Archive for August, 2009
Kerala Backwater Tourism Houseboat Tours
Backwater tourism in Kerala Gods Own Country is gaining popularity fast. Every year tourists from all over the world visits this beautiful Indian state of Kerala and enjoy and cherish backwater tourism. Backwaters in Kerala are a wide network several water bodies like lagoons lakes canals channels estuaries rivers inlets etc which drain into Arabian Sea. Backwaters are the example of perfect eco tourism in India. They are blessed with superb natural beauty and which are delight for tourists. Scenic shorelines are dotted with palm coconut tress and several other bushy plants. Several species of birds can be seen on the shoreline. Several traditional villages are situated on the shoreline. Several monuments and temples can be also seen on the shoreline. In fact backwaters are complete tourism package for tourists. And off course tourists do not forget to enjoy the charm of backwater tourism during their Kerala tours in India.
The largest backwater stretch in Kerala is the Vembanad Lake. This lake is uniquely blessed with superb natural beauty. It sprawls into the three predominant districts of the state Alleppey Kottayam and Ernakulam. The lake has the area of 205 square kilometres. On the periphery of picturesque Vembanad Lake there is situated Kumarakom and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Kumarakom is one of the most popular backwater destinations of Kerala which is served as starting and ending point of Kerala houseboats cruises. The islands of Cochin also known as now Kochi are situated at the meeting place of Vembanad Lake and Sea. A sunset boat cruise over the serene water of picturesque Vembanad Lake provides tourists delightful experience of lifetime. Cruising on the lake also provides tourists wonderful opportunity to see the bird activities at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary also known as Vembanad Bird Sanctuary or Water Bird Sanctuary.
One of the best and most preferred ways to explore the scenic charm of waterways in this beautiful Indian state is staying at house boats for few days. Alleyppey Kollam Fort Kochi Kumarakom etc can be best destinations for start your houseboats Kerala cruise. The house boats used for cruising on the scenic backwaters were traditionally called Kettuvallams and used as cargo carriers. Now those Kettuvallams are converted into luxurious house boats offering accommodation and facilities like luxurious hotels. A well organized boat cruise takes tourists into the unique world of waters and wonderments. Tourists find wonderful opportunity to enjoy the charm of superb nature by close. They get wonderful opportunity to see several species of aquatic animals water birds water flowers etc in and alongside the backwaters.
For honeymoon couples houseboat Kerala cruise is like a dream option. And it is right that a stay for few days on luxurious house boat provides newly wedded couples and sheer romantic experience of lifetime. There are several cruise organizers which offer and prepare house boat packages especially for honeymooners or newly wedded couples.
So if you too want to enjoy the real charm of travel and tourism in Kerala Gods Own Country you should not miss to visit backwater destinations of the state and off course dont forgo to enjoy charm of houseboat stay otherwise your tour is incomplete.
About the writer: Michael Smith is an eminent analyst and writer in Travel Tourism related topics. He has authored many books on tour guide for kerala houseboat packages and kerala backwater tours Now he is rendering his services to http://www.keralahouseboat.org/
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Kalka – Shimla Railway – Now A Unesco World Heritage Site
Mountain Railways of India is one of the major tourists attractions carrying thosands of travellers every year. Developed by the British Raj about hundred year ago mountain railways even today serve as the most convenient mode of transport to reach the hill stations of the country. In fact mountain railways have become the precious jewell in crown of the Indian Railways. Due to excellent engineering and heritage significance the UNSECO has declared Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Niligiri Mountain Railway World Heritage property. Last week on Monday July 7 UNESCO included the Kalka Shimla Mountain Railway in World Heritage list.
