(Eds: Adding details) Mumbai, Feb 3 () The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday unveiled Rs 39,038.83 crore budget for the year 2021-22. In a relief to citizens, no additional civic tax or licence fee was proposed in the budget by the BMC, the country's richest civic body that goes to polls early next year. The total budget estimates for the next financial year are 16.74 per cent more than the last fiscal when it had presented a budget of Rs 33,441 crore. Municipal commissioner I S Chahal, who presented the budget before to the civic standing committee, kept the civic taxes and licence fees unchanged. "There is no additional tax and charge in the budget," he said while talking to reporters after its presentation. In the 11.51 crore surplus budget, the civic body is expecting a revenue of a Rs 27,811.57 crore from various sources, including property tax, water and sewage charges, compensation in lieu of octroi and DP fees, which is Rs 636 crore less as compared to the Rs 22,448 crore estimated revenue of FY 20-21. The budget does not make announcement about any new major infrastructure project and the BMC has focused on various ongoing development projects, besides health services, education and other facilities. The civic body has estimated Rs 18,750 crore for FY 21-22 from the Rs 14,637.76 crore in FY 20-21 for the capital expenditure works, which includes traffic operation and roads (Rs 1,600 crore), Coastal Road project (Rs 2,000 crore), Water supply projects (Rs 1,232.17 crore), storm water drains (Rs 1149.74 crore), Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (Rs 1,300 crore) and sewage disposal (Rs 1,060.06 crore), among others. KK NSK NP NP

BMC unveils Rs 39,038 cr budget, keeps tax structure unchanged

New Delhi, Feb 1 () To augment infrastructure, an accelerated highways development programme will be taken up that includes 9,000 kms of economic corridor and 2,500 kms of access-controlled highways, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.
 Besides, 2,000 kms each of coastal roads and strategic highways will be constructed, the finance minister said while presenting the Union Budget 2020-21 in Parliament.
 "Accelerated development of highways to be undertaken. This will involve construction of 2,500 kms of access-controlled highways, 9,000 kms of economic corridors, 2,000 kms of coastal roads, and 2,000 kms of strategic highways," she said.
 Sitharaman said the Delhi-Mumbai expressway will be completed in three years, in addition to two more express highway projects.
 Work will also start on the Chennai project, she said.
 Terming a sound highways network essential to propel the economy, the Economic Survey on Friday had said the highways sector needs Rs 19.63 lakh crore investment by 2024-25.
 Total investment in the roads and highway sector has gone up more than three times in the five-year period of 2014-15 to 2018-19, the Survey had said.
 Of about 59.64 lakh kms of roads in India, total length of National Highways was 1.32 lakh kms as on March 1, 2019.
 "The pace at which roads have been constructed has grown significantly from 17 km per day in 2015-16 to 29.7 km per day in 2018-19," it said.
 Road transport is the dominant mode of transportation in terms of its contribution to Gross Value Added (GVA) and traffic share.
 The share of transport sector in the GVA for 2017-18 was about 4.77 per cent, of which the share of road transport is the largest at 3.06 per cent, followed by railways (0.75 per cent), air transport (0.15 per cent) and water transport (0.06 per cent). NAM ABM

Highways development to be accelerated including 9k km eco corridor;Del-Mum expressway in 3 yrs: FM

Panaji, May 28 () Goa recorded only one case of COVID-19 on Thursday, after a man who travelled to the coastal state from Mumbai tested positive for the deadly infection, a health official said. At least 69 persons had tested positive for COVID-19 in the state, of which 38 had recovered from the infection and 31 were undergoing treatment at ESI hospital, the official said. The patient who tested positive on Thursday had travelled to Goa by road from Mumbai, he said. Meanwhile, a COVID-19 patient has recovered from the infection and was shifted to a quarantine facility, the official said. As many as 983 swab samples were tested in the state on Thursday, of which results of 886 came out negative and reports of 96 patients were awaited, he said. Goa's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases: 69, new cases: one, deaths: 0, discharged: 38, active cases 31, Samples tested till date: 14782. RPS ARU ARU

Maha man tests positive for COVID-19 in Goa; tally at 69

Mumbai, Mar 6 ()Thefirst budget of the Maha VikasAghadi (MVA) government, presented in the assembly on Friday,seeks to provide a fillip to infrastructuredevelopment in thestate by proposing an outlay of over Rs30,000 crore.Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds thefinance portfolio, said the government intends to develop aneconomic corridor of international standards in Sataradistrict under the Bengaluru-MumbaiEconomic Corridor (BMEC),project, which is on the lines of the Delhi Mumbai IndustrialCorridor (DMIC).Alongwith Satara, the adjoining Sangli and Solapurdistricts will also benefit from the proposed economiccorridor, he said, adding the estimated costof the project isRs 4,000 crore.Pawar saida provision of Rs 3,500 crorehas been madeto complete the Konkan marine highway in three years.He saidthe marine highwaywas planned keepingin viewtransportation requirements of the coastal region, but thehighway project has still not materialised.The Revas-Reddy stretch of the marine highway is stillunder development, he said, adding the entire highway will beconcretised and bridges over creeks at Bankot, Kelshi,Dabholand Jaigad will be constructed."The government plans to complete the work in the nextthree years. Funds will be made available to complete the workthrough Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC)in a time-bound manner," the finance minister said.A 170-km-long ring road has been proposed to diverttraffic coming to Pune from Nashik, Aurangabad, Hyderabad,Bengaluru and Mumbai, and make vehicles pass from outside thecity, Pawar said.For this purpose, an expenditure of Rs 15,000 crore isexpected, including land acquisition, he said."Work will start in the current year and the road willbe completed in the next four years by MSRDC," Pawar said.The government also proposes to implement a urbanroadscheme forupgrading, widening and beautifying mainmarket streets in all cities coming under the jurisdiction ofmunicipal corporations, councils and municipal panchayats, hesaid.A sum of Rs 1,000 crore has been earmarked for theurban roadscheme, Pawar said.He informed that Rs 1,657 crorewill be made availablefor metro projects in the state for 2020-21.In addition to the Maan-Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar routeunder Pune Metro, two new lines - Shivajinagar-Shevalewadi andMaan-Pirangut will also be started, Pawar said.Along with this, the new Pune Metro line from Vanaz toRamwadi will be expandedby extending the length of the linefrom Vanaz to Chandani Chowk and Ramwadi to Wagholi, he said.The length of the metro line from Pimpri-Chinchwad toSwargate will be increased and extended from Swargate toKatraj and from Pimpri-Chinchwad to Nigdi, Pawar said.More funds will be provided this year than the amountsearmarked in the last five years for Pune Metro, said the MLAfrom Baramati in Pune district.Under a new rural road development scheme, 4,0000 kmof roads will be taken up for construction and completedby2025, the minister said.An outlay of Rs 1,501 crorehas been proposedfor thisscheme forthe year 2020-21.He said 'in-principle' approvalhas been given forexpenditureof Rs 86 crore for launch of passenger transportfrom Mira Bhayander to Dombivli onVasai-Thane-Kalyan route.An outlay of Rs 50 crore has been proposed in 2020-21for the construction of a jetty at Radio Club, Colaba, underSagarmala programme for passenger transport and tourists,Pawar said.He said under the Sagarmala programme, construction ofjettiesfor Ro Ro service in the coastal ports at Vasai,Bhayander, Kharwadeshwari, Manori, Ghodbunder, Narangi,Malvan, Borivali, Gorai and Ambadveis in progress and anoutlay of Rs 65 crore has been proposed for this work during2020-21.For the next fiscal year,an outlay of Rs 276 crorehas been proposed for port development schemes, Pawar said.Funds will be made available for construction ofairports in Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Akola andAmravati districts, he said.New airports will be constructed at Solapur and Punefor which an outlay of Rs 78 crore has been proposed during2020-21, the finance minister said.A sum of Rs 401 crore has been proposed for purchasing1,600 new buses to replace the old ones and for modernisationof bus stations of Maharashtra State Road TransportCorporation (MSRTC), he said.The government has provided additional equity of Rs8,500 crorefor the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Corridoras aresult of which Rs 2,500 crorehas been saved from interest onproject finance, Pawar added. MRRSY RSY

