India is a country with so many different kinds of sites to see. Most foreigners might not think of beaches when they think of India, but they should. India has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. In fact, the Indian people themselves love their beaches because they represent nature’s most beautiful creation. The beach is the place where the ocean and sun come together with the sand and celebrate their harmony and love. That is why beaches are so beautiful and adored by tourists and residents alike.
Here’s a few of the best beaches in India for foreigners
Of course, some beaches are more beautiful than others. The Indian state of Goa has its fair share of exotic beaches. Agonda Beach, for example, is a long and mostly empty beach which has lots of palm trees and casuarinas. On the southern end of the beach, you will find a big hill which only adds more beauty to this beach. You can get to the beach by driving from Palolem to Panaji. You will need a motorbike or scooter to get to the actual beach area from there.
Three more beaches in Goa which are quiet and clean are Mobor Beach, Varca Beach, and Cavelossim Beach. If you get hungry, there are food shacks on these beaches which have lots of seafood dishes and cuisines. There is a very luxurious beach resort on Cavelossim Beach where you can lodge at. The city of Margao has bus and rental car options for traveling to this resort on the beach. The distance to travel is only about 18 kilometers.
In the Indian state of Kerala, any foreigner will love to visit Varkala Beach. Not only can you swim and surf in the beautiful Arabian Sea, but the backdrop of the beach contains a long stretch of rocky red cliffs. Other features along the stretch of the beach include coconut palm trees, guest houses, hotels, beach shacks, and old gift shops. There are steps found along the beach that will take you up to the top of the cliff and vice versa. If you go there around late March, you can witness the temple festival there.
Another beach in Kerala that is worth mentioning is the Lighthouse Beach. This is part of the beach town called Kovalam. Lighthouse Beach has fairly calm waters, thanks to its huge promontory that is quite rocky. Foreigners will also enjoy the nearby luxuries that exist, such as swimming pools, convention centers, health resorts, and affordable cottages for lodging. You will certainly recognize this beach once you see it because of its huge red and white lighthouse.
On the opposite side of India, you may want to check out Rishikonda Beach located in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The beach is just 8 kilometers from the large city of Visakhapatnam so you should find plenty of public transportation options to get there. At the beach, you will find lots of hills and greenery which lie very close to the sand and shoreline. Water sports such as windsurfing and skiing are also very popular here too. If you’re looking to lodge, there are some cottages available for rent on top of the hill which overlooks the sea.
If you have visited Indian and have your own list of best beaches of India then feel free to comment and tell us about them.
Ethnically and traditionally important town, Malvan is located in Sindhudurg which is the southernmost district of Maharashtra State. Malvan is renowned for its Malvani cuisine, mangoes, and the famous historical monument, the Sindhudurg Fort. The Malvani language (Marathi and Konkani mix) and regional food signify a very distinctive culture of Malvan. Malvani cuisine mainly comprises of fish curry, rice, and coconut. Malvani Dashavtar, a critical artistic component of this region showcases the legendary stories through plays.
Malvan by Aditya Singh
Several places in Malvan are worth visiting during your trip. Sindhudurg fort built by the great Maratha warrior King Shivaji is a sight to behold. It is surrounded by water on all sides, and the only way to reach the fort is by boat. Apart from the splendid structure, Sindhudurg Fort is one of the best places in the country to try scuba diving and snorkelling. The best way to get to Malvan is to book taxi to drive down the Konkan coast.
The rock garden is a place recommended for tourists who like to spend their evenings watching waves hit the rocks and enjoy the cool breeze. It is situated barely half a kilometre away from the Malvan jetty near Arase Mahal. Another interesting place to visit is the Jai Ganesha temple that has been transformed into its present structure by renovating an old house. This temple has a golden idol of Lord Ganesha and is very popular amongst the tourists.
Finally, let’s talk about beaches that have transformed Malvan into a tourist destination. The most famous beach of the region is the Tarkali beach which attracts visitors from around the world. Tarkarli Beach has everything that nature and sports enthusiast can dream. White sand, water sports, sea food, clear water that will make your visit memorable. When in Tarkarli do not forget to try the fantastic range of water sports such as scuba diving, Bumper boats, Banana boat ride, Parasailing, and Snorkelling that are available at very reasonable prices.
