- Pune University
- Jawaharlal Nehru University - New Delhi
- Hyderabad Central University
- National Institute of Technology (NIT), Trichy
- Birla Institute of Technology(BITS), Ranchi
- National Institute of Technology (NIT) - Surathkal
- PSG College of Technology - Coimbatore
- Bharathiar University -Coimbatore
- MN National Institute of Technology (NIT)-Allahabad
- Vellore Institute Of Technology-Vellore (Tamilnadu)
- Pondicherry Central University
- Banaras Hindu University - Varnasi
- National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut
Top 10 Lists In The World
Thursday, September 29, 2011
UPSC EXAMS 2011
UPSC 2012 Exam Schedule
Programme of UPSC Examinations to be held in the year 2012
Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination I, 2012
Date of Notification/Last date for receipt of applications: 29.10.2011/28 November 2011
Date of Commencement of examination and its duration: 12 FEBRUARY 2011(One day)
The online application can be filled up to 28 November 2011 till 11.59 p.m. after which the link will be disabled
Minimum academic qualifications prescribed:
(i) For IMA and OTA: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.
(ii) For Naval Academy: B.Sc. (with Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.
(iii) For Air Force Academy: Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.
CDS Exam Previous Years Solved Question Papers 
National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (II), 2011 NEW
Date of Notification/Last date for receipt of applications: 09th April, 2011/ 09th May, 2011
Date of Commencement of examination and its duration:21st August, 2011 (One day)
Minimum academic qualifications prescribed:
(i) For Army Wing of National Defence Academy: 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
(ii) For Air Force and Naval Wings of NDA and for 10+2 (Executive Branch) Course at Naval Academy: 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
Age Limits: 16 ½ - 19 years Details also check out NDA Entrance Exam CD and Previous Years Solved Question Papers
Special Class Railway Apprentices Examination, 2011 Date of Notification/Last date for receipt of applications: 26.03.2011/25.04.2011
Date of Commencement of examination and its duration: 31.07.2011 (One day)
Minimum academic qualifications prescribed: Intermediate or Senior Secondary (12 years) Examination under 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Mathematics and at least one of the subject Physics & Chemistry as subjects of the Examination in Ist or IInd Division.
Age Limits: 17-21 years as on 01.08.2011
Remarks: Candidates appearing at the Intermediate/Senior Secondary (12 years) examination under 10+2 pattern of School Education/1st year of the 3 years degree course or equivalent examination with the prescribed subjects also eligible subject to certain conditions. SCRA Exam Books and Solved QUestion Papers, SCRA Sample Question Papers
UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination, 2011
Date of Notification/Last date for receipt of applications19th March, 2011/25th April, 2011
Date of Commencement of examination and its duration: 09th July, 2011
Minimum academic qualifications prescribed: A Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects namely, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Sciences, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology or a degree in Agriculture or forestry or Engineering of a recognised University or equivalent.
Age Limits: 21-30 years as on 01.07.2011
Remarks: Candidates appearing at the degree examination (with prescribed subjects) also eligible to compete subject to certain conditions.
UPSC Geologists’ Examination, 2011
Date of Notification/Last date for receipt of applications: 13.08.2011/12.09.2011
Date of Commencement of examination : 03.12.2011
Minimum academic qualifications prescribed: A candidate must hold (i) Master’s degree in Geology or Applied Geology or Marine Geology; or (ii) Master’s degree in Mineral Exploration (for posts in Geological Survey of India only), or (iii) Master’s degree in Hydrogeology (for posts in central ground water board only) from a recognized university; or (iv) Diploma of Associateship in Applied Geology of the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad
Age Limits: 21-32 years as on 01.01.2011
UPSC Civil Service (Preliminary) Examination, 2011
Date of Notification/Last date for receipt of applications: 19.2.2011 - 21/03/2011
Date of Commencement of examination and its duration: 12th June , 2011 (One day)
Also check out >>> UPSC Civil Services Exam Previous 15 to 17 Years Solved Question Papers
UPSC Engineering Services Examination, 2011
Date of Notification Application /Last date for receipt of applications: 8th January, 2011 to 14th February, 2011 (Offline)
Date of Commencement of examination and its duration: 14th May, 2011
Minimum academic qualifications prescribed: A degree in Engineering from a recognised University or equivalent. M.Sc Degree or its equivalent with Wireless Communications, Electronics, Radio Physics or Radio Engineering as special subject acceptable for certain Services/posts only.
Age Limits: 21-30 years as on 01.08.2011
Remarks: Candidates appearing at Engineering degree or equivalent examination also eligible to compete subject to certain conditions.
