Sea Animals

Killer Whales surfing behind a whale watching boat in Johnstone Strait of Vancouver Island, Sea Animals in British Columbia, Canada

New: Fine Art Gallery Wrap now available for this photo...

Sea Animals: Scientific Name:
Orcinus orca
Photo of surfing Killer Whales beside a whale watching boat. These beautiful Sea Animals look very powerful when surfing in the wake of a boat, and they can reach speeds of up to 20 knots.
The Sea Animals seen here are at their best, powerful, beautiful, and in the wild. Killer Whales are one of my favorite sea animals to photograph and to whale watch. It is difficult to get the timing just right when taking a shot of these magnificent sea creatures, because they are fast moving sea animals.
Make sure to visit our story on Whale Watching in BC, British Columbia as well as our portfolio on Killer Whales.
Here you can find more pictures of sea animals.

Sangam Group Special Kanyakumari Tour Packages

Southern Heaven
Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial was built in 1970. Swami Vivekananda, is said to have meditated here before setting out as one of India's most important religious crusaders. The memorial is one of India's greatest architechtural magnificence, and has a statue of Swami Vivekananda in the memorial building.


The Thiruvalluvar Statue is a 133 feet (40.5 m) tall stone sculpture of the Tamil Shramana poet and saint Tiruvalluvar, author of the Thirukkural.The statue has a height of 95 feet (29 m) and stands upon a 38 foot (11.5 m) pedestal that represents the 38 chapters of "virtue" in the Thirukkural. The statue standing on the pedestal represents "wealth" and "pleasure", signifying that wealth and love be earned and enjoyed on the foundation of solid virtue.


Devi Kanya Kumari, known as Kumari Amman (the virgin goddess) is one of the forms of Devi. She is popularly known as "Bhagavathy Amman". Bhagavathy Amman Temple is located in Kanya Kumari (formerly Cape Comorin) on the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. She is also known by several other names, including Kanya Devi and Devi Kumari.


Gandhi's Memorial is open to visitors. Entrance is free. Inside the museum you will see photographs of the Indian leader. From the building's top floor there is a breathtaking view of Kanyakumari. After visiting the Gandhi Memorial, you can walk along a promenade by the ocean, where you will find many souvenir shops and food stalls. Kanyakumari is a small town. You can move around on foot. You only need to take a taxi or a rickshaw to go to the railway station.


Sunset point, like any other sunset point, is about 5 kms away from Kanyakumari town. Here you can watch the sun go down from behind the clouds on the horizon. People throng here to watch the sunset. Make sure you hire a cab or an auto rickshaw to return back to your hotel, after sunset.


Vattakottai Fort is one of the many forts and monuments that are erected across India. It is a symbol of the military history of India, which was formerly a Dutch and then a British colony. Vattakottai Fort is a specially erected fort on the sea coastline on the southern tip of India. Vattakottai Fort is set up as the southern most sea coast defense point by the Dutch. This fort was constructed under the command of Captain De Lannoy. Vattakottai Fort is made out of stone and it is a major tourist attraction today. Vattakottai Fort is also famous for the black sand beaches that are situated across its coast.


The south most corner of India is the Kanyakumari District - a very scenic place with fertile lands surrounded by mountains and ocean. This was part of the erstwhile thiruvidhangur state. The capital of this state was padmanabhapuram / kalkuLam. Around this town there are twelve nice abodes of Lord Shiva inviting the devotees to worship the Lord Who is adorned by the nature - Moon, river & snakes, in this inspiring natural surroundings.

River Godavari

The second largest river in India, Godavari is often referred to as the Vriddh (Old) Ganga or the Dakshin (South) Ganga. The name may be apt in more ways than one, as the river follows the course of Ganga's tragedy: Pollution in this peninsular river is fast reaching unsafe levels. The Godavari originates near Triambak in the Nasik district of Maharashtra, and flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Although its point of origin is just 80 kms away from the Arabian Sea, it journeys 1,465 kms to fall into the Bay of Bengal. Some of its tributaries include Indravati, Manjira, Bindusara and Sarbari. Some important urban centers on its banks include Nasik, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Nizamabad, Rajahmundry, and Balaghat.

POLLUTION
Like most other rivers, domestic pollution is the biggest polluter of the river Godavari, accounting for 82 per cent of total pollution, whereas industrial pollution accounts for about 18 per cent.

Over half of the river basin (18.6 million ha), is categorized as cultivable land. Most of the river’s water is drawn for irrigation purposes. Application of fertilizers is very high at 49.34 kg/hectares, almost double the country’s average. Pesticides are also applied at the high rates of 146.47 kgs/sq. km of which 79 per cent are organochlorines. However, the Central Pollution Control Board refuses to acknowledge the pollution created by such high levels of fertilizer and pesticide usage.

But the story of pollution in the Godavari river evolves around the tiny Nakavaggu rivulet, which joins the Manjira, a tributary of the Godavari. The rivulet is dead and supports no life. Highly productive agricultural land surrounds the rivulet. More than 150 small and medium industries and several large industries near the twin cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad release their effluents into the Nakavaggu rivulet.

However most of the blame lies with the 72 industries in the Patancheru Industrial area that have been dumping their effluents into the river. Bereft of treatment facilities, industrial effluents are let out into streams that collect in ponds. This overflow later reaches the Nakavaggu. A drain leading to Nakavaggu also carries effluents from BHEL, Asian Paints, and Voltas industries.

Industrial discharge from such industries has severely affected public health, surface and ground water and agriculture in 22 villages in this area.

The river water is heavily used for agriculture, as it is the only available water source. However, the river’s water has turned the fertile soil toxic with heavy metals. The soil contains heavy metals like iron, nickel, zinc, copper, cobalt and cadmium.

Even the crop yield has suffered terribly. Before industrialization, the land’s crop yield was 40 bags of paddy per acre and is now a mere 10 bags. Toxic metals in the soil have contaminated the crops, penetrated animal milk and affected human health.

Incidence of cancers has also sharply risen, including leukemia in young boys, lung cancer in non-smokers and liver cancer. Medical experts attribute these increased rates to high water pollution. The polluted water has also seeped underground, contaminating groundwater, and the surrounding soil is contaminated due to acidification.

GOVERNMENT ACTION
In 1993, the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court ordered two paper mills in Paithan to stop discharging effluents into the river and ordered the Beed Zilla Parishad to supply drinking water for the affected villages.

During the hearing the state government admitted that the river was polluted since 1984. After prolonged agitation by farmers and pressure from citizen bodies, the district administration got the courts to serve notice to 22 industries giving them till September 1987 to establish individual Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP’s). After the farmers filed a writ petition against 220 industries in the high court, the government held a number of public meetings to discuss short- and long-term solutions. Twelve units were served closure notices on May 7, 1989. However, the industrial units obtained stay orders from the court. With the court order going in favour of the industries, he farmers filed petitions in the Supreme Court. The apex court ruled in favour of the farmers and asked the state pollution board to serve notices to 56 polluting industries asking them to provide safe drinking water to the affected villages, restore cultivable land, and provide monetary relief, medical care to the victims, and ordered sustained vigilance of the industrial discharge.

In compliance with the court order, the Andhra Pradesh government decided to lay down a pipeline carrying industrial waste from Patancheru to the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Amberpet in 2001. The STP already discharged treated and untreated sewage into another river, the Musi. Instead of treating the waste, the government just diverted the waste to another river. With these developments it is clear that the government is least interested in solving the problem; it just wants to circumvent the court order.

PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT
What few steps taken to stop pollution in this river are the outcome of efforts by the citizens of Patancheru town and Hyderabad city. In 1986, citizens launched an awareness campaign against river pollution. Dr Kishan Rao, a medical practitioner from Patancheru and members of the Citizens Against Pollution (CAP) movement initiated the campaign. Combined with the affected communities, they formed the Patancheru Anti-Pollution Committee (PAPC) in 1986. Activists staged dharnas, relay hunger strikes and demanded that the state government end such pollution. Their protests also included a Patancheru bandh and a 40-km long march to the state assembly, where they presented a list of demands to the then chief minister, N T Rama Rao.

