• Carry enough cash for your rail journey, as there are no places to get cash on trains.
• The food and water available at train cafeterias tends to run out. In any case, fresh snacks are rarely available and it is a good idea to carry your own food and drinks. This will come in handy if there are delays.
• Carrying a pillow on train journeys is a good idea, especially if you are used to sleeping with your own pillow. You may find their pillows lumpy or too high or too hard; yours will be just right.
• When traveling by train at night, secure your luggage by looping a long chain through the handle of your suitcase/bag/rucksack and padlocking it to a convenient surface. You could lock the chains together too, making it difficult for someone to walk away with your luggage while you are sleeping.
• Avoid the agony of waking up on a train to find that your shoes have been stolen. Stuff them into the seat pockets or place them in your bag while you sleep.
• Find out in advance how long your train stops at the station and on which side the platform will appear. If you have several pieces of luggage, start moving to the door well in advance so that it is easier to disembark without making too many trips back and forth.
• Carry your own paper towels, soap and toilet paper rather than being stranded on a long train journey.
• Don't lose sight of the train you are traveling in when it stops at a station. You wouldn't want to be left behind at the platform browsing through a station bookshop while your train pulls out.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tourists Safety Tips
Punjab Police Department would like to make your visit to our exciting city as pleasant and safe as possible. You can help us further by following these simple tips while touring Punjab.
• Carry your wallet in an inside jacket pocket or side trouser pocket, never in the rear pocket.
• Carry pocketbooks in the bend of your elbow, held close to your body. If there is a long strap, wrap it around the bag. Carry credit cards and cash in your pockets.
• Keep pocketbooks on your lap when dining out, not dangling over the back of a chair. Avoid placing pocketbooks on hooks on the back of a fitting room or bathroom door, where someone can easily reach over & removed them.
• Leave valuables and important papers, such as jewelry and passports, secured in your hotel's safe deposit box. Never leave these items unattended in your room or carry large sums of cash on your person.
• Be wary of unexpected persons coming to your hotel room. Never open the door to unsolicited room service or maintenance people. Contact the front desk if you have any doubts.
• If you schedule a meeting with a potential client, research the company and the individual with whom you are meeting. Meet in a public place, such as a restaurant.
• Make sure that luggage is only given to a member of the hotel's bell staff and a receipt is issued for stored luggage. Never leave luggage or other expensive items, unattended at airports or taxi stands.
• Kindly contact on counter "May I help you" available at airport, railway station & bus stand for help and guidance.
• Adequate numbers of PCR & other police officers are deputed in proper uniform in the city. You can contact nearest police officer to intimate about undesirable elements and touts in your observation. However, police is taking utmost care, vigilance and surveillance over these elements, still it is felt that we can eliminate these elements effectively with passengers active participation in the drive.
• In addition to above, police officers in plain clothes are also deputed to keep watch on suspicious movements. Therefore, you should never entertain the touts and unscrupulous persons to avoid harassment.
• Preplan your destination in Punjab regarding your stay and tourism in Punjab. Never take advice of Taxi Drivers regarding your stay/tourism in Punjab. Please strict to believe the information of Police Officers, "May I help you" counter, or any other Govt. recognized information Centres.
• If you face any harassment or law and order problem in Punjab, you can dial 100 number from nearest telephone for police assistance.
• Carry your wallet in an inside jacket pocket or side trouser pocket, never in the rear pocket.
• Carry pocketbooks in the bend of your elbow, held close to your body. If there is a long strap, wrap it around the bag. Carry credit cards and cash in your pockets.
• Keep pocketbooks on your lap when dining out, not dangling over the back of a chair. Avoid placing pocketbooks on hooks on the back of a fitting room or bathroom door, where someone can easily reach over & removed them.
• Leave valuables and important papers, such as jewelry and passports, secured in your hotel's safe deposit box. Never leave these items unattended in your room or carry large sums of cash on your person.
• Be wary of unexpected persons coming to your hotel room. Never open the door to unsolicited room service or maintenance people. Contact the front desk if you have any doubts.
• If you schedule a meeting with a potential client, research the company and the individual with whom you are meeting. Meet in a public place, such as a restaurant.
• Make sure that luggage is only given to a member of the hotel's bell staff and a receipt is issued for stored luggage. Never leave luggage or other expensive items, unattended at airports or taxi stands.
• Kindly contact on counter "May I help you" available at airport, railway station & bus stand for help and guidance.
• Adequate numbers of PCR & other police officers are deputed in proper uniform in the city. You can contact nearest police officer to intimate about undesirable elements and touts in your observation. However, police is taking utmost care, vigilance and surveillance over these elements, still it is felt that we can eliminate these elements effectively with passengers active participation in the drive.
• In addition to above, police officers in plain clothes are also deputed to keep watch on suspicious movements. Therefore, you should never entertain the touts and unscrupulous persons to avoid harassment.
