A visit to memory lanes of my childhood...

It was summer vacations and Delhi was acquiring this brand new western culture of ‘Summer Vacation Workshops in Schools of Delhi’. So, under this new adopted culture, NDMC also provided teachers/art professionals to hold Dance and Art & Craft workshops (Painting and Clay modelling) in all NDMC schools across Delhi and all the children were invited to attend these summer vacation classes irrespective of their schools.

Dance of Andhra Pradesh

 When my parents heard about it, they also enrolled my name under ‘Indian classical dance classes’ and my twin siblings’ names under ‘Art and Craft classes’. I still remember my first dance class, I was just eight or nine, when I first met this beautiful young lady (my dance teacher). She was sitting along the stage of the school auditorium and was wearing a fine Andhra silk red and black coloured Sari.

That was the time, when I was introduced to Kuchipudi - Classical Dance of Andhra Pradesh. Before that, I was just familiar with a few names of other classical dance forms in India, such as Bharatanatyam and Kathak. Even today, these two dance forms are well known as well as the most popular classical dances of India.

My first dance class was all about the origin of Kuchipudi. My Guru (In India, we address our teacher as Guru) told us that Kuchipudi is among the eight classical dances of India. She also told us that there a village called Kuchipudi in Divi Taluka of Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh from where both the name and this dance form has been taken.

It has been thirteen years and I am still associated with this form of dance of Andhra Pradesh. Some say, it is sheer madness to being associated with a dance form for so long, but, being a student of performing arts, I realised that there is no end to learning. You can never learn any discipline of art as well as literature and sciences completely in your whole life, but can only enhance the knowledge and skill of a particular literary and art form. The classical way of dance form holds a special place in my life. Similarly I find a special connection with Andhra Pradesh - ‘The Rice Bowl of India’.

Although, it is just another south Indian state flourishing almost similar kind of rituals and traditions, but still there are a few things which draws a line of difference. Hyderabad is the capital city of AP and Telegu is the local as well as the official language of AP.

Hyderabad is a perfect blend of culture and modernity. This city is among the ‘10 Best Indian Cities to Live In’.

Telugu is exceptionally a rich language in which many poems and compositions have been written. The soil of Andhra Pradesh has produced internationally renowned classical musicians like Annamacharya and Thyagaraja. 

It would be equally justified to say that it really possesses and comprehends the title - “The Essence of Incredible India”.

Imbibe immense tranquility through beaches in Kerala

Do you wish to explore more of God’s own country? Then how about a visit to the different beaches in Kerala where you can enjoy the comforts of a luxury cruise and houseboat. Just feel free, let the wind blow and wash your face while you rest lazily upon the white sand enjoying the scenic beach in Kerala.

Steering towards different beaches of Kerala, some of the prime beaches is –

Alappuzha Beach – this beach is better described as the deserted lighthouse, a landscape that is speckled with greenery and shrubs, sandy and rocky shores, simpering skies and an ancient pier. These characteristics and attractions mark the charm of this beach.

Beypore Beach – Get ready to embrace the rustic and appealing charm of Beypore Beach by relishing the steaming rice and roasted fish with coconut milk stew, taking a stroll on Kaolin sands, taking pleasure of the bonfire near the seaside and watching the fishing folks.

Kappad Beach – Kappad beach is a popular unvisited virgin beach, symbolizing a perfect rendezvous of nature’s beauty. The moment you take a stroll through this beach, you will be exploring the milky sand shore which shines in the delight palm groves. You can listen to the songbirds and feel enthralled while you bathe your feet in the beach’s crystal clear water, thereby writing a new page in your diary of wonderful vacation moments. Bet, you will never feel lonely when you are such near to the quarters of Mother Nature. 

 beaches in Kerala

Kovalam Beach – Considered as an ideal and tourist’s delight, this beach is very frequently visited by the tourists that tour India every year. From ancient monuments to adventure sports, spicy delicacies to health spas, tranquil pal groves to souvenir shopping, you tend to have all here. The beach certainly pushes you to indulge in its ambience by taking a perfect beach stroll.

Mararikulam Beach – Located nearly 40 kms from Kochi, this unsoiled beach has white golden sands, exciting water sports, untapped potential for myriad of adventure activities, friendly fishermen and swaying palm trees. This beach has gained immense attraction in the state thereby attracting numerous tourists from different corners of the world.
Beaches and Kerala backwaters are mellowed with luxury, located far from the capital city and its rush and noise. Visiting these beaches is not just pleasurable but even is therapeutic while has religious importance too. Water sports at the beaches are also becoming one popular tourist attraction here. So plan your next holiday and book your tickets to Kerala to get a glimpse of its mesmerizing beauty.