UPSC Combined Medical Services Examination, 2011
Date of Notification/Last date for receipt of applications: 11.09.2010/18.10.2010
Date of Commencement of examination and its duration: 16.01.2010 (One day)
Minimum academic qualifications prescribed: M.B.B.S. Degree
Age Limits: Below 32 years as on 01.01.2011
Remarks: Candidates appearing at the final M.B.B.S. Examination also eligible to compete subject to certain conditions. Selected candidates will be appointed only after they have completed compulsory rotating internship. >> Details
SSC Constable (GD) Recruitment Exam 2011 Sample Question Papers NEW
Indian Economic/Indian Statistical Service Examination, 2010
Date of Notification/Last date for receipt of applications: 05.06.2010/05.07.2010
Date of Commencement of examination : 4th December, 2010Minimum educational qualifications: A candidate for the Indian Economic Service must have obtained a Post-graduate degree in Economics/Applied Economics/Business Economics/Econometrics and a candidate for the Indian Statistical must have obtained a post-graduate degree in Statistics/Mathematical Statistics/Applied Statistics from a University incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutes established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or a foreign university approved by the central govt. from time to time Age Limits: A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 30 years on 1st January, 2010, i.e. he/she must have been born not earlier than 2nd January, 1980 and not later than 1st January, 1989
Remarks: Candidates appearing at the Post-graduate degree or equivalent examination in the relevant disciplines also eligible to compete subject to certain conditions.
8. National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (II), 2009
Date of Notification/Last date for receipt of applications: 14.03.2009/13.04.2009
Date of Commencement of examination and its duration: 30.08.2009 (One day)
Minimum academic qualifications prescribed:
(i) For Army Wing of National Defence Academy: 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
(ii) For Air Force and Naval Wings of NDA and for 10+2 (Executive Branch) Course at Naval Academy: 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
Age Limits: 16 ½ - 19 years as on 01.07.2010
Remarks: Candidates appearing at the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination also eligible to compete subject to certain conditions.
9. Combined Defence Service Examination (II), 2010
Date of Notification/Last date for receipt of applications: 17.04.2010/17.05.2010
Date of Commencement of examination and its duration: 19.09.2010 (One day)
Minimum academic qualifications prescribed:
(i) For IMA and OTA: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.
(ii) For Naval Academy: B.Sc. (with Physics & Mathematics) or Bachelor of Engineering.
(iii) For Air Force Academy: Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.
Age Limits:
For IMA 19-24 years as on 01.07.2010.
For NA 19-22 years as on 01.07.2010
For AFA 19-23 years as on 01.07.2010
For OTA 19-25 years as on 01.07.2010
Remarks: Candidates appearing at the degree or equivalent examination also eligible to compete subject to certain conditions.
10. Central Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2009
Date of Notification/Last date for receipt of applications: 09.05.2009/08.06.2009
Date of Commencement of examination and its duration: 11.10.2009 (One day)
Minimum academic qualifications prescribed: A degree from a recognised University or equivalent.
Age Limits: 20-25 years as on 01.08.2009
Remarks: Candidates appearing at the degree or equivalent examination also eligible to compete subject to certain conditions.
11. Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2009
Date of Commencement of examination and its duration: 23.10.2009 (Twenty-One day)
Minimum academic qualifications prescribed: A degree from a recognised University or equivalent.
Age Limits: 21-30 years as on 01.08.2009
Remarks: Only such of the candidates as are declared qualified on the results of Preliminary Examination are eligible to take the Main Examination.
12. Section Officers’/Stenographers’ (Grade ‘B’/Grade-I) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination
Date of Notification/Last date for receipt of applications: 27.06.2009/24.08.2009
Date of Commencement of examination and its duration: 26.12.2009 (Four days)
Remarks: Departmental Examination open to only certain categories of Government Servants.
Note:
1. The date of notification and commencement of the examinations and the conditions of eligibility indicated above are liable to alteration, if the circumstances so warrant.
2. Commission’s advertisements containing details of the various examinations are published in Employment News/Rozgar Samachar and leading daily newspapers of the Country, generally in their Saturday editions. For further details, please see the Notice/Rules for the Examination, after the same has been notified.
3. Except for the Defence Services Examinations at Serial Number 2, 3, 8 and 9 the upper age limits are relaxable in the candidates belonging to the SC/ST/OBC and certain other categories as notified by the Government from time to time.
4. Female candidates are not eligible for the National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination.
Top 10 Medical Colleges in India
Top 10 Medical Colleges in India
- All India Institute of Medical Science - AIIMS, Delhi
- Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) , Pune
- Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore
- JIPMER, Punducherry
- Kasturba Medical College , Manipal
- Lady Hardinge Medical College , Delhi
- Maulana Azad Medical College , Delhi
- Grant Medical College , Mumbai
- St. John’s Medical College , Bangalore
- Madras Medical College , Chennai
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Top 10 Richest People in the World 2011
Here is the Forbes 2011 ranking of the top 10:
1. Carlos Slim (Mexico) - $74 billion, telecommunications
Slim, 71, first showed a business talent as a 10-year-old selling drinks and snacks to his family. After studying engineering, he founded a real estate company and worked as a trader on the Mexican stock exchange. Cigar-smoking Slim is known for a "Midas touch" in acquiring struggling firms and turning them into cash cows.
