रॉकिंग राऊत!

'सा रे ग म प' लिटिल चॅम्प्स फेम, महाराष्ट्राचा आवडता तरुण गायक, रोहित राऊत, याला नुकत्याच पार पडलेल्या रेडिओ मिरची संगीत पुरस्कारांमध्ये, ‘बेस्ट फिल्म सॉंग ऑफ द इयर: हृदयात वाजे समथिंग’ आणि ‘बेस्ट अल्बम ऑफ द इयर: ती सध्या काय करते’ साठी तब्बल २ पुरस्कार देण्यात आले.

रोहितला एकूण ३ गटात नामांकने होती, त्यापैकी २ गटात, परीक्षकांच्या बहुमतांनी, त्याने पुरस्कार पटकावले.

आनंद व्यक्त करताना रोहित म्हणतो, " हे वर्ष माझ्यासाठी खूप खास होतं. मला प्रत्येक टप्प्यावर पाठिंबा दिला तो म्हणजे माझ्या संगीत क्षेत्रातील दिग्गजांनी, माझ्या मित्रांनी आणि अर्थात घरच्यांनी. त्यांनी माझ्यावर केलेलं जीवापाड  प्रेम आणि त्यांचा माझ्यावर असलेला विश्वास मी कधीही विसरू शकणार नाही. मला मिळेलेले पुरस्कार हे माझ्यासाठी अधिक चांगलं काम करण्याचं प्रोत्साहन असतं व माझ्या परीने मी नक्कीच उत्तम काम करत राहीन.”

रोहित, तुला आमच्या खूप खूप शुभेच्छा व आशा आहे तुझा अल्बम लवकरच भेटीला येईल.

Bajaj Electricals launches first IoT Air Cooler - Bajaj COOL.iNXT

The ‘Wi-Fi Direct & Internet Enabled’ air-cooler that can be operated from anywhere in the world via a mobile app

Mumbai, March 8, 2018: Gearing up for the Indian summer season, Bajaj Electricals Ltd., India’s leading consumer durable and lighting company, today launched the first of its kind IoT enabled air cooler– Bajaj COOL.iNXT. With the launch of this IoT product, Bajaj Electricals aims to improve customer’s experience through smart technology and intuitive designs. In the next two years, the company expects a huge potential for IoT enabled air coolers, not only from the residential space but also commercial.

The unique features of Bajaj COOL.iNXT can be accessed through a smartphone from anywhere in the world. The specially designed app provides complete control to its unique features and functions at the fingertips of the user making the cooling experience smart and convenient.

Being the pioneer of new age intelligent IoT technology, Bajaj COOL.iNXT has the following features that differentiate it from other air coolers:

•                    3 Methods of Control: With the state of the art mobile app; IR remote and digital control panel

•                    Easy ‘Wi-Fi  & Internet Enabled’ operation with the mobile app

•                    Intelligent Sensor that reads the temperature and humidity of the room

•                    Auto mode to automatically adjust the fan and cooling speed on the basis of the temperature and humidity of the room

•                    5 level speed control and 4 cooling levels

•                    Digital control and display panel

•                    Digital low water level indicator

•                    Honeycomb cooling media for efficient cooling

•                    Ice Chamber for faster cooling

Mr. Anant Bajaj, JMD, Bajaj Electricals, speaking on the launch said, “We are extremely excited and proud to launch India’s first IoT enabled Air Cooler. Real intelligence is when technologies interact with one another to make things effortlessly happen. We want the technology to earn a permanent place in everyday life, where IoT technology will play a crucial role making the process of cooling homes and commercial spaces smarter, effective and effortless. Realizing the market dynamics and the ever-evolving consumer needs, we at Bajaj Electricals Ltd. promise you to bring in technology that will improve consumer lifestyle.”

Realizing the importance of rapid transformation in the market place, Bajaj Electricals Ltd. through its R&D Centre ‘AB Square’ aims to drive innovation and introduce cutting edge solutions in IoT space. Recently, the research and development center has been certified Platinum Status for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) which is the highest Green Building Standard for its design, operation and maintenance that aims to help, building owners and operators be environmentally responsible.

