NEW DELHI, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the summer approaches across India, digital travel platform Agoda highlights a selection of refreshing hill stations and highland retreats offering cooler climates and scenic landscapes. From the Nilgiri Hills to the Himalayas, these destinations provide travelers with a welcome escape from the heat while showcasing India’s geographic diversity.

Travel interest for hill destinations typically increases between April and June as travelers seek milder temperatures, fresh air, and nature-led experiences. Agoda’s latest recommendations reflect a growing preference for quick getaways and lesser-crowded alternatives to traditional summer hotspots, with travelers prioritizing accessibility, weather comfort, and cultural depth.

In southern India, Coonoor offers a quieter alternative to the more frequented Ooty. Surrounded by tea plantations and rolling hills, the town’s temperate climate and colonial-era charm make it an appealing retreat. Visitors can explore viewpoints such as Dolphin’s Nose or take scenic walks through tea estates, where the cool breeze provides relief from the summer heat.

Also in Tamil Nadu, Yercaud sits within the Shevaroy Hills and remains one of the region’s more understated summer destinations. Known for its lake, coffee plantations, and shaded forests, Yercaud attracts travelers looking for a relaxed pace without long travel times. Its relatively lower altitude still offers a noticeable drop in temperature compared to nearby cities.

Further north, Lansdowne provides a serene Himalayan foothill experience. This cantonment town is characterized by pine forests, quiet walking trails, and panoramic mountain views. It offers an unhurried atmosphere and offbeat appeal to travelers seeking a quieter alternative to busier hill stations in Uttarakhand.

For those willing to travel farther, Ladakh offers a dramatic contrast to India’s summer heat. With high-altitude deserts, expansive landscapes, and cool daytime temperatures, Ladakh has become increasingly popular during summer months. Beyond its scenery, the region’s monasteries and local culture provide a deeper travel experience.

In Karnataka, Coorg, also known as Kodagu, remains a perennial favorite. Its mist-covered hills, coffee estates, and forested terrain create a consistently cool and refreshing environment. Seasonal rainfall further enhances its greenery, making it especially appealing for nature-focused travelers.

Western India offers its own escape in Mount Abu, the only hill station in Rajasthan. Surrounded by the Aravalli Range, Mount Abu provides a significant temperature drop compared to the desert plains. Attractions such as Nakki Lake and the Dilwara Temples combine natural beauty with cultural interest.

In the eastern Himalayas, Darjeeling continues to attract visitors with its cool climate and panoramic views of Kanchenjunga. Globally renowned for its premium tea, often referred to as the “Champagne of Teas,” Darjeeling holds a special appeal for travelers seeking both natural beauty and cultural richness. Its iconic tea gardens, heritage railways, and colonial architecture contribute to its enduring charm, while the elevation ensures comfortable temperatures even during peak summer.

Gaurav Malik, Country Director, Indian Subcontinent & Indian Ocean Islands at Agoda said, “Summer travel in India increasingly reflects a shift toward destinations that balance climate comfort with meaningful experiences. Hill stations and highland regions continue to resonate because they offer both immediate relief from the heat and a deeper connection to nature and local culture. At Agoda, we are passionate about helping travelers discover these unique places and create unforgettable memories. With our extensive range of accommodations and activities, we make it easy to plan the perfect travel experience.”

With over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, Agoda enables travelers to plan and combine every part of their journey in one place. Running from 7 May to 21 May, Agoda’s 21st Birthday Sale will offer up to 60% off on hotel bookings, with a special flash sale of up to 70% on 19 May and exclusive deals on flights and activities. Agoda VIP members will receive early access to deals from 3 May to 6 May. Discover more on Agoda’s mobile app or at Agoda.com.  

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MUMBAI, India, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lumina Datamatics, a strategic partner to global publishers and eCommerce retailers, has won the IMC RBNQA – Performance Excellence Trophy 2025 in the Service category. The award was presented at a prestigious ceremony held at the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Mumbai on 30^th April 2026.

This esteemed recognition is part of the IMC Ramkrishna Bajaj National Quality (RBNQ) Awards for 2025, one of India’s most respected benchmarks for organizational excellence. The award underscores Lumina Datamatics’ unwavering commitment to business excellence, quality-driven processes, and continuous performance improvement. Notably, Lumina Datamatics Limited is the only organization recognized in the service segment this year, representing excellence across the Business Process Management spectrum.

The selection followed a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process conducted by an eminent panel of judges, assessing organizations on key parameters such as leadership, strategy, customer focus, operational effectiveness, and overall business performance.

Speaking on the achievement, Sameer Kanodia, Managing Director & CEO, Lumina Datamatics, and Vice Chairman & CEO, TNQTech said, “We are deeply honored to receive this recognition. This achievement reflects the collective dedication, collaboration, and relentless focus on quality demonstrated by our teams across the organization. It reinforces our commitment to delivering consistent value to our clients worldwide while continuously striving for excellence in everything we do.”

The milestone highlights Lumina Datamatics’ strong foundation in operational excellence and its ongoing efforts to set new benchmarks in service delivery across global markets.