Their demands included that each industry construct an effluent treatment plant (ETP); that industries ensure adequate compensation for degraded agricultural land and that they supply safe drinking water to the affected villages. Farmers from the adjoining areas of Sultanpur, Gandigudem and Krishnareddypeta organized a rally as part of an awareness campaign in the Bollaram industrial area on August 18, 1986, blocking roads leading to the industrial area. Three days later, the PAPC held a dharna in front of the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Rangareddy’s office. The outcome was a promise to control pollution.

Continuous pressure from the PAPC forced the district administration to serve notice to 22 industries in the area. The courts set a September 3, 1987 deadline to industries to build individual ETPs. However, in the absence of any substantial results after the due date, the PAPC announced its second phase of public protests by organizing a ‘race against pollution’ on September 12, 1987. About 500 bullocks obstructed the Hyderabad-Mumbai highway for over six hours. On October 9 that year, farmers filed a writ petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court against 20 of the 22 polluting industries. (The two units, which were left out, had initiated steps to set up ETPs).

Lengthy legal process started. In 1988, the government held a series of meetings to discuss short- and long-term solutions. Though a common effluent treatment plant (CETP) appeared to be acceptable to most industries, some large industries claimed that they already had their own ETPs. While talks flitted from discussion table to boardroom, 12 units were served closure notice on May 7, 1989. After the industries obtained a stay order from the court, farmers and activists initiated another agitation -- a rasta roko at the Bollaram industrial area, which began on October 1990.

When a ruling by the division bench of the high court went in favour of the industries, farmers approached the Supreme Court through the eminent lawyer and Magsaysay award winner, M C Mehta. The five-year long battle saw the apex court asking the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to conduct an exhaustive report on industrial pollution in the Nakavaggu basin.

While the NEERI report suggested compensation for the farmers affected, the Supreme Court passed interim orders for industries to immediately cease releasing effluents into water bodies. The apex court observed that 56 industries were dumping untreated effluents into the Isakavagu and Nakavaggu, polluting the rivers. The court also sought provision of safe drinking water to the affected persons by October 1998, restoration of cultivable land by applying a suitable conditioner, that industries take remedial action for 13 tanks by the year 2000, medical care to pollution victims and sustained vigilance of industrial discharge.

The court order brought about some action. Piped safe drinking water from metro water works was provided at a project cost of Rs 5.5 crore. Monetary relief of Rs 2.13 crore has been paid to the victims of pollution. However, pollution controlled measures through CETPs is an unfinished task. Patancheru Enviro-Tech limited (PETL), which is responsible for monitoring and maintaining the CETPs, is managed by the executive board of 156 Patancheru industries. But only 80 of them send their pre-treated effluents to the three constructed CETPs.

Indian Villages

Indian Villages


The heart of India lies in its villages. The rural India is a complete contrast to the urban one with its sky scrappers and rapid pace of life. The India villages are, in fact, the true representatives of India. Family bonding, social responsibilities, religious practices and others are the innate features of village life. The Indian ‘rural cosmopolitan’ makes India more interesting and enriching.

Latest Articles : Handicrafts in Indian Villages • Teaching in Indian Village Schools • Weaving in Indian Villages • Fishing in Indian Villages • Farming in Indian Villages





Indian Villages



Most of India`s people live in villages. Most Indian villagers are concentrated in heavily forested areas that combine inaccessibility with limited political or economic significance. Indian city dwellers often refer nostalgically to "living a simple village life," but the Indian villages, are mostly regarded as just a few underdeveloped areas, which have quite a less access to the outside urban world. These villages are yet struggling to transform themselves, into full-fledged urban settlements. Although these settlements look very sleepy, they are infact actually humming with a lot of agricultural activites.



Indian Village:; Baragaon, Bihar



The indian village of Baragaon (Nalanda) is situated in the Nalanda District of the state of Bihar in India. The state of Bihar has a total of thirty- eight districts and the Nalanda district is one of them. The village of Baragaon is at a distance of 2 kilometers from the Nalanda Railway station in the north- west direction. It is well known for its exclusive Chhath Puja celebrations. There is a large pool in the village where Chhath Puja is performed by the native and nearby villagers. People also come from other parts of the state of Bihar, mainly from the north of Bihar. There is a gigantic ancient shrine of God Surya (Sun temple).



Indian Village Art



The Indian village scene is full of surprises and talent. Apart from the basic occupation of farming, the Indian villagers, being talented individuals have innovated their own village art, which have very distinctive and special village culture in them. The art of every village is distinctive and this shows in the various paintings by these people. Be it the Madhubani Paintings, Phad Paintings or the Patachitra Paintings, all display the culture and tradition of their respective villages!



Warli Paintings



Warli, an Indian Village folk art painting, has traveled across borders and are now the cherished possessions of many a collector and art lover. This painting derives its name from a small tribe inhabiting the remote regions of Maharashtra. The Warlis are primarily an agriculture-dependant tribe and their houses are made of thatched mud-huts, which are constructed in such a way so that they all surround a central cell. Historians say that the Warli tradition can be traced to the Neolithic period between 2,500 BC and 3,000 BC. During the harvest season, happy occasions like weddings and births, their houses are adorned with a vocabulary of patterns. This custom gave rise to what we now know as the Warli Painting.





Handiaya, Punjab



Handiaya, an Indian Village ,which is located in the Sangrur district of the Punjab, India.According to the Census report of Indian Territory that came out in the year 2001, the total population of the Handiaya has been counted to be 9725. Female populace comprises of 46 percent while males constitutes of 54 percent. Children below the age of six years constitutes of sixteen percent of the total population of Handiaya



Hirapur ,Madhya Pradesh



Indian villages are famous for their greenery and their traditional festivals. Hirapur villages in Madhya Pradesh is one of those village famous as a rural tourist centre. The Hirapur Village has been situated at 21.53° N 79.77° E. It has an average altitude of 501 metres or 1643 feet. the total population of the Hirapur town has been counted to be 5639. It is note worthy that in Hirapur , both the male and female populace constitutes an equal share. That is , male comprises of 50 percent , while the population of females is also 50 percent. As far as the number of children in Hirapur town is concerned, kids below the six years comprise of 15 percent of the total population.Places of interests in and around this area include Kanha National Park, Lanji Temple or Fort, Nahlesara Dam, Dhuti Dam, Rampaily Temple, Hatta Bawali .



"Life in an Indian Village" records ten days in the daily lives of the villagers of Jitvapur in the northern Indian state of Bihar. These are poor people at the mercy of Nature and Human forces they cannot control. Their huts are destroyed every few years by flood waters sweeping down from the Himalayas, the direct result of mindless deforestation in Nepal and India. If the rice or wheat crop is lost, many adults and children simply go without food.

"Letters From Jitvapur" are extracted from "Life in an Indian Village."
They are a series of 8 radio reports on daily life in the village of Jitvapur, Bihar and were oriiiginally broadcast by NPR's Weekend Edition-Sunday in 1992-1993.

****

Tradition, caste rigidities and religion are usually cited as obstacles to development. It's quite clear that the villagers of Jitvapur are extremely conservative; but it's less clear that these are direct obstacles. The villagers seem aware that caste rigidities do more harm than good and that these must be set aside if they are to improve their lives.

Education and literacy are often assumed to be answers to rural under-development. Certainly, the young in Jihrapur seem ready to accept the implications of education and seek work outside the village. In the United States we consider such mobility as a positive indicator. But in many other societies, social and economic mobility can be destabilizing.

The 4 one hour radio tapes are accompanied by an illustrated curriculum for use at the High School and College level. The curriculum, written by Marilyn Turkovich, has been designed so that as little as one class-period, or as much as two to four weeks of class time, can be spent on the material.

Although the village in question is in India and therefore has many characteristics peculiar only to India, it also stands for villages all over the developing world. The teacher and the student can therefore approach it on two levels: the specific (Indian) and the universal (Third World).

Sri Venkateswara Temple

;;KKBackground of TTD's Formation

In 1933, the Madras Legislature passed a special act, which empowered the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Committee to control and administer a fixed group of temples in the Tirumala-Tirupati area, through a Commissioner appointed by the Government of Madras. This committee was assisted by a Religious Advisory Council for religious matters and a Ryots Advisory Council for the management of TTD's estates.

