Kaza – Commercial center of Lahaul and Spiti

Sep 3, 2015

Location

Kaza is situated on the left bank of Spiti river. The altitude of valley is 3600 m from sea level. It is lies between 32° 13′ 12″ N and 78° 4′ 48″ E.

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About

Kaza is high altitude cold desert. Spiti valley having similarities to the neighbouring Ladakh and Tibet in the tems of terrain and Buddhist. It has a Buddhist Monastery and also a Hindu temple. Kaza mainly acts as a tourist base for Spiti valley and one can visit places like the Ki Moneastery, Kibber and Komic village, Nako, Pin valley, Kunzum Pass and Chandratal lake from here. It is also the starting point for trips to Ki Gompa and the villages of Kibber. The Kaza is the largest township and commercial center of the valley. It can be divided into two parts Kaza khas and Kaza Soma.

Source: Esamskriti

The government offices are located in Kaza Soma. The Kaza Khas has the king place,monasteries and gompas.

Places of interest

Key Monastery

Key Monastery (also spelled Ki, Kye or Kee) is situated 7km from Kaza in Spiti valley. The altitude of Monastery is 4116 meters. The Monastery lies between 32°17′51.84″N and 78°00′43.17″E. The walls of Monastery are covered with paintings.

There are three floors in Monastery. The first floor of Key Monastery is used for storage. The second floor of key Monastery is called, the Tangyur, is painted with murals. The ground floor of Monastery has cells for monks. The Monastery is the biggest monastery of Spiti Valley. The monastery appears like a fortress. The Key monastery is surrounded by snow capped mountains. The route of Key Monastery is very beautiful. The Key Monastery is popular for its architecture called Pasada style.

Pin Valley National Park

Pin Valley National Park is situated in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. The national park is spread over an area of 675 sq km. There are about 17 villages situated in the circumference of the park. The population of village is sixteen hundred.

The local people belonging to buddhist community. The Chham dance by the Lamas of this Gompa are very famous dances in the valley. The Pin Valley Park is home for 20 species of animals and birds also home of snow leopard. The Pin Valley National Park is famous as the land of ibex and snow leopards. We can see ibex and snow leopard here. Besides snow leopard we can see also bharal,red fox,marten,siberian ibex.

How to access Kaza

By Air: The nearest airports is Bhuntar which is 250 km away.

By Bus: It is well connected by roads.

Climate

In winter the temperature can reach below freezing point woolens clothes are recommended. In summer the weather is pleasant and lights woolens are required.

Chandra Taal Lake – The Lake Of Moon

Sep 3, 2015

beautiful-Chandra-Taal-Lake-himachal-pradesh

Chandra Taal Lake, called the paradise of tourist and trekker, is known as one of the most beautiful lakes in the country, situated at an altitude of about 4300 meters in the Himalayas.

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The lake is situated on the plateau overlooking the Chandra river. The name “Chandra Taal” (Lake of the Moon) is derived from its crescent-shaped shape.

The lake is one of the two high-altitude wetlands in India that have been designated as Ramsar sites. The lake served as a temporary abode for Tibetan traders on their journey to Spiti and the Kullu Valley. Chandratal Lake attracts tourists very much with its picturesque views.

Chandra Taal Lake Trek

The Chandra Taal Baralacha Trek is a fun-filled trek that offers an adventure-filled experience. This trek offers the most picturesque views of the range of mountains and majestic blue waters.

The trek passes through rocky mountain passes and lush green meadows. A trek to Chandratal Lake passes through the snow-capped peaks of Minar, Talagiri, Tara Pahar and Mulkila, all of which are more than 6000 meters high, with a panoramic view of the Lahaul range.

This trek takes you to the highest point of 5000 m. If you are walking on such a high trek, then it is very important to have good fitness and good stamina.

The trek becomes a bit challenging at the time of river crossing, but it is doable with caution.

Let us tell you that trekking to Chandratal Lake is organized in June and October. Avoid visiting this place during monsoon as the water level of the rivers and lake becomes abnormally high during this time, which can hinder your journey.

Things to Take on a Trek

Don’t forget to take snow and waterproof shoes with good grip, this will help you walk on the rocky routes.
A good wooden stick or walking stick will come in handy during the trek to give you a good grip in the snow.
Do keep things like torch, jacket, thermal wear, sweater, snow cap, gloves, and heavy woolens.
Take 2 extra pairs of thick woolen socks with you, as your socks may get wet while crossing the river or in the snow.
A small towel to keep each part of your body dry.
Carry your basic travel kit – water, snacks, and medicines.

Camping at Chandra Taal Lake

Chandratal Lake is an official camping site, where tourists can lie down in the lap of nature overnight and enjoy the bliss of the place.

One can watch the twinkling stars while lying on the lakeside at night. Spending a night by the banks of Chandratal Lake will surely provide a special experience to both your mind and body.

Chandra Taal Lake at night

Chandra Taal Lake is named Chandratal not only because of its moon shape but also because it represents the moon.

Tourists here visit this place to witness the unique beauty at night. The lake appears dark blue in the morning but with the onset of evening it appears greenish and appears black at night.

Famous Restaurants and Local Food of Chandra Taal lake

The cuisine of Spiti has an interesting mix of dishes which everyone must taste. Tibetan food is very famous here. Along with North-Indian food, Israeli food can also be enjoyed here.

The village here has barley fields, which is the biggest source of food here. Here the grain is used to produce chang (barley whiskey), chung (barley beer). And roasted flour ladoos are used in breakfast, called thungpa.

The local food here includes momos, thukpa, butter tea, chang’s to name a few which you must taste. Apart from this, the tea here is quite famous for the garnish of lemon, mint, ginger, honey.

According to Hindu mythology

According to Hindu mythology, the Chandra Taal is the place where Indra the king of gods came down on his chariot to transport Yudhishthira in his mortal from to heaven.

