Bhakra - One of the tallest dam's in World

Posted: Friday, June 29, 2012 by Unknown in Labels: , ,
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Bhakra Dam is a concrete gravity dam across the Sutlej River, and is near the border between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in northern India. The dam, located at a gorge near the (now submerged) upstream Bhakra village in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, is Asia's second highest at 225.55 m (740 ft) high next to the 261m Tehri Dam.



Bhakra Dam is a concrete gravity dam across the Sutlej River, and is near the border between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in northern India.
The dam, located at a gorge near the (now submerged) upstream Bhakra village in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, is Asia's second highest at 225.55 m (740 ft) high next to the 261m Tehri Dam also in India. The length of the dam (measured from the road above it) is 518.25 m; it is 9.1 m broad. Its reservoir, known as the "Gobind Sagar", stores up to 9.34 billion cubic meters of water, enough to drain the whole of Chandigarh, parts of Haryana, Punjab and Delhi. The 90 km long reservoir created by the Bhakra Dam is spread over an area of 168.35 km2. In terms of storage of water, it withholds the second largest reservoir in India, the first being Indira Sagar dam in Madhya Pradesh with capacity of 12.22 billion cu m.

Niagara Falls of India

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Chitrakoot Falls are located 48kms west of Jagdalpur (a small city) in the state of Chhattisgarh. This waterfall is considered the Niagara Falls of India and is the broadest waterfall in the nation. The chitrakoot is also a religious Hindu Pilgrimage center. Thousands of pilgrims come here for Hari darshan and pay their homage to the God Hari. Who ever comes to Chitrakoot makes sure to visit Chitrakoot Waterfall at least once.




People can spend hours just sitting here and enjoying the scenic beauty of the place. The loud noise during monsoon is breathtaking. During the rains, this waterfall widens upto 150 meters. During the rainy seasons, people don't visit this waterfall, owing to its extreme form. But once, the winter season arrives, the water becomes lighter, and the atmosphere here is worth seeing.

he water color changes from season to season. In monsoon because of silt it turns a little brown in shade whereas in summer it’s white and clear. The shape of the waterfall is like a horse-shoe. Tourists can stay here at the government owned resorts or at the camps near the banks of river. There are also various resorts and lodges available on the Jagdalpur-Chitrakoot Road which are nice and comfortable for the visitors to stay.
 
                 


Best time to visit:

The first time visitors are sure to fall in love with this place and they just can’t have enough in just one visit. If you want to enjoy the wildness of the waterfall then July to the month of October would be the best time, the waterfalls of Chitrakoot attain its best phase and widens up to 150 mtr. But if you want to enjoy the calm white waterfall then best time to visit is during the winters which start from Oct to Feb.
 
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Blue-eyed Buddha !

Posted: Thursday, June 7, 2012 by Unknown in
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Did you know that before he became a spiritual leader on whose teachings ‘Buddhism’ was founded, Lord Buddha was originally called Siddhartha Gautama who was born to a Kshatriya King of the ‘Sakhya’ Kingdom? 




Did you know that Lord Buddha was a trained Military Warrior since birth?
Did you know that Lord Buddha was a very strong man who was said to have possessed the ‘32 Signs of a Great Man’?
Did you know that Lord Buddha was a blue-eyed handsome man with a very attractive face?
Well…..now you do.

But the most sacred Buddhist Festival – the 'Buddha Purnima' or the 'Buddha Jayanti' marks and celebrates the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha and his Spiritual achievements each year on May 6th.

Buddha Purnima commemorates 4 significant events in the life of Lord Buddha:

1.    His birth in 623 BC at Lumbini.

2.    His Enlightment in 588 BC in Bodh Gaya.

3.    His attainment of ‘Nirvana’ at age 80 in Kushinagar.

4.    His very first sermon preached at Sarnath.
Each year, the followers of Buddhism – though not necessarily all Buddhists, embark upon ‘Buddha Pilgrimage’ spanning across Nepal and India.

