Five Isolated Places To Escape The Hustle-Bustle Of Everyday Life!

Each one of us some point or the other goes through this weird phase wherein being secluded from the world is the only peace we want in life! Well, don’t worry! You are not suffering from any kind of mental illness that is urging you to cut off all your connections. It is the hustle-bustle of today’s super-tied up life which we try to escape when our mind and body gives up on us. In such an instance, going on a short break away from the entire work load is the best gift you could give to yourself! If you have been wanting to get lost at a place where the phone calls, mails, texts or even the people cannot reach you, why not do it for real? Dump all the connectivities and set out on a journey of self-love! Still thinking? Here we are to help you choose from five most aesthetically remote places which will not only revive your energies but will truly make you fall in love with your life!

1. Islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Less is known about the divine beauty these islands concede in themselves! The virgin beaches of Andaman and Nicobar are the perfect options for you to let loose away from the world. Spectacular white sand, swaying palm trees, crystal clear water and the unseen aquatic life will give a perfect boost to your senses!

2. Valleys of Leh/Ladakh

The celestial landscape of this region is something I can personally vouch for! If you haven’t been to Ladakh as yet, you have no clue as to what the term beauty stands for. The gorgeous valleys covered with pitch blue sky makes for a scenery so picturesque that you actually question yourself, “Is this for real?”

3. Forests of Western Ghats

If you are a devout lover of nature, this is the place for you! The beauties and the healing of lush green forests around you will relax your mind in and out. Getting lost in the lap of nature is one of the best options you have for a mystical retreat. For a memorable experience, try out camping here and you will certainly cherish every bit of time spent at these Ghats!

4. Caves of Meghalaya

If you have been bitten by the adventure bug and this is an urge you cannot resist at any cost, I would recommend you to pack your bags and escape to the caves of Meghalaya! This unique place will offer you with several magnificent caves waiting to be discovered adventurously! The beautiful terrains of Meghalaya are perfect for those wanted to set out on an adventure trip alone.

5. Sand Dunes of Thar

This is one of the most off-beat locations one can choose to be isolated at! We have often heard that one can actually get lost in the Thar Desert, so why not do it purposely? Not just this golden desert but the entire Rajasthan awaits you with all its colors, music, stories and folk dances! What better than treating yourself with royalty?

Chennai After 375 Years – Blending Tradition And The Modern

Madras or Chennai as it is known today was founded with the signing of the agreement between the East India Company and the then Nayaka ruler, on Aug 22, 1639, which allowed the British to establish a trading outpost in what came to be known as Fort St George. That was the beginning of the establishment of the Madras Presidency.

In 1682, the first bank called Madras Bank was established and the University of Madras was established in 1857. Over the years, Madras transformed itself both in name and character and is a thriving cauldron of heritage, culture, people, fine arts, technology and science. Chennai continues to evolve.

One of the oldest cities of India, Chennai has over 400 heritage buildings and for old timers Chennai still brings out the nostalgia of the lazy days back then. Walking down Mount Road to spend the day browsing books at Higginbotham and then moving onto Saravana Bhavan for a bite. Weekend shopping was invariably in Pondy Bazar and no trip was complete without visiting Naidu Hall for everyday clothes. Any event in the family meant a visit to Nalli Sarees or Kumaran Silks, in Pondy Bazar. Weekend evenings saw one heading for Marina Beach, which by the way is the second longest urban beach in the world, all of 6 kms.

Tradition and modernity

While Chennai was never the fast paced bustling metro like Mumbai, it had its own pace of life and character, very different from those of Mumbai or Kolkata, both of which had and have their own identities. Chennai always seemed like a pendulum swinging between tradition and modernity, between classical and urban, between heritage and contemporary, between the saree and the jean, between the filter kapee and cappuccino, between idli sāmbhar and the burger, the city never stopped evolving but has steadfastly held on to its heritage.

So how does Chennai handle its contradictions between heritage and the contemporary? How does GenX deal with the richness of the past and modernity of the present?

The older generation still swears by the past and the Chennai of yesteryear and insist that Chennai is still the same at heart but grudgingly admit that they themselves graduated from the traditional Madraslungi/dhoti to a pant in everyday life. Though in the same breath, reaffirm their loyalty to listening to the divine strains of MS Subbulakshmi!

So what’s a day in the life of GenX? Like any other metro the younger generation of Chennai today has big dreams and is already on the path of setting up his goals for the year, be it a must visit to the Chennai Super Kings match or to catch up with the latest Rock show happening a month later or for that matter the forthcoming SAT, GMAT or JEE exams, all taken in stride.

While the older generation hold their breath with dismay on their kid’s latest obsession with Facebook, WhatsApp or FarmVille, the teenagers are busy planning their next project for school. The youth in Chennai are different from the older generation. They are much more open to ideas and have been amongst the first to adopt technology into everyday life. In fact, Chennai was one of the first cities to adopt Wi-Fi in a big way. Chennai of today is extremely tech savvy and the city boasts of a large tech population that is moving towards the next breakthrough in tech.

Churidar kurta and the jeans

Just a couple of decades ago, a walk into a Loyola or Stella Maris would have you seeing a range of young women students, almost all in a range of sarees. Not so anymore, today the most common dress worn by young girls and working women is the churidar kurta. The youth, of course, is increasingly turning to jeans. This perhaps is the most visible difference that one can see if the last time you visited Chennai was a couple of decades ago!

If the Fort St George symbolizes the proud heritage of Chennai then the IT Tidal Park personifies contemporary Chennai that is all about science, technology and embracing the future. Chennai never stopped evolving. From being home to traditional industries, Chennai has emerged as India’s Detroit, cornering about 40% of the share of automobile and auto parts industry.

Perhaps the best example of evolution can be seen in the cinema and music industry. The movie industry held on to older technology and film making techniques for a long time. However, it began to change gears through the 80s and today the cinema and the music industry boasts of the latest in film production infrastructure that will make Mumbai look like a dump yard. The level of professionalism in both these industries has forced Bollywood to build closer ties here, as also shift a lot of production to Chennai.

