Flat tummy

Blame it on SRK's six-pack-magic, Aamir's eight-pack-charisma or Priyanka's hot bikini bod, but flaunting the flattest tummy and a set of well toned abs is the latest dream for many youngsters. 

But, they usually tend to forget that it takes more than just basic crunches and crash dieting to carve a drool worthy, flat stomach. Explains fitness trainer, Deanne Pandey, "Ab exercises + cardio exercises + right diet – this is the most effective formula to achieve well-toned abdominal muscles. Missing upon any one of these will take away the real impact of an abs-workout." 

"An ideal diet and workout for every individual depends upon his/her weight loss requirement, body type and body shape," suggests Pandey. For instance, a pear shaped person may indulge in a less strenuous workout and minimal diet modifications to get the desired tummy in comparison to an apple shaped body, who is usually heavy in the tummy area. 

Here are a set of workout and physical activities, which when combined with an ideal eating plan and cardio workouts can assure you of the killer abs that you always dreamt of... 

1. Naukasana- A common yoga posture that works wonders on your abs. 
Method: Lie flat on the ground, with your back on the floor. Raise your upper body and legs to an angle of 30 degrees and hold the posture for 30-40 seconds, then relax. Repeat this asana for 10 times to begin with, graduating to 30 times. Breathe normally all through the work out. 
"Holding onto the posture tightens and contracts your upper and lower abs while repeating the movement tones them up," tells yoga expert Usha Chegappa of Bharat Thankur's Artistic Yoga. 

2. Ushtrasana : It is the counter pose to naukasana . 
Method: Stand on your knees, with heels facing upwards. Arch your back, placing your hands on your knees one by one. Hold your head behind pushing your belly outwards. Hold this posture for 30 seconds and repeat 30 times. 
"During naukasana , the ab muscles contract building up tension in the area, while ushtrasana releases the tension by giving your tummy a good stretch. It is important to practice ushtrasana after naukasana to save one's back from injury," explains Usha. 

3. Basic crunch : The good old crunch still remains the best exercise to bag the perfect abs. 
Method: Lie on the floor with your legs off the floor in a right angle. Keep your shoulders just above the floor. Breathe in and bring your knees in towards your chest, while lifting your upper body to an angle of 30 degrees and breathe out while you relax. Repeat this exercise 15-20 times to begin with. 
"Don't arch your back. The crunches will help you contract your abdomninal muscles giving them an effective workout," suggests Deanne. 

4. Bridging: Stretch till you feel the burn! 
Method: Lie flat on the floor with your hands resting by your sides, feet flat on the floor, shoulder width apart and knees bent. Now, contract your abdominals, lower back and gluts and slowly lift your midsection to form a bridge from your knees, through your hips to your shoulders. Hold this position for a few seconds, and then slowly lower. Fitness expert Kiran Swahney suggests, "Avoid this exercise in case you are suffering from lower back problems." 

Dos and Donts to avoid cellphones hazards

- Use landlines instead of mobiles wherever possible.

- Don't use a cellphone if the signal is weak-that's when they shoot out more radiation.

- Talk less, text more; invest in a hands-free kit.

- Opt for a low SAR (specific absorption rate) phone and avoid sleeping with it.

- Children below eight should not be allowed to use mobile phones except in emergencies.

- It's difficult, but try not to use a cellphone for more than one-two minutes at a stretch.

- Try to live away from a cell phone tower-ideally more than five km away.






The data is mixed and experts differ. But there's growing concern that the ubiquitous wireless technology has the potential to become the next public health disaster.

Heating trouble
Cellphones generate heat and these radiofrequencies are absorbed mostly by the head and neck. Heavy use increases the risk of raised cellular, tissue as well as body temperature.

Pregnancy and fertility
Pregnant women more likely to have children with problems. Cellphones can affect male fertility, too.

Genetic danger
Cellphone and cellphone tower radiation stress cells, releasing DNA-damaging free radicals and stress proteins that can cause degenerative brain damage like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or Multiple Sclerosis.

Sleep disorders
May activate brain's stress system; make people more alert, bring down the ability to wind down and reduce sleep.

Children run a greater risk
With their developing nervous system, growing tissues, thinner skulls, children run a greater risk of energy absorption. It can lead to memory loss, inability to learn and behavioural issues.

Long-term effects
Over 10 years of heavy cellphone use can double the risk of brain cancer and up the risk of ear tumours by four times. Long-term use, especially on one ear, may damage tissues in the inner ear and lead to deafness.