Malvan Fort by Manoj Patra
Other beaches that you can visit include the Devbaug beach, Chivla beach, and Kolamb beach. Chivala Beach is uncluttered and sparsely crowded making it perfect for tourists to relax amidst the cool breeze. If you want to spend time at a beach with no one around, head to Kolamb beach. There are hardly any tourists or locals in the vicinity.
Malvan Wild life Sanctuary, Rameshwar Temple, and Tsunami Islands are a few other places that should be visited provided you have time. The Malvan food is a bit on the spicier side, so please be careful before ordering. Some of the must try dishes include Murgh Malvani, Mori Masala, Kaju chi Aamti, and Solkadhi.
The best time to visit Malvan and Tarkali is from October to April which is primarily winter and early summer. Malvan is 510 km away from Mumbai and at a distance of 200 km from Ratnagiri. The nearest airport is Dabolim airport in Goa, and the closest railway station is Kudal. State transport buses and Volvos are available from Pune and Mumbai. It is recommended that you hire a private taxi with Savaari Car Rentals from Pune or Mumbai to enjoy the pleasant roads en-route Malvan and Tarkali. Walking or hiring a bicycle is also suggested to explore Malvan. Happy Vacationing!
Rajasthan is an Indian state that is known for its many big celebratory festivals and events that take place there each year. Although people are spread out over the state in small numbers, they all come together and forget about their troubled lives in order to celebrate the occasion. Out of all the festivals that take place in Rajasthan, the most popular one is the Diwali festival. The purpose of this festival is to celebrate light in every sense of the word. That is why it is nicknamed the Festival of Light.
Diwali fireworks
The creation of the Diwali festival can be linked to the ancient Hindu poem entitled “Ramayana.” In this poem, Lord Ram was in exile for 14 years and then finally returned to his kingdom called Ayodhya. As he arrived, there were lamps called diyas that were set up all throughout the kingdom to welcome him back. So, the tradition continued where the people in Rajasthan would set up as many illuminating objects as they could. When you go to Rajasthan on Diwali day, you will see electric lights, candles, diyas, fireworks and anything else that could possibly illuminate at night.
Johari Bazar Jaipur: Photo by Olga
Of course, Rajasthan is a big state so you might be wondering which towns and cities have the most exciting celebratory events to witness. There is no better city than the capital of Rajasthan, which is Jaipur. There you can visit the Johari Bazar at nighttime and just take a walk through this jewelry marketplace that is lit up like Broadway. Every single shop and dwelling along this marketplace will have decorative lights all over it. And if you see a piece of jewelry that catches your eye, you can purchase that too.
The Nahargarh Fort will give you a beautiful view of the entire city of Jaipur as it is lit up at nighttime during Diwali. You will see yellow lights, purple lights, and red lights spread out everywhere. The yellow lights, of course, dominate the city which is why it looks like a gold city from the point at Nahargarh Fort. Also, if you happen to travel near the Jal Mahal palace which lies in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake, then you will see the entire palace lit up out in the water too.
As a tourist, you can fly into Jaipur International Airport to land right in the middle of the festivities. You can also try Rajasthan tour package and let them find you the best places in Rajasthan. There are plenty of buses and taxis that can take you around the city and bring you to these locations where Diwali can be experienced at its best. Two roads in particular that you should travel on are Tonk Road and Mirza Ismail Road. There are so many different colored lights on these roads that it will make you feel like you’re driving down Las Vegas Blvd. The only difference is you’ll see people celebrating in the streets with live music and dancing. You’ll truly get a sense of the culture and historical significance of Diwali as you move throughout Jaipur at nighttime.
If you are visiting India this year and you want to learn a few things about the country then it is always a good idea to read something about the place. These books will give you an idea of what India is all about and prepare you for your trip to India. I have compiled some of the best books to read before travelling to India. I don’t recommended you carry all the books listed here so why not get yourself a kindle fire and buy the kindle edition of these books.
