Tourist E-Visa for Chinese Nationals

E-Tourist Visa facility has been launched for Chinese nationals. From July 30, Chinese Nationals will be able to arrive at nine Indian airports after applying for tourist visas online. With this endeavor, relationship between India and China is expected to get healthier.

As per Indian officials, the e-Tourist visa application would get processed within four days and will cost US$ 60. Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi announced the same on Chinese Twitter- Sina Weibo, and wrote to his 1.76 lakh followers. His message (posted in Chinese) said, "I am delighted to share that the e-Tourist Visa is now available to passport holders of China. I had talked about this during my China visit, and the Government of India has fulfilled this promise."

After taking note of the Chinese outbound tourism, it has been analyzed that though 100 million Chinese travel overseas every year but visits to India have remained very low. The e-tourist visa facility aims to increase Chinese tourist inflow that has remained low through the years. The main reason behind the low figures was the difficulty which occurred during visa application that required the person to personally go to visa centers in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou and deposit 10,000 RMB (Rs. 1 lakh) as a financial guarantee.

During visit to China in the month of May, Narendra Modi announced that Indian government has decided to grant e-Tourist visa facility that is already available for more than 70 countries. His decision came as a complete surprise to all as the security agencies of the country because of security reasons and China too, did not reciprocate the move.

"This will deepen connectivity between our nations". "Come, experience the beauty of Incredible India!" Modi said on Weibo. He also added that this move will definitely add to the connectivity between the neighbors.

According to a statement given by the Indian Embassy, e-visa facility would allow Chinese, including nationals from Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions of China, to travel to India easily for sightseeing, casual visits, recreation, short-duration medical treatment and casual business visits.

10 Places To Visit In Pondicherry

The capital of the Union Territory of Puducherry, Pondicherry is a former French colony and is now among the chief tourist destinations of South India. This coastal town was a French colony till 1954 and still retains many colonial buildings, churches, statues and the systematic town planning by the French and is often called the Europe of India because of its town planning. Although a small town, the town contains an interesting mix of Indian and French colonial heritage and a number of tourist destinations. Here is a list of top 10 places to visit in Pondicherry:

1. Sri Aurobindo Ashram

A spiritual community established at Pondicherry by Sri Aurobindo Ghosh on November 24th 1926. The ashram has since become one of the prime destinations for tourists and spiritual seekers. The chief aims and ideals of the ashrams are based on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and Mira Alfassa. The ashram contains several offices, a library, a printing press, playground, art gallery, a dispensary/nursing home, dairy, farms, guest houses, bakery etc. the main building in the establishment are the marble Samadhi which is the resting place of Sri Aurobindo and Mira Alfassa. The visiting hours are from 8 am to 12 noon and from 2 pm to 6 pm.

2. Auroville

With its name meaning ‘The City of Dawn’ is a township located 8 kilometers fromPondicherry. It was founded in 1968 by Sri Aurobindo and Mira Alfassa and was designed by the French architect Roger Anger. The idea was to create a universal town where people from all over the world would live in harmony and peace irrespective of caste, color, nationalities etc. During the inauguration soil from around 124 was placed in a lotus shaped urn to symbolize the idea behind the establishment of the township. The middle of the town is crowned by a temple which symbolizes the universal mother and is called ‘Matrimandir’. Today a population of 2,007 people houses the colony from over 44 different countries.

3. Immaculate Conception Cathedral

Consecrated in 1791, the 300 year old church is the cathedral for the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. The Immaculate Conception Cathedral as we see today was built on the place where three other churches were built before the French occupation of Pondicherry. The construction started in 1791 and further improvements were made to the building till 1987. The feast of the church is celebrated on the 8th of December every year. The church was also visited by Mother Teresa and is one of the oldest churches in Puducherry. It is also known by the locals as ‘Samba Kovil’.

4. Promenade Beach

About 1.5 long, the Promenade beach is one of the main beaches in Puducherry. The walk is characterized by various landmarks and statues including the statue of Joan of Arc, the Heritage town hall, Dupleix statue, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the old light house etc. if you need a calm and quaint place perfect for an evening stroll, this is a place you want to be at. The sea breeze and the sights and sounds work as a relaxing potion on your min. The beach is a recommended visit which is devoid of the hustle of the city streets. There is also a well established tourist center where you can get some extra information about the town of Pondicherry.

