When it comes to this picturesque destination, the Andaman and Nicobar travel guide is a must-read. Be compelled to pack your bags and go on a holiday.

 Andaman Travel

Why Andaman and Nicobar Islands Famous?

Discovering Andaman's pristine, nearly deserted beaches is the most thrilling aspect of visiting the island. Paradise is synonymous with sparkling crystal clear blue waters, a tranquil setting, and iconic sandy beaches. Well-maintained cottages and huts are available to make your stay memorable and fun. In addition to sightseeing, visitors on the Andaman may participate in a number of activities.

Apart from swimming, water sports such as kayaking, fishing, scuba diving, underwater shooting, and spotting saltwater crocodiles captivate you. There are also items that are reserved for offshore sports, such as walking along the beach while the waves caress your feet, sunbathing, and woodland trekking.

5 Best Places To Visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Among several stunningly beautiful beaches, we have handpicked a list of a few that should be on your itinerary during your next travel to the Andaman.  

1) Corbyn’s Cove

The crescent-shaped Corbyn's beach is famous for its coconut plantation. The mostly untapped beaches are perfect for a lazy afternoon siesta in a beach shack or sunbathing after indulging in water sports in the morning. Evenings can be spent luxuriously taking a stroll on the sandy shores or enjoying a boat ride. The calm, soothing environment makes you fall in love with yourself. 

How to reach?

It is just seven km away from the mainland. You can take a private vehicle, auto or even rent a car to reach there.  

A trip to Cellular Jail 

While visiting the island, a traveller can also visit Cellular jail. Standing as a mute spectator to the atrocities faced by Indians during the independence struggle, its testimony is sculpted in pages of history. The display of light and sound show fills the heart with passion and patriotism.  

How to reach?

You can reach the jail museum via Corbyn's Cove road. The distance is 5.8km and hardly takes 15 minutes by road.  

 2) Wandoor Beach 

The scenic beauty of the wandoor beach attracts tourists in droves. The picturesque beaches, pristine blue waters, and calm environment create an ideal location to spend quality time with your loved ones. The beach is popular among tourists for photography, riding in glass bottom boats and scuba diving.

How to reach?
It is 25 km from the airport by road. Apart from private taxis, you can take a bus to reach the popular destination.

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

One of the most sought place in the Andaman to visit among tourists is the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. A park is a group of 17 Islands known for nesting sea turtles, breathtaking visuals of corals and marine life.  

Things to do at the park

The tourists can enjoy a range of activities at the park including;
Nesting for turtles and the race of hatchlings towards the water is a spectacular visual to witness. 
Indulge in an underwater sporting activity like snorkelling and watching the aquatic animals in their natural environment is a treat to explore. 
Scuba diving to discover the underwater majestic marine world is another high activity for tourists. Watching exquisite coral reefs is a visual delight and a big crowd puller. 
Enjoying boat rides and bird watching of both migrant and local species on nearby Jolly Buoy island is another fantastic opportunity to explore the Andaman Islands. 

3) Havelock Island 

The majestic Havelock island in the Andaman enchants the tourists with its beauty and is a treasure trove of small islands. 

a)  Radhanagar Beach 
It is adjudged as the seventh-best beach in the world and the best beach in India according to Time magazine. 

Famous For Sunset 
Tourist, often fall short of adjectives to define the beauty of the Radhanagar beach. Nature has garlanded it with golden soft sandy beaches, pristine clear blue water, scenic natural beauty and the most romantic sunset one can imagine. The sunset and sunrise at the Radhanagar beach become astonishingly more romantic with clean blue water caressing the shores. 

It is a perfect dream destination for honeymooners and for people with photography skills to wander around in the quiet atmosphere for that perfect shot. 

How to reach? 
The beach is around 10 km away from the Havelock dock. One can reach the beach via road transportation. There are buses, taxis available for the road trip to the beach. 

b) Elephant Beach 
The visit to Elephant beach is an enchanting experience for tourists. With proximity to mangrove forests, sparkling blue water and serene sandy shores, the beach is dotted with spectacular natural beauty. One can witness beautiful bright coral reefs at shallow depths in the surrounding waters around the beach.

Things to do 

~The beach offers a fun-filled adventure extravaganza for tourists. The tourists can enjoy swimming, scuba diving, underwater photography, fishing, snorkelling, kayaking.
~Trekking in nearby forests or meditating at the quiet beach is also famous among the tourists.
~The spotless beautiful paradise is also known for its colourful and exotic flora and fauna. 

How to reach?   
You can either take a boat from the main Havelock dock. The boat ride takes 20 minutes to reach Elephant beach. You can also take a but or hire a private vehicle to reach the beach. 

