Make it easy to do business in India.

Make it easy to do business in India.

Poor world was dying due to hunger 5 decades ago, now rising as middle class people (350M in 2030 and 700M in 2050) moving from rural to cities. Urbans generate 80% of global GDP, use 75% of resources and emit 2/3 of the green house gases. It has posed a big economic challenge in front of many developing countries to create jobs for the youth or to face social revolutions.

Look at the macro picture of India.

1. India ranked 134/189 (now slipped to 142) for ease of doing business.

2. India's current account deficit is due to oil imports. But mostly people and businesses are dependent on road transport. Developed countries used Rail and water ways more. Rail to Road ratio is suppose to be 80:20, but in India it is 20:80.

3. The country has food stock of 60 MT but food inflation is 23%.

4. High Protein Inflation but high export of Soya.

5. It is water scarce country but exporting rice (1kg of rice consume 3000 ltr of water).

6. Skilled workforce earn high wages at high end but masses of workforce are poor skilled, earning less.

7. Wage gap and productivity gap are big between formal and informal sectors.

8. 40% of the demographic dividend is stunting. 50% demographic dividend cut as women are not fully participating in GDP generation as workforce.

9. Value chain participation lowest among 25 developing countries.

10. Logistics in India is a major problem. Cost of logistics is inefficiency.

11. 650 border posts across the States, trading India & India.

12. India is a urbanised country, where large, medium, small and intermediate urban areas are growing rapidly.

13. MSME generates 50% of GDP and 50% of employment but get only 2.3% of bank finance.

14. Private sector has ability to raise resources for infrastructures.  It has ability to bring in project managers to implement projects in time limit and without cost over run. 

15. Economic development is supported by Bureaucrats but created by entrepreneurs. They created jobs in the area where nothing was there 10 Y ago.

16. FDI expects predictability and consistency in policies, tax structures and no retrospective ammendments appreciated. 

17. Global walls are disappearing. National or International brand will survive as per customer satisfaction.

18. World has slower down in growth. Exports growth is going down. The developed countries about to face recession may search for investment opportunities where growth and rate of return are high.

19. Jobs in apparel, toy making etc are moving out of China and if India is not ready, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Myanmar etc will take away these jobs.

PM has targeted to reach to no. 50.

How will it be possible? Can we achieve it?

There are 3 critical issues to be addressed:

1. Challenge of Urbanisation.

2. Challenge of increasing share of manufacturing in GDP from 15% at present to 35%.

3. Challenge of Infrastructure building.

India and China were same in terms of growth till 1975. But China took a U turn, moved from peasantry based policies to manufacturing. Youth moved to cities from villages. 10% Growth rate boomed the economy growth to 16 fold. India started late in 1991.

Who created hurdles to do business in India? IAS officers (bureaucrats)? Politicians? Or corrupt practices of both to earn easy money to grow and win elections respectively? A debatable issue.

Let us focus on the following. These are doable.

1. IAS officers can be agent of change. They can dismantle procedure, papers and red tap, to make it simple and easy to do business. Trust between Public and Private sectors to be developed.  All decisions must centred around 12-13% growth.

2. Learn from local and global success stories and transplant them.

3. "India learning from India". There are good practices. Why Noida, Gudgaon, etc, not replicated?  States shall compete with each other.

4. Support the growth of young firms. Job created in last 10 years by them were not existed before.  Resolve problem of availability of credit to young firms and MSME sector.

5. Create opportunity for informal sector firms move in formal so that productivity and income of workers go up. Labour reforms like Rajasthan to be implemented by all States making exit of labourer easy.

6. Centre around Goal. Be a facilitator.

7. Better implement less inspections. Free manufacturing sector from inspector raj. Choose 'Policing' instead of 'Police Raj'. Audit is more effective than inspection.

8. Create conditions for jobs without worrying about from where the jobs coming from.

9. Compete to make goods for India to consume within country. Focus on domestic market.

10. Need a vibrant civil society like China, Japan , S. Korea.

11. From foreign investors perspective rupee value, inflation, uncertainty matters. Build capital sustainable market with clarity of contract terms and not retrospect tax structures.

12. To increase Agriculture sector share in GDP, address issues of 2nd green revolution.

13. Manufacturer sector to be further encouraged to grow exports by 28-30%/annum. Modify labour laws to make labourer exit easy and get new workforce to maintain viability of the project.

