LEAD STORIES

Vaastu Corner:

Beat the heat from the choicest unforgettable

25 For Prosperity: Shalini Gugnani tells
you basic vaastu tips which help you
how to live in Peace, Prosperity and
Harmony
Word Power:

26
destinations of India this summer: Cherrapunjee,
Coorg, Gulmarg, Pachmarhi, Chamba, Strokes for Success:
Anantagiri Hills & Chikhaldara. The picks would Why Vijay Mallya is
surely provide you a relaxing and salubrious versatile, creative and
retreat from the heat and dust of the plains. original in his thinking. Know more
about Mallya’s
handwriting analysis from the young and
successful Graphologist Chandraprabha.
Fleet Street:
Bon Voyage! Perfect fit on trip.

28 Important points to keep in

mind before going in for your
much awaited holiday to travel
hassle free.

Contours:
Malaysia, is blessed with enthralling natural beauty

30 along with other innumerable tourist attractions. It is

a dwelling of mixed cultures, boasts of breathtaking
long sandy beaches which are a paradise for
adventure sports lovers too.
“Face is Thy
Mirror” by
Dr. Sanjeev Kalra
Do you look what you eat? Know the general misconceptions
of eating habits and eating disorders.
Talk Of The Town:
News Line: “Japan to India” Biomass

34
Generation Yoga and Buddhism. To
prevent Global warming, generate power
from food waste and plastic waste
Product Line: New products launched in
Market with an attractive price as well as quality

2 City Cheers  May 2009

 c ity
Happening India:
News to Share:

40

i ty
Th
e C
All that is Sp
i ri t O f The

happening in Publisher & Editor

India Monika Gupta
Advisor
Quick Pickles: Pickles add a zing to the meal. Every Anuj Gupta
community in India prepares pickles in summer for the Columnists
whole year round. Golden from Mumbai serves you Mr. Satish Mathur
Vinay Sarup
with quick recipes of these amazing condiments.
Dr. Sanjeev Kalra
Golden Reejsinghani
Chandraprabha
Dr. Shashank
Exclusive:
Dr. Sarswati Dwivedi

46
The Leh-Ladakh Magnetic Hill: This is one Shalini Gugnani
and only hill in India which has amazing Special Feature
gravitational pull capacity. Read on... Md. Masarrath Ali Khan
Correspondent
Travelogue: “Dubai & its Environs: The Unbelievable Jaya Shukla
Amazing Emirates”. With excellent

48
Art, Design & Photographs
infrastructure, a congenial working City Cheers
atmosphere and huge professional Cover Design
opportunities especially in the financial Laxmi Negi
sector. Dubai is famous for pleasant and tolerant ethnic Layouts
mix of all faiths and communities. Ranjeeta Kumari
Remembrance:

58 Shakti Samanta:
An Eminent
Filmmaker who
Marketing Partner
Mediagully (9811256602)
Marketing (Delhi)
Suman Shekhar
delivered many super-hits. (09873470656)
Red Carpet:

62 Kanti Kumar
Poddar, CMD
Orient Express
Marketing (U.P)
Brijesh Dubey
(09452464791)
Office:
(India’s first travel agency) A & A Communication Pvt. Ltd.
Astro Palmistry: B-16, Sector 49,

64
Opposite Prayag Hospital,
Destiny in your Noida-201301, U.P.
Hands by Ph: 0120-4325957
Dr. Shashank E-mail: [email protected]
For all bulk advertising/ advertorial / article
OTHERS: branding, please contact Anuj Gupta at
[email protected] or call
Mission Everest ...................22 (09810331244)
Events of the City ................38 Printer, Publisher, Editor and Owned by
Monika Gupta from B-16 (Basement), Sector-
IAYP: For Young People....39 49, Noida-201301, U.P. Printed at Brijbasi
Art Press Ltd., E-46/11 Okhla Industrial Area,
Answer to Win! ...................45 Phase II, New Delhi-110020
CC Diary..............................54 Ideas and views expressed by the authors are
not necessarily of the Editor. Copyright A & A
Films on the Floor...............60 Communication Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved
throughout the world. Reproduction in any
Book Shelf...........................61 form is strictly prohibited.

May 2009  City Cheers 3

 Refer to “Wills Lifestyle countries like Pakistan’s
INDIA Fashion Week” (CC GEO channel must be
April 2009). Fashion is compulsorily included in
always facing recession DTH services then there
–instead of cuts in money it may be justification for
has cuts on clothes models’ DTH only! If again one
Refer to “Legendary Director wear–they are always in switches back to cable or
B.R.Chopra” (CC April 2009). Cinema minimum clothes (dresses). CAS, huge investment goes
rarely produces the likes of towering But this kind of recession in awry. Last but not the
personalities such as B.R.Chopra. His helps Fashion industry as least there should a single
death has ended an era in Bollywood. He they have more audience to flat rate for all the channels
got a master’s degree in arts and a see their fashion shows and of DTH like Cable TV! Also
diploma in film journalism at a time when they save money on dresses DTH service providers must
there were hardly any graduates in India. (because of cuts in clothes) allow switch over from other
Almost all his films carried a social and earn high prices for the service providers by offering
message, and yet were commercially short dresses! A boon in free exchange-no extra cost
successful and entertaining. His works recession for Fashion for change of DTH service
remain significant in these times of industry! providers!
communal violence and hate. B.R.Chopra -M. Kumar -Mahesh Kumar
dealt with important issues such as
illegitimacy in Dharamputra, rape in Refer to “Happening India- Refer to The Guru of Hindi
Insaaf ka Tarazu, and adultery in Videocon to launch D2H Broadcasting “Jasdev
Gumraah. His Kanoon was an services in April 2009.” (CC Singh”. He’s a man who
experimental film - it was a murder April 2009). DTH is not needs no introduction, ‘unka
mystery and had no songs. One also cheaper than cable. It naam hi kaafi hai’. His voice
remembers Chopra for the songs in his requires one time investment had a unique power to hold
films. It is difficult to forget that song from a sizable amount and the nerves of people during
Dharamputra, “Tu Hindu banega na monthly charges - not less any commentary, be it sports
Musalman banega, insaan ki aulad hai than what Cable operators or any event. His uniqueness
insaan banega”. The song is relevant were charging. The number was giving a little extra to
today when the country is being torn apart of channels under Cable TV his commentary with ‘sher’
by communal violence. Chopra dreamt of were more than DTH. or couplets. There is no
an emergent India way back in 1957 and There is no choice of selected charm left in hearing the
gave the recipe for success in the song channels by viewers. It is a commentary on the Republic
“Saathi haath badana” in Naya Daur. package for fixed price. Day, Independence Day, etc.
—Mahesh Kapasi Whether one wishes to see or We truly miss your voice.
not it has many regional -Depender Nath
channels which most
subscribers do not ever see Refer to “Humara
or wish to see. There are Mukteshwar”. Today when
hundreds of FREE we all talk of a plastic free
CHANNELS –Indian world, how much do we
and foreign ones-which personally care about the
are just not available on nature? We all are aware
DTH. I wish if TRAI that plastics are hazardous
can make available all to health and also pass from
FREE CHANNELS one life cycle to another and
of the world it can’t be decayed by any
compulsory-without natural or artificial means.
any further charge- Let’s make an individual
on all DTH service effort to make our world
providers! One or two plastic free!
important channels of most -Neelam Rawat

4 City Cheers  May 2009

Dear Readers,

The bells are ringing for taking a break from the hectic schedules, scorching heat and for kids of
course the heavy textbooks. Come May and everyone would start hunting for destinations which they
could cool off this summer. Offers, packages, hotels and holiday vouchers are what people save for
this time. Mothers dreaming of being away from the boiling curries for a few days, papas busy doing
the financial and the organizational bit, kids eagerly waiting for the breaking news of chuttis. But where
to go, is a big question? Shimla, Kullu, Manali, Ooty are all overcrowded with tourists, whatever
season it may be. This season, summers are ought to be better with City Cheers giving off-track cool
destinations to enjoy the tranquility of nature and witness its own unique glory. So join us in exploring
the enchanting beauty of India, be it Gulmarg, said to be Heaven on Earth, or Cherrapunjee known
for its rain, rain and only rain. Every place chosen has its own hidden secrets, so treat yourself to the
unparalled beauty of the choicest places, “The Unforgettable Destinations of India.”
Crossing our continent’s boundaries, we have two major hot-hot destinations which leave you awed
by its unimaginable beauty. Dubai, one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates,
in itself is a wonder. Glitzy, glam, over-the-top and a little overexposed, Dubai, is a city that virtually
invented the ‘shopping festival’, myriad shopping malls, flamboyant hotels, a dizzying array of dining
options and hip clubs and bars. Much more to know, lets take you to a travel journey with our travel
writer Vinay Sarup. So happy shopping, as Dubai is a fascinating experiment and a city-state that’s
like no other. Let’s move on to yet another widely travelled place, Malaysia, which is blessed with
enthralling natural beauty along with other innumerable tourist attractions. Malaysia, a dwelling of
mixed culture, boasts of breathtaking long sandy beaches which are a paradise for adventure sports
lovers too.
After all the ventures, we came across a very unique and exclusive spot, known as Magnetic Hill. Just
like the name has an attractive element to it, the place also has this unique feature. You sure might
be curious enough, so flip over to our exclusive section!!
After all the listings, we might have surely put you into a dilemma of which way to go. But we promise
to give you a splendid journey this summer by our exclusive and special Travel issue.
So folks, happy holidays and keep mailing!!!

Monika Gupta

May 2009  City Cheers 5

The Big Story

ummer months are here again, and it is time to take a leisurely break from the daily

S routine — time to holiday, enjoy, relax and chill out at cool locations. Set amidst the
exotic surroundings of luxuriant green vegetation and snow clad peaks, with a refreshing
breeze blowing round the year; Indian hill stations provide a relaxing and salubrious retreat
from the heat and dust of the plains. Besides being pleasant, tourist destinations are
reservoirs of health and energy, they also offer breathtakingly charming views and a colourful
spectrum of experiences to nature lovers.
Most famous hill stations like Ooty, Kodaikanal and Shimla are over crowded with tourists in
this season, but City Cheers travels a less trodden path, away from the crowd. We explore the
unexplored, off-the-beaten track, virgin hill stations, listen to the sounds of silence and
witness the magic of Nature, in all its splendour and glory.
So come on….indulge in skiing and chill out at the snowy Gulmarg (Jammu & Kashmir) and
visit some holy shrines at Chamba (Himachal Pradesh). From there, come down to Pachmarhi
(Madhya Pradesh), the verdant jewel, drench yourself in its cascading waterfalls. Walk in the
clouds at Cherrapunjee, where the mist coated blue mountains are a visual delight, and where
it always rains, and rains and rains… Thence, treat yourself to history at Chikhaldara
(Maharashtra), and discover the secrets of a million year old Borra Caves, participate in tribal
dances at Araku Valley and soak in the greenery of Anantagiri Hills (Andhra Pradesh), before
setting off to smelling the sweet coffee plantations at Coorg (Karnataka), not to mention a
tryst with the pachyderms at the Dubare Elephant Camp……

q Md. Masarrath Ali Khan, employed in LIC, is a Fellow of Insurance Institute of India,
Mumbai. He writes on Indian tourist destinations, monuments, art, culture, heritage, and
has over 50 published travel articles to his credit. His travel articles have appeared in
leading travel magazines and newspapers. Earlier he has compiled an entire series on
Adventure Sports for the Geo Junior magazine.

6 City Cheers  May 2009

May 2009  City Cheers 7
 sight of its grassy slopes adorned with wild
flowers, named it as Gulmarg. It was also the
favourite haunt of Emperor Jahangir, who
once collected 21 different varieties of
flowers from here.
Our guide showed us a pony track which led
upwards to Khilanmarg, Kongdori and
Seven Springs, a couple of hours by pony,
longer on foot. From there, across
Apharwat Peak – which looms up from this
point – is Alpather Lake, a picturesque
alpine lake, frozen till late June. The lake is
a favourite haunt of the horse riding tourists.
Some were seen basking in the nature’s
glory, planning to return in the evening.
We had watched skiing on TV many a times
and it seemed to us like a very elitist sport,
requiring high level skills. But all our fears
were belied when we set off to see the snow
ulmarg is India’s premier skiing resort with the

G
in Gulmarg. We found that many others with the same
highest ski runs. But our aim to visit Gulmarg levels of physical fitness and training as ours were skiing
was not skiing but to enjoy a holiday in snow and down slopes, and with minimum effort. The excitement
get lost in its breathtakingly beautiful environs. was infectious. We simply could not resist the temptation
Our journey to Gulmarg was full of surprises. Roads of trying our hand at skiing as beginners, and soon we
flanked by avenues of trees, flat expanse of rice fields, found ourselves enjoying the sport to our heart’s content.
interspersed with picturesque villages, presented an At Gulmarg, the gentlest slope of 200 metres is linked
enchanting picture all along the way. Fir-covered hillsides with ski lift which helps to go up. Besides, there are a
started from Tangmarg onwards. At View Point, we number of slopes, not serviced by ski lifts, of varying
almost touched the snow-capped mountains. The cool lengths and gradients. There are few slopes, longer and
paradise lends a dramatic canvas for an artist’s dream & steeper, which are connected by chair lift.
an ideal retreat for tourists in search of Nature’s beauty. Many tourists come to Gulmarg with a good time on
A huge cup-shaped meadow, lush and green with slopes hand. Skiing journey (descent) from Apharwat Peak lasts
where the silence was broken only by the tinkle of cow for nearly 30 minutes. Also, Gulmarg Gondola Cable
bells, Gulmarg looked like a fantasy set in a film. All Car Ride – through pine clad slopes - is conveniently
around us were snow-capped mountains. Fortunately we available for taking the tourists up to Kongdori. From
reached on a clear day and could see Nanga Parbat in there, they gain a ski run of nearly 3 kilometres.
one direction and Srinagar in another. Gulmarg also has the highest green golf course in the
It was originally named as ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds. In world. It also has a club house, which is a historical
16th century, Sultan Yusuf Shah, much inspired by the building in its own right. For the would-be golfer, there
are golf sets on hire, pros to instruct one in the game, Pulao and Pahalwan Di Hatti (a famous sweet),
and temporary memberships, including one-day MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
memberships. The 110-year-old St Mary’s Church in Gulmarg, built
Gulmarg’s exceptional beauty and proximity to Srinagar during the British colonial rule.
makes it one of the most pleasant and beautiful hill Another major attraction is the Shiva temple known as
resorts in the country. Nature blossoms at its best in Rani Temple or Maharani Temple or Mohineshwar
Gulmarg; it could be a translucent green of spring, a Shivalaya. It is visible from all corners in Gulmarg. It was
summer’s rich emerald or an autumn’s golden hue; but built by Mohini Bai Sisodia, wife of erstwhile ruler of
all colors are equally beautiful and leave a lasting Kashmir Maharaja Hari Singh.
impression in the minds of tourists and Nature lovers. Shrine of Muslim mystic saint Baba Reshi is on the
Gulmarg is a tourists’ paradise by all means, and is ideal slopes below Gulmarg and can be reached either from
for summer holidays. Gulmarg or Tangmarg. Baba Reshi was a courtier of the
ACCESS Kashmir King Zainul Abidin, and died here in 1480. It is
Gulmarg is 56 kms from Srinagar. J&K State Road a famous pilgrimage centre for people of all faiths.
Transport buses operate regular deluxe and ordinary bus PRECAUTIONS
services from Srinagar. In winter, the buses operate upto Though Gulmarg is more or less safe, it is advisable to
Tangmarg, the remaining distance being covered by update yourself with the current law and order situation
smaller vehicles. Tourist taxis are also easily available. in the area. Walking in the dark should be avoided. Cell-
GULMARG CULTURE AND FESTIVALS phones on roaming are not operational. As Gulmarg is
An ancient culture still resides on both sides of an very cold, make sure you carry heavy woolens with you.
imaginary line. Hindi and Kashmiri are spoken in BEST TIME TO VISIT GULMARG
Gulmarg. Skiing races are organized on the occasion of Gulmarg is a perfect tourist destination for all seasons. It
festivals like Christmas and Easter. has refreshing summer (March-May). Winter
CUISINE (November- February) is cool and pleasant with 2°C -
While you are in Gulmarg, you can enjoy both vegetarian 9°C temperature. It is characterized by severe snowfall.
and Non-vegetarian cuisine. Spices of cinnamon, Monsoons bring moderate rainfall here. Winter season is
cardamom, cloves, and saffron are sparingly used in very good for Snow boarding and long-run Skiing. But
cooking the items. A typical Gulmarg cuisine consists of the best season to visit Gulmarg is from March to
rice with non-vegetarian specialties like mutton, chicken October by all means.
or fish cooked with vegetables. Some popular Director Tourism (Jammu)
combinations are mutton and turnips, chicken and Tourist Reception Centre, Vir Marg, Jammu.
spinach, fish and lotus root. Tel. 0191-2548172. e-mail: [email protected]
Pure vegetarian dishes include Dum-aloo, and Chaman Director Tourism (Kashmir)
(fried Paneer in thick sauce). Kashmiris do not care Tourist Reception Centre, Srinagar
much for sweet dishes and desserts. For beverage, they Tel # 0194-2452690-91. e-mail: [email protected]
J & K Tourist Information Office
have Kahva or green tea with a slush of spices and 201-203, Kanishka Shopping Plaza, 19, Ashoka Road, Delhi
almonds. The traditional Rogan Josh (meat balls in Tel# 23345373. e-mail: [email protected]
gravy) is a recommended non-vegetarian delight. Other
important items are Wazawan, Chuk Wangun, Zaffran q Picture Credits: Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India
 hamba Valley, in Himachal, is also known as the was opened formally on September 14, 1908 and is

C ‘Jewel of the Himalayas’ and the ‘Valley of Milk

and Honey’. Known for its scenic attractions,
sparkling streams, lakes, meadows and lush deodar
named after Raja Bhuri Singh who ruled Chamba, and
later donated his collection of paintings to the museum.
Paintings of Bhagawat Purana and Ramayana are
forests. Crowned with high mountain ranges, it is home executed in Basholi style, whereas those of Krishna and
to animals like the elusive snow-leopard, brown bear and Rukmini Vivah are in Kangra style. Coins, hill jewellery,
musk deer. It also offers splendid artistic heritage, costumes, arms and armoury, musical instruments and
including fine temple architecture, beautiful miniature various decorative objects are also displayed in the
paintings and exquisite embroidered Chamba Rumals. museum. It is closed on Mondays and gazetted holidays.
It is noted for three well-defined snowy ranges, the We visited Lakshmi Narayana Temple, the oldest and
Dauladhar, (the outer Himalayas), the Pir Panjal (mid- richly ornamented temple among a group of six temples,
Himalayas), and the Zanskar Range (inner Himalayas), built in Shikhara style by Sahil Varma. It is built of stone
besides Shivalik Range. It borders Jammu and Kashmir. and has tall vimanas. These temples are arranged in a
The town was founded by Raja Sahil Varma in 920 A.D. row from north to south. Among them, three are
He shifted his kingdom’s capital from Brahmaur to this dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and the other three to Lord
place, at the insistence of his daughter Champavati and Shiva. This is the principal temple of Chamba.
named it after her - who is now worshipped as a goddess A large grassy meadow – namely Chaugan, is a busy local
in Chamba. The town later came under the control of trading centre and the hub of all cultural activities. Local
Mughals and later passed it into the hands of the Sikh villagers congregate here to sell their produce. In 1890,
rulers and the British. Finally it was made a part of the ground became a public promenade and cricket
Himachal Pradesh after India gained independence. ground for the British. It is also an established base for
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS various exciting treks into the valley around the town. It
Sitting in the shadow of the old peepal tree, near the also serves as the site for Minjar Mela. Valley gods and
Chamunda Devi Temple, we lost ourselves in the goddess in the palanquins are brought down from the
surrounding scenic beauty. We climbed for 30 minutes mountains to pay homage to Lord Raghuvira, the
to reach the temple on a hill, and were left exhausted. presiding deity of the valley. Music is in the air as
The temple is dedicated to Chamba, the wrathful form of Chamba bursts into festive fanfare.
goddess Durga. Intricate carvings depicting floral motifs Chamba is a hill station with many temples in and
and different deities adorn its entire wooden ceiling. around. Hari Ram Temple located near the Chaugan,
The fine miniatures from Kangra, Basholi and Chamba has an exquisite bronze image of the Chaturmurthi – the
schools of paintings came to life at Bhuri Singh Museum. four armed Vishnu, made from eight materials,
There are also murals and paintings from the Rang enshrined in the sanctum.
Mahal Palace which was damaged by fire. The museum The Brajeswari Temple is said to be over 1000 year old.

