Nutritious recipes for growing children by Indian Chefs

Here are two recipes which will provide adequate nutrition to your growing child.

1. Tava Rice ( Growing Kids Recipe) by Chef Sandeep Kumar
Your little ones will surely love this dish as it is both colourful and yummy! and you will love it too, because it is quick to make and easy to serve.

Ingredients:
1 tbsp oil
1/2 cup finely chopped spring onions with the greens
2 tsp ginger-garlic (adrak-lehsun) paste
2 tsp ginger-garlic (adrak-lehsun) paste
1/4 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
1/4 cup thinly sliced capsicum
1/4 cup chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp fresh curds (dahi)
3/4 cup boiled rajma (kidney beans)
3 cups cooked rice (chawal)
salt to taste
2 tbsp chopped coriander (dhania) for the garnish
Steps:
Heat the oil in a non-stick pan, add the spring onions and sauté for 1 minute.
Add the ginger-garlic paste and sauté again for a few seconds.
Add the chilli powder, turmeric powder, capsicum, tomatoes and curds and cook for 5 minutes while stirring continuously.
Add the rajma, rice and salt.
Mix well and cook for another minute.
Serve hot garnished with coriander.

2. Beetroot Halwa on Saffron Toast by Chef Saransh Goila 
Unusual yet tasty. Beetroot is not a common favourite, though this halwa will change your perception!
Ingredients for Halwa:
500 grams Beetroot, peeled and grated
3 cups milk ½ cup Khoya / Dried whole milk solids
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons ghee (Clarified butter)
1/2 tsp cardamom (elaichi) powder
4 drops rose water / essence
Ingredients for Rabdi:
100 grams Readymade Rabdi
10 strands Saffron
3 teaspoons milk
Ingredients for Chocolate Almonds:
100 grams White Chocolate 10 pcs.
Almonds: 10 nos.
10 pcs. Cashewnuts
Ingredients for Toast:
10 pcs. Bread slices
2 tablespoons Ghee/Clarified Butter
2 tablespoons Sugar
Steps for Halwa:
Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a pan, Add the beetroot to the pan and saute on medium flame for 8 – 10 minutes.
Once it is tender, add the hot milk and keep stirring till it reduces and becomes thick.
Add the sugar, mix well and cook, till it reduces.
Add the khoya, 1 tbsp ghee and cardamom powder and mix well.
When the halwa is cooked and becomes thick, add the rose water and mix well and keep aside.
Step to make Rabdi:
Now in 3tsp warm milk mix saffron strands. After 5 minutes add Rabdi to this saffron milk and simmer for 2 mins. Rabdi will get a beautiful saffron colour.
Step to make Chocolate Almonds:
Melt chocolate on a double boiler. As soon as it melts add cashewnuts and almonds to it. On a greased tray place these chocolate coated almonds one by one.
Keep it inside the fridge for 5 – 7 mins or until the coating has set.
Step to make Toast:
Cut bread slices into bite sized round/ square shapes.
Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a pan and add 2 tbsp sugar to it. Once it’s hot and sugar starts to melt.
Start cooking the bread slices until they’re golden brown from both sides.
Assemble the dessert, spread saffron rabdi on toast, place beetroot halwa quenelle on top of it and garnish with chocolate almonds.

Does Marijuana Make You Stupid?

The stereotype of an avid marijuana smoker is not flattering: slow, unmotivated, a little bit dulled by all that weed. But the science to back up this stereotype is far from clear.

Research is mixed as to whether marijuana causes declines in intelligence and functioning over time. Animal studies and some brain scans in humans provide reason for concern: Marijuana is psychoactive, and may cause structural brain changes. In people, weed's cognitive effects seem to last at least several weeks after use, long after the person stops feeling intoxicated. But only a few studies have revealed insight into whether pot lowers IQ in the long term, and those studies have returned conflicting results.

Hazy research

The recreational use of marijuana is now legal in four states (Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington) and the District of Columbia. Many other states have decriminalized the drug, and some also allow the use of medical marijuana. And a 2013 Gallup poll found that 58 percent of Americans support marijuana legalization, up from a mere 12 percent in 1969. In other words, the drug has never been more mainstream.

Despite the loosened regulations, however, marijuana research has lagged. Much of the reason has to do with the difficulty of getting marijuana for study, said Nick Jackson, a statistician at the University of Southern California and a co-author of one of the few longitudinal studies (which follow people over time) on marijuana use. In fact, there has been about three times more animal research on cocaine than on marijuana.

"You didn't need to jump through the same number of hoops to get cocaine to test on your animals as you do to get marijuana," Jackson told Live Science. The National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Drug Enforcement Administration contract with only one lab (at the University of Mississippi) to make marijuana available to researchers.

The Food and Drug Administration recently relaxed its rules for approving marijuana research, Jackson said. "Things are changing slowly but surely," he told Live Science. "But our research in this area is far behind where it needs to be." [The Drug Talk: 7 New Tips for Today's Parents]

That's why the answer to the question, "Does pot make people stupid?" is more complicated than it might seem.

