Trujetter July Aug 2016

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TRUJET MAGAZINE

FOR INFLIGHT READ ONLY

Volume 1 Issue 4 July-August 2016

Monsoon Splendour A season of joy, love and reinvigoration

Location Courtesy:

Taj Falaknuma, Hyderabad

Now at DELHI (DLF MALL OF INDIA, NOIDA) INDIA: Hyderabad, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Nellore & Nizamabad Tel: +91 40 65220000 UAE: Dubai - Tei: +970 43594004 | Toll Free : 1800 425 425 11 |

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Editorial Dear Trujetter, Greetings and a warm welcome aboard. The airline is constantly strengthening its network, and on June 14, Trujet launched flights between Kadapa and Chennai and between Vijayawada and Chennai, for three days a week. This is in keeping with the airline’s aim to connect with unserved and underserved routes.

With India experiencing the utter joy and splendour of monsoon, in the July-August issue we focus on some of the best monsoon getaways in South India such as Puducherry, Mangaluru and the eternal favourite, Goa. We explore the city of oranges, Nagpur; get to know more about the variety of podis and chutneys in South Indian cuisines; travel back in time while on a heritage walk in Pune; dive wholeheartedly into one of the newest culinary trends taking over India – the food truck frenzy; enjoy a candid chat with actor Swara Bhaskar and prepare to lose yourself in the stunning photo feature of Matheran’s rain drenched landscapes.

All this and much more to keep you occupied while you travel with us.

Happy travelling!

Sudha Reddy Group Director Trujet Airlines

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July-Aug 2016

Monsoon Splendour a season of joy, love and reinvigoration

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ON THE

COVER After the sweltering heat of summer, when the first rains lash the earth, nature is awash with joy. We list just the right places to head to during the rains, the season of love and rejuvenation.

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TRUJET MAGAZINE

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TRUJETTER MAGAZINE. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY VIKAS JOHARI ON BEHALF OF MAXPOSURE MEDIA GROUP (INDIA) PVT. LTD. (MMGIPL) FOR TRUJET LTD. AND PUBLISHED AT MMGIPL, PLOT NO 246, 3RD FLOOR, OKHLA PHASE 3, NEW DELHI-110020, INDIA. TRUJETTER MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE WRITING, ARTWORK AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHY CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE USED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF MMGIPL. MMGIPL / TRUJET 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 TRUJET. ALL EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE WHILE COMPILING THE CONTENT OF THIS MAGAZINE, BUT WE ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EFFECTS ARISING THERE FROM. MMGIPL / TRUJET DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR SERVICES OR PRODUCTS ADVERTISED HEREIN. FOR INQUIRIES | MMGIPL TEL: +91.11.43011111, WWW.TRUJETTER.COM, WWW. MAXPOSURE.IN CIN: U22229DL2006PTC152087

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Volume I Issue 4 July-August 2016

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44

DISCOVER Around the World | 8 Events/ News/ Festivals/ Films Snapshot | 14 Colours of change City Guide | 16 Nagpur Lead Story | 22 Monsoon splendour Getaway | 30 Pune

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FACE2FACE

Swara Bhaskar Ashwin Sanghi

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CULTURE CURRY Cuisine | 38 Podis and chutneys Art | 44 Art of calligraphy Trends | 48 Food truck frenzy

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INSTA CLICK

Matheran

TRUJET WORLD Schedule / Route map

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AROUND THE WORLD

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1

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Save the date

EXHIBITIONS

DRAMA

FOOD

EVENTS

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2

3

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TAMASHA

VENICE FILM FESTIVAL

ROLLING REELS SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

NEHRU BOAT RACE

The 73rd annual film festival introduces independent movies to a larger audience.

Mukti Bhawan (Hotel Salvation) by Subhashish Bhutiani is the only Indian selection in the young international talents category.

The aim of the festival is to promote aspiring film makers and motivate them by providing a platform to showcase their talents through short films. Workshop on creative film making is an additional benefit available to visitors during the festival.

Majestic snake boats compete with each other to win the prized trophy on the Punnamada lake at the Alappuzha district of Kerala.

Rhythmic boat songs, vibrant environment and overall fun are to watch out for.

Date: August 20 Location: Chennai

Date: August 13 Location: Alappuzha, Kerala

Stand-up comedian, theatre, film & tv actor, Karthik Kumar’s second show ‘2nd Decoction’ is a celebration of everything that is second best, and how the burgeoning middle class society deals with it. His first show was #PokeMe. Date: July 2 (Chennai); July 23 (Bengaluru)

8

DANCE

July-Aug 2016

Date: August 31 September 10

Location: Venezia, Italy

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AROUND THE WORLD

News updates SEA POOLS TO BE DEVELOPED IN VIZAG To prevent people from the risk of getting drowned, the Visakhapatnam beach will soon develop sea pools all along its 23 kilometre beach road.

Sea pools are partially man-made tidal swimming pools that provide a safer environment for swimmers than the open ocean.

These pools would be located at Mangamaripeta, Lawson’s Bay, Rushikonda and Sagaranagar, which are considered to be safe for swimming, when compared to other beaches in the city. Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) and Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation (GVMC) engineers will look after the job of setting up sea pools. The Tourism Department would fund the pilot projects.

MONSOON ATTRACTIONS IN GOA Goa Tourism is promoting the state as a perfect monsoon destination by focussing on river tourism and introducing water sports and other activities such as monsoon trekking, white water rafting, spice plantation tours and island visits.

It is also highlighting relatively unknown beaches such as Cola, Benaulim, and Arossim beach and festivals such as the traditional jackfruit festival Sangodd, Sao Joao and Chikalkalo during this season.

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TAMIL NADU PROMOTES HELICOPTER TOURISM

Tamil Nadu tourism is all set to offer helicopter services for tourists. The services will be available between Madurai - Rameshwaram, Madurai – Kanyakumari and Madurai - Kodaikanal. The department is also focussing on rural tourism, especially Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Madurai, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, which are less visited areas as compared to other parts of the state along with the beach tourism.

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Celebrations...

When August 15 Where Pan India

INDEPENDENCE DAY A national holiday in India, this day commemorates the independence of the nation from centuries of British rule and decades of freedom struggle and the birth of the nation on this day in 1947. This day is celebrated across the country with flaghoisting ceremonies, cultural events and parades. The Prime Minister hoists the flag at Red Fort in Delhi, followed by 21 gun shots and the PM’s speech.

When July 21-24

When July 15-24

Where California, USA

Where Boryeong, South Korea

SAN DIEGO COMIC CON INTERNATIONAL

BORYEONG MUD FESTIVAL

The motherlode of conventions for avid comic lovers, the San Diego Comic Con brings together professionals in the industry with their followers. Fans come dressed as their favourite characters. Special movie screenings, photo-ops, collectible merchandise, competitions, conferences and tons of more activities. This year, expected guests are Stan Lee, globally renowned comic book writer, editor, publisher who, along with others, created Iron Man, Thor, X-Men, Hulk and Spider-Man; Chester Brown and Allen Bellman among others.

This annual festival is held in the town of Boryeong that is located 200 km south of Seoul. Initially launched to promote beneficial properties of the mud at the Boryeong mud flats used for a cosmetic brand, this festival ultimately took a form of its own. The mud is collected at the Daechon beach area and revellers enjoy taking part in competitions, music concerts, mud pools and slides, etc. The festival ends with a massive firework display.

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NEW RELEASES

Cine magic

MOVIE OF THE MONTH & JARA HATKE July 22, 2016 Directed by Prakash Kunte, & Jara Hatke is a Marathi film about a girl who motivates her mother by writing an emotional letter to complete her own dreams and also spend time with the man she loves.

Written by Mitali Joshi, the film casts Mrinal Kulkarni in the lead role as the mother with Indraneil Sengupta, Siddhartha Menon and Shivangi Rangole in supporting cast.

OTHER RELE ASES JANATHA GARAGE BABU BANGARAM July 1, 2016 Director: Maruthi Cast: Venkatesh, Nayanthara *Release dates are subject to change

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August 12, 2016 Cast: Mohanlal, Jr. N.T Rama Rao, Samantha, Nithya Menon Director: Koratala Siva

DISCOVER

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SNAPSHOT

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COLOURS of change

When large gaping potholes stare at you endlessly, what would you do? Skirt the issue or raise your voice or send out a tweet or two, and consider your civic duty as complete? But Artist Baadal Nanjundaswamy comes from a different breed. He uses his craft and creativity to protest, to enlist change and bring to notice everyday issues being faced by the citizens of Bengaluru.

Be it turning a 12-foot pothole into a crocodile pond, or making an open manhole into Yamraj’s mouth, as these can turn into death traps; fashioning a caved-in roadside as a swimming pool and even getting a young boy to pose strategically - Baadal’s selffunded campaigns have struck a chord with the city’s municipal, leading them to take action.

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CITY GUIDE

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Nagpur The centre of India Nagpur, referred to as the ‘orange city’ of India, is the largest and most important city in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. An important gateway to several forest reserves and national parks, including Pench National Park, the city has many tourist destinations that represent numerous historical landmarks. The Nag river flows in a serpentine path and lends its name to the city.

Words: KHURSHEED DINSHAW

L

ocated on Deccan plateau, the city was founded in the early 18th century by a Gond prince of Devagad in 1702 AD, on the banks of Nag River. In 1743, the city came under the control of the Marathas and later British ruled the city under Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse. When India won its independence, Nagpur

was made the second capital of Maharashtra.

Today, Nagpur is one of the few cities in India that have managed to retain their age-old charm, despite moving ahead with the times. With its numerous education institutions, industries, commercial and transportation centers, the city has become a major milestone for India. It is the third largest city in the state.

Trujet offers direct services to Nagpur from Hyderabad.

Log on to www.trujet.com for further details.

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CITY GUIDE

Starting

point

Visit the heart of colonial-era India, the Zero Milestone

Pic by Khursheed Dinshaw

AMAZING FACTS

Above: Government Museum; Below: A canon at the Government Museum

Shahid Smarak at Zero Milestone

Blessed with a number of very beautiful British-era administrative buildings, Nagpur is well known for the Zero Milestone pillar which represents the centre of colonial India and is located near the Gowari Shahid Memorial.

Near the pillar are statues of four horses to represent the four horses which the British let out from the four corners of India.

They met at the exact spot where

today stands the Zero Milestone pillar. All the distances on the pillar are given in miles and not in kilometers since a mile was the distance calculator in those days, the unit of measurement. The pillar is made from sandstone and its base is circular with a diameter of 7.9 metres.

Another importance of this pillar is that all the geostationery satellites of India are aligned

with this pillar. Next to it, there is a stone which provides the standard benchmark. This refers to the elevation above sea level and the stone was constructed in 1907. From the Zero Milestone pillar, one can also drive to the RBI building. Photography is not permitted even from outside. In the vicinity is the Shahid Smarak which is a memorial dedicated to martyrs.

