Spice February 2018 ipad pdf

KATRINA KAIF | JAIPUR LIT FEST | SPOTLIGHT ON INVESTMENTS 

spice 

www.spiceroutemagazine.com 

Volume 12 | Issue 02 | February 2018 

THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE

FROM THE 

CMD’S DESK 

Dear Readers, 

Welcome aboard SpiceJet! 

I believe 2018 will be a watershed 

year in the history of our airline. 

Deliveries of our new planes, part of our 

massive aircraft orders with Boeing and 

Bombardier that made global headlines 

in 2017, will start this year. And I believe 

that this will change the passenger 

flying experience forever. 

The state-of-the-art Boeing 737 

MAX that joins our fleet later this year 

is one of the fastest selling airplanes 

in aviation history and will hugely 

enhance the flying experience for you, 

our customers. These new fuel efficient 

planes have a higher seating capacity 

and can fly longer distances thus 

bringing new unserved markets within 

reach. 

The Max will surely take the inflight 

experience to the next level with its 

plush and spacious interiors – new 

sculpted sidewalls and ceilings, new 

window reveals coupled with colour- 

LED lighting and comfortable seating. 

The aircraft incorporates the best 

and the latest engine and winglet 

technology among other improvements 

to deliver the highest efficiency, 

reliability and passenger comfort. 

With these new planes joining 

our fleet, SpiceJet will profitably 

open up new markets and expand 

connectivity within India and beyond. 

We have worked hard to bring the 

country’s smaller towns and cities on 

the country’s aviation map and our 

new aircraft orders further reiterate our 

grand vision of making every Indian fly. 

We will launch flights on regional routes 

in a big way as our new Bombardier 

Q400s start to arrive. 

In January, we were invited to the 

prestigious World Economic Forum at 

Davos, Switzerland. The Indian presence 

was the largest-ever at the international 

convention, with our honourable Prime 

Minister and senior ministers and top 

government officials. SpiceJet was also 

conferred the honour and privilege to 

be part of the official delegation. 

Back home, SpiceJet, yet again, 

ruled the domestic skies, clocking an 

occupancy of over 95% in January. 

We have recorded 90% plus load 

factor for 33 successive months, a feat 

unequalled in global aviation history and 

a testimony to the fact that SpiceJet is 

India’s favourite and most loved airline. 

Thank you for making this possible, 

month on month. 

Starting February, we will launch 12 

new domestic flights, adding muscle 

to our network in southern India. We 

are launching daily flights between 

Kolkata-Jabalpur and Bengaluru- 

Puducherry and a direct flight 

between Bengaluru-Rajahmundry. 

We will also enhance frequencies 

between Chennai-Vishakhapatnam, 

Kolkata-Vishakhapatnam and 

Bengaluru-Chennai. In March, SpiceJet 

will add new flights on the Chennai- 

Mangalore, Bengaluru-Tirupati and 

Guwahati-Chennai routes and an 

additional frequency between Chennai- 

Vijayawada. 

All through 2017, SpiceJet has 

delivered success stories that further 

underline our exemplary turnaround 

and we look forward to a power-packed 

2018. 

May you have a “Red. Hot. Spicy.” 

experience each time you fly with us! 

Wish you all a pleasant journey 

ahead. 

Tailwinds & Happy Landings! 

Jai Hind! 

Ajay Singh 

Chairman & Managing Director 

2 ||||| AUGUST 2016

Cover feb.indd All Pages 

www.spiceroutemagazine.com 

KATRINA KAIF | JAIPUR LIT FEST | SPOTLIGHT ON INVESTMENTS 

Volume 12 | Issue 02 | February 2018 

THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE 

29/01/18 3:06 PM 

spice 

www.spicejet.comCONTENTS 

FEBRUARY 2018 

50 

BOARDING 

NOW 

SpiceJet 

continually 

enriches the 

travel experience 

by adding new, 

underexplored 

destinations 

66 

72 

ONE WITH NATURE 

A premier property in Kangra 

district of Himachal Pradesh, 

Rakkh Resort stands on the unique 

tripod of personal interaction, 

reconnecting with nature and a 

passion for the great outdoors 

“NEVER LOSE YOURSELF IN LOVE” 

Katrina Kaif on the stupendous success of Tiger Zinda Hai, her 

forthcoming movies, life and love 

8 

FEBRUARY 2018

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ECE (Embedded Systems), ECE (IOT), ECE (Sensors & Wearable Tech.), ECE (VLSI) , EEE, EIE, Electronics & Computer 

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To apply online and to get details like eligibility and fee, please visit www.vit.ac.in 

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www.vit.ac.in 

VIT - A Place to learn; A Chance to grow

CONTENTS 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT 

Here are the Indian cricketers to 

watch out for in 2018 

78 92 

ROMANTIC ESCAPES FOR 

VALENTINE’S DAY 

February 14 is one day when 

crowds fill every restaurant, 

theatres go fully booked and 

lawns and gardens have more 

people than trees! But worry 

not, we have zeroed in on five 

unique romantic escapes to ring 

in the day with your special one 

86 

SIDEKICK CHOICE 

NO MORE 

Often confused with fennel 

(saunf), anise (also called 

aniseed) is a sweet spice that 

has been around for 4000 years 

and is relevant even today 

SPICEJET INSIDER 

Social media 20 

SpiceVacations.com24 

Spice products26 

My town145 

Mobile apps 146 

Stars of SpiceJet148 

Onboard menu150 

SpiceJet add-ons151 

SpiceJet fleet152 

Route map154 

14 


CONTENTS 

DEMYSTIFYING ALL THINGS FINANCE 

Finance and related matters are a vital part of everyday life and it 

helps if you get your fundas right 

110 

98 

spice 


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 GHOSH 

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 

A TEST OF CORPORAL ENDURANCE 

The unique Kila Raipur Rural Olympics is an annual event drawing 

visitors, participants and sponsors from near and far 

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 

16 


SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

@flyspicejet My compliments to your 

crew on board SG 198. They were just 

brilliant, each one of them serving with 

a smile in the middle of the night. 

@flyspicejet With all hope lost 

and less than half an hour to 

board a connecting flight 

from Kolkata, I was still stuck 

at immigration. The Spice 

crew at check-in helped me 

board at the last minute, 

arranging everything quickly. 

@rraina1481 

@lepchadhendup 

@flyspicejet Happy to be at the BGBS. Ajay Singh of 

SpiceJet says Mamataji has a power plant inside her 

to drive this state so well. SpiceJet grows 20% every 

year. In all, 250 airplanes will be introduced. 

@AnandLNV 

@flyspicejet Truly 

impressed with SpiceJet’s 

response in helping me 

recover my iPhone that I 

had left at the Starbucks 

counter in T1 Delhi. 

@Meena0609 

@flyspicejet You guys are 

amazing. On time, every time. 

Professional service. Maybe that 

is the reason you guys fly with 

near 100 per cent occupancy 

every time. Kudos to Ajay Singh 

and his team. 

@Sabbu1991 

BUZZ ON 

SOCIAL MEDIA 

@flyspicejet What an amazing flight with 

Captain Danny Desai, the poet-pilot of our 

times. 

@satyarags 

@flyspicejet has some of the best food 

on board. Much impressed, very happy. 

@KneeCoalMosai 

@flyspicejet Kudos to your 

counter staff. Lady in front of me 

at Delhi airport check-in with tiny 

baby and tonnes of luggage. Girl 

at the counter got up, crossed 

two rows of people and got her 

out of there for a fast check-in. 

@flyspicejet Flew from Delhi to Goa and used 

SpiceMax. Totally worth it. Cent per cent 

marks to services offered, from priority 

check-in to front seat, good meal, priority 

baggage and on time landing. Keep it going! 

@sayoniaiyar 

@flyspicejet Thank you for yummy food and 

amazing hospitality. It was a wonderful 

experience on SG 3462. 

@MitanshuSarda 

@d_malhotra 

FIND YOUR FAVOURITE AIRLINE ON @FLYSPICEJET ON TWITTER & FACEBOOK 

20 


BRAND / DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: 

ayush@torerocorp.com I distribution@torerocorp.com I +91 9830955705

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 

24 


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. 

26 


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. 

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 

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

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. 

2 

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. 

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. 

4 

You 1st 

Helping you make your travels 

smoother is this special offering 

from SpiceJet. For just `399, you 

can now get a combination of 

priority check-in as well as preferred bagout 

by availing of this unique product. For 

passengers catching ex-India flights, it is 

available at `499. Passengers availing of this 

service will have to check-in for their flight at 

the airport check-in counter, as Priority-Check- 

In. The booking, made via the SpiceJet website 

(www.spicejet.com), can be availed latest up 

to two hours before the scheduled departure. 

27 


5 

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 `1,500 for domestic travel ticket 

and `1,750 for international travel ticket. 

The service will be applicable only for one 

change or one cancellation per ticket. 

8Carry 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 

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

6 

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. 

7 

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 non-refundable 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. 

9 

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. 

28 


OPENING SHOT 

PERFORMING ARTS 

WHEN ANKLETS COME ALIVE 

ONE OF THE MOST LOOKED- 

FORWARD-TO EVENTS in the 

country’s artistic calendar, the 

next edition of the Khajuraho 

Festival of Dances is all set to 

enthral audiences this month, 

between the 20th and the 26th. 

Entry is free for the event held 

against the backdrop of the world 

famous Khajuraho Temples in 

Madhya Pradesh. The Festival 

began in 1975 and since then has 

been one of the most popular 

cultural events in India, attended 

by local, national and 

international audiences. On 

display will be Indian classical 

dance forms like Bharatnatyam, 

Kathakali, Odissi, Manipuri, 

Kathak and Mohiniyattam. 

ALAMY 

30 


OPENING SHOT 

GETTING AROUND 

SEGWAYING INTO A FORT 

IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS, the stunning Nahargarh Fort, standing tall in the Aravali Hills of Jaipur district, Rajasthan, along 

with Amer and Jaigarh forts, formed a formidable troika that defended Jaipur. It was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the 

founder of Jaipur. The fort never came under attack during its 284-year-old history. Now there is one more achievement that 

can be added to its name: it is one of the first forts in the country that can be explored on a Segway. There’s much to see, 

beginning with a panoramic view of Jaipur city. Detailed stonework and delicate carvings, intricate murals and stucco work 

and a biological park within the premises are some of the other attractions. 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

32 


www.skipperhomefashions.com 

UPHOLSTERY | CURTAINS | WALLPAPERS | BLINDS | MATTRESSES | DRAPERY RODS | BED & BATH 

P: +91 33 40515253 E: contact@skipperfurnishings.com W: www.skipperfurnishings.com | Follow us at : 

KOLKATA • DURGAPUR • SILIGURI • GUWAHATI • BILASPUR • SILCHAR • SHILLONG • KANPUR • JAMSHEDPUR • RANCHI • PATNA 

JAIPUR • RAIPUR • BHUBHANESWAR • VISHAKAPATNAM • HYDERABAD • LUCKNOW • BANGALORE • DHANBAD

OPENING SHOT 

TRADITION 

THE ART OF THE THANGKA 

Common Peacock 

TIBETIAN BUDDHIST paintings on cotton or silk appliqués, thangkas go back to the seventh 

century and are great takeaway gifts from Buddhist tourist centres. They often depict a 

Buddhist deity, scene or mandala (a spiritual and ritual symbol). The origin of these paintings 

lies not in their aesthetic beauty but as aids in the meditation process. The next time you are in 

Dharamshala, do try your hand at painting a thangka. The Norbulingka Institute in the quaint 

Himachali town offers workshops ranging from one day to two months. Courses are designed 

based on the time and interest of individuals and groups. They are a great way to learn more 

about the sophistication of Tibetan culture and students will leave with a beautiful piece of 

their own. The institute also conducts wood carving and wood painting workshops. 

SpiceJet flies to Dharamshala. 

Log on to www.spicejet.com 

for flight details 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

34 


DISCOVER SERENTY

M E R R Y 

MONDAYS 

ENJOY UP TO 

`1000 OFF * ON 

FLIGHTS & FREE 

PRIORITY 

CHECK-IN. 

Valid only on booking with 

HDFC Bank Credit Cards. 

PROMO CODE: HDFC1000 

OFFER VALID EVERY MONDAY 

ON www.spicejet.com 

*T&C apply.

MELANGE 

EVENTS 

HOT DATES 

DANCE // MUSIC // THEATRE // ART 

ART 

VIVAN SUNDARAM 

RESTROSPECTIVE 

The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) 

is holding a restrospective of one of 

the most prolific artists of our times. 

This exhibition will trace Sundaram’s 

development over the last half-century, 

exploring his unique trajectory as an 

artist, curator and editor. The exhibition 

features rare works from his early career 

and is curated by Roobina Karode and 

Vivan Sundaram. 

When: February 8, 2018 

Where: Saket, South Delhi 

CINEMA 

AIYAARY 

A much-anticipated work from writer-director Neeraj Pandey 

of A Wednesday fame. All about two Indian Army officers, 

a mentor and his protégé. Starring Anupam Kher, Sidharth 

Malhotra, Manoj Bajpayee, Naseeruddin Shah and Adil Hussain. 


Where: All over 

EVENT 

INDIA HERITAGE WALK FESTIVAL 2018 

This month-long, multi-city event hopes to introduce people to 

the tangible and intangible culture and heritage of their cities, and 

in the process, celebrate India’s rich cultural diversity. In all, 50 

heritage walks have been planned across 20 Indian cities including 

Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Agra. 

When: Whole of February 

Where: 20 Indian cities 

38 


MELANGE 

EVENTS 

MUSIC 

JAVED ALI: A BOUQUET 

OF GHAZALS 

In a short span of his career, 

Javed Ali has had the 

privilege of working with 

eminent music directors 

and has performed for 

numerous films in several 

languages. Besides film 

music, he is known for his 

command over the idiom 

of ghazal. The presentation 

will include evergreen 

ghazals penned by great 

poets and immortalised by 

legendary singers. 


Where: NCPA, Mumbai 

SPORTS 

MAX BUPA WALK FOR HEALTH 

The sixth edition of Max Bupa Walk for Health is back with cash 

prizes ranging from ` 6,000 to ` 25,000 across various categories: 

5 km walk for adults, 2 km walk for kids and senior citizens, and 7 km 

Power Walk for fitness enthusiasts. In addition, leisure activities like 

music, food and performances have also been lined up. 


Where: Mumbai 

COMEDY 

ADITI MITTAL: GLOBAL VILLAGE IDIOT 

A new show exploring how the entertainer’s place in our 

global village makes her feel she belongs nowhere and 

everywhere at the same time. The show will be packed 

with her trademark acerbic and cutting edge comedy and 

parodies of people she has met along the way. 


Where: Bengaluru 

SHUTTERSTOCK (WALK FOR HEALTH ) 

40 


MELANGE 

EVENTS 

FEBRUARY LISTINGS 

4 

9What: Auto Expo 

Where: Greater Noida 

14 

What: Run 4 Earth 

Where: Pune 

What: Anirban Das Comedy 


15 16 

17 

What: 

Silent Echo 

Where: 

What: Kumar 

Sakshi 

Sanu Live 

What: World Sacred Spirit 

Gallery, 

Where: 

Festival 

Mumbai Hyderabad 

Where: Jodhpur 

17 

What: Balloon Fest 

Where: Goa 

What: Virtual Reality Fiesta 


19 21 

What: Go-Carting Thrill 

Where: Chennai 

23 

What: Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (Hindi film) 

Where: All over 

25 

What: Bicycle tour 

Where: Delhi 

What: Lost Treasure Hunt 

Where: Hyderabad 

26 

ALAMY (AUTO EXPO) 

42 


MELANGE 

INFORMATION 

WHAT'S NEW 

UMAID BHAWAN PALACE 

DECLARED BEST HOTEL • 

The luxurious Umaid Bhawan Palace has been 

adjudged as the best hotel in India by a leading 

travel site. The Jodhpur-based property, in 

which the former royal family still resides, 

was declared winner in nine categories, by 

TripAdvisor, as part of its annual Travellers’ 

Choice Awards. The residence of Maharaja Gaj 

Singh II, Umaid Bhawan Palace counts among 

the most opulent homes ever built, with over 

350 rooms placed in between acres of splendid 

gardens. One wing houses the iconic Taj Umaid 

Bhawan Palace Hotel, managed by Taj Hotels 

Palaces Resorts and Safaris. 

AR RAHMAN IS BRAND 

AMBASSADOR OF 

SIKKIM • 

The annual Red Panda Winter 

Festival, whose third edition 

concluded in Gangtok last 

month, consisted of nine days of 

festivities aimed at promoting 

charming Sikkim as a major 

tourist destination. Held at 

the Titanic Park of MG Marg 

in Gangtok, it was a fiesta of 

culture, harmony, celebrations 

and ethnic food. A unique event 

this year was the announcement 

of music wizard AR Rahman 

as the brand ambassador of 

Sikkim. This news was conveyed 

to local and outstation tourists 

by the state’s chief minister 

Pawan Chamling. 

THE ELEPHANTA FESTIVAL IS BACK 

At one time one of the most popular cultural 

extravaganzas in Maharashtra, the Elephanta 

Festival is back after a nine year lull. It had been 

suspended after the 26/11 terror attacks of 2008 

in Mumbai. The event will continue to be held at 

Elephanta island, 30 nautical miles (55 km) from 

the Gateway of India, Mumbai. On the island 

are located the UNESCO World Heritage Site of 

Elephanta Caves, a collection of cave temples 

dedicated mainly to Lord Shiva. Renowned dancers 

and musicians will perform. 

