DIABETES

Diabetes is a metabolism disorder in which the pancreas in the human body fails to produce insulin, or is unable to use the insulin produced in an effective manner. Most of the food we eat is broken into glucose, which is a form of sugar in the blood. 

When the food we eat is digested, the glucose enters our blood stream and is the main source of energy for the human body. 

But this glucose cannot enter our cells without sufficient insulin being present in our body. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and is needed to convert sugar, starch and other food into energy.

 After eating, the pancreas automatically releases the required amount of insulin to move the glucose present in our blood to our cells to regulate our blood sugar level. Insufficient secretion of insulin by the pancreas results in excess glucose levels in the blood stream, resulting in diabetes, which eventually damages various organs in the body.

 A person with diabetes has no control over his blood sugar as his body either does not produce enough insulin, or produces no insulin or has cells that do not respond effectively to the insulin produced by the pancreas. This leads to too much glucose level in the blood stream which eventually damages various organs in the body. 

Persons suffering from diabetes show symptoms like fatigue, hazy vision, excessive thirst, weight loss, frequent urination and increase in appetite.

What is Heart disease?

The heart muscle is living and needs food and oxygen to survive. There are arteries within the heart muscle which supply the food and oxygen to the heart muscle. These arteries are known as coronary arteries. When one or more of these arteries in the heart get narrowed, or partially blocked, then it leads to coronary artery disease. When one or more of these arteries get blocked then some part of the heart muscle does not get food and oxygen. This condition is called a heart attack. 

The term, Coronary artery disease is used for problems which include: angina, heart attack, and heart failure. 

(It may be confusing as there are other heart conditions such as heart valve problems, congenital heart problems, etc. However, these are not usually included when we talk about heart disease). 

The root cause of most cases of coronary artery disease or cardiovascular disease is a build up of atheroma - a fatty deposit within the inside lining of arteries. A blockage caused by the development of complex atheromatous plaques, composed of inflamed tissues and fatty deposits on the inner surface of the artery. These plaques develop slowly over time and may cause chronic restriction of blood flow leading to pain on exertion (angina) or it may lead to as acute blockage. This most often occurs when the irregular, inflamed surface of the plaque leads to the formation of a blood clot. When this occurs a region of heart muscle is suddenly deprived of blood and gets damaged. This is what is known as a heart attack. If the damage is relatively limited the heart can recover but major damage can lead to death. Similar degeneration of arteries in the brain leads to loss of blood supply and stroke or death. Smoking and high levels of blood cholesterol, associated with high intakes of saturated fat, are both major risk factors for these plaques, coronary artery disease and strokes. 

Cardiovascular Disease and stroke. The accumulation of cholesterol, as deposits, within atheromateous Atheroma and plaques may be accelerated by oxidative damage to the low density lipoproteins (LDL). Such damage can be prevented by high intakes of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables help to protect against heart disease. Antioxidants from fruits and vegetables in their natural unique combinations with micronutrients and fibre, help to protect against heart disease. Lifestyle factors that can reduce the risk of forming atheroma and developing cardiovascular diseases include: not smoking, choosing healthy foods, regular physical activity, keeping your weight and waist size down, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol. If you have a high risk of developing a coronary artery disease /cardiovascular disease, drug treatment to reduce blood pressure and/or cholesterol may also be advised. A daily low dose of aspirin is also advised for some people at high risk.

Green politicians less likely to be promoted in China

Chinese politicians who try to tackle pollution are less likely to be promoted, a new report has found, offering one explanation for the country's blighted environment.

The clamour from the CHINESE public at being surrounded by foul air, water and soil has become deafening.

But for ambitious Communist party officials, it pays to focus on economic growth rather than environmental concerns, five economists from China, Singapore and Canada found.

"A city government's spending on environmental improvements is actually significantly negatively related to the odds of its (Communist party) secretary and mayor being promoted," wrote Professors Wu Jing, Deng Yongheng, Huang Jun, Randall Morck and Bernard Yeung.

They found that for every additional 0.36 percentage points of local GDP spent on the environment, a party secretary's chances of promotion would drop by 8.5 percentage points.

The economists suggested that officials who nitpicked over pollution ran the risk of offending their predecessors who created the mess.

New Zealand

New Zealand has a very high level of ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer, around 40% more intense than you will find in the Mediterranean during the summer. Sunglasses and sunscreen are highly recommended, especially if you are of Celtic descent.

