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Wednesday 3 August 2011

How to Pick Best LED TV for Your Home

The concept of new improved LED televisions has started getting more customers in the Indian markets too. It is the recent years only that the markets for LED TVs started growing and people gradually switched over to the televisions that offer brighter and vibrant picture quality. When you enter the market, the wide spectrum of options is likely to make you confused. So what should you do in such a scenario? Basically, how should you pick the "Best LED Television" that looks good for your home?

Before reading ahead, keep in mind that every customer is unique and every individual has a unique choice too. While one person looks for great picture quality as the required feature, other might search for LED television with internet facility. All-in-all, the demand for features might vary and therefore it solely depends upon you regarding the choice you make. But what preconditions should be kept in mind in general, while going out to buy an LED idiot box? Let's find out!

The first step before buying any product in totality, leave LED alone, is to do an ample amount of market research. Find out what all companies have to offer to you. Go on to the internet to find out the reviews of the LED TV before you just go out to shop it up. The product reviews are extensively available on the internet and they can go a long way in making your mind regarding the LED television you should buy. These reviews would include those from the companies as well as from the customers. One of the most positive points of these reviews is that instead of talking just about the pros, they would also tell about the cons. So you can easily determine and judge the LED TV that you should buy.

Next, before you move out to buy an LED TV for your home, make a list of features that you are looking for, in your mind. This would help you cut down the options and lead to less confusion. You want great picture quality, audio quality, and slim dimensions; tick it right in your mind. You donot want an internet accessibility in LED TV; tick it wrong in your mind! This practice would help you remain focused on your "best LED TV".

One of the prime things that you need to determine before opting for a best LED TV is the budget. Determine the right budget for your LED TV and then look out for the features available in that budget. Now, obviously if features are more important than the budget, then look out for that too. A generally good LED Box would have features like flat panel screen, High Definition and high resolution, faster response timing, vivid and sharp picture quality and great surround sound. These are the basic features provided by almost all the LED televisions of all the companies. But if you are looking for a television that sports really exclusive features such as display of photos and videos from your laptop or desktop, or internet accessibility, then you need to do a little extra toil and effort to find out the reviews from the people who already own it. They would help you determine the right company for you.

As of now, there are many television companies selling LED TV in India and luckily, the reviews have been good too. Companies like Samsung, Sony, LG and Sharp have done a good business in this context. So next time you go out to buy an LED television, watch out because television can completely enhance the decoration of your home and give it an all new refreshing look.



Indian Film Industry

Common Indian population has always resorted to only one of its pass times all these years and it is the Indian Cinema. The movie industry has always been a constant source of entertainment with a variety of films in all different languages. Though Hindi has been the most spoken language, other southern languages have also been represented well in this industry. The Hindi film industry - "Bollywood" as it is called is probably the next biggest production house next to the Hollywood. It releases nearly 100 movies in different categories and all budget classes. The movies are always voted depending on their collections. These movies tend to release on the weekends to take full advantage of the weekend crowd. Further the industry has been finding it easy to attract audiences with the arrival of bigger Multiplexes that have their own way to attract the crowd. Though the ticket price is not that huge, people tend to enjoy their full money's worth.

The Indian film industry is the direct route to fame. This has lured in numerous youth who want to get famous. But hard work always pays off with the fans even worshiping their heroes as God. This has allowed the actors to make use of their fans and get into politics and get into a formidable post in the government and enjoying their life. people who have turned into politics and failed to impress their fans by their deeds have always been uprooted. Though people have always believed the reel life characters of their actors resemble their real life, it has turned to be true only in a few cases. The Hindi film industry always has a larger reach to different states and hence all the movies are done with a huge investment, but only a few succeed to get them back.

The other regional languages are also close contenders for the top spot. Tamil film industry is closely following the Hindi one with Telugu and Malayalam closely following it. The fan following is much greater in the regional languages with the fan club making the day of the movie release into a festival at the cinema houses. The Demi Gods of the Tamil industry include SuperStar Rajinkanth and Kamalhasan who have always succeeded in bringing profits to their producers. The other demi gods includes Ambitab bachan, Badshah Shahrukh Khan, Salman khan, Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna. The directors have always been the captain of the ship guiding the entire crew home. With other technicians chipping in with their content.

The film industry has always been the road to success for talented people who rise from ashes to riches. Those with talent tend to survive longer with a little bit of luck favouring them. Indian film industry has always been a pioneer with new technologies and techniques introduced in every movie. Though the class is not as equal to its Hollywood contenders, their budget and time frame is not much larger like the Hollywood movies. This has always favoured the experimenting nature of the industry. The industry has people who thrive hard to do something different and with only a few surviving with success.it is not only me expecting more entertainment and talent from this industry but the entire world.



Corporate India's Interest on Telugu Movie Industry

These days, corporate companies in India are giving more value to Telugu movie industry than the Bollywood. Mahesh Babu Starrer 'Athithi' has taken in an innovative move in the Telugu movie industry which has become one of the top markets in.

UTV Motion Pictures invested around Rs 20 crores on the movie as well as signed a contract with Mr Mahesh Babu for an additional movie without more ado. This is not going to be a one-off example of a corporate investing in movies. A lot of new-fangled generation directors like Mr V.N. Aditya and Mr Rajamowli are come closed by a number of corporate companies for making contract to make movies for them.

An aged and most experienced movie writer has allegedly roped in juvenile directors and movie houses to present a package of 10 movies to corporate. According to sources near to the development and Business Line conversation, "Besides helping the industry infuses much-needed investments, it (the corporate foray) would ensure a dependable job work to the technicians here."

The Telugu cine industry waits for that the beginning of corporate financing would show the way to ideal professionalism and order. Mr Chaitanya, a member of AP Movie Writers' Association, felt "Corporates don't invest for the sake of investment. They invest only after doing due diligence. They bring in modern production and management techniques, while expanding the scope of the market."

As well as, the corporate bring in a new and unique dimension to the promotional marketing of movies. The channel UTV Thumb Up had used Athithi's Mahesh Babu for endorsing both the movie and the cocktail.

The corporate interest in the Telugu movie industry is for numerous causes. Despite the fact that the Hindi industry or the Bollywood directs in terms of budgets, the Telugu movie industry comes first in the number of produced movies. It produced 245 movies in 2006, after that Bollywood and Tamil produced respectively 223 and 162.

According to a source report, "The FICCI-PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) study on the Indian movie entertainment and media industry pegged the industry size at Rs 11,200 crore by 2008 as against the estimates of Rs 8,450 crore for 2006."

