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FRUITS OF LABOUR

This garden is the new pride of Udagamandalam Railway Station making it a must-visit in Ooty. The Udagamandalam Railway Station’s Garden was named as the Best Maintained Garden in the ‘Medium Public Garden’ category. The Department of Horticulture, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, gave a Rolling Cup on May 23, 2023, to celebrate this achievement during the 125th Annual Flower Show at the Government Botanical Garden, Ooty. The Rolling Cup was given by Thiru K. Ramachandran, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Govt. of Tamil Nadu and received by Thiru P. Subramanian, Assistant Director, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Thiru A. Sivalingam, Sr.Section Engineer / Works. The presentation happened with the presence of the District Collector, Divisional Forest Officer, and other dignitaries. The garden has beautifully maintained lawns and bright flowers, making it a great attraction for tourists who visit Udagamandalam Hill station. The Udagamandalam railway station is part of the famous and UNESCO World Heritage Site Nilgiri Mountain Railway.

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Flooring Trends 2023: Get Ready to Be Floored by the Latest Innovations and Styles!

In 2023, like in the earlier years change in the tile industry will be a constant. The market’s diversity allows for a lot of variety, and thus consumer preferences are forever evolving. Customers are continuously searching for products that are bothin trend and unique in their own way. At Orientbell Tiles, we are constantly seeking out ways to stand apart from the competition while delivering client satisfaction. The major innovations and lifestyle changes expected in 2023 include: Wooden tiles: Wooden tiles have been popular for a while and are gaining more acceptance for bedrooms & study rooms. Wooden tiles are a great option. These tiles are available in a variety of “woods,” including birch, oak, poplar, teak, etc. Dark and light tiles with delicate veining: There is an increasing preference for having light and dark tiles with similar veining. The similarity of veins gives continuity whereas the contrast in colours allows playfulness in design, as customers seek to create stories by blending tile designs into one another. Interesting and unique patterns can be created by combining colourful highlighters with tiles in lighter and darker shades. Advances in digital printing are creating tactile 3D surfaces with glazes in relief. Flower power: In most occurrences, old trends keep resurfacing after a while, therefore patterns are constantly evolving along with trends. Just like that, florals are a further 70s retro trend that is reappearing. However, this time with a novel twist, it’s more about the use of flowers in softer, more neutral tones. There are also floral tiles with a 3-D look to give the space a more contemporary feel. Regal onyx: Onyx tiles replicate the enigmatic appearance of the natural stone. These stones offer a sense of grandeur to the space and are available in a variety of colours, including white, grey, brown, blue, and beige. The best thing about onyx tiles is that they are easier to install and require less maintenance than natural onyx stone because they come in manageable sizes rather than enormous blocks. Retro terrazzo: Terrazzo is steadily regaining popularity as a result of its variety of colours while still being sober. These tiles can be used indoors or outdoors and are appropriate for cheering up both residential and commercial areas.

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The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Successful Travel Influencer: Insider Tips from That Couple Though!