His enormous wealth contrasts starkly with his frugal lifestyle. He has lived in the same house for about 40 years and drives an aging Mercedes Benz, although it is armored and trailed by bodyguards.
He has become involved in combating poverty, illiteracy and poor healthcare in Latin America and promotes sports projects for the poor, but has never voiced plans to give away large chunks of his wealth to charity.
2. Bill Gates (USA) - $56 billion, Microsoft
Sensing the start of a personal computer revolution, Gates, 55, dropped out of Harvard University in 1975 to start Microsoft and pursue a vision of a computer on every desk and in every home. Microsoft went public in 1986 and by the next year, the soaring stock made Gates, at age 31, the youngest self-made billionaire.
In 2008 he stepped down from what is now the world's largest software firm to work at The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He has given $28 billion to it.
Together with his wife Melinda and Warren Buffett, he has also convinced 57 U.S. billionaires to sign up to the Giving Pledge and publicly vow to give away at least 50 percent of their fortune during their lifetime or upon their death.
3. Warren Buffett (USA) - $50 billion, Berkshire Hathaway
Buffett, 80, has run his Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate since 1965. Its interests run from railroads to ice cream.
In 2006 he pledged to give away 99 percent of his wealth to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and family charities. So far he has given $8 billion to the Gates Foundation.
4. Bernard Arnault (France) - $41 billion, LVMH
Arnault, 62, a friend of French president Nicolas Sarkozy, was educated at the prestigious Ecole Polytechnique and joined his father's construction company at 25. He earned the reputation of a ruthless corporate raider after pushing out shareholder rivals when he started building the LVMH group in the 1990s with the Louis Vuitton, Moet and Hennessy brands.
It is now the world's biggest luxury goods group. His image as a predator stuck to him afterward when he fought in vain to acquire Gucci in 1999 and 2000. Then this week he snapped up Roman jeweler Bulgari for $5.18 billion.
5. Larry Ellison (USA) - $39.5 billion, Oracle Corp
Ellison, the flamboyant Oracle founder and CEO, is known for his free, public outbursts against rivals such as German software maker SAP AG. The executive, supposedly a model for the "Iron Man" movie character Tony Stark, late last year attacked Hewlett Packard and its board for the abrupt and -- he said -- unfair sacking of longtime friend Mark Hurd. Ellison then hired him.
Ellison, who won yachting's America's Cup last year, is considered one of the "old guard" of Silicon Valley.
6. Lakshmi Mittal (India) - $31.1 billion, steel
London-based steel tycoon Mittal, 60, runs ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel manufacturer.
Mittal's firm is largely funding a $29 million spiraling red tower, designed by Turner prize-winning artist Anish Kapoor and taller than New York's Statue of Liberty, that will soar over London's Olympic Park for the 2012 games.
In 2005 he spent $10 million to promote sporting talent and encourage potential Olympians in his homeland after he was disappointed by India's lone medal at the Athens Games.
7. Amancio Ortega (Spain) - $31 billion, retail
Amancio Ortega, 74, started his clothing business in the 1960s making dressing gowns in his garage in La Coruna. His company Inditex owns the Zara fashion house and is now the world's biggest clothing retailer. Ortega closely guards his privacy and does not give media interviews. He announced in January that he plans to step down as chairman of the company.
8. Eike Batista (Brazil) - $30 billion, mining, oil
A half-German college dropout who for years struggled to emerge from the shadow of his well-known father, Batista has long said he wants nothing less than to be Brazil's and the world's richest person. Everything about the 53-year-old -- from the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren sports car he keeps as decoration in his parlor to the "X" in the name of all his companies that represents wealth multiplication -- screams of unashamed ambition.
A top-class speedboat racer who was married to a famous Rio de Janeiro Carnival queen, Batista dined with U.S. pop star Madonna in Rio last year and, according to local reports, handed her a check over dinner for $7 million as a donation for her social projects.
He has a burning ambition to transform Rio into a modern, thriving city. Just before Rio was awarded the 2016 Olympic Games, he bought up a nearby marina that will be a hub of the games -- an example of his eye for a well timed deal.
9. Mukesh Ambani (India) - $27 billion, petrochemicals, oil and gas
A chemical engineer by training, Mukesh, 53, dropped out of an MBA from Stanford University and joined Reliance in 1981.
Mukesh, who said in 2009 he would take a two-thirds pay cut after the Indian prime minister's comments on "vulgar salaries," gave his wife a private jet on her birthday. He also splashed out $1 billion on a 27-story home. He has a volatile relationship with his younger brother Anil, and they have fought over interests from oil and gas, retail, telecoms, entertainment, financial services to infrastructure.