Maha budget gives big boost to infra with Rs 30,000-cr outlay

Mumbai, Apr 3 () Nesco Group of Companies has decided to offer its nearly 2 lakh sqft of space in its exhibition centre in Goregaon for accommodating migrant labourers who are affected due to the closure of infrastructure projects in the megapolis after the lockdown. Bombay Exhibition Center (BEC), a division of the Nesco Group, has tweaked and set up their exhibition halls to provide shelter and basic necessities to migrants, labourers and daily wagers, it said in a statement. The management has set up almost 2 lakh sqft of exhibition hall space as a shelter home and has also coordinated with the BMC, local authorities and police to use the space for those who are homeless during this pandemic. These halls can accommodate over 10,000 people and hence would be a huge relief to in the current crisis, it said. "Thousands of migrant workmen who have been adversely affected due to closure of infrastructure projects such as Mumbai metro, vital link-roads, coastal road and construction sites, have been left homeless. Although the BMC and the state government have been trying to accommodate them they need much more space," Nesco Chairman Sumant Patel said. Recently, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is undertaking several infrastructure projects in the megapolis had said that none of the 11,000 labourers working on these sites has migrated out and that they continue to stay in migration camps. The lockdown has brought almost all economic activities to a halt, with daily wagers, especially migrant workers, employed in construction and other informal sectors forced to return to their respective villages, mostly on foot. Taking cognisance of the mass exodus, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had directed all state authorities to take care of all migrant labourers and provide them with basic necessities. PSK MRMR

Nesco Group offers exhibition centre for accommodating migrant labourers amid lockdown

New Delhi, Feb 6 () Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) on Thursday reported a net profit of Rs 234 crore for the October-December quarter of 2019-20 against Rs 9.91 crore in the year-ago period mainly on the back of 'write-back' of Rs 331 crore of provisions. Total turnover in the quarter under review was at Rs 1,075 crore against Rs 1,102 crore in the year-ago period. The company also announced a plan to reduce its debt by Rs 2,100 crore. "The company reported a net profit of Rs 234 crore in Q3 FY20 mainly on write-back of Rs 331 crore of provisions taken in Q4 FY19. On January 10, 2020, the company's lenders initiated a carve-out of about Rs 2,100 crore of debt to a third-party-controlled SPV along with certain arbitration awards and claims in a move that will significantly de-leverage the company and address its asset-liability mismatch," the company said in a statement. Pursuant to the plan, HCC will have no debt servicing obligations for the next 32 months and interest costs will reduce by at least Rs 240 crore per annum, the statement said. Loss on completion of the debt asset carve-out transaction is expected to be at least as large as the write-back taken during this quarter, subject to statutory audit, it said adding the transaction will be in the nature of a slump sale and is subject to lenders' final approvals. Lenders are targeting transaction closure by March 31, 2020. Arjun Dhawan, Director &amp; Group Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are endeavouring to permanently address HCC's asset-liability mismatch through the debt carve-out initiative plan and via conciliation efforts with our clients. The sale of non-core assets also remains a high priority for the company.'' Order backlog stood at Rs 16,142 crore as on December 31, 2019. The company said during the quarter the Supreme Court permitted work on the Coastal Road Project in Mumbai to resume. HCC's share of work in the project is Rs 1,169 crore. In October 2019, HCC marked the completion of its sixth DMRC contract with the inauguration of the Dwarka Najafgarh Corridor in Delhi. NAM MRMR