Lifestyle changes is only natural for a bustling city. In the earlier days, weekends meant family gathering and lunches in each other’s homes or watching a musical or fine arts performance in the local community hall. Today, a typical weekend will mean a visit to a Mall, lunch or dinner at McDonalds or KFC followed up with watching the latest release of a Rajinikanth or a Bruce Willis movie.

Ilyaraja, Coldplay & Ceylon Roll

While traditional foods like idli sāmbhar, dosai and rasam-rice remain all-time favourites, the new generation seems to be all in for pizzas, burgers and shakes. The Ceylon Roll (read Kathi Roll) continues its popularity and peacefully co-exists with the traditional thali.

Like any other metro in India, the IT and BPO crowd like to spend the weekend unwinding at their favourite pub. They are as comfortable listening to Ilyaraja, as they are with Coldplay. Social drinking has increased amongst the youth, which faces the constant debate between earlier values and contemporary lifestyle.

Chennai may have held on to traditional rituals and habits longer than the rest of India but it was always a progressive society. What may seem visible signs of change from the past by way of dress or food, the spirit of Chennai has remained the same and that is to explore the new, adopt the best and value the past. This is seen across all Tamilian NRIs worldwide and those that have returned home, after several years overseas. Each of them values his heritage in spirit and thought, while adopting contemporary lifestyles. This is truer for Tamilians than other communities of India that have lived overseas.

In its 375th year, Chennai continues to stand tall and proud, while its citizens continue to evolve in thought and embrace all that is new. It’s a work in progress.

India Looks Forward To Asian Games

India is bullish about its performance in the forthcoming Asian Games to be held at Incheon in South Korea. In the 16 days’ games, as many as 439 events in 36 sports will be organized. Opening ceremony of the Games to be held on September 19, will be a mix of Korean traditional culture with the modern technology. The closing ceremony will be held on October 4. For India, the forthcoming sporting event is full of stakes; it will have to perform better than what it did at the just concluded Commonwealth Games, where by bagging 15 gold medals, got pushed to the fifth position. It was the feat that stood sharp contrast to the accomplishment Indian sporting fraternity had achieved in 2010, when the country was able to remain at the second position after Australia.

Yet, the scale of performance lies in hard work, mental toughness and quality training. Given that sporting giants like China, Japan and South Korea participate in the Asian Games, it is tougher than the Commonwealth Games. However, officials of Sports Authority of India (SAI) are brimming with optimism. The inclusion of new sporting events like archery, mixed relay triathlon and others for the first time in the 17th edition of Asian Games, has chances of India returning with large number of medals. It has also high medal hopes in events like wrestling, weightlifting, boxing, shooting, badminton and squash. Sports authorities are expecting India to clinch 10 to 14 medals from shooting and 12 to 16 medals from athletics.

At the Guangzhou Asian Games, India had finished sixth in the medal list. In fact, by bagging 64 medals, including 14 gold, it was the best ever performance by the Indian contingent in the 2010 Asian Games. Significantly, it was held on the back of New Delhi held Commonwealth Games where India had cornered 38 gold medals of the total 101 medals it had won. For the Incheon Asian Games, target before the Indian contingent is to win at least 65 medals. The disciplines that brought India laurels at the Guangzhou Games are being given special focus with the goal of banging right on the target. However, a cloud of doubt hangs over Indian football and table tennis teams’ participation at the 17th edition of the Asian Games. Slim chance of medal returns is cited as the key reason behind the buzz of dropping the two sporting disciplines.

There is also no possibility of India sending teams in baseball, bowling, fencing, karate, modern pentathlon, rugby, softball, soft tennis and triathlon. But then there is a feeling of morose in the India’s sporting camp. In the forthcoming Asian Games, disciplines like cue sports, chess and roller sports have not been included. In the 2010 Asian Games, India had bagged total eight medals in the three disciplines. India hopes to compensate by giving sterling performances in Kabbadi. Also, optimism shown by women by winning altogether 29 medals in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, is keeping alive chances of good medal harvests for India. But overall, the picture is hazy so far as the size of the Indian contingent is concerned.

The Indian Olympic Association, the key sporting organization of the country, had presented a list of 912, including officials, for clearance from the Union government for the Asian Games. The government is said to have asked the IOA to prune the list. It is said that in the 2010 Asian Games, India had sent over 625 sportspersons and officials, and in the just concluded Commonwealth Games, the size of the contingent was also impressive. It had fielded a strong 215-member contingent for 14 sporting disciplines, including seven para-athletes. Nonetheless, for the moment, India appears serious to leave nothing for chances and this optimism is what is guiding New Delhi to siege the opportunity at Incheon.

Best Places For Photography

Beautiful are those places which turn an amateur onlooker into a dexterous photographer! The priceless beauty of certain places urges you to capture their essence in a picture. Fortunately, India is rich with many such awe-inspiring muses which when clicked come out as mesmerizing art pieces. Technology has made everything so convenient that one can actually capture a moment in the blink of an eye and relish it for ever. The growing trend of selfies has made everybody crazy about taking pictures. Everyone now wants to click themselves in the backdrop of some of the most iconic landscapes. So today, we are going to list out some of the most photogenic locations in India!

1. Kashmir

Who wouldn’t want to get snapped amidst the scenic landscapes of the heaven on earth? Kashmir is one of the most photogenic locations on this planet and capturing its indefinable charm is the dream of every photographer.

2. Rajasthan

Catch the glimpse of culture and royalty in this colourful state! Rajasthan is replete with photogenic masterpieces. From forts to lakes, colours and culture, this place has everything worth capturing!

3. Agra

Home to the most beautiful wonder of the world, Agra is an internationally acclaimed destination for photography. Photographers from all across the globe visit India only to frame the glory of the Taj Mahal! Agra was also the capital of the Mughal Empire.