It's not only the box-office revenues which are appealing the corporate. Captivatingly, revenues from other than box-office like out of the country openings, home video and audio are rising day by day.

The FICCI-PwC research calculates approximately that payment from domestic box-office revenues would come down to 68 per cent of entire collections by 2011 as in opposition to 78 per cent in 2005. Conversely, home video division broken off in only 6 per cent in 2005 and it is predicted to contribute 14 per cent at least.

The President of Producers' Council in AP Movie Chamber of Commerce,Mr Tammareddy Bharadwaja, revealed "The producers should look beyond the traditional stream of revenues (box office revenues). There other fronts are opening up." They are supposed to realize further from audio rights, by means of progressively looming FM channels, using movie songs as chief supply.



Best Movie Theatres in Delhi

The Indian junta follows 2 religions: cinema and cricket. Black-and-white motion pictures that tell a story to the accompaniment of live music were the start of a culture that would soon establish an inextricable grip over the Indian public. And with every leap that technology made, the Indian cinema underwent an irreversible change for the better.

If a wardrobe served as the portal to the fantasy land of Narnia in C S Lewis' "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe", cinema theatres serve as the gateway between reality and the world of fiction and entertainment. Though cinema theatres never lose their charm, they are, time and again, forced to undergo plastic surgery to compete with the younger gadgets and technologies that take films to the desks/palms of the public.

The advent of multiplexes is a milestone in the history of cinema halls and this success story was scripted in New Delhi, the national capital. An achievement befitting the grandeur of the city.

The people of Delhi have always been market-savvy and are among the foremost to adopt new ideas. At a time when people increasingly preferred buying video cassettes and watching movies at home, theatres Chanakya and Regent had installed digital sound systems, thereby becoming the first theatres to do so, and attracted Hollywood fans. Chanakya Theatre continues to offer superior movie-watching experience to the residents of Chanakyapuri till date.

Shiela Theatre, the country's first 70mm cinema hall, was established in 1961. At the time of its construction, the concept of 70mm screens was so alien to the architects and technicians of India, that an American authority on motion picture theatres and auditorium designs had to be hired to realise the cinema hall. Shiela Theatre has, over the years, been patronized by numerous luminaries including Jawaharlal Nehru, Zakir Hussain, Indira Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan and Amrish Puri. With an impeccable audio-visual system in place, this yesteryear auditorium situated on the bustling streets of Karol Bagh, continues to draw a fair share of the movie-going folks in the city.

Priya Village Roadshow (PVR), a household name, is the first chapter of the multiplex revolution in India. The company was the result of Delhi-based entrepreneur Bijli Pahalwan's bid to give Chanakya a run for its money. PVR bought a theatre named Anupam in Saket, New Delhi, in 1997, revamped the place and rechristened the theatre PVR Anupam. Thus came into picture India's first multiplex.

PVR presently boasts of 8 multiplexes in New Delhi, one each in Saket, Prashant Vihar, Naraina Industrial Area and Vasant Vihar, and 2 each in Vikaspuri and Connaught Place. Irrespective of where they are located, all the PVR multiplexes boast of plush seating arrangements, surround sound systems and exceptional video quality. Besides the screens, the multiplexes boast of gaming zones and food courts, thereby living up to their promise of providing the customers with varied entertainment.

Connaught Place is the horse-shoe shaped shopping and entertainment district in the city. Offering respite to the exhausted shoppers and worn out wallets, are 3 luxurious cinema halls. Located in the Inner Circle of Connaught Place is PVR Plaza, a refurbished single screen auditorium with a seating capacity of 300. Competing with PVR Plaza is Odeon, a haunt termed "cool" by the movie buffs in the city. Regal, New Delhi's first cinema hall, was revamped to cater to the diverse crowds flocking Connaught Place.

Fun Cinemas, one of India's largest cinema chains, monopolizes the film-screening scene in East Delhi. 2 Fun Cinema halls, one each in Preet Vihar and Shahdara, are the only cinema halls in East Delhi. Recliner seats, 3-way surround sound systems and the perks of state-of-the-art technology beckon fantasy fans to Fun Cinemas.

Golcha Cinema, situated in the 300-year-old shopping district of Chandni Chowk, ranks among the most popular haunts of film connoisseurs in New Delhi. Its pink retro exterior, and the cut-out lettered sign on top of the building that screams out the name of the hall, convince a visitor that they time traveled backwards by at least half a century. However, the carpeted interiors, Dolby Digital sound systems and JBL speakers are very much the spoils of modern technology, and one finds that the quality of presentation is not compromised upon.



How Does Bollywood Impact Indian Lifestyle?

Cinema is said to be the mirror of society but it itself is quite influential and has deep impact on the minds of the viewers. We follow movies ardently and even carry them into our lives using services like Bollywood mobile sites and widgets on our cell phones. There are several things that we take from movies and make them a part of our lifestyles, knowingly or unknowingly.

Lots of people use a particular brand of soap, shampoo, car, mobile or clothes just because their favorite Bollywood actors advertise them. And this is not the only way Bollywood impacts us. We even like to copy the stars' fashion statements and styles from their popular movies. And these are just a few of the many visible or invisible influences that Bollywood has on our lives.

Movies like Babul raising issues of widow-remarriage or those like Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham reasserting Indian cultural values of respect for parents' views, tend to make us wonder whether Bollywood is merely about entertainment. Rang De Basanti brought forth the very sticky and political issue of MIG crashes that was pushed into oblivion. It was only after the movie that people started demanding accountability.

There are several medium budget movies, especially from the new generation directors like Madhur Bhandarkar and Prakash Mehra, which call for rethinking of the lives around us. They not only force us to question the establishment but also make us aware of our rights and obligations, which generally remain unnoticed, even despite government awareness programs. The movies have also acted as eye openers for public by bringing forth socio-political issues, for instance in movies like Rann, Gulaal and Corporate.

The new wave of Indian cinema has more arduously started experimenting with new subject matters that are closer to our lives. So, if your son has come back after watching 3 Idiots and has decided that he does not want to be an engineer anymore, you will understand how this age of bollywood mobile is getting into your lives for real.



Animation Production in India - A Global Opportunity for Outsourcing

India's animation sector is witnessing a major boom. Overseas entertainment giants like Walt Disney, Imax and Sony are increasingly outsourcing cartoon characters and special effects to India. Other companies are outsourcing animation from India for commercials and computer games.

So what makes India a hub for animation? Why is the sector experiencing exponential growth? for this, we take a look at what makes India shine in the world of animation.

