Category: Places to See

Whether you’re wrapping up warm for a classic Christmas break or looking to escape to milder climes, America’s cities have plenty to offer in winter – with the added bonus of being less crowded than during peak visitor periods. Experts at the Leisure Pass Group, the world’s leading attraction pass company, have identified six favourite cities for a winter getaway, with exciting options for every member of the family. New York – great winter views from on high New York offers one of the world’s best-loved festive breaks, with spectacular holiday season store windows, great shopping and the iconic Times ... Read more

Tiger Reserve Entrance Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), located in the Southern Western Ghats in Tirunelveli District and Kanyakumari District in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is the second-largest protected area in Tamil Nadu State. The Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve was created in 1988 by combining Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary (251 km) and Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary (567 km), both established in 1962. Notification of 77 km of parts of Veerapuli and Kilamalai Reserve Forests in adjacent Kanyakumari district, added to the reserve in April 1996, is pending. A 400 km2 core area of this reserve has been proposed as ... Read more

Orlando, Theme Park Capital of the World, will have even more character in 2019 with the launch of new theme park thrills, adventures beyond the theme parks, and all-new places to stay, play and dine. New Theme Park Thrills New Coaster Experience at Universal Orlando Resort Orlando theme parks have experienced unprecedented growth within the past five years, with ground-breaking expansions including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, Pandora – The World of AVATAR and brand-new waterpark Volcano Bay. The thrills continue in 2019 with brand-new immersive lands, rides and experiences to excite both first-time and return ... Read more

Sharjah has always been known for its rich cultural heritage and its picturesque landscape, adding to this, the vibrant destination is also pocket-friendly and an ideal weekend getaway as it’s only a few hours’ flight time from India. Now, the ease of visa facility adds to the attractions of Sharjah. Post-arrival, experience a captivating blend of traditional and modern, as Sharjah offers a diverse variety of attractions, which caters to the needs of the leisure traveler. Visitors will find a lot can be packed into 48-hours. Begin your day with the Al Noor Mosque, which is designed in the classic ... Read more

This is a stupendous, timeless place, virtually untouched by humanity and its destructive forces. Here, it is the weather and winds that have carved the imposing, towering skyscrapers, so elegantly described by T E Lawrence as “vast, echoing and God-like…” Wadi Rum is a maze of monolithic rockscapes that rise up from the desert floor to heights of 1,750m creating a natural challenge for serious mountaineers. Hikers can enjoy the tranquility of the boundless empty spaces and explore the canyons and water holes to discover 4000-year-old rock drawings and the many other spectacular treasures this vast wilderness holds in store. ... Read more

Sedona For travellers planning to pop the question this holiday season, U S News & World Report, publisher of Best Hotels, Best Vacations and Best Cruise Lines, has released its rankings of the Best Romantic Getaways. The annual rankings highlight 12 destinations across the United States that are ideal for romantic getaways. Hawaii islands take two of the top five spots this year, with Kauai topping the list as the No. 1 destination for lovebirds looking for outdoor activities, sightseeing adventures and an incomparable romantic atmosphere. Napa Valley, California, with its tiered hillsides, wine caverns and illustrious estates comes in at ... Read more

France is always an exciting destination but the year ahead promises a buffet of intriguing events beyond the capitol. Read on for the top reasons to pack your bags and book a flight: NORMANDY – 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings June 5 and 6, 2019 will mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings and the launch of the crucial Battle of Normandy, which paved the way for Europe’s liberation and the end of WWII. The anniversary will also include military parades, fireworks, giant picnics, concerts, airdrops, and of course, a great international ceremony attended by the Allied heads ... Read more

Historical villages in Portugal are made of granite and schist that preserve memories of ancient conquests and traditions and are remarkable for their landscapes, their heritage and for the friendliness of the people who live there. Perched on the top of mountains, these villages can be spotted from afar by the tall towers of their medieval castles. That is why they were strategically aligned along the border. The kings and lords of the land knew this would mean they could sleep more restfully. But they were sometimes mistaken. Moors and Christians, Spaniards and Portuguese, all tried to take them for ... Read more

