Best of Kerala

Stay in A Tree House, Wayanad

Now the sound of staying in a tree house sounds interesting right. Well, then this time you should experience something different than the usual.  This unique experience of staying at the tree house made completely out of bamboo will make your Wayanad tour more special. Whether you are planning for romantic getaway or an outing with friends this will be the best experience for you.  The amazing tree houses with quaint thatch roofs and bamboo walls were built by members of indigenous tribes with locally sourced materials.  Make some special moments along with your beloved while staying at these tree houses.

Location: District Wayanad, Kolagapara 

Price: The approximate price starts from INR 8839 – INR 14015

Elephant Shower and Bath, Thekkady

While you are visiting Kerala, this is one thing which you can’t afford to miss. Elephant bath and shower is one of the most sought activities in Thekady. What could be a better way to enjoy the amazing beauty of Kerala with an elephant ride? Take a tour through the aromatic spice garden while riding on the wisest animal on the planet.  Dance to the tune of the Kathakali dance.  Explore the natural beauty of this region and then reach the point for elephant bathing. Watch these huge animals in their natural habitat – delight while watching them relax in the beautiful environs. Enjoy feeding and bathing them in the pristine environs of this place. Click some memorable pictures with them and end this one hour.

Timings:  Opened from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Price: The approximate price starts from INR 1500- INR 2000 depending on the number of hours.

Best of Kerala | Fly & Stay | 7 Days/6 Nights

About the Activity:Fixed departure: 09-11-2016, 16-11-2016, 23-11-2016, 30-11-2016, 07-12-2016, 10-12-2016, 14-12-2016, 17-12-2016, 23-12-2016, 28-12-2016, 29-12-2016, 06-01-2017, 11-01-2017, 18-01-2017, 26-01-2017, 09-02-2017, 14-02-2017, 08-03-2017

• Describing the God's Own Country, Kerala is actually a hard task but here comes an enticing tour package from Delhi that would cover the pulsating destinations Kerala is always proud of.
• Start your journey from Munnar, the hilly region and continue through the seaside locations to the thick forests to the historical sites and capture some opulent moments in this small region of wonders alone.
• Mark your footprints in Munnar, Alleppey, Kovalam and other parts of the capital city, Trivandrum while you partake in this 7 day tour.
• The package includes food, accommodation and transportation during the entire trip which is inclusive of air 
• Tea Tasting and Tea Plantation Walk, Munnar
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• Known for its mesmerizing beauty Munnar has been always ranked as the best by the tourist. Tea tasting is another activity in Munnar which is becoming a hit among the people. Tea or Chai is the most generally tipsy refreshment in the entire world. The tea plant, Camellia Sansis, is a developed assortment of a tree that has its sources in a region amongst India and China.  Munnar is also well known for the tea plantation. Get a chance to pluck tea leaves in these exotic gardens.  Also, you to make your own tea with the tea leafs you have collected in the morning while walking in the garden. You can do all processes in the mini factory with the help of workers.
  Timings: The timing starts from 10.00 am to 05.00 pm
  Price:  The prices may vary from tour operator to other operator
• Houseboat Stay in Alleppey Backwaters
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  Magnified by water everywhere, Alleppey is the favorite tourist destination in Kerala; it is dedicated to refreshing each visitor’s mind with the salubrious nature and serenity. Alleppey is all green always with the large backwater and umpteen coconut groves. Alleppey backwaters contribute tremendously toward Kerala tourism; the houseboat cruises, resorts, toddy shop food, entertainment shows, water-related activities together weave a wonderful vacation.
  
  Monsoon is the most special season to spend your vacation in Alleppey since the water level is the highest along with Vallamkali or the unique boat race of Kerala could be seen during the months from June to September. Backwaters of Alleppey has a lot more in its storehouse which extends ultimate fun to the visitors; the houseboat running on the stagnant green water is a dream space for honeymoon couples.
  
  All tourists undoubtedly mark Alleppey backwaters as a must visit place while they head for a world tour.
  
  Getting there: Alleppey backwaters are just 2 hours away from Cochin International Airport.
  
