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A visit to the famous Angkor Wat, the largest temple complex in the world, has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember! I finally got to visit this UNESCO World Heritage site in April 2025. Time stood still as I first set my eyes upon the hauntingly beautiful ruins of Angkor Wat and its distinctive five tall spires jutting into the sky against the early morning sun. About Angkor Wat Angkor Wat is sheer poetry set in stone; the endlessly long corridors, ornate balustrades and stone galleries that wind their way around the temple narrate the tales of this glorious Khmer monument. This priceless architectural gem of Cambodia was built by Khmer King Suryavarman II in the 12th century, as a state temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserver in the Hindu trinity of Gods. By the late 12th century, the temple was declared a Buddhist temple by King Jayavarman VII. Since the origins of the temple are based on Hindu cosmology, the entire temple has an amalgamation of Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and bas-reliefs, depicting tales from the Hindu epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The complex is surrounded by a massive moat in all directions, measuring 200 meters wide and 4 meters deep, symbolising the Sheersagar , or the Cosmic Milk Ocean, where Lord Vishnu resides. A wide causeway will lead you to the Western entrance of the temple over the moat. You will see a stone rim running along the temple wall, symbolic of Sheshnag , the serpent demi-god on whose head Lord Vishnu rests. At the entrance is the head of the Sheshnag, holding guard with its huge seven-headed serpent head. This grand causeway is aligned perfectly with the entrance in the centre of the temple, which was used by the king to enter. The two adjacent entrances were used by ministers, and the two in the far corner were used for elephants, aptly called Elephant Gates. From here, you can see the tall spires of the temple representing the mythical Mount Meru , considered to be the axis of the universe in Hindu cosmology. Angkor Wat has an intriguing system of stairways. There are 12 staircases with 41 steps each, connecting the different levels of this multi-tiered temple. We were told by our guide that 41 is considered to be an auspicious number by the Khmer people. This system of stairways is also symbolic of the basic ethos of both Hinduism and Buddhism, that humans must strive hard to achieve higher levels of existence. As you walk towards the central tower, you will see an almost vertical stairway leading to the top of the tower, aptly called 'Staircase to Heaven' as it leads to the top of the tower and offers beautiful vistas of the temple grounds. View of the Western Gate from the highest point in Angkor Wat Some basic facts about Angkor Wat and some Do's and Don'ts for your visit Angkor Wat Temple is located in the Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, spread over an area of 400 square kilometres, in Siem Reap. Angkor Thom is another name that you'll often hear while at the park. Angkor Thom is an ancient walled city within Angkor Archaeological Park. The park has 72 major temples and over 1000 small temples within its purview, including Angkor Wat. You can enter Angkor Wat from two gates, the East and West Gates. The East gate is less touristy and serene. You will get a beautiful view of the entire temple complex, but the main temple will be on the opposite side. This is the entrance we used. If you enter from the West gate, it's closer to the parking and the main temple. You get impressive views of the temple from the causeway over the moat. Before you visit the park, it's a good idea to shortlist the temples you wish to see. One can plan to see 4 or at most 5 temples on a day pass. The most popular temples apart from Angkor Wat are Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm Temple, Pre Rup Temple and Banteay Srei Temple. Bayon Temple, with its striking stone faces carved on the 54 towers, is a must-see attraction. Ta Prohm is popular for its giant trees that have intertwined with the stones over centuries, giving the temple a very otherworldly feel. It was also the site for the shooting of the Hollywood film 'Tomb Raider', earning it the nickname Tomb Raider Temple. Pre Rup Temple is dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva. The temple, though small in size compared to the mighty Angkor Wat, has beautiful red brick pyramids, giving it a pinkish hue. It falls on the Grand Circuit en route to Banteay Srei. The climb to the top is quite steep but if you can do it, then the views from the top are breathtaking, especially during sunset. Banteay Srei is rightfully called the Jewel in the crown of Angkorian architecture. It's 31 kilometres away from Angkor Archaeological Park. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu Gods Shiva and his consort Parvati. The intricate stone carvings on its pinkish stone walls will blow your mind away. Angkor Archaeological Park is FREE to visit every day of the week after 5:00 p.m. You will not need any tickets to enter the park. A lot of people use this opportunity to see the sunset at the park for free on their day of arrival into Siem Reap and then buy a pass for the next day. We did not know about this when we visited Angkor Wat, but there is a practical reason for doing this. After spending an entire day of exploration of the temples, believe me, you will be too exhausted to go back to Angkor Wat to see the sunset. We had to skip the sunset for the very same reason. Start early. Angkor Wat attracts over 2.5 million visitors annually, so you can imagine the crowds you could encounter. Also, since most of the sightseeing has to be done in the open, it's better to do it before it gets too hot under the scorching afternoon sun. If you wish to see the sunrise, try reaching Angkor Wat by 5:00 am. Remember, you will have to go back again to see the temple later since it opens at 7:30 am. A day pass, costing USD 37.00, will grant you access to the entire Angkor Archaeological Park. There are passes available for 2 and 3 days, too. In my opinion, unless you're a historian or an archaeologist, or a tourist who wants to do an in-depth study of the area, a day pass is more than enough to see all the temples. A lot of travel is involved in going from one temple to another within the Angkor Archaeological Park. It's a good idea to hire a cab since cabs are not very expensive in this part of the world. You can hire a tuk-tuk too, but temples like Banteay Srei are quite a long way off, so decide accordingly. Hire a guide. There's a lot to see and comprehend at the temples of Angkor Archaeological Park. An English-speaking guide will enhance your Angkor experience. Here I would like to mention that ensure the guide you hire speaks proper English. Our guide, though knowledgeable, had a very distinct accent that made it very difficult for us to comprehend his words. Dress appropriately. All places of worship in Cambodia, temples, pagodas and even palaces expect tourists to dress modestly, especially female tourists. Ensure that your knees and shoulders are properly covered. A lot of uneven stone steps and steep stairways are involved in visiting most of these temples. Wear very comfortable footwear. Most of these temples do not require you to take off your shoes, except at the Vishnu Temple in Angkor Wat, so sneakers are the ideal choice. There are a lot of snacking and dining options in the Angkor Archaeological Park. After seeing Angkor Wat, one can take a short break at any of these local restaurants and try the Khmer cuisine. I don't remember seeing any international food chains here, just local restaurants serving excellent food at very reasonable prices. So, this is the 900-year-old Angkor Wat Temple for you, defying the travails of time and looking every bit glorious as ever! Watch my YouTube video about Angkor Wat by clicking on the link below https://youtu.be/nzO7PxeTHVw After Angkor Wat, we explored the rest of the Angkor Archaeological Park, starting with Bayon Temple. Learn more about Bayon Temple in my next blog...coming up soon!

