Deccan (airline) - India Airlines

July is the month of the much awaited rains and this year the entire country is celebrating early monsoons. ItÌs time to enjoy the incredible sights and sounds which mark the progress of the Indian monsoon.

I am therefore surprised when I am told that the monsoons is described as the Ïcold shoulderÓ season in hotel parlance on account of low occupancy levels. Personally, I have enjoyed touring Kerala, the Konkan coast and even Uttaranchal during rains. The season of rainbows and dancing peacocks is certainly not to be wasted indoors.

The rains bring about a unique lyrical beauty in the Indian landscape. The earthy fragrance of soil getting drenched in water, splashing water, incessant song of the Koel and the Parakeets, and the refreshed feel of the world around us makes the Monsoon, the most awaited season in India.

The magic of the Indian monsoon, if tapped, can make India an evergreen destination for domestic and foreign tourists alike.

Here in Karnataka, we follow the adage ÏAttithi Devo BhavaÓ round the year. The adage has become a lot more than a just a tourism catchphrase. Driving across the length of the state one comes across a flurry of homes that welcome tourists to stay with them, in their homes, like guests.

Travelers get a first hand experience of local culture, cuisine and lifestyle in addition to local sight seeing while enjoying the comforts of a home. Popular weekend getaways like Coorg, Chikmaglur, Mysore and Mangalore are peppered liberally with such cozy home stays.

I for one would trade the predictability of a hotel room for the warm hospitality of a traditional cottage. Similar home stays in more regions of the country will attract tourists to the relatively unexplored and off beat regions.

Unusual travel season and lodging options can make for a truly unique experience. A couple of years back, while driving through the Irish country side I was particularly struck by the abundance of homes which had been converted into similar tourist home stays. The idea was a great success as one saw scores of tourists who had come down to make most of the countryside. One truly hopes for similar homegrown initiatives in all parts of our country.

Thank You for flying Deccan.

Captain G R Gopinath Vice Chairman, Deccan Aviation