, Nature Based Holidays, Yoga, Ethnological Tours, Community Tours etc… which people in the advanced countries are interested in.
The trend is increasingly towards organized recreation, which is nature based with components of real experiences and more activity oriented. Visitors today seek transformation and a transcending experience. This is only to be expected and not at all surprising since science has unraveled before mankind the simple truths of human life like never before. What is more, technology and satellites have facilitated the dissemination of the facts of science to the common man.

One has also to take into consideration the fact that Tourism is an all encompassing activity and it has to involve the common man and make him aware of what Tourism is all about. What are the benefits of Tourism in terms of financial, social and educational aspects? In order to reach out to the common man, Sustainable & Value Based Tourism is the only way out for a developing country like Nepal. Any country, which already has a strong Tourism identity, has to spread the gospel of tourism to the villages where there is more authentic innocence, rather than the cities, which in an Asian perspective is rather Dickensian. Nepal with some of the world’s highest villages along with the fact that there are as many as 40 ethnic groups and 70 spoken languages in itself deserves some merit and attention from a purely Tourism point of view.It is a very complex world that we live in and probably about time that we explore great human possibilities in some of the highest villages of the world where technology hasn’t yet arrived. But, to achieve this, there has to be a fine balance between the two kinds of tourism – Casino Tourism and Sustainable Tourism. One simply can’t overhaul the other.

Katmandu, Nepal, Subhasish Chakraborty, Sustainability, tourism

Nice – Welcome to the nice life

May 18th

No comments

by Subhasish Chakraborty

The Côte d’Azur, popularly referred to as the French Riviera, is ideally located in the Mediterranean coastline of the south eastern part of France. It extends from Menton in the East to Cassis in the West.

Its largest city is Nice – a wonderful French Riviera city, one which is a very popular destination for honeymooners and sun-worshipers. It is a large city, no doubt and finding one’s way in the city can be intimidating to the first time visitor.

As a student of Alliance Francaise de Calcutta, I was provided with an opportunity to visit the French Riveria along with a few of my batch mates. We had all done reasonably well in our final semesters and this trip was to be a test of our language abilities. Nervous we were, but deep inside there was a belief that we were at par with the best in the trade.

From New Delhi we boarded the Air France flight to Paris and from Paris we hopped on to a connecting flight to the city of Nice. Instead of staying in a luxury hotel, we were offered with the option of staying on “Home Stay” mode with a host family. This was indeed a very good idea as we would have a first hand experience of staying with a French family and be exposed to their culture and lifestyle, apart from honing our language skills in this 15-day trip to France.

The rooms were quite spacious with all modern amenities. What really helped was the warm and friendly attitude of our gracious French host. The first few days were spent exploring the local neighborhood and testing our language skills. It took me two days to polish my skills and we would often sit hours together with the host family trying to fathom the beauty and diversity of the French Riveria

We became particularly very fond of the traditional French cuisine and would wait with bated breath for lunch or dinner when the lady of the house would usher us to their elegant dining room. The variety of French seafood recipes that would be cooked for us was something we would never forget. From easy wine braised fillet to bucolic Cajun fish fry…the gastronomic delights on offer made us feel every bit French.

From our frequent interactions with the host family, we were pretty familiar with the historical and geographical importance of Nice. According to Maria Bruni, our gracious host - “The French Riveria was one of the world’s first modern resort region and in the days of yore served as a winter resort, catering to the discerning needs of the upper class Britishers.” The introduction of railways in the 19th century forever changed the destiny of this region. It soon evolved as the playground of the aristocrats and the crème-de-la-crème of the society. From Queen Victoria to the Prince of Wales, the royal families simply loved the French Riviera.

In the first half of the Gradually the place began to evolve and by the 20th century it was a much preferred holiday destination of artists and scholars and some of the luminaries of that era like Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Edith Wharton and others of their ilk began frequenting this stunningly beautiful region. The ultra rich Americans were not to be left behind either.

The huge popularity of the French Riveria compelled the town and country planners to sit back and take notice. After the World War II, this part of France was gradually developed into a state-of-the-art convention centre. According to our gracious host Maria Bruni, many top ranking Hollywood superstars have their apartments here and there was a buzz doing the rounds that Elton John was in town. There is a certain throb here at Nice and the amazing part of this speck of paradise is that Nice alone has nationalities of 163 countries and it is a fact that non-French nationals outnumber the native people.

Nice’s fabulous Cote d’Azur Airport one of France’s busiest airports after Paris and there is another airport airport at the neighborhood of Mandelieu, which is now the nexclusive domain of private and business category flyers. Time permitting, a visit to surrounding places of the French Riveria includes a virtual galaxy of paradise like locales like Cannes, Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Ca-d’Ail, Frejus, Saint Raphel and Saint Tropez. There is also the principality of Monaco to contend with.