10 City Cheers  May 2009

It is dedicated to Sui Mata, the local princess of
Chamba who sacrificed her life for the people
of her kingdom. Colourful paintings on the
temple wall depict the story of Sui Mata.
Other temples to visit here are the Radha
Krishna Temple and the Sitaram Temple.
The main gateway of Chamba has its own
history. The Viceroy of British Government
Lord Curzon had got a warm welcome through
this bright orange gateway built in 1900.
AROUND CHAMBA
The main temples of Lakshmi Devi, Ganesh
and Manimahesh and Nar Sing in Bharmaur
are known as Chaurasi Temples. The Katasan
Devi Temple offers a beautiful view for the
Chamba Valley. Lovely landscaped gardens, a
sheep breeding centre and apiary make Sarol an
interesting getaway.
Situated on the banks of river Sal, Saho is
famous for the temple of Chandrasekhar, Lord
Shiva, with a moon crown. Another marvellous
view of the snow capped ranges is Salooni.
Pangi Valley is a remote world in itself. This
hidden valley is an unexplored beauty.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Mid-May to mid-
October.
CUISINE
Chamba’s cuisine is fairly distinctive. The
traditional festive meal, ‘dham’ is cooked by the
hereditary caste of cooks, the Bhotis. The
‘dham’ starts with rice, moong dal and madrah
of rajma cooked in curd, followed by boor ki
kari and a dark lentil, topped by khatta made of
tamarind and gur, and ends with meetha – sweet
rice mixed with raisins & dry fruit.
SHOPPING
Chamba Rumal (Kashida), a handkerchief
about 2-6 feet in length is an important part of a
Chamba bridal ware. Shawls, embroidered
handkerchiefs, and slippers can also be bought.
Honey of Chamba makes a good buy.
ACCESS
Nearest airport is at Gaggal in Kangra valley.
Chamba town is 122-km from Pathankot, the
nearest broad gauge rail head, linked by direct
trains to Amritsar, Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta.
The bus station is located near the Chowgan.
The bus and taxi service is very good.

Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation

Block No.28, S.D.A Complex, Kasumpti
Shimla 171 009, Himachal Pradesh
Tel # 0177-2625864, 2623959

q Picture Credits: Himachal Pradesh Tourism

 q Picture Credits: Madhya Pradesh Tourism

idely known as “Satpura ki Rani”, Pachmarhi the big fall. Irene Pool, discovered by Irene Bose (wife of

W is Madhya Pradesh’s most verdant jewel, an

off-the-beaten-track hill station. Wrapped in
lush green meadows and rinsed by many streams and
Justice Vivian Bose), was named after her. The route
upstream leads to a cave, through which the stream goes
underground and then over a khud in a series of falls.
waterfalls, it is the place to enjoy your holidays. We took a bath in the cool pleasant gushing waters of
Situated in a valley of the Satpura Range in Hoshangabad Duchess Falls, which was truly refreshing. We crossed
district, Pachmarhi is the only hill station of Madhya the stream and followed a footpath, about 2.5 km, to
Pradesh. A walker’s paradise, it abounds in viewpoints, reach a huge rocky pool in the Jambu Dweep stream.
water falls, rock pools and hills for trekking, all in reach. Sunder Kund, a pool, is an excellent place for swimming.
Abundance of water spots is the hallmark of Pachmarhi. One of the most beautiful waterfalls of Pachmarhi is the
We reached Pachmarhi at the break of dawn. Green Bee Falls. The sound of water resembles the singing of
shades embraced the mountains and we could hear the bees which gives it this name. Path leading to the fall was
gentle murmur of flowing water everywhere. Bridle paths too deep and steep, but the surroundings were quite
led into tranquil forest glades, groves of wild bamboo and enchanting. Constructed in 1862, Bison Lodge is the
jamun, dense sal forests and delicate bamboo thickets. oldest house in Pachmarhi. It now houses a beautiful
The valley, ravines and maze of gorges, sculpted in red museum depicting the rich flora & fauna of Pachmarhi.
sandstone by the wind, and weather added its own colour The Satpura National Park, a lesser known wildlife
to the palette of shades, and cascading waterfalls flashed sanctuary and a reserve forest, surrounds Pachmarhi. It
silver in the sunshine. Deep azure pools sprung up as spreads through dense forest of evergreen sal, teak and
hidden delights here and there. We were rewarded by bamboo. Pachmarhi’s fascinating natural beauty of deep
fascinating glimpses of birds and animals. valleys, high mountains, rivulets and waterfalls combine
Once regarded as the royal bathing pool for the queens, to give it a breathtaking beauty. The park area supports a
the Priyadarshini Point (formerly known as Forsyth rich wildlife. Tigers are found in good number but are
Point), is named after an Englishman who discovered confined to dense forest areas. Panthers are found all
Pachmarhi in 1857. It is a favourite picnic spot too. The over the park. Other endangered species in the reserve
pool is shallow, deepening only towards the base of the are Indian bison, Indian giant squirrel and chameleon.
fall which cascades gently into its waters. Sambhar, chital, chinkara, mouse deer, barking deer are
From Jai Stambh or Sat Rasta, we reached Apsara Vihara also present. Winged creatures include jungle fowls,
(Fairy Pool). The pool has a broad shallow edge, suitable quails, partridges, bee-eaters, parakeets, egrets, eagle
for children to paddle. A ten minutes walk across the myna, bulbuls and vultures. Our guide advised us not to
boulders from Apsara Vihara, took us up to Rajat Parbat, venture out or cross the town limits at night as the
12 City Cheers  May 2009
predators would be on prowl once it was dark.
We headed for Dhoopgarh, the highest point in
Satpura range in the evening which afforded
stunning views of the sunset. As evening fell, we
pitched out a tent to absorb the silence. As night
enveloped, we took the road down to our hotel.
ACCESS
The nearest airport is Bhopal, which is well
connected by regular flights.
Pipariya is the most convenient railhead. From
here there are frequent buses for Bhopal,
Hoshangabad, Nagpur, Pipariya and Chindwara.
M.P. Tourism has its own bus service. Taxis can
also be hired for this journey.
CULTURE AND TRADITIONS OF PACHMARHI
Many of the tribal traditions have survived down
the ages in Pachmarhi. The Pondwani and the
Lachmanjati legends are the Gond equivalents of
the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Lingo-pen
was the originator of Gond tribe and its bards
continue to sing of his legendary deeds. Special
songs are sung on the occasions of birth and
marriage, along with folktales, riddles and proverbs
illustrating their culture and heritage.
SHOPPING
As such there are no shopping malls here but one
can purchase good items from shops around the
bus stand. Pachmarhi is famous for jute items and
marble decorative pieces.
ATTRACTIONS OF PACHMARHI
Pachmarhi has several pilgrim spots. The Chota
Mahadev is a narrow point in the hills. There is
also Jata Shankar Cave where Lord Shiva hid
himself from the demon Bhasmasur. This is a very
holy cave and has a collection of loose boulders.
Mahadev cave is 30 meter long and the water is
always seeping inside the cave from a waterfall.
A wonderful natural amphitheater in the rock,
Reechhgarh is located in deep jungle.
Built in 1892, the Catholic Church is a blend of the
French and Irish architecture. A cemetery is
attached to the church and graves date from 1859,
World War I & II.
Built in 1875, the British Church has a fascinating
architecture. The stained glass present a gorgeous
view as the sun rays pass through them. The nave
of the church does not contain even a single pillar
for support. The bell is as old as the church and its
chimes are heard from a long distance.
MP State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd,
Amaltas Complex, Near Tehsil, Pachmarhi
Tel: (07578)-252100, 252211
MP State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd,
4th Floor, Gangotri, T.T Nagar, Bhopal.
Tel: (0755)-554340/42/43.
 igh above misty valleys and foaming rivers, Cherrapunjee had transformed into a photographer’s

H ensconced in swirling clouds and perched on an

escarpment, lies Cherrapunjee, a stunning
unexplored off-the-beaten-track hill station, with an eco-
delight overnight. Yesterday’s rainfall had created many
natural waterfalls here and there, which roared and leapt
from the edge of the road into deep gorges below.
friendly environment and pleasant weather. Naturally Sometimes the clouds almost descended on the road,
beautiful and very picturesque with its perpetual clouds making the visibility too poor; sometimes they enveloped
and mists, we found it to be a place of magical beauty and the whole place and later lifted their mantle over the blue
bewildering diversity that has enchanting and romantic mesmerizing hills, exposing the silvery white waterfalls
climate all round the year. MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
As one proceeds northward from the Bay of Bengal over Cherrapunjee abounds in many waterfalls and also has
the plains of Bangladesh, the Khasi Hills erupt abruptly the Mawsmai Caves. We first decided to visit the
out of the flat lands towering to a height of about 4500 Nohkailikai Waterfall, is one of the most beautiful and
feet above mean sea level. Here, Cherrapunjee is located perennial waterfalls in the region. After very heavy
on the southern edge of Khasi Hills, a dissected plateau downpour, it had swelled into a huge roaring waterfall.
at an altitude of about 4823 feet above mean sea level. On both sides of it some more waterfalls had sprung up,
We took a bus from Shillong on a late Sunday evening. but we were told that they would slowly thin out after
The 58 km ride over a steep motorable ride took us to some time. When the waterfall gets reduced to its normal
Cherrapunjee, when dusk was just setting in. Dark clouds sizes, its pool 1000 feet below looks placid and acquires
were hovering all over the town, and rain was expected the colour of jade.
any moment. Mr. Denis P. Rayen gave us a warm We paid a visit to the Nohsngithiang Waterfalls and
welcome into the Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort. We Orchid Restaurant. This place affords a vantage view of
waited in the courtyard for our evening meal. Soon it the many frothing waterfalls leaping into the Mawsmai
started drizzling, even as bright and sharp streaks of Gorge in a perpendicular dive. The low flying rain
lightning illuminated the dark hills with thunderous roar. bearing clouds are pushed up this gorge and draw an
Dark menacing clouds, full blown with rains, descended opaque curtain across the mountains. We waited for a
with the stinging force of a whiplash. There was no let up while to see the clouds peeling off, and soon we were
from the pounding of rain throughout the night. transported to the mesmerizing heavenly beauty of these
We set out to explore the place next morning. Beautiful beautiful waterfalls and the lush green gorge!
undulating smooth roads carved into the top of the hills The Mawsmai Cave is a limestone cave formed by water
made the drive a joyful and memorable experience. We erosion over millions of years. The active formation
were treated to nature’s magic all along the drive. phase of the cave is already over. Some of the flowstone

14 City Cheers  May 2009

formations having mica content sparkle like silver in the
luminescence, when illuminated in artificial lighting. At
another place we had to crawl on knees, but this little
discomfort did not deter us from moving further, as just a
little later, we were amply rewarded with natural formations,
after reaching a beautiful chamber. Thence we walked erect
all through.
The Thangkharang Park developed by the Forest
Department is one of the prettiest spots on the Khasi Hills.
It overlooks ‘Kynrem’, another beautiful waterfall. The
Green House in the park has some rare orchids including
the Blue Vanda and Lady’s slipper and some exotic plants.
The Ramakrishna Mission established in 1933 fosters and
strengthens the spirit of national integrations through
education in its chain of schools. The Presbyterian Church
with a typical Welsh architecture is also worth a visit. It was
set up by Rev.Thomas Jones, the first Welsh missionary who
is now honoured as the ‘Father of Khasi Alphabets’. The
present structure was built after the earthquake of 1897.
LOCAL CULTURE & TRADITION
Locally known as ‘Sohra’, Cherrapunjee is inhabited by
Khasi people of Mon Khmer origin. The Khasi society is a
matriarchal society in which power is with the women and
especially with the mothers of a community. After the
wedding the husband goes to live with his wife’s family and
the children take on the surname of the mother.
CHERRAPUNJEE CUISINE
The local Khasi people are typically meat eaters, the food
will always have a meat or fish item in almost every meal,
unless one orders a pure vegetarian dish. Traditionally,
Khasis eat plain rice with meat or vegetable dish with tea for
breakfast; it can be also yam or sweet potato, chira (beaten
rice) with tea. Pork is a delicacy here and pure vegetarian
visitors need to exercise extra caution while dining in here.
SHOPPING
Cherra bazaar in Cherrapunjee is famous for its colourful
goods including unusual tribal jewellery and orange-
flavoured honey. Tourists can also shop for cane, bamboo
and wooden handicraft items, shawls and fabrics in Shillong.
HOW TO REACH CHERRAPUNJEE
Nearest railhead from Cherrapunjee is Guwahati. Guwahati
is well connected to Shillong by road. Cherrapunjee is 58 km
from Shillong. Shillong is connected by air to all major cities.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Cherrapunjee can be visited throughout the year. For a
memorable once-in-a-lifetime rain experience, visit in the
monsoons.
ACCOMMODATION
For accommodation log on to www.cherrapunjee.com
Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort
Village Laitkynsew, Cherrapunjee 793108
Tel: (03637)-264218, 264219, 264220. Mobile: 09436115925
E-mail: [email protected]/[email protected]

q Picture Credits: Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India

 ess explored and off-the-beaten track destinations Legends come alive at Chikhaldara. At the legendary

L have their own charm. Such places are free from

the huge rush of tourists. A haunting calm
pervades the surroundings and one can take in their
Bhimkund (pond), Bheema is said to have washed his
hands after killing Keechaka. The nearby Vairat village is
said to be King Vairat’s capital (Vairatnagari) dating back
pristine beauty in perfect silence at a leisure place. to the Mahabharata era, where Pandavas are said to have
We set out to explore Chikhaldara at the break of dawn. resided during their exile. There is a beautiful natural
As we strolled, a cool breeze swept through the hills, even pool in between Chikhaldara and Vairat.
as thick layers of mist covered the valley. Far away the call For the history buffs, the 300 year old Gavilgadh Fort -
of a peacock echoed in the air. Langurs amused shrouded in mists and myths – is a must visit. It is said to
themselves with mock chases, and sent shrill calls. have been built by the Gavlis, the rulers of the shepherd
Soon the morning sun broke the daylight hours with a community. Beautiful idols here are believed to have
painter’s brush. Golden halo and its golden hues started been carved during the period of Nizams. The fort’s walls
to spread over the sky overruling the dimness of the have carvings of elephants, bulls, tigers and lions, apart
night, even as we continued our journey. from Hindi, Urdu and Arabic scripts. Lord Hanuman
Chikhaldara is a cool pristine hill station of unspoiled and Lord Shankar and 10 cannons made of iron, copper
beauty, the only one in the Vidarbha region of and brass are interesting exhibits of this fort.
Maharashtra, where walking on the clouds often becomes On the way to Gavilgadh Fort, is Shakkar Lake. Here,
a reality. Located 1118 m above the sea level, it is full of the Devi Mandir is located under huge slabs of rocks.
deep misty valleys and majestic trees. The presence of Water from the Shakkar Lake continuously seeps in
wildlife further adds to the charm of the hills. It has through the ceiling of the cave.
attractions for the history buffs, naturalists, Many deep valley glades surround the Chikhaldara
photographers and common tourists too. plateau and the points command distant views of the
It is said that Bheema killed the villainous Keechaka and Nimar and Mahadeva Hills and Balaghat, interspersed
threw him into the deep valleys here during the Agnyata with wooded valleys. The lower ridges have footpaths cut
Vas (living incognito) of the Pandavas. Since then, this in the hillsides which afford pleasant and leisurely walks
place became popular as Keechakadhara, which over a away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
period of time changed name as Chikhaldara. The dense forests and deep valley are visible from the
Monkey Point. There is no railing on this point and one Sunset Point and enjoyed charming setting of the sun.
needs be extra careful while visiting this point. Mahadeva THE BEST TIME TO VISIT: October to June
Temple is 6 km from Kala Pani Lake for which the ACCESS:
ascent begins from Mozari village. Many people visit it in Nearest airport is Akola, 150 km. Nagpur Airport is 230
the month of Shravan on every Monday. A winding route km, approximately five hours, away from Chikhaldhara.
through the rocky hills takes one to the Long Point, The nearest railway station Badnera is on the main
which commands a view of the Melghat Forest Reserve. Mumbai-Kolkata line. The Howrah Mail, Howrah-Kurla
The edges of the five hills meet and make a common Express, Geetanjali Express and the Vidharbha Express
huge valley called Panch Valley. Here each sound echoes pull into Badnera daily.
five times and so this valley is named Panch Bol Point. Nearest bus depot is Amravati. Regular State Transport
Chikhaldara has special attractions for the wildlife buses connect Chikhaldara to Amravati, Nagpur,
enthusiasts too. The Dhakana-Kolkaz National Park Wardha, Akola and other cities of the state. There is a
(also called Melghat Tiger Project) is located in regular bus service between Amravati and Chikhaldhara.
Chikhaldara and Dharni tehsils of Amaravati district in It is possible to hire taxis in Amravati too.
Satpura Range. It is one of the last remaining habitats of CUISINE:
the Indian tiger in Maharashtra. It is home to panther, Vidarbha’s cuisine is spicier and more exotic than that of
sloth bear, sambhar and wild-boar, beside wild dogs, the coastal and southern regions. Ingredients commonly
which occasionally make their presence felt here. The used are besan and ground peanuts. Few dishes are
Wan Sanctuary is an extension of the Melghat sanctuary ‘Zunka Bhakar’, ‘Pathawadi’ and the Vada-Bhat.
and is full of tropical dry deciduous forests. ACCOMMODATION & TOURS:
The Forest Garden contains various European tropical www. harshawardhan.com
trees and shrubs, fruits and flowers. Clematis, orchids, MTDC cottages: Tel # 07220-20234
ferns and balsams, zinnias and ginger abound here. The Maharashtra Trade Development Corporation
upper plateau has the Chikhaldara Bagicha. It is famous C/o P.W.D. Rest House, Maltekadi Road Amravati-444 601,
a variety of flowers, mangoes, plums and peaches, pine, Maharashtra. Tel-fax: (0721) 674 008
cypress, silver-oak, eucalyptus etc.
As the sun turned the horizon ochre, we reached the q Picture Credits: Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India
 blend of red tile roofed Kerala architecture and Islamic
style domes. The tombs of Dodda Vira Raja, his wife and
their son Lingaraja which are oddly Islamic with domes
and trellis work, Raja’s Seat, perched atop a hill, is where
the kings of yore spent many pleasant evenings, watching
the golden sunset.
Tucked away between private coffee and spice estates the
Abbey Falls (9km) offers a splendid backdrop for
picnics. As we made our way past the stocky coffee
bushes and tall trees entwined with pepper vines, the falls
made a sudden and dramatic appearance as they
cascaded their way down steps into limpid pools to join
the river Cauvery.
The confluence of the three rivers, Cauvery, Kanika and
Sujyothi is known as Bhagamandala. Among many small
ave you ever dreamt of stepping into the rich shrines dedicated to various gods, the Bhagandeshwara

H earth where the green grass caresses your feet

and dew drops wash your toes? If yes, then
Coorg — also called Kodagu and Kodaimalenadu,
Temple standing in a large courtyard surrounded by
Kerala style temples is the most impressive.
Bhagamandala is known for its apiaries and Kodagu
meaning dense forest on steep hills – is the place for you. honey.
Words always fail to paint a true picture of all that is Virajpeta, a small town, 32 kms away is the largest
Coorg. Misty hills, luxuriant forests, acres and acres of producer of honey in Asia. Iruppu falls is 48 km from
tea and coffee plantations, orange groves, undulating here on the Nagarhole Road. Iruppu Falls is 48 km from
streets, beautiful water falls, elephant safaris and here on the Nagarhole Road. Close to Lakshmana
breathtakingly beautiful views make it an unforgettable Teertha River, the Sri Rameshwara Temple believed to
holiday destination. have been dedicated to Lord Shiva by Lord Rama
Madikeri, the district headquarters of Coorg, is a himself, is a place of pilgrimage.
picturesque, charming town situated at a height of over Late afternoon, we decided to have a tryst with the
5,000 feet (1,525 m) above sea level, in a beautifully hilly elephants, and our guide suggested the Dubare Elephant
setting surrounded by the forested slopes of the Western Camp to us, 20 km away. Later, a short boat ride
Ghats. transferred us to this camp, where we spent 3 hours. We
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS IN AND AROUND watched the elephants being given a scrub bath in the
Coorg appeared to us like a basket full of pleasant river. Oil was applied on their foreheads and tusks.
surprises. The first place on our itinerary was the 19h Special food was also being prepared for the elephants at
century Madikeri Fort. It has a prison, a temple, a the camp. We also had the unique opportunity of
chapel, a small museum, and assorted government feeding sugarcane, coconut and bananas to the
offices. Just a stone’s throw away from the fort is the elephants. While all this was going on, a naturalist
Omkareshwara Temple, built in 1820 and featuring a explained to us about the various aspects of elephant

