Jodhpur Old City
Getty Images

India's rapidly rising hotels rates mean that many hotels no longer fall into the inexpensive category. So, I've started revising articles about the best budget hotels in India.

First up is budget hotels below $50 in Jodhpur. While some recommended properties unfortunately had to be dropped from the list, they've been replaced with other decent affordable options. There are some great finds! Many are located in the characterful Old City below the Fort.

While you're there, don't miss taking a guided walking tour of the Jodhpur Old City.

Wild Ass, Little Rann of Kutch.
www.flickr.com user Umang Dutt

A couple of years ago, I mentioned the increasing rhinoceros numbers at Kaziranga National Park, in Assam.  According to this recent news report, the wild ass population at the Wild Ass Sanctuary in the Little Rann of Kutch is also growing, as too are lion and leopard numbers at Gir National Park.

Unfortunately, the news isn't all good though. As this article explains, the expanding number of animals means that their habitat is no longer big enough to comfortably accommodate them all. Read More...

Ooty flowers
www.flickr.com user sowri

The annual Ooty Summer Festival kicked off at the beginning of May, 2012, and will run to the end of the month. However, the festival is being conducted a little differently this year.  Of note, the dates for the Flower Show at the Government Botanical Garden in Ooty are, according to this news report, still yet to be confirmed.

This event used to be the curtain raiser for the Summer Festival. Instead, this year, the festival opened with the Vegetable Show at the Nehru Park in Kotagiri on May 5, followed by Spice Show in Gudalur on May 6. Read More...

Terminal T3, Delhi Airport.
Delhi International Airport.

Last month, I wrote about the proposed 774% increase in passenger charges at Delhi Airport.

The good news is that this fee increase wasn't approved by the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India.  The bad news is that a fee increase of 345% was approved, to be effective from May 15, 2012.

The increase comes in the form of a User Development Fee, levied on all departing and arriving passengers based on distance traveled. Read More...