In 1951, the Act of 1933 was replaced by an enactment whereby the administration of TTD was entrusted to a Board of Trustees, and an Executive Officer was appointed by the Government .

In 1956, the state of Andhra Pradesh was formed, and the TTD Board came under its governance.The provisions of the Act of 1951 were retained by the Charitable and Religious Endowments Act, 1966. Today, TTD is a conglomeration of temples, brought under the First Schedule 2 of Act 30 of 1987.

Darshan at Sri Venkateswara Temple

As more than fifty thousand pilgrims visit the Sri Venkateswara Temple every day, TTD has organised efficient systems to ensure the smooth movement of pilgrims.Vaikuntam Queue Complex
Sarvadarsanam
Seeghra Darshan
Sudarsanam Token System
Special Darshan for the Physically Disabled and the Aged
Divya Darshan
Darshan Timings

Vaikuntam Queue Complex

The entrance for darshan is through the Vaikuntam Queue Complex. The complex is a series of inter-connected halls that leads to the main temple. An efficient queue system ensures that pilgrims move in an orderly fashion through the Queue Complex, towards the main temple.

The halls in the Queue Complex are clean, spacious and airy.TTD provides a wide range of facilities in the Queue Complex:
Food is provided for the waiting pilgrims free of cost.
Milk, Coffe & Tea provided for waiting pilgrims free of cost.
Medical aid
Sale of photographs, calendars and other TTD publications
Toilets
Closed Circuit Television, through which devotional programmes and music are relayed
Cloak rooms near the Vaikuntam Queue Complex entrance
Places where footwear can be deposited, free of cost (at the entrance)

There are officers to look after the facilities in the Vaikuntam Queue Complex, regulate the queues and attend to complaints.

Sarvadarsanam

Sarvadarsanam means 'darshan for all'. The timings for Sarvadarsanam are different on different days of the week. Please refer the weekly temple programme for the timings.

On normal days, about 18 hours are allotted for Sarvadarsanam and on peak days, it is open for 20 hours.

Around 50,000 pilgrims visit the main temple every day.
Seeghra Darshan

The Seeghra Darshanm facility is introduced 0n 21-09-2009 to provide quick Darshan for the Pilgrims. The cost of the Ticket is Rs.300/- per pilgrim. The tickets will be issued at VQC-I in a separate queue line with 4 counters, after taking the tickets, the pilgrims are directly allowed for Darshan. Seeghra Darshan tickets will be issued on all the Sarva Darshan timings.

The darshan timings are the same as that for Sarvadarsanam.Seeeghra Darshan Timings
Saturday,Sunday, Monday 4.00am to 5.00am , 7.00am to 6.00pm and 9.00pm to upto Ekantha seva.
Tuesday, Wednesday,Thursday 8.30am to 6.00pm and 9.00pm to upto Ekanthaseva.
Friday 10.00am to 6.00pm and 9.00pm to upto Ekanthaseva.




Divya Darshan

1. Divya Darshan facility is provided for pedestrian who come on foot to Tirumala through Gali Gopuram or Srivari Mettu.

2. Bio-metric counters are established on these foot paths, to facilitate free darshan, free accommodation (P.A.C) and free food facilities at Tirumala.
Sudarshan token System

The Sudarsanam token system was introduced to minimise the waiting time for Sarvadarsanam, Special Darshan and other paid darshan/sevas. Some of its features: The tokens are available free of cost and Rs.50/- token at the

1.Second Choultry (behind the Railway Station),

2.Bhudevi Complex

3. Alipiri Tollgate,

4.Sreenivasam in Tirupati.

5.And the Rs.50/- Darshan tokens are available at TTD Information centre ,Renigunta (opposite to the Renigunta Railway Station).

5. Also in Srivari Sannidhi and in RTC Bus stand in Tirupati.

The time of darshan is indicated on the tokens.Pilgrims can enter the Vaikuntam Queue Complex at Tirumala at the time indicated on the tokens. They can have darshan within two hours of entering the Queue Complex. As this system saves on waiting time, it provides pilgrims with enough time to visit temples in the vicinity like Sri Govindarajaswami Temple and Kapila Teertham at Tirupati, Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple at Tiruchanur and Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami Temple at Srinivasa Mangapuram.To help TTD keep a track of the number of pilgrims and ensure their smooth flow, one token is issued per head. Collective tokens for groups are not issued.Sudarshan tokens to a tune of 7500 perday is being issued totally which includes 5000 tokens of Rs.50/- and 2500 tokens of free tokens. Tokens will be issued from 5a.m.

Some precautions for you to take:
Collect your Sudarsanam token only from TTD-run counters. Tokens issued by others are not valid.Do not exchange tokens.
Do not trust touts.

Special Darshan for Physically disabled and Aged

This special darshan is arranged for the physically disabled and the aged, the infants along with parents through a separate gate at the Maha Dwaram,the main temple entrance. If necessary, such pilgrims can be accompanied by an attendant.
Background of TTD's Formation

In 1933, the Madras Legislature passed a special act, which empowered the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Committee to control and administer a fixed group of temples in the Tirumala-Tirupati area, through a Commissioner appointed by the Government of Madras. This committee was assisted by a Religious Advisory Council for religious matters and a Ryots Advisory Council for the management of TTD's estates.

In 1951, the Act of 1933 was replaced by an enactment whereby the administration of TTD was entrusted to a Board of Trustees, and an Executive Officer was appointed by the Government .

In 1956, the state of Andhra Pradesh was formed, and the TTD Board came under its governance.The provisions of the Act of 1951 were retained by the Charitable and Religious Endowments Act, 1966. Today, TTD is a conglomeration of temples, brought under the First Schedule 2 of Act 30 of 1987.
 NHTTD Management



TTD is a conglomeration of temples, brought under the First Schedule 2 of the Act 30 of 1987. The Board of Trustees is constituted by members appointed by the government.

The Executive Officer is the chief executive of TTD. He is assisted by two Joint Executive Officers, Chief Vigilance and Security Officer, Conservator of Forests, Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer, and Chief Engineer. Besides, there are officials to look after the different branches of administration.

TTD maintains 12 temples and their sub-shrines, and employs about 14,000 persons.

God of War: Ghost of Sparta Review

Set in the realm of Greek mythology, God of War: Ghost of Sparta is a single-player game that allows players to take on the powerful role of Spartan warrior Kratos. This new adventure picks up after the first God of War concludes, telling the story of Kratos' ascension to power as the God of War. In his quest to rid himself of the nightmares that haunt him, Kratos must embark on a journey that will reveal the origins of lost worlds, and finally answer long-awaited questions about his dark past. Armed with the deadly chained Blades of Chaos, he will have to overcome armies of mythological monsters, legions of undead soldiers, and amazingly dangerous and brutal landscapes throughout his merciless quest.

God of War: Ghost of Sparta features fluid, life-like characters, a robust weapon system, new magical powers, weapons and navigational abilities, many more enemies on screen, and a greater number of boss encounters, truly bringing the experience to life, all while on the go.
Genre: Third-Person Action Adventure
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Ready At Dawn Studios
Release Date: November 02, 2010
MSRP: $39.99
Exclusively on: PlayStation Portable
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content

Ready at Dawn continues to push the PSP to new heights
October 25, 2010
Level 10

by Nicole Tanner
LATEST IMAGES

View all 45 images »
LATEST VIDEOS

View all 19 videos »

Kratos might possibly be the angriest game character ever created. We all know he accidently killed his wife and child in service to the gods, but his belligerent attitude has often made me wonder what else might have happened to him to make him so filled with rage. We get some insight into this in God of War: Ghost of Sparta, which does a wonderful job adding depth to Kratos' character while delivering one of the most fun and beautiful gameplay experiences on the PSP.

Set between God of War and God of War II, Ghost of Sparta picks up right at the end of God of War, with Kratos sitting upon his newly claimed throne looking appropriately grumpy. After all, becoming a god didn't remove the disturbing memories of his past, but now he's being plagued by a vision we've never seen before -- an old woman lying sick on a slab of stone. Convinced he can actually change this vision, Kratos sets off for Atlantis on a quest that eventually takes him back to his home of Sparta and into the realm of Thanatos, god of death.