5. Ousteri Wetland and National Park

Located on the Pondicherry-Villuppuram road at a distance of 10 kilometers from the town of Pondicherry, the Ousteri Wetland and National Park covers an area of around 3.9 sq kilometers. Geographically the place lies in the territory of both Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. The place is home to a huge variety of aqua-fauna and avi-fauna. The place is frequented by several tourists because of the house boat services offered here. The several unique species of trees and herbs here attract a huge number of migratory birds and has become an important ecological niche in the south Indian region. The various birds and aquatic species found here make it a photographer’s delight and is a must visit for a shutterbug.

6. Basilica Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus

Located at the south boulevard, the Basilica Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus was consecrated on December 17th, 1907. The building is a fine specimen of gothic style architecture and has become a famous pilgrimage spot for the Christians in India. The structure of this church is 50 meters long, 48 meters wide and 18 meters high and is held by 24 columns. The windows are adorned with stained glass paintings of 28 saints who were devoted to the sacred heart of Jesus. The church premise also has a grotto dedicated to our lady of Lourdes, a parish hall and an adoration chapel. The church was fully renovated and restored in 2005 giving it its current look, however only minor physical changes were made to the structure.

7. Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple

Located on M.G. road, Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple is considered to be the oldest Hindu temple in Pondicherry and dates back to 600 ad. The temple is built in Dravidian style of architecture evident by its sculpted pillars and a brightly colored gopuram adrorned with the sculptures of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The temple is dedicated to Sri Varadaraja Perumal an incarnation of lord Vishnu. According to local legend the temple was originally supposed to house the idols of Lord Rama, Lakshamana, Sita and Lord Hanuman which were brought from the sea by the local fishermen. Right behind the temple there is a shrine dedicated to Lord Narsimha, another incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The temple is a famous pilgrimage spot for the Hindus in Pondicherry and south India.

8. Botanical Garden

Located south of the new bus stand in Pondicherry, the botanical garden was founded in 1826 and is another example of French influence in Pondicherry. The structure of the gate makes the whole place stand out in its otherwise Tamil town location. It was originally laid out in a typical French style garden, with gravel lined paths, pruned trees and fountains. The place features many different species of exotic plants and shrubs from all around the world. The place was turned into a botanical garden in 1931 by the French botanist and horticulturist George S. Perrottet. The garden also features a musical fountain which has two shows during evenings at the weekends.

9. French War Memorial

Located on the Goubert Avenue, the French war memorial was built in 1971 to commemorate the loss of the brave French soldiers during the First World War. Every year on Bastille Day (July 14th) the memorial is illuminated and pays homage to the soldiers. It is a must visit place for the tourists, especially when visited on Bastille Day as the commemoration ceremony is a marvelous sight to gander at and offers an amazingly pleasant experience.

10. Pondicherry Museum

Located in Bharathi Park in the center of the town, Pondicherry museum houses various sculptures and other archeological findings from the Arikamedu Roman settlement which is an ancient port 7 kilometers from the city. The museum also boasts of its various rare statues and bronze sculptures which belong to the Chola and Pallava dynasties. One can also gather detailed knowledge about the history and French colonial details in this museum. A collection of snail shells, temple lamps and other handicrafts are also displayed in this museum and is a must visit.

Pondicherry is also a popular weekend destination for the neighboring cities of Chennai and Bangalore. One of the reason being the low taxations on liquor which makes alcoholic beverages cheaper in Pondicherry. Nevertheless tourist places in Pondicherry are a must visit place in every tourist’s itinerary.

Munnar – No.1 Hill Station in India

Munnar has evolved over the years into the top slot. As per latest Google search results for India,Munnar has emerged in the top 10 destinations in India in addition to Kerala. Digging into the list of must see destinations and displacing states is by no means a meager achievement. The reason why Munnar has hit the top slot is because of the following reason.

1.       Munnar offers the best climate year round; even during the monsoons!!!!!!!

2.       Munnar offers the best honeymoon destination

3.       Munnar offers the best resorts in Munnar

4.       Munnar offers the best choice of cuisines

5.       Munnar offers the best sightseeing places to see.

Adding crown to the wonderful list is a brand new resort slated to launch end of this year called the Munnar Tea Country Resort. Situated in Chithirapuram and well hidden by the hills of Munnar this luxury resort is the first family resort in Munnar and the First family resort in India. So what’s so special about being a family resort? Well many hotel and resorts in Munnar and other places in India speak about being a family resort but don’t practice it.

 

Munnar Tea Country Resort will be first to make a difference where a family of 4 can stay together in one villa or a cottage even if you have kids above 12 years. This is a real family efforts as most of the hotels today insist on taking an additional room if you have two kids about 12 years. It will have an exclusive kid’s zone and spa to take care of dads and moms too besides various activities to keep everyone busy. Besides offering magnificent views from various locations within the resort and envious lip smacking dishes, this resort offers one of the largest villas in Munnar. Each cottages and villa has minimum size of 605 sq.ft. So it is a family resort in true sense of the word and not just another marketing jargon.

