Spice December issue ipad pdf

MADHURI DIXIT | BALLOON FEST | OPEN-AIR DINING
spice
Volume 11 | Issue 12 | December 2017
THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE
JANUARY
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The Best of
2017
A YEAR OF SPLENDID
ACHIEVEMENTS
MARCH
BEST ON-TIME
PERFORMANCE
AMONG ALL AIRLINES
IN INDIA FOR FY 2016-17 &
BEST PASSENGER LOAD
(31 MONTHS IN A ROW)
APRIL
LAUNCH OF
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PERFORMING AIRLINE
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FROM THE
CMD’S DESK
Dear Readers,
Welcome aboard SpiceJet!
As we stand on the cusp of a new year, I want
to take this opportunity to quickly recap on
what a wonderful year this has been for the
SpiceJet family.
2017 was very different and special in
many ways. While the last two years had seen
our energies and efforts dedicated towards
scripting the remarkable turnaround that
SpiceJet has come to be known for, 2017
marked the beginning of a growth story that
saw your favourite airline expand its wings
both within and outside the country offering
passengers affordable air travel and world
class facilities.
We flew more passengers, more flights,
added newer destinations and were more
profitable than we have ever been.
We sign off 2017 clocking our 11th straight
profitable quarter and reporting the highestever
Q2 profit in our history. Profits grew by
80 per cent to ` 105.3 crore in the quarter
ended September 30, 2017 as against ` 58.9
crore last year while revenue increased 30
per cent.
All through this year, SpiceJet has
reported the highest passenger load factor
(occupancy) amongst all airlines in the
country. In fact, we have recorded 90 per
cent+ load factor for 31 successive months, a
feat unparalleled globally and a testimony to
the fact that SpiceJet is India’s favourite and
most loved airline. Significantly, for the past
five consecutive months our load factors have
been in excess of 94 per cent.
Reiterating our commitment towards
direct connectivity, we have announced a host
of new non-stop flights beginning December
2017 giving a fresh impetus to leisure and
business travel. SpiceJet will be the first
airline to launch a daily direct international
flight on the Ahmedabad-Bangkok sector
from December 7, 2017. Besides introducing
a seasonal non-stop flight on the Delhi-
Port Blair route, we will also be the first to
introduce daily non-stop flights on Jaipur-
Jodhpur, Surat-Jodhpur, Ahmedabad-Varanasi
and Bengaluru-Bagdogra sectors. The new
Varanasi-Ahmedabad flight will now offer
convenient connections to Bangkok, Dubai,
Muscat and Goa via Ahmedabad.
SpiceJet has been the most enthusiastic
supporter of UDAN or the regional
connectivity scheme that aims to enhance
connectivity to smaller towns and cities.
Since July, SpiceJet has launched flights
on Mumbai-Porbandar, Mumbai-Kandla,
Hyderabad-Puducherry and Jaipur-Jaisalmer
routes under this scheme and many more will
follow soon as we continue to explore newer
markets in our great mission of ‘Making Every
Indian Fly’. In another interesting initiative,
SpiceJet launched India’s first ever airline gift
card, offering a wide range of gifting options
from ` 500 to ` 50,000. Our customers can
now simply access an exclusive micro website
to gift tickets, hot meals and preferred seats
to loved ones, among other things. We intend
to add more features and functionality in
the coming months, making it an even more
exciting platform for our fliers.
All through 2017, SpiceJet has delivered
success stories that further underscores our
exemplary turnaround. From mega aircraft
orders, applause from the US President
Donald Trump to being acknowledged as the
world’s best-performing airline stock, SpiceJet
today is a brand that has made the world to
sit up and take notice.
All of this would not have been possible
without your overwhelming support. Your
love makes us conscious of the enormous
responsibility that SpiceJet must bear. We
assure you that we will do our best to live up
to your faith and trust in us.
On that note, I wish you all a joyous
Christmas and loads of happiness and success
in the New Year.
Wish you all a pleasant journey ahead in
life. Always.
Tailwinds and happy landings!
Jai Hind!
Ajay Singh
Chairman & Managing Director
2 ||||| AUGUST 2016

Untitled-1 All Pages
Volume 11 | Issue 12 | December 2017
MADHURI DIXIT | BALLOON FEST | OPEN-AIR DINING
THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE
30/11/17 10:57 AM
spice
DECEMBER 2017 www.spicejet.com
CONTENTS
50
58
Launch of
SpiceStyle.Com
NEW
CREW
UNIFORM
205
Biggest order of
planes by any
Indian airline
on Boeing
DINING UNDER THE STARS
This is the last month when
Delhiites can enjoy dining at
charming alfresco eateries
before the temperature
plummets further southwards
64
Major UDAN
participant
Best on-time
performance
among all
airlines in
India
ZOOMING
SHARE PRICE
New destinations added
A YEAR OF GLORIOUS ACHIEVEMENTS
2017 was a very good year for SpiceJet, with the airline putting
up stupendous performances across various parameters
SOARING HIGH
The first edition of the Araku
Hot Air Balloon Festival in
Andhra Pradesh under the ‘Lets
Vizag’ brand gave visitors a
unique experience
6
DECEMBER 2017

Delhi/NCR Ph: 9560591067 Ahmedabad Ph: 9724048821 Bangalore Ph: 9686689847, 9980075555 Hyderabad Ph: 09871900900, 9980075555
Head Jaipur Office Ph: / Corporate 9560591060 Showroom: Lucknow OSIM Ph India 7570003011, - A Division of 7570003014 Paramount Surgimed Mumbai Ltd., Ph: 1, L.S.C., 9619857876, Okhla Indl Area, 9167301112 Phase-II, New Pune Delhi Ph: - 8600018620
110020;
Enquiry - 09560770120, 09560591059, Service - 9968011727, sales@osimindia.com, www.OSIM.com
Head Office / Corporate Showroom: OSIM India - A Division of Paramount Surgimed Ltd., 1, L.S.C., Okhla Indl Area, Phase-II, New Delhi - 110020;
Enquiry - 09871900900, 09560591059, Service - 9599045036, sales@osimindia.com, www.osimindia.com

CONTENTS
UNDERGROUND
MARVELS
Built centuries ago to conserve
water in arid and semi-arid
regions, even today one is
amazed after exploring several
richly decorated stepwells in
parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan and
north India.
74 96
WEARING MANY HATS
Madhuri Dixit on fame, being a
celebrity advocate for UNICEF,
on the issues that worry her and
turning producer
84
A KALEIDOSCOPE OF
JOYS
Karnataka has many surprises
up its sleeve and the best way
to discover this is by actually
visiting the different parts to
experience the myriad cultures,
food, sights and more
SPICEJET INSIDER
Social media 20
SpiceVacations.com22
Spice products24
My town183
News184
Mobile apps 186
Stars of SpiceJet188
Onboard menu190
SpiceJet add-ons191
SpiceJet fleet192
Route map194
8
DECEMBER 2017

CONTENTS
ISHANYA'S IMPACT
in the decade that it has been around, ishanya foundation has helped
many underpriviledged individuals attain financial stability.
152
144
spice
DECEMBER 2017
EDITOR
RAJU BIST
rajubist@mwspiceroute.in
ART DIRECTOR
AMIT NAIK
DEPUTY ART DIRECTORS
HEMALI LIMBACHIYA
TANVI SHAH
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
VIDHI DOSHI
PRODUCTION MANAGER
MANGESH SALVI
SENIOR DIGITAL MANAGER
JAYESH V. SALVI
AD SALES
MUMBAI
VINOD MOHITE
+91 9323554207, vinod@mwspiceroute.in
RAHUL MUKHERJEE
rahul@mwspiceroute.in
NEW DELHI & HYDERABAD
TANVEER AHMAD
+91 9555098401, tanveer@mwspiceroute.in
MUDIT SRIVASTAVA
mudit@mwspiceroute.in
TAMIL NADU & PONDICHERRY
CECIL S KOTEY
cecil@mwspiceroute.in
P. GOPINATH
gopinath@mwspiceroute.in
BENGALURU
ANURADHA KUBER
anuradha.kuber@mwspiceroute.in
TULSI BAVISHI
080-4121 2043/4121 9043
KOLKATA
PULAK GOSH
spicerouteeast.advt@gmail.com
KERALA
SANJEEV NAIR
MODE MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS PVT LTD.
sanjeev@modemedia.in
GUJARAT
SANJAY CHAWDA
sanjaychawda@gmail.com
For international advertising contact
Vinod Mohite (vinod@mwspiceroute.in)
9323554207
PRODUCED BY
THE ROAD TO MANDAWA
A small town in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, Mandawa is
famous for its old but still attractive havelis with their colourful
frescoes
EDITORIAL & MARKETING OFFICE:
MW.Com (India) Pvt. Ltd., 401, 4th Floor, Todi Building,
Mathuradas Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg,
Lower Parel, Mumbai 400 013., Tel: 022 67487777
DELHI: 24/1, First Floor, Hauz Khas Village,
New Delhi - 110016 Tel/Fax: 011- 26516071/72
All rights reserved worldwide. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be
returned unless accompanied by a postage pre-paid envelope
12
DECEMBER 2017

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For a surreal experience visit our site
located right next to the upcoming
BhogapuramInternationalAirport,Vizag

Lalaji Memorial
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No. 79, Omega School Road, Kolapakkam, Chennai - 600 128, Tamil Nadu, India. Ph : +91 44 6624 1117
omegaintlschool
info@omegaschools.org
www.omegaschools.org

22 acre “Go Green award” winning campus.
5000 Indian & International students.
National & International curriculum.
Over 200 students in exclusive dorms for
girls and boys.
Teaching pedagogy in line with international
standards.
Interactive and collaborative classroom sessions.
Teacher : Student ratio at 1:12.
Progressive, technology enabled classrooms.
Naviance enabled school.
Value Based Spiritual Education and Life Skills Activities as
co-curricular programs.
20,000 sq.ft library.
28,000 titles, audio & ebooks.
2500 specimens in the school
archives and pictorial biodiversity
documentation.
Clubs and laboratories for Robotics,
Astronomy & Biotechnology apart
from Science, Mathematics,
English & a centre for Arts.
One of the first schools in the
region to be awarded the NITI
Aayog’s Atal Tinkering Lab, set up
in a 3500sqft space.
8 acres of playground including a
full size cricket ground.
Specialised coaching & courts to
excel in all major sports.
State-of-the-art gymnasium.
A UN ASPIRE (Action by Students to Promote Innovation and Reform through
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Forum Member of the UN Student Leadership Conference on Development.
Student managed Environment Sustainable Development Goals, including an
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SPICEJET
INSIDER
@flyspicejet This is the second time
that I have received strong customer
support from SpiceJet. That is why I
always choose to fly only @flyspicejet.
@flyspicejet Hey,
what’s the heavenly
seasoning powder
thing you put in your
coffee? I am kinda
in love.
@Mannibadon
@Thee_GoodWitch
@flyspicejet Delighted that two new flights will start
between Jaipur-Jaisalmer-Delhi and Jaipur-Varanasi.
@VasundharaBJP
@flyspicejet I extend my
gratitude to you for such
great assistance to my
uncle (in a medical
situation) travelling from
Kolkata to Bangalore.
@ItsmeeRupesh
@flyspicejet You are awesome,
your people are awesome.
Special mention of Bijli George
at Bangalore check-in counter
for helping with a smile.
@MissHimani
BUZZ ON
SOCIAL MEDIA
@flyspicejet Good all time experiences with
SpiceJet. I like that you people value the
time of your customers.
@asif_karjikar
@flyspicejet It was a short 30 minute flight
to Dehradun but it was fantastic. Had fun.
@theCanonFanboy
@flyspicejet Trust and
confidence in SpiceJet is
increasing with every
passing day with your
on-time arrivals and
departures. Great going!
@flyspicejet Take a bow. Fabulous service,
on time departure and a very polite staff.
@bibinrajd
@flyspicejet Love the plane's name ELAICHI!
@NavedJafri_BOO
@WhiskAffair
FIND YOUR FAVOURITE AIRLINE ON @FLYSPICEJET ON TWITTER & FACEBOOK
20
DECEMBER 2017

SPICEJET
INSIDER
SPICEVACATIONS.COM
GREAT DEALS ON HOTELS AND PACKAGES
PLAN YOUR HOLIDAYS WITH SPICEJET’S UNIQUE INITIATIVE
SPICEVACATIONS.COM, A PLETHORA OF END-TO-END TRAVEL SOLUTIONS, MAKING
YOUR TRAVELS NOT JUST CONVENIENT, BUT ALSO RED. HOT. SPICY
Now book your
hotel as soon as
you land
SPICEVACATIONS.COM is a one-stop
shop for hotel bookings and customised
travel packages, offering services
beyond the ordinary. Take your pick
from a vast network of domestic and
international holiday destinations, and
book your flights with the right bundle
of services to ensure an effortless
journey. Carefully hand-picked hotels,
quick car rentals, and travel packages
created in association with local holiday
experts – you have much to benefit
from SpiceVacations.com. On the
website, you can choose between
cheap, budget and luxury vacations;
search for the best hotels across India;
and have a great experience while saving
money. In addition, backpackers can add
some comfort to their travels without
lightening their pockets. For those who
haven’t booked their hotels, you can
book your hotel as soon as you land.
With SpiceVacations.com, you can
make changes in your itinerary online, at
every step of the trip. For instance, if you
want to opt for a bigger car even if the
package entails a smaller one, you can do
so with ease. You need to simply decide
on the theme of your vacation, such
as pilgrimage, honeymoon, heritage,
wildlife, beach or hills, and the platform
throws up a wide variety of deals in
terms of location, hotel arrangements,
local sightseeing tours and car rentals,
among others.
With this unique initiative by
SpiceJet, you have the flexibility of
booking a package at a minimal amount
and can pay the rest later through
various EMI options that are made
available along with other regular
options on offer.
As the website is powered by
SpiceJet, you can enjoy great flight
and hotel deals. All these culminate in
smart, convenient and detailed travel
packages. In keeping with the times, the
new product will also be connected with
SpiceJet’s mobile app but this will be
done at a later stage.
So, travel the world with SpiceJet’s
enviable travel packages and experience
the perfect holiday.
SHUTTERSTOCK
22
DECEMBER 2017

SPICEJET
INSIDER
INNOVATIONS FOR
COMFORT
& CONVENIENCE
AT SPICEJET, we believe that customer experience can always be improved upon. In
keeping with this philosophy, we are constantly looking for ways to make travel not
just a hassle-free experience, but also one that passengers will remember.
Our slew of innovations reflects this: a product that rewards travellers who travel only
with hand baggage; another that makes life easier for those who carry heavy baggage,
but not heavy enough to be checked-in; yet another that offers a bigger choice of
meals on board; a product that provides seat and meal of your choice; products to
please those who are always on the lookout for extra legroom; a prepaid card that
allows passengers to make cashless transactions; an add-on service that allows the
flexibility of cancelling or changing ticket(s) to suit your travel plan; and finally a
product that aims at greater customer ease in case of flight disruptions.
24
DECEMBER 2017

1SpiceMax
SpiceJet’s SpiceMax provides more
comfort and convenience. With extra
legroom and greater personal space,
passengers can travel with ease. Apart
from significantly extra legroom on board, fliers
can also enjoy other added ancillary products
such as priority check-in, complimentary
meal and beverage,
priority baggage
handling and priority
boarding (aerobridge
gates) at dedicated SpiceMax
counters at the airport for a
modest add-on fee per sector. The ease with
which fliers can opt for this product enhances
the experience. When booking a connecting
flight with a stop-over, passengers can purchase
SpiceMax seats separately for the two flights.
SPICEJET
INSIDER
2
Priority Check-In
This service provides the
passenger a hassle free
and comfortable check-in
experience at the airport
with SpiceJet’s dedicated priority
check-in counter. The passenger
can buy Priority Check-In while or
after making the booking. It can be
bought latest up to two hours before
the scheduled departure. The service
is available only on www.spicejet.
com or via SpiceJet’s Reservations.
The pre-paid service can be bought
for per passenger, per sector of the
journey, on the payment of the nonrefundable
fees. A Priority Check-In
for flights within and/or originating
from India costs `200. For flights
originating from out of India, the fare
is `300. The fees are refundable if the
booking is cancelled by the passenger
or the flight is cancelled by the airline.
There is no additional fee applicable
for infant passengers. Passengers who
have bought Priority Check-In will
have to check-in for their flight at the
airport check-in counter.
3
Hot Meals
Passengers have a wide
variety of meals to opt
for on SpiceJet flights
when they pre-book
a meal. Those flying Boeings are
spoilt for choice. There are four
options for breakfast. All-day
meals (which include snacks,
lunch and dinner) are spread
across eight menus. Seven
Chef’s Choice menus and
two kinds of Platters
are available 24x7.
Passengers taking
Q400 flights can
choose from eight
different types of
sandwiches. There is a great
variety on offer – from Vermicelli
Croquette, Saute Broccoli and
Chicken Stroganoff to Angara
Paneer Tikka Sub Roll. Prebooking
a meal offers other
choices and benefits, too:
the option of a glutenfree
meal; a menu with
Thai, Continental and Indian
options as well as Indian
Platters; discounted rates
compared to onboard
prices; passengers can
wish their loved ones on
birthdays and anniversaries
mid-air with a cake on select
flights; and a takeaway Kids’
Meal bag, shaped like an
airplane.
PRE-BOOK NOW!
Pre-book your meals to make
your journey with us a more
comfortable experience. You can
enjoy exceptional discounted
rates. It makes purchasing food
and beverages onboard an
entirely cashless affair. You can
pre-book at the time of booking
your flight, or add it later through
‘Manage My Booking’ on the
website, www.spicejet.com.
25
DECEMBER 2017

4
Seat + Meal Combo
This provides seat and
meal of the passengers's
choice at discounted rates.
The product can be purchased
for `399 on the Domestic and `499 on the
International Sector. It is on a per passenger,
per sector basis and can be availed of by
guest and SpiceClub member. A passenger
can purchase the product by clicking on the
Add-On’s Page/Seat Map Page on www.
spicejet.com at the initial booking stage or
by clicking on Manage My Bookings tab after
the booking has been made or minimum six
hours prior to the scheduled departure.
7
My Flexi Plan
Planning a trip will be
easier than ever with
SpiceJet’s new innovative
add-on service, My Flexi
Plan. Passengers can now enjoy
the flexibility of cancelling or
changing the ticket(s) to suit their
travel plan. If they are certain about
travel but not about the dates, then
they can book a ticket by opting
for this service. Customers can
opt for this add-on at the time of
booking by paying a fee of `1,125
for domestic travel ticket and `1,250
for international travel ticket. The
service will be applicable only for
one change or one cancellation per
ticket.
SPICEJET
INSIDER
5
Fly For Sure
Fly For Sure has been launched for greater
customer ease in case of flight disruptions.
It allows a passenger booked on SpiceJet a
guarantee of flying in the next 24 hours in
case of a flight delay beyond 90 minutes, missing a flight
not exceeding 30 minutes from airport check-in closure of the
original flight or a flight cancellation by the airline. With Fly For
Sure the passenger gets to fly, in spite of the above unforeseen
circumstances. It is available while booking for the flight and
SpiceJet will reimburse the passengers for an alternate flight
ticket (not exceeding double the price of the original ticket or
the cost of second ticket, whichever is lower) on the airline of
their choice in the same sector within 24 hours of the original
scheduled booking with SpiceJet.
6
Carry More On Board
Making air travel even more
convenient, SpiceJet’s ‘Carry More On
Board’ is a service for travellers with
heavier cabin baggage. It is targeted at
passengers who carry cabin baggage heavier than
7 kg, and do not want to check-in. Fliers can carry
bags weighing up to 5 kg extra, a maximum of 12
kg on board, while paying a nominal fee for each
kg above 7 kg. Bags can be heavier, but not larger,
and the standard free baggage allowances remain
as before. Customers can opt for this product during
airport check-in and at airport ticket counters.
8
Hand Baggage Only
This is another unique product that offers a discount to those
passengers who carry only hand baggage. Available on most direct
domestic flights, this fare has a minimum 15-day advance purchase
period, and no free check-in baggage allowance is permissible.
Bookings for this can be made on www.spicejet.com, at airport ticket offices, and
through select online travel portals. Passengers should keep in mind that hand
baggage allowance does not change. Those who book these fares, but decide to
check in luggage later, will have to pay more.
26
DECEMBER 2017

OPENING SHOT
ART
LIFE'S MANY
COLOURS
Mural ‘Blooming Hope’
in the palliative care
ward at the Mahatma
Gandhi Medical &
Research Institute,
Pondicherry
Nishat Rehman
painting a school
bus in Bengaluru
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY artist Nishat
Rehman, whose forte is wall art/street
art, is on a roll these days, stunning
onlookers with one amazing project
after the other. Her latest work involves
painting all the walls of a school near
Rakkh village, 32 km from
Dharamshala. A passionate travel
photographer, Rehman has done her
Bachelors BFA from AMU-Aligarh and
Master of Fine Art from College of Art,
New Delhi. Her works adorn some very
prestigious public as well as private
spaces all across India. Here are some
we liked.
A public art project on a
100 feet long wall at the
beach in Kozhikode
The artist’s interpretation of
jujurana, the state bird of HP,
on one of the walls of a
government school
A street art project in a Pondicherry village
28
DECEMBER 2017

OPENING SHOT
TOURISM BOARDS
TWO-WHEELER
JOY IN
MAHABALESHWAR
IF ALL GOES WELL, you will
soon be enjoying the sights in
Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra’s
largest hill station, riding a hired
scooter. According to a new
proposal mooted by the MTDC
(Maharashtra Tourism
Development Corporation),
tourists will be able to rent twowheelers
to zoom around at
times convenient to them and
take off to spots that catches
their fancy. A MoU
(Memorandum of
Understanding) has already
been signed by MTDC with a
private player to kick off the
project. If all goes well, the
scheme will be extended to other
tourist centres in Maharashtra.
SHUTTERSTOCK
30
DECEMBER 2017

OPENING SHOT
SANCTUARIES
THE DAY OF THE BLACK BUCK
LIONS AND INDIAN WILD ASSES are
not the only animal species that
attract tourists to Gujarat. The state is
also known for its large population of
Black Bucks, which are found only in
South Asia. All of them are housed at
the Velavadar Black Buck Sanctuary,
47 km away from Bhavnagar. Formerly
the private grassland of the Maharaja
of Bhavnagar, the sanctuary was
created in 1976 and covers an area of
34 sq. km. There are 3,400 Black Bucks
here at present, up from 200 in 1966.
Clearly, a Black Buck conservation
programme has been a big success.
This is the right time to visit the
Velavadar sanctuary. November to
May are the best months to spot the
Black Bucks in their natural habitat.
ALAMY
32
DECEMBER 2017

OPENING SHOT
STATES
EXPLORING NEW WONDERS
ALL THIS WHILE you have associated
Jharkhand only with a certain
swashbuckling cricketer called Mahendra
Singh Dhoni. But the folks at Jharkhand
Tourism would like you to believe that there
is much more to the state. Now engaged in a
heavy round of promoting the natural and
cultural wonders of their state, they list out
its many attractions including national
parks, waterfalls, lush gardens and forests.
Nature plays a significant part of every
traveller’s experience in Jharkhand. Our
recommendations: Patatu Valley, with its
carpet of red and violet f lowers; River
Mayurakshi, which originates from Deoghar
in Jharkhand before f lowing into West
Bengal and merging with the Hooghly river;
and the stunning Lodh Falls, the highest in
the state, falling from two sides of a hill.
SHUTTERSTOCK
36
DECEMBER 2017