14. Develop good quality infrastructure. There is poverty in India in preparing good quality direst projects development. $1T investments to generate to build infrastructure in next 4-5 years.

15. Make it easy, easy to do business. Listen stakeholders, rationalise and understand larger goods of society.

16. Provide a Safety Net, to make entry and exit easy. 

17. Society to stress more on value education.

18. Need vibrant private enterprises to create jobs. 

19. Need for mother and child care from the day of conceive to improve quality of human resource. Need a global competitive workforce, therefore, all youth must complete study up to secondary education. Join women in workforce.

20. Build new but use better the infrastructure created.

21. Dismantle border posts and allow GST.

Let us be "Indian Agreement Service" on the "India Growth Agenda" for the better quality of life of the people of India.

Punamchand
18/11/14
Mussoorie

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Infrastructure Development a Key of Economic Growth

Infrastructure Development a Key of Economic Growth

Infrastructures is the backbone of any economy, because of which manufacturing and services sector will flourish.

Why to manufacturing and services to flourish? To generate employment for 50M unemployed, 100M underemployed and 12M inflow of new workforce joining per annum in India.

India invested well in infrastructures during 1992-2010 at the rate of 4.7% of GDP. However others nations were also investing on infrastructures, World (3.8%), Developing Countries (5.1%), Developing Asia (7.3%), China (8.5%) and Brazil (2.2%). China did well due to advantage of domestic savings and corporate profits investments.

India did well because its GDP reached to the level of US GDP of 1940 but invested more on infrastructure that of those days US. It is spending more in social sector and delivered growth at early stage of economy with full political representations. Due to voters awareness no Government can afford to overlook social spending.  Therefore there is decrease in capital expenditure as share on GDP and increase in subsidies & social spending as share of GDP. 

India need $ 1 trillion for infrastructure investments and the government resources are not sufficient enough to take a call. Therefore PPP was the option. And now, Indian PPP programme is the largest in the world. There was massive investments in last 15 years by private sectors.  Power, Telecoms, Roads & Bridges, Ports & Airports, Metro, the succ3 stories are many. A success of entrepreneur talent, banking support, robust equity & capital market and CA- Lawyers skills preparing contract.

The growth of telecom sector benefited the Nation. The unprecedented growth of Telecoms with 5% overall in 2003 to 73% today and Rural coverage increased from less than 1% in 2003 to 40% today.

The power generation of 2.5 lakh MW happened due to the PPP. India is lighting but more lights to come as its per capita energy consumption in 673 kWh. (Russia:6533, China:3298; South Africa: 4694; Pakistan:448).

The improved network of 4-6-8 lanes roads and development of ports (cargo turnover) and airports are visible.

But who flourished? The growth of its stakeholders was higher than a common man. Private sector, politicians, CA-Lawyers, and bureaucrats became rich, richer, richest.

The market cap of leading infrastructure companies is Rs.1,31,736 Cr (Adani Ports 61532 Cr, Reliance 16333 Cr).

But now we have reached to a lock jam stage of economy.  The period of 2010-14 brought challenges to us. Investments derailed.

Banks share in GDP is going down and NPA is going up.

India to invest 10% of GDP on infrastructure to maintain growth rate of economy. But estimating 6% investment and further booster of 1.5%, the Gap of 2.5% is yet to be filled.

How to raise capital is the biggest question in front of the new rulers. Because Indian banks have stopped funding (selective) and no company is in a position to raise money from equity market. The game become tough and challenges of new land acquisition act, environment and other regulatory approvals, short cuts by corrupt practices, gaming bid, etc, are to overcome, an uphill task.

SC canceled 123 telecom licenses and 214 of 218 coal blocks.

In Power Sector, 1 lakh MW (Rs.5 lakh Cr) (33%) power generation projects are under distress due to coal block issue. 14000 MW Projects (Rs. 70,000 Cr) held up under SC judgment, 25000 MW Projects held up in coal linkage problems and power purchase agreements, 24000 MW installed capacity is dysfunctional without Gas. The supplier (Big R) is supplying 8 Mcm against the supply agreement of 80 Mcm demanding price rise from $ 4.34 to $ 8. The opportunity cost of loss of electricity is very high. And a big risk of NPA, loss to the public banks.

