Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Entries of Gangotri and Badrinath closed ahead of Solar Eclipse

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Dehradun , July 21 The Entries for the famous Hindu temples of Gangotri and Badrinath were stopped for pilgrims earlier than the scheduled time today on the eve of solar eclipse.

Badrinath temple authorities said that as the"Sutak"(inauspicious time) starts 12 hours sooner than the solar eclipse, the entrance of Badrinath temple were closed for pilgrims in the evening.

Badrinath temple authorities also said that the entrance of Badrinath temple would reopen tomorrow after the eclipse is over.

Another shrine in Uttaranchal state is Gangotri, located in Uttarkashi district was also closed for pilgrims in view of solar eclipse tomorrow, the sources said.

In the same way "Ganga Aarti" in Haridwar was held before than the scheduled time. The morning "Ganga Aarti" would be completed after the solar eclipse is over, they said.

The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century an event described as a once-in-a-life time opportunity will be seen tomorrow.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Dehra Dun encounter: Slain youth's father demands CBI probe

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The father of a slain youth, holding an MBA, on Sunday demanded a CBI inquiry into his alleged killing in a fake encounter, an incident which has triggered a controversy.

"There are 26 injury marks in his body other than the bullet marks. They can't be anything but marks of torture and beating him. He had been beaten before the entire drama of encounter," Ravinder Singh, father of 22-year-old Ranbir, said.

"We are not satisfied. We want a CBI investigation into it (the killing). If the government orders it, then it is okay. Otherwise, we will press for it," he said.

A distraught Mr. Singh said he wanted "exemplary" punishment to those involved to prevent people from even thinking about such an act given the consequences. "I will fight for it," he said.

The body of the youth was brought here on Saturday night by road from Dehradun in neighbouring Uttaranchal.

Controversy broke out on Saturday over his gunning down after he allegedly fled with a sub-inspector's revolver while his family claimed he was killed in a fake encounter. The incident triggered protests from family and opposition Congress, after which Uttaranchal Chief Minister R.P. Nishank handed over the probe to CB-CID.

Source: Hindu.com

Ten Best Adventure Places in India

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India is one of the advantageous places in the world to host adventure activities, whether it is a safari in a nature reserve, a camel ride through the desert or a trek through the mountains.

India has many adventure destinations that attract many adventure enthusiasts to India. Adventure sports like trekking, mountaineering, rafting and rock climbing; and water sports like snorkeling, kayaking and scuba diving are done in many places in India.

10 best adventure places:

1. Darjeeling is located in northern part of west Bengal at an altitude of 7000ft.

The Museum of Natural History is another tourist attraction in Darjeeling, has a fine collection of Himalayan animals, reptiles, birds and insects. Other few places, worth a visit are the, Bhutia Bustee Monastery, Dhirdam temple, Ava Art gallery and Aloobaari Monastery.

2. Gulmarg- "the meadow of flowers" is situated in the great Himalayas. Gulmarg also offers some excellent opportunities for long walks. The beauty of the Kashmir valley will not fail to mesmerize you. You may explore the Nanga Parbat and the Haramukh.

3. Situated in the foothills of Himalayas, Jim Corbett National Park is the place for adventure sports such as jungle safaris, wildlife camps and jungle camps.

4. Manali draws a good number of tourists due to number of temple, monasteries, passes, waterfalls, landscapes etc. It is also an ideal place for the adventure sports like the skiing, hiking and trekking.

5. The Zanskar valley is situated across the Suru Valley and over the Pensi La in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. Trekking is possible to Panikhar or Rangdum over the Pentse La, into the Zanskar Valley from Lamayuru, Leh or Darcha, from Padum to the Markha valley.

6. Dodital dwells in the Uttarkashi District of the Garhwal. It offers excellent opportunities for the other popular adventure sport of trekking. Dodi Lake is renowned for trout and Mahseer fishing.

7. Leh is indeed a trekker's paradise in North India. Polo is a popular activity in Leh. Leh-Manali highway rewards spectacular and picturesque landscapes. You may try river rafting in the Zanskar River at Leh.

8. The adventure destination of Rishikesh is located in the northern part of the state of Uttaranchal. The rapids and rivers of Rishikesh are excellent spots for the adventure lovers. Rishikesh also acts at a base for trekking camps.

9. Auli lies towards the north of the state of Uttaranchal and forms a part of the Garhwal mountain range. Auli is one of the very few places in India where skiing is a major pastime.

10. Billing in Himachal Pradesh is located at 8,500 feet in the Kangra valley. Para Sailing has been a regular sport at Billing in the Kangra valley.

Source: ibtimes.com