5 Less explored hill stations you must visit...

Are you a lover of trekking and camping in jungles on hill slopes? Often mesmerized by cool salubrious air and stunning scenery of mountains and hill stations? If yes, then take a few days off from work and zoom to one of the exotic hill stations for real refreshment. India is home to a number of eye-catching hill stations. While some of them are very famous all around the world, some are still less trodden. Below is a list of five less explored hill stations in India, which can be a real treat for any passionate traveler and nature enthusiast.

TawangThe land of Monpa tribe, Tawang is a district in Arunachal Pradesh. It is among the most preferred travel destination for Buddhists. Tawang is located at a height of 12,000 ft. above the sea level and shares its border with Tibet and Bhutan. Packed with divine nature and peace, Tawang is also an adventure option for the outdoor buff. Although it is little tiring getting into Tawang, but once you reach there its splendid view will make you realize that it is worth all the trouble reaching this place. Tawang is around 525 km away and a 20 hour drive from Guwahati. From Tezpur Tawang is 345 km or a 12 -13 hours journey. Regular bus services are available from Guwahati and Tezpur.

KalimpongWith its quiet atmosphere, Kalimpong is a major attraction for travelers. It is in Darjeeling district in the northern part of West Bengal. There are a number of religious sites to see, including the Catholic church and Zong Dhog Palri Fo Brang monastery. Located in the foot-hills of the Himalayas, amidst verdant green environment, Kalimpong offers breath-taking views of snow capped mountain peaks. The nearest airport is Bagdogra which is 80 kms from Kalimpong. Jeeps are also available from Darjeeling, Siliguri and Gangtok.

Chamba ValleyNoted for the magnificence of its beautiful scenery, Chamba Valley has three well-defined snowy ranges, the Dauladhar, constituting the outer Himalayas, the Pir Panjal or the mid Himalayas, and the Zanskar range or the inner Himalayas. The land of mystic serenity and lofty mountain passes and slopes, Chamba Valley is situated at the height of 996 m. above sea level on the south bank of the Ravi River. It is just 56 km from Dalhousie. Daily bus service is available from Dalhousie.

PalampurAlso known as the ?Tea Capital of North India, Palampur is at a height of 1,220 meters above sea level and is situated in the Kangra valley, close to the Dhauladhar Range. It is in the northwestern region of Himachal Pradesh. One can enjoy the scenic beauty of the Dhauladhar range and the slopes of the Kangra valley from Palampur. The scenery presents a sublime and beautiful contrast, while the hills are majestic. The nearest railway station is at Maranda, which is 2 km from Palampur. Bus service is available from Palampur to Dharamshala, Mandi, and Pathankot.

DhanaultiLocated amidst the thick virgin forests of deodar, rhododendron and oak, Dhanaulti is a woody paradise and the launching point for numerous treks into the snow-capped Himalayas. It is situated on Mussoorie ? Chamba road at an elevation of 2286mts above sea level. The region receives snowfall during winters making it even more captivating destination. Tourists can come to Dhanaulti at any time of the year. Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun. Dhanaulti is well connected to Dehradun, Delhi and Rishikesh.

4th Jan,2011 - Almost losing out everything but the last penny & celebrations...!!

In the evening, i was at my friends place when my brother messaged me to pick him up from Mani Majra at around 9:00 pm and so reach the place around 8:30 pm. I was busy with some work and knew that i wont be able to reach by 8:30 pm and would reach by 9:00 pm only. Then as i completed my work, i recieved a call from my brother asking me where i was??? I told him i was just coming to take him and would reach his place in 5 minutes (I shouldn't have said 5 minutes since i was still in sector 22 and it would have taken me around 15 - 20 minutes till i reach his place - THAT WAS MY BIG MISTAKE). So, I quickly started my vehicle to reach bro. While I was driving, i recieve a call from my dear friend, Mr. A, who asks me why i was not picking up my dear friend Ms. D's calls who had been calling me for the past half an hour without a break. I told him that i had not recieved even a single missed call from her and asked him that why would i not pick up her call when i love her so much (only as a dear friend). I ask him to call me after half an hour as i was driving and was in a hurry since i was already late to pick up my brother. I hang up the phone and finally reach my brother's place at around 9:20 pm.