"Influence Power of Big Business Houses is disproportionately Large".

Rs. 3.5 lakh Cr is a debt came from public sector Banks, of which 2.5 lakh Cr will go defunct may put the bank in losses of 1.5 lakh Cr with a potential NPA of Rs. 60,000  Cr. The loss of public money.

Coal sector is in shortage of 265 MTs coal as indigenous availability of 715 MTs is insufficient to meet the demand of 930 MTs. There is price risk in importing coal and electricity tariffs are controlled by the State. The revenue earning is at risk.

It's time to rope in NTPC to generate 35000 MW with Government money.

Renewable energy is a silver line in dark clouds.  An ambitious target to generate 72000 MW by 2022 from this source is fixed. Banks are ready to finance as Wind Energy aligned with thermal power costing and Solar energy came down to Rs.6.5-7/unit with further come down to a viability level. Power generation through generators costs Rs.12-20/unit.

The weaknesses have came out teaching us lessons. Integrated comprehensive view missing. All stakeholders are not talking to each other. Coordination and understanding a challenge. CVC, CAG, CBI and judiciary threatened the administrator to use discretionary powers. They are not joining as partners of decision making but ready to read retrospectively without the capacity of understanding macro issues of development.

Now a need of a Charismatic Leader to communicate and collaborate to all stakeholders including judiciary, CVC, CBI, CAG and the people of India. Take bold decisions and give more discretionary space to administrators to take decisions.

UPA started with pro business but ended with pro poor and anti business. NDA started with " sab ka saath sab ka vikas", hope will make it pro people, pro business. "A Win Win".

Never forget the informal sector, giving employment to 80-90% and starving without bank finance. Bigs are converting into NPA and Smalls are starving. Bridge the Gap.

Punamchand
20/11/14
Mussoorie

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Gandhi ke Ram

Gandhi ke Ram

Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth". Albert Einstein

As a child, Mohan had a fear of ghosts and spirit. Rambha, an old servant of his family suggested him to repeat Ramnam to overcome this fear. He had more faith in her than in her remedy, and so at a tender age he began repeating Ramnam to cure his fear of ghosts and spirits. Seed of Ramnam sown by Rambha took a permanent place in his life thereafter.

He had followed principles of Pranami and Jainism in his living. But when it comes to worship, Ram was his lord. Truth was God and the God was Ram who lives in the heart of everyone in full purity. Ramrajya for him, a rajya of justice and good governance.

Ramdhun and Raghupati Raghav Rajaram bhajan were part of his morning and evening prayers in Ashram. He used to repeat Ramnam and used to hear Ram/Atma voice in deep meditation for searching light/answers of his puzzles. When he was in pain or sorrow, he remembered Ramnam. Ram became his medicine of all diseases.

When his efforts of convincing Jinnah, Sardar and Nehru failed for united independent India, he accepted the decision with pain in heart. He wrote, " I shall perhaps not be alive to witness it (the partition), but should the evil I apprehend overtake India and Her independence be imperiled, let posterity know that agony this old soul went through thinking of it. Let it not be said that Gandhi was a party to India's vivisection. But everybody today is impatient for independence. Therefore, there is no other help."

A life he lived, presenting him as a symbol of India, moving towards the end. Hindu-Muslim unity was his goal. But with partition, both his arms cut into India and Pakistan, his heart was broken into many pieces. When he saw killings of innocent people in Noakhali, Kolkata and Delhi with his own eyes and heard about the cruelty and killing of people in Punjab, his heart was crying. A man who expressed his desire to live 125 years with his naturopathy, suddenly lost interest in living.

When he expressed his desire for living 125 years in 1946, a man in Pune wrote in Agrani, "but who will allow you to live"? In his last editorial of “Agrani” which he changed overnight – he said “Gandhi must be stopped – at any cost".

Gandhi was searching for a light of God but he couldn't find. He was surrounded by darkness. His people whom he grew were not listening to him. His voice lost comand over masses. Many People of both the religion started looking at him with doubts.

He was calling his Ram to give mukti from this pain. His plan to go to Pakistan along with refugees came to India and bring back the people migrated from India couldn't materialised as he couldn't move out of Delhi after arrival on 9/9/47, due to communal violence in Delhi.

