India is often described as a tourist paradise. From the mighty snow-capped Himalayas of Kashmir in the north to the shimmering seas of Kanyakumari in the south, the verdant deltas of Sunderbans in the east, the world's largest protected eco-and-game reserve to the historic forts and shrines of Rajasthan to the west – India has everything that the footloose traveller would like to sample.
Inbound tourism is booming and the country is going all out to lure more travellers from around the world.
India, and its art of spices By Madhusree Chatterjee India is a mouth-watering gold mine of indigenous food with over 20,000 documented traditional recipes that have at least 200 varieties of dosas, the signature pancake from south India that has taken the world by storm, says celebrity chef Hemant Oberoi who recently came out with his first book "Masala Art".
Comedy is now standing up in India They are brash, funny, young and are deadpanning their way to the bank. Meet the new crop of standup comedians whose ribtickling humour is becoming a staple at cafes and hangout zones across the country.
An American scribe's sideways glance at India By Arun Kumar "Sideways on a Scooter", a new book on India by an American journalist who lived in New Delhi for some years, is billed as a "deft cultural examination" that peels back the "stereotypical image of India as a land of call centres, yoginis, and Bollywood".
Indian dancer set for 'confrontation' with French jazz By Madhusree Chatterjee When Indian classsical dancer Raghunath Manet performs with French jazz maestro Didier Lockwood for 70 days in a staggered concert in Paris this fall, he wants East to meet West - as a "confrontation" not as "fusion".
M.F. Husain's death robs Indian art of tallest hero By Madhusree Chatterjee The passing away of Maqbool Fida Husain, India's leading international face in contemporary 20th century art, marks the end of a golden era in India's tryst with new-age art in an Indian idiom.
India's Picasso M.F. Husain dies exiled from his homeland Maqbool Fida Husain, who was hailed as the Picasso of India but was forced to live in self-imposed exile from his homeland due to death threats from Hindu radicals, died in London. He was 95.
Mass Hindu wedding to become regular in SAfrica By: Fakir Hassen The success of a mass Hindu wedding has prompted the organisers, the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, to repeat the exercise at least bi-annually.
Indian American spreads sacred music's peace message By Arun Kumar From the ancient Moroccan city of Fez, an Indian American cultural and social entrepreneur is spreading the message of peace wafting from the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music.The nine-day festival "has a peace making mission and was founded after the first Gulf War in 1994 when Faouzi Skali, the founder, felt that the world was polarising," India-born Zeyba Rahman told IANS.
Rhythms of life By Matthew Newsome Bringing together an ensemble of musicians and dancers from India and Africa to create a fusion performance of music and dance in one week might be an ambitious undertaking. You would be forgiven for thinking that to expect a dazzling performance from people who had never met before might be asking too much.Yet this is what occurred in Addis Ababa when an ensemble of heads of state, ministers and delegates gathered together to perform their political art for the 2nd India-Africa Forum Summit which took place last week.
Zambia to earn over $400 mn from tourism Zambia, home to the spectacular Victoria Falls, expects to earn about $412 million this year from tourism, President Rupiah Banda has said.
Concept drives contemporary Indian art By Madhusree Chatterjee Concept is driving contemporary Indian art to probe new frontiers beyond the conventional formats.
Women ‘in a frenzy for clothes' Women seem to be in a frenzy for clothes — they are buying four times as much dresses as they did 30 years ago, thanks to the growth of “fast fashion”, says a new survey.
Tagore birth anniversary celebration in Egypt The Indian embassy will organise a special function on May 28 to mark the 150th birth anniversary of India's Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
Sighting 4 of Africa's Big 5 A lioness hunting for her mate, cheetahs and lions with full tummies, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, impalas, nyalas; can one ask for more from an African safari?
Mango Tourism on a Sabbatical If you're among the thousands disappointed by the mangoes available this season, head to Sindhudurg for an authentic alphonso experience. Culture Aangan is organising trips to the village, near Goa, a state in south west India, all through this month, targeted at city dwellers and foreign tourists. And it's the village locals who will benefit from this endeavour. Says Rashmi Sawant, founder of Culture Aangan "We have organised the visit in a way that the tourists stay at the locals' homes, eat their home-cooked meals, visit their orchards and farms, use their modes o f transport, work with them and learn from them."
