Manali - Popular Honeymoon Destination

Manali situated at 6398 ft in the Himalayas is a popular honeymoon destination and Mecca for adventure sports enthusiasts. Indians flock to the town even in winters lured by its snow covered peaks and slopes. Foreigners attracted by adventure sports options flock in large numbers to Manali.
Renowned for its snow-covered mountains, scenic beauty, history and culture, Manali, often referred to as the "Valley of the Gods", is situated in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It is often considered a twin town of Kullu, 40 km away.
Manali rose to prominence as a pit-stop on the flower trail in the sixties and seventies. Hippies flocked in pursuit of their utopian dream and popularised Manali in the west.
Manali rose to prominence with the rise of turmoil in Kashmir. The hill town witnesses a rush of tourists during the peak season in summer and again during Christmas and New Year. Tariffs for rooms can more than triple coinciding with the tourist rush.
Manali is also the main jumping-off point for Ladakh, Spiti and Lahaul. Daily buses ply regularly to Leh, Keylong and Kaza from June to October.
Adventure Sports: In addition to temples, mountain landscapes and culture, Manali is a paradise for lovers of adventure sports. Mountaineering Institute is located three kms from Manali town. The Institute organises basic and advance training courses, in trekking, mountaineering, skiing and water sports.
Angling tours are organised in Tirthan and Sainj rivers. Trout and Mahseer found in the rivers are an angler’s delight. Himachal Pradesh Fisheries Department organises angling tournament in April and in September-October.

Trekking:  April to November is the best season for trekking in Manali. Lamadugh Meadows, Solang Valley, Koshla-Tree line are some of the popular treks. Most of the treks are one day journeys.
Manali has some of the finest stretches of white water. Though dangerous, hi-quality rafts and experienced and trained crew make the sport safe.

Paragliding in Manali is an unforgettable experience. Rohtang Pass, 51 km north and Solang valley, 13 km offer great opportunities for paragliding. Solang Nallah is suitable for short flights while Hallan is suitable for high flying. Operators also offer short tandem rides for novices.
Rock climbing, rappelling, Skiing, Ice Climbing, Snowboarding, Ski Touring are some of the adventure activities which can be indulged in Manali.

Tips

• Many tourists are also lured here by the famous Manali charas. Local police keeps a strict vigil which has brought the number of incidents.
• Old Manali and Vashisht close for winter from October to May.

History

Manali is named after the Hindu lawgiver Manu. Manali exactly means "the abode of Manu". Legend has it that sage Manu stepped off his ark in Manali to recreate human life after a great flood had deluged the world.
Rakshas, the nomadic hunter tribe and shepherds from Kangra Valley are believed to be the earliest inhabitants of Manali. One of the most popular inhabitants of the city was the ‘nar’.  Manali was part of the erstwhile princely state of Mandi which merged with India in 1948.
Lord Raghunathji, a form of Lord Ram, was believed to be the ruler of Manali and the erstwhile princely rulers ruled the kingdom in trust for Raghunathji. How Raghunathji came to be ruler of Manali has an interesting legend associated with it.
Raja Jagat Singh, who ruled the valley in 17th century, contracted leprosy after he was cursed by a peasant. The remorseful king was advised to install an idol of Lord Raghunathji. As advised, the king brought an idol from Ayodhya and was cured of the disease. Jagat Singh installed Raghunathji on his throne and the Lord became the ruler of Manali.
However, modern Manali history began with the advent of the British. The British developed the land as a sanctuary from the oppressive heat of the plains during summer. They planted apple and released trouts in the rivers of Manali.
Manali was part of the princely state of Mandi, which merged with India in 1948.

Culture

Fairs and festivals are a vital part of life in Manali. Dassehra is celebrated in a grand way. Other festivals which are celebrated on a grand scale are Basant Panchami, Hadimba Devi fair and Winter Carnival.
Roerich Art Gallery houses paintings by Russian artist Nicholas Roerich. The gallery has also preserved original creations of the Himalayas done by Roerich.

Shopping

The region is known for its handicrafts and handlooms. Wood has traditionally remained a favorite item for handicrafts. Popular items for shopping in Manali are embroidered woolen shawls, Tibetan handicrafts, antiques, souvenirs and inlaid silver jewelry. The Mall Road is the best place for shopping in Manali. Fruit products, honey and apricot oil produced locally can also be purchased in the valley.

Where to stay

The Mall is lined with hotels and restaurants. Manali offers wide range in accommodation which includes luxury resorts, river-side cottages, deluxe hotels and 3-star budget properties. Manali also offers home stays which are a good option to enjoy nature and culture of the locals.

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Book Review : The Secret Wish List by Preeti Shenoy

Book Summary

Does true love really exist or is it just a cliche? Can a single kiss really change your life?

