8 Places In India Where You Can Literally Touch Clouds!

8 Places In India Where You Can Literally Touch The Clouds!

wikimedia

1. Darjeeling

source: wikimedia

Known for its scenic beauty, snow-clad Himalayas, and tea gardens, Darjeeling is frequented by tourists from all over the country as well as from around the world. Especially during the summers, the place is a preferred destination due to its pleasant weather.It also offers a spectacular view of the third highest peak in the world which is Mount Kanchenjunga. HolidayIQ traveller Mad Maz says, "The weather was cool and one must visit this place to explore its beauty. The zoological park, rock garden, one of the most beautiful place I have ever visited. Hills are amazing and hilarious. Must go go to Darjeeling and toy train reservation must be done before going there."

2. Coorg

source: Kalidas Pavithran

If a place is known as the 'Coffee Bowl of India' and 'The Switzerland of India', nothing much is really needed after that to convince one about the sheer awesomeness of the said place. HoldidayIQ Traveller Ashok says, "If you love nature and want to breath fresh air and clean your lungs, lush green forests with chirpy birds and rain forests where you can catch up with meditation and reading - Coorg surrounded by coffee plantation is the place. It has waterfalls temples and stillness mist and a hide and seek between rain and sunshine, it's a right choice."

3. Matheran

source: flickr

Matheran is a hill station situated in the Raigad District of Maharashtra. Matheran, which has the designation of being the smallest hill station in India, is situated in the Western Ghats at an average altitude of 800 m above sea level. HolidayIQ Traveller Vishnu says, "Matheran is an awesome get away from the heat and more importantly pollution of a city life. One of the smallest hill stations of the country it is hardly 100 kms from Mumbai. Founded during the British rule for the administrators to escape the Indian summer heat this place becomes heaven during the monsoon. The best part NO VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED INSIDE. So its one of the very few non-polluted popular weekend getaway areas left in the country."

4. Nainital

source: wikimedia

Based around a lake, Nainital is a small town with steep mountains covered with green forests. This beautiful hill station of Uttarakhand has number of sightseeing attractions popular among tourists. Sightseeing in the town includes elevated peaks of Himalayas, lakes and tree-covered hillsides. Amongst numerous lakes within as well as around the hill station, Naini Lake is most popular.HolidayIQ Traveller Manu says, "Nainital, also famous as the "City of Lakes", is one of the best hill stations situated in North India. The place is surrounded by various lakes such as Naini lake, Bhimtal lake, Naukuchiatal Lake, etc. Nainital is like a second home for Delhiites because it is a best short weekend destination near Delhi. One can easily explore the place in 2-3 days. Nainital is an ideal destination for every type of tourists. One can visit there with a family, group or as a couple."

5. Nandi Hills

source: wikimedia

According to the legend, the name Nandi Hills originated from the shape of a hill, which resembles a sleeping bull. During Chola rule, it was known as Ananda Giri, meaning 'The Hill of Happiness'. Moreover, the place is associated with Yoga Nandeeshwara, who performed penance. HolidayIQ Traveller Shinto says, "The hills are awesome. Filled with trees and plants. Away from the pollution of the city. The animals are beautiful. The birds are spectacular. Climbing up the hills was fun. I advise the travelers not to visit during monsoon as it rains a lot. Trekking was fun. Climbing is tiring so bringing a few bottles of water would help."

6. Shimla

source: wikimedia

Known as the 'Queen of Hill Stations', the destination is spread over an area of 18 sq km. The capital city of Himachal Pradesh is located in the northwest Himalayas, in the northern part of India.The erstwhile summer capital of the British features dense woodlands, apple orchards and beautiful landscapes. HolidayIQ Traveller Vishal says, "Wonderful experience to visit Shimla in any weather, lots of historic places nearby Shimla. Mall road is heart of city & shopping place, in winters ice skating is main attraction. Famous lakker bazar where you can get items made up of woods. Kalibari temple, jakhu mandir, ridge any many other famous tourist destinations were to see and enjoy and dont forget to eat a himachali local food."

