Water Conservation Lessons from Ancient Stepwells in India – Part II

April 21, 2017

Author – Jatin Chhabra

Read Part I Ancient Indian Stepwells Show us the Way to Conserve Water – Part I

Stepwell is an ancient scientific technique to store rainwater, that allowed usage at the time of drought. However, the medieval kingdoms that ruled the Indian subcontinent constructed these stepwells as a place of worship and social gatherings as well. Such fusion of science and culture is visible only in India, and we can experience this unique way of life by visiting these stepwells. Prolific traveller and stepwell documenter, Jatin Chhabra has visited the best of these Ancient Stepwells in India and recorded their historical value for posterity.

Agrasen Ki Baoli

Unlike other stepwells, Agrasen Ki Baoli is a well-maintained stepwell site right in the heart of India’s bustling capital, New Delhi. This 60 meters long and 15 meters wide stepwell was originally built in 1132 AD by the legendary king Maharaja Agrasen. It was later rebuilt in the 14th century by the Agrawal community to provide a resting place for travellers, and even today, Agrasen Ki Baoli is a quite famous among tourists visiting of Delhi.

Agrasen Ki Baoli has a strange story tagged with it since 1970s. It is considered to be a haunted place and some claim that the water in this stepwell was black (currently it’s empty). The water had such negative energy that it could hypnotize visitors to commit suicide by jumping into the well.

Well, I don’t know if this scary story is true or not, but I did find out about a suicide incident that happened in 2007 when a man committed suicide by jumping in this stepwell. But today the site has security guards watching over the place that is filled with a large number of tourists visiting every day.

Neemrana Bawdi

Neemrana was once an independent kingdom with enormous commercial potential and to provide shelter for its business commuters. The Maharaja of Neemrana built one of the deepest stepwells in India, the Neemrana Bawdi. Constructed in the 18th century, this stepwell is 500 meters long, built to provide water at the time of famine, and also a resting place for travelers.

Rani Ki Vav

Rani Ki Vav in Patan, Gujarat is the only stepwell that has gained the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site status. This stepwell is 27 meters deep and 64-meter wide, and is filled with 800 different sculptures of Indian mythology. The sheer dramatic look of this stepwell will give you a feeling that you are walking into an open-air art gallery.

Built in the 11th century, Rani ki Vav (means Queen’s Stepwell) was constructed by Queen Udayamati to honour her dead husband Bhima I, a famous king of Gujarat. This stepwell has a total of 4 platforms which have survived, and the final floor of the Vav is the main attraction as it has some of the best maintained sculptures that can captivate you.

Adalaj Vav

Built in 1499 AD, the stepwell of Adalaj, known as Rudabai Vav, that has a tragic story behind its making. It is a beautiful stepwell constructed by a Muslim Sultan to fulfil his promise given to a Hindu widow, Queen Rudabai. The construction of this Vav was initiated by Rana Veer Singh who wanted to create a stepwell for his people who were suffering from drought. But sadly, Veer Singh was killed in a battle against Mahmud Begada, the Sultan of Gujarat. Mahmud Begada wanted to marry Rana Veer Singh’s widow wife Queen Rudabai, who put a condition that first the sultan needs to finish the work of the stepwell started by her late husband for their people.

Mahmud Begada was impressed with the queen’s concern for her people, and thus he agreed to this condition to build a beautiful Vav which today is an excellent example of Hindu-Islamic architecture. The Adalaj Vav has extensive carving work done on its walls, pillars, beam and many artifacts of plants, leaves, and flowers are carved out on its walls. Every corner of this stepwell is an example of stunning craftsmanship, but this never allowed the sultan to wed Queen Rudabai who refused to marry the Sultan and committed suicide by jumping in this stepwell!

Pushkarani in Hampi

Most stepwells that I have seen in India are in the state of Rajasthan or Gujarat, since these arid regions face continuous droughts. But recently when I visited Hampi in Karnataka and I was surprised to see a stepwell here as well. In southern India, stepwells are referred as Pushkarani and are built alongside temples to store water used for religious ceremonies.

Hampi was once the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, which has been described as one of the richest empires in the world. Hampi Pushkarani was built for the temple of Goddess Kali, but sadly, the temple was destroyed in a war which took place in 1565 AD, when the neighbouring kingdoms of Bahmani Sultans defeated the mighty army of Vijayanagara and looted Hampi. Thanks to the restoration work, the city of Hampi has been brought back to present its glorious history.