  Best time to visit: Anytime is suitable to visit Alleppey backwaters but monsoon exemplifies the entire scenario 
• Varkala Beach, Thiruvananthapuram
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  Varkala Beach is one of the famous beaches of Southern India located in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This beach is also known as the Papanasam Beach with the word ‘Papanasam’ meaning ‘wash away your sins’. It is believed that a dip in the waters of this beach would wash away all your sins.
  This region is quite famous amongst tourists owing to the fact that it is the only region in Kerala where cliffs can be seen adjacent to the Arabian Sea. These cliffs are considered to be unique geographical features owing to the fact that they are the only elevation on the otherwise flat surface of Kerala. The geologists have termed these cliffs as Varkala Formation, which has now been declared as a geological monument by the Geological Survey of India.
  Considering its beautiful location and amazing scenic beauty, this place is counted as one of the top Kerala
  Apart from this, the beach also serves as an elegant spot for various kinds of water sports and spas, which is enjoyed in abundance by one and all who visit the Varkala Beach.
•  sightseeing places. This beach is a heaven for sun bathers and swimmers. And it also has an array of spas and exotic restaurants. People come here in masses each year to enjoy the aura of this place along with getting a beautiful glimpse of the setting sun, which is quite mesmerizing to experience.
• Chembra Peak
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•  Chembra peak joins Nilgiri hills in Tamil Nadu and Vallarimala in Kozhikode. The peak is evident from almost all parts of Wayanad. This place is an excellent destination for trekking expeditions. You have to take prior approval from the Meppady forest office prior to the trek at Chembra Peak.
  
   Night camping is not permitted at Chembra peak as there is a threat from wild animals. It will take at trivial three hours to reach the top point of Chembra peak. On the way to this peak, you can witness the heart shaped lake, which is said that it has never dried up. It is one of the popular attractions of this peak. 
  
  This lake is known as 'hridhayathadakam'. From the summit of the peak, you can enjoy the views of whole Wayanad. You can also sight Kozhikode, Malappuram and Nilgiri districts from here. You will get amazed with the enthralling charm of nature here. There are many peaks nearby Chambra peak. But it is hard to climb into those, as they are cloaked with impenetrable forests. 

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Thoughts

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Thoughts

A brief bio

Bharat Ratna Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, generally known as Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, was the 11th President of India (2002-2007). He was elected against Lakshmi Sehgal in 2002 and had support from both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress, the two leading parties of Indian politics. By profession he was a scientist and an administrator in India. He worked with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as an aerospace engineer before becoming the President of India. His work on the development of launch vehicle and ballistic missile technology had earned him the name of the 'Missile Man of India'. The Pokhran-II nuclear tests conducted in India in 1998 after the original nuclear test of 1974 saw him in a pivotal political, organisational and technical role.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was the visiting professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Indore; the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad; and the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong. He was a professor of Aerospace Engineering at the JSS University in Mysore and at the Anna University in Chennai, apart from being an adjunct and visiting faculty at other research and academic institutions in India. He was the honorary fellow of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and the Chancellor of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology at Thiruvananthapuram.

In his book 'India 2020', he recommended plans to make the nation a fully developed one by the year 2020. His interactions with the student community and his motivational speeches made him quite popular among the youth. In 2011, he launched a mission called 'What Can I Give Movement' aimed at the youth of India, which focused on defeating corruption in the country.

Detailed Personal Background

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born in a poor Tamil family on 15 October, 1931 at Raneswaran ub tge state if Tamil Nadu, India. His father, Jainulabdeen, was a boat owner, and his mother, Ashiamma, was a homemaker. He started working at a young age to support his father. He received average grades in school but was seen as a hardworking and bright student with a strong desire to learn things. He used to study for hours, especially mathematics. He completed his schooling from Rameshwaram Elementary School. In 1954, he graduated in Physics from St. Joseph's College in Tiruchirappalli, which was then affiliated to the University of Madras. Thereafter, in 1955, he moved to Madras (now Chennai) and joined the Madras Institute of Technology and studied aerospace engineering. His dream was to become a fighter pilot but he was ranked ninth while the IAF offered only eight slots. He was a bachelor.

Death

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam passed away on 27 July, 2015 due to a massive cardiac arrest during a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong. 

