A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Glacier trek routes open in Kumaon
The Uttarakhand Tourism Department plans to open treks on three glaciers—Pindari, Sunderdhunga and Kafni—in the Kumaon region between April 15 and June 15 this year. After a lull in tourist numbers and subsequent economic losses for the local tourist economy, the state tourism department expects trekker numbers to grow beyond the miniscule rise seen after reopenings post the two waves. The treks will shut down for the monsoon, before reopening for a month between September 15 and October 15. Those who wish to undertake the treks need to register themselves with the state forest department (at the Kapkot centre).
Read more about the glacier treks here.
A museum dedicated to prime ministers in New Delhi
PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate a museum dedicated to the different prime ministers in India’s history. To be housed at New Delhi’s Teen Murti Bhavan—the former residence of India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Called Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya, the museum will exhibit “archival material, personal items, memorabilia, speeches of PMs and anecdotal representation of ideologies and different aspects of the lives of Prime Ministers of India—all reflected in a thematic format.” The museum will recognise the work and contributions of all PMs no matter their tenure or ideology, Kanchan Gupta, senior advisor, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said in a series of tweets.
The Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya (Museum of PMs) will be inaugurated on 14 April 2022.
The museum will create awareness about all Prime Ministers of #India 🇮🇳
It recognises the contribution of all PMs irrespective of their ideology, as per vision of Prime Minister @narendramodi
n1 pic.twitter.com/vARfPEV3if— Kanchan Gupta 🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) April 9, 2022
Barcelona bans smoking on its beaches
Come July, and Spain’s second-largest city of coastal delights aplenty, will find itself free of cigarette butts and smoke. The decision follows a pilot project banning smoking on four of the city’s beaches and several regions across Spain enforcing the measure to protect the environment.
Travel bookings pick up pace
After two years of uncertainty, both intermittent and uninterrupted border closures, and at least two devastating waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of travellers from India booking holidays abroad has risen unprecedentedly. After several countries relaxed travel curbs and India restarted scheduled international flights, there’s been a spurt in summer holiday packages and experiential vacations, reported Hindustan Times. This comes at a time when a fourth wave of the pandemic is already said to be underway in countries such as China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the U. K. and Germany. The spread of the XE variant is also on the rise in India, and despite relaxations in public masking in some regions, authorities continue to be alert.
Trans-Arunachal Drive Returns
The under-construction Trans-Arunachal Highway runs for 2,407 kilometres from Kanubari in the state’s east to the snow-swathed heights of Tawang in the west. Tipped to be one of India’s most scenic road circuits with impressive road conditions, the highway, also called NH13, is set to host the second edition of the Trans-Arunachal Drive. The marquee car rally will go on for 12 days, covering 2,763 kilometres between Roing and Tawang, covering several districts and towns including Khonsa, Changland, Tezu, Along, Seppa, and Ziro. Apart from the scenic landscape of the ‘Land of Dawn-Lit Mountains’, the drive offers experiences such as camping, exploring local arts, crafts and cuisine, and cultural explorations.
For registration details, watch this space.