Animal studies suggest that pot is not necessarily great for the brain. Rats exposed to marijuana's active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), experience brain changes and cognitive impairment. And short-term studies with human subjects clearly point to impacts on memory, learning and attention even once a user has sobered up. One 1996 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, for example, found that daily marijuana users did more poorly on tests of attention and executive function (such as planning and self-control) than people who'd smoked pot only once the month before, even though both groups abstained for at least 19 hours before the testing. The drug's effects may persist at least 20 days after smoking, according to a 2011 review on the topic.

But the burning question is whether pot hurts the brain in the long run. Does smoking the occasional joint as a teenager mess up your cognitive abilities for life? What if you pick up a pot habit as an adult, after the brain has completed its adolescent growth spurt? Does the dose make a difference?

Here, the answers are a lot fuzzier. Brain-scan studies in humans suggest that pot may be linked to anatomical brain changes, such as shrinking of the amygdala, a brain region that processes emotion, reward and fear. In some people with genetic vulnerability, such brain changes might be enough to tip someone into schizophrenia, which is more common in people who have used marijuana. However, the genes in question may lead people to smoke more pot and to be more prone to schizophrenia, rather than directly causing the link between pot and psychosis.

And that's the problem with trying to tease out pot's effects: People who use the drug are likely different from people who don't. Thus, studies comparing smokers with nonsmokers at a moment in time are of limited use: Maybe pot caused the cognitive effects you might find, or maybe some other factor explains the difference.

Looking long-term

To truly tease out the effect of marijuana alone, researchers have to follow people over time, ideally gathering information about their cognition and intelligence before they began using pot. Only a handful of studies have done this so far.

The first, published in the journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology in 2005, found that being a current regular user of marijuana led to deficits in memory, IQ, processing speed and memory, but people who had used the drug in the past but had since stopped did not show long-term effects three months after quitting. However, that study followed 113 teenagers who used marijuana for an average of only two years.

A bigger, longer-term study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in August 2012, did not bode well for pot connoisseurs. Researchers followed 1,037 New Zealanders from birth to age 38, assessing their cognitive function at age 13 (before any participants had started using cannabis) and again at age 38. Participants reported their cannabis use at age 18, 21, 26, 32 and 38, giving researchers an opportunity to determine whether cognitive effects differed depending on when a person started using marijuana and how long he or she continued to use it.

That study found global declines in cognition, including an average drop in IQ of about 6 points in people who had used marijuana. The biggest effects were seen in persistent users — people who reported having consumed marijuana in at least three interviews between the ages of 18 and 38. Notably, the deficits were not found in people who started using marijuana as adults, but were strong in people who took up the habit as teens. The researchers also had participants' close friends or family members fill out questionnaires on the participants' daily functioning, and found that those who had used marijuana were worse off than those who had not.

"Marijuana is not harmless, particularly for adolescents," study researcher Madeline Meier, now a psychology professor at Arizona State University, concluded in a statement sent to Live Science. [10 Facts Every Parent Should Know About Their Teen's Brain]

Not all of the longitudinal data agrees, however. For a study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology in January 2016, researchers followed 2,235 British teenagers, about a quarter of whom had tried pot at least once by age 15. The researchers found no link between cumulative marijuana exposure at age 15 and IQ or educational performance at age 16.

The study was based on a short time frame, but even longer-lasting investigations returned conflicting results. In February 2016, researchers published the results of a study following marijuana users and nonusers into middle age. They analyzed the verbal memory, processing speed and executive function (planning abilities and self-control) in 3,385 participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. About 84 percent (2,852) had used marijuana at some point, but only 11 percent (392) had used it in middle age. The study showed that after the researchers accounted for other factors that could have affected the results, such as other drug use and demographics, cumulative pot use was linked to worse verbal memory. For every five years of marijuana use, a person would remember one less word, on average, from a list of 15 they were asked to memorize. However, no declines in executive function or processing speed were found.

Turning to twins

Although all of these studies controlled for factors that might influence cognition — demographics, other drug use, education — those statistics aren't an exact science. Jackson, along with University of Minnesota Twin Cities researcher Joshua Isen, came up with a way to control the comparison.

The researchers were working with two data sets of more than 3,000 identical twins, meaning they had the same genetic makeup and the same home environment. The pairs of twins had undergone intelligence testing between the ages of 9 and 12 (before using marijuana), and between the ages of 17 and 20 (after some had started using the drug). By comparing marijuana users with their non-using twins, the researchers were able to control for the home and environmental factors that aren't necessarily captured in traditional statistical adjustments.

The analysis revealed that, overall, marijuana users were indeed cognitively worse off than nonusers in late adolescence. But the users were also worse off before they started using pot. And when researchers compared the pot users to their own non-using twins, they found that the sibling pairs ended up in the same place, cognitively speaking. Thus, it wasn't the pot use that was causing the differences between the group of pot users and non-users. It was some unexplored factor that affected both twins, whether they smoked pot or not.

"We believe that what we're looking at has something to do with the common environment that these twins share, something about their family environment or peer environment or school environment," Jackson said.

That does not mean that marijuana is harmless, Jackson said. Animal studies do show physiological effects of the drug, and it's likely that something similar is going on in the human brain. But it's not clear how strong the effects are, he said — if an animal exposed to pot runs a maze a few seconds more slowly, how does that translate to points on the human intelligence scale?

