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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  Mashum Apr 29, 2022

According to many oriental pieces of literature, Kashmir has forever been called Paradise on Earth. The Mughal Emperor Jahangir also considered the same. Moreover, it has got much geopolitical importance. However, people from all parts of the world are more concerned about the first fact only.  Kashmir has an enriched history and is one of the alluring Himalayan states that majorly falls in India. All Indians and foreigners plan to visit this place due to its beauty. Earlier a state, now Kashmir as got the designation of a Union Territory to India. In this article, you can come to know about the best time to visit Kashmir. So, if you are planning to visit this Indian UT anytime soon, please go through the article thoroughly. Here, you can study about the different seasons when you can visit and some activities too. Kashmir: A Brief Season Overview As you are concerned about the best time to visit Jammu and Kashmir, you should be aware of the seasons. Generally, there are three distinct seasons of this place. They are: The Summer Season The Monsoon The Winter Season Now, you should be aware of the fact that Kashmir can allure you no matter which season you visit. The only thing is, the shade of beauty would change. So, go through the next part of the article to choose your best time at the UT. Visit Kashmir During The Summer Season You can consider the summer as the best time to visit Kashmir valley as the temperature remains quite pleasant at this time. The best you can do is set a proper itinerary and cover the whole valley area. The temperature at this time remains some 14 degrees C to 30 degrees C. The best part about summer in Kashmir is tulip harvesting. So, you can consider the summer season as the best time to visit the Kashmir tulip garden. Moreover, you can indulge in Kashmir sightseeing. There are a lot of hill stations around Kashmir that you should not forget to visit. Some of them are Sonmarg, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. In Srinagar itself, you can witness the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden. Furthermore, you can visit the Betaab Valley near Pahalgam during the summer. At this time, you can go for a boat ride in the valley and indulge in certain sports. Finally, you should stay in the houseboat for a few nights while visiting Kashmir during summer. This is the best time to visit Kashmir for a Shikara ride. So, you can expect to spend a lot of time in Dal Lake and witness the marvelous beauty of the valley. Visit Kashmir During The Monsoons The Monsoon initiates roughly from the month of July in the Kashmir Valley and remains till October. However, the valley receives no heavy rainfall. This is the reason why a lot of tourists pick this best time to visit Kashmir valley. During the late monsoon, you can witness the apple harvest. So, it would be an outstanding experience altogether. You can even taste some fresh apples at this time. If you are planning for a trip to Kashmir during the monsoons, you should carry the raingear with you. The main reason is the continuous weather change in Kashmir valley. During the late monsoons, you can experience instant weather changes. However, staying in the houseboat or a Shikara ride would not be a problem. If you are in Kashmir during the months of September-October, you can get a chance to see some ice. At this time, you can witness the Beas glacier near Pahalgam. Although, it is not the original glacier the water turns into ice in some parts due to the sudden fall in the temperature. Do not forget to visit the Betaab Valley during the monsoon. At this time, the entire valley turns lush and the place turns picturesque. So, you can consider it the best time to visit Kashmir. Due to all the above reasons, the rush of tourists remains high in Kashmir. Do not forget to book your hotels and transport means. Moreover, you should take winter gear too. Visit Kashmir During The Winter The entire Kashmir valley turns white during the winter months. As a result, the months of November to February are the best time to visit Kashmir for snowfall. You should be aware that the temperature in the valley falls below the freezing point at this time. Majorly, of the young people visit the Kashmir valley during the winter. Otherwise, you can find the honeymooners roaming about the valley. There are a lot of things Kashmir has to give you during the winters. You can indulge in skiing and paragliding at this time. In case, you visit the valley in winter, do not forget to take high-quality winter gear. Also, keep in mind that the prices of almost everything would be higher than normal. The places that you should not miss during the winter tour to Kashmir are Gulmarg, Sonmarg, and Pahalgam. While the first couple of places turn into skiing zone, the last place turns into a village from paradise.  The best you can do is take a long holiday and enjoy every place for at least two to three days. It would surely be one of the most memorable trips of your life. General Facts To Keep In Mind During A Kashmir Trip Kashmir is one of the most sensitive places in India. So, you need to keep this in mind while you go out for a trip. So, ponder the following points when you plan for the trip. Carry valid ID cards with you are out Take a local sim card in Kashmir for better connectivity Do not roam about mysteriously Report to the administration immediately if you face a problem Taking all these documents with you can turn to any time as the best time to visit Kashmir.  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): 1. How Many Days Are Enough For Kashmir? A trip for seven to ten days is enough for a tip to Kashmir. 2. Is It Safe To Travel To Kashmir Now 2022? Yes, the present political conditions of Kashmir is normal and the place is safe.  3. How Much Does A Trip To Kashmir Cost? A good Kashmir trip for a person for ten days can cost some 70 to 80 thousand bucks.  4. What Is The Best Time To Visit Srinagar? You can visit Srinagar during the summer, winter as well as monsoons. Final Words A Kashmir trip any time a year can be a marvelous one. You should always take your time and set a proper plan. In case you are preparing for a lavish trip, make sure to choose the summer season. Remember that life during winters in Kashmir cuts down to a minimalist approach during the winters. The best you can do is take your time to set a plan. Also, check the current political situation of the valley during the trip. These things can always make you stay safe throughout the trip. No matter what plan you fix regarding the best time to visit Kashmir, make sure to maintain safety. Read Also: 10 Best Honeymoon Places In India You Must Know Top 10 Best Travel Sites For Tour In 2022 Best Places For River Rafting In India

