My first impression of USA has been constructed by the famous book ‘Hotel Graver Inn’ and ‘Joshoha Brikkher Deshe (In the Land of Joshoha Tree)’, both written by famous Bangladeshi late novelist Humayun Ahmed. Later, during my initial days in military I had another impression of USA from my commanding officer, who just had a trip to USA for around two months. I still remember, what he said in a nutshell. In USA, everything is big. The roads are big, buildings are big, trains are big, cars on road are big, markets are big, and you also see big people around. So, once I landed, I immediately started looking for the proof of that statement ‘In USA everything is big’. Off course I did not need to struggle to find the proof. To his statement, I have found something new to add. In USA everything is big, even their public toilets are as big as a tiny bedroom somewhere else in the world.
It was a long flight of thirteen hours from Istanbul to Los Angeles. Usually, during my travel whether in flights, or in bus/ train I always love to quickly fall asleep, but this flight was different. I was excited and I have failed to do what I love most doing during flights. Excited for two reasons specially; one of which is, I am going to meet Aliyah, Arwaa, and Tahsin after months and going to be a witness of a long-awaited complete reunification of my in-law’s family, and the other is, I am going to see USA and taste a bit of American dream.
It was midday once I have landed at Los Angeles International Airport after thirteen hours of long flights. I was moving to the passport control and managed to connect to the Wi-Fi and immediately called my family who was waiting for me at the gate. All my heart and soul were wanting to cross the passport control as soon as possible but unfortunately, it was taking hours (felt like days) for me to reach to the immigration officer. I was looking at my right a left and noticing that hundreds and thousands of people/ travelers are queuing in the passport control for crossing the immigration. I really wonder that how many people do visit USA as a tourist every year! And I have checked back in the open source that more than 79.6 million international visitors traveled to the USA in 2021. Besides, approximately 2.29 billion domestic trips have been taken by the Americans. Certainly, in 2023 this number is increasing to a great extent. However, after almost more than an hour my turn for the immigration officer came. He was polite but firm to ask a few questions before allowing me to pass through. At last, the dream came true moment came! I have walked to the exit after collecting luggage and saw Aliyah, Arwaa and Tahsin. It was a moment of endless joy and unbound happiness to be reunited with the people you love and care most. Saw my elder brother-in-law for the first time and we hugged each other like we are seeing each other every now and then.
We got our things in the car and started towards our destination. Every turn of the roads, every corner of the buildings across the road, every car we were passing by every multi-storied intersection we were crossing, every house we were crossing one thing was echoing in my head, and that is ‘everything you see in USA are big’. Americans do really love big things. They buy big TVs, big houses, big cars, large size drinks, large size burgers/fries/sandwiches, buy commodities in bulk, and everything else that can be aquired in big size or portion they would aquire in big size/ portion. And this impression has been reaffirmed once we have visited their grocery stores, restaurants, car show rooms, luxury branded shops, car parking, malls, and even public toilets. Their national parks are big, trees in the parks are big, community parks are big, waiting queue wherever go are big, whether someone has the ability or not, they love racing for big things.
Mangoes of Rajshahi, Bangladesh just did not become famous in the recent past. Its glorious past is also engraved on the walls of the Bagha Shahi Masjid; one of the oldest mosques in Bangladesh built in the year 1523/24. I am sure, Sultan Nasrat Shah, founder of the masjid loved Mangoes a lot. Or else, why he would put exquisite terracotta of mango trees on the walls of the masjid! Well, not just the terracotta of mango trees, but the total terracotta ornamentation of the masjid made it a notable archaeological marvel in Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
Architecture
Surrounded by an ancient freshwater lake, thousands of mango trees, ancient ruins, graveyards of the saints who came to preach Islam, the masjid stands as an icon of the glorious history of the Bengal. The masjid is 22.92 meters long, 12.18 meters wide, while the height is 7.5 meters. Its walls are 2.22 meters thick. Apart from10 domes each of which is 12.8 meters in diameter and 3.65-meters in height, it has 4 minarets. The courtyard of the masjid has been made 8-10 feet high from the ground, and there are two entrances to enter the courtyard, while the masjid has 5 entrances. The whole complex occupies 256 bighas of land.
Frashwater Lake and MasjidGraveyard of SaintsInformation BoardOne of Two Entrances of the CourtyardInside the Bagha Shahi Masjid
Despite the negligence of the authority in preserving this 500-year-old masjid, it is one of the most visited places in Rajshahi. Although much of the ornamentation has already disappeared, quite a bit still exists both in the interior and exterior of the building. It is to note that some of the terracotta has been renovated in recent years.
Activities
Apart from a place of worship, gradually this masjid has become a place of business, fair, and home of homeless people. Every Friday after the Jummah prayer, the masjid authority invites worshippers to donate, and usually, a large sum is collected. After the same prayer, many rich people offer a free meal to the poor, for which thousands of people gather here. In addition, during all the Islamic special days both small and large fairs are arranged here, the biggest of which is the three-day fair during Eid-Ul-Fitr.
How to Go to Bagha Shahi Masjid?
Though it is situated inside Rajshahi, you can go to this masjid either through Pabna or from Rajshahi. It will depend on your priority and associated plan. If you decide to travel around Rajshahi, you may go to the masjid from Rajshahi and vice-versa. But if you are interested to visit just this masjid, I would suggest you go up to Ishwardy from Dhaka by train and then go to the masjid. Well, both Pabna and Rajshahi have very good connectivity by both bus and train. One good thing about Rajshahi is that you can travel to Rajshahi by plane as well.
Where to Stay?
If you are traveling either from Pabna or from Rajshahi, both the city have good hotels and resorts. I would suggest you stay in any of the cities depending on your itinerary and priority. If you are visiting only this place and not going anywhere, I would suggest traveling from Dhaka and returning on the same day. However, please note that the whole area of Pabna, Kushtia, Natore, Rajshahi, Nougaon, Chapainawabganj are amazingly resourceful and if you are coming to this masjid, you should not miss other places of these areas. As an example, Puthia Rajbari is just 20 kilometers north of the Shahi Masjid.
What to Purchase at Bagha Shahi Masjid?
There are many shops around the masjid, which sell local handicrafts and souvenirs. During the various fairs, the number of shops increases so as the types of souvenirs. However, if you are willing to purchase any items, please do verify the prices and do not miss to bargain for a better price.
Photography Tips
Before taking photographs inside the masjid please ask permission from the imam or the caretaker of the masjid.
Before taking photograph of any random stranger please ask permission.
Women traveling here are mostly devotees and do not allow others to photograph them. So please be considerate.
You can fly drone for any aerial shot. However, before flying drone take enough precautionary measures.
Take care of your equipment. Neither leave those unattened nor keep those to someone you do not know.
Before entering the masjid check your dress. A man should enter covering his knees, and a woman should cover her body and use scarf over her head.
Despite the remote and isolated locations, a good number of people visit the place every day. Most of them come here to offer prayers, while a good number of people come here to visit this exquisite historical place. It is expected, if it is maintained well, and if the authority promotes this place positively, it will be able to attract a lot of tourists and history enthusiasts from both home and abroad.
The largest city of Russia and the second-largest city of Europe Moscow is a powerful mix of vibrant different attractions to attract tourists from all over the world. This 800-year-old city is home to hundreds of historical sites, world-famous architectural wonders, vibrant cultures, etc. This magnificent city has countless sites and things to do to keep someone busy for months. However, here in this blog, we are presenting a list of the 10 best places to visit in Moscow – top 10 attractions within one day in Moscow. This list can be named as the list for the ultimate first-timers as well.
Where to Stay and Eat
There are numerous good hotels, boardings, lodges to stay in Moscow, which you may book from Agoda, Booking, Hostelworld, etc. I would suggest to select places to stay in conformity with your focused places to travel. As our focused area was heart of Moscow, meaning to say that in and around Red Square, we stayed at President Hotel. This is a four star hotel with magnificent services. The location of this place is so good that I think it should get 10/10 for its location. Gorky Park, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Muzeon Park of Arts, Monument de Peter I, everything is just a few steps away from this hotel. For eating good you will get countless food stalls around the city. There are many international franchise e.g. McDonalds, KFC, Subway, etc around the city as well. However, if you are looking for Russian food, there are many restaurants around. Well, if you want food at your hotel door, you may order food by Yandex and other food delivery applications. I bet that you will fall in love with traditional Russian food.
Transportation in Moscow
I would suggest walking along the street in Moscow unless the distance is great. Because in every allays, every street, every corner of Moscow there is something to see and something to be wondered. I could not afford to miss those details, and almost everyday/ night I have walked more than 16/17 km. However, undoubtedly, the most popular transportation means in Moscow is their Metro. Though there are only a few bus services, yet their Yandex service is amazing. Yandex is all in one sort of service to survive in Russia. Yandex is just the Russian version of UBER. However, unlike UBER Yandex has every solution for you in Russia e.g. food delivery, shop, mail, etc.
