Dear Friends, The month of October began with the 10 day Navratri Fesval which took everyone into a fesve mood. This fesval was celebrated in a big way in Mumbai, Maharashtra and all over India. This colourful and happy fesval indeed filled the air with joy. The fesvies culminated with the Dussehra fesval which was also celebrated with equal fervour all over. The moment the Navratri fesval was over, most of the tour operators started gearing up for next season to operate groups in India and abroad. MTOA planned a Familiarizaon Trip (FAM) to Kolhapur over October 14, 15, 16. This FAM was a brain child of honourable minister Shri Chandrakant dada Pal, who is the Guardian Minister for Kolhapur District. During our first meeng in Feb, 2016 he expressed his desire and intenon of planning and execung a concrete path for promong Kolhapur Tourism in India as well as on the Internaonal plaorm. Aer our first two meengs & soon aer Kolhapur parcipated in the Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) under the banner of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporaon (MTDC), he iniated and discussed the proposed plan with Kolhapur Hotel Malak Sangh and the outcome was the visit of our members to Kolhapur and places in and around. This iniave was supported by the District Collector Mr. Amit Saini and all polical pares along with President Mr. Ujwal Nageshkar and Mr. Siddharth Latkar and their team. There were total 50 tour operators from Mumbai, Pune, Nashik & other regions who parcipated in this FAM. In this trip we visited the famous Mahalakshmi Temple, Jyoba Mandir, Panhala Fort, Rankala Lake, River Panchganga Ghat. We enjoyed a typical Maharashtrian folk & cultural show with Mardani Khel by 'Lavanya Sandhyaa'. The next day we visited Ramling Dongar, Khidrapur Temple, Shree Kshetra Narsinhwadi, Bahubali Mandir, Jahaj Mandir, Palsambe Caves, Gagangiri Ashram, Gaganbavda, Borbet, Radhanagari Dam Backwaters. On the last day of our trip, we visited Shree Kshetra Siddhagiri Museum Kanerimath, New Palace Museum, Town Hall Museum. On the last day of the FAM, we had an event in the presence of honourable minister Mr. Chandrakant dada Pal. In their presence, we felt very fortunate to submit a special report and path for the development of Kolhapur Tourism in conjuncon with the government of Maharashtra Tourism Policy 2016. We recommended special private-government partnership to form Kolhapur Tourism Board and gave our other details in the report. The report was well received and we hope that it will help for carving the future path of Kolhapur tourism and its development. We all MTOA members have commied and will support this new iniave and will always be ready to extend our support in each acvity. On 23rd October, I visited ITTM, Indore and the famous local exhibion there, known as 'Marathi Jatra'. This was indeed a different experience. We were happy to see all the Maharashtrian families come together for the celebraon of Diwali. On 24th & 25th, I was invited as a buyer to visit BLTM (Business and Luxury Travel Mart). It's a new iniave started by Fairfest Media Limited, especially for the MICE promoon. As there were restricted suppliers and restricted buyers, the quality of interacon was great. We look forward to have more business outcome from such exhibions and networking promoon. We are happy that Mr. Atul Mohile got an opportunity to meet honourable Railway Minister Mr. Suresh Prabhu at one funcon in Mumbai. Mr. Mohile put forth our problems to honourable Mr. Prabhu. These vital points will also be followed by our associaon very soon. We congratulate Honourable Chief Minister Shri. Devendra Fadnavis for parcipang in the inaugural cruise ceremony of the Genng Dream Cruise at the Mumbai Port along with other dignitaries from the government and industry such as Honourable Shri. Nin Gadkari – The Union Minister of Shipping and Road Transport, Honourable Shri. Swadhin Kshatriya – Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra and Honourable Shri. Sanjay Bhaa - Chairman of Mumbai Port Trust, as well as trade partners and media. Most of our members were present during this occasion. We look forward to more and more cruises coming to Mumbai, which will boost the local tourism industry. We hope our members will take a note of this and will see as to how they can grab these opportunies. Last week I got an opportunity to meet the Honourable US Consul General during the Brand USA event and subsequently their team at the US Consulate. The US government is very keen to receive more and more MICE groups and very keen to welcome MICE inquiries to the USA. Hopefully all of you have had a great Diwali and must have extended full support to the guest tourists on their holiday. We must have faced some problems which need to be analysed and let's see to it as to how can we overcome them more effecvely & efficiently in the future. Looking forward to have a great season and an acve business. All the best for the upcoming winter season! Sudhir Pal, President, MTOA NEWSLETTER Maharashtra Tour Organisers' Association Only for private circulation among members of MTOA. Extracts from various reputed publications in Travel Industry President’s Desk November 2016 MTOA KOLHAPUR FAM
Transcript
Dear Friends,
The month of October began with the 10 day Navratri Fes�val
which took everyone into a fes�ve mood. This fes�val was celebrated
in a big way in Mumbai, Maharashtra and all over India. This colourful
and happy fes�val indeed filled the air with joy. The fes�vi�es
culminated with the Dussehra fes�val which was also celebrated with
equal fervour all over. The moment the Navratri fes�val was over,
most of the tour operators started gearing up for next season to
operate groups in India and abroad.
