Victoria Terminus Station. Mumbai

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The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus Station, in Mumbai, is an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India, blended with themes deriving from Indian traditional architecture. The building, designed by the British architect F. W. Stevens, became the symbol of Bombay as the ‘Gothic City’ and the major international mercantile port of India. The terminal was built over 10 years, starting in 1878, according to a High Victorian Gothic design based on late medieval Italian models. Its remarkable stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and eccentric ground plan are close to traditional Indian palace architecture. It is an outstanding example of the meeting of two cultures, as British architects worked with Indian craftsmen to include Indian architectural tradition and idioms thus forging a new style unique to Bombay.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is an outstanding example of late 19th-century railway architecture in the British Commonwealth, characterized by Victorian Gothic Revival and traditional Indian features, as well as its advanced structural and technical solutions. It became a symbol for Bombay (now Mumbai) as a major mercantile port city on the Indian subcontinent within the British Commonwealth.

The site on which this property is situated is associated with the origins of Mumbai as a city. Bombay Island had formed a coastal outpost of the Hindu in western India, but was not used for commerce. It was first passed to the Portuguese and then, in 1661, to the British. In 1667, the island was transferred to the East India Company, who was principally responsible for its commercial development. Merchants settled here from elsewhere, and the shipbuilding industry and the cotton trade prospered.

The town flourished, especially after the building of railway connections with the inland and the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. With the development of trade, the Governor of Bombay planned a series of works aiming at the construction of a more representative city. This involved land reclamation and the construction of a magnificent ensemble of High Victorian public buildings along the seafront. The Victoria Terminus, the most impressive of these buildings, was named after Queen Victoria, Empress of India, on whose Golden Jubilee it was formally opened in 1887. The terminus, now called Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, was designed by the British architect Frederick William Stevens (1848-1900). Work began in 1878 and was completed 10 years later. Originally intended only to house the main station and the administrative offices of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, a number of ancillary buildings have been added subsequently, all designed to harmonize with the main structure. A new station to handle main-line traffic was erected in 1929. The original building is still in use for suburban traffic and is used by over 3 million commuters daily. It is also the administrative headquarters of the Central Railway.

The terminus is one of the first and the best products of use of industrial revolution technology merged with the Gothic Revival style, which was based on late medieval Italian models. This style was acceptable to both European and Indian taste, as it is compatible in its use of colour and ornamentation with the Mughal and Hindu architecture of the subcontinent. The skyline, turrets, pointed arches and eccentric ground plan are close to traditional Indian palace architecture. The centrally domed office structure has a deep platform connected to a train shed, and its outline provides the skeleton plan for building. The terminus dome of dovetailed ribs, built without centering (framing for an arch), was a novel achievement of the era. The interior of the building was conceived as a series of large rooms with high ceilings. It is a utilitarian building and has had various changes required by the users, not always sympathetic. Its C-shaped plan is symmetrical on an east-west axis. All the sides of the building are given equal value in the design. It is crowned by a high central dome, which acts as the focal point. The dome is an octagonal ribbed structure with a colossal female figure symbolizing Progress, holding a torch pointing upwards in her right hand and a spoked wheel in her left. The side wings enclose the courtyard, which opens on to the street. The wings are anchored by monumental turrets at each of their four corners, which balance and frame the central dome.

The facades present the appearance of well-proportioned rows of windows and arches. The ornamentation in the form of statuary, bas-reliefs and friezes is exuberant yet well controlled. The columns of the entrance gates are crowned by figures of a lion (representing Great Britain) and a tiger (representing India). The main structure is built from a judicious blend of India sandstone and limestone, while high-quality Italian marble was used for the key decorative elements. The main interiors are also lavishly decorated: the ground floor of the North Wing, known as the Star Chamber, which is still the booking office, is embellished with Italian marble and polished Indian blue stone. The stone arches are covered with carved foliage and grotesques.

