Category: Travel

** Omani adventurer to release book on India at Muscat International Book Fair

Having visited over 70 countries and authored ten books on his travels, Omani mountaineer and adventurer Khalid Said al Anqudi has yet another literary work detailing picturesque India and its colourful traditions.

Titled Al Mahraja (The King), the book covers majestic mountains, customs and traditions and details of Anqudi’s adventures in India.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Anqudi said, “I wrote the book in 2021. It will be launched at the 26th Muscat International Book Fair starting on February 24.”

Meet Anna Menon, crew member of SpaceX mission and wife of Kerala-origin astronaut candidate

One of the crew members of SpaceX is Anna Menon, wife of Malayali medical expert Dr Anil Menon.

Dr Anil Menon who is based in Minnesota in the US, is an expert who is set to be part of future US space missions organised by NASA.

Kerala / USA

** India’s first water taxi connecting Mumbai east coast with mainland sets sail

The long-awaited water taxi services linking Mumbai’s east coast with the mainland in Navi Mumbai and other locations — the first of its kind in India — was inaugurated on Thursday by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in the presence of Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

While Thackeray inaugurated the new Belapur Jetty, Sonowal formally flagged off the water taxi services with Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde, Ports Minister Aslam Shaikh, MoS Ports Abdul Sattar, Mumbai Port Trust Chairman Rajiv Jalota, Maharashtra Maritime Board CEO Amit Saini, Thane Collector Rajesh Narvekar, local elected representatives and other dignitaries.

Maharashtra

** Nagarjuna adopts 1,080 acres of forest land near Hyderabad

Popular Tollywood actor Akkineni Nagarjuna and his family on Thursday adopted 1,080 acres of forest land on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Nagarjuna along with his family members and Rajya Sabha member J. Santosh Kumar laid foundation stone for Akkineni Nageswara Rao Urban Forest Park.

The Park will come up in Chengicherla forest area on the outskirts of Hyderabad in memory of Nagarjuna’s father and well-known actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao. Nagarjuna’s gesture came on the birthday of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

Telangana

** Birding fair concept proving successful for avian conservation

Fairs lead to Jaipur lake’s restoration as a clean waterbody

Having started in 1997, the concept of annual birding fair adopted in Rajasthan for conservation of birds is proving successful with the 25th fair going to be organised this month-end on the banks of the historic Man Sagar lake in Jaipur. Wildlife enthusiasts and environmental activists in the State have joined hands for giving a lifetime experience to avid bird watchers.

Rajasthan

** Asia’s biggest tribal fair kicks-off in Telangana

An estimated four lakh devotees have already visited Medaram during the last few days ahead of the Jatara.

Also known as Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara, the fair got underway with the customary arrival of Sarakka’s image from Kannepally village which was placed on a platform in Medaram. The image idol covered in red cloth was brought in a vessel laden with vermilion and turmeric powder.

** Kerala’s first caravan park to come up at Wagamon

Plan to implement project before the onset of monsoon

With the first caravan park in the State coming up at Wagamon in the district, the tourism sector in Idukki is expected to get a boost. 

The authorities plan to launch caravan tourism under the Keravan Kerala project before the start of the monsoon and it will be implemented by the Tourism department with private partnership. The beautiful locations in the State, including hills, forests, backwaters and rivers can be experienced while travelling in the caravan.

** Telangana Governor flags off first all-women offshore sailing expedition

Expedition route is from Chennai to Vizag and back

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan flagged off the first-ever all-women Army officers’ offshore sailing expedition under the aegis of the Army Adventure Wing Southern Command Sailing Node and the EME Sailing Association in Chennai on Tuesday.

Major Mukta S. Gautam from the Corps of EME is leading the momentous expedition with the elite team comprising Majors Priya Semwal, Priya Das, Rashmil Sangwan, Arpita Dwivedi and Sanjana Mittal and Captains Jyoti Singh, Malvika Rawat, Shubham Solanki and Sonal Goyal.