The underground town of the world

COOBER PEDY

In the middle of the remote South Australian desert lies the small town of Coober Pedy, which houses strange underground residences and other facilities.

Coober Pedy is the world's only underground town where settlers live underground to escape the scorching summer heat as daytime temperatures touch a whooping 125°F or 51°C. Their homes, carved into caves, hills, and disused mine shafts maintain a comfortable year-round temperature of 23°C or 73°F.

A small mining town with a population of just under 2,000, Coober Pedy is the 'Opal capital of the world' that has been supplying the world's gem-quality opal since it was founded in 1915. In this waterless environment, not much activity happens above ground. Instead, the community exists inside some 1,500 underground residences seamlessly integrated into the desert's rugged terrain.

An average cave home at 8 to 22 feet below ground level with modern amenities, bedrooms, living area, kitchen and bathroom can be excavated out of the rock for pretty much the same price as building a house above surface. The homes have 40 inch thick support pillars and natural air shafts for ventilation. However, there is no sewage in underground Coober Pedy, so kitchens and bathrooms are always situated above ground, as the front rooms, which make the entrance of the house.

Every time you drill in Coober Pedy, you always have a chance to strike it rich. A local hotel opened in the town found opal worth $360,000 while digging out its rooms. Digging a simple rack into your wall could unexpectedly yield enough Opal to fill it with all the expensive things your heart desires.

In the 1980s, when the first underground hotel was built, Coober Pedy began attracting curious tourists. Now, it boasts a wide network of underground bars, shops, museums, and churches.

Great River

MAHANADI 

One of the most important rivers of east-central India is the Mahanadi, which drains an area of about 1,32,100sq km and has a total length of 900 km. The Mahanadi, whose name translates to ‘Great River’, flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha before ending its journey in the Bay of Bengal. The 26-km-long Hirakud Dam – the world’s longest earthen dam and one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects started after India’s independence – stands across this river.

The Mahanadi rises from the wild mountainous region of Bastar, about 40 km southeast of Raipur. As several mountain streams combine to form the river, its exact origin is difficult to pinpoint, but the closest source is tracked to a point 6 km from Pharsiya village near Sihawa town in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh. For the first 100 km of its course, the Mahanadi trickles down as a small stream, with a valley width of only 500–600m, flowing northward past Raipur. On reaching the town of Sheorinarayan, it receives its first big tributary, the Shivnath. For the rest of its voyage the river flows eastward. It is joined by two more tributaries – the Jonkand Hasdeo – before entering Odisha near Sambalpur. By this time it has covered about half of its total length. About 10 km from Sambalpur, the Mahanadi is dammed by the Hirakud Dam, a composite structure of earth, concrete, and masonry spanning two hills, the Laxmidungri and Chandilidungri, and forming Asia’s largest artificial lake. 

Before the construction of the dam, the Mahanadi was notorious for its devastating floods that earned it the name of ‘Sorrow of Orissa’. However, the dam has reduced this problem to a great extent, with a network of canals, barrages and checkdams keeping the river well in control. As the river continues on its course, it is joined by several lesser streams including the Ib, Ong, and Tel. Skirting the boundaries of the Boudh district, it forces its way through a series of rapids between peaks and ledges till it arrives at Dholpur,Odisha. The rapids end here, and the river continues on its path to the Eastern Ghats, coursing its way through the 64-km-long Satkosia Gorge. It then joins the Odisha plains near Naraj, 14 km south of Cuttack, where it pours down between two hills that are a mile apart. Here, a barrage has been built to control the river’s flow into Cuttack.

Just before entering Cuttack, the river produces a distributary (the opposite of a tributary: a stream flowing away from a river) known as the Kathjori. The Kathjori splits up into numerous streams after entering the Puri district, and all of them flow into the Bay of Bengal. TheMahanadi itself flows eastward through the Cuttack district and enters the Bay of Bengal through multiple channels at False Point near Paradeep in Kendrapara district. 

The Mahanadi contributes much of the resources and facilitates for industrial development from east-central India to the east coast. The water potential of Mahanadi makes it the second largest in India after Godavari. Considered as the lifeline of east-central India, the Mahanadi River justifies its name given as the ‘Great (maha) River (nadi).