BY  Shahnawaz Nov 1, 2023

Nestled in the heart of the Middle East, Jordan emerges as a land bathed in the amber glow of its desert sands, steeped in history and alive with cultural vibrancy. It's a nation where narratives from the past intersect with the bustling energy of the present, inviting travelers worldwide to immerse themselves in its rich tapestry of sights, sounds, and flavors. From the hauntingly beautiful façades of Petra to the sparkling waters of the Red Sea, every corner of Jordan whispers tales of civilizations, heroes, and legends, offering a journey that tantalizes the senses and nourishes the soul. Beyond the historical allure and natural beauty, what strikes most is the warmth of its people. Jordanians embody a tradition of hospitality. It harks back to age-old Bedouin codes of honor, encapsulated in the Arabic term "diyafa." It is the cultural cornerstone representing generosity and courtesy extended to guests. This deep-rooted value transforms a tourist's sojourn into something profoundly more meaningful. It intertwines experiences with genuine human connection and turns brief encounters into lasting friendships. Embarking on an exploration of Jordan is more than a simple escape. It's a pilgrimage to the cradle of cultural fusion. Thousands of years of history blend seamlessly with modern progressiveness. It is a place where awe-inspiring architecture, sacred sites, and transformative landscapes are the backdrops against which daily life unfolds. All of it is bound together by an intangible yet palpable spirit of resilience and unity. In this land, every path, every ruin, and every sunset is a testament to the enduring legacy. It is the continued renaissance of a nation that stands as a beacon of tranquility, acceptance, as well as adventure. The Historical Tapestry Jordan is a dream come true for history enthusiasts. The ancient city of Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, invites you to walk through a narrow gorge called the Siq, revealing the famous, rose-red Treasury as you emerge. Exploring further, the Monastery and the Roman-style theatre embody the artistic brilliance of the Nabateans, who carved an entire city out of the rocks. Not far from Petra, the Roman ruins of Jerash, sometimes called the "Pompeii of the East," offer a peek into the architectural prowess of ancient civilizations. Columns, temples, and amphitheaters come alive, transporting visitors back in time amidst festivals that reenact historic gladiator fights and chariot races. Spiritual and Cultural Immersion Jordan's spiritual allure is undeniable, with Mount Nebo offering panoramic views that Moses once witnessed of the Promised Land. The waters of the River Jordan, a site of countless baptisms, hold religious significance, while the mosaic map of Madaba artfully depicts ancient holy lands. Moreover, the compelling allure of Bedouin culture can be experienced in the enchanting Wadi Rum, known as the Valley of the Moon, where travelers can spend starlit nights in traditional camps, enjoying stories, music, and traditional cuisine. The Dead Sea and Beyond No visit to Jordan is complete without floating in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea. Rich in minerals and set against a stunning backdrop, it provides a unique experience along with luxurious spa treatments available in nearby resorts. For adventure lovers, the Red Sea city of Aqaba offers pristine coral reefs, making it a perfect spot for diving and snorkeling. Furthermore, the Dana Biosphere Reserve and the Mujib Reserve of Wadi Mujib serve as thrilling destinations for hikers, nature enthusiasts, and bird watchers. Culinary Delights and Heartfelt Hospitality Jordanian cuisine is a flavorful roller coaster. There are dishes like mansaf, a conventional Bedouin meal of lamb slowly sauteed in a fermented sauce, including dried yogurt. It is delectable when served with rice and maqluba, a hearty upside-down rice and eggplant dish. Sweet treats such as knafeh will satisfy dessert lovers with its perfect balance of cheese and syrupy goodness. However, what amplifies the experience is the Jordanian people's hospitality. Visitors often find themselves invited for tea or a meal, engaged in heartfelt conversations, and treated like family. This warm cultural practice, known as "diyafa," leaves travelers with a sense of home and belonging. It also has a deep connection that transcends the duration of their visit. Modern Amman Amidst its historical grandeur, Jordan’s capital, Amman, buzzes with contemporary life. The city is a juxtaposition where the old meets the new, from the ancient Citadel that tells stories of bygone civilizations to modern art galleries, cafes, and boutiques that paint a picture of Jordan's emerging creative scene. Cultural festivals, concerts, as well as culinary events are common, celebrating the country's progressive heartbeat. In Summary Jordan's timeless landscapes offer much more than just the visual allure of historical sites or the thrill of adventure. They discover the heart of hospitality and the soul of a culture unyielding in its warmth. This nation, with its harmonious blend of the past and present, offers a unique resonance of peace, stability, and authenticity. Despite being a fast-paced world often overwhelmed with commercial tourism. The true beauty of Jordan lies in its ability to offer an immersive experience. From wandering through ancient ruins and savoring traditional cuisine to forming unexpected friendships as well as finding moments of spiritual solace. Each aspect of the journey is a thread in a larger narrative that speaks of human connection. There is a historical wonder as well as the promise of unforgettable memories. As visitors depart from Jordan, they carry with them more than just souvenirs and photographs. They take a piece of Jordan's spirit, etched into their stories and reflections. The land and its people leave an indelible mark. There is a yearning paired with the knowledge that you want to visit Jordan again. Yes, it isn’t just a destination to tick off a travel list but a place to return to. It is a haven that continuously reveals deeper layers with each visit. It’s in this ongoing discovery that Jordan’s magic truly lies. It beckons travelers from across the globe to return to its welcoming arms, to explore further, dive deeper, and connect more closely with the land and its endless tales. Read Also: A First-Hand Experience Of Taking A Red Eye Flight! 6 Best Family Holiday Destinations In India Top 5 Tourist Destinations In Middle-East That Should Be On Your Bucket List