Shubh Yatra August 2019 by Maxposure Media Group India Pvt Ltd

The inflight magazine of Air India

August 2019 | Vol 7 | Issue 8

An epic retold Amish's take on the Ramayana

The freedom of a journey Free Copy -- for inflight reading only

How avid travellers interpret independence

Ta k e off to Toronto M a h a r a j a h ' s n e x t s to p

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Cmd's note

v'ouh yksgkuh

v/;{k ,oa izca/k funs'kd

Ashwani Lohani

Chairman and Managing Director

Your support has kept us flying high for over eight decades. And, we seek your continued patronage to live up to your expectations.

fiz; fe=ks]

Dear Friend,

mM+ku esa vkidk Lokxr gSA

Welcome on-board.

gky gh es]a gekjs iM+kl s h ns'k ds Åij ls mM+us ij izfrca/k gVk, tkus ls ge viuh mu mM+kuksa dks nksckjk vkjaHk dj ik, gSa tks dqN ekg iwoZ vLFkk;h :i ls can dj nh xbZ FkhaA fnYyh&ve`rlj&cfeZ?a ke mM+ku 15 vxLr ls iqu% vkjaHk dh tk jgh gS] tcfd fnYyh&dkcqy mM+ku bl o"kZ 5 vxLr ls fQ+j ls mM+ku HkjsxhA ut+Q+ dh mM+ku 'khrdkyhu 'ksM;~ y w vFkkZr~ 28 vDVwcj] 2019 ls iqu% vkjaHk gksus dh laHkkouk gS] fnYyh rFkk dksyca ks dh mM+ku iqu% vkjaHk dj nh xbZ gS rFkk eqca bZ ,oa dksyca ks ds chp mM+ku vkxkeh 20 flrEcj ls iqu% izpkfyr dh tk,xhA

The recent removal of restrictions on overflying our neighbour has enabled us to restore flights that had been temporarily suspended a few months back. The Delhi – Amritsar – Birmingham flight is being restored w.e.f 15th of August, while the Delhi – Kabul flight shall be back in the skies w.e.f 5th August this year. The flight to Najaf is likely to be restored w.e.f winter schedule i.e. 28th October, 2019. The flight between Delhi and Colombo stands restored and that between Mumbai and Colombo will be restored w.e.f ensuing 20th September.

?kjsyw usVodZ ij] ge 1 vxLr ls fnYyh vkSj jktdksV ds chp ,d ubZ mM+ku vkjaHk dj jgs gSa rFkk bl o"kZ 1 vDVwcj ls eqca bZ rFkk jktdksV ds chp ubZ mM+ku 'kq: djus dh Hkh ;kstuk gSA nsgjknwu dks eqca bZ] okjk.klh rFkk dksydkrk ls tksMu+ s rFkk iVuk dks ve`rlj vkSj eqca bZ ls tksMu+ s ds fy, ubZ mM+kusa bl o"kZ 27 flrEcj dks fo'o i;ZVu fnol ds volj ij vkjaHk dh tk,axhA

On the domestic front, we are starting a new flight between Delhi and Rajkot w.e.f 1st August and plan to start a new flight between Mumbai and Rajkot w.e.f 1st October this year. New flights linking Dehradun with Mumbai, Varanasi and Kolkata and Patna with Amritsar and Mumbai shall commence w.e.f World Tourism Day, 27th of September this year.

,vj bafM;k bl o"kZ yxHkx 70]000 J)kyqvksa dks gt ds fy, eDdk ,oa enhuk dh ;k=k djkus esa Hkh egÙoiw.kZ Hkwfedk fuHkk jgh gSA Hkkjr ls rhFkZ;kf=;ksa ds fy, gt dh mM+kusa 4 vxLr rd izpkfyr dh tk jgh gaS rFkk okilh ds fy, mM+kusa 17 vxLr rFkk 14 flrEcj ds chp izpkfyr dh tk,axhA vius ;kf=;ksa dks vkSj vf/kd lsok,a iznku djus ds gekjs iz;kl fujarj tkjh gSAa gekjk eq[; Qksdl le;fu"Bk] dsVfjax ,oa lQkbZ gSAa

Air India is also playing a very important role this year in transporting almost 70,000 devotees for Haj to Mecca and Medina. The movement of pilgrims from India for Haj is getting over on 4th of August and the movement in the return direction shall be between 17th August and 14th September, 2019. Our emphasis on enhancing services to our passengers continues unabated. Punctuality, catering and cleanliness remain our key focus areas.

geus gky gh esa ,d ubZ igy dh gS ftlds rgr gekjs okbM ckWMh foekuksa esa iksLVjksa ds ek/;e ls ns'k ds lkaLÑfrd :Ik ls le`) ,oa fofo/k i;ZVu LFky n'kkZ, x, gSAa ,vj bafM;k ds 43 okbM ckWMh ch&777 rFkk ch&787 foekuksa esa fofHkUu izdkj ds 158 iksLVj yxk, x, gSAa gesa vius egÙoiw.kZ lq>koks]a ijke'kZ] ljkguk ,oa f'kdk;rksa ls Hkh t+:j voxr djkrs jgas D;ksfa d ;s gesa viuh lsokvksa dks fujarj csgrj cukus ds fy, izfs jr djrs gSAa 'kqHk ;k=k t; fgan!

Our recent initiative is the showcasing of the rich and varied tourism offerings of the country through the medium of posters displayed in our wide-body aircraft fleet. 158 posters of various hues are being displayed in the 43 wide-body B-777 and B-787 aircraft of Air India. Do keep giving us your suggestions, advice, appreciation and also complaints as that motivates us to continuously strive for improvement in services. Bon Voyage Jai Hind!

august 2019 I shubh Yatra I 7

Contributors/editor's letter pg 50

pg 56

ANANYA BAHL

PROMITA MUKHERJEE

A travel writer from Mumbai, Bahl loves to document journeys of the road, the food and the acquaintances she makes on the way. She contributes regularly to leading publications in India and abroad.

Mukherjee has worked as an editor and columnist for over a decade in three metros, chasing exclusives and writing columns on the food and fashion industries. She loves to travel and document her adventures.

vuU; cgy

izkSferk eq[kthZ

eqacbZ fuoklh cgy dks viuh lM+d ;k=kvksa dk ys[ku ,oa mudk o.kZu djuk csgn ilan gSA mUgsa O;atuksa ds ckjs esa crkuk vPNk yxrk gSA Hkkjr ,oa fons'kh i=&if=dkvksa esa muds ys[k yxkrkj izdkf'kr gksrs jgrs gSaA

eq[kthZ n'kd ls vf/kd le; esa rhu egkuxjksa esa laikfndk o LraHk ys[ku dj pqdh gSaA og QwM rFkk QS'ku txr ls lacaf/kr LraHk fy[krh gSaA mUgsa ?kweuk o vius vuqHko dyec) djuk ilan gSA

tf;rk ca/kksik/;k; laikndh; funs'kd

Jayita Bandyopadhyay Editorial Director (jayita@maxposuremedia.com)

pg 64

pg 84

Punita Malhotra

sunil mishra

An incorrigible idealist, Malhotra shifted gears from a career in entrepreneurship and publishing to live her dream of travelling and writing. She pens her immersive, personal stories in her blog, 100cobbledroads.

iquhrk eYgks=k csgn vk'kkoknh eYgks=k us ?kweus o fy[kus ds 'kkSd ds pyrs m|eh o izdk'ku ds dWfj;j dks R;kx fn;kA mUgksua s ^100dkWcYMjksMl ~ * uked vius CykWx esa vius vuqHkoksa dks dyec) fd;k gSA

Deepti angrish

Angrish started her career as a journalist in 2007. At present, she is a freelance journalist and writes on various topics, including lifestyle and travel, for magazines across the country.

lquhy feJ

nhfIr vaxjh'k

feJ fiNys 25 o"kksaZ ls ys[ku dk;Z esa lfØ; gSAa bruk gh ugha og orZeku esa e/; izn's k ljdkj ds lkaLd`frd foHkkx ds tulaidZ foHkkx esa lgk;d funs’kd ds in ij dk;Zjr gSAa

vaxjh'k us 2007 ls viuk dWfj;j i=dkfjrk ds {ks= esa vkjaHk fd;k FkkA orZeku esa og Lora= i=dkj gSa vkSj ns'k Hkj dh if=dkvksa esa fofHkUu fo"k;ksa ij vkys[k fy[krh gSa ftuesa thou'kSyh o i;ZVu lfEefyr gSaA

It's that time of the year again, when Mother Nature rejuvenates herself. Around us, the sky darkens, the aroma of petrichor fills the air and green gets a new sparkle. As we rejoice the monsoon freshness, we raise a toast to several new beginnings. The first of the first, Air India's new flight to Toronto, the vibrant financial powerhouse of Canada, which will take to the skies in September. Leaf through our cover story and plan a trip to the multicultural city!

lky dk og le; vk x;k gS tc izdf` r izQfq Yyr gksrh gSA dkys ckny Nk tkrs gSAa feV~Vh dh lkS/a kh egd QSy tkrh gS rFkk gfj;kyh dk u;k :i fn[krk gSA ge tc ekulwu dh rkt+xh vuqHko dj jgs gS]a rc vusd pht+kas ds 'kqHkkjaHk dh ppkZ dj jgs gSAa loZiFz ke] ,vj bafM;k VksjVa ks ds fy, ubZ mM+ku vkjaHk dj jgh gS] tks dukMk dh thoar vkfFkZd jkt/kkuh gSA ;g mM+ku flrEcj esa vkjaHk gksxhA gekjs vkoj.k ys[k esa blds ckjs esa i<+as o cgqlLa d`fr okys 'kgj dh ;k=k dh lkspAas

Bestselling Indian author Amish is ready with his new book that retells the story of Ravana. As we dig deeper into its pages, the author elaborates about his fascination with mythology.

Hkkjr ds iz[;kr ys[kd veh"k dh ubZ fdrkc vkus okyh gS] tks jko.k dh dFkk gSA ge tc mudh fdrkcsa i<+rs gSa rc ys[kd dh ikSjkf.kd dFkkvksa ds izfr vklfDr ds lac/a k esa tkudkjh feyrh gSA

We delve into more mythology and spirituality as we take a trip of three holy sites of Madhya Pradesh: Ujjain, Maheshwar and Omkareshwar. From Madhya Pradesh to Meghalaya, rain is our muse, as we chase the dark clouds across the country. Let the rain come down...

ge tc e/; izn's k ds rhu ikou LFkyksa mTtSu] ekgs'oj ,oa vksd a kjs'oj dh ;k=k djrs gSa rc ikSjkf.kd ,oa vk/;kfRed Hkko esa xgjs Mwcrs pys tkrs gSAa e/; izn's k ls es?kky; rd] ge tc ns'k Hkj esa dkys cknyksa dk ihNk dj jgs gSa ,sls esa gekjk iwjk /;ku ckfj'k ij gh gSA vc /kjk ij o"kkZ dh ckSNkj gksus ns-a --

8 I Shubh Yatra I AUGUST 2019

Mishra has been writing for the past 25 years. He is currently working as an assistant director with the PRO department of the cultural wing of the government of Madhya Pradesh.

pg 86

www.shubh-yatra.in

shubh-yatra.in

www.facebook.com/ShubhYatraIN/ Tweet @airindiain

Bon Voyage

Editor: Aruna Gopalakrishnan Printer & Publisher: Rema Raja Editorial Team: Sameek Bhattacharya, Avinash Kumar Das, Puja Kaushik, Madhu Tuteja SHUBH YATRA (BON VOYAGE) MONTHLY BI-LINGUAL (HINDI & ENGLISH) INFLIGHT MAGAZINE OF AIR INDIA LTD PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY REMA RAJA ON BEHALF OF AIR INDIA LTD, AND PRINTED AT THOMSON PRESS, FARIDABAD, INDIA AND PUBLISHED AT AIR INDIA LTD, 113 GURUDWARA RAKABGANJ ROAD, NEW DELHI, EDITOR Aruna Gopalakrishnan

CEO and Managing Director Prakash Johari Director Vikas Johari Editorial Director Jayita Bandyopadhyay

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THIS IS A FREE COPY FOR IN-FLIGHT READING ONLY. MMGIPL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SELECTION OF ARTICLES, PHOTOGRAPHS UNDER PRB ACT. @ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE WriTING, ARTWORK AND / OR PHOTOGRAPHY CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE USED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF MMGIPL. AIR INDIA / MMGIPL DOES NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF UNSOLICITED PRODUCTS, MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, ARTWORK, TRANSPARENCIES OR OTHER MATERIALS. THE VIEWS EXPREsSED IN THE MAGAZINE ARE NOT NeCESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHER OR AIR INDIA LTD OR MMGIPL. ALL EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE WHILE COMPILING THE CONTENT OF THIS MAGAZINE, BUT WE ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EFFECTS ARISING THEREFROM. AIR INDIA LTD / MMGIPL DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR SERVICES OR PRODUCTS ADVERTISED HEREIN. All articles marked as ‘in focus’ in the magazine are advertorials.

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10 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

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shubh-yatra.in

Contents I august 2019

NAVIGATOR 50

sure shorts

footprints

36-48 Snapshots of festivals, food and culture, entertainment and events

64 The divine trilogy A journey through the holy sites of Ujjain, Omkareshwar and Maheshwar in MP

special feature 50 Ten on ten for Toronto A few of the best ways to take in the sights, sounds and attractions of this Canadian city

open house

68 call of the clouds Discover nature at its pristine best in Shillong, Meghalaya

Pop pourri 72 The Literary pop star India's bestselling author Amish opens up about documenting mythological fiction

56 Lose Control Avid travellers on how travelling sets them free

76 'it was love at first sight' Rachel Hunter shares her journey from a model to a yoga instructor, and her love for India

60 at home with art Explore your creative side at these art residencies in India

78 Here comes the rain again Monsoon comes alive as we travel through the country

12 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

shubh-yatra.in

Mahabodhi Temple

Biharâ&#x20AC;Ś Be surprised at every step!

Turned a prince into a Lord. Enlightened Gautam Buddha. Guiding world to salvation!

www.bihartourism.gov.in

BIHAR TOURISM

Blissful Bihar

can explore the legacy of India Before Christ era.

culture, Ashoka's grandeur, Bihar is the land where you

Buddhist legacy, Hindu Philosophy, Mauryan art &

essences. Origination point of many great things like

grandeur, Bihar already lived and celebrated these

language of religion, culture, and

When the world was learning the

Mahabodhi Temple. Be Awakened

Contents

98 Tarot Trotting What the cards hold for you in August

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eUuk Ms dh tUe'krkCnh ij bl egku xk;d ds ckjs esa tkusa

buls gS t+ekuk

Hkkjr dh efgyk ckbdlZ us nqfu;k Hkj esa viuh vyx igpku cuk yh gS

infpยบu 90

LoIuyksd dh lSj

egkcys'oj esa fc[kjh izkd`frd laqnjrk ns[krs gh curh gS

ljl 94

okg! D;k Lokn

ekulwu ds nkSjku t;iqj esa p[kus dks feysaxs ;s Lokfn"V O;atu

lkjs tgka ls vPNk---

^mRlo u`R; egksRlo* ds ek/;e ls euk;k tk,xk Lora=rk fnol

air india Behind The Scenes Fleet

On the Cover Colourful canoes and boats stand stacked at the waterfront in Toronto, as the iconic CN Tower looms in the background. Revel in the brilliant colours and multicultural vibes of Toronto, Canada's bustling financial city. From its modern architectural marvels to its vibrant lake front, the city is a very popular tourist destination. North American Travel Journalists Association Awards for shubh Yatra magazine

YEAR: 2017 CATEGORY: Cover silver YEAR: 2017 CATEGORY: Lifestyle finalist

14 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

Shubh Yatra wins 'Honors' at New York-based Galaxy Awards

CATEGORY: Photography (Various)

16 24

Association of Business Communicators of India - (ABCI) Awards for shubh Yatra magazine YEAR: 2011 CATEGORY: Features (Language) BRONZE YEAR: 2012 CATEGORY: External Magazine SILVER YEAR: 2012 CATEGORY: Magazine Design SILVER YEAR: 2012 CATEGORY: Bilingual Publication Silver YEAR: 2012 CATEGORY: Photo Feature BRONZE YEAR: 2013 CATEGORY: Bilingual Publication GOLD YEAR: 2014 CATEGORY: Bilingual Publication GOLD YEAR: 2014 CATEGORY: Photo Feature silver YEAR: 2014 CATEGORY: Photography Silver YEAR: 2015 CATEGORY: Photo Feature bronze YEAR: 2016 CATEGORY: Photo Feature silver CATEGORY: Photography gold

shubh-yatra.in

air india behind the scenes

Ready for

take off Vsd vkWQ+ ds fy, rS;kj

twitter chatter

Offers and discounts to make flying happier

In AI 640 today, from BLR - BOM, was amazed at its punctuality, food and courteous cabin crew. Will try to #travel more with it now onwards..