Away from the overtly touristy crowd of Prague is the beautiful quaint town of Kutna Hora, an ideal getaway from Prague for a day of sightseeing. Before visiting Prague, I'd read some exciting things about this town of about 21,000 inhabitants that houses the famous Bone Chapel made with 40,000 human bones!! And this fact is sure to catch anyone's fancy...... A roadside bistro welcoming guests with a human skeleton on its entrance! About Kutna Hora Kutna Hora is more than just the Bone Castle. As the legend goes, towards the end of the 13th century, a monk discovered a silver stick jutting out of the ground. He covered it with his habit and ran to spread the word around that he had spotted silver deposits in the town. Kutna in Czech means a monk's habit and Hora means mountain, thus, the town came to be called Kutna Hora. Soon, German miners from the neighbouring states started pouring in to work in the silver mines. By the turn of the century, Kutna Hora had become a prominent silver mining hub and a very prosperous town in the Kingdom of Bohemia. Over the years, the town witnessed many wars and political upheavals and exchanged hands between dynasties. By the end of the 18th century, the mines were abandoned and the town of the 'Silver Rush' had lost its power and charm. But even when you visit it today, you can see a reflection of its prosperous past in the beautiful Gothic and Baroque architecture of its buildings. Some valuable tips on Kutna Hora - Direct trains for Kutna Hora leave Prague every two hours every morning. You can easily buy tickets on the day of travel. Tickets cost about 120 CZK one way. - The train ride takes about an hour to cover a distance of 83 kilometres. - Remember, if you buy a return ticket from Prague for a day trip to Kutna Hora, then you can use the local transport in Kutna Hora free for a day. Make it a point to enquire about Prague Integrated Transport tickets (PID) at the ticket counter in Prague while buying tickets. - We contemplated going with a tour operator to save time but then decided against it. And gladly so! Because then we would have missed the leisurely loitering around in this quaint pretty town that is an attraction in itself. The town lacks a touristy vibe, it's quiet and laid back, which translates into lesser crowds. - Once you reach Kutna Hora, get down at the main train station called Kutna Hora Hlvani Nadrazi with the acronym hl.n. This station falls on the main line. - If you want to go to the city centre first, then you will have to take a connecting local train to Kutna Hora Mesto or Town. This ride will be included in your ticket. - I'd read on many forums about changing trains at the main station to go to Kutna Hora Mesto or Town which is the city centre, from where most people start their sightseeing. I feel that changing trains to go to the city centre first is pointless when one can start sightseeing by getting down at the main train station. This way you save valuable time. - Get down at the main station and start walking towards the city. A 15-minute walk through the city will take you to the first point in your sightseeing itinerary i.e. The Church of the Assumption of our Lady or the Sedlec Cathedral. - Right across the road from this church is the booking centre where you can buy combined tickets for the church, the Bone Chapel and St. Barbara's Cathedral. Also, there are toilets and drinking water available here. You can see many tourists filling up their water bottles for the day ahead. There are 5 important sights to see if you have a day at your disposal. - Sedlec Cathedral and Ossuary, popularly known as the Bone Chapel - The town boasts a beautiful Historic Town Centre with the imposing St. Barbara's Cathedral - Plague Column of the Virgin Mary Immaculate - Stone Fountain on Rejsek Square. - Czech Silver Museum Around Kutna Hora Sedlec Cathedral or The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady This church will fall first on your way if you plan to walk from the main train station into town as I've mentioned earlier in this post. The church is 700 years old and very well maintained for that. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is fairly simple to look at from the outside. The church combines Baroque and Gothic architectural styles with beautiful frescos adorning its ceiling. My Tip - This is an active community church, nothing spectacular but a nice way to start your day in Kutna Hora. As we entered the church, a detailed pamphlet was handed over to us with details of its history and many baroque vaults. I found this quite insightful. It was a very peaceful place, we saw a lot of people sitting inside enjoying the serenity. Sedlec Ossuary or Bone Chapel Just about a 10-minute walk away from the Sedlec Cathedral is the Bone Chapel, the highlight of your trip to Kutna Hora. It falls within the Sedlec Abbey below the Cemetery Church of All Saints. You will see many tourists walking towards the church in an otherwise quiet town. The structure of the church looks unassuming from the outside. There is a cemetery on the top. A broad staircase will lead you into the chapel. The story behind this church goes back to the 13th century when a monk went to Jerusalem and brought back some sacred soil to Sedlec. This miracle soil was believed to decompose a human body within 3 days after burial. As the word spread, the cemetery became a popular burial ground. Thousands of burials took place here during the plague. In the late 19th century, the local community started building a church. As they started digging, thousands of human bones started piling up. A local woodcarver started to arrange these bones in decorative patterns that slowly took the shape of what the church looks like today. There are strings of human skulls adorning the gateways, a chandelier that has every possible human bone and even a family crest made of bones can be seen. My Tip - Many people might think that an old Gothic church decorated with human bones located below a cemetery might be creepy. On the contrary, I think it was really artistic. We have never seen anything like this before. There is a calmness around this place. At the most, it can make some people morose. This can also be attributed to the fact that this place does not have any dark sinister history. No wars and no bloodshed behind this cemetery. Photography is strictly prohibited. The personnel at the counter at the entrance keep a strict vigil on the tourists. No Photographs, no touching the bones and nowhere are you allowed to sit. I took these photos from the gallery on top of the church where an AV plays on a loop about how the church was built. For me, seeing the Bone Chapel was totally worth the visit. St. Barbara's Cathedral Once you're finished seeing the Bone Chapel, walk back in the direction of the Sedlec Cathedral. Once you reach the road, turn left towards the Bus stop. There are buses to the City Centre every 15 minutes. Your ticket PID should be valid on all local buses. St Barbara's Cathedral is close to the City Centre. Its Gothic spires are visible from a long way off as you make your way uphill to reach it. St. Barbara is the Patron Saint of miners. Construction of this magnificent church started in the 1300s when the town of Kutna Hora was at its peak of prosperity because of its silver mines. It took 600 years for this church to be completed. The baroque interiors of the cathedral are exquisite, with their large stained glass windows that are a sight to behold. Be prepared to be awed by its majestic frescoes. My Tip - This church should be on your must-see list of attractions. Architecture-wise, it's easily comparable to the iconic St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. Just keep a few things in mind before your visit, though. Opening timings of the church keep changing if there are any cultural events taking place. Please check the official website of the parish before your visit. http://www.khfarnost.cz If you want a guided tour, then you have to make bookings at least 2 weeks in advance. If you land there just as we did, you can rent an English audio guide or there are descriptive pamphlets available. We took the pamphlets. They were not as much fun as the audio guide, but served the purpose of providing information. Plague Column of the Virgin Mary Immaculate Just a 10-minute walk away from St. Barbara's Cathedral is the Plague Column. This beautiful column is very close to the main square. It was constructed in the 18th century in memory of plague victims. There is a nice cafe around the corner here with benches for people to sit. One can spend some quiet time looking at the intricate carvings on the column. Stone Fountain on Rejsek Square Walk onto a street called Husova for about 4 minutes to reach this beautiful Gothic fountain. It was used as a water reservoir in the 15th century. If you have time, stay till sundown when the fountain is lit up. Czech Silver Museum A little way up from St Barbara's Cathedral is the Czech Silver Museum. It's located in the Hradek building, also called Little Castle. There are two routes available for tourists to explore - The Town of Silver and the Journey of Silver. The former route tells you about the history of silver mining in Kutna Hora and the latter route takes you through the medieval silver mines. My Tip - We were not aware of this museum before our visit. I learnt about this not-to-miss experience in Kutna Hora after a whole day of wandering around the city. The last English tour of the day had left by then, and we were too tired for any more walking around. Remember, if you're interested in seeing the silver mines, then make prior bookings for the tour of your choice. The only thing one needs to keep in mind is that underground silver mines can be quite claustrophobic for some people. So, this is Kutna Hora for you. This small town will not disappoint you. You can take my word for it! There are some more attractions like the Italian Court, which served as a mint in the Middle Ages. It is also a popular tourist destination for its demonstration of the process of coin-making. If you have time and the inclination, then go for it. A lot of people want to know if staying in Kutna Hora is a good idea. In my personal opinion, spending a day in Kutna Hora is enough. My only advice is that one should start quite early from Prague and try to cover the town as much as possible. Do share your experience with me if you visit Kutna Hora. I'll be happy to hear from you! And if you're interested in getting some practical and useful travel tips, click here

Before I talk about things to do in Cambodia, in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, let me share my off-the-bat impressions about this country with you and give you some insider tips and my Top 10 Takeaways from My Cambodia Trip that could come very handy if you're planning a Cambodian sojourn! #1 This beautiful country is a tourist's delight; the warmth, hospitality and simplicity of the locals vis-à-vis tourists is commendable. You will find the local people all smiles and eager to please; you will often come across people who bow down and fold their hands to greet you. Tourism is a big sector in the country's economy, and it is reflected in the way visitors are treated. Angkor Wat attracts about 2.5 million tourists each year, with no tourist traps, misleading information, unnecessary haggling, or harassment at touristy spots. A mildly flavoured rice drink with some sweetened snack is served upon arrival at most hotels #2 The country is quite safe, even for solo female travellers. One cannot help but notice, though, that the local women dress up quite conservatively. And imagine, if this coming from someone like me from India, it's serious! My takeaway is that one should wear casual clothes that are not too revealing. I felt that Cambodians also take their temples, pagodas and palaces very seriously and expect the tourists to abide by their customs and traditions. We were visiting the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. There was a hushed silence all around. Our guide spoke about the king with so much reverence, and we saw many people paying obeisance in the Throne Room in front of the Royal Throne, although the king was not in court at that time. #3 The local currency is Riel, but most places accept US dollars; even small cash transactions like a tuk-tuk ride can be paid in dollars. You could carry dollars with you to avoid paying any fee to withdraw money from an ATM. Be mindful of the current exchange rate, though. When we visited, one USD was roughly 4000 Riel. #4 Language is not a problem in hotels and restaurants; most local people who deal with tourists regularly have devised ways and means to communicate effectively, even though I found it quite hard to follow the thick accent at times. For instance, our guide in Angkor Wat had a very thick accent that made it very difficult to follow him. You could use an online translator to resolve this issue. #5 Most of the must-see attractions in both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh are outdoors. Don't forget to carry enough sunscreen, sun hats and an umbrella to protect yourself from the scorching sun's rays, since tourists spend a good amount of their time around the Angkor Archaeological Park in the open. #6 This brings us to the next very important point. As I've mentioned above, Cambodians dress conservatively. Everyone is expected to cover their shoulders and knees while visiting temples and palaces. Despite the heat, I saw everyone wearing sleeved shirts and trousers and this rule is implemented quite judiciously. In Phnom Penh, visitors at the Genocide Museum who were not dressed properly had to hire scarves and sarongs from the ticket counter to comply. Instructions for visitors at the entrance to the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh #7  Take an eSIM with you and download the Grab App. Grab is an extremely efficient and cost-effective way to commute within Cambodia. The app allows you to book a cab and even a tuk-tuk. Please note that your local SIM card will not allow you to download the App. Of course, you could also hire a cab without the Grab app, but that would involve two challenges: one, explaining the location of your destination to the driver who does not understand your language at all, and two, haggling over the price to be paid. So, Grab App!! #8 If you're planning to travel within Cambodia, from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, then travelling by road is a good option instead of flying. I always reiterate, in all my blogs, that roads and trains are the best way to travel around a foreign country; the entire culture of that region is on display here. We hired a cab for USD 95, a comfortable SUV, which took about 5.5 hours to cover a distance of 318 km. #9 If you're visiting Phnom Penh, you must carry and wear a face mask at all times. The city experiences very high levels of pollution at certain times of the year, and since most attractions are outdoors, wearing a face mask is a great idea. #10 While in Cambodia, you must try the traditional Khmer cuisine, especially the exotic Amok, the traditional coconut fish curry. If you're a vegetarian, then a lot of vegetarian options of popular noodle and rice dishes are also available. Sticky rice served with ice cream and mango ...yum! My favourite was the sticky rice dessert served with ice cream and mango slices. And don't forget to drink the naturally refreshing coconut water instead of the usual fizzy drinks to beat the heat! Keep watching this space for more blogs on Cambodia...coming up soon!!

