India travel Archives - Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips Indian American Community Magazine Tue, 29 Sep 2020 17:10:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.5 This 10-year-old American Girl is Named Kerala after Her Parents’ First Visit to India in 2004 https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/inspiring-travel-story-of-kerala-india/ https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/inspiring-travel-story-of-kerala-india/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2020 15:49:01 +0000 https://blogbox.indianeagle.com/?p=16404 Traveling to India has been an overwhelming experience for many from the time immemorial. In the previous centuries, it was the natural bounty and abundant wealth of India that attracted colonial traders from Europe. Sometimes, the ancient heritage and scriptures of India fascinated knowledge enthusiasts from across the world. Sometimes, foreign visitors were wowed by […]

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Traveling to India has been an overwhelming experience for many from the time immemorial. In the previous centuries, it was the natural bounty and abundant wealth of India that attracted colonial traders from Europe. Sometimes, the ancient heritage and scriptures of India fascinated knowledge enthusiasts from across the world. Sometimes, foreign visitors were wowed by the cultural diversity and incredible stories of India.

Even modern-day globetrotters take fancy to the enigmatic being and the mystic soul of India. Whoever visits India carries the abstract footprint of India in their memory or concrete souvenirs in their bags while going back home. This is what happened to an American couple from Los Angeles during their first visit to India in 2004.

Charles Kramer and his wife Brenna Moore travelled to the Indian state of Kerala from Los Angeles in 2004. They fell in love with the scenic hill stations, quaint monuments, picturesque backwaters, exuberant culture, lush green landscape and progressive society of Kerala. The impact of Kerala tourism on them was so intense that they named their firstborn ‘Kerala’ after this particular state of India in 2009.

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Charles Kramer and Brenna Moore are great travel enthusiasts, and so are their children including their 8-year-old daughter Kerala. In June 2016, the American couple from Los Angeles set out for globetrotting, along with Kerala and her young brother, Julian. Though India was not on their travel bucket list, they happened to visit India again as their daughter was eager to see and explore Kerala that she was christened after.

They did so also on being advised by their guide, Michel, who has an Indian connection in Kerala too. Michel has adopted a boy from a village in Kerala. She got the American couple accommodation in the house of her adopted son’s sister in Cherppunkal, a small Keralite town blessed with the bliss of nature and the simplest way of living.

Kerala was enrolled in a local school where she learned Malayalam, the language of her namesake state, for a month or so. She was received with a hearty welcome on the first day of school and offered a chance to address the morning prayer assembly. Her brother, Julian, also got admission to a playschool there. Since she was curious to explore the nuances and experience the tidbits of Kerala’s culture in the native language, her excitement knew no bounds.

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The globetrotting American couple from California spent quite a long time in Cherppunkal, giving their daughter adequate space and time to learn the interesting facts of Kerala’s cuisine and culture. Kerala learned how to pronounce and write her name in Malayalam. It doubled her joy in God’s Own Country, where bull racing and boat racing are the most popular mediums of sporty entertainment.

Charles Kramer and Brenna Moore, along with their children, left India in January 2017 to tour other places on their travel wishlist. Kerala made some friends in her namesake state, and felt happy about the fact that she would be able to make her native friends as well as acquaintances pronounce her name ‘Kerala’ accurately.

Kerala is a must visit during the Onam Festival and monsoon. The first Indian state to beat the COVID-19 pandemic, Kerala recently received a UN award for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. This is what ensures safe travel to Kerala. We at Travel Beats, an overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle Travel, are happy to share the first-hand experience of safe travel on VBM and air bubble flights to India in recent times. (Watch the video of Kerala’s experience in her namesake state below)