Top 10 Attractions to Visit in Moscow
1. Kremlin
Kremlin is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Moscow. The name “Kremlin” means “fortress inside a city”, which is actually a fortress inside the heart of Moscow in Russia. Undoubtedly this is the most recognizable structure in Moscow, and one of the most famous structures in the world. This 15th century fortified complex covers an area of 275,000 square meters. This place was used to be the palace for the Tsar Family, which has more than 700 rooms. At present this is the official residence of the president of Russia. This massive place includes many other structures like Armory Chamber, a museum, three cathedral, etc some of which are open to the public with strict schedule and regulations.
Undoubtedly Kremlin alone demands the highest attraction for any tourist visiting Moscow. Well, adjacent attractions such as Red Square, Alexander Garden, Lenin’s Mausoleum, Zaryadye Park, etc must be visited as these all are located around the Kremlin.
2. Saint Basil’s Cathedral
The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed commonly known as Saint Basil’s Cathedral, is an Orthodox Church in Red Square. It is one of the most popular cultural symbols of Russia. The building, now a museum, was built from 1555 to 1561. It was the city’s tallest building until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in 1600. This is a must-visit destination for anyone visiting Moscow.
Whatever may be the duration of one’s stay in Moscow, one must set aside some time to witness one of the most famous architectural sites in the world, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Well, I suggest setting aside time for at least 2/3 visits instead of one; one in broad daylight, and the other at night. Because if you see this place once, you see half of the beauty.
3. Bolshoi Theater
TheBolshoi Balletand Bolshoi Opera are among the oldest and best known ballet and opera companies in the world. It is by far the world’s biggest ballet company, with more than 200 dancers.The theatre is the parent company ofThe Bolshoi Ballet Academy, a leading school of ballet. It has a branch at the Bolshoi Theater School inJoinville,Brazil.
The main building of the theatre, rebuilt and renovated several times during its history, is a landmark of Moscow and Russia (its iconicneoclassicalfaçade is depicted on theRussian 100-ruble banknote). On 28 October 2011, the Bolshoi re-opened after an extensive six-year renovation.The official cost of the renovation is 21 billion rubles ($688 million). However, other Russian authorities and other people connected to it claimed much more public money was spent.The renovation included restoring acoustics to the original quality (which had been lost during theSoviet Era), as well as restoring the original Imperial decor of the Bolshoi.
The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is a Russian Orthodox cathedral in Moscow, Russia, on the northern bank of the Moskva River, a few hundred meters southwest of the Kremlin. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is the third-highest orthodox temple in the world and the seat of the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russians. It is the ideal place to attend an Orthodox Mass or to climb its domes and admire a beautiful panorama of Moscow. The history of this cathedral is one in which reality surpasses fiction. This place demands visits in both daylight and also at night. Because at night it looks wonderful with all the lights around.
This is probably the most famous park of Moscow. Gorky park offers entertainment for people of every age and every taste. Apart from numerous facilities like outdoor dancing sessions, yoga and fitness activities, rollerblading, skateboarding, cycling opportunities it also has a open air movie theatre. Its Garage Museum of Contemporary Art is an astounding place to visit. Its large green space as well as vast open space attracts people to do many other activities. There are numerous food stalls and boat rentals/ cruise services as well.
6. GUM
GUM (short for Glávnyj Universálnyj Magazín or “Main Universal Store”) is the oldest and most upscale shopping center in Moscow, Russia. It is situated facing Red Square in the Kitai-Gorod area.
GUM was built in the late 1800s in neo-Russian style to showcase a beautiful mix of a steel skeleton and 20,000 panels of glass-forming an arched roof. The glass-roofed design made the building unique at the time of construction. The roof, the diameter of which is 14 m (46 ft), looks light, but it is a firm construction made of more than 50,000 metal pods (about 743 t (819 short tons)), capable of supporting snowfall accumulation. (Data from Wikipedia)
Though GUM is no longer the largest shopping center in Moscow, it’s still by far the most beautiful and also the most upscale destination for shopping. It is home to all top of top brands of the world. To be frank, it is not the ideal destination for most budget-conscious visitors. I have not also visited this place to buy anything. However, the beauty of the building itself and its historical significance demands a visit if you are in Moscow.
The Moscow Metro is one of the magnificent architectural wonders of the Russia. This Metro system is serving Moscow, Russia, and the neighbouring Moscow Oblast cities of Krasnogorsk, Reutov, Lyubertsy and Kotelniki. It opened in 1935 with one 11-kilometre line and 13 stations, whereas today it has 287 stations, and the length is 435 Km. You will be amazed to know that the government is still expanding its size and coverage. I recommend you understand the metro system at the earliest. It will surely ease up your journey during your stay at Moscow. You may obtain Metro Card every time you travel, or else you may purchase cards with different balances and use accordingly. Once exhausted, it’s better to recharge the card instead of every time purchasing a new card. Recharging is much cheaper in this case.
8. Arbat Street
Arbat Street also referred to as the Arbat is a one-kilometer-long pedestrian street in the historical center of Moscow, Russia. It has been in existence since the 15thcentury, which makes it one of the oldest surviving streets of the Russian Capital. It was originally a trade route on the outskirts of the city. Arbat Street is one of Moscow’s most touristy spots with lots of cafes and restaurants, live music performers, etc.
Beautiful street lamps and two significant statues; one of Princess Turandot and one of Soviet-era poet Bulat Okudzhava adorn the street. This is a great place to get some souvenirs if you are not traveling to Izmailovo District. However, you have to bargain about the price with the vendors. Arbat Street also offers a chance to visit the former home of poet Alexander Pushkin and the café both Anton Chekhov and Leo Tolstoy used to visit.
8. Sparrow Hills
If you have the luxury of time and fitness, you may take a walk for 6 km from Gorky Park along the Moscow River (Moskva River) you will end up at Sparrow Hills, a legendary park in Moscow. The Sparrow Mountain is a mountain with a panoramic view of Moscow city. Although this park does not offer many activities like Gorky Park, here you can take a closer look at the Moscow State University, which is the tallest of the seven Stalinist SkyScrapers. In the sparrow hills at the foot of the mountain, across the Moscow river, opposite the observation deck is the central stadium, which was built to 50 s.
10. Nikolskaya Street
Nikolskaya Street is a pedestrian street in the Kitay-Gorod of Moscow. It connects Red Square and Lubyanka Square. It was known as the Street of the 25th of October between 1935 and 1990. This street is one of the most famous tourist attractions of Moscow. I would call it a street of superheroes, superheroines, and lights. Whether you visit this place on a day or night, it has the same amusement. You will see a lot of people both men and women dressed as your favorite marvel studio character walking around. They usually allow you to take photographs with them, and in exchange, they ask for money. Please settle the price before taking a snap. They usually insist a lot, but if you are not willing, it’s better to avoid them politely.
Tips for Photographers
Entire Moscow is an amazing place for photographers be it landscape, or cityscape, or even street photography. Amazing historical monuments, architectural wonders, places with historical significance, Moskva river, amazing parks, amazing people. etc everything present extraordinary subject to the photographs of all genre and taste. This country is really blessed. It has everything to offer to all types of photographers. However, we request you to comply with follow suggestions:
For photography, the best option is to walk around on foot, unless you have specific taste and purpose.
Every corners of the street, every allays of the city, every parks offer subjects ranging from landscape, cityscape, street, and portrait photography. So, I am sure you will not want to miss any opportunity.
The most of the sites, which are mentioned here can be very well toured within a day. I would suggest starting the tour with Red Square. Because, once you are here, you can cover Kremlin, St Basil Cathedral, Nikolskaya Street, GUM, Bolshoi Theater from here without much of walking.
Apart from the sites mentioned here Zaryadye Park kok is situated right beside the Red Square, which is a wonderful modern day architectural marvel. You can have a picturesque view of Kremlin from the floating bridge over Moskva River.
If you are pointing your camera to any person, be sure you have his/ her consent.
Nikolskaya Street, Arbat Street, Bolshoi Theater, and at some places many enthusiastic young and upcoming singers arrange street concerts. If you photograph them, they will not mind usually, but never forget to help them by putting some coins there.
I loved being in metro. That is a fantastic place to photograph the diversity of our life.
If you are a Drone Photographer, or if you want to fly drone over Moscow, you are in wrong place. Drone regulations are so strict that it is almost impossible to fly drone over Moscow Sky. Even if you manage to get permit, because of spoofer, jammers, and other anti-drone technologies it is impossible to get away with flying drone over Moscow Sky.
There are many photo excursion groups, or even tour guide who would love to give you a tour around the city if you pay them well. I prefer to take such a tour if you want to make the best utilization of your time and money. This city has many wonders which are not open to public but the locals has access whether legal or illegal.
