Canada lifts visa requirement for the Czech Republic

Ottawa, November 14, 2013 — Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced that, effective immediately, Czech nationals no longer require a temporary resident visa to visit Canada. Czech nationals can now stay in Canada for up to six months visa-free, which is consistent with all other visa exempt nationals.

“Canada values strong ties with our European friends and after working with Czech officials for some time we are pleased to be able to extend visa-free travel for Czech citizens,” said Alexander. “This move is a testament to the strong relationship between Canada and the Czech Republic and reinforces our government’s commitment to facilitate legitimate trade and travel.”

A recent visa policy review of the Czech Republic has revealed that it now meets the criteria for a visa exemption. Canada’s visa policy is based on a country-by-country assessment, which looks at several criteria. These include a country’s immigration issues, such as violation rates and asylum claims, the integrity of a country’s travel documents, safety and security issues, border management, human rights, and bilateral relations.

Our confidence in lifting the visa requirement is further enhanced by Canada’s improvements to its asylum system, which will serve as an effective deterrence against unfounded asylum claims. In particular, claimants from the Czech Republic will be processed more quickly as it is a designated country of origin, and those whose claims are rejected will be removed from Canada within a few months.

“This is great news for both the Czech Republic and Canada,” said Canadian Ambassador Otto Jelinek. “By making it easier for Czechs to visit Canada, we are strengthening the already close cultural and economic ties that exist between our two countries.”

Canada is committed to the free and secure movement of people between European Union member states, and we will continue to work in cooperation with all member states.

Under Canada’s immigration law, all visitors to Canada require a visa, except citizens of countries for which an exemption has been granted under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Visa requirements for travellers to Canada are the country’s first line of defence in maintaining the health, safety and security of Canadians.

News Source from Canada Visa Information website

The Great Living Chola Temples in India

The Great Living Chola Temples are three granite temples dedicated to Shiva, that show the progressive development of Chola architecture and art. They illustrate the Chola civilization between the 10th and 13th centuries, which succeeded the Pallavan dynasty (that was responsible for Mahabalipuram) in South India.

The three included temples are:
- Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur: the earliest and most representative monument. Built 1003-1010, during the reign of king Rajaraja, the founder of the Chola Empire which stretched out over South India and the neighbouring islands.
- And the temples of Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram, built by his successors and following the main characteristics of the one in Thanjavur

Their layout is different from other South Indian temples, as the Vimana (sanctuary) is the highest point of the complex, not the Gopuram (gates). The tall Vimanas with many tiers as the core feature of the temples and the elaborate sculpted decoration represent the divinities and mythological figures related to the Tamil beliefs. 

In all three temples traditional religious rituals continue to be performed there by the general public. 

The city of Thanjavur has over 200,000 inhabitants, but its center feels much smaller and can easily be explored on foot. Signs guide you to the “Big Temple”, as they call it here. Maybe even the Tamils find “Brihadisvara Temple” too cumbersome, although they manage pretty well with their elaborate place names made up of dozens of syllables. I visited on a late afternoon. There was a steady flow of worshippers and daytrippers going into the temple complex. There’s no entrance fee, or limitations to non-Hindus. Only take your shoes off.

The entrance gate here is not the prettiest construction of the complex, but did already hold my gaze for a while. The decorations here clearly have a greater quality than those at Mahabalipuram, and it is easy to see how the sculptures here have influenced Angkor for example. After the second gate, awaits the large inner courtyard. It’s a vast open space. In the center stands a large black Nandi statue, covered under a pavilion (under construction at the moment). To the sides are smaller temples. The whole area has a festive air: there’s a temple elephant doing tricks, groups of friends are sitting on the grass and taking photos.

The monument at the end of the courtyard is the Temple’s masterpiece: the Vimana, an unbelievably high pyramidical tower, fully covered in sculptures. You really have to sit down to take it all in, it’s exuberant. There are so many little details to admire, and the state of conservation looked very good to me.

After I enjoyed all there is to see on the outside of the buildings, I put my camera away and went inside. Photographing isn’t allowed there. The Vimana contains many dark grey columns and some statues. Although the WHS is marketed as “Living” temples, I did not find the religious atmosphere as special as in Chidambaram for example (or maybe I had already got used to the sight of worshippers in their differently coloured loincloths).