He tried to bring peace with his weapon of fast, a mean to communicate the language of his heart to many with effective message. He started his fast (last of the life) on 13/1/48 with demands of ensuring safety of lives and properties of Muslims living in Delhi and paying Rs. 55 crore to Pakistan as its legal share. The Cabinet of GoI reverted its decision and accepted his demand. But a man in Pune took a decision to remove his body forever to stop him for pleading for Muslims.
After assurance from the leaders of all the groups, he broke his fast on 18/1/48. But killers were active. Madanlal Pahva, a refusee attempted a bomb blast in Birla House to kill him on 20/1/48, failed. But another guy an active member of a religious organisation and an editor of Agarani, took a rein of killing Gandhi in his hand.

Gandhi's heart was full of pain due to partion and pre-post independence killings of innocent people, started calling his Ram to relieve him from this pain and darkness. After the attempt of his assassination on 20/1/48, he talked more about his death. He told Manu on 28/1/48, two days before his death, "if I am to die by the bullet of a mad man, I must do so smiling. There must be no anger within me. God must be in my heart and Ramnam on my lips".

On January 30, 1948, after meeting Sardar Patel for an hour (4.10 - 5.10pm) he made his way to prayer meeting. Leaning lightly on two girls, Manu and Abha, his walking stick, he took a short cut across the grass, walking briskly to make up for the lost time and then mounted the six low steps upto the level of the prayer ground. There were 400-500 people present in Birla Mandir.

Suddenly, at 5.15 pm Ramchandra came from the the right side, pushed Manu aside, bowed and shot physically weak Gandhi in the chest three times at point blanck with a Beretta M 1934 No.606824 (most Infamous Weapon in Mankind's History) semi-automatic pistol at very weak Gandhi.

Feeble sound "Hey Ram" came from him, he fell down and died. Light has gone out. Gandhi died "ichcha mrityu". The highest "moral justice court" was destroyed. Light of India has gone. The Father of the Nation was killed by a fanatic Hindu Son. It was a reverse Brahmhatya of Kaliyug.

Nehru addressed, "The light has gone out, I said, and yet I was wrong. For the light that shone in this country was no ordinary light. The light that has illumined this country for these many years will illumine this country for many more years..."

The Pope described him "hero of humanity. "

The killer was Ramchandra, brought up as a girl with pierced nose (to wear a nose ring) for first few years by his parents Lakshmi Vinayak Godse as their three sons prior to him died in their infancy. Ramchandra earned the nickname "Nathuram" (literally "Ram with a nose-ring").

Gandhi was calling Ram but Ramchandra (Nathuram) came and relieved him from his body by an assassination.
Special Court Judge Atma Charan Agrawal (ICS) sentenced him to death. 

Justice G D Khosla who was involved in the Gandhi murder case trial. Concluding his book The Murder of the Mahatma, Khosla wrote, “I have no doubt that had the audience of that day been constituted into a jury and entrusted with the task of deciding Godse’s appeal, they would have brought in a verdict of ‘not guilty’ by an overwhelming majority”. But to quote Godse, his life also came to an end simultaneously with the shots fired by him at Gandhiji.

Kabir said,
एक राम दशरथ का बेटा, दूजा घटघट मे बैठा; तिसरे का सकल पसारा, चौथा है सबसे न्यारा।

Gandhi's Ram (God) was Truth.

आप का राम कौन?

Punamchand

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Damad Babu

"Damad Babu"

Robert Vadra, a man, more in news than his "Sala" and known as magic machine of making smart money in shortest time, though defamed as 'damad babu', similar like Benzir Butto's Mr. 10%, is a person born on 18/4/69 with exalted Sun and debilitated Saturn in his horoscope. Surprisingly, this is 3th horoscope in a raw (other 2, Kejarival & Raga) with debilitated Saturn" performed badly during the elections fought under greater influence of "exalted Saturn". 

Lucky to get lady luck Priyanka from Gandhi family, he has many other yogas; budhaditya, malavya (exalted Venus), own housed Mars - exalted in Navanmsh, nich bhang rajyoga with debilitated Saturn, strong union of Sun-Saturn-Mercury-Moon, etc.