SHUTTERSTOCK /ALAMY 

44 


MELANGE 

INFORMATION 

NO MORE TWO-WHEELING 

IN KODAI • 

Matheran, the small but picturesque 

hill station near Mumbai, enjoys a 

unique distinction: it is Asia’s only 

automobile-free hill station. Now 

Kodaikanal (Kodai for locals) is 

taking a leaf out of Matheran’s book. 

Two-wheelers have been banned at 

main tourist spots at this hill town in 

Tamil Nadu. This decision has been 

taken by the Forest Department 

to curtail human-animal conflicts. 

The reason: an increase in mist and 

wild animal movement. Pillar Rock, 

Guna Caves and Pine Forests are the 

tourist places which are most likely 

to be covered by the new legislation. 

OVER HALF OF THE WORLD’S TOURISTS 

TRANSPORTED BY AIR 

CELEBRATION TIME AT VEMBANAD 

According to the latest figures released by the International Civil 

Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations specialized agency, 

last year, over half of the world’s 1.2 billion tourists who travelled 

across international borders were transported by air. This comes 

on the back of a 7.1 per cent annual growth in passenger traffic. 

Air travel demand growth has gained solid momentum, supported 

by the ongoing improvement in global economic conditions 

throughout the year, the ICAO report noted. Region-wise, Asia/ 

Pacific had the second largest share with 29 per cent growth, 

and grew by 9.6 per cent, the second strongest growth among 

all regions. 

Just 63 km away from Kochi airport, Vembanad is one of 

the more prominent backwater destinations in Kerala. A 

vast array of rivers and canals empty themselves into the 

picturesque Vembanad Lake. It is a lovely place to go for 

a picnic. There are many boating, fishing and sightseeing 

options available in the area. Now Vembanad has one more 

achievement to its credit. Aditya, India’s first powered ferry 

operating in the Vembanad lagoon, completed a year of 

its existence last month. The 75-seater ferry has eliminated 

water, air and noise pollution. It has drastically cut down 

diesel costs. And if the smiling faces of passengers on 

Aditya is any indicator, it scores very high on comfort. 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

46 


GET UP TO 

`1000 OFF 

AND FREE SEAT 

SELECTION 

ON BOOKING TICKETS 

WITH YES BANK CREDIT 

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Promo code: YES1000 

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COVER STORY 

DESTINATIONS 

BOARDING NOW 

SPICEJET CONTINUALLY ENRICHES THE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE BY ADDING 

NEW, UNDEREXPLORED DESTINATIONS 

50 


SpiceJet flies to all the 

destinations covered in this 

feature. Log on to www. 

spicejet.com for flight details 

Trust SpiceJet to always 

keep the flying 

passenger in mind. Its 

slew of continuous 

innovations, by way of 

new products and services, have 

slew of flights to Rajasthan. 

“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 

contributed significantly towards 

colourful state, which will greatly aid 

making it India’s favourite and most 

both leisure and business travelers,” he 

loved airline. Another major 

said. “We are proud of the fact that 

contributory factor has been the 

SpiceJet will be the first and only airline 

addition of newer destinations. 

to offer direct air connectivity between 

In the short span of a little over a 

Jaipur-Jaisalmer; Jaisalmer-Delhi and 

year, SpiceJet has added nearly a dozen 

Jaipur-Varanasi and we hope to 

new destinations on its routes. In this 

continue to serve the people of 

feature, we look at six of them, hitherto 

Rajasthan with the same vigour in 

neglected but each with immense 

future.” 

tourism potential. Two of these 

A similar sentiment was expressed a 

destinations, Jaisalmer and Puducherry, 

little earlier on October 3, 2017 when 

come under the ambit of the grand 

SpiceJet had added Dibrugarh as its 

UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) 

50th destination, further enhancing 

scheme launched by Prime Minister 

connectivity to the North East. Shri 

Narendra Modi on April 27, 2017. 

Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Chief 

SpiceJet has been a very 

Minister of Assam had then said: “We 

enthusiastic supporter of the UDAN 

thank SpiceJet and especially Mr Ajay 

regional connectivity scheme that is 

Singh for accepting our request and 

enhancing connections to smaller towns 

providing air connectivity to the 

and cities. Over the years, many states 

citizens of Assam and North East. I hope 

had been clamouring for the revival of 

that this service continues unabated. I 

dysfunctional airports and starting 

had personally requested Mr. Singh to 

operations on un-served ones. This twin 

look into the gaps in air connectivity left 

demand is being addressed by UDAN. 

by other operators and I am happy to 

SpiceJet has been awarded six 

share that the same was looked into with 

proposals and 11 routes under the first 

great urgency.’ 

phase of UDAN. Out of the six finalised 

Rajasthan and Assam are just two of 

proposals, four will cater to unserved 

the many regions of the country that 

markets of Adampur, Kandla, 

SpiceJet has been improving 

Puducherry and Jaisalmer whereas two 

connectivity to, one new destination at a 

will be for underserved markets of 

time. Read on and explore some more 

Porbandar and Kanpur. Apart from 

gems of destinations that had been 

Jaisalmer and Puducherry, SpiceJet 

under the radar so far. 

flight operations have already 

commenced at Kandla and Porbandar. 

That SpiceJet always has the 

JAISALMER, RAJASTHAN 

Located at the heart of the Thar Desert, 

convenience of its passengers in mind 

the beautiful town of Jaisalmer has a 

The Golden Fort overlooks the 

sprawling city of Jaisalmer 

was evident from the words of Mr. Ajay 

Singh, CMD, SpiceJet, on October 28, 

2017, while flagging off Jaisalmer as a 

new destination as well as introducing a 

mystical charm that instantly draws you 

towards it. Perhaps it is the desert, the 

fort or its amazing natural sights – this 

is a potpourri of all things quintessential 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

51 


COVER STORY 

DESTINATIONS 

Take a boat ride in the lake and feed the 

catfish or simply soak in the serenity 

while you observe the many birds that 

flock here. Your trip to Jaisalmer is not 

complete without a desert safari. There 

are two kinds – a camel safari that will 

take you on a bit of a bumpy ride on the 

sand dunes and reward you with 

stunning sunset visuals. The bone 

rattling jeep safari is another must-have 

experience. Usually this is a package 

that is teamed with a cultural 

programme and tasting local food, so 

make sure you have this on your to-do 

itinerary. 

- Bindu Gopal Rao 

The Mehrangarh Fort in the Blue City of Jodhpur 

is a potpourri of all things quintessential 

Rajasthan. Being a rather small town on 

the border, Jaisalmer’s primary 

JODHPUR, RAJASTHAN 

A friend once told me: “If you want to see 

attraction is the Jaisalmer fort that 

the real Rajasthan, you must visit 

happens to be a living fort where 

Jodhpur.” These words somehow stayed 

thousands of people live within its lofty 

with me and on a recent trip to the Blue 

ramparts. Named after the Bhati ruler 

City, the second largest city of 

Maharawal Jaisal, it is called the Golden 

Rajasthan, I knew exactly what my 

Fort as the fort and residential buildings 

friend had indicated. True to its 

are made of yellow sandstone. The 5 km 

moniker, everything in the old city is 

SPICEJET HAS BEEN A VERY 

ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTER 

OF THE UDAN REGIONAL 

CONNECTIVITY SCHEME 

THAT IS ENHANCING 

CONNECTIVITY TO SMALLER 

TOWNS AND CITIES. OVER 

THE YEARS, MANY STATES 

HAD BEEN CLAMOURING 

FOR THE REVIVAL OF 

DYSFUNCTIONAL AIRPORTS 

AND STARTING OPERATIONS 

ON UN-SERVED ONES. UDAN 

MEETS THIS TWIN DEMAND 

fortification wall has 99 bastions. 

Walking through the fort and seeing the 

sights I felt a sensory overload of colour 

in the form of the little street-side shops 

that sell local handicrafts and clothes. 

The old homes here take you back to the 

past and the beautiful Jain temple has 

stunningly intricate carvings. 

Walking through the lanes I stop at 

the Patwa ki Haveli that has been 

preserved carefully and is a perfect ode 

to life in the past. I also recommend you 

check out the Kothari Patwa Haveli 

Museum that has a display of the 

erstwhile Patwa’s gracious lifestyle. I 

also loved the Nathmal ki Haveli that 

was the residence of the prime minister 

of Jaisalmer – it has a painting made 

with real gold. While you are here, take a 

morning drive to the Gadisar Lake, an 

artificial reservoir whose banks are 

dotted with small temples and shrines. 

swathed in hues of blue that lends the 

city a unique character. I start my 

journey at the majestic Mehrangarh Fort 

that stands tall 400 feet above the city 

and is full of tales of valour and victory of 

the Rathore kings of Marwar. This is one 

of the largest forts in the country and 

you also have access by way of a lift. The 

Chowkelao Garden at the foot of the fort 

is over 200 years old and is a riot of 

colour courtesy the stunning floral 

cover. The Mehrangarh museum has 

several galleries that display a fine 

collection of arms, textiles, headgears, 

palanquins, manuscripts and decorative 

art. The Phool Mahal here has gold 

filigree and mirror ceiling and the walls 

are painted with moods depicting 

Indian classical ragas, royal portraits 

and incarnations of Lord Vishnu and 

Durga. The Moti Mahal and Sheesh 

Mahal are also particularly spectacular 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

52 


COVER STORY 

DESTINATIONS 

Typical buildings in the French Quarter of Puducherry and (right) children at the Namphake 

Buddhist Monastery during the Poiu Chang Ken water splashing festival 

While you are in Jodhpur, stop by at 

Umaid Bhawan Palace that has a 

whopping 347 rooms and a part still 

serves as the residence of the royal 

family. Apart from a hotel, the museum 

here has a special exhibition on 

Maharaja Umaid Singh and the making 

of the palace. The lifestyle gallery is an 

ode to the palace in the 40s and 50s and 

has art deco furniture, dining and 

writing sets as well as a sporting section. 

There is also a collection of antique 

clocks here. Another monument is the 

Jaswant Wada, a beautiful white 

structure dedicated to Jaswant Singh, 

who ruled Jodhpur. And while you shop 

in the busy Sadar Bazaar, stop by to 

admire the lovely Ghanta Ghar, the 

clock tower. 

- Bindu Gopal Rao 

DIBRUGARH, ASSAM 

Don’t be dissuaded by `well-meaning’ 

friends who warn you that the only 

touristy attractions in Dibrugarh are 

acres and acres of tea gardens. True, I 

found majestic tea gardens in the 

easternmost part of Assam. But I also 

found much more on my maiden visit to 

one of the fastest growing cities in the 

state. Apart from tea, as I was to discover 

in my short stay, the city contributes 

significantly to the economic growth of 

the state by hosting industries like oil 

and natural gas, power generation and 

fertilizer. Just 12 km away from the 

centre of Dibrugarh is the Jokai 

Botanical Garden, a part of the Jokai 

Forest Reserve. A Germplasm Section 

here showcases the valuable and 

endangered plants in the region. Other 

sections of the garden include orchids, 

medicinal plants, aromatic plants and 

rainforest specimen plants. 

Among the other attractions in and 

around Dibrugarh, I was bowled over by 

the Tilinga Mandir, a 53-year-old Shiva 

temple in Tinsukia district. Tilinga 

means bell in the local language so 

tourist brochures also call it Bell 

Temple. The name is derived from the 

bells of different sizes and materials 

within the temple premises. It is 

believed that your wish will be granted 

in this temple if you donate a bell here. 

History buffs will love checking out the 

various maidams. The Barbarua 

Maidam, about 14 km to the south of 

Dibrugarh, houses two graveyards, one 

of Deka Dihingia Barbarua and the other 

of Bura Dihinigia Barbarua. Both were 

important officials from the Ahom 

dynasty. The Bahikhowa Maidam 

graveyard is dedicated to Bahikhowa 

Dasarath Dowerah, a Chief of the Army 

from the Ahom dynasty. The graveyard 

is in ruins now but it’s worth a visit for 

history lovers. Finally, there are the 

graves of Sarumechlow and 

Bormechow, queens of King Sukhampha 

Khura. These, my guide informed me, 

are two of the very few graves dedicated 

to royalty in Dibrugarh. 

- Aparna Nambiar 

PUDUCHERRY, PUDUCHERRY 

Puducherry(Pondy to locals) is one of 

those places that effortlessly envelopes 

so many worlds within itself that it is 

difficult to figure where one ends and 

the other begins. Located on the east 

coast of peninsular India, the sea of 

course is a constant presence here but it 

is the quaint overlapping of cultures that 

makes it endearing and irresistible. 

By far, the French Quarter had 

always held a charming novelty for me 

and I wandered around mesmerised by 

the yellow facades, the lovely arched 

gateways, the beautiful windows and a 

plethora of other details. It was both fun 

and surreal to chance upon distinct 

French flavour through street names 

SHUTTERSTOCK/ALAMY 

54 


COVER STORY 

DESTINATIONS 

single day in Pondy, I had undergone 

such a range of emotions. 

- Anita Rao-Kashi 

PATNA, BIHAR 

Once called Patliputra, Patna is among 

the world’s oldest capital cities. It is now 

the fifth fastest growing city of the 

country. Many tourists use it as a 

gateway to visit the nearby Buddhist and 

Jain historic sites of Nalanda (90 km 

away), Rajgir (102 km), Pawapuri (90 

km), Gaya-Bodhgaya (125 km) and 

Vaishali (90 km). But as I was to discover 

in my one-week long stay in the capital of 

Bihar, there are many other attractions 

The Patna Museum houses 

many attractive metal and 

stone sculptures 

within the city too, most of them 

unknown to people in other states. 

There is Patna Museum with its 

metal and stone sculptures from the 

French flavour through street names 

such as Rue Romain Rolland and Rue du 

Bazar St Laurent. The beautiful Notre 

Dame des Anges (Our lady of the Angels 

Church) on Rue Dumas with its stained 

glass windows, tall columns, and 

ornamental figures, and the statue of 

Joan of Arc across from it, caught my 

THE BRILLIANT MATRIMANDIR 

IN THE CONCEPT TOWNSHIP 

OF AUROVILLE IS A BEAUTIFUL 

GOLDEN DOME AND A SANCTUARY 

FOR PEACE AND MEDITATION, SET 

AMIDST LANDSCAPED GARDENS 

Maurya and Gupta periods. The Jalan 

Museum has a rich collection of Jade, 

Chinese Paintings and Louis XIV chairs 

and crockery. The Harmandirji at Patna 

Sahib is a shrine consecrating the 

birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh. Patna 

is also home to the world famous Khuda 

Bakhsh Oriental Library. Set up at the 

breath. 

turn of the century, the library has a 

In contrast, it was fascinating to 

distinguished collection of rare Arabic 

wander around Auroville, a concept 

paper, and much more. Adjacent to the 

and Persian manuscripts, Rajput and 

township that owed its origins to the 

township was the Auroville beach which 

Mughal paintings and oddities like an 

Aurobindo Ashram. Houses 

was scattered with people engrossed in 

inch wide Quran. 

interspersed with lush greenery, 

meditation, yoga and other activities. 

I would also recommend the Sanjay 

winding paths on which there were 

There were also walkers and joggers, but 

Gandhi National Park aka Patna Zoo. 

more bicycles than fuel vehicles, and 

it was the serenity, offset by the gentle 

Established in 1970 over an area of 34 

interesting enterprises all populated 

lashing of waves against the beach, that 

acres, the park is now spread over 153 

this refreshing community. In the 

was most heartening. 

acres. It is home to mammals like tiger, 

middle of all this was the brilliant 

Back in town, the place to be in the 

leopard, lion, rhinoceros and 

Matrimandir, a beautiful golden dome 

evening was the Beach Road. It was 

hippopotamus, apart from various kinds 

and a sanctuary for peace and 

crowded with people, pushcarts and 

of birds, reptiles and fishes. Patthar ki 

meditation, set amidst landscaped 

sundry vendors. But I preferred to perch 

Masjid, built in 1621 by Parvez Shah, son 

gardens. 

on a secluded stretch of the beach and 

of Emperor Jahangir, stands out for its 

Auroville also had a Visitors’ Centre, 

watch the horizon grow gradually 

stunning medieval architecture, with 

where I browsed through several shops 

darker. Lights came on and the water 

two big minarets at the entrance and 

which sold a variety of things made 

shimmered, and it became utterly 

four smaller ones at the corners. The 

within the community such as garments, 

ceramics, jewellery, soaps, handmade 

serene. 

It was strange to think that in a 

Nawab Shahid Ka Maqbara tomb 

contains the grave of Nawab Zainuddin 

ALAMY 

56 


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Ranked #1 in Tamilnadu & #15 All-India

COVER STORY 

DESTINATIONS 

The Swami Vivekananda smarak in Belagavi 

Haibat Jung, the Governor of Bihar 

times while the outer layers were more 

facade, especially carving of musicians, 

(1740-48) and father of Nawab Siraj-ud- 

modern. At the heart of the city was the 

dancing figures and flowers. Other 

Daulah, whose defeat at the battle of 

Belgaum Fort, in a ruined state currently 

religious structures included Hindu 

Plassey in 1757 had paved way for the 

but there was enough to point to its 

temples dedicated to Ganesha and 

establishment of British rule in India. 

bygone majesty. It was built in 1204 by 

Durga, and mosques called Jamia Masjid 

The Padri-ki-Haveli (Mansion of Padre), 

the Rattas who belonged to the 

and Safa Masjid. 

is also worth visitng. The oldest church 

Rashtrakuta Dynasty. 