4. Ladakh

Step in to this stupendously attractive place and you would actually question yourself “Is it a dream”? Snapping the breath-taking valleys, perfectly blue sky, snow-capped mountains and gorgeous landscapes of Ladakh is absolutely a must!

5. Kerala

With abundant lush-greenery all around, Kerala is one of the most serene destinations of India. Every corner of this place is good to be clicked at any point of time. The backwaters of Alappuzha (Alleppey), the tall coconut trees, forts, beaches and a lot more needs to be stored in your digital memory.

Dhyan Chand birthday special – 10 interesting facts about India’s legendary sportsman

Indian hockey team in 1936 Berlin Olympics. Dhyan Chand (standing second from left).

On August 29, 1905, one of India’s greatest sportsmen Major Dhyan Chand was born. Arguably one of world’s best hockey players ever, Dhyan Chand’s life had some interesting stories. We bring to you, some interesting facts about his life. Have a read and check how well do you know the legendary Indian.

1) In honour of arguably the greatest hockey player of all time, the National Hockey stadium in Delhi was renamed as Dhyan Chand National Stadium in 2002.

2) Dhyan Chand helped India win three Olympic gold medal in 1928, 1932 and 1936.

3) Dhyan Chand joined the Indian army at the age of 16. In 1956, he retired with the rank of a Major.

4) Once, while playing a game of hockey, Dhyan Chand was not able to score a goal against the opposition team. After being unable to score despite several attempts, he argued with the referee over the measurement of the goal post, and surprisingly, it was found to not be in conformation with the official width of a goal post under international rules

5) Netherlands: in one of Dhayn Chand’s visits to the Netherlands, the authorities broke his hockey stick to check if there was a magnet inside.

6) Austria: Residents of Vienna, have set up a statue of Dhyan Chand with four hands and four sticks in honour of his wizardy.

7) Germany: According to legends, Adolf Hitler had offered Dhyan Chand German citizenship and a position in the German Military following his brilliant performance in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

8) England: Regarded as one 359 Olympic heroes. A tube station in London has been named after Dhyan Chand. An astro-turf pitch at the Indian Gymkhana Club in London is also named after him.

9) Australia: Arguably the greatest cricketer of all time, Sir Don Bradman on seeing Dhyan Chand said, “You score goals like runs”.

10) ‘Goal’ is the autobiography of Dhyan Chand, published in 1952.

There has been a call from a long time to award Dhyan Chand the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour. 

The Rice Bucket Challenge – Let’s Do The Desi Way

After the great hullabaloo of Ice Bucket Challenge which had gone viral recently to raise the awareness of ALS, we have a desi version of the same challenge with the main motto, “Help the poor and needy”.

It is India’s answer to the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ and it is a very innovative idea. We call it the rice bucket challenge. A country like India where more than half of the population lies below the poverty line, where India’s hunger level is at a dangerously high level according to the Global Hunger Index, this is a good way to feed the needy. How far it will be successful, we just have to wait and watch.

What Is Rice Bucket Challenge: How did it start?

On August 24, 2014, Manju Latha Kalanidihi, a journalist from Hyderabad, came up with this wonderful idea. She thought on the same lines as Ice Bucket Challenge which was initiated on social media to make people aware of the progressive neuro-degenerative disease ALS and to contribute to the ALS Association. The basic idea was to raise funds for a cause. In Ice Bucket Challenge you have to throw a bucket of ice-cold water over your head and upload the video of the action in social networking sites and challenge others to do the same. If they don’t want to do that, they have to donate 100$ to the ALS Association.

In Rice Bucket Challenge, you have to donate a bucket of rice or cooked food to a poor person and challenge others to do the same. Manju Latha Kalanidihi donated a bucket of rice to a beneficiary in Hyderabad and uploaded the picture in her Facebook page “https://www.facebook.com/ricebucketchallenge/”, where she has nominated her Facebook users to do the same. Facebook user Devuni from Vijeye took the challenge and she donated a bucketful of rice to Sathibabu, a poor daily labourer.

The challenge is very easy. All you have to do is donate a bucket full of rice. You can also feed the poor people in your neighbourhood with cooked food like khichri, biryani. Or else, you can donate medicines to the nearest government hospital or give Rs. 100 to the poor. This is not an expensive programme. It just needs an urge from your end to help the poor and needy.

The Rice Bucket Challenge has been aptly described as “Desi Challenge for Desi Needs”. According to Manju Latha, this is a simple and practical solution to issues in the locality. She also said that instead of wasting water, it is better to save water and feed the needy. So far she has got a very positive response from her Facebook fan page and more and more people have started making voluntary donations in their vicinities.

How to join the challenge

• Pick up a bowl or bucket of rice.
• Go to the nearest needy and deserving person in your area.
• Click a photo and upload it on Facebook with hashtag#RiceBucketChallenge
• Tag your friends and challenge them to do this

Thanks to Ms. Manju Latha Kalanidhi for this innovative idea of helping the poor and needy. This is no doubt the Indian version of the Ice Bucket Challenge. And it has gone viral across social media. On the first day itself, the Facebook page had 4000 likes, and on day 2, more than 10000 likes. The page was created on August 24, 2014. However, mere “likes” are not enough. The challenge is still in its infancy stage. It should not be limited to Hyderabad alone. Let’s not underestimate the power of social media. It should be shared and known to everyone around. More and more people should come up and accept the challenge. It’s not only a bucket of rice. It can be anything that can be of help to the poor people. A concrete initiative indeed, a very sensible challenge to bring that little smile on the faces of many…

PM Jan Dhan Yojana – An Era Of Financial Inclusion

In his first Independence Day address as the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi announced that his government would ensure that all the citizens of India have access to bank accounts and debit cards. In keeping with this ambition, on August 28, 2014, PM Mr. Modi formally launched the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana – the scheme that should end ‘financial untouchability’ of the poor masses in the country. The project has been modeled to fulfill PM Modi’s vision of financial inclusion and economic benefits for all sections of Indian society.

What is Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana?

