Sigiriya is also known as the “Lion Mountain” in Sri Lanka. The ancient architectural tradition of Sri Lanka has been portrayed here beautifully. This place has been preserved from the first millennium with its buildings, gardens, trees, pathways, water gardens and others. This city reminds the glorious fame of Sri Lanka’s past.

About Sigiri Rock

The most significant feature of this place is considered to be the Rock which acts as a “lion staircase” to the palace garden which is situated on the summit. This staircase has been visualized to be a “gigantic figure which towers against the majestic granite cliff and is simply awe- inspiring. There are a number of paintings and carvings on the surface of the rock but some of them have worn out with the passage of time. The paintings depict the earlier surviving examples of a school of classical realism in Sri Lanka. Other paintings of eminence lie at the foot of the rock. The painting on the roof of the Cobra Hood Cave is of major significance. This painting has been recognized to date back to the pre- Christian era and has a “combination of geometrical shapes and motifs with a free and complex rendering of characteristic volute or whorl motifs”. This painting is considered to be one of its best in Sri Lanka.

About Sigiri Gardens

The Sigiri Gardens is considered to be the gateway to the “Lion Mountains”. This garden has an “inner house made of timber and brick with a tiled roof”. This place is truly beautiful because this place has been planned elaborately and with technologies which date back to the Early Historic Period. The Water Garden inside the compound of the Sigiri Gardens is an ultimate spot for the tourists who visit this place.

Water Gardens

The Water Garden is considered to be the most amazing place to visit in Sigiri Gardens. This garden is smaller than the Sigiri Gardens and has many pools, water pavilions, courtyards and water courses. The largest water island is believed to have a central island which is surrounded by water on all sides. Also, there is a fountain in the garden which has two shallow limestone cisterns.

Boulder Garden

Another place to visit is the Boulder Garden in Sigiriya. The Boulder Garden is situated at a higher level from the “symmetrical water garden”. Other major places to visit here is the Cistern Rock, and the Audience Hall Rock.

Terrace Garden

The Terrace Garden is situated at the ultimate base of the rock, and is carved out of a natural hill. This garden has been made with “rubbled retaining walls”. Each of the terrace’s has a concentric circle which runs around the rock.

History of Sigiriya

Sigiriya is not considered to be a fortress which is gloomy and forbidding. The Sigiriya period has a lot of history attached to it. It is believed that the “history is replete with legend, love and betrayal”. The history of this period dates back to somewhere around 7,000 years ago.

This garden city and the palace is said to have been built by the King Kaspaya between 477 and 495 AD. Then after the demise of the king, this place was converted into a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century.

This place is simply amazing and is a great place for those visiting Sri Lanka to experience the rich cultural past of the country. Visiting the Sigiriya Mountains, you will be reminded of civilizations like Mohenjodaro and Harappa.

The Sigiriya Mountain is an ultimate place to be in. There are plenty of tourist destinations in Sri Lanka, and this is one of the main attractions in the country for the tourists visiting from other parts of the world.

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China, is an amazing historic landmark and is known to be a popular landmark for the tourists who visit the place. The Wall is the most fascinating and the most extraordinary is known to be the one of the seven wonders of the world. People from all over the world visit this amazing piece of architecture and is known in China to be an appaling piece of monument.

How was the Wall built

The Great Wall of China was built by the Chang Cheng and the Wan Li dynasty. This was built somewhere around the 206 and 220 B.C and then again by the Ming Dynasty in the year 1368 to 1644 AD. Millions of people were believed to be the labourers and had died working and building the Great Wall of China.

How long did it take to build the Wall

It took around more than 2 milleniums to build the Wall. After the Qin emperor was said to have unified China, the Wall had been built and extends to around 5000 km. This Wall is said to resemble the Chinese dragon and runs across the rivers, deserts, mountains, plateaus and the grasslands. This amazing piece of architecture is believed to have swept through the Shanhaiguan Pass and then onto the Liaoning and Hebei and then going into Tianjin, Beijing and reaches to Shanxi and Mongolia, Ningxia and then into Gansu and finally ends onto the Jiayuguan Pass. This Great Wall measures upto 6,700 km long and the entire structure had been built by using hand and stone, bricks, sand, straw and other materials.