Once the British summer capital in India’s northwest Shimla attracts thousands of tourists every year from all over the world. Toy train is the most comfortable mode to reach Shimla from Kalka. An extraordinary engineering feat Kalka Shimla Railway has its heritage as well cultural values. Considered as the greatest narrow gauge engineering feat in the country Kalka Shimla railway line was opened on November 9 1903 by Lord Curzon the then Viceroy of India. The surprising fact is that the line doesnt go faster than 25 km per hour but in comparison to British era more people are using the line today. The 96 kms journey begins at Kalka the track rises from 640 mtr Kalka to 2060 mtr Shimla the train passes over 864 bridges under 102 tunnels longest tunnel Barog 1.1 km and around 900 sharp curves and bends
Kalka Shimla Railway is the ultimate victory of style and serendipity over speed and in this route journey is as important as the destination. The scenery along the Kalka Shimla route is spectacular flanked by lofty hills the line cross through the sides of steep cliffs and ventures over arch bridges. The train begins its corkscrew ascent immediately above the small town of Parwanoo and enter into the forested hills. After an hour the track straightens out curving in and out of the hills. There are 18 stations along the way Barog is the most important among them. From Barog to Kandaghat the train crosses the beautiful places of Solan and Saloghra. The final climb of the train starts at Kandaghat through lush oak and rhododendron forests Finally Shimla comes into view as the train winds its way through the picturesque hills to the alpine reaches of the lower Himalayas.
Another interesting fact of the Kalka Shimla railway is use of ageold communication system. Block phones and control phones are being used by the stations enroute the former established links between two stations while the latter helps to keep in touch with other important stations. Beside the Red and green lanterns used as signals in British period are still part of the operating system.
About the writer: Myself Radhika Jain an India based writer working with firm. Travelling is my favourite hobby and I also write travolgue that may become handy for those visiting India from across the globe. However for more authentic India related information I will suggest the website http://www.itopc.org and Kalka Shimla Railway
Kaliningrad Is A City With A Changeable History
Imagine a city which is geographically isolated from its country by foreign states. Kaliningrad is one of them. It’s a Russian city located on the east coast of the Baltic sea and enclosed by members of both the EU and NATO Lithuania and Poland in the center of the Europe.
It makes its population of Kaliningrad isolated from other territories of Russia. So residents of Kaliningrad need to apply for foreign passports and visas in order to travel by land to visit their Saint Petersburg relatives.
This city has a history where word “former” was used too often. It was a former Soviet Union city a former Nazi German city a part of the Weimar republic part of the German Empire a former capital of the East Prussian Kingdom a Prussian Duchy and home to the Teutonic Knights Order state.
Originally the territory was inhabited by both Prussian and Goth tribes. Pagan tribes were Christianized after a series of campaigns initiated by Roman Catholic crusaders led by Teutonic knights. The invasion lasted more than 50 years. Native tribes fought hard. The surviving Prussian independent population from the Prussian Crusade was gradually Germanized. The Teutonic Order ruled Prussia as a monastic state with the head being the Grand Master.
Colonists from all over the former Roman Empire immigrated to the new state. There were mostly Germans Dutch Poles and Flemish. A strong urban country was built. One of the largest cities had the name Konigsberg. It was set up in 1255.
After World War II the city was allocated at the Potsdam Conference from Germany to Soviet Union. All the German population was evacuated from the territory and resettled back to Germany. The region was colonized by inhabitants from various Soviet Union republics.
Now Kaliningrad has become the central city within the Kaliningrad region. It’s an icefree port the only Russian port located on the Baltic Sea. The name Kaliningrad was given from Mikhail Kalinin former Soviet Chairman of the AllUnion Executive Committee former chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet and member of the Politburo. In 1946 he died. Following his death the former German city was renamed in his honor.
The changeable history of the city influenced it’s architecture. Visitors can see a unique combination of architectural styles in the city. Here you can see a medieval gothic cathedral neighboring Soviet betony buildings. Fundamental Nazi Reich architecture can be found near an Orthodox cathedral in Byzantium style on a Frenchinfluenced Square. Metalandglass constructions try to compete with German neoclassical buildings from end of the 19th beginning of 20th centuries.
The population of Kaliningrad was formed from colonists from all over the Soviet Union Republics mostly Russians Ukrainians Belarusians and Lithuanians. The government invited the population to the empty and destroyed city after World War II. Many benefits including free land were promised to the new inhabitants.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;To learn more about Kaliningrad and all its history attractions and legends please visit http://www.kaliningradcastles.com At Kaliningrad Castles you will find interesting information about Konigsberg Castle Kaliningrad travel tips and more.