To inaugurate the new initiative, Herb Hiller and Linda Crider, co-founders of the modern-day Florida bicycling movement, will lead a week-long bicycle tour this October 10-16, starting and ending at Palatka, a rural county seat by the St. Johns River in northeastern Florida.

“For too long there’s been no organized comfortable cycling way to discover backroads Florida,” says Crider.  “These tours are organized for that, but also for fun.”
The 260-mile loop takes cyclists through state parks, as well as the Merritt
Island and Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuges. Also on the
itinerary is a stop at St. Augustine, the oldest city in the country
and recently named one of the top ten best places to live by U.S. News & World Report. 

By
2013, the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop will become the longest paved,
off-road loop trail in the American southeast. That same year will also
mark the 500th anniversary of Spain’s colonization of “La Florida,”
named in 1513 by Ponce de Leon for its flowered land. Because
wildflowers are abundant on the tour’s route, Florida Wildflower Foundation,
a chief sponsor of the touring program, will use the loop to help
launch the state’s wildflower tourism in celebration of its
quincentennial year.

The new effort may be just what Florida
tourism needs to draw more people to the nature, culture, and heritage
of the state (instead of the standard big hotels and beach resorts) and the trademark of these tours will be their local access. Not only will
cyclists experience Florida’s beautiful landscapes, but they will get to do so with local naturalists, writers, and
historians all working to turn Florida tourism green.

Hiller,
a leading advocate of sustainable tourism, understands the economic
value in Florida’s “heads in beds” tourist industry, but also
recognizes its drawbacks. “Tourism doesn’t champion environment or
heritage,” he says. “Yet, apart from making visitors comfortable, what
counts as much as using their presence among us to help accomplish our
aims? I mean, aims that include protecting our natural resources,
helping make our downtowns more livable and advancing diversity.”

Included
in the tours are luggage-carrying support vehicles, on-road guides,
maps and cue sheets, overnights in B&B’s, homestays and motels as
well as all breakfasts and sit-down dinners.

For additional tours and prices, visit bikeflorida.org. For more information on Florida’s greenways and trails,
visit
www.floridagreenwaysandtrails.com.

Photo courtesy of John Moran 

Visitors to Bermuda in 2009 will see the introduction of several new and redesigned resorts as well as gala celebrations all through the year.  In case you haven’t considered the pleasures of Bermuda in some time, here’s a refresher about the charms that have captivated visitors for hundreds of years.  Bermuda has 21 miles of glorious landscape including quaint harbors, pink sand beaches and dozens of mid-size luxury resorts and inns.  Bermuda is one of the world’s top golf destinations with 9 championship courses – more courses per square mile than any other destination.  200 square miles of coral reefs will delight divers, who will find more wreck sites to explore than anywhere else on earth.  Shopping and dining have always been a top priority in Bermuda, and you’ll appreciate that Bermuda’s currency is on par with the US dollar.  Located just a two hour flight from major east coast cities, Bermuda makes a perfect long weekend escape destination.

There has never been a more exciting time to visit Bermuda and sink your toes into those warm, powdery pink sand beaches.  Here’s a recap of the events and new venues awaiting you lucky travelers:

Tucker’s Point Resort – is a brand new luxury resort, private club and residential community that celebrated it’s opening in April, 2009.  It’s dramatic ocean front location gives wonderful views of  Castle Harbour, Harrington Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.  Guestrooms feature a lovely balcony or terrace, gracious decor, top amenities and amazingly, a fireplace for ambiance.  8 restaurants offer every dining experience you could wish for from formal dining in elegant rooms, quiet wine room or library, less formal palm court, Winter Lounge, Chef’s kitchen table, or Terrace Grill.  Find all their information at TuckersPoint.com

Newstead Belmont Hills Resort – Open for just a year, this resort offers visitors a charming harborside boutique hotel with a dramatic infinity pool looking out over Great Sound.  Each residence offers views over the gardens, to the infinity pool, across to the city of Hamilton and out to Great Sound – wonderful!  Accommodations offer large living space with a kitchen, sitting room, bathroom and bedroom area.  Check out them out at Newsteadbelmonthills.com.