MELANGE
EVENTS
HOT DATES
DANCE // MUSIC // THEATRE // ART
DANCE
CONTEMPORARY DANCE SEASON
NCPA is presenting Contemporary Dance
Season 2017. The best of contemporary
dance has been inspired from
Bharatanatyam, modern dance and new
age styles. Audiences are being treated
to performances by big names in the field
of dance such as Anita Ratnam, Terence
Lewis Contemporary Dance Season,
Santosh Nair, Sudarshan Chakravorty, Tino
Sanchez and Avantika Bahl.
When: November 9, 2017 to December
7, 2017
Where: NCPA Mumbai
COMEDY
AMIT TANDON
Just back from a UK and USA tour, Amit Tandon is here with a
new set of hilarious jokes. 'Still Struggling' is his new show in
which he talks about things that he finds funny. He has a knack
of pulling out the funny from the tiniest of observations and
there is no barrier to his humour.
When: December 10, 2017
Where: DY Patil, Navi Mumbai
CINEMA
TIGER ZINDA HAIN
A sequel to Ek Tha Tiger, this film continues the story of two spies
Tiger and Zoya eight years later. Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar (of
Sultan fame), it stars Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anupriya
Goenka.
When: December 22, 2017
Where: All over
38
DECEMBER 2017

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MELANGE
EVENTS
FESTIVAL
PET FED
India’s biggest pet festival, Pet
Fed, is all set to steal the hearts
of pet lovers. The 4th annual
edition in Delhi is expected to
draw 25,000 pet parents and
4000 pets. The pet extravaganza
will feature fashion shows, talent
shows, workshops, police dog
shows and a dog art gallery.
After creating waves in Delhi, Pet
Fed will make its debut in
Mumbai. More information about
the festival at www.petfed.org
When: December 2-3, 2017
Where: NSIC Grounds, Okhla,
New Delhi
ART
HOMECOMING
New York-based artist Natvar Bhavsar’s first retrospective in India,
aptly titled ‘Homecoming’, is being held by DAG Modern at its
Mumbai Gallery. Bhavsar has been exploring the sensual, emotional
and intellectual resonance of colour, successfully marrying the vivid
colourful influences from his childhood in India and adulthood in the
art-cultural capital of New York in the 1960s and 1970s.
When: November 20, 2017 to January 25, 2018
Where: DAG Modern, Mumbai
CULTURE
STORIES OF THE DESERT
Sahapedia.org, an open online resource on India’s art,
culture and heritage in collaboration with Rupayan
Sansthan, an institute that documents the folklore, arts
and music of Rajasthan, presents Stories of the Desert,
a celebration of the earthy culture of the Thar. The event
includes a talk by William Dalrymple, a folk music concert
and a food festival featuring local Rajasthani cuisine.
When: December 2, 2017
Where: Arna Jharna - The Thar Desert Museum, Jodhpur
DINESH KHANNA (CULTURE)
40
DECEMBER 2017

MELANGE
EVENTS
DECEMBER LISTINGS
1
3
5
What: Coffee Santhe
Where: Bengaluru
What: Festival of Plays
Where: NCPA Mumbai
What: International
Sand Art Festival
Where: Bhubaneswar
9
What: T Venkanna Solo Show
Where: Mumbai
15
What: Hot Air
Baloon Fest
Where: Hampi,
Karnataka
17
What: Comic Con 2017
Where: Delhi
22
23
What: Cycling expedition
Where: Kerala
What: AR Rahman
Encore
Where: Delhi
24
What: Half Marathon
Where: Jaipur
25
What: Christmas
Where: All over
29
What: The Greatest Showman (English film)
Where: Across India
30
What: New Year
Carnival 2018
Where: Jaisalmer
ALAMY (AR RAHMAN)
42
DECEMBER 2017

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Engg., IT, Mech., Mech (Auto), Mech. (Energy), Production & Industrial Engg., B.Des.Ind.Design
To apply online and to get details like eligibility and fee, please visit www.vit.ac.in
LAST DATE FOR SUBMISSION: 28 th FEBRUARY 2018
ONLINE APPLICATION FEE: ₹1150

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VIT offers students the choice to study the first two years at VIT University
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VIT - A Place to learn; A Chance to grow

MELANGE
INFORMATION
WHAT'S NEW
THAILAND IS ALL GEARED UP
FOR THE NEW YEAR •
The Air Race 1 World Cup Thailand 2017, the
50th Anniversary of ASEAN International
Fleet Review 2017, the 4th UNWTO World
Forum on Gastronomy Tourism – all these
and more feature in the Tourism Authority
of Thailand’s (TAT) calendar of events
supporting ‘Amazing Thailand Tourism
Year 2018’. The action-packed schedule
features unique Thai local experiences and
a marquee of international events. The
`Amazing Thailand Tourism Year 2018’
started in November 1, 2017 and will end on
January 1, 2019.
DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL IS HERE
One of the most anticipated retail events in the world, the
Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is around the corner with its
2018 edition, scheduled to be held from Dec 26, 2017 to Jan 27,
2018. Get set for a month-long promotion at the city’s malls,
markets, general retail stores and experience venues. There’s
everything for everyone — from huge discounts to amazing
deals, competitions and prizes. Tourists and locals have
numerous opportunities to get their hands on fashion, toys,
furniture, vehicles, jewellery and even dining offers.
PUNJAB EYES MEDICAL TOURISM
Following the example set by other Indian states, Punjab is all
set to tap the medical tourism segment in a big way. According
to media reports, the state government has prepared a
roadmap towards this end. The move is expected to give a
boost to the state economy by employment generation and
attracting investments. As a first step, a medical tourism policy
will be drawn up on the lines of the state’s cultural policy. Apart
from proposed hospital projects, Punjab already is home to
some of the biggest hospital majors in the country.
SHUTTERSTOCK / ALAMY
46
DECEMBER 2017

MELANGE
INFORMATION
GOA PROMOTES BIRDING
HOTSPOTS •
There’s news for beach bums tired of lolling
around Goa’s famed water bodies. The western
state, one of the most innovative in promoting
tourism, has now decided to focus on its bird
sanctuaries in a big way. Ornithologists and birdwatchers
are in for a treat – more than 500 bird
species have been spotted at the state’s seven
IBAs (Important Bird Areas). These include
the likes of Asian Openbill, Frog Mouth Bird,
Painted Stork, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Malabar
Grey Hornbill, Grey-headed Bulbul and Northern
Pintail. The avi-tourism season, which lasts in
Goa from October to February every year, is sure
to get a boost with the state’s renewed effort in
the birding direction.
SASSOON DOCK GETS A MAKEOVER
MAJOR TRAVEL EXPO IN BENGALURU
Thirty artists, including many foreign ones, have given
a stunning facelift to the 142-year-old Sassoon Dock in
Mumbai. The site of the city’s largest fish market, the
dock is the beneficiary of the Sassoon Dock Art Project,
a joint effort of St + art Foundation and Mumbai Port
Trust. Apart from giving a colourful look to the precinct
of the dock, the artists will also hold workshops, give
talks, organise screenings and install murals. Supported
by Asian Paints, the project allows Mumbai’s citizenry to
have a close look at the public art exhibition in a part of
the city which is off-limits. They can visit any time, from
noon till 10 pm, between Thursday and Sunday.
Karnataka’s Department of Tourism is all set to get into stride
with the new year by hosting the inaugural edition of the
Karnataka International Travel Expo (KITE). It will be held
between February 28 and March 2, 2018, at the Bangalore
International Exhibition Center (BIEC). More than 500 buyers
are expected to attend the event which is expected to boost
inbound travel and tourism industry. KITE is being supported
by major travel trade and hospitality associations. Karnataka
offers varied tourism experiences like wildlife and national
parks, pilgrimage destinations, festivals and beaches. All this
will be the focus at the major expo.
SHUTTERSTOCK
48
DECEMBER 2017

COVER STORY
FLASHBACK
Launch of
SpiceStyle.Com
NEW
CREW
UNIFORM
205
Biggest order of
planes by any
Indian airline
on Boeing
Major UDAN
participant
Best on-time
performance
among all
airlines in
India
ZOOMING
SHARE PRICE
New destinations added
50
DECEMBER 2017

2017
THE BEST OF
A YEAR OF SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENTS
A HISTORIC TURNAROUND FIRMLY BEHIND IT, SPICEJET IS ON A GROWTH TRAJECTORY THE
LIKE OF WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE IN THE AVIATION WORLD. IF FURTHER
PROOF WAS NEEDED, YOU JUST HAD TO LOOK AT ITS SCINTILLATING SHOW IN THE YEAR
JUST GONE BY. SPICEJET PUT UP STUPENDOUS PERFORMANCES ACROSS VARIOUS
PARAMETERS, SOME OF THEM EVEN PATH-BREAKING ACHIEVEMENTS WITH GLOBAL IMPACT.
THE END RESULT? A MOOD OF OPTIMISM CONTINUES SPREADING ALL ACROSS THE AIRLINE
Mega aircraft
deals with
global aviation
giants, best
passenger load
(31 months in a row), best on-time
performance among all airlines in
India for FY 2016-17, kudos from
senior American leadership,
expansion of the network to include
new destinations, judged by
ET Now as India’s best place to work
in, significant participation in the
UDAN regional connectivity
scheme and launch of an attractive
new uniform as well as a unique retail
venture – there were many
achievements that kept us busy in
the bygone year. Truly, 2017 will be
a year to remember in SpiceJet’s
remarkable 12-year-old story.
JANUARY 2017
BIGGEST ORDER BY ANY INDIAN
AIRLINE ON BOEING IN ITS
HISTORY
SpiceJet began the new year with a bang,
bringing in 2017 with a humungous
aircraft order that made news not only
in India but also all over the world. The
occasion was the airline’s order for up
to 205 next generation Boeing airplanes
valued at Rs. 1,50,000 crore. This was
the largest order by any Indian airline
on Boeing in its 101-year-old history.
The brand new B737 MAX planes
will start joining the SpiceJet fleet in
mid-2018.
ONLY ASI A N AIR LINE AT
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
2017 ANNUAL MEETING
SpiceJet was the only airline from
Asia participating in the annual
meeting of the prestigious World
Economic Forum held from January
17 to 20, 2017 at Davos-Klosters,
Switzerland. The massive Boeing
order was a hot topic of discussion
amongst participants at the
meeting.
FEBRUARY 2017
NEW CREW UNIFORM
A much-awaited, new uniform was
unveiled for crew and airport
executives. It symbolized a renewed
SpiceJet – chic, upwardly mobile and in
51
DECEMBER 2017

COVER STORY
FLASHBACK
The eye-catching new
uniform and (right)
models pose with some
SpiceStyle products
tune with the times. The new range of
uniforms aligned the brand positioning
with SpiceJet’s new tagline – Red. Hot.
Spicy. Passengers liked the new uniform
and talks about it were soon buzzing in
aviation circles. Largely retaining the
carrier’s signature red colour, the new
dress code was conceptualized by
celebrated designer Nimish Shah’s
SHIFT which has been patronized by
several celebrities like Sonam Kapoor,
Deepika Padukone, Kalki Kochelin and
Freida Pinto, among others.
MARCH 2017
BEST ON-TIME PERFORMANCE
AMONG ALL AIRLINES IN INDIA
FOR FY 2016-17
In October and November 2016,
SpiceJet registered the best OTP (On
Time Performance) among all airlines
in India. Scoring a hat trick, it ruled the
Indian skies and emerged as the best
on-time performing airline in
December too, despite the winter fog.
By the end of March 2017, its OTP was
the best for all airlines for the sixth
month in a row. So it was no surprise
that, when the data came in for the
financial year ending March 2017, it was
clear that SpiceJet was the best
performing airline in India as far as
OTP was concerned. Before the year
would be over, SpiceJet would be
creating a world record on the PLF
(Passenger Load Factor) front.
APRIL 2017
LAUNCH OF SPICESTYLE
April 5, 2017 was a red-letter day for
SpiceJet as it launched SpiceStyle,
a unique retail venture offering
exclusive online shopping options,
which extend to in-flight shopping as
well. SpiceStyle.com is home to some
of the best quality products carefully
‘curated’ and ‘hand-picked’ by a team
of specialists. Eleven different
categories of products are on offer
including a signature Rohit Bal series.
Customers can buy exciting, highquality
men’s and women’s accessories,
52
DECEMBER 2017

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COVER STORY
FLASHBACK
Mr. Mike Pence, Vice President, United States, with Mr. Ajay Singh, Chairman &
Managing Director, SpiceJet
SpiceJet put Kandla on India’s
aviation map under the UDAN scheme
to the United States in the last week of
June 2017. Mr. Singh met with the
senior American leadership including
Mr. Mike Pence, Vice-President of the
United States. In his keynote address at
the AGM of the US-India Business
Council, Mr. Pence said, “I know that
American companies are going to
continue to give India’s aviation
industry the wings it needs to soar. Let
me take the opportunity, as the
President (Donald J. Trump) did
yesterday, to say ‘Thank You’ to
SpiceJet for investing and believing in
American workers and American
businesses.”
Mr. Pence, of course, was talking
about SpiceJet’s orders to buy up to 205
aircraft from Boeing and another 50
aircraft from Bombardier. Also, as part
of the deal, SpiceJet in collaboration
with Boeing will set up a simulator
facility for pilot training, which is
expected to be ready in 2018. The US
Department of Commerce has stated
that SpiceJet’s Boeing order alone is
expected to generate 1,32,000 highpaying
jobs in the US.
bags, sunglasses, cosmetics and
jewellery as well as electronics.
SpiceStyle received an overwhelming
response and great customer reviews
within a very short period of its launch.
The online and in-flight shopping
options were followed up by the opening
up of the first brick-and-mortar
SpiceStyle store at DLF Galleria,
Gurgaon.
JUNE 2017
COMPLIMENTED BY SENIOR
AMERICAN LEADERSHIP
INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT
AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES
Mr. Ajay Singh, Chairman & Managing
Director, SpiceJet, was invited to be
part of a delegation alongside the state
visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
SINGLE LARGEST ORDER OF Q400
EVER PLACED WITH
BOMBARDIER COMMERCIAL
AIRCRAFT
SpiceJet signed a mega order on June
20, 2017 with Bombardier Commercial
Aircraft, for up to 50 Q400 turboprop
airliners, valued at about $ 1.7 billion.
This is the single largest order for
the Q400. The Q400 is the largest
turboprop aircraft available in the
market and the plane will help
SpiceJet develop its domestic
operations in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities
across India. Once the planes have been
delivered, SpiceJet will become the
first in the world to operate a 90-seat
turboprop, pending certification by
regulatory authorities.
54
DECEMBER 2017

COVER STORY
FLASHBACK
Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam Shri Sarbananda Sonowal addressing the
gathering after Dibrugarh became SpiceJet's 50th destination
important destinations. This included
Dhaka, which, on March 23, 2017,
became SpiceJet’s seventh
international destination when a direct
f light took off from Dhaka to Kolkata.
Patna was flagged off as the latest
station on SpiceJet’s domestic network
on July 1, 2017, with the introduction of
daily direct flights on the Patna-
Mumbai, Patna-Kolkata, Patna-
Hyderabad and Patna-Bengaluru
sectors. Dibrugarh became SpiceJet’s
50th destination when daily flight
services on the Silchar-Guwahati-
Dibrugarh route were started on
October 3, 2017. Jaisalmer was also put
on the country's aviation map and a slew
of new flights announced in Rajasthan.
JULY 2017
MAJOR PARTICIPANT IN THE
UDAN INITIATIVE
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik)
initiative has both aspiration and
inspirational elements behind its
conceptualisation. As India’s largest
regional carrier and an enthusiastic
supporter of UDAN, SpiceJet is a major
participant in this first-of-a-kind
aviation programme. SpiceJet has been
awarded six proposals and 11 routes
under the UDAN scheme. It was quick
off the block, launching two daily direct
flights on the UDAN routes of Mumbai-
Porbander-Mumbai and Mumbai-
Kandla-Mumbai on July 10, 2017.
This was followed by flights on the
Hyderabad-Puducherry-Hyderabad
sector on August 16, 2017. SpiceJet
then launched its fourth daily flight
under the UDAN scheme between
Jaipur and Jaisalmer from October 29,
2017.
SEPTEMBER 2017
GLOBAL AVIATION RECORD
BROKEN
September 2017 was the 31st monthin-a-row
that SpiceJet f lew with load
factors in excess of 90 per cent – a
global aviation record. Apart from
achieving one of the least
cancellation rates for any airline in
India, SpiceJet also emerged as
India’s second most valued Indian
airline. On January 1, 2017, the
SpiceJet share was quoting at ` 58.75.
As we go to press (November 23, 2017)
it has zoomed up to ` 143.00. No
wonder, it has been named by
financial software, data, and media
giant Bloomberg as the best
performing airline stock in the world.
OCTOBER 2017
MANY NEW DESTINATIONS
Throughout the year, SpiceJet has been
enhancing connectivity for passengers
by expanding its network to incorporate
NOVEMBER 2017
ELEVENTH SUCCESSIVE
PROFITABLE QUARTER
As we enter the last month of the year,
SpiceJet’s latest financial figures bring
more cheer. The airline has reported a
profit of ` 105.3 crore for the three
months ended September 30, 2017 as
against ` 58.9 crore in the same quarter
last year, making it the 11th successive
profitable quarter for the airline. This is
SpiceJet’s highest Q2 profit in its
history of operations. SpiceJet yet again
excelled on operational parameters to
report the highest passenger load factor
amongst all airlines in the country all
through the quarter. Significantly the
quarter also marked the fifth
consecutive month when the airline’s
domestic load factors have been in
excess of 94 per cent. Mr. Ajay Singh,
Chairman & Managing Director,
SpiceJet, said, “This has been yet
another great quarter for us and I am
very pleased with the exceptional
performance of my team. Every quarter
SpiceJet has a story which further
underscores our extraordinary
turnaround.”
56
DECEMBER 2017

DINING UNDER
THE STARS
THIS IS THE LAST MONTH WHEN
DELHIITES CAN ENJOY DINING AT
THESE CHARMING ALFRESCO
EATERIES BEFORE THE
TEMPERATURE PLUMMETS FURTHER
SOUTHWARDS. BY NEETA LAL
FOOD
EATERIES
A
nip in the air, golden sunshine and delicious food. Can anything beat
this Holy Trinity? The capital city of New Delhi - its sarkari culture
notwithstanding - is peppered with charming alfresco eateries
where you can savour sumptuous local and international food in
salubrious outdoorsy settings.
What makes these dining spaces all the more prized is that the city’s mercurial
weather (too chilly, too rainy, or too hot) allows such indulgences only during the
two winter months of November and December before the mercury starts
plummeting, sending Delhiites (and their visiting guests) huddling into thick quilts!
So bask in sunlit glory and dig into some delish food at these top tables in town.
LODI – THE GARDEN RESTAURANT
Set against the backdrop of the historic
Lodhi Gardens sprinkled with majestic
16th and 17th century Mughal
architecture, Lodi the
Garden Restaurant is one of the most
popular al fresco dining establishments
in the city. Offering the best of
European-influenced cuisine, the
stunning setting offers open tables,
colourful gazebos, lively music and a
buzzy atmosphere . Located in a lush
botanical garden, the quaint eatery
seems far away from the urban whirligig.
There’s jazz on weekends.
Chattering birds vie for your attention
with their own mellifluous symphonies!
A romantic dinner for two on the
outdoor terrace? But of course. The
eatery’s congenial staff will customize
things to make the occasion as
memorable as possible. There are
evening cocktails on offer as well at the
restaurant’s leisurely Sunday brunch
where you can sit back and relax on the
grassy greens while live music, the sizzle
of chefs’ cooking and delicious aromas
fill your senses. The eatery also hosts a
range of cultural events — from live
music to book readings and standup
comedy shows, making it the ideal
cultural hub in New Delhi.
Near Lodhi Gardens, Lodhi Colony
91-098187 43232
SEVILLA, THE CLARIDGES
Located in the heart of Lutyen’s Delhi
within the elegant The Claridges’ Hotel,
Sevilla — named after the famous art and
cultural capital of southern Spain — is the
city’s most recognized alfresco
European restaurant. Winner of
countless `best restaurant awards’, the
place captures the magical setting of an
idyllic Mediterranean landscape speckled
with streams and pebbles amidst
beautiful foliage.
As mellow Spanish tunes fill the air,
Sevilla’s indoors and outdoors merge to
provide a free flowing, casual dining
experience, recreating life by the Spanish
Riviera. Brace yourself for an authentic
and innovative gastronomic adventure
from the southern coastal regions of
Europe and Casablanca. The
smorgasbord includes zestful
Mediterranean, Spanish and Italian
dishes.
The Claridges, 12, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
Road, New Delhi – 110011
Phone: 011 3955 5096
58
DECEMBER 2017

OTTIMO AT WEST VIEW,
ITC MAURYA
Capturing the vibrant spirit of Europe,
Ottimo at West View has the perfect
ambience for an alfresco Sunday brunch.
Set atop the rooftop of ITC Maurya, the
restaurant’s dining space is inspired by
Italy and the warmth of an Italian
kitchen albeit in a fine dining setting.
Lazy winter brunches combine with one
of the best views in town for a
scintillating foodie experience.
The decor is dominated by pronounced
FOOD
EATERIES
European influences. There are vibrant
hues with a huge community table that
sits on a beautifully patterned floor. The
community table exemplifies the Italian
dining concept of eating family-style in a
big, gregarious group. And while you’re
at it, feast your eyes on the water body or
the `herb wall’ which sprouts leafy
greens to add fresh flavour to the eatery’s
food.
The menu features a range of
antipasti. Sample their delicate flavours
and then move on to one of the three live
stations. A
tantalizing
repertoire of pastas,
pizzas and Burratta,
the juicy Italian
cheese (that’s bound
to make your mouth
water) awaits you
here. Something
robust? Why not
check out the hot
grills or `the roast of
the day’? And of course, like any good
Italian kitchen, there’s plenty of warm
bread at hand to mop up that plate. Sip
some vino in between. Let the service
staff help you pair the perfect wine with
your meal from the restaurant's
extensive wine collection. For a sweet
finish, end with scrumptious desserts.
Ah, la dolce vita!
ITC Maurya Hotel
Diplomatic Enclave, Sardar Patel Marg
Phone: 011 2611 2233
SMOKE HOUSE DELI, VASANT KUNJ
Possibly one of Delhi’s most immersive
café experiences, Smoke House Deli,
Vasant Kunj, is ensconced in a
welcoming white fence. In winters, this
bewitching space is thrown open to a
variety of jazz artists and musicians.
Guests can lounge outdoors and relish a
finely-crafted cocktail and a tasty steak
while listening to tinkling tunes. There’s
a majestic view of a Bellagio fountain
whose dancing and musical waters will
up your fun quotient further.
The all-day dining takes a fun,
irreverent look at restaurant spaces and
serves comfort food. Tuck into
wholesome, gourmet meals — juicy
tenderloin burgers, truffled scramble
eggs, Chorizo hot dogs, fresh porcini mac
n’ cheese. Bask in sunshine while
immersing yourself in culinary
pleasures under a glittering vault of
stars. Or maybe you’d like to browse
through eclectic books while
nursing a hot cuppa? How about
tucking into a power lunch while
using the eatery’s free Wifi service?
Or sin with dessert while gossiping
and letting the wine course through
your veins. Oh, and don’t forget to
order the lip-smacking Rawas fish
marinated with lemongrass,
tenderly cooked prawns tossed in a
garlic salsa, Wild scented
Mushroom Fricasse with Truffle
scented Spaghetti and the Saffron and
Champagne Risotto. Mind you, no less
scrumptious is the resident chef’s Double
Tenderloin & Cheese Burger and the
succulent Pork Spare Ribs rubbed with
house spices.
Shop No 125 GF DLF Promenade Mall,
Vasant Kunj
Phone: 011 4607 5646
60
DECEMBER 2017