;k=k dks vkSj vf/kd lq[kn cukus ds fy, vkWQ+lZ ,oa NwV

Mohammed Saifee

Wow, super impressed with 2 Gauravs of @ airindiain the CiC Mr.Shekhawat & Captain Kulkarni in #DelSFO. The crew went out of the way to help me from severe headache during flight!! Humanity & professionalism at highest level!! Kudos !! Anytime anywhere #FlyAI. Jatin Mendiratta

A view of the ghats from River Ganga

Connecting India, For You

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Air India has started new domestic and international destinations in its summer schedule recently. On the domestic front, the airline has started new flights on the sectors Bhopal-Pune-Bhopal and Chennai-Varanasi-Chennai. Air India has increased the frequency of flight in the Delhi-Rajkot-Delhi sector.

,vj bafM;k us gky gh esa vius xzh"edkyhu ’ksM~;wy esa u, varjns’kh; vkSj varjjk"Vªh; xarO; vkjaHk fd, gSaA varjns’kh; usVodZ esa] ,;jykbu us Hkksiky&iq.ks&Hkksiky rFkk psUuS&okjk.klh&psUuS lsDVjksa ij ubZ mM+kusa vkjaHk dh gSaA ,vj bafM;k us fnYyh&jktdksV&fnYyh lsDVj ij mM+kuksa esa o`f) dh gSA

On the international front, Air India has started Indore-Dubai-Indore thrice-aweek and Kolkata-Dubai-Kolkata four times a week, and has increased the frequency of Delhi-Dubai-Delhi and Mumbai-Dubai-Mumbai flights.

varjjk"Vªh; ÝaV ij] ,vj bafM;k us bankSj&nqcbZ&bankSj ds fy, lIrkg esa rhu ckj ,oa dksydkrk&nqcbZ&dksydkrk ds fy, pkj ckj mM+kusa vkjaHk dh gSa rFkk fnYyh&nqcbZ&fnYyh o eqacbZ&nqcbZ&eqacbZ mM+kuksa dh ÝhDosalh Hkh c<+k nh gSA

16 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

Pleasantly surprised while flying on AI 643 & 644 on @Airbus 320-251 Neo! No irritating noise while take off and good leg space in economy! The browny served yesterday on AI644 was truly heart melting!Amazing makeover! Kudos to Mr. @Ashwani Lohani & team! Akshay Mehta

Just wanted to give a shoutout to the amazing crew of @airindiain flight 866. Thank you so much for being so warm & helpful today, especially with my son. So grateful! Lala Kutty

Travelled in Air india- Delhi-Tel Aviv on 07/7/19truly this is class apart- entire journey was pleasant, seating/food/ comfort- never expected to be this good. Will travel again in airindia- keep it up- will be 10/10 from my side. Trinayroshan

shubh-yatra.in

air india behind the scenes

Upgrade to First or Business Class at the airport on domestic and international flights for a nominal charge. For details visit airindia.in

‘red eye flights’ Air India has introduced the late-night ‘Red Eye Flights’ on popular sectors like Delhi-Goa-Delhi, DelhiCoimbatore-Delhi, Bengaluru-Ahmedabad-Bengaluru and Hyderabad to Durgapur with a daily operation. These late-night flights, popularly called ‘Red Eye Flights’, are being offered at fares considerably lower than normal and help travellers beat peak hour city traffic as well as save on hotel charges. For details visit our website www.airindia.in

^jsM vkbZ ¶+ykbV~l* ,vj bafM;k us fnYYkh&xksok&fnYyh] fnYyh&dks;Ecrq:&fnYyh] csaxyw:&vgenkckn&csaxyw: rFkk gSnjkckn ls nqxkZiqj tSls yksdfiz; lsDVjksa ij ,d nSfud izpkyu ds lkFk nsj&jkf= dh ^jsM vkbZ ¶+ykbV~l* izkjaHk dh gSaA ;s nsj jkf= mM+kusa ftUgsa ^jsM vkbZ* ds uke ls tkuk tkrk gS] lkekU; fdjk;ksa dh vis{kk cgqr de fdjk;ksa ij ;k=k vkWQ+j djrh gSa rFkk ;kf=;ksa dks O;Lrre le; ds flVh VªSfQ+d ls cpus ds lkFk&lkFk gksVy fdjk, esa cpr djus esa Hkh enn djrh gSaA vf/kd tkudkjh ds fy, osclkbV www.airindia.in ij ykWx vkWu djsaA

Fly for Sure Offer Air India has introduced ‘Fly for Sure Offer’ for passengers who are concerned that their travel plans may change. At the time of purchase of ticket, by making an advance payment of `2,000 per sector, you can avail one-time flight change facility on the same sector and day of travel. Applicable for domestic flights only.

¶+ykbZ Q+kjW ’;ksj vkWQj+ ,vj bafM;k vius mu lHkh ;kf=;ksa ds fy, ftUgsa ;g fÝ+d gS fd mudh ;k=k ;kstuk esa ifjorZu gks ldrk gS *¶+ykbZ Q+kWj ’;ksj vkWQ+j* is’k djrh gSA fVdV [k+jhnrs le; 2]000 #i, izfr lsDVj dk vfxze Hkqxrku dj vki mlh fnu rFkk mlh ;k=k lsDVj ij ,d ckj mM+ku esa ifjorZu dh lqfo/kk ys ldrs gSaA ;g dsoy ?kjsyw lsDVjksa ij izpkyu djus okyh mM+kuksa ds fy, ykxw gSA

18 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

More baggage allowance, than the rest

We offer you an unbelievable free baggage allowance of 25 kg on domestic sectors, in Economy Class on all fare levels. We also understand the baggage needs of the little ones and have allowed a free baggage allowance of 10 kg for infants. Those of you travelling on Alliance Air flights and connecting to Air India domestic flights and vice versa, holding a single ticket, will also be eligible for 25 kg. For journey applicable only on Alliance Air flights (aircraft types ATR 72 and 42) free baggage allowance is 15 kg.

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discounts and extra mileage points

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air india behind the scenes

Preferred Seat Selection

The scheme allows you to select a desired seat on the aircraft, like front row, emergency exit, window and aisle seat. You can purchase a preferred seat from any of Air India’s offices in the city or at the airport, from our call centre and Air India’s mobile application. The facility of Advance seat selection will be available till 240 minutes (D-4 hours) before departure, and within D-4 hours, selection of all seats will be free of charge. To know more, visit our website www.airindia.in and https://flightservices.airindia.in

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Special row for women passengers In a historic first, Air India is now reserving an entire row in Economy Class at no extra cost for women passengers travelling alone on its domestic flights. Women travelling with infants can also occupy these seats but without bassinets. The scheme is currently not applicable on Alliance Air and Air India’s code share flights. Know more on www.airindia.in

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Concessionary Fares

Concessionary Fares on the domestic sector have been made more attractive to senior citizens, armed forces, paramilitary forces and students. Concessionary Fares are available for sale from Air India’s City Ticketing Office (CTO), Airport Ticketing Office (ATO), website www.airindia.in and Call Centre. To know more, visit our website www.airindia.in

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20 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

prepaid baggage

allowance

Now, pre-purchase additional baggage allowance through Air India’s call centre or at any of Air India’s booking offices till six hours of departure of flight and save 20 per cent vis-a-vis airport rates.

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FLY YOUR COMPANION

free

First and Business Class travellers can also now avail of Companion Free Scheme for travel to/from any non-metro domestic sectors.

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air india behind the scenes

@airindiain AI-SBI credit card, loaded with benefits

Airsewa mobile app and portal The AirSewa web portal and a mobile app was launched by the Government for the convenience of air passengers, which provides an integrated common platform where passengers can lodge their grievances against all major stakeholders in the aviation sector including airlines. For details log on to the website www.airsewa.gov.in

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call centres

Flying Returns As a flying returns member, you can enjoy a host of offers like Family Pool and also redeem points online on star partner flights. Family Pooling is now live on flying returns. For details please log on to www.flyingreturns.co.in

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Do you have special needs for travel? Give us details on the request form available on www.airindia.in

Looking for a credit card with travel benefits? Look no further than the Air India-SBI credit card. Get the best-inclass travel benefits like miles and lounges. Available in two variants, the Air India-SBI Signature Card and Air IndiaSBI Platinum Card, with an attractive rewards structure. Get details under Special Offers on www.airindia.in

ykHk ls Hkjiwj ,vj bafM;k&,lchvkbZ ØsfMV dkMZ D;k vki ;k=k ykHk ls Hkjiwj ØsfMV dkMZ dh ryk’k esa gSa\ rks ,vj bafM;k&,lchvkbZ ØsfMV dkMZ vkidh bl ryk’k dks iwjk djrk gSA bl dkMZ ls vki ekbYl rFkk ykmat tSls loksZŸke ykHk izkIr dj ldrs gSaA vkd"kZd fjokWMZ ds lkFk ;g dkMZ&,vj bafM;k ,lchvkbZ flXuspj dkMZ rFkk ,vj bafM;k ,lchvkbZ IysfVue dkMZ nks :iksa esa miyC/k gSA iwjh tkudkjh ds fy, osclkbV www.airindia.in ij Lis’ky vkWQ+j ns[ksaA

dkWy lsUVlZ

feedback

Passengers can access Air India’s contact numbers in and outside India are:

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India: 1860 233 1407 Australia:1800247463* Canada: 1800 625 6424* France: 0033-1-76545741 (9am to 9pm) (Local) Germany: 49 69 12009821 (9am to 9pm) (Local) Singapore: 62259411 (Local) UK: 44 207 760 3290 (Local) US: 1800 223 7776* Callers from all foreign locations can also call on: +91 44 66921455 (international call rates applicable) +91 22 25818515 (international call rates applicable) *Toll-free numbers Please give your contact number at the time of ticketing to help

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us reach you, in case of a delay/disruption.

22 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

www.airindia.in

çfrfØ;k Passenger feedback is very valuable to us. Do write in with your suggestions/ observations through www.airindia.in/ feedback-form.htm

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ij vki gesa vius lq>ko@fVIif.k;ka HkstAas

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air india behind the scenes

Air India boasts the biggest modern state-of-the-art fleet, comprising Boeing (747-400, 777-200LR, 777-300ER and 787 Dreamliner) and

Airbus (319, 320, 320Neo and 321). Its subsidiaries, Air India Express and Alliance Air, have in their fleet the B737-800s and ATRs respectively.

Air india FLEET B747-400 (4 aircraft)

B777-300ER (13 aircraft) Typical Seating F/J/Y 12/26/385

Typical Seating F/J/Y 4/35/303

A320 (9)

B777-200LR (3)

Seating Configuration VariantsF/J/Y -/12/138 -/-/180 -/-/168 -/12/150

Typical Seating F/J/Y 8/35/195

A320NEO (27)

B-787 Dreamliner (27)

Seating Configuration Variants F/J/Y -/12/150

Typical Seating F/J/Y -/18/238

A319 (22) Seating Configuration Variants F/J/Y -/8/114 -/-/144

A321 (20) Typical Seating F/J/Y -/12/170

alliance air ATR-72-600 (18 aircraft)

ATR-42-320 (1) Typical Seating F/J/Y -/-/48

Typical Seating F/J/Y -/-/70

Air india express B737-800 (25) Typical Seating F/J/Y -/-/186-189

24 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

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air india

know-how

Mahatma Gandhi was very helping and concerned about others. Once, while he was boarding a train, one of his shoes slipped and fell on the track. He instantly removed the other shoe and threw it near the first one. His intention was to help the person who would find the pair.

air india family

News and views from Air India Flights launched

Air India started operations on Indore-Dubai-Indore sector on July 15 and Kolkata-Dubai-Kolkata on July 16

Indore-Dubai flight flagged off by Ashwani Lohani, Air India CMD, in the presence of Shankar Lalwani, Member of Parliament and other dignitaries

Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani with senior officials of Air India and crew at Dubai airport

Regional director (ER) and senior AI officials with the cockpit and cabin crew of the inaugural flight from Kolkata to Dubai at Kolkata airport

Passengers posing with the Maharajah at Kolkata airport

Air India rescues Spicejet aircraft, frees Mumbai runway Air India rose to the occasion to literally pull out an aircraft of Spicejet, which got stuck in slush after overshooting the main runway at Mumbai airport - causing major disruption of air traffic to and from Mumbai with only the secondary runway available for restricted operations from July 1, 2019. The blocked main runway made AI-191 Mumbai/Newark of July 2 impossible to operate as it requires a longer runway for take off. Team Air India, under the leadership of CMD Ashwani Lohani, swung into action and mobilised all resources to ensure minimal delay or disruption of schedule. Air India IOCC wing rescheduled the flight Mumbai/Ahmedabad/Newark to use the longer Ahmedabad runway to

28 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

Ashwani Lohani, CMD, with the concerned Air India team at the airlineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s headquarters in New Delhi

ensure take-off for the larger B777 aircraft. Necessary permissions from various authorities were obtained with an orchestrated support from CMD, Director Operations, Capt Amitabh Singh, GM-IOCC and cockpit/cabin

crew teams. For the four days the runway remained blocked, all the ultra-long-haul flights were operated via Ahmedabad. The other challenge was to avoid inordi-

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air india family

nate delay of the return flights due to the mandatory Flight Duty Time Limitation of the crew. It was required to cancel one return ultralong haul flight from Mumbai to break this chain of delays. This, however, would have affected around 700 passengers booked both ways. To avoid cancellation and adhere to the schedule, team IOCC suggested to break two ultra-long-haul flights from the US with a technical halt in Europe. Further, to cover the flights from Bahrain to India, a set of four cockpit and 20 cabin crew were positioned from Delhi with the support of CMS. This also made one cockpit and cabin crew set for ultra long-haul operation available at Newark and restored normalcy in operations. The airport teams at Mumbai, Washington, Newark and Bahrain played a key role in executing this plan with round-the-clock guidance of CMD, Director Operations and GM-

The Spicejet aircraft stuck in mud IOCC. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Engineering team led by BK Bagchi braved torrential rains and waterlogging to rescue the Spicejet aircraft stuck off the runway. Though one of the disabled aircraft recovery team was busy in Mangaluru, action was initiated on a war-footing for the recovery of the aircraft at Mumbai. Most of the engineers, including PK Kusum and Nakhwa, had to wade through waistdeep water to reach the site. It was tough to pull out the aircraft, as the high speed during touchdown had made it skid nearly

1,500 m ahead of the point of landing, affecting the nose landing gear. The mud made it even more difficult to steer the aircraft back to the tarmac. The recovery team, led by engineer Apoorva Chitari, had arrived from Mangaluru to join the recovery initiative. On July 3, the aircraft could be pulled out only partially due to soft mud. Next day, it was decided to pave the full track and the aircraft was pulled back along hard ground late night. Next day, after making a few manoeuvers, the aircraft was towed forward to the bay. The runway was cleared and normal operations resumed. Concerted efforts by the Engineering and IOCC teams resulted in this major achievement. While the Mumbai Engineering teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effort was orchestrated by CEO AIASL, HR Jagannath and ED Engineering Sailesh, IOCC team, led by Director Operations and GM IOCC Capt. Sandeep Mehrotra had shown exemplary commitment to script this memorable feat.

Capt Vivek Shanbhag Sailing is an eco-friendly sport and has so much in common with aviation. Airplane and sailing boats use wind as a means of propulsion. Air India, Chennai, has a sailing and a rowing team who have won several laurels and medals. Air India executive pilot Capt Vivek Shanbhag is a pilot by profession and a sailor by passion. He has been sailing for quite some time at the Royal Madras Yacht Club, Chennai. He sails the J80, which is a French fixed keel one-design sailing boat known for speed and maneuverability. His team has been practicing hard and has been invited to participate in the J80 World Championship at Spain in July 2019. His daughter Pallavi Shanbhag, a national sailing champion, is also part of the team. Air India wishes the father-daughter duo and their team the very best.

Ashwani Lohani, Air India CMD, appreciated security personnel for their timely action and active involvement in putting off a fire at Safdarjung Airportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical section

30 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

The club played a key role during the Chennai floods in 2015, as well. Air India helped in mobilising large quantities of relief material from all over the country and the club coordinated rescue and relief operations with the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Army and Indian Air Force among others.

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air india family

CREW CORNER 2.0

We are covering dynamic duos this month - husband and wife, and father and daughter who are a part of Air India and have given the esteemed airline not just two people from a family but also years of dedicated service

GPS Gill and Bhavna GPS Gill joined Alliance Air in 2000 on B 737 with his first posting in Kolkata. He served there for four years before joining Indian Airlines in April 2004 as a senior trainee pilot to fly the A 320. He has been flying in command since 2008 and received charge of B 787 in 2017. He loves cycling and travelling. He proudly says, “I’m a fauji child with my father having served the army as a colonel and grandfather a part of the RIAF.” Gill also belongs to a family of aviators with his uncles and brother having served the national carrier. His wife Bhavna joined Air India in 2009 as a

first officer on A 320 fleet and converted to B 787 in 2012. She now flies the A 320 in command. Bhavna hails from Jammu and has done engineering in software and computers, and later pursued a career in flying. Her father was a ground engineer on B 747 with Air India and mother is a teacher of Sanskrit and Science. Much to the accolade of the family, her brother Akashdeep Kaul is also a part of the flying fraternity. He was earlier with Air India till February 2019 as first officer on B 787 fleet and now a commander on A 320 with a private carrier.