The Reefs – Long considered one of Bermuda’s best hotels, 2009 sees the completion of The Reefs Club – a private club of 19 luxury two and three bedroom residences which will be available for a brief time as one-time rentals.  The Reefs has also new and expanded services at it’s well respected La Serena Spa.  Find the info you’ll need at TheReefs.com

Upcoming events to look for:
Cup Match Cricket Festival – July 30-31, 2009
Bermuda Music Festival – October, 2009
PGA Grand Slam of Golf – October 19-21, 2009
World Rugby Classic – November 8-14, 2009
Bermuda Christmas Boat Parade – December 12, 2009

For all the vacation planning information you’ll need – visit BermudaTourism.com.  And the good news is that there is lots of ways to reach Bermuda.  Eight major airlines serve the island – American, Continental, delta, JetBlue, US Airways, USA3000, Air Canada and British Airways, and a number of cruise lines make stops during summer months.  With all the inbound service to Bermuda, prices stay competitive and reasonable.  If you haven’t considered a vacation in Bermuda latetely – it’s time.

Otto had set up a successful food business and part of the company was located in a building on Prinsengracht. In May 1940, Germany invaded Holland and they brought with them, the repression of the Jewish people. Fearful about the fate of his family, in July 1942, Otto Frank moved his family to an annex at the back of the building at 263 Prinsengracht. Later, the Franks were joined in the Annex by Hermann and Auguste van Pels, their son Peter and Fritz Pfeffer.

Anne Frank House, Amsterdam

For more than two years, these 8 people hid in the Annex from the Nazis and during this time, Anne Frank kept a diary. In it, she wrote her most personal thoughts and feelings and later her father were surprised how strong her emotions were even though he was close to his daughter.

On 4 August 1944, the German authorities received an anonymous phone call telling them that Jews were hiding at 263 Prinsengracht. Anne Frank and the seven others had been betrayed and to this day, it is still not known who betrayed them. In addition, some of the people helping were also arrested although they all survived the war.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the 8 Jewish people who had been hiding for more than two years. After their arrests, they were deported to various concentration camps to the East.

- Edith Frank died in Auschwitz.

- Margot Frank died in Bergen-Belsen.

- Anne Frank also died in Bergen-Belsen just days after her sister and tragically a month before the camp was liberated by the British Army.

- Hermann van Pels died in Auschwitz

- Auguste van Pels died while being transported to Theresienstadt.

- Peter van Pels died in Mauthausen.

- Fritz Pfeffer died in Neuenhamme.

Otto Frank had been sent to Auschwitz but survived the war and eventually died in 1980 at the age of 91. However, before he died, Otto spent a lot of time getting his daughters diary published and helping set up the Anne Frank House museum.

The Anne Frank House museum has been open to the public since 1960 and now attracts more than 1 million visitors a year. The museum’s address is 267 Prinsengracht so it covers a larger area than just the original building of Otto Franks company. Visitors should allow about an hour to go round the museum. If you are going to visit the museum independently, it is probably best to pre-book you tickets on the internet as there is always a queue to get in with waiting times up to an hour. Pre-booked tickets let you select the time you want to visit the museum but it is advisable to get these well in advance as the slots seem to sell out quickly. Alternatively, you can just turn up and queue as many people do. If you go for this option, its probably worth getting there early. There are no cloakroom facilities at the museum so if you are planning to visit at the end of your trip to Amsterdam, make sure you leave your luggage at your hotel or the station.

We got to the museum for around 9:45am and had to queue for about 20 minutes although when we came out the queue was almost double the length. An adult ticket was 8.50EUR, a child up to the age of 17 was 4EUR and children under 10 are admitted free (2009 prices). Once inside, visitors are directed round various exhibitions started on the ground floor and working up to the Annex were Anne Frank spent two years of her short life. There are various quotes from her diary displayed on the walls throughout the museum as well as a number of personal items. There are also video screens with short interviews from people who help hide the Franks, one of Anne’s friends and Otto Frank.

On the walls of the staircase leading down from the Annex, there is a quote from Nelson Mandela. I forget the exact words but basically during his time in prison on Robben Island, Mandela and his fellow inmates read Anne Frank’s Diary and it helped to inspire them in their cause. The bookshop at the Museum offers a wide range of literature about Anne Frank as well as information about the various campaigns and educational programs it helps with. The Anne Frank Museum should be a part of any trip to Amsterdam.