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is a scheme that aims to provide all the citizens of India – especially the poor masses – a bank account, insurance cover, and debit card facilities. The aim of this scheme is highlighted by its slogan “Mera Khata – Bhagya Vidhaata”. In the long run, the scheme will also allow the poorer sections to avail of subsidies and overdraft facilities through their bank accounts.

Why is this scheme important?

In India, about 42 percent of the population lacks access to a formal financial institution such as a bank and is not part of the country’s banking system. This population depends on local money lenders for loans which are often given at exorbitant interest rates and unfair terms. Without access to a basic bank account, facilities such as insurance cover and debit cards remain a far cry to this section of the population. The PM Jan Dhan Yojana is set to change this scenario. In the long term, this scheme will also provide the backdrop for a cashless economy – another focal point of the Prime Minister’s I-Day address (Digital India).

Benefits of the PMJDY

According to the terms of the PMJDY, the account holders will be provided a zero-balance savings account with a RuPay debit card. The account holder will also be provided life insurance cover of INR 30,000 (for accounts opened before January 26, 2015) and an accidental insurance cover of INR 1 lakh. By 2018, it is likely that all account holders under the PMJDY scheme will have access to an Aadhar-linked bank account with overdraft facility up to INR 5,000. By allowing direct money transfer into bank accounts, the scheme is likely to cut down on corruption. The Prime Minister also said that by providing debit cards that can be swiped the scheme shall reduce the dependence on credit cards, thereby promoting savings.

Implementation of the scheme

The PMO has sent out over 7.25 lakh emails signed by Mr. Modi himself to banking officials across the country seeking their cooperation in the successful implementation of this scheme. 77,862 enrolment camps will be opened up across India to create awareness and to facilitate opening of bank accounts. The launch function was held in 76 main cities including Bharuch, Bilaspur, Dehradun, Gandhinagar, Guwahati, Mumbai, Muzaffarpur, Panjim, Patna, Port Blair, Raipur, Surat, and Vizag.

The implementation of the PMJDY is to be carried out in two phases. The first phase is likely to last between August 2014 and August 2015, while the second phase between 2015 and 2018. By 2018, about 7.5 crore households (15 crore bank accounts) will have bank accounts. In the second phase, the government will also make pension schemes available to these account holders.

Launching the PMJDY

On August 28, 2014, the day of the scheme’s launch, over 1.5 crore bank accounts were opened across India. This is certifiably the largest exercise of this nature on a single day across globe. The Chief Ministers of about 20 states and several Union Ministers participated in the lauch ceremony in different cities of India. HRD Minister Smriti Irani launched the scheme at Surat, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj launched it at Bhopal, Information Minister Prakash Javadekar launched it at Pune, and Home Minister Rajnath Singh was present at the Lucknow launch function. On the occasion of the launch of the scheme, the Prime Minister said, “If Mahatma Gandhi worked to remove social untouchability, if we want to get rid of poverty, then we have to first get rid of financial untouchability. We have to connect every person with the financial system. And for that this programme has been given impetus. When a bank account is opened, it’s a step towards joining economic mainstream.”

What about KYC?

Prior to the launch of the PMJDY, the Reserve Bank of India relaxed its stringent ‘know your customer’ (KYC) norms. Low-risk customers will now have the leeway to provide KYC documents within six months of opening a bank account. In accordance with the PMJDY, ‘small accounts’ may be opened with banks by those who do not hold ‘officially valid documents’ that are required under current KYC norms. All that shall be required to open these accounts is a self-attested photograph and the signature or thumb print of the person applying for the account. These accounts, however, will be subject to certain limitations – total deposits may not exceed INR 100000 in a year and total withdrawals cannot be over INR 10000 a month. The account balance in these accounts may not exceed INR 50000 at any point in time. According to the RBI, these small accounts will be valid for a year. Within this period, if the account holder applies for one of the KYC’s acceptable official documents, the account will be allowed to exist for another year.

The Prime minister said that with the launch, the momentum of inclusive financial networking should gain momentum (Gadi apne aap chalne lagti hain). With new branches, new infrastructure, new jobs should also be generated. The scheme has, however, attracted criticism from some quarters. The Hindi nomenclature of the scheme has also been criticized.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2014

Post by Incredible India.

Mumbai Sea Plane Service – Big Boost For Tourism

The iconic sea plane service, which was to connect Mumbai to the Amby Valley in Lonavala, finally took its first flight to the Pawana Dam on the 25th August 2014. This unique venture of Amphibian planes is the second of its kind in India. Mumbai-based Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt Ltd (MEHAIR) has been entrusted with the duty of the operation of these flights in collaboration with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). Providing an alternative to the time consuming long drives on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the sea plane service will make it super-easy for the travellers to reach up to the tourist destinations in the Western Ghats.

Extending the sea plane service

The amphibian Cessnas can take off as well as land in water. As of now, the sea plane service is available up to the destinations close to Lonavala but the operators plan to extend them to the tourist hubs like Nasik, Shirdi and Mahabaleshwar. Moreover, the idea of including the Mumbai Beaches is also in the process of scrutinization for its viability. About 45 minutes of travel time is cut short while utilizing this amazing sea service. Both daily and weekly flights have witnessed stupendous response and the service has been loaded with heavy bookings already. The company currently has two running flights but plans of acquiring one more next month and two more by the end of the year are on the go.

The sea plane services were pioneered by MEYHAIR in India in January 2011 at the Andaman and Nicobar islands. On its part, the company plans to expand its services to all the coastal areas having beaches and the landlocked states with lakes, rivers or dams. For this purpose, the MTDC is working with the irrigation ministry to identify various big and small water bodies for starting sea plane flights across the state. Generally, a sea plane is a fixed-wing aircraft which can take off or land on water. In order to take off a flight, the sea plane require a 1 km long airstrip or a water body with the same length and at least 10 feet of depth.