Pankaj and Sheena

Capt Rajasekaran

Pankaj is from New Delhi and his wife Sheena from Nagpur. He joined Air India as a cabin crew in 2004 and in 2010, was recruited as a first officer and currently flies the B 787s. Sheena joined Air India as a cabin crew in 2006 and is today a deputy chief cabin crew. “We are always eager to explore new destinations. Considering our flying schedules, there are times when we do not see each other for days. It’s both a challenge and a blessing but being in the same industry helps us understand each other better and also what our jobs demand.” Sheena is also an emerging blogger.

Capt Rajasekaran joined Air India in October 1988 and received command in 1997. After this he flew the A 320 as an instructor and retired earlier this year. “I once told my teacher that I wanted to become a pilot and 45 years later, the same teacher congratulated me after my last flight that I took with my daughter Shashtya,” says Rajasekaran. Shashtya, who joined Air India in 2017, says that she has always wanted to do what her father did and make him proud. “I admire his presence of mind, especially in difficult situations. Being with him on his last flight was a dream come true,” she says.

32 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

Rajdeep and Shubhangi Rajdeep and Shubhangi first met as aspiring commercial pilots at Ahmedabad Aviation Academy and, as fate would have it, again at IGRUA, one of India’s premier flying schools. They were very different – he was practical and mature while she was a fun-loving extrovert. Soon their friendship blossomed into love. They both joined Air India as co-pilots on Airbus 310 in 2014, B 777 in 2007 and finally got command on Boeing in 2013. Shubhangi says, “Call it destiny or fate - today we are happily married and blessed with two beautiful daughters!”

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air india family

Atul and Anjana Sharma Atul and Anjana Sharma have been part of the Air India family for over two decades. Atul joined the airline in November of 1989, working briefly in the Commercial Cargo division before moving on to become an assistant flight purser. He graduated from Delhi University with a degree in B.Com (Hons) and cut his teeth in hospitality working as a reception supervisor at a five star property. He is currently a manager who loves to serve with a smile. He met Anjana, his wife of 26 years in the late 1980s. Anjana is a second

generation Air Indian - her father was airport manager, New Delhi airport till his retirement in 1985. She studied in Welham’s Girls School in Dehradun and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Art from Lady Sri Ram College, Delhi. She joined Air India in September 1986 and worked in Cargo and Traffic Services. She is presently manager at ticketing section at Safdarjung Airport. She is an avid gardener and animal lover. Atul and Anjana have two daughters Vaishnavee (24) and Vedika Sharma (18).

Shilpi Sidhu and Utsav

Ankit and Shweta Ankit Kumar Gupta joined Air India in 2009 on the Boeing 777, is currently flying the Boeing 787, and also undergoing command conversion on B 787. His hobbies include reading, travelling and adventure sports. Shweta Sood, his wife, joined Air India in 2011 as an airline attendant, on B 777 and B 787. A senior cabin crew, she is due for cabin in-charge training. Her hobbies include travelling, exploring different cultures and cuisines, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. “We take immense pride in doing our job and even more pride in calling ourselves Air Indians,” they say.

Aman and Ruby Walia Aman Walia joined Air India in July 2011 as an experienced crew having previously worked with private carrier. Today he works as a senior cabin crew and comes with a very high reputation of great professionalism and passion for his job. This, without a doubt, makes him stand out amongst his peers. Ruby, his wife, is a thorough professional. They say, “We love travelling and decided to explore the world together, and Air India gave us a golden opportunity to work with each other and pursue our dreams. So far it’s been an amazing journey flying Air India and the airline has helped us grow as individuals.”

Shilpi joined Indian Airlines in 1999. A Chemistry graduate, she holds a Commercial Pilots Licence and is passionate about wildlife photography, fitness and conservation. Her husband, Capt Utsav Mukhopadhyay joined Air India in 2003 as first officer on the A 310 and later converted to the Boeing 747-400 and subsequently as the Commander of the Queen of the Skies. He has served as a VVIP pilot for a decade and operated across the world in that post. He has also operated evacuation flights to Libya-Tripoli and Cyprus-Larnaca. A Commerce graduate, he loves road trips, music, military history and carpentry. They have a 13-year-old son.

This section is conceptualised by Captain Rishabh Kapur, a third-generation Air India pilot. He has received numerous laurels for his courage and service to the country and Air India.

Please write to rishabh.kapur@airindia.in or fill in the in-flight feedback form

34 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

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sure shorts

EXPLORE

Go out, travel, discover ... From hotspots, festivals and culture to cuisines, automobiles and technology

Janmashtami

Also known as Krishna Janmashtami and Gokulashtami, this festival celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. A joyous occasion, the festival sees children dressing up us the Blue Lord and his divine consort Radha, as devotees pray and sing songs in the Lord’s praise. While in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, Lord Krishna’s birthplace, Janmashtami is marked with religious fervour, in Mumbai, people form gravity-defying human pyramids to reach a handi (pot) of curd (one of the Lord’s favourites as a child) hung high above.

36 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

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Children dressed as Lord Krishna take a break from Janmashtami celebrations to play a game of football

August 24

sure shorts

August 12

August 2-26

Id-ul-Zuha, across the world

An important festival in the Muslim calendar, Id-ul-Zuha marks prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son when ordered to by Allah. On this day, Muslims dress in their best clothes, visit mosques and pray, thanking Allah for the blessings they have received. Money is also donated to the poor to make sure everyone can mark this day.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland

One of the most popular cultural festivals in the world, the Edinburgh Fringe is a month-long extravaganza of music, arts and cuisine. Said to be the largest gathering of artists, it’s one of the highlights of the Scottish summer. True to its founding spirit, the Fringe is open to anyone who can afford a trip to Scotland. So don’t be surprised to see students and tourists rubbing shoulders with celebrities!

August 23-25

Thimphu

Covelong Point Surf, Music, Yoga Festival, Chennai

An annual pilgrimage for lovers of the surf, this event, held in the fishing village of Kovalam, brings together adventure sports, yoga, music, films and great food. Tourists and locals mingle as surfers tackle the waves off the Chennai coast.

38 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

Mountain Echoes, Thimphu, Bhutan

Bhutan’s annual literary gathering will mark 10 successful years this August. Set against majestic mountains, the festival is a celebration of literature, music, dance, art and films. Exploring the elements of personal, professional, mental and spiritual success, this edition of the event will welcome almost 80 writers, thinkers, academicians and cultural icons from different nationalities.

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August 17

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Images are for representational purposes only

MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation

th India Water Week 2019 Water Cooperation-Coping with 21st Century Challenges

A multi disciplinary conference Promotional facilities A 3000 sqm. Exhibition 1500+delegates

Join Us Register Now  September 24-28, 2019  Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi

Navroz (Nauraj), across the world

Also known as the Iranian New Year, this ancient tradition marks the beginning of a new calendar. In India, members of the Parsi community dress up in their best attires, offer prayers at fire temples, feast on elaborate traditional meals and visit friends and relatives to celebrate the day. People also make donations on this auspicious day to help others.

August 10

Nehru Trophy Boat Race, Alappuzha, Kerala

Largest Water Resources Event

www.indiawaterweek.in/ www.facebook.com/indiawaterweek.in www.twitter.com/indiawaterweek www.youtube.com/user/indiawaterweek www.instagram.com/indiawaterweek/

On the second Saturday of August every year, the waters of the Punnamda Lake, near Alappuzha, come alive with a fierce battle of boats! The otherwise peaceful lakefront is transformed as a sea of humanity, with around two lakh people, gathers here to watch one of the most popular races in Kerala. As the long snake-boats race to the finish line, the air is charged with community pride and revelry.

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books

infocus

buzz words

They say there’s no joy like reading a good book. We bring you the month’s top four

Success in sight IAS officer Burra Venkatesham’s book is being appreciated by all and sundry From the pen of an IAS officer comes Selfie for Success, an insightful read on the journey to overcoming obstacles and achieving what one had set out for. Drawn from personal experience, the narrative is divided into five distinct sections aptly titled ‘Setting of Success’, ‘Syllabus of Success’, ‘Summary of Success’, ‘Side Effects of Success’ and ‘Signature of Success’.

everglow

THE accomplice

By Nandita Bose Rupa Publication `295

By John Grisham Hodder Publishers `299

After her father’s death, Disha travels to Kolkata with her father’s friend to live with his family. Life in the city is a sharp contrast to her simple upbringing in Hamirpur. It is a heartwarming narrative of a young girl who finds love and solace in music at a time when everything around her is changing.

This fast-paced novel in the Theodore (Theo) Boone series follows the adventures of Theo as he tries to save his friend Woody Lambert, who has been wrongly accused as an unwitting accomplice to an armed robbery. As Woody serves his time in prison, Theo races against time to prove his friend’s innocence.

Burra Venkatesham, IAS officer Just not that, in a bid to give readers more examples of success stories, the author has included the journeys of celebrated names such as author JK Rowling and TV host Oprah Winfrey, amongst others.

The book has been receiving a lot of positive reviews from across society. Here are some of the testimonials that the publication has garnered: 1. “Selfie of Success is a literary triumph! A powerful read that fills the mind with positive, inspiring affirmations that welcome success into anyone’s life. The narrator being success, speaking in the first person, is what puts Mr Venkatesham’s masterpiece above and beyond most books in the genre.” 2. “The most comprehensive snapshot of what success is. Author Burra Venkatesham, in his maiden attempt invites the reader to know success as a living, breathing person. The company it keeps, the way it acts, walks, speaks and thinks. A breakthrough book that broadens horizons for the reader, right from page one.” 3. “To conquer anything, one must first study every facet of it. Author and IAS officer Burra Venkatesham has studied the illusive pattern of success and employed it in his own personal life with incredible results. Now he shares his in-depth, treasure trove of knowledge on the subject in an easy to read, inspiring read – Selfie of Success.” 4. “Selfie of Success is a book that is unique in many ways. It is written in first person, where the opinion of ‘success’ is portrayed. The author, Burra Venketesham, who acknowledges his humble rural beginnings skillfully narrate the journey towards success and the efforts to maintain it. Unlike many books on success, Selfie of Success warns of the pitfalls of attaining success.

Yoga Mythology

Blessing in disguise

By Devdutt Pattanaik HarperCollins Publishers `349

By Danielle Steel Pan Macmillan Publishers `399 The New York Times bestselling

This delightful book (written in collaboration with international yoga practitioner Matt Rulli) retells fascinating stories from Hindu, Buddhist and Jain lore that lie behind popular asanas (yoga poses). The author draws attention to a worldview that is based on eternity, rebirth and liberation.

author is back with one of her most memorable characters, Isabelle McAvoy. The story narrates her journey as she, as a single mother to three daughters, tries to come to terms with an unfinished business, long-buried truths, unrequited love and a stable career.

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The use of the life and times of well known personalities world over from Mahatma Gandhi to Escobar, Jack Ma to Ramoji Rao, Oprah Winfrey to Michel Jackson etc give the reader greater insights. The book is compartmentalized very well and the reader can either read it at one go or in segments based on the interest or curiosity that the title of the segment arouses. This book serves to educate, inspire, motivate and also forewarn the reader about success. The language is simple and easy to comprehend for people of all ages. It is a fast paced, well written book on self motivation that gives the reader enough to mull over to embark or continue in the journey of success.” 5. “Powerful Affirmations. Incredible Life Transformations. Narrated by a unique protagonist.”

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sure shorts

Buzz Aldrin walking on the surface of the Moon, 1969

1 2

science

3 4 Touchdown

Moon

It’s been 50 years since man landed on the lunar surface. Here are some unknown facts about the Apollo mission that made this feat possible 44 I Shubh Yatra I August 2019

In 1961, the then American president John F Kennedy challenged the nation to land astronauts on the Moon by the end of the decade. NASA met that challenge with the Apollo programme. It was the first time human beings left Earth’s orbit and visited another world. “That’s one small step for (a) man; one giant leap for mankind.” It was July 20, 1969, when scientists at NASA, along with half a million people across the world, heard these words said by astronaut Neil Armstrong as he stepped on the Moon, making him the first man in history to do so. The world rejoiced at the success of the Apollo 11 mission as it took Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the lunar surface, and Michael Collins to the Moon. Of all the Apollo missions by NASA, Apollo 13 was one of the more famous ones. Due to some problem that arose on the way, the spacecraft flew around the Moon instead of landing, which was originally intended, before returning home safely with its astronauts. A movie, starring Oscar award-winning actor Tom Hanks, was made about this flight. The first manned-mission to the Moon was Apollo 8, which circled around the Moon on Christmas Eve, 1968. However, Apollo 8 did not land. It orbited the Moon and returned to Earth.

The first four Apollo flights tested the equipment used in the Apollo Programmme. Six of the other seven flights landed on the Moon. While the first Apollo flight happened in 1968, the first Moon landing took place in 1969.

To celebrate the 50th year of the momentous landing, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, has curated an exhibition titled ‘Apollo’s Muse: The Moon in the Age of Photography’ that displays the visual representations of the Moon captured from the dawn of photography till the present. The exhibition is on till September 22. Compiled by Shrabasti Mallik

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sure shorts

food

Desi flavours

on the go

Vikas Gupta, founder of the start-up FoodforTravel.in, speaks about revolutionising Indian packaged food for the travel industry

1. Lemon poha 2. Rajma chawal 3. Yellow dal 4. Sabudana upma 5. Dal makhani 6. Veg biryani These can be purchased from FoodforTravel.in

Even for an avid traveller, one who loves to live life out of a bag, there is one thing that reminds of home – food. Because no matter how ardent a gastronome one is or how much one enjoys to indulge in diverse cuisine, there is no better soulmeal than the one had at home. “No matter where you go – be it on a road trip or an international holiday – after a few days of exploring local food you feel like having something Indian, something that your tastebuds find comfort in,” says Vikas Gupta, founder of FoodforTravel.in, a start-up, that offers ready-to-eat Indian meals for travellers. What sets this start-up apart from others in the field is the fact it is an aggregator – bringing local ready-to-eat manufacturing companies from across the country under one platform. “And the best part about the products, smartly packaged, they are easy to use. All you need to do is add water to the dehydrated pre-cooked meal and you’ll have homelike food in minutes. It contains no preservatives or artificial colours,” he adds. Irrespective whether you are a vegetarian or non-vegetarian, from the northern part of India or south – you’ll find

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something to satiate your craving for desi flavours. From breakfast delights such as lemon poha, rava upma, egg bhurji and idli; and wholesome meals like daal and kadhi chawal, tamarind rice, dal makhni, butter chicken and egg curry; to such decadent desserts as kesari halwa and kheer – the options are endless. “I am an ardent traveller myself and am familiar with the need for Indian food during long journeys. I set up Food for Travel in September 2018, so that anyone – be it a backpacker, someone on a business trip or even a hostel boarder – can carry a piece of home along. It also gives a boost to local companies who, otherwise, have a tough time reaching the national level,” explains Gupta. As the food offered by the brand is dehydrated, the packets and bowls weigh less, allowing a traveller to pack multiple options. Ask Gupta about his future plans and he adds, “We are planning to retail these products, especially in remote areas. We are also in touch with travel and booking companies and soon, our products will be available at more locations.”

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sure shorts

Creative Mind

Shirish Satam, an Air India employee, creates wonderful mosaics with a variety of media and showcases them at the airline’s various offices

Art

1. Shirish Satam’s glass tile mosaic of JRD Tata 2. A 4-ft glass mosaic of the Maharajah, created by Satam is displayed at Air India CMD’s office in New Delhi 3. The artist with Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani

Satam’s love for mosaic art began when he conceived the idea of making a portrait of JRD Tata as a tribute

Every artist has his/ her creative medium, trademark imagery and signature element - the malleability of metal, strokes of a paintbrush or the steadfastness of stones. But 55-year-old Shirish Satam finds creative independence in mosaics. “I am extremely passionate about creating a mosaic using various media such as sequins, fabric, wood, metal, stone, ceramic and glass tiles. My oeuvre comprises mosaic mirrors, nameplates, statues, wall murals and portraits,” says the flight purser (Mgr/IFSD Mumbai). He credits his love for art to his mother, a primary school teacher whose poster artworks and teaching methods piqued his interest in the creative field. At the age of 48, Satam undertook a short course in electric arc welding, gas welding and brazing. But his love for mosaic art began

when he conceived the idea of making a portrait of JRD Tata as a tribute. The appreciation and interests shown by Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani has encouraged Satam to create more works of art. The artist says, “Most of my works are displayed at the Air India headquarters and other Air India offices in Delhi and Mumbai. I also use my creativity to convey social messages on topics like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the importance of tree plantation and conservation of water.” His latest creation is a tribute to Indian soldiers who have sacrificed their life for the country. “I hope my work catches the viewer’s eye and inspires them to follow their passion like I did. I am grateful to my family for their assistance, valuable inputs and support to help me pursue my passion,” he adds.