The amazing Kerala boat race - a bewitching experience guaranteed.

Kerala, God’s own Country, is a land of boundless beauty. It is well bestowed with natural beauty that makes it heaven on Earth. Be it a rich culture, various forms of art, literature, history, unique architecture, Ayurveda or traditions that have been passed on for ages, Kerala has it all. Apart from this, Kerala is also famous for its various festivals and their celebrations. Boat race in Kerala attracts a lot of tourists from all over the worlds each year. The splendid and breathtakingly beautiful backwaters serve as venue for the boat races. Every year, participants gather in huge numbers from all over the state to participate in the boat race. It not only provides wonderful entertainment but also brings people closer, integrates them and strengthens the team spirit.

History

The history related to boat races in Kerala dates back over 400 years. Kings of Alleppey (Alappuzha) used to fight battles with neighboring regions in boats along the canals. Then, these kings started getting their boats designed to win wars. This was the beginning of boat races. Today, boat races are a huge event in Kerala and forms an integral part of Kerala attractions.

Famous Boat races

•    The famous Nehru Boat race is held every year on Alleppey's Punnamda Lake.
•    Champakkulam Moolam, the oldest and also the most famous race is held along the river at Champakkulam.
•    Payippad Jalotsavam is organized at Payippad Lake.
•    Aranmula Boat Race is held at River Pampa.
The boat races are generally held between the months of July to September. The exact dates of these races vary depending upon the moon’s phase. The Nehru Trophy Boat race, however, is held each year on the second Saturday of August. These boat races are the main attractions of the Onam festival. Held mostly with temple festivals of Kerala, the boat races also hold a lot of religious importance.

For a few months every year, Kerala is brought to life with brightly colored boats that are decorated elaborately and beautifully. The participation in the boat races is beyond compare and the enthusiasm of participants as well as the audience is worth watching. The captivating music, the traditions, the religious ceremonies and the sense of healthy competition transcends time. It is a completely different world altogether. The experience is magical, beautiful and captivating.

Mesmerize the chain of brackish lagoons through Kerala backwaters

Have you become bored from the daily hush and rush of your life? Are you looking for solace within yourself? Do you feel that you need to take break to rejuvenate your senses and spirit? Well then friends, it’s time that you plan a trip to Kerala Backwaters. Acknowledged all across the world amongst the tourists, the beaches in Kerala have gained immense popularity. They are slowly becoming the reason for increased tourism in the state, leveraging high profits for the state tourism industry.

The beaches of Kerala lie parallel to the large Arabian Sea in the south while the backwaters in Kerala are a network that comprises of 5 main lakes which are linked by canals. Kerala backwaters were initially formed due to the triggering action of shore currents and waves thereby creating a steep barrier reefs and islands. Though the state has numerous beaches and hill resorts, it is the backwaters which are exclusively important here. These backwaters offer an impeccable blend of tranquility and scenic attractions. You can travel on conventional houseboats and take pleasure of the beauty of state’s backwaters. These backwaters make their route through different cities and towns. These offer a transparent picturesque of different backwater destinations of God’s own country.

POPULAR BACKWATER DESTINATIONS IN KERALA –

1.    Alappuzha – a district popular for its natural beauty. Tourists consider this place as one of the best companions for exploring Kerala by riding on the boathouse. This destination is also well known for hosting the famous Snake Boat Races which are organized every year on Onam.
2.    Kochi – another frequently visited backwater destination where different cruises operate carrying tourists and making them feel immensely blessed. The tourists enjoy staying in a hotel like houseboat that floats on water.
3.    Kozhikode – this is one more popular unexplored backwater destination which is acknowledged for its water sports and boating. This destination is visited by tourists that love cosmopolitan culture, hospitality, exquisite beaches, beautiful lush green countryside, and historic buildings.
Some other places that you can explore through Kerala backwaters comprise of Kumarakom and Thiruvallam.

ENJOY THE COMFORT OF LUXURY BOATHOUSE

If one wishes to stay at these backwater houseboats, then you can make booking in advance either through your travel agent or through online websites that help you book a perfect room for yourself. These houseboats offer perfect amenities while their food is mouthwatering and very tempting. Through the backwater tour in Kerala, you can witness different aquatic lives also.
So next vacations, just get ready, pack your bags and set your voyage for a wonderful tour to backwaters and beaches in Kerala which shall leave a spell binding experience on you. 

