Travelguru introduces Cash-on-Delivery mode of payment for Belgaum
7:27 PM Posted by ukmad
Travelguru - India's largest hotel network and premier travel solutions provider in association with Express IT Logistics Worldwide Ltd. has launched a new value-add feature to provide more value to its customers by way of Cash-on-Delivery (COD). Travelguru started off this service with 20 cities and recently extended it to 50 cities; by May end it will be available in 90 cities in India.
The significant aspect of Cash-on-Delivery is that the customers can do their hotel bookings online and make payments in cash which will be collected by Travelguru on delivery of the hotel booking vouchers at the address provided by the customer. Cash-on-delivery benefits the customer who needs to pay for his travel bookings with cash.
Commenting on this new initiative Deepak Mavinkurve, Vice-President Operations, Travelguru said, "Responding to the increasing demand of our esteemed customers we are happy to introduce this new payment mechanism. You can now book a hotel online and pay for it by cash."
He added, "In the last few months, we have seen more and more customers enthusiastically take to this mode of payment. For those without sufficient credit limit on their credit cards, or without credit cards, this payment option is most useful. The convenience of home pickup of the cash and delivery of the hotel booking voucher shows the added focus on service from Travelguru."
With over 20,000 hotel rooms for sale every day, starting as low as Rs.565 per day, this payment option makes India's Largest Hotel Network even more accessible to Indians.
P.S: COD is available in the following cities - Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Belgaum, Bhavnagar, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Dehra Dun, New Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Goa, Guwahati, Gwalior, Hubli, Hyderabad, Indore, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jammu, Jamnagar, Jamshedpur, Jodhpur, Kolahpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madhuri, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Pune, Raipur, Rajkot, Ranchi, Secundrabad, Surat, Tirupati, Trichy, Trivandrum, Udaipur, Vadodra, Vijayawada and Vizag.
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About TravelguruTravelguru - India's largest hotel network - offers access to over 4000 hotels in India and over 72,000 hotels worldwide. It offers travelers the opportunity to plan and purchase their travel in a transparent, easy and customizable manner with instant bookings and confirmations. Strategic partnerships and deep supplier relationships give Travelguru the edge as an aggregator of travel services. Sorting hotels by user reviews and several other criteria are some of the distinctive value-added services. In December, 2007 Travelguru fully acquired Desiya.com - a company focused on hotel aggregation, distribution and technology to further strengthen the leadership position in hotel distribution. Travelguru facilitates a wide range of travel options and recommendations for domestic as well as international travelers. The Travelguru hotel advisors guide you to the most convenient place to stay including rates, amenities, landmarks and so on across India. It promotes properties from budget to luxury, single room to serviced apartment, business accommodation to leisure houseboat.
Holi celebrated with great fanfare
10:46 AM Posted by ukmad
Unique ritual: Holi revellers performing ‘Lotangan puja’ in Belgaum on Saturday.
Holi was celebrated with great fanfare and enthusiasm in Belgaum on Saturday with people from all communities participating in the festivities.
Men, women and children came out in groups, splashed colours and greeted each other and danced to the drumbeats.
Rain and cloudy weather did not dampen their enthusiasm.
In Pangul galli, a large number of revellers and devotees performed “Lotangan puja” (“urulu seve”) at Ashwathama temple.
The festivities started on Friday night with the lighting of bonfires to signify the burning of demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashyapu. Pujas were also offered to Kamadev.
Power supply was disrupted in several areas on Saturday owing to technical problems. However, the supply was restored in the evening.
Now science is only confirming it
9:09 PM Posted by ukmad
Vijaykumar Patil
It was an outrageous claim then but Moringa leaves help prevent 300 diseases
A NATURAL SHIELD: Moringa leaves help prevent 
various diseases in human beings.
Some time ago in a remote village of eastern India, Balbir S. Mathur, a naturalist who heads a United States-based organisation called Trees for Life, came across a traditional medicine practitioner who made an outrageous claim saying that the "leaves of the Moringa tree prevent 300 diseases".
His claim was based on real life experience. Now science is confirming it. The more we study, the more it seems that the Moringa oleifera tree truly delivers wonders, said Mr. Mathur in his note circulated at the launch of the "Ankur-Save the Sight" project on prevention of blindness programme in children at KLE Prabhakar Kore Hospital in Belgaum on Monday.
Trees for Life has been working to create awareness, train people to plant and take care of trees. It is providing them with the resources needed to accomplish their tasks in different parts of the world, including the U.S. and India, for more than two decades now. Moringa leaves or drumstick (known as Nugge kayi in Kannada and Munaga in Hindi) leaves contain vitamin A, which acts as a shield against diseases of the eyes, skin and heart, diarrhoea, and many other ailments. Carrots are high in vitamin A, but moringa leaves are even higher, he said.