Nagpur is home to India’s only National Fire Service College.

It was first established in Uttar Pradesh in 1956, but later, it was shifted to Nagpur.

Nagpur’s airport is said to have the busiest Air Traffic Control room in India.

Did You Know?

Nagpur is at a distance of about 837 km from Mumbai, about 1094 km south of Delhi, 1092 km north of Chennai and 1140 km west of Calcutta. The location of this city is almost in the centre of the country. For this very reason it has the Zero Mile Marker, which indicates the geographical centre of India.

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Heritage & faith

A melting pot of cultures, connect with your soul in Nagpur

Pic by Khursheed Dinshaw

learn basic dhamma teachings, meditation, ethics, puja, community life and about the life and work of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. The place also has a souvenir shop.

Another famous place is Ganesh Tekdi Temple which is located inside the Nagpur cantonment area. Here, it has been said, that the idol is swayambhu or self originated.

Just like there are 8 Ashtavinayaka Ganpatis in Maharashtra, there are 8 Ashtavinayaka Ganpatis in Vidarbha and the Ganesh Tekdi Temple is one of them. It is situated on a hillock and hence gets its name tekdi, which in Marathi means ‘hillock’.

Among the other heritage buildings of Nagpur are the Church of 1840 and the St. Francis De Sales (SFS) Cathedral and High School built in 1870. Some of the notable alumni of this school are Col. CK Naidu who was the first test cricketing captain of India, Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde, Supreme Court Judge; filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani and famous lawyer Harish Salve.

A major attraction in Nagpur is Nagaloka which is famous for the Walking Buddha statue. Buddha is generally associated with meditation which is either done in a standing, sleeping or in a sitting posture and represents a static state. Nagaloka is unique as it has the Walking Buddha statue and here meditation is depicted in a dynamic state. It is also dedicated to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s vision of bringing back Buddhism to benefit all. Nagaloka also runs an eight month residential training course in which students

Top: Nagaloka Walking Buddha; Above: St Francis de Sales Church

DO NOT MISS

Deekshabhoomi is the largest stupa in India and is the place where Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, along with thousands of his followers, embraced Buddhism in October 1956.

Construction of this stupa commenced in 1978 but was finished in 2001.

It is based on the Sanchi stupa which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mahabodhi tree is also located on the premises.

Nagpur airport is the first in India to have the ISO 27000 certificate.

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CITY GUIDE

history

Pic by Khursheed Dinshaw

Pic by Khursheed Dinshaw

Displaying

Embark on a trip back to the past, and witness the evolution of railways.

Topmost: Narrow Gauge Rail Museum -5 Bagnall; Above: Tallest lamp or samai in the world

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When it comes to museums, Nagpur proudly displays the Narrow Gauge Rail Museum which is the only one-of-its-kind in India. Even the ticket counter is inside a railway coach. While the toy train will appeal to kids, the 5 Bagnall was a royal carriage. One can get to see its cooking stove, basin, cutlery and crockery used on display in the room next to the carriage.

Furniture and old uniforms are also on display in this room. Don’t miss the weighing scale of 1897 which even today gives accurate weight.

An interesting exhibit is the revolving coach which is kept on a turn table which was earlier used to change the direction of the steam loco. The turn table takes 14 minutes to complete a 360-degree rotation. Other exhibits include a four wheeler open wagon, brake van, pathway instructor trolley (PWI),

THE REVOLVING COACH MAKES FOR AN INTERESTING EXHIBIT, THAT WAS USED TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE LOCOMOTIVE rail bus, tank wagon, wash up crane and machine gallery. Builder plates, gauges and the history of narrow gauge steam locomotives are also depicted.

The largest samai or lamp in the world is also located in Nagpur. It is known as Jerryl’s Samai and is in Yash Palace which is used for wedding ceremonies.

The lamp is recorded in both the Guinness Book of World Records and the Limca Book of Records.

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A SIGNIFICANT RAILWAY STATION Nagpur Railway Station, one of the oldest and busiest stations of India was inaugurated in its present form in 1925 by the then Governor Sir Frank. This grand structure was built from red stone brought from Saoner. The tall columns and pillars add great beauty. It is the headquarters of two Railway divisions: Central Railway and South Eastern Railway.

DIAMOND CROSSING Nagpur has the most popular diamond crossing. It is the point where India cross from North to South & East to West. The east-west line is Mumbai-Howrah main line & the north-south line is UdhampurKannyakumari main line.

Know the

City Nagpur is declared as the ‘Tiger Capital of India’ as it has numerous wildlife sanctuaries and natural parks situated in and around the district.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS Nagpur has a lot to offer to eager tourists. The Balaji Mandir, Sitabuldi Fort, Ambazari Lake, Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagpur Ramtek Temple, Hazrat Baba Tajjuddin Dargah and Zilpi Lake are few of the main touristy spots located here.

ORANGE FOREVER Oranges are synonymous with Nagpur.

The city has its own orange market and if you want to see the early morning auction of oranges, then this is the place to be. So what is it that makes the oranges of this city different from those found all over India? Nagpur oranges are non-tangerine in nature. If one makes juice out of them, it would stay for a maximum of eight hours. On the other hand, one can make juice from tangerine oranges and it can be stored

for months. Hence, you will not find Nagpur orange juice. Instead you can get a squash. The orange burfi of the city is also delicious. Nagpur oranges are generally grown in the Vidarbha region, apart from being grown in the hilly slopes of India.

These require a lot of water for irrigation. These oranges are even exported to foreign countries such as Sri Lanka, Canada, the USA, the UK, Germany and more.

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LEAD STORY

Monsoon SPLENDOUR After the sweltering heat of the summer months, when the first rains lash the earth, nature is awash with joy. The perfect time to enjoy long bike rides to sipping hot tea in the evening along with a plateful of fried goodies, monsoon is one season everyone looks forward to. This issue, we list just the right places to head to during the rains, the season of love and rejuvenation.

Words: MIA GANDHI

T

he skies darken, thunder calls and streaks of lightening flash across the swelling clouds, the season of monsoon is here and always welcome. With every drizzle and deluge, the rising heat of summer is quickly forgotten.

This is a period when one gets

22 July-Aug 2016

drenched in the rain while enjoying the gusty wind; when you go back to being a kid again, jumping into muddy puddles and fashioning paper boats and letting them float amok in swirling eddies. From bright umbrellas to the croak of frogs, rolling mists in the hills to brimming lakes, India during the rains is a feast for sore eyes.

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Puducherry

The perfect spot to slow down, relax and soak in the lush beauty of the coastal city and watch the waves dance.

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From spotless beach promenades to pristine white churches, vibrant streetscape with bright pop of colours to quaint cafes along the sidewalk, Puducherry has the erstwhile French appeal and Tamil infusion. And when the rains come hither, the region undergoes a fascinating makeover. Peals of

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QUICK FACTS

thunder, dramatic storms and the heady smell of wet earth makes you breathe in the fresh air more deeply, touching your very soul.

Puducherry offers the perfect destination to kick back and relax. Rid yourself of the heat and clamour of the cities, the stress and drudgery of every day life.

When the temperatures drop and a feisty breeze kicks in, and the clouds threaten to let loose, rent a scooter and take off along the narrow lanes of Pondy.

The French established their base in Puducherry in 17th century.

Puducherry consists of four geographically separate districts – Puducherry, Karaikal and Yanam along the coast of Bay of Bengal, and Mahe that is on the western coast of India.

Beach fun When in Puducherry, missing out on beach fun is close to sacrilege. A crowd favourite is the Promenade Beach, also known as Rocky Beach locally.

This 1.2 km stretch has a number of heritage sites along it, and colourful pushcarts offer quick snacks. Serenity Beach, as the name suggest, is ideal for those in search of tranquility. Shimmering blue waters, sandy stretches, clusters of coconut trees and the perfect beach to go swimming – this beach is truly a slice of heaven. Paradise Beach that lies south of the city, is nothing short of stunning. A little on the outskirts of the city, this beach is sans teaming crowds, has soothing shades of blue till the eye can see, and backwaters when the river meets the sea. This beach is bound to take your breath away.

Historical beauty Still retaining much of the colonial charm, Puducherry was a French colony till 1954. With a number of war memorials scattered across

M Night Shyamalan, American film director, was born in Mahe, while Tamil film star Anandaraj and Bollywood actor Kalki Koechlin are from Puducherry.

RENT A SCOOTER AND TAKE OFF ALONG THE NARROW LANES OF PUDUCHERRY the city, Puducherry is a good place to delve into the history of the region. French influence is clearly seen in the art and architecture of the statues and monuments, and even in the elegant design and layout of the Botanical Garden. Situated south of New Bus Stand, it has wonderfully pruned trees, gravel paths and fountains. A man-made lake situated 10 km south of the city is Ousteri

Lake, also called Osudu Lake, has mudflats and marsh, with a large catchment of freshwater in the area. Over 40 species of migratory birds reside here.

Birders can come across painted storks, tailor birds, golden orioles, spotted owlets and more. Boats are available for hire.

Puducherry is indeed a place to fall in love, especially when you can munch on freshly baked quiches, crepes or steaks, enjoy classic French dishes while staring at the sea. A tourist favourite is the chalky-white Le Cafe in White Town that serves everything from cheesecakes to apple tarts, south Indian organic coffees to burgers and continental specialities.

Puducherry also features largely in Yann Martel’s book Life of Pi.

Trujet offers direct service to Chennai from Cuddapah and Hyderabad.

Puducherry is approximately 155 km from Chennai.

Did You Know?

Auroville, a small township in the Villuppuram district, is another major attraction for tourists. It was founded by Aurobindo Ghose, philosopher, yogi, poet, and his spiritual collaborator, Mirra Alfassa in 1968. People of various nationalities are part of the society here, working to realise human unity.

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LEAD STORY

Mangaluru,Karnataka​ Watch the drama in the skies, the dance of the trees and nature in all her glory.

An important port city of India, Mangaluru is a beautiful destination to head to during monsoon. Ideally located between the Arabian Sea to its west and the Western Ghats to its east, the monsoon here is wonderfully torrential, replete with dancing fronds of the coconut and palm trees and the blissful breeze. Earlier known as Mangalore, this city is one of the cleanest in India.

A beach affair When in Mangaluru, a trip to the beach is inevitable. With a number of beaches in the vicinity, travellers are spoilt for choice.

At a distance of 10 km from the city, Panambur Beach is not just clean and safe, but is exceedingly picturesque. Imagine a strip of light sandy beach lined with a thick strip of deep green coconut trees and a lighthouse. A rocky beach that lies to the south of the city is Someshwara Beach which has Somanath Temple to its north. Ullal Beach is another beach located towards the south of the city, and a fisherman’s lane here attracts a number of curious onlookers.