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Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur

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The capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt has some extraordinary funerary monuments, including rock tombs, ornate mastabas, temples and pyramids. In ancient times, the site was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The ensemble at Memphis embraces a number of exceptional monuments of great antiquity. The step pyramid of the first pharaoh of the Memphis period, constructed entirely in limestone, is the oldest known architectural structure of this type, from regularly cut stone. At Giza, one of the oldest boats preserved today, the solar barge, was discovered intact in the complex around the Pyramid of Cheops. The archaic necropolis of Saqqara dates back to the period of the formation of the pharaonic civilization. The exceptional historic, artistic and sociological interest of these monuments bears witness to one of the most brilliant civilizations of this planet.

The capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt has some extraordinary funerary monuments, including rock tombs, ornate mastabas, temples and pyramids. In ancient times, the pyramids were considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The first sovereign of the unified Egyptian kingdom, Menes or Narmer, ordered the construction of a new capital in the area around the Nile Delta, the City of Menes, Mennufer, also know as Huta-Ka-Pta or dwelling of the Ka of Ptah, the most important sanctuary dedicated to the god of creative force, depicted as a ram-headed artisan working intently to shape humanity on his potter’s wheel. Of the grandeur of Memphis, as it was known to the ancient Greeks, all that survive today are a few ruins of the sanctuary of Ptah, from which have come many votive statues depicting pharaohs and dignitaries and monumental necropolises.

In the necropolis of Saqqara, the closest to the capital and the largest in the land, stands the first great stone pyramid. It was built as a mausoleum by Djoser, the founder of the Third Dynasty. This was a transformation of the earlier tombs, shaped like great brick rectangles, with the walls sloping inward and a flat roof, commonly referred to as mastabas. For the first time brick was replaced by stone. The pyramid is located inside a funerary complex enclosed by a curtain wall rising to a height of 10 m built from a fine-grained limestone. There are 14 false stone doors in the enclosure wall and a monumental entrance consisting of a corridor and a hall flanked by columns. The entry path leads to a plaza known as the Courtyard of the Jubilee. One side of this is occupied by a great stepped podium upon which were arranged the thrones of the Pharaoh; to the east and to the west of the podium sanctuaries were constructed.

The founder of the Fourth Dynasty, Snefru, transformed the structure of the tomb once and for all by choosing the now familiar pyramid shape with a square base. In the necropolis of Dahshur stands the Red Pyramid, named after the reddish hue of the limestone that was used to build it. To the south is the Rhomboid Pyramid, with its double slope on each of the four faces, apparently an intermediate form. With Snefru for the first time the annex construction appeared.

Credit goes to the son of Snefru, Khufu or Cheops, and to his successors Rahaef (Chephren) and Menkaure (Mycerinus) for the construction of the great pyramids of Giza. The pyramid is a symbol of the Sun, the great god Ra, whose cult became pre-eminent from the Fourth Dynasty; the Pyramid Texts, found in the funerary chambers of the tombs dating from the end of the Old Kingdom, speak of the transformation of the dead king into the Sun.

The ‘Horizon of Cheops’ was the name given to the Pharaoh’s tomb, the oldest and the largest. The entrance is located in the middle of the north side. In the interior the narrow passageway splits in two: one leading to a chamber carved into the rock beneath the monument, and the other to a small room called the ‘Chamber of the Queen’ and thence to the Great Gallery and the large ‘Chamber of the King’.

The other two pyramids were known in antiquity as ‘Great is Chepren’ and ‘Divine is Mycerinus’ respectively. Each tomb forms part of the classic funerary complex first built at the behest of Snefru.

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Arriving in Timbuktu !

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Home of the prestigious Koranic Sankore University and other madrasas, Timbuktu was an intellectual and spiritual capital and a centre for the propagation of Islam throughout Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its three great mosques, Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahia, recall Timbuktu’s golden age. Although continuously restored, these monuments are today under threat from desertification.

The three great mosques of Timbuktu, restored by the Qadi Al Aqib in the 16th century, bear witness to the golden age of the intellectual and spiritual capital at the end of the Askia dynasty. They played an essential part in the spread of Islam in Africa at an early period.

