Standard of education in CBSE schools in Madhya Pradesh

When looking for a school for my kid, I realized that education is becoming an important aspect today and I wanted to give my child the best education that will make her a better citizen notice tomorrow.  I notice this amongst most parents like me and this is in fact a trend that needs to be encouraged and the prime reason is the awareness that has been created by the media.  They have ensured the message of the importance of education has reached all parents like us and the CBSE schools in Madhya Pradesh are ensuring that our kids are the recipients of the best education the country can offer.

I like the CBSE pattern of education since it ensures, that the students can continue their education in any part of the country, as this system is more uniform across India and even in case, our children study in one of the CBSE schools in Indore and we need to move them to a different state, they can adapt very easily to the syllabus as there is no major change that is noticed.  That is the best benefit of following the CBSE pattern and I have seen that there is more emphasis to logical thinking and analytical knowledge rather than memorizing and reproducing the content in the text books, enhancing the skills of my kid.

There are many CBSE schools in Madhya Pradesh that offer the central syllabus and I could get admission to the schools in the start of the academic year.  For older kids, under special circumstances, the school managements may decide to grant admission in the middle of the year, but that is a very rare scenario.  Also newer admissions in higher classes are also a rarity when compared to the lower classes.  Since we have seen that we as parents tend to plan our life around our children’s education, not wanting to move schools when in higher classes either with intent to not upset them or thinking it is just another couple of years, could be a reason for that.

Being the capital city, I did figure out that the CBSE schools in Indore top the list of best of the schools in the state that follow the CBSE pattern.  They have good infrastructure facilities as well as the best faculty across the state.  I have also seen the students of the schools in the capital topping the class X and XII exams and doing very well by getting into prestigious institutes like IIT and IIM.  Therefore, this becomes a natural choice for parents like me who want the best for our wards.  The demand for the schools following the CBSE syllabus is seen to be increasing in recent times.

Tourists get enchanted with Himachal Pradesh Climate

Himachal Pradesh has always been on my list of “must visit places” in India and I was able to pack my bags during monsoon which is the best season to visit Himachal Pradesh. 

best season to visit Himachal Pradesh.

The first thing I observed was that Himachal Pradesh Climate is wonderful especially the proximity to Himayalan Mountains adds to excitement and enthusiasm. After dumping our bags in the cottage, we went on entertainment packed trip suggested by travel agent. He first took us to the Dalhousie mansion and then to trekking trails, Victorian style mansions and the natural springs. We were awestruck at the architectural beauty of these mansions. It gave an eerie feeling as I was going back in time to British Rule and felt as if Lord Dalhousie came back alive.

By mid-day we were exhausted but Himachal Pradesh Climate was cool and soul warming. We relished a variety of paratha and rajma curry at a nearby restaurant without opting for a tri-star hotel. As icing on the cake, we were also treated with lassi (thick butter milk with sugar) and sweets that are exclusive eateries from kitchen of Himachal.

Then, the guide took us to Mini-Switzerland, Khajjar which is a lush green forest and my team had their time with camera capturing the natural flora and fauna. After a short break, mountaineering enthusiasts in the group ventured to trek, and as I felt that was a great task preferred to lie back basking in the warmth of Himachal Pradesh climate. We also tried our hands at zorbing and rafting for short breaks. The day ended with a traditional touch by visiting the Khajjar temple where Naga Deity was religiously worshipped with much fervour. We halted at one of the budget hotels in Khajjar to relax for the night.

Next morning, we were transported to a different world to unexplored modern hill stations in Chamba area. Unlike the climate of urban cities, Himachal Pradesh climate was welcoming and we were instantly active when my team again started off to capture the picturesque sceneries. I thanked my team for having dragged me into this trip during monsoon which is considered as the best season to visit Himachal Pradesh. I would have missed out on Indian paradise had I planned an alternative vacation.

The ancient temples, architectural beauty and Church of Scotland are some of the places we adventured into at Chamba in post lunch session. I also picked up a few exclusive handicraft articles and hand embroidered Chamba Rumal, an art exclusively found in Himachal Pradesh.

