Ugadi is a festival of the Telugu-speaking populace in the states of South India. Ugadi is celebrated to welcome the Telugu New Year which ushers in a season of freshness and brightness before the colors of Holi entirely fade away. Nature brims with sprightliness when red flowers blossom and mango buds bloom heralding the arrival of New Year for South Indians. The festive ceremonies of Ugadi are observed in harmony with the joy and beauty of nature to mark the beginning of growth, affluence and prosperity for everyone.

Legendary beliefs

Apart from its harmony with the changing face of nature, Ugadi has an age-old association with mythology and history in reference to Hinduism. It is mythically believed that the day when Lord Brahma, the Supreme Creator of the universe, stared creation of life is the first day of a new year or the Ugadi Day. If the cosmic calculations made by Bhaskaracharya, a noted Indian mathematician, are to be believed, the first day of the first month of a new year begins with the Ugadi festivity. The controversy of these beliefs apart, the fields with vibrancy of life, the meadows with colorful blossoms, the mango trees with green foliage and the households with the glow of rangoli refer to a new beginning, a new journey, a new life…

Culinary tidbits

Ugadi comes with the fresh aroma of raw mangoes in the air. It defines the mood and color of the environment, which in turn impacts the festivity and celebration. Raw mango slices are among the ingredients of Ugadi Pachadi, a must-taste festive dish that is unique to the culinary culture of the Telugu people. The women in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh get busy making several different mango preparations including pickle as raw mangoes are available in plenty for two months – April and June. Atukulu Payasam, Boorelu, Bellam Garelu, Semiya Payasam, Rava pulihora, Pappu Pulusu, Vankaya batani, etc. are some of the most popular Ugadi festival dishes, unique to the culinary culture of the Telugu people.

Philosophy of life

Ugadi Pachadi is not just an overtone of the festive celebration but also an integral part of the cultural tradition and a reference to the philosophy of life in the Telugu community. It is a dish of six different tastes and flavors – jaggery, raw mango, tamarind, neem flowers, salt and green chilli – that range from sweet to bitter. The ingredients of the dish symbolize the different phases and experiences of life that everyone undergoes during the journey from cradle to grave. Human life is a harmonious mix of verities including joy and sorrow just Ugadi Pachadi, a mix of different flavors. Ugadi Pachadi is known as Bevu Bella in Karnataka.

Traditional rituals

The people wake up before sunrise. They start the Ugadi day with a holy oil bath early in the morning and wear new clothes. The women draw beautiful rangoli in form of floral designs, as an auspicious mark of the festivity, on the space just outside their homes. The main entrance, doors and windows of houses as well as shops are decorated with strings of fresh green mango leaves called thorana. According to a mythical legend stating that Lord Ganesh, god of wealth and prosperity, is fond of mango leaves, this tradition signifies good harvest and good health. The people visit temples to seek divine blessings for health, wealth, success and prosperity in the New Year.

Travel Beats is an overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle Travel. It publishes latest visa, immigration and travel news, inspiring features and interesting community stories. 

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After Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka joins the race for erecting massive statues. Reportedly, a 215-meter-tall statue of Lord Hanuman will be built for Rs. 1200 crore in Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka. Hampi is not just a popular tourist place, but home to the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. Hampi, where the ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire are eloquently telling the tales of history, is also believed to be Kishkindha, the kingdom of Vanara King Sugriva in the Ramayana.

An impression of the upcoming Hanuman Statues | The Times of India

The upcoming tallest Hanuman statue in the world will be erected at the foot of the Anjanadri Hill in Hampi, Karnataka. To be made of copper or bronze, the statue will be surrounded by a Ramayana village that will be picturesquely landscaped through figurines, toys, paintings and clay work. The Hanuman Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust, the nonprofit at the helm of building the 215-meter Hanuman statue in Karnataka, is seeking land of 50 acres from the state government. The construction will start as soon as the land is allotted.

The world’s tallest Hanuman statue in Karnataka will be 10-feet shorter than the upcoming 225-meter Ram statue in Ayodhya, as Hanuman was a subordinate to Lord Ram. The upcoming Ram temple and statue in Ayodhya will be complemented only with the construction of the Hanuman statue in Hampi, since Lord Ram and his greatest devotee Hanuman are inseparable. Once the Ramayana village is built with the Hanuman statue centered in it, Hampi will match the religious significance and architectural grandeur of Ayodhya.

