Posted by
Hitesh Sharma
on
May 07, 2020
Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and history epicentre of records and art. Even before the inspiration of Jaipur City – the export of
hand block printed fabric textile merchandise was done from this region.
Now, we at Srishti Textile create and supply the best nice printed running or material from the metropolis for all our Clients. Also, the affection and trust of this two-decade adventure of my circle of relatives have made those roots strong.
We are here to understand your want and craft your requirements.
For setting a custom order with us you need to provide specific designs and colour mixtures to us – Not necessary in physical combination however Drawings will do good. Also if you need we have a crew of designers to help you to carve your imaginations and
make them a reality.
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Posted by
Susan Sharma
on
May 07, 2020
- Garden for the garden less in Gurugram
Some of us are lucky to have our own garden. Some have balcony gardens. A vast majority do not have space for gardening at all. That could be a reason many are moving away from nature. Can we do something
for the garden less?
When Seema Sud relocated from a bungalow type house with a front and back garden, into a flat type accommodation, many thought her passion for gardening will take a back seat.
Within no time Seema took charge of the landscaping and gardening of the condominium to which she moved in. Her organic gardening skills transformed the common areas into beautiful welcoming spaces.
Her knowledge about the soft science of gardening made sure that whatever she planted were seasonal, local and healthy. Herbs and vegetables of her garden produce are sold to the residents and income used for improving the garden.
This short video captures the beauty of the winter flowers and veggies. The summer plants are already sown and Seema participates in hands on gardening wearing a mask during the lock down.
Besides being an avid gardener, Dr.Seema Sud is a naturopath and Yoga enthusiast. She can be contacted at +91 9899521492
Garden for the garden less in Gurugram
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Posted by
Susan Sharma
on
May 07, 2020
Sikkim Travels - Meeting a self -made Entrepreneur
During our tour of Sikkim in February 2020, we came across many interesting
individuals and Shri D.K Rai was one of them. 13 kms from Ravngla where the Buddhha Park is located, Mr.Rai's tree house situated on the national highway beckons travelers to enjoy a good cup of coffee/tea
with snacks.
A Self styled Entrepreneur D.K Rai, interacted with team IndianWildlifeclub sharing how he created the tree house out of his imagination and experience using natural materials.
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Posted by
Susan Sharma
on
May 06, 2020
The coldest and most beautiful place we visited in Sikkim had to be Lachung.
Lachung is a mountain town in northeast Sikkim, at an elevation of about 9,600 feet (2,900 m). Lachung lies at the confluence of the Lachen and Lachung Rivers, both tributaries of the River Teesta.
The word Lachung means "small pass". The town is approximately 125 kilometres from the capital Gangtok.
Tourists come from all over the world to visit the town between October and May, mostly on their way to the Yumthang Valley and the Lachung Monastery. Most of Lachung's inhabitants are of Lepcha and
Tibetan descent.
Later I recorded a video on Usha Lachungpa, who served in the Sikkim Forest Department for many years. Her take on the forests and wildlife of Sikkim, throgh the medium of a casual conversation with
my husband gives us a rounded perspective of Sikkim as a State.
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Posted by
Susan Sharma
on
May 05, 2020
Buddhist Monastery
We did visit many monasteries in Sikkim. I am including a write-up on the one which impressed me most, a monastery easily accesible from Gangtok.
The Rumtek Monastery is one of the largest and most significant monasteries in Sikkim. it is perched on top of a hill 23 km from Gangtok. It is also called as the Dharmachakra Centre.
The Monastery houses a beautiful shrine temple and a monastery for the monks which were established with the aim of spreading the Buddhist teachings around the world. Verdant green mountains surround the monastery and thus serves as a
visual treat besides being a focal point for spiritual solace. If you climb on top to the Rumtek Monastery, you can have a breathtaking view of the whole Gangtok town situated right opposite the hill. Besides this, the architecture of the striking monastery
is one of the finest in the world.
The monastery belongs to the Kargyu sect of Buddhists who originated in Tibet in the 12th century. The Karma Kagyu school belongs to the Vajrayana branch of Mahayana Buddhism.
The gompa, an epitome of Tibetan architecture, was designed by the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje himself based on his memories of the Tsurphu Monastery of Tibet, the original headquarter of the Black Hat order. Tsurphu was completely
destroyed by Chinese authorities in 1966.
Built in the 1960s, the monastery is the main seat of the Karma Kagyu, a sect within the Nyingma school of Buddhism that originated around the 12th century in Tibet.
Vajrayana Buddhism has many rituals.
Between February to March, which is the end of lunar year’s 12th month, there is an organization of 10day rituals for Mahakala protector. This is followed by the sacred tradition dance of the Mahakala. Monks dress up in the colorful attires
and wear to dance with the traditional instruments. You will be surprised to find that how they go into some kind of trance with the beats. Since this is one of the ritual dances, they only have well-trained dancers. The empowerment of the prayer music in
the dance comes from compassion, concentration and mindfulness. Buddhism asks all of us to turn the wheel of Dharma for all sentient beings(human and non human alike)
Enjoy this video shot in the monastery
Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism and the two main branches of Buddhism. I requested Mohit, research assistant in Buddhism studies at IGNCA, New Delhi to explain in brief the progression of Buddhism as it spread out from India.