After wandering around for more 

in Bihar (since 1713), this is the place 

But it was constantly ravaged and 

than a few hours I sat down to a North 

where Mother Teresa received her 

occupied by various dynasties including 

Karnataka meal that was earthy, spicy 

training. 

Vijayanagar, Bahmani, Adilshahi, 

and delectable. However, I rather 

- Mitesh Garodia 

Mughal, Hyder and Tipu of Mysore, the 

enjoyed the local sweet, kunda, made 

BELAGAVI, KARNATAKA 

At first sight Belagavi (formerly known 

Marathas, and ultimately the British. It 

was roughly oval with a deep moat 

around, a majestic gate, imposing 

with milk and sugar. Suitably fortified, 

and wanting a change of scene, I headed 

out of the city. 

as Belgaum) in North Karnataka seemed 

bastions, other defensive elements, 

Belgaum is surrounded by a plethora 

like an ordinary town whose life hinged 

guard chambers, temples, mosques and 

of waterfalls and forests but I opted to go 

on outright commercial activity. Though 

much more, incorporating several 

towards the Northeast to Gokak Falls, 

Kannada was widely spoken, it was also 

architectural styles and decorative 

which has earned itself the name of 

common to hear snatches of Marathi 

motifs. Among the fascinating things 

Niagara of the South for its horse-shape 

owing to its proximity to the 

inside the fort were the two Jain temples 

waterfalls on the Ghataprabha river. It 

Maharashtra border. But the city had so 

— Kamal Basadi and Chikki Basadi. The 

was fascinating also for the Chalukyan 

many other different layers that were 

former was most elaborate with pillars, 

era monuments and temples that were 

revealed only while wandering around it. 

lotus pedestal, dome and elaborate roof 

around, and made for a perfect end to 

The city itself was quite sprawling, 

with the city centre going back to historic 

details. The latter was in partial ruins 

but had equally arresting details on the 

the trip. 

- Anita Rao-Kashi 

ALAMY 

58 


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 

How does one balance work and life, and 

especially family and children? 

If your work is not life, I do not see why 

you should do it. Your work also is life. 

Would your life happen if there was no 

work? – do not think of only the 

economic aspects. Do not ever make 

this demarcation that there is 

something called as work and life. 

There is life and life. Different aspects 

of life need to be dealt with. You 

probably spend more hours at your 

workplace than anywhere else. When 

this is so, is it not important that we 

make this into a beautiful experience? 

One of the important things that 

people should do is – I know people are 

trying to keep them apart, but I would 

say that is a mistake – allow family 

conversations also to revolve around 

various things that you are doing as a 

part of work. This will build a 

completely different level of trust. And 

you do not know what kind of insights 

may come from trusted people – not 

some other commentators – who are 

outside observers to your business and 

activity. People whom you trust, and 

who love you and want you to succeed 

– their input may be extremely 

valuable. It may be your wife, it may be 

your five-year-old child, you do not 

know. 

So I think there should be no such 

demarcation. Why cannot work 

conversations be very interesting if 

you are creating something? Family 

could get involved in it and when you 

are at home, though you may not be 

actually working hands on, you could 

still be thinking and evolving things 

for tomorrow or for the future. I think 

it is very wrong for people to work for 

five days and live for two days in a 

week. It is a horrible way to live. You 

must live all the seven days. 

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 

60 


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ARTS 

EVENTS 

Mita Kapur flanked 

by Franck Thilliez 

and Vikram Chandra 

THE WRITE 

WAY 

COME JANUARY, AND THERE IS A 

SENSE OF LITERATURE IN THE AIR. 

THIS IS THE TIME FOR ALL THINGS 

BOOKS, AUTHORS AND ALSO A TIME 

WHEN RAJASTHAN TOURISM'S ZEE 

JAIPUR LITERATURE FESTIVAL (JLF) 

TAKES PLACE. BY BINDU GOPAL RAO 

Mei Fong 

Often described as the 

‘greatest literary show 

on earth’ and the 

‘Kumbh Mela of 

literature’, JLF has 

hosted nearly 2000 speakers and 

welcomed over a million booklovers over 

the past decade, evolving into a global 

literary phenomenon. This year, the 

festival had 350 writers, thinkers, 

politicians, journalists and popular 

cultural icons from over 35 different 

nationalities congregating at Diggi 

Palace in Jaipur. 

The festival also featured a 

spectacular line-up of speakers 

representing the major awards including 

the Nobel, Man Booker, Pulitzer, Padma 

Vibhushan and the Sahitya Akademi 

Award. In its 11th edition this year, JLF 

played host to a whopping 200 sessions 

spanning a multitude of topics, trends, 

ideas and genres ranging from fiction, 

poetry and nonfiction to gender, 

environment, science, history, liberal 

arts, journalism, economics, travel and 

cinema. All this happened over a five day 

period of intense activity from between 

January 25 and 29, 2018. 

This year, for the first time, the ZEE 

Jaipur Literature Festival also hosted a 

preview in Mumbai, followed by Delhi. 

In Mumbai, the preview was held at the 

magnificently restored Royal Opera 

House and found an opportunity to 

connect with a large number of Mumbai 

literature-lovers on their home ground. 

Another first this year was the sessions 

on music prior to the performances at 

the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival’s 

Music Stage. These happened each day at 

6 pm and featured hour-long curated 

discussions around music-based themes 

and explored narratives, trends and 

ideas in music’s lush canvas. This apart, 

JLF also had many firsts in 

programming as well with many 

speakers making their maiden visit to 

the festival, and some even to the 

country. 

Aside from the sessions, there were 

several book launches such as Padmini: 

62 


ARTS 

EVENTS 

From left: Pushpesh Pant, Jim 

Mallinson and Bibek Debroy 

The Spirited Queen of Chittor by Mridula 

Behari; Citizen Delhi: My Times, My Life 

by Sheila Dikshit; and India’s Heritage of 

Gharana Music: Pandits of Gwalior by 

Meeta Pandit; many awards like the Ojas 

Art Award, the Vani Foundation 

Distinguished Translator Award, the 

French Book Award and the Kanhaiya 

Lal Sethia Award for Poetry. 

Marquee speakers like British 

playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, winner of 

an Academy Award for Best Original 

Screenplay for Shakespeare in Love, 

discussing his life and work in a 

fascinating free-flowing session called 

The Real Thing; a discussion aptly titled 

The Great Survivor where Hamid 

Karzai, former President of Afghanistan, 

and William Dalrymple discuss his life, 

legacy and leadership through the 

country’s recent turbulent times, his 

views on India’s role in Afghanistan past 

and present and his predictions for the 

future of his country; were some of the 

highlights of JLF 2018. 

In The Bridget Jones’ Diaries, 

novelist Helen Fielding spoke with 

publisher Meru Gokhale of the comic 

and the tragic, film and fiction and 

Bridget Jones’ bumpy ride to 

motherhood. In The Joy Luck Club, 

celebrated novelist Amy Tan spoke to 

Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi about her 

extraordinary life and her emergence as 

a writer of stature against many odds. 

Also present at the event were Kathy 

Reichs, an American crime writer, 

forensic anthropologist, academic and 

producer of the TV series Bones (loosely 

based on Reichs’ works); award-winning 

Indian film director and producer 

Anurag Kashyap; Indian art critic, art 

historian, Padma Shri and Padma 

Bhushan awardee, BN Goswamy; 

British-born Indian origin essayist Pico 

Iyer, who leads a nomadic life between a 

Benedictine hermitage in California, 

Nara in Japan and international airports 

around the world; New York Times 

bestselling poet and illustrator Rupi 

Kaur; Indian classical dancer and Padma 

Vibhushan awardee Sonal Mansingh; 

Indian philanthropist and writer Sudha 

Murty; Sahitya Akademi Award winner 

Mridula Garg; 2006 Nobel Peace Prize 

Laurate Mohammad Yunus; Portuguese- 

American journalist Michael Rezendes, 

who won a Pulitzer Prize for his 

investigative work as a member of The 

Boston Globe’s legendary Spotlight 

Team; and tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, 

were also present. 

The ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival 

sets literary conversations, debates and 

dialogue against the backdrop of built 

and cultural heritage including curated 

art installations, world music 

performances at the Music Stage and 

cultural evenings at heritage venues like 

the Amber Fort and Hawa Mahal. “Each 

year, the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival 

celebrates the cultural riches of 

Rajasthan with heritage evenings. 

Bringing an amalgamation of music, 

poetry and art, this year the heritage 

events witnessed a visual delight with a 

multimedia theatre act The Troth —Usne 

Kaha Tha by the London based dance 

troupe Akademi in the ‘Under the Stars 

at Hawa Mahal’ segment. At the 

‘Majestic Evening at Amber Fort’, 

maestro Ustad Kamal Sabri performed a 

sarangi rendition and musician Shekhar 

Ravjiani paid a musical tribute to his 

mentor Jagjit Singh. ZEE Jaipur 

Literature Festival’s Music Stage 

featured an eclectic mix of musicians 

who performed in the mornings and 

evenings during the festival. Some of the 

leading names included Kailash Kher, 

Shilpa Rao, Grammy nominated David 

Gray, Afro Celt Sound System and 

Blackstratblues, among other 

performers, to create world class music 

for the audience,” said a spokesperson 

from JLF. 

A true champion of literary and 

artistic traditions and democratic 

discourse, the ZEE Jaipur Literature 

Festival encourages freedom of thought 

through a range of voices from India 

and abroad engaged in informed and 

enlightened dialogue and promotes 

above all a love for literature. In 

addition to the revelatory discussions, 

the festival is setting the stage for 

unparalleled experiences in music, 

art and culture. 

(Note: The photographs shown here 

are from a previous edition of JLF) 

64 


HOSPITALITY 

RESORTS 

ONE WITH NATURE 

A PREMIER PROPERTY IN KANGRA DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, RAKKH RESORT STANDS ON THE UNIQUE TRIPOD 

OF PERSONAL INTERACTION, RECONNECTING WITH NATURE AND A PASSION FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS. BY RAJU BIST 

There is no room service. 

The ubiquitous 

television set and mini 

bar are missing. Wi-Fi is 

restricted to the 

reception area. Liquor is not available in 

the solitary restaurant. Then why do 

guests visit Rakkh Resort in secluded 

Ghamrota village, Kangra district, 

Himachal Pradesh? Rajat Rialch, the 

man behind the hospitality project, 

provides the answer: “We deliberately 

decided to not have room service as I 

always had the idea of serving food to my 

guests straight from the kitchen and 

promoting the concept of communal 

dining. 

“It helps in cracking the formal vibe, 

encourages bonding over meal and in 

getting to know about different 

experiences. We clearly see the 

formality and awkwardness of meeting 

strangers for the first time, immediately 

wearing off the very next day after the 

first communal meal together.” And as 

far as drinking is concerned, he clarifies 

that guests are free to carry their own 

booze and consume it in their rooms. 

Spread over six acres, the resort is 

located a little away from Rakh village 

(population 700), after which it has been 

named. It is perched on a hilltop. All 

around are terraced hillsides. Rakkh 

Resort provides a wide variety of 

accommodations, all made using local 

materials. Six hill cottages come with 

their own private sit-out terraces and 

bonfire pits for cozy evenings. Each of 

the nine mountain cottages provides 

spectacular views of the peaks of the 

SpiceJet flies to 

Dharamshala airport, 34 

km away. Log on to www. 


66 


HOSPITALITY 

RESORTS 

Dhauladhar range, a part of the 

body and mind. 

lesser Himalayas which rises 

The spa features three 

majestically from the north of 

treatment rooms and both male 

Kangra. In addition, there are 

and female steam rooms. A team 

two spacious, interconnecting 

of talented therapists deliver a 

family rooms as well, ideal for 

comprehensive variety of 

large families or two families 

healing and pampering 

travelling together. 

treatments, including 

Dhaam (meaning feast in 

Aromatherapy, Swedish, 

the local language), the 

Balinese, Deep Tissue, Thai and 

restaurant, is open only for 

Reflexology, as well as body 

residents of the resort. It is a 

scrubs and wraps using all- 

multi-cuisine eatery, serving the best of 

you return to your room, Rakkh makes 

natural ingredients to achieve 

pan-Indian and international cuisine, 

sure you don’t have to make any 

maximum sense of well-being. 

including south Indian breakfasts, fresh 

compromises on comfort. When staying 

The resort’s managers count 

salads, and mouth-watering South East 

at the resort, you can treat yourself to a 

connecting to nature in its true essence, 

Asian and Mediterranean fare. All meals 

are included in the guest’s stay at Rakkh, 

variety of rejuvenating spas that are sure 

to leave you relaxed and pumped up for 

experiencing the warm culture of 

Himachal Pradesh and bonding time for 

including bed tea in the morning, 

your next expedition. Baanka (meaning 

family and friends without 

breakfast, all refreshments during 

beauty in Pahari) is Rakkh’s exclusive 

technological interference as some of 

outings, unlimited juices throughout 

spa, designed to help guests relax and 

the USPs of the resort. The activities at 

the day, sundowner snacks and dinner. 

unwind from the day-to-day stresses of 

the resort like hiking, mountain biking, 

After a long day of trekking, when 

life, or after a long journey, to restore 

tea tasting, wall climbing, pottery, 

`LOCAL CUISINE IS SEEING A 

MAJOR COMEBACK’ 

You studied in a military school. Then what 

made you take up hotel management as an area 

of expertise? 

I wanted to join NDA initially but I couldn’t get 

A first generation entrepreneur, apart from 

through. Then I started exploring my interest in 

Rakkh Resort in Himachal Pradesh, Rajat Rialch 

hotel management and became a chef followed 

runs four Drool restaurants in New Delhi. But 

by a small stint with a consulting firm before I 

a large chunk of his time is taken up by H.P.G 

started my own consulting company. 

Consulting, which specializes in food service 

design and hotel technical services and which 

Two challenges new Indian companies often 

Rialch set up after doing his Hotel Management. 

face are getting the right talent and managing 

Here, he talks about what makes Rakkh tick even 

them. How did you overcome both at Rakkh? 

though it does not have all the trappings of a 

the local culture of Himachal in its product 

Ninety per cent of my team members are from 

typical holiday resort. 

and operations - right from the use of slate in 

Himachal Pradesh itself and about 70 per 

the flooring, to the traditional dhaam served 

cent are from nearby villages. It’s a big farce 

Can we go back to the beginning and trace the 

(communal eating), to supporting and 

that guests only look for highly educated staff 

genesis? Where and how did the Rakkh Resort 

empowering local artisans for activities and also 

to serve them. I think what guests look forward 

story begin? 

The idea of Rakkh had always been on my mind. 

My village Malan is in Himachal Pradesh and I 

always had this dream of coming back to my 

roots. When you visit Rakkh, you will witness 

hot water foot baths with salt at night. Apart 

from this, Rakkh has a lot to do with my personal 

interest in adventure and we have activities like 

mountain biking, hiking trails, wall climbing and 

slack-lining on offer for our guests. 

to is genuine hospitality and the attitude of 

the service staff. So I think we really have an 

edge there, as the people from villages have 

genuine warmth and the right attitude towards 

hospitality. 

RAJU BIST (RESORT STAFF) 

68 


HOSPITALITY 

RESORTS 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself – your 

background, etc. Does the entrepreneurial bug 

run in the family? 

I started my business with 800 rupees in my 

bank account. I come from a family with defence 

background — my grandfather was in the British 

Army, my father was in the Indian Navy, and 

my brother was martyred in the Kashmir Valley. 

When I first spoke to my parents about starting 

a business, I was totally snubbed. I am the first 

entrepreneur in my extended family. 

What are the main food trends that you have 

noticed in India in recent times? 

Local cuisine is seeing a major comeback in 

almost all parts of the country. At Rakkh Resort, 

we serve a dhaam-inspired thali which is very 

local to the Himachal region. With social media 

going big these days a lot of focus goes on how 

a dish is served. And finally, organic in-house 

kitchen gardening will pick up. At Rakkh Resort 

we have a farm-to-fork approach with an 

extensive in-house kitchen garden growing our 

own strawberries, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, 

fennel, parsley, celery, etc. 

Tell us something about H.P.G Consulting? What 

are its main areas of activities? 

H.P.G Consulting is our main bread and butter 

business. It was born out of necessity because 

consulting business does not require funds 

and 16 years back I didn’t have any money to 

start a business. Today we are doing projects in 

27 countries. We have two offices in India and 

one in Dubai and will soon open in East Africa. 

We specialize in food service design and hotel 

technical services. 

Besides the Hyatts, JW Marriotts, St Regis 

and Conrads of the world, we are also associated 

with the complete planning for Golden Temple 

Amritsar’s Langar Hall, all the 21 kitchens 

of Vaishno Devi and the tallest temple in the 

world at Vrindavan, In addition, we have been 

involved with Google, Wipro, IBM, etc, for their 

campus cafeterias. 

You provide consultancy to hotel groups like 

the Taj, Hilton and Hyatt who themselves run 

numerous hotels and also provide consultancy to 

others. So what does H.P.G bring to the table? 

The area that we specialize in, no chain in the 

world has the in-house capabilities for the same. 

The main thing what we bring to the table is the 

experience of doing consulting jobs in various 

countries. This enables us to know the trends 

at a global level. So maybe a good mid-eastern 

cuisine restaurant which we had done in 

Dubai would be suitable for North Africa. Or a 

traditional restaurant in Saudi or Lebanon would 

be a good option for Bahrain or Qatar, etc. 