More God of War: Ghost of Sparta Videos


At E3 this year, reps from Ready At Dawn Studios said they were skeptical about doing another God of War game because they felt they had accomplished all they could on the PSP with God of War: Chains of Olympus. Luckily for us, they discovered they actually could push the system further, and it really shows.

Ghost of Sparta is gorgeous. Graphically, it looks better than a big chunk of PS2 games, and is absolutely the best-looking game on the PSP thus far. Detailed environments featuring constant rain and cascading water and lava create beautiful backdrops and really bring the world to life. Kratos looks wonderful as well. In fact, his character model was rebuilt from the ground up to add more detail for this game, such as the fact that he can be bathed in blood during battle, like he could in God of War III.


As far as the gameplay is concerned, there's nothing super unique here, but that's not a bad thing. You'll still spend your time slaying countless enemies, traversing dangerous domains, and solving light puzzles. Combat has been perfected throughout the series, so there's not a lot to improve upon, and too much change would have been jarring. That said, there is a brand new weapon and two new magical attacks that add something new to the experience.

1 2 Next »

mahatma gandhi

Gandhi takes on Domestic Problems

In 1932, Gandhi began new civil-disobedience campaigns against the British. Arrested twice, the Mahatma fasted for long periods several times; these fasts were effective measures against the British, because revolution might well have broken out in India if he had died. In September 1932, while in jail, Gandhi undertook a "fast unto death" to improve the status of the Hindu Untouchables. The British, by permitting the Untouchables to be considered as a separate part of the Indian electorate, were, according to Gandhi, countenancing an injustice. Although he was himself a member of an upper caste, Gandhi was the great leader of the movement in India dedicated to eradicating the unjust social and economic aspects of the caste system.

In 1934 Gandhi formally resigned from politics, being replaced as leader of the Congress party by Jawaharlal Nehru. Gandhi traveled through India, teaching ahimsa and demanding eradication of "untouchability." The esteem in which he was held was the measure of his political power. So great was this power that the limited home rule granted by the British in 1935 could not be implemented until Gandhi approved it. A few years later, in 1939, he again returned to active political life because of the pending federation of Indian principalities with the rest of India. His first act was a fast, designed to force the ruler of the state of Rajkot to modify his autocratic rule. Public unrest caused by the fast was so great that the colonial government intervened; the demands were granted. The Mahatma again became the most important political figure in India.

© K. L. Kamat

Man of Firm Step






Independence for India
When World War II broke out, the Congress party and Gandhi demanded a declaration of war aims and their application to India. As a reaction to the unsatisfactory response from the British, the party decided not to support Britain in the war unless the country were granted complete and immediate independence. The British refused, offering compromises that were rejected. When Japan entered the war, Gandhi still refused to agree to Indian participation. He was interned in 1942 but was released two years later because of failing health.


Kamat's Potpourri

Men Carrying Gandhi, Noakhali

By 1944 the Indian struggle for independence was in its final stages, the British government having agreed to independence on condition that the two contending nationalist groups, the Muslim League and the Congress party, should resolve their differences. Gandhi stood steadfastly against the partition of India but ultimately had to agree, in the hope that internal peace would be achieved after the Muslim demand for separation had been satisfied. India and Pakistan became separate states when the British granted India its independence in 1947 (see: Tryst with Destiny -- the story of India's independence). During the riots that followed the partition of India, Gandhi pleaded with Hindus and Muslims to live together peacefully. Riots engulfed Calcutta, one of the largest cities in India, and the Mahatma fasted until disturbances ceased. On January 13, 1948, he undertook another successful fast in New Delhi to bring about peace, but on January 30, 12 days after the termination of that fast, as he was on his way to his evening prayer meeting, he was assassinated by a fanatic Hindu.

Gandhi's death was regarded as an international catastrophe. His place in humanity was measured not in terms of the 20th century, but in terms of history. A period of mourning was set aside in the United Nations General Assembly, and condolences to India were expressed by all countries. Religious violence soon waned in India and Pakistan, and the teachings of Gandhi came to inspire nonviolent movements elsewhere, notably in the U.S.A. under the civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and in South Africa under Nelson Mandela.
KEarly Years

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), also known as Mahatma Gandhi, was born in Porbandar in the present day state of Gujarat in India on October 2, 1869. He was raised in a very conservative family that had affiliations with the ruling family of Kathiawad. He was educated in law at University College, London. In 1891, after having been admitted to the British bar, Gandhi returned to India and attempted to establish a law practice in Bombay, without much success. Two years later an Indian firm with interests in South Africa retained him as legal adviser in its office in Durban. Arriving in Durban, Gandhi found himself treated as a member of an inferior race. He was appalled at the widespread denial of civil liberties and political rights to Indian immigrants to South Africa. He threw himself into the struggle for elementary rights for Indians.

See Also: Parentage and Childhood from Gandhi's autobiography
Resistance to Injustice

Gandhi remained in South Africa for twenty years, suffering imprisonment many times. In 1896, after being attacked and humiliated by white South Africans, Gandhi began to teach a policy of passive resistance to, and non-cooperation with, the South African authorities. Part of the inspiration for this policy came from the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, whose influence on Gandhi was profound. Gandhi also acknowledged his debt to the teachings of Christ and to the 19th-century American writer Henry David Thoreau, especially to Thoreau's famous essay "Civil Disobedience." Gandhi considered the terms passive resistance and civil disobedience inadequate for his purposes, however, and coined another term, Satyagraha (from Sanskrit, "truth and firmness"). During the Boer War, Gandhi organized an ambulance corps for the British army and commanded a Red Cross unit. After the war he returned to his campaign for Indian rights. In 1910, he founded Tolstoy Farm, near Durban, a cooperative colony for Indians. In 1914 the government of the Union of South Africa made important concessions to Gandhi's demands, including recognition of Indian marriages and abolition of the poll tax for them. His work in South Africa complete, he returned to India.




Campaign for Home Rule

Gandhi became a leader in a complex struggle, the Indian campaign for home rule. Following World War I, in which he played an active part in recruiting campaigns, Gandhi, again advocating Satyagraha, launched his movement of non-violent resistance to Great Britain. When, in 1919, Parliament passed the Rowlatt Acts, giving the Indian colonial authorities emergency powers to deal with so-called revolutionary activities, Satyagraha spread throughout India, gaining millions of followers. A demonstration against the Rowlatt Acts resulted in a massacre of Indians at Amritsar by British soldiers; in 1920, when the British government failed to make amends, Gandhi proclaimed an organized campaign of non-cooperation. Indians in public office resigned, government agencies such as courts of law were boycotted, and Indian children were withdrawn from government schools. Throughout India, streets were blocked by squatting Indians who refused to rise even when beaten by police. Gandhi was arrested, but the British were soon forced to release him.

Economic independence for India, involving the complete boycott of British goods, was made a corollary of Gandhi's Swaraj (from Sanskrit, "self-governing") movement. The economic aspects of the movement were significant, for the exploitation of Indian villagers by British industrialists had resulted in extreme poverty in the country and the virtual destruction of Indian home industries. As a remedy for such poverty, Gandhi advocated revival of cottage industries; he began to use a spinning wheel as a token of the return to the simple village life he preached, and of the renewal of native Indian industries.

Gandhi became the international symbol of a free India. He lived a spiritual and ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and meditation. His union with his wife became, as he himself stated, that of a brother and sister. Refusing earthly possessions, he wore the loincloth and shawl of the lowliest Indian and subsisted on vegetables, fruit juices, and goat's milk. Indians revered him as a saint and began to call him Mahatma (great-souled), a title reserved for the greatest sages. Gandhi's advocacy of nonviolence, known as ahimsa (non-violence), was the expression of a way of life implicit in the Hindu religion. By the Indian practice of nonviolence, Gandhi held, Great Britain too would eventually consider violence useless and would leave India.

The Mahatma's political and spiritual hold on India was so great that the British authorities dared not interfere with him. In 1921 the Indian National Congress, the group that spearheaded the movement for nationhood, gave Gandhi complete executive authority, with the right of naming his own successor. The Indian population, however, could not fully comprehend the unworldly ahimsa. A series of armed revolts against the British broke out, culminating in such violence that Gandhi confessed the failure of the civil-disobedience campaign he had called, and ended it. The British government again seized and imprisoned him in 1922.