HCC Q3 profit at Rs 234 cr; announces plan to reduce debt by Rs 2,100 cr

<ul><li>In <keyword id="387240" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Idukki-district">Idukki district</keyword>, the bodies of two men and a woman were recovered from debris and rescue operations continued to trace those missing in the landslide.</li><li>Personnel of NDRF, Fire, Forest and police departments have expanded their search operations to the downstream of a river in their efforts to trace 19 more people who are still missing in the August 7 tragedy near Rajamala.</li><li>Meanwhile, the water level at Mullaperiyar reservoir in Idukki district reached 136.85 feet on Tuesday.</li></ul> The death toll in the <keyword id="1798979" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Idukki-landslide">Idukki landslide</keyword> rose to 52 with three more bodies being recovered on Tuesday as life limped to normalcy in Kerala even as the flood situation worsened in <keyword id="6354915" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="assam">Assam</keyword> and Bihar, affecting lakhs of people. In Idukki district, the bodies of two men and a woman were recovered from debris and rescue operations continued to trace those missing in the landslide. Personnel of NDRF, Fire, Forest and police departments have expanded their search operations to the downstream of a river in their efforts to trace 19 more people who are still missing in the August 7 tragedy near Rajamala. Meanwhile, the water level at Mullaperiyar reservoir in Idukki district reached 136.85 feet on Tuesday. With a let-up in the rains, water receded in many low-lying areas of Kottayam and Alappuzha districts. There was no red alert warning in any of the state's 14 districts as the intensity of rains had decreased and the affected areas had started limping back to normalcy. The flood situation in Bihar worsened as the water entered fresh areas, affecting over 62,000 more people in 16 districts, taking the number of flood victims to more than 75 lakh, a bulletin by the state Disaster Management Department bulletin said. The number of affected panchayats increased to 1,260 from Monday's 1,240 though that of the flood-hit districts remained at 16. There was no fresh report of deaths in flood-related incidents in the state and the figure stood at 24. The flood situation in Assam deteriorated on Tuesday with nearly 14,000 people across three districts being affected, an official bulletin said. On Monday, over 9,200 persons were suffering due to the deluge across four districts. According to the daily flood report of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), more than 13,800 persons are hit due to floods in Dhemaji, Baksa and Morigaon districts. Dhemaji is the worst-hit district with more than 12,000 people suffering, followed by Baksa (1,000 persons affected) and Morigaon (over 800 people). Meanwhile, the flood situation in Uttar Pradesh improved further as three districts were dropped from the list of affected places, officials said. On Monday, a total of 19 districts in the state were listed as affected by the flood, however, Mahrajganj, Pilibhit and Siddharth Nagar were removed from the list the next day, they said. Sixteen districts in the state are still in the official list of places affected by the floods. According to Relief Commissioner Sanjay Goyal, a total of 517 villages in these 16 districts are affected and 268 have got marooned. Sharda river in Palliakalan (Lakhimpur Kheri) and Ghaghra in Turtipar (Ballia) are flowing above the danger mark, he said, adding that relief and rescue operations are underway. Very heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places in western Uttar Pradesh, while some locations in the eastern part of the state received heavy showers. According to the meteorological department, light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorm, accompanied with lightening, also occurred at some places in the state. Rain or thundershower is very likely at most places in the state from Wednesday to Friday, the MeT department said. Delhi received sporadic light rains as high humidity continued to trouble residents. The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative figures for the city, recorded 8.6 mm rainfall till 5:30 pm. The Lodhi Road and Ayanagar weather stations recorded 3.2 mm and 1.3 mm precipitation, respectively. The city recorded a maximum of 36.8 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal, the meteorological department said. Earlier, the IMD had predicted 'moderate to heavy rains' in the city from Sunday evening to Wednesday. The IMD has forecast that heavy rainfall is likely in isolated places of coastal Maharashtra, including Mumbai, till August 15. While Mumbai is expected to receive light to moderate showers, neighbouring districts of Thane, Palghar, Raigad and Ratnagiri may witness heavy rains at isolated places, an IMD official said. "A similar forecast has been issued for Pune, Kolhapur and Satara districts as well till August 15. However, districts in North Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha may receive light to moderate rainfall in the same period," the official said. Some parts of Himachal Pradesh received light rainfall, with the MeT Department forecasting rains till August 17. Una and Nahan each received 2 mm rainfall, while Kangra 0.4 mm and Sundernagar 0.3 mm, Shimla MeT Dentre Director Manmohan Singh said. Rains have been forecast in the hill state till Monday. The maximum temperature in the state increased by one to two degrees during the last 24 hours, he added. The highest temperature in the state was recorded in Una at 34 degrees Celsius and the lowest in Keylong at 13 degrees Celsius, Singh said. In Punjab and Haryana, the maximum temperatures hovered close to normal. According to the MeT forecast, rain or thunder showers are likely at many places in Haryana and Punjab over the next two days. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/world/news/trump-was-rushed-from-the-briefing-room-by-secret-service-after-a-shooting-outside-of-the-white-house/articleshow/77474005.cms">Trump was rushed from the briefing room by Secret Service after a shooting outside the White House</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/mckinsey-facebook-amazon-nokia-and-some-other-companies-looking-for-a-product-manager-right-now/slidelist/77464438.cms">McKinsey, Facebook, Amazon, Nokia — and some other companies looking for a product manager right now</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/how-karan-bajaj-sold-his-less-than-18-month-old-startup-white-hat-jr-to-byjus/articleshow/77415329.cms">A WhatsApp message, six weeks of talks and a $300 million deal – how Karan Bajaj sold his less than 18-month old startup White Hat Jr to Byju’s</a>