India has a vast base of English speaking workforce: Animation, which requires familiarity with the English language, benefits when the work is outsourced to India. A number of animation companies in the country are also creating skilled manpower for the animation market through various training programmes.

Presence of good studios: India has the second largest entertainment industry in the world, after Hollywood. Animation studios in the country provide a large supply of low-cost, high-quality software engineers. A number of Indian animation companies have set up hi-tech studios (equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and software) to execute overseas projects.

Low cost of animation services: The main reason why foreign entertainment firms are flocking to India is the cost advantage the country offers. For instance, in the US, animators can cost about $125 an hour; in India, they cost $25 an hour. Toonz Animation offers animation at 25 per cent to 40 per cent lower rates than other Asian studios and much lower than those of American studios.

A new outsourcing fever has gripped India.

Global entertainment majors like Walt Disney, Imax, Warner Brothers and Sony are signing up huge contracts with Indian animation companies.

And cities in India like Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Bhopal and Trivandrum have emerged as the country's major animation hubs.

The total cost for making a full-length animated film in America is estimated to be $100 million to $175 million. In India, it can be made for $15 million to $25 million.

Major US animation studios and producers are realizing this huge cost advantage that India offers.

"Due to changing viewing habits, channels or networks are being forced to bring down licence fees. As a result, the volume of work has been dropping.

In this situation, India's advantage of low production costs could be a boon to the domestic animation industry," said Margaret Dean, Sony Pictures' head of family entertainment group and a consultant to various animation studios in the US, during a recent India visit.

According to the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom), the total revenues of the animation production services sector in India were estimated by between $200 million and $300 million in 2004.

Nasscom estimates the animation sector grew at a rate of over 20 per cent last year. "Demand for animation production services from India is growing with the emergence of an organised animation production sector, with state-of -the-art of work required for international TV program production, at substantially lower costs," a Nasscom report said.

Last year, a Nasscom study on the animation industry showed that the global animation production market is set for major growth. The study, which is based on multiple statistical projections on the market, from segments such as industry sources, Pixel Inc and Arthur Andersen (Study on the Entertainment and Media sector) forecast that the global animation market would generate revenues worth $50-70 billion this year.

But which are the countries that India is competing with in getting animation outsourcing?

"Primarily, we are competing with China. But even here, our quality standards are much higher than Chinese studios"

And cities in India like Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Bhopal and Trivandrum have emerged as the country's major animation hubs.

A slew of companies across these cities have dedicated themselves to the outsourced world of animation and special effects. These include Toonz Animation, Crest Communications, Maya Entertainment, VRS RED Entertainment, Silvertoon Studio, UTV Toons, Zee Institute of Creative Arts, 2NZ Studios, Pentamedia Graphics, Prasad Studios, Acropetal, JadooWorks, Color Chips and Heart Animation.

Experts say the future of animation in India is bright. "India has great stories, good cartoon characters from mythologies, good artists and technicians. Above all, we offer a competitive price, which nobody can match."



Hindi Films Linked India and Soviet Union

Indian movies were very popular in Soviet Union. Even today many people in Russia and in the surrounding countries remember Bollywood stars and think about Hindi films with very warm words. There are several reasons why people remember these films with so good emotions.

One of the main reasons was that Hindi films were almost the only films coming to be shown in Soviet Union that were made outside of the soviet system. The other films were mostly movies about the great victories of Soviet army and about bad enemies from the war. The films were mostly depressive and there were few if any romance in them ever. Hindi films on the contrary were mostly about love, romance, family life. If you would ask people to describe what comes to their mind, when they think back of the Indian movies they saw in Soviet time, they would talk about sad love stories, lots of crying, people dying for their love, beautiful songs, the fight between the good and bad.

The films were all dubbed to Russian, so they wouldn't hear Hindi language, but people got the sense of Indian culture from the films. This was something special for people in Soviet time as they could not travel around the world those times, it was the iron curtain that kept them behind on one side of the border. So it was wonderful to see some other parts of the world through films.

Some stars of Bollywood have huge amount of fans still in previous Soviet Union countries. The main guy remembered from those times in of course Raj Kapoor! There are talks that when he visited Moscow, people started to recognize him on the streets and ask for autograph.



The Changing Face of Animation Sector in India

The animation industry in India is a sector of innumerable opportunities and is one of the most promising segments in the media and entertainment segment in India. There are many multimedia institutes that offer professional animation courses to the budding animation talent in India.

India is all the more becoming a growing hub for animation because it is getting numerous outsourced animation projects from abroad. The animation institutes will help to full fill the numerous jobs that are available in this sector. The international animation professionals have also noticed the potential of animation artists and are partnering with the Indian animation studios for major projects.

The 2008 report by FICCI-PwC Entertainment and Media projected the Indian animation industry at USD 0.31 billion in 2007 and forecasted that it would grow at CAGR of 24 percent and reach USD 0.94 billion by 2012.

The platforms for animation is numerous, currently most of the animation studios are catering to advertising, TV and cinema. The future prospects of animation are legal, architecture, online education and insurance to name a few.
Here's a brief description of the usage of animation in the aforementioned professions

Medical: In medical, animation has become an effective tool to impart education. It is easier for our mind to register things which have been braced with sight and a sound effect. It is not practically possible to demonstrate each and every process within the body; it is also not easy to accompany medical students to operations, therefore an animated video would explain everything and would simplify the whole process.

Architecture: Architectural presentation is a creative task of depicting the right surrounding in which a person with his family or group would be investing in order to live and work. Animation is used for creation of architectural presentation. Photo Realistic Rendering, Architectural 3D Design, 3D Walkthrough (flythrough), 3D Illustration comprise Architectural 3D Presentation and Video.

Legal: Animation can work as a very effective tool in reconstructing the sequence of events important for a case in a courtroom. It would be a big help for professionals in the legal sector. Lawyers will be able to defend or debate more pr actively because of the help of animation.

Online Education: It is a well understood fact that everything is getting online and in the age of virtual education system animation will reconstruct classrooms. It would facilitate in explaining many study materials that is only possible through classroom study.



Kingfisher Airlines - The Leading Private Airline of India

Ever since the aviation sector of India was opened up for private players, a number of companies entered the fray. None of these has been as successful as Kingfisher Airlines. Today Kingfisher is the only carrier in India and one of the few airline companies in the world that have earned the much coveted five star rating. The airline is owned by Indian liquor baron Vijay Mallya. The primary hub of Kingfisher Airlines is at the Bengaluru International Airport in Bangalore with secondary hub at Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport, formerly known as the Sahar International Airport located in Mumbai. The hub is shared with Kingfisher Red, which is its low frills cousin. The HQ of Kingfisher Airlines is in Mumbai, India.

