Seed

Quality soil and seed are two of the most important farming inputs. High yields and good produce can be achieved only when soil and seeds are used wisely. For this it is necessary to test soil and seed to find out what needs to be added to optimize them. Keeping this in mind, the government has set up a large number of testing labs for various types of soil and seed. Here are a few details on soil fertility maps, testing labs and seed distribution centres.

If you want to choose the Ideal Spa

We are constantly inundated with magazine and newspapers articles about “must visit” new spas – they are popping up all over the UK. The marketing seems good, the treatments, we are told, are all totally indulgent and the images draw us in to what they all seem to describe as a “haven of tranquillity”. So how do we really know where to spend our money?

There are so many things to consider. What is a spa? I’m told I need to pre-book my treatments, but if you’ve never visited a spa before, how do you know which treatments you should have? Are the prices competitive or can you get the same treatment nearer home for less money? What facilities does the spa have? Will the swimming pool be full of children playing on an inflatable dolphin whilst you are trying to indulge in some much needed rest and relaxation?

Spas come in all shapes and sizes but in the UK they tend to fall into six main categories:-

Day Spas – These offer a good range of facilities without the option of accommodation. Most spas will have a pool and other facilities such as a sauna and steam room. They will offer a comprehensive range of treatments including massages and facials and a relaxation room to chill out in afterwards.

Hotel Spas – There are a great number of hotels with spa facilities attached. The quality and quantity of the facilities varies enormously, and the grading of the hotel isn’t necessarily an indicator as to the quality of the spa. You should bear in mind that if you’re planning to spend the day chilling out at a hotel spa, you could be joined by other hotel guests, including children and corporate groups. The hotel may also have a members club, in which case you should expect a steady flow of guests throughout the day. Not all hotels spas provide robe, towel and slippers for use on a spa day, so check this out before you book.

Destination Spas - You are unlikely to find any children here! A resort dedicated to treatments, relaxation and luxurious pampering. Many destination spas are a complete “get away from it all” experience. They are usually set in beautiful surroundings and have a broad range of facilities, classes and activities. Guests can visit for a day or stay over for as long as they wish. Those on longer stays tend to have a goal in mind whether it’s weight loss, detoxing or just recharging batteries after a particularly stressful time. Prices at destinations spas tend to be high in comparison to other options, but they do offer fantastic service, excellent facilities and a high ratio of staff to guests.

Treatment Rooms - These tend to be like day spas but without the wet facilities. Guests tend to book anything from a one off treatment, to a selection of treatments but due to the lack of wet facilities and other activities, it is more of an opportunity to unwind with luxurious treatments. Ideal for those who need to de-stress but don’t have the time for a “spa day”.

Health and Leisure Clubs - These are available to members and spa day guests. They can be connected to a hotel or, quite often are just a stand alone venue. Most have a large swimming pool, sauna, steam room and a good range of sports equipment. They also have fitness trainers on hand to assist with equipment and exercise programmes.

Basically, no two spas are the same. Choosing the right location depends on what you are looking for. A spa suitable for a group of girls on a hen party is a very different proposition to a venue suitable for a romantic spa break for two. So how do you know which spa to choose? The only real way of finding out is to either visit the spas in advance or save yourself time and speak to a reputable spa agent.

A good spa agent will have visited every spa they promote so that they can make personal recommendations based on your requirements. They have already done all the hard work, so you don’t have to. Whether you are looking for a one off spa treatment, a spa day or a spa break, with their detailed knowledge a good spa agent will be able to advise on a suitable spa venue with the treatments and facilities you require at a price you can afford.

My advice…… don’t accept a recommendation unless the person or company you are dealing with have actually visited the spa. We can all read the brochures, but how else, other than by first hand experience, can anyone truly advise you on how to part with your precious pounds?

Treat stretch marks and dark lips with skin treatment products

A healthy skin ensures a fresh and radiant look. Apart from helping you look young healthy skin also takes care of your general health. A healthy skin prevents unwanted organisms from entering our body.
So it is always important to take care of your skin.

