Adventure

Adventure in Mighty Himalayas

Adventure holiday in India is rightly defined by the word ‘assorted’. India is certainly a mix of landscapes and these diverse places give way to various adventure from water sports, trekking, to winter sports and much more, but most famous of all is Himalaya adventure tour, which itself consist of various sports. It takes you to the lofty mountains and glaciers where one can experience one of the most thrilling experiences ever. This 200 km long stretch of mountain ranges is a layered expanse that marks the border of Indian subcontinent with the Plateau of Tibet. The north eastern zone of the ranges, called as the Trans Himalayan zone is made up of Ladakh and Zanskar, and this region lies at the transition point of Tibet and Indian Sub continent. Pir Panjal and Dhuala Dhar ranges towards the south east, bind together in the snow covered mountains of Garhwal Himalaya. At all these mountain ranges, there are myriad opportunities to indulge in various sports and adventures.

Adventure in Himalaya takes one to Dhula Dhar range for Trekking, to Beas Kund, a glacial lake in Himachal for camping, Kinner Kailash circuit, where one can spot the endangered snow leopards, for challenging trekking and camping, Everest Base Camp, where one trek up to the mighty Himalaya’s peak, but certainly not without prior experience. Other sports that one can indulge in this northern part of India are Trekking in Garjwal, Himachal, Sikkim and Kashmir. While trekking at these places, one comes across panoramic sights of the snow covered peaks of Himalaya, and one can experience living in the lap of Nature with all the serenity and tranquility of the surroundings washing away all the cob webs.

For more adventurous souls, there is river rafting on various gushing rivers where one can unravel the sleeping adventurous spirit inside. There are various river rafting opportunities in the Himalayan region like rafting in Zanskar, one of the coldest inhabited places in India. Here tourists raft on the Zanskar Gorge of Indus River. This place has beautiful thousand feet high walls rising from the river bed on both sides of the river. In Himachal, there are Chenab, Ravi, Satluj and Beas rivers, where one can experience white water rafting. In Sikkim, Pir Panjal Range and the Himalayan Mountain range give way to various rivers like Jhelum, Chenab, Indus, etc where there are numerous opportunities to indulge in various water sports.

Except trekking and river Rafting, other adventure opportunities that are available in an adventure tour package in India are mountain climbing, jeep safari in various national parks, mountain biking, angling or fishing, etc. Besides this one can head out on a bike safari tour through the virgin lands of Leh and Ladakh and beautiful and undulating hills of Himachal Pradesh. It is always fun and adventurous to stay in a camp and gaze at the stars at night while you born fire to get a little bit of warmth in the chilly weather that gives way to enchanting sights. So an adventure tour in India gives you an opportunity to choose from a number of activities and adventures amidst nature that nudge your soul tied in the humdrums of life.

Trip

Discover the Best of Venice on a School Trip

The school trip is the undisputable highlight of many a student school year. Although the concept of a school trip is not new, it is only recently that the benefits have been recognised on a national scale. Now an encouraged part of the national curriculum, the school trip is considered a positive and constructive part of both learning on an academic level and developing on a social one. While the classroom is the perfect place to learn theories and consider ideas, there is nothing quite as motivating or inspiring as putting learned theory into context.

Venice, one of the most romantic cities in the world, is the epitome of Italian art, culture and history. The perfect place for a school trip, Venice is a haven of architectural delights, historical sites and a wonderfully rich cultural heritage. The intricate waterways criss cross the city and the imposing bridges, churches and beautiful palaces standing bold and breath taking for all to see, are very much part of the true essence of this intriguing and captivating city.

In simple terms the city is a museum that lives and breathes. For art lovers and history enthusiasts alike there is no place more awe inspiring and interesting than Venice.

The Best Venetian Attractions

Venice claims to have the most artistic masterpieces per square kilometre than any other country. Such a claim is not refuted, as the city boasts an array of artwork from medieval pieces through to Renaissance works, and some wonderful examples of Cubism and Abstract Expressionism. Students will have ample opportunity to sketch the Venetian street scenes, capture the beautiful light that rebounds from the gloriously old palaces and reproduce some of the stunningly depicted scenes captured by many a famous artist.