The historical connect Mangaluru had a number of rulers, but the British took over the region after defeating Tipu Sultan. Portuguese influence too

SET BETWEEN THE WESTERN GHATS AND ARABIAN SEA, MONSOON HERE IS ROBUST, WITH BLISSFUL BREEZE

lingers here as Vasco da Gama, the historical Portuguese explorer, landed at St Mary’s Islands which is near present-day Mangaluru.

Almost 4 km from city centre in Boloor is Sultan Battery, the ruins of a watchtower built by Tipu Sultan. Built in the 18th century, it was meant to keep a close eye on not just the coastline, but the

neighbouring Gurupura River. The view is magnificent. The sweeping view of the Arabian Sea, from the top of the tower, against the backdrop of dark skies is sublime.

Cuisine tale The cuisine of Mangaluru is a collective term given to the many cuisines of the local communities.

Did You Know?

Mangaluru airport in Bajpe is known to have a dangerous tabletop runway. Such a runway is located on a plateau with steep edges, and the pilot must approach the runway with extreme precision and caution.

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QUICK FACTS

Yakshagana is a form of dance-drama that is performed from dusk to dawn, and includes elaborate makeup, costumes, dialogue, and fascinating theatre work. Literally meaning song of nature spirits, the night-long performance features stories from Hindu mythology.

Seafood is a prime delicacy here.

Fish curry is popular, and the residents enjoy a variety of fish such as pomfret, mackerel, etc.

Coconut and curry leaves, along with ginger, chilli and garlic, are important. Rice is a staple, and Neer dosa counts as a must try.

Made of rice batter, the ‘water dosa’ is light and fluffy, and is eaten with curry, sambar or chutney.

Another speciality of the region is Pathrode, a unique delicacy where colocasia leaves are rolled with a spicy rice batter and steamed, and then sliced.

Mangaluru has two sister cities, both located in Canada.

Hamilton became a sister city of Mangaluru in 1968, and Delta in British Columbia is the other sister city, since 2010.

Trujet offers direct services to Bengaluru from Hyderabad.

Mangaluru is approx., 352 km from Bengaluru.

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DISCOVER

LEAD STORY

Palolem, Goa Witness Goa during the rains, a spectacle so profound, it is bound to touch your soul with its ethereal beauty.

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The best part about heading to Goa during the rains is not just the opportunity to bask in the wondrous beauty of this beach paradise, but to truly revel in the many perks that come with this destination during off-season.

When the rivers are in spate, waterfalls are gushing, roads

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take a muddy turn and the distant rumble of the dark skies are indication enough of the downpour that is soon to follow.

The hills take on a misty veil and the beach enlivens with the rains.

Enjoy Goa sans the swelling crowd, enjoy a sense of serenity by listening to the patter of the rain and prices that are more amenable to the pocket.

Rain @ beach

MUST ENJOY

Ever shimmied and jived at a silent noise disco?

As a number of discotheques are being told to tone down the volume post 10 pm, the Silent Noise Disco hands its customers a pair of headphones, and the music never stops.

Almost 60 km from Palolem is the Naval Aviation Museum in Vasco da Gama. The outdoor exhibits include decommissioned aircraft, some that were used back in 1940s.

This time when in Goa, give the usual hangouts a skip. Opt for Palolem, a beach village in Canacona in south Goa. Mainly a fishing village, Palolem is the perfect spot to unwind, and forget the cacaphony of the cities.

Almost 1.6 km long, the crescent shaped strip of sandy beach skirted with rows of coconut trees and small shacks, is exceedingly promising. Travellers can simply choose from small huts to tree houses, resorts and hotels, accommodation is varied. A haven for beach bums, travellers can head to the local restaurants, dip their feet in the cool water or even spend the day in the room staring at the landscape as it is smattered by rain – it doesn’t matter.

To do list If the weather gods deem fortunate, one can even take a quick trip in a fishing boat or watch dolphins do cartwheels.

It’s always an experience to watch the fisherman haul in their catch early in the morning.

Crabs, lobsters, squid, prawns and shrimps, the bounty of the sea is staggering. Monkey Island, a secluded island located a little way off, has an ethereal natural beauty. It is easily accessible during low tide, and the beach has a number of nature trails and involves hopping over rocks that can prove quite a challenge

COTIGAO WILDLIFE SANCTUARY HAS LUSH DECIDUOUS TREES, WHERE ONLY STREAKS OF LIGHT SLIP IN for the adventure seekers.

Scuba diving and kayaking are also available, but would largely depend on the weather conditions.

Another benefit about vacationing in this state is that a number of attractions are at an easy distance from each other.

Beach lovers can head to the neighbouring beaches of Agonda and Colva.

Jungle fables Almost 10 km from Palolem is Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary.

Nestled at the border of Karnataka, the sanctuary is lush with deciduous trees and so dense, that just streaks of light can easily slip through the layered canopy here. Established in 1969, one can spot a variety of species of monkeys, flying squirrel,

Malabar Trogon, woodpeckers, etc. At a little over two and a half hours, one can easily take a trip to the famed Dudhsagar Falls.

This natural wonder literally means a sea of milk, especially due to the extent of froth and mist that surrounds it. One of India’s highest waterfalls, the waters of Dudhsagar come crashing from a height of over approx., 1,000 ft.

This is situated in the Western Ghats area of Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and the Mollem National Park.

Trujet offers direct flight services to Goa from Hyderabad, and easy connections from Nagpur, Chennai, Tirupati, etc.

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DISCOVER

GETAWAY

A historical walk in

PUNE

Pune, a city known mainly for its IT parks, has hidden surprises of rich culture and heritage owing to the Peshwa regime that had its main seat in the city. A heritage walk through narrow lanes and crowded markets unravels the concealed gems from the city’s glorious past.

Words: PRIYA KRISHNAN DAS

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SHANIWARWADA The heritage walk starts from Shaniwarwada, the imposing walls of which greet you on entering old Pune. The foundation stone of Shaniwarwada was laid on January 10, 1730, by Bajirao I and being a Saturday, it was named Shaniwarwada, ‘shaniwar’ meaning Saturday and ‘wada’ meaning ‘residential place’ in Marathi.

It was a seven storied palace made of wood, that served as the residence for the Peshwas for nearly a century, till 1828, when during the time of Bajirao II, there was a massive fire that gutted the entire ‘wada’. What remains now are the foundation stones. One can also see the ‘Mastani’ gate, named after Bajirao I’s second wife who was not welcomed in the family, thus there being a separate entrance for her.

to lend an enhanced aesthetic look and have not been painted over to allow circulation of air and keep the interiors cool. It is only after the arrival of the British in Pune that brick size was standardised and so was the laying of, of the same.

NANA PHADNAVIS WADA

KASBA PETH The next stop is Kasba Peth, the oldest habitation in Pune. It was built by Jijabai, the mother of the Maratha warrior Shivaji in 1639.

It is said that when Jijabai along with Shivaji, who was a little boy then, arrived in Pune, the form of Ganpati appeared on a stone in one of the minister’s house. They took that as an auspicious sign, thus making Pune one of the main bases from where Shivaji later ruled.

The interiors of the Kasba Ganpati temple are carved exquisitely on wood and is remarkably well preserved, considering it is nearing 400 years old.

The Kasba Peth area is dotted with charming old style ‘wadas’ with interesting brick and metal work.

One of the main communities of Pune, the Kumbhars or potters, were known for their skills in customising bricks in different sizes and lengths.

The bricks have been arranged, some horizontally, some vertically,

Also called Nana wada, it was built

by Peshwa minister Nana Phadnavis in 1780. It was from here that he managed the affairs of Bajirao Peshwa’s empire. The Diwan-khana (living room) is on the first floor with its intricately carved ceiling, pillars and the banana flower (‘kelphool’ in Marathi) motifs that were typical of Peshwa architecture. It now houses a municipal school.

FACT FILE

How Pune got its name?

Excavated copper plates and coins from the 10th century in Pune refer to the city as ‘Punaka desha’. Later it was known as Punavdi or Punevadi. There was also a Punyeshwar temple on the banks of the river Mutha, which finds mention in the 12th century Saint-poet Namdev’s book Gatha, which could have lent the city its name. Another attribution to its name is its location on the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers, due to which it came to be known as ‘Punyanagari’, meaning holy city and then, eventually Poona or Pune after the arrival of the British.

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DISCOVER

GETAWAY

TULSI BAUG RAM TEMPLE Situated behind a maze of narrow and noisy market lanes, stepping into this temple is like stepping into a silent bubble in the middle of chaos. Built by Naro Appaji Khire in 1761, it is a fine example of brilliant craftsmanship of wood carvings, stucco work and stone carvings. It has a 150 feet tall conical spire with intricately carved figures of deities.

Its wooden ‘sabha-mandap’ has an ornate intricately carved wooden ceiling, supported by wooden pillars and columns with the typical banana flower motif.

VISHRAMBAUG WADA

TULSI BAUG RAM TEMPLE IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF BRILLIANT CRAFTSMANSHIP, STUCCO AND STONE WORK.

One of the finest architectural marvels of Pune, Vishrambaug wada served as the lavish residence of Bajirao Peshwa II for around 11 years until his arrest by the British, after which he was detained in Bithur, near Kanpur.

The wada was built in 1807 spreading over an area of 20,000 sqft. It’s a three storied building with exemplary wood carvings and Peshwa style architecture.

At the entrance is a beautiful arch and equally stunning carved wooden ceiling, which then leads into the open courtyard.

On the upper floor, there is the Diwankhana (living room) where exhibitions pertaining to the history and evolution of Pune from a small village Punavdi to Punyanagari (holy city) to present Pune are held. Currently, it houses miscellaneous offices.

Did You Know?

The construction of Shaniwarwada was completed in two years on a total expense of INR 16,110, a princely sum, then. There are 2 huge gates at the entrance with grids of 12 inch metal spikes on them to deter enemy elephants from charging into the place.

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MAHATMA PHULE MANDAI The heritage walk ends at this huge market place. In the 16th century, when Shaniwarwada was built, there was a market just outside its gate where vendors came and sold their wares without having to pay for the stall space. But when the British arrived, they wanted to dismantle the market which also served as a place where people came and exchanged news and socialised. So, they built a Gothic style complex in 1885 and rented out space for shops, mainly vegetable and fruit stalls in its premises. It was named Reay market, after the then Governor of Bombay but was renamed Mahatma Jyotiba Phule mandai (‘mandai’ meaning market) after the renowned social reformer. The ceilings of this octagonal structure are high with wide arches for cross ventilation and to keep the odors

of the vegetables and fruit from stagnating with the premises.