4) Neil Island 

The tourists are smitten by the turquoise sea water and remarkably white sand of the island. The island holds some incredibly fascinating beaches to lure tourists.  

a) Laxmanpur Beach

The Laxman Pur beach is one of those places that are still away from public glare. The white sand, coral reefs, shallow seawater coupled with picturesque natural locations are breathtaking.  

Things to do 

~Water sports like snorkelling, swimming are frequent here.

~Due to shallow water, collecting seashells apart from the photography of scenic beauty is another activity to explore.

5) Rangat Island 

The Rangat island is situated in the middle of the Andaman islands. The picturesque island is known for its amazing waterfalls and verdant greenery. Rangat is known for a string of islands under it, some of them are marked here. 

a) Amkunj Beach 

The beach is a popular destination among tourists. It has been developed as an eco-friendly beach with structures made of renewable material such as eco-huts and groves. 

Things to do

~It is a popular picnic spot, ideal for swimming, sunbathing and wandering on the shore.

~Nature lovers can witness turtle breeding during the season at the beach. 

The grey sand and clean greyish water are ideal for photography. 

How to reach? 

You can take a bus ride or hire a private vehicle from Rangat to reach the beach. 

b)  Butler Bay Beach  

Butler Bay Beach in the Andaman islands is a paradise for adventure sports enthusiasts. The beach is a part of Little Andaman. This less-frequented beach is perfect for the rejuvenation of body, mind and soul. The tranquil environment, blue water is encircled by lofty greenery, a piece of paradise. 

Things to do 

~Strong currents are perfect for surfing, kayaking.

~You can enjoy swimming but with a little caution.

~Sunbathing, riding an elephant, sightseeing, trekking is the other activities to explore.

How to reach? 

It is 100 km away from Port Blair. You can take a government ferry to reach the beach. 

Photos courtesy - Google 

Covid has been a stressful time for everyone, but it has been especially difficult for children. They are susceptible to stories of death and destituition since they have been confined to their houses.

 Crisis Underneath

I know the Covid pandemic is brutal for all of us, but the condition of children is particularly miserable. Can you imagine spending your childhood in a house with stale movies, music, and virtually no games and friends to play with? I'm not sure about the rest of you, but this is a nightmare scenario, in my opinion. To make matters worse, they are constantly bombarded with news reports of death and despair, which makes everyone nervous and anxious.

Today's children are growing up in a fearful and hopeless setting. Instead of meeting friends, causing mayhem during holidays, and wandering out, children may be suffering from emotional trauma due to a crisis they are not fully aware of.

I genuinely hope that the difficult times are over and that children will return to their natural habitats, parks and playgrounds. My thoughts and prayers are with those of you who have recently been through tough times, and I pray to the Almighty that the crisis does not leave a scar on your psyche.

Image Courtesy: Google

Indian civilization is a melting pot of various communities, and tribals in India have a distinctive and admirable place due of their distinctive way of life.

 

Tribal Communities of India: Lives, Practices, and Culture

One aspect of Indian society that shines out is its diversity. After all, India is well-known for its rich social and cultural heritage. But did you know that tribals comprise about 8.6% of the country's population? Tribal communities are passionate guardians of their unique identities and traditions. What distinguishes them is the simplicity with which they have constructed their way of life and sustained it through the ages.

Source: https://mahasoe.com/2020/09/27/tribal-people-india/

Well over 500 tribal tribes inhabit the Indian subcontinent, each with its specific culture, customs, food, rituals, languages, beliefs, and spectacular way of life. Most tribal communities have a traditional lifestyle inextricably linked to forest environments. This is why they are also known as Adivasis, or forest dwellers; nonetheless, times have changed, and many people have embraced new ways of living and technology.

Tribes In Central India

Bhil Tribe
As tribal communities are distributed over the Indian continent, certain tribes stand out for their glorious history and captivating customs. The Bhils, who live in many Indian states, are one such group.

      
Bhils, who get their name from the word "Billu," which means "bow," are warriors mentioned in history books. These fearsome archers rose to prominence in conflicts against the Mughals and the Maratha kingdom. They also like dancing and music, have progressively adopted a contemporary lifestyle, and become farmers. It is essential to address women in the Bhil tribe while discussing the community. These women are well-known for their unusual fashion sense, mainly their accessories. Bhil ladies wear heavy silver and brass jewellery, beaded rosaries, silver coins, and earrings.

Gond Tribe
Another group found chiefly in Central India is the Gond tribe. The tribals mostly speak "Gondi," an unwritten language related to the Dravidian family. Gonds are well-known for producing tobacco and making alcohol from the "Mahua" tree. Madai, a major Gond festival observed from December to March, draws visitors from far-off places. The marriage ceremony is an intriguing aspect of the Gond tribes. According to their norms, the bride's family leads a procession to marry the groom, known as the "Patthoni" rite, which is followed by festivities.