The new weekend destinations

The introduction of the sea plane service is a major step in the growth of the tourism sector of Maharashtra. By cutting short the travelling time, these services have not only made it convenient for the commuters to connect but have also laid the stepping stones in the facilitation of the tourism department. These useful flights have turned the holiday destinations to weekend destinations by making it easier to reach out. Not only will the tourists save time but will also be spared of the fatigue involved in reaching these places. The service will further be extended to the tourist destinations and pilgrimages in the water bodies which lack air connectivity, thereby, giving tourism a major boost in the business.

Looking at the kind of response received after the inaugural flight we can say that the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has definitely taken the right step towards catalysing the growth of tourism in the state.

Top 10 Things To Do In Lakshadweep – Exotic Destination

Turquoise blue water and endless lagoons  make Lakshadweep serene and peaceful. Lakshadweep means “one hundred thousand islands” in Sanskrit and all these islands are results of various coral activities from millions of years. It has an archipelago of 36 coral islands, with 3 reefs which makes the aquatic life more unique than rest of India. There are only 10 inhabitant islands, namely, Andrott, Agatti, Amini, Bitra, Chetlat, Kavaratti, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kiltan and Minicoy, and other islands are used for fishing, coconut procuring, etc. Being unspoilt, and untouched, very few tourists know about this place. Being 400 kms away from Kerala, you can reach here through cruise, flight and helicopter arrangements by Lakshadweep tourism board. The islands are fringed by snow-white coral and diverging ranges of hues of blue water due to depth and shallowness of the water. Having water in abundance, Lakshadweep sport authorities run various activities like scuba diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, parasailing and water skiing etc.

1. Scuba Diving in Kalpeni Island

Lakshadweep Water Sports authority runs various water activities on all these island. Scuba diving is the best way to explore the wealth of marine life. Being considered as one of the best unexplored sites in world, you can see unique species of  coral, school of fishes , turtles, etc., which you might have either seen only in books or the National Geographic channel. The PADI scuba divers take some 2o-minute sessions to teach the basics of Scuba diving - like breathing under water through a mouth pipe and various other important things to dive and see in the underwater world. You will come across more than 100 species of coral and more than 2,000 species of fishes. The price range for Scuba diving differs from island to another island and mostly ranges between Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 2,500 with equipments and underwater photography.

2. Lighthouse, Minicoy Island

Minicoy, being the farthest island from other islands, is an island one must not miss. A 300-foot tall lighthouse built in 1885 on crescent-shaped island which makes viewing the north of the island from top marvellous, along with the reef and hues of blue water. It is a majestic landmark for this island. This lighthouse was created by the British government to keep a watch on ships enroute from Aden to Colombo. There were many shipwrecks found around this island before 1928. The light source in 1885 was through kerosene wick lamps,  then it progressed to petroleum vapour burners and now they have electric power for it. Currently since some years, they have shifted from using incandescent lamps to metal halide lamps. The Lighthouse in-charge mentioned that it is a revolving optic and a clockwork mechanism for rotation and the lamp is fixed. The lighthouse got independence from British control not when India got independence in 1947, in fact the India flag was hoisted in 1956 itself. If you do not like climbing steps, then you should avoid this place, as you will have to climb more than 120 steps. The outer side of the lighthouse has been developed for current tourism and a concrete road is made outside, leading to the boat jetty for locals.

3. Fish Hatchery, Agatti Island

Not very known to people or on the internet, you can actually see how a fish hatchery is being tested in Agatti Island. Since in city life, we do not usually know the importance of aquarium fishes we buy and how does it comes to us. Marine Aquarium fish trade has been witnessing continuous steady growth across world which involves major movements of wild reef fishes all over the world. There are more than 15-30 million from 1,000 species marine fishes which enter the trade every year. Wildly caught clown fish attracts the aquariums because of its distinctive colour. So here, they show how more fishes can be reproduced in different tanks and bred and reared.

4. Canoeing, Minicoy Island

As water is abundant and clearly seen as turquoise water around this island, also being close to Maldives, various activities are performed here. Canoeing is one activity, which I would suggest as you can see various turtles, corals and various colourful fishes following you, while you row. Since the water depth is only 2 metres around the island, you are definitely not going to fall in the water. When silver sand and the sun heats the water beneath, water looks like emerald.

5. Watch Parelli Island, filled with Hermit Crab

This sight could be scary or even stimulating. You would be walking across millions of hermit crabs, from different sizes to colour while you take jetty and go from Tinnakara Island. The crabs play a great, raw hide and seek, some also scurry about realizing a different specie coming along. I’m sure, just as I behaved like a 15-year-old, you too would wait till they come out from burying themselves in the sand and chase them till they reached the water. Sometimes, the water is so low, that you can actually stride to this uninhabited island. When you find yourself unaccompanied on this island and encircled by various mysterious birds, crabs, coconut trees, shells, etc., you might discover even a shell entailing pearl, and you automatically do not want to return back to the wearisome city life.  

6. Kite Surfing , Kadamat Island

If you do not like water or strong wind, then this water activity might not for you. You definitely need to practise as you keep falling in water every time you try to be steady on the board.  This island also serves great place for snorkelling and scuba diving. The PADI certificate for scuba diver is conducted at Kadamat island only. While snorkelling, you might be lucky to see an olive ridely sea turtle swimming next to you.

7. Smile and shy away with tribals in Lakshadweep

Being away from the despicable world, living a life of nomad till some years when technology came, people of Lakshadweep are very introvert. Men and women have very different role in the daily life to play. Here, women play an important role in the family, where after marriage men take women’s last names and also shifts into the wife’s house. Since the main occupation of the people is fishing and coconut cultivation, tuna exporting, you can spend your time with the tribals here learning these things.  

8. Wilderness with endless blue lagoon aross Kadamat Island

If you are a photographer, then you would be spoilt to click through the lens.  The island being faraway from preying eyes of tourist, experience the joy of eyes going wide to see how beautiful the lagoon is. Just a 10km island would be distance from your grocery shop to your home, this accommodates people of Lakshadweep. One’s solitude nature can be discovered in this endless lagoon. The eastern side of the island resides with large lagoon which dries up in low tide and the silver-coloured corals can be seen shining.