In just two hours, the Pune heritage walk makes you travel through 200 years of Pune’s rich history.

Pune is 235 km from Aurangabad. Trujet offers direct services to Aurangabad from Hyderabad.

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FACE2FACE

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SWARA BHASKAR

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“I am very

selective

Crisp and frank, Swara Bhaskar does not mince words. Equally daring in her choice of roles, Swara has done consistently well in Bollywood with movies like Nil Battey Sannata, Tanu Weds Manu 1 & 2 and Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo to her credit. She is fond of travelling and trying local cuisines and believes in avoiding substandard roles as cinema lasts forever. The Raanjhanaa girl in a candid talk with Trujetter...

Words: JAIDEEP PANDEY

How difficult is it to manage in this industry without a ‘godfather’?

Difficult but clearly not impossible. After all, our biggest superstars like Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan were once outsiders. I think with a timely combination of talent and luck, godfathers may be avoided.

Indian film industry is now 103 years old. What do you believe is our strength?

The ability to express emotion genuinely and yet differently is our greatest strength. Also the ability to keep absorbing new talent in all fields and to remain true to its local roots.

How selective are you when it comes to choosing roles?

Very selective! I don’t want to be seen like an idiot after I am dead and some researcher pulls out a film of mine from the archives.

I want to build a credible body of work because cinema lasts forever.

Your dream role would be...

I want to play a male role (not pretense male, but a real male role) to overcome even gender through my performances.

How was your experience of smoking a bidi and eating paan for Anarkali Aarawali?

Awful. Tasted horrible and the first few days gave me a bad headache but I got the hang of it. I was very glad when those bidi smoking shoots finished.

How do you manage to mix travel with work?

I try and take off on OFF days, else I make the most of the real shoot locations and ensure that I always taste the local cuisine.

lazy and undisciplined, so this proposition scares me.

QUICK BITES

Things you enjoy apart from acting.

Reading, travelling, online shopping and watching Last Week Tonight Show with John Oliver.

Favourite singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

When a film doesn’t do well?

It feels like failing an exam.

When your personal life makes news?

It bothers me when the news is false or inaccurate. But sometimes it entertains me.

How has the industry evolved?

When so many new stories are being told in a different manner, it gives you a chance to play various kind of roles.

When being interviewed...

I like interviews with rapid fire kind of questions with one word answers or multiple choice questions.

How did your parents react when you told them that you want to become an actress?

They were stunned and scared but agreed to my plans and even funded them. :)

What matters to you most in a film.

The Script, director or the banner?

What matters most often differs from film to film, such as the reason for being a part of Nil Battey Sannata was the script. I did Raanjhanaa because I loved the script and wanted to work with the director, Anand L Rai, as well. Listen Amaya was because of late Farooq Sheikh sir and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo was because of the director and banner.

What was it like to put on 8 kgs for your role in Nil Battey Sannata?

I was concerned about how I would have to lose the weight by having to exercise and follow diet restrictions. I’m very

Favourite designer I don’t really follow the works of designers. My favourite label is Burberry.

Travel destination London, Istanbul, Lahore and no doubt, New York.

One subject that you hated?

Not just one.

Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Economics and Statistics.

The turning point in your career: Raanjhanaa As a reader you prefer...

Literature more than non-fiction.

Three things that make a film complete: The way the direction conveys emotions, the story and flow of narrative, performances and sometimes, songs.

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FACE2FACE

ASHWIN SANGHI

magic Weaving

A master storyteller and author of three bestselling novels, Ashwin Sanghi is one of India’s leading English fiction authors. Be it business or mythology, fiction or non-fiction, he has captured the attention of readers. In a candid chat with Trujetter, the spinner of yarns tells us about his recent book, The Sialkot Saga, his method and discipline on writing, on collaborating with James Patterson on the Private India series, and more.

Words: MIA GANDHI

What led to the concept behind The Sialkot Saga?

During the early days of my writing career, I stayed away from business-oriented topics. After all, my writing was an endeavour to escape the humdrum of my business life. But after I wrote Chanakya’s Chant that dealt with the games people play in politics, I became convinced that I could quite easily write a book about the games people play in business.

That was the spark that led to The Sialkot Saga which is essentially a story of business conflict.

Your books span centuries & themes.

How do you research on them?

I usually spend a year on research for books in my Bharat series. Take the example of The Sialkot Saga.

The research for this book was difficult. A substantial amount of reading happened before I started plotting the story. The ancient track was the easier bit. The more difficult part was in trying to get the contemporary history

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of India right. Books were able to provide recorded accounts but I needed more. Things like movies, music, restaurants, celebrities and culture are usually never part of the historical narrative while it is these very things that provide the flavour of that time. I was only able to fill those gaps with extensive interviews with people who had lived those years in those cities.

With each reading or interview, I would jot down even more ideas. It finally resulted in a plot outline that ran to over 10,000 words.

Do you have any fixed routine for writing that you follow?

I usually write in the mornings from 5 am to 9 am, which explains why I have to start my day at the office late. My evenings are usually spent reading and researching from 6 pm to 10 pm. I am an introvert by nature and have a close circle of friends whom I meet every few weeks. Other than that, I have virtually no social life. My life revolves around work, writing and

my family. And honestly speaking, I like it that way.

How have Indian readers, in general, evolved in the past decade?

The changes are at several levels.

Firstly, they are reading more books by Indian authors than foreign ones. This is the exact opposite of what used to happen a decade ago when foreign authors used to dominate the bestseller lists. Secondly, the demographic has changed. A larger chunk of readers are young these days.

It means that writers have to be able to reach out to them.

Finally, Indian readers seem to be looking for great stories rather than great writing. Ten years ago, our publishers encouraged literary fiction and non-fiction over commercial fiction. The explosion in fiction within sub-genres such as mythology, romance, chick lit and crime is due to the fact that new authors are being encouraged. I think it augurs well for commercial fiction in India.

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QUICK TAKE A must-read book: Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda

Favourite author/ genre: Arthur Hailey for research-based thrillers Book on your nightstand: The Tao of Physics

by Fritjof Capra

According to you, what are the ingredients of a good book?

When I complete a book and hand it over to my publisher, I ask him: did you turn the pages or did the pages turn themselves?

Commercial fiction is about telling compelling stories, it’s not about weaving exquisite sentences.

The first paragraph of your story must hook your readers. The end of every chapter must compel readers to turn the page. The last paragraph of your book must ensure that they look out for your next book. Rather simple really.

What is it like to collaborate with James Patterson?

I was slightly concerned that I would be attempting something a little different from the usual.

After all, my previous books were thrillers but with an abundance of history and mythology. Private India on the other hand was meant to be a purely contemporary crime thriller. But James took care of that.

He suggested that I should frame the plot outline. This meant that I was free to introduce elements that excited me. This clinched the deal.

James provided a guideline as well

as an existing set of characters that need to be woven into the story.

Using his guideline, I developed the plot outline. We discussed the plot outline in detail and froze it after amendments. I then wrote the first draft. The final draft was written by James. All of this happened with periodic interactions over email.

Is writing non-fiction as satisfying as spinning fictional yarns?

No. That’s why I try to tell stories even when I’m writing non-fiction.

My creativity is at full throttle when I’m tackling a novel.

Favourite book turned movie/tv series: Godfather by Mario Puzo Top 3 fictional characters: Hercule Poirot (from Agatha Christie’s books), Hannibal Lecter (from the novels of Thomas Harris) and Jeeves (from the PG Wodehouse novels).

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CULTURE CURRY

CUISINE

A Mouthful of

SOUTHERN FLAVOURS Kozhambus (curries), poriyals, kootus (vegetable dishes) and rice may be the mainstay of meals in South India, but flavourful podis and chutneys are equally an intrinsic part.

Words: MINI RIBEIRO

A

soft, fluffy idli is almost always, dipped into piping hot sambhar, but sometimes it is simply enjoyed, coated with the reddish dry gunpowder or milaga podi, to set one’s taste buds on fire. Gunpowder, is one of the most popular and commonly eaten podis in southern India.

Bursting with varied flavours, podis and chutneys are multipurpose spice mixes that can enhance any meal.

A unique culinary delight of South Indian cuisine, the Podi, a dry spice-mix, is made from a combination of lentils like chana dal, urad dal, tuvar dal, along with spices and condiments, such as sesame seed, chilies, fenugreek,

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curry leaves, coriander leaves, asafoetida and sometimes garlic, which are roasted and ground to make a coarse textured powder.

Potent Potions These are usually an accompaniment to dosas, idlis, adais and often mixed with hot steamed rice and ghee or sesame oil drizzled on top. Apart from adding zest to a meal, the podis are also used as ready-to-use premixes for preparing dishes like sambar, rasam, bisibele in households.

While podis are always dry, chutneys can be either dry or wet.

Chef Jacob Justin, Head Chef, Courtyard by Marriott, Chennai, explains, “Chutney is also called Thogayal or Thuvayal, in some

parts of the South. There are many varieties of chutneys, some cooked and others made with vegetables. The primary ingredients remain the same, but vegetables vary depending upon the season and taste buds.”

Fresh South Indian chutneys are smooth, uncooked purees, tempered with fried mustard seeds, dal, and curry leaves, that attributes a distinct flavour to a chutney. Cooked chutneys are soft and pulpy mixtures of cooked ingredients, again seasoned with fried mustard seeds, dal, and curry leaves. Chutneys in South India are usually made using the mortar pestle or Ammi Kallu, for the right texture and flavour.

Rakesh Anand, Executive Chef, Westin Hyderabad, agrees, “Podis

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39

CULTURE CURRY

CUISINE

Top: Unakka chemmeeen chammanthi podi; Top right: Green gram pesarattu

and chutneys are very popular and an integral part of every South Indian meal, because of the sheer variety and intense flavours they offer. Every podi or chutney has its specific taste and compliments the main dish, perfectly.”

Unity in Diversity Kandi podi and Beerakaya Pachadi in Andhra Pradesh, Milaga podi and Kollu Kadyal or horsegram chutney in Tamil Nadu, Chamannthi podi in Kerala.

While these may be characteristic

of each southern state, the ingredients of these chutneys and podis, are largely common, with minor variations.

Primarily, it is only the spice quotient and perhaps the combination and proportion of dals and lentils that differs in podis, thus introducing a variety in different parts of South India.

Alluringly Andhra Podi and pachchidi (chutney) is the first course of any traditional Andhra meal unlike other regions,

THE FLAMING HOT KANDI PODI OR GUNPOWDER, MADE FROM TUHAR, CHANA AND MOONG DAL WITH RED CHILLIES AND CUMIN, IS PERHAPS THE MOST FAMOUS PODI HERE, AND IS A MUST IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD.