From left: Mountain 

bikes for guests; 

the resort is named 

after the nearby 

Rakh village; and 

wall climbing is one 

of the popular 

activities 

handloom weaving, yoga, archery and 

indoor games like badminton and 

frisbee also entice the audience to visit 

Rakkh Resort. 

“With technology kicking in, 

nowadays people spend most of their 

time on gadgets rather than on 

interacting with their loved ones or with 

people in the same vicinity,” says Rialch. 

“We really wanted our guests to get over 

their gadgets for a bit and hence we are a 

non-gadget resort with plenty of 

activities on offer so that there is a push 

to communicate with family.” 

Having made a name for itself in 

Kangra, Rakkh Resort now wants to 

give something back on the region. Its 

promoters are therefore planning to 

have a Kangra Museum – which is now 

in the design stage. They are also 

constructing a craft hub to integrate 

local craftsman with the resort. A 

Kangra coffee table book will also be 

launched soon. So after a few years the 

resort will be a sort of replica of 

whatever happens in the Kangra Valley. 

In the ultimate analysis, what 

makes Rakkh a cool getaway is the fact 

that it offers fun-filled holidays full of 

comfort, luxury and thrill. A trip here 

can be a liberating experience. You not 

only stay in the lap of nature, you also 

find time to reconnect with yourself, 

friends, and family. What else can citybred 

folks, jaded denizens of concrete 

jungles, ask for? 

70 


STAR BUZZ 

KATRINA KAIF 

“NEVER 

LOSE 

YOURSELF 

IN LOVE” 

KATRINA KAIF ON THE STUPENDOUS 

SUCCESS OF TIGER ZINDA HAI, HER 

FORTHCOMING MOVIES, LIFE AND 

LOVE. BY AARTI KAPUR SINGH 

72 


STAR BUZZ 

KATRINA KAIF 

Katrina Kaif is riding the 

high waves at the moment. 

The fact that she had a 

stupendous New Year 

getaway in Thailand may be one reason. 

She stayed at the Soneva Kiri luxury 

resort on Koh Kood island in Thailand, 

where she found, in her words, “heaven 

on earth!” The other reason for her 

beaming smile is that Tiger Zinda Hai 

has crossed the Rs 300-crore mark and is 

still counting. And she is all set to star 

alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka 

Sharma in Anand L Rai’s Zero. She will 

also be seen this year in her Dhoom 

director Vijay Krishna Acharya’s 

magnum opus Thugs of Hindostan, that 

boasts of an ensemble cast comprising 

Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Fatima 

Sana Shaikh and Jackie Shroff, among 

others. It is a reprieve for the actor after a 

string of duds like Fitoor, Baar Baar 

Dekho and Jagga Jasoos that did leave 

Katrina rather disappointed. “It is better 

to move on and not mope over things that 

didn’t work. So I never get into the whys 

of a film not doing well. I had loved the 

concept of Baar Baar Dekho as it was very 

novel. Sometimes, you don’t understand 

why a movie didn’t work. With Jagga 

Jasoos, it was an epic journey... Dada 

(director Anurag Basu) had a beautiful 

vision and we did some amazing things. 

We don’t have answers to why the film 

didn’t work. But that is how life is. It was 

last year and this year seems promising. I 

am keeping my fingers crossed!” 

At the outset, congratulations for Tiger 

Zinda Hai. 

Thank you so very much. Yes, it was a 

great Christmas present and a wonderful 

start to the year. I am excited about this 

year and looking forward to 2018. There 

is great work and amazing projects that I 

am thrilled to be part of. 

Shah Rukh Khan as a dwarf in Zero… what 

did you think of the film when it came 

to you? 

You know the final product will be 

nothing like what came to me. I think it 

would be better. That is the best thing 

about working with Anand Sir. There is 

so much dynamism and creativity. 

Initially, I was supposed to play myself in 

Zero. The film was titled Katrina Meri 

Jaan. There was a different cast on board 

and Shah Rukh sir wasn’t part of it. Now, 

it’s a satirical take on an actress. Other 

than that, I am not saying a word 

(laughs). We are having such a blast on 

the sets. Shah Rukh Sir is one of the best 

actors in the industry and his drive, 

energy and passion are infectious and 

commendable. It is great just to be 

around him on a set. To be working with 

him is a privilege. This is a different 

concept not just for India, but I could say, 

even for international cinema. 

Technically, he is the only 

mainstream commercial star from 

Bollywood to step into the shoes of a 

dwarf. Appu Raja, a southern import (the 

dubbed version of Kamal Haasan’s Tamil 

flick Apoorva Sagodharargal) remains 

Bollywood’s only exposure to the antics 

of a dwarf. Not just that, even established 

74 


STAR BUZZ 

KATRINA KAIF 

Hollywood actors have 

enacting the role of a 

dwarf in films says a lot. 

Indeed, actors like Peter 

Dinklage, Warwick 

Davis and Tony Cox have 

been roped in for the 

same. I think it takes guts 

to be able to do that. And 

this is also why I am 

thankful to be a part of 

the story and the film. 

And are you worried about 

the fate of the film? 

Some time back I would 

have felt scared, even 

insecure. But at the 

moment I don’t feel 

threatened by failure. 

I’m at peace with myself. 

Not to say that I am not 

working hard. It’s just 

that I am no longer overthinking 

or getting hyper 

about things. I don’t let 

failure or success affect 

me personally. I learn 

from them but I don’t let 

them take over my life. I 

have said this earlier that 

the last two years have 

taught me much more about myself — 

how to work, introspect and lead 

our lives. 

But critics are still not as impressed. Does 

that bother you? 

I guess everyone has faced this at some 

points in their career. After all, acting is 

an art form and it’s subjective. Everyone 

has their own opinions and they need to 

be accepted and respected. When I hear 

people saying things to me, I listen to 

them and take anything which is 

constructive. But for me, only my process 

is important to me. So, if I know that I’ve 

been professional and given it my heart 

and soul, I’m always confident of my 

work. But if I haven’t put in enough, then, 

of course, I’ll suffer somewhere. I’ve 

been working in this industry for many 

years with some of the most incredible 

people, that is the greatest gratification I 

can have. I am in a state of constant 

learning. If I feel that I’m evolving, what 

more do I want? The best directors and 

technicians are working with me and I’m 

doing films that are big-event films. You 

can criticise me as much as you want. But 

there’s no end to perfection. 

You are one of the few actresses that are 

doing action as well. Do you think there will 

be more roles written for 

women? 

Action is just one part of 

a film. The whole picture 

needs to look good. Yes, 

the action sequence that 

I did in Tiger Zinda Hai is 

definitely one of the 

highlights because it was 

designed that way. But 

there are so many other 

incredible things in the 

film which makes it an 

overall great viewing 

experience for the 

audience. That’s what I 

look for in a movie. Do I 

want to be part of action 

movies? If the story is 

great, yes! But I’m not 

looking for that one film 

where I’m doing action 

or something else. It 

can’t be uni-dimensional. 

I’m looking for roles 

where the audience will 

come out of theatres 

satisfied. 

What about the personal 

front? Do you see yourself 

finding love this year? 

I am a firm believer in the philosophy 

that what you think is what will happen. 

At the moment, my work requires 

complete dedication. Of course, there are 

some people who balance work and life 

which is incredible. There comes a time 

in your life when you get married and 

have kids. At that point, work takes a 

backseat because family becomes your 

first priority. It will happen to me too, 

I’m no different. It does not matter when 

I will find love. What is important is 

what is the love going to add to your life. 

Never lose yourself in love. You don’t 

have to lose yourself just because you’ve 

found someone. 

76 


EVENTS 

CELEBRATIONS 

The path to a treehouse 

at Pench Tree Lodge 

ROMANTIC ESCAPES FOR VALENTINE’S DAY 

FEBRUARY 14 IS ONE DAY WHEN CROWDS FILL EVERY RESTAURANT, THEATRES GO FULLY BOOKED AND 

LAWNS AND GARDENS HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAN TREES! BUT WORRY NOT, WE HAVE ZEROED IN ON FIVE 

UNIQUE ROMANTIC ESCAPES TO RING IN THE DAY WITH YOUR SPECIAL ONE. BY NIVEDITA JAYARAM PAWAR 

As the shops flood with 

red hearts and oversized 

cards, trying to 

put a different twist on 

Valentine’s Day can be 

tricky. Here are five off-beat destinations 

that have something for every kind of 

romantic heart (chocolates and flowers 

optional). 

PENCH TREE LODGE, 

PENCH NATIONAL PARK 

It’s everybody’s childhood fantasy to live 

in a tree house – and this one at Pench is a 

five-star version, swapping creaky 

floorboards for a bay window lounger 

that doubles up as a day bed. Located in 

the picturesque village of Sarahiri, the 

tree houses here peep out from the shade 

of mahua trees they are perched on. The 

biggest ‘coolness’ factor comes from the 

private deck which have been specially 

designed to maximise your chances of 

spotting wild boars, civets, jungle cats, 

jackals and spotted deer as you sip your 

morning tea or the evening sundowner. 

There is also an infinity pool to lounge 

after a dusty drive and a picturesque 

village to explore. 

Where: Pench National Park, Seoni, 

Kurai, Madhya Pradesh 

Tel: 088006 37711 

FORT JADHAVGAD, PUNE 

Spend the most romantic day of the year 

at this charming, unassuming and 

unhurried masterpiece perched on a hill. 

The fort was built in 1710 by Pilaji 

Jadhavrao, a Maratha general in the 

army of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a 

residence as well as a safe haven during 

Mughal attacks. It was restored and 

converted into a resort by hotelier Dr 

Vithal Kamat in 2007. The armour of 

spikes on the main durwaaza, the rock 

stairways and the stone balconies are a 

relief from the sterile glass and steel 

structures of today. Rooms come with 

stone balconies overlooking the hills and 

open to the sky bathroom. Explore the 

many dungeons at the fort, lounge by the 

frangipani pool or experience the 

Maratha way of life through a bullock 

cart ride. Other interesting activities 

78 


EVENTS 

CELEBRATIONS 

Luxury tent bedroom 

and lounge at Aman-i-Khas 

just the flickering glow of some candles 

– how much more romantic can it get! 

Glamping (glamorous camping) is 

the cosy and warm alternative to 

camping where you’re still under 

canvas, but with a marshmallow duvet 

pulled up around you and a steaming 

mug of hot chocolate in your hand – 

with no rogue blades of grass in sight. 

Spend a dreamy day in a forest on 

the edge of a national park at Aman-i- 

Khas. These tents are not just some of 

the most luxurious but also romantic 

with cotton drapes separating sleeping, 

dressing and bathing sections; a 

luxurious bathtub; and a fireplace to 

include plucking fresh figs off a tree on a 

fig farm and even milking a cow if you 

please! Or get clicked for posterity with 

your beloved alongside a real cannon. A 

cultural cognoscenti can easily spend a 

day at the Aai Museum here which 

exhibits a superlative collection of 

everyday items dating back to the early 

17th century. 

Where: Hadapsar Saswad Road, 

Jadhavwadi, Pune, Maharashtra 

Tel: 9987573811 / 15 / 18 

AKKARAKALAM MEMOIRS 

HOUSEBOATS, ALLEPPEY 

How about cruising the breath-taking 

backwaters of Kerala on Valentine’s Day 

with a houseboat all to yourself? Watch 

pelicans dive for fish right outside your 

window, drift aimlessly past villages, 

temples and churches, lounge on the sun 

deck, relax in your personal Jacuzzi in 

the bedroom or enjoy a glorious sunset 

with a drink on the upper deck. The 

romantics can stop to renew their vows 

at the 500-year-old St. Mary's Church at 

Champakulam. After a marvellous day, 

catch a glimpse of a soul-stirring sunset. 

If you love fishing, the captain will drop 

anchor midstream and lure the fish. 

There is also an 18th century palace to 

explore. 

A personal butler is on board to 

rustle up all kinds of treats from fruity to 

fiery. 

Where: Akkarakalam Memoirs, 

Pooppally Jn., Alleppey, Kerala 

Tel: 8606000430 / 9400005314 

AMAN-I-KHAS, RANTHAMBORE 

There’s something so intrinsically 

romantic about a night spent under 

canvas; knowing that the stars are 

twinkling above you as you drift off into 

the best sleep of your life. Snuggling up, 

far away from anyone else, perhaps with 

Poolside at 

Fort Jadhavgad 

down a few cocktails before a dinner in 

the wilderness with local musicians. 

Take an exhilarating safari to 

Ranthambore National Park or cruise 

through the scenic Chambal river 

where you can spot river dolphin, 20 

different varieties of fresh water turtles 

and many bird species. If you don’t feel 

like conking out when the sun sets, 

enjoy the night time sky, a blazing 

campfire and the company of the person 

for whom you've planned your intimate 

excursion.Where: Sherpur-Khiljipur, 

Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan 

Tel: 7462 252 052 

82 


EVENTS 

CELEBRATIONS 

Hilton Shillim is one of 

the most beautiful spa 

retreats in the country 

HILTON SHILLIM ESTATE RETREAT & 

SPA, LONAVALA 

Take a mental detox in the mountains at 

Hilton Shillim, one of the most beautiful 

spa retreats in the country. The scenic 

drive from Mumbai with snaking roads, 

streams and the majestic Sahyadri 

A houseboat cruise is a very 

good option to enjoy the famed 

Kerala backwaters 

Mountains adds to the appeal. After 

gorging on the delicious detox dishes by 

chef Shubhendu Kadam you could 

meander through the fields surrounded 

by seasonal creeks, explore the various 

historical monuments or soak yourself in 

your own private pool. But the piece de 

résistance here is the spa located on the 

part of the estate that has the highest 

concentration of underground crystals. 

The energy from these crystals is said to 

revitalise the therapy rooms. If you're 

looking for some paradigm-shifting spa 

experience, go for the Dharana Blessing 

Couple massage which goes deeper, 

awakens your chakras, clears blockages 

in your energy flow and helps you 

experience your luminous spirit. The 

two and half hour treatment begins with 

a relaxing foot massage followed by a 

body scrub and rain shower. The 

treatment continues with a back 

massage, soothing facial and pouring of 

warm oil on the forehead. There is also a 

meditation cave and yoga pavilion for 

those seeking peace and calm. 

Where: Pawana Nagar, Taluka Maval, 

Pune, Maharashtra 

Tel: 02114 712 468 

84 


SPORTS 

CRICKET 

IN THE 

SPOTLIGHT 

HERE ARE THE INDIAN CRICKETERS 

TO WATCH OUT FOR IN 2018 

BY MKM FAIYAZ AHMED 

2017 WAS A REMARKABLE YEAR FOR TEAM INDIA as we ended the year ranked as 

the number one Test side and were among the top ranked teams in ODIs and T20 

Internationals. This was possible with top notch performances from some players 

who were highly consistent and hopefully they will continue to do well in the 

upcoming tours. India’s skipper Virat Kohli has done exceptionally well in both the 

formats but Cheteshwar Pujara’s dominance over Australia in the Test series where 

he scored 405 runs at an average of 57.86 compel us to pick him ahead of Kohli who 

managed just 46 runs in the series at a forgettable average of 9.2. 

BEST TEST BATSMAN 

CHETESHWAR PUJARA 

MATCHES 11 

INNINGS 18 

RUNS 1140 

AVERAGE 67.06 

HIGHEST 202 

100’s 4 

50’s 5 

CHETESHWAR PUJARA has done 

everything that a number three batsman is 

supposed to do. Score runs and bat long. 

Ever since he made his debut for India in 

2010, Pujara has been consistent especially 

playing at home. For the first time he went 

on to score more than 1000 runs in a 

calendar year as he ended with 1140 runs at 

an average of 67.06. India will be hoping he 

plays valuable knocks in the overseas tours 

this year. His temperament and technique 

will be put to the test as he will face tougher 

challenges against South Africa, England 

and Australia this year. 

BEST TEST BOWLER 

RAVINDRA JADEJA 

MATCHES 10 

INNINGS 20 

WICKETS 54 

AVERAGE 23.06 

STRIKE RATE 56.50 

BEST 6/63 

5 WICKETS 3 

RAVINDRA JADEJA, the silent 

assassin, does his job without too 

much fuss and his ranking is 

proof of how consistent he has 

been last year. When all the 

limelight was on frontline 

spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, 

Jadeja ended as India’s best 

spinner with 54 scalps at an 

average of 23.06. Jadeja always 

ensures that the runs are dried up 

from his end which allows other 

bowlers to stick to a plan. It will 

be interesting to see if he will get 

a chance ahead of other bowlers 

in overseas tours this year. 

SHUTTERSTOCK;ALAMY 

86 


SPORTS 

CRICKET 

BEST ODI BATSMEN 

VIRAT KOHLI 

INNINGS 26 

RUNS 1460 

AVERAGE 76.84 


HIGHEST 131 

100’s 6 

50’s 7 

INDIA’S CAPTAIN FEARLESS has been in 

raging form and is currently the top-ranked 

ODI batsman ahead of AB De Villiers and 

David Warner. Virat Kohli has been unstoppable 

since the last couple of years and has 

scored 1460 runs in 26 innings at an average 

of 76.84 which are the most by a batsman in 

2017. Kohli’s range of shots is amazing 

which doesn’t allow the opponents to stick to 

a plan. His ability to win matches while chasing 

is unmatchable. Kohli has scored as many 

as six ODI hundreds in 2017 and stands second 

in the list of most ODI hundreds just 

behind Sachin Tendulkar with 32 centuries. 

