1) Boeing 727-200 house in Hillsboro, Oregon

This high altitude home was built by aviation enthusiast Bruce Campbell in 1999. The purchase of the decommissioned military aircraft itself set him back $100k, with over $220k worth of work completed on its interior. Campbell notes that the structure is â€œhighly fire-resistant and provides superior security”.

If you have a fascination with planes, and would usually imagine yourself living in one, you should definitely consider visiting this home in person. Spending time in this home is a very unique experience – something which you can’t get when you fly with any other commercial airlines!

Via AirplaneHome

 

2) Langtry House in Hampstead, London

This exquisite home is so cool, you’ve probably never even heard about it. Yep, it’s that underground. Complete with 3 bedrooms, a fully equipped gym and a cinema room, this bizarre below the earth abode would cost you a cool £4.5 million.

The interior of this home is very luxurious, making it very hard to believe that the entire structure is actually built underneath the ground.

Via OnTheMarket

 

3) Star Trek Voyage house in Hinckley, Leicestershire

Live long and prosper in this home designed to replicate the interior of the Star Trek Voyager spaceship, complete with LED lighting and intergalactic sound effects. The mad propertywas built by Tony Alleyne but was handed over to his ex-wife following court proceedings. The property was previously listed for £70,000.

Via The Mirror

 

4) Moonraker House in Poole, Dorset

In celebration of the newest release Spectre, check out this Bond-inspired mansion. Tucked away in the renowned Millionaires Row, this house combines the sleek Hollywood hills design with crescent-shaped front elevation inspired by the 1979 flick.

Via Seven Developments

 

5) Upside Down House in Trassenheide, Germany

This wacky dwelling was built in 2008 by Polish architects Klaudiusz Golos and Sebastian Mikiciuk as a tourist attraction in the north Germany town. The piece was commissioned as part of ‘The World Upside Down’ project, which allows visitors to view everyday objects from a different perspective. The interior is also fully furnished, except for it being upside down too!

Via curious-places

 

Namaste!

That’s how you’ll be greeted at most places in India. This traditional Indian greeting is accompanied with a slight bow and folded palms that are placed in front of one’s chest. This popular custom is not a mere gesture, it literally translates to “I bow to the divine in you” and reflects India’s rich culture, which has its roots in the Ancient Indian scriptures and texts. Below is a list of a few unique Indian traditions.

1. Tradition of Vedic Chanting

Vedic chanting is the traditional way of reciting the Vedas, the ancient scriptures of Hinduism. There are four chief Vedas- namely Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva, which are considered primary source of knowledge on Hindu philosophy and traditions. Written in Vedic Sanskrit, the scriptures comprise of poetry, philosophical dialogue, myth, and ritual incantations. The Vedas were composed by Aryans around 3,500 years back and they have always been transmitted orally from one generation to the other. It embodies one of the world’s oldest surviving cultural traditions, while only 13 recitation branches out of the thousand branches have been able to survive. The value of this tradition lies in the rich Vedic literature and complex recitation techniques that are based on tonal accents and specific speech combinations.

2. Ramlila

Ramlila translates to “Rama’s play” and is performed across northern India during Dussehra (October-November). This theatrical presentation celebrates the life of Rama, his strengths and struggles. The dramatic performances involve a combination of songs, narration, dance and dialogue to recount episodes from the Ramcharitramanas composed by Tulsidas. It spreads the message of “good over evil” along with teaching the philosophy of life to the audience. It is staged in all towns and villages of north India but if you are travelling to India during that time of the year, you can watch the best Ramlilas in Ayodhya, Ramnagar, Varanasi, Vrindavan, Almora, Sattna and Madhubani.

3. Yoga

The ancient Indian practice for health and wellness, Yoga, is scientific and it emphasizes unifying the mind with the body and soul to promote mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing. Yoga disciplines your mind, breath and body through a series of poses, sequences, guided meditation, controlled breathing, word chanting and other techniques. It aids in self-realization, eases bodily suffering, promotes relaxation making you calmer and happier. The International Yoga Festival held in Rishikesh is a celebration of the ancient tradition of Yoga to promote good health, wellbeing and a divine lifestyle. Other than attending the festival you can choose to rejuvenate at the several wellness retreats across the country. 

4. Kumbh Mela

The holy Kumbh Mela is an event that captures the science of astronomy, astrology, spirituality, liberation, ritualistic traditions, knowledge, faith, cultural customs and social practices. Every three years the festival is organized at one of the four locations—Haridwar, Allahabad (Prayag), Nashik or Ujjain. The Ardh Kumbh is celebrated every 6 years while the Purna Kumbh is celebrated every 12 years. The most massive celebration happens during Maha Kumbh at Prayag after every 144 years. Popularized as the “world’s most massive act of faith” the festival is attended by millions of people irrespective of caste, creed or gender. The largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims takes bath in the holy waters of River Ganga (Haridwar), Triveni Sangam (Prayag), River Godavari (Nashik) and River Kshipra (Ujjain). The holy dip helps you get rid of past sins (karma), thereby making you eligible for liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

India is bound to amaze you with its rich cultural heritage, umpteen varieties of foodand a hoard of must-visit places. If you decide to visit, you can be sure of an enriching trip to the subcontinent that will leave you with fond memories for a lifetime.

Take out time from your busy schedule to explore and experience Incredible India.