Journey Through Time

 Journey Through Time Masterplan

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Chairman of the Royal Commission for AlUla, today launched The Journey Through Time Masterplan for AlUla, Saudi Arabia that will immerse visitors in 200,000 years of natural and human history. The Journey Through Time design and spatial visionary masterplan sets out a 15-year programme to responsibly and sustainably develop the core historical area of AlUla, a unique cultural landscape located in north-west Arabia.

The plan contributes to the advancement of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, opening a new chapter in the development of AlUla as a Living Museum while accelerating the growth of a diversified economy and vibrant community.

The Journey Through Time Masterplan will transform AlUla into a global destination for heritage, nature, art and culture. Key features of the plan are:

·         Five districts spanning the 20km heart of AlUla will serve as waypoints on the Journey Through Time, from Old Town in the south to Hegra Historical City in the north, each shaped by the site’s natural and cultural heritage. The districts are: AlUla Old Town (District 1); Dadan (District 2); Jabal Ikmah (District 3); Nabataean Horizon (District 4) and Hegra Historical City (District 5).

·         The districts will each focus on an existing heritage site and will be traversed by AlUla’s ancient oasis. A 9km portion, constituting the heart of the Cultural Oasis, will be fully rejuvenated, starting in AlUla Old Town.

·         Fifteen new cultural assets including museums, galleries and cultural centres will serve as landmarks across each district (full list of assets is appended in the Journey Through Time Factsheet).

·         The 20km Wadi of Hospitality running along the ancient oasis’s bed will connect the five districts and act as the green pedestrian ‘spine’ of The Journey Through Time.

·         A 46km low-carbon tram line will connect AlUla International Airport to the five districts. A scenic roadway as well as bicycle, equestrian and pedestrian trails will promote a smooth and experiential approach to mobility, championing low-carbon journeys.

·         The wadi and the low-carbon tramway will mostly follow the route used by pilgrims on the Hijaz Railway for many centuries before, ensuring a memorable visual and interpretive experience of the transition from oasis to desert.

·         Adding a total of 5,000 additional room keys into the overall target of 9,400 keys by 2035, each district will offer its own tailored blend of living and hospitality options, ranging from hotels and eco-tourism resorts to luxury lodges and canyon farms carved into the sandstone rocks.

·         The Kingdoms Institute, a flagship component of the plan, will be a global hub for archaeological knowledge and research dedicated to the cultures and civilisations that have inhabited this area for more than 7,000 years, including the ancient kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan and the magnificent Nabataeans, who built the city of Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Journey Through Time Masterplan was developed under the leadership of HRH the Crown Prince and the guidance of HH Prince Badr, the Saudi Minister of Culture and the Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU). The Journey Through Time Masterplan was envisioned as a way to capture the deep-rooted essence of what AlUla already is - an oasis of unique culture, heritage, nature and community – while curating a timeless legacy with stories of the past to inform the future and open new chapters in AlUla’s unfolding history.

Each district of The Journey Through Time Masterplan is a cultural landmark in its own right and reflective of the singular and ever-evolving history, topography and nature that is unique to that particular location. This spatial system of highly differentiated villages, experiences and cultural assets is designed to be visitor-centric and rewards more immersive discovery, exploration and longer stays.

Symbolising Saudi Arabia’s renewed commitment to the preservation and protection of world heritage, knowledge and research, the masterplan is backed by extensive scientific studies on AlUla’s human patterns, environmental and geological evolution, developed by a team of international and Saudi experts.

As a direct response to the challenges of sustainably and responsibly developing a fragile desert environment, the replenishment of the 9km core Cultural Oasis - through research and innovative solutions - will be a key element of the masterplan. Contributing to the Saudi Green Initiative, the regeneration of AlUla is underpinned by a strategy to rehabilitate the land and reverse the course of desertification in the area. Enabling a major expansion of AlUla’s green and open spaces up to 10 million square meters, it will provide a haven for AlUla’s archaeological sites, an opportunity for sustainable agricultural production as well as an enchanting experience for visitors.

Together, two flagship projects of the masterplan – the Kingdoms Institute and the Cultural Oasis – reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to offer the world a viable model for protecting, preserving and contributing to the world’s cultural and natural legacy.

Creating a new, balanced view of concepts such as protection, conservation, restoration, regeneration and development, the AlUla Sustainability Charter sets the ground for an innovative and integrated approach to sustainability. The Charter includes, at the heart of the masterplan, a zero-carbon policy coupled with circular economy principles, and robust resiliency policies around development in heritage and environmentally sensitive areas, as well as flood and improved water management and vegetation planting.

First and foremost an investment in AlUla’s citizens and their future, the masterplan embodies RCU’s commitment to community inclusivity. Fully embedded within the plan, new community-driven services, amenities as well as cultural and educational facilities will together create a stronger tourism, cultural and agricultural economy for AlUla. The economic growth will not only grow AlUla’s pool of talents within a local community that has acted as guardians of ancestral values, techniques, and traditions over millennia, it will also nurture a thriving and vibrant society in a great place to live, work and explore.