Jindal Mansion plays host to Eli’s of Elephant Parade

MUMBAI, MARCH 06, 2018: JSW Group has unveiled an impressive installation of elephant sculpture atJindal Mansion on Pedder Road in Mumbai. The installation is part of the 101 gorgeous elephant sculptures by leading artists and designers including LN Tallur, Princess Pea, Christian Louboutin, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Masaba Gupta that have been set up for public display as part of the Elephant Parade India. Jindal Mansion is a heritage building embedded in the warp and weft of Mumbai. Over the last few years, it has also become a live canvas to various art initiatives to encourage passers-by to stop, admire and think about Art and Beauty. The idea is to make public art accessible so that there is more dialogue around it. The installation is also a precursor to JSW’s annual Earth Care Awards, currently in its seventh edition. The JSW Earth Care Awards have created a platform for recognising climate change mitigation champions, and showcase their path breaking work.

Commenting on the Elephant Sculpture installed at Jindal Mansion, Mrs Sangita Jindal, Chairperson -  JSW Foundation said, "As a patron of art, I strongly believe that art and culture contribute towards the growth of society and creates positive ripples of conversation for our future generations. It is important that Art is inclusive and should be experienced by a wide array of audiences. I am pleased to bring The Elephant Parade to Jindal Mansion and contribute towards creating awareness around #HelpTheHaathi."

The official inauguration of the parade was done in Mumbai at the Gateway of India in the august presence ofShri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Sudhir Mungantiwar, Hon'ble Minister of Finance, Planning and Forests and Smt. Poonam Mahajan, Hon'ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and Parade Ambassador. The Elephant sculptures have been displayed in herds at prominent Mumbai locations to be photographed, hugged and kissed by an admiring public as part of what has become recognised as the world's biggest public art event. Each elephant is on sale to raise funds for their endangered wild cousins and forest homes. Created as part of the 2017 UK India Year of Culture, Elephant Parade India is organised by Elephant Family in association with Good Earth. After the public display, these Elephant Sculptures will be sold in an auction to raise funds for Asian elephant corridors and projects to address human-elephant-conflict throughout India.

Soul surrender: Goa the perfect destination for women travelers! A Women’s Day special feature

It is said, ‘The hand  that rocks the cradle rules the world’.  Today it  is said, ‘The hand  that rocks the cradle  explores the world!’

And  Goa is that perfect destination,  the melting pot for women travelers from around the world to converge, explore and experience  that peace and  tranquil  away from the humdrums  of life.

Women have been travelling more than ever experiencing both inbound and outbound tourism. Nowadays, women have been earning more and therefore spending more. This is dynamically changing  the trend of women travelling solo and in women-only groups. Financial independence and the freedom to behave independently has accorded to the rise of the modern female traveler.

As you all know, Goa is the most preferred holiday tourism destination, and is now gaining recognition as a popular tourist destination for women travelers.

MICE tourism has picked up greatly in the state and have seen women embarking on business trips most often these days. Subsequently, the number of travel providers offering their services exclusively to women has also increased.

Adventure tourism in Goa is rapidly gaining popularity amongst female travelers and has many takers. Women prefer leisure shopping getaways to adventure trips, and that’s exactly what Goa is all about.

Goa has also witnessed a surge in the number of female travelers and is reflected in every segment and every age group. The social media has given women travelers a great platform for quickly accessing information about destinations or activities that they would like to experience. Recent statistics suggest that more than 40% of Indian women opt to travel alone. This  also goes for  a sizeable number of  women foreign tourists who visit India and do not miss a trip to Goa even  if it mean a short halt vacation.  The ETV  regime has also added a further boost  to women  travelers  who opt for Goa as the Port of Arrival.

The demand for travel being very specific, well defined and safe is increasing and the state of Goa takes adequate measures to see that tourists especially women travelers feel safe and secured during their vacation.

Goa was declared as among  the Top 3 Indian Destinations for Females recently. This was highlighted by none other than Thomas Cook India. For Goa, the survey confirmed the fact that the beauty of Goa is in sync with the beauty of women.