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India to Get Longest Ropeway in Vizag for Thrilling Rides and Views over Bay of Bengal https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/longest-ropeway-vizag-andhra-pradesh/ https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/longest-ropeway-vizag-andhra-pradesh/#comments Mon, 11 Sep 2017 14:47:21 +0000 https://blogbox.indianeagle.com/?p=18397 Indian Tourism is scaling up with several new and upcoming attractions such as the longest ropeway over sea in Mumbai, Vistadome train coaches with glass ceiling in Visakhapatnam of Andhra Pradesh, and Dr. Kalam Memorial at Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. Vizag, as Visakhapatnam is popularly known among tourists, is all set to outsmart Goa on […]

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Indian Tourism is scaling up with several new and upcoming attractions such as the longest ropeway over sea in Mumbai, Vistadome train coaches with glass ceiling in Visakhapatnam of Andhra Pradesh, and Dr. Kalam Memorial at Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu.

Vizag, as Visakhapatnam is popularly known among tourists, is all set to outsmart Goa on the strength of its new-age tourist attractions. After having introduced Switzerland’s Glacier Express-like Vistadome train coaches with glass ceiling and air conditioning in Araku Valley, Vizag is likely to get India’s longest ropeway for spectacular rides between two tourist spots.

Vizag tourist spots, Vizag longest ropeway, Andhra Pradesh tourism news, India tourism news

Known for some of the best beaches in India, Vizag is not just a beautiful port city but a popular, family-friendly tourist place on the east coast of India. It is nicknamed the City of Destiny for its tryst with devastating natural calamities like tsunami and cyclone. Though it was torn apart and suffered major setbacks, it never succumbed to overwhelming power of nature and damaging blows of fate. Like Phoenix in the Arabian Desert, Vizag rose out of ruins only to attract tourists.

Interesting Facts about the Proposed Longest Ropeway in Vizag 

India’s longest ropeway in Vizag will pass from Kailasagiri to Dolphin’s Nose. It will offer thrilling rides with panoramic views over the famous Ramakrishna Beach. A one-way ride on the proposed ropeway will cover nearly 12 km. Another stretch of the longest ropeway in Vizag will cover nearly 2 km between Kailasagiri and Simhachalam.

To be precise, the ropeway will connect Kailasagiri, Simhachalam, Dolphin’s Nose and RK Beach among the most popular tourist spots in Vizag. The longest ropeway in Vizag will get glass-domed cable cars to enthrall tourists with glimpses of lush green landscape on one side and sweeping views of the sea on the other.

New Tourist Attractions in India 

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Famous Tourist Places in Vizag

One of the best places to visit in Visakhapatnam, Kailasagiri is a sprawling hilltop park. Spread over a forested area of 380 acres at a height of 360 feet, Kailasagiri dominates the landscape and overlooks the beaches in Vizag.

Among the beaches of Visakhapatnam, Ramakrishna Beach is a most scenic one. Sunrise is a mesmerizing view to behold at this beach, in addition to relaxed strolling and sunbathing. Rides on the proposed longest ropeway in Vizag will pass through Ramakrishna Beach.

Dolphin’s Nose is a vantage point among the places to visit in Vizag. Bearing resemblance to a dolphin’s nose, it is a 174-m high rocky cliff with a long-standing lighthouse. Adjacent of Dolphin’s Nose in Vizag is a residential area of armed forces, which is restricted to tourists. The other side of the hill is landscaped by a secluded beach, Yarada.

Among the best tourist places in Visakhapatnam, Simhachalam Hill is where the famous Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple is located 800 meters above the sea level. Dedicated to an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the temple has five gateways and three courtyards, making it resemble the exterior of a fortress.

How to Reach Vizag

Vizag is a short flight away from Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata.  Though Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport, Vizag is accessible to foreign tourists via Kolkata International Airport and Hyderabad RGI Airport. Vizag is one of the popular weekend getaways from Hyderabad City.