Death toll in Idduki landslide rises to 52 —floods worsen in Assam and Bihar

<ul><li>Despite having zero Covid-19 cases, people here continue to take precautions like wearing masks.</li><li><keyword id="1802935" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Havelock-Island">Havelock Island</keyword> not only offers some stunning beaches, but it also has some of the top diving destinations in the country.</li><li>If you are hankering for some serious digital detox there is no better place than Havelock - there is limited to zero connectivity on the island.</li></ul> Earlier this month, Dr. Niveditha Vasireddy, a psychiatrist from Visakhapatnam, travelled to the <keyword id="54020" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Andaman-and-Nicobar-Islands">Andaman and Nicobar Islands</keyword>. The archipelago, of around 300 islands in the Indian Ocean, is a Union Territory of India, which if you look at the map seems closer to Thailand and Myanmar than to India. She tells Business Insider, not able to control her excitement, how she has never imagined experiencing such clean and untouched white sandy beaches in India. "I mean, you can expect such an experience in countries like the Philippines, but in India... my mind was blown,” she says. <div type="image" title="Elephant beach, Havelock" msid="81127084" hostid="261"></div> The picturesque white sandy beaches of the <keyword id="162996" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Andaman-Islands">Andaman Islands</keyword> are not considered by most as an option for a beach vacation. And perhaps it is for the best, because as is the case with most popular tourist destinations, the more touristy they become, the more we expose the location to environmental risks. But if responsible tourism is your jam, and you do not mind paying a little more money for a truly magical experience, then the Andaman Islands is the place to visit. Dr. Vasireddy, along with a few friends, decided to ditch the idea of vacationing in Goa and chose a place where they can get away from it all — plus, there was the added advantage of the location being COVID-free. In fact, it was the first place in India with zero<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/andaman-and-nicobar-islands-indias-first-to-be-covid-free/articleshow/80657352.cms"> active cases</a> as of 03 February 2021. Regardless of the fact, she was pleasantly surprised that people on the Island continue to take safety very seriously and said all the locals were wearing face masks. In case you forget to wear yours, they will politely inform you that if you don't, you will get 'challand’ (a challan). Please note that it is mandatory to present an RTPCR Covid negative test at <keyword id="107932" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="PORT-BLAIR">Port Blair</keyword>. The authorities validate the test against the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) website. Only once the validity is confirmed do the officials stamp the document, and without this stamped paper, you will not be allowed to take the ferry to any of the Islands. Flights from all major cities of the country, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kochi, land at the capital Port Blair. <div type="image" title="Havelock Island" msid="81128095" hostid="261"></div> HAVELOCK ISLAND The island not only offers some stunning beaches, but it also has some of the top diving destinations in the country. It is an excellent place to learn deep-sea diving so that you can explore the underwater marvels. Havelock Island is one of the few places where inexperienced divers can try out a single dive instead of signing up for a full course. The water is teeming with tropical fish, sea turtles, stingrays and much more. It also has a healthy population of colourful live corals. The best part is that you don't need to be a swimmer to try scuba diving. The crystal blue waters are so clear that you can always opt for snorkelling if you want to skip scuba diving. There is also an excellent night kayaking expedition that takes you through the mangroves. The unreal experience of watching the water bioluminescence below and the sky filled stars above cannot be paralleled. <div type="image" title="scuba diving, Havelock" msid="81126940" hostid="261"></div> There is so much to see in Havelock that it is best to hire a bike or cycle. But we must warn you that while happily cruising on well-made tar roads you may land up literally nowhere. "Some (roads) took us to beaches and others just abruptly ended by fields or the forest," Dr. Vasireddy tells us. <div type="image" title="Roads leading to nowhere, Havelock" msid="81127015" hostid="261"></div> Beaches <keyword id="1578932" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Radhanagar-beach">Radhanagar Beach</keyword> (Beach No.7), Elephant Beach, and Vijaynagar Beach (Beach No.5) are some of the most well-known beaches in Havelock. Radhanagar beach is flanked by the ocean on one side and lush rainforest on the other. This west-facing beach is ideal for catching the sunset. You can also walk down to Neil's Cove, a secluded spot perfect for sunbathing and a spot for swimming in shallow water. <div type="image" title="Sunset at Havelock" msid="81127095" hostid="261"></div> Elephant beach may not be easy to get to, but the beauty of the place more than makes up for the effort. The beach features some bleached driftwood and logs that provide an excellent backdrop for a photo-op. This is also an ideal place to go snorkelling. Vijaynagar beach is where the buzz is. This is where most of the restaurants, hotels and snorkelling centres are situated. The beach faces east and is, therefore, a great place to catch the sunrise. However, because the water is shallow and strewn with rocks, swimming here is not the easiest. <div type="image" title="Red snapper grilled in lemon pepper sauce with rice and roasted potatoes" msid="81127169" hostid="261"></div> Food The local food, if idyllic surroundings are not enough, is usually a combination of Indian and continental cuisine that is absolutely delicious. Dr. Vasireddy recommends - Fat Martin's Cafe in Vijaynagar that serves south Indian food including a delicious Nutella dosa; Anju Coco that strangely enough serves the "best biriyani”; Something Different serves excellent continental seafood pizza and amazing desserts; Moonlight Cafe is great for seafood. The restaurants here are a seafood lovers paradise, serving up a fantastic variety of fresh red snappers, calamari, prawns, and so much more. That being said, there are plenty of vegetarian options too. Accommodation There are plenty of hotels to choose from high-end Taj Hotels to more affordable options like Wild Orchid, SilverSand Beach Resort, Munjoh Ocean Resort and Symphony Palms Beach Resort. The hotels are clean, and most are environmentally conscious. Most hotels and restaurants on the Island provide only RO water and not plastic bottles, as is sadly the norm elsewhere. And if you choose to buy water, the local stores have nothing smaller than 2-litre bottles to reduce the amount of plastic used. <div type="image" title="Bambooka, the government ferry" msid="81127801" hostid="261"></div> How to get there From Port Blair, the best way to get to Havelock is by ferry. The government ferry from Port Blair to Havelock takes around 2.5 hours but please note that the outside deck area has no seating, so you will have to bring something to place on the floor to sit on. The booking process is slightly cumbersome, but you can get a travel agent to take care of everything, which will still be cheaper than private options. MV Makruzz and Coastal Cruise are the private companies that ferry people across to the Island. They take around 1.5 hours to get to Havelock. Connectivity If you are hankering for some serious digital detox there is no better place than Havelock. There is limited to no connectivity on the island. BSNL is the only cellular service that works but the network is patchy. Hotels usually provide wi-fi access, but most are limited to the lobby area. <div type="image" title="Port Blair" msid="81127917" hostid="261"></div> PORT BLAIR While Andaman and Nicobar Islands' capital may not seem all that appealing as a tourism destination, there are plenty of places you can visit while here. There is a high probability of you spending the night there since the ferries to the islands do not operate at night. So depending on your flight timing, chances are, one way or the other you will have to stay in Port Blair. If you opt to stay in Port Blair, <keyword id="10800405" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chidiya-Tapu">Chidiya Tapu</keyword> (Bird Island) is an excellent place to explore. The area offers some fabulous diving spots, including Mundapahad, ideal for beginners and the old shipwreck, a site for advanced divers and home to clownfish, schooling snapper, resting ray and lots of colourful corals. If you want to give the water a break, the place is an excellent spot for birdwatching. The mangroves and rainforests here play host to a bunch of migratory birds and flowers. You can also hike to Mundapahad lighthouse. ReefWatch Marine Conservation, in collaboration with Lacadives, offers an informative mangrove walk (when the tide is out) and informs you about the surrounding ecosystem. <div type="image" title="The view from Mt. Harriet" msid="81127981" hostid="261"></div> Dr. Vasireddy decided to stay at the relatively new Big Tree Resort featuring only eight cabins, an in-house restaurant and a supremely friendly dog called Momo. Momo insists all guests should play with him and will bring you a coconut husk that you need to pry out of his mouth and throw so that he can fetch it, thus providing an excellent way to drive away the blues. <div type="image" title="Cellular Jail" msid="81128022" hostid="261"></div> Another site that may be worth a visit, especially if you are a history buff, is the colonial prison called Cellular Jail (Kālā Pānī) that is where most freedom fighters, including Veer Savarkar, were shipped off to before independence. There is an informative light show in the evening and the tour of the jail itself is quite fascinating. <div type="image" title="Limestone Caves" msid="81128047" hostid="261"></div> BARATANG MANGROVE FOREST AND LIMESTONE CAVES To experience the fascinating limestone caves and mangrove forests in <keyword id="5041058" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Baratang-Island">Baratang Island</keyword>, you will have to head to the Jirkatang check post (a little over an hour-long-drive from Port Plair), which marks the beginning of the area where the Jarawa tribes of Andaman Islands live. After the clearance is done, you can drive through Jarawa reserve forest, but note that taking photos is strictly not prohibited. Once you reach the other end, you have to take a ferry to cross the water and arrive at Baratang. Here you can take a permit and board a speedboat to ride through the mangroves and arrive at a trekking spot from where you have to walk for 1.2 km through villages to reach the spectacular limestone caves. The journey may sound daunting, but this is one of the unforgettable experiences you wouldn't want to miss. However, respecting the people's privacy and regulations, particularly of the tribals, is of paramount importance.

