The professionals, including doctors, from the USA have made Himachal a new hotspot to practice Ayurveda, the century-old ancient healthcare tradition of India, giving boost to the local tourism. A large number of Indian Ayurveda doctors in America are contributing in motivating Americans to adopt Ayurveda and yoga to heal their body and Dr Naina Marballi is one of them. Born in Mumbai, Dr Naina runs Ayurveda’s World, one of the oldest Ayurveda centres of New York City’s since 1998. Her centre is certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP) to provide Ayurveda study programs. From Hollywood celebrities to doctors and businessmen, a large number of Americans are pursuing Ayurveda with help of Naina. She brings her students to Himachal for study programs and her students further teach this ancient system of medicine to their students. “India has already become a wellness centre of the world. Himachal has the capability of becoming the national wellness capital due to its pleasant weather and scenic locations. I bring 34 students at a time and most of them are from America,” Naina said, adding that half of them are repeated students who wanted to visit India again and again. “The atmosphere of Manali which is perfect to study Ayurveda has left an unforgettable impression on my students. The students also practice yoga and they chant Sanskrit mantras.” Maria Elena Rumayor, a student from the US, said what can be the better place to learn Ayurveda other than India where Ayurveda evolved in ancient time. “I was excited to see Himalayas and study here. It’s beautiful. Ayurveda and yoga have impressed me a lot. Ayurvedic and herbal medicines ensure physical and mental health without any side effect. I have many reasons to choose Ayurveda,” she said. According to Alexandra Martynova, the only
The professionals, including doctors, from the USA have made Himachal a new hotspot to practice Ayurveda, the century-old ancient healthcare tradition of India, giving boost to the local tourism. A large number of Indian Ayurveda doctors in America are contributing in motivating Americans to adopt Ayurveda and yoga to heal their body and Dr Naina
The 32km uphill yatra to Shrikhand Mahadev at an altitude of 19,000ft in Nirmand region of Kullu will officially start from July 15 to 25 under strict security arrangements and some restrictions to ensure safety of the pilgrims from many parts of the country. The pilgrims this year will have to follow strict instructions to be able to go on yatra. To make sure that every pilgrim comes back to the base safely, the minimum age of pilgrim should be 15 years. The pilgrims will have to bring a medical fitness certificate with them. And those wearing chappals would be sent back home. Anni sub-divisional magistrate Chet Singh said a meeting of the trust members and officials held on Monday and these strict decisions were taken for the safety of the pilgrims. “The pilgrims will have to register themselves after paying a fee of Rs 150. Advance registration will also be available at tehsildar office from July 10 to 14 but pilgrims will have to bring medical fitness certificate with them. A medical team will examine the pilgrims at base camp. We shall keep a check on BP and sugar level as well. Shoes would be mandatory for pilgrims,” he said. Shrikhand yatra is considered the toughest pilgrimage of the country which claims many lives every year. The yatra starts from Singhad at 6,000ft from sea level and ends at 19,000ft. Besides Himachal, most of the pilgrims come from Punjab, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Given the increasing popularity of the pilgrimage and the increasing number of casualties, the Himachal government has formed Shrikhand Yatra Trust and the pilgrimage is conducted under the supervision of Kullu administration. People can come till Jaon by car or bus and then treks for 3km to reach base camp at Singhad. Reaching 72ft tall Shiva lingam
The 32km uphill yatra to Shrikhand Mahadev at an altitude of 19,000ft in Nirmand region of Kullu will officially start from July 15 to 25 under strict security arrangements and some restrictions to ensure safety of the pilgrims from many parts of the country. The pilgrims this year will have to follow strict instructions to
The Manali-Spiti road, which was closed since October after heavy winter snowfall, has been reopened for vehicular traffic as Border Roads Organization (BRO) has cleared snow from Gramphoo-Kaza stretch including 14,000ft high Kunzum pass. This road connects with the Manali-Leh highway at Gramphoo, 16km north of Rohtang pass, and is a vital link to connect Lahaul valley with Spiti valley. The road further extends to Indo-China border at Sumdo. Known as one of the dangerous roads of the world, it is frequented by thousands of tourists every year. Given its strategically importance, Border Roads Organization (BRO) took over the Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphoo road from public works department a few years back. This road is now called SKG (Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphoo) road. While road till Kaza remains open even during winters, two teams of BRO clears snow from 140km Kaza-Gramphoo stretch after March. A BRO official said the snow from Spiti side