Importantly, his claims on nutritional value of moringa leaves are based mostly on the analysis done at the National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad and the information on dried moringa from an analysis sponsored by the Church World Service and the Department of Engineering at the University of Leicester and performed by Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. According to Mr. Mathur, Moringa leaves are one of the richest sources of essential nutrients often lacking in people's diets. They even contain all of the essential amino acids, which is unusual for a plant source. Experts agree that the long-term solution to malnutrition is the use of foods rich in the essential nutrients often lacking in people's diets. Modern scientific research is proving that Moringa leaves are one of the richest sources of such nutrients.
Moringa leaves provide two times the protein of yogurt, seven times the vitamin C in oranges, three times the potassium in bananas, four times the vitamin A in carrots and four times the calcium in milk, he said and added that the figures reflect gram-for-gram comparisons with Moringa leaves.
Meanwhile, Cdr. (retd.) Kailash Girwalkar, Director, Blindness Prevention Project, Somaiya Trust, Mumbai, and M.V. Jali, Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of KLES Prabhakar Kore Hospital, pointed out that though Moringa tree fruit or drumsticks are used in almost every kitchen, it was mainly for its taste. Many are not aware of such rich nutrient value in the leaves of this tree. Using these leaves in the daily diet will shield against long-term blindness and other diseases. It is a must for the children as it an very important role in preventing visual impairment or early loss of vision.
25 lakhs paid for Urdu Corporators in Belgaum Mayor Election
10:41 AM Posted by ukmad
In what is either a display of misplaced bravado, or a Freudian slip, the chief of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, T.A. Narayana Gowda, has admitted that "money power" had to be used in securing the victory of a Kannada-speaking corporator as mayor of the Belgaum City Corporation for the first time in 17 years, earlier this month.
In a 58-strong House dominated by members of the Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi, Prashantha Budvi beat the MES' Neelima Pavshe by a slender margin of two votes, after Kannada and Urdu speaking corporators, numbering 29 in all, formed a forum called the Sarva Bhashik Samavichar Vedike. The deputy mayorship went too in favour of Yunus Momin of the Vedike, by an identical margin, 30-28.
The victory has been painted as a major victory for Kannada forces, with the newly elected mayor and deputy mayor being felicitated with great fanfare in Bangalore. But, in an admission that could have serious ramifications, Narayana Gowda has publicly admitted that money was used to lure a corporator.
"To get the support of an Urdu speaking corporator, the need arose to pay Rs 25 lakh," Gowda has been quoted as saying by Vijaya Karnataka, at a function in Arsikere.
Gowda has not revealed who paid the money, or to whom, but the paper reports that the disclosure has sowed several doubts in the minds of self-respecting Kannadigas.
Source: http://churumuri.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/going-price-for-a-corporators-loyalty-rs-25-lakh/
Admission time: Is raat ki Subh Kabhi
7:41 PM Posted by ukmad
Many parents start the school rounds (not those rounds during lunch break you used to take when you were in school) from January month itself just to know when the forms will be given for Jr.KG. As time passes by the blood pressure of the parents start to rise for no reason. Some might even think getting a baby born or delivering a baby was not so terrible.
This year February came and still the schools had not decided when the admission process would begin. Parents used to visit all the probable schools they could and
check when the forms would be given.March arrived and still the school authorities were uncertain about the dates. Some schools said by March 15 something will be made clear and yes at last the dates were out. I have seen happy faces when they just read the dates of the admission process on the board. But friends this is just the start.
Herwadkar School started the admission process on 18-03-2008. And in the morning there were about 200 parents lined in to get forms even before the school gates were opened. I had been there also and decided that I would try my luck the next day but luckily in the afternoon, just to see how much the rush is I went in and to my surprise the queue was very small only 30 parents and I said this is the time to get a form at least and make a Shri Ganesha. I got the forms in about 20 minutes and to tell you I wasn’t happy like this in my life not even when I passed my SSLC in distinction. Now I got the forms, from here the other story, fill the form submit it. Then the forms will be scrutinized and a list will be put and if my daughters name comes in it, wow my life has become fruitful. Not as easy as said. After the list is put up, there will be a parent’s interview and what I will be asked is quite clear, how much? Now that the biggest Q. How much? (All know how much in what context) Lets see cant say now until I have been there. Past experienced parents do help out with their experience.
The forms for Divine Providence and St.Joeshps Convent will be given form the 1st april to 3rd april. Last
year scenes at the convent in camp were dreadful. Parents lined up at 9 pm in the previous night it self just to get the forms, leave admission aside, just forms. So this time special instructions have been put up for the same. See in the photo.This time areas have been specified
so if you don’t fall in those areas you might not be getting a seat I guess. See the photo for details.I hope I get my daughter admitted to a school and my blood pressure comes down….
I wrote this post only as I thought many of those young parents, grand parents reading this might just feel, hey it's my story.
Hope all their dreams of getting admissions are fulfilled.
Where is this photo Taken ?
10:27 AM Posted by ukmad
Source: SakalLook at the picture and let me know where you think this is from.
Clue: these our our elected representatives.
Now I think why did we elect them.