Cancer and tumours
Some researchers hold that radiofrequency fields are tumour initiators or they increase the uptake of carcinogens in cells. The World Health Organisation Interphone study in 2008 suggested a connection between long-term use and three types of tumours: glioma, cancer of the parotid (a salivary gland near the ear) and acoustic neuroma (a tumour that occurs where the ear meets the brain).



-- 7 hours of talk time a week and 56 messages on average. That's how badly hooked metro indians are to cellphones.

BSNL has recently launched FTTH services in India. Jaipur is the first city which has the chance to taste the new technology. FTTH means Fiber To The Home.

The FTTH services are being launched over Overlay Access Network (OAN) rolled out by BSNL in major cities. Since the bandwidth availability at the customer’s end in FTTH will be huge, many high bandwidth services can be launched.

1.2 The technologies behind FTTH network are GPON and GE-PON. In GPON, subscriber end termination is on ONT (Optical Network Termination) unit. These ONT are having 4 Ethernet ports and 2 POTs (RJ11 ports). There is another category of ONTs which can support video overlay services (Analog TV) without Set Top Box along with above ports.

1.3 Many Next Generation Play services such as Voice (POTS as well as VoIP), High Speed Internet, IPTV, Cable TV (Analog), Video on Demand, Gaming, Layer 2 and 3 VPN, etc, can be provided on the FTTH-GPON, however, initially FTTH is being launched with the Broadband Internet Service, tariff for which is given last of BROADBAND TARIFF page


2.1 Since FTTH network can support higher bandwidth, many high speed Broadband plans are being offered to the customers on FTTH so as to give them a better experience and a differentiated product. Further, the rollout of FTTH will be in both residential as well as in commercial areas and hence the product is both for home as well as for business users.






FTTH


The telecommunications industry differentiates between several distinct configurations. The terms in most widespread use today are:

* FTTN – Fiber-to-the-node – fiber is terminated in a street cabinet up to several kilometers away from the customer premises, with the final connection being copper.
* FTTC – Fiber-to-the-cabinet or fiber-to-the-curb – this is very similar to FTTN, but the street cabinet is closer to the user’s premises; typically within 300m.
* FTTB – Fiber-to-the-building or Fiber-to-the-basement – fiber reaches the boundary of the building, such as the basement in a multi-dwelling unit, with the final connection to the individual living space being made via alternative means.
* FTTH – Fiber-to-the-home – fiber reaches the boundary of the living space, such as a box on the outside wall of a home.
* FTTP – Fiber-to-the premises – this term is used in several contexts: as a blanket term for both FTTH and FTTB, or where the fiber network includes both homes and small businesses. Diagram in the left can explained the concept.

Fiber is often said to be ‘future proof’ because the speed of the broadband connection is usually limited by the terminal equipment rather than the fiber itself, permitting at least some speed improvements by equipment upgrades before the fiber itself must be upgraded.

However there is a caveat,It is expensive to get good returns,and if the optical cable are damaged(as regularly happened now by the rival ISP) or any other case, then it cannpot be replaced..
At present BSNL is giving FTTH connection within the 1 K>M radius of its Telephone Exchange, to the Business houses which need connections to their system not less than 50 or the members of Apartment which has more than 50 units with them.






Tariffs -

The Business behind Facebook !!

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Europe & America

10. Government

Our Governments could not be any more unalike if we purposely attempted to create them so. And, as it turns out, we (the US) kind of did. Not happy with the persecution the European Government was dishing out to specific religious groups, the original Pilgrims who ended up on American shores would eventually go on to pass down ideas for a new government in their new land – despite the fact that they persecuted people in equally (if not worse) ways than the nations they left behind. Here are the governmental differences spelled out as clearly as possible:

Europe: The European Parliament (Europarl or EP) is the directly elected parliamentary body of the European Union (EU). Together with the Council of the European Union (the Council), it forms the bicameral legislative branch of the Union’s institutions and has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world. The Parliament and Council form the highest legislative body within the Union. However their powers as such are limited to the competencies conferred upon the European Community by member states. Hence the institution has little control over policy areas held by the states and within the other two of the three pillars of the European Union. The Parliament is composed of 785 MEPs (Member of the European Parliament) who serve the second largest democratic electorate in the world (after India) and the largest trans-national democratic electorate in the world (492 million).

America: The federal government of the United States is the United States governmental body that carries out the roles assigned to the federation of individual states established by the Constitution. The federal government has three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. Through a system of separation of powers or “checks and balances,” each of these branches has some authority to act on its own, some authority to regulate the other two branches, and has some of its own authority, in turn, regulated by the other branches. In addition, the powers of the federal government as a whole are limited by the Constitution, which leaves a great deal of authority to the individual states. The federal government is based in the federal district of Washington, D.C. and is often referred to as “Washington”.

