African Elephants—the biggest living mammals in the world

Almost everyone loves to see an elephant, and an experience of riding on the back of an elephant gives more pleasure. Children love them most and whenever they see an elephant passing though their street or in a zoo, they start clapping and jumping in joy. And, they are happier if there is a calf accompanying the elephant!

But, a few note that what is the variety of the elephant and what are the characteristics? Is there any difference among elephants? The answer is, of course, yes! There are different varieties of elephants. However, they are broadly classified into two, namely, African elephants and Asian elephants. In this article, we are discussing a few characteristics of the African Elephants.

African elephants are further divided into two distinct subspecies—the Savanna elephant or Loxodonta Africana Africana, and the Forest elephant or Loxodonta Africana Cyclotis. The Savanna Elephant is the largest elephant in the world—the weight is around 7,000 kg, and the height is up to four meters! The male Savanna Elephant is smaller as compared to a male. The average length of a male varies between 19 to 24 feet while the length of the tail is approximately four feet.

Another subspecies called the Forest Elephants have smaller ears than their cousins—the Savanna Elephant. The weight of these is approximately 4,500 kg and the height is up to three meters.

The range of their natural home may go up to five hundred miles. However, due to lack of natural habitat and increasing commercialization, these elephants become endangered species. And, there is now a need to carefully protect these gifts of God; because otherwise, the coming generations would not be able to enjoy this beautiful animal!

What one needs to know before constructing a house?

Everyone has a dream of having his own house, but unfortunately, a large number of people are not able to give a concrete form to their dream. However, those fortunate ones need to know a lot before and during the construction of their dream house. In this article, a few of such important points are discussed.

Like any other project, planning is the first and foremost part in the construction of a house. The step involves touching every aspect of the construction-work, such as the selection of site, the financial calculations, and determination of all sources of finance, etc.

Many people think that they are self sufficient in planning, designing the structure of their home. No doubt, they can be. But, still it is better to take a second opinion from a professional, as their experience is much more than ours.

And, while preparing a design for your home, it is better to develop such an idea which suits your requirements and not of others! Yes, it is generally seen that people construct such houses, which they find very uncomfortable for their families. Because it is only we who are going to live in that particular building and the design must be as per our needs.

Size of the plot, for example, should be according to the need and what one can maintain properly. If one has a small family then a small plot can serve the purpose; and having a big family, on the other hand, needs to have a big plot. However, one can plan building multiple floors in a small plot to fulfill the needs of one’s family!

A wide variety of materials are used in construction, so a careful purchase is required for different materials. Moreover, in present-day competitive market, a big difference in prices can be seen. But, at the same time, one must take care of the quality and there should be no compromise with the quality of materials to be used in construction.

Like materials, different people are also involved in construction work, including the electrician and the plumber. One should be careful in this case too, as the difference in the price of their services are quite prevalent in the market. But, try to employ only a skilled and professional for any work—no compromise with the quality.

A good research work prior to starting the actual work can be very helpful and it also saves a big amount of money. Therefore, it is better to think twice to avoid any wrong decisions—construction of a house an expensive project that needs a careful decision at each step!

Kullu--a blessing by nature for India

Kullu, a nature’s blessing on earth, located on the banks of the River Beas in the mountain state of Himachal Pradesh, is one of the most visited places in India. Every year, people, from around the globe, come here to spend their time and return to their places with wonderful experiences. It offers something for everyone—seekers of peace, lovers of mountaineering, nature lovers, and a honeymoon destination as well! Kullu is also known as the Valley of Gods—preserving over 368 temples even now! The valley has forests of deodar trees, flowing rivers, green hills, and deep gorges. And above all, the people of the valley welcome tourists with love—they are sweet natured and loving towards everyone visiting their place.

Though one can visit the place anytime during the year, April-June is considered as the best time-period to plan for. The months of October and November also attract a large number of people to the valley, as the months see Dushehra festival—celebrated for a week in the valley. The festival, however, is one of the most famous festivals celebrated in India—representing the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana—symbolizing the victory of good over bad. Also, a combined trip to a few of the surrounding areas including Manali and Manikaran Sahib can offer much more. Whether you choose to enjoy flying over the mountains and forests or running on the steel track enjoying the beauty of nature, options are available for you! Because the valley is well connected with surrounding areas by air, rail, and of course, road. So, if you are planning to spend your holiday visiting such a place where you could discover a lot, Kullu is the best place best suited to your search!

Shimla--Switzerland of India

Shimla or sometimes known as Simla, is a very famous place in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. During the British Raj, Shimla was the summer capital—soldiers, merchants, and other British people used to come to this place to escape from the hot season of various parts of India. And, now it is the major hub for tourists coming to Himachal Pradesh—apart from being the popular destination for routine tourists, most newly wed couples love to enjoy their honeymoon period in this hilly place! You can find a number of tourists enjoying the beauty all around the year, but the time periods during mid-April to mid-July and from September to the end of October is considered to be the best times to visit the place depending upon the climatic conditions. However, near Christmas, Shimla experiences snowfall which attracts a huge number of tourists to the place.

The ridge and the Mall are the most famous and major places to spend most of the time during a trip to Shimla. However, you can also plan a trip to a few surrounding places including Kufri while in Shimla—an additional bonanza of enjoyment! Shimla is also well connected with the surrounding places like Chandigarh, Mandi, Manali, and Dharamshala, through National and State Highways, and also through railway networks. The nearest Airport is around 25 Km away at Jubbarhatti. So, you can plan your immediate trip to this wonderful place, as you will not find any difficulty of moving around, accommodation or traffic jams in the city. And, be assured of getting a life time experience by visiting Shimla!