Visiting the doctor will cost about $60 and may vary between practices and localities. The New Zealand public hospital system is free of charge to Australian, British and New Zealand citizens but will charge other nationals for treatment received. An exception to this is in the case of any accident when the Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) will pick up the tab. Travel insurance is highly recommended.

New Zealand has high and equitable standards of professional health care comparable with Sweden or Australia. Tap water is drinkable but precautions should be taken against Giardia when tramping.New Zealand has a temperate climate - winters are fairly cold in the south of the South Island but mild in the north of the North Island. The nature of the terrain, the prevailing winds and the length of the country lead to sharp regional contrasts. Maximum daytime temperatures sometimes exceed 30°C (86°F)and only fall below 0°C (32°F) in the elevated inland regions. Generally speaking, rainfall and humidity is higher in the west than the east of the country due to the north-south orientation of the mountain ranges and the prevailing westerly/north westerly winds.

SOLAN

Swine flu (H1N1) continues to spread in Himachal Pradesh with 19 cases reported this year, an official said here Sunday. Two people have died of the disease this year in this hill state.

At Shimla's Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMCH), 102 patients with symptoms of swine flu were reported from across the state, a health official told IANS.

He said both the people who died had been admitted at IGMCH.

Eight positive cases have been reported from Kangra, the state's largest district, five from Solan, four from Shimla, and one each from Una and Sirmaur districts.

The official said isolation wards have been set up at medical colleges and district hospitals.

Detection of new cases is being done at the places from where H1N1 cases have been reported, he added.

Glacier National Park, Montana

Glacier National Park is the perfect place for the outdoorsy, adventurous types. Located in the heart of Montana, the park sits on more than 1 million acres and attracts more than 2 million visitors each year. From backpacking deep within Glacier's intense interior to hiking over 700 miles of trails on two mountain ranges to horseback riding and boating, plan on staying at least a few days to experience as much as you can. The best time to go is June through September.

Ahmedabad

Known as the Manchester of the East because of textile mills located in the city, Ahmedabad is the biggest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh largest metropolitan city in India. It has become a popular tourist destination with many places of interest in and around the city.

Ahmedabad is the most thriving city in west India after Mumbai. Ahmedabad, also known as Karnavati or Amdavad, is located on the banks of the Sabarmati River, about 30 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat. The city is an excellent balance between the old and the new. There are many world class educational institutions, industries and a refreshing take on art and culture in the city.

The exquisite architecture based on Hindu and Islamic styles, is a major attraction in Ahmedabad. In recent years, the city has become a hotspot for medical tourism with medical facilities available at low cost.

Gandhi Ashram is probably the most important social and cultural place in Ahmedabad. A place of pilgrimage for Gandhians and pacifists, the Ashram was set up by Gandhiji in 1917. It was the headquarters of Indian freedom struggle.

The Bhadra Fort is probably the most popular attraction in Ahmedabad. The royal fort was built in 1411 by Sultan Ahmad Shah. The tricolour is hoisted during Republic Day and Independence Day atop the fort.

There are many religious places of worship in Ahmedabad like the Swaminarayan Temple in Dariapur along with many mosques like the Ahmed Shah Mosque and the Jama Masjid.

There are some popular gardens in Ahmedabad which are worth a visit like the Law Garden, Bal Vatika and Victoria Garden. The Kamla Nehru Zoological Park is a good place for a day trip.

There are a few lakes in Ahmedabad like the man-made Kankaria Lake located in Maninagar, the biggest lake in Ahmedabad. The lake is lit up beautifully during the annual week-long Kankaria Carnival.

Ahmedabad is a paradise for vegetarian food lovers. Most of the restaurants serve vegetarian fare as Gujaratis are mostly vegetarians. Gujarati ‘thalis’ cooked in authentic Gujarati style offer a mouthwatering variety of rice, rotli, vegetable curry called ‘shaak’. There is an assortment of Indian bread in the form of rotli, thepla, puri, bhakri and puran-pohli. Gujarati is also a street-food paradise. Snacks like dhokla, khaman, fafda and undiyu are worth trying.

Surat

The third cleanest city in India, Surat is the fastest growing city in the country and the second largest city in Gujarat. It is known by many names like the diamond capital of India, textile capital of India, Manchester of India and Embroidery capital of India.

A prominent town since medieval times, Surat stands on the bank of Tapi River. According to a study, Surat is among the three cities that will soon become global cities.

Over 90 per cent of the world’s diamonds are cut and polished in Surat. It is also a flourishing textile centre. The business town is home to some of the largest textile mills in India and it is known for producing good quality cotton, silks and muslin.