The Journey Through Time Masterplan is the first in a series of plans for AlUla and constitutes the first and most important part of AlUla’s development. It will be implemented in three phases until 2035, while the first phase is set to be completed by 2023, aiming to provide a comprehensive visitor-centric experience.

Upon completion of the wider development strategy for AlUla in 2035, 38,000 new jobs amid a population grown to 130,000 will have been created while AlUla will contribute SAR 120 billion to the Kingdom’s GDP (USD 32 billion). Additionally, 80 percent of AlUla County will have been designated as nature reserves with key flora and fauna reintroduced.

It will achieve this through income generated by welcoming two million visitors annually, offering 9,400 hotel keys in total, and further promoting agriculture, arts and culture and tourism as key economic drivers for AlUla. Unique opportunities will further encourage and accelerate business and investment from partners who share RCU’s values of sustainability, responsible development and community inclusivity.

Chennai based music composer Ganesh B Kumar’s ‘Spirit of

Chennai based music composer Ganesh B Kumar’s ‘Spirit of Humanity’, set for a grand worldwide launch on June 26, 2020, by Navona Records, U.S.A.

·        RISE - Symphony No.1 in D minor; a traditional Symphony in 3 movements

·        THE JOURNEY - the first-ever Symphonic Poem by an Indian composer

Brimming with passion for enriching human  values,  by  uplifting and elevating the spirit of mankind, city based music composer Ganesh  B. Kumar,  is  all set for the worldwide launch of his new album, ‘Spirit of Humanity’. The album comprising    a Symphony, RISE, and a Symphonic Poem, THE JOURNEY, the first-ever by an Indian composer, brings to light two of the noblest qualities of man’s earthly existence, ‘Optimism and Humanitarianism’, envisaged through the inspiring life stories of the legendary composer - Ludwig Van Beethoven and ‘Maharaj’ Jam Saheb Digvijay Singhji, ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Nawanagar, Gujarat.

Glorious works of many composers wouldn’t have been possible without the patronage of some of the most influential people in society, who were great music connoisseurs. Shining examples of such generosity can be found over centuries, which include patrons such as the Esterhazy family of Hungary to Joseph Haydn, Baron Gottfried van Swieten to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the famous Archduke Rudolph, youngest son of Emperor Leopold II and youngest brother of Emperor Franz, to Ludwig Van Beethoven. In this respect, Shri. Anand Madhavan stands as a lofty example of a steadfast and generous patron to the composer Ganesh B Kumar.

Incidentally, Shri. Anand Madhavan happens to be the great grandson of Shri. V. Krishnaswamy Iyer, who holds the credit for being the first person to  bring  out  some of  Maha Kavi Bharathiyar’s early poems in print, by arranging to publish and distribute copies to various schools. True to the saying, ‘history repeats itself’, Shri. Anand Madhavan walks his great grandfather's glorious path by being instrumental in bringing out composer Ganesh Kumar's album, ‘Spirit of Humanity’.

A spellbinding work of collaboration, ‘Spirit of Humanity’, is an ode to optimism and humanitarianism, supported by a dedicated core team, that includes Dr Prem Venkatesh, the dynamic Project Lead from Scotland, Shri. V. Muthukumaraguruswamy, a spiritual guide, erudite scholar and Chief Linguistic Consultant, Mrs. Georgina Margarite Ezra, Songwriter, Translator and Linguistic Trainer, and Shri. Anand Madhavan, the backbone and the Patron of the project.

Both the works have been performed and recorded by the Staatskapelle Orchestra, Halle, Germany, under the baton of the renowned conductor Bernd Ruf, comprising 91 instrumentalists, along with 31 singers from the Choir of the Opera Halle, conducted by Markus Fischer.

Speaking at the pre-launch press meet, Ganesh B Kumar shared with us his exciting journey of the making of “Spirit of Humanity”.

In his words: “It has always been my goal to compose music that enriches and uplifts the human spirit. When Dhahara Vidhya Foundation, a non-charitable Trust from Chennai, India, commissioned me to write two orchestral works, I was looking for motivational and socially impactful themes that would benefit mankind. I was reminded of the famous quote of Confucius, “The greatest glory in living, lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall”, which inspired me to draw parallels with the life of Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time, whose music rose above every fall he experienced in his life.

It is a known fact that Beethoven’s own circumstances were miserable – loveless and pain- stricken with progressive deafness. Yet, he overcame these obstacles, churning out timeless compositions. I have tried bringing out this dichotomy in the symphony RISE, with the descending phrases depicting the various falls in his life, while the consequent victorious emergence is pronounced through the ascending phrases, invoking the spirit of positivity and perseverance”.

Speaking on his second composition, Ganesh Kumar said, “As with the first composition, I was seeking a challenging and meaningful theme for my second work. My search ended when Shri. Anand Madhavan drew my attention to a treasure trove of lesser known historic events of pre-independence India (1942-1947), which included the touching act of humanitarianism by Maharaj Jam Saheb Digvijay Singhji, who was the first ruler to open doors to and save the lives of thousands of Polish refugees during the Second World War. 