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sure shorts

technology

On-track revolution

Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technology boom is not just about digitising various government platforms. The new and improved rake for Train 18, titled Vande Bharat Express, is set to upgrade rail travel in India The Vande Bharat train and (inset) its plush interiors

Did you know? The Vande Bharat Express is expected to complete the 655km journey between Delhi and Katra in around eight hours, a reduction of four hours from the current 12 hours travel time The train will halt for two minutes at Ambala Cantonment, Ludhiana Junction and Jammu Tawi before arriving at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra The train, with a seating capacity of 1,128, will also feature two first class compartments amongst 16 coaches

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Train travel in India will never be the same again. With the launch of the plush Train 18, or Vande Bharat, Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first homegrown train, in February this year, rail journeys in the country are being revolutionised. Running at a speed said to be the fastest in the country, and boasting plush interiors and the most advanced safety features, this train is setting new benchmarks. For the past few months, the first Vande Bharat train has been successfully plying the Delhi-Varanasi route, covering the distance of around 800 km in around nine hours. And after successful completion of trials, the second Vande Bharat Express is ready to be launched on the Delhi-Katra route, reducing the travel time by almost four hours. Speed The Vande Bharat express is an indigenouslydesigned semi-high speed intercity electric (EMU), fashioned at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. The train has a proposed maximum speed of 200 km/hr and is set to attain speeds of upto 130 km/hr on the Delhi-Varanasi and the Delhi-Katra route.

Features A perfect example of the Make in India initiative, the Vande Bharat Express will feature improved washbasins, automatic doors, Wi-Fi and infotainment system among other contemporary features. The train also employs the new-age regenerative braking system, which allows it to use the energy for auxiliary purposes whenever required as it attains speeds upwards of 100 km/hr. Definitive course The Vande Bharat Express is aimed towards drastically reducing travel time across some of the busiest routes, while providing maximum comfort to passengers. On the new route to Katra in Jammu & Kashmir, the train will come as a blessing to the thousands of pilgrims, who travel to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine annually. The new rake will feature rotatable seats, increased leg room and more space for meal storage. With the introduction on the new route, Indian Railways is also planning to revamp train services across all major hubs in the country to give every journey a standardised experience.

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Promotion

special feature city Trail

T e n on t e n f or

T oronto Here are the top experiences to be had in this spirited Canadian city thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high on culture, creativity and cheer, says Ananya Bahl

The Toronto City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square are popular tourist landmarks

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AIR AIR INDIA INDIA ROUTE ROUTE

Air India will introduce New Delhi-Toronto -New Delhi flights from September 27

Most might feel that Toronto, Canada’s financial capital and business powerhouse, is all work and no play. But nothing could be further from the truth. Canada’s most populous city scores high on the joie de vivre metre with its eclectic neighbourhoods, food markets, sprawling museums, a gorgeous waterfront, vast green spaces and a buzzing night life. All of this fuelled by its truly global character that is reflected in the distinct neighbourhoods that cozily fit into each other. Toronto takes the best of world cultures and offers it in one giant jigsaw puzzle! Here are the top 10 experiences that are sure to make you soak in Toronto’s charm and return for round two.

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special feature city trail

Toronto is high on the joie de vivre metre with eclectic neighbourhoods, food markets, sprawling museums and a gorgeous waterfront CN Tower

This iconic symbol of Toronto is as popular today as it was when it first opened in 1976. Primarily a communications tower, this 553.3-m-tall structure is the tallest freestanding one in the Western Hemisphere. While it affords sweeping views of the business district, the tower is also home to the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada and 360, a restaurant offering modern Canadian cuisine and gorgeous views.

Royal Ontario Museum 1. The CN Tower 2. The Royal Ontario Museum 3. A colourful car parked at Kensington Market

With 13 million artworks, natural history specimens and cultural objects, the ROM museum is a must-visit. Founded in 1914, the museum houses 40 galleries and exhibition areas, and is considered among the finest cultural institutions in North America. Some of the must-sees include the Chinese temple sculptures, Gallery of Korean Art and the cedar crest poles carved by First Nations tribes in British Columbia.

Kensington Market

Get your bohemian quotient soaring with a visit to this hip neighbourhood. Its outdoor market was designated as a National Histor-

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ic Site in 2006 owing to its multiculturalism. Afternoon food walks are very popular here where you can savour immigrant history through various cuisines. Think empanadas, jerk chicken and Canadian comfort food and you have yourself a recipe for a delicious outing! Invest in some retail therapy at CF Toronto Eaton Centre and Yorkville Shopping Centre — both of which are sprawling malls.

Distillery District

Built at the site of what was once the British empire’s largest distillery -- Gooderham and Worts Distillery -- the five-hectare Distillery District is one of Toronto’s most popular design and art centres. The warehouses of the old distillery built in 1832 have been converted into high-end galleries, studios, boutiques and cafés. In summer, the quaint area is abuzz with art shows, live jazz performances and food events.

The Rex

Jazz music aficionados must head to Rex — the city’s oldest-running jazz club. With over 80 shows hosted monthly, visitors will be spoilt for choice when it comes to

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1. Toronto’s historic Distillery District 2. Niagra Falls 3. The palm house at the Allan Gardens, said to be one of the oldest parks in Toronto

What’s

on in town Autumn in Toronto stretches from September to November. And there are a few great cultural extravaganzas to enjoy: The Toronto International Film Festival and Tim Hortons Southside Shuffle, a major Blues music event, are the main in September. Then comes Oktoberfest. In October, celebrate Halloween at the gothic-style castle, Casa Loma, that hosts a haunted walking tour through dark tunnels and gardens. Art Toronto, Canada’s international fair for modern and contemporary art, is another attraction. Welcome Christmas early in the city with the popular Toronto Chocolate Festival, which is held in November.

listening to some of the finest musicians from Canada and beyond. The club is also home to a restaurant, which serves hearty burgers and finger food that are perfect for post-gig meals. At the Rex, whose motto reads: “more great jazz than anywhere else, all the time”, it’s common to spot jazz stars!

Toronto Botanical Garden

If you’re travelling through Toronto with kids, head to this delightful green haven. Divided into the Greensward (grassy portion of the Wilket Creek Ravine); the Entry Garden Walk (filled with witch hazels, viburnums, smoke trees and chaste trees) that was designed by Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf; the Kitchen & Herb Garden; the Teaching Garden where kids can learn about plants; and Beryl Ivey Knot Garden, which exhibits the art of pruning and shaping plants - it is a green space that’s always a hit with families.

The beach

For city residents, the beach is a tony colony sitting pretty by Lake Ontario. For tourists, it’s a part of the beaches, a green neighbourhood that includes the waterfront and the parks around the lake. Summers call for long walks along its boardwalk, the chance to work up a sweat along the Martin Goodman Trail, relaxation by the waterfront, or the opportunity to unwind at the various cafés in this area. Walk along the quaint lakeside houses with neat flower-lined gardens or picnic at the three beaches - Wood-

bine, Kew and Balmy. The neighbourhood also plays host to various events like the annual Jazz festival and Arts and Crafts show.

Toronto Islands

Head to Toronto Islands for a fun day outdoors. About 15 small islands make up this park, which is located on Lake Ontario. A 13-minute ferry ride takes visitors to this place from central Toronto. Swimming at the beach, biking, canoeing, kayaking, picnic spots, nature walks, and an amusement park can be enjoyed here. You also get to interact with locals, who live in charming cottages that are said to be almost 150 years old!

Toronto Zoo

For those looking for even more family fun, the Toronto Zoo (home to pandas, meerkats and penguins galore), Ontario Science Centre (a museum showcasing scientific exhibits and boasting an IMAX dome) and Canada’s Wonderland (with its roller coasters, water park and Dinosaurs Alive exhibit) make for great outings with kids.

Niagara Falls

Take a day-trip to the Niagara Falls, located about 128 km away from Toronto. Get on board the “Voyage to the Falls” or “Maid of the Mist” boat tours and experience the gush of the cascades in all their glory.

The author is an avid traveller and the views expressed in this article are her own

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special feature city trail

The city gets its name from the Huron word for “fishing weir”, an obstruction placed in tidal waters, or across a river, to trap fish for bountiful fishing

The Aga Khan Museum has more than 1,000 years of artistic accomplishments in its Permanent Collection, which showcase the breadth of civilisations from the Iberian Peninsula to China

Often called a city within a park, Toronto has extensive green areas. The city also boasts a total of about 10 million trees

With an eclectic food scene, Toronto has more than 8,000 restaurants. The city has several buzzing food streets as well

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A multicultural city, over 140 languages are spoken by its residents. It is said that more than half of the city’s population was born outside Canada

The Bata Shoe Musuem hosts a collection of more than 13,000 shoes and footwear-related artefacts that span 4,500 years of history in four impressive galleries

A large number of Hollywood films are filmed in Toronto every year

The Hockey Hall of Fame is the world’s one and only place to learn everything there is to know about the game, which defines Canada, and has been adopted by over 70 nations

In 2017, the city welcomed over 43 million visitors, out of which a record 15.5 million were overnight visitors. Toronto is the leading tourism destination in Canada

Toronto has a shoreline that stretches 43 km. It is 138 km when the bays and all the islands are included shubh-yatra.in

Vectors are for representational purposes only

Toronto has several water bodies and 307 km of rivers and creeks run through the city, most draining into the Lake Ontario, one of the five Great Lakes of North America

open house Travel

Lose

Control

A holiday can rejuvenate the mind, body and soul. On this Independence Day, we celebrate the freedom that travel offers us. Promita Mukherjee speaks to a few influencers Stepping out. Flying high. Letting go. Leaving the regular behind. Exploring the unknown.... Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t this what travel is all about? To most of us, just a mention of the word travel triggers joy and contentment. And to many others, the word brings with it a sense of freedom. However, as much as we wish, we do not always manage to find time from our commitments to embark

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on frequent journeys. But there are some for whom travelling is a profession, a means of emancipation and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where they find peace. So, on the occasion of Independence Day (August 15), as India celebrates another year of breaking free from the shackles of colonial rule, we speak to a few travel industry influencers about how journeys set them free.

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Shivya Nath, travel blogger and author At the age of 23 years, Shivya Nath quit her cushy corporate job to travel the world. She gave up her home and the need for a permanent address, sold most of her possessions and embarked on a nomadic journey, not knowing what her destination was. Almost a decade later, her destination has still not been defined but the journey has been one of discoveries. It has taken her across the globe - from remote Himalayan villages to the Amazon rainforests of Ecuador. Along the way, she lived with an indigenous Mayan community in Guatemala, hiked in the Ecuadorian Andes, slept under a meteor shower in the salt desert of Gujarat and learnt to conquer her deepest fears. “When I started out, I didn’t know how this journey was going to shape up. But the longer I stayed on the road, the deeper I journeyed within and discovered a sense of freedom I didn’t know existed,” says Nath.

Nath on a hike in Georgia

“Travelling solo offers a sense of liberation that’s hard to explain in words,” says Nath, a travel writer and a motivational speaker

Lee Grewal and Bhanu Uttam, travel influencers

Ask her about travel and freedom and Nath is quick to answer: “Travelling solo offers a sense of liberation that’s hard to explain in words. Not just from everyday routine, but from the baggage of our belongings, from the weight of our emotional dependencies on others and from social ideas that we’ve been conditioned to accept.” Embracing this freedom, she gave up her “settled life”. “Now with a home nowhere, I belong everywhere,” she concludes.

Uttam (left) and Grewal in Cambodia

Lee Grewal and Bhanu Uttam call themselves two girls from Australia and India who love to travel! Grewal, an expatriate based in Delhi, says travel keeps her going and sets her free. “We interpret travelling as freedom. It sets you free, above all things, from yourself. The limitations and boundaries we enclose ourselves in are pushed away when we experience the world outside. Every time we meet someone from a different region, religion or background, or people with diverse thoughts, customs and traditions, we edge towards a broader and more open view of the world. We grow, stretch and dream and we are liberated by the experience of travel,” they say. Independence, for the two friends, is about the freedom to be themselves. “To go your own way and make your own mark on the world, free from judgments, boundaries and the expectations of others,” they add.

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Image: Reacho.in

open house travel

Mandira Bedi, actor, sports commentator Be it flaunting her perfectly-chiselled body on the beaches of Maldives, driving a truck to Leh, doing a little bit of surf and sun in Goa or trekking solo in Manali, actor and sports commentator Mandira Bedi redefines travel every time she steps out. So what is it that makes this self-confessed “travel freak” set such unique goals for herself while on the road? “Every time I step out, I challenge myself and test my limits. And with every challenge I overcome, comes a unique sense of accomplishment,” says Bedi. For the avid traveller, these trips also offer a sense of freedom. “Travelling, and more so, being a solo traveller, is very liberating. I love the spontaneity of a solo trip. Your decisions are yours. Your destination for the day is yours. And when you get to go with the flow, there is much more to be seen and discovered.” So what does freedom or independence mean to her? “Freedom is that of thought, action and speech, without judgement. Freedom is being able to do what you want.. when you want.. as long as it isn’t hurting or harming anyone.”

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“Every time I step out, I challenge myself and test my limits. And with every challenge I overcome, comes a sense of accomplishment,” says Bedi

(Top) Bedi strikes a pose as she travels through Ladakh and (above) behind the camera

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Yashas TK, travel start-up founder A Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics & Communication), Yashas TK was working with a multinational company before the proverbial travel bug bit him. He quit his job and set off on road trips, exploring the world. Using his experience of longdistance tours, he set up MyRoadtrippr, a start-up that offers concept-based unique holidays. “It was my greed to be free that set me off on this path,” says the Bengaluru-based start-up founder. Ask him about freedom, and he quips: “Freedom is merely a perception that we set for ourselves. We have no definite yardstick to define freedom. It’s something that liberates you and brings peace. It is the driving force that makes your existence worthwhile; by giving you enough time and space to pursue your interest and bring about a change in the lives of those around you. Pursuing my interest in travel has given me all of the above,” he explains. Through his venture, the entrepreneur wants to spread the unique concept of offbeat vacations. He says: “The best part about travelling with us is it gives you an option to enjoy an active vacation with a road trip you desire, coupled with many activities along the way. We aim to revolutionise the way Indians travel by bringing some of the exotic experiences from across the world.”

Yashas TK in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Mansi Ahuja Sharma and Kunal Sharma, avid travellers and homestay owners

Mansi and Kunal in Nainital

For this young couple, travel defines their lives. It’s their profession, their leisure and even a family matter! The couple, along with their one-year-old son, have set out on a venture to build a home for themselves and like-minded travellers in the Himalayas. Mansi quit her job in public relations and Kunal in the garment sector, to build a homestay in Manali, Himachal Pradesh. “We both love long drives and the mountains. And so does our son Aadyat. We always wanted to build a home in the mountains. But never had I thought that we would quit our professions and plunge into the business of travel,” says Mansi. Gushing about the new property, she adds, “The homestay G Villas, Manali, is up and running and it’s unbelievably beautiful. It is located in one of the posh neighbourhoods of Manali, Simsa village, and has a celebrity neighbour too - actor Kangana Ranaut!” Travel is what brought the couple together and gave them a sense of belonging. “The virtue of travel is that it exposes you to other cultures, people and ways of life,” she explains.

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open house art

AT HOME

WITH ART

Art residencies offer artists an environment conducive to free thinking and experimentation. Punam Goel lists four such creative hubs across India 1

1. Visual artist Rajyashri Goody’s residency at Khoj Studios 2. Archivist and visual artist Shubigi Rao’s artwork at Khoj 2

KHOJ STUDIOS, NEW DELHI One of the most coveted art residencies in India founded by Pooja Sood, Khoj International Artists’ Association has been at the helm of nurturing and promoting cutting-edge art practice and a multi-disciplinary approach to art production. Various residencies have brought together practitioners from diverse fields such as science, food, design, fashion, sound, music and art under one roof and inside the aestheticallybuilt courtyard of Khoj Studios in New Delhi. Says Radha Mahendru, programme director, Khoj Studios, “We hope to give artists the space to experiment, reflect, take risks with their work and even fail - the residency is meant to be a safe space. Khoj works hard in providing the artists-in-residents with physical and intellectual infrastructure to enable them to make work that otherwise has no avenues for expression and may not be commercially viable.”

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Almost all residencies here are centred around vibrant and astute themes. For example when Khoj first started the art and gaming residency, almost no one was looking at art games in a serious way - the three gaming residencies at Khoj and the subsequent exhibition helped build discourse in that area. Adds Mahendru, “Most of Khoj residencies comprise of Indian and international artists and we hope that through conversations (formal and informal) during the course of the residency, each artist takes away new learning and reflections.” Ensuring that resident artists incur minimal costs, Khoj pays for the travel and accommodation, along with per diems and expenses towards production. It is equipped with a reading room and library, a project space and a media room which are available to the artists, along with technical equipment like projectors, cameras, sound recording etc.

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ARTS4ALL, NEW DELHI Started by art curator Archana Bahl Sapra and artist Puja Bahri in 2011, Arts4All’s aim is to foster creativity of under-recognised art forms and young artists on an equitable and continual basis. The residency programme started from a small set-up in Sukhdev Vihar and now runs from the Sanskriti Kendra in the capital. Says Sapra, “We introduce artists to the capital’s art scene, mentor their work, and encourage experimentation. We facilitate their growth through critique and guidance, besides organising open days when their work is displayed to make it accessible to a wider audience and help market it for their economic sustainability. We also invite senior artists to give talks, mentor and offer feedback.”

Since Arts4All Residency aims to promote emerging artists, the programme is structured to not only help them to learn from senior artists but also understand how galleries and exhibition centres function. Housed in the idyllic environment of Sanskriti Kendra, resident artists also get to view the stunning art collection at the Kendra’s three museums, while other facilities include a hall, an amphitheatre, artists’ studios, dormitories and workshop spaces.