The final months of Anne and Magot Franks lives were at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Today, the site is a memorial with extensive exhibitions as well as a documentation and research centre. Entry is free to all visitors. The Bergen-Belsen Memorial is located around 50km north of Hanover between the towns of Bergen and Winsen. Despite its relatively remote location, there is a bus service from the town of Celle.

Bergn-Belsen

Originally, the camp was used by the Wehrmacht as a POW camp in 1939. Around 20,000 POWs died here, mainly from the Soviet Union. In 1943, the SS took over the running of the camp and established it as a concentration camp. Until its liberation in April 1945, more than 52,000 men, women and children died mainly from starvation and disease. When the British liberated the camp, there were confronted with the sight of thousands of unburied bodies and many other prisoners who were barely alive.

Anne and Margot Frank arrived at Bergen-Belsen from Auschwitz in August 1944. The following winter was harsh and with the camp being horribly overcrowded, more than 18,000 people had died there by March 1945 from cold, hunger and disease. Margot died from Typhus and now Anne was all alone. She also contracted Typhus and believing her parents to also be dead, she maybe thought there was nothing to live for and gave in to the disease that had claimed her sister.

Anne and Margot Franks gravestone

After the war, the British Military Government ordered a memorial site to be created. The camp became a Displaced Persons Camp as many Jews had no home to return to. In 1948, the State of Israel was founded and some people from the Displaced Persons camp were allowed to immigrate there. The camp was finally closed in 1950.

When we arrived at the Memorial, the we spent time looking round the Exhibition Documentation Centre this in itself can be very time consuming as there is so much to see not to mention the videos and recordings from camp survivors. There is also some very graphic video shot by the British Army just a few days after the camp was liberated. It shows the bodies being put into the mass graves (up to 5,000 people) which are still very much part of the outdoor memorial.

We spent around an hour indoors before heading outside to look at former camp. Virtually nothing of the old camp remains. The POW cemetery where over 14,000 Soviet soldiers are buried is located a bit further away from the rest of the memorial and takes about 15 minutes to walk there. Visitors also have the option to drive there if they have their own transport.

Around the grounds, there are a number of mass graves marked simply stating how many people are buried there and the date, April 1945. At the far end is the Obelisk and Wall of Remembrance where people have laid wreaths, flowers as well as many individual stones, which I believe is Jewish tradition (feel free to correct me or tell me the full story of the stones by leaving a comment).

Near the Wall, visitors will find a large timber cross which was erected on the initiative of Polish women from the camp shortly after liberation. There is also a House of Silence where people can sit and reflect. In the centre are a number of gravestones, including one of Margot and Anne Frank. The grave stones do not mark a specific resting place of the individual, they are there as a memorial.

Whilst I did not find Bergen-Belsen as disturbing as Auschwitz (which I visited a few years ago), it is undoubtedly a very sombre place where evil claimed the lives of so many innocent people. Anne Frank’s short life came to an end in this camp hidden away to the north of Hanover but the discovery and publication of her diary by her father, Otto has given inspiration to a world statesmen in Nelson Mandela and has also gave us an insight to a life cut tragically short by persecution.

If you would like to visit the Anne Frank Museum and Bergen-Belsen, it is part of the itinerary for the Anne Frank & Oskar Schindler Memorial Tour which you can book with Explorer Travel

Among all these places, Ladakh city witnesses the largest number of travelers. The main reasons for such huge bulk of travelers every year are its small accessibility period and the beautiful destinations & scope of adventurous activities in Ladakh.

Ladakh lies in trans-Himalayan district of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Both adventure freaks and culture enthusiasts have greater inclination to travel this wonderful location. The place is famous for its high mountain charm and civilization. The place is strongly influenced by the Tibetans culture and due to the strong influence of the Tibetan culture; the place is also called a ‘Little Tibet.’ More than half the population of Ladakh is constituted of Tibetans people.