Jackson and Isen's research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academyof Science in February 2016, suggests that whatever marijuana's impacts are, they're dwarfed by the environmental factors that caused the pot use in the first place. Jackson said he suspects the results conflict with the 2012 study in New Zealand because in that study, researchers were following heavier users over the longer term, so the results reflect the problems those users had in childhood rather than problems caused by the pot use itself.

"I think the real question ends up being for kids, 'Should I be more concerned about how marijuana is affecting their brain, or should I be more concerned about what are the things that have led that person to seek refuge in marijuana?'" Jackson said. "What is going on in that 14-year-old's home life?"

Nevertheless, the research in this area is too nascent to draw firm conclusions about whether marijuana use is safe over time, all other things being equal. The National Institutes of Health announced last year that it is launching a longitudinal study of 10,000 children to track the effects of substance abuse, including marijuana exposure, over time. The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study will use neuropsychological testing, as well as brain imaging, to delve into these questions.

The answers are likely to be complicated by ever-changeable factors, such as the strength of marijuana being cultivated, Jackson said. Modern weed has been bred to be higher in THC than strains smoked in previous decades, and those concentrations could matter to the brain.

"I think it's going to be a very long time until we know,"Sandeep said.

EASY HOME REMEDIES FOR DIARRHEA

EASY HOME REMEDIES FOR DIARRHEA

Needless to say, stomach health is of utmost significance to ensure our overall well-being. The food that we consume, if not digested properly, could lead to various ailments, including malabsorption of nutrients, which can make you feel weaker. Have you noticed that when you feel sick in your tummy, your entire day goes for a toss? During summers, the risk of stomach ailments double owing to a host of reasons. This is when diarrhea, a digestive disorder, is also on the rise. Though any one can fall prey to it at any point in time, it is most common in summers when chances of getting food infections and food-borne ailments are at the highest.

The triggers

According to Dr. Rupali Datta, Chief Nutritionist, SmartCooky, "There can be many causes of diarrhea - from food infections, allergies and food intolerance to laxative abuse, stomach surgery or even stress. However, the most common form of it is seen as a result of eating unhygienic food, or consumption of food items to which the body is intolerant."

According to her, stress can also trigger digestive disorders as our entire body is closely tied to our psychological health.

Prevention

Here are some pointers to help you prevent diarrhea -

- During summers, it remains imperative to keep a check on the quantity of food that you consume.

- Always eat light and in small portions.

- Try and avoid items which are too greasy or heavy for digestion.

- Add lots of water, fluids and yoghurt to your diet.

- Avoid eating cut fruits and salads from outside unless extremely sure of the quality of the place.

- Juices should also be taken under caution, be conscious of the hygiene of the place.

- "Do not eat stale food, even when home cooked. In summers, your regular ingredients have the tendency to go bad at double the speed. It is therefore advisable to cook fresh and eat," advises Dr. Ashutosh Gautam, Clinical Operations and Coordination Manager, Baidyanath.

Taking care of your tummy

Diarrhea can literally suck away all possible energy from your body. It usually manifests itself in the form of stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and repeated need to go to the washroom leading to watery stool. At times the condition restricts the patient from eating or drinking anything, as after every intake, the patient may feel nauseated or bloated. "There is already more than enough loss of fluids and electrolytes from the body. Not eating or drinking will only worsen the condition. Keep sipping on fluids and eat soft, bland food in intervals," adds Dr. Rupali.

Keep the following points in mind for speedy recovery:

- See your doctor immediately.

- In the meanwhile, keep your hydration levels up.

- Sip on a mixture of electrolyte powder diluted in one litre of water.

- You can also make a blend of sugar, lemon juice and salt in water and keep having this in intervals.

- Always remember, too much of sugar will hamper your stomach, so try to keep a balance.

- Sodium and potassium will help in getting the digestion back to normal; therefore items like bananas are recommended in treating diarrhea and upset stomach.

- Diluted apple juice can be taken, but not much. Warm clear soups, clear chicken broth, buttermilk and curd should be added in the diet.

- Dairy milk should be avoided. However, soy milk and its products like tofu and curd can be consumed.

- Add rice, washed dals and refined flour to your diet. Making khichdi could be a good option.

- Skinned apples can be eaten. Apples are good source of pectin which has binding properties. Stewed apples are also a good option.

- "In case of vomiting accompanying the condition, consuming chilled fluids can help," notes Dr. Rupali.

- Have lightly brewed green tea but no caffeine.

Dr. Ashutosh Gautam says, consuming bel juice can aid a great deal in getting your digestion back on track. "Keeping a check on your regular water intake is very important. Do not have water from anywhere, carry your own water bottle. In case mineral water is not available, double boiling regular water is always advisable," adds Dr. Gautam.

Quarter teaspoon of jaiphal (nutmeg powder) can be added to green tea and consumed to relieve the stomach. If you can get your hands on kutaj fruit, there is nothing like it in taming an upset stomach, dysentery, stomach flu and diarrhea. Its medical name itself is holarrhena antidysenterica. Its bark and stem can be used to treat loose motions. You can get its powdered bark and mix a teaspoon with curd.