it’s 2023 and the new year promises new opportunities with some new challenges. It is always great to see the travel industry getting back on its feet again. From airlines to the hospitality industry every thing seems to be functioning smoothly during this phase after the early Covid pandemic. This does not mean we are not under the threat of Covid. We as responsible citizens and influencers urge travellers to make their travel decision based on the travel advisory issued by the government. The periodic lockdowns and the challenging lifestyle during the pandemic has lead to a sudden urge to take a break from the daily hustle and bustle. With limited restrictions on travel and with all markets opening up completely, travel continues to remain everyone’s preferred choice. Influencers here play a key role in helping you make the right choice. But being a successful travel influencer comes with its own set of challenges.One of them is to increase their audiences. This includes exploring unique destinations and presenting these in the best way possible. However, creating a spot-on travel content strategy that consistently holds the audience’s attention can be tricky which is why here are ten actionable tips that travel influencers can incorporate in order to attract or increase their follower count. Adapt to improved content strategies Just because you are a travel influencer does not imply that you can be physically present at different locations. As much as everyone loves to travel, there is no denial in the fact that it is an expensive affair. However, you still need to continue content creation and hence ensure to spread your plan in a way that covers all important places for your audience type. Build a strong niche One of the most important tips to thriving on the internet is to build a set of credible and niched audiences who directly or indirectly end up promoting your account through shareable content. This will ensure you reach people faster and get recognized for your unique work. Collaborate with related industries Travel is not just limited to promoting tourism destinations but also involves an overlap with many other industries. Wedding events and destinations, sports tournaments, shopping destinations, etc play a huge role in enhancing footfall in any tourist space.Influencers can focus on these areas and collaborate with wedding decorators, sports management teams etc to provide insight into details for these and give behind the scene access to their viewers. Create a sense of community Interacting regularly with your audience will help you get to know them personally and vice versa. A great way to do this is by asking questions on what is their favourite travel spot and exchanging travel stories. Introduce affiliate marketing Affiliate marketing helps rope in some extra revenue while also giving out great deals to your audience. This can include hotel stay deals, restaurant coupon codes or even discounts offered for travel essentials. Affiliate marketing thus helps increase authenticity for travel influencers. Quality over Quantity With so many influencers trying to cover the same topic, it is common for it to start looking like repetitive information to your viewers. Hence quality content is highly crucial and make sure you present it in unique ways. Many times, even if the information provided is not something new, the way it is presented makes a big difference for people to easily retain it. Appreciate local culture People love to connect with real things and what better than showing them a glimpse of the rich cultural nuances of different regions? From food and art to the beauty of languages and more, adding real local culture to your feed is the way to go when creating content as a travel influencer. Recommend must-visit spots and assist avid travellers Every place has hidden gems and something that only a few people know about. Make sure you do your research well and educate your audience about these amazing spots at popular locations and how you can get there. Hike places, quaint old corners, a small church somewhere in the middle of a small town, everything reflects the beauty of travel. Some of these tips work really well for solo travellers as well. Share diverse knowledge Diversify your content on different platforms so you know you are reaching unique users. This will also help you secure your digital presence in the constantly evolving world. Moreover, you can also alter the content on different platforms. For example, building podcasts on Spotify to creating long-form videos on youtube go above and beyond the mainstream social media presence. Consistently interact with your audience If there is one thing that can never be replaced, it is the power of consistency. While it is understandable that content creation can become tricky and time-consuming, showing up every day in some form or another has an immense effect on enhancing your algorithm. 2023 is all set to be one of the most exciting years for the travel industry and thus makes for a perfect time for travel influencers to fully capitalize on their presence through these effective tips.

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AtherStack 5.0: Elevating Riding Experience with Exciting New Features!

