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Free entry to national heritage monuments in India till August 15

By Debasree Chakraborty
Aug 07, 2022

India is celebrating its 75th Independence Day on August 15, 2022. Also occasionally referred to as a Diamond Jubilee, a 75th year celebration is a big one and India is leaving no stones unturned to make this celebration as great as possible.

One way to celebrate the grand 75th year of Independence is by paying a visit to as many national monuments as possible. And this can be done for free from August 5-15 as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Govt. of India, has announced that entry to all monuments protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will be completely for free, as a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav campaign.

No fee will be charged at any of the ticketed ASI protected monuments as well as Archaeological Site museums. This is not just for domestic tourists but for visitors from all over the world as well. There are a total of 3,693 monuments under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Out of these, there are 116 ticketed monuments and 32 museums under the protection of ASI. Monuments including the Taj Mahal, Humayun’s Tomb, Safdarjung Tomb, Tughlaqabad Fort, Old Fort (Purana Qila), Red Fort, Jantar Mantar, Konark Sun Temple, Golconda Fort, Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Charminar, Shaniwar Wada, are some of the many monuments that are also very popular tourist attractions.

Foreign tourists might get GST refund for local shopping In India

By Debasree Chakraborty
Aug 03, 2022

Good news for shopaholics! Very soon, the Indian government will kick-start a pilot project for the repayment of goods and services tax or the GST paid by international tourists coming to India as part of a decision to execute a step that is there in the law.

Regarding the GST, it’s the Integrated GST Act that was enacted five years ago, and provides for refund on goods, which are to be taken out of the county by a tourist, who is not a resident of India, and has been in the country for not more than 6 months for non-immigrant purposes.

If reports are to go by, most countries follow a system of GST or VAT refund for tourists for consumption outside the country, as taxes are typically not exported, which is a principle followed in duty-free shops at airports as well.

Referring to this, government sources added that with the GST regime settling down, the Centre is in the process of setting up the said pilot, which will initially involve outlets, such as the Cottage Industries Emporium and, based on the experience, it will be expanded.

With regard to this, tax experts are of the view that several changes will be required to implement the said plan and that it will take time. To start with, even for a pilot, the rules to operationalise the project will need to be put in place, whereas the invoicing system will also require updating, which will likely require tweaking the GST Network architecture.
Experts added that the system needs to be foolproof to make sure there is no potential misuse. The machinery provisions to enable foreign tourists to claim a refund of the GST paid on eligible purchases of goods, should be drafted very carefully to ensure that there is no misuse of the provisions, while foreign tourists get a quick refund on their eligible purchases without too much paperwork, stated a professional in the know-how.

Kerala among TIME Magazine’s top 50 world destinations to explore

By Debasree Chakraborty
Jul 24, 2022

Time magazine has chosen Kerala among 50 ‘extraordinary destinations’ across the globe to explore in 2022. Kerala is ranked ninth in the ‘World’s Greatest Places 2022’ list as an ‘eco-tourism hot spot’. “With spectacular beaches and lush backwaters, temples and palaces, it’s known as ‘God’s own country for good reason.”

Tucked in the Southern frontiers of India, between the lush Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, Kerala has some of the best travel experiences India has to offer. Nicknamed “God’s Own Country”, the land is blessed with hill stations, backwaters, beaches, tea gardens, wildlife sanctuaries, quaint villages and multi-ethnic towns. The blissful experiences offered by Kerala tours are cherished by families, couples on honeymoon, adventure enthusiasts, solo backpackers, spiritual seekers and everyone seeking a vacation to cherish.

So, what does the land have, that is believed to be a heaven on earth? Here’s why this is one haven that is perfect for holidays in India with friends, family and for honeymoon. The land has an abundance of natural beauty that includes lush hills dotted with waterfalls, tea gardens and spice plantations, azure backwaters, scenic shores and verdant jungles. Besides, there is the mouth-watering cuisine, adventure sports, relaxing Ayurveda breaks and spiritual quests that make Kerala tour packages worthwhile.

Discovering Bhutan - The Land of Happiness

By Debasree Chakraborty
Jul 17, 2022

Bhutan has finally revealed its reopening date, September 23, 2022, after remaining shut to outsiders for more than two years due to the pandemic. The gorgeous Himalayan nation has been attracting travellers from across the globe for ages now. Whenever you plan a visit to Bhutan there's a lot to explore. ‘The land of happiness’, ‘The Kingdom above the clouds’, ‘The land of the Thunder Dragon’… Bhutan has gained a few names over the years which is a pretty good indicator of how epic it truly is. Delve into the essence of Bhutanese beauty, culture and history. The hands-on experience in traditional textile and handicraft workshops and the close exposure of monastic life and pastoral scene, etc. offer you a perfect chance for a memorable exploration in Bhutan. Whether you’ve been dreaming of heading to this magical corner of the world for a while or if it has only just landed on your radar, you’re in the right place. We’re going to let you in on some of the absolute must-do’s whilst you’re in Bhutan.