9. Television

While Americans enjoy a mind-numbingly huge array of television stations via satellite or cable, Europe (though able to acquire said choices) also has a slew of nationally funded channels that offer them different types of programming (and in the case of the BBC in Britain, free of advertising). Since about 2000, both continents offer roughly the same when it comes to cable, satellite, and the offers of broadband with phone service and TV. The BBC and ITV are due to launch Freesat, which, unlike Freesat from Sky, will be a free-to-air system similar to Freeview. Europe, of course, features comedies and dramas specifically catered to its core audience, such as Dr. Who and the original Office. We here in American television companies have been know to pilfer European (usually English) programming which then needs modification to make it more appealing to US viewers. In some cases these American spin offs have become more popular than the originals. Two in particular that spring to mind are The Office, and Three’s Company.

8. Meal Times and Etiquette

Europeans are more likely to be found eating as a family around the dinner table than many Americans who prefer the convenience of eating in front of the television. As a result, fast food chains are not as popular in placed like France and Italy as they are stateside. This, however, is not true of all nations in Europe, as the English (possibly through the influence of American television programming) are also beginning to lean toward the convenience of fast food (either ready made or ready-to-cook). Another striking difference is that in mainland Europe, supermarkets are far fewer in number than in America, as a large number of Europeans still buy their food daily from markets in their towns or city centers (again, this is probably no longer true of the United Kingdom). These markets are part of the appeal that Europe has for Americans traveling to Europe.

Trivia: In Europe, an entree is usually the first course of a meal (the same as an American appetizer). The main course is called “the main course”. American’s like to have a salad course, but this is almost never seen in Europe as salad (if it is being served) will usually be presented alongside the main course.

7. Shops

Shopping in the typical American city is a mater of walking around, going inside of whichever building one needs explore in order to locate goods and services, and purchasing. We have a plethora of the Big Box Stores like WAL-MART, Target, Meijer, and those similarly huge home-improvement shops like Lowe’s, Home Depot, and the like. We like what we need readily available at our finger tips and unfortunately this has contributed greatly to the end many of mom-and-pop stores. Grocery delivery is very common in England, while it is still only seen occasionally in the US. Europeans prefer the open-air shops with the amazing array of vastly different foods available in each specific location suited specifically to the item’s location. In Europe you will still see more high street shopping than malls, though this is beginning to change in some countries. The upside to this is that you get personal service, the downside is that if you get dreadful service, you have no one to complain to. It can take a lot more effort to find the items you need as you have to go to many shops instead of one.

6. Money

American currency is just about as basic as it comes: Bills for anything for a dollar and over (5,10,20,50 etc.), and coins for anything a quarter (25 cents) or less: dime (10), nickel (5), penny (1). For the most part and for the longest time our bills have been green with nothing more than age-old etched images of presidents and persons of historical significance, and some say hidden meanings dating back to the rise of the Free Masons and other government clubs. The member states of the European Union have adopted a universal currency called the Euro (with the exception of the British who are exempted from adopting the Euro). This can be incredibly convenient when on holiday, but the adoption of the Euro has caused some difficulties in nations where prices dramatically rose – such as Italy.

4. Sports

To Americans, nothing kills a weekend more appropriately than sitting around with some good friends, nursing a few beers, and watching your favorite sports team beat the snot out of its opponent. We here in the U.S. have five major sports: Baseball, American Football, Basketball, Hockey, and Car Racing. Grabbing several bowls of artery-clogging goodies, staking out a spot in a favorite chair, and yelling at the television is what sports fans are all about. We love our sports so much we’ve delegated entire clothing lines to them. Now in Europe, the four main spectator sports are Football (soccer), Cricket, Rugby, and Tennis. And as we all know, your rabid attraction to your home teams rivals the beastly incorporation we have with our own. In fact, I have never seen anything even remotely close to the mass of infuriated spectators rising in unison to a bad call or a loss than European sports crowds. It’s just scary and has been known in the past to be deadly.