The magnanimity of the Maharaj and the riveting tale of displacement, despair, migration and resettlement of Polish refugees from the Soviet Union to India, inspired me to write the Symphonic Poem THE JOURNEY - from Despair to Hope, as a fitting tribute to the ‘Maharaj’, ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Nawanagar, Gujarat.

THE JOURNEY begins with a melancholic aria, Lost Souls, penned by Georgina Margarite Ezra, depicting the desolate condition of the Polish children.  The pinnacle of this composition is the inclusion of a timeless Tamil poem from Purnanooru, Undaal amma ivvulagam, written by the ancient King of the Sangam era, Kadalul Maaindha Ilamperuvazhudhi.  



The king, through this poem, gave mankind a poetic message about humanitarian values, several centuries ago. This poem has been used as an analogy to highlight the generosity and large-heartedness of the Maharaj. The sole credit for choosing this poem and imparting linguistic training to the German singers goes to Shri. V. Muthukumaraguruswamy.

Special significance - The worldwide release of the album, “Spirit of Humanity”, featuring RISE and THE JOURNEY, on June 26^th this year, attains special significance due to the fact that the current year 2020, happens to be the 250^th birth anniversary of Ludwig Van Beethoven, as well as the 75^th anniversary, commemorating the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany, to   the Allied forces in 1945, thereby ending World War II in Europe. 

The universal message of the spirit of positivity and humanity conveyed through this album, would surely provide musical solace during these troubled times of the pandemic.

More about the album:

RISE: A tribute to the legendary composer Ludwig Van Beethoven on his 250^th birth anniversary, the symphony RISE invokes the ‘Spirit of Positivity & Perseverance’.  It sheds light on how Beethoven emerged triumphantly as one of the most successful composers of all time, overcoming various hardships in his life. It is a humble tribute by Kumar to one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time, whose music rose above every fall he experienced in his life.

The piece draws heavily on Beethovian elements from the first measure to the last, and includes, among others, reminiscences of Beethoven's most popular themes, such as the opening motif of the composer's Fifth Symphony, but consciously introducing a rising figuration (as against the falling 3rds of the original) signifying positivity and perseverance.

THE JOURNEY: The symphonic poem, THE JOURNEY – from Despair to Hope, is a large piece of program music that reminds the listener of the little-known terrible hardships of Polish refugees in the early 1940's, when thousands of displaced Poles in Russia, owing to a great humanitarian act by Maharaj Jam Saheb Digvijay Singhji, embarked on an arduous journey to India, and found a new home in the then princely Indian state of Nawanagar, Gujarat.

This composition paints the deprivation, desolation, and truculent perseverance of the refugees in stark tonal colors and the finale, an extolment of the Maharaj's generosity, vividly evokes the satisfaction and relief in the face of a suffering overcome. The Symphonic Poem makes a powerful case for pacifism on the 75^th anniversary of the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allied forces, in 1945, there by ending World War II in Europe.

‘Undaal Amma Ivvulagam’- An a cappella in Tamil: As a reprise,  Undaal Amma Ivvulagam,   a timeless poem from Purananooru, written by the ancient King Kadalul Maaindha Ilamperuvazhudhi, is featured as a bonus track in the album as an a cappella, sung by Shalini Singh Balaji and Keshav Vinod Kumar, thereby giving an Indian twist to conclude the Album.

Spirit of Humanity – Audio Promo Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y3e61dhE-A&feature=emb_logo   

Spirit of Humanity – Video Promo Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NhKR0rEes8

'The Journey' Promo from Love Sonia is OUT Now

'The Journey' Promo from Love Sonia is OUT Now!

The makers of Love Sonia have launched their third promo video titled The Journey and it will intrigue you for sure! The film is slated to release on 14th September 2018.

Here are the links: http://bit.ly/LoveSoniaDP3 

http://bit.ly/LoveSonia- TheJourney 

https://twitter.com/ LoveSoniaMovie/status/ 1037974558102495233 

The film has a strong ensemble cast including Freida Pinto, Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao, Richa Chadha, Anupam Kher, Adil Hussain, Sai Tamhankar, Sunny Parwar, Demi Moore, Mark Duplass, Noorani is introducing Mrunal Thakur as well as Riya Sisodiya.

Tamasha Talkies and Samraaj Talkies in association with India Take One Productions, Cinemantra Entertainment, and Media & Dynasty Consulting Group present Love Sonia. The film is Tabrez Noorani's directorial debut, produced by the Academy Award-nominated producer of Life of Pi, David Womark and Tabrez Noorani. Co-produced by Amar Butala and Executive Producers include Shalini Thackeray, Deepak Nayar, and Pravesh Sahni. The Dynasty Consulting Group was instrumental in setting up the movie. Zee Studios will release the film in India