FRANGIPANI & ALFRESCO, THE LEELA
AMBIENCE CONVENTION HOTEL
One of the few customizable alfresco
dining experiences in Delhi, Frangipani
and Alfresco restaurants at the exquisite
Leela Ambience Hotel provide a
breathtaking view of Delhi’s landscape.
Decked up for various festivals,
Frangipani — the open patio — is the
favoured haunt for guests seeking
tranquility and great food. The versatile
venue is converted into an intimate and
specially curated space for candlelit
dinners and is also the favourite spot for
exotic food festivals. Through its food
events, the pretty restaurant has
recreated the glory of cities like
Amritsar, Kolkata and Mahmoodabad
with food to match . International grills
and barbeques are also part of its special
events. Alfresco, the other open-air
dining space, hosts beautiful cabanas
that provide a quiet and intimate setting
for guests on occasions like Valentine's
FOOD
EATERIES
Day. Both alfresco areas are an
extension to the hotel’s restaurants
where guests can sit and dine anytime
during the day or enjoy their cup of
coffee late into the night.
1 CBD, Maharaja Surajmal Road, Near
Yamuna Sports Complex
Phone: 011 7172 1234
BLOOMS, EROS HOTEL, NEHRU PLACE
Located in the heart of South Delhi’s
commercial and business district,
Blooms at the majestic Eros Hotel, serves
a smorgasbord of Mediterranean, Asian,
Indian and Chinese cuisine. It also offers
a picturesque seating for open air dining
overlooking lush green lawns and a
glutinous swimming pool. The awning
area is especially sought-after, inspired
as it is by traditional architecture and
depicts a high ceiling, wrought iron
chandeliers and stately hanging ceiling
fans. Needless to say, this is the punters’
go-to area in winters when Delhi’s
temperature allows outdoor settings.
The restaurant changes its mood as
the day progresses. Bright and beautiful
in the morning — with sun-dappled
lawns — it transitions into a beautiful
shed during the afternoon. A free
flowing white marbled water body adds
substance to serenity. In the evenings,
the tables are lit up with candles offering
a mesmerizing and romantic getaway
smack dab in the heart of town.
Nehru Place
Phone: 011 4133 1650
62
DECEMBER 2017

N E W A R R I V A L S
N O W I N S T O R E S
fifty years of great fashion
in

EVENTS
BALLOONING
SOARING
HIGH
THE FIRST EDITION OF THE ARAKU
HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL IN
ANDHRA PRADESH UNDER THE ‘LETS
VIZAG’ BRAND GAVE VISITORS A
UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.
BY BINDU GOPAL RAO
THE BUZZ IN THE AIR is palpable. The
crowds are swelling by the moment.
There are couples, singles, families and
kids all waiting with bated breath,
braving the cold winds. I am at the NTR
Grounds in Andhra Pradesh on a cold
winter evening to join a motely group of
locals and tourists to witness the night
glow at the first edition of the Araku Hot
Air Balloon Festival. And soon enough I
hear a child’s excited voice, “Look at the
back”. And as I turn around, I see the sight
of a balloon being inflated and soon it is
towering above everyone present.
As everyone is awestruck, comes the
next spectacle. The balloon is lit up and
the colours magically come alive and glow
in the night and everyone’s cameras and
phones go on an overdrive mode. Well
after all we are looking at one of the
specially shaped balloons called Neptuno
that has a fiery red colour and is shaped
like a sea horse that sways next to regular
striped balloons. “We have created this
experience merging ballooning with
glamping to give visitors a unique
experience under the brand ‘Lets Vizag’
which is primarily a leisure and
entertainment destination. It is
important that we create events that have
the potential to draw people who are then
attracted to the DNA of the locale,” says
Kaushik Mukherji, Lead Consultant,
Andhra Pradesh Tourism.
A three hour drive from
Vishakapatnam through a circuitous road
gets me to the camp site at Araku Valley
for balloon festival. With 16 teams, the
festival saw participation of 13 countries
including India, Australia, USA, South
64
DECEMBER 2017

EVENTS
BALLOONING
Korea, Brazil, Switzerland, Japan,
Malaysia and Taiwan.
Samit Garg, CEO of E-Factor and
SkyWaltz that has organised the festival
in association with Andhra Pradesh
Tourism, explains, “Araku is being
promoted as an ecotourism hub and we
have got this zone to ensure that we create
experiences that will attract people to
come here. And when you see the valley
from the balloon it gives you a fantastic
perspective as you get wowed by the
valley scape. Aviation sports like
ballooning and para motoring will be the
right activities we will add to create these
experiences." As you get on the balloon,
the sight you see is bewitching – a riot of
all shades of green interspersed by the
bright yellow flowers of the Niger plant
against the mountainous Eastern Ghats.
The landscape from the top has a
magical charm that is one of pristine
beauty and you just cannot stop yourself
from using superlative adjectives. I spoke
to Ram Kumar an employee with a private
firm in Visakhapatnam to get his
thoughts on the festival and he was agog
with excitement, “It is a first-of-its-kind
festival that I did not want to miss so I
landed a day before it started with my
family.” Apart from the morning flight,
the event has tethered flights and night
glows in the evening.
I also had a chance to interact with
many of the pilots on their take on flying
in Araku and a uniform response I got was
that the people here were very warm and
friendly. “This is the first time a model
balloon is here in India called Weba and
the name of the character is Arsene and it
is well known in Belgium and we have had
a great response to this balloon. The
specialty of this balloon is that it can be
flown in tough weather conditions too
and the audience can touch and feel the
balloon. After we inflated the balloon, we
went close to the audience who were
thrilled to bits,” said Luc De Wulf a pilot
from Belgium. Interestingly, the festival
also had participation from women pilots
like Izzati Khairudin from Malaysia, who
said, “Flying in Araku is amazing and it is
stunning to see such beautiful locations in
India and ballooning is an amazing way to
see a location’s actual beauty.”
Incidentally, with ballooning, the concept
is to follow the wind and as such the
weather is most important – you can fly
only in calm weather when it is not
raining and when it is not too windy.
Peter Dutneall, a pilot from Australia
who has been ballooning since 1990 adds,
“When you see the farmlands from the
top it looks like a patchwork quilt. There
are so many different colours that the
sight is really amazing. Also there are lots
of places to land so it is wonderful.” With
its dense coffee plantations, valleys
covered with thick foliage and stunning
waterfalls, Araku is a destination that has
many secrets up its sleeve. And what
better way than getting on a hot air
balloon to savour these wonderful sights
for yourself?
66
DECEMBER 2017

FOOD
FENNEL
EACH SPICEJET AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN NAMED AFTER
A PARTICULAR SPICE. IN THIS ISSUE WE TALK ABOUT
THE BENEFITS AND USAGE OF FENNEL
THE
FABULOUS
SPICE
KNOWN FOR ITS SWEET, ANISEY
TASTE AND CELERY-LIKE CRUNCH,
FENNEL IS PERHAPS THE SINGLE
SPICE THAT HAS TRANSCENDED
BOUNDARIES AND CULTURES –
AND IS YET QUITE MISUNDERSTOOD.
BY MADHULIKA DASH
Seafood Risotto with fennel
Raan spiced up with fennel
IN PHILTRE, the Gurgaon-based
restaurant known for its Indian
delicacies, an interesting item on the
menu is the Gur Mukhwas. Served as an
after-meal palate cleanser and digester,
what makes this modern retelling of the
ancient creation isn’t just its
presentation – which is a smoke-based
cold drink, but also the way each
ingredient is layered to give it that
nostalgic connect. And one ingredient
that does it so beautifully is fennel. Or
rather fennel extract, says Executive
Chef Gaurav Raghuvanshi, whose
fascination with the spice began a few
years ago as an experiment.
“We were creating this sauce that
had to have three levels of sweetness,
and that’s when I reached out to fennel,
whose proximity to celery and anise
makes it a beautiful herb to experiment
with,” recalls Chef Raghuvanshi, who
finally created the sauce for the lamb
shank using the shoots of fennel and
roasted, powdered fennel seeds or saunf.
And since then, confesses the young
chef, he has made fennel a key ingredient
of his food experiments. In fact, Philtre’s
Mutton Roganjosh Naanzas is an
excellent example of the chef’s new
fondness for the seeds, as, he adds, “they
are available round the year.”
However, Gur Mukhwas isn’t the
first case where fennel is being used to
give an interesting twist to a dish. Fennel
in fact has been at the foundation of
many Indian cuisines. Kashmiri food, for
instance, uses a lot of fennel both in seed
CHEF VIKAS SETH
68
DECEMBER 2017

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FOOD
FENNEL
From top: Tabak Maaz; and fennel infused
scallop & shrimp dumplings
and powder form to add a new taste
profile to the dish. Tabak Maaz, one of
the key components of the multi-course
Kashmiri meal Wazwan, is perhaps one
of the finest examples of how fennel can
lend an interesting twist to a dish that is
practically made of the boniest part of a
goat.
Another example of fennel’s
versatility is the Paanch Phoran, an East
India spice mix that is used widely to
create some of the famous Bengali and
Oriya dishes. It is, says Chef Sabyasachi
Gorai (Owner, Mineority By Saby) that
secret ingredients that lends that
interesting liquorice-like sweetness to
some of their dishes like the prawn
curry, mutton and even the potato
dishes.”
In fact, says Chef Rajiv Malhotra
(Executive Chef, Chor Bizzare), “Fennel
has an assertive flavour, which makes it
an ideal pairing with dishes that either
have multi-flavour play or need that
subtle sweetness. It thus becomes a key
ingredient that works for the entire
range from masala dishes like Kashmiri
Aloo Dum to meat, chutneys and even
sweets like gulgule.”
Agrees Chef Sharad Dewan
(Regional Director-Food Production,
the Park Hotel), who calls fennel the
game-changer of the spice box. “And this
is not only the case with the seeds, which
is traditionally used as whole seeds or
the roasted powdered form, but the fresh
fennel as well,” says Chef Dewan, who
finds it an interesting pair for any
produce that has fat content – be it meat,
prawns, sweet potatoes or even cheese.
His fennel and prawn based-risotto
is one of the dishes that showcases how
different parts of fennel can be used to
create an interesting taste lattice for a
dish. “Its proximity to celery and
cabbage,” says Chef Vikas Seth of
Sriracha restaurant, “along with the way
the sweetness varies across the fresh
fennel plant often makes it an interesting
addition to dim sums, especially if you
are working with sweet produce like
pumpkin or crab meat.” In addition, adds
Chef Seth, “the crunch makes it an
excellent choice for a slaw, and even
when one has to create interesting
pairings with churros.”
For Deccan specialist Chef Arun
Kumar TR, fennel, which reached the
coastal areas through land, is an
excellent choice for rasams and curries
that demand contrasting sweetness. “I
often use it while making crab meat
rasam or to add that little twist to the
Thakkali Rasam.” And while the usage,”
says Chef Kumar, “is almost negligible
compared to how it is used in North
Indian cooking, it is enough to give a
mundane dish that little chutzpah.”
Agrees Chef Malhotra, who finds
saunf to be an interesting alternative to
onion and tomatoes, and cites the
example of Kashmiri gravies. Most of
these gravies, he says, are created using
saunf’s ability to lend a dish the body,
warmth and sweetness. And depending
upon its ability to pair can create a dish
that is both delicate and rich, he
concludes. This perhaps is the reason
why fennel has been part of many dishes
that have crossed continents like dolmas
and kebabs. And even the halvas, says
Chef Gorai, who finds fennel an
interesting addition to any dessert.
72
DECEMBER 2017

STAR BUZZ
MADHURI DIXIT
“ONE
THING
I WILL
NEVER
EVER GIVE
UP IS
DANCE”
MADHURI DIXIT ON FAME, BEING A
CELEBRITY ADVOCATE FOR UNICEF,
ON THE ISSUES THAT WORRY HER
AND TURNING PRODUCER.
BY AARTI KAPUR SINGH
It would be a cliché to talk about
her radiant smile. But then, it is
that smile that makes hearts skip
a beat when Madhuri Dixit Nene
flashes the megawatt pearlies. At 50, the
ageless dhak dhak girl wields the charm
to make people go weak in the knees.
At the height of her popularity,
Madhuri Dixit, or MD, as I have always
called her, was, for more than a decade,
the closest thing Bollywood had to a
female superstar, her popularity
transcending class barriers and leaping
over art and mainstream fences.
And now, more than two decades
after she made her debut in Abodh, she
74
DECEMBER 2017

is on her way to ruling the
scene once again - as a
producer. Padma Shri
Madhuri Dixit also
juggles between her
other commitments and
her online dance ‘school’.
The pressure is intense
but she’s enjoying it to the
hilt.
It’s hard to take your
eyes off her when she
extends her hand in a
warm handshake as we
sit down to chat on what
is keeping the actress
with the most Filmfare
Award nominations (13 in
all) super busy…
Actor, dancer, eternal
heartstealer, wife, mother,
UN Celebrity Advocate for
Child Rights and now
singer… you have your
hands full!
Yes, and I say with a lot of
gratitude that I am
blessed. I don’t know
about the ‘heart-stealer’
bit though (laughs). What
I do know is that by virtue
of the fact that people recognise my face,
I have the opportunity to influence
people. I can say with a fair amount of
self-belief that people do listen when I
say something. And what better way to
exploit this little fame than spread
awareness about issues that matter to
me and should matter in a world where
children, our future, are exposed to
dangers. I take all my roles seriously, but
this one, as celebrity advocate for
UNICEF, is closest to my heart.
What have been the best and not-so-good
bits about being a Celebrity Advocate?
The best bit is this sense of achievement
when you are able to convince people
STAR BUZZ
MADHURI DIXIT
about basic things such as
immunization, right to life and so on. I
have been to villages and interacted
with people who work at the grass root
level — Aasha workers, Aanganwadi
workers — and to see their commitment
to the cause inspires me. I would love to
be able to do more. The kind of facilities,
or lack of them that social workers face
in rural areas, is not in equivalence to
their commitment to the grave
problems. Often they travel on foot —
door to door, village to village. I want to
be able to add my strength to their work.
You opened the conversation at Stanford-
AIF (American India Foundation)
conference with the
challenges that women and
children currently face in
India… on whom does the
onus to better the lot of
women and children lie?
I think it is very easy to
blame governments and
administrations. But the
ultimate responsibility is
on every educated citizen
to make the effort to
spread awareness and
then help in any way that
he or she can. We make
up the society, the city,
the country and the world
- and it is on us that the
responsibility lies. I am
more vocal about it now
that I have two kids and
am constantly worrying
about the world I will be
leaving behind for them.
What are the issues that
worry you?
When I was chosen by
UNICEF a few years ago,
I was aware of the
challenges our country
faces in the fields of
healthcare. But now that I travel
extensively with them to rural areas, is
when I truly am becoming aware of the
gravity of the problems. We may have
reached the space, but the villages face a
huge disconnect. That they have no or
very little access to basic healthcare
worries me. On an urban level, the
threats of child security and safety — in
an ever-increasing digital age — worry
me.
From Tezaab to Beta to Khalnayak to
Mrityudand and more recently Aaja
Nachle, Gulab Gang and Dedh Ishqiya -
you have played women who have a mind of
their own and are not props to the hero. Has
76
DECEMBER 2017

STAR BUZZ
MADHURI DIXIT
that been a conscious
decision? Is that the kind of
cinema that you would like
to do?
Most definitely yes! I do
not like it when my
character is to be just a
dolled up and pretty
thing on screen. Women
think, women analyse,
women are not just pretty
faces. I want to be part of
cinema where a woman
character has her own
identity. Yes it has been a
conscious decision to play
roles that contribute to
the narrative of the film.
That is the sort of cinema
I like and will be doing in
the future.
You are also venturing into
production… What have
you planned for yourself
behind the camera? Why
not direction?
I would love to direct. But
not at the moment. I want
to be able to gather the wisdom and
experience as a producer first. So I am
producing my very first Marathi film. I
would then like to produce a Hindi film
as well. Direction may happen in five to
six years, but not before that. Acting is
about stepping into someone else’s
shoes. To me, it is about conveying the
heart and soul of a character for all to
see and experience. I have read many
scripts lately and finally found one that
inspires me to higher heights. I guess
you will have to judge for yourselves
when my first Marathi film comes out
next year.
You were supposed to play Anil Kapoor’s
wife in Dil Dhadakne Do. It is being said
you will be coming together for Total
Dhamaal after 16 years… can you confirm?
I cannot confirm at this stage. The
official announcement of all my films
come from the studios. And that is how I
choose for it to be. So let this be a secret
for now (laughs). But I am quite excited
about my cameo on Sanjay Kapoor’s
recently launched show, Dil Sambhal
Jaa Zara, which airs on Star Plus. It was
fun to recreate Ankhiyan Milaoon Kahi
Ankhiyan Churaun from the
film Raja onscreen after 20 years. I want
to be able to do quality cinema only. That
is because I have kids that need me. And
if I have to be away from them, the
reasons had better be good. My kids are
my legacy. They carry a part of me. They
are my connection with the world even
when I won’t be there anymore. My
movies are something to
nurture my soul but they
don’t define me. The
films or other projects
should be special enough
for me to take the effort of
getting out of the house.
The one thing I will never
ever give up is dance! And
in this, my husband backs
me completely. In fact
‘Dance With Madhuri’
was his brainchild and he
is very kicked about it. I
also hope to cut a music
album soon. I have
recorded a few tracks and
I hope people will like the
album.
The extent of the global
phenomena that
is Madhuri Dixit can be
gauged from the fact that
there will soon be an
American TV Series based
on you. How do you think
you would feel looking at
your life portrayed on
screen?
I think it is a show ‘inspired’ by my life.
So it is not a blow-by-blow account of my
life. I was pleasantly surprised in the
summer of 2016 when Sri (Rao) said he
wanted to do a series in America
inspired by my life. So the story follows
about how I settle down with my
bi-cultural family and try to bring a
colourful lifestyle to an otherwise dull
town. As I chatted with Sri, the story
evolved and Mark Gordon Productions
came on board, wanting to produce it.
Bringing on Priyanka was perfect in that
she had experience with the landscape.
It’s a fun concept and will be shot as a
single-camera sitcom which will blend
comedic and dramatic elements. I think
it will be entertaining.
78
DECEMBER 2017

VIEWPOINT
YOGA
THROUGH THE
MYSTIC EYE
RANKED AMONGST THE 50
MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN
INDIA, SADHGURU IS A YOGI,
MYSTIC, VISIONARY AND
BESTSELLING AUTHOR.
SADHGURU HAS BEEN
CONFERRED THE PADMA
VIBHUSHAN BY THE
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA IN 2017
My boss wants me to listen to him even though
he is wrong. I feel his ego gets in the way of him
admitting to his mistakes. What should I do?
SADHGURU: The fundamental aspect of
spirituality is just this: before you create an
external situation the way you want, learn
to create the internal situation the way you
want. Which way do you want your internal
situation to be? Happy or miserable?
Obviously you want to be happy. Create this
first because in the internal situation, there
is only one ingredient – you. In the external
situation there are so many different
ingredients and all these ingredients will
never be totally in your control. You
manage, control, marshal and direct them
to some extent but you never have absolute
grip over all the ingredients that are
functioning in the outside situation. But
with the internal situation, you are the only
ingredient and if you cannot manage even
this one ingredient properly, how will you
manage the thousand ingredients in the
external situation if you are made the boss?
So first learn to manage your inner
situation and then do your best and become
indispensable to the outside situation.
SpiceJet welcomes its passengers to ask Sadhguru questions on yoga, health, wellbeing, and other topics of
general interest. Select questions will be answered in forthcoming issues. Please email your question to
mediarelations@ishafoundation.org. For more of Sadhguru’s wisdom, visit isha.sadhguru.org
82
DECEMBER 2017

ARCHITECTURE
STEPWELLS
Ruda Vav is in the village of Adalaj,
close to Ahmedabad
UNDERGROUND MARVELS
BUILT CENTURIES AGO TO CONSERVE WATER IN ARID AND SEMI-ARID REGIONS, EVEN TODAY ONE IS AMAZED AFTER
EXPLORING SEVERAL RICHLY DECORATED STEPWELLS IN PARTS OF GUJARAT, RAJASTHAN AND NORTH INDIA.
BY ANIL MULCHANDANI
SHUTTERSTOCK
84
DECEMBER 2017

ARCHITECTURE
STEPWELLS
in Gujarat. That these stepwells were
dedicated to deities signify the sanctity of
life-sustaining water apart from
acknowledging the grace of gods and
goddesses in providing this much needed
resource. There are more than a hundred
documented stepwells in Gujarat,
ranging from primitive ones found in
5th- and 6th-century Buddhist sites to
early 20th-century marble ones at
Wankaner that boast western
architectural influences.
ARCHITECTURE UNDER THE
SOLANKIS
A majority of the stepwells were built
during the 11th and 12th centuries, when
Gujarat was ruled by the Solanki Rajputs
of Chalukya dynasty, who ushered a
golden period of art and architecture by
building forts with ostentatious
gateways and temples with intricate
stone carvings. These rulers also built
water bodies such as stepwells called Vav
In 2014, UNESCO included in
its list of World Heritage
Sites an 11th-century
stepwell called Rani Ki Vav
(literally, the queen’s well)
in Patan in Gujarat, thus
(baoli, baori, and bawdi in Rajasthan and
Haryana), artificial lakes called talav,
and tanks with steps called kund across
the kingdom.
Among these water bodies, stepwells
were built in large numbers and often on
bestowing pride of place to this
a majestic scale, and apart from
indigenous form of architecture. Back in
conserving water, also served as resting
the day, stepwells were built as a solution
places and centres of social interaction
to the problem of water scarcity in arid
for locals and travellers. Importantly,
and semi-arid areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan
they could be accessed by usable ledges
and north India. With their vertical well
even when the water level rose to cover
shaft and adjacent trench complete with
the steps. However, with availability of
subterranean passages, chambers and
alternative water sources by the 20th
most importantly, steps leading to lower
century, some of these stepwells, by then
levels of water, these native structures
abandoned, were covered up by the
were constructed to store and provide
British for reasons pertaining to hygiene.
easy access to water, especially in areas
Others survived because of their
Top to bottom: Ruda Vav is based on
Indo-Islamic architecture elements; The
Rani Ki Baoli was built in 1699 by Rani
Nathavati of Bundi
starved of this basic necessity. To protect
users from the hot sun and rain, stepwells
were often covered.
Some of the most richly decorated
stepwells, bearing magnificent carvings
of Hindu deities, can be seen even today
religious connotation, for instance,
Ahmedabad’s Mata Bhavani Vav, which
dates back to the 11th century when the
city was called Karnavati after Solanki
ruler, Raja Karna, which is now a shrine.
Stepwells continued being built even
DINESH SHUKLA
86
DECEMBER 2017

