Wednesday 27 September 2017

World Tourism Day 2017: Unique destinations you should explore

With wonders of the world like The Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, the Reed Flue Caves of China beckoning you — it is time you headed out with your loved ones to one or more or all of these spectacular beauties.

ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA

(Source: Dennis Jarvis/Wikimedia Commons)

The biggest religious historical monument in the world, Angkor Wat is where you should head to see a splendid architectural wonder for real. It is located in Cambodia in south east Asia.

ANTELOPE CANYON, ARIZONA




Image Credit www.antelopeslotcanyon.com

This natural scenic wonder has two separate canyon sections — The Upper Antelope Canyon and Antelope Canyon or The Corkscrew. While pictures might make it seem like clever photography, it is anything but that in real.

EASTER ISLAND, RAPA NUI, CHILE

Image Credit Youtube

While hiking and scuba diving make for interesting adventure sports around this region, the 887 Easter Island statues make for a spectacular sight to behold at the Rapa Nui National Park.

THE GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA







(Source: Tuxyso/Wikimedia Commons)

With massive rocks spanning over 200 miles, the Great Canyon, one of the wonders of the world, makes for a magnificent sight.

THE GREAT BARRIER REEF, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA


























Image Credit : Youtube

The largest collection of coral reefs in the world, the Great Barrier Reef is believed to be so large that is can be seen from space. If you are a beach bum, then this is just the place to head to for a surreal experience while scuba-diving.

THE GREAT BLUE HOLE, BELIZE, CENTRAL AMERICA

(Source; US Geological Survey/Wikimedia Commons)

A submarine sinkhole called The Great Blue Hole does not just make for a spectacular sight to watch, the water is also 407 feet deep and the hole 980 feet wide in this area.

Source :Elegant Journeys


Friday 1 September 2017

Jewelled by Hills, Lonavla–A Nature’s Paradise

A beautiful place situated in the impressive Sahayadri ranges, Lonavla is a quiet and a charming hill station. With the green valleys around, let them surround you with all their warmth giving you a blissful time of your life. This is also an amazing place for trekkers.

The hill station is situated at an altitude of 622 m above sea level, so if one is looking forward to taking a quick break from the daily life, this is the place to head. If you want to be surrounded by nature, admiring it for the greenery, waterfalls and forests, then visit Lonavla. The grand dams make for a perfect sight. The trip to this alluring hill station will be a soulful one and would soothe you to the bottom of your heart. Also, this place has many caves, some of them being accumulated as the Karla Caves and the Bhaja Caves. These caves belong to ancient times and Buddhist shrines have been carved out of the rocks.

With intricate designs deftly engraved into the caves, one can also observe big pillars in the premises.Bhaja Caves house several monasteries as well. The dark interiors of the caves have carved images of several deities. The sun rays barge into the caves and make the details visible for all.If one visits Lonavla during monsoons, it becomes the celestial city. The lakes are filled with water, the water in the dam gushes out and the waterfalls have a unique charm. With many other places in the list to visit, Rajmachi fort and Bushi dam are the two places you must not miss.

Rajmachi fort was used by the Maratha warrior Shivaji. The place is majestic, surrounded by deep valleys on three sides, the fourth side being covered by the thick forests. Other forts which you must visit are the Manoranjan Fort, the Tunga Fort, the Shrivardhan fort andthe Visapur Fort. The hill station is situated in the Pune district of Maharashtra. A famous candy called 'chikki' is what one can find here at every corner. It has a pleasant taste to it.Lonavla is surprisingly home to India’s largest water park which makes it a go-to place for a family outing as well as for friends.

Also, housing a wax museum makes it an interesting place to visit. In addition to these tourist attractions, this pleasant hill station is a serene place to reside and has a number of yoga institutes; and performing yoga in the backdrop of sunrise couldn’t get any better. The sunrise feels refreshing and fills you with optimum energy. Sunrise followed by chirping of birds and fresh air lets one get gently closer to nature. Early morning gets filled with thick fog most of the times, and this is nothing but extremely pleasant. Rejuvenate your mind and soul. Come out of the rut. Breathe in the fresh air. Take in all that you can!


The main market of the town is filled with colorful surprises and beautiful souvenirs. The scenic beauty has been designed stunningly with a beautiful collaboration of green hills, dense forests, deep valleys, majestic waterfalls and historic forts. The famous Lonavla Lake forms a picturesque sight; also called Bushi Lake, this lake is perfect place for weekend outings. The appealing hill station of Lonavala is also known as the 'Jewel of the Sahyadri'. The Sahyadri Hills decorate this place with nothing but sheer beauty. A quiet place as it is, Lonavla always has a lot more than we expect. So let’s loosen ourselves and dive into the depths of the lovely nature!