July-Aug 2016

where it is usually sambar and rice. Podis from Andhra Pradesh tend to be more fiery.

The flaming hot kandi podi or gunpowder made from equal portions of tuhar, chana and moong dal with red chillies and cumin (jeera), is perhaps the most famous podi here, even though it is consumed elsewhere too. A must in every household, it sets the taste buds tingling.

Gunpowder is typically eaten with rice and ghee. If it is paired with dosas and idlis, or even the green gram pesarattu, it is usually mixed with oil to temper the spice.

Nalla Karam Podi, another typical Andhra-style podi, similar to gunpowder, is made with tamarind, garlic, red chilies and urad dal.

Roasted groundnuts or peanuts, dry red chilies, garlic and salt, with a distinctive smoky flavour make the Chennakai podi, while Nuvvulu podi is made with sesame seeds and dried red chilies.

QUICK BITES Adai Dosa makes for a healthy breakfast option.

Usually served with aviyal, it has an orange tinge due to the red chillies that are a part of the recipe.

Bisibele Bhat is a rice and lentils based dish, served piping hot with ghee and chutneys.

The dal is cooked smooth, and the dish is creamy.

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If podis are palate-tickling, the chutneys of Andhra are equally legendary. Korivikaram chutney with curry leaf, tamarind and chillies ,is famous as is the crunchy peanut chutney.

Tantalisingly Tamil Nadu And, while a typical podi in Tamil Nadu is made from the combination of the various dals, peanuts, kopra (dried coconut), sugar, curry leaves, tamarind, dried red chillies and a pinch of asafoetida, other specialties of this state are - Kollu or Kaanam podi made with horse gram, a staple of Tamil Nadu; Flaxseed or Paruppu podi, made with tuhar dal and flaxseeds and Karivepillai podi made with curry leaves, tamarind, urad dal and chillies. Of course, here too gunpowder or milaga podi remains popular, served with idlis and ghee.

Coconut, a key ingredient here, is used to make a podi, to which only a few chilies are added. Endu Kobbari Podi or dry coconut spice mix powder, is another versatile coconut-based powder stocked in every kitchen.

This podi has a strong nutty flavour with a subtle spice taste and a hint of sweetness, owing to the combination of lentils, dry red chillies, garlic and dry coconut, which are roasted in oil.

Some seafood lovers add dried prawns to the repertoire of podis in Tamil Nadu to enhance the taste of dishes, especially during monsoons when fresh prawns are rare to find.

Who can eat a Tamil Brahmin meal and not savour the ubiquitous coconut chutney?

Top: Peanut chutney powder; Above: A plethora of Indian spices

Did You Know?

Podis don’t need to be refrigerated, but must be stored in an airtight glass container, not plastic, to keep flavours intact.

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CULTURE CURRY

CUISINE

IN TAMIL NADU, SEAFOOD LOVERS ADD DRIED PRAWNS TO THEIR PODIS TO ENHANCE FLAVOURS, ESPECIALLY DURING MONSOON WHEN FRESH PRAWNS ARE RARE TO FIND. Apart from a basic chutney with coconut, chana dal and a tempering of mustard seeds, curry leaves, other variants include coriander, tomatoes and even onions. Sometimes curd is added to a coconut chutney, to impart sourness and the right consistency.

Equally popular here are; the tasty Parangi kai or yellow pumpkin chutney which is commonly paired with Ragi Adai for breakfast, the unique gooseberry chutney called Nellikkai, which is relished with curd rice and the tomato chutney with Kanchipuram idli.

Chef Anand even recommends making chutneys with unusual ingredients like tender gourd leaves, black grapes, plums, dates, capsicum with garlic, star fruit, figs. Brinjal Gojju, is one such unique chutney and is eaten fresh with dosas or upma.

Delectably Karnataka

In Karnataka, the standard podi also called chutney pudi, requires urad dal, chana dal, tuhar dal, grated coconut, dried red chillies (Guntur and Byadgi), curry leaves, tamarind, jaggery, and salt.

It is seasoned with mustard seeds and turmeric.

Top: Pulinji or bitter gourd chutney; Above: Kanchipuram idli

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Here, tamarind and jaggery are added to podis instead of garlic and roasted peanuts, which are common in Tamil Nadu, informs Chef Jacob. Again, instead of hing, cinnamon powder and coconut form the combination for podis with lentils and other spices.

One cannot be in Karnataka and not taste Bisibele Bhat, a delicacy of this region, which can

be prepared using the podi premix and rice.

Appetisingly Kerala

Typically, in Kerala, podis are made on the stone mortar and pestle, for the right texture.

While the Chammanthi podi or roasted coconut chutney powder, is synonymous with Kerala, Kothamali podi or coriander leaves podi with urad dal, red chillies, tamarind, is popular too.

But it is the Avalos podi, made from roasted rice flour and grated coconut, that is unique to this region.

What sets the coconut chutney from Kerala apart, is the absence of the roasted gram that is used by the other southern states. Sour green mangoes are another popular ingredient for chutneys.

Thottu kootan, a simple chutney-like side dish which is a mixture of sour, sweet, and spicy flavours to offset the richness of a meat curry or to enhance the flavours of a lentil, is widely eaten. This can be made with tomatoes or green chillies, or even vegetables like okra and bitter gourd.

The delectable, sweet-sour Pulinji or bitter gourd chutney made from bitter gourd, tamarind and ginger, is a delicacy known for its distinct flavour.

It is not only for that extra zing or diverse flavours that podis or chutneys are eaten with a meal.

As Chef Rakesh Anand says, these help in digestion and are quick supplements of protein too, since most of these use lentils in some form or the other.

DAZZLE THIS

FESTIVE SEASON The sun is finally at peace after a heated summer which can only mean one thing – wedding season is fast approaching! So, don’t wait, go traditional, royal and elite with Kundan and Polki jewellery from Cooke & Kelvey.

20% OFF

Step into the exhibition-cum-sale and select from a wide range of unique collection.

Cooke & Kelvey, 3, Scindia House, Janpath, Connaught Place, New Delhi - 110001 Contact : +91 98 18 802346, +91 85 27 970968

CULTURE CURRY

ART

The Art of Words

What music does to your ears, calligraphy does to your eyes!

It’s the style of writing words in an elegant manner.

Words: RIZWANA MUNDEWADI

W

ords carry innumerable significance; they bring happiness, positivity and make you thoughtful. Imagine a word - rose; it brings out the image of a flower, some emotions and beauty; it may also bring along some fragrances and memories as you connect with the beautiful word. What more, if an image of a rose flower is beside the written word, it will directly connect with your soul.

This is the power of calligraphy, words speaking to you.

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Calligraphy is a beautiful art of arranging symbols and words, positioning, balancing in rhythm or harmony, bringing about elegance and grace in text. It is also an art involving ornate decorative images and geometric depictions along with text that have brought forth this writing style into the limelight.

Historical connect

The history of calligraphy dates back to the Stone Age when cave men used coloured stones to write on the wall. It was in the Mughal era that calligraphy emerged in popularity when text and poems

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QUICK BITES

were written in Arabic and Persian languages, in beautiful forms.

So famous were the calligraphy artists in olden days that even the first page of Urdu newspapers were used to be handwritten in calligraphy style. Greeting cards, wedding invitations and even notices were handwritten by special calligraphy artists who would implement this art form beautifully on paper or cloth.

Prayer flags, religious text and paintings using text in beautiful style still attract a lot of attention as words connect directly to the mind and soul.

The Art form Calligraphy is a script produced by brushes or pens that has a high aesthetic value and beautifies the language.

Calligraphy does not necessarily involve any picture, photographs or images and is mostly restricted to text. Lettering is different from calligraphy and involves drawing of letters. Typography is written with selected available text. The

Top: A close-up of the intricate architecture of Delhi’s Qutub Minar

CALLIGRAPHY IS THE ART OF ARRANGING SYMBOLS & WORDS, BRINGING OUT HARMONY IN TEXT. The artist who writes text beautifully is called a calligraphist or calligrapher.

Calligraphy, the word, comes from the ancient Greek word, ‘kallos’ meaning beauty and ‘graphe’ meaning writing.

coloured cloths, silks, satins and canvas materials are dyed sometimes and then scriptures in the form of calligraphy are written over them by calligraphy artists.

Messages, text, poems, songs and inspirational quotes are found in calligraphy style as art and paintings.

Buddhist paintings and old Sanskrit scriptures found with handwritten text are preserved as an important part of the art world today. The Islamic Quran was written by hand in decorative writing forms.

A few examples of Arabic calligraphy in stone can be seen in the Taj Mahal, Humayun Tomb, Lal Qila, Qutub Minar and Hazrat Nizammuddin Auliya Dargah.

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CULTURE CURRY

ART

WEARING ART

Above: The Buddhist prayer wheels depict calligraphy

Calligraphic art form is also seen in sequined art on clothing, jewellery, bags and shoes that use beads and colourful sequins, gemstones and coloured stones and is majorly used in the fashion world today as a wearable art. Text written in designer patterns on apparels, materials, upholstery, and home decor; all have a presence of their own.

Mantras and prayers on cloth and canvas paintings in Buddhist culture are seen displayed in monasteries. In Tibetan Buddhist culture, traditional art depicts beautiful calligraphic works done on silks and canvas and is usually found in red, vermillion and golden colours. The best example of calligraphy can be seen on Tibetan prayer wheels with its simplicity and strokes since the words are small and simple. Chinese artists are known for beautiful calligraphy with confident single strokes in ink to form beautiful pieces of

IN BUDDHIST CULTURE, TYPICAL ART DEPICTS BEAUTIFUL CALLIGRAPHIC WORKS DONE ON SILKS AND CANVAS, AND IS USUALLY FOUND IN RED, VERMILLION AND GOLDEN COLOURS. word art. In China, calligraphy was used in stamp seal, ancient tablet stones, ornate paper weights and the famous Ming vases and pottery.

Weapons of Art Earlier in ancient times, the

Did You Know?

calligraphists used handmade dried reeds or bamboo shoots to make their own pens and nibs.

The choice of right pens and nibs and mediums affects the end results desired from this art form. Selecting the right medium for consistency is important

Those who learn Japanese calligraphy are taught the importance of proper breathing as students of the martial arts and Zen meditation.

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to get the easy flow with the hand movements and also the paper used has to be of correct absorbent material, otherwise the ink blots and bleed. Modern calligraphy involves a lot of brushes and markers that are comparatively easy and can be used for writing words on the go.

From logos to labels, visual designers today use language to express a story or information.

Gothic language is an ornamental style that draws attention rather than the plain, simply written text in movie titles, hand written invites, product label packaging, certificates and awards and even cake decorations!