The Wall today

The Wall stands tall today and had been again rebuild by the Ming Dynasty. It took almost about 600 years for the dynasty to build the Great Wall again. At that point of time, there wasnt any cement available and so the Wall was built by using rice flour to make the structure strong, instead of mortar and bricks.

Apart from the Great Wall of China, there are other places where you can visit. The Baishui Gardens are another great place to visit.

The Baishui Gardens are the most amazing place to visit. The garden is one of the oldest and the most exquisite place to visit. There are a number of activities which you can do at the place.

The best way to go around the town is on a trishaw. The “Trishaw” is a cute vehicle which is peddled by the puller; with a two-seater carrier behind. It is decked with plastic flowers and lights. This is the most comfortable and cheap way to travel in George Town, Penang.

The next best thing is to get a taste of the local cuisine. You get some of the best “fast foods” in Penang. Chinese, Malay, and Indian are some of the delicacies there. The favorite pastime of the people there is to indulge in mindblowing cuisine.

Next, you can relax along the vast beach and the sandy shores. The beaches of Penang are the ultimate beauty of the land. With the bright sunny rays and the tropical climate it’s an ideal place to relax and rejuvenate. The Batu Ferringhi Beach and the Gurney Drive are a favorite of tourists, all the year through. There are some amazing water rides that you can go in for, like water scooters, banana boat rides, jet skiing and paragliding. At night, the tourists can enjoy themselves at the fair held by the traders and the hawks in the area, with a variety of eateries and stuff to buy.

Then, one can even take a cable car and ride up the Penang Hill and also go on the much famous ferry ride. The most popular is the Penang Hill funicular train ride at the Air Itam for 30 minutes. The Botanical Gardens is also a major tourist area. The most famous yellow ferries at the Weld Quay is the main mode of transportation for the people there. This is also a cheap mode of local transport and one of the best ones too.

For shopping, the flea market is the most popular one. You can just get about anything in the markets there. The Lorong Kuilt, Rope Walk flea, and the Gurney Plaza are some of the popular names in the area. There are a couple of antique shops and centers of handicraft items. Do not forget to bargain and avail some of the best deals here.

Another major attraction in the area is the famous local products. This is an absolute not to miss! Nutmeg, Spices like Tau sar pheah are some of the major ones.

Penang is an amazing place to be in. The most important thing about it is that you can enjoy yourself to the core without worrying that it will pinch on your pocket much. A perfect holiday destination for your family.

Batu Caves is a religious site near Kuala Lumpur. It is situated 13 km to the north of the capital and at a short distance off the Ipoh Road. The Caves are located in a square where the Indian vendors have their stalls. The distinctive Hindu nature of the place, which is complete with small temples, Hindu worshipers dressed in their traditional attires, and their colorful carved figures of wood.

Three main caves and several small ones form the Batu Caves. The temple or the cathedral cave is the biggest and the best known cave in Kuala Lumpur. To reach the cave, is a very difficult task, as one needs to make their way through 272 rock stairs and innumerable macaque monkeys.

The Cave

The ceiling of the cave is more than 100m from above the ground. The cave is decorated with numerous painted sculptures and Hindu Gods. There are performances and parables versed by the priests there.

Dark Cave is below the temple cave and is 2 km long. To visit this cave, prior permission is required.

Thaipusam

Thaipusam is the main event which is held in the Batu Caves. This festival takes place mostly in the months of January and February. Almost 1 million people visit the place during the festival. It is a three day celebration and the devotees carry kavadis, large frameworks of metal skewers and hooks with them, which are used to pierce the skin, cheeks, and the tongue. The event falls on the tenth month of the Tamil Hindu calendar. The festival is held in the memory of Lord Murugan, the youngest son of Shiva and Parvati, who was believed to have been the manifestation of youth, beauty, masculinity, bravery, and vitality. It is also believed to be celebrated for the victory of the good over evil.

About the Festival

The jeweled chariot that carries the statue of Lord Murugan starts early in the morning around 4 am. Devotees walk around the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple and throw coconuts on the road. It takes almost 8 hours to complete the journey. The kavadis atone for their sins while walking up till the Batu Caves.

Some Useful Information

Do not forget to carry drinking water while walking up the Batu Caves, it is a long walk and quite exhausting.

Start for the Caves early in the morning, so that the walk is more comfortable, rather than walking under the hot sun.

Find a cheap cab to Batu Caves, cabs might cost around RM 6 to 8.