18 City Cheers  May 2009

ecology, history, conservation etc. Before leaving the camp, BEST TIME TO VISIT: October to April
we were taken on a 45 minute elephant ride to the Dubare
Department of Tourism
Reserve Forest.
Near Vartha Bhavan, Stewart Hill Road,
We decided to take away a bit of Coorg with us, and what Madikeri 571201
better way to do this, than to pick up the original delicately Tel.: 08272-228580
flavoured aromatic coffee and the original honey, from a Department of Tourism
shop in the town. Back home, months later, a sip of the 49, 2nd Floor, Khanija Bhavan
Coorg coffee still evokes memories of our visit to the coffee Race Course Road, Bangalore 560 001
Tel.: 080-22352525
country.
LOCAL CULTURE
The local residents of Coorg (Kodagu) known as Kodavas
are a martial race and are well known for their valour and q Picture Credits: Karnataka Tourism
hospitality. Coorg has its own distinct
language known as “Kodava Tak”. It is an
amalgamation of Kannada, Tamil and
Malayalam. The Coorg clothing is distinct
and has its own value in the Kodava
community. It is worn on special occasions
like marriages, festivals or other community
gatherings/ceremonies.
LOCAL CUISINE
Coorg dishes are counted amongst the most
delicious among south Indian cuisine. A
typical Coorg family prepares many varieties.
The Beary people are good at cooking the
famous Ghee rice and Biriyani. Akki Ooti,
Kadumbutt, Paputt, Koli Barthad and Koli
Curry and Mangye Pajji, Coorg Chicken Fry
are among the delicacies of Coorg.
SHOPPING
Shop for pepper, cardamom, coffee,
cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, ginger, nutmeg,
cashews, fresh fruits and vegetables plucked
right out of the trees, fresh chutneys and
home-made jams, special bitter honey, silver
jewellery, trinkets, corgi costumes and
weapons
ACCESS
The nearest airport are Mangalore (135 kms)
and Bangalore (260 kms) in Karnataka
The nearest railheads are at Mysore,
Mangalore and Hassan (146 kilometers).
Cannanore and Tellicherry are the
alternatives that are equidistant from
Madikeri.
Madikeri is situated on the Karnataka State
Highway 88 that connects Mangalore and
Mysore. When approaching from
Bangalore, start by using Highway 17
(Bangalore-Mysore). After you cross
Srirangapatna, take a deviation to join the
Highway 88. State transport buses are there
along with private operators between
Bangalore (252 Km) and Madikeri.
 nantagiri Hills is a tranquil off-the-beaten-track

A hill station on the top of Elysian Tirumala Hills

in the ranges of Eastern Ghats. It offers a
pleasant cool retreat from the blistering summer heat.
An ideal hill station for the newly wed couples. It attracts
nature lovers, tourists and pilgrims in equal numbers. It
is more of a health station, which simply rejuvenates and
fills one with new energy. The coffee plantations, mango
groves and orchards impregnate the air with a sweet
smell and add to the experience.
We walked across the meadows of wild flowers, even as
rushing streams cascaded down the mountains here and
there. There are a number of vantage view points on the
hills which afford a charming view of the entire
landscape. These hills abound in medicinal plants and
herbs. River Muchkunda originates from Anantagiri.
The Anantagiri hills are called the Badrinath of South
because of the Bhavanasi Lake. The hill is blessed with
greenery and pristine natural beauty.
The rail route between Visakhapatnam and Anantagiri
has the highest broad gauge track with Shimliguda
Railway Station, the highest railway station in India. This
journey offered breathtakingly beautiful vistas to us.
Earlier in the day, we paid a visit to the 300 feet thick-
roofed Borra Caves, which houses spectacular
prehistoric stalactite and stalagmite formations. Some of
them resemble mythological characters. The caves were
formed as a result of the Gosthani river flowing through
the layers of lime earth, during the course of a million
years. The caves present mind boggling display of
naturally sculpted wonders. One can only wonder at the
marvels of nature and exclaim at its beauty.
There are two versions of the discovery of the caves.
One version says that Willam King discovered it in
1807. According to a local legend, a cow fell into the
caves through its hole and the tribals discovered the
caves while in the process of finding the cow. Gosthani
river, beautiful hills and valleys surround these caves.
The Tyda Village nestles in the wooden hills of Eastern
Ghats, on way from Visakhapatnam to Araku. The
Jungle Bells Nature Camp, an eco-tourism resort
provides a great view of the Eastern Ghats and has
facilities for trekking, hiking and birding, besides
accommodation in log huts. It even has facilities for rock
climbing, trekking and target shooting with bow &
arrows, and is a home for a variety of animals and birds.
With the help of naturalists or guides in the camp, one
can learn the language of the jungle and understand
interesting features of its varied flora & fauna.
The Araku Valley, nestled in the Anantagiri Hills is ‘Ankudu’ and coated with lac. These toys are colourful
home to 19 tribes who are still untouched by modern and depict the rural life in an endearingly simple manner.
civilization. Their rhythmic songs and tribal dances, The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Park has a well
especially Dimsa and Mayur, are worth watching. We got equipped gym, horse and camel rides, skating rink,
the opportunity of watching one dance in progress. The boating and a dancing fountain. For wildlife enthusiasts,
tribal women wear saris and bedeck their hair with the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is a must-visit.
brightly coloured flowers to present these dances. The HOW TO REACH
Sangda Falls (in Sangda village) is the best tourist spot in The nearest airport is at Visakhapatnam. The nearest
this valley, besides Paderu Valley. The Shiva Temple at railway station to Anantagiri hills is at Srikakulam. The
Matsyagundam is a favourite haunt of the local anglers. Anantagiri hill resort is well connected with Hyderabad,
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN THE VICINITY Vishakhapatnum and other cities by buses.
The 25 km stretch of the road hugging the coastline from ACCOMMODATION AT ANANTAGIRI HILLS
Visakhapatnam to Bheemunipatnam is simply awesome. There are budget hotels, inspection bungalows, and
The Bheemunipatnam Beach, is safe for swimmers. One private cottages available at Anantagiri Hill Resort.
can even visit ‘Erramattidibbalu’, beautiful formations of Best time to visit: Anytime of the year.
red sand. Bheemunipatnam or Bhimili, a sleepy little
town is the second oldest municipality in the country. Tourist Information Officer
The unspoiled golden Rishikonda Beach is ideal for Regional Tourist Information Bureau, Vudda Building,
swimmers, water skiers, and wind surfers. The Siripuram, Visakhapatnam-530003. Tel: 0891-2754716
Andhra Pradesh Tourist Information Centre
Ramakrishna Beach is tourists’ favourite evening sojourn. Hyderabad. Tel: 040-23450444
Spacious, sun-kissed beach, is dotted on the other side by
an aquarium, the Kali Temple, Visakha Museum and
roadside restaurants offering sea food.
One of the most exquisitely sculpted shrines of
Andhra Pradesh; Simhachalam Temple is situated
among thickly wooded hills. It bears 16 pillared Natya
mantapa and 96 pillared Kalyana mantapa. The image
of the presiding deity, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy
is covered with a thick layer of sandalwood paste.
Over an hour’s drive from Visakhapatnam,
Etikoppaka is a little village on the banks of River
Varaha. The craftsmen of the village have won fame
on a national scale with toys made of soft wood called

q Picture Credits: Andhra Pradesh Tourism

 G a u r a v
Sharma, an
alumnus of
N I M
Uttarakashi
& DMAS,
Manali, is a
well known
mountaineer
& qualified instructor of various
adventure sports. He has many
mountaineering expeditions to
his credit.

ountaineering, in itself,

M enables people to express

and satisfy an inner need.
The need may be to live heroically,
or to rebel against restraint and
limitation or affirmation of the
freedom of spirit. Or, it may well be
the pleasure of physical fitness and
moral energy, elegance of style and
calculated daring. Mountaineer
Gaurav strongly feels, ‘nothing is
impossible’. Expressing his views to
“City Cheers” Gaurav reiterates, “I
am always excited about climbing.
Faith and will power keeps me going
to achieve such goals.” He feels like a
prince, once he reaches the pinnacle.
As mentioned in the previous issue
of “City Cheers”, Everest has two
routes: one from Nepal and another from
Mountaineer Gaurav’s dream to be on Top of the Tibet. And, Mountaineer Gaurav is climbing
from the South-east route. He will meet his
World is now turning into a reality. The Son of Soil colleagues, hailing from Nepal, South Africa,
and resident of desert aims to climb Mt. Everest, as Britain and Sweden at Lukla. And there on,
they start climbing individually.
a part of International Expedition. He left his home “Before climbing a Mountaineer needs to be
town, Churu (Rajasthan), on 15 March 2009 to well aware of related facts & modern devices.
Many qualities are groomed by practice and
travel to the peak of Everest. Gaurav Sharma, the preparation. Apart from being adventurous, its
first and the youngest civilian climber, spoke at dangerous too as one has to be cautious of his
next step,” informs Gaurav.
length to City Cheers about his expedition and wishes On asking of the method and the path of
his journey to be very fruitful. climbing the Everest, Gaurav keenly updates,
“Initially a Mountaineer has to set four camps.
I plan to reach Kathmandu by 25th March, fly
22 City Cheers  May 2009
While climbing high, descend a little and take rest. less than 1/3rd the oxygen as at the sea level. Typically,
Drink lots of water. climbers achieving the great summit take pictures, gain
Be careful about monsoons. Crystal clear sky their composure, briefly enjoy the view and then return
indicates strong monsoon winds. to Camp IV as quickly as possible. The risk of staying at
Know the time of climbing. Avoid all expected the summit and the exhaustion from achieving is too
troubles. Plan and then execute accordingly. great to permit climbers to enjoy the accomplishment.
Carry ‘ready to eat’ foods till the base camp only. Before monsoon the entire distance should be covered.
Only stretching exercises can be practiced. Climb time should be between 5a.m-12p.m. Speed of
Oxygen to be taken in adequate amount. wind is 1000 miles/hour. The icefall is in constant
Be ambitious & have will power. motion which occurs between 17,500-19,500 feet.
Be over cautious while inclining and declining. Move The best option, on way, is to avoid solids and increase
slowly as the human body is not adaptable to the intake of fluids. All that is carried along is special
extreme conditions. food, medicines, equipments along with immense will
power which works after a certain height.
to Lukla (9,000 feet) by a helicopter and then towards the RISKS AND DANGER
base camp (17,500 ft). Actual climb starts from Frost Bite/Cold Injuries. Due to excessive cold, fingers
here. This is also where support staff is stationed to tend to freeze. Organs closer to the brain and heart have
monitor the expedition and provide medical assistance more chances of risk.
when necessary. From base camp, climbers train and Blood clots in veins due to lack of oxygen. In such cases
acclimate (permitting the body to adjust to the decreased desk injections are self injected, to thin down the blood.
oxygen in the air) through the treacherous Khumbu There are chances of Avalanches too.
Icefall.” HELPFUL EQUIPMENTS
“Ropes are fixed on the whole route. From Camp 1 it First Aid box with ORS, glucose and vitamin tablets.
takes 45 days to reach Camp 4. Camp I is usually stocked Special kind of shoes called mittens.
by climbers as they ascend and descend the icefall. At Down suit made of duck feathers.
Camp II (21,000 feet) climbers are temporarily out of Compass needle to locate the direction.
sight and support from base camp. Nonetheless, Wireless satellite phone and Navigator.
modern devices permit the climbers to remain in contact. Nutrient powder, multi-vitamins and muti-protein tablets.
From Camp II, the travel is towards the Lhotse face Global Positioning System, to find route & temperature.
(27,920 ft mountain bordering the Everest), a steep, shiny
icy wall. Though not technically extremely difficult, but
one mis-step or slip could mean a climber’s
life. Climbing from Camp III (23,700 feet), demands
skill, strength and stamina. Many Sherpas move directly
from Camp II to Camp IV on the South Col, refusing to
stay on the Lhotse Face.
Camp IV (26,300 feet) on the Lhotse face, is the
climbers’ first overnight stay in the Death Zone (above
26,000 ft). The body slowly begins to deteriorate and die
- thus, the name “Death Zone.” The longer a climber
stays at this altitude, the more likely illnesses (HACE -
high altitude cerebral edema or HAPE - high altitude
pulmonary edema) or death will occur. Most climbers
use oxygen to climb and sleep at this altitude and
above. Generally, Sherpas refuse to sleep on the Lhotse
face and travel to either Camp II or Camp IV.
Camp IV is the final camp for the summit. From here,
climbers push through the balcony (27,500 feet) to the
Hillary Step (28,800 feet). The Hillary Step, named after
Sir. Edmond Hillary who in 1953 along with Tenzing
Norgay became the first to summit the Everest. The
Hillary Step, often becomes a bottleneck and only one
climber can climb at a time to reach the Summit.
The Summit (29,028 feet) is the highest peak on the
Earth. Due to the decreased air pressure here, there is
24 City Cheers  May 2009
 Vaastu Corner

Here are some basic Vaastu tips which help you live in peace, prosperity and harmony
North Direction: Decorate the North East. Light up with bright lights.
Maximize the use of North direction and you will be Keep fresh/fragrant flowers in the North East corner.
blessed by Lord Kuber, the God of Money. Water element in the North East makes it more strong.
Face North direction while working and studying. One can keep a fountain or any other water feature for
Be engaged by North pole energy by eating and prosperity.
drinking water towards the North. The magnetic energy flow from the North East should
Always point your feet towards the North while not be hindered by making it heavy by big furniture and
sleeping. This will help you to maintain a good health. aking storages.
South and West Direction: South East Direction:
South and West compound walls should be heavy and The Kitchen should be in the South East direction of
higher than North and East compound walls. the house.
Try to close and block the West and South directions East Direction:
as much as possible. One should face East while cooking.
More openings towards the Western and Southern
directions drain away your money and efforts. If one cannot stop the generation of negative energies,
Bedrooms should be in the South or West. one should always try to clean the negative
Master bedroom should be in the South West corner environment. Lighting pure sandalwood incense or
of the house. diffusing camphor crystals regularly gives cleansing
Do not fix a mirror on South & West walls if possible. effect by absorbing negative energies.
North East Direction: Use of sea salt while mopping the floor can be done.
Keep North East corner of your house, free from any Keep some amount of sea salt in a bowl near you to
kind of clutter. eradicate the negative energies.

Shalini Gugnani, Vaastu & Feng Shui expert, believes that a person’s destiny can be
enhanced with a harmonious balance of the Vaastu & Feng Shui elements in life.
Practicing for the last 5 years, she lays great importance on providing optimal
remedies. Heads and conducts classes at Vaastu Science Research Foundation, New
Delhi. And also conduct various seminars. Holistic Hands started by her in 2005,
holds big corporates like Singh Associate & Builders, Airtel, United Colors of Benetton,
Cable Tel Electricals, schools, export houses, factories and many other business and
residential properties, who have gained vital benefits from it. For further queries
Contact: 9810086867. e-mail: [email protected]
May 2009  City Cheers 25
 word power

mrita Kulkarni, not a particularly good-looking lady, came from a upfront and even a little rude. She spoke boldly and tried to portray that she

A middle-class, Maharashtrian family and was a professional Indian

classical music instructor. She had started her musical training at the
age of nine and she continued in the same institute, where she started
was comfortable talking about anything and everything. She would even
make harsh and embarrassing comments without any hesitation. As I
assessed her handwriting, I asked Amrita about her ex-boyfriend and the
teaching young students after she finished learning. Amrita was the fourth impact of that break-up on her life. The moment I opened up this matter,
daughter in her family, having three sisters before her. Amrita’s behavior changed considerably. She immediately became very
Amrita had become emotionally involved with her music insructor, ten years defensive in what she was saying. Her discomfort about the topic was evident
her senior, at the institute where she taught. This was the reason she and she was rather reluctant to talk about it. She had continued teaching at
continued training students there. However, a few months ago, Amrita the institute only because of that one man, and he had rejected her. Amrita
realized that her music-instructor boyfriend was not at all serious about her. tried hard to get students to give them private musical training. This proved
She left the institute feeling dejected and depressed. She then decided to to be a really daunting task. Now her main problem was finance. She was
start giving private tuitions. This wasn’t really paying off and she was bogged highly driven by the financial aspect of her career. She didn’t have students
down with the concern of income. She was thinking of beginning a course in lined up for her unlike at the institute. Besides that, since she didn’t have her
interior decoration, just to have a shift but had no confidence if she could do own musical instruments at home, she was constrained by the fact that she
well in it. had to travel to individual students’ homes to teach them. She had very few
Amrita was now married to a man her parents had chosen for her. She didn’t students and she was very worried about making money.
really want to marry him, but since she had crossed 29 years of age, she This was why she was thinking of doing a certified course in Interior
didn’t have the advantage of picking and choosing. This was one of the main Decoration. Also, everytime she thought about music or went back to it
reasons that brought her to me. She was very confused about her life; what through teaching or practicing, Amrita would be overwhelmed with memories
she should do, how she should relate to her husband, etc. of the relationship she shared with her music-instructor. Besides, Amrita
Amrita seemed very bold and confident when she came to meet me. She didn’t really enjoy her music. Amrita believed she was creative, so she knew
spoke quite a bit and was rather loud-mouthed. I realized she had brought deep down that Interior Decoration was a good idea. However, with her
only one-tenth of the standard consulting fee. When I brought this to her failure with her relationship and her current music career playing on her
notice, I was shocked at Amrita’s reaction. Any other person would, at the mind, she had completely lost faith in herself and in her capabilities. Now
most, exclaim at their mistake. Amrita, though, burst into a flood of tears. I she was very unsure whether she would do well in Interior Decoration or
told her it wasn’t a problem, that she could worry about the money later and whether she would be a flop there too.
we started with the session. REDEFINING THE PROBLEM: As I analysed Amrita’s handwriting, the first thing
THE PROBLEM: As Amrita spoke, I realized she tended to be loud-mouthed, that struck me was a strong fear of rejection that was the most prominent in

CHANDRAPRABHA V. PUPALA, Founder and CEO of Chandraprabha Graphology

Solutions (CGS) and an Internationally Certified Handwriting Analyst (USA) believes in
unlimited potential of people. Her mission is to help people understand and eradicate their
performance barriers. Amazed by the power of simple strokes leading to great successes,
she took this to the masses. She has been studying the complexities of human mind and
ways to empower inner strength of human personality. Has analyzed more than 10,000
individuals. Her secret sauce is to uncover behavioural traits of people, teams, and
corporate in a holistic manner, with just a few samples of handwriting.
Email: [email protected] Website: www.chandraprabha.com

26 City Cheers  May 2009

her handwriting. Fear of rejection is the irrational fear that others will
not accept you for who you are, what you believe, and how you act.
It is a state of mind that makes you incapable of doing or saying
anything for fear of others’ rejection, lack of acceptance, or
disapproval. Amrita’s handwriting showed strong signs of her
discomfort with accepting the truth.
Another trait that was clearly defined in her handwriting was that of
doubt, questioning and distrust in others.
As we spoke, I realized that Amrita’s fear of rejection was deeply
rooted. It began when she was just a little girl. Whe she was a kid,
Amrita was always compared to her three elder sisters. Whatever she
did was considered only in relation to what her sisters could do.
Moreover, she was criticized for something beyond her control – the
colour of her skin, as she was darker than all her sisters. Amrita grew
up with the aim of proving herself better than others, which was quite
difficult since there was always one sister or another to compete with.
She never tried to keep doing better than she did before, rather she
tried to do better than others.
Even in her own eyes, if she didn’t match up to her sisters’
capabilities, she felt worthless. Thus, Amrita never realized her own
individual way of expressing herself. She felt that no one accepted her AS A PROFESSIONAL: As a businessman, Vijay Mallya is
the way she was. Amrita’s fear of rejection also affected other areas very versatile, creative and original in his thinking. Mallya’s
in her life. She was highly self conscious. Amrita tried hard to avoid handwriting shows that he is rather impatient perpetually
making any kind of mistakes. She just couldn’t bear people criticizing in a hurry to decide things. He has a tendency to mentally
or commenting on what she did or how she did it. This made her skim over the surface of matters rather than going deep
aggressive when dealing with others. If anyone corrected anything, into root of the matter. His signature also brings to light his
Amrita would become very defensive. She would answer back rudely. high level of impatience. He needs to see things getting
Sometimes she would even insult the person so that the other person done quickly. This trait indicates his high speed of
couldn’t point out her mistake and embarrass her in society. execution, although, in the process, he may make hasty
I now understood why Amrita broke down when I informed her about decisions or in certain cases, jump to conclusions. Mallya
is very opportunist & non-conformist, allowing for
the mistake she made regarding the fees. She felt very ashamed and
maximum freedom and for thinking way out of the box.
embarrassed, but judged and corrected, which she just couldn’t bear.
AS A PERSON: Vijay Mallya’s strokes that indicate his trait
of superficial thinking are made subconsciously, implying
FEAR OF REJECTION that he doesn’t want others to see what he is seeing. Mr.
Financial life Emotional life Career Mallya’s attitude is also advantageous to him as it causes
Fear of having less Aggressiveness, Confusion, Worried him to adapt to new situations and overcome obstacles in
income than others becoming defensive, about the success in far lesser time than other individuals. Vijay Mallya’s
rude, insulting her new career difficulty in keeping his focus on an issue works to his
advantage as it brings in speed and versatility and allows
AFTER THE SESSION: Amrita did the handwriting analysis as well as the him to see all faces of a problem before choosing to act.
signature designing module with us. We worked on removing the fear He has the ability to deal with any and all kinds of
of rejection through slowly changing her handwriting. Amrita’s fear of situations.
rejection became significantly reduced. She didn’t fear so much now AS A FRIEND: Vijay Mallya is very adaptable and open to
what people had to say about her. This made her a friendly person; change. This allows him to make friends quickly and also
she stopped responding rudely or harshly to people around her. This to move on to different circles of friends quite frequently.
improved her relationship with her family as well as with her His handwriting indicates a combination of certain
husband. She stopped comparing him with her ex-boyfriend and thinking patterns that shows that he has the potential to be
started accepting him as a friend. Since Amrita stopped comparing very freely expressive. This trait and his tendency to spend
herself with others, though her life is essentially the same, her extravagantly draws people to him. His spontaneous
internal level of happiness is much higher than before. Amrita nature also makes him popular among friends.
successfully completed her course in Interior Decoration and is now
working on an interesting assignment.

