How to book tatkal tickets faster (Tips)

In India, trains are one of the easiest and cheapest modes of transport. Over the years, booking train tickets has become convenient using the IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation) website. In fact, according to the comScore and ASSOCHAM India report, IRCTC is the leading travel e- commerce site in the country with the highest transaction share in the travel category. One out of five online users in India visits the Indian Railways site, with almost 12 million unique visitors monthly and majority of the traffic is seen between 10 am to 12 pm. It is during this time that IRCTC allows booking Tatkal tickets, which means tickets that are reserved for people with last minute travel plans, travel emergencies and so on.
IRCTC receives a lot of flak for its slow, sluggish performance and had become a laughing stock when the site crashed (server inability, low bandwidth) during the festivities last year, just minutes after Tatkal bookings began. Currently, it is said to sell about 40-45,000 Tatkal railway tickets between 10 am and 11 am (its 10 and 11, because all tickets are sold in one hour – in fact, 45 mins), which it plans to spruce up to 60-65,000 with the help of its new Rs. 10 crore drive for better, upgraded servers to 64GB RAM. This will allow 80 lakh concurrent connections compared to the current 10 lakh. The Tatkal online booking window opens a day in advance before the date of your journey just for an hour and tens of thousands of people try to log into the Tatkal booking system, which makes it as tough as getting into an overcrowded Mumbai local train during the peak office hours. If you’ve ever tried booking a Tatkal ticket, you will know how important each minute is and how annoying IRCTC’s online passenger reservation system can get. You have to make optimum use of each second as soon as the online booking counter opens, and those 5 to 10 minutes before the counter opens are also very crucial. We’ve laid out a guide to help you book a Tatkal ticket, along with a set of handy tech tools and tips and tricks that will help you bag a confirmed Tatkal ticket faster.
First, the Tatkal or last minute online booking window opens only a day in advance of your journey between 10 am and 12 am. A person can book only two Tatkal tickets on one user id, so for any more tickets you will need to login using other IRCTC user ids. Now, you need to successfully log into the IRCTC reservation system at exactly 10 a.m., but remember, there are tens of thousands of other people trying to log into the site, so one needs to be really quick. Try to login using multiple accounts on different browsers such as Mozilla, Chrome, Opera or take a hand from your pals 10 minutes before. For this, ensure that your time is synced with the IRCTC server time, so that there are no issues due to difference in time as a delay in a minute means lesser chances of getting a ticket.
Once you log in with the IRCTC account, the key is to keep the session active. Those who have tried booking a Tatkal ticket may have often faced the error which says “Session expired”, which means you have to start logging in again, and this delay can cost you your ticket. To keep the session alive, ensure that the screen doesn't go idle for more than 3 minutes, because as soon as it does, the session will expire. So do not spend time thinking which ticket to choose or go hunting for your debit/credit card details at the last minute; keep everything handy so that the screen doesn't go idle.
As the only way to avoid the session from
expiring is keeping the page active, here are
two handy tricks. You can use this link. All you
need to do is make a note of the Session ID
and the Engine ID (from the address bar),
replace it with your session and engine IDs and
use the URL in another browser (For instance,
if you are using Chrome, then use it in Firefox)
and keep doing it till you complete your
booking process. If you think this is a
complicated method, then the other trick to
keep your session active is by going to the
IRCTC website > Login > General > Terms &
Conditions. All you need to do is copy the
“Terms and Conditions” URL in another
browser and keep pinging it every 2-3 minutes.
As soon as you successfully log into IRCTC, choose the starting point and destination, then a list of trains will appear and you can choose the train and the ticket type – Sleeper, 3-tier AC, 2-tier AC and so on. You will then have to key in all the necessary details including an identity proof. One has to be really quick in filling these details and don't forget to keep your identity proof handy. For instance, if you plan to choose the PAN card, then make a note of the PAN number. As you have to be very quick and can't keep typing in details for minutes, here’s what you can do – keep all the information like name of the passengers, age, PAN number handy in a notepad and just copy paste the information while booking the ticket.
Another alternative is an extremely handy tech tool called Autofill that can be used on Firefox as well as Chrome . Using the autofill add-on or extension, you need to visit IRCTC, say, about half an hour or so before the Tatkal bookings begin. Just go to the usual ticket booking page and fill in your details. Simply follow the booking procedure till you reach the payment gateway and then go no further. The add-ons will ensure that the browser remembers these details and you will not have to spend a lot of time typing them while booking the Tatkal ticket. Another tool you can use is the Magic Autofill . To use this tool, fill in all your details and click on “I’m feeling lucky”, a “Magic Autofill” blue button will appear and you have to drag it into your bookmarks. While booking the Tatkal ticket, once you are done finalising the train and berth, click on the Magic autofill and it will do the rest and you can quickly proceed to payment.
The IRCTC website is jam packed and quite slow during Tatkal booking, so ensure that you are patient and do not double click on anything or hit the backspace button as this will log you off and you will need to start the complete procedure again. You will even come across a message that reads “Service Unavailable”; in this case, just keep refreshing the page. Once you are done with the payment, wait until it takes you back to the IRCTC page (unless the transaction fails).     
     These tech tools and simple tips and tricks will definitely increase the chances of bagging a confirmed ticket. Do share with us your experience of booking a Tatkal ticket.