7. Kodaikanal

source: wikimedia

 Kodaikanal is one of the most popular hill stations of Tamil Nadu. Nestled between the Parappar and Gundar Valleys, the town is situated on a plateau above the southern escarpment of the upper Palani Hills.Besides being a famous tourist destination, Kodaikanal is also known for eucalyptus oil, plums, homemade chocolates and pears. In addition, the place is also famous for the Kurinji, the flowers that blossom only once in twelve years. HolidayIQ Traveller Bala, "Overall, our Kodaikanal trip is fun and enjoyable. We visit all places like bryant park, Kurinji temple, Lake, Boat riding, Pillar rock, Sucide point, Guna cave. We never forgot those memories. Also we went palani temple in rope car which my kid like very much. So the trip is traditional, religious and relaxed too. The food in meenakshi bhavan is very good in taste. We eat all day food in Meenakshi bhavan only."

8. Mussoorie

source: flickr

Situated in the foothills of the Himalayas, Mussoorie is a popular hill station in the state of Uttarakhand in northern India. Known as the ‘Queen of Hills’ the quaint town is located at an average altitude of 1,880 meters above sea level. Mussoorie is known for its scenic views, its lush green hills, amazing views of the Doon Valley and Shiwalik ranges on the south. HolidayIQ Traveller Vishal says, "I have been going to Mussoorie for almost 15 years whenever I need a break. Not very deep inside the hills but still very nice view of the mountains and pleasant weather, I just love this place, roam around on the mall road, enjoy chocolates and fruit cream at chic chocolate, mast momos at Kalsang. Visiting Mussoorie is always refreshing for me."

Source: Yahoo!

We Bet You Haven’t Even Heard Of These 18 Exotic Destinations In India

Simlipal National Park, Odisha

1. Tinchuley, Darjeeling

Source: trekearth.com

HolidayIQ Traveller Partha De Sarkar from Kolkata shares, “The beautiful Tinchuley village is 30 km away from Darjeeling. We drove down to Tinchuley in two hours through magnificent mountainous countryside. Location was selected away from the main road to avoid too many flocking and destroying its ambiance. The village had prospect for creating rock climbing facilities, caving in near by caves and bird watching. Nature is bountiful here. Hills are covered with green pine and oak trees. The gurgling Teesta runs through a narrow gorge. Rainfall in upper reaches creates waterfalls when it rains.”

2. Mainpat, Ambikapur

Source: ticketgoose.com

Mainpat is known as the 'Shimla of Chhattisgarh'. Viewed from Mehta Point and Pharphatia, the valley and hills of Mainpat offers beautiful waterfalls, like Tiger Point where tigers roam and Machali or Fish Point as the river here was known for a type of fish. A strange sight includes the bouncing swap of Jaljali and charming Chota Jharan? tucked away in a pocket of jungle with a small waterfall with beautiful scenic views. Other notable sights are the beautiful Buddhist Temples on this remote jungle plateau and attractions such as Bageecha and Zalzala as well as much more.

3. Daringbadi, Odisha

Source: incredibleodisha.org

Situated at a height of 915 m in Kandhamal district, Daringbadi is gifted with natural bounties like pine jungles, coffee gardens and beautiful valleys. It has thick rain forests with wild animals, and is an ideal summer resort. HolidayIQ Traveller Sumeet Patel from Jharsuguda shares, “Awesome place, cool and calm. Best time to visit is winter to experience the hill station type feeling in Odisha. Areas near by are worth watching with many waterfalls, sunset point and wildlife sanctuaries. Nights are more calm with no sound at all. Best place for a techie staying in Bhubaneswar for a relaxing weekend.”