May 2009  City Cheers 27

 Fleet Street

hoose uniform colour schemes so that all your and if I have to party I just wear a beautiful dupatta over

C outfits you take match each other. This way you

can minimize the burden of clothes you are
taking for your journey.
it to give a chill look. I pack loads of artificial jewellery
because I love them and since it is artificial I am not
afraid of being robbed.”
Opt for natural fabrics which dry quickly and are wrinkle A few important points to keep in mind before going in
free. Go in for printed and solid coloured fabrics which for your much awaited holiday to travel hassle free.
hide dirt or stain from being noticed on your clothing. Without much weight: The basic rule is to travel without
Wear blouses or kurties over boat cut or slightly flared much weight. Therefore go in for wrinkle-free clothes
pants or short tunics with loose trousers or you can opt that are also light in weight, inorder to carry them easily.
for a short kurta and a long straight pant. Clothes: A pair of dark blue or black jeans. A few pairs
Indo-western silhouettes make ideal wear since they of various colored tops which you can change and wear
appear chic and also tend to hide figure faults. Do not with the jeans. These tops can be worn over a few full
ever make the mistake of wearing voluminous clothes, length skirts. A short black dress, few designer scarves
like heavy dupattas. Do remember to travel light be in and belts can enhance your dress.
clothes, jewellery or accessories. Mix-n-match: This option is great for trips. Take few
Rita Sahni who is excited of going to Kolkata, talks about three–fourth short skirts, dresses and a few plain pants.
her travel plans, “I like to travel light. I am carrying a few Three-fourths can be worn with t-shirts, skirts can be
basic clothings, specially reversible ones as there is no worn with short tops. Similarly, pants can be worn with a
hassle of washing often. A pair of black shoes, which goes Versace shirt or a plain shirt. With a few clothes you can
well with all my clothes make a big difference.
and jewellery, is a must Roll your clothes tightly: Roll your clothes tightly and
apart from a simple hold them together with an elastic band. This way you
chain, ear tops and a can keep them wrinkle free and at the same time save
bangle.” space in your suit case.
Kartika Mukherjee Ready to wear: Keep a set which is ready to wear. In the
her friend said, same way pack your shirts, pants and under garments
“Besides few pairs together.
of jeans and Some funky jewellery: Includes ear hoops, long beaded
colourful tops necklaces and chunky or beaded bracelets.
which I often Shoes: Black and white goes well with every dress. For
mix-n-match, I ordinary occasions you can invest in flip–flops.
take a few Purses: Purses should be of the same colour like your
pairs of shoes. Sling bags are easy to carry options.
salwar Whenever you are on a travelling spree, carry minimum
kameez , stuff but adequate, no real jewellery or costly clothing like
heavy zari saris etc. Go in for easy to wash, easy to dry
and easy to wear clothings.

q Golden Reejsinghani

28 City Cheers  May 2009

The summer holidays are on, and every one
of us starts planning for an outing. But before
embarking on your journey you should
understand that travelling light
makes you a happy traveller.
Half the battle of going on a
vacation is won if you
know what and how to
take things with you.
Before packing your bags
you should select the clothes
you want to take for your
holidays.
 Contours
Do you feel that your eating or dieting may be a problem?
Do you think you might have anorexia or bulimia?
Do other people worry that you have lost too much weight?
Do you have a friend or relative, son or daughter, who is
having a problem of this sort?
Does it not deal with the problems of being overweight?

e all have different eating habits.

W There are a large number of

“eating styles” which can allow us to
stay healthy. However, there are some which
are driven by an intense fear of becoming fat
and which actually damage our health. These
are called “eating disorders” and involve: eating
too much, eating too little and
using harmful ways to get rid of calories.
There are two eating disorders, Anorexia
Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. It describes
both the disorders separately. When the
symptoms of Anorexia and Bulimia are often
mixed, one is said to have “bulimarexia”. The
pattern of symptoms can change over time.
One may start with Anorexic symptoms, but
later on develop symptoms of Bulimia.
Who gets eating disorders?
Females are 10 times more likely than males to
suffer from Anorexia or Bulimia. This occurs
often in people who have been overweight as
children.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA
What are the signs?
You find that you:
worry a lot about your weight
eat comparitively less
exercise more and hard to burn off calories
can’t stop losing weight, even when you are
below a safe weight margin
smoke frequently or chew gum to keep your Dr. Sanjeev Kalra, M.D Consultant Psychiatrist, Psycho-Therapist and
weight down Counselor. Consultant Ayurvedic Physician at ‘THE MIND CLINIC’, C-462,
lose interest in sex Sector-19, Noida. Visiting Consultant at Goodwill Hospital, Sector-40,
in girls or women - monthly menstrual periods Noida & The Manor, Friends Colony East, New Delhi. Visiting Lecturer at
become irregular or stop DBAMC & H, Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab. Mob. 9811733441.
e-mail:[email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.niramayathemindclinic.in
30 City Cheers  May 2009
in men or boys - erections and wet dreams stop, shoplift, to satisfy the urge to binge.
testicles shrink. Afterwards you feel stuffed and bloated – and probably
When does it start? guilty and depressed. You try to get rid of the food you
Usually in the teenage years. have eaten by making yourself sick, or by purging with
It affects around: laxatives. It is very uncomfortable and tiring, but you
One in every one hundred fifty fifteen-year-old girl find yourself trapped in a routine of binge eating, and
One in every thousand fifteen-year-old boy vomiting and/or purging.
It can also start in childhood or in later stage of life. Binge Eating Disorder
What happens? This is a pattern of behaviour that has recently been
You take in very few calories every day. You eat recognised. It involves dieting and binge eating, but not
“healthily” - fruit, vegetables and salads - but they don’t vomiting. It is distressing, but much less harmful than
give your body enough energy. Bulimia. Sufferers are more likely to be overweight.
You may also exercise, use slimming pills, or smoke How can Anorexia and Bulimia affect you?
more often to keep your weight down. If you aren’t getting enough calories, you may have
You don’t want to eat yourself, but you buy veggies and Psychological symptoms:
cook for other people. Sleep badly.
You still get as hungry as ever, in fact you can’t stop Find it difficult to concentrate or think clearly about
thinking about food. anything other than food or calories.
You are scared of putting on weight, and more Feel depressed.
determined to keep your weight well below normal. Lose interest in other people.
Your family may be the first to notice your thinness and Become obsessive about food & eating (and sometimes
weight loss. other things such as washing, cleaning or tidiness).
You may find yourself lying to other people about the Physical symptoms:
amount you are eating and weight loss. Find it harder to eat because your stomach has shrunk.
You may also develop some of the symptoms of Feel tired, weak and cold as your body’s metabolism
Bulimia. Unlike someone with Bulimia Nervosa, your slows down.
weight may continue to be very low. Become constipated.
BULIMIA NERVOSA Not grow to your full height.
What are the signs? Get brittle bones which break easily.
You find that you: Be unable to get pregnant.
worry excessively about your weight Damage your liver, particularly if you drink alcohol.
binge eat In extreme cases, you may die. Anorexia Nervosa has
forcibly vomit and/or use laxatives to get rid of calories the highest death rate of any psychological disorder.
have irregular menstrual periods If you vomit, you may:
feel tired and guilty lose the enamel on your teeth (it is dissolved by the
stay a normal weight, in spite of your efforts to diet. stomach acid in your vomit)
When does it start? get a puffy face (salivary glands in your cheeks swell up)
Bulimia Nervosa often starts in the mid-teens. notice your heart beating irregularly - palpitations
However, people don’t usually seek help for it until (vomiting disturbs the balance of salts in your blood)
their early to mid-twenties because they are able to hide feel weak and tired all the time
it, even though it affects their work and social life. damage your kidneys
People most often seek help when their life changes - have epileptic fits
the start of a new relationship or having to live with be unable to get pregnant.
other people for the first time. If you use laxatives regularly, you may:
About four out of every hundred women suffer from have persistent stomach pain
Bulimia, at some stage in their lives. Comparitively ratio get swollen fingers
of men is lower. find that you can’t go to the toilet any more without
BINGEING using laxatives (using laxatives all the time can damage
You raid the fridge or go out and buy lots of fattening the muscles in your bowel)
foods that you would normally avoid. You then go back have huge weight swings. You lose lots of fluid when
to your room, or home, and eat it all quickly, in secret. you purge, but take it all in again when you drink water
You might get through packets of biscuits, several boxes afterwards (no calories are lost using laxatives).
of chocolates and a number of cakes in just a couple of
hours. You may even take someone else’s food, or .....to be continued

May 2009  City Cheers 31

Country Great Britain
Residence London
Date of birth 15 May 1987
Age 21
Place of birth Glasgow
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 84 kg
Turned pro 2005
Plays Right-handed, two-handed backhand
Career prize money US$7,058,872
Singles
Career record: 181–67
Career titles: 11
Highest ranking: No. 4 (8 September 2008)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open 4R (2007, 2009)
French Open 3R (2008)
Wimbledon QF (2008)
US Open F (2008)
Major tournaments
Tour Finals SF (2008)
Doubles
Career record: 22–34
Highest ranking: No. 89 (2 April 2007)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open 1R (2006)
French Open 2R (2006)
Wimbledon 1R (2005)
US Open 2R (2008)
Japan to India
Biomass Generation, Yoga and Buddhism
“… to prevent global warming, generate power from food waste and plastic waste without
incineration, and to secure emergency energy supply.” Recently, Yuji Asai from Japan was
in India to devise first of its kind machine that generates electricity by utilizing home waste.
To prevent global warming, extraordinary weather and sea-level rise, we need to improve
our global environment immediately by creating a recycling society. Japan Eco Power
Corporation carried out a research on biomass fuel cell power generation using raw
garbage and it succeeded. They also succeeded in the fuel cell power generation using
Plastic waste. Dr.Uchida, socialist, paid a visit to Dalai Lama. He said, “I am impressed
by the buddhist teaching.” Along with them was the Yoga instructor Noriko Masaya. She
learnt Ayurveda from India and opened many centers in Japan.

“Coffee
House” in
Delhi
Saakshi Tanwar, Dir.
Gurbir Garewal,
Producers Mahim
Mittal and Asit Mittal
with Sandeep
Marwah and Aman Dhaliwal were present for the premiere. Book “The
“Educate Children making of coffee house, A feature film”, written by Krishan Kumar was
launched. The story is about a coffee house located in a metro city. Varied
on Cancer” people visit regularly, develop a relation with each other and a closeness
DR. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM generates amongst them. Slowly the Coffee House crowd starts realizing that
Presenting the inaugural address at just sitting in the coffee house and simply discussing the issues leads to
RGCON 2009, Dr A P J Abdul nowhere. Series of events take place and a new beginning starts. This film
Kalam said that there was need to depicts youth, unemployed, retired & senior citizens with humor, pain and joy
spread awareness on cancer from which will make the audience search for few answers in their own lives.
primary school itself. This year the
theme of RGCON is Lung Cancer. Forgotten songs of IPTA
“Since 90% of lung cancer cases NMML’S Foundation Day
owe their origin to tobacco smoking,
Recently an evening of forgotten songs of
there is need to accelerate the
IPTA by Sumangala Damodaran was
campaign against tobacco and
organised by Nehru Memorial Museum and
alcohol consumption”, said Dr
Library to mark their Foundation Day. It’s a
Kalam. A book entitled “Lung
unique institution which attempts to
Cancer Update – 2009” was
recollect, preserve and reconstruct the history of the anti-imperialist struggle
released by him. Distinguished
in India. The programme kicked off with the introduction of the programme
faculty numbering around 600
and artists by Dr. Madan Gopal, followed by a performance by vocalist
drawn from prestigious national and
Sumangala Damodaram accompanied by Deepak Castelino (Guitar) and
international institutes participated.
Tapam Mullick (Cello). A large number of musicians were part of IPTA: Ravi
In India, lung cancer is most
Shankar, Salil Chowdhury, Sahir Ludhianvi, Prem Dhawan, Jyotirindra Moitra,
common in males in urban registries.
etc. Songs that were written have a wide range of forms and styles of singing.

34 City Cheers  May 2009

 ANATOLIA SUMMER
The bed spread for summer 09
This summer cool your senses and start each day with a dewy fresh feeling.
The perfect solution provided by Maishaa, India’s prestigious bed linen &
home furnishing brand as it launches ANATOLIA SUMMER,the invigorating
bed linen collection for summer 09. Woven in premium Thai Cotton, it is an amalgamation of glamour, fashion and
nature with delicately designed and embroidered patterns and motifs. Exquisite bed spreads and pillows are a
guarantee of comfort and peace. Anatolia Summer has a rich gamut of colour patterns like earthy hues and soft
pastels set off by brilliant contrasting tones of Bosphorus, Pergamon, Mardin, Tuz Golu, Zultanite, Kekova amid the
backdrop of Mughal and Persian floral motifs. Created using 100% cotton jacquard, with a Mercerization finish it is
formaldehyde free and anti bacterial thus making it ideal for a green and clean feeling. Price: Rs 11795 to Rs 1595.

GlacialLight by Focus Brands

GLACIALTECH CUTTY MALT
GlacialLight the new sub-brand of GlacialTech is launching a Cutty Sark, one of the most
new LED lighting product. The Light bar is ideal for replacing respected names in Scotch whisky
current CFLs or incandescent lights. This extends from cove has launched its first premium
lighting, cabinet and bookshelf low intensity lighting, to Blended Malt Scotch Whisky in
something brighter and more appealing. For the first time, these India. Cutty Malt is a 100% pure
LED’s are dimmable without the risk of breakage. The Light Bar malted barley whisky made from
has built-in dimming circuit, extendable light bar, patented marrying the finest single malts
modular design, no dark zones and seamless connection, built- after aging them to perfection in
in LED driver for uniform light output, no-polarity design, oak casks. It offers a classic
prevents incorrect installation, is available upto 120cm. Ideal Speyside character with medium
for torches, streetlights and spotlights. It is “Instant on” with no golden, clear and bright colour;
warm up time needed. Do not emit harmful UV rays. Has aromas of light floral, vanilla,
long life cycle. For more information visit with a hint of coconut; and a full
http://www.galciallight.com flavour with the youthful Speyside
sweetness. Priced at Rs. 2500 for
a 750 ml bottle. Available
at Select hotels and stores.

Waist & Tummy Trim Gel by Pure essence

VLCC PURE POLICE
VLCC SHAPE UP WAIST & TUMMY GEL, POLICE - the Italian
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Available at all cosmetic stores and chemist outlets. PRICE: Rs. 600 silver. Available across all leading stores.

May 2009  City Cheers 35

 alaysia is one of the Southeast Asia’s top travel there are cascading waterfalls, evergreen forest and

