Best Mobile App Testing Practices-2017 and Beyond

Every new day, thousands of new apps are launched in the marketplace. With apps integration now possible into self-driving cars, wearables, drones, digital assistants etc. billions of users download it on their smart devices such as tablets, smartphones, vehicles, watches, kitchen and home appliances, etc. Here lies the uprising pressure for every enterprise to meet consumer demand in respect to device compatibility issues, functional defects, or poor user experience of mobile apps that prompts users to shift to an alternative app.

Speed, quality and performance are becoming the determining factors for every enterprise and consumer app in the industry. The need to launch the perfect app and then to continuously keep on upgrading it to match the wants of consumers is creating a tremendous, continuous pressure on the professionals responsible for quality and testing along with the developers. We believe testing will continue to fuel new and disruptive product innovation for years to come.

Before we dig deep into the best practices and tactics to be followed for seamless mobile app testing, let us educate you with an exhaustive list of the latest trends that every professional in the testing community should look out for in 2017:

· Test Automation with regression testing
· Security Testing in the age of IoT
· Open source tools are the future
· Dominance of big data usage and mobile payments becoming prevalent
· Enterprise mobile and cloud applications (especially hybrid) will go mainstream
· The rulers will be Agile and DevOps
· Shift from Performance Testing to Performance Engineering (System Performance Engineering-SPE)
· Hardware Testing will be in its own Pace

BEST PRACTICES OF MOBILE APP TESTING:

Design the Test Plan:

The mobile app testing process should begin right from the start of development process. Testing is no different from coding and should be carried out at every level of the development. It is better to identify the flaws and correct them at an earlier stage than later.

Test on real devices:

Testing on emulators and simulators is a very useful method for mobile testing in the early stages of app development. But it is equally important to test the mobile app on real mobile devices too. Testing on real devices ensures test results are realistic and gives the tester a better idea regarding the look and feel of the app and its general usability.

Choose Your Testing Frequency:

Start testing as soon as development has reached a logical stage. The flaws need to be identified at the early stage before they become too costly to fix and the process must continue frequently so that no flaws in the app go unnoticed till the entire product is complete. Create a fixed schedule to track results of each test cycle.

Set device and OS preferences:

Setting up device and OS preferences is important. It might be virtually impossible to test exhaustively on all device, network and OS combinations. Determine upfront for which devices and OS your app will specifically cater to and perform QA on them.

Test with Different Hardware features:

Smartphones these days are loaded with powerful devices and sensors to interact with the surroundings. For example: ambient light sensors, proximity sensors, acceleration sensors, gyroscope sensors, magnetic sensors, location sensors, touchless sensors and so on.

In this scenario, the tester must do some sensor specific tests and to do so they need be aware of the specified sensors and it’s functionality in an app. In addition to testing your app with the sensors, it is very important to test the mobile app against different hardware features of the device—camera, display, storage, microphone, and so on. All those features can have a huge impact to the mobile app.

Automate testing:

Automation of mobile app testing is important to increase the productivity of the testing procedures as it reduces time to market to a large extent and generate high ROI. IDEs, in-house scripts, and cloud testing frameworks need to be created in order to detect the various flaws and design faults. But an important factor to keep in mind is periodic maintenance of the automation test suite.

Adequate performance, stress and security testing:

Performance, stress and security testing make your app robust and can prevent financial liabilities arising from user distress. Check for known and unknown vulnerabilities, including those arising from third party and open source software packages.

Check battery consumption:

Power hungry apps most likely get deleted. Be sure to check how much battery your app consumes. Be sure to check that the mobile app consumes very less battery for its operations. Battery backup is one of the important factors which people consider while buying a smartphone and this should be kept in mind by the tester as well.

Ensure your app is truly global:

Localization can be counted as one of the main mobile app testing challenges. If a mobile app is used in different countries, that app very likely will need to adapt different languages. In that case, mobile app testers must test the app against the various languages it supports. Testing the language is important because every language has different characters and different sizes. Ensure that your app supports not only different languages but currencies and even popular social networks of prominent markets.

Test Network Response:

In today’s busy world, every user accesses their mobile phone and uses apps while they are on the move. Hence, it is an important to test apps on all sorts of data networks.

