MUNNAR - Honeymooners Paradise

Happy Republic Day to all proud Indians

Kerala wins UN award for Sustainable Tourism

It is for the first time that India has won this recognition. The state lifted the coveted honour for its sustainable development initiative in the world renowned backwater resort of Kumarakom, a Kerala tourism release said on Thursday. Kerala Tourism bagged the honour yesterday at the annual United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism presented at Madrid in Spain. Kerala won the UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance, the highest honour given to the government bodies for shaping global tourism policies through innovative initiatives. Kerala Tourism was chosen for the honour for its path-breaking 'Responsible Tourism' project in Kumarakom, which has successfully linked the local community with the hospitality industry and government departments, thereby, creating a model for empowerment and development of the people in the area while sustaining eco-friendly tourism. "Kerala, a popular ecotourism destination, portrays responsible and sustainable tourism in an exceptional manner," said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, at the awards ceremony. Instituted in 2003 by UNWTO, the United Nations agency for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, the UNWTO Awards showcase innovation and application of knowledge in tourism with the aim of effecting governance and society. "We are humbled by the UNWTO's decision to confer this highest international award on our state," said Kerala Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar.

Enchanting Cruise in Houseboat just for $ 115/-

Allappuzha (or Alleppey in Kerala), a town with picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons, it was described as the one of the places known as "Venice of the East" by Lord Curzon.   Venice is a city in north eastern Italy sited on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges. It is located in the marshy Venetian Lagoon which stretches along the shoreline, between the mouths of the Po and the Piave Rivers. Venice is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. The city in its entirety is listed as a World Heritage Site, along with its lagoon.

We are proudly offering a delightful experience of ‘Venice of the East’ in a houseboat cruise on backwaters for two persons - two days and one night for only INR7,000/-($115/-)*.  Exclusive cruise with two persons* and houseboat crew.  Inclusive of food* and drinks*.  This offer is never before and never after.  Just for you, as our privileged customer.  Bookings open now.  Offer is valid till 31/March only. Cruise can schedule on any date till 30/Sept.  Please hurry and book your cruise on or before the validity expires.


Other attractions in Alappuzha are Alappuzha Beach, offering one of the most beautiful views of the Laccadive Sea, Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, Mannarasala Temple, Chettikulangara Devi Temple, Haripad Subrahmanya Swamy Temple, Mullakkal Temple, Edathua Church, Alappuzha CSI Christ Church (oldest Anglican church in Kerala) and Champakulam Valia Palli. Krishnapuram Palace also attracts many tourists. The tasty ambalappuzha payasam is a popular dessert.  If you want to add any of these placed during your trip, please mention in your booking.  This will be added with additional charges.


SERVICING & PROCEDURE

Ø  Welcome Drink on Arrival, Bottle of Drinking water, Lunch, Evening Tea & Snacks, Dinner, Morning Tea, Breakfast
Ø  Room/Supplies: Double Bed, Blanket, Attached Bath, Towels, Bath Soap | Extra mattress on floor for Extra Person
Ø  Houseboat Check in time 12:30 pm
Ø  Houseboat Check out time 09:00 am
Ø  Cruise starts from 12:30 pm from Allotted Jetty | Halt during Lunch 01:00 pm – 02:00 pm | Cruises till evening 05 pm | Halt by lake side evening – Overnight – Morning Cruise starts from 08:00 am – 09:00 am
Ø  Air Conditioning in rooms will be from 09 pm – 06 am as per Deluxe A/C plan | In Premium A/C plan A/C will be Full time in Rooms
Ø  *Houseboat Menu: Traditional Kerala Meals, Veg & Non Veg (Fish & Chicken), Chappati/Roti, Kerala Breakfast/North Indian Breakfast
Ø  *Food Preference: Any food preferences like Pure VEG, Cooking Oil, Any ingredients/similar to be updated in advance
Ø  *Additional Food Preferences/dishes like Prawns/Seafood/Non Veg etc will be arranged on extra direct payment basis
Ø  *Early check-in/late check-out will be on extra charge basis and can be a full rate basis
Ø  *Houseboat service team: 03 Persons are dedicated during the cruise (Sailor, Cruise assistant & Chef)
Ø  *A/C in Rooms works on Generators – the cooling time and quality will not be at PAR with a hotel unit working on direct power supply

PACKAGE COST INR 7000/- ($ 115/- only) net for a Couple

Only limited bookings and are on first come first service basis.

Travel Bloggers compete to head to Kerala

Kerala Tourism received many entries from across the world for an online campaign to bring the world's best bloggers to the state for an on-the-road experience. "Kerala Blog Express", a two-week road journey from the south of the state to the north, on luxury bus, will be undertaken starting March 1 by the winners of this campaign-contest. Twenty-five top bloggers from around the world will be selected for the road journey, through online voting on the website www.keralablogexpress.com, specially created by Kerala Tourism for this initiative. The website, launched recently, has already received over 100,000 visits, and some of the top travel bloggers from India and abroad have entered the competition. Travel writers, photographers and bloggers who already have their own travel blogs are eligible to enter the competition. The profiles of participating bloggers are available on the Kerala Blog Express website for voting by the general public. The online vote process will be completed on January 15, and the bloggers with the highest votes will earn seats on the Kerala Blog Express, following a final review by a judging panel of the tourism department."This is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country to attract the travel blogger community for a first-hand experience of our land, its geography and culture," said Kerala Tourism Minister AP Anilkumar. Entries were received from as many as 80 countries, including United States, United Kingdom, Poland, Spain, Germany, Canada and Indonesia. Some of the world's best-known travel bloggers like Venezuela-born Marcello Arrambide whose Wandering Trader is one of the most popular travels blogs on the internet, and Romanian Cezar Dumitru whose extensive travel experiences have been recorded on his Imperator Travel website, are taking part. Several of the writers participating in the race for the 25 seats on the Kerala Blog Express have featured in the National Geographic, Conde Nast Traveller and Lonely Planet. "Kerala Blog Express would be a stepping stone to experience Kerala along with other travel bloggers," said US-based bloggers Veronica and David James in their new post after entering the contest.

http://keralablogexpress.com/

Bekal to Get Seaplane Services Soon

Seabird Seaplane Private Limited, a Kochi-based company, will operate a 9-seater seaplane from Kochi international airport to Lakshadweep soon. Flights will be operated in the Kochi-Bekal as well as Kochi-Gokarna (Karnataka) routes, according to initial plans.

The company has ordered a ‘Quest Kodiak 100 Amphibian aircraft’ from the U.S., which can accommodate 9 passengers. “It has received all regulatory approvals,” the official said.

Promoted by a group of hoteliers and aviation professionals, the company, Seabird Seaplane Private Limited, has received permission from Director General of Civil Aviation, New Delhi, to operate non-scheduled air transport services.

The operator intends to connect airports in South India such as Kochi, Bangalore and Chennai. The flights could be operated to any resort with a water body access, according to the company. The seaplane could be chartered at Rs. 50,000 per hour. It could be hired for carrying patients on emergency medical services or for relief operations during natural calamities.