Bringing much joy to the tourists, services of the iconic Matheran-Neral mini toy train resumed after a short break in the monsoon season. The train, with a history of over 150 years covers around 20 kilometres of journey, offering people a scenic route through the small hill station. Swapnil Nila, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CRPO) of Central Railways said that the train was stopped on June 8th because of the monsoon season and was started on November 6. The train reportedly transports 600-700 passengers on average every day. This toy train starts from Neral and ends at Matheran and takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete. The elevation starts from 40 meters above sea level and then steadily climbs to 850 meters at Matheran. The train usually runs twice from Neral to Matheran from Monday to Friday and offers six shuttle services from Aman Lodge to Matheran.
08 November,2024 06:31 PM IST
As Diwali approaches, the Kumar community in Nimati Bhitor Kokila Kumar Gaon, Assam, is struggling to keep their 200-year-old pottery tradition alive. This art, which used to be a main source of income, is now at risk of disappearing. The Kumar people are known for making clay utensils along the Brahmaputra River, but modern competition and a lack of resources are making it hard for them to survive. About 120 families live in the village, most of whom are below the poverty line, facing significant economic challenges. They also struggle to get the special clay needed for pottery and receive little support from the government. Without immediate help, the rich cultural heritage of the Kumar community could be lost forever, leaving them in a shadow of uncertainty
24 October,2024 01:53 PM IST
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken left for the Middle East on October 21 to start talks for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. This is his eleventh visit to the region since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to the conflict. His trip comes as Israel increases its military actions in Gaza and against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Vedant Patel, a deputy spokesperson for the State Department, said Blinken will begin his trip in Israel but did not share other specific stops. During his visit, Blinken aims to discuss ending the war in Gaza, securing the release of all hostages, and reducing the suffering of the Palestinian people.
22 October,2024 12:47 PM IST
On September 12, Maharastra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, officially opened a new ‘bow-string’ arch bridge. This bridge connects Mumbai's Coastal Road with the Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL). It is a significant milestone in the development of Mumbai’s infrastructure. The new arch bridge is impressive in size, weighing about 4,000 metric tonnes and stretching roughly 140 meters in length. This bridge is part of a larger project that aims to improve travel in Mumbai. The Coastal Road is currently open to traffic from 7am to 11pm on weekdays. This major project, costing approximately Rs 14,000 crore, is designed to create a direct link between the Coastal Road and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. This connection is expected to significantly cut down travel time. Before the bridge, it could take between 45 minutes to an hour to drive from Marine Drive to Bandra. With the new bridge, this journey will be reduced to just 10 minutes. This will make commuting much more convenient and comfortable for Mumbai’s residents. The construction of Mumbai Coastal Road project which is 10.58 kilometers long, started in October 2018. It is set to enhance the overall commuting experience by easing traffic congestion and providing a quicker route between different parts of the city.
12 September,2024 06:01 PM IST
After a long time, Bollywood star Anushka Sharma made a public appearance. On Wednesday, she returned to Mumbai from London and attended an event, where expressed happiness in reconnecting with her fans and the media. This was her first media interaction after the birth of her son, Akaay. Anushka attended the event in style. From talking about motherhood to cherishing her college memories, the 'NH 10' star happily answered several questions. She also talked about her comfort food which is none other than dal chawal and sookhi aloo ki sabzi.
05 September,2024 02:32 PM IST
Raksha Bandhan 2024 is here to seal the bond of love between brothers and sisters. But do you know which Indian community helps shape this festival like no other? India’s Patwa community is known for their intricate thread work and it is the same art that has resulted in Rakhi making for generations. For the rakhi makers of the Patwa community, Rakhi making is their identity. While for others the festival of Raksha Bandhan is a one-day festive affair, for these artisans from the Patwa community, Rakhi making is their bread and butter which keeps them engaged 365 days a year. Mid-day’s Katyayani Kapoor met a few rakhi makers from the Patwa community at Mumbai’s Bhuleshwar. Take a look.
17 August,2024 11:38 AM IST
With the ever-increasing popularity of Yoga, there has been an exponential surge in yoga institutes across the world. But the legendary place from where the Yoga training started institutionally is nestled in the quiet by-lanes of Mumbai’s Santacruz and still continues to serve the purpose of teaching the ‘Real Yog’. In this episode of ‘Inside Access’ with Katyayani Kapoor, enter the World’s Oldest Yoga Institute In Mumbai - The Yoga Institute. With the vision of making Yoga accessible to the common man, it was founded in 1918 by Shri Yogendra, and continues to spread the light of knowledge through its extensive ecosystem. What is it like to be inside the world’s oldest yoga institute? Take this video tour.
20 July,2024 09:34 PM IST
Is shooting that perfect angle more important than your life? Do your social media posts matter more than your chance to live? Accidents from selfies and video stunts are increasing and adding to this a shocking incident has come into the limelight from Maharashtra after the Lonavala Waterfall tragedy. While shooting an Instagram reel, Aanvi Kamdar, a 27-year-old travel influencer from Mumbai, tragically lost her life at Kumbhe waterfall in Raigad district, Maharashtra. She was rescued after a six-hour search operation but was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. In this episode of Mid-day explains, Shantanu Kuveskar - one of the rescuers of Aanvi what went behind the scenes of the tragic death.
20 July,2024 02:22 PM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of each deceased victim of the tragic tempo traveller accident in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. The incident occurred when the vehicle, carrying 26 passengers, veered off the Badrinath Highway, plunging into a deep gorge. Sadly, 12 individuals lost their lives, and 14 others sustained injuries in the mishap. The injured were promptly given medical attention. This incident underscores the need for stringent road safety measures and emergency response protocols to prevent such tragedies, offering condolences to the bereaved families and support to those affected by the accident.
16 June,2024 01:39 PM IST
While Maharashtra and Karnataka are set to welcome the monsoons soon, heat wave conditions are likely to continue in Northwest and East India in the next 4-5 days. J&K’s Bandipora district is experiencing a surge in tourists escaping the summer heat gripping India as tourists flock to the Gurez valley. Gurez valley is a pristine valley surrounded by breathtaking Himalayas giving an amazing view into nature’s beauty. The influx is boosting local employment, particularly for the educated youth, due to the newfound peace and border tourism. Tourists are enjoying valley's beauty, safety, and warm hospitality, encouraging others to experience Kashmir's charm.
08 June,2024 06:17 PM ISTADVERTISEMENT