Toll Free : 1800 3000 7808

ARCHITECTURE
STEPWELLS
probably used by ritual bathers, the main
well, though not in use, retains the ramp
used for drawing water from it. From
Adalaj, you can take the road north to
Patan, heading straight for the ruins of
the old town called Anhilwara Patan,
which was Gujarat’s capital for a long
time before Sultan Ahmed Shah moved
headquarters to Ahmedabad in 1411. The
main reason visitors come here is to see
Rani Ki Vav, which is among the
country’s finest stepwells and possibly
Gujarat’s largest.
With very little construction above
the ground, the first view of this
enormous stepwell, which dives down
seven storeys, is awe-inspiring. The
walls along the stairway bear nearly 500
The seven-storey Rani Ki Vav in Patan is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
by the Islamic rulers of Gujarat who
followed the same architectural
major sculptures and several small ones,
prominent among which are the avatars
traditions except for the fact that
of Lord Vishnu.
carvings of Hindu deities no longer
graced these structures. A case in point
is Dada Harir Vav, which is part of an
STEPWELL TRAIL
North of Gujarat, Rajasthan, too, has
ensemble of mosque and mausoleum of
numerous stepwells, notable ones being
Queen Bai Harir Sultani, after whom it
in Neemrana, Amber, Jodhpur, Osiyan,
was named.
Bhinmal, and Karauli. Rani Ki Baoli at
In Surendranagar district, north-
Bundi is perhaps the desert state’s most
west of Ahmedabad, one can see a
beautiful stepwell, with stairs going
number of stepwells, well-known among
down to the water level and meeting
which are Ganga Vav and Madha Vav in
each other in the middle at right angles.
the historical town of Wadhwan, and
Ornate chhatris cover the entrance to the
Choron Ki Vav, named such because it
two-tiered flight of stairs.
became a den of thieves after being
Another stunning stepwell is Chand
abandoned. North of Ahmedabad, in
Baori at Abhaneri near Jaipur.
ONE WOMAN’S FASCINATION
Chicago-based broadcast journalist
Victoria Lautman’s fascination with
stepwells has led to her documenting
them all over India. She has discovered
and documented more than 120 sites in
eight states in four years. She has been
shooting all the stepwells in great detail.
The first stepwell she visited was Rudabai
vav in Adalaj (Gujarat) 30 years ago. She
is on the lookout for a book publisher
to showcase her photographs. The
motivation: It would be useful to sell books
at the steeple lectures she does.
Adalaj village of Gandhinagar district is
Ruda Vav, easily among India’s finest
stepwells. Though it was built in 1499
when Ahmedabad was the Gujarat
Sultanate’s headquarters, this stepwell
was commissioned by Rani Ruda, the
wife of a Hindu feudal lord, and is
therefore intricately sculpted.
Like most other stepwells when
water rises and covers the steps, Ruda
Vav, too, can be accessed by ledges built
into the walls. While the first well
surrounded by steps and platforms was
Elsewhere in the country, Delhi’s
Mehrauli Complex houses stepwells like
Rajon Ki Baoli while northern
Karnataka is home to some very
impressive tanks with steps, bathing
areas, and wells.
Many of these architectural marvels
have withstood the ravages of time
and the vagaries of nature and continue
to stand testimony to traditional
water harvesting techniques and the
intricate workmanship that went into
creating them.
DINESH SHUKLA
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DECEMBER 2017

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ESSAY
EDUCATION
THE JOY OF
ALTERNATIVE
SCHOOLING
FAVOURED BY MANY PARENTS
ESCHEWING TRADITIONAL FORMS
OF EDUCATION, THERE IS A GROWING
ACCEPTANCE FOR ALTERNATIVE
SCHOOLS. BY SNEHA MARAPPA
GURUKULA WAS A METHOD of
schooling that was followed in ancient
times where the students and teacher
lived together in an ashram or a house.
Students were taught about the values
of existence and life, how to be
disciplined at every step of life, how to
sustain livelihood ethically without
harming nature and how to be socially
responsible. The vision of Gurukula
was simple — to live life in harmony
with ethical conduct and discipline.
During the British rule, gurukulas
slowly diminished and English schools
rose. Thereafter the schools followed
the concept designed by the British.
These schools follow a fixed system of
educating children and this is not
agreeable to all. This has led to some
educationists coming up with the
concept of alternative schools.
These alternative schools slowly
grew to become modern days
gurukulas — Jiddu Krishnamurti’s
school is one of the classic examples on
how widely alternative schools have
been accepted globally. What makes
these schools special is that they
inculcate similar principles and values
followed by the earlier traditional
gurukulas, that leads the children in
the right direction set by our ancestors
and also teaches to weigh their
knowledge in the form of ethics and
values more than materializing them
with grades.
As the name goes, an alternative
school has a unique style to educate
children; it can be the use of a creative
scenario or a practical reasoning
implemented while teaching. The
creative environment develops interest
in children to listen to the teacher
rather than the typical mundane
classroom lectures. The more creative
and happier the class is, the more the
children register in their brains what
they have learnt. Since practical
scenarios are used to teach, a child can
easily relate to them to remember what
they have learnt.
Parents, who do not want to send
their children to mainstream schools
where they are most likely to be judged
by grades, prefer alternative schools. As
the children grow, they develop
interest towards specific skills which
has to be mentored at the right age.
These alternative schools mentor the
children to excel in their area of
interest. All the children are paid
special attention to make them
confident and to develop their soft
skills.
Each one of us, children included,
has some weakness or other. But this
shortcoming should not hamper the
effort to boost a child’s strengths. A fish
should not be judged by its ability to
climb a tree. Similarly, children should
not be judged by their ability to score
good grades in academics when they
are brilliant artists or amazing actors
or good dancers or confident speakers.
Alternative schools play an important
role in enriching the child’s growth by
providing suitable training and
guidance.
Every child at an alternative school
is treated equally irrespective of caste,
creed or societal status. There is
absolutely no scope for competition.
This helps children to believe in
themselves and in turn, it helps them
reach their goals more easily. A positive
attitude is developed and this helps
them face critical situations with ease
as they grow up. The end result is
creating a child with a positive future.
94
DECEMBER 2017

SPOTLIGHT KARNATAKA
A KALEIDOSCOPE
OF JOYS
THE SOUTHERN STATE OF KARNATAKA HAS MANY SURPRISES UP ITS SLEEVE AND
THE BEST WAY TO DISCOVER THIS IS BY ACTUALLY VISITING THE DIFFERENT PARTS TO
EXPERIENCE THE MYRIAD CULTURES, FOOD, SIGHTS AND MORE. BY BINDU GOPAL RAO
96
DECEMBER 2017

The diverse elements
of the state that
was formed on
November 1, 1956,
incidentally celebrated
as Rajyotsava Day has a royal
connect too. Well, this was
always the State of Mysore
that was renamed as Karnataka
in 1973. The state itself has a
motely mix of ancient temples,
beautiful mountains, scenic
beaches and amazing wildlife.
In fact this is why the Tourism
department has aptly branded
the state - ‘One State Many
Worlds’. A pioneer in ecotourism,
the state has the second most
number of nationally protected
monuments in the country,
second only to Uttar Pradesh. In
fact the state is also emerging
as a medical tourism hotspot
courtesy its alternative therapy
centers as well as holistic health
units. Well, most recently Delhi
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
checked into a naturopathy
center in the State to treat his
chronic cough. Likewise Prince
Charles’ wife, Camilla Parker-
Bowles, Duchess of Cornwall
has been here several times for
holistic healing sessions! This
apart the state is home to several
important cities like Mysore,
Mangalore, Hassan, Coorg,
Bijapur and Shimoga, apart from
the capital Bengaluru.
SHUTTERSTOCK
97
DECEMBER 2017

SPOTLIGHT KARNATAKA
The stunning elephant parade
during Mysore Dussehra
RING IN THE FESTIVITIES
Think festivals and you instinctively
think of Deepavali and Dasara. While
these are also celebrated with much
pomp and gusto in Karnataka, there
are also several unique festivals like
the Karaga - said to be one of the
oldest festivals (dating back to many
centuries) of the state celebrated
to honour Goddess Shakti. Held
annually at the Dharmarayaswamy
temple in Bengaluru in March/April,
the nine day festivities derives its
name from an earthen pot in which
the Goddess is invoked and a grand
procession is held in her honour.
There is a fire-walking ritual on the
last day which sees frenzied activity
where the participants are immersed
in devotion. Interestingly the person
who carries the Karaga has to
undergo rigorous rituals including
being confined to the temple with
SHUTTERSTOCK
ROYAL ORCHID’S KARNATAKA FOCUS
ESTABLISHED MORE THAN FOUR
DECADES AGO, Royal Orchid Hotels
Limited today is among India’s fastest
growing hospitality chains and even
today is in an aggressive expansion
mode. Promoted by Chender K
Baljee, it has become one of India’s
most wellknown
names in
hospitality.
Renowned
for
attention
to detail
and design,
Royal
Orchid
Hotels
offers
myriad
options of business hotels ranging
from luxurious 5-star hotels
to economy business hotels. It
primarily operates 5 and 4 star
hotels, enabling it to target the
discerning business and leisure
traveler. It is present across the
country, operating 47 hotels in
33 cities. The group offers areacentric
specialties to its guests
that provides them the experience
and feel of the locality. One such
location is Karnataka which is
currently among the fastest-growing
states in the country. Blessed with
great connectivity, it has emerged
to become a travel destination
as well as a growth driver for
various career-centric audiences.
The state has the perfect balance
of architecture and climate and
experiences a lot of migration and
tourists. Royal Orchid Hotels with
nine hotels across Karnataka in
major cities such as Bangalore,
Mysore and Shimoga, aims at
providing luxury stay and superior
service with competitive pricing.
98
DECEMBER 2017

SPOTLIGHT KARNATAKA
a diet of milk and fruits
as the pot he carries
is a symbol of the
Goddesses’ power. In
fact his wife becomes a
`widow' and hands over
her mangalsutra and
bangles to him and he
wears the same in the
procession. The Karaga
bearer is surrounded
by many turbaned,
bare-chested dhoticlad
Veerakumaras
with uncovered swords which is
significant as in the event that the
Karaga trips and falls, they are
supposed stab him. However, till
date this is has never happened.
The couple remarry post the festival
and the Karaga is immersed in the
salt water pond from which it was
brought originally.
Revellers brave the rain
during Mysore Dussehra
This apart, the Hampi Festival
is another annual affair that
celebrates the birthday of famous
poet Purandaradasa. The festival
has dance, music, puppet show and
fireworks as part of the festivities.
Likewise the Pattadakal Dance
Festival that takes place in January
every year is an ode to different
forms of dance and also has a crafts
mela that showcases the
traditional arts and crafts
of the state. Ugadi is the
New Year of Kannadigas
and the nine day Dasara
festival is celebrated with
a display of dolls at home,
a tradition unique to the
state. If you are in Bengaluru
in November, you can also
witness the Kadalekai
Parishe or the annual
groundnut fair near Dodda
Ganesha temple, near the
Bull Temple at Basavanagudi.
The controversial Kambala is
an annual festival celebrated in the
South Canara district of Karnataka
that involves a traditional buffalo
race. Likewise, Naga Panchami,
Ganesh Chaturthi and Makara
Shankranti are celebrated with
great gaiety.
SHUTTERSTOCK
REVA UNIVERSITY AIMS HIGH
Dr. P. Shyama Raju,
Chancellor of REVA
University
REVA UNIVERSITY,
BENGALURU, located on a sprawling
green campus spread over 52 acres
of land, has been built around stateof-the-art
infrastructure. This creates
an environment conducive for higher
learning and research. It has been
constantly updated with modern
technology, namely ICT, and seeks
to regain a balance in the teaching
and learning system. The main aim
of Dr. P. Shyama Raju, Chancellor of
REVA University, is to have it being
known as the best university and not
one of the best. The environment at
REVA University exudes oodles of
grace and fresh air, and to ensure
that the greenery continues to thrive,
Dr. P. Shyama Raju fully supports the
Swachh Bharat Mission by applying
its basic principles to the university
campus.
This all-round development was
recently recognised by the state
government of Karnataka and he
was conferred with the Karnataka
Rajyotsava Award, 2017, for his
contribution to the field of education.
This is the second highest civilian
honour of Karnataka state which is
conferred annually on the occasion
Hon’ble Chancellor Dr. P. Shyama Raju was
honoured with the coveted Karnataka
Rajyotsava Award 2017 by Hon’ble Shri
Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka
of the birth of Karnataka state on
November 1, celebrated as Kannada
Rajyotsava Day. While the ceremony
may have been magnanimous, the
effort and results were far more
glorious.
100
DECEMBER 2017

SPOTLIGHT KARNATAKA
The popular bise bile bhath
GASTRONOMY CALLING
Karnataka’s cuisine reflects a
beautiful story of the state. If you
are looking for traditional food, you
can have a typical breakfast of idlis
served with mildly spiced coconut
chutney, chitranna or lemon rice,
puliogare or tamarind rice and
khara pongal. Of course the famed
bisi bele bhath is a one pot meal
made with lentils, rice, vegetables
and freshly ground spices and is
an absolute must-try when you are
here. The best part is that this is a
great example of a balanced diet
rich in proteins and carbohydrates.
A typical meal includes
Kosambri, a salad made with
cucumber, sprouts, and grated
coconut and seasoned with mustard
and green chilies; Palya, a vegetable
preparation made with parboiled
vegetables, grated coconut, green
chilies and mild spices; and Gojju,
vegetables cooked in a spiced
tamarind curry. The meal will also
have Tovve, a mildly seasoned dal
curry; Saaru, a rasam; Huli, a thick
broth of lentils and vegetables
SHUTTERSTOCK
KARNATAKA BANK
THE PRIDE OF KARNATAKA
Mr. Mahabaleshwara M S,
Managing Director &
CEO, Karnataka Bank
MANGALURU-
HEADQUARTERED
KARNATAKA
BANK is one of
the time-tested
premier scheduled
commercial
banks in the private
sector. The bank was
established in 1924 and it completed
93 years of purposeful banking on
February 18, 2017. The bank has a
national presence with 776 branches,
1397 ATMs with 118 e-lobbies/mini
e-lobbies in 22 states and two Union
Territories. The total turnover of the
Bank as on September 2017 stood at `
97,685 crore with deposits of
` 56,558 crore and advances of
` 41,127 crore. The net profit for the
year ended September 2017 was
` 227.23 crore. The Bank has paid 40
per cent dividend on its equity shares
for the financial year 2016-17. It has a
highly dedicated team of around 8,000
employees ably patronized by around
1,57,000 shareholders and around 92
lakh clientele base.
It is a tech savvy bank and
was one of the earliest banks to
adopt Core Banking Solution, way
back in 2000. This has enabled it
to provide ‘Anywhere’, ‘Anytime’,
banking services and other advanced
technology based products to its
customers and to make rapid strides
towards digital banking. Karnataka
Bank has won several awards and
accolades under various categories
like Social banking, Information
Technology, Risk Management, Export
Excellence, etc., from renowned
institutions and organizations such
as IDRBT, FIEO, IBA, ASSOCHAM,
CIMSME, CFBP, STP, PFRDA, etc.
It has tied up with TOM Technology
Services Pvt Ltd to offer an internetbased
online money transfer solution
‘Remit2India’ to Non-Resident Indians
(NRIs) to enable them to remit money
to any bank in India from 23 countries
worldwide. The bank has exchanged
an MoU with New India Assurance Co.
Ltd., to introduce “Pradhan Mantri
Suraksha BimaYojna” and with LIC of
India to introduce “Pradhan Mantri
Jeevan Jyoti BimaYojna”.
102
DECEMBER 2017

SPOTLIGHT KARNATAKA
A bowl of kosambri
cooked with ground coconut, spices,
tamarind and special spice powder.
Another rice dish, vangibath, a
spiced rice with eggplant, ragi
mudde or steamed ragi dumplings
served with soppina saaru (a light
rasam made with fresh greens) are
also well known dishes.
Likewise when you head to
the South Canara district you get
to experience a mix of authentic
vegetarian Udupi food as well as
coastal delights like those made
with white meats including local fish,
crab, prawn, and squid preparations
marinated with coconut, ginger,
turmeric and local spices. Bhatkal
for instance is home to Laun Miriya
Mhaure, a fish preparation cooked
in a red chilli masala while Ankola
is known for Kotte Roti, an idli-like
preparation that soaks up the curry.
And while in Mangalore do try the
Neer Dosa, a crepe made with rice
batter and Kori Roti, crisp wafers
made of dry rice and fish and prawn
chutneys and pickles. And if you are
in Coorg, the Pandi curry or the pork
dish is the most famous alongside
other pork based delicacies that will
entice your palate. And to wash it
all down what better than the best
fresh filter coffee made with beans
from Chikamangalur or Sakleshpur
as well as masala majjige, buttermilk
with ginger, green chili paste, and
coriander.
WATER MATTERS
Karnataka is home to many
waterfalls and if you visit them in
the right season (post monsoons)
it is a great experience to see
natural water gushing down in its
full glory. The Abbey Falls in Coorg,
located about 10 km from Madikeri
in the Western Ghats in the midst
of thick coffee bushes and tall trees
entwined with pepper vines, can
be accessed via a short walk on the
hanging bridge that takes you very
close to them. Likewise the small
SHUTTERSTOCK
GOGTE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY’S
MANY DISTINCTIONS
KARNATAK LAW SOCIETY'S GOGTE
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (GIT),
the flagship institute of Karnatak
Law Society, Belagavi, was incepted
in 1979 and it is included under
sections 2(f) and 12(b) of the UGC
Act 1956, permanent affiliate and
an autonomous institution under
Visvesvaraya Technological University,
Belagavi. Spread across a sprawling
mango meadow
of over 23
acres, GIT
houses eight
under-graduate
and nine
post-graduate
disciplines
including
MBA and MCA
programs. GIT has the honour of
sheltering over 4500 students and
more than 250 highly qualified and
motivated workforce. The institute
also has the distinction of getting
NBA accreditation by AICTE for the
third time in succession, in 2015.
In the recent visit of NBA, five of
its programmes, viz. Civil Engg.,
Mechanical Engg., Electrical &
Electronics Engg., Electronics &
Communication Engg. and Computer
Science & Engg. were conferred with
the accreditation status.
A degree from the accredited
programme has global acceptability
and assurance about the quality
of education. GIT is accredited
with grade “A+” by the National
Assessment and Accreditation Council
(NAAC). Research and innovation have
been key strengths of GIT.
A band of research scholars
pursue Ph.D. and M.Sc. (Engineering)
by research through approved
research centres in all the streams
including Management Studies. The
institute has been growing steadily
on the
R & D front with funding support from
agencies like AICTE, DST, UGC, VTU,
etc. The institute has to its credit
some patents, thousands of research
papers and many product innovations.
104
DECEMBER 2017

SPOTLIGHT KARNATAKA
but magnificent Achakanya Falls is
a fascinating sight in the monsoons.
Surrounded by lush greenery all
around, this waterfall is hidden being
located within the dense forest
range of Western Ghats and a trek
will take you to them.
The Alekan or Alekhan falls
Jog Falls, one of the highest
plunge falls in India
located
around 18 km
from Charmadi
Ghats in
Chikamagalur
can also be
reached via
a tough trek
along a 90
foot drop. The
Apsarakonda
Falls in
Honnavar
taluk of
Uttara
Kannada descends from a height
of about 50 feet to a natural pond
formed below and you can witness
some magnificent sunsets as well
thanks to the endless stretch of
the Arabian Sea. For a simpler
experience head to the Balmuri
Falls, a famous picnic spot about
18 km away from Mysore, on the
way to the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam.
The waterfall is smaller compared
to most falls. Barachukki and
Gaganachukki are two waterfalls
situated near Shivanasamudra in
Mandya district created by the
Cauvery that runs down a 75 metre
gorge before it divides into two
branches that flows around the
island of Shivanasamudra. They are
very easy to access.
Among other falls in Karnataka
the noteworthy ones include Barkana
Falls, Shimoga; Benne Hole Falls
and Burude Falls (both in Karwar),
Chunchanakatte Falls, Mysore;
Chunchi Falls, Mekedatu; Dabbe
Falls and Hidlumane Falls (both
in Shimoga), Dondole Falls, Ujre;
Godachinamalki Falls and Gokak
Falls (both in Belgaum), Hebbe
Falls, Kallathi Falls and Honnamma
SHUTTERSTOCK
IN MANGALORE,
GET REAL WITH LAND TRADES
WHETHER IT IS RESIDENTIAL
SPACE OR COMMERCIAL SPACE
that you are looking for, the
common gateway for finding the
best of both in Mangalore is Land
Trades. Established in 1992, and
now in its Silver Jubilee Year, Land
Trades is
the city’s
top property
developer.
Among its
string of
successful
mega projects
are some of
the city’s new
landmarks. Its
latest
residential offering, presently
nearing completion, is ‘Solitaire’, a
towering 32-storey skyscraper. With
just 143 spacious apartments (2BHK
/ 3BHK / 4BHK and 5BHK Duplexes)
and wide array of luxuries, this is
an elite address that one would
love to own. Situated on Hat Hill
with a direct lookout to the sea,
its centre point of attraction is the
360 degree spectacular view from
any area of the city. Milestone 25,
the firm’s commercial project
commemorating its Silver Jubilee,
will soon be the new eye stopper
at the city’s busy Collector’s Gate
Junction, Balmatta. This is by
far the most desirable location
for doing business in Mangalore,
offering excellent space for
showrooms, retailing and offices
with all modern support features.
Not only is it the nerve centre of the
affluent section of the city, but the
vantage point of Milestone 25 also
makes its presence very compelling.
106
DECEMBER 2017

SPOTLIGHT KARNATAKA
Falls (all in
Kemmanagundi)
and Iruppu
Falls, Coorg. Of
course the most
well known falls
are the Jog Falls
about, 8 km
north-west of
Sagar town. This
is where the
Sharavati river
flowing over a
rocky bed about
227 metres wide
leaps from the
chains of the
ghats. The water
has four distinct falls, presenting a
sense of transcendent
grandeur and sublimity and are
rightly named as Raja, Roarer,
Rocket and Rani.
EXPLORE YOUR WILD SIDE
If you love wildlife, Karnataka has
an enviable set of national parks
and sanctuaries that are home to
several species of animals and birds.
Wild elephants in the Bandipur National Park
The state has
a rich diversity
of flora and
fauna. It has a
recorded forest
area of 38,720
sq km which
constitutes
20.19 per cent
of the total
geographical
area of the
state. This
is where 25
per cent of
the elephant
population
and 20 per
cent of the tiger population of India
reside. The Bandipur and Nagarahole
national parks, part of the Nilgiri
biosphere and Kabini, are great
places to sight these animals. You
SHUTTERSTOCK
JAGGI VASUDEV CALLS UPON STUDENTS TO
ADAPT HUMAN VALUES
JAGGI VASUDEV OF ISHA
FOUNDATION has emphasized
the need to update human values
on par with technological updates.
Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev was
speaking after inaugurating Gokul
Foundation’s newly constructed
building complex of Ramaiah Indic
Specialty Ayurveda Restoration
Hospital in Bengaluru. He had
an interaction with lecturers and
students at an open-air theatre of
M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology.
Speaking on the occasion, Sadguru
Jaggi Vasudev said technology had
developed by leaps and bounds. “It is
very important for students to update
human values on par with the speed
at which technology is being updated.
Human values have to be developed.’’
Sadguru opined that students
should not focus in only on scoring high
marks but have to give importance
to other curricular activities too.
“Learning is a continuous process and
it has no age limit. So, the students
should not focus in only on learning
from text books. There is a lot to learn
from the outside world. Importance
should be given to human values,’’
he said. Sadguru said education
gives inspiration and it is very
important to have inspiration and
interest to do any work.
“We have to work for the
betterment of society after availing
education. Education can get its
real value only when it is used for
the betterment of society. M.S.
Ramaiah Education Institution
has a long history. It has achieved
a milestone in education as well
as medical segment. It has done a
commendable job by the introduction
of ancient medicine by opening an
ayurvedic hospital.’’
Dr M R Jayaram, chairman of
Gokul Education Trust, was present on
the occasion.
108
DECEMBER 2017