Do you know 

● The specific shape of the course of the Mahanadi River is geographically termed the ‘Horseshoe’ shape.

● Chilka Lake in Orissa gets over 60% of its inland flow from the Mahanadi River. It is a famous wetland site and a favourite visiting place for migratory birds.

Mountains of Seven Colours

THE RAINBOW MOUNTAINS OF PERU 

The Rainbow Mountains of Peru, also known as Vinicunca or Montaña de Siete Colores (Mountain of Seven Colors), are a stunning natural wonder located in the Andes Mountains near Cusco. Their vibrant colours come from the sedimentary mineral layers that have been exposed over time due to erosion.

How Were the Rainbow Mountains Formed?

The colours of Vinicunca come from mineral deposits in the rock layers, exposed over thousands of years due to erosion. Each colour represents a different mineral:

Red: Iron oxide (rust)

Yellow: Iron sulphide 

Green: Chlorite (rich in magnesium and copper)

Brown and Purple: Manganese and claystone

White: Quartz and sandstone

Key Facts about the Rainbow Mountains:

Altitude: Approximately 5,200 meters (17,060 feet) above sea level

Location: Around 100 km (62 miles) southeast of Cusco

Vinicunca was covered by ice until about 2015 when climate change and melting ice revealed its colorful layers!

The tallest statue in the world

THE STATUE OF UNITY

Imagine stacking 200 elephants on top of each other—it’s crazy, right? Well, that’s how tall the Statue of Unity is! It is 182 metres (597 feet) tall, making it the tallest statue in the world.

Located in Gujarat, this statue is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India. It was built in just four years with over 3,000 workers and 250 engineers working day and night. The most exciting part? You can go inside the statue and reach a viewing gallery 135 metres high, from where you get a breathtaking view of the Narmada River!

Did you know? The statue is so tall that if you stand at its feet and look up, it feels like you’re staring at a skyscraper!

History

SHOELACES 

The history of shoelaces goes back thousands of years. Here’s an overview of how they evolved:

Ancient Origins (Prehistoric Times - 1000s BCE)

The oldest known evidence of shoelaces comes from the Ötzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old mummy found in the Alps. His shoes were made of leather and grass, fastened with primitive laces.

Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used leather straps to secure sandals, a concept similar to shoelaces.

Medieval & Renaissance Period (500 CE - 1600s)

Shoelaces became more common as shoes evolved. They were typically made from leather, hemp, or other natural fibers.

By the Middle Ages, shoes featured holes (eyelets) through which laces were threaded, much like modern designs.

Industrial Revolution & 19th Century (1700s - 1800s)

Shoelaces became standardized with the mass production of shoes.

In 1790, Harvey Kennedy is often credited with "inventing" the modern shoelace and aglet (the small plastic or metal tip on laces), though laces existed long before.

20th & 21st Century (1900s - Present)

Synthetic materials like nylon and polyester replaced leather and cotton for durability.

Elastic and Velcro closures emerged, but shoelaces remained dominant in most footwear.

Today, shoelaces come in various styles, materials, and even self-tightening versions, like Nike’s self-lacing sneakers (2016) inspired by Back to the Future.

Unusual architecture

THE BASKET BUILDING 

The Basket Building in Ohio was an iconic structure in Newark, Ohio, designed to resemble a giant picnic basket. It was originally the headquarters of the Longaberger Company, a famous handcrafted basket manufacturer.

Key Facts:

Built: 1997

Height: 7 stories (approximately 180,000 square feet)

Design: Modeled after the Longaberger Medium Market Basket, complete with two massive handles on top.

Architects: NBBJ and Korda Nemeth Engineering

Closure: The Longaberger Company faced financial struggles, and the building was abandoned in 2014.

Current Status: In 2017, it was sold, and renovations began to turn it into a luxury hotel.

As of February 2025, the Basket Building in Newark, Ohio, remains unoccupied. Originally constructed in 1997 as the headquarters for the Longaberger Company, the seven-story structure was designed to mimic the company's signature woven basket. After the company vacated the premises in 2016 due to financial difficulties, the building has seen various ownership changes and proposed redevelopment plans.