India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
Nine Lives by William Dalrymple
Around India in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh
2 States: The Story of My Marriage by Chetan Bhagat
Eat Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo
Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found by
An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India by Shashi Tharoor
I hope you liked the list of some of the best books to read before travelling to India. If you have your favourite then feel free to list them below in the comments.
Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu and one of the four metropolitan cities of India was the third most visited city by foreigners after Mumbai and Delhi in 2007. According to the source 8,30,620 domestic tourists arrived in Chennai in March 2011 in addition to 29,558 tourists who visited Mamallapuram. Now I guess you just realised how popular is this tourist destination.
Chennai is popularly known as “Gateway to South”. It has rich cultural and traditional importance. The city is the perfect blend of old and new where the modern beliefs and conventional ways coexist in harmony. Both domestic and international tourists are attracted to this amazing city. Chennai has so much to offer to tourists that many revisit this place again.Lets take a look at some of the best places to visit in Chennai.
Places to visit in Chennai
Fort St. George Fort St. George is a place of pride for the people of Chennai. Built in 1640 AD, Francis Day and Andrew Cogon of East India Company were the supervisors of this project. This fort houses St. Mary’s Church along with a museum. It is said that this house solemnised the marriages of Robert Clive and Governor Elihu Yale, the founders of the Yale University in the USA.
The Marina Beach It is the second longest beach in the World. It has a wide sandy foreshore. Another important attraction on this beach is the Anna and MGR Samadhis, the memorials of the most popular former Chief Ministers of the State. University of Chennai, Chepauk Palace, Senate House, Presidency College, aquarium and Ice House are all located on this beach drive.
Kapaleswara Temple This is the 8th Century Pallava Temple. The ‘Gopuram’ or the tower of the temple is in Dravidian style of architecture. There are bronze idols of 63 Saivaite Saints and the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is located at Mylapore “Myil” means peacock and ‘Oor’ means town.
Guindy National Park This Park is the only Wild Life Sanctuary which is situated within a city’s limits. If you visit this awesome National Park you also stand a chance to visit other surrounding places like Raj Bhavan, Indian Institute of Technology, a Children’s Park with its own mini zoo, Snake Park, Memorials to Gandhiji, Rajaji, and Kamaraj. The Anna University of Technology, Central Leather Research Institute as well as the country’s finest Race-courses.
The High Court The high court of Chennai is the second largetst judicial complex in the world. The domes and corridors depict the Indo-Saracenic architecture.
Sri Parthasarathy Temple This is a Lord Krishna temple. Originally built by the Pallavas, this temple was later modified by the Chola and Vijayanagara Kings.
Valluvar Kottam This is a memorial built in the shape of the temple chariot in the memory of Tamil Poet-Saint Thiruvalluvar. A 33m tall life-size statue of the saint has been installed in the chariot. The auditorium at Valluvar Kottam can accommodate about 4000 people and is believed to be the Asia’s largest auditorium.
Birla Planetarium The Birla Planetarium at Kotturpura is the most modern planetarium in the country. It was constructed in the memory of B.M. Birla, one of the famous industrialists of India. Nearby is the Periyar Science and Technology Museum useful for young learners.
Anna Nagar tower park: Image by Aravindan Ganesan
Kalakshetra Kalakshetra was founded in 1936 by Rukmini Devi Arundale encourage and revive interest in Bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam is the classical dance form of the state.
MGR Film City The film city has various film shooting locations and settings. It also has dubbing and recording studios. It was set up by the Government of Tamil Nadu and is located in Tharamani area.
Connemara Public Library The Library is located at Pantheon Road in Egmore. It is one of the well known National Libraries.
Crocodile Bank It is a research centre run by Romulus Whittaker .Crocodile Bank is about 42 kms from Chennai near to Mamallapuram. Varieties of Indian and African Crocodiles are reared and bred in this crocodile bank. There are about 6,000 different species of crocodiles and a snake farm is also present in the same area.
