Spice January 2020 ipad pdf

48 HOURS IN AHMEDABAD | VIDYA BALAN | FOLDABLE DEVICES IN 2020
spice
www.spiceroutemagazine.com
Volume 14 | Issue 01 | January 2020
THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE
AMADEUS
TIE-UP
RAS AL KHAIMAH:
OUR PROPOSED
HUB IN THE
MIDDLE-EAST
GULF AIR
CODE
SHARING
EMIRATES
CODESHARE
NEW
INTERNATIONAL
DESTINATIONS:
JEDDAH & RIYADH
CAPA’S ‘AIRLINE
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR’
LAUNCH OF
CADET PILOT
PROGRAMME
FIRST
INDIAN
LCC TO
JOIN IATA
49 DAILY
UDAN
FLIGHTS
... and many more
CELEBRATING SPICEJET'S
MILESTONES
2019

FROM THE
CMD’S DESK
Ajay Singh
Chairman & Managing Director
Dear Readers,
Welcome aboard SpiceJet!
It’s the dawn of a new year and I wish you
all a happy and a prosperous 2020!
Before we fasten our seat belts and
launch into what will, no doubt, be yet
another exciting and eventful journey for
SpiceJet, I wish to thank each and every one
of you — SpiceJetters and SpiceFlyers — for
your unwavering support. I hope you will
continue to repose your faith in us in 2020.
They say, to err is human, but not when it
comes to a dynamic and complex sector like
aviation where the safety and security of
passengers and crew are our top priorities.
We will continue to adhere strictly to our
‘safety first’ policy across all our operations,
both on and off the ground. SpiceJet
owes its world-class safety record to the
responsibility and accountability of every
SpiceJetter.
Year 2020 will be a game changer for
SpiceJet in many ways. To begin with, we
expect Boeing 737 MAX, which will be
one of the safest aircraft ever to fly when
it returns to service, to make a comeback
soon and significantly boost our fleet
capacity and seating. With the MAX’s
return, we will have some 30 brand planes
at our disposal which will help us step up
international and domestic operations,
introduce new routes, and offer a superior
flying experience.
As a strong advocate of sustainability,
SpiceJet is actively involved in creating
a zero-emissions future. In that context,
the Boeing 737 MAX, one of the most
environment-friendly aircraft, will drastically
reduce fuel and engineering cost, and
cut noise pollution and greenhouse gas
emissions. The Boeing 737 class of aircraft
has been the backbone of our fleet since
the inception of SpiceJet. The 737’s proven
high reliability, low-operation economies
and comfort helps us expand connectivity
both in India and overseas.
We signed off 2019 on a good note.
We associated with a worthy cause –UN
Women’s Campaign against Gender
Violence. As a socially responsible
corporate, we committed ourselves to raise
awareness about gender-based violence
against women. To support this cause,
our in-flight and on-ground crew were
seen wearing the badges of UN Women’s
#OrangeTheWorld campaign to end
gender-based violence against women.
On the operational front, 2019 was a
remarkable year for SpiceJet. We registered
over 90% passenger Load factor (PLF)
throughout the year, yet again, and had
amongst the lowest cancellation rate.
In the past many years, SpiceJet has
made every effort to put small towns on
the country’s aviation map. Reaffirming
our commitment to UDAN – the Regional
Connectivity Scheme — we will continue
to make flying affordable and accessible to
all Indians. At the same time, we are also
looking to spread our wings to international
destinations and you will soon see your
favorite airline flying to newer cities in
2020.
Going forward, I am optimistic about
Indian aviation and I am confident that
with the dedication and commitment of
Team SpiceJet, your favourite airline will
continue to soar high. We look forward to
a productive year and a fantastic journey
with you.
Tailwinds and Happy Landings!
Jai Hind!
2 ||||| AUGUST 2016

www.spiceroutemagazine.com Volume 14 | Issue 01 | January 2020
Spice Route Jan 2020 Cover Final.indd All Pages
48 HOURS IN AHMEDABAD | VIDYA BALAN | FOLDABLE DEVICES IN 2020
FLIGHTS
THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE
... and many more
PROGRAMME
SHARING
31/12/19 12:15 PM
spice
JANUARY 2020
www.spicejet.com
AMADEUS
TIE-UP
NEW
INTERNATIONAL
DESTINATIONS:
JEDDAH & RIYADH
EMIRATES
CODESHARE
FIRST
INDIAN
LCC TO
JOIN IATA
49 DAILY
UDAN
RAS AL KHAIMAH:
OUR PROPOSED
HUB IN THE
MIDDLE-EAST
CAPA’S ‘AIRLINE
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR’
CELEBRATING SPICEJET'S
MILESTONES
2019
LAUNCH OF
CADET PILOT
GULF AIR
CODE
CONTENTS
44
48 HOURS IN AHMEDABAD
Ahmedabad is both the commercial and
cultural capital of Gujarat and a sprawling
city with river Sabarmati running through
its centre. Optimise your time to get a true
sense of the city.
36
THE BIGGEST
MILESTONES OF 2019
As we enter the New Year and decade, let’s go into last
year’s flashback and check out the biggest milestones
achieved by India’s favourite carrier, SpiceJet, in 2019.
52
“THE 40S ARE ABOUT LOVING
YOUR LIFE!”
Vidhya Balan has volleyed both success and failure
with equal ease. A tété-a-tété with the actor of
admirable range and depth.
4
JANUARY 2020

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58
CONTENTS96
HEAVEN ON EARTH
Trek up to the World’s
Highest Organic Tea Estate in
Kolukkumalai for an inexplicable
experience.
74
WINTER WONDERLAND
Although still nascent in India,
winter sports are gaining
widespread popularity with
adventure enthusiasts.
THE ‘MOREL’ OF
THE STORY
The fascinating Kashmiri Morel
(gucchi) has a ‘Maharaja-like’
quality that demands its own
space in cuisine. India’s finest
chefs talk about the charm of
gucchi.
SPICEJET INSIDER
Social media 14
SpiceVacations.com 16
Spice products 18
News 177
My town 179
Stars of SpiceJet 180
Mobile apps 182
Onboard menu 184
SpiceJet add-ons 186
SpiceJet fleet 188
Route map 190
8
JANUARY 2020

CONTENTS
114
spice
JANUARY 2020
EDITOR
RAJU BIST
rajubist@mwspiceroute.in
ART DIRECTOR
TANVI SHAH
ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR
NANDKISHOR SAWANT
PRODUCTION MANAGER
MANGESH SALVI
SENIOR DIGITAL MANAGER
JAYESH V. SALVI
MARKETING
DIRECTOR – MARKETING & SALES
GEETU RAI
+91 9920023908, geeturai@gmail.com
THE SOUL OF PUNJAB
The age-old Punjabi stitch phulkari is experiencing a resurgence
of sorts. With Lohri around the corner, it’s the season to celebrate
phulkari and delve into its rich history.
AD SALES
MUMBAI
VINOD MOHITE
+91 9323554207, vinod@mwspiceroute.in
ANUP PILLAI
+91 9920227423, anup@spentamultimedia.com
NEW DELHI
TANVEER AHMAD
+91 9555098401, tanveer@mwspiceroute.in
MOHAMMED ASAD
asad@mwspiceroute.in
VIJAY BHAGAT
vijay@spentamultimedia.com
CHENNAI, PONDICHERRY
SHOBA REBECCA
shoba.rebecca@gmail.com
BENGALURU
ANURADHA KUBER
anuradha.kuber@mwspiceroute.in
KOLKATA
PULAK GHOSH
spicerouteeast.advt@gmail.com
GUJARAT
SANJAY CHAWDA
sanjaychawda@gmail.com
For international advertising contact
Vinod Mohite (vinod@mwspiceroute.in) 9323554207
120
KALEIDOSCOPIC KUTCH
The Rann Utsav celebrates the Rann of Kutch; its people, its culture
and of course, all the glorious colours it encompasses. A visit to the
magical Rann Utsav.
PRODUCED BY
EDITORIAL & MARKETING OFFICE:
MW.Com (India) Pvt. Ltd., 401, 4th Floor, Todi Building,
Mathuradas Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg,
Lower Parel, Mumbai 400 013., Tel: 022 67487777
DELHI: 24/1, First Floor, Hauz Khas Village,
New Delhi - 110016 Tel/Fax: 011- 26516071/72
All rights reserved worldwide. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be
returned unless accompanied by a postage pre-paid envelope
12
JANUARY 2020

SPICEJET
INSIDER
@flyspicejet Thank you Navjot kaur and Taniya
Rana SG 8172. God bless and happy Landings.
True professional and ethical crewa
Nice to fly on @flyspicjet from @
BLRAirport to @aaiblgairport.
Good to have a hassle-free check
in service thanks to yur staff Ms
Sushmita Roy at BLR Airport and
Mr Roy at IXG Airport. You made
my journey homewards
comfortable after my night shift.
@vishallakra78
@ashishprabhu22
So proud to fly by SG 6356 from Mumbai to
Trivandrum. The flight was in command of Captains
Juhi and Richa. Over the years, it’s a first time for me
with two Super Women commanding the aircraft!
@SantPrassanna
Had yet another hilariaus and
wonderful experience on the
Mangalore-Mumbai flight today
with Captain Mohit Kumar! The
rhyming announcements with
spicy humour was just perfect on
an otherwise boring flight. Now
I’ll look forward to Spicy hot
flights.
Yes I had issues with my
Spice jet flights recently.
But I’m super impressed
with your social media
team for your speedy
responses and resolution.
Definitely a quick win.
Way to go team!!
BUZZ ON
SOCIAL MEDIA
@meetashetty80
@MSrideviPhoto
We transported our cats through Spice Jet and I
must say I’m very impressed with their efficient
and humane handling of our much loved but
spoilt cats! Thank You!
Sincere thanks to a @flyspicejet employee at
Madurai airport: Perumal for helping my
mother and me to get a better seat as we
were having issues with legroom. I guess it’s
employees like him who add a feather in the
cap of Spice Jet. God bless.
@tanushreebaruah
@rammstyn
Dear @flyspicejet, I’m pleasantly
surprised at how quickly and
swiftly you responded to rectify
the issue I was facing. Every air -
line needs to take a lesson from
you in handling customer care.
Thank you.
@pragatimehra
Got upgraded to Business
Class by the kind folks.
What a comfy flight back
home! Yes, Spice Jet has
Business Class and it’s
awesome!
@theangelsivan
Landed at Toothukudi airport amidst heavy rains
and was moved by the Spice Jet staff in escorting
passengers while they were fully drenched. Noticed
that the blue umbrellas are from Indigo but in such
times competition doesn’t matter!
@sujithkumar13
FIND YOUR FAVOURITE AIRLINE WITH @FLYSPICEJET ON TWITTER & FACEBOOK
14
JANUARY 2020

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SPICEJET
INSIDER
SPICEVACATIONS
BOOK NOW AT: VACATIONS.SPICEJET.COM
PLAN YOUR HOLIDAYS WITH SPICEJET’S UNIQUE INITIATIVE
VACATIONS.SPICEJET.COM, A PLETHORA OF END-TO-END TRAVEL SOLUTIONS, MAKING
YOUR TRAVELS NOT JUST CONVENIENT, BUT ALSO RED. HOT. SPICY
BOOK 2 NIGHTS AT A HOTEL AND GET THE
3 RD NIGHT FREE.*
SPICEVACATIONS 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. 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.
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.
Another outstanding feature of the
website is the Experience section. Now
book adventure activities, city tours,
outings at amusement parks, and much
more, at a wide range of locations. In
Mumbai, for example, you can enjoy a
Street Food Tour, watch a Bollywood
movie being shot at Film City, cool off at
the EsselWorld & Water Kingdom or peer
down on the Maximum City from atop a
helicopter.
As the website is powered by
SpiceJet, you can enjoy great flight and
hotel deals. So, travel the world with
SpiceJet’s enviable travel packages and
experience the perfect holiday.
16
JANUARY 2020

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 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; and finally an addon
service that allows the flexibility of cancelling or changing
ticket(s) to suit your travel plan.
1
SpiceBiz
This all-new business class offering
allows you to travel in complete
luxury and comfort. Introduced on
key international routes, the best
in class service at unmatched prices offers
ultra-comfortable seats, gourmet meals,
lounge access, dedicated check-in, enhanced
baggage allowance and priority services.
The business class cabin comes with 43-inch
seat pitch and 7-inch recline. SpiceBiz is now
available on select international routes.
(Starting price is Rs. 5000/-)
2
SpiceMAX
Now enjoy revamped SpiceMAX privileges which add more
comfort and convenience. Apart from the significantly extra
legroom on-board, on a domestic flight, fliers can enjoy other
added priority ancillary products such as priority checkin,
boarding and baggage, complimentary meal and a beverage. On an
international flight, additionally, fliers can get pampered with a cushion and
a blanket*, welcome drink with a towel and an alcoholic beverage with their
complimentary meal. The ease with which fliers can opt for this product
enhances the experience. When booking a connecting flight with a stop-over,
they can purchase SpiceMAX seats separately for the two flights.
(*Available on select international flights.)
18
JANUARY 2020

SPICEJET
INSIDER
3
Hot Meals
Passengers have a wide variety of meals to opt
for on SpiceJet flights. Those flying Boeings are
spoilt for choice. There are two choices each of
breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and sandwiches.
Eight Chef’s Choice menus are available 24x7 (for pre-booking
on Boeing flights only), including Grilled Chicken Breast with
Mushroom Sauce, Yellow Rice, Sautéed Carrot & Beans Baton
in non-vegetarian and Vegetable Pasta in Neapolitan sauce in
vegetarian. Passengers taking Q400 flights can choose from
two different types of sandwiches. Hot beverages and readyto-eat
products (like dal chawal, veg biryani, upma and cup
noodles) are also served. In addition, dhokla is available as
a gluten-free option for pre-booking on Q400 flights. Prebooking
a meal offers other choices and benefits too: the
option of a gluten-free hot meal; dhokla preparation; "navratra
meals" available for pre-booking on Boeing flights, on the
travel dates falling in the Navratra period; a menu with Thai,
Continental and Indian options; discounted rates compared
to on-board 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.
In addition to hot meal, passengers also have an option of
enjoying a Jain Cold sandwich when they pre-book.
4
Seat + Meal Combo
This provides seat and meal
of the passengers's choice at
discounted rates. The product
can be purchased for `399 on the
Domestic and `499 on the International Sector.
It is on a per passenger, per sector basis and
can be availed of by guest and SpiceClub
member. A passenger can purchase the
product by clicking on the Add-On’s Page 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 your meals to make your journey with
us a more comfortable experience. You can
enjoy exceptional discounted rates. It makes
purchasing food and beverages on-board 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.
19
JANUARY 2020

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 done
through reservation team 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 cancellation per ticket.
SPICEJET
INSIDER
7
Priority
Check-In
This service
provides the
passenger
a hassle free and
comfortable checkin
experience at the
airport with SpiceJet’s
dedicated priority check-in
counter. The passenger can
buy Priority Check-In after
making the booking. It can
be bought latest up to two
hours before the scheduled
departure. The service is
available only in Manage
My Bookings. 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
`300. For flights
originating from
out of India, the
fare is `400.
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.
6
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 bag-out and priority boarding
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.
8
Carry More On-
Board
Making air travel even
more convenient,
SpiceJet’s ‘Carry More
On-Board’ is a service for travellers
with heavier cabin baggage. It is
targeted at passengers who carry
cabin baggage heavier than 7 kg,
and do not want to check-in. Fliers
can carry bags weighing up to 5 kg
extra, a maximum of 12 kg on-board,
while paying a nominal fee for each
kg above 7 kg. Bags can be heavier,
but not larger, and the standard
free baggage allowances remain
as before. Customers can opt for
this product during airport checkin
and at airport ticket counters.
The product can be purchased in
pre-booking only from the SpiceJet
website.
20
JANUARY 2020

OPENING SHOT
TOURISM
SpiceJet flies to Port Blair in
Andaman. Log on to www.
spicejet.com for details
GATEWAY TO
PARADISE
Port Blair the capital city of the
Andaman and Nicobar
Islands is one of its largest
cities. Famous for its water
sports and adventure activities, the city
has already earned a big name with
adventure and nature junkies. And it’s no
wonder as the vibrant mix of the ocean,
nature, beaches, inhabitants, vast
landscapes, scenic beauty and the
plethora of flora and fauna and the rugged
coastlines found here bring out the travel
lover in everyone.
22
JANUARY 2020

WALK
THE RAMP,
EVERY DAY
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OPENING SHOT
TOURISM
BEAUTIFUL
BAGDOGRA
SpiceJet flies to Bagdogra in
West Bengal. Log on to www.
spicejet.com for details
Another destination in state
tourism is the beautiful
Bagdogra in West Bengal
surrounded by the lush
greenery of tea gardens. Located right at
the foothills of Himalayas, it’s a perfect
getaway for nature lovers who wish to
stay away from the noise and pollution in
city. Bagdogra is the only airport in North
Bengal and acts as a base for those
travelling to Siliguri, Darjeeling, and the
neighbouring country of Bhuta. Among
the steps being taken by the West Bengal
state government to promote tourism,
additional land is being arranged for
airport. The Sikkim Tourism also
presents the Sikkim Helicopter Service
from Gangtok to Bagdogra Airport and
back for the discerning traveller.
24
JANUARY 2020

MELANGE
EVENTS
HOT DATES
DANCE // MUSIC // THEATRE // ART
FESTIVAL
RETH 2020
EVENTS
MAGIC MANTRA WORKSHOP
Every child has enjoyed the experience
of magic and at some point wanted to
learn about the interesting art of magic
and the tricks. Keeping this in mind,
we bring you Magic Mantra workshop
that aims at making flight travel easy
for parents and fun for kids between
the ages of 6-14. The workshop intends
to teach kids to perform unique magic
tricks, learn magic presentation skills,
boost their self confidence, foster
creativity and socialisation skills and
also make them loyal to Spicejet at
an early age. Kids get to learn from
‘Mandy the magician’ who has over 20
years of experience and was awarded
the ‘Medal of Merlin’ by International
Magicians Society, New York. The funfilled
workshop is surely an unmissable
opportunity.
When: January 11
Where: Hotel Taj Santacruz, Mumbai
Airport (outside Terminal 1)
A loud shout out to all the
travellers who love to learn on their
expeditions. The vibrant and stunning
city of Jaisalmer is all set to get an
arts and cultural festival of its own
Reth 2020. The four night festival
three days creative part festival,
part workshop will take place at
Narayan Niwas Palace and Nachana
Haveli, Jaisalmer Rajasthan, India.
It aims to create an atmosphere
for creative learning in a vibrant
festival atmosphere, with handson
workshops during the day and
FOOD
INTERNATIONAL YOUNG CHEF
OLYMPIAD
The sixth edition of the International
Young Chef Olympiad (YCO), the
world’s biggest culinary battle for
magical live music evenings in the
company of like-minded individuals.
After the day full of learning’s, the
evenings are to celebrate, unwind,
interact, chat with facilitators, enjoy
the evening in the company of
folk music or interesting short film
screenings and relish the local cuisine.
So come, take a deep dive into the
world of creativity, celebration, music
and architecture. For tickets, log on to
reth.co.in/events/reth-2020
When: January 29 to February 2
Where: Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
student chefs, will
be held from 28th
January to 2nd
February 2020 across
five Indian cities Delhi,
Bengaluru, Pune,
Goa and Kolkata.
Organised by the
International Institute
of Hotel Management
(IIHM) in partnership
with the International
Hospitality
Council London, YCO 2020 will
witness participation from over 60
countries. For more details, log onto
ycolympiad.com
When: January 28 to February 2
Where: Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Goa and
Kolkata
26
JANUARY 2020

ART
ELEMENTS IN MYTHOLOGY
Take a peek into the ceramic and
pottery practices of renowned
artists Ira Chaudhuri, Jyotsana
Bhatt, Madhvi Subrahmanian,
Reyaz Badaruddin, Savia Mahajan,
Vineet Kacker and Vinod Daroz at
Gallery Ark, a contemporary art
gallery. The group exhibition has
storytelling and myths at its crux
and will bring together the varied
ways the medium of clay can be
interpreted. A point in case is
Madhvi Subrahmanian’s personalised
Mappa Mundi, referencing the
ancient technique of mapping from
medieval Europe. Log on to theark.in
for tickets and more information.
When: Until
January 18
Where:
Vadodara,
Gujarat
THEATRE
MELANGE
EVENTS
AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE MIRROR
CRACK’D
The retelling of Agatha Christie’s popular
novel, The Mirror Crack’d from Side to
Side, which has been adapted for the
stage by Rachel Wagstaff and reimagined
for an Indian audience by Ayeesha
Menon, will run at the Jamshed Bhabha
Auditorium in National Centre for the
Performing Arts. The ambition of the
production was to bring together Agatha
Christie fans with the new generation of
television whodunnit drama audiences
through an innovative interpretation of
this classic novel. The glitzy ensemble
cast of the Indian edition includes Meher
Acharia-Dar, Avantika Akerkar, Dilnaz
Irani, Sonali Kulkarni, Shernaz Patel,
Zinnia Ranji, and Denzil Smith amongst
others. For tickets to the show, log onto
ncpamumbai.com
When: January 30 to February 2, 4-9
Where: National Centre for the
Performing Arts, Mumbai
FESTIVAL
HYDERABAD
LITERARY FESTIVAL
Vidyaranya High School
is all set to play host
to the 10th edition of
the Hyderabad Literary
Festival. Expect all the
classic mainstays of a
literature festival stage
talks, book launches,
workshops, exhibitions and more.
Amongst other Indian and international
literature dignitaries, Padmabhushan
recipient, Dadasaheb Phalke Award
winner and author of books on cinema,
Adoor Gopalakrishnan will be present
at the fest. Additionally, the festival will
also showcase works of literature, art
and culture from Australia, this year’s
guest nation. For tickets, log onto the
Hyderabad Literary Festival website at
hydlitfest.org
When: January 24 - 26th
Where: Hyderabad, Telangana
28
JANUARY 2020

MELANGE
EVENTS
JANUARY LISTINGS
2
What:
Swaranjali 2020
Where: Nehru Centre,
Mumbai
10
What: Goa
Sunsplash
Where: Goa
11
What: Magic Mantra
Workshop for Kids
Where: Mumbai
16
What: Kerala Literature
Festival, Kochi
Where: Kochi
11
What: Pet Fed Mumbai 2020
Where: Mumbai
19
What: Dream Run
Where: Mumbai
24
What: Hyderabad
Literary Festival
Where:
Hyderabad,
Telangana
26 28
What: Republic Day
celebrations
Where: India
What: International Young
Chef Olympiad (YCO)
Where: Delhi, Bengaluru,
Pune, Goa and Kolkata
30Mumbai
What: Agatha Christie’s
The Mirror Crack’d theatre
Where: National Centre
for the Performing Arts,
29
1
What: Reth 2020
Where: Jaisalmer,
Rajasthan
What: Kala Ghoda Arts Festival
Where: Mumbai
30
JANUARY 2020

MELANGE
INFORMATION
WHAT'S NEW
TRULY ELECTRICAL
India’s only luxury casino
Deltin Royale witnessed an
unadulterated thrilling experience
with The Electric Carnival Goa, a
three-day fest held in December
2019. The theme for this megacelebration
was ‘Electric &
Neon’ and it saw around 30
popular stars from Bollywood
and Television. The fest boasted
of being one of the biggest and
most engaging festivals in the
city. The never-ending excitement
of gaming, music, dance and
neon fever left each visitor at
Deltin Royale mesmerised.
BEAUTY WITH A DIFFERENCE
KERALA CALLING
Muziris Backwater Paddle, is all set
to open on January 4 and 5, 2020.
Organised by Jellyfish Watersports, the
event is touted as one of Kerala’s most
incredible nature experiences, as it lets
its people immerse in pure, raw nature.
‘Paddle to preserve’ being the motto,
Jellyfish aims at converting paddlers
into eco-warriors, by strengthening
their connection with nature. Over
100 paddlers are likely to participate
in the event that will cover an overall
distance of 40
km traversing
through
backwaters
and important
Muziris Heritage
destinations en
route.
South Africa held its head high as
Zozibini Tunzi brought home the
Miss Universe 2019 crown. She
comes from a region that is as
beautiful as her — the Eastern Cape
in South Africa, and believes that
leadership is the most powerful
things we could teach young
women today. What’s commendable
is that she bagged the Miss
Universe 2019 crown, after having
beaten more than 90 contestants
from around the globe.
32
JANUARY 2020