Everyday nearly 375 Kingfisher Airlines flights take off for approximately 71 different destinations in India and abroad. The planes of Kingfisher Airlines carry a brightly colored logo of a flying Kingfisher. Current airworthy fleet of Kingfisher includes Airbus A320, Airbus A319-100 and ATR-72. At the time when this airline started its business, every single plane in its fleet were purchased brand new. This was first such instance for a developing country like India.

As told earlier, KingfisherAirlines is the only Indian carrier with Five Star Rating. Unlike what anyone can conclude, this luxury does come cheap. Internationally, Kingfisher Airlines is one of the most affordable carriers. You can have international flight booking for a fraction of the price charged by other carriers like Lufthansa or British Airways. If you choose to book tickets well in advance over the internet, you can get way cheaper fares.

Kingfisher Airlines is one of the leading innovators of Indian aviation sector. It was the first airline in India to introduce in flight entertainment system. Today it has a tie up with one of the leading Direct to Home satellite television companies which enables it to bring the best entertainment content from India to its passengers. This is also one of the few airlines in the world which provide a welcome kit to passengers including a pen, a face cleaning tissue, a personal use earphone that can be used with the air plane's entertainment system. The airline also provides airport based valet service to the passengers and special personal lounges and three course meals on all flights.

It is these special things which have made Kingfisher the favorite airline of India in just five years since it was established.




An Overview of the Animation Industry in India

Animation is regarded as an essential part of the creative industry, as creative or artistic effort is extensively required in the development process of animation. The animation industry in India today has emerged as the fastest growing section of the entertainment and media industry. This section has tremendous potential in creating jobs through the exploitation of intellectual property. The industry is preferred as an outsourced destination for animation work and has gained significance due to cheaper cost, skilled labour and English speaking manpower, are few among its several advantages. The animation companies and animation studios in India are partnering with international studios to develop animated projects for the audience all across the globe.

India, as Animation Hub

Today India's being the biggest hub for outsourcing animation work, is expected to grow in domestic entertainment industry as well in coming days. The 2008 report on the entertainment and media industry by Ficci-PwC Entertainment and Media estimated the Indian animation industry at USD 0.31 billion in 2007, which is forecast to grow at CAGR of 24 percent and reach USD 0.94 billion by 2012.

The potential platforms for animation include online education and industry specific applications like medical, legal, insurance, architecture, etc. As a matter of fact, Indian studios do not cater to the needs of these areas but are opened with the opportunities in segments like TV programs and feature films with skills in 2D and 3D animation.

India is gradually transforming itself as a supreme provider of animation production services for following strengths and edge in the market:

o Availibility of English speaking manpower.
o Presence of several well equipped animation studios.
o Low cost of animation services.
o Heritage of traditional literature.
o India's vast entertainment sector.

Indian Animation Market

Until the animation studios made its appearance in India in the second half of the 90s, the Indian animation market was more or less static. The development of more serious activity of the industry began in earnest on this front after the export-oriented outlook came into existence. The multiple players present in the Indian animation market providing it an identity and diverse characteristic.Some of these big players include Films Division Maya Entertainment, Pentamedia Graphics, Acropetal, Silvertoon Studio, Zee Institute of Creative Arts (ZICA), Crest Communications, Moving Pictures, Toonz Animation India, etc. The companies are situated mainly across cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Bangalore.

According to a recent NASSCOM study, the animation industry in India has begun taking shape where technical manpower, increasing demand from Indian television, establishment of more animation studios and training centres at domestic level and low cost animation production are included. The usage of animation has gradually increased in various end user segments such as advertisements/commercials, feature films, TV programs, and computer/omline games, where animation solutions have found a place in niches such as special effects, film titling, TV broadcast graphics, 3D modeling, Web entertainment programs and background development.



Indian Rock Music: Between Rock and a Hard Place

Enough has been written about the Indian rock scene. Maybe you even registered the first few lines you read from impassioned rants before losing interest. Are Indian rock acts brimming with originality or did they use it all up in their names?

Didn't we see you at that gig last week? The one you checked out because the front man is your roommate's college bud. You heard the opening number, bobbed your head and then proceeded to drink till you found the bottom of the barrel during happy hours, while managing to annoy fans with your indifference. Remember the name of that song or even a verse? If you don't, you are not alone. If instead you are filled with indignation since you were the one enduring the moaning about how not enough respect is paid to bands on stage, we feel your pain. This is the dichotomy of the "Indian rock scene." A term as scattered as the phenomenon it's meant to characterize.

The past few years have seen a steady increase in venues, a slow influx of sponsorship, a rise in independent record labels and sporadic foreign attention, but there are still miles to go before we sing. Granted the scene has stepped out of the shadow of a rebellion and is trotting the path to becoming a way of life but the tattooed sleeves and drumming fingers still hide behind collared shirts and the sound of hammered keyboard as Indian artists' continue trudging between the musician's life and the salaried world. Holding down day jobs while spending evenings at rehearsals, recordings and gigs. Can you fault them? With college festivals still being the biggest revenue generators, gigs bringing in more money than album sales and even the best of venues acting as F&B spaces that use music for entertainment value; the Indian model is running on a trajectory opposite to the international one. Festivals that attempt venturing into uncharted territory are hailed in their first year and abandoned the next, because they don't pay bands their worth since the organizers don't manage to get adequate support and enough takers. Here festivals are sponsorship based unlike internationally where tickets sell like hot cakes. They are held in metropolises already reeling under rigid licenses, unrealistic deadlines and overbearing policing. So initiatives never get a chance to grow into a full-fledged movement.

