It's an emerging global battle between Tourism Boards to rope in to the Bollywood saga. Bollywood is the international and the most popular definition of the Hindi language movie sector in India, which is perhaps one of the world's largest too. Selling a billion more tickets annually than Hollywood, Bollywood showcases themes from all over the world.
The Hindi film industry has now led fans of this popular cine culture to experience fresher climes in the Finnish Lapland of Rovaniemi and Poland (Fanaa), Victoria in Australia (Salaam Namaste), Korea (Gangster), Brazil (Dhoom II), Kandahar and Kabul (Kabul Express), Ras Al Khaimah (Deewane Hue Pagal, 36 China Town) and Malaysia (Don II). The trend which began with ?Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge in the 90's lapping up the UK and Swiss borders has now transcended its? boundaries across the Atlantic to New York with Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna and Kaal Ho Na Ho.
As Dubai along with Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE, Hong Kong and Singapore get added as new destinations to the Mumbai film repertoire, Tourism Boards the world over along with Mumbai and India are clamoring for a slice of the Indian film industry which is expected to cross a turnover of Rs140 billion, as per a KPMG consultancy report. Kashmir and Kerala have given way to world destinations as more producers go westwards to film their movie musicals. The Indian Tourism Ministry and the Maharashtra government too have pulled up their socks and are looking to create private or public partnerships to promote Bollywood Tourism, especially in the United Kingdom which has already worked out a counter tourism strategy to lure Hindi film fans.
The British move is to allow Hindi film buffs to walk the paths of the now famous British locales of London, Scotland and Yorkshire and relive their favorite Bollywood's filmy moments. With Indias? official carrier proposing to add new flights on to the London and Europe sector to rope in the large Indian expatriate community, Britain's Tourism department is already pitching high on Bollywood through the sale and distribution of an innovative ?Bollywood Map of Britain?, with dozens of dots that identify now-seen scenes from Hindi blockbusters- locations such as the Blenheim Palace, Waddesden Manor- used extensively for the shots of Kabhie Khushie Kabhie Gham (K3G) and many more such spots made famous in Bollywood movies.
In the recent past, Hong Kong recorded a 24.7 per cent growth in visitors from India and this has led the tourism board to learn certain movie making linkages between Mumbai and Hong Kong which has plans to develop destination and tour packages revolving around Bollywood and also market the extensive production centers in Hong Kong to Indian movie makers. The Singapore Tourism Board in 2006 launched a ?KKrissh? tour package.
The Swiss success of Bollywood has now trickled onto Finland and the Finnish Tourism Board (FTB) had in the recent past organized programs for Bollywood's dream merchants to familiarize themselves with Finland. The FTB proposes to give location subsidies. Other sops and easy permissions to set up cameras and shots in Finland are being studied. The idea of the FTB is to sell the midnight sun and Northern Lights of the archipelago and bring it under Bollywood's arch lights. With a direct flight o Helsinki from India, it's only a wait and watch scene with Bollywood fans adding Santa land to their holiday destination!
With film festivals and awards shows the rage of the times, more and more countries are offering their destination points to set shop for Bollywood's pre and post productions, also setting aside budgets for awards and glitterati shows. The Malaysian Government had set aside about $US 2.7 million to host the 2006 Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA) thus pushing up sales for Malaysia as a prime Bollywood destination, already made famous in a host of Hindi films.
Only recently some private tour operators in Mumbai have understood the need to tap the ?Bollywood? bug as part of their Mumbai ?Darshan? packages. Such operators charge around US $100 or rupees 3900 per head for a day's guided studio tour with or without lunch packages. The experience gets tourists closer to understanding the nuances and technicalities of running one of India's largest and most glamorous industries.
The trip includes either a film studio or a television soap shoot on location at one of the studios. Tourists get to watch actors and technicians create scenes most fans might already be aware of in the real set, setting off a de ja vu appeal.
Sometimes, a post-production studio experience is thrown in where tourists learn and see in-situ dubbing, sound-editing and some other special effects that are added to movies. As most live studios in Mumbai are not open to viewing for the general public, it is left to the individual tour operators to work out their contracts with the studios they have a nexus with. Filmistan studio is one of the more popular studios open to public.
However, to really thrive on the real Indian movie experience, Tollywood or the Southern Hyderabad based film industry is the place to be. With Mumbai belting out Hindi movies, Telegu, the second most widely spoken language in South India adds to the splendor and glamour of Tollywood.
Producing over 150 feature films a year in and around the new emerging IT hub in Hyderabad, it is worth a visit to Ramoji City -one of the largest filmmaking complexes in the world. With more than 1,600 acres of ply streetscapes, sound stages, warehouses, post-production facilities, hotels, restaurants Ramoji City is modeled as theme park and has been adjudged by the Guinness Book of World record as a complete tinsel town. Ramoji City is akin to experiencing movie magic and ?real time? scenes recreated as in the Universal Studios or a Disney or MGM studio in the West. With an entry fee of rupees 250 or $US 5, it's an experience which Mumbai is yet to reel on! ENDS
Adventure obtains a new paradigm in India. An Indian adventure offers everything from skiing on snow capped mountains in the Himalayas, trekking in the Western Ghats to scuba diving and snorkeling in the shallow sea waters around Andaman and Nicobar islands. Indian subcontinent is truly blessed with a unique topography to the delight of the fearless adventurer. The magnificent Himalayas stand guard on the Northern front of India while the south is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea on all three sides. This creates the right environment in numerous locations for all kinds of water sports, as well as stunning views of marine life and coral reefs. Scuba diving and snorkeling are two of the best-loved water adventure activities, especially off the coasts of the Andaman and Nicobar while Lakshadweep offers underwater scenery and coral reefs to explore and admire.
