<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51541451.cms" /><br />
<br /> <keyword id="6355460" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi">Holi</keyword>, the <keyword id="42493" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Festival-of-colours">festival of colours</keyword> is celebrated in various forms throughout the country, but there are some places wher the celebrations are so unique that you just have to witness it for yourself.<br />
<br /> And, <keyword id="73943" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shantiniketan">Shantiniketan</keyword> in West Bengal is one such place. The celebration of Holi or <keyword id="974305" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Basanta-Utsav">Basanta Utsav</keyword> is legendary in itself.<br />
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Here, have a look at how Holi is celebrated there.<br />
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(This article has been authored by Ayandrali Dutta, a travel blogger. To go to her website, click <a href="http://www.wanderlustcraving.com/">here</a>)<br />


Here's how Holi is celebrated in Shantiniketan

<keyword id="6354925" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kolkata" source="Orion">Kolkata</keyword>, the bustling cultural capital of India, is not only known for its vibrant city life but also for its proximity to some amazing weekend getaway destinations. Nestled in the eastern part of the country, Kolkata serves as a gateway to a myriad of enchanting places nearby. Whether you seek serene beaches, lush forests, historical marvels, or spiritual retreats, Kolkata offers a range of options to suit every traveler's preferences. <br />From the tranquil mangrove forests of Sunderbans to the historical terracotta temples of Bishnupur, or the picturesque beaches of Digha and Mandarmani, there's something for everyone within a few hours' drive from the city. These nearby destinations provide the perfect opportunity to escape the noise and hustle of Kolkata, allowing visitors to unwind, explore, and rejuvenate amidst the wonders of nature and culture.<br /><br />Certainly! Here are six delightful places near Kolkata that you can consider for a perfect weekend getaway, away from the noise and hustle of the city:<br /><h3>Sunderbans National Park</h3><div type="image" title="Sundarbans national Park" msid="101386652" hostid="261" sizebytes="38874"></div>Escape to the tranquil wilderness of Sunderbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest mangrove forests in the world. Embark on a boat safari to spot majestic Royal Bengal Tigers, diverse wildlife, and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature.<br /><h3>Digha</h3><div type="image" title="Digha" msid="101386669" hostid="261" sizebytes="40790"></div>Relax and rejuvenate at Digha, a popular beach town located around 180 kilometers from Kolkata. With its pristine beaches, gentle waves, and stunning sunsets, Digha offers a peaceful retreat from the city's chaos.<br /><h3>Shantiniketan</h3><div type="image" title="Shantiniketan" msid="101386693" hostid="261" sizebytes="71350"></div>Visit the quaint town of Shantiniketan, famous for being the abode of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Immerse yourself in the serene ambiance, explore Visva Bharati University, and witness the vibrant cultural heritage through music, dance, and art.<br /><h3>Mandarmani</h3><div type="image" title="Mandarman" msid="101386716" hostid="261" sizebytes="56876"></div>If you're seeking a serene beach getaway, Mandarmani is an ideal choice. Located approximately 170 kilometers from Kolkata, this tranquil beach destination offers long stretches of sandy shores, beautiful resorts, and breathtaking views of the Bay of Bengal.<br /><h3>Bishnupur</h3><div type="image" title="Bishnupur" msid="101386745" hostid="261" sizebytes="45302"></div>Step back in time and explore the historical town of Bishnupur, known for its terracotta temples and rich heritage. Marvel at the intricately designed terracotta artwork, visit the famous Rasmancha Temple, and soak in the cultural heritage of this unique destination.<br /><h3>Mukutmanipur</h3><div type="image" title="Mukutmanipur" msid="101386790" hostid="261" sizebytes="94888"></div>For a peaceful lakeside retreat, head to Mukutmanipur, located around 250 kilometers from Kolkata. Nestled amidst lush green hills and overlooking the Kangsabati Dam, this scenic destination offers boating, nature walks, and stunning sunset views.