Exploring the unreal beauty of the Andaman Islands

<ul><li>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (<keyword id="6360409" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nasa">NASA</keyword>) is funding four new research projects to determine the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the planet. </li><li>Scientists will measure everything from air quality to the economic impact of the lockdown. </li><li>NASA is hoping that the information will help guide future policies by illustrating how small changes can have a domino effect on the environment for the better. </li></ul>The ‘new normal’ isn’t just about working from home or social distancing, it’s also about the effect that the coronavirus pandemic having on the entire planet. To discover the nuances of how society’s response has brought around a change overnight, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2020/nasa-funds-four-research-projects-on-covid-19-impacts">NASA</a>) announced that it’s going to fund four different projects to measure exactly how big the impact has been — and what it could mean for the future. On the one hand, there’s the impact that you can see with your eyes — empty roads, clear skies, and more animals reclaiming their territory. On the other, there are changes in the atmosphere, water, and the economy that are just beginning to surface. With a little help from satellite data, on-ground sensors and the treasure trove of computer-based data sets at NASA’s disposal, four Rapid Response and Novel Research in Earth Science (RRNES) proposals have been shortlisted to determine just now unique the ‘new normal’ is going to be for everyone that lives on Earth. These are the four projects that are going to drill down on the changes seen due to the impact of COVID-19: Air pollution has fallen, but the decline is far from equal <div type="image" title="2020_no2_w_colorbar_date_print_1" msid="75754169" hostid="261"></div> Ever since countries started shutting themselves down, some of the most polluted cities in the world, including Mumbai and New Delhi in India, saw a dramatic decrease in air pollution levels. However, Susan Anenberg and Dan Goldberg from George Washington University believe the decline in NO2 concentration during the lockdown period across the world is “inconsistent.” Some show a greater decline in nitrogen oxide — a hazardous greenhouse gas found in air pollution as a result of fossil fuel combustion — than others. Anenberg and Goldberg plan to link satellite remote sensing with traffic and weather to determine the reason behind the disparity. “Since air pollution may be a risk factor for increased severity of COVID-19 outcomes, accurate information about air pollution levels during the COVID-19 crisis is critical to protect public health," <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2020/nasa-funds-four-research-projects-on-covid-19-impacts">Anenberg</a> said. The analysis will help determine how transportation policies can improve public health in the long run. The fall in air pollution could be changing the ‘chemistry of the atmosphere’ <div type="image" title="BD367A2F-D1E4-4EEA-B351-7E7CA636E88E" msid="75754345" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Post the lockdown, not only has Delhi&amp;#39;s air quality improved considerably, but with industries shutting down -- Yamuna too appears cleaner while flowing through Delhi.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Even though air pollution has fallen to a record low level, experts fear the effect may not be a temporary respite.Kang Sun from the University at Buffalo plans to create a process that will help figure just how just the effects are going to last and how they are going to affect the “chemistry of the atmosphere” in near future. "Using a new data-driven framework that combines satellite and meteorological data, we will take NASA satellite assets one step further to quantify the reduction in emissions and its impact on air quality chemistry," said Sun. His research will focus on three regions — at different phases of the pandemic — taking into account the different regulations and policies that are in place to regulate air pollution. With time, the algorithm can be applied to other regions and time periods as well to track harmful gasses in the atmosphere. What happens to the air, affects what’s happening in the water <div type="image" title="A9AA144B-FA1B-48F5-B6B5-23C9C487A0FC" msid="75754326" hostid="261"></div> The effects of air pollution aren’t restricted to the skies. They often have a negative effect on water quality as lakes are often left without sufficient oxygen levels. "Socioeconomic policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a dramatic decline in atmospheric nitrogen pollution across the globe. Yet, the impacts on atmospherically deposited nitrogen and resulting changes in coastal aquatic ecology remain unknown," said Maria Tzortziou from the City University of New York, who will be leading the project with her colleague Brice Grunert. The more nitrogen oxide in the air means more algae, which in turn eats up more oxygen as it dies. The scientists explain that the crunch on oxygen levels in the water kills off other aquatic life, degrading water quality. Understanding the correlation between oxygen levels and water quality will in instrumental in guiding future environmental regulations, socioeconomic policy responses and decision making. Nighttime satellite images will show economic impact of COVID-19 Lastly, a team of researchers plan to use satellite nighttime light data to analyse the social and economic impact of lockdown across the world. Aside from volatile markets, how many lights are on in the night can help in understanding how people are adhering to the coronavirus lockdown and if contaminants are actually effective. Kind of like how people used to shut off electricity to avoid getting bombed during the second world war. "Our research team has been analyzing images of Earth at night to decipher patterns of energy use, transportation, migration, and other economic and social activities," Miguel Román said, who will be leading the project. The analysis can help policymakers and other stakeholders figure out the extent, duration, and recovery from the coronavirus pandemic — and make policies for efficient to address future outbreaks and disasters. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/picture-show-clean-air-in-north-india/slidelist/75341522.cms">North India’s air is cleaner than it’s ever been in over 20 years — and here are the pictures that prove it</a>

NASA is funding four research projects to figure out how COVID-19 will damage the world

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">REUTERS/Lucas JacksonA man walks down a flooded road in Islip, New York in 2014.</div></div></div><ul><li>A Goldman Sachs report on the impact of climate change on cities across the world makes for grim reading. </li><li>The bank warned that "consequences of a warming world may well play out over several decades to come, even if efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions are successful today."</li><li>Rising temperatures would lead to changing disease patterns, more intense and longer-lasting heatwaves, more destructive weather events, and pressure on the availability and quality of water for drinking and agriculture.</li><li>Major cities were also highlighted at risk of flooding with parts of New York, Tokyo, and Lagos all at risk of being partially submerged. </li><li><a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com">View Markets Insider for more stories.</a> </li></ul>Goldman Sachs just released a report on the effect of climate change on cities around the world and the results made for grim reading. The bank's Global Markets Institute, led by Amanda Hindlian, warned of "significant" potential risks to the world's largest cities, which are especially vulnerable to more frequent storms, higher temperatures, rising sea levels, and storm surges. Cities generate about 80% of global GDP and are home to more than half of the world's population, a share that Goldman says, citing the United Nations, is projected to reach two-thirds by 2050. About 40% of the global population lives within 100 kilometers of a coast, it says, and 1 in 10 live in areas less than 10 meters above sea level.Goldman highlighted three cities which would be subject to those storm surges and in the future could face harmful flooding - New York, Tokyo, and Lagos. Miami, Alexandria, Dhaka, and Shanghai face major flood risks due to being less than 11 meters above sea level. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Goldman SachsAreas such as Brooklyn and Queens could be affected heavily.</div></div></div>Goldman said that when starting the study they took a broad consensus that human activity, namely emission of greenhouse gasses "is causing the earth to warm in ways that are affecting the climate."Natural ecosystems would be damaged, and risks to human health would rise, as well as pressures on food and drinking water. Agriculture would also be massively affected: "Warmer temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns could reduce yields and nutritional quality as well change growing seasons and agricultural zones around the world."Goldman gave some fairly stark warnings about potential outcomes:<ul><li>More frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting heatwaves. The consequences will affect human health, productivity, economic activity, and agriculture. "Higher surface temperatures could exacerbate the warming process by causing permafrost to melt, releasing further methane and CO2 into the atmosphere."</li><li>Destructive weather events, including storms, winds, flooding and fires. It's not just New York, Tokyo and Lagos. "Other major low-lying coastal or already flood-prone cities include Shanghai, Dhaka, Mumbai and Karachi - each of which has a population of 15 million people or more."</li><li>Changing disease patterns. "Warmer temperatures could cause disease vectors to migrate from the tropics to regions where people have less immunity; this is true not only for viruses like malaria and dengue fever but also for water-borne and food-borne diseases."</li><li>Shifting agricultural patterns and food shortages. "Livestock could be affected by higher temperatures and reduced water supplies. Ocean acidification is likely to put stress on aquatic populations and affect current fishing patterns. Some of these changes are already underway. Some climate scientists, for example, estimate that coral reefs will be all but extinct over the course of the century due to ocean acidification."</li><li>Water. "Half of the world's population will live in water-stressed areas as soon as 2025," Goldman notes, citing the World Health Orgnization. "Even in non-stressed areas, the quality of surface water could deteriorate as more rain and storms drive erosion and the release of toxins. These dynamics could affect everything from the availability of drinking water for people to a shortage of water for livestock and crops (with negative effects for the food supply) to decreases in hydroelectric power generation."</li></ul><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Goldman SachsTokyo Bay and Lagos also could suffer as a result</div></div></div>The bank said that all those factors would "affect economic activity, damage infrastructure - from buildings to transportation to water and waste-management systems - and disproportionately harm vulnerable residents.""Despite the uncertainty around the timing and scale of the impact, it may be prudent for some cities to start investing in adaptation now," Goldman says. "Urban adaptation could drive one of the largest infrastructure build-outs in history. Given the scale of the task, urban adaptation will likely need to draw on innovative sources of financing."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Goldman SachsThe majority of the world's population will soon be in cities. And cities are most vulnerable to climate change, Goldman says.</div></div></div><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/10-up-and-coming-fintechs-2019?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr_bii&amp;itm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;itm_content=finance&amp;itm_campaign=10-up-and-coming-fintechs-2019"></a> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-it-takes-to-be-an-nfl-referee-football-sunday-roger-goodell-tom-brady-2018-9">What it takes to be an NFL referee, according to an official who spent 19 seasons in the league</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Goldman Sachs just released a 34-page analysis of the impact of climate change. And the results are terrifying.