The 4 places to visit on Buddha Purnima are:

  1. Lumbini in Rupandehi District, Nepal.
  2. Bodh Gaya in Gaya District, Bihar State, India.
  3. Kushinagar in Kushinagar District, Uttar Pradesh State, India.
  4. Sarnath near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh State, India.

Typically, on Buddha Purnima, the Teachings of Lord Buddha on Peace, Compassion and Universal Brotherhood are preached at the various Buddhist Gompas; Stupas and Monasteries all over the world. Buddhists also engage in feeding and clothing the underprivileged on Buddha Purnima.

Other major places where Buddha Purnima is celebrated in a large scale in India are:

1.    Shey Buddhist Monastery in Leh, Jammu and Kashmir.

2.   Namgyal Monastery near Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh.

3.    Japanese Peace Pagoda in Darjeeling, West Bengal.

4.   Sanchi Stupa in Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh.

5.    The Great Stupa of Nalanda, Bihar.
  
You may not be a Buddhist but you certainly believe in Buddhism if you believe in the following quotes which were preached by Lord Buddha and date back to 588 BC.
·         We are shaped by our thoughts - we become what we think.
·         There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.
·         You will not be punished for your anger. You will be punished by your anger.
·         Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
·         It is better to travel well than to arrive!
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Wah Spa !!

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One day I wanna pack my bags and take off - all by myself to a place totally ‘not-known’ to anyone in my ever-evolving network of friends or family. No advice……no map….no compass….no GPS….no asking for directions…..no newsletters from befriended (or not) planets….no screaming promos from travel companies who seem to know exactly when I oughtta take a break from work (even though I don’t) and ask me to leave NOW….no weddings to attend…..no family friends to visit with a ‘sweet-packet’.

It doesn’t matter that a city won’t charm and shock me at the same time. It doesn’t matter that a historic monument won’t stir my soul from within and make me feel nostalgic of an era that I did not witness. It doesn’t matter that a prehistoric artifact won’t fill me with awe and rake up the archaeologist in me. It doesn’t matter that the million flowers in the valleys won’t welcome me with a smile. It doesn’t matter that the salubrious air won’t embrace me with warmth. It doesn’t matter that the trickling brooks won’t tickle my feet. It doesn’t matter that snowflakes won’t land on my nose. It doesn’t matter that I won’t get the thrills of my life hanging upside down by a rope in a deep gorge. It doesn’t matter that I won’t race down a snowy mountain at a 40-degree angle at a maddening speed like a maverick on wheels who has nothing to lose. It doesn’t matter that a gushing river won’t drench me with its ice cold water as it tosses me around merrily. It doesn’t matter that I won’t laze around in a hammock with a book at hand and a German composition in my ear. It doesn’t matter that I won’t be rolling in laps of luxury with hot and smooth black pebbles dotting my spine. It doesn’t matter that I won’t do a ‘world-tour’ of India on a shoe-string budget. It doesn’t matter that I won’t have stunning backdrop photos of mine to share online. And it sure as hell won’t matter that my bank balance remained untouched.
Buuuuuut….what DOES matter is that I do things on my terms, at my pace in my own race. I decide ‘where’ and I decide ‘when’. And right now I feel like surrendering to the bliss of warm oil dripping on my head while a masseuse kneads my feet endlessly. I want to be enveloped in light Indian folk instrumental music and want lush green trees to surround me. I want to inhale moist cool air and I want beams of the sun to shower on me through the mosaic-like thatched roof. And when I’m done with this piece of paradise, I want to lazily walk over and park myself next to either splashing water or gushing water and just watch all of nature’s bounty on the roll. And I wouldn’t mind an occasional visitor or two – an Elephant or a bird that would sit along with me or flutter around me like as if I mean the world to them. No…it ain’t impossible. I heard that in Kerala - in quiet and quaint towns - there exist – what we now call ‘Spas’ which bring my dream to reality. These Spas are a legacy of certain select families. It’s almost as if it’s a trade secret. It must be. Why else do others not succeed in this endeavour of treating people’s lifestyle oriented ailments using this very technique? You may have other successful techniques but this technique behaves like it won’t survive if it switches hands. And who cares? From what I heard, I will walk my way…..all the way…..to Kerala just to be pampered by these Ayurvedic masseurs and practitioners. I’d indulge in Ayurveda from head to toe and ravel in the ‘magical’ balms, oils and lotions of Kerala.
Or……I could also head north to Himachal Pradesh where resorts are resorting to ‘Kerala-Style’ practice of Ayurveda – only…. at an altitude of about 6000 feet. An additional fringed benefit of Ayurveda treatment in Himachal Pradesh is the breathtaking and wondrous panoramic views of the Himalaya Mountains. Just imagining myself in those mountainous regions…sends a chill down my spine. To be soaking in all of nature’s bounty….the lush green meadows dotted with millions of wild flowers; the pleasantly chill weather with cool breeze; the clean air; the sparse civilization with no traffic (much less traffic jams); the open and vacant streets of these small Himalayan towns – all surrounded by the Great Himalayas is an experience by itself. And then to bask in the Himalayan sun with Ayurvedic oils from a different latitude is pure bliss!!
And while I’m up there kissing mountains in Himachal Pradesh, how would it be if I just drifted to 34.05°N 74.38°E? What say? In case you’re looking up these coordinates – don’t bother. They belong to an all-weather resort which sports millions of wild flowers in summers and radically changes to a ferocious snow-sports capital of India in winters. This is where we’ll find India’s highest skiing location; world’s 2nd highest Cable Car; world’s 4th highest golf course; and one of the very few Helicopter-skiing resorts in the whole of Asia. And what I’m really interested in the ‘apres ski’ in this place. I heard it one of the most happening international party places in the world with people from New Zealand, Australia, Europe, China, Russia and India converging after a whole day of ski-indulgence to let their hair down and chill and socialize. With the holistic and Ayurvedic treatments with which I’d feel totally invigorated, I think I’d be all ready for some action then. Now…all I’d need to do is rope-in a friend or two and I’m set for the best action-packed and picturesque vacations of my life. Oh….and 34.05°N 74.38°E belongs to Gulmarg in Kashmir!