3. Cooking

American cooking, for all its variety and excitement, owes its very existence to everywhere else. Even our deep-seeded southern roots stemmed from French influence. If it can be successfully fried, we’ll happily do it. If it can be mass-produced and served with fried potatoes, we’ll joyfully do that, too. We love our steaks, our hamburgers, our hot dogs, our potato and tortilla chips, and our foods smothered in gravy. Europeans have a diverse cultural history in their food and this is still obvious in every nation. It would be wrong, however, to consider European food healthier overall – this is not necessarily the case and Europeans, knowing this, tend to eat smaller portions. Virtually every aspect of French cooking involves butter and cream. Of all the European nations, England is the one with the worst reputation for food – it is expensive and usually bad. This, however, is beginning to change as more English people take an interest in redefining old English favorites (such as steak-and-kidney pudding) for the new millennium

2. Drinking

There is very little doubt that America’s favorite alcoholic beverage has got to be beer. We love to import, export, and support the local micro-brews of which there are literally thousands. In fact, I live smack in the middle of six, and the beers produced there are always readily available. We do have quite the active wine making community as well, generally on the west coast in California, though other states, such as Michigan where I live, produce wine as well. In my state, selling alcohol before 12 p.m. is not only taboo, but illegal. On Sundays you aren’t allowed to purchase after five p.m., and if it’s a holiday, none after 2 a.m the previous day or on the holiday at all. Now, in bars and pubs, you can purchase (as long as you are inside) until 2 a.m. Also, unless you want some serious trouble, you ought to be 21 to do so at all. Despite this high drinking-age, many kids start around 16 or 17. Europeans of course have beer, wine, and other alcohol, but most often just different variations on the common theme. In Europe the drinking age in each country varies too, but to be on the safe side, carry your ID if you drink or purchase alcoholic beverages. Some countries list two legal ages: one to buy beer and wine and another to buy stronger spirits such as vodka, while other countries allow younger people to drink while dining in the company of adults. It seems that the laws are similar as are the concerns for under-age drinking and especially drinking and driving. One major difference here, however, is that many European families give their children wine with dinner (often watered down) – there is much less a taboo associated with alcohol in Europe than America, which may be partly a side-effect of the prohibition movement.

20 misspekt words

A new study has found that 'separate' is the most commonly misspelt word in the English language.

The eight-letter word came top due to the regular placing of an 'E' where the first 'A' sits.

Second in the list was 'definitely', which often falls victim to a string of mistakes including mixing up the second 'I' with an 'A'. Another common error is dropping the final 'E'.

Here is the list of the top 20 misspelt words:
1. Separate

2. Definitely

3. Manoeuvre

4. Embarrass

5. Occurrence

6. Consensus

7. Unnecessary

8. Acceptable

9. Broccoli

10. Referred

11. Bureaucracy

12. Supersede

13. Questionnaire

14. Connoisseur

15. A lot

16. Entrepreneur

17. Particularly

18. Liquify

19. Conscience

20. Parallel

Winners dont Quit, Quitters dont Win

Things to note while buying smartphones

Things to note while buying smartphones

Smartphones are new-age computers. Almost. With more features and technology crammed into them, they're not used only to make calls and send text messages but to e-mail, for video-conferencing, for social networking, take pictures, shoot videos, play video games and watch high-definition videos on the move. 

Smartphones are getting more complex and increasingly mimic computers , but what's inside them matters more than design or looks. Here's what to look out for when buying

Processor

At the heart of a smartphone is the processor. "These are designed specifically for mobile devices and are not just a smaller version of computer processors,"

"Unlike Intel's X86 architecture (technology on which processors are based) in the computer market, in the smartphone market, it's the ARM architecture that rules." 

Currently, all high-end smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S, HTC Desire and Google Nexus One come with a 1Ghz processor. A faster processor means a more responsive phone. 

Snapdragon, Qualcomm's 1Ghz processor, would be the ideal candidate. Samsung's Hummingbird too is one of the best. iPhone uses an A4 processor, which reportedly runs at 750-800 Mhz.

RAM

This is important as it allows better multi-tasking . All high-end smartphones now come with at least 512MB RAM, which is likely to be more than on computers that are over five years old.

Screen

This is the most important component of a smartphone. "There are two major types of touchscreens in smartphones – resistive and capacitive," 

Highend phones use the latter as they are considered faster. Capacitive screens, unlike resistive ones that can be used with devices like the stylus, only respond to human touch, not gloved fingers. Most display panels are fused with two types of technologies, 

"LCD, OLED, AMOLED, SuperAMOLED – all can be found on smartphones. Most OLED and AMOLED screens produce vibrant colours and fantastic brightness indoors but give a washed out picture in sunlight. SuperAMOLED, though, has corrected this issue, to an extent. TFTLCD screens have poor viewing angle, washed out blacks and poor brightness level. If you watch a lot of videos, settle for nothing less than an AMOLED display," 

Another thing to watch for in screens is the size. "If you pick one with a big display, it'll be hard to use with one hand. An ideal size is 3.2-3 .5 inches. This makes the phone easily pocketable and is just big enough to read documents, browse the internet or watch movies without straining the eye," 

Platform & Apps

However good the hardware, what finally matters is the software. Currently , Apple's iOS is considered the gold standard for user experience. Google’s Android, an open and free platform, can be used by any cellphone company. 

