Rajasthan, Rajasthan Travel Blogs, Rajasthan News

'Nanhe Jaisalmer' - Tax Free

2007-09-14T10:31:00.000+05:30

Bobby Deol starrier 'Nanhe Jaisalmer' has been declared tax-free in Rajasthan, even before the release. It's a story of a child, who is a fan of Bobby - a film star. His dreams of meeting him fulfilled one day. "Yes, I got to know about it just a couple of days ago. I don't know how it will help the film... It is an inspirational film and I am sure with the tax-free tag, more people will watch the film along with their kids.

The film has a sweet message and I guess that will work in favor of the film. This is also the first time I am playing myself in the film. I am eagerly waiting to see how the film fares at the box-office," says Bobby. The film will be release on September 15.

New Transport Policy

2007-09-13T14:36:00.000+05:30

The Rajasthan Government will shortly announce a new transport policy to deal with the growing pressure of vehicular traffic in the cities and bring uniformity to the action plans for making public transport arrangements and creating parking facilities in the urban areas.

Based on existing resources
State Transport Minister Mohammed Yunus Khan, addressing the first meeting of the newly appointed Integrated Metropolitan Authority and Executive Council here on Tuesday, said the policy would take care of the resources and plans during the next 20 years. The new policy will take into account the growth of population, number of tourists visiting the cities, number of vehicles plying on roads and the rising pollution level while recommending measures for a smooth traffic flow and safe journey for city dwellers.

Special provisions
Special provisions for flyovers and elevated roads will be made for the areas with high traffic density. Mr. Yunus Khan said the State Government had established city level transport companies in Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur and Jodhpur for operating the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS). A 42-km-long BRTS corridor, divided into three packages, is proposed to be constructed in Jaipur, with the buses set to hit the roads by July next year.

Introducing new buses
The Minister pointed out that six routes had been identified for BRTS in Jodhpur and 12 buses had started plying on three of them, while 12 buses had been introduced on six routes in Kota and 18 buses in Udaipur.

Rajasthan - A Hot Tourism Destination

2007-08-09T18:34:00.000+05:30

Rajasthan a hot tourism destination is now planning to promote Rural Tourism in a big way. The state government has issued directions to all district collectors and chief executive Officers of Zilla Parishad that rural tourism can be built around themes like cultural heritage, historical monuments, handicrafts, social and cultural life, wild life and eco-tourism. As per the directions, villages falling on the tourism circuit main routes or slightly away from the main routes can be selected on the basis of any one theme.

These villages can be developed to attract tourism en route to major tourist destinations in the district. Special projects for development of such villages would also be prepared under the Border Area Development Program to be funded by the Union government through special grant. On account of promotion of rural tourism benefits like creation of employment by setting up restaurants, dhabas, tourist guides, performances of cultural troops, direct sale of handicrafts and arts manufactured by self help groups (SHGs) and local artisans and revenue of village Panchayats through levy of tourists entry charges, option of parking places, renting of shops could accrue to the villages.

Government is taking many steps to promote Tours to Rajasthan viz. It has been directed that while preparing the village development plan apart from the social and economic infrastructure and services, items like cleanliness of villages under the total sanitation scheme, construction of community toilets of high quality and arrangements for maintenance, suitable parking place for the vehicles, village connectivity through all weather road with the main route, drinking water arrangements at the tourist sites, handicraft bazaar, places for restaurants and dhabas, platforms for performing artists, puppet shows, systematic and intensive tree plantation in the village and particularly on places to be visited by the tourists, arrangements for communication services, development of heritage and historical sites in the village and to provide houses to those having no house should also be included.

Keeping in view these objectives the district collectors have been asked to identify villages that can promote rural Tourism in Rajasthan and prepare an exhaustive development plan of the village as per the guidelines and send it for the approval of the state government.

Real Estate Bank To Enter Rajasthan

2007-08-06T17:02:00.000+05:30

Bangalore-based Real Estate Bank International (REBI) has drawn out an ambitious expansion plan for Rajasthan. REBI offers all the services required in real estate sector.

“We are into brokerage services, financial services, database services and relocation services,” Lakshmi Narayanan, president and CEO, Real Estate Bank International, said.

He said the company has been the pioneer in offering all the services under one roof to make real estate transactions transparent and easy for both buyers and sellers.

“We have already commenced its operation in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and now we plan to expand it in Jaipur and other parts of Rajasthan,” he said.

“We have commenced our overseas operations in Sri Lanka and soon would like to go to countries like Dubai, UK, USA, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia,” Narayanan said.

