Rush take over us when we start thinking about how to prepare for upcoming travel. The most crucial part is being aware of original documents we need to carry along for entire our journey. Well recently Meraki Itineraries took research trip to North Eastern states of India and found out exciting tips on how to travel paperless.

* The most obvious question you must be having how to go paperless for ticket? No to worry, now with smart phones this has become easy. Make sure you have your email synched on your phone. This way you can access your ticket and boarding pass at anytime from any location even when you don’t have stable internet connectivity.

* Now second most important, your original identity cards and yes this only applies for within India travel for Indian nationals. Install an app called DigiLocker for your Android or iPhone. This app helps you upload your document like tickets, itineraries, booking vouchers etc in addition to fetching your government issued documents such as Driving license, Aadhar, PAN Card and so on.

* Saving photo of entire set of papers you need to carry is very handy. You can quickly access your photo gallery and retrieve images instantly.

* Having a scan copy in your mobile device is also extremely beneficial. This way you reduce chances of loosing your original papers.   

* Now days Online entertainment and reading apps also made travel fun.

There are more benefits of travelling paperless, it saves space and few grams of your hand bag. Mostly, travellers tends to get confused and feel overloaded with series of compliances at airport or train stations but with this digi approach you can say good bye to rambling through your purses and bag packs.

So these were some great ideas for your next domestic travel. We at Meraki Itineraries always believe, not just destination but journeys are beautiful too!

Travel conscious and travel safe. शुभास्ते पंथानः संतु!

 

Summer of 2020 was unforgettable specially when all the bookings were done, holiday packing was at its last lap and excitement on the very top to go and indulge into cool Himalayan breeze. For this whole year when travel industry been on its knees. The vaccine brings the ray of hope however, trends of the industry and travelers’ requirement has changed phenomenally.

Workations

It is a brand new concept trending among employees who are currently working from home office. The destinations are decided and booking are made for a week/s long duration on the basis of availability of work desk and internet facility. Currently many house owners have opted the option of making their holiday homes available for such work-cations.

Passport free stay-cations

After recovering from stress of cancellation charges and refund amount, evolved traveler is more keen to relax in a hygienic boutique holiday homes or resorts. Domestic travel is the appropriate option consider the learning of pandemic situation.

Short and Solo

Plenty of us are must be looking for isolation holidays where you get an escape from crowd. Socially distant is the most weighed up safety parameter while choosing holiday destination. Travelling with strangers in a group is no more favored.   

Sustainable and Eco friendly

One of the benefit of a pandemic has been wildlife and environmental bounce back. This silver lining is of course temporary nevertheless, treasuring it will be more sensible. Choosing eco-friendly destinations will definitely help preserve beauty we living in for future offspring. It won’t be wrong to say sustainable tourism is no more paradox.

Offbeat nature based destinations

Offbeat nature breaks seems more and more appealing and why not? After an almost half year lockdown travelers been craving for wide-open spaces. It is easy to envisage a future where wildlife and nature is desired over close spaces like galleries and museums.

With latest trends here comes some tips to be cautious-

1.       Buy travel insurance optimistically even for your domestic travel.
2.       Consciously choose mode of travel.
3.       Learn travel policies of region you are willing to visit.
4.       Make flexible bookings for more security and peace of mind.

5.     To ensure above all Choose trusted travel advisor who can save your time and stress. They can also help you successfully navigate any unforeseen circumstances from the booking until your trip ends.

      Whether you have already booked your travel or not Meraki Itinerary is always to guide you to take off worry free! We wish everyone शुभास्ते पंथानः संतु!

      Visit our website www.meraki.tours for more information or write your travel queries on enquiry@meraki.tours or WhatsApp on 9158886304

 

 

Be more than just a traveler…

Choosing a destination post pandemic has become decisive? Rather, it has become optimistic with newly added filters. Pre-pandemic, booking a holiday tour was influenced primarily by cost then class of service and things to do at destination. In current situation it is believed travelers will be inclined towards safety, less explored and cost effective shorter vacations.