In December 2017, developer Steve Coon purchased the building for $1.2 million, intending to convert it into a luxury hotel. However, by January 2021, these plans were abandoned, and the property was listed for sale at $6.5 million. As of October 2022, the building remained empty, with no confirmed redevelopment plans. 

Despite its vacancy, the Basket Building continues to attract attention for its unique architecture and stands as a notable landmark in Ohio.

Twin town

KODINHI 

Kodinhi, a small village in the Malappuram district of Kerala, India, is famously known as the "Twin Town" due to its unusually high number of twin births. The village has an astonishingly high twin birth rate, much higher than the global average.

Unusual Twin Phenomenon: Kodinhi reportedly has more than 450 pairs of twins among a population of about 2,000 families.

Higher Twin Rate Than Normal: While the global twin birth rate is around 4-16 per 1,000 births, Kodinhi's rate is estimated to be around 42 per 1,000 births.

No Clear Scientific Explanation: Despite studies, researchers have not found a definite reason for this phenomenon. Genetic, dietary, and environmental factors are believed to play a role.

Twins and More Twins: Even women who marry outside Kodinhi tend to have twins at a higher rate, suggesting a genetic link.

Attracts Global Attention: Scientists from India and abroad have studied Kodinhi, but the mystery remains unsolved.

A similar phenomenon of a large number of twin births within a small isolated community has been observed in Brazil. 

Huangshan China

THE BRIDGE OF IMMORTALS 

The Bridge of Immortals is a breathtaking and world-famous bridge located in the Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) region of China. It is renowned for its dramatic setting, perched high among the peaks and cliffs of the Huangshan Mountains, offering visitors stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

Key Features of the Bridge of Immortals:

Location: Huangshan (Yellow Mountains), Anhui Province, China.

Height: Approximately 1,600 meters (5,249 feet) above sea level.

Construction: The bridge is made of stone and connects two massive rock formations, making it appear as if it's floating in the sky.

Tourist Attraction: Due to its breathtaking views and thrilling height, it is a popular destination for hikers and adventure seekers.

Although it is one of the world's most awe-inspiring bridges, the highest bridge in the world in terms of structure height is the Beipanjiang Bridge in China, which spans 565 meters (1,854 feet) above a river gorge.

Haunted doll

ANNABELLE 

The real Annabelle doll is a well-known case of alleged paranormal activity, made famous by Ed and Lorraine Warren, two well-known paranormal investigators.

Background and Origin: The Annabelle doll is a Raggedy Ann doll, not the porcelain version shown in movies. In the 1970s, two college roommates, Donna and Angie, received the doll as a gift. Strange occurrences began happening: the doll seemed to move on its own, appearing in different places and positions. Handwritten messages reading “Help us” were reportedly found around their apartment. One of their friends, Lou, had a disturbing encounter where he claimed the doll attacked him, leaving claw-like scratches on his body.

Involvement of the Warrens: The roommates contacted a psychic medium, who told them that the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a young girl named Annabelle Higgins who had died nearby. The Warrens investigated and determined that the entity was not a child’s spirit but a malevolent demonic force using the doll as a conduit. To prevent further harm, the Warrens took the doll and placed it in their Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut.

Annabelle’s Current Location: Annabelle is kept in a wooden glass case at the Warren’s Occult Museum. A sign on the case reads: “WARNING: POSITIVELY DO NOT OPEN.” Visitors and museum staff claim that the doll’s presence still causes strange occurrences. There are stories of visitors mocking the doll and later suffering tragic accidents.

Skepticism and Belief: Many believe the Annabelle story is exaggerated or fabricated to build the Warrens' paranormal reputation. Others claim that while the story may have been dramatised, something unexplained could have been happening. Whether real or not, Annabelle remains one of the most infamous haunted objects in paranormal history. 

Annabelle in Pop Culture: The doll inspired the "Annabelle" movie series, part of The Conjuring Universe. Unlike the real Annabelle, the movie version is a creepy porcelain doll with an unsettling smile. The movies fictionalise her origins and activity, making her a central horror icon.