Given the fact that the French Riveria receives 300 days of sunshine per year and with a coastline that extends to all of 115 Kms. along with numerous ski resorts has meant that this area has evolved as a major yachting centre. Don’t be taken aback to see some of the world’s costliest and most luxurious yachts anchored along the area’s impeccably maintained marinas. From the Sultan of Brunei to Lakshmi Niwas Mittal (world’s richest Indian), they all come here to party. If statistical records are anything to go by, each year the French

Riviera hosts 50% of the world’s yacht fleet, which in itself is astonishing.

Like most visitors in Nice, we too embarked on a leisurely stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, which was conceived of almost 200 years back and shapes Nice’s Mediterranean coast at the marvellous Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels). This iconic boulevard is popularly referred to as the ‘Promenade’ and extends for 6 Kms. If you feel tired, there is no dearth of the quintessential Nice “Blue Chairs” where you can sit down and bask in the uninterrupted sea vistas.

Many of the city’s elegant monuments are historic and dates back to the 17th century. Of particular significance are the magnificent Palais Lascaris, the Cathedral de Sainte Réparate and the impressive Monastère Notre Dame de Cimiez. However, we were more interested in the beach side activities and the legendary Nice coastline would be our hangout zone in the evenings. We preferred the city’s Neptune beach because of its idyllic location and the easy availability of sun loungers and throbbing beach life.

It was reassuring to know that the water is checked regularly and evaluated as “good” according to the exacting European standards.
There are countless “must visit” tourist attractions around Nice and a majority of them are landmarks in their own right. Mention may be made of the impregnable 16th century Fort du Mont Alban. This is one place that impressed me a lot. Given the fact that I have always been fond of colonial architecture, the Fort du Mont Alban is one of the best places to have a glimpse of the traditional French military architecture and one can be assured of breathtaking natural vistas.
The city is home to a number of high profile museums and art galleries. I have been to a few art galleries in my native Kolkata, but I must tell you the art scene in Nice is a completely different cup of tea. One has to be thoroughly oriented with the French way of life and a well-informed guide is a must. We were fortunate as our gracious host Maria could spare some time from her busy schedule to accompany us on our trips to some of the city’s principal cultural centers.
We went on a full day’s tour of the city’s cultural mosaic – the Musée de Palaeontologie Humaine Terra Amata (popularly referred to as the Museum of Human Palaeontology), the Musée d’Archéologie de Nice-Cimiez (the Archaeological Museum) and also the Musée Départemental des Arts Asiatiques (Regional Museum of Asian Arts). The methodical manner in which the art objects and artifacts are preserved, deserves kudos.
When it comes to Fine Arts, Nice is like a “Mecca” – the Musée des Beaux Arts (Museum of Fine Arts) which is ideally located on the upscale Avenue des Baumettes was particularly fascinating. So also the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain which is strategically located on the posh Avenue St. Jean Baptiste. They are virtually a storehouse of contemporary paintings.
When it comes to the question of culture, the city of Nice has its own individual character. The native people have always held onto their independence, their own language –“Nissart” and folk traditions.
As far as the traditional costumes are concerned, the most common is the “Bouquetiere” for girls, which is a red and white striped cotton skirt, blouse and black velvet waistcoat with apron and embroidered black satin shawl plus, of course, the famous capeline. For boys, the chosen outfit is the red and white striped corsaire trousers, a broad belt of red wool and a white cotton shirt with a big-buttoned collar.
In course of an animated conversation with a native Nice couple at the elegant Atmosphere restaurant located on Cours Saleya, we got to know that the “Nissart” language is part of the Occitan linguistic ensembele extending from Catalonia to the valleys of Piedmont and Le Limousin. Most of the vocabulary, we were told, comes from the Latin spoken by the Romans who came here to build the town of Cemenelum.
In order to stop the “Nissart” language going into oblivion, theatre productions are of great help. Time permitting, a visit to the Theatre Nicois de Francis Gag and the Lou Rodou Nissart can be a very rewarding experience.
Every now and then, we would take a break from our sightseeing activity and sit down and relax at some of Nice’s archetypal pavement eating joints. The recipes here explain the lovely looks of the girls of Nice. From local candid fruits to “Pissaladiere” (golden onions with a hint of anchovy) and Nice’s very own exclusive Mediterranean sandwich “Pan Bagnat” to the warm and crispy “Socca”…the French gastronomic delights had fully satiated our taste buds.
With such great variety, many restaurateurs have decided to pool their efforts to make this into a common asset. To promote the authentic cuisine of Nice, restaurant owners have made a solemn commitment by signing a Quality Charter – “Cuisine Nissarde, Le Respect De La Tradition”. Restaurant owners holding this collective label can be identified by this logo on their storefront. When you step into any restaurant with the “Cusine Nissarde” label, it is a guarantee of excellence and good value that cannot but appeal to you.
When it comes to wine, as a perfect complement to the cuisine of Nice, the AOC wines have earned an excellent reputation, in particular in almost all the popular restaurants of Nice. The fact that the vineyards too are located in the hills that are in close proximity to Nice has helped tremendously.
No visit to Nice is ever complete without a visit to some its impeccably landscaped gardens. My father being a Doctorate in Agriculture, he had asked me to collect some information about Nice’s famed gardens. There are at least ten gardens and Municipal Parks, but the ones that stand out are – Jardin Albert, Jardins Suspendus Du Paillon, L’Esplanade Du Paillon, Le Parc Du Chateau, Le Jardin Du Monastere De Cimiez, Le Jardin Des Arenes De Cimiez, and Parc Chambrun.
While Jardin Albert happens to be Nice’s oldest garden that stretches for almost 2 Kms. from the seafront to the hills, the Jardins Suspendus Du Paillon is ideally spread out between the Old Town and the city center. However, it was the Parc Chambrun, which impressed me the most by its quintessential French romantic architecture. Other gardens worth visiting are the Le Jardin Botanique, renowned for its classic collections of Mediterranean flowers and the Parc Floral Phoenix.
As the city’s old timers are apt to say – “Nice has changed more in fifty years than it did over the past two centuries: Its history advances, but its past remains. I have been fortunate to visit this incredible city of the French Riviera where the world’s greatest stars have ignited millions of flash bulbs from the paparazzi’s cameras and I am not going to forget in a hurry the city’s salubrious climate and beautiful sights.
From the cascade to castle, I have seen everything in Nice without being seen. This city of a thousand delights will inspire me forever.
Traveler’s Fact File:
Getting There:
By Air:
It is certainly interesting to arrive in Nice by plane as one gets an immediate bird’s eye view of the city and the reasons for its very special character.
Nice’s Cote D’Azur Airport greets nearly 7.37 million passengers each year. With a global network of more than 60 connections, the Riviera International Airport is your privileged gateway to the city of Nice. There are more than 45 international airlines offering routine flights to more than 88 cities worldwide.
For instance, the popularity and the easy accessibility of Nice can be gauged from the fact that there are more than 300 flights a week to Paris. The route from Paris to Nice is the busiest in France.
Shopping:
Nice is a Mecca for shoppers. From small boutiques selling craftwork and traditional fabrics in the Old Town to the jewelry shops on the Avenue de Verdun, a bewildering variety of shopping outlets are available in the city of Nice. Typical souvenirs in Nice include – Wines, Olive Oil, Candid Fruit, Perfumes, fabrics, art and crafts.
Accommodation:
Nice offers a wide range of accommodation options. Nice Convention and Visitors Bureau publishes a Nice Hotel guide, which is available at 17, Rue Paganini. Tel: 33(0) 4 93 88 39 42. E-Mail: hotels@nicematin.fr