In the past, Ladakh was a Buddhist kingdom, but after the partition these regions are controlled by Pakistan and China. The two districts of Ladakh include Leh and Kargil. Besides being the largest town of Ladakh and Leh is also known as the capital of Ladakh. One of the most remarkable features of Ladakh is wide scope of adventurous activities here. Some of the popular adventurous activities of Ladakh include:

TREKKING

Trekking is just the kind of adventure sport that every fun-loving traveler would love. The sports involve lot of fun amid the hilly areas in cool surroundings. Some of popular valleys for trekking in Ladakh include the Zanskar valley trek, Markha Valley trek Lamayuru-Padum Valley Trek and Indus Valley Trek. The traditional trekking season extends from early June to mid-October.

RIVER RAFTING

The place is an ultimate spot for river rafting. The place offers wide range rafting option on the Indus and its main branches. However, the best option for white water is between Spituk and Saspol on the Indus. But, it should be noted that this water sport require special skill and the rafter need to be expert before trying hands in this adventure freak. A satisfactory arrangement for rescue coverage is an important pre- requisite for embarking upon a white-water expedition on a river like Zanskar.

MOUNTAINEERING

The walking, hiking, backpacking and climbing on mountains all comes under mountaineering. Generally the climbing season starts from mid-May and exists till mid-October. However, the most appropriate period for mountain climbing in Ladakh is from June to September as this is the time when Ladakh remains unaffected by the monsoon. However all foreign expeditions are required to get permission from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation for climbing all listed peaks.

Now, you must be thinking of exploring all these wonderful adventurous sports option. For this you need a well-organized travel agency to arrange a systematic tour for you. There are several travel agency who arrange meticulous tours for India, but you should bank upon an experienced and Government approved travel agency to avoid getting into any sort of problematic situation.

Having a list of Vancouver events does benefit both local residents of the city and people who are on vacation in our Lotusland. Having your own list of Vancouver events at hand can give visitors as well as residents the convenience of choosing best events and activities to attend. With the huge variety of events and activities happening all at the same time in the city, you will have an easier way of selecting what to do and where to go if you have a list of Vancouver events.

The activities and events that take place in Vancouver cover quite a number of interests, and every tourist and local can find a few for themselves. There are concerts, workshops, exhibitions, conferences, movies, theatrical shows, day tours, and so much more for you to enjoy. Whether you are looking to have some good fun with your family, enjoy the city life alone, or if you are looking to meet new people, there is always a plenty of events in Vancouver to choose from.

Some of the events in Vancouver are annual and happen on fixed dates and months each year. Therefore, celebrations dedicated to these events also revolve around these dates, like Mother’s day in May or Father’s day in June. Pottery classes, soap making workshops, flea markets, sailing club open houses and sales are a few examples of Vancouver events and are a special and wonderful present for a mom or dad on their special day. Other events in Vancouver are casual occasions, such as musical concerts or traveling shows. Whether you are in the city on a scheduled business trip and are looking for a reprieve from your daily grind or are planning on visiting specifically for such events, it does pay to know about events in Vancouver in advance. You can plan your days and nights according to these events and according to your interests. For example, if you are a jazz fan, you might want to plan a trip to Vancouver for the Jazz Festival, which happens annually in Chilliwack on the first week of May. If you are into crafting, the Crafting Expo is organized first week of May in Vancouver and is an annual event as well. Knowing what events take place during your stay in the city will help you maximize the time you spend here and will help create more beautiful memories. With a list of Vancouver events to plan your days and nights here you can be sure that there will never be a dull moment during your stay here.

How many times have you had this experience that the weekend you had waited for so anxiously has finally arrived, you are all up for fun and excitement, and you don’t know where to go? Plenty of times, as all of us… The truth is there are an enormous number of events being organized in the city; you just need a convenient tool to look for them. Having a list of Vancouver events does benefit both local residents of the city and people who are on vacation in our Lotusland. Having your own list of Vancouver events at hand can give visitors as well as residents the convenience of choosing best events and activities to attend. With the huge variety of events and activities happening all at the same time in the city, you will have an easier way of selecting what to do and where to go if you have a list of Vancouver events.

The activities and events that take place in Vancouver cover quite a number of interests, and every tourist and local can find a few for themselves. There are concerts, workshops, exhibitions, conferences, movies, theatrical shows, day tours, and so much more for you to enjoy. Whether you are looking to have some good fun with your family, enjoy the city life alone, or if you are looking to meet new people, there is always a plenty of events in Vancouver to choose from.