SPOTLIGHT KARNATAKA
Giant squirrel Ratufa Indica in Bandipur
National Park
HERE IS AN ENVIABLE SET
OF NATIONAL PARKS AND
SANCTUARIES THAT ARE
HOME TO SEVERAL SPECIES
OF ANIMALS AND BIRDS. THE
STATE OF KARNATAKA IN SOUTH
INDIA HAS A RICH DIVERSITY OF
FLORA AND FAUNA
can also spot other animals like
leopard, wild dog, sloth bear, hyena,
spotted deer, sambar, barking deer,
four-horned antelope, gaur and wild
boars. At Kabini, you also have the
option to take a boat safari where
you can see the marsh crocodile,
monitor lizard and a variety of water
birds. The common langur, bonnet
macaque, jungle cat, slender loris,
leopard cat, civet cat, mongoose,
common otter, giant flying squirrel,
giant squirrel, porcupine, jackal,
mouse-deer, hare and pangolin are
also found in these parks. You will
need to book a safari at the offices
of these parks in advance and
typically there is an early morning
and later afternoon safari that is
conducted. The Dandeli Wildlife
Sanctuary is situated on the banks
of the River Kali at Dandeli in North
Karnataka and also happens to be
A male leopard stares majestically in
Nagarhole National Park
the second largest sanctuary in the
state. This is a natural habitat for
tigers, leopards, black panthers,
elephants, gaur, deer, antelopes,
crocodiles and a variety of snakes,
apart from avian species like
the golden-backed woodpecker,
crested serpent eagle, white
SHUTTERSTOCK
IBA BANGALORE CARVES A NICHE
Mr. Manish Jain,
Founder & CEO, IBA
BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS,
MODELS, STYLE AND PRODUCTS
have undergone a massive change in
past decade or two. This has resulted
in a sea change in the way knowledge
is shared and management courses
are taught. The role played by Indian
institutes in taking the legacy of
education to new heights has been
phenomenal, and Indus Business
Academy (IBA), Bangalore, has
proved to be a torchbearer that has
always challenged its own pedagogy
to meet the requirements of the
business and corporate worlds.
Established in 2001, IBA Bangalore
has emerged as one of the most
successful business institutions
in the heart of the Silicon Valley of
India. Under the able leadership of its
Founder & CEO Dr. Manish Jain, who
has been awarded and felicitated at
many platforms for his passion and
contribution in the development of
higher education, IBA Bangalore
has successfully carved a niche for
itself as one of the most respected
management institutions in India
today.
IBA has consistently been ranked
among India’s top B-schools with IBA
Bangalore being ranked in the list of
first 20 B-schools out of the 5000+
in the country to get international
accreditation. IBA differentiates
itself from other B-Schools by its
innovative pedagogy and its teaching
excellence. Says Dr. Manish Jain,
“We never compromise on quality
education and keep our curriculum
updated not only as per market
demands but also
as per future trends. At IBA we
focus on the future career growth
of our students along with,
of course, present employability.”
IBA’s unique ‘Osmotic Learning
Model’, that is 3D (Discussion,
Dialogue and Discourse)
representation of learning, aims
at making its students future
and industry oriented and most
importantly, better human beings.
110
DECEMBER 2017

INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION
Recognized by CHEA, (USA)
Dilip
Jain
Alternative learning
to shape the future -
SECMOL, Ladakh
Mohammed
Shammas Oliyath
Finding time is all about
priorities
Patruni Chidananda
Sastry
Dance with Data
Natasha
Singh
When sound meets
structure
Subhashish
Panigrahi
Save the languages
Dr. Sripriya
Venkiteswaran
Let food be thy medicine
Apoorva
BV
‘Bee’ing sustainable
Harit
Soni
Using technology for
Impact
Preethi
Srinivasan
Challenges are inevitable;
defeat is optional
We are advancing very fast, progressing day and night by leaps and bounds. But have we tried to ensure it as a
sustainable one? Have we thought that maybe it wasn’t setting the right example for the people following? How can
the story reach right audiences for a more compounded impact in the society?
So come and share, Experiences & stories…That set a better example
For The Future….
for the
DATE & TIME
13th December 2017
Time: 11:00 AM Onwards
VENUE
Indus Business Academy, IBA Campus
Lakshmipura, Thataguni Post, Kanakapura Main
Road, Bangalore-560062
For tickets, log onto
www.tedxibabangalore.com
Richa S: +91 9343518946 | Anuj: +91 9008415483

SPOTLIGHT KARNATAKA
breasted kingfisher,
grey hornbill, great
pied hornbill and
Malabar pied hornbill.
The Bhadra Wildlife
Sanctuary, a protected
area and a tiger
reserve, situated
amidst Western Ghats
in Chikmagalur and
Shimoga, is rich in
wildlife with diverse
range of flora and
fauna. The Anshi
National Park in
North Karnataka has
semi-evergreen and
evergreen forests and
a rich bio diversity as
well. If you are in Bengaluru, stop
by at the Bannerghatta National
Park that is a combination of a zoo
and national park and has safaris
The Golden Chariot allows you to explore
Karnataka in style
that take you through a tiger zone,
bear zone, leopard zone and more.
The Kudremukh National Park in
Dakshina Kannada is home to the
Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, dhole,
golden jackal, lion-tailed macaque,
sloth bear, gaur, sambar, spotted
deer, barking deer and more.
KLE SOCIETY - OVER A CENTURY OF
COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORMING LIVES
SEVEN
TEACHERS
SUPPORTED
BY THREE
PATRONS
started a
school and
founded the
Karnatak
Lingayat
Education
Society at
Belgaum
on November 13, 1916. KLE today
has 258 institutions,1,25,000+
students and 16,000+ employees
contributing to education, healthcare
and agriculture. Establishment of
KLE Academy of Higher Education
and Research (2006) and KLE
Dr. Prabhakar B. Kore, M.P.,
Chairman, K.L.E. Society,
Belagavi
Technological University (2015) have
paved the way for nurturing and
empowering skilled professionals.
KLE Academy of Higher Education
and Research which is ranked
among the Top 100 Universities
as per the National Institutional
Ranking Framework is contributing
to path-breaking work in women’s
and children’s health through
international collaborations
with National Institute of Health
(USA), WHO, Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation, UK Medical Research
Council, etc. KLE Technological
University is committed to promoting
entrepreneurship and is partnering
the “Make in India” initiative of the
Government of India.
KLE Society, with a combined
capacity of 4,000+ beds including
1,700 charitable beds, has emerged
as a leading provider of modern
healthcare at affordable prices.
The visionary efforts of its present
Chairman, Dr Prabhakar Kore, MP,
and the Board of Management,
have enabled the organization
define the societal landscape in
the region. The global status of the
organization is aptly complemented
by the fact that nearly 60 per cent
of its institutions are based in
the rural areas. Stepping into a
new century of commitment, the
organization surges ahead, striving
through innovation and research to
emerge as the leading educational
destination for the global
community.
112
DECEMBER 2017

SPOTLIGHT KARNATAKA
The Golden Chariot has been named after the
iconic stone chariot of Hampi
LUXURY JOURNEYS
If you have a week and want to
explore Karnataka in style, hop on
to the Karnataka special luxury
train the Golden Chariot that will
transport you to the lap of luxury
taking you on the only luxury train
in South India. Named after the
iconic stone chariot of Hampi the
train is done up in majestic hues of
purple and gold and has 18 coaches,
11 of which are reserved for guests.
Named after the various dynasties
that once ruled Karnataka, each
coach has four rooms equipped with
a TV and an attached bathroom.
Apart from Wi-fi, the train has
a gym, spa, business centre and
control room so it is like a hotel on
wheels!
Running between October and
March each year, the train offers two
RUNNING BETWEEN
OCTOBER AND MARCH
EACH YEAR, THE GOLDEN
CHARIOT TRAIN OFFERS
TWO ITINERARIES, THE
SOUTHERN SPLENDOUR
AND THE PRIDE OF
SOUTH. NAMED
AFTER THE VARIOUS
DYNASTIES THAT ONCE
RULED KARNATAKA,
EACH COACH HAS FOUR
ROOMS EQUIPPED WITH
A TV AND AN ATTACHED
BATHROOM.
itineraries, the Southern Splendour
and the Pride of South. The Pride
of Karnataka offers you a sneak
peek into the diverse sites of the
state including heritage, history,
architecture and wildlife. This
includes stops at the heritage city
of Mysore, a wildlife experience at
Kabini, a visit to the historical sights
of Tipu Sultan’s summer palace and
tomb in Srirangapatna and Hassan
where you can see the unique 57-
foot monolithic statue of Bahubali
in Shravanbelagola as well as the
sculptural marvels of the Halebid
and Belur temples. You also visit the
UNESCO world heritage sites Hampi
and Pattadakkal as well as the
caves of Badami as part of the week
long itinerary. The food is another
highlight and the mix of local and
international cuisine on board will
114
DECEMBER 2017

94.3 RADIO ONE IS INDIA’s MOST
ATTRACTIVE RADIO BRAND : TRA RESEARCH
Your favourite radio station brand, 94.3 Radio One INDIA, has been adjudged ‘THE MOST ATTRACTIVE
MEDIA – RADIO BRAND for 2017’ in a study by TRA RESEARCH. This was conducted across 16 cities and
10,000 brands.
We thank YOU – our listeners, advertisers and well wishers for helping us achieve the stature of INDIA’s
MOST ATTRACTIVE MEDIA – RADIO BRAND and being ranked in the TOP 1000 BRANDS ACROSS ALL
BRAND CATEGORIES in INDIA.
Next Radio Ltd. A subsidiary of Next MediaWorks Ltd.

SPOTLIGHT KARNATAKA
The Mysore Palace is one of the most-visited
tourist attractions in Karnataka
whet your appetite.
TOURISM INITIATIVES
Tourism minister Priyank Kharge
and his team ensures that there is
something new all the time, The
Tourism Department of Karnataka
has recently launched Prathama
(Pravasi Thana Mahiti) an online
management information system
that will collect, collate and
disseminate information relevant
to tourists. The website hosts
the list of tourist destinations,
hotels, resorts and homestays,
facilities for tourists and more.
In fact the government also
dedicates each year to a specific
aspect of tourism and 2017 has
been declared as “The year of the
wild”. The tourism department
will also be opening 12 eco trails
in the Western Ghats and reduce
the movement of unauthorized
trekkers here. Likewise the famed
annual Dasara festivities at Mysore
are offered as a package that
includes accommodation, meals,
sightseeing and events at the
Palace.
In fact the Golden Chariot
has a special run at this time too.
The tourism department has also
curated royal walks to enable
tourists to explore the heritage-rich
city of Mysuru. It is creditable the
the department is instrumental in
promoting destinations in a unique
way through events and festivals
that showcase the potential of the
destination and this is what makes
Karnataka a place like no other.
SHUTTERSTOCK
116
DECEMBER 2017

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
KSB’S ENERGY PUMPS
DIVISION RECEIVES ISO
9001:2015 CERTIFICATION
IN A RECORD TIME
INAUGURATED ON APRIL
28, 2017, the Energy Pumps
Division of KSB in India
received an ISO 9001:2015,
ISO 14001:2015 & OHSAS
18001:2007 certification
from TUV Rheinland. An
ISO audit was conducted in
September 2017 i.e. just three
months after the plant was
inaugurated at the hands of
Mr. U. C. Muktibodh (Director Technical – NPCIL)
and Dr. Jürgen Morhard (Consulate General – Federal
Republic of Germany in Mumbai). In a record time,
the IMS team carried out this herculean task of
demonstration of IMS system implementation and
maintenance. Energy Pumps Division, a new facility of
KSB Pumps Limited, is housed in an overall plot area
admeasuring 100,000 sq. m. This division is dedicated
to the manufacturing of high pressure multistage
pumps, barrel casing pumps and vertical condensate
pump sets meant for supercritical power plants.
KSB Pumps Ltd. was founded in 1960 in India as a
part of KSB AG., one of the world’s leading suppliers
of pumps, valves and systems. Combining innovative
technology and excellent service to provide
intelligent solutions, the company has been offering
innovative and sturdy solutions to cater to the myriad
needs of the Indian customer may it be in power,
oil, building services, process engineering, water
treatment, water transport, etc. The activities of
KSB’s in-house research centre focus on the areas of
hydraulics, sealing technology, materials, production
technology and automation. Today the KSB group
has a presence in all the continents with its own sales
and marketing companies, manufacturing facilities
and service operations. More than 14,500 employees
generate annual consolidated sales revenue of over
2 billion Euros.
118
DECEMBER 2017

HONEYMOON SPECIAL
Fairmont
ROMANTIC HOTELS FOR
THAT DREAM HONEYMOON
AS IMPORTANT AS THE WEDDING VENUE WILL BE YOUR CHOICE OF HONEYMOON
DESTINATION. WE PRESENT SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT WILL SURELY APPEAL TO YOU
BY BINDU GOPAL RAO
Arguably one of the most
important days of your life
is the day you get married
and this is certainly a
day that is meant to be
celebrated. Well, you are entering a
new phase of your life and what better
way than your honeymoon to make it
special. So if you are wondering where
to head for your honeymoon, we list
some perfect choices for you and your
spouse to make a dream start to your
wedded life.
FAIRMONT, JAIPUR
An ode to the pink city through its awe-inspiring architecture
and decor, enthused by the Mughal dynasty and royal Rajputs
of yore, Fairmont Jaipur is a luxury hotel nestled among the
majestic Aravalli hills. All 245 rooms and suites at this property
are elegantly done up reflecting a perfect blend of traditional
Rajasthani décor and modern amenities, lending itself as a romantic
escapade for couples on their honeymoon. Fairmont Jaipur knows
all about grand gestures and romance. The property has designed
a special “Romantic Escapes” package for honeymoon couples.
Your romantic honeymoon begins when you are whisked from
the airport, arriving to the property with the five senses signature
welcome experience with includes Nagada, Petal Shower, Welcome
120
DECEMBER 2017

W
IBNII
Drink, Ravanhatta Player and
Musicians. Experience “Love is in
the Air” welcome when you enter
the well-appointed guestroom and
enjoy the awaiting champagne with
your spouse. The team thoughtfully
puts together the “Love Birds”
bath tub decoration with flower
petals. During your stay, you will
be treated to complimentary
Fairmont Spa access and be truly
pampered with a 30-minute couples
massage, where you will experience
a soothing treatment. For a true
royal Jaipur feel, you can enjoy a
romantic dinner-for-two with Unique
Dining Experience, overlooking the
gorgeous Aravalli Hills.
IBNII, COORG
If you are looking for a secluded
getaway, head to The IBNII in Coorg.
Nested along the dew drenched
slopes of a former coffee plantation
and spread over a sprawling 120
acres of evergreen woodlands, the
resort has 22 private pool villas.
All of these are so distant from
each other that you are guaranteed
privacy. The 10 wooden cottages,
private residences and premium
suites at IBNII define W
luxury and yet manage
to have that fine
balance with nature.
The resort offers
complete solitude
and enough time for
those lovely walks
across the heavily
wooded areas that
will help you connect
with each other
perfectly. This is where you can
have an unforgettable honeymoon
experience as the resort offers
unique experiences like a coffee
trail that ends in the cookie baking
session, responsible fishing, guided
nature walk inside the resort
couple spa therapy at Manja, the
in-house spa, a personalised lunch
or dinner once during the stay at
one of the dining options here. The
resort also gives the couple cake
and wine once during the stay and
one cooking session to ‘surprise
your better half with a scrumptious
dish’. There will also be a floral bed
decoration once during stay and a
poolside cocktail breakfast once
as well.
W, GOA
If you are looking to escape, indulge
and enjoy at a beach destination
complete with exceptionally
appointed chalets and villas, W
Goa has delightful dining and
facilities and most importantly
the place where all your post
wedding desires from bottles of
bubbly to in-room spa treatments
and more come true. And to bond
over food, you must experience
delectable Pan-Asian epicurean
cuisines, created with the world’s
finest Asian flavours and spices
at the signature restaurant, Spice
Traders. Or sample local, regional,
continental and international
favourites at The Kitchen Table. You
121
DECEMBER 2017

HONEYMOON SPECIAL
The Grand Dragon Hotel
can sip on some delicious cocktails
from Woobar while enjoying the
sunset in a lavish environ. And
as you take a dip in WET, refuel
with healthy snacks and sips. The
Rockpool presents stunning sunsets,
allowing you complete panoramic
views of the sea at Vagator Beach.
Take advantage of the 24-hour
Whatever/Whenever service, inroom
dining and an indulgent spa.
Spa by Clarins is the perfect place to
enjoy a relaxing massage
together. This is where
you are assured to have
the honeymoon of your
dreams!
NIRAAMAYA
RETREATS SURYA
SAMUDRA,
KOVALAM
Surya Samudra at
Kovalam is a heritage
property that is surrounded by
lush greenery on one side and the
Arabian Sea on the other. The retreat
offers romantic wellness stays
that have been specially designed
for couples. So with the charm of
accommodation in rock gardens,
traditional bungalows and rooms
you can choose to have optional
excursions and special wellness
programme in the privacy of your
room as well as sessions with the
wellness experts at pre-booked time
slots. The globally acclaimed spa
here has its roots in Ayurveda and
where else but Kerala to enjoy the
timeless therapeutic traditions of
the technique. In fact couples can
enjoy their stay at Niraamaya with
a special dinner by the sea under
the stars with a special preparation
by the chef that is sure to leave you
with wonderful memories. In fact
the resort can organize a special
honeymoon package for you as well
so do check with them before you
head here for a memorable time.
THE GRAND DRAGON
HOTEL, LADAKH
Located in Leh, Ladakh, The Grand
Dragon Hotel is a perfect place
for newly wedded couples looking
for luxury and comfort. All rooms
here offer stunning views of the
picturesque landscape, the vivid
CHENNAI'S PIONEERING DIAMOND FIRM
CHENNAI DIAMONDS is the premier
diamond jewellery showroom in
Chennai. It is renowned for its fine
quality diamonds, exotic design, and
exquisite collections. Customers
patronize it for its high quality
Dosham-Free Belgium Diamonds
that are skillfully displayed in
its diverse collections. Chennai
Diamonds is a pioneer
in offering 100 per cent
buy-back on diamonds,
best value purchase,
launching unique
collections and affordable
diamond jewellery. It
aspires to become part of
every household and its
celebrations. As part of
bridal jewellery, Chennai
Diamonds showcases the
latest collection of solitaires that are
designed exclusively for the wedding
moments.
Its wide collection of necklaces,
bracelets and bangles, harams,
pendants and earrings are a
harmonious reflection of nature
with their unique and contemporary
designs. The bridal designs especially
are a work of art as they fetch praise
and attention for the bride without
taking away her beauty.
Chennai Diamonds also gives you
perfect diamond jewellery for various
collections. It’s every women’s dream
to look astoundingly beautiful on her
D-day. To add to the dazzling array
of jewellery that a bride can choose
from are diamond wedding rings
and engagement diamond solitaire
rings. Customers can choose from
customized diamond bracelets,
earrings, rings or even delicate
sets to go with the bridal trousseau.
Chennai Diamonds will soon be
launching an e-commerce portal for
the convenience of its clients.
Showrooms are at Anna Nagar
and Cathedral Road. Ph: 044
42104050/26262099
122
DECEMBER 2017

HONEYMOON SPECIAL
colours of an ever-changing sky
and the lofty Himalayan peaks
making this a perfect resort for
honeymooners. The hotel has
exclusive honeymoon packages with
personalized hospitality, exquisite
barbeque with bonfire set up with
a personal chef to ensure the
newlyweds can relax and recoup
after the tiring wedding scenarios.
The Grand Dragon, Ladakh creates
a warm atmosphere and charts
out a memorable itinerary for
Novotel honeymooners'
experience including a
customized picnic near
the Pangong Lake. In
fact the honeymoon
package will take you
to the amazing Sham
Valley, the amazing
confluence of Indus
and Zanskar Rivers at
Nimmu as well as an
amazing breakfast by the lakeside
that allows you to soak in the
mesmerizing Ladakhi landscapes.
And yes walk hand in hand together
through the winding lanes of the
city, exploring the markets and
soaking in a rose petal bath and
ending the day with a romantic
dinner for two.
NOVOTEL HYDERABAD
AIRPORT
Novotel Hyderabad Airport (NHA)
with its beautiful location and resort
like features is nested in Hyderabad
near the airport and blends hospitality
and world-class services to make
your honeymoon special. The
hotel puts in unrelenting efforts to
make your honeymoon the most
special memory that is cherished
forever. The rooms are spacious and
beautifully decorated giving the
couple colonial charm and scenic
views. With a stunning outdoor pool,
Novotel Hyderabad Airport also
accommodates a huge sports arena
with a basketball court, a sandpit
volleyball court and honeymooners
can have a peaceful experience
with well-planned facilities to add
memories to their honeymoon. In fact
being located outside the city amidst
verdant greenery offers you solitude
like no other. Do check out Haldi the
inhouse specialty Indian restaurant
that serves some amazing dishes.
LAGU BANDHU’S CHOICES FOR
THE EXPERIMENTAL BRIDE
JEWELLERY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN
INTEGRAL PART of the ‘shrungar’
of any bride since time immemorial.
Today, everything from wedding cards
to venue decoration, is designed the
way the bride wants it and so is the
jewellery adorned by here. Broadly,
they have three different looks
when it comes to the modern Indian
wedding – Sangeet, Muhurat and
Reception. Lagu Bandhu jewellers
who are fast adapting to changing
choices, have concluded that it’s
no more one size fits all. Let us
begin with ‘Sangeet’. Lightweight
jewellery is preferred since a lot
of moving around is expected and
it is a imperative to show at least
a few dance moves. Generally,
the bride wears a dress. So, ruby
+ emerald + pearls can be used
to match the colour scheme. For
Muhurat, traditional, plain gold /
dark antique look is preferred if
bride is wearing a light coloured
saree which many prefer nowadays.
In traditional or antique jewellery
there is lot of variety like, Zhumkis,
Kaan vel, Pake, Choker, Necklace,
Diamond necklace set, Emerald and
Ruby heavy necklace, Kambarpatta,
Temple jewellery / antique jewellery
and Antique bangles. For Reception,
simple south sea pearl strand
completes an elegant look of a dark
dress plus south sea matching
ring. Also, nothing is as perfect as
diamond necklace set on a dark
coloured dress.
For more details or your own
customized jewellery for your
special day:
Call on 8080608877
Visit www.lagubandhu.com
or inbox your message on facebook.
com/lagubandhu
124
DECEMBER 2017

HONEYMOON SPECIAL
THE TAJ EXPERIENCE
ESCAPE TO A TAJ FOR THAT PERFECT HONEYMOON
Vivanta By Taj Coral Reef
VIVANTA BY TAJ
CORAL REEF –
MALDIVES
Vivanta By Taj - Coral Reef, Maldives
has all the exotic ocean views
and dramatic sunsets that are de
rigueur for any tropical holiday. The
twist comes when you step into
your villa and instead of the usual
beach decor, find a streamlined,
sophisticated take on resort
accommodations. Vivanta by Taj
has revamped the resort experience
from stem to stern and offers the
ideal escape at a stunning value
proposition.
A perfect destination for your
honeymoon, the romantic adventure
begins as soon as you land at Mal
airport. A luxury speedboat spirits
you and your luggage away to
Hembadhu Island, where you arrive
at Vivanta by Taj - Coral Reef. The
resort is a diver’s dream destination
with numerous diving sites and
it’s very own reef and shipwreck
to explore. For those who prefer
to stay on land, the view of the
lagoon dotted with water villas
is hypnotic. No matter where you
travelled from, your world is about
to become filled with white sand and
magnificent coconut palms and the
bliss of romance. Let Vivanta by Taj
introduce you to the honeymoon of
a lifetime.
ROMANTIC ESCAPADE TO A BLUE
LAGOON
Couples can take a speed boat for
a romantic getaway to a private
sandbank. After swimming or
snorkelling it is time to pop the
bubbly and savour a gourmet
four course meal by candlelight.
The evening is wrapped up with
a romantic turndown service. A
leisurely breakfast the next morning,
served in privacy, extends the
relaxed mood.
CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST
Panoramic views of the Indian
Ocean, the murmur of waves and
a cool breeze are perfect to whet
the appetite. And the Champagne
Breakfast experience that serves
flutes with delicious breakfast treats
is just right to complement the
mood.
IN-VILLA BARBEQUE
Arrange for a festive in-villa
barbeque evening with either a
Chef Valet on hand or a ‘DIY BBQ’
with pre-marinated meats for
guests to get involved. Our chefs
set up the barbeque kettle, meats
and salads for you. You get the
joy of grilling and then of course
savouring the fruits of your
labour.
126
DECEMBER 2017

