Shopping and cultural festival at Bengaluru International Airport

In partnership with Jet Airways and the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, the Bengaluru International Airport launched a month long shopping festival, the first of this magnitude in India.

The month long extravaganza which will run till June 15, has a beautiful display outside the terminal building showcasing the cultural heritage of Karnataka. A typical village scene houses five government exhibition companies; Handicrafts Corporation, Coffee Board, Mysore Silks, LidKar (Leather), Karnataka Soaps, and Karnataka Tourism.

The common plaza in front of the passenger terminal building provides glimpses of Hoysala architecture and both these areas will feature performances by hundreds of folk artistes from across the state on weekends.

Inside the terminal replicas of the stone chariot at Hampi and a coach from the Golden Chariot train, along with a host of tourist information will be made available.

Anybody who makes purchases of Rs. 300 or more at any of the airport's official concessionaires will receive a lucky draw coupon per Rs. 300 spent. Passengers of Jet Airways will receive two coupons per Rs. 300 spent. Jet Airways is also offering a 10% discount on the base fare for flights to or from Bangalore for the month when booked on the airline's website www.jetairways.com.

Karnataka's Minister for Tourism Mr. G. Janardhana Reddy (pictured left above) and airport operator Bengaluru International Limited Chief Executive Mr. Marcel Hungerbuehler (right) spoke at the inauguration and highlighted the festival as a mark of evolution of airports in India from mere transport infrastructure providers to an integrated facility. Both leaders expressed their goals of using this festival to showcase the state at the entry point for tourists.