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India

Russia Pushes e-Visas for Indian Travelers

2016-09-27 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Moscow - Courtesy Gelio Vostok

World renowned for her rich cultural heritage, ornate cathedrals and subtropical beaches, Russia is a favored attraction for many people from India. News today of a new visa-regime to assist travelers via an e-visa program promises even more popularity.

Tags: India, Indian travelers, Russia visas, Valery Korvokin

India Cracks Down on Outdoor Defecation

2012-11-05 by Aleksandr Shatskih

India isn’t exactly known as being one of the world’s cleanliest travel destinations. Visitors are routinely warned to be careful about eating street food and to only drink bottled water, while many of the streets and rivers in its biggest cities are literally overflowing with garbage.

Tags: defecating outdoors, defecation, India, India hygeine, Jhunjhunu, outdoor defecation india, Rajasthan, toilets

Chiranjeevi Returns to Political Arena as India’s Tourism Minister

2012-10-29 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Chiranjeevi minister of tourism

India is getting itself a new Minister of Tourism in the shape of legendary Bollywood actor-cum-politician Chiranjeevi, who returns following almost two years in the political wilderness.

Tags: Chiranjeevi, India, india tourism minister, india tourist industry, Minister of Tourism, tourism minister

Indian Ocean Tsunami Watch

2012-04-10 by Phil Butler

Sumatra quake

A tsunami watch has gone into effect for the entire Indian Ocean after a massive magnitude 8.7 earthquake occurred 270 miles Southwest of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued the tsunami warning at 0845 local time, with predicted landing times for various regions should a tsunami occur.

Tags: earthquake, India, Indian Ocean, maldives, NOAA, quake, Singapore, Sumatra, travel advisory, tsunami, tsunami alert, tsunami warning, USGS

Which Nations Are the Biggest Animal Lovers?

2011-12-16 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Tian Tian courtesy Scott Ableman

The UK was buoyed last week by the arrival of two very cuddly and very welcome visitors. Tian Tian and Yang Guang, two giant Pandas arrived on a flight from China on the 4th of December, ready for a new life in Edinburgh zoo, Scotland. The fanfare around the arrival of these two highly fashionable additions to the zoos repertoire was immense, with news channels closely following their ceremonious delivery, while huge crowds are expected in the Scottish capital upon the grand unveiling.

Tags: animal news, australia, Backpack Joe, backpacking news, India, Joe Johnson, South Africa, Thailand animals, Tian Tian, travel, UK news, UK travel, wildlife travel, Yang Guang, Zoos, © matamu - Fotolia.com

World’s Wackiest Festivals

2011-05-09 by Aleksandr Shatskih

the Hadakamatsuri festival, when the guys get naked and run amok

Cheese rolling, baby jumping, tuna fish-tossing – these are just some of the crazy festivals celebrated around the world. We have taken it upon ourselves to scour the globe, drawing up a list of the world’s five wackiest celebrations to add to your calendar. Check out the world’s most mental festivals below! 5. The Tunarama […]

Tags: baby jumping, Baby jumping festival, Castillo de Murilla, cheese rolling, Cheese rolling festival, Corpus Christi, crazy festivals, Festival of colors, festivals, Hadakamatsuri, Holi, India, mental festivals, Naked festival, Nepal, Port Lincoln, tuna fish-tossing, tuna throwing festival, Tuna Tossing festival, Tunarama

Expedia Aiming to Corner Indian Market

2011-03-28 by Aleksandr Shatskih

The Taj Mahal attracts thousands of domestic tourists each year

Already the world’s largest online travel portal in revenue terms, this hasn’t stopped Expedia from eyeing the Indian travel industry as its next big market. Can Expedia garner a significant share of this market? Only time and India travelers will tell.

Tags: cleartrip, Daniel Lynn, Expedia, Expedia India, India, India online, India travel, Indian travel industry, Nokia, TAFI, Travel Agents Federation of India

The Holi Festival – A Celebration of Color

2011-03-19 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Painted 'Holi' boy

This weekend sees the vivid colors of the Holi Festival in India explode into life once more – a spectacular two week Hindi celebration that marks the triumph of good over evil. Beginning with a series of bonfires lit up across the nation on Holika Dahan, the eve of the Holi Festival, the real action kicks off the day after as revelers take to the streets in an orgy of dancing, singing and colored powder being thrown everywhere.