With several other statues lining up for construction in 2020 and 2021, Karnataka is on a statue-building spree. Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport will get one of the upcoming statues in Karnataka. The construction of a 108-ft tall statue of Kempegowda, the founder of Bengaluru City, is underway at the cost of Rs 75 crore. The foundation brick for the statue of Kempegowda near Bengaluru Airport was laid in June 2020.

The statues coming up in Karnataka include a 120-ft statue of Swami Vivekananda in Jigani near Electronics City in Bengaluru. Inspired by the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, the Swami Vivekananda statue will be located on a 3-acre site sprawling around a water body, which is about 10-12km from the Bannerghatta National Park. The statue is expected to be completed in a year.

Of the statues that Karnataka completed and unveiled in the recent past is the Basavanna statue in Chitradurga. Inspired by the statue of Jesus Christ at Rio de Janeiro, the statue of Basavanna – a 12^th century philosopher and social reformer in the Kalyani Chalukya dynasty – measures 156 feet in height and stands on a 100-feet pedestal. The Basavanna statue in Karnataka was built at a whopping cost of around Rs 75 crore.

To be taller than the Statue of Unity, the 705-feet Hanuman Statue in Karnataka has sent critics into a tizzy about India’s shrinking GDP and economic slowdown amid the COVID19 pandemic.

Also Check: World’s Tallest Shiva Statue in India

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Have you had enough of romance in India monsoon? Are you looking for a break away from typical romantic monsoon destinations? Give a try to adventure in Agumbe, a monsoon getaway in Karnataka. It is the wettest place receiving the highest rainfall in South India. Veiled by dense, lush greenery, Agumbe seems to be a land of phantoms in the dark. Much of the landscape of this monsoon town is dotted with rain forests in the Western Ghats. Trekking in the dark and dense forests is the most challenging pursuit of adventure here. If you are all set for an intriguing adventure travel to India, Indian Eagle will book the cheapest flight tickets to Bangalore for you.

Romance and adventure exist side by side in Agumbe. Panoramic views of the diverse geography of Agumbe ooze dollops of romance, while the precarious trekking trails penetrating through the forests highlight adventure. You can take fancy to the romantic beauty of Agumbe or respond to the calls of adventure, according to your travel taste this monsoon. Agumbe treats both romance seekers and adventure junkies alike. If the adventurer in you overpowers your romantic self, you must go through the rest.

Travel to India for an adventure holiday in Agumbe begins with an international flight to Bangalore, which is followed by a domestic flight to Mangalore, a coastal town in the state of Karnataka. Mangalore to Agumbe is a 100-km long drive via scenic roadway. You can take a road trip from Mangalore to Agumbe, which will offer a toast of adventure to you from the very beginning of the journey. It is one of the best road trips in South India.

If you want to drink to the scenic beauty of nature while sitting in a comfort zone on wheels, you can journey by train to Udupi Railway Station. Udupi is a coastal town where Agumbe is an only 55-km long drive from. Once you are in Agumbe town, your journey for adventure is all set to commence. The trekking trails through streams, waterfalls and forests are rough and precarious; so professional trekking guidance will be a great help.

Rows of trees at the initial phase of the journey lead to thick vegetation which ends into the deep of rain forests in Agumbe Ghat. Monsoon clouds from the southwest strike against the peaks of Agumbe Ghat, which measure more than 2,000 feet in height, and make heavy showers over the rain forests here. That is why the trails are slippery making trekking a challenge. As a result of heavy rainfalls in the months of Indian monsoon for years, the hillsides of Agumbe have got covered in the dark green cloak of rain forests, which is washed by cascading waterfalls.

What is the best month to travel to India for an adventure trip in Agumbe? Monsoon is the best time though you can visit Agumbe in any season of the year. July is the wettest month of India monsoon here. A veil of mist hangs over the hillsides of Agumbe in July and August, which you will miss in other times of the year. But, trekking is more challenging in monsoon than in other seasons. The width of the trails varies at different points in the forests. The width is very narrow at some places.

The Barakona Falls is the biggest waterfall in Agumbe. Some trails run down to the base of this waterfall. The breathtaking views of the Barakona Falls from close quarters are worth braving the challenge of trekking down to the base. You can explore the wilderness of Agumbe which teems with moths, butterflies, deer, scorpions, frogs and snakes. King Cobra, the largest and most venomous snake in the world, is noticed in the forests of Agumbe, mostly in the drier months.