Also Check how to save big on travel to Visakhapatnam

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Mumbai to Get India’s Longest Ropeway over Sea for Thrill Rides to Elephanta Island Caves https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/longest-ropeway-to-elephant-island-from-mumbai-coast/ https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/longest-ropeway-to-elephant-island-from-mumbai-coast/#respond Wed, 26 Apr 2017 10:01:11 +0000 https://blogbox.indianeagle.com/?p=16650 India is gearing up for thrills of riding new heights for spectacular views at some popular tourist places. Traveling to India in 2017 is more joyous and adventurous than that in 2016. Visitors are going to have new tourist attractions awaiting them, including the latest Vistadome train coaches with glass ceiling in Araku Valley of […]

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India is gearing up for thrills of riding new heights for spectacular views at some popular tourist places. Traveling to India in 2017 is more joyous and adventurous than that in 2016. Visitors are going to have new tourist attractions awaiting them, including the latest Vistadome train coaches with glass ceiling in Araku Valley of Andhra Pradesh. What’s more awesome than this is the upcoming longest ropeway over sea in India.

India’s longest ropeway over sea will connect the coast of Mumbai with the Elephanta Island in the Arabian Sea. A ropeway ride will be shorter than the existing ferryboat ride between the Gateway of India and the Elephanta Island; both are popular tourist places among the things to see in Mumbai. A ride on India’s longest ropeway over sea will take 40 minutes to reach the Elephanta Island from Sewri in the eastern coast of Mumbai.

The proposed 8-km ropeway to the Elephanta Island in Raigad district will spellbind tourists with spectacular views of the sea from above. Also known as Pory Island or Gharapuri Island, it is home to historic rock temples in the Elephanta Caves, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in India. The island is currently accessible by ferryboat rides from the Gateway of India.

Proposed three years ago, India’s longest ropeway over sea in Mumbai will reportedly have a few stops en route. Technical details of this tourism project such as number and capacity of cable cars are underway. The ropeway will have a transit station midway too. It will be constructed by the Mumbai Port Trust.

India’s longest ropeway over sea to the Elephanta Caves is expected to increase the inflow of tourists during the Elephanta Dance Festival in March. An annual cultural extravaganza among the popular things to see in Mumbai, the Elephanta Dance Festival is held at the Lord Shiva temple in the Elephanta Island caves. Since the inception of the festival in 1989, the cave shrine of Lord Shiva on the Elephanta Island has been a seat of art and culture, celebrating folk dance forms from different parts of India.

A ride on India’s longest ropeway over sea to the Elephanta Island will interestingly culminate in a toy train ride from the main dock to the base of the rock caves on the island, which is better and more convenient than a steep climb to the main complex of caves.

Travel Beats is a digital magazine for Indian Diaspora by Indian Eagle, a leading international travel organization booking the best flights to Mumbai for the lowest airfares. Travel Beats publishes the latest travel, tourism, visa, immigration and Indian community news.

Also Check India’s First Underwater Metro Train

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New Policy of Indian e-Visa is More Liberal and Flexible for Citizens of 161 Countries https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/details-of-indian-evisa-scheme-for-foreign-visitors/ https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/details-of-indian-evisa-scheme-for-foreign-visitors/#respond Tue, 04 Apr 2017 13:12:33 +0000 https://blogbox.indianeagle.com/?p=16392 Good news for foreign tourists to India! Indian e-visa for foreign tourists is more flexible and liberal than before. The enhanced flexibility of Indian e-visa is intended to fetch more foreign tourist arrivals to India. The government announced to liberalize e-visa to India for foreign visitors by increasing the validity period from 30 days to […]

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Good news for foreign tourists to India! Indian e-visa for foreign tourists is more flexible and liberal than before. The enhanced flexibility of Indian e-visa is intended to fetch more foreign tourist arrivals to India. The government announced to liberalize e-visa to India for foreign visitors by increasing the validity period from 30 days to 4 months. It will come into effect soon in April 2017.

The new policy of Indian e-visa for foreign nationals will allow foreign visitors to stay in India up to 2 months from one month. Foreigners are eligible for the increased duration of stay in certain categories of e-visa to India. Effective from April 1, the three new sub-categories of Indian e-visa are e-tourist visa, e-business visa, and e-medical visa.