Timbuktu is thought to have been founded towards the end of the 5th century of the Hegira by a group of Imakcharen Tuaregs who, having wandered 250 km south of their base, established a temporary camp guarded by an old woman, Buktu. Gradually, Tim-Buktu (the place of Buktu) became a small sedentary village at the crossroads of several trade routes. Quickly converted to Islam (the two great mosques of Djingareyber and Sankore appeared during the Mandingue period), the market city of Timbuktu reached its apex under the reign of the Askia (1493-1591). It then became an important centre of Koranic culture with the University of Sankore and numerous schools attended, it is said, by some 25,000 students. Scholars, engineers and architects from various regions in Africa rubbed shoulders with wise men and marabouts in this intellectual and religious centre. Early on, Timbuktu attracted travellers from far-away countries.

Although the mosques of El-Hena, Kalidi and Algoudour Djingareye have been destroyed, three essential monuments – the mosques of Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahia – fortunately still stand as testimony to the grandeur of Timbuktu.

The Mosque of Djingareyber was built by the sultan Kankan Moussa after his return in 1325 from a pilgrimage to Mecca. Between 1570 and 1583 the Qadi of Timbuktu, Imam Al Aqib, had it reconstructed and enlarged, adding the whole southern part and the wall enclosing the graveyard situated to the west. The central minaret dominates the town and is the most visible landmark of the urban landscape. A smaller minaret on the eastern facade completes the profile of the Great Mosque which has three inner courtyards.

Like Djingareyber, the Mosque of Sankore, built during the Mandingue period, was restored by the Imam Al Aqib between 1578 and 1582. He had the sanctuary demolished and rebuilt according to the measurements of the Kaaba at Mecca, which he had taken with a rope during his pilgrimage.

The Mosque of Sidi Yahia, south of Sankore, was probably built around 1400 by the marabout Sheikh El Moktar Hamalla in anticipation of a holy man who appeared 40 years later in the person of Cherif Sidi Yahia, who was then chosen as Imam. It was restored in 1577-78 by the Imam Al Aqib. Apart from the mosques, the World Heritage site comprises 16 cemeteries and mausolea, essential elements in a religious system as, according to popular belief; they constitute a rampart that shields the city from all misfortune. The most ancient mausoleum is that of Sheikh Abul Kassim Attouaty, who died in year 936 of the Hegira (1529) and was buried 150 m west of the city with 50 ulemas and holy persons from Touat. Equally noteworthy and from the same general period are the graves of the scholar Sidi Mahmoudou, who died in year 955 of the Hegira (1547) and of Qadi Al Aqfb, the restorer of mosques, who died in year 991 of the Hegira (1583).

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Tawang – India

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Tawang is one of the westernmost districts of Arunachal Pradesh and shares its borders with the state of Assam. Till the state was opened up for tourism, the land had remained a mystery for outsiders. It had acquired the reputation of the fabled Shangri La – one whose borders hadn’t been breached, a land of pristine beauty and a people whose culture had not been corrupted by the civilizing influences of the outside world. A territory heavily protected by the state government – both from tourism and economic exploitation – the Arunachal Government began the process of allowing in Indian national and foreigners only in 1998.

The land of Tawang is located at the bone chilling altitude of 10,000 feet above sea level and is entered through the breath-taking Sela Pass. Though it is cold the year round, winters are especially ferocious. The best time to travel to Tawang is from April to October, though those who enjoy the beauty of snow brave the high mountains passes even in the winters.

One thing is true, the origins of this beautiful land lie in a legend – Tawang owes its name to the imposing 14th century Tawang Monastery. Merag Lama Lodre Gyamtso was told by the 5th Dalai Lama to find a site for a monastery. The Lama wandered widely but could not find any appropriate place. He finally fell into a prayer wishing for guidance in his search. When he opened his eyes, he found that his horse was missing and wearily set out in search for it. The horse was grazing atop the hillock of Tana Mandekhang. Believing it to be a good omen, Merag Lama initiated the building of the Tawang Monastery with the help of the local tribal people. ‘Ta’ means horse and ‘wang’ means chosen and thus ‘Tawang’.