Sea diving in Mauritius A visit to Mauritius will change the way you look at the sea — we can bet that you have never seen a bluer and clearer sea. But that is not the best part of the sea here. There is something about the clear blue and green water that you would hardly find at other beaches across the world. Okay here it is: the sea is waveless! Yes, there are no giant waves, just a tranquil giant blue swimming pool inviting one to take a dip.
Unquiet flows the Congo The sight of the flowing Congo calls to mind Joseph Conrad's 1899 novella, Heart of Darkness. Based on his personal experience as the captain of a river boat on the Congo, Conrad uses a fictional narrator to describe a journey up the river in accurate detail, offering simultaneously a strong critique of colonialism, though from a Western point of view. In Conrad's time, the country was a Belgian colony. It is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, or DR Congo. The river itself, 4,700-km long, is among the world's few unspoilt ones. But like much of Africa, it remains something you mostly only read about in books or see on the National Geographic or Discovery channels. Few people come visiting. Though peace has been established after years of civil war, Kinshasa, the country's capital, still remains a no-no on the travel advisories of many countries.
The Taste of India As more and more Indian chefs move out into the world, it’s being said that London has become the capital of modern Indian food. But the future of Indian food lies in the same place as its past – in India itself.
India on Cannes’ plate If you thought the only Indian flavour at the ongoing Cannes International Film Festival was Bollywood, you’re wrong — there’s samosa, pyaaz pakora, bhajia and our very own chicken tikka masala, too.
This time for africa For many people of my generation, South Africa evokes memories of a different era. For all of my youth and part of my professional career, South Africa was a pariah state. In many ways, it was the evilest nation on earth. There were worse dictatorships and more repressive regimes of course, but this was the only country in the world (even Rhodesia was not as bad) that made discrimination on the basis of race or colour the very foundation of the existence of the state.
Rwanda rising When I was a child, my elder brother got me to believe that Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda were Punjabi swear words. Years later, when I became aware of these three countries lodged in the heart of Africa, the stories and articles spoke overwhelmingly of expulsions, genocides and violence. Travellers viewed them as tinder-boxes best given a wide berth. Today, things are dramatically different, and thanks to Paul Kagame's excellent leadership that has united the people and revitalised the economy, Rwanda is now a compelling destination, with travellers queuing for visas and trekking permits. They come to explore the beautiful landscapes of The Land of a Thousand Hills, to meet the warm, friendly people.
Spicy zanzibar "This is the finest place, I have known in all of Africa"- said Scottish explorer David Livingstone when he stepped on to the Indian Ocean archipelago in 1866.
A taste of India on Ethiopian business table Hara Bhara Kabab, Paneer lababdar, tomato shorba, naan, rasamalai and gulab jamun among many other mouth watering Indian dishes will vie with Indian automobiles and cultural events to catch the attention of Ethiopians over the next couple of days.
Scandinavian master of suspense finds inspiration from India By Madhusree Chatterjee Raconteurs, the lifeline of the frozen Scandinavian winters, keep the entertainment mill running with story-telling when the fjords sink beneath mountains of ice. Meet Denmark-based Jussi Adler-Olsen, the new sensation on the Stieg Larsson block, whose award-winning suspense stories inspired by global cinema and literature, including those from India, have helped millions of Scandinavians and Europeans ride the chill for more than a decade.
Kings of the Congo Authorities in some African countries have tried to ban Congolese music. The reason: it’s too sexy. Congolese rumba is locally called soukous, a word derived from the French word “secousse” or “shake”. It’s true that the hip thrusts and gyrations of the dancers aren’t always suitable for a young audience. But the illicit thrill of the music has worked in its favour, and it thrives in clubs across Africa, Europe and America. Now it has arrived in Delhi, sadly minus the booty-shaking fans.
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1318 IST, Thursday, June 23, 2011
India is often described as a tourist paradise. From the mighty snow-capped Himalayas of Kashmir in the north to the shimmering seas of Kanyakumari in the south, the verdant deltas of Sunderbans in the east, the world's largest protected eco-and-game reserve to the historic forts and shrines of Rajasthan to the west – India has everything that the footloose traveller would like to sample.
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