4. Gurudongmar Lake, Sikkim

0Source: flickr/soumyajit pramanick

HolidayIQ Traveller Nishit Jain from Mumbai shares, “We left Lachen at 4 am to visit Lake Gurudongmar. It took us 5 hours of driving (on a really bad road) to reach, but it was worth every minute. The drive is beautiful. If you are lucky and have a clear sky (like we did), you see brown and white mountains on all four sides with a deep blue overhead. Parts of the journey seemed surreal; you are brought back to reality by the few army bases you cross en route. I've never seen a frozen lake before and it is a sight worth beholding. Nestled in between large snow capped peaks, the lake can't be spotted from a distance at all. You chance upon it suddenly and the first view takes your breath away. It's huge. A solid white mass! And you can walk and jump on it, frightfully at first and with abandon after.” 

5. Dharchula, Uttarakhand

Source: holidayiq.com

Dharchula is a small hilly town in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India. In Hindi ‘Dhar’ means peak and ‘Chula’ means stove, and since this hill town is shaped like a stove, the name is apt. Dharchula is around 90 km from the Pithoragarh district, and is enroute the famous pilgrimage, Kailash Mansarovar.

6. Garamur, Majuli

Source: placesiwannavisit.wordpress.com

Garmur is among the chief attractions of Majuli, which is counted among the holy seats. Other prominent holy seats in the destination are Auniati, Dakshin Path and Kamalabari. During the establishment, separate structures were built for different purposes. The vaishnavite centre founded by Lakshmi Kanta Deva preserves ancient artefacts and articles, Bartop being the most prominent among these. Raasleela is performed with great zeal and enthusiasm during autumn. Garmur can easily be reached from Jorhat Nimatighat, Dhokuakhana and Luit-Khabolughat. 

7. Pelling, Sikkim

Source: flickr/ Santanu Chandra

HolidayIQ Traveller Koustuv Bhattacharya from Delhi shares, “If anyone wants to see Kanchenjunga closely from the window of his room, I think it's the right place. Very excellent and close view can be seen from here. I visited Pelling on and from 14th to 16th April, 2015. The picturesque view of Mt. Kanchenjunga, Kabru etc were seen clearly from the very beginning of the day from our view rooms at hotel Simvo. Nature lovers should not miss this place. I visited west Sikkim from 12th to 16th April 2015 including the wonderful destinations like Rinchenpong, Pelling and Ravangla. The first day was sorrowful to us for it was raining all the day and sky was cloudy. But from the second day, nature began to show her beauty by the grace of God. Local sightseeing from Pelling like Kanchenjunga falls, Rimbi falls, Changey falls, Singshore bridge, Dentam valley, Khecheopalri lake etc can not be missed.” 

8. Phawngpui, Aizawl

Source: tourismmizoram.gov.in

Phawngpui, the Blue Mountain of Mizoram, is a highly revered peak, considered to be the abode of the gods. Phawngpui peak is the highest mountain peak in Mizoram, rising about 2157 m. It is famous for orchids and rhododendrons. With spectacular trees and flowers of all colours, Phawngpui presents a fairytale view of the blue hazed hills, and vales unfolding below.     

9. Janjehli, Himachal Pradesh

Source: flickr/ vinod bahal

Located inside the district of Mandi, the journey to Janjehli Valley is an enchanting experience. The valley is at an height of 2150 metres in Thunag tehsil and called a trekkers paradise. Laden with open grounds with lush green meadows, it bears a striking resemblance to Gulmarg. Janjehli offer numerous trails for trekkers to explore this beautiful valley and along with some wildlife sanctuaries.

10. Champhai, Mizoram

Source: wikimedia

The road to Champhai is not for the weak. The journey is a grueling 8-hour mountain drive with multiple blind curves to tackle. Famed for its colourful tribal traditions, orchids and beautiful surroundings, Champhai has several hamlets that are dotted with monuments and monoliths. HolidayIQ Traveller Dolly Jha from Gurgaon shares, “Champhai, which was the coldest place we went to in Mizoram, seems to be the food bowl of the state. Paddy fields can be seen everywhere on this mountain spot. It is a village-cum-town where you can spend all your time walking around leisurely watching nature and exploring the market. We’d gone there in November and it was very cold there then. It was colder than Aizawl, Zokhawthar and Saitual.” 

