From Beaches To Mountains: Ideal Routes For Car Travel In Dubai

BY  Arnab Sep 7, 2022

Colombia is well known for its big cities, but also has beaches comparable to paradise. Whether on the Caribbean Sea or the Pacific Ocean, Colombia has hundreds of activities and incredible sights. Beautiful coral reefs, sunrises, and sunsets in the middle of the ocean, a world record, and unparalleled beauty is what await a visit to Colombia’s heavenly beaches. 1. Historic Beach In Santa Marta Santa Marta is recognized as the oldest city in Colombia. It has almost five hundred years of history, founded in the early sixteenth century. The streets reflect its history, even after many years of looting by pirates. It’s surrounded by natural ecosystems, being the entrance to large parks such as the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Tayrona National Natural Park. There is also a great selection of hotels in Santa Marta, Colombia that will suit the needs of every type of traveler. The most recommended are the downtown area or El Rodadero, which is a coastal area five kilometers south of downtown. The latter is an area cut from the city by the Ziruma hill and is a highly touristic area. To be close to the beach, this is one of the best areas to stay. Thanks to Santa Marta’s history, there are many museums to visit, such as the Quinta San Pedro Alejandrino, the place where Simon Bolivar spent his last days, and the Tairona Gold Museum, ideal for those who would like to know more about the local cultural history, and the Gabriel Garcia Marquez House Museum. The latter is not located in Santa Marta but is almost two hours from downtown, however, it is worth the visit if you want to know the place where the writer Gabriel García Márquez was born. 2. Nature For Everyone In Tayrona Up the coast of Santa Marta is the Tayrona National Natural Park. This park is composed of 15 thousand hectares, 3 thousand of them being maritime areas. It’s one of the most important natural parks in Colombia and South America, located 34 kilometers (21 miles) from Santa Marta. It’s possible to stay in a hotel, although there is lodging inside the park or even the possibility of camping. Being on the coast, it has more than fifteen beaches to visit. Depending on your travel plans, you can camp at Castillete beach, or stay in one of the luxurious Tayrona Ecohabs at Cañaveral beach. Swimming is prohibited at Cañaveral due to the water’s fierceness. There’s only a small protected area set up for swimming known as La Piscinita. If you are looking for diving or snorkeling, the best beach is La Piscina. It has calmer water and many coral reefs. The most photographed beach in Tayrona is Cabo San Juan del Guía. It’s considered the most beautiful, but for the same reason is where you can expect more people. If you are looking for the opposite, it is better to go to Nudist Beach, where there are usually very few people, or take a walk at Playa Brava. 3. The Walled City Of Cartagena Officially named Cartagena de Indias, this city has been one of the most important ports in Colombia since its foundation. Like many Caribbean ports, it has been present in many pirate conflicts. The remnants of the protection against these plunders are present in the many colonial walls still standing. The Castillo San Felipe de Barajas is one of these remnants. It’s located on a hill on the outskirts of the walled city and constitutes the largest construction erected by the Spaniards during the centuries of their occupation of the colonies. You shouldn’t leave Cartagena without visiting the city, however, if you’re traveling to visit the beaches, Bocagrande is the best known and most touristic, since the best hotels are in this neighborhood. On the other hand, it’s also recommended to visit the beaches near Cartagena, since they will be less crowded and you won’t feel the hustle and bustle of the city. The best one is Playa Blanca on Baru Island. The landscape of fine white sand and clear turquoise sea is unparalleled. 4. San Andrés And The San Bernardo Archipelago: Colombian Paradise Islands Some of the best beaches in Colombia are located on its islands. The island of San Andres is located in the Caribbean, east of Nicaragua, belonging to the Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina. Aquatic ecotourism is one of the main activities, especially snorkeling, but also scuba diving in places where there are underwater statues. On the other hand, the San Bernardo Archipelago is made up of ten islands, each with its own activities and wonders to enjoy. The artificial island of Santa Cruz del Islote holds the world record for being the most densely populated island on the planet, with 1,500 people living on about one hectare. You also can snorkel in the open sea and stay in a house in the middle of the ocean. Read Also: Top 10 Best Beaches In Florida 6 Things To Do At The Beach This Fall 10 Best Beaches In Italy That Will Surprise You The Most The Many Reasons Hotel Stays Become Extended In New York City