THE SWASHBUCKLING ROHIT SHARMA is 

probably the most feared batsman in this 

format alongside Virat Kohli. Once settled 

on the crease, there is no bowling attack 

that can stop him from destroying the cricket 

ball. His unbeaten 208 in the previous 

series against Sri Lanka was the highlight of 

his amazing performances. Sharma was 

consistent than ever as he scored 1293 runs 

in just 21 innings at an average of 71.83. His 

50 to 100 conversion has been worth praising 

for a top order batsman. India will be 

hoping that he continues to score at the 

same frequency against South Africa. 

ROHIT SHARMA 

INNINGS 21 

RUNS 1293 

AVERAGE 71.83 


HIGHEST 208* 

100’s 6 

50’s 5 

BEST ODI BOWLER 

JASPRIT BUMRAH 

MATCHES 23 

WICKETS 39 

AVERAGE 26.26 


ECONOMY 5.14 

BEST 5/27 

4 WICKETS 2 

JASPRIT BUMRAH’S consistent performances 

has certainly solved India’s 

quench for the death bowler. He is among 

the top ranked ICC bowlers with 39 wickets 

in 23 One Day Internationals at an 

average of 26.26. Bumrah’s accuracy to 

bowl yorkers and his variations in the end 

overs has stopped the best of batsmen 

from scoring freely. His career economy 

rate of 4.75 deserves appreciation in times 

when teams are scoring 300 plus consistently. 

He along with Bhuvaneshwar 

Kumar has played a pivotal role in making 

India a very strong ODI side. 

SHUTTERSTOCK;ALAMY 

88 


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REGISTER TODAY! 

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FOOD 

ANISE 

EACH SPICEJET AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN NAMED AFTER 

A PARTICULAR SPICE. IN THIS ISSUE WE TALK ABOUT 

THE BENEFITS AND USAGE OF ANISE 

Whole anise-peppered bread with flavoured butter 

SIDEKICK 

CHOICE 

NO MORE 

OFTEN CONFUSED WITH FENNEL 

(SAUNF), ANISE (ALSO CALLED 

ANISEED) IS A SWEET SPICE THAT HAS 

BEEN AROUND FOR 4000 YEARS AND 

IS RELEVANT EVEN TODAY. 

BY MADHULIKA DASH 

IT IS EASY TO CONFUSE ANISE (vylati 

saunf) with the ever popular saunf 

(fennel seed). The 4000-year-old spice of 

Egyptian origin in fact is a known 

mischief maker when it comes to 

recognizing the spice through smell and 

bite. And the single reason that allows it to 

get through is the flavour profile. Anise, 

which Pliny nicknamed as Solamen 

Intestinorum courtesy its use as a 

comforter of the bowel, as a digestive and 

for curing bad breath, shares its 

characteristic with that of fennel. It is, 

says Chef Arun Kumar TR (Owner, 

Zeaside), “a cross between cumin and 

fennel with an aromatic feature closely 

resembling that of mulethi.” The strong 

profile, says Chef Navin Kumar 

(Executive Chef, Radisson Blu, Paschim 

Vihar), “makes anise a solo player when it 

comes to cooking, especially Indian 

dishes, giving it a special versatility.” 

Agrees seasoned bartender Yangdup 

Lama (Owner, Cocktails & Dreams - 

Speakeasy), who has worked extensively 

with anise. “It is one of the most amazing 

ingredients to play around with to create 

your own flavoured spirits – like bitters or 

liqueur. In fact, thanks to its interesting 

profile of being sweet, pungent and 

earthy, it ends up being an integral part of 

pastis (France), anesone (Spain), sambuca 

(Italy), zebib (Egypt), and arak (Syria).” 

So does that mean anise, which is also 

described as the more dominant brother 

of the ever happy fennel, a tough spice to 

decode? After all, it isn’t a spice that pairs 

easily with other tastemakers. If the 

92 


FOOD 

ANISE 

From above: Anise Pumpkin Soup; 

Anda Seekh Paratha 

history of the herb that dates almost to the 

early years of the Roman Empire – and 

those of ancient Pharaohs - is anything to 

review, anise then was indeed a valued, 

solo all-cure. While Egyptians used it as a 

healing spice for all illnesses stemming 

from the stomach, the Greeks utilized it 

as an amuse-bouche to an evening of rich 

(gourmet) entertainment. Then Julius 

Caeser took it a little ahead by 

incorporating it into a multifunctional 

cake that he carried to his battles so that 

he could keep up the morale and the 

health of his soldiers with the sweet 

smelling and tasteful cake. 

Such was the value of this currency 

spice that Charles the Great released an 

order that the imperial farms should be 

filled with anise plants – at least one side 

of them. Edward IV took this royal love 

for anise a step further by introducing it in 

his bedchambers both to have a good 

sleep and also to wake up smelling sweet 

and refreshed. Chewing on anise in fact 

was a suggested practice for emperors 

and queens for the upkeep of their dental 

health. 

This could explain why years later, 

anise, which formed the basis of much of 

the medicine in ancient Roman Empire, 

was adopted by Tudor Cook to lend a 

certain sweetness and pleasant aroma to 

dishes made of meat and bread. Folklore 

has it that when Henry VIII became bedridden 

and his teeth started rotting, anise 

hidden in bread and meat, was the only 

way that his breath could be kept from 

turning rancid. 

Of course the world over, anise's 

popularity, like most of ancient brethrens, 

grew first as a wellness herb and then as a 

major flavourant in food. What is 

interesting about this seed, says Chef 

Sabysachi Gorai (Owner, Mineority By 

Saby) “ is the fascinating way it works 

with prominent nutrients in a produce, 

like meat, tubers and grains. It works 

almost like a good tapestry where instead 

of overpowering the natural taste, anise 

lends itself to enhancing or contrasting a 

taste.” 

This, says Chef Deepanker Khosla 

(Co-owner, Karma Kismet), who has 

harvested the sweet profile of anise in oil 

to create his signature Mushroom Galouti 

using sous vide technique, “is the reason 

that dishes that use anise only have it as a 

main spice with the rest playing a 

supporting role, because if you know how 

to extract the flavours anise can be a 

single wonder kid – a spice mix in itself.” 

Both Chef Gorai and Chef Khosla in 

fact disagree that anise isn’t a versatile 

spice as its milder cousin fennel or saunf 

is. It is, says Gorai, “the case of knowing 

your spice. And with anise, which has 

rarely made its journey to the ports of 

India, except perhaps when the 

Armenian and the Jews came to our 

ports, the spice, though beautiful, 

remains in the region of the unknown. It 

is thus sparingly used.” 

But having said that, says Chef Vikas 

Seth (Culinary Director, Embassy India), 

“once you understand how the spice 

works – you know the drill of what 

happens when it is boiled, put in hot oil, 

roasted and then infused in oil or produce 

– it transforms from being a delicate 

alternative to star anise or fennel seed and 

becomes a spice that can actually help you 

evolve the dish.” Take the instance of the 

94 


FOOD 

ANISE 

ANISE SEED CHUTNEY AND 

LEMON SORBET 

INGREDIENTS 

FOR ANISE SEED CHUTNEY 

Anise seeds 

1 cup 

Garlic cloves 7 

Chilli powder 

1 1/2 tsp 

Coriander powder 1 tsp 

Roasted jeera powder 1/2 tsp 

Salt 

To taste 

FOR LEMON SORBET 

Mineral water 

100 ml 

Lemon juice 

Lemon zest 

Black salt 

Honey 

Anise flavoured Roasted Chicken 

1 cup 

1 tsp 

1 pinch 

2 tbsp 

METHOD 

• To make the chutney, roast 

the anise seeds for five to seven 

minutes or till they turn light 

brown in colour. 

• Mix all the other ingredients 

and grind coarsely. 

• For the sorbet , mix all 

ingredients well and hold in the 

freezer. 

• Once a thick sheet of ice forms 

on the mixture, break it and whisk 

vigorously. 

• Repeat the process 2-3 times. 

• Once the mixture is hard and 

set, put in a high speed blender and 

churn. 

• Serve the sorbet with a dollop of 

chutney on the top. 

Roasted Pumpkin Soup, he adds. “All you 

need is a drizzle of the infused oil on the 

top and there is that little bite to the 

otherwise naturally sweet yellow 

pumpkin soup.” 

Likewise is the case of Chef Navin 

Kumar’s (Executive Chef, Radisson Blu 

Paschim Vihar) steamed river sole fish 

with anise foam. “The foam actually 

recalibres the flavour layers to create this 

earthy, slightly bitter sweet tones that 

perfectly complement the sweetness of a 

river sole. And helps create the fresh 

mouthfeel of having a dish next to a 

beach.” 

The “mouthfeel” is one of the reasons 

that even Chef Gorai uses the spice in his 

bread and butters. And Chef Khosla’s 

prizes the impressive twist that he used 

often for his palate cleanser. Case in point 

is his Candied Anise Chutney With Saunf 

and Lemon Sorbet. “It is light on the 

palate, very summery and can leave you 

with this nice sweet clean feeling for a 

long time.” Or as the famous Dioscorides 

once wrote about anise, “It warms, dries 

and dissolves all ills.” 

96 


SPOTLIGHT BANKING AND FINANCE 

DEMYSTIFYING 

ALL THINGS 

FINANCE 

FINANCE AND RELATED MATTERS ARE A VITAL PART OF 

EVERYDAY LIFE AND IT HELPS IF YOU GET YOUR FUNDAS 

RIGHT. BY BINDU GOPAL RAO 

I 

just cannot get my head 

around it. I don’t know 

what mutual funds are or 

what the stock market is all 

about,” said a friend to me 

quite recently. When I spoke 

to her, trying to help her decode 

her doubts, I realized quite 

quickly that this is a problem that 

is quite commonplace. Unless you 

have studied finance as a subject, 

it is likely that most terms appear 

as jargon. However, finance and 

related matters, whether loans, 

banking, insurance or mutual 

funds, are a vital part of everyday 

98 



life and it is imperative that you 

understand them right. So, here is 

a guide that will come in handy. 

LOANS 

With limited money at your 

disposal, the only way to make 

larger investments especially in 

property is via a loan. And this is 

the time when loans are growing 

tremendously as a sector. In India 

both banks and Non-Banking 

Finance Companies (NBFCs) 

offer a range of loans. Of course 

most of us are familiar with 

housing or home loans that are 

taken to fund the purchase and/ 

or construction and/or repairs 

and renovation of a house or a 

flat. Likewise there are education 

loans to fund further studies, car 

or auto loans to buy vehicles, 

commercial property loans to 

fund the purchase of immovable 

property for commercial 

purposes, personal loans that are 

unsecured and come with a high 

rate of interest as well as gold 

loans where you can get money 

for collateral of gold. 

There is also loan against 

BANKS WILL CHECK YOUR CREDIT 

SCORE BEFORE GIVING YOU A LOAN. 

YOU CAN CHECK YOUR CREDIT LINE 

ONLINE TOO 

property where the collateral 

pledged is an immovable 

property and loan against 

security where the collateral 

pledged is a fixed deposit or a 

bond. The loan amount given is 

always based on your current 

earning level so make sure you 

take a loan which your income 

can help you service. Also there 

is a Credit Score, a three-digit 

number that is indicative of 

money-management skills and 

financial credibility and banks 

will check yours before giving 

you a loan. You can check yours 

online too. 

Whatever the kind of loan 

you are taking, it is important 

to choose wisely. The first thing 

is to take an informed decision 

and choose the right institution 

from which you will be taking 

your loan. A key factor that will 

help you make this decision 

is the interest rate. This is the 

bank charges for lending you 

the money and is integrated 

into the EMI or equated monthly 

instalment that you pay the bank 

back monthly once the loan 

tenure starts. 

When choosing a loan, read 

the fine print to check if the 

interest is charged as fixed or 

floating. Floating interest rates 

vary through the tenure of the 

loan as and when the Reserve 

Bank of India (RBI) changes the 

interest rates in tune with current 

market conditions. Fixed rate 

on the other hand is constant 

through the tenure of the loan. 

However several times there 

could be a caveat clause that 

allows the fixed rates to change 

which is something you should 

look out for. Processing fee is a 

fixed charge that the bank takes 

to process your loan application 

and can vary from 0.5% to 3% of 

the loan amount. 

Do ensure you check on 

these charges before you take 

a loan. Some banks also charge 

for prepayment (when you 

choose to close the loan before 

its due date) as well as late 

payment charges that you must 

take care to avoid. In order to 

get the better of competition, 

banks also offer an option of 

auto transferring loans from one 

bank to the other. This is also 

called refinance loans and this 

can help you consolidate all your 

debt in one place. However, do 

remember that loans are to be 

taken only with full information 

and exercising the best caution – 

after all it is a debt that you need 

to repay. 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

100 



BANKING 

The history on banking and 

banks in India dates back to 

several centuries and the RBI is 

the country’s central banking 

authority that regulates, controls 

and inspects all banks including 

giving licences for new banks. 

All banks are broadly divided 

into scheduled banks and nonscheduled 

banks. All banks that 

are part of the second schedule 

to the Reserve Bank of India Act 

1934 are called scheduled banks. 

There are 27 public sector banks, 

26 private sector banks, 46 

foreign banks, 56 regional rural 

banks, 1574 urban cooperative 

banks and 93,913 rural 

cooperative banks in India. A new 

banking model called Payment 

Bank has also been launched 

where banks can accept a specific 

deposit currently limited to Rs 

1 lakh per customer but cannot 

issue loans and credit cards. 

Before you open a bank account 

check the terms and conditions 

attached including the annual 

fees for credit and debit cards 

that are not explicitly stated. 

Coming to the aspect of the 

kind of accounts you can open, 

there are several choices with the 

most popular one remaining the 

savings account. Even within a 

standard savings account, there 

are variants that some banks offer 

and these include Max account 

where there is an auto transfer 

of funds into a fixed deposit that 

will earn you more interest as 

well. Likewise, there are women’s 

savings bank accounts that allow 

special benefits like customized 

debit cards, exclusive shopping 

benefits, insurance benefits and 

preferential loan rates. Also check 

out the Kids Advantage accounts 

that give education insurance 

cover benefits as well. Senior 

citizen accounts that come with a 

slightly higher rate of interest are 

the best way to park their money. 

Current accounts are usually used 

by business folks as these allow 

for more flexibility as well as an 

overdraft facility (where you can 

withdraw money over and above 

your balance) if you are credit 

worthy. Foreign nationals can also 

open their bank accounts in India. 

This apart you can go for 

a fixed deposit where you can 

set aside a lump sum amount 

that will earn you a fixed rate 

of interest. Most banks offer an 

additional 0.5% interest if the 

deposit is in the name of a senior 

citizen. Usually the rates are 

better for longer terms. If this 

does not work, you can also invest 

in a recurring deposit where a set 

stated amount is automatically 

debited from your account and 

moved to earn a higher rate of 

interest. Looking ahead, there is a 

clear thrust on improving banking 

infrastructure and technology. 

With the tremendous growth 

in mobile and internet banking 

services the need of the hour is 

to ensure these services become 

both reliable and robust. There 

are several banks that are also 

looking to launch contact-less 

credit and debit cards that use 

near field communication (NFC) 

allowing customers to transact 

without having to insert or swipe 

their cards. 

MUTUAL FUNDS 

As a form of investing your 

money, mutual funds are an 

option that is available especially 

when you are not aware of 

how to invest in stock markets. 

Simply explained, a mutual fund 

is a professionally-managed 

investment scheme offered by 

an asset management company 

whose expert fund managers 

invest money in stocks, money 

market instruments, bonds and 

other securities on behalf of the 

investors. Once you choose your 

predefined investment objectives 

and goals, the fund managers 

select broad portfolios including 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

104 



large cap, mid cap and small 

cap stocks to balance the risk 

and give you higher returns. As 

an investor, you can buy mutual 

fund units which are nothing 

but your share of holdings in the 

particular scheme. These units 

can be purchased or redeemed 

at the fund’s current net asset 

value (NAV). Mutual funds are 

registered with the Securities 

and Exchange Board of India 

(SEBI) and function within the 

regulations created to protect 

investor interest. In fact you can 

start small and also do it in small 

steps. Going for SIP (Systematic 

Investment Plan) you can have 

your bank debit a set amount (as 

small as Rs. 500 also) to transfer 

into a predefined portfolio every 

month. SIP works on the principle 

of Rupee Cost Averaging, that 

keeps your money insulated 

A SIP WORKS ON THE PRINCIPLE 

OF RUPEE COST AVERAGING, 

THAT HELPS KEEP YOUR MONEY 

INSULATED AGAINST NAV 

FLUCTUATIONS 

against NAV fluctuations. You can 

also opt for Systematic Transfer 

Plan (STP) which is a plan where 

you can transfer your funds 

systematically from one portfolio 

to another based on your 

changing financial requirements. 

There are several types 

of mutual funds and they are 

essentially classified on the types 

of securities where the funds are 

invested. Equity mutual funds 

are those that invest in stocks, 

debt mutual funds invest in fixed 

income securities like government 

bonds and treasury bills, hybrid 

income funds invest in a mix 

of equity and debt mutual 

funds and index funds track the 

performance of a specific index 

like the National Stock Exchange. 