Moreover, the citizens of the countries including USA, UK, UAE and Australia, which are eligible for Indian e-visa, can seek to visit India under two new categories: Intern (I) and Film (F). The Intern e-visa to India will be granted to those looking to pursue internship programs in non-government organizations. Those looking to shoot films in India can apply for the Film e-visa to India.

India’s Intern e-visa came into effect on March 1. 2017. Its approval requires applicants to comply with certain terms and conditions. The Film e-visa to India comes with maximum one-year validity and permits multiple entries during this period.

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The new policy of Indian e-visa for foreign visitors makes approval of business and medical e-visas mandatory within 48 hours of application in emergency cases. Applicants from 161 foreign countries will receive an email authorizing them to visit India upon approval of their applications for medical or business e-visa to India. They must carry a printout of the authorization email and present it to immigrant authorities upon arrival in India.

Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports have got dedicated immigration counters and help desks to assist foreigners on medical e-visa to India. India will soon introduce multiple-entry e-visa for tourism and business with a five-year validity period. It will be available to the citizens of most of 161 countries.

The Indian e-visa facility has been extended to 24 airports from 16 airports for entry to India. Recently Pune Airport (PNQ) has been put on the India e-visa list. The facility is also available at three Indian ports including Goa, Mangalore and Cochin in order to promote cruise tourism, according to the new policy of Indian e-visa. Chennai and Mumbai seaports will also start providing the Indian e-visa service shortly.

Also Check New Indian Visa Fees for US Citizens

The new policy of Indian e-visa is a more liberal and flexible approach towards increasing the number of foreign tourist arrivals to India. About 8.89 million foreigners visited India in 2016, while India received 8.27 million foreign tourists in 2015.

Indian Eagle, one of the best Indian travel websites, issues cheap flight tickets for India from United States, and publishes the latest news about Indian visa and tourism on its digital magazine, Travel Beats.

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These Elderly Women on Road Trips across India Defy Age and Break Stereotypes for Traveling https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/elderly-women-on-road-trips-across-india/ https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/elderly-women-on-road-trips-across-india/#comments Tue, 28 Mar 2017 15:31:41 +0000 https://blogbox.indianeagle.com/?p=16302 Be it urban or rural India, women are making headlines for breaking stereotypes by crossing the frontiers to do what has been monopolized by their male counterparts till date. It’s not that Indian women never came to the fore for making ambitious choices, taking daring decisions, exploring forbidden places, touching new heights….in the bygone decades. […]

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Be it urban or rural India, women are making headlines for breaking stereotypes by crossing the frontiers to do what has been monopolized by their male counterparts till date. It’s not that Indian women never came to the fore for making ambitious choices, taking daring decisions, exploring forbidden places, touching new heights….in the bygone decades. However, fewer women were able to defy age-old customs, break loose from conventionality, rewrite societal norms and challenge the patriarchy system due to limited options or opportunities available then. With every tomorrow passing into a yesterday in the 21st century, more and more Indian women are coming out of the cocoon. They no longer bottle their desires or bury their dreams.

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Image credit: Facebook.com/agenobar2017/

The above statement is true about the three Indian women who, in their early 60s, are on a miles-long road trip across Rajasthan and Gujarat. Neeru Gandhi, Pratibha Sabharwal, and Monica Chanana are homemakers and grandmothers from Delhi. Smitten by the travel bug, they hit the highway for an all-women road trip in their 60s. Evidently, road trips in India are longer male bikers or male travelers’ monopoly.

Most of Indians are fond of pilgrimage in their 60s. As soon as they cross 55, they hit the pilgrimage trails from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. But, these three women of Delhi are chasing their travel dreams, defying the bounds of age and the age-related social norms. Currently they are on an adrenalin-driving road trip zipping across Gujarat and Rajasthan for a whopping distance of 4000kms. Interestingly, it’s not their first highway adventure.

In 2016, they took their first road trip covering a distance of 4400kms from Delhi to Rameshwaram through five Indian states: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Age is no bar to them!