My bro was furious over me. He told me that i never respect my time as well as other's times and this would cost me dearly if i dont amend my ways. He was certainly very angry at me. The reason for him being more angry over me than usual was that today we were all in a celebration mood at home due to some good news. He wanted to reach home today early so as to celebrate but i had made him late and that too by nearly 20 minutes, the time for which he had to stand on road in this shivering winter. I had somewhat subdued the occasion. I admitted that i was guilty but could not see any reprieve at that time.He just threw the bag in the car and asked to move to the side seat to let him drive. Now as we were driving back home, my girl calls me. I could not talk to her comfortably as i didnt want any more troubles with my brother. So, i act as if i am unable to listen to the person's voice and even ask who's speaking even though i had recognised her just by her "breathe" (:P). As she introduces her and starts shouting at me that i didnt pick her phone the whole evening and blocked her number,i could just say that why would i do that and even if there could have been a reason, i wont take such a step of blocking her on my phone. But she would not listen to any of my arguments and holding me guilty of ending the relationship, she hung the phone on my face. I just had to act as if nothing happened in front of my brother who was just sitting besides me all this time, to avoid any further wrath from his side.

We reach home. We have dinner and dad joins us. We finally get into the celebration mode and atleast for sometime, my bro forgives me for being late and we party. After i am finished i call my girl from my father's number (since my phone had low balance that was insufficeint to make a call but only enough to send one local message :P). She picks up the phone, listens to me for around a few seconds and then cuts the call. I then try 10 to 15 calls on her number after which she finally picks up the phone. I told her all that happened in the day and that i had not recieved even a single call from her the whole day. I finally managed to convince her but could still feel the sadness in the depth of her voice. I knew she was still not happy but she even didn't want to talk. I told her to talk only for a few more minutes as the balance in my dad's phone was also going to finish. She heard me patiently and finally the call got cut. I had told her by then what all i had to say but was still not convinced about her being happy. Then i got back to some work but was not able to do anything as my mind was still preoccupied with the memories of the day. So after holding on to my patience for almost a couple of hours (yes, it was quiet late by then.. :P), i finally used the last penny that i was left with to message her. I had only this one chance tonight and i had to use it wisely (and i guess, i did..!! :P). I had just 160 words that i could accomodate in my last message and i had to be super great in that to make things work.
The last paisa did do its work and i get a call from her but not before another half an hour wait and i guess that was a wait worth waiting for. Finally she understands the whole thing and the celebrations and she joined in on phone.

Thus, before ending my day, i had it all right which seemed all wrong once the evening began... Thanks to god for that... :-)

Being lucky while being lazy... !! - Sometimes Laziness is a bliss... :P

Today morning, i was reading my newspaper at around 11 am when my mom asked me to check the landline BSNL phone that was not working since some wire had got broken inside. I checked it and found myself too lame to correct it (That's an engineer for you - the future of this great nation - who is just too lazy to repair anything at home even when he is fully free... :-(... :P). So i instead of making any efforts to repair the broken wiring, instantly called BSNL office, registered the complaint and noted my complaint ID. Just as i finished the call and music again started playing on my phone, as it was earlier on, I notice the BSNL employee from my balcony, standing right in front of us. I immediately shouted at him and asked him to stop and look at my phone that was not working as i had registered a complaint. The person asks his colleague if there was any complain, to which he replies in negative. There must not have been any complaint known to them as i had just finished my call regarding the complain and that complain could not have been transferred to them so quickly (because its a PSU in India, famous for delaying work :P).

So, i told them that i had just complained and it couldn't have reached them so quickly and i urge him to still please see the connection as otherwise he would have to return again here to get it repaired. Though i did not expect him to come up to repair the phone as he was a government employee who are expected to take it easy but he infact came up and repaired the phone without charging anything. That was just too good an experience. I believe i was lucky this day.. :P

Something Positive in the day of Negatives...!!

Today was a pretty nasty day as the events unfolded till afternoon.

