Kashmir Takes the Global Spotlight as Its First International Film Festival Opens

The breathtaking Valley of Kashmir is ready for a new cinematic chapter The first International Film Festival of Jammu amp Kashmir IFFJK opens today September bringing four days of films filmmakers and conversations to the region from September to Organised by the J amp K Department of Information and Public Relations DIPR the festival seeks to reconnect Kashmir with its rich cinematic legacy while presenting it as a destination for filmmakers from around the world The response to its debut has already been remarkable The festival received nearly entries from countries with films from more than nations selected for screening under the theme Rang-e-Cinema A Celebration of World CinemaThe selected films span several categories including International Panorama Bharat Panorama Cinema of the World Documentary Hybrid Documentary and J amp K Select Deccan Chronicle reports that adding to the excitement is a prize purse of lakh across nine categories The Best

7 Sep 2026

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Sikkim Wins Award of Excellence for Sustainable Tourism—Here’s Why It Stands Out

Sikkim has added another feather to its tourism cap Sikkim Tourism has received the Award of Excellence for promoting rural and sustainable tourism at the Travel amp Tourism Fair TTF in Mumbai recognising the state s continued efforts to build tourism around communities nature and responsible development The award highlights Sikkim s approach to growing its tourism sector while protecting its environment and creating sustainable livelihoods for local communities Sikkim participated as a partner state at TTF Mumbai from August to under the Sikkim INSPIRES initiative The state s pavilion showcased an enticing mix of rural tourism experiences nature-based attractions local culture destinations accommodation and hospitality offerings And Mumbai s travel market responded enthusiastically The pavilion attracted strong footfall throughout the three-day fair with particularly high interest from travel professionals tourism stakeholders and visitors on the second day Several tour packages were reportedly booked during interactions at the pavilion The

24 Aug 2026

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Ganga Aarti Is Coming to the Thames: London to Witness a Unique Indian Cultural Celebration

Imagine the lamps of a traditional Ganga Aarti glowing against the London skyline with the River Thames flowing quietly beside them This September that unusual yet deeply symbolic scene will become a reality as a traditional Ganga Aarti ceremony comes to London The event will take place on September at the Old Royal Naval College on the banks of the Thames offering visitors an opportunity to experience an Indian spiritual and cultural tradition in a distinctly London setting Organised by Chinmaya Mission UK in collaboration with Totally Thames the celebration is designed as an open and inclusive community event for people of all faiths and backgrounds A Meeting of Two RiversFor centuries sunset aarti ceremonies along the Ganga in cities such as Varanasi Haridwar and Rishikesh have brought communities together through lamps chants and devotional music Now that tradition will unfold beside another river steeped in history The organisers describe

19 Aug 2026

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From Gul-Mehndi to Nagphana: Amrit Udyan Blooms With a Summer Floral Spectacle!

Delhi has another reason to step outdoors this summer nbsp Amrit Udyan at Rashtrapati Bhavan has opened its gates for the nbsp Summer Annuals Edition inviting visitors to discover a dazzling showcase of flowers greenery and India's native floral heritage President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the summer edition which will remain open to visitors until nbsp September Spread across acres the celebrated gardens promise a very different experience this season with colourful summer annuals arranged in mass displays mixed borders and carefully designed colour-themed beds Can You Guess These Flowers Some of the biggest attractions are India's indigenous and native flowering plants many of which are known by charming regional names Visitors can spot nbsp Balsam or Gul-mehndi Aparajita Gomphrena or Battum Phool Kulfa Rukmini Barsha Phool Morshikha Dupahariya Lal Saag Kalihari and Nagphana Alongside them is an ornamental summer collection featuring nbsp Indian Shot or Canna Rajanigandha Indian blanket flower

17 Aug 2026

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Snow Leopards, High Mountains and Wild Adventures: Ladakh to Launch India’s First High-Altitude Safari

