manipurs-andro-village-becomes-a-popular-tourist-destination

Manipur's Andro village becomes a popular tourist destination

Manipur, Jan 26 (ANI): Scenic beauty, good climate and warm hospitality! All of it combines to attract tourists to Andro village; a hotspot located 20 miles from Imphal city in the foothills of Nongmaiching hill. Known for its traditional pottery skills, the small village is now bustling with tourists. Most of the tourist sites reflecting age-old cultures and traditions are maintained through community effort of the local villagers. The Santhei Natural Park that has been developed around a water reservoir is a popular picnic spot for locals and tourists alike. The natural beauty of the park and the neighboring gardens attracts hundreds of people daily. Yet another major attraction is the Mutua Cultural Heritage Complex that showcases major tribal traditions and their artifacts. Model houses of various ethnic tribes, wood carvings, stone monuments and various traditional exhibits make it a must see place. Jan 26, 2015
snowfall-in-kashmir-intensifies-cold-wave

Snowfall in Kashmir intensifies cold wave

Udhampur/ Dharamsala, Jan 23 (ANI): Tourists thronged Jammu and Kashmir and experienced snowfall, which intensified cold wave in northern parts of the country. People from the plains flocked Udhampur district to enjoy fresh snowfall as temperatures reached minus two degree Celsius. The mountainside was covered with a blanket of snow, speckled by the visitors who were seen having snowball fights. Meanwhile, rainfall in hill town of Dharamsala plummeted temperatures, forcing people to stay indoors. Located in the tropics, most of India witnesses a very hot summer and a largely temperate winter. Snowfall in states like Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh has a direct impact in other northern states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Jan 23, 2015
jadav-payeng-develops-1400-acres-of-forest-area-in-assam

Jadav Payeng develops 1,400 acres of forest area in Assam

Assam, Jan 22 (ANI): Situated along the Brahmaputra River, Jorhat district of Assam is home to the largest river island on earth, Majuli. Located along with a number of barren sandbars, the area was once heavily eroded due to frequent floods. However, with the individual effort of Jadav Payeng, there is now 1,400 acres of lush forest in the area. Since 1979, Payeng has been single-handedly planting and nurturing various species of trees, including vast expanses of bamboo groves. The vast forest is now home to a variety of wildlife species including the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger and a number of migratory birds. Payeng lives in a small hut in the forest along with his family and survives by selling milk. His work has received much appreciation across the country and he was named as the 'Forest Man of India' by the Jawaharlal Nehru University. Honoring his work, the Assam government also named the forest Mulai kathoni bar, after his nickname. Jan 22, 2015

India has 70 percent of world's tigers as per latest census: Javadekar

New Delhi, Jan 20 (ANI): India is home to 70 percent of the world's tigers as per latest 2014 census, said Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday (January 20). Tigers have long been bordering extinction as they face the dangers of poaching, killings and habitat loss despite government conservation efforts. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says that the world has lost 97 percent of its tiger population in over a century. India has been struggling to keep its tiger population intact being one of the few countries where the species is found. Javadekar added that building new tiger reserves was on the government's agenda. He also said that though man-animal conflict had reduced, the government would be active in reducing the risks further. He also applauded the efforts of forest guards and environment enthusiasts and activists in helping preserve tigers. Jan 20, 2015