An Accidental Genius

A STICKY STORY OF POST-IT NOTES 

Ever wondered about everyday things that turned out to be accidental strokes of genius? Well, let’s dive into the quirky tale of Post-it Notes – those handy, sticky pals that found their way into our lives in the most unexpected way.

Once upon a time, in a 3M lab in 1968, a scientist named Dr. Spencer Silver was working on a super-strong adhesive that could be used in aircraft construction. But guess what? He didn’t quite get what he wanted. Instead, he accidentally created a not-so-sticky adhesive.

Fast forward to a few years later, another 3M employee named Art Fry was singing in his church choir. He got frustrated when his bookmarks kept falling out of his hymn book. That’s when the light bulb went off in his head. He remembered Dr. Silver’s not-so-sticky adhesive!

Art took some of that magic not-so-sticky stuff, applied it to paper, and just like that – the Post-it Note was born! They were perfect for sticking things together without leaving a mess behind. The accidental genius of Dr. Silver’s not-so-sticky glue turned out to be a game-changer.

These colourful squares soon found their way onto desks, notebooks and fridges all around the world. People loved them for leaving messages, jotting down quick ideas and making colourful reminders.

What makes Post-it Notes quirky and cool is that they started as a ‘whoops’ moment in a lab. It just goes to show that sometimes, the best discoveries happen when you’re not looking for them. Imagine a world without these sticky wonders – pretty dull, right?

So, the next time you’re jotting down notes on a Post-it, remember the accidental brilliance behind it. It’s a reminder that genius can pop up in the most unexpected places, turning a not-so-sticky situation into a colourful burst of creativity!

Hotel

GIRAFFE MANOR 

Giraffe Manor is a very special hotel in Kenya, Africa. It’s not like normal hotels because wild animals, especially giraffes, surround it! At Giraffe Manor, giraffes often peek their long necks into the hotels to say hello. 

The giraffes live in the nearby forests and sometimes visit the hotel to eat treats from the guests. They have big, floppy ears and long, soft necks that help them reach tall trees. Guests at Giraffe Manor can feed the giraffes, take pictures, and even have giraffes join them for breakfast!

Giraffe Manor is a fun and magical place where humans and giraffes live together. People from all over the world come to see these amazing animals and learn about them. It is a place where dreams and wildlife come together!

History

WHY IS THE RED FORT AT DELHI SELECTED FOR THE INDEPENDENCE CEREMONY?

The Red Fort built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan was the seat of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal Emperor, when he was declared the Emperor of Hindustan during the 1857 uprising against the British. 

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, head of the exiled Azad Hind Sena, wished to hoist the flag of free India from the Red Fort. 

It was therefore, in a symbolic meeting of past on the ramparts of the Red Fort, that on 15th August, 1947, India ushered in a new dawn and the promise of a new beginning. 

Famous structure

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE 

The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957. Utzon received the Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest honour, in 2003.

The Sydney Opera House was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 28 June 2007. It is one of the 20th century's most distinctive buildings and one of the most famous performing arts centres in the world. 

The Sydney Opera House is situated on Bonnelong Point in Sydney Harbour, close to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It sits at the northeastern tip of the Sydney central business district (the CBD), surrounded on three sides by the harbour (Sydney Cove and Farm Cove) and neighboured by the Royal Botanic Gardens. 

Contrary to its name, the building houses multiple performance venues. As one of the busiest performing arts centres in the world, hosting over 1,500 performances each year attended by some 1.2 million people, the Sydney Opera House provides a venue for many performing arts companies including the four key resident companies Opera Australia,  The Australian Ballet, the Sydney Theatre Company and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and presents a wide range of productions on its own account. It is also one of the most popular visitor attractions in Australia, with more than seven million people visiting the site each year, 300,000 of whom take a guided tour.

Other facilities: The building also houses a recording studio, cafes, restaurants and bars and retail outlets. Guided tours are available to the public, including a frequent tour of the front-of-house spaces, and a daily backstage tour which takes visitors backstage to see areas normally reserved for performers and crew members. 

