Author: Rabindra

Experiences that Jammu offers to every kind of traveller

The culturally rich, topographically diverse and naturally stunning Jammu offers a variety of experiences for all kinds of travelers, be it the adventure junkies, the nature lovers, the foodies or the history buffs.

This gem is a paradise with its unfiltered views of the majestic Pir Panjal range, its natural bounty of lush green hills alive with a variety of flora and fauna, its ancient temples, its local handicrafts and delectable cuisines. At the heart of Jammu lies a small, pretty hill station called Patnitop nestled amidst picturesque meadows and surrounded by pristine mountains, that will make your visit all the more special.

Here are five experiences in Jammu that deserve a spot on the itinerary of your next visit:

For the history and heritage buffs

Since the 2nd century AD, Jammu has built a rich heritage that has enriched its economic, cultural, architectural and social history. Some of its ancient structures like the Amar Mahal Castle, that is built like a French Chateau on a hill overlooking the river Tawi continue to attract travellers for the view it offers and for its architectural excellence. The palace is now converted into a museum making it ideal for a visit by both history buffs and architects! The Bahu Fort, built around 3,000 years ago, is another structure worth a visit. It houses a temple dedicated to the presiding deity of Jammu – Goddess Kali.The Vaishno Devi temple and the Raghunath Temple draw hordes of pilgrims to the region throughout the year.

For lovers of nature and crisp, mountain air

Patnitop is a dream destination for those who love to be surrounded by nature’s bounty! From taking long walks along unexplored mountain trails to trekking, skiing during winter, camping, paragliding, or taking a dip in its natural hot springs, Patnitop is a haven for nature lovers. When here, visit the Skyview by Empyrean property spread across 22 acres that perfectly blends premium hospitality, adventure, nature and luxury! A ride aboard the Skyview Gondola also known as India’s first ‘green gondola’ is a must-do, so add it to your itinerary. This is one of the highest CEN-certified gondolas in Asia covering 2.8 km in flat 10 minutes! A gliding, ariel view of Patnitop on this ropeway will make you appreciate its natural beauty even more.

For families and big groups celebrating festivals or occasions

Jammu’s rich and diverse cultural history makes it a very vibrant and colourful destination to celebrate festivals or occasions with family and friends. These gatherings showcase some of Jammu’s best local cuisines, culture and handicrafts. The Bahu Mela is celebrated twice a year from March to April and from September to October at the Bahu Fort that is lit up to perfection for the occasion. The Jhiri Mela is celebrated in October and November brings together farmers of the region to honour the farmer Jitu Baba, who laid down his life for his fellow men. The three-day Purmandal Mela festival is held during Shivratri.

Navratra Festival in Jammu region is famous for its celebration in Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi. Though the yatra to the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is a round-the-year event, the one undertaken during the Navratras is considered the most auspicious. A large number of tourists pay their obeisance to the deity during this period.The festival is celebrated twice in a year- during the Sharadiya Navratri, Chaitra Navratri

For the Foodies

Jammu offers a variety of cuisines inspired by its multicultural legacy making it a much sought-after destination for the foodies. Here, you can relish the customary local Dogra cuisine that includes the famous Kashmiri Pulao (it’s a Kashmiri dish), Khatta Meat, the much-loved sweet Patisa or the Kalaadi, a processed cheese prepared only in the region.

The other traditional dishes that are a must-try in Jammu Region are Morel (Gushi) Palov, Madra (lintel cooked in curd), Oria (Potato/Pumpkin in mustard sauce), Maani, Khameera, Katha Meat (Sour Mutton), Shasha(raw mango chatni), Kasrod and Timru-di-Chatni,Shiri Pulav, and Mitha Bhat (Sweet Rice) among others.

For desserts, Jammu offers dishes like Chocolate Barfi, Sund Panjeeri, Patisa for food lovers You cannot overlook the street food of Jammu comprising Gol Gappas, Kachaalo, Gulgule, and Rajma Kulche.

In Jammu, every kind of traveller will find their sweet spot, so make sure you do your research well in time before you head to the region and make your bookings so you don’t miss out on any of the unique experiences the region offers.

Planet Smart City manages 1 billion Litres of Water in Pune

Pune, 12th October 2023: Planet Smart City, a leading global player in the affordable and aspirational housing market integrating Proptech and ESG-compliant solutions in real estate developments, has added another feather to its cap. The Proptech solutions company has helped manage 1 billion litres of water across 15,000+ households in Pune.

As Punekars are grappling with the ongoing water crisis in Pune brought on by the dwindling water resources, and rapid urbanization, Planet Smart City’s Planet SIM emerges as the innovative solution of the hour. Developed by its Digital Business unit, Planet SIM collects data to understand consumption patterns and identify outliers to trigger corrective action. The deployment of the platform in over 60 societies has resulted in substantial water and energy savings.

Commenting on this achievement, Mr. Marco Pilia, Managing Director India at Planet Smart City, stated, “Planet Smart City is dedicated to establishing affordable housing communities that prioritize environmental consciousness. Since the initial deployment of Planet SIM in Pune’s residential societies a year ago, we have successfully managed over 1 billion liters of water, resulting in significant reductions in utility costs for societies. With our innovative solution, each society has achieved substantial annual savings in terms of water usage, manpower and electricity, leading to both significant financial benefits and a noteworthy reduction in our collective carbon footprint.”

