Pushkar Balloon Festival is a 3-Day Hot-Air Ballooning Extravaganza scheduled from November 17th – 20th 2010 in city of Ajmer, Rajasthan. On backdrop of world famous ‘Pushkar Fair’, this festival invites more than 15 Hot-Air Balloons from Americas, Europe, and Asia to splash their colors in skies of Pushkar. Luxury Swiss Tents and multi-cuisine food festival makes it a perfect place to be! On the backdrop of buzzing Live Music, Animal Races, and Crafts Fair we are organizing ‘Pushkar Hot-Air-Ballooning Fiesta’. The balloons fly over festival grounds, camel camps, sand dunes, campfires, mountains and lakes around the scenic destination during mesmerizing sunrise and sunsets of Pushkar Hills.

India came alive with the magical light of Diwali yesterday. Along the Indian-Pakistan border, soldiers exchanged sweets. In Kolkata, people eagerly celebrated Kali Puja.

However, as well as being festival of lights, Diwali is also festival of noise. Many people love to burst crackers, the louder the better. They burst them all over the roads, in markets, and near homes. After one went off near my ear last year, leaving me half deaf for a day, I refused to go outside yesterday. Every Diwali, there are tragedies, with people getting burned and killed from crackers. Fortunately, the bursting of loud crackers has been actively discouraged by the government, to reduce pollution and make it easier on the ears. Of course, the challenge is in implementing the rules.

What do you think? What’s been your experience with crackers?

I’m glad to be able to say that although Cyclone Jal did leave its mark in India, with uprooted trees and snapped power cables, the impact wasn’t as widespread as feared. That’s because the cyclone thankfully weakened as it drifted towards Chennai on Sunday night. Apparently, it was the first time in 14 years that a cyclone had passed so close to the city. Scary!

Despite this, there sadly is a death toll. Eleven people have been killed by heavy rains in Andhra Pradesh. The rough weather is expected to continue until tomorrow.

It seems that tens of thousands of camels, and a bunch of crazy camel competitions, aren’t enough anymore. This year, the Rajasthan Tourism Department is adding a new attraction to the Pushkar Camel Fair.

In a move from the traditional to the modern, an international hot air ballooning event is being planned for four days during the festival.

It’s envisaged that up to 15 ballooning teams, including eight from abroad, will participate. Visitors can also go on their own balloon flight over the fair. Sky Waltz offers hot air ballooning in Pushkar.

This year, the fair will get underway on November 13, 2010. Most of the camel related activities take place during the first five days of the festival. The focus will shift to religious celebrations from November 18-21.

Find out more about the Pushkar Camel Fair or download a tentative program of events from Rajasthan Tourism.

Here’s some good news for anyone wanting to enjoy a drink in Darjeeling, whilst watching the sunset over Kangchenjunga. The Gorkha Janmukhi Morcha political party has lifted its ban on the sale of alcohol in bars, restaurants, and shops in Darjeeling.
The ban was introduced three months ago, to stop revenue flowing into Bengal state government coffers and thus exert pressure on the government. However, it created a great deal of resentment amongst tourists, shop keepers, and even residents who drink alcohol to help beat the cold winter chill.

Where can you see hundreds of thousands of people congregate to take a holy dip in the Ganges river today? At the world’s largest religious gathering — the Kumbh Mela — in Haridwar.

The three month long Kumbh Mela gets underway from today, the occasion of Makar Sankranti. This meeting of the religious minds attracts sadhus (Hindu holy men) and pilgrims from near and far. It’s a spectacle never to be forgotten.

The Uttarakhand government has devoted significant resources to building new infrastructure in Haridwar for the festival. This includes a modern car park, foot bridges, and a network of arterial roads connecting the main Har?ki?Pauri bathing ghat to neighboring shrines and residential areas.

Tamil Nadu, in south India, is enthusiastically preparing to celebrate the Pongal festival. This festival, which is the equivalent of Thanksgiving, takes place for four days all over the state from January 13-16 each year. It’s a harvest festival, which also marks the retreat of winter and the start of the Tamil New Year.

Since most of Tamil Nadu relies on agriculture for its income, Pongal is one of the most important festivals of the year there. The highlight of the festival is the cooking of the Pongal dish — a sweet preparation made from rice and boiled milk — on the second day.

One of the best places to participate in Pongal celebrations is Chennai. Pongal is also a popular time for new movie releases in the cinemas, so check out a Tamil movie as well!

Important Dates during Mahakumbh 2010:

January 14th – Makkar Sakranthi
15th – Mouni Amavaysa, Suryagrahan Snan
20th – Basant Panchami
30th – Mahi Poornima
February 12th – Mahashivratri (Shahi Snan)
March 15th – Somvati Amavasya (Shahi Snan)
16th – Nav Samvatharambh Snan
24th – Ramnavami Snan
30th – Chiatra Poornima Snan
April 13th – Baishakhi
14th – Mesh Sankranthi (Shahi Snan)

Yes, If you’re planning to visit Darjeeling, then you have to drink what Darjeeling is most famous for – Yes, Tea! The Gorkha Janmukhi Morcha political party has issued a ban on the sale of alcohol in bars, restaurants, and shops in Darjeeling from November 7, 2009.

The reason? To stop revenue flowing into Bengal state government coffers and thus exert pressure on the government.

At last, passengers arriving at Mumbai’s domestic airport can breathe a sigh of relief. The airport finally has a prepaid taxi counter. This means that it’s no longer necessary haggle with taxi drivers after exiting the airport for a reasonable fare, or risk a trip in a taxi with a faulty meter.

In future, there will be four prepaid taxi counters inside Domestic Terminal 1B, and one outside it. Domestic Terminal 1A will have two prepaid counters inside, and one outside.

As well as offering fixed rates, the prepaid taxi system is popular because of its added security feature. Drivers are only receive their money once they return with the receipt signed by the passenger.