9. Local delicacies influenced by local life

Lakshadweep being a dominantly Muslim community, the cuisine itself is influenced from it. Definitely being close to water, there is lip-smacking sea food with a touch of coconut.  Certain dishes which you must try are octopus fry - a variety of fish fry freshly caught from the water; for vegetarians, beans curry and coconut rice is must. Predominately being close to sea, it is delightful for non-vegetarians to get such great sumptuous sea food. Even evening snacks are mixed of savoury and sweet. A must try is coconut bondas and moah appam. The local dishes have the culinary influence of Kerala, because of the proximity of the state.

10. Tribal Dance, Kalpeni Island

Each island has different traditions and different costumes too.  Kolkali is group dance for men performed during marriage to rhythmic music created by the beating of two sticks. It starts at a low pace and then all of a sudden, towards the end, it picks up the momentum.  Each island has various forms of dance.  Parichakali, Kolkali, Daffumuttu, Attom and Ulakkamuttu are some famous dance forms in the inhabitant island. Only one island is very different from others is Minicoy. They even speak a different language, Mahal, from the others.

Ten Most Popular Shooting Locations Of Bollywood

The Indian film industry has its audience spread all across the globe. Thousands of films make it up to the silver screen every year and the size of audience watching these films is just infinite. Bollywood is, therefore, one of the best mediums for promoting tourism in India. The stupendous topography of India makes it a charismatic location for shooting films. There are a lot many picturesque locations in India and films play a major role in making the people aware of these locations.

Shooting in India is not only way more convenient than the foreign locations but is also quite budget-friendly. Diversified locations like hill stations, deserts, beaches, monuments, rural areas, forts and palaces etc. are easily accessible in India. In the last few years, the Indian film makers have largely resorted to the Indian landscapes for filming their projects. So if you have been wondering as to where exactly are these super-attractive locations hidden, don’t be surprised to hear that this is your own country! Still wondering? Let us make it easy for you by jotting down the names of the places that have lent a helping hand in the making of a number of movies. So here I begin:

1. Manali

When Kareena Kapoor joyfuly sang “Yeh Ishq Hai, Jannat Dikhaye” amidst the snow-clad mountains, she was actually referring to this heaven of Himachal Pradesh. Remember the narrow roads covered with snow on the sides, the picturesque valleys and the beautiful cottages shown in Jab We Met? Well, these are all the charms of a beautiful hill station called Manali!

2. Rajasthan

Rajasthan is probably the place where the maximum number of shootings have taken place. And that includes Hollywood movies as well. This royal retreat offers spectacular palatial beauty along with the serenity of the lakes. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Jodha Akbar, Yaadein, Border, Dor etc. are just a few of the hits which have been pictured in Rajasthan.

3. Delhi

The capital does not lag behind in being the location of interest for the Indian film-makers. The historical monuments, markets, Delhi University and the city life of Delhi have always been a photographer’s delight. Some of the most popular films shot in Delhi include Rockstar, Fanaa, Jannat 2, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, 2 States etc.

4. Goa

Needless to say, Goa is the second most captured location in India! It is that beach paradise which has attracted film makers from all over the world. Ironically, the state has lesser locals and more of the tourists! Some of the movies promoting the celestial beauty of Goa are Dil Chahta Hai, Josh, Ek Villain, Golmaal 3, Finding Fanny and Singham.

5. Kashmir

Who wouldn’t want to capture the heavenly beauty of Kashmir in the lens? Words fall short even if you try to describe the magnanimous charm that this place mesmerizes the visitors with! Kashmir is the most beautiful location for adding romance to a film! Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Highway, Rockstarhave recently chanced upon the beauty of this state.

6. Kerala

When it comes to beauty, the south is no less than the north. If north has the snow-clad peaks, the south has spectacular waterfalls as nature’s bounty. Remember the gigantic waterfall Aishwarya Rai falls from inRaavan? And the song called Barso re Megha from Guru? It is the magnificent beauty of Kerala which has been screened in these films.

7. Leh/Ladakh

Leh/Ladakh was earlier considered to be an inaccessible region because of the extreme climatic conditions. But not anymore! Thanks to the film-makers, these locations have now become popular especially amongst the youngsters. While in 3 Idiots Aamir Khan was found teaching at Ladakh, the latest flick Fugly showed the youngsters taking a road trip to Leh. Other movies filmed in these regions include Lakshya, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Dil Se and Paap.

8. Kolkata

Two popular Gunday of Bollywood were born in this city! You probably would have guessed it by now that it is the Ranveer Singh-Arjun Kapoor starrer Gunday that chose Kolkata as its prime location. Other major films shot here are Barfi, Kahaani and Parineeta.

9. Mumbai

Mumbai is the home to the largest film industry of India. The first shot of camera would have begun from this city itself. A lot many films have been shot at this entertainment capital of India. Munnabhai MBBS, Slumdog Millionaire, Dhoom, Saagar, Talaash, Ek Deewana Tha and there is no end to this list!

10. Amritsar

This divine city of Punjab has also contributed in making our films look astonishingly picturesque. The busy lanes of the city, the Golden Temple, the Jallianwala Bagh and the Khalsa College are favourite shooting spots for the directors. Movies which have been filmed at these locations are Gadar, Bride and Prejudice, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Veer-Zara and Legend of Bhagat Singh to name a few.

Neelakurinji bloom

Kerala is blessed with many natural spectacles and among them is a unique canvas that gets unveiled every twelve years in God's Own Country.The phenomenon of once in twelve years occurring on the fabled hills of Munnar is attributed to the blooming of Neelakurinji or passionately called by botanists as 'Strobilanthes kunthianum'. The flower with 40 odd varieties bloom mostly in shades of blue, and thus in its name Neela in the local language stands for the colour blue and Kurinji the local name for the flower.