The locals believe that fairies visit the lake at night. During springtime the meadows are carpeted with hundreds of kinds of wildflowers.

Best time to Visit Chandra Taal Lake

If you want to travel to Chandratal Lake, then let us tell you that the best time to travel here is between July and August. The roads are completely cleared of snow during these months, making it much easier to walk on the roads.

How To Reach Chandratal Lake

How To Reach By Road

The nearest motorable road to Chandratal is the Kunjam Pass, which leads to the parking lot, about 2 km from the lake.

Earlier there was a walking route from Kunzum Pass to Chandratal Lake, but now it can be traveled by bike or car in about 2 hours. Chandra Tal is about 30 kilometers away from Suraj Tal.

Alternatively, you can also reach Chandratal from Manali by hiring a car. However, traveling by car will cost you a lot.

Another option is to take a bus to Kaza in Spiti Valley and get down at बॉटल। From Battal, it is a 14 km trek to Chandratal Lake. Those who are not interested in trekking can do hic-hike.

How To Reach By Flight

There is no direct flight available to Spiti Valley. The nearest airport is at Bhuntar, which is located near Kullu and is 245 km from the valley. However, Bhuntar Airport is small with limited flights.

Alternatively, Chandigarh Airport is the nearest international airport at a distance of 522 km. As another alternative, the airport is located in Shimla.

How to Reach by Train

The nearest broad gauge railway station to Spiti is located at Chandigarh, which has good connectivity to all major cities of the country.

There is also a railway station at Jogindernagar which is the nearest to Spiti, but the connectivity of this railway station is very poor. Another nearest railway station is located at Kalka.

Chandra Taal Lake Google Map

Human body went through four stages of evolution

Sep 2, 2015

New York
The evolution of the human body’s size and shape has gone through four main stages, a study of 430,000-year-old fossils collected in northern Spain has found.

A large international research team studied the body size and shape in the human fossil collection from the site of the Sima de los Huesos in the Sierra de Atapuerca in northern Spain.

Dated to around 430,000 years ago, this site preserves the largest collection of human fossils found to date anywhere in the world, researchers said.
The researchers found that the Atapuerca individuals were relatively tall, with wide, muscular bodies and less brain mass relative to body mass compared to Neanderthals.

The Atapuerca humans shared many anatomical features with the later Neanderthals not present in modern humans, and analysis of their postcranial skeletons (the bones of the body other than the skull) indicated that they are closely related evolutionarily to Neanderthals.

“This is really interesting since it suggests that the evolutionary process in our genus is largely characterised by stasis (i.e. little to no evolutionary change) in body form for most of our evolutionary history,” said Rolf Quam, anthropologist at the Binghamton University in New York.
Comparison of Atapuerca fossils with the rest of the human fossil record suggests that the evolution of the human body has gone through four main stages, depending on the degree of arboreality (living in the trees) and bipedalism (walking on two legs).

The Atapuerca fossils represent the third stage, with tall, wide and robust bodies and an exclusively terrestrial bipedalism, with no evidence of arboreal behaviours.

This same body form was likely shared with earlier members of our genus, such as Homo erectus, as well as some later members, including the Neanderthals.

Thus, this body form seems to have been present in the genus Homo for over a million years.

It was not until the appearance of our own species, Homo sapiens, when a new taller, lighter and narrower body form emerged, resaerchers said.

The authors suggest that the Atapuerca humans offer the best look at the general human body shape and size during the last million years before the advent of modern humans. — PTI

Spiti Valley – Desert mountain valley of Himachal Pradesh

Sep 1, 2015

Spiti Valley is a desert mountain valley situated in the north-eastern part of Himachal Pradesh. The name of “Spiti” means middle land i.e the land between Tibet and India. It is surrounded by high mountain ranges. The altitude of valley is 12,500 ft from sea level. Rohtang pass seprates Lahul and Spiti from the Kullu valley. Spiti and Lahaul are cut off from each other by Kunzum pass. Spiti is bordered by Ladakh in the north, Tibet to the east, Kinnaur to the south east, and the Kullu Valley to the south.

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Culture of Spiti Valley

Spiti valley is research and cultural centre for Buddhists. Spiti valley comprise monastery like Ki Monastery, Tabo Monastery. These monasteries are among the oldest in the world and favorites of the Dalai Lama. Spiti Valley is summer home of nomadic Gaddi peoples. The Gaddi peoples grazing their animals in this valley. The Gaddi people leave the valley before first snowfall.

Places of interest

Key Monastery

Key Monastery (also spelled Ki, Kye or Kee) is situated 7km from Kaza in Spiti valley. The altitude of Monastery is 4116 meters. The Monastery lies between 32°17′51.84″N and 78°00′43.17″E.

The walls of Monastery are covered with paintings. There are three floors in Monastery. The first floor of Key Monastery is used for storage. The second floor of key Monastery is called, the Tangyur, is painted with murals. The ground floor of Monastery has cells for monks. The Monastery is the biggest monastery of Spiti Valley. The monastery appears like a fortress. The Key monastery is surrounded by snow capped mountains. The route of Key Monastery is very beautiful. The Key Monastery is popular for its architecture called Pasada style. Read more about Key Monastery

Tabo Monastery

Tabo Monastery is situated in Tago village of Spiti. Tobo Monastery is lies between 32°4′48″N 78°22′48″E. Tabo Monastery is also called Ajanta of The Himalayas. The location of the Tabo Monastery is very beautiful. The Tabo Monastery stands at a remote infertile ground. The Tabo Monastery is occupying 6300 sq km.

The Tabo Monastery is surrounded by mud bricks. The temple within the Tabo Monastery complex have multiplicity of wall paintings. The Archaeological Survey of India to restore painting that were damged by time. The photography is not permitted inside the Tabo Monastery. Read more about Tabo Monastery

How to access

By Air: The nearest airport is Jubbarhatti which is 365 km away . The Jubbarhati airport is situated in Shimla district.

