The Travel Project By Contiki

download

Do you have a great travel memory and you want to share with the world ?

Here is a golden opportunity to be part of a global travel project presented by Contiki.

And in return you can win a free international trip.

You can participate here.

Get Lost In Ala Archa National Park – Kyrgyzstan

Ala Archa National Park is a perfect place for refreshing yourself from your hectic city life.
It offers nature in its purest form. Located 40km south of Bishkek, this park is quite popular among foreign tourists and locals alike. Activities like hiking and trekking lures a large number of tourists all over the world. The 200 square kilometers park is home to many small and large glaciers as well as mountain peaks. The park, which is surrounded by a large number of plants, also includes the gorge of the Ala-Archa River. If you are a fan of hiking and trekking, then don’t miss the beauty of the park. There are many tourists operators in Bishkek who can arrange a short tip to this park.

img_1684

img_1691

img_1689

img_1706

img_1680

img_1740

img_1726

img_1686

img_20160827_113934_1

img_20160827_113947

Aachen: Cathedral City Of Europe

Aachener Dom

Aachen is a city that lives and breathes Europe. It is practically Europe in miniature. Aachen, on the border with Belgium and the Netherlands, has encapsulated the spirit, values and ideals of Europe since the days of Charlemagne. Indeed the Charlemagne Prize for services to European unity has been awarded at Aachen’s town hall since 1950.

Aachen Cathedral is both a local landmark and a monument to Europe’s illustrious past. After starting out life as the imperial palace’s chapel in 800 AD (the year of Charlemagne’s coronation), the completed building became the first cathedral in northern Europe and for many centuries served as the church of coronation for nearly every German king.

You can read more about the article here.

Image and story source: German Tourism

Orchha – A Spiritual Journey

After a little bit of research, I made up my mind to take a short trip to Orchha, a small town in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh. I chose Orchha as it is within easy reach from Delhi, but the main factor was – my deep affection for ancient temples. Three days are enough to see the main attractions of this beautiful town, which lies on the Betwa River.

img_2352

Some of the must-visit places are – The Fort of Orchha, The Chaturbhuj Temple and Raja Ram Temple. While the fort was built by the Bundela Rajput chief, Rudra Pratap Singh, the temple was built by the Queen of Orchha Ganeshi Bai during the reign of Emperor Akbar. I was so fascinated by the fantabulous architecture of these structures that I spent many hours just gandering at them.

The Orchha Fort complex: The complex has many ancient monuments, including palaces and temple. The fort and other structures were built by the Bundela Rajputs.

img_2376

img_2393

img_2378

img_2340

img_2360

The Ram Raja Temple: Commonly known as the Orchha Temple, this place welcomes thousands of devotees everyday. img_2242

img_2243

img_2252

Chaturbhuj Temple: It is yet another masterpiece of Orccha. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this stunning temple has a multi-storied complex.

img_2250

img_2260

img_2331

img_2233

Cenotaphs: Situated on the bank of the Betwa river, Cenotaphs or Chhatris were constructed in the honor of its rulers. A total of 14 ‘Chhatris’ can be found here. Basically, these structures are empty tombs of past Orchha kings.

img_2494

img_2472

img_2467

img_2455

Things to remember: Orchha is a spiritual place, so it is advisable to wear modest clothes. Alcohol and meat eating is prohibited around the Raja Ram Mandir. Accommodation ranging from budget to luxury hotels are available. So one can easily book a room on spot. Considering that it is a small town, don’t expect any fancy nightlife.

img_2397

You can read more about Orchha here.