In the last few months, Android has gained lots of traction and Froyo, the latest Android version, has been deemed significantly faster than the competition. It may not be as polished as iOS 4 but those who love to take charge of their devices swear by it. 

Android can be customized by anyone and cellphone companies like to give their own special touch to the user interface. If HTC has Sense UI and Samsung TouchWiz for its Android devices, Motorola offers MotoBlur . Each has pros and cons. 

hile both Android and iPhone are great platforms for devices that can give good multimedia, web-browsing and social networking experience, people who use smartphones for business still find Research In Motion's Blackberry a compelling device. 

"Business-class users don't want a phone that has 10MP camera or an outstanding media player. They prefer QWERTY keypads and apps like document editor and exchange email push functionality. Thanks to RIM's internet services, Blackberry phones continue to be very strong in this market."

07 Honeymoon destinations in India

1. Alleppey

Alleppey, or Alappuzha, in the state of Kerala was founded in 1762 by Raja Keshawadasan, the Divan of Tranvanacore. Alleppey means "land between the sea, wher a network of rivers flow in to it". The city is established on a narrow land between the Arabian Sea and Vembanad lake.The numerous waterways, lagoons, backwaters, canals and lakes of Alleppey has given it a name as "Venice of the East". 

Alleppey was a busy trade port in the 18th century and today is the centre of prawn farming and coir carpet industry. The town has appeared on the tourist map because of its beautiful settings, the famous snake boat races, houseboat experiences and backwater boat cruises due to its large network of canals. Alleppey is one of the best places to visit for backwater tourism. Thatched houseboats, Chinese fishing nets and swaying palms complete the picture.

State :- Kerala, India

Location :- Alleppey lies between the cities of Cochin and Trivandrum in Kerala.

Best Time To Visit :- Like much of Kerala, Alleppey has tropical weather. As such, it is humid throughout the year. The best time to visit Alleppey is between the months of August and February - with cool weather and relatively lower humidity. Numerous festivals are celebrated during these months including the Snake Boat Races. If your plan includes spending significant time on a boat in the backwaters, Alleppey is fun to travel to through May. June and July are the peak monsoon months.

STD Code :- 0477

Sightseeing :-

1. Backwaters

2. Kettuvallams

3. Krishnapuram Palace

4. Kuttunad

5. Pathiramanal Island

6. Snake Boat Race

The best time to honeymoon in Alleppey is during the months of October to May.

2. Andaman & Nicobar




Andaman & Nicobar Island consists of 572 emerald green islands only 36 of which are inhabited. It stretches over a length of more than 700 kms from North to South in the clear blue waters of the Bay of Bengal. These island are covered with thick forest and very rich in flora and fauna.

Port Blair: Port Blair also known as Emerald Islands is the municipal council in Andaman district, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is the largest town in Andaman and Nicobar Islands named after Lieutenant Archibald Blair of the British East India Company, who unsuccessfully attempted to establish a colony in 1789. It is home to several museums and a major base for the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. It is also the headquarters of the Tri Services Command. Cellular Jail (aka Kala Pani), Corbyn's Cove, Mini Zoo, Japanese Bunkers, Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) are some of the main attractions in Port Blair.

* State: Andaman & Nicobar Islands (UT)


* Key Attraction: Romantic and beautiful unspoilt and un-crowded beaches, trekking, scuba diving, snorkeling, and deep sea fishing.

The best time to honeymoon in Andaman & Nicobar Islands is during the months December to April.

3. Coorg

Coorg or Kodagu as it is also known is a picturesque plantation belt adorning the Karnataka region of the majestic Western Ghats. Owing to its high altitude of 1525 m and its unique geographic terrain, this little town has widely been acclaimed as the “Scotland of India”. Kodagu or Coorg is one of the most favorite hill stations in the country surrounded by beautiful landscapes of verdant fertile hills and valleys watered by numerous rivers, streams and rippling waterfalls. 

The local people of Coorg are called ‘Coorgis’ or ‘Kodavas’. They are traditionally a martial race with a deep penchant for hunting. Coffee is the main plantation crop in Coorg, which also has tea and orange estates, and a large area covered by protected forests.