The hills of Munnar welcomed Neelakurinji on to its bosom after a period of twelve years in 2006. Revered by the local tribal community and admired by visitors to these enchanting hills, the blooming of Neelakurinji usually starts from August and would last up to October.

Once in Munnar, you may locate the magical blooms of Neelakurinji at Kovilur, Kadavari, Rajamala, Iravikulam National Park, which is home to the endangered mountain ungulate- the 'Nilgiri Tahr' and at other places in and around Munnar. Nature lovers and travelers have already started heading for Munnar to savour in this once-in-twelve-year phenomenon.

It is an ethereal experience to stand amidst the sprawling blooms ofNeelakurinji. The Neelakurinji plant shows variation in height according to the elevation of the land from the sea level. Usually shorter plants (about 2 ft) are found at the high elevations, while taller ones (about 5 to 10 ft) are seen at lower elevations.

Many tour operators, adventure clubs etc. organise trekking for visitors to reach some of the best locales in and around Munnar for seeing the grand spread of Neelakurinji.

Getting there

Nearest railway station: Angamaly, about 109 km; Ernakulam, about 145 kms away.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 110 kms away.

Location

Lattitude:10.095966, Longitude: 77.058392

ROOBAROO - Micromax Unite Anthem

On this auspicious occasion of India's Independence day, Micromax brings a Unite Anthem where 10 artists sings in nine different languages and music unites them all. They recreate AR Rahman's song from Rang De Basanti - "Roobaroo" which was originally written by Prasoon Joshi.

Artists and languages they sang in:

Raghu Dixit - Kannada, Hindi

Benny Dayal - Tamil, Hindi

Neeti Mohan - Bengali, Hindi

Apeksha Dandekar - Marathi, Hindi

Voctronica - Hindi

Sanam Puri - Hindi

Shruti Pathak - Gujarati, Hindi

Swaroop Khan - Rajasthani, Hindi

Kamal Khan - Punjabi, Hindi

Brodha V - English

Song: Roobaroo - Micromax Unite Anthem

Music Producer & Arranger: Siddharth 'Dub' Sharma

Lyric: Manoj Yadav, Christopher Pradeep, Nanki Aurora

Music Video Director: Rajat Chawla

Music Label: Sony Music India

PM Modi’s Independence Day Address

The past week has been awash with anticipation and rumors about Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address to the nation. A number of popular news sources went to the extent of suggesting that NaMo would go in for a break in tradition and select a different venue than the Red Fort for his address to the nation. Possibly, the idea originated in Mr. Modi’s love of breaking set patterns and norms. In 2003, as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Modi had moved the venue of the I-Day from Gandhinagar to other lesser-known towns. One much anticipated diversion from tradition, in the past week, pertains to the all-important national address itself. Mr. Modi’s reputation as a charismatic and forceful speaker has always been his greatest political strength. It was speculated that his maiden I-Day address would be extempore and not a scripted one. The speech was expected to set a national a vision and announce the new government’s major policies. On this count, Mr. Modi did not disappoint the nation.

The Red Fort was decked up this morning with over 4000 tricolor flags and about 60000 balloons in the national colors. 7000 security personnel (including about 2,000 from the paramilitary forces) and 10000 spectators geared up to watch the unfurling of the tricolor and celebration of liberty with a generation that considers its independence as a non-negotiable legacy. Mr. Modi was dressed in a mandarin collar cream-color kurta and a stately red and green turban and introduced himself as the Pradhan Sevak (prime servant) rather than Pradhan Mantri (Prime Minister) of the nation. The lack of bullet-proof glass around him remained conspicuous. Here are some major focus areas of the Prime Minister’s speech on the occasion of India’s 68th Independence Day.

Women’s Protection & Empowerment – The Prime Minister’s speech emphasized on the urgent need for a change in societal values with regard to women’s empowerment and protection. The growing numbers of rape cases is a matter of shame, the solution is to raise sons who can respect women and adhere to values, he said. The dismal sex ratio in the country is a result of unethical practices such as female feticide performed by doctors and commissioned by parents. Mr. Modi reminded the nation of the contribution of the women to the development and pride of the nation, referring to the female medal winners at the Common Wealth Games 2014.

Growth and Development – The Prime Minister announced the replacement of the central Planning Commission with a new institution that would ensure creatively “optimum utilization of resources” and would set a new direction to governance. “Financial planning has grown out of the scope of central government”, said the PM. In a shout out to global investors, the Prime Minister invited them to come and manufacture goods in India. He promised talent, skills, and a conducive environment while calling for the production of zero-defect products.

Unity and Integrity – Growth and development in the country is not the prerogative of the majority. It is only through consensus that exemplary governance can be achieved. He recalled the path of tolerance, brotherhood, and peace – Sadbhavana that brought about India’s independence. The Prime Minister assured the nation that the same path would lead to development and prosperity. Communal violence is the greatest inhibitor to our progress, he said. It is time we step up our pride as Indians and set aside caste and community spurred differences.

Poverty Alleviation – To enable the poor masses of India open their bank accounts, he announced the launch of ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana’. These back accounts would help the poor gain access to facilities such as debit cards and provide them an insurance coverage to the amount of INR 1 lakh as well. Working with the other SAARC countries, India’s endeavor to eradicate poverty must be one of its priorities.

Cleanliness and Environment – He stress that India’s lack of toilets and sanitation had become a matter important enough to be included in the national address from the Red Fort. He urged the Indians to take a pledge of maintaining cleanliness and not polluting the environment.

Digital India – Digital India is another topic, the Prime Minister focused on, in his speech. Our country is a young nation and skilled talent is its greatest requirement. Our youth have now taken over the world with exemplary IT skills. He said that he dreamt of a digital India where IT connects the country much like Railways of yesteryears. Mr. Modi, the tech-savvy Prime Minister of India, called for E-governance as the means to good governance.