THE WARRIOR QUEEN OF KASHMIR

Didda 

Whenever a throne was up for grabs, there was always intense competition among the youngsters of royal families as one had to be better than others to be a king. To be a queen, one had to be really extraordinary because one faced even greater challenges than a king. One such extraordinary personality was Didda of Kashmir who ruled for over 50 years despite being lame. 

Didda was born to the Lohara Dynasty, which ruled the area around modern-day Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir. She suffered from a birth disability that caused her to limp and this led to her facing ridicule from the elders and other children in the palace.  Her only support was a maid called Valaga who helped her move around. Didda was an exceptionally gifted and determined child. She used to participate in races despite her disability. She was very intelligent and a good orator. Despite her good qualities, nobody wanted to marry a lame girl. Finally, she was married to Kshemagupta, the king of Kashmir. 

After her marriage, Didda realised that Kshemagupta neglected the affairs of the state and administration was in disarray. She started to get involved in the matters of the court. In this, she faced stiff resistance from the courtiers including the prime minister, whose daughter was Kshemagupta's first wife. Despite the resistance, Didda gained so much power that the coins issued at the time were in her and Kshemagupta's joint name. 

After Kshemagupta's sudden death, the courtiers put pressure on Didda to commit sati along with the other queens. She had to make preparations for this but at the last moment, she avoided death by having a trusted minister make petitions to save her for the sake of her minor son. She also got her son Abhimanyu, crowned as king. Didda governed the state as a regent. When a series of revolts broke out in the kingdom, Didda put them down with great ruthlessness. Though Didda personally led her troops with great bravery, the uprisings never completely died out because most of the state officials could not accept being ruled by a woman, that too a lame one. 

After Abhimanyu came of age, he was encouraged by the courtiers and his newly married wife to rise against Didda. Eventually, he forced Didda out of the palace and she renounced the world. Abhimanyu died shortly afterwards, and the kingdom one again descended into chaos. Didda came back to take up the command of the state and became a regent for her grandson Bhimagupta. She worked hard to put the administration of the state back on track. When three of her grandsons including Bhimagupta died in quick succession, some started accusing Didda of practising witchcraft and causing these deaths. 

Didda was old by now and her biggest concern was finding her successor. She devised a novel method to choose the person who would be required to perform the difficult task of ruling Kashmir after her. She assembled all the princes she was considering and put a heap of fruits in their arms as they could. Naturally, this caused a competition among the princes to gather the most fruits. In this confusion, Didda's brother's son Sangramraja gathered the most fruits without getting into fights like the other princes. When Didda asked him how he managed it, he explained that he caused the other princes to fight among themselves and while they were busy, he simply picked up most of the fruits. A pleased Didda promptly appointed him her successor and ensured a peaceful transition after her. 

Kashmir's history before and after Didda is a tale of endless treachery, deceit and ruthlessness. Kings were crowned and deposed in quick succession. The populace also suffered greatly under corrupt officials. Didda's reign of more than 50 years stands out as a period of stability amidst several anarchy. She was a sound administrator and a courageous general who led her troops from the front. Above all, she was a survivor who never gave up even when the odds seemed totally against her.

THE LAND OF BLACK MAGIC

Mayong

Mayong, a quaint village in the Morigaon district of Assam, is a sacred destination steeped in mysticism and history. Located on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra River and near Kaziranga National Park, Mayong is famously referred to as the ‘Land of Black Magic’. The village finds mentions in epics like the Mahabharata, where it is said that Bhima, one of the Pandavas, acquired extraordinary strength through tantric practices performed in this region. 

The name Mayong has various interpretations. One belief attributes it to the Sanskrit word maya, meaning ‘illusion’ or ‘magic’, symbolising the village’s association with mystical practices. Another suggests that ma-yong in the Dimasa language means ‘elephant’, reflecting the region’s historical significance as an elephant habitat. 

For centuries, Mayong was renowned as a hub of sorcery and tantra. The Mayong Central Museum and Emporium preserves ancient manuscripts and ritual tools, while local legends speak of spells for healing and supernatural feats. Visitors are drawn not only by its mysterious past but also by the serene beauty of its Brahmaputra-fed landscapes and proximity to Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.