COVID-19 Preventive Measures
If you are traveling to Moscow, Russia during this pandemic please be very clear about the travel restriction imposed by the government and local Covid-19 protocols. Keep yourself safe, and help others to remain safe. Carry enough masks with you. You may not be able to carry large quantity of sanitizer, but at least keep a small refillable sanitizer with you always. During our stay in Moscow, we have observed that covid protocols are strictly followed in all the places e.g. hotels, restaurants, bars, public transports, etc. So, please help yourself and help others too. Before leaving the country, please have another test from a reliable agent and carry the certificate (of course Negative) to the airport. Be sure about the validity period, or time regulations too from your hotel or homestay.
During my tour to Moscow I have met Dream Shifter, a truly inspirational character. He is one of those character who pushes every comfort and easy take aways to explore something new and exciting. He left his 8-5 PM job just to pursuit his dream, which is traveling the world, and doing something by his own. Unlike many of us he loves to see things differently, specially from above, and that keeps him busy climbing tops of all the tops of the world. I encourage you to check his instagram and see what he is making! They are astounding. Often he arranges rooftop tours/ excursions for interested people only if he is free. Wish I could meet him before so that I could have climbed some of the rooftops to watch Moscow from above. Hopefully, someday we will meet again and climb together.
Final Thought
I am lucky that I could travel to Moscow, Russia at least for a short period of time. My love for this beautiful vast country grew since my early childhood once I have started reading Russian literature. Since then I was carrying this immense desire of traveling to this country. Even during the football world cup in Russia, I have tried to go to Russia, which did not happen. I am sure, if you ever come to this country, you will straightway fall in love with it. It’s an amazing place with fantastic people, amazing places, historical significance, great food, rich culture, etc etc.
Fortunately, love for the mountains was embedded into us from our early childhood. Both of us love the mountains as much as we love the sea. So, when we were planning for our first tour across the border, we immediately thought of Nepal. Out of all the places, we have been to Pokhara stands out as the best destination. It is the most favorite tourist destination of Nepal for many reasons. Like everyone else, we have been to this amazing place, and here we are presenting Pokhara Travel Guide for you. This will include; what are the best places to go in Pokhara and how to go to all these places.
How to Get to Pokhara
There are usually two means to travel to Pokhara. You may either take a flight to go to Pokhara from Kathmandu or take a bus ride. During our trip to Nepal for 7 days, we have visited Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokhara, and Nagarkot. If you are taking of tour of multiple cities including Chitwan, we suggest to go to Pokhara from Chitwan by Bus. Both the Air means as well as the Bus ride offer amazing views. Journey by air offers you breathtaking view of the Himalayas. And journey by bus offers you amazing view of trails, streams, and countryside of Nepal.
Where to Stay in Pokhara
Being the most popular tourist destination Pokhara offers all types of accommodation from cheap to high end for all types of travelers and tourists. You may book your hotel/ hostels from any online platform e.g. airbnb, agoda, booking, hostelworld, trivago, etc. However, if you are a budget traveler like us, we suggest you to book your first night from any website before arrival. This might help you in getting a ride from airport/ bus station to your hotel. Out of all the options of stay, we prefer staying around Phewa Lake.
Transportation in Pokhara
Most popular transportation in Pokhara is Motorcycle. If you are traveling as a couple and you are confident with motorcycle with a valid license, renting a motorcycle is the best option for you. However, if you do not have enough experience of driving motorcycle in the highlands, it’s better to hire a car or motorcycle with driver. If you are a bi-cycle enthusiastic, you may also rent bi-cycle for touring around the city as well as the area around Phewa Lake. Considering everything, we recommend to hire car for going to Sharankot for watching sunrise.
Best Places to Go in Pokhara
Phewa Lake
Phewa Lake also known as Phewa Tal is a freshwater lake located in the Pokhara Valley in Nepal. Over the years this lake has become the center of the attraction for the thousands of tourists visiting Nepal. Phewa lake is the second largest lake in Nepal. A fantastic service oriented facilities have evolved around this lake for fulfilling the requirement of the tourist. Anyone can simply meet every requirement of staying, eating, clubbing, shopping, collecting souvenirs, renting veh/bikes, etc around this place.
Begnas Lake
Begnas Lake is another prominent freshwater lake in Pokhara Valley in Nepal. This beautiful lake is 21 Kilometer away from Phewa Lake and 13 Kilometer away from Pokhara City. This is a wonderful place to visit and stay for a while depending on your time available for traveling in Pokhara.
Devi’s Fall/ Davis Falls
Devi’s Fall is one of the most visited tourist site in Pokhara. Father of a woman who(woman) has been drowned in a pit of this waterfall in 1961 wished to name this fall‘David’s Falls’. However, with the time it has been changed to Devi’s Fall. This site is 4 Kilometer away from Phewa Lake.
Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave is situated opposite to Davi’s Fall. Water from the fall passess through this cave. Anyone traveling to Devi’s Fall should also visit this place. This is the most famous cave in Nepal, and allegedly this has been discovered by some locals in 16th Century.
Pokhara Shanti Stupa
Famous Pokhara Shanti Stupa is situated at the height of 1100 meters on the Anadu Hill in Pokhara City. This is a Buddhist Pagoda style monument, which has been built in 1973/1974. This is one of the two of eighty peace pagodas in the world. This place is also one of the most scenic viewpoint in Pokhara. Beautiful Phewa lake and the Annapurna Range can be seen from here. Though the pagoda is situated on the top of Anadu hill adjacent to Phewa lake, yet visitors need to travel a long way by bike or car. If you want to ride your own(rented) bike, we strongly recommend you to be sure that you have past experience of riding bike in the high mountains.
Bashundhara Park
Bashundhara Park is adjacent to the Phewa Lake. It is very scenic place but unfortunately it is low maintained. Since it is very close the lake, a good number of tourists visit this place, and it remains crowded. You may rent boat and row in the lake.
Old Bazaar
Old Bazaar also known as Purano Pokhara locally is around 4 Kilometer away from the Phewa Lake. As most of the tourist remains around the lakeside, vast part of the Pokhara remains unexplored to them. However, if you enjoy history and native culture, you should go around these places. Apart from enjoying the scenic view of hundreds of years old architectural monuments, you will love photographing life-style in the streets.
Sarangkot
Sarangkot view point is located on the western side of Pokhara at an altitude of 1600 meter and around 11 Kilometer away from the Phewa Lake. This is perhaps the most visited and most popular tourist destination spot in Pokhara. Anyone traveling just for one day would also love to go to this place just to witness the magnificent majestic view of sunrise over the Annapurna. However, to go this place and witness the sunrise one have to get up really early before the sunrise. As traveling time from Phewa lake is nearly 30 minutes +/- depending on the traffic in the early morning.
Other Places to Go
Depending on the interest, time, budget and associated factors this list of places may vary from one to another. Apart from the places we have mentioned here, there are many other places may be explored. These are:
Tal Barahi
Rupa Taal
International Mountain Museum
Chamero Gufa
Seti River George
Gorka Memorial Museum
Matepani Gumba
Jangchub Choeling Monastery
Bhimsen Temple
Seti Gandaki Gorge
Annapurna Butterfly Museum
Kamal Pokhari
Big Splash Waterpark
Tibetan Refugee Centre
Shree Gaden Dhargay Ling Monastery
Things To Do
There are many adventure activities you can experience during your travel in Pokhara e.g. paragliding, ATV tour, hiking, rafting, kayaking, etc. However, we suggest you to try paragliding for sure if weather permits. Unfortunately, during our stay in Pokhara we could not do it because of bad weather.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
It is our lifetime dream to complete the Annapurna Base Camp(ABC) trek. We strongly suggest you to go for this trek if your health/ fitness permit. However, this trek requires permits from Nepal Tourism Board. Though the trek is 67 Kilometer long, due to difficulties of terrain, and depending on the average fitness of the group it takes around 9 days to and from Pokhara.
Living Around Phewa Lake
List of places we have mentioned here is not long, yet we loved this place so much that we really want to go there at one point of our life for couple of months. The serenity of the place has amazed us. We are sure, if you love peace, quietness, and serenity, you would be in love of this place.
What to Eat
Pokhara is a very resourceful place in terms of meeting your need of the stomach. If you have any preference depending on your religion, region, etc, be sure you have good options of numerous cuisine both local and international. During our stay we always consumed our breakfast at the hotels, lunch around the places we have been traveling to, and dinner in a new restaurant every evening. Out of tons of food items we have tried we still reminiscence about various types of Fish Thali(Fish platter).
What to Buy
Considering saving money while traveling, we always suggest tourists/ travelers not to spend money on souvenirs. However, if you really want to preserve some memories/ souvenirs of Pokhara we would suggest you to get those from Kathmandu as things here is littler pricy that Kathmandu. You may get some piece of shawls(scarfs), books, or any other local souvenirs relying on your taste.
