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Soak in nature
A forwarded message clearly states - some questions don't have answers. How can it be so damn hot? Why is the sun pouring fire? And then there are umpteen geographically supported logical answers — global warming, direction of the winds etc etc. But, still there are none! Is their any respite from this sweltering heat? Do we have an answer to beat the heat? Thankfully, we have. Thank god, some questions come with answers.
So, the answer to the first query is, yes, we can definitely have a respite from the heat. Camping in the wilderness with birds coming down to welcome you; a lost peacock trying to take a close look into your camp (pray other animals and birds don't follow suit), a thick layer of wet fog bows down and kisses your nose, stars rearrange themselves so you enjoy a perfect dance sequence. We bet you are getting to
the answers! Places in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand offer the perfect spots where you can pitch in your tents, soak in nature, indulge in some adventure activities or just capture the beauty in your camcorder. If you are enticed by luxury, don't hesitate to look for camps, which offer classic accommodation, catering and other facilities. As an answer to your questions, we bring to you a low down on places where you can camp this summer. Himachal Tourism has camps at Sarchu in Lahaul, built-in accommodation at Sangla, Kalpa in Kinnaur, Kaza in Spiti. In addition, places like Kullu, Dalhousie and Manali also offer camping facilities. You also have an option of private camps in Baspa, Sangla valley, Tabo in spiti, Dharamsala in Kangra, Mashobra and Baldian near Shimla; and Pabbar valley in Jubbal-Hatkoti-Rohru area. Rohru: A small town located on the banks of river Pabbar, 115 kms from Shimla. The temperature of this place is sunny and cozy in summers. Just an ideal place to pitch in your tents! Here you can trek, enjoy nature and dig into your favourite book. You can also try your hands at catching fish or touch the skies on a paraglider. Move a little ahead, 9 kms from Khadapathar, on the way from Giriganga to Rohru is the Jubbal village. Khadapathar, 82 kms from Shimla, has a stretch where you can camp with your friends and family. But remember to leave your city etiquettes behind. Avoid putting on blarring music, lest you wake up the wild animals. Another place, situated amidst the dense Deodar trees 7 kms from Khadapathar, Giriganga is also perfect for camping. All said and done, remember, these are some of the places where nature completes a full circle, so we need to save it from any damage. Chanshil wilderness
Ghangharia, Badrinath
Camp Rishikesh
Camping can have different connotations for everyone. While some would want to be one with nature, spend the night in a sleeping bag under a colourful tent, others would like to camp where luxury is not a distant dream. So if you want to camp in comfort, head straight to Camp Rishikesh, managed by Sarovar Hotels and Resorts. Located 6 kms from Rishikesh on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway, the place can make for an ideal collection of the photo album. The eco-friendly Camp Rishikesh provides comfortable facilities in 20 well-appointed tents with attached toilets. The Camp offers an excellent cuisine in an open barbeque restaurant. The camp is also equipped for corporate meets. If adventure is
something you want, the camp organises white water rafting, rock climbing, rappelling along with trekking expeditions. Baikunth-Sangla In Tibetan language 'Sang' means light and 'La' means pass therefore Sangla is the 'pass of light'. The Kinner Kailash peak (6050m) dominates the view from here and the river Baspa, with crystal clear blue green waters, well known for trout fishing, runs through the valley. The journey to Sangla is both adventurous and exciting. The 7-8 hours drive starts from Shimla through Kufri and Narkanda. From Narkanda, the road gradually goes downhill to Rampur. A little beyond Rampur at Jeori is the last petrol pump on way to Sangla and from here onwards starts the place you are looking for. Baikunth Sangla camps offer 15 fully furnished Swiss cottage deluxe tents. Water shouldn't be a problem. An attached bathroom with 24-hrs hot water available is a blessing. At the camps you get to taste buffet spread out for all meals in the tented dinning hall. The camp remains open from April to October. jasmine@tribunemail.com |
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Disc man