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Google Earth/Climate Central</div></div></div><ul><li>By the end of the century, experts predict that we could see between two and eight feet of sea level rise.</li><li>Some cities, like Miami and New York, are already dealing with flooding at high tides and many cities are experiencing worse storm surges.</li><li>Cities are doing a lot to try to prepare, but a new book on sea level rise makes the argument that the seas will still transform our cities.</li></ul>We build cities on the water.Miami, New York, Tokyo, Mumbai, Lagos, Los Angeles - look anywhere in the world and humanity has decided that the places we want to congregate look out to sea. <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/population.html">Close to 40% of the US population</a> lives in coastal counties. Many of the most expensive and desirable locations in coastal cities are the ones with the best access to the ocean.But these oceanside places are becoming more and more vulnerable to rising seas, as journalist Jeff Goodell details in his new book, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Water-Will-Come-Remaking-Civilized/dp/031626024X">The Water Will Come</a>: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World."Goodell's book is a journey to the cities and towns around the globe that are trying to figure out how to adapt to sea levels that are continuing to rise. He travels to small Alaskan villages, to the megacity of Lagos on the coast of West Africa, and returns throughout the book to Miami, one of the urban areas that best demonstrates the many challenges of trying to keep the ocean at bay."Miami as we know it today, there's virtually no scenario under which you can imagine it existing at the end of the century," Goodell told Business Insider. As a large low lying city built close to a storm-prone coast on top of land that makes coping with sea level rise particularly complicated, Miami has serious sea level rise issues to deal with.It's not that the city itself - or Miami Beach, technically another nearby city - will totally disappear or that all of the millions of people in the region will relocate. Transformation, adaptation, and engineering will help some people stay.But there are a lot of people who will need to move as the risk of remaining in place grows, according to Goodell. That might be because of financial risk as banks become less willing to supply mortgages for houses in flood-prone regions; it may be because of physical risks as more intense storms bring dangerous surges on top of already higher waters.That is likely the case - depending on how effective mitigation efforts can be - for communities all over the world, from parts of New York City that are still recovering from Hurricane Sandy to entire nations on Pacific islands.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">AP/John MinchilloSandy caused shocking amounts of flooding.</div></div></div><h2>The problem with rising waters</h2>Every place faces unique challenges when it comes to sea level rise. For geological reasons, water level is rising faster in some place - like South Florida - than others.Because of the type of land they're built on, cities like New Orleans, Louisiana and Norfolk, Virginia are losing elevation as the water rises because of a process known as coastal subsidence. Miami and South Florida don't have that problem, as much of the ground underneath them is made of limestone.But that creates a new issue. Limestone is porous, which means that water rises up from below, meaning it's impossible to build walls to keep rising seas out as has been done in the Netherlands.Still, there are some common factors that pop up in all cities where sea level rise is an issue, many of which might surprise someone who hasn't immersed themselves in the facts about what this means for cities.For one thing, the flood waters that you can already see in cities like Miami on sunny days with particularly high tides are not "clean sea water." Water comes up through sewers and drains and brings nasty stuff with it."In urban areas, the floods that pour into the city are not going to be luminous blue waters you'll want to frolic in on your Jet Ski," Goodell wrote in the book. "They are going to be dark, smelly, and contaminated by organic and inorganic compounds, including, in some places, viruses and human shit."Another factor is that even a small amount of sea level rise can have a profound effect. We call some of the flooding that has started to occur more frequently in the absence of massive storm events "nuisance flooding," but that term may be misleading when you think about the huge problems that even a small amount of sea level change can cause. There's increased erosion, corrosion of structures, and the risk that seawater could contaminate drinking water supplies.Plus, places that have only seen a gradual amount of sea level rise so far shouldn't necessarily expect that rate to remain constant. Goodell said that researchers who have examined Earth's geologic history say that when sea levels are rising, there's often a "pulse" where there is a lot of rise in a short period of time. In geological terms, that may mean several decades or even several hundred years, but some experts think we could be entering one of those pulses now.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">BIG Team/Rebuild By DesignLower Manhattan has a plan to help mitigate flooding, but it can't be done everywhere.</div></div></div><h2>Can you keep the water out?</h2>According to Goodell, we can't stop sea level rise at this point, so we have to figure out how we're going to deal with it.We've already emitted enough carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that a certain amount of sea level rise is guaranteed. Stopping emissions as soon as possible would help prevent the problem from getting worse but wouldn't change the fact that much of the world is going to see between two and eight feet of sea level rise by the end of the century, depending on the model you look at.It's not that no one working on this. Parts of Manhattan are going to be protected by a series of systems <a href="http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/our-work/all-proposals/winning-projects/big-u">known as the Big U</a> that will surround the lower part of the island. In sections of Miami Beach, roads are already being raised, pumps have been installed, and there's talk of raising buildings as necessary. Beaches all over the East Coast are being replenished with new sand as the ocean eats them away.But no matter what, we can't keep the water out everywhere. In some cases, people will be forced to move - and lower-income residents will likely struggle the most due to lack of resources."I want places to start to take this seriously; the kind of planning to keep places like Miami alive is going to take some time," Goodell told Business Insider.New cities might have floating infrastructure or come up with ways to keep critical infrastructure safe in extreme events. There's a lot of opportunity for creativity, Goodell said. But older cities could experience more of struggle trying to retrofit themselves for rising waters. Some neighborhoods and communities will have to move."I hope people take [from the book] that we have to live differently," Goodell said. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cruise-ship-decks-air-quality-worse-than-most-polluted-cities-2017-10">An undercover investigation reveals air quality on a cruise ship deck could be worse than the world's most polluted cities</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