Best Places near Kolkata for a perfect weekend getaway

Kolkata, Jul 10 () The West Bengal tourism department has reopened at least 10 of its facilities in different parts of the state, even as the travel industry reels under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said on Friday. <p>Among those opened to the public are the Morgan House tourist lodge in Kalimpong in North Bengal and a property in the seaside resort town of Digha, the tourism department official said. </p><p>"Out of 34 tourist lodges spread across the state, at least 10 have been reopened," he said. </p><p>All care is being taken to ensure safety of tourists in the present pandemic situation with sanitisation of every room after check-out of guests, the official said. </p><p>"In order to maintain social distancing, food is served in rooms only and not at the in-house restaurants," he said. </p><p>Online bookings can be made from the West Bengal tourism website. </p><p>The other places where the tourist lodges have been reopened are Bishnupur, Maithon, Diamond Harbour, Tilabari, Rangabitan in Shantiniketan, Bakkhali, Jhargram and Malancha, the official said. </p><p>Raj Basu, Convenor of Association for Conservation and Tourism, said thousands of people related to the tourism business are suffering in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. </p><p>"It is not only those in the hotel and resort business, but the drivers of tourist vehicles, guides and many others are out of work," he said. </p><p>Basu said that though some facilities have reopened in north Bengal, inflow of tourists is yet to pick up. </p>Lack of regular train services is also a hindrance to movement of tourists, he added. AMR RBT RBT

West Bengal tourism deptt reopens 10 facilities amid COVID-19 pandemic

Bengaluru, As normal life is disrupted in this tech city in the wake of <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> scare, it is the food and beverage outlets, malls, restaurants, pubs, clubs and other businesses that are at the receiving end, stakeholders rued on Friday.<br /><br />Though the <keyword id="6354780" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karnataka">Karnataka</keyword> government has not not -- so far -- imposed a blanket lockdown, many small eateries and food and beverage (F&amp;B) outlets still open have been hit hard.<br /><br />The Bengaluru hotel Association has 1,500 members representing 1,021 eateries, 365 cafs and bakeries, and 115 fine-dining places.<br /><br />Venkatesh Raghu, a new entrant in the F&amp;B space at Jayanagar through Amande, a patisserie, said he is facing unexpected hardships.<br /><br />"A lot of demand for our products comes from the malls. They have since refused to buy our products due to the lockdown. Since we are in B2B and B2C business, we are unable to supply anything, resulting in heavy losses," Raghu told IANS.<br /><br />As part of the partial lockdown, all malls and theatres in the city are shut till March 31, disrupting the whole suppliers-buyers-customers chain.<br /><br />"I run a restaurant and need to pay staff salaries, rentals, electric bills; so this lockdown will really impact our working capital. I really hope things will recover soon once the outbreak subsides," Raghu hoped.<br /><br />Rajesh, 40, a kirana store owner at Kodathi near Sarjapura Road, said his regular customers, the daily-wagers, have stopped buying from him.<br /><br />"Many daily wage labourers are my regular customers. Nowadays, they are missing, resulting in decreased sales," Rajesh told IANS.<br /><br />Similarly, Pixel, a food court in Forum Shantiniketan mall at Whitefield is getting rid of its perishable raw material as the mall would be shut till the month-end.<br /><br />"We can keep dry non-perishable raw material for longer. But we are getting rid of whatever perishable raw material is left with us. We cannot keep it for long," an official working at the food court told IANS.<br /><br />He said that the food court is emptying all frozen ingredients like chicken, meat, pork, vegetables, and other items used by different restaurants at the food court.<br /><br />"Whatever raw material we can salvage, we are sending it to the airport KFC and other restaurants as these are still open for business. With regards to the frozen food, we check expiry dates and discard them accordingly," he added.<br /><br />Pixel houses restaurants such as Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Burgerking, Dominoes, a Thai concept restaurant, Tiffin Express, Taste of India, Marhaba, Krispy Kreme and others.<br /><br />"Most of Pixel's more than 100 employees have already returned to their hometowns. It would not be easy to find food and other essentials due to the shutdown till March 31," he said.<br /><br />However, amid the coronavirus gloom, there is good news: The food court is paying full salaries to all its employees.<br /><br />Subbaraju Penmatsa, managing director of Prost Brewpub, a microbrewery at Mahadevapura, told IANS that business had dropped by 80 per cent since February.<br /><br />"Due to the fear, we also faced 50 per cent party cancellations from corporates to avoid social gatherings. Right now, we are investing time to train our staff," said Penmatsa.<br /><br />According to Kshitij Neelakantan, co-founder of Naagin, a hot spicy Indian sauce, COVID-19 has impacted the whole food industry, starting from farmers to large multi-national companies like Nestle and Unilever.<br /><br />Meanwhile, food vendors and small restaurants on Bengaluru outskirts near Sarjapura are still operating, with their regular clientele continuing to patronise them despite the lockdown. <br /><br /><br />