After seeing the ruins of ancient Roman civilisation in Rome and the stunning architecture of the Piazza del Duomo in Pisa, Florence will beckon you with its Renaissance architecture and its many art galleries! You should plan to spend at least 2 days in Florence, to take in the sights and do some shopping, if you wish. After spending a better part of the day in Pisa, we walked back to Pisa Centrale to catch a train to Florence. There is a train every hour, and it takes anywhere from 1 hour to 1.5 hours to reach Florence. Florence is a city bursting with stunning architecture. We reached Florence in the evening from Pisa, so decided to just walk around to soak in the vibrance of the city, in every square and every corner. Day One Piazza del Duomo We started our day with a visit to the famous Piazza del Duomo. It is one of the most visited sites in Europe and the most frequented place in Florence. Entrance to the area around the Piazza is free. If you buy tickets for the Duomo Complex, then it will grant you admission to all monuments in the Piazza Duomo. The Piazza has four very distinct monuments 1. Florence Cathedral or the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore The cathedral is the fourth-largest church in the world. The exterior facade of the church is stunningly beautiful. The white, pink and green marble gives it a truly mesmerising touch. You can spend an entire morning looking at it from different angles. We had seen pictures of the cathedral, but standing in front of it, the beauty of this building looks surreal. Entry to the cathedral is free. You have to buy tickets to visit the dome, the Bell Tower and the Baptistery, though. Please check their website for more details on the type of ticket you wish to buy and the validity of the ticket. Guided tours of the cathedral are also available. I am not a fan of guided tours, there is too much history to swallow in a short time. But if you're interested, you will have to make bookings with tour operators. The interior of the cathedral is also nice though not as stunning as the outer facade. You can easily spend an hour or so taking in the intricacies of its artwork. My Tip - Walk up the steps (around 400) to the top of Brunelleschi's dome. The climb is quite strenuous but worth the effort. However, if you have trouble climbing steps, then don't attempt this one. You will be able to see the fresco of the Last Judgement closely and also get beautiful views of the city of Florence from the top. 2. Giotto's Bell Tower Adjacent to the Florence Cathedral lies the Bell Tower. It is considered to be a masterpiece of Italian Gothic architecture. The tower is stunning and has the option of climbing to the top. My Tip - If you have climbed the Cathedral Dome, then don't do this on the same day. It's going to be extremely tiring since there are again about 400 steps to the top. We skipped it, we had done our climbing for the day. 3. Baptistery of St. John Right in front of the Florence Cathedral lies the Baptistery of St. John. You cannot miss its octagonal structure and the beautifully intricate coloured marblework on its outer walls. My Tip - The structure is as beautiful on the outside with its famous doors as is the inside of the Baptistery. But it is small, it won't take more than 20 to 30 minutes to see the inside too. We spent about 15 minutes inside. There is no dearth of beautiful statues in Florence, add this to the list! 4. Museum - Museo dell'Opera del Duomo Just about 3 to 4 minutes away from the Baptistery is the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. The museum is massive, there are almost 20 rooms filled with beautiful sculptures and artefacts from the Medieval and Renaissance era. My Tip - The amount of time you wish to spend will depend on your interest but still, you should keep aside at least 2 hours to walk through the museum. Like us, by the time most tourists reach this museum, they would have seen the museums in the Vatican. So, either their interest in history is piqued or they are done with museums. In our case, I think it was the latter. Now, we wanted to explore the outside of the city and its many delights. Piazzale Michelangelo Piazzale Michelangelo is a vantage point about 2.4 km away from the city and offers beautiful views of the city of Florence. You can see the tops of churches, houses, and buildings in the city. From the Fratelli Rosella Bus stop, take a bus that will take you to the top of the hill. It takes 27 minutes. You can also walk up the mildly inclined hillside, but we were tired from all the walking during the day, so we settled for the bus. There is also a replica of Michelangelo's David right in the centre of the square. My Tip - The best time to visit this square is around sunset when you get panoramic views of the city of Florence against the backdrop of the sunset. Day Two After an enriching and not to forget, exhausting, Day One, we set out to see two other important landmarks of Florence. Vecchio Bridge Ponte Vecchio, the medieval stone bridge built over the Arno River, is the oldest stone bridge in Europe. This stone bridge has not only witnessed the destruction caused during World War II but also survived it. There is an unmistakable air of romance in the area around the bridge. It was customary in Italy to have shops atop bridges. So, this old bridge is also lined with goldsmith shops and luxury watch brands. It makes for a good walk and window shopping. My Tip - Be prepared to find massive crowds on the bridge. If you walk a bit further down, you get the best views of the bridge. While on the bridge, just enjoy the crowds and the sights, and avoid shopping because the prices are exorbitant, as is the case with most touristy places. Uffizi Gallery Just a 2-minute walk away from Pento Vecchio is the magnificent Uffizi Gallery. This treasure trove of Renaissance art in the form of ancient sculptures and paintings should be on your must-see list for your Florence trip. The most important thing to remember is to book your tickets in advance online. Tickets to the gallery sell out weeks in advance. If you're serious about seeing the gallery, get your tickets beforehand. We did not do so, since we were not sure whether we'd have enough time to see this gallery on our 2-day trip and sadly, had to forego this attraction. My biggest takeaways from our Uffizi visit are Make advance online bookings. If you don't, then be prepared to be disappointed since it's quite unlikely to get same-day tickets. Avoid weekends as they are super crowded. The Uffizi is one of the most famous museums in Italy and a coveted tourist attraction, as we could gather from the massive crowds waiting to enter the gallery. Try to reach early if you wish to see all the exhibits at leisure. The exhibition is spread over a whopping 13,000 sq m. Keep aside 2-3 hours to see all of it. Please don't forget to carry an ID. You will need to show it to enter the gallery. Piazza della Signoria A visit to the Uffizi Gallery proved to be a disappointment. Since this was our last evening in Florence, we decided to spend it at the Piazza della Signoria, considered to be the most beautiful square in Florence. The Fountain of Neptune Piazza della Signoria is like an open-air museum filled with statues and museums, including the Uffizi Gallery. Entry to the Piazza is free, you need to buy tickets for the Old Palace and the Uffizi Gallery. The most prominent buildings in the Piazza are - Palazzo Vecchio - This is the Old Palace and is still used for offices of the Town Hall. There is a lot of history about the Medici Family of Florence here. At the entrance to the Old Palace, is a massive replica statue of David by Michelangelo. Loggia della Signoria - This is an open-arched gallery that was made to host public ceremonies. There are many beautiful sculptures here, the one to look out for is the marble statue of 'Rape of the Sabine Women'. The gallery is free and is open 24/7. Uffizi Gallery - Already discussed above. Fountain of Neptune - This stunning fountain made out of white marble shows a huge statue of Neptune, the Sea God and his chariot driven by four horses. My Tip - If you have limited time, then you can skip going inside the Old Palace. There is a beautiful courtyard in the front, you can hang around there for free. As I always state in all my blogs, as tourists, one must always pick and choose the museums and monuments you wish to see. With this, we came to the close of our 2-day trip to Florence. To sum up, I would say that if possible, you should keep at least 3, if not 4 days for Florence. The entire city oozes historical charm that needs ample time to be savoured. To learn more about other Italian destinations, please click on the links below - https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/italian-delights-top-10-things-to-remember-before-you-plan-a-vacation-to-italy https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/italian-delights-3-days-in-romantic-rome https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/italian-delights-day-trip-to-the-vatican-from-rome https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/italian-delights-10-things-you-should-know-about-pisa-before-you-go-visiting https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/italian-delights-3-days-in-venice-the-queen-of-the-adriatic-sea