I woke up pretty late at around 11:00 am (since i am enjoying my holidays). I get the call from my love. She tells me that she has returned to chandigarh from out of station. Her bus has just dropped her at sector 43 bus stand and she would be leaving for her home in panchkula on her activa that is parked at the bus stand. She said she would not be able to meet me as she was very tired. So, i get back into my 'rajai' for a little nap.

Just after a few minutes, I recieve another call from her. She tells me that her activa is not getting started. I ask her to kick start the activa and use the choke and give a little race but she says its not starting. I ask if i am required to come over their but she, being a hardcore feminist, refuses to take my help and says that she would handle her on her own (I dont know why girls call for help when they are not interested to take any help but they also know that they just can't do it on their own... :P). So, she hangs up the phone.

Again after a few minutes, she calls me and asks me finally to come over there. She asks me to bring a mechanic as a number of people tried to start her activa but all in vain. I say i would reach out to her in another 15-20 minutes. So, i get ready and leave, telling my bro and mom that i am leaving on my bike to sector 43 to help a friend and would return in around an hour.

As i leave, i again get a call from her asking me to bring a mechanic and be quick. I told her that there was no need of a mechanic and as i get there, i would start her activa. I knew that problem would certainly be due to very cold weather and a few kicks along with choke would start the activa in no time. I myself had an activa sometime back at home and i had faced similar problem a number of times.

So, i kick start my bike and there i go to meet her. Right in the middle, my bike closes down. I try to kick start but find it stuck. I know, i am in for some serious trouble. So, i call my brother to pick me up from my place as the bike has got stuck. He reaches there in another 15 minutes. Even he tries to kick the bike but the kick is stuck and it wont move an inch down. the self start was already not working. So, we leave the bike on roadside and move forward to sector 43. When my bike had stopped in the middle, i had again recieved a call from my girl and she again insisted me to bring a mechanic. I initially refused to bring one along but when she begged for it, i had to do as per her wish. So i with my brother take a mechanic from sector 43 and reach her place. My bro asked me who this friend of mine actually is and i told him that he would know it with a shock after just a few minutes.

Just as we are entering the parking area of sector 43 bus stand, i saw my girl standing right in front and i ask my bro to park the car nearby as i had seen my friend in front. My brother could see only one girl standing in the parking and no one else and i knew that this was going to be the most embarassing moment of my life with i introducing my bro to my girl in such a way. Anyways, we move close to her and i introduce them to each other as they both looked at me in shock...!! :P.

I ignored their look and directly asked her which one was her activa. Then i tried a couple of kicks on it with choke and it had started well. my girl looked at me again in awe. It seemed as if she was still not out of the first shock of meeting my brother and i had given her the second shock of the day of kickstarting the activa in just a couple of kicks. But she was not convinced and neither was my brother and so, both ask the mechanic to see it in detail as if he had a magic stick. I had to stand out as the majority opinion was against me. My bro knew i was right but he had to side with the girl he had just met as my friend. The mechanic starts work on the activa as if he is writting one of the most difficult code in IT or hacking one of the most secure site.. :P

After sometime and a lot of effort, he rips apart every part of the activa and starts his research on it. After another half an hour, he finally assembles everything and gives us the activa started. My girl tries its kick a few times and is finally convinced that her activa is finally fine. All this time when the mechanic was working on the activa, we three were only doing two things--- looking at each other and giving some weird look or a smile and looking at the mechanic and activa.

Now, after the work is done, we ask HOW MUCH to the mechanic. He says 200 and i say what have you done that you are charging this high amount. He had not changed any part and for labour, 200 was too much. I knew it and he knew it but my innocent and working girl, who hardly cares about money did not know it and readily paid the amount even before i could bargain. I was angry at her but it was not time to be angry at her but love her.

So, just as she was leaving, i say the two usual words.. "Love ya" and requested for the same from her. She had refused to say those words in the past but my today's efforts were different from those in the past and she says the two words and makes my day... :P (This was the only positive thing in the whole day or may be not.. :P)

Then i and bro take the mechanic to the place where my bike was left stranded in the morning... :P. The mechanic checks the bike and gives us the horrible news that the bike's engine has frozen as the engine oil in the bike had finished and now, it would take more than 3000 rupees to repair it. I just couldn't believe what i had just heard. So, my bro takes the car home and i return pushing my bike for around a kilometer and taking a lift from a biker for another 200 meters (That was the 2nd and last positive thing today). I just return home and sleep.