M destinations, possessing an endless range of

attractions and activities that cater for the
cosmopolitan shopper, cultural enthusiast, historical buff
mountains with fascinating panoramic views.
Reach is very convenient. Most international flights land
at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). AirAsia
and nature-love. It is a multicultural society, with Malays, flights use LCC terminal. Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Chinese and Indians living side by side. The Malays are Airport handles chartered and turboprop aircraft. Other
the largest community, follows Muslim religion, speak international airports are Johor Bahru, Langkawi,
Melayu and are largely responsible for the political Malacca, Penang, Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching & Miri.
fortunes of the country. Multiculturalism has not only Malaysia has a well connected railway network in the
made Malaysia a gastronomical paradise, it has also Peninsula. It is possible to reach Malaysia via Thailand
made Malaysia home to hundreds of colourful festivals. and Singapore. Kuala Lumpur Railway station has direct
Malaysians are very laid back, warm and friendly. trains from Butterworth and Singapore.
Geographically, there are two parts to the country, 11 Long-distance buses into Malaysia run from Brunei,
states in the peninsula of Malaysia and two states on the Indonesian Borneo, Singapore and Thailand.
northern part of Borneo. Cool hideaways, warm, sandy Ferries connect various points in Peninsular Malaysia.
beaches and rich, humid mangroves. Malaysia’s key From airport one can take a bus, Budget Taxi Service,
attraction is its extreme contrast. Towering skyscrapers Luxury Taxi Service, Limousine Taxi or metered taxi.
look down upon wooden houses built on stilts, and five- Inside the city there are buses, Car rental services, taxis
star hotels sit several metres away from ancient reefs. For and tricycles for hire.
the perfect holiday full of surprises, eclectic cultures and KUALA LUMPUR
natural wonders, the Most of the flights land at Kuala Lumpur. There’s so
place is Malaysia. much to see and do in KL, lots of good hotels, good
From its lush jungles and food, fascinating shops, tranquil temples, glorious
rainforests to the wide gardens and bustling markets. Choose a hotel which is
sand beaches, Malaysia close to the shopping centres of Sungei Wang, Bukit
has a myriad of sights and Bintang, Lot 10 and Low Yat Plaza, and within walking
landscapes to explore. distance of the Petronas Towers. Kaula Lumpur, is in the
From large, developed heart of Asia, so is rightly termed as “Asian Tiger City”.
island of Penang to small History of Kaula Lumpur
rock outcrops jutting out Before journeying out to this beautiful place you must be
from the sea, the country aware of its old and gold aspects. Kuala Lumpur was a
with its rich marine flora small mining town at the converging point of Gombak
and fauna, has earned a and the Klang rivers. Inspite of its ups and downs, Kuala
reputation of being a Lumpur became the capital of the state of Selangor in the
diver’s paradise. For late 1800s, and later the capital of the federal Malay states
land-based adventurers, of Perak, Selangor, Negeri, Sembilan, and Pahang. Kuala
36 City Cheers  May 2009
Lumpur has progressed considerably since then. City is Places to Visit
best begun from Merdeka Square. National Monument, the Parliament House, Menara
Time to Visit Kuala Lumpur, Istana Nagara (National Palace) & the
Kuala Lumpur is hot and humid all year round, and rain National Science Center. For historians, worth visiting
can be expected any time. Average temperature during are Royal Malaysian Armed Force Museum, Royal
the day is around 96°F and at night around 65°F. It rains Malaysian Airforce Museum, Museum of Asian Arts,
from February to May and September to November. MISC Museum, Maybank Numismatic Museum etc.
The city is therefore a year-round destination, but it is Recreational parks, like Titiwangsa Recreational Park,
best to check the local festivals or cultural events. Taman Tasik Permaisuri and the Botanic Gardens of
Where to Stay University of Malaya are in the outskirts of KL.
The city is dotted with five star hotels with excellent Important Festivals and Exhibitions
facilities. Besides, there are medium and budget hotels, Kuala Lumpur observes Chinese New Year, Prophet
youth hostels and apartments available. Mohammed Birthday, Deepavali, Christmas,
Eating out Thaipousam, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. Important days and
Tourist gets a palate of international cuisine, spicy malay events like National Day, City Day, Flora Festival and the
food, exotic Chinese & Indian cuisine. Traditional Malay weeklong Shopping Carnival are celebrated. Malaysian
dishes - Satay, Nasi remak, Lendang, Noodles, chicken Fest mainly is a two week long celebration. There are
rice, Roti Kanai, Murtabak should not be missed. many sporting events held in Kuala Lumpur every year.
Wearables Shopping at Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is hot and steamy, and one has to struggle Shopping at Kuala Lumpur, is a shoppers’ paradise.
a bit with deciding what to wear. Most guys wear jeans or Head for KLCC, malls in Petronas Twin Towers for
pants and button down shirts and nobody wears shorts. international designer labels, quality stuff and made-in-
How to travel from one place to another Malaysia items. For exquisitely malay, one should not
KL has two metro lines. The Putra line runs from the miss pewter, sonket and batik items. Central market is a
Putra Terminal at Gombak to Kelana Jaya. The Star line good place for crafts and souvenirs. Bargain hunters can
runs from Sentul Timur. KL also has a monorail line that test their skills at Pasar Malam (night markets), Petaling
links KL Central train station to Titiwangsa metro station. street, Pasar Tani and many others. One can get Indian
Fastest way is by ERL (express rail link), however if you stuff like sarees, jewellery & edibles at Little India. There
are traveling in a group, it will be cheaper by taxi. Other are many duty free shops in the shopping complexes and
choices include public bus and KTM Kommuter. the airport.
Attractions of Kuala Lumpur The Chow
Petronas Twin Towers, provides a bird’s-eye view of the Kit Market -
cosmopolitan metropolis and houses a multitude of the largest
shops and art galleries. For a look at the city’s past, take wet market
in the 1910 Moorish-inspired Old Railway Station, the in Kuala
riverside Jamek Mosque and the Sultan Abdul Samad Lumpur,
building with its 131-foot clock tower. Take a stroll offers lots of
around the historical Merdaka square, ancient mosques o t h e r
and museums. Do not miss the night markets, known as culinary
Pasar Malam. Nights in Kuala Lumpur are a different options to
scene altogether; the city glittering with lights and the t h e
nightclubs, bars, karaoke lounges, cinema, theaters adventurous
thronging with people. people.
 A FIGHT Bhavan and Madhya Pradesh SNEHA CHAKRADHAR
FROM Tourism. Date: 12th May 09 (Tuesday)
INFINITY TO Venue: Bhavan’s Hall, Bharatiya Time: 6:30 pm
VICINITY Vidya Bhavan, Kasturba Gandhi Entry: Free
An exhibition Marg, New Delhi Venue: Main Building, IIC
of paintings by BELIBAAS - THE NAKED TRUTH INSTALLATION & DRAWINGS
Saurabh Date: 30th April & 1st May 09 by Puneet Kaushik
Narang Time: 6:30 pm Date:18 April - 16th May 09
Date: 1st-4th Duration: 80 mins. Time: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
May 2009 Entry: Free Venue: Art Konsult, 23, Hauz
Time: 10:00 Ph.: 011-24619431 (IIC) Khas Village, New Delhi-16
am - 8:00 pm Writer & Director: Aziz Quereshi EXHIBITION (SCULPTURES &
Venue: Visual Venue: Auditorium, IIC, SERIGRAPHS)
Arts Gallery, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 “Ltd Edns” Group Show
IHC, EXPRESSIONS Date: 17th April - 1st June 09
Lodhi Road, Painting by Girish Adannavar Time: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
New Delhi-3 Date: 25th April to 5th May 09 Venue: Gallery Threshold, F-
GANESHA NATYALAYA Time: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm 213/A, Lado Sarai
CELEBRATES Venue: Triveni Gallery, Triveni TIMELESS TREASURES
35th ANNUAL DAY Kala Sangam, Mandi House Art Elements Gallery presents
Date: 2nd May 09 (Saturday) RUBARU: RAJ & KAPUR IN Date: 23rd April - 25th May 09
Time: 6:00 pm RUSSIA musical show Ph. : 011-26835070, 41672222
Entry: Free Date: 9 May 2009(Saturday) www.crowneplazadelhi.com
Place: Kamani Auditorium Time: 7:30 p.m. Venue: Art Elements Gallery, 31
Mandi House, New Delhi-1 Entry: Tickets available at the Hauz Khas Village.
THE HUMAN CONDITION venue two days before the show DRAWING TRAILS
EXHIBITION and at www.bookmyshow.com Date: 17th April to 30th May 09
Painting by Rajesh Srivastav For telebooking & home delivery, Time: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Date: 5th-10th May 09 call 39895050 Venue: Gallery Escape, 16
Time: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Written by: Smita Bharti Community Centre, New Friends
Venue: Visual Arts Gallery, IHC, THE HUNGRY HEART FESTIVAL Colony, New Delhi – 110025
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-3 Venue: India Islamic Cultural THE SECRET LAW OF
FOOTPATH (HINDI SOCIAL Centre ( IICC ), 87/88, Lodhi ATRACTION WORKSHOP
COMEDY DRAMA) by Mask Road, New Delhi - 110003 Date: 03 May, 2009
Group WITH A PINCH OF SALT Time: 09:00 AM - 05:30 PM
Date: 29th May 09(Friday) EXHIBITION (Painting & Sculpture) Venue: India International Center
Time: 7:30 pm Date: 16th April to 16th May 09 GHALIB IN NEW DELHI
Entry: Free Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (Hindi Comedy)
Ph: 9811252751 Sundays Closed Date: 03 May, 2009
Written and Directed by: Prosun Venue: Gallery Nature Morte, A- Time: 07:30 PM - 09:15 PM
Venue: Poorva Sanskritik Kendra 1, Neeti Bagh, New Delhi-49 Shri Ram Centre, New Delhi
(PSK), 14 Laxmi Nagar, District “32º Fahrenheit” (Photography) BENCHMARK SIX SIGMA
Centre, Vikas Marg, Delhi-92 EXHIBITION by André J. LEAN MANAGAEMENT
EXHIBITION (Photography) Fanthome as Earth Day TRAINING
“The Sanchi Stupas & The celebrations Date: 4 May, 2009 (Monday)
Beginnings of Buddhist Art” Time: 8:30 am - 6:00 pm Time: 9:00 AM
An Exhibition of Photographs by (Monday to Friday) Venue: Hotel Radisson, New Delhi
Benoy K. Behl. 11:00 am - 6:00 pm (Saturday) CLASSICAL MUSIC WORKSHOP
Date: 24th April - 8th May 09 Venue: American Center, New Date: 15 May, 2009 (Friday)
Time: 9:00 am-1:00 pm Delhi – 110001 Time: 9:00 AM
Presented by Bharatiya Vidya BHARATNATYAM RECITAL BY Venue: Swaranjali, New Delhi

To be listed in these pages post to [email protected]

38 City Cheers  May 2009

 ice President Mr M Hamid Ansari presented the in the quality of our people. Recent events have

V prestigious International Awards for Young

People (IAYP) at the Vice President’s House in
the capital on 21 April. Mr. Ansari is the Patron for
demonstrated the destructive force of youth energy.
In India, Ms Naina Lal Kidwai, Mr Anand Mahindra,
Mrs Mala Ramadorai (w/o TCS Chairman), Dr Sanat
IAYP awards in India. Kaul and Mr Ishaat Hussain (CFO Tata Sons) are the
IAYP is an international youth development program Trustees of IAYP.
currently operating in over 114 countries. The program “IAYP operates from the best of schools across India.
seeks to channelise youthful energy into meaningful Equally it works with organizations for the disadvantaged
effort leading to the growth of young people. Award and poor. The Award list gives a true picture of the
program is meant for young people between 14-25 years. sweep of activity across the country. “Special Projects”
The Award Programme was first introduced in India in include the Salaam Baalak Trust, Delhi, Sir Syed Group
1962 with a view to encourage the youth in the country of Schools, Ramakrishna Mission’s Blind Boys
to achieve their full potential within the framework of Academy, Emmanuel Ministry, Kolkata; and Olcott
Indian society, to improve their intellectual well-being. Memorial School, Chennai. Rural village schools in
In 1966 it was taken up by the Indian Public Schools Vellore, Tamil Nadu (Kaniyambadi & Pennathur) are
Conference, when a number of well-known residential also included”, said Vice Admiral Suren Govil, National
schools made a start. Most of these continue with the Chairman of IAYP in India.
Award to the present day. Three International Visitors were special invitees to the
Having made a beginning with just 500 participants per award function. These were:
year, today this number has grown to nearly 14,000. Ms Sue Walker – Regional Director Asia Pacific Region,
Almost 90% of the delivery of the Award is through the IAYP. Based in Sydney Australia.
schools in urban India. IAYP is an NGO with marginal Ms. Cristal de Saldanha – Head of Programmes,
support from corporate sector. It is a full member of the International Office, London
International Award Association Ms. Becky Hirt, Head of Communications, International
Addressing on the occasion, the Vice President said that Office, London
the key determinant of our future as a vibrant society lies

May 2009  City Cheers 39

 Happening India FINANCIAL NEWS ANNOUNCES
INDIA SUMMIT AND APPOINTS
AXIENCE AS MEDIA PARTNER
PANTALOONS NEW RETAILERS Following
on from
t h e
success of
I n d i a
Investors’
DAULAT NAGAR, BORIVALI Summit in
Residents of Daulat Nagar can 2 0 0 8 ,
Pantaloons new retailers are looking out finally heave a sigh of relief. Fi n a n c i a l
for new properties. This is because very Long pending work of Western News has announced the India
few retailers are actually signing new Railways for the construction of Summit 2009, an India focused
properties, which is why they are getting foot-over-bridge would be business conference in Marriott
good deals which include six month of free complete by April end. “We are Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London.
rentals. Pantaloons’ new deals with the making all efforts to ensure Financial News is Europe’s leading
developers are on a revenue sharing basis. that the work is completed by weekly newspaper covering the
They will have a minimum guarantee and May end, and commuters don’t investment banking, securities and
will be sharing 4% of their revenues with have to face hardships,” said fund management industry. The
the developers. Currently there are 1,000 the project incharge. FOB was India Summit 2009 is aimed at
stores which the company expects to slated to complete by Nov. last delivering unmatched insight into
expand by 2013. They have already year. Following the closure, WR the domestic as well as global
signed properties for another 13 million sq decided to construct a subway development of India. It intends to
ft of land but it seems there are delays in its place. But WR finally examine possible impact of a
coming from the developers and not from decided to construct an FOB. global economic downturn on
Pantaloons’ side. Pantaloon Retail is open The Municipal Corporation India as well as provide a unique
to strategic investor–dilution of stake or has already paid Rs 3.5 crore meeting point and networking
leveraging further. But this is the first time for 3 bridges that are being platform for all those wishing to do
that Pantaloon Retail being open to a built at Daulat Nagar, Dahisar business with or in India. It will also
strategic investor. and Goregaon. discuss on Capital markets,
Infrastructure, Technology, Media,
Telecommunication, Real Estate,
GOOGLE CHROME
etc. 500 delegates including
Google launched their first public version of open senior executives representing
source browser named Chrome. As of now available reputed firms from across the
only for Windows, this browser will most probably eat globe are expected to attend this
into Microsoft’s Internet Explorer’s market share. It is a summit. Axience, an India-based
good news for web developer guys as Internet Explorer business services firm, is its Media
always made it hard to develop standard compliant Partner for the conference. Axience
websites. Chrome has plenty of features. Web had provides research and analytics
evolved from mainly simple text pages to rich, solutions to financial service
interactive applications and a browser. Chrome is not just a browser, but also institutions, consulting firms and
a modern platform for web pages and applications. general industries.

Maruti to launch Ritz in May 2009

Maruti Suzuki is expected to launch its small car, Ritz. Built on the
platform of Maruti Splash, Ritz will be available with a 1.2 litre KB
series petrol engine and a 1.3 litre multijet diesel engine. It will be
placed in the segment between A-Star and Swift and is expected to
be priced at Rs.4-5 lakh. The car will be competing with Hyundai’s
i10 and i20, Skoda’s Fabia, Ford’s Fusion, Fiat’s Palio and Tata
Motors’ Indica Vista. Though Maruti Suzuki has not announced an
official launch date, media reports say that the company will launch
the Ritz before Honda launches the Jazz, which will be out in June.

40 City Cheers  May 2009

Sweet Mango Pickle

Green Chilli Pickle

42 City Cheers  May 2009

SWEET MANGO PICKLE
Ingredients
1 kg raw mangoes cut into pieces
1 kg grated jaggery q Golden Reejsinghani
2 tbsp cumin seeds
6 dry red chillies broken into bits
2 tbsp coarse salt Pickles add a zing to the meals. Therefore every community in
1 tbsp turmeric powder. India prepares pickles in summer for the whole year round so that
Method
Apply salt and turmeric powder on if there is nothing in the house one can serve ordinary chapatti
the mangoes and set aside for a and rice with choice of pickles. Below are few recipes of tangy and
whole day. Squeeze dry and mix in tasty pickles which will add zest to even most prosaic of meals.
the remaining ingredients. Put it in an
airtight jar. Seal the jar well and place
it in the sun for 15 days. GINGER PICKLE
Ingredients
½ kg ginger grated
1 cup tamarind juice
250 grams grated jaggery
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp salt
Method
Heat 2 tablespoons oil and fry the ginger well. Heat the
tamarind juice and mix in the grated jaggery. Cook till the
GREEN CHILI PICKLE jaggery melts. Mix in ginger and all the remaining
Ingredients ingredients into it. Cook till the syrup is of one-thread
500 grams thick green chillies consistency. Now cool and bottle it airtight. Can be eaten
6 tbsp ground mustard seeds immediately.
4 tbsp turmeric powder
4 tbsp salt
1 cup oil
4 tbsp lime juice
Method
Wash the chillies well and slit them
in the middle halfway through. Mix
together the remaining ingredients.
Stuff into the chillies. Put them into
an airtight container and keep in the
sun for atleast two days.

Mango Pickle

May 2009  City Cheers 43

 ONION PICKLE
Ingredients
250 grams small white onions
2 tbsp salt
White vinegar
2 tbsp sliced beetroots
1 tbsp sugar
Method
Peel the onions. Put the salt,
onion, sugar and beetroot in a
glass bottle. Pour vinegar into
the bottle until the onions are
fully covered. Seal the jar and
use after 2 days.

Onion Pickle

AAMLA MURABBA
Ingredients
500 grams whole aamlas
500 grams sugar
1 tbsp cardamom seeds
Method
Wash the aamlas well and
poke holes in the aamla with a
fork or a needle. Boil them in
water to which a little paan ka
chuna has been added. Strain
out the water. Now take a glass
of water and sugar along with
cardamom seeds in a pan. Stir
it. When the sugar has melted
add aamlas and cook over a
slow fire till the syrup turns
thick. Cool and bottle.

Aamla Murabba

44 City Cheers  May 2009

 Think Tank
substance known so far and is 58 times
ANSWERS TO CITY CHEERS
CONTEST NO. 15 harder than the next hardest mineral on
1. 9.6 trillion kms, 2. Issac the Earth. Only a diamond can cut a
Newton, 3. The Starry The very word ‘Diamond’ comes from the diamond.
Messenger, 4. Water, Greek word ‘Adamas’ meaning  Diamonds exist in all colours; the rarest of
5. Upper Arm Bone, 6. Fritz ‘unconquerable’. Diamond is nature’s them being red.
CONTEST NO.16 Gunther, 7. Fluorides, miracle. Each diamond is the result of an  The youngest diamond is 900 million
 Which is the only continent without reptiles and snakes? 8. Chlorine Salts, 9. Radha amazing natural journey, which has turned years old.
 Who invented the scissors? & Raja Reddy, 10. Pradeep an accident element into the world’s most  The world’s largest diamond of gem
 Which planet has no magnetic field, no seasons and no precious jewel? Deep beneath the Earth’s quality is ‘Cullinan’ which was found in
crust diamonds were crystallized at South Africa in 1905. Uncut it weighed
satellite?
tremendously high pressure and temperature. 3106 carats.
 Which is the longest commonly used word in English ENTRY COUPON CITY There they remained, until powerful sources
CHEERS CONTEST NO.16  The highest price paid per carat at auction
language with all the letters in alphabetical order? carried them upwards within volcanic molten for diamond is US $ 1 million for 0.95
April 09
 How much old the earth is estimated to be? Name:............................... lava only to be concealed again by falling ash carat pulpish- red diamond.
 In which sea, fishes cannot survive? and rock. Only a small number of diamonds  The quality of a diamond depends upon
Age:..................................
 Lord Shiva, also as the lord of dance is known by which managed to survive this remarkable journey. 3Cs- clarity, cut and carat.
name? Address:............................ Of those that did, only a tiny proportion that  The diamonds are weighed in carat. The
 Which only place on the European mainland is under ......................................... have been found are of size and quality that word ‘carat’ comes from the ‘carobe’ tree,
possession of England? Email:................................ can be cut, polished and set into jewellery. whose seed was used for centuries as the
Some Amazing Facts of Diamond standard of weighing precious stones.
 How many cricket teams are participating in IPL being held Ph.:...................................
 Diamonds are composed of almost pure  The custom of wearing a diamond ring on
in South Africa? carbon. Although one of the Earth’s most the fourth finger of the left hand comes
 Which bollywood producer-director was the creator of common substance making graphite and from ancient Egyptians who believed that
mega TV serial ‘Mahabharat’? pencil lead, only in extreme rare the ‘Vena amoris’ (vein of love) runs
circumstances and over billion of years directly from this finger to the heart.
RULES FOR CONTEST NO. 16 (May ‘09) does it manifest itself as the world’s most
Participants should be between 8-18 yrs.
 Diamonds are now the ultimate accessory.
Last date for receiving entries for Contest no. 16 is 25th May ‘09. Post to A&A Communication Pvt. Ltd., B-16, precious gem. They are an eternal celebration of
Sector 49, Noida-201304.  It is the hardest life’s perfect moments.
Entries shall be accepted only along with entry coupon CC contest no. 16 in original. natural
Prize money for correct entries is 1st (500 Rs.), 2nd (250 Rs.), and 3rd (100 Rs.). Winners of 1st, 2nd & 3rd prize
shall be decided by draw of lots only.
Answers of Contest No. 16 and name of the winners shall be published in CC June ‘09 issue.
Editor’s decision shall be final for answers in this contest.

