Category: Travel

** 10,000 km of routes mapped in Greater Kochi area

The app-based survey aims at rationalising public transport

A total of 250 of the 360 active bus routes in the Greater Kochi area have been mapped by Systra Consortium, a French transport planning agency that was deputed by the Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority (KMTA) to ready a report on rationalising bus routes in the Greater Kochi area.

This has helped map bus routes and bus stops in around 10,000 km of different bus routes that are located as far away as Munambam, N. Paravur and Angamaly on the city’s north, Perumbavoor, Kakkanad, Pookattupady, Ambalamugal, and Poothotta on the east, Aroor and Chellanam on the south, and the densely populated West Kochi region. Muvattupuzha too might be brought under the ambit, it is learnt.

** PM Modi to unveil ‘Statue of Equality’ today in Hyderabad

he 216-feet tall ‘Statue of Equality’ commemorates the 11th-century Bhakti saint Ramanujacharya.

“Sri Ramanujacharya worked tirelessly for the upliftment of people with the spirit of every human being equal regardless of nationality, gender, race, caste or creed,” the PMO said.

Made of five metals – gold, silver, copper, brass, and zinc – the Statue of Equality is among one of the world’s tallest metallic statues in sitting position, according to the PMO. The statue is mounted on a 54-feet high base building, called ‘Bhadra Vedi’. The floors of the building are dedicated to a Vedic digital library and research centre, ancient Indian texts, a theatre, an educational gallery detailing works of Sri Ramanujacharya.

The statue has been conceptualised by Chinna Jeeyar Swami of Sri Ramanujacharya Ashram, the PMO stated.

** Kerala’s famed Nehru Trophy boat race to be held in UAE

The race, named after former Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, will be held on March 27, 2022 in partnership with International Marine Sports Club Ras Al Khaimah and TheBrew Media FZC LLC, at the Al Marjan Island.

** From Bow Bazar to Jerusalem: an Indian tour guide In Israel

For three decades, Rolley Horowitz has introduced visiting Indians to Israel.

During that visit, she surprised him by revealing that her original name is actually Savitri Mehta.

Preaching gospel of Jesus

The journey of Ms. Savitri from Kolkata’s Alipore to Israel began way back in the early 1960s when, at the age of 12, Savitri, daughter of the Military Attache in Indian Embassy in Tokyo rebelled against her parents Brigadier C.S. Mehta and her mother Sunita Roy.Ms. Savitriarrived from her Japanese lessons and declaredthat she would embrace Christianity .

She began as a volunteer in a Christian organisation but after studying in depth about ancient Christianity, she chose to become Jewish in 1989. 

Months before Israel and India were to establish ties on January 29, 1992, Ms. Roley married Michael Arthur Horowitz, a barrister who was noted for fighting war crimes. Soon after the establishment of India-Israel ties, she and academic Shalva Weil and Indian conductor Zubin Mehta set up an organisation to foster India-Israel relations.

Kolkata / Goa /Israel

** Watch | First pod hotel at Mumbai Central

A video on the first Japanese-style capsule hotel in India

The recently inaugurated ‘pod hotel’ at Mumbai Central Railway Station is the first of its kind in India.

It was introduced by the Indian Railways as an inexpensive stay option for travellers.

The ‘pod’ or a ‘capsule hotel’, was first developed in Japan. It features a large number of small, bed-sized rooms known as capsules.

* Hoysala temples are India’s nomination for World Heritage tag

The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala — the famed Hoysala temples of Belur, Halebid and Somananthpura in the State — has been finalised as India’s nomination for consideration as World Heritage for 2022-23. These protected monuments are on UNESCO’s tentative list since April 15, 2014, a PIB release on Monday said.

As part of the first step, the dossier to the World Heritage Centre, which will take up technical scrutiny, was submitted by Vishal V. Sharma, Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO, to UNESCO Director of World Heritage Lazare Eloundou on Monday. “India is proud to nominate the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas for UNESCO’s World Heritage List! Art Historians recognise the exceptional sculptural artistry of the ensembles to be among the masterpieces of Asian art,” Mr. Sharma tweeted.

** 1,000 drones to lasers: Many firsts at Beating the Retreat ceremony

s the sun set over Raisina Hill on Saturday, the bands of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Central Armed Police Forces marched down Vijay Chowk playing 23 songs, before they retreated to the tune of Sare Jahan Se Accha in a quick march.

** A youngster from Kochi hitchhiked across Russia in 27 days

Mr. Presheed travelled from Tuapse along the western coast of Russia on the Black Sea to Vladivostok on the eastern coast near the Sea of Japan.

In his 24 years, Yadukrishnan Presheed from Palarivattom probably has had more adventures than an average man could possibly dream of during a lifetime.

For the youngster doing his journalism course in the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, also known as RUDN University, in Moscow, 2021 turned out to be one of the most memorable years in his already action-packed life.

** Reliance arm to acquire New York city luxury hotel

Mandarin Oriental New York is an iconic luxury hotel located at 80 Columbus Circle, directly adjacent to the pristine Central Park and Columbus Circle in New York city

The Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) on January 8 late night said the Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings Ltd (RIIHL), its wholly owned subsidiary, had entered into an agreement to acquire the entire share capital of the Columbus Centre Corporation (Cayman), and the indirect owner of a 73.37% stake in the Mandarin Oriental New York, a premium luxury hotel for $ 98.15 million.

Set up in 2003, the Mandarin Oriental New York is an iconic luxury hotel located at 80 Columbus Circle, directly adjacent to the pristine Central Park and Columbus Circle in New York city.

** Sri Lanka launches luxury train service in Jaffna with India’s assistance

India had provided AC Diesel Multiple Units under the loan facility

Sri Lanka has launched a luxury train service connecting the country’s Tamil-dominated Jaffna district to the capital city Colombo with the help of a Line of Credit offered by India, in another significant landmark in bilateral ties.

The intercity rail service with all facilities was launched on Sunday for passengers travelling from Colombo’s Mount Lavinia suburb to Jaffna’s Kankesanthurai port suburb in the north, covering a distance of approximately 386 kms.