The monsoon of indian sub-continent 2010

Children swim in a water-logged street in Kolkata, India


Indian farmers plant paddy seedlings in a field on the outskirts of Hyderabad. India, the second-biggest producer of rice, wheat and sugar, may have ?bumper? harvests because of good rainfall, Farm Minister Sharad Pawar said


Children play on a flooded street in Kolkata


Children enjoy the monsoon rain in Mayong, a village about 45 km from Guwahati, northeast India


Indian police and civilians take shelter at a bus terminal in Srinagar, Kashmir


Commuters ride through a waterlogged street in the rain in Jammu, India


People run in the rain in Jammu, India


Monsoon clouds hover over workers at a Metro rail construction site in New Delhi


A commuter wears a plastic bag over his head as he rides his scooter through a waterlogged street following a downpour in Amritsar


A woman pushes a wheelchair carrying her disabled daughter as they cross a flooded street in Lahore, Pakistan


People wade through flood waters in Lahore


Commuters walk along a flooded road in Lahore


A man pushes a bicycle along a flooded street after heavy monsoon rains in Lahore


A man pushes his handcart through a flooded street in Lahore


A vendor pushes his cart with children through a flooded street after heavy monsoon rainfall in Lahore


Commuters travel during rain in Karachi, Pakistan


Heavy vehicles line up in a traffic jam on Prithvi Highway near Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, after a landslide caused by monsoon rains

One of indian village with 250 sets of twins

Indian village with 250 sets of twins




Doctors are trying to unravel the mystery of an Indian village boasting 250 sets of twins born to just 2,000 families.




The phenomenon has seen almost six times as many twins born than the global average in the remote village of Kodinhi, in Kerala.




In 2008 alone 15 pairs of twins were born in the village out of 300 healthy deliveries and this year is expected to top that number





In the last five years alone up to 60 pairs of twins have been born, with the rate of twins increasing year-on-year.




Local doctor and twin enthusiast Dr Krishnan Sribiju has been studying the medical marvel of Kodinhi for the past two years. Although 250 sets of twins have been officially registered in the village Dr Sribiju believes the real number to be far higher. "In my medical opinion there are around 300 to 350 twins within the village boundaries of Kodinhi," he said




According to villagers, the twin phenomenon only started occurring three generations ago. Dr Sribiju said: "To the best of my knowledge this medical marvel began somewhere between 60 to 70 years ago




"Without access to detailed biochemical analysis equipment I cannot say for certain what the reason for the twinning is, but I feel that it is something to do with what the villagers eat and drink"

Tags: Indian, Village, Twins, Picture

Top 10 hotels in india | Leela | The imperial | Taj | Oberoi

Amanresorts Amanbagh, Alwar

Best Desert Retreat

This ultra-deluxe resort sits on the former site of the Maharajah of Alwar's hunting lodge and personal pleasure garden. Amanbagh means "peaceful garden" and you'd be hard-pressed to find a more tranquil spot than this soft-sandstone hotel surrounded by graceful palms, fragrant eucalyptus and frangipani trees and manicured jade green lawns.. The elegant "haveli-style" rooms are among the largest in the country.


Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur

Best Place To Feel Like Royalty

Everything about this breathtaking property, from the arrival by boat on Lake Pichola and the views of the City Palace, will make you feel as regal as the peacock that wander the property. Many rooms boast private, walled courtyards with silken parasols and inlaid furniture, as well as private butler service. Upgrade to a suite with its own tented dining facility and infinity pool, or better yet, to the 2,650-square- foot Kohinoor Suite with its courtyard fountains, fireplaces and sauna in the master bedroom. Sorry, no throne.


Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai

Best Dining

This 565-room hotel weaves Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles together: It features vaulted alabaster ceilings, onyx columns, archways, silk carpets, crystal chandeliers and a cantilever stairway. This diversity is also reflected in the hotel's dining venues, which happen to be Mumbai's hottest: the Middle Eastern Souk, Morimoto's Wasabi and the Zodiac Grill, where the menu changes each month to match the astrological sign.


Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur

Best Tent Accommodations

Built in 1727, majestic Jaipur is also known as "The Pink City" for its oleander-rose buildings, domes and minarets. This smaller luxury hotel about five miles from the city center reflects Jaipur's colors and stateliness. It offers a variety of courtyard accommodations, from suites to air-conditioned luxury tents with teak floors, Edwardian claw-foot tubs and embroidered interior canopies. Flashlight not required.


Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra

Best Views Of The Taj Mahal

Views of the domed marble mausoleum are clear from practically every window of this property (including some bathrooms!). This hotel features Moghul architecture, terraced gardens and several reflection pools. The 103 rooms are decked out in rich purples, oranges and yellows.. Their marble bathrooms are stately with their imposing soaking tubs.


Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur

Best Place For Romance

It's hard to top the setting of this white marble palace which seems to be floating atop Lake Pichola on its four-acre island pedestal. Adding to the storybook effect are the decorative details in the elegant suites: bohemian crystals, ornate glass work, green lotus leaves and cusped arches. The rooms look out on medieval gardens and hilltop fortresses.


The Four Seasons, Mumbai

Best Car Service

Driving conditions in India can be a little daunting. At the Four Seasons, the newest entrant to the country's luxury-hotel market, a fleet of 20 BMW Series 7s is available for guests--not that they'll need to go far: The glass tower hotel (whose 202 rooms look straight at the Arabian sea) is conveniently located in Worli, the city's financial center, obviously targeted to the increasing number of business travelers flocking to Mumbai.


The Imperial, New Delhi

Best Common Spaces

Built in 1936, the landmark Imperial Hotel, with its parade of palm trees, glossy Italian marble floors, teak furnishings and high ceilings, will make you feel like you should have arrived on elephant, sword on hip. But don't worry; the spacious rooms--the Deco suites are particularly stunning--have all the modern conveniences. Ask the resident curator to guide you through the hotel's hanging collection of British art.


The Leela Palace Kempinski, Bangalore

Best Business Hotel

Bangalore, India's third-largest city, has morphed into a hip, global technology center, attracting CEOs from Google, Yahoo!, IBM, Honeywell, and, of course, Bill Gates. The Leela Palace offers great accommodations and dining (at the lovely Jamavar) plus superior conference facilities. Expect to rub elbows with local resident Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Biocon president and India's richest woman.


Devi Garh, Delwara Near Udaipur

Sexiest Design

From the outside, Devi Garh, an 18th-century Rajput palace-fort, looks just like so many of the majestic edifices throughout Rajasthan. But step inside and you'll find a totally reinvented minimalist décor. In one room, a sunken marble tub sits alone in a room looking at the Aravali Hills through floor-to-ceiling glass. Each of the 39 suites is embellished with marble and semi-precious stones. The hotel has a spa and can arrange camel rides.

Indian 10 Richest People

Methodology: Unlike our annual billionaires list, this ranking has been broadened to include family fortunes. For instance, Tulsi Tanti's billion fortune represents his family's entire stake in Suzlon Energy, not his personal stake that's reflected in the billionaire rankings. Net worths were calculated using Nov. 3 market prices and exchange rates. Privately held companies are valued by comparing them to similar publicly traded companies. Indian nonresidents such as Lakshmi Mittal are included as long as they still hold Indian citizenship. This ranking, unlike the forbes billionaires list, includes family fortunes.

Read and get Inspired

1. Mukesh Ambani

Makes debut as India's richest, despite fact that net worth fell $28.2 billion in past year as stock price of petrochemicals flagship Reliance Industries tanked. Unfazed, Mukesh upped Reliance stake, paying $3.4 billion to convert 120 million preferential warrants into shares, at a premium to stock price. Legal spat with estranged brother Anil over gas supply agreement still unresolved.


2. Lakshmi Mittal

Stock of world's largest steel outfit, ArcelorMittal, which he heads, spiraled to 4-year lows amid falling steel prices. In November announced plans to cut output, reduce debt. Mittal joined Goldman Sachs board in June. Has stakes in Indiabulls, RAB Capital.


3. Anil Ambani

Plans to merge his Reliance Communications with South Africa's MTN in what would have been India's largest-ever overseas deal were scuttled in July after brother Mukesh threatened to sue, claiming he had right of first refusal. Stock stumbled 48% since. Married to a onetime Bollywood actress, Anil has Hollywood ambitions: His Reliance Entertainment is investing $500 million in a new studio venture with Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks.




4. Sunil Mittal

Runs Bharti Group whose Bharti Airtel is country's largest mobile phone operator. In May backed out of deal to take over South Africa's MTN, opening door for Anil Ambani's failed bid. Launched Airtel Digital TV, a direct-to-home digital television service. Joint venture with Wal-Mart expected to open its first store next year. Funding soccer academy.



5. Kushal Pal Singh

Real estate baron and DLF chairman lost $27.2 billion in past year. Attempt to boost share price through share buyback was unsuccessful as were its plans to list its real estate investment trust in Singapore. Company paid $40 million in February to sponsor new cricket league for 5 years.




6. Shashi Ravi Ruia

Brothers' Essar Group's most valuable asset is 33% stake in mobile phone operator Vodafone Essar, India's third largest. Also own 8% in rival telecom firm BPL Mobile. Lost out to Russian firm Severstal in bid for steelmaker Esmark this year. Other holdings in shipping, oil, construction, power.



7. Azim Premji

Longtime head of $4.9 billion (revenues) Bangalore outsourcing giant Wipro, handed over operations to 2 co-chief executives in April. Remains chairman. Hit by global economic slowdown, stock is down 44% in past year.