By Rail: The nearest railhead is Kalka which is 455 km form Spiti Valley.

By Bus: Spiti is well connnected by roads. Buses and taxis are available for Spiti valley from Manali and Shimla.

Climate

There is no rain in Spiti Valley in monsoon season. Spiti is a cold desert. In winter the temperature can reach below freezing point. Heavy woolens clothes are required. In summers the weather is pleasant but woolens clothes are recommended.

Long TV hours may trigger fatal lung condition

Aug 31, 2015

Tokyo
Watching television for five or more hours per day increases the risk of fatal pulmonary embolism, a condition caused by obstruction of the lung’s main artery by blood clots, a new study has found.

“The association between prolonged sitting and pulmonary embolism was first reported among air raid shelter users in London during World War II,” said Toru Shirakawa, public health research fellow in the Department of Social Medicine at Osaka University in Japan.

“Nowadays, a long haul flight in an economy class seat is a well known cause of pulmonary embolism that is called ‘economy class syndrome’,” Shirakawa said.

“Pulmonary embolism is a serious, sometimes fatal, lung-related vascular disease characterised by sudden onset of symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing,” Shirakawa said.

“The disease is caused by obstruction of the pulmonary arteries by blood clots, generally formed in the leg vessels.

Risk factors include cancer, prolonged bed rest or sitting, and oral contraceptive use,” Shirakawa said.

The current study is the first prospective assessment of the association between prolonged television watching and fatal pulmonary embolism.

The study included 86,024 participants (36,007 men and 50,017 women) aged 40 to 79 years who completed a self administered questionnaire including information about average television watching time per day as part of a study which started between 1988 and 1990.

Participants were followed up for a median of 18.4 years until 2009. Mortality from pulmonary embolism was identified from death certificates.

Length of television watching was divided into three groups – less than 2.5 hours, 2.5 to 4.9 hours and 5 or more hours per day.

Risk of death from pulmonary embolism according to length of television watching was calculated after adjusting for age at baseline, gender, history of hypertension, history of diabetes, smoking status, drinking status, body mass index, walking and sports habits and menopausal status.

During the follow up period there were 59 deaths from pulmonary embolism.

Researchers found that people whose average television viewing time was more than five hours per day had twice the risk of fatal pulmonary embolism as those who watched an average of less than two and a half hours daily.

The association was more prominent in people under 60 years of age in whom watching television more than five hours per day was associated with a six-fold risk of fatal pulmonary embolism compared to watching less than two and a half hours.

In this age group, watching 2.5 to 4.9 hours tripled risk compared to less than 2.5 hours. —PTI

Source: Tribuneindia

Close teen friendships can lower risk of health problems later

Aug 31, 2015

Washington
Close, supportive friendships and a drive to fit in with peers in adolescence can lower the risk of developing stress-related health problems in adulthood, scientists have found.

Researchers found that physical health in adulthood could be predicted based on the quality of close friendships in adolescence. In addition, efforts to conform to peer norms were linked to higher quality health in adulthood.

“These results indicate that remaining close to — as opposed to separating oneself — from the peer pack in adolescence has long-term implications for adult physical health,” said Joseph P Allen, a researcher at the University of Virginia.

“In this study, it was a robust predictor of increased long-term physical health quality,” Allen said.
The intense adolescent focus on forming and maintaining peer relationships may well result from an instinctive recognition that these relationships are linked to well being, researchers said.

“Peer relationships provide some of the most emotionally intense experiences in adolescents’ lives, and conformity to peer norms often occurs even when it brings significant costs to the individual,” the researchers said.

Allen and colleagues hypothesised that “following the herd” and having close, supportive relationships in adolescence would lower the risk of having stress-related health problems in adulthood.

To test this, the researchers recruited a diverse group of 171 seventh- and eighth-graders and followed them from ages 13 through 27 years old.
Each participant nominated their closest same-gendered friend at the time to be included in the study.
From ages 13 through 17, the participants’ best friend filled out a questionnaire assessing the overall quality of the friendship, including the degree of trust, communication, and alienation in the relationship.

Friends also provided information about how much participants’ focused on fitting in with their peers.
Participants’ health quality was then assessed annually at ages 25, 26, and 27, with questions about their overall health, anxiety and depression symptoms, and body mass index.

To account for possible health problems, participants also reported on distinct medical diagnoses as well as any hospitalisations.
Results indicated that both high-quality close friendships and a drive to fit in with peers in adolescence were associated with better health at age 27, even after taking other potentially influential variables such as household income, body mass index, and drug use into account.

The findings indicated that adolescent relationship qualities may come to influence adult health through decreased levels of later anxiety and depressive symptoms.
The study was published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. — PTI

Source: Tribuneindia

Losing weight as easy as drinking a glass of water!

Aug 27, 2015

London

Slimming can’t get any easier than this! Researchers have shown that drinking 500ml of water half-an-hour before eating the three main meals of the day may help you lose weight.

“Just drinking a pint of water, three times a day, before your main meals may help reduce your weight,” said Helen Parretti, a lecturer at the University of Birmingham.

For the study, obese adult participants were recruited from general practices and monitored over a 12-week period.
Each of the participants were given a weight management consultation, where they were advised on how to adapt their lifestyle and improve their diet and levels of physical activity.

While half of them (41 adults) of those recruited were asked to preload with water, the other half ( 43 adults) were advised to imagine that they had a full stomach before eating.

Those in the group who were instructed to ‘preload’ with water lost, on average, 1.3 kg more than those in the control group.
Those who reported preloading before all three main meals in the day reported a loss of 4.3 kg over the 12 weeks, whereas those who only preloaded once, or not at all, only lost an average of 0.8kg.