Fast data networks like LTE, 3G, or Wi-Fi differ substantially from slower networks like EDGE or even GPRS. Mobile app testers must be sure that the app works with different network speeds and can handle network transitions seamlessly; for example, from LTE to EDGE. To test those scenarios, testers must also move around, testing in different network scenarios and with different network carriers.

Test both Client and Server Side:

Mobile app testing must be carried out on both, the client and the server side as well. It is important that the tests should be carried out with loads on client, server, and on both at one time. This test will give the estimate of how much load the app can handle.

Restrict permissions and check all log files:

The last point in suggested best practices for mobile app testing deals with app permissions and log files. During the development and testing phase, mobile app testers need to verify that the app is using only the permissions that the app requires, and not anymore. Mobile app users are very sensitive about the data security hence mobile app developers need to take this into consideration.

2017 will bring more challenges and greater possibilities for mobile QA specialists. If we follow these practices it will help to increase app usability in a better way at the organization level as well as business perspective and make the organization grow in an effective manner.

Realize your Dreams in 10 steps

Many people are more concerned with planning their vacation than planning their lives. This often they find out too late that there is not much ended their dreams and desires. Also, when building a network marketing business and are planning objectives is an important condition for success. Read below 10 ideas to help you set goals in your life. 

1. Make a list of things that are really important to you  are. What is really important to you? Family ?, leisure ?, personal development, retirement? 

2. Your goal off. Remember very well what you want to achieve, what is your goal? The more concrete the better. Consider then what you must do to achieve this. 

3 See yourself in the future. E. Nightingale concluded after a study of what makes people successful: "We are what we think." The image that dominates our brains most of the time is how we ended up. Therefore, setting goals crucial in achieving success. It helps us keep the most important in life in mind. Nightingale says that the easiest way to achieve our goals is to pretend we have achieved already. In other words, walk, talk and pretend you experience all the success you look so forward. This acts as a self forfilling prophecy: where they believe, comes from. 

4. Write 10 things you want to accomplish this year. By making a list of things you care about, you start creating images in your mind. These are your goals. These allow you convert knowledge into targeted action. When your goals are planted in your subconscious they will make you take action. Your behavior is influenced by your subconscious mind and the thoughts and ideas that you have in your subconscious - positive or negative-determine your actions. 

5. Create your own storyboard. Take blank paper and paste pictures from magazines, magazines and newspapers on things that you want if you want to reach. We humans once thought in pictures. In this way, always keep your goals in your mind. 6. Write for yourself how your ideal day look.  Write it in the present tense, as if it is so. Try to involve senses it. What you hear, what you taste, what you feel? 7. Visualize every day.  Every morning and every evening visualize what your goal is and how your ideal life looks like. 8. Make a plan. Make a plan to reach your goal and resize it to daily steps so you know what each day to be your actions. Before going to sleep, make a list of the six things you will do the next day. In order of importance. 9. Evaluate your actions. Evaluate every week and month of your progress. What went well, what can you improve. If you get stuck, ask for help. If something is not working, try something new. Do not be afraid to try new things. 10. Never give up. Everything takes time, focus on your actions and not too much on the result, if you do your everyday actions and learn from it, then the result.

5 Reasons why content marketing is a great idea for your business

Doyou know what exactly a content marketing is? Content marketing is a marketing approach for creating and distributing relevant and valuable content to attract, acquire and engage a clearly defined targeted audience. The main object of content marketing is to drive lucrative customer action. This content can be in a variety of formats like news,videos, whitepapers, blogs, case studies, question and answer articles etc.

So how old is this content marketing? Content marketing history can be tracked long before in 1895 when John Deere first launched a magazine named Furrow.

 Thismagazine aimed to provide information to farmers on how to become more profitable. Since then the content marketing is continuously evolving which is depicted through below image.

Why my organization needs content marketing? An organization needs content marketing to generate more leads, more traffic and more customers. On an average a company that starts their content marketing campaign achieves over 300% more growth than a company that does not.

Are you creating an awesome content for your customers and visitors? If not then here we present some of the best ways to change your brand image through content marketing.