On June 11th, 2012, as I stood huddled together with my husband at the staggering height of 5500m (Mount Everest is 8868m) on the Dolma La Pass with Mount Kailash in the background, to get a picture clicked for posterity, I felt a numbness in my toes and a joy in my heart. This was the culmination of an arduous journey to Mount Kailash, believed to be the sacrosanct abode of Lord Shiva, the ‘Destroyer’ in the Hindu Trinity of Gods. This trip was not a vacation for me. Vacations are journeys that give us a view of the outside world. This was a pilgrimage, a journey inside, into the unexplored consciousness that remains dormant in most of us and gets silenced in the humdrum of life. Mount Kailash is held in great reverence by Hindus worldwide as it is considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva on this earth. Since childhood, I’d heard mythological stories of Lord Shiva residing here on Mount Kailash with Goddess Parvati as his consort. As I stand on the highest point of the glacier, my mind races through pictures of Lord Shiva sitting on the mountaintop, his eyes half closed, deep in meditation with a serpent around his neck and a crescent moon on his hair locks. I smile inwardly at the naivety of the thought. Lord Shiva is not the name of some deity sitting on the mountain. He is the supreme spirit who is everywhere, yet nowhere. I am pleasantly surprised to notice that there are no man-made structures to mark Lord Shiva’s presence on Mount Kailash. The nothingness of this raw beauty is terrifying and enchanting at the same time. The white frozen glaciers, merciless cold winds and snow-laden peaks peering at us from all sides, in perfect harmony with each other, unflinching in their presence. This certainly looks like God’s abode to me! Gautam, my husband can sense that I am overwhelmed by my surroundings and numb with cold. He nudges me to move, he knows the pitfalls of staying too long at this height. We've been instructed by the local guide to not spend more than a couple of minutes at the peak, the high altitude and lack of oxygen can play havoc with one’s reflexes and can throw one into unconsciousness. Gautam extends his hand to hold mine. There is a finality in this moment of the journey that started a week ago. We look around in awe, trying to inscribe the scenery in our minds, the huge mammoths of snow stare back at us. We head back. The other side of the mountain is steep downhill. The rarefied air, the coldness gripping my feet and the strange magnetism of this place is making me breathless. We quietly walk behind each other on that narrow path, the towering peaks bear witness that we were here. On the side of the gorge is the snow-filled valley called 'Gauri Kund', the mythological frozen lake, and the bathing pond of Goddess Parvati. Our sole aim is to get back to the nearest campsite ‘Zuthulphuk’ before darkness falls. The formidable journey from Delhi to Kathmandu.... to China.... to Lake Mansarovar .... The exciting journey to the revered Mount Kailash started from my domicile in Delhi, India 7 days ago. Nestled deep inside the Trans-Himalayan region, travelling to Kailash from India requires a multitude of official paperwork and formalities since it lies in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. We were perhaps destined to travel since everything fell into place, including the visas, medical tests etc. In no time, I found myself preparing for the journey. We had booked an ‘All-flight’ route plan with a travel agent who specialised in tours to Mount Kailash. Round Air trip takes about 12 days to complete and is considered the quickest. The land route, on the other hand, takes over a month to complete, is believed to be tedious and roads are not your best friend in this part of the world. As D-Day approached, the anxiety of travelling to a destination known for its unforgiving terrain, unpredictable weather and very basic amenities gripped my head in a medley of thoughts. The idea of leaving my two little children under my mother’s care for so many days did nothing to assuage my frayed nerves. Entry permit to China is generally procured collectively for groups of pilgrims from India. We were travelling with a motley group of eighteen people, all strangers to each other initially. By the time the trip came to an end though, we had shared some of the most bizarre yet memorable moments of our lives. From flying in small dingy aircraft on isolated airstrips where we had to clumsily scramble over cargo to get to the rear of the plane to reach our seats, to buying odd-looking woollen caps from a kiosk in a remote Chinese town to cover our noses from the biting cold. After five days of extensive travel via Kathmandu, Nepal and the border towns of Tibet and China, we arrived at the Holy Lake Mansarovar (Height 4590m). The lake lies in front of Mount Kailash, the single-block pyramid mountain covered with pristine white snow is visible in all its glory from here as it juts out imposingly from behind the bluish waters of the lake. A short drive takes us from Lake Mansarovar to ‘Yama Dwar’ (Literally translating into ‘The gateway to heaven’, ‘Yama’ being the God of death). This is the last point of the motorable road. 'Kora' Circum-ambulation of the mountain The challenging part of the pilgrimage starts from Yama Dwar, that of doing the circum-ambulation, ‘Kora’ as it’s called, of Mount Kailash. ‘Kora’ lasts 3 days, covers a stretch of 52 kilometres around the mountain and can be done either on foot or on horseback. It is not for the faint-hearted, we’ve been told. Walking uphill in the thin mountain air can be strenuous. On the other hand, sitting perched on a pony over a treacherous mountain trek where the slightest misstep could plunge a person into a bottomless gorge is equally scary. Not surprisingly though, a lot of pilgrims terminate their journey at the foothill of the mountain at Lake Mansarovar. They take a dip in the freezing waters of the lake, take a good view of Mount Kailash and return home, hoping for salvation. Our group count has also come down from eighteen to ten, thanks to some scary narratives of a Russian group of mountaineers who had returned the day before. They had experienced heavy snowfall and had to sledge down the mountainside to reach base camp. Using a slippery mountainside as an inclined plane cannot be a very inviting prospect even for the most devout pilgrims. Visualising myself sliding down makes my heart sink and my blood pressure rise. But having come this far, we take our chances and after some deliberation proceed ahead on a pony. We completed the circum-ambulation of Mount Kailash in 3 days. The journey is difficult, to say the very least. But unlike the Russian mountaineers, we did not have to sledge down the mountain. The sunny weather without a speck of cloud in the sky for the entire length of the journey made our descent rather easy. The journey to Kailash Mansarovar ends on a high note... As we approached Lake Mansarovar after the round trip from the other side of the mountain, I couldn’t help but feel humbled.......humbled by the realization of our insignificance in the larger scheme of things that are beyond our knowledge and comprehension. This humility was also coupled with pride. Pride over the fact that I, for once, could utterly disregard the needs of my physical body, wean it away from all kinds of material comforts that we are so used to back home and still experience inexplicable happiness that all the comforts of the world put together cannot buy!

Switzerland is the epitome of natural beauty, so little wonder then, that this beautiful national park in Germany has been named Saechsische Schweiz or Saxon Switzerland, the Switzerland of Saxony. A day trip to Saxon Switzerland, to the ruggedly beautiful landscape of sandstone mountains, will take around 3 to 3.5 hours from Berlin, the capital of Germany. The national park is a popular destination for day trips not only from Germany but also from the neighbouring city of Prague in the Czech Republic. The Czech part of the park is called Bohemian Switzerland. If you happen to be in Dresden, then this wonderland is only a 75-minute drive away from its entrance. Dresden is also the closest airport to the park. I visited this place as a part of a student group along with a German family way back in 2004. In 2023, we went to Prague and I happened to go back to this fairyland again. Believe me, nothing has changed over the last 19-odd years. I have written a separate post on our trip to Bohemian Switzerland from Prague. https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/day-trip-to-bohemian-switzerland-from-prague Occupying an area of only 94 square kilometres, the park is one of the smallest national parks and has the distinction of being the only non-Alpine Rock National Park in Germany. It lies in the Elbe Sandstone Mountain region of Germany and shares its borders with the Bohemian Switzerland National Park in the Czech Republic. On the Czech side of the park, lies the Pravcicka Gate, the largest stone arch in Europe. This picture was taken from the Czech side in 2023 of the beautiful Elbe Valley Saxon Switzerland, Germany What makes the Saxon Switzerland National Park special - Entry to this spectacular park is free of charge. The park is open all year round and there are no opening and closing hours. The entry fee applies only to the Felsenburg Rock Fort in that area. - The park is easily accessible by road. A lot of day trips from Dresden take you to the Czech side of the park as well to show the Pravcicka Arch, the largest natural arch in Europe. - The park has some very intriguing topography, both in the form of Mesas or table mountains and also some very steep cliffs. - If you're a hiking enthusiast, then this park is tailor-made for you. With over 1100 rock peaks to scale, you will be spoilt for choice - There are multitudes of climbing routes that take you to these peaks, almost 14000 of them! - There is a whole set of Saxon rules for climbing that you have to adhere to while climbing the rocks. The entire park has signposts with instructions for hikers so that they don't get lost in the park. As long as you stick to the hiking path, you should be okay. Please refer to their website for more information https://www.saechsische-schweiz.de/en/ Things to do and see in the Saxon Switzerland National Park Bastei Bridge Bastei Bridge, Saxon Switzerland This 76.5-meter-long bridge joins the massive rock structures and has many look-out points on both the left and right sides that offer spectacular views of the Elbe Valley. This is a wooden bridge and walking over the bridge is a thrilling experience for tourists. Schrammsteine This stunning rock formation is a paradise for climbers and hikers, identifiable by its pointed, jagged peaks. Views from the above are breathtaking. There are gorges, caves, castles and fortresses along the way. Fortress Koenigstein The top of the fortress along the river Elbe offers truly awe-inspiring views of the surrounding landscape. Elbe Valley The entire landscape around the Elbe Valley is home to a lot of water sports like canoeing, kayaking and a host of other water activities. A lot of educational trips with audio guides are also available at the park. They gave us some very interesting insights into the history of the area. Don't miss out on this wonderland of nature carved out by rock, wind and water for you!