“When combined with brief instructions on how to increase your amount of physical activity and on a healthy diet, this seems to help people to achieve some extra weight loss — at a moderate and healthy rate,” Parretti pointed out.

“It is something that does not take much work to integrate into our busy everyday lives,” Parretti said.
The study was published in the journal Obesity.—IANS

Source: Tribuneindia

Quitting smoking after heart attack boosts mental health

Aug 26, 2015

Washington, August 26

Apart from reducing the risk of a second heart attack, kicking the butt after the first one improves your mental health too, a study has found.
One of the most important indicators of how a patient is doing after a heart attack is the frequency and degree of angina — pain or heaviness in the chest that can radiate into the left arm and neck.

It sometimes includes nausea and shortness of breath.

“Even in people who smoked and had a heart attack, we see fairly rapid improvements in health and quality of life when they quit smoking after their heart attacks,” said senior study author Sharon Cresci, assistant professor of medicine at Washington University’s school of medicine.

For this, the researchers analysed data from about 4,000 patients participating in several large trials investigating heart attacks and recovery.
Of the active smokers, 46 per cent quit in the first year following their heart attacks.

The patients who quit after the heart attacks had an intermediate level of recovery but were markedly better than the active smokers, who fared the worst in the amount of chest pain they experienced.

Angina can be quite debilitating for patients “Episodes of angina are scary, especially when patients have just had a heart attack. The symptoms are a signal that the heart is not getting enough oxygen, which affects the quality of people’s daily lives,” Cresci noted.

Cresci emphasised that standard care for smokers who have had heart attacks includes offering support to help them quit smoking.
The study appeared online in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. — IANS

Source: Tribuneindia

Depressed people should avoid smartphones

Aug 26, 2015

WASHINGTON : Depressed people who turn to their smartphones for relief could be worsening their psychological condition, say scientists, including one of Indian-origin.

A team of researchers, that included Prabu David, the dean of Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences, found that people who substitute electronic interaction for the real-life human kind find little satisfaction.

In fact, using a mobile phone for temporary relief from negative emotions could worsen psychological conditions and spiral into unregulated and problematic use of mobile phones, or PUMP, said David.

“The research bears out that despite all the advances we’ve made, there is still a place for meaningful, face-to-face interaction,” he said.

“The mobile phone can do a range of things that simulate human interaction. It seduces us into believing it’s real, but the fact remains it’s still synthetic,” he added.

Lead author Jung-Hyun Kim, with Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea, said the study shows that face-to-face interaction can buffer the negative effects of heavy mobile phone use.

“Engaging in more face-to-face interaction can work as an antidote to the development of problematic mobile phone use,” Kim said.
The researchers examined two pathways for habitual use of a smartphone: to either pass the time or entertain, or to alleviate feelings of sadness or depression by seeking out others.

It’s the second reason, David said, that could cause trouble.

“This suggests that problematic use of mobile phone is fuelled in part by the purposeful or deliberate use of the mobile phone to relieve or alleviate negative feelings whereas habitual or ritualistic use to pass time is not strongly associated with it,” he said.

David and the researchers said that using a mobile phone in moderation — to stay in touch with family or friends, for example — is not a bad thing but it should not replace real human interaction.

The study was published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior. — PTI

Source: Tribuneindia

Animals could be forgetting mating signals

Aug 24, 2015

Washington: The trait of sending mating signals, that are essential for partners to communicate and produce offsprings, is not always being passed on to the new generation of animals and can actually adaptively disappear, a new study has found.

This means that organisms that rely on signalling to do any mating may be in danger of extinction, researchers said.
Animal sex signals, communications between partners indicating health, the capacity to produce healthy offspring and more, were thought to be beneficial and passed down from generation to generation.

However, these signals can actually adaptively disappear in descendants, according to the researchers.

“This means that certain organisms, particularly those that rely on signalling to do any mating or to tell their species apart from others, may be in more danger of extinction or hybridising with another species if they lose signals, particularly because signal loss can happen so fast,” said co-lead author Emily Weigel, from Michigan State University’s BEACON Centre for the Study of Evolution in Action.

The advantages of signalling to one another should mean that generation after generation the animals retain and keep signalling. That may not be the case, though, she added.

“In nature, it looks like
signalling can still disappear, not just a sometimes but often,” Weigel said.

Studying this deficit in nature is difficult because scientists are trapped by the practical problem of having to know an animal population is already losing a signal to study its loss.

They do not get a good idea of what factors, such as population size, how genes are structured in relation to one-another and how strongly organisms respond to signals, start and influence this loss”We also don’t know how these factors interact, or how they change based on whether animals must signal to mate, or if it’s just an optional strategy,” Weigel said.

Weigel and her team evolved populations in Avida, a software environment in which self-replicating computer programmes compete and evolve.
Their digital populations varied in different combinations of these characteristics. They found that signalling is indeed quite hard to lose in some scenarios, but not all.

How strongly the receiver prefers the signal is a huge component of whether signals are lost or not. In addition, the factor of optional or required signalling turned out to change the importance of every other factor.

The study was published in the journal Ecology and Evolution. — PTI

Source: Tribuneindia

Here’s how you can have a good night sleep

Aug 23, 2015

London, Aug 23 (ANI): Having sleepless nights? Here are ways which can make you sleep better. Well, first thing first! Keep your bed for sleeping and don’t use a computer or watch the television in the bed, the Daily Express reported.

In the evening avoid exposure to bright lights, as it lowers melatonin levels and your brain’s signal that it is time to go to sleep.

One should not consume large carbohydrate-rich meals before bed and caffeine rich drinks.

One should avoid doing workout just before you go to sleep.

Lastly, one should try to maintain a sleep time. (ANI)

Source: Aninews

Tara Devi Temple – Famous tourist attraction

Aug 22, 2015

Location

Tara Devi temple is located 11 km from Shimla. Tara Devi temple is famous tourist attraction of the Shimla.