was cleared till Kunzum pass many days back but clearing snow from Lahaul side was very challenging and took too much time. “The very heavy snowfall this season delayed the opening of the road. We had to clear over 30ft of snow at some places. Last year the road was opened in May. The road was damaged at some places. A large number of avalanches have hit the road. Light vehicles can now ply the road and we are improving the surface condition,” he said. Currently, the road is in bad condition, especially between Kunzum pass and Gramphoo. Ministry of Defence is considering widening of the highway for many years. Local residents have also been demanding to improve the condition of the road as even large vehicles fail to negotiate some stretches with huge boulders laid on the surface. Spiti is emerging as top tourist destinations of Himachal for its ancient monasteries, culture,
The Manali-Spiti road, which was closed since October after heavy winter snowfall, has been reopened for vehicular traffic as Border Roads Organization (BRO) has cleared snow from Gramphoo-Kaza stretch including 14,000ft high Kunzum pass. This road connects with the Manali-Leh highway at Gramphoo, 16km north of Rohtang pass, and is a vital link to connect
हिमाचल प्रदेश का कुल्लू जिला पर्वतीय क्षेत्र होने के साथ साथ घाटियों का भी जिला है। इन घाटियों में छोटे बड़े कई नदी नाले बहते है। यदि पश्चमी हिमालय में एक ऐसा पहाड़ी क्षेत्र चुना जाए जो प्राकृतिक सौन्दर्य और संसाधनों से भरपूर हो, जिसका अधिकांश क्षेत्र वनों, नदी,नालों, झीलों, झरनों और ढ़लानों से भरा हो,जहां बहुत कम लोग निवास करते हो शायद इसका जबाब यही होगा कि हिमाचल प्रदेश के कुल्लू जिला की तीर्थन घाटी. जहां की वादियां शान्त, सुरम्य और प्रदूषण मुक्त हो, जहां पर नदी नाले ,झील झरने यहां के परिदृश्य को सुशोभित करते हो, जहां प्राकृतिक संगीत की सुर लहरियां हो, पारम्परिक मेले और त्यौहार जहां गौरवमयी इतिहास का साक्ष्य प्रस्तुत करते हो तथा जहां पर अतिथि: देवों: भव: चरितार्थ होता हो। बात चाहे आस्था की हो या आस्था स्थली की, कुदरत के नजारों की हो या जैविक विविधिता के अनूपम खजाने की वास्तव में तीर्थन घाटी का कोई सानी नहीं है। पश्चमी हिमालय के सुदूर क्षेत्र बंजार की तीर्थन घाटी में स्थित ग्रेट हिमालयन नेशनल पार्क को वर्ष 2014 में यूनेस्को द्वारा विश्व धरोहर का दर्जा दिया गया। यह नेशनल पार्क भारत के बहुत ही खूबसूरत नेशनल पार्कों में से एक है जिसका क्षेत्रफल करीब 765 वर्ग किलोमीटर में फैला हुआ है।यहां पर अद्वितीय प्राकृतिक सौन्दर्य और जैविक विविधिता का अनुपम खजाना है।इस नेशनल पार्क का महत्व यहां पाई जाने वाली दुर्लभतम जैविक विविधता से ही है। वन्य जीव हो या परिन्दा, चिता, भालू, घोरल, ककड़, जेजू राणा, मोनाल सरीखे कई परिन्दे व जीवजन्तु और वन वनस्पति औषधीय जड़ी बूटियां यहां मौजूद है। इस पार्क की विशेषता यह भी है कि यहां पर वन्य जीवों व परिन्दों की वे प्रजातियां आज भी पाई जाती है जो समूचे विश्व में दुर्लभ होने के कगार पर है। बात चाहे वन्य प्राणियों की हो चाहे परिन्दों की हो
हिमाचल प्रदेश का कुल्लू जिला पर्वतीय क्षेत्र होने के साथ साथ घाटियों का भी जिला है। इन घाटियों में छोटे बड़े कई नदी नाले बहते है। यदि पश्चमी हिमालय में एक ऐसा पहाड़ी क्षेत्र चुना जाए जो प्राकृतिक सौन्दर्य और संसाधनों से भरपूर हो, जिसका अधिकांश क्षेत्र वनों, नदी,नालों, झीलों, झरनों और ढ़लानों से भरा
The ground floors of houses in Solang and Kothi villages of Manali have buried under the white blanket as over 5ft of snow has accumulated here after many spells of very heavy snowfall since January. The snow accumulation below the roofs have reached 10 to 15ft. Snow has entered the balconies and verandahs. Snowfall is delighting tourists here but it has come as a disaster to Solang village of Manali where a house has demolished after landslides below the village, while another houses of the village is on verge of collapse. A house which can collapse any time has been vacated. The land has developed huge cracks which are advancing towards other houses. The house of Nokh Ram collapsed on Monday night. Fortunately they had already shifted to new house and were using it to store firewood and fodder. The family of Gokul Chand has evacuated the house for safety. Solang and Kothi villages have received over 20ft of snow since December and are still covered with over 4ft thick white blanket. The melting of the snow has triggered landslides below Solang village which is situated on the edge of the mountain, about 1,000ft above the valley. The village having about 50 houses has witnessed a massive avalanche after three decades. The terrified residents are still crossing 30ft high avalanche debris to reach home. “We have received such heavy snowfall after many years. From the backside we are under threat of avalanche and from front side the foundation of the whole village is sliding. The cracks on ground can be seen above the snow surface as well which has opened several feet wide. We are spending sleepless nights,” a resident of Solang village Roshan Lal said. With no road connectivity, Kothi residents had to stay indoors for many days in
The ground floors of houses in Solang and Kothi villages of Manali have buried under the white blanket as over 5ft of snow has accumulated here after many spells of very heavy snowfall since January. The snow accumulation below the roofs have reached 10 to 15ft. Snow has entered the balconies and verandahs. Snowfall is