1. Contemporary artist Paresh Maity at Arts4All 2. An artist working on his creation at the residency 2

WHAT ABOUT ART (WAA), MUMBAI Launched in 2013, this newcomer may be young in the industry, but with a strategic location in the heart of Mumbai’s vibrant neighbourhood Bandra, WAA residency has risen fast on the art map of India. One of the few art residencies in Mumbai, it provides individual studio space, professional networking opportunities and an intellectually stimulating environment for dialogue exchange on visual arts practices for artists and curators. In addition, the residency regularly organises artist talks and open studios. With nine spacious studios, WAA residencies are often supported by the Inlaks Foundation, the Quebec government, the Qatar Museums, Pro Helvetia and Goethe Institute. WAA has also been a part of the Mumbai Gallery Weekend since the past three years, while also providing funded residencies to young graduates every year. Says Eve Lemesle, director, WAA, “Art residencies provide infrastructure and support for art production which artists usually don’t have in their own studios.” This residency programme helps artists avail a private studio for free, or at an affordable cost.

1. An art installation at What About Art 2. A workshop at the residency

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open house art 1

ART ICHOL, MAIHAR, MADHYA PRADESH Art Ichol was founded by art enthusiast and gallerist Ambica Beri as a first-of-its kind multidisciplinary arts centre in the small town of Maihar in Madhya Pradesh. In the last five years since its inception, Art Ichol’s rise to fame has been phenomenal, having recently bagged the National Tourism Award for being the most unique and innovative art destination in India. Comprising a bronze casting foundry, an open air sculpture park, stone and wood carving workshops, painters’ studio, clay modelling room and an art café, Art Ichol has hosted more than 60 artists from over 20 counties since 2015. A significant residency in recent times has been an International Contemporary Ceramics Residency, that led to the construction of a Brick Temple at Art Ichol as a tribute to brick makers of the region. Some prominent artists who have lived and worked at Art Ichol include acclaimed Japanese ceramic artist Satoru Hoshino along with Indian masters such as Satish Gupta and Paresh Maity, among others.

1. Bronze sculptures at Art Ichol 2. An artist at work at the residency

Says Beri, “The works created at Art Ichol are different even for the established artists because they get an opportunity to experiment in different mediums, often not their own. For example, Maity worked here in ceramics as well as industrial waste. Moreover, the space and environment along with studio facilities offer an array of material and ideas for them to create unique works with. Artists experience a sense of liberation from the routine and mundane city environment, which invariably inspires creativity. Almost always, the creations are unplanned and organic.” Located in the heart of rural India, Art Ichol has successfully brought ‘the creation of art’ out of the confines of the elite space and into the lives of ordinary people. As its parallel vision, it promotes skill development through the arts. Australian textile designer Trish Nathan, on her multiple visits explained to the villagers how the traditional motifs on their huts had inspired her designs. The visiting artists interact with the local community regularly. This sharing and exchange of knowledge is invigorating for both the artist and the community, whether it is through theatre, embroidery, music, poetry, painting, dance, architecture or art installations.

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open house Foreign impressions

‘India and Mexico

share a lot in common’

Minister Armando Vivanco Castellanos, chargé d’affaires, Embassy of Mexico in India, talks about his travels in India and his love for food

How long have you been in India and how has the experience been? I came to India about two years ago and the time I have spent here has been quite interesting. India is a diverse country and in many aspects, very similar to Mexico. Take our shared love for vibrant colours and spicy food for example. And like India, my country too enjoys a varied climate and boasts multiple cultures! In Mexico, Spanish is widely spoken but we have as many as 62 indigenous languages, some of which are still used by the respective communities. So there are a lot of similarities between the two countries than meets the eye.

Have you had the chance to travel in the country? Do you have a favourite destination? Although I did not get to go around as much as I wished to, but the little that I have explored has only piqued my interest and strengthened my resolve to discover more of the country. It is very difficult to choose a few destinations in a country where you come across something unique and stunning at almost every turn – be it forts, palaces or mountains. But if I must pick a favourite, it would have to be the caves of Ajanta and Ellora.

Any destinations on your bucket list? There are so many that if I even try to list them, I am sure to miss out a couple of them. Khajuraho, Chennai and Bengaluru are a few places on the top of that list. I would also love to visit Amritsar, the Himalayas and the Northeast. And the list goes on. Mexico is two-third the size of India and I am yet to explore my country in its entirety. So imagine how difficult it would be to encompass everything that India has to offer!

my favourites

What would you recommend to an Indian tourist in Mexico and a Mexican, in India?

A book on your bedside table at the moment A book on the history and traditions of India

Favourite Indian food Any mutton preparation

Many Indian tourists, when they plan a trip to Mexico, want to visit Cancún. The city is undoubtedly beautiful but there is more to the country than just that city. So I would suggest Indian visitors to include other attractions in their itinerary. Even if they are only visiting Cancún, they can visit colonial cities and archeological sites located close to it. That apart, they can also explore the numerous beaches on the Pacific coast. Mexicans who come to India usually don’t plan to spend just a week. The two counties are far, almost on the other side of the world. So, if a Mexican visits India, he or she needs to spend at least a month to discover and visit all the places I have mentioned, and more. As told to Vinayak Surya Swami

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AIRAIR INDIA INDIA ROUTE ROUTE

Air India flies to Indore daily from New Delhi, Mumbai and Gwalior

the divine

trilogy

Spirituality and architectural splendour blend seamlessly in Ujjain, Maheshwar and Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh. Punita Malhotra takes us on a tour 64 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

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and graceful ghats. Since antiquity, several religions have thrived here, but one incarnation of the divine has been specially venerated, Lord Shiva. Let’s take a temple trail, especially dedicated to the lord, in a land nurtured by one of the holiest of India’s rivers, Narmada.

Ujjain: City of temples

The schooling ground for Lord Krishna, Balarama and Sudama, capital of the vast Gupta empire and one of the host cities for the Kumbh Mela – Ujjain was destined for adulation, even before poet Kalidasa started waxing eloquent verses about its glory in the 5th century. An aura of faded resplendence still hangs over one of India’s seven most sacred cities located on the eastern bank of River Kshipra. And this is where we decided to embark on our spiritual journey.

1. Devotees taking a dip in the waters of River Kshipra in Ujjain 2. Evening aarti being performed by the river bank in Ujjain

Embedded in the blessed surrounds of wild forests, untouched mountains and divine rivers, Madhya Pradesh has a long, unbroken chronology of habitation. A fascinating timeline stretching from the fragmented movement of Gondwana continent 100 million years ago and the region’s Gond tribe settlement to 14 great dynasties (from Mauryas and Mughals to Marathas) - remnants of many legacies are strewn across its fabulous forts, remote ruins, temple towns, sacred shrines

The city’s most sacred temple, Mahakaleshwar, on banks of the Rudra Sagar Lake, is a swayambhu (self born) jyotirlinga (a devotional shrine of Lord Shiva) in Madhya Pradesh. It flaunts Maratha, Bhumija and Chalukya styles of structural design and an imposing shikhar (spire) soaring into the skies. We lost track of time admiring its elaborate motifs, pillared porches, sculpture-adorned walls and a spacious courtyard dotted with remnants of time-worn shrines. As part of the Bhasma aarti ceremony, the lingam (an abstract representation of the deity) is smeared with hot ash from cremation grounds, suggesting the circle of life and death, an inseparable part of the Hindu mythology. Mahashivratri and Vijay Dashami are the best occasions to soak in the temple’s magic. Among other prominent temples of Ujjain, the Kal Bhairav Temple, the Bade Ganeshji Temple with one of the biggest idols in the country, the Chintaman Ganesh Temple with a Swayambhu idol and the Harsidhhi Mata Temple are the most revered.

Maheshwar: Abode of Lord Mahesh

Exalted as mini-Varanasi, our next pilgrimage site, located along the banks of River Narmada, wooed us with irresistible charm. Mentioned as ‘Mahishmati’ in the

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2 1. A devotee offering prayers to the statue of Nandi, Lord Shiva’s mount, in Maheshwar 2. The majestic Maheshwar Fort takes pride of place on the banks of River Narmada 3. The Akhileshwar temple

How to

Reach

>> Ujjain is approximately 50 km away from Indore. It takes about an hour by road. >> Maheshwar is around 100 km away from Indore and Omkareshwar is 77 km away. The roads are smooth and a trip in this season is a splendid experience.

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Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, Maheshwar used to be the capital of King Sahasrarjun, who is said to have stopped the river with a thousand arms to create a playground for his 500 wives. Panning the vistas from its glorious ghat-facing Ahilya Fort in golden sandstone, we flash-backed to its Mughal origins and reconstruction by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar during her 18thcentury reign. It was surreal, observing locals partake in the daily rituals – morning dip, lighting of ghee (clarified butter) lamps at dusk and offering flowers and milk to the river. Some places spell timelessness and Maheshwar is one of them, we realised as we stared at the spectacular sunset against the liquid gold of the Narmada.

Of the hundred ancient temples of Lord Shiva here, the most well-known is the Baneshwar Mahadev, taking pride of place in the middle of the Narmada, and accessed by a boat. It is said that a heavenly line from North Star passes through this 5thcentury shrine to the centre of Earth. A few other notable shrines in the area include the Kaleshwar Shiva temple, located at the confluence of the Maheshwari and Narmada rivers, Raj Rajeshwara temple, the Vithaleshwara temple and the Akhileshwar temple. The last two sport grand gateways and intricately-carved facades. Ahilyabai’s replica of the Kashi Vishwanath temple along the ghats is also worth visiting. Her tradition of SaptaLingam ceremony (making 1,00,000 Shivalingams as an offering to Narmada) continues till today, though the numbers stand at a mere 15,000 now.

Omkareshwar: Where Om resides

Omkareshwar, situated 77 km from Indore, owes it name and revered status to the natural ‘Om’-shaped island on which it is built, at the confluence of two holy rivers Narmada and Cauvery. The five-storey

1. The towering spire of the Omkareshwar Temple 2. The Siddhnath Baradwari Siddheshwar Temple

pad (Indian board game) for Him to play at night, gave insight into His human aspect. Staying for the night aarti was a given. With the rhythmic beats of the damru (Lord Shivaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite two-headed drum) in the background, we watched the prayer lamps gently float away on the shimmering waters.

Omkareshwar Temple, one of the 12 jyotirlingas, can be accessed by walking across the Mammaleshwar Setu, but we chose to indulge in a boat ride till the temple ghats. Architectural details of the 19th-century Holkar structure, including its 11th-century spire and 60 artistically carved stone pillars, mesmerised us. We discovered that one half of the jyotirlinga is placed here, while the other half is in the Mammaleshwar Temple on the opposite bank. So a visit to both completes the darshan (devotional sighting). Both jyotirlingas are swayambhu. The inner sanctum was decorated with a bed and palna (swing) for the God and his consort, and the ritual of laying out chau-

Other important temples in the town include the 10th-century Satmatrika group of temples, six km away, dedicated to seven goddesses. The Kedareshwar temple, located at the meeting point of Narmada and Cauvery rivers and dating back to the 11th century is known for its detailed architecture, while the highlight of the Gauri Somnath Temple is a gigantic six-feet tall Shivalinga. There was much to see and soak in. The Shiva trilogy of Ujjain, Maheshwar and Omkareshwar had initiated our tryst with spirituality. But we knew that the spectacular heart of India would beckon again with its hidden holy treasures.

The author is an avid traveller and the views expressed in this article are her own

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footprints inbound

Travel Tips

How to reach Guwahati (128 km from Shillong) is connected to rest of India with regular flights. Shared cabs are available from outside the airport connecting to Shillong.

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Best time to visit Is from October to February. October is when the rains stop and the weather begins to cool. This is the best time to see the waterfalls of Cherrapunji.

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call of the

clouds In Meghalaya, nature is revered and protected. Namita Kumar discovers the state’s inherent natural beauty in a day spent in Shillong

Meghalaya, or the “abode of clouds”, is a natural gem and a tourist paradise throughout the year. But during monsoon, the charms of the state are unbeatable, wooing and soothing the soul. What makes Meghalaya so special is the close bond its people share with nature. From creating sacred forests to building bridges with roots and from praying to forests and stones, to believing that cleanliness and preserving the environment is a part of their lives, Meghalaya’s people flourish with the region’s natural surroundings. And there is no better destination to explore this but in the state’s capital Shillong. My journey begins as I leave Guwahati airport. From the airport, the drive to Shillong takes about 2.5 hours. But it’s a drive that’s worth every minute. The road is wide and smooth and misty forests and hills are constant companions. I break the 100-km journey at a vantage point to catch the sparkling expanse of the Barapani or Umiam Lake. The Umiam Lake, said to be Meghalaya’s largest artificial waterbody, is a jewel nestled among rolling green hills and fragrant pine forests. It’s mesmerising to watch the mid-morning sun dance on the water’s clear surface. On the road, a few vendors are selling locallygrown strawberries, blackberries and pineapples, a huge hit among the few families, who are enjoying lakeside picnics! I buy a selection of fruits and resume my journey. Outside my SUV window, the pine forests get thicker and the air clearer.

Clouds gather over the Umiam Lake near Shillong

I reach Shillong by lunchtime and the wafting aromas of a delicious homecooked meal welcome me to Pinewood Hotel, a 100-year-old heritage property perched on the top of Pinewood Hill. A property of the Meghalaya Tourism department, the quaint hotel, with its wooden spires and vibrant flower gardens, is one of the many colonial-era buildings that give Shillong the moniker Scotland of the East! After a quick lunch, I head out for a brief tour of the city, before the sun sets at 5 pm!

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AIRAIR INDIA INDIA ROUTE ROUTE

1 1. One of the several root bridges that Meghalaya is famous for. This particular one is a double decker bridge

Alliance Air (subsidiary of Air India) flies to Shillong daily from Kolkata and Kolkata is connected to all metros. Air India also flies to Guwahati

2. Young women from the state’s Khasi tribe in traditional attire during a cultural festival 3. Lady Hydari Park 2

In &

Around >> Cherrapunji: Just 50 km from Shillong, Cherrapunji, locally known as Sohra, is a must-visit. The drive through hills covered with pine forests is a pleasure. On the way, stop at Shillong Peak for a panoramic view of the city below. On the way, halt at Weisawdeng Falls, hidden in a secluded spot in the dense forest. An adventurous hike will take you to the bottom of the fall. But tackling the slippery path and the makeshift bamboo bridges seems worth your while once you reach the emerald pool, reflecting its surroundings on its surface. >> Mawsamai caves: These lime caves with dramatic stalactite and stalagmite formations are well-lit and quite adventurous to explore. >> Nohkalikai falls: Dropping from a height of 340 m, the falls surrounded by rugged mountains is a sight to behold in monsoon. Don’t forget to buy spices and berries from the local forests being sold near the fall. Interestingly, in Meghalaya, most local stalls and small businesses are run by women!

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>> I start with Wards Lake, located at the foot of Pinewood Hill. Locally known as Nan-Polok or Pollock’s Lake, this horseshoe-shaped waterbody is a landmark in the city. With wooden bridges and green isles, the lake looks straight out of a fairytale and is spectacularly idyllic. I stand on the bridge and watch in fascination as schools of colourful fish gobble up the popcorn visitors throw at them. Colourful paddle boats dot the water as the air fills with the chatter of tourists. >> Next, I head to Lady Hydari Park, popular for its manicured lawns and rows of exotic orchids. Drooping willow trees swaying in the afternoon breeze add to the serenity of the park, which also houses a small zoo, an aviary, a deer park and a museum. Just next to the park, tucked away in the dense woods, is the breathtaking 13-m-high Crinoline Falls. At the foot of the falls is a natural pool, which is quite popular with locals and tourists alike. As I hop from one site

to another, I marvel at the upkeep of each attraction. Just as the sky darkens suddenly and rain clouds gather, I reach Police Bazaar, a bustling market in the heart of the city. One of the main attractions of Shillong, this market is a cluster of small shops selling fashionable clothing, electronic goods and fresh fruits. It is a great place to buy local handicrafts as well. >> Back in the hotel, I settle for an early dinner as I enjoy a performance by local dancers showcasing the culture of Khasi, Garo and Jaintia tribes from the region. As the dancers in their colourful costumes move to songs, I can’t help but join in. I may not understand the lyrics, but the soulful music touches my heart. Words become redundant!