The valley is a sight for those who revel in the beauty of the mighty Himalayas. Locally, the Tawang Monastery perched on a ridge overlooking the western edge of the town is one of the popular tourist attractions. Many other monasteries and nunneries litter the landscape and one of the easier treks winds its way through these. Tawang has lately acquired fame as a trekking destination and treks of various difficulty levels and altitude-climbing pass through or depart from the district. The Jaswantgarh Army Memorial located 15 km away from town pays homage to the 3 soldiers who halted the forward march of the advancing Chinese Army for 72 hours during the 1962 Indo-China war.

Part of the mystery of the land also derives from its remoteness. The nearest big airport is at Guwahati. You need to journey a further 5-6 hours by road to reach Tezpur which is the last Assamese town of any importance this side of the Assam-Arunachal border. Buses and taxis to Tawang depart from this point. Since the journey lasts a full 13 hours by road, it is advisable to halt overnight at Bomdila. The next day, make your way through the beautiful Sela Pass to reach Tawang.

Entry Formalities:

Indian nationals need to acquire an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter the state. It is issued for a period of 15 days. Foreign nationals need to apply for a Restricted Area Permit which is now valid for a period of 30 days (up from the former 10 days) and has to come through a local tour operator.

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The Pushkar Fair – Rajasthan. India

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Pushkar, an important pilgrim centre in Rajasthan, is famous for world’s largest camel fair, The Pushkar fair. This fair is one of the main cultural activities of Pushkar. It is held in the month of November every year. Pushkar fair is well-known for its camel trading and other religious activities. Villagers come from different parts of the state and bring their cattle with them. The festival is full of folk dance, and music. Colourful shops make this fair a very charming cultural event. Camel races are also held during this vibrant festival.
This fair is held at Pushkar town, 11 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan for twelve days annually during October- November. This cultural and trade cum religious fair is an attractive and lively spectacle with Rajasthani men and women in their colourful traditional attire, saffron-robed and ash smeared Sadhus (holy men) and thousands of bulls, cows, sheep, goats, horses and camels in richly decorated saddles. Perhaps the largest cattle fair in the world, it attracts more than one lakh people from all over Rajasthan as well as tourists from different parts of India and abroad.
Trading of cattle, camel races and dazzling displays of bangles, brassware, clothes, camel saddles and halters make the fair colourful. Necklaces of glass beads from Naguar, pottery, printed textiles from Jodhpur and Ajmer are all on sale here. Farmers, cattle traders and breeders buy and sell their animals, leather whips, saddles etc. There are facilities for camel rides also.
This livestock fair coincides with the climaxing of a religious celebration. Pushkar is among the five main places of pilgrimage mentioned in the Hindu scriptures. It has a large number of temples including one of the only two temples dedicated to Lord Brahma in India. Hundreds of thousands of devotees take a ritual dip in the holy Pushkar lake on the day of the Kartik Purnima (full moon night of the Kartika month) and worship at the Brahma temple (Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Mandir). It is believed that Lord Brahma, the creator, wished to perform a ‘yagna’ following his long years of penance. During his sojourn in search of a place for yagna, Brahma dropped a lotus from heaven which created the lake Pushkar. It was on the Karthika night that a drop of nectar fell in this lake, thereby making it sacred. Pilgrims flock from all over India to be in Pushkar at this auspicious time. They also believe that all the 330 million Gods and Goddesses are present at Pushkar Lake during the occasion.
Camel trading is the main activity of Pushkar Fair. So many interesting events are held during this fair. Camel races and other events like the Puppet show, cattle show and Magic show are also the part of this event. Pushkar is also the sacred place for Hindus. Amidst chanting of Vedic mantras people take bath in the Pushkar Lake. Shopping is one of the main activities during this festival. Decorative items for Cattles, like saddles, saddle-straps and beads are sold. One can buy jewelry, garments, silver ornaments, bead necklaces etc. The trading which involves a great deal of bargaining between the cattle traders and the buyers add to the spirit of the fair. Apart from the religious rituals and trading, people participate in a number of cultural and sporting events. The variety of folk dances, dramas and songs lend colour and melody to the atmosphere that is already charged with excitement of the camel races and the cattle fair. The sweeping expanse of the desert becomes dotted with thousands of camels, stalls and camping families. The Rajasthan tourism Development Corporation has taken adequate measures to facilitate convenient access of the fair site and to accommodate the fairgoers.