Furthermore, Day and night SIGNOTEL panels at Nice’s Cote D’Azur International Airport and at La Scoperta Services on the motorway provide tourist information on hotel availability and bookings can also be made.
Rentals and accommodation offered by private individuals can also be booked at –
Regional Tourist Committee,
55 Promenade des Anglais,
Tel: 33 (0) 4 92 15 21 30.

France, luxury destinations, Nice, Subhasish Chakraborty, Travel

Adelaide – A Place To Indulged In The Good Life And Taste Luxury At Its Best

May 17th

No comments

by Subhasish Chakraborty

Adelaide is one Australian city where anyone who loves enjoying the good life in style, will uncover secrets to take away, taste and treasure. What impressed me most was the fact that within 90 minutes travel from the city, you could be scaling a spectacular coastline or exploring an island wildlife haven…. bungy jumping, hot air balooning over the vineyards or even sailing in the midst of sand dunes and even better – discovering the caves and rocks of this amazingly varied landscape.

If variety is “the spice of life”, then Adelaide must be the most happening destination. So many different experiences awaits you and the best part is that you can walk to most of them from your accommodation and what choice there is! Everything from 5 Star extravagance to the comfort and warmth of a B&B, international hostel or a laidback cabin on the beach.

The city offers food, wine and arts, which the world comes to celebrate ….a 30 Kms. long clean sandy coastline spread with stories, water sports and space to relax….the undulating hills where the wines, wildlife, crafts and country charms wait to welcome the jaded traveler.

The Cultural Scene:

Adelaide prides itself on style, elegance and high-energy arts. With just over one million residents, it stages an arts festival which the world agrees is among the top three – and the best by far in Australia. The city is also the nation’s largest selection of quality performance spaces and specialist venues.