8. Kumar Birla

Head of Aditya Birla Group, commodities conglomerate inherited from father, with operations in 25 countries. His telecom outfit bought 50% of mobile operator Spice Communications. In October a rights issue by its aluminum maker Hindalco unraveled as its stock price plunged to alltime low.



9. Adi Godrej

Third generation head of Godrej Group, a consumer products conglomerate which makes locks, soaps, mosquito repellants, furniture and foods. In major image makeover, group logo was changed for the first time since it was founded 111 years ago. Following the easing of decades-old land ownership restrictions, Godrej has outlined ambitious plans to develop family's 3,500 acre estate in suburban Mumbai. Son Pirojsha, a Columbia grad, works in property arm.




10. Gautam Adani

Dropped out of college to start a trading outfit 20 years ago. Now his Adani Enterprises has interests in edible oils, power, infrastructure. Owns Mundra Port, India's largest in private sector. Fishermen recently took Adani to court over special economic zone he's building on western coast; court ruled in his favor. Plans to list power subsidiary are delayed.

World's Wackiest Festivals

1.El Colacho: the Baby-Jumping Festival (Spain)
In celebration of the Catholic festival of Corpus Christi, grown men leap over newborns, with full parental consent. Donning scary, vaguely Elvis-like costumes and wielding whips and truncheons, the men attempt to "cleanse" the babies of evil. Evidently, recklessly leaping over them is the best way to achieve this. The town has observed the strange practice (called El Colacho) since 1620, and any onlookers who seem to be in need of a quick exorcism are pulled into the event, as well -- so look normal, by God! And leave your babies with the sitter.


2.Up Helly-Aa: the Fire Festival (Shetland Islands)
A tribute to the islands' Viking Past, Up Helly-Aa ("End of the Holy Days"), the fire festivals are held in Shetland annually in the middle of winter to mark the end of the yule season. The festival involves a procession of up to a thousand guizers, and culminates with the burning of a 32-ft. replica of a Viking longship. Due to the often-flamboyant costumes and the large quantity of males dressing up as females, it has earned the joke name 'Transvestite Tuesday'.

3.The Monkey Buffet Festival (Thailand)
Every year, all of the province's approximately 600 monkeys are invited to eat fruits and vegetables during an annual feast held in honor of Rama, a hero of the Ramayana, who, it is said, rewarded his friend and ally, Hanuman the Monkey King, with the fiefdom of what is now Lopburi. Organizers of the annual monkey buffet use more than 3,000 kg of fruits and vegetables for the festival.

4.Holi: the Festival of Colors (India)
Holi, also called the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring festival observed in India, Guyana, and Nepal. On the second day, known as Dhulhendi, people spend the day throwing colored powder and water at each other. The spring season, during which the weather changes, is believed to cause viral fever and cold. Thus, the playful throwing of the colored powders has a medicinal significance: the colors are traditionally made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors.


5. Cheese Rolling Festival (England)
Though it sounds benign (and kind of goofy), cheese-rolling is very dangerous. Running full-tilt down a very steep hill behind a madly spinning 7-pound wheel of cheese can be well-nigh lethal. In fact, police have attempted to ban the event, but participants have refused to observe the ban. Men and their cheese wheels can not be separated easily, evidently. So what happens during a cheese roll? Simple: the cheese is set to rolling, and racers zoom down the hill after the cheese. However, as the cheese can reach speeds of up to 70 mph, it rarely happens that someone catches the cheese. First to the bottom wins the cheese. Glorious.

6. Maslenitsa: free-for-all boxing match (Russia)
In Orthodox countries, the week before Lent is marked with a series of celebrations, including a free-for-all boxing match in which there are no rules. In centuries past, the fight ended only when the participates were covered with blood and bereft of clothes.

7. Tunarama: the Tuna Tossing Festival (Australia)
The Tunarama festival is held in Port Lincoln, on the tip of Eyre Peninsula, over the Australia Day (26 January) long weekend. When the festival began in 1962, it was intended to promote the emerging tuna fishing industry in Port Lincoln. Tuna fishing is now one of the town's biggest industries and Australia's largest tuna cannery is located there. The highlight of the festival is the tuna tossing competition. Ex-Olympic hammer thrower, Sean Carlin, holds the record for the longest toss at 37.23 metres set in 1998.

8. Roswell UFO Festival (USA)
The Roswell UFO Festival celebrates the anniversary of the "Roswell Incident," when a UFO was said to have crashed into military grounds nearby. Featuring experts, authors, researchers, and lecturers dissecting the infamous incident, the celebration will also sport an alien parade, an alien costume contest , and an alien hot air balloon ride.

9. La Tomatina (Spain)
In late August, thousands of people pelt each other with over 250 lbs. of tomatoes in a span of 60 minutes in an event modestly described as the world's largest tomato fight. Every year, over 30,000 tourists come to Bunyol for this festival. Rules of conduct keep the festivities from becoming a more dangerous brawl.