Likewise, a closed-end fund is 

open for subscription only during 

the initial offer period and has 

a specified tenure and fixed 

maturity date when it can be 

redeemed. An open-ended fund 

is a scheme that is available for 

subscription and redemption on 

every business day through the 

year and is like a savings bank 

account. 

An Equity Linked Savings 

Scheme (ELSS) is an equity 

oriented Mutual Fund that invests 

for tax saving and wealth creation 

with a lock-in period of three 

years. There are also speciality 

funds that invest in specific 

sectors, industries, regions or 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

106 



securities. Always remember 

to read the offer document 

which will explain aspects like 

management and expense ratio 

which gives you important 

data about the fund. For small 

investors, mutual funds are a 

great option as it gives them 

access to professionally-managed 

and diversified portfolios of 

equities and bonds. 

INSURANCE 

As an investment vehicle that 

offers tax saving, long-term 

retirement benefits and also 

cover for unforeseen situations, 

insurance wins hands down. 

Insurance is a contract between 

the insurer (the company that 

provides the insurance) and the 

insured (person who buys the 

insurance). The insured pays 

an amount at regular intervals 

called premium to the insurer 

who agrees to make good any 

financial loss that the insured may 

suffer during the tenure of the 

policy. The premium can be paid 

in fixed intervals, quarterly, half 

yearly or annually and there are 

some policies that have a onetime 

premium too. It is a great 

idea to cover your life through 

life insurance and health through 

health insurance. Other kinds of 

insurance include auto insurance 

for your vehicle, home insurance 

for your house, travel insurance 

and pension linked insurance 

schemes. 

Do bear in mind that 

typically returns on insurance 

policies are relatively lower as 

they are intended to help you 

battle unknown events that can 

potentially disrupt your life. 

Currently there are 57 insurance 

companies in India with 33 nonlife 

and 24 life insurers. The Life 

Insurance Corporation (LIC) is the 

only public sector government 

company and The Insurance Act, 

1938 and Insurance Regulatory 

& Development Authority 

(IRDA) Act, 1999 are the primary 

legislations that govern the 

insurance business in India. 

Since the premise is that it 

will protect you in the case of 

an unforeseen event that may 

or may not happen, companies 

are able to provide cover when 

required. The cardinal principle is 

to choose a policy based on your 

current and projected income, 

medical state, age and future 

financial needs as well as the 

cost-benefit ratio. 

The insurance must cover all 

your dependants especially for 

health insurance policies. As a 

large number of people exposed 

to a similar risk participate in 

the scheme and contribute, it 

helps the insurer compensate 

the losses of some people who 

face these situations. Within the 

life insurance space, there are 

Endowment Assurance policies 

that also give a lump sum amount 

on the policy maturity in case 

the insured survives the policy 

term. Money Back policies on the 

other hand pay back set amounts 

at specific times through the 

course of the tenure. Unit-Linked 

Insurance Plans (ULIPs) are life 

insurance policies whose value 

varies based on the value of the 

underlying assets. 

To protect customer interests, 

the insurance industry has 

ombudsmen in 12 cities who are 

empowered to redress customer 

grievances. With a plethora of 

options available in the market, 

choose your policy wisely and 

online comparison tools are a 

great 

way to check the short-listed 

options. It is important that 

you find out how the company 

has performed in terms of 

settling claims which is a key 

factor. Also look out for hidden 

charges as well as important 

features like continuance of life 

coverage post the completion of 

the policy term. 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

108 


SPORTS 

RURAL GAMES 

A TEST OF CORPORAL ENDURANCE 

THE UNIQUE KILA RAIPUR RURAL OLYMPICS IS AN ANNUAL EVENT DRAWING VISITORS, PARTICIPANTS 

AND SPONSORS FROM NEAR AND FAR. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANSHUL AKHOURY 

A 

Nihang astride two 

galloping horses (with 

one foot on each horse), 

a competition involving 

the lifting of tyres, a 

man pulling a truck 

with his teeth, another doing 500 push-ups 

in 15 minutes, horse carts being raced 

against one another, a young man spinning 

on his thumb and one finger, a relay of police 

hunting dogs and a contest with two teams 

competing to load the maximum sacks of 

potatoes onto a tractor. Clearly, this is a 

sporting event like no other. 

The Kila Raipur Rural Olympics, being 

held annually in a small village in Ludhiana 

district of Punjab since 1933, has grown 

from a local sports event to an international 

extravaganza celebrating the limits of the 

human body and spirit. Apart from the 

sporting events with a rural touch, there are 

also other normal events and games like 100 

metres dash, high jump, shot put, air pistol 

shooting, kabaddi, archery, hockey and 

weight lifting (clean and jerk). 

The latest edition of the Rural Olympics 

is being held between the 2nd and 4th of this 

month. In all, about 10 lakh visitors are 

expected, 33 per cent of them from urban 

and semi-urban areas. 

SpiceJet flies to Chandigarh, 

114 km away. Log on to www. 


The Nihang sect in Punjab is known 

for the traditional martial art form 

known as Gatka. It includes several 

styles of self-defence and battle 

tactics that the sect’s members 

perform using different weapons 

110 


SPORTS 

RURAL GAMES 

A participant tries to lift the maximum 

number of tyres by placing them all 

over his body. You are disqualified if a 

tyre falls or touches the ground 

A para-glider tries to outperform other 

competitors by trying to spend the 

maximum time in air. The only qualifying 

criterion for this event is that the equipment 

should be homemade 

A cart racer cheers his mule, encouraging him to get ahead in the race. The entire village 

contributes for the training of the mule as it represents the community and not just an individual 

Relays are one thing but Kila Raipur takes it to a whole new level. When competitors race 

across the track with truck tyres, you cannot help but wonder if there is anything left to see 

114 


SPORTS 

RURAL GAMES 

A weight lifter shows off his strength by 

lifting a huge block of stone. There are other 

competitions which focus on display of 

strength. The most unique ones are the ones 

where you pull a car with your teeth or hair 

Asian Martial Art is the 

latest addition at the 

Rural Olympics. Teams 

of hearing and speech 

impaired martial art 

exponents showcase 

their talent that makes 

the spectators bite 

their nails in awe 

The organizers of the Rural Olympics invite 

photographers and journalists from all around the 

world. Their agenda is simple — they want the whole 

world to know about these unique games 

116 


IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

BHARATHI CEMENT ON A 

GROWTH TRAJECTORY 

BHARATHI CEMENT is part of Vicat 

Group of France. The capacity of 

of the Kadapa cement plant is 5 

million tonnes in Andhra Pradesh 

and 2.75 million tonnes in Kalburgi 

district of Karnataka. Vicat Group 

has a total capacity of 7.75 million 

tonnes in India. This makes it one 

of the leading players in the Indian 

cement industry. A global cement 

player with an expertise of 200 

years, the Vicat Group operates 

NEW DELHI BOOK 

FAIR BRINGS YOUTH 

CLOSER TO BOOKS 

THE LATEST EDITION OF THE NEW 

DELHI BOOK FAIR attracted many 

well-known personalities including 

Ms Mridula Sinha, Hon’ble Governor 

of Goa. A large number of children 

along with their parents and teachers, 

students from colleges and universities 

and general readers could be seen 

visiting the fair. It was clear that 

regardless of new developments in 

technology, the fascination for books 

will continue. The theme of the fair was 

‘Environment and Climate Change’. 

On this occasion, Ms Sinha’s book 

Reflections, which is the English 

translation of the Hindi title Samajik 

Sarokar, was released. In addition, 

in areas of Cement, Concrete 

Products and Aggregates. The 

company was started by Joseph 

Vicat, son of Louis Vicat, an 

engineer who invented artificial 

cement in 1817. Bharathi Cement 

produces OPC53, OPC43, PPC and 

PSC. The premium cement is of 

superior quality, the services are 

of world class, and the packing 

is tamper proof. It was the first 

cement company in combined 

Andhra Pradesh to install an 

ultramodern cement plant with 

quality being controlled by a 

Robolab to ensure consistency 

in every bag of cement. The 

commissioning of Kalburgi Cement 

in October 2012 with a capacity 

of 2.75 million tonnes per annum 

was a milestone in the history of 

Bharathi. Bharathi Cement is being 

the books Rastriya Chetna Ke Vividh 

Aayam, authored by Shri Baldeo Bhai 

Sharma; Abhimanyu Anant Kavya 

Rachnawali by Dr Kamal Kishore 

Goenka; Sant Sahitya Ki Samajh by Shri 

Nandkisore Pande; and Mahamanav 

Abraham Lincoln by Shri Ramesh 

Patange, were released. 

A number of activities for 

children were organized at the 

Children’s Pavilion in which several 

children from various schools and 

sold in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, 

Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Kerala, 

Goa, Pondicherry, Andaman 

Nicobar Islands and Maharashtra. 

It has a strong network of 3,000 

dealers and 10,000 sub-dealers 

which ensures availability of the 

product at all places. Bharathi 

Cement is also being exported 

to Sri Lanka. The company has 

deployed 47 mobile vans and 15 

two wheeler mobile labs in all 

southern states and Maharashtra. 

These mobile vans are manned by 

highly qualified technical officers 

who train masons, construction 

supervisors and customers about 

good construction practices. These 

mobile vans are continuously 

on the road for site visits and to 

advocate free construction tips to 

end customers round the clock. 

voluntary organizations 

participated. A ‘Youth 

Parliament’ was 

organized by Amity 

University Press where 

students discussed about 

‘Interlinking of Rivers: A 

Boon or Bane’. A puppet 

show on ‘Pollution caused 

by digital devices’ was 

also organised at the fair. 

A book release function 

was organized by Royal Collins 

Publishing Group, Canada. Kamal L 

Anand, author of the book Natural 

Health and Healing, interacted with 

the book lovers. He talked about the 

lifestyle of people in recent times and 

gave tips to tackle health hazards. He 

also discussed about basic habits that 

one should adopt to stay fit and healthy. 

He was of the view that meditation 

along with yoga and walking bare feet 

can cure any disease. 

120 


IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

ALL SET TO BE THE NEXT FACE OF CHARAGH DIN? 

WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING THE 

IDEAL CANDIDATE to represent CD 

and the style that we stand for, we 

know that we’re lucky enough to have 

thousands of brand ambassadors in 

each one of our customers. And we’ve 

decided to put that to the test! And 

frankly wouldn’t it just be amazing to 

have your face splashed all over town? 

Here’s your chance to be the next face of 

Charagh Din! 

Are people always talking about 

your mysterious charm? Have you ever 

been praised for your rustic beauty? Is 

your enchanting smile the talk of the 

town? That one quality that catches 

everyone’s eye is exactly what we are 

looking for! So if you feel like you fit the 

bill, just follow these simple steps to win 

a Rs 500 voucher and possibly become 

the face that sweeps them all off their 

feet as the next face of Charagh Din. All 

you have to do is click a selfie wearing 

one of our shirts at the CD Canter, like 

the Charagh Din page on FB, comment 

on the contest post on Facebook with 

your selfie, and share it on your wall 

with #CDOnTheGo. And finally, tag 

your BFF. 

SSVM REDEFINES EDUCATION 

Dr. 

Manimekalai 

Mohan, 

Managing 

Trustee 

SSVM INSTITUTIONS, COIMBATORE, 

is a group of schools established with a 

view to offering world-class educational 

opportunities to young minds. The 

schools are affiliated to the CBSE, 

New Delhi, to prepare students for the 

AISSE & AISSCE along with NEET/ 

IIT classes. The School Award of 

International Accreditation by British 

Council, UK, reinforces its commitment 

to provide global holistic educational 

opportunities to students. The teachers 

have rich experience in teaching. The 

institution aims to provide an enabling 

environment that helps nurture and 

develop every child’s unique talent and 

potential to the fullest. SSVM believes 

that education must help children to 

excel holistically across academics, 

sports, arts and co-curricular pursuits, 

while ensuring their safety and wellbeing. 

It is the endeavour of the schools 

to provide children with opportunities 

to learn in multi-dimensional ways 

and explore the limitless possibilities 

in their quest for knowledge. Since 

inception, the aim has been to make 

teaching a pleasure and learning a 

joy; where learning and excelling 

is a passion; and culture and values 

have a pre-eminent place. SSVM’s 

excellent educational programmes are 

complemented by futuristic facilities 

and resources, and there is a focus on 

sports and co-curricular opportunities 

such as Aero modelling, NCC, Scouts 

& Guides, Swimming, Tae Kwon Do, 

Yoga, Athletics, Chess, Rifle Shooting, 

Roller Skating, Football, Badminton, 

Volleyball, and so on. Besides, the 

learners participate in activities 

such as International Model United 

Nations Conferences, University 

visits, International Summer School 

Programmes, etc., that help them 

identify their potential and pursue their 

passions. The accomplishments over 

the past 15 years and the reputation as 

one of the top Institutions exemplify the 

success of SSVM’s Educational Model. 

A school of international paradigm with 

Indian ethos; Picturesque Campus, 

World- Class Laboratories and Library; 

Most Modern Infrastructure, Digital 

Learning and many more unmatched 

features help learners and teachers 

inspire to continue to do the best. 

122 


A SPEAKER THAT’S 

ALSO A CONVERSATION 

STARTER 

FROM THIS FAIRLY NEW COMPANY 

COMES A BLUETOOTH SPEAKER 

that’s really big on design. It’s called 

the Shield because of the shape but 

the interesting thing is that it looks 

like something Bang & Olufsen would 

make. In fact, it looks a bit like the B&O 

Play A9 speaker — just a lot smaller. 

This is an all-metal design with a small 

stand, designed to be kept on a desk or 

countertop. BoomSlang Shield produces 

outstanding audio from the beautiful 

boombox. Upgraded 2x 10W drivers 

blast out rich, clear sound. The 4.0 

Bluetooth chipset and the enhanced 

bass resonator offer class-leading 

performance for incredibly clear 

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

sound quality; the 20Watts acoustic 

output ensures an amazing audio 

experience with loud and rich music. 

There are no exposed screws or flashy 

lights — just the brushed aluminium 

exterior that glints in the weakest of 

light. It certainly looks very nice, with 

the machine drilled holes exuding a 

contemporary aesthetic. Like most 

Bluetooth speakers, this too has an Aux 

input, located on the stand on the back. 

Also on the back is the active 

subwoofer, covered with aluminium 

and hidden so well in the 

disc-shaped structure that 

you will probably miss it at 

first glance. It charges via 

micro USB and has a built-in 

microphone, in case you 

want to use it for conference 

calls. The stand houses 

the rechargeable battery 

(roughly 8 hours playtime on 

a full charge) and the basic 

controls. BoomSlang Shield 

bluetooth speaker is a stunning looking 

metallic finish speaker for your home 

and the office. Its brushed metal finish 

is impeccable and makes the speaker 

look good from any angle. Pairing is a 

straightforward process with no PINs 

needed. The audio is pleasing at low to 

mid volumes but we wouldn’t describe 

it as room-filling. It’s more at home on 

the coffee table when you have a small 

gathering or on your study table for 

personal listening. 

DUKE LAUNCHES NEW LOAFERS AND 

MOCCASINS COLLECTION 

DUKE FASHIONS (INDIA) LTD., 

a leading lifestyle fashion brand, 

has just introduced an extensive 

collection of Duke Loafers 

and Moccasins. The collection 

celebrates the spirit of fashion as 

inspired by the style of Las Vegas, 

USA. These shoes go very well 

with casual or semi-formal look 

and ensure smooth movement. 

Cushioning, support, shock absorption, breathability, traction, 

lightweight, and stability are just some of the elements you’ll 

find in this new range. 

These shoes are easy to wear, as well as stylish, and 

combine the look of professional dressing with the comfort 

and informality of casual wear. These shoes offer more formal, 

gentlemanly look as well as relaxed fashionable look. The 

collection revolves around several interesting concepts and 

promises to offer a global fashion statement. The footwear can 

be worn to work or used casually. 

A RICH TRADITION AT MANOHAR LAL JEWELLERS 

THE HOUSE OF MANOHAR LAL 

SARRAF & SONS JEWELLERS PVT. 

LTD. was established in 1930 in 

Meerut. Today it is a complete and 

one of the most respected jewellery 

houses around. Always excelling, 

always innovating and always 

complementing the wonders of a 

woman’s beauty through its ageless 

and timeless jewellery. Today, it 

operates through five outlets - Defence Colony, Preet Vihar, 

Pitampura and Indirapuram in New Delhi and at Sector 18 

in Noida. 

Manohar Lal Jewellers have always been famous for 

their gorgeous jewellery which are perfect for celebrating 

any major milestones in a customer’s life — be it her 

wedding, her anniversary, her birthday or that of her 

loved ones. The jewellery styles and designs range from 

traditionally elegant and simple to highly intricate designs 

that would be appropriate for any formal event. To provide 

the best possible value to its customers has been the ethos 

at Manohar Lal Jewellers, right from its inception. 

124 


TRANSFORM YOUR GARDEN INTO A PARADISE, INSTANTLY... 

Your dream landscape is within your reach with 

Unique Trees, The largest nursery in india spread over 

500 acres, growing, importing, planting, nurturing, and 

maintaining a wide array of fully grown exotic verdant 

and hardy trees from sources across the globe. 

These exotic and unique species of plants are imported 

from various countries like Italy, Spain, Mexico, 

Australia, Madagascar, Vietnam, Thailand etc. They 

are specially selected for habitat and crafted keeping in 

mind the aesthetic, design and landscaping needs of 

the commercial and residential establishments in India. 

Each tree at UniqueTrees is a style statement of 

stunning elan which will enhance the ambience and 

landscape in an unprecedented way. 