Yoga: A practise which connects your body to your soul

Yoga is just not a mode of exercise or another prescribed way to reduce fat from our body. It is more than that.

Last to last year (in December 2012), when I got chance to perform in Rashtrapati Bhawan at the cultural night of ASEAN Summit. I was more excited than happy (for obvious reasons).

Obvious Reasons???

Arrey ... It’s not a joke to become part of such great event and apart from that, being a classical dancer, it is always a hidden desire to meet the dancers of different horizons and culture to explore their world by listening their stories. And moreover, this event was offering me to perform with 160 international dancers, who came from 10 different ASEAN countries and 80 Indian dancers.

Well, all the national and international groups were very good but the only group which held the audience spellbound by their performance was Gotipua group from Orissa. In this group, there were 10 children all from the age group of 8 to 12 years.

Gotipua is an Indian classical dance which basically belongs to Orissa. In this dance form, a group of young boys perform yogic postures depicting the life of Lord Krishna. They form different formations of bandhas (difficult and intricate poses performed in yoga) while performing. It wasn’t like that I have never seen these yogic postures ever before. I, myself practised yoga many a times. And also, it isn’t that I have never seen yoga in the form of dance. The only point of amazement for me was that how those very posses were being performed by little boys in front of my eyes. 

My curiosity nagged me and made me to some research about Yoga in India as well as Gotipua, as I was unable to forget those mesmerising yoga poses performed by those Gotipua boys.

It was known to me that the origination point of Yoga lies in Ancient India. But after a very long search, I realised there are so many modern variations and style of Yoga that has evolved over the years and many people have already associated with the world of Yoga today.

In Bhagavat Gita also, you can find a whole chapter (ch-6) dedicated to yoga practises. In 4th/ 5th century, a phase came in India, during the period of Guptas, when it changed its meaning of a spiritual practice to a way to attaining enlightenment and schools have been set to teach yoga.

In 19th century, Yoga got affiliation from the West and it had been taken as another Indian subject to be taught and ponder upon. Some of you might know that few Indian classical dance forms have also evolved from Yoga.

Yoga always get a place for itself in one’s life, be it as a part of regular exercise programme for fitness enthusiasts and for spiritual people. Yoga is always a practice which connects our body and mind to our soul.
Now, it has become a trend among the national/international travellers to visit a place in India where they can experience the essence of ancient India. By taking this in account, they never miss a chance to visit some of the most famous yoga centres in India such as

1.  Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, Chennai
2.  Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune
3.  Bihar School of Yoga, Munger –Bihar
4.  Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashram, Trivandrum
5.  Ashtanga Yoga School, Mysore
6.  Arhanta Yoga Ashram, Khajuraho – Madhya Pradesh
7.  Yoga Institute, Mumbai

I am planning out my fitness-cum-spiritual trip in the yoga centres in India. What yours plans for this New Year!!!

Five Star Hospitals in India

“We the country of 1.2 billion people, have the privilege of availing five star hospital facility.”

I was in school, when first time I encountered this phrase ‘five star hospital’ and got confused completely with this term while reading an article on ‘Medical Tourism in India’. Both these terms were not only new for me but these were the terms which were new for the whole country.

I still remember the day, when it was all over the news that India has become the second country after Thailand in Medical Tourism.

Yes, you heard it right. In 2007, India treated 4.5 lakh patients from other countries (including US, UK and Europe) and for the first time, it was considered as another segment of tourism having good growth in future. At that time, sudden increase in foreigner patient could be as a result of the ongoing recession at that time as well as the availability of cheap and world class medical treatment in India.

But now, it has become a well established sector of tourism in India. And now the terms like five star hospital services have become a self advertising phrase to attract those who want the best medical facilities without spending thousands of dollars on it. Medical Tourism in Thailand was always about cosmetic surgeries and spa treatments, but in India, people come here to get best treatment for their cardiac, neurological and orthopaedic problems at just 20% of the cost incurred in US.

And in the last six years, things have changed so dramatically that now world has started talking about the “Booming Medical Tourism in India”. It is not only emerging as the fastest growing segment of tourism in India but also is becoming the most promising medical tourism destination in the world.

Few days back, one of my friends asked me about Ayurveda Treatment Centres situated in Kerala
Now you must be thinking why she asked me? Right!!

Because, I religiously visit Kerala every six months!!!

She was looking for a place where she can relax as well as can also enjoy her vacation with her family. Since very long, she was planning to visit such a place where she can also get good Ayurvedic treatment of her Sinus and wanted to get it cured only with the help of an expert. And as expected she not only enjoyed her vacation with her family but also got her ailment treated without hurting her pocket much.

