Category: Places to See

Lumbini is the Buddha’s birthplace, one of the world’s most important spiritual sites, and attracts Buddhist pilgrims from around the world. Today you can visit over twenty-five Buddhist monasteries built by diverse countries from Vietnam to France, study Buddhism, meditate and visit the birthplace within the sacred Mayadevi Gardens. Mayadevi Temple is the most sacred site in the Lumbini Garden where archaeologists have identified the exact spot where Lord Buddha was born. Inscriptions on the Ashoka Pillar nearby also refer to the spot as his birthplace. It is said that the newly born Prince Siddhartha (later became the Buddha) took his first seven steps and delivered ... Read more

The Rann of Kutch, the doorway to western India, can look surreal at times. On a full moon night, these white sands of Kutch light up with its austere beauty, contrasted colourfully by the people. ‘Breathe in a bit of Kutch, come breath in a bit of Gujarat’ – is what its tourism campaign says and there is plenty to breathe in and assimilate. The Rann of Kutch is a salt march in the Thar desert in the Kutch district of Gujarat, which is one of the largest salt deserts in the world. It is designated as a World Heritage ... Read more

Delhi is all set to get a tourism boost. The Delhi government wants to build the city as a tourist destination and launch new festivals to add to the wave of interest shown by tourists. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has proposed to launch a ‘Branding Delhi’ scheme for transforming the national capital into India’s tourism capital and bring more visitors to the city. Presenting Delhi budget for 2020-21, Sisodia, also the finance minister, has granted Rs 100 crore to achieve this goal. In his budget speech, Sisodia said though the possibilities and resources are available within Delhi to become ... Read more

Even during the most depressing of times, there can often emerge a bright piece of news. In Venice, one of the world’s greatest tourist spots, marine life has come back to attract the crowd. Swans, dolphins and plenty of fish are seen again in the Venetian canals, much to the delight of the local people. With the advent of the corona virus, there are hardly any tourists in Italy and the same can be said about Venice, known for its canals. Tourists often take gondola rides down these canals, but with the country under a lock down there are hardly ... Read more

a Travelogue by Panchami Menon, New Delhi When the cool breeze hits you as you’re walking down the street of Hailey Road, New Delhi, realisation dawns that the breeze is as cold as the goosebumps you get on your skin when you look at the magnificent wall art. The painting depicts a woman, hands shackled in chains and a beating heart visible through the layered rib-cage, all the while as she carries a smile on her face and strives to be liberated. The wall has broken layers of bricks and the second painting is a tattered yet intimidating face of ... Read more

With the monsoons on their way out and the slight nip on winter setting in, it’s time to begin planning your winter breaks! City life can be busy and may prevent you from organizing long haul vacations, but we’ve got here the top 6 places that would make for the perfect short winter break. Within comfortable driving distances of Mumbai and Pune, these are too tempting to pass! Maharashtra has the perfect winter weather, with the Sahyadris providing the cold without the chills. The range is dotted with several gems that make for amazing hideaways from the city crowds. Here ... Read more

Nature lovers and adventure seekers looking for a true taste of the Emirati lifestyle don’t have to look any further. Al Badayer Oasis by Mysk, the third gem in Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq)’s ‘Sharjah Collection’, nestled in central Sharjah’s lively Al Badayer Desert, is now welcoming guests. This picturesque oasis is first of its kind in the UAE with a unique design inspired by traditional Emirati heritage. It is the ultimate desert experience nestled in Al Badayer Desert’s burnt orange dunes, which are famously known to be ‘made for adventure’. Al Badayer is one of the most popular ... Read more

The Kingdom of Cambodia has more to offer than the stunning temples of Ankor; the tropical beaches, colonial buildings and an abundance of natural attractions await you there at this destination which is slowly recovering from the horrors of the Khmer Rouge’s reign. Here’s a sneak peak at some of the major attractions in Cambodia… Angkor Archaeological Park The Angkor Archaeological Park, located about four miles north of the city center is a 150-square-mile complex, which includes the famous Angkor Wat Temple. Angkor Wat, the Buddhist temple complex here, is the largest religious monument in the world and sees steady ... Read more

Sharjah is a perfect destination for tourists who are into art & culture, adventure and food. Known for its rich cultural heritage and its picturesque landscape, the vibrant destination is also pocket-friendly and an ideal weekend getaway as it’s only a few hours’ flight time from India. Art & Culture Sharjah Art Foundation – Located in Sharjah’s historic Art and Heritage Areas, Sharjah Art Foundation activities and events take place throughout the year and include exhibitions featuring the work of Arab and international artists, performances, music, film screenings and artist talks as well as extensive art education programmes for children, ... Read more

An adventure that will leave you breathless! Take a swim in the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea and explore the first Underwater Military Museum offering underwater enthusiasts 19 fascinating relics of battles. The military machines are stationed along the coral reefs imitating a battle tactical formation, that have formed the most exciting underwater escapade, intriguing divers and snorkelers to discover more and more of the dive site, not expecting what to see next and leaving them with a totally unique experience. After 30 days of scanning, photographing and planning, the blueprints for scuttling are ready, and the Aqaba ... Read more

Portugal has hit the limelight and is at the center of attention as a spectacular tourist destination with Bollywood’s two biggest action superstars shooting a sequence in this stunning country! Known for its natural landscapes, as well as history, culture and cuisine; the landscapes of Portugal have been used in the film “War”, the hottest Bollywood action film starring superstars Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff who have shot a “dangerous” bike chase sequence on Portugal’s highest mountain peak Serra da Estrela for the film. “For one big action chase sequence, they had to drive superbikes at high speed on top ... Read more

Beyond Israel’s most popular tourist attractions – such as Jerusalem’s Old City, the Dead Sea and Tel Aviv’s White City – the diverse country has lush forests to the north and a vibrant desert to the south, offering ample opportunities for adventure travelers to explore. Whether visitors are looking to rappel off an arch into a great and beautiful abyss, hike cross country or swim among the dolphins, adventure tourism in Israel is booming. Spanning only 263 miles, adventure-seekers will appreciate Israel’s offerings for adventurers of every level and interest, whether they are traveling north, south, east or west. In ... Read more

A trip to Mleiha is like stepping back in time. The past few decades of excavations have turned up more and more evidence, dating back as far as the Palaeolithic age, that establishes how important the region is archaeologically. Many of these discoveries can be experienced by visitors as part of the Archaeological Tours conducted by the Mleiha Archaeological Centre. However, Mleiha is a lot more than just archaeology digs. It holds a vast field of exciting discovery for the nature lover as well. The region has a plethora of flora and fauna including some rare plants and animals that ... Read more

Soon, visitors will be able to access Taj Mahal even at night. “Taj Mahal will remain open beyond its 10:00 am to 6:00 pm public access time. We have been receiving a lot of requests to keep the monument open during the night hours. We are dedicated to make this a reality,” said Union Tourism and Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel. At present night access to the monument was allowed at a premium only for five nights in a month – on full moon night and on the two nights preceding and following the full moon. Only 400 tourists — ... Read more

Sharjah’s unique appeal lies in its celebration of heritage and traditional Emirati culture. Today, the emirate has made clever use of its landscapes and history to offer a wide variety of activities and attractions that meld together the historical and the contemporary. Below are our top 8 picks, which you should not miss when in Sharjah: Rain Room: After being launched in London then visiting New York, Los Angeles and Shanghai, the Rain Room, an immersive art installation created by Random International is now permanently housed at the Sharjah Art Foundation. When visitors enter the Rain Room, they are directed to ... Read more