Ranikhet, Uttarakhand

Ranikhet is a popular picturesque hill station situated in Uttarakhand. This popular hill station is located in Almora district. Ranikhet, also known as Queen's Field, is considered as a divine and holy place that offers beautiful and clear panoramic views to the travellers.

History of Ranikhet

Ranikhet is said to have got its name through a popular legend of Rani Padmini, Queen of Raja Sudhardev who became fond of this awestruck scenic beauty and designated this place as her place of residence. Since then this place came to be known as Ranikhet or the Queen's
Field.
 
Geography of Ranikhet

Ranikhet positioned at an altitude of 1,869 metres offers a clear picturesque view of the snow-clad mountains, abundant green forests and the aromatic apple orchards make the atmosphere pleasing and filed with ecstasy. Ranikhet is positioned at 29 degree 65 minutes north and 79 degree 42 minutes east.

Tourism in Ranikhet

Ranikhet offers a memorable and enriched travelling experience. The tranquillity and serene atmosphere of this hill station leaves the spectator enchanted. Some of the places worth visiting in Ranikhet are Golf course, Kalika temple, Jhula-Devi temple, Chaubattia garden, Hairakhan temple, Binsar Mahadev, Dronagiri, Bajinath temple, Katarmal (Sun temple) and Chamarkhan.

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Handicrafts of West Bengal, Indian Handicrafts

West Bengal’s rich heritage of handicrafts encompasses Sholapitha Craft, Clay Pottery, Kantha Embroidery, Dhokra and Terracotta Arts, Rag Dolls, Wooden Masks, Cane and Bamboo Handicrafts and Textiles.
 
Sholapitha Craft of Bengal

Sholapith is derived from a reed found in the marshy wetlands of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Assam. The artisans mould this reed into multiple objects like models of churches, temples and mosques, carved images of Goddess Durga during Durga Puja in Bengal, etc

Embroidery of  West Bengal
Kantha is a popular and prominent form of embroidery in West Bengal. Done with folk motifs, it displays a vivid rural appeal characteristic to the state. Kantha Embroidery is done on shawls, sarees, coats, girdles etc.


Wooden Masks of West Bengal
Usage of wooden masks in Bengal has come down from primitive times, generally depicting mythological characters, gods and goddesses. They are used for rituals, folk festivals and as home decorative items.
 

Bamboo Craft of West Bengal

Cane and bamboo craft originated in ancient Bengal, mainly employed into making furniture, baskets, bamboo fans and matting that is the choice of people today for decorating their houses.


Textile Handicrafts of West Bengal

exquisite designs and texture of Baluchari Sarees, Silk and Tasar Textile from Murshidabad, Birbhum, Bankura, Hooghly and Nadia districts have become the choice of the century. The handloom textiles there too have caught global attention today.

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Madhubala, Indian Cinema

Madhubala, was also known as 'Venus Queen of Indian cinema' for her ethereal beauty, Madhubala ruled the silver screen in the 'Golden Era of Indian cinema', particularly from the 1940s to the 1960s. This renowned Indian actress carved out a niche for herself by delivering as many as 72 films in a short span of eighteen years.

Early Life of Madhubala

The Bollywood Queen, Madhubala was born as Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi.on 14th February, 1933, in New Delhi. Madhubala was the fifth child of eleven children born to her parents. Madhubala's sister, Madhur Bhushan had said that the actress was born with 'blue baby' syndrome.

Early Films of Madhubala

Madhubala graced the Indian screen as a 14-year-old, with her second film 'Neel Kamal' (1947) which cast her as the female lead character, opposite another reputed star, Raj Kapoor. This film, directed by her mentor Kidar Sharma won her instant recognition even though it failed to perform well in the box office.

 
Later Films of Madhubala

In the early 1950s she became one of the most sought after heroines in Indian film industry. She has proved her versatility and expertise through 'Tarana' (1951), rollicking comedy star in 'Chalti ka naam Gadi' (1958), spoilt and capricious girl in 'Kal Hamara Hai' (1959) to romancing the veteran actor Dilip Kumar as 'Anarkali' in 'Mughal-E-Azam' .
Madhubala's Iconic Claim to Fame

It was with the epic film Mughal-E-Azam directed by K.Asif that she created history. Mughal-E-Azam is considered as the best performance of her career and she had lent a classical appeal to this legendary movie.


Personal Life of Madhubala

Life behind the glitz and glamour of the film industry is not at all rosy and this was especially true for the gifted actress Madhubala. the Indian Marilyn Monroe delivered numerous blockbusters despite her serious illness and an unsuccessful love affair with the thespian Dilip Kumar .