More than anything, it's a numbers game, literally and figuratively. However much we hate admitting it, Indian rock largely appeals to a minuscule demographic. Unlike the westward shores where it's layman's music, here it's a luxury or the rich man's guilty pleasure if you will. A comma in this sentence is imposed by regional language bands especially those churning fusion rock and Bangla rock but they still don't account for a big enough slice of the pie. If you can tell us the last time you went to a store to buy an album of an artist you claim you love, we'll rest our case. It would be easy to blame the ones who run things - Entrepreneurs, label managers, artist managers and their lot. Fact is the best and longest lasting bands are backed by a sturdy manager juggling many hats and the lone activist encouraging fresh talent (you know who you are, pat your back please). While their counterparts have an entourage of managers, producers, publicists, designers, tour managers, booking agents and the record label working for them. Our homegrown rockstars rely on a Man Friday who is mentor, mom and best friend and sometimes a roller. Who has time to pay attention to finer details, what with live performances being the only format that works, bands consider time on stage as the be all and end all. Behind the spotlight is the real action - building the PR, cutting records, interacting with fans, understanding the technical aspects. That is a loose end waiting to be tied up. Or you can just stick a pretty bow on it and not point out how competitive it can get, made obvious by the truth that many bands won't go for another show. Camaraderie is reserved for non-headlining days. On this platform, one must also bitch out the media. While this piece was commissioned by an exception, not many radio stations, print mediums or TV channels would give dedicated pages to the cause of the indie scene. Some do their bit with an hour long music show every weekend or the obligatory band on their cover every other month yet you can't pitch the most deserving names from this industry to an editor. What we want, nay need is a ballsy venue that holds 800 plus people, a proper setup not based on middlemen and sale ability with an infrastructure that lends itself to the scene and not the other way around. A wish list if there ever was one. And as artists learn to grow at par with the listener, to our resilient rockers we say, "Thank you for the music!"



Board for Censorship of Films in India Biased With Few Filmmakers When It Comes to Rating a Film

The Central Board of Film Certification (Censor Board) is a body regulating the content of the movies and television in India and works for an entertainment industry that mints billions by producing around 1200 movies every year becoming the largest industry in the world. Films are the next major source of Entertainment in India. Should the censor board be separated from the Information and Broadcast ministry, Government of India?

Off late, many known and not so known producers have raised their voices against the dualistic approach by the Central Board for censoring their movies irrationally. And this is not the first time that a few number of producers and filmmakers have gathered with complaints against the censor board.

1. Do you think on getting autonomous, the Central Board of Film Certification in India shall be more transparent and liberal as well?

2. Do you think that it is high time to revise completely the film rating system of films in India?

3. Do you think, the children of India have more access to the adult content than the adults?

4. Abuses, violence and porn has already reached the living rooms in India through TV shows and internet. Is the Board for Censorship having double standards for certain film producers? Is putting forward the reason of 'not suitable for viewers who are of an age less than 18 years' as an excuse or farce made by the apex film content regulating body?

It is high time to change the rules and structure of how a movie is certified. It is more than essential to have a highly educated jury that rates the content of movies and television more sensibly and with modern approach. The society of India has changed a lot since the guidelines were updated last time or never updated since they were framed.



Mumbai - One of The Best Indian Destinations

Do you crave the effervescence and vim of a big city, with its shops, restaurants and urban attractions? Whatever you're looking for, Mumbai is the place to choose for your next vacation - because this city truly does have it all. Whether you're a couple looking for a romantic getaway, a solo traveler seeking adventure, or you're traveling with your family, Mumbai has something for you. Forming an innate harbor, Mumbai is about 10 meters above sea level and comprises seven islands, which were united through various land reclamation projects. The distinctiveness about Mumbai is it being India's entertainment and business hub, home to the Reserve Bank of India, National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the Indian Film Industry Centre, which is universally known as 'Bollywood'.

When planning a trip to Mumbai, one of the best ways to enjoy it and keep it all organized, is through the use of city reviews- Mumbai. These reviews serve your purpose both when planning, and when you are there in the city. City reviews - Mumbai can give you an overview about Mumbai right from roads, hotels, transportation sight seeing to restaurants in Mumbai and more. And once you are in the city, you will quickly find what you are looking for; thanks to the in-depth reviews. City reviews- Mumbai is a report about Mumbai and what living in Mumbai is like. It can also serve as a travel report facilitating the newcomer's or your next visit to this city.

The financial capital of the country does capture the heart and imagination of all visitors. Centuries of multi-cultural influence have created a colorful palette for everyone to benefit from. If you value native foods, this city offers you a huge variety to choose from. Elegant hawker street food stalls and restaurants in Mumbai offer a varied dining experience. Several of the excellent five-star restaurants in the hotels as well as many independent entities are world-renowned. The Crown, Upper Deck, Café Vanilla, etc. are some of the best restaurants in Mumbai.

The multi-cultural city of Mumbai has so much to see and do - you in fact will be spoilt for choice here! Mumbai has popularized and gave India fashion, entertainment, and money. Whether you are looking for sublime Restaurants in Mumbai, fascinating culture and history, quixotic ambiance, or attractions to see, Mumbai definitely has it all.

A very interesting fact About Mumbai is that nothing beats heading to one of the many restaurants in Mumbai dishing out mouth watering delectable cuisines. The Mumbaikars love their food and tourists in Mumbai will find the city to be a gourmet's paradise dotted with several restaurants offering exquisite traditional cuisine.



Toonpur Ka Superrhero - India's First 3D Animation Combination Feature Film - NyooTV

The retro superstar Ajay Devgn will be seen in a real role with animated co-stars in India's first 3D animation combination feature - Toonpur Ka Superrhero! His better half Kajol will be starring opposite him in the movie. The animated action comedy film has been written by Raaghi Bhatnagar and directed by Kireet Khurana. Sharan Kapoor has produced the movie, while the Indian Idol judge Anu Malik has scored the music for the movie. The film is all set to be released on 17th December 2010.

Unlike its Western counterpart, Bollywood has longed for a good animated movie and the likes of 'Baal Ganesh' and 'Roadside Romeo' tried hard, but in vain for commercial success. The films just couldn't match up to the top notch animation quality from the West. Just the perfect moment, for ace Indian animator Kiran Khurana, who has won numerous awards in the field of animation, to sail the Indian animation industry to higher seas and greater success. Toonpur Ka Superrhero will see the worlds of real life and animation mix and collide to create a one of a kind film.

Real life couple Ajay Devgn and Kajol will be playing a married couple in the movie. Despite all his successes on the big screen, his children want him to become a superhero. In attempts to become a hero in the eyes of his children, 'Aditya' played by Devgn, finds himself on a cartoon show where he must help the 'Devtoons' fight the 'Toonasaurs' - the enemies.

The film is not just made for children but also meant to draw audiences across all age groups. The promos of the film have already generated quite a buzz and the movie is expected to perform well in the Indian circuit especially with the release date being moved closer to the festive season. Toonpur Ka Superhero is laying the foundation for animated films in India.