Hong Kong needs no introduction. This small country is the favourite destination of tourists, young and old alike, and families looking for exciting getaways for their kids. It has much to offer tourists by way of an impressive skyline dotted with skyscrapers, an array of man-made attractions, natural beauty by way of its marine parks, beautiful beaches and an English-speaking population in the backdrop of a typical bustling metropolis to top it all. City attractions start from the airport itself. We had gone there for Christmas, the airport wore a very celebratory look to welcome tourists. The entire city seemed to have a very celebratory vibe. There was never a dull moment in our entire 7-day itinerary with a complete list of things to do in Hong Kong! The city boasts of a very efficient transport system, is well-connected to the airport, safe and reasonably priced. Day One Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade We landed in Hong Kong in the afternoon. There was a long list of things we wanted to do and see, we set out on our adventure in the evening starting with the 'Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade' with its famous Avenue of Stars along the waterfront with beautiful vistas of the South China Sea. Life-like statues of prominent celebrities like Bruce Lee are a hot favourite among tourists who queue up to take pictures with the legend. Some art installations are also erected along the harbourfront. My Tip - The entire promenade is a Pedestrian-only zone and it buzzes with people in the evening, you can start walking along the Central Star Ferry pier to get beautiful views of Victoria Harbor. The area has to be seen and experienced for the glorious views of the Hong Kong skyline. Since we were there around the new year, the entire harbourfront had been lit up. Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong Victoria Harbour, all lit up to usher in the New Year Day 2 Peak Tram This is a funicular railway ride lasting about 8 to 10 minutes to Peak Tower, a commercial hub at 396 meters above sea level. One can reach the Peak Tower by other means of transport as well, but going by the Peak tram is exhilarating as the tram glides at a sharp incline past tall skyscrapers and the entire city skyline begins to unfold in front of you. Peak Tram to the Peak Tower The stylish outer facade of the Peak Tower is matched by the dazzling interiors replete with restaurants, shopping arcades and beautiful vistas of the city from the top. The iconic Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is also located here. Stunning views from the top of the Peak Tower..... My Tip - What you need to watch out for are the long queues, first to board the tram and then at the Peak Tower itself. The crowds thicken as the day progresses. So, try to reach as early as possible. A word of advice about the wax museum. If you've seen the first wax museum in London, then you can give this one a miss. This is not a match to the original in terms of the overall experience. Our kids had not seen a wax museum earlier, so missing it was out of the question. They thoroughly enjoyed the outing, so it was worth its while! You can spend the rest of the day wandering about the beautiful open terraces around the Peak Tower, look at the city from the top and wait for the beautiful sunset over the South China Sea. Day 3 Disneyland This was the big day that we had all been eagerly waiting for. To Hongkong Disneyland. We started early to catch the Disneyland Resort Line from Sunny Bay Station. The Disney line runs every few minutes, is still always crowded and the ride on this cute train with windows cut out in Disney shapes is absolutely thrilling. What can I say about Disneyland? If you're travelling with kids, then they would probably know everything beforehand. There are one-day and two-day passes available and scores of other options to buy tickets. Although a one-day pass is sufficient to see all the attractions and enjoy all the rides. Things to remember about Disneyland are, One, Disneyland is huge, so it's best to depend on the Disney train to move around. Walking can be very time-consuming and exhausting. So, follow the train route and timings for a hassle-free trip. Two, the Disney Parade timings keep changing, please check the timings of the parade on the day of arrival. You definitely wouldn't want to miss this colourful spectacle. Three, some attractions like Mystic Manor and Grizzly Gulch have really long queues. I have seen families dividing their waiting time in queues between family members which makes a lot of sense among all the crowds. And lastly, and most importantly, the nighttime fireworks show is spectacular. However tired you might be, waiting for that show is totally worth it! The last train from Disneyland leaves when the fireworks show is over. The train is overcrowded and everyone around is tired from the excitement of the day but the thrilling moments spent during the day in this fantasy land are priceless! Day 4 Macau After the euphoric trip to Disneyland, we prepare for yet another exciting trip to Macau on Day 4. Macau is 60 km from Hong Kong and like HK, it is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. One can take a ferry or a bus to Macau which takes about 40 minutes to reach. The moment the bus reaches the outskirts of Macau, the towering engineering marvels all around are sure to make you gasp in awe. No wonder it's called the 'Vegas of the East'. The swanky and stylish Macau! A lot of people opt to stay in Macau to explore its many casinos. We had planned only a day trip, so we started our outing with The Venetian, a Venice-themed resort and casino. The Venetian is a mammoth structure with sprawling shopping arcades, restaurants, casinos, and a look-alike Venetian canal with gondolas and the works. At the Venetian - Don't miss the crowds in the background! The Venetian is lively at all times; on the day of our visit an Ice Exhibition was going on 'Ice World with the Dreamworks Gang'. The ice exhibition was absolutely delightful. They created amazing artwork and characters out of ice. You can check the Venetian website for more such events ahead of your visit to Macau and plan your trip accordingly. Apart from the Venetian, there is Fisherman's Wharf on the outer harbour of Macau. It is the largest themed entertainment complex in Macau. One of the most interesting sights in the complex is the Roman Amphitheater which is a replica of the Colosseum of Rome. There is a multitude of attractions in the complex, you need a full day to explore it at leisure. We ended our Macau outing on a euphoric high. My Tip - Macau is every bit swanky and is known for its many malls and casinos, But there is more to Macau. It also has a lesser-known 'Historic Centre of Macau', a UNESCO World Heritage, with cobbled streets, Buddhist temples and old colonial structures. If you plan to stay in Macau, then you can walk around the city to the various attractions. Most popular casinos have shuttle bus services to ferry tourists around. Day 5 We had planned to go to Ocean Park, Hong Kong. Like Disneyland, this is a must-see attraction, especially if you're travelling with kids. We had heard a lot of good things about the park, its cable car ride and the signature night show of the park. The best time to visit this park is from October to December when it's sunny and dry. Unfortunately, on the day we had planned to go, it was rainy and very cold. Spending a day out in an open park was not an inviting prospect. We had to skip Ocean Park, much to the disappointment of our kids. In an ideal scenario, this park should be included in your 7-day itinerary. We were staying on Waterloo Road, there was a Ladies' Market across the street. We spent the day shopping in the market which had a wide variety of goods, bags, clothes, shoes, souvenirs et al. Day 6 Lantau Island After a very dull Day 5, we woke up to clear skies again on Day 6, so we decided to head to Lantau Island. Lantau is the largest island in Hong Kong and the route by road to Lantau takes approx. 1 hour. Lantau is known for Po Lin Monastery and its Bronze statue of Tian Tan Buddha. This statue is 34 meters tall and erected on a hilltop. The best way to get to the top is by Ngong Ping 360, a glass-bottomed cable car that takes you to the base of the steps leading to Big Buddha. One can easily spend an hour around the base of the Buddha, looking at the beautiful mountain scenery, the South China Sea, and some stunning sculptures all around the base. The monastery around the statue has beautiful artworks displayed all over. Take a short stroll along the base of the Big Buddha to reach Wisdom Path, a scenic place lined with 38 tall wooden monuments. All of them are inscribed with verses of the Heart Sutra and are arranged in an '8' pattern symbolizing infinity. The place is very serene and the walk is pleasant. My Tip - One has to climb 268 steps to reach the base of the Big Buddha! But it's entirely worth the effort. Lantau Island can easily be a full-day outing, there is a fort and some beautiful beaches. Cheung Sha is a white sand beach and the longest one in Hong Kong. Day 7 Victoria Harbour Cruise This was our last day in Hong Kong and also happened to be New Year's Eve. We had made bookings for a Victoria Harbour Dinner Buffet on the Harbour Cruise Bauhinia. The buffet spread was lavish, and the cruise and the live music and performances were stupendous, making the entire experience unforgettable. The iconic skyline of Victoria Harbour was lit up to usher in the new year. The cruise parked itself along the Victoria Harbour for stunning views of the fireworks. So, plan a family trip to Hong Kong. It's safe, vibrant, every bit touristy, and worth all your time and money!