Ladakh is preparing to offer wildlife lovers an experience unlike any other in India The Union Territory is set to introduce the country s first High-Altitude Wildlife Safari allowing visitors to explore some of its spectacular mountain habitats through guided Jeep safaris Approved by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena the initiative will cover popular wildlife and birdwatching routes across Hemis National Park Changthang and Karakoram wildlife sanctuaries as well as landscapes including Nubra Sham Zanskar Kargil and Drass The aim is simple let visitors experience Ladakh s incredible wildlife without putting its fragile ecosystems at risk Chasing a Glimpse of the Snow LeopardFor wildlife enthusiasts the biggest attraction will undoubtedly be the snow leopard Ladakh is India's most important region for spotting this elusive mountain predator and is estimated to be home to snow leopards out of an estimated national population of around But the safari will offer much more

10 Aug 2026

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Japan Calling! IRCTC Launches a 10-Day Tour Covering Tokyo, Mount Fuji and More

Dreaming of watching Mount Fuji exploring ancient temples and speeding through Japan on a bullet train IRCTC has launched a -day guided Japan tour from Delhi offering travellers a chance to explore some of the country's most iconic destinations without planning every detail themselves The Japan Ex Delhi package departs from Delhi on September and returns on September after nine nights and days The package starts at per person on triple sharing From Tokyo to Mount FujiThe Japanese adventure begins in Tokyo where travellers can explore attractions including Asakusa Temple Nakamise Shopping Street Ueno Park and Odaiba The itinerary also includes an immersive digital art experience Depending on weather conditions the tour will take travellers to Mount Fuji's Fifth Station offering spectacular views of Japan's iconic peak The journey then moves to Hakone with experiences including the Hakone Ropeway Owakudani Valley and a cruise aboard the famous Hakone Pirate Ship

8 Aug 2026

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Under a Billion Stars: Maharashtra's Tribal Village Set to Become India's First Dark Sky Community

While cities across the world struggle with ever-growing light pollution a tiny tribal village tucked away in Maharashtra's Nashik district is embracing the night in a remarkable way Udmal located in Surgana taluka is preparing to become India's first Dark Sky Community certified by DarkSky International a pioneering initiative that promises to transform the village into a destination where the stars rather than city lights steal the show With the Nashik district administration sanctioning lakh under the District Annual Tribal Sub-Plan DATSP the ambitious project aims to conserve the pristine night sky inspire scientific curiosity and create new livelihood opportunities for local tribal families through sustainable astro-tourism Lighting the Future by Reducing LightUnlike most development projects that add more lights Udmal's initiative focuses on using smarter lighting The village's Gram Sabha has already passed a landmark resolution under the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act PESA to reduce light pollution

6 Aug 2026

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Art Meets the Himalayas: This August, Ladakh Is Home to the World’s Highest Regenerative Art Biennale

Imagine driving through Ladakh's dramatic mountain passes and suddenly discovering a giant art installation blending seamlessly into the landscape This is no ordinary exhibition Until August the breathtaking Himalayan region has been transformed into the world's highest regenerative art biennale inviting visitors on a remarkable -kilometre artistic journey stretching from Leh to Kargil Known for its snow-capped peaks ancient monasteries and crystal-clear lakes Ladakh now offers an entirely new experience The s Ladakh Biennale combines contemporary art local heritage and environmental awareness to create an unforgettable adventure where every stop tells a story Rather than confining artworks within museum walls the biennale allows nature itself to become part of the exhibition making every installation feel as though it belongs to the mountains Eight Destinations One Extraordinary Art TrailSpread across Leh Kargil Lamayuru Basgo Likir Nurla Mulbekh and Hunderman the biennale encourages visitors to travel through some of Ladakh's most spectacular

4 Aug 2026

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Wild Food Festival: One Visit Could Change the Way You Think About Food

What if the key to healthier diets stronger biodiversity and food security has been quietly growing in India's forests all along This August Mumbai will host one of the country's most fascinating food experiences as the Wild Food Festival returns for its eighth edition More than a culinary event the festival is an immersive celebration of indigenous knowledge tribal heritage and sustainable living inviting urban audiences to rediscover the forgotten treasures of the Western Ghats Organised by OOO Farms in collaboration with The Locavore and Bunts Sangha's Ramanath Payyade College of Hospitality Management Studies RPH the festival will be held on August in Kurla Mumbai Under this year's theme From Wild Foods to Better Futures the event promises a rare opportunity to experience nature's hidden pantry while exploring how traditional food systems can help shape a healthier future A Journey Through the Forest on Your PlateAt the heart of the

31 Jul 2026

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