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Ancient Indian Stepwells Show us the Way to Conserve Water – Part I

Caleidoscope

April 17, 2017

Author – Jatin Chhabra

Have you ever wondered that what kind of scientific technology or infrastructure is required to provide water at your home? First, rain water is collected by forest and fed into rivers. This water gets stored in huge dams, then it is pumped through pipelines to water treatment plants and finally in taps of our homes. However, this process is not even 2 centuries old, and we humans have lived in civilized societies for more than 5,000 years. So, apart from filling a pot from the nearest pond or lake, how did our ancestors bring water to their homes?

India is a country blessed with some majestic rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari and Kaveri, but still, many regions in India face drought-like situations every year. In order to survive such drought conditions, stepwells were built across the country and the best of them are compiled here in a list by well-known stepwell traveller, Jatin Chhabra.

What’s a Stepwell?

Image of a stepwell (Panna Meena Ka Kund) — Panna Meena ka Kund

A stepwell has stairs to reach the bottom and room-like structures inside where commuters could rest, as the temperature in a stepwell is 5-10 degrees lower that the temperature outside. In simple terms, a stepwell is a combination of “well with stairs and rooms”, which act as a water reservoir and a resting place for travellers. What makes this well architecture unique is that it is only available in Indian subcontinent and it has improved from more than 4,000 years.
The oldest stepwell site in the world is the “Great Bath” at Mohenjodaro in the Indus Valley Civilization. The Great Bath was a water tank with stairs built on all four sides to reach the bottom. Alongside the water tank, there were rooms that many archaeologists believe were made for bathers to rest. The same symmetric steps concept is visible in the ancient stepwells built across India between 4th Century AD and 19th Century AD.
Since July 2016, I was searching for my blog JatinChhabra.com a theme that captures the unique aspects of my country, India. And I finally found it in a DVD of Batman: The Dark Knight Rises 2012! It’s true; while watching this movie, I came to know about a stepwell named, Chand Baori. A close friend of mine suggested that the Batman movie production team stayed in Rajasthan to film some parts of the movie and it ignited curiosity in me about why they chosen that particular location.

Chand Baori

Chand Baori is one of the deepest and biggest stepwells in India. It is as old as 8th century AD and was built by King Chanda to solve the water scarcity problem in this region. The term Chand Baori means King Chanda’s stepwell and Chand Baori is simply astonishing 13 stories deep, and has 3,500 steps in total. I was challenged to enter and exit the stepwell using the same stairs, which is almost impossible since every single step in the Chand Baori is identical!
Chand Baori is in Abhaneri, a very peaceful village located just 95 km from Jaipur. Apart from Chand Baori, I have visited a total of 26 Ancient Stepwells across India, but the highest number of stepwells are in Rajasthan which is pretty arid.

Raniji Ki Baori

Constructed in the 17th century, Raniji Ki Baori or literally “The Queen’s Stepwell” is a royal stepwell built by Queen Nathavati of Bundi for religious ceremonies. Bundi is an unexplored tourist destination in Rajasthan and is also referred as the “City of Stepwells” because there are around 50 stepwells in the city.
In Bundi, elephants are seen as a symbol of royalty, and thus, in Queen’s Stepwell, more than a dozen marble statues of elephants can be seen. In the last three centuries, Raniji Ki Baori has remained as a place of worship, and all the festivals in Bundi start from this beautiful Stepwell. A few other notable tourist attractions in this city are the Bundi Palace and the 84 cenotaph temples of Shiva.

Hadi Rani ka Kund

Between Jaipur and Bundi, lies a small town that has a glorious but sad past. The town of Todarraisingh is famous for its beautiful stepwell, Hadi Rani Ka Kund that was built in 17th Century AD to commemorate the sacrifice of Hadi Rani, wife of the commander of Todar Raisingh, Ratan Chudawat. Ratan was a commander of a Rajput Army that was at war with the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb.

Just a day after Hadi Rani and Ratan Chudawat were married, Ratan Chudawat was ordered to march against the Mughal Army near Jaipur, but he was hesitating to leave his newly wedded wife. So to boost the morale of her husband, Hadi Rani sent her servant with a souvenir. It was her own head! Seeing this gory gift, Ratan Chudawat was filled with rage, and he fought bravely and won the battle against the Mughals. However, later he killed himself as he couldn’t bear the death of his wife and thus, the sacrifice by Hadi Rani was later honored by building a stepwell in Todarraisingh and it was named Hadi Rani Ka Kund.
Agrasen Ki Baoli

Read Part 2 Water Conservation Lessons from Ancient Stepwells in India – Part II

How to Travel Around Africa

Caleidoscope

April 15, 2017

There is so much to do in Africa. While the political unrest might be a deterrent, there is a lot to explore in the country that is filled with beautiful resources and lovely people. When you plan a trip to Africa, there is plenty to take care of. You need to which cities are the safest to visit, the best time to visit and many more criterion need to be clear before you actually click on the book button. Here are the top 4 areas you need to cover when you plan a trip to Africa:

Which cities to visit?