• Preplan your destination in Punjab regarding your stay and tourism in Punjab. Never take advice of Taxi Drivers regarding your stay/tourism in Punjab. Please strict to believe the information of Police Officers, "May I help you" counter, or any other Govt. recognized information Centres.
• If you face any harassment or law and order problem in Punjab, you can dial 100 number from nearest telephone for police assistance.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Houseboats become USP of tourist hotspot Kerala
Alleppey/Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), Apr 17 (ANI): As northern India sizzles in scorching summer, most of those bit by the travel bug are making a beeline for tourist spots Kerala.
With its fleet of black-hulled houseboats, the backwaters of Kerala entice the tourists, both domestic and international, to 'God's Own Country'.
Most of the domestic tourists arriving in Kerala are from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal.
"We are from Punjab. We have chosen this destination, as backwaters are a different kind of experience. All the other tourists generally go to the higher altitudes and all other places but we want to have a soothing experience and we are really looking forward to the backwaters of Kerala," said Vikram Singh, a tourist.
A typical backwater cruise takes tourists on a 40-km journey through the Vembanad Lake, India's longest, which is spread over 1,512 sq km.
The cruises have packages tailored for all budgets with a one-night cruise costing from Rs 3,000-25,000 as houseboats now come equipped with power showers in bio-toilets, LCD television sets, air-conditioners, AC-fitted lounges and even jacuzzis. They even have chefs onboard to prepare some of Kerala's culinary specials.
Tour operators say the period from April to September is a good time to attract domestic tourists when there is a lull in international arrivals.
"Actually the foreign tourists are coming in the months of December, January and February. And the rates will be very comfortable in April and May also. It will not be that high and it will be affordable for the domestic people also. After the examinations (are over), people come in large numbers to have a nice day in our houseboats, to see the serene beauty of the backwaters which is unique," said Abhilash Sreekumar, proprietor of Aria Holidays, a houseboat cruise operator.
Meanwhile, the state Tourism Department authorities have decided to extend the experience of these floating hotels beyond Alleppey, and plans to give licenses for operating houseboats in Ashtamudi Lake in nearby Kollam district as well.
Authorities are creating new landing points and also developing new backwater circuits in other districts. More houseboats are being constructed.
"It has been structured as luxury resorts or luxury segment properties. And a typical houseboat cruise starts during the day, move along the backwaters to see the village community life, spend the night there and wake up to the early morning sun in the houseboat itself," said M Sivasankar, Director, Kerala Tourism Department in provincial capital Thiruvananthapuram.
In 2008, Kerala witnessed 7.6 million domestic tourist arrivals, showing a growth of 14.28 per cent from the previous year.
With its fleet of black-hulled houseboats, the backwaters of Kerala entice the tourists, both domestic and international, to 'God's Own Country'.
Most of the domestic tourists arriving in Kerala are from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal.
"We are from Punjab. We have chosen this destination, as backwaters are a different kind of experience. All the other tourists generally go to the higher altitudes and all other places but we want to have a soothing experience and we are really looking forward to the backwaters of Kerala," said Vikram Singh, a tourist.
A typical backwater cruise takes tourists on a 40-km journey through the Vembanad Lake, India's longest, which is spread over 1,512 sq km.
The cruises have packages tailored for all budgets with a one-night cruise costing from Rs 3,000-25,000 as houseboats now come equipped with power showers in bio-toilets, LCD television sets, air-conditioners, AC-fitted lounges and even jacuzzis. They even have chefs onboard to prepare some of Kerala's culinary specials.
Tour operators say the period from April to September is a good time to attract domestic tourists when there is a lull in international arrivals.
"Actually the foreign tourists are coming in the months of December, January and February. And the rates will be very comfortable in April and May also. It will not be that high and it will be affordable for the domestic people also. After the examinations (are over), people come in large numbers to have a nice day in our houseboats, to see the serene beauty of the backwaters which is unique," said Abhilash Sreekumar, proprietor of Aria Holidays, a houseboat cruise operator.
Meanwhile, the state Tourism Department authorities have decided to extend the experience of these floating hotels beyond Alleppey, and plans to give licenses for operating houseboats in Ashtamudi Lake in nearby Kollam district as well.
Authorities are creating new landing points and also developing new backwater circuits in other districts. More houseboats are being constructed.
"It has been structured as luxury resorts or luxury segment properties. And a typical houseboat cruise starts during the day, move along the backwaters to see the village community life, spend the night there and wake up to the early morning sun in the houseboat itself," said M Sivasankar, Director, Kerala Tourism Department in provincial capital Thiruvananthapuram.
In 2008, Kerala witnessed 7.6 million domestic tourist arrivals, showing a growth of 14.28 per cent from the previous year.
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