About Tara Devi Temple

The temple is dedicated to Goddess Tara. The meaning of Tara is Star. Tara Devi temple is situated at the top of a hill in Shimla. The Tara Devi temple was established 250 years ago. According to legend the Goddess Tara Devi was brought from west Bengal to Himachal Pradesh.

Source: Hpshimla

One day King Bhupinder Sen had seen goddess Tara along with Hanuman in the dense forest. The goddess desired that she should be available for public to pray and seek blessings. The king immediately built a temple at this place. Inside the temple a wooden idol is placed for worship. After some generation the king Balbir Sen had a dreams in which goddess wished that she should be installed at the top of the hill. The king Balbir Sen built a temple at the top of the hill. The king installed a idol of Ashtadhatu inside the temple for worship.

Narkanda – Famous for Skiing & Winter sports

Aug 21, 2015

Location

Narkanda is a beautiful town in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. The altitude of Narkanda is 2708 meters. It lies between 31.27°N and 77.45°E. It is situated 65 km from Shimla.

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About Narkanda

It is surrounded by beautiful Shivalik mountains. It is famous for skiing and angling and winter sports. The skiing at Narkanda was started in 1980. HPTDC conducting skiing courses every year.

Source: Ananyahotels

Narkanda is also famously known as Gataway to apple Country. The Hattu peak is famous for its skiing activities and hiking. During winters when snow fall at this place it look like white wonderland. The altitude of Hatu peak is 12000 ft from sea level. Hatu peak is surrounded by dense forests.

Best Time To Visit: December to March (for skiing), April to June (fruit season).

How to access

By Air: The nearest airport is Shimla which is 88 km away.
By Train: The nearest narrow gauge railway station is Shimla which is 65 km away.
By Bus: It is well connected by road. Bues and taxis are available from Shimla.

Climate

In winter the temperature can reach freezing point. Heavy woolens are required. During summer the climate is pleasant and cottons woolens are recommended.

Baijnath – Famous for ancient Lord Shiva temple

Aug 18, 2015

Location

Baijnath is a town situated in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It lies between 32.05°N and 76.65°E. It is 50 km from Dharamsala.

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About Baijnath

Baijnath is popular for ancient Lord Shiva temple. According to legends Lord Shiva temple is one of the twelve jyotirlingas. The ancient name of Baijnath is Kirgrama. After dedicating this temple to Lord Shiva the name of Kirgrama is changed to Baijnath. Baijnath got its name from Shiva Vaidyanatha.

The Shiva temple attracts a large number of tourists and pilgrims. There is a small porch in front of the mandapa hall. The idol of Nandi is in front of Mandapa hall. The Shiva temple is enclosed by a high wall with entrances in the south and north.

History

Baijnath is famous for its 13th-century temple dedicated to Shiva as Vaidyanath, ‘the Lord of physicians’. Originally known as Kiragrama, the town lies on the Pathankot-Mandi highway (National Highway No. 154) almost midway between Kangra and Mandi. The present name Baijnath became popular after the name of the temple.

The town is located on the left bank of the river Binwa, a corrupt form of ancient Binduka, a tributary of river Beas. The Baijnath temple has been continuously under worship ever since its construction in 1204 A.D. The two long inscriptions in the porch of the temple indicate that a temple of Shiva existed on the spot even before the present one was constructed.

The present temple is a beautiful example of the early medieval north Indian Temple architecture known as Nagara style of temples. Source: Wikipedia

The Myth of the Temple

On attainting boon from Lord Shiva,Ravana requested the Lord Shiva to accompany him to Lanka. The Lord Shiva agreed to the request of Ravana and converted himself into Shivling. The Lord Shiva asked Ravan to carry Shivling and told the Ravana that he should not place the Shivling down on the ground on his way.

Ravana started moving south towards Lanka and reached Baijnath. On seeing a shepherd,Ravana handed over the Shivling to the Shepherd. On finding the Shivling heavy the shepherd kept the Shivling on the ground and Shivling got established there.

How to Access

By Air: The nearest airport is Gaggal airport.

By Train: The nearest broad gauge railhead is Pathankot.

By Bus: It is well connected by roads.The HRTC runs buses on the this routes.

Important contact numbers in Kangra

Aug 17, 2015

Important contact numbers in Lahaul and Spiti Important contact telephone numbers in Manali

Below are some of the important telephone numbers of Kangra. If you find an important number missing out of list please do suggest/send us using our the enquiry form.
Country Code(India ) +91
S.T.D. Code Kangra 01892

Emergency Telephone Numbers, Kangra

Police: 100.
Fire Station: 101.
Ambulance: 108.
Deputy Commissioner:01892-222103.
Additional Deputy Commissioner:01892-223322.
SDM Kangra:01892-265024.
SDM Dharamshala:01892-223315.
SDM Nurpur:01893-220024.
SDM Dehra:01970-233102.
SDM Jaisinghpur:01894-228111.
SDM Palampur:01894-230595.
SDM Baijnath:01894-263656.

Hospitals in Kangra

Fortis Hospital
Kangra Dharamshala Road, Kangra
Ph:(91)-1892-242555.

SHREE BALAJI HOSPITAL
Balaji Vihar, Kangra Ho, Kangra – 176001
Ph:+(91)-1892-260797.

SAI Mahima Shukla Hospital
Ram Nagar,Kangra Ho,Dharamsala
Ph:+(91)-1892-225268.

Panchsheel Multispeciality Hospital
Nagrota Nahan,Kangra
Ph:+(91)-9418224000.

Khn Hospital
Nagrota Bagwan, Kangra – 176047
Ph:+(91)-1892-2673124.

ANAND HOSPITAL
Gupt Ganga Road Kangra
Kangra Ho, Kangra – 176001
Ph:+(91)-1892-261100.