10. Christy Walton & family (USA) - $26.5 billion, Wal-Mart
Christy Walton is the widow of John Walton, who was the son of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. Sam Walton built the global Wal-Mart empire from a single dime store in Arkansas. It is now the world's largest retailer.
Top 10 Amazing Temples in the World
More than a quarter of all people in the world belong to Eastern religions, which include Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism. These people worship in temples, which are architecturally as diverse as the religions are different from each other. From the ancient ruins of Ankor Wat to the distinctly modern Wat Rong Khun, there are hundreds if not thousands of amazing temples in the world.
I have long been fascinated by the temples and sacred sites of Eastern religions. After doing an article on some amazing churches from around the world (10 Divinely Designed Churches), it’s only right that we do a follow up on the ten most fascinating temples in Asia. Here they are, in no particular order:
Tiger’s Nest Monastery
Tiger’s Nest Monastery, perched precariously on the edge of a 3,000-feet-high cliff in Paro Valley, is one of the holiest places in Bhutan. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche [wiki], the second Buddha, flew onto the cliff on the back of a tigress, and then meditated in a cave which now exists within the monastery walls.
The monastery, formally called Taktshang Goemba, was built in 1692 and reconstructed in 1998 after a fire. Now, the monastery is restricted to practicing Buddhists on religious retreats and is off-limits to ordinary tourists.
Image: Leo Palmer Photography
Image: Douglas J. McLaughlin [wikipedia]
Wat Rong Khun
Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Rai, Thailand is unlike any Buddhist temples in the world. The all-white, highly ornate structure gilded in mosaic mirrors that seem to shine magically, is done in a distinctly contemporary style. It is the brainchild of renowned Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat.
Actually, the temple is still under construction. Chalermchai expects it will take another 90 years to complete, making it the Buddhist temple equivalent of the Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona, Spain!
Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple. Image: majorbonnet [Flickr]
Wat Rong Khun, from a distance. Image: AraiGordai [Flickr]
Details of the temple roof. Image: AraiGordai [Flickr]
The hands of hell want your change. Image: pim [Flickr]
Prambanan
Prambanan is a Hindu temple in Central Java, Indonesia. The temple was built in 850 CE, and is composed of 8 main shrines and 250 surrounding smaller ones.
Nearly all the walls of the temple are covered in exquisite bas relief carvings, which narrate stories of Vishnu’s incarnations, adventures of Hanuman the Monkey King, the Ramayana [wiki] epic and other legends.
Though not the biggest temple in Indonesia (Borobudur is larger – see below), Prambanan makes up in beauty and grace for what it lacks in size.
Prambanan’s main complex. Image: Rosino [Flickr]
Six of Prambanan’s eight main shrines. Image: kashikar [Flickr]
Prambanan at night. Image: Tierecke [Flickr]
Bas-Relief at Prambanan. Image: Jungle_Boy [Flickr]
Shwedagon Pagoda
No one knows exactly when the Shwedagon Paya [wiki] (or Pagoda) in Myanmar was built – legend has it that it is 2,500 years old though archaeologists estimate that it was built between the 6th and 10th century.
Now, when people say "golden temple" they usually mean that the structure is golden in color. But when it comes to the Shwedagon Pagoda, golden literally means covered in gold! In the 15th century, a queen of the Mon people donated her weight in gold to the temple. This tradition continues until today, where pilgrims often save for years to buy small packets of gold leafs to stick to the temple walls.
As if all that gold wasn’t enough, the spire of the stupa or dome is covered with over 5,000 diamonds and 2,000 rubies (there’s even a 76 carat diamond at the very tip!). And oh, the temple housed one of the holiest relics in Buddhism: eight strands of Buddha’s hair.
Shwedagon Pagoda and its golden stupa. Image: Dust Mason [Flickr]
Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven [wiki] is a Taoist temple in Beijing, the capital of China. The temple was constructed in 14th century by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (who also built the Forbidden City) as his personal temple, where he would pray for good harvest and to atone for the sins of his people.
The Temple’s architecture is quite interesting: everything in the temple, which represents Heaven, is circular whereas the ground levels, which represent the Earth, are square.
Close up of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, Temple of Heaven.
Image: star5112 [Flickr]
Ceiling of the Imperial Vault, Temple of Heaven. Image: Carol^-^ [Flickr]
Chion-in Temple
Chion-in Temple [wiki] was built in 1234 CE to honor the founder of Jodo (Pure Land) Buddhism, a priest named Honen, who fasted to death in the very spot. At one point in time, the complex had 21 buildings but due to earthquakes and fire, the oldest surviving building is from the 17th century.
Visitors to the Chion-in Temple must first pass through the largest gate in Japan: the two-story San-mon Gate. The temple bell is also a record setter: it weighs 74 tons and needs 17 monks to ring it during the New Year celebrations.
Another interesting feature of the Chion-in Temple is the "singing" floor of the Assembly Hall. Called a uguisu-bari or nightingale floor, the wooden planks were designed to creak at every footstep to alert the monks of intruders!