At that very moment, I realised the importance of Medical Tourism in India. How one can get expertise care without spending loads of money on it. And as everyone say all is well if the end is well.

Soon, I will be on a trip to Kerala to enjoy their Natural Oil treatments to pamper and beautify myself.

Fair and Fiesta at God’s Own Country

The God’s own country is also referred as the land of festivals. The entire year is filled with numerous festival occasions and holidays. Tourists from different corners of the world come especially during the festive season to imbibe and embrace the true culture of the place.

Kerala Festivals are exclusive of their kind - colorful!

ONAM

Among festivals, the most famous and biggest Kerala festival is ‘Onam’. Onam is the national festival of Kerala which starts from the day of Onam Eve (Uthradom) and extends for ten days. All Keralites irrespective of any religion or community celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm. Onam commences during the Malayalam month of Chingam (between August and September) which marks the return of Mahabali, their mythical king.
This is also known as harvest festival which depicts the culture and tradition of this state. Onam brings out the exclusive talent of Kerala people in decorating their house with Pookolam, Onasadya, Snake Boat Race and Kaikottikali dance.

Kerala Festivals

VISHU

The 2nd important festival of Kerala is ‘Vishu’. This occasion falls on the Malayalam month of 1st Medam. They consider this day as the most auspicious day to start anything new. The characteristic feature of Vishu is Vishu Sadhya, Kainettam and shopping for something new.

CHRISTMAS

Kerala consists of strong Christian population and hence ‘Christmas’ is one among their biggest festival. The festive mood starts from December 23rd and extends till January 2nd. This festival is characterized by extensive shopping, parties, parades. The Parades are observed in all the main churches during Christmas Eve, special masses and special feast are worth enjoying.

NEW YEAR’s EVE

‘New Year’s Eve’ is also another festival which is celebrated in a grand manner at Kochi. New Year is marked by the popular Cochin Carnival and also the Lighting of Papanai (a procedure introduced by Portuguese).

EID AL ADHA

Muslim festivals like ‘Eid Al Adha’ (Otherwise known as Valiya Perunal) and ‘Eid Al Fithur’ (also referred as Cheriya Perunal) are celebrated with public holidays and special Id public prayers. One can witness major celebration especially at Malabar region, particularly Kozhikode. This region is well known for Muslim festivals where people enjoy with sweets and Malabar special cuisines like Malabar Biryani and various other specialties mostly are made using mutton and chicken.
All these festivals at Kerala gained major importance because of their famous Temple festivals. Most of Kerala temples celebrate annual festival which usually starts from the end of November and extends till the mid of May. Among them, the most famous temple festivals are ‘Thrissur Pooram’, ‘Navarathiri’ and ‘Padmanabha’s Arattu’. 

MUSIC – Adding soul to festivals!

One of the essential ingredients in any festival is their traditional music. The Kerala music comes with a rich and long history which has major influence of Carnatic music. Malayalam songs are mostly derived from early Malayalam literature that dates back to 9th century CE.

Memorable glimpses of the wonders of nature in Kerala

Kerala state is known for its rich flora and fauna that can be seen all over with other beautified spots like the beaches, tree houses of Kerala, hill stations of Kerala, elephants in Kerala etc. The location of the state itself is quite inviting for the visitors since towards the west lies the Arabian Sea with Western Ghats rising up from 500 mts to 2700 mts towards east and is bounded by a total of almost 44 rivers. These inimitable features of the state make it worth a visit and hence every year thousands of visitors come to spend the most relaxing time. The climatic conditions in the state remain equable throughout. The picturesque beauty along the shorelines of Kerala beaches adds another reason for visit to the state. Kerala is also known for its Ayurvedic treatments. The cuisine of Kerala is also finger licking. Altogether, the uniqueness of Kerala makes it place worth visiting at least once. The state also has the highest literacy rate.

Tree Houses in Kerala

Tree houses in Kerala are considered to be another attraction for the visitors since the cottages built on top of trees provide a unique experience. The serene beauty of the nearby places provides the stay on the tree houses more memorable. There are numerous tree houses in Kerala that are spread all over the places.

Elephants in Kerala
Elephant is declared as the animal of the state of Kerala. Having an Elephant during any processions is considered to be auspicious. Almost all the temples in the state of Kerala have their own elephants while many of the individual people also own elephants. During any of the festive celebrations the Elephants in Kerala are used to take the deity idol and these elephants are ornate with caparisons that are gold plated with bells hanging around the neck and back.

Hill Stations in Kerala

The other beauty of the state is its serene hill stations in Kerala that give picturesque view to the tourists.