BY  Sibashree Sep 10, 2024

Connemara National Park has been an important Irish national park, having won the Green Flag Award in 2018. This international benchmark shows its worth as a green space and park. Further, in 2021, it also sought the New Heritage Site Accreditation, which shows the quality of the national park and how it is maintained in a sustainable way.   Moreover, this park is even rich in geology and houses many historical and archaeological sites. In addition, as an outdoor enthusiast, you can explore its various hiking and walking trails.   So, want to tour this Irish national park, which has a dash of history, culture, natural abundance, and more? Here is a complete guide for you.   Important Information About Connemara National Park  Visiting Time: 9 am to 5:30 pm  Entry Fee: Free  Closed On Christmas Day, St. Stephen’s Day, and Red and Orange Weather Alert Days  Amenities: Education Center, Visitor Center, Playground, Cafe, Toilets and Picnic Areas  How to Reach: You can reach this national park by train, car, or bus. You have to reach Galway City first and then take a bus (or private car) to reach the park.  Main Access Point: Near Letterfrack along the N59  Pet Friendliness: Dogs are Welcome to Walk the Trails   Fascinating Geology Of Connemara National Park  The national park is a part of the Twelve Ben area. So, the park also has underlying metamorphic rocks. The sediments forming these rocks are aged between 700 to 550 million years.   Further, you will find schists and gray marbles around the edges of the rocks. Moreover, at the top, you will see quartzite. In addition, it is astonishing to know that the final shaping of the park took place around 10000 years ago or during the last ice age.  The park has a rocky formation with boulder clay and a deposit of sand and gravel. The distinct geological features have contributed to the type of vegetation found in this area.   What Animals Are In Connemara National Park? Which Plants Does This Park Have?  The International Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, has marked Connemara National Park as a Category II Protected Area. So, there is a constant endeavour to safeguard the landscape, wildlife, and ecology of the park unadulterated.   The park has many heritage breeds along with a wide range of protected flora and fauna. In addition, there are some conservation projects to protect the flora and fauna. The table below shows the details.  Birds* Stonechats Wrens Robins Peregrine Falcon Merlin Sparrowhawk Kestrel Mammals Nocturnal Animals  Pine Marten Bats Foxes Badgers  Diurnal Animals   Pygmy Shrews Red Deer Wood Mice Otters Hares Stoats Connemara Ponies Other Fauna Freshwater Pearl Mussel Salmon Trout Smooth Newt Common Frog Rare and Protected Plants and Other Flora Sundews Butterwort Purple Moor Grass Roseroot Purple Saxifrage Starry Saxifrage Pale Butterwort Lesser Twayblade Mountain Sorrel St. Patrick’s Cabbage St. Daboec’s Heath Heritage Breeds Connemara Ponies Cladoir Sheep Moiled Cattle Old Irish Goats Galway Sheep Conservation Projects** Control of Rhododendron Mweelin Exclosure New Found Wood Connemara Pony Cladoir Sheep Preservation Committee Irish Moiled Cattle & Conservation Grazing  *The national park has a large number of birds in the winter. Many native birds of Ireland, such as woodcock, song thrush, mistle thrush, snipe, and starling, increased in numbers in this season.   Moreover, fieldfare, redwing, and many other birds from Northern Europe flock to this park in great numbers during winter.   **The conservation projects in the park are designed to maintain biodiversity. These also try to eradicate the negative impacts on the rare and protected flora and fauna of the park.   Habitats Of Connemara National Park  Connemara National Park has wet boglands and uplands as its habitats. Further, the extremely wet boglands are the hubs of various vegetation. However, the uplands have drier mountain bog communities.  Boglands   Boglands are found in the low-lying areas of the park. Further, in these wet boglands, you will find the western blanket bog. In addition, purple moor grass surrounds this western blanket bog, and thus, it has a grass-like appearance.   In the national park, you will find these boglands near the pool surface, slope inclines, flat lands, and flushes. However, these boglands can appear on your route if you're hiking off trails, and there can be swallow pools. So, be careful!  Uplands   The mountainous and rocky uplands also house a wide variety of vegetation. The grasslands and heather here are also home to some rare and endangered animals, such as red deer and Old Irish Goats.  