It was their life-changing trip to reinvent themselves by exploring the unknown. The road trip from Delhi to Kanyakumari with 23 stopovers took them 29 days. Several obstacles came their way, but their passion for travel and adventure subdued the obstacles. In addition, they were prepared to face difficulties on the way, especially during an all-women road trip. They fixed the breaks and repaired the punctured tires by themselves.

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These Indian women’s road trips are full of lessons on how to prepare for a solo trip or an all-women trip. They are digitally smart backpackers too. They pack in modern gadgets including dongles, cameras, hard disks, pen drives, tripods, power banks and selfies sticks. They carry a map of the route of their road trips and take all necessary notes from the Internet regarding where to stop over, where to eat and where to stay during the journey.

These elderly road trippers of India blog about their on-the-way experiences and events at womenonthehighway.wordpress.com in order to inspire other women to travel. The itinerary of their ongoing road trip to Rajasthan and Gujarat from Delhi includes Sikar, Bikaner, Johdpur, Jaisalmer, Palanpur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Neemrana, Jaipur, Udaipur, Rani Ki Vav, Modhera Sun Temple, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Dwarka, Somnath and Porbandar.

Indian Eagle is a USA based leading international travel organization inspiring tourists to travel India and booking their trips at the best prices. Indian Eagle celebrates the cultural richness, historic glory, natural beauty, and spiritual greatness of India through interesting stories on its digital magazine, Travel Beats.    

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Flights from Delhi to Remote Areas and Smaller Cities to Get Cheaper in India https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/cheap-flights-from-delhi-to-remote-areas-with-small-airports/ https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/cheap-flights-from-delhi-to-remote-areas-with-small-airports/#respond Thu, 09 Mar 2017 10:17:26 +0000 https://blogbox.indianeagle.com/?p=16117 India’s domestic air travel market witnessed the highest growth in 2016. Demand for air travel in the domestic skies of India rose by 23.3%, which is twice the domestic air travel growth in China, according to the latest aviation statistics. Recently, the global airlines’ grouping said that India is a stand-out performer in domestic air […]

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India’s domestic air travel market witnessed the highest growth in 2016. Demand for air travel in the domestic skies of India rose by 23.3%, which is twice the domestic air travel growth in China, according to the latest aviation statistics. Recently, the global airlines’ grouping said that India is a stand-out performer in domestic air travel. That’s why Qatar Airways plans to launch a fully-owned carrier in the domestic market of India. Evidently, India stands on the verge of an explosion in regional air connectivity and domestic air travel growth.

Flights from New Delhi to remote areas of the country to be cheaper, is the latest talk of India’s aviation sector. VAT on Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) will be decreased from the current 25% to only 1% in order to further the regional connectivity scheme as per the latest media release from Delhi government. Introduced in the Delhi budget 2017-18, the reduced VAT on ATF will apply to only direct flights from Delhi and far-flung areas, including the northeastern regions.

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India’s regional connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik / May the common people of India fly) was introduced in 2016, but it is yet to be effective to deliver on the promises made to the common lot of the country. The scheme is purposed to connect smaller cities and remote areas with the major airports of India. The busiest airport with whopping passenger traffic of 48.4 million in 2016, Delhi IGI Airport is the axis of the regional air connectivity scheme.

The Indian states which have confirmed their participation in the regional air connectivity scheme are expected to cut taxes on regional flights, so that people from the middle and lower-middle income groups in remote areas and smaller towns can afford air travel, according to an official from the Civil Aviation Ministry of India. The regional connectivity scheme is supported with a cross-subsidy fund to cap airfares at INR 2,500 per hour for flights to remote areas.

Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has welcomed this move and offered to support it announcing a considerable cut on the prices of flights from Delhi to remote areas. India’s domestic airlines have hailed the announcement. Private airlines operating in the domestic skies of India have been issued a directive to contribute to the fund of the regional connectivity scheme.