 Boosts brand awareness

 Having a brand alone is not enough. Every company aspires to become a brand. It is some what like each actor aspires to become an icon like Tom cruise, Bradley cooper etc. Every famous person is not an icon. Similarly companies with a strong brand image indicate how consistent they have been in creating impression in mind of their customers.

This is possible by publishing related content that will make the brand familiar to people. Consumers are flooded with information. More and more, they are likely to ignore advertisements. Thus, your content must absolutely be relevant. It must be useful, interesting and targeted for a specific audience. You may create content for entertainment or educational purposes, or you can check various forum site to know what problem people facing and you can help them by writing a good blog on it. Always ask yourself, how are my customers benefiting from the information I provide? The content must reflect your brand’s image and be of interest to your customers without trying to sell anything. This will help you to be at the top-of-mind the next time people need your services.

Creating content that builds trust

 Brands must always think first that for whom they are writing and why they are writing. Trust is easier to build when the right reader is given the right content. You should first well define your targeted audience. Make a list of all of your target audience’s characteristics, for example, age, sex, income,education, marital status, geographic distribution, consumer habits. Now,create your content based on this information. If you audience wants to seek your content via email then make sure that you make it available to them through it. You should put the information/content in the place where the audience wants it to be.

Good relationship with customers can be established with content marketing. It’s not a one-time effort but a continuous commitment. You need to determine how often you will release new content. If there are only 8 electricians in a town, but only one provides helpful information that educates the community about electricity safety, problems and innovations then that brand would stand out as an expert. Since the consumer will be getting advice without paying it will help the brand earn a reputation of being trustworthy.

 Content that gives a feel to purchase a product

A customer will never buy a product by just giving a look at the image of it.They would be tempted to buy your product by reading the content description of the product. Customers hardly buy any product on the basis of its features. They buy because they perceive some benefits to those features. Your content should precisely define the benefits that a customer would get from your product/service. It is imperative to produce a content that guides a consumer through the buyer’s journey –awareness, evaluation and purchase results in more sales. A buyer will be motivated to go for purchase once he/she reads your content which can relate to their requirements.

Shareable content to promote your business

Interrelationship is essential to flourish any business. It is the connection between multiple people or groups among other people or groups. This interrelationship can be achieved through content sharing. Most of the time people are engaged in social media. So, social media is the best platform to share your business content. The more people who share content from your website to their social circles, the more people there are who will see your content. This in turn increases the number of visitors of your website in general. In addition, this act of sharing will increase the search ranking of your website. Periodically you should post your content on social media;your community is interested in. One of the primary advantages of social media is that it allows for real time communication and updates. In short, shareable content will make the town buzz like wildfire about your business.

 Fresh updated website content

One of the most common issues observed with websites is that the contents are not updated periodically. A stale website is less interesting and less professional than one with updated content that changes regularly. There are several ways of keeping the content of your website fresh like incorporating a blog marketing on your website, adding images and videos to your website, adding client testimonials and new menu pages in your website. One method of keeping the customer engaged is to maintain an RSS feed that is relevant to your industry.

As a result, a fresh updated website will always remain at the top of search list.This will increase the business of that organization as customer driven traffic would increase. Also a higher search engine ranking gives a good image and reputation to an organization.

With the help of these strategies precise and updated content can be developed which will help the marketers to generate more sales and attract customers to their websites.

Visit Kumartuli to See Kolkata Durga Idols Being Made

If you've marveled over the intricate beauty of the idols of Goddess Durga during the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, you've no doubt wondered how they're made. It's actually possible to see the idols being handcrafted. Where? Kumartuli Potter's Town in north Kolkata.

The settlement of Kumartuli, meaning "potter locality" (Kumar = potter. Tuli = locality), is over 300 years old. It was formed by a bunch of potters who came to the area in search of a better livelihood.

Nowadays, around 150 families live there, earning a living by sculpting idols for the various festivals.

In the lead up to Durga Puja, thousands of artisans (many who are hired from other areas) toil diligently in approximately 550 workshops to complete the idols of Durga in time for the festival. What's pleasing to note is that the idols are made out of environmentally friendly materials such as bamboo and clay.

This differs from the idols of Lord Ganesh, which are predominantly made out of Plaster of Paris for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, particularly in Mumbai.