As the population is sparse in Agumbe, there is little room for accommodation except a feudal home in the village. Overnight stay is not a wise option here. Therefore, a daytime trip to Agumbe is recommended. However, Agumbe, the Cherrapunji of South India, is an ideal monsoon destination for adventure.

Indian Eagle strives to make you travel on cheap flights to India even in the last minute. Once you have traveled to India, you can create many such wonderful stories of adventure and romance to cherish in the coming years. 

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Water is the elixir of life on earth. Water crisis is a looming threat to many countries including India. Water crisis in India manifests itself through severe drought during summer every year. Drought in India due to atmospheric whims of nature causes crop failure, a major reason why Indian farmers commit suicide. About 600 million people are facing acute water shortage in India, according to the Niti Aayog, an Indian government think-tank. Since necessity is the mother of invention, everyone from schoolchildren to social activists to self-motivated individuals is trying different ways of water conservation to fight water scarcity in India.

Just as every dark cloud has a silver lining, every drought-hit region has an inspirational story of water conservation. We at Travel Beats curated such stories of fight against water crisis from across India so that everyone is inspired to conserve water. 

Little Drops of Water Make a Mighty Ocean

A few thousands of schoolchildren in the state of Maharashtra, where severe water crisis has caused life-taking drought, have set an inspirational example of water conservation. Some 7000 schoolchildren in Pune are saving and conserving leftover water from their bottles in large drums at their schools. The collected leftover water is used instead of fresh water to clean school premises and water plants. Initiated by two Indian entrepreneurs Vedant Goel and Yusuf Soni, this water conservation campaign is one of the promising solutions to water crisis in India. Some Pune schools have kept buckets at their exit points, which students empty their bottles into while leaving for the day.

Where There is a Will There is a Way

Rural women are the most-affected victims of water scarcity in India. They spend 6 to 9 hours a day to transport 30 to 40 liters of water on their heads, ignoring its health consequences like back pain and neck injuries. But a group of 20 women in rural backwaters of Kerala is hell-bent on changing the picture. They have dug more than 100 bore well in a year to tide over water crisis in their villages. Similar is the story of the women in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh, who dug a well in just 40 days rather than blaming their fate or nature or god for water shortage in India. When some men came forward to help them, they chose to rewrite the destiny on their own.

Also Read Kerala’s First Gender Park for Gender Equality

Good Human Beings are Gods Incarnate

Image Credit: TheBetterIndia.com

While many people talk about water crisis and drought in India 2016, Ayyappa Masagi from Karnataka has practically found and tried a solution to it and that is water conservation. Born into a poor farmer’s family, he faced water problems in childhood and used to wake up at wee hours to fetch water, which inspired him to find ways of water conservation. A mechanical engineer having 23 years of experience at a multinational corporation, Ayyappa Masagi responded to the call of earth and constructed many lakes for water conservation. He studied and practiced non-irrigation agricultural methods as solutions to water crisis which causes drought, thereby leading to Indian farmer suicides every year. This Water Gandhi of India found a mention in the Limca Book of Records for having created over 600 lakes across rural India.

Bengaluru Girl’s Study on City Lake Pollution is Incredibly Awarded

Nothing is Useless on Earth

Two final year students of IIT-Bombay have proven it by collecting plastic waste and giving clean drinking water in return. They have built a revolutionary machine which accepts used cans or bottles and dispenses 300 milliliters of drinking water in exchange. Developed by Anurag Meena and Satyendra Meena at IIT-Bombay, this environment-friendly project will not only encourage people to recycle waste but also relieve them of drinking water crisis during summer. Trestor, a Chandigarh based startup, has funded the project to help manufacture these ‘swachh’ machines.

Charity Begins at Home

Like farmers, women are also affected by drought and water crisis in rural India. They walk miles to fetch water from remote sources. A 17-year-old boy in Settisara village of Karnataka has dug a 55-foot-deep well in the backyard of his home for his mother. Since his family couldn’t afford to hire laborers for such an arduous work, Pavan Kumar took advice from a local hydrology expert and dug the well where water could be found. It took him 45 days to make this impossible possible, including a brief period of preparation for his pre-university exams. While clean drinking water is a luxury for millions of rural people, he put an end to water problem for his family.