My next adventure to Himachal will definitely include the famous Sipi fair at Manali, celebrations of the Tibetan New Year and other places which I missed out in this trip.  

Marvelous Places to Explore in Delhi

New Delhi, the capital of India has a lot to offer in terms of old world charm and modern delights. The overall charisma of ancient monuments, rich history and contemporary delights will surely impress every visitor, who wants to come and explore this magnificent city. The contemporary Delhi is a proud metropolis compromising high rise buildings, gleaming malls and friendly people, which fascinated me a lot during my last trip to the city. The best time to visit Delhi would be between October and March as the weather gets extremely hot and humid during the summer season. I last visited Delhi in November, and the weather was quite pleasant during that time. The morning and evening cold certainly helped me in exploring the magnificent Red Fort, Qutub Minar, India Gate, Parliament House, Jama Masjid, and Humayun’s Tomb to name a few. Moreover, newer tourist attractions such as Lotus Temple, Akshardam Temple, and ISKON to name a few gave me an insight into the tourist-friendly Delhi. These tourist-friendly places will be among the best places to visit and explore from October to March as this period is considered the optimal climate of delhi.
When I visited Akshardam Temple, the overall feeling of spiritual satisfaction took me to a attractiveness of the temple. Lodi Gardens, National Rail Museum and Jantar Mantar satisfied my travel expectations to the fullest. The overall ancient architectural brilliance exemplified the aura and splendor of the Mughal rulers, who reigned over Delhi. The summer season can get very harsh for the visitors with temperatures reaching as high as 48 degrees, therefore it is best to visit Delhi from October to March. However, the winter season might also get severe, but visitors won’t be facing hot winds and blistering heat. I will advise visitors to explore Delhi during festivals such as Diwali, Holi and Navratri as this festive period can be the best time to visit Delhi. Shops offer attractive discounts and other schemes to customers on almost every product during the festive period in order to lure customers. My friends also managed to get attractive branded clothes at discounted rate in Connaught Place when we visited Delhi last November. Moreover, Chandni Chowk, Dilli Haat, and Khan Market to name few are the other attractive shopping destinations where we enjoyed to the fullest, not to forget the mouth-watering street food as well, which we were able to explore because of the favorable climate of Delhi in November. 

Official Transport of Himachal Pradesh and HRTC fare Structure

The Road transport system still remains the only mode of passenger travel in Himachal Pradesh with railways and air services forming negligible share of transport in the State. Hence, we take pride in the fact that we provide a transport system of which the State as a whole can be proud of. We have been recognised on various occasions for the world class services provided to commuters. The root of all services is based on the ideology to provide prompt service with technology based solutions without compromising on safety issues. The fleet of buses available at Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation in different categories forms the core of logistic management, which is why the public resorts to our services. The biggest network of offices, dedicated staff and ease of approach provide niche to the services provided by us.

We take pride in the range of vehicles are a class apart because these are duly fitted with high technology engines specially imported to suit rough valley rides in Himachal Pradesh. Interiors of the buses are designed as per standards prescribed by the State Government.

The onus of ensuring the best road transport and customized facilities lies on our shoulders and our staff executes this with utmost ease and confidence. We provide online ticket booking facility as part of e-governance without compromising on offline booking counters that are equipped with high end technology to meet peak season demands. The fare structure for each category of customized services is available on our web portal under the hyperlink HRTC fare structure.

HRTC fare structure is designed to provide public service at reasonable cost and is fixed by State Government on periodical basis. The fare includes charges for luggage upto 80 kgs per passenger.

If you opt to travel by deluxe or semi-deluxe bus, the comfort levels increase and hence no discounts or concessions are provided. Recently, we have also launched super luxury deluxe Volvo bus running on specified routes for which online booking facility is yet to be launched. The HRTC fare structure includes charges for luggage or weight upto 80 kgs per passenger.

We also provide concessions to students of schools and colleges at discounted rates. Also concessions are available for children in the age group of 6-15 years, citizens above 60 years, and group travelers, the details whereof can be obtained either online or from the wide network of offices of Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation. 