Pushkar Fair is believed to be the largest cattle trade fair in the world and coincides with a Hindu religious celebration.

Event Dates:
20th to 28th November, 2012
9th to 17th November, 2013
30th October to 6th November, 2014
18th to 25th November, 2015
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The Great Migration- Greatest Show on Earth

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Not surprisingly, this impressive phenomenon is determined by the availability of grazing, which in turn is dependent upon rainfall. Essentially the wildebeest are taking advantage of the strongly seasonal conditions, spending the wet season on the plains in the south-east, and the dry season in the woodlands of the north-west. However, the sheer weight of their numbers also plays an important role in shaping the environment to their needs.

Members of the vast wildebeest herd give birth more or less simultaneously, usually over a period of three weeks sometime between January and March, when optimum grazing is available on the short grass plains at the base of the Gol Mountains.

The Migration is rarely ever the same in terms of precise timing and direction, as local conditions influence grass growth. This means that the wildebeest may move off the open plains earlier in some years and remain in the northern woodlands for longer in others.

The timing of the wildebeest calving is probably linked to the timing of the rut at the end of the rains in May and June. The wildebeest move off the plains at this time to a smaller area which is necessary to synchronise the rut. Interestingly, the rut itself appears to coincide with the full moon suggesting that the mating peak is triggered by the lunar cycle.

Typically, the wildebeest head north-west from the short grass plains to the Western Corridor of the Serengeti and its Grumeti River. This watercourse is their first real obstacle and gigantic crocodiles are waiting for the hesitant wildebeest to stumble at the crossing. From Grumeti, the herds move north, often spilling over into the Klein’s Camp Concession, before crossing the Kenyan border into the Masai Mara. Here again, they must cross a river, this time the Mara with its flotillas of hungry crocodiles. The mass of grunting wildebeest remain on the productive Mara grasslands until October or November. Then, as the storm clouds gather in the south, the vast herds return to their breeding grounds which, by the time they arrive, are once again green and lush and the cycle begins again.

Is it time to bury the yeti myth?

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Atul Sethi, TNN |
Nikolai Valuev is 7 ft tall and weighs almost 146 kg. A few months ago, the Russian heavyweight boxing champion , nicknamed the “Beast from the East” was on an unusual expedition. His mission was “to try and find the yeti and talk to him about life” . Valuev returned from the expedition without having his heart-to-heart chat, much like countless others who have been trying to locate the elusive snowman known by various names – Mehteh or Meito Kangmi in the Himalayas, Bigfoot or Sasquatch in the US and the Snow Person or Almasty in Russia.Why is the creature – if it indeed exists – so coy? Even though the search for the yeti has been going on for almost a century and there have been numerous reports of possible sightings, purported hair samples and supposed footprints, conclusive proof has never been found.In November last year, there was a flicker of hope when organisers of the International Yeti Conference in Russia’s Kemerovo region claimed they had found nests built by the creature. In fact, they went to the extent of claiming they were “95% certain of finding the yeti at long last” . However, much of the evidence , according to scientists who attended the conference, turned out to be doubtful, and possibly planted to increase tourism to the region. “The markers in the forest, footprints and nests in the cave, which were shown to conference participants were rather questionable,” says Jeff Meldrum of the department of biological sciences of Idaho State University , one of the conference attendees.
This may make it yet another dead end in the search for the creature, who has often been touted by enthusiasts as the possible missing link in the human evolution chain. Many biologists have already dubbed the search as futile, pointing out that all the upright walking mammals have been discovered and classified a long time back. Brian Regal, historian of science at Kean University says that even though yetis have a certain evolutionary plausibility – and we might find out tomorrow that they exist – it seems very unlikely, based on the evidence available . “I would argue they are so hard to find because they are not out there to find,” he says.
Many yeti searchers are not convinced though – especially the hobbyists and cryptozoologists. However, cryptozoology – the search for animals whose existence has not been proved – is debunked as “pseudoscience” by biologists , who believe that it relies heavily on anecdotal information and less on an academic approach. Cryptozoologists who have been hunting for the yeti tend to believe that it could be related to the Gigantopithecus blacki , a giant ape that lived in India and China half a million years ago. British cryptozoologist Richard Freeman of the Centre for Fortean Zoology, who has travelled extensively in search of the creature says that he “found hair, saw tracks and a hand print” . He also claims that in Sumatra , one of his associates spotted another elusive animal, the orang-pendek , an upright walking ape thought to be related to the larger yeti of mainland Asia. But conclusive proof of the yeti has eluded him.
It is this frustrating lack of proof that has dimmed public enthusiasm for the yeti’s search over the years. Even though claims like that of the Russian researchers rejuvenate interest levels momentarily , their debunking ensures that the yeti moves one step further into the category of mythological creatures. However , unlike other legendary animals like dragons or unicorns, the yeti’s evolutionary plausibility holds the tantalizing prospect that it might just be out there – a point that even dyed-in-the-wool sceptics like Delhi-based Sanal Edamaruku, president of the India Rationalist Association , agree with. “There is nothing absurd about the idea that there could be an undiscovered living being roaming on snowy mountaintops, as it does not contradict reason or science like say, the existence of ghosts does.”
As of now though, the yeti seems more like a ghost – a product of the imagination – rather than a real live creature. Unless of course, the next set of claims manage to prove otherwise.