Some of the events in Vancouver are annual and happen on fixed dates and months each year. Therefore, celebrations dedicated to these events also revolve around these dates, like Mother’s day in May or Father’s day in June. Pottery classes, soap making workshops, flea markets, sailing club open houses and sales are a few examples of Vancouver events and are a special and wonderful present for a mom or dad on their special day.

Other events in Vancouver are casual occasions, such as musical concerts or traveling shows. Whether you are in the city on a scheduled business trip and are looking for a reprieve from your daily grind or are planning on visiting specifically for such events, it does pay to know about events in Vancouver in advance. You can plan your days and nights according to these events and according to your interests. For example, if you are a jazz fan, you might want to plan a trip to Vancouver for the Jazz Festival, which happens annually in Chilliwack on the first week of May. If you are into crafting, the Crafting Expo is organized first week of May in Vancouver and is an annual event as well.

Knowing what events take place during your stay in the city will help you maximize the time you spend here and will help create more beautiful memories. With a list of Vancouver events to plan your days and nights here you can be sure that there will never be a dull moment during your stay here.

How many times have you had this experience that the weekend you had waited for so anxiously has finally arrived, you are all up for fun and excitement, and you don’t know where to go? Plenty of times, as all of us… The truth is there are an enormous number of events being organized in the city. Having a list of Vancouver events does benefit both local residents of the city and people who are on vacation in the Lotusland. Having your own list of Vancouver events at hand can give visitors as well as residents the convenience of choosing best events and activities to attend. With the huge variety of events and activities happening all at the same time in the city, you will have an easier way of selecting what to do and where to go if you have a list of Vancouver events.

Tenerife is a volcanic island, hence its main attraction being Mount Teide – the volcano. Teide is open to visitors all year round and is located in the North of the island, along with the resort of Puerto de la Cruz. I visited this resort for the day and was pleasantly surprised, although more suited to an older clientele, it had nice beaches and a big tourist attraction called the ‘Loro Parque’, which is a bird/animal park that really does make for a great value day out.

Further South, you can find the resorts of Los Gigantes and Las Caletillas along the East coast, which make for a quieter, more relaxed holiday with little fishing harbours and cafés to unwind.

Golf del Sur is another popular resort, only a 5 minute drive from Tenerife South Airport. This has been a firm favourite for years, with golfers originally, but has now grown into a popular tourist resort for all age groups. There are several golf courses nearby and many more further South in Playa de las Americas and Costa Adeje.

Along the Southern-most coastline, you can find 3 resorts that interconnect with each other. Los Cristianos, home to the major harbour ferrying visitors to and from La Gomera, is again a versatile resort suitable for people of all ages. A ten minute walk will bring you to Playa de las Americas – the firm favourite for clubbers and partygoers! Although it can get lively, steer clear of ‘The Strip’ and you’ll experience a nice resort with a great beach and many cafés, bars, shops and restaurants.

Now to my personal favourite! Costa Adeje – A relatively new resort, which houses many new 4 and 5 star hotels. There’s a man-made, sandy white beach in Costa Adeje, with a brand new shopping centre, promenade with exclusive little cafes, bars and restaurants. Although only a ten minute walk further on, you’ll feel as though you’re a world away from the hustle and bustle of Playa de las Americas. A lovely place to visit for a quiet, rather upmarket holiday.

Sea turtles constitute a single radiation that was distinct from all other turtles during the Late Cretaceous Period, the “age of dinosaurs”, at least 100 million years ago. It’s hard to imagine that approximately 65 million years ago during the Cretaceous–Tertiary Extinction Event (KT Mass Extinction), the planet endured catastrophic events such as massive asteroid impacts and/or tremendous volcanic activity resulting in significant climate changes affecting all of the Earth’s plant and animal life. Sea turtles were among the few species to survive these traumatic events and related climate changes.

Today, there are only seven living species of sea turtles worldwide and members of five or six of these species manage to visit Vallarta annually. Six of the seven species have hard shells and only one has a soft shell; it’s the leatherback turtle, the largest of them all and a periodic visitor to Vallarta. The leatherbacks grow for 30 years, from hatchlings weighing about an ounce, to maturity weighing up to 1,300 pounds and measuring up to 7 feet long and 5 feet wide; they can live to be more than 80 years old.