TYPES OF CALLIGRAPHY PENS

Felt tip markers are easy to use for practising calligraphy.

Refillable fountain pens, where ink is filled, helps to write for longer time with changeable nibs and ink cartridges.

Scripts

Different types of scripts - cursive script, semi cursive script, oracle script, bronze script, clerical script, large script, small script, regular script are examples of modern printed calligraphy styles.

Today, we have computer programmes and scripts in different languages and styles that can bring out this beautiful art form as digital art and can be printed on any object, apparel or commodity. This digital art form looks great however, it lacks the charm and magic of handwritten calligraphy!

Above: A calligraphy artist at work

Bring calligraphy in your daily lives!

Artworks written with calligraphic styled decorative words having positive meanings, inspirational quotes and written goals often have a larger than life appeal and also go along with aesthetic appeal of your home. Get downloadable art sheets online

and practise this art form at home.

As your words begin to shape gracefully, you will notice how your life turns out beautifully. Fonts and languages can be chosen online and select whatever catches your attention.

Hand written calligraphic art always comes out beautiful and original. You can get creative by applying colours, inks, water colours, oils, acrylics or any medium of your choice. Simply paint over words on your tees and scarves! Hang the beautiful word art where you see it most, and enjoy the power of beautiful words!.

Dip pens for more professionals - the nib has a slit which releases the ink when pressure is applied.

Brush pens contain brushes of different sizes with tip or square shaped tip, which again requires a lot of skill to master.

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CULTURE CURRY

TRENDS

Food Truck

FRENZY Giving dining on the go a new makeover, food trucks in India are offering an exciting new experience, replete with innovative dishes, plating world cuisines, interesting fusion food and an escape from the ordinary.

Words: RAMYA JS D’ROZARIO

Y

ou’ve spent hours staring at that television screen, salivating at the endless visuals of food being handed out from spruced up trucks abroad, watching home cooks and professional chefs dish out seriously delicious items like escargot puffs, pizzas cooked in wood fired ovens, hot dogs slathered in a variety of sauces, even bacon jam, deep fried marshmallows topped with whipped cream, tacos and fajitas... watching food trucks in action are not just addictive, they’ve given food porn a new definition.

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And along with the rest of the world, India too is eagerly surrendering to the heightened food truck frenzy that has captured the attention and cravings of its residents. Metro cities like Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad among others are finding increasing numbers of food trucks plying its roads, especially the corporate hubs.

A new experience Brainchild of Jimson Johns and Leoma Dsouza, two young entrepreneurs & chefs who were looking at serving restaurant quality street food in a hygienic

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CULTURE CURRY

TRENDS

manner, started The S.W.A.T Food Truck in December 2015. An acronym for ‘Serving With A Twist’, the chefs have designed a menu that incorporates all the items they crave. “Bengaluru is enjoying the food truck culture as the response has been extremely positive,” say the chefs. “The people are open to trying new food concepts, and accordingly we change our menu, although, certain favourites stay on like the All American Meat Burger and Deep Fried Oreos.”

One of the key points for the success of a food truck is to be able to quickly cook or assemble the dish and serve customers with moderate, if not alarming speed.

As crowds often swell, chefs must be able to keep their cool while expediting work at various stations. Due to paucity of space and infrastructure, chefs have a central brick and mortar kitchen where the basic prepping is done, making it easier to serve when on the road.

Even five-star hotels were unable to resist the allure and excitement brought on by the food truck sensation. The Lalit Food Truck Company (TLFTC), launched in 2014 by the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, currently has three trucks pan India serving Mexican cuisine and the fourth truck is an exclusive pizza truck.

“Having established The Lalit brand pan India, we wanted to do something different and cater to a wider audience that is constantly on the go,” says Keshav Suri, Executive Director, Lalit Group of Hotels. “Hence, we thought of launching the Lalit Food Truck, bringing affordable luxury not only to our guests, but a larger

audience.” Before launching TLFTC, a quick survey revealed the dearth of authentic Mexican food in India. Keeping in mind the similar levels of spice in Mexican and Indian cuisines, TLFTC serves chicken quesadilla with pico de gallo, spiced vegetable tacos, tortilla wraps and Cajun spiced fries. Churros are too on offer.

Above: The vibrant food truck of The Lalit Food Truck Company; Facing page-top: S.W.A.T. Food Truck in business; Facing page-bottom: Frugurpop van

“QUALITY FOOD, CONSISTENCY, HYGIENE – IF YOU CRACK THESE THREE, YOUR TRUCK IS SURE TO BE A HIT.” KESHAV SURI, Executive Director, Lalit Group of Hotels

Did You Know?

Jon Favreau, writer, director and star of Chef, shadowed Chef Roy Choi, of the Kogi Korean Bbq Food Truck fame, and even worked as part of Choi’s kitchen crew.

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the help of the location markers featured on Facebook and/or Twitter profiles, while specialised apps have also been created that dispense information on the food trucks plying in the neighbourhood.

Is it just a fad?

Trends keep changing, and with the rising numbers of ‘foodies’, the food and beverage industry is constantly evolving to keep up with both international and domestic trends. Television shows like Eat St and Hollywood films such as Chef are not just an inspiration for budding entrepreneurs, but pushing diners to break the norm and experiment.

“The overwhelming response that we received soon after the launch, inspired us to expand it to other cities as well. Our target audience is any food lover on the move and youth across the NCR, who are experimental. We also kept the pricing very competitive, so that more and more people try out Mexican food and pizzas,” adds Suri.

Developing loyal customers Adding another dimension to world cuisine on India’s streets is Le Casse-Croute, a French food truck in Bengaluru. Initiated by French entrepreneurs, the truck received phenomenal response since its launch in September last year.

Says Nicolas, co-founder, “At our launch event, we had more than 300 people coming just for us, queuing for over an hour to taste our sandwiches (croque). Now,

not every day is like this, but we have a base of loyal customers.”

Everything they use is homemade and fresh, be it the bread, mustard, ketchup, aioli, mayonnaise or even pesto, following their philosophy - 100% homemade, 100% local, 100% tasty!

A food truck is more than a pushcart that sells snacks and affordable meals at roadside corners. Apart from becoming a nationwide sensation, this concept developed with the digital age, having been solidified with the popular Chef Roy Choi’s Kogi Truck that served gourmet Korean Tacos in Los Angeles, USA, sending out alerts in the Twitterverse. Food trucks are not always parked in the same spot, they move to different areas according to different time periods in the day or week. Offering street food prepared in a clean environment, customers keep a track of their favourite trucks with

Nicolas opines, “I think the trend started a year and a half before with just a few food trucks.

Today, there are more than 30, just in Bengaluru. I think food trucks provide an experience which is quite unique and positioned between the usual street-food and fancy restaurants.”

“People really love the concept,” say the chefs of S.W.A.T. food truck. Whether it is a fad or not, only time will tell. Also, with increasing spending power, food trucks are able to offer more variety and choice to the customer, explains Keshav Suri.

“The future of food trucks in India is definitely bright. We have a versatile palate and the street food culture is already quite prevalent,” he further adds.

However, to ensure the food truck phenomenon is not just another blip in culinary history, certain challenges faced by the entrepreneurs must be addressed.

Basically a cross between the real brick & mortar restaurants and roadside eateries, food trucks come with their own set of issues.

Jimson and Leoma faced a lot of challenges while setting up their regular operations, not to mention the vast legal aspects that come

QUICK BITES Apps often help show the location of food trucks. Using the Swiggy app, Le Casse-Croute home delivers food from their base kitchen everyday.

Frugurpop combines fruits and popsicles, and it is an artistic innovation in the world of icy desserts. What started three years ago with a small gourmet shop on Carter Road, Mumbai has now expanded across cities.

Says Pallavi Kuchroo, cofounder, “After receiving great responses from events held in Delhi NCR, we figured that our service should live up to the product and what better way to showcase it, than a funky ice cream van.”

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CULTURE CURRY

TRENDS

Top: The team of Le Casse Croute hard at work at the food truck

QUICK BITES The croque monsieur, French for ‘gentleman’s crunch’, is baked or fried ham and cheese sandwich. A croque madame is similar but topped with a fried egg.

with this endeavour. As permits to licenses being a grey area, it gets really difficult.

Le Casse-Croute too had its own challenges. Nicolas says, “Finding and keeping spots in the city is the main challenge. We face the police and residents have problems to parking issues. So we constantly have to update our locations. It’s difficult to find staff as they’re not very attracted by the food truck concept. Also, we don’t provide accommodation to our staff, which is a common practice in the hospitality business, but we’re trying to fix this issue now.”

What lies ahead?

Originating from the Andalusian region of Spain, Gazpacho is a soup made of raw vegetables, and is generally served cold.

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Being a relatively new sensation, food trucks in India have already started branching out to other F&B verticals. In Metro cities, they are catering at private parties and corporate events, and at food festivals. Case in point,

The Lalit Food Truck Company launched their fourth truck, their Pizza Truck, at the recent Grub Fest held in Delhi this March.

On this note, Suri states, “These events bring foodies from diverse tastes together and act as a good launchpad venue. Since many participate in the Grub Fest, it is a competitive market and only the tastiest survive.”

Jimson and Leoma add, “We do a lot of private parties and corporate events for IT companies and the city’s elite. Festivals too are a good platform for people to try your food and get to know you as a brand.” Exclusive food truck festivals are even being organised, especially in Bengaluru. In March this year, Food Truck Fiesta 2016 was organised by the Bangalore Food Trucks Association. Offering a delicious and hygienic alternative to street food lovers, food truck festivals have even caught on in

Mumbai. Offering a semblance of regularisation, support and on the road to become a bona fide industry of its own, food truck associations are being formed.

And not just this, manufacturers are mushrooming across India that provide customised solutions.

Although a food truck entails cheaper costs as compared to a standalone restaurant, it also provides a perfect platform to establish one’s brand and try out innovative menus, before taking the big leap and investing in a brick and mortar establishment.

Le Casse-Croute has expanded with a cafe in Bengaluru offering homemade French specialities.

All in all, food trucks not just offer more choice, higher quality street food with gourmet overtones, from sushi to iced popsicles, but bring the chefs closer to his customers, sharing the culinary experience.

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What’s new Budget stay options Kaneswaran Avili, CEO and Co-Founder of Global Rooms, discusses his company’s partnership with budget hotels in Southeast Asia under the ‘Nida Rooms’ brand.

How was Nida Rooms conceptualised?

Nida Rooms, though incorporated in September, officially launched operations couple of months back. It’s already locked in over 2,500 hotels in four countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. Over my aviation experience in South and Southeast Asia, I noticed that there’s a constant stream of travellers in this region and I felt that affordable hotel chain model of Nida Rooms would work very well here and in other emerging Asian markets.