The majority of Durga idols are crafted by lesser known artisans, who are experimental in nature. However, there are a few renowned names that make traditional idols that inspire deep devotion. One such person is Ramesh Chandra Pal, who works out of his studio at Raja Nabakrishna Street. There's always a rush to see his idols during Durga puja.

If you love art, you shouldn't miss visiting Kumartuli. But regardless, it's a place that offers a unique dose of culture. The narrow maze of lanes and alleyways team with humanity, and gods and goddesses in various states of creation.

Wandering through them, and seeing the artists at work, reveals a fascinating world within a world right in front of you.

One thing to keep in mind though, is that the area can be a bit dirty and unkempt -- but don't let it put you off it!

Where is Kumartuli?

North Kolkata. The main location is Banamali Sarkar Street.

How to Get There

It's easiest to take a taxi (it will take around 30 minutes from central Kolkata) to Kumartuli. Otherwise, buses and trains go there. The nearest railway station is the Sovabazar Metro. Sovabazar Launch Ghat (alongside the Ganges river) is also close by. Taking a walk to the riverbank is worthwhile, as you'll get to see old Gothic & Victorian style mansions. From there you can get a boat back to central Kolkata.

Tours to Kumartuli

Prefer to go on a guided tour? Check out this special The Goddess Beckons tour offered by Calcutta Photo Tours, 

When is the Best Time to Visit?

Idol-making for various festivals happens mostly from June to January. Of course, the biggest occasion is Durga Puja. There's usually a frenzy of activity around 20 days before the Durga Puja festival begins, in order to get all the work finished. Traditionally, the eyes of the Goddess are drawn on (in an auspicious ritual called Chokkhu Daan) on Mahalaya -- around a week before Durga Puja starts. It's worth seeing. In 2017, it falls on September 19.

What to See and Do in Kolkata

Kolkata, often associated with poverty, is commonly overlooked by tourists when visiting India. However, this friendly, intellectual and vibrant city has reinvented itself. It's full of history and culture, with many faded remnants of the British Raj. Kolkata is a city that requires immersion rather than quick sightseeing to really get a feel for, and appreciate, it. Start with these compelling places to visit in Kolkata.

1.  Park Street

Possibly Kolkata's most famous street, Park Street (formally renamed as Mother Teresa Sarani) is renowned for its entertainment, restaurants, and prominent historical landmarks including old colonial mansions. This iconic street was home to India's first independent nightclub and has been the center of Kolkata's nightlife since the glory days of the swinging 60s when venues overflowed with jazz, cabaret, and floor shows. Head to Mocambo, Moulin Rouge, Blue Fox and Trinca’s for a rush of nostalgia.

• Location: Starts from Chowringhee Road to Park Circus.

2.  New Market

One of the top places to go shopping in Kolkata, New Market is an historic bargain hunter's paradise. Kolkata's oldest and most well known market, it was built by the British in 1874 . This sprawling maze of more than 2,000 stalls, all grouped together according to the type of goods sold, offers almost everything imaginable.

• Location: Lindsay Street, just off Chowringhee Road.
• When to Go: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday, until 2.30 p.m. Closed on Sunday.

3.  Victoria Memorial

Victoria Memorial is an imposing white building that was completed in 1921 and currently serves as a museum. Named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, it houses a collection from the British Colonial period, including a number of impressive paintings, sculptures, and books. A sound and light show is held there in the evenings. It details the 300 year Raj era from the arrival of the British in Kolkata to the day of Independence.

• Location: The southern end of the Maidan.
• When to Go: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
• Cost: Indians, 20 rupees. Foreigners, 200 rupees.

4.  Mullik Ghat Flower Market

The colorful chaos of Kolkata's flower market presents a fantastic photo opportunity. More than 125 years old, it's east India's largest wholesale flower market with thousands of flower sellers visiting it every day. The market is dominated by sacks overflowing with long garlands of marigolds, popularly used in Hindu devotional rituals.

• Location: Along Strand Road, starting from below Howrah Bridge on the Kolkata side.
• When to Go: From sunrise until sunset.