11. Chakrata, Dehradun

Source: wikimedia

Chakrata is known for its beautiful and pollution free atmosphere. With green valleys and dense forests of conifers, rhododendrons and oaks, Chakrata is an ideal retreat from city life. Beautiful landscapes attract nature lovers, trekkers, bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts for exploring the small hill resort. HolidayIQ Traveller Kshitij Deopa from Delhi shares, “Chakrata is unlike any other hill station, ice paved roads, small tea stalls and even less hotels. Peaceful journey incredible views and the road less travelled are the synonyms for Chakrata. Chakrata and the direct long romantic road to Mussoorie are places one must visit. It is 50 km from Dehradun in a very extreme end, food is normally available on the stalls. The view of ice caped mountains can be seen from Chakrata. It is a must visit place.”

12. Simlipal, Odisha

Source: wikimedia

Vast expanses of jungle and pristine nature. Simlipal is home to the Simlipal National Park and Barehipani Falls. Originally an elephant reserve and a hunting ground for the royal family, Simlipal was declared a tiger reserve in 1956. HolidayIQ.com Traveller Sabyasachi from Baripada says, “It is an ideal place to spend time with family and friends. Places like these need to be popularised to attract more tourists.” 

13. Gandikota, Andhra Pradesh

Source: wikimedia

The Gandikota fort has a few temples, a granary, a masjid, a palace and a few more structures inside its walls. The temples are particularly known for their architecture, composed of many fine sculptures and carvings in the Vijayanagara style. HolidayIQ traveller Arindam Halder shares, “If you are looking to go to an unusual place which will blow you away then Gandikota is the place that you are looking for. A 13th century fort beside the Penna river in the state of Andhra Pradesh, which is surrounded by the Eramala range of hills. Surrounded by a deep valley and impassable hills, with massive boulders of red granite and the river Pennar that flows about 300 ft. Below on the west and northern sides. This is also popularly known as the grand canyon of India.”

14. Samsing, Darjeeling

Source: wikimedia

Samsing is a small village in the area of Dooars, which is located in the Kalimpong subdivision of Darjeeling district in West Bengal. Famous for its landscape, green tea gardens, hills and forests it’s a perfect place to spend some quality quiet time alone. HolidayIQ Traveller Dhritiman Baidya from Kolkata shares, ”Samsing is a wonderful quiet place, if you want to enjoy the nature stay there for 2 days, the scenic beauty if awesome, get a lots of fresh air.”

15. Dundlod, Rajasthan

Source: rajasthantourism.gov.in

Dundlod village is part of Shekhawati region, which comes under Jhunjhunu District of the state of Rajasthan. This small village resembles an open art gallery, which comprises different types of forts, havelis and baolis. 

16. Galtaji, Jaipur

Source: flickr/photographingtravis

HolidayIQ A S from Hyderabad shares, “Very old temple situated about 10 km from Jaipur city. There is also a huge kund or water tank with natural water springs, we saw a lot of devotees taking a holy dip over here. A local told us it is also known as monkey temple as a famous monkey tribe lived here once upon a time. As it is surrounded by hills this temple gets an exotic look.”

17. Pangot, Nainital

Source: flickr/gkrishna

HolidayIQ Traveller Aritro Dasgupta from Gurgaon shares, “Pangot is what one can categorize as heaven on earth, an idyllic destination. Pangot is actually one of those remaining untouched spots of natural beauty. Ideal for bird watching early morning. There are some good resorts in this area. As the place is so remote, the costs are a bit high. One can view the majestic panoramic view from Pangot.”