The beautiful and ornate temples of Khajuraho will mesmerize you with their intricate stonework and beguile your senses with the sheer eroticism depicted through its sculptures. But this awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage Site is more than just its erotic sculptures. The magnificence and splendour of these temples have to be seen to be believed! They are nothing but poetry written in stone! The complex has 25 temples spread over an area of six kilometres. The entire area is extremely well-maintained and has beautifully manicured gardens. Historically speaking.... Chandela Rulers got these temples made in the 9th century; they wanted to establish Khajuraho as the spiritual and cultural hub of their empire. But the astounding fact is that these beautiful temples have withstood the ravages of time and even today one can feel the skill and grandeur of their art. The temples are built on the Nagara or Northern style of Indian architecture as mentioned in our Shilpa Shastra. This architecture is known for its characteristic features of a Garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum where the deity is placed, a large hall and a vestibule connecting the main hall to the inside of the temple. In the absence of any written texts or scriptures, many theories about the origin of these temples have surfaced.... Theory 1 It is believed that the temples were made to depict the four cornerstones of the Hindu way of life comprising Dharma, Kaam, Arth and Moksha. Dharma refers to upholding morals and righteousness in life. Kaam refers to procreation, pursuing sensual pleasures, and creating progeny for the continuity of life and family. Arth refers to the procurement of material comforts to provide for one's family. Moksha refers to liberation from the cycle of birth and death. These four facets of life are beautifully depicted on the outer facades of the temples. Theory 2 The temples were made as a means to celebrate and propagate the Shiva-Shakti cult. The largest temple is the Kandariya Mahadev Temple where the presiding deity is Lord Shiva. Close by is the Devi Jagdambi Temple dedicated to Goddess Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva. Theory 3 Another interesting theory has its roots in the belief system based on religious texts like Brihat Samhita that carvings of erotic sculptures, nymphs and mythical creatures on temple doors ushered in good luck. Theory 4 And lastly, back in those days, young unmarried men lived a life of complete celibacy in many such temples. They had no interaction with the female tribe. These erotic sculptures were meant to prepare them for their future life as adult males fit to procreate. There is also a common misconception about Khajuraho.... A belief among common folk is that these temples are all about erotic sculptures and explicit human forms. This is not entirely true. Erotic sculptures comprise only 10% of the total temple complex. The outer walls of Devi Jagdambi Temple and the Kandariya Mahadev Temple on the western side of the temple complex have the most ornate exteriors with explicit figures. Some other temples like Chaturbhuj Temple have no such sculptures. Interestingly, I read somewhere that Mahatma Gandhi had once expressed his desire that the temple walls should be de-faced since he found these erotic sculptures vulgar and misplaced on the temple walls. It was only after the timely intervention of Rabindranath Tagore that this idea was dropped. Many people also believe that the deities have been depicted in sensuous forms and poses. This is not true. The deities are placed inside the sanctum sanctorum of temples while the explicit sensuous poses are depicted using human forms. Celestial beauties and beautiful nymphs called Apsaras are placed away from the deities, adorning only the outer walls of the temples, never the inner walls. These nymphs, with their voluptuous bodies adorned with jewellery, are shown doing daily chores like bathing, washing their hair, applying makeup and indulging in acts of gratification. The significance of these sculptures is to celebrate human life on earth with all its needs and desires. Before I discuss the temple complex in detail, here are a few things you should know before planning a visit to Khajuraho... 1. Keep at least 2 days to see all the temples. If you're going in Summer, then the best time to see the temples is early morning or evening. Since you will have to walk barefoot in the temple on stones, visiting in the afternoon can be very painful for your feet. 2. There is a Light and Sound show every evening on the lawns of the temple complex. The timings of the show change based on the weather and season. You can check the timings beforehand on the official website of Khajuraho Temples at https://www.mptourism.com/destination-khajuraho.php . The show is not spectacular but it makes for a good watch. The sound was okay but the quality of light leaves much to be desired. 3. There are guides available at the entrance to the temple complex. I will discuss this later in this post. 4. The Khajuraho temples are divided into the Western, Eastern and Southern groups of temples. The most popular tourist destination is the Western Group of temples which has the famous Kandariya Mahadev Temple. The Eastern and southern groups of temples are scattered all over the neighbouring Khajuraho village and are free to visit at all times. None of these temples is actively used for worship except for the Matangeshwar Temple in the Western group. 5. A lot of people have apprehensions about taking their kids along to Khajuraho. If your focus is not just the temples but also the surrounding areas of Khajuraho, then you can plan a family vacation to visit the beautiful Panna forest sanctuary that is just an hour's drive away. About 15 km away from Khajuraho is the Ken Ghariyal Sanctuary. But if you wish to see only the temples, then I would say you can avoid bringing them along. There is nothing of any particular interest for children in the Khajuraho temples. There are six main temples in the Western Group Chausath Yogini Temple - This temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali and her 64 attendants. Kandariya Mahadev Temple -  The presiding deity is Lord Shiva, and the inside of the temple has a massive Lingam. The outer facade of the temple has beautiful, voluptuous sura-sundaris or celestial beauties depicted in sensuous poses. Devi Jagdamba Temple -  The temple is dedicated to the Mother Goddess. The inside sanctum has a figure of Lord Vishnu. Chitragupta Temple -  Dedicated to the Sun God, Surya, this temple has an eleven-headed image of Lord Vishnu, symbolizing his ten incarnations. Vishwanath Temple -  The presiding deity is Lord Shiva seated on Nandi, his vehicle the bull. Laxmana Temple - This is also known as the Chaturbhuj Temple. This temple is different from the rest as it has no erotic figures adorning its outer facade. Apart from this, there is Varaha Temple, Parvati Temple, Nandi Temple and Mahadev Temple. As I've mentioned earlier, the Southern and Eastern Group of temples are scattered all over the Khajuraho village and can be visited free of cost. And, now about our visit to the Khajuraho Temple Complex.... Day 1 We flew from Delhi and arrived in Khajuraho in the evening. The airport is about 3 km away from the city centre. We checked into a hotel and headed straight to the temple complex for the Light and Sound show. The show is organised every evening inside the temple lawns by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department. It tells you the history of the Chandela rulers, their love for sculptures and how they made Khajuraho the spiritual and cultural capital of their kingdom. The show was average. The sound and acoustics were okay but the lighting part of the show was dull. Since the show is held when it gets dark, some brighter lighting and better seating arrangements can do wonders for it. Go for the show only if you have ample time on hand. You might not want to make a rush for it. Nothing spectacular about it. Day 2 Early the next morning, like most tourists, we started our journey with the Western Group of temples. We reached the temple complex early, bought tickets and hired a local guide at the entrance. He took us on a 2-hour tour of the temple. He seemed knowledgeable about the architecture of the temples but the contextual facts that we got from him about that architecture, especially the erotic figures on the temple walls were very different from what we were actually seeing all around. He kept asserting throughout his 2-hour commentary that these erotic sculptures were placed on temple walls so that people shunned these 'vices' and led a life of complete abstinence. But the temple architecture seemed to suggest otherwise. The temples, on the contrary, were a celebration of the human form and its many facets. It certainly did not show any shame or preach abstinence. I told him that such figures are found even in the temples of Konark but he was not aware of it. We came back, albeit a bit perplexed about what we had seen and heard. Day 3 We had assigned the last day of our Khajuraho trip to see the Southern and Eastern Group of temples around the village but we decided to go back to the main temple complex in the Western group. We started our day with a visit to the Matangeshwar Temple to offer our prayers. Instead of hiring another local guide, we opted for the audio guide provided at the entrance to the temple complex. Taking the audio guide was the best thing we did on this trip. It was on-point, minus the personal biases of anyone and gave a clear and concise commentary about the architecture and sculptures and led us through the entire layout of the Khajuraho Temple Complex. My honest advice to anyone visiting the temples is to take the pre-recorded audio guide. If you still want to hire a local guide, then pick a guide with a recommendation. I have seen many forums exchanging contact numbers of good, knowledgeable guides. A lot of foreigners who come to visit the temples depend totally on the version and interpretation of these local guides. If someone, like the guide we hired, has such a skewed and narrow opinion of the erotic sculptures on the temple walls, then it can potentially tarnish the image of something so divinely artistic and aesthetic. To celebrate these divine temples, the Khajuraho Dance Festival is organised annually from February 20th to 26th. This week-long festival showcases the many traditional dance forms of India with performances by many leading and renowned dancers from India and overseas. To sum up, I would say that Khajuraho is a rare gem, unparalleled in the intricacy of stonework on the landscape of Indian architecture. It would be unfair to see the erotic sculptures on its temple walls in the context of the sexual symbolism of today. Though it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, I wish that the Khajuraho Temples get more recognition and prominence, somewhat along the lines of the world-famous Taj Mahal.