Over a period of years Coorg had been ruled by many kingdoms like the Gangas, Cholas, Kongalvas, Changalvas, Hoysalas, Nayakas and Haleri Rajas. Coorg is believed to have been originally called ‘Kroda-desa’, meaning “the land of wrath”. It later became ‘Kodavu’ and then ‘Kodagu’, as it is known today. Another interpretation links the name to its Kannada origins, where the original name was Kodaimalenadu, meaning “the land of dense forests”.

Nagarhole National Park which is an important Tiger Reserve under project Tiger is one of the important National Parks of Karnataka and easily accessible from Coorg.

History

Inscriptions on stone and copper dating back to the 9th century provide valuable information concerning the early history of the place. Coorg was believed to have been part of the Ganga Kingdom between the 9th and 10th centuries, followed by a short spell under the Kadambas. During the 11th century, the Kodagu was under the reign of the Chola dynasty who ruled over it till the 12th century. The Kongalvas and Changalvas ruled briefly and subsequently Kodagu remained free till it came under the control of the Hoysalas in the 14th century, the Nayakas in the early 16th century and the Haleri Rajas in the middle of the same century. 


State: Karnataka


Key Attraction: Lush green hills, access to National Parks and Coffee plantations. Nearby destinations include: Abbey Falls, Iruppa Falls, Madikeri Fort, Nagarahole National Park, and Brahmagiri Hills


Location :- Coorg is loated in the southwest part of Karnataka, bordered to the north by Hassan, to the east by Mysore and Kannur and Wayanad districts of Kerala to the west and south.


Best Time To Visit :- Kodagu or Coorg is best visited from April to November. Monsoon tourism is gaining popularity as the rivers are full and the numerous waterfalls at their best. 


Sightseeing :-

Abbey Falls

Bhagamandala

Brahmagiri Hills

Iruppa Falls

Kaveri Nisargadhama

Kushalnagar

Madikeri Fort

Nagarahole National Park

Omkareshwara Temple

Talakaveri

Things To Do


The best time to honeymoon in Coorg is during the months April to November.

4. Dalhousie





Dalhousie is a quiet hill station in Himachal Pradesh, built on and around five interconnected hills, being Kathlog, Potreyn, Tehra, Bakrota and Balun. Of them Bakrota is th highest point of Dalhousie. It is located on the western edge of the snow capped Dhauladhar mountain range of the Himalayas with thick forests of pine, oak, rhododendrons and deodar trees and the River Ravi flowing below in the valley.

Dalhousie was named after Governor Dalhousie of East India Company and is the Gateway to the beautiful Chamba Valley of Himacahl Pradesh. The past of the town dominated by Britishers, who ruled India before independnce is evident in the Colonial Style Architecture of various builldings like churches, estates, borading schools etc.

However, there is plenty to do and see here. Old world Victorian charm and architecture, beautiful mountains trails, and trekking paths are some of the highlights. In addition, there is also a Tibetan community in Dalhousie. Their places of worship and eateries add further colour to Dalhousie.

From Dalhousie one can visit the Kalatope Sanctuary, which is home of the ghorals and Himalayan black bear.

History

Named after Lord Dalhousie who was the Governor-General of India at that time, Dalhousie was established in 1854 by the East India Company as a summer retreat for its troops and bureaucrats. The legacy of India’s colonial rulers is visible everywhere.

State: Himachal Pradesh

Location :-At 6,600 feet and 575 km from Delhi, 119km from Dharamsala, 336km from Shimla, 56km from Chamba

Key Attraction: Lush green valleys and mountain views, Tibetan Market etc.


Tourist Offices

HPTDC, New Delhi
Tel: 011-23325320, 23325233,
Website: himachaltourism.nic.in

STD Code :-01899

Sightseeing :-

Alah Water Tank

Bakrota Hill

Dainkund Peak

Ganji Pahadi

GPO

Kalatope Sanctuary

Khajjiar

Panchpula

Patreni Hill

Satdhara Falls

Subhash Baoli

The Churches

Tibetan Market


The best time to honeymoon in Dalhousie is during the summer months of April to June. However, Dalhousie is a pleasent year round destination

5.Darjeeling







Darjeeling, located in the State of West Bengal in North East India, is one of the most beautiful Hill Stations in the country. It is called as the Queen of Hills and is a part of Mahabharata Range or Lesser Himalayas

Once a sleepy little village under the control of the royalty of Sikkim, Darjeeling became one of the primary summer getaways for the British troops after the King of Sikkim gave it to them as a present. 