“I don’t suggest deejaying to people who are not serious about it. This is also a creative profession. Some youngsters want to learn it for fun sake, but I don’t entertain them,” says Chinx, who strongly suggests that one has to put in a lot of effort to be a good DJ. And you thought making people dance to your music is a child’s play? Scratching CDs, running hands on the console requires experience. Where does it come from? “When I started almost 12 years back, I would play at 10 parties in a week. I would play so that I could get my hands accustomed to it all,” he says. Chinx also sees no point in hardcore training. “Training is no good as long as you are not interested in music. In addition to this, to be a deejay one needs to put in a lot of hardwork. A beginner should play and experiment often so that he or she understands the flaws and positive points.” Chinx, who was handpicked by DJ Akeel to play in the disco owned by him, also feels that true hardwork never goes waste. “I was the only DJ selected from the North, which is a good thing. I have had a lot of exposure abroad and now I plan to play internationally as well.” And it is homecoming for the city-based Deejay. “I am coming after a long time. The music scene in Chandigarh has changed for good. The city now has a set clientele for a particular genre.” Chinx plays in Zinc Lounge on Saturday night along with Chakra:Vu band. “I will play minimal techno. At the same time, I have invited people who understand this genre, even when I have the choice of playing in front of a mixed audience,” says Chinx. jasmine@tribunemail.com |
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Campus diaries
In the classrooms, hostel rooms, canteens, tuck shops, behind the bushes and at times even in the principal’s room, there are incidents that willy-nilly form the prelude to novels written about campus life. Had Chetan Bhagat not written Five Point Someone, we wouldn’t have come to know that there is more to it than books and book-worms! Post Bhagat, a plethora of novels inspired by college and school life have flooded the market. Pankaj P Singh, owner, ‘The Browser’ can randomly come up with names of 10 such novels that have entered the market. “The genre albeit new in the market is more popular than others,” says Pankaj. The popularity of the genre can be attributed to human nature. “People are able to identify with the characters of such novels. Even if they are hypothetical characters and situations, they are so common that readers relate to them,” adds Pankaj. Our very own Tishaa Khosla’s Pink or Black story is set in the backdrop of a boarding school. “People like to read such books despite the fact that they are written by those who are not necessarily a part of the literary world. Instances of partying, hanging out with friends and gossiping till late in the night are experiences common to all.” Chetan Bhagat’s latest book 2 States is also has the IIT in the backdrop. It is easier for this genre to earn business since it suits the sensibilities of the youth. “The period between 20 to 30 years is usually the golden part of everybody’s life. One is out of school and into college where there is much more freedom. This period can give some lifetime memories. It is for this reason that a lot of youngsters instantly write and read books about campus life,” opines Neeraj. Himani Dalmia from Delhi released her book Life is Perfect in the city last year. The protagonist of her book is a college going girl and the story revolves around the conflicts and complexes she goes through. “I started writing the book during my college days. I weaved the story as the world around treated me,” says Himani. She asserts that as is the general perception not all campus books are chic-lit literature. “Our vision of the world is different from the previous generation. “Campus literature shouldn’t be criticised by those with a different taste,” she adds. Even technology has come as a boon for youngsters today, as typewriters, pen and paper have given way to computers. And just like every commodity, popularity of a certain genre depends on the demand-supply curve. Says Kapish G Mehra, publisher Rupa and Company, “Novels set in the campus cater to the biggest market in India – the youth. And as the clientele is youngsters, language of the books is trendy, direct and casual, which has a mass appeal.” As for apprehensions regarding repetitions, he feels: “Books on campus life are welcome as long as the plots are diverse. As of now, there is a variety as people are exploring different angles of campus life.” Campus sure has a lot to offer and tell! ashima@tribunemail.com |
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Blotches on the green
Who wants to be around Miss Goody Two-Shoes all the time? How about some political incorrectness, some reality checks, some refreshing changes? Some facing the truth; being shown the rough edges, being told to prune down, prim up. Here’s a reverse of the saccharine sweet, “green city, clean city” rhetoric. Chandigarh is beautiful with all the greens in tow (with due respect to the roundabouts). Not to miss the Corbusier for a legacy and Shivalik’s for a locale. Like they say, there’s always room for improvement and who better to give feedback on the first impressions than the “residential guests” who’ve been here for sometime now. “Although Chandigarh is better than so many other cities, what I’d like changed about it is that there should be some more transparency in the public transport system,” Simone Wipf from Switzerland begins with her list and the bare minimum and the basic. “What I mean is that there has to be easily available information on what bus goes on what routes, through which sectors, the timings, where and everything related to it,” adds the LLM student who’s been in the city for around an