MELANGE
INFORMATION
FESTIVAL PAR
EXCELLENCE
If you’re an arts connoisseur or love
all things art, literature, cinema,
visual arts, book, street events and
more, then this if for you. The mostawaited,
gigantic and multicultural
arts festival, the Kala Ghoda Arts
Festival is back with a bang. The 12th
edition of the annual festival will
be held in the unique and beautiful
area of Kala Ghoda Mumbai, from
February 2-10, 2020, and will also
mark the celebration of Mahatma
Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary.
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is
organised with a vision to preserve
and refurbish the heritage arts
awareness through
different platforms. It is
held every year to bring
attention to the area’s
(South Mumbai’s) art and
architectural heritage
and attracts over visitors
1,50,000 visitors from
Mumbai and beyond. From
being a small festival in
1999, it has gone on to
become the city’s biggest
arts and culture festival
that deserves a special
mention.
A festival like no other,
it is open to all, free of
cost, and draws visitors
in large numbers, not just
district of Mumbai with the cooperation
of local authorities, and country and the world. So be there to
from the city but from all over the
to create and spread multicultural see the magic!
GOING GREEN
The Park Bangalore, pioneers of luxury boutique hotels in India has joined
hands with Namma Metro in taking a step towards a greener environment,
by planting 3,000 trees. The project will travel from MG Road to Swami
Vivekananda Road in Bengaluru where the team successfully planted 500
plants till date. As part of this initiative, they are planning to cover specific
areas such as parking, pavements, and dividers that are near the metro
station. The Park Bangalore has also planted these saplings in the vicinity of
the hotel.
AVIATION MINISTRY UPGRADES ITS PORTAL
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has upgraded its Air Sewa
portal which is accessible through interactive web portal and
mobile app.
The new version includes following features:
• Secure sign up and log-in with social media
• Chatbot for travellers support
• Improved grievance management including social media
grievance
• Real time flight status and detailed flight schedule
Air Sewa is available at www.AirSewa. gov.In
नागर वमानन मालय ने अपन वमान सवा पोटल को अपड कया ह
जो इटरिटव वब पोटल और मोबाइल ऐप क जरए सगम ह।
(क) सोशल मीडया क साथ सरत साइन अप और लॉग-इन
(ख) याय की सहायता क लए चट बास
(ग) सोशल माडया शकायत सहत परकत बधन
(घ) रीयल टाइम उड़ान टटस और वतत उड़ान अनसची
सवा सबधी कसी और जानकारी क लए आप www.airsewa.gov.in
पर लॉग-इन कर सकत ह।
34
JANUARY 2020

COVER STORY
MILESTONES
THE BIGGEST
MILESTONES OF 2019
AS WE ENTER THE NEW YEAR AND DECADE, LET’S GO INTO LAST YEAR’S FLASHBACK AND CHECK OUT THE BIGGEST
MILESTONES ACHIEVED BY INDIA’S FAVOURITE CARRIER, SPICEJET, IN 2019.
JANUARY 2019
ajay singh chairs att governors
meeting at wef, davos
Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing
Director of SpiceJet chaired the Aviation,
Travel and Tourism (ATT) Governor’s
Meeting at the World Economic Forum
in Davos in January 2019. The meeting
was held to deliberate the challenges
confronting the sectors and the key
takeaways that would help in potential
policy reforms for the Aviation, Travel
and Tourism industry. The main focus of
the sessions was to develop multilateral
synergies towards sustainability of ATT,
reduction of carbon footprint in line with
the Paris Accord and the Fourth
Industrial Revolution (in technology)
driven by Artificial Intelligence and
Machine Learning, to develop a more
consumer and environment-friendly
experience for both industry and
customers.
FEBRUARY 2019
new international destinations
It was a moment of great pride for SpiceJet
to introduce Jeddah as its ninth
international destination and third
destination in the Middle East. With this, it
36
JANUARY 2020

ecame the first Indian budget airline to
fly to Saudi Arabia and offer direct
connectivity to Jeddah. The launch
aimed to greatly benefit the thousands of
pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia with
an unparalleled experience. Jeddah, the
second largest city of Saudi Arabia, is also
the country’s commercial capital. The
city lays in close proximity to the pilgrim
destinations of Mecca and Medina and its
King Abdulaziz International Airport
acts as one of the main transit points for
thousands of Hajj pilgrims and tourists
across the globe.
MARCH 2019
49 new udan flights added
Providing fellow citizens affordable air
connectivity is an achievement that the
airline is very proud of. As a part of its
major expansion move, SpiceJet added 49
new flights under the regional
connectivity scheme, UDAN, throughout
the year. Starting January, it flagged off
the direct daily flight between Lilabari-
Kolkata, thus catering to the un-served
market of Lilabari, located in the
Lakhimpur district of Assam. In March,
eight new daily direct flights were added
to the historic city of Gwalior in Madhya
Pradesh and four new daily flights
connecting Bhopal including the Bhopal-
Udaipur UDAN flight. Following that, 14
new UDAN flights were launched to
connect the un-served market of
Jharsuguda and the under-served
markets of Kishangarh and Lakhimpur to
key metros and cities across the country.
In addition, the airline launched 14 other
direct flights connecting metros and nonmetros
on domestic routes. In the middle
of the year, the airline flagged off a daily
direct flight on the Durgapur-Mumbai
route. The new flights reiterate the
airline’s commitment to UDAN and
direct connectivity besides on-boarding
non-metros and smaller cities onto the
national aviation map.
MARCH 2019
first indian lcc to join iata
SpiceJet became the first Indian LCC to
join the International Air Transport
Association (IATA), as a member. IATA is
the global trade association for the airline
industry, representing over 290 airlines.
The IATA membership was significant on
account of SpiceJet’s plans for rapidly
expanding its international footprint.
IATA operates numerous global airline
industry initiatives and programs in
financial and distribution areas; and the
membership allows SpiceJet to explore
and grow its collaborations with
international member airlines of IATA
through interlining and code shares, thus
enabling it to seamlessly expand the
network options for its passengers in
future. The airline had recently achieved
IATA’s Operational Safety Audit (IOSA)
Certificate, the benchmark for global
safety management in airlines, an
essential requirement to gain IATA
membership. It confirms SpiceJet’s
compliance with internationallyapproved
aviation safety standards across
parameters in operational management
and control systems.
MARCH 2019
amadeus tie-up
It is indeed a milestone for SpiceJet to
work with a distribution partner to reach
out to travellers across the globe. SpiceJet
chose Amadeus as its first global
distribution partner and signed a
distribution agreement that gives
Amadeus’ global network of travel sellers
access to the airline’s range of fares and
prices through the Amadeus Travel
Platform. By connecting to travellers
through the world’s largest community of
travel sellers and buyers, the airline
aimed to showcase its products on a
global scale, access new markets and
partners, and grow its customer base. The
airline’s entire ticketing inventory will
continue to be available to domestic
travellers through existing channels as
well as Amadeus with a different pricing
model. The partnership will help SpiceJet
to reach out to new international markets
and travellers across the globe.
37
JANUARY 2020

COVER STORY
MILESTONES
MAY 2019
100th aircraft added
SpiceJet added the 100th aircraft a
Boeing 737 into its fleet! The fleet now
comprises 68 Boeing 737s, 30 Bombardier
Q-400s and two B737 freighters. The
airline operates 575 average daily flights
to 62 destinations – 53 domestic and nine
international. SpiceJet has added 23
planes and over a hundred new flights,
majority of them connecting the key
metros of Mumbai and Delhi, in just over
a month’s time.
direct services to Amritsar, Kozhikode,
Mangaluru, Madurai, Jaipur and Pune –
routes served by SpiceJet. The passengers
travelling from India to Dubai will also be
able to access Emirates’ expansive
network across the globe, thus opening
up multiple international connections for
them.
MAY 2019
business class introduced
SpiceJet rolled out its all-new business
class offering, SpiceBiz, on key routes.
SpiceBiz has been uniquely designed to
enhance air travel for business-class
passengers and offer unmatched value
and greater comfort with the key
differentiator being its attractive pricing.
The airline offers a dedicated business
class cabin with 43-inch seat pitch and
7-inch recline, complimentary lounge
access, higher baggage allowance,
APRIL 2019
emirates codeshare
Spicejet added another feather to its cap
by signing a codeshare and interline
agreement with Emirates to give
travellers to and from India, seamless
access to a wider and a stronger route
network. A milestone considering that it’s
the first-ever codeshare agreement
signed by the airline. From early 2020,
customers travelling to India can take
advantage of many more flight options on
routes common to both airlines –
Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kochi and Delhi.
Emirates’ customers can conveniently
book and connect seamlessly in Dubai on
38
JANUARY 2020

COVER STORY
MILESTONES
gourmet meals and beverages, priority
services and much more. The passengers
are now travelling in complete luxury
with ultra-comfortable seats, gourmet
meals, lounge access, enhanced baggage
allowance and priority services besides
other facilities like dedicated coaches,
blankets and cushions and refreshing
drinks and pre-meal drinks. The airline
also has a dedicated cabin crew for
business class passengers.
It also reiterates India’s leadership role
on the global aviation map. I look
forward to working closely with my
colleagues on the IATA Board of
Governors to drive the sustainability
agenda whilst facilitating further
growth and development of the aviation
industry across the globe.”
JULY 2019
launch of cadet pilot programme
Want to fly high? SpiceJet’s Cadet Pilot
Programme is the perfect launchpad you
are looking for. Keeping in mind the
aspirations of the young, SpiceJet’s new
Cadet Pilot Programme is designed to
give wings to the dreams and desires of
the young to make a profession out of
flying airline jets. Cadet Pilot
Programme not only aims at providing
trained professionals to the aviation
industry but also an assured job with
SpiceJet, on completion of the course.
What’s more? The programme is
designed for those eyeing for a seat in the
cockpit of an aircraft. Students will be
trained at best schools across the world,
steering the course of career in the right
direction. The programme will create
ample opportunities for those seeking
for a high-flying career.
OCTOBER 2019
promoting tourism in ras
al-khaimah
SpiceJet has also expanded its overseas
operations. The airline entered into an
MoU with the airport operator to
co-operate, develop and promote
tourism in Ras Al-Khaimah in the UAE.
After striking a deal on plans to create an
‘aviation hub’ at the UAE airport,
JUNE 2019
first indian on board of governors,
iata
Another significant milestone for the
airline! Ajay Singh, Chairman and
Managing Director, SpiceJet, has been
appointed on the Board of Governors
(BoG) of the prestigious International
Air Transport Association (IATA) for a
three-year term effective from the
conclusion of the 75th IATA AGM in
Seoul, Republic of Korea. Singh is the
only Indian on the Board of Governors of
IATA, the world’s biggest airline
grouping. As a member of BOG, Singh
will participate in providing policy
directives and guidance to IATA
industry committees and to their
subsidiary bodies. Speaking about this
achievement, he said, “It is a matter of
great honour for me to be inducted into
the Board of Governors of IATA and to
represent and serve the airline industry.
SpiceJet has begun its flight operations
from Delhi to Ras Al-Khaimah. The
no-frills carrier hopes to use the base to
extend its range as far as Western
Europe and has started direct services
from Delhi to the Emirates and aims to
operate flights five times a week. By
40
JANUARY 2020

COVER STORY
MILESTONES
making Ras Al-Khaimah, the
northernmost Emirate of the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) as its international
hub, the airline aims to boost its
connectivity to the Gulf as well as to
European destinations.
NOVEMBER 2019
gulf-air code sharing
SpiceJet signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Gulf Air,
the national carrier of the Kingdom of
Bahrain, to explore greater
cooperation between the two airlines
including an interline and codeshare
agreement, coordinated cargo
services, engineering services and
pilot training. The MoU was signed by
Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing
Director, SpiceJet and Krešimir
Kučko, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf
Air, in New Delhi. Ajay Singh said,
“These are exciting times for SpiceJet
as we pursue our international
expansion plan. This partnership will
immensely benefit the two airlines and
our passengers in times to come.”
Krešimir Kučko said, “This is a historic
event for both Gulf Air and SpiceJet as
we strengthen commercial ties
between the two carriers; creating
more choices for our valued passengers
to explore new cities across our
networks.” The signing of the MOU
between the two carriers aims at
initiation of collaboration between the
two carriers, and further
strengthening the strong ties between
India and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
NOVEMBER 2019
asia pacific airline executive of
the year
Ajay Singh has been awarded the ‘Asia
Pacific Airline Executive of the Year’ at
CAPA’s 16th annual Asia Pacific
Aviation Awards for Excellence in
Singapore, for his significant
contributions to Indian aviation as a
pioneer of the country's LCC sector.
The ‘Airline Executive of the Year’ is
awarded by CAPA to the airline
executive who has had the greatest
individual influence on the aviation
industry, demonstrating outstanding
strategic thinking and innovative
direction for the growth of their
business and the industry. The CAPA
Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence are
intended to recognise airlines,
airports, executives and the wider
aviation industry for their strategic
leadership and success over the last 12
months, and for helping to propel the
whole industry forward. The award
was presented at a glittery ceremony
attended by over 150 of the region’s
aviation luminaries. ■
42
JANUARY 2020

TRAVEL
CITIES
48 HOURS IN AHMEDABAD
THE HERITAGE
CITY
AHMEDABAD IS BOTH THE
COMMERCIAL AND CULTURAL
CAPITAL OF GUJARAT AND A
SPRAWLING CITY WITH RIVER
SABARMATI RUNNING THROUGH
ITS CENTRE. IF YOU PLAN A
TWO-DAY VISIT TO INDIA’S FIRST
WORLD HERITAGE CITY, HERE’S
HOW YOU CAN OPTIMISE YOUR
TIME TO GET A TRUE SENSE OF IT.
BY ANITA RAO KASHI
Mahatma Gandhi monument in
Sabarmati Ashram.
Ahmedabad is often
mistaken to be Gujarat’s
capital but is actually the
state’s beating heart. The
Sabarmati River does divide the old and
new cities but the lines are blurred and
modern buildings are as much a part of
the older parts of the city as the new. It is
true that Ahmedabad’s history and
culture is visible in the old part of the
city, which is probably what prompted
the UNESCO to award it the World
Heritage City tag. Ahmedabad’s
modernity sits in the newer parts with
swanky roads and public transport,
beautiful high-rises and bustling
neighbourhoods, all of which lie
comfortably with the old.
DAY
1
Start with Ahmedabad’s most famous
sight and pack the day with history,
science and shopping.
9 am
GANDHI ASHRAM ON THE
SABARMATI
Have an indulgent breakfast packed
with Gujarati favourites such as dhokla,
khaman and thepla. For those with a
sweet tooth, there’s an array on offer.
Suitably fortified, head to the famous
Gandhi Ashram located on the banks of
the Sabarmati river. It was here that
Mahatma Gandhi lived and strategised
the freedom movement; it gained the
epithet of Satyagraha Ashram and is
still referred as such. It was from here
that Gandhi began his famous Dandi
March in 1930 to protest against the Salt
Tax imposed by the British. Founded in
1915, it is situated on a tranquil stretch
of the Sabarmati, it is a sprawling place
with scattered buildings displaying
Gandhi’s teachings, memorabilia, the
charkha on which he wove cloth and
such others. Everything is well
signposted but there’s also a local app
that can be downloaded for information
and commentary. If the freedom
movement is of particular interest to
you, then head afterwards to Dandi
Kutir and continue with the Gandhi
theme and independence. Located in
Gandhinagar about 20 km north of
Ahmedabad, the Dandi Kutir also called
the Salt Mount Museum is an
interesting and interactive museum
dedicated to the life and times of
Gandhi. It provides an unusual and
rather comprehensive glimpse into his
biography. It is designed with a modern
outlook and the architecture of the
museum is as much of a highlight as the
museum itself.
44
JANUARY 2020

TRAVEL
CITIES
Bhadra Fort-Part
of Old Ahmedabad
4.30 pm
BHADRA FORT
The next place you can head to is the
Bhadra fort, one of the oldest forts in the
area full of palaces and temples. It takes
you back in the 12th century and is
considered to be built during the
Maratha rule.
handcrafted cotton hand bags for
sale in the Law Garden night market
12 pm
SCIENCE CITY
This is Ahmedabad’s
latest attraction with
several exhibitions
and attractions
revolving around
various branches of
science. One such
place of particular
interest is the
simulator, the IMAX
3D theatre and also the
musical fountain
among others. It is
easy to spend an entire
day here, but do get at
least a glimpse of the
main highlights before grabbing a quick
lunch.
3 pm
AHMEDABAD NI GUFA
An unusual art gallery and public space,
this is one of Ahmedabad’s iconic spaces.
Designed by noted architect BV Doshi, it
resembles a series of underground caves
with white mounds visible on the
surface. Inside, there is an exquisite
collection of works by MF Husain, the
country’s most noted artist.
6 pm
LAW GARDEN
Though Ahmedabad is a lovely
destination for shopping, especially
fabrics, the best place for retail therapy is
in the area around Law Garden. It is
filled with roadside and pavement shops
as well as huge stores selling all kinds of
daily use items. Browse through the
street to check out the handicrafts,
imitation and black metal jewellery,
famous Gujarati-style garments in bright
colours, and much more.
DAY
2
On the second day of the visit, get your
dose of Ahmedabad’s rich culture and
heritage and understand why UNESCO
chose to bestow the coveted Heritage
City tag. Brace for a leisurely walk
amidst the older parts of the city which
is bound to provide a fascinating and
eye-opening experience.
8 am
KALUPUR SWAMINARAYAN
TEMPLE
Start early after a hefty breakfast and
head to the heart of the city where the
streets are narrow and buildings sit
cheek by jowl. Hidden in the centre
behind the towering buildings and wide
roads is the old city with a clusters of
houses, markets, ancient temples and a
history that goes back a few centuries. At
46
JANUARY 2020

TRAVEL
CITIES
mechanism with secret passages and
hiding places known only to residents of
pol. When started, the pols were
populated usually by specific
communities or even around a vocation
but that has now changed. Many of the
houses here date back a few centuries
and have stunning facades with intricate
wooden carvings and other details.
Kalupur Swaminarayan Mandir
the heart of the old city is the Kalupur
Swaminarayan Temple, a beautiful
temple built in a mix of Indian, British
and Mughal architectural styles. Almost
200 years old, it stands on a land donated
by the British and is full of intricate and
colourful engravings and sculptures on
the façade, columns, walls, beams and
ceiling, comprising people and dancers
dressed in traditional Rajasthani and
Marathi style as well as birds, animals,
leaf and plant motifs.
11.30 am
OLD CITY
In between these pols are other
highlights such as the Kala Ramji
Mandir, a 400-year old temple and
among the few haveli mandirs. It looks
like a house from outside but once inside,
a small courtyard opens into the main
temple and is surrounded by elaboratelycarved
pillars and parapets. It gets its
name from the main deity, an idol of Lord
Ram in the sitting posture carved in
black marble. Close to the temple is the
9.30 am
POLS
Adjacent to the temple and all around it
are possibly the city’s most iconic
attraction – the pol. This is a fact
recognised by UNESCO in its award
citation. Traditionally, a pol
(pronounced pole) is a housing cluster
with houses in close proximity and
connected by a warren of narrow streets,
alleys and passages. There’s usually a
central courtyard for a temple, a
community well and a bright chabutara
or bird feeder. A system developed in the
early 18th century, it was a defence
Juma Masjid
Fernandes Bridge, which goes back to
the British era and currently houses a
thriving second-hand book market.
Along the way, pause at the magnificent
havelis such as Harkuvar Sethani ni
Haveli and wander inside the 600-year
old Jama Masjid with its sprawling
grounds, exquisite pillars and
beautifully-carved motifs.
2 pm
LUNCH AT MANEK CHOWK
Manek Chowk is the largest and most
FOOD (VIJAYA PRATAP); AQUARIUM (OMAN TRSM)
48
JANUARY 2020

TRAVEL
CITIES
Sabarmati Riverfront
in Ahmedabad
Manek Chowk
Khau Gali
colourful market in
Ahmedabad. It is full of
shops, roadside stalls
and a plethora of carts
selling eclectic items as
terracotta lamps,
flowers, bright silver
and junk jewellery,
spices, condiments and
assorted eatables. It is
perfect haven for
foodies; you can binge
on street food or have
lunch at one of the little
restaurants in this area.
3.30 pm
MUSEUM HOPPING
Ahmedabad has some interesting and
quirky museums. Choose to go museum
hopping or spend time at leisure doing
whatever catches your interest. For
automobile junkies, Auto World Vintage
Car Musuem with its collection of over
100 vintage cars, is bound to be heaven.
For those interested in textiles and
weaves, the Calico Textile Museum has a
magnificent display of rare textiles
spanning over five centuries, with
fabrics ranging from spun, woven,
printed and painted in different parts of
India. In addition, it has a beautiful
collection of furniture, temple artefacts
and crafts collected from all over the
country. For those who are artistically
inclined, the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai
Museum has an eclectic collection of
miniature paintings, sculptures, Tagore
paintings, terracotta artefacts, textiles,
old coins and much more.
7 pm
SABARMATI RIVERFRONT
Kick back and relax on the last evening
of your visit on the newly-developed
waterfront. It has been transformed into
a swish area with numerous walking
paths and attractions. Take a walk or
just lounge with greenery and seating
areas against the backdrop of the gently
flowing river. Along the river are some
activities such as boating and a selection
of other adventure activities, besides the
markets and food court facilities at
various points. The riverfront is
Ahmedabad’s showcase and is a perfect
location for various activities through
the year including the International
Kite Festival in January to coincide with
Sankranti this month. ■
SOUQ (VIJAYA PRATAP)
50
JANUARY 2020

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RIGHT FROM HER DEBUT IN PARINEETA, VIDYA
BALAN HAS BEEN A WOMAN AMONGST THE
GIRLS, HER MYSTIQUE PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK
WITH THE LIMELIGHT CHASING HER. YET, SHE
HAS VOLLEYED BOTH SUCCESS AND FAILURE
WITH EQUAL EASE. A TÉTÉ-A-TÉTÉ WITH THE
ACTOR OF ADMIRABLE RANGE AND DEPTH.
BY AARTI KAPUR SINGH
52
JANUARY 2020

STAR BUZZ
VIDYA BALAN
Vidya Balan is
at the zen
stage of her
life at 40. If
there is one
mainstream celebrity who
has inspired women (and
men) to be comfortable in
their skin — as they are — it is
Vidya Balan. She has always
been vocal about body issues,
slammed body-shamers and
emerged as an idol, especially
to people who have been at
the receiving end of such
shaming. “The best thing
about being 40 is that you
care two hoots!” says Vidya,
with her characteristic fullthroated
laugh.
The path to reaching this
Zen stage in her life wasn’t
easy, and Vidya, apart from
facing criticism, also went
through a phase of self-doubt.
“There was a phase in my life
when I was in a battle with my
body. I was angry with it,
hated it and I wanted it to
change because I thought if my body
changed, then I would be acceptable to
everyone. I would be worthy of love. But
even at my thinnest, when I managed to
lose a lot of weight (it happened a few
times) I realised that I wasn’t fully
acceptable to everyone. So really there’s
no point in trying to change yourself to
suit others’ needs and ideals.” Dubbed a
‘shero’ by trade pundits, the female
superstar, who has spearheaded unique
narratives of strength and sensibility,
also discovered several truths about
herself in the course of this journey.
“That it’s all about loving and accepting
yourself first. That only when you
embrace yourself, so will others,” asserts
Vidya. And this belief is also one of the
reasons she picked her next role, a biopic
on the life of ‘human computer’,
Shakuntala Devi.
Here’s talking to Vidya about her life
and times.
First things first, how excited are you
about the movie Shakuntala Devi?
Oh very! How incredible it is that ,The
Math Genius, The Human Computer,
was a small-town Indian girl, who took
the world by storm. She was truly
someone who embraced her
individuality, had a strong feminist voice
and braved many a naysayer to reach the
pinnacle of success. But what truly
fascinates me is that you wouldn’t
normally associate a fun person with
math and she completely turns that
perception on its head. We are so very
proud to bring to life the story of one of
the most inspiring women of
this country. Get ready to be
enamoured by her wit, charm
and of course, genius!
Do you find parallels with the
characters you play on
screen?
Yes, at times, I do. And that is
perhaps because a lot of
women in our society are like
that — and that reflects in
how our stories are told on
screen. Films are a reflection
of the times they are made in
and thankfully, times are
changing, and so are our
films. But sometimes I cannot
relate to them possibly
because I come from a
position of privilege. I was
raised in a family that kept
men and women at equal
levels. I am married to
someone who appreciates
that and in fact takes it to
another level. Also because I
don’t think I will take things
lying down. I will put up a
fight.
The Dirty Picture and Kahaani were the
first female-centric films to get critical
and commercial acclaim. That’s no mean
achievement!
But I didn’t intend to achieve that. I
didn’t say that I want to be the first
female actor to do commercially
successful women-centric films. All I’ve
done is follow my heart. Each time, I’ve
listened to my instincts, it’s paid off.
What did I do to become an actor? I
didn’t enrol in any acting class. I didn’t
get a photo-shoot done. I didn’t go and
drop my pictures at anyone’s office. But
work came looking for me. I was doing a
lot of ad films. Friends were making
their show reels and they wanted me to
54
JANUARY 2020