HONEYMOON SPECIAL
Vivanta by Taj – Bekal
Taj Lake Palace
PRIVATE ISLAND DINING
Choose your spot on the island,
and we’ll make it an unforgettable
experience.
VIVANTA BY TAJ –
BEKAL KERALA
Situated in the southern-most
region of India, Kerala is known to
the world as ‘God’s Own Country’.
A tropical paradise of lush greens
and stunning backwaters, Kerala
is also known for its diverse art
forms, culture and spices. The
destination has much to offer with
its mesmerizing beaches, historical
temples, world renowned Ayurvedic
spas and delectable cuisines, which
will leave one with memories that
last a lifetime. One can lay back
and relax in plush cottages spread
across enchanting acres, overlooking
the scenic backwaters. Each of the
retreats have been structured with
a mix of Kerala house boats and
Balinese influences adding a touch
of contemporary yet local culture
to one’s stay. And when with that
special somebody, Bekal has a
plethora of experiences that will get
the romance flowing!
ROMANTIC DINNER BY THE RIVER
Woo your special someone in a
special way! By the murmur of the
gentle river. As the sun sets painting
the sky in tones of orange and gold.
As foot tapping music has you on
your feet to dance away as the sky
changes its hues. Exchange sweet
words as the magic of the night
casts its spell.
PRIVATE DINING WITH CHEF PILLAI
Doesn’t a gazebo by the backwater
or in your own private courtyard
sound like the perfect setting for
an evening of romance? The hotel
will set up an intimate dinner at the
water’s edge or in your courtyard or
terrace.
THE BRIDGE OF LOVE
The bridge across the backwaters
which connects to the Jiva Spa
(with hundreds of lights reflecting in
the water) is yet another romantic
private dining space which can be
set up exclusively for a couple.
TAJ LAKE PALACE,
UDAIPUR
The Taj Lake Palace, located in
the middle of Lake Pichola, is a
dream of white marble and mosaic
glistening on moonlit nights. The
palace, which appears like a jeweled
lotus seemingly afloat on the soft,
shimmering waters of Lake Pichola
and it considered as one of the most
romantic getaways in the world.
THE GANGAUR EXPERIENCE
Gangaur – the 150-year old royal
boat used by the Maharanas for
floating processions, celebrating
festivals and royal ceremonies is
most popularly known for being
featured in the classic James Bond
film “Octopussy”.
MEWAR TERRACE
For a romantic night out without
leaving the hotel premises, couples
can enjoy the views of the City
Palace, Lake Pichola and the
Monsoon Palace from the Mewar
Terrace, one of the most scenic and
venues at Taj Lake Palace.
128
DECEMBER 2017

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
IT HAPPENS HAS AN
INTRIGUING PLOT
THIS BOOK is about one of
the most untold cherished
experiences in one’s life. During
our childhood days, we tend
to have these crushes on
people older than us that fade
as we grow up. We never act
upon them but they remain
as memories that we always
cherish because they just
happen to us.
They say love is blind and
makes one think with the
heart, rather than the mind.
‘It Happens’ is a story that
uncovers when two adults
with a major age difference
fall in love. Gautam, a 25-yearold
upcoming professional
and Roshni, an unmarried
37-year-old senior management
member working in the same
multinational bank, face this
very question. Can two people
with such a vast age difference
be compatible? While the story
is a romantic comedy that
explores this situation in a lighthearted
way as they fall in love,
get laughed at by their friends
and then develop cold feet, it
also puts before them certain
practical questions to think
about - the repercussions their
age difference could have on
their marriage, acceptance by
society, could it be the biggest
blunder of their lives and many
such more. Since this happens
in India, where marriage is a
major social issue, the plot holds
further intrigue.
CONFIDENCE IS THE ROOT of
many attractive qualities: a sense of
style, certain fondness for women,
a willingness to look the best. As
you become more clearer about
who you really want, you’ll be better
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132
DECEMBER 2017

A NEW MEN’S
GROOMING
ESSENTIALS
BRAND IS HERE
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU LATHERED A VOLCANIC
GREEN CLAY SHAMPOO into
your hair or a Malt and Pepper
Vanilla Body Wash all over your
body? Exquisite and effective,
Raw Nature is an intelligentlycurated
vegan brand with highperformance,
botanical and safe
grooming formulations for men.
The brand successfully addresses
two gaping holes in the domestic
men’s grooming market - the lack
IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
of emphasis on safety in men’s
personal care products and the
absence of grooming solutions
for men’s specific skin and hair
concerns tailored for India’s tropical
climatic conditions. Packed with
natural extracts, essential oils and
bio-actives tested rigorously for
maximum safety and efficacy, Raw
Nature’s product portfolio
covers the entire gamut of
men’s specific face, skin,
shower, beard, hair and
for the first time in India,
men’s hitherto underaddressed
below-the-belt
needs. The brand focuses
specifically on addressing
the ways climate,
environment and stress
affect men’s skin and hair
in India. Raw Nature’s
bare-bones packaging
and earthy ingredients make the
business of getting clean infinitely
simpler - and more stylish. Marquee
products include Coffee Bean Beard
Oil that stimulates beard growth,
Activated Charcoal & Quinoa Face
Wash for deep cleansing, Volcanic
Gold Clay Body Wash and Hair Wax
made with Sunflower Wax.
ZEBRONICS LAUNCHES WIRELESS STEREO EARPHONE
ZEBRONICS, INDIA’S LEADING
SUPPLIER OF IT PERIPHERALS,
Audio/Video, and Surveillance
products, gives ‘easy listening’
a whole new meaning with the
launch of AirDuo - seamlessly
comfy, incredibly stylish and
capable of delivering excellent
sound quality. One of the wisest
picks for the style-conscious
generation, the wireless earphone
has the design and build quality
of a much higher price tag.
With metallic glossy finish and
comfortable swappable earbuds
design that attach to your ear
to keep them secure, you can
use it for work or play. With its
true wireless technology, you
can enjoy the music without any
hassle or wires and you are good
to jog, workout or even travel. The
wireless stereo earphone can be
used individually too. It further
comes with a mic that is exclusively
designed for flexibility. It can be
paired with two devices.
With media/call control button
and LED indicator you could stay
connected not just for your calls
but also music. Designed with
signature Zebronics sound the
earphone delivers supreme detail
for all types of music. With up
to 3.5 hours of battery life and
passive noise reduction, the
earphones bring together a solid
wireless experience.
Commenting on the launch of
AirDuo, Mr. Rajesh Doshi, Director,
Zebronics, says, “With our latest
AirDuo you never have to deal
with tangled wires anymore.
These earphones are perfect for
every activity, bringing pure
sound and style, wherever you
go. We have made the pairing
process very simple and easy
which will go a long way in making
the experience pleasant. At 7 gms
each the earphones are extremely
lightweight and comfortable
to use.”
134
DECEMBER 2017

COME BACK TO
LIFE WITH CD
PARTY SHIRTS
WHEN IT COMES TO
PARTY TIME, CD Party
Shirts are the only rule
that you don’t break. Rise
from within and come
face to face with a being
who knows no boundaries as you put on a
new life. Merge yet emerge at every do. Calm
your beating heart as it feels what was once
unimaginable. From eye-popping optical prints
to chic embroidery to trendy patchworks with
colours like Blueberry, Burgundy, Canyon, Citric,
Army Green, Butter, Camel, Black Forest and
Chickoo – there are hundreds of designs to get
the party going.
Shop online at www.cdshirts.com or walk in
to The Charagh Din Store at 64, Wodehouse
Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400 005 or call 91 22
61522300. Follow Charagh Din on Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/cdshirts
IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
HEIRLOOM RECIPE
TREASURES AT
URBAN SPATULA
THEY SAY WHEN YOU
DO WHAT YOU LOVE,
it doesn’t feel like work
any more. The folks at
Urban Spatula are lucky
to get to work with their one true love every single day – food. At Urban
Spatula one can find heirloom recipes that have been passed down
through generations, brought to you by those dedicated to preserving
their authenticity. Be it Mughlai, Tandoori or Indian delicacies, or newage
Continental and Pan Asian creations, Urban Spatula functions on
one simple motto: create food that gets etched in the memory. The
décor maintains an elegance combining comfort and fun, conducive
to families as well as hanging out with friends. The eatery makes sure
all guests have the perfect dining experience with prompt service and
attentive staff who guide them through the entire experience.
Contact Info: Landline: 044-48595951; Mobile: +91 96000 93625 /
+91 96000 93725; Plot 1633, H Block, No: 54, 13th, Main Road,
Anna Nagar, Chennai – 600 040; Timings: 1100 hrs-2300 hrs
RAJHANS (DESAI-JAIN) GROUP
LAUNCHES SHARECONOMY
INDIA IS SUFFERING FROM UNDER-UTILISATION
of industrial capacities with over 36 million registered
MSME units that are not always able to make the
most of their installed capacities. Consequently, this
results in increasing industrial indebtedness and loss
of employment among other problems. Based on the
concept of sharing, Shareconomy has been launched
to drive a systematic approach for optimizing utilisation
of varied industrial capacities. This B2B online platform
helps both capacity-seekers and capacity-owners to
meet under one roof. Shareconomy is the ultimate
destination for all the new ventures as it can remove the
complex and confusing entry barriers on their behalf.
It further provides a range of allied services such as
technical and financial due diligence, product design
and development, label design, company formations,
etc. “There are no shortcuts to succeed in any business.
But Shareconomy smartly cut shorts your distance to
succeed,” says Mr. Jayesh Desai, Chairman of the Rajhans
(Desai-Jain) Group that has introduced Shareconomy.
CAMBRIDGE LAUNCHES THE AFTER
DARK COLLECTION
​SINCE 1960, CAMBRIDGE APPARELS has
revolutionized men’s fashion by introducing elegant
clothes at affordable prices. The latest After
Dark Collection is a mood setter to light up your
nightlife. Designed exclusively in dark colour shades,
these shirts are woven with fashionable black rainbow
buttons and intricate textures and crafted from rich
blended cotton. Cambridge has turned back the
clock by re-introducing stylish check trousers and
setting the fashion trend. This eye-catching classic
trouser collection works perfectly with plain shirts
or tee-shirts, with premium quality stitching and a
comfortable fit. For the first time, Cambridge has
introduced Jacquard Jackets to its apparel collection.
Made from a variety of fabrics, these jackets are sure
to give you a suave look and be the life of any party or
event. Also added is a new range of stylish suits and
attractive blazers.
136
DECEMBER 2017

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
VINTAGE KANJEEVARAM
THE SILK SAREES OF TAMIL NADU are a class
apart from those found in other parts of India and
Kanjeevaram Silk Saree is almost a generic term
for a good silk saree. Here are the distinguishing
characteristics of Kancheepuram Silk sarees:
• They are woven with vibrant colours, subdued, pale
elegance of light colours and deep golden, orange,
parrot green, MS blue, etc.
• They have contrast borders and body in block
colours woven with the Korvai technique of
interlocking the contrasting borders to the body.
• The intriguing joining of contrast pallu and the body
of the saree is called the Petni technique.
• They are woven with design inspirations from
temple reliefs and sculptures and also with some
influence from Persian or European motifs.
Co-optex being the popular brand for traditional
sarees has been making various efforts in bringing
back the traditional Kanjeevaram silk sarees under
the brand “Vintage Kanjeevaram” said Shri T.N.
Venkatesh, I.A.S., Managing Director, Co-Optex.
These sarees are woven with the traditional motifs
such as Rudraksham Annam, Elephant, Yazhi, Vanki,
Thutrippoo, Neli, Pogidi, Mayilkan, Pavun, Diamond,
Pillayar Mukku, Temple Reku, Kodivisiri, Jadaingam,
Mallimuggu, Muthukattam, Rettaineli, Paimadi,
Araimadam, Arai Pogidi, etc., in border, body and
pallu and in their combinations in weave patterns like
Stripes, Checks, Half and Half, Mubhagham, etc.
Co-optex has organised Vintage Kanjeevaram
exhibitions exclusively for saree lovers by displaying
the above traditionally revived sarees at Mumbai,
Bengaluru and Chennai. In the recent past, Co-optex
has also been developing silk sarees in thread work
with changes in fabric, colour and design which is
suitable for office goers as corporate wear.
137
DECEMBER 2017

MELANGE
TAROT
YOUR FORECAST THIS MONTH
BY SRINIVAS IYER
Aries
Luck favours you this
Taurus
Passion runs high
Gemini
Creativity is very
Cancer
Those in the field
Leo
Lady Luck is
Virgo
Financial expenses
month. Travel is hectic
in your personal
good. This period
of electronics and
smiling on you,
are indicated, along
and may not be as
and professional
is also favourable
communications
as your luck is
with expansion of
beneficial as you want
lives. Close bonding
for learning new
do well. Home life
energized and
the sources too. Try
it to be. However
is experienced
foreign languages.
is good and some
dreams too. Lot
and curb wasteful
it expands your
between your loved
Financially it is a
of you expand
of actions are
expenditure. Self-
connections. Life on
ones and this keeps
very good phase.
your house or buy
seen on the career
expression is very
the home front is also
your home life
Children do well
a bigger house.
front and for the
strong and those in
busy. Your partner is
balanced. Don't risk
in their exams.
Your romantic life is
good. Additional
the field of media
very supportive on
finances in any
Your circle of
good and you enjoy
responsibilities
and creativity do
all fronts.
new ventures.
friends expands.
greater bonding.
come your way.
extremely well.
Libra
Short journeys along
Scorpio
You are full of
Sagittarius
You are likely to
Capricorn
You are very
Aquarius
Sudden periods
Pisces
You learn a lot about
with family are
self-expression and
rise to higher
spiritual and this
of ups and downs
your past life this
indicated and you
beauty. Redoing
positions and be
long term trend
are seen, but the
month. Some of you
focus your time and
your interiors is
engaged with
benefits. Some
events are largely
embark on study of
energy on this. You
on the top of your
the masses in
minor losses are
beneficial to you.
esoteric subjects like
are highly energetic
mind. Sibling may
whichever areas of
indicated and hence
Trust you inner
Tarot and Astrology.
and pursue your
be feeling a bit
profession you are
extra care should
voice and failure is
Students and
dreams with all
depressed and
involved. Negative
be taken by you,
a remote thing. You
professionals do very
efforts. Many of you
need your attention.
thoughts take
particularly in case
are very calm and
well in their respective
will be expressing
Encourage them to
precedence over
of new ideas and
emotions play an
areas. Change in your
yourself very clearly
be persistent and
your mind. Poets
ventures related
important role in
home life is for sure.
this month.
also positive.
do very well.
to the overseas.
your actions.
Avoid new ventures.
The above is based on the sun sign and planetary transits thereof. It is general in nature. For specific readings, seek out expert advice based on
your individual chart. (Astrologer Srinivas Iyer is based in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. He can be contacted on shrinivaasiyer@gmail.com)
140
DECEMBER 2017

ISHANYA'S
IMPACT
IN THE DECADE THAT IT HAS BEEN
AROUND, ISHANYA FOUNDATION HAS
HELPED MANY UNDERPRIVILEDGED
INDIVIDUALS ATTAIN FINANCIAL
STABILITY.
BY PRANJALI BHONDE
Parul Mehta
CARING
EMPOWERMENT
SUJATHA SHINDE, a homemaker and a
mother of two children, was helpless
when her husband was unemployed. She
knew she had to take on the reins and
earn a living for her family. After many
unsuccessful attempts, she eventually
stumbled upon Ishanya Foundation
(ISFON) where she enrolled for a
tailoring programme. Soon her life took
a turn for the good and she picked up
various tailoring skills, was supported
with a tailoring machine by ISFON and
has since then been making beautiful
handmade products like table mats,
saree covers and much more under the
Income Generation Program. With
further support from ISFON, Shinde
managed to earn extra income from the
additional orders she received for the
products to be displayed at Yellow
Ribbon NGO Fair, which is an annual
NGO fair displaying the work of over 100
NGOs and Self Help Groups (SHG) from
across the country.
Today she is the sole bread winner
for her family and a proud mother. The
income she generates has helped her
daughter complete her graduation. Its
worth mentioning that a diploma in
computers sponsored by ISFON has
helped her land a plum job. Shinde
joyfully shares her expertise and
experiences with aspirants at ISFON.
Sunanda Pawar comes from a poor
family and wanted to improve her living
conditions as well as support her parents
financially. With the help of ISFON she
enrolled herself for the Income
Generation Programme that facilitates
financially challenged women across
Pune enhance their tailoring and cutting
skills though training programmes.
Exquisite hand-crafted products made
by them are then sold through corporate
orders and at leading exhibitions across
Pune and Mumbai. The proceeds
through the sale enable these women
support the needs of their families
financially. Through her continued
dedication, Pawar earns a salary of Rs.
6,000 per month, which has had a
positive impact on the living conditions
of her family.
These are just two cases among
lakhs of lives impacted by Ishanya
Foundation. ISFON believes in
enhancing and empowering vocational
skills to financially challenged women
and the youth. The organisation aims at
creating sustainable communities —
with the right skill sets to enable
employability and financial stability.
Established in April 2006 and founded
by Parul Mehta, Ishanya Foundation is a
Corporate Social Responsibility
initiative of Deepak Fertilisers &
Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd. It is a
registered trust under the Bombay
Public Trust Act 1950.
ISFON conducts several outreach
programmes in the areas of women
empowerment, livelihood programmes,
health and education in Pune and Taloja,
both in Maharashtra. Over the last year,
Ishanya Foundation through its various
initiatives has impacted 7,516
beneficiaries and 31,191 lives.
Says Mehta, “Ten years of Ishanya
Foundation have been a very gratifying
experience for me and my team in terms
of enriching lives and driving social
144
DECEMBER 2017

CARING
EMPOWERMENT
families.
To bring a holistic change in society,
Ishanya has embarked on the following
initiatives to bring a positive change in
the lives of the less fortunate.
From top: A vocational training class in
progress; dry fruits being marketed by
Muskaan Parees; and pathological collection
centre at ISFON
impact. We have enabled each and
every aspirant that enrols in the
programmes to be employable and
experience financial stability. We
have progressed considerably over
this last decade. The journey has
been of great learning for us as well
and enabled us to sharpen and
provide more meaningful holistic
initiatives to shape the future of the
aspirants”.
Till date the foundation has
provided healthcare services to over
2,50,000 residents at their doorstep
and has facilitated 37,000 patients at
the district hospital in Vadodara to
get timely medical intervention.
Ishanya Foundation mainly received
funding from its parent company,
Deepak Fertilisers and
Petrochemicals Corp Ltd ( DFPCL).
"However, as a company and
foundation, we strongly believe in
partnerships and collaborations that
would truly bring about collective
and effective long term sustainable
impact to the communities we work
with," says Mehta. The foundation is also
supported by organizations like
NABARD and Bajaj Foundation through
which they have been able to reach out
and enrich many more lives and their
• URBAN INITIATIVES - PUNE
Vocational Skills Development with
Health and Education (VSDHE): The
programme plays a vital role in
development of vocational and soft
skills. Individuals from financially
challenged communities are enrolled
and trained to become independent and
improve their standards of living to
ensure sustainability. The various
vocational training courses provided
under this programme include
beautician, IT, pre-teacher, nursing,
banking and finance, optometry and
BPO courses. Soft skills training, spoken
English classes and mentoring are a part
of these trainings.
Ashwini Mangalkar, a homemaker,
enrolled for the Beautician Course
under VSDHE in a bid to support her
family and give a good education to her
child. The course helped her secure a job
with Bigstylist.com at a salary of Rs.
15,000 per month. She is immensely
happy with the thought that she can
send her child to school and support her
family.
• HEALTH CAMPS
Several health camps (including
diabetes camps) are organised across
Pune in association with various leading
hospitals to provide free medical checkups
and distribute medicines. The camps
are supported by doctors and support
staff specialising in Gynaecology,
Ophthalmology, Pediatrics, Dentistry
and General Medicine.
• LIVELIHOOD ENHANCEMENT
THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP
DEVELOPMENT (LEED)
The foundation has several initiatives
146
DECEMBER 2017

CARING
EMPOWERMENT
under this programme. For instance,
Muskaan focuses on empowering
financially challenged women fondly
called as Muskaan Parees. Says Mehta,
“Muskaan is a very innovative and
successful initiative that helps women
earn additional income through the sale
of pre-owned garments that are
contributed to the Foundation”. The
income generation programme which is
handcrafted for a cause, facilitates
financially challenged women across
Pune enhance their tailoring and cutting
skills. Exquisite hand-crafted products
made by them are then sold to corporates
and at leading exhibitions across Pune
and Mumbai. The proceeds through the
sale enable these women support the
needs of their families financially. The
IREACH (Ishanya Restoration and
Exhibition of Art, Culture &
Handicrafts) programme focuses on
promoting art forms through its Ishanya
Art & Culture Club (IACC). It helps
showcase India’s art and cultural
heritage by promoting various dying
regional art, theatricals, performing
arts and music. It also provides
upcoming artists a platform to perform
and get recognised. Proceeds collected
from these shows are then donated to
deserving upcoming NGOs.
The foundation also has programmes
for rural initiatives like the one in Taloja
which focuses on improving the living
standards of poor farmers across 14
villages. The Dairy Development
Programme empowers women across
villages of Taloja, Raigad District,
Maharashtra wherein they are provided
two crossbreed cows for generating
additional income through dairy
farming.
Kusum Aatmaram Patil hails from a
small village in Raigad. She enrolled for
the Dairy Development Programme in
FY12. She was supported by ISFON in
the form of two crossbreed cows,
medicine kits and dairy training. Today
Kusum is able to earn an average of Rs.
880 daily through milk sales.
The foundation had been felicitated
on the Gujarat Gaurav Din - 2016 by the
Hon. Governor and Hon. Chief Minister
of Gujarat for its remarkable commitment
and work in the social development
sector.
Thus, for an organization that has
spent a sum of Rs. 168 lakh in areas of
women empowerment, health and
education and impacted 7,516
beneficiaries and 31,191 lives, it is only
befitting that it won the Best Corporate
Foundation Award at World CSR Day
2017.
From top: Products displayed at a NGO fair;
and Spoken English Class in progress
148
DECEMBER 2017

INDIA’S
No.1
Best
On-Time Performance
in the year 2016-17
Highest Occupancy Rate
for 31 consecutive months
As per DGCA statistics.