A building in the Chion-in Temple complex in winter time. Image: psychofish [Flickr]
Chion-in’s Temple Bell. Image: Richard Seaman
Borobudur
In the 19th century, Dutch occupiers of Indonesia found a massive ancient ruin deep in the jungles of Java. What they discovered was the complex of Borobudur, a gigantic structure built with nearly 2 million cubic feet (55,000 m³) of stones. The temple has nearly 2,700 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.
Until today, no one knows for sure when and why it was built, nor the reason for its complete abandonment hundreds of years ago. Some scholars believe that Borobudur is actually a giant textbook of Buddhism, as its bas reliefs tell the story of the life of Buddha and the principles of his teachings. To "read," a pilgrim must make his way through nine platforms and walk a distance of over 2 miles.
Aerial view of Borobudur. Image: Kenyon College
Golden Temple
The Harmandir Sahib (meaning The Abode of God) or simply the Golden Temple [wiki] in Punjab, India is the most sacred shrine of Sikhism. For the Sikhs, the Golden Temple symbolizes infinite freedom and spiritual independence.
The site of the Temple began with a small lake that was so peaceful that even Buddha came there to meditate. Thousands of years later, Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism also lived and meditate by the lake.
Construction of the Golden Temple began in the 1500s, when the fourth Guru of Sikhism enlarged the lake that became Amritsar or Pool of the Nectar of Immortality, around which the temple and the city grew. The Temple itself is decorated with marble sculptures, gilded in gold, and covered in precious stones.
Golden Temple, from a distance. Image: Saurabh C [Flickr]
Vishnu Temple of Srirangam
The Temple of Srirangam (Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple [wiki]), in the Indian city of Tiruchirapalli (or Trichy), is the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world (Ankor Wat is the largest of all temple, but it is currently non-functioning as a temple – see below).
The temple is dedicated to Vishnu, one of three Gods in Hinduism. Legend has it that a long time ago, a sage rested and put down a statue of Vishnu reclining on a great serpent. When he was ready to resume his journey, he discovered that the statue couldn’t be moved, so a small temple was built over it. Over centuries, the temple "grew" as larger ones were built over the existing buildings.
The temple complex is massive: it encompasses an area of over 150 acres (63 hectares) with seven concentric walls, the outermost being about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long! The walls demarcate enclosures within enclosures, each more sacred than the next, with the inner-most enclosure is forbidden to non-Hindus.
The Temple of Srirangam is famous for its gopurams or entrances beneath colorful pyramids. The temple has 21 gopurams total, with the largest one having 15 stories and is nearly 200 feet (60 m) tall.
The Temple of Srirangam (Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple [wiki]), in the Indian city of Tiruchirapalli (or Trichy), is the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world (Ankor Wat is the largest of all temple, but it is currently non-functioning as a temple – see below).
The temple is dedicated to Vishnu, one of three Gods in Hinduism. Legend has it that a long time ago, a sage rested and put down a statue of Vishnu reclining on a great serpent. When he was ready to resume his journey, he discovered that the statue couldn’t be moved, so a small temple was built over it. Over centuries, the temple "grew" as larger ones were built over the existing buildings.
The temple complex is massive: it encompasses an area of over 150 acres (63 hectares) with seven concentric walls, the outermost being about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long! The walls demarcate enclosures within enclosures, each more sacred than the next, with the inner-most enclosure is forbidden to non-Hindus.
The Temple of Srirangam is famous for its gopurams or entrances beneath colorful pyramids. The temple has 21 gopurams total, with the largest one having 15 stories and is nearly 200 feet (60 m) tall.
Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Bayon
Last but definitely not least is the largest temple in history and the inspiration to countless novels and action movies of Hollywood: Ankor Wat.
Angkor Wat [wiki] was built in the early 12th century in what is now Cambodia. The world famous temple was first a Hindu one, dedicated to Vishnu. In the 14th or 15th century, as Buddhism swept across Asia, it became a Buddhist temple.
The Western world’s got a glimpse of Angkor Wat when a 16th century Portuguese monk visited the temple and eloquently described it as "of such extraordinary construction that it is not possible to describe it with a pen, particularly since it is like no other building in the world. It has towers and decoration and all the refinements which the human genius can conceive of." His words still rang true today.
Tourists visiting Angkor Wat usually also visit the nearby ruins of Angkor Thom and Bayon [wiki], two fantastic temples that serve as the ancient capital of Khmer empire.
Last but definitely not least is the largest temple in history and the inspiration to countless novels and action movies of Hollywood: Ankor Wat.
Angkor Wat [wiki] was built in the early 12th century in what is now Cambodia. The world famous temple was first a Hindu one, dedicated to Vishnu. In the 14th or 15th century, as Buddhism swept across Asia, it became a Buddhist temple.