MORE: sort of MORE & not so MORE
9:44 PM Posted by ukmad
I had been to the MORE store in RPD cross in the evening at around 730pm. Initially I had a problem to find place to park my two wheeler. At last I found a place, which if the police thinks could be no parking area, but parked and went in. Theresa security guard who takes the baggage and then u enter the store. First impression great looking means goods placed correctly and in good order, I meant to say food grains on one side and t
oiletry on the other side etc. Vegetable stall is just at the entrance and after having a look at them you can guess what is in store for you later.This picture is not of the Belgaum store. Its a archive photo form their website.
One more thing if you think you have some time and you can spend it in here, wrong impression, this is not air-conditioned and at times especially these days you could have a nice work out with doing much.
Goods variety is great I should say when compared to Big Bazaar. But again not all brands are available. Variety in some goods was good and not so many to choose from a few like Deodorants & jams. Prices are not cheap. I mean sugar was Rs.18/kg in the market its Rs.16/Kg. And similar rates for others so you can think.
Chocolates variety is good with some great value big value packs, which you normally don’t get to see in town. The staff I did not really interact so cant tell you but they were normal I guess. NO special offers like big bazaar here. Some small offers on atta and some small products I could see.
Billing, this is a problem as of now. There are 3 billing counters and the process is very slowing even tough there are touch screen panels for billing. The guys are not so familiar with the items still and at times you will have to wait for 10 mins to get your bill. One incident happened in front of me only when a person had taken a lot of material and when he went out and checked his bill he was charged Rs.90 for 1 Cauliflower. Its should have been Rs.9. They said a billing mistake and to rectify it poor guy had to wait for 20 mins (15 mins for my bill as my bill was being made and then the refund stuff).
In all not a great experience which will induce me to go again and again. One time purchase is ok. On a scale of 5, I would rate it 3. Let you reviews also come in on this.
I have received a response from Mr. Mr.Shriniwas M Katti on the MORE store: I visited MORE today and made a shopping of more than Rs.1200/- . It is certain that the staff is untrained and speaks Marathi and Kannada very rash. Sophistication is totally absent. And most important the prices are at least 10-15% more.
So Did you go shopping for MORE.
Mantri Realty in Belgaum
7:29 AM Posted by ukmad
The company has also been promoting projects in Belgaum, one of largest cities in Karnataka.
The company has already acquired two prime properties in Belgaum. One property is of around 300 acres for a residential township, where around 5,000 houses would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore.
The second property is around 200 acres at the outskirts of Belgaum costing Rs. 200 crore.
The overall investment in the City of Belgaum by Mantri Realty would be to the tune of Rs 700 crore.
Source: Yahoo.com
MORE to open its 2nd store: Reliance Fresh at Hotel Hanuman Site
1:10 PM Posted by ukmad
MORE the AV Birla group company which opened its first store in the city is now gearing up to open its 2nd store at Kolhapur Cross, opposite to Adishwar electronics.
Confirmed news is also here from sources that Hotel Hanuman near JNMC will become the Reliance Fresh with an area of about 5000 sq.Ft.
Belgaumites, city is now seeing the birth of a retail revolution, how many will survive for many years is the question tough?
Any way a welcome thing for us.. I Guess
Basic Inputs: Prasad Prabhu
MORE opens store
12:55 PM Posted by ukmad
Ranis say Hello to Belgaum
3:14 PM Posted by ukmad
Two escape death near Fish Market
2:26 PM Posted by ukmad
Belgaum getting many Traffic Signals:Khanapur Road widened
9:05 PM Posted by ukmad
These are new on the Belgaum roads now. New traffic signals are being put up at RPD Cross & Cantonment Bord cricle(near Globe Theatre). No doubt these were necessary but with these the road humps near the signals should be removed otherwise the traffic will become dead slow. and hope they will be on for quite a some time other than those installed earlier.
Khanapur Road (camp) being widened
These are pictures oft he Khanapur Road (camp, infront of police quarters) near to Sanchayni circle. the said road is being widened by 3 feet. In the above pics you can see the JCB digging out the earth and on the other side is the already dug part. Due to this the traffic is very slow on this road after Fish market to Sanchayani circle.
Photos courtesy: UkMaD
50 crores for Suvarna Soudha at Belgaum
9:28 AM Posted by ukmad
Mr. Chidambaram presented the budget proposals for the State for 2008-09 in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
The budget allocates Rs.1 billion for upgrading airports in Mangalore, Mysore, Hubli, Bijapur, Shimoga, Hassan, Gulbarga, Karwar, Bidar and Belgaum.
An amount of Rs.500 million is earmarked for a new state secretariat building, Suvarna Soudha in Belgaum.
Major Fire at Campbell Knitwear destroys stocks
10:03 AM Posted by ukmad
A view of the traffic jam from the Shivteerth. A major traffic jam was caused as a Sand loaded truck broke down in the middle of the road exactly at the Gogte circle causing the morning commuters a hard time.