The most grand of Adelaide’s major thoroughfares is the North Terrace. This is the cultural heart of the city and a “must do” on your tour itinerary. It’s a trip through some of the best treasures and stories of the world – and a way of quickly getting to know this amazing place. North Terrace is exactly 1 mile (1.6 Kms) long and can be walked easily, but there will be plenty of diversions.

This wide leafy promenade has the State’s main galleries, museums, hotels, two university campuses and its finest library and Botanic garden. Either side is the main shopping precinct, the arts center and the River Torrens. Take your time and take it all.

For the connoisseurs of art, the Jam Factory Contemporary Craft and Design Centre welcomes visitors to tour its studios which produce artworks, fashion, furniture and gifts in metal, glass, wood and ceramics. Ever seen glassblowing – the red hot blob being transformed into a thing of beauty ? Now is your chance. The excellent retail gallery is a must visit site.

Like in India, the contemporary dance performance and classical music is particularly strong here – being home to the Australian Dance Theatre and Leigh Warren and Dancers, plus the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra, Adelaide Chamber Orchestra, Australian String Quartet and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra among others.

The Street Scene in Adelaide:

East End:

Adelaide’s historic East End is the city’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan precinct. Transformed over the past decade from its historic function as Adelaide’s wholesale fruit and vegetable markets, the East End blends blends this heritage with a dynamic café and dining culture, united with unique retail shops, mainstream Art House and IMAX cinemas, hotels, offices, multimedia centers and a burgeoning inner city residential population.

Hutt Street:

Hutt Street is another great café quarter with a relaxed and friendly village style setting, which blends history into the contemporary. I quite liked the easy sophistication and luxurious atmosphere without being snooty. Pavement breakfasts and casual coffees are popular – with tasty lunches in between. Dining under leafy verandahs is one experience I will never forget. The famous dining focal points are the Citrus Café and Nediz Tu, icons of modern Australian cuisine.

Hutt Street is conspicuous by its colonial era stone buildings and quaint, quiet, cottagey sidestreets that are a real bonus.

Gouger Street:

The Gouger Street is a wonderful meeting of venues, cultures and cuisines. The market is admired worldwide for its unique qualities and character. The street is renowned for fresh produce and gourmet foods are irresistible – and so are its cafes, coffee shops and noodle bars where the whole of Adelaide passes through.

Politicians, painters, musicians, tourists and office workers dine and do their shopping along with chefs, lawyers, storeowners, writers and families. Its also the place where chefs buy their special clogs. Just outside the main market is the principal dining strip with a great spread of world cuisines including classical French to Argentinean, Vietnamese and Thai. It also ha sits share of seafood restaurants and cafes.

O’Connell Street:

The scene is set as you climb the hill with your back to the city. Fine grand mansions, prestigious apartments and well kept cottages nestle among the well established trees and gardens of this up market suburb.

Al fresco dining is popular along this classy precinct of more than 40 restaurants, wine bars and cafes. Lunch is a sunny courtyard overlooking the city….pavement dining under old iron lacework verandahs….or amid the bustle of a Mediterranean style bistro. The Oxford and Royal Oak hotel deliver award winning food and wine in very attractive settings.

Adelaide Coast:

Coastal Adelaide is conspicuous by its distinctive landscape with estuarine environments, extensive sand dunes, off shore reef system and geologically significant cliffs, will provide you with something of interest with each bend of the coastal road.

Many kilometers of continuous metropolitan beach brings all of Adelaide within easy reach of the sea. Broken into 4 distinct sections, the coast offers a maritime history, recreational fun and ecological wonders.

The St.Kilda Mangrove trail is a “must visit” site. Here you can meander through the mysterious tidal world of the mangrove forest on a 1.7 Kms boardwalk. The nearby Greenfields Wetlands covers 42 hectares of low-lying saline land and has been developed into storm water detention basin and wetlands habitat and is home to 150 species of birds.

North Heaven is where you go for a day’s sailing or simply to watch the yachts come and go. Largs Bay is the last remaining metropolitan home for the coastal colony of the Red Capped Plover and 20 indigenous species of coastal plant life and s serene spot for strolling along the sand.

Semaphore hosts an international Kite Festival on its foreshore and the miniature steam train which operates during school holidays is a favorite….not only for the kids.

In 1992 West Lakes was honored with an award as the best residential development in the world. I was fortunate to have a look myself…. marvelous.

West Beach is the closest beach to the city, only 15 minutes away. It is home to an award winning caravan park and holiday village.

Anyone who swims at Christies Beach, walks the Tjilbruke Trail, launches a boat at O’Sullivan Beach, surfs at Moana, visits the underwater trails at Port Noarlunga or simply watches the sunset over Witton Bluff will know and appreciate the value of Adelaide’s coastline.