The entry to the Batu caves is absolutely free of cost.

I can go on and on about India. So I’ll just, start on with my traveling experience in North India. Out North India tour started off, when my flight from States landed in Mumbai, Maharashtra, after around seventeen hours. Having heard so much about Mumbai, its culture, movies (Bollywood) and nightlife, I decided to stay couple of nights and a day in Mumbai. In 2008, after being attack by the terrorist militants and destruction caused of lives and landmarks like Oberoi Hotel and Taj Hotel, the daily routine of the people still looks fine and lively. I don’t know what it is about this city, but the vibes of the city and the friendly locals will just make you very comfortable.

Nevertheless, finally, I reached there, and fantastic place to be. But on my way to the hotel, was a moment when I thought I was going to die not by a mafia goon but because of the cabbie. The cabbie was driving so rash and even crossed the red light signal on a high speed that I started to see white light in front of me. I haven’t been so scared in my whole trip in India! After the terrifying cab ride, I finally reached my hotel, safely! And after a small dispute over the fare, assisted by my hotel manager, I was in town. From outside the hotel didn’t look that good, but they took good care of me.

Next day was fantastic, wandering around the south Mumbai i.e. Town, exploring and admiring the British era colonial architectures, Gateway of India, Central Park – filled by the locals playing cricket, and checking the original thoroughfares from a cab fare card. It was fun! Even saw Taj Mahal hotel, even after the attack, it looked incredible and has more strict security around it. Even after attack and being renovated, the black marks of fire and bullets holes say the horrifying event happened here. To experience some luxury time, I went in the Harborview Bar of the Taj Mahal hotel, to drink. I had two drinks, which cost me forty dollars each. It didn’t even equal my stay in Mumbai. Behind the Taj Mahal hotel, I saw a local hotel named Baghdadi. The restaurant was flooded by the customers, so just to try couple of dishes; I went in where booths were shared because of the limitation of space. A guy next to me, recommended me to try dry chicken here. Though the chicken was spicy, it was really mouth-watering and delicious. He even told me to try kadai paneer (paneer – cotton cheese) – had no idea what it was, but ordered it to try once. It’s a vegetarian dish, very succulent, soft and I had never taste something like this before. The meal was the cheapest and delicious that I have had in my whole trip. After having good meal and before heading to my hotel, I stopped by the ground to see cricket, cheer up the players, and watch an Indian Movie in Movie Theater. Though I couldn’t understand what the dialogues were, but somehow got the story.

Next day, I flew to the northeast to Varanasi, where River Ganges flow and town full of different colors, spiritual and sacred place for Hindus. It was very spiritual as well as weird experience for me. Infinite numbers of people come here making their way through the crowd, to be purified by bathing in the river Ganges and some heading towards the nearby Buddhist site to take blessings. The whole crowd was mixture of curious tourists, beggars, local shamans and salesmen, which was intimidating for me to view. In the evening as I arrived there, the bank of River Ganga was filled by the evening activity; few people were praying and taking a dip in the river, some young as well as old Brahmins were doing yoga, some were leaving flowers and small lit clay lamp in the water, which was all together a spiritual experience for me. Having heard so much about this place and finally witnessing its spirituality, is really something to experience. In the dawn, you can’t miss the sight of Brahmins and locals coming and bathing in cold water of river Ganga, which is also little hilarious.

After spending a day in Varanasi, my next stop was the Agra. I had reservation done in the overnight train to Agra. Reaching at night outside the station, with the help of a coolie (porter) I boarded my train. The view around the station is really mind blowing and frustrating at the same time. The best to see are the porters around carrying more than two heavy bags on their heads and climbing the stairs quickly. The train journey was relaxing and comfortable and before reaching to Agra, I had a good nap in the train. I reached to Agra in the middle of the night. Having to travel by the train network in India, I didn’t regret it. I was booked in the second class – sleeper’s compartments – where the bunk was quite hard but still reasonable. I was alarmed by the few people to take care of my bags and belongings as at night for their have been cases of being robbed.

After being checked in a good hotel and having good few hours of sleep, in morning I asked the hotel manager to arrange a guide to show me around. The first thing I wanted to see was among the Seven Wonders of the World – Taj Mahal. But my guide insisted me to see it in the evening, during sunset. So he took me to the other well known sites of the Agra like huge and impressive Red Forts – it was just awesome, small version of Taj Maha (according to me) –the decorative Muslim Tomb and many more royal wealth. The both mention is worth a visit for once!