National Geographic Traveler magazine reveals its 28 must-see destinations and travel experiences for 2019. Together, Traveler editors and National Geographic Explorers have selected their top places to travel across four categories: Cities, Nature, Culture, and Adventure. The year’s Best Trips list is relevant, surprising and inspiring, highlighting a globe-spanning mix of destinations from the Peruvian Amazon to Kansas City, Missouri. “Our Best Trips issue features 28 destinations and experiences that can inspire us, change our perspectives and connect us with cultures, places and ideas that matter in the world,” says George Stone, National Geographic Traveler editor in chief. “The issue ... Read more

Guatape Rock, Colombia Visitors of Colombia can have an unusual attraction waiting for them. It is huge natural rock with zig zag staircases to reach to its top – looks like the crack along the side of the rock is stitched together. La Piedra Del Penol is the name of the rock in Spanish, which means ‘The Rock of Guatape’, also known as El Penol Stone or simply as La Piedra. It is located in the town and municipality of Guatapé, in Antioquia, Colombia. It reminds a little bit of Sigiriya Rock in Sri Lanka. Top of the rock The ... Read more

Every year, around millions people from all over the world visit Japan to explore the country and its rich and fascinating culture, a number that is ever increasing. In various locations around the metropolis, Japan organizes accessible short programs that offer foreign visitors and others the opportunity to gain authentic first-hand experience of traditional culture and performing arts, and programs that provide a deeper understanding by combining hands-on experience with the viewing of performances. We have compiled the top traditional cultural experiences for foreign visitors to get to know Japan first-hand! From the Traditional Japanese Dance Workshop to Kabuki, one ... Read more

Ideal weather, Christmas decorations, street entertainment, festive atmosphere and spectacular fireworks will let you celebrate Christmas and New Year holidays in the most spectacular way in Portugal. Go Ho! Ho! Ho! and all merry in absolutely amazing Lisbon. The churches and streets are so wonderfully decorated that gets you going all Christmas-y. Plenty to shop for in the amazing Christmas markets of Lisbon. Climb to the castle of Sao George and take a stroll through festally decorated Alfama and if you are lucky, you may get to treat your ears with Fado. Explore the festive beauty of nearby Belem district, ... Read more

The Middle East’s first indoor ski resort, Ski Dubai, has activities to keep you enthralled for several days and can be visited many times over! Snow Park Snow Park is a breathtaking 3,000 square meter, real snow wonderland — strap on your snow boots and experience Twin Track Bobsled runs, a Snow Cavern filled with interactive experiences, and Tobogganing hills. Head one down to the upgrade station for an exhilarating ride on the Giant Ball or jump on the chairlift for a one of a kind bird’s eye view of the entire park. Don’t miss out on the resident royalty ... Read more

We begin our cultural journey in Sharjah with its Heart – ‘The Heart of Sharjah’ has been painstakingly restored to give a feel of traditional life in the emirate. As the largest historical preservation and restoration project in the region, planned over a 15-year period, it will be completed by 2025. The project seeks to revitalize the heritage district as a vibrant cultural destination by showcasing its heritage with the restoration of historical buildings, constructing new structures following traditional Sharjah architecture and transforming them into hotels, restaurants, cafes, art galleries and markets, a place where one can experience Sharjah’s cultural ... Read more

There are umpteen number of ways countries and local bodies promote tourism. Cat tourism is one such novel idea to help small town and rejuvenate local economies by promoting tourism. The idea was sprouted up in the heads of the six remaining students at a community school in the tiny island of Hujing off the coast of Taiwan. The students of the Hujing Elementary School got the idea from the success of other cat towns and islands in the region. Another small coal mining village in Taiwan’s Rueifang District, once abandoned, is also attracting huge number of visitors to see the feline friends. The large ... Read more