Adelaide Wineries:

Rolling hills with neat vineyards run beside forests of gum trees and orchards. The home of sparkling wines so good, the French premier champagne house Bollinger came to have a look and appreciated the quality. The Adelaide Hills are reckoned by many to soon become Australia’s premier wine region. It certainly has all the right ingredients of climate, soils and altitude. In fact, its like the whole of Europe in one little mountain range.

For tourists, it’s the perfect tasting territory …. Scenic drives, friendly welcome at the cellar door, lunch at the winery perhaps or nearby restaurant…. And the chance to buy what is increasingly becoming recognized overseas as some of the world’s best wines. The villages are dotted about the ranges and you can understand the character which goes into each bottle – especially if you are lucky enough to meet the winemaker themselves on a tour.

It is reported that Queen Victoria received a celebrated hock wine from the region in 1845 and exports were established from here. This wine came from Echunga – equally famous for its gold mine. Who knows if the winemaker knew he had struck a rich seam with his plantings.

Today the Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling from the Lenswood area are highly regarded and the Chardonnay from Chain of Ponds has helped create the up market “White Grange” Yattarna label. The whites are judged fragrant and vivid and the reds – the Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot particularly – judged fine and elegant.

The beauty is you can make your own decision during a delicious tasting session of your own.

Parks & Gardens:

Within 30 minutes from the city, you will find ancient forests…the chatter and laughter of parrots…and parks and gardens full of amazing wildlife and avian species.

At Cleland you can wonder freely among Kangaroos, Wallabies, Emus and Waterfowl and meet a Koala. Enjoy a night walk or Aboriginal trail. Morialta and Para Wirra offer fabulous bushwalking and Hallett Cove offers dramatic coastal views.

As far as gardens are concerned, Adelaide is set in the middle of Parklands and its surrounding areas offer an amazing selection of experiences ….dreamily romantic rose gardens, fountains and avenues of fragrant blossoms…and even a tall rainforest are just minutes away from the city center.

The real city’s elegant Botanic Gardens with rare flowers, fountains, cool green sanctuaries and a historic Palm House offers refreshing recreational avenues for the jaded traveler. The Adelaide-Himeji Garden recreates a classical Japanese setting and a Linear Park, you can cycle or walk from the hills, through the city to the ocean…while the Open Garden Scheme presents more than 60 private gardens to the public.

Self Drive Tours:

Self Drive tours are increasingly being preferred by the discerning international traveler. It is easy to hire a car and follow the suggested itineraries in the publication – “Adelaide Self Drive Touring Itineraries and Map, From the Hills to the Sea”. It includes map-referenced and themed itineraries, including adventure, antique, arts, food and wine, heritage, parks and gardens.

Barossa Valley Wine Tour:

This being my first visit to Australia and the fact that I am a wine buff, I was advised by the Tourist Information Center at Adelaide to embark on a 190 Kms. drive that would take me through the best parts of the Barossa and Eden Valleys. And I must tell you….this is wine buff heaven! Points of interest enroute included the Big Rocking Horse at Gumeracha, the National Motor Museum at Birdwood, the Collingrove Homestead and the Bethany Art & Craft Gallery in Angaston. And of course the cellar doors beckoned everywhere.

There is another equally enchanting Self Drive option vis-à-vis the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Peninsula Tour.

McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Peninsula Tour:

This is a lovely drive of just under 290 Kms. from Adelaide to McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek wine regions, and the very best Fleurieu coastal scenery. Highlights include the historic hills township of Hahndorf, picture perfect Strathalbyn, the popular coastal resort of Victor Harbor and the more than forty-five welcoming cellar doors of McLaren Vale.

Traveler’s Fact File:

By Air:

Daily international services fly direct into Adelaide International Airport, while direct domestic flights are very frequent. Typical flight times to Adelaide are 1 hour from Melbourne, 90 minutes from Sydney direct. There are also indirect services which fly to Adelaide via other cities.

By Road:

Driving from Sydney:

From Sydney its 1632 Kms. to Adelaide via the national capital, Canberra and the historic towns of the Murray River. This route can be driven comfortably in three days.

Then there is the wine route to Adelaide, a 1486 Kms drive taking in the magnificent Blue Mountains, the wine regions of New South Wales and Victoria and then the nation’s premier wine center – the Barossa Valley.

A third drive is the 1670 Kms outback journey via Broken Hill. However, its important to make careful preparations for this route.

Driving from Melbourne:

Here’s your opportunity to take one of the world’s great coastal drives, The Great Ocean Road. Offering some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Australia, this two day 1160 Kms trip from Melbourne brings you into Adelaide via the Coorong, the lower reaches of the River Murray and the wine country of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

An alternative route of 1040 Kms takes you through the historic gold rush country of Victoria and into Adelaide via the towns of the River Murray. It can be driven comfortably in a full day.

A little shorter is the 850 Kms drive via Bordertown, Tailem Bend and Murray Bridge.