Another popular home remedy suggested by many experts is a combination of isabgol (psyllium husk) and yoghurt. "Just a teaspoon of isabgol mixed with curd can help you feel better. The ingredient is hydroscopic in nature. It absorbs extra water and helps in solidifying the stool," concludes Dr. Ashutosh.

Summer is the time to make a splash and get lost in the colours of the season. Keep a check on your diet and water to prevent food infections. Stay protected and of course, have a blast!

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

We’ve all been tense, stressed or anxious at some point in our lives. There may have been times when some of us have felt incapable of moving ahead in life or felt a bit empty from within. Feeling sad is a normal reaction to personal loss or our day-to-day struggles. But if the low mood lingers day after day, it could signal something larger.

According to the American Psychiatry Association, “Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home. Symptoms must last at least two weeks for a diagnosis of depression.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers depression as the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide, and expects it to become the second leading cause by 2020. An estimated 121 million people are currently living with some form of it. Of these individuals,fewer than 25% have access to adequate treatment.

Age is an important risk factor. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System found that the rate of diagnoses increased with age, from 2.8% for adults between 18-24 years to a peak of 4.6% for adults between 45-65 years. A study conducted by the Bangalore-based National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences placed the average age of the depressed Indian at 31 years. In fact, a WHO report suggests that India is the most depressed country in the world.

Similarly, gender also plays a great role. Worldwide, women are about twice as likely to experience depression as men.  Approximately, 1 in 10 women experience symptoms of depression in the weeks after having a baby which is known as Postpartum Depression. The other forms of depression include Bipolar Disorder (extreme mood swings), Psychotic Depression  where a person may experience delusions and hallucinations, and Seasonal Affective Disorder which is characterised by the onset of depression during the winter months.

Although there is no ‘depression test’ that a mental health expert can use to diagnose depression, certain symptoms are more or less common to all the cases. These symptoms may vary according to the form or stage of illness. 

Dr. Dherandra Kumar, a Delhi-based Clinical Psychologist and Consultant at Apollo Hospital in Noida, suggests you consult a doctor if you experience the following symptoms persistently: 

1. Changes in mood, such as feeling down or low. This is usually accompanied by persistent boredom and loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. In some cases, the person becomes excessively irritable.

2. The chances of substance abuse increase drastically i.e. alcohol and drugs, in turn affecting the person’s interpersonal relationships.

3. The person faces cognitive dissonance and difficulty in concentration. As a result, even day-to-day things slip away from memory. Confusion and difficulty in making day-to-day decisions. 

4. Sleep disturbances become a common occurrence. They prefer to stay in bed for a longer duration of time. In some cases, patients may have trouble sleeping or suffer from insomnia.

5. There is a drastic alteration in the eating pattern. It is often marked by frequent over-eating or starving oneself, consequently leading to evident weight gain or loss.

6. Feeling of hopelessness, guilt, and/or pessimism is one of the most common symptoms. 

7. Sluggishness and decreased energy, feeling fatigued or weak all the time. On the contrary, some may experience restlessness, be hyper active or even have trouble sitting still. 

8. Frequent aches, cramps or pain in the body without any physical ailment.

Depression has a certain social stigma attached to it. As a result, in most cases, sufferers feel too shy or ignorant to reach out. They fail to realise that depression is just like any other disease and it’s not a sign of weakness or a negative personality. Therefore, there is an urgent need to create awareness in order to facilitate a change in our attitude and mindset regarding this medical condition which can actually be treated and dealt with.

COGNITIVE COMPUTING

COGNITIVE COMPUTING

Clues can be about any topic on earth. There are no multiple choice questions. There is no option to phone a friend and winning entails an unerring focus on precision: You have to know the right answer. The human contestants were no ordinary contestants. They were grand champions who had amassed huge wins over many years based on their vast knowledge of the world. The company’s system wowed the world with its performance and this event was generally considered a very significant advance in the science and technology of natural language processing and artificial intelligence.

The Jeopardy! show signalled the dawn of a new kind of computing paradigm— Cognitive Computing, characterised by systems that learn with experience, that interact with humans in a manner more intuitive to humans (via speech, touch, or language), and that can be trained to excel in areas typically associated with human intelligence and requiring expertise. These systems are not programmed using declarative (if or then) rules, but trained and configured using examples. Cognitive Computing systems are playing an increasing role in our everyday lives and a perfect solution for business needs in the era of big data.

Five years have passed and today that system has advanced far beyond its question answering days. It is the most advanced cognitive computing platform in the world that includes core cognitive services ranging from deep text understanding, deep image understanding, machine learning and language processing. Today, cognitive solutions are reshaping industries and domains and scaling human expertise for professions across the board from wealth managers to oncologists to sales professionals.

I believe the defining challenge of our times is to create innovative solutions to some of the most pressing problems of the world—like healthcare and education—using Cognitive Computing.

This is particularly relevant for a developing country like India, where the need of the hour is to tackle challenges like urban transportation, healthcare and education in new and innovative ways. The opportunity is to engineer systems that learn (from examples) the unique requirements and characteristics of India and Indians and enabling expert services in a very personalised way.