Each city has a different experience to offer to you. Right from the urban vibe to the traditional culture to amazing chocolates and coffee, each place in Africa is filled with unpredictable experiences. Here are the top ten cities you should consider when you plan a trip to go around Africa:

Algiers, Algeria
Khartoum, Sudan
Cape town, South Africa
Lamu, Kenya
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Maun, Botswana
St Louis, Senegal
Grahamstown, South Africa
Windhoek, Namibia
Kumasi, Ghana
Bonus, for the Pyramids- Cairo

When to visit?

Africa is a big continent with varying climate throughout. Each country is simply stunning when it comes to exploring it. The best time to visit would actually be throughout the year. It is warm most of the time and the temperatures are never really cold. However, it really depends on your activity and what you want to do which decides the best time to visit Africa. For example, if you want to go for whale watching- then July through November is definitely a great time. If you want to enjoy the Urban side of the city then November to February is a time you should consider visiting. If you book with the right travel websites, you will get the best deals throughout the year for sure and you can decide accordingly.

How to get in?

There are plenty of Airports inside Africa which connect the countries and main cities to each other. However, there is also an exhaustive list of the busiest airports in the country. Here are the top five that you can plan a flight to:

Cairo International Airport, Cairo (Egypt)
Cape Town International Airport, Cape Town (South Africa)
Mohammed V International Airport, Casablanca (Morocco)
Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos (Nigeria)
Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg (South Africa

What activities to do?

Following are the top 5 activities you most definitely should do when you plan a trip to Africa:

Go Kayaking with Hippos and Crocs following you!
Take a wildlife safari tour for sure.
Enjoy the urban side with Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Enjoy bungee jumping and swim with sharks.

There is a lot to do in Africa, you just need to plan your trip well in advance to enjoy the most.

Images – Pixabay.com

Two Indian Football Players Make Waves in Europe

Caleidoscope

April 10, 2017

There is no argument that one sport rules above all in India, and that sport is cricket. Such is India’s close bond to the sport that Caleidoscope had earlier wondered whether it was actually possible for other sports to thrive in India. While it’s true that cricket overshadows all other sports, various sports are becoming prominent with some even being promoted by cricket stars themselves.

Football is the most watched and played sport in the world. In recent years, there has been a gradual rise in the number of Indian football players participating in leagues outside India. Among them, two rising stars: Indian national Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and British Indian Yan Dhanda are worth taking a second look.

Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu became the first Indian to play in a top tier European football league. Last year the 24-year-old started his first Tippeligaen (Norway’s Premier League) match for Stabaek with a clean sheet. According to ESPNFC, Sandhu was spotted by John Burridge, the former Blackpool, QPR, and Wolves goalkeeper, who recognised his talents and helped facilitate his move to Norway.

Speaking to ABCD Football after playing his first full match, Sandhu stated that his influences were his parents and Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar. “I remember watching Edwin Van Der Sar play for Manchester United and I could imagine myself in him with similar physique, height.” He also spoke of the transition from India to Norway stating that at first he struggled with the climate and food, including having to learn to cook for himself!

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has also been making his name on the international stage. He played for both India’s U19 and U23 soccer teams before making his debut for the national squad. He has made 15 appearances in total and is becoming a key player in the country’s journey to the 2018 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Yan Dhanda may not have broken into Liverpool’s first team, he is certainly knocking on the door. Sportskeeda reports that that Dhanda is the first Indian player of Indian heritage to sign a contract with Liverpool. While he was born in the UK, Dhanda has maintained his familial links to India through his parents. His talent was obvious from an early age and he won the ‘Search for the next Asian Star’ competition hosted by Chelsea before being picked up by West Brom and then moving to Liverpool at the age of 14. In 2013 he was awarded the ‘Up and Coming Asian Player of the Year’ award for his performances for the Liverpool Youth Academy.

Liverpool will be hoping that the star becomes an important member of the team. Despite the team currently sitting in the third position in the English Premier League, Liverpool has been disappointing in this season after a dip of form saw it drop points in its bid for the title. The team is currently 10 points behind leaders Chelsea.

Kevin Hatchard, writing for Premier League experts Betfair Football, argues that Liverpool’s weakness has been its inability to produce a consistent performance this season. With Yan Dhanda expected to get his first full start in the coming months, Liverpool could make a formidable challenge this season and next, especially if some of its promising youngsters fulfil their potential and become established Premier League stars.