year now. Beginning with the first and the foremost, the public transport, to the finer details. “What makes it beautiful is the greenery, the trees, the flowers, the environs that set the mood for it. Chandigarh without trees would be a naught and just a couple of days back in Sector 14 I saw some people axing a tree, it was quite upsetting,” Pezhman Mohammadi, from Iran, shares his observations. He has something to say on the transport scene as well. “For sometime I used to travel to Panchkula and used the public transport system when my bike was broken. The experience was not very pleasant,” Pezhman studying bioinformatics recalls the two years that he’s been in the city. Even amidst criticism, Punjabi hospitality scores. He adds, “The people are all fine and hospitality really good. I’d say 90 per cent of people here are warm and friendly,” he avers. Before the complacency sets in….Cut and back to the criticisms and there’s an observation from a veteran. “I’ve been here since 1993 and the city is expanding like anything,” nods Randa Singh, from Beirut, Lebanon, and a French teacher at Alliance Francaise. She adds, “If you are not working, it can be quite a boring city.” Like everyone else, yet another cursor on traffic and transport. “The traffic is increasing exponentially. When at the red lights, you have to stop at least for two to three minutes…it almost feels like you’re in Delhi.” One more to go! “What I also feel is lacking in this place is good language schools; I was really keen on learning Hindi but I did not find any school that could tutor the language, which is ironic and strange,” says Simone. “Can you believe that I’m still looking for a Hindi tutor or school,” she adds and throws in a compliment…this one was dedicated to constructive criticism and compliments have been withheld! manpriya@tribunemail.com
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Memories relived
All the seven short stories sculpted in chaste Punjabi reflect the agony and anguish felt during the 1984 Sikh riots, the days of terrorism in Punjab, movement of Punjabis to foreign lands, women empowerment and the burning issue of homosexuality. Presiding over the function, senior journalist Gobind Thukral reiterated that with the potent thematic content, imagination, insight and felicitous use of language, Jagtar has produced a classic anthology of short stories. Chief guest CR Moudgil, director, Haryana Punjabi Sahitya Akademi, traced the genesis of short story tradition and complimented the author for giving a meaningful dimension to the art. Dr Labh Singh Kheeva and Mohan Lal Philauria also spoke while Preetam Rupal conducted the ceremony. S Jagjit Kaur was the guest of honour. A postgraduate in Punjabi literature and Journalism, Jagtar Bhullar is a senior journalist working for a Punjabi daily. Bhullar was recently bestowed with the prestigious Laadli Media Award by a UNO organisation UNPFA. While sharing his literary passion, Jagtar says, “I have attempted to bring into sharp focus whatever unethical I felt during my formative years.” And he sums up with a Sahir Ludhianvi couplet Duniyan ne tazarbat-o-hawadis ki shaql mein jo kuchh mujhe diya hai lautaa rha hoon mein |
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As many as 85 students of tenth standard and above, drawn from twelve city schools participated in the two day creative writing workshop at the CSA complex. The workshop, organised by the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademy, was aimed at inculcating literary writing skills among youngsters. Noted academician and regional film actor Dr Surinder Sharma and others gave tips on playwriting, short story and poetry essay writing respectively and following were awarded prizes. — TNS
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At a time when Fashion is returning to the roots with organic clothing, natural dyes and ethnic inspirations, here's your chance at customizing traditions and making a style statement with it. Come and create your own designs! Fabindia outlets in Chandigarh and Panchkula are asking customers to walk in and get their suits, sarees, duppattas and kurtis block printed. A live block printing workshop organised to promote the handicraft, Fabindia has invited an artisan from Chandigarh to get designs customised for their customers. "They can choose their own colours, their own fabrics and their own designs. We are providing options to them in four colours — silver, gold, black and white. The block printing is free of cost," says Nidhi Gill, store manager, Fabindia. Apart from the live printing, customers can create the designs themselves with the blocks. Also, you can style your home by getting curtains, mats and tablecloths block printed. The workshop will shift to Fabindia outlet in Panchkula for the last day on Sunday. — Neha Walia
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Picks & piques
India's dismal show at the T20 world cup doesn't seem to have given the Bollywood biggies any hope, so the draught on big-ticket releases continues with one release this week. Bumm Bumm Bole is Priydarshan's inept adaptation of Majid Majidi's Iranian classic Children of Heaven.