Customer experience is being rapidly redefined by cognitive technologies. Today, robots with embedded cognitive technology are helping shoppers in stores in Japan. A retailer in North America provides specialised equipment for outdoor activities like camping or trekking. Fluid—a cognitive partner—developed a service called Xpress Personal Shopper (XPS) that is now deployed on the retailer’s website.

Using the XPS, customers can interact with the cognitive system using natural language dialogue to ask questions like, ‘I am going for a five-day camping trip in Utah. What gear do you recommend I need for this?’. The system can probe further and help the customer in meeting their needs in a very similar fashion to what an expert human agent in a store might do. From finding precise information about products to personalised recommendations of products, cognitive systems are redefining customer experience.

India is projected to have over 5 million developers by 2018, the largest of any nation in the world. How do we empower this force to build on the new paradigm of computing? The pressing need is for growing and ramping up expertise in the areas of machine learning and natural language processing and for platforms that enable building, training and configuring cognitive solutions easily.

There are cognitive platforms that enable developers to quickly create solutions composing services for complex technologies like deep learning, image processing, speech to text and natural language processing. Today, thousands of developers around the world and hundreds of ecosystem partners are building such solutions in many diverse fields.

As India is developing at a rapid pace, the number of people with surplus wealth is exploding. Banks and financial institutions are struggling to cater to this population with expertise to help with investment and taxation choices. Cognitive systems can help scale that expertise with advisors for investment recommendations, and bringing the massive amounts of information from financial news and investment advisory reports to the fingertips of wealth managers and investors.

We are living in exciting times. Within a short period of time, we can expect cognitive solutions to reshape and redefine our experience with many day-to-day activities through technologies that partner with humans to help us make better decisions and live our lives better.

- By Nandakishore Kambhatla, Distinguished Engineer & Senior Manager, Cognitive Technologies and Solutions, IBM Research

WHY DO PEOPLE GET SICK WHEN THE SEASONS CHANGE

WHY DO PEOPLE GET SICK WHEN THE SEASONS CHANGE

People seem to come down with a cold or the flu when the seasons change. But these dramatic temperature changes aren't the direct cause of these illnesses, experts say.

Rather, the temperature shifts permit a different group of viruses to flourish, and it's these viruses that make people sick, said Dr. Benjamin Kaplan, an internal-medicine physician at Orlando Health in Florida.

"Many studies show that rhinovirus and coronavirus are the two main agents of the common cold," Kaplan told Live Science. "Interestingly, they flourish in cooler weather, such as what we have in spring and fall."

Likewise, the influenza virus replicates and spreads most effectively when the air is cold and dry; "hence, people [tend to] get the flu in the wintertime," he said.

Summer illnesses arise from a combination of several factors. People with seasonal allergies often feel congested and develop runny noses and itchy eyes when they're near pollen, mold or grass. Their immune systems may go into overdrive as they react to these allergies, leaving them more vulnerable to viral contagions, Kaplan said.

However, these summer infections are usually milder than those caught in other seasons, he said.

Sometimes, people may mistake their allergies for a cold, Kaplan added. "In fact, it is said that the term 'hay fever' actually comes from the time when farmers would be collecting the hay at the end of summer and became 'sick with fever,'" he said. "But really, they were just suffering from severe exposure to allergens from the fields."

To avoid getting sick, it's best to follow this commonsense advice: "Practice good hand washing, get plenty of exercise, eat healthy and make sure to get at least 6 to 8 hours of restorative sleep [a night]," Kaplan said.

Also, don't be hoodwinked by flashy cures. Over-the-counter supplements— including Echinacea, vitamin C and zinc — are not significantly effective in preventing or curing colds, according to scientific studies, Kaplan said.

Most Beautiful Indian Lakes That Everyone Must Visit Before They Die

India has a large number of beautiful lakes and great rivers spread all over the country from Kashmir to Kerala and from Rajasthan to Assam. Lakes in India can be divide as man made as well as natural, further natural lake again divided as freshwater lake and brackish water lakes. Indira Sagar reservoir the big lake is the biggest reservoir in India and The Sambhar Salt Lake is India’s largest inland salt lake. Most of the lakes in India are fresh water lakes, Dal Lake in Kashmir and Sasthamkotta Lake in Kerala are the example of freshwater lakes. These water bodies on the land surface are one of the most beautiful tourist attraction in India. The Cholamu Lake is counted as one of most beautiful lake in the world. The Lonar Crater the world’s oldest and largest crater in India is located in state of Maharashtra’s District Buldhana. There are so may beautiful lakes which are famous for bird watching such as Kolleru Lake, Pulicat Lake and Nal Sarovar Lake. The Kanwar Taal or Kabar Taal Lake at Bihar is Asia largest Fresh Water lake, Oxbow lake an oxbow lake is a U-shaped body of water. Some Of The Top Indian  Lake Details Are As Follow:

1.  Dal Lake, Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar’s jewel, Dal Lake with its sparkling quiet waters, gaily painted shikaras and backdrop of the mist shrouded peaks of the Pir Panjal Mountains is definitely a sight for sore eyes. Go to sleep on an ornate wooden houseboat swaying gently in the serene waters of the lake and wake up to the water reflecting whatever shades the sun throws on it, with the glorious floating gardens swirling around you.Best place to stay: Dongola Palace HouseboatsBest time to visit: July- August: Dal Lake, Jammu and Kashmir © wackywanderlust Dal Lake, Jammu and Kashmir Srinagar’s jewel, Dal Lake with its sparkling quiet waters, gaily painted shikaras and backdrop of the mist shrouded peaks of the Pir Panjal Mountains is definitely a sight for sore eyes. Go to sleep on an ornate wooden houseboat swaying gently in the serene waters of the lake and wake up to the water reflecting whatever shades the sun throws on it, with the glorious floating gardens swirling around you.