5.  Howrah Bridge

Opened to traffic in 1943, the Howrah Bridge (officially called Rabindra Setu, after renowned Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore) crosses the Hooghly River to link Kolkata with its twin city of Howrah on the other side. The bridge has a single span without any pylons connecting it to the river bed, and it's one of the longest bridges of its type in the world. Approximately 150,000 vehicles and 4,000,000 pedestrians use the bridge each day. To get a feel for why it's said to be the busiest bridge in the world, you really must walk across it!

• Location: Just north of BBD Bagh (formerly known as Dalhousie Square) central business district.

6.  Mother Teresa's Mother House

Mother Teresa is highly regarded for founding the Missionaries of Charity and devoting her life to helping ill and outcast people in Kolkata. Visit the Mother House to see her tomb, the bedroom where she lived, and a small museum dedicated to showcasing her life. It displays items such as her handwritten letters, spiritual exhortations, and personal belongings including saris, sandals, and crucifix. The Mother House is a place of silence and contemplation. Many people choose to meditate there while visiting because of its serene, uplifting energy.

• Location: 54A, A.J.C. Bose Road.
• Open: 8 a.m. until midday and 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., daily except Thursday. Also closed on August 22, Easter Monday, and December 26.

7.  Dakshineshwar Kali Temple

This old and very popular Hindu temple, dedicated to Bhavatarini ("savior of the universe", an aspect of Goddess Kali), was founded in 1855 by Rani Rashmoni. Widowed at a young age, she very successfully took over her wealthy husband's zamindar (land ownership) business. Apparently, the idea to establish the temple came to her in a dream before a pilgrimage to Varanasi. The temple was made famous by spiritual leader Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who was appointed as its chief priest.

• Location: Rani Rashmoni Road, May Dibas Pally, Dakshineshwar, northern outskirts of Kolkata on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River.
• Open: October to March, daily from 6.30 a.m. until noon and 3 p.m. until 8.30 p.m. April to September, daily from 6 a.m until 12.30 p.m and 3:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.

8.  Belur Math

From the riverbank of Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, take a boat 20 minutes down river to Belur Math. This peaceful leafy complex, set on 40 acres of land, is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda (a chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa). The main shrine, dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna, has unique and distinctive architecture that combines Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and Islamic styles. It's worth experiencing the evening aarti ceremony, which beings at sunset. Unfortunately, photography isn't allowed on the premises.

• Location: Belur Road, Howrah, on the western bank of the Hooghly River.(Approximately an hour from the Kolkata city center).
• Open: October to March, daily from 6.30 a.m. until 11.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. until 6 p.m. April to September, daily from 6 a.m until 11.30 p.m and 4 p.m until 7 p.m.

9.  Kumartuli

The settlement of Kumartuli, meaning "potter locality" (Kumar = potter. Tuli = locality), is over 300 years old. It was formed by a bunch of potters who came to the area in search of a better livelihood. Nowadays, around 150 families live there, earning a living by sculpting idols for various festivals.

• Location: Banamali Sarkar Street, north Kolkata. The nearest railway station is the Sovabazar Metro.
• When to Go: Most of the idol making happens from June to January, with the biggest occasion being Durga Puja. There's usually a frenzy of activity around 20 days before the Durga Puja festival begins, in order to get all the work finished.

10.  South Park Cemetery

Established in 1767, this poignant grand old British cemetery was used up until 1830 and is now a protected heritage site. Overgrown and disheveled, its tombs are an elaborate mix of Gothic and Indo-Saracenic design, and contain the bodies of many remarkable men and women from the Raj era. It's interesting to spend some time wandering around and reading the stories of their lives on the headstones. One of the people buried there is English trader Job Charnock, who was regarded as the founder of Kolkata (Calcutta).

• Location: Park Street, at the intersection of Rawdon Street.
• Open: Daily, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
• Cost: Free but you'll be asked to pay a donation.

11.  Kalighat Kali Temple

Recommended only for those who are ready for surrounding poverty, surging crowds, filth and pandemonium (otherwise visit Dakshineshwar Kali Temple as an alternative), the temple at Kalighat is dedicated to the fearsome patron goddess of Kolkata -- Kali, the dark mother -- and is integral to the city. Hidden in a maze of alleyways, the temple is known for its animal (particularly goat) sacrifices, which although outlawed are still performed regularly inside its enclosure to appease the blood-drinking goddess. Prepare to be approached by pushy temple priests who will try and extract as much money as possible from you.