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5 Amazing Offbeat Destinations of Kerala

Caleidoscope

April 3, 2017

Known for its unparalleled beauty, Kerala entices travelers with its serene backwaters, green rolling hills, tea plantations, spectacular beaches and rejuvenating Ayurveda resorts. Munnar, Alleppey, Kumarokam, Kochi, Thekkady and Kovalam are the top destinations included in regular itineraries of Tour Packages for Kerala. Though Kerala is among the popular tourist destinations in India, there are few places that are off the beaten path and have stayed unspoiled even with so many tourists visiting Kerala all year round.

Here are five such amazing offbeat destinations of Kerala that are perfect for a quiet vacation.

Kolukkumalai Tea Estate

Situated an altitude of 7900 feet, Kolukkumalai Tea Estate is known to be the highest tea estate in the world. Owing to such an altitude, the quality of tea that is grown here adheres to a special flavor and aroma. The estate has a working tea factory, built in 1930, which still sticks to its old traditional methods of tea processing. Visitors can enjoy a refreshing cup of tea at one of the highest aromatic altitudes in the world. Besides, the estate offers breathtaking views of the lovely Munnar Valley, rolling plains of Tamil Nadu and Meesapulimala, the second highest peak in Western Ghats. Kolukkumalai is an amazing offbeat destination for nature and adventure lovers where ‘untouched’ is still a reality. Kolukkumalai is actually situated in Tamilnadu but it has to be approached from Munnar by jeep.

Valiyaparamba Backwaters

The coastal island of Valiyaparamba in Kasaragod district is one of the most picturesque backwater destinations in Kerala. Fed by four rivers, Valiyaparamba Backwaters are mostly unexplored and unspoiled compared to the other popular backwater destinations like Alleppey, Kumarakom and Kollam. Dotted with small islands and surrounded by lush greenery, the little offbeat destination is an ultimate place for tranquility seekers and nature lovers alike. Cruising along the small islands in houseboats is an ideal way to relax and unwind. One can explore these tranquil backwaters by hiring a houseboat from Kottappuram or by boarding a government ferry from Ayitti.

Silent Valley National Park

Located in the heart of Nilgiri Biosphere, Silent Valley National Park is perhaps the last unexplored part of tropical evergreen forests in India. Kerala’s best kept secret, this 238 sq. km park features evergreen sholas, winding rivers, exuberant waterfalls and spellbinding wilderness. This extremely beautiful and fragile forest is a home to rare species of birds like Ceylon Frogmouth, monkeys like the threatened Lion-tailed Macaque. The untouched dense jungles, the sylvan environment, and rich wildlife along with the lack of crowds make a visit to Silent Valley National Park truly unique and proffer a lifetime experience to the wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. Visitors can get around by hiring jeeps from Mukkali.

Mararikulam Beach

About 16 km from Alappuzha, Mararikulam Beach is a cute little known beach at Mararikulam village. It is voted as one of the world’s top five ‘hammock beaches’ due to its serenity and tranquility. With its vast coastal line fringed with coconut trees, white sand and clean waters, this uncrowded beach is the perfect place to spend some time in seclusion. Whether you choose to laze around sipping tender coconut water, read a book leaning onto a coconut tree, swim to your heart’s content or simply walk along beach, the beach is a good choice as it is well maintained with no hawkers and not popular among local tourists and is also known as “Secret Beach”.

Meesapulimala Trekking

Standing high at 2,640 m, Meesapulimala is the second highest peak in the Western Ghats after Anamudi Peak. Often considered as the trekker’s paradise in South India, the mountain is located a short distance from Munnar. A trek to Meesapulimala via verdant tea plantations, hundreds of blooming Rhododendrons, gurgling brooks & numerous hills gives an unraveling experience like never before and is considered to be the most beautiful mountain trek in the south Western Ghats. There are two trekking routes – one is through Rhodo Valley (8 km) and the other is via the small village of Kurangini (15 km). The base camp of Meesapulimala Trek is at Silent Valley which can be reached by jeep from Munnar. After the strenuous trek, one will rewarded with some spectacular views of Tamil Nadu, Munnar Valley, the Anayirangal dam, and also the Kolukkumalai tea estate.

In spite of its relatively smaller size, Kerala is filled with many gems that remain largely hidden from the popular tourist trails. Going off the beaten path in Kerala is extremely rewarding. You can go on your own or try a Kerala package in www.trawell.in.

6 Gorgeous Offbeat Travel Locations in India That we didn’t Knew

Caleidoscope

April 3, 2017

We always think of popular travel destinations when the idea of packing our bags for a holiday trip strikes our mind. Those spots are pretty famous and everyone lands up in such places during holidays. However, there are some places that are as gorgeous as the popular ones, but unfortunately we don’t visit them as often. India is a pretty vast country and it has a lot of beauty hidden it to be explored. There are many offbeat travel locations in India with sublime beauty that go mostly unnoticed; let’s check out some of these mostly little known offbeat travel destinations that are worth visiting.

