Basket Of Fun: summers

Summers are here and so are the vacations. Most people visit their relatives in this part of the year, but mostly they remain in cities which are hot polluted and noisy. What if you could feel a soft cool breeze making its way past you, blowing your hair, refreshing your senses? well for as long as you are in these cities you can only imagine these things...

Well, here we are with our blog that will show you some amazing and chilly places which you should visit in summers and the best part is that while you will get closer to nature, these destinations are totally budget friendly and you should visit them with your family and friends.

Manali, Himachal Pradesh

Manali, at the northern end of the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh, is a hill station situated at a height of 2050m in the Himalayas. Situated on the Beas river and near its source, it is a popular tourist spot for Indians in summer and a magical, snow-covered place in winter. A staging point for a number of treks (Beas Kund, Chandrakhani Pass) and sports such as white-water rafting, Manali is also on the road to Ladakh via the valley of Lahaul and Spiti and the Rohtang Pass which is the main attraction near Manali.

Known For: Solang Valley | Rohtang Pass |Adventure Activities in Manali

Gangtok- Dzongu, Sikkim

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, has a lot of places to visit that make you go wow. Nathula Pass, Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir, and Changu Lake are simply wonders. These places are a little away from and a lot higher than Gangtok, but each moment of this trip will be worth it. The Saga Dawa festival is one of the most important festivals for the people of Sikkim which celebrated in May. The festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm in the capital city of Gangtok. Festivity occurs across Gangtok in the form of processions, prayers, and extending alms to the needy. The customs and rituals, carried out in remembrance of the Buddha, are said to bear fruits for the observers in the future.

Known For: Nathu La Pass | MG Road, Gangtok |Rumtek Monastery

Ooty, Tamil Nadu

Located in the mountainous range called the Nilgiris ("Blue Mountains"), it draws swarms of tourists every year. The weather is quite pleasant at a mean of 15-20°C around the year, dropping to lows of 0°C during winter. The landscape is marked by rolling hills covered with dense vegetation, smaller hills and plateaus covered with tea/coffee gardens, and eucalyptus trees. Many portions of the hills are preserved as natural reserve forests, and special permits will be needed to camp in noncamp sites. Auto touring the surrounding countryside is certainly a must do.

Known For: Nilgiri Mountain Railway | Ooty Lake |Ooty Rose Garden

Shillong-Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya

The beautiful mountains of this region are a joy to watch. Shillong in itself, is a really beautiful town, the capital of Meghalaya as well. Located in undulating pine-covered hills, the city has a milder climate than tropical India. Home to several waterfalls, it is also known as the Scotland of the East. It is perhaps the only place in India where taxi drivers themselves sit on someone's lap and drive. Here, even the traditional societal roles of a man and woman are reversed, with women doing most of the business. Scenic viewpoints, caves en route to Cherrapunjee, views of Bangladesh from both Cherrapunjee and Mawlynnong, Asia's cleanest village. These are just some of the things that will make your jaw drop.

Known For: Umiam lake | Elephant falls | Wards Lake |Sweet falls | Butterfly museum

Mount Abu, Rajasthan

Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan, situated very close to the Rajasthan-Gujarat border, in the Aravali hills. Monsoon season is the best time to go to Mount Abu. During rains, the complete beauty of this place can be experienced due to the lush green surroundings which makes it a major tourist spot within the state. The most important attraction, however, is undoubtedly the Dilwara temples, which are the most stunning pieces of architecture in the country. One can also take part in the famous Summer Festival of Mount Abu that takes place in June every year. This two-day festival showcases an array of classical and folk music performances that highlight the live culture and tribal life of Rajasthan.

Known For: Dilwara Temples | Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary | Nakki Lake

Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh

Pachmarhi is a city in Madhya Pradesh. It is the only hill station in the central region of India. It is situated in the Satpura range and is 3500 ft above sea level. Pachmarhi comes under the Hoshagabad district and is called 'Satpura ki Rani'.Pachmarhi is a tourist retreat; its elevation from the sea level and the forests of the Satpuras, with their streams and waterfalls, are picturesque and home to much wildlife. Pachmarhi lies within the Pachmarhi Biosphere Preserve, created in 1999 to link two forest reserves and Satpura National Park into a larger wildlife conservation area. It also has Dhupgarh -- the highest point in Central India. Pachmarhi also has a lot of cave paintings in the forests, some of which have been dated to be as much as 10,000 years old.

Known For: Bee falls | Jata Shankar caves | Pandava Caves

Munnar-Thekkady, Kerala

Munnar is a beautiful hill station and was the summer resort of the British. Tourists come here to see the vast tea plantations of the area. The town itself is typically Indian with the usual shops, guest houses and is really beautiful and traditional. It is a good place to stay to see the surrounding countryside. Munnar is famous for its tea plantations, many of them started by the British. The "Kannan Devan" brand of Tea from the Tata is cultivated and processed here. The strobilanthus ("Neelakurinji"), a blue flower which blooms only every 12 years, is found in this region. It bloomed last in September 2018. The Eravikulam national park is one of the main tourist attraction, where you can find the endangered species of Nilgiri Tahr.