Journey and Achievements as a Scientist

• After completing his graduation in 1960, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam joined as a scientist in Defence Research and Development Organisation's Aeronautical Development Establishment.
• At the very start of his career, he designed a small helicopter for the Indian army.
• He also worked under the renowned scientist Vikram Sarabhai as a part of the committee of INCOSPAR.
• From 1963 to 1964, he visited the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, the Wallops Flight Facility located at the Eastern Shore of Virginia and the Langley Research Center of Nasa situated at Hampton Virginia.
• In 1965, he worked independently in Defense Research and Development Organisation for the first time on an expandable rocket project. The programme was expanded in 1969 and more engineers were included after receiving government's approval.
• He became the Project Director of India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) when he was transferred in 1969 to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). In July 1980, his team was successful in deploying the Rohini satellite near the orbit of the Earth.
• Dr. Kalam's efforts in developing the projects on SLV-III and Polar SLV from 1970s to 1990s proved to be successful.
• Dr. Kalam directed Project Valiant and Project Devil that aimed at developing ballistic missiles using the technology of the SLV programme that was a success. It is known that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, using her discretionary powers, allotted secret funds when these aerospace projects were disapproved by the Union Cabinet.
• Dr. Kalam and Dr. V.S. Arunachalam, on the proposal of the then Defense Minister R. Venkataraman, worked on developing a quiver of missiles instead of one at a time. Dr. Kalam was made the Chief Executive of the programme, which was named Integrated Guided Missile Development programme.
• From July 1992 to December 1999 he remained the Secretary of the Defense Research and Development Organisation, and also the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister. This period witnessed the Pokhran II nuclear tests, when Dr. Kalam played a key technological and political role. At the time of the testing phase, he, along with R. Chidambaram, was made the Chief Project Coordinator.
• He developed a low-cost Coronary Stent along with Dr. Soma Raju, a cardiologist, in 1998. It was named "Kalam-Raju Stent" after them. Both of them also designed a tablet PC called "Kalam-Raju Tablet" for healthcare in rural areas.

Dr. Kalam's Tenure as President of India

• The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government on 10 June 2002 proposed Dr. Kalam's name for the Presidential post to the Leader of Opposition, Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
• The Nationalist Congress Party and the Samajwadi Party supported his candidature.
• Dr. Kalam served as the President of India from 25 July 2002 to 25 July 2007.
• He won the election, getting 922,884 votes, thus defeating Lakshmi Sehgal, who got 107,366 votes.
• Dr. Kalam succeeded K.R. Narayanan as the 11th President of India.
• He was the third President of India to have received the prestigious Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour. It was earlier given to Dr. Sarvapali Radhakrishnan in 1954 and Dr. Zakir Hussain in 1963.
• He was the first bachelor and scientist to reside in the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Dr. Kalam was affectionately called the People's President.
• According to him the toughest decision taken by him as President was signing the Bill of Office of Profit.
• He was criticized as a President for his inaction to decide the fate of 20 mercy petitions out of 21, including that of the Kashmiri Terrorist Afzal Guru, who was convicted for the Parliament attacks in December 2001.

  Awards and Recognitions

  • The nation honoured Dr Kalam with Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in 1997 for his contribution in the field of scientific research, development and modernisation of technology in the defense sector of India.
  • In 1990 the Padma Vibhushan from the Indian Government for his work with DRDO and ISRO and as scientific advisor to the government.
  • In 1981 he received the Padma Bhushan
  • In 1998 the Government of India gave him the Veer Savarkar Award.
  • The Alwars Research Centre of Chennai bestowed on him the Ramanujan Award in 2000.
  • The University of Wolverhampton in UK bestowed on him the Honorary Doctorate of Science in 2007.
  • The California Institute of Technology, USA honoured him with the International von Karman Wings Award in 2009.
  • In 1997, the Indian National Congress conferred him with the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration.
  • He received the Hoover Medal from ASME Foundation, U.S.A in 2009.
  • The Royal Society of UK honoured him with the King Charles II Medal in 2007.
  • In 2008 he received the Doctor of Engineering (Honoris Causa) from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University.
  • In 2010 The University of Waterloo honoured him with the Doctor of Engineering
  • In 2011, he became an Honorary member of the IEEE.
  • In 2012, the Simon Fraser University conferred him the Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa).
  • In 2013, he received the Von Braun Award from National Space Society in recognition of his excellence in the leadership and management of space-related projects.
  • In 2014, he received an honourary degree in Doctor of Science from Edinburgh University, UK.
  • 2015 - The United Nations has recognized Dr. Kalam's as "World Student's Day".