Humanity is the Best Religion

A church in Delhi came forward to serve free drinking water to those who cannot afford bottles of chilled water this steaming summer. The Mar Gregorious Orthodox Church in Janakpuri has put a food and water vending machine in the neighborhood to save the needy from furious heat. Named Share N Care and stocked with water packets as well as fruits, the machine will be functional throughout this season.

Also Read Indian Chef from Delhi Feeds the Poor in Canada

Service to the Needy is the Best Virtue

Latur in the state of Maharashtra, one of the most-affected regions of drought in India, has one silver lining amidst rainless clouds over its people. Sheikh Mateen Musa, a mathematics teacher, has been giving away free water to the people hit by severe water crisis in Latur for three months. He distributes nearly 10,000 liters of water from his bore well without any condition or compensation every day. His generosity is the elixir of life for around 300 households during water shortage in Latur.

Believe in Actions not Words

Mumbai-based social activist Amla Ruia belongs to this category. She helped the farmers of 100 drought-hit villages in Rajasthan with traditional water harvesting techniques. Her NGO Aakar Charitable Trust got 200 check dams built to save thousands of lives in those Indian villages. Instead of just pondering over why Indian farmers commit suicide, Amla Ruia is practically more inclined towards solving water crisis in India with a sustainable solution for water conservation.

A Little Thought Makes a Big Difference

The thought “How to save extra water that goes waste in the process of watering plants” moved Dr. Anumakonda Jagadeesh from Vellore in Tamil Nadu to find a solution to conserve water. He began using tubes from discarded car or bike tyres instead of pots to prevent evaporation of water from soil. He cut three or four holes into the tube on one side and filled those holes with soil. Used tyre tubes cost cheaper and do not get affected in sunlight. Water is not evaporated from the soil in tubes. Dr. Jagadeesh, a renewable energy expert, has executed many water conservation projects in India.

Sharing is Caring

It’s absolutely true about Abdul Gafarasab Mulla in Yadgir district of Karnataka. Unlike those who store water as the most precious commodity in times of water crisis, he generously distributes water from his bore well to help farmers save their farmlands and livestock from scorching heat. He has left the trench in his farm, which is filled with water from the bore well, open to all. Those grappling with water shortage in neighboring villages as far off as 3 km fetch water from Abdul’s farm to survive this sizzling summer.

Inspiration is not bound to geographic or demographic barriers. Travel Beats, an Indian community portal by Indian Eagle Travel, publishes inspirational stories, interesting articles, and latest visa, immigration and aviation news. 

Have you got an inspirational story to share? Write to us at share@indianeagle.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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“Kitney aadmi the?” “Tera kya hoga Kaalia?” “Joh darr gaya….samjho marr gaya.” “Itna sannata kyun hai bhai?” “Yeh haath humko de de Thakur.” Needless to say which film these dialogues are of. These dialogues are etched in the memory of Indians who have grown up watching Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay at home and abroad. What is it like if you get to visit and explore the world of Sholay in real, not in reel? How exciting!

The shooting location of Sholay film will soon come alive as a tourist place in the Indian state of Karnataka. The Tourism Department of Karnataka is planning to set up a 3-D virtual reality village at Ramadevara Betta in Ramanagaram district where Sholay was shot. The virtual reality village after Ramgarh of Sholay will come up sprawling an area of 42,184 square feet.

To be built at a cost of INR 7.5 crore, the virtual reality village at the shooting location of Sholay film in Karnataka is an ambitious project. This upcoming tourist village will bring alive the immortal characters of Sholay through 3D printing and virtual reality (VR) technology.

The tourist village will be equipped with audio-visual systems and multiple screens. Visitors will be provided with VR headsets and 3D goggles. Some of the iconic moments will be brought to life with permanent exhibits at the shooting location of Sholay film such as Basanti’s carriage, the water tank which Veeru pretended to commit suicide from, the den of Gabbar Sing’s den where Thakuar was handcuffed.

Reportedly, the Karnataka Tourism Department is seeking collaboration with Sippy Productions to help execute the project. Undoubtedly, the virtual reality village at the shooting location of Sholay film will be a must-visit tourist place in Karnataka on completion of the project. It will also become one of the best weekend getaways from Bengaluru City where Ramadevara Betta is a 2-hour drive from.