This is an official remake/adaptation of Majid Majidi's world renowned Iranian classic Children of Heaven but under Priyadarshan's helming it's `but a poor, completely unsatisfying and unnecessary re-production, one that we could have definitely done without. In fact it would have been more prudent to re-release the original in a dubbed Hindi version. Firstly the story,at least the way Priyadarshan tells it, fails to lend itself to a rural Indian set-up. Priyadarshan sets his film in strive-hit Assam-but the characters he populates the film with look and speak like aliens to the land. Also the Indian socio-cultural situation is much removed from a once rich and prosperous Iran which lost it's glitz and glory after the Shah was dethroned. As such Children of Heaven was emblematic of the socio-cultural degradation of post-war Iran. Bumm Bumm Bole with it's unabashed superciliousness and poorly integrated borrowings is just an innocuous and unaccomplished attempt and is a blight on the creative process itself. If only Priyadarshan had understood the context and background of the original story then we would have been watching a different film altogether. Pinu(Darsheel) and Rizi(Ziyah), two siblings, progeny of Khogiram (AtulKulkarni) and (RituparnaSenGupta) have to go a long way to school . Their family is pretty poor and hardships are a way of life for them. They have only a single pair of shoes each- Pinu a torn addidas and Rimzim, a worn out pretty red sandal. Rimzim's sandals are torn and she wants a new pair but Khogiram has just been kicked out of a job and there's not enough money to run the house. Pinu takes the torn sandals to the mochi for repair but on his way back he misplaces it doing household errands and then begins the run-around. They have to share the same shoes between them now and it's with great effort that they reach in time for school. Rimzim wears the big sized shoes in the morning while Pinu wears it in from noon. There are plenty of problems on the way too. The shoe falls into a gutter, Pinu tries to earn a fast buck but gets entangled in a terrorist strike and Khogiram and his sister find themselves on the wrong side of the law. It's quite a convoluted run with plotlines borrowed from Tahaan and Sikander inserted to make things more complex. But it doesn't really work. When millions in India find it difficult to eke out one square meal a day, shoes would be the least of their priority. In fact most kids in rural India walk barefoot to school so the story which seemed appropriate for Iran appears ridiculous when relocated to rural Assam. The characters of Khogiram and his wife are far too stereotypical to garner empathy while those of the children are also pretty unrealistic. Manisha Korde's dialogues are unnecessarily wordy and irritating while the performances also appear overdone. The narrative lacks pathos and genuineness, the camerawork is far too pretty and Priyadarshan's direction has very little purchase. johnsont307@gmail.com |
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The 39-year-old actor has cricket in his genes with both his father Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and grand father Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi being former Indian team captains. But the star, seems to have got bored of the game now. "Cricket is happening 365 days. I am more interested in soccer now. The football world cup is just a month away and I am looking forward to it," Saif said. When asked what did he have to say about India's dismal performance from from T20 World Cup 2010, Saif refused to comment and said, "I don't think I am the right person to say any thing on that." The actor is all set to begin shooting on his second home production Agent Vinod this May and hopes to release it in March next year. He pairs with girlfriend actress Kareena Kapoor in the movie, the couple's third after Tashan and Kurbaan. "We will begin the shooting in May and are planning to release it in March next year," Saif said. Directed by Sriram Raghavan, the thriller will be shot in Europe, Delhi, Morocco and the pre-climax in Pakistan. The film is Khan's second home production after Imtiaz Ali directed Love Aaj Kal. — PTI
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Actor Arjun Rampal is a self-confessed chain smoker but he now wants to kick the habit for the sake of his two young children. The 37-year-old who is currently shooting for Shah Rukh Khan's home production Ra.One admits he wants to quit the habit as his wife, former supermodel Mehr Jessia, too has stopped smoking. — PTI