STAR BUZZ
VIDYA BALAN
act in that. I’ve also done a lot of FTII
films, voiceovers. I used to emcee for
bank programmes. I didn’t let go of those
opportunities. But I was always hesitant
to ask for work. I didn’t belong to the
industry. The success of Tumhari Sulu
gave me a sense of security, the maturity
that there will be hits and flops. When
my films weren’t doing well, my family
would be upset fearing that my dreams
wouldn’t come true. Of course, my
parents have been the strongest pillars of
strength for me and then my sister and
brother-in-law, my second set of parents.
They remained optimistic. Also, being
married to Siddharth gave me that
perspective. He made me realise that
nothing is permanent. I’ve read that a
successful person is the one who goes
from failure to failure without losing
enthusiasm.
There has always been a huge disparity
in the Indian society about the manwoman
equation in a relationship.
What’s your take on that?
At the end of the day, a marriage or any
relationship is a partnership, so there
has to be equality. Men aren’t
accustomed to this idea, which is why
women have to lure them into doing at
least some of the work before expecting
them to do 50 per cent (smiles). The way I
see it is that both partners step out of the
house to earn their livelihood but it’s
highly unfair that after a long, hard day,
the woman has to come back and do
household chores. Even if she has help at
home, she still has to monitor, supervise
and keep a check on everything. So, men
should contribute equally. Alongside
every successful person there are many
other people. If you are able to go out to
live your dream, it’s because your wife is
taking care of your child. Tomorrow
there will be a chance for you to do the
same for her. The narrative is changing
and it’s superb.
How does the swing swing at your home,
in your marriage?
Thankfully, at home, I have people to take
care of things. But there are a few things
that both of us take care of individually
because that’s our comfort zone. The
demarcation is clear. We’ve fallen into a
pattern where Siddharth does what he
has to and I do what I do best.
Having turned 40, how excited are you
for the next decade of your life?
What changes with age, experience and
maturity is that you are less hard on
yourself. The more accepting you are
about this yourself, the happier your life
becomes. Mid-life crisis is for men.
Women go through a crisis every
month. I believe that women go through
a tough time after menopause. They can
no longer deal with the fact that they
aren’t menstruating. A friend, who has
encounters of convenience, said after 35
women just don’t care. I’d say after 40
they don’t care even more. I used to be a
serious person but today I’ve learnt to
enjoy life. I’m not carrying the weight of
the world on my shoulders anymore. The
40s are about loving your life!
What’s your wishlist or resolution for
the New Year?
By God’s grace, my needs have always
been taken care of. My parents gave us
the freedom to dream. I wanted to be in
films but I never had long term goals. I
only think of the immediate future. Even
while taking up acting, I never dreamt of
being a star or working with certain
filmmakers. Yes, I’ve always wanted to
work with Gulzar saab but he’s no longer
directing. Many a time, I’ve told Gulzar
saab shamelessly, ‘Ek ad film kar lijiye
mere saath’. I want to work with Woody
Allen too. And as always, I won’t stop
trying, even in 2020! ■
56
JANUARY 2020

ADVENTURE
OUTDOORS
WINTER
WONDERLAND
ALTHOUGH STILL NASCENT IN INDIA,
WINTER SPORTS ARE GAINING
WIDESPREAD POPULARITY WITH
ADVENTURE ENTHUSIASTS.
BY AARTI KAPUR SINGH
Think thick blankets of snow,
and India would probably not
be the first thing that comes to
your mind. If you are one of
those who love travelling off the beaten
paths, there are a host of opportunities to
charm the traveller and winter sport
aficionado in you. The mighty snow-clad
Himalayan ranges in India, specifically
in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh and Uttarakhand are ideal
venues for a number of winter sport
activities. The Himalayas have
spectacular destinations suitable for
sports such as skiing, snowboarding and
ice skating.
Should you want to experience the
delight and rush of winter sports in India,
we’ve listed some options for you.
SKIING
Skiing is perhaps the most popular winter
sport in India. Gulmarg, Auli, Dayara
Bugyal, Manali, Pahalgam, Munsiyari
and Narkanda are a few of the most
famous skiing destinations of India in
winters. Auli is a small but renowned
destination for skiing. It may be a little
cumbersome to get to this ski village
which requires an overnight camp to
reach from Delhi (500 km), but the effort
is worth it when there is a lot of snow.
Every winter, the ski festival organised by
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of
Mountaineering and Allied Sports offers
snowboard enthusiasts a 1.5 km snowfilled
stretch to satisfy their adventure
itch. The nearest airport is Dehradun
which is about 298 km away from Auli.
58
JANUARY 2020

ADVENTURE
OUTDOORS
Being a popular skiing destination, Auli is
well connected through roads. Various
transport facilities like buses, hired jeeps
and taxis connect Auli to different cities
such as Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun
and Delhi.
Snow-clad mountains, bright white
snow, broad roads, fruit laden orchards,
thick forest and picturesque villages form
the landscape of Patnitop. Gulmarg and
Patnitop are India’s popular winter sport
destinations. Full of thickly populated
pine trees and small rivulets, rivers in
deep gorges and placid mountains lakes,
mountainsides draped in snow, and green
alpine meadows, all form a part of the
landscape of Patnitop, and the
possibilities for a wide range of adventure
activities is enormous. Trekking, skiing
and ice skating are the most popular
winter sports in Jammu and Kashmir.
The skiing season here starts from
November and lasts till February.
Gulmarg also has the highest golf course
in the world where tourists are offered
short term memberships by the golf club
to play. Skyview Patnitop aims to be the
new adventure destination in the region
catering to tourists. It is an ideal base to
explore the unspoilt areas beyond
Patnitop like Sanasar and Nathatop, to
name a few. Skyview Patnitop has just
launched a host of adventure activities
comprising a Ropeway (India’s Highest
Ropeway) and Zipline, Magic Carpet,
Tubing Sledge, etc. It is the largest Indo-
French collaboration in mountain
infrastructure development and India’s
highest ropeway with over 65 metres. of
ground clearance and the longest span of
849 metres between eight towers.
Additionally, the ropeway also features
2.8 km of inclined destination covered by
the cable car (gondola) from the upper
terminal to the lower terminal. It is one of
India’s highest and longest ropeways
soaring over 65 meters from the ground
with longest span of 849 meters between
the eight towers. The ropeway features 18
cable cars (gondola) along the towers.
This new adventure destination in
Patnitop spread over several acres in the
sylvan Himalayas matches an
international experience built to exacting
safety standards. Adventure seekers will
get a rush of adrenaline and thrill not
experienced anywhere else in India. In
addition to the ropeway, adventure
enthusiasts can experience Asia’s longest
zig-zag zipline measuring 580 metres; an
all-season tubing sledge of 238 metres or
ride India’s first magic carpet measuring
162 metres.
SNOWBOARDING
A relatively new winter sport in India,
snowboarding is slowly gaining a lot of
admiration from adventure seekers. The
most popular style of snowboarding is
free-ride where one slides down from any
kind of snow-clad landscape. Freestyle
snowboarding is another type of
snowboarding where one performs a
number tricks on a man-made terrain,
with the other two kinds being Alpine
and Boarder. The activity looks pretty
simple but it needs a lot of practice and
skill. Balancing the body and correct
timings are most important here.
Snowboarding in Auli, Solang Valley
(Manali), Patnitop and Gulmarg are
thrilling. Patnitop is close to the Pir
Panjal range and the revitalising sights of
snow-bathed mountains are a balm for
sore eyes. Along with skiers and nature
lovers, Patnitop also charms trekkers.
Snowboarding in Pahalgam is organised
by Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering
and Winter Sports. The destination itself,
located in Kashmir, is breathtaking and a
must-visit for nature lovers. Auli is
popular for skiing and snowboarding. It is
organised by Auli Ski and Snowboard
School (Trek the Himalayas), and
available from January to March. Pickup
is provided from Haridwar, which is at a
62
JANUARY 2020

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ADVENTURE
OUTDOORS
distance of 37 km from Dehradun airport.
Rohtang Pass near Manali is famous for
its jaw dropping locales, snowy
mountains and majestic valleys. One of
the best places for snowboarding in India,
Rohtang attracts adventure freaks from
all over the country for this exciting
experience.
ICE SKATING
One of the most popular winter sports in
India, ice skating has found a patron
body in Ice Skating Association of India.
Shimla is a great destination for trying
your hand (or feet) at ice skating. An Ice
Skating Carnival is organised here every
year in January by the Ice Skating Club of
Shimla. Figure skating and ice hockey
are a part of this carnival. Kufri, Auli,
Narkanda, Manali and Gulmarg are the
other popular ice skating destinations of
India. While there are several
artificially-made indoor ice-skating
rinks in India, there’s nothing like the
snow-clad mountains for the real
experience.
TREKKING
Nothing beats the experience of meeting
nature face to face at a leisurely pace. If
you wish to scale and climb up to those
snowy paths and peaks, you need to have
high fitness levels, tolerance of biting
cold and strong willpower. The winter
treks in India though are shorter in
distance and have low altitudes but it no
way means that the treks are easy. Most
of the treks are pretty demanding
because of the extremely cold weather.
Nevertheless, breathtaking panoramic
views of the snow-capped peaks and
tranquil wilderness make all this
worthy. India is a popular trekking
destination and flocked by trekking
enthusiasts from all around the globe in
the winter months. Kanchenjunga trek,
Nanda Devi trek, Chadar Frozen River
trek, Chopta Chandrashila trek,
Parashar Lake, Hampta Pass trek, etc.
are some of the most popular trekking
routes in India.
The best thing about all these
destinations is that you don’t have to rush
to get there as the Himalayas retain their
snowy wealth right until March end.
So go ahead and experience the thrill
and excitement of these snow sports in
India. ■
64
JANUARY 2020

SMART
STORAGE
Effective
Solutions
Compactors
Lockers
Filing Cabinets
Shelving Systems
Multi-tier Racking
FIFO / LIFO Racking
AS/RS & Mini-Load Systems
Drive-in / Drive-through Racking
Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV)
Heavy Duty Mobile Racking
Pallet Racking
Logistics Support Software Solution
Reach Trucks
Pallet Trucks
Stackers
Pallet Shuttle
Forklifts
Order Pickers

TRAVEL
INTERNATIONAL
Maldives's Atolls
MESMERISING
MALDIVES
EXPLORE THE WORLD’S FIRST
SEMI-SUBMERGED MUSEUM AND
DISCOVER A UNIQUE UNDER-WATER
WORLD. THE SURPRISES DON’T END
THERE; FROM SPOTTING DOLPHINS
AT THE SUNSET TO FLYING OVER
ATOLLS, THERE’S MORE TO
MALDIVES THAN LOUNGING IN YOUR
OCEAN FACING THE VILLA.
BY ASHWIN RAJAGOPALAN
Make sure you secure a
window seat if you’re ever
planning a trip to the
Maldives. I had to make a
play for a window seat twice. First, for my
touchdown into the Velana International
Airport near Male; and within a couple of
hours as I boarded a seaplane to my final
destination some 300 km north of the
Maldivian capital. About 1,200 islands
make up the Maldives and yet only occupy
just 1 per cent of the country’s territory.
The Fairmont Maldives, located in the
northern corner of this island nation is
closer to the Hanimaadhoo airport but
most guests opt for a seaplane that
touches down on the Indian Ocean, at the
edge of the resort. Seaplanes can get quite
noisy but it’s a small discomfort for the
close-up views (these seaplanes fly at a
much lower altitude than larger jets) of
the pristine waters and the numerous
atolls that dot the Indian Ocean in
Maldivian waters. These atolls are a
unique phenomenon in regions like
French Polynesia and Seychelles; the
Maldives has 26 such atolls. Many of
these atolls were also formed by the
sinking of the seabed or rising of sea level.
They make for some of the most stunning
overhead pictures.
The resorts that dot the Maldives offer
equally stunning photo-opps from a
seaplane. The Fairmont Maldives Sirru
Fen Fushi is one such idyllic island retreat
66
JANUARY 2020

TRAVEL
INTERNATIONAL
Dolphin spotting
Underwater Museum
with a range of intimate accommodations
including beach villas that allow you to
choose between a private pool and the
ocean to dip your feet. But it’s this brand
new resort’s underwater attraction that
sets it apart.
There are probably no museums or art
installations that you need to wear
snorkelling fins to visit. That is why this
dramatic installation envisioned by
British artist and environmental activist
Jason deCaires Taylor is one of the most
ambitious ones in the world. More than
just an art installation, it is also an
initiative by Fairmont and Taylor to
create a reef structure in a protective
space that encourages nature to colonise
and seek refuge.
While you might have read about some
of Maldives’ receding shorelines, the
world has seen almost 40 per cent of its
coral reefs disappear; some scientists
have warned that we could lose 80 per
cent by the year 2050. Coral reefs have
often been dubbed the rainforests of the
sea — they occupy just 0.1 per cent of the
world’s ocean surface, yet boast of an
ecosystem that includes 25 per cent of all
marine species. The Coralarium at the
Fairmont Maldives is a small effort to
create a haven for these marine species. It
is a semi-submerged tidal gallery that
interlinks the skyline, inter-tidal
waterline and seabed. There’s only one
way to get there though.
After a short snorkelling expedition
along with the resort’s marine biologist
I reached a submerged staircase, a
magical gateway of sorts that leads to a
semi-submerged tidal building. The
cube-shaped building is six metres tall,
with its front façade submerged up to
median tide of three metres. The design
of the walls is based on natural coral
structures and is porous to allow the
tides, current and marine life to pass
through it and the structure to ‘breathe’
within its location. It’s crafted with high
grade, polished, marine stainless steel
that aims to reflect and mirror the
surrounding blues of the coral atoll and
the sky above. A mirage on the horizon
that over time will take on the patina of
the sea as it becomes colonised by algae
and weathers within the environment.
The roof is perforated with a coral pattern
to allow beams of light to illuminate the
individual works and a series of
submerged lights to illuminate the space
during the night.
The Coralarium becomes a portal or
interface to the wonders of the
underwater world. The structure and the
sculptures become a spectacular
backdrop for the marine life. The multiple
colours of the undersea fish combined
with the interplay between the structures
and the rays of the sun created a
psychedelic effect; a sight that will stay
etched in my mind. It’s not just the
sculptures that have been painstakingly
crafted, the installation also includes
68
JANUARY 2020

TRAVEL
INTERNATIONAL
Overhead views from a
seaplane near Male
Beach villa at Fairmont Maldives
corals that have been propagated in
nurseries. It involves coral reef farming,
extracting segments or larva of live corals
from a reef and growing them in a nursery
until adulthood, almost treating coral like
a plant. I’ve snorkelled all over the world
including the Great Barrier Reef but this
experience with the art installations and
the wide variety of the Indian Ocean
marine life was particularly special.
My ocean adventures didn’t end in the
Coralarium. I joined a group of local hosts
from Fairmont and headed off on a boat in
search of a picture perfect sunset. While
I expected the sunset to be the highlight
of my trip, it was the dolphins that made
my evening. I stopped counting after
I crossed 50. They teased our cameras as
they jumped in and out of the Indian
Ocean and also crept up on us from under
our boat. It’s one thing seeing dolphins in
Sunrise captured from a seaplane
an aquarium but another experience to
see them revel in their natural habitat.
That’s the thing with the Maldives, you
have to step out of the comfort of your
beach villa to truly embrace it. Maldives is
99 per cent sea; I concur with the locals
who will tell you that it’s 99 per cent fun
and 1 per cent land. You have to wet your
feet though! ■
72
JANUARY 2020

ADVENTURE
CITIES
HEAVEN
ON EARTH
TREK UP TO THE WORLD’S
HIGHEST ORGANIC TEA ESTATE
IN KOLUKKUMALAI FOR AN
INEXPLICABLE EXPERIENCE.
BY MEENAKSHI GUPTA
I
never thought I could ever get high on
tea. In fact for that matter, anyone
who treks up to the World’s Highest
Organic Tea Estate will surely get
high. Shades of green, tall pine and
eucalyptus trees, acres of tea bushes,
freshwater streams from Kurangini
Range of mountains and misty clouds all
over the place left me spellbound.
ABOUT KOLUKKUMALAI
Located at a height of approximately
6,800 ft, this tea estate was built in 1935
but the farming in the area is being done
for 150 years. Kolukkumalai is a village in
Tamil Nadu, which is also accessible from
Munnar in Kerala. The place is primarily
known for trekking but also has jeep safari
options and stay on top where the Tea
Estate is situated. Once you reach the
campsite, there is another trek of about
3 km to view the most enchanting and
scintillating sunrise. The sunrise is the
highlight of Kolukkumalai. Amidst clouds
and number of peaks, the sight is beyond
words. If you are a nature lover, trust me
you will never want to come down. About
15 km of a challenging trek is worthwhile.
The jeep safari on a bumpy dirt track also
takes you through the same route covering
misty estate and is also one of the most
thrilling experiences. The trek and jeep
safari both start at a height of 3,800 ft
above sea level. Jeep ride takes you up
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JANUARY 2020

ADVENTURE
CITIES
KEY TAKEAWAYS
•
Ensure your stay in advance.
•
Though it says easy to moderate trek, remember it takes about 4-5 hours on one side.
•
Check the weather conditions before going. It becomes very cold when it rains.
•
Carry some light woollen clothing as the nights are chilly.
•
Always carry a raincoat with you.
•
Beware of leeches during rains. They are harmless creatures but can give nightmares to the firsttimers.
Carry salt and vaporub with you.
•
Don’t expect the stay to be luxurious. It provides basic comfortable tents with sleeping bags and
a decent wash and bath facilities.
•
Carry snacks and enough water as nothing is available during the trek, though the stream water
is edible.
•
Wear good fitting and sturdy trekking shoes.
•
Travel light, as you’ll have to carry your baggage while trekking.
Tea Gardens
through 40-45 hairpin bends so be ready
for that adrenaline rush. The misty cloudy
Kurangini mountains, chirping birds,
steep trails, lush green tea bushes, the
whole atmosphere is like a dream
painting.
HOW TO REACH
Kolukkumalai is at the hills of Kurangini
Range of mountains. Suryanelli is the base
location which can be reached only by jeep
from Bodiyakanur. Theni, in Tamil Nadu,
is the nearest town from where the local
buses ply to Bodi. Theni can be reached
from various locations. All major State
Road Transport Corporation buses ply to
and from Theni. It is about 450 km from
Bangalore, 570 km from Chennai and just
100 km from Munnar in Kerala. Try to
grab a window seat when travelling from
Theni to Bodi to admire the mesmerising
landscapes en route. The U-pin bends,
curvy roads, cloudy valleys, tall trees, the
beautiful sky should not be missed.
I had read many blogs before heading
for the trek. Most of the information I
gathered said it was an easy trek and about
10-14 km long. Well, that depends on your
fitness level. I’d say, the trek route level is
moderate to difficult, not only for me but
for my fellow trekkers too. My Garmin
smart watch recorded 33,000 plus steps
which meant it was nearly a 20 km trek
one way. It took me about five hours to
reach the campsite, as I was also taking
loads of photos and videos en route. Yes,
everyone becomes a photographer here;
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JANUARY 2020

ADVENTURE
CITIES
Tiger Face Rock
Trek Route
Pongal Vada
Breakfast at Theni
the natural beauty all around doesn’t need
any special skills to capture those
landscapes.
THE WONDER TREK
We left Bangalore on a Friday night by
road transport bus for an overnight
journey to Theni. By 7 am, we were in
Theni and checked into a small hotel for
wash and change. Whenever we go for
treks, we look for a local eating joint for
food. Not only do such joints serve
authentic food but are also clean as they
are fast-moving.
After finishing our breakfast we headed
to the old bus stop of Theni to board the
bus for Bodi. It took us nearly an hour to
reach there. At Bodi, the jeeps were
waiting to take us for that adventurous
ride till Suryanelli, which took about an
hour as it was drizzling all through. The
curves and bends made the traffic go slow
in misty rainy weather. But I was enjoying
the ride thoroughly as the route has some
scintillating views.
Once you reach Suryanelli, you have to
buy tickets (pre-booked) to stay at the
campsite. We refuelled ourselves with
oranges and energy bars which we had
carried along with us. Please note there no
restaurants at this place, so you have to
carry your lunch too.
The trek starts at 3,800 ft high above sea
level. Since it was raining and was really
misty all through the route, it became
little slushy and difficult to trek. For the
first time, I encountered leeches. Passing
through beautiful tea gardens, foggy
trails, some dense and dark forest route
and water streams we reached our
campsite by 5.30 pm while the remaining
group members who trekked slowly
managed to reach by 6.30 pm. It was really
dark by then with no lights.
An amazingly refreshing and freshly
brewed organic lemon tea with banana
fritters awaited us. We almost attacked
the food, as the hunger pangs were really
killing us after the trek. By then the dinner
was also ready and we decided to finish
our dinner early so we could retire for
another long day. The accommodation
was in comfortable tents with sleeping
bags.
WAKING UP TO SUNRISE
The next day, we started at 5 am to get a
glimpse of the famous Kolukkumalai
Sunrise but since it was cloudy we couldn’t
witness it. The view from that height was
unexpectedly beautiful. That followed
another trek of 3 km that took us nearly an
hour. The wide range of Kurangini
Mountains and lush green tea gardens, oh!
I missed a heartbeat. We spent some time
there to take pictures from all possible
angles, time-lapses, videos and used all
our creativity to capture some memorable
moments.
It was time to visit the Tea Factory. Built
in 1935, the factory is still in working
condition with old machines producing
the finest organic tea. This is the only
campsite that is well equipped with wash
and bath facility and a full-fledged
running kitchen where sumptuous meals
are served all the time with of course the
most delicious tea one can ever have.
Normally, the descend takes lesser time
and weather was also clear the next day.
We came down pretty fast. While coming
down, not to miss, there is a ridge which
divides Kurangini range between the two
states Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The end of
the ridge has a Tiger Face Rock and to
pose yourself with that rock will give you
adrenaline rush big time. You will literally
have to stand at the edge to get a good
photo, but it is worth it.
It was time to return home but trust me
no one really wanted to come back from a
place that was almost like heaven on
earth. The spectacular view of clouds over
the mountains with steep slopes of tea
gardens at the bottom made it a dreamlike
experience. ■
78
JANUARY 2020

TRAVEL
CITIES
BEST WEEKEND TRIPS IN 2020
DID YOU KNOW THAT 2020 WILL SEE A
WHOPPING 10 LONG WEEKENDS? THESE
GORGEOUS RETREATS AT CLOSE
PROXIMITY FROM MUMBAI MAKE
PERFECT RETREATS FOR MAXIMUM
RELAXATION DURING YOUR SHORT
BREAKS. BY NIVEDITA JAYARAM PAWAR
A quick and refreshing getaway on
your mind? One that is relaxing and
inspiring, is located less than four hours
drive from Mumbai and doesn’t come
with the hassle of boarding a plane? In
short, you’re planning to head to a resort
that is perfect when you want to get out of
the city for a short break and still be back in
Mumbai for work on Monday. From cozy
nature retreats to beachside bungalows
and luxurious camps, these spots offer all
that makes you feel like a holiday without a
passport. Read further as we’ve rounded
up some destinations for you.
80
JANUARY 2020

KNEE PAIN
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TRAVEL
CITIES
SAFFRONSTAYS NISARGA
If you’d like to combine your trip with a
little, or a lot, of R&R in a luxurious
setting, then SaffronStays Nisarga is
sure to fit the bill. This Maharashtrian
wada style home has only three
bedrooms, so privacy is guaranteed.
Beyond the beautiful art-filled
interiors, the highlight is the property’s
tranquil lawns the perfect spot to
snuggle up when evening comes. The
bedrooms whisper understated chic
with sumptuous four-poster beds,
vintage fixtures, antique furniture and
contemporary artwork. The
humongous bathrooms are fitted with
sunken bathtubs ideal for long soaks. To
ramp up the romance, book room No 2
for its cute verandah sit-out and
stunning views of the gorgeous sunset.
Outside of the bedrooms, most action
occurs in the living room. Here, you can
relax with a book on the vintage
armchair, overlooked by antiques and
the mountains. The food here has the
potential to keep you in the property
throughout your stay. However if you do
choose to explore, there are temples and
a fort to visit.
Where: Nishad Farms, Tala
Indapur Road, Sonsade Village.
www.saffronstays.com,
Tel: +91 22 6811 0811.
FAZLANI NATURE’S NEST,
VADGAON
If you desire to unplug, literally and
figuratively, then try this eco-conscious
and extraordinarily beautiful resort
with unspoiled natural settings, crisp
air and a plethora of outdoor activities.
Meander through the orchards and pick
your fruits, chase the ducks and
peacocks for a photograph or relax by
the lakeside. If you can tear yourself
away from your cottage, you can go
horseback riding (the resort has an
equestrian center), visit a rose farm, try
your hand at pottery, mountain bike or
lounge by the pool. For the ultimate in
pampering, embark on a day-long spa
safari with multiple treatments and
healthy meals. The views from the
villas here are simply staggering.
Where: Takwe (BK), Maval Taluk,
Near Lonavala, Pune.
Tel: +91 7700070070.
82
JANUARY 2020

TRAVEL
MANGO BEACH HOUSE,
ALIBAUG
This beachside resort is the ultimate
in laid-back luxury. A vegetable patch
supplies organically grown
vegetables and exotic herbs to the
kitchen. So make sure you don’t miss
the lip-smacking coastal
Maharashtrian meals in candle-lit set
up. You can simply chill on the
enormous day beds for some postbreakfast
snoozing by the pool, but
we’d suggest letting the friendly,
attentive staff fill your day with beach
biking, exploring old forts, visiting
Siddheshwar temple and more.
Where: Zirad/Awas Nageshwar
Mandir Road, Distt. Raigad, Alibaug.
Tel: +919820008899
FOREST HILLS, TALA
You don’t need to be Bear Grylls to
enjoy the thrill of bedding down in
the wild. The campground at Forest
Hills is a magical place to camp, made
all the more special by the glittering
night sky above. The tents are fitted
on a mountain overlooking miles and
miles of forest. Those with deep
pockets can book the premium tents
(there are basic tents too) that
combine privacy and luxury (think
king-sized bed and roomy bathroom)
effortlessly. There is live music, horse
riding, fun games and also a trek to
the historic 3,000 BC Buddhist caves
to explore. When the blistering
orange sunset is just beginning to
erupt along the horizon, find a spot by
the bonfire and relish a lipsmacking
variety of barbeques. Then enjoy a
movie under the stars.
Where: Survey no. 157/9, Village-
Taraste, Pitasai Kumbet Road,
Taluka-Tala, Rahatad.
Tel: +91 98192 02000
84
JANUARY 2020