I did not visit the other 2 temples that were added to the WHS later on. They are located 80kms or so away, and as they do not appear to be very different from the one in Thanjavur I decided not to go there. 

Five places to visit in India

Monsoon is finally here and it is time to revive the travel plans which you had shelved because of summer.

Though traveling during rain comes with its own set of problems; however, it is a welcome change from the searing heat of the summer. The waterfalls and greenery make it a pleasant setting for a holiday.

There are many monsoon destinations in India. We list five must visit destinations this year.

COORG

Also known as the Scotland of India, Coorg is one of the rainiest places in india. Situated in the southern part ofKarnataka in the Western Ghats, it has become a popular monsoon honeymoon destination. Monsoon in Coorg is the most romantic season of all.

You could visit one of the many coffee plantations in Coorg. Fields and forests covered in spectacular greenery, gurgling streams and the Kodava populace offer enough incentives to take a gentle stroll.

You could also visit River Kaveri, which is venerated. Head to the Talakaveri pilgrim centre from where Kaveri originates in the Brahmagiri Hills, Omkareshwar  Temple or the Nagarhole National Park.

MANDU

Resting on the crest of the Vindhya Range, Mandu stands on a rocky outcrop planted amidst a bed of green. The fortified city is also home to the love story of Rajput princess Rani Roopmati and the last Sultan of Malwa, Baz Bahadur.

The architectural ruins attract day-trippers from Ujjain and Indore throughout the year. But it is during the monsoon that the rustic facades of the city’s mahals and darwazas attain a rich red tint. You could take a history lesson and visit the country’s first ever marble monument, the tomb of Malwa’s second king Hoshang Shah.

Don’t forget to visit the courtyard of Roopmati’s Pavilion which reverberates with romance and its front lawns look its best with peacocks and kharmours roaming around. The several minarets and domes of Mandu may be lost in time, but find themselves gracefully whenever it rains.

SPITI VALLEY

A desert mountain valley in the Himalayas, Spiti is dotted with Buddhist monasteries and is often called the Middle Land or Little Tibet. Between July and October is pretty much the only time you can go to Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh, given the weather and road conditions.

All the houses are white washed and have black painted windows and door frames to keep the houses warm and safe from rain and snow. The area located just south of Ladakh, is one of the most sparsely populated regions in India and is the perfect place to get away from the crowds. Kilometers of the high altitude desert stretch in the rain shadowed side of the Himalayas promises to be perfect get-away.

The rugged awe-inspiring snow-clad mountains are a standing invitation to you if you love to hike or seek an adrenaline rush. The entire district is full of natural scenery where you can imbibe its natural grandeur. The customs, myths and beliefs of the simple people is another unique feature of this border highland.

VALLEY OF FLOWERS

The stunning landscape of the Valley of Flowers, in North Indian state of Uttarakhand, comes alive with the monsoon rains. July and August are the best time to see the wildflowers in full bloom in the Valley of Flowers.

It is the perfect destination for you if you love hiking and exploring nature, as it requires a 15-17 km trek up a steep mountain trail to get there.

The high-altitude Himalayan valley has around 300 different varieties of flowers, which appear as a bright carpet of colour against a mountainous snow capped background. Carpeted with red potentillas, geraniums, asters, gentians, anemones, delphiniums, blue corydalis and wild roses the national park becomes a package made in heaven.

GOA

Goa surprisingly has a lot to offer than just its beaches. Monsoon is off-season in Goa. So, chuck the thoughts of milling crowds and lack of privacy. Being the lean season, don’t be surprised if you get some awesome deals.

Take a walk through Goa’s colonial past, sit in a restaurant and enjoy Goan food. Though beaches would be out of action for quite some time, discover the other treasures of Goa.

Don’t forget to witness the feast of saints Peter and Paul celebrated at the end of June. Locals sail on rafts while performing plays and songs. Head towards Divar Island, off the coast of Panaji where you can experience the traditional Bonderam flag festival. It is more of a violent festival involving mock fights and commemorates the protest by locals against the Portuguese. The festival is held towards the end of August.

