Friday, August 26, 2022



Kashmir is moving towards “purple revolution” as the farmers are slowly switching over from the traditional crops to more rewarding farming of lavender, a purple blossomed aromatic shrub. Since 2007 onwards, lavender farming has been introduced in Kashmir and parts of Jammu. It is now picking up revolutionary proportions. Lavender farming is now done in all of J&K’s 20 districts. Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Srinagar, Pulwama, Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, Ganderbal, Anantnag, Kulgam and Baramulla districts, in particular, have made significant headway in this direction.


Lavender farming was launched as ‘Aroma Mission’ of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, under the Ministry of Science and Technology. After the success of Phase I, the CSIR has started Phase-II, which will include over 45,000 skilled human resources and help over 75,000 families. According to officials, the climate of J&K is highly conducive for lavender cultivation as this plant can grow in cold temperatures and moderate summers.


Lavender is used for oil extraction which is then used in making soaps, cosmetics, perfumes, room fresheners, medicines, etc. The lavender plant does not require a lot of water and has a low risk of pests or other animals that destroy crops. A single lavender plant bears flowers for 15 years, needs low maintenance and can be used from the second year of plantation.


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Purple Revolution In Kashmir: Lavender Fields

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Wednesday, August 24, 2022



Known to be the world’s 'deadliest' garden, The Poison Garden in England has plants that can kill you. Located at Alnwick in Northumberland, this garden has over 100 varieties of dangerous plants. It is to be noted that one could visit this garde only with a guide. The dangerous garden has huge iron gates and a sign under a skull and crossbones that warns, "these plants can kill you".


The garden’s website mentions that the visitors are not allowed to smell, taste or touch any of the plants inside. The people still occasionally faint because of the toxic fumes they inhale while walking around the garden.


It is reported that one of the plants in the garden is the monkshood, which has pretty blue flowers but produces deadly berries, leaves and stems. The staff of the garden wears hazmat suits to maintain the deadly plants located in the garden.


World's 'deadliest' Poison Garden : The Alnwick Garden, England

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Tuesday, August 23, 2022



Located in the cliffside of the upper valley in Bhutan, Paro Taktsang is an eminent Buddhist sacred site and is also known as Tiger’s Nest or Taktsang Palphug Monastery. This temple has become the folk icon of Bhutan which Hangs at an uncertain cliff at 10240 feet above the Paro valley, reaching the temple is only possible through a mountainous route. The remote location makes it difficult to reach but also makes it beautiful, unique and an unforgettable destination at the same time and it is one of the best places to visit in Paro.



The glistering lights, golden dome and idols make its interior even more amazing. A large statue of a tiger is located in the hall of a thousand Buddhas, which is carved out of a rock. The buildings are interconnected and the stairs are carved out of the rocks, and there are windows in every building which gives a glorious view. To mark the beginning of a new day, the monks rotate the prayer wheel everyday at 4 AM which is located at the courtyard of the temple and is the main shrine of the temple.


The rock slopes are almost vertical on the right side of Paro Chu. 'Chu' here refers to rivers or water in Bhutanese. The temple is devoted to Padmasambhava which is also known as Gu-Ru mTshan-bragyad Lhakhang which translates as 'the temple of the guru with eight names'. During March or April, a festival called Tsechu is celebrated in the Paro valley in the honor or Padmasambhava. 


Destinations To Visit in Your Lifetime : Tiger's Nest, Bhutan

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If you had the chance to bring your camera anywhere in the world, where would you go? There are many beautiful places in the world for photography, and many photographers are lucky enough to have the time and resources to travel to every single one of them.


But even if you don’t have the option of trotting the globe all year round searching for new and stunning views to immortalize with your camera, you can still have to be a bit more selective with the places you visit. We’ve come up with a list of some of the best places to photograph from all around the world.


Whether you want to do some landscape photography, nature photography, astrophotography, or even street photography, here are some places that you’ll want to include your travel photography bucket list.


Machu Picchu (Peru)


Peru’s Machu Picchu is a dream for any photographer who loves traveling and taking large -scale landscape pictures. This world famous 15th-century landmark is situated almost eight thousand feet above sea level. It offers stunning views of the Andes and of the ancient Inca temples and ruins. And at the foot of Machu Picchu is the Aguas Calientes, where you can also do some astrophotography and capture spectacular shots of the Milky Way.


Pyramids of Giza (Egypt)


Who doesn’t get awe-inspired by the majestic pyramids of Egypt? At the Pyramids of Giza complex in the outskirts of Cairo, you’ll find the three pyramids (including the biggest and oldest one called the Pyramid of Khufu) and a massive Sphinx sculpture, which should look awesome in panoramic shots. Photographers who have been to the Pyramids of Giza warn that you should expect extreme lighting in this part of this Egyptian desert, so you can definitely utilize fast shutters.


Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats (Bolivia)


If you’re a fan of surreal, breathtaking images then you’ll want to bring your gear with you to the Salar de Uyuni salt flats in the Andes of southwest Bolivia. It’s basically a dried-up desert lake where a thin layer of water forms during wet climates. When the water evaporates during hotter climates, the ground gets covered with a solid layer of salt and other minerals. It’s currently the world’s largest salt flat and it stretches over 4,000 square miles, so you would be able to take wide shots of this incredible plane without other tourists sneaking into your frame and ruining your photo. 


Reed Flute Cave (China)


The Reed Flute Cave, also known as the “Palace of Natural Arts,” is a popular tourist destination in Guilin, China. It’s been a famous attraction for more than a thousand years and is over 180 million years old. What makes this landmark so frequently photographed is the artificial multicolored lighting that beautifully illuminates the rock formations, as well as the lake that offers surreal mirror reflections of this majestic fairyland.


Fairbanks (Alaska)


To see the entrancing Aurora Borealis (or the Northern Lights) is a dream for many, and capturing the Northern Lights is also an exciting feat for many photographers. Luckily, you won’t have to go very far to see these heavenly lights, because the Fairbanks region in Alaska is one of the top locations to visit if you want a great view of this fascinating natural phenomenon.

Best Places in the World To Photograph!!

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Monday, August 22, 2022



A small village in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, Gavi is ideally placed around 14 km away from Kumily in Thekkady and 28 km from Vandiperiyar, a small town in Idukki district. Gavi is one of the major eco-tourism centres in Kerala, which has been listed as one of the must see places in India by world acclaimed tourism major, Alistair International.



The journey to Gavi is itself an exciting and rejuvenating experience. During the drive, you will be able sight the beautiful Gavi, covered with tea plantations. Get thrilled with the sights of hills and valleys, tropical forests, grasslands, spectacular waterfalls, cardamom plantations etc. Gavi is a part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.



Planning a trip to Gavi is planning to delve deep into the life of wild flora and fauna. Gavi is very famous for its wildlife. You can sight here endangered species like Nilgiri Tahr and Lion-tailed Macaque along with Elephants. Gavi is considered to be a heaven for bird lovers and bird watchers. More than 260 species of birds like pied hornbill, woodpecker, kingfisher etc are abundant here. Endless activities await you here like trekking, wildlife watching, outdoor camping and night safaris.



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Unexplored Kerala: Gavi, Periyar

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Friday, August 19, 2022



Alcatraz Island, byname The Rock, rocky island in San Francisco BayCalifornia, U.S. The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a military prison. In 1934, the island was converted into a federal prison, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. The strong currents around the island and cold water temperatures made escape nearly impossible, and the prison became one of the most notorious in American history. The prison closed in 1963, and the island is now a major tourist attraction. From 1934 to 1963 it served as a federal prison for some of the most dangerous civilian prisoners. Among its famous denizens were Al Capone, George (“Machine Gun”) Kelly, and Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz” (the subject of the 1962 film of the same name). 


Beginning in November 1969, the island was occupied for more than 19 months by a group of Native Americans, initially primarily from San Francisco, who were later joined by AIM and other urban Indians from other parts of the country, who were part of a wave of Native American activists organizing public protests across the US through the 1970s. In 1972, Alcatraz was transferred to the Department of Interior to become part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.


Today, the island's facilities are managed by the National Park Service as part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Visitors can reach the island in fewer than 15 minutes by ferry ride from Pier 33, located between the San Francisco Ferry Building and Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco. Hornblower Cruises, operating under the name Alcatraz Cruises, is the official ferry provider to and from the island.



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Alcatraz Island : A Former Maximum-security Prison

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Thursday, August 18, 2022



Picturesquely located in secluded, breathtakingly beautiful Rupshu Valley, the high-altitude Tso Moriri Lake is less than 250 kilometers southeast of Leh. Flanked by lofty mountains, this serene lake is about 4,000 meters above sea level. Tso Moriri is approximately 29 kilometers long and up to 8 kilometers wide. Tso Moriri attracts a range of wildlife, including migratory birds, marmots and rarely the Tibetan wolves.


Tso Moriri lake in Changthang region of Ladakh is one of the most beautiful, calm and sacred (for ladakhis) high altitude lakes in India. In fact, it is the largest high altitude lake in India that is entirely in Indian Territory. This beautiful blue pallet lake is about 7 KM wide at its broadest point and about 19 KM long. Being part of the wetland reserve under Ramsar site, it is actual known as Tsomoriri Wetland Conservation Reserve and one cannot pitch any tents or construct anything near the banks of the lake. It is the highest Ramsar site in the world. A large number of flora and fauna is found in the region. Since, it is very near to the Line of Actual Control, one need to get Inner Line Permit to visit Tso Moriri.


The beautiful multi shades of blue color offered by this lake along with a picturesque landscape around gives this place an extremely romantic feel and breathtaking feel. However, in actual reality the place is extremely harsh and difficult to survive especially in winters. There is only one cemented accommodation available around the lake and the facilities like electricity, medical aid, hot running water, western toilets etc. are rare to find. The lack of oxygen makes survival difficult if your body is not properly acclimatized to its high altitude and hence, one need to plan his/her journey extremely carefully to make it acute mountain sickness free vacation.


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Charming Lake Of North : Tso Moriri

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