Best place to stay: Dongola Palace Houseboats

Best time to visit: July- August 

2. Gurudongmar lake, Sikkim

It takes a long bumpy ride on mostly dirt roads through a barren landscape to get to the Gurudongmar Lake, but the magnificence that awaits you is totally worth it. Backed by the surreal beauty of the Himalayan pinnacles, this highly revered lake with its crystal clear snow-melt waters and icy banks feels like a world away.Best place to stay: Apple Orchard Resort, LachenBest time to visit: June to August: Gurudongmar lake, Sikkim © indiamike Gurudongmar lake, Sikkim It takes a long bumpy ride on mostly dirt roads through a barren landscape to get to the Gurudongmar Lake, but the magnificence that awaits you is totally worth it. Backed by the surreal beauty of the Himalayan pinnacles, this highly revered lake with its crystal clear snow-melt waters and icy banks feels like a world away.

Best place to stay: Apple Orchard Resort, Lachen

Best time to visit: June to August

3. Pichola lake, Rajhasthan

Limpid, large and luminous, Pichola Lake is enveloped by lofty palaces, ancient temples and cool green hills on all its sides. Sail into a purple sunset on dreamy little boat or take a heritage walk around the tranquil waters of a lake which doesn’t need filters to look spectacular when silhouetted at dusk!Best place to stay: Jaiwana Haveli, UdaipurBest time to visit: September to March: Pichola lake, Rajhasthan © makemytrip Pichola lake, Rajhasthan Limpid, large and luminous, Pichola Lake is enveloped by lofty palaces, ancient temples and cool green hills on all its sides. Sail into a purple sunset on dreamy little boat or take a heritage walk around the tranquil waters of a lake which doesn’t need filters to look spectacular when silhouetted at dusk!

Best place to stay: Jaiwana Haveli, Udaipur

Best time to visit: September to March

4. Pookode lake, Kerala

Cuddled in the lap of Wayanad’s lushly forested mountains, Pookode Lake is an emerald hued lake offering a surreal encounter with nature at its most spectacular. Pedal across the placid waters of this beguilingly beautiful lake, indulge in some serious nature photography (check out the blue lotus) or take quick detour to the freshwater aquarium nearby for a relaxing holiday.Best place to stay: Pookode Lake Resort, WayanadBest time to visit: December to June: Pookode lake, Kerala © besthomestaywayanad Pookode lake, Kerala Cuddled in the lap of Wayanad’s lushly forested mountains, Pookode Lake is an emerald hued lake offering a surreal encounter with nature at its most spectacular. Pedal across the placid waters of this beguilingly beautiful lake, indulge in some serious nature photography (check out the blue lotus) or take quick detour to the freshwater aquarium nearby for a relaxing holiday.

Best place to stay: Pookode Lake Resort, Wayanad

Best time to visit: December to June

5. Suraj Taal, Himachal Pradesh

Revered as the Lake of the Sun God, Suraj Taal is the place to be if you are in search of tranquillity. There’s some mighty stiff competition in the Himalayas when it comes to glacier-fed beauty but what makes Suraj Taal so stunning is the surrounding landscape - the majestically jagged mountains, piles of snow smoothened pebbles and cornflower blue skies.Best place to stay: Triveni Hotel, SissuBest time to visit: May to October: Suraj Taal, Himachal Pradesh © lifeastraveler Suraj Taal, Himachal Pradesh Revered as the Lake of the Sun God, Suraj Taal is the place to be if you are in search of tranquillity. There’s some mighty stiff competition in the Himalayas when it comes to glacier-fed beauty but what makes Suraj Taal so stunning is the surrounding landscape - the majestically jagged mountains, piles of snow smoothened pebbles and cornflower blue skies.

Best place to stay: Triveni Hotel, Sissu

Best time to visit: May to October

6. Berijam Lake, Tamil Nadu

Surrounded by verdant Shola forests, Berijam Lake is so pristine that it has a haunting quality. The perfect place for bird watching, canopied trails, and quiet reflections, Berijam Lake lies deep inside the forest, away from the hustle and bustle of civilisation. Do note that you need written official permission to enter the forest area, but the effort is well worth it!Best place to stay: Kodaikanal Dreamstay, KodaikanalBest time to visit: April to June: Berijam Lake, Tamil Nadu © indiantravels Berijam Lake, Tamil Nadu Surrounded by verdant Shola forests, Berijam Lake is so pristine that it has a haunting quality. The perfect place for bird watching, canopied trails, and quiet reflections, Berijam Lake lies deep inside the forest, away from the hustle and bustle of civilisation. Do note that you need written official permission to enter the forest area, but the effort is well worth it!