Top 5 places to visit in Andhra Pradesh

The state of Andhra Pradesh in India, with its rich culture, history and architecture is a great place to visit if you’re looking to travel to an offbeat place. Here’s a list of five of the most attractive destinations in Andra Pradesh to visit.

Araku Valley

Araku hill station is among the most important tourist destinations in Andhra Pradesh. Situated at over 112 km away from Visakhapatnam, the hill station is known for its scenic landscapes, lush green valleys, waterfalls and streams. Travellers enjoy the journey through the thick forest of the Eastern Ghats.

 Warangal Fort

Located in the Warangal district, the fort has beautifully-carved arches, pillars spread over a radius of over eight km. The fort was the seat of power for the Kakatiya Empire, which brought the Telugu-speaking people from the region under one roof. The Thousand Pillar temple built in the 11th century is another major attraction for its architecture.

Golkonda Fort

Located in the capital city of Hyderabad, the fort was first built of mud by Kakatiya rulers during the 13th century. However, it gained glory under the Qutub Shahi dynasty. The world renowned Kohinoor diamond was found here. An added attraction here are the enchanting sound & light show in the evenings. One of the most interesting features of the Golconda Fort is its system of acoustics. The sounds of hands clapped at the entry gate can be heard clearly at ‘Bala Hissar’, the highest point, a km away.

Nagarjuna Sagar dam

Nagarjuna Sagar dam, located on the borders of Guntur and Nalgonda districts is among the earliest structures built by the government leading to the Green Revolution in the country. The hotels lined around the lake and the dam provide a calm, composed and a serene view. The excavation site and a museum built on the island with relics of Buddha draw history lovers from all over.Nagarjuna Sagar

Laknnavaram Lake

Located around 90 km from Warangal city, the water body is spread across 10,000 acres and is a classic example of a place where one can view civilization that had settled in the area hundreds of years ago. According to PJ Naidu, a senior archaeologist, the lake was constructed by digging over several decades by the then rulers. The lake has since then helped agriculture all round the year in the region. The lake has 13 islands surrounded with lush green forests and mountains. Two of these islands have comfortable accommodation, which have made them into great tourist attractions.

Germany & VFS Global open 10 Visa Application Centres in India, 1 in Bhutan

Germany and VFS Global have recently opened ten Visa Application Centres in India and one in Bhutan to speed up the visa application process. In India, the Germany Visa Application Centres are operational in New Delhi, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Jaipur, Gurgaon, Chennai, Hyderabad, Puducherry, Bengaluru and Mumbai, while in Bhutan, the Centre is functional in Thimphu. In the next two months, Centres will be operational in Goa, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kolkata. VFS Global is the contract partner of the German Embassy.

Catering to the growing demand of Germany-bound travellers in the region, the strategic move of the German Embassy New Delhi is aimed at offering new services, facilities and benefits to visa applicants to support the growing demand in tourism, trade and investments, and strengthening bilateral ties between Germany and India. With the opening of the new Centres, travellers from India and Bhutan can save time and money in applying for a Schengen Visa (short-term visa) at the German missions, a release stated.

The key features of the new Centres include convenient locations and easily accessible state-of-the-art Visa Application Centres; longer operating hours; shorter waiting period between appointments and submission of applications; counters for applicants and travel agents/tour operators; secure handling of passports, documents and personal information; and online appointment scheduling, payment and tracking of application status.

Michael Steiner, German Ambassador to India, said, “For most Indians and Bhutanese travelling to Europe, be it for business or leisure, Germany is high on the wish list. Therefore, the visa application process should be as smooth as possible. With our new policy, we take the visa application process to the people’s door. This is good service and customer-orientation at its best.”

Vishal Jairath, Regional Head-South Asia, VFS Global, said, “The fact that the German Embassy has commissioned us with the visa outsourcing application process imbibes confidence in our abilities. I am sure this association has a long way ahead. VFS Global in association with the German Embassy New Delhi will bring convenience to all Indian business and leisure travellers.”