• Location: South Kolkata. Kali Mandir Road, near Rash Behari Avenue. There is a Kalighat Metro train station.
• Open: 5 a.m until 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. until 10 p.m.

5 best shopping market in India

These days, Mumbai is known more for its designer shops and malls than its markets. However, if you're after a bargain, fabulous photo opportunities, or some interesting souvenirs to take back home, you won't be disappointed. Head to these top Mumbai markets.

1.  Colaba Causeway

The everyday carnival that is the Colaba Causeway market is a shopping experience like no other in Mumbai. Geared especially towards tourists, that infamous Indian saying of "sab kuch milega" (you'll get everything) certainly applies at this market. Dodge persistent balloon and map sellers, as you meander along the sidewalk and peruse the stalls. Want your name written on a grain of rice? That's possible too. If you need a break from shopping, pop into Leopold's Cafe or Cafe Mondegar, two well known Mumbai hangouts.

• Location: Colaba Causeway, Colaba, south Mumbai.
• Opening Hours: Daily from morning until night.
• What to Buy: Handicrafts, books, jewelry, crystals, brass items, incense, clothes.

2.  Chor Bazaar

Navigate your way through crowded streets and crumbling buildings, and you'll find Chor Bazaar, nestled in the heart of Muslim Mumbai. This fascinating market has a history spanning more than 150 years. Its name means "thieves market", but this was derived from the British mispronunciation of the its original name of Shor Bazaar, "noisy market". Eventually stolen goods started finding their way into the market, resulting in it living up to its new name!

• Location: Mutton Street, between S V Patel and Moulana Shaukat Ali Roads, near Mohammad Ali Road in south Mumbai.
• Opening Hours: Daily 11 a.m. until 7.30 p.m., except Friday. The Juma Market is held there on Fridays.
• What to Buy: Antiques, bronze items, vintage items, trash & treasure.

3.  Crawford Market

If you want to see how the locals shop, head to Crawford Market. This old-style market, housed in an historic colonial building, specializes in wholesale fruit and vegetables. It's also got an entire section devoted to pets of all shapes, sizes, and breeds.

• Location: Lokmanya Tilak Marg, Dhobi Talao, Fort area, south Mumbai. It's near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus) railway station. Also see Mangaldas market (cloth) and Zaveri Bazaar (gold) opposite it. This market area is hectic and overwhelming, and it's easy to get lost. Hence, it's a good idea to explore it on a guided tour.
• Opening Hours: Daily from morning until night, except Sunday. Open mornings only on Sundays.
• What to Buy: Fruit, vegetables, spices, food, flowers, birds, fish, and other pets.

4.  Linking Road

A fusion of modern and traditional, and East meets West, in one of Mumbia's hippest suburbs. Here streets stalls contrast with brand name shops, and you'll find an Indian roadside food vendor on one side of the road and a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet on the other. The street stalls tend to be grouped together according to the type of goods they sell. If you visit this market on a Sunday, be prepared for the crowds!

• Location: Linking Road, Bandra West (starts from Waterfield Road intersection).
• Opening Hours: Daily from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.
• What to Buy: Indian traditional clothes, children's clothes, shoes, bags, belts.

5.  Fashion Street

Fashion Street is literally just that -- a street lined with fashion! There are around 150 stalls there. The market attracts hoards of teenagers and college students, who come to grab the latest western clothes and fake brand names at cheap prices.

• Location: MG Road, south Mumbai. Near Metro Cinema and Victoria Terminus railway station (opposite Azad Maidan).
• Opening Hours: Daily from morning until night.
• What to Buy: Clothes, shoes, belts.

Top 5 Bigest and popular Mall In Mumbai

Mall mania has hit Mumbai in recent years, with new malls popping up all over the city. Most malls are more than just shopping destinations. They've got huge food, gaming, and entertainment zones as well, offering fun for the whole family. Unfortunately, many of the big malls are located in Mumbai's outer suburbs. This makes them quite inaccessible to the average visitor.

