Tehri Dam in Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand)

Tehri Dam is a major hydroelectric project centered near Tehri Town in Uttarakhand, a state of India. It is the primary dam of the Tehri Development Project. It is located on the Bhagirathi River, the principal tributary of the holy River Ganges. The Tehri Dam has a height of 855 feet (261 m), making it the fifth tallest dam in the world. The dam's intended capabilities include a power generation capacity of 2400 MW, provision of irrigation to an area of 270,000 hectares, irrigation stabilization to an area of 600,000 hectares, and a supply of 270 million gallons of drinking water per day to the industrialized areas of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Its reservoir will completely submerge Tehri Town and 40 villages, and partially submerge 72 villages.

Tata Motors to set up permanent facility for Nano at Pantnagar

Tata Motors has agreed to set up a permanent unit for manufacturing the Nano, the world's cheapest car, at Pantnagar in Uttarakhand, a top official of the state government said on Tuesday.

"On the request of the state government, Tata Motors has agreed to convert its interim Nano arrangement into permanent one at Pantnagar," Principal Secretary (Industries) P C Sharma told agencies.

Through the sale of Nano car and other commercial vehicles which are being manufactured at Pantnagar by Tata Motors, the state government would earn a revenue of Rs 200 crore through Value Added Tax, the official said.

Tata Motors has also launched a distribution company, Tata Motors Distribution Companies Ltd, at Pantnagar industrial area to sell the Nano, he said.

When contacted, a Tata Motors spokesperson said the company has launched the distribution company for the sale of Nano as well as other auto brands.

Tata Motors was given more than 100 acres of prime land by the state government at Pantnagar for setting up its manufacturing facility. Last year, the company got 20 acres of land from the state government for the distribution company as well as 45 acres of additional land for the expansion purpose at Pantnagar.

By setting up a permanent plant at Pantnagar, Tata Motors would also take benefit of sops available in Uttarakhand under the special Central Industrial Package (CIP), 2003, for a period of seven years, Sharma said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri has expressed happiness over the roll-out of the small car and described it as a big achievement.

In a statement here, Khanduri said it was a moment of joy and big achievement that the first Nano of Tata Motors has been launched from Pantnagar industrial area where hundreds of topnotch companies have also set up their units.

He also congratulated Ratan Tata for the launch of Nano and said the state would benefit a lot from revenue of Rs 200 crore through distribution of the small cars from the hill state.

Khanduri also expressed hope that Uttarakhand would continue to achieve the industrial growth in the years to come.

source: http://www.zeenews.com

Opening Dates for Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand - 2009 Season

1. Yamunotri, dwar will open on 27-04-09 and close on day of Deepavali.


2. Gangotri dwar will open on 27-04-09 and close on day of Deepavali.


3. Badrinath dwar will open on 01-05-09 and close on 10 days after Deepavali.


4. Kedarnath dwar will open on 30-04-09 and close on eve of Bhaidooj.

India's first food park to come up near Haridwar

The foundation stone for the first of the 10 mega food parks being set up by the government to boost the country's food processing industry will be laid near Haridwar in Uttarakhand Wednesday.

Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Subodh Kant Sahai will lay the foundation stone of the Patanjali Food and Herbal Park, being set up by yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Yog Peeth, at village Padartha on Luxor Road near Haridwar.

The new park will span 95 acres of land around the village where a couple of factories linked to the food processing industry will initially come up, the Patanjali Yog Peeth saidin a statement.

"It is a first step taken the Patanjali Yog Peeth of Haridwar towards empowerment of agro economy of the state," the statement said.

To be set up at a cost Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion), the park will have 32 processing units to obtain value-added products of fruits and vegetables like juice, pulp, puree, candies, herbal products and pickles.

Many entrepreneurs from all over the country will be associated in this mega project, sharing common infrastructure and support services, according to the statement.

"It will be a boon for the growers of these fruits and vegetables since they can give their bulk produce to feed this mega utility park," Acharya Balkrishna of Patanjali Yog Peeth said in the statement.

"The growers will be trained how to grow amla and aloe vera crops on barren lands by the training centres of the food park," he said, adding that Patanjali Yog Peeth will develop 100 such centres which shall also provide good quality seed and manure to farmers.