Tips for Photographers
Entire Nepal is an amazing place for photographers. This country is blessed with diversity yet simplicity, and amazing people. It has everything to offer to all types of photographers ranging from landscape photographer to street/ documentary photographers. However, we request you to comply with follow suggestions:
Villages and areas around tourist places offers numerous lifestyle/ portrait photography opportunities. Be humble and polite while meeting locals.
Old Bazar and adjacent areas offers fantastic street and lifestyle photography opportunities. Try to visit these places in the afternoon and utilize the golden hour.
Shanti stupa is a fantastic place for panoramic view of the Phewa Lake and Annapurna Range.
Cater for more than one day for Sarangkot. Often due to cloudy weather tourists miss the majestic view of the fishtail.
Know clearly whether you are allowed to photograph or not in any place.
Before photographing people in the villages, temples, markets, and any other place sought their permission first.
During monsoon carry enough protection for your expensive gears.
If you carrying drone, use it prudently.
COVID-19 Preventive Measures
If you are traveling to Nepal or any other countries in the world please be very clear about the travel restriction imposed by the government and local Covid-19 protocols. Keep yourself safe, and help others to remain safe. Carry enough masks with you. You may not be able to carry large quantity of sanitizer, but at least keep a small refilable sanitizer with you always.
Final Thought
Beside describing about the touristic places, we have also briefly expressed our love for Pokhara. We understand that every city in the world may not be in the list of traveling of every travelers. We are also certain that a huge number of people want to visit this Himalayan country Nepal. Considering a wide range of options, we strongly suggest you to travel to this place at least once in your lifetime.
‘Cappadocia‘; the land of historical landmarks with rugged landscapes and Fairy Chimneys is a World Heritage Site in the central Anatolia region in Turkey. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Turkey with many touring options. There are so many things to explore in Cappadocia that anyone can plan to stay a week in Cappadocia. However, usually, tourists plan for 3 to 4 days tour in Cappadocia. The two most popular tours are known as Red Tour and Green Tour. We have availed these tours and we recommend tourists to plan 3 Days in Cappadocia, Turkey and avail Red and Green Tour.
How to Get There
By Plane: the Cappadocia region covers the five provinces (Nevşehir, Aksaray, Kayseri, Kırsehir, & Niğde) in the central region of Turkey. The main tourist area is 15-20 km away from the city of Nevşehir known as Goreme. For traveling to Cappadocia from Istanbul, you have to fly to Kayseri Erkilet Airport located in Kayseri, which is nearly one hour away from the center of Cappadocia. However, if you book your hotel ahead, they have shuttle services from Airports to hotels.
By Bus: We have traveled to Cappadocia by Bus from Denizli. As we were having a long tour starting from Istanbul, passing through Bursa, Izmir, and Kusadasi, we have availed this Bus journey. There are extraordinary buses and moreover, they are cheap. They do also help you save a lot of cash. However, if you have time constraints, and flexibility in the budget, you should get flights from Istanbul.
Where to Stay
As Cappadocia is a very popular tourist destination, there are hundreds of hotels ranging from budget hotels to luxury hotels. We stayed at Anatolia Cave Pension at Goreme. This hotel is very nice and the staffs are very cordial and friendly. This hotel is worth staying in. They have a very good view of the terrace and provides a good breakfast. You can plan and book your hot air balloon trip and red/green tour from there. They will give you one of the best rates of all. You may book your hotel from booking, Agoda, hotels, hostelworld, or any other
Tour Plan/ Itinerary
From our point of view you may plan your 3 days in Cappadocia as follows:
Day 1: Arrival at Goreme and City Tour. If you arrive very early morning and can afford to go for a Day-Long tour, we recommend availing one. In this case, you should book your tour well ahead of reaching Goreme.
Day 2: Hot Air Balloon tour and plan for another left over tour.
Day 3: Reserve for Hot Air Balloon tour in case if you miss your previous day tour because of inclement/unfavorable weather. Return to Istanbul or travel to the next destination.
Night Activities: Goreme is a small town but it is full of life. Right after the evening, tourists come to the streets of Goreme and enjoy local foods and other activities. We recommend you to try different restaurants and foods. We had one of our best experiences of food in Goreme.
Red Tour and Green Tour At a Glance
Here a comparison between Red and Green tour is presented. Prices for the tour may vary depending on the time of travel/ booking and agent.
Details
Red Tour
Green Tour
Price
35 Euro, 270 Turkish Lira
50 Euro, 390 Turkish Lira
Duration
6.5 Hours
8.5 Hours
Difficulty
Easy
Moderate
Attractions
Uçhisar Castle Göreme Open Air Museum Love Valley Pottery Demonstration Paşabağı valley Devrent Valley
Göreme Panorama Onyx Factory Derinkuyu Underground City Ihlara Valley Selime Monastery Pigeon Valley
We usually are not a big fan of guided tours as we love to explore by ourselves. However, as traveling in Cappadocia involves long drives, therefore we recommend to avail these guided tours. This will save both time, money, and energy for a trip of 3 days in Cappadocia
Red Tour Attractions
Green Tour Attractions
Important Issues of Above Packages to Remember
– List of attractions often vary depending on time of travel and agent.
– During the travel/ tour agents usually do not sponsor/ provide any drinks or snacks.
– Usually lunch is included in the tour package.
– Almost all the entrance fees are included in the package. However, if you want to get any audio guide (which is usually not required), you have to get that by your own expenses.
– Usually, drivers and guides are very efficient and cordial. If you want to give them some tips, that’s on you.
Hot Air Balloon Tour
Hot Air Balloon ride is undoubtedly the best attraction of Cappadocia. Anyone traveling to Cappadocia looks forward to enjoying this ride. However, this tour is expensive and very uncertain. Depending on the season/ time of travel price for one person varies from 150 to 200 euros. We said ‘uncertain’ as there are lots of related issues with balloon ride such as air temperature, wind speed, weather forecast, etc. So, always plan a reserve day for the balloon ride in case if you miss your first-day ride. This is another reason, we recommend a trip of 3 days in Cappadocia. However, if you cannot ride because of the bad weather, your agent will give you a full refund.
Hot air balloon ride from almost every agent includes light breakfast, pick up from the hotel and drop off and a minimum of one hour in the air.
Important Issue to Remember for Hot Air Balloon Ride
– Usually, children below 5 years of age are not allowed for the ride. So, if you are parents of a child below 5 years and traveling together, either you plan separately (mom and dad in different days) or with another family/ friends so that you or your friends can do the babysitting.
– Sleep the early night before the ride as you have to wake up by 3.30 AM to 4 AM in the morning. Hotel/ your agent will have to collect many other tourists like you. So, don’t keep others wait or miss the ride.
– If you can avail ride as per your plan, don’t miss to watch the balloons flying in the sky from your hotel terrace. That’s a great opportunity for anyone to have an iconic photograph.
Tips for Traveling
– Both Red and Green tours require quite a good amount of walking and climbing. So, if you have any issues with your knee, leg, waist, etc it’s better to avoid places like the Underground city, Ihlara Valley, Uçhisar Castle, etc.
– Wear cap and sunglass. Apply sunscreen.
– Carry a water bottle. At times, in dire need of water, you may not find any drinking water around.
– If you are traveling to spots with your toddler, must carry a carrier. You will not be able to walk with them in the Ihlara valley or even Open Air Museum. The stroller will be of no assistance.
– If you have breathing problems, do not enter the Underground City. Do not take your child as well. They may get scared and may feel suffocated.
– Maintain time very strictly. Your few minutes’ delays may upset the whole plan of your team.
– Carry 1/2 extra t-shirts. If you sweat, you will be able to change. Or else your journey will not be comfortable.
– Remember, you have to walk. So, wear shoes that would be comfortable for walking.
Tips for Photography
– Save your equipment from dust by using scarfs, or any other cloths. I never used to carry them in the bag. If you are comfortable, should carry a bag.
– Be as light as possible. If you used to carry more than one camera body, reconsider before getting inside in the Underground City. Because of the very tight space, it’s difficult for an individual to move around. More camera bodies and lens would cause too many difficulties for you. For the underground city just carry one body with your wide-angle lens.
– Same is the case with Ihlara Valley. Try to be light. At least if you have family with Kids.
– Drone pilots should carry more (& more) batteries or a car charger. Convince your guide and driver so that you can charge your batteries if the vehicle.
– If your purpose is photography, do not get any tour package. Rent your car/ scooter/ motorcycle and go to places, remain there as long as you can, go at whatever time you want to. Because of the tour packages, you will find yourself in all those amazing places at very odd time for photography.
– Sunset is very beautiful. Do not miss photographing sunset views.
– Streets at night are colorful and eventful, and very good for street photography.
– Drone pilots should not miss photographing Goreme City view at night.