Certainly a great day and i loved it for the most part but now, i hate it since i won't be able to ride my bike for another week. I guess all stories don't end on a positive note  but certainly, we can draw a few positives out of every story.. :P

P.S. - My dear friends and this girl and have requested me to not mention her as my girl or GF so i tell you all that she is not my GF but one of the most dearest friend of mine who is a girl and i just love her in that sense.. :P

Hierarchy in Army...!!

Here, I am writing the hierarchy that i know in Army. Please comment and correct me wherever i am wrong.

1) Non Commissioned Officers:
Jawan--> Lanc Naik--> Naik--> Havaldar.

2) Joint Commissioned Officers:
Naib Subedar--> Subedar--> Subedar Major.

3) Commissioned Officers:
Gentleman Cadet--> Lieutenant--> Captain--> Major--> Lieutenant Colonel--> Colonel--> Brigadier--> Major General--> Lieutenant General--> General (Chief of the Army staff, generally).

My New Year's Eve

Well, the two main central characters in this real story are My best friend 1 - Mr. A and his GirlFriend - Ms. B. Others in the story include Mr. C (Another best friend of mine) and Ms. D (my love and my dearest friend).

The story started somewhat before new year. Mr. A was very upset with his job in one of the cities of Uttar Pradesh. He badly wanted to come to chandigarh and meet his GF here. He had already messaged everyone that he will be coming to chandigarh on new year's eve and would meet all the friends in chandigarh. But the Gf had refused to meet. She had cited opposition from her family as the reason. Her relatives were to visit her place. Mr. A was now down and out. he told me the whole situation.

Now, Mr. C, who is our common friend knew the girl very well but knew very little about this situation. So i call him up and ask him to convince the girl that she should call upon Mr. A to chandigarh and should meet him. But the GF was difficult to be convinced. Infact, she told Mr. A about the whole call of Mr. C. That was pretty bad. We didn't want to tell Mr. A that we were trying to hook them up. Anyways, the girl never knew that it was me who told Mr. C to make her the call and convince her. But now, even me and Mr. C were starting to get down and out. So Mr. C played this prank. He changed his facebook status from SINGLE to MARRIED. Mr. A immediately got pissed off and called me up to apprise me of the whole thing. I just told him to chill. Now, he calls his GF and tells her about Mr. C being married. The girl immediately talks to Mr. C. Now Mr. C tells her that he did this to convince a friend of his that he should go and meet the girl wherever she might be, if he really loves her (he was actually talking about Mr. A and his GF but without letting her know the reality). The girl appreciated Mr. C's concerns for his friend. Mr. C finding the right opportunity again tried to convince the girl that she should meet Mr. A on new year's eve. He even challenged her to meet Mr. A at any time on 31st december and he would give her a party. But she refused to budge from her stand. She knew that she would not be able to meet Mr. A. Mr. A had even talked to her and known this undeniable fact. So, he messaged everyone that he wont be coming to chandigarh on 31st and would spend the new year at his home on the outskirts of delhi.

But he called me up to let me know that he is coming on 30th night and wont meet anyone else and requested me not to tell anyone else. My friends know me that "I am the best at keeping secrets" but they may be revealed through this blog... :P. Mr. A even told his GF that he will come to chandigarh and meet her under all circumstances on 31st dec. Everyone else just knows that Mr. A is not coming. By the way, Mr. A had now become normal over Mr. C's prank and had known by now that that was a prank played for him only (Yes, i had told him everything...!!!).