While a unit for powder and extract making of herbs is being planned at a later stage, project to procure bio-diesel from jetropa and crude palm oil is also on the cards.

The park is part of the Mega Food Parks Scheme launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries under the 11th Plan to boost the country's booming food processing industry by reducing wastage of produce at the farm level and establishing a supply chain management that will take food in processed form from the farm gate to the retail outlet.

Though 30 such parks are being envisaged in the Plan period, initially 10 such parks will established in the first phase, each of which has a gestation period of two years.

Apart from Haridwar, the other nine parks will come up at Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu, Chikmagalur in Karnataka, Shirwal in Maharashtra, Nalbari in Assam, Jangipur in West Bengal, Ranchi in Jharkhand, Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh and Jalandhar in Punjab.

Source : zeenews.com

Uttranchal Hotels : Hotels in Corbett

Claridges Corbett Hideaway
Infinity Resort
Corbett Riverside Resort
Corbett Ramganga Resort
Solluna Resort (Wildlife)
Quality Inn Corbett Jungle Resort
Tiger Camp
Camp Forktail Creek
The Corbett Hideaway
Corbett River View Retreat
Solluna Resort
Camp Forktail Creek Resort
Tiger Camp Resort
Call of the Wild Safari Lodge
Roop Resort
Quality Inn Corbett Jungle Resort
Corbett Treff Hotel
Corbett County
The Wild Crest
Treetops Resort
Jungle Brook Camp Resort
Vaghat River Lodge
Manu Maharani Resort

Uttranchal Hotels : Hotels in Dehradun

Hotel Madhuban
Hotel Great Value
Hotel MJ Residency
Inder Lok Hotel
Hotel Ajanta Continental
Hotel Meedo’s Grand
Hotel Pacific
Hotel President
Hotel Shahenshah
Shiva Residency
Hotel Doon Castle
Hotel Atithi
Hotel Prince
Hotel Relax

Hotels in Ranikhet

Hotel Chevron Rosemount
Cost Plus Resort
West View Hotel
Hotel Parvati Inn
Hotel West View Ranikhet
Ranikhet Club
Windsor Lodge
Wood Villa Resort

Hotels in Tehri Garhwal

The Glasshouse on the Ganges
Classic - The Hill Top

Hotels in Bhimtal

Country Inn Bhimtal
Hotel Country Inn
The Satvik Resort
Lake Heritage Hotel
Van Villas
Monolith Resort
Valley Resorts
Neelesh Inn
Hotel Pine Crest
Eurotel Parichay

Hotels in Badrinath

Hotel Narayan Palace
Sarovar Portico Badrinath
Chardham Camp

Hotels in Nainital

Balrampur House
Fairhavens Hotel
Palace Belvedere
Royal Hotel
Alka Lakeview Resort
Hotel Arif Castles
Hotel Krishna
Manu Maharani Resort
Shervani Hill Top Inn
The Naini Retreat
Vikram Vintage Inn
Alpine Chalet
Dynasty Resort
Grand Hotel
Hotel Classic The Mall
Hotel Everest
Mountain Trail
Swiss Hotel
The Pine Crest
The Ramgarh Bungalows
Cedar Lodge
Elphinestone Hotel
Hotel Capri
Hotel Channi Raja
Hotel City Heart
Hotel Earlcourt
Hotel Evelyn
Hotel Metropole
Hotel New Pavillion
Hotel Pratap Regency
Hotel Radha Continental
Hotel Silverton
India Hotel
James Cooks cabins
Lakeside Inn
Manu Maharani Lodge
Palace Resort
Chevron Fairhavens
Solluna Resort
Jungle Lore Birding Lodge
Claridges Naini Retreat
Hotel Roop Kumaon