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Tips To Consider while Travelling Alone

Posted: Wednesday, June 6, 2012 by Unknown in
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Many women and men are a little anxious when travelling alone, but there is not need to be. It can be great fun travelling alone as you do not have to hold back from doing certain fun things that your partner might talk you out of. Traveling is a fun way to discover the marvelous wonders of the world.

Dining Alone While Travelling 

When travelling alone it is useful to keep the following tips in mind:

 1. It is a good idea to rather have your main meal during lunch time than night time when couples normally get together and the waiter keeps asking if someone is going to join you or not. How embarrassing it can be when travelling alone.

 2. Another good idea for people who are travelling alone is to go to a restaurant who has a bar as no one will question you on why you are travelling alone. You might even make some friends this way and who knows a cheap meal might also be on the cards.

 3. Then there is always the option of going to a coffee shop where people who are travelling alone will find a variety of food items on the menu to make their selection from. On the other hand you can always go to a beautiful park, when travelling alone, in the area to have picnic by yourself.  

Safety Tips For Women When Travelling Alone

1. While most places are fairly safe when travelling alone it is good to take the necessary precautions while travelling alone and leave valuables such as expensive jewelry and credit cards at home to prevent it from getting stolen or attracting attention to yourself.

2. Always know where are you are going when travelling alone. Even if you do not know where you are going, act as if you do. It might be a good idea to ask the hotel staff where you are staying for directions when travelling alone as it will help you avoid places that are deemed as unsafe.

3. If you really get lost when travelling alone, rather ask for directions from either a woman, family or children than from a complete stranger.

 4. Dress modestly when travelling alone, or see what the local women in the area that you are visiting are wearing and dress accordingly to avoid possible harassment, or in certain areas if may offend other people should you dress inappropriately when travelling alone.  

The Joys of Traveling Alone 

It sure can be a great experience when travelling alone as you get to discover yourself as it allows you enough time to rediscover yourself and the opportunity to experience the destination of your choice, when travelling alone, exactly the way you would want to experience it.

