Wednesday February 10, 2010
Snow in Manali, Himachal Pradesh.
Ratnesh Bhatt
A cold snap in northern India has cut off towns and cities from the outside world, and disrupted travel.
The regions of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as Kinnaur, Shimla, the Spiti Valley, and Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh, have all received heavy snowfalls over the last few days. The snow has triggered landslides and interrupted electricity supply. Roads are blocked, and flights have been canceled.
Fortunately, road connectivity to Manali was restored yesterday evening. However, many roads aren't expected to be cleared for a number of days yet.
Tuesday February 9, 2010
Kala Ghoda Festival sculpture
www.flickr.com user Enygmatic-Halycon
The nine day extravaganza that is the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is underway at the moment in Mumbai. The 11th edition of the festival kicked off over the weekend and will run until February 14, 2010.
This year's theme is the Presence of the Past. However, it's been bringing mixed reviews. The lack of popular bands and established artists are common complaints. As to, is the fact that spa and ayurvedic stalls have replaced many eclectic arts and craft sellers.
Regardless, the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is one of the highlights of the year in Mumbai, and shouldn't be missed if you have an interest in music, art, and other performances. A detailed program of events is available from the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival Website.
Monday February 8, 2010
Corbett National Park.
Sharell Cook
A couple of days ago, I went on my second jungle safari in India. The first one was at Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary in the Wayanad district of Kerala. This one was at the opposite end of India -- at Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand.
I didn't expect to see a tiger at either place, but I still came away feeling like the whole jungle safari experience is often overrated -- at least for foreign tourists who have to pay much higher entrance fees than Indians.
Sure, the scenery was beautiful but the only wild animals I saw were deer and monkeys. Maybe if I'd gone on the safaris during in April-May (the hottest time of the year when the animals come out in search of water), it would've been different. Or maybe a smaller national park, such as Bandhavgarh, might have afforded more animal sightings. Regardless, I didn't find the safari experience very exotic or worth the inflated cost.
What do you think?
Tuesday February 2, 2010
Kangchenjunga sunset.
www.flickr.com user A.Ostrovsky
Here's some good news for anyone wanting to enjoy a drink in Darjeeling, whilst watching the sunset over Kangchenjunga. The Gorkha Janmukhi Morcha political party has lifted its ban on the sale of alcohol in bars, restaurants, and shops in Darjeeling.
The ban was introduced three months ago, to stop revenue flowing into Bengal state government coffers and thus exert pressure on the government. However, it created a great deal of resentment amongst tourists, shop keepers, and even residents who drink alcohol to help beat the cold winter chill.
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