After his release from prison in 1924, Gandhi withdrew from active politics and devoted himself to propagating communal unity. Unavoidably, however, he was again drawn into the vortex of the struggle for independence. In 1930 the Mahatma proclaimed a new campaign of civil disobedience, calling upon the Indian population to refuse to pay taxes, particularly the tax on salt. The campaign was a march to the sea, in which thousands of Indians followed Gandhi from Ahmedabad to the Arabian Sea, where they made salt by evaporating sea water. Once more the Indian leader was arrested, but he was released in 1931, halting the campaign after the British made concessions to his demands. In the same year Gandhi represented the Indian National Congress at a conference in London.

Amitabh Bachchan indian star

Add caption

Amitabh Bachchan look in film power mahurat
2010-09-27 08:06:00
amitabh bachchan look in film power Director Rajkumar Santoshi hosted the mahurat of his next film, Power. star: Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Kangana Ranaut, Lekha Washington, Amisha Patel and Anuradha Patel. Amitabh Bachchan look in film power mahurat
By: indian cinema ,discussion
Bollywood Celebrities on Twitter
2010-07-05 22:56:00
Thank God, Bollywood celebrities have finally realized the impact of the internet on public opinion. At first some bollywood stars started from blogging which gave them the taste of communicating directly with fans and followers. But seems like blogging is too difficult for them because of their busy schedules. So many have found Twitter, the ...
By: Desi Galaxy
After Rajneeti, Katrina Kaif to star in Prakash Jha?s next
2010-05-05 16:39:00
Even before the release of the most awaited film Rajneeti, the promos it self is getting our Bollywood beauty Katrina Kaif is a lot of attention. Prakash Jha isn?t waiting for the release of the film to show his faith in his leading lady. He has already signed Katrina Kaif for his next movie. The latest ... Related posts:Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in Clean and Juicy Ad Face-Off! Katrina Kaif won?t kiss or expose in ?Dostana 2 Prabhu Deva Adamant on casting Katrina Kaif in a song sequence.
By: MojMaza.Com Get All The Latest Related News About
Big B in pain- Too busy for surgery
2010-05-04 19:55:00
Mega star Amitabh Bachchan is suffering from multiple hernias in his lower abdomen which has resulted in swelling of that area and is causing him imense pain whenever he exerts himself. Doctors have advised him to undergo a surgery, but he has been avoiding it due to his busy schedule. Amitabh has already undergone three surgeries ever ... Related posts:OUT: How Saif and Kareena stay fit Hrithik Roshan?s knee problems resurface again Post IPL, What Is SRK Doing?
By: MojMaza.Com Get All The Latest Related News About
Ash is better than Abhi, says Big B
2010-05-01 20:31:00
Abhishek Bachchan has no doubt come a long way from where he started a decade back. Though he has managed to please the audience and critics in many of films over the years, his father still believes he can do better. Apparently when Amitabh Bachchan saw the promo of Raavan for the first time, he quite ... Related posts:Salman-Katrina wins over Ash-Abhi Abhishek and Aishwarya sneak off to celebrate their third anniversary Abhishek Bachchan gets a belated birthday gift from his sister
By: MojMaza.Com Get All The Latest Related News About
Aishwarya Rai?s Mysterious Disease
2010-02-28 20:24:00
There had been so much in the media about Aishwarya Rai’s sickness. At first it was rumored that Aishwarya Rai is pregnant. Later the couple Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan denied the rumor. Then it was reported that Aishwarya Rai is sick due to some kind of throat infection. Amitabh Bachchan himself wrote on his ...
By: Desi Galaxy
BachchanBol – Voice Blogging By Amitabh Bachchan – Voice Bloggi
2010-02-11 05:39:00
So Stars and Starlets of Bollywood are taking step after step via social media to connect with their fans. We covered how SRK now tweets and got a mammoth following in just a few hours. Now it seems Amitabh Bachchan who has made bigadda.com famous (and in many ways kept it alive) by blogging regularly on his official blog on the platform now launches another medium to engage with his fans. This time he goes a route thats the last mile. Bachchan has launched a site called BachchanBol.com (Not bolbachchan as that would mean something else ). This is basically a platform where in users need to dial in 505678910 and they would get to listen to Mr. Amitabh Bachchan’s own recorded voice talking about his life. Mind you this service isn’t free and you would be charged Rs.6 per minute to hear Mr.Bachchan’s heavy baritone! (via DI) To know how the service works -- one can watch the video below: So who is behind this initiative? We did a bit of digging and found that ther...
By: WATblog
Paa ? Movie Preview
2009-11-24 21:54:00
Gone are the days when Bollywood was all about fantastically choreographed dances, music, songs, romance, comedy and fun. Today’s Bollywood is becoming more and more sick and full of diseases. Every other manjor film is about the main lead actor suffering from some rare disease and the plot of these movies revolve around their hardships. ...
By: Desi Galaxy
Aishwarya Rai and Swine Flu Rumors
2009-08-17 14:49:00
I don’t know if it is just a rumor or a fact but it seems like the web is booming about the news of Aishwarya Rai getting infected with Swine Flu virus. We tried to dig the source of this rumor and we found out that these rumors are based on a blog entry by ...
By: Desi Galaxy
Mumbai: Terror Grips Bollywood
2008-12-19 13:45:00
The terrorist attack on Mumbai has been a devastating savagery after 9/11 and assassination of late Benazir Bhutto. One could not have imagined that something so destroying can happen. It seems that it is unpredictable even for the high authorities in the government to envisage the next step of these wild dogs (terrorists). Who were ...
By: Desi Galaxy
Amitabh Bachchan to become an 'actor' in January! - News
2008-12-01 19:30:00
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan may not have been in the best of health of late but his tenacity and thirst for challenging roles continues almost like an obsession….
By: Desi Babes - Sexy Indian Hotties
Movie Review: Amitabh Bachchan's The Last Lear
2008-09-12 09:00:00
Rating: 3.5/5Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Shefali Shah, Preity Zinta, Arjun Rampal, Divya DuttaDirector: Rituparno GhoshIt is Diwali night and Siddharth Kumar?s (Arjun Rampal) film The Mask is premiering. However, sadly for him the film?s two main protagonists Harish Mishra (Amitabh Bachchan) and Shabnam (Preity Zinta) are absent. As the film moves on you are told that Harish has met with an accident that has left him bed ridden while Shabnam doesn?t want to be a part of the premiere as she wants to get away from her dominating husband and be by the side of the man who changed her attitude towards life.Shabnam arrives at Harry?s home only to come face to face with his sullen wife Vandana (Shefali Shah) who looks at her with complete suspicion and a part of the film industry that has put her husband into bed forever. Now you may be wondering what all of this has to do with The Last Lear or Shakespeare for that matter. The Shakespearean connect comes in through Harish Mishra who eats, brea...
By: Desi Hot Babes Bollywood Stars Bollywood Actres
Amitabh Bachchan, Arindam Chaudhuri @ Press conference of The Last Lear pho
2008-09-11 14:08:00
Amitabh Bachchan, Arindam Chaudhuri @ Press conference of The Last Lear photos,Amitabh Bachchan, Arindam Chaudhuri @ Press conference of The Last Lear pics,Amitabh Bachchan, Arindam Chaudhuri @ Press conference of The Last Lear wallpapers
By: Exclusive wallpapers
All we hope for the present is ?The Last Lear? releases safely
2008-09-11 08:34:00
With Raj Thackeray declaring a ban on all the Bachchan?s movie, Big B?s ?The Last Lear? seems to have suffered a setback. The premiere of the film that was scheduled to happen tonight at a suburban multiplex has been cancelled. ?Accusing Jaya Bachchan of releasing anti-marathi remarks, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have been shouting slogans against the Bachchans. The party even went on a rampage burning effigies of Jaya Bachchan and tearing posters of ?The Last Lear?.To settle down the issue, Big B has already apologized on his blog stating, The casual off the cuff remarks made by Jaya at the music launch function were without malice or deliberate intent, but if it has caused hurt to the sentiments of Maharashtra, Maharashtrians and indeed the city and citizens of Mumbai, then she must seek regret and offer apology. Everything that we possess today is what came to us from this great state and city. We never have and never can look at Maharashtra with disrespect. If inadvertently...
By: Desi Hot Babes Bollywood Stars Bollywood Actres
I am embarrassed to be doing this at age 66-Mr.Amitabh Bachchan
2008-09-05 09:26:00
Amitabh Bachchan has wrapped up the Unforgettable Tour. But he is still in the fashion capital of the world France. This time around it’s not on holiday but to shoot for the cover page of L’Homme’s inaugural issue. The photo shoot will take place in Paris in a couple of hours and we asked Mr. Bachchan whether it felt any different from gracing the numerous movie magazines that he has been on."Yes I am in Paris now for the shoot for the cover of this magazine. I have not done fashion modeling for magazines, so I shall know of the experience later as I begin in a few hours. I would not expect much difference between film and fashion shoots. Both propel your face and what you wear to the reader," says Mr. Bachchan.Always known for his sense of style and well cut suits, surprisingly Mr. Bachchan is modest when we ask him if he sees himself as the face of fashion and style. "I am embarrassed to be doing this at age 66 and cannot imagine myself setting any...
By: Desi Hot Babes Bollywood Stars Bollywood Actres
Bollywood stars to hone their other skills as well
2008-09-04 09:55:00
Being in acting profession provides ample opportunities and challenges for Farhan Akhtar learnt to sing while Arjun Rampal learnt to play the guitar for their respective roles in Rock On . Similarly Himesh Reshammiya , himself a musician, polished his guitar playing skills for Karzzzz .Now, with men honing their musical skills, can lovely ladies be left behind?Shilpa Shetty has been learning to play the violin for her role in Sunny Deol ’s film The Man . The actress has been training under a skilled violin player named Sandeep. Not just this, Shilpa has also watched a couple of videos of the renowned violinist Vanessa Mae ?to get a rough idea of how to hold and play a violin?. While it’s been quite some time since Shilpa has been fiddling with the violin, the actress says she hasn’t yet learnt to play it properly, but learnt it sufficiently to play her role in ?The Man’.Esha Deol , too, has been getting her fingers scraped while learning the guitar for direct...
By: Desi Hot Babes Bollywood Stars Bollywood Actres
Diabetes : Amitabh Bachchan Gets ´All-Clear ´ After Test In Britain
2008-08-24 19:49:00
Diabetes : Amitabh Bachchan Gets ´All-Clear ´ After Test In Britain Read Original story
By: Desi Babes - Sexy Indian Hotties
?I became a composer because of Amitabh Bachchan?
2008-08-20 14:55:00
link Read Original story
By: Desi Babes - Sexy Indian Hotties
God Tussi Great Ho - Hindi Film Review
2008-08-18 13:41:00
If I had to watch Bruce Almighty in Hindi I would have bought the dubbed Hindi DVD of the original movie. It is such an insult to audience of Indian films to show them a cheap copy of a popular and recent Hollywood movie. I am all willing to see “inspired from hollywood” material if ...
By: Desi Galaxy
When a power cut failed to disrupt Amitabh Bachchan?s show
2008-08-05 13:03:00
LINK When a power cut failed to disrupt Amitabh Bachchan?s show 05th Aug 2008 11.01 IST By Agencies While Bollywood mega superstar Amitabh Bachchan was grooving to the beats of one of his popular songs ?Rang barse? from ?Silsila? in Texas for his world concert Unforgettable, a power cut tried to play spoilsport. read more
By: Desi Babes - Sexy Indian Hotties
I?d do anything for Amitabh Bachchan: Akshay Kumar
2008-07-25 15:43:00
I?d do anything for Amitabh Bachchan: Akshay Kumar link Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, who took time out from the shooting of Sajid Nadiadwala?s Kambhakt Ishq in Los Angeles to be part of the Bachchan?s Unforgettable tour opening show in Toronto, says he wouldn?t mind going out of the way for the Big B. read more
By: Desi Babes - Sexy Indian Hotties
When Vidya Balan Had To Listen to Amitabh Bachchan
2008-07-11 12:47:00
When Amitabh Bachchans asks you to stay, you stay! Vidya Balan realized this after an encounter with Big B during the premiere of Jaane Tu..Jaane Na. The story goes that Balan along with Amitabh Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and Juhi Chawla were watching the movie when Vidya said she had to go for a media interaction for Kismat Konnection.However Bachchan declared:You can’t go, Vidya. You have to see the film,” declared Bachchan.Then Mr. Bachchan called the publicist of Kismat Konnection saying:“Listen, this is Amitabh Bachchan here,” and asked her to let Balan stay. Initially the publicist thought it was a prank but after a little bit of cajoling she realized that it was indeed Big B and complied!
By: Our Bollywood
IIFA kept Amitabh away from his blog
2008-06-10 05:16:00
The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Bangkok kept its brand ambassador, Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, so preoccupied that he failed to keep his date with his blog. Otherwise a regular blogger, Amitabh was only able to add one entry when he reached Bangkok Friday morning. Since then, he has not found the time to ...
By: Latest News
Amitabh Bachchan has Inspired Ramu
2008-06-03 03:37:00
Ram Gopal Varma had told before that Amitabh Bachchan is one of the reasons why he got attracted to the Tinsel Town. Now Big B has inspired Ramu to keep aside his computer illiteracy and be internet savvy. So the master of gangster movies who till now never thought of becoming a blogger has started ...
By: Street talk by apnaavenue