Festivals in Kerala

Boat Festival

The major festival celebrated by the state is the ‘Boat Race’. The backwaters in Kerala are the venue for conducting these Boat Races every year that is witnessed by large number of tourists from all parts of the world. The boat race is celebrated in the state since last 400 years. Few of the major boat races organized at different places in the state are Nehru Boat Race, Champakkulam Boat Race, Payippad Race and the Aranmula Boat Race.

Esselworld attractions - The best way to invoke the child within you through ultimate fun

Esselworld - Perfect blend of entertainment and thrill

Essel World is an entertainment cum theme park situated in Gorai in Mumbai. The famous Water kingdom is situated in close vicinity. Spread over a sprawling 64 acres of land, both of these put together are considered to be India’s as well as Asia’s biggest water and theme parks.

Esselworld attractions

Esselworld attractions attract millions of visitors to this park every year. There is some entertainment in store here for people of all age groups because of the diverse rides and thrilling games here. The main Esselworld attractions are listed below. Essel World entertainment is unlimited because of:

●    13 family rides
●    9 children’s rides
●    9 thrilling and exciting rides
●    Ice Skating Rink set up on a staggering 3400 feet - Mumbai’s first such rink
●    Massive dance floor made from glass, for conducting family events
●    Bowling alley containing 6 lanes. Known popularly as Riki’s Rocking Alley
●    Mascots of Esselworld and Water Kingdom scattered all over
●    Good souvenir shops to buy cute mascots at great prices
●    Monsters In the Mist - India’s scariest ride
●    Interesting water diving sports activities
●    Highway car racing for kids and adults
●    Interesting events during festivals like New Year and Christmas
●    Huge discounts and offers on tickets when booked online a month ahead of the trip
●    Restaurants selling authentic South Indian, North Indian, Punjabi and Chinese cuisines

If you are looking for some respite from the maddening pace of your lives, then Essel world is the place to be as there are lots of entertaining rides here. The ‘Monsters in the mist’ is a new inclusion in the theme park from 2010 onwards. Though this ride lasts just for four minutes, it has some 20 different sounds and signals that scares the hell out of the tourists opting this ride. The ride is through a dark path that is covered with mist and fog, which add to the scary appeal even more.

The rides, its features, sheer variety of the games, excellent hospitality of the staff and the satisfaction that tourist of all age groups receive while here make Essel World the only entertainment park in India to be constructed on par with global standards. Apart from the giant rides, roller coasters and others that are normally found in other amusement parks all over the country, Essel World entertainment department also boasts of a remarkable Ice-skating rink which is the first of its kind in Mumbai. The temperature inside this rink is 4 degrees Celsius at any given point of time, making it a crowded summer retreat.

Entry fee and timing

The park is open on all days of the week from 10AM to 7PM. During festive seasons or on national holidays, the park is open till 8PM. Visitors can save a lot of money when they buy a combined ticket instead of buying two individual tickets to Esselworld and Water Kingdom. The ticket fares for kids, adults and senior citizens for entering into Esselworld are INR 490, 690 and 290 respectively. The combined rate for Esselworld and Water Kingdom are INR 750, 990 and 390 for the same category. If bought individually, the prices for kids, adults and senior kids would have been INR 980, 1380 and 580 respectively.

Receive the best possible care at various Lilavati Hospital departments.

Lilavati Hospital along with its Research Centre has been a private hospital which is located at Bandra in the city of Mumbai in Maharashtra state. It was incorporated by the Medical Trust of Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta in the year 1978.The current team of trustees consists of Prabodh Kirtilal Mehta, Rashmi Kirtilal Mehta, Chetan Prabodh Mehta, Rekha Haresh Sheth, Charu Kishor Mehta, Sushila Vijay Mehta, Niket Vijay Mehta, Nainik Rupani, Bhavin Rashmi Mehta, K.K. Modi and Lakshminarayanan.

Lilavati Hospital Departments

The Lilavati Hospital is a hospital which may help in various sufferings due to a number of Lilavati Hospital departments. It is because of this there have been several rewards in its kitty including the esteem awards as well as various accreditations.