MEXICO'S BLUE HOLE

Taam Ja

The world's deepest blue hole (marine sinkhole) lies off the coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It's at least 420m (1,378ft) deep, but explorers still haven't found its bottom.

Known as 'Taam Ja', or 'deep water' in the Mayan language, it was discovered more than 20 years ago by a local diver, but it wasn't until 2021 that scientists attempted to measure its depth. Using an echo sounder to bounce sound waves off the bottom of the hole, they estimated Taam Ja' was 275m (902ft) deep.

But another expedition in 2023 used a device called a conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) profiler, with sensors that measure water pressure, to estimate its depth. This returned a reading of 420m (1,378ft), but they're not sure it reached the bottom.

Blue holes are naturally occurring caverns on the sea floor, with vertical walls. They're usually found in coastal regions where the bedrock is made of soft, soluble rock, such as limestone. This is gradually eroded, causing the rock above to collapse. Although usually only a few tens of metres deep, blue holes sometimes connect to underwater cave systems.

With poor water circulation, blue holes are low in oxygen deep down. This makes it hard for organisms to survive, but some microbes thrive there, consuming sulphur-based compounds, such as hydrogen sulphide. Other small creatures - including shelled single-celled organisms called foraminifera and tiny worm-like creatures called nematodes - have also been found living in blue holes. Scientists are keen to explore Taam Ja' to find out what creatures live in its dark blue waters. 

DISCOVER THE MANY SECRETS SURROUNDING THIS ANCIENT SITE

Angkor Wat

Located in Cambodia, a country in southeast Asia, Angkor Wat is the world’s largest temple, and a hugely important historical site. It stands within the ancient city of Angkor, which was one of the biggest cities in the world in the 13th century. Angkor was much bigger than the largest cities of Europe that existed at the same time.

Despite Angkor’s great size and importance, the site is shrouded in mystery. Little is known about its past and even its original name has been forgotten. The temple’s modern name, Angkor Wat, simply means “city temple” in Khmer (Cambodia’s official language). At one point, the city was abandoned, and no one knows why or what happened to the people who lived there. Let’s take a journey through the mists of time, and see how science has tried to uncover the secrets of this ancient monument.

A mega city

Angkor Wat was built to house the remains of a king called Suryavarman II after his death. The temple was completed around 1150, shortly after the king’s death. It was designed to be a version of heaven on Earth, with lots of incredible carvings and decorations.

Constructing Angkor Wat was an epic task. It took 300,000 workers 37 years to build it. Around 6,000 elephants were used, stone was transported using canals, and around 4,000 people may have worked in the temple. Today, much of the city’s splendour has crumbled and been covered by jungle, but when it was constructed, Angkor Wat was filled with wonders both inside and out. A magnificent staircase led pilgrims to a statue of the Hindu god Vishnu, the temple’s roofs were gilded (covered in gold), as were the towers, which symbolised Mount Meru – home of the gods. After it was finished, Angkor Wat became a place of pilgrimage, visited by people for religious reasons, and the ancient temple is still a sacred site for Cambodians.

Wiping the record

Angkor Wat has had a turbulent history, and this is why there are so many mysteries surrounding the place. Shortly after it was built, the city was sacked (vandalised) by invaders. It was rebuilt by the powerful King Jayavarman VII and in 1589 a Portuguese monk, Antonio da Madalena, became the first westerner to visit Angkor. He wrote, “It is of such extraordinary construction that it is not possible to describe with a pen.” Given its splendour, many have wondered why Angkor Wat was left abandoned.

By the 20th century a big effort was begun to rescue the temple from being taken over by the jungle. However, the restoration work was interrupted in the 1970s, when a violent group known as the Khmer Rouge came to power. They destroyed much of the evidence from the city’s past and even used the temple walls for target practice. One man who lived during this time, Dy Proeung, made drawings of Angkor, which he saved by burying them in the jungle undergrowth. Many people’s stories, and the histories of Angkor Wat, were lost during this time.

Extreme weather

Scientists have put forward many different theories as to why the city was abandoned. Looking at the land and damage to buildings, climate scientists and environmental historians (people who study weather in the past) think the area was affected by flooding, and other disasters caused by extreme weather (such as drought), which made living there too hard.