Moreover, the heathlands here are drier due to a higher altitude.  Hiking And Walking At Connemara National Park  For hikers, all roads in the Connemara National Park lead to the Diamond Hill summit. , panoramic views of Letter Hill or Tully Mountain. Twelve Bens and Kylemore Abbey are also visible from the mountain summit. However, the national park has three more major hiking trails. Check out the table below.  Name of the Trail Difficulty Level Distance (in Km) Upper Diamond Hill Difficult 3.7 Lower Diamond Hill Moderate 3 Sruffaunboy Trail Easy 1.5 Ellis Wood Nature Trail  Easy 0.5  If you are planning to complete a multi-day hiking trip in the national park, you can consider camping here. However, you have to abide by the Wild Camping Code and the regulations related to the Camping Exclusion Zone.   Moreover, you can take a walk (self-guided) through the Tree Trail in the park. It begins from the Car Park Kiosk, and throughout the trail, you will meet tree varieties such as holly, hazel, oak, and Scots’ Pine.   Did You Know?  Through the Connemara National Park West Center and the Letterfrack Village, you can have a thought-provoking walk. The trail you will take is known as the Poetry Trail. Further, in various locations along the path, you will find nine poems by eminent Irish poets like Mary O’Malley and Moya Cannon, which are placed on plaques.   In addition, it is a one-of-a-kind experience for poetry lovers. Some of these nine poems talk about the park and its importance in Irish history. Further, the remaining ones are more generic in nature.   Exploring History At Connemara National Park  The archaeological and historical sites at Connemara National Park tell the tales of human lives and the history of the park for thousands of years. The park’s two megalithic tombs (West and East Tomb) in the park were already popular. However, thanks to the surveys of Helen Riekstins, an archaeologist and national park guide, we have 13 other sites that add to the importance of the park.   Among these 13 sites, six further have been visited by NMS or the National Monuments Service and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Here are the visited sites.  A standing stone  A cairn  Enclosures  A pre-bog wall  Nearby hut  A house  Further, the other seven sites are to be a part of the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) review for inclusion.   The pre-bog wall is likely to be associated with neolithic farming. On the other hand, the hut sites and standing stones are believed to be from the Bronze Age.   Connemara National Park has sites that are 10000 years old. These sites existed as coastal middens and belonged to the Mesolithic or Stone Age.  Many archaeological and historical sites are found near Diamond Hill, Letterfrack, and Mweelin.   The megalithic tombs in the park are around 4000 years old.   Connemara National Park is a twin historic site with Terra Nova National Park in Newfoundland. These twinning sites speak for the cultural bond between Ireland and Canada.  Guglielmo Marconi, who received the patent for two-way radio in 1912, is associated with the place. Between Diamond Hill and Mweelin, he suspended the wires, and the current site of Bunaboghee Bog and Park Office had the second line. Here, he invented the first Full Duplex Radio.   So, the presence of various archaeological sites and the association with famous personalities make this park a delightful site for history lovers. Moreover, the Letterfrack Industrial School (1890) is a site important in modern history. Further, the school’s graveyard here tells the grave tales of injustices to the boys resting there.   Final Words   Located in County Galway, Connemara National Park covers around an area of 2,000 hectares. The park opened its door to visitors in 1980, and since then, it has been a place of attraction with its scenic beauty, geological variety, rich wildlife, and hiking trails.   The park also hosts many events like the Summer Evening Lecture Series and Heritage Week Celebration. Moreover, stargazing has become a popular activity in the park, and adults and children over 7 years of age can participate in the star-watching event. You can also check the National Parks website for the latest events at Connemara National Park.  So, are you planning a visit to this historically and naturally rich Irish national park anytime soon? Or have you already been to this wonderful place? Don’t forget to share your experience with us!  Also read Why Include Whale Watching In Your LA Itinerary. From Cocktails To Kickflips: Must-Try Activities In San Diego. Lake Clark National Park And Preserve: Very Few Know How It Preserves The Alaskan Spirit And Culture.