MANALI: Covered with thick blanket of snow, the Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal is reeling under intense cold wave conditions with temperature plunging below minus 20 degrees C at some places. With frozen water sources, some places including Kaza and Keylong are facing water shortage. Temperature in Kibber, Komic, Hikkim, Demul and some higher villages in Spiti and Koksar in Lahaul has plunged below minus 20 degrees C. Spiti, where even hand pumps have frozen, residents are lighting fire around the pumps and taps in effort to get water from it. Keylong, where temperature is expected to dip below minus 15 degrees C in next few days recorded lowest temperature of minus 9 degrees C on Friday. Both minimum and maximum temperatures in state have increased by 3 to 4 degrees C in last few days but the temperature is expected by dip drastically by the end of the month. An official working with Rohtang tunnel project said mercury in Lahaul at north portal of the tunnel is dipping up to minus 25 degrees C in nighttime. “Many villages have no drinking water available. They are bringing water from the river. Thankfully, Keylong has some running taps,” a resident from Keylong Suneel Bodh said. He added that the district is getting less snow but has more cold this season. “We are spending time in skiing and indoor games. Lahaul is celebrating Halda, a local festival, which is observed in different valleys on different time. We dance, eat and have fun. We have nothing much to do.” Gyaltsen Norbu, a resident of Spiti said, “Spiti is situated at high altitude but receives less snow compared to lower regions. But we face coldest winters of Himachal. Freezing of taps and all drinking water sources is the main problem. Even the fuel in vehicles
MANALI: Covered with thick blanket of snow, the Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal is reeling under intense cold wave conditions with temperature plunging below minus 20 degrees C at some places. With frozen water sources, some places including Kaza and Keylong are facing water shortage. Temperature in Kibber, Komic, Hikkim, Demul and some higher villages in
MANALI: Jana, a remote village of Kullu, with efforts of its occupants has turned into the fastest growing tourist spot of Manali with nearly 50,000 tourists visiting the place annually. Jana has today the potential to become top tourist destination of the region and Mani Ram is the man who had laid foundation to this achievement 17 years ago. The village is now famous as ‘Jana Waterfall’ as it also has a small waterfall. Tourists have three reasons to visit the village -- waterfall, beautiful drive through dense deodar forest and pure desi food items prepared by Mani Ram. Going back to 2002, when not more than 100 tourists used to visit the beautiful village and its surroundings. The fragrance of desi Kullu cuisines and efforts of this village guy have established a new milestone. “I used to invite my foreigner friends to taste my desi food 17 years ago who themselves advertised this place and people started searching for me. Number of my customers has increased from less than 5 in 2002 to more than 400 today and the number is increasing every year,” the proud founder of this tourist destination, Mani Ram, said. According to him, nobody developed this place and it was the beauty of village and its people which forced people to visit this place. Situated at height of about 9,000 feet and 32km from Manali, Jana Waterfall has created opportunity for about 50 villagers who after getting influenced from Mani Ram are earning from tourists by operating dhabas, developing photographs and offering taxi services to nearby places. The densely populated village also attracts tourists for its ancient architecture, temple and cultural events. Deep Prakash, a Jana villager, who has been witnessing change in the village in last 15 years, says, “Only some trekkers used to
MANALI: Jana, a remote village of Kullu, with efforts of its occupants has turned into the fastest growing tourist spot of Manali with nearly 50,000 tourists visiting the place annually. Jana has today the potential to become top tourist destination of the region and Mani Ram is the man who had laid foundation to this
MANALI: Distracted by heat and din, over 1.5 crore tourists visit Himachal every year to relax in cold and calm atmosphere, but not all of them return home safely as nature’s beauty proves lethal for few of them. Negligence, ignorance, improper safety arrangements, hurriedness, rescue response delay, week communication and medical services are few of the known reasons which are proving fatal for dozens of tourists every year. Most of the ill-fated tourists are dying by drowning in Beas river, besides mountaineering mishaps and road accidents. Kullu-Manali draws largest number of tourists in the state and is also hub of adventure activities including mountaineering, river rafting, paragliding and skiing. While dozens of tourists, mostly foreigners have either died or gone missing during mountaineering, number of tourists being drowned in Beas and Parvati rivers has also increased over the years. After the incident of Shalanala, Mandi, where 24 students of Hyderabad engineering college were washed away by water of Beas, Himachal government has stepped up its surveillance along the riverbanks but preparations seem to be inadequate as tourists, out of curiosity and charmed by its beauty, continue to throng the river banks. Snow and rivers of Kullu-Manali have always been attracting tourists from across the globe. While sudden unseasonal snowfall and landslides leave hundreds of tourists stranded for hours every year, rivers too have proved fatal for tourists who are not aware of the hidden dangers associated with it. Tourists cannot resist themselves and throng its banks to touch, feel and enjoy its cold water. They generally underestimate its force as river actually flows in high velocity than it appears. Even after the Shalanala accident, dozens of tourists can be spotted either sitting on the boulders between river to get themselves clicked or bathing in its swift currents. When a tourist