Looking high and low

*The first yeti footprints were reported in 1925 by NA Tombazi, a Greek photographer
*In 1951, similar footprints were discovered by British mountaineers Eric Shipton and Michael Ward on the southwestern slopes of the Menlung Glacier between Tibet and Nepal
*A number of expeditions have hunted for the yeti, most notably in the 1950s. None of them reported face-to-face encounters, although inhabitants of remote mountain villages have often claimed to have seen the creature
*In his book, On the Yeti Trail, Kathmandu-based journalist Madan Mohan Gupta published accounts of women who had allegedly been abducted by the creature and had even had children with it
*Monks of many Tibetan monasteries also believe the yeti exists. Two such monasteries, Pangboche and Khumjung, even have scalps purported to be that of the yeti’s , although their veracity is disputed by scientists

Kerala – “God’s Own Country”

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Kerala is one of the beautiful states in India, sandwiched between the Western Ghats on the east, and the Arabian Sea on the West. A tropical paradise of waving palms and wide sandy beaches, this thin strip of coastal territory slopes down from the mountain ghats in a cascade of lush green vegetation.
According to Historians “the discovery of Microliths or small stone implements near Kozhikode and Cochin point to presence of man in Kerala as far back as 4000 BC”.

Kerala is a land which always encouraged trading and traders. In 1000 BC King Solomon’s ship visited “Ophix” (the modern puvar south of Thiruvananthapuram) to trade in Ivory Sandalwood and Peacocks. This fame of Kerala Spices brought the Romans in 30 AD. Who were followed by the Greeks, Arabs, Chinese. The spices trade brought Vascoda Gamma to Kappad (near Kozhikode) in 1498. Which paved the way for a new trading history. Followed by Gamma Europeans opened the way for new trade in spices, Ivory, Sandalwood and Peacocks.

Geographically Kerala is one of the smallest states in India covering merely 1.3% of total area of the country. Karnataka in north and Tamilnadu in East. Physically the state can be divided in to three natural divisions, the sandy costal region with coconut groves, paddy fields, back waters and sea. The midland region made up of fertile reddish hills and valleys that grow most of Kerala’s agricultural crops. Peaks extensive ridges and ravines of the Western Ghats. Where sandalwood, tea, coffee, rubber and most of Kerala’s exotic spices are grown.

Kerala enjoys balmy whether almost all through out the year. It is neither too cold in the winter months nor too hot in summer. The best time to visit is November to February, where the air bracing and on some morning there is a light mist.

The official language of Kerala is Malayalam but English too is widely spoken. Kerala is one of the most progressive state in terms of social welfare and physical quality of life. The matriarchal system here is a unique social heritage as the women of Kerala enjoy a better status than there counter parts else where in India.