The author is an avid traveller and the views expressed here are her own

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pop pourri author talk

The Literary

p o p sta r

Amish, popularly known as the first pop star of Indian literature, is back with Raavan: Enemy of the Aryavarta. In a freewheeling chat with Vinayak Surya Swami, he opens up about mythological narratives 72 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

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One of India’s bestselling authors, Amish’s latest book Raavan: Enemy of the Aryavarta, is the third in the Ram Chandra series and his sixth overall. In a candid conversation, he talks about the perils of writing with parallel narratives and his personal approach to writing a mythological fiction. In the foreword of Raavan you mention that it took you more time to finish the book than originally anticipated. Was it because of research or the creative process as a whole? The delay was not particularly due to the research because when I am not writing, I devote all my time to it. Either I read all I can or travel as far as I can in search of information. Personally, I was going through a difficult phase. And Ravana, too, is quite a dark character who needed to be portrayed holistically. So the process took added effort and extra time. Ravana, is in fact, mentioned in the Puranas (ancient Hindu texts) too. Our modern interpretation of him, however, is loosely based on the shows that we see on TV and the Amar Chitra Katha books we read – both of which portray a simplistic version of him. Our ancient texts, on the contrary, paint a nuanced picture of him. So when I began writing about him, I wanted my narrative to be closer to the ancient texts. Was there a similar reason behind changing the title from Raavan: Orphan of the Aryavarta? As I researched for the first two books in the series – Ram: Scion of Ikshvaku and Sita: Warrior of Mithila – I came to see Ravana as someone who had been rejected by his own land i.e. the Aryavarta. But as I started digging for more information, I realised it was actually the other way round – it was Ravana who rejected his land. He had a very strong personality, so imagining him as helpless didn’t sit right by me. That’s why I changed the title of the book. In your previous works you haven’t used a multi-linear narrative. What prompted you to change your writing style for the Ram Chandra series? To write a story with a linear narrative,

like the Shiva trilogy, is relatively easy. In a way, it was a traditionally-narrated tale of a hero and several other powerful characters who come into the story and play their part. With the Ram Chandra series, there are three principal characters – Lord Rama, Goddess Sita and Ravana – and all three of them move the story forward, almost simultaneously, until their paths intersect. I am a strong believer of the fact that every story rides on the shoulders of its characters. So, when one knows the characters well, one will definitely understand the story better. This is why I thought that a multi-linear structure would suit my narrative best. But, this narrative was only for the first three books. The fourth will take on a linear narrative as the storylines combine to flow as one. Considering the narrative you chose to follow in this series is tough, did you hit any roadblocks along the way? (Smiles) I am never trying this [multilinear narrative] again; it’s too complicated. When you are running three parallel narratives, you have to keep track of all the timelines simultaneously. You have to leave clues in a way that they do not spoil anything for a different storyline. My books usually have a lot of twists and turns and in this particular structure of storytelling, I had to write every twist in a way that a reader does not realise it till the next book. While this is fun for both me and my reader, the process is extremely complex. How did you manage to remember every incident and event from across three parallel-running storylines? Thankfully, I am able to retain almost everything in my head! I have tried to structure the different characters and their interactions in a way that they appear relevant from more than one perspective. For example, a conversation between Lord Rama and Goddess Sita will be relevant from Lord Rama’s perspective in Ram: Scion of Ikshvaku and as well as from Goddess Sita’s in Sita: Warrior of Mithila because she would be thinking something completely different from him. Has there ever been a time where you have been worried that your books

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pop pourri auth0r talk

The three books from Amish’s Ram Chandra series

might be interpreted differently than how you originally intended? One of the most brilliant aspects about us [humans] is that we have been blessed with a brain. God blessed us with one so that we can use it to reason, question and form our own opinions and interpretations. As an author, I strive to just write with a clean heart and a level-headed approach. I can and always do my best to put the story across. After that, it is up to the reader who, according to me, has every right to interpret it differently.

Air India covers most of the new sectors and routes, and the leg room is amazing. In today’s times, Air India still focusses on the comfort of its customers, something I really appreciate. Amish

74 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

When you fictionalise a mythological narrative, how do you imagine the characters? Through the years, I have maintained that I am merely a witness and that there is a parallel universe that I receive the privilege to enter, and record what I have seen. I do not have the arrogance of thinking that I am a creator. I am a humble spectator and documenter of the events that I see unravelling in that alternate world. Is that why you have chosen the genre of mythology and mythological fiction and present it with a spin of your own? It was a conscious decision. This is actually the subject I have knowledge in. Usually an author will work on a subject he/ she is familiar with and a genre where he/ she has done research, just like mythology is mine. Not only have I studied it ex-

tensively but my family’s religious beliefs have allowed me to acquaint myself better with the matter, which is why the stories emerged so naturally. But this does not mean that I am only going to write in this area. Fortunately, I read works of other genres too and hopefully, I’ll be coming out with something different in the future. You’ve mentioned before that you try and stay away from TV, phone and social media as much as possible. In the age of technology, don’t you feel that this is a little ‘old school’? Even on my phone or tablet, I have a lot of books and reading material. I might be on them going through an article on a banking phenomenon or just finishing a book. But I try and stay away from social media except when I am launching a book. I realise something about social media – we spend hours scrolling through online feed and watching shows on TV but we seldom register what we see. Social media is good until a point but an excess of it appears to be a waste of time. I absolutely love to read, write and travel, and I try to dedicate as much of my time as possible to these activities. I always tell people that time is the most important commodity and also the one that is most precious, not money. Wealth has a tendency to come and go but time is something that can never be reversed, however hard you try.

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pop pourri celeb speak

‘It was love at

f i r st si g ht’

From being the favourite cover girl of international fashion magazines in the late 1980s to a yoga enthusiast, Rachel Hunter’s journey has been nothing less than splendid. She shares her love for India in a candid tête-à-tête with Nitasha Panda A supermodel, actor, TV presenter, mother and yoga enthusiast – New Zealand-based Rachel Hunter had basked in the limelight in the late 1980s before choosing to listen to her heart and follow the path of spirituality. And India, she claims, is where she found her heart’s calling. In the past few years since she has taken up practicing and teaching yoga in Rishikesh, she has fallen in love with the country – its people, food, vibe and culture. She is all praises for the country that she says “has helped me discover my spiritual side”.

From colourful streets and majestic palaces to myriad cultures, numerous places of worship and even the fragrance of this country – I find everything about India friendly and welcoming. Rachel Hunter

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When did you first come to India? How was the experience? I visited India in 2014 for the very first time. It was for a travel show that I was hosting at that time called Tours of Beauty, and India was one of the first 13 countries that we covered. I must admit that I fell in love with the country immediately – its colours, cultures, charm and soul. With thousands of years of history, it has many stories to tell. India also holds a special place in my heart for another reason. Two years from the exact date that I arrived in Varanasi, my mother passed away. I had this calling then; a voice inside kept repeating “You have to go to India”. I listened, and that’s when I came to Rishikesh and started reading the yoga sutras and Upanishads, and it calmed my restless mind to a great extent. Also, practicing yoga regularly has helped me connect with my soul. What is it about India that appeals to you most? Everything! From colourful streets and majestic palaces to vibrant rituals, myriad cultures and traditions, numerous places

shubh-yatra.in

diagnosed with cancer. During her last three weeks I had deep and insightful conversations with her that changed my life forever. I asked her what she regretted the most and she told me that she regretted not being herself for a major chunk of her life. That was when I made up my mind to do what I loved and not what was expected of me. I decided to start by practicing yoga, India’s gift to the world. The practice not only helps you to connect with your spirit but also in the evolution of your inner self. 1

of worship and even the fragrance of this country – I find everything about India friendly and welcoming. Your senses are in for a treat here.

1. Hunter at an aarti 2. She is fond of such Indian food as chai, pakora and other delectable savouries

From the glitz and glamour of the runway to a yoga enthusiast, you have experienced the best of both worlds. Tell us about your journey. When I was young, my mother introduced me to religions such as Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism. I always wanted to be a ballet dancer and loved sports. I liked running on the beach and that’s where a photographer spotted me and asked whether I would like to try modelling. I went with the flow and gave it a shot. The next thing I knew, I was in New York City! Everything I did, every decision that I took have all led me to where I am today. I married a great guy [singersongwriter Rod Stewart] and have two beautiful children [daughter Renee and son Liam] and I wouldn’t change a single thing in my life as I believe that it was all divinely organised.

“Everything I did, every decision that I made have all led me to where I am today. I married a great guy and have two beautiful kids and I wouldn’t change a single thing in my life”

How did you find your way to spiritualism? I was quite young when I stepped into the world of glamour. I married when I was 21 years old and by the time I was 29, I had two children and left that marriage. In 2014, when I was shooting for New Zealand’s Got Talent, my mother was

Which is your favourite Indian city? I absolutely love Haridwar in Uttarakhand. I can watch the evening aarti (a fire ritual) performed at Har ki Pauri ghat for hours. It’s so enchanting that I have goosebumps every time. The experience is so serene and peaceful. Any other cities you have been to in the country? I love Jaipur. The sunset is amazing when you watch from the Nahargarh Fort. The city is so colourful - the grand palaces, the cobbled streets, the scented flowers that decorate the narrow lanes – everything is just so beautiful. I have also visited Pushkar and its beauty is unparalleled. Your favourite Indian cuisine... I love chai (sweet milk tea) and pakoras (vegetable fritters). I also love vada pao (deep fried potato dumpling placed inside a bread bun sliced in half ). It is so spicy and tangy and hits all the right notes. I also love the crispy masala dosa (a pancake made from rice flour and ground pulses, typically served with a spiced vegetable filling along with coconut chutney and sambar, a spicy lentil stew) and dahi bhalla (bhallas, made with a paste of split black grams, soaked overnight and churned in the morning, are deepfried, which are then soaked in water and served with yoghurt and an assortment of spices). I just can’t stop raving about the endless food options that India has. Any city in India that you plan to visit next? I really want to visit Kolkata. I have heard a lot about that city and I am pretty excited about taking a tour.

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pop pourri photo feature

Here comes the rain

again

Monsoon, in India, is not just a passing of months; not a mere season. Since the ancient times it has been a part of Indian culture, arts, literature, festivals and traditions. From Kalidasa to Rabindranath Tagore, the season of rains has inspired authors, poets and musicians. Epics have been penned welcoming the storm, raagas (classical songs) have been composed to

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let the clouds drench the earth parched by a scorching summer and rituals have been designed to celebrate the onset of a new farming season. As monsoon turns India into a soothing, green vision, we travel across the country to capture a few poignant moods of a phenomenon thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s often been described as the prana (life) of the land!

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Rain-drenched images from across the country that’ll inspire you to set off on your own monsoon adventure A view of the historical Albert Hall Museum during a rainy day in Jaipur, Rajasthan

For most tourists, monsoon travel is synonymous with lush Kerala or the green Himalayas. But a lucky few get to discover the fragrant beauty of the desert state of Rajasthan awashed by rain. In Jaipur’s old neighbourhood, rain-drenched palaces take on a fresh hue, while the hill station of Mount Abu becomes even more verdant. The drama of the rain clouds, however, unfolds at its spectacular best in Udaipur. The lakes of the city

brim over, capturing the reflections of the mystical palaces in their depths. Don’t miss Lake Pichola or the Monsoon Palace, which was designed to let the royal family enjoy the rains! Enveloped in mist, the ramparts of the majestic Kumbhalgarh Fort, near Udaipur, come alive, as the brown Aravallis surrounding it seem to pull on a green blanket. It’s also not the peak tourist season in the state, so expect lesser crowds.

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Munnar, Kerala

Kerala, Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own country, as the state is popularly called, turns into a green heaven during monsoon. From the lush tea gardens and spice plantations to tranquil backwaters and beaches, the state is a must-visit during this season. As the rolling hills of the state take on a misty mysteriousness, festivals bring joy and gaiety, welcoming tourists to the region.

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A lone fisherman rows ahead as dark rain clouds are reflected in the backwaters

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As rain clouds gather, hiding the high peaks of the mountains, a car makes it way in Ladakh

Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir

Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir is spectacular throughout the year. With its high mountains, dramatic cold desert landscape and warm people, the region is a tourist paradise. In monsoon, however, its scenic beauty is unparalleled. As dark clouds bring rain to the mountainous region, a play of contrasting colours unfold: white and gold monasteries set against dark grey mountains, which seemingly merge with the ever darkening sky.

Gangtok, Sikkim

A monastery stands silhouetted against a clouded sky in Gangtok, Sikkim

In Sikkim, monsoon spells magic. As very few tourists visit this Northeastern state in this season, the mountain roads are empty and the capital city of Gangtok sits in all its pristine beauty. Outside Gangtok, gushing waterfalls seem to emerge out of nowhere to turn into instant rivers, as mist envelopes the rolling hills. Deeper into the heart of the state, towards northern Sikkim, as the forests become denser, and the clouds darker, waterfalls can be heard, not seen, and mountains sensed, not visible!

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Chinatown

The “Lion Dance Head Maker”, is one of the several murals that dot the streets of Chinatown in Singapore. It features a man making giant puppet heads used in the Chinese traditional lion dance. Two boys sitting next to the man are seen beating drums used in the dance. On its right is the mural known as “Mamak shop”, depicting a man selling sundry goods.

These artworks showcase trades that were once commonly found in Singapore’s Chinatown area. Today, an amalgamation of old and new, Chinatown was once the home of Chinese immigrants who had settled in Singapore in the 1830s. Today, the neighbourhood is dotted with stores selling Chinese goods and restaurants serving traditional food, prayer flags and paper lanterns.

A panoramic view of the Valley of Flowers

Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand

An ethereal valley carpeted with vibrant wild flowers, the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, is a trekker’s paradise. During monsoon, the valley, surrounded by the Himalayas is spectacular with lush meadows with colourful flower beds.

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The rock-cut caves of Ellora surrounded by green foliage during the monsoon season

Ellora Caves, Maharashtra

Dating back to 600 BC, Ellora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. It is one of the largest rock-cut monastery cave complexes in the world, with Buddhist, Hindu and Jain influences. During monsoon, the otherwise arid mountainscape flaunts a green cover criss-crossed by numerous waterfalls. One of the caves, number 29, also called Dhumar Lena, has a natural waterfall described as “falling over Lord Shiva’s brow” ingrained into its sculpture.

A sight of the majestic Dudhsagar Falls in Goa

Dudhsagar Falls, Goa

To locals and regular visitors, Goa is the prettiest when it rains. While the beaches are bereft of the touristy shacks, the water is cleaner and the sands less crowded. The forested hinterland comes to life with numerous waterfalls cutting through the green. One of the most popular among them being the Dudhsagar Falls. Located 60 km from capital Panaji, on NH4A, the falls gets their name from their frothy, milky-white appearance. During the rainy season, the falls grow in size and the amount of water increases exponentially. As the water plummets 310 m, it crashes with an ear-splitting roar.

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lqugjk vrhr eUuk Ms dks laxhr ds laLdkj cpiu ls feys FksA cpiu dk mudk uke Fkk izcks/k panz MsA mUgsa muds pkpk ls laxhr dh f’k{kk feyh Fkh] tks tUe ls n`f"Vckf/kr FksA fdarq daB Loj vkSj laxhr ds jl foKku vkSj jlk;u ds xq.kh lk/kd FksA eUuk Ms dk laxhr O;kdj.k ogha ls ifjiDo vkSj le`) gqvkA vius pkpk ds lkFk laxhr ds laLdkjksa esa jr jgs eUuk Ms muds lkFk gh eqacbZ vk x,A mudk ;g liuk rks Fkk fd fQ+Ye txr esa viuk LFkku cukuk gS ysfdu igys ls LFkkfir laxhrdkj] xk;dksa ds chp vius fy, NksVh lh txg Hkh ryk’k djuk vklku u FkkA muds pkpk dk flusek ds lfØ; laxhrdkjksa esa cM+k vknj Fkk vkSj ;gh dkj.k Fkk fd mUgsa ,dne ls fujk’k ugha fd;k x;kA muds ckjs esa laxhrdkjksa us tkuuk pkgk] lquuk pkgk vkSj viuh jk; nhA vkjaHk esa tc rd mUgsa volj ugha feys Fks rc rd muds izfr ;gh lksp Fkh fd mudk lhfer nk;js dk Loj gSA ftl :ekfu;r dks rc ds flusek esa lQyrk fey jgh Fkh vkSj nwljs xk;d yksdfiz; Fks] ogka eUuk nk ikSjkf.kd fQ+Yeksa ds xk;d] vkjrh] HkfDr laxhr ds xk;d vFkok thou ewY;ksa ;k foMEcuk dks lqj nsus okys xk;d ds :i esa ifjfpr gks jgs FksA ml le;] fot; HkV~V ikSjkf.kd fQ+Yeksa ds lQy ,oa izfrf"Br fuekZrk FksA jkejkT; mudh cgqpfpZr fQ+Ye Fkh] ftlesa eUuk Ms dks xkus dk volj feykA ;g 1943 dh ckr FkhA rc ns’k vkt+kn ugha gqvk FkkA vaxzst+ksa ds lkFk Hkkjrh;ksa ds la?k"kZ esa] fQ+Yedkj viuh rjg dk ;ksxnku nsrs Fks vkSj gkSlyk vkQ+tkbZ okys xhrksa ds ek/;e ls tkx:drk ykus esa viuh fouez Hkwfedk dk fuokZg djrs FksA eUuk Ms ds xkus ^vtc fof/k dk ys[k fdlh ls i<+k ugha tk,]* ^py rw nwj uxfj;k* rFkk ^R;kxe;h rw x;h rsjh vej Hkkouk* jkejkT; fQ+Ye ds izk.k cudj izfl) gq,A jk"Vªfirk egkRek xka/kh us ;g fQ+Ye ns[kh Fkh] mUgsa ;g fQ+Ye ilan FkhA

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eUuk Ms dks o"kZ 2007 esa nknk lkgc QkYds vokWMZ ls lEekfur fd;k x;k FkkA ;g lEeku mUgsa rRdkyhu jk"Vªifr izfrHkk ikfVy us iznku fd;k