– Do not miss photographing balloon ride from your hotel terrace.
3 days in Cappadocia, Turkey is never enough if you want to explore every bits of it. However, in the most cases majority of us may not be able to afford more than 3/4 days for covering one area. If you plan your trip wisely, at the end of 3 days in Cappadocia, Turkey you will not be disheartened.
Bangladesh; the largest delta in the world is a fascinating travel destination for nature lovers. Its pristine and lush green nature, endless rivers and water bodies, the longest sea beach in the world, mangrove forest, ancient monuments, etc will surely amaze everyone. Amidst all, the hospitality offered by the locals is something you will never find anywhere else in the world. It is true you will never have enough time to be everywhere in Bangladesh and that is why today we are presenting 10 best places to visit in Bangladesh.
1. Sylhet
We are putting Sylhet at the top of the list of ’10 best places to visit in Bangladesh’ because it has an abundance of different destinations to explore. Sylhet is situated in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh on the Surma River. Its picturesque tea plantation, the shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal and Shah Poran (R), beautiful lush green tropical forests, waterfalls, and streams running through hills and jungles, rivers, water bodies, and lakes are major attractions of Sylhet. Few of them are Bisanakandi, Lalakhal, Bholaganj, Jaflong, Ratargul, etc. Over the last few years, transportation to and from Sylhet has become easier and tourist-friendly.
2. Khagrachari
Khagrachari is one of the hills districts out of three in Bangladesh. This hilly region is located at the edge of Bangladesh’s north-eastern tip. For many years low-intensity conflicts have torn apart the area and tourism could not flourish. However, in recent years this region has become a major tourist attraction in Bangladesh. Though traveling to this area is restricted but one can access this area through a certain official procedure. Even the locals’ entry and exit into this area are also registered by the Security forces for ensuring the peace, and law and order situation. Sajek, Shuknachara Falls, Richang Falls, Alutila Cave, numerous Buddhist temples, and mesmerizing nature are major attractions in Khagrachari.
3. Bandarban
Bandarban is another hill district of Bangladesh and it is a true nature escape for nature lovers. It is also the home of the highest peak in Bangladesh. In the last few years, Bandarban became popular amongst local tourists for hiking and rafting. Buddha Dhatu Jadi aka Shorno Mondir (Golden Temple), Keokradong (the highest peak of Bangladesh), Jadupai waterfalls, Nilgiri, Boga Lake, Nafakhum (hiking destination), Nilachol, Thanchi, etc are few of the major tourist destinations in Bandarban.
4. Rangamati
Rickshaw is a common mood of transportation in almost every place of Bangladesh. Interestingly, except Rangamati in all other 63 districts have rickshaws on the road. This is the third hill district and also the Capital of Chittagong Hill Tracts. This is often known as the lake city of Bangladesh because of Kaptai Lake. Kaptai Lake is the largest lake in Bangladesh. It was the result of the construction of the Kaptai Dam. The lake, hanging bridge, Shanti Stupa, Shubholong Waterfalls, etc are major tourist attractions of Rangamati.
5. Saint Martin Island
Saint Martin Island is the southernmost territory of Bangladesh. It is a small tiny island in the Bay of Bengal. This is the only coral island in Bangladesh. Bangladesh and Myanmar had disputes over the sovereignty over this island. However, the issue is solved through UNCLOS. This island has an adjoining small island which is known as Chera Dip (Island). This is a very different destination with white sandy beaches, blue water, coral reefs, etc from other beaches available in Bangladesh. However, unfortunately, over the last few years, this island is losing its areas as people/ tourist extracts coral from the reef whereas the island is based on the reef. Good news is that the government of Bangladesh has taken an endeavor to control access to this island.
6. Srimongal
Srimongal is the hub of tea plantation in Bangladesh. Often this place is called the Tea Capital of Bangladesh. Srimongal is one of my favorite destinations for a weekend gateway. This place is much like Sylhet with fewer options of different destinations. Yet, depending on the season, it offers varieties of destinations and activities. Lawachara Reserve Forest, Madhabpur Lake, Manipuri Para (local tribal village), Tea Research Institute, Madhabkunda Waterfalls, Baikka Bill (large waterbody) etc are few of the major tourist attractions of Srimongal.
7. Dhaka
This four hundred years old ancient City is a must-visit place in Bangladesh. The city is not so tourist-friendly yet it has uncountable components to see, explore, and taste. The beauty and uniqueness of streets of Old Dhaka, mesmerizing architecture of Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, Star Mosque, modern and beautiful National Assembly Bhaban, Botanical Garden, Cheap shopping of garment products of famous brands in Bangobazar, Chaos of Sadarghat, etc will surely put you in a maze for a while. However, on top of all of these when you will start tasting foods of Dhaka, basically you will start a never-ending journey.
8. Bagerhat
Despite being a less known place, we have included Bagerhat in the list ’10 best places to visit in Bangladesh’ as it is the home of two UNESCO World Heritage Site e.g. The Sundarbans, and Sixty Dome Masjid. Sundarbans is most commonly explored in the river route and often through Khulna. However, there are means to visit the Sundarbans from Bagerhat as well. Sixty Dome Masjid is the most famous masjid of ancient Mosque City of Bagerhat built in the 15th century by Khan Jahan Ali. In recent years Bangladesh Government has started building a 1320 MW Coal Based power plant in conjunction with India (50:50 joint venture) at the edge of the world’s largest mangrove forest often known as ‘Lungs of Bangladesh’ arguably risking bio-diversity and sustainability of Sundarban.
Sixty Dome Mashjid, Bagerhat
Sundarban – the largest mangrove forest in the world
9. Cox’s Bazar
Arguably Cox’s Bazar is the most popular tourist destination for both national and international tourists. The beach in Cox’s Bazar is the main attraction of the town with an unbroken length of 155 Km (96 miles), which is often termed as the “longest natural unbroken sea beach” in the world. It has the best infrastructure for entertaining the tourist from all tiers of society. There are a number of comfortable and luxurious bus transport services from Dhaka/ Chattogram including domestic flights. Apart from being on the beach for day and night, one can pay a visit to Himchari and drive through the beautiful marine drive along the beach.
10. Barishal
We have put Barishal on the list of ’10 best places to visit in Bangladesh’ because it offers very different landscapes and experience. We recommend you to travel to Barishal by river route. A journey by a launch at night is a great experience with amazing local cuisine at dinner. If you make yourself up to Barishal it would facilitate your journey to Kuakata; another beautiful beach destination in Bangladesh. From July to the beginning of September you will be able to visit the floating guava market and Shatla (Water lily) bill. Read our article on the floating guava garden here. Epiphany Church, Baitul Aman Jame Masjid, Durga Sagor (lake), and many other age-old monuments are few other major tourist attractions of Barishal.
Travel Tips
Time to Travel – Like every places on earth nature changes in accordance with the season. So, the selection of time of travel is very important as what you want to see depends on time. Say for example, in winter Sylhet will offer you something very different than what it would offer in Monsoon. Khagrachari city looks very different from Alutila Hill Top in different seasons and at different times of the day.
Journey – All the places have a very good communication system. Except for three hill districts and Bagerhat rest all have domestic flights as well from Dhaka. You can get almost all the tickets for a major journey through online purchases. Shohoz.com is a very good way of getting tickets right on hand at the earliest without traveling to counters. Flights can easily be booked from their websites. However, for traveling in Bangladesh we would recommend you to have a guide who would be able to make your travel a lot easier.
Accommodation – All the places have good accommodation facilities. We prefer to book hotels directly over the phone or once you will reach somewhere if it is not a peak season. We usually always book our hotels for the first day through online services. For the rest of the days, we always book hotels on the ground. This saves a lot of money. However, as we have already mentioned once that a guide may make your travel easier.
Food – Bangladesh is undoubtedly food heaven for those who love spices. In every places you will go, you will find some unique dishes. We recommend you to try local dishes. Once you are in Dhaka, spare a few days just to explore the foods of Dhaka. Well, we would like to request you to be sure about the quality and hygiene of the food. Of Late, we have largely polluted this industry by unhealthy and unhygienic food for a quick profit by corrupt/ dishonest businessmen.
Shopping/ Souvenir Collection – Like every other place in all the touristic places, a good number of vendors sell various items as souvenirs and everyday utilities. Well, for traveling cheap, we always recommend not to make your luggage heavy by number of souvenirs unless it is of that value. Yet, we recommend you to get some souvenirs made by tribal people from hill districts. There are hundreds of options but they are very special from their land. Whatever you buy, please bargain to get a good price.
Time Calculation – Once you plan to go somewhere at some specific time, please do calculate with a big margin of unforseen. You may be knowing that the average distance covered in an hour in the streets of Dhaka is only 6/7 km. Often it is more than more. Well, other than Dhaka rest of the places are quite OK with the traffic system.