With the proposed reduction of VAT on Air Turbine Fuel to make flights cheaper between Delhi and remote areas, the northeastern states of India are to benefit from the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN.

Delhi has good air connectivity with major cities in the US. There are nonstop flights to Delhi from Chicago, Newark, New York and San Francisco. Indian Eagle, a leading international travel organization, books cheap flights to Delhi IGI Airport from USA for economy class, business class and last-minute travel.      

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India’s First Bullet Train to be the World’s Cheapest High-speed Train https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/ahmedabad-mumbai-first-bullet-train-in-india/ https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/ahmedabad-mumbai-first-bullet-train-in-india/#respond Fri, 11 Dec 2015 08:35:23 +0000 https://blogbox.indianeagle.com/?p=12275 The government of India took another step towards the ambitious project “Make In India” by inking a 98K crore INR deal with Japan for the first bullet train. The first bullet train in India will be plying between Ahmedabad and Mumbai as per the project which got the official nod on Wednesday. It will be […]

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The government of India took another step towards the ambitious project “Make In India” by inking a 98K crore INR deal with Japan for the first bullet train. The first bullet train in India will be plying between Ahmedabad and Mumbai as per the project which got the official nod on Wednesday. It will be publicly announced when Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be present in India this week.

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India’s first bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad on the west coast is supposed to be the world’s cheapest high-speed train service. Initially, the fare model of the Japanese bullet train with AC coaches was the roadblock for this project in India. The feasibility of the project in terms of fares to be afforded by Indians has been worked out.

According to the current fare model, a one-way trip on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train will cost 2800 INR, a little more than 1895 INR, the fare of traveling in the first class AC coach on the same route. Currently, the Ahmedabad-Mumbai trains in service take approximately 8 hours to cover 534 kilometers on one way. But, the first bullet in India will reportedly take less than 2 hours for the same distance.

India’s bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will be the cheapest of all the fastest trains in the world, including Japan’s Maglev Bullet Train, China’s Shanghai Maglev, China’s Harmony CRH380A, France’s TGV Reseau, Spain’s Siemens Velaro E/AVS 103 and Talgo 350. A 713-km ride on Japan’s Tohoku Shinkansen charges 8K INR and a ride in the second class of China’s Jinghu High Speed Railway costs INR 5000 on the Beijing-Shanghai route.     

The first bullet train in India will run at a speed of 320 km per hour. At present, the Delhi-Agra Gatimaan Express running at a speed of 160 km per hour is the fastest train in India. The bullet train will hit the track between Ahmedabad and Mumbai by 2023, and the project will be commissioned in 2017. The bullet train corridor will have around 10 stations. As per the initial estimates, more or less 40,000 people will ride the bullet train every day on completion in 2023.

Questions have been raised about usefulness of the first bullet train in India in the context of decreasing fares for domestic flights between Ahmedabad and Mumbai. Some opine that the estimated fare INR 2800 for one-way ride on the bullet train may be equal to the future cost of one-way flight ticket for the same route.

Travel Beats is a news, cultural and entertainment portal by IndianEagle for the Indian diaspora. It publishes the latest news and stories about India, USA, Canada and NRIs.

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Infographic: Varanasi Travel Guide with Tips on Things to See and Do https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/varanasi-travel-guide-infographic/ https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/varanasi-travel-guide-infographic/#respond Mon, 09 Nov 2015 12:01:37 +0000 https://blogbox.indianeagle.com/?p=12077 Varanasi or Banaras is one of the oldest and holiest cities in the world. One of the most popular pilgrimage sites in India, Varanasi has intrigued foreigners for ages. Often called the Spiritual City of India, Varanasi finds mentions in the scriptures, epics and literature of India. Rabindranath Tagore’s novels – Chokher Bali and Naukadubi […]

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Varanasi or Banaras is one of the oldest and holiest cities in the world. One of the most popular pilgrimage sites in India, Varanasi has intrigued foreigners for ages. Often called the Spiritual City of India, Varanasi finds mentions in the scriptures, epics and literature of India. Rabindranath Tagore’s novels – Chokher Bali and Naukadubi – refer to Varanasi as Kashi. Believed to be founded by Lord Shiva, one of the most revered Hindu deities, Varanasi is where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon, “The Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dharma,” at nearby Sarnath. It is the birthplace of Kabir and Ravidas, the legendary figures of the Bhakti Movement. Guru Nanak founded Sikhism after his return from a trip to Varanasi in 1507.