1.  High Street Phoenix

The distinctive tall chimneys at the High Street Phoenix mall complex, conveniently located in central south Mumbai, give away the fact that this area used to be full of textile mills before it was redeveloped. This diverse mall, which now measures 3.3 million square feet, was launched in 2008. It's grown to incorporate the new high-end Palladium Mall and luxury St. Regis hotel (formerly the Palladium), swanky Skyzone shopping space with national and international brands, and Grand Galleria Zone that's designed to lure impulse shoppers. You'll also find a courtyard containing food shops, bowling alley, gaming arcade, and sports bar. After shopping in the evening, head to the nearby restaurants and bars for a meal or drink.

• Address: 462 Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai.
• Opening Hours: 11 a.m. until midnight daily.

2.  Phoenix Market City

One of Mumbai's newest mega malls, Phoenix Market City launched in late 2011. In contrast to the crowded area that it's located in, this cavernous mall is serene and spacious -- so much so that it often feels deserted. Measuring around 4 million square feet, it houses over 300 Indian and international stores, 55 food and beverage outlets, an eight screen cinema, and a massive entertainment area. Its aim: to provide the best ever international brand mix.

• Address: L.B.S. Marg, Kurla West.
• Opening Hours: 10.30 a.m. until midnight daily.

3.  R-City Mall

R-City mall is situated about 10 minutes up the road from Phoenix Market City mall. Phased development since the mall opened in 2009 has seen it expand in size to 1.2 million square feet. It has 66 food and beverage outlets, many of them in its huge outdoor courtyard. Much loved favorites include Indigo Delhi and Moshes. The mall also has 10 major department stores, a food court, children's entertainment area, and cinema.

• Address: LBS Marg, Ghatkopar, Mumbai.
• Opening Hours: Weekdays, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.  Weekends, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

4.  Oberoi Mall

The Oberoi Mall opened in mid 2008 and offers 700,000 square feet of shopping, dining and entertainment. It isn't as big as some Mumbai malls. However, with a motto of "Fun, Food, Fashion, Films", it's still one of the most popular ones. The main attractions are the Lifestyle Home Center outlet, and the Central department store. Find cosmetics, perfumes, and accessories on the ground floor, and clothing and sportswear on the second floor. The mall's third level has a large food court, cinema and gaming area.

• Address: Oberoi Garden City, off Western Express Highway, Goregaon East, Mumbai.
• Opening Hours: 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily.

5.  Infiniti Mall

Infiniti Mall, the "mall with infinite experiences" has an interesting claim to fame -- it's the first mall in India to have a roller coaster inside it! Launched in 2011, the mall measures nearly 1 million square feet and is one of the largest in the western suburbs. It has a good range of restaurants and a cinema. Live performances and special events are often held there as well. An added bonus is that Inorbit Mall is nearby, and it's almost as impressive.

• Address: New Link Road, Malad West (outer western Mumbai).
• Opening Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

9 Best Ashrams for Yoga and Meditation in Rishikesh

Rishikesh, along with Mysore, is one of the most popular destinations for yoga in India. There are numerous ashrams, and numerous styles of yoga and meditation, to choose from. Hence, it's important to investigate which best meets your needs. Find out about some of the top Rishikesh ashrams and what they teach in this article.

1.  Parmarth Niketan

Parmarth Niketan, on the banks of the holy Ganges river in Rishikesh, is one of the top yoga centers in India and the biggest ashram in the area. It has 1,000 rooms on its sprawling eight acre campus, with various rates (on a "donation" basis from 300 rupees per person, per day) depending on the standard of accommodations and view. Two yoga classes and three meals daily are included in the price. The ashram runs an extensive program of beginner yoga, Vedic heritage and spirituality, and teacher training courses. Outsider visitors are welcome to attend daily classes by giving a donation. The ashram's evening Ganga aarti is popular. 

2.  Sivananda Ashram

Another of India's top yoga centers, Sivananda Ashram was founded by Swami Sivananda and is run by the Divine Life Society. Teachings are based around the five points of yoga -- postures, breathing, relaxation, meditation, and diet. Free yoga and meditation classes are offered daily. However, accommodations (which are also provided free of charge, along with food) are only available to serious spiritual seekers who need to apply at least a month in advance. The ashram is located near Ram Jhula, adjoining the main road.