Tarkali Beach – Maharashtra

Located silently on the western coast of India, Tarkali beach is often less visited place. It is around 546km from Mumbai and about 8km south of Malvan in Maharashtra. Equipped with long coastal line and clear waters, this beach brings up serenity to your eyes the moment you see it. If you are planning to enjoy adventurous water sports on a budget, then this is the perfect place. The waters here are pretty clear, on a sunny day you can see waters up to 20 feet deep, and this specialty makes this beach an ideal scuba diving destination in our country.
Tarkali provides you a majestic view with tall Shuru trees as the backdrop for the scenery. Backwaters are also a major site of attraction and what makes your day perfect than hiring a houseboat enjoying the evening sunset in it. Many resorts offer these houseboats to take you on a tour on these beautiful backwaters.

Coonoor – Tamil Nadu

Coonoor is a hilly paradise where you can meet the nature in its pure and undisturbed form. Greenery greets you everywhere in this hill station, which is situated on the Nilgiri Hills on the way to Ooty. The scene of fog drops on the leaves shining like diamonds when exposed to the early morning sun rays leaves you in disbelief of its beauty.
There is a lot to see, feel and experience the majesty of this unbelievably beautiful hill station. Sims Park is a large botanical garden spread over 12 hectares of land, in which you can find some rare plant species. This has not only been attracting tourists but it is also attracting many botany researchers. Trekking is another major attraction in Coonoor. Walking slowly through the tea gardens along with your loved ones is an unforgettable experience.

Lambasingi – Andhra Pradesh

Popularly known as Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh, Lambasingi mesmerizes you and will you catch you on the blank side of astonishment. It is often recorded as the coolest area in the state where the temperature falls below zero degree Celsius during winter. It is a hilly area that lies nearly 1,000 meters above the sea level. Maybe this is the most unnoticed tourist spot of our country because till today it is not regarded as a tourist spot.
This place is located exactly 100 km west from the city of Vishakhapatnam. It comes under the Chintapalli mandal of Andhra Pradesh. The local tribe inhabitants are generous with their hospitality. Commercial tourist facilities have not been developed in this place, so if you want to visit Kashmir on a budget, then do visit this place!

Osian – Rajasthan

If you think of spirituality, architecture, desert oasis and peace all at one place, then you should not miss visiting Osian in Rajasthan. Known for its royal heritage, the state of Rajasthan has been attracting people from all over the world, but this ancient town is something special. Osian attracts you not for its royalty but for its spirituality.
Located nearly about 65 km from Jodhpur, Osian is a desert oasis in the Thar Desert. The main Mahavir temple stands as a symbol of excellent blend of Hindu and Jain architectures, which many tourists love to visit. There are a number of other Hindu temples present in this holy place. The Sun god temple and three temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu are unbelievably beautiful. The architecture of the temples in this place is simply amazing.

Wayanad

Dressing in green carpets of tea gardens and mesmerizing with cool winds, Wayanad hides a lot of surprises for you. Wayanad is a hilly district situated on the tip of the Western Ghats in Kerala. Trekking here on the hills will make your experience a sublime one. Ekkadal caves in the Ambukuthy Mountain are really a treat to the eye, with their interesting carvings, which depicts the ancient tradition and lifestyle of the inhabitants.
The Chembara peak is one of the popular spots in Wayanad for adventure lovers. Kuruva Island is located nearly about 17 km to the east of Mananthavady. This mighty beauty is spread over 950 acres and it is a proud host for many rare species of birds and plants. Muthanga wildlife sanctuary is yet another feather in the crown of Wayanad, which is filled with many wild animals.

Auroville

Auroville is an experimental township situated partly in the state of Tamil Nadu and in the union territory of Pondicherry. It is a place with excellent international community indicating human equality and brotherhood. Basically, research regarding environment, culture, sustainable living, and spiritual needs of a person are carried out here. Today among the total population of Auroville only one third are Indians It is the peaceful dreamy place where people come live and follow their dreams leaving aside all their other jobs.
You may not be aware of such undiscovered beauties present in our great country. Be it Auroville, Rajasthan or Wayanad, each of these places have their own uniqueness in their truest sense.

Author Bio:
Rohit has a deep passion for travelling and a habit of sharing his travel stories with all. He owns a travel blog named TransIndiaTravels.com. His motto is “Keep loving travel and it will astonish you every time with unseen sceneries, which fill your heart with a sense of joy!”