HEALTH
FITNESS
Here’s a checklist for preparing for
marathon training.
1. Invest in a good pair of running
shoes: When you begin to run, there
should be enough padding below the feet,
particularly the area around the heels and
the ankle to avoid an injury of any kind.
There are instances of sprains and even
hairline fractures that people have
suffered owing to running without proper
shoes.
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO
MARATHON TRAINING
WINTER CAN PLAY HAVOC ON YOUR SKIN. A LEADING DERMATOLOGIST ADVISES
ON PROTECTING THE SKIN DURING COLD WEATHER. BY DR BL JANGID, MD
THE ONSET OF THE NEW YEAR paves the
way for the marathon season. As much as
it’s a personal challenge for many to test
their stamina, participating in the same, is
not a child’s play. While there are various
categories like the short race, the dream
run, the half marathon and the full
marathon, a whole lot of preparations are
involved both before and after the event
for any of the category. We bring to you a
guide to the important areas that have to
be consistently worked on so that your
body is well prepared for the marathon
and the entire running experience turns
into an enjoyable one sans any injury.
Preparing for Marathon
Marathon is all about discipline,
sustainability and endurance. Always
remember this and do not rush into
things. Overdoing initially and then not
doing anything at all later will project no
results but may hamper your body. Also, a
wrong way of training can lead to
something that cannot be undone or will
take a lot of time to heal.
2. Start your practice slowly and
then progress: Begin with running
slowly both pace-wise and distance-wise
and then progress. With every run, aim to
sustain the pace and distance. Once you
have warmed up with the process, it is the
time to take the next step and sharpen
your game. With every run, push your
limits — whenever your body wants to
give up, don’t stop but push it to at least 50
more steps. However, as mentioned above,
build your running stamina slowly and
consistently. Running a long distance
right at the beginning is one of the
commonest reasons for an injury, that may
seem small at the beginning and may build
up to being critical.
3. Time your run: Once you start your
practice, may be a month down the line,
start timing your run and monitor. For
instance, in a 7 km run, measure on how
much time is taken — the time to finish the
first km, the second km, and so on till the
final seventh km run. You can do this with
the help of various running-related apps
that give out details like time taken to
complete the kilometer, heart rate, etc.
Regular monitoring of the runs will show
a trend that will help you better your
speed and address your shortcomings.
4. Run, walk, exercise: When you start
your running practice, don’t run everyday
but follow the mantra of run, walk and
exercise. This will help you build your
SHUTTERSTOCK
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JANUARY 2020

HEALTH
FITNESS
stamina. Run on alternate
days with a set goal, so that
there is enough recovery to
the legs and you are able to
sustain this form of sport.
Exercising also forms a
major angle to training for
the marathon. After each
run, ensure that you do all
your stretching exercises so
that there is no pain or
injury. Also, focus on
building your core strength
as this will help you run long
distances and maintain.
5. Take part in marathons: Start small
and take part in marathons that may be
low key in nature; like a local area
marathon or a company specific one. To
begin with, you may start with a 5 km or 7
km dream run, as these will give you the
confidence of running with the crowd,
maintaining your pace and finishing the
marathon. Running alone and running
with fellow people makes a lot of
difference. Also, participating in local
marathons will boost your confidence and
encourage nurturing this passion in the
long run.
The marathon diet
While eating a balanced meal is
important so that your body gets all the
nutrients, protein intake is a must for
aspiring runners. Protein intake that
contains close to 20 amino acids is
important for body and muscle
development, oxygen movement in the
body and providing immunity, and all
these are important requisites for
runners. Reports suggest that athletes
consume close to 15 per cent of their
required energy from proteins. Include
fish, dry fruits, mushrooms, chicken,
paneer, tofu, pasta, dry fruits and whey
among the other protein-rich foods in
your daily diet. One also can explore the
protein shakes and powders, but strictly
under the direction of a dietician.
Proteins are helpful for post-marathon
sessions as they play a huge role in fixing
the muscle glycogen and helping in
building the muscle tissues. However, do
not go overboard on proteins as that will
increase your trips to the washroom and
frequent urination may also lead to
associated problems like dehydration,
kidney stones, etc.
Advice for before, after and on the D-Day
With the running practice in place and
just a week to go for the marathon, there
are a few tips to ensure you get a smooth
experience.
• Stop your practice 3-4 days before the
marathon day and refrain from eating
junk food and staying up long nights. Your
body needs all the rest now so that it can
perform its best.
• Refrain from consuming alcohol as it
will induce lethargy in the body and will
affect your months of practice.
• Sleep early the day before the run and
the next morning, wake up at least two
hours before you leave for the marathon.
• Eat a banana or an apple an hour before
the run.
• Keep yourself hydrated during the run
by carrying a small bottle of lemon juice or
glucose.
• Also, consuming a few dates, raisins and
jaggery while on the run especially when
you are getting tired will immediately
spike the sugar levels and give energy to
move ahead.
• Post the run; eat a heavy breakfast as you
and your body both deserve it.
Note: Once the run is over, there is a postmarathon
process that most people
ignore. Do enough stretching exercises so
that the legs are firm and not tend to
getting any injury. Take enough rest so
that recovery is fast and you are back to be
practising for the next marathon.
88
JANUARY 2020

TECH
GADGETS
IS THIS THE FUTURE OF
THE SMARTPHONE?
EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT MUCH OF A TECH GEEK, THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE YOU’RE
UP TO SPEED ABOUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST TRENDS THAT’S SWEEPING THE
SMARTPHONE PLANET. IT’S STILL EARLY DAYS AND ALMOST PREMATURE TO
DEEM THIS AS THE FUTURE OF THE SMARTPHONE BUT ONE THING’S CLEAR —
WE’RE GOING TO SEE A WHOLE BUNCH OF FOLDABLE SMARTPHONES. EVERY
MAJOR BRAND SEEMS TO BE MAKING A PLAY. WE STARTED OUR FOLDABLE
EXPERIENCE WITH A DEVICE THAT HAS CREATED A HUGE BUZZ — THE SAMSUNG
GALAXY FOLD, BUT THERE’S A WHOLE BUNCH OF DEVICES THAT HAVE ALREADY
ANNOUNCED THEIR INDIA PLANS AND SOME THAT ARE LIKELY TO ARRIVE LATER
IN THE YEAR. HERE’S A QUICK ROUND-UP. BY ASHWIN RAJAGOPALAN
Samsung Galaxy Fold: It’s never easy
being a pioneer, Samsung’s foldable device was
the first off the blocks and had its share of
glitches. But the brand quickly ironed them out
before rolling it out in markets across the world
including India. It’s likely to remind you of a
2000s mobile phone with its not so large
display and long, rectangular form but flip the
external 4.7-inch display and you’re transported
to a whole new world. A gorgeous 7.3-inch
AMOLED display with vivid colours and a
screen footprint that’s almost the size of an iPad
Mini. A complex inter-locking mechanism keeps
the display together. It’s powered by the
formidable
Qualcomm
Snapdragon 855
processor with
12GB of RAM and
features 512GB of
Internal storage.
There are six lenses
that come together
in this camera and
the Fold aces
multiple scenarios
from lowlight
photography to
videos. It doesn’t
come cheap but
then no device that
offers you a peek
into the future
does.
Moto RAZR:
Back in the 2000s and before the iPhone or
Android devices arrived, the original RAZR
was one of the true status symbols. It went
from being an object of desire to a widely
popular smartphone the best-selling clamshell
phone in the world ever. The new-gen RAZR
will be the first foldable smartphone to arrive
in India this year and takes a clever approach
that might just make it a favourite of geeks
and fashionistas in the months to come. At
a time when smartphones have continued
to get bigger and unwieldy, this one can fit
into your palm when it’s folded. The compact
version features a 2.7-inch Quick View display
which should work for quick notifications. It’s
also got a 16MP selfie cam. It’s the 6.2-inch
pOLED HD display with a 21:9 aspect ratio
that should make heads turn. The rear cam
comes with a host of capabilities including a
Night Vision mode for lowlight images.
90
JANUARY 2020

TECH
GADGETS
Microsoft Surface Duo:
If you thought Microsoft was done with
smartphones, think again. The brand has
just showcased a new foldable smartphone
that opts for a different design approach
— two 5.6-inch screens connected by a
hinge. This allows you to rotate it to a full
360-degrees offering multiple viewing
angles. This device won’t be here till the
middle of the year and is packed with
a heavy duty spec-sheet including a
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Processor.
Huawei Mate X:
This is one of the most stunning
foldable displays that went on sale in
China in 2019. The Mate X’s India and
global plans are still unclear but this $2400
smartphone is a showstopper. Unfold it and
it’s a massive 8-inch tablet; fold it and you still
get two screens — 6.6-inches on the front and
a 6.4-inch panel on the back. The hardware
spec sheet keeps up — there’s a massive
4500 mAh battery and Huawei’s powerful
Kirin 980 processor under the hood.
Royole FlexPai:
Not too many tech fiends had
heard of Royole until they
launched a foldable smartphone
that went on sale ahead of
Huawei’s and Samsung’s
flagships. The FlexPai is propelled
by the Qualcomm Snapdragon
855 Processor and boasts of a
7.8-inch AMOLED screen with
a 1920 x 1440 resolution. Other
highlights include two cameras
(16 and 20MP) and 8GB of RAM
and 128GB of storage for its $1318
developer model that you can
buy online.
92
JANUARY 2020

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FOOD
MOREL
THE ‘MOREL’
OF THE STORY
THE FASCINATING KASHMIRI MOREL (GUCCHI)
HAS A ‘MAHARAJA-LIKE’ QUALITY THAT
DEMANDS ITS OWN SPACE IN CUISINE. INDIA’S
FINEST CHEFS TALK ABOUT THE CHARM OF
GUCCHI AND HELP US DECODE WHAT MAKES IT
SO POPULAR. BY MADHULIKA DASH
These are gold literally, says Chef
Prateek Sadhu, Chef-owner,
Masque, as he begins sampling
his fresh stash from his last trip
to Kashmir. Among the few blessed chefs
in India to be born into the gucchi-rich
food legacy, Chef Sadhu tryst with
Kashmiri morels (gucchi) though began
as a tweenager relishing his mother’s
pilaf, the obsession began three years ago
with Masque. Recalls the avid forager,
who often explores the hills of Dachigam,
Shopian and Kupwara just post rain to get
his share of the ‘Kashmiri Gold’. “It is my
way of doing ground to table,” adds Chef
Sadhu, about working with gucchi in
Masque. He says, “It has been nothing
less than modern-culinary masterpieces
— be it gucchi cooked in a morel stock and
served with yoghurt, fennel and ginger
curry, served accompanied with a
savoury, umami-rich ice cream or morels
in an emulsion of the excess morel water,
alongside twice cooked gutti aloo tossed
in ají chilli and a veri masala oil.” Even
today, he says, “the start of a new menu
will be with a gucchi dish and the rest will
follow.”
Remarkably, Chef Sadhu isn’t the only
chef from the new crop of culinary
geniuses who has been smitten by the
charms of the Indian Morchella; peers
like Chef Thomas Zacharias of Bombay
Canteen and Epic Table fame Chef
Abhishek Gupta, Executive Sous Chef,
The Leela Ambience, Gurugram, too have
been fascinated by this extremely
temperamental truffle, which grows for a
brief period just after the rains. “There is
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JANAURY 2020

FOOD
MOREL
something complex about the gucchi. On
the one hand, it is absolutely stunning in
the way it appears and its flavour notes;
on the other, it is a challenge too. Unlike
the international truffle that pairs well
with complimenting accompaniments,
gucchi has this undeniable ‘Maharajalike’
quality that demands its own space,”
says the sustainability specialist, who
recently spent two weeks in Kashmir
studying the traditional art of indulging
gucchi by ‘keeping it simple’.
Concurs Chef Shantanu Mehrotra,
Executive Chef, Indian Accent, who has
been working with the morel for almost a
decade and calls it the ‘natural hero
ingredient’.
“The benchmark about cooking a
great gucchi dish is to ensure that its
natural flavours are retained as it is. And
if you heed to it, the results can be
mesmerising. In fact, gucchi isn’t an
ingredient that needs a lot of spice
pillowing, what it does need is clever
pairing like with cheese, garlic, saunf and
even a light poppy paste,” says Chef
Mehrotra who has with Chef Manish
Mehrotra created some of the most
fascinating fusions including the
Kashmiri morel served on a bed of walnut
powder and parmesan papad and the
morel-truffle dish where he combines
truffle with white asparagus and gucchi.
He adds, “It’s really interesting that the
Indian truffle and its international
brethren date really well.”
Keeping it au natural is a philosophy
practised by Chef Manish as well,
especially with gucchi. And it was this
technique at show at the chef-hosted
dinner at the James Beard Foundation in
the US recently where he recreated the
truffle magic by presenting sago pongal
with stuffed morel, grilled trumpet
mushroom and truffles. “I wanted to
create the whole experience of foraging in
the hills through a layering of the earthy,
meaty and umami flavours of both the
truffles.” Not to say, it was the most
reviewed (and instagrammed) dish of the
night.
The flavour play was the base for Chef
Gupta who encapsulated his maiden
foraging journey to the hills of Kashmir
with Gucchi 2.0. “The dish is an ode to the
flavours of gucchi,” he continues, “when
it is had in Kashmir. So gucchi is lightly
marinated with chironji oil, gently tossed
on a griddle and then served on korma
gravy with copra and beetroot and
gochujang paste as accompaniment with
a light dusting of dill.”
For Chef Sharad Dewan, Regional
Director, Food Production, The Park
Kolkata, who has been working with the
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FOOD
MOREL
morel for more than a decade and half
now, gucchi isn’t just an expensive
ingredient, but the “ultimate test for a
chefs’ culinary understanding.”
The thing about gucchi, he says, “is its
wholesomeness. It is one ingredient that
can give you a very strong flavour platter
base to work with. It has a sublime earthy
flavour and a strong umami profile — two
distinct qualities that with the right
technique can make a dish great or a
disaster. And that fine line is what has
fascinated chefs since the first gucchi was
discovered under the care of Mughal
emperor Humayun and was brought to
the mainland by Jahangir, who was very
fond of the meatiness of the morel.”
Legend has it that Shah Jahan would
prize it more than beetroot on his
dastarkhan. It is said that whosoever
would get a “stuffed gucchi garnished
with gold varq” was the emperor’s
chosen one.
“The palate play of gucchi,” adds
Chef Dewan, “is in fact the reason
(the prize aside) that the morel was
instantly accepted by diners, who found
other mushrooms as mere meat
replacement, not just today but since its
debut years ago.”
A testimony of how gucchi profile has
changed over the years is Chef Dewan’s
signature dish called Boursin stuffed
morel, passion fruit and brandy nectar.
This morel two-ways, says the culinary
wizard, “recreates the Shahjahani’s
stuffed gucchi for the modern palate
using Boursin cheese, but turns the stock
into a fragrant, sweet, aromatic sauce
with passion fruit and brandy.” The
made-on-request dish in fact sells close to
a thousand plates in season, when good
quality gucchi is available.
“The rise of gucchi,” says Chef Mir
Zafar Ali, Executive Chef, The Leela
Palace, Bengaluru, “can also be attributed
to its unique versatility that makes it a
brilliant pairing with both Italian and
French cuisine, given that it marries well
with a well-seasoned cheese, vino and
cream.” Chef Ali, who has been creating
the Indian truffle-based menu for
bespoke sit-downs and special occasions,
calls gucchi as a “natural masterpiece,
given that there is very little you have to
do with it to create great flavours on
plate.” Chef Zafar is among the few chefs
who uses gucchi in their French-Italian
dining space, Le Cirque and Jamavar to
create the signature Gucchi Mussallam
and also uses the stock to lend value to
shorbas. “It adds great value to mild
texture shorbas, especially when drizzled
towards the end,” he adds.
Agrees Chef Vikas Seth, Culinary
Director, Embassy Leisure, who has been
using gucchi stock for his ‘made on
demand’ soup dim sum. “Gucchi as an
ingredient,” he says, “is wondrous, but the
stock is just as brilliant, especially when it
comes to adding value to the Yang
dynasty style of soups that are based on
flavour layering.”
Chef Seth, who began using Gucchi in
Mexican cuisine a few years ago, often
pairs the morel with in-house Queso
Fresco for special occasions. Served
alongside a lightly mashed guacamole, it
makes for a fascinating treat, particularly
for those who like to know how gucchi
conquered different cuisine. But the dish
of his that pays ode to the beauty of gucchi
is a Cambodian Rice Wrap where the rice
sheets are soaked with the seasoned,
reduced morel broth with lightly sautéed
mushrooms and vegetables as the filling
inside. ■
100
JANAURY 2020

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
INDIA'S FIRST
BAGGAGE
PICK-UP AND
DROP SERVICE
Tell us about your journey with
CarterX; how and why did you think
of establishing it?
CarterX is a service that was
developed for the passengers
traveling, by providing them with
hassle-free baggage transfer to and
from airports.
Initiated as a thought of why the
passenger has to carry their bags to
and from airports, passengers can
now make their travel more easy
and tireless. CarterX went through
a journey of its own to become a
service which is slowly catching up
to be an essential part of ones travel.
What is the vision and philosophy
of your brand?
To be the safest organized baggage
transfer service for travelers.
How does CarterX help the regular
Indian traveler travel stress-free?
As much as baggage is an essential
part of a traveler, it gets extremely
painful managing it at times.
Be it an international traveler
with multiple heavy bags or a local
traveler, they need to plan their
travel in advance because of the
baggage they carry.
CarterX takes care of transferring
the baggage of the travelers,
traveling with kids and family,
elderly travelers or a business
traveler by transporting their
baggage to airport or from airport to
the destined location.
What we enable with CarterX
is the freedom to do what is more
important and what one would prefer
to do if the baggage is removed from
their travel.
What are the key aims and
objectives of CarterX?
We aim to be present at 10 major
airports in India and cater to every
nook and corner of the country with
these airports. We are currently
operational at Bangalore, Hyderabad,
Mumbai and New Delhi airports and
through these, we are servicing all
of South India, Maharashtra, Goa,
Punjab, Haryana and parts of MP,
UP, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and
Himachal Pradesh.
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the hotel also boasts of a wellness
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court, gaming zone, kids play area,
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Fern Sattva prides itself in offering
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serves vegetarian cuisines from
different parts of the country. The
restaurant’s name highlights the
friendship between Lord Krishna and
Sudama. As the story goes, Sudama
brought tandul for Lord Krishna.
Interestingly, the restaurant offers
Tandul Kheer as a welcome prasad.
It also houses the chic and elegant
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SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION
MAKING THE
RIGHT CHOICE
WITH ALL THE AVAILABLE INDIAN AS WELL AS STUDY
ABROAD PROGRAMMES, AND ALL THE FUN AND EXCITING
COUNTRIES THAT YOU CAN ATTEND UNIVERSITY IN,
FIGURING OUT WHICH ONE BEST SUITS YOUR NEEDS
CAN BE LONG AND AT TIMES COMPLICATED. HERE’S A
SIMPLIFIED PROCESS BY DR KARAN GUPTA, EDUCATION
AND CAREER CONSULTANT.
If you plan to study abroad,
there are so many things
that one needs to take into
consideration — the student
visas, costs, distance from
home, and the local culture — that
making a decision can be completely
overwhelming. Although it is beyond
the scope of this article to cover
every possible variable that should
be considered, we will go over the
most important aspects to focus on
when deciding which university
would be best for you.
When deciding on a university
one of the first things that should
to be considered is the cost.
Choosing a university that is located
in a destination that is financially
viable to your current situation is
absolutely essential if you intend
to complete the programme.
Costs can vary tremendously from
country to country and university
to university. An overly expensive
programme can add unnecessary
stress during the already stressful
semesters that you’ll be spending
abroad or for that matter, another
city in India. The internet is loaded
with valuable resources that can
help you estimate the average daily
expenditures of students in different
countries; using these tools you
can easily figure out which country
would best fit your budget. There
are several universities that provide
need based as well as merit-based
scholarships and financial aid to
students. The key to get funding
from universities is to maintain good
academic grades because funding
is limited and generally offered to
the most deserving students only.
If, however, you are unable to get
funding in the forms of financial aid
and scholarships, you can avail loans
from banks in India. Several state
banks offer loans that can cover
104
JANUARY 2020

SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
THE SIKKIM MANIPAL UNIVERSITY
(SMU) was established in 1995
with the objective of strengthening
the close link of education to skill
development and making the youth
of our country, and giving them
the capacity to harness diverse
opportunities both within and outside
the country.
Recognised by the University
Grants Commission and approved
by the Government of India, SMU
offers quality education to students
from across the nation, and latest
health care facilities at an affordable
cost to the residents of Sikkim. In a
span of 24 years, SMU has emerged
as an educational institute of repute,
not just in Sikkim and the North East
region, but across the country, and
continues to shine. All the courses
run by the University are approved
by regulatory bodies like Medical
Council of India (MCI), Indian
Nursing Council, Indian
Association of Physiotherapy,
All India Council for
Technical Education (AICTE) and the
Distance Education Bureau (DEB).
onstituent Colleges/ Institutions of
Sikkim Manipal University:
• Sikkim Manipal Institute of
Technology (SMIT)
• Sikkim Manipal Institutes of
Medical Sciences (SMIMS)
• Central Referral Hospital (CRH)
• Sikkim Manipal College of
Nursing (SMCON)
• Sikkim Manipal College of
Physiotherapy (SMCPT)
• Department of Humanities &
Social Sciences (H&SS)
• Department of Hospital
Administration
• Department of medical
Biotechnology
• Directorate of Distance Education
(SMUDDE)
As per the National Institute
Ranking Framework (NIRF) India
Rankings 2018 conducted by the
Ministry of Human Resource
Development, Government of India,
SMU has found a place in rankband:
101-150 India University
Rankings for 2018, out of the total
296 eligible Universities ranked. Not
only that, the India Today MDRA
Survey 2019 has ranked SMU as
the 11th Best Technical & Medical
University in India. And as per
Outlook-ICARE India University
Rankings 2019, SMU stands at Rank
16 out of Top 50 Private
State Universities.
nearly your entire cost of education.
Such loans have flexible repayment
terms and competitive interest
rates. So if funding is an issue, it is
worth checking these loans out.
Once you have a list of countries
that won’t break the bank, the
next idea is to look at universities
and locations that have the most
to offer for your particular major.
Different universities are better
suited for different majors, and
depending on your area of study,
one university can be a far better
option than another. This can vary
widely, for example, if you’re a
science or engineering student,
then Imperial College in London
could be an excellent choice, but
if you’re studying physics you may
want to look into the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology. With a bit
of research, it’s easy to narrow
down which schools are ideal for
any specific major. In India, bulk
of the students prefers to look at
engineering options and for this one
needs to study for entrance exams
at least a year before the actual
exam date. Other students who
106
JANUARY 2020

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@SMIT.SMU @smitmanipal @official.smit

SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION
look at medical studies have to do
the same thing. Students who are
unsure about what field to choose
can opt for psychometric testing
which will help them decide what
majors and careers they are most
suited for. For example, assessments
such as the MBTI, Strong and
Pearson DAT are tests that tell you
about your natural ability, interests
and actual abilities.
A third factor that should be
considered is the university’s
distance away from home. While this
is something that may be overlooked
by some that are eager to explore
a foreign land, your distance from
home can play an important part
in how much you enjoy your time
abroad or home city in India. A closer
proximity to your family and friends
can help you to adjust more easily
during your time at a university not
far from home. Potentially spending
years in a location that is restrictively
far away from those you love, often
for the first time in your life, can
add be difficult for those who will
be staying away for the first time.
Allowing you and your family the
ability to visit one another more
regularly can be a big advantage,
although this is not always an option.
If other variables do end up forcing
you to study further away than you’re
comfortable with, you can at least
find solace in the fact that in today’s
world your loved ones are never
more than a video chat away! The
same applies if you plan to study in
a city in India that is far away from
your hometown. Remember, there
will be many students like yourself
who will be moving away from home
to study and you will not be alone
making a decision to move away
from home.
If you’re planning to study abroad,
then you may want to look into the
student visa requirements for the
countries that you’re considering.
The requirements for obtaining
a student visa vary from country
to country, and they also have a
tendency to change, sometimes
drastically, over time. Getting these
visas can be time consuming, require
tons of paperwork, and potentially
be costly. Being aware of the steps
necessary to obtain a student visa
in your desired country will greatly
aid in this process, but it can still be
rather complicated. The key is to
start early and do your homework
so you know exactly what the visa
requirements are and can prepare
well in advance.
When deciding your university, don’t
forget to consider the locations that
you think you would actually enjoy.
While all the practical reasons for
choosing a specific school shouldn’t
be overlooked, it’s also important
to consider locations that you think
that you would like. You are going
to be spending a good portion of
life here after all, so your personal
preferences shouldn’t be entirely
set aside. One thing to consider is
weather. Temperature, altitude and
humidity can obviously vary widely.
Culture is also important. For example,
if you plan to study abroad, does the
country have a rich history and culture
that you’d love to absorb yourself in,
or is that just not that important to
you? Whether you absolutely love
or despise your time abroad can be
greatly influenced by the destination
you choose, so don’t ignore your
personal preferences when making
this important decision. In India, almost
each city is like a different country with
varying languages, food and culture
and you should consider where you
would most be comfortable.
Deciding which university to
attend as well as to study in India
or study abroad, can be one of the
most impactful decisions of your
life. There are countless variables to
consider, and it can easily become
overwhelming. Choosing a few wellthought
out parameters, combined
with personal preference can help
to make this difficult process go
smoothly, landing you in your dream
location! ■
The author is an alumnus of
Harvard Business School
108
JANUARY 2020

