Asia's Beautiful Heritage Temples

In Nagaland, foes turn friends for migrating Amur Falcons

The Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) has one of the longest migration routes among all birds – it clocks up to 22,000 km a year from eastern Asia to southern Africa and back. Most of this migration is done at night over the sea – unusual and unique traits for a bird of its size.In October 2012, a team of conservation NGOs and wildlife photographers unearthed and documented (see Conservation India) the shocking massacre of tens of thousands of migratory Amur Falcons in the remote state of Nagaland in India’s northeast. Post reporting of this incident, and the subsequent national and international outcry, a lot of conservation projects were initiated in Nagaland. The Government of Nagaland, at every level, was fully committed to end the killings and geared to face the next season. The local community as well as NGOs assisted the government officials on the ground.

In a spectacular turnaround, the scene of 2012’s mass killings revealed a peaceful haven for tens of thousands of the very same birds, congregating in a stopover during their annual migration through the state.

Credit for this astonishing conservation outcome should go to the painstaking effort of the Nagaland government, local NGOs, as well as the local communities who rose gracefully to occasion and swore to end the killings by becoming ‘Friends of the Amur Falcon’.

Walking in Fontainhas, Goa's Latin quarter

In the heart of Goa's capital Panjim is a treasure-trove of colonial history. Bordered on the east by Ourem creek and on the west by the tony residential neighborhood of Altinho, Fontainhas, meaning fountain in Portuguese, takes its name from the fountain of Phoenix Spring near the Maruti Temple. The precinct, reclaimed and built in the 18th century by a wealthy expatriate Goan known as Mosmikar (he made his fortune in Portuguese-held Mozambique), is today gripped by a frenzy of restoration. Masons and carpenters are busy at work, refitting old wooden patios and trellised parapets and painting facades in pastel shades. Some old homes have been repurposed into shopfronts displaying a panoply of curios. Curtains of ivy and vine shield first-floor balconies from the harsh mid-morning sun. The street leading up to the Chapel of St Sebastian, gleaming white in luxuriant sunshine, is lined with magenta bauhinia in full flower. The chapel, built in 1818 after the Inquisition, houses an unusual crucifix where the eyes of Christ, glaring open, are designed to strike terror in the hearts of heretics. In mid-November this street comes alive with a merry street fair that celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Livrament. North of Fontainhas, towards the old Post Office building (which was once the city’s tobacco trading house), is the precinct of Sao Tomé. The buildings here face what was once the town pillory where justice was meted out in the form of spectacular executions. Today, these areas constitute Goa's Latin quarter.

Enjoy this photo-tour.

Sunser Over Town Of Vernazza, Italy

Saksun Village, Faroe Islands

Qatar Airways offers up to 25% savings on return travel

     Qatar Airways is offering customers in India and around the world great savings to global destinations during its three-day global sale branded as “The World is Yours”. A discount of up to 25 percent will be offered for return travel on Qatar Airways in all classes for travel originating from India via Doha. The sale begins 2:30 AM India Time on September 15 and ends on September 17 at 11:59 PM. A generous travel window of September 21, 2014 through June 15, 2015 will enable customers to book their travel months in advance.

To make a booking online, customers can go to qatarairways.com/worldpromo or visit any Qatar Airways sales office or preferred travel agent. Seats are limited and subject to availability.

Qatar Airways offers a choice of flights from 12 cities in India. The airline's hub, Hamad International Airport in Doha, offers connections to global destinations including Barcelona, Dallas, London, Miami, New York, Paris and Rome. The airline has seen rapid growth in 17 years of operation and today flies a modern fleet of 136 aircraft to 144 business and leisure destinations across the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Africa, North America and South America. Since October 2013, Qatar Airways has been part of the OneWorld Alliance.
 

Athachamayam - Kerala’s festive Onam carnival

Athachamayam - Kerala’s festive Onam carnival

August and September are festive months in Kerala. The rains ebb away, the post-monsoon harvest is near, and the fragrant spirit of Onam is in the air. Athachamayam is considered as the traditional beginning of the ten-day-long Onam celebrations. The celebrations are closely linked with the royal family of the erstwhile princely state of Cochin and takes place at the former capital in Thripunithura, Kerala.

Athachamayam is held every year on the Atham star of the month Chingam in the Malayalam calendar. It was historically observed as the victory procession of the Maharaja of Kochi, when the king and his entourage travelled in a procession marked by much gaiety along the streets of the historic town. Today, it is symbolic but no less colorful. 