Schools in Kangra

Aadhunik Public School
Sidhbari Dharamshala
Kangra,Himachal Pradesh

Army School
Kandrori Teh Indora
Kangra,Himachal Pradesh.

D A V Public School
Baghni Nurpur
Kangra,Himachal Pradesh

D A V Public School
Alampur Teh Jaisingh Pur
Kangra,Himachal Pradesh – 176082.

D A V Public School
Palampur,Kangra
Himachal Pradesh – 176061
Ph: 01894-230617.

D A V Public School
Rehan Teh Nurpur
Kangra Himachal Pradesh – 176022.

Galaxy Public School
Railway Road Nagrota Surian Tehsil Jawali
Kangra HImachal Pradesh.

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
Paprola
Kangra Himachal Pradesh.

Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake – Wildlife sanctuary

Aug 17, 2015

Location

Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake is situated in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It lies between 32°01′N and 76°05′E.

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About

The Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake is also known as Pong dam Lake. The name of the Lake is in the honour of Maharana Pratap. Lake is well known wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary is popular for the birds like surkhabs,red necked grebes,terns.

Source: Tourmet

Wild Life at Maharana Pratap Sagar

Thousands of migratory ducks from Siberia can be seen in swamp and between Pong Dam and Shah Nagar barrage. Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake sanctuary is home of wild boars,leopards,cheetals,barking deer. Many species of fishes can be found in the lake. Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake offers many water sports activities like swimming, rowing, sailing, water skiing. The main bird species reported are the barheaded geese, Anser indicus, northern lapwing, ruddy shelduck, northern pintail, common teal, spot-billed duck, Eurasian coot, red-necked grebe, black-headed gulls, plovers, black stork, terns, water-fowl and egrets

Water sports

A regional water-sports centre has been established in the Pong Dam Reservoir, which offers focused activities such as canoeing, rowing, sailing, and water skiing, apart from swimming. Training programmes are organized in water safety and rescue measures with three-tier water-sports courses: the basic course, intermediate course, and advanced course. Modern infrastructure facilities have been created with a 75-bed hostel and a 10-suite rest house. It is said to be the only centre of its type in the country. To know more about the institute please visit the website of the institute. Source: Wikipedia

How to access Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake

By Air: The nearest airports are Gaggal.

By Train: The closest railway stations are at Mukerian 30 km and Pathankot 32 km.

By Road: The reservoir is well connected by roads.

Climate

The winter are very cold and summer are very hot. The best time to visit Maharana Pratap Lake is November to March.

Masroor Rock Cut Temple – Wonder of Himalayas

Aug 16, 2015

Location

Masroor Rock Cut Temple is situated 40 km from Kangra. Masroor Rock Cut Temple lies between 32°4’21″N and 76°8’13″E. It is close to Dharmashala, which is about 35 kilometres away.

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About

Masroor Rock cut Temple is also known as Himalayan Pyramid. There are 15 monolithic rock-cut temples in the the Indo-Aryan style and richly carved. The main complex of Masroor Rock Cut Temple contains three stone images of Lord Rama,Lakshman and Sita. The complex also has a large rectangular pond.

Source: Bp

History

The temple complex was first identified in 1875 on the basis of antiquities found in the Punjab and its subordinate fiefdoms. This reference was made in the list of Archaeological monuments prepared in 1875 as “Thakudwara Temple in the village of Masrur, Tehsil Dehra”. However, the next published information about the existence of this temple complex was about nearly four decades later in the Annual Report of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) of 1912-13 as a travel informatio of H.L. Shutterleworth, a British explorer, when he was exploring the Himalayas in 1913. Following this there were many other reports on the art and architecture of this temple complex by other historians. The conservation of the temple complex became the responsibility of ASI from 1914. The exact period of building this complex is not very clear. It is a puzzle as there are no epigraphic records that ascribe any date for its construction. Considering the huge size of the structures it was believed that the temple was built under major rulers of the area and was not the work of any local chieftains. The area of the temple complex was also known to have many caves and relics indicating large settlements. It has been established by reasoning that during the 8th century kings of Jalandhar moved to Masroor from the plains (plains of present day Punjab) and established their capital here. Source: Wikipedia.

Best time to visit Masroor Rock Cut Temple: March to October.

How to access

By Air: The nearest airport is Gaggal.

By Train: The nearest railway is Pathankot.

By Bus: It is well connected by roads.

Jawalamukhi Temple – Famous Shakti Peetha in Himachal Pradesh

Aug 16, 2015

chaitra-navratri-begins-at-shaktipeeth-shri-jwalamukhi-temple-with-traditional-flag-hoisting-ceremony

Jwalaji Temple is also known as Jwalamukhi or Jwala Devi. Jwalaji Temple is located 30 km south of Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh and 56 km from Dharamshala. Jwalaji Temple is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess “Jwalamukhi”.

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In the valleys of Kangra, the nine eternal flames of the Jwala Devi Temple burn, attracting Hindu pilgrims from all over India. Because of her abode in the nine eternal flames of the temple, she is also known as the Flaming Goddess.

This is such a wonderful temple that there is no idol of the Lord. The goddess is believed to reside in the sacred flames of the temple, which miraculously burn day and night without fuel from outside.

Science believes that the fire burns due to some natural jet of combustible gas from the mold of the rocks. However, devotees still have great faith in the goddess who resides in these flames.

The aarti performed in this temple is the main attraction. Rabri Prasad is usually offered to the Goddess.

Jwala Devi Temple has been an important Hindu pilgrimage site for thousands of years and as long as the flame continues to burn, devotees will continue to come here in search of peace and bliss.

So let us take you on a journey of Jwaladevi through this article today.

Who built Jwalamukhi Temple

Jwalamukhi Temple is a famous temple of Jwalamukhi Devi. A great devotee of Goddess Durga, King Bhumi Chand Katoch of Kangra dreamed of the holy place and the king sent people to locate the site.

