India Independence Day

The word Independence has a lot of meaning. In general term, Independence means freedom, the freedom to speak and do what you want in your own country. We all must know that we celebrate our republic day of India on 26th Jan and Independence Day on August 15^th . We send greetings to our friends and associates on India’s Independence Day.

Since we are living in an Internet community, many Indians use the Internet or mobile phones to exchange greetings. India became Independent in the year 1947 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Vithalbhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Netaji Subash Chandrabose. These brave leaders lead the freedom movement, which inspired many young people in those days to challenge the British lead government to leave India.

Indian Independence Day is celebrated each year in the capital New Delhi with military parades showcasing the latest weapons. Independence Day is also celebrated in the state capitals of each state with military parades. All the schools, colleges and the government offices remain closed for the day. As we celebrate Independence Day of India, let us not forget the struggles that our forefathers had to do. We must remember that our freedom came at a price. Jai Hind.

India Last Minute Travel - Choosing a Destination

Travelling with your family and spending some quality time with them is always fun and thrilling. Many working personalities find it difficult to plan their holidays well in advance due to lack of time, work and personal commitments. Those of you who are adventurous and love travelling might find last minute travel as a boon rather than a bane.

You need to know the basic details of your destination, like the travel distance, climate, the amount of money you need to spend on the rent and food. However, the surprise concept is lost when you plan well ahead and know everything about your destination.

When you are actually travelling you do not feel that excitement or thrill. The whole idea of a trip or holiday is to enjoy along with the surprises that come along. That is where all the fun lies. India basically is a tropical country, and you would usually find similar weather throughout the country with the only exception being Jammu and Kashmir. Your destination depends on your personality and requirements.

Some of you may like to visit a hill station, while some of you may like to visit a location known for its history. The choice is entirely yours. India is a vast country, and you can find the place that suits your taste. You can find lot of information about your dream location in India from the Internet.

Vivekananda Rock

Vivekananda Rock is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southern India. Placed in the midst of the ocean, the Rock is just 400 meters from Kanyakumari. Built in the year 1970, Vivekananda Rock Memorial owes its creation to able supervision of Shri Eknath Ranade. It is believed that one of the greatest spiritual philosophers of India, Swami Vivekananda used to meditate here before embarking on the famous and path breaking religious campaigns in India in 1892. The place can be easily reached from Kanyakumari via ferries and boats.

Vivekananda Rock Memorial is not just a spiritual destination for millions of followers of Swami Vivekananda, but it is also a magnificent blend of traditional and contemporary style of Indian architecture. Year 1962 was the birth centenary of Swami Ji and that’s when the idea of making the memorial fist took place. The memorial has a life size statue of Swami Vivekananda. The rock is also known as ‘Sripada Parai’. Considered as a holy rock, the place is routinely frequented by domestic as well as international travelers.

Vivekananda rock memorial is a wonderful place for relaxation and meditation purposes. There are two main structures known as the Shripada Mandapam and the Vivekananda Mandapam. The main sanctum sanctorum is in the Shripada Mandapam whereas the Vivekananda Mandapam has a meditation hall known as Dhyana Mandapam. It is a place for those who want to get away from hustle-bustle of city life. They can come to the memorial, sit, relax and rejuvenate their senses. The perfectly calm and serene atmosphere of the place is truly blissful.

Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state of Maharashtra. It is situated at an altitude of 1,372 meters in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It’s a very sought after weekend gateway for the residents of Pune and Mumbai because of its proximity. If Pune is just 120 kms away from Mahabaleshwar then Mumbai is approximately 285 kms away. The place will mesmerize with you its natural beauty, valleys, lakes, wondrous mountains and charming waterfalls. The place was first discovered by British who turned it into their favorite summer gateway.

The best part about Mahabaleshwar is its versatility. Tourists can enjoy several different activities. Right from exploring the local tourist hot sports and trekking to indulging themselves in adventurous activities, boating and fishing etc, Mahabaleshwar offers you several choices. If nothing else, you can simply relax in one of many fascinating resorts and relish the calm and serene environment.

Among the major attractions of the Mahabaleshwar, Wilson Point or Sunrise Point definitely takes the cake. At 4,710 feet above the sea level, it is the highest point in the “Queen of the Hills”. You can have a heavenly view of sunrise and sunset from this plateau. Connaught Peak is another popular tourist spot. It is the second highest point at Mahabaleshwar and is totally surrounded by serene, verdant greens on all sides. A feeling of different world altogether.