Haven't you seen the trailer of Toonpur ka Superrhero yet? Watch it on NyooTV - India's first online Social TV Network and one-stop shop for premium visual entertainment. NyooTV brings a whole new world of entertainment with its innovative technology, rendering a viewing experience unmatched in quality. Registered users can get continuous updates about the latest Bollywood movie trailers online.

NyooTV through social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter gives you latest updates. Members of these social networking sites can Bollywood music videos,latest Bollywood movies, old Bollywood movies, new Bollywood movies, latest Bollywood movies trailers, latest Bollywood clips and events by simply logging into their accounts through NyooTV and get entertained with these high quality videos. Once logged in, viewers can also chat and discuss, with their friends on the network, about the video they are viewing.



Return From India - My Experience With Reverse Culture Shock

Time tends to clarify some of our experiences and relegate others to the very depths of obscurity in our memories. The experience I had in India over three decades ago still remains vivid today in my mind and contains lessons in culture shock and reverse culture shock that I will never forget. Upon my return to the United States after three months in India, I had to pack up and prepare my family to move to Puerto Rico to begin a visiting professorship. This was within less than a month after my arrival back home and started a culture shock/reverse culture shock cycle that took some time to end.

After being away from my family for nearly three months while living in a cultural tradition totally alien to my own, I was looking forward to getting back home. But upon my arrival, it was as if I did not fit in anymore. My values had been modified by the experience and I found myself questioning my lifestyle, values, and even self-identity.

Much had happened while I was away in India. Final acceptance of my application to spend the following academic year teaching in Puerto Rico had been approved. My leave of absence from my present position for the upcoming year had been approved. My wife was having to take care of the tasks that I normally took care of and continue to work. My daughter had contacted staph pneumonia and had to be hospitalized. That hospitalization resulted in my having to catch an early exit plane from India without completing my planned stay.

The result. I returned from the culture shock of India to the reverse culture shock of returning home. Many of the things I had seen in India, although exciting to me as an anthropologist, were depressing to me once I was back at home in Florida. Having seen the poverty, especially in Benares (now Varanasi) and Calcutta (now Kolkata), the very lifestyle benefits that I had previously enjoyed, depressed me.

One example stands out very clearly even today. Shortly after our move to Puerto Rico, my wife I had an invitation to a party at a colleague's house. Now, they were more wealthy than the average university professor family. They had an entire room set up with thousands and thousands of dollars worth of entertainment accessories. I had never seen so many electronic devices in one place outside of a store display.

The party, the music, and the social company were great, but I was overwhelmed by the "waste" of so much capital on entertainment while thousands in India went hungry. Under other circumstances -- like not just having returned from months in India -- I could have better appreciated his enjoying the fruits of his economic labors. Before my trip, I would have done the same.

And to top it off, I was having to prepare and give my university lectures in Spanish, not my first language. Even the textbook, which I had used before in English, was in Spanish. You can know your subject well, but when you find yourself having to re-learn the terminology you are so familiar with in one language by learning it in another, the mental and emotional shock can be great.

I even felt for some time as if I were physically ill and I thought I might have caught some exotic disease while in India. Well, it wasn't some exotic disease! It was the physical and emotional effects of adjusting to a new case of culture shock while not having completed my bout with reverse cultural shock from the previous culture shock of India.

It took several months of to become "normal" again. Well, in actuality, I never became "normal" again (if I ever was). It is like stretching a rubber band to its limit, it never returns to its original shape. I remained culturally stretched out.

As a result, since that experience I have been better able to adapt to new cultural challenges with less cultural shock. Will I be able to explore other cultural destinations without culture shock? No! But at least I now have a better foundation from which to cope with it and its follow-up reverse culture shock.



Rajasthan Tours - Exotic Entertainment

Rajasthan a land of colours attracts tourists for from all over the world. There are innumerable forts and palaces which hold the histories of various Rajput kings. One can trace the family lineage expanding in the modern times as well.

Along with picturesque scenery and innumerable monuments what attracts people to this land is its food and folk culture. The kings had always wined and dined in style. Numbers of dishes were prepared for the royal families. Some of recipes that royal kitchen had produces have remained a secret even till today. This state also gave rise to a royal cuisine. There were both vegetarian and non vegetarian foods included in the Royal menu.

Dal Bati Churma is the local and most popular dish of Rajasthan. It is basically bread made of wheat flour that is to be eaten with lentil curry. Milk, buttermilk and clarified butter are used for cooking as there is a scarcity of water in Rajasthan. It is known for its snacks like Bikaneri Bhujia, Mirchi Bada and Pyaaz Kachori. Other famous dishes are Bajre ki roti (millet bread) and Lehsun ki Chutney(hot garlic paste)Mawa Kachori from Jodhpur, alwar ka mawa. The Marwar region is famous for its vegetarian restaurants called the Marwari bhojanalay many such restaurants can be found all over India. The food here is also known for its spicy nature. After tasting the spicy food you can choose from a number of desserts which Rajasthan is famous for Ghewar a famous Rajasthani sweet. You can also enjoy Malpuas from Pushkar and Rassgollas from Bikaner which are famous all over India. If you have a sweet tooth you cannot afford to miss the Makhaniya Lassi which is made up of sweetened yoghurt, with a dollop of cream with a pinch of saffron and dry fruits on top.

Music is in the very essence of the local life here.Kamaycha Sarangi, Satara, Nad and Morchang are the instruments which beautify the songs. The Rajasthan tours leads you to this new world where you can sing and dance along with the traditional songs sung here since ages. The folk music of Rajasthan are a component of the various functions like weddings, engagements and births. Ratijagas are the best way to enjoy the songs. The songs depict the lonliness of lovers, the happiness of their union, laughter, faith, happiness, sorrow etc.

There are a number of dances which you can enjoy here. The Kalbelia dance is performed by the women of Kalbelia community whose occupation was that of catching snakes and trading their venom. So the attire and dance movements are those inspired from the serpants. The Ghoomar dance is performed by a community of women. It is a simple dance where these ladies move in circles (ghoomna) thus the name ghoomar is given to this dance. Other folk dances are Kucchi Ghodi, Gair Ghoomar, and fire dance.

There is so much to explore in Rajasthan. Tradition and culture has been maintained in its purest character in many forms thus a visit to this land is a must.



SatGuide P360: Explore Your World of Entertainment

Who says GPS receivers are no fun? GPS receivers are devices equipped with powerful hardware components, the latest software and a large touch screen. Owing to which, they have the potential to do a lot more than show you the way. This is where SatGuide comes in. Say hello to the SatGuide P360. The P360 is a GPS receiver that passes off as a PDA. A personal digital assistant or PDA is no longer that boring bulky device that can access your emails and put up reminders for your meetings and appointments. Equipped with the modern Windows Mobile 6.0 operating system, this device can do a lot more! Play your favorite videos and songs to your heart's content, the P360 lets you do it all.