It was the primary port of India during the Mughal rule but lost that distinction to Bombay in the 17th century as the East India Company gained control over the port.

The strategic position of Surat on the west coast of India and its prosperity made it a pawn in the game of one-up man ship between the various colonial powers in India.

The ancient Chintanmani Temple in the city has great religious importance for people in Gujarat. The temple is popular for its exquisite carvings on wood and drawings done with vegetable dyes.

The most popular attraction of the city of Surat is the fort built by Sultan Mahmud III in the 16th century.

Palitana Temples

Counted among the important sacred pilgrimages for Jains, the Palitana temples are dedicated to Jain Thirthankars. Located at Palitana in Gujarat the temples numbering around 900 were built over a period of 900 years.

The main temple is dedicated to Lord Rishabdev, the first Tirthankar. The temples were built in two phases. The first phase dates back to the 11th and 12th century AD.

Mystery surrounds as to who built the stunning temples. It is said a wealthy businessmen built these temples. It is also believed that 23 Jain Tirthankars consecrated the temples by their visit.

The temples are divided into nine separate wings; each wing houses a central temple and with minor temples surrounding it. They are grouped in systematic groupings with variation in height and space.

The temples have four doors so that the idols are visible from all sides.

The larger temples have marble halls with towers and plenty of openings. They are surrounded with high fortified walls. One can also get to see many small temples of about three square feet with Jain emblem. The interiors of the temple have carved ceilings with geometrical lace designs.

Majority of the temples are located on the Shatrunjaya hills. Pilgrims climb over 3000 stairs to pay a visit to 853 temples situated at a height of 603 meters. The hills are believed to have the largest concentration of temples anywhere in the world.

Adinath temple, Vimal Shah temple, Saraswatidevi temple, Narsinh  Kesharji temple and the Samavasaran temple are the temples known for their architectural splendours.

The ‘Chha Gau Teerth Yatra’ is an auspicious festival which falls during February-March. On the festival day, devotees circumambulate the Shatrunjaya hills covering a distance of 216 km.

Somnath Temple

The most sacred among the 12 jyotirlings in India, Somnath Temple is located in Veraval region of Junagadh district. Somnath means ‘Lord of Moon’ and the town gets its name from the Somnath Temple

According to legend, Som, the Moon God built the Somnath Temple from gold, Ravan made it from silver, Lord Krishna made the temple from wood and King Bhimdev of Anhilwad made the temple from stone.

Som constructed the temple out of respect after Lord Shiva cured his illness that was caused by Som’s father-in-law Daksha Prajapati’s curse. Daksha Prajapati had cursed Som as he was infatuated with Rohini and was not paying adequate attention to his other 26 wives who were all daughters of Prajapti. It is believed that Lord Brahma advised Som to build the temple to honor Lord Shiva.

The Somnath Temple is the seventh temple built to commemorate Lord Somnath, who was also known as Bhairaveshwar, Shravanikehswar and Shrilingeshwar, in Sat Yug, Treta Yug and Dwapar Yug respectively.

Earlier known as ‘Prabhas Patan’, the town remains a quintessential pilgrim town. The temple has been built at the tip of the landmass in Gujarat and no land exists between the temple and the South Pole. The temple is also believed to be the place where the holy river Saraswati meets the sea.

The temple is built in Solanki style. The sabha mandap (assembly hall), sanctum sanctorum (innermost shrine) and the shikhar (top) was built in the first phase followed by the nritya mandap (dancing hall). The apex of the temple reaches a height of 155 ft and the kalash (pot) on top weighs 10 tons. The temple was razed by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1025 AD.

Somnath is mentioned in the Puranas and the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. Lord Krishna is believed to have been shot in the foot with an arrow in the region. The Yadav community, the descendents of Lord Krishna, is said to have fought among them and caused the downfall of the entire community in this region.

After the integration of Junagadh with the Union of India, the then Deputy PM of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel visited Junagadh in November 1947 and ordered the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple.

The ruins of the Somnath Temple were pulled down in October 1950 and the mosque was shifted a few miles away. The temple was built in 1951. A statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel stands in front of the temple as a mark of honour for his contribution to the building of the temple.

The Somnath Temple is visited by millions of devotees every year. It is not just the temple, but other tourist attractions like Somnath Museum, Somnath beach and Junagadh Gate also attract visitors. The Sound and Light Show held in the temple is another attraction.

Rameswaram

A major Hindu pilgrimage Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu is home to one of the 12 jyotirlings. Situated on the Pamban Island, Rameshwaram is famous for its history and temples.