Although sea turtles representing most of the species visit Vallarta, the majority of them are of the Olive Ridley species. They are much smaller than the leatherbacks, measuring less than 3 feet long and weighing just a little over 100 pounds with dark olive green heart shaped domed shells.

The Olive Ridley turtles hatch from their eggs weighing less than an ounce, crawl out of their buried nest clawing their way up to the surface of the sand, and then head directly to the water to begin life with approximately 100 siblings at their side. They are quite fortunate if they ever make it to the water; if certain predators (including thoughtless humans) don’t get them while they are still in the shell, many other predators such as crabs and birds are anxiously awaiting their journey across the beach to the water’s edge. Of course, as soon as these tiny delicious morsels hit the water, any fish in the area immediately welcome them as dinner! Consequently, a very small percentage of these infant sea turtles ever make it out to the open sea.

Of the few fortunate sea turtles that do survive their entrance into this cruel world, growing to maturity, which will take more than 15 years, is a formidable task. If certain fish do not get them during their first year of life, fishermen with long lines or nets are apt to accidentally catch them at any time during their maturing process, let alone at any time during their adult life. With the odds of survival stacked so heavily against the sea turtles, they are now considered to be either a threatened or an endangered species; the Olive Ridleys along the Mexican Pacific coastline are classified as an endangered species by the fisheries division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Okay, now that we know a little about these prehistoric air breathing reptiles, what is it that makes them so incredibly intelligent? Well, first you have to give them credit for surviving throughout history while almost all other forms of life didn’t! Second, they were perhaps the first creatures to have global positioning systems (GPS)! Yes, 100 million years before we mere mortals invented the GPS, the sea turtles, with their high sensitivity to the Earth’s magnetic field, always knew where they were relative to where they were born. Just imagine, these prehistoric creatures are able to swim a couple thousand miles out to sea, enjoy life floating and swimming around in the open water for up to 80 years while never losing their bearings, and still remember exactly where they were born!

Because of their incredible ability to always know their own location, upon reaching maturity at the age of 15 years or older, the females that are ready to lay their eggs always return to the sandy beach where they were born. Consequently, for about five months every year, the beaches of Puerto Vallarta are home to hundreds of female sea turtles that come ashore to nest. These are the same females that hatched on the same beautiful beaches from 15 to 50 years ago! Thus, with a lot of luck, and today with much assistance, a new generation of sea turtles begins.

In certain areas along the Pacific coastline of Mexico, the Olive Ridley sea turtles invade the shore in “arribadas” of 100 or more at a time, however in Puerto Vallarta they are generally either alone or in very small groups scattered thinly over the beach. Because of their scarcity, their homecoming to the local beaches has become a significant tourist attraction for visitors to Vallarta. More importantly, today there is a small group of volunteer conservationists, the Western Ecological Society, in Vallarta that does everything possible to protect these endangered animals. This group was first organized in 1993 and since then has done everything possible to see that the eggs and hatchlings are protected from all predators, thus giving the next generation of sea turtles a much better chance of survival. For those of you interested in knowing more about their activities, you can visit their website at Vallarta Nature and see a documentary video of local volunteers protecting turtles produced by Puerto Vallarta based Aviana Productions at Protecting Turtles.

In some respects, the intelligent sea turtles of Vallarta think in a manner similar to that of the smarter tourists that visit Vallarta; once they’ve been here, they continue returning! So, if you’ve never visited this magnificent Banderas Bay region of Mexico, perhaps it’s time you consider it. Not only will you see and do everything imaginable under ideal weather conditions in a region that can only be defined as Paradise, but from June through December, you’ll also be able to observe the nesting habits of these prehistoric sea turtles with their built in GPS and long distance navigation systems.

Picture yourself sitting in one of the many beachfront restaurants sipping a margarita after watching a glorious sunset as the main attraction, the highlight of the evening, begins; a handful of huge lumbering female sea turtles literally emerge from the water and crawl up the beach in front of your eyes in search for their nesting location. Although it’s usually too dark for filming, witnessing a sea turtle invasion is a sight that you’ll surely not soon forget!