The city was the center of cultural revival during the regime of Mughal Emperor Akbar. The Hindustani Classical Music owes its ‘Banaras Gharana’ form to this holy city. Varanasi houses India’s largest residential Banaras Hindu University, which evolved from the Center Hindu College, founded by Annie Besant from Bengal. Varanasi has age-old heritage of art and craft including silk cloth weaving, carpet weaving, silver work, ivory work, glass bangle making, etc. Aparajito, one of the films in Satyajit Ray’s Apu Trilogy, was shot on the ghats and in the lanes of Varanasi.

Winter, the best season to visit Varanasi, has arrived in India. Indian Eagle is up with an illustrative infographic on Varanasi Travel Guide sharing some tips on things to see and things to do in Varanasi India.

Varanasi travel guide, india travel infographics, Indian Eagle travel

Varanasi is a must visit in lifetime. It is a city of many unheard stories and unknown tales. Mark Twain says, “Varanasi is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.”

READ MORE Tips to Make Varanasi Travel Memorable

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e-Tourist Visa for India to Become Cheaper https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/tourist-visa-on-arrival-india-details/ https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/tourist-visa-on-arrival-india-details/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2015 13:14:46 +0000 http://blogbox.indianeagle.com/?p=10564 Good news for the nationals of 113 countries, who are eligible for e-tourist visa to India! Indian government has decided to cut fees for e-tourist visa to India for those countries. This initiative to increase foreign tourist arrivals to India will be taken under the Electronic Tourist Visa scheme, a digitized version of visa on […]

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Good news for the nationals of 113 countries, who are eligible for e-tourist visa to India! Indian government has decided to cut fees for e-tourist visa to India for those countries. This initiative to increase foreign tourist arrivals to India will be taken under the Electronic Tourist Visa scheme, a digitized version of visa on arrival India.

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Currently, $60 is the fee for e-tourist visa for India, which is higher than the fee for visa of other countries. Indians pay a lower fee ranging from $20 to $40 for similar e-tourist visa to other countries. The tourism ministries of those countries have requested the government of India to reduce the visa fee for their nationals.

In response to the request from other countries, the External Affairs Ministry of India has mandated the Home Ministry to check the possibility of reducing the e-tourist visa fees for foreign nationals. Though the Home Ministry has not yet made an official announcement, the e-visa fee structure is reported to be rationalized soon.

It is reported that the fee for tourist visa to India will be categorized into four slabs between $0 and $40 on a reciprocal basis. As per the e-tourist visa policy of India, the nationals of any of 113 countries receive an email authorizing them to travel to India once their visa application for India is approved.

They can travel to India with a printout of the authorization and need to present the same to the immigration officials on arrival at major Indian airports. E-tourist visa for India is currently available to the citizens of 113 countries including the USA, the UK, the UAE, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Thailand, Sweden, Singapore, China, Oman, Russia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan, Vietnam, Ireland, Malaysia and others.

The ‘visa on arrival India’ scheme will be available to 180 countries by March 31, 2016. Foreign tourists with the approved visa application for India will get entry to the country from 16 international airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Goa, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Gaya and Tiruchirapalli.

Eligibility for Tourist Visa on Arrival India

  • You must be a citizen of any of the countries which India offers the ‘visa on arrival’ facility to.
  • You should travel to India only for recreation, sightseeing, short-term medical treatment, short-term business trip, or casual visit to relatives or friends in India.
  • Your passport must be valid at least for 6 months from the date of arrival in India. It should have two blank pages for stamping by the immigration officer.
  • You should have a return ticket and adequate money to bear your expenses in India.
  • If you are a diplomat or official passport holder or international travel document holder, you are not eligible for India’s visa on arrival facility.