By Rail:

The Indian Pacific:

The Indian Pacific is one of the world’s great train journeys. It spans the continent, 4352 Kms. from Sydney to Perth and you can climb aboard and travel to Adelaide from either city in the luxury of a sleeping cabin.

Sydney to Adelaide takes 24 hours offering a Blue Mountain sunset, an outback dawn near Broken Hill and the beautiful mid-north of South Australia. Perth to Sydney is a 11/2 day adventure across the awesome Nullarbor Plain.

The Overland:

The original Overland pioneered the concept of the straight-through intercapital rail journey in Australia last century. Today’s stylish train offers sleeping cabins or aircraft-style seats for the overnight journey of 774 Kms. from Melbourne to Adelaide.

Accommodation:

City Stays:

If only 5 Star will do, Adelaide’s international hotels can check you into anything from a penthouse to a first class suite or room equal of anything in the world.

Motel accommodation is plentiful or you can try an inner city serviced apartment complete with its own self-catering kitchen.

Adelaide’s backpacker and youth hostels are of a very high standard and extremely popular, while caravan parks, many with luxury on-suite cabins are a great family alternative.

Staying by the Sea:

Adelaide’s long stretch of suburban beaches is well endowed with seaside stays, from 5 star hotel rooms to budget motels, from flats and apartments to guest houses and welcoming bed and breakfast accommodation in private homes.

Country & Outback Stays:

The appeal of the countryside is even more appealing when you stay in a restored cottage in an Adelaide Hills orchard or beside a vineyard in one of the state’s world famous wine regions.

You can stay on a farm, perhaps in a fully restored shearer’s quarters or you might find yourself tucked up in bed in a miner’s cottage. And what could be more evocative than a few nights in a stately country home for a glimpse of how Australia’s farming aristocracy once lived?

In the outback you can stay in 5 star comfort underground, bush cabins, wilderness lodges, self catering cabins or at campsite under the stars.

River Stays:

If you yearn for a river holiday, you can be your own captain aboard a luxury houseboat or cruise as a live-in passenger on a first class riverboat. Ashore there are great choices too, including riverside cabins, cottages, caravans and campsites

Adelaide, Australia, hotels, Luxury Travel, Subhasish Chakraborty

Basel – The Cultural Cauldron of Switzerland

May 15th

No comments

by Subhasish Chakraborty

It was year 2008 and imagine the huge relief when out of nowhere I was invited to present a Paper on West Bengal’s Sustainable Tourism platform at an International Conference of Sustainable Tourism, held at the Swiss city of Basel. The offer came at a time when the City of Joy – Kolkata -was reeling from an acute “heat wave” and the scorching summer had already claimed a few lives in the city and its suburbs.

Frankly speaking, I was flabbergasted. I reached Basel and the moment I checked in at the magnificent Hotel Hilton, I knew I was in a fortunate place. I was visiting the city at a time when the UEFA Cup 2008 was going on and like any soccer crazy Kolkatan, I fancied my chances to at least have one outing at the stadium in Basel to see the adrenalin pumping excitement of European football.

The city wore a festive look. Museums of worldwide renown and ultramodern architecture on both sides. And no matter whether you are left or right of the Rhine : you will find innovative theatre, music, hip clubs and traditional establishments everywhere. In this city, I was told that new excitement comes with every change of sides and the billboards everywhere proudly displayed the caption – “Basel. Beyond The 90 Minutes”. Clearly, Basel Tourism was hard selling the city as a tourist destination.

I was fortunate enough to come in contact with an old acquaintance of my dad – Oliver Meier, who was a resident of Basel and with whom my father had worked during his stint with the World Bank. I was carrying his address and rightfully located his modest Swiss chalet in the outskirts of the city.

Oliver advised me that the best way to explore the center of Basel is to take the five walks around the old part of the city. Each walk shows the city and its development from a different angle and takes you through the narrow streets and lanes of Basel to its large museums and fine squares.

I contacted the Tourist Office and informed them about my intention of embarking on the walking tours of Basel City. I opted for one walk per day with a resting day in between so as to be at my best physically and mentally.

I must confess, one of the great advantages of Basel is its manageable size: within a short time you can see and experience so much. Situated on the banks of the Rhine at the point where the Swiss, French and German borders converge, Basel is a unique and fascinating city full of charm. It’s a city where everything runs in clockwork precision and yet there is a cosmopolitan character it owes emphatically.

The Erasmus Walk:

The first walk that I embarked upon was the –“Erasmus Walk”. This short walk took me up to the Rheinsprung to the hill on which the Munster Cathedral stands – the scene of major events in the city’s history. I was told by the well-informed guide that this part of the city has been the site of human habitation for the past 22 centuries. Both the Celts and the Romans established settlements here and I could see the remnants of that in the vicinity.