The Taj Mahal attracts above three million visitors a year, all deeply moved by its romance and beauty and the amazing skills of 17th century Mughal craftsmen.
Located on the bank of the Yamuna river, three km south of Agra, the Taj Mahal took 22 years to complete at a cost of trillions of dollars by today’s currency. Twenty thousand men and over 1000 elephants were working on the project, using material from India and Asia, as far as China and Afghanistan.
The Taj Mahal was declared a World Heritage site in 1983 and measures are in place to protect it from pollution. Tourist coaches and cars are kept well away from the gate and access is on foot or by electric vehicle.
Taj Mahal, Agra Monument to Love
India’s top World Heritage site was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, Mumtaz begum, who died aged 38, giving birth to their 14th child. She had never left her husband’s side, even during his military campaigns, and the inconsolable Emperor promised he would build the most beautiful mausoleum ever seen.
True to his word, Emperor Shah Jahan set to work with his first architect to design the world’s most celebrated monument to love. Later, deposed and imprisoned by his son in Agra’s red fort, the Emperor gazed from afar at the marble dome mirrored in the river, grieving until the day he died. He now rests with Mumtaz in the Taj Mahal.
Beautiful Taj MahalCovered in white marble, inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones, a stunning display of floral and geometrical patterns, Arabic calligraphy. Raised on a plinth, it is topped by a white onion dome and framed by four minarets, detached from the mausoleum to minimize damage in an earthquake.
A day is barely enough to appreciate the fine Mughal craftsmanship, from latticed marble screens to decorated archways, from pietra dura to gilded finials. Inside, visitors gaze in silence at the imperial cenotaphs placed above the actual tombs The magnificent entrance gate faces the mausoleum, some 275 meters away, while to ensure symmetry, the red sandstone mosque on the west side of the gardens is mirrored by a replica rest house to the east.
Taj Mahal Garden
Like all Mughal Emperors, Shah Jahan was fond of gardens. Laid out in classical style, the Taj Mahal Persian Gardens are said to symbolise the four rivers and garden of Paradise. Leading to the mausoleum at the far end, they are divided into four sections, a holy number in Islam, each one subdivided into 16 beds. English lawns have replaced many of the original fruit trees and shrubs but the symmetry and feeling of space remain breathtaking.
Water channels and fountains enhance this peaceful oasis, regardless of crowds, while the central pool reflects the mausoleum in all its splendour. The gardens are enclosed by red sandstone walls on three sides but open towards the river.
please click here

In Tour we should make a good plane and we should aware from that palace where we are planing .

some briefcase also be ready for a good tour like:

1)first AID box

2)cloths

3)shoes&slipper

4)dry food

5)rain or plastic cloth and umbrella

<a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.OneWayTextlink.com”/>click here</a>

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/travel-in-india-979554.html

Rajasthan is the place where you will experience the real historical beauty of India. You will just love the place and cherish the trip forever. It is India’s one of the very famous tourist destinations inviting people from all over the world. This beautiful place is famous for its historical tombs, magnificent palaces, unforgettable monuments and out-of-this-world deserts. Touring a place like Rajasthan would definitely give you a taste of travel which would be like no other – even among Indian travelers list, it finds itself among the toppers. What else do we want for the worth of our investment? The most famous place in Rajasthan is the capital city of Jaipur, also known as the Pink City. The other popular places of the state are Jodhpur, Jaiselmer, Udaipur, Mount Abu and Bikaner.

One of the major attractions of the state is the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, built by Maharaja Jai Singh in the year 1799. The beauty of seeing it during the sunrise is very commendable. The architecture gives a feeling of “million windows”. The other major attractions are Mount Abu a beautiful hill station, Ajmer Sharif, Pushkar Fair, Jantar Mantar, Chittaurgarh, Jaiselmer fort, the Thar Desert and many more. Jaipur has come to the limelight for being the largest gem cutting centre in the world – ladies think jewelry. It is the best place to get precious stones such as diamonds, emeralds, and ruby etc. Tourists who visit Jaiselmer can’t afford to miss the camel safari which is situated in the heart of the Thar Desert. It is also famous for various temples, forts and ancient palaces. The architectural beauty of Rajasthan is grand and spectacular. The beauty of its monuments, palaces and forts is something which can never be forgotten. Another historical city Ajmer is well-known for the Ajmer Sharif and museums.

