Bruges is said to be a city that will capture your heart. Being a major trading port, it has been an international metropolis for centuries. Despite this, it has retained its medieval charm as well as its natural beauty. Something that has helped its historic city centre to attain the tag of World Heritage Site of UNESCO. In Europe it is also referred as Venice of the North, because of its canals. It is indeed one of my favourite European cities. Although a city like Bruges is worth spending a plentiful of time, but I am shortlisting ten things that you shouldn't miss when you visit this marvellous city. Lets, have a look at them. Boating in Bruges A trip in its canals Bruges looks more charming when you take a boat trip on its canals. Half hour trips on boats are most popular a...
Read MoreTag: Heritage
Almost every city in the world has its own distinct way for tourists to explore its destinations, landscape and heritage. Few of them still have an old world charm of doing that. Belgian city of Bruges is one of them. Actually, Bruges has not one but two classical way to be explored- by boat on its canals and by horse-drawn carriages. Both of them are fairytale sort of romantic rides in a city which is regarded by many as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I would largely agree to that. Two women with their horse carriages at Bruges market square Cobbled streets, winding canals and magnificent Gothic architecture, make Bruges a trip back to medieval times. Besides, swans gliding on canals, horse-drawn carriages, historic buildings, the Belfry and the Beguinage and ...
Read MoreIt’s the time of the year again, when Raithal village in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand gets ready for a unique festival. A festival celebrated to welcome the cattle folk as well as shepherds back to village after months of rearing and grazing in higher meadows of Himalayas. It’s a Holi celebrated not with colours but with butter and curd milk. More about Butter Holi of Raithal, read: Get ready for a Holi with Butter at Dayara Temple at Raithal village Raithal is also popular as base for many treks originating from or concluding at Dayara Bugyal. Truly, Raithal is no ordinary village. Besides its locational value just on the footsteps of Dayara Bugyal and its unique Butter Holi, it is also a historical village. It has got some very old traditional Garhwali homes. Many o...
Read MoreIt’s tough to kickstart the life at a new place, suddenly uprooted from your home and doomed to live rest of your lives in exile. Tibetans have faced this almost 55 years ago and they continue to weave a better life at their new homes in India. Search of Tibetan souvenirs to be taken back home took us to Tibetan Handicraft Society premises located on one end of the main market in Mcleodganj. We had to wait for a while as the manager was away for a work. The collection at the centre was very attractive. While others were busy in their purchases, I went towards a modest workshop adjacent to store, where a few women were busy weaving carpets. Tibetan Handicraft Society was established in 1963 at Mcleodganj near Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh to provide work and income for Tibet...
Read MoreYanni has a nick of performing in front of top heritage monuments around the world. Remember the March of 1997, when his concert in backdrop of Taj Mahal right on the banks of Yamuna river became a phenomenon in itself! The master composer has many firsts to his name. Here was he, once again, performing adjacent to Mada’in Saleh, a major UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia, once home to major civilizations including the ancient kingdoms of Dadan/Lihyan and the Nabataeans. Yanni in concert at Al-Ula. Photo credit: Center for International Communication (CIC), Ministry of Media, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Grammy Award-winning composer Yanni dazzled a packed crowd on Friday night with some of his popular pieces in a spectacular show at Al-Ula as part of the extended Winter at Tanto...
Read MoreOnce the leaves have fallen, Bruges puts on its best winter dress. During the day you stroll past wonderfully decorated shop windows and when it grows dark, Christmas lights get you in the festive mood. From 23 November, the historic centre is transformed into one big Christmas market. One can certainly find some great gifts and stocking fillers in the stalls, and there is also ice-skating. Afterwards, you can reward yourself with a lovely hot chocolate or spicy mulled wine. How lovely! Bruges is called Venice of North for its canals During the most festive period of the year, Bruges has much to experience. Delightful Christmas markets, an ice skating rink: from the end of November up to the beginning of January, romantic Bruges will be the most ideal location to en...
Read MoreUdaipur is famous world over as City of Lakes and is among the top cities in India to attract foreign tourists. Owing to its natural beauty, serene calm and rich heritage, it has also been most popular among loving couples for their most affectionate moments. So much so, that when the trend of destination weddings picked up at the start of this century, Udaipur was one of the top picks. People even started to call it as wedding capital of India. For many celebrities across the world, a wedding or engagement or a pre-wedding or post-wedding event or a Mehendi ceremony or a Sangeet ceremony at Udaipur is an essential part of their nuptial ceremonies. The trend continues with the about to happen wedding in Ambani household when a pre-wedding event is scheduled in December at an Udaipur Hot...
Read MoreHigh above the German city of Heidelberg realms world’s most popular ruin. Is there any place more beautiful in this world than between the historic walls of the castle beneath the shining stars during a warm summer night? For sure, there is! Just this place, but filled with music and dramatic or funny works of literature. Every year this castle is the site for two of most dramatic events- the Castle Festival and the Castle Illuminations. The legendary Castle Illuminations every year capture the imagination of thousands of people - hardly any other city offers such magical nights every year. Castle illuminations commemorate the destruction of Heidelberg Castle by the French General Melac in the years 1689 and 1693 during the War of Palatinate Succession. Its origin however was...
Read MoreOn the weekend of 14th to 15th July 2018, the INDIA SUMMER DAYS return to Karlsruhe under the heading ‘Baden-Württemberg meets Maharashtra’: a small piece of India right in the centre of Karlsruhe, with all its sumptuous colours, music and dance. India fans can indulge in live music, an Indian bazaar, culinary delicacies and numerous other cultural highlights, as well as Ayurveda and yoga workshops. Last year India Summer Days were held for the first time alongside the “Pre-Festival” in the middle of the Günther-Klotz-Anlage. SouthWest Germany, the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, is right in the heart of Europe and is bordered by France, Switzerland and Austria. Easy to get to, easy to get around, easy to have fun: that’s SouthWest Germany, a real four-season destination! W...
Read MoreTaman Budaya or Bali Art Centre is a prime example of how traditional art forms should to be preserved. Built in traditional Balinese architecture this is a centre of learning and also a centre of excellent performances. It motivates young Balinese people to learn all the forms of traditional Balinese performing arts. Bali Art Center grooms young ones in traditional Balinese arts- dance, theatre, music, painting and lot more. A beautiful complex run by public money is a very sincere attempt to preserve the traditional forms of art. Interestingly, all these classes are completely free of cost for the children. Such art centres encourage them to learn and perform and thus keep the traditional art forms alive by transferring them to the next generation... A way to learn for all suc...
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