May 2009  City Cheers

NOTE: *Contest has total 10 questions. Q1-Q8 are general & Q9-Q10 are from previous issue of City Cheers
(April ‘09)

45
* Previous issues of City Cheers are available at a discounted price of Rs. 20/-per issue (May‘08-April‘09)
Exclusive

adakh is a land like no other. Bound by two of the World’s

L mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalayas and the

Karakoram, it lies athwart two other, the Ladakh range and
the Zanskar range. Apart from its splendid beauty, it is attracted by
many tourists because of its exclusive hill “Magnetic Hill”. It is one
amongst the several unique things found in Ladakh. The hills and
mountains in this region bear different colours — from snow-laden
white to black, grey, green, red and orange, one can see them all.
Can anyone ever imagine the movement of a vehicle up a steep
mountain, with its ignition off? Sounds quite unbelievable! Well,
this magnet magic can be experienced on the Leh-Kargil-Batalik
National Highway, about 30 kms from Leh. And one can say, amid
all the Himalayan and colonial wonders, there’s one more wonder,
the Magnetic Hill. On its eastern side, flows the Sindhu.

q Jaya Shukla
 of a surface is difficult as a reliable reference is missing.
Objects one would normally assume to be more-or-less
perpendicular to the ground (such as trees) may actually
be leaning, offsetting the visual reference. The illusion is
similar to the well-known Ames room, in which balls can
also appear to roll against gravity.
REALITY BEHIND OPTICAL ILLUSION
While humans also have a sense of balance to determine
the inclination of the ground, visual cues can override this
sense, especially if the inclination is shallow.
EXPERIENCE OF COMMONERS:
It is amazing to see how nature is defying “Newton‘s law
of gravity,” said 15-year-old Praveen, on a trek to the
Siachen Glacier.
A group of journalists, visiting Leh to cover the Sindhu
Darshan Festival, were surprised when they had a first
hand experience of the “Magnetic Hill”. When Swaraj
Mazda in which they were travelling reached the point
with ignition switched off, the vehicle actually started
moving upward at a speed of more than 20 km.
Considering it as a mere fluke, the journalists made the
driver take the vehicle back to that point again. The
vehicle moved up again. They exercised it several times
and got the same result.
MYTHS:
Guru Nanak ji is said to have come to this place for
THE EXCLUSIVITY: meditation when a demon living top of the hill threw a
The hill supposedly has magnetic properties which rock to kill him. Legend has it that the rock turned into
attracts metallic objects, making vehicles move up at a wax when it hit Guru Nanak. The demon ran downhill to
speed of 20 kmph with engines off. It’s unbelievable, but check if Guru Nanak had died and kicked the rock on
in Ladakh seeing is believing. Not only this, they even finding him alive. However, the rock carrying the imprint
defy gravity by climbing uphill. On the outskirts, it is so of Guru Nanak’s back and the demon’s foot is still lying
full of magnetized iron that it has the power to pull any at the Gurdwara.
vehicle in its vicinity towards itself. Inevitably, it is called HISTORY:
the Magnetic Hill. The first Guru of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev ji sat on this
Locals and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel, place while returning from Tibet to Punjab via Kashmir.
even claim that to escape the magnetic impact of the hill, It is a well known fact that Guru Nanak was environment
helicopters and aircraft fly at a relatively greater height. friendly. The Guru Nanak Tree in Leh city is a live
And aircraft which comes into the radius of the example of it. It seems there is a hidden relation between
“Magnetic Hill” faces jerks, similar to those witnessed Magnetic Hill and Gurudwara Pathar Sahib. Every year
during turbulence. This is only one such hill in India, large number of tourists visit the Magnetic Hill and take
covering a very big ground. langar (meals) at Gurdwara Sahib. The Gurudwara
SCIENTIFIC FRONT: remained unexplored for a long time and was developed
Magnetic hill is also known as gravity hill (and sometimes only after the army deputed its personnel for its upkeep.
mystery hill or gravity road); it is a place which is called as AWARENESS SCHEME
Optical illusion in scientific terms. Here the layout of the The local administration has also put up a billboard to
surrounding land produces such an optical illusion that a help tourists recognize the Magnetic Hill, stating the
very slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope. whole phenomenon.
Thus, a car left out of gear will appear to be rolling uphill. ATTRACTIONS IN THE VICINITY
There are hundreds of gravity hill locations around the Apart from the Magnetic Hill, the Himalayan region is
world. truly worth exploring.
Although tour guides claim natural/supernatural forces Many feel that it’s a mere optical illusion and nothing to
are at work. The most important factor is a completely do with magnetic fields, electricity or unknown forces
obstructed horizon; without a horizon judging the slope working along mysterious lines.

May 2009  City Cheers 47

 Travelogue
Vinay
Sarup is
ome time back a friend of husband and their 6-year old a retired

S mine, also a seasoned traveller,

made a rather profound but
rather interesting statement. While
daughter had been living there for
some years and we wanted to spend
a few weeks with them.
Chief
Executive
(Farms
Division)
we were discussing various holiday
destinations within India and abroad Out of the 7 emirates that form the of a New
Delhi
he remarked, “If you haven’t been to UAE (United Arab Emirates) Dubai
based company with national
Dubai you haven’t lived life fully.” is the largest in terms of population
presence. Earlier he had worked
My first visit to this city state was only and second largest in area. In the last in other well-reputed
a day long, but it was the third and 50 years or so, from being a small organisations, his total experience
last visit that I found most enjoyable fishing village, the inhabitants of being over 35 years. He did the
and it was then that I realised how which earned their livelihood sea- first half of his schooling at
true my friend’s words had been. diving for pearls, it has grown into a Modern School, New Delhi, and
There are several reasons for visiting giant metropolis of international the latter part at a school in
Dubai. For most of us the main standards, thanks to the riches London. He is an alumnus of IIT
reason is shopping, and these visits brought about by the discovery of oil Kharagpur, 1970 batch. One of
are at best only 3 or 4 days long. Yes, during the Sixties. As compared to Mr Sarup's hobbies is travelling,
Dubai is indeed a Shoppers’ Abu Dhabi there is much less oil in and he has been doing so within
Paradise, but there is so much more Dubai, it is only that the money India and abroad for nearly 50
to the place than mere “mall- earned from the oil was invested years! Among other things, he
hopping”. My wife and I, however, wisely by Sheikh Rashid, father of the now spends his time visiting new
had gone there for a different reason current sheikh. Dubai has places and writing about his
altogether - our daughter, her continually been ruled by the Al various travels.

Dubai Skyline

48 City Cheers  May 2009

Maktoum dynasty since 1833. It is, however, the present excellent infrastructure, a congenial working atmosphere
Emir who has built upon the solid foundation for growth with huge professional opportunities especially in the
laid by his visionary father. With his own progressive financial sector, and a pleasant and tolerant ethnic mix of
outlook, astute farsightedness and Western education, all faiths and communities, it is but natural that Dubai
the son has transformed Dubai into a truly modern city would become one of the most sought-after places to live
and a favoured attraction for the rich and famous from all in. Except for real estate, whether self-owned or rented,
over the globe. Under his rule Dubai inter alia now the cost of living in Dubai is fairly reasonable. And the
boasts of having among the most beautifully-designed best part is that the quality of life there is excellent.
buildings in the world. If you are looking for structures During the time of our visit the currency exchange rate
that are among the tallest, highest or biggest in the world was quite favourable, with approximately twelve rupees to
chances are that you would find them in Dubai. The a dirham.
famous Palm Islands, 3 of which are being developed off
the shore of Dubai at Deira, Jebel Ali and Jumeirah, Visiting Dubai is best avoidable during the peak summer
represent the ultimate in engineering feats. These man- months. One of our earlier visits was in August when the
made islands have literally grown from the sea and are temperatures can soar to miserably high levels and
going to have wide boulevards with thousands of moving around can become somewhat difficult. So this
luxurious villas and residential apartments, dozens of time we decided to go in winters and accordingly left
hotels and several commercial, entertainment and Delhi in the morning of 21st December 2007. The
recreational centres. From the air a Palm, as its name Indian Airlines flight took just over 3 hours, less time
suggests, looks like a gigantic palm frond joined to the than a domestic Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram flight. This
mainland by a causeway, the palm’s trunk. The Palms are is another reason why Dubai is a favourite destination for
so big that it is said that an astronaut can see these islands Indians - its proximity to and easy accessibility from our
with a naked eye from space. country. There are dozens of flights to Dubai every day
from all the major international airports in India. So it’s
Until the present economic downswing, real estate prices easy to get a good bargain as far as the fares are
in Dubai were among the highest in the world. With concerned.

May 2009  City Cheers 49

The first thing that strikes you on reaching Dubai very costly) to get a driving licence in Dubai. You have to
Airport, getting off the plane and walking into the first compulsorily undergo professional training at one of
terminal, is the sheer size of the place. The orderliness the recognized driving schools and then take a rather
and professionalism with which the immigration rigorous test, which not many people pass at the first
formalities are carried out is a big and pleasant contrast attempt. This is primarily to ensure that certain category
to the chaotic conditions that prevail in most Indian of foreigners who are accustomed to different driving
airports. There are over 50 immigration counters at styles do not cause accidents on Dubai roads with fast-
Dubai Airport as compared to a mere handful currently moving vehicles.
operational in IGI Airport in Delhi. Besides, the officers
on duty, both men and women, are polite, friendly and After we had unpacked, distributed the gifts that we were
forever ready to help. Our son-in-law had arranged a carrying, and generally settled down, we had lunch and
Marhaba - Arabic for ‘Welcome’ - clearance for us. decided to rest for some time before going out in the
Under this scheme, by paying a certain fee, a lady officer evening. In Dubai, like in other predominantly Muslim
receives you at the aerobridge as you disembark. She countries, the weekend is over Friday-Saturday and we
escorts you in a battery-driven cart and ensures that all had reached on a Friday morning. Although it was end-
official formalities are completed in super fast time. She December the weather was pleasant and we did not feel
also assists you in retrieving your checked-in baggage and the need to wear even light woollens when we all left for
leaves you at the terminal exit in the custody of your hosts a drive just as it was about to get dark. Dubai is full of the
or staff from your hotel, whoever may have come to latest and most beautiful of cars available in the
receive you. In the Marhaba scheme there are different international market. We were in our son-in-law’s Prado,
categories such as Silver, Gold and Platinum. Higher the a 4x4 powerful brute of a vehicle. As we drove through
category higher the cost and naturally better the service; the city we saw Dubai all lit up for Christmas and New
for example, in the Platinum category, among other Year. Even though the degree of decorations was not as
things, you are greeted with a bouquet of flowers. ornate as what you can see in, say, Oxford, Bond or
Regent Streets of London, yet it was far more dazzling
Our daughter used to live in a residential complex in Al than any I have seen during the festive season. All the
Quasis, a suburb barely 15 minutes’ drive from the main roads had overhead fairy lights; most corporate
airport. Their beautifully-designed apartment was very office buildings too were stylishly decorated, just as were
spacious and tastefully appointed. There was a balcony at the trees lining the roads. It was a beautiful sight, made
the back overlooking other residential complexes, with somewhat unbelievable because this was a Muslim state;
the gigantic parking yard of Emirates Driving School in but then Christmas is now no longer considered a
the background. This school is reputed to have well over religious festival. As we were driving down Sheikh Zayed
a hundred cars, all 1500 cc and above with many in the Road we heard a loud roar; and just then a red Ferrari
Nissan Sunny category. It is extremely difficult (and also zoomed past us. The sound was so distinctive that we

Palm Islands
learned to recognise it. During our month-long stay in
Dubai every time we heard that particular roar, sure
enough a Ferrari would overtake us.

One of the things that strike you while in Dubai is the

non-visibility of its police force. Apparently they are there
but they are not intrusive and do not disturb the public.
Security levels are very high and women are totally safe.
One does not get to hear of any dirty activities like eve-
teasing, a term which incidentally is an Indian
contribution to the English language. There is a lot of Mall of Emirates
discipline on the roads too and traffic violations are
virtually non-existent - no overtaking from the wrong side,
no honking, no jumping the traffic lights, no crossing the
set speed limits, and above all, total respect for the fellow
drivers. Safety of children is a very important issue. By
law small children are not allowed to sit in the front seat
of a vehicle. They have to compulsorily sit at the back and
that too with seatbelts on.

Our first week went by spending quality time with our

daughter and granddaughter during the day and going
out to one of the many malls in the evening. During our
stay we must have visited a dozen malls, some more than
once. Among the well-known malls are Deira City
Centre, Wafi City, Lamcy Plaza, Mercato, Festival City
etc. Then there are numerous small malls all over the
Ski Dubai
city catering to their local neighbourhoods’
requirements. But the one mall that everyone used to
talk about is “Mall of the Emirates”. I was told that one’s
visit to Dubai is not complete unless one has been to
MOE which is one of the largest malls in the World,
spread over 6.5 million square feet and housing about
450 stores. We went there twice and on both occasions
came back stunned. All the international luxury brands
have their showrooms in this mall, displaying the
choicest of goods. In addition, there is a 400-roomed 5-
star hotel on the premises. I had been on skiing holidays
in Gulmarg and Auli in India, but I could never have
imagined that I would get an opportunity to ski on snow
- yes, real authentic snow - in the middle of a scorching
desert! This is Ski Dubai, one of the star attractions of
Mall of the Emirates. This indoor marvel, full of snow, Desert Safari
is as big as 3 football grounds and has beautifully
designed ski-runs, one with a drop of 200 feet. The One day I decided to go for it, but my wife, with her
place is so popular that on an average it attracts about back problem, was advised to opt out, so I went alone.
3000 adults and children every day. If you are not a skier We were taken to the desert outside the city, and what
you can relax in Starbucks with a cup of coffee and happened next was one of the most daring and
watch through floor-to-ceiling glass panels, people skiing adventurous experiences I have ever had in my life. We
and children frolicking in the snow. It’s fun, fun and fun were in a Toyota Land Cruiser with its powerful V6
all the way! 4500 cc engine, taking us up and down the undulating
dunes. You have to have a very strong heart and an
In total contrast to Ski Dubai is the Desert Safari, equally strong digestive system if you want to go on this
another must-do when you visit this amazing country. safari. We would go down one dune and suddenly climb

May 2009  City Cheers 51

 only one constructed on a man-made island. An
architect’s delight and an engineering marvel, the
building is shaped to resemble an Arab boat, a
dhow, in full sail. On the top of the hotel is a
helipad and it is from here that the legendary
golfer Tiger Woods was shown teeing off in an
advertisement. Entry to this hotel is restricted to
a minimum cover charge for its many
restaurants. We had to pay through our nose to
get in, but once we were inside we felt as if we
had been transported to some fabled land in the
fantasy tales “The Arabian Nights”. The amazing
water-fountains, the largest atrium in the world in
which the Statue of Liberty can comfortably fit,
Camel Farm one complete wall made of fabric from top to
bottom (the first of its kind anywhere), the
another at 45° slope. I remember being physically at the fabulous mind-boggling lobby - it was all so utterly
bottom of a dune with my heart having been left behind beautiful and mesmerizing that I fail to qualify its
some place up on top! After a stomach-churning and grandeur into words.
seemingly never-ending experience we stopped and got
down to regain our breaths. The dexterity with which The first weekend in the New Year we decided to spend
the driver had handled the vehicle and the expertise and in Fujairah, another emirate about 120 kms from
confidence with which he had manouevred it on the Dubai. We had booked a 1-night/2-days package in a
slopes earned him a big applause from all the resort there. The drive on the highway connecting
passengers. We were then taken round to a camel farm, Dubai with Fujairah took us about one and a half hours.
after which a dinner party was organised on a dune, with If one has time one must visit this Emirate too. The
all of us sitting round a bonfire. A buffet was laid out hotel we were booked in is a part of a 5-star international
with Arabian delicacies, and then we were entertained to hospitality chain. It is a stunningly beautiful property
a scintillating belly dance. The entire evening had been with lovely landscaped gardens and with perhaps the
an amazing and unforgettable experience. largest swimming pool in the Middle East. Most of the
staff there is Indian and the resort has a nice Indian
The next couple of days we just relaxed, with my wife cuisine restaurant. As you stand facing the sea with your
and daughter constantly engaged in what most mothers back towards the hotel you cannot but gape in awe at the
and daughters normally relish doing - gossiping! I, beauty of the shoreline in front of you. Having had a
however, would spend my time swimming in the thoroughly enjoyable time we were back in Dubai
complex’s pool or reading the very informative English Saturday evening.
daily “The Khaleej Times”. And then the much-awaited
New Year’s Eve dawned on us. In the evening we all There is so much to do and see in and around Dubai
went out to dinner at a very fashionable but rather that it is not possible to put down everything in one
expensive restaurant owned by Asha Bhonsle. The food essay. After our return from Fujairah we still had two
was Indian and absolutely great. This is one more plus more weeks in hand before returning to India and
point for Dubai - its countless eateries cater to all tastes during that period we visited Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
and suit all budgets. Among fast food joints, And of course there was shopping to be done and this
MacDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, and even our most pleasant chore (at least as far as most wives are
very own Bikanerwala and Sarvana Bhawan; you name concerned!) we had left to the latter half of our trip.
it, it is there. I have no hesitation in saying that perhaps Needless to say the second fortnight of our holiday
the best South Indian food I have ever had was in a very turned out to be just as exciting and enjoyable as the
popular Indian restaurant in Dubai. first. But then that is another story and owing to shortage
of space I have no option but to defer its narration to the
The major landmark of Dubai is the internationally next issue of City Cheers. In this regard our readers are
famous and highly acclaimed Burj Al Arab - “Pearl of requested to bear with us for just one more month.
Arabia” - a hotel built on an island close to the shore. It Finally, as they say “till we meet again” in Dubai - “Ma
is reputed to be the tallest hotel in the world and the salami”.

52 City Cheers  May 2009

 Burj Al Arab

Burj Al Arab (lobby)

Fujairah
 CC Diary Diplomatic Enclave, Connaught Place (Main Market), New Delhi-8
New Delhi - 110021 New Delhi - 110 001 Ph:(11)-25785310/25732835
Ph:(11)-26110202 Ph:(11)-23416680, 23414028 Bill Palace
ITC Hotel Maurya Sheraton HOTELS - 3 STAR 7A/18,W.E.A.Channa Market,
D E L H I 21, Diplomatic Enclave, Grand Sartaj Karol Bagh, New Delhi-5
Sadar Patel Marg, A-3, Green Park, Ph:(11)-25712571, 25712397
HOTELS - 5 STAR New Delhi-21 Aurobindo Marg, Hotel Shanti Palace
Hotel Vasant Continental Ph:(11)-26112233/26113333 New Delhi-1100016 A 67, Near IGI Airport,
Basant Lok, Vasant Vihar Park Royal Ph:(11)-26857660/62/64/66 Mahipalpur Ext., New Delhi-37
New Delhi-110057 Intercontinental Eros, Residency Resort Ph:(11)-26781271-76
Ph:(11)-2614 8800 Nehru Place, New Delhi - 19 USI Premises, Rao Tula Ram Hotel Ranjit
The Oberoi Maidens Ph:(11)-26223344 Marg, New Delhi - 110010 Maharaja Ranjit Singh Marg,
7 - Sham Nath Marg Centaur Hotel Ph:(11)-2615-5551/52/53 NH8, New Delhi - 110 002
New Delhi-110054 IGI Airport, Gurgaon Road, Legend Inn Welcome Palace
Ph: (11)-23890505, 23975464 New Delhi - 37, E-4, East of Kailash, 5/5, Desh Bandhu Gupta Road,
Hotel Samrat Ph:(11)-25652223,25696660 Near Lady Shri Ram College, Pahar Ganj, New Delhi-55
50B, Kautilya Marg, Hotel Uppal Orchid New Delhi-110065 Ph:(11)-41541045, 4154106
Chanakyapuri NH 8, Near IGI Airport, Ph:(11)-26216111/ 26216112 Surya Continental Hotel
New Delhi. Ph:(11)-26110606 New Delhi - 110 037 Parth International Hotel J -14, Community Centre,
The Manor Ph:(11)-25061515/41511515 8A/48, W.E.A. Channa Rajouri Garden, New Delhi-27,
77 Friends Colony (West) Hotel Shangri-la Market, Karol Bagh, Behind Ph:(11)-25468808, 25468809
New Delhi - 110 065 19 Ashok rd, Connaught Place Pusa Road, New Delhi - 5 Asian International
Ph:(11)-26925151, 26927510 Delhi 110001 India Ph: 11-5721008/ 5731008 Janpath Lane,
Sherton Delhi Phone: 11-4119-1919 Hotel Broadway New Delhi-1
District Centre, Saket HOTELS - 4 STAR 4/15 A, Asaf Ali Road Ph:(11)-23340101, 43590100
New Delhi - 110 017 Rajdoot Hotel New Delhi - 110 002 Shipra Hotel
Ph:(11)-42661122 13-B Jangpura, Mathura Road, Ph: (11)-43663600 C-1, Sector-18, Noida-201301
Grand Hotel New Delhi - 110 014 Hotel Sobti Ph:(120)-4025000
Nelson Mandela Road Ph: (11)-24376666 2397, Hardhian Singh Road, Best Western Resort Counrty
Vasant Kunj Phase-II Hotel Vikram Karol Bagh Club
New Delhi - 110 070 Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar IV New Delhi - 110 005 Pachgaon, Mohammad Pur
Ph:(11)26771234 New Delhi - 110 024 Ph: (11)-28759030, 28752028 Road, Near Manesar Dist
Qutub Hotel Ph: 011-46515151 (100 lines) York Hotel Gurgaon-122105.
Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg Hotel Diplomat K-10, Outer Circle Ph: 9810070001, 9810784996
New Delhi - 110 016 9, Sardar Patel Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi -1 The Heritage Village
Ph: (11)26521010/26521234 Diplomatic Enclave Ph:(11)-23415769/41513113 Village Manesar
The Ambassadors New Delhi - 110 021 Nirula's Hotel Jaipur National Highway No. 8
Sujan Singh Park Cornwallis Ph:(11)-23010204 K-Block, Connaught Circus Gurgaon - 122 001, Ph:(124)-
Road, New Delhi - 110 003 Ashok Country Resort New Delhi - 110 001 2290305, 2290711-18
Ph:(11)-24632600 Rajokri Road Ph:(11)-23417419 Country Touch Tourist
Metropolitan Hotel Nikko Kapashera, New Delhi - 37 Janpath Hotel Resort
Near Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, Ph:(11)-2506 459099, Janpath Road, Near CP Village-Badshahpur, P.O.
CP, Kali Mandir Road 25063195, 25063295 New Delhi-110 001 Bhondsi, Gurgaon-127101
New Delhi - 110 001 Hans Plaza Ph:(11)-23340070/23340666 Ph:(124)-2361212, 2361258
Ph:(11)-4250 0200 15, Barakhamba Road Jukaso Inn Apra Motels
Hotel Siddharth Connaught Place 50, Sunder Nagar 32nd Milestone Hotel,
3, Rajendra Place New Delhi - 110001 New Delhi - 110 001 Delhi-Jaipur Bypass, Chander
New Delhi - 110008 Ph:(11)-23316868 Ph:(11)-24350308/0309 Nagar, Gurgaon-122001
Ph:(11)-25760000, 43662501 Hotel Kanishka Palace Jageer Palace Ph:(124)-2332571-75
The Claridges 7A/1 WEA, Chana Market C-6/1, Mansrover Garden Shipra Hotel
12, Aurangzeb Road Karol Bagh,New Delhi-110 005 Ring Road (Mayapuri Chowk), A-8, Ambedkar Marg
New Delhi - 110 011 Ph:011-32904072 New Delhi -1100015 Ghaziabad - 201 001
Ph:(11)-4133 5133 Hotel Gold Regency Ph:(11)-25412939, 25934500, Uttar Pradesh (India)
The Bristol Hotel 4350, Main Bazar, Paharganj, 65464302 Ph:(120)-2793625, 2793642
Adj. to DLF Qutab Enclave Opp. New Delhi Railway Tourist Deluxe Hotel Delite
Phase - I, Gurgaon - 122 002 Station, New Delhi-110 055 7361, Ram Nagar, Qutab Road, 17 - 18, Neelam Bata Road,
Haryana (India) Ph:(11)-23562101/23585556/ Near New Delhi Railway N.I.T, Faridabad - 121 001
Ph: (124)-4351111 / 2356030 23581783 Station, New Delhi-55 Ph:(129)-4021073, 2427673
Raddisson Hotel Hotel Connaught Ph: 011 - 23670985 Mahalakshmi Palace Hotel
L-2, Sector-18, Noida 37, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Hotel President 68, N.I.T., Neelam Bata Road
Uttar Pradesh (India) Marg, New Delhi-110 001 4/23 B, Asaf Ali Road Faridabad - 121 001
Ph:120-4300000 Hotel Marina New Delhi - 110 002 Ph: (129)-2411110, 4008882
Hotel Rajhans G-59, Connaught Circus Lodhi Hotel EMBASSIES / HIGH
Suraj Kund, Faridabad-9, New Delhi - 110 001 Lala Lajpat Rai Marg COMMISSIONS /
Haryana, Ph:(129)-2512843 Ph:(11)-23324658 New Delhi - 110 003 CONSULATES
Taj Palace Hotel Alka Pals Inn Afghanistan: 26883601/2,
2, Sardar Patel Marg, M 20, Outer Circle, 29/6, East Patel Nagar 24103331,24100412