However, there is no comparison between Taj Mahal and other historic monuments in Agra. It’s the most beautiful structure to visit; undoubtedly, the site is promising and lives up to its hype. The sunset was perfect to watch this huge and magnificent monument. It was amazing to sit and see the colors changes around it – just breathtaking! I had so many weird photos taken by my guide, every single weird but good poses.

After having seen the main sites of Agra, I left immediately for the Jaipur. I wanted to see the Fatehpur Sikri, a palace erected by the grandfather of the maharaja who ordered to build the Taj Mahal. The other attractions were the Pink city of the Jaipur. The best part in that city is the elephant ride all the way to the palace situated at the outskirt of the town. One thing I learned here is that the tourism plays important role in most of the local lives. Reaching the ground of the palace, you will realize that whole ground is occupied by the shops and stalls, selling handicrafts and accessories. If anytime you liked wool rug and wish to buy, as you move away from that stall, its price will fall too, after they think you were not buying it! It’s best to bargain there… as people try to sell more than its price.

The stay at Jaipur was fun and I enjoyed elephant ride. I did plan to go to Delhi but I had some my flight issues, so had to return to Mumbai. But next time I will sure come back to India to explore more cities and write about it. Still the whole week was fun, discovering new things and way of living of the people in India. The whole experience was overwhelming for me!

Famously known as Reality Tours, Elisa and I decided to witness the paucity and griminess in the streets of Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum vicinity in Mumbai, India. We hired an Indian guide, Satish, who dwelled in the same filthiness, to get a closer and perfect tour around the area. Prior to entering the poverty border, Satish informed us that over 55% of Mumbai’s population dwelled in these slums, which was staggering figure of 1 million people.

We were taken to the nearby Leopold Café for tea and breakfast. This was more out of chance than choice because we had flat tires just after starting from our hotel. 30 minutes later we were back on our seats and zoom we went.

Though the traffic signals revealed much about the poverty in the country, the sight of broken-sheltered house under one of the railway crossovers was quite commiserating. Looking at the diminutive shirtless boy treading around the shed, Satish told us that, children in poverty-struck India aren’t sent to school for studying. Instead, they were sent to nearby construction sites to work. Elisa couldn’t swallow the fact while I managed to persist a smile, but neither of us knew it was just the beginning of a sympathizing and grief-stricken tour. This hut under the overpass also served as a signal for most of the other boys to find their way home because they are not basically from Mumbai.

Passing through the red light area of Mumbai, we didn’t see many females there as it was morning hours. We halted at Dhobi Ghat, a huge, 136-year old washing area in Mumbai, where thousands of men washed clothes by beating the damp clothes on systematically arranged stones. It was quite a weird way of washing but we enjoyed it. People were joyous and seemed to enjoy their job. We received few smiles while passing through them.

After a minute of dodging, we finally managed to cross the busy street and enter the never-ending slums of Dharavi. From the first one to the last, every house can be defined as – a semi-dark, small hut with knobless doors and varying crannies. Looking at the garbage-strewn tapered pathways, we exchanged glances more than a couple of times. But I found Elisa as astonished as I was. How could someone possibly spend their lives in such mess, stench, poverty, dirtiness, and with happiness? Yes, people there, though not filled with ecstasy, were quite content and happy.

At every door we got a welcoming smile. Following us throughout the tour was a small troop of half-naked, skinny children asking for few rupees and food. Somewhere while sauntering through the slums we halted at a fruit-seller and bought some oranges to distribute among children. Before I could give the first one away, they snatched it and fought to get a diminutive piece.

They were hungry, yet laughing. They were combating, yet with kindliness. We aren’t content with many luxuries we own. But these toddlers, unknown about basic amenities are contented, cheerful, and with unvarying spark in their eyes. My heart was filled with pity, affection, and love for people dwelling here with vigor and liveliness. I couldn’t talk to Elisa, but I saw her wiping her damp eyes. Maybe her heart too was teeming with compassion and empathy.

On our way back to hotel we were quiet, not yet ready to talk about the contradicting blend of Dharavi. A young child, with numerous fresh, colorful roses in his hand, knocked the window of my car and cheerfully persuaded us to buy few flowers. Hope is what’s keeping them alive and going. I bought all of them and he gaily walked away with a smile.