Known For: Blossom Park | Mattupetti Dam | Echo Point | TATA Tea Museum | The Eravikulam national park.

Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh

Kinnaur, also known as ""Land of God"" is about 235 Km from Shimla and is known for its serenity and beauty of the lush green and rocky mountainscape having Satluj, Baspa and Spiti river snaking through it. Sarahan, a beautiful hamlet located near Kinnaur, is situated at an average height of 2165 meters above sea level. It comes under the Shimla district and is famous for its apple orchards, pine forests, slate-roofed houses, and small streams. Bhimkali Temple Complex, Bhaba Valley and Bird Park are some of the major attractions here.

Known For: Reckong Peo | Kalpa | Sarahan

Bir, Himachal Pradesh

Bir is a town in the eastern end of the Kangra District in Himachal Pradesh with a friendly, relaxed Indian population and a large Tibetan (Khampa) community. It is home to several educational institutions, monasteries, and nonprofit organizations (NGOs), and is becoming a popular off-the-beaten-path destination for meditation courses, volunteering, and ecotourism. Bir Billing is a popular destination for adventures sports such as paragliding, treks and also as the town for meditation.

Known For: Paragliding in Bir Billing | Hand gliding |Nature Walks and meditation at Sherab Ling Monastery

Leh Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir

Traveling in Leh without professional guidance is like shooting for the moon while being too busy gazing the stars. There are various giants offering customized packages that are tailor-made to suit your needs. A land like no other with a superabundance of attractions to visit and phantasmagoric and fabulous landscapes, amazing people and culture, Ladakh is truly a heaven on Earth.

Known For: Shanti Stupa | Nubra Valley |Tso Moriri Lake

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It's summer—that amazing time of year when fresh produce abounds. I love that there's an abundance of fresh, delicious and healthy choices. Better yet: many of summer's fruits and vegetables are brimming with secret health benefits.

The thought of healthy eating probably runs through your mind a dozen times a day. Most of us lead lives where we've been inconspicuously sucked into a food routine and are desperately trying to claw our way out of it. Amidst a number of lifestyle problems to deal with, we tend to forget or ignore granny's simple remedy of eating fresh, seasonal produce.

What's so special about eating foods that are in season? They've got twice as much flavor, that extra crunch and are extremely high on vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. Summer bearings include a lot of green vegetables, melons, peaches, corn, mangoes, and other fresh and fragrant herbs. Local markets are at their best during summer, when fruits are abundant, and vegetables are as fresh as can be. Consuming foods that are not in the season may come with a risk of chemicals and preservatives that are applied to fruits and veggies to keep them fresh.

So here are the best dishes and items that you should try in summers to be healthy, hearty and hydrated.

MELONS

Summer's coolest, juiciest and healthiest foods are melons. You can use them in salads, desserts, smoothies, milkshakes, and even salsa. They're good for the stomach, propel weight loss and help prevent many common health problems such as cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, and common colds and flues. Staying hydrated keeps your memory sharp and your mood stable. It also helps keep your body cool during the hot summer months. The good news is that you don't just have to drink water. You can eat it, too: in addition to delivering skin-protecting lycopene, watermelon is 92 percent water. Another boon? Research shows that eating foods that are full of water helps keep you satisfied on fewer calories. (Interestingly enough, drinking water alongside foods doesn't have the same effect.)

CORN

Nothing says summer like fresh sweet corn. And did you know that two antioxidants—lutein and zeaxanthin—in corn may act like natural sunglasses, helping to form macular pigment that filters out some of the sun's damaging rays? It's true. The same antioxidants may also help lower your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration—the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 60 (though much of the damage occurs decades earlier).

SALAD LEAVES

Amaranth leaves, rocket leaves, basil, and other summer herbs should be tossed in a salad bowl and topped off with a yogurt dressing to make a great summer salad. They create a powerhouse of nutrition and are a great way to lose weight. Bung in fruits, nuts, white meat, peppers, mint or coriander leaves to make a light and lovely meal.

JUICES

It is recommended to have a glass of ice-cold watermelon juice daily. Aam Panna is also a commonly made juice in summers. One glass of strained mint water with two drops of lemon works wonders. It acts as a liver cleanser, boosts your metabolism and helps those with low appetite. Drink Barley water and in case you find it bland, add a drop of lemon or honey for taste. Since barley water is rich in fiber, it prevents constipation and also helps in controlling your appetite. These juices help you replenish in summers and make you feel hydrated.