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lEekfur gLrh eUuk Ms ,d fojkV O;fDrRo ds Lokeh FksA tks vR;ar lgtrk esa jgrs FksA mUgsa iùHkw"k.k ,oa nknk lkgc QkYds tSls ;’kLoh lEekuksa ls foHkwf"kr fd;k x;kA 94&95 o"kZ dh mez esa Hkh viuk lkeku Lo;a mBkuk] ykbu esa yxdj /khjt ds lkFk viuh ckjh dh izrh{kk djuk mudh fo’ks"krk FkhA ,d ckj mUgsa Hkksiky gokbZ vM~Ms ij fonk djus vk;k Fkk] lqcg dh mM+ku FkhA cksfMZax ikl ysus ds fy, og nlosa&ckjgosa uacj ij [kM+s gks x,A dkmaVj ij cSBh ifjpkfjdk mUgsa igpkudj mBdj muds ikl vkbZ vkSj dgus yxh] ^^lj vki pfy, vkxs] eSa vkidks cksfMZax ikl rqjar ns jgh gwa** rks mUgksaus mls n`<+rkiwoZd euk dj fn;k vkSj dgk] ^^eSa ykbu ls gh vkÅaxkA** ,slk egku O;fDrRo gekjs lalkj ls] gekjs chp ls fonk ys x;kA ;s os yksx gSa ftUgksaus viuh mifLFkfr vkSj deZ.;rk ls ;Fkk’kfDr] ;Fkk{kerk lalkj dks csgrj cuk, j[kus dk iq#"kkFkZ fd;kA mUgsa ueu! ys[kd eiz iz’kklu esa vf/kdkjh gSa

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buls gS t+ekuk

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Hkkjr dh efgyk ckbdlZ us u dsoy ns’k esa vfirq fons’kksa esa Hkh viuh vyx igpku cuk yh gS

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le; ds lkFk ekU;rk,a cnyrh gSaA lksp dks u;k :i feyrk gSA dke dksbZ Hkh gks] Hkkjr dh csfV;ka tc vka[kksa esa vka[ksa Mkydj Q+jkZVk Hkjrh gSa rks yksx ns[krs jg tkrs gSaA lM+dsa fnYyh&,ulhvkj vFkok fdlh nwljh txg dh gksa ;k fQ+j gkbZ&os gkas] tgka eu fd;k] bu csfV;ksa us viuk gkSlyk fn[kk;k gSA gka] ge ckr dj jgs gSa Hkkjrh; efgyk ckbdlZ dhA buds tquwu ds vkxs dbZ iqjkru iaFkh ikuh Hkjrs ut+j vkrs gSaA vkt dqN efgykvksa us 9 ls 5 okyh ukSdfj;ksa ls brj fojys dke ls fof’k"B igpku cukbZ gSA xaHkhj vkSj et+cwr le>s tkus okys iq#"kksa ds opZLo okys [kseksa esa Hkh efgykvksa us nLrd nh gSA vc rd esVªks] cl dh Mªkbfoax lhV] ,;jØk¶V dk dkWdfiV daVªksy ;k tyiksr esa csfV;ksa us viuh nenkj mifLFkfr fn[kkbZ gSA ,d vkSj ,slk gh dke gS ckbd pykukA o"kksaZ ls ckbd dh /kwe&/kM+kd ij dsoy iq#"kksa dk gh vf/kdkj FkkA dkj.k pkgs iqjkuh lksp gks ;k lekt dk MjA ge ppkZ djrs gSa ,slh dqN efgyk ckbdlZ dh] ftUgksaus ns’k gh ugha] fons’kksa esa Hkh vius gquj dk yksgk euok;k gSA

,s’o;kZ filk;

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bZ’kk xqIrk

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vyh’kk vCnqYyk

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MkW usgkfjdk ;kno

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Jqfr ukxjktu

Jqfr ukxjktu psUubZ ls gSaA mUgksaus crk;k] ^^eSaus bathfu;fjax dh gSA eSa tc 12 lky dh Fkh] rc ls eq>s eksVjlkbfdy ls I;kj gks x;k FkkA eSaus vius vady ls ckbd pykuh lh[khA muls gh jkbfMax dh cgqr lh ckrsa tkuhaA eSaus Qjojh] 2016 esa gksaMk Vsu 10 jsflax vdkneh ds lkFk [kqn dks ukekafdr fd;kA rHkh ls eSa jk"Vªh; vkSj varjjk"Vªh; Lrj dh çfr;ksfxrkvksa esa lfØ; :i ls Hkkx ys jgh gwaA eq>s yxrk gS fd eksVjlkbfdy flQZ+ e’khu ugha gSA blesa Hkh tku gSA çfr;ksfxrk gks ;k ;k=k eq>s jkbfMax cgqr ilan gSA eSaus vc Hkh yach nwjh dh lokjh ugha dh gS] ysfdu esjh ;sykfxjh dh ;k=k ;knxkj gSA esjh vxyh jkbfMax gksxh ysg&yn~nk[k rdA eSa tYn gh lqijckbd [k+jhnwaxhA eSa dguk pkgwaxh fd efgyk vius ne ij cgqr dqN dj ldrh gSA**

jks’kuh feLckg

jks’kuh feLckg ;k fgtkch ckbdjA fnYyh dh fgtkch ckbdj eqfLye ifjokj ls gSaA vius firk dks lqijckbd pykrs gq, ns[kdj muds vanj ckbd pykus dk ’kkSd txk FkkA jks’kuh dgrh gSa] ^^eSaus fgEer djds vius ikik ls dgk fd eq>s Hkh ckbd pykuh gSA igys rks mUgksaus budkj dj fn;k] fdarq esjh ft+n ds dkj.k 2016 esa mUgksaus eq>s cqysV fnyokbZA rc ls esjh ;k=k vkjaHk gqbZA eSa fgtkc igudj ckbd pykrh gwaA ’kq:&’kq: esa lekt esa bldh çfrfØ;k gqbZ] fdarq vc lc dqN lkekU; gSA eq>s QSalh gsyesV iguus dk Hkh cgqr ’kkSd gSA eSaus flrEcj 2017 esa xyZ pkbYM ,tqds’ku eqghe ds rgr fnYyh ls d’ehj rd lqij ckbd pykbZ FkhA bldk mn~ns’; xyZ pkbZYM ,tqds’ku dks c<+kok nsuk FkkA eSa vius lkfFk;ksa ds lkFk vkj,l iqjk igqaph] tks ikfdLrku ckWMZj ls 10 fdyksehVj nwj gSA geus ogka ij t+:jrean cPpksa dks fdrkcsa vkSj Ldwy cSx fn, FksA eSa tYn gh us’kuy ysoy ij lqijckbd jsflax pSfEi;uf’ki esa fgLlk ywaxhA**

88 I ’kqHk ;k=k I vxLr 2019

shubh-yatra.in

infpºu Hkze.k

LoIuyksd dh lSj lqeu cktis;h gesa egkcys’oj dh lSj djk jgh gSa] tgka dh uSlfxZd lqanjrk ns[krs gh curh gSA

90 I ’kqHk ;k=k I vxLr 2019

shubh-yatra.in

,vj bafM;k dk ekxZ fnYyh ls iq.ks ds fy, ,&320 foeku la[;k ,vkbZ&0851 ls lIrkg esa izfrfnu mM+ku izpkfyr dh tkrh gSA iq.ks ls egkcys’oj dh nwjh 120 fd-eh- gSA

cgqr fnuksa ls eu esa py jgk Fkk fd dgha ?kweus tkuk gS vkSj la;ksx dh ckr gS fd csVk Hkh Ýh FkkA cl] ;gh i’kksis’k py jgh Fkh fd vkf[+kj ekulwu esa dgka tk;k tk ldrk gSA csdkj esa gh dgha Qal u tk,aA fQ+j Hkh geus <wa<+ gh fudkyh ,d ,slh txg tgka tkdj ckfj’k dk Hkjiwj vkuan fy;k tk ldrk gSA tqykbZ ls vxLr ds eghus esa egkcys’oj esa [+kwc o"kkZ gksrh gSA ;gka dh ckfj’k gh rks ns’k Hkj esa yksdfiz; gSA ekulwu ds nkSjku ;gka ds >jus ikuh ls yckyc Hkj tkrs gSaA nw/k dh Hkkafr fn[kus okyk lQsn ikuh cgus yxrk gSA blfy, ge igqap x, iq.ksA ;gka ls geus ,d izkbosV VSDlh fdjk;s ij yh vkSj jkLrs ds lqanj ut+kjksa dk vkuan ysrs gq,] rLohjsa [khaprs gq, igqap x, if’peh ?kkV ds izfl) fgy LVs’ku egkcys’ojA

uk;kc ut+kjs

ekulwu ds nkSjku egkcys’oj esa vkidks pkjksa vksj gfj;kyh ns[kus dks feysxh] ,slk yxsxk ekuks dkyhu fcNk gS

viuh gfj;kyh] igkM+] izkd`frd lqanjrk vkSj LVªkWcsjh dh [ksrh ds fy, izfl) egkcys’oj ?kweus ds fy, dsoy i;ZVd gh ugha vfirq ohdsaM esa vklikl jgus okys yksx Hkh pys vkrs gSaA gfj;kyh ls Hkjh ;gka dh euksje n`’;kofy;ka i;ZVd dks LoIuyksd esa fopj.k djus dks foo’k dj nsrh gSaA leqnzry ls 1]372 ehVj dh ÅapkbZ ij fLFkr ;g egkjk"Vª ds lrkjk ft+ys esa lcls vf/kd ÅapkbZ okyk yksdfiz; ,oa [+kwclwjr ioZrh; LFky gSA vaxzst+ksa ds le; esa ;g ckWEcs izslhMsalh dh xzh"edkyhu jkt/kkuh gqvk djrk FkkA egkcys’oj dk ’kkfCnd vFkZ gS & xkWM vkWQ+ xzsV ikWoj ;kuh fd egku ’kfDr’kkyh bZ’ojA egkcys’oj dks ikap ufn;ksa dh Hkwfe Hkh dgrs gSa D;ksafd ;gka ij oh.kk] xk;=h] lkfo=h] dks;uk vkSj d`".kk uked ikap ufn;ka cgrh gSaA gjs&Hkjs eksM+ okyh ?kqekonkj lM+dksa ls gksrs gq, tSls&tSls ge egkcys’oj dh vksj c<+ jgs Fks] oSls&oSls gok dh rkt+xh o BaMd eglwl gks jgh FkhA ’kgj ls gekjs lkFk vkbZ lkjh Fkdku dc mrj xbZ] irk gh ugha pykA

vkd”kZ.k dk dsanz

iapxuh gksrs gq, ge egkcys’oj igqapsA d`".kk ?kkVh esa nf{k.k esa fLFkr iapxuh] egkcys’oj ls ek= 19 fdyksehVj dh nwjh ij fLFkr gSA pkjksa vksj ls

vxLr 2019 I ’kqHk ;k=k I 91

infpºu

Hkze.k

nwj&nwj rd QSys ut+kjs ns[kdj ,slk vkHkkl gksrk gS ekuks izdf` r us bl LFky dks cgqr ls migkj iznku fd, gSa

egkcys’oj ds eq[; ckt+kj esa eèkq çlaLdj.k dsaæ ns[kk rks tkuk fd fdl rjg ls cksrycan eèkq gekjs ?kjksa rd igqaprk gSA ;gka vyx&vyx Qyksa ds Lokn okyk eèkq eSaus Hkh [k+jhnkA egkcys’oj ls LVªkWcsjh u yk,a] ,slk laHko gh ugÈ gSA ;gka ij feyus okyh LVªkWcsjh [kkus esa csgn Lokfn"V gksrh gSaA

92 I ’kqHk ;k=k I vxLr 2019

je.khd n`’;ksa ls Hkjiwj gksus ds dkj.k lSykfu;ksa ds fy, ;g LFky vkd"kZ.k dk dsanz gSA ;gka Vscy VkWi ;k Vscy ySaM gS] tgka vufxur fQ+Yeksa ds izsexhrksa dh ’kwfVax gksrh jgrh gSA ;gka ij ioZr Ük`a[kyk ns[kuk vkSj rst+ gokvksa ls ckr djuk] ,d vuwBk vuqHko gSA egkcys’oj tkus dk vlyh et+k viuk okgu ysdj tkus esa gh gS D;ksafd ;gka fLFkr 30 n’kZuh; LFky ns[kus ds fy, cl mi;qDr ugha gSA blfy, geus viuh izkbosV VSDlh dks ogka tkdj Hkh ugha NksM+kA pwafd lHkh 30 LFky ns[kuk rks laHko ugha Fkk] vr% geus gksVy ds fjlsI’ku ls tkudkjh yh fd gesa dgka&dgka tkuk pkfg,A eq>s yxrk gS xwxy ds ek/;e ls cs’kd vki fdruh gh tkudkjh izkIr D;ksa u dj ysa] fQ+j Hkh ?kweus dk vlyh et+k rHkh vkrk gS tc xkbM lkFk gksA gksVy izca/ku us gh viuk ,d LFkkuh; ekxZn’kZd gekjs lkFk Hkst fn;kA vaxzst+ksa us ;gka ij vusd Hkou] dkWVst vkSj caxys cuok, FksA bl igkM+h {ks= dks laokjus esa mudk egÙoiw.kZ ;ksxnku jgkA ;kno oa’k ds jktk fla?ku us 13oha lnh esa ikap ufn;ksa ds mn~xe LFky ij egknso dk eafnj cuok;k FkkA bldk uke ckn esa egkcys’oj gks x;kA eqacbZ ls 250 fdyksehVj dh nwjh ij fLFkr egkcys’oj esa dydy djrh ufn;ka gSa rks ÅapkbZ ls uhps fxjrs >juksa dk ’kksj Hkh gSA geus ogka ij osUuk >hy Hkh ns[khA ogka ij cksfVax dh Hkh lqfo/kk gS] ge nksuksa us uko dh lSj

shubh-yatra.in

dhA fyaxekyk vkSj pkjuk uked >jus ns[kdj eu izlUu gks x;kA

vufxur ikWbaV gSa ;gka

;gka ij brus lkjs ikWbaV cus gSa fd le> esa gh ugha vkrk fd fdls ns[ksa vkSj fdls NksM+saA xkbM gekjh nqfo/kk dk lek/kku djrs gq, gesa lcls igys ykWMfod ikWbaV ys x;kA ;g leqnz ry ls yxHkx 4]067 QqV dh ÅapkbZ ij fLFkr gSA ;gka ij ,d igkM+h gS] tks gkFkh ds flj dh Hkkafr fn[krh gSA bls ,sfyQsaV ds uke ls Hkh tkuk tkrk gSA foylu ikbaV egkcys’oj dk lcls Åapk LFky gSA vki ;gka ij vkdj lSj djus ds lkFk&lkFk egkcys’oj ds izkd`frd ifjn`’;ksa dk Hkh voyksdu dj ldrs gSaA ;gka ls lw;ksZn; vkSj lw;kZLr ds csgn vkd"kZd vkSj eueksgd ut+kjsa fn[kkÃ nsrs gSaA ijarq tc rd ge ogka ij igqaps lw;Z mn; gks pqdk Fkk] blfy, dqN le; geus ogÈ ij ?kwers gq, fcrk;kA ç—fr ds chp vki ;wa gh fu#ís’; Hkh ?kwe ldrs gSaA v‚FkZj lhV ;gka dk lcls yksdfç; i‚baV gSA if’pe ?kkV dk csgn gh eueksgd ut+kjk ;gka ls fn[kkÃ nsrk gSA

jkspd bfrgkl

ge nksigj ckn iqjkuk egkcys’oj tks fd egkcys’oj cl LVSaM ls yxHkx ikap fdyksehVj nwj