Since its operation till today, this Hospital has been serving people like anything and therefore, it also gained a lot respect, favorability and popularity. The trustees also left no stone unturned for making it a hospital comprising of all the latest medical techniques, medical equipments by the credential trustee, Prabodh Kirtilal or Chetan Prabodh Mehta or Rashmi Mehta. They have been trying their level best for offering the best treatments under various sections of diseases. The patients may avail treatments for almost everything besides varied cells of cardiac imaging, nuclear medicine, diagnostic services, general surgery etc. There are facilities for doing away any kind of disorder in people be it neurosciences, mental health, pediatrics, behavioral sciences, interventional cardiology, neurophthalmology, obstetrics, gynecology, nephrology etc. Apart from this, the campus of Lilavati Hospital offers scans, rehabilitative services, nephrology, pulmonology, electrophysiology, maternity services and cardiac pacing and lot more than one can think of.

The major Lilavati Hospital departments found in the campus of Lilavati Hospital are described below:

    Cardiology
    Endocrinology
    Dermatology
    Nephrology
    Gastroenterology
    Neurology
    Pediatrics
    Oncology
    Respiratory
    Rheumatology
    Psychiatry

Campus of Lilavati Hospital

There is a Pharmacy found at the campus of Lilavati Hospital which remains open 24/7. All the requirements of medicines of the patient are taken into consideration at this day and night Shop of pharmacy. Starting from the rare drugs to all kind of surgical materials, this shop avails all to the patients. The quality controls are done in order to ensure that medicines available are entirely updated and have the best of quality. There is enough storage of drugs done her for fulfilling all necessities round the clock. Patients can easily access all kinds of drugs required any time. The medicines are authentic as well as of high standards. There is a registered pharmacist staff here.

Various services availed round the clock are -

    Outpatient pharmacy: The druggist and chemist store is on the ground floor for the patients of OPD. It remains open 24 hrs and the Contact number is 022-26404733.

    In Patient pharmacy: Surgical Items and Medicines may be directly availed to the admitted patients through the inpatient pharmacy.  

Wonderla Amusement Park - Safety, stability and thrill personified

Wonderla Amusement Park in Kochi and Bangalore has been ranked as the top 2 amusement parks in India by tourists out of 5. This goes on to show the unlimited fun and entertainment this park has to offer. The Wonderla Gate was formerly known as Vega Land. It was the landmark destination in the city of Kochi. Visitors were thrilled when they saw this remarkable amusement situated right next to the main city. Today, the group also plans to open a branch in Mumbai and Panvel, and work is under progress for the same. The Wonderla Gate group is also planning to operate resorts next to these parks in order to attract tourists who come from far off places. 

Main attractions

The Wonderla Amusement Park in Bangalore is nestled nicely in the midst of lush green lawns. There are over 50 rides here which cater to the different tastes and preferences of the tourists who come here in all age groups throughout the year. If it is water sports that you wish for, you will not go back empty handed from here. 12 out of these 50 rides are based on water and it involves diving, swimming, beach pool etc. which are a perfect mix of thrill and fun. Nine rides are exclusively reserved for children here. It is quite a sight to see the adults singing and dancing with joy just like the kids as they let themselves loose and go with the flow of the games. The “Rain Dance” in this park is something that should not be missed. Kids and adults get on to the dance floor and the music starts playing, there is an excellent display of light show and suddenly when they least expect it, it starts raining. System operated showers pour water on the guests as they dance away merrily to the music. A luxurious resort is available in the premises of this park and tourists can stay here to relax themselves after a tiring day at the park. On weekdays, adults and kids need to pay INR 590 and 460 respectively. This goes up to INR 730 and 540 during weekends and peak seasons. The park is open from 11AM to 6PM on weekdays and on weekends, it closes an hour later at 7PM.




The Wonderla Amusement Park at Kochi is no different as the park itself is located in a scenic location amidst the hills. There are around 40 rides and they broadly fall into the following 4 buckets:

●    Family rides
●    Water rides
●    Kids rides
●    Hair-raising rides (which is full of scary elements, thrill and fun put together)

Tourists can enjoy a thrilling boat ride at this park. It is nothing like the normal boat rides that are available at other parks. This boat plunges deeply into a cave and transports the guests into a different world altogether. Though, it tends to get a little scary inside the dark areas of the cave, tourists are guaranteed of more than 100% entertainment in this. They can also have a great time at the 3D movie theatre that is found in this park. The ticket rates here for kids and adults are INR 360 and 460 respectively on weekdays. This goes up to INR 470 and 660 on weekends and peak seasons. On weekdays, the park is open from 11AM to 6PM and on weekends it closes an hour later at 7PM.

There is much more to explore in Andhra Pradesh, beyond Charminar, Golconda & Hussain Sagar...

Being an avid Indian Traveller, we always look for that tourist destination where our whole family can relate themselves easily. Today, I am just going to tell you about one such destination: Andhra Pradesh.