What is the USP? We aim to provide Reach, Revenues and Recognition for our partners. We enter into agreement with existing hotels by locking in certain rooms for us. Also, the brand ties up with only those hotels that genuinely meet our quality standards.

How do you maintain set standards across all properties?

With Nida Rooms, the guests will have the peace of mind to know that all rooms purchased comes with the minimum Nida Rooms verification of quality. All guests can expect a comfortable bed, clean linen, attached bathroom, hot shower, cable television, air conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Any plans for India?

We have received overwhelming response in Indonesia and Malaysia. In the next stage, since March, we increased our footprints in Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. In the third stage, we plan to expand into India, the Middle East and Europe.

In India, we are already tying up with big Indian travel portals, and also offer Indian hotels to our clients in Southeast Asia. The India market has immense potential that cannot be ignored.

Travellers can download the mobile application or visit the website: www.nidarooms.com for bookings.

Put your health first Excuses don’t burn calories but most make them anyway.

Women especially, put the needs of others as top priority, taking precedence over their fitness. However, women must put their health first. Here’s why: Lead by example: If you are fit, your family will be encouraged to get fit. Once you are empowered with the knowledge about good health, you can educate your entire family.

Boost your self-esteem: It has been seen that clients with low confidence levels transformed once they shed weight and got their health issues under control.

Take on multiple tasks: Exercise enhances energy levels and muscle endurance, encouraging you to do more, be more.

Great stress buster: Being healthy gives you a natural high because it enhances your ‘happy hormones’. Some of the best workouts take place on days when you feel low. The benefits are many but how do you do it?

Be in charge: So become the boss of your family’s health.

Almost 70 per cent of what you look like is because of what you eat. Clear out the kitchen and stock it with the healthiest options possible.

Manage time better: Have a weekly meal and grocery plan. To make time to exercise, get out of the kitchen. Don’t cook every meal; get your family on to easy and healthy alternatives.

Take control of your life: If you can’t make it to the gym, try home workouts. Use every opportunity to walk a little more, climb the stairs. Carry your shopping bags – think of it as strength training! Stop making excuses and take charge of your life.

Roshini Gilbert is Vice President of Fitness & Services at HealthifyMe. The app is available on Android & iOS.

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INSTA CLICK

PHOTO FEATURE

Get drenched in

Matheran A miniscule hill station in India, Matheran deems a must visit, especially during the monsoon. Crisp fresh air, stunning landscapes and hills apt for treks, serpentine pathways through dense woods that paint an image of intense mystique.

Images: SAURABH CHATTERJEE

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A hill station so lush, Matheran roughly translates to ‘forest on the forehead’.

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Motorised vehicles are not allowed along the roads of Matheran. Travel by foot or horseback, the air here is free of noxious pollutants.

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The British developed Matheran as an ideal getaway during summer.

Remnants of colonial architecture are still present across the town.

A group of monkeys take shelter to avoid the rain. An ecosensitive region, the weather is cool, with ample rain during monsoon.

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INSTA CLICK

The Matheran Hill Railway covers a distance of 21 km, and connects Neral to Matheran. Built by Abdul Peerbhoy at a cost of `16 lakh, it was open to public in 1907.

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PHOTO FEATURE

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One of the ultimate joys of monsoon is being able to get drenched in the rain. A young boy is seen with his horse, enjoying the rain.

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INSTA CLICK

Matheran is 334 km from Aurangabad. Trujet offers direct services to Aurangabad from Hyderabad, and easy connections from other cities.

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PHOTO FEATURE

The sweeping landscapes are breathtaking. The dense clouds, rumbling thunder and gathering mist, Matheran is sure to leave you stunned.

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The hill station is known to have many medicinal plants and herbs.

From species of butterflies, birds, barking deer, squirrels, etc., the mountain ecosystem is unique.

With a fragile biodiversity in Matheran, amidst soothing shades of green that arrest the eye, the hill station is truly a gem of Maharashtra.

MÉLANGE

TRAVEL GADGETS

Fashion trends never go out, they only change forms to make a comeback and become acceptable to the fashion streets. What becomes a trend is how the existing fashion can be stylised in new ways to make it look different.

We’ve compiled the latest upcoming trends that will define your fashion statement in a whole new way.

Words: ANWESHA PAUL

g

Trendin

Rucksacks Fast becoming a symbol of uber chic, these bags are catching the eyes of many designers and forecasters lately. Today, rucksacks come in a variety of fabrics, such as leatherette. A trendy tee, faded denims, canvas shoes and a funky rucksack, will make you a hit among your circle.

this season

Block Heels They came, disappeared and came back again, and are becoming a favourite of every fashionista. From Emma Watson to Alia Bhatt to even the Queen of England herself, block heels are raging in popularity. Style it up with a short dress or pencil skirt and you are ready for a classy outing.

Mixed Metallics Metallics is the future of fashion.

Designers have started adopting metallic hues coupled with intriguing designs. Hints of metallic on a purse or a metallic accessories like neckpiece/ earring, bracelet cuffs can do wonders to a simple look.

Super Stripes Red Rush It seems the colour Red has become a must in every designer’s palette. Recent fashion weeks have showed a dominance of the colour red, where designers like Shantanu and Nikhil and Kiran Uttam Ghosh have used this classic colour in their designs with aplomb.

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The street style fashion forecasters declared that stripes are not going anywhere. When it comes to patterns, stripes are a classic. The print is frequently coming back in new modified versions as multi-coloured stripes, graphic and enlarged stripes. Bollywood celebs such as Anushka Sharma, Kangana Ranaut and Shilpa Shetty were spotted sporting this trend.

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Statement Bags Today, quirky statement bags are seen almost everywhere with their eye-popping colours and outrageous designs. Be it popcorn shaped or cupcake, they add a youthful and fun element to every ensemble.

Printed Shorts Strut in style this summer by wearing a brightly coloured pair of printed shorts, and teaming it up with a relaxed solid top. Be it floral, graphic or DNA print, this look is perfect for both outdoor as well as indoor hangouts.

Bomber Jacket Who said jackets wouldn’t be perfect for summer? Bomber jackets are making its way from Autumn/Winter to Spring/ Summer collections. Designers are reinventing this jacket with new designs and chic prints by using comfortable and breathable fabrics like satin and mesh. Different silhouettes, embroidered and over sized jackets are some of the modified versions.

Slitted Skirts Show off your stylish self by wearing skirts this season. Whether it’s a front slit, side slit or double slit, team it up with a solid crop top and in no time you will become a street style diva. It’s best to have solid coloured slit skirts for more drama.

Culottes Also known as the sister of palazzos, these pants are the most unexpected trend that stormed the fashion world. They are loose, comfortable yet classy and feminine. High waist culottes with fitted crop top are perfect for everyone.

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MÉLANGE

TRAVEL GADGETS

Really cool

Travel

ACCESSORIES Whether you’re a country-hopping jetsetter, an adventurous road-tripper or a hippy bus or train rider, take a load of these cool travel gadgets that, at times, are life-savers and at others, make your journey utterly pleasurable.

Words: SHRUTI TOMAR

Personalised Sand Imprint Flip Flops You’ve got that beach holiday planned, and you’ve brought your good ol’ flip flops out.

But now, you can get your feet in to these personalised sand imprint flip-flops by FlipSidez. Select a colour of your choice, give your size, and get personalised text or a symbol that you like and voila! You’ve got yourself a pair of funky flip-flops. Beach-side holidays just amped up by several notches.

Pocket Multi-tool This may be the strangest looking gadget you’ve seen but it’s also the most useful one. This credit-card size multi-tool that can fit into your pocket or wallet easily is an imperative travel companion. This tool comes with a ruler, a peeler, screwdriver and more. It’s ideal to open a bottle, a box or even a letter when you’re on the road.

This, your pocket needs right away.

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Sand-less Beach Mat This one’s for the beach rats. This beach mat is your mate when you’re lolling about on the shores. The sandless beach mat is an innovative beach accomplice that cannot be, literally, covered with sand. This invention was originally meant for military purposes but now the smart sand-less ground sheet is ideal for those beach outings that otherwise used to leave you feeling like a human sand clock. No more sticky sand either! Tuck this into your beach tote and head out. No more sand worries while you sip on that margarita, get your summer tan and stare out at the endless ocean.

Wireless Portable Speaker A fabulous travel accessory, the wireless portable speaker is a must-own. For a traveller who wishes to milk the most out of an outdoorsy holiday and yet not have to reconcile to shoddy options one has for outdoor luxury. It has two speakers, rechargeable battery and a built-in microphone.

Most top-level electronic companies have one and you have no reason to not get one, pronto.

The Selfie Stick There’s no question of not taking selfies when you’re travelling and getting the right angle, pout and such (after taking a hundred shots, nonetheless) is, more often than not, a Herculean task. Cue the Selfie Stick. This face-saving gadget eliminates all selfie-clicking problems, making it simpler to use along with a self timer on your smartphone. The Selfie Stick fits most smartphone and camera models and can extend to accommodate you, your companion and the countryside in the shot.

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MÉLANGE

HOT PICKS

In style

5

1. Summer cool

Wrangler, a denim brand, launched its latest range of innovative apparel called Sun Shield. The collection is treated with a special finishing technology that reduces heat build-up and provides reliable protection from UV rays.

Price: `1,395 onwards Available at: Pan India

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2. Floral dreams

The new range of British Rose from The Body Shop includes colourful stains for lips and cheeks to fragrant hand cream, shower gel and eau de toilette. Get softer, petal soft skin with the British rose collection.

Price: `350 onwards Available at: The Body Shop

3. Stay fresh

Pamper your skin with Swedish Spa Anti-Cellulite Gel Cream, that visibly eliminates the dull and tired skin with its uplifting citrusy fragrance. The caffeine used in the cream helps in toning up the skin.

Price: `999 Available at: in.oriflame.com

4. Adrenaline rush

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ASICS Tiger is a sports shoes lifestyle brand.

Drawing inspiration from Japanese origami art to highly technical construction of shoes, these have thick sole made of impactabsorbing materials.

Price: `8,999 onwards Available at: E-commerce sites

5. Cup of goodness

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VLCC recently launched the Slimmer’s Digestive Green Tea that has special blend of herbs known to improve gut health. It has the notes of pepper, sweet fennel, cardamom and pomegranate.

Price: `80 for 10 bags Available at: All leading stores

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6. Urban apparels

A contemporary clothing brand, PostFold offers tailored items that are classic with understated elegance.

Choose from a selection of shirts, blouses, shrugs, etc. Making everyday wear modern and fashionable, the brand exemplifies minimal effort contrasted with balance of quality and design.