The Western world’s got a glimpse of Angkor Wat when a 16th century Portuguese monk visited the temple and eloquently described it as "of such extraordinary construction that it is not possible to describe it with a pen, particularly since it is like no other building in the world. It has towers and decoration and all the refinements which the human genius can conceive of." His words still rang true today.
Tourists visiting Angkor Wat usually also visit the nearby ruins of Angkor Thom and Bayon [wiki], two fantastic temples that serve as the ancient capital of Khmer empire.
Bonus:
Here are some more amazing temples and sacred places that just couldn’t fit in the list above:
Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple
Potala Palace [wiki], built on top of the Red Mountain in Lhasa, Tibet, China was built by the first emperor of Tibet in 637 CE. The current palace was re-constructed in the mid-1600s by the fifth Dalai Lama.
The Palace consists of two main buildings, the Potrang Karpo (White Palace) and Portrang Marpo (Red Palace). It was the chief home of the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama until he was forced to flee to India when China invaded Tibet in 1959. It is now a state museum.
Potala Palace. Image: Press Club of Tibet
The White Palace. Image: vwsluk [Flickr]
Jokhan Temple [wiki] is the spiritual center of Lhasa and is considered the most important and sacred temple in Tibet. The temple was built in 642 CE and has since housed the single most venerated object in Tibetan Buddhism: a statue of Gautama Buddha [wiki], the founder of Buddhism.
The city of Lhasa has three concentric paths that pilgrims use to walk to Jokhang Temple. Many actually prostrate themselves along these routes in order to gain spiritual merit!
Varanasi
Varanasi in India is not a temple, but ais ctually a famous Hindu holy city, located at the banks of the Ganges River. It is, however, often called the "City of Temples," where almost every road crossing has a nearby temple. A center of pilgrimage (as many as a million pilgrims visit Varanasi each year), the city has links to Buddhism and Jainism as well.
Here are some more amazing temples and sacred places that just couldn’t fit in the list above:
Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple
Potala Palace [wiki], built on top of the Red Mountain in Lhasa, Tibet, China was built by the first emperor of Tibet in 637 CE. The current palace was re-constructed in the mid-1600s by the fifth Dalai Lama.
The Palace consists of two main buildings, the Potrang Karpo (White Palace) and Portrang Marpo (Red Palace). It was the chief home of the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama until he was forced to flee to India when China invaded Tibet in 1959. It is now a state museum.
Potala Palace. Image: Press Club of Tibet
The White Palace. Image: vwsluk [Flickr]
Jokhan Temple [wiki] is the spiritual center of Lhasa and is considered the most important and sacred temple in Tibet. The temple was built in 642 CE and has since housed the single most venerated object in Tibetan Buddhism: a statue of Gautama Buddha [wiki], the founder of Buddhism.
The city of Lhasa has three concentric paths that pilgrims use to walk to Jokhang Temple. Many actually prostrate themselves along these routes in order to gain spiritual merit!
Varanasi
Varanasi in India is not a temple, but ais ctually a famous Hindu holy city, located at the banks of the Ganges River. It is, however, often called the "City of Temples," where almost every road crossing has a nearby temple. A center of pilgrimage (as many as a million pilgrims visit Varanasi each year), the city has links to Buddhism and Jainism as well.
Let me be the first to acknowledge that this list is woefully incomplete. There are countless amazing temples, monasteries, and sacred places of Eastern religions scattered throughout Asia.
Top 10 most expected Tamil movies in 2011
Top 10 most expected Tamil movies in 2011
Amidst so many cries over the clutches of some forces over the industry, the Tamil Cinema industry underwent a critical phase. Now the changes in the climate seems to have given way for the producers and the directors to have their cake walks in delivering the movies. Here in the list we provide a clear picture about the upcoming movies in the near future. It is hoped that these movies find entry into the theatres without any complication.10) Raja Pattai
For Vikram, giving much gap for his movies is quite delicate to digest. Hence he clears the decks for moving to projects one after another. While Deiva Thirumagal is ready for release, Vikram has now got the luggage for his next movie Raja Pattai.
The director will be Suseendran of Naan Mahan Alla & Vennila Kabbadi Kulu fame. More than these films, Suseendran is on the hot list now with his aimless success of Alagarsamiyin Kudirai, running screen packed. He had his ambition clear for this movie and so he has not made any surprising remarks over AK. Suseendran seems to create his own image by working with somewhat demanding heroes and so his choice for Vettai Mannan is Vikram. He outlined that this film will depict usual formula - romance, comedy and action. Now he has come back from Singapore after getting relieved from the stress of AK.
But he has not wasted his trip since he took Yuvan Shankar Raja to set tunes for Raja Pattai. It is learnt that this movie will have the character rendering of Thambi Ramaiah, the national award winner. The film will be ready for release in the short schedule of two months.
As the title indicates, the film will speak the authority of both Suseendran & Vikram, we can hope.