Elphinston Point is also an attractive tourist spot. It is located 10 kms from Mahabaleshwar. Other popular sports in Mahabaleshwar are Venna Lake, Baghdad point, Kates point and wonderful waterfalls like Chinaman, Dhobi and Lingamala.

Delicious South Indian Cuisine

Foods have always been a great ingredient of any culture. The richness of the food tells a lot about history and sumptuousness of a particular culture and that’s why south Indian cuisine so effectively reflects the glorious tradition of southern India. You will find variety of food items in southern part of the country. Some of the most famous south Indian dishes are vadas, idli, dosas and uttapams etc. All these items are light and low calories in nature. The traditional food of South India is mainly rice based. The cuisine is lip smacking and delicious. Perfect for health, these dishes use very less oil for cooking and that makes them ideal foods for health and diet conscious people.

Most of the south Indian main course dishes have sambhar. Common components of South Indian dishes are sambhar, rasam, vegetable curry and pachadi (yogurt). Rice is lemon flavored and is commonly made of coconut. Rice items are usually made using coconut, curry leaves, urad dal, tamarind, peanuts, chilies, and fenugreek seeds.

One major difference between south India and north India cuisine is use of spices. South Indian dishes do not use much of dried spices except cardamom, black pepper and turmeric. The color, taste and flavor are just perfect for a foodie. South Indian dishes have significant nutritional value. Chutneys are an essential part of South Indian cuisine. Chutneys are prepared using coconut, peanuts, dal, tamarind, fenugreek seeds, and cilantro. South Indians also love to have coffee after having their meals.

Glorious Gangtok

Sikkim is the second smallest state of India. Located in the North-Eastern part of India, Sikkim is a beautiful place that is totally untouched by malice of a modern world. Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim and it is believed to be one of the most soothing tourist destinations in India. The best part about Gangtok is that it is not at all crowded and offers a world of peace, tranquility and spirituality. The place represents a wonderful blend of tradition and modernity. It has fascinating monasteries. A tourist can have mesmerizing views of the Himalayas from Gangtok.

Gangtok is placed at an altitude of 1547 m above sea level. Gangtok is an important Buddhist religious site. There are plenty of tourist spots in this place. Apart from beautiful monasteries, you can visit to Tashi View Point, Ridge Park, Government Institute of Cottage Industry, Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology, Himalayan Zoological Park, Do-Drul Chorten stupa, Hanuman Tok, Deer Park, White Hall, and Sa-Ngor-Chotshog Centre. That’s not all. Gangtok is also blessed with wide varieties of flora and fauna.

Some of the other places worth visiting in and around Gangtok are, Rumtek Dharma Chakra Center, Fambong La Wildlife Sanctuary, Shri Nalanda Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden, Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary, Saramsa Garden or the Ipecac garden, Water garden, Changu lake, Nathula Pass, and Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary.

If you are planning to visit Gangtok, you can reach the place by road, rail or air. The nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal whereas nearest airport is at Bagdogra. Thereafter, you can take bus or private taxis to reach Gangtok.

Jaisalmer Fort

Northern Indian state of Rajasthan is famous for its forts and palaces. The state boasts of rich cultural heritage. Talking about the forts, Jaisalmer fort is one of the oldest and massive forts of Rajasthan. It is located in the remote Thar Desert. Jaisalmer is one of the most renowned cities of Rajasthan since the medieval times. It was well placed on the trade route which helped it in gaining prosperity. The city has countless havelis and palaces and is celebrated for its brave rulers. Jaisalmer is also famous for its aesthetic sense depicted through palaces, sandstone mansions, screen windows, buildings, well designed balconies and sculptures. Among the forts, Jaisalmer fort definitely holds the commanding attention. The fort has 99 bastions and it is two hundred and fifty feet tall.

Old city of Jaisalmer is situated within the walls of Jaisalmer fort. There are many gates through which one can approach the Jaisalmer fort. The entrance gate is Akshya Pol whereas Suraj-Pol is across the road. Hawa Pol is known for its enormous size. It was constructed during the 17th century AD. Jaisalmer Fort is a fine example of Rajput style of craftsmanship. It is one of most striking architectural monument in India. The fort has an intriguing and fascinating five interconnected palaces embroidered with windows and balconies.

One can have the wonderful view of old city and adjoining desert from the walls of the Jaisalmer fort. There is a market called Manek chowk outside the fort. Plenty of houses, shops and temples are based inside the fort. Jaisalmer is the venue of famous desert festivals. The city is easily accessible through rail, road and air.