At sixteen, Diksha like any girl her age, finds her life revolving around school, boys and endless hours of fun with her best friend. But one day, all that changes.

What starts as an innocent crush explodes into something far beyond her control. Eighteen years later, she finds herself at the crossroads of life. Urged by a twist of events, a wish list is born. But can a wish list help her piece back her life together? Will she succumb to the tangled mess of an extramarital relationship? Once again, Preeti Shenoy brings an extraordinary story that tugs at the heartstrings, with insight and wisdom, as she explores the delicate matters of the heart.

The Secret Wish List is a captivating, engrossing, racy tale about following your heart, chasing your dreams and the meaning of friendship.

About the Author

Preeti Shenoy is a bestselling author and artist. She has several academic qualifications, but believes life is the biggest teacher. She is an avid blogger, poet, nature lover and yoga buff. She loves playing basketball, travelling and spending time with her family and her dog. Preeti Shenoy is currently based in Bangalore, India. To know more about her go to preetishenoy.com 

Review

The Secret Wishlist by Preeti Shenoy is the story of Diksha – a daughter, a sister, a wife, a daughter-in-law, a mother – all this and much more but herself. She has gotten so used to this daily rut that she has forgotten to listen what her heart wants. This book is a story about her journey of finding her own self. An unexpected incident makes her realise the importance of living life the way she wants to and be happy. So is born a wishlist as she pushes her heart to tell her every wish .A chanced meeting with an old friend, makes her nostalgic. One thing leads to another and before she can realise she is striking out things on her wishlist at an eerie speed.

An engrossing tale of an Indian Women who as a young girl has ambitions and her own identity. Yet, she succumbs to parental pressures and ends up getting married to someone she doesn't look up. She has an independent house, a smart kid, high earning husband and supposedly everything that typical conservative Indian Parents would call for in a perfect Married life. But there's definitely more to life. An identity for oneself, a relationship with your better half that gives you space to breathe and be yourself, a friend in a husband. These are the traits Diksha never finds in her husband. A sequence of events that lead her to realizing what she wants our of life and that gives birth to her "Secret Wishlist".

There is a change in the writing style from what I have seen or read in Preeti's previous books. But nevertheless the story is good and I was turning pages to know what next what next and before I knew I had finished the book in just one day! Preeti sells dreams through her books....her stories....dreams that involve alot of love, life and above all hope. Through her stories there is one message I have always derived.....never lose hope! 

The book leaves you with a feel good factor and would definitely make a good story line for the silver screen. 

 

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Samsung Galaxy S II Plus now available online for Rs 22,900, features a 4.3-inch screen, 8-megapixel camera and runs on Android Jelly Bean

 
Back in January Samsung had announced the Galaxy S II Plus, but the South Korean company didn’t reveal when it would launch the device in India or at what price it would retail. Heck we also saw the device back at Samsung Forum which was held in Hyderabad, but at the time the company did not say it was launching the device in India. However, the device is now available with online retailers for Rs 22,900.
The Samsung Galaxy S II Plus sports a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus WVGA (800×480 pixels) display and is powered by a 1.2GHz Dual-core Broadcom BCM28155 processor and 1GB of RAM. Other features included in the phone are an 8-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front camera, 8GB of internal storage which can be expanded using a microSD card, connectivity options like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0 and a 1,650mAH battery. On the software side of things, the Galaxy S II Plus runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
Essentially, the Galaxy S II Plus is  just a refurbished version of the erstwhile Samsung Galaxy S II, which was Samsung’s flagship smartphone for 2011. While specs wise it remains more or less the same however, Samsung has replaced the mesh like back plastic cover with a more glossy hyper-glaze back finish that we have already seen in newer Samsung products.

-Sambit Satpathy

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4 advantages of distance learning MBA

A distance MBA is becoming a popular choice among students and working professionals. For those of you who are considering taking up a MBA by distance learning, we list some of the advantages:  
Earn and learn
Flexibility is the biggest advantage of distance learning MBA course. This is true especially if you are a working professional. You can earn and learn at the same time which is impossible in a full time MBA course.

Save time and money
You save on time and money on commuting or shifting to another city when it comes to distance MBA. For instance, if you are from Delhi, you can pursue a distance learning course that is available in Pune.

Study at your own pace
Everyone has their own style of learning. Some students pick up things faster than others. So, you can study at a pace that is comfortable for you which is another plus point of distance learning MBA.

Accessibility
You can access the study material online whenever you want to as well as pick up any topic that you find it easier within the course material.

-Arti Vadnerkar

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The Leadership Conundrum - Bijoy Joseph

Modi is upbeat and is demanding his pound of flesh from
the party by staking claim for the PM seat. Yes, he’s been
elected again with a decisive victory though not two
thirds majority this time and the media has over hyped
the case for Modi’s Delhi yathra. But our memory seem
to be short when it comes to elevating a successful CM .