Rajasthan Wildlife

Enjoy your Rajasthan tour in a land of rippling sand dunes, grand Rajasthan palaces and majestic forts. Stay at exotic palace hotels on your Rajasthan tour and experience the luxury of being treated like a Maharaja. Travel through historic cities of Rajasthan and hear tales of heroic Rajput deeds on your Rajasthan tour. Listen to the songs of days gone by and be amazed by the beauty of the arts and crafts of Rajasthan. Ride a camel across the Thar Desert, or an elephant up to Amber fort, see a magnificent tiger in the forests of Ranthambore. Experience a vacation in royal style, on your Rajasthan holiday tour.
The magical land of Rajasthan is blessed with several fascinating places that have never failed to allure the travelers, since time immortal. The appealing touring destination, Rajasthan is a home of rich tourists’ attraction that offers cultural, rural, wildlife, adventure, sport, and heritage Rajasthan tourism. Come here to witness the rich historical treasure, picturesque architecture and the dazzling landscapes, which is an unparallel touring destination in the entire globe. Also, the exotic land of the shimmering sands offers nice opportunity to witness the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. While exploring in Rajasthan, we will assist you to view the stunning places of the state. We are known for our excellent Rajasthan tours services. Our name stands for service at the international level, and is firmly committed to your needs and requirement
h

l;

y

Rajasthan WildlifeJodhpur Tour Itineraries




Explore enigmatic Jodhpur steeped in history and drenched in regal romance with Jodhpur tour itineraries. Rajasthan Holiday takes you to the enamoring tourist attractions that adorn blue Jodhpur.

Avail of tailor-made Jodhpur tour itineraries that show you the best of a royal land that vibrates with a colorful soul and tales of valor. Learn about amazing Rajput exploits and wonder at the state of mind of the artisans who created inimitably delicate frescoes on the walls of havelis and palaces as you visit the monumental grandeur of Jodhpur with Rajasthan Holiday.

See the Mehrangarh Fort; admire Jaswant Thada and marvel at the brilliant handicraft markets that are so integral to Jodhpur with Jodhpur tour itineraries. Feel the spirit of Jodhpur and experience magical Rajputana with Jodhpur tour itineraries and Rajasthan Holiday.

Enjoy excursions to Kaliana Lake, Machiya Safari Park, Soojat, Osian, Pali, Balsamand Lake and Palace, Sardar Samand Lake and Palace, Nimaj and other enchanting destinations as a part of Jodhpur tour itineraries.

Established in 1459 A.D. by Rao Jodha, Jodhpur ensconces magical surprises in its desert bosom and allures you into its historic lanes and streets aglitter with lavishly carved havelis and breath stopping forts. Jodhpur tour itineraries offered by Rajasthan Holiday ensures that you get to see the best of Rathore Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.