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Issey Miyake drew inspiration to create for spring 2010, fragrance bottles in an unexplored matter. A new story tells of the meeting of water and wood. Issey Miyake observes nature and its rhythm giving time to the most beautiful gift of all, the power to shape matter. Hence L'Eau d'Issey pour Homme is housed in unique new bottles for the season.The original fragrance has not been altered. Its raw materials can be read like a story of the transformation of driftwood. The elements change into opulent amber notes, finally disclosing the sandalwood, geranium, water lily and vetiver. A wood in natural brownish tones was chosen for L'Eau d'Issey pour Homme - Edition Bois. A contrasting matte silver cap accentuates the bottle's authentic, masculine character. Another perfume that uses natural ingredients is Kenzopower, enriched with the enveloping sensuality of tolu balm. Close, Gap's first signature scent for women enhances the natural beauty of a woman's own skin with a hint of feminine florals to highlight her own subtle sexiness, all day long. This fresh, floral musk opens with distinctive topnotes: a transparent, sparkling water accord, fresh almond blossom, and salty citrus accord that evokes fresh-from-the-shower skin. At the heart of the fragrance, a bouquet of classic white flowers-spring freesia, jasmine petals, daphne, dewy stephanotis-maintains a sheer, almost invisible quality that is distinctly floral, yet delicate and modern. Basenotes of creamy sandalwood and nuzzly skin musk combine with light vanilla and a kiss of amber to give close a feel-good, enveloping warmth. "The bottle's milky, opalescent finish was a way to make the colour white feel special," says Robinson. "When I think of Gap, I think of a white shirt, khakis, and a pair of jeans, and all of those colours show up in an opal." — Jasmine Singh
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Go out in the sun and embrace yourself with the all new Mongoleecious, made with two of the most loved fruits in summers — Lychees and Mango or with Pomano Steen containing real Mango, real Pomegranate with rich dose of antioxidant. Compliment your long and prolonged afternoons with Orengillo, a great chiller, enfolding sweet orange tango with Vitamin C or with Kool C Exotica restrained with goodness of cucumber and gooseberry. Adding more variety, Xpress has also introduced Black Beauty - to stir up those taste buds with fresh delicious black currants and Zany Zealander — a thick cold shake with the exotic goodness of kiwis. According to Puttaraj, president, Coffee Day Xpress, "We at Xpress understand the need of our consumers and customize our offerings to the best possible requirement for the season. The new range of Summer Chillers is specially created to provide relief to our customers from this sweltering heat and get them rejuvenated on the go". The Summer Chillers are priced between Rs12 - 25 and are available at all 900 outlets across 20 cities in India. So go all out and enjoy the summers with chillers. — TNS
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You want your child to learn how to play guitar or chess? Or be an expert at public speaking, become a dancing star or singing sensation? Hmm…or are thinking MF Husain school of art? Your child can be an expert at all of these at Jelly Bean Junction, a place meant for kids. "The activities will aid in the holistic growth of the child," says Gurpreet Sekhon owner of the activity school. She adds that such a center is important in times when kids undergo a lot of stress and strain. "The school is not on the lines of a regular play school, where children are made to play games that wouldn't contribute to the personality development of the child." Yoga will also be taught here to help kids concentrate better. "Social, physical, intellectual, creative and emotional, all aspects vital for the growth of the child will be adhered to." The centre will also have a toddlers club where story-telling sessions will be held. Besides the regular two hours of activity daily in the evening, during summer vacations, the center will hold summer workshops in the daytime. Other interesting activities like calligraphy and mental maths will be held here. — Ashima Sehajpal
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Preeti Jhawar in her collection is offering nets and cottons in different aqua shade, while the designer duo Niket and Jainee have white and pink in nets. Designer Jyoti Khosla is offering cotton and chicken in white in both stitched and unstitched suits. According to Aarshi Gupta, from Soh-Koh Clothing Inc., "Light shades are in fashion this season. Most of the suits are in cotton, chicken and nets. Apart from white and its different shades, pink is also used by many designers. Most of the designers are offering stitched suits; Jyoti Khosla is offering some fine stunning unstitched suit lengths in very cool fabric. The price range starts from just Rs 2,000. " To match with the suits, the store is also offering designer footwear and accessories, to make you look stylish and dazzling in this heat also. — TNS