Amir Mahal Amir Mahal belongs to the Royal family of Arcot. It was established in 1789 and then later it was possessed by Arcot Royal family.
Anna Nagar Tower It is the highest park tower in Chennai located in Anna Nagar Park. It also has a special cyclic stairs.
Anna Zoological Park It is the biggest zoological park in South East Asia. It is the house for tropical mammals, birds and reptiles.
Groping in India is nothing new. Nothing has changed since the Delhi gang-rape, no securities have been provided in Delhi or any other metros in India. Women continue to get groped on India’s public transport.
The way they do it is by deliberately touching body parts and pretending that it is an accident in the crowd. The most common parts where women are likely to be touched are the bottom and the breasts.
In western nations; when someone sits on the seat next to you, they will try not to touch you at all. But in India, it’s completely opposite. When a man with bad intent sits next to you, they will cosy up to you and deliberately touch you. In these circumstances, you will need to shout at the man to stop touching you. There are good people all around and many will want to help you.
Many of these men do it on purpose as they know that they can get away with it without being caught as the victim do not raise any voice against them for the fear of reprisal. Plus in a male dominated society as India’s, it’s usually the woman who gets the blame.
Watch some of these videos and you will get an idea about the plight of women being groped in Delhi the capital of India. Women travelling to India either alone or in groups are advised not to travel on public transport particularly the busses in Delhi and Mumbai.
It’s not just the buses; women are groped in broad daylight especially in crowded places. I remember once when I was about 15 years old, I was walking in narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk – it seemed as if every man who passed by wanted to touch me. In one incident when I was only 11 years old I was at the Railway station in Patna, a man came up to me, touched me and ran away. Incredible it may sound; this is ground reality of India. You might wish to read about the sexual harassment of Michaela Cross, a 23 year old American student on a study trip to India. Sometimes, you wonder if Indian men are the worst types of men on the planet.
My advice to those women travelling to India alone or otherwise MUST not get on these public transports. I rarely use these buses anymore. Hire an auto-rickshaw or a taxi and sit on the back seat. Always stay on the side of the road where you can see the traffic and the people coming towards you so you can keep a tab on things happening around you. There is a chapter on how to deal with groping in my book “India travel survival guide for women” if you really wanted to travel on these public transport.
Recently I watched a movie called Limitless starring the gorgeous Bradley Cooper and I thought that it great. The story shows Eddie (Bradley Cooper) as a struggling New York writer unable to make any inroads in his writing career. On day, he meets his sister’s ex-boyfriend who tells him that he is dealing in this medicine called NZT-48 that allows one to use their brain to full capacity. The boyfriend gives him a complementary sample pill. As Eddie walks backs to this flat he takes the pill. Something happened to his brain and he was fully able to use his brain to the max. While still under the influence he wrote an excellent novel that his publisher loved.
But then the effect of the drug ran out and he went to see his sister’s ex-boyfriend so that he could get some more. But while he was there in the flat some people from the underworld comes looking for these smart pills and kills the dealer. Eddie escapes but finds the hidden stack of the NZT-48 pills which he takes and walks away after calling the police.
He starts using these pills! He realized that he is able to use the pill to remember and recall past experiences and events, has great powers to deduce information, learn and analyze, do advance mathematics and have increased eye-hand coordination. The story continues showing that he uses his brain to full capacity and confidence with the aid of the pills and becomes very rich.
I read about this amazing smart drug. I found that the way NZT works is by increasing norepinephrine and serotonin neurotransmission. It also elevates receptivity and synaptic transmission in certain parts of the brains particularly between the hippocampus, the amygdale and the striatum. This causes improved brain function, hand-eye coordination and muscle memory and reduce the need for rest i.e. sleep.
I wanted to see if there was anything like this smart drug legally available in the market. I discovered that there are a few “smart drugs” available that makes you utilize your brain to the max. Guess what I have some news for you!!
I have found a pill similar to NZT-48. And it’s not coffee pills!
It’s a medicine available in India and many parts of the world. Please don’t get me wrong! I am not a druggie or anything, I just happened to see the movie Limitless and thought it was a brilliant movie and whether a smart drug NZT existed or not.