In the Moon Lagna, the lord of 2nd and 7th house, exalted Venus placed in 12th house of Pisces and aspected by the house lord Jupiter, might be saving his marriage life and wealth. 

Born in under Venus Mahadasha, the guy has been passed through Rahu Mahadasha from 18/8/93 to 18/8/2011. Rahu in union with Venus and aspected by Jupiter gave him huge wealth and wife from an influential family. The period of Jupiter from 19/8/11 to 18/8/27 is good for him to travel lot and multiply his wealth through FDI. He must have moved his direction towards foreign nations and will be able to grow his wealth their faster than that in India (2/2/19 to 1/3/22). However, antardasha period of Saturn from 6/10/13 to 18/4/16 will continue him under worries from Government and public perception. 

Punamchand
8 November 2014

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Chino Hills (LA, USA) Swaminarayan Temple is an achievement of people's will and determinations.

Chino Hills (LA, USA) Swaminarayan Temple is an achievement of people's will and determinations.

Many of you know about BAPS, Shri Pramukh Swami and Swami Narayan Temples in the world. Swami Narayan Swaroop Dasji (Pramukh Swami) became president of BAPS 57 years ago and still heading the organisation at 92Y. They started from the scratch, cooking khichadi by using cut kerosene tin as patili; constructed more than 1000 'Hari Mandirs' and 50 "Shikhar Mandirs (average, each one costing 100 Cr +)" in 5 decades, all over the world under the leadership of Shri Pramukh Swami Maharaj. BAPS runs many educational institutions and do social services. And always ready to serve people, whether Kutch earthquake or Kedar calamity.  

Mostly professionals, the cadre of their 'Sadhus' are innovative, industrious and highly active. Though, it is open for a 'Sadhu' to return in 'Samsar', but hardly a drop in a decade as they are prepared through systematic training and probation modules.

No body takes credit here. If you ask 'Hari Bhaktas', they will say "Swami Kripa". If asks Swami/Sadhus, they say "Pramukh Swami Kripa". If ask Pramukh Swami, he will say "Yogiji Maharaj's Kripa". Whatever 'sankalp' Shri Pramukh Swami proposes, the BAPS team materialise it as per his directions. It is one of the best teams on earth doing positive acts for mankind, preserving the positive culture of Hindu Society. 

City of Chino Hills is a southeastern suburb of Los Angeles, USA. In a town of 75000 population, there are few Gujaratis living in. Shri Pramukh Swami came here in 2007 and selected a place near the highway to build a Shikhar Temple of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The land was purchased and Haveli was constructed as 'Hari Mandir' to start with. The area is earthquake prone zone as the fault line is passing through nearby. Building a 'Stone Temple' in a earthquake zone was an uphill task. The Temple was designed but local administration (City Council) denied permission. Kothari Swami Sarva Darshanji lead team of Sadhus and Haribhaktas were trying hard and not leaving single stone unturned to make things happen. But the Mayor and Council members were against.  They were not ready to give permission of a height of the building beyond 42 feet. And Shikhar Mandir can't be built with that height. The task became challenging after 'pran pratistha' of 'idols' and laying foundation stone by Shri Pramukh Swami in 2009.

The mission 'Chino Hills' started. The Sadhus and Haribhaktas started meeting people, describing BAPS activities and the Project of the temple. Personal meetings, handouts, workshops, collection of supporting letters and trying for persuading the Mayor and Council members through their families and friends continued. The 5 city council members meet of the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, with opportunity for residents to voice their opinion during the open forum. Finally, an open hearing started with the presence of the Mayor and 5 council members. Before entering into the hall, the Mayor and 2 council members were against, 2 were in favour and 1was neutral for the project. 500 people attended the open forum. When the meeting took place, their mind changed. Except one, the people present in the hall stood up in favour of the project. The Mayor and Council members finally approved the project unanimously permitting construction of a shikhar temple of stone with a height of 78 feet. The Mayor said, "technically my mind is against the project, but my heart favours, therefore I favour it". The hard nut was finally cracked. 

Money matters. But Chino Hills temple was built by all with their "tan, man and dhan". No millionaire has built it. "Women Haribhaktas" gave away everything they have. Children and teenage saved 1-2 $ a day from their pocket money and entertainments and donated $1M to build the temple. A school boy collected 25-50 cents from his peers, by standing in a food queue in school, gathered $500 and donated. The youth learned  wiring to make iron bar pillars and columns structures, and did it. Many devoted their 24×7 time. Rakeshbhai, who knew nothing about building a temple, is now playing a lead role in guiding construction in other places in USA. 