Securing the safety of the Indian – police stations in India

I had to visit one of the Police stations in India, and that made me realize how long they go in ensuring the safety and the security of our countrymen.  Given that India is such a diverse country and people of the country move within the nation without major constraints, it becomes imperative to secure their safety and ensure that there are not treated badly within our own country.  The police have been empowered to ensure this and are actively involved in the process serving as the friend of the public as well as their savior sparing no effort to ensure that they do their job to the best of their abilities.

In particular the police stations in Uttar Pradesh, that I visited is very active in punishing any miscreants, thereby ensuring the happiness of the locals.  Given that the state has many villages where the literacy levels are considerably at a lower level, the role of the police becomes very important especially in crimes against women- including rape, child abuse, child marriage etc.   I could see the police are very supportive of the public and lend an ear to their miseries that they narrate and see what best they can do to sort out their problem.  Very recently in the backdrop of me reading news about the safety in the state, I could see how the officials at the police stations have performed their duty with such dedication.

However, one thing I want to mention here is that the police stations in India are not a place to be visited only by the wrong doers or the miscreants.  It is our right to walk into these government offices and express our unhappiness or grief and the police officers look into the matter immediately.  I would always suggest to all friends and acquaintances that we need to leave no stone unturned in getting justice for our own needs as this is the right of every citizen of the country.  This is in fact one of our fundamental rights, and we as educated citizens should not let go of this at any cost.

The police stations in Uttar Pradesh are all empowered to take complaints and register FIR.  So, when I, for example, give a complaint in one station, today, because of the technological advancement, the police are able to nab the criminals by passing on the information to the other stations.  I did not that these stations today have specific cells for cybercrime, women cells etc. that are all empowering us to step out with more safety and security and helping us to conduct our life more peacefully.

Delhi’s Vibrant Culture and Lifestyle

Delhi reflects religious unity and cultural diversity, which are the key attributes of Indian society. The capital of India has a multiethnic society as individuals from different states of the country come to Delhi for lucrative career opportunities, best medical facilities and excellent education. Moreover, the city has presence of several domestic as well as international companies as well. Delhi has a very rich cultural heritage, which can be seen in day to day lives of people living in the northern part of India, particularly culture of delhi people. The historical metropolis has still preserved its ancient culture amongst our fast paced cosmopolitan lifestyle. Delhi still reflects its magnificent age-old charm and ethnicity thorough the memories of the colossal Mughal and British architecture. The metropolis is identified for its festivals and fairs of diverse religions celebrated with unmatched fervor and enthusiasm. We tend to celebrate age-old traditional fairs and festivals such as Phoolwaalon-Ki-Sair with same enthusiasm and interest. With ever
increasing number of individuals migrating from different states to Delhi, the regional festivals such as Durga Pooja and Chhath Puja are also observed. Moreover, striking malls, Cineplex’s, discotheques, lounges and fine dining restaurants have also had an effect on the overall lifestyle of delhi people.  

We as Delhiites were ready to welcome different athletes and tourists from different regions of the globe during the momentous Commonwealth Games. In addition, different social, literary and arts events in the city are to be arranged during these days. These include drama, dance, health, food, music, and even night life, thus portraying a vivid lifestyle of delhi people. Several different forms of dance events are arranged in Delhi that comprises salsa parties, regional dance programs and even easter dance. We really love our food and therefore different types of foods can be explored in the city and it is going to be an ideal spot for foodies. In this scenario, the city’s hotels and restaurants tend to play a very important role. Prominent restaurants such as We2, Pind Balluchi, Haldiram's, Bikanerwala, and 5-star hotels like such as The Connaught, Le Meridian, Oberoi, and Taj to name a few provide some mouth-watering options. These eating joints actually cater to different categories and budgets of people. We love to eat and discussion about our food is in fact not complete without the booze and drinks. The culture of delhi people is mostly influenced by Punjabis, Jats and Haryanvis, therefore we love our drinks and enjoy a lot during festivals and weddings.  