54 City Cheers  May 2009

Australia: 41399900,41221000 South Africa: 26148607, 3033 3333 Or dial *333 from LNJP 23233400
Bangladesh: 24121389-91 26149411/2 Reliance Mobile Moolchand 42000000
Belgium: 42428000 Spain: 41293000 SpiceJet Max Medcentre 27158844
Bhutan: 26889808/09/07, Srilanka: 23010201/2/3 From BSNL/MTNL: 1800 180 Ram Manohar Lohia 23365525
26889230 Sudan: 26873185/785 3333 or 919871803333 Safdarjung 26165060/32
Brazil: 23017301 Sweden: 44197100 IDBI Bank Escorts 26825000
Cambodia: 26495092 Switzerland: 26878372/73/74, 022- 66937000 G. B. Pant Hospital 23234242
Canada: 41782000/100, 26878534 ICICI Bank Apollo Hospital 26925858/01
41782041/45 Syria: 26148298, 26140233, Delhi (Mobile): 9818178000 Institute For The Physically
Chile: 24617270/165/123, 26142822 Delhi (landline): 41718000 Handicapped 23234242
24632276 Shri Lanka Republic Of High CITI Bank St. Stephens 23966021/27
China: 26112345/86 Commission: 23010201/2/3, Delhi: 2542484 Sant Parmanand Hospitals
Colombia: 41662106/05/09, 23017498 From Delhi 95 124 256 7733 23981260, 23983928
41162103/5 Tanzania: 24122864/24122865 From any other location 0124 Dr. B.L. Kapoor Memorial
Croatia: 41663101/2/3, Thailand: 605679, 6118103/04 256 4653 25719282/25742342
26876871 Trinidad & Tobago: 46007500 HSBC Bank Smt. Sucheta Kriplani
Czech: 26110318/382, Turkey: 26889053/4, 24101921 Bank related queries: 2373 8989 23363728
26886218 U A E: 26872937/822, Credit card related: 2373 9696 AIDS Dignostic Centra
Danish Royal (Denmark): 24670830/945 HDFC Bank 26441826/26419531
43090700 U S A: 24198000, 24190017 Phone banking numbers: Delhi National Chest Institute
Egypt: 26114096/7 Uganda: 26145817, 2614560 & NCR (011) 4151 4332 26964044
Finland: 41497500/535/550 Ukraine: 26146041/2,41662001 Standard Chartered Bank Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute
France: 24196100/300 UK (Britain): 687-2161/2 Phone Banking New Delhi 3940 27051011-29
German Democratic Republic: Venezuela: 41680218/19 4444 / 6601 4444 Institute for Physically
44199199 Vietnam: 23018059/2133 Deutsche Bank Handicapped 23233672,
Greece: 26880700/1/2/3 Yugoslavia: 6873661/2073/ 6601 6601 (From Gurgaon / 23236378
Iran: 23713703, 23329600/1/2 2095/3662 Noida prefix 9511) Sunder Lal Jain Hospital
Iraq: 26149085/746/034 Zambia: 26145785/883/830, Punjab National Bank 27119964-69, 27221124
Ireland: 24626733/41/43 26145880-83 1800 180 2222, 0124-2340000 G. T. B. Hospital 22586262
Israel: 23015316, 30414500 Zimbabwe: 26140430/431, (from other landlines and GSM) H. Jain Hospital & Maternity
Italy: 26114355/6/9 26154313/4 SBI Bank Home 25551507
Japan: 26876564/81/82/83 24 HOUR CABS Credit Card: 1800 180 1290 Hans Charitable 27211959
Kenya: 26146537/38/40 Delhi Radio Cabs: (only on BSNL & MTNL Line) Healing Touch Hospital
North Korea: 29219644 44333222 LIC: Call - 1251 or 26852583/26569951
South Korea: 26885374/76 National callers prefix city code New Delhi 011 - 2332 9595 Holy Angels Hospital
Kuwait: 24100791 011 and International callers put OTHER IMPORTANT 24100561, 24102832
Lebanon: 2301-3637/3174 country code (091-11) NUMBERS: Holy Family 26845900-09
Libya: 24697717/71 Mega Cabs: 1929, 41414141 Ambulance: 102 Indian Spinal Injuries Centre
Malaysia: 26111291/93/97 Metro Cab: 1923 Blood Bank: 26896642/4884/26898448
Malta: 9323, 683-1718 Easy Cabs: 43434343 AIIMS: 26588700 Jaipur Golden 27525984/88
Mauritius: 24102161/62/63/52 Dial-a-Cab: 29813600 Red Cross: 23711551 Jeewan Nursing Home &
Mexico: 24117180/82/83/84 CAR RENTALS: Indian Railways General Hospital 25851902
Morrocco: 24636920/21/23/24 Hertz Carz On Rent Enquiry: 131 Kalra Hospital & Shri Ram
Myanmar: 24678822/23, 41520992, 43581212 Indian Airlines General Heart Inst. 26414156/57
26889007/8 Eco Rent A Car Enquiry: 1400 Khetrapal 25923139-44
Namibia: 26140389/390/891, 41550515 , 9810323241 Airport: Domestic: 25661000 Kolmet 25752055/56/57
26144772, 26155481 Avis Car Rental 25661080 Lifeline 22222226, 22230001
Nepal Royal Nepalese 23890707 International: 25602000 Lions Hospital & Research Ctr.
Embassy: 23329218/7361/ Orbitzz Travels Airport Enquiries: 26831265, 26833879
9969/8066 9811760750 Arrival: 144/142 M. P. Heart Centre 29234830
Netherlands: 26884951-54 CUSTOMER CARE Cancellation: 148 Metro Hospital & Heart
New Zealand: 26883170 NUMBERS: Departure: 145/143 Institute 28558761
Nigeria: 24122141/42/43/44 Hutch Vodafone General Inquiry: 140 National Heart Institute
Norway: 41779200 111 (toll free) from Vodafone or Just Dial: 011-22222222 26415065
Pakistan: 24676004/8467, 9811098110 from any phone. 24 Hr. Maruti On-Road North Delhi Nursing Home
26110601/2/5 IDEA Service: (MOS) 9622-9622-00 27422131/52450, 27133787
Philippines: 24101120, Dial 12345 from idea mobiles Accident & Trauma Service: Pushpawati Singhania Research
26889091/190, 26110152 Airtel 1099 Instt. 29252516
Portugal: 46071001/5 121 from Airtel phone. New HOSPITALS Rajput Hospital 25705679
Romania: 26140700/447 Delhi No.: 91-11-41666000 AIIMS 26588500/26588700 Sanjeevan Medical Research
Russia: 26873799/800/802, MTNL/BSNLPhone Bara Hindu Rao 23919738 Centre 23265515, 23257143-4
26110640/2 1800 11 1211 (toll free from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Sondhi Charitable Hospital
Saudi Arabia: 26144073/093/ MTNL/BSNL) or [City code] + 25494403/04/08 22795237/22755993/ 22750380
102/083 39026686 (local charges extra) Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Vasant Lok Hospital 26149423,
Singapore: 46000800 BSNL Broad Band Customer 25750000/25861463 26149422, 26142730
Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Care No.: 18004241600 Maharaja Agrasan Vimhans Hospital 29849010-13
301-8059/2133 Reliance Mobile 25226645/46/47 Zed Hospital Ltd. 28542345

May 2009  City Cheers 55

M U M B A I Ph: 022 22851212 Dial-a-Cab: 022-673015180 Ph.: 033-22800111/40018000/
Intercontinental The Grand 40018080/22802323/ 22830824
HOTELS Hotel CAR RENTALS Hotel Camac Plaza
Taj President Hotel Sahara Airport Road, Mumbai Car Hire 195/1, New Park Street
90, Cuffe Parade, Andheri East 09890862830 Park Circus
Colaba Ph: 022 66992222 Cozy Auto Tours Ph.: 033-22875201/22875372/
Ph: 022 66650303 Sun n Sand Hotel 022 30402005 22895467/22874796
BW The Emerald 39 Juhu Beach, Juhu Vile Parle Autoriders Rent-A-Car Housez Forty Three
Juhu Tara Rd Ph.: 022 26201811 022 24961714 43, 1 Mirza Ghalib Street
Ph.: 022 6615 0505 Hotel Midtown Pritam Geetee Travels Pvt. Ltd Ph.: 033-22276020-21/
Ramee Guestline Hotel Dharamputra Pritam Estate 022 2836 4600 22276123/22297523/
462, A B Nair Rd Ph: 022 24143388 09831209118
CUSTOMER CARE NOS
Ph.: 022 6693 5555 Kohinoor Continental Oberoi Hotels
West End Hotel MV Rd, Andheri East Airtel 9892012345 15 Dharmatala
45, New Marine Lines Ph.: 09313503319 MTNL 9869012345 J L Nehru Road
Ph.: 022 22039021 JW Marriott Hotel Reliance 30333333 Ph.: 033 22491217
Lakeside Chalet Hotel P O Box No 8283, Juhu Tara Vodafone 9820098200 Astor Hotel
Powai, Mumbai Road, Juhu Beach, Juhu BPL 9821099800 15, Shakespeare Sarani,
Ph.: 022-66927777 Ph: 022 66933000 Tata Indicom 9220012345 Park Street
Hyatt Regency Hotel Ritz Hotel Pvt Ltd 9220008282 Ph.: 033 22821100
Airport Rd, Mumbai Jamshedji Tata Rd, Churchgate New Kenilworth Hotel
Ph.: 022 66961235 Ph: 022 22820141 HOSPITALS 1 & 2 Little Russel Street,
Hotel Sea Princess ITC Grand Central Sheraton Tata Memorial Hospital Midleton Row
Juhu Tara Rd, Mumbai Hotel & Towers Ph.: 022-24177000, 24146750 – Ph.: 033 22823939
Ph.: 022 26611111 287, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar 55 The Park
The Orchid Road, Near Kem Hospital, Lilavati Hospital & Research 17, Park Street
Nehru Rd, Mumbai Parle Centre Ph.: 033 22499000
Ph.: 022 26164040 P.: 022 67045000 Ph.: 022-26421111, 26552222 ITC Sonar Bangla Sheraton
Apollo Bunder Pal Grove Beach Hotel Pvt Ltd Bombay Hospital and Medical Hotel & Towers
Opposite Gateway Of India, CTS 932, Juhu Tara Road, Research Centre 1 J B S Haldane Avenue,
Colaba, Juhu Ph.: 022-2067676 Opp Science City, Dhapa
Ph.: 022 22023366 Ph: 022 26110505 Dr Balabhai Nanavati Hospital Ph.: 033 23454444
Ramada Plaza Palm Grove Park Plaza Royal Palms Hotel Ph.: 022 -26182263/64/65 Lytton Hotel
Juhu Tara Rd, Mumbai Sector 169, RML Colony, Asian Heart Research Institute Near Indian Museum
Ph.: 022 26110641 Goregaon East Ph.: 91-22-66986666 Sudder Street
Hotel Bawa International Ph.: 022 28795000 Ph.: 033 22491872
Eastern International Hotels IMPORTANT NOS. Hotel Presidency Inn Pvt Ltd
Nehru Rd, Mumbai
Ph.: 022 24137843 Balraj Sahani Marg, Juhu 24 hrs Ambulance Service: 2/1 Park Street, Marquis Street
Lotus Suites Hotel Beach, Juhu 1298 Ph.: 033 22170800
MV Rd, Andheri East Ph.: 022 26200301 Holy Spirit Blood Bank: Chocolate Hotels Pvt Ltd
Ph.: 022 28270707 Hotel Sea Princess, 28378822/28372748 Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose
The Mirador Hotel Juhu Tara Road, Blood Bank ESIS Hospital Rd, Ballygunge
Guru Hargovindji Road, Vile Parle West Worli: 493-3142/493-3428 Ph.: 033 22890868
Andheri East Ph: 022 26611111 Kandivali: 888-4529 Hotel Avenue Club
Ph.: 022 28269000 Hotel Rodas - An Ecotel Hotel Mulund: 561-5520/561-5521 95a, Opp Kolkata Medical
Grand Hyatt Hotel Hiranandani Gardens Indian Railways General College, Chittaranjan Avenue
Western Express Highway, Ph.: 022 66936969 Enquiry: 139 Ph.: 033 22257337
Santacruz (East) Sahara Star Hotel Indian Airlines General Hotel Shalimar
Ph.: 022 66761115 Domestic Airport Enquiry: 140 3 S N Banerjee Road
Centaur Hotels Ville Parle Airport: Ph.: 033 22280616
Juhu Beach Ph.: 09998989903 Domestic: 6127391/6112850 Heera Holiday Inn
4th Floor, Centaur Hotel, The Orchids International: 28366700 51, 1 Near Ag Church School,
Airport, Vile Parle East 70/C, Vile Parle (East) Elliot Road
Ph.: 022 26113040 Ph: 022 26164040 K O L K A T A Ph.: 033 40111642
The Oberoi Hotel Vip International
Oberoi Hotel, Mumbai 24 HOUR CABS HOTELS 51 Mirza Ghalib Street,
Ph.: 022 6632 5757 Mumbai radio cab Taj Bengal Free School Street
Fariyas Hotels Pvt Ltd 42424242 34 B, Belvedere Road Ph.: 033 22176495
25 Off Arthur Bunder Road, National callers prefix city code Alipore Samilton Hotel
Colaba 22 and International callers put Ph.: (91-33) 22233939 37, Lala Lajpat Rai Sarani,
Ph: 022 22042683 country code (091-22) Hotel Hindustan International Sarat Bose Road
Marine Plaza Hotel Mega Cabs: 022, 42424242 235/1, 29, Near Rabindra Ph.: 033 30517700
29, Marine Drive, Next To Air Metro Cabs: 1923 Sadan Metro Station The Pearless Inn
India Building, Marine Lines Easy Cabs: 4422 4422 A J C Bose Road 12 Jawaharlal Nehru Road,

56 City Cheers  May 2009

Dharmatala Time Cabs: 033 2247 9574 13 T Nagar Verandha, Connemara Hotel
Ph.: 033 22280304 Ph.: 044 28150500/5500 No 2, Binny Road, Anna Salai
Gulshan Inn CUSTOMER CARE NOS Green Park Hotel Ph.: 044 28520123
31/2A, Marquis Street Vodafone 9830098300 NSK Salai, Vadapalani
Ph.: 09830503892 Airtel 9831012345 Ph.: 044 23622666 24 HOUR CABS
Golden Inn Pvt Ltd Hotel & Reliance 30333333 Hotel Chola Sheraton City Radio meter Taxi
Restaurant BSNL 9400024365 No. 10, Cathedral Road, 040- 66206620
Road 2, Raghunathpur, Tata 9231012345/9231008282 Gopalapuram, Teynampet Chennai Radio Cab
Nazrul Islam Avenue, Ph.: 044 28110202 044 -30223000
Beside Tata Motor, HOSPITALS Hotel President Yellow Taxi: 44004400
Deshbandhunagar Mission Of Mercy Hospital & 25, Dr.Radhakrishnan Road Mega Cabs: 1929, 41414141
Ph.: 033 25005276 Research Centre Tel: 0091-44-28472211, Metro Cabs: 1923
Kings Crown 033 22294876, 2229487 28473683 Easy Cabs: 28111098
Baguiati, Nazrul Islam Avenue Apollo Gleneagles Hospital Hotel Leela Palace Dial-a-Cab: 26611888
Ph.: 033 25731720 033 23203040 186/187, Kilpauk
Hotel Pushpak International Medical College and Hospital Hotel Atlantic CAR RENTALS
10 Park Street Kolkata Montieth Road Mr.Balaji:
Dr Md Ishaque Road 033 24512644 Ph.: 044 28553914 9841570633, 044-45034142
Gillanders Arbuthout & Co Ltd TRA General Hospital ITC Hotel Park Sheraton & RKP Travels
24/1b, Ballygunge, 033 22894346 Towers 044-43042049, 9841156849
Rustamji Street The Calcutta Medical Research 132 T.T.K. Road
Ph.: 033 24602633 Institute: 033 2456 7700 Ph.: 044 24994101 CUSTOMER CARE NOS
Hotel North Star Le Royal Meridien Vodafone 9884098840
Dum Dum Rd IMPORTANT NOS. 1, GST Road, Airtel 9840012345
Ph.: 033 25514339 Ambulance: 24755131/32/33 St. Thomas Mount, Reliance 30333333
Hyatt Regency 22476233/6111/12 Ph.: 044 22314343 BSNL 9400024365
Ja-1 Sector III, Salt Lake City Blood Bank Oriental Hotels Ltd Tata Indicom No: 9232563424
Ph.: 033 23351234 AMRI Apollo Hospital: 37, Mahatma Gandhi Road
Fairlawn Hotel Pvt Ltd 24612626 Ph.: 044 66002827 HOSPITALS
13a, Sudder Street, Park Street Kolkata Blood Bank: 24763552 President Hotel Chennai Kaliappa Hospital
Ph.: 033 22451510 Assembly of God Church: No 25, Dr Radhakrishnan Salai, New 52, 2nd Main Rd
ITC Sonar Bangia Sheraton 22294886/6270 Near Bio Informatic Institute, R A Puram-600028.
Hotel & Towers Indian Railways General Mylapore Ph: 044-24936390
1 J.B.S Haldane Avenue, Sree Enquiry: 138 Ph.: 044 28472211 City Hospital
Bhumi, Sree Bhumi Indian Airlines General Ramada Raj Park 26 Sarder Patel Road-600020.
Ph.: 033 23454545 Enquiry 180, T T K Road Alwarpet Ph: 044-24422912
Bodhi Tree Domestic: 25119433, 9637 Ph.:044 24670002 Indian Red Cross Society
48/44, Swiss Park International: 25118262, 8424, Rain Tree Hotel 50 Montieth Road-600008.
Ph.: 033 24246534 8592 No 120, St Marys Road, Opp Ph: 044-28511711
Dee Empresa Hotel Old H M Hospital, Alwarpet Hopkins Hospitals
12/2A, Kyd Street C H E N N A I Ph.:044 24329474 16, Umayal Rd
Ph.: 033 40021800 Radha Parking Hotel Kilpauk-600010.
Golden Park Hotel Kolkata HOTELS 171, Jawahar Lal Nehru Salai Ph: 044-26445855
13 Ho Chi Minh Sarani Accord Metropolitan Ph.: 044 24757788 Kensington Hospital
Ph.: 033 22883939 35-36-37, G.N. Chetty Road, Radisson Hotel 856 P H Rd, Kilpauk-600010.
Baan Thai T. Nagar St.Thomas Mount, 531, Ph: 044-26413086
15 Jawahar Lal Nehru Road Ph.:044 28161000 GST Road
Ph.: 033 22492323 Asiana Hotel Ph.:044 22310101 IMPORTANT NOS.
Old Mahabalipuram Road, IT Trident Ambulance: 9444280414, 044-
24 HOUR CABS
Corridor, Semmencherry 1/24, G.S.T. Road 26412561, 044-25321805
Kolkata radio cab Ph.: 044 67411000 Ph.: 044 22344747 Blood Bank
033 4422 2222 Ambassador Pallava Hotel Taj Fisherman’s Cove The Tamilnadu Dr. MGR
Travel Cars 30, Montieth Road, Egmore Kanchipuram District Medical University
033 2249 4970 Ph.: 044 28554476 Ph.: 044 67413333 Ph: 044-22301871 / 22353577
Mega Cabs: 022, 42424242 Ambassador Group of Hotels The Residency Group Of Chennai Laboratory
Metro Cabs: 1923 30 Montieth Rd, Egmore Hotels Ph: 044-22440206
Dial a cab on 44-222-222 / 44- Ph.: 044 28554068 George Town Holy Laboratory Services
333-222. Benzz Park Tulip Ph.: 044 2815 6363 Ph: 044-24861145
New No. 62, Old No. 42, The Residency (Park Sheraton) Indian Railways General
CAR RENTALS
Thirumalaipillai Road, 132, T T K Road Enquiry: 131
Wenz 033 227 8926. T Nagar Ph.: 044 24997101 Indian Airlines General
Hertz Pearl Carzonrent Pvt Ltd Ph.: 044 28156731 The Park Enquiry: 1400, 1401, 1402
033 3240-4000/5000 or Great Grand 601 Anna Salai Airport: Domestic: 22560551
09830999555. 24 hour service 120, Sri Thyagaraya Road, Ph.: 044 42676000 International: 22560551

May 2009  City Cheers 57

 Remembrance

“ye kyaa huaa, kaise huaa, kab huaa

kyon huaa, jab huaa, tab huaa
chhodo, ye naa socho

humne jo dekhaa thaa, sunaa thaa

kyaa bataaye wo kyaa thaa
sapnaa salonaa thaa
khatam to honaa thaa, huaa.....”

