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Get, set, do that burpee!

How do you do that perfect burpee? A quick game to help you figure it out.

Burpees are a great way to exercise not just the core but the whole body. But, how do you do one? Try your hand at this game to check out the steps involved in getting your burpee right.

Secrets in the wild

Four of India’s National Parks offer more than just sightings of wildlife. Learn about the hidden secrets…

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) designates World Heritage Sites of outstanding universal value to cultural or natural heritage. Of the 40 World Heritage Sites located in India, seven come under natural heritage. These are designated according to physical and biological formations, geological and physiographical formations and natural sites important from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty. But there are a few that have more than just Nature to showcase. They also hold heritage or historical structures. Here are four such National Parks.

Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan

Apart from the majestic tiger, this park also has the ruins of the Raj Bagh (between the Padam Talo and Raj Bagh Talo) as an attraction. These ancient ruins are stone structures said to be from ancient Rajput constructions in the form of arches, palace outhouses, domes and steps. They were once the Hunting lodge of Maharaja of Jaipur. Surrounded by dense jungle, they often serve as a hideout for royal Bengal tigers.

Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Home to more than 150 Royal Bengal tigers, this popular reserve was in the news recently after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered ancient caves, temples, remains of Buddhist structures, and statues of Vishnu’s dashavataras. More than 26 temples, two monasteries, 26 caves, two votive stupas, 46 sculptures, 24 inscriptions and 19 water structures have been found. Some date back to the Gupta period and others between the ninth and 11th centuries CE. Inscriptions found in the reserve forest refer to places such as Kaushambi, Mathura, Vejabharada and Pavata.

Jhalana Safari Park, Rajasthan

Set in the foothills of Aravallis, Jhalana is famous for birds and for sightings of the Indian leopard. The old hunting lodge atop a hill offers a panoramic view of Jaipur. The old Shikar Audhi (Hunting Palace) stands tall, even after the last tiger was shot in 1948. After the tiger disappeared here, leopards are the apex predator.

Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh

UNESCO recognised the Panna Biosphere Reserve (encompassing the Panna National Park and three sections of the Gangau Wildlife Sanctuary) in 2020. The area is known for tigers, leopards and sloth bears. Paintings on slate and sandstone formations deep in the remote gorges of the Talgaon Plateau show evidence of human habitation from ancient times. Specifically, painted rocks depicting the life and times of the Gond tribe have been found.

Ancient wonders

Walk through the streets of some of the most ancient cities in the country to witness history come alive.

Gods and kings, riches and ruins, prosperity and plunder… some of the oldest cities in India have seen it all. Scroll through these slides to read about some of these cities. Don’t forget to complete the interactive tasks that follow.

Based on what you have just read, try these tasks.



Good job!

Photos: Wikimedia Commons

Peel the layers

Get under your skin to discover the layers that make up this organ.

Did you know that the skin is the largest organ of the body? Human adults carry around 3.6 kg and around 2 sq. mt of it! The main function of the skin is to protect the body from external factors such as heat, light, injury and infection.

The skin has multiple layers, each with its own unique function. Before we look at them, can you identify and label these layers correctly? Drag & drop the names in the right boxes.

 

Layers of the skin

Epidermis: It is the thin outer layer of the skin. It consists of 3 types of cells: Squamous cells (the outermost layer that is constantly shed); Basal cells; and Melanocytes (make melanin that gives the skin its colour.)

Dermis: The middle layer of the skin which contains the blood vessels, hair follicles, sweat glands and nerves, among others. They are all held together by a protein called collagen. This layer gives the skin its flexibility and contains pain and touch receptors.

Subcutaneous tissue (fat layer): It is the deepest layer of the skin helps conserve the body’s heat and protects the body from injury by acting as a shock absorber.

What’s cooking?

A fun trip isn’t complete without food. So here’s an image of tourists in Paris but with a catch. You have to spot the food items hidden within it.

This family is visiting the Eiffel Tower but hidden in the picture are 10 food items. Take a close look and see how many you can find.

Picture: Getty Images/iStockPhoto

India’s Jurassic parks

Palaeontologists have made it possible for us to rediscover the country’s prehistoric past.

The first dinosaur fossils were discovered in India in 1828 in Jabalpur. The species was named Titanosaurus indicus (meaning “Titanic Indian lizard”). Since then, several more fossils, dating back to the Jurassic period, have been discovered in various parts of the country.

Did you know that thousands of dinosaur eggs have been unearthed in Gujarat, making it one of the largest dinosaur hatcheries in the world?

The discovery of dinosaur fossils and their sites has opened a whole new world for tourists to explore. At these places, one can learn more about the different species of dinosaurs that once roamed the Earth, and specifically the Indian subcontinent, namely, the Rajasaurus, Kotasaurus and Barapasarus.

Let’s take a look at some of the famous dinosaur fossil sites where you can go on a date with the prehistoric reptiles…

Quiz whizz: January 26, 2023

Give your grey cells a great workout with six questions.

Ready for some fun with GK? Well, here are six questions that w2ill help up your GK ante. Choose the correct answer from the four options given.

The last bastion

Forts were built to protect the town or city they were situated in. While some are grand, massive structures others are more simple and practical. Can you find the state or city in which the fort is located?

There is documentary evidence of the existence of forts in India from medieval times. The architecture of the forts had both Hindu and Muslim influences. In local languages, fort names are suffixed with durga (Sanskrit), qila (Urdu), garh or gad.

Types of forts

The Arthashastra the Indian treatise on military strategy describes major types of forts differentiated by their major mode of defence.

Jala-Durga, surrounded by natural water bodies (water fort)

Dhanvana or Maru-durga, surrounded by arid land of at least 73km (desert fort)

Giri-Durga, located on a flat hill summit (hill fort)

Vana-Durga, surrounded by a dense forest cover for at least 15 km (forest fort)

Mahi-Durga, surrounded by earthen walls as well as, stone and brick (earthen fort)

Nri-Durga, defended by a large number of warriors. Usually, a city fortress is populated by a substantial garrison (human fort)

Now, try your hand at this word search. Find the state/city where the fort is located using pictorial and text clues.

Across the country

Here are some amazing facts about tourism in India.

Do you know how many tourists visit India every year? Or how much this sector contributes to the economy? Find out all this and more on National Tourism Day (January 25).