Goa today offers plethora of activities for women in the areas of fashion, shopping, films, dance, cuisine, yoga, wellness etc. Goa is one of the top beach and nightlife tourism destinations in the country and thousands of women travelers visit the state to experience this uniqueness.

Cristina Piotti,  a freelance journalist said “During my solo week in Goa I had the freedom and the pleasure of experiencing one of my favorite type of holiday: a solo travel. I had one of the most relaxing, surprising,  and memorable time moving from Tiracol to Arambol, from Old Goa to far south. I loved the natural escapes, the crazy clubs, the great meals, and the lively atmosphere that Goa offers to a solo woman. I felt not just safe, but always welcome. As a woman travelling alone, this made the difference.”

Odette Mascarenhas, Goa’s Culinary expert said, “ Generally speaking- is safety the prerogative of woman in this day and age? No, we have a long way ahead to create a paradigm shift in the minds of certain sections of society. However, as a woman I am extremely confident to travel around in Goa anytime- day or night. For me, Goa is the perfect haven for a safe journey. Even if one has to travel solo.”

SOTC innovates exclusive products for travel enthusiasts Indians

~ Launches Great Rail Journeys & Self Drive Holidays ~

Mumbai, March 5, 2018: Indian travellers today are increasingly looking for unique experiences while holidaying. SOTC has always taken pride in itself in understanding the needs of its customers in providing the best of products and services. To cater to this set of expectations, behaviour and preferences of the next rising wave of consumers, SOTC has curated two innovative products both for outbound as well as the domestic Indian traveller- Great Rail Journeys & Self Drive Holidays.

To capture high potential leisure markets for the outbound Indian traveller, SOTC has launched Great Rail Journeys in collaboration with “Great Rail Journeys” UK's leading operator with over 40 years of experience in arranging holidays by rail. This enables the travelers to discover the best of the world through truly epic journeys travelling on iconic trains across entire continents such as Europe, Asia and Americas. The Great Rail Journey Holiday package from SOTC offers personalized travel through fully ushered rail tours that provide authentic experiences delivered with complete seamlessness. Each itinerary involves travel on special trains indigenous to the region. From ultra-modern trains to iconic heritage lines, SOTC believes that traditional rail travel will give travellers the most memorable aspects of their global adventures.

Self-drive holidaying, as a travel product and a trend, is becoming progressively more popular amongst Indian travellers. To tap into this segment SOTC has launched Self-Drive holiday packages for the domestic market in India. SOTC provides self-drive car rental on a set itinerary combining with choicest hotel stays on stay & breakfast basis. The itinerary has suggestions for tourists, which they can follow if they wish to. These packages offer great value for money and convenience for customers. With a fixed package, all hotel and car arrangements are taken care of, plus complimentary road maps and a detailed route itinerary.

The unique product offerings ensure a comfortable and hassle-free journey on wheels, for families, couples and ad hoc groups of friends.

Speaking about the exclusive product offerings Amod Thatte, Head Product, Contracting & Innovation, SOTC Travel said, “Experiential Vacations is an upcoming trend with travellers today and to cater to this demand we have introduced Great Rail Journeys and Self Drive Holidays for our customers.  With an increasing number of travellers valuing the personalized experience over anything else in their travel itineraries, SOTC offers an exceptional opportunity to visit some of the world’s most incredible places through classic train journeys. Domestic Tourism is witnessing a strong resurgence and the launch of our ‘Self drive Holidays’ intends to cater to this demand. With the concept of long weekend holidays serving as a mini escape, popular drive-down locations are seeing strong interest. For today’s travel-hungry yet price sensitive audience, our focus is on simple, easy to book, Self-Drive Holiday Packages that offer the unbeatable quality assurance of the SOTC brand, coupled with great value pricing!”

He further added, “Our holiday offerings feature a number of 'hotel trains', like the Trans-Siberian in Russia, The Canadian in Canada, The Ghan in Australia, The Blue Train in South Africa etc. Every itinerary includes a balance of experiences giving our travellers the chance to see more of the country and get a more authentic flavour of the region. At SOTC, we drive customer centricity in all our holiday propositions enabling us to create cherished holiday experiences for our travellers”.