The town planners have done a wonderful job by redesigning the entire neighborhood that serves as an exclusive residential area of a more secular nature and is also home to numerous corporate offices and impressive museums.

I quite liked the promontory on the river side of the Munsterplatz Cathedral from where the panoramic views of the city and the Rhine river as it changes course to flow north and beyond to the hills of the Black Forest and the Vosges made for a truly kaleidoscopic vignette. A closer look at the Cathedral revealed numerous historical figures that lay buried, inclusive of the Erasmus of Rotterdam. From there we walked back to the market square and spent some time at the principal shopping hub – the Freie Strasse.

The Jacob Burckhardt Walk:

The second walk- Jacob Burckhardt Walk took me to the Frei Strasse neighborhood via the choir of Barfusserkirche and finally to the city’s main theatre square – “Theaterplatz”. The contrast here between the modern edifices and neo-Gothic church – “The Elisabethenkirche” that towers above it is very palpable.

One of Basel’s most hip and happening squares is the Tinguely Fountain, which has become a much preferred hangout zone for the youth brigade and there is an impeccably landscaped garden with a fabulous restaurant at the Kunsthalle where I and my energetic guide Victor had a fulfilling meal under the shade of Chestnut trees.

One of Basel’s nerve center is the Barfusserplatz and I was stupefied by the sight of the medieval church where an open-air musical event was going on. Victor took me inside the church where there is a Museum with a rich assortment of artifacts. From Barfusserplatz, we walked leisurely along the city’s meandering alleyways and the quaint shops and boutiques on Spalenberg and Heuberg were a revelation.

The Jacob Burckhardt Walk takes about 45 minutes and is dedicated in the everlasting memory of Jacob Burckhardt (1818-1897), who was a scholar of art and a noted historian.

Thomas Platter Walk:

The Thomas Platter Walk on the other hand is of great significance for craftsmen and academics. According to my well informed guide – Victor – “The Thomas Platter Walk takes you through the picturesque lanes and alleyways of a former craftsmen’s district and the street names give a local flavor of the trades that used to be plied here”. I was ushered to the place where the craftsmen of yesteryears used to draw their water from the river Birsig, which even today flows perennially under the Marketplatz down to the Rhine River.

There is a bit of climbing involved, particularly on the stretch leading up to Spalenberg. But once you are on top of the hill, you essentially leave the Old City and pass by Petersgraben along which the city wall used to run.

On further coaxing by Victor, I climbed further ahead and reached Spalenvorstadt, which happens to be one of Basel’s old time gateways. Here you have the Spalentor, which is regarded as one of Basel’s finest edifices that dates back to the 14^th century.

The University, one of the oldest in the whole of Switzerland, founded way back in the year 1460 is a must visit site and next to it is the fabulous St.Peter’s Square (Peterplatz), where every Saturday a colorful flea market entices both the residents as well as visitors to bargain and shop.

The Paracelsus Walk:

Walk No 4 – the Paracelsus Walk took me through both sides of the dreamy valley of the city’s shimmering river Birsig. We walked up to an captivatingly named “eleven thousand virgins” lane, which is popularly referred to as the Elftausendjungfern-Gasslein in the local Swiss parlance.

The most striking edifice here is the church of St.Martin and the entire edifice was illuminated with neon lights on the eve of a Christian holy congregation. I was most impressed by the amazing facades of the unusually large town houses that bore ample testimony to the sheer wealth of old city. I was told that these town houses serve as office rooms of Basel city’s administration.

The walk through the narrow lanes and bylanes takes you back to the valley and even without you noticing it you will walk over to the neighborhood of Falknerstrasse and cross the shimmering Birsig river. The walk on the other side of the lovely valley takes you through a roller coaster tour of the quintessential “Craftsmen’s Alleyways” and further ahead is the magnificent church of St.Leonhard and beyond is the Lohnhof.

In the good old days, Lohnhof used to be the seat of Basel’s government offices and later on as a prison house. As of today, the Lohnhof has been remodeled into an exclusive residential zone with its own Music Museum and a decent hotel.

We followed the narrow cobbled streets all the way to the Marketplatz but thanks to my hawk eyes, I could see the Pharmaceutical History Museum and a visit inside this one-of-its-kind museum revealed carefully preserved utensils dating back to the time of Paracelsus.

Hans Holbein Walk:

The last of my walks was the rather educative Hans Holbein Walk. Hans Holbein, I was told by my guide Victor, lived from 1514 to 1526 and again from 1528 to 1531 in the city of Basel. He was a master portrait artist and this enchanting walk requires around 90 minutes.