The people of Kerala enjoy a unique cosmopolitan outlook, which is reflected in their tolerance towards other races and religions. So it has been called Kerala as  “God’s Own Country“

Prince Harry is all set to climb Mount Everest !

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Prince Harry will make good on his promise to the wounded servicemen he joined on their trek to the North Pole to join them on their next challenge – the world’s highest mountain
By Tim Walker – The Telegraph
With the celebrations to to mark his grandmother’s diamond jubilee, the Olympics and his first official solo tour taking him to Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas, the year ahead already looks hectic enough for Prince Harry. The third in line to the throne is, however, adamant that 2012 will also see him realise his long-held ambition to conquer Everest.

The 27-year-old prince dropped a broad hint at the end of his trek to the North Pole last year to raise money for Walking With the Wounded, the charity of which he is patron, that he wanted to join the group of wounded servicemen on their next challenge in May, which will see them climbing the world’s highest mountain.

Buckingham Palace has since declined to comment on whether it would be possible to fit the climb into his schedule – “it will all depend on his Army commitments,” his spokesman will say only – and there has been no comment, either, from the charity. Now, however, Mollie Hughes, the 21-year-old mountaineer who plans to become the youngest British woman to climb Everest when she makes her own ascent with Kenton Cool in May, and who has been co-ordinating their climb with that of the Walking With the Wounded group, has told Mandrake she has been told that the prince will also be going up.

“He won’t be doing the full climb as it will take a long time and it requires rigorous training so I think he’ll be joining at a base camp,” she tells me. She adds that she is aware of the Walking With the Wounded group’s plans as they are planning their climb in the same month as hers and they are expected to be staying at the South Base Camp in Nepal, where the two groups will prepare for the testing conditions on the mountain.

The weather and a range of other factors mean that the Spring – any time between March and May – is reckoned to be the best time to climb Everest.

Happily, the climb does not conflict with any of the prince’s existing engagements with his spokesman saying that his first solo official tour has still to be put in his diary.

The prince struck up a quick rapport with the group of wounded servicemen that he joined for four days last April on their successful trip to the North Pole. “I think for me, personally, I’m hugely proud to be a British soldier, to walk alongside these guys,” he said. “What these guys have done – and what they will continue to do throughout their lives – is just truly inspirational.” He assured them, too, he would see them on their next challenge.

Virgin Galactic said its first passenger flights will not occur before 2013

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Sir Richard Branson’s space tourism venture said it hopes to launch the service in two years time, but even that date is not fixed.The firm’s commercial director, Stephen Attenborough, told the BBC that its customers’ safety is paramount.Test flights are currently underway, with rocket-powered tests scheduled to start next year.

Almost 500 people have bought tickets.

Sir Richard had originally hoped the first commercial spacecraft, SpaceShip Two, would take off as early as 2007. However, Mr Attenborough stressed there never was an official date set for the inaugural launch.

He criticised some press reports, notably an article in the Wall Street Journal, that described the 2013 goal as “yet another delay”.

“This is a programme that can’t have a hard-end date as safety is number one priority,” Mr Attenborough said. “Our foot is flat on the gas, we have proven technology, we have a spaceport that opened last week, and the test flight programme is well advanced – I don’t think you can ask for a lot more from a programme like this. A delay is strange word, and there is no delay.”New pilot
Mr Attenborough also revealed that the venture’s chief pilot, David Mackay, has recently been joined by a second pilot.Keith Colmer, a former Air Force test pilot, was chosen from more than 500 applicants, among them a handful of astronauts.

Sir Richard dedicated the launchpad for the space tourism venture in the New Mexico desert on 18 October.He plans to take the inaugural flight, accompanied by his children. Mr Attenborough said that although all of the future tourists were eager to blast off to space, none were pushing for an early flight.”They are willing to put a large amount of money up front because they trust us, because they know we will only take them to space if it’s safe to do so,” he said.

The 2.5-hour flights will offer five minutes of weightlessness. Tickets cost $200,000 (£127,000).