NAINITAL

Based in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand surrounding the volcanic

lake Nani, Nainital is adored by millions and is often referred as the
Lake District of India. It is a destination for all, whether you are looking
for a perfect family outing, or a romantic getaway. It is well connected by
the major cities and offers a lot to rejuvenate your body and soul.
Nainital Mountaineering Club; the name is enough to cheer the
adrenaline seekers. With the variety of treks and the picturesque
locations, Nainital is surely a must visit location.
Nainital About this sound pronunciation (helpinfo) is a popular hill station
in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and headquarters of Nainital district in
the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas. Situated at an altitude of
2,084 metres (6,837 ft) above sea level, Nainital is set in a valley
containing

pear-shaped

lake,

approximately

two

miles

in

circumference, and surrounded by mountains, of which the highest are

Naina (2,615 m (8,579 ft)) on the north, Deopatha (2,438 m (7,999 ft)) on
the west, and Ayarpatha (2,278 m (7,474 ft)) on the south. From the tops
of the higher peaks, "magnificent views can be obtained of the vast plain
to the south, or of the mass of tangled ridges lying north, bounded by the
great snowy range which forms the central axis of the Himalayas

SHIMLA
The once summer capital of the British, now the capital of Himachal
Pradesh, is surely a delight for the eyes. With its spectacular vista,
Shimla is a region that is highly appreciated for its ethnic culture and
eternal beauty. Nati, a local form of dance could be seen performed by
the ever-friendly jubilant locals. Shimla is also an architectural paradise,
flaunting many splendid colonial architecture buildings.
After the reorganisation, the Mahasu district and its major portion was
merged with Shimla. Its name is derived from the goddess Shyamala
Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Kali. As of 2011 Shimla
comprises 19 hill states; mainly Balson, Bushahr, Bhaji and Koti, Darkoti,
Tharoch & Dhadi, Kumharsain, Khaneti & Delath, Dhami, Jubbal,
Keothal, Madhan, Rawingarh, Ratesh, and Sangri.
Shimla is home to a number of colleges and research institutions as well
as multiple temples and palaces. The city's buildings are styled in the
Tudorbethan and neo-Gothic architectures dating from the colonial era.
Owing to its steep terrain, Shimla hosts the mountain biking race MTB
Himalaya, which started in 2005 and is regarded as the biggest event of
its kind in South Asia.

First humans originated in Africa's Great Rift Valley, a large lowland area
caused by tectonic plate movement that includes parts of present-day
Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. Human ancestors traveled in all
directions, constantly in search of abundant food resources and new
places to inhabit. Scientists believe there were numerous migratory
routes out of Africa by human ancestors but the latest migration by
Homo sapiens is thought to have occurred in the last 60,000-100,000
years.
Shelter from the Elements
Human beings have proven themselves very capable of adapting to their
environments. The ability to make and use tools, our control of fire and
our knack for finding shelter from the elements all contribute to our
collective knowledge. Sites like Blombos Cave, shown here, have given
scientists evidence about how early humans lived and what they were
capable of.
Blombos Cave
Blombos Cave, on the South African coast east of the Cape of Good
Hope (the Southern tip of Africa), is an important archaeological site with
evidence of human habitation from about 95,000 to about 55,000 years
ago. Materials found at the site can tell us a lot about early human life.
Shore Dinner
Shell fragments found outside of Blombos Cave indicate that the site's
inhabitants used shellfish as a significant source of food energy. There is
some evidence that human inhabitants of this site also went deep sea
fishing for larger prey. Some shells were made into beads that have
been dated at 75,000 years old, an indication that these early humans
were also interested in adornment, a form of symbolic expression.

Old Stone Age Writing?

These pieces of ochre (a mineralized form of iron oxide) were found at
the Blombos Cave site. Some archaeologists have gone so far as to
claim that the geometric markings on the stones are a form of writing, or
recording of information, but there is little doubt that these 75,000 year
old pieces at least demonstrate an early form of symbolic thought.
Hafting
Hafting, the construction of tools that combined stone heads or points
with wooden handles or shafts, is considered to be an important
innovation by early humans. Resin (such as the sticky sap or "pitch" you
might find on a pine tree) and/or sinew (cured bands of animal tissue)
was used to secure the sharpened stones to their wooden counterparts.
Humans are thought to have begun making hafted tools between
100,000 and 200,000 years ago.
Big Game
Innovations in tool technology proved extremely important for hunting
large game, such as the wooly mammoths shown here. Early humans
used stone and hafted tools to bring down the game and then to cut the
meat and skins for food and clothing.
The Bushmen
The Bushmen, a foraging people of Southern Africa, continued with the
hunting and gathering lifestyle well into the 20th century. Today,
diminishing open lands and increasingly limited public access to stocks
of wild food sources have caused most Bushmen like the two hunters
shown here to take up a sedentary life. Foraging cultures still exist in the
most remote parts of the world but they are few, and far between.