The P360 still does a great job of navigation. It provides you with worldwide navigation, with maps for the USA, Canada, Europe and closer home, India. Needless to say, you have turn by turn navigation for every continent. Covering over 250 provinces in the USA and Canada, more than 21 European countries and 820 Indian cities, this is your one stop solution for all your domestic and international navigation needs.

Armed with a Samsung 400 MHz processor and 64 MB memory, the SatGuide P360 is powerful enough to play just about anything. Your videos will look stunning as ever, on the large 3.5 inch display with over 65,000 colors. Catch up on TV shows, watch that latest Oscar winning movie off the video player app or simply hum to your favorite tunes on the mp3 player. The internal memory on the P360 provides you with a gigabyte of storage. And if that isn't enough, you can store your collection on an SD Card or MultiMedia Card and just plug it in - the P360 comes with expandable memory. When not in use, you can use the Picture Viewer app and put your favorite snaps up for display. You can use the in-built speaker or hook up your regular pair of headphones or speakers using the 3.5 mm jack on the device.

Don't let your productivity take a hit as you drive. The SatGuide P360 comes with Microsoft Office integrated into its operating system. View important documents, spreadsheets and your presentations. Sync contacts and calendar entries with your laptop. It also lets you organize your meetings, appointments and events on its calendar. Sum up your expenses, get your fuel bills right, all with the handy calculator app.

Installing the P360 is quick and easy. The device comes with a windshield mount and device holder. The AC power charger lets you charge wherever you are, using standard plug points. You can also charge the device on the go using the in-car charger that connects to the cigarette lighter. The P360 has a large screen, yet it does not compromise on portability and fits snugly in your hands. Costing less than 10000 and weighing a little under 200 grams, the SatGuide P360 is just as light on your wallet as it is to hold. It's quite the package, converging navigation with productivity and on the go entertainment.



Watch India International Jewellery Week Online

The event was organised by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India, supported by the ministry of commerce and industry. The event flagged off on 15th August. The first day, taking place on Independence Day, drew a large crowd from opening ceremony to closing. Leading models and Bollywood actresses walked the ramp as they sported the beautiful jewellery creations. The showstoppers on the first day were the gorgeous Katrina Kaif and the scintillating Deepika Padukone. Liquor baron's son Siddharth Mallya was seen cheering for Deepika as she walked the ramp. Deepika Padukone, looked stunning as she wore a stunning gold colour net lehanga and sparkling kundan jewellery. Deepika sashayed down the ramp for jewellery designer Farah Khan's India inspired collection. Katrina Kaif walked the ramp for Nakshatra Diamond Jewellery at the event in Mumbai. The actress showed off her sexy curves in a peach coloured Neeta Lulla lehenga.

Seven designers showed off their collections on each of the first two days, with short breaks between each session. The jewellery items were largely inspired by traditional Indian designs, including Nizam's jewellery and the royal Mughal era designs, with frequent use of rose-cut diamonds, jade and rubies set in yellow or white gold.

Classic designs, bridal sets and other large layouts, the sought after markets were clearly the local one as well as the Gulf countries, North Africa and Azerbaijan. The next few days were targetted to expand the scope, with designers eyeing the U.S. and West European markets unveiling their collections on the catwalk.

According to Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council's (GJEPC) Sanjay Kothari, IIJW is intended to bring India's high-end jewellery to a wide audience. The use of celebrities - Miss India joined Bollywood starlets - was to grab local media attention, which it did.

Viewers can check out this event online at NyooTV.com, which is one site where viewers can watch latest Bollywood events. NyooTV - India's first Online Social TV brings a whole new world of entertainment with its innovative technology, rendering a viewing experience unmatched in quality. Viewers can watch Indian movies online and get continuous updates about the latest Bollywood movie online by following NyooTV through social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter. Members of these social networking sites can watch Hindi movies, latest Bollywood movies, new Bollywood movies trailers, latest Bollywood clips and events by simply logging into their accounts through NyooTV and get entertained with these high quality videos. Once logged in, viewers can also chat and discuss, with their friends on the network, about the video they are viewing.




Learning Indian Classical Music the Right Way

Shining Indian Economy & Rising Music Shows

India is gearing up for a take off in terms of economy. The world is watching with awe and respect. In every nook and corner of the world, it has been felt that India will soon be on the forefront at every level. Be it sports, arts, entertainment, India is showing its mettle.

Music Devoid of Indian Classical Music is Futile

However, in the wake, there is a new trend, which has come into existence. It is related to music learning, especially involving the Indian Classical Music. As it has been felt, and rightly so, that the base of any form of music is textual music, Indian bollywood industry acknowledges the same with due respect to it.

Light Music has its base in Indian Classical Music

This is why we witness the stalwarts of light music on our television sets appreciating the Indian Classical Music. No matter it is Daler Mehdi, Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Alka Yagnik, or Hariharan, they all firmly believe that it must be understood thoroughly in order to master the basic techniques of music to strengthen ones light music. Now, that is something, which must be taken with due respect and seriousness as it is something, which leads to consolidating ones singing and musical abilities.

Go for the Right Teacher

However, the biggest question arises to identify the right music teacher. Now, that is something, which is challenging. Believe it or not, music basically comprises of various subtle technique that can only be learned in the company of professionals. In fact, there are many music teachers available in the market, however there is dearth of serious and experienced music teachers. It is sad that in many prestigious music institutions the way of teaching is confined to rot and not the understanding of music. Even if you wish to become a, pop singer, Bollywood singer, learning the fundamentals of music is essential.

Do not Flout the Fundamentals of Music

For example, the fundamental tenet of Indian Classical Music is taal, the rhythm, which is often ignored by the teachers when it comes teaching. Students feel bewildered as they learn compositions but unable to render them in accordance with the taal. One of the primary reasons is that are not told the basics of rhythm or the adjustment of notes in accordance with it. Therefore, the result is that even after years of training they find themselves hesitant when it comes to performance on stage. They even succumb to the various different patterns played by the Tabla player and finally give up the training altogether.

Essentials of a Trained Music Teacher

  • Find out if your music teacher is good at teaching at the basic level. A student cannot afford to go to a popular musician, particularly at the initial level.
  • Make sure that your teacher is a strict disciplinarian as learning music is adhering to a strict discipline.
  • Make sure that he or she has learned from a reliable source and performs too.