Few of the Rail Journey packages are mentioned below:

Europe:

·         15-Days Top to Toe of Italy

·         10-Days Rome, Sorrento & The Amalfi Coast

·         12-Days Grand Tour of Switzerland

·         12-Days Discover Poland

·         12-Days Slovenia, Croatia & Montenegro

·         12-Days Andalucían Explorer

·         7-Days Bavaria (All Inclusive )

·         10-Days The Enchanting Emerald Isle

·         14-Days Grand Tour of UK

Russia and Scandinavia

·         15-Days Premium Trans -Siberian Express

·         16-Days The Trans-Siberian: Moscow to Beijing

·         15-Days Highlights of Baltics & Scandinavia

·         16-Days Arctic Circle Express

·         11-Days The Northern Lights & Lapland

·         7-Days Fjords Cruise & Historic Cities Of Norway

Asia

·         12-Days Discovering Japan

·         16-Days Vietnam, Cambodia & The Mekong Delta

·         12-Days Burma's Hidden Kingdoms

USA & Canada

·         18-Days The Trans American Rail Tour

·         13-Days Las Vegas & The Golden West

·         9-Days New York, Niagara & Toronto.

·         17-Days Canada Coast to Coast

·         13-Days Canada and The Rocky Mountaineer

South America

·         14-Days Premium Brazil, Argentina & Patagonia

·         13-Days Macchu Picchu & The Andes

Africa

·         10-Days Cape Town, The Blue Train & Kruger National Park

·         15-Days Victoria Falls, Cape Town & The Garden Route

Australia

·         20-Days Australia The Ghan

Few of the Self-Drive packages are mentioned below:

Tour 1: Being Punjabi

Route: Chandigarh - Amritsar (2) - Ludhiana (1) - Chandigarh (2)

Ex: Chandigarh

Duration: 5 Nights / 6 Days

Distance Covered: 550 KMs

Tour 2: The Mughal Route

Route: Delhi - Agra (1) - Lucknow (2) - Delhi

Ex: Delhi

Duration: 3 Nights / 4 Days

Distance Covered: 1100 KMs

Tour 3: Head Over Hills

Route: Delhi – Nainital (2) – Corbett – Delhi

Ex: Delhi

Duration: 4 Nights / 6 Days

Distance Covered: 650 KMs

Tour 4: Escaping To The Green

Route: Bangalore – Bandipur (1) – Ooty (2) – Coonoor (2) – Coimbatore

Ex: Bangalore – Coimbatore

Duration: 4 Nights / 5 Days

Distance Covered: 650 KMs

Tour 5: When Sai Calls

Route: Mumbai – Shirdi (1) – Shani Shingnapur – Sula – Mumbai 

Ex: Mumbai

Duration: 1 Night / 2 Days

Distance Covered: 650 KMs

Tour 6: In Search Of A Sufi Soul

Route: Jaipur – Ajmer (1) – Jaipur (1)

Ex: Jaipur

Duration: 2 Nights / 3 Days

Distance Covered: 450 KMs

Tour 7: Chennai To Chettinad

Route: Chennai – Pondicherry (2) – Tranquebar (1) – Chettinad (2) – Coimbatore

Ex: Chennai – Coimbatore

Duration: 5 Night / 6 Days

Distance Covered: 750 KMs

Tour 8: The Rann Safari

Route: Mumbai – Ahmedabad (1) – Rann Utsav (2) – Ahmedabad (1) – Mumbai

Ex: Mumbai

Duration: 4 Nights / 5 Days

Distance Covered: 1900 KMs

Tour 9: Malvani Days

Route: Mumbai – Malvan (2) – Parule (1) – Mumbai

Ex: Mumbai

Duration: 3 Night / 4 Days

Distance Covered: 1100 KMs

Tour Cost Includes:

·         Accommodation on twin sharing basis

·         Fixed menu breakfast

·         Self drive vehicle (Without Fuel) to cover all transfers, sightseeing as per the suggested itinerary.