Our late Jyothi Bosu ruled W.Bengal uninterupted for
nearly 23 yrs , won successive elections with huge
mandates . K Karunakaran, the leader was four time CM
of Kerala and the present Naveen Pathnaik of Odissha
is CM now for 10 yrs running . These are not small
achievements and yet was not tomtommed as deserving
national acclaim. In fact there have been very few CMs
who made it to the Prime Minister’s seat , if yes, they’ve
made only a brief stint , and were never trailblazing
or eventful . The country needs leaders who would be
wedded to that grand philosophy of unity in diversity .
Our rich religious traditions would really be a blessing
than a curse. When the western world looks to the East
for spiritual food let us truly keep the faith.

The moot point being the leadership issue this time ,
the one person who can put down the fears and bring
cheer to the masses. The mosaic of diverse cultures
and communities that is India, need to be addressed
for its varying needs. We cannot have a broad brush
treatment that will take everyone into one fold. In fact
the UPA regime has done a respectable job of taking
the inclusive agenda forward but for some recent
manoevering that has more to do with setting the
agenda straight for a global economic revival . The global
economic forces are eager to have that one plan serves
all solution, but is India ready for a uniform sweep. Coca
Cola would be the same everywhere but not people’s
race,religion,demographics including educational &
cultural requirements. Can all the hills be levelled off in
one stroke.

Our home grown leaders represent the wide spread
cultural creed that is the colour of diversity . We’ve got
adjusted to that coalition government that accomodates
rather than rejects. Let our masses be inclusive to a new
and stronger India as we face another election.

Jai Hind

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Take that bend as you coast along the highway of Life - Bijoy Joseph

I hugged her and kissed her cheeks. Had to bend down though , but
she pleasantly turned her second cheek as tears welled her eyes .
It was a show of uninhibited love . I gave her a pleasant surprise
that morning, as I dropped in unannounced and carrying no gift to
symbolize the deep yearning for each other. All alone in that big
house she’s lost in thought as we sat down recalling earlier days. My
late mother who was her favorite niece, the time when I was a baby
and she’d rocked me to sleep . Draped in the traditional white munddu
& katcha , she always looked that true Syrian Christian Valiammachy ,
a dwindling minority in the erstwhile Travancore of Kerala. The house
wore a deserted look , not quite tidied up with a feeling of isolation.
She spends most of the time alone in the house except when she goes
to church on Sundays or those rare social visits to relations around.

Yes, she was all of 91 , dwindled in size and yet full of grace . The
somber smile did convey thanks to God for this meeting of two
hearts. The long years did bear her down and grown weak. But soon
after she regained her good self and warmed a homely lunch for
me. I couldn’t help but be around her in the kitchen tasting the real
grandmother’s recipes . A helping of kerala fat rice, thoran , made
of greens from her kitchen garden, my favorite red curry fish and two
spoonfuls of spiced buttermilk . While the food was on fire we even
found time to pluck some goodies from the back yard . She used her
specially crafted long stick with a hooked end , to bend down the
branch as I reached for those lovely red berries.

It was time to catch a bus to my destination, to attend a marriage for
which I’d initially set out . But along the way I decided to make this
halt and breathe in the spirit of togetherness and tender love . Here
I ‘ve learned a great lesson in life. That there are moments along
the journey that shouldn’t be missed . That’s even more enjoyable
than reaching our destination. Savor such moments with tender care.
Memories are treasures that none can steal, so etch these indelible
moments in your mind’s eye. I wish there was a third person to
engrave in print this accidental rendezvous. And I’ll always cherish
the quality time with my grand old aunt that was the icing on the cake .
While the wedding symbolized a grand celebration of pomp and glory
that was one of this world, the stopover was certainly out of the
world. We have to just slow down and take that bend as we coast
along the highway of life. Such pauses are uplifting and vital to the
soul . We need to listen to our heart not just our head, to be giving
in to the soulful music that resonates time and again in the hearts
of people around . Not so often comes such an occasion to quietly
celebrate in peace and quiet, God’s abiding grace that transcends age
and youthfulness.

-Bijoy Joseph

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Ranbir Kapoor: My chemistry, physics and biology with Deepika Padukone are sizzling!