The picturesque islands of Langkawi, an archipelago comprising 99 islands in the Strait of Malacca are rightly called the Jewel of Kedah. The islands are surrounded by the stunning aquamarine waters of the Andaman Sea and have some of the most spectacular white sand beaches in all of the region. 5 important things you should know about Langkawi before planning your visit 1. Langkawi is located at a distance of 510 km from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Various modes of transport like flight, ferry and train are available from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi. The cheapest mode is by bus that takes you to Kuala Perlis, a ferry port from where you can go to the city centre, Kuah Town. My Tip - The bus takes about 8 hours to reach Langkawi. You should opt for it only if you have an entire day to spare for the journey. The ideal way to reach Langkawi is to fly to KL and take a connecting flight from there. This is what we had done while travelling from India. Going by ferry is another good option to reach Langkawi from KL. 2. The weather in Langkawi is always warm; May to November is the wet season and December to April is the dry season. The wet season can bring in its wake torrential rains. The end of the dry season, on the other hand, can lead to dried-up waterfalls. My Tip - If you're a water sports enthusiast, then avoid going in the wet season because a lot of water sports are suspended during that time. We went to Langkawi in September, we had booked a day cruise but it got cancelled because of the heavy downpour. Since most of the sightseeing is outdoors, all activities can get compromised. 3. Langkawi is 100% duty-free, and the capital of Kuah Town offers some great shopping opportunities. There are massive shopping malls with great stuff. There are also a lot of good dining options owing to an abundance of seafood available. While in Langkawi, you must try the local Malay cuisine. My Tip - You can easily spend a few hours in the evening at Kuah Town and indulge in some great shopping. Utilize this time to soak in the immense touristy vibe of the island. And what better way to experience the vibe of a place than trying the local cuisine? Eating options are plenty, from high-end restaurants to roadside eateries, fitting every budget and preference of food. 4. Langkawi does not have a public transport system. So, you'll have to depend entirely on private transport for moving around. My Tip - A lot of options are available for moving around. Hiring cars on a daily basis is quite simple and reasonable. Like all tourist places, bikes, motorbikes and cars are easily available for rent. The quality of roads is good and traffic is minimal except around the city centre. 5. There is an abundance of natural parks and beaches in Langkawi. If you have just 3 days at your disposal, then it's best to plan your adventures. As I've mentioned earlier, a lot of your outings will also depend on the weather of the day. My Tip - I have picked out the 1o best attractions that you can easily include in your 3-day itinerary. But some places like the Pulau Payar Marine Park and the Mangrove Safari can take a whole day to explore, so you will have to pick between the two if you have only 3 days with you. 10 Best Things To Do on a 3-Day Itinerary in Langkawi 3 days are adequate to bask in the beauty of this magical island. There are lots of wonderful things to see and a lot of activities to pick from. I have mentioned them below but have not arranged these attractions in any day-wise itinerary because visiting them would greatly depend on the weather and also on how much time you have on hand. If you find yourself in clear weather, then you should immediately go for any water sports that you wish to try. That should be undertaken first thing in the morning since crowds are thinner and the water is clearer. For some beaches like Pantai Cenang, going in the afternoon is better since you can enjoy its vibrant nightlife in the late evening. 1. Eagle Square Eagle Square or Datarang Lang, as it's called in the local language, is perhaps the most photographed sight in all of Langkawi. The massive Eagle statue on the side of the Andaman Sea will surely elicit a 'wow' response from you when you first see it. My Tip - It's located in the Kuah district, if you happen to be staying there, then try to visit this spot during the day and also in the evening when it's all lit up. There is no entry fee. 2. Pantai Cenang About a 20-minute drive away from Eagle Square, on the western shoreline, is the beautiful white sand beach called Pantai Cenang. This is a very favourite tourist hub, the shoreline is always buzzing with water sports enthusiasts, swimmers, parasailors and speedboat riders. In the evening, the shore comes alive with beachfront bars and lounges. My Tip - In my opinion, one should reach here by the late afternoon and then stay till nightfall. The entire coastline is buzzing with tourists. Going during the daytime in summer under the scorching sun is not a good idea. 3. Langkawi SkyCab The Langkawi SkyCab is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting Langkawi. Located in the Oriental Village at the foothills of the Machinchang Mountain Range, it takes about 40 minutes to reach by road from Kuah town. The entire area of SkyCab is full of attractions and one can easily spend 3 to 4 hours here. Your outing will start from the base at Oriental Village. The village has some eating options, shops to buy souvenirs and stunning scenery all around. You can click some pictures here before getting on a cable car to the Sky Bridge. The Cable car starts from the Base Station and takes about 15 minutes to take you to the top of Mount Mat Chinchang. The ride is exhilarating as the cable car goes over verdant scenic beauty. Before getting into the cable car, you can also visit the SkyDome. Remember, your SkyCab ticket includes entry to the SkyDome, a 360-degree projection arena that was built in 2014, to make waiting times for getting on the cable car more fun for tourists. The dome is nothing spectacular but it definitely will provide a respite from the heat outside. Once inside the cable car, you get mesmerizing views all around. You can get out of the cable car at the Middle Station onto the viewing platforms to get stunning 360-degree views of the mountain scenery. My Tip - Go to the Oriental Village only if you want to go ahead with the cable car. In my opinion, there is nothing special about this place except the 3D Art museum. Apart from that, there are some eateries and some shops selling souvenirs. Just treat it as a point to board the cable car. The 3D Art Museum is undoubtedly a good place for families travelling with kids, One can take some great pictures here in front of 3D art objects. If you buy Express Lane tickets, then admission to this 3D Art Langkawi, SkyDome and SkyRex are included. The cable car experience is wonderful. Not-to-miss. The SkyDome is again nothing special but can be a good way to wait before boarding the cable car. Please carry some light woollens for the top of the mountain as it can get very chilly. 4. Sky Bridge The Sky Bridge can be accessed only from the last station of the Langkawi cable car. After getting off the cable car, you can buy extra tickets to go on the bridge. Either you can climb the 370 steps to reach the bridge or take the Sky Glide from the top to the bridge. The price of the tickets will depend on whether you take the steps or the Sky Glide. Langkawi Sky Bridge, a 125-meter-long bridge at an altitude of 660 meters, is an engineering marvel that practically takes you into the mountains. On a clear day, you can see the islands of Thailand from here. The bridge has glass inserts on its bottom offering spectacular views of the valley below. My Tip - There are many options to reach the Sky Bridge. If you are physically fit, then take the 15-10 minute nature trail to reach the Sky Bridge. Otherwise, Sky Glide is available. But, remember, there are always massive queues for this facility since it can accommodate only up to 12 people on one trip. The running of cable cars hugely depends on the weather. Please check the website panoramalangkawi.com for any updates and closure notices before proceeding to the place. 5. Seven Wells Waterfall Seven Wells is called Telaga Tujuh Waterfall. When looking around from the cable car up to the mountain, remember to look out for this waterfall. Seven Wells is a hidden delight in the mountains. It's very close to the Sky Bridge, just keep walking downhill. Some families are living around, and you can ask them for directions. They will help you even if they don't speak proper English. My Tip - Carry an extra set of clothes. The temptation to jump into the waterfalls will be too great to resist. 6. Lagenda Park This is a beautiful open-air park with 17 sculptures of Langkawi legends like princesses, ogres and mythical birds. The park is very close to the Kuah Jetty. My Tip - One gets a beautiful view of Eagle Square from the park. The park is bigger than it appears to look from the outside and as a tourist, you can get to know a lot about the history of Langkawi. One can spend an evening there and wait for the sunset on the beach close by. 7. Crocodile Adventure Land The park is home to over 4000 species of crocodiles. The park is very well maintained and you can do activities like feeding a baby crocodile and holding it in your hands It's rather scary but go for it! The guides in the park are very nice and knowledgeable. But the highlight of the park is not the crocodile species but a crocodile show that is held in the park. My Tip - The crocodile show is a must-see. The dare-devil stunts that these trainers perform with the crocodiles are sure to get your heart into your mouth! Please check the timings before going to the park. 8. Skytrex Adventure If you're an adventure enthusiast, then you must visit Skytrex Adventure. There are fun activities like swinging on ropes, gliding, sliding and dangling done under expert supervision. It's about 40 to 45 minutes drive from Kuah. The place is absolute fun with dingy bridges suspended over lush green forest. My Tip - The adventure park is a good pastime especially if you're travelling with kids. 9. Tanjung Rhu On the north side of the Langkawi island, is the beautiful white sand beach Tanjung Rhu. It is considered to be one of the best beaches in Langkawi with clean water and restaurants with scenic views around. Boat tours to the mangroves are also available here. My Tip - This beach is a must on your 3-day itinerary. Just 3 km away from Tanjung Rhu is the Mangrove Safari. If you have time, then you must add it to your day's outing. A boat takes you into the mangrove swamps and you can see some amazing migratory birds. There are a multitude of options available to see these mangroves, from tours ranging from 3 to 6 hours. 10. Pulau Payar Marine Park An outing to this beautiful marine park should be done on a sunny day if you wish to do snorkelling or diving. The park can be reached by catamaran or a speedboat that takes about 45 minutes to reach from the Kuah Jetty. We had to miss out on this outing since it rained incessantly during the day on which we had planned this outing. My Tip - There are some restrictions imposed on tourists about fishing or even venturing into the water. If you have more time on hand, then Conducted tours of the park are also available. Please check the official Langkawi tourism website for recent updates and information. Eagle Square, Lagenda Park, SkyCab, Sky Bridge and Crocodile Adventure Land are not-to-miss attractions. Add to this a mangrove boat tour and your trip to Langkawi is complete because these are attractions unique only to Langkawi. If you still have time left and if the weather permits, then there are plenty of beaches to choose from, the nicest one being Tanjung Rhu.