Ather Energy, one India’s leading electric scooter manufacturers, kicked off the year with the launch of its much-awaited software called AtherStack 5.0. Basically, Ather is the software used the run Ather 450 electric scooters. Speaking at the launch Tarun Mehta, Co-founder and CEO, Ather Energy said “With a fluid new UI and Google Vector Maps, AtherStack 5.0 takes our touchscreen and maps experience to a whole new level. It also enables us to leverage our hardware to unlock new experiences such as AutoHoldTM. Importantly, it allows us to roll out these new experiences to most of our existing customers as well, based on their scooter generation. AtherStack will continue to form a core of our product strategy, allowing us to constantly keep enhancing our product experience on the existing hardware platform.” Here are some of the cool features that AtherStack 5.0 offers: The UX/UI: The all-new AtherStack 5.0 update will offer a new and intuitive user interface. The home screen has been redesigned to allow users to set up their ride with options such as Bluetooth connections and navigation before starting the motor. New ride animation now shows both power usage and consumption in different modes, making them more intuitive and at the same time, rides more efficient. Quick controls have been added, allowing users to easily adjust settings such as brightness or turn off incoming call notifications with a single click. A new quick view section is now accessible through just a swipe, providing a centralised location for dashboard notifications and important information such as tyre pressure. The new UI is an engineered experience achieved through a user-centred design trial where Ather analysed how users interact with the screen by monitoring every eye movement during the ride. The intent was to reduce distractions & improve accuracy multifold. With the new UI, Ather claims to have reduced the ride screen time by 50-60% and improved ride accuracy by 2X. Google Maps: Ather is the only scooter in the world providing onboard navigation powered by Google. With the new AtherStack 5.0, the UI will also feature vector maps, which are far more smarter and intuitive than the previous versions. The Vector Maps will allow the user to get the closest experience of google maps on a 2-Wheeler like smartphones. The new maps come with live traffic and a navigation view showing the rider’s perspective.This also means that the onboard navigation is far more intuitive, providing far more context, and adapting to the user’s location and riding style in real time. AutoHoldTM AutoHoldTM technology ensures the scooter never rolls back or forward on a slope. Unlike manual brake locks or any standard Hill hold implementations available on other two-wheelers, AutoHoldTM delivers a fantastic experience backed by a combination of multiple sensors and algorithms. The experience is completely automatic, instantaneous, and consistent across any riding condition. It ensures very high rider confidenceand makes navigating through stop-and-go traffic on any terrain very convenient. Ather Battery ProtectTM Taking a significant step for first-time owners, Ather announced the Battery ProtectTM which extends the battery warranty to 5 years/60,000 km. This is the first such warranty program in the industry that not only covers battery failures but also guarantees a minimum of 70% state-of-health for the battery at the end of 5 years. With this, owners will not need to worry about the scooter’s range dropping after a few years of usage and will be able to extract maximum performance, ride after ride. This reaffirms faith in our battery’s performance and longevity for all Ather owners. The 450X comes now with Ather Battery ProtectTM included, making it a 3 + 2 years coverage. Ather 450 Plus customers can purchase this additional 2-year warranty for INR 6,999. Colours 450 as a vehicle has always stood for its timeless design and performance. With four new colours, Ather plans to double down on creating more expressions of performance, thereby creating an elevated sense of identity for Ather owners. Taking inspiration from the world of racing, Ather introduces the True Red colour. The Cosmic Black colour takes inspiration from Ather’s Series1 Limited Edition scooter, which was much loved. The Salt Green colour is Ather’s a modern take on retro classic scooters. Finally, the new Lunar Grey colour takes its inspiration from the world’s famous Nardo ring and with red alloys, this colour truly shouts out serious performance. In addition to this, the 450 Series has retained the Space Grey and White colours, making it a total of 6 colours for customers to choose from. New Seat Enhancing the comfort level of the scooter, Ather has introduced a new, redesigned seat on the 450X and 450 Plus scooters. The new seat is now narrower in the front, flatter in the middle, steeper at the back, and has a thicker throughput. The new seat now is also more accommodating to riders of a wide range of builds. The seat is also backward compatible with all generations of 450 and can be bought by previous owners at Ather Experience Centres

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2023 Unforgettable Getaways: Discover the Ultimate Experiences in These Must-Visit Hotels and Properties!

2023 promises a year filled with great travel and experiences. After a two-year lull, the travel and hospitality sectors seem to be booming again. And it’s time to cover the lost ground again. This month we have some of the most beautiful properties and experiences shortlisted just for you. So sit back, bring out your calendars and chalk out a memorable travel plan that will guarantee a memory of a lifetime! CRANGANOR HISTORY CAFE & RIVERSIDE CHATEAU LOCATION: Kochi, Kerala Located on the banks of the River Periyar, Cranganor feels like a breath of fresh air. The property draws inspiration from Geoffrey Bawa’s style of tropical modernism with deep, open verandas that seamlessly connect the indoors to the surrounding landscape. As you stand in the foyer of Cranganor the entire vista of lush green and the flowing river strikes you in a grand panoramic vision. REASONS TO VISIT: This is the quiet part of Kochi, of riverside and verdant green fields, fishermen glide past and farmers sow new baby green saplings. Of ancient historic churches, synagogues and temples. But equally of bustling markets, boat races and handicraft societies. BEST TIME TO VISIT: September to June NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: The property is located in the middle of the Muziris Heritage Project, one of the largest historical conservation projects to be undertaken. Right across the river, a short walk away is the beautifully restored Chendamangalam synagogue and the Dutch palace of Paliam. For those wishing to dig deeper into the history of the ancient port town of Muziris should head to the excavation museum at Pattanam a few km away. For those desiring more hustle and bustle, there is the vibrant Kottapuram market. If you would rather take in the tranquillity of a sleepy fishing village you could venture out on a rice boat and lazily watch village life lived out on the banks of the Periyar. EKAANTA: MINDVERSITY ON THE GANGES LOCATION: Haridwar, on the banks of the river Ganges Ekaant is a mindversity on the Ganges that aims to enhance one’s self-awareness, potential, and innate creativity. It is a one-of-a-kind experiential learning destination set up in an old dharamshala on the banks of the river Ganga. Thoughcentrally located amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, the intention was to create a space that offers calmness, just like the river that is constantly in motion and at times chaotic but still offers a sense of calm around it, therefore the name ‘Ekaant’. REASONS TO VISIT: Ekaanta is a space that gives one- of-a-kind experiential learning, enhancing knowledge about the mind and imparting skills that enable one to handle life’s situations with equanimity. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, amidst the hustle and bustle of Haridwar, Ekaanta offers a serene space where ancient wisdom meets modern science, where calmness learns to thrive within chaos. BEST TIME TO VISIT: All year round NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Har ki Pauri