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Designed aesthetically with a simple user interface, HT-C450 and HT-C550 combine 5.1 channel output to give 500W and 1,000W output of power packed performance with satellite speakers, while HT-C555 uses four tall boy speakers to pack in a big performance. The DVD home theatres incorporate fantastic features including BD Wise that optimise the quality. Compatibility with multi-codec playback and MP3 Enhancer improves the sound quality, making listening a pleasure. And it's easy to transfer data from your MP3 player, digital camera or to convert CD to digital MP3 files via the USB host with CD ripping feature. The HDMI connectivity is capable of transmitting the highest resolution digital data in pure and uncompressed streams, thereby enabling you to enjoy Full HD movies that are expressed with purity and precision. The new home theatre models ensure the best distortion free, pure sound on account of features like power bass, crystal amplifier pro and the dual layer speaker diaphragm design of the models. Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS decoders and Samsung's Intelligent Power technology ensure an accurate sound reproduction, making the listening experience truly pleasurable. Furthermore, the musical auto calibration programme (featured in HT-C555 and HT-C550 only) corrects the speaker level to give you the best quality sound output of music tone instead of mechanical sound, which is soothing to the ears. The Samsung new generation of stylish DVD home theatre systems - HT-C450, HT-C550 and HT-C555 are available for Rs 12,800, Rs 17,700 and Rs 26,600, respectively. — TNS
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Tarot talk
TAURUS: You draw the Wheel of Fortune. The efforts that you had been putting in at work would now begin to show results and things would surely look up. Those of you who are involved in exports or shipping would sign important deals or agreements in this week Tip: Do what is right and watch your best interests. Lucky colour: Saffron. GEMINI: The Priestess infuses a gracious influence in your life. Work related problems may take up much of your time, energy and patience. Keep a check on your temper and be as tactful as you can. Those of you who are single may not be so for long. Travel plans may be finalized and the trip would be quite productive. Tip: Allow a sick situation to blow over before starting afresh. Lucky colour: Scarlet. CANCER: The Ace of Wands reveals some of you may also feel the need to take the relationship to another level and be more committed. Others may also want to rethink and step back a little. Money and health would both be stable and wouldn't need much looking after, in this week. Tip: Beware of depleting your energy or resources on others. Lucky colour: Blue. LEO: The Prince of Wands reveals a good time to make presentations, attend interviews and discussions. In relationships, some of you may have to give up a certain habit that upsets your partner. This is also, a favourable week to buy, sell, and invest in real estate and other speculative ventures Tip: Be honest to your desires. Lucky colour: Cream. VIRGO: The Three of Coins says professionals in the field of law, politics, education, travel and religion would shine and rise brightly. This would also, be a week in which you would be able to deal with your emotions and express them at the right time and to the right person. Tip: Balance in all aspects is recommended. Lucky colour: Lotus pink. LIBRA: The Chariot says the week would be quite favourable for traveling and vacations, especially, since most of you have been working quite hard. Taking care of overdue bills, loans and other debts would help you to balance your finances and also form a savings plan. Lucky colour: Orange. SCORPIO: The Card The Moon brings quickening and many changes and insights. Friends and family would lift up your spirits. Going out on trips with them and spending time with them would bring you much joy. Romance would bloom. However, avoid getting entangled in meaningless relationships. Tip: Arrogance and pride will not be rewarded. Lucky colour: Purple. SAGITTARIUS: Ace of Pentacles reveals, as far as business and profession is concerned; you must be diplomatic and yet determined. Your strategic mind would be able to counter the plans of rivals and competitors successfully. Be careful about lending money and also curb the desire to spend. Tip: Don't be dismissive of advice from youthful origin. Lucky colour: Royal blue. CAPRICORN: You draw The World, as a result, you would experience greater amount of peace and contentment with yourself and everything around you. Any relationships, friendships and associations formed in this week would be positive and favourable. Tip: Take one step at a time and avoid being hurried and over anxious. Lucky colour: Grey. AQUARIUS: The Empress card says you would be filled with enthusiasm and a zest for living. Upbeat and cheerful, you would be able to deal with challenges and obstacles, both at work and at home. Some of you may need to review your investments and financial planning. Lucky colour: Peacock green.
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The place holds a promise of catering to all tastes. Offering a perfect balance of flora and fauna, Chanshil has spots where you can camp with the sound of Pabbar river soothing the senses. Tented accommodation with state-of-the-art facilities is a dream you would want to live. Each tent has a well-equipped kitchen and a spacious dining hut. Special arrangements are also made as per the demand of the group. 