BY  Nabamita Jul 28, 2022

Hidden from the hubbub of crowded cities and tourist destinations lies one of the most beautiful spots of Rajasthan. Mount Abu is the only popular place in Rajasthan up in the hills. With beautiful lush greenery aesthetic and serenity that you wouldn’t wanna leave the beautiful place. Mount Abu is one of the most popular destinations among couples for their honeymoon.  Known as “The Hill of Wisdom,” up there in Mount Abu are the pilgrimage destinations for Rajputs and Jains. One of the most popular among them is the Dilwara Jain Temple, built around the 11th to 13th centuries.  Before you plan a trip to Mount Abu, you should know the best time to visit Mount Abu. Most of the time, the climate is great for tourists to visit Mount Abu.  But for you to get the best experience, visit here in Mount Abu; let me break down the best time to visit Mount Abu.  MonthSeasonMin/Max TemperatureWeatherNovember to FebruaryWinter16-22CCold and PleasantMarch-JuneSummer31-36CWarm and HotJuly to OctoberMonsoon28-34CIrregular Rainfall Best Time To Visit Mount Abu For every tourist destination, there is a perfect time when you should visit that place, for Mount Abu best time to visit.  Peak Season For Mount Abu, the peak season for tourists is from November to February. Every nook and cranny of the mountain is decorated in festive wear. So this would be the best time to visit Mount Abu.  Shoulder Season Since it's the summer in Mount Abu, you won’t be seeing many tourists. But if you like peace and tranquility, then this is the best time to visit Mount Abu. Without the horde of tourists, you can actually see the beauty of the mountain.   Off Season The off-season for Mount Abu is the monsoon months from July to October. The rainfall here is quite irregular. But during these months, you can see the freshness of the mountain is revealed after a shower.   Best Time To Visit In Mount Abu And Why?  1. Winter In Mount Abu November to February Temperature The climatic condition of Mount Abu during winter ranges from 16 to 22C. During the day, it can rise up to 27C, and during the night, it can fall to 10C.  Weather As it doesn’t snow in Mount Abu, the feels very soothing and cool. It perfectly compliments the hotness during the daytime. The weather is optimal for sightseeing and traveling around.  Significance Mount Abu has a rich history to itself; you can find it being mentioned as Abudaranya in Puranas. Most pilgrimage spots and forts here date back to the 11th century.  Why visit now? This is no doubt the best time to visit Mount Abu. With the perfect weather, you can enjoy each and every tourist spot now.  Most festivals here take place during the winter months. So you can even enjoy the hospitality and the culture of the place. Events such as dancing, music, light show, fireworks, and even flying kites take place at this time.  Things to know Since the winter months is the peak tourist time, so be prepared for the crowd. It is also possible that hotel rates are going to increase. Try to visit towards the end of December so you can visit during the winter festivals.  2. Summer In Mount Abu March to June Temperature In The summer months in Mount Abu, the temperature ranges from 31 - 36C. During the day, it can rise to 40C, and at night it falls to 27C. Weather Even in the summer months, you can easily experience irregular rainfall. But the heat is not in an extreme range. During the summer months, due to the summer vacation holidays, you can expect a lot of crowds here.  Significance The heat here in Mount Abu is not as scorching during the summer months, so you can enjoy it as well. Only by carrying a good amount of sun protection. You can easily beat the heat.  Why visit now? The best time to visit Mount Abu wildlife sanctuary is during the summer months. The forts and museums are great places to visit during the summer months. Here is Trevor’s Tank; you can even encounter crocodiles up close.  Things to know Even in the summer months, you are going to see crowds, so expect to see long lines for certain places. Since it will be hot, try to visit the indoor attractions during the morning and afternoon. And the outdoor places in the evening when the weather cools down.  3. Monsoon In Mount Abu July to October Temperature The temperature during the monsoon months remains around 28C to 34C. It rains irregularly throughout the day, and that makes the air humid.  Weather During the monsoon months, the weather doesn’t go up more than 28C. The rain makes the weather cooler after the summer. Surrounded by desert, the fresh greenery of Mount Abu looks fresh during the monsoon.  Significance The serene beauty of Mount Abu during the monsoon months is beautiful to even experience. The rain showers freshen ups the mountain. The whole surrounding creates a relaxing environment. Why visit now? During the monsoon, the surrounding looks fresh and more lively. Since not a lot of tourists visit at this time, you can have the whole place for yourself.  This is the best time to visit Mount Abu if you just want to relax and enjoy nature. You can talk for long walks and enjoy the local culture.  Things to know Since not a lot of tourists visit here during the monsoon, you will get a lot of discounts on hotels. Though it doesn’t rain heavily, enough to hamper your plans for sightseeing. So keep that in mind while planning an itinerary.  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): 1. Which Month Is The Best Time To Visit Mount Abu?  Even though you can visit Mount Abu any time of the year, the best time to visit Mount Abu is from November to March. 2. How Many Days Are Needed To Visit Mount Abu? You would need about 3 to 4 days to visit the whole of Mount Abu.  3. Which Is The Best Time To Visit Udaipur And Mount Abu? For Mount Abu, the ideal months are November to March. And for Udaipur, the ideal months are from September to March.  Visit Now! As you can see, you can visit Mount Abu any time of the year, but what you need to know is the climatic conditions of that time. It is very important to know the essential things to carry for every weather. Like during the winter carrying warm clothes is important. Bring enough sunscreen during the summer and don't forget to carry your umbrella during the monsoon. If you keep these things in mind any time can be the best time to visit Mount Abu. Read More: Which City Is Known As The City Of Lakes? Top 7 Best Places To Visit In Darjeeling – Travel Guide Top 5 Best Tourist Places In Coimbatore – Travel Guide