9) Saguni
If one hero who can boast that he has not made any producer at loss, then it will be Karthi. He has to his credit all his films on the hit list - starting from Paruthiveeran down to Siruthai. In all these 5 years of his professional move his films are choosy but had the reach to the mass.
In each of his movies, he had a different role and his talent exhibited his learning from Mani Ratnamcamp. He has the flair to deliver the best at ease and his timing of release of his movies gathers more momentum. If one gauges Karthi from the point of view of getting the best then he fills in the void.
His next movie is Saguni, slated for earlier release, with 70 days schedule. The film is directed by the new comer Shankar Dayal. He hinted that the film will be a full length political concept and may be a satire on contemporary politics. With main cast to be let out public the movie is all set to go on screens by this year end.
8 ) Aadhi Bhagavan
With Amir, the film will be certain to create some hot news and after Paruthiveeran much was expected of him. This is due to his off the record portrayal of characters and treatment of themes. No one would have forgotten the climax ofParuthiveeran and the role of Jeeva in Ram.
Now Ameer is busy directing his Aadhi Bhagavan starring Jeyam Ravi & Neetu Chandra and after a long gap, the traverse presence of the dancer Sudha Chandran.Karunas fill in the humor segment and the cast includes Babu Antony too.
If the track record of Ameer's movies is to be gauged on the basis of musical supremacy then none of his films disappointed us, whether it is his Mounam Pesiyathe, Ram and Paruthiveeran. Such was the confidence he has on Yuvan Shankar Raja and it is true that Yuvan Shankar Raja too has not betrayed or deterred Ameer.
7) Vettai Mannan
For Simbu the last two years have been the good times of rich harvest. Ever since the release ofVinnaithandi Varuvaya, audience has switched over the glance of him with a different outlook. This film put off the stereo typed portrayal of Simbu with rolling lips, gestures of fingers and action.Gautham Menon completely silenced all these movements and brought in the necessities of the character.
Vaanam too made a good platform for STR and he by now is realizing his own dearth for worthy choices. His next movie is Vettai Mannan again a going back to the action sprawl, directed by the debutant Nelson. STR claimed that he preferred this role as it has the lot of challenges to his quench. He is paired with Deeksha Seth and in a narrow scope Jai is pitted to go along with him. Other characters are on the review as the movie is scheduled for either Deepavali or late 2011.
The once popular producer who had gained much from Ajith, SS Chakravarthy is producing this movie. Yuvan Shankar Raja got the nod for music composition and the songs are yet to be on the air. The movie will be trilingual Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.
6) Nanban
After the hectic schedule for superstar's Endhiran, Shankar quite unusually carried out his instant project, Nanban. This, he intended to replicate the Bollywood hit 3 Idiots and has infused the stardom with Vijay, Jeeva and Srikanth. For the feminine fragrance he has strewn Ileana while the peak of stardom is elevated with the presence of Sathyaraj.
The sets are busy now and Shankar intends to release this movie to coincide with the festival ofDeepavali. Quite conventional to his kitchen theme, Shankar has not even hinted about the story of this movie. And for a change, after Anniyan, Shankar has entrusted the music to Harris Jeyaraj.
Normally when everything goes for redefinition, the perfection would be more and with Shankar behind the camera for this remake (the first ever venture by him) Nanban may speak volumes of his might. This will not be a mere Nabenda concept but a full length comical narration involving these three artists. Especially for Jeeva, after his mammoth success of Ko.
5) Deiva Thirumagal
The transitive phases of this movie with Vikram has undergone many struggles before getting ready for release. The initial title, Deiva Magan was forced to be changed by the director Vijay and the subsequent title Deiva Thirumagan was also under threat by protest and objection from a particular segment of the society. The title as of now has changed to the gender transition with Deiva Thirumagal.
The story seems to be the affection bond and is, if the sources mean it, an embrace from the Hollywood hit I am Sam and Vikram is on full throttle to settle the score of his flop movie,Kanthaswamy. For the director Vijay this movie's hit may be back to back after his Madrasapattinam. He too on the urge to witness the early release of this movie because some producers are on queue to take him off. Some sources indicate that Vijay has been on the ready list by Ajith for his forthcoming movies.
The cast includes Anushka, Amala Paul and the veteran character artist Nazzer for heavy loads. The music is none other than by GV Prakash Kumar and the songs are already on the topper list. The technical team is endured with the photography from Neerav Shah and Antony donning the editing. Soon to be on the screens, Deiva Thirumagal may be a box office hit in this year.
4) Avan Ivan
Director is Bala is unique and controversial for his themes yet he has the knack of winning laurels. This is what his track record proves from his first venture - Sethu, where Vikram got the needed career break; Nanda in which Surya was depicted the anti-hero but was made a pathetic character;Pitha Magan which roamed the theatres for the serious treatment of a simple theme which eventually fetched the national award for Vikram; the last in the series Naan Kadavul was a slashing message for the atheists.