Ghangharia is a small scenic town situated in the lap of lush green pine forests, and is the base for a trek to Sri Hemkund Sahib and the beautiful Valley of Flowers. An extension of Sarovar Portico Badrinath, Camp Ghangharia offers 10 Swiss-tented accommodations with all conveniences and facilities for guests. The Camp is ideally located at a distance of 13 kms from Govindghat, 4 kms from Sri Hemkund Sahib and 2 kms from the Valley of Flowers. Enjoy the place with a package of two nights and three days. The package includes all meals on buffet as well as non-alcoholic welcome drinks. For more information check www.sarovarhotels.com. 
If the profession (most people think it’s hardly one!) of playing on the console and making people dance to your tune attracts you, DJ Chinx puts things in perspective.
Mushy love stories end up in heartrending break ups. Then begins another love story. Betrayals wreck friendships. Careers are made and ruined. There are infatuations, crushes, gossips, arguments; a world in its own right exists inside and outside the campus.
Then there are those who joined the IITs and wrote books as well as those who couldn’t and still came up with a story! Neeraj Chhibba’s Zero Percentile has already sold 25,000 copies in the market. “The inspiration for my book came from the jolt I suffered when I failed to secure a seat in any of the IITs. Those successful in clearing the exam have written on how tough life is inside an IIT, but life outside is even tougher, as you have to deal with expectations of parents, friends and relatives,” says Neeraj who released his book in Chandigarh as well. 
But with so many such books hitting the racks, there is something to worry about as well. “The backdrop is same, so are the plots, therefore, there is a possibility of repetition,” says Pankaj.
Thoughts on diverse themes of socio-cultural relevance jostle against each other in the mind of young journalist and writer Jagtar Bhullar. And a part of these find expression in his maiden literary work Dehshat de Parchhavein, which was released at the Chandigarh Press club on Saturday.
Film: Bum Bumm Bole
He may have been an ardent cricket fan but Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan has now shifted his loyalties to soccer after an overdose of the gentleman's game.
Sometimes solution lies in small bottles. At least for summers, a small bottle holds an answer to the 'stink' problem. A refreshing bottle or a nice-looking perfume or deodorant can make all the difference in the scorching heat. Remember, not just any bottle will do the trick. The catch is to pick up perfumes that leave you refreshed from morning, afternoon till late in night when you return after shaking a leg at the discotheque. This summer make sure you scout for a natural ingredient based perfumes that are non-allergic to the skin.
The perfume uses all natural ingredients. The freshness of blackcurrant and mandarin orange awakens sprays of flowers cradled by the ebb and flow. The scents encountered along the way: rose essence, mimosa absolute from Grasse, a touch of freesia for the softness. The sea deposits this wood on the coast, finally letting it be. It rests on a bed of white musks warmed by woody amber, giving the driftwood that much sought-after patina. 
Coffee Day Xpress brings six new ‘Summer Chillers’ at all their outlets, that will help you chill down and enjoy the return of the warmer months. The new Summer Chillers will not only provide relief from thirst but they are also packed with goodness of vitamin C and loads of antioxidants. Just perfect for the health conscious consumers.
Summers are here to stay and everyone is hunting to for clothes, which are comfortable, cool, and yet stylish as well as elegant. And suits are just the right answer for this scorching heat.
Sector 26-based multi-designer showroom, Soh-Koh Clothing Inc., launches the suits collection of famous designers Ayan Sarkar, Preeti Jhawar, Niket and Jainee and Zephyr by Jyoti Khosla.
Samsung launches a new range of home theatres to enhance a consumers' home entertainment experience, with HT-C450, HT-C550 and HT-C555 as the flagship models.
ARIES:
Six of Swords bring mental clarity and perspective in chaotic situation.
The air of seriousness would lift and be replaced by an aura of love and
romance. This week would surely be delightful for many of you and by being
impulsive, sincere and fun loving; you would cement relationships. Tip
of the week: Don't feel guilty about not being a man in a hurry. Lucky
colour: Golden.
PISCES:
The Hanged Man opts for important changes at home and at work. Sagittarius
students would have to put all their efforts to work in this week and only
then would they be able to accomplish their goals. Professionals and
business people would profit and progress. Tip: Be cautious in your
actions and speech. Lucky colour: Pink.