Best place to stay: Kodaikanal Dreamstay, Kodaikanal

Best time to visit: April to June

7. Bhim Tal Lake, Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand has a bounteous array of beautiful lakes, but Bhimtal Lake has traits that make it stand out: the pretty town of Bhimtal dotted with quaint temples, a stupendous panorama of the Kumaon Hills, solitary trails winding along its scenic banks and a delightful little island at its centre. Close to Delhi, it’s the perfect destination for an idyllic weekend getaway!Best place to stay: Emerald Trail, BhimtalBest time to visit: April to July: Bhim Tal Lake, Uttarakhand © tourment Bhim Tal Lake, Uttarakhand Uttarakhand has a bounteous array of beautiful lakes, but Bhimtal Lake has traits that make it stand out: the pretty town of Bhimtal dotted with quaint temples, a stupendous panorama of the Kumaon Hills, solitary trails winding along its scenic banks and a delightful little island at its centre. Close to Delhi, it’s the perfect destination for an idyllic weekend getaway!

Best place to stay: Emerald Trail, Bhimtal

Best time to visit: April to July

8. Pangong Tso Lake, Jammu and Kashmir

Remember that stunning lake from 3 Idiots? Lined with an outlandish landscape of vast barren mountains, Pangong Tso is a sublime melange of dramatically swirling mountains and vivid blue green water conjured into a lake which photographs like a dream. Remember to pay your respects at the Darbuk village nearby where a chain of war memorials and historic army bunkers stand in commemoration of the 1962 Indo-China War.Best place to stay: Pangong Inn, Pangong TsoBest time to visit: May to September: Pangong Tso Lake, Jammu and Kashmir © hpcabs Pangong Tso Lake, Jammu and Kashmir Remember that stunning lake from 3 Idiots? Lined with an outlandish landscape of vast barren mountains, Pangong Tso is a sublime melange of dramatically swirling mountains and vivid blue green water conjured into a lake which photographs like a dream. Remember to pay your respects at the Darbuk village nearby where a chain of war memorials and historic army bunkers stand in commemoration of the 1962 Indo-China War.

Best place to stay: Pangong Inn, Pangong Tso

Best time to visit: May to September

9. Vembanad Lake, Kerala

As lovely as it is large, the Vembanad Lake is a warm weather paradise. Feast your eyes on the vibrant green palette and the sheer size of India’s longest lake, from the breezy comfort of your houseboat as you dine on ethnic culinary delights (don’t miss the karimeen fish). The beauty here is not just the landscape, but the glimpses of daily life amidst the swaying palms too.Best place to stay: Vembanad Lake Villas, KottayamBest time to visit: September to March: Vembanad Lake, Kerala © timespolls Vembanad Lake, Kerala As lovely as it is large, the Vembanad Lake is a warm weather paradise. Feast your eyes on the vibrant green palette and the sheer size of India’s longest lake, from the breezy comfort of your houseboat as you dine on ethnic culinary delights (don’t miss the karimeen fish). The beauty here is not just the landscape, but the glimpses of daily life amidst the swaying palms too.

Best place to stay: Vembanad Lake Villas, Kottayam

Best time to visit: September to March

10. Loktak Lake, Manipur

The largest freshwater lake in the North east, the only ‘floating’ lake in the world, beautiful floating ‘phumdis’ strong enough to build a thatched hut upon and a thriving wilderness – there is so much about the Loktak Lake that is special and unique. Remember to ask the local fishermen to take you on a ride of their graceful flat-bedded boats through the Keibul Lamjao Sanctuary, home to the famous brow antlered dear, the sangai.Best place to stay: The Classic Hotel, ImphalBest time to visit: October to March: Loktak Lake, Manipur © allresourceupdates Loktak Lake, Manipur The largest freshwater lake in the North east, the only ‘floating’ lake in the world, beautiful floating ‘phumdis’ strong enough to build a thatched hut upon and a thriving wilderness – there is so much about the Loktak Lake that is special and unique. Remember to ask the local fishermen to take you on a ride of their graceful flat-bedded boats through the Keibul Lamjao Sanctuary, home to the famous brow antlered dear, the sangai.

Best place to stay: The Classic Hotel, Imphal

Best time to visit: October to March

11. Tso Moriri Lake, Jammu and Kashmir

Sitting at the bottom of the secluded Rupshu valley, Tso Moriri is breathtakingly striking—its deep-blue water at odds with the browns of the craggy peaks and greens of sun-kissed grasslands that surround it. World’s highest Ramsar wetland, Tso Moriri, in its utter isolation, unending vastness and sheer raw beauty bestows a sense of untouched purity on every mortal lucky enough to visit it.Best place to stay: Tso Moriri Camp and Resort, KorzokBest time to visit: May to September: Tso Moriri Lake, Jammu and Kashmir © wikipedia Tso Moriri Lake, Jammu and Kashmir Sitting at the bottom of the secluded Rupshu valley, Tso Moriri is breathtakingly striking—its deep-blue water at odds with the browns of the craggy peaks and greens of sun-kissed grasslands that surround it. World’s highest Ramsar wetland, Tso Moriri, in its utter isolation, unending vastness and sheer raw beauty bestows a sense of untouched purity on every mortal lucky enough to visit it.