Top 3 Reasons to Visit London

Cscope Staff

April 2, 2017

Britain’s capital is one of the most visited cities in the world, attracting scores of tourists every year. Regardless of your reason for touring, the city will always amaze you in one way or another. London is packed with numerous attractions besides having a picturesque skyline. Some of the must-see attractions sites include tower bridge, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London among others.

Getting to Britain’s capital is relatively easy. Cathay Pacific is an airline carrier that has well-established flight connections to London from other major capitals of the world. If you’ve been planning for your next vacation, take a look at the top six reasons for visiting this spectacular city.

Accommodation in London

One of the most important considerations for anyone planning to travel is where he or she will be staying. The city of London is very convivial, accommodating people of all tastes; it’s full of grandiose hotels that will definitely make your stay a lot cozier and enjoyable. In case you’re struggling to find a nice place, don’t crack your head. Here are some of the most amazing places to stay while touring the lovely city.

St George’s Inn Victoria

This hotel offers immaculate, comfortable, and modernized rooms that are teeming with a peaceful ambiance. It also serves a tantalizing continental breakfast besides offering their clients free Wi-Fi.

Best Western Victoria Palace

If you want to feel like a Londoner, staying at this particular hotel will definitely give you a first-hand experience. It features spacious rooms that are fitted with satellite TV, as well as coffee/tea making facilities. What’s more, the hotel is in close proximity to shopping centers, art galleries, and restaurants.

DoubleTree by Hilton London

Talk about excellence, elegance, and class; DoubleTree is one of the most popular hotels for many travelers who visit London. This is because the hotel has so many amenities that make it lovable including a modern fitness center, flat-screen television in every room, free Wi-Fi, and a fancy cocktail bar. It also has a chic decor throughout its facility.

The Great Outdoors

London is undoubtedly a large metropolis; still, it has managed to harbor countless green spaces where you can enjoy a variety of sporting activities, or discover an abundance of wildlife. If you find yourself in the gorgeous city of London, put on your shades and head over to these amazing outdoor sites.

Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve

This is one of the greatest nature spaces that’ll definitely blow your mind. This scenery houses peculiar yet captivating flora and fauna. Around April, a plethora of butterfly species swells this area, making it look utterly scenic. The area also has marvelous grasslands, ponds, and attractive walkaways.

South Norwood Country Park

If you consider yourself a birdwatcher, then the South Norwood Country Park is definitely an area you should consider visiting when in London. There’s a wide array of birds who call this place home. The park also has amazing trails that are perfect for biking and hiking.

Scenic Views in London

There’s no denying that London offers some of the most fascinating views of ambitious skyscrapers that are graciously reaching for the sky. There are numerous spots where you can enjoy the scenic aerial views of London. If you aren’t scared of heights, then you might find the following places intriguing.

Elevating at the O2 Arena

The O2 arena is widely known for hosting electrifying shows, live music, and exhibitions. However, there’s a side of this place that’s only known to those who are real thrill-seekers. Climbing atop this place is something that has slowly but surely gained wide recognition among locals and tourists alike. If you’re lucky enough to climb the arena before sundown, you’ll be rewarded with a panorama that only a few people in the world can boast to have seen.

OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie

This iconic spot at the OXO tower has drawn Londoners for more than two decades. It comprises of three venues located on the eighth floor of the tower. You can take in the sensational views of London’s skyline while enjoying sumptuous British food or cocktails.

Emirates Air Line (Cable Car)

This last adventure offers breathtaking glides over the river Thames in the panoramic Emirates Air Line cable cars. As you slowly slide from the Royal Docks to the Greenwich Peninsula, you’ll be fed with beautiful aerial views of the city of London.

‘Tea’totaller: Learning the Art of Making Tea

Cscope Staff

March 27, 2017

Author – Gulraj Singh Bedi

I spent the entire Saturday evening learning the art of making tea. Yes, you heard it right, I was learning the so-called ‘art’ of preparing a hearty cup of tea! Preparing tea, in my opinion, is a major exercise. It consists of a pot full of boiling water, some tea leaves, milk and sugar. Well, let me tell you, it isn’t that simple a task. Tea, I believe, is the perfect way of consuming herbs.

A friendly argument between me and my mother ended up ruining the cricket match I was supposed to be a part of. Who says only women are the sole custodians of this precious art of preparing food and tea. My mother, who I believe leads a rather simple life, decided to teach me a lesson. She took a vessel and asked me to prepare four cups of tea.

For a bookworm like me preparing these cups of tea was no less than rocket science, but I still thought of giving it a try. So, I took four cups of water, poured them into the vessel. This was just the beginning of the ordeal. In a fit of excitement, I forgot to light the stove. (I realized this much later 🙂 Then I began adding milk, sugar and tea powder. And then suddenly, I realized that the water isn’t boiling.