Find out more about Jodhpur tour itineraries by visiting the web links mentioned below:
Links……….

Rajasthan Holiday offers online booking for Jodhpur tour itineraries. For details please fill up the form provided belo






The thought of Rajasthan might reflect images of arid land and desert. This, of course, is just one aspect. Rajasthan is also immensely rich in culture, archaeology… and wildlife.

About 350 Bishnois sacrificed themselves in order to prevent the local king from cutting down the trees in their area and a cenotaph erected in their memory at Khejrli near Jodhpur stands as testimony to their fight for conservation.

It is among such traditions that the erstwhile princely rulers of the State maintained the best forest tracts as hunting preserves and consequently several jungles with varied flora and fauna have been conserved.

Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and Bharatpur Bird sanctuary (now, Keoladeo National Park) of Rajasthan are among the best and most popular in the world. Sariska Tiger Reserve and Desert National Park are two other important wilderness areas among the many others in the State.

Finally it must be added that this is merely a sketch of the prominent biodiversity of Rajasthan the water lily and lotus, peafowl and tree pie, dung beetle and looper caterpillar, cobra and viper, to name a few of the great variety, are all part of the rich natural heritage of this state.

Char Minar

History
Hyderabad city, located in what is popularly known as Deccan Plateau has been ruled by many dynasties of Indian Central, in the past. The entire Deccan region was subjected to rise and fall of many great dynasties and rulers in medieval India. Hyderabad as we know it today emerged after the fall of Bahmani Kingdom in Deccan. It was time for Qutb Shahi's to rule with the break up of the dynasty in the year 1512 A.D. Quli Qutb Shahi who succeeded the same year established the famous Golconda Fort that marked the birth of Hyderabad city.

Qutb Shahi's ruled Deccan for continuos 171 years. It was during this period trade and commerce flourished in the region. The extraction and production of diamonds, pearls, steel and fabric earned a great reputation for the place. The material development was further complemented with the growth of the city as a learning center. Indo-Persian and Islamic literature was given a fillip. Wealth started accumulating and the citizens enjoyed great many facilities. This golden age, however, came to an abrupt end with the conquest of the place at the hands of Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb. The year was 1687 and after a siege that lasted about eight months Aurangzeb was victorious in capturing Golconda Fort. The last king of the defeated kingdom, Abul Hassan Tana Shah died in captivity twelve years later.

Hyderabad continued to be occupied by Mughals until the death of Aurangzeb. In 1707, Aurangzeb succumbed and the stronghold over Hyderabad weakened. The region at that point of time was administered by viceroys appointed by the Mughal. The year 1724 opened a new chapter in the history of Hyderabad. Mir Quamaruddin who bore the title of Nizam, declared independence and the city split from Mughal kingdom. This led to the establishment of Asif Jahi period. The seven Nizam's who followed ruled for a good 224 years.

During Asif Jahi period literature recieved a special attention. Persian, Urdu, Telegu and Marathi developed in the region. Trade and commerce slowly caught pace and the region once again came to limelight. The city continued to be ruled by the dynasty till 1948 when India got its independence. Asaf Jahi rulers had good relations with the East India Company and after signing the accord in 1798, the city ensured its individuality and independence.
jkCharminarBest Time to Visit : October to March
Popular as : The Arc de Triomphe of the East"
Other Attractions : Mecca Masjid, Chow Mohalla Palace, Shahali Banda, Laad Bazar, Kali Kaman and Patthar Gatti.
Built By : Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah
Built In : 1591

Hyderabad's most popular landmark Charminar is located at the center of the old city and surround by lively bazaars. It was built by Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 in honour of his wife Bhagmati, shortly after he had shifted his capital from Golconda to what now is known as Hyderabad. It is popular as the Arc de Triomphe of the East and considered as the legendary masterpiece of Qutub Shahi's.

Charming structure define as its name from four intricately carved minarets, the four graceful minarets which means 'Four Minars'. Charminar is in square shape with four towers in the four corners of the square, each side is 20 metres long. Every side opens into a plaza through giant arches, which overlook four major thoroughfares and dwarf other features of the building except the minarets. Each arch is 11 metres wide and rises 20 metres to the pinnacle from the plinth. The minarets soar skywards by 24 metres from the roof of Charminar. Each minaret has four storeys, each looking like a delicately carved ring around the minaret. From the ground to the apex, the minarets cover a length of 48.7 metres.

Charminar is surrounded by markets and many other structures which adds to its grace. It boasts Chow Mohalla palace, Shahali Banda, Laad Bazar, Kali Kaman and Patthar Gatti and Mecca Masjid. The structure of Charminar show both Indian and Mughal architectural styles. You can see good views of all over the old city from the top of the minarets.

The Charminar, Hyderabad is a massive and impressive structure with four minarets. The Charminar in Hyderabad was constructed in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah.
Cultural India : Indian Monuments : Char Minar



Char Minar
The Charminar in Hyderabad was constructed in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah. He built the Charminar to mark the end of plague in the Hyderabad city. Since the construction of the Charminar, the Hyderabad city has almost become synonymous with the monument. The Charminar is a massive and impressive structure with four minarets. In the evening, with illumination, the great Charminar looks even greater. With the passage of time the Charminar occupied so much importance that it became the heart of all bustling activities. It is in the bustling bazaars around the Charminar that you find the traditional nahari stalls and kulchas of Hyderabad. Hyderabad is one of those few cities, which have a fine blend of modernity and tradition.

The Charminar has four imposing arches, which face the four main directions. A row of small vaulted niches ornament each of the four arches. The Char Minar is a two-storied building with the first floor being covered. The balconies on this floor provide a great view of the surrounding areas. A small mosque adorns the top floor of the Charminar. This mosque is situated on the western side of the Charminar facing Mecca, the holy city of the Muslims. This mosque is said to be the oldest surviving mosque in Hyderabad city. Charminar, the hub of Hyderabad city, has four wide roads going in each direction. The Charminar is square in shape, each side measuring 100 feet, with a central pointed high arch at the center.

The four minarets of the Charminar dominate the landscape of the region. The minarets, their domed finials rising from their lotus-leaves cushion, rise to 180 feet from the ground. The whole structure contains various small and ornamental arches arranged in vertical and horizontal fashion. The cornice on the first floor upholds a series of six arches and capitals on each portico, rising to the double-story gallery of the minarets. The projected canopy, decorative brackets and decoration in stucco plaster add graceful elegance to the Charminar. On the upper courtyard, a screen of arches topped by a row of square jalis or water screens provides a delicate charm to the muscular look of the Charminar.

Taj Mahal, India

Add caption

ef Standing majestically on the banks of River Yamuna, the Taj Mahal is synonymous with love and romance. It is believed that the name "Taj Mahal" was derived from the name of Shah Jahan wife Mumtaz Mahal and means "Crown Palace". The purity of the white marble, the exquisite ornamentation, precious gemstones used and its picturesque location, all make Taj Mahal travel gain a place amongst the most popular ones. However, unless and until, one knows the love story behind the Tajmahal of India, it will come up as just a beautiful building. But, the love behind this outstanrized

Science

uMaking Science Interesting for Anyone
Filed under Photos, teaching by admin on September 5, 2010 at 4:53 am
no comments



Making Science

Science may be a difficult subject for some students. A single lesson in science may leave a student feeling lost and confused. A lesson on a topic in science may be overly wordy and hard to interpret or understand. Some students may be skilled in other areas more than that of science and it is because of this that there is a need for a science tutor for some students. A science tutor is knowledgeable and experienced in the field of science and he or she would be able to help a student in regard to a specific lesson or any concept that is related to science or a branch of science. You may only require a science tutor for only part time help when it comes to your studies, or you may need to hire a science tutor full time to guide you with your work utilizing their skills and experience to help you build your own. Science does not interest everyone and it may be difficult to get involved in science lesson at school, making it necessary to get a science tutor after school hours to help understand the material that was discussed in that day’s lesson. There are several ways in which a student can find help when it comes to a lesson in science. The resources that are made available to students in regard to a science lesson can be either free or charge a fee. Most students can find a science tutor that will help them with the science lesson for free. Many times, schools will offer help with a science lesson after school or provide extra help on that lesson. Here are some ways in which you can seek help with a science lesson:

-Look online. The internet has so much information. If you have a question about the lesson you learned at school you can always conduct a simple search to find the answers you need. Make sure you use reliable websites to obtain your information as not every website will provide you will accurate information. If the information you find is not good enough or does not answer your question there are some other options you can choose from.