The Temple is unique and only one of such a stone structure erected with combined vibration control solution technics of earth resistance. It was designed to withstand largest earthquake of a certain probabilities. Cost doubled but its steel plates and load bearing columns separating base structure and main structure, transferring load over columns to with stand seismic activity of higher magnitude. The hand carving on wood in Haveli and Stone carving on temple are intricate, and based on traditional Indian religious symbols and architecture. 

Its outer walls are made of sand stone and inner temple is made of marbles. The intricate carving, is the best of present time. All made in India, transported and assembled here in America. 

And when one enters into the temple, one meditate without efforts. All say, "never seen before, never experience before".

Do visit. Chino Hills BAPS Swaminarayan Temple, the temple of Shri Pramukh Swami's Sankalp; lead and follow up by Sadhus; determinations, dedication and Samarpan of Haribhaktas. 

High Fly the Flag of Hindu Culture of "Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam" (whole world is one family).

Punamchand
8 November 2014, Sky

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Win Big, Sequoia, the tree never die.

Win Big, Sequoia, the tree never die. 

"It's a big world for a little seed. Each stage of life presents many hazards, and the odds of a single seed becoming a giant are extremely small. To increase the chance that a few will grow to maturity, Sequoias produce millions of seeds. Ultimately, one seed per mature Sequoia must reach maturity if the Greater Forest to survive. "

After a short visit of Golden Gate Bridge, port area, China Town and a drive in the streets including Crew cut Street of San Francisco we moved towards Greater Forest area of Sequoia National Park. (Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco is an interesting example of people's determination in raising $35 million by bonds to build it during 1928-35, a worst economy time of deep depression. It was engineering excel of building a bridge with a high tower to reduce tension over iron ropes that hold the bridge). 

After a long drive of 300 miles, we reached Sequoia & Kings National Park and the Three Rivers area, in the evening. After checking in Comfort Inn, and eating supper of ready to eat Indian food, we walked besides the highway under the bright moon light of a day prior to Dev Diwali. This was the brightest moon of my life, seen without pollution, "the Chaudavee ka Chand". It was meditative walk under the sky dome in presence of cool full moon. There was Comfort Inn to stay, Subway and Pizza Factory to eat, grocery shop to buy, Sequoia Bank to encase, and a Post Office to receive and send parcels. Sufficient infrastructure to attract the tourists to come, stay and enjoy. 

Next day, after the breakfast we traveled 50 miles in the greater forest area.

Sequoia National Park spans 1635 km2 area. It is famous for its giant sequoia trees, including the "General Sherman" tree, one of the largest trees (height 275 ft) on Earth. Dense with sequoia, pine and other trees, little snow fall made the Greater forest area more beautiful. Encompassing a vertical relief of nearly 13,000 feet (4,000 m), the park contains among its natural resources the highest point in the contiguous 48 United States, Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet (4,421 m) above sea level. A landscape that still resembles the southern Sierra Nevada before Euro-American settlement has been preserved.

Sequoia never die except by fall through winds or by forest fire. It has recorded life of 3200 years, a witness of entire human civilisation from ancient to modern!

Seeing the long living trees in thousands and meeting the oldest 'the General Sherman" was really memorable experience of life. It is 275 feet high and considered 2700 years old by the scientists. The oldest (3209 years, 317 feet high) fell down some years ago.

Few bird watchers were moving with large cameras for clicking birds in best of the action in the forest. Bears, Dears, Squirrels and birds are adding into the beauty of the Greater forest. 

The visitor centre displaying small museum, giving information and selling souvenirs, signage to guide tourists, etc, indicate the tourism promotional care of the US Department of Interiors. 

I had visited Lure Canyons, and due to time constraint, couldn't go to crystal canyons in the Greater forest. But you get a chance to travel the greater forest do visit the canyons. 