Travelling alone can also be a little frightening. Especially if it is your first time of going solo. That is also why you need to be sure that you plan everything carefully as you would want to make your travelling alone experience as pleasant as possible.

Plan each day of your travel by making use of an itinerary where you know exactly what is going to happen when, as this in itself will make travelling alone a pleasure to experience.


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Singing oarsmen of the war-boats.....

Posted: Monday, June 4, 2012 by Unknown in
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100 feet long war-boats and 100 singing oarsmen in each boat will set River Pamba on fire this July. 

That is what the Champakulam Boat Race is all about. Originally designed for Wars, these boats are currently keeping the Kerala boating heritage alive through boat races and water carnivals. The Champakulam Boat Race shall officially open the boat-race season in Kerala.

Kerala’s oldest and most popular and much awaited snake boat race – ‘Vallam Kali’ will grace Kerala’s third longest river – ‘Pamba’ which is also regarded as the Southern Ganges – ‘Dakshin Ganga’. Champakulam is a village in Alapuzha District in kerala and is said to be the rice bowl of Kerala – being a part of Kuttanad. River Pamba flows through the middle of Champakulam village. Alleppey (Alappuzha) – titled ‘the Venice of the East’ - is just 16 kms northwest of Champakulam.

5 Tips For Saving Money While Travelling

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It is the time to travel around our nation in this hot summer to enjoy our cool holidays with friends and family.  Here I am posting 5 tips for saving money while traveling.

1.       Pack your lunch: It is better to pack your home made lunch while traveling. By this you can avoid restaurant cost.
2.      Checkout everything before you start: Don’t get caught by Traffic police. So, when you start, you should double check your purse with RC, Driving license, etc. It may helps in avoiding challan fees of traffic police.  
3.      Choose authorized Dharmashalas or guesthouses: Dharmashalas and guest houses provide good and economy accommodation facilities for the tourists than the other private hotels. So, it is better to book your room in nearest tourist dept guesthouse before you go.
4.      Choose overnight train travel option: This tip may helps you in both money and time saving and you can enjoy night environment by travelling if you don’t sleep.
5.      Approach tourist info centers when you need help: Don’t get any help from unknown persons and autowala’s unnecessarily. They might be correct or wrong. Every time it is better to get help from authorized tourist information centers.

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‘‘Vishu’’ – The New Year Of Keralites

Posted: Friday, June 1, 2012 by Unknown in
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Vishu is the astronomical new year of Kerala – celebrated on the first day of the ‘Medam’ (Malayalam month), generally on 14 or 15th of April every year. Vishu is one of the significant and unique Malayalam Hindu festivals of Keralites.
This festival is celebrated with great faith and exuberance. On the previous day of the festival, the eldest female member of the home prepares the Vishukkani (Vishu - Kani) in an ‘Urali’- a circular bell-metal vessel consisting of raw rice, a folded Kasavu Mundu (traditional cloth of Kerala), golden cucumber, a pair of broken coconut, some gold coins, mango, banana, jackfruit, and the beautiful Kani Konna or Kanikonna (cassia fistula) flower. All these are arranged with a small idol of Lord Krishna or Swamy Ayyappan.
On the festival day, the eldest female member of family wakes up and looks the Vishu Kani first. Then she awakens the other members of the family and takes them to the pooja hall without opening their eyes and shows them the auspicious Vishu Kani.


After the completion of ‘Kani Kanal’, ‘the first sight of Vishu Kani’ by all the family members, the elder members of the family gives Vishu Kaineettam to the other members of the family. Vishu Kaineettam is the ritual/custom of giving silver coins or money to the other family members and wishes them with blessings, prosperity and the success. The children of the family celebrate the day by lighting the crackers.
All the temples in Kerala arrange Vishukkani (Vishu-Kani) and Vishukkani Kazhcha on this festival day. Thousands of Keralites throng to the popular religious shrines of Kerala like Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple and Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple for the auspicious Vishukkani Kazhcha and the Vishu Kaineettam on this festival.
In the current year, 2012 Vishu festival falls on 14th of April.  If you are planning to visit Kerala in the month of April, don’t miss to experience the traditional bliss of Vishu.

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