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India’s Perfume Capital Opens Chapter of Uttar Pradesh’s First Luxury Heritage Homestay

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  • Anand Bhawan Palace in Kannauj unveiled under amã Stays & Trails, marking a pioneering model in heritage-led tourism
  • This initiative reflects vision to promote heritage-led tourism and position UP as a pioneer, says Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh

New Delhi, September 15, 2025

In a landmark move, Uttar Pradesh Tourism has unveiled Anand Bhawan Palace, Tirwa, Kannauj, as the state’s first luxury heritage homestay. Developed in collaboration with amã Stays & Trails of Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), the opening marks not just the 150th

bungalow in amã’s national portfolio, but also the beginning of a new era for Kannauj — India’s perfume capital — as it opens a fresh chapter in experiential tourism.

Built in 1929 and spread across five acres, Anand Bhawan Palace is a stately zamindari-era property owned by Digvijay Narain Singh. Located just 4 km from Kannauj Railway Station and 136 km from Lucknow International Airport, the palace has now been reimagined as an

immersive cultural stay that highlights Kannauj’s heritage and perfumed traditions. With Kannauj welcoming 13,04,754 tourists in 2024, the launch of this property provides a powerful new anchor for tourism in the perfume capital of India.

The palace features six heritage suites named after timeless perfumes of Kannauj — Jasmine,

Patchouli, Oudh, Neroli, Gulaab, and Bakhoor. Expansive verandas, sweeping gardens, and heritage galleries are paired with curated experiences: farm-to-table dining with regional

delicacies and Nepalese flavours, barbecue nights under the stars, leisure by the swimming pool, billiards in a vintage games room, birdwatching at the Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary, and guided

tours of Kannauj’s attar-making traditions.

Commenting on the launch, Tourism & Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “UP Tourism is making all efforts in line with the vision of Hon’ble Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to promote heritage-led tourism and position Uttar Pradesh as a pioneer. Anand Bhawan Palace is a symbol of how our heritage homes can be preserved and brought alive as spaces of culture, hospitality, and economic growth.”

Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary, Tourism, UP, said, “Kannauj is celebrated

worldwide as the perfume capital of India and attracted over 13 lakh tourists last year. With Anand Bhawan Palace opening as a heritage homestay, we are adding a new dimension to the tourism appeal. I encourage property owners across Uttar Pradesh to walk hand in hand with us, so that together we can conserve heritage, generate livelihoods, and create unforgettable experiences for visitors.”

Prakhar Misra, Director, UP Tourism (Eco), said, “Uttar Pradesh has numerous zamindari homes, havelis, and palaces that cannot be developed as commercial hotels but hold immense value as heritage spaces. Anand Bhawan Palace is a model of how such properties can be converted into luxury homestays, keeping their soul intact while giving travellers an authentic experience of history and culture.”

The inauguration was marked by a ribbon-cutting by Mukesh Kumar Meshram, in the presence of Ashutosh Agnihotri, District Magistrate Kannauj; Prakhar Misra, Director, UP Tourism (Eco); Sumit Bazaz, Vice President, amã Homestays; and Vinod Pandey, Cluster General Manager, IHCL.

Homestay owners Divyaudit Singh and Shruti Shandilya, who belong to the family of Anand Bhawan Palace, expressed gratitude to UP Tourism for its support.

Divyaudit Singh said, “We are proud to see our family’s heritage come alive as a space for visitors. With UP Tourism’s support, Anand Bhawan Palace can now share the legacy of Kannauj with the world.”

Shruti Shandilya added, “This initiative is not just about a homestay, but about preserving history and offering travellers a true cultural experience. We are grateful to UP Tourism for making this possible.”

With this launch, Uttar Pradesh has taken a first-of-its-kind step in creating a network of heritage homestays. UP Tourism has also invited private heritage property owners and potential investors to partner in this effort, ensuring that palaces, havelis, and zamindari homes across the state can be revived as experiential spaces for tourism.



