6 Stunning Mountain Towns in India for a July Getaway
As July approaches, many travelers seek destinations that offer a respite from the summer heat. Mountain towns in India, with their cool weather, lush landscapes, and serene ambiance, provide the perfect escape. Here are six picturesque mountain towns to visit in India this July: Munnar, Kerala Nestled in the Western Ghats, Munnar is famous for its sprawling tea estates, misty hills, and abundant flora and fauna. July showers transform Munnar into a verdant paradise, with tea plantations shimmering under the rain and waterfalls like Attukal and Lakkam flowing with renewed vigor. Visitors...
Ambubachi Mela 2024: No VIP Passes and Other Guidelines
The Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam, hosts the significant annual festival, the Ambubachi Mela. From June 22 to June 26, 2024, devotees will celebrate the annual menstruation of Goddess Kamakhya, symbolizing fertility and womanhood. Temple Closure and ReopeningDuring the festival, the Kamakhya Temple will close from June 22 to June 25 to mark the goddess's menstruation period, during which devotees are prohibited from entering. The temple gates will reopen at 9:08 PM on June 25. The Ambubachi Mela annually attracts numerous devotees from across the country who participate in age-old customs...
Lonar Lake in Maharashtra: Where Compasses Malfunction and the Sand is Magnetic
Approximately 52,000 years ago, a colossal meteor impact in Maharashtra created one of nature's hidden gems: Lonar Lake. This extraordinary crater, formed by a meteor weighing 2 million tons traveling at an estimated speed of 90,000 kmph, stands out among the many meteor impacts on Earth. From above, Lonar Lake might look like any other body of water. However, this almost perfectly oval lake is one of only two natural craters in the world made entirely of basalt, a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock. Its waters are seven times saltier than seawater,...
Beaches that Glow During the Night: Nature’s Bioluminescent Wonders
Imagine walking along a beach at night, with waves crashing at your feet and the sand beneath your toes illuminated by an otherworldly blue glow. These magical beaches are not scenes from a fantasy novel but real places where natural phenomena create stunning bioluminescent displays. Bioluminescent organisms such as phytoplankton or dinoflagellates typically cause the mesmerizing glow seen on these beaches. These tiny marine creatures emit light as a defensive mechanism, producing a blue or greenish luminescence when disturbed by waves, footsteps, or any form of agitation in the water. Glowing beaches...
Oil Spill Forces Closure of Sentosa Island Beaches: Impact and Response
Sentosa Island, celebrated for its opulent waterfront residences and dynamic tourist offerings, faced an unforeseen challenge on Saturday, June 15th, when authorities shuttered its beaches due to an oil spill originating from a nearby port. The incident occurred at Pasir Panjang terminal on Friday, involving a collision between a Netherlands-flagged dredger and a stationary Singapore-flagged bunker vessel. This collision precipitated a spill that has adversely affected the surrounding waters, prompting a swift response from the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore. Authorities immediately initiated extensive clean-up operations to mitigate environmental...
World’s Highest Rail Bridge: Trains to Soon Cross Chenab Rail Bridge in Kashmir
Exciting news from Kashmir! The Chenab Rail Bridge in Reasi district, standing 359 meters above the Chenab River, will soon see trains running across it. As the highest rail bridge in the world, it exemplifies human ingenuity and engineering excellence, overcoming significant geographical challenges to enhance infrastructure and connectivity. The Northern Railway has announced that the train service from Ramban to Reasi will soon traverse this monumental bridge. Currently, trains operate along the Kanyakumari to Katra route, with services extending from Baramulla to Sangaldan in the Kashmir Valley. Vishesh Mahajan, Reasi's Deputy...
Gujarat’s Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum Nominated for UNESCO’s 2024 Prix Versailles Award
In a recent announcement, Gujarat’s Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum has been shortlisted for UNESCO’s prestigious Prix Versailles Award 2024. This museum, dedicated to the memory of the tragic 2001 earthquake in Bhuj, serves as a poignant symbol of human resilience and hope. The Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum stands among seven remarkable museums nominated for the esteemed Prix Versailles Award. Since its inception in 2015, this annual UNESCO competition has highlighted outstanding modern architectural projects from around the world. Smritivan - A Tribute to Resilience Spanning 470 acres, Smritivan pays tribute to those affected...
Top Cool Destinations in Asia for a Refreshing July Getaway
While July in many parts of Asia can be overwhelmingly hot and humid, there are several cool destinations across the continent that offer a more temperate and pleasant climate. From the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas to the lush highlands of Southeast Asia, these spots provide the perfect escape from the summer heat. Here are some of the best cool destinations in Asia for a July getaway. Sapa, Vietnam Nestled in the Hoàng Liên Son Mountains of northwestern Vietnam, Sapa is a picturesque town known for its cool climate, terraced rice fields,...
Top Religious Tourism Destinations in India
India's rich spiritual heritage and diverse cultures have made it renowned for its multitude of religious tourism destinations. These sacred sites, significant to various religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam, and Christianity, attract pilgrims and tourists from across the globe. Here’s a glimpse at some of these revered places. India's Renowned Religious Tourism Destinations Varanasi, Uttar PradeshVaranasi, also known as Kashi, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities and religious tourism destinations in the world and a major center of Hindu spirituality. The city's ghats along the Ganges River are...
9 Breathtaking Monsoon Road Trips in India
If you relish the monsoon season and love road trips, you're in for a treat. From the misty mountains of Munnar to the lush estates of Coorg, we've curated some of the most beautiful routes that promise a rejuvenating escape amid the monsoon's splendor. Plan your journey and set out for unforgettable road trips when the time is right. Bengaluru to CoorgFor coffee plantation enthusiasts, the road trip from Bengaluru to Coorg is a dream come true. Coorg, a popular weekend getaway, offers a mesmerizing journey through lush green landscapes, rolling...