Visit the Doge’s Palace, which was once the seat of government, the law court and the city prison. Today the Gothic Palace, once home to Venice’s supreme authority, is one of the city’s main landmarks. In 1923 a museum was established here, and today the museum constitutes one of the eleven main museums in Venice.

The Galleria dell’Accademia is a huge attraction in the city of Venice and home to the largest collection of European and Venetian paintings in the world. On the way into the museum you can linger on the large wooden arch, known as the Ponte dell’Accademia, and take in a wonderful view of the Grand Canal and the famous Church of Santa Maria della Salute.

Being a city of waterways it is little wonder Venice showcases some fine bridges. The Bridge of Sighs is one of the most famous and is the one that connects the Doge’s Palace to the old city prison. Built of fine white limestone in an ornamental style, the bridge was actually a practical necessity, used to lead prisoners from the examining rooms to the prison cells. The romantic poet Byron, who referenced the bridge in his 1812 book ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage’, immortalised it in his words.

No visit to Venice would be complete without taking to the water. Students can take the vaparetto and travel like the locals do or hire a gondola and explore the canals in real style. St Mark’s Square and its 10th century basilica should be included in the itinerary, as should a stop or two in the wonderful Italian ice cream or pastry shops.

A school trip to Venice will be one to remember. With abundant opportunity for academic stimulation this place will open eyes, broaden horizons and inspire learning in all students who visit.

Destinations

Tokyo – An Unexplored Honeymoon Destination

Japan is a combination of exciting city life, beautiful sandy beaches, hot-spring resorts and an array of cultural sights. It is an absolutely different honeymoon destination which has been explored by but a very few.

The city of Tokyo, which is also the capital of the country, has so much to offer to the newly wed couple. They can have a fun-filled sight seeing, shopping and a fine dining experience at the various local as well as the multi-cuisine restaurants.

The transportation system in this country is extremely efficient and comfortable. The most important factor is that the internal flights within the country are so cheap that one can really have a great multi-destination honeymoon trip in Japan.

Most often people do not really consider Tokyo as a honeymoon destination. But the city has much to offer and more in terms of accommodation, sight seeing and the various activities. Tokyo is a giant metropolis where the old and the new jostle for space. It is a city of cutting edge modern technology and quirky trends.

But at the same time, the Japanese people are fiercely proud of their ancient and rich culture and try to showcase it to the world very beautifully.

Lots of neighborhood festivals are held regularly and various shrines and Zen Temples dot the city skyline. There are many sights worth visiting in Tokyo. These include both the traditional as well as the comparatively modern ones.

Sight Seeing in Tokyo:
Temples of Asakusa: Asakusa is located on the north-east fringe of Tokyo city and is central to the area locally referred to as Shitamachi which literally means “Downtown.” This area is less frenetic and showcases a more traditional Japanese atmosphere than the other neighborhoods in Tokyo. One of the major landmarks in this area is the Sensoji Temple. This is an ancient Buddhist Temple which is Tokyo’s oldest temple. It was formerly associated with the Tendai sect but became independent after WWII.

Adjacent to this, is the Asakusa Jinja which is a Shinto shrine. It is dedicated to the three men who established the Sensoji Temple. This was once a part of the Sensoji Temple but became separate during the Meiji Period. There is also a quiet garden inside the Temple premises which has been developed in the distinctive Japanese Style.

The Imperial Palace: The Japanese Imperial Palace is located in Central Tokyo on a large tract of land which is spread over a large area. The Palace consists of the Imperial Residence where the Emperor and the Empress live with their family. It is a place where various official functions take place and it also houses the Imperial Household Agency Buildings. One can visit the interior of the Palace only on two days in a year i.e. January 2(New Year Day) and December 23(the Emperor’s birthday). The visitors are allowed access to the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building: This is probably the best observation deck in the city of Tokyo. The most important thing is that it is accessible free of cost. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is the headquarters for the cities, towns and villages which comprise of Tokyo as a whole. It is the highest building in the city measuring 248 meters from base to top.

Thus, one can easily assume that in spite of popular thought, Japan in general and Tokyo in particular is a near perfect honeymoon destination with a fine blend of traditions and modernity.