Best place to stay: Tso Moriri Camp and Resort, Korzok

Best time to visit: May to September

12. Lonar Lake

Earth's largest and only hyper-velocity impact crater in basaltic rock, the Lonar Lake’s watery expanses reflects the emerald green hues of the sprawling forest that stretches around it as far as the eye can see. Trek your way down to the Kamalja Devi Temple at the crater bottom, and revive yourself under the cascading waters of the spring at the Gomukh temple. Lonar, like the meteorite that put it on the map, definitely leaves a lasting impression!Best place to stay: MTDC Holiday Resort, LonarBest time to visit: October to January © whatisnature Lonar Lake Earth's largest and only hyper-velocity impact crater in basaltic rock, the Lonar Lake’s watery expanses reflects the emerald green hues of the sprawling forest that stretches around it as far as the eye can see. Trek your way down to the Kamalja Devi Temple at the crater bottom, and revive yourself under the cascading waters of the spring at the Gomukh temple. Lonar, like the meteorite that put it on the map, definitely leaves a lasting impression!

Best place to stay: MTDC Holiday Resort, Lonar

Best time to visit: October to January

13. Naukuchiatal Lake

With its iridescent bluish waters lovingly embraced by deep wooded forests, tree flanked promenade and appealing paddocks, every corner of Naukuchiatal or ‘the lake of nine corners’ is a picture perfect frame. Wake up early to witness the mists lifting from the lush green covers of Naukuchiatal, its gentle ripples glistening in the shy morning sun, to experience the sublime beauty of this lake.Best place to stay: Lake Village, ChunotiBest time to visit: March to July: Naukuchiatal Lake © treklocations Naukuchiatal Lake With its iridescent bluish waters lovingly embraced by deep wooded forests, tree flanked promenade and appealing paddocks, every corner of Naukuchiatal or ‘the lake of nine corners’ is a picture perfect frame. Wake up early to witness the mists lifting from the lush green covers of Naukuchiatal, its gentle ripples glistening in the shy morning sun, to experience the sublime beauty of this lake.

Best place to stay: Lake Village, Chunoti

Best time to visit: March to July

14. Nal Sarovar

A splash of turquoise surrounded by yellowing grasslands, Nal Sarovar is famous for its mind-boggling assemblage of migratory birds - from flamingos in huge numbers to rosy pelicans and vast flocks of herons, ducks and cranes. For a photo-op not to be missed, canoe through the shallow waters between the islets to spy on its spectacular birdlife, especially at dusk and dawn.Best place to stay: Forest Department Rest House, Nal SarovarBest time to visit: October to February © gujrattourism Nal Sarovar A splash of turquoise surrounded by yellowing grasslands, Nal Sarovar is famous for its mind-boggling assemblage of migratory birds - from flamingos in huge numbers to rosy pelicans and vast flocks of herons, ducks and cranes. For a photo-op not to be missed, canoe through the shallow waters between the islets to spy on its spectacular birdlife, especially at dusk and dawn.

Best place to stay: Forest Department Rest House, Nal Sarovar

Best time to visit: October to February

15. Hemkund Lake, Uttarakhand

Adorned by exotic blooms in a riot of colours, with the snowy Saptashringa (Seven Hills) towering in the background, the windswept Hemkund Lake is a place of wild, untamed beauty- and one of Sikkhism’s most important shrines. Look for the mythical yellow green flower, Brahma Kamal (Lotus of the Gods) on its rocky shores before warming yourself in the Gurudwara with generous helpings of hot tea and khichdi.Best place to stay: Ghangharia Camp, GhanghariaBest time to visit: July to October: Hemkund Lake, Uttarakhand © gypsyshack Hemkund Lake, Uttarakhand Adorned by exotic blooms in a riot of colours, with the snowy Saptashringa (Seven Hills) towering in the background, the windswept Hemkund Lake is a place of wild, untamed beauty- and one of Sikkhism’s most important shrines. Look for the mythical yellow green flower, Brahma Kamal (Lotus of the Gods) on its rocky shores before warming yourself in the Gurudwara with generous helpings of hot tea and khichdi.

Best place to stay: Ghangharia Camp, Ghangharia

Best time to visit: July to October

16. Sela Lake, Arunachal Pradesh

Rest your eyes on Sela Lake and you will know why it is also called the Paradise Lake. Sela Lake’s unparalleled beauty reaches out to your eyes and moves towards your soul. Lying en route to Tawang, the land of breathtaking valleys and misty rivers, Sela Lake remains snowed in for most of the year.Best place to stay: Hotel Pemaling, DirangBest time to visit: April to October: Sela Lake, Arunachal Pradesh © pinterest Sela Lake, Arunachal Pradesh Rest your eyes on Sela Lake and you will know why it is also called the Paradise Lake. Sela Lake’s unparalleled beauty reaches out to your eyes and moves towards your soul. Lying en route to Tawang, the land of breathtaking valleys and misty rivers, Sela Lake remains snowed in for most of the year.

Best place to stay: Hotel Pemaling, Dirang

Best time to visit: April to October