How to Treat A Headache at home

Work stress, family demands skimpy sleep schedules—everyday stresses can give us all a headache every now and then. Try these natural remedies to help ease your
pain

Oh, my aching head! In a world of traffic jams,
tight schedules, and high-speed everything, it’s
no wonder we find ourselves popping an
occasional pain reliever. For a bad headache,
choose one that contains a combination of
aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine. (Off-
limits...if you have a bleeding disorder,
asthma, ulcers, or liver or kidney damage.) But
painkillers are only part of the solution.
There’s much more you can do to escape the
thump and wallop of a throbbing noggin.
Give it some good press
• With a firm, circular motion, massage the
web of skin between the base of your thumb
and your forefinger. Continue massaging for
several minutes, then switch hands and repeat
until the pain resolves. Acupressure experts
call this fleshy area trigger point LIG4 and
maintain that it is linked to areas of the
brain where headaches originate.
Heat up and cool down
• Believe it or not, soaking your feet in hot
water will help your head feel better. By
drawing blood to your feet, the hot-water
footbath will ease pressure on the blood
vessels in your head. For a really bad
headache, add a bit of hot mustard powder to
the water.
• For a tension headache, place a hot compress
on your forehead or the back on your neck.
T he heat will help relax knotted-up muscles
in this area.
• It might sound contradictory, but you can
follow up the heat treatment (or substitute it)
by applying a cold compress to your
forehead. (Put a couple of ice cubes in a
washcloth or use a bag of frozen vegetables.)
Cold constricts blood vessels, and when they
shrink, they stop pressing on sensitive nerves.
Since headache pain sometimes originates in
nerves in back of your neck, try moving the
compress to the muscles at the base of your
skull.
How to clear your mind so you can sleep
Natural home remedies: Fatigue
3 ways to relieve stress
• Here’s an alternative to a cold compress:
Soak your hands in ice water for as long as
you can stand it. While your hands are
submerged, repeatedly open and close your
fists. This works on the same principle as an
ice pack on your head—the cold narrows your
dilated blood vessels.
Try the caffeine cure
• Have a cup of strong coffee . Caffeine
reduces blood-vessel swelling, and thus can
help relieve a headache. This is why caffeine
is an ingredient in some extra-strength
painkillers like Excedrin. However, if you are
already a heavy coffee drinker, skip this.
Caffeine withdrawal can cause headaches,
creating a vicious cycle.
Do something constrictive
• Tie a bandanna, scarf, or necktie around your
forehead, then tighten it just to the point
where you can feel pressure all around your
head. By reducing the flow of blood to your
scalp, this can help relieve the pain caused
by swollen blood vessels. You might try
soaking the bandanna in vinegar, a traditional
headache remedy.
Soothe with scent
• Certain essential oils—especially lavender—
can help ease tension and relieve the pain of a
headache. Gently massage a bit of lavender
oil onto your forehead and temples, then lie
back and enjoy the relaxing scent. For
maximum relief, slip away to a room that’s
cool, dark, and quiet. The longer you can lie
there quietly breathing in the aroma, the
better.
• In addition to lavender oil—or instead of it—
use peppermint oil. The menthol it contains
can help dissolve away a headache. Its
fragrance at first stimulates, then relaxes, the
nerves that cause headache pain.
• If you have a vaporizer, add seven drops
lavender oil and three drops peppermint oil,
then breathe in the relief. If you don’t, try
sprinkling a few drops of peppermint oil on
a tissue. Inhale deeply several times.
• Try wringing out two wet peppermint tea
bags and place them on your closed eyelids or
forehead for five minutes.
Swallow some throb stoppers
• An anti-inflammatory, ginger was
traditionally used to treat headaches, and
it seems to work. Grind up a half-teaspoon
ginger, stir it into a glass of water, and drink
this “ginger juice.” Or pour 1 cup hot water
over 1 teaspoon freshly ground ginger, let the
tea cool a bit, then drink it. Ginger is
especially effective against migraines,
though how it works is not well understood.
Doctors do know that ginger has an effect on
prostaglandins, hormonelike substances that
contribute to inflammation. Ginger also helps
control the nausea that so often accompanies
migraines.
• Try drinking a cup of rosemary tea; some
people say it helps keep a headache from
getting worse. Pour 1 cup boiling water over
1 teaspoon of the dried herb, steep for 10
minutes, strain, and drink.
• At least one grandmother counted on strong
black tea with a few bruised whole cloves
added. Tea contains caffeine, and cloves
have anti-inflammatory properties , so the
brew might indeed help a headache.
• Down a large glass of water and see if it
helps. Dehydration can cause a headache.
The power of prevention
• If you grind your teeth or clench your jaw—
either when you’re awake or asleep—take steps
to prevent the problem. You might need to
wear a mouth guard at night.
• Eat at regular intervals. There’s evidence
that a drop in blood sugar—the result of going
too long without eating—can set the stage for
headaches.
• At least three days a week, spend 30
minutes walking, cycling, swimming, or
doing some other form of aerobic exercise.