I have included a talk by him to put the visuals in perspective.
In view of the COVID-19 linked locked down, Mohit recorded the talk and sent the audio to be added.
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Posted by
saavi joe
on
May 04, 2020
Houseboats in Kerala or Kettuvallams were traditionally cargo boats that carried rice, spices and other commodities, which
now are transformed into luxury boats complete with bedrooms, kitchen, living area, bathrooms and other amenities. Today, these allow travelers to enjoy the breath-taking beauty of Alappuzha while gliding along its backwaters. The Alleppey
Houseboat Team having the largest inventory of houseboats, motorboats, shikara in Alleppey, Kumarakom, Kollam & Neeleshwar in Kerala. They have more than 250 Houseboats 100+ Shikara and motorboats available for tourists coming to Kerala. They
can guarantee you the availability of houseboats, shikara & other backwater leisure services in all seasons.
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Posted by
Susan Sharma
on
May 04, 2020
Mount Kanchenjunga
Any write-up on Sikkim would be incomplete if we do not cover Mount Kanchenjunga, the all pervasive mountain range which oversees Sikkim.
Kangchenjunga, also spelt Khangchendzonga, is the third highest mountain in the world. It rises with an elevation of 8,586 m in a section of the Himalayas called Kangchenjunga Himal. Until 1852, Kangchenjunga was assumed to be the highest
mountain in the world.
Kangchenjunga was first climbed on 25 May 1955 by Joe Brown and George Band, who were part of a British expedition. They stopped short of the summit in accordance with the promise given to the Chogyal(erstwhile rulers of Sikkim) that the
top of the mountain would remain intact. Every climber or climbing group that has reached the summit has followed this tradition of stopping short by 10 feet.
Kanchenjunga translated means “The Five Treasures of Snows”, as it contains five peaks, four of them over 8,450 metres.
Sikkimese worship Mt Kanchenjunga as their guardian deity. It is believed that the ‘mountain god’ played an active role in introducing Buddhism into this former kingdom.
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Posted by
Susan Sharma
on
May 03, 2020
For serious birdwatchers, Sikkim has a bird sanctuary not very far from Gangtok, the capital city.
Kitam Bird Sanctuary is a protected sanctuary located near Namchi, Sikkim. From Gangtok, it is 71 km away.
The bird sanctuary lies between 1200 feet and 3200 feet above sea level, and occupies an area of more than 6 square kilometers within thick vegetation of shrubs and sal, pine forests. This sanctuary has two rivers namely, River Rangit
and Manpur River. Sumbuk and Kitam are the two villages located in the sanctuary. Tumbol Schor, the highest point of Kitam Bird Sanctuary, offers great panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
Kitam Bird Sanctuary is heaven for bird lovers and attracts domestic and international tourists around the year for birding. Kitam is the only low altitude bird sanctuary and remain open throughout the year. Home to over 200 species of
birds, Kitam is also known for several beautiful butterflies.
There are many bird watching trails and a few watch towers and viewpoints in this sanctuary that are ideal for bird watching.
The best time to visit this place is during the months of October to May, as in winters several colourful migratory birds come to visit here.
To enjoy birding in the early morning hours, one must opt to stay at a homestay in Kitam. Look for Barbet Home Stay Kitam on google. We had done a day trip from Gangtok. Here is a documentation of our trip
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Posted by
Susan Sharma
on
May 02, 2020
Sikkim is a haven for bird watchers. Trekking the hills and valleys is certainly the best way to observe and photograph them. However, if you are a bird lover you can spot birds wherever you are visiting-near a monastery, at waterfalls,
on the roadsides, near the place you are staying. Absence of chemicals and fertilizers make the entire state bird friendly.
As Northern part of Sikkim was mostly inaccessible in February, our recordings of bird sightings are linmited to the South and West part mostly.
The video is a visual account of the common birds we could capture.
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Posted by
Susan Sharma
on
May 01, 2020
Kanchenjunga at Tiger Hill, Darjeeling - a celebration to share
https://youtu.be/Gj0tv9tcui8
Near Darjeeling is a short and otherwise unremarkable hill. It is possible to walk up to the summit or hire a jeep to get there. Some even spend the night on or near this elevated place, so as to catch the early morning sunrays on Khanjenjunga.
Tiger Hill offers a spectacular view of Kanchenjunga, that third highest summit on earth and peoples from far and near assemble to witness the sun strike, not just that lofty summit, but also the dawn awakening of the Himalayas. Due to the elevation of Kanchenjunga
and the curvature of the earth, the sun touches here before lighting the lower Himalaya summits to the east. Residents of the area had long held this belief of first light to be true for thousands of years before the first man stood on the summit of Kanchenjunga(actually
six metres below the summit in deference to local sentiments) and realized it was true.
Therefore, you have a magic place and a magic moment and an experience best shared. The dawn at Tiger Hill takes on a carnival atmosphere. There are men banging drums and those playing pipes. First, the cold wind stirs chill air and the many prayer flags begin
to flutter then the crowd grows almost silent before the moment. Till then the darkness of 4 am is broken by cries of "Coffee" for those braving the chill. The rising sun tips the summit with gold then blushes rose, the day has begun. Manmade music rises
again as those around begin to dance, chant and worship. There are smiles on all the faces and the cold morning long forgotten.
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