VIEWPOINT
YOGA
THROUGH THE
MYSTIC EYE
RANKED AMONGST THE FIFTY MOST
INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN INDIA,
SADHGURU IS A YOGI, MYSTIC,
VISIONARY AND BESTSELLING
AUTHOR. SADHGURU HAS BEEN
CONFERRED THE "PADMA
VIBHUSHAN", INDIA’S HIGHEST
ANNUAL CIVILIAN AWARD, BY THE
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, IN 2017,
FOR EXCEPTIONAL AND
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Nowadays, a lot of young people are
taking to yoga and meditation. Youth
means it is humanity in the making. Yet
to become, they are on the way; this is a
tremendous possibility. Because they
are in the making, they can shape
themselves whichever manner they
want, and youth comes with a
tremendous amount of energy. So, that
is the time when they can construct
themselves, into either most beautiful
human beings or into ugly human
beings, into a tremendous possibility or
a disaster.
When there are a few youth in the
family, the older people are nervous,
because the possibility of this youth
becoming a wonderful human being
and the possibility of him becoming a
total disaster are right there every day
staring at you. This causes fear in the
older people because it is still in the
making. So a young person means that
he is still willing to change, which is a
wonderful possibility. Tremendous
energy and intelligence flowers with
youthfulness. At the same time, their
intelligence could get hijacked by their
hormones; that is the main problem
with youth.
Suddenly they can't think any other
way. If only youth are taught not to shun
this thing, it is a part of their life, but if
they have the necessary awareness to
stay a little beyond it, if they have the
necessary awareness to handle these
compulsions within themselves with a
little more consciousness and
awareness, they are a great possibility.
Otherwise, youth can be very, very
compulsive. If they become a little more
conscious, we have a great future for
this humanity.
In the Indian culture, there was a
huge investment towards human
consciousness in the past, but today it is
gone and in many ways, we are trying to
bring it back. That has not been done
unfortunately, but we are hoping it is
going to happen.
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, visitisha.sadhguru.org
110
JANUARY 2020

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TRAVEL
CULTURE
in ancient Indian texts — the Vedas,
Mahabharata and Guru Granth Sahib.
THE SOUL OF
PUNJAB
NOW THAT HANDMADE AND HANDWORK ARE TURNING INTO FASHION
BUZZWORDS, THE AGE-OLD PUNJABI STITCH PHULKARI IS EXPERIENCING A
RESURGENCE OF SORTS. WITH LOHRI AROUND THE CORNER, IT’S THE SEASON TO
CELEBRATE PHULKARI AND DELVE INTO ITS RICH HISTORY. BY AARTI KAPUR SINGH
EMBROIDERY AND NEEDLEWORK IS
A CRAFT THAT instantly works as an
identifier for a particular region or nation.
This holds true for the traditional
embroidery of Punjab — phulkari.
Literally translating into ‘working with
flowers’, it is a form of embroidery done in
simple and yet eye-catching motifs on
shawls, dupattas and salwar kameezes.
Historians believed that the art of
phulkari came from Iran, where it is
known as ‘gulkari’. Some academicians
and historians also believe the craft was
brought by Jat tribals who migrated from
Central Asia to settle in parts of Gujarat
and Punjab. Phulkari also finds reference
MORE THAN JUST CRAFT
The word phulkari is synonymous with
Punjab and its culture. Its relevance, in the
lives of the people, has not diminished
even today and continues to form an
integral part of all marriage ceremonies
taking place in Punjab. In the past, as soon
as a girl was born the mothers and
grandmothers would start embroidering
bagh and phulkari, which were to be given
away at the time of marriage. Depending
on the status, the parents would give
dowry of 11 to 101 bagh and phulkari.
The most striking aspect of phulkari
embroidery and its distinguishing feature
is the use of darn stitch with silken thread
on the wrong side of coarse cotton cloth.
Many geometrical flower or garden—
themed patterns are embroidered by the
skilful manipulation of this stitch. While
mostly the craft is done on rust or red
coloured fabric, black and blue are avoided
in western Punjab while white is not used
in eastern Punjab. While phulkari is done
on dupattas for daily wear, for special and
ceremonial occasions, garments that
cover the entire body are embroidered. In
phulkari embroidery, the stitches
decorate the cloth, while in the bagh
technique, it covers the garment
completely in such a way that the base
cloth is completely covered.
THE VERSATILE STITCH
There are many types of phulkari
embroidery stitch. The ‘chope’ and ‘suber’
were wedding phulkari presented to a
Punjabi bride by her maternal family
during the marriage ceremony. The plain
red or dark red khaddar shawl known as
‘saloo’ was used for daily household wear.
‘Til patra’ shawls have very little
embroidery and are inferior quality
khaddar. ‘Nilak’ is worked on black or navy
blue khaddar with yellow and crimson red
114
JANUARY 2020

TRAVEL
CULTURE
THREADS OF LIFE
• Darshan dwar was a type of
phulkari made as an offering or
bhent (presentation) and had
panelled architectural design.
The pillars and the top of the
gate were filled with latticed
geometrical patterns. Sometimes
human figurines were also
created at the gate.
• Sainchi embroidery drew
inspiration from the village
life. Embroidering household
articles and themes such as
a man ploughing, lying on
charpoy, playing chaupat,
smoking hukkah or guests
drinking sherbet were commonly
embroidered. Domestic chores
of women, such as churning the
milk, grinding the chakki-hand
mill, playing the charkha were
also common motifs. Women
also embroidered scenes which
they found interesting, like the
scene of a British officer entering
a village, women holding an
umbrella and walking with the
memsahib, railways and circus,
etc. Scenes from popular Punjabi
stories like Sohni Mahiwal,
Sassi-Punnu were other popular
themes.
• The kitchen embroidery
provided designs of different
types of bagh — belan bagh,
mirchi bagh, gobhi bagh, karela
bagh, dabbi bagh, etc.
• The Dilli darwaza, Shalimar
char and Chaurasia baghs
revealed the layout of wellknown
Mughal Gardens.
• Phulkaris from Hazara were
mostly done on white cotton
with purple and green silk and
had different types of stitches.
• Sheeshadar phulkari had
inserts of circular pieces of
mirrors embroidered with
button-hole stitch to keep them
in place.
pat. There were many kinds of bagh
depending on its usage like ghungat bagh
and vari da bagh. Some were named after
the pattern like velanian da bagh, bawan
da bagh, nazzar buti, bhool bhulaiyan,
dabbi and parantha bagh. In many cases
the designs were inspired by what the
embroiderer saw around them.
Chope was embroidered on red with
yellow. Two fabric panels were joined that
had similar patterns embroidered on both
ends. The only motifs embroidered on
both selvage were a series of triangles
with the base towards the selvage and
pointing inwards. The design was worked
in a step-ladder fashion.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PHULKARI
Most of the phulkari pieces were
embroidered by the women for their
personal use or by their relatives and were
not traditionally sold in the market. Thus,
it was purely a domestic art which, while
satisfying their creative urges, also gave
them an opportunity to keep themselves
gainfully occupied and added colour to
their mundane lives. It is a tradition to gift
phulkari and baghs to brides at the time of
marriage and is also considered
auspicious that the phulkari be done by
the women of the household.
In phulkari meri maa ne kaddi; is noo
ghut ghut japhiyan paawan (This phulkari
was embroidered by my mother, I embrace
it warmly). Folk songs like these are
indicative of the emotional attachment
the girl had to the phulkari stitch
embroidered by her mother or
grandmother or aunts.
The motifs done on a phulkari meant
for a Punjabi wedding signify fertility and
prosperity. While wheat stalks are
common, more unusual motifs are
parrots, peacocks and even traditional
roundels that signify a constant inflow of
money into the household. The fabric used
for phulkari embroidery was handspun
khaddar. Cotton was grown throughout
Punjab plains and after a series of simple
processes it was spun into yarn by the
women on the charkha. After making the
yarn it was dyed by the lalari (dyer) and
woven by the jullaha (weaver).
The fabric was woven in widths, which
were narrow, as the width of the loom was
such. Thus, the fabric had to be stitched
lengthwise to make the desired width,
which was later embroidered. This
practice of stitching two pieces was
common among textiles of Punjab in the
early 20th century. Textiles like khes were
also stitched lengthwise. In west Punjab
(now in Pakistan), sometimes joining was
done later, leading to distorted designs.
Madder brown, rust red or indigo were
the usual background colours for a base
for the embroideries. Soft untwisted silk
floss called pat was used for embroidery.
116
JANUARY 2020

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TRAVEL
CULTURE
The thread came from Kashmir and was
dyed in the big cities by the lalaris. The
village ladies obtained the thread from
hawkers or peddlers who sold things of
daily needs, from village to village.
THE FLORAL HANDWORK
Phulkari literally means floral work as
the entire field is embroidered and filled
with flowers. This word first appeared in
Punjabi literature in the 18th century.
Waris Shah’s Heer Ranjha describes the
trousseau of Heer and lists various articles
of clothing with phulkari among them.
There are different theories about the
origin of Phulkari. One such belief is that
this embroidery was prevalent in different
parts of the country as far back as the 7th
Century but survived only in Punjab.
Motifs similar to the ones found in
phulkari are also found in Kashida of
Bihar and some of the embroideries of
Rajasthan. This style of embroidery came
from Iran where it was called gulkari, also
meaning floral work.
THE WORKSHOP OF MEMORY
What’s interesting is that there were
no pattern books and embroidery was
worked entirely from the reverse of the
fabric. Traditionally, the use of coarse
khaddar fabric made it easy to count the
yarn. The hallmark of phulkari is, making
innumerable patterns by using long and
short darn stitches. The designs were not
traced. Techniques and patterns were not
documented but transmitted from word
of mouth and each regional group was
identified with the style of embroidery.
Phulkari in its original form has
disappeared, though some revival is
taking place at individual level with no
help from the government. There are only
a few designs of the bagh, which are
copied by workers today. Some styles like
sainchi, phulkari and chope are not
reproduced anywhere in Punjab. It is
important that the craft traditions are
kept alive; and the solution lies in
reinventing the embroideries in styles
which are contemporary in look and
follow the traditional techniques. This has
been done by many states to keep their
traditional techniques alive — the Patola
of Gujarat, Ajrakh printing of Rajasthan,
Paithani weaving of Maharashtra,
Kalamkari of Seemandhra, and so on.
If phulkari revivalist Harinder Singh is
to be believed, the struggle to restore and
modernise the threadwork has been a
challenge. Singh has collected around
250-300 old bagh from various sources to
document them for their patterns, fabrics
and age. “We have started digitising the
old vintage patterns rather than just
keeping them recorded on paper or the
soft media,” he mentions. Using this
technique, his team has created authentic
phulkari products that are wearable and
fashionable. And what better way to
celebrate the spring than phulkari
dupattas or phulkari florals in décor?
118
JANUARY 2020

KALEIDOSCOPIC
ADVERTORIAL
KUTCH
THE RANN UTSAV CELEBRATES THE RANN OF KUTCH; ITS PEOPLE,
ITS CULTURE AND OF COURSE, ALL THE GLORIOUS COLOURS IT
ENCOMPASSES. A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF THE WRITER’S THREE-
DAY VISIT TO THE MAGICAL RANN UTSAV. BY NEHA NAIR
COVERING AN AREA OF a little over
45,000 sq km, Kutch is one of the largest
districts in the country. A sizeable portion
of the district is the famed salt desert
called the Rann of Kutch, and the rest is a
veritable treasure trove of arts, crafts and
traditions.
As far as the eye can see, you find an
expanse of shimmering white stretching
endlessly for miles across the desert. At its
brightest, the vision is so iridescent that
the horizon seems blurry. What might
seem like the palest sand is actually
pristine crystals of salt, gleaming under
the sunlight. This is the White Desert in
the Rann of Kutch, straddling a sizeable
portion of Gujarat in India and the Sindh
province across the border. We were there
as part of the four-and-a-half-month long
extravaganza called the Rann Utsav.
PROMOTING RURAL TOURISM
What started as a 3-day winter fest back in
2005 now goes on for a quarter of the year!
The then Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri
Narendra Modi conceptualised the Rann
Utsav as a means to promote rural tourism
of Kutch, an area that was badly affected
by the 2001 earthquake. The first iteration
was extremely successful, so much so that
its duration increased gradually every
year. Today, in its 16th edition, the Rann
Utsav commenced on October 28, 2019,
and will go on till March 12, 2020.
The hub of the festival is Dhordo
village, which comes alive during winters.
Visitors can enjoy a virtual tour of the
Kutch at the Theme Pavillion, indulge in
adventure sport facilities such as hot-air
ballooning and shooting, experience
leisurely camel rides and even discover the
Kutch region’s hidden talents through the
crafts bazaar. A Tent City of over 400 tents
(air-conditioned and non air-conditioned)
is set up for visitors. Having been put up in
one of these tents on day one, we were
extremely charmed by its quaint yet
supremely comfortable interiors. We were
fortunate to catch a cultural extravaganza
at the White Desert itself, the Chief Guests
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ADVERTORIAL
Genius Village. Every lane in this little
settlement could boast of a one-of-kind art
form – from the deft handwork involved in
the oil-based Rogan paintings, to the sheer
genius of Copper Bell Art, where bells
were constructed without welding or
soldering, all the way to the vivid and
luminous Lacquer Art.
Our final stop for the day was
Ajrakhpur, home to the world-famous
Ajrakh block printing. The 16-step tedious
process of block-printing was a fascinating
one to learn of. The characteristic blue and
red prints on sale were absolutely gorgeous
and we were in serious danger of depleting
the entire bank account in one go here.
of which were the honourable VP of India,
Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and the Gujarat
Chief Minister Shri Vijay R. Rupani. After
an activity-filled first day out, we couldn’t
wait to cosy up in our tents.
THE DEXTEROUS KUTCHIS
The next day, we headed out on a mission
to catch the plethora of crafts in the
neighbouring villages. Starting with
Hodka, a hamlet with the characteristic
bhungas (cylindrical mud-based huts with
polygonal tiled roofs), which was mostly
inhabited by the colourfully-attired
Meghwal clan. This tribe specialises in
beaded jewellery, trinkets, patchwork
quilts, and a host of other knick-knacks.
Our next stop was Nirona, or what I
had personally dubbed in my mind as the
MESMERISING MANDVI
Day three dawned in the serene
surroundings of Vijay Vilas Heritage
Resort at the beach town of Mandvi, where
we had bunked in for the night. The staff
was extremely cheerful and went out of
their way to make us feel comfortable. Our
first order of the day was a date with the
Gulf of Kutch, as we headed to the private
beach adjoining the Vijay Vilas Palace
grounds. The pristinely blue waters
combined with the crisp winter air were
certainly an invigorating start to the day.
Following this, we headed for the piece de
résistance - the Vijaya Vilas Palace. Built
during the reign of Maharao Shri
Khengarji III in the early 20th century as a
summer resort for his son Yuvraj Shri
Vijayraji, this Indo-Saracenic monument
took our collective breath away as we
approached it. Currently used as the
permanent residence for the Royal Family
of Kutch, the picture-perfect palace has
been the chosen location for many a
Bollywood movie such as Hum Dil De
Chuke Sanam, Lagaan and Ramleela to
name a few.
MULTI-FACETED BHUJ
Our final exploration would be the city
of Bhuj, starting from the very European
122
JANUARY 2020

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in appearance – Pragmahal.
Commissioned by Rao Pragmalji II, and
designed by British army officer and
architect Colonel Henry Saint Wilkins,
construction on the Italian-Gothic style
palace began in 1865. Its distinctive
feature is the 45-foot high Bing Bang
Tower which cuts an impressive figure
in the city’s skyline. The Durbar Hall is
an ostentatiously decked up one with
long chandeliers and high ceilings,
almost reminding me of the Jewish
Synagogue in Fort Kochi.
Within the same compound is also the
older Aaina Mahal (Palace of Mirrors),
built by Rao Lakhpatji in the late 18th
century. The chief architect of this palace
was Ram Singh Malam, a craftsman who
spent nearly two decades in Europe and
brought back with him the knowledge of
several European forms of craft, which is
amply reflected in Aaina Mahal.
Our final stop was the Royal Cenotaph
or Chhattardi of Bhuj. Also established in
the late 18th century, it is a tribute to all the
regal leaders of the region. Even though it
was heavily damaged post the Gujarat
earthquake of 2001, its magnificence is
still intact. Mostly built in red sandstone,
the largest cenotaph is of Maharao
Lakhpatji of Aaina Mahal fame, and was a
breathtaking sight in the setting sun of our
final day in Bhuj.
Our sojourn introduced us to the
magical and colourful history of Kutch.
The sights, sounds and people left us
enthralled and eager to learn and see more.
A trip that only let us touch the tip of the
iceberg that was the land of the Rann.
Definitely a place to revisit!
124
JANUARY 2020

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TRAVEL
CITIES
THE LAND OF
FORTS AND PALACES
GWALIOR FORT HAS MANY
ATTRACTIONS TO MERIT A FULL DAY’S
VISIT. SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING
MONUMENTS LOCATED IN THE FORT.
BY SANTOSH OJHA
As I approach Gwalior Fort from
the city what strikes me is the
sheer height of the fort built on
a hill with a near perpendicular
precipice. This imposing structure
dominating Gwalior city has been called the
‘Gibraltar of India’. Mughal emperor Babur
called it the ‘Pearl among the fortresses of
the Mughal Empire’. This was built
sometime in the 6th century AD and a
succession of rulers have controlled the fort
over the millenia. Gwalior Fort has many
attractions to merit a full day’s visit.
Presenting a checklist of some of the
outstanding monuments located in the fort.
Although all palaces are pretty from the
inside, the Man Mandir Palace is
aesthetically pleasing both from outside
and inside. The outer walls are adorned with
ceramic coloured tiles showing different
animal motifs; elephants, tigers, ducks,
parakeets. This was built by the Tomar dynasty
king Man Singh in the late 15th century. Man
Singh was a person of aesthetic sensibilities and
it shows in the interior of the palace as well. This
four-storeyed palace — two floors being below
the ground level — has intricately carved
columns, walls and cornices, including some
Chinese dragons!
A connoisseur of music, Man Singh
encouraged and refined the Dhrupad style of
music. The music room in the palace hosted
several reputed musicians including Baiju
Bawara who taught music to the queens.
In the floor below, there is the jhoola ghar
(swing room) for the eight queens of the King,
jhoola rings on the ceiling are still visible. This
room has a sordid past too. In later years, it was
used as a jail for the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru
Hargobind. It was in this room that Aurangzeb
had his brother Murad executed to become the
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TRAVEL
CITIES
undisputed Mughal emperor. In the lowest
floor is the Kesar Kund which was an
indoor pool for the queens. When Man
Singh died in a battle his queens
committed (jauhar) self-immolation in
this very room.
Gujari Mahal, now a museum, houses
several priceless archaeological gems from
over the last two thousand years or so. This
palace has an interesting history. Once,
when out hunting, Man Singh saw a young
and beautiful gujari (milkmaid) battling a
wild buffalo, alone. Smitten, the King
asked for her hand. She made three
conditions: she will never be in purdah, she
will be alongside the King in times of peace
or war, and she will drink water piped
from the Rai river near her village. Man
Mandir Palace was at a significant height
for the water to flow up, so Man Singh built
her a palace at a lower height with a
terracotta pipeline (the outlet is still visible
in the palace) for the water.
One notable exhibit is the statue of
Shalbhanjika from the 10th century AD.
Thanks to the statue’s mysterious smile, it
has been called ‘Monalisa-in-stone’. This
was apparently insured for rupees nine
crores when it was sent to Europe for an
exhibition. It is now displayed in a secure
glass case in the museum curator’s office.
The Sahastrabahu Temple was built in
the 11th century by the Kachhwaha
dynasty. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
This name was corrupted to Saas-Bahu
Temple by the locals, possibly because of
the two temples, one smaller than the
other. These are built on a large platform,
typical of the Kachhwaha style of temple
architecture. The smaller temple — not as
well decorated — was probably used for
preparations prior to worship in the main
temple.
Some say Teli ka Mandir temple was
built with contributions from the Teli (oil
merchant) community. It was built
sometime in the 8th or 9th century in the
reign the Pratihara dynasty. Most
probably it was dedicated to Shakti with
later incorporation of Vaishnavism and
Shaivism. What remains undisputed is the
unusual construction of the temple. This is a
rare temple in North India which draws
inspiration from the Dravidian style. Case in
point: the Gopuram. Thirty meters high, it is
the tallest temple in the Fort complex. The
other striking feature is the ornate — and
intricate — carvings on the temple façade.
From Teli ka Mandir, we see a tall,
magnificent edifice, Gurudwara Daata
Bandi Chhod. This has an interesting
history. Guru Hargobind was imprisoned
by the Mughal emperor Jehangir at the
Gwalior Fort around 1617 AD. Jehangir
had brutally murdered the Guru’s father,
the fifth Guru Arjan. Worried that Guru
Hargobind would take revenge, Jehangir
had him imprisoned. After about two years
Jehangir got more comfortable with his
hold over the empire and decide to release
the Guru. Another version of the story is
that Jehangir fell seriously unwell which
his wife Mumtaz suspected was due to the
Guru’s imprisonment. She persuaded
Jehangir to release the Guru. Guru
Hargobind had other ideas. He wanted the
52 others with him to be released as well.
Jehangir relented, with a condition. The
Guru could take along only as many
prisoners as he could carry on his person.
The Guru got 52 tails stitched to his cloak
which were held by the prisoners. Thus,
the entire group walked out to freedom.
This earned the Guru the epithet, Daata
Bandi Chhod (munificent liberator). There
was a small shrine built to commemorate
this. Sometime in the 70’s and 80’s a larger
complex was built including the towering
six storey Gurudwara.
Returning from the fort, I could not but
marvel at what I had experienced during
the day; an entire sweep of history from the
6th century onwards and more
importantly, the beauty of our heritage
shining through even in the centuries old
temples and palaces! ■
Ravi C. Dasgupta
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FOOD
CULTURE
AMRITSAR’S CULT
FAVOURITES
THE GOLDEN TEMPLE IS THE HEARTBEAT OF PUNJAB’S MOST VISITED CITY BUT
THERE’S ANOTHER REASON WHY PEOPLE KEEP COMING BACK. AMRITSAR IS ALSO
ONE OF INDIA’S MOST EXCITING FOOD DESTINATIONS. BY ASHWIN RAJAGOPALAN
If there’s one thing you should leave
behind before you set foot in Amritsar,
it’s your calorie check. Amritsar is where
you will encounter Punjab’s warm
hospitality especially in its dishes that
don’t hold back on rich ingredients. I
experienced the same warmth as I began
my culinary trail of the city from
Amritsar’s newest hotel in the heart of
the city’s shopping district – Mall road.
Courtyard by Marriott follows the
brand’s new international contemporary
design language with local elements
(like destination images) seamlessly
integrated. Amritsar is easily one of
India’s most authentic food cities with
uncomplicated recipes, foods that can
add to your happiness quotient and
legendary local institutions known for
their one signature dish.
HERE’S TAKING YOU THROUGH
SOME MUST-DO CULINARY
EXPERIENCES
Community meal at the Golden Temple
Dawn time around 4:30 am is my
favourite time to visit the Golden
Temple. It’s when the palki ritual takes
place – the Guru Grant Sahib is
symbolically taken into the shrine in a
short procession amidst chanting and
the atmosphere is absolutely surreal. Do
make time to be part of the langar, the
community dining experience. The
temple’s four entrances symbolise its
openness to people from all walks of life
and nowhere is this more evident than at
langar, where the large community
kitchen serves a staggering 100,000
meals a day. The meal comprising
usually roti, dal and kheer might be
simple but it’s one of the most satisfying
meals you can have in Amritsar.
Good morning Amritsar
It’s an early morning tradition among
many of Amritsar’s early risers and
walkers. An invigorating glass of sweet
tea at Giani tea stall. This tiny tea stall is
always teeming with patrons who also
order their toast slathered with butter or
a hearty omelette along with their
cuppa.
Power breakfast
Kanha Sweets is one of those Amritsar
establishments that’s equally popular
among locals and tourists who converge
here for breakfast. It’s tough to decide
what makes their signature Bhature
taste better; the Amritsari style Chole or
the tangy Aloo ki Launji. I still haven’t
figured out after multiple visits but one
thing I know, there are few cities in
Northern India that can beat Amritsar’s
appeal as a culinary destination.
Local breakfast
The all-day diner at Amritsar Kitchen,
Courtyard by Marriott offers a choice of
international favourites in its breakfast
and dinner buffets, but it’s the local
specialities that are the highlight. The
chole are spot on and so are the
flavourful parathas (try the paneer
paratha). Wash it all down with their
masala chaach (butter milk) that’s
loaded with finely chopped coriander.
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JANUARY 2020