The moment I said Andhra Pradesh, you might start thinking about its famous land mark monument i.e. about Charminar, but, as I mentioned earlier there is a lot more to explore in Andhra Pradesh (AP).

Andhra pradesh Tourism

What we know about AP?

The Charminar (the famous Islamic Mosque) is as much the signature architecture marvel of Hyderabad (capital city of AP) as is the Eiffel Tower is of Paris. Everyone is aware of the fact that Kohinoor was found in India but a very few people know that it was found in Golconda Fort during the Qutub Shahi dynasty rule (1518 to 1687). And no one can miss out the Hussain Sagar, a manmade lake having the world's tallest monolithic statues of Buddha in the middle. Last but not the least, Andhra offers equal spiritual vicinity in itself. AP showcases one of the most beautiful temples and mosques such as Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Birla Mandir, Hyderabad, Mecca Masjid (Makkah Masjid) is one of the oldest mosques in Hyderabad, Simhardri or Simhachalam (Hindu Temple), Chilkur Balaji Temple (Visa Balaji Temple) and Kanaka Durga Temple is another famous Hindu Temple of Goddess Kanaka Durga.

Now you must be wondering that I have concluded every aspect of Andhra in this small write-up, but you are wrong at this point. I haven’t mentioned a single word about the two most exotic features of Andhra Pradesh that are its ‘hill stations’ and ‘beaches in Andhra Pradesh’.

It is also true that beaches in AP do not host parties like GOA neither have five-star properties like KERALA. But the one thing which you will surely find at the Andhra’s beaches is their simplicity in relishing the beauty of pristine and uninterrupted coastline.

Now, if you wish to go an ultra quiet beach to spend some quality time with your loved ones, then Yarada Beach is tailor-made just for you. It is a beach having golden sand, surrounded by hills on three sides and the lapping waters of the Bay of Bengal on the fourth. Nearby this sea shore, there is a Dolphin’s Nose Lighthouse situated at the top of Black Mores Hill. Its powerful white beacon can be easily seen from the distance of 65km.

Just like Yarada Beach, there are several other beaches to explore such as Mypad Beach, Ramakrishna Beach, Bheemunipatnam Beach and the last one is Rishikonda Beach.
In the end, I’ll say that you will arrive here armed with lists of hotels, restaurants, bars, stores and spas to visit, as well as wallets stuffed with cash, but you will return with stories, cheerful memories, big smiles and empty pockets. 

Great India Place Noida, a must visit place for Shopaholics!!!

Great India Place Noida is a famous shopping mall located in the city of Noida in India. It encompasses an area of over 1,500,000-square-foot and is considered as one of the biggest malls operational in the country.

The mall had its development done by IRPL and is situated in Sector 38-A of Noida which falls beside the metro station of Noida sector - 18. The mall has been a part of the Worlds of Wonder, Big Entertainment City amusement park. Great India Place Noida consists of a number of retail outlets which include Shopper’s Stop, Pantaloons, Globus, Home Town, Big Bazaar, Woodland and Lifestyle etc. There are several international brands also spotted here such as Nike, Adidas, Marks & Spencer, Guess etc.  The mall has been partitioned into specific zones having grocery and home in the basement while there are men’s apparels along with women’s apparels on the other floors.
There is a 6 screen multiplex Big Cinemas found on the topmost floor having a capacity of accommodating 1220 people. Besides this, there is wedding bazaar encompassing 850 sq ft area. There is a section referred to as Home Saaz for improvement of home. The major portion of the area is taken away by Future Group ventures, Big Bazaar, Home Town as well as Pantaloons.

GIP Food Court

There are a number of restaurants as well as GIP food court for the foodies. The variety of tempting food found in GIP food court may entice anybody’s taste buds. It is a food court serving multi cuisines and catering to a large number of people be it kids or adults. GIP food Court is helps people in satisfying every craving that one might have at the mall while one is shopping or hanging out with family or friends or have come for a movie. The Food Court referred to as Spoon has also got the great ‘Coca Cola Golden Spoon Award’ in 3 consecutive years of 2009, 2010 as well as 2011 continuously. 

Great India Place Noida

Some of the prominent restaurants found in GIP food court are:

1.    Club Ice Cube- it basically serves the Continental, North Indian as well as Chinese food
2.    Dunkin’ Donuts- It is a café and also serves desserts
3.    Yo China- It serves the Chinese food exclusively
4.    The Punjabiis restro Bar- It serves North Indian as well as Chinese food
5.    Shawarma Point- Lebanese food being served here
6.    ThaalVadi- This restaurant offers Rajasthani food along with North Indian, Gujarati and South Indian food
7.    Ristorante Prego- The Italian food is served here
8.    Crazy Noodles- This place is best for having a taste of Thai and Chinese noodles
9.    The Tandoori Village- This restaurant serves the Chinese as well as North Indian cuisines
10.    Baskin Robbins- this is an ice cream bar serving an amazing variety of different tastes of ice creams
11.    Domino’s Pizza- If one is interested in filling his hunger with a beautifully garnished and baked Pizza then there is Dominos also found here.