Travel Beats is a leading Indian Diaspora portal by Indian Eagle, a trusted travel partner of Indians in USA. Indian Eagle books cheap air tickets to Bengaluru from US cities throughout the year. The best flight is guaranteed at the lowest fare.

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Coffee is our favorite source of ideas and stories. Coffee itself is a theme of few books including ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ by senior journalist P. T. Bopanna from Bengaluru. This book on Indian coffee has won ‘the World’s Best Coffee Book’ title at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards held in China.

Published in 2011, the book ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ is a mirror to the history and evolution of Indian coffee. It takes a close look at many fascinating aspects and walks through many interesting facts of coffee culture in India. The book offers a 360 degree view of Indian coffee’s uniqueness and popularity in the global market.

In ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee,’ author P T Bopanna has chronicled the landmark events in the history of the Indian coffee industry, including how the British planter Ivor Bull from Coorg ideated the ‘pooling system’ to save Indian coffee during the Second World War.

The book has a dedicated chapter sharing the author’s secrets of making a good cup of coffee and highlighting different ways of preparing different types of coffee including South Indian filter coffee. It also shares some rare recipes of popular coffee concoctions including coffee liquor from the author’s collection.

One of the chapters is about the day-to-day life of the early British coffee planters in coffee estates across South India in 1880s. The book also focuses on the contemporary scenario of coffee cultivation and delves into how current issues like deforestation, climate change, etc. threaten it.

‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ contains a number of amazing anecdotes about coffee from high-profile personalities in the industry. It is also an interesting read on what makes coffee a charming brew.

Journalist and author P T Bopanna beat other entries from across the world to win the coveted award for his book on Indian coffee. Even the entries from Brazil and the United States took a backseat in competition with ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards which recognize the best food and wine books in both print and digital mediums. It hosts renowned cookbook writers and eminent chefs every year.

P T Bopanna, who got into journalism as a Coorg correspondent of The Hindu newspaper in 1981, has penned five books with focus on his hometown Coorg. Each of the books – ‘Discover Coorg,’ ‘The Rise and Fall of the Coorg State,’ ‘Dateline Coorg,’ and ‘Coorg: Land of Beauty and Valor’ – is a different take on Coorg, one of the weekend getaways from Bengaluru in the Indian state of Karnataka.

Also Read Starbucks to Sell Indian Coffee of Coorg in United States

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Are you bored of the Taj Mahal, the Victoria Memorial, the Charminar, the India Gate, the Red Fort, the Gateway of India and other historic tourist attractions in India? If yes, a whole new lot of things to see in India are awaiting you in 2016 and 2017. The upcoming tourist attractions in India include the world’s highest golf course, tallest rail bridge and tallest clock tower, an Eiffel Tower replica, a river gallery, a Madame Tussauds museum, a war memorial, etc. Each of these is a new reason to visit India in 2016 and 2017. IndianEagle shares tidbits about the upcoming tourist attractions in India.

World’s Highest Golf Course in Sikkim

Have you ever imagined of playing golf at a height of 14,140 feet? If yes, the imagination is not far from reality. The northeast Indian state of Sikkim is going to have the world’s highest golf course near Nathula Pass, a mountainous route serving as a trade link between India and China. Named ‘Yak Golf Course’, it would be not only the world’s highest golf course but also one of the most interesting places to visit in India in 2016.

Jatayu Nature Park in Kerala

Kerala’s Jatayu Nature Park is inspired by the story of Jatayu, a mythical character in the Ramayana, one of the Indian epics. Chatatayamangalam in Kollam district, where Jatayu is said to have fallen from the skies during a faceoff with Ravana, is the scenic location of this upcoming park in Kerala. The park will feature an amazing blend of art, adventure and technology. The world’s largest bird sculpture of Jatayu on the top of a hill, measuring 70 feet in height, 200 feet in length and 150 feet in breadth is supposed to be the center of attraction in Kerala’s Jatayu Nature Park. The Jatayu sculpture will house a digital museum and 6D theatre. The park will house a dedicated adventure zone with several adventure games. A high-tech cable car offering a bird’s eye view of the scenic area will be set up over the park. Evidently, Kerala’s Jatayu Nature Park is among the upcoming Indian tourist attractions to watch out for in 2016.