Uttranchal Hotels - Hotels in Mussoorie

Savoy Hotel     |     Kasmanda Palace
Hotel Jaypee Residency     |     Club Mahindra Resort
Country Inn      |    Park Plaza Sylverton
Hotel Green Castle     |     Comfort Inn Fort Resort
Nabha Palace Mussoorie     |     Avalon Resorts
Sterling Resort     |     Hotel Solitaire Plaza
Connaught Castle     |     Hotel Hard Rock
Hotel Shiva Continental      |    Hotel Ashiyana Continental
Surbee Resort     |     Hotel Filigree
Hotel Starz Regency     |     Oasis Resort
Hotel Padmini Nivas     |     Hotel Ashoka Continental
Dunsvirk Court     |     Hotel Honeymoon Inn
Shipra Hotel     |     Hotel Horizon
The Pearl     |     Hotel Lords Mussoorie
Classic Hill Top Resort     |     Hotel Peak View
Highness Heights     |     Nand Residency(Great Value Hotel)
Green N Breeze Resort      |    Hotel Western
Hotel Brentwood      |    Hotel Classic Heights
Valley-View Hotel     |     Hotel Emerald Heights
Hotel Midtown     |     Vishnu Palace
The Terrace     |     The Rink Pavilion

CNBC Travel Award 2008 for Thomas Cook

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., the country's leading travel and travel related financial services Solutions Company was awarded the 'Best Tour Operator Award' at the CNBC Awaaz Travel Awards 2008.

Ms. Ambika Soni, Minister of Culture & Tourism, Government of India felicitated the winner at a function held in Mumbai on July 3, 2008. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Madhavan Menon, MD, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. said, “This is indeed a very proud moment for all of us at Thomas Cook. This Award is a reflection of the superior product offering accompanied by excellent marketing, dedicated service delivery , superior service on Tour, service quality and of course the transparency as seen by our customers who voted to give us this award. All this would not have been possible without the individual contribution, dedication and commitment of each and every member of our team”.

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. recently became the first travel solutions company to introduce Indian Railway reserved ticket booking facilities on its portal www.thomascook.in

Source: http://www.tourismindiaonline.com

Tourism Solutions from UNWTO and Microsoft

Tourism is one of the world’s largest economic activities, with over US $2 billion worldwide generated every day by international tourism alone. With almost 900 million international tourist arrivals recorded in 2007, the market is predicted to expand to 1.6 billion by 2020.

The role of technology in the tourism industry, particularly information and communication technology (ICT) is fast expanding. There are over 1.2 billion internet users and over 2 billion mobile devices, and the use of ICT tools is clearly becoming a competitive factor for both tourism destinations and enterprises.

Working together UNWTO and Microsoft are combining tourism knowledge and technical innovation to create a set of tourism solutions that leverage the latest technologies. These solutions are designed to help tourism managers and country authorities to better address the opportunities offered by tourism and address some of the challenges they face.

Online tools and the Internet offer significant advantages over traditional means of communication. These include: low-cost, high-speed transmission of information on destinations; possibility to integrate and analyse information from many different providers into a single portal; targeted destination promotion to specific online audiences; opportunities for promotion of small, local businesses; use of multimedia tools such as photos, videos, audio and virtual tours; sharing of experiences between tourists with User Generated Content; and facilitated administrative procedures for tourists such as immigration checks and visas.

Source: http://www.tourismindiaonline.com

Tourism Places of Uttranchal

Uttranchal is the heartland of the Himalayas. It offers the most breathtaking views of the snowcapped peaks of the Himalayas, the awe inspiring views of the gorges and enchanting valleys river, lakes that will make you spellbound. Hee are some beautiful tourism places of Uttranchal:
Mussoori, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Nainital, National Corbett Park (Ramnagar), Ranikhet, Devpragag, Rudraprayag, Chamba, Kausani, Chaukori, Almora, Bhowali, New Tehri, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, Kedarnath, etc.

Uttranchal Hill Stations - Must Visit

If you have a holiday plan to Uttranchal, you must visit the following hill stations of Uttranchal:
Nainitaal
Mussoorie
Chamba
Almora
Mukteshwar
Lansdowne
Ranikhet
Pithoragarh
Kausani
Kanatal
Auli
Joshimath

Uttranchal Tourism

Uttranchal is now Uttarakhand, the 27th state of the Republic of India. Carved out of the state of Uttar Pradesh, Uttranchal mainly comprises the hilly regions of Uttar Pradesh. The state borders Himachal Pradesh in the north-west and Uttar Pradesh in the South, and has international borders with Nepal and China.