Munda Tribe
One of the oldest tribes in the Indian subcontinent is the "Munda" tribe. Though the Munda tribe is primarily located in Jharkhand, they may also be found in Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Chattisgarh, and neighbouring Bangladesh. The Munda tribe is remembered in history books for their staunch opposition to British colonial rule from 1857 to 1928. Birsa Munda was a revolutionary who is adored throughout the country, and his efforts are lauded in annals of history. The Munda tribe's primary language is "Killi," and they are mostly woodcutters or farmers.

Tribes In North-East India

Bodo Tribe
From Central India, as we move towards North-East India, we witness that almost all North-Eastern states are home to diverse tribal groups. One prominent among them is the Bodo tribe of Assam. The Bodo tribals have a prosperous cultural heritage in literature, attire, music, and dance. In addition, the Bodo tribes are a peaceful group noted for handicrafts such as bamboo baskets, musical instruments, fishing gear, and other items.

Source: https://www.holidaytravel.co/pkg-dtl-hornbill-festival-of-nagaland-tour-package

Angami Tribe
Moving on, we come upon the majestic Angami tribe of Nagaland. The Hornbill festival, which attracts national and international visitors, is one of the significant Angami tribal festivals. The Angami tribesmen are well-known craftsmen who carve out amazing woodcraft in high demand throughout the country.

Tribes In South-India

Toda Tribe
Going south, the Toda tribe is the most ancient of the indigenous tribes. The tribe is noted for its garment and clothing embroidery skill in the Nilgiris. Some believe they are the descendants of Alexander the Great's Macedonian army remnants. Yet, the tribesmen claim themselves to be Pandava remnants. Polyandry was common in the tribe, where one woman marries all of the male members of a family. This peculiar tribe has its own language and follows several secretive practices.

Source: https://www.swantour.com/blogs/tribals-of-andaman-islands/great-andamanese/

Andamanese Tribe
The story would be incomplete without mentioning the Great Andamanese Tribe, who are members of the Negrito tribe family. The tribesmen are distinguished by their physical size and culture. The tribals dress in unusual clothing made of leaf branches and adorning human bones around their neck and forehead. They also apply clay on their faces and trim their brows. The tribe, however, is on the verge of extinction, and efforts are being made to sustain its declining population.

As we can see, India is lucky to have been nested with several tribes dispersed over the length and breadth of the country. As a result, tribals have smoothly absorbed contemporary life methods alongside their traditional traditions over time. The government has also made deliberate measures to bring our tribal brothers and sisters into the mainstream. For example, we just saw the appointment of Smt Droupadi Murmu as India's 15th President. She is from a tribal group and embodies contemporary India's transforming face.

Source: Wikipedia

Learn more about the spinal surgery procedure and what to anticipate during your hospital stay.

How to be Prepared for Spine Surgery?

How to Mentally Prepare Yourself for the Upcoming Surgery?

The first question that comes to us when thinking about spine surgery is why and when the patient needs it.

 

It is usually necessary in the following circumstances: 

a) if the patient has persistent lower back discomfort. 

b) If the pain continues after rehabilitative therapies such as physical therapy, massage, and heat therapy, regular pain medication is ineffective.

 

c) Even injections in the back failed to provide relief to the person suffering. 

d) Another issue that the patient may be experiencing is weakness or numbness in his limbs or arms.

Under the above circumstances, when treatment by the local physician has been unsuccessful spine surgery becomes imminent. 

 

Different Types of Spine Surgery

Different types of surgeries are performed to correct Spinal problems. Depending upon the physical, mental state of the person and considering any other health issue like diabetes, blood pressure etc. the orthopedist gives his recommendation for surgery.

Some of the significant types of spine surgeries suggested by orthopedists are :

• Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty
• Spinal laminectomy
• Discectomy
• Foraminotomy
• Nucleoplasty
• Spinal fusion
• Artificial disk replacement

Today the doctors have the option to choose between the traditional /open spine surgery or minimally invasive spine surgery. With the help of modern facilities like 3D scanning, CAT scan etc. minimal invasive surgery that causes less tissue damage, lower infection risk, early hospital discharge and quick patient recovery is preferred.

 

However, not all patients can undergo minimally invasive spine surgery. The orthopedist takes the final decision based on the health condition of the patient.

Things to Consider Before Spine Surgery

It is essential to note that before undergoing surgery, counselling of the patient is necessary. The spine surgery is fraught with risks, but only negligible patients feel pain after recovery or develop any complications.

The time taken to recuperate from spine surgery is around two months, after which a patient can gradually return to his healthy life and walk independently without support.

The success rate of spine surgery is 90% with patients feeling no pain or weakness in their arms or legs.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, physical therapy and rest under the supervision of the doctor helps in fast recovery after spine surgery. 

Image Coutesy: Google Images