Though it wasn’t a pleasing one, this excursion taught me few important lessons of life. With so many things and achievements to enjoy, we are always grumbling and complaining. With so many amenities and wealth, our cheerfulness is short-lived and very brief. In search of major successes and accomplishments, we often overlook minute pleasures of life. They celebrate Christmas, Diwali, and Eid with equal vigor and cheerfulness, while we, as individuals and countries, keep fighting over minor issues. We have completely forgotten the concept of unity, cooperativeness, and happiness. Hope is what we need, significantly.

Wudang Mountain is situated in the Shiyan City of the Hubei Province. It is renowned as across the city as the Taoist memorial. Commonly it is known as the Xuanyue and the Taihe mountains. The huge old building structures and the attractive natural sceneries are very much popular. UNESCO has declared the Wudang Mountains as the World Heritage Site in the year 1994.

Structure:

During the Tang reign the construction of the old building structures was started. The 5 dragon temple was constructed during the rule of Emperor Taizong. The temple of 5 dragon was been constructed on the Wudang Mountain. Around 33 palaces were constructed during the Ming’s rule. The construction includes the Palace of Harmony, Yuxu Palace, the Yuzhen Palace and also the Grand Purple cloud palace. Later the huge and splendid structure was been constructed.

Today the existing structure’s compound includes the Grand Purple Cloud Palace, the Palace of Harmony and the South Cliff Palace, remnants of the Yuxu Palace the Yuzhen Palace, the 5 Dragon inherited Temple, the Fuzhen Temple, and also the Xuanyue Gate which is a gigantic arcade

The palace of Harmony is located at the Tianzhu Peak’s southern division. The palace composes the Forbidden City, the Gutong Hall and also the Golden palace. Golden palace is commonly known as the Golden peak. Most of the celebrations take place in the Golden Palace. The Golden palace is 10 feet wide and 20 feet high and also 13 feet long. Bronze is used for the construction of the palace. Emperor Zhenwu’s statue is placed in the hall near the memorial of Jade Girl and the Golden Boy. He is attended by the generals of water and fire on his either sides. The weight of the statute is around 22,046 pounds. A golden plate hangs over the shrine and has 4 Chinese characters written on it. The characters are written an emperor named Kangxi who belonged to the Qing Dynasty. The 4 characters are Xiang, Jin, Miao and Guang. Even after so many years the palace still has its richness and glamour.

The Grand Purple cloud palace:

The Grand Purple cloud palace is located just beneath the Zhanqi Peak. It is the most-conserved as well as a splendid structures ever constructed on the Wudang Mountain. The Grand Purple cloud palace covers an area of around two acres. The palace comprises of the Tiger and Dragon Hall, the Shifang Hall, the Stele Pavilion, the Grand Hall of Purple Cloud Palace, the Parents’ Hall, and many other such buildings. The palace is enveloped by blue colored glazing tiles and has blue as well as yellow colored carving on the roofs. The most wonderful wooden arrangement found on the mountain is placed in the Grand Hall.

The South Cliff Palace:

The South Cliff Palace is located beneath the Duyang Cliff. The palace has around 2 bearings hall, 1 Tianyi Hall, 8 diagrams Pavilion, the flying Cliff, the south heaven gate etc. The palace was constructed during the Yuan dynasty in the year 1271-1368. The Tianyi Zhenqing hall is the most famous hall in the palace. Every door, beam, pillar as well as windows are engraved in the stone. The palace is completely carved out of the stone and is a popular Chinese work of art.

How to reach:

The Shiyan city has its own large railways station which is very-well connected to other important cities in the country. The nearest airport is the Tianhe Airport which is located in Wuhan City. Wuhan city is connected to Shiyan city by means of roads as well as railways.

When to visit:

Spring and autumn is the best time to visit Shiyan city.

Entrance Charges:

Every individual has to pay CNY 110 as an entrance charge. Further additional CNY 20 is required to visit the Golden palace and CNY 15 to visit the Grand Purple Cloud Palace. You can have a tour across the mountain that will hardly cost you CNY 70 for a round trip. You can use the cable car by paying CNY 80 for a round trip.

Opening times:

The palaces on the Wudang Mountains are open throughout the year for visits from 9 in the morning till 7 in the evening.

Kerala is the place where you can see lots of vibrancy in customs, traditions, food, religions, beliefs and languages. I felt like walking away miles of lovely white sandy beaches strolling and enjoying the wonderful blue weather outside with vanilla vines crawling around the cashew nut trees, I felt like this is one of the most beautiful places for a leisure holiday along with extra bonanza, you get to see so much of nature’s beauty, you get close to nature and learn to live in nature’s glory. The most of all I liked about kerala is its lovely good, as myself and my partner Tony decided on having traditional kerala food, my mouth was almost watering with happiness and excitement, the exotic species of fish dishes and lovely spices to smoother your taste buds along with coconut curry to go with. Other food items included tuna which was spiced with cardamom, fresh curry leaves, shrimps with onions, garlic, ginger and chilli, there are bhajis which were made out of drum sticks and string hoppers, I was so astonished to see all this things were home made especially their garlic and lemon pickles, they truly got some talent, I believe!

Later on, I came to know that majority of people in kerala use the spices grown in their own farms, such exotic flavors, and strong smell of spices really made me feel, how nature has given us the best things of life to enjoy. As we entered spice plantation, I could feel a sense as if I have sprayed some spray in the atmosphere, lovely smell of spices was passing through us, inviting us with beautiful flowers of different colors and sizes kept at the gate. As I was having a look at cinnamon trees grown just few days back, I saw pudding was growing the next side of the farm, there are other fruits like mango, papaya being planted there. For them, it doesn’t take much effort to plant trees as they are used to it and can do it very smoothly without any sort of confusion in the mind. The first things I wanted was to drink a lovely cool liquid from the coconuts hanging above us, I saw a local climb up to the tree like a monkey and getting us 2 big huge watery coconuts, the taste was sweet and it almost filled me up, I don’t know whether I have any space left for my dinner now! Later I saw there were small steps made on the main stem of the tree so as to support them in their climb, seeing him climbing just in few seconds was seriously a treat, believe me on that!

The other most important things I wanted to do in kerala was staying in their wooden cottage houses, as I used to see in travel magazines and national televisions, we rented a private cottage house with a verandah outside showing truly a sign of a kerala home with carved elephants at the front, this was all so traditional I was seriously impressed from the bottom of my heart. As I entered the house, I saw there were old antiques on display, the room gave me positive energy, there was something really special about the room, even I don’t know what it was, my heart suddenly transformed from a hurriedly living entity to one with a cool mind, serene atmospheric one, I felt like I achieved everything in life, such was the feeling! I wouldn’t be ashamed to say, that I seriously liked such type of living, bathrooms were outside the houses, that means you bath in natural air outside with lovely skies above you, of course, there are 4 wooden walls, which are viable to shift from one place to another.

By now, I was seriously in love with Kerala with all the goodness it has to offer, the next day I was sure was going to be filled with more excitement and lots of things to learn from nature. The morning was a traditional yoga session, I heard they can cure any types of body problems with regular sessions of yoga, although there are many an exceptional cases, I loved the food being served and made by our cook Nina, within the next 15 minutes I saw myself snoozing away on the hammock which was hung in the verandah just facing the sea, I had the best experience of my life sleeping in a natural environment. The evenings were full of entertainment, may be, it was some tradition here, I am not sure, the first day I saw elephant popping inside the veranda to take some water while on its way to temple festival, the other days I simply loved the atmospheric rituals of them burning incense sticks, full of aromatic flavors, sometimes it was a sandalwood smoke to ward off mosquitoes or simple to please their guests with perfumed rooms. There are all types of celebrations happening here, but the most common being all south-Indian festivals, because majority of the population here is south Indians, they speak one language, Telugu, although some places you can see the influence of foreign culture mainly in towns and cities.

After just 3 days, I was so accustomed to the people here, they understood what I was trying to say and learnt that I could go for their traditional massage therapy, which if taken in regular sessions, can cure any body ailments relating to bones or blood circulation, this was the first things I wanted to go for the next morning, I immediately booked my appointment for the next early morning session, set my alarm and went to bed early. As I entered the massage room the next morning, I could see, there were different herbs mixed in water for bathing, along with traditional kerala oils used for different types of massages. There was a wooden bench, specially made for massage, I enjoyed every single minute of my massage, later I was taken to the steam room, which was all aromatic again and then bathed with the water mixed with different herbs, I felt as fresh as I got up from my sleep! I enjoyed the most beautiful things of life while in kerala, afternoons I went for shopping for traditional kerala fabric for my wife (hope she likes it) as I entered to store there were fabric materials available, ready made dresses, pyjamas, sarongs, salwar and lots of other traditional clothes ware. I shopped for a few items and was out exploring the other markets here.

Walking long, I came across one huge spices markets, the aroma, oh my god was simply awe inspiring, we thought of having some refreshments and in no time I was having their traditional dosas and idlis being served on roadside, the opposite side I saw numerous varieties of bananas then our usual yellow ones, there were green, orange and brown bananas having different food properties, I had a little taste of them all and loved their flavors. More than the spices here, kerala is visited by people to enjoy the backwaters, the stretch starts from kollam to kochi, it was again a wonderful experience sailing on the open boat for nearly 3 hours, for distances we could just see palm trees and mangroves around us, I felt like I am stuck in the middle of some islands but locals are more aware about any thing here. The view of canals, rives and lakes is fascinating treat for the eyes and to top it the keralean lifestyle and the way of living. By now, I was feeling seriously lucky to having visited such beautiful place in my life rather than opting for any European countries, I enjoyed every bit of my time here with nature, the food, the spices and everything I came across. The place has everything to offer given in a traditional manner that is more enjoyable than the things, which our modern machines have to offer.

Located in the capital city of Maldives, Male’, the Islamic Centre is one of the most significant milestones. Gigantic golden dome architect overlooking the skyline, this stupendous and eye-catchy structure grabs the eyeballs from every direction of Male’. Standing tall as a symbolization of Islam religion, this majestic structure reminisces of the religion which has been ruling the country from past centuries. This structure was established in 1984 and today encompasses a huge mosque which has the capacity of accommodating 5000 people; an Islamic library; classrooms; conference hall and offices.

The Local Market

Found on the Northern Waterfront, i.e. at a small distance from the Male’ Fish Market, the local market is swamped with small stalls. Unlike the regular hustle and bustle of crowded markets of the surrounding areas, the local market’s atmosphere is calm and slow-paced. All the stalls are filled with local productions that are mainly obtained from the atolls. Stroll over the market area and you will find materials such as local vegetables, fruits and yams, nuts packets, breadfruit chips, bottles of homemade sweets, pickles, banana bunches tied on coir ropes from ceiling beams.

Huskuru Miskiiy

Huskuru Miskiiy was erected in the 17th century and functioned as the main mosque for the populace for over four centuries. Huskuru Miskiiy or Friday Mosque faded from the eyes of the people, when the Islamic Center and Grand Friday Mosque came into existence in 1984. This legendary mosque was been created by the Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar in 1656, and is a monumental architecture built by coral carvings and traditional workmanship. Perhaps, this magnum opus is regarded as one of the best coral curving from allover the world.

Blocks of filigree-curved coral blocks have been chiseled to build the mosque’s walls. The interiors are designed exquisitely and panels have engravings of Arabian writings. While you move inside, you will find the heavy wooden doors; slide them to open and to move to the inner sanctums where there are lamp hangings. There is a Munnaaru or Minaret facing this marvelous architecture, which grabbed the attention of the faithful worshippers. Even, this Minaret was built by that Sultan in 1675. Huskuru Miskiiy is encircled by a cemetery, which is a legion of elaborately curved coral headstones.

Mulee-aage

Established in 1906 by Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddeen III, Mulee-aage is a magnificent palace in front of the Huskuru Miskiiy mosque. Reinstated in the place of a house which hailed back to the 17th century, the palace boasts wrought iron gates and fretwork friezes on the roof’s edges. The Sultan built a beautiful garden especially for his son, however the Sultan was later overthrown. This garden has saved many innocent lives as it served as a helpful resource for generation of food during the World War II. Later, when Maldives declared a republic in 1953, this palace became President’s Official Residence. Following in 1994, the New Presidential Palace’s institution replaced the previous one. Today, Mulee-aage serves as the President’s office.

The National Museum

Previously housing the former Sultan, today the Sultan’s Park is home to the National Museum. An Edwardian colonial-style three-storey building that appears to be dull and low-key from the exteriors stores an extraordinary legendary collection in the interiors. The legendary collection includes thrones and palanquins of former sultans, first printing press of the country, a rifle used by Mohamed Thakurufaanu against the Portuguese in the 16th century, ceremonial robes, headgear and umbrellas belonging to Sultan, statues and other monuments from 11th century found from the former temples.

Enriched with bygone era’s great historic artifacts, the museum reflects proud history, culture of Maldives. Believe me, the interiors legendary collection will take you to a trip down the historic lane of Maldives. Tour to this museum will enlighten you with Maldives history and you will no longer look upon it just as a tourist destination.

Maldives is truly the sunny side of life, with its pleasant, impeccable and matchless characteristics. Despite of the changing times, Maldives doesn’t change its unique traits which make it comfortable for the tourist to embark on a trip to Maldives at any time round the year. It is the result of this that tourists are tempted for paying frequent visits to Maldives. In fact, the large percentages of travelers who tour in Maldives islands are frequent tourists. Its finesse qualities make the tourists fall in love with it, ultimately compelling them to land in Maldives Island. It is an enchanting charm which is indeed spell-binding and contagious.

In addition, Maldives other features such as tranquility, solitude, loads of exhilarating water sports adventures, relaxing spas and immaculate beaches swathed in lavish modern amenities are sure to hypnotize your senses. Maldives is an electrifying as well as a soothing retreat for the tourists. Soak the sunny ambiance, indulge in water sports activities, and utilize the modern amenities bestowed for you, all these quirky perks are sure to force you make a longer stay. And even though you leave, you will develop a yearning of this location to attain the experiences again and again.

In spite of possessing profuse modern amenities, Maldives is characterized by simplicity and down-to-earth nature. Pleasant nature, soothing blue skies, sunny environment, exhilarating adventures like diving and snorkeling are bound to bring you here frequently. The island’s populace holds a deep belief in Muslim culture; however this characteristic doesn’t stand as a hindrance on the way of tourists as the destination offers full freedom to the global tourists.

Because of its lovely traits, Maldives has become an epitome of its own kind of holiday destination. Even, the constantly flourishing development phenomenon is bringing advancements in the form of new resort establishments. The Island witnesses institutions of top end boutique brands and ecological nature resorts from time to time. The island offers something for everyone and fulfills everyone’s wishes and fantasies. This place is a dreamland wherein one can transform his dreams into realities.

Fast facts about Maldives Island

Maldives Islands is an archipelago formed by 1,190 low-lying coral islands. Dotted around the equator in 26 naturally formed atolls, 20 have been divided for administrative purposes. In fact, the atolls of Maldives are a part of larger structure i.e. Laccadives-Chagos Ridge that runs up to an extensive stretch of 2000kms. One can discern the ‘atoll’ structures by perceiving its literal meaning, which is actually derived from the Maldivian language ‘Dhivehi’ and in English language whose meaning is ‘ring-shaped coral reef enclosing a lagoon.’

The most thrilling fact about Maldives Island is that they are very low lying and the highest amongst them lies at about 8 feet above the sea level. Also, ahead in Maldives Island are stored some fascinating surprises that are indeed jaw-dropping. Maldives is a group of over 2000 tropical islands, located in the Indian Ocean and human habitation exist on just 200 of them. Some of these islands house the most leisurable tropical resorts. Head to Maldives Island as some of the best luxurious and serene treats are waiting for you.

Malé, the heart of Maldives holds authoritarian power as it is the ‘seat of the government’. Placed in the midst of the Atoll chain, it is the premier center for trade, commerce, business, health and education. Inhabited by one third of the capital’s population that goes beyond 150,000 people, this capital city is the world’s smallest urban capital.

Culture

In the pre-historic times, massive influx of overseas migrants colonized this region, ultimately, enriching the region with significant history and culture. Over the time, Maldives emerged as an integral spot of diverse cultures as large immigrants from allover the world arrived and settled here. These are precisely noticeable in there various form, for instance: the local music and dance forms reflect the African culture because the hand beating of drums and the language of songs matches the style of East African countries.

Even, South Asian charms have a hand in molding their dance and music forms. The most conspicuous influence is visible in their traditional cuisines. And the most noteworthy manipulation of South Asian customs and traditions is connected with women, as the belief of secluding women from public view didn’t ever exist here, however this South Asian custom is been followed here today. Despite all these facts, women play predominant role in the social circle. One of the customary and strong beliefs of Maldives populace is that their life is reliant on the sea surrounding them.