Rameswaram is situated on a small island in the Gulf of Mannar. It is connected to the mainland by road and railway bridges. Rameswaram comes from the word Rameswar, literally the god of Ram.

A renowned pilgrimage centre, it is visited by lakhs of pilgrims every year. Second only to Kashi Vishwanath temple, it is said that worshipping the Ramanathswamy temple at Rameshwaram guarantees salvation.

Rameswaram finds mention in India’s greatest epic, the Ramayan. Lord Ram built the bridge to Sri Lanka from Rameswaram. Ravan was slain in battle here and Lord Ram atoned for slaying Ravan by praying to Shiva here. Pilgrims often pray for the salvation of their ancestors here.

The town houses one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, believed to have been built by Sita. Sri Ramanathswamy temple is the main attraction of the town. Rameswaram, along with Dwarka  and Badrinath form the four Char Dhams and it was mandatory for Hindus to perform the pilgrimage atleast once.

Rameswaram was an important ferry port between India and Sri Lanka. However, the service ceased after the Tamil uprising and the downturn in relations between the two countries. Thousands of Tamils fleeing Lanka, landed on the Rameswaram coast at the height of civil war in the island nation.

Beaches located near Rameswaram are ideal to unwind. Dhanushkodi, where Bay of Bengal meets the Indian Ocean, offers magnificent seascapes. Locals call Bay of Bengal as Penn Kadal or the female sea and the Indian Ocean as the Aaan Kadal or the male sea. Jeeps and four-wheel drives operated by locals are the only option to visit the land’s end. If interested, jump on a boat to view the splendid corals. But do check out the condition of the boats.

India’s 11th president and eminent scientist Dr A P J Abdul Kalam was born in Rameswaram and had his early education here.

Rameswaram is an important fishing centre of Tamil Nadu. The town is famous for its dry fish.

Along with handicrafts, one can buy showpieces made up of seashells, beads and palm leafs etc.

Chidambaram

Chidambaram temple dedicated to Nataraja, the cosmic dancer considered the lord of dancers, is situated in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. Considered one of the ancient Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram is among the five Panchbhooytha Sthala or Shiva representing five elements which constitutes human beings.

The other temples which represent the natural elements are Kanchi Ekambareswara (earth), Thiruvanaikaval Jambukeswara (water), Kalahasti Nathar (wind) and Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswara (fire).

Also known as ‘Thillai’ as the place was originally the forest of Thillai. It is believed that the forest had a lotus pond on the banks of which sages including Patanjali are believed to have meditated.

The most prominent attraction of the city is the Nataraja temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is venerated as the cosmic dancer Nataraja. Unlike other Shiva temples, Chidambaram doesn’t have a Shiv lingam, instead it has Shiva as the dancer.

Besides the Nataraja temple, two other temples in the city are known for their religious and archaeological importance. The temples are Thillai Kali Amman temple and Ayyapan temple.

Chidambaram is also known for the Annamalai University, one of the Asia’s largest public residential universities. It is famous for its research in Tamil studies, Tamil music, mass literacy programmes and vocational training.

Tourist visits to the temple increases during March when then Natyanjali Dance Festival is held. Held inside the temple complex, the festival is a tribute to Lord Shiva, the lord of the dancers. Eminent dancers from across the world participate in the festival.

Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah

Situated in Nizamuddin area of Delhi, the tomb of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya is among the popular Sufi mausoleums in the country. Second in popularity only to that of Hazrat Moinuddin Chisti, the mausoleum complex also houses tombs of poet Amir Khusro and Shah Jahan’s daughter and princess consort Jehan Ara Begum.

Hazrat Nizamuddin was a famous saint of the Sufi Chishti Order which has a large following in the Indian subcontinent. He was a spiritual successor of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer. His full name was Hazrat Shaikh Khwaja Syed Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliya and was honoured with titles like Sultan-ul-Mashaikh, Mehboob-e-Ilahi. Considered fifth amongst the big five of the Chisti order in India, the Auliya was born in 1238 and breathed his last on April 3, 1325.

The mausoleum of revered Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya is visited by thousands of devotees not only by Muslims but also of other faiths. The saint’s followers included prince and the paupers. Many of Delhi’s sultans including Muhammad Tughlaq and Ala-ud-din Khilji were devotees of the Sufi saint.

The structure consists of a square chamber surrounded by verandahs, which are pierced by arched openings. The dome on top of the tomb is decorated by vertical stripes of black marble and is crowned by a lotus-cresting.

