It is hard to imagine that Tanzania’s most populated city and former capital, Dar es Salaam, was once a small fishing village. The city was founded by Sultan Majid bin Said of Zanzibar in the latter half of the 19th century but fell into decline after his death. The town witnessed a revival in 1887…
Male the capital of the Maldives is throbbing with energy with the number of visitors that constantly descend on the island. Visitors either come to explore the attractions of the island or transit from Male to the other resort islands. With its ever-growing population, Male has the distinction of being the fifth most densely populated…
For most people, the name Hiroshima instantly conjures up the horrific events of 6 August 1945, when the city became the target of the world’s first atom bomb. Poignant reminders of that tragic time are visible in different parts of the city that has risen from the ashes like a phoenix. Today one can hardly…
The name of Kenya‘s capital and largest city, Nairobi, is derived from the Maasai phrase ”Enkare Nairobi” which literally means ‘cool water’ Founded in 1899 by the colonial authorities, the town expanded rapidly and in 1907, replaced Mombasa as the capital. Today Nairobi has the distinction of being East Africa‘s most cosmopolitan city with contrasting…
The largest city and the commercial capital of Myanmar, Yangon or formerly Rangoon is a tourist hotspot of the country as well as south-east Asia. It was originally developed as a center for sea trade along the coast of Bay of Bengal and later developed into a prime metropolis. Although the city has witnessed the…
Lahore is the capital city of the Punjab Province of Pakistan. It is the second wealthiest city in Pakistan after Karachi. Its wealth is not only monetary but Lahore also displays a very rich cultural heritage. Dating back to days of Indus Valley Civilization, Lahore has been under the rule of various rulers ranging from…
Nestled among the mighty Himalayas, to the north of India, lays the mystical land of Tibet. It is the highest habitable place on the face of this earth lying at an average elevation of 5000 m above the level of the sea. A place where you can touch the sky, if anybody is asked what…
Nestled among the West African Savanna woodlands and grasslands lay the country of Nigeria. Abuja happens to be the capital city of Nigeria. It was not always so, but rampant modernization led to the planned construction of this city in the 1980s. Soon, by December 1991 Abuja flourished and replaced Lagos, the most populous city…
Varanasi’s claim to being the oldest city in the world may still be undecided, but there is no doubt whatsoever that this city is known to every Hindu in the world as a place they must visit at least once in their lives. A dip in the Ganga here is supposed to cleanse one of…
Arequipa, the second-largest city in Peru after Lima, has earned the sobriquet of the ‘legal capital of Peru’ since it is the seat of the Constitutional Court of Peru. It is also part of the Southern Peru Tourist Corridor along with Cusco, Puno, and Nazca. The city which was founded in 1540, has maintained a…
Ko (Koh) Samui or Samui Island is Thailand’s second-largest island after Phuket. It is famous for its sandy beaches, luxurious to mid-range hotels, lush vegetation, deep blue waters, and coral reefs. Travelers and tourists around the world visit Ko Samui in large numbers each year and enjoy this beach paradise. Samui was once a fisherman’s…
Ko Phi Phi is a group of Thai islands between the Phuket and the Straits of Malacca. Administered under the Krabi Province, the islands are an Asian paradise. A group of six islands is included in Phi Phi, the two largest are Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. Phi Phi Don has more population…
The city of Casablanca is the economic capital and the largest city situated at the central-western part of Morocco along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Invaded by Portuguese, Spanish, British and French colonialists, the city has been the prime attraction for its demography, especially to establish the naval base in the Europe-Asia sea trade…
Quito, the capital city of Ecuador sits at an elevation of 2,580 meters above sea level, making it the second-highest official capital city in the world, after La Paz. It also has the distinction of being the closest capital city to the equator with its central square being about 25 kilometers south of the equator.…
One of the most popular destinations in Switzerland is the little gem called Lucerne, located in Central Switzerland, at the foot of the Alps. This beautiful medieval city which began as a small fishing village is now the most populated town in Central Switzerland. Situated on the shores of Lake Lucerne and within sight of the…
The capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas. Founded by Bartholomew Columbus, the brother of the famous explorer, the city was named in honor of Saint Dominic in 1495 and became the ‘Gateway to the Caribbean‘. The city…
The city of Fez or Fes in northern inland Morocco is the second-largest city and the spiritual capital of the country, having many prominent madrasas (Islamic schools of learning). Fez once attracted many scholars, theologians, mathematicians, and lawyers whose influence on the city is still visible. Due to the number of ancient monuments that still…
Gdansk or Danzig (in German) is a Polish port city stationed at the mouth of the Motlawa River on the coast of the Gdansk Bay (of the Baltic Sea). Originally a center for European merchants, Dutch traders, and shipbuilding, the city, later on, flourished as a major center of art, architecture, and education in Poland.…
Dresden is one of the most populous cities in eastern Germany and the capital of the German state of Saxony. Located on the bank of the Elbe River along with the Ore Mountains in the backdrop, Dresden is a perfect ‘postcard city’. It has been the seat of Royal families and Polish Monarchs for centuries…
Seychelles, an archipelago country located on the Indian Ocean, around 2414 km offshore to the northeast of Madagascar, is a remarkable destination with a wide array of natural and urban attractions for tourists. It is an amalgamation of coral and rocky beaches, rainforests, white sands, granite islands, and unique geographical features. The islands are home…
Situated on the eastern coast of North Queensland, Australia, the city of Cairns is famous as the gateway to one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Great Barrier Reef. Once known for gold mining, the present Cairns is a sprawling urban township and a major port for the export of Australia’s natural…
When we were told our beer needs to be refreshed with ice cubes otherwise it goes warm within minutes we doubted about staying in Phuket. However, we fell in love with the place before we finish the beer. The friendliness, warmth and great smile of its people conquered our hearts. Although Phuket is only one…
The medieval city of Galway (Gailimh) lies along the banks of the River Corrib in Western Ireland. The historic city is set to be the European Capital of Culture in 2020 along with Rijeka in Croatia. Galway was once ruled by fourteen merchant families referred to as the tribes of Galway, hence the city has…
The Pattaya area of Thailand’s eastern seaboard is host to a beguiling range of attractions. The range includes anything from ancient Thai traditions to modern adventures. Whenever people think of Pattaya they immediately think of ladyboys, risque shows, and drunk tourists. This does not even begin to touch upon the many things that this city…