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FDI:
Inflow's impressive growth
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07. TRAVEL |
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Hampi
Festival held |
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This year the Hampi
Festival (3-5 November) at the World Heritage site was held with great
pomp as it coincided with the 50th anniversary of Karnataka State.
Besides daily sound and light shows at the Vithala Temple, mud wresting
and other folk activities were the attraction. About 3000 artists
participated. Artists from Tanzania, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka
and Fiji showcased their talent. |
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Hampi, the erstwhile Vijayanagara or City of Victory,
is situated on the southern bank of river Tungabhadra
in Hospet taluka of Bellary district, Karnataka.
The site was the capital of the Vijayanagara empire
from the mid-14th century to 1565. As the seat of a
polity that extended over much of southern India, Vijayanagara
was built by its rulers as a showpiece of imperial magnificence,
famous for its might and wealth.
Foreign travellers have left glowing accounts of the
splendours of Vijayanagara city. Italians, Nicolo conti
in the early 15th century and Ludovico Varthema in the
beginning of the 16th, as well as abdur Razzak, a Persian
envoy who visited the city in the mid-15th century,
all wrote of its wonders. Portuguese visitors of the
16th century Durate Barbosa,
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Domingo
Paes and Fernao Nuniz have also left detailed accounts
of their experiences.
The City of Bidjanagar (Vijayanagara) is such that the
pupil of the eye has never seen a place like it, and the
ear of intelligence has never been informed that there
existed anything to equal it in the world.
The physical surroundings of the city are magnificent.
The Tungabhadra flows through a rocky terrain of pinkish-grey
granite boulders, piled in fantastic formations. To the
south of the river are two ridges, separated by a valley,
and low hills, the Hemakuta and the Matanga.
Immediately south of these hills the landscape changes
to open valleys with isolated rocky outcrops, including
the Malyavanta. Gradually |
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the hills disappear and the land becomes increasingly flat and
open. The larger valleys are irrigated. For the convenience
of the visitor to this vast site, the entire area has been divided
into four functional zones
·
Sacred Centre,
· Intermediate Irrigated
Valley
· Urban Core, including
the Royal Enclosure
· Suburban Centres
The Sacred Centre is to the south of the river. The largest
temple complexes, numerous smaller temples and shrines, sculptures
and inscriptions are all located here.
To the south of this is the Irrigated Valley, an agricultural
zone. The Urban Core occupies a series of hills, ridges and
valleys to the south of the Irrigated Valley. The greatest concentration
of population was once located here. A complete circuit of fortification
walls, broken only by well-defended gateways surrounds the Urban
Core.
To the southwest end is the Royal Enclosure, which had its own
surrounding wall, only parts of which survive. Beyond the Urban
core, further south and west, as far as modern Hospet, were
laid out the great residential suburbs, which include the modern
villages of Kamalapuram, Kadirampuram, Anantasyanagudi, Malpannagudi,
Nagenahali and parts of Hospet town. A few isolated religious
structures and other stray monuments in these are all that survive
of the once populous suburban Centres. |
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ECO
TOURISM IN RAJASTHAN Rajasthan tourism plans
to develop eight eco tourism sights to give visitors
a glimpse of the flora and fauna of the state The
Jhalana and Nahargarh biological parks will be developed
in Jaipur as will sites in Mount Abu, Jaiselmer
and Udaipur. The "shikargahar" (hunting lodges)
of former royal will be used for tourists as also
tented accommodation.
"ANNUAL PHOOL WAALON
KI SAIR"
The famous Phool Waalon ki Sair was held
on November 2. This festival has a presentation
of floral fans (pankhas) offered at the Mausoleum
of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Baktiar Kaki and the Hindu
Goddess Yogmaya. It is being celebrated since Mughal
times and stresses communal harmony and has many
cultural programs taking place every year.
PUSHKAR FAIR A HELD
The week long celebrations and camel trading at
Pushkar began 21 October. The Fair is held every
year in the lunar month of Kartik and culminates
with a dip in Pushkar lake on the day of the full
moon. (5 November this year) Over 500,000 visitors
attended with about 15,000 foreign tourists. Buying
and selling of camels and camel races and cultural
evenings were the highlights of the Pushkar Fair. |
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PURI
BEACH FESTIVAL HELD
The Puri Beach Festival in Orissa was held 23-27
November. The handloom and handicraft section attracted
many buyers Traditional artists from Orissa demonstrated
their craft. Cultural programmes and local cuisines
were a great draw for visitors.
INTERNATIONAL HOT AIR
BALLOON FAIR
Teams from Spain, India, Switzerland, Holland and
America really took off for a race on 29 October
from New Delhi. The inauguration on the 28th October
was when people were taken for joy rides. The grand
finale is planned for 11 November with races and
a special show where each balloon will try to hit
a target on the ground.
SECOND PALACE ON WHEELS
The second Palace on wheels to be launched in Rajasthan
early next year will have a dance floor, a massage
center, a conference room and bars. It will be the
third tourist train to be operated by Rajasthan
Tourism after Palace on Wheels and Heritage on Wheels
(on the Shekhwati sector). The second Palace on
wheels will also have special suites.
TAMIL NADU "AUDIO GUIDES"
Tamil Nadu Tourism will soon have audio guides available
for foreign nationals visiting Mahabalipuram, |
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Tanjore
(the Brihadisvara Temple) and Iravadisuara among
others. The service slated for launch end of October
early November will be available at the 4 UNESCO
World Heritage sites in the state.
CONNAUGHT PLACE TO GO 'WIFI'
A six month public-private pilot project is to be
launched from 1 January 2007. Around 10 internet
kiosks are being set up and government buildings,
offices, restaurants and cafes will get wi-fi (wireless
fidelity) that will make Internet access free for
laptop and mobile users.
'FAIRY QUEEN'S' DELHI-ALWAR RUN
Built in 1855, the Fairy Queen is the oldest steam
engine in working condition. Every year it takes
visitors on a Delhi-Alwar-Delhi trip. This year
the schedule has been announced. It will ply twice
a month beginning 11 November) in November, December
2006 January and February 2007.
JAIPUR TO SELL HERITAGE
DRINKS Shops all over Rajasthan will sell
heritage liquor, made from age old recipes of Rajasthan
Royals. It is made from dry fruits, nuts, herbs
and spices with a touch of saffron sometimes. To
begin with, shops in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Bikaner,
Ajmer, Udaipur and Bharatpur will sell the special
liquor. |
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