Mount Pilatus or the Dragon Mountain at an altitude of 2128 meters is a must-visit on your trip to Switzerland. Once on the top, you can get beautiful vistas of the Alpine mountains and lakes all around. Many vantage points on the mountain give stunning 360-degree views of the scenery all around. There are 3 ways to reach Pilatus from Lucerne in Summer - Golden Round Trip - Silver Round Trip - Directly by road to the Gondola station. Golden Round Trip The most popular one is the Golden Round Trip unless really you're short of time. If you're going to Pilatus for the first time, then this is the way to go. - This trip easily takes about 5-6 hours - It starts from Lucerne with a scenic boat ride to Alpnachstad on Lake Lucerne - The boat ride lasts 90 minutes with beautiful alpine peaks and quaint villages all along. - After disembarking the boat, you get on the world's steepest cogwheel train with a gradient of 48%. - It takes you right to the top of Mount Pilatus in less than 30 minutes. My Tip - The steep climb up the mountain is absolutely thrilling as the mountain scenery starts to unfold in front of your eyes. No wonder there are massive queues for the cogwheel, so getting to the station early is better. Waiting in the queue for the cogwheel is worth it! Silver Round Trip This travel option does not involve any boats. - You travel from Lucerne to Alpnachstad and back to Lucerne by train. - From Alpnachstad, take the cogwheel to the top. My Tip - The only advantage that I could see here is that you will get a lot of time to do activities on the top of Mt. Pilatus (believe me there are many, especially if you're travelling with kids) since trains are more frequent and you are not depending on the last boat to Lucerne on your way back. On the flip side, you will miss the scenic boat ride on Lake Lucerne. Directly by road to the Gondola Station - You can take a 20-minute bus ride from Lucerne to Krienseregg - Further by gondola Dragon ride to the top. My Tip - Here, the advantage is that this is the quickest way to reach the top and also the cheapest. If you're short of time, then you can cover Pilatus even on a half-day trip using this option. The downside is that you will miss out on the scenic boat ride and the cogwheel. Whichever option you choose, the moment you reach the top, glorious views of Alpine lakes all around greet you. However, to get views from a higher spot, you can climb a tall column of steps to reach these panoramic terraces with peepholes carved out of mountains. There are many viewing platforms, hiking trails, observation decks, eateries and restaurants on the top. There is a Dragon Path and Dragon World that can be fascinating for kids. The weather was particularly kind on the day we were at Pilatus, it was bright and sunny, so we spent a great deal of time idling around and taking pictures. On the way back, there are two halts before you reach Lucerne. You take the cable car to the middle station at Fränküntegg Then a small bubble gondola to Kriens. From Kriens, you walk for 10 minutes to the bus stop to take Line 1 to Lucerne. Or else, at Fränküntegg, you can opt for the amazing summer sledge or Toboggan. This is the longest summer sledge in the world at 1350 meters long! This is a not-to-miss attraction and one should plan to incorporate it into the Pilatus itinerary. Click on the link to learn about Tobogganing at Mt. Pilatus https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/tobogganing-at-mt-pilatus-switzerland-the-world-s-longest-summer-toboggan-run There is also an Adventure Tree Park with ropeways and fun things for kids here. I have written about our Toboggan experience in a separate blog. Travelling with kids to Switzerland? For more fun tips and things to remember, click on the links below - https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/planning-a-family-vacation-with-kids-to-europe-go-switzerland 2. Day trip to Brienz and Interlaken https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-brienz-and-interlaken 3. Day trip to Jungfraujoch https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-jungfraujoch 4. Day trip to Titlis https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-mount-titlis 5. Day trip to Bern https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-bern 6. Day trip to Lugano and Swiss Miniature https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-lugano-and-the-swiss-miniature

A day trip to Mount Pilatus can be a fun outing for the entire family. The thrill begins right from where you start your journey up to Mt. Pilatus on the Steepest cogwheel in the world. As you step out of the funicular, you get stunning views from the top of Lake Lucerne of the Alpine peaks all around. One can easily spend 2 to 3 hours at the top of Mount Pilatus, taking in the sights, and clicking pictures. You can read more about our Mt. Pilatus experience here https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-mount-pilatus For the return journey, our plan was fairly simple, first by cable car to the Fraekmuentegg Mountain Station, and then further by gondola to Kriens. Our kids were really tired from all the excitement of the cogwheel in the morning, but despite that when our cable car stopped at Fraekmuentegg, we decided to explore around a bit before continuing on our journey to Kriens. And this stop-over proved to be a high point of our trip to Mount Pilatus! The Fraekigaudi Tobogganing at Mt. Pilatus Switzerland is the world's longest summer toboggan run. The shiny steel channel spread across the mountain is 1350 meters long! The facility is very organized and caters promptly to loads of tourists thronging the mountain. We decided to take 3 cars since small children have to be accompanied by an adult. My younger son sat huddled with my husband in one sledge and me and my older son in two separate sledges. The instructor gave us some quick instructions as to how to go about the ride. We buckled up and were all set to go. The slope ahead is steep and the sledges just slide on the metal sheath under. After some initial hesitation, I just let go with my husband and son in the other sledges close on my heels. The curvy bends and sharp turns are fun to manoeuvre and can send your mind into a tizzy as the beautiful sights of Lake Lucerne and mountainous peaks fly past. The sledges are easy to control and are firmly fixed onto the rails. The ride comes to a gradual end and one can get out of the sledge with ease. The entire expedition on the metal rails lasts barely 70 seconds but the adrenalin that it pumps into your body can last you for quite some time even after the joyride is over. We got out of the toboggan point with smiles on our faces. Don't forget to include Tobogganing at Mount Pilatus in your itinerary ...I promise you won't regret it! Tobogganing track on Mount Pilatus - this perfect picture is courtesy of Creative Commons Travelling with kids to Switzerland? For more fun tips and things to remember, click on the links below https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/planning-a-family-vacation-with-kids-to-europe-go-switzerland 1. Day trip to Mount Pilatus https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-mount-pilatus 2. Day trip to Brienz and Interlaken https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-brienz-and-interlaken 3. Day trip to Jungfraujoch https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-jungfraujoch 4. Day trip to Titlis https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-mount-titlis 5. Day trip to Bern https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-bern 6. Day trip to Lugano and Swiss Miniature https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-lugano-and-the-swiss-miniature

Brienz Picture-perfect landscapes in Brienz and Interlaken Brienz and Interlaken are the most beautiful parts of Switzerland. Verdant mountain slopes in the backdrop of massive turquoise Lake Brienz leave you spellbound with their beauty! We took a train from Lucerne to Brienz. There are many direct trains and the journey lasts about an hour and a half. What to do in Brienz - Brienz has Ballenberg, Switzerland's only Open-Air museum and also its largest. One needs a full day to take a tour of the museum that houses historical buildings and architecture. There is obviously a lot of walking involved, if you're travelling with kids, give it a miss! - We roamed around Brienz, looking at its surreal beauty, had lunch at a small cafe near the station, and took pictures in the background of the lake before continuing on our journey ahead to Interlaken by boat. - The trip to Interlaken takes about 75 minutes. Round trips on Lake Brienz are also available. The boat goes around the scenic villages dotting the shoreline of the lake. - Along the route is the spectacular Giessbach Falls alongside many smaller streams flowing into the lake. Please note that boat cruises on Lake Brienz are included in the Swiss Travel Pass. Interlaken Nestled between the emerald blue waters of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, Interlaken is every bit touristy. It is the most popular tourist destination for adventure seekers for activities like river rafting, bungee jumping and many more and is the starting point for many day trips like the famous one to Jungfrau. Ideally, one should plan to stay here for at least 3 to 4 days to soak in the beauty of this immensely lively and beautiful city, cradled by mountain peaks on all sides. But like all hot tourist destinations, Interlaken is also expensive compared to cities like Lucerne, for example. In fact, it is considered to be one of the most expensive destinations to travel to in Europe. So, if you are travelling with small kids, then it would be wise to just plan a day trip to Interlaken. What to do in Interlaken - We reached Interlaken in the afternoon from Brienz by boat and started with a walking tour of the city. - After idling around the city for 2 hours, post-lunch, we took the funicular to Harder Kulm. A funicular leaves every 30 minutes and the journey lasts only 10 minutes from the Valley station. - This was a fun outing for all of us, especially the kids. After Pilatus, they seemed to have developed some fascination for funiculars. Although this was not as thrilling as the one on Pilatus, it offered some truly mesmerizing views of the Bernese Alps, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. - Interlaken has some great shopping avenues. The main street called Hoeheweg has some great watches and souvenir shops. I bought the famous Swiss cuckoo clock from here. Interlaken is so beautiful that you can lose yourself in the beauty all around you and never get tired of it but as I've said earlier on, one has to keep moving with kids around. We took a train on our return journey to Lucerne in the evening. Travelling with kids to Switzerland? For more fun tips and things to remember, click on the links below - https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/planning-a-family-vacation-with-kids-to-europe-go-switzerland 1. Day trip to Mount Pilatus https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-mount-pilatus 2. Tobogganing at Mt. Pilatus https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/tobogganing-at-mt-pilatus-switzerland-the-world-s-longest-summer-toboggan-run 3. Day trip to Jungfraujoch https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-jungfraujoch 4. Day trip to Titlis https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-mount-titlis 5. Day trip to Bern https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-bern 6. Day trip to Lugano and Swiss Miniature https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-lugano-and-the-swiss-miniature