MTOA planned a Familiariza�on Trip (FAM) to Kolhapur over
October 14, 15, 16. This FAM was a brain child of honourable minister
Shri Chandrakant dada Pa�l, who is the Guardian Minister for
Kolhapur District. During our first mee�ng in Feb, 2016 he expressed
his desire and inten�on of planning and execu�ng a concrete path for
promo�ng Kolhapur Tourism in India as well as on the Interna�onal
pla�orm. A�er our first two mee�ngs & soon a�er Kolhapur
par�cipated in the Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) under the banner of
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corpora�on (MTDC), he ini�ated
and discussed the proposed plan with Kolhapur Hotel Malak Sangh
and the outcome was the visit of our members to Kolhapur and
places in and around. This ini�a�ve was supported by the District
Collector Mr. Amit Saini and all poli�cal par�es along with President
Mr. Ujwal Nageshkar and Mr. Siddharth Latkar and their team. There
were total 50 tour operators from Mumbai, Pune, Nashik & other
regions who par�cipated in this FAM.
In this trip we visited the famous Mahalakshmi Temple, Jyo�ba
Mandir, Panhala Fort, Rankala Lake, River Panchganga Ghat. We
enjoyed a typical Maharashtrian folk & cultural show with Mardani
Khel by 'Lavanya Sandhyaa'. The next day we visited Ramling Dongar,
Government of Maharashtra and Honourable Shri. Sanjay Bha�a -
Chairman of Mumbai Port Trust, as well as trade partners and media.
Most of our members were present during this occasion. We look
forward to more and more cruises coming to Mumbai, which will
boost the local tourism industry. We hope our members will take a
note of this and will see as to how they can grab these opportuni�es.
Last week I got an opportunity to meet the Honourable US Consul
General during the Brand USA event and subsequently their team at
the US Consulate. The US government is very keen to receive more
and more MICE groups and very keen to welcome MICE inquiries to
the USA.
Hopefully all of you have had a great Diwali and must have
extended full support to the guest tourists on their holiday. We must
have faced some problems which need to be analysed and let's see to
it as to how can we overcome them more effec�vely & efficiently in
the future. Looking forward to have a great season and an ac�ve
business. All the best for the upcoming winter season!
Sudhir Pa�l, President, MTOA
N E W S L E T T E RMaharashtra Tour Organisers' Association
Only for private circulation among members of MTOA. Extracts from various reputed publications in Travel Industry
President’s Desk
November 2016
MTOA KOLHAPUR FAM
N E W S L E T T E RMaharashtra Tour Organisers' Association
isi�ng Kolhapur is experiencing the magic of nature, history, culture, spirituality and modernity blended with
glorious ancient tradi�ons. It has something to offer for every kind of tourism. History lovers will find ul�mate a�rac�on in forts like Panhala and Vishalgad and heroic tales of Chhatrapa� Shivaji and his men. Nature lovers find 'Gaganbawada' with majes�c Sahyadri Mountain and valley and undertaking adventurous trekking, Radhanagari Dam with automa�c gates (one of its kind in India) and Dudhganga with serene nature and greenery. We experience divinity at the ancient temples: Mahalaxmi, Kopeshwar, Jyo�ba, Narsobachi Wadi, etc. Innumerable aspects of this expanding city presents the historic development of Maharashtra in pain�ng and films, sculptures and wrestling, coins and armoury, etc. The Sahyadri mountain ranges display their robust beauty and fer�le land with lush green sugarcane fields.
The world famous Kolhapuri Chappals (footwear), Saaj (ornaments), Hupari silver items and also undertake district as key Kolhapuri cuisine and finally watch warriors' games/performances of folk arts. Kolhapur was cultural capital of Maharashtra thanks to the patronage of Shahu Maharaj and cinema, classical music, fine arts and literature flourished. S�ll it is one of the major centres of Marathi Culture besides Pune. The lip-smacking spicy Kolhapuri Cuisine forms an integral part of its culture. Hot and Spicy are the words which describe 'Kolhapuri Misal'. This is a delicious dish. Every culture has a special food and cuisine a�ached to it. In case of Kolhapur it is the Non Veg that makes a mark as a special cuisine. 'Pandhara Rassa' the white curry is a soup-like dish of the water used to boil the 'mu�on' , along with spices such as coriander, ginger and garlic, etc. 'Tambada Rassa' is a curry prepared using red chilly powder to make it appear
V
KOLHAPURKOLHAPURIndulge in a Cultural Treat!