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Flights First: How FlightsMojo Made Complex Itineraries And Affordable Air Travel Its Mission | Consumer connect News

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Travelling is not just about conducting a tour, but it’s a suitcase full of memories, experiencing new adventures and making new friends around the world. However, for many travel-enthusiastic Indians, it is just a dream because booking flights once felt devastating, with overpriced fares, minimal selection, and a lack of proper guidance to make travelling easier.  An Indian entrepreneur, Harsh Khemani designed a brilliant idea and founded FlightsMojo in 2015. And has the objective to change that. Set up as a flight-first online travel agency (OTA), the company has evolved into a trusted brand that serves millions of passengers across India, the USA, Canada, and the UAE in today’s travel market. 

Strong Roots In India  

FlightsMojo began its operations in North America, but India has evolved as the company’s most central core market. Through access from major metropolitan cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, as well as secondary airports in Patna, Jaipur, and Chandigarh, the company has connected the dots in flight booking, offering access to affordable and dependable flight booking services all across India.  

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Throughout the years, business professionals, families, students, and quick flyers have trusted FlightsMojo for its honest, simple pricing and dependable service. Prioritising India enabled the company to build a strong competitive edge and stronger customer loyalty than any other company in the travel niche.  

Expanding Horizons 

Overseas, FlightsMojo has often expanded its global recognition. 

United States, Canada, Mexico – Offering low-cost domestic and international flights.    

  • Europe, Middle East & Africa 

United Kingdom – Support Indian travelers with major hubs in Europe. 

Bangladesh, Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam – Helping several travelers across South Asia and Southeast Asia with budget-friendly fares and an effortless booking process. 

This growth is the reason for the company’s long-term vision to become an honest global OTA, connecting travelers smoothly overseas. 

Flights First & Complex Itineraries 

On the other hand, many online travel agencies focus on holiday packages and hotels, whereas the company only prioritises flights. This speciality gave unique mastery in balancing complex travel plans.  

Flightsmojo makes it suitable to manage even complex travel, from cross-city gateways to international fares that stretch across many countries. This understanding has made the business the perfect option for tourists searching for affordability, dependability, and flexibility.  

Building Trust Through Global Standards 

Trust is the core feature of growth. The company backs every booking with globally recognized approval and security standards:  

  • ARC certification in the USA and IATA certification in India (and other countries) to demonstrate adherence to international travel regulations.    
  • PCI DSS certificate and payment security audited at the top level    
  • 24/7 client service, covering multiple hours and time zones of operations.    
  • Optional Travel Insurance and Trip Shield that includes refundable bookings, traveller shield and many more.   

In addition to these, strong transparency practices, the company has earned a phenomenal 4.4+ Google reviews rating, which further validates the reliability of their millions of global customers.  

Smarter Travel Innovations     

Innovation and technology go hand in hand with the travel business, and FlightsMojo continues to invest in advanced technology, distinguishing its business from others. The platform is optimized for bookings from a mobile device and supports real-time updates to pricing and other information. Payments are secure and are integrated with a large number of top-tier world-class providers. This means that customers will always receive the best deals available.  

The Road Ahead    

Since its inception, FlightsMojo has expanded from India to the USA, Canada, the UAE, and the UK. In each of these regions, the company has steadily received recognition by keeping the customer-first approach at its core.    

Regarding company plans, Mr. Harsh Khemani’s Vision,   

“Our work really boils down to removing pain points from travelling and making it dependable and affordable. The company has expansion plans, which means that global travellers will be at our service, be it for a domestic flight or for a world tour, in every country in the world.”    

FlightsMojo continues to position itself as India’s trusted brand to global travel: Serving low-cost fares, seamless service, and the expertise to make even the most complex travel plans simple.

 

(This article is from the Brand Desk. User discretion is advised.)