Faith in Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya can be gauged from the fact that many prominent personalities lie buried close to the saint. Amir Khusro lies in eternal sleep at the foot of his master. Shah Jahan’s daughter and Emperor Aurangzeb’s elder sister also lies buried inside the tomb complex.

Some of the other structures inside the mausoleum complex are the Jama’at- Khana Masjid, Chini Ka Burj, Mirza Ghalib’s Tomb, Kalan-Masjid, Khan-I-Jahan Tilangani’s Tomb, Ataga Khan’s Tomb, Chaunsath Khamba, Lal-Mahal, Khan-I-Khanan’s Tomb and Barapula.

Qawwali recitals are held every Thursday after the evening prayers. Twice every year, the festival of 'Urs' is celebrated to commemorate the death anniversaries of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and Amir Khusro.

Safdarjung Tomb

One of the last monuments to be built in the Mughal style of garden tombs, the Safdarjung tomb is among the popular historical memorials in Delhi. Though highly underrated, the mausoleum is often described by historians as the “last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture”.

The monument located on Lodhi Road was built by Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah for his father Mirza Muqim Abul Mansur Khan, who served as the Subadar Nawab of Oudh and was also the Wazir ul-Mamalik-i-Hindustan or Chief Minister during the reign of Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur in 1748. "Safdarjung" was the title given to Mirza Muqim Khan by the Emperor Muhammad Shah.

Born Muhammad Muqim in Persia, Mirza migrated to India in 1722. He succeeded his father-in-law and paternal uncle, the Burhan ul Mulk Saadat Ali Khan I to the throne of Oudh in 1739.

An able administrator, Safdarjung also served as governor of Kashmir and governor of Ajmer. However, court politics led to his dismissal from service. He returned to Oudh and died in October 1755 at the age of 46 years.

Safdarjung’s tomb is built in the style of Humayun’s tomb; however, it cost less than the mausoleum of the Mughal emperor.

The tomb is built in red sandstone and buff stone. The tomb stands on a high terrace which is surrounded by a plush green Mughal garden which spreads over 300 sq. meters. The garden in front of the tomb is called Charbagh. The tomb has a gate on the East and pavilions on the other sides, namely, “Moti mahal” or the pearl palace, “Jangli mahal” or the sylvan palace and the “Badshah Pasand” or the emperor’s favourite.

One can see great designs and carvings on the marble and buff sandstones at the entrance of the main mausoleum while the main entrance of the tomb is huge and exhibits fine ornamental paintings.

The mausoleum houses two graves — one of Safdurjung and that of his wife. The mausoleum also had a mosque and a courtyard within its premises. The central square chamber of the tomb is surrounded by eight rooms. The rooms are rectangular in shape except the corner ones which are octagonal.

The mausoleum has also lent its name to the Safdurjung Airport, Safdarjung Road, Safdarjung Hospital and localities like Safdurjung Enclave and Safdarjung Development Area (SDA), all in the Delhi

Dublin, Ireland

Ireland is known for its welcoming people and gorgeous green scenery, but not everyone knows that Dublin is home to a Pride Festival every June that includes parties at local bars and clubs, art exhibitions, community events and a grand parade. Revel in the largest LGBT celebration in all of Ireland and then retreat to the peaceful, verdant Irish countryside…Ireland is an unlikely but excellent choice for your LGBT honeymoon.

Nepal

 New laws in Nepal came into effect when a new government took power several years ago, quickly increasing the gay-friendliness of this destination. Now the tourism industry is following suit with an increasing number of LGBT-friendly hotels, resorts and travel companies. According to The Washington Post, Nepal even issues a “third-sex” national ID card and in 2008 elected its first openly-gay parliament member. You’ll want to find gay-specific hotels here, as much of the country is still warming up to the idea, but for a same-sex honeymoon in an exotic locale where peace and adventure reign, Nepal is becoming a friendlier option by the day.

Atlanta, Georgia

The southern US doesn’t always get a great rap when it comes to being open to LGBT couples. But with gorgeous forests, serene mountains, pleasant weather and gay-friendly cities like Atlanta, the southern state of Georgia is filled with places that will welcome same-sex honeymooners with open arms. Atlanta has a vibrant LGBT community, and one of the highest rates per-capita of gay bars in the entirety of the USA. It’s one you’ll definitely want to check out for your gay honeymoon in the US.

INDIA ! INDIAN CINEMA

Bollywood is the Hindi film industry based in Mumbai,Maharashtra, India.It is a word coined by clubbing the words Bombay and Hollywood. Bollywood is the largest producer of films in the world and is also where the highest number of tickets are sold.