I discovered Modafinil – Made in India
I searched the internet and found a few smart drugs. The one drug that caught my eye was called Modafinil (manufactured by Sun Pharmaceutical Ltd) a prescription drug used for narcolepsy and sleep apnea. I walked into the numerous pharmacies in my area and asked for modafinil. Many of them said they didn’t have any. I was losing hope! I thought modafinil was some kind of internet scam and no such smart drug existed. I thought I will make one more attempt. So I walked in this medicine shop and I asked for modafinil. The chemist nodded his head and gives me a strip of modafinil and told me it was 200 mg. I bought a couple of strips. It cost me about 100 Rupees (1.5 U.S. dollars). I had no idea why I bought and what I was going to do with it but went back home with it.
Anyway at home I searched online for Modafinil…
Here’s some basic information on Modafinil and what it does.
Sleep disorders are very common amongst adults. There are some sleep disorders that make it hard for people to get to sleep and there are other disorders that make it hard for people to stay awake. The difficulty of staying awake is usually brought on by disorders like narcolepsy and sleep apnea. Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that occurs when your brain cannot regulate your body’s sleep cycles. As for sleep apnea, this is a condition where your upper airways are obstructed, which causes the person to have difficulty breathing in their sleep. People are usually unaware that they have this condition because they are asleep when it happens. But what it ends up doing is it causes them to feel sleepy during the day. Then they’ll have trouble staying awake when they are at work or school. Sometimes people who work varying shifts at their jobs will also have problems with wakefulness as well. Fortunately, there is a drug called “modafinil” that can improve wakefulness in those who have these kinds of sleep disorders.
Modafinil is a drug that promotes wakefulness. Nobody really knows exactly how it works but what scientists have concluded is that the chemicals in the drug have a way of disrupting the dopamine neurotransmitters of the brain. This disruption causes a person to become restless when they would normally want to go to sleep. In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration gave their approval to using modafinil to treat patients suffering from narcolepsy. In 2003, the FDA gave further approval to use modafinil for treating patients with sleep apnea and shift work sleep disorder. Modafinil can only be obtained through a doctor’s prescription. There are a number of medical conditions and other medications which can negatively interact with modafinil. That is why the drug is not recommended if you are pregnant, currently taking prescription medication, suffer from allergies or are suffering from an illness or disability. A doctor is the only one that will be able to determine if modafinil is safe for you to take or not.
Most prescription drugs have side effects to them and modafinil is no exception. One positive side effect that patients have experienced is an improvement of their short-term memory. This likely gets improved because their newfound wakefulness allows them to concentrate and remember things better. However, there are a lot more negative side effects that come along with this drug. Some of the most common negative side effects are headaches, nausea, anxiety, and nervousness. These side effects won’t necessarily need medical attention because you can treat them with over-the-counter drugs. But make sure you let your doctor know about which over-the-counter pain relievers you are taking because they could still interfere with the modafinil. There are also some less common side effects that you may experience from this drug which includes dry mouth, skin redness, vomiting, heartburn, muscle stiffness, runny nose, high blood pressure, diarrhea, and insomnia. Again, these side effects won’t occur in most people but if they occur in you then you’ll need to see a doctor right away.
If you are going to take the risk developing these symptoms then you should take modafinil in situations where you absolutely have to stay awake. For example, many nations throughout the world are issuing modafinil to their troops as a way to keep them awake on important missions. As you may know, many soldiers go on missions where they develop sleep deprivation because they have no time to go to sleep. This makes them drowsy and unable to focus completely on their mission. In a military setting, soldiers have to be focused at all times or else it could cost them or their comrades their lives. Therefore, modafinil has been issued to troops as a way to help them stay awake and alert. In the United States, the drug has only been issued by the Air Force to airmen who are flying jets or doing something else which requires all of their cognitive functions to be on full blast. It is not a commonly prescribed drug in the military, though, because of the side effects. That is why it is only used for critical or covert missions.