So the no.1 destination in Kerala, India is getting the No.1 Family resort in India adding to the list of why it is in the top slot. So if you are planning to travel to Munnar anytime after October 2013 seek out Munnar Tea Country Resort before finalizing your plans

Places to Visit in Munnar

Munnar is one of the most popular hill stations in South India.  It is nestled in Western Ghats at an altitude of 6000 ft and is located in Idukki district of Kerala.  This picturesque hill station beckons nature lovers from far and near.

Large tea plantations, forests, hill ranges, valleys and wildlife makes anyone fall in love with this place. I am going to share 13 places that you should visit (or try to) when you are in Munnar. And if you already visited Munnar recently, then I hope these will make you want to do another trip very soon!

1. Mattupetty Dam

Mattupetty dam and its reservoir  is  located 13 km away from Munnar.  This concrete gravity dam is built between the hill ranges and it is used mainly for water storage for hydroelectric projects. Its reservoir is an idyllic place to enjoy the serene nature. It is also said to be one of the waterholes where the elephants in the region often visit..

2. Mattupedi Dairy Farm

Mattupetty is also famous for the Indo-Swiss Farm. This is a highly specialized dairy farm  which comes under Indo-Swiss Livestock Project. Hundreds of high quality cattle are reared here and new varieties are scientifically developed.

3. Kundala Lake

Kundala Lake is an artificial reservoir of a minor arch shaped dam huddled between the mountain ranges. It is about a 20 km drive from Munnar. There is boating facility there..and  don’t forget to go for a Shikara boat ride while you are there!

4. Top Station

It is about 40 km from Munnar and it is 1,880 meters above sea level. The panoramic view of the Western Ghats and the valley of Theni from Top station is simply breathtaking. Top station got this name from it’s being the uppermost located railway station on the Kundala Valley Railway.

5. Echo Point

Echo Point  is about 15 km from Munnar. Go there and scream as loud as you can..and wait for a minute. You can hear your echo back! Its quite interesting. If you have kids with you..they will love it. They can experience this natural phenomenon firsthand.

6. Rajamalai (Part of Eravikulam National Park)

Rajamala, part of Eravikulam national park, is located at about 15 kms from Munnar.  This region is the natural habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragas hylocres). It was converted to a national park to provide a safe sanctuary  for the already endangered species of Nilgiri Tahr.

7. Tea Museum

This tea museum is first of its kind in India. It is located at KDHP’s Nullatanni estate in Munnar. The aim of this museum according to its founders is to showcase the growth of more-than-a-century-old tea plantations in this region. Anyone visiting this museum will get a clear  picture of how laborious this tea processing really is.

8. Marayoor Sandalwood Forests

This is located at around 42 kms north of Munnar through the Udumalppetta route. Marayoor is famous of the natural sandalwood forest. Not only that, this place is said to be part of the ancient stone age civilization dated back to 10,000 B.C. Stone age paintings, rock edicts and dolmens found there vouch for this rich heritage.

9. Attukad Waterfalls

Now this is a scenic waterfalls located between Munnar and Pallivasal. It is just 9 km away from Munnar. But this waterfalls will be in its full glory only after the monsoon (Rainy season). During other seasons, it is just a trickling mountain stream.

10. Blossom Park

Blossom International Park is about 3 km away from Munnar town and it spreads over 16 acres. It is a peaceful location to enjoy a calm and relaxing nature walk admiring flowers and surrounding green hillside. The park offer many activities for tourists like boating, cycling, roller skating etc.

11. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

 Chinnar wildlife sanctuary is about 60 kms from Munnar. It is situated on SH 17 in the Marayoor and Kanthalloor Panchayats of Idukki district. It is an ideal spot for trekking and enjoying wildlife closely. It is the habitat for endangered Grizzled giant squirrel in India. Almost 34 species of mammals including panthers, spotted deers, elephants, tigers can be found here. It is also a bird watchers paradise. 245 species of birds live here!

12. Tea Plantations

 How can one resist a tea garden tour when you are in Munnar? Rolling hillsides covered with tea plantations is a sight to behold. The lush greenery and the soothing cold wind with a mild aroma of tea leaves totally rejuvenates you.

13. Lakkom Water Falls

 This waterfalls is about 25 kms from Munnar on the way to Udumalaipettai. Lakkom waterfalls is part of Eravikulam National Park. The cascading waterfalls and the scenic surroundings makes it tourists favorite hideout in Munnar.