-Ask your teacher. Your teacher put together the lesson plan. The teacher is experienced and educated in their field and should be able to answer any of your questions.

-Tutor. Find out if your school offers a science tutor. Many schools will offer the services of a science tutor for free. If not ask help from your peers who understand and are doing well with the material in the class. A friend can serve as an unofficial science tutor. Although they are not actually a science tutor, your friend can provide you with the help that you need in order to do well in the class and understand the material better.

-Hire a science tutor. Although this is an added expense you will be able to get the proper help that you need from a professional who will devote the time and energy to help you specifically with your needs.
ffffdfdd

sScience news: The new invention
Filed under News, Photos by admin on September 5, 2010 at 4:54 am
no comments



Science News

The times are changing and with them science also is changing. Science news is always awaited with great anticipation as any new invention could change our lives drastically. A new invention can change almost anything, from the way we communicate to the way we cook. In the world of science news any new invention is thoroughly discussed and developed in order to provide the best uses and greatest convenience for its users. A new invention can make a process more efficient or cut time out of a lengthy process. Whether we realize it or not we rely on science news to rely the ideas and uses of a new invention created to us. Science news can be found almost anywhere, online, television, in journals books and magazines. A new invention could be heard of any day and the applications could be used for hundreds of years afterward. The concept of a new invention is mind blowing. Anyone, almost anyone can come up with a new idea, get it patented and be using it shortly afterward with millions of other people doing the same. The possibilities are endless when it comes to creativity within the field of science. When it comes to science news you can rely on some of the best websites and television broadcasts to find out what is going on in the world of science. Whats new in science news is often not published right away and a new invention for science may just be in the works this very moment. Researchers and scientists are working hard all over the word to come up with any number of new inventions every single day. Science news will eventually educate the world on a new invention and people will rely on it to provide them with that information. Here is a list of some new inventions that are currently in science news today.

-In science news, a new invention is in the field of paralysis has been developed. This new invention is to help those who are paralyzed by providing them with robotic assistance. For example someone who has suffered an injury and has lost the ability to control a part of their body or has lost muscle function in a specific area can utilize the new invention to aid in regaining the use of their original function. Scientists have been able to develop artificial muscles to replace the muscles that have stopped functioning in the eyelids. By using this new technology those who were unable to control the movement of their eyelids can now do so.

-Another unique and new invention that is in science news today are the lip-reading computers. If you are not aware of it already, these computers have been developed in order to identify multiple languages. Although this type of technology is similar to some that have already been developed the distinguishing feature here is that these new computers are able to differentiate between three different languages based on lip movement alone. This is a great tool and will be utilized often.

 rTeaching Kids Science: Some Tips and Advice on How to Engage your students
Filed under Photos, teaching by admin on September 5, 2010 at 4:56 am
no comments



Kids Science

Teaching kids science can be both a rewarding and fun experience. Science plays and important and crucial role in the education of the newest generation. With the rapid advancements in science and technology this field is very vital to every day life. Being aware of what is going on in the world of science and why certain phenomenons occur is important to a young child’s education in science. Kids science, although very basic in nature covers a broad variety of topics that makes teaching these concepts to children a fun and unique experience every day. Teaching kids science may require a certain level of creativity in order to spark the interest of the kids. Some children may excel in other subjects and may not be as interested or skilled when it comes to kids science. To gain the attention from all of your students when you are teaching kids science you may want to try a few different and creative approaches. When teaching kids science, keep in mind that children have a shorter attention span than adults and you need to keep the material light and fun while simultaneously getting the material across to the kids. Here are some fun ways you can get the kids interested in your classroom when teaching kids science.

-Scientist of the Day. Each day select a student that will research a science related topic and come up with a fact to share with the classroom. In this way, the students will be teaching each other and new and different information will be brought to light based on the interests of each individual student. With each day a new fact will be discussed and any questions that students may have with regard to kids science will be answered. By adding this idea to your teaching method you are engaging the minds of the students while simultaneously conveying the topics of kids science within your teaching plan.

- Articles. Science is always changing and developing. With the wave of new technology and inventions, students should be aware of what is going on in the world. By reading short and informative, but interesting, science related articles every day you will be able to keep students involved and up to date with the most recent advancements in the field of science. Keep the content light and keep in mind the age of the audience that you are teaching.

-Mix it up. Change the learning atmosphere from time to time. The world of science is not limited to a classroom. Take a field trip or walk outside. You could be teaching kids science in real life action. Some children learn better with visual aids and this will appeal to the needs of those students. By actually seeing science in action it may be a more productive learning session for kids since they need to be engaged in order to focus on the kids science topics at hand.

-Games. Kids science does not have to be limited to books alone. Teaching can consist of many different methods and tools to convey the material. Once you have gone over the material with the students you could implement a game to test their knowledge. In this way, learning can be fun and create an atmosphere that will challenge young minds.

DiscoverBangalore - Slideshow of Glorious Bangalore. Glorious Vidhana Soudha

Add caption

d

Bangalore is draped over the Deccan Plateau at an altitude of 949 meters (3113 ft.) above sea level, which gives it possibly the best climate among all the cities in India. Legend has it that Bangalore got its name from the words “Bendha KaaLu” (which means boiled beans in the local language Kannada). King Veera Ballala of the Vijayanagara kingdom was once lost in a forest and happened to stumble upon a lonely cottage. An old woman that lived there could offer the starving king only boiled beans “Bendha kaaLu” and the place came to be known as “Bendha kaaLu ooru” (ooru in Kannada means a city). BendhakaaLooru later came to be known as BengaLooru in Kannada and Bangalore in English. However, historical evidence shows that “BengaLooru” was recorded much before King Ballala's time in a 9th century temple inscription in the village of Begur. Even today "BengaLooru" exists within the city limits in Kodigehalli area and is called as "HalebengaLooru" or "Old Bangalore."The present day city was designed by Kempe Gowda in the year 1537. During one of his hunting bouts, which was his favourite past time, Kempe Gowda was surprised to see a hare chase his dog and thus named the place as "gandu bhoomi" (heroic place). Kempe Gowda I, who was in charge of Yelahanka, built a mud fort in 1537 and with the help of King Achutaraya, built the little towns of Balepet, Cottonpet and Chickpet, all inside the fort. Today, these little areas serve as the major wholesale and commercial market places in the city. Kempe Gowda's son erected the four watch towers to mark the boundaries of Bangalore which are traceable even today and they stand almost in the heart of the present city.


IIn the year 1638, Shahajirao Bhonsle, father of Shivaji, captured the city. In 1687, Aurangzeb's army captured Bangalore and sold it to the Wodeyars for a paltry sum of Rs.300,000. The Wodeyars then built the famous Lal Bagh in 1759, one of Bangalore's most beautifully laid out gardens. In the same year, Hyder Ali received Bangalore as a jagir from Krishnaraja Wodeyar II. He fortified the southern fort and made Bangalore an army town.

When Tipu Sultan died in the 4th Mysore war in 1799, the British gave the kingdom, including Bangalore, to Krishnaraja Wodeyar III but the British resident stayed in Bangalore.

In the beginning of the 19th century, the General Post Office was opened and the Cantonment was established nine years later in 1809. In 1831, alleging misrule by Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, the British took over the administration of the Mysore Kingdom.

Under the British influence, Bangalore bloomed with modern facilities like the railways, telegraph, postal and police departments. The first train was flagged out of the city in 1859 and five years later in 1864, the lovely Cubbon Park was built by Sankey. The end of the century saw the building of Attara Kacheri and the Bangalore Palace. The 20th century saw the arrival of the first motorcar in the city.
In 1881, the British returned the city to the Wodeyars. Dewans like Sir Mirza Ismail and Sir M Visveswaraya were the pioneers to help Bangalore attain its modern outlook.

From then on, the city has grown in magnitudes, emerging into what you see and know of today. Bangalore is India's fifth largest and the fastest growing city in Asia.