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.
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.
Source: ABCD Football
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.
Source: Sportskeeda
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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 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.
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!
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.
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 – Aleksandr Zykov/Flickr
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!”
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
“Anyone who so much as walks past it, cannot hold himself/herself from the feeling of wanting to look at it one more time. And anyone who has been in the presence of it cannot help but sing praises of its glory. It’s inevitable!”
What is said about the great Taj Mahal is truly applicable to the region to which it belongs. I live in Ghaziabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and experienced the most-watched state elections in India first-hand. The most populous state in India obviously had the most boisterous, colourful and fierce voting campaign that would determine not only the state’s politics but the nation’s as well. Being the most culturally diverse among all states, UP had the highest number of regional political parties that catered to different vote banks based on caste, religion and ideology.
Despite all the chaos in daily life, I surmise Uttar Pradesh is undoubtedly the cultural foundation of India. This state is not only the rainbow land where the multi-hued Indian Culture has blossomed from times immemorial but is also a perfect blend of two contrasting religions of Hinduism and Islam. Truly multi-ethnic, this state is laced with immigrant cultural heritage roots that lend it a unique identity in India. Talking about royalty, Lucknow truly represents the royal splendour that was seen during the era of medieval Maharajas. Lucknow, the capital of UP is popularly known as “the city of nawabs”, whose culture is fully influenced by the Mughal era and retains its old-world charm even today.
While Urdu as a language is dying a sad demise in India “Lakhnavi Urdu” is a Culture watched old who, spoken that is used by the locals here. Hindi is the official language of UP, spoken in a wide range of dialects such as Awadhi, Brajbasi, Bhojpuri, etc.
Religious rituals are an important part of every state’s culture and thus an integral part of everyday life. Therefore, it is not surprise that many religious holidays observed here, irrespective of caste and faith.
Diwali, Holi and Dussehra, also honoured by Jains, are among the biggest Hindu festivals. Ten days of Ramlila are spent during Navratri and the epithet of Raavan is burnt with tremendous enthusiasm on the 10th day. In several regions of the state, during the navratri, Durga puja is also observed. The Official Muslim Religious Festivals are Eid e milad un nabi, Eid, Bakreed and Birthdate of Ali ibn Abitalib. Moharram, although Ashura Day is an official holiday, it is not a festival but it’s seen by Shiites as a mourning day. Jains celebrate Mahavir Jayanti, Buddha Jayanti is honoured by the Buddhists, Guru Nanak Jayanti by the Sikhs and Christians enjoy Christmas. Additional celebrations include Navami, Chhath Puja, Krishna-Jannmashtami, Mahashivratri, etc.
There is an abundance of Native and Western attire in the people of Uttar Pradesh. Traditional dressing styles include vibrant draped clothing – such as sari of different types for women and dhoti or lungi for men– and tailored dresses, such as female salvar kameez and male kurta payjama. Often men also have headgear such as topi and pagri. Sherwani is a more official male garment that is often used on festive occasions together with the churidar. Pants and shirts of the European style among males are also widespread. Young adults in jeans and t-shirts are most frequently found.
Uttar Pradesh Cuisine
Mughlai Cuisine – Malai Chicken Tikka Nadir Hashmi/Flickr
Every story has a spice in it so does UP. One of the most famous cuisines of India is the Nawabi Cuisine whose main course is the Lakhnavi Biryani” which has its own distinct identity. The diverse range of dishes and cooking styles of this city is inspired and influenced by the Mughals. The cuisine includes both vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes prepared with exotic spices, herbs and garnished with dry fruits.
Agra city’s culture is a harmonious blend of various religions, but it is mainly influenced by Brajbasi culture, the Hindu Vaishnavite cult that emerges from the tales of Lord Krishna in Mathura. When we enter the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, we observe that Hindu culture and traditions are predominant in this region. Named as ‘Purvanchal’, this region comprises prominent pilgrimage cities such as Varanasi and Gorakhpur. Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world that has been continuously inhabited since 1800 BC. It is mainly associated with Hinduism and Buddhism but a glimpse of all religions can be seen here. Western UP is mostly populated by Muslims who form a significant majority in this region from the times of the Delhi Sultanate and extending up to the Mughal era.
It has a very rich tradition of folk music & drama such as Ramlila. The royal courts of Lakhnavi Nawabs nurtured the multicultural aspect of Indian culture, which is best represented in delightful Hindustani classical music and Kathak dance forms. Varanasi is famed for its antique musical traditions and is the oldest city of civilisation. The singing style, musical instruments, ragas and stories are distinct. Varanasi is, of course, classified within the “Cities of Music” network of the UNESCO. There are music festivals that are celebrated on the banks of the Ganga River.
The Stone Craft in Uttar Pradesh deserves a mention when it comes to wonderful arts and crafts. These qualifications stretch back to the years, while especially under the Mughal era they developed abundantly. The Taj Mahal is the most exquisite example of handcraft in stone. The mausoleum of white marble is stunning, one of the marvels of the world.
Uttar Pradesh’s elegance in ceramics is legendary. Art history spans back over 600 years. Meerut, Khurja and Hapur are places in the state that have gained their reputation. While the pots are hand produced, they are decorated with lovely floral designs and colourful patterns. Surahi, a long neck vessel, is a unique pottery design. In summers they are utilised to keep the water cool while they also look wonderful.
The excellent embroidery of Chikankari is among the fascinating arts and crafts in the Uttar Pradesh. Chikan work has been one of Lucknow’s pride masterpieces. The clever white thread embrodered on textiles is lovely beyond words.