18. Mansa, Punjab

Source: wikimedia

It's a major attraction of the district is the Samadhi of Bhai Gurdas, which is frequented by tourists. HolidayIQ Traveller Pranav Goyal from Mansa shares, “This is a very nice place to be visited and I recommend everyone to visit here. The food over here is very nice. The shops, the hotels everything was good.” 

Source: Yahoo!

Former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam passes away, national mourning for 7 days

• Rahul Karmakar, Hindustan Times, Guwahati
| 
• Updated: Jul 27, 2015 21:57 IST

Former president and Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam died on Monday after collapsing during a lecture in Shillong. (Sanjeev Verma/HT File Photo)

Former president and Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam died on Monday after collapsing during a lecture in Shillong.

Kalam, 83, who reached Shillong via Guwahati in the morning, collapsed during a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management-Shillong (IIM-S) around 6:30 pm and rushed to the Bethany Hospital there.

Doctors at the hospital said he was brought dead around 7pm. “He had no pulse when he was admitted to the hospital. We can attribute his death to cardiac arrest,” a doctor said.

The hospital authorities, however, refrained from confirming the death until Meghalaya governor V Shanmughanathan and chief secretary PBO Warjri visited the hospital around 8pm.

“The body of the former president will be flown to New Delhi via Guwahati Tuesday morning,” Warjri said.

IIM-S officials said Kalam, who had tweeted in the morning about the function, showed no signs of illness after he reached the Meghalaya capital. “We had a packed house for the lecture on Liveable Planet Earth,” an official said.

From 'Missile Man' to 'People's President'

Kalam served as president for five years from 2002, enjoying the support of both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.

Kalam  was closely involved in the country's civilian space programme and military missile development efforts, earning him the sobriquet  'India's Missile Man'.  He worked as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) before he became president.

He also played a pivotal technical and political role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, shortly after the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government came to power.

After his term, he returned to a life of education, writing, and public service. He received several prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor.

The Centre has declared a national mourning of seven days.

"Dr. Kalam was a man of impeccable character, indomitable spirit, profound knowledge and firm conviction. His death is an irreparable loss to this nation. He has left a big void hard to fill," said home minister Rajnath Singh.

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 in a poor Tamil Muslim family in Rameswaram. But he overcame all odds to study physics and aerospace engineering.

Source:  hindustantimes

Baahubali surpasses '300' in IMDB ratings

While 300 has been rated 7.8, Baahubali has received a rating of around 9.4

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Baahubali- The term literally means 'A man with strong arms'. Staying true to its powerful meaning 'Baahubali' has hit the box office hard. The audiences have thronged the theatres in huge numbers all over to lift those powerful arms and declare it as a true winner. In fact, it has surpassed the Hollywood epic '300' when it comes to IMDB ratings. 

'Baahubali' has been rated 9.4, whereas '300' scores 7.8. IMDB ratings are accepted all over the world and trusted for its genuineness. The ratings are put up by the genuine registered users and even scoring a 7/10 makes it a movie worth watching. In that case 'Baahubali's' achievement is symbol of growth for Indian Cinema.

S.S Rajamouli's 'Baahubali' is nothing short of an epic in true sense. The hard work put across over a period of 3 years has surely started reaping benefits for the maverick film maker. The Prabhas starrer has surely struck a chord with critics and the audience. The movie backed up with an excellent script, stunning visuals and strong performances is surely a must watch.

Source: DNA

Office space demand in Bengaluru highest in Asia-Pacific region

Bengaluru, July 6 (IANS) Robust demand for office and commercial space from the booming IT sector has placed Bengaluru on the top among Asia-Pacific cities, indicates a real estate survey.

"Bengaluru pipped other Asia-Pacific cities in demand for office space while growing need for commercial space from the IT sector is helping boost absorption levels," global real estate services firm Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL) said in a report here on Monday.

Strong growth in office rents has also pushed Bengaluru to 12th slot among the 20 top technologically-rich cities around the world in JLL's global office index and the city is estimated to add a whopping 12 million square feet office space over the next 18 months.