In the next three years it would like to set up 3,000 franchisee all over India. And in Rajasthan alone we expect to set up several franchisee outlets. We hope to have at least 7 franchisee in Jaipur alone.

Elaborating on the services, Lakshmi Narayanan said under brokerage services we extend help in buying, selling and leasing property.

These services are offered through an extensive network of franchisees and also through the Internet. Under database services, exhaustive information of properties will be showcased to the customer, he informed.

India’s realty segment is growing at 30-35 per cent per year in terms of investment. At present, the size of the industry is put at $ 16 billion and is expected to grow to $25 billion, $50 billion and $102 by 2010, 2015 and 2017 respectively.

The main growth thrust is coming due to favorable demographics, increasing purchasing power, existence of customer friendly banks & housing finance companies, professionalism in real estate and favourable reforms initiated by the government to attract global investors

BITS Pilani Rajasthan Alumnus takes over as IDBI Chairman

2007-07-18T11:18:00.000+05:30

The coveted IDBI Chairman's job is in the rank of a Secretary in the Central Government which is a privilege enjoyed only by the Chairmen of SBI and NABARD in the financial sector.

He started off as a probationary officer in 1972 and has held top notch executive positions in State Bank of Patiala and State Bank of India. A decade ago, it was he who pioneered the prestigious Gold Banking Business for SBI.

He is known for his boldness to take tough decisions. With focus on strategy, his preparedness to face tough competitions and his emphasis on well-laid out systems and procedures, he is bound to take IDBI to great heights in the times to come.

He is none other than Mr Yogesh Agarwal who is a proud alumnus of BITS Pilani.

Dr BR Natarajan is Professor and Dean at Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani Rajasthan which isone among the top ranking universitiesin India today offering degrees in Engineering, Management, Economics, Pharmacy, Sciences, Engineering Technology, Information Systems, General Studies, Finance, etc presently at Pilani, Dubai, Goa campuses and in the near future at Hyderabad campus as well as an array of work integrated learning programmes for HRD of a vast spectrum of Indian corporates.

Teej Festival August 15-16

2007-07-17T15:01:00.000+05:30

In the month of August, Rajasthan has two reasons to celebrate – the parched dry months are quenched by the monsoon showers; and the festival of Teej is celebrated by women all over the state.

A special occasion for girls and women, Teej is observed in homage of Parvati and her devotion to Shiva. Thus women pray to her for the long life of their husbands. Along with the prayers is a lot of merriment, song and dance. Wherever you travel in Rajasthan you will see swings tied on to trees and balconies, decorated with garlands of flowers. Groups of women swing each other to the tune of lively songs and music.

The city of Jaipur comes alive, especially the market area near Johari Bazar. Garment shops announce sales and ladies flock to the market to buy new saris. Also on display are the typical lacquer bangles of Rajasthan and other trinkets and jewellery..

As the day of the festival nears, mehndi wallis get into action, etching out intricate patterns of henna on ladies’ hands. The sweetmeat shops are also a buzz of activity selling the Teej specialty – ghevar – a delicious circular mithai that resembles honey combs and drips with sugar syrup.

A grand procession is held on the streets of Jaipur where Teej Mata is taken out on a silver chariot. Elephants with ornate howdahs, horses, camels and loud brass bands, are all part of this procession and there is dancing and singing all along the way. The procession winds through the lanes of the old city and people come out to pay homage to the goddess. This is a very special time to visit the state of Rajasthan and take part in a festival held dear to the local people’s hearts.

A special occasion for girls and women, Teej is observed in homage of Parvati and her devotion to Shiva. Thus women pray to her for the long life of their husbands. Along with the prayers is a lot of merriment, song and dance. Wherever you travel in Rajasthan you will see swings tied on to trees and balconies, decorated with garlands of flowers. Groups of women swing each other to the tune of lively songs and music.

The city of Jaipur comes alive, especially the market area near Johari Bazar. Garment shops announce sales and ladies flock to the market to buy new saris. Also on display are the typical lacquer bangles of Rajasthan and other trinkets and jewellery. As the day of the festival nears, mehndi wallis get into action, etching out intricate patterns of henna on ladies’ hands. The sweetmeat shops are also a buzz of activity selling the Teej specialty – ghevar – a delicious circular mithai that resembles honey combs and drips with sugar syrup.

A grand procession is held on the streets of Jaipur where Teej Mata is taken out on a silver chariot. Elephants with ornate howdahs, horses, camels and loud brass bands, are all part of this procession and there is dancing and singing all along the way. The procession winds through the lanes of the old city and people come out to pay homage to the goddess. This is a very special time to visit the state of Rajasthan and take part in a festival held dear to the local people’s hearts.