#489, Road no. 12, Banjara Hills, 

Hyderabad - 500034 

+91 8008888088 

+91 40 6666 6622 

info@uniquetrees.in 

www.uniquetrees.in

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

THE DISTINCTIVE 

VELS EDGE 

ARE YOU ONE OF THE MANY WHO HAVE COMPLETED 

YOUR GRADUATION and are looking for a job that will 

fetch you a handsome pay? Are you disappointed that 

you are not landing a plum job? It’s time you look ahead 

and do a Master’s in Business Management. Not just 

an ordinary Master’s. Stand out in the crowd with an 

international degree. Study in Singapore and India for a 

Master’s from a reputed university in the UK. The student 

studies partly in Singapore and partly in India (Chennai). 

The degree is awarded by the University of Sunderland in 

the UK. MDIS marked its third overseas expansion with 

the establishment of MDIS-VELS India. The joint venture 

with Vels University is a significant step in extending the 

imprint of the MDIS brand in the region. This JV allows 

students in India to pursue international degrees from 

across the globe by studying in Singapore and India. 

For graduates in India, MDIS will offer this oneyear 

MBA programme certified by the University of 

Sunderland in UK. The intakes for the same will be thrice 

a year. The next intake will be in May 2018. Students 

who pursue this programme will be starting with the 

initial four months of the programme in MDIS, Singapore 

followed by the remaining eight months at VELS. All 

lectures in India will be done by faculty flying in from 

MDIS. This ensures that the delivery of the programme 

in India is maintained to international standards. The 

students on completion of their Masters in Business 

Administration (MBA) will be offered a six month 

internship opportunity in Wall Street, New York. 

128 


ODISHA’S SWOSTI 

EXPANDS ITS WINGS 

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

THE SWOSTI GROUP, in its constant endeavour to 

provide the best of services since 1982, has been a 

pioneer in Odisha’s hotel industry in adding and 

achieving new milestones and new features each and 

every year. Swosti Grand has won many international 

and national awards and has now been completely 

renovated into a boutique hotel. Swosti Travels, the 

largest inbound / outbound tour operator in Odisha, is 

recognized by the governments of India and Odisha. 

Swosti Travels has its own fleet of cars and coaches at 

Bhubaneswar and Kolkata and extends professional 

service at most competitive prices. Swosti Travels 

also handles event management and MICE and has 

handled large medical conferences with delegates 

ranging from 3000 to 5000 in numbers. Swosti 

Premium Ltd is the largest convention hotel in 

Eastern India. Swosti Premium has the highest 

number of guest rooms in Odisha and has successfully 

handled some of the mega medical conferences, 

international meetings, exhibitions and conferences. 

Gopalpur Palm Resort is the only luxury resort at 

Gopalpur-on-Sea. For more details, please visit www. 

swostiindia.com, www.orissatravels.com, www. 

swostichilikaresort.com or www.swostihotels.com. 

131 


IAAPI LINES UP 18TH 

AMUSEMENT EXPO 2018 

Mr Shirish 

Deshpande, 

President, IAAPI and 

CEO, Essel World 

and Water Kingdom 

THE INDIAN 

ASSOCIATION 

OF AMUSEMENT 

PARKS AND 

INDUSTRIES 

(IAAPI) is geared 

up to unveil the 18th 

Amusement Expo 

from February 27 

to March 1, 2018, 

at Hall 2, Bombay Exhibition Centre, 

NESCO Compound, Goregaon East, 

in Mumbai. The Expo is supported by 

the Ministry of Tourism, Government 

of India. It will witness over 120+ 

exhibitors from India and 16 countries 

and is spread across 10,000 sq m 

exhibition floor area showcasing 

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

latest innovative rides and equipment 

for Amusement Park, Theme Park, 

Water Park, Adventure Sport and 

Family Entertainment Centers. IAAPI 

Amusement Expo will also bring a 

comprehensive range of products and 

services offered by the industry under 

one roof and provide an international 

platform to the participants to interact 

with the end users. The expo aims at 

creating an ideal business environment 

to explore new avenues of growth 

for all involved. Apart from business 

transactions, the show also provides 

an exposure to international trends 

through its many foreign participants. 

The three day exhibition will 

provide a platform to share and 

learn new ideas. Big players from the 

industry will share their learning, 

innovative ideas, schemes and 

experience. Many important issues 

related to the amusement industry will 

also be discussed in depth. The event 

will be visited by decision makers from 

the Amusement Park, Theme Park, 

Adventure Park, Family Entertainment 

Centres (FEC), Resorts, Hotel Chains, 

Real Estate, Mall Developers, Sports 

Bar, Cafes, Museums and Science 

Centres, Government officials from 

Tourism Development Board, PWD, 

Town Planning, Municipal and Local 

Body over the period of three days. 

IAAPI is a non-government, not-forprofit, 

industry-led and industrymanaged 

organization, playing a 

proactive role in the development of 

this sector. Founded in 1999, it is India’s 

premier business association having 

over 355 members from the private 

sectors including small and medium 

enterprises consisting of park operators 

and equipment manufacturers. 

ZEBRONICS ANNOUNCES PREMIUM 

GAMING HEADPHONES 

ZEBRONICS INDIA PVT. LTD, India’s 

leading supplier of IT peripherals, 

Audio/Video and Surveillance, has 

unveiled its newest Orion gaming 

headphones. Artistically 

designed to provide 

highest earvv 

comfort merged 

with simulated 7.1 

surround sound 

performance to 

enjoy every game, 

Orion promises to 

bring an eternal 

gaming experience, 

making it more 

enjoyable! Designed 

to appeal to next gen 

gamers, Orion sports 

a clutter free, seamlessly integrated 

design bringing an unparalleled 

experience. Engineered to make 

every minute of gaming real, the 

headphone is supremely comfortable, 

and sounds great with advanced 

sound processor inside. It comes 

with USB interface and very 

durable 3m long braided 

cable. Its metallic ear cup 

makes it look chic and feel 

tough. It offers a striking 

and durable aluminium 

design in addition 

to a wonderfully 

cozy set of earcups 

that are perfect 

for marathon 

sessions. 

Performing with a 40 mm driver 

unit along with 20–20,000Hz 

frequency response of non-stop 

gaming effects, the headphone has 

exceptional 7.1 simulated surround 

sound. The 7.1 simulated surround 

sound will give an edge in gaming. 

Apart from 7.1 sound it also delivers 

crisp highs and rich bass. With multifunctional 

in-line controls, the headset 

effortlessly allows you to balance game 

and chat audio. You can control the 

RGB lights, mic and volume through 

the inline control. Commenting on 

the newest addition to its gaming 

category, Mr. Pradeep Doshi, Director, 

Zebronics, says, “Zebronics has 

carved a niche for itself in the gaming 

category. Our latest is designed in sync 

with what a gamer truly needs — rich, 

surround audio; a clear microphone 

and a healthy amount of sound 

customisation options for the real 

gaming experience” 

133 


IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

LPU CREATED ANOTHER UNBEATABLE PLACEMENT RECORD IN 2017 

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL 

UNIVERSITY (LPU), the largest 

university of the country, is known 

for its great placement records. For 

the last three years, LPU has set the 

highest placement record, and the 

year 2017 too proved no different. 

Crossing the mark of expected 

placement drives and offers, the 

year proved job-productive for LPU 

students not only in number but 

quality placement also. In all, 5015 

offers (including internships) for 

graduating batches 2017 and 2018 

have already been generated, with 

highest annual salary package of Rs 

31.83 lakh for engineering students 

and Rs 15.20 lakh for management 

students. Of these, more than 

600 offers are extended alone by 

Fortune 500 companies. One of the 

top selectors, Schneider Electrical, 

which hires from only 21 institutes 

of the country like IITs and NITs, 

has preferred just one private 

university, that is, LPU. 

During 2017, LPU also added 

many big brands to recruit its 

students, including Direct I, 

Morgan Stanley, VMware, TIVO, 

ThoughtWorks, Ashok Leyland, 

Siemens, Honda Two-Wheelers, 

Renault Nissan, Schneider 

Electrical, L’Oreal, Federal Bank, 

Airbus, Allegis Group, GSFC Agrotech, 

Cipla, Must Garments and 

more. 

Says Chancellor Ashok Mittal, 

“We at LPU are happy to see our 

students making their presence 

felt in almost all the top cities of 

the world, including California, 

Vancouver, Sydney, London and 

more, where LPU alumni meets 

are also regularly going on. Great 

universities world over are known 

by their successful alumni and we 

are happy to be one of them." 

SIPs: A WAY TO KEEP EMOTIONS AWAY 

BY SHYAMALI BASU (THE AUTHOR IS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & HEAD - PRODUCTS & MARKETING, 

HDFC ASSET MANAGEMENT CO. LTD.) 

BENJAMIN 

GRAHAM, 

the author of 

Intelligent 

Investor writes, 

‘Investing has 

nothing to do 

with IQ or SAT 

scores… This kind 

of intelligence… is a trait more of 

character than of the brain’. Time 

and again it has been established 

that patience has more value than 

intelligence when it comes to 

investing. 

It is for these reasons that 

investors find it difficult to make 

money from equity. Is there a 

way to insulate ourselves from 

these dominant emotions, which 

overpower at the wrong time? 

Even as the problem sounds 

like a huge one, the answer to 

this question is a surprisingly 

simple and a highly effective 

one. Systematic Investment Plan 

(SIP) is an automated process of 

investment which gets triggered 

at a pre-defined frequency and 

regularity, making investment 

insulated from emotion driven 

errors. 

Our mind adjusts to the debits 

from the bank. I have heard 

many investors say that when it 

comes to writing a cheque for any 

investment there are multiple 

thoughts that plague them, 

whereas if there is a direct debit 

from their bank account, they 

somehow do not get perturbed. 

The same principle is responsible 

for the irrational spends we make 

on plastic money rather than 

on physical money. An SIP is a 

simple tool that helps bring in the 

discipline required to tide over 

emotions. 

DISCLAIMER 

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not of HDFC, AMC, and should not be regarded as investment advice. Investors should obtain their own 

independent advice before taking a decision to invest in any securities. 

MUTUAL FUND INVESTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO MARKET RISKS, READ ALL SCHEME RELATED DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY 

134 


IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

UNWIND WITH YOUR LOVED ONES AT THE RESORT 

THE RESORT, MUMBAI, located 

on the shoreline of the Arabian 

Sea, is a 4 star deluxe property 

offering modern rooms which 

are beach facing. Spread across 

five acres, The Resort has 94 

newly refurbished rooms, 

three lush green lawns, nine 

banquet halls, two food & 

beverage outlets, swimming 

pool, spa and a gymnasium. 

Plus, recently they have launched 

the “Gravity”, an adventure zone 

for their guests, which consists of 

12 adventure activities. Only 23 

km from the international airport, 

The Resort is an ideal place to relax 

with your loved ones, conduct your 

corporate meetings and trainings or 

experience a wedding overlooking 

the beach. The Resort has spacious 

Banquet and Conference Halls 

that can easily be converted to 

meet your every requirement with 

multiple Banquet Halls to offer and 

the availability of rooms make it an 

ideal MICE destination. Feast on 

a variety of international flavours 

as well as local cuisines and a 

vast array of mouthwatering 

exotic dishes, desserts, exotic 

mocktails and cocktails 

prepared by professional 

bartenders and renowned 

chefs. 

At The Resort, enjoy a 

complete wedding experience 

with the convenience of hosting 

all your wedding function at 

one location. It has spacious 

indoor and outdoor facilities that 

can accommodate up to 1200 guests. 

The Resort being the only property 

offering adventure sports for all age 

groups, is an opportunity where 

you can learn and take part in team 

building skills and programmes 

apart from enjoying many other 

comforts. 

TRAVEL IN STYLE WITH THE NEW MIRAGE COLLECTION 

SKYBAGS, the stylish bags 

brand from the house of V.I.P. 

Industries, introduces its 

Mirage range of trolley bags. 

The favorite luggage brand 

of today’s youth presents a 

ravishing new collection of 

designer travel strollys to 

travel in style. The collection 

offers a perfect amalgamation 

of comfort and contemporary 

designs. Skybags offers world 

class functional features, 

vibrant colours and unique 

designs that add an edge to 

the traveller’s personality. 

The brand is committed to 

help you move in style through 

its style statement collection. 

The collection is available in 

vibrant color options - Purple 

and Orange, designed in three 

sizes for the customer to 

choose from for their varying 

luggage needs, 55”, 69”, and 

80”. 

The strollys provide 

TSA Lock, duplex wheels, 

organized interiors and light 

weight for the world traveller 

in you. Simplistic in design 

but yet stylish, the collection 

has been created keeping in 

mind the young free spirited 

travellers. The bags are light 

in weight and very convenient 

to carry around with ease. 

Priced perfectly, the collection 

meets the needs of all urban 

travellers. 

138 


FOOD 

DELICACIES 

GOSHT STORY 

THE RICH AND DELICIOUS TALE OF SOME OF 

INDIA’S FINEST BUT LESSER KNOWN MUTTON 

DISHES THAT SCORE ON TASTE, TEXTURE AND 

ROYAL PEDIGREE. BY MADHULIKA DASH 

Consider Mutton Curry. It 

is loved by everyone, 

every community has its 

own speciality and each 

mutton dish not only 

defines the food characteristics of its 

place of origin, but has also stood witness 

to a major historical movement. 

Example: Raan. Initially called the 

Sikandari Raan, this culinary 

masterpiece is said to have been created 

by Porus in honour of Alexander. It of 

course did more than just make the 

evening memorable, that Raan forged a 

friendship which lasted an entire 

Maurya dynasty. Of course over the 

years the mutton dish has had many 

versions including the Peshawari Raan. 

What however hasn’t changed is the 

taste and instant connect this dish brings 

along. In fact, such was the reverence of 

Raan in history that its presence on the 

table often signified a peace treaty. 

Another example of an exemplary 

mutton dish is the Junglee Maas. 

Considered by many as the original Laal 

Maas, this rustic dish originated as a 

game dish around the 10th century AD. 

Legend has it that when maharajas went 

on hunting expeditions, they would 

usually travel with their trusted 

entourage of 10 cooks, whose work back 

at the hunting tents was to prepare food 

from the entire kill. While this led to an 

array of interesting barbecued dishes 

and snacks, Junglee Maas was born as a 

centrepiece for the evening. Made from 

yogurt, ginger-garlic and locally 

produced Maithania Mirch, it 

represented the Rajput philosophy of 

life. It was this dish that eventually 

became Laal Maas, a warrior celebratory 

dish made by the male members of the 

royal family. 

Fascinatingly, Junglee Maas from 

the house of Samode or the Laal Maas 

Raan (top); Safed Maas (bottom) 

139 


FOOD 

DELICACIES 

were not only mutton dishes that were 

considered masterpieces of food and 

politics, there were many, now lesser 

known ones too that contributed to the 

envious repertoire as well. Like the 

Matki Maans. A speciality of the royal 

kitchens of Deolia Kalan, a small hamlet 

near Ajmer, which was founded by Rao 

Akheraj, the great grandson of Rao 

Chandrasen of Marwar-Jodhpur, this 

dish was developed in the military 

garrison as a dish that healed wounds 

and forged friendships. 

Cooked inside a matki (earthen pot), 

the highlight of this slightly sour dish 

was not only the use of clever use of 

kachri, a local superfood that was high in 

protein content, antioxidants and 

immunity boosting properties, but also 

the purpose it was invented for: drinks. 

Legend has it that the idea of the dish 

came while soldiers were busy drinking 

and needed something to munch along. 

Limited with spices but not meat, they 

quickly marinated some minced meat. 

Generously sprinkled with red chillies 

makes Matki Maans a treat but not for 

the fainthearted or the delicate palate. 

Among the lesser known mutton 

delicacies is also the Yakhni Khusk Jama 

Maza. A signature dish from the royal 

Thakurs of Kanota, this delicate, yogurtbased 

mutton curry was developed for 

the celebratory table called the Rehan, a 

tradition the household follows 

Left: Railway Mutton Curry; 

Below: Ghee Roast Mutton Boti, 

Chutney Trio 

till date. 

Tempered with fragrant clove and 

saffron, this 18th century dish was 

created more to celebrate the guest of 

honour than the occasion. The beauty of 

this traditional recipe is the clever use of 

saffron that gives the mutton dish its 

unique aroma and taste. Interestingly, it 

is a recipe that has remained relevant to 

all kinds of table and era – and is today 

considered an heirloom dish of the royal 

house, much like the Safed Maas (which 

gets its name from the rich, silken white 

gravy made of yogurt, ground cashew 

nut and cream) from the House of 

Dungarpur and Akka Murg and Handi 

Sula from the House of Bedla. 

In fact, the little known aspect of the 

House of Bedla who served as main 

advisers to the Maharajas is their 

200-year-old Karan cuisine, which was 

especially developed for food diplomacy 

with smoked mutton dishes playing 

more than just specials of the evening. 

Take the case of Handi Sula. For a 

kingdom, where yogurt was the common 

base for all kinds of meat dishes, the 

Handi Sula was made with a special 

Bedla sauce created with 32 ingredients 

and matured over eight months. Into this 

sauce, the lamb was marinated, then 

slow cooked in a specially crafted handi 

and then smoked – giving it a texture and 

flavour that could floor Queen Elizabeth 

II, and it did too, eventually. 