MANALI: Distracted by heat and din, over 1.5 crore tourists visit Himachal every year to relax in cold and calm atmosphere, but not all of them return home safely as nature’s beauty proves lethal for few of them. Negligence, ignorance, improper safety arrangements, hurriedness, rescue response delay, week communication and medical services are few of
MANALI: Recent snowfall has proved boon to the tourism in Manali where tourists have thronged for both sun and snow. While most parts of Manali are covered with blanket of snow, crystal clear sky on Wednesday lured tourists to bask in the warmth of the sun. Not only snow but tourists are heading the hill state for clear sky and the sun. While Rohtang pass, which is covered under over 20ft of snow, will open in May for tourists, road to Solang valley has become motorable. Deposit of snow and ice on road near Solang has made driving risky but hundreds of tourists managed to reach here on Wednesday. Over 2ft of snow filled them with joy and thrill. A tourist said that the view of Manali is no less than that in Europe. “Only problem is with infrastructure, especially roads and electricity. We enjoyed the whole day at Solang. We tried hand at skiing. The view is inexpressible when entire valley is covered with snow and its completely sunny day. We live in Mumbai from where our country looks completely different.” According to hoteliers, many tourists are coming to see snowfall after watching the weather forecast. A hotelier said many of the guests told him that they made plan to visit Manali as there was snowfall alert in the state. “Tourists are very smart. Earlier people from plains used to spend days to try their luck in watching snowfall. Now they have weather forecast available in pocket in smart phones.” More snowfall likely from Thursday The active western disturbance is like to bring more snowfall to Himachal hills and tourist towns of Shimla, Manali and Dalhousie from today as weatherman has issued alert four days weather alert for the state. “Mid and high hills of state may receive
MANALI: Recent snowfall has proved boon to the tourism in Manali where tourists have thronged for both sun and snow. While most parts of Manali are covered with blanket of snow, crystal clear sky on Wednesday lured tourists to bask in the warmth of the sun. Not only snow but tourists are heading the hill
An a time when number of tourist increases more than bedding capacity and mountains of Manali have mushroomed with unplanned hotels, accommodation in tents has found its own way of nature friendly stay, with over one hundred youths offering their services to tourists here. The small scale tourism entrepreneurs, mostly from surrounding villages, have set an example of innovation by providing luxury services to their guests in a nominal tariff. Tent accommodation is giving tough competition to the hotels. Gone are the days when honeymooners used to prefer staying in luxury hotels to avail the world class services and comfort. Hundreds of honeymooners are enjoying warm hospitality in tents that have been installed so close to the nature and boasts of all modern facilities. Meet Vishal Thakur, a young entrepreneur from Balsari village, who has chosen tent service as his passion and also mode of earning livelihood. Inspired by him, many of his friends too have now adopted this business and are earning good money. “I could not own a hotel but I fulfilled my dream to host the tourists by installing variety of tents at low investment. My formula to provide luxury in tents worked well for me and now I’ve over two dozen permanent camps at Chandertal lake where hotels are not available,” he said. Not only the luxury tents are cheaper than hotels but the rewarding advantage of tents is that they can be installed anywhere and can fulfill the need of accommodation even at those places where hotels are not easily available. Deluxe room, luxury room or honeymoon suite, one can find tents of all types anywhere in Manali. Most of the villagers have installed tents in apple orchards which helps them attract the tourists. Another youth, Kapil Negi, has earned respect by providing well managed
An a time when number of tourist increases more than bedding capacity and mountains of Manali have mushroomed with unplanned hotels, accommodation in tents has found its own way of nature friendly stay, with over one hundred youths offering their services to tourists here. The small scale tourism entrepreneurs, mostly from surrounding villages, have set