  Documentaries and Books by Dr. Kalam

  • Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India
  • Inspiring Thoughts
  • Indomitable Spirit
  • The Luminous Sparks
  • Turning Points: A journey through challenges
  • My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions
  • Developments in Fluid Mechanics and Space Technology, by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Roddam Narasimha
  • India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium, by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Y.S. Rajan.
  • Wings of Fire: An Autobiography, by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Arun Tiwari.
  • Mission India, by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam .
  • Envisioning an Empowered Nation, by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and A. Sivathanu Pillai.
  • You Are Born To Blossom: Take My Journey Beyond, by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Arun Tiwari.
  • Target 3 Billion, by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Srijan Pal Singh

  Biographies

  • A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: The Visionary of India, by K. Bhushan and G. Katyal.
  • Eternal Quest: Life and Times of Dr. Kalam, written by S. Chandra.
  • President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, written by R.K. Pruthi.
  • My Days With Mahatma Abdul Kalam, written by Fr. A.K. George.
  • A Little Dream, a documentary film by P. Dhanapal, Minveli Media Works Private Limited.
  • The Kalam Effect: My Years with the President, written by P.M. Nair.
    
    
    
    

There's a new type of holiday taking the nation by storm

Brits are ditching traditional getaways in favour of a completely different type of minibreak

Forget boozy lads' weekends or city breaks with jam-packed schedules - there's a whole new style of holiday taking the nation by storm.

New research from Holiday Inn Express has revealed that 60% of Brits are favouring micro-adventures during their precious days off, whether exploring the outdoors or taking on gruelling physical challenges.

Nearly a third of those surveyed by OnePoll for the launch of Holiday Inn Express' 'We Know What Matters' campaign admitted that they use their minibreaks as the perfect opportunity to improve their overall health and wellbeing, while less than 15% would opt for a getaway indulging in food and alcohol.

Lazing around on a beach isn't topping the itinerary either - and relaxing with a good book was chosen by just 5% of Brits. Instead, hiking was revealed as the most popular activity to do on a break, closely followed by cycling, water sports and sailing.

Brits are favouring more active minibreaks

Exercise is proving to be a popular reason to taking time off, with one in twenty Brits admitting they booked a break that coincided with a sporting event such as Iron Man or a triathlon in order to be able to take part.

It's not surprising that Brits are favouring holidays with a busier agenda, especially as thanks to social media, we're feeling the pressure more than ever to make the most of our time off.

However, doing too much could defeat the point of having a break at all, and you might find yourself quickly feeling the need for another getaway. Research showed that the average adult starts to want another holiday just 29 days after returning from their last one.

Eating more comfort food, feeling more tired than usual and not being able to face your to-do list were listed as just some of the warning signs that you need to unwind.

Only 5% of those asked said they planned to relax with a book during their holiday

Finding the right balance when you take time off doesn't mean you have to give up being active completely - there are plenty of affordable trips in which you can combine the two. For example, Amsterdam is ideal for a cultural getaway, and there are plenty of cycling tours and trails if you want to incorporate a bit of exercise as you explore the city.

If you're considering a holiday that's more than just a long weekend, then there are some brilliant exotic destinations such as Thailand and Cambodia where you'll be spoiled for choice with activities, but you can also unwind in five-star accommodation for less than £100 a night.

Fun Trivial and Quiz Questions

Ten Easy Ice-Breakers

Source

1. Who was the legendary Benedictine monk who invented champagne? Dom Perignon.
2. Name the largest freshwater lake in the world? Lake Superior.
3. Where would you find the Sea of Tranquility? The Moon.
4. What is someone who shoes horses called? A farrier.
5. What item of clothing was named after its Scottish inventor? A Mackintosh.
6. What kind of weapon is a falchion? A sword.
7. Which word goes before vest, beans and quartet? String.
8. What is another word for lexicon? Dictionary.
9. Name the seventh planet from the sun. Uranus.
10. Who invented the rabies vaccination? Louis Pasteur.