"A five-10 percent hike in prime office rents is seen this year for which construction is rapidly growing to meet the demand generated by the city's rapidly expanding economy," said JLL India head Anuj Puri.

"Bengaluru top scores in the city momentum index of 120 cities, ranking sixth in gross domestic product (GDP) growth, eighth in population growth and improvement in real estate market transparency, 11th in office net absorption," he said.

The survey also found that Bengaluru had the largest number of applications filed in India for international patents.

"An increase in the number of high-tech start-ups registered in the city over the year has also helped boost Bengaluru's score, reflecting its strengths in innovation and depth of venture capital funding," said Puri.

Source: Yahoo!

Grammy for Bangalore-based fusion musician Ricky Kej

Kej's album, "Winds of Samsara", which he co-produced with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman, has sounds inspired from India and the African continent, and had debuted at #1 on the US Billboard New Age Albums Chart late last year.

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  View Photo
  Yahoo India/Yahoo India - Bangalore-based fusion musician Ricky Kej has won a Grammy for his collaborative album

Bangalore-based fusion musician Ricky Kej  won the Best New Age Album award at the 57th Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Sunday, in Los Angeles.

Kej's album, "Winds of Samsara", which he co-produced with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman, has sounds inspired from India and the African continent, and had debuted at #1 on the US Billboard New Age Albums Chart late last year.

The album is Kej's 14th and also includes a number in tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. Another Bangalore musician, Prakash Sontakke, has co-composed the album.

"Winds of Samsara" edged out "Bhakti" by Paul Avgerinos, "Ritual" by Peter Kater and R Carlos Nakai, "Symphony Live In Istanbul" by Kitaro, and "In Love And Longing" by Silvia Nakkach and David Darling, to win its category.

Kej, 33, an American citizen, was born into a family of doctors in North Carolina and moved to Bangalore when he was eight years old. He attended Bishop Cotton Boys' School and acquired a degree in dentistry from Oxford Dental College, although he didn't practice even for a day.

The world of music soon won him over. A self-taught musician, he was part of now defunct local Bangalore outfits such as Angel Dust, University and Techno Rave Band.

“I started playing around with the guitar in the ninth standard. In college, I was playing with Angel Dust, during which I got more serious and disciplined with band practices,” he was quoted as saying in a newspaper in 2008.

Once Kej parted ways with Angel Dust, he discovered the infinite possibilities of computer-assisted composing, and a whole new universe opened to him. He set up his own recording studio and over a thousand advertising jingles followed, as also a composition for the 2011 Cricket World Cup opening ceremony, before Kej took the next logical step - into Kannada films.

His style draws from myriad sources, sounds he was exposed to as a child in the US, and later influences that exerted themselves on him in India.

For someone who once claimed 'I have no life other than music', a Grammy award must be the culmination of a lifetime's desire.

Source: Yahoo!

Bengaluru rated most liveable city in India

Bengaluru, Jan 22 (IANS) A leading international rating agency has certified Bengaluru as the most liveable location in India, followed by Mumbai and Chennai.

Though Bengaluru is ranked 171 in the global liveability index, the tech hub has scored favourably over metros and other cities across the country in terms of overall quality of living, while New Delhi has been rated as the least liveable, with worst air quality.

"In India, Bangalore (Bengaluru), which is ranked 171 globally, scores most favourably followed by Mumbai and Chennai both ranked 182. New Delhi, ranked 204, is the least liveable, with worst score for air quality like Beijing is in the world," ECA International said in a statement Thursday from London.

As the leading provider of knowledge, information and technology for the management and assignment of employees the world over, ECA rated Singapore as the most liveable location in Asia and globally, followed by Sydney and Adelaide in Australia.

"Good air quality, solid infrastructure, decent medical facilities, low crime and health risks contributed to Singapore maintaining its top position in the global ranking for quality of living for Asian assignees," ECA regional (Asia) director Lee Quane said in the statement.