Price: On request Available at: www.postfold. com

7. Herbal skin care

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Ozone Ayurvedics offers Ozone D-Tan Facial Cleanser enriched with superior skin lightening agents. It prevents sunburn and reverses the skin-aging effects of the sun. It combats freckles, blemishes and promotes skin brightening.

Price: `425 for 250gm Available at: www. ozoneayurvedics.com

8. Deo it up

NIVEA Men’s Body Deodorizer offers long bodyodour control. It comes in two variants - Intense and Sprint, offering a feeling of freshness and sheer confidence.

Price: `200 onwards Available at: Stores across India

9. Magical glow

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The new Oshea PhytoWASH 9-in-1 Face Wash is sulphate free, formulated with real gold micro particles and enriched with botanical extracts like aloevera, mulberry and licorice.

Price: `295 for 120gm Available at: Pan India

10. Travel in style

Offering new-age travellers a chic travel accessory, the Mohawk collection combines innovative design with ample space. Textured leatherette in tan and dark grey, these have a soft casing.

Price: From `2,500 onwords Available at: Pan India

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J U LY - A U G U S T

2 0 1 6

Tarot Predictions

PREDICTION

BHUVANA SHRIDHAR Tarot Reader & Crystal Healer www.tarotcosmic.com bhuvanashridhar@ gmail.com

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TAROT

ARIES // ACE OF CUPS

TAURUS // SIX OF CUPS

GEMINI // KING OF WANDS

Ace of Cups advises you to be careful and relook business models and financial investments. Urgent work issues should be looked into.

End of July is a good period for those in career, though hectic travel schedules could keep you busy .

A wonderful month that promises respect and admiration at work as well in business dealings. You can start projects from mid of July and make career moves. Beginning of August, travel with family and friends to exotic places could lift your spirits.

This month, small time investments may earn you dividends. Your hopes are high, your optimism will keep you afloat, just be patient and stick to your convictions. Career-wise, you may ride out the storm and be upfront in handling any crisis.

Lucky colours: Yellow and White

Lucky colours: Blue and Grey

Lucky colours: Black and White

Lucky days: Friday and Saturday

Lucky days: Monday and Thursday

Lucky days: Friday and Sunday

Lucky numbers: 6 and 19

Lucky numbers: 9 and 16

Lucky numbers: 19 and 27

CANCER // QUEEN OF PENTACLES

LEO // NINE OF SWORDS

VIRGO // KIN G

Opportunities will arise to study, giving new skills and ideas that can be worked upon. Beginning of August, you should cut down on any discretionary cost, stay disciplined and cool at work. You may be taking a business trip towards month end.

You will develop your business acumen in the next two months, and its a good phase to make new investments. You will feel empowered at the workplace, and promotion is possible. Holiday with family is indicated.

Be on the look out for business opportunities and don’t delay action.

After mid July, an excellent phase to launch a holistic venture. You will continue to be industrious to achieve your creative goals. A good phase for family gatherings.

OF C UP S

Lucky colours: Cream and White

Lucky colours: Black and White

Lucky colours: Red and Yellow

Lucky days: Wednesday and Friday

Lucky days: Wednesday and Friday

Lucky days: Monday and Friday

Lucky numbers: 14 and 20

Lucky numbers: 19 and 25

Lucky numbers: 3 and 7

www.trujetter.com

LIBRA // ACE OF PENTACLES

SCORPIO // SEVEN

OF CUPS

THREE OF PENTACLES

You will find success at work and in business ventures, your optimism will keep you afloat. Ace of Pentacles suggest discrimination, so pay attention to the details, don’t be judgmental. Pamper yourself with a vacation.

This month, your finances should improve with a stroke of goodluck, you will also reap the rewards of past efforts. At work, a job change, relocation or change in profile is indicated. You may have to travel extensively for work. Take extra care.

Focus on investments, property purchase, business or financial matters. Carefully analyse investments otherwise some confusion and disagreements can occur. For those employed, be practical. Don’t be afraid to ask others for help.

SAGITTARIUS //

Lucky colours: Pink and White

Lucky colours: White and Yellow

Lucky days: Monday and Sunday

Lucky days: Saturday and Sunday

Lucky day: Friday

Lucky numbers: 8 and 26

Lucky numbers: 7 and 24

Lucky numbers: 5 and 9

CAPRICORN // SEVEN OF WANDS

AQUARIUS // EIGHT OF SWORDS

The month of July seems to be special because you will have several opportunities to make long-term career commitments. From end of July you are likely to meet new people, feel self-reliant and secure.

Take care of health and be positive.

Follow your heart this month. Give ideas a shot and any strife that suffered in the past will now end.

Use your connections to help you advance in business endeavours.

August is a good time to go for a holiday with memories to cherish.

Lucky colours: Green and Black

PISCES // PAGE

OF SWORDS

You may receive a present from someone special – a family member, friend, or a lover. July end is a good time to start new projects in business and overseas ventures.

Some work-related travel is expected towards end of August.

Lucky colours: Topaz blue and Grey

Lucky colours: Purple and Black

Lucky colours: White and Sea green

Lucky days: Thursday and Friday

Lucky days: Friday and Saturday

Lucky days: Wednesday and Sunday

Lucky numbers: 12 and 26

Lucky numbers: 4 and 8

Lucky numbers: 15 and 25

July-Aug 2016

69

MÉLANGE

SCHEDULE

Trujet Schedule July-August 2016 From

To Bengaluru

Aurangabad

Bengaluru

Chennai

ARR

Days

A/C

Flight type

2T104

13:15

16:25

Daily

ATR-72

Via - Hyd

13:15

19:50

Daily

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Hyderabad

2T104

13:15

14:35

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Vijayawada

2T104/2T309

13:15

20:15

1567

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Hyderabad

2T106

16:50

18:15

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Tirupati

2T106

16:50

20:00

Daily

ATR-72

Via - Hyd

Vijayawada

2T106/2t309

16:50

20:15

1567

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Aurangabad

2T202/2T102

08:50

12:50

Daily

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Cuddapah

2T307

14:20

15:15

234

ATR-72

Direct

Goa

2T202

08:50

12:45

Daily

ATR-72

Via - Hyd

Goa

2T202/2T304

08:50

16:45

1567

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

2T202

08:50

10:30

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Hyderabad

2T209

20:15

21:45

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

2T202/2T206

08:50

16:20

Daily

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Vijayawada

2T307

14:20

16:45

234

ATR-72

Via - Cdp

Vijayawada

2T202/2T309

08:50

20:15

1567

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

2T306

13:00

13:55

234

ATR-72

Direct

Rajahmundry

Chennai Goa

70 July-Aug 2016

DEP

2T104/2T207

Chennai

Hyderabad

Cuddapah

FLT NO

2T305/2T304

11:35

16:45

1567

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Hyderabad

2T305

11:35

14:05

1567

ATR-72

Via - Tir

Tirupati

2T305

11:35

12:20

1567

ATR-72

Direct

Vijayawada

2T307

15:40

16:45

234

ATR-72

Direct

www.trujetter.com

From

To

FLT NO

DEP

2T206/2T207

13:10

19:50

Hyderabad

2T206

13:10

Hyderabad

2T309

17:10

Chennai

Goa

Hyderabad

Nagpur

Rajahmundry

Rajahmundry

Vijayawada

Days

A/C

Flight type

Daily

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

14:45

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

18:50

1567

ATR-72

Direct

2T206

13:10

16:20

Daily

ATR-72

Via - Hyd

Tirupati

2T206/2T106

13:10

20:00

Daily

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Vijayawada

2T206/2T309

13:10

20:15

1567

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Vijayawada

2T309

17:10

20:15

1567

ATR-72

Via - Hyd

Aurangabad

2T102

11:30

12:50

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Bengaluru

2T104

15:00

16:25

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Chennai

2T200

07:00

08:25

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Chennai

2T207

18:20

19:50

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Cuddapah

2T305

10:05

11:10

1567

ATR-72

Direct

Goa

2T202

11:05

12:45

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Goa

2T304

15:05

16:45

1567

ATR-72

Direct

Nagpur

2T301

05:50

07:30

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Rajahmundry

2T206

15:10

16:20

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Tirupati

2T101

08:00

09:20

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Tirupati

2T106

18:40

20:00

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Tirupati

2T305

10:05

12:20

1567

ATR-72

Via - Cdp

Vijayawada

2T302

10:05

11:05

234

ATR-72

Direct

Vijayawada

2T309

19:20

20:15

1567

ATR-72

Direct

Aurangabad

2T302/2T102

07:55

12:50

Daily

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Bengaluru

2T302/2T104

07:55

16:25

Daily

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Chennai

2T302/2T207

07:55

19:50

Daily

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Goa

2T302/2T202

07:55

12:45

Daily

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Goa

2T302/2T304

07:55

16:45

1567

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

2T302

07:55

09:40

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Rajahmundry

2T302/2T206

07:55

16:20

Daily

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Tirupati

2T302/2T106

07:55

20:00

Daily

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Vijayawada

2T302

07:55

11:05

234

ATR-72

Via - Hyd

Vijayawada

2T302/2T309

07:55

20:15

1567

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Chennai

2T207

16:45

19:50

Daily

ATR-72

Via - Hyd

Hyderabad

2T207

16:45

17:55

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Hyderabad

Aurangabad

Tirupati

ARR

2T102

09:45

12:50

Daily

ATR-72

Via - Hyd

Goa

2T102/2T304

09:45

16:45

1567

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Goa

2T305/2T304

12:45

16:45

1567

ATR-72

Connection - Hyd

Hyderabad

2T102

09:45

11:05

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Hyderabad

2T108

20:25

21:45

Daily

ATR-72

Direct

Hyderabad

2T305

12:45

14:05

1567

ATR-72

Direct

Vijayawada

2T303

18:50

20:05

234

ATR-72

Direct

Chennai

2T306

11:30

13:55

234

ATR-72

Via - Cdp

Cuddapah

2T306

11:30

12:35

234

ATR-72

Direct

Hyderabad

2T310

20:25

21:30

234

ATR-72

Direct

Hyderabad

2T310

20:40

21:40

1567

ATR-72

Direct

Tirupati

2T308

17:10

18:25

234

ATR-72

Direct

July-Aug 2016

71

India’s most loved salon & spa chain

Successfully participated in the last 7 editions of India Fashion Week Glamming up models for the catwalk

Redefining

fashion

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please contact franchise@monsoonsalon.com

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1800-103-BooK

Ambar Pariddi Sahai, Mynah Reynu Tandon, Valliyan, Vasundhara, Mandira, Niki Mahajan, Joy Mitra, Rina Dhaka for AIFWAW2016.

Delhi: Greater Kailash-II, South Extension-II, Connaught Place, Rajouri Garden, Punjabi Bagh (W), Dwarka, Vasant Kunj - Ambience Mall GurGaon: Ambience Mall

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