The new normal travel demands a lesser crowded attraction. One could think of culture as a new dimension to explore tourism places. A uniquely diverse country like India is known for not only one but of many vibrant cultures. One could follow C’s of culture and plan the itinerary around it to be not just traveler but an explorer.

In India, language/dialect changes every mile. Each state of India has publications and literature in local language. There must be millions and billions of expressions in those languages which are used by natives. Truly, India is blessed with rich Communication medium. International Kolkata book fair is one of the example such activity. It is organized once a year in City of Kolkata, West Bengal since year 1976. 

Geography is vital part of tourism as an activity. All the tourism related businesses are closely effected by seasonality. Seasonality further upholds opportunities to explore Customs, Clothing and Cuisine allied with it. Food culture of India need no introduction. Alone in India due to unlike climatic conditions there are over 500 types of millets, grains and fresh produce which abled gastronomy to spread its wings wide open. Which also brought motivation among farmers to Cultivate on large scale using local techniques. Requirement of food industry is rightly fulfilled by harvesters. Agro tourism concept is remarkably growing sector exemplary contributing in economy and bringing joy among tourist. One could learn various procedures and appreciate hard work goes in. Knowing a journey of plate full of food can add charm to your itinerary.

Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation, organizes Silk Route Festival in village of Sumoor, Ladakh to recognize the potential of handloom, preserve the regional attire and maintain livelihood of artisans. Such events emphasis on clothing as well as hand-made local jewelry/ornaments.  

Celebrations are incomplete without music and dance. May it be folk or classical, it is an undoubted face of joy. There are several destinations in India which promotes native performances like Kerala and Rajasthan. Moreover, dedicated art festivals like Koanrk Dance Festival, Tansen Music Festival holds ability to attracts thousands of explorers.

We at Meraki Itineraries curate niche full experience oriented itineraries to make your travel worry free. We understand, cultural exploration is the way forward which create employment opportunities. Having said that, we insist and support responsible tourism. On this occasion on World Tourism Day 2020, wishing शुभास्ते पंथानः संतु! 

En-cashing Journey...

“Travel because your money will return but time will not” while reading this trending quote on internet a thought passes by, how money has travelled through time?

History suggests, money system was brought into use as logical inference to barter system. The oldest form of money was a stamped metal piece on contrary latest form of currency known as cryptocurrency exist virtually only. It reminds us a famous quote by Paulo Coelho, “Travel is a matter of courage and not money.”

Likewise, Indian currency also had an exciting journey mentioned in side column. In fact, it has always showcased country’s finest heritage monuments. Upcoming stories will unfold these destinations in order to encourage tourism and cherish our history. It will also be a guide how to explore these timeless places.

India had its currency from 6^th century BC inform of irregular shaped metal coins. Metal coins were prominent in India and used by many native emperors. However, bank notes were introduced during British Raj. These paper notes had portrait of monarch of Great Britain. Followed by these paper notes Coinage Act 1835 led use of coins minted with uniformity. Interesting fact, India not only had currency announced by British but also by French and Portuguese which was in routine in respective colonies.

Since Independence, RBI has issued various types of banknotes. Retaining the same design of note pre-independence portrait of King George VI was replaced with symbol of Lion Capital of Ashoka Pillar. In 1996, Mahatma Gandhi (MG) series was adopted but symbol of Lion Capital Pillar was retained and shifted to left of watermark of Mahatma Gandhi image. Further to this Mahatma Gandhi series 2005 came in with new and additional security features proceeded by MGNS a new series on 8 November 2016 which is revolutionary, cutting edge, dimensionally pocket friendly, currently in use series. MG series had farming equipment while MG 2005 and MGNS 2016 series has highlights of the cultural heritage and scientific achievements of the country.

The first post-Independence note came out in 1949. A one-rupee note with the image of the Lion Capital of Ashoka. This image later on came into force as Nation Emblem of India which you notice on Indian Rupee coins, bank notes, passport, driving license, PAN card, Aadhar card and many more as per government rule.