Good skin care treatment does not require long hours of care. It in fact involves regular care. The first step involving skin treatment usually begins with proper cleansing. Cleansing removes the film of dirt that settles on the skin from our surroundings. If you live in a polluted surrounding cleansing needs to be done with unfailing regularity. Important skin treatment products include a gentle non allergic pH-balanced cream, lotion or soap which can easily dissolve surface dirt. A gentle scrub must be used to remove normal dead cells. As scrubbing and cleansing may remove the essential oils in your skin it is important to restore them. This can best be done by using moisturizers. Last but not the least one must use sunscreen lotions before stepping out into the sun. This prevents harmful rays of the sun from affecting the skin.

Stretch marks on skins can be a cause of great embarrassment. It is often caused by pregnancy, weight gain, extreme weight loss or other extraneous factors. Most stretch marks occur in the abdominal area, hips, breasts, thighs, lower back or upper arms. Proper stretch mark treatments can check such scars on the skin. Today there are several creams and lotions which can remove light marks. Surgical methods are used to erase deep and age old marks. However the effect of stretch mark removers depends on your age, your skin tone and at times on your diet.

Many people are also embarrassed by their dark lips. Lips of chain smokers usually turn dark due to the ill effect of nicotine. In some other case lips turn due to some ailment or rough brushing. People addictive to beverages also develop such symptoms. The right treatment of dark lips can restore the original color.

Chandan Yatra

This festival is generally famous in Puri but in other pars of Orissa this is also observed related to Lord Jagannath or Krishna. This Takes place in the month of Vaisaksha and continues for long 42 days. But, generally speaking it is a Festival of first 21 days only.The first period of 21 days is known as "Bahar Chandan"or outer Chandan. During this period,the representative images of Rama,Krushna, Madanmohan,Sridevi and Bhudevi are taken in a procession to Narendra tank.The images of Siva from 5 Siva Temples known as "Pancha Pandavas" also accompany them to the Narendra tank, At Narendra tank the images play in well decorated boats and are worshipped. The second period of 21 days known as "Bhitar Chandana" is celebrated inside the Temple. The rites observed on this period are not popularly enjoyed.

Chottanikkara Temple

Famous for the Devi temple, an important pilgrim centre of Hindus. Navarathri is celebrated on a grand scale. The temple is located 15kms from Cochin City. The presiding deity here is Durga Bhagavathy. It is also that this deity was brought from Mookambika Temple in Karnataka and therefore there is a presence of Mookambika Devi till 7 a.m. in the morning at this temple. There is also one more temple as a part of the complex where deity is Bhadra Kali Devi. THe major festival is Makam Thozhal. It falls during February-march every year for a period of 9 days Temple is open from 4 am to 12 Noon and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Chola Temples

Situated in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, this World Heritage site comprises the three great 11th and 12th century Chola Temples: the Brihadisvara temples of Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholisvaram, and the Airatesvara temple at Darasuram. The three Chola temples in India are exemplary production in the Dravidian style of temple architecture.

The Brihadisvara temples are situated at Thanjavur, the ancient capital of the Chola kings. King Rajaraja Chola constructed the Brihadisvara Temple in 10th century AD, designed by the famous architect Sama Varma. The Cholas were great patrons of art, during their reign, as a result, the most magnificent temples and exquisite bronze icons were created in South India.

The Brihadisvara temple is crowned by a pyramidal 65-m vimana, a sanctum tower. Its walls are covered with rich sculptural decoration. The second Brihadisvara temple complex built by Rajendra I was completed in 1035. Its 53-m vimana has recessed corners and a graceful upward curving movement, contrasting with the straight and severe tower at Thanjavur. It has six pairs of massive, monolithic dvarapalas statues guarding the entrances and bronzes of remarkable beauty inside.

The other two temples, Gangaikondacholisvaram and Airatesvara were also built in the age of Cholas and testify their brilliant achievements in architecture, sculpture, painting, and bronze casting.

The great Temple of Tanjore (Thanjavur) was built between 1003 and 1010 in the reign of the King Rajaraja, of the Chola Empire which stretched all over South India and the neighbouring islands. Surrounded by two rectangular enclosures, the Brihadisvara Temple (built from blocks of granite and, in part, from bricks) is crowned with a pyramidal 13-storey tower, the vimana, standing 61 m high and topped with a bulb-shaped monolith. The walls of the temple are covered with rich sculptural decoration.