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Treat your partner to a special evening with these delicious recipes that can be easily recreated at home !

SMOKED SALMON WITH CITRUS AND SAFFRON MUSTARD SALAD INGREDIENTS 150 gm smoked salmon 1 orange 50 gm romaine lettuce 50 gm lollo rosso lettuce A pinch saffron 10 capers 1 slice baguette bread slice 1 lemon 25 gm dijon mustard 20 gm parsley 10 ml olive oil 5 gm salt 5 gm pepper METHOD 5.Arrange your veggies then keep your salmon and pour over your dressings enjoy your salad.

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Captivating Family Destinations for Unforgettable Adventures!

LADAKH Overrun by travellers in the summers, at least in the well- known tourist spots, Ladakh in winter is a special treat both as a visual treat and for being less explored when snow and sun show up next to each other. Though many parts of the recently sanctioned Union Territory will be snowbound and inaccessible and most of the hotels will be shut, for the adventurous there will always be some areas to explore, especially those who are interested in wildlife and wish to seek the elusive Snow Leopards and other wildlife and birds of the trans-Himalayas. Winter is also the time when some of the shepherd communities come down from the higher altitudes with their livestock to escape the harsh winter, mainly sheep-rearing nomads who lead an interesting life depending on sheep rearing and weaving as they move from place to place. Another reason to be in Ladakh in the winter is to be a part of some of the winter festivals like Losar and the Oracle Festival and games like ice skating. Connect with your travel agent to help them curate a program that allows you to explore Ladakh at your own pace without the crowds. Just before the region transitions to winter, is the time when myriad colours light up the landscape as the poplars, willows and various wild shrubs take on fall hues. Closer to spring is also the time when the apricot flowers bloom in gently blushing clusters. Where to Stay: One of the best hotels in Leh, The Grand Dragon Ladakh. is on the edge of the main town. A 15-minute drive from Leh Airport, the property is a family-run standalone hotel with the best suites in the entire region. The Grand Dragon boasts a multi-cuisine restaurant and a vibrant atmosphere that is perfect both for families and friends travelling together. For couples celebrating events, the hotel’s top suites are an other- worldly indulgence. On request, the hotel can organize close-by excursions to the Indus confluence, LAMO and Central Asian Museum with a guide, besides visits to monasteries that are open at this time.

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Want to impress your friends over a casual meal ?

Here’s how you can treat them to some delicious pizza in the comfort of your home like a pro! Invest in the Ooni Pizza Oven from Pizza Pro. From wood- fired flavour to gas-powered convenience the Ooni Pizza Oven range has it all. The company aims to enable people everywhere to make restaurant-like pizza at home, and spread ‘pizza joy’, as traditional pizza ovens are difficult to acquire and maintain. The Ooni ovens start at Rs. 32,999, heat up to an incredible 500 degrees Celsius and can cook pizza in just 60 seconds. These ovens are portable and suitable for outdoor use, weighing only 10 kg compared to traditional pizza ovens that weigh 100 kg. Moreover, the ovens can be used to grill, roast, steam or bake many other versatile dishes,such as Indian breads (naans, rotis, kulchas), meats, vegetables, seafood, breads, desserts, and smoked cocktails, to name a few.

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