Varanasi by Shootcase Chronicles
Varanasi is the oldest town of Uttar Pradesh and is noted for the art of zari work. Real gold and silver threads have traditionally been formed in order to produce gorgeous saris and other clothing designs and patterns. The hefty cloth bears a royal look. Banarasi sarees are known for their magnificent zari work. In reality, traditional sarees are an essential aspect of northern India’s Hindu marriages.
Tourism in Uttar Pradesh
Most tourists visiting UP begin their journey with a visit to Agra, which possesses the three world heritage sites that form the epicentre of the Mughal Empire – Taj Mahal, Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri. “Taj Mahotsav” is a cultural extravaganza that is organised by the government to showcase Agra’s art and culture every year, while the Holi celebrations in Mathura is the most vivid cultural festival of the region.
On Kashyap Hill stands the shrine of Kaushik Devi. Kaushik Devi, According to the Puranas, killed the Shumbh-Nishumbh demons in the body of goddess Parvati. At an altitude of 10,500 ft above sea level, Badrinath is located at a distance of 384 kilometres from Haridwar. Muni-ki-Reti, Dev Prayag and Kirtinagar are important destinations on the road from Rishikesh.
The Gangotri Bhagirathi temple lies at an altitude of 3,140 m. The Bhagirathi descended first on the ground from Heavens and worshipped Lord Shiva on the sacred rock that King Bhagirath used to adore. For some distance the Bhagirathi flows from here to the north and is hence known as the Gangotri.
Haridwar is the spot where the Ganga mountain course, the Hindus’ most sacred river, finishes in the plains. It is a famous Hindu pilgrimage centre. Here are various shrines and temples, and a plunge in the holy Har-ki-Pauri is a definite road to salvatation.
The temple of Kedarnath is located under the Kedarnath Mandal at a height of roughly 11,500 metres. Pilgrims can take a motor transport from Phata to the temple of Kedarnath, from where they can walk for 27 kilometres. It is around 400 kilometres from Rishikesh to Kedarnath.
Kushinagar is situated 30 kilometres from Deoria, near Kasia, one of the main Buddhist centres is Kushinagar. Here’s Lord Buddha attatained Nirvana.
Mathura is one of hinduism’s seven sacred cities. It is considered Lord Krishna’s birthplace. Mussoorie is located at 6.500 ft high, 35 kilometres from Dehradun. The most picturesque hill station in Uttar Pradesh, it is known as the queen of hill resorts.
One of the great attractions of the Nainital is the enormous lovely lake with the hills on three sides are surrounding it. Nanda Devi is the world’s fourth highest summit. Every twelfth year during Bhadra, the Hindus visit the area.
Pindari Glacier is a lovely site in Almora area, at 3943 m above sea level. Flowers of diverse colours, lovely woodlands and snow attract travellers on their visit from Almora to Pindari. This glacier is also the source of the Pindar River.
At the confluence of Yamuna and Ganga’s Allahabad is located. It is a major pilgrim place in India and also known as Tirtharaj or Prayag. Among Buddhist shrines Sarnath holds a very prominent significance. Buddha preached his first sermon here after the Enlightenment in Bodh Gaya.
Strength lies in differences is truly proved by the people of UP. Despite of differences in the languages used, people of different regions & religions live in harmony & brotherhood. Hindi is the official language of UP which is spoken in a wide range of dialects such as Awadhi, Brajbasi, Bhojpuri, etc. In a nutshell, Uttar Pradesh is a microcosm of the entire Indian nation in its multicultural diversity.
On this Women’s Day, Caleidoscope wants to celebrate the spirit of womanhood through this Hindi poem. our writer Sana Sayyed has written a poem to that depicts the struggle of a woman to breakthrough barriers and shows her strength to create a shining example in her society –
किस्सा ऐक मशहूर ह्आ
Kissa Ek Mashhur Hua
किस्सा ऐक मशहूर ह्अा
मेरा नाम का तेरे नाम से
मेरा हिस्सा ऐक पुरा हुअा
बेशक जो कभी अाम थे
रोका मुझे जीन लम्हों ने
ऊनहे तोडकर मैने चोटे खाॉई
समेटकर कुछ खुदका तुकदा
मैंने सफर मे नइ कालीन बिछाई
अाखों मे बसी थी जसबे की अाग
दिल मे सब्र का मौसम था
मै तो दूर था इस दुनिया से
मेरे करीब मेरे जखम था
रुकना नहीं था इस खेल मे
तलब को मैने लगाम लगाइ
जलाकर थोडा अपना हिस्सा
मैंने ऐक मशहाल जलाइ
इस कदर मै टीका रहा
जंग की मैदान मे
के हिस्से मेरे अाइ जीत
शाबाशी के अनजाम मे
जुडा तू तबसे हैं
मेरा नाम तेरे नाम से
ये मशहूर किस्सा तबसे हैं
तेरा नाम मेरे नाम से
जै हिंद सना सय्याद
Kissa ek mashhur hua
mere naam ka tere naam se
mera hissa ek pura hua
beshak jo kabhi aam the
Roka mujhe jin lamhon ne
unhe todkar meine chottein khayi,
samet kar kuch khudka tukda
meine safar me nayin kaleen bichayi..
ankhon me basin thi jasbe ki aag
dil me sabar ka mausam tha,
main toh dur tha iss duniya se
mere kareeb mera zakham tha..
Rukna nahin tha iss khel main,
talab ko meine lagaam lagayi..
jalakar thoda apna hissa,
meine ek Marshall jalayi
Iss kadar mein tika raha
jung k maidaan mein,
hisse meri aayi jeet
shabashi ke anjaam mein
Juda tu tabse hain
mera naam tere naam se
Ye mashhur kissa tabse hain
tera naam mere naam se