Corona scare takes a bite out of bustling Bangalore's restaurant business

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/46982497.cms" />

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	Everyone wants a house in Delhi. And while buying a property in the main city has been a distant dream for many, real estate developers suggested that the property prices across the city has dipped in the past two years.<br />
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	“Residential property prices in several areas of Delhi having declined by 10-20% in 2013 and then stabilized in 2014. Fence-sitters are watching the market movements to determine if prices will slide further,” said Santhosh Kumar, international director at JLL India.<br />
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	He added, “Residential prices in established locations of South and Central Delhi such as Vasant Vihar, Defence Colony, Jor Bagh and Golf Links saw a decline of 15-20% in 2013 and remained at those levels in 2014. A correction in prices was also observed in areas like Westend, Shantiniketan, Prithviraj, Aurangzeb Road and Amrita Shergill Marg, but in a lower range of 10-15%.”<br />
	<br /> However, property prices in <keyword id="6361586" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gurgaon">Gurgaon</keyword> and <keyword id="18858" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Noida">Noida</keyword> remained stable last year. According to market players, the supply in this market has been more than the demand, which has resulted in excess inventory. “A bad economy made property buyers cautious in their purchases. The consumer sentiment was down coupled with high interest rates. All tthis resulted in a sluggish demand,” said Sunil Singh, a property broker in the region. In order to boost the demands, developers have been doling out heavy discounts on their projects.<br />
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	 Interestingly, the prices in areas such as Neemrana, Sohna and Delhi’s J and L zones recorded an increase of 15% to 35% last year. This is in contrary to the negative market dynamics and the stagnant property prices in Delhi and NCR. “The only exception to the appreciation observed in these locations was Yamuna Expressway, which remained stable. However, low land prices and development potential continue to help Yamuna Expressway remain an attractive destination for investors” added Kumar.<br />
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	BI India shares some tips offered by Kumar for home buyers interested in investing in Delhi and NCR.<br />
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	<strong>South and Central Delhi</strong><br />
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	According to Kumar, if you are interested in buying an apartment in South and Central Delhi, then 2015 is a great time to do so. “The next six months are likely to witness an increase in developers’ pain; persistent negotiation can result in excellent deals,” said Kumar.<br />
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	<strong>Gurgaon and Noida</strong><br />
	<br /> According to market players, <keyword id="20486" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Golf-course">Golf course</keyword> road in Gurgaon is the next upcoming area apart from Sohna Road and Dwarka Expressway. However, in Noida, Kumar has advised property investors and home buyers to invest in projects in Noida-Greater Noida Expressway and Noida City, that are being built by developers with proven credibility.<br />
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	<strong>Delhi J</strong> <strong>and L zone</strong><br />
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	For the ultra rich property buyers, buying or developing farmhouses or townhouses is a good option. “However, due diligence highly advised for buyers,” noted Kumar. 


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Here's how Holi is celebrated in Shantiniketan

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Best Places near Kolkata for a perfect weekend getaway

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Shagun

West Bengal tourism deptt reopens 10 facilities amid COVID-19 pandemic

PTI

Corona scare takes a bite out of bustling Bangalore's restaurant business

IANS

How to know for sure if 2015 is a good time to buy property in Delhi?

Purba Das