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Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh

Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh is an ideal retreat for tourists and nature lovers. Seated at Himachal Pradesh, the hill station Dalhousie is famed for its tranquillity and picturesque backdrop. The glories of ancient British era are reflected in every corners of this exquisite place. Also it got its name from the then British Governor General Lord Dalhousie.
History of Dalhousie

The town of Dalhousie was named after the British Governor-General, Lord Dalhousie, who had declared this place as an ideal summer retreat. Dalhousie came into existence in the year 1854 by the British Raj in the country.  The Himalayan Mountain Ranges surround Dalhousie, which is situated on the western side of the Dhauladhar Mountains.

 
Geography of Dalhousie

Himachal Pradesh is apt for the tourists to make visit the place every now and then. Summers are pleasant with maximum temperature of 23.5 degree Celsius. Minimum temperature is 15.5 degree Celsius. Winters are chilly and freezing. Maximum temperature is a 10 degree Celsius.
Tourism in Dalhousie

Dalhousie offers numerous breathtaking tourist locales like Karelanu, Dainkund Peak, Bakrota Hills, Sadar Bazar, Panchpula, Lohali Village, Khajjar, Tibetan Market, Dalhousie Cantonment and Gandhi Chowk.

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Flower Remedies, Indian Naturopathy

Flower Remedies are an alternate therapeutic method that can be used for the treatment of various ailments in human beings. It is almost similar like homeopathic treatment. The natural extracts from flowers are taken and used in the therapy. The extracts are not used in the concentrated form, but applied in diluted form.

 
Origin of Flower Remedies

Dr. Edward Bach, the prominent English botanist and homeopathic practitioner was the father of the flower remedies as he discovered and perfected the preparation of flower remedies. He devoted rest of his life in discovering different flower essence and prepared 38 flower remedies in total.


Preparation of Flower Remedies

The preparation of flower remedies is not an easy job. To prepare flower remedy the person must have knowledge and a lot of skill. Flower remedies are done from flower extracts, which are used in diluted condition. The flower extract can be made by sun method or by the boiling method.

Flower Remedies in Different Diseases

Flowers are also endowed with medicinal value and the knowledge of which can heal wounds, provide relief from respiratory diseases or soothe excruciating migraines. Flower extracts are especially helpful in case of different mental conditions that might have physical manifestations.

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Glass Painting in India

Glass painting in India flourished in the late 18th and early 19th century's Yellow pages from history of art whisper that the Chinese artists learnt the art of glass painting from Europe, the symbol of cultural monarchy. The flourishing trade relations between British East India Company and China had introduced and cultivated this form of art to India.
History of Glass Painting

History murmurs that the ongoing trend of glass painting first earned the crown of popularity during the rule of Panembahan Ratu II (1568-1646), the sixth sultan of Kraton Pakungwat, a long saga before the kingdom was segmented into Kasepuhan.
Procedure of Glass Painting

glass painting requires five stages. Producing a plek, a pattern or sketch on tracing paper of the object to be painted; the art is copied directly from an actual wayang .Then, the plek is shifted below a pane of clear glass, and the painter customises a rengreng, the contour or outline of the painting, directly on the glass from the plek below it.
Features of Glass Painting

The glass painting in India developed as the local painters mellifluously painted their thematic crux, building castles on the arena of glass by depicting popular stories, epic themes, icons, portraits and icons on the glass paintings.

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Akshardham Temple, Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat is an inimitable cultural complex built in the honour of Lord Swaminarayan. The entire monument was built without the use of steel. Besides a 7 feet gold leafed idol of Lord Swaminarayan and his holy ruins.

 


Structure of Akshardham Temple
It stands tall at a height of 108 feet and is 240 feet long, 131 feet in breadth. The porch around the monument measures 1751 feet in length alone. The garden surrounding the sanctum sanctorum is known as Sahajanand Van and represents a unique intermingling of reflective garden and children's park.

Akshardham Centre for Applied Research in Social Harmony
The Akshardham temple complex has its own research centre, Akshardham Centre for Applied Research in Social Harmony (AARSH). The research facility has an extensive library, study stations and archives.
 
Abhishek Mandapam in Akshardham Temple
The temple has an Abhishek Mandapam; it is an area designated for all visitors to perform abhishek on the murti of Neelkanth Varni - a yogic form of Swaminarayan. The murti of Neelkanth Varni was established in 2014 by Pramukh Swami and the Abhishek Mandapam was inaugurated on 14th December 2015 by Mahant Swami.