The oceans are coming for the world's cities - and we aren't ready, according to a new book

We are aware that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Delhi+is+the+world%27s+most+polluted+city">Delhi is the world's most polluted city</a>. But what are the reasons behind it? Scientists know the answer and have found that the city suffering is due to toxic blend of geography, rapid urbanization, poor energy sources and unfavourable weather conditions. 
 According to a team of researchers led by the University of Surrey in UK, <keyword id="66" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword>'s <keyword id="6457243" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="landscape">landscape</keyword>, weather, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=energy+consumption+culture">energy consumption culture</a>, and growing urban population combines to elevate concentrations of air pollutants, including ultra-fine particles, the most harmful to human health. 
 <keyword id="55910" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-Pollution">Air pollution</keyword> is one of the top ten health risks faced by human beings globally. 
 
Delhi has the dubious accolade of being regularly cited as the most polluted city in the world, with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=air+pollution+causing+thousands+of+excess+deaths+in+a+year">air pollution causing thousands of excess deaths in a year</a> in this growing megacity, said Dr Prashant Kumar of the University of Surrey. 
 
Not only that Delhi has also been ranked as the most polluted city in the world by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=World+Health+Organisation+%28WHO">World Health Organisation (WHO</a>) in a report released in May last year. 
 
Delhi is one of the largest population centres in the world. Classed as the world's fifth 'megacity', it has a population of 25.8 million, which continues to grow. 
 Moreover, the study has predicted that the number of road vehicles will rise from 4.7 million in 2010 to nearly 26 million by 2030. Total <keyword id="6417014" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="energy-consumption">energy consumption</keyword> in Delhi has risen 57% from 2001 to 2011. 
 
As it is a landlocked megacity, Delhi has limited avenues for flushing polluted air out of the city. Coastal megacities such as Mumbai have at least a chance to 'replace' polluted air with relatively unpolluted sea breezes, whereas Delhi's surrounding regions are sometimes even more polluted than the city. 
 
For example, most of the brick kilns used for making bricks are not located in the city, but in predominantly upwind surrounding industrial areas, researchers said. 
 
These outside pollutants can be attributed to use of low-quality fuels such as raw wood, agricultural and plastic waste in industrial settings, cow dung for cooking stoves and widespread use of diesel generators due to unreliable infrastructure. 
 
 (Image: Indiatimes)

Delhi's landscape, weather, energy consumption culture, and growing population make Delhi worst place to breathe in

The clouds hang low in <keyword id="6355572" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sri-lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword>. It feels like if you stand on your toes and stretch high enough, you probably can grab a fistful. The skies often look like walls instead of ceilings and while the pretty island hosted us, these walls were various shades of red. Literally a hop away from the mainland, with flight tickets from down South being cheaper, Sri Lanka is an obvious name on the Indian travellers’ list. But it is also one that often comes far below the lot, because, you know...it’s RIGHT there. It’s the ‘right there’ places that we neglect and push away for times when we are short of money but have a few days to <keyword id="6354692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Travel">travel</keyword>. And that has also been true for me, till I got to change that. Sri Lanka has been on my go-to list for over a year, and high up enough. And then I flew through a glorious sunset and landed in rain-splashed <keyword id="6364814" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="colombo">Colombo</keyword>. Colombo’s weather reminds you of Kolkata or Mumbai, with a shade less of humidity but infinitely more pleasant and fresh. The wide roads took us to the <keyword id="719382" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Airbnb">Airbnb</keyword> that was hosting us for the next two nights - <a href="https://www.aathma.com/">Aathma Colombo House</a>. Nestled right next to the Diyawanna Lake, this property is cloaked in green. There isn’t a single spot in the house where you don’t feel transported to another space and another time. Cocooned in that space with the colourful tiles, enough trees to cleanse your soul, a lake stretched out ahead and a pool with night jasmine flowers floating across the ripples - a break from the city hustle seemed to have begun. One of the most vital things in Sri Lanka is the food. Of course. Their breakfast spread has very often been called the best in the world and no, they were not exaggerating it in the least. Besides your delectable Sri Lankan tea, juice and a side of fresh fruits a normal breakfast includes a variation of hoppers, string hoppers, pol roti, kiribath, pittu and pongal served with fish, chicken or potato curry, dhal and a sambol. <div type="image" title="Food photo 1" msid="65674130" hostid="261"></div>

Sri Lankan breakfasts are probably one of the best meals we have ever eaten. This was one of the spreads at the Airbnb property that hosted us in Colombo <div type="image" title="Food photo 2" msid="65674131" hostid="261"></div>

Besides your delectable Sri Lankan tea, juice and a side of fresh fruits a normal breakfast includes a variation of hoppers, string hoppers, pol roti, kiribath, pittu and pongal served with fish, chicken or potato curry, dhal and a sambol The majority of the carbs are rice flour-based and have coconut shavings or coconut milk in it, as does the protein curry preparations. The flavours are very similar to a lot of Thai curries and South Indian curries you may have tried but it feels so much more wholesome and comforting. Or perhaps it was just the weather. And worry not, even after that breakfast, you will be more than ready for lunch. But nothing, no other spread could beat what Sri Lanka unleashes for breakfast. Our Day 1 in Colombo was about press conferences, a long lazy lunch and then a drive around the city. The capital city of this island country is historically steeped in stories. While a glance at the beaches being constructed around the lighthouse for new construction might greatly disappoint you, the city has maintained a lot of its old heritage buildings (many of them are being restored) and a walk around them is highly recommended. You need time, and lots of it, to soak in the feel. 
 <div type="image" title="Property pic 1" tempid="176929" msid="65674211" hostid="261"></div>

Nestled right next to the Diyawanna Lake, Aathma Colombo House is cloaked in green 
 <div type="image" title="Property pic 2" tempid="176931" msid="65674212" hostid="261"></div>

Each section of this property is specially curated to suit the mood 
 <div type="image" title="Property pic 3" msid="65674132" hostid="261"></div>

The common dining area on the property 
 <div type="image" title="Property pic 4" msid="65674133" hostid="261"></div>