“Upon close examination of water consumption trends in Pune’s residential societies, we’ve noted the water requirement ranges from 300 to 600 liters per household per day. Traditionally, these societies have been responsible for managing their water resources independently. However, following the implementation of Planet SIM, we have the potential to decrease society water usage by an impressive 20 to 25 percent This monumental achievement not only signifies our commitment to sustainable water management but also has a cascading effect on overall power consumption. Through this initiative, we’ve successfully achieved a notable reduction in overall power consumption, ranging from 8 to 10 percent.” Added Mr. Mukund Deogaonkar, Director India Business, Planet Smart City.

Planet Smart City’s Planet SIM aims to reach hundreds of societies before the end of 2023. Owing to the ongoing water crisis in Bengaluru, the digital unit is ready to expand its offerings to the Silicon Valley of India.

Social Beat’s AI-Powered Fortune Ganeshotsav Pandal Campaign – A Successful Blend of Tradition and Innovation

Social Beat, a pioneering digital agency, proudly introduces its AI-driven campaign for Fortune Edible Oils & Foods, titled “Fortune Ganeshotsav”. Drawing inspiration from the rich history of Ganesh Chaturthi, this campaign was poised to use innovation as a medium to bring the community together digitally and engage with the brand.

The “Fortune Ganeshotsav” was more than just a campaign; it was a grand celebration that married tradition with innovation. It was a 9-day Utsav with 9 contests and 18 gold coins as giveaways. An engagement and participation of 2M+ is what made this campaign a huge success. Our use of AI-generated creatives to construct the Fortune Ganeshotsav Pandal promised not only a visually stunning and unique experience for our followers but also highlighted Fortune Foods as a brand that cherishes its heritage while embracing new technological trends.

We used tools such as Midjourney, Stable, and Easy Diffusion to make each grid as detailed and nuanced as possible. Right from the pooja thali to the Fortune billboard, each AI creative was crafted with unique details, which seamlessly blended with other creatives to bring forth the entire grid.

The contests included solving puzzles, decorating Ganesh ji’s crown, sharing their home-made prashad pictures, and finding Ganesh ji’s mooshak through an AR filter for an immersive experience

Influencers joined the effort to amplify and explain the contests to users in the most engaging manner.

Through this campaign we garnered a reach of 31 million, engagement of 2 million+, 1700+ entries in 10 days and 20,000 + profile visits on our social media handle

Mr. Vikas Chawla, Co-Founder, Social Beat said, “Through this Fortune Ganeshotsav campaign, we were successful in reigniting the sense of community while embracing creativity and innovation. This Instagram campaign gave a sense of the magnanimity of celebrations and the spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi. The success of the campaign was measured through daily participation in contests and engagement during the 9 days of the campaign. The winners were announced basis their key performance indicators (KPIs) such as participation rate, contest entries, audience engagement, and user-generated content to gauge the campaign’s impact and effectiveness.”

Sanjay Adesara, Head of Marketing at Adani Wilmar said, “We aim to set the bar higher each year, and this year, we wanted a technologically innovative campaign that would lead to engagement from our followers while also seamlessly integrating the brand values of Fortune, and the results are impressive. We look forward to more such innovative brand campaigns in the year.”

AISATS Delivers 100 Automated Aircraft Exterior Cleanings for Vistara

New Delhi, October 12, 2023 – Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited (AISATS), India’s leading airport services management company celebrated its 100th Robotic Aircraft Exterior Cleaning for Vistara at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on October 11, 2023, using its automated aircraft cleaning service ‘AeroWash’. AISATS launched this service in June 2023 for Vistara and is the first and only ground handler in India to introduce such an innovative and sustainable aircraft exterior cleaning solution. Through these 100 aircraft exterior cleanings AISATS has helped Vistara save 1,000 tons of CO2 emissions and 120,000 litres of water. This 100th aircraft wash milestone is a testament to AISATS’s drive for providing innovative and tech-savvy airport services and encapsulates how this game-changing tech is being adopted as a new benchmark in aircraft exterior washing across the Indian aviation landscape.

AeroWash harnesses state-of-the-art robotic technology, delivering precise and efficient exterior cleaning while upholding the highest safety standards for both the aircraft and the equipment operators. This system minimizes the use of water during the cleaning service and reduces aerodynamic drag on aircrafts leading to lower fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions for airlines. It not only reduces aircraft ground time and lessens human intervention during the washing process but also cleans critical areas of the fuselage (crown, elevator, rudder) that manual cleaning might overlook. Furthermore, the eco-friendliness of this technology underscores that environmental sustainability and operational efficiency are not mutually exclusive goals for the aviation industry and can be achieved by utilizing the right equipment and green alternatives.

Commenting in this milestone, Sanjay Gupta, CEO of AISATS, said “AISATS is proud to undertake its 100th robotic aircraft exterior cleaning for Vistara. This technology represents a paradigm shift in the aviation industry’s approach to maintaining aircraft cleanliness and appearance and sets new benchmarks for aircraft washing standards. AISATS remains steadfast in its commitment to sustainability, consistently striving to provide advanced, eco-friendly solutions to the aviation sector and introducing AeroWash to our industry is a testament in this direction.”

AISATS has been at the forefront of introducing sustainable solutions to the Indian aviation sector, further solidifying its position as an industry leader. Recent initiatives, such as the introduction of solar-powered passenger ramp bridges and electric buses at various airports, underscore the company’s unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability.