Ancient Egypt: A Hidden Wonder

When you think of history, you think of all the remote places in the world that have a deep significance to the past and have acquired a legendary status. You think of places on which books, perhaps encyclopedias have been written mentioning each and every detail elaborately. You think of places that have a link to the existing populace in the modern world. Ancient Egypt is one of them and has found its way into every major history book ever written. Be it the mythical pharaohs, immortal mummies, the legend of royalty like King Tut and Queen Cleopatra or the scintillating Pyramids of Giza, Ancient Egypt is a leaf out of Ancient History and a mirror image of the civilizations existent in those times.

Once located in the eastern part of North Africa along the river Nile, the civilization of Ancient Egypt dates back to 3150BC. A variety of kingdoms spanned during these few thousand years before the Roman Empire invaded the place and turned it into a province. The decoration undoubtedly is the Pyramids of Giza. The three large pyramids are situated at modern day El Giza, Egypt and one of the oldest monuments still intact. They were constructed at around 2551 BC and held the record for the tallest structures in the world for the next 3,800 years.

The legend of the mummies and the pharaohs has always enthralled tourists from across the world. Archaeologists and historians across the globe have always conducted expeditions to dig out facts about these mythical existences that were once humans whose bodies were wrapped in bandages post death and preserved in huge coffins. Tourists come to this part of the world because of their inquisitiveness to know more about these ancient survivals. The pyramids have also been a big fascination for globetrotters. Though all the gold kept in them have been possessed by the Government of Egypt, tourists still love to go inside them and see all the scriptures and paintings that ancient civilizations made to leave a trace of their wonderful yet intriguing culture.

The legends of King Tut and Queen Cleopatra are also a part of Egyptian folklore. The icing will certainly be the huge structure of gold where the face of Cleopatra is put on the body of a lion. Historical Treasure is the best way to describe Ancient Egypt. All artifacts, scriptures, tombs and other markings depict the richness in the culture that gave River Nile the status and respect it enjoys today. The place is a goldmine for tourists with a fetish for history and a haven for connoisseurs of archaeology. Visit this part of the world and revel under the experience of seeing the remains one of the most culturally rich and enterprising civilizations.

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London Eye

It certainly does not feature in the list of The Seven Wonders of the World, but is is a tourist wonder in itself. London Eye for long has been one of the most visited tourist spots in the city for many years drawing more than 3 million annually. With a height of 443 feet, the Ferris Wheel is one of the largest in Europe. Tourists visiting London from across the world every year on vacation go to see the London Eye and pay to catch a glimpse of one of the most amazing creations ever. Located at the Western End of Jubilee Gardens which is towards the South Bank of River Thames, London Eye is a mini carnival in itself.

There are 32 sealed air conditioned passenger capsules which people enter in groups to take the ride, which lasts for a long time. People have shared their experiences saying that the whole Skyline of London is visible clearly through these capsules. For the record, ever since its inception more than 8.3 million people have travelled in it making it one of the most visited spots in recent times. The whole creation resembles a bicycle wheel that is constructed of robust steel. It has been reported than a total of 1700 tonnes of steel has been used to create this eye which offers one of the most spectacular views at twilight.

Tourists from across the world specially come to see this eye for the fact that it is one of the most amazing spots to watch. The best thing about the London Eye is that it is for everyone, not only meant for the elite. In a capsule, one might often spot a Senator sharing space with a teacher, an engineer and a lawyer along with a plumber. Since the whole of London is free to get inside the capsule anytime, people really cherish the independence it provides. Apart from all the other hot spots that tourists visit while in London, visiting the London Eye is a must as the manner in which the Skyline is visible cannot simply be described in words but has to be physically felt by being inside one of the capsules and taking the ride. Since parts of the Ferris Wheel have been brought in from six different countries, there is an element of multiculturalism that can be associated with the London Eye which makes it so appealing to people from all parts of the world.

The London Eye is indeed a spectacle. It has of late become the crowning glory of London and is looked up to by many. It is a tourism marvel; and a visual spectacle that offers the highest order of delight to the eyes and an unforgettable experience in a lifetime. Be it its construction, the way the capsule have been arranged or the Skyline view that one gets to see from inside the capsule, the London Eye is indeed meant for the chosen ones who come to London and become a part of History.

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Stratford upon Avon

The place has acquired a legendary status for being the birthplace of the immortal William Shakespeare and has become a town which people specially visit to see those sites that the legendary writer and poet used to visit in his hey days. Stratford upon Avon is a market town located in South Warwickshire, England located precisely on River Avon. It is said to have been receiving about three million visitors every year specially coming in to see the shades left behind by the man who is considered to be the big daddy of English Literature. The town council of this place has the onus of looking after crime prevention, public conveniences and parks. The theatres are a very exciting place to visit with the Royal Shakespeare Theatre being the highlight of showcasing plays. The Waterside Theatre got re-opened in 2004 and since then has been playing all the plays written by the legend who still live in memories despite leaving the world 400 years ago.

The town is situated on the River Avon and is also home to the Royal Shakespeare Company. The RSC Courtyard Theatre and the Swan Theatre still draw packed houses and the authority over them being delegated to other promoters. Other fabulous tourist destinations include The Birthplace Trust, Hall’s Croft, New Place, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage at Shottery and Snitterfield. The top end of Waterside has the Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare got baptized. The place also hosts one of the biggest Mop fairs in the whole country on the 12th October where people come and have a good time.

The Henley Street, The Sheep Street and The Waterside & Southern lane are three streets that have been a part of this city for the past many centuries and are considered legendary cities to walk on. These cities are known to specially attract viewers who just take out time to walk on them so that they can feel history and also attempt to become a part of it by being in that league of people who had the chance to take a walk on these bridges.

Stratford upon Avon is indeed a legendary town with a lot of memories associated with it. It is indeed the town of the hero of English Literature and has a lot of historical sites that one can visit where one would feel as if he were transported back into the time when Shakespeare was all flesh and blood and could be seen in the neighbourhood. The place attracts millions of visitors every year who come and revel in the experience of being in one of the most wonderful towns of all time and cherish the experience of visiting the place that is known for being one of the most sought after destinations for vacation and expedition. Be it the ambience that can be spotted in Stratford upon Avon or the literary culture, everything about the place is simply phenomenal, a reason behind it attracting millions of visitors every year.

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A Historical Ride in Palace on Wheels

'Palace on Wheels' as the name indicates, refers to a luxurious travel on wheel, to be precise, by train. Palace on Wheels is one of the most popular tourist packages in India. It is significant because it covers a few of the most attractive tourist destinations in India including Rajasthan, The Taj Mahal and the national capital New Delhi. Anyone who seeks to explore deep into the soul of the country can gain immensely by taking a Palace on Wheels trip through the long corridors of these historical cities.

Rajasthan has emerged as one of India's popular tourist destinations. The majestic palaces, as well as the cultural and traditional attractions, make the city appealing to scores of tourists from all over the world. The colorful parade of the turban-clad villagers and the chinking sound of the glass bangles worn by the village girls will create ever-lasting memories in your life. If you ever got an opportunity to ride through the pink city (Jaipur) of Rajasthan on the Palace on Wheels, never miss it.

Palace on Wheels is a government initiative designed to offer the world-class facilities to tourists visiting this wonderful land of Maharajas. The Palace on Wheels has a reputed history to share; the famous rulers of the ancient India, including the rulers of Rajputana, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India have been among the few important personalities who have utilized this service during their reign.

The facility has undergone timely changes to accommodate the needs of all classes of tourists. The air-conditioned broad gauge train has restaurants, bar cum lounge services, and library in addition to the primary facilities. There are 14 saloons with 4 cabins attached with bath and shower facilities. The restaurants offer traditional Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisine. The bar serves both Indian and foreign brands of liquors and cocktails. To add more entertainment, there are piped music and a variety of games in every saloon. Apart from these, there are additional services available on request. They include doctor-on-call, barber shop, beauty parlor and laundry. There are god souvenir shops which sell items with insignia of Palace on Wheels.

Your wait for a royal yatra (journey) is going to be fulfilled with the famous Palace on Wheels. Enjoy every bit of the luxury availed to you!

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Shoppers' Paradise - London

Do you love shopping? Well I just love to visit all the shoppers' paradises and find out the exciting stuff that are available at these places. My idea of shopping does not only include the high end sophisticated markets but the street shops also find a very important place in my list of the best places to shop.

The sophisticated shopping centres and malls are a great place to do the purchasing but sometimes we get very attractive bargains for really nice things at the street shops. This is the reason why I love to find out the good street shops that offer good value-for-money for the products.

I am starting a series of some exciting places all over the world where not only you can great stuff at much affordable prices but also get the real feel of the local place. The first town in my list is London. Some of the top street shops of London are:

Topshop: Here at London’s sartorial mecca, first-time visitors can usually be spotted squealing with delight. The overwhelming choice of trend-led high-street fashion is right on the money, but for something a bit special go to The Boutique. There you’ll find collaborations with cutting-edge designers like Christopher Kane, Emma Cook and Jonathan Saunders.

Uniqlo: Last year London fell back in love with Uniqlo. Cleverly rebranded with indie celeb envoys, a Terry Richardson ad campaign, Nicola Formichetti and Katie Grand creating imagery and two new stores on Oxford Street (311 is the European flagship), there was good reason to return to this Japanese supermarket of cool. A recent gallery project with photographer Matt Irwin and the ongoing UT T-shirt project have kept up the momentum, but it’s the cut-price pure cashmere and achingly simple selvedge jeans that delight.

Primark: London’s new-found obsession with Primark began with the hallowed opening of its 70,000sq ft Oxford St store in April 2007. The shopping experience itself is somewhat chequered (with changing-room queues so long customers often strip off on the shop floor) but it’s the fashionable cheap-as-chips clothes you go for, not the genteel ambience.

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Belur Math

Belur Math is a place of pilgrimage for people from all over the world and is located on the western banks of river Hooghly (Ganga) in Howrah district. The foundation of Belur Math was by laid by Swami Vivekananda, the chief disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Dev. Swami Vivekananda consecrated the grounds in 1898 by worshipping the urn containing the sacred relics of Sri Ramakrishna. He himself carried the urn on his shoulders to the place of worship. The Math was constructed on 14th January 1938. The temple is notable for its architecture that fuses Hindu, Christian and Islamic motifs as a symbol of unity of all religions. Swami Vivekananda uttered these prophetic words about Belur Math on the occasion:

The blazing light of universal harmony that will emanate from here will flood the whole world

Swami Vivekananda used to reside in a two storeyed house inside the Math on the bank of the river Ganga. Swami breathed his last on 4th July, 1902. His cenotaph lies within the Math. His commodities are carefully preserved in his room and exhibited to the people.

Today, Belur Math has become the hub of worldwide spiritual movement known as the Ramakrishna Movement. The serene campus of Belur Math on the Ganga includes temples dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda, in which their relics are enshrined, and the main monastery of the Ramakrishna Order. The place has been sanctified by the stay of Swami Vivekananda and most of the monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, who spent several years here. Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi also visited this place on several occasions. The room in which Swamiji attained Mahasamadhi has been preserved here. The headquarters of the worldwide twin organizations known as Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are also situated here. An added attraction is the Museum which contains articles connected with the history of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. The green lawns and lush growth of trees and bushes everywhere add to the serenity and beauty of the place. All this has contributed to an elevating spiritual ambience that has made Belur Math an important place of pilgrimage for people all over the world. A degree college, a polytechnic, and several other educational institutions of the Ramakrishna Mission are situated in the vast campus adjacent to Belur Math.

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Rajasthani Ghoomar

The word "Ghoomar" means "spinner" in Rajasthani. Rajasthani Ghoomar is a stunning folk dance performed in Rajasthan. The dance derives its name from the whirly movement of the dancers. It’s not just the movement that makes the dance so vibrant and attractive, but it’s the ghaghara (a bright long skirt with a lot of embroidery) that adds a lot of embellishment to the rhythmic movement.

Rajasthani Ghoomar is recited in the City Palace in Jaipur – a city nicknamed as Pink City mainly because of the vibrantly colored folks. The most spectacular Ghoomar that I have seen, however, is the one performed by the Banjaras (a tribal community in Rajasthan) in the sand dunes of Jaisalmer deserts. It was really a visual treat for everyone gathered there.Traditionally Ghoomar is performed during festivities or special occasions such as marriage. A Rajasthani bride is supposed to perform Ghoomar when she enters her husband’s home, so the dance is an inevitable component in a Rajasthani marriage. Women of all age groups participate in the dance. The dance has simple pirouettes that any woman can perform. There are different types of spins- clockwise and anticlockwise, but they are done diligently without affecting the rhythm of the dance.

If you ever got an opportunity to visit Jaipur, don’t miss the Rajasthani Ghoomer. There are several stages in the city, which host Ghoomer for tourists. Known for the royal palaces, Rajasthan attracts scores of tourists every day. Rajasthani Ghoomer has earned recognition as one of the most impressive cultural shows of Rajasthan. If you miss it, you are missing the soul of Rajasthan.

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