The Prayagraj airport in India is experiencing a surge in air traffic due to the Maha Kumbh, a major religious festival. The airport is handling an average of 40 non-scheduled charters and private jets daily, with figures reaching 70 on weekends. This is in addition to the average 148 scheduled commercial passenger aircraft operating daily. The airport recently received a contingent of about 180 politicians from Rajasthan and has seen corporate bigwigs like the Ambani brothers, Gautam Adani, and Pawan Munjal pass through. The airport has also hosted four international flights since the beginning of the Maha Kumbh, including a flight carrying Laurene Powell Jobs, the wife of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. The airport is currently undergoing an upgrade and expansion, and officials are looking forward to the government's plans to integrate Prayagraj with the airports at Kashi and Ayodhya to promote tourism in the region.
The Group of Ministers (GoM) on goods and services tax (GST) rate rationalisation, which convened in Goa on Wednesday, reviewed the GST rates for over 100 items, including textiles, handloom goods, agricultural products, fertilisers, and educational materials. However, no consensus was reached on any of the items, with further discussions scheduled for next month in Delhi.
Its economy dependent on tourist arrivals, the hill state is looking at a summer of discontent. Not that the rest of the year promises to be any different. Ashwani Sharma reports from Shimla.
Raising toast to 25 successful years, India's largest wine maker Sula Vineyard is eyeing a sustained double-digit growth in revenue over the next five years, buoyed by growth in the premium and elite categories and expansion of its new ranges. It was during Covid that the vineyards shifted focus to its own brands and pivoted towards growing the premium and elite segment of the market.
Inflencer and vlogger Shenaz Treasury chooses her favourite quiet spots.
Union Tourism Minister Shripad Naik on Friday said that having Arvind Mayaram as the new secretary in the ministry would be of great help.
India's appetite for music tourism is only growing.
Despite a warning issued to him by the Congress, former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot sat on a daylong fast at the Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur on Tuesday, demanding action in cases of alleged corruption related to the previous Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state led by Vasundhara Raje.
Rathore, however, said he was a "true soldier" of the Congress party and it was in the public domain who had damaged the party.
The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation for the first time has included the historical ruins of the 16th century town- Bhangarh- in one of its tour packages.
Pilot said rules and discipline of the party apply to all, adding that he hoped Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge would take a decision in the matter soon.
While Delhi topped the list among states in terms of foreign tourist arrivals, Andhra Pradesh received the maximum number of domestic tourists during 2005.
Discover our country through great Indian rail trips!
Ashok Gehlot has proved that a strong state leader can challenge the Congress high command.
'And Joshimath has already shown the dangers ahead.' 'We have to acknowledge that our mountains are still young babies.' 'You don't put an extra load on the back of a growing child!'
The Madhya Pradesh government is planning to launch 'Malwa Odyssey', a luxury train, linking its tourist destinations with Bhopal. Better connectivity to tourist spots through train and air, by air taxis and helicopter services will be ensured.
"Whoever said all those words you mentioned, I did not respond in kind because it is not the way I am built and we now have to move on, let bygones be bygones, whatever was said, we need to forget and move forward. It is not about individuals or positions or someone's statements now. It is about the country and the party," Pilot said.
A move to extend visas on arrival facility to 150 countries and make world heritage sites more tourist friendly has been welcomed.
The India hockey ace opted for a camel back instead of a hockey stick to manoeuvre his way through a strong cattle line-up at the Pushkar fair.
The Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund (RVCF), which has a corpus of Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion), would focus on innovative projects in the small and medium enterprises (SME) segment, such as the IT/ITeS, bio-technology, retail, tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors.
The tourism industry expects a short-term impact, as it is counting on the state's proven expertise in managing such crises.
The Rajasthan Civil Aviation Corporation has decided to offer the services of two chartered aircraft -- a Beechcraft King aircraft, which can accommodate six passengers, and other an Augusta helicopter, which can offer five seats.
Are you ready for this year's Eid release.
When Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi's name was floated as Venkaiah Naidu's successor as vice president, the RSS instead suggested Jagdeep Dhankar, indicating that he was also Mohan Bhagwat's choice, states Prakash Bhandari.
Besides reviving investor sentiments, Vasundhara Raje's regime has brought reforms in the social sector.
BJP heavyweights Smriti Irani, Arjun Munda, Ajay Mishra Teni and Kailash Chaudhary were among the 13 Union ministers who tasted defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, as stunning losses in three Hindi heartland states forced the BJP to rely on allies to form the government.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi will take the final call on Wednesday on who will be the chief minister.
'This is what happens to a party when it gets trapped in the vicious circle of nepotism and dynastic politics'
In photos: A journey through Chittorgarh.
The Vasundhara Raje government nominated the controversial sculptor and 11 others as the members of the governing board of Jaipur's Jawahar Kala Kendra on November 16.
Apart from being the CM twice earlier, he has won a series of Lok Sabha and assembly elections from the state and headed the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee four times.