Tags: Delhi festival, Delhi travel, festival, Hindu customs, Hindu festival, Holi, Holi Festival, India, India travel, world festivals

Tajpur Beach – An Indian Cure All

2010-10-21 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Tajpur Beach cottages

A trip to the secluded Tajpur Beach remedies what ails Kolkata dwellers. Someone once said; “salt water will cure almost anything,” and Anglophilia’s India correspondent Sharmistha Ray explains how. West Bengal holds thrills and relaxation for visitors to India.

Tags: Digha, India, India beaches, India coast, India tourism, Mandarmani, Shankarpur beachs, Tajpur Beach, tourism, West Bengal

The Seductive Silk Road & Memencho Lake

2010-10-20 by Aleksandr Shatskih

On the way to Sikkim

Argophilia’s Sharmista Ray talks about her trek along the Silk Route and to Lake Memoncho. What was an ancient link between the continents, can be an adventure for travelers and locals in India. A more secluded and beautiful landscape would be hard to find anywhere.

Tags: Eco-Tourism, India, India tourism, Jelepla Pass, Lake Memoncho, Rangpo-chu River, Sikkim, Silk Road, Silk Route, Tibet

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Why We Embrace AI

At Argophilia, we believe in using every tool at our disposal to bring you the stories that matter. You may notice a certain precision in our data analysis, a specific flair in our visuals, or a rapid turnaround on complex topics. That is no accident—it is the result of our rampant use of artificial intelligence.

We use Gemini to help synthesize data, structure our reporting, and ensure our news remains as sharp as the reality we cover. When it comes to our imagery, we rely on the creative power of Midjourney and NightCafe, unless otherwise noted in our editorial credits.

We are not apologetic for this. In a fast-moving world, these tools allow us to focus on what really counts: investigating the issues, giving a voice to the marginalized, and maintaining the journalistic integrity you expect from us. We see AI not as a replacement for human judgment, but as an engine that amplifies our ability to inform, analyze, and tell the truth about our island and beyond.

We are writers and journalists first—but we are proud to be tech-enabled ones, too.

Lovage, The Kitchen of Venus

Your go-to guide for foraging cretan horta

Stories of Interest

Nikos Kazantzakis airport site AI illustration

Heraklion’s Sudden Real Estate Rush Over the Old Airport Land

2026-10-19 By Arthur Butler

Diving into the hilarious scramble as Heraklion officials dust off 1932 deeds to claim a 32.4% stake in the aging Nikos Kazantzakis airport site.

mushroom crete

A Six-Kilo Giant Mushroom Has Been Found in the Cretan Countryside

2026-10-19 By Victoria Udrea

Following heavy autumn rains, a massive 6-kilogram wild oyster mushroom has been discovered in rural Crete, highlighting the island’s rich agritourism bounty.

Lasithi Plateau

OAK Employees Defend Flood Operations in Lasithi Plateau Following Record Rains

2026-10-19 By Arthur Butler

As torrential autumn storms reshape Crete’s landscape, severe flooding in the Lasithi Plateau has sparked intense debate over water management, infrastructure readiness, and rural protection. After widespread criticism of flooded farmlands and damaged crops across the highland plateau, the OAK Employee Union stepped in to defend regional infrastructure operations. According to hydrological data the union […]

Heraklion Teacher Strike I illustration

Teachers to Strike in Heraklion on October 21

2026-10-19 By Argophilia Travel News

A teacher strike rally at Eleftheria Square in Heraklion on October 21 will cause traffic delays for visitors navigating the city center.

Sitia dog rescue firefighters

Firefighters Rescue Trapped Dog From Natural Well in Sitanos

2026-10-19 By Argophilia Travel News

Firefighters in Sitia successfully rescued a dog trapped in a deep natural well in Sitanos, earning warm praise from the grateful owner.

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