Lion Capital of Ashoka image is carved on Ashok-Stambha at Sarnath. Stay tune to know more this iconic monument and how to reach there. Till then follow us @MerakiItineraise on Facebook, merakitours_pune on Instagram and शुभास्ते पंथानः संतु!

Next Normal for Tourism Industry

Tourism and hospitality industry is not an exception to see downturn during Corona war. Moreover, this industry is highly affected being movement oriented. Indeed, it’s hard to be on virtual holidays for long time. In current pandemic situation where social distancing is the key to fight this virus, obviously raise common concern, “how tourism industry will cope up post COVID19?”

Realizing, tourism industry is majorly affected right from the beginning phase which is not restricted in India but worldwide. Also assuming it could be the last industry to start making its contribution to economic growth in full capacity. However, this resilient industry has always bounced back with refined trends and approaches. May it be a global financial crisis 2007-2009, it has thrived back strongly with new structures and consolidated approaches. Right after that in year 2009 – 2010 when it was anticipated that tourism industry might see yet another downturn when Swine Flu pandemic hit the world but it stood up instead with more preparedness. Tourism industry has been always evolving as going through global political dynamics, conflicts and outbreaks like SARs. Each time it not only recovered but came out sturdier than before not only as a business aspect but revenue stream as well.

Every situation was unique in its own ways though firsts time social distancing comes up as most curative measure. Everyone needs to be very careful about getting exposed to touch anything around outside and others as well. Through the pandemic, if tourism needs to make its way back, then it has to be a responsible enough to bring the livelihood back by the way of rural regions of the country.

Agreeing with St. Augustine, “This world is a book and those who don’t travel, read only one page.” Let’s hope we will win this virus war and again get wonderful opportunity of exploration very soon. This time let’s firstly stand for our country just like they suggest during air journey – help self before helping others. We, proud nationals of this wide, diverse, vibrant and united country can make contribution by being responsible travelers in upcoming future.

Path to next normal for travel lovers, explorers simply begins with planning a short tour or weekend gateway to nearby village to experience the culture. Not just watching but experiencing countryside way of architecture essence of infrastructure, inherited farming processes, variety of attire, cooking cultures and many more. Avoiding travelling in larger groups with long list of places to cover, turn out to be safer way to travel. During the tours, choosing locally owned bed and breakfast or home stays not only reduces risk but also helps local living. Exploring villages motivates community to preserve their tradition, art and culture which are true tourism products. Buying locally made handicrafts, preferring locally produced meals, enjoying spending a day at farm with farmers and leaving lesser carbon footprints makes us surely a responsible traveler. In a journey as baby step towards responsibility towards nature, one can carry own water bottle throughout the trip and avoid one time use plastic.

Its immense pleasure to mention, there are many motivating personalities across India which have recognized the potential of rural tourism and working round the clock to bring the change. Introducing rural tourism as a trend, developing it as a concept and moreover bringing it to reality must have been challenging effort. For instance, district of Ladakh has small town called Maan, on the way to lake Pangong Tso. This village was never a part of standard itinerary until an observatory was developed with star gazing guided tours every evening. To get this project running successfully a young girl was given the training how to be a guide and handle the binoculars installed.  She is currently a part of long distance learning program, does her daily farming household tasks and guide tourists comes to observatory. Similarly, there are villages in north east of the country, coastal Karnataka, jungle villages of Madhya Pradesh and interiors of Tamil Nadu where many women have come forward to be a part of such tourism model where they run home stays, develop handicrafts and also proactively preserve the natural surroundings.

During this lock down, Meraki Itinerary had the opportunity to know and connect with these inspiring and amazing locations and means to continue to be a part of their journeys with an enthusiasm to come up with new holiday experiences post COVID 19. Meraki always believed in safety of planet and people comes before promotion and profit. Let be the change of today make difference for safer and prosperous tomorrow. Wishing all the travelers – शुभास्ते पंथानः संतु!