MTOA KOLHAPUR FAM
November 2016
N E W S L E T T E RMaharashtra Tour Organisers' Association
'Tambada' reddish. Kolhapur, in its modest way, is a city of museums. Kolhapur city has historic Town Hall with a beau�ful garden housing a museum with rare and an�que ar�cles like earthen vessels, beads, coins, stone carved figures and armoury, art gallery with ar�s�c pain�ngs. Similarly, new palace (where the descendants of Shahu Maharaj reside), also has private museum – must see for tourist taking him to historic period of Maratha dynasty. For leisure, relaxa�on and rest Kolhapur has good naturopathy centre in form of 'AnandKunj and 'Ayurvedic' mind and body soothing spa with 'Panchakarama' at Kanheri Math. Kolhapur is also a sports city known for wrestling and football
besides ancient (now stopped) Sathmari (fight of elephants), bullock cart race in mud and modern go-car�ng , water boa�ng. Kent club with ar�ficial ice playfield will entertain your children. Kolhapur tourism offers unique unforge�able experience of history, religion, nature and flora and fauna to tourists. Kolhapur is ideal for weekend touring as well as a week-long touring. Tour to Kolhapur can be coupled with Goa or Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts of Konkan Region or Satara and Sangli.
Compiled By : Jitesh Ghag Courtesy : 1. Book Ref.: Charisma�c Kolhapur – A Complete Tourist Des�na�on
Popular Sightseeing in KolhapurMahalaxmi Temple:Kolhapur has blessings of Goddess Mahalaxmi Ambabai. The guardian deity of Kolhapur.
Shalini Palace:Shalini Palace, is located very close to the famous Rankala lake, It was named a�er Princess Shrimant Shalini Raje of Kolhapur
New Palace Museum: New Palace Museum, Kolhapur, a historic building on the Bhavani Mandap-Kasaba Bavda Road and constructed during 1877–1884.
Sagareshwar Deer Sanctuary: Just go 10ms from Audumber is the first manmade sanctuary in India.
Kalammwadi Dam: Kalammawadi dam is biggest dam in Kolhapur Dist. It's a build in south west Kolhapur Radhanagri Taluka. There is a temple of godess Kalamma Devi. Also Indian Gour area and huge biodiversity place.
Radhanagari Dam – Dajipur Forest:Radhanagari Dam is a century old dam built by the great visionary Rajarshri Chhatrapa� Shahu Maharaj and is constructed across Bhogawa� River.
Amba Ghat: Amba Ghat – The meandering ghat road offers a scin�lla�ng experience-fresh air, panoramic landscapes with breath-taking play of light, just compelling you to revisit.
Bhavani Mandap: It is a historical building. Although smaller in size than Mahalaxmi Temple, Bhavani Mandap holds equal importance. It is the temple of goddess Tulja Bhavani.
Rankala Choupa�: Surrounded by chowpa�, other gardens and pathway, rankala lake was constructed by Maharaja Shri Shahu Chhatrapa� of Kolhapur
Panhala Fort: It is blessed by the stay of the Great Shivaji Maharaj for over500 days of his life�me. Panhala was the Kolhapur State Capital un�l 1782.
Jyo�ba Temple: Situated around 15 kms towards the northwest part of the city is the most worthy village God of this region. An important religious des�na�on.
Siddhagiri Museum: This wax museum is located at Kaneri, near Kolhapur It is situated at Shri Kshetra Siddhagiri Math.
Narsobawadi: Nrusinhawadi, capital of Da�a devotee, situated on the sacred confluence ofKrishna and Panchganga rivers, isfamous pilgrimage place in Kolhapur.
Town Hall Museum: Museum of Kolhapur's Historical pain�ngs and events.
MTOA KOLHAPUR FAM
Vishalgad Fort: One of the migh�est of the Maratha Forts, constructed by Raja Bhoj in the 13th century housing the Amriteshwar Temple, Takmak Tok, Sa� Vrindavan & tomb of Hazrat Malikdhyan.
November 2016
N E W S L E T T E RMaharashtra Tour Organisers' Association
MTOA KOLHAPUR FAM
November 2016
N E W S L E T T E RMaharashtra Tour Organisers' Association
MTOA Newsle�er has been published by MTOA at its Office Veena World, Mahalaxmi Estate, L. J. Cross Road No. 1, Mahim (W) Mumbai – 400016.
Only for private circula�on among members of MTOA Extracts from various reputed publica�ons in Travel Industry www.mtoa.co.in
President – Shri. Sudhir Pa�lGen. Secretary – Shri. Atul MohileChief Editor – Shri. Amol A. Hendre