(Jan 13, 1926 - April 9, 2009)

hen the end came, it was really sorrowful. Shakila, Madan Puri and Helen. Chinatown was a thriller

W But as all things come to and end, so did the

life of Shakti Samanta. Shakti Samanta made
a humble start in the movie industry. He came to
about look-alikes where one Shammi replaces another.
This was among the first movies to come-up with that
concept, with Rafi’s number Baar Baar Dekho. Then
Bombay with dreams of becoming a hero, but he ended came Shakti da’s Insaan Jaag Utha and Jaali Note.
up becoming a producer/director; and he excelled at it. Then came the era of Eastman colour and he came out
The music in his movie was always great, he had a with Kashmir Ki Kali, a romantic movie which had a
fantastic sense of music. His songs continue to be played beautiful soundtrack by OP Nayyar. Apart from Ye
by radio stations and people hum the songs till date. But Chand Sa Roshan Chehra, there were other great songs
music was not his only strong point. Shakti da’s films had like Isharon Isharon Mei, Subhanallah Haseen Chehra
a very strong emotional quotient, well-balanced with the and Hai Duniya Usi Ki. The lyrics were penned by SH
romantic sequences that would leave a lump in our Behari. Shammi Kapoor’s romanticism came into
throats, as in Kati Patang, Amanush, Aradhana etc. evident with, Deewana Hua Badal. This was one of the
After the success of his initial movies like Bahu, Hill first hits of Sharmila Tagore. After success of Kashmir Ki
Station and Inspector, Shakti da launched his own Kali, there was Sawan Ki Ghata, co-starring Manoj
production house in 1957 called Shakti Films. The first Kumar. Shakti da, came back to his own self with An
film under this banner was Howrah Bridge made in Evening In Paris. This movie was again among the first
1958, a nice suspense thriller starring Ashok Kumar and few movies to be shot totally outside India. It had a
Madhubala. The song Aaiye Meherbaan and Mera marvellous musical score by Shankar Jaikishan and some
Naam Chin Chin Chu were the most seductive numbers great singing by Rafi. Raat Ke Humsafar was a beautifully
sung by Asha Bhosle. picturised song, then there was the Deewane Ka Naam
The movie was a run-away hit, which pushed him to To Poocho and chartbuster Asmaan Se Aya Farishta.
make Chinatown in 1962, starring Shammi Kapoor, That was the golden period for Shakti da, whatever he

58 City Cheers  May 2009

touched turned to gold. His next movie was Aradhana in music by RD Burman.
1969. He signed Sharmila again, and Rajesh Khanna. He 1975, saw the release of Amanush, starring Uttam
was barely new to the industry and still struggling. This Kumar and Sharmila Tagore. The movie was bilingual,
movie too had soul stirring music by SD Burman, and in Hindi and Bengali. Shakti da’s next movie in 1976 was
will be sung for eons to come. With this movie Rajesh a reincarnation story called Mehbooba. It had good
Khanna and Kishore Kumar together went on to write music by RD Burman with songs like Gori Tori Paijaniya
history with their face-voice combination. Songs like sung by Manna Dey, Jamuna Kinare sung by Lata
Baaghon Mei Bahaar Hai, Gunguna Rahe Hain Bhawre, Mangeshkar and of course Mere Naina Saawan Bhadon
Roop Tera Mastana and Kora Kagaz Tha Ye Mann sung by Kishore and Lata. Then came Anurodh, which
Mera were on everyones lips. This was the biggest hit of did not fare well but had Laxmikant-Pyarelal’s,
Shakti da. The way he handled Rajesh and Sharmila was memorable songs like Aate Jaate Khoobsurat Awara
wonderful, and his contribution in music sessions with Sadkon Pe and Aapke Anurodh Pe.
SDB and RDB is commendable. The Great Gambler in 1979 was a blockbuster. The
After the super success of Aradhana, Shakti da made movie was extensively shot outside India. Although the
Pagla Kahin Ka. Title song, Ashiq Hoon Ek Mehejabeen music was by RD Burman, just one song registered in the
Ka, Log Kahe Mujhe Pagla Kahin Ka and Tum Mujhe minds of everybody Do Lafzon Ki Hai. Shakti da worked
Yu Bhula Na Paoge became popular. Then Kati Patang with Amitabh Bachchan again in Barsaat Ki Ek Raat.
was a huge hit. The movie was a good entertainer. It has The last time that Shakti da collaborated with Rajesh
a song on every conceivable mood, Na Koi Umang Hai, Khanna was in 1985, ironically titled Alag-Alag. RD
Aaj Na Chhodenge Bas Humjoli, Ye Shaam Mastani, Burman gave the music and Kishore lent his voice.
Mera Naam Shabnam and Pyar Deewana Hota Hai. Although his directorial capability was never in question,
Shakti da captured the sorrowness with as much nor was his production of movies but the overall quality
expertise as he captured happiness and romantic of movie writing had led to his downfall. Also, age was
moments. Amar Prem , his next turned out to be more not on his side. So, he was unable to act with the same
of a tear-jerker than romantic. Amar Prem had a bold energy and vigour. Its to his credit that he had handled
theme about society and people’s insensitive and movies of such varying themes. It really saddens to sense
apathetic attitude towards prostitutes. Rajesh Khanna’s the loss of such an eminent movie-maker. Whenever
dialogue ‘Pushpa…I hate tears‘ has become legendary. It anyone sings a song from Shakti da’s movie, it will be a
boasts of good songs like Raina Beeti Jaye, Bada Natkhat tribute to him, his works.
Hai Re Krishna Kanhaiya, Chingari Koi Bhadke, Ye Kya Awards
Hua and Kuchh To Log Kahenge. All the songs were Filmfare Awards for “Best Film” for Aradhana, Anuraag
soulful and beautifully written by Anand Bakshi. and Amanush. Lifetime Achievement Award, Zee Cine
Shakti da’s next few movies were social dramas like Jaane Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2002 and several
Anjane, Anuraag and Charitraheen. In 1974, Ajnabee other awards from Zee and other Indian organizations.
was released with songs like Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mei, His films have been shown at International festivals in
Ek Ajnabee Haseena Se and Hum Dono Do Premi, and Berlin, Tashkent, Moscow, Cairo and Beirut.

May 2009  City Cheers 59

 KAMBAKKHT ISHQ
Director: Sabir Khan
Cast : Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Vindoo Dara
Singh
Synopsis : A romantic comedy and action, Kambakkth
Ishq explores the relationship between two
individuals so chalk-and-cheesely different from each
other that no matter how many times they are
pushed together, there’s just fireworks ...no fire. Viraj Shergill (Akshay Kumar) is a swashbuckling stuntman in Hollywood who lives by the mantra
“women are only good for two things … making love & making love” Simrita Rai (Kareena Kapoor) is a firebrand who is more than able to stare down
the most arrogant male with her caustic wit and sardonic tongue ... her firm belief “all men are
dogs”. Forces of nature make sure the two people who hate each the most are thrown together in
the most absurd, hilarious situations until one dramatic twist of fate binds the two together in a
manner that they could never ever have even dreamed of in their wildest fantasies.

IT’S A MISMATCH
Director: Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad Cast: Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Nandana Sen, Anubhav Anand
Synopsis: It’s a story of Aman (Anubhav), a talented young architect, raised by his Uncle. While
working towards his very own dream, his life bumps into the perfect girl Neha (Nandana). The two
fall in love, families meet and sparks fly. Every known disaster strikes when Mr. Bhalla (Anupam)
and Mr. Patel (Boman) meet and their differences become hilariously apparent. Disapproval
inevitably comes, but the lovebirds are all set to make their dreams come true. Bringing their families
together, leads to a comical series of misadventures of the two fathers. Aman realizes the true
definition of family and what it really means to love someone. The movie is a passionate view of
hilariously star-crossed romance.

Director: Eric Mandelbaum Cast: Thora Birch, Keith Carradine, Dean Winters, Director: J.J Abrams Cast:Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Anton Yelchin
Brendan Sexton, Leo Fitzpatrick Synopsis: The story of a young crew’s maiden voyage onboard the most
Synopsis: “Winter of Frozen Dreams” is a true advanced starship ever created: the U.S.S. Enterprise. On a journey
crime story based on the murder trial of filled with cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil
Barbara Hoffman in Madison Wisconsin being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind. The fate of
during late 1970s. Ms. Hoffmann was a bio- the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James T. Kirk, is a
chem major in college by day and a hooker by delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock, was raised
night. She was trial for killing two men: in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes
convicted of one murder and acquitted of the with calm reason, their unlikely
second. The case was the first televised murder but powerful partnership is the
trial in US History. Thora Birch plays the only thing capable of leading
enigmatic Ms. Hoffman. The real Ms. Hoffman their crew through
remains in prison to this day. She has never unimaginable danger, boldly
spoken of the crimes she was convicted of and going where no one has gone
has mentally deteriorated over the decades. before.

60 City Cheers  May 2009

 THE GOA PORTUGUESA COOKBOOK
There are some restaurants that, over time, THE LOST FLAMINGOES OF BOMBAY
have created a niche for themselves in the “The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay” by
foodie’s scheme of things. Places that you’d Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi is based
recommend even if someone woke you up in loosely on the Jessica Lall murder, it
the middle of the night to ask. Mumbai’s Goa narrates the story of a handful of people
Portuguesa has been that sort of place for the protagonist knew — who they were
many of its tastebud-stirring treats. But now, and how they were affected by the
THE DIARY OF A SOCIAL BUTTERFLY
owner Suhas Awchat’s wife Deepa has made tragedy. This, of course, includes the
by Moni Mohsin
it even easier, with her carefully researched murderer and although Lall’s character in
Pakistan may be making headlines – but
The Goa Portuguesa Cookbook. It’s a the story is a popular film actress, the
Butterfly is set to conquer the world.
delightful blend of functional practicality and murderer is still a politician’s son, the bar
‘Everyone knows me. All of Lahore, all of
glossy coffee-table creativity. Bharat owners socialites and designers.
Karachi, all of Isloo – oho, baba,
Bhirangi’s food and mood shots are simply Shanghvi’s style is obsessively lyrical and
Islamabad – half of Dubai, half of London
delish. And demonstrating just what the even as you make comparisons with the
and all of Khan Market and all the nice,
restaurateur couple has been saying all these events that unfolded in the last decade,
nice bearers in Imperial Hotel also...No
years, the book busts the myth that Goan the novel stands entirely on its own.
ball, no party, no dinner, no coffee
cuisine is only about all things non- Not much unfolds in terms of action —
morning, no funeral, no GT –Get-Together,
vegetarian. Right from the delectable Tendli we know how the real story concluded but
baba – is complete without me.’ Meet
pickle to the dynamite Bhende Recheado, the I always wondered what the story was
Butterfly, Pakistan’s most lovable, silly,
vegetarian section is quite a treat. behind the headlines, the convictions. How
socialite. An avid partygoer, inspired
From welcome drinks to desserts, the book the people who retracted their testimonies
misspeller, and unwittingly a cute observer
gives you the tools to fashion your own Goan slept at night. According to Shanghvi,
of Pakistani high society, Butterfly is a
gourmet spread again and again for the price quite well. Flamingoes is of course a work
woman like no other. In her world, SMS
of a single meal. Ninety-nine recipes spread of fiction, and some of Shanghvi’s
becomes S & M and people eat ‘three tiara
over 130 pages and liberally sprinkled with resolutions too simplistic but I found
cakes’ while shunning ‘do number ka
quotes from celebs who are regulars at the myself waiting to go back home and pick
maal’. ‘What cheeks!’ as she would say.
restaurant, the book, with its very authentic up where I left off. It was both the thrill of
As her country faces tribulations – from
flavours, has inspired to deck out in sarong a new insight on an old story and the fact
9/11 to the assassination of Benazir
and flip-flops. And then sit back and soak in that Shanghvi’s prose gave it a whole new
Bhutto – Butterfly glides through her
the sosegade laid-backness that’s so Goa. personality.
world, unfazed, untouched. Wicked,
irreverent and hugely entertaining, The
Published by Popular Prakashan Published by Penguin, Rs 499.
Diary of a Social Butterfly gives you a
Hard Cover; Price: Rs 795. Available at bookstores across the country.
delicious glimpse into the parallel universe
of the have-musts.
May 2009  City Cheers 61
Red Carpet

Born in an illustrious business family at Churu, Rajasthan, Mr Kanti Poddar, CMD, Orient Express Pvt Ltd, completed his basic education
from Delhi and went on for his further studies abroad. Later he took the hotel and tourism industry as his major interest and worked
as Management Trainee with Hilton Hotels in Beverly Hills and Honolulu, Intercontinental in Paris and hotels in Germany and Austria.
As a visionary, his father established Orient Express in 1947, the first Indian Travel and Tourism company. The well known Five Star
Deluxe Hotel Taj Chandela at Khajuraho is also one of their possession.
Mr. Poddar is known for his leadership qualities as he took the company to dizzying heights of success. Widely travelled across the
globe, Mr. Poddar shared his precious time with City Cheers to talk about his journey which goes beyond four decades.

q Monika Gupta

62 City Cheers  May 2009

As a dutiful son, he fulfilled his father’s desire to step into was carried out to improve the ecological balance. Well
the family business. For Mr.Shyam Poddar, his father, it laid water supply was provided for the village and
was a moment of great joy and pleasure. It was a tough irrigation. General facilities in the form of hygienic
time for good five years for Kanti which he remembers conditions, medical facilities, schools, electricity,
candidly. But his struggle paid off in bringing Khajuraho communications and transportation all were given.
and Shekhawati as World Tourist Destination. Mr. Kanti Poddar was involved from scratch with the
“It was the time when we were living in forests in company’s Five Star Deluxe Hotel Chandela Project at
Khajuraho, where actually I had encountered cobras and Khajuraho, a pioneering venture. He and the company
tigers at night. It was a hard core work of four and half have won many National and International Awards for
years, while living in a remote area. At that time ITDC the ‘Resurrection of Khajuraho’.
was the main tourism body. We faced tough times talking With Kanti Poddar’s initiation of the “Khajuraho
to various National and International bodies regarding Millennium” in 1999, began a new chapter in tourism
tourism. But, finally we succeeded in listing Khajuraho history of the country. He was the initiator and co-
and Shekhawati on the World map,” says Mr. Kanti ordinator of the Khajuraho Millennium Celebrations
Poddar taking the talks further. Committee. The event performers were their own
“My father was a true visionary and a man of principles sponsors as Govt had no budget. The programme was a
and moral values. He always toured the remote places in huge success that the Government of India honoured
India and dreamt to see India as the World’s best tourist him for organizing a unique national celebration. It also
destination. After my father’s demise in 1984 it was not led the Government to realize the potential this place had
an easy task to handle all responsibilities, the way he for attracting tourists and hence honoured the company
handled with ease. Being the eldest in the family amongst by naming a square after the founder chairman’s name –
six brothers, I took on the responsibility and a mission to the “Shyam Poddar Chowk” in Khajuraho. The lost and
make my father’s wishes and dream come true,” spoke forgotten village of Khajuraho and Shekhawati became
Mr. Poddar in deep emotional voice. prominent destinations.
For him his father’s words which always encouraged him Later, with Khajuraho becoming a major international
came from the shloka of the ‘Geeta’: tourist destination, attention was drawn towards Orchha,
“Karmanye Vadhikaraste Maa Phaleshu Kadachana” Chanderi, Shivpuri and Datia. The resurrection of
which explains “Do your duty without expecting results. Khajuraho led to the economic upliftment of the
The result is bound to follow.” impoverished society. Jobs were created in the village
His hard work reflects in his talks. “Ones freedom is only itself which stopped the migration of the villagers to the
in the field of action, and not in the field of bringing cities; instead people from surrounding villages came to
about the fruits of action. Never take yourself as a cause Khajuraho looking for employment.
of karma-phala (situation), and never resort to a life of “When the Taj Chandela was being built, I insisted on
inaction.” employing at least eighty percent of the staff from
Orient Express Travels, the first Indian travel agency, is a amongst the villagers. I personally selected them on the
glorious example of how in a developing country tourism basis of merit and potential rather than the traditional
can actually bring about a technological, advanced and basis of caste.”
life-enriching development, along with nurturing and Mr Kanti Poddar carried the visionary dreams of his
protecting the cultural and natural heritage of an area. father by means of expansion and diversification of
With Mr. Shyam Kumar Poddar’s perseverance, Orient Orient. He said “Orient Express Travels & Tours has
Express Travels & Tours brought the destination of diversified into exports, construction, software
Khajuraho to the doorstep of the World. Gradually development and sports management. The company has
Khajuraho was promoted by providing air links through even started promoting Medical Tourism in a big way as
continuous talks with Indian Airlines and Civil Aviation India is now getting ready for this new Market. Medical
authorities. To give a state-of-art accommodation facility Tourism is still new in India but the only problem is
to tourists, Hotel Chandela (now Taj Chandela) was built. lesser number of qualified doctors in ratio to the
Also the rich wildlife was brought under protection in the country’s population.”
form of Panna National Park, now a Project Tiger While we finished our talks I asked whom does he
Reserve. This work has been a good example of how dedicate his success apart from his father. “No business
tourism can bring economic benefits to an impoverished has ever flourished had it not been the family support
village community. one requires. For me it was no exception. I was married
Attention was drawn towards conservation and in 1970 and my wife Promila has since then always been
preservation of the ancient sculptures scattered over the a pillar of strength for me. I am totally satisfied with what
countryside. Felling of trees was stopped and plantation I have achieved, as I have fulfilled my father’s dream.”

May 2009  City Cheers 63