Security – People of Bangladesh are one of the most hospitable nations in the world. Yet, like every other place, there are odd people here in Bangladesh who may try to cheat you or make a profit from you undue. Be extra cautious about this. Keep your cards, mobile, passport, money safe. If you are carrying a backpack, carry that on your chest, not on the back.
Photography Tips
– Not just ’10 best places to visit in Bangladesh’, entire Bangladesh is a heaven for photographers. It’s pristine nature, never-ending water bodies, lush green tropical forest, unique tribal people, streets of Dhaka, Sadarghat Launch Terminal, Kuakata Sea Beach, etc, etc will offer you to capture unique photographs. Here are some brief tips for photographing in Bangladesh:
– If you want to fly a drone, you may try to get permission from Civil Aviation. Well, surely that is going to be time-consuming. Therefore, if you are flying your drone without legal authority fly it safely, away from security organizations’ people.
– Flying drones from anywhere are difficult. In seconds you will be surrounded by hundreds of people. So, fly it from somewhere quite.
– Usually, the people of Bangladesh are inquisitive. So, in most of the cases, they would never resist, rather most of them will willingly poss before your camera. However, please ask for permission before capturing photographs of any lady.
– If you love street photography Dhaka is a heaven for you. However, be very sincere about your timing. Morning hours are the best window for photographing in the streets of Dhaka, especially Old Dhaka. Sadarghat is a very unique place for photographing street and lifestyle photographs. However, you have to be present there before the day breaks.
– Take note of events happening around. You may also capture images of any local events.
– In Sylhet and three hill districts, you will get an abundance of places for landscape shooting. As all these places are dominated by tribal people, and they are very simple but sensitive, you should be extra cautious for photographing them. It is always better to have some local guides as they speak different languages.
– For photographing in Tea Gardens best season is monsoon and the best time of the day is morning till the sun appears in the mid sky. However, in winter numerous haors (water bodies) become homes of migratory birds. If you want to photograph birds, you have to be there before the day breaks.
We have reached the end of this post. We tried to put our list of ’10 best places to visit in Bangladesh’ for traveling in Bangladesh. Detail guide for each of these places is coming soon. If you want to remain updated about our posts please do subscribe to our newsletter. If you think that this post assisted to know about Bangladesh please share with others and help them discover Bangladesh.
Camel Racing Festival in Kuwait is a living example of the extraordinary hospitality of Kuwait and Muslim Culture. Every year during winter (November to April) Kuwait Camel Racing Club arranges Camel Racing every Saturday and it is completely free to be there with light refreshment. The major attraction of this camel racing season is Camel Racing Festival, where camels from all GCC countries and some African and European countries participate. Camel Racing Festival of 2019 has been held from 09 February to 14 February at Kuwait Camel Racing Club, Al Ahmadi, Kuwait.
Getting There
Getting there is not a big issue. At least from the point of navigation, you can easily get there with the help of Google Maps. Here is the location pin. However, there is no public transport to go to the racetrack. So, if you have your own car, you can go there navigating google maps. However, there can be a situation where you are traveling in Kuwait and do not have your own car. In that case, rent a car from any rental agency.
Racing events usually start at 1 PM. However, if there is any special event, please confirm the time and details of the event from Mr. Ayed (ayedalajmi@hotmail.com) in advance to understand what’s scheduled.
Our Experiences
Our experience with the racing event was unique. We have been planning to get there for quite long but somehow it was not happening. At last, we went to the racing club on 09 February 2019 to watch Camel Racing. We all were very excited as it was our first experience to witness camel racing.
While planning to go there, we suffered from the difficulties of unavailability of information about the racing event. Like many other sports, cultural events information about this racing is a little scarce. I also wondered that many Kuwaiti are also not informed or maybe not acquainted with the event. However, that scarcity of information has also a good side. Considering the vastness of the event it is less crowded. It will allow you to enjoy the race.
We started from Farwaniyah at around 12:30 PM and we reached the site by 1:30 PM. After reaching there we initially went to a spot where visitors were having free camel ride. We insisted Arwaa have a ride but she was not interested. However, Tahsin really enjoyed the camel ride. Since her first camel ride in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India in 2015 she is having camel ride quite frequently.
Tom, Me and Tahsin at the racetrack
Tahsin enjoying camel ride
At around 2 PM food was served and we were astonished seeing the arrangement of the feast. We literarily were not ready for this. As we already said, information about the event is not much available, so we also did not know much about the day’s events. Our plan was to go to the track, witness some races, quickly return, and have late lunch. However, we grabbed our seats and had lunch. The food was really good.
Camel Roast during lunch
Arwaa enjoying dessert after lunch
At around, 3:30 PM race started. We all witnessed a few races together and then Arwaa got busy playing with many other kids at the place.
Arwaa playing with other kids
Arwaa posed with a drone at her back
This camel racing event was our first experience of witnessing a camel race and we all loved it. After witnessing total of 4 races we started our return journey before the nightfall. However, on 14 February 2019, we went again to witness the grand final. And I must say, we were lucky to be there at right time on the right day.
During the racing event, we noticed that technology is really easing up our life. The sign of technology was everywhere. In the marshaling point, officials were checking camels’ registration by an electronic device. There is no human jockey even. Literarily, robots with a whip have replaced the human. The camel trainer drives alongside the racetrack and controls encourages the camels by walkie talkie. He also controls the speed of the whipping to run the camel faster by remote. If you are going to this event you should try this off-road race as well.
Officials with their electronic device to check registration
Camels with robots at their back being lined up just before the race
We never knew about something like Camel Wedding. Fortunately, we saw many wedding events for the camels at the club during the festival.
A trainer standing with his newly wed camels
Camel wedding at the racing club
We have met Mr. Ghazy from Jordan. He is a renowned photographer and also works for Kuwait News Agency. Check Ghazy’s Instagram profile for amazing photos. during the race. He is a very senior photographer and I found him to be a very caring and generous man.
Me and Mr Ghazy at the Racing Club
Special Travel/ Photography Tips
Confirm the racing schedule including starting time and number of races.
Try to photograph from all the spots.
Place where all the camels gather before the race
Marshalling point.
Race start point.
Race finishing point.
Camel wedding spot.
If someone is driving for you, get some photos of the off-road race of the vehicles.
There is some watchtower sort of establishments. You may climb to the top of these towers to have a top view.
During the festival of big events, the club provides free food to all. However, during regular races, carry drinking water and snacks with you if you decide to stay for long. There are no restaurants in close vicinity.
Carry a scarf to cover your face and nose as a precaution.
Since, the event takes place during winter, check the weather forecast before going there and take precautions.
Safety is a big issue here. If you are trying to photograph the event, please remember your wellbeing and good health are way too precious. Do not run into the tracks for photographing while the race is on.
In the end, I must say, if you are living or traveling to Kuwait do not miss this unique event of Camel Racing Festival. Even if you cannot match your time with the festival, you can easily go to the camel racing club to enjoy the racing event every Saturday afternoon.
Well, if you find this write up is informative and helpful, please share and let others to be helped. Thank you very much for being here.
I am writing this blog about an ‘One Day Travel Itinerary to Muscat, Oman’ because throughout my life I felt this kind of one day travel guide is very important. During our journey across the world we often needed to take long/ short stop overs for various reasons. Beside, often we choose to take stop overs, essentially for two reasons; one is to travel cheap and the other one is explore something new en route. As you already know by now that today we are going to know about Muscat for one day tour. Let us consider that we have a full day from the morning till the night.
Every time I think of our trip to Oman I think of my friend Sufyaan. An Amazing guy. He really resembles Oman. Calm, quite, helpful and a generous man with outstanding human qualities. We always thank him from the core of our heart for his extraordinary support in Oman. Without his support our trip would not have been such nice and smooth.
Getting There/ Transportation
In muscat both public bus and taxi services are available. However, they are not always readily available. Sometimes, you have to wait for your taxi which will cost you time and for one day tour you cannot afford to waste any time. Moreover, if you rent a taxi for whole day it will cost you too much. On the other hand public buses are very minimal and may not serve your purpose. So, best thing to do to tour around Muscat is to rent a car from the airport from airportrentals or rentalcars. Few essential tips are given here:
You have to have an international driving license for renting car in Oman. However, you may also drive car in Oman with your country’s driving license subject to renting companies accept that. As per direction of Royal Oman Police you are good to go with your own country’s driving license.
Do not forget to carry your license with you. Because renting company will keep a copy of your license.
If you have GCC driving license, you will not an international license.
You will need a credit card to rent your car because beside charging the rent they will block some amount from your credit card to cover up any traffic violations. This blocked amount will be returned after 21 days if there is not violation by you.
Always book your car ahead. I mean before travelling to Oman. Otherwise you may end up finding that no cars available with the agencies.