New discoveries

In recent years, a new technology called Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) has helped unlock more of Angkor Wat’s treasures. Archaeologists (experts who study ancient objects to help us understand history) use this technology to “see through” the jungle, and have discovered the remains of houses, waterways and gardens. Some think that the gardens at Angkor Wat may have been bigger than anything seen in Europe until the 18th and 19th centuries.

However, despite these discoveries many mysteries still remain. The highest part of Angkor Wat is raised up on a mound, and some scientists think there could even be underground chambers hidden underneath. This ancient site still seems to have more secrets left to reveal.

LEANING TEMPLE OF INDIA

Ratneshwar

Did you know that the Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple is taller and also leans at an angle higher than the Leaning Tower of Pisa?

Lying on the Manikarnika Ghat in the holy town of -Varanasi, the traditional Ratneshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped as Mahadev (a form of Shiva).

The Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple leans by over 9°, more than the Pisa tower, which leans only by 4°. While the tower of Pisa is 54 metres high, Ratneshwar is 74 metres in height. The leaning temple of Ratneshwar Mahadev is thus also called Kashi Karvat (lean in Kashi).

Although this temple remains underwater for most of the year due to its visibly low level, it is valued and preserved even now. When the temple entrance is drowned in water, it is said that a priest dives into the water to worship and perform other rituals. The elegant architecture of the Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple includes a Nagara Shikhara (high curve shape) and a Garbhagriha (sanctum), which gets engulfed by water, the level of which reaches up to the Shikhara.

Before the 1860s, it was erected straight, but then, according to one of the beliefs, the temple ghat collapsed as it was not to bear its weight, thus tilting the temple backwards. Dr Ratnesh Varma of the District Cultural Committee once claimed that it was constructed by the Amethi royal family. Legend has it that a servant of Raja Man Singh built the Ratneshwar Temple as a token of love for his mother, Ratna Bai.

During the monsoon, when the temple sanctum submerges in water, no rituals are performed, and no prayers are heard. So, some people also believe that it is a cursed temple that could bring misfortune in their lives. 

ANCIENT WORLD

What are hieroglyphs?

This strange-sounding word actually describes a form of picture writing used by the ancient Egyptians. 

The Egyptians used about 1000 pictures or hieroglyphs to express their thoughts. Each hieroglyph stood for an object, sound or idea. The hieroglyphs were written on paper called papyrus, made of reeds. Gradually, people stopped using hieroglyphs and in time, everyone forgot what the pictures meant. Then, in 1799, a stone called the Rosetta Stone was found, which had writing in three languages, including the hieroglyphic language.

A Frenchman named Jean Francois Champollion was able to translate the hieroglyphs and now scholars of the ancient Egyptian civilisation can read hieroglyphs. If you want, you can learn it too when you grow up!

MUSEUM WITH LARGEST ONE-MAN COLLECTION

Salar Jung Museum

The Salar Jung Museum is a museum in Hyderabad having an exquisite collection of priceless art treasures. The unique feature of this museum is that it is the largest one-man collection of art objects and antiques on public display anywhere in the world. Its founder was Nawab Mir Yusuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III (1889 –1949), Prime Minister to the Nizam of Hyderabad.

Salar Jung III had a passion for antiques, and collected from all over the world rare manuscripts, sculptures, paintings, clocks and other items. It is believed that he spent half his income and his entire life in building his magnificent collection, which was housed in his palace, Diwan Deodi.

Salar Jung was a lifelong bachelor, and had no heirs. So, on his death, his collection was taken over by the Government of India. It was shifted to the present building in 1968. The treasures of the museum represent an amazing mix of antiquity and modernity. There are a mind-boggling range of items belonging to different civilizations and retrieved from nearly every nook and corner of the world.

The museum has separate sections devoted to Indian paintings, western art, clocks, textiles, glassware, jade, ivory, textiles and rare manuscripts. One of the most splendid exhibits is the Veiled Rebecca, a marble statue by Benzoni(1876), which is a startlingly lifelike representation of a woman draped in a wet veil.