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FOOD
CULTURE
The kulcha trail
If there’s one thing that keeps bringing
me back to Amritsar, it’s the city’s
signature kulcha. No city does the
kulcha better than Amritsar. During a
visit a few years ago, celebrity chef and
restaurateur Vikas Khanna took me to a
nondescript eatery at Maqbool road that
doesn’t even have a signage. Maqbool
Road Kulchawala hasn’t dropped the
ball since then. This kulcha with its
flaky, almost crispy crust and the soft
potato filling inside is simply
scrumptious. The Kulcha Land on Ranjit
Road is also a great option.
Twin delights
Punjab might love its chicken delicacies
but it’s fair to say that most of Amritsar’s
iconic food establishments lean towards
vegetarian cuisine. Beera and Makhan
are two emblematic establishments that
are among the notable exceptions.
Located almost next door to each other,
they both have a cult following for their
signature dishes – the juicy Amritsari
chicken at Beera and the melt-in-yourmouth
fish tikka at Makhan.
Dhaba with a rich legacy
Kesar da dhaba is over 100 years old and
a local legend in Amritsar. It’s never easy
to score tables at this busy restaurant for
lunch hence I’d recommend checking in
early (around 12:30 pm). The highenergy
kitchen of this vegetarian
restaurant serves countless rotis and
kilos of home-style dal each day. Their
sarson da saag (served during the winter
months, also the best time to visit
Amritsar) and paneer gravies are failsafe
options too. Do make room for their
subtly sweet phirni.
Punjab-style lassi
Relive the clichés of that tall glass of
Punjabi lassi at Gian Chand Lassi. Many
first-timers find their half portion
formidable but locals can drink the full
portion effortlessly. If you like your lassi
extra sweet, try the house special – Peda
Lassi served with crushed peda and a layer
of thick cream that always rises to the top.
Many locals also swear by Ahuja Lassi.
Butter naan with a twist
Charming Chicken, an owner-driven
restaurant may not enjoy the same iconic
status as some of Amritsar’s popular
dining establishments but there’s no
better place for butter chicken and garlic
naan (this one’s a layered laccha-style
version) than this one in Amritsar.
Pickles, spices & more
Behind the recently restored Rambagh
gate in Amritsar’s old city is the vibrant
Rambagh market. A walk through the
busy Rambagh market is a multi-sensory
experience with vibrant colours at the
pickle and spice shops (that offer dozens
of varieties). Don’t miss one of these
piquant pickles or Amritsar’s famous
masala gud – desi gud (jaggery) infused
with spices like saunf.
The best jalebis in India?
This might spark some arguments,
especially because I haven’t sampled this
cloyingly sweet hot dessert in Varanasi,
another city with a formidable
reputation for jalebis. However, if there’s
one place I’d recommend in Amritsar, it’s
Gurdas Ram Jalebiyan Wale, located a
stone’s throw away from the Golden
Temple. The jalebis here are amongst the
best in India – no food colours or
artificial flavours and served piping hot.
Just make sure you don’t burn your
tongue while eating here. ■
132
JANUARY 2020

SPIRITUALITY
THE SELF
IN PURSUIT OF
NEWNESS
BY BK KARUNAKARA SHETTY,
MADHUBAN
WHILE TRYING TO KEEP PACE
WITH the routine, I often seem to get
caught in the mundane and experience
boredom. To rise above such
monotonous and mundane existence, we
all need a regular dose of newness to
keep our hearts and minds fresh. But I
often wonder, what is newness?
How can one define newness? Well,
it is a change of thoughts, feelings,
words, actions, circumstances, and
environment; deviating from the normal
makes us experience joy. On a physical
level, we try to do activities that add
newness, such as going for a holiday or a
party, watching a movie, etc. We then get
back to our daily routine of thoughts and
actions, with more freshness, which
makes the routine more interesting.
On a spiritual level, to become still in
the ocean of noisy action is a choice many
people are now making. When this is
achieved, the stillness acts on the mind
like oxygen, giving a chance to both
understand and enrich life. Action is a
necessity, an expression of our
ownselves through time, relationships
and the roles we play. However, if we do
not stop and take a breath of silence in
between, the mind begins to suffocate,
thoughts speed like bullet trains and the
brain feels as if it is in a pressure cooker.
Emotions erupt and react like volcanoes,
eyes become dizzy with mountains of
information and the head feels like a
rollercoaster. This is stress. At such time,
the mind needs to come up for air, leave
the jungle of pressure, deadlines and
speed and slow down and find the point
of silence within.
A daily dose of new and different
spiritual knowledge at the start of the
day helps us rise above the monotony,
adds newness and rekindles our creative
spirit. Such newness then flows into our
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SPIRITUALITY
THE SELF
feelings, beliefs, attitudes, personalities,
perceptions, actions, interactions,
relationships, etc., thus removing the
stagnancy of the regular routine.
NEWNESS AT EVERY STEP
Life should not be a routine with the same
thoughts, words and actions. It should be
a journey full of happiness with different
events, scenes, situations and
interactions every day. Thoughts, words
and actions that are full of newness and
enthusiasm become the driving energy
of your life. Even at workplace, you can
look for different activities to give a new
purpose to your life. Becoming
accustomed to the same routine can
make the job or even the house work
appear like boring exercise. Be creative
at every step to make your life journey
beautiful.
At the start of the day, create positive
thoughts or affirmations in your mind.
Let them be full of success and
determination which will keep you full
of positive energy throughout the day.
Take small breaks during the day to
check the thoughts in your mind. If they
are going in the wrong direction, give
them a new direction by meditating and
creating powerful and positive thoughts.
For more comfort, experience silence in
meditation by connecting with your
source, the Ocean of Peace. This is joyful
living.
DEALING WITH LIFE’S SITUATIONS
One of the most important aspects of
infusing newness in life is to adopt a
different perspective to life situations. A
positive mind looks at life differently
than someone with a negative mindset.
Take for instance a person who’s facing a
challenge at work and not being able to
come to a solution. If he were to look at
the current crisis in his life with a
different perspective, he would arrive at
a solution much faster and more easily. A
different attitude and view point can
make one magically arrive at solutions to
problems. A positive perspective makes
your life experiences more beautiful.
However, to add new ideas and thoughts,
one needs to fill the mind with fresh
knowledge, not only from the world but
also from your Source, Ocean of
Knowledge. As you become wiser, you
look at life with a fresh perspective, and
that is the key to success.
NEWNESS IN RELATIONS
A spiritual perspective of joyful living is
holding a positive dialogue with
yourself, no matter what the situation is.
Along with that, loving each one and
spreading positive energy and good
wishes in every relationship makes life
beautiful. Practise this daily. Remember
all the people who you are close to and
say. “You are special souls and I have a
pure bond full of love with you all. It is
my good wish that you all remain
extremely happy and full of wisdom to
overcome all challenges and ride
success.”
A life which is above the ordinary is
full of joy. Remember, people are one of
the most valuable assets of your life.
Investing positive emotions in people
will make your life enjoyable and full of
newness.
136
JANUARY 2020

TAKE YOUR WEDDING VOWS
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The property offers a multitude of fine-dining
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139
JANUARY 2020

TRAVEL
ADVENTURE
OF HIGH HILLS AND
LOW VALLEYS
THEKKADY DELIGHTS BY DAY AND NIGHT WITH ITS GREEN WOODS AND
WILDERNESS. BY GARIMA VERMA
For a moment it felt illusory. How
could a place have it all! The
fragrant hills covered in mist,
never-ending miles of forests
green as envy, rivers running through, and
sounds of birds and animals breaking the
enchanting silence. It almost seemed the
place might have fairies and goblins too
lurking in the deep, away from the
prancing human eye.
Kerala might be God’s Own Country,
but Thekkady is where he would choose to
reside. What could be more of a heaven
than sleeping in forgetfulness of the other
testing world and waking up to the echoes
of nature and a coffee as fresh as it could
get; then savouring the breakfast with the
air bringing with it a faint hint of petrichor.
For, a quick drizzle, that is sure to greet you
at any time of the year, had titillated the
earth a bit and also added to the mood at
Periyar National Park.
The cacophony of excited monkeys on
the periphery was perhaps a sign of the
jungle buzzing with activity. The great
cormorants perched on submerged trees,
or what was left of them, tended to have
made up their minds to point to the history
during the initial part of the ferry ride. It
was the Mullaperiyar Dam made in the
late 19th century that resulted in stoppage
of the river Periyar’s water flow. What
followed was a water reservoir — a lake in
the valley, and the Periyar National Park.
The trees that once stood tall went under
water but kept their ground, albeit in a
skeletal form.
As the clouds cleared quickly and gave
way to sunshine, the park’s inhabitants
started making appearances. A herd of
deer was grazing in peace. The sudden
hullabaloo raised the hopes of spotting a
striped beast (read tiger). It was not to be
though. The mighty bisons made up for the
momentary disappointment. One of them
even made the night jungle scout later a
terrifyingly endearing memory. It was this
range of experiences that made a certain
Mrs Bell from England name her daughter
India (nope, Jonty Rhodes was not the first
one to do that!). As she and her two
daughters wielded flashlights along with
us to make a tiny scout group, she told me
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TRAVEL
ADVENTURE
FACT FILE
Periyar National Park boasts of varying
altitudes. It could be 1,700 m above
sea level at one place and just about
100 m at the valley of the Pamba river.
Kottamalai is the highest peak in the
park at 2,019 m. The Park offers a
variety of activities to get to know it
better but it is advisable to book them
well in time.
Thekkady’s art centres can translate
into an evening well spent watching the
traditional dance forms like Kathakali
with elaborate makeup, Mohiniattam,
Kuchipudi, Kalaripayattu and thousands
of years old shadow puppetry called
Tholpavakoothu.
how she and her husband met in India and
fell in love with each other and the
country; came back for the honeymoon.
She was just going further down the
memory lane when the guide scout asked
us to focus our eyes on a rare civet cat. The
porcupines, nightjar birds, rabbits and
antelopes were fine, but when our lights
happened to reflect off the eyes of a mother
bison with the calf, we knew what a night
in the jungle could really mean. Her loud
grunting and stare had us frozen till the
guide asked us to switch off the lights and
quietly move away as “mother bison spares
no moment in attacking if she senses even
the slightest of a danger to her little one”.
Yet, the fear has a tendency to be
forgotten in the garb of adventure and
metamorphose into excitement. And, as
they say, a forest is a place where you lose
your sense and find the soul, never
wanting to look for an exit. The
abundance of enthusiasm saw us
not only beating the alarm the
next morning but also
uncharacteristically
polishing off meen
pollichathu (freid fish in
banana leaf) and nool pulao
(fried vegetable rice noodles)
rather than savouring.
It was time to see another face of
the Periyar Park. The one that led
through manicured tea gardens basking
in the first rays of the sun to Gavi as the
world around still hanged on to night. A
Giant Malabar Squirrel was the first to
introduce us to the diversity of the dense
tropical forest. Had it been not for its flight
(read somersault) from a tree to another, we
might have not been able to see it. The
further exploration on foot was more
intimate.
The uphill trek tried us city dwellers to the
hilt but the rewards were more than enough;
except the leeches that had crept up our
shoes from nowhere. Putting on a protective
layering kept us in good stead thereon.
Watching that black eagle circling over a
prospective prey, Nilgiri langurs, mountain
goats, macaques and the bisons again though
added to our longing of watching elephants
in that giant playground of theirs.
But you can’t have it all, not at once for
sure. There was a morning left to take in the
surreal setting one more time. The silence of
the hills was broken by squeaking cries. A
Malabar grey hornbill was going from tree to
tree, calling and searching for her mate. The
Cardamom County staff was equally
worried. Since they mate for life, the
partner’s loss results in a lonesome life,
almost suicidal. “Sometime back, a lone male
bird was here for days. We tried to feed him
but he refused to eat and died after a few
days,” they told me. The place, it seems,
familiarises you with all aspects of life.
Before we could get ourselves to bid adieu
to the bliss called Thekkady, its heady mix of
spices in the air, which had been
overpowered by the lure of the wild so far,
had us greedily buying packets full. The
taste of the raw ones — green pepper,
cardamom, cinnamon and more, in a spice
plantation though trumped the dry ones. But
the bottled bird chillies, pickles, banana,
tapioca and jackfruit chips, along with crispy
achchappams promised to keep Kerala alive
for many days. When the evenings would be
spent sipping special coffee from Thekkady
or tea made tastier with the pods from the
Cardamom Hills. ■
142
JANUARY 2020

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
FINANCIAL PLANNING LESSONS
FROM LIFE OF A SOLDIER
BY SHYAMALI BASU (THE AUTHOR IS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & HEAD -
PRODUCTS & MARKETING, HDFC ASSET MANAGEMENT CO. LTD.)
“WE SLEEP
SAFELY AT NIGHT
BECAUSE TOUGH
MEN STAND
READY TO VISIT
VIOLENCE ON
THOSE WHO
WOULD HARM
US.” Winston
Churchill could not have put the
enormous importance of armed forces
for any nation in simpler words. While
words cannot do justice to the selfless
service of our armed forces, it cannot
be reiterated enough that freedom
and liberty 1.3 Billion Indians enjoy in
their daily lives is only due to constant
vigil of the armed forces.
While our armed forces
relentlessly keep vigil at our national
borders for the safety of a billion,
another enemy is lurking around the
corner - An invisible enemy in the
form of inflation. Inflation erodes
your wealth with every passing day
and before your realize your financial
goals can go for a toss. Choosing
the right investments and investing
regularly are your only weapons in
the fight against inflation. Just like
there can be no room for complacency
in the life of a soldier, the fight
against inflation provides no room for
lackadaisical approach to investing.
The only way to stay on course in this
battle is to start investing early, invest
regularly and stay invested.
One can draw numerous parallels
between life of a soldier and the
journey of investments. For instance,
soldier does not have control over
numerous things like weather
conditions, political factors, terrain
etc. Likewise, as an investor you would
come across many global and domestic
factors (Geo-political, Economic etc.)
which are beyond your control but
impact your portfolio nonetheless.
As an investor you need to take
these things in your stride as you
march towards your financial goals.
Diversification of portfolio across
sectors and asset classes can act as
your shield from such uncertainties.
When it comes to protecting
our national borders, the Army has
a concrete plan in place which is
executed by the soldiers. Investing
too needs a financial plan which takes
into consideration the investor’s age,
existing wealth, time horizon, risk
appetite etc.
Just like it is practically impossible
to protect our borders with Army
or Navy or Air Force in isolation
and consequently the armed forces
comprise of all three; your portfolio
needs a combination of different asset
classes to serve different roles. As
an investor, asset allocation of your
portfolio is as critical as the securities
you choose. Right balance between
Equity, Debt and Gold coupled with
adequate sectoral diversification is
necessary to cushion your portfolio from
market shocks.
In no other domain is the role of
a leader as important as it is in armed
forces. Leaders at various rungs in the
armed forces need to have foresight,
good temperament, flexibility and
patience among other things to marshal
their resources well. Further, they need
to have conviction in their decision
making even in the face of adversity.
Likewise, an investor needs to possess
these very attributes to grow his wealth
over the long term.
In any armed conflict, it is
advantageous at times to pre-empt an
enemy’s move and move swiftly before
the enemy plays his cards. While it’s
practically not possible to pre-empt
market movement and time the markets,
one can start investing early to allow
money more time to grow over the years.
Last but not the least, as a soldier,
there are times when being patient and
waiting for the enemy to make a mistake
or waiting for an opportune moment to
attack is imperative. Likewise, Investors
too, need to be patient and stick to their
investment plan irrespective of short
term volatility. In fact, investors can
increase their investment during such
times. By staying invested and investing
more when markets yield negative
returns in the short term, investors
increase the likelihood of superior
wealth creation in the long run.
It is difficult to think of a strong
stable country without thinking of
national security. Likewise, one cannot
aspire to lead a fulfilling life without
financial security. This Army day (15th
Jan), let’s appreciate the efforts of our
armed forces and make a new year’s
resolution to win the battle against
inflation and financial insecurity
through sound financial planning.
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.
144
JANUARY 2020

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
EASY REPAYMENT OPTIONS AND
NO PENALTY ON FORECLOSURE
• Avail Finance Against Rent Income
• Overdraft facility also available
• Special offer to Builders and Developers
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CONTACT US
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Half Page hor 203 x 127.5.indd 1
OF GREAT FOOD & WARM CONVERSATIONS
IMAGINE YOURSELF TAKING A SIP
OF your morning brew while silently
meditating on the cascading white
waters of the Athirappilly Falls,
crashing from great heights onto the
calm and composed Chalakudy river.
Imagine listening to the wild melody
of chirping wood shrikes and tooting
hornbills and the ever so mischievous
Nilgiri Langurs hankering playfully
for your attention. That’s just your
morning ritual at Samroha, the only
5-star resort at Athirappilly.
Barely two hours from Cochin
International Airport, this is one
of those destinations that thrive on
last-minute weekend getaway plans –
owing to its easy access, picturesque
landscapes and the fun activities
to indulge in. Samroha offers you a
chance to experience a bit of both a
quiet retreat as well as an energy filled
culture trip.
Life at Samroha is quintessentially
laidback. You can start your day with
a little walk down the gardens by
the river and settle down at a cozy
meditation spot of your choice, to
simply breathe and feel alive. The other
option would be a nice, relaxing swim
at the pool looking out at the valley and
the waterfalls. Then head to Zatkara
restaurant, to be greeted by the
aromas wafting from the traditional
11/25/2019 10:55:21 AM
breakfast spread. A weekend can
never be complete without good food
or great conversations, and the resort
has mastered the art of both. To help
take the weight of the world off your
shoulders, step into Nava Spa, a unique
Ayurvedic Massage and Spa Centre,
that specialises in natural therapies.
Should you ever feel the need for
some excitement and adventure, take
a hike to the base of the falls. For the
more outdoorsy lot, there are guided
treks to the Sholayar forests and jeep
safaris to Valparai — perfect reasons
to get into your camping boots and get
out your cameras. For a brush with the
past, there are tribal villages that you
could visit near the forest. For those
travelling with kids, there are two
wonderful water-themed amusement
parks right next door.
So plan your visit to Samroha to
bring harmony into your life!
145
JANUARY 2020

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
A PERFECT WEDDING
DESTINATION
DESTINATION WEDDING ON YOUR MIND? Novotel Goa
Dona Sylvia Resort overlooking the Cavelossim Beach offers
a perfect Goan ambience for a dream wedding.
The resort has always resonated with old-world charm
and new-world luxury. The property provides a glimpse
into the rich traditional Portuguese culture through a mix
of contemporary and local heritage architecture, built like a
small luxury village in itself.
South Goa certainly gets you hitched with some scenic
and paradisiacal seascapes and landscapes for your wedding.
Just minutes away from the Cavelossim Beach, the resort
looks awesome for a wedding experience on the dazzling
white sands. Being the best wedding destination where the
guests can have a good time, the picturesque resort offers
a large banquet and meeting spaces that are well equipped
to make your event monumental. Adorned with the palm
trees and landscaped gardens, the magnificent seaside lawns
overlooking the beach, seem magical and spectacular, when
beautified for any wedding traditions.
The team of high-end chefs make and bake the food with
utmost perfection and ensure that the lip-smacking cuisines
make the guests happy. The venue boasts of multiple dining
and bar options which serve your tongue tantalising food.
The lavish buffet spreads, from breakfast to dinner, offer a
plethora of cuisines ranging from Goan, Marwadi, Gujarati,
Chinese, Italian, Mexican and Lebanese, and give the
guests a top-notch experience.
The resort works individually to create a personalised
and special wedding cake as per the choice of bride and
groom. The beautifully built Mediterranean-styled villas
also offer the perfect setting for honeymoon, to make the
wedding couple feel truly special.
So, start planning now. It’s time to exchange your sacred
vows with your soul mate.
CHEMICAL-FREE SKINCARE
FROM LOTUS ORGANICS+
LOTUS HERBALS WORKS WITH the commitment of
giving a healthy and chemical free life to its consumers.
Keeping up with its vision of clean and natural beauty,
Lotus Herbals has launched a new brand Lotus
Organics+. Made of 100 per cent certified organic
actives, the skincare products under this brand include
selective botanical extracts, cold pressed oils, fresh
and pure butters and steam distilled pure essential oils.
Realising the rising consumer demand for chemicalfree
skincare, the skincare line has products with
no parabens, petrolatum, mineral oil, paraffin,
sulfates and other harmful chemicals like pesticides,
herbicides, fungicides and fertilisers. With no use of
artificial fragrance, artificial colour or preservatives,
the products are 100 per cent vegetarian and leave
your skin feeling soft and hydrated. The Divine Care
Range includes Nutritive Crème, Nourish Face Wash
and Nutritive Hydrating Lotion with Irish Moss;
Restorative Night Creme with Macademia Nut Oil,
Petals Toner Mist and Pristine Purifying Face Wash
with Frangipani; Holistic Regenerating Exfoliator and
Blissful Perfecting Masque with Acai Berry; Blissful
Renewal Masque with French Clay; Mystic Soothing
Body Butter with Shea Butter; Mystic Brilliance
Body Lotion with Argan Oil; Mystic Indulgence Body
Lotion with Olive Butter; Soothing Hand Crème
with WildRose; Eternal Comfort Hand Crème with
Cranberry and Luxurious Comfort Hand Crème with
Shea Butter. The Precious Brightening Range made up
of White Peony includes Crème, Night
Crème; Serum+Creme; Exfoliator and
Face Wash.
146
JANUARY 2020

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
IN PURSUIT OF PURPOSE
THE BEGINNING OF A NEW
of the island, the premium resort
DECADE will witness a transformed overlooks the Mediterranean Sea with
International Music Summit (IMS) at stunning views to Formentera and is
a new luxurious venue. The premier conveniently placed for Ibiza Town
platform for business, culture and and the airport. For the first time in
education in global electronic music, IMS history the summit will privatise
returns to Ibiza in 2020 for its 13th the entire resort for attending
edition and will be held at Destino delegates to create an intimate,
Pacha Resort owned by the Pacha immersive setting for networking and
Group.
presenting the summit agenda.
Located at the top of a cliff in
Since its inception, IMS has pledged
the exclusive Cap Martinet area to identify areas in which positive
ADVANCED HAIR
TRANSPLANTATION CENTER
HAIR TRANSPLANTATION IS A
SURGICAL PROCEDURE used for
the correction of androgenic alopecia
(AGA), cicatricial (scarring) alopecia,
or any form of permanent hair loss
in both men and women. There are
two methods of hair transplant – the
follicular unit transplant (FUT) also
called as strip method; and follicular
unit extraction (FUE) known as
suture-less or scar-less method.
For good hair transplant results,
great artistic ability on the part
of the surgeon is a must. He must
know how to aesthetically create
natural, feathered gradients of hair
that are totally undetectable. Mutual
understanding and direct one-to
one-conversations with the
patient are important to know
procedure best suitable for
the outcome.
Dr Suneet Soni, an internationally
accredited hair transplant surgeon,
has more than 1,500 successful hair
transplants to his credit. Director of
Medispa Laser and Cosmetic Surgery
Centre, Dr Soni is a certified M.Ch
plastic surgeon doing exclusive
cosmetic surgery and hair transplant.
Being one of the few surgeons in India
who can perform both FUE and FUT
with equal efficiency, his artistic skill
and medical knowledge is committed
to providing a hairline design with
dense packing of hair and scarless
transformation can occur, encouraging
debate and proactively working towards
change, with a continued focus on
sustainability, wellness and self-care,
diversity and equality in electronic music.
The summit is again hosted with the
team from SheSaid.So, who are also the
summit’s partner in Diversity & Inclusion.
The summit aims at uniting the
entire ecosystem of the genre from
over 50 countries across three days
of conversation, connection and
celebration. During IMS Week delegates
will experience a carefully curated
summit of inspiring keynotes and
discussions, speed dating business
opportunities, industry networking
sessions, entry to many Ibiza opening
parties, the IMS Legends Award dinner,
access to IMS wellness platform ARETÉ,
daily yoga, breath work and the annual
legendary IMS Dalt Vila celebration in
Ibiza Old Town in a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
trichophytic closure with no visible marks.
Dr Soni is the only Indian surgeon
awarded with European (Spanish
University) professorship for Hair
Transplant Surgery. Medispa has been
established as the most advanced hair
transplant center in the country. It is
equipped with an ultra modern operation
theater dedicated to cosmetic surgery
and hair transplantation with maximum
number of German microscopes for
transplantation. Currently, Medispa has its
presence in Delhi, Jaipur, UK & UAE.
E-mail: drsuneetsoni@gmail.com website:
www.medispaindia.in
150
JANUARY 2020