The agency's annual location rating system evaluates multiple factors to assess the quality of living in 450 locations worldwide for enabling global firms fix allowances to their employees.

Factors for the assessment include climate, availability of health services, housing and utilities, political tensions and air quality.

In the Indian sub-continent, Pakistani cities like Islamabad and Karachi, ranked at 261 and 269 in the survey, have the region's worst scores for personal security and social-political tensions.

"They are the hardest locations surveyed in Asia for expatriates to adapt to living and working in," Lee said.

While Hong Kong is ranked high as a place for Asian expats to live, the ECA survey revealed that its attractiveness has dropped.

"The unrest in recent months and restrictions on movement of people due to socio-political factors worsened living conditions in Hong Kong," Lee recalled.

Martial law declaration led to a worsening in socio-political scores for ranking locations in Thailand.

While Malaysian locations fell in the global ranking, its capital Kuala Lumpur slipped to 118 from the previous rank of 115.

Shanghai, ranked 110 globally, is rated as China's most liveable city followed by Beijing at 122.

Denmark capital Copenhagen, ranked seventh globally, is the European city that offers the best quality of living for Asian assignees followed by Swiss city of Bern.

In North America, Vancouver at 24 is the most liveable location followed by San Francisco at 40.

Dubai, ranked at 109, is the location in the Gulf region which requires the least adjustment for Asian assignees overall.

For Asian assignees going to Africa, Port Louis, Mauritius, (118) affords the best quality of living followed by Cape Town (133).

Source: Yahoo!

Supreme Court recognises transgenders as third gender in landmark ruling

NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The Supreme Court on Tuesday recognised India's long marginalised transgender community as a third gender and, in a landmark judgment lauded by human rights groups, called on the government to ensure their equal treatment.

There are hundreds of thousands of transgenders in India, say activists, but because they are not legally recognised, they are ostracised, discriminated against, abused and often forced into prostitution.

"Recognition of transgenders as a third gender is not a social or medical issue but a human rights issue," the Supreme Court's two-judge bench said in its ruling.

"Transgenders are also citizens of India. The spirit of the constitution is to provide equal opportunity to every citizen to grow and attain their potential, irrespective of caste, religion or gender."

A person who is transgender does not identify with the gender stated on their birth certificate.

The court ruling - which came after hearing a petition filed by a group of transgenders demanding equal rights - recognised the community as a marginalised group and directed authorities to implement policies to improve their socio-economic status.

The petitioners' lawyers said that this would mean that all identity documents, including a birth certificate, passport and driving licence would recognise the third gender, along with male and female.

The government will also have to allocate a certain percentage of public sector jobs, seats in schools and colleges to third gender applicants, said lawyer Sanjeev Bhatnagar.

Due to their lack of access to jobs and education, many male-to-female transgenders - also known as "hijras" - are forced to work as sex workers or move around in organised groups begging or demanding money.

Hate crimes in the conservative country are common, say activists, yet few are reported partly due to a lack of sensitivity by authorities such as the police.

Transgender rights activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi said the verdict was a great step towards ending such discrimination."Today Justice Radhakrishnan and Justice A.K. Sikri said that any nation can progress only after it grants all the rights and human rights to its citizens. The transgenders have been given the biggest right," said Tripathi. "Today I feel a proud citizen of India."

The Supreme Court was slammed by human rights activists in December when it reinstated a ban on gay sex, following a four-year period of decriminalisation that helped bring homosexuality into the open. The court said only parliament could change the law.

Human rights groups said they hoped the ruling on transgenders would encourage the new parliament to repeal the anti-homosexuality law as one of its first actions.

India is currently holding general elections with the results due on May 16.

(Writing by Nita Bhalla; Additional reporting by Suchitra Mohanty and Sunil Kataria; Editing by Douglas Busvine)

Source: Reuters