When the place was traced, the king built a temple at that place. Which we know by the name of Jwalamukhi Temple.

History of Jwala Devi Temple

According to legend, Jwala Devi Temple is at the spot where the flaming tongue of Goddess Sati fell when she sacrificed herself. The temple was built by Raja Bhumi Chand Katoch to ensure the sanctity of the site.

It is said that the Pandavas also helped the king in the construction of the temple. However, the temple was actually completed in the 19th century.

According to legend a cowherd found that his cow did not give milk. The cowherd followed the cow to find out the reason.

The cowherd saw that a little girl come out from forest and drink the cow milk and dissappear. The cowherd told the king whole story.

The king was aware that Sati tongue had fallen in this area. The king tried very hard but did not get success. After some years later the cowherd went to the king and reported that he had seen a flame burining in the mountains.

The king found the place and vision of the holy flame. The king built a temple at this place. There is no idol inside the temple. The Goddess is worshipped in the form of flame.

During the Mughal period, Akbar tried to extinguish the fire several times, but it continued to burn in all its divine glory.

It is said that when a humble Akbar went to pay his homage amid the flames and offered a golden “Chhatra” to the Goddess, the gold turned into an unknown metal, a sign that the Goddess had rejected his offering. The temple was looted and destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1009.

This temple is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths and holds immense religious importance for Hindus.

Importance of Nine Flames

The sacred flame of the Goddess can be seen in nine different ways at Jwala Ji Temple. Navadurga is said to be the creator of the 14 Bhuvans, whose servants are Satva, Rajas and Tamas.
The main flame burning in front of the door in the silver corridor is the form of Mahakali. This Jyoti is Brahma Jyoti and is the power of devotion and liberation.
Next to the main flame is the flame of Mahamaya Annapurna who bestows devotees in abundance.
On the other side is the flame of Goddess Chandi, the destroyer of enemies. The flame that destroys all our sorrows belongs to Hinglaja Bhavani.
The fifth flame is Vidvashani which gives relief from all sorrows.
The flame of Mahalakshmi, the best flame of wealth and prosperity, is situated in Jyoti Kund.
Goddess Saraswati, the supreme goddess of knowledge, is also present in the kund.
Goddess Ambika, the eldest goddess of children can also be seen here.
Goddess Anjana, who gives all happiness and long life, is present in this kund.

Best Time to Visit Jwala Devi Temple

Navratri is a popular time for this holy pilgrimage. Tourists may also note that the temple hosts colorful fairs in the months of March-April and September-October.

How to reach Jwala Devi Temple

How to Reach Jwala Devi Temple by Air

Kangra is not served by an airport. Gaggal Airport is the nearest airport at a distance of about 14 km from Kangra Valley.

You can take a flight from Delhi to Dharamshala and then book a cab. You can hire a cab or bus for commuting.

Chandigarh airport is at a distance of about 200 km. Shimla and Delhi are located 212 km and 473 km away respectively.

How to Reach Jwala Devi Temple by Rail

There is no direct train to Kangra. Amritsar Shatabdi Express runs from New Delhi to Jalandhar. You can take a cab from Jalandhar and reach the valley. The nearest broad gauge railhead is Pathankot.

It is situated at a distance of 123 km. The nearest narrow gauge railhead is Jwalaji Road, Ranital, located at a distance of 20 km from the temple. Taxis and buses are easily available from here.

How to Reach Jwala Devi Temple by Road

Direct buses from New Delhi to Kangra make the journey convenient. It takes around 13 hours and the fare is around INR 900. You can reach Jwalamukhi bus stand to reach the temple.

The temple is well connected by road. State transport buses ply frequently from cities of Punjab and Haryana to Kangra. Taxis are also available.

Location

Jawalamukhi temple is situated 30 km from Kangra. It lies between 31.88°N and 76.32°E. The altitude of Jawalamukhi temple is 2,001 feet.

Kangra – General Information

Aug 16, 2015

Chamba Kangra Kullu Manali– General Information Bilaspur

Kangra – At a look

Kangra valley is one of the most picturesque, green and luxuriant valleys of lower Himalayas sheltered by the sublime Dhauladhar range. This is one of the most important and famous districts of Himachal Pradesh due to its popularity. Kangra is mainly famous for its natural beauty and tea gardens. Number of people visit here every year.

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It is famous for temples and beautiful lakes. The famous temple in Kangra are Jawalamukhi, Baijnath, Bajreshwari Devi Temple, Chinmaya Tapovan, Masroor Rock Temple and Trilokpur Temple. The Masroor Rock Cut Temple is a possible contender for nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Baijnath, Jwalamukhi and Chamunda Devi temples attracts large number of people. Kangra is also famous for water sports activities like boating and fishing.

History

Historically known as Nagarkot and “Trigarta” the town of Kangra was founded by Katoch Kshatriya Rajputs of Chandervanshi Lineage . The Katoch Rajas had a stronghold here, with a fort and rich temples.

Another ancient name of the city is Bhimagar and it was supposedly founded by Raja Bhim, younger brother of Kuru Emperor Yudhishthira of Indraprastha (now Delhi).

The temple of Devi Vajreshwari was one of the oldest and wealthiest in northern India. It was destroyed, together with the fort and the town, by 1905 Kangra earthquake on the 4 April 1905, when 1339 lives were lost in this place alone, and about 20,000 elsewhere. In 1855 the headquarters of the district were removed to the cantonment of Dharmsala, which was established in 1849.

Behind the Name

Kangra is a composite word made out of Kaann (meaning ear) + gaddha (create/mold). This name was given to Kangra because of the famous ancient plastic surgeons of the region who were known to provide plastic surgery for royals who wanted to improve their looks and warriors who had lost facial features during wars. –Wiki

Location

Kangra is situated in Himachal Pradesh. It lies between 31°2 to 32°5 N and 75° to 77°45 E. It is a famous tourist destination.

