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Sunday, January 29, 2017

7 Places in India Best Visited in Spring

India is a vast country and it enjoys a varied climate. Here the summers are hot, winters are cold and the monsoon wet. That leaves us with spring which is an exceedingly pleasing, enjoyable and vivacious season. Nature is reborn after a cold winter lull. It is the best time of the year for people to go around places in India.

Hundreds of beautiful and spellbinding cities and towns are at your disposal to visit and enjoy here. Among them 7 places can be listed as being best visited in spring.

1. Gangtok
Photo by Giridhar Appaji Nag Y, CC BY 2.0
Situated in North East India Gangtok the capital of Sikkim has a fascinating landscape and is home to the highest mountain peak Kanchenjunga. High altitude meadows, pristine white glaciers, steep valleys and path leading to the hilltops are really mesmerizing to the eye. In spring, many kinds of wildflowers that grow here come to bloom. As you are on your way to the Buddhist monasteries this scene is really a treat to watch. The cool winds of spring bring thousands of visitors to Gangtok and it is a place best visited in spring.

2. Kullu-Manali
Photo by ASIM CHAUDHURI, CC BY 2.0
Himachal Pradesh, positioned at the foothills of the Himalayas, has a stunning scenery. Of particular mention is Kullu-Manali, the hill station set in this small hilly state. The apple and plum orchards are in full bloom and pose a real attraction. It is a delight to watch them come to bloom and enjoy the sweet fragrance emanating. Occasional snowfall may be a surprise for the honeymooners who prefer the twin towns to other places to start their marital life. The enthralling trekking destinations attract the adventure enthusiasts equally.

3. Darjeeling

Photo by Jamey Cassell, CC BY-SA 2.0
 Another place that needs mention in this list is Darjeeling. This town in West Bengal is the darling of the honeymooners. Placed among the hills of the Himalayas it draws people from across the globe all around the year. It is most captivating during spring owing to a variety of flowers blossoming during this season. Clear sky, pleasant weather conditions, enthralling view of the mountains, and the fragrance of the tea estates attract thousands of visitors to Darjeeling during this time. Never forget to taste the best cuppa of the best tea while at the mystically beautiful Darjeeling.

4. Valley of Flowers
Photo by Alosh Bennett, CC BY 2.0
Uttarakhand is a small hilly state located in the slopes of the Himalayas. This national park situated here has a variety of species of alpine flora. The hills come alive during the spring what with the flowers being in full bloom at this time of the year. This sight is spellbinding and fascinating and relieves you of all the stress. It is also home to some endangered species of animals like snow deer, musk deer, Asiatic Black Bear etc. The park presents a gripping sight in the rugged hilly wilderness to the visitor.

5. Tulip Garden, Gulmarg
Photo by Abdars, CC BY-SA 3.0
Visiting Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir during the spring season gives you a feel of a visit to Switzerland. Spread over 12 hectares the garden cradled among the gentle inclines of the Himalayas offers an absorbing view of the famous Dal Lake of Kashmir. The golf lovers can enjoy a stint of the game at the lush green golf course situated to the north of the garden. The parallel running rows of multi-coloured tulips in full bloom here presents an eye riveting scene for the beholder. Not only tulips but also the other hybrid flowers of multiple hues hold you in awe and you come back really spell-bound.

6. Coonoor
Photo by Jon Connell, CC BY 2.0
Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri in Tamil Nadu are towns that are best visited during spring. Temperatures in Tamil Nadu start soaring even during spring but these towns are comfortably cool during this time of the year. This is the ideal time to visit these hill stations that house several British era churches and other monumental buildings. The Sim’s Park that is home to a variety of flowers is in full bloom during spring. Other places of interest near here are Lambs Rock, Dolphin’s Nose Viewpoint, Catherine Falls and of course the tea estates.

7. Thekkady

Photo by Kerala Tourism, CC BY-SA 2.0
Kerala, the God’s Own Country is a gorgeous place and worth visiting at any time of the year. Especially during the spring, it has a pleasant to comfortable cool climate and attracts many tourists from all over. Thekkady, a small town in this state is home to evergreen trees. The verdant mango groves are in full bloom and exuberate a mild fragrance. This draws many a tourist to them. The animals also come out of their hiding places during this time offering a surprise view to the visitors.

Hope this guide is helpful for the tourists planning to go places during spring. And the spring in the coming years is sure to keep you engaged.

P.S
This article is a guest post by Rohit Agarwal. 

Author bio:
Go through the travel experiences jotted down by Rohit, a traveller and blogger, on TransIndiaTravels.com and know about the different places all over the world that are worth visiting and also the best time to visit them.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

The Impact of Inappropriate Scenes: Reflections on 'Thirunaal' and the Influence on Children

"The Impact of Inappropriate Scenes: Reflections on 'Thirunaal' and the Influence on Children"

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to watch the movie "Thirunaal," and I found myself unsettled by a few scenes depicted in the film. One particular scene involves Nayan, who plays the role of a kindergarten teacher. In an attempt to portray herself as a sweet and caring teacher, she offers chocolates to the children as a reward for entering the classroom. To further emphasize her affectionate character, she requests kisses on the cheek from the kids. However, one child ends up kissing Nayan on the lips. This scene left me questioning its implications. Does the child's innocent action suggest attraction towards Nayan at such a young age? Or is it simply viewed as cute when a child goes beyond normal boundaries? Is this a reflection of modernity, or is it purely intended for entertainment purposes?

Personally, I found it difficult to accept a scene that seemingly promotes children engaging in inappropriate dialogue or actions for the sake of comedy or innocence. In an interview, the director defended the scene, stating that it was meant to depict the innocence of children and provide humor. However, if such scenes are intended to be innocent, I am concerned that we may be compromising the true essence of childhood innocence. It is crucial to teach children, both boys and girls, about the concepts of good and bad touch. Unfortunately, the director's portrayal of childhood in this manner is disconcerting.

Consider the potential consequences of such scenes. If a child were to witness this and then be asked to kiss someone, they might imitate the act, assuming it is cute or the way things should be. Children are highly impressionable and often learn from what they see in movies, considering it as inspiration. Regrettably, movies have a negative influence on children in certain instances. I hope that Tamil cinema will eventually stop showcasing children in exaggerated scenes, heroines as Loosu-ponnu, and heroes engaging in smoking and drinking, all while portraying it as admirable or cool.(Idhu la cool background music vera)

If a scene is intended to convey modernization or Western culture, it is important to understand that modernization does not equate to allowing children to spend hours playing video games or enrolling them in numerous extracurricular activities at a very young age.

Additionally, there is another scene in "Thirunaal" where the hero commits an immoral act during his time as a rowdy. Surprisingly, he shows no remorse for his actions in subsequent scenes. A real man would not engage in such behavior, yet it is no surprise that Nayan falls in love with him.

Movies are undoubtedly a form of entertainment, and it is ultimately up to individuals to discern between good and bad influences within a film. One could argue that it is possible to learn positive lessons from movies while disregarding the negative aspects. However, my concern lies with children, as they are not yet mature enough to distinguish between right and wrong. They learn from movies, whether it is about societal values or negative behaviors.

There are numerous commendable films, such as "Appa," which deliver important messages about effective parenting. Unfortunately, there are also movies like "Thirunaal" that fail to uphold these standards.