Hill Stations In India

Darjeeling, West Bengal

Surrounded by infinite slopes of emerald-green tea plantations and set against a backdrop of jagged white Himalayan peaks, Darjeeling is nestled away in the northern regions of West Bengal. A journey on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway fondly known as the ‘Toy train’ is a great way to explore and soak in the magnificent surroundings of this hill station.

Shillong, Meghalaya

The capital city of Meghalaya, Shillong sits amidst the Khasi Hills. One of the most charming hill stations of India, it’s famous for receiving the highest rainfall in the world and for its dynamic music scene—being home to the country’s favourite Blues band, Soulmate and India's most popular blues man, Lou Majaw.

Coorg, Karnataka

Spread out on the Western Ghats, the misty valley of Coorg is enveloped in emerald landscapes and acres of coffee, tea and spice plantations. Fondly referred to as the ‘Scotland of India’ due to its verdant beauty and pleasant weather conditions, Coorg is a major centre for spice and coffee production. So, just back and watch the fog roll by.

Ooty, Tamil Nadu

Established as a summer retreat by the British and nicknamed ‘Snooty Ooty',Ooty is a visual delight filled with pretty cottages, fenced flower gardens, thatched-roof churches and terraced botanical gardens. Venture a few kilometres out and you'll find yourself surrounded by greener, quieter area sdotted with an abundance of pine trees.

Coonoor, Tamil Nadu

Smaller and quieter than its neighbour Ooty, Coonoor is nestled in the Nilgiri Mountains and is surrounded by rolling hills and tea and coffee plantations. The ride on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway’s quaint toy train—from Coonoor to Ooty—covers the region’s most scenic spots including the cantonment area of Wellington.

Manali, Himachal Pradesh

With mountain adventures beckoning from all directions, Manali is the perfect destination for those looking to unwind. Backpackers come to hang around in the villages near the main town and adventure tourists come for trekking, paragliding, rafting and skiing. About 53 km away from Manali is the famous Rohtang Pass which offers breathtaking sights of glaciers, peaks and valleys.

Mcleodganj, Himachal Pradesh

Mcleodganj, the home of Dalai Lama is the destination for many travellers visiting Dharamshala. Walk along the Temple road, hop into one of the many colourful shops, spin the Tibetan prayer wheels or simply devour steaming hot momos—there are a lot of charming things packed in just a couple of blocks.

Munnar, Kerala

Sprawling tea plantations, picture-perfect vistas and winding lanes make Munnar a favourite amongst Indian hill stations. Although the town itself is forever alive with activity, wander a few kilometres out and you’ll be engulfed in a thousand shades of green.

Nainital, Uttarakhand

An erstwhile summer retreat of the British, Nainital is a small town settled amidst Uttrakhand’s Kumaon range. There’s a busy town bazaar and a web of walking tracks around the forested hillsides, which have enticed travellers since pre-independence days to retreat to Nainital.

Matheran, Maharashtra

Shady forests, criss-crossing foot trails and breathtaking lookouts define Maharashtra’s most loved hill-station, Matheran. Motor vehicles are banned within Matheran and getting up to the town is half the fun of going there. Arrive on a narrow-gauge toy train that chugs along a 21 km scenic route, or trek up the scenic path that makes its way through train tracks and hillsides.

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

Snow-capped Himalayan peaks and green pastures surround Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Spectacular hills blend with structures from the colonial era and the town’s lower bazaars flow with local life and shops selling souvenirs, fabrics and spices.

Mussoorie, Uttarakhand

Offering stunning views of the green Doon Valley and the distant white-capped Himalayan peaks, Mussoorie—located 34 km from Dehradun—is popularly known as the ‘Queen of the Hills’. You can walk up and down the famous Mall road, or sit and admire the mist-covered hills from Mussoorie’s highest point called Lal Tibba.

Wayanad, Kerala

Wayanad’s landscape combines epic mountain scenery, rice paddies, bamboo trees spiky ginger fields and rubber, cardamom and coffee plantations. Encompassing a part of a forest reserve, this quiet district in north-eastern Kerala is home to a variety of animals, including tigers. 

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

A heady mix of religion, history and nature, Tawang is one of the least discovered towns in Arunachal Pradesh. Dotted with Buddhist monasteries and mystical gompas on one end and a war memorial on another, it begins to work its magic on travellers the moment they ascend the hills.

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