BERRIES

Fresh blueberries straight from the berry patch are a special treat! Turns out the antioxidants in them may help ward off muscle fatigue by mopping up the additional free radicals that muscles produce during exercise, according to recent research out of New Zealand. Drinking tart cherry juice can help you get a better night's sleep and reduce post-workout pain. But did you know that compounds in tart cherries may also help you slim down and get leaner? The anthocyanins in tart cherries activate a molecule that helps rev up fat burning and decrease fat storage. Not to be outdone, sweet cherries are loaded with potassium, a natural blood-pressure reducer. Plus, sweet cherries are rich in beta carotene, vitamin C, anthocyanins and quercetin, which may work together synergistically to fight cancer. Raspberries are a great source of fiber—some of it soluble in the form of pectin, which helps lower cholesterol.

TOMATOES

There's no question that sunscreen should be your first line of defense against the blazing summer sun. But eating tomatoes could give you a little extra protection: consuming more lycopene—the carotenoid that makes tomatoes red—may protect your skin from sunburn. In one study, participants who were exposed to UV light had almost 50 percent less skin reddening after they ate 2 1/2 tablespoons of tomato paste (or drank about 1 2/3 cups of carrot juice daily), in addition to their regular diet, for 10 to 12 weeks. Supplements, however, weren't as effective: in the same study, those who received a lycopene supplement or synthetic lycopene weren't significantly protected against sunburn.

ICED TEA/COFFEE

Sure, a tall glass of iced tea on a hot day is refreshing, but did you know it might also do your body good? Studies show if you drink tea regularly, you may lower your risk of Alzheimer's and diabetes, plus have healthier teeth and gums and stronger bones. How? Tea is rich in a class of antioxidants called flavonoids. Regardless of the variety—black, green, oolong, white or herbal—maximize the power of tea's flavonoids by drinking it freshly brewed. If you want to keep a batch of cold tea in your refrigerator, "add a little lemon juice," The citric acid and vitamin C in that squeeze of lemon—or lime, or orange—help preserve the flavonoids. Also drinking a single cup of coffee daily may lower your risk of developing skin cancer, decaf didn't seem to offer the same protection.

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Summer is here and here are some useful lifestyle tips you can follow to beat the summer heat.

1. Water is the best option to quench thirst.

It is a key ingredient in keeping the body cool. With high humidity levels, sweat will not evaporate quickly. This prevents the body from releasing heat in an efficient manner. This is why it is necessary to hydrate and drink water, even when you are not thirsty. Increase water intake regardless of your activity levels.

2. Avoid caffeinated or carbonated beverages, alcoholic beverages, and those high in sugar.

All these drinks contain preservatives, colors, and sugars. They are acidic in nature and act as diuretics. They cause loss of fluids through urine. Many soft drinks contain diluted phosphoric acid, which damages the inner lining of the digestive tract and, therefore, affects its functions. An excessive intake of soft drinks increases phosphorous levels in the blood. This separates calcium from the bones and moves it into the blood. This calcium displacement from the bones makes them porous and brittle. It also causes plaque on the teeth, kidney stones, arthritis and bone spur. Soft drinks also reduce mineral levels in the body to such an extent that enzymes are unable to function well, resulting in indigestion.

3. Do not drink very chilled liquids.

They do not really help cool you down in summers, though they make you cool for some time. Drinking really cold liquids when feeling hot may lead to a slight constriction of the blood vessels in the skin and decrease heat loss, which is not advisable when trying to cool down.

4. Limit all strenuous activity. Avoid doing vigorous physical activities so that your perspiration level remains good and you don't get dehydrated.

5. Eat light, nutritious and non-fatty meals. This is important to note as the body needs a regular amount of calorie intake but in summers, these intakes should be in the form of light, nutritious and hydrating meals.

Image result for light and nutritious food

6. Reduce intakes of heaty vegetables and fruits, like spinach, radish, hot peppers, onions, garlic, beetroot, pineapple, grapefruit and ripe mangoes (if you cannot resist mangoes, soak them overnight in water).

7. Minimize the intake of dried fruits. Increase the intake of fresh fruit. Dried fruits are mostly heaty which heats up the body so try eating fresh fruits which will increase the body water and sugar levels.

8. Use sabza (tulsi seeds) in your drinks -- this has a very cooling effect on the body.

9. Include lots of fruits and vegetables in the form of salads and fresh juices, preferably without sugar, in your diet.

10. Drink lemon juice, coconut water, and thin buttermilk, to replenish the fluids that are lost in sweat.

11. Avoid sugary foods, especially molasses and other artificial sugar substances, and stick to natural sugars available from fruits and veggies.

12. Minimize the intake of hot, spicy foods and extremely salty foods. The body retains salt in the organic form found in fruits and veggies; the inorganic salt, meanwhile, is digested and needs to be thrown out of the body. And this is why you need to drink water!

13. Cut the intake of fried foods, like vadas, samosas, chips, bhajias, farsans, etc. Fat has a thermal effect.

14. Maintain good hygiene levels. This means that you should maintain proper hygiene, bath daily and properly so that the sweat and germs can be cleaned also you should apply talcum powder to avoid summer rashes.

Since the sultry heat of summer increases with each degree rise in the mercury, by rooting ourselves to nature's provision of healthful food choices we can experience the bloom of our health and vitality.

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