" Look at Sequoia Tree and Imagine that you are a Sequoia seed. And Turn the wheel of life to see if you will WIN BIG"

Punamchand
7 November 2014, LA

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Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, A heaven for nature lovers

Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, A heaven for nature lovers

Washington District of Colombia is a city of Government buildings, monuments and museums. But little away there is beautiful State of Virginia, the lover's Kingdom exists. It's a fall season. 100 miles drive to Shenandoah Valley in the heart of Appalachians, was a lasting memory of eternal beauty. Its sky line drive full of scenic views for miles, brilliant leaf colours of fall season on oak trees in Blue Ridge Mountains, streams, Lurey Caverns, Car & Carriage Caravan Museum, etc are unforgettable. The mountains in different leaf colours were looking like a big portrait painted with colours by God. It enters into you and you merge in it. Nature changes its colours in each season and each seasonal cycle in the year is different, bringing new reasons to return to the park. 

We were little late by a week but still could see the different leaf colours, yellow, red, maroon, etc. Many are turning brown. Due to uncertainty of weather this year and warmer Summer, the tree sensors confused little bit and therefore the time cycle for each tree to change colours of leaf had variation of few days. But believe me, you can feel the trees are talking to each other.  Human ears are yet to develop the sense to hear their joys and sorrows.

The visit of Luray Caverns in the park was an exciting experience. It was fun and educational. The separation of the American from continent of Europe and Africa, or the continental drift, occurred about 600 million years ago. A broad shallow depression from Alabama to Newfoundland was formed.  Then, for 400 million years, an ancient sea flooded the area that is now Appalachian Mountains. The formation of Luray Caverns began after the limestone of the Shenandoah Valley was formed as a result of the inland sea. It's a magnificent cave. The second  of my life but most beautiful. To make the tour interesting each formation has been given different names, including fish market, shady dog etc, so that children can also enjoy. The children of age 6-7 asking questions and after listening answer say, "it makes sense", was amazing. The Dream Lake, largest body of water in the caverns, however, its deepest point is not more than 18 to 20 inches deep. This pool of water makes a perfect reflection of the abundant stalactites hanging from the ceiling.  Saracent's Tent, one of the most perfectly formed drapery structures in the world.

Since 1954, visitors have tossed approximately 20 million coins into Luray Caverens Wishing Well, a large subterranean pool of water over six feet deep. Once in a year the coins are removed, cleaned and deposited in a special bank account for future distribution to charitable organisations. It is recognised as probably the world's most productive. The generous visitors have provided more than $400,000 through the Luray Caverens Wishing Well. Isn't it the unique way to promote Charity!

And a switched off for few moments, gave us immense peace of darkness in the caverns. 

And not to forget to see the Great Stalacpipe Organ, the world's largest musical instrument. Stalacties covering 3.5 acres of surrounding caverns produce tones of symphonic quality when electronically tapped by rubber-tipped mallets. Electronic mallets were wired throughout the caverns and connected to large four manual console. When a key is depressed, a tone occurs as the rubber-tipped plunger strikes the stalactite tuned to connect pitch. This most unique, one of a kind instrument was invented in 1954 by Mr. Leland W. Sprinkle of Springfield, Virginia, a mathematician and electronic scientist.

The tour to Luray Caverns was pleasant, peaceful and educative. 

Adjutant to Coffee Shop in the entrance there is Historic Car and Carriage Caravan is a Museum. It is tracing the history of America in an exhibit featuring over 140 items relating to transportation including cares, carriages, coaches and costumes dating to 1725. Seeing well maintained old cars in big numbers was a joy for us. A prize in the collection of authentically restored vehicles is the 1892 Benz, one of the oldest cars in the country still in operating condition.  Other highlights include a Conestoga Wagon, a 1908 Baker Electric, a 1913 Stanley Steamer, Rudolph Valentino's 1925 Rolls Royce and many more. 

After a break of 6 hours, coffee and French fries with little shopping of souvenirs filled the trip with further happiness. 

We did see the Luray Singing Tower situated in a park opposite Luray Caverns from a distance but missed seeing its 47 bells and their musical sounds. 

In 1936, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated Shenandoah National Park to "this and to succeeding generations for the recreation and the recreation" they would find here. Are you keen to recreate? 

Plan a trip in October if you wish to see the colours of Nature of Fall Season or in Summer if wishing to enjoy Spring. 

It was a memorable experience. Great Sunday in America!

Punamchand
3 November 2014, WDC. 

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