While you wonder if the old flames between B-town’s ex-lovers Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone will reignite with their forthcoming movie Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Ranbir’s statement adds to your ever-growing curiosity

After looking absolutely delicious together in Siddharth Anand’s 2008 production Bachna Ae Haseeno, B-town’s famous ex-love birdies will be seen in Ayan Mukerji’s forthcoming romantic movie Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. So we asked Ranbir and Deepika how the experience of working together after more than four years was, considering that their equation has gone through a sea change since Bachna Ae Haseeno? “Oh there was no awkwardness at all. It is hard not to fall in love with Deepika. She is so lovely, hard working and passionate about her job. My chemistry, physics and biology with Deepika Padukone are sizzling in the film,” said Ranbir at the trailer launch of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.
Dippy too maintained that she loved working with the Barfi! star once again and learned a lot from him. “Ranbir is a talent. He can do something I don’t know if I can do. He stays calm even if the scene is very intense and difficult to shoot. He stays cool and never over prepares. He is quite spontaneous and working with talent like him was fun and a big learning experience, as always,” said Dippy.
We hope that the two stars sizzle yet again on the big screen. Do you think Ranbir-Deepika still make a hot pair?

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Book Review : When The Signal Turns Red - Jayanand Ukey

 

About the Book: When the Signal Turns Red

Girish and Prajakta are in love. Very soon Girish will be joining the numero uno IT company of the country. He prepares himself by buying expensive clothes and other accessories he had always dreamed of. He and Prajakta have together planned to build on a good bank balance and then meet each others families to talk about marriage, probably after a year or two. Unexpectedly, the families get involved before Girish can join the IT company. Against all odds, the couple manages to convince their family and an engagement date is fixed. But destiny has other things in mind. A global catastrophe mars their plan which leads to the engagement getting annulled.

Will Girish find a way out of his predicament? Will he ultimately win Prajakta's hand or will he move on in life, learning to live without her?

 

About the Author: Jayanand Ukey

Jayanand Ukey works for an IT company and is also a freelance journalist and blogger. He has a computer engineering degree from VESIT, Mumbai University. In a career spanning a decade, he has kept his hobby alive by writing three books. This book is his first published work. Jayanand lives in Mumbai with his family.

Blurb:
 

A global ordeal
A couple in distress
The struggle to keep afloat
Prudent thinking in tumultuous times

 

Entry:

“A global ordeal, a couple in distress, a struggle to keep afloat, prudent thinking in tumultuous times”… well, that’s how the author begins the blurb at the back.

The plot revolves around Girish and Prajakta, who are in love and just out of college. Both of them have got placed in big IT companies and are looking to settle into their jobs before breaking the news to their parents. However, the parents come to know of their relationship somehow and both of them have to think on their feet to make the parents meet and convince them to agree to their marriage. When their life seems back on track, fate intervenes and they’re split. The story afterward looks at their struggle to make their love a success.

 
Review: 

The cover of the book gives a fairly good idea about the theme of the book. A couple along with an old man shows the book is about a couple in love and somehow the story is linked to his/her father. It is simple and to the point, which is good.

 

Girish, a 22 year old who has completed his graduation, is about to join a leading IT company, DCL. He is in love with his college mate, Prajakta, and they wish to get married after working for some years, but, the girl’s parents find out about Girish and the families fix their engagement. However, their plans are in turmoil as both have lost their jobs, owing to the recession and the Prajakta’s father breaks off the engagement.

It is quite a short story, with just 198 pages expressed in simple words, and thus, a person who is really fast at reading might finish reading the book in ninety minutes. However, speed being my inherent limitation, I took me two days to complete the book. I liked it how this was so unlike the other Indian love stories in Indian films, with both the lovers actually being qualified and their parents actually agreeing to their choice without much discussion. The plot was simple and straight forward, without many digressions or sub-plots and the characteristics of the two families were brought out well. Moreover, I liked how the author chose the financial crisis as the background and with the author himself being in the IT sector, he is someone who’d understand it best, the loss of jobs in the IT sector which started in 2008. My favourite part about the whole thing was that I was promised a light read, and it was delivered, with precision.

The book is about two freshly-out-of-the-college couples, Girish and Prajakta. Both are placed into the top IT companies and are now planning to take their college love to the next level. Now that they had their jobs in their hand, they plan to talk to their families about their love. But something unexpected happens, and their parents come to know about their hidden love. Against all odds, the parents agrees to get their children engaged, one week after their joining date of their job. However, just a week before, job offers of both, Girish and Prajakta are withdrawn due to the on-going economic recession. And subsequently, the engagement is called off.How the male protagonist leads the story to an happy ending by getting married to his love, is what this story is all about. 
Final Verdict: 
You would not feel bored, but you can't expect a mind-blowing time. Read it if you're looking for a short read and don't want to spend your time too much. A light read, perfect for reading if you have to travel for an hour or two. Nothing too complicated to understand in language and plotting.

Book details:

Title: When the Signal turns Red

Author: Jayanand Ukey

ISBN: 978-81-8046-085-2

Genre: Romance/Love

Publishers: Alchemy

Price: Rs. 175

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