Everytime when he begins the new project Bala is firm on his beliefs and he sets the tone to raise a tome of achievement. His approach to the theme, the choice of characters from the everyday life and the selection of artists make the work worthy to recognize. The upcoming movie Avan Ivan is ready for the release in few weeks which has two heroes on same platform. For Bala dealing with twin heroes is not a difficult task as he has previous experience in Pitha Magan focusing equal prominence to Surya and Vikram.
Avan Ivan has a lot in store to treat the eyes of audience says Bala. Both Aarya & Vishal have documented their skills to exhibit. He added that the movie is a good dearth for both of them to prove their point in the industry and they will succeed in winning hearts. As it is his policy, Bala has not deliberated anything about this movie.
The star cast includes, besides Aarya, Vishal, Madhu Shalini, Janani Iyer and other second line artists. After Nanda, Yuvan Shankar Raja has given a new lease of life to music for Bala. The songs have already hit all the channels. The film is to be released bilingual - Tamil and Telugu (Vaadu Veedu).
3) Mankatha
After the dismal show of Asal, the Thala wanted to have a real break for the failure journey. It wasBilla which came as the last movie on his success count. His Aegan too proved futile with lot of flaws and disappointment to his fans and the producers. Ajith's crafter Saran was loaded with lot of hopes and marvels when he announced the project of Asal, with the back up of Sivaji Productions. But what use the trial diverted to the trail. Hence Ajith was so vehement to come off an all fresh and powerful movie, Mankatha.
The film is the brainchild of the director Venkat Prabhu who shoot to the fame with his Chennai 600028 and Goa. Moreover, he has close affinity with Ajith which made Thala to accept the project. The producer is Dayanithi Alagiri and the cast includes a lot of famous personalities like Lakshmi Rai, Trisha, Premji Amaren, Vaibhav,Andrea, Anjali, Ashwin and Mahad. The action kingArjun makes his guest appearance. Music is by Yuvan Shankar Raja after his beleaguered composition for Ajith's Billa. Already the single track Vilayudu Mankatha has hit the air with more penchant. No word about the story is made public except the sneak that Ajith is to portray himself in a dual concept role.
With the post production work is on completion stage, the film may hit the theatres anytime now on. A roaring mission in the offing for the fans.
2) Velayutham
After the much struggling phase in the release of Kavalan which made him fume the enemies with furious outburst in the recent assembly elections. Ilayathalapathi Vijay is mending his shoes up to the new track in the ensuing film Velayutham. He has dedicated more time for this movie in spite of his hectic schedule for Shankar's Nanban. This movie was on progress when the talks on the Tamil version of 3 Idiots was going on.
With Vijay in the lead role, the opposite role is done by Hansika Motwani who has reaped some fame with the recent Engeyum Kadhal. She will be one along with Genelia and it is learnt that her role will be a journalist in the movie and the role allocated to Hansika will surround the rural posture.Saranya Mohan is pitted for the sister role to Vijay, while Santhanam has his slot in association with the comedian Satyan. After Vettaikaran, Vijay Antony took up the music composition and the songs are expected to hit the air soon. Now Vijay seems to have revived his vigor after the debacle of the DMK party in the assembly elections.
The movie is directed by Jeyam Raja who is an expert in devising a suitable plot in the remakes for his brother Jeyam Ravi. He has assured a feast of best elements in Velayutham and the story is said to revolve around Vijay as a milk vendor who turns to the city bred. And it is also said that some of the situations may resemble Superstar's Annamalai where he done the role of milk vendor.
Ilayathalapathy is ready for the fight against his fiends and Velayutham may be another core movie for his hit list.
1) 7am Arivu
When A.R Murugadoss came back after his stint in Bollywood for his Ghajni remake everybody was put in guessing. No one could easily find the way A.R Murugadoss would pass on but he had different story to tell to the industry. He chose to have the project with the people close to him but at the same time intended to boost the fame. Hence he announced the 7am Arivu which was planned with Suryain the lead with Shruthi Hassan (daughter of Kamal Hassan) in the slot for heroine.
What ever A.R Murugadoss experiments there will be some novelty and creativity and this movie too is based on this element. He has fused the theme of the hero taming the animals in a circus circumference. And more important this movie is intended to be period film on two different chores of which one will take us to some 1000 years back.
A.R Murugadoss has clubbed the science and fictitious themes in one capsule but in different narrative techniques.
As usual the songs are coming from A.R Murugadoss' favorite Harris Jeyaraj who has done marvelous job according to the sources. One of the songs has the Chinese rendering from Huo, a Chinese women singer who has rendered excellent song.
The film is produced by Udayanithi Stalin under his banner Red Giant movies and is expected to hit the theatres in August. The audio release is slated for July it is assumed. After a prolonged belief of six stages of knowledge, what A.R Murugadoss wishes to inform through this 7am Arivu is still a mystery. But there must be some logic in his argument as he did in Ghajini with STML (short time memory loss).
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