I would prefer and recommend you to rent from any of the international agencies. You may get from any local agencies with cheaper price, but they are not always as professional and supportive as the international agencies are. I am saying this because I have experienced both the sides.
Places to Visit
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
This is one of the major tourist attractions in Oman. The magnificent architecture blended with Muslim heritage and modern art will mesmerise you. However, be very particular about the time. Non-Muslims can visit the Grand Mosque from 8 AM to 11 AM (Saturday to Thursday), while the library is open from 9 AM to 2 PM and 4 PM to 9 PM Saturday to Wednesday (On Thursday the library is open for the morning session only). Be respectful towards Muslim culture about your dress. Well, do not forget to come back at night to watch the spectacular view of the mosque at night with all the lighting and decoration. You may spend one hour to one and half hour here.
Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House, Muscat is the probable next destination you should go. We recommend you to go to this location after the mosque as it will be on the way to Mutrah (Check the map at the end). This is also an spectacular facility that anyone who is going to Oman should explore. There are two sides of the Opera House. One is the Box Office (main hall room) and the other part is the exhibition gallery. Gallery is situated on the other side of the road and you have to go there through the mall. You will need tickets for both the gallery and the box office.
The night view of the Opera House is also fascinating. If you want some quick bites, there are good restaurants available. Well, they are quite expensive. To cover both the places you will need approximately one and half hour. In the box office, you will get guide who will describe the facts about the Opera House.
Mutrah Souq
Mutrah souq can be your next destination if you are interested in walking through the shops with full of traditional arabian products. If you want get some staffs the first shop ‘Silver World’ is a good option for you. However, if you are not good at bargaining then you are going to lose. So, bargain. Do not be ashamed of it. Well, if you have been to already Grand Bazar of Istanbul, you know how these places run. Unlike, Grand Bazar rarely anyone will come to you and bug you to buy their staffs. You will have a decent walk along the alleys of the souq.
Mutrah Corniche
By the time you finish your tour around the Souq, I resume it will be afternoon. Depending on your time and preference you may walk along the Corniche or you may also decide to take the walk during late afternoon. Because you may not like to walk under the direct sun in hot and humid weather. However, what time you are traveling to Muscat is important in this regard. Well, you must take a walk in the evening along this Corniche.
Al Alam Palace and Forts
Al Alam palace is the ceremonial palace of Sultan Qaboos. It’s a huge property with two forts at two flanks. Neither the palace nor the forts are accessible for the tourist. However, you can have a walk around the premises of the Palace. After walking around the Palace drive/ walk to the seaside of the Palace to see the reverse view of the Palace. You will love the view I guarantee. Then drive all the way till the end of the road (see the map here). There is a parking. You may park your car and enjoy the beauty of the place.
We recommend you to come back at night at the palace and the rear side of the palace to see the night view and take photos. There are guards all around. They will not stop you for anything. But make sure you are not breaking any rules or making any chaos.
Kalbuh Park
We listed this place within one day travel itinerary because you will see a spectacular sunset from this place. Please be informed that you have option of driving to Corniche opposite to Riyam park also to watch sunset. But our recommendation is this place. You arrive here in the late afternoon but sufficiently before the sunset and enjoy your time. You can walk around and get some snacks from the food kiosk.
Arabian Sea from Kalbuh Park
Night at Kalbuh Park
Night Photography
After the nightfall, you can again go back to the Al Alam Palace both the palace complex and the rear side to do some night photography of the palace, forts and seaside view of the whole area.
From the palace complex you may drive to Mutrah, Souq area to walk around do some night photography. Please do not miss walking all the way end of the jetty opposite to the Mutrah Fish Market (check the map at the end).
Mutrah at Night from the Fish Market
From Mutrah you may drive to the Opera House and do night photography of Opera House at Night. The view is amazing. Try to walk to all the corners and sides to have photos from different angle. It is difficult to get a photos with no unwanted people inside the frame. But well, if you wait you will surely manage to get one.
Royal Opera House at Night
Royal Opera House at Night
From the Opera House you may drive to the Grand Mosque. However, calculate your time meticulously. Depending on your place of staying the night you may alter the place and go to the Mosque before the Opera House. Well, I am not sure whether you will be able to get inside the mosque complex or not if you are non-muslim. There are securities all around. But I hope you will be able to walk around and get through the main entrance.
Food
There are plenty of options for food. For any quick bites you will find fast-food chain restaurants in all the gas/patrol station. During your visit at the Opera House you may dine in Oman Sultan Chef. They provide good turkish food. In Mutrah there are plenty of options of Arabian, Chinese, Indian, Bangladeshi, etc food. We would like to make a special mention about ‘Royal House‘. We took our lunch/ dinner number of times here and they are amazing. They have good sitting arrangements outside the building. If the weather is good you may sit outside. The interior is also fascinating.
Dress
In Oman it is better to be little concerned about your dress. The people are very friendly but they are sensitive. So depending on your destination please be respectful to the tradition and culture of the locals.
Best Time to Travel
Oman is a country in the middle east with a vast coastal line. However, weather can turn very rough with extreme heat and humidity in the summer. If you have option of traveling to this country during the winter, better take that option. Well, whenever you travel, take usually traveling precautions e.g. carry water and drink a lot of it, wear dresses considering the weather, do not expose yourself to too much sun, do not sweat too much, etc.
Itinerary Map
Route Plan for One Day Travel Itinerary to Muscat, Oman
Hope this write up helps you in planning your trip to Oman or anywhere in the world with a long stop over in Oman. If it helps you please share and let others to be helped. Thanks for being here.
Spending a day deep inside Sharqiya/ Wahiba Sands in Oman is a must-to-do thing if you are traveling to Oman. There are numerous tour operators/ agencies who can book a desert safari for you. However, if you want to make the most of your money and time it is always better to do things by ownself. Well, before sharing our experiences and travel tips let’s know a little bit about Sharqiya/ Wahiba Sands.
Sharqiya Sands also Know as Wahiba Sands Just Before the Sunset, Oman 2019
Sharqiya Sands also Know as Wahiba Sands Just After the Sunrise, Oman 2019
“The Sharqiya Sands formerly known as Wahiba Sands, or Ramlat al-Wahiba is a region of desert in Oman. The region was named for the Bani Wahiba tribe. The area is defined by a boundary of 180 kilometers (110 mi) north to south and 80 kilometers (50 mi) east to west, with an area of 12,500 square kilometers (4,800 sq mi). Royal Geographical Society has documented the diversity of the terrain, the flora and fauna, noting 16,000 invertebrates as well as 200 species of other wildlife, including avifauna. They also documented 150 species of native flora.” (Source: Wikipedia). The area is approximately 200 km from Muscat through route 23.
Getting There
The best option for traveling to any place in Oman is a rented car. You can rent your car directly from airport once you arrive and again return before your departure. It’s better to book your car online from any of the rental agency like rentalcars, airportrentals, etc. Instead of going to the desert straight from Muscat it’s better to take a route like Muscat-Sur-Bidiyah-Nizwa-Muscat or vise-versa (Check map in TIPS). However, this route may vary depending on your available time in hand or your overall plan. I would recommend you to reach to your camp by afternoon from wherever you start. Coordinate with your hotel/ resort representative and manage your timely arrival. Do not forget to coordinate for your guiding arrangement. It’s a must do thing. Do not just rely on the Google Map. Signposts are of great help here.
Beautiful Road Towards Bidiyah from Nizwa, Oman 2019
Our Experiences of Desert Safari
Our planned route for our trip was Muscat-Jebel Shams-Nizwa-Wahiba Sands-Sur-Bimmah Sinkhole-Muscat (Check map in the TIPS). Accordingly on 23 January 2019 we went to Sharqiya Sands from Nizwa. However, in the morning we drove to Jebel Al Akhdar. After returning from Jebel Al Akhdar we had our breakfast. Thereafter, we quickly packed up and went to Nizwa Souq. By 12:30 PM we have started for the Al Wasil. The road is amazing and the view en route was also spectacular. Well, we booked our room with Arabiyan Oryx Camp and reached there by 3:30 PM. Their guiding (signposting) arrangement was ok and anyone would be able to reach the camp from Al Wasil.
Signposting Towards the Camp
Arabiyan Oryx Camp Entrance
Remarkable hospitality and professionalism of the staff of the camp amazed us at the first impression and it continued till the end. Here, I would make a special mention of Mr Arshad, the manager of the property. After doing necessary formalities we went our room and quickly got ready for the afternoon events. Meanwhile we fed our daughter and then started for enjoying the dune bashing and sunset over the sand dunes. Our guide Hamad was really an expert guy with good english communication skill. He gave us a wonderful experience and we will cherish our memories of the desert camp.
After all the bashing experiences we went to the view point for watching sunset. The sunset moments were magical and we all enjoyed it. Arwaa was so happy that she was running and crawling on the sand. We were so enchanted by the sunset view that even I forgot to take much photographs. Soon after the sunset we returned to the camp and started preparing for the evening.