D I N E A T T H E M O S T L E G E N D A R Y
R E S T A U R A N T I N S O U T H M U M B A I , T H E
P I O N E E R S I N M U G A L A I & P E R S I A N
C U I S I N E
. . . A N D M A N Y M O R E L U X U R I O U S S E A T I N G
A R R A N G E M E N T S , T H A T C A N H O S T U P T O
3 5 0 P A X A T A T I M E .
- P E R S I A N _ D A R B A R _ @ P E R S I A N D A R B A R
T O R E S E R V E - 0 2 2 6 2 2 6 1 1 1 2 / 2 3 7 9
1 1 1 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
A L E X A N D E R T E R R A C E , 5 , D R .
B A B A S A H E B A M B E D K A R R D ,
B Y C U L L A E A S T , M U M - 2 7
151
JANUARY 2020

BLAZE UP, ADD
COLOUR TO
YOUR STYLE
SHELTON SHIRTS WAS FORMED
as a serious contender into the
world of textile in the year 1988 by
Mr.P.Gnanaraj. It has unfolded the
meaning of passion towards fashion
with its showcase of vibrant designs.
The colourful range of shirts by
Shelton are merely the expression of
one's unique identity.
In the year 1993, their
manufacturing unit in Vallioor
employed around 800 employees. The
main aim was to provide opportunity
for women residents who lived there.
IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
Every product
of Shelton shirts has
a different look and feel, thus its
proven exclusivity had widened the
pool of content consumers. This epic
feat is no doubt propelled by a team
of creative and skilled designers.
They work behind the scene catering
every level of the society by and large
making it financially feasible.
Their professional collection
are more than 50,000
demonstrating unique shades
and innumerable choice for
trend lovers. Men's fashion
by Shelton is now intended to
shift its gear towards wedding
vogue. In challenging festive
seasons, Shelton shirts formulate
with fresh promising approach to
bring the best for the consumers.
As a leading Men’s shirts and
trousers manufacturer in India they
have a strong client base in the UAE.
The products are being exported
from India to many parts of the
Middle East.
More than three decades, Shelton
shirts are confident enough to throw
their efforts to make men feel good,
smart and special.
www.sheltonshirts.in
A BOTTLE
OF JOY
BRAND
All the way back… to
1916. That’s where our
tasty tale started and
has been traveling with backpacks
loaded with bottles of joy !! Our unique
preparation by a team of beverage
experts is what we take pride of.
With prime concern over the well
being of our customers, our healthy
composition is definite to thrill your
taste buds.
BUILT
A fully automated state of the
art facility to table out all our
manufacturing requirements, greatly
assists in the profound success of
brand kalimark. Advanced tech on par
with international players, Kalimark
has left no stone unturned to ensure an
optimum operational performance and
a premium quality drink. Constantly
in lieu with market trends, Kalimark
strives to provide the best that there is.
POWER
We have right skilled and experienced
professionals, which we call
Kalimark's strength. We believe the
success of Kalimark brand is the yield
through the right human capital. Our
team is the pride of Kalimark, we
always boast of it, which proves that
best resources, best product.
IDENTITY
This young 103 year brand
accomplished its new heights by the
younger generation. In 1959, Cities like
Chennai, Tirunelveli, Madurai, were
the next to enjoy the famous drink
Bovonto, a soft beverage in 1959. It was
Bovonto that stood as the foundation
for Kalimark to experience the
championship of soft drinks. Kalimark
got its firm shape ever since the release
of Bovonto. The generation taken
Kalimark to a far excelling extent to
several towns in TamilNadu and now
propelling towards PAN India.
Kalimark has numerous
accomplishments in the past decade
and has a solid place in the market
in the last decade. With an equipped
manufacturing unit, Kalimark has
shown a remarkable output. The pet
bottles that have been sent out of
the plant, has not just quenched the
thirst, but has built trust among the
customers.
152
JANUARY 2020

BEYOND THE DUNES
AND ALL IMAGINATION
you discover an Arabian
treasure with glistening pools,
nestled in the golden sands.
This hidden palace invites
you to countless adventures,
endless relaxation and
unforgettable indulgence.
But what to do first?
It doesn’t really matter when
you have it all at your fingertips.
YOUR EXTRAORDINARY STORY
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara
#InAbuDhabi
visitabudhabi.ae

DETOX TEA RANGE IN A
DELECTABLE TASTE
THE DAYLONG RANGE OF
Detox tea from Just Good Food
Co. promises to detox your body
while enticing your taste buds
with flavourful and sunny notes
of choicest Darjeeling tea blends.
The range consists of leaf-grade
tea harvested in April (the first
crop of the year that goes into
premium brands) and then blended with age-old recipes
by a 6th generation family of tea blenders. The tea range
consists of flavours popular with Indian tea connoisseurs
and instead of tea bags, it comes in elegant FDA-approved
perforated aluminum tea sticks (each stick makes about four
cups of tea) with revitalising aroma. Totally natural with no
preservatives or chemicals, it comes in two variants – with
honey sticks and without honey sticks.
IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
FEEL THE FORCE WITHIN
CD RED CARPET COLLECTION
BE THE CENTER OF UNFAIR ATTENTION with CD Red
Carpet Collection. Move in your own orbit and feel the
cosmos turn its gaze on you. Become a cause as you adorn
one such energy. Take a moment to soak it all in as the world
lies suspended. These high-style-quotient shirts are equally
at home whether you are attending the awards or receiving
them. Italian Linen, blended fabrics and sharp cuts.
Shop online at www.cdshirts.com or walk in to The
Store at 64, Wodehouse Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400 005
or call 91 22 61522300.
Follow us on facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/
cdshirts
TAILOR-MADE HAIR OIL
FOR HEALTHY LOCKS
THIS CHILLY WEATHER, bid goodbye to frizzy hair
and dry scalp and welcome healthy tresses
as Bare Anatomy, a personalised hair
care brand, launches non-sticky and
custom-made hair oil for a full-fledged
haircare regime. After carefully
examining the various facets of
an individual’s personal data e.g.
lifestyle, diet, age, hair problems
and goals, the oil is uniquely
curated as per the hair type and
requirements to resurrect lifeless
hair. The oil is meticulously
formulated for deep nourishment
of the scalp and roots with
botanical extracts. The unique
formula pampers your locks with
the right amount of hydration and
nourishment and works wonders
to bring dull hair back to life.
BEAT THE 3 PM SLUMP
WITH NATURAL HONEY
FEELING HAZY AT WORK
post lunch? Just take a
shot of Sweet Spot, an allnatural
Himalayan multiflora
honeysticks from Just
Good Food Co. Packed with
the goodness of essential
nutrients and rich in
antioxidants, these tiny 8 gm
honeysticks are your mini
powerhouse and all-natural
energy bar (minus the bad
sugars) on the go. Available in
a pocket size pack of 10 sticks,
they are easy to carry along
in your laptop and hand bags.
Just pour it into your green
matcha, milk, or pre-workout
shake and kickstart with
crackling energy.
154
JANUARY 2020

SIMPLE IS
SUSTAINABLE
ARCHITECT LAURIE BAKER’S
PHILOSOPHY OF MINIMISING COST
WHILE CREATING STRUCTURES OF
SIMPLE BEAUTY, LEFT A LEGACY OF
BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS. HE IS KNOWN
AS ‘THE GANDHI OF ARCHITECTURE’.
BY BRINDA GILL
HERITAGE
PAINTINGS
IN THE HEART OF THAMPANOOR
in Thiruvananthapuram, abuzz with
traffic, shops, billboards and more,
stands an unusual cylindrical exposed
brick structure with three bands of
small openings and a projecting line in
between them spiralling up, and a
funnel — like structure emerging from
the roof. If the exterior intrigues the
onlooker to step in, the interiors
instantly captivate as curious visitors
walk up a ramp edging the inner core to
the left and seating to the right while
the wafting fragrance of filter coffee
and South Indian snacks whets the
appetite.
The endearing building, the everpopular
Indian Coffee House for locals,
is invariably on the must-visit list of
visitors to the state capital. For in its
efficient use of space, functionality as a
coffee house, uniqueness of form, use of
the simplest materials namely exposed
brick, and the use of the traditional
Indian architectural element of jalis
(now closed with coloured plastic), its
156
JANUARY 2020

HERITAGE
ARCHITECTURE
appeal to different age-groups, the
lovely structure stands tall and speaks
volumes of the philosophy of architect
Laurie Baker whose quiet architectural
gems dot the city.
A TURN OF EVENTS
It was a quirk of fate that brought young
Laurie Baker to India. Born in
Birmingham in 1917 into a Methodist
family, Baker became a Quaker in his
teens and its ideals (that stressed
simplicity, austerity, equality and work
as an offering to God) influenced and
shaped him. He studied architecture at
the Birmingham Institute of Art and
Design, and graduated when he was just
20 year of age.
Opting for voluntary work during
World War II, he served in China and
was asked to return to England for rest
in 1943. On the return trip, there was a
delay in his getting a ship to England as
a result of which he spent three months
in Mumbai. During this time he
fortuitously attended Gandhiji’s talks
and met the leader. Young Baker was
greatly inspired by Gandhiji’s ideology
and his philosophy regarding buildings:
Gandhiji felt structures should be built
with materials sourced from within a
file — mile radius of the site.
Hearing of Mission to Lepers
requiring “A builder-architect-engineer
sort of person” in India, Baker returned
to India in 1945. He took on the
responsibilities of the role, working
on-site to design, build as well as
convert existing treatment centres into
treatment hospitals for leprosy patients.
He later met Dr Elizabeth Jacob
working with leprosy patients, and
their shared belief system saw them get
married in 1948.
On a trekking honeymoon the couple
reached Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand,
where they settled, looked after the
locals and lived for 16 years. And it was
during this time that Baker observed
local architecture and found it was
simple, functional, built in response to
the site and to the local requirements,
and with local materials. Engaging with
the locals, he integrated his academic
learning with their traditions and skills
to build schools, hospitals and
community buildings.
In 1963, the Bakers moved to
Vagamon, a hilly region in central
Kerala, and continued a similar life of
helping the local community in health
care and building schools and health
centres. Some years later they moved to
Thiruvananthapuram, where Baker
was steadily involved in a spectrum of
projects from low-cost houses to
fishermen’s villages, residences,
churches, schools, institutions,
hospitals and more, thus bequeathing
the city with architecture that
conveyed his philosophy and carving
out a style that came to be known by
his name.
BAKER STYLE
Baker used techniques such as the
rat trap method of laying bricks
(wherein bricks are placed vertically
with a hollow between them to save
material), and materials such as
Mangalore tiles and recycled elements
158
JANUARY 2020

HERITAGE
ARCHITECTURE
to save cost, yet created buildings
graced with elegance and character.
Perhaps the most visibly identifiable
feature of his buildings is the poetic
play of brick work in myriad ways,
reminiscent of jalis in traditional
Indian architecture, to bring in views of
the outdoors while offering privacy,
natural light and breeze without the
glare or rain. Such brick work
transforms simple walls into patterned
canvases that yield a play of light and
“What makes his work even more remarkable is the way in which he
draws creative sustenance from the environment in which he works,
absorbing vernacular patterns of construction and individual sties of
living to such a degree that he is able to give his clients the comfort
and east of homes and institutions that are firmly rooted in the soil
upon which they stand. All this is done keeping in mind the special
needs of those who will inhabit or use these pleas.”
ARCHITECT GAUTAM BHATIA in his book Laurie Baker Life, Works & Writings
shadow in the interiors.
Baker designed buildings that
organically embraced the lay of the
land, the plot size and existing trees,
inner courtyards and multi-purpose
spaces, brought a bit of nature indoors
and offered views of the outdoors.
Through the designing and building
process he kept in mind the
requirements and budget of those who
would use the spaces. He did away with
ornamentation and instead opted for
unfussy features such as built-in
seating. It is these structures that add
another dimension to the capital city
that enjoys a noble bearing with its
stately temples, palaces and museums.
Among the buildings designed by
Baker, that can be visited or seen by the
public in Thiruvananthapuram, are the
India Coffee House, that packs his
design philosophy in a compact space;
the Loyola auditorium and the Loyola
chapel that offers a tryst with the
divine with its simplicity and light
streaming in through the openings on
the altar wall; the Centre for
Development Studies with its array of
buildings infused with a mesmeric play
of light and shadow through the
undulating walls of patterned
brickwork. A short drive away at
Vilappilsala is SEWA, designed by
Baker, as well as the Laurie Baker
Centre for Habitat Studies (LBC) in
sync with its natural environs and thus
speaking volumes of its aim to further
sustainable development.
Baker passed away in 2007 at the age
of 90 leaving behind a legacy that
inspired many students of architecture,
practising architects and designers, and
people at times ask for a Baker-style
residence, office or institute. In a world
that pushes for sustainability in design,
apparel, architecture and more, the
works of the assuming stalwart silently
shines and shows a way forward. ■
162
JANUARY 2020

MELANGE
TAROT
YOUR FORECAST THIS MONTH
BY SRRINIVAS IYER
Aries
Rare formation of
Taurus
The focus is
Gemini
The areas of
Cancer
This month your
Leo
This is an
Virgo
You are full of
planetary happens
on evolving
partnership, short
opponents have an
extraordinary month
energy and put
this month. Bow
technologies, which
distance travel is
upper hand on active
for you. Romance,
lot of efforts
down to existence
are not pursued by
energised during this
joint projects. In
spirituality, fame,
this month to
for this unique gift.
many, such as start-
transit. This means
matter of litigations,
communication,
accomplish your
Financially a good
ups, inventions, space
that your spouse
stick to the approach
children’s
goals. Home life is
period is coming
missions, strategic
influence and luck
of right things to
achievements,
busy. Renovation,
ahead this month.
operations and so
on your fortunes
do and Justice will
higher learning are
moving homes,
You put efforts in
on. Partnerships
is extremely good.
prevail. Children’s
energized in your
parties, self-
pursuing innovative
work well during this
Focussing on finances
needs and priorities
chart. Don’t lend
expression, inviting
technologies and
phase and travel is
of near and dear ones
keep you on your
money to anyone
friends are all
success is assured.
indicated.
is important.
toes this month.
this month.
indicated.
ZEBRONICS
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Understanding this, Zebronics
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leading brand of IT and
gaming peripherals, sound
solutions, mobile and lifestyle
accessories, and surveillance
products, launched the Zeb
Sound Bomb earphone. A
part of its True Wireless
Stereo range, the
earphone comes with
smooth texture, glossy
finish, easy to switch on
and no hassle pairing.
It also comes with an in-ear design
and super snug fit being super sturdy
and firm on the ear that provides a
passive noise cancellation because of
its design. It offers a playback time of
6 hours (that can be extended up to 18
hours of playback) with the charging
case, which is a truly compact piece
that can easily fit into a pocket. The
magnetic design with space for the
earphones helps fit in magnetically
without any hassle.
With just a touch on the top button,
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switch on/off. Turn your background
music into a true hearing experience.
Product Price is Rs. 2699.
164
JANUARY 2020

MELANGE
TAROT
YOUR FORECAST THIS MONTH
BY SRRINIVAS IYER
Libra
The financial arena
of your chart is
active. Income
and expenses are
highly energized
this month for
you. Breakthrough
for writers,
sportspersons (such
as shooters, boxers
and swimmers) and
the like.
Scorpio
Your passion
and energy is
unstoppable,
helping you break
all obstacles
and achieve
the impossible.
Financial miracle
happens, with
some of you have
hitting the jackpot
in your life.
Sagittarius
Enjoy the ride of
luck and alchemy
that you have
been enjoying
since last month.
This month bring
you a pinnacle of
success in life. This
phase leaves a
lasting imprint on
you for the years
to come.
Capricorn
Everything
connected to
overseas matters
are energized.
You will too
experience the
magical moments
and alchemy
this month.
Unbelievable
events are
happening.
Aquarius
You are luck for your
social connections
and they express
their gratitude for
you openly. Social
gathering and
celebrations are
indicated. Money,
love, romance,
educations and
children make you
proud.
Pisces
The alchemy and
magical moments,
due to the planetary
transit and unique
formations is
happening in the
area of your business
and professional
life. Expansion of
home and change
of profession is also
indicated.
The above is based on the sun sign and planetary transits thereof. It is general in nature. For specific readings, seek out expert advice based on
your individual chart. (Astrologer Srrinivas Iyer is based in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. He can be contacted on srrinivas9@gmail.com)
SRM BAGS THE SWACHHATA RANKING AWARD
SRM INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE and
Technology, Kattankulathur has
been ranked No. 1 under the category
of AICTE-Residential Universities
in the third edition of Swachhata
Ranking Award. The award was given
by MHRD as a part of its Swachh
Bharat Mission
to promote
environmental
hygiene in the
Higher Education
system and beyond. SRMIST excelled
in the parameters of hygiene like
student-toilet ratio, hostel hygiene,
water conservation, campus greenery,
harnessing solar energy, rainwater
harvesting , waste segregation and
solid waste management. The award
was presented to Registrar of SRMIST
Dr N Sethuraman at the AICTE award
ceremony held in New Delhi.
SRMIST also secured the third
rank in AICTE’s Clean and Smart
Campus Awards. The process of
ranking consists of assessing the
institutes on Impact of deployment
of digital technology in order for the
students, faculty and management in
the campus to reduce consumption of
natural resources (such as paper, gas,
energy etc) and alignment of the latest
digital trends like IoT, Big Data and
Cloud Networking to achieve various
aspects of sustainability in the campus,
specifically to contribute to United
Nations’ SDGs.
SRMIST also came first in the
AICTE’s ‘One student One tree’
campaign, where 50,000 saplings
were planted in 26 villages near
Kattankulathur and Kundrathur
Panchayath. This initiative was done
by students from NSS, NCC, Unnat
Bharat Abhiyan, Swachhata-hi Seva
and student chapter for engineers
association.
166
JANUARY 2020

LEADING
GYM EQUIPMENT
BRAND
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KOLKATA : 982010 0695, AHMEDABAD : 932212 6262, LUCKNOW : 992044 6664, INDORE : 915272 7325, CHANDIGARH : 9999011211
Email : sales@beingstrong.in Website : www.beingstrong.in beingstrongindia

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
SOARING HIGH WITH
SKINDERELLA
A PAGEANT THAT CELEBRATES EVERY GIRL-NEXT-DOOR, GIVES HER WINGS TO FLY
When did we become
conditioned to
believing in the
unrealistic standards
of beauty set by the society? We live in
a world where beauty is overburdened
with having an hour-glass figure, being
fair and flawless. These clichés play
havoc with the self-esteem of young
girls and make them feel underconfident
in chasing their dreams.
However, in this world where girls
are put into immense pressure to airbrush
and edit their photos to look
stunning on social media, there’s a
pageant that celebrates the realness of
every girl and encourages them to be
their genuine and natural versions.
Skinderella is a clutter-breaking
pageant which liberates the millennial
and Gen Z from the fixed and rigid
stereotypes of beauty standards set for
them. Skinderella is an exclusive
property of skincare brand, Skinella.
Skinderella is a beauty pageant
which is an antithesis of the typical
beauty pageants. Moreover,
Skinderella is a platform that
empowers and enables young girls (15
to 25 years of age) to question age-old
beauty norms, overcome societal
pressures and find their very own
meaning of beauty.
In the third year running,
Skinderella is set for its quest to find
the most #SuperNaturally girl of 2020.
She will win the coveted crown with a
cash prize of Rs. 1.5 lakh, a sponsored
holiday and a chance to be a face of
Skinella.
The contest is open to all girls and
registrations can be made from
Skinella’s exclusive app on android and
iOS devices. Skinella’s team is also
visiting selected colleges in India to
make the registration interface
available. In its third season this year,
over 15, 000 participants have already
registered. Registration is open till
15th January. The Grand Finale of
Skinderella 2020 will be held on 10th
February in New Delhi.
However, Skinderella is not merely
a pageant, but a journey of these young
girls in finding their own definitions of
beauty, and a platform that allows her
to be simply her. It has transformed the
lives of the contestants who come from
humble backgrounds in a rather
dramatic way, and it has given them
confidence and wings to realise their
dreams.
Skinella is the brainchild of
cosmetic engineer and entrepreneur
Dolly Kumar. Skinella offers a range of
skin care products made with the
power of super-foods for a young target
group of 15-25 year old girls. Skinella
products are vegan and PETA certified.
168
JANUARY 2020

TRAVEL
GETAWAYS
5 EASY WEEKEND
GETAWAYS
FROM MUMBAI
TAKE A BREAK FROM MUMBAI’S HUSTLE AND BUSTLE TO HIT THESE WEEKEND
GETAWAYS. DISCOVER PLACES FOR HISTORY LOVERS, NATURE ENTHUSIASTS,
WINE CONNOISSEURS AND BEACH BUMS, ONE WEEKEND AT A TIME.
BY EDWINA D’SOUZA
MAHABALESHWAR
Mahabaleshwar is the ultimate retreat if
you want to get away from the crowds of
Mumbai. Whether you’re visiting as a solo
traveller, couple or family, this quaint hill
station won’t disappoint you.
The Elephant’s Head Point and Kate
Point offer spectacular views of the
mountain ranges. Families can spread out
the picnic mat by the Venna Lake and
enjoy boating at sunset; or go strawberry
picking at local farms and buy jams and
squashes from the popular Mapro Garden.
It is believed that the British brought the
strawberries to Mahabaleshwar (then the
summer capital of the Bombay
presidency) from Australia. Its sister town
Panchgani throws a nice colonial vibe too
and offers breathtaking views of the
Sahyadris. Kids and adults alike can spend
some time strolling through India’s first
book village in Bhilar, sandwiched
between Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani,
and admire the community initiative of
turning local houses into libraries.
Pratapgad Fort, literally translating to
‘Valour Fort’, is a historically significant
site of the Battle of Pratapgad and worth
the drive 25 kilometres away.
Distance: 260 km from Mumbai
MURUD-JANJIRA
Western Maharashtra is blessed with a
wonderful coastline stretching 720 km and
dotted with beaches – both popular and
pristine. Beach bums can capitalise on the
weekend and go beach hopping along
Maharashtra’s coastline. Of all the beaches
along the coastline, Murud Janjira is a must
visit.
The Janjira Fort, ruled by the Siddis of
Africa, is an imposing structure in the
Arabian Sea. The marine fort has a
distinction of being India’s only undefeated
fort on the western coast, in spite of several
attacks from the British, Dutch and Shivaji
Maharaj of the Maratha Empire. The fort
remained unconquered until it became
part of the Indian Territory after
independence from the British in 1947. The
nearby Padmadurg Fort, a protected
monument under the Archaeological
Survey of India, is equally stunning and can
be admired from afar as tourists require
special permissions to visit the structure. A
morning walk on the Murud beach is
pleasantly nice, while evenings bustle with
horse rides and speed boats, bhel puri and
corn cob stalls. On the way to Agardanda
Jetty, drop by the Khokri village to marvel
at the 18th century Khokri tombs, albeit in
ruins, built by the Siddi dynasty. Finally,
end the night by treating yourself to a
scrumptious seafood thali.
Distance: 160 km from Mumbai
170
JANUARY 2020

TRAVEL
GETAWAYS
MATHERAN
Matheran needs little introduction. The
smallest hill station in India is a popular
getaway because of its close proximity
from Mumbai and Pune. An eco-sensitive
zone, Matheran looks straight out of the
1800s with limited urbanisation and a
vehicular ban. At 2,000 feet above sea
level, the temperatures are perpetually
cool surrounded by dense forests, making
it a great destination all-year round.
Spread across less than 8 km,
Matheran boasts of over 30 points, one
lake and three temples. Each of the points
offer spectacular views of the Western
Ghats but the Alexander Point, Louisa
Point, One Tree Hill, Lord Point and
Charlotte Lake should be on your list.
Strolling through the shops at MG Road
feels like a film set. The heritage toy train
from Neral to Matheran rewards visitors
with breathtaking views of the Sahyadri
mountain range and cascading waterfalls.
Coming by road? Visitors can park their
cars at Dasturi Park, the last motorable
stop, and hike along the railway tracks
soaking in stunning vistas to reach there.
Distance: 60 km from Mumbai
PHALTAN
Not many would know but Phaltan
situated in the Satara district was a
Maratha princely state of British India.
This little town is great for a rural getaway
with windmill farms, green meadows and
stunning waterfalls.
Stroll around the Rajwada and admire
the understated elegance of the royal
home of the Nimbalkars, who ruled
Phaltan from 1860 to 1916. The courtyard
of the Rajwada has been a set for many a
Hindi films like Bhool Bhulaiyaa and
Khatta Meetha. Drive through the
countryside to reach Pusegaon village and
stand underneath giant windmills at the
sunset. Farming is big this side of town.
Phaltan is one of the largest producers of
sugarcane and its pomegranates are of
export quality. Stroll around the tomato,
marigold and sugarcane fields, milk a cow
or take a bullock cart ride at local farms
that are welcoming of tourists. Nature
lovers can drive down to the Thosegar
Waterfalls and those with a penchant for
history should visit the Ajinkyatara Fort
in the heart of Satara city. Pro tip: Stay at
Jakson Inns Phaltan, who is consistently
working to bring Phaltan on the tourist
map in Maharashtra; and opt for their
curated tours around the place.
Distance: 250 km from Mumbai
NASHIK
Nashik is quite a versatile location –
perfect for wine connoisseurs, a great
spiritual retreat and a haven for food
lovers. Nashik is the wine capital of India
and you’ll find vineyards here by the
dozen. While Sula Vineyards are
considered the pioneers in Indian wine
making, selling and distributing, others
like York, Grover Zampa and Soma are not
far behind. Wine enthusiasts can take a
full-day tour of some of these vineyards in
and around Nashik. Don’t forget to go
grape stomping during the seasonal
months from January to March. The Sula
fest is organised annually in the month of
February and promises visitors a great
atmosphere for art, music, dance, food,
culture and more wine.
Trimbakeshwar temple is home to one
of the twelve Jyotirlingas across India and
attracts pilgrims from all over
Maharashtra. For a taste of some authentic
local cuisine, try the spicy Nashik Misal
Pav at Sadhana Restaurant that is prepared
on a chulha and served with a side of papad.
Distance: 165 km from Mumbai
172
JANUARY 2020