Things to Know about Tourist Visa on Arrival India   

E-tourist visa to India is valid for 30 days. Neither the validity can be extended nor can the visa be converted into any other type of visa during your stay in India. Your application for visa extension may be considered under certain exceptional circumstances.

You may apply online for e-tourist visa to India 4 days before your date of arrival in India. The fee for visa on arrival once deposited cannot be refunded. You should deposit the fee within 4 days prior to your date of travel.

You should carry a printout of the Electronic Travel Authorization while traveling to India. Your biometric details will be captured by immigration officers on arrival at the designated airports of India. As of now, e-tourist visa to India is allowed for only two visits in a calendar year.

About Indian Eagle Travel

Indian Eagle is a leading international travel organization based in Texas, the USA. We at Indian Eagle book cheap flight tickets to India from the USA and Canada. Get the best itineraries and the lowest airfare on IndianEagle.com.

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New Security Measures for Women Travelers’ Safety in India https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/solo-female-travel-in-india-is-safe/ https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/solo-female-travel-in-india-is-safe/#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2015 14:29:48 +0000 http://blogbox.indianeagle.com/?p=10312 Is India safe for solo female travel? Are women safe while traveling alone in India? Is it safe to travel to India in 2015? The Union Ministry of Tourism has faced such critical, unwelcome questions about women travellers’ safety in India in recent times. The number of solo female travelers among foreign tourist arrivals to […]

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Is India safe for solo female travel? Are women safe while traveling alone in India? Is it safe to travel to India in 2015? The Union Ministry of Tourism has faced such critical, unwelcome questions about women travellers’ safety in India in recent times. The number of solo female travelers among foreign tourist arrivals to India is not insignificant. It made the Indian Government outline a series of measures for safety of foreign tourists, particularly women traveling alone in the country.

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The Ministry of India Tourism has announced a five-action plan to make India a better and safer country for foreign tourists by ensuring their safety. The Union Minister of Tourism has set up two Incredible India Helplines: one is 1800111363 for domestic tourists and the other is 1363 for international tourists. These helplines for tourists in India will soon be launched in 12 different international languages. Currently, the helplines are available in English and Hindi.

The Indian Tourism Ministry has developed a new ‘Code of Conduct’ for those who are directly or indirectly associated with the travel & tourism niche across the country. The ‘Code of Conduct’ is a set of guidelines regarding how to ensure safe tourism for women travellers with respect to their convenience, needs and basic rights like dignity and freedom. The ‘Code of Conduct’ is primarily meant to save tourists and travelers from any sort of exploitation, irrespective of gender and place.

The Government of India has roped in chief ministers of all Indian states to implement the ‘Code of Conduct’ with immediate effect across the country so that all tourists can have a friendly environment in every nook and corner. The new set of guidelines for safety of female tourists traveling alone has been circulated to all state governments.

The Home Ministry of India has taken the boldest step by announcing the launch of an online registry for listing names and details of offenders in any crime against women in any part of the country. The United States has the same policy in place for sex offenders. It helps to keep offences and crimes against women in check.

Women-only cab service, which has already started in Goa and Kerala, is gaining momentum in the rest of India. Women-only cabs are equipped with GPS and panic alert systems. Female cab drivers of Kerala and Goa have got training in self-defense techniques, first aid and customer relations. The Ministry of India Tourism is looking to rope in automobile manufacturers and cab aggregators to introduce women-only cab service on a large scale across the country.

These security measures for women travelers in India, once put into action, will surely make solo female travel in India safe. Evidently, it is safe to travel to India in 2015. – Indian Eagle

About Indian Eagle Travel

Indian Eagle books cheap airline tickets to India for tourists from the USA and Canada. Get the best flight at Indian Eagle along with tips for safe travel in India.

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