About Lumina Datamatics:

Lumina Datamatics is a trusted partner in providing digital Content Services, Retail Support Services, and Technology Solutions to companies in the Publishing and Retail Industries worldwide. We are among the largest service providers in the Content space, and our customers include 8 of the top 10 academic publishers and 3 of the 5 largest Retailers and Marketplaces. Lumina Datamatics’ expert solutions combine its various in-house and client-facing platforms, partnerships with global technology leaders, and more than 7,500 professionals across the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Philippines, and India. This integrated global capability enables the company to deliver scalable, high-quality solutions to clients worldwide.

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• The anchor sponsorship of the Shows of India 2026 Conclave marks HOP Events’ official pathway into the Indian subcontinent; the UAE-based premium live entertainment company aims to source and showcase extraordinary Indian talent in the markets it operates in.
• This move will bridge the gap between iconic Indian artists — rooted in Indian and South Asian culture — and world-class international venues and global audiences.
• In addition to headlining the conclave as its anchor sponsor, HOP Events also made its presence felt in crucial conversations and networking hubs, with Founder and Chairman Kalpesh Kinariwala gracing the conclave as a speaker.

NEW DELHI, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HOP Events, a UAE-based premium live entertainment company, made landfall on Indian shores through the eagerly awaited Shows of India 2026 Conclave. The sixth edition of the event, which drew to a close on May 2, brought together high-profile industry veterans, change-makers, and disruptors who are shaping the future of India’s live entertainment economy.

Led by industry trailblazer Kalpesh Kinariwala, HOP Events not only participated as the anchor sponsor for the conclave but also broke new ground by offering Indian talent and agencies unprecedented inroads into global markets and prestigious productions.

Held at Delhi’s upscale The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, the two-day Shows of India 2026 Conclave is India’s most anticipated flagship gathering focused on the live entertainment, events, and experiential segments. It brings together key players from across the industry’s value chain, including event professionals, artist managers, promoters, brands, and creators, and facilitates industry-shaping conversations and collaborations.

HOP Events’ rationale for backing the Shows of India 2026 Conclave was simple but powerful – as a hub for some of the greatest artistic talent in the world, India stands to benefit immensely from HOP Events’ proven expertise in the premium live entertainment industry. With the conclave sitting at the intersection of India’s creative excellence and its commercial ambition, it is the perfect avenue for HOP Events to seek the artists, managers, collaborators, and cultural voices they want to elevate and present to the world. This anchor sponsorship is thus a declaration of HOP Events’ intent to champion Indian talent and carry it far beyond India’s borders.

Elaborating further on the sponsorship, Kalpesh Kinariwala, Founder and Chairman of HOP Events, who also spoke at the conclave, shared:

“India is producing some of the most streamed, most loved, and most culturally significant artists on the planet. Arijit Singh ranks ninth among Spotify’s top artists globally. A.R. Rahman has 75 million followers and ranks ahead of global superstars. Rishab Sharma is the number one followed sitar player in the world. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Aditya Gadhvi, Anuv Jain — these are artists with massive, passionate global fanbases.

Yet their presence on international stages, particularly in the Gulf and beyond, remains far below what their stature deserves. That is the opportunity HOP Events is seizing. The UAE is home to a millions-strong South Asian diaspora — professionals, families, and communities who are hungry for these artists and have both the means and the desire to attend premium live experiences. The Shows of India 2026 Conclave gives us the needed platform to engage with this talent ecosystem at exactly the moment when appetite for Indian talent on the global stage has never been higher.”

The conclave’s growing eminence as a premium, high-production-value platform was further underscored by its association with HOP Events, an industry leader in creating large-scale experiential events. Through the years, the Shows of India Conclave has differentiated itself through its trailblazing properties and a star-studded artist line-up. By essaying the role of anchor sponsor for India’s premier business and entertainment conclave, HOP Events is throwing the doors open for partnerships with Indian artist managers, talent agencies, record labels, and creative professionals.

As the force behind the sold-out Etihad Arena concert with Arijit Singh, A.R. Rahman, and Rishab Sharma, HOP Events knows what it takes to market Indian artists to global audiences, fill premium venues, and create experiences that do justice to the cultural magnitude these artists carry.

In the mid-to-long term, HOP Events aims to become the defining bridge between Indian artistic talent and the global stage. The company is actively scaling across the GCC and extending further into South Asian diaspora hubs globally, with the goal of bringing world-class talent backed by high-end productions and marketing sophistication to deep, passionate, and underserved audiences for Indian and South Asian cultural experiences.

About HOP Events

Founded by industry veteran Kalpesh Kinariwala, HOP Events is one of the UAE’s most prestigious names in premium live entertainment. It is hailed for curating global live experiences across the UAE and beyond. The company brings together eminent international artists, creativity, and immaculate organization on one stage, delivering world-class live concerts and entertainment experiences that make a lasting impression on the cultural fabric of the region. HOP Events’ expertise spans from close-up intimate performances to sold-out iconic arenas and includes notable names such as Arijit Singh, A.R. Rahman, and Rishab Sharma. The company differentiates itself through the three pillars of innovation, excellence, and a strong community focus. In doing so, it creates experiences that anchor communities, build connection, and foster a stronger sense of belonging, while delighting audiences with seamless execution, elevated experiences, and disruptive thinking.

https://hopevents.ae/

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