My mind had entered into a state of oblivion. I never realized that making a cup of tea would be such a ‘formidable’ task. The task was perhaps tough because I didn’t even have the slightest of experiences when it came to preparing something as simple as a cup of tea and my acquaintance with food and beverages was confined to the dinner table.

Okay, let’s return to my tea-making session, which was no less elaborate than a Japanese tea ceremony. I lighted a match stick but never realized that the stove is electronic and that it doesn’t require me to light a match stick. So, after several failed attempts, I finally succeeded in putting that stove to work. The water started boiling and so did the contents I had added in the pot/vessel. I could see that the thickness of milk had been diluted. To me, it appeared that the water was boiling not because of the heat created by the electric stove but because of the heat of the situation.

I am a writer so, don’t expect me to be sane, but insanity too, has its limits, but in my case, there weren’t any :). There’s a popular saying in Hindi – ‘aate-daal ka bhaav pata hona’ and this saying could be easily applied to me. So, after three failed attempts, the water and the contents poured in could be seen boiling. A soothing aroma had engulfed the entire kitchen. I strongly believe that a wintery evening and a hearty cup of tea are the best of friends. What good would be the cold of winter without the soothing aroma of tea to give the season of winter its sweetness?

Tea Shop India — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_culture

Meanwhile, my tea making lesson was turning out to be quite a lesson. When my mother entered after 20 minutes, the tea was ready (I would like to believe it was more or less ready). All of us sat with the tea cups lying right in front of us. I was quite certain that this tea-making exercise had turned out to be an exercise in futility. It took me quite a lot of courage to lift the cup and bring it close to my lips. Frankly, a cup of tea never felt this heavy to me 🙂

The first sip was the toughest of them all, but to my surprise and an extremely pleasant one at that, the tea did not taste all that bad. It needed a slight bit of an improvement, but that was acceptable with a novice like me preparing it. Ah, so finally, my misery had ended and it was one of those small lessons which ended up teaching me that not even the smallest of things as simple as preparing a cup of tea, cannot be taken for granted.

9 Things To Do While Travelling To Pass Time

Caleidoscope

March 25, 2017

Things To Do While Travelling — Image – Pixabay

Traveling can be quite the arduous task, if you do not plan it right. It can exhaust you, drain you and even leave you demotivated sometimes. But, only if it is not planned right. When planned efficiently, you can have fun, entertain yourself and also recharge yourself from the stress of daily life. So, to help you carry on your travel plans hassle-free, here are some short tips and things to do during traveling to pass your time in a relaxed manner :

TALK TO THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU

It never hurts to make a new friend right? Traveling is a fantastic way to make more friends and meet new people. You can learn about different personalities, their experiences, cultures and also their goals in life. Initiating a conversation with a stranger can seem scary and intimidating at first due to various differences, but there is so much to learn from every person we meet in life – whether rich or poor and irrespective of ethnicity. You can share your experiences and learn a lot from their experiences. So, do not hold yourself and feel shy to talk to the person next to you. Long journeys can get really boring and talking to a stranger can really hit things off, sometimes creating long term friendships and relationships. This is a wonderful way to spend your time during traveling.

LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE

This specially applies if you are traveling in a different region or a country, from your own. If you can strike off a conversation with someone whose mother tongue if different from yours, you can trade the knowledge of the languages you possess with one another. This is a great and fun way to learn a few words and sentences of a different language. It has been studied that people who know or speak more than one language have enhanced and improved critical thinking, concentration, multi-tasking ability, problem-solving skills and better listening skills.

READ ABOUT THE PLACE YOU ARE VISITING VIA BOOKS OR INTERNET (TRAVEL BLOGS/WEBSITES/YOUTUBE)

An element of surprise is good, but It is always better to be prepared for future happenings. While traveling, you can read more about the places you will be visiting, whether it is a couple of restaurants you are wanting to relish your taste buds at, the hotel where you are staying or nearby attractions that you would like to pay a visit. If you are traveling to a new country, you can learn a bit about the history, culture and lifestyle of the place, so that you can blend in better. There are various sources of information in today’s world. So, make the most of the opportunity to read and learn more about the place.

WATCH NETFLIX or AMAZON PRIME or ANY OTHER VISUAL ENTERTAINMENT

With the evolution of technology, everything is present in the palm of your hands and is easily accessible. Netflix and Amazon Prime have changed the face of visual entertainment of how one watches television shows and movies, spanning across various genres. You can watch anything from latest web series, documentaries and horror movies to spy shows and real life biopics. There are hundreds of television series and films to watch here. Visual streaming services are a great hit worldwide and since their introductions, different platforms have taken the world by storm. In India alone, there are millions of subscribers of Netflix and Amazon Prime. All you need is a mobile phone or a laptop and internet connection to access them.