 



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Skål International India National Congress 2025 in Mumbai sees record turnout and new milestones

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The Skål International India National Congress 2025 concluded at the Sahara Star Hotel, Mumbai, after three days of record-breaking participation and landmark announcements. Held from September 12–14, the event brought together more than 200 delegates from across India and overseas, with all participants paying full congress fees — a first in the history of the gathering.

The inaugural evening was marked by glamour and prestige as prominent personalities, including Maneka Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Pooja Bedi, Subhash Ghai, and Zayed Khan, graced the occasion. Their presence added star power and gravitas to what became one of the most significant milestones in Skål India’s journey.

Transparency and Vision 2025–2030

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) for FY 2024–25 took place on the opening day, where President Sanjeev Mehra and Treasurer Monik Dharamshi presented detailed reports on finances and activities. Delegates lauded the leadership for its clarity and transparency. The roadmap for Vision 2025–2030 was also unveiled, outlining strategies to expand Skål’s footprint across India, strengthen member engagement, and deepen global linkages.

“This congress was not just about numbers; it was about values, vision, and vitality,” said Dr Mukesh Batra, President, Skål International Mumbai South, the host club. “We were proud to welcome Skålleagues from across India and abroad to celebrate friendship, collaboration, and meaningful business networking.”

Skål International Indian Excellence Awards 2025

A key highlight of the congress was the launch of the Skål International Indian Excellence Awards 2025, introduced by the national board to recognise achievements across 10 categories, including club performance, membership growth, innovation, sustainability, and community impact.

“The Excellence Awards were not merely trophies; they represented the dedication and creativity of Skålleagues driving this movement forward,” said Sanjeev Mehra. “Our vision for the next five years is about collective growth — more clubs, stronger retention, deeper engagement, and a stronger Indian voice on the global stage.”

India Took Global Leadership Role

India’s leadership in the Skål movement was reaffirmed during the congress as the country officially became the largest Skål nation in the world by membership, surpassing the USA. Several Indian clubs also ranked among the global top 10, reflecting India’s dynamic contribution to international tourism networking.

Ambitious plans were announced to establish Skål clubs in every Indian state and Union Territory. A new initiative of “twinning” clubs within India was also introduced to encourage collaboration, mentoring, and shared opportunities.

“India is now firmly at the centre of global Skål activity,” said Shekhar Divadkar, President, Skål International Asia. “The future of Skål lies in Asia, and India is leading the way.”

NSN Mohan, Deputy Vice President and Director Region 10, Skål International, added: “Skål blended business with friendship, creating a unique ecosystem for collaboration and sustainable growth. India’s role will be central to this journey.”

Business, Culture, and Sustainability

The programme featured networking sessions, fireside chats, and celebrations of the 200+ events hosted by Skål clubs nationwide over the past year. Delegates also enjoyed evenings filled with Bollywood-inspired performances, blending culture with camaraderie.

Sustainability was a central theme throughout the event. Organisers implemented environmentally responsible measures, including minimising food and water waste, discouraging single-use plastics, and reducing paper use, in alignment with UNWTO and Skål International’s global ethos.

Looking Ahead

The venue for the Skål International India National Congress 2026 was officially announced during the closing session, generating enthusiasm among delegates. Skål International India also reiterated its ambition to host both the Skål International World Congress and the Skål International Asia Congress in the near future, further positioning the country as a global hub of tourism leadership.

A Landmark Gathering

With record attendance, the launch of the Excellence Awards, strengthened global positioning, and a strong sustainability agenda, the Skål International India National Congress 2025 was hailed as a landmark in the association’s history. More than an annual gathering, it set a new benchmark for Skål events worldwide — a celebration of unity, progress, and vision.



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Indians can now skip long immigration queues at 13 airports with fast track immigration service: All you… – Moneycontrol

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Indians can now skip long immigration queues at 13 airports with fast track immigration service: All you…  Moneycontrol



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