Another gem in this category is the 

Khade Masale Ka Gosht from the oldest 

estate of Awadh or Oudh, which 

remained the culinary superhub before 

Lucknow took over. Given to Nawab 

Mahmud Khan by Emperor Akbar, this 

little hamlet was the birthplace of some 

of the finest Awadhi food including the 

Kathal Biryani, the Borani and the 

exquisite Naan-e-Niyamat, our version 

of the Mille Feuille. However, the one 

reason Mahmudabad was known in the 

Mughal court was the Khade Masale Ka 

Gosht. This many believe was what 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

140 


From top: Maans Tikka; Kosha Mangsho 

FOOD 

DELICACIES 

inspired the later 

techniques of nihari and 

mutton making in Awadh. 

One of the slow cooked 

wonders and the best kept 

secret of the House of 

Mahmud’s , this mutton 

dish is a winter speciality 

and served as a taste test 

during one of the 

masterchef competition 

between Awadh, Hyderabad and 

Rampur. Some say that the Rampur 

signature dish, the Taar Gosht, a winter 

delicacy as well, was inspired by the 

Khade Masale Ka Gosht. Though the 

claim is often refuted by those in the 

know, what is interesting to note is how 

both the dishes use the tough meat of a 

lamb and turn it into an aromatic, 

flavoursome treat with mutton pieces. 

While most mutton dishes were 

often made to impress like the Ghee 

Roast and Rogan Josh and even the 

Tabak Maaz, few were about showcasing 

the local culture like the Mutton Stew 

(which even Pliny The Elder agreed was 

the finest on the Silk Route) and the 

Ladakhi Chu-tagir. A mutton special 

from the House of Namgyal of Ladakh, 

the unique thing about the dish is that 

unlike its Northern brethren, Chu-tagir 

is a light broth of lamb, which is served 

with cubes of lamb, seasonal vegetable 

and bao, making it a meal in itself. A 

sheer comfort food, Chu-tagir is a 

popular celebration breakfast – and has a 

vegetarian version too. 

Another example of functional 

speciality is the Khatta Meat from the 

House of Dogras (Jammu). A far cry from 

the usual Pahari style mutton dishes that 

uses buttermilk and fat to cook a dish, 

Khatta Meat’s origin was to explore the 

interesting qualities of anardana (dry 

pomegranate). A sweet-sour preparation 

with that smoky aftertaste, what makes 

this royal table essential an exceptional 

palate delight is the fragrant, tender 

meat despite the extremely frugal use of 

tenderizing ingredients in the dish and 

the dungar given with mustard oil and 

not ghee. In fact, the dish continues to be 

the skill test for most khansamas in the 

royal household even today. 

Much like how Kosha Mangsho rose 

from the army kitchens to grace the table 

of the new royals in the 19th century, 

where the trick was to get that sweetness 

and spiciness balanced without the use 

of water or any sweetening ingredient. 

In fact, it was Kosha Mangsho that 

inspired the Railway Mutton Curry, the 

famous export to reach Buckingham 

Palace before the iconic Chicken Tikka. 

The interesting culinary skills were a 

major reason why mutton dishes were 

given such high value in the culinary 

ledger. Each dish, even those inspired, 

had enough tricks to become a 

conversation starter. One such dish is 

Nimaj’s Maas Ka Soyata. Described aptly 

as the Rajasthani Haleem, this porridge 

based dish was inspired from the 

popular breakfast of Bajra and Makki Ke 

Keech, which occasionally was had with 

Laal Maas. Legend has it that the dish 

was developed as a meal in a bowl for 

busier days when a sit-down meal was 

next to impossible. And while it may look 

like a meat-khichdi, the dish can rival 

any modern-day dish. 

141 


ARTS 

PUPPETRY 

A PUPPET VILLAGE IN KONKAN 

GUDIPUR IN THE KONKAN REGION OF MAHARASHTRA IS HOME TO FAMILIES 

INVOLVED IN THE ART OF PUPPETRY FOR MANY GENERATIONS. 

BY PADMINI RANGARAJAN 

MORNING ANNOUNCES itself with 

birds chirping, followed by cattle 

grazing in the green pastures 

surrounding Gudipur locality of Pinguli, 

home to the Thaker adivasi tribe of the 

Konkan region in Maharashtra. This 

community boasts of the only traditional 

puppeteers of Maharashtra. Pinguli, 10 

kn away from Sindhudurg town, is 

known as the ‘puppet village’ and has 

been home for traditional folk artists 

from mid-eighteenth century onwards. 

Although the cultural richness of 

Maharashtra is spread wide in its various 

geographical divisions, nevertheless, 

one gets to see a mesmerizing folk art 

performance in Konkan that comes alive 

in the form of the Thakar adivasi kala 

(art). It was my quest on traditional 

puppet forms of India took me to 

Gudipur vadi of Pinguli. A wonderful 

two hour drive took me from Goa 

(Dabolim) airport to Gudipur. 

Here reside Parshuram Gangavane 

and his family. Members of the Thaker 

tribe, they are proficient in three 

puppetry art forms: Kalasutri Bahulya 

(traditional string puppetry), 

Chamdyacha Bahuliya (shadow 

puppetry), and Chitrakathi (Picture 

Storytelling). The origin of Kalasutri 

Bahuliya can be traced to 1600 A.D. Also 

known as Zaiti, this from was immensely 

popular till the 20th century. (Kal 

means forefinger, sutra means thread 

and bahuliya means puppet). 

There is a mention of Kalasutri in the 

15th chapter of the famous and sacred 

Gyaneshwari written by Sant 

Gyaneshwar. These small wooden 

puppets less than one foot in size have 

shoulder joints and less moveable arms. 

However, as part of a revival act, 

Gangavane family members are now 

making these puppets with more flexible 

arms too. 

It is widely believed that the 

Kalasutri string puppets came from the 

Rajasthan-Gujarat area to Maharashtra. 

They were given patronage by the rulers 

of Sawantwadi, a large town located near 

the Maharashtra-Goa border. 

The Chamadyacha Bahuliya art 

form, with origins in Maharashtra, later 

travelled to even South India. These 

small size leather puppets made from 

sheep hides are drawn and designed in 

accordance with Chitrakathi painting 

style. These puppet figures do not have 

hand or leg movements. Usually, a man 

stands behind the stage and performs by 

manipulating the puppet, while the main 

artists play instruments like harmonium 

and a traditional instrument called the 

gummat (a clay pot with one end covered 

by iguana hide and other end open). 

Chitakathi is a unique painting style of 

the Thakers, involving colouring on 

handmade papers (12” by 18” in size) and 

then drawing on them. The Gangavane 

family has been practicing this art for the 

last 500 years. 

Kalasutri Bahuliya, Chamdyacha 

Bahuliya and Chitrakathi performances 

start with an invocation to Lord Ganesh 

and Goddess Saraswati. The full length 

performances from Ramayana and 

Mahabharata which stretched for more 

than six hours in the night have now 

been trimmed to tailor-made episodes of 

30-40 minutes each to suit the tastes of 

the present generation. 

Gangavane family members 

welcome visitors and extend a culturally 

rich hospitality along with sumptuous 

tribal food. Appreciable work by the 

younger generation of family members is 

helping revive the Thaker community 

art forms. The youngsters are also active 

in setting up a museum called Thaker 

Adivasi Kala Aangan Museum and Art 

Gallery. 

144 


SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

MY TOWN 

Our ongoing series in which we look at various Indian cities through 

the eyes of SpiceJet staffers. This month, Jasmine Lobo, Customer 

Service Executive, Airport Services, holds forth on Mangalore 

From above: St. Mary’s Island; 

Mangalore city 

SpiceJet flies to Mangalore. 

Log on to www.spicejet.com 

for details 

Connection to the city: 

I am originally from 

Mangalore and have been 

working here since the 

last two and half years. 

Best thing about 

Mangalore: People here 

are very friendly and 

polite. The standard of 

living is very high – you 

will not find any slums 

here. Mangalore is also 

a major tourist centre of 

Karnataka, renowned for 

its beaches, parks and 

mouth-watering seafood 

and ice creams. 

Favourite eating 

place: I am a diehard 

foodie and the unique 

cuisine of this city is a 

major draw for me. The 

restaurants here are 

great at serving tempting 

Indian, international and 

fresh seafood dishes. My 

favourite eating place is 

Village Restaurant. The ambience here 

is awesome. There are also some other 

eateries that I like. Juice Romantic in 

Kadri serves the best shawarma and 

juices. I also like the prawns and other 

coastal food at Hotel Machali, Shetty’s 

Lunch Home and Giri Manjas. I love 

Mangalore special ‘Ideal Ice-Cream’ 

which is famous in Coastal City. It’s very 

famous for its unique ice creams. 

Places to hang out: I would list Kadri 

Park, Tagore Park, City Centre Mall, 

Forum Fiza Mall, Retox Lounge Bar and 

Pabbas Ice Cream Parlour as the best 

places to hang out in . 

Local attractions: If you are a water 

person, then the beaches of Panambur, 

Thannirbavi and Mulki are just right for 

you. The religiously inclined can visit 

Kudroli Gokarnath and Mangaladevi 

temples and St. Aloysius Chapel. 

The Bejai Museum and the Surathkal 

Lighthouse are other attractions within 

Mangalore. 

Recommended places nearby: 

The Thousand Pillar Jain Temple in 

Moodabidri; Kaup and Malpe beaches; 

St. Mary’s Island off the Malpe 

coast; Kudremukh National Park; 

Hanuman Gundi and Abhi waterfalls 

in Chikkamagaluru and Coorg, 

respectively; Lakya Dam; and Bekal 

Fort, are all worth a visit. Finally, there 

is the trekkers’ paradise of Baba Budan 

Giri. 

Mangalore when compared to other 

cities: Apart from Mangalore I have also 

stayed in Mumbai and Delhi. But I love 

Mangalore because it is calm and quiet 

and is surrounded by nature. Nature 

is god here. People here are inclined 

towards culture and tradition — and 

that is something I like very much. 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

145 


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 

146 


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 

147 


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 our various departments, who have stood 

out for their outstanding work 

NETWORK PLANNING 

SANDEEP SANTOSHI 

GURGAON 

Internal appreciation: It’s 

been four years working with 

Sandeep. He has grown through the years 

thanks to his hard work and passion for the 

job. His approach towards work as well as 

his behaviour have always been positive. 

He is a good team player and has always 

been supportive towards his teammates. 

Experience with SpiceJet: It has been a 

great journey with SpiceJet. This journey 

has been very pleasant, especially the kind 

of support I have got from my colleagues 

and seniors. I thank each and every 

individual who has directly or indirectly 

helped me in my journey. SpiceJet 

has given me a fantastic opportunity 

to enhance my career in a fast-paced, 

dynamic and rewarding environment. 

MAANAS BATRA 

GURGAON 

Internal appreciation: An 

asset of our department, he 

is a man with many wonderful qualities. 

He is dedicated towards his work and 

is the calmest person in the Revenue 

Management Team. A perfect example 

of devotion towards work, he has zeal 

in him and fire in his belly to achieve all 

the targets that are assigned to him. His 

helping nature makes him a freat team 

player. 

Experience with SpiceJet: During my 

tenure I have come across many challenges 

and have been able to overcome them 

with proper guidance and support. I am 

very thankful to SpiceJet for giving me this 

wonderful opportunity of growing in this 

industry and in believing in me. Thanks to 

SpiceJet, I am always motivated to give off 

my best. 

REVENUE 

SALES SUPPORT 

SHIVANI DHAWAN 

GURGAON 

Internal appreciation: I 

would like to appreciate the 

sincere efforts she puts in towards her 

job responsibilities and in executing them 

very well. A good organization needs staff 

members like her who understand the 

sensitivity and responsibility of the role 

they have to play. I must appreciate her for 

dealing wisely with both the internal and 

external customers. 

Experience with SpiceJet: It has been a 

wonderful experience at SpiceJet. I have 

been supported by seniors and would like 

to thank the management for providing 

a good platform where I can perform to 

my full potential. Also, there is a lot of 

knowledge sharing here and this helps 

immensely in your career growth. 

ANKUR JAIN 

GURGAON 

Internal appreciation: He 

is the blue-eyed guy of the 

Revenue Team. An energetic go-getter and 

a team player, he is always ready to accept 

new challenges. His extraordinary efforts at 

the workplace are remarkable. He has the 

potential to rise to new heights. We wish 

him all the best for his future endeavours. 

Experience with SpiceJet: Spending 

almost a year with the SpiceJet family 

has been one wonderful journey. I enjoy 

my work here as I get to learn something 

or the other on a daily basis. This place 

stands out for its professional and growthoriented 

environment. I shall always be 

thankful to my seniors and colleagues for 

all their support and motivation. I believe 

in one thing: “You might not get this day 

again, so make it count.” I love to be a 

SpiceJetter. 

148 


SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

ARPITA BANERJEE 

KOLKATA 

Internal appreciation: Arpita 

is a dedicated, committed 

individual. Her follow-ups are excellent 

and her positive attitude and self-belief 

are exemplary. She has a professional 

approach and is a go-getter. She works 

extremely well under pressure and is a 

very good team player. Very persistent, 

she ensures that all the given tasks are 

accomplished in the stipulated time. 

Experience with SpiceJet: It has been an 

honour to work for SpiceJet. I joined the 

airline in May2017 and my experience till 

date has been wonderful. I am grateful 

to SpiceJet for having provided me with 

the perfect platform to grow my career 

and enhance my skills along with my 

personality. 

SALES 

JITU THOMAS 

BANGALORE 

Internal appreciation: Jitu 

is a hard and smart worker 

and keeps organisational goals as his top 

priority. He shows an urgency in achieving 

the goals that have been set for him. He 

never compromises on his work ethics and 

is very dedicated and passionate about 

his job. He understands the business well 

and knows how to prioritize his work. A 

confident individual, he always wants to 

understand the customer’s needs. 

Experience with SpiceJet: My journey with 

the SpiceJet family began on September 

15, 2008. It has been a great delight and 

experience to work with SpiceJet. The 

work environment is very pleasant and 

professional. I am proud to be a part of it. I 

would like to thank SpiceJet. 

SHWETHA SHETTY 

MUMBAI 

Internal appreciation: 

Shwetha is a hands-on 

worker and has no qualms in working 

for long hours. She is dedicated and has 

a great attitude, ensuring that any work 

assigned to her gets done before the 

deadline. Very approachable, she has a 

never-say-no attitude. The entire corporate 

team is dependent on her back-office 

efforts and she ensures that she doesn’t let 

down any of her team members. 

Experience with SpiceJet: I joined 

SpiceJet in June 2014 and it has been a 

great journey. My current role gives me an 

opportunity to interact with a lot of people 

across different regions and hence there is 

immense learning. I am proud to be a part 

of this growing airline. 

RESERVATIONS 

GROUP DESK 

SUSHANT OJHA 

GURGAON 


Sushant is a consistently 

best-performing executive with a very 

focused and targeted approach. His overall 

performance has set new benchmarks in 

Reservations. His dedication towards work 

always being the best, it has earned him 

many individual performance rewards over 

the last six months. Reservations is proud 

to have talent like him. 

Experience with SpiceJet: It’s been two 

and a half years since I got associated 

with SpiceJet. The overall journey has 

been tremendous. My achievements are 

not only my efforts but the sincere efforts 

of all my mentors who were always there 

to guide me. I would always like to work 

with a great level of competency and 

commitment as winning is not a sometime 

thing, it’s an all time thing. 

VISHAL 

CHOWDHARY 

GURGAON 

Internal appreciation: Vishal 

is a star performer as far as selling skills are 

concerned. His commitment towards work 

is valuable. He always maintains a neversay-no 

approach. His unwavering approach 

has earned him many performance 

rewards. He has truly been an asset for 

Reservations. 

Experience with SpiceJet: It’s been one 

year of working with SpiceJet. I am grateful 

to the SpiceJet family for having given 

me an opportunity to be associated with 

it. It has been a privilege and an honour 

working here. I would like to thank my 

seniors and colleagues whose support 

has made me a driven individual. I will be 

forever obliged to them and hope that 

some day I will be able to return at least a 

fraction of their generosity. 

SANJEEV SAXENA 

GURGAON 


Sanjeev is an aggressive 

group sales member and is very dedicated 

to his job. An exceptional team player, he 

always completes the job given to him 

within the stipulated time. He always tries 

his best in finding the solution to all issues 

and delivers 100 per cent results. He has 

been achieving his targets, is customercentric 

and understands the needs of 

passengers or clients. He is a valuable team 

player and always extends support towards 

his colleagues. 

Experience with SpiceJet: I joined SpiceJet 

back in 2011 as a Reservation Executive 

and am now working as a Senior Executive 

in Group Sales. It’s been a great span of 

almost seven years and I have enjoyed 

every bit of it. It really feels awesome when 

our work is appreciated by our seniors. 

149 


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 

150 


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 300/- M 400/- 

Preferred Bag Out 

1 Bag M 100/- NA 

2 Bags M 200/- NA 

3 Bags M 300/- NA 

YOU 1 ST M 399/- M 499/- (Ex-India flights) 

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 (EFFECTIVE FROM DECEMBER 21, 2017) M 1500/- M 1750/- 

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

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 737-900 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 737-900 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.

Effective dates: CCU-JLR from 11th Feb., 

BLR-PNY & BLR-RJA from 15th Feb. 

BLR-TIR & MAA-IXE from 1st March. 

Jaisalmer 

Jodhpur 

Colombo 

5 th January, 2018 

Dibrugarh 

2

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

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