After necessary refreshments we came to the common space in the centre of the camp. This common space had the arrangements of free tea, coffee and obviously free wifi. After spending some time there we moved for the dinner once it was served.
Common Space in the Centre of the Camp
Delicious Dinner Served by the Camp
After the dinner camp authority arranged a musical session in the common space. We all enjoyed that musical session. Everyone in the room enjoyed the amazing music of arabia. Well, our good time came to an end for the night. We returned to our room from there and slept for the rest of the night. Though, I had plan to do some star trailing at night but fortunately/ unfortunately it was a moonlit night.
Everyone Enjoyed the Traditional Arabiyan Musical Performance by Local Artists
In the morning, I woke up early to see the sunrise over the pristine desert landscape. However, seeing the sunrise was not easy. I practically had one of the hardest experiences of my life that I encountered for photography. In the early morning there was a crust of almost iced sand over the sands. With every single step I was breaking the crust and my legs were going deep in the sand up-to the knee. After fierce struggle at last I could reach the top of the sand dunes and within few minutes saw the sun started appearing in the sky. It was a magical moment. There were only 4/5 people on the top. And we all were mesmerised with the beauty of the morning sun. All the pain that I endured was really meaningful. However, descent was quick and easy.
That’s How I Climbed to the Top
Magical Sunrise Over Sharqiya Sands
I returned to our room, took shower and we all got ready for our next destination Wadi Bani Khalid. You may have a look on the article to know about the most beautiful wadi of Oman. Well, we had our breakfast then and thereafter we quickly depart saying good bye to all the amazing people of the Arabiyan Oryx Camp. Fortunately family of Mr Arshad was there in the camp and before departing we could say bye to his family as well. Thanks to Mr Arshad for his extraordinary support and the precious souvenir as well.
Mr Arshad Handing Over a Souvenir to Tahsin
Thank You Arabiyan Oryx Camp
Special Travel Tips for Desert Safari
Instead of directly going to Sharqiya Sands, take a circular route through Muscat-Nizwa-Bidiyah (Desert safari)-Sur-Muscat or vise versa. You may add or deduct places considering your priority.
This is the Route Plan That We Took. You May Take the Reverse One As Well
Try to reach the camp/ hotel/ resort before afternoon that means at least 3:30 PM. So that you do not miss the afternoon and evening activities.
Clarify from your hotel/ resort/ camp regarding your guiding arrangements to reach there. Whether it’s free or paid! Some resort/ hotel/ camp charges 20 to 30 OMR for one way guiding arrangement. Thats huge. On the other hand some offers free guiding arrangements from some point at Al Wasil at some given time. If you miss to get the convoy timely you may have to manage paid guiding arrangements.
If you are interested, you may select camps deep inside the desert like above 30/40 km. However, I have chosen Arabiyan Oryx Camp and I found that to be perfect. Not too isolated and again not again in the heart of the city. They had electricity, internet, hot water and all other amenities. So, before selecting your night stay arrangements please clarify every single details from the authority.
Hotel/ resort/ camps are looking for business. So, they are providing all the services in exchange of money. Please, clarify and be specific; which service you want and be sure how much you gonna pay.
In my opinion, taking a sunset ride is a must-to-do thing. However, you may also watch the sunrise. If you are ready to bear the pain of climbing the sandy hill in the freezing morning, you will be able to save some money. However, do not blame me for the pain though :).
If you have time take a two days tour here. Please, I repeat take a two days tour if you have time. I missed it. And I am sincerely thinking of going there again and hopefully will take a two days tour. In 2nd day you will have options of going 80/90 km deep inside the desert and spend a day with Beduin. If you want, you may spend a night with them as well. On completion, you will be brought back to the camp driving through the junction between the coast of the Arabian sea on one side and the empty desert on the other side. I wish I would know about this option before planning my trip to Oman.
You should get a scarf like any of the following for this safari in the desert. It’s really useful.
Hope this post will assist you in planning and executing an amazing desert safari in Sharqiya/ Wahiba Sands in Oman. If it does so, please share and let others to know about this post.
Dubai as city has transformed in last couple of years and has turned into one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Once a desert city has now evolved as an iconic city with all modern facilities, source of entertainment and adventure, a handful options of to-do things, skyscrapers and many more attractions. Tourism industry has equally developed and travel to and forth Dubai has been really made affordable and easy.
We travelled to UAE in December 2018 during our Christmas vacation. My last trip to this amazing place was in 2013 and since then a lot have changed. I was aware of the developments that took place in last couple of years and I was waiting to be amazed seeing them live. Out of all the amazing places we have travelled to in UAE, the Miracle Garden remains as one of the top attractions to us.
We at the Dubai Miracle Garden, December 2018
Getting There
Taxi. Going to the Miracle Garden is not a big deal. As a whole you will have one of the best taxi experiences in the world. They are readily available at anywhere and at anytime. Try to get DUBAI TAXI not lexus or any other taxi service. DUBAI TAXI is the government run service and eventually the cheapest one.
Metro. If you want to travel cheap metro is the best option. However, till now there is no metro station near to the Garden. If you are traveling to the garden from Deira, old Dubai or any other distant places you can come up to Mall of Emirates Metro Station 4. From there you have to take taxi. Please keep in mind that it’s really time consuming. If you have time constraints like us, better to take taxi.
On our way to Miracle Garden by DUBAI TAXI
The Miracle Garden Facts
The Dubai Miracle Garden is a flower garden in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The garden was launched on Valentine’s Day in 2013.
The garden is the world’s largest natural flower garden featuring over 50 million flowers and 250 million plants. (Check Wikipedia)
The Dubai Miracle Garden operates from October to April and remains closed from May to September due to high temperatures.
In 2018 the garden opened on 1st November.
Ticketing
In Dubai you can tickets for anything and everything online. For online booking there are numerous ticketing agencies like www.getyourguide.com who provide you tickets in reasonable price. However, in my opinion in few places it’s better to get tickets from the counter. Saying ‘few places’ I meant places where you really can afford to get tickets being in the queue and there is no risk of being stranded seeing “no more ticket today”.
The Ticket Price of the is 50 Dirhams (AED) for the adults and for the kids between 2 and 12 years is 40 Dirhams (AED).
My Experiences of The Miracle Garden
Now let’s talk about our experiences of the Miracle Garden. We planned to go to the garden early morning so that we can return to hotel by 12 PM and prepare for the desert safari. However, for unavoidable reasons we were little late and we reached the garden at around 10:30 AM. Though we were little late yet luckily we did not need to wait in long queue. Just in few minutes we got our tickets and entered the garden. After entering through the gate we took our tour anti-clock wise. If you look at the map you will see the circular walkway all around the garden.
View of the Miracle Garden just after crossing the entrance
As I have already mentioned this garden has the highest number of flowers and plants, and for which they hold the world record. Well, only having millions of flowers and plants surely did not make the garden a miraculous one. The incredible planning, arrangements of the spots, decorations, making things with live flowers, maintenance, and everything else altogether made it a real Miracle Garden.
Dubai Miracle Garden
Dubai Miracle Garden
It will be unwise to try to prioritise any spot before other in terms of beauty. Every single of them were amazing. The umbrella walkway, floral castle, floral clock, emirates A380 aircraft, lost paradise, lake park, hearts passage, the mickey mouse, the big teddy bear whatever you name, every one of them will make you lost into them. Well do not get too lost into one spot and miss others upsetting your time plan.
Umbrella Walkway
Lake Park
Hearts Passage
Lost Paradise
Emirates A380
Floral Castle
Floral Clock
Well, we missed visiting the Butterfly Park due to time constraint. As we already booked our desert safari and did not want to miss that by any means, we fell back to our hotel without visiting butterfly garden. We quickly had our lunch and good ready for the safari. So, my top tip for Miracle Garden is to go there early morning if you have any other plan for the rest of the day. However, if you do not have any other plan, surely you can go to the garden in the afternoon and remain there till the night to enjoy the night view of the garden.
Special Travel Tips
Check the opening and closing hours carefully and plan your visit. (Also be sure about the operating date. Best way to confirm is from their official website)
In my opinion going to the garden in the early morning is better option. Because the crowd is usually less and you will have wonderful photos (less people in the frame and good light for the photos).
Make a checklist of all the attractions of the garden, whether handwritten or may be in the mobile or tab. Check the list while visiting the garden so that you do not miss any spot.
Take clock-wise or anti clock wise tour. That will also help you to cover all the places.
If you have child/children of my age (Arwaa is 2 years 4 months), do not forget to take stroller.
There are food stalls inside the garden where you will get drinks and snacks. Still, keep water or any other drinks with you.
A three hours tour is enough for the garden in my opinion if you can plan your tour methodically.
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page”
Saint Augustine
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