The towering snow clad Himalayan range provides thrilling ski trails, expedition routes along with opportunities for other adventure sports like river rafting, rock climbing and trekking. The main attraction of the summer months in the Himalayan states is trekking and mountain climbing. Trekkers, without any prior experience, can easily manage the altitudes the range from 2500 to 4000 meters above sea level in the hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim. In Ladakh, the Nun Kun Massif, The Zanskar group, The central Himalayas, Arunachal Pradesh, Nanda devi, Kamet and Dunagiri offer challenging peaks for mountaineering. Winter sports in India are centered around the Himalayas in the states of Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Skiing usually starts by the end of DECEMBER and lasts till the end of MARCH. Gulmarg in Kashmir, Auli in Uttar Pradesh and Manali in Himachal Pradesh provide good snow ski slopes. Heli skiing in Manali and Gulmarg provides enormous varieties of ski runs and routes.
Blessed with a long and fertile coastline and perennial inland waterways, India offers the perfect destination for all types of angling and fishing holidays. The Indian coastline, nearly 7,500 km long, is home to a variety of fishes and aquatic animals. offerering unlimited opportunities to the sea angler, who can find somewhere to fish all year round. India is home to several rivers that meander through the vast and fertile plains of India. Also mighty rivers flow down the peninsular South India heading towards the Arabian sea or the Bay of Bengal. Most of the north Indian rivers originate from mighty Himalayas hence they are perennially full of water.
The rocky terrains of Himalayas offer a tremendously exciting landscape perfect for Cycling and biking making it one of the most incredible adventure sports. You can proceed all by yourself with necessary equipment and supplies on the bike or have a van following you with all the equipments. You need to have all the proper equipment which have to be carried along the expedition on a mountain bike that is well equipped with gears and water bottle cages, a bicycle helmet, water bottles, t-shirt, shorts, back pack, windcheater would be very necessary. Do not forget to fit the machine with multi-speed gears to enable you to cope with the heights of the mountains. Don't forget to carry tools needed for repairing in case of a puncture. An extra set of brake shoes has also to be taken. A fairly good level of fitness is also required.
Billing (8,500 feet) in Kangra valley in Himachal Pradesh, Kallahatti near Ooty and some areas of the states of Sikkim, Goa, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Northeastern states are some of the best destinations for gliding in India are. Along with, Billing has the unique distinction of organizing the very first paragliding competition according to the rules of Federation Aeronautique International. An ideal destination for all levels of gliders Billing is located at the perfect height for enjoying this adventure sport the main reason being the varied topography, height and climate.
Another form of aero-sport, Parasailing is acquiring great popularity among the adventure sport lovers in India. Parasailing can be done on sandy beaches or open spaces or on the sea water. Harnessed to a parachute you are taken to a height giving you a wonderful view from above to enjoy the beauties of coastline beaches and cliffs. The aero-adventure sport of paragliding also requires some basic training. The thrill of this paragliding can also be enjoyed on the slopes of the Solang valley near Manali, Nilgiri hills in the South India, the Eastern Himalayas in the Darjeeling/Gangtok area, Auli in Uttranchal, and Sansar in Jammu & Kashmir.
White water rafting means rushing down the gushing waters of river in an inflatable rubber raft or white water kayak over treacherous waves and swirling fast-moving waters It is really the excitement of a lifetime. Unarguably India is one of the best destinations in the world on account of its huge rivers originating from the glaciers of the Himalayas. White water rafting Indian adventure offers matchless thrills for rafting and getting the thrill of adventure and sport while immersing oneself into this activity. A rafting trip is bound to be the highlight of your stay in India.
Most of the water rafting destinations are located in the Himalayas, and the River Ganges is the most popular of them all. Several camps are organized along the 70-km stretch from Rishikesh to Devprayag to Rapids have been graded according to the difficulty of their run. The rivers Yamuna, Alaknanda, Tons, Mandakini, Kalisor, Bhilangana and Bhagirathi offer many stretches, for both professionals as well as amateur rafters. Ranges in Ladakh and Sikkim also offer great stretches of river for rafting.
If all that is not enough, Scuba Dive or snorkeling is very much in vogue in the Bay of Bengal at Andman and Nicobar islands and the Lakshadweep group of islands. The crystal clear water on the sea coast at these places, promise an interesting and mesmerizing, scuba diving and snorkeling adventure, that will leave you breathless, asking for more. Experience the thrill and beauty of India's stunning underwater natural world. The rich sea life in India offers an array of opportunities for scuba diving and snorkeling.
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