Dimaz launches Russia packages
Russia has a certain mystery around it. Manish Synghal, Chairman and MD of Dimaz Group, who lived in Russia and CIS countries for over a decade in the 1990’s, clears the mist shrouding it. He talks to about the destination and the tour packages.
For centuries, the world has wondered what to believe about Russia. The country has been reported variously as a land of unbelievable riches, cruel tyrants and great minds, generous hospitality and meddlesome bureaucracy, beautiful ballets and industrial monstrosities. These eternal Russian truths coexist in equally diverse landscapes of icy tundra and sun-kissed beaches, dense silver birch and fir forests and deep and mysterious lakes, snow-capped mountains and swaying grasslands – those famous steppes. Factor in ancient fortresses, luxurious palaces, swirly-spired churches and lost- in- time wooden villages and you’ll begin to see why Russia is simply amazing.
Do you also facilitate Russian visas?
Visas are likely to be the biggest headache in organising a trip to Russia. There are sev- eral types of visas, but for most travellers, a tourist visa (single or double entry and valid for a maximum of 30 days from date of entry) will be sufficient. But if a client is planning on staying longer than a month, it’s advisable to apply for a business visa. Whatever visa they go for, the process has two stages – invitation and application. We assist travellers with visa support/invitation tourist as well as business and a hassle-free visa application process as we work closely with the Russian foreign mission.
Is the destination Indian tourist-friendly?
There are many good Indian establishments offering Indian cuisine there – more than 10 in Moscow and seven in St. Petersburg. We also have tie-ups with good Indian restaurants in Moscow and St. Petersburg where we arrange lunches, dinners and gala dinners for our groups. As far as English-speaking guides are concerned, the scenario has changed in the past 10 years.
Has the air-connectivity from India improved?
Most of the reputed airlines like Emirates, Turkish, Etihad, Aeroflot, Air Arabia, Air France, Lufthansa, SWISS, Finnair, Uzbekistan Airlines, Air Astana and many more operate flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg from different cities in India and the connections are pretty good. The flying time is around 10 hours ( including transit) from Mumbai to Moscow and on direct flight from Delhi to Moscow the flying time is approximately six hours.
Are you promoting anything in particular to Indians?
Nightlife, shopping and dining are all first- class in Moscow, the city boasts an impressive variety of bars, nightclubs, restaurants and fashion stores. St. Petersburg has a vibrant nightlife, catering to everyone from opera buffs, ballet to party animals. Indians will also enjoy going to baanya (Russian sauna) which is a very old Russian custom. Going to the bathhouse often is regarded as a way of getting rid of illnesses - it was called the "people's first doctor" (vodka was the second, raw garlic the third).