Best of Indian Handicrafts You Must Buy

All over the world, India is famous for many things such as its cultural diversity, cuisine, natural beauty and last but not least its handicrafts. People from all over the world come to India to experience its pristine beauty and to buy its handicrafts. The diversity and richness of Indian Handicrafts is world famous. Handicrafts of India include jewellery, furniture, pottery, paintings, stone craft, marble craft and much more.

There are so many Indian Handicrafts you can buy that it becomes almost impossible to create a list. From small wood work to large stone craft, the list is long. Some handicrafts you can buy are metal craft, stone craft, textile, jewellery and wooden handicrafts.

Indian metal craft is of gold, silver, copper and brass. You can buy enamelled jewellery, handcrafted utensils such as finger bowls, wine bowls and ornamental boxes. All these items are handcrafted with engravings on them. Also if you want to buy these items with encrusted jewels, you have that also. The famous places to get these handicrafts are Delhi, Agra, Moradabad and Chennai.

If you are a lover of ethnic textiles, India has a wide range of ethnic textiles. The craft styles are different in different regions of India. The assorted geography of India as well as the various different cultures has influenced the expansion of a number of textile weaves. Silk, cotton, woollen textiles from different regions have their own styles. You can buy ethnic textiles with block printing, batics, tie & die and original organic colour dyeing.

In wooden handicrafts, none can beat India. Finely carved and inlaid wooden items, lacquer work, wood sculptures, statues have a very distinct style. Heavy furniture of rose wood and sandalwood from Rajasthan is famous for its ornamental style. Other examples of wooden handicrafts are toys, mirror frames, holder boxes and pen holders.

Indian Handicrafts usually carry a touch of its history and an extraordinary style of elegance. Handicrafts of India are a fundamental part of one's life. Despite, rapid social changes taking place, handicrafts continue to occupy a fundamental part in the Indian household where no household is complete without traditional handicrafts.




North India Festivals - A Heady Cocktail of Traditions and Entertainment

North India is an extraordinary land of innumerable attractions where rich cultural heritage enchants and greet you at every place. The glorious cultural heritage of this land has beautifully manifested in its fairs and festivals, which teem with sights and delights. North India is known for its colorful and unique fairs and festivals attracting tourists from across the globe.

The fairs and festivals of North India are of fascinating contrasts, with interesting rituals and legends attached to almost all of them. The fairs and festivals are the reflections of the passion of the people for life. From the festival of harvesting to the festival of victory of good over evil, all are celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy in the North Indian states. In fact, each state has its own share of fairs and festivals, but some festivals are celebrated with equal fervor by all the states. The fairs and festivals are marked by wonderful processions, great rituals, competitions, dance, music, feasts and much more. Some of the famous festivals of North India are Holi, Diwali, Kumbh Mela, Dussehra, Janmashtami, Pushkar Fair, Desert Festival, Taj Mahotsav, the list seems to be endless.

Fairs and Festivals impregnated with entertainment, zeal, traditions and a variety of interesting activities springing from the rich and royal cultural heritage of Rajasthan( one of the most famous tourist destination of North India) are something 'worth' participating. Know the world over for its royalty, Rajasthan is a land of amazing fairs and festivals, which are equally famous. Indescribable crowd gathers at the following fairs and festivals of Rajasthan, which draws tourists from far and wide.

  • Pushkar Fair: It is one of the largest cattle fair in the world held in Puskhar every year. Packed with a lot of cultural activities, the fair attracts thousands of tourists.
  • Urs Ajmer Sharif: Held in Ajmer at the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, this festival attracts people from different religious backgrounds. It is believed that no earnest prayer goes unanswered at the dargah.
  • Elephant Festival: Jaipur shines brightly with the arrival of this fabulous festival. The main attractions of the festival are the breathtakingly adorned elephants and the elephant sports. The 'elephant beauty pageant' is a striking feature of the festival. How enjoyable!
  • Desert Festival Come Desert Festival and the desert of Jaisalmer comes alive with camel dance, camel race, camel polo and dance and music performances by renowned artists of the country.


India Tour - Journey of Exploration, Entertainment and Excitement

History says a lot about India. The struggle of nearly two hundred years has made everyone here tough which can be clearly seen in every community. Today what the country is, is a result of post-Independence phenomenon. The patriotic attitude runs in the blood of Indians which is not only seen in the army men but also amongst young children. Many times the country has been hit by negative elements from within and outside. But it has never affected the enthusiasm of tourists who come for India Tour.

Busy streets, museums, business centers, nightlife and large markets mark space in the bigger cities of India. But the smaller cities and villages possess their own charm.This spectacular country is rich in physical, cultural and geographical features. It is blessed in north with the snow clad spectacular Himalayan range to beautiful backwater lagoons in the south, while the east is famous for its handloom, west is known for its unbeatable cuisine. On Tour to India, which ever part of the country you may visit, there is always something new to explore.

With 96 national parks and over 500 wildlife sanctuaries, the range and diversity of India's wildlife heritage is matchless. It was 61 years back when India got independence from the reign of Britishers and it is now post independence, that the country stands tall united and progressive in every field.

Many developed countries are eying on India for future trade relations and other tie-ups. The country's undisputed growth, nature's blessing, traditional medicines and way of living, attract visitors from across the globe. Few years ago, tourists use to go to neighboring countries for adventurous trips and now is the time, that the government has introduced some sought after entertainment channels, like casinos, water sports, skiing, scuba diving and much more.

This classic country is known for various religions, pilgrimage sites, rugged forts and palaces, beaches, hilly area and so many other aspects that even the hotels in India mushrooming in every nook and corner are offering itineraries that includes visit to different facets of the country.

It is really upon a tourist to decide what kind of tour to India to opt for. There are so many things to get engaged with. For example if you are an observant, then trip to cultural India will surely entice you, because Indian potpourri has so much to offer. If you are adventurous then water sports in Goa or river rafting in Rishikesh will make your day. If you are religious then there is no other place than India where one can learn about so many religious beliefs existing in India since centuries.

Indian Beaches, one of the favorite topic and favorite holiday destination. Beaches in Goa, Kovalam, Trivandrum and backwater experience in Kerala, all are spellbinding. Besides coastal area, India is blessed with spectacular mountain ranges in north and north eastern part of the country.

India as a nation is under progress but as a home to millions it is "god's own country". Wish you a happy tour to India.