Fateh Prakash Palace bags National Tourism Award
in the Grand Heritage category
Trumpets, bugles, flourishes! The National Tourism Awards have once again been bestowed upon the worthy. Among them Karnataka for best tourism literature, Ajanta for best maintained monument, Chhattisharh for most innovative tourism project. The HRH Group of Hotels, Udaipur topped in the Grand Heritage category for their Fateh Prakash Palace in Udaipur.
Hyderabad it turns out, is the best city in the country, and the nearby Qutub Shahi tombs the best monuments. And while giving up one’s position comes with a bit of a pang, the next best thing is to give it up to your sister…. Publication. Yes, the best selling Weekend Getaway series from our colleagues at Outlook Traveller.com were crowned Best Publication in English in the Indian Publication category. In addition to their recognized virtues, let it be known that they shared their celebratory cake.
National Tourism Awards Score a Number of Firsts.
The setting for the National Tourism Awards could not have been more fortuitous for both tourism as well as culture. Happily, both these disciplines are presently under the same minister and therefore, perhaps it was easier to bring them together. Considering the ongoing degradation of our monuments and their immediate surroundings, it is tourism that can make such efforts self-sustaining in the long run. It is tourism and related events again, managed under a strict, yet comfortable set of guidelines, that can provide a lifeline and a sustained revenue inflow required for their ongoing maintenance and upkeep. Therefore, the event managed by the Ministry of Tourism, clearly a trend setter in so many ways, provided shining examples of some essential dos and don'ts.
T3 can vouch that none of the visitors attending the function even stepped onto any of the monuments per se - all the activity that took place was on ground level and removed from the actual tomb and domes. Only a part of the raised platform was used as a platform for the stage and that too for some most distinguished and eminent cultural performers known in contemporary times, backed by the youthful and knowledgeable choir of Kumar Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. In fact, DoT deserves kudos for having raised the National Tourism Awards to a new standard of perfection; far too often in the recent past these awards have been reduced to a relatively trite affair. In fact, the event last year was a non-starter. Fortunately, DOT moved in a totally different direction this year and we had an excellent evening, not only for its quality of presentation, but also for its dock work precision.
The National Tourism Awards and the Awards of Excellence in various fields of tourism for 2002-2003 were held at the spectacular Humayun’s Tomb after various structural repairs and environmental development like rebuilding water channels, ponds and fountains apart from illumination and restoration of gardens. This was the first time that the award ceremony was held at a heritage monument. This was also the first time that some distinguished individuals were honoured for making substantial contribution to the cause of tourism.
The dais was shared by the Union minister for Tourism and Culture Jagmohan; Bhavnaben Chikalia, minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs & Tourism and Culture; Rathi Vinay Jha, secretary tourism; Amitabh Kant, joint secretary, tourism and CMD, ITDC; and Rashmi Verma, additional DG, ministry of tourism. “Today we are felicitating all those in the public and the private sector who have contributed towards the commitment to quality in our services. Let us sustain the renewed interest in Indian and take it to greater heights with partnership and co-operation” said Jha in her inaugural speech. Bhavnaben said, “I am happy to note the rapid strides taken by the Tourism sector and the international recognition that has come our way”. Minister Jagmohan addressed the gathering after giving away all the awards and said, “The launch pad of the ‘Incredible India’ campaign, which is a synthesis of tourism, is giving a major boost to the tourist arrivals in India. We are very hopeful that this year, the double-digit growth will continue”.
Journey Through India, a collection of Sudhir Dar’s sketches was also released on the occasion. The book showcases Dar’s creativity as he journeys through the four gateways of India – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. All and all, it was a grand ceremony and the evening came to an end with a jugalbandi of Kathak, Odissi and Bharatnatyam.
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