The adventurous journey in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries such as Ranthambore National Park which is a part of Project Tiger, Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuaries and Sariska Wildlife sanctuaries are really enjoyable by the tourists. Parks such as Amrita Devi Park and Machia Safari Park are very popular. The colorful markets are also very attractive for the tourist where you can find handicraft items, gold jewelry and a special type of footwear called “Jootis” which will definitely draw your attention. It’s a land known for folk dance, music, and colors. The women dress up in colorful costumes embroidered with mirror, zari, and gota. They wear silver jewelry along with this costume. The men wear traditional achkan, pajama and colorful turban which look very beautiful. Without knowing the costumes and ornaments of Rajasthan one’s trip to Rajasthan is incomplete.

Rajasthan is the state of Rajputs or, translated literally means sons of kings, the descendants of warrior clans. Rajasthan, literally known as the land of Kings, was ruled by several kings for years and years. All the monuments, ‘havelis’ or huge residences, palaces, and temples etc were built during the reign of different kings and reflect the status of their affluence. Some of the majestic palaces have been converted into hotels for the tourists to experience what royals used to enjoy. In addition, there are other hotels bearing Rajasthan’s heritage like Taj Lake Palace, the Oberoi’s Rajvilas hotel, the Rambagh hotel, etc. How can we talk about Rajasthan and not mention its cuisine! Taste buds will miss the cuisines as you would leave the place. The king’s palace has dishes that imbibe the royal taste. It’s basically vegetarian food made up of pure ghee as Rajasthani’s are pure vegetarian. But this doesn’t bring a limitation to finding equally delicious non-vegetarian food in the land.

Natural beauty is plenty. Rajasthan is a desert treat for eyes, it’s blessed with several natural lakes. While talking about flora it has Northern Desert Thorn Forest, and fauna such as deer, tiger, blackbuck, Bengal fox, eagles, wolf etc. Although expensive, the Palace on Wheels train journey is designed to flaunt the sheer elegance of Rajasthan as you lose yourself in a cross-desert land ride to witness where heritage is of utmost honor. Book early a ticket on Palace on Wheels, if you are planning a trip because the rush hour is 24X7 for booking on Palace on Wheels.

The climate over there is extreme that is hotter days and colder nights but still people love to visit the place no matter what because at last the thing which matters is having an unforgettable experience at such a nice place. When are you planning your visit to the most beautiful historical place to rejuvenate yourself and take away the good memories with you? You better plan it with at least a month’s window at hand as the place has so much to offer and it won’t be surprising if you meet your couple of old family friends there.

Fascinating Elements

Located at an altitude of about 2130 meters, Pahalgam is situated at the confluence of the two streams flowing from the Lidder River and Sheshnag Lake. The beautiful hill resort lies at a diatance of 95 km from Srinagar and serves as the gateway to the abode of the lord Shiva. This is the starting point and the base camp for the devotees willing to visit the holy cave of Amarnath. Chandanwari is the last motorable halt and rest of the journey to Amarnath cave is to be taken on foot. The journey is organized in the months of Sawan (July to August) every year.

Adventure

While in Pahalgam, you can try out a number of activities. Pahalgam-Sonamarg trek and the treks to Chandanwari, Kolahoi Glacier and Sheshnag Lake are the most suitable destinations for the trekkers. Apart from that, you can go for Horse Riding, Fishing (at Lidder River), Sledging at the frozen Glaciers, Long forest walks, Alpine Skiing, White Water Rafting (Lidder River) and Golfing.

Excursions

While on a Pahalgam tour, you can take excursions to Chandanwari (starting point of Amarnath Yatra), Mamaleshwara (ancient Shiva Temple), Tulian Lake (frozen lake, good for adventure sports) and Aru (ravishing grasslands).

Pahalgam is a nice place to buy wool products like Gabbas and Namdas, available in the local shops. Therefore, Pahalgam is a place that offers something or the other to all kinds of tourists with varying tastes.