Darjeeling is gateway to many places and many wonders. One gets a view of Mount Kanchenjunga, India's highest and the world's 3rd tallest peak at 8,598 meters along with other ranges of the Himalayas from here. Darjeeling is famous for the Tea Estates (famous for producing the popular Darjeeling Tea) most which date back to the 19th century and were a part of the British development of this area.The tea planting was started in Darjeeling by Dr. Campbell of Indian Medical Services.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train) which is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO are some of the primary attractions of Darjeeling. Others are Tiger Hill, from where one gets to view the best sunrise as early as 3 or 4 in the morning, the Singhalia National Park, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute which trains people in the art of mountaineering etc. These places apart there are many more interesting places to visit.

Trekking is one of the most pleasurable activities to enjoy the clear mountainside air and from Darjeeling one can visit to the charming and melting pot of cultures including Sikkim, Nepal and Tibet. 

History

In 1835, Darjeeling was presented to East India Company by the King of Sikkim. The town was developed as a recreational centre for the British troops and for the elite British residents to escape the heat of plains during summer. It was thus also referred to as the Summer Capital. Even today the town still retains many of the legacies of the British Government.

Tea planting in Darjeeling began in 1841 by Dr. Campbell, a civil surgeon of the Indian Medical Service. Dr. Campbell used tea seeds from China to begin experimental tea planting in the regoion.


State :- West Bengal, India


Location:- Darjeeling is in the northern tip of West Bengal (Darjeeling District), close to the Indian State of Sikkim, and the Indian / Nepal border.





STD Code:- 0354

Sightseeing

Batasia Loop & War Memorial

Bhutia Busty Gompa

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR)

Darjeeling-Rangit Valley Passenger Cable Car (Ropeway)

Dhirdham Temple

Drukpa Kargyud Monastery

Ghoom

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI)

Himalayan Zoo

Japanese Peace Pagoda

Lloyd Botanical Gardens

Senchal Lake

Singalila National Park

Tea Estates of Darjeeling

Teesta Tea and Tourism Festival

Tiger Hill

Victoria Falls

Yogachoeling Gompa




The best time to visit Darjeeling is between April and mid-June - summer months. The temperature during this season is lovely with an average maximum temperature of around 15C. October to December are also great months to visit Darjeeling. Winters are cold with average temperatures during this season ranging from 2C - 9C (December through March)

6. Goa





A former Portuguese colony, Goa is known for its beaches, greenery, temples, world heritage sites and laid back life-style. A harmonious blend of tradition with contemporary lifestyle can be seen in the peaceful co-existance of Hindu, Christian and Muslim cultures in the state. The centuries old Portuguese influence is still evident in the grand old buildings and churches. While several industrial enterprises have come up in recent times, tourism is still the most important source of income.

Goa with its long stretch of beaches, innumerable number of churches, dense greenery, boating in lakes and backwaters and the open atmosphere has been a perfect place as a romantic destination. Now the Goa Tourism Department has launched a slogan, “Leave your worries and wallet behind and spend your honeymoon dedicated to each other," to promote Honeymoon Tourism for newly weds, attracting them with special packages.

Goa is a popular tourist destination in India attracting both domestic and foreign tourist in large numbers. The tourist groups include singles, families, friends, office trips, school and college trips and many others. Goa with its wide stretch of beaches overlooking the Arabian Sea and with Western Ghats passing though the state receives about 20 lakh tourists each year.

Now the Tourism Department of Goa specifically wants to target the group of newly married couples and has developed a special package under the brand name of “Honeymoon Package”. The package includes five nights and six days stay at three different hotels in various romantic locations. Apart from lodging and boarding facilities at good hotels, the package also includes pickup for each couple either from the airport, railway station or bus stand and sightseeing tours of the main tourist sights in the state.

The Honeymoon Package for Goa was launched by the State Tourism Department just a fortnight ago, and already they have received a very encouraging response.

In monsoons, Goa often wears a deserted look, as sightseeing gets affected due to rains. In order to promote tourism even in the rainy season, the Tourism Department had also recently launched “Raindrop Tourism” to attract tourist to Goa in monsoons, highlighting the state’s feature especially during rains.


History

Goa’s history dates back to the 3rd century BC when it was part of the Maurayan empire. Later the Satavahanas of Kolhapur came into power followed by the Chalukyans of Badami, then the Shilharas, the Kadambas and then the Chalukyans of Kalyani. In 1312 Muslim invaders came to Goa. In 1370 the Vijayanagar empire forced them out and ruled Goa for nearly 100 years after. In 1469 the Bahmani Sultans conquered Goa but after the dynasty fell apart the Adil Shahis of Bijapur took over. Later in 1510 the Portuguese arrived in Goa. After 450 years Goa became part of India in 1961.