1. Hike The Tiger's Nest Monastery

Tiger's Nest Monastery

The Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Takstang) is in one word, extraordinary. The buildings are perched on the side of a cliff, 10,000ft above sea-level! It was built in 1692 and still functions as a monastery today with monks living on the mountain. You’ll need to hike here and the trail begins just 10 miles north of Paro (a 20-minute drive).

2. Visit Punakha Dzong

Punakha Dzong is stunning. It is the second oldest and second biggest in all of Bhutan but arguably the most beautiful. It is located between two rivers and you have to cross a bridge to access it. The most interesting thing about this building? Not one nail was used to create it... not one!

3. Be in awe of Buddha Dordenma

When you see Buddha Dordenma you'll be blown away by how big it is (169ft!), but what's even more surprising is that there are 125,000 smaller buddhas inside it! With a population of around 100,000 people in Thimphu, there are more Buddhas than humans.

4. Go to a festival

There are heaps of festivals in Bhutan but two of the biggest are the Paro Tshechu in March and the Thimphu Tshechu in October. During both of these festivals, you'll see incredible traditional outfits, dance, food, and arts. It is arguably one of the best ways to witness Bhutanese culture and you'll be overwhelmed with wonder.

5. Try your hand at Archery

The national sport in Bhutan is archery, but they have been playing this sport long before it was even recognized as one (which means they're pretty good). They do things a bit differently here though, archery involves a lot of signing, dancing, food, and drink and is very much a social event.

6. Visit Tashichho-Dzong

The Tashichho-Dzong was first constructed in 1216! Since then the building has grown a lot. It houses the offices of the King, the Throne Room, and some government ministries. The Dzong is surrounded by beautiful gardens and enviably well-kept lawns, you won't be disappointed with a stroll around here.

7. The Memorial Chorten

The Memorial Chorten was designed to be 'one of the most visible religious structures in Thimphu' and reflects Tibetan style architecture. When you visit be sure to only circle the Chorten in a clockwise direction and learn all about the 3rd Dragon King on Bhutan.

Bhutan to reopen for international travellers from September

By Debasree Chakraborty
Jul 10, 2022

Bhutan is all set to reopen for international travellers from September. Referring to this, an official stated that the kingdom will be reopening for the first time since the pandemic began more than two years ago. In March 2020, with the outbreak of COVID-19, Bhutan took early steps to close its borders and banned tourism. With less than 8,00,000 in its population, Bhutan reported around 60000 infections. The Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) stated that it will be allowing international tourists to enter the kingdom from September 23.

The tourists will, however, be charged a Sustainable Development Fee of USD 200 per night. Officials in the know-how added that this new fee will help control tourists’ carbon impact.
TCB Chairman and the country’s Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji released a statement stating that COVID-19 has allowed them to reset and rethink how the sector can be best operated and structured while keeping the carbon footprints low. He informed that the kingdom had revised standards for service providers, such as tour operators, hotels, drivers, and guides.

Once the borders up the places to must include in a Bhutan holiday itinerary are:

Thimpu

Home of the royal family of Bhutan, Thimpu is the capital of Bhutan, not just administratively, but culturally and commercially as well. Much like the surprises of Bhutan, Thimpu also has an interesting fact to share. Thimpu is the only capital city in the globe, the roads of which run without traffic lights. Thimphu, visiting the National Library housing an extensive collection of priceless Buddhist manuscripts, the Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as the Painting School) which conducts training courses in Bhutan’s traditional arts and crafts, Textile and Folk Heritage Museum. After lunch, visit Trashichhoedzong, “fortress of the glorious religion”, the centre of Bhutan’s government and religion, King's Memorial Chorten and the government-run Handicrafts Emporium and local crafts shops, to browse through example of Bhutan's fine traditional arts.

Dochula Pass

Just 30 km from the capital city of Thimpu is the Dochula Pass, which is renowned for housing a significant number of Chortens. A total of 108 Chortens, which were built in honor of Bhutanese martyrs, add to the beauty of the mountain pass. The pass is situated at a height of around 3150 meters above sea level, and it overlooks the majestic snow-covered Himalayan ranges. While at the pass, have a warm cup of coffee and admire the beauty of this milky white location.

Winters are perfectly suited for a trip to this part of Bhutan, as the country receives heavy snowfall. Besides Dochula pass also hosts an annual festival in the month of December, which is known as Dochula festival. The festival is in continuation since the year 2011 and is held every year to commemorate the victory of Bhutanese soldiers over Indian insurgents.

Visit Punakha Dzong

Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Takstang)

Memorial Chorten

The Memorial Chorten was designed to be 'one of the most visible religious structures in Thimphu' and reflects a Tibetan style architecture. When you visit be sure to only circle the Chorten in a clockwise direction and learn all about the 3rd Dragon King on Bhutan.