So, comes 30th night when i recieve Mr. A in chandigarh. The occasion was more special than the muasam that was awesome due to the little drizzle that night. We went to Sector 17 to have dinner. I had desperately called that night to meet my love, Ms. D but she could not come. I was upset over not being able to meet her. But i guess the best was in store for the next day, when two best friends find their love at two awkward moments... :P

Mr. A had slept at my place. We slept at around 3 am in the night after discussing about the two girls and having planned how, when and where to meet the two girls. We got up quiet late at around 9. I was still in bed at 9:30 am when my love called me. She asked me to meet her at 10am in sector 17. I knew i had to hurry up but i also knew that i would be late as always (yes...!! For all those who dont know about my this habit, let me tell them. 9 out of 10 times i am late and that too pretty badly but that one time i am always early so as to allow others to take their revenge on me... Am i not really a humble guy...!!). So, we reach 17 at around 10:30am (Being late ONLY by half an Hour - Thats normal... :P). We greet each other and go on our search for a few interesting gifts that Mr. A had thought of giving to his GF. But our badluck. We searched every gift shop and every archies and hallmark galleries but all in vain. Further, I had said something that really hurt Ms. D and she was even more upset with me now (She was already upset over me being late). Just as it seemed everything was going bad for the three of us, Mr. A recieve a call from his GF who said she would meet him in half an hour at Aroma in sector 22. Now, i could sense some change in the mood of everyone. They were finally going to meet, though i and Ms. D were still not on. So, we wait at aroma for the girl. I, in the mean time tried to cheer up Ms. D. She finally gave that killer smile and i knew i had got her on. Just then Ms. B arrives. Mr. A introduces her to both of us. We talk for some time and then I and my girl decide to leave the two of them. We decided to meet at lake in a couple of hours.

I got the opportunity i was looking for - some time alone with my girl. At the same time, Mr. A got to spend some time alone with his girl. So, i take on my girl for a long ride. We both told each other that how much we love each other and how much we both miss each other (though we fight whenever we talk). So, we had our moments and the other two, i guess, were also having theirs.

After a couple of hours, we reach the lake. We meet the two of them. We all spend some quality time together. Before departing, we plead Ms. B to please meet us in the evening for some more lovely moments together, but she refused as her cousins had to visit her place. So, she said that she could not meet us again together. As we depart now, Mr. A tells her that he thinks he bored his girl today. He told us that she was so bored that she even made a call to Mr. C from his phone and told him that she had finally met Mr. A and completed the challenge (remember the challenge made by Mr. C earlier to Ms. B that she can not meet Mr. A on 31st Dec..!!!).(In the background, at this time, Mr. C sends me a message to come online. But i couldn't go online right now as i was not at home... :P) Mr. A was now upset that he could not keep up the mood of his girl today. Then just as Ms. B was departing for her home in her own car, I and Ms. D encourage Mr. A to go and say her how he felt today...!!. So, there he runs out of the car towards her car and meets her and tells her that he had spent some of the best moments of his life today with her. He also apologised her for not being able to keep his mood bright but at the same time, asked her to meet him today in the evening at any cost. Then he returns. We drop my girl at sector 17. My girl leaves for out of station and we reach back home.

At my home, we switch on the internet as Mr. C had messaged me to come online at the earliest. So, here i go online. I chat with Mr. C. He tells me that Mr. A is in chandigarh and with his girl right now but i react as if i dont know anything. I ask him the whole situation that what happened. I express shock over all of this and tell Mr. C that this mut not be possible as Mr. A would have told me if he would have been in chandigarh. Mr. C, being convinced says that Mr. A must have given him a conference call and included his girl in the conference to show as if he is in chandigarh. I further insisted that already Mr. A doesnt tell me anything now because i dont come online too often. I also tell him that i have just enquired from Mr. A and he is at his home in delhi only. So, Mr. C now talks to Mr. A and tells him that his prank has been deciphered but he does not know that Mr. A is actually sitting besides me. So we tell Mr. C that yes, he could not be befooled by Mr. A. He is a genius... :P (well, actually he is but may be not here.. :P). Then, Ms. B tells Mr. A that she is in sector 17 right now with her family and he can meet her there. Great...!!!.. These words were enough to make Mr. A shout at me to start the bike and ride to 17. Their it was more than 10,000 people in a very small area and to make it worse, Ms. B even didnt tell us where she was. She just said "find me if you can" and we stupidly roamed around the whole place. We could not meet her. Then she tells us that she is going to the parking area just behind the sector 17 petrol pump and we could atleast had a glimpse of her there. We ran to the petrol pump and waited from where the cars were coming out. But i guess we were not so lucky as we realised 15 minutes later that we were standing in front of the wrong petrol pump... Great...!! :P.