I did more research on modafinil and guess what it’s a widely used smart drug…
As I read more about this smart drug, I got to know that in recent years, modafinil has been used as a smart drug by lot of people from all walks of life. Those who want a type of drug that enhances a person’s cognitive function so they can concentrate and focus better. I also read that the US military uses it during combat situations. Like previously mentioned, modafinil has been found to improve people’s short term memory and help them focus more. So what a lot of people are doing now is taking modafinil without a prescription just so they can get these cognitive benefits. This is what is known as “off-label” prescription use, which is illegal to do. The majority of the people using modafinil for this purpose are students in college. We all know that students have a lot of stress with their job and schoolwork. When it comes time for them to study for an exam, they usually pull all-nighters and try to remember as much information as they can in a short amount of time. Modafinil is used as a way to help them do this. But since doctors won’t prescribe modafinil as a cognitive enhancer, these college students usually end up purchasing it on the streets or through some foreign pharmaceutical company over the internet.
As you can imagine, there are a lot of dangers in taking pharmaceutical drugs like modafinil without a prescription. People who don’t have their health evaluated by a doctor first are putting themselves at great risk if they take modafinil. These risks go far beyond the normal side effects of taking the drug. The severe side effects you could experience includes blood in the urine, chest pains, irregular heartbeats, kidney problems, shortness of breath, yellow skin, yellow eyes, and increased weakness and tiredness. Yes, that’s right you could actually become more tired from a drug that is supposed to keep you awake. So if you are using modafinil as a smart drug then you are putting your health and overall comfort level at great risk.
Fortunately, modafinil is not an addictive drug like so many other pharmaceutical drugs on the market. Even though its biochemical mechanisms are very similar to many addictive stimulants, there have been few reports of people getting addicted or dependent on modafinil. The only time people get addicted to modafinil is if they overdose on it every day in order to sustain their enhanced cognitive function and wakefulness. Otherwise, the withdrawal symptoms of modafinil are basically insomnia and anxiety. You should be able to deal with those without too much trouble, especially if you’ve experienced those side effects while taking the drug.
Modafinil can be obtained under the brand names Provigil, Alertec, and Modavigil. Different countries have certain restrictions on the drug. In the United States, its availability is restricted because of its potential to be addictive. This is why it is deemed a schedule IV controlled substance in the United States. However, most other countries don’t legally restrict it nor do they consider it a controlled substance. It is merely a prescription drug you can get like any other prescription drug. Regardless of where you live or what your intended use of it is, you should always ask your doctor if modafinil is suitable for you to take. If not, you could suffer dire consequences.
Here’s my modafinil experience
If you are wondering if I tried modafinil or not then YES I did 🙂
Modafinil with chai
One morning I thought I must try this. After reading on many papers and publication I came to conclusion that it was a genuine drug used in India and widely available in many parts of the world then it has to be safe. One morning after having a cup of my morning tea (chai)I decided to have a pill. After having one nothing happened for half an hour. I was getting really disappointed at this stage. But some tingling sensation started. I lost track of time. I had no idea what the time was, I just kept on doing things without taking a break. I was in my most productive self.
As far as I am aware you are allowed to import and even modafinil to the USA and UK. This means that you can buy them in India and take it your country. You can even buy modafinil online. But you need to be careful when buying modafinil on the net. You could be buying fake medicines or something different altogether. But I strongly suggest you think twice about using it. Everyone is different; it could have adverse effect on you. Best advised stay on coffee.
Modafinil side effects
Here’s a list of side effects of modafinil from a reputed website.
So you have it. If you don’t need it, don’t try it. Talk to a doctor if you need modafinil.
I am not saying you come to India to buy modafinil or buy modafinil online. This article was for information only. I don’t think I would be using this medicine. However, I will continue to do some reading about it. If you do take modafinil, could you share your thoughts here please?
Medical disclaimer:
This article is for information and entertainment only. I am not a doctor or pharmacist so any information here on Modafinil cannot be relied upon. No liability will be assumed for the use of this article. Anything you do is therefore strictly at your own risk.