Kangra– Climate

Climate Summer Max. 38°C and Min. 25°C .

Climate Winters Max. 20° C and Min 0° C.

How to Access

By Air: The nearest airport is Gaggal airport which is 13 km away.

By Train: The nearest broad gauge railhead is Pathankot which is 90 km away.

By Bus: It is well connected by roads.The HRTC runs buses on the this routes. Buses and cab are available for Kangra.

Some major road distances

Delhi 470 km
Manali 215 km
Dharamshala 21 km
Chandigarh 226 km
Chamba 135km
Dalhousie 118 Km
Kullu 176 Km

Dharamsala – Beautiful hill station in Kangra

Aug 15, 2015

Location

Dharamsala is beautiful and peaceful place in the the Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh. Dharamsala is lies between 32.218°N and 76.320°E. Dharamshala is 18 kilometres from Kangra.

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About Dharamsala

Dharamsala is surrounded by dense Deodar and cedar forests. Dharamsala is the district headquaters of the Kangra district. McleodGanj is the home of the Dalai Lama. Dharamsala is Hindi word that is combination of dharma and shala. A translation into English would be Spiritual Dwelling. In Hindi the word Dharamsala means rest house for spiritual pilgrims.

Dharamsala is divided into two parts Lower Dharamshala and Upper Dharamshala. Lower Dharamshala has offices,courts. Upper Dharamshala is also called Kotwali bazar. A steep, narrow road connects McLeodGanj from Dharamshala. McLeodGanj is accessible by taxis and small cars. Numerous ancient temples like Jwalamukhi, Brijeshwari and Chamunda lie on the plains below Dharamsala. Several thousand Tibetan exiles lives in Dharamsala and the mostly lived in the McLeodGanj. The Tibetan exiles built temples,schools and monasteries in Upper Dharamsala. McLeodGanj is also called Little Lhasa. Dharamsala name is in the list of Smart City. Dharamshala is an ideal destination for rock climbing enthusiasts. Dharamsala is also popular for multicultural community.

History

From the earliest times until the British Raj, Dharamshala and its surrounding area was ruled by the Katoch Dynasty of Kangra. The Katoch Dynasty is said to be the oldest serving Royal Family in the world. The Royal Family still keeps a residence in Dharamshala, known as ‘Clouds End Villa’. The indigenous people of the Dharamshala area (and the surrounding region) are the Gaddis, a predominantly Hindu group who traditionally lived a nomadic or semi-nomadic (transhumant) lifestyle. Due to the lack of permanent settlements in the area, some Gaddis lost their seasonal pastures and farmland when the British and the Gurkhas arrived to settle. In 1860, the 66th Gurkha Light Infantry was moved from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh to Dharamshala, which was at first made a subsidiary cantonment. An ideal position for the new base was found on the slopes of the Dhauladhar Hills, near the site of a Hindu sanctuary, or Dharamshala, hence the name of the town.The Battalion was later renamed the historic 1st Gurkha Rifles, this was the beginning of the legend of the Gurkhas, also known as the ‘Bravest of the Brave’. Consequently, fourteen Gurkha platoon villages grew from this settlement, and exist to this day, namely Dari, Ramnagar, Shyamnagar, Dal, Totarani, Khanyara, Sadher, Chaandmaari, Sallagarhi, Sidhbari, Yol, and so on. The Gurkhas worshipped at the ancient Shiva temple of Bhagsunag. The Gurkhas referred to Dharamshala as ‘Bhagsu’ and referred to themselves as Bhagsuwalas. Source: Wikipedia

Places of interest

McLeod Ganj

Source: Wikimedia

McLeod Ganj is a suburb of Dharamsala. The altiude of McLeod Ganj is 2,082 metres from sea level. McLeod Ganj is also known as Little Lhasa of India. McLeod Ganj is home of Tibetan Guru Dalai Lama. McLeod Ganj is named after after Sir Donald Friell McLeod. Who was the Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab. McLeod Ganj is famous for Tibetan culture,temples and handicrafts.

Dal Lake

Source: Makemytrip

Dal Lake is situated in Tota Rani village 11 km from Dharamshala. The altitude of Dal Lake is 1775 m from sea level. Its name is taken from Kashmir Dal Lake. Dal Lake is surrounded by beautiful deodar trees. On the bank of Dal Lake famous Lord Shiva temple is located which is considered to be very blest. In the water of Dal Lake there are different kinds of fish. The water of lake is green.

War Memorial

Source: Ebharat

The War Memorial is situated entrance of Dharamsala. The War Memorial was built to honour of those brave soldiers who sacrificed their life for the country in post independence war. The War Memorial is surrounded by pine forest.

St. John in the Wilderness Church

Source: Hotelimperial9

St. John in the Wilderness is situated in the Dharamshala. St. John in the Wilderness church is built in 1852. St. John in the Wilderness church is dedicated to John the Baptist. Lord Elgin was so attached with the Deodar. The Lord Elgin wish is that he was buried in the outskirts of church. David Mcleod is also buried in the church outskirts. After the death of David Mcleod the place is named as Mcleod Ganj.

How to access

By Air: The nearest airport is at Gaggal which is 13 km away from Dharamsala.
By Train: The nearest broad gauge railway station is Pathankot which is 85 km away from Dharamsala.
By Bus: Dharamsala is well connected by roads. HPTDC runs a regular Luxury coach from Delhi to Dharamsala and Dharamsala to Delhi.

Climate

In winter the temperature can reach freezing point when heavy woolens are required. In summer the climate is mild and light cottons are recommended.

Location

About

Places of interest

How to access Kaza

Climate

Chandra Taal Lake Trek

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Famous Restaurants and Local Food of Chandra Taal lake

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Best time to Visit Chandra Taal Lake

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How To Reach By Road

How to Reach by Train

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