Uttranchal Tourism in India Offers Tourism Uttranchal, Uttranchal India Tourism, Uttranchal Tours, Uttranchal Tour Packages, Tourism in Uttranchal, Trekking in Uttranchal, Adventure Tour Uttranchal, etc.

Central government approves helipad near Hemkund in Uttarakhand

The central government has approved ‘in principle’ the setting up of a helipad near the famous Sikh shrine of Hemkunt Sahib located in Uttarakhand, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said.

The move follows a proposal to this effect by the Punjab government to the central government.

Badal, who on Friday met Union Minister of State for Forests and wildlife S. Reghupathy in New Delhi, said that the minister had ‘in principle’ agreed to the setting up of a helipad near the shrine subject to clearances from concerned departments, including the Uttarakhand government.

The holy and historic shrine of Hemkunt Sahib is associated with the 10th Sikh guru, Gobind Singh, and is located in the Garhwal Himalayas near the Hindu shrine of Badrinath. It is said that the guru had worshipped at this shrine for a long time in the 17th century.

Thousands of devout Sikhs and others visit the shrine every year. Reaching it means an arduous trek of over 19 km from Gobind Ghat through forests and glades, including the famous valley of flowers.

The shrine route is open to the public only for a few months in the summers.

The setting up of a helipad will ensure that those who can afford the helicopter trip will be able to visit the shrine without undertaking the trek.

Badal has also sought the central government’s permission for setting up an expansive and well-equipped concrete edifice to accommodate thousands of devotees who visit the shrine every year.

The Punjab government has also sought permission to reinforce the main structure of the shrine saying that the present one is unstable given the number of devotees coming there.

“The pilgrims undertake a lot of hardship to reach the shrine. It is the duty of the Punjab government to provide them with facilities there,” Badal said.

The forest minister assured Badal that he would get the entire proposal examined by the Ministry of Environment and Forests for the development of infrastructure and facilities for pilgrims around the holy shrine.

Uttarakhand govt to offer tax holiday to tourism sector

Uttarakhand government has decided to extend tax holiday and other benefits to tourism industry and hotels in the state that is home to attractions like Rishikesh and Haridwar, Tourism Minister Prakash Pant said on Monday.

“In the industrial policy announced by the state government up to 2010, tourism has been given the status of industry and as such tax holiday and other benefits will be extended to tourism indsutry,” Pant told reporters at a press conference.

He said tourism budget in the state, created seven years back, has increased to Rs 92 crore from Rs 82 crore in the previous year.

The state government, he said, encourages private-public partnership to promote tourism in the state where tourists outnumbered population. Uttarakhand has a population of 84 lakh while the number of tourists visiting the state in 2007-08 was 2.22 crore, he said.

In the first six months of the current year, over 1.41 crore tourists including nearly 58,000 foreign tourists had visited Uttarakhand, he said.

The focus of the Uttarakhand Tourism Board was to develop tourism-related resources of the state in an eco-friendly manner with active participation by private sector and local communities.

Uttaranchal Tourism opens new office in New Delhi

Continuing with its aggressive focus to attract tourists, Uttaranchal Tourism opened its second office in the national capital today. Inaugurating the office at Janpath Hotel in Connaught Place, Uttaranchal Tourism Minister Lt Gen (retd) TPS Rawat said, Customer focus was our key and we would make all efforts in reaching out to them.

The new office, which would have Uttaranchal Tourism Development Board, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam under one roof, was an attempt towards the same, he added. Uttaranchal Tourism Secretary A K Jain, senior officials of UTDB, GMVN and KMVN were present at the occasion.

Integration of the office was part of a larger game plan adopted by Uttaranchal Tourism to bring both corporations (GMVN and KMVN) under one roof for the convenience of customers and travel agents in all major cities of the country.

Last year Uttaranchal had a record 140 lakh registered tourists, including about 75,000 foreigners and this year it aimed to host 150 lakh, including about a lakh foreigners.

The effort was to improve ‘AIM’ (Accessibility, Infrastructure and Marketing), Gen Rawat said and added that first ever all-India advertising campaign launched recently to woo tourists to the state this winter. The campaign focused on wildlife and Adventure tourism, including skiing destination, and positioned the state as a ’sunshine’ state on North India during winters.