HERITAGE
ARCHITECTURE
THE ROAD TO MANDAWA
A SMALL TOWN IN THE SHEKHAWATI REGION OF RAJASTHAN, MANDAWA IS FAMOUS FOR ITS OLD BUT STILL
ATTRACTIVE HAVELIS WITH THEIR COLOURFUL FRESCOES. BY GITIKA SAKSENA
Jhunjhunwala Haveli
I
find myself on the road to
Mandawa. The last stretch of
the six-hour-long drive from
Delhi is spectacular; a smooth
velvety road cuts across an
arid grassland. Twisted skeletons of dry
Acacia trees add character to the
landscape. We enter the busy chaotic
main road in town. Among the
nondescript bylanes, the glorious past
plays peek-a-boo. Colourful frescoes on
the walls, ornate wooden doors, deep
wells marked by pillars — the town
invites travellers to its famous havelis
and beckons them to peel through the
dusty layers of time.
Radhika Haveli
RADHIKA HAVELI
This haveli has been completely restored
and is now a hotel. Getting off the car, I
am greeted by walls of lime and mud,
embellished with beautiful traditional
paintings. The main entrance is
crowned by two stone elephants paying
obeisance to an idol of the Sun God.
Thick colourful borders demarcate
rectangular panels with paintings of
floral motifs, elephants, men and women
in traditional attire, et al. As I walk past
the boundary wall on the right, I
discover ever more interesting designs
including a British man riding a Penny
Farthing-esque cycle (a type of bicycle
152
DECEMBER 2017

HERITAGE
ARCHITECTURE
and I step inside the courtyard of the
Jhunjhunwala haveli. A small
contribution made to the resident family,
and I have a ticket to step inside the
room. With all the windows shut, I
widen my eyes to adjust to the low light.
A gold leaf painting of Lord Krishna and
his gopis on the ceiling is the show
stopper here.
Castle Mandawa
THE NAWALGARH TWINS
Do visit the neighbouring town
of Nawalgarh, 28 km away
from Mandawa, and explore
the well-preserved Poddar and
Morarka havelis. They have
retained their old glory. The
frescoes here can be broadly
classified into three styles:
decorative (including floral
designs, flowers, leaves, birds,
horses, etc), portraits (of gods,
kings, soldiers and public
figures like Jawaharlal Nehru
and Swami Vivekananda)
and descriptive (with scenes
borrowed from mythology and
anecdotes – an army of soldiers
and elephants, a couple in a
hot air balloon, a lady listening
to a gramophone, et al). The
incredible aspect about these
frescoes capturing scenes from
Europe is the fact that the
artists had never been to these
places. They imagined them,
based on the anecdotes shared
by the Marwari merchants who
had travelled abroad.
with a large front wheel and a much
smaller rear wheel). A flight of steps
leads us to the inner courtyard of the
double- storeyed haveli. The art inside is
stunning, with contiguous stretches of
panels running across the four walls.
Mural artists, locally known as
‘chiteras’, were commissioned by the
Marwaris to paint the facades, the
columns and walls in the courtyards,
even the inner chambers of the havelis.
Natural colours mixed with cow urine
were used to enhance the life of the
frescoes. Initially influenced by the
Mughal or Persian schools, the designs
later drew inspiration from the Jaipur
school of art after the decline of the
Mughal empire.
JHUNJHUNWALA HAVELI
Mandawa attracts a lot of French
tourists with a keen interest in art and
architecture. As I walk down a bylane, a
gaggle of kids follow, imploring me in
impeccable French to choose a guide
among them. ‘A golden painted room’ - a
sign outside a haveli piques my interest
CASTLE MANDAWA
The Mandawa fort was built by Thakur
Nawal Singh. Now called Castle
Mandawa, a section has been converted
into a hotel. The story of Mandawa starts
in 1755, when Thakur Nawal
Singh decided to fortify his trading
outpost . A Rajput royal, he ruled over
Nawalgarh and Mandawa towns in the
Shekhawati region of Rajasthan.
Caravans on the Silk Route were passing
through Mandawa, and it was necessary
to assert control. Trade prospered and
soon, the Marwari merchants and
moneylenders from neighbouring
regions in Rajasthan set base here. They
built beautiful havelis to mark their
growing affluence.
THE CHOKHANI DOUBLE HAVELI
My next stop is an interesting haveli, one
which is however, not in the best of
shape. Built for two brothers, it has two
identical wings, and thus named as the
Double Haveli. The havelis of Mandawa
were built to suit the needs of the
business and household. They were
walled on all four sides, with the open
courtyards bringing in light and
ventilation. The rooms had
thick wooden ridged doors,
with imported Belgian glass fitted in
semi-circular cavities at the top. The
outer courtyard was meant for visiting
traders, where the value of the deals
were negotiated. The inner courtyards
of the havelis were meant for family
members.
154
DECEMBER 2017

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
FABINDIA LAUNCHES
REVOLUTIONARY RETAIL CONCEPT
FABINDIA, India’s iconic lifestyle
retailer, has launched its new retail
format Fabindia Experience Center
in Mumbai. Spread over 10,000 sq.
ft., Fabindia Experience Center
offers a unique shopping experience
to its customers as it focuses on
the transition from transactional
retail to experiential retail. In
addition to its signature product
offering, the Fabindia Experience
Center houses a Fabcafé, an Interior
Design Studio, Organic Wellness
Center and an Alteration Studio.
This new format’s appeal extends
to include customers with different
needs and varying age groups.
“We are investing in ‘experience’
and the goal is to interact with
customers at a whole new level of
engagement. The first Centre in
Delhi was well received. We are
very optimistic about its reception
in Mumbai,” says Viney Singh, CEO,
Fabindia Overseas Pvt Ltd. With
this innovative, multi-dimensional
retail concept offering something for
everyone under one roof, Fabindia
Experience Center is designed to
consistently give customers reasons
to return. It houses the complete
Fabindia range – every day wear and
occasion wear for women, men and
kids, accessories, home & lifestyle
range, personal care products and
organic foods. The Organic India
Wellness Center, Fabcafe, Alteration
Studio and Interior Design Studio
housed in this Experience Center
come together to make this a one
stop experience destination. Fabcafe
primarily focuses on bringing a
nutritious menu highlighting India’s
diverse cuisine with a wide array
of dishes representing various
parts of the country. It creates a
destination to enjoy healthy Indian
food. Extending the focus on health
and well-being, Fabindia Experience
Center has a designated space for
Organic India’s first Wellness store
in Mumbai. The Wellness Center
allows customers to interact with
trained consultants on various
aspects of health, lifestyle and
wellbeing. The Interior Design
Studio is a one-stop design solution
to help create memorable spaces.
157
DECEMBER 2017

HOSPITALITY
HOTELS
A REGAL
LEGACY
THE REVAMPED NARENDRA
BHAWAN BIKANER IS AN ATTEMPT
TO RECREATE THE LIFE OF HIS
HIGHNESS NARENDRA SINGHJI,
THE LAST REIGNING MAHARAJA
OF BIKANER – AND IT WORKS
After you smile your
way through a
military bugle
arrival and step into
the precinct of the
soft pink sandstone
Narendra Bhawan Bikaner hotel, you
may be forgiven for mistaking the
property for a museum. For scattered
through every inch of available space,
are mementoes associated with the life
of Bikaner’s last reigning maharaja, His
Highness Narendra Singhji (1948-2003),
after whom the hotel has been named.
The independent design experience
is a set of curated experiences. A feast for
the eyes, Narendra Bhawan Bikaner was
relaunched in a new avatar on October 1,
2016. It is a grand residence, composed of
Narendra Singhji’s memories from his
travels to destinations near and far. Dark
inviting caverns, rich velveteen fabrics,
chaiffons and pearls; utterly stylish – all
have been added to the cornucopia that
has led to the fashioning of the former
maharaja’s private palace-residence.
Elegant venues and avant-garde
outdoor spaces have been especially
designed to ensure guests have many
memorable experiences. Eclecticism
runs riot here. Spread throughout the
hotel are fine arts, Art Deco furniture,
walls in vibrant colours and eclectic
curios. Also scattered at every
convenient corner are sets of Penguin
classics – the hotel has about a 1000 of
them. Antiques and new pieces adorn the
lobby, reception and common areas. The
lounging area is dominated by a panel of
textiles from Ekaya, the brand with a
Banarasi touch. A red grand piano
catches every eye.
Regal interiors with modern
comforts permeate every part of the
hotel, including the rooms. There are 53
Residence Rooms, each 330 sq. ft. in area.
Elaborate ceiling details, Bikaner
terrazzo floors and traditional crafts
dominate. Each of the 18 Prince Rooms
(530 sq. ft.) feature luxe velvets, English
INDRANI GHOSE
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DECEMBER 2017

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HOSPITALITY
HOTELS
Clockwise from left: the luxurious Prince
Room; a red piano is the cynosure of all eyes;
the sprawling Diwali Chowk; and a stunning
passage runs outside the rooms
MEDITATIONS ON THE
PHILOSOPHY OF FOOD
Narendra Singhji maintained that
one’s memory recalls the foods that
have flattered its taste buds. Here
are some of his musings on the fine
art of gastronomy.
Meditation 1: Let the number of
guests never exceed 12, so that the
conversation may be wide-ranging.
Let them be so chosen that their
occupations may be varied and their
tastes corresponding.
Meditation 2: Let the guests be
retained by the hope that the
evening will not pass without some
enjoyment.
Meditation 3: Let the dining room
be furnished with luxury, the table
impeccable, and the temperature of
the room comfortable.
Meditation 4: Let the dishes be of
exquisite taste but few in number
at the first course, and those of the
second be pleasant and as highly
perfumed as possible. Let the
master select his own wines. None
should retreat before eleven o’clock
and at midnight, all should have
retired to bed.
prints, glittering mirrors and mosaic.
The three Regimental Rooms (634 sq. ft.)
come with elements of army regalia, apt
since Bikaner has a long military
tradition to back it up. Elements from a
pastoral India mesh well with the
modern contemporary India in each of
the four India Rooms (530 sq. ft.). Finally,
come the four Republics Suites, each 730
sq. ft. in area and with a colour palette of
steely blue and concrete grey.
Along with images of great
accommodation, the visitor also takes
back memories of some great food
experiences, enjoyed at the hotel’s
numerous indoor as well as outdoor
eating spaces.
• The Gaushala and Verandah are
outdoor spaces serving specially
designed small eats and drinks.
• The elegant dining room P & C features
a curated wine list, table-side
preparations and Tiffin lunches.
There are plenty of banqueting options
available and guests’ experiences at
P & C are designed to satiate any
culinary curiosity.
• Mad Hatters Bake House offers
traditional confectionary and baked
goods including puddings, pies, toffees,
rum balls and fudges. You can wash them
down with Indian Estate Coffees and
Teas, Cold Press Coffee Towers or Hot
Chocolate.
• The area around the deep blue infinity
pool, offering a grand evening vantage
view of Bikaner, can be transformed into
a mini meeting place for a small band of
friends, complete with live grills and
party music.
The best time to visit the property is
between October and March, the winter
months. Located in a desert state,
summers will be unbearably hot for
visitors. They can best plan to be in
Bikaner in January, when, apart from
having unique experiences at Narendra
Bhawan Palace, they can also enjoy the
colourful Camel Fair.
160
DECEMBER 2017

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IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
FEATHERLITE
INTRODUCES TANGO
LEADING OFFICE FURNITURE COMPANY
Featherlite brings Tango, a strong yet smartlooking
cafeteria chair, in six vibrant colours
to the market. The company prides itself on
crafting a unique one-of-a-kind cafeteria chair
that is a perfect blend of aesthetics and quality
complimented with variety in colours. Waterproof,
washable products that can be used as indoor or
outdoor furniture, the chairs are very reasonably
priced which makes them more compelling and
affordable. Offices and educational institutions
have started to consider the importance of high
quality cafeteria chairs and create bright and
colourful break-out areas that are designed for
people to socialize whilst eating in a comfortable
environment. Tango chairs have been designed
and manufactured to the highest standard for
commercial applications. This means they are
strong and durable as they have been manufactured
to withstand rigorous use in busy settings. Switch
from the old, uncomfortable seats and create a
colourful and comfortable environment that has
character and a positive energy.
SPLENDOR OF KASHMIR
UNVEILS EXQUISITE PASHMINA
SHAWL COLLECTION
Dr. Farooq Abdullah (former Union Minister,
Govt. of India) admiring the “Heirloom
Collection” with Ms. Varuna Anand, Founder
& Designer, The Splendor of Kashmir
THE TIMELESS KASHMIR SHAWLS
are amongst the most exquisite textile
ever woven, a product of exemplary
skill and artistry applied to one of
the world’s most delicate fibres –
pashmina. Ms. Varuna Anand, Founder
& Designer, The Splendor of Kashmir,
recently unveiled in Delhi her ethereal
collection of luxurious pashmina
shawls at an exclusive private preview
launch of the “Heirloom Collection”.
This exclusive collection is endorsed
by Ms. Sara Abdullah Pilot. The
exhibition was supported by esteemed
high profile royal family personalities
like Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar (The
Maharana of Udaipur), Dr. Farooq
Abdullah (Former Union Minister,
Govt. of India), Jenab Omar Abdullah
(Former Chief Minister of J&K) along
with other distinguished guests
and a gathering of connoisseurs and
admirers.
The Splendor of Kashmir aims
to promote these pashmina shawls
as a significant piece of art, design
and humanitarianism coming from
the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The
exhibition also manifested a large
variety of shawls from solid colours,
to borders and reversibles, covering
the entire spectrum of shawls along
with corporate and wedding gifts,
each handcrafted to perfection.
Along with the brand new ethereal
collection, shawls/stoles from the
hand embroidered jamavars called
sui kaam jamavars in both sozni
and paper machie stitch and woven
jamavars called kani shawls were also
appreciated. The Kashmir shawls
are characterized by the elaboration
of their design, intricately woven
or embroidered. These designs are
stylized imitations of nature, and
the glowing brilliance, depth, and
enduring qualities of the colours
continue to mesmerize.
164
DECEMBER 2017

FOOD
DELICACIES
KNOW
YOUR
SAMOSAS
UNKNOWN TO MANY, THE HUMBLE
SAMOSA COMES WITH A RICH
HISTORY, HAS NUMEROUS
VARIATIONS AND IS ALSO
POPULAR IN MANY COUNTRIES
ABROAD. BY AARTI KAPUR SINGH
Let’s get this straight at the
very outset. The
ubiquitous samosa - our
very own popular snack at
every railway station,
every city bazaar and every canteen - was
never ours. Yes, it is true.
Be it an evening chat with friends at
the street corner khoka, or a sophisticated
business meeting in an air-conditioned
room, the call for a samosa remains a
constant. But the neatly folded, tightly
packed savoury goodness that we thought
belonged to India actually travelled here
all the way from Central Asia centuries
ago. But thanks to its amazing appeal, it
cleverly adapted to the local’s tastes and
happily settled among the foodies of
South Asia (yes, it is even popular in
China and Korea) and became a staple
offering.
From Egypt to Libya and from
Central Asia to India, the stuffed triangle
with different names has garnered
immense popularity. Originally named
samsa, after the pyramids in Central Asia,
historical accounts also refer to it as
sanbusak, sanbusaq or even sanbusaj, all
deriving from the Persian word,
sanbosag. The samosa is claimed to have
originated in the Middle East (where it is
known as sambosa ). Abolfazl Beyhaqi
(995-1077), an Iranian historian,
mentioned it in his tome Tarikh-e
SHUTTERSTOCK / ALAMY
172
DECEMBER 2017

FOOD
DELICACIES
Punjabi Samosa
Aloo Samosa
Beyhaghi.
Samosas were introduced to the
Indian subcontinent in the 13th or 14th
century by traders from Central Asia.
Amir Khusro (1253–1325), a scholar and
the royal poet of the Delhi Sultanate,
wrote in around c. 1300 CE that the
princes and nobles enjoyed the “samosa
prepared from meat, ghee, onion and so
on”. Ibn Battuta, a 14th-century traveller
and explorer, describes a meal at the
court of Muhammad bin Tughluq, where
the samushak or sambusak, a small pie
stuffed with minced meat,
almonds, pistachios, walnuts
and spices, was served before
the third course of pulao. The
Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century
Mughal document, mentions
the recipe for qutab, which it says,
“the people of Hindustan call sanbúsah”.
Samosas were brought to India by various
Muslim merchants, and patronized
under various Islamic dynasties in the
region. In South Asia, it was introduced
by the Middle Eastern chefs during the
Delhi Sultanate rule, although some
accounts credit traders for bringing the
fare to this part of the world.
Nevertheless, from its humble
beginnings — in older days, people would
cook the mince-filled triangles over
campfire and eat them as snacks during
travel — the samosa has come a long way.
And after having earned the blessings of
Indian royalty, the snack soon became
food fit for the king.
Commonly, samosa is the gorgeous,
deep-fried, twisted pack of spicy
goodness that oozes with chicken, meat
or potato. Few family gatherings or iftar
parties are complete without this
INTERNATIONAL APPEAL
Today, samosa is a popular snack in
many parts of the world. Perhaps
the biggest secret to its popularity
and survival over the centuries is its
different varieties of fillings catering to
carious tastes across the globe.
BURMA
Samosas are called samusas in
Burmese and are flatter in comparison
to the swollen Indian version.
INDONESIA
The local equivalent of samosas in
Indonesia are known as pastel. They are
usually filled with eggs or chicken.
AFRICA
Samosas are a staple of local cuisine in the
Horn of Africa (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia,
and Somalia) where they are known as
samboosa. While they can be eaten any
time of the year, they are usually reserved
for special occasions.
ISRAEL
In Israel, a sambusak is a semi-circular
pocket of dough filled with mashed
chickpeas, fried onions and spices. There
is another variety filled with meat, fried
onions, parsley, spices and pine nuts,
which is sometimes mixed with mashed
Bengali Shingara
chickpeas and a breakfast version with
feta or tzfat cheese and za’atar. An Israeli
sambusak is not as spicy as the Indian
version.
PORTUGAL
In Portugal, samosas are known as
chamuças. They are usually filled with
chicken, pork, lamb or vegetables, and
generally served quite hot.
CENTRAL ASIA
In Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan,
samosas are known as samsas. They are
almost always baked and never fried. The
traditional samsa is often baked in the
tandoor, a special clay oven. The dough
can be a simple bread dough, or a layered
pastry dough. The most common filling for
traditional samsa is a mixture of minced
lamb and onions, but chicken and
cheese varieties are also quite
common.
BANGLADESH
Both flat-shaped and full-shaped
samosas are popular snacks in
Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi
samosa, called shingara, is usually
filled with pieced potatoes and
vegetables. The flat-shaped samosa
is often stuffed with onions and
minced meat.
NEPAL
In Nepal, samosas are called
singadas in the eastern zone of Nepal; the
rest of the country calls it samosa.
PAKISTAN
In Pakistan, samosas of Karachi are
famous for their spicy flavour, whereas
samosas from Faisalabad are noted for
being unusually large. Another distinct
variety of samosa, available in Karachi,
is called kaghazi samosa due to its thin
and crispy covering, which resembles a
wonton or spring roll wrapper.
MALDIVES
In the Maldives, the types and varieties
of samosa made in Maldivian cuisine are
known as bajiyaa. They are filled with
a mixture which includes tuna fish and
onions.
SHUTTERSTOCK
174
DECEMBER 2017

FOOD
DELICACIES
From top: Hyderabadi street vendor selling
samosas; and samosa and red chutney
signature snack. There are few snacks
that couple as perfectly with tea as
samosa, and the chai-samosa team is
probably the reason behind thousands of
brainstorming sessions and heated
discussions.
The samosa offers you the ultimate
tongue seduction. The tantalising taste
emanates from the triangular tetrahedral
golden-fried pastry, filled with spiced
mashed potato and vegetables, or ground
minced meats. The varieties available in
samosa know no limits. From the regular,
meat/potato stuffing to spinach, corn and
peas, to sweet halwa or coconut filling,
the list is endless. The adventurous few
may even want to foray into seafood
samosas. Just dip them into chutney of
your choice (those who even imagine
samosas with ketchup, please reassess
your priorities), and savour the taste that
has weaved its magic forever.
After its arrival in India, the samosa
was adapted as a vegetarian dish in Uttar
Pradesh. Centuries later, it is one of the
most popular vegetarian snacks in India.
In North India, the pastry is prepared
from maida flour and houses fillings such
as a mixture of mashed boiled potato,
green peas, onion, green chilli and spices.
Meat samosas are also common in
North India and Pakistan, with lamb and
chicken being the most popular fillings.
Paneer is another popular filling in
northern India.
Samosas are served hot, and usually
eaten with a fresh chutney such as mint,
carrot, or tamarind. In Punjabi
households, dhabas and street stalls,
samosa is served with a chickpea curry
called channa.
Another popular variation in Indian
street food is the Samosa Chaat. The
samosa is topped with yoghurt, tamarind
chutney, finely chopped onions, and
masala. The contrasting flavours,
textures and temperatures are
sensational. Street food gastronomes,
particularly in Mumbai and
Maharashtra, are familiar with the
Samosa Paav. This is a samosa served in a
fresh bun and it is like an Indian samosa
burger. This is also how it is served in
Kasauli and Shimla - and the bun samosa
available in these hills is a major tourist
attraction.
The sweet samosa, known as a Mawa
or Gujiya Samosa is also eaten in some
parts of India, particularly to celebrate
Diwali. In some parts of northern India,
varieties of sweet samosas include dried
fruit. In south India, samosas are
SHUTTERSTOCK / ALAMY
178
DECEMBER 2017

FOOD
DELICACIES
The stuffed triangle is very popular outside India too
Fried samosa with chocolate sauce
influenced by the local cuisine
and they are made with south
Indian spices. They are also
folded differently and usually
eaten without chutney. As well as
the familiar ingredients, South
Indian samosas may also include
carrots, cabbage and curry
leaves. In Hyderabad, the samosa
is known as lukhmi and has a
thicker pastry crust and is
usually filled with minced meat.
The Goan samosa is known as a
chamuça and is made with
minced pork or chicken.
In the globalised world of
today, the growing popularity of
fusion food has witnessed the
advent of the pizza samosa, the
macaroni samosa and even
Maggi samosa. Dessert varieties
inspired by Western cuisine
include the apple pie samosa,
chocolate samosa and even an ice
cream samosa. Another
innovation is to make the samosa
healthier by baking it instead of
frying it, and packing it full of
fresh vegetables.
The samosa has become so
mainstream that it is now sold in
big chain supermarkets. It is
available as ready meal, as a
ready-to-eat snack in the deli
section, and as a frozen food item.
Frozen samosas are increasingly
available at grocery stores in
Canada, the United States, and
the United Kingdom.
Samosas are a truly
international food enjoyed by
millions in various countries (see
box item). Whether you are
travelling to one of the countries,
or just sitting in your living room
at home, wow your taste buds
with the taste of the humble yet
fiery samosa.
SHUTTERSTOCK
180
DECEMBER 2017

ARTS
CRAFTS
PUNJAB’S FLORAL CRAFT
PHULKARI, THE ANCIENT EMBROIDERY ART OF PUNJAB, IS GETTING A NEW
LOOK WITH LEADING FASHION DESIGNERS INCORPORATING IT INTO THEIR
CREATIONS. BY KALPANA SUNDER.
WHEAT STALKS IN SILK GLEAM at me
from the fabric, reminding me of the fields
that are all over this agricultural state. I
am walking through the market in
Amritsar, looking at vibrant phulkari
fabrics. Phulkari which literally means
‘Flower craft’ is the embroidery
synonymous with the state and deeply
rooted in the culture of Punjab. Phulkari
embroidery is done with silk threads in
vivid shades — the motifs are either
geometric or taken from daily life like
wheat stalks, and is a visual feast.
This labour-intensive embroidery
could even take as much as 12 months for a
single piece. I am told that phulkaris are
the essential part of every bride’s
trousseau in this state. In fact when a girl
is born, the mother and grandmother
start making an odhni or dupatta for her
marriage. A traditional wedding song
sung by the women of the family as she
walks with her brothers goes like this:
Maa de haathan di ae phulkari nishaani…
“This Phulkari is a sign of your mother’s
hands.” Owning a fine phulkari dupatta
or odhni was also a status symbolwealthy
women owned exquisite
creations.
Long ago phulkari was not a
commercial activity but something that
women of the houses engaged in as a
hobby and gifted on occasions like
marriage, childbirth and festivals.
Having completed the household chores,
women of different religions would sit
together, gossip and work on a piece of
cloth.
Phulkari comes in different genres
and patterns thanks to the imagination
and creativity of the local women — the
motifs range from flowers, animals, birds
and geometric patterns to even household
articles like rolling pins. I see
embroidered odini (head scarfs), dupatta
and shawls, and also those that are made
for special occasions like weddings and
birth of a son. There are more than 50
varieties of Phulkari like chope
(embroidery done on the borders and
presented to a girl by her grandmother),
sainchi (embroidery that includes
figurines and scenes of village life), and
darshan dwar (embroidery depicting
gates of a temple and meant to be
presented at gurudwaras).
Usually phulkari used to be done on a
hand spun cloth called khaddar, using silk
yarn imported from countries like Iran or
Central Asia. They used to be dyed locally.
Initially the process of making phulkari
was purely organic without any chemical
being used either for dyeing or for
strengthening the threads. Khaddar
could be of four colours, white being given
to widows while red was associated with
youth. Generally geometric and floral
motifs were done by Muslim weavers and
images of dancers, birds and animals by
Hindu and Sikh weavers. The basic
phulkari embroidery is just long and short
darning stitches done from the reverse
side of the fabric.
Many fashion designers are working
on reviving this ancient craft and
incorporating it into their modern
designs. You can buy hulkaris on fine
georgettes, chiffons and even silk and
there are bags, even footwear with this
embroidery.
182
DECEMBER 2017