How to make a free Website Easily

Everyone has a website these days. Your neighbor’s dog probably has its own website. So how can you join in on the fun, and maybe even make some money while doing it? A free website-making service will allow you to create a website quickly and have it live on the web in just a few minutes.

• 1.Ask yourself what kind of website you want to have. The needs of your website will dictate what kind of hosting service you should be looking for. If you intend to do business through your website, you’ll need to make sure that the host supports online stores. If you want to create a wiki, there are a variety of free wiki hosts that specialize in creating and maintaining wikis. If you want a blog, blogging sites can get you set up in just a few minutes.

• 2.Find a free online website-building service. There are a lot of options out there; some great, some poor, some cheap, some expensive; so it's worth spending some time comparing features. Most offer limited services for free sites and typically place advertisements on your site. Your website will most likely also be a subdomain of the host site instead of its own site (e.g. yoursite.host.com instead of yoursite.com). Some of the more popular free hosting sites include:
• Wordpress; great for blogs, small to medium-sized websites of all kinds
• Drupal; great for medium to large-sized websites
• Webs
• Angelfire
• Google Sites
• Webnode
• Wikia; great for wikis

• 3.Compare service features. Each host will offer different services at the free level. Most hosts have a limit on how much data you can upload for your webpage, and this is typically very limited. This means that if you intend to have a media-rich site with images and video, you may not be able to effectively use a free site.
• Different free hosts have different policies regarding creating online stores. If you intend to create an e-commerce website, ensure that the service you pick can adequately support your goals.
• Most free hosts have low bandwidth limits as well. This means they don’t work very well as filehosts, as downloading files can quickly max your data allowance.
• Check to see if the host allows you to upload your own websites. Most free services have web page creation tools and don’t allow you to upload your own custom code. This works for most basic needs, but if you want to be able to create your own site, make sure that the host allows it.

• 4.Choose a theme that suits you or your business. Browse through the available pre-made themes (sometimes called 'templates' or 'styles'); you can use the software's own available themes, as well as browse theme-selling marketplace websites like Theme Forrest.
• Many hosts have specialized designs for their sites that help maintain a brand identity with that host. Find the design that fits your website’s needs the most.

• 5.Consider how much it will cost you. Even if the service is for free, the business has to make money to provide it to you; it might use adverts, or it might try to entice you to upgrade to get more features, which might come at a significant monthly cost. Whichever one you choose, make sure you know how much it might cost in the future if you decide to upgrade to get more features.

• 6.Continue to create content. Websites that consistently put out new and useful content will get visited much more often than sites that stagnate. Do your best to produce engaging content that brings the reader back for more. Stick to an update schedule so readers can get used to when new content will be available.
• The number one way to increase traffic to your site is to consistently create good, engaging, original content. This will drive more viewers your way, and help to retain the viewers you already have.

• 7.To generate a passive income, place advertising on your site. Check with your host to see if this is allowed, because many free hosts do not support ad revenue going to you when you are using free services. Placing ads on your site can help you monetize it, but may also deter people from reading your content if the ads are too intruisive.

• 8.Market your site. Once you have a complete website and are adding content on a regular basis, you can start advertising your site. You can pay to have your site advertised on other websites through programs like Google AdSense, or you can promote your site on your own through social media such as Facebook or Twitter.

• Search engine-optimise (SEO) your website. You can start by submitting your site to search engines. Search engines crawl the web, matching content on websites with users’ searches. To really start attracting large numbers of people to your site, you’ll want to submit it to all the major search engines. The process varies depending on the search engine, but almost all will require you to create a sitemap of your website first.
• For Google, you can choose to just submit your site’s URL, or you can submit the entire sitemap for more optimized searches.
• For Yahoo! Bing, you can submit just the URL, or submit your sitemap in a variety of different ways. Sitemaps should be in the XML format.