Gulmarg – Divinity at its best

As I got down at one of the most beautiful places on earth, Gulmarg, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, I could not help but soak in the natural extravaganza of the place. This place stands out from the rest of the country in terms of its heavy snow fall and world-class skiing slopes. Gulmarg offered me sheer value for my money, as I got to experience some of the best moments of my life here. The pollution-free mountain fresh air that blew across my face as I set foot on the vast green meadows of Gulmarg excited me to a great extent. 

Gulmarg Gondola

This is one place where I felt pampered, irrespective of the season when I visited the place.I enjoyed the vast snow-covered skiing slopes during winters here as much I enjoyed trekking, paragliding and golfing here during summers. I got treated to the most adventurous moment of my life, when I travelled on the Gulmarg Gondola. This is the second tallest cable ride in the world and offered me such thrill and excitement, that I am sure, I would not get anywhere else in the world.

As I was carried up, close to 14000 feet above sea level, I was transported to a different world altogether. The timings of this cable ride vary as per the seasons. The Gulmarg Gondola is one experience that will remain etched evergreen in my memory, long after I am gone from Gulmarg. The pricing is indeed quite steep (around 600 INR for 9 minutes in the first stage and around 800 INR for 12 minutes in the second stage), but since it offered me a great experience, I was ready to pay this amount. I would strongly recommend all of you to go for this, you will not regret your decision for sure.

The Gulmarg hill station offers us a wide scope to indulge in a lot of fun-filled activities. Golfing here is sheer fun, as this place has one of the best golf courses in the world. Filled with lush and green alpine grasslands at the backdrop of the Himalayas, the golf courses here are filled with golf lovers almost always during the hours that it is open for the public. Mountain climbers feel Gulmarg is a haven for them as there are some awesome trekking trails. Located amidst the dense and exotic flora and fauna, these trails are a great combination of fun and thrill.

In short, Gulmarg, which means “Meadow of Flowers”, is an ideal vacation spot as there is something in it for us tourists during all seasons. That explained the large number of international tourists that I saw during my visits to this place during all seasons. Gulmarg is one of the key contributors for the state’s tourism department.

Culture of Delhi people – True sample of Unity in Diversity

Delhi, being the national capital, is one of the most advanced cities of the country. The technological, commercial, industrial and financial growth of the city has put some of the developed countries to shame. Understanding about the culture of Delhi people will give enough scope for culture enthusiasts to know about the culture of India as a whole. This is a place where we can find many different cultures intersecting with each other due to the diverse nature of people who have settled here.

We can get a feel of the various festivals and customs of India, while travelling around Delhi. The place is lively almost all through the year due to the number of festivals celebrated here like Diwali, Holi, Navratri, Eid, Christmas, New Year, Winter festival, Spring festival etc.  The living style of Delhi people has changed considerably in the past decade or so. Earlier, shopping always meant visiting the old markets and bazaars, indulging in some heavy bargaining and buying goods at cheap prices.  However today, we find many shopping malls that have sprung up like mushrooms in the city of Delhi. Our shopping experiences are now mostly limited to these air-conditioned malls today.

The culture of Delhi people is quite unique from the other cities of India, purely because of the diverse nature of people settled here. Hindu, Islam, Sikh and Christian festivals are celebrated with the same fervour, joy and festive spirit in the city of Delhi. As we take a stroll around the Delhi streets during the night hours, we get a firsthand experience of the night living style of Delhi people. Filled with discotheques, world class bars and restaurants serving international cuisine, Delhi is a city that is on par with some of the most developed cities like New York and London in terms of its infrastructure and development. However, what really touches our heart is that, in spite of the heavy western influence, Delhi has still managed to maintain its ancient charm in the form of its street side markets, monuments, forts and temples. 

The culture of Delhi people is also evident from the dresses that they wear. We get enough evidences to understand as to why Delhi is known as the fashion capital of India. Youngsters of Delhi follow the global fashion trends rigorously and upgrade their style quotient accordingly. Apart from these modern developments, Delhi’s culture is obvious from its ancient buildings that are constructed using the finest marble, sandstone, bricks etc. We cannot help but feel nostalgic about the rich bygone era of Delhi as we walk past these structures.