3.  Omkarananda Ganga Sadan

Omkarananda Ganga Sadan, the guesthouse of the Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, is home to the Patanjala Yoga Kendra yoga center. Iyengar yoga classes are the specialty there. The center is located at the Muni-ki-Reti area of Rishikesh, on the banks of the Ganges river. It has its own ghat, and a daily aarti is performed. Daily (except Sundays) yoga classes are open to everyone but reservations need to be made months in advance for the intensive yoga courses. Lectures on the Bhagavad Gita are also offered. Accommodations are reasonably priced and clean, and many rooms have river views.

4.  Sadhana Mandir and Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Ashram

Sadhana Mandir was founded in 1966 by Swami Rama, author of Living with the Himalayan Masters, and many other renowned spiritual books. Meditation, in the Himalayan Tradition, is the focus of the teachings at this ashram. It has a serene garden setting on the banks of the Ganges river, but away from the hustle and bustle of Rishikesh. Various residential programs are offered and require reservations at least two weeks in advance.

Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama was founded by Swami Veda Bharati, a disciple of Swami Rama. In addition to offering meditation instruction in the Himalayan Tradition, the ashram is a highly regarded center for scientific research into yogic meditation. Accommodations, limited to 100 guests at a time, are provided in very comfortable self contained bungalows. There's a daily schedule of activities, as well as personalized instruction and individualized spiritual retreats. Accommodation rates vary according to nationality, and include meals and daily classes.

5.  Shree Mahesh Heritage Meditation School

If your focus is more on meditation than yoga, Shree Mahesh Heritage Meditation School offers a 300 hour meditation teacher training course, as well as meditation retreats and meditation for beginners courses. The school's approach is based on Vedic texts, and you'll also learn about yoga, Ayurveda, life healing, and spiritual development. In addition, there's a special non-residential Health Supportive Lifestyle Program that teaches healthy choices about diet, exercise and other lifestyle habits that can be easily applied in day-to-day life. Founder Ram Gupta has a degree in Nature Cure Science and Master Degree in Yoga and Meditation, plus more than 20 years of diverse experience in India and internationally.

6.  Yoga Niketan

Yoga Niketan was founded by Swami Yogeshwaranand Paramahans, a renowned master of Raj Yoga. The teachings of this ashram, which is located in the Muni-Ki-Reti area of Rishikesh, are based solely on eight fold path as per the Patanjali yoga shastra. The ashram requires a minimum stay of 15 days for any of its courses. However, it also has a commercially run guesthouse that's available for shorter stays, and guests can attend daily classes at the ashram. Room rates start from 500 rupees a day, per person, for Indians and 900 rupees a day for foreigners.

7.  Himalayan Yog Ashram

Located a short walk up the hill from Anand Prakesh, the compact Himalayan Yog Ashram teaches the practice of Himalayan Yoga based on the Vedic tradition, which forms the base for all different paths of yoga. The programs consist of a combination of yoga postures, breathing, meditation, and spiritual teachings. Various Ayurvedic healing programs are offered as well. The minimum stay at the ashram is a week, but two weeks are recommended to obtain maximum benefit. As well as the teachings, guests praise this ashram for its great food, beautiful environment, and welcoming hosts.

8.  Phool Chatti

Meaning "Land of Flowers", Phool Chatti ashram was founded in the late 1800s (yes, it's more than 120 years old) and is located a peaceful 5 kilometers upriver from Laxman Jhula. The ashram is renowned for its frequent seven day yoga and meditation program. The teachings are different from many others as they focus on the full spectrum of the yogic path and ashram life, not just asanas (postures). Students will get to experience meditation, breathing (pranayama), cleansing, chanting, mauna (silence), pooja (worship), kirtan (sacred singing), and other important aspects of the yogic path. There are opportunities for meditative walks among nature as well.

11.  Osho GangaDham Ashram

The Osho GangaDham ashram is situated on the Ganges river at Brahampuri, around 10 minutes drive from the Laxman Jhula area on Badrinath Road. Various types of Osho Active Meditation practices are taught at the ashram, and meditation camps are offered throughout the year. Alternatively, you can simply listen to discourses, or do nothing but relax there.