Quotes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address at Red Fort –

• “This nation has not made by politicians or administrators or governments; it was built by labourers, farmers, teachers, seers, social workers, and by the youth”

• “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. The Armed forces are awake, and we all should be awake, too”

• “Have we thought about our sex ratio? There are 940 daughters born 1000 sons Who is creating this imbalance? I appeal to the doctors not to kill the girl child in the mother’s womb to fill their coffers. I request the parents not to kill daughters because you want a son… I have seen families where one daughter serves parents more than five sons. Killing daughters in the womb, it is a blot on 21st century India.”

• “I tell the world – Come, Make In India. Sell anywhere but manufacture here. We have the skill and talent.”

• “We have seen instances of communal violence for too long. Till when will this go on? Be it caste or communal violence, they stall the growth of the nation.”

• “A person working in the private sector calls his work a Job but a government employee will always call his work a Service”

Unsung Heroes Of Indian Independence

Each year as Independence Day approaches, there is a lot of writing that appear on the heroes of our struggle for Independence. Political speeches are replete with tales of sacrifice of our leaders but almost always the same names get all the attention and mention, while scores of other lesser known names have been pushed into long forgotten pages of history. There is little or no awareness of their life, their struggle or their contribution to our struggle for independence. But they are still our heroes by any definition or standard and they too deserve a mention on our Independence day.

Allah Bux Soomro (1900-1943): a true Patriot and truly secular

Most of you would not even have heard of Allah Bux, a name long ignored on both sides of the border. This is the story of a man that personified everything that secular India values today but he remains an unsung hero. During the days of Quit India movement in 1942, Allah Bux was the Premier of Sind in what is now Pakistan (in those days the Chief Minister was called Premier) and founder of the Ittehad Party.

It was Allah Bux’s initiative and belief of a united and secular India that kept the Muslim League from spreading its influence in Sind. He vehemently opposed the Muslim League’s position of the two-nation theory on the basis of religion. He was a staunch believer in a united India, one whose heritage belonged to both Hindus and Muslims, together. Being a popular leader and widely respected in his region, he managed to rally most Muslims to his point of view.

In 1942, he protested Winston Churchill’s criticism of the Indian National Congress and the Quit India Movement, by returning the Knighthood and the title of Khan Bahadur, which was conferred on him by the British.

In 1940, he organized the Azad Muslim Conference in Delhi that was attended by over 1400 delegates from all over India, where he strongly spoke of a united India for both Hindus and Muslims. He vociferously opposed Muslim League’s stand on the creation of Pakistan.

Unfortunately, he didn’t find support from either the Indian National Congress or the Muslim League, which detested him for his opposition to their two-nation theory.

He was murdered on May 14, 1943 by professional killers, apparently hired by elements within the Muslim League.

His life and contribution to the freedom struggle is barely highlighted in Pakistan and largely ignored in India. Allah Bux Soomro lived and died for a united India and believed in an India that belonged to all….if only this ‘unsung hero’ had lived on…

Aurobindo Ghosh (1872-1950): also known as Sri Aurobindo

Aurobindo Ghosh was born in a well-to-do family from Bengal. He was sent to England for studies and on his return from England, he worked for the Maharaja of Gaekwad as his speech writer.

He soon began to develop strong nationalist feelings and took to writing revolutionary text and poetry, to inspire and awaken the masses against British rule in India. He launched ‘Bande Mataram,’ a publication that he edited and used to propagate his message.

In 1908, he was arrested for overseeing a failed bombing attempt to kill Magistrate Kingsford. The bomb missed his carriage and killed two other British women. He was arrested for his role in the planning and put on trial. It was the spirited defence put up by Chittaranjan Das that saved him from the gallows but he did spend one year in solitary confinement in jail. It was his time in jail where he began to turn spiritual.

He later shifted to the French colony of Pondicherry, where he spent his remaining life in spiritual thought. Sri Aurobindo’s life and writings have inspired people both in India and overseas and his ashram in Pondicherry continues to remain a major destination for those seeking spiritual solace.

Peer Ali Khan: a hero of the 1857 Mutiny

Very few would know of this fiery young man from Muhammadpur in Azamgarh District of UP who inspired a rebellion in Patna. At the age of seven, he ran away from home and reached Patna where he took shelter with the local zamindar, Nawab Mir Abdullah, who educated and raised him. On growing up, he opened a book shop in Patna where he sold hand-written books and literature. He resented the presence of the British in India and his shop soon turned into a rendezvous point for secret meetings amongst freedom fighters.

His close proximity to native soldiers in the neighbouring Danapur Cantonment helped him develop friends within the soldier community and he was able to garner support against the British. His plan for a major uprising had to be preponed when two secret letters from Danapur Cantonment that bore his name and that of Waris Ali, fell into the hands of the police. With the arrest of Waris Ali, who was his associate and an officer in the British Army, Peer Ali had no choice but to prepone his uprising. He raised the Blue and White flag that was similar to the one raised by Tipu Sultan and hurriedly gathered his group and distributed 50 guns which he acquired with the help of his associate Maulvi Mehdi. The Maulvi was subsequently arrested and hanged without trial on 20th June 1857.

The day was 3rd of July, 1857, when Peer Ali raised the flag of mutiny. He along with 200 supporters decided to storm Gulzar Bagh, the state administration headquarters. On their way, they encountered one Dr Lloyal, who was moving with a group of native soldiers. Dr Lloyal ordered his men to open fire. In the ensuing fire, Dr Lloyal was killed. On hearing this, the Commissioner of Patna, W.Taylor ordered his soldiers to open indiscriminate fire on the crowd. Several died on the spot and many were left wounded.

Peer Ali’s shop was raided and he was subsequently arrested on 4th July along with 33 of his supporters, most of who were hanged, without trial, the next day. Peer Ali, was tortured for three days with the police trying to get information on his other supporters, especially Lutf Ali.

Despite enduring severe torture, Peer Ali never disclosed any information. He was hanged on 7th July, 1857 and India lost its unsung hero.

The list of unsung heroes in the fight for India’s Independence is endless. The stories of their life and sacrifice are truly inspiring and it is indeed sad that history has not done justice to these unsung heroes.