BOOKS
REVIEWS
READER'S CORNER
What the serious bookworm is checking out this month
from Mughal India to the newest
brands pushing the envelope.
BECOMING HAFEEZ
CONTRACTOR: THE
MAKING OF AN
ARCHITECT
Harshad Bhatia, HarperCollins
India
From doodling on the edges of
his schoolwork to designing
some of the country’s iconic
buildings, Hafeez Contractor has
had an outstanding career. His
creations are said to have altered
the physical profile of
architecture in urban India. Based
on extensive research and
personal interactions with
Contractor, the author brings us a
book on the life and work of the
acclaimed architect-designer.
AFTERWARDNESS
Mimi Khalvati, Carcanet Press
The autobiographical title is rich
with Khalvati's personal history,
her Iranian origins and her long
years in Great Britain. The 55
sonnets draw from the author’s
memory, history, daily life,
intersecting geographies and
cultures, ancestral and acquired.
The author puts the Petrarchan
sonnet to striking use in the book.
COMING HOME
Sudha Murthy, HarperCollins
India
Told from Gopi’s
perspective, Coming Home, the
first book in the Gopi Diaries
begins with Gopi going to his
new home. The gorgeously
illustrated book for young
readers tells the story of how he
settles down with his loving,
human family. How Gopi sees
the world around him and what
he thinks of the people in his life
give the story a truly unique
flavour. Written in Sudha Murty's
inimitable style, these are books
children and adults will treasure
as the simple stories talk of basic
values even when told from a
dog’s perspective.
A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO
JAPAN: OBSERVATIONS
AND PROVOCATIONS
Pico Iyer, Penguin Random
House India
After 32 years in the country, Iyer
writes about his adopted home –
Japan. He draws on readings,
reflections and conversations with
Japanese friends to illuminate an
unknown place for newcomers, and
to give longtime residents a look at
their home through fresh eyes. The
playful guidebook gives readers a
glimpse into Japanese culture and
way of living.
ASTERIX AND THE
CHIEFTAIN’S DAUGHTER
Jean-Yves Ferri, Hachette India
Adrenaline is the teenage
daughter of chieftain
Vercingetorix. The Romans want
to capture her at any cost. Thus,
she is placed under Asterix and
Obelix's watch, but she has other
ideas and soon gives her new
guardians the slip. The race is on
to find her before the Romans do.
The author-illustrator duo mark
the series’ 60th birthday with this
new adventure.
SHIP OF SORROWS:
A NOVEL
Qurratulain Hyder, Women
Unlimited
Translated from Urdu by
Saleem Kidwai, this book
revolves around the lives of six
coming of age friends living in
mid-twentieth-century
Lucknow. The protagonists
hail from upper-class families
— some Hindus, some Muslims
and one English. The story
explored the bond between
them and the upheaval in their
lives caused during the years
leading up to Partition.
BUSINESS ON A PLATTER
Anoothi Vishal, Hachette
India
Over the past two decades,
India’s restaurant industry has
seen introduction of experiential
dining, modern Indian food,
private equity investment and
some notable exits. In Business
on a Platter, the author, building
on her observations of the sector,
analyses stories of survival, failure
and turnarounds, while also
tracing the history of food retail
THE STARLESS SEA
Erin Morgenstern, Doubleday
Canada
Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate
student in Vermont when he
discovers a mysterious book hidden
in the stacks. As he turns the
pages, he reads a story from his
own childhood. Bewildered, he
uncovers a series of clues that lead
him to an ancient library hidden far
below the surface of the earth.
Zachary travels through this
magical world, discovering his
purpose — in both the mysterious
book and in his own life.
176
JANUARY 2020

NEWS
Ajay Singh takes over as
WTTCII Chairman
The World Travel & Tourism Council,
India Initiative (WTTCII) has appointed
Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing
Director of SpiceJet, as its Chairman
for the year 2020. The announcement
was made at the launch of the
6th edition of
the WTTCII-
HOTELIVATE,
State Ranking
Survey 2019 in the
presence of Shri
Prahlad Singh Patel,
Honourable Minister
of State for Tourism
and Culture, and
other dignitaries.
“I am deeply
honoured to
take over as the
Chairman of the
World Travel &
Tourism Council,
India Initiative.
Given India’s rich
cultural diversity,
the travel and
tourism potential of our country is
unparalleled and I look forward to
working closely with the government
and the industry to realise this
potential,” said Mr Singh.
Mr Singh, who had served as the
Vice Chairman, WTTCII for the year
2019, took over from Mr. Rajeev
Talwar, Chief Executive Officer, DLF.
He is also on the Board of Governors
of the prestigious International Air
Transport Association.
SPICEJET
INSIDER
The latest edition of the State
Ranking Survey noted that states
such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
and Tripura had shown remarkable
improvement since its launch in 2009
while the North Eastern States had
also shown tremendous improvement.
It also stated how the recent policies
like the new E-Tourist Visa Policy, the
reduction of GST on hotels, have given
a big fillip to the industry and lauded
these new interventions made by the
Government.
The first State Ranking Survey
was launched back in 2009, with
the endeavour to encourage the
state governments and the political
leadership therein to take a more
favourable stance, to take cognizance
of the Tourism industry, which can
contribute significantly to the State’s
GDP, employment and infrastructure,
as well as have tangible social
impact.
The World Travel & Tourism Council,
India Initiative (WTTCII) was launched
in February 2000 to raise awareness
of the crucial role that travel and
tourism plays in the development and
growth of the economy in India.
Happy Christmas
As a part of Christmas celebration, SpiceJet donated porta cabin shelter to Delhi
government along with few other amenities to people staying in such shelters. The
inauguration of the porta cabin shelter was done by Delhi government minister.
The CSR activity was conducted on 23 December, 2019 wherein porta cabin was
deployed at DUSIB Rain Basera, Sarai Kale Khan, Near Metro Gate No. 2 with a
capacity of 20 beds, along with individual bedding. SpiceJet also donated 200
blankets, 20 heat convectors and 200 woollen caps along with the donation of
medicines for recovery shelter patients. There was lunch arrangement for 350 shelter
people at the event location.
177
JANUARY 2020

SPICEJET
INSIDER
SpiceJet
and Gulf Air
sign MoU to
explore greater
cooperation
SpiceJet has signed
a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU)
with Gulf Air, the
national carrier of the
Kingdom of Bahrain,
to explore greater
cooperation between
the two airlines
including an interline
and codeshare
agreement, coordinated cargo services,
engineering services and pilot training.
The MoU was signed by Ajay Singh,
Chairman and Managing Director,
SpiceJet and Krešimir Kučko, Chief
Executive Officer, Gulf Air in New
Delhi on November 20. Besides
looking at a codeshare and interline
agreement, the scope of the MoU
includes the two airlines exploring
growth opportunities beyond network
expansion by leveraging each other’s
strengths. SpiceJet and Gulf Air will
look at collaborating in the field of
pilot training to nurture talent in order
to deliver the finest resources for
both the airlines. The airlines will also
engage and collaborate to enhance
their respective cargo and engineering
services.
The signing of this MOU between
the two carriers aims at initiation of
collaboration between the two carriers,
and further strengthening the strong
ties between India and the Kingdom of
Bahrain.
SpiceJet to launch four
new international and
domestic flights
SpiceJet has launched four
new direct flights connecting
Thiruvananthapuram with Male
and Chennai thereby strengthening
its network in the southern part
of India. In view of the significant
tourism potential, SpiceJet is
introducing a direct flight on
the Thiruvananthapuram-Male
route. With the increased demand
from customers and reaffirming
its commitment on enhancing
domestic connectivity, SpiceJet
has also introduced new flights on
the Chennai-Thiruvananthapuram-
Chennai sector. All the new flights
will operate daily and SpiceJet will
deploy its Bombardier Q400 aircraft
on these routes. With the new flights,
passengers from Thiruvananthapuram
will be now able to easily travel to a
host of other cities both on SpiceJet’s
domestic as well as international
network.
SpiceJet gets Metro
check-in facility
SpiceJet is now among the
five airlines to avail of the
Metro check-in facility in Delhi.
Passengers flying out of Delhi’s
T3 terminal can obtain their
boarding passes at special
check-in counters set up at New
Delhi Metro Station. This new
service is a joint effort between
Delhi International Airport Limited
and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
This facility will close two hours
before the flight departure time.
Passengers will now thus be able
to drop
their
luggage
at the
counters
and travel
light to the
airport.
178
JANUARY 2020

SPICEJET
INSIDER
MY TOWN
Our ongoing series in which we look at various Indian cities
through the eyes of SpiceJet staffers. This month, Erykah
Vanisha Rebello, Cabin Crew, holds forth on Goa
Calangute, the beach largest beach in Goa
The famous Goan cuisine
Connection to the city: I am
originally from Goa, which is known
as the pearl of the orient and a
tourist paradise.
Best thing about Goa: From the
beaches, markets, spirituality,
food, parties, zipping through the
countryside captivating blend of
Portuguese and Indian culture,
everything about Goa lures me.
It is fun being here, it’s affordable
and definitely a welcome escape
from the chaos of the big cities.
Ever since my childhood I had the
opportunity to visit every beach
in Goa, watch sunset and sunrise,
make sand castles and so on.
Night scene in the city: Goa is a
famous tourist destination and the
smallest state in India. This mindblowing
destination harbours the
most exciting nightlife options. The
setting sun in Goa brings happiness
and lots of fun as this is the time
when Goa shines bright with
vibrant neon lights, great music and
tempting food.
Corner that serves fabulous seafood.
I have been visiting these restaurants
since my childhood with my family
and friends and it’s an amazing place
for non-vegetarian lovers. That apart,
there are eateries on the streets
where you can have the best steak
breads and Ross omelet.
Local attractions: Goa has abundant
beaches like Calangute, Candolim,
Baga, Palolem, Cabo de Rama,
Kakolem, Siridao and Bogmalo that
are great places to hang out. The
other places you can visit are the
Japanese Garden, Fort Aguada, an old
Portuguese fortification, the Basilica
of Bom Jesus, a historic church and a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Recommended places nearby:
The places near Goa are a perfect
amalgamation of hill stations, trekking
points and wildlife sanctuaries. There
are several places like Amboli, Malvan,
Tarkali in Maharashtra and Devbagh,
Gokarna, Hampi, Karwar in Karnataka
that that showcase beauty and offer
unforgettable travel experiences.
Favourite eating place: Goan
food has an authentic taste and all
its delicacies are mouthwatering!
Of the numerous restaurants I’ve
visited, Ritz Classic tops my list.
I also like Starlight and Martin’s
Other places and how does Goa
compare to them: Goa has its own
unique lifestyle. The way of living,
celebration, cuisine, everything is
different as compared to other cities
I’ve been to.
179
JANUARY 2020

SPICEJET
INSIDER
ST RS OF SPICEJET
Meet SpiceJet achievers from our ground operations and inflight
departments, who have stood out for their outstanding work
ASHOK
DELHI
Internal appreciation:
Ashok is a good team
player of our catering team, his
dedication towards work is always
appreciable. Hard worker, focused
and major support in day to day
operations. The positive attitude ,he
brings to work every day is exemplary.
Experience with SpiceJet: I am
grateful to Spicejet for the journey
thus far.This is a great team to wrok
with and always have the support
to move forward in the company. I
feel very proud to be a part of this
wonderful organisation. It's a delight
to work in an environment where
seniors respect you and appreciate
your hard work.
SHASHI SHEKHAR
GURUGRAM
Internal appreciation: Shashi
is a smart-working and
dedicated talent, and is a great person. His
attention to detail and coordination skills are
commendable. Through his balanced approach
towards work and life Shashi has displayed
that he has great potential to succeed, and is
an integral part of the Legal team.
Experience with SpiceJet: I have been working
in SpiceJet for over more than one and half
years now and I would say with pride that
my experence has helped me in my personal
growth and development. The management
and team members are all ears when it comes
to any issue, and always a step ahead in
maintaing a friendly line of communication
with everyone. It would be unfair to call this
workplace anything less than family as gives
me a sense of belonging.
CATERING
LEGAL TEAM
KAPIL SAGAR
GURGAON
Internal appreciation: Kapil
sagar is who looks after our
Quality control of our Catering team and
the dedication with which he work makes
most deserving. As a Chef he always tries
his best to serve quality of food items to
our guest. His Efforts( Quality , Quantity
with presentation he put in to deliver high
quality work for the company is really
commendable. We are truly honoured to
have a person like him on board
Experience with SpiceJet: My journey
with Spicejet has been splendid..
Theorganization encourgaes and provides
a platform to share our ideasopenly
and the constructive ideas always
implemented.It is a pleasure working with
my seniors and colleague.
PRASHANT MISHRA
GURUGRAM
Internal appreciation: I have
been with Prashant for three
months now and I feel he is a Goal oriented
and a Hard worker, he is someone who
does the necessary due diligence while
peforming his duties, a foodie but yes a
commited and a valuable team member…I
wish him all Luck
Experience with SpiceJet: The three
years of my association with SpiceJet
have been a splendid journey. The best
part of the voyage is that the team has
always been on friend terms and taught
me to do the things the way they work.
It would not be possible to enumerate all
the wonderful experiences but I would
certainly wish to express my gratitude
for the employee-friendly atmosphere
provided to me.
180
JANUARY 2020

SPICEJET
INSIDER
CATERING
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
MATHAVAN
MAA
Internal appreciation:
Mathavan is a proactive
person, who earned the trust,
admiration and respect of colleagues
with his honesty. His ability to accept
challenges and overcome them with
efficiency and excellence makes him
legendry in every sense. He never
hesitates to take up challenges and
complete tasks with ease
Experience with SpiceJet: I have been
working with Spicejet for a little under
three years now .Spicejet provides a
very healthy working atmosphere here
to learn and grow. I will strive to work
hard everyday here. The support and
hard work of my colleagues makes this an
amazing airline and workplace.
TAMVADA
SANDEEP
GURUGRAM
Internal appreciation:
Sandeep is more than just his work. He
has always gone the extra mile on any
assignment. His hard work, dedication
towards work is appreciated and
complimented.
Experience with SpiceJet: It has been
three years since I joined SpiceJet
and I must say it's been the most
wonderful and enriching experience
for me. I’ve had the opportunity to
enhance my legal acumen in the
aviation industry and I'm grateful to
SpiceJet for that. I would also like
to thank each one of my mentors
for putting their completelt faith
in me and entrusting me with the
assignments given to me.
VARUN BAHL
GURGAON
Internal appreciation: A
team member of few words
, Varun is an efficient and productive team
member.Handling critical complaints and
escalations is his forte. He is also a mentor
for new joinees and guides team members
well. Varun regularly features among Top
performers of the function and continuously
strive to give his best. His rich experience
with CE team helps in handling complex
complaints of customers seamlessly.
Experience with SpiceJet: It has been an
incredible journey of 5 years with SpiceJet. I
always strive to perform better each day and
achieve key deliverables. All this has been
possible due to the immense opportunities
given by this organisation. I am very proud to
be a part of an enterprising team.
LEGAL TEAM
AIKANSH GAUTAM
GURUGRAM
Internal appreciation:
Aikansh is a hard working
employee with great dedication towards
work. He has grasped a lot about the
work environment of SpiceJet and has
been awarded as "Spice Star" during
October-December 2017. We recognize
and appreciate his dedication and efforts.
Experience with SpiceJet: This is my
third year with SpiceJet now and the
experience that I have gained with the
Legal Team of SpiceJet and the Seniors
here has been truly wonderful. I am really
happy and thankful for being a part of
SpiceJet. I'm trying to do my best in all
the assignments and projects handed
over to me and I promise I will maintain
the same dedication and sincerity in the
coming years.
NAFEES AHMED
GURGAON
Internal appreciation: Along
with high degree of accuracy,
time is a key factor for resolution of customer
grievances on Social Media platforms and
Nafees is proficient in both. He is very
proactive in identifying the root cause of
customer’s concerns and taking up corrective
action with relevant functions. He is a valued
resource of CE team and very often brings
accolades. His positive demeanour reflects
his passion to excel in his field.
Experience with SpiceJet: It has been more
than 5 years since I am a part of SpiceJet
family. It’s an amazing feeling to be a part of
such a professional organization. I have learnt
and grown a lot with SpiceJet and would
continue taking up new challenges to expand
my horizons.
KUMAR DEVBRAT
GURGAON
Internal appreciation:
Devbrat is a quick and
dedicated learner. His smartness reflectes
in his work. He is zestful with "can do"
attitude, which we envision that it'll help
him achieve great heights in his career. We
are proud of him being part of the Legal
team.
Experience with SpiceJet: It's been six
months since I have joined SpiceJet,
and I must say the entire team has been
supportive and encouraging. I to take
this opportunity to thank my colleagues,
seniors and specially my mentor for
encouraging me and helping me stay
focussed. The staff at all levels makes
me feel more supported and respected I
look forward to continue working at this
wonderful organisation.
181
JANUARY 2020

SPICEJET
INSIDER
FLIGHT BOOKINGS
AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
SpiceJet’s mobile app has been revamped with a jazzy interface
and many more exciting features
It has a brand new interface, is much more faster and scores
very highly on user-friendliness. SpiceJet’s popular mobile
app now allows customers great convenience in making
and managing bookings, checking the status of flights and
knowing about exclusive, travel-related offers. The interface
is simple; even the origin of the 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 and in-flight meals. Customers can also prebook
excess baggage at discounted rates through this app.
The payment gateway of the app offers a variety of
options. Customers can pay via credit card, debit card,
net banking or wallets. You can download the official
SpiceJet app from Google Playstore
and App Store.
182
JANUARY 2020

SPICEJET
INSIDER
STEP: 1
Choose the required field. Fill in
the details and click on Search.
STEP: 2
Flight options according to the date
of travel are displayed. On selection
of the relevant flight, different fare
classes are displayed.
STEP: 3
Once the required flight option
has been selected, fill in your
contact details.
STEP: 4
Fliers can choose numerous add-on
options that will make the journey
hassle-free.
STEP: 5
Customers can pay via credit card,
debit card, net banking or wallets.
STEP: 6
Upon a successful check-in, the
customer receives the boarding pass
for an un-interrupted experience.
183
JANUARY 2020

SPICEJET
INSIDER
THE MID-AIR MENU
SpiceJet has revamped its menu with new
delicacies. Here's a quick glimpse of the
exciting range of mouth-watering options
BREAKFAST
SNACKS
SANDWICHES
CHICKEN
JUNGLEE in
marble bread
FRIED EGG ON
BUTTERED
BUN with
cheesy chicken
croquette and
oven roasted
cajun potatoes
LUNCH
MASALA
DOSA with
tomato onion
uttapam and
kanjivaram mini
idli in sambar
with coconut
chutney.
PANEER
TIKKA
SHASHLIK
with sliced
stuffed
tandoori aloo
and vegetable
croquette
SLICED
CHICKEN
SEEKH
KEBAB with
sliced stuffed
tandoori aloo
and vegetable
croquette
DINNER
CHEF’S CHOICE
TAWA FISH
MASALA on bed
of steamed rice
with tadka masoor
dal.
CUCUMBER,
TOMATO &
CHEESE in
multigrain
bread
CHICKEN
TIKKA EGG
BIRYANI
with mirch ka
salan
MURG
LABABDAR
on bed
of palak
pulao & dal
panchrattni
VEGETABLE
PASTA in
neapolitan
sauce.
VEGETABLE
BIRYANI with
mirch ka salan
TAWA
PANEER
KHURCHAN
with steamed
rice and tadka
masoor dal
More Chef’s Choice options available
while pre-booking online
PRE-BOOK YOUR MEAL AND
GET UP TO 20% OFF. T&C APPLY
184
JANUARY 2020

SPICEJET
INSIDER
ADD-
SEAT SELECTION DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL
SpiceMax Seats** Starting at M 799/- * Starting at M 1199 /-*
Preferred Seats - on Boeing
Ahead of exit row window /aisle M 350/- 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/-
Know more
about
SpiceJet’s
innovative
products
and services
Seat + Meal Combo
Combo Price M 399/- M 499/-
PRE-BOOK EXCESS BAGGAGE
5 kgs Up to M 1975/- Up to M 2775/-
10 kgs Up to M 3950/- Up to M 5250/-
15 kgs Up to M 5925/- NA
20 kgs Up to M 7900/- NA
30 kgs Up to M 11850/- 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 400/- per kg As per current excess baggage rate
At boarding gate M 400/- 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
CAKE M 750/- M 800/-
SPICE LOUNGE (Delhi, Hyderabad) M 750/- M 1400/-
SPICE LOUNGE (Ahmedabad) M 1000/- M 1400/-
SPICE LOUNGE (Kochi) M 1050/- M 1750/-
*PRICE WILL VARY ON DIFFERENT ROUTES
**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)
EXCEPT FOR CAKE, ALL THESE ADD-ONS ARE NOT APPLICABLE FOR SPICEBIZ
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
186
JANUARY 2020

SPICEJET
INSIDER
Rows:
Boeing 737
TYPICAL INTERIOR ARRANGEMENT
Boeing 737 - 700W (149 Passengers)*
Boeing 737 - 700 (8 + 126 = 134 Passengers)
1 -26
Rows:
Entry / Exit
Emergency Exit
Entry / Exit
Entry / Exit
Emergency Exit
* some a/c have 144 seats
Entry / Exit
Boeing 737 - 800W & Boeing 737 MAX 8 (189 Passengers)*
Rows:
1 -32
Rows:
Boeing 737 - 800 (12 + 156 = 168 Passengers)
Rows:
* some a/c have 186 seats
Boeing 737 - 900 ER (212 Passengers)
Rows:
Boeing 737 - 900 (189 Passengers)
1 -32
Bombardier Q400 (78 Passengers)*
Rows:
1 -20
* some a/c have 90 seats
BOEING 737-700*
BOEING 737-800
BOEING 737-900
BOEING 737 MAX 8
BOMBARDIER Q400
7
52
5
13
32
Passengers
149/144/8+126
189/186/12+156
212/189
189
78/90
6200 km
5,600 km
5000 km
6,500 km
2000 km
0.79 M
(840 km/h)
0.79 M
(840 km/h)
0.79 M
(840 km/h)
0.79 M
(840 km/h)
Speed unit M denotes Mach Number; 1 Mach is equal to the speed of sound.
*Additionally SpiceJet has 3 B737-700 F, 1 B737-800 F, exclusive Freighter aircraft
666 km/h
BOEING 737-700
112 ft 7 in (34.3m)
117 ft 5 in (35.7m)
110 ft 4 in (33.6m)
41 ft 2 in (12.5m)
11 ft 7 in (3.53m)
BOEING 737-800 BOEING 737-900 BOEING 737 MAX 8
112 ft 7 in (34.3 m)
117 ft 10 in (35.92 m)
129 ft 6 in (39.5 m)
40 ft 10 in (12.45 m)
11 ft 7 in (3.53 m)
BOMBARDIER Q400
93 ft 3 in (28.42m)
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.

There are no straight
lines in nature.
- Antoni Gaudi
Intelligent and
minimal, the Marics
integrates a full
reclining mechanism
into its structure,
creating a versatile
chair with clean lines
and an ultra-light
appearance.
Transteel Seating Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Bangalore: +91 80 25568868 | Chennai: +91 44 28832595 |
Hyderabad: +91 40 40020231 | Delhi: +91 9711528858 Toll free: 1800 425 3595
Email: contact@transteel.com Web: www.transteel.com

Riyadh
Jeddah
Kabul
Srinagar
Leh
Jammu
Dharamshala
Adampur
Amritsar
Dehradun
Dubai
Muscat Kandla
Rajkot
Porbandar
Jaisalmer
Jodhpur Jaipur
Kishangarh
Udaipur
Ahmedabad
Surat
Delhi
Bhopal
Gwalior
Kanpur
Jabalpur
Varanasi
Gorakhpur
Patna
Bagdogra
Durgapur
Kolkata
Dhaka
Guwahati
Silchar
Dibrugarh
ARABIAN SEA
Goa
Jharsuguda
Aurangabad
Shirdi
Mumbai
BAY OF BENGAL
Pune
Hyderabad
Belgaum
Visakhapatnam
Vijayawada
Tirupati
LAKSHADWEEP
(INDIA)
Mangalore
Kozhikode
Kochi
Bengaluru
Coimbatore
Madurai
Chennai
Pondicherry
Port Blair
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS
(INDIA)
Thiruvananthapuram
Tuticorin
Colombo
Male
INDIAN OCEAN
Domestics India connects with SpiceJet.
International
Flight schedules are subject to regulatory approvals and
change. Map not to scale, graphic representation only.
Content as on 25th December, 2019
Routemap
Bangkok
Hong Kong

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