SPICEJET
INSIDER
MY TOWN
Our ongoing series in which we look at various Indian cities
through the eyes of SpiceJet staffers. This month, Anchal Gill,
Senior Cabin Crew, holds forth on Amritsar
Clockwise from above: Bathinda Fort; Golden
Temple and Jallianwala Bagh
SpiceJet flies to Amritsar.
Log on to www.spicejet.com
for details
Connection to the city: I have
been born and brought up in
the Holy City of Amritsar.
Best thing about Amritsar:
The best thing about this
place is that the residents
here are deeply rooted in
their culture. Amritsar is one
of the most important cities
of Punjab and a tourist hub.
Although the citizens have
adopted a modern lifestyle,
they are a deeply religious set of people.
They are open-hearted and welcoming
in nature. Amritsaris have an awesome
sense of humour. No wonder many
comedians originally from here like Kapil
Sharma, Bharti Singh and Sudesh Lehri
have made their mark all over India.
Favourite eating place: Amritsaris
are absolute foodies and
so am I. Although every
outlet in Amritsar serves
kulcha breads, Ashok
Kulcha Land near Ranjit
Avenue is my favourite
eating place. It offers a
variety of kulchas like
Masala Kulcha, Amritsari
Kulcha and Paneer Kulcha.
They come with a variety
of stuffing like onion,
potato, cauliflower, soya,
mushroom and dry fruits.
Places to hang out: There
are a variety of places to go to. If you
are going with family, then Maharaja
Ranjit Singh Museum is ideal for a
quick peek into history. Hall Bazaar and
Katra Jaimal Singh Market are perfect
for shopping of Punjabi suits and juttis
(shoes). And if you are planning to hang
out with friends then head to Lawrence
Road, Company Garden, Ranjit Avenue
and Sun City Amusement Park.
Local attractions: Golden Temple, the
pride and soul of Sikhs, has been a
centre of attraction since ages. The city
is also famous for the Jallianwala Bagh,
Durgiyana Temple and Ram Teerath.
These apart, Sada Pind is also popular
with tourists.
Recommended places nearby: Tourist
places like Harike Wetland, Bathinda
Fort (Pul Kanjari), Goindwal Sahib and
ISCKON temple are within
close proximity of the city
and give travellers enough
options to choose from
for a day trip.
Amritsar when compared
to other cities: I have
stayed in Delhi, Goa,
Himachal Pradesh and
Chennai. Amritsar being
my hometown is closest
to my heart and I have
always missed it whenever
I have been away from
it.
ALAMY / SHUTTERSTOCK
183
DECEMBER 2017

NEWS
SPICEJET
INSIDER
SpiceJet registers 11th
consecutive profitable
quarter
SpiceJet has reported a profit of
`105.3 crore for the three months
ended September 30, 2017 as against
`58.9 crore in the same quarter last
year, making it the 11th successive
profitable quarter for the airline. In the
seasonal weak quarter, profits grew by
80 per cent against a capacity growth
of 22 per cent during this period as
against the same quarter last year.
This is SpiceJet’s highest Q2 profit in
its history of operations.
SpiceJet yet again excelled on
operational parameters to report
the highest passenger load factor
amongst all airlines in the country all
through the quarter. The company
witnessed a 7 per cent increase in
its passenger yields (Revenue per
Available Seat Kilometre) while
its average load factor across the
network was 93.1 per cent. SpiceJet
has recorded more than 90 per
cent load factor for 30 successive
months, a feat unparalleled globally.
Significantly the quarter also marked
the fifth consecutive month when the
airline’s domestic load factors have
been in excess of 94 per cent. Mr.
Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet, said, “This
has been yet another great quarter
for us and I am very pleased with
the exceptional performance of my
team. Every quarter SpiceJet has a
story which further underscores our
extraordinary turnaround.”
Hon'ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan Smt. Vasundhara Raje with Mr. Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet
SpiceJet puts Jaisalmer on the country’s aviation map
SpiceJet has launched its fourth daily flight under the UDAN scheme. On October 29,
2017, the airline started flying between Jaipur and Jaisalmer. It is the only airline to
offer daily direct flight connectivity on this route which has a heavy demand from both
business and leisure travellers. On the same day, SpiceJet launched a new direct flight
between Jaisalmer and Delhi thus making it the first and only airline in the country to
provide direct air connectivity between India’s Golden City and the Capital. The day also
marked the launch of SpiceJet’s new Jaipur-Varanasi flight – a sector that no other airline
in the country operates. The announcement about the new flights was made in the
august presence of Smt. Vasundhara Raje, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan. Mr. Ajay
Singh, CMD, SpiceJet, said, “SpiceJet is proud to connect Rajasthan like never before.
Today is a very special day for us as we announce the launch of multiple new flights to
Rajasthan, India’s most vibrant and colourful state, which will greatly aid both leisure and
business travellers. We hope to continue to serve the people of Rajasthan with the same
vigour in future.”
SpiceJet now offers the best lit sky cabins
SpiceJet now offers the best lit cabins in the country among airlines serving the Asia-
Pacific region. In association with STG Aerospace, SpiceJet has been awarded the best
Inflight Asia-Pacific Award in the Interior Retrofit Project category. The prestigious prize
designed to recognise the most exceptional supplier-airline collaboration in the field
of cabin interiors for aircraft serving the Asia-Pacific region has recognised SpiceJet
from among many shortlisted entries this year. SpiceJet partnered with STG Aerospace
to retrofit its legacy fluorescent lighting systems on the airline’s fleet of 737-700, -800
and -900 aircraft with the STG Aerospace LED aftermarket lighting system, liTeMood.
Mr. Arun Kashyap, Executive Vice President – Engineering, SpiceJet, said, “We are
extremely happy with STG Aerospace’s ability to meet our tight timescales and are
looking forward to harmonise the look and feel of our cabin interiors to achieve an
impactful brand differentiation while offering a premium flying experience to everyone.”
Mr. Nigel Duncan, CEO, STG Aerospace, commented: “We are proud of our long-standing
relationship with SpiceJet and equally delighted to have won this award with them."
184
DECEMBER 2017

SPICEJET
INSIDER
“THIS IS THE 31ST
MONTH-IN-A-ROW
THAT SPICEJET HAS
FLOWN WITH LOAD
FACTORS IN EXCESS
OF 90 PER CENT - A
FEAT UNPARALLELED
IN GLOBAL AVIATION
HISTORY. WE HAVE ALSO
CLOCKED THE BEST
ON-TIME PERFORMANCE
AT KEY METROS LIKE
BENGALURU AND
MUMBAI WHICH SPEAKS
OF THE OPERATIONAL
PRECISION AND EFFORTS
OUR TEAM HAS PUT IN”
SpiceJet launches country’s first ever airline gift card
SpiceJet has launched India’s first ever gift card in the domestic airline category.
With some very unique features, the SpiceJet Gift Card is meant to be gifted to
loved ones. It allows customers to travel to destinations of their choice at a time
convenient to them. The cards are valid for air fare as well as add-ons on SpiceJet.
Be it a birthday or an anniversary or any other occasion, SpiceJet Gift Cards allow
customers a plethora of options to choose from. Offering a wide range of gifting
options from `500 to `50,000, customers can now get their gifts tailor-made to
suit their pocket.
Customers can visit http://www.spicejet.com/giftcards.aspx, choose gift cards
customised for a range of special occasions, add a personalized message and send
instant e-gift cards via email to their loved ones. Customers can also schedule their
e-gift cards for future occasions. The Gift Cards are redeemable only on Spicejet.
com. They can also be used to add services like Meal, Preferred Seat, SpiceMax,
Priority Check-in, Extra Baggage, etc. through Manage My Booking.
SpiceJet announces new
non-stop flights
SpiceJet has announced a slew of new
non-stop flights on both domestic and
international routes this winter beginning
December 2017. The airline is all set to
start operating the first ever daily direct
flight on the Ahmedabad-Bangkok sector
from December 7, 2017. SpiceJet is also
the first airline to introduce daily non-stop
flights on Jaipur-Jodhpur, Surat-Jodhpur,
Ahmedabad-Varanasi and Bengaluru-
Bagdogra sectors. Additionally, SpiceJet
has announced the launch of additional
frequencies on Bengaluru-Ahmedabad,
Bengaluru-Kolkata, Chennai-Goa and
Surat-Goa sectors and a seasonal nonstop
flight on the Delhi-Port Blair route.
Ms. Shilpa Bhatia, Chief Sales & Revenue
Officer, SpiceJet, said, “Adding new flights,
new frequencies, scaling up operations
and enhancing our overall network will
remain a constant endeavour for us at
SpiceJet as we eye new growth markets.”
185
DECEMBER 2017

SPICEJET
INSIDER
FLIGHT BOOKINGS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
SpiceJet’s popular mobile app offers never before convenience and speed for customers on-the-go
With SpiceJet’s new mobile
app, customers will find it
more convenient than ever
before to make and manage bookings,
check flight status, and receive
exclusive offers on their mobile devices.
The interface is so simple that even the
origin of journey helpfully gets autofilled
thanks to inbuilt geo-tagging.
The app also allows customers to
book or add exciting SpiceJet add-on
products such as choosing premium
SpiceMAX seats, in-flight meals and
Priority Check-in. Customers can also
pre-book excess baggage at discounted
rates through this app.
The payment gateway of the app
offers a variety of options like Quickpay,
credit card, debit card and Internet
banking. The Quickpay option ensures
instant booking with just a single click.
You can download the official
SpiceJet app from Google Playstore
and App Store.
Spice First Check-in
SpiceJet has raised the
bar of customer comfort
and convenience with the
effective integration of
technology into its services.
In a first of its kind initiative
by any airline in the country,
the carrier has launched
Spice First Check-In. This
enables customers to get
their boarding pass on their
smartphones at the click of
a button. The service will
be initially introduced at
Hyderabad as a pilot project.
The airline which has
set a new benchmark in
the country by launching a
slew of customer-friendly
and innovative products
and services has effectively
incorporated Near Field
Communication (NFC)
and Beacon technologies
with its mobile application.
This enables customers
who have booked tickets
through the SpiceJet mobile
app to receive boarding
passes directly on their
smartphones. Customers
will thus be relieved from
standing in long queues
thus further enhancing their
travel experience.
STEP: 1
The main
menu screen
offers four
options. To
book a flight,
select Flight
Booking
186
DECEMBER 2017

SPICEJET
INSIDER
ENJOY EXCLUSIVE OFFERS
With Spicejet’s hot new mobile app, one can not only book flight tickets on the go, prebook
spice add-ons, check flight status and manage one’s bookings, but also get access
to exclusive discounts. Book through the mobile app and get up to 20% discount on
flight tickets and 20% discount on meals
STEP: 2
Choose the required field. Fill in
the details and click on the Search
Flights options
STEP: 3
Flights options according to date of
travel are displayed. The fare details
are at the bottom
STEP: 4
On selection of the button, the
detailed fare sumary is displayed
STEP: 5
Once the required flight option
has been selected, fill in your
contact details
STEP: 6
Fliers can choose numerous add-on
options that will make the journey
hassle-free
187
DECEMBER 2017
STEP: 7
Customers can pay via Credit or
Debit card. QuickPay option saves
transaction time

SPICEJET
INSIDER
ST RS OF SPICEJET
Meet SpiceJet achievers from the Ground Services department, who
have stood out for their outstanding work
BIKRAM NATH
AGARTALA
Customer appreciation: I
was about to miss my flight
from Agartala to Kolkata but Bikram Nath,
your staffer at Agartala, helped me catch
the flight. I appreciate his kindness and
quick response, else I would have had to
stay back at Agartala.
Experience with SpiceJet: I would like
to thank SpiceJet for giving me the
opportunity to work with such a beautiful
family. I am lucky to be a part of this
wonderful organization. Here everyone
is very helpful and guides us in every
situation. I always recommend SpiceJet
to my relatives and friend circle as I know
they will also experience a great journey
while travelling with us. I am very happy
being a member of this family.
NEHA SHARMA
JAMMU
Internal appreciation:
We would like to
appreciate Neha Sharma for her good
work and flawless service. She has
all the necessary qualities required
in a good and honest employee. She
is a very good team player and is
always game for new challenges. We
appeciate her positive attitude and
her ability to motivate people.
Experience with SpiceJet: It is
a great experience to work with
SpiceJet. The organization taught
me many things professionally to
enhance me and to be my best. It is
the best company to work at - with
great management, professionalism
and positive working enviornment. I
am determined to scale great heights
here.
SRUTI
CHAKRABORTY
KOLKATA
Customer appreciation: I
would like to extend my thanks to your
employee Sruti Chakraborty who helped
locate my baggage which was lost after
arrival at Kolkata from Chennai. She took
the initiative, found my lost luggage and
informed me accordingly.
Experience with SpiceJet: I have been with
the SpiceJet family for the last six months.
I would like to thank SpiceJet for giving
me such a nice environment and support
to work with such wonderful seniors
and colleagues. It was my dream since
childhood to work in aviation and SpiceJet
has given me a chance to fulfill my wishes.
Once again thanks to everybody for
supporting me all along.
R SATHISH KUMAR
CHENNAI
Internal appreciation:
We take great pleasure
in informing everybody about Sathish
Kumar's exemplary deed. He found a
passenger's wallet containing
` 27,000 and $100 and handed it over
to him. The passenger was very happy
with Sathish Kumar and expressed his
appreciation with a written note.
Experience with SpiceJet: It’s been seven
years with SpiceJet and by God's grace,
I am still going strong. I cherish each and
every moment of my tenure here. It’s a
great feeling when passengers compliment
us. This motivates us to continue giving our
best. I have very supportive seniors and
colleagues. I would like to thank one and
all for being there as and when required.
I am grateful to SpiceJet for giving me
opportunities to enhance my skill sets.
188
DECEMBER 2017

SPICEJET
INSIDER
PRIYANKA
DELHI
Internal appreciation:
Priyanka has been working
with us since the last four years and her
performance has always been good.
She is a very sincere and hard-working
girl handling our entire admin and HR
functions at Delhi airport. She has never
said no to any extra work or any new
assignment.
Experience with SpiceJet: I have had
a very satisfying work experience
at SpiceJet. The seniors have been
encouraging and my journey has been
filled with many happy moments. I have
been appreciated well and chances have
been given to grow in my career. I have
been promoted when I have performed
well. I love my job and my company.
ABINASH SATPATHY
DELHI
Internal appreciation:
Abinash is a very sincere
and honest staff member. He is always
cheerful and polite and is an asset at
check-in counters. He speaks politely with
all passengers and has a never-say-no
attitude.
Experience with SpiceJet: I have been
working with SpiceJet since the last two
years and the journey has been truly
awesome. I have learned a lot and have
become a better person. I have always
been supported by my seniors. I have
always been encouraged to do well and
have been appreciated whenever I have
done a good job. I thank the management
for providing me a good platform where I
can perform to my full potential.
MOHD SHOHEB
HYDERABAD
Internal appreciation:
Having Mohd Shoheb in the
team makes a huge difference because he
always finds a way to get things done and
done well. When the targets get tougher
he continues to have the best attitiude to
accomplish them. He is customer-oriented
and enthusiastic and has a very positive
work ethic in him.
Experience with SpiceJet: Working with
SpiceJet gives me immense pleasure and
to be a part of this organisation makes
me proud to choose the best career in the
aviation world. I have learned a lot at this
place. There is a lot of knowledge sharing
here and this helps immensely in your
career growth. Interpersonal relations are
also of a high level.
MADHU DARURU
CHENNAI
Internal appreciation: We
are very happy to have
Madhu Daruru with us - a dedicated and
hard-working team player. He is always
willing to work beyond his call of duty
during a time of need. We appreciate
the way in which he is an asset to our
team. He is a self-motivated person and
is always committed to high standards at
his workplace.
Experience with SpiceJet: It has been
more than four years with Spicejet. This
is a great place to work. I enjoy my work
here as I get to learn something or the
other on a daily basis. I shall always be
thankful to my seniors and colleagues
for all their support. A sense of purpose
and pride runs deep within SpiceJet and
this rubs off very well on all those who
work over here.
PRADEEP K
HYDERABAD
Customer appreciation:
I travelled recently from
Vijayawada to Hyderabad with SpiceJet.
As I was leaving the airport, I realised
that I had forgotten my laptop in the seat
pocket of my plane. I went back to your
ticketing counter and told the staff about
it. They immediately swung into action
and contacted the ground staff one of
whom returned my laptop safely to me. I
appreciate the efforts put in by your
ground crew especially Pradeep K. Kindly
convey my regards to them. This is why I
always fly SpiceJet.
Experience with SpiceJet: I would like
to take this opportunity to thank my
colleagues and seniors for always being
supportive in all my efforts. SpiceJet is a
great place to work in. It has helped me
grow as a person.
AMARPREET KAUR
CHANDIGARH
Internal appreciation:
Hard-working and honest,
Amarpreet Kaur stands like a rock
every time the occassion demands. Her
dedication towards work is amazing.
She is a well-groomed professional with
a passion for her job. She shows a very
high level of dedication and sincerity
while performing her responsibilities.
Experience with SpiceJet: It’s been
three years with SpiceJet and the going
feels really good. I would like to thank
each and every individual who has
helped me in this wonderful journey,
directly or indirectly. It always feels
like home while working at my station.
The working atmosphere here is very
good. I feel proud to be a SpiceJetter.
I am grateful to my seniors and the
management for guiding me.
189
DECEMBER 2017

SPICEJET
INSIDER
THE MID-AIR MENU
SpiceJet's 'pre-booking only' menu offers Thai, Continental
and Indian Platters
SPICEJET'S EXTENSIVE INFLIGHT MENU will leave flyers delighted with their onboard experience. The 'Hot Meals'
section will bring a warm smile to your face. From filling breakfast options to lip-smacking snacks, from sumptuous lunch
and dinner options to vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies, SpiceJet offers a multitude of meal choices on prebooking.
In addition, special meal categories such as Jain meal, Navratra meal, meal for diabetics, gluten-free meal and
cakes are also on offer, along with Thai, Continental and Indian platters. Hot favourites like Pringles have been retained
in the non-perishables section to entice kids. All in all, SpiceJet's menu is a red, hot, and spicy treat for your taste buds.
THAI CHICKEN CURRY
You can now even prebook
a menu with Thai and
Continental options
o
NON-VEG
TANDOORI PLATTER
Hearty platters are for
your asking 24x7
o
o
STEAMED RICE
WITH KADI
PAKODA
Enjoy traditional
and mouth-watering
home-like food up in
the sky
CHICKEN STROGANOFF
WITH YELLOW RICE
Check out this variation
of a mid-19th century
Russian dish
o
190
DECEMBER 2017

SPICEJET
INSIDER
ADD-
SEAT SELECTION DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL
SpiceMax Seats M 600/1000/-* M 1200 /-
Know more
about
SpiceJet’s
innovative
products
and services
Preferred Seats - on Boeing /Airbus
Ahead of exit row window /aisle M 300/- M 450/-
Ahead of exit row middle M 250/- M 400/-
Behind exit row window /aisle M 200/- M 350/-
Behind exit row middle M 99/- M 150/-
Preferred seats Q400
Front half of cabin window /aisle M 250/- M 400/-
Rear half of cabin window / aisle M 150/- M 300/-
Seat + Meal Combo
Combo Price M 399/- M 499/-
PRE-BOOK EXCESS BAGGAGE
5 kgs M 1425/- M 2450/-
10 kgs M 2850/- M 4,900/-
15 kgs M 4275/- NA
20 kgs M 5700/- NA
30 kgs M 8550/- NA
PRIORITY CHECK-IN M 200/- M 300/-
BAG OUT FIRST
1 Bag M 100/- NA
2 Bags M 200/- NA
3 Bags M 300/- NA
CARRY MORE ONBOARD (FREE ALLOWANCE 7 KG; BUY UP TO 5 KG MORE)
Pre-book M 250/- per kg M 450/- per kg
At Check-in M 350/- per kg As per current excess baggage rate
At boarding gate M 350/- per kg As per current excess baggage rate
MY FLEXI PLAN M 1125/- M 1250/-
HAND BAGGAGE ONLY FARE - CHARGE AT AIRPORT
Fare type change fee if checking-in bag at airport
after purchasing HBO fare
Up to 15 kgs -
M 400/-
NA
SPICE CAKE M 750/- M 800/-
SPICE LOUNGE (Delhi/Bengaluru/Hyderabad/Kochi/ M 750/- M 1400/-
Varanasi/Guwahati/Jaipur)
FLY FOR SURE M 299/- Only ex-India M 499/-
VALUEPACK
a) Pay M 499/- and get a SpiceJet voucher worth M 1999/-
b) Pay M 999/- and get a SpiceJet voucher worth M 3999/-
*SPICEMAX SEATS OFFER SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LEGROOM, PLUS COMPLIMENTARY MEAL, PRIORITY CHECK-IN, PRIORITY BOARDING
(AT AEROBRIDGE GATES), AND PRIORITY BAGGAGE HANDLING. *BASIS AIRCRAFT TYPE/SECTOR **NA STANDS FOR ‘NOT AVAILABLE’
*THE ABOVE MENTIONED PRICES AND FEATURES ARE ACCURATE AS AT THE TIME OF MAGAZINE PRINTING, AND ARE SUBJECT TO
CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE
191
DECEMBER 2017

SPICEJET
INSIDER
Boeing 737 - 700/800/900ER Series
Interior arrangement of Boeing 737 - 700 (149 Passengers)
Interior arrangement of Boeing 737 - 800 (189 Passengers)
Row 1 -32
Entry / Exit
Row 1 -26
Emergency Exit
Entry / Exit
Entry / Exit
Emergency Exit
Entry / Exit
Row 1 -20
Passengers
(single class configuration)
*
BOEING 737-700
2
149
BOEING 737-800
BOEING 737-900 ER
BOMBARDIER Q400
28
4
22
189 212
78
6200 km
5,600 km
5000 km
2000 km
0.79 M (840 km/h)
0.79 M (840 km/h)
0.79 M (840 km/h)
666 km/h
Speed unit M denotes Mach Number; 1 Mach is equal to the speed of sound.
*These numbers exclude wet lease aircraft.
BOEING 737-700
BOEING 737-800
BOEING 737-900 ER
BOMBARDIER Q400
112 ft 7 in (34.3m)
93 ft 3 in (28.42m)
117 ft 5 in (35.7m)
110 ft 4 in (33.6m)
41 ft 2 in (12.5m)
11 ft 7 in (3.53m)
107 ft 9 in (32.83m)
24 ft 4 in (8.34m)
8 ft 2 in (2.49m)
The above mentioned descriptions are accurate at the time of magazine printing.

Jaisalmer
Jodhpur
Colombo
Effective dates: DEL-IXZ from 10th Dec., BLR-IXB from 1st Dec.,
AMD-VNS, AMD –BKK, STV-JDH & JAI-JDH from 7th Dec. 5 th November, 2017
Dibrugarh
2

R.N.I NO:DELENG/2015/63282