Replica of Eiffel Tower in Kolkata  

The first replica of the Eiffel Tower in Kolkata is surely among the upcoming Indian tourist attractions which are worth a visit in 2016. Kolkata has already laid the foundation of a replica of the Eiffel Tower in solidarity with the victims of terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13, 2015. Part of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ at Eco Park, the tower will have an observation deck at a height of 25 meters to offer sweeping views of Kolkata. It will have a coffee shop as well as a souvenir shop. Read on to know the facts about Kolkata’s Eiffel Tower replica.

World’s Tallest Rail Bridge in India

The Chenab Bridge under construction between Bakkal and Kauri in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is a seemingly impossible technological challenge. Once completed, the 1,315m long bridge will be the world’s highest arch bridge with railway lines at a height of 359m over the River Chenab.

Statue of Unity in Gujarat

The upcoming Statue of Unity in Gujarat is among the new interesting things to see in India. Dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, an eminent leader of the Indian Independence Movement, the statue will boast a height of 182 meters or 597 feet on a river island near Vadodara. Expected to be the world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity will be surrounded by a lake sprawling over an area of 12 km.

Madame Tussauds Museum in Delhi

The list of new tourist attractions to see in India includes an upcoming Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New Delhi. India’s first Madame Tussauds Wax Museum will house life-size wax statues of not only Indian legends and celebs but also eminent figures from the rest of the world. This initiative is part of the India-UK Year of Culture Celebrations in 2017. Read more about Delhi’s Madame Tussauds Museum.

Rock Garden in Odisha

Odisha’s Rock Garden is also on the list of upcoming tourist attractions in India. Being built in Berhampur, it would be India’s second rock garden after the first Rock Garden in Chandigarh, Punjab. The garden will feature several creative structures and artifacts sculpted out of rock to take your breath away. Known for their rock-carving skills, the artisans of Odisha are expected to make the upcoming rock garden a major tourist attraction in the state. To be powered by solar energy, Odisha’s Rock Garden would be among the eco-friendly tourist places across India.

War Memorial & Museum in Delhi

India has proposed to get the first war museum near the iconic Indian Gate in New Delhi. The museum will be a memorial in honor of the martyrs who laid down their lives in the post-independence era of India. Said to be India’s national war memorial and museum, it had been pending since 1960 due to the lack of approval from the central government. Among the tourist places to visit in Delhi, it will stand as a symbol for the Indian soldiers’ sacrifice in service to the nation. The estimated cost of the project is INR 500 crores. Once completed, the National War Memorial and Museum in Delhi will be among the best things to see in India.

World’s Tallest Clock Tower in Mysore

If Sikkim is to get the world’s highest golf course, Karnataka is to get the world’s tallest clock tower in Mysore. Infosys has proposed to build the 135-m high clock tower in its Mysore campus, a 2-hour drive from Bengaluru. Comprising 19 floors with a boardroom, the tower will reportedly cost a whopping $8.83 million. It will display a digital timepiece on the top. Read more about this wonderful initiative by Infosys among the tourist attractions in India.

River Gallery in Karnataka

Mysore of Mysuru, a historic city in Karnataka, is mostly famous for the Mysore Palace. An upcoming gallery on the River Cauvery would be another tourist attraction in Mysore. Believed to be India’s first river gallery, it will showcase the culture, life and biodiversity supported by the River Cauvery, the main source of water in Karnataka. The gallery will also exhibit how important role the River Cauvery plays in the lives of farmers across the state and highlight environmental threats to the river.

Travel Beats is a culture & entertainment portal for Indian diaspora by IndianEagle, a leading US-India travel booking organization. It publishes interesting stories about USA, Canada, NRIs, aviation and India tourism.

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Kolkata Big Ben, a replica of the Big Ben in London, is India’s tallest clock tower as of the moment. Soon Kolkata Big Ben will be dwarfed by the upcoming free-standing clock tower in Mysore, Karnataka. Infosys has proposed to build the world’s tallest clock tower in Mysore, a historic city in South India. The 135-meter high tower found space within the sprawling 345-acre Global Education Center.

The proposed Infosys clock tower in Mysore will surpass the 96-m high London’s Big Ben and the 87-meter high Hoover Tower in California. The other clock towers across the world, including McGraw Tower (53 meters) in Cornell, will take a backseat when the Infosys tower will raise its head at the Global Education Center in Mysore.