Indians are said to great film-buffs. Bollywood churns around 800 films every year and a segment of Indians are willing to pay a part of their everyday wages to watch a Bollywood movie. Bollywood movies are usually stereo typical, they last for three to four hours, there would be about 15 minutes intermission mid-way. There would be about 4 to 5 songs where the hero woos the heroine with a troop of 100 or so dancers in the background. There would be a villain for the hero to fight. Finally he settles down with his lady-love and so goes the generalized story of any Bollywood movie.

Bollywood employs world famous and many talented actors, actresses, villains, comedians and supporting actors. There are also a great number of technicians who work in the background to give this few hours of entertainment.

SWITZERLAND - Spring festivals

Spring officially gets underway in Zurich with the traditional Sechseläuten festival, which is normally held on the third Sunday and Monday in April. The celebrations include colourful processions and culminate in the burning of an effigy known as the Böögg.

The festival goes back to 1818, when one of the city's traditional guilds held a night time parade complete with musicians and horseback-riders. The idea caught on, other guilds followed suit and in 1839 the first coordinated Sechseläuten parade of all the guilds took place.

The name Sechseläuten, meaning "chiming six o'clock," goes back much further in history than the parades: it derives from the fact that in winter the working day was limited by the lack of light, but once spring had come work could be carried on until 6 p.m.

The festivities open on the Sunday with a parade of children, mostly dressed in historical costumes. Unlike the adult parade, children from other communes, cantons or even countries are allowed to take part.

This is followed the next day by the parade of the guilds. In mediaeval times the guilds were organisations grouping members of one craft or profession, but today very few of their members are still engaged in the work represented by their guild. However, they must all belong to old Zürich families and have a close connection with the city. Each year the guilds also invite a guest canton and a limited number of other guests of honour to join them in the parade.

The culmination of Monday's festivities is the burning of the winter effigy, the Böögg. The Böögg, looking like a snowman and stuffed with firecrackers, stands on a huge woodpile which is lit when the cathedral bells ring out 6 o'clock. As the pyre burns, members of the guild gallop round it on horses. The moment when the Böögg's head explodes marks the official end of winter. And the faster this happens, the longer and hotter the summer is meant to be.

GANGTOK

GANGTOK

Gangtok is the capital and largest town of the Indian state of Sikkim. Gangtok is located in the eastern Himalayan range, at an altitude of 5,800 feet (1,800 m).The capital of the state of Sikkim, Gangtok is an attractive tourist destination, reflecting a unique ambience which derives from its happy blend of tradition and modernity. Alongside the deeply felt presence of stupas and monasteries, Gangtok also bustles like any other thriving town. Some of the key places to visit include Rumtek Monastery, Do-Drul Chorten, Enchey Monastery, Tashi View Point and the local bazaar, Lal Bazaar.

JHULTA MINAR

Ahmedabadis well known for its swaying minarets, more commonly known as Jhulta Minar. A classic example of superb craftsmanship, Jhulta Minar is actually a part of the mosque Siddi Bashir. The mosque has been constructed in such a manner that, if you apply a little force on its upper arc, the Minar tends to sway. For kids, Jhulta Minar in Ahmedabad, India is a real fun place.

 An Englishman made an attempt to demolish one of the minarets of the mosque, but all in vain. He did so to unravel the mystery behind the swaying of minarets. The mechanism that leads to vibration is still a mystery. An interesting thing about Jhulta Minar is that, it can even withstand the pressure of fast moving trains that pass from a distance not lying very far from the minaret.

KANKARIA LAKE

Kankaria Lake is a multisided lake that was built by Sultan Qutab-ud-Din in the year 1451 A.D. It is basically an artificial lake with thirty four sides. Lying on the south eastern side of the Ahmedabad city, the lake also has a fascinating island summer palace. People are of the say that Kankaria lake of Ahmedabad was often visited by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir along with his wife Empress Noor Jahan. Read on to know more about the Kankaria Lake in Ahmedabad, India…

 Kankaria Lake is one of the most favorite picnic spots of the people of Ahmedabad. Adjacent to the lake, lies a beautiful garden called Nagina Wadi. For people seeking peace, there can be no better place than Kankaria Lake. The pleasing view of the lake, the humming and chirping of birds and the greenery bordering the lake will make you fall in love with this place. You can also avail the boating facility. Kankaria Lake provides a beautiful view of the sunset. There is also a zoo and children's park located nearby the lake.