One of Basel’s most enduring charm is the city’s ideal location vis-à-vis the Rhine river. All visitors to Basel should therefore make it a point to explore both sides of the river. This walk commences along the more prosperous quarters in the city’s old district all the way up to the magnificent Munsterplatz Cathedral. In the present times this much talked about cathedral square hosts some of the city’s most important events like the Basel Autumn Fair, Basel Carnival and other open-air exhibitions.

We wended our way through the Patrician’s houses in the Knight’s lane all the way to the city’s former inner moat and remarkably maintained residential quarter – St.Alban-Vorstadt. For the art aficionados, a must visit place is the Museum of Fine Arts where you will come across well preserved art works of the great artist – Hans Holbein. Other major wayside attractions are the Caricature & Cartoon Museum as well as the stately St.Alban church. There is an opening in the ramparts through which you can see the intriguing courtyard of the monastery that dates back to the Middle Ages.

There is also an impeccably preserved old city wall, which is worth visiting. Once we reached Grossbasel, we took a ferry ride across to Kleinbasel, which happens to be one of Basel’s most pulsating neighborhood. We returned to the Marketplatz via Mittlere Brucke and saw the rather strange looking “Lallekonig”, which is essentially the head of a medieval king sticking his tongue out.

Basel – A Football Crazy City:

Of all the cities in Switzerland, Basel is the most football crazy. And I found the enthusiasm infectious and spreading far beyond the city limits and throughout the surrounding regions which I had visited during my Walking Tours.

As luck would have it, I was there in Basel for just a week and unfortunately I couldn’t take out time to watch live action inside the stadium. It left me disgusted not being able to make it for even one match of the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship. But I did make it a point to visit the wonderful Basel stadium (St.Jacob Park Stadium) that has hosted some of the most exciting football matches that you will ever see.

The people of Basel have long been deeply attached to their very own FC Basel. No other Swiss club attracts as many loyal fans and I was fortunate to witness the practice session of FC Basel. This awesome stadium, built by the internationally acclaimed architects – Herzog & de Meuron, was embraced with open arms by the people of Basel as a tribute to their love of football. With a seating capacity for over 40,000 spectators, eleven VIP Boxes, a restaurant, a bar, a set of apartments for elderly residents and shopping mall with 33 stores, easily makes it one of the most enduring outdoor stadiums in the whole of Europe.

I could sense the anticipation of all those balmy football nights, the joy of a shared triumph, the passionate post match debates and discovery of new friends from all over Europe and across the world already very palpable here in Basel.

Traveler’s Fact File:

Getting There:

Basel is easy to get to. The airport is only a 10 minutes drive from the city center. Basel’s Euro Airport is served by a number of international airlines. Together with neighboring Zurich airport, it enjoys connections to all European airports and to more than 200 intercontinental destinations.

Located in the center of Europe, Basel is a major transportation hub. Its railway stations – the Swiss SBB, French SNCF and German Badischer Bahnhof, as they are known, not only offer excellent connections to far and wide but are also all situated in the very heart of the city.

Accommodation:

Basel is a cosmopolitan city that offers all kinds of accommodations ranging from the superbly deluxe 5 star affairs to budget category hostels for backpackers. What is more, in Basel city, on checking in, hotel guests receive a free “Mobility Ticket” which entitles them to unlimited travel on all trams and buses in zones 10 and 11 for the duration of their stay in Basel.

City Tour by Bus:

Take in Basel’s charm as you tour the city by bus. Starting from the German Railway Station – where one of Basel Tourism’s expert guides will board the bus – your varied tour route takes you to the border triangle, then across the Rhine a number of times, past the three old city gates, before arriving at the Basel Museum of Contemporary Art. The guided tour ends with a short walk to Munsterplatz.

Basel iGuide:

Basel Tourism’s hi-tech multimedia technology allows you to follow in the footsteps of the world renowned figures who shaped Basel’s history, courtesy of iGuide. You have a choice between five city tours on your iGuide PDA, featuring commentary in English and German. IGuide provides you with individual perspectives, insights and details that might otherwise pass you by.

For further information on the city of Basel, please feel free to contact – barbara3@rogerrs.com

Basel, Subhasish Chakraborty, Switzerland

Posts tagged Subhasish Chakraborty

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport: Redefining Air Travel

Resurrecting Kalyani Through Tourism – A World War II US Army Base and an interestisng experience.

Greece – Sculpture Workshop Hellenistic Period

Delphi – Where Celebration is a Way of Life

Athens – Awesome, Awe-Inspiring and Ambivalent

Sir Edmund Hillary’s Observations on Mount Everest – The World’s Highest Junkyard: No Luxury Here.

Sustainable And Value Based Tourism In Nepal – A Perspective

Nice – Welcome to the nice life

Adelaide – A Place To Indulged In The Good Life And Taste Luxury At Its Best

Basel – The Cultural Cauldron of Switzerland

Advertisment

Traveler slideshow

gTranslate

Recent Articles