State: Goa

Location :- West coast of India.

Key Attraction: Beaches, ancient cathedrals and heritage buildings, water sports like water scooters, scuba diving, parasailing etc.


Tourist Offices

Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd.
Trionora Apartments, Dr Alvares Costa Road,
Panaji, Goa- 403001

STD Code :-083


Sightseeing


Beaches of Goa

Calangute

Churches & Convents of Goa

Mapusa

Margao

Nightlife

Panaji

Ponda

Tamdi Surla Temple

Things to do

Vasco da Gama


The best time to honeymoon in Goa is during the months of September to May

7. Jodhpur







The second largest city in the city of Rajasthan, Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a Rathore ruler of Marwar. Located in the Thar desert, the city is dominated by massive fort and palaces. The old city of Jodhpur is surrounded by a 10km long wall built almost a century after the city was founded. The wall has 8 gates leading out from the old city which has about 100 towers sacttered around the city. Due to its strategic location on the overland trade route between Delhi and Gujarat, Jodhpur became a flourishing trade centre.

Jodhpur has been called the “Blue city” because of the bluish hue created by the white washed houses around Mehrangarh Fort which is situated in the centre of the city, spread over an area of 5 kms. Even though the blue houses were originally meant only for a Brahmins, today non Brahmins also use the same color as it deflects the heat away and is also said to keep mosquitoes at bay. The palaces, forts and temples have made Jodhpur a popular tourist destination.

Mehrangarh Fort and Museum which dominates the heart of the city was founded by Rao Jodha when he shifted his capital from Mandore to Mehrangarh Fort. Mandore about 10 kms from Jodhpur, was the original capital of Mewar dynasty before Jodhpur became capital. Mandore is famous for the Shrine of Three Hundred Million Gods and 15 life sized structure carved out of rock and stone and painted in bright colours.

Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur is one of the most majestic forts of Rajasthan, built of red sandstone with 7 gates to enter inside. Some of them are Jaypol Gate, Fatehpol Gate, Lahapol Gate. . There are many palaces, courtyards, lakes and temples in side the fort. Some of the beautiful palaces built inside this fort are Sukh Mahal built in Sukh Mahal lake, Moti Mahal whose ceiling is a spendid piece of art work, Phool Maha and Takht Mahal.

Umaid Bhawan Palace is also one of the star attarctions of Jodhpur. It is the only palace in Jodhpur built in the 20th century. The palace was built by Maharaja Umaid Singh to create jobs for the famine stricken people of the region in 1928. Built of marble and a special sandstone called Chittar sandstone, the architecture is a blend of Rajput, Jain and Art Deco styles. The design of the palace is the contribution of British Royal institute of Architects. The palace is huge with 347 rooms, eight dining areas, two theatres, one ballroom and huge reception halls. The palace has been partly converted to a luxury heritage hotel.

Some of the other places worth visiting around Jodhpur are Jaswant Thada, a memorial of Maharaja Jaswant Singh, who was highly respected by the people of Jodhpur. Balsamand Lake is an artificial lake and water reservoir, a popular picnic spot today. It was built in the 12th century with the Balsamand Palace, situated adjacent to the lake. Osian is a town in the Thar desert, about 60 kms from Jodhpur and was once a propsperous town due to rich Jains who built a lavish temple here with some beautiful sculptures. Today it is a desert oasis and home to many peacocks.

Kailana Lake, Mahamandir Temple, Luni Fort that has now been converted to a heriatge hotel and Dhawa Wildlife Sanctuary which have the largest number of cheetal and sambhars are also tourist attractions, close to Jodhpur worth visiting.

Jodhpur being a vibrant city with a rich historical past, has a large spopping varity to choose from. Giridkot and Sardar market are famous for handicrafts. Other famous things one can buy from here are silver jewellery, doorways, paintings, leather items, puppets, textiles etc. Do not miss out on tasting the thick creamy Makhani Lassi of Jodhpur.


Key Attraction: Balsamand Lake and Palace, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Mehrangarh Fort and Museum, Jaswant Thada etc.


State :-Rajasthan

Location :- Jodhpur is located in the heart of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert

* 620km from Delhi,
* 331 km west of Jaipur

STD Code :-0291


Sightseeing

Balsamand Lake and Palace

Jaswant Thada

Mandore

Mehrangarh Fort and Museum

Osian

Sardar Bazaar

Umaid Bhawan Palace


Autumn through winter is the most welcoming time for tourist looking to visit Jodhpur as the summer heat is brutal. The best time to honeymoon in Jodhpur is during the months of September to March.