The estimated cost of the world’s tallest free-standing clock tower is a whopping $8.83 million, which Infosys, one of the leading Indian outsourcing firms, will fund.  A model of the monumental structure is already in place. It incorporates both Gothic and classical styles. The tower in Mysore will stand for nationalism, while Kolkata Big Ben apparently signifies colonialism because it is a replica of the Big Ben in England; the country which had colonized India.

The Infosys clock tower in Mysore will have 19 floors with a boardroom. The base of the tower will feature a dimension of 22×22 meters, and the top will display a digital timepiece. “The Global Education Center in Mysore is considered the world’s largest corporate university. A clock tower will bring alive the campus with more importance than before,” Narayana Murthy, founder of Infosys.

The state government of Karnataka has approved the proposal to build the world’s tallest clock tower in Mysore. The tower will be completed and the clock will be seen ticking within 20 months from now, according to the Executive Vice President of Infosys. The design of the tower has been assigned to a Mumbai-based architect who had also designed Infosys’s Mysore campus.

The contract to build the Infosys clock tower in Mysore is given to the startup of a Kerala-born NRI engineer Faizal E Kottikollon based in Dubai. LERA, a New York based firm, will provide its consultancy services regarding the structural design of the firm.

The Infosys clock tower in Mysore to be taller than London’s Big Ben or the world’s tallest free-standing clock tower is among the upcoming tourist attractions in India.

Mysore is one of the best weekend getaways from Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India. Apart from Mysore Dussehra and Mysore Palace, the clock tower with a digital timepiece in Infosys Campus will be another reason to visit Mysore.  – IndianEagle

Travel Beats is a fast-growing news portal for Indian diaspora by IndianEagle, a U.S. based international travel organization booking best flights to Bengaluru and other Indian cities. It publishes the latest news and interesting stories from India, USA, Canada, NRIs and aviation.

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A historic monument is just a tourist attraction to travelers with camera. But, it is something more to the creative mind which seeks inspiration from the beauty of heritage. The heritage of India has equally captured the imagination of photographers, painters and poets for ages. Artists from around the world have painted beautiful pictures of Heritage India by smoothing out the ruggedness of structure with their creativity. In the paintings, the centuries-old monuments of India exude rare aestheticism in contrast to reality. Indian Eagle curated some of the most beautiful paintings of Indian Heritage to celebrate the World Heritage Day with the hope that the historic monuments are best preserved so that the next generations can make paintings as beautiful as these. 

The Taj Mahal, Agra

Image Source : winnieyong.wordpress.com

The India Gate, Delhi 

Image Credit: muruarts.com

Hampi, Karnataka

Image Credit: Fineartamerica.com

The Qutb Minar, Delhi 

Image Credit: Artoflegendindia.com

The Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

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The Gateway of India, Mumbai 

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The Red Fort, Delhi 

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The Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh

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The Hawa Mahal, Jaipur 

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The Shore Temple, Tamil Nadu 

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The Amer Fort, Rajasthan

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The Agra Fort, Agra 

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The Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh

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The Charminar, Hyderabad 

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ALSO CHECK Rare Photographs of Taj Mahal

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The post Beautiful Paintings of Heritage India will Leave You Speechless appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Indian Summer Tourism revolves around hill stations and misty valleys. Your perception of summer in India as a scorching season will be converted into an impression of luxury in nature if you ever happen to visit any of the top 10 Indian summer holiday destinations listed below. These coolest places will hide you from the fury of the sun, pamper you amidst the beauties of nature, make you feel poetic with a treasure of lyrics, trap you in a labyrinth of holiday mood with no escape, and…. We are sure; our summer travel wishlist will make you redefine Indian summer as a soothing season of vacation.      

Rishikesh in Uttarakhand  

Popularly known as “Yoga Capital of the World”, Rishikesh is a mirror to Divine India with hilly beauty. Crowned with the blue sky where pearl-white clouds hang out, and bathed by the soothing waters of the Ganga River, Rishikesh is a haven of spirituality, an abode of hermits, and a seat of meditation amidst forested hills. This yoga & meditation retreat in Uttarakhand is also popular for white-water rafting and backpacking.

Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh

One of the lesser-known summer destinations in India! Blessed as s summer retreat for its high-altitude location (10,000 feet above sea level), Tawang is a Himalayan beauty. The 14^th century Tawang Monastery, Pankang Teng Tso Lake, and Tipi Orchid Sanctuary are the tourist attractions of Tawang. The way to this region passes through the snow-covered Sela Top Pass. If you are in love with hills, Tawan should be on your India travel wishlist for summer 2015.

Ghoom Valley in West Bengal    

[pullquote]A visit to Ghoom Valley deserves to be scripted as a travel memoir of summer in India.[/pullquote] The highest railway station in India, Ghum Valley is a must stop during a journey by the Darjeeling Toy Train. Visit Tiger Hill at a distance of 5 km from Ghoom, and admire the majesty of Kanchenjunga on a clear day. A glimpse of the sunrise above hilltops is a divine blessing of Mother Nature, which the lucky few are favored with! Dotted with forests and streams all around, Ghoom Valley is the crown of Darjeeling at an altitude of 7,407 feet. 

Zanskar Valley in Jammu & Kashmir 

Zanskar Valley is an adrenalin-pumped road trip from Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. One of the least explored tourist places in India, Zanskar Valley sprawls over an area of 7,000 square kilometers at a height of 11,500–23,000 feet. The Zanskar River, which remains frozen for a greater part of the year, is the most picturesque artifice of nature in the Great Himalayan Region. The existence of life in Zanskar Valley is traced back to the Bronze Age.

Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh

Home to perennial streams and green landscape from Dhauladhar Range to the River Beas! Kangra Valley is famous for the Kangra-Shimla Railway, UNESCO World Heritage Site in Himachal Pradesh. One of the best summer holiday destinations in India, this Himachal valley is also known for Himalayan pyramids, which are Masroor Rock Cut Temples. Kangra Valley owes its mesmeric hilly beauty to the lofty peaks on the Dhauladhar range.

Wayanad in Kerala

One of the coolest places in India during summer, Wayanad in Kerala is the ‘Green Paradise’. The sensuous beauty of nature is felt across the dense forests, misty hills, and lush green fields of Wayanad. Home to rich flora and fauna, the valley is a favorite of bird lovers. Take a leisurely walk through tea & coffee plantations and breathe in the aroma-filled air. Nestled amidst Western Ghats, Wayanad will surely make you write a story “My Summer Holiday in India away from the Sun.”

Coonoor in Tamil Nadu

[pullquote]Visit Coonoor to hear the buzz of bees, the chirps of birds and the music of waterfalls. Here is our Coonoor Travel Guide.[/pullquote]  Sightseeing in Coonoor is a kaleidoscopic magic of nature! The queen of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, Coonoor has been a summer holiday retreat since the British Raj in the 19^th century. It has many geographical features in common with Darjeeling. A journey by the Nilgiri Mountain Railways between Coonoor and Ooty will lavish your mind with lyrics for a soulful poem. Sublimity, solitude and serenity are the facets of Coonoor at a height of 1850 meters above sea level.

Yumthang Valley in Sikkim

One of the best Himalayan valleys for summer vacation in the Indian state of Sikkim, Yumthang Valley will surely enchant you to become a travel escapist. It is a valley of flowers at an elevation of 11, 800 feet above sea level. The valley hibernates during heavy snowfall between December and March. Adding to scenic beauty of Yumthang Valley is a tributary of the Teesta River flowing past Lachung Town. The valley blooms with 24 species of rhododendrons and other hilly flowers in spring.

Lakshadweep Islands

[pullquote]October to April is the best time to visit Lakshadweep. Go through our complete story of Lakshadweep Islands.[/pullquote] One of the best imaginary places on earth, Lakshadweep is a never-never land in the Arabian Sea on the west coast of Kerala. Lakshadweep is a group of 36 coral islands; each is the flat peak of a submerged mountain. The gateway to this wonderland is the airport on Agatti Island. One of the top 10 tourist destinations in India in summer, Lakshadweep is a swing of sun-kissed pristine beaches with greenish-blue waters.

Kudremukh in Karnataka

Karnataka has its share of Indian summer tourism. One of the tourist destinations in Western Ghats close to the Arabian Sea, Kudremukh is a valley of vistas. The origin of three rivers – the Tunga, the Bhadra, and the Nethravathi, Kudremukh Valley is famous for trekking and photography. Kudremukh National Park, one of the hotspots of biodiversity in India, is a tourist attraction of this summer retreat. The park is home to endangered mammals.

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