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Astrology and Health

Health is of primary importance to all and Astrology can help understand how each Sun sign dominates different parts of an individual’s anatomy. By gaining an understanding of this, he/ she can best apply the knowledge of astrology to improve health and well-being and minimize the effects of bad habits and lifestyle choices.
 
Astrology and Human Body

Each sign of the zodiac rules or governs a specific part of the body. These associations date back to the origin of Astrology the planets are associated with various glands in the body. Each house and each planet corresponds to particular part of the body. If the place or planet has the malefic impact, the body part may influence badly whereas good influence of ascendant owner and auspicious planets gives good ability to deal in life and health.
Astrology and Diet

Each sign of the zodiac has particular diet needs for minerals that are found in certain foods. A proper diet under any sign is beneficial in a healthful eating program. Every astrological chart depicts the way person looks and reflects his or her health image.

In Astrology, everyone is divided into 4 categories by constitution; water, fire, earth and air.• Fire Signs: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. They are believed to be the most energetic and enduring among all the other signs.
• Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. They are very flexible and empathic.

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Kullu, Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh

Kullu lies well guarded by the Pir Panjal range of the Himalaya Mountains. Kullu is wonderfully gifted by the nature. The marvellous landscapes, hospitable, peaceful and co-operative people are some of the points that separate Kullu from rest of the hill stations.
 
History of Kullu

'Kulantapitha' and its original name also has been mentioned in the great Indian epics like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Brihat Samhita and also in the ancient scripture of the Vishnu Purana. Kullu is considered as one of the most ancient places after Kashmir and Kangra valleys.
 
Geography of Kullu

Kullu is located in the banks of Beas River at an elevation of 4469 feet. Lying almost 240 kilometres from Shimla, Kullu has its location on the west side of majestic Himalayas. The primary attraction of this hill station is its awe-inspiring splendour. A wide mountainous ridge including some temples bounds the eastern side of Kullu.

Administration of Kullu

The town of Kullu is the administrative capital of Kullu District. The offices of the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, Additional District Manager and the district courts are situated here.

Tourism in Kullu

Kullu has also become the centre of many adventure activities like trekking, with its ethnic traditions and culture, ancient history, pristine nature and picturesque beauty attracts numerous tourists from around the world. There is no scarcity of interesting tourist places and panoramic spots in Kullu for the national and international level tourists.

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Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

Srinagar is truly "heaven on earth" with each of the four seasons heralding new delights, the almond blossom of spring, the lotus flowers of summer, and the saffron fields of autumn and snow cover trees of winter.

Srinagar is the summer capital of the state Jammu & Kashmir in India, and is situated in the valley of  Kashmir.. The city lies on both banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus River.
 
History of Srinagar 
According to the history of words, the word Srinagar is composed of two Sanskrit words, namely, 'Sri' meaning abundance and wealth and 'Nagar' that means city. 'Sri' is also the name of a goddess of Hindus. It is said emperor Ashoka when laid the foundation of his capital of the region, named it 'Srinagari'. 

Geography of Srinagar 
Srinagar lies between two hills, the Hari Parbat and the Shankar Acharya (also known as Takht-i-Suleiman). The city had experienced several natural disasters. Before the nineteenth century, Srinagar had been destroyed and rebuilt six times.

It is located on both sides of river Jhelum, which is also called vyath in Kashmiri. The river passes through the city and meandering through the valley,moves onwards and deepens in Wular Lake.
 
Economy of Srinagar
Srinagar is the main centre of the economy of the Kashmir Valley, and has remained tourist destination for centuries.
Mughal gardens in and around the city indicate their close association with Srinagar.

Cuisine of Srinagar
Rich and redolent with the flavour of the spices used -cinnamon, cardamom, clove, saffron, etc. Kashmiri food can be the simple meal of a family, or a 36-course wedding banquet called Wazawan.
Pure vegetarian dishes include dum-aloo - roasted potatoes in curd-based gravy, and chaman- fried paneer (cottage cheese), in a thick sauce.  Sweets d o not play an important role in Kashmiri cuisine.Instead Kahva or green tea is used to wash down a meal. 
 
Culture of Srinagar 
Srinagar has a distinctive blend of cultural heritage. Holy places in and around the city depict the historical cultural and religious diversity of the city as well as Kashmir valley. 
Over the years, it has assimilated a number of Indian Ragas, and has established itself as classical music of this particular region. The instruments used in the music include Santoor, Sitar, Kashmiri Saz, Tabla and Wasool. Hafiz Nagma is a form of Dance that is performed to the accompaniment of Sufiana music.

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