If all this is not chill enough, head over to the pool! 
 <div type="image" title="Colombo view" msid="65674134" hostid="261"></div>

Colombo is a whole chapter of stories waiting to unfold 
 <div type="image" title="Colombo Independence Memorial" msid="65674135" hostid="261"></div>

 Colombo is a city with picture-perfect properties, great places to dine, party, shop and the best place to explore the rest of the country from. And not just because the airport is here. Colombo prepares you, most gently, for the experience called Sri Lanka. That’s what it did for us as it nudged us on our long drive to Galle on a fresh sunny morning. Roughly 125 kms away from the capital city, Galle is a world away from the bustle. It’s balmy, slow, languid and almost dreamy in its slow-mo pace. This city used to be Sri Lanka’s main port till Colombo took over the title, so as you might have guessed, the sea is everywhere, mostly a stone’s throw away. And that feeling is magical, also borderline terrifying all at the same time. Honestly, that fear (which only I seem to have it seems, at least amongst the other people I know) is not irrational. Galle was one of the cities that was hit hardest by the 2004 tsunami. Most of the people here lost everything they had and had to start their lives again from scratch. Galle is on the mend and has been for a while, but what remains are the stories and nothing, absolutely nothing can take away that tenacity and the will to fight on from this charming coastal haven. The old city of Galle lies ensconced within the walls of the majestic <keyword id="3244683" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Galle-Fort">Galle fort</keyword>. The fort is called a ‘living’ one because there are residential properties, offices, hotels, churches, shops etc that are up and running for years. Parts of the fort have also been transformed to museums, the road pavings are intact, the doors, windows and arches are still the same and some of the oldest offices have been left as they were, still functioning. Galle is a time-warp. You drive through the fort gates and you are suddenly thrown back a good few decades. And each part of the city has a special feeling to it. Right outside the dark-wood Dutch doors of our hosts in Galle, the <a href="https://yarahotels.lk/">Yara Galle Fort</a>, the serene blue sky, the swaying palm trees, the sea in the distance, boys playing football in the evenings - it reminds of you of a slow town where neighbours greet each other in the morning as you have your perfect cup of tea. It feels strangely like home. 
 <div type="image" title="Galle view" tempid="176947" msid="65674213" hostid="261"></div>

Galle is laid-back time warp 
 <div type="image" title="Sea view" tempid="176954" msid="65674214" hostid="261"></div>

You are always just a breath away from the sea at Galle Walk around the bend into the Dutch Hospital precinct and the yellow walls of the fort on your left and the old courthouse on your right transports you to a chapter in history. There were proceedings going on inside the courthouse while lawyers, in their tiny old offices tapped away at typewriters - there wasn’t a computer in sight. There was something overwhelmingly nice to see piles and piles of documents stacked on shelves. The whole universe seemed to have turned 360 degrees, but Galle was right where it was. 
 <div type="image" title="Galle Fort 1" tempid="176999" msid="65674215" hostid="261"></div>

Parts of the Galle fort are still used for thoroughfare 
 <div type="image" title="Galle Fort 2" tempid="177010" msid="65674217" hostid="261"></div>

Other parts of the fort have been turned into museums 
 <div type="image" title="Galle Fort 3" tempid="177011" msid="65674218" hostid="261"></div>

Built by the Dutch, the fort was eventually taken over by the British who ruled over it till the country got its independence in 1948 
 <div type="image" title="Fort views" msid="65674136" hostid="261"></div>

The views from the fort are spectacular While most people head to Galle for the beaches, you cannot afford to miss a walk around the fort with a local who knows the city like the back of his hand. That’s what Ateeq did for us. This is also the perfect time to point out that the Galle Fort walk is a part of the Airbnb experiences. Experiences are area/location-specific activities that you can book just the way you book a room on the site. For example, Sri Lanka offers experiences like surf lessons, yoga lessons, forest trails etc (you can book a walk with Ateeq <a href="https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/257167?source=pdpother">here</a>) . You don’t even need to be staying in an Airbnb to be able to book an experience. 
 <div type="image" title="Walk through Galle fort" msid="65674137" hostid="261"></div>

Our walk through the Galle Fort The walk conducted by Ateeq includes a long stroll all around the fort as he points out the important sites and anecdotes that only a local can offer - like pointing out the spot where every kid in Galle learns to swim. The walk ends with some incredible gelato in the heart of the fort where all the restaurants and cafes are. 
 <div type="image" title="Old jetty" msid="65674138" hostid="261"></div>

One of the oldest jetties in Galle. This is also where the local kids learn to swim After our long, long stroll, we headed to Dewata Beach, a little drive away from Galle, for our first surf lessons. Hosted by Oshan Diluk, these <a href="https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/308477?source=pdpother">lessons</a> are your baby steps into an adrenaline overdose. It’s harder than it looks and you will have enough salt water in your system to never need any seasoning in your food again - but you must try this. The <keyword id="443950" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lagoon">lagoon</keyword> where the lessons are have been chosen because of its shallow waters and small waves. And the instructors are incredibly, incredibly patient - which is a huge plus. 
 <div type="image" title="Surfing 1" msid="65674139" hostid="261"></div>

You start with the basics 
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Then drag yourselves to the sea 
 <div type="image" title="Surfing 3" msid="65674141" hostid="261"></div>

 Finally, you try to ride the waves Our first day ended with a laid-back dinner at Unawatuna beach, which is also a short drive away from Galle. And even before we could forget how good the local beer and the fresh-grilled seafood tasted like, we were on the way to the airport. 
 <div type="image" title="Unawatuna" tempid="177039" msid="65674219" hostid="261"></div>

The buzzing Unawatuna beach 
 <div type="image" title="Yara Galle fort" tempid="177040" msid="65674221" hostid="261"></div>

Yara Galle fort was our host in the city 
 <div type="image" title="Last breakfast" tempid="177051" msid="65674222" hostid="261"></div>

How could we leave without this? 
 <div type="image" title="Sri Lankan tea" tempid="177045" msid="65674223" hostid="261"></div>

And You cannot miss the Sri Lankan teas when you are there Now, the important deets The Sri Lankan currency conversions are easy - one Indian rupee converts to 2.27 Sri Lankan rupee. Withdraw your money at the airport right from one of the ATMs or change it from Dollar/Euro/whatever you please. For an Indian, the Sri Lankan visa will set you back by $20 (₹1,500 roughly). While you can easily get a place on Airbnb starting from ₹2,000 a night, the experiences come from anything between ₹1,500 to ₹5,000 or more. All of this of course depends on the city you are visiting and what you want to try for yourselves. Sri Lanka was a rush. But it was an exhilarating rush that soothed you and pushed you ahead all at the same time. I am certain all of us were making mental plans to plan a longer trip soon, but then, there we were, flying back to our desks and our laptop screens. I am writing this roughly three weeks after returning from the magnificent island. And I can’t wait to go back. The reporter was invited by Airbnb for this trip.

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