So, we return back home. My father was anxiously waiting for us to have dinner. After dinner, we walked a little. It was around 11:45pm. Mr. A said that he was not feeling very happy now and just wanted to leave home. So, he messaged her that he is going back home and asked me to drop him at the bus stand.

Now, i call up Ms. B and tell her that he is leaving without meeting you tonight and i wont let that happen. So, i want her to come out of her home at 12 at any cost, with or without her cousins, as i would be outside her home at 12. But i didnt tell Mr. A about it. I just ask Mr. A to just visit his girl's home one last time. Now, at around 12:05 am on 1st jan, 2011 (yes, i made him late again..!! :P), we reach ouside her home where she was talking to her cousins. Mr. A and Ms. B both have a long eye to eye contact while i just keep on driving slowly and slowly. Mr. A now calls Ms. B and says the three ultimate words for which he had waited the whole day. I drop Mr. A at bus stand in sector 17 and he takes the train for back home.

I guess i made his day and it was worth celebrating my new year eve this way... I feel honoured...

P.S. - The whole story may not be totally true but is still quiet true.
          The Characters are all real.
          Ms. D is not actually my love but a very dear frnd of mine who is actually a girl... :P
          I am not the central character.. :P
         And i am not that late lateef... :P
         Happy New Year...!!!

And please too comment to improve.. :P

Top 10s of 2010... very general...!!

1) Top 10 defining moments in India - U.S. relations in 2010: Barack Obama visit; Indo - U.S. Nuclear deal; Increased Strategic dialogues and high level visits; India - U.S. Counter terrorism Initiative; Frisking of Indian Diplomats like Meera Shankar and Hardeep Puri; Opposing views on Climate Change; Wikileaks; Bhopal Gas Tragedy Verdict; Anti-Outsourcing Policy; Fee hike for H1B and L1 visas.

2) Top 10 Gadgets of 2010: Apple's Ipad; India's first tablet - Olivepad; Samsung Galaxy Tab; Acer Aspire One D255; HP mini 210; Dell Inspiron mini; Samsung i9000 Galaxy S smartphone; Nokia N-8 smartphone; Blackberry Torch 9800; 3D televisions.

3) Biggest Scams of 2010: 2G (1.76 lakh crore); CWG (8000 crore); IPL (1200-1500 crore); LIC housing finance scam (1000 crore).

4) Top Strategic Trends in India in 2010: Cloud Computing {software-as-a-service (SaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS)}; virtualization; Mobile applications; Data center; Enterprising on Social Networking.

5) Best Business deals of India in 2010: GTL Infrastructure, provider of telecom infrastructure acquired Aircel Cellular's tower business in a $1.8 billion all-cash deal; Bharti Airtel acquired African based Mobile Telecommunications Company, Zain for $10.7 billion deal; British Salt which is a UK based manufacturer of pure dried vacuum salt products was acquired by Tata Chemicals for a whopping $13 billion; ICICI acquired Bank of Rajasthan for a deal amount of $668 million; Mahindra acquired about 70 percent of stake of auto major Ssang Yong of South Korea for about $ 463 million; After acquiring Hong Kong's Quality Healthcare Asia last month, the Singh brothers acquired the Dental Corporation of Australia for about $100 million. Fortis will acquire about 30 percent stake; Indian Investment firm Hinduja Group purchased stakes of Belgian banking and Insurance group KBC banking arm KBL European Private Bankers for about $1.68 billion; Infotel Communications, provider of Internet and leased lines sold 95 percent of its stake to Reliance Industries for about $1.07billion; Abbott Laboratories pharmaceuticals health care company acquired Piramal healthcare unit for about $2.12 billion. Also it will be paying about $400 million per year for next 4 years; Reckitt acquired Paras Pharma at a price of $726 million.