Few good things which Britishers left in India...

I was going to my maternal hometown - Sagar in Madhya Pradesh, when I met this superbly optimistic and calm natured stranger as my compartment mate in a train. Because of my intense love for Indian Railways I prefer to travel by trains only and this time I was trying this newly started Daily Super fast Express named Jabalpur Gondwana Express. To avail uttermost comfort and hospitality, I mostly go for AC First class.

So I entered in my compartment and found this noble man already sitting at his respective berth and reading some book. He helped me to settle down and resumed his reading soon after that. Being a talkative person and with this annoying trait of mine which sometimes makes it very hard for me to sit quietly, especially in the presence of another human being.  So as per my nature I was looking for some common ground on which I can start talking to him.

And from no-where I just said this stupid thing to him “Indian Railway System is the only Good thing which Britishers left in India” and as expected I involved myself in another never ending debate.

In revert, he was ready with his list of good things which we got as a side product during British Rule. He started by saying that we are being called as the biggest democratic system in the world only because of Britishers. According to him, we have the privilege of using one common language (i.e. English) in a country like India where 1652 languages are recognized as only individual Mother Tongues (as per 1961 census). And how can we forget that we are still following their Education System and Railway System. They also introduced a proper sanitation system in India and so on...

But all the above mentioned thing didn’t lure me except for one that was Railway System. Surprisingly for the first time I was more interested in listening instead of proving my point. Soon after, we started talking about Indian Railways and the different types of trains currently running in India.

From this gentleman only, I came to know about Luxury trains in India such as Palace on Wheels, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, The Indian Maharaja, Deccan Odyssey, Pride of The South, Splendour of The South, Toy Trains of India and Fairy Queen. I was astounded to hear about the royal treatment which one receives in these Luxury Trains. He also told me one his journey experience on THE DECCAN ODYSSEY which has been modelled on the Palace on Wheels to boost tourism on the Konkan route. Its route starts from Mumbai and covers Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Goa, Belgaum, Kolhapur, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Ajanta-Ellora, and then heads back to Mumbai.

The Bewitching Beaches and Backwaters of Kerala

Beaches – Ideal places for unwinding

If you are looking to just unwind after a busy day, come to the beaches in Kerala. The calm and serene waters, the clean expanses of sand, the huge canopy of trees and the gentle bustling wind can take you to another world. There are many beaches here that may look like they are designed just for you. Far from the maddening buzz of the city lives, these remote beaches give you the privacy that you want. Some also offer adventure activities that you can indulge while you are here.

Tourism Revenue

The Kerala State earns a huge amount of money in terms of tourism revenue through these beaches. Most of Kerala’s beaches are hugely frequented by foreigners and to suit their needs, there are other luxurious facilities like spa, Ayurveda parlours and resorts clo

Backwaters – Kerala’s Introduction to the world

The backwaters of Kerala are a sight that you cannot see in any other part of the world. You can choose for exclusive backwater tours that your operator might offer, to enjoy all the backwaters of the state. Alleppey is the most preferred destination when it comes to backwaters. Kumarakom, Cochin, Thiruvallam, Kuttanad, Kozhikode and Kollam are some of the other places that have bewitching backwaters.

Houseboat Experience

As you cruise through the serene backwaters in your houseboats, all you would want is that moment to stay on forever in your lives. You will have to experience this to know what it actually means. The houseboats made of wood have all the luxuries of a five star hotel with the added benefit of being built on the backwaters. This is the best way you can enjoy these backwaters in Kerala. The relaxing atmosphere, the still and pleasant waters, the happy chirping of the birds in the vicinity, the green cover of the coconut and palm groves and the enticing climate will surely make it a magical experience for you.

Beaches

se to these beaches that contribute hugely to tourism revenue. If you love beaches, you must ensure that you visit the Kovalam, Thankassery, Varkala, Shangumugam, Kappad, Beypore, Cherai, Pallikere, Kappil and Dharmadam beaches to get a feel of what you can get when relaxation combines with natural beauty. It is good to plan your trip around the months of October to March so that you will also have the climate helping you to enjoy the beauty of these beaches.