READING BOOKS

No internet connections or devices needed, just pieces of paper and you. This is one of the best and the most wonderful ways to spend time while traveling. Reading books have been a pass time since time immemorial. One of the main reasons why people read books is because It transports you to a different world and makes you lose the track of time, especially during long and tiring journeys. You can engage in reading any book of your choice, whether it is an exciting novel by Dan Brown or comic books such as Asterix and Tintin! This activity will help you kill time and at the same time engage you in a fantasy world. Always carry your favorite books around.

SLEEP

What’s a better way to pass and kill time than to sleep? It helps you relax, rejuvenate and recharge yourself, especially if you have been a victim of late working hours and the common stress of the busy life. A short nap never hurts the body, in fact it makes you feel healthier, fresher and more mindful. And let’s be honest, if there is nothing to do around, a person would doze off within no time.

Here is a fun fact : A study by sleep researchers shows that human spend almost one-third of their life sleeping!

SPEAK TO YOUR FRIENDS

Another thing you can do is call up a friend who you are close to and talk to them, maybe even for hours! It may be a close colleague from your work place or an old friend whom you haven’t spoken to in months. This is a great way to pass time while traveling, as you can tell them about your further adventures and also catch up on life’s happenings!

LISTEN TO MUSIC

Listening to your favorite music is the arguably the most preferred pastime by anyone during traveling. Jam to some rock tunes by AC/DC or groove to some of the greatest pop hits by Michael Jackson, music has the ability to help you relax in times of boredom and distress. It has been proved that listening to music makes a person happy, elevating the mood and also helps people sleep better. Plug in your earphones and enjoy some great music.

A fun fact is, listening to music utilizes the entire functions of brain, which very few other activities do!

BE MINDFUL

Being mindful refers to the state of mind where one enhances brain activity simply by concentrating, paying more attention and focusing on things around them. It is always in the best interests of people to stay safe by making smart decisions, especially while traveling. Safety and security must be the top most priority of anyone while traveling. Take in the details around you in the most subtle manner, without judging or analyzing to them. Being mindful is a trait or a skill you can apply anywhere and everywhere in your daily fast-paced life.

Shimoga Hosts Ambegalu Short Film Festival

Levine Lawrence

March 20, 2017

I am surely not a movie buff. What would you call a person who watches a feature film in a theatre once a year only because his friends dragged him in… an anti-movie buff?! Anyway, if me kind of clueless anti-movie buff gets to know about a film festival and actually attends it, then there might be something in it. There was such a hype about Ambegalu Short Film Festival in my hometown that I had to attend it.

Short films do not much of an audience in the Bollywood-obsessed Indian movie market. Thankfully, the advent of internet video sharing sites such as Youtube and Vimeo has changed the scenario for short films for better. Yet, there are very few forums or festivals for short films and independent film makers in India. However, it is really surprising that a small town like Shivamogga taking the lead in hosting a film festival for Kannada short films!

Shivamogga Bellimandala, the district unit of Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, Yugadharma Janapada Samiti and Sinimogge Chitra Samaja jointly organised their second film festival for short films this year aptly named – Ambegalu 2. Ambegalu means the first steps of a child, indicating the first steps taken by a film director or an actor towards cinema.

After successfully conducting the first Ambegalu short film competition last year, event organisers were well prepared for a gala event this second year. This year’s competition received 78 entries as compared to 54 entries last year. Evidently, there were immense expectations among Kannada movie buffs for a fascinating range of films to be depicted this year.

There were short films with a focus on social messages while there were other movies that were outright box office thrillers. ‘Apaghaata’ centred on the issue of drug abuse among Indian youth, while ‘Kehza’ was a thriller movie. A diverse plethora of awards were given right from best child artiste to viewer’s choice awards. But it was amusing to watch separate awards for best male child artiste and best female child artiste, which could due to the organiser’s eagerness to please maximum number of participants! Sinchana won the best female child artiste award for the movie ‘O2’.

Medini Kelamane won the best director award for ‘Daali’, which truly gripped the audience even in its 30 second clip. Interestingly, Ganesh Kelamane won the best film award for Chowki last year! I am wondering are these two related…

‘Kalam Hindustani’ team was ecstatic since they won various awards like viewer’s choice award, best creative artiste and best photography. It was truly heartwarming to see a bunch of local boys from Shimoga joining hands to create a film of their own without much financial help.

Similarly, the best movie award went to another low-budget film ‘Kurli’, a black & white movie about a village boy by Natesh Hegde. While accepting the award, Natesh confessed that he never expected his maiden attempt at film-making would win an award worth Rs.25,000.

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