;gka ij foYlu ikWbaV ns[kus okyksa dh HkhM+ meM+ iM+rh gSA bZdks ikWbaV cPpksa dh ilanhnk txg gS] tgka ls fpYykus ij vkokt+ okil lqukbZ nsrh gSA ,fYQalVu ikWbaV] ektksjh ikWbaV] dSly jkWd] QkWdySaM ikWbaV] dkjuSd ikWbaV vkSj ckWEcs ikWbaV ns[kuk u HkwysaA ;gka ds taxyksa esa cgqewY; vkS"k/kh; ikS/ks feyrs gSa

izrkix<+ fdys ds vo’ks"k ns[kdj ml le; dh okLrqdyk dk Kku gksrk gS

gS] ogka igqapsA iqjkuk egkcys’oj esa iapxaxk eafnj ¼ikap ufn;ksa dk mn~xe½ ds cxy esa egkcys’oj eafnj] vfrcys’oj eafnj vkSj mu eafnjksa ls dqN gh dne dh nwjh ij —".kkckÃ eafnj fLFkr gSA —".kkckÃ eafnj ds ikl esa gh LVªkWcsjh dh [ksrh dks igyh ckj ns[kkA iapxaxk eafnj ds ckjs esa dgk tkrk gS fd 13oÈ ’krkCnh esa nsofxjh ds ;kno ’kkld jktk Çlgnso us bls cuok;k FkkA tkSyh ds pankjko eksjs vkSj ejkBk ’kkld N=ifr f’kokth egkjkt us 16oÈ vkSj 17oÈ ’krkCnh esa bl eafnj dk foLrkj fd;kA eafnj ds jkLrs esa gesa dÃ nqdkusa feyÈ] tgka ls geus dqN gLrfuÆer lkeku [k+jhnkA gesa dgÈ vkSj igqapus dh tYnh Fkh D;ksafd ’kke f?kjus yxh Fkh] blfy, ge tYnh ls tYnh c‚Ecs i‚baV igqapuk pkgrs Fks rkfd lw;kZLr dk vn~Hkqr ut+kjk ns[k ldsaA Mwcrs lwjt dks ns[k iy Hkj ds fy, rks ge vokd jg x,A fdlh fp=dkj dh rwfydk us ekuks vkleku esa ykyh fc[ks+j nh gks] ,slk gh ut+kjk FkkA ;gka ls dks;uk unh ?kkVh fn[k jgh FkhA çrkix<+] y‚Mfod ikWbaV vkSj edjanx<+ fdyk Bhd bl ikWbaV ds lkeus gSaA bu vkd"kZd LFkyksa dks ns[kdj eu dj jgk Fkk fd cl] ;gha ij vf/kd ls vf/kd le; O;rhr djsaA fdarq gesa vkSj Hkh txgsa ns[kuh FkhaA

fojklr ds fpºu

vxys fnu dh ’kq#vkr geus iksyks xzkmaM ls dhA bldh xksykÃ yxHkx 1]000 ehVj gSA csVs us ;gka ?kqM+lokjh dhA ml fnu geus y‚Mfod i‚baV] ,fyQsaV gsM i‚baV] bZdks i‚baV] dsV~l i‚baV] ekrk rqytk Hkokuh eafnj] f’kokth Lekjd] vQ+t+y [k+ku ds edcjs dks VSDlh esa cSBs&cSBs gh ns[kkA lpeqp yx jgk Fkk ekuks bl fojklr dks rhu&pkj fnu esa ugha lesVk tk ldrk gSA blfy, eu dks le>k fy;k fd [k+kl&[k+kl phtsa+ ns[kdj gh rlYyh dj ysA ij çrkix<+ fdys dks rks ns[kuk gh FkkA dqN lhf<+;ka p<+dj ge fdys ds njokts+ ij tc igqaps rks eq[; njokts+ ls vanj ?kqlrs gh ,d rksi us gekjk Lokxr fd;kA bl rksi ds lkFk yksx lsYQh Hkh ys jgs FksA bl fdys dk mYys[k bfrgkl esa Hkh ntZ gSA bl fdys dk fuekZ.k lu 1656 esa f’kokth ds vkns’k ij muds ,d ljnkj eksjksiar =;acd Çixys }kjk djok;k x;k FkkA ikuk?kkV ij fLFkr ;g fdyk 1]100 ehVj dh ÅapkÃ ij cuk gqvk gSA dgk tkrk gS fd f’kokth us chtkiqj ds lwcsnkj vQ+t+y [k+ku dks ;gÈ ij ekjk FkkA bl LFkku ij vQ+t+y [k+ku dh dcz Hkh gSA ysf[kdk Lora= i=dkj gSa

vxLr 2019 I ’kqHk ;k=k I 93

ljl idoku

okg! D;k Lokn ’kf’k lksuh gesa crk jgh gSa fd ekulwu ds ekSle esa vki t;iqj esa fdu O;atuksa dk Lokn p[k ldrs gSaA vki vxj t;iqj dh lSj ij fudys gSa vkSj ogka ij ckfj’k dk vkuan ys jgs gSa rks fuf’pr :i ls vkidks ogka ds Lokfn"V idokuksa dk Hkh Lokn p[kuk pkfg,A ekulwu ds nkSjku vdlj yksx vkidks ;s et+snkj O;atu [kkrs fey tk,axsA fuLlansg] ,sfrgkfld egÙo dh bl xqykch uxjh esa feyus okys idokuksa dks [kkrs le; vki maxfy;ka pkVrs jg tk,axsA gkykafd t;iqj ds dksus&dksus esa fofHkUu izdkj ds LVªhV QwM vklkuh ls fey tkrs gSa] ysfdu ge ;gka ij mu ikap O;atuksa dk mYys[k dj jgs gSa ftudk Lokn vkids fnyks&fnekx ij jp&cp tk,xkA

d<+h&dpkSM+h

t;iqj esa feyus okyh dpkSfM+;kas dk Lokn u dsoy LFkkuh; yksxksa dks vfirq ;gka vkus okys ?kjsyw ,oa fons’kh lSykfu;ksa dks Hkh [+kwc Hkkrk gSA ;gka ij feyus okyh dpkSfM+;ksa esa nky ,oa I;kt+ dpkSM+h izeq[k gksrh gSaA bruk gh ugha] fofHkUu izdkj dh dpkSfM+;ka cspus okyh nqdkuksa ij ;s dpkSfM+;ka dgha pVuh rks dgha d<+h ds lkFk ijkslh tkrh gSaA elkysnkj d<+h ds lkFk dpkSM+h ,slk Lokfn"V uk’rk gS] ftls [kkus ls vki [kqn dks jksd ugha ik,axsA

fephZ oM+k

elkysnkj ,oa rh[kk O;atu [kkus okyksa ds fy, fephZ oM+k csgrjhu fodYi gks ldrk gSA ;g O;atu LFkkuh; yksxksa esa cgqr yksdfiz; gS tks ’kke dks pk; ds lkFk [kk;k tk ldrk gSA oM+k cukuk cgqr gh vklku gksrk gSA fNys vkyqvksa ds elkysnkj feJ.k ij cslu dk ?kksy yxkdj

d<+h&dpkSM+h

mls rsy esa ryk tkrk gSA xekZ&xeZ oM+s ds lkFk rh[kh gjh fepZ cgqr vPNh yxrh gSA

nky phyk

;g dguk xyr u gksxk fd nky phyk if’peh ns’kksa esa yksdfiz; iSudsd tSlk Hkkjrh; :i gSA fdarq bls Lokfn"V cukus ds fy, blesa elkyksa dk feJ.k fd;k tkrk gSA ’kgj esa vkidks ,sls vusd NksVs&cM+s LVkWy feysaxs ftuesa nky phyk feyrk gSA ;g mM+n vFkok ewax dh nky ls cuk;k tkrk gSA dqjdqjk nky phyk VekVj] ;k fQ+j /kfu;k&iqnhus dh pVuh ds lkFk ijkslk tkrk gSA

fephZ oM+k

idkSM+s

Hkkjr esa cjlkr ds ekSle esa veweu idkSM+ksa dh Qjekb’k gksrh gSA ckfj’k gks jgh gks] xekZ&xeZ pk; ds lkFk idkSM+s [kkus dks fey tk,a rks le>ks lksus ij lqgkxkA D;ksa eu yypk x;k u vkidkA t;iqj esa vkidks nky] I;kt+] vkyw] ikyd vkfn ds idkSM+s [kkus dks feysaxsA ’kke ds uk’rs esa blls csgrj fodYi dksbZ vkSj gks gh ugha ldrkA

nky phyk

dqYgM+ nw/k ds lkFk tysch

vki ’kke dks dqYgM+ esa feyus okyk xekZ&xeZ nw/k ih ldrs gSaA vkSj gka] mlds lkFk tysch gks rks ;g ’kkunkj uk’rk cu tk,xkA t;iqj esa ,sls vusd fe"Bku HkaMkj gSa] tgka ij nw/k&tysch feyrh gSA rks nsj fdl ckr dh] t;iqj esa ckfj’k ds bl [+kwclwjr ekSle esa ;gka ds yt+ht+ idokuksa dk vkuan t+:j mBk,aA

idkSM+s

nw/k ds lkFk tysch 94 I ’kqHk ;k=k I vxLr 2019

shubh-yatra.in

ljl dyk

lkjs tgka ls vPNk--Lora=rk fnol ds volj ij ns’k ds fofHkUu dykdkj viuh dyk ds ek/;e ls ns’kHkfDr dk vuks[kk Hkko izLrqr djsaxsA

iùJh ls lEekfur jatuk xkSgj ,oa muds lewg dh vU; dykdkj u`R; izLrqr djrh gqbaZ

Hkkjr tc viuk 73oka Lora=rk fnol euk jgk gS] ,sls esa ^mRlo u`R; egksRlo* esa dykdkj fofHkUu u`R; ’kSfy;ksa ds ek/;e ls vkt+knh ds Hkkoksa dks izLrqr djsx a As fofHkUu laLd`fr;ksa ds esy okyk gekjk ns’k nqfu;kHkj esa viuh felky Lo;a izLrqr dj jgk gSA gekjh dyk o rkdr dk yksgk lHkh ekurs gSa

96 I ’kqHk ;k=k I vxLr 2019

shubh-yatra.in

Hkkjr ds fuoklh ds :i esa ge lHkh dks viuh ckr j[kus rFkk izlUurk vfHkO;Dr djus dk vf/kdkj gSA gj dksbZ vius rjhds ls Lora=rk fnol eukrk gSA ,sls esa ^mRlo u`R; egksRlo* ds rÙoko/kku esa fo’ks"k dk;ZØe vk;ksftr fd;k tk jgk gSA blesa dykdkj vius u`R; }kjk g"kksYZ ykl dks ns’kokfl;ksa ds lEeq[k izLrqr djsx a As ns’k ds tkus&ekus dykdkj eap ij viuh dyk’kSyh ls lHkh dks vk’p;Zpfdr dj nsx a s jkuh [kkue dFkd }kjk viuh vfHkO;fDr dks n’kZdksa rd lQyrkiwod Z izLrqr djrh gSa

vksfM’kh u`R; dh fo[;kr dykdkj jatuk xkSgj viuh u`R; ’kSyh ls lHkh dk eu eksg ysrh gSa

MkW vUos"kk egar dh Hkko&Hkafxekvksa ls n’kZdx.k ea=&eqX/k gks tkrs gSAa mudh u`R;dyk ls gekjs ns’k dk xkSjo’kkyh vrhr mtkxj gksrk gS

vxLr 2019 I ’kqHk ;k=k I 97

pop pourri predictions

Cancer, Jun 21-Jul 22

bl ekg vkids lHkh yafcr dke iwjs gks tk,axsA lsgr dk /;ku j[ksaA ,d et+snkj ;k=k ij tkus dk la;ksx gSA vki ftl dke ds fy, _.k ysuk pkgrs Fks] og fey tk,xkA vkfFkZd ekeys esa vki lkSHkkX;’kkyh jgsaxsA

Taurus, Apr 20-May 20 A change made at workplace will prove to be a wise decision. Avoid eating outside. Those aspiring to go abroad are likely to find an opportunity. A new exercise routine will work towards improving your health.

dk;kZy; esa cnyko vkids fy, mfpr fu.kZ; lkfcr gksxkA ckgj dk [kkus ls cpsaA tks fons’k tkuk pkgrs gSa] mUgsa mfpr volj feysxkA vkidh lsgr esa lq/kkj ds fy, vkidks O;k;ke dk ,d u;k dk;ZØe r; djuk gksxkA

Gemini, May 21-Jun 20 This is the time to stay active on the health front. Financial situation remains strong. At work, focus on refining your abilities. Time is good for property related matters. Students would need to put in more hard work.

lsgr ds ekeys esa vkidks lfØ; jgus dh vko’;drk gSA vkfFkZd ekeys esa vki lqn`<+ jgsaxsA dk;kZy; esa viuh {kerkvksa dk mi;ksx djsaA izkWiVhZ lacaf/kr ekeyksa ds fy, mfpr le; gSA Nk=ksa dks dM+h esgur djus dh t+:jr gSA

98 I Shubh Yatra I august 2019

tarot trotting

All pending works proceed towards completion this month. Opt for healthy alternatives. An exciting trip is possible. Loan may be granted for something you have been longing for. Luck is likely to favour you on the financial front.

ckrsa VSjks dh

Aries, Mar 21-Apr 19

Job seekers are likely to land well-paying jobs. Sudden gains are likely to be a highlight. An overseas journey is also indicated. Watch out for a spell of ill health. And think carefully about investing.

ukSdjh dh ryk’k djus okyksa dks csgrjhu ukSdjh feysxhA vpkud ls ykHk gksus dh mEehn gSA fons’k tkus dh laHkkouk cu jgh gSA fxjrh lsgr dk /;ku j[kus dh t+:jr gSA fuos’k djus ds ekeys esa fo’ks"k lrdZrk cjrsaA

What the cards hold for you in August. By Manisha Koushik

vxLr vkids fy, dSlk jgsxkA crk jgh gSa euh”kk dkSf’kdA

Leo, Jul 23-Aug 22 Professionally you will experience a good time ahead. Businessmen are likely to get an opportunity to invest in a profitable project. A property matter will be amicably resolved. An exclusive outing with family is indicated.

O;kolkf;d :i ls vkidk le; csgrjhu lkfcr gksxkA dkjksckfj;kas dks ykHkdkjh izkstsDV esa fuos’k djus dk volj izkIr gksxkA izkWiVhZ ls lacaf/kr ekeyk lkSgknZiw.kZ :i ls lqy> tk,xkA ifjtuksa ds lkFk ckgj ?kweus tkus dh laHkkouk gSA

Virgo, Aug 23-Sep 22 Students are likely to do well on the academic front. Give your best at workspace, as your performance may be under the radar. Financial front is likely to stabilise. A vacation with someone special is on the anvil.

Nk= ’kSf{kd Lrj ij csgrj djsaxsA dk;kZy; esa viuk mRd`"V izn’kZu izLrqr djsa D;ksafd vkids dk;Z ij fuxjkuh j[kh tk jgh gSA vkfFkZd ekeys esa fLFkjrk cuh jgsxhA fdlh fo’ks"k O;fDr ds lkFk vodk’k ij tkus dh laHkkouk cyor gks jgh gSA

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Capricorn, Dec 22-Jan 19

Libra, Sep 23-Oct 22 You will be able to clear the air regarding a misunderstanding at work. Signing a property deal is indicated for some. Beware of fatigue and ill health if your profession includes frequent travel.

The month brings in positive vibes and fresh energies, espcially for students preparing for competitive exams. An added source of income is likely to ensure that your cash register keeps ringing.

dk;kZy; esa fdlh ds lkFk tks xyrQ+geh Fkh] og nwj gksxhA fdlh izkWiVhZ ls lacaf/kr Mhy laHko gksxhA vxj vkidks dkedkt ds flyflys esa ;k=k ij tkuk iM+rk gS rks vf/kd HkkxnkSM+ ls cpsa rFkk lsgr dk /;ku j[ksaA

;g ekg vkids rFkk fo’ks"kdj mu Nk=ksa ds fy, ÅtkZ dk lapkj djsxk tks izfr;ksxh ijh{kkvksa dh rS;kjh dj jgs gSaA vkidks dekbZ ds vfrfjDr lk/ku izkIr gksaxs] ftlls vkidks /ku feysxk vkSj vkidh leL;k,a nwj gksaxhA

Scorpio, Oct 23-Nov 21 This month is good for those associated with creativity. Expect good opportunities on the professional front. Try to spend time with the family. While you can look forward to sudden wealth gain, avoid flaunting.

tks yksx jpukRed dk;ksaZ esa layXu gSa] muds fy, ;g ekg mfpr gksxkA O;kolkf;d {ks= esa lqvoljksa dh izkfIr gksxhA ifjtuksa ds lkFk le; fcrk,aA vkidks vpkud ls /ku dh izkfIr gksxhA brjkus ls cpsaA

Sagittarius, Nov 22-Dec 21 Official commitments may consume most of your time. Business related travel may keep you occupied over the weekends as well. Students are likely to find good mentors. Those looking for jobs are likely to hear of some offers.

vki dk;kZy; ds dkedkt esa vf/kd O;Lr jgsaxsA vU; fnuksa ds lkFk ohd,aM esa Hkh dkjksckj ds laca/k esa ;k=k djuh gksxhA Nk=ksa dks mfpr ekxZn’kZd feysaxsA tks yksx ukSdjh dh ryk’k esa gSa] mUgsa bl laca/k esa dqN vkWQ+j feysaxsA

Thsoe born in the month of August are usually very strong-willed, charismatic, perfectionist and hard working. Some famous personalities born in August include Mother Teresa, Kajol, Mahesh Babu, Charlize Theron and Jennifer Lawrence

Aquarius, Jan 20-Feb 18 A good news is around the corner for government employees. A lifestyle product purchased recently will help make life easier. A long-awaited property deal will materialise. A long journey is in store for some.

ljdkjh deZpkfj;ksa dks ,d vPNk lekpkj feyus dh laHkkouk gSA gky gh esa [+kjhns x, ykbQ+ LVkby mRikn ls thou vklku gksxkA dkQ+h le; ls yafcr iM+h izkWiVhZ Mhy iwjh gksxhA ,d yach ;k=k ij tkus dh laHkkouk gSA

Pisces, Feb 19-Mar 20 Expect to receive money that seemed lost. A successful project completion will boost your morale. Expect an impromptu plan for an outing as well. If you are involved in any judicial matter, expect favourable results.

tks /ku dgha [kks x;k Fkk] mldh izkfIr gksxhA fdlh izkstsDV ds lQyrkiwoZd iwjk gksus ls vkidk eukscy c<+sxkA ckgj tkus dh Hkh laHkkouk gSA vki vxj fdlh dkuwuh ekeys esa Qals gSa rks vkids i{k esa fu.kZ; vkus dh laHkkouk gSA

august 2019 I shubh Yatra I 99