The Great Migration – Kenya

The Wildebeest Migration in East Africa, also known as “The Great Migration” can be watched in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. It is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet. Each year around 1.5 million wildebeest and 300,000 zebra and various species of antelope gather up their young and start their long trek from Tanzania’s Serengeti plains to Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve.

July to October, the grazing animals take a four-month-long trek towards the Mara River. In desperate need of water to drink and grass to graze, the countless herds need to cross the river to reach the lush, green grasslands in Maasai Mara. The world's most spectacular sight is the mass crossing of the swollen Mara River.

Maasai Mara is located in the South-western of Kenya, 290 kms from Nairobi. The abundance of wildlife and the remoteness of the reserve implant memories that no money can buy. Wildebeest Migration is a sight to behold on wildlife safari and it’s even more awesome watching it on the ground or with Mara balloon Safaris.

The Great Pyramids – Egypt

The most famous among the pyramids of Egypt are those incredible ones at Giza. These massive structures were built 4500 years ago, and they dominate the landscape around them. The Giza pyramids were built for King Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure; we even know what each of them looked like as archaeologists have found statues of them.

The Great Pyramid of King Khufu was originally 146 meters high; however, by time the capstone wore off and was replaced by a wooden tripod that indicates the original height. Now the height of the pyramid is 138 meters; it remained the tallest structure in the world for 3800 years. The pyramid was built around 2560 BC by King Khufu (fourth dynasty) over a period of 20 years. Hemon (Khufu’s vizier) is believed to be the architect of the great pyramid. King Khufu was seen as a living god, people respected him and obeyed his commands, But the only statue that remains of him is a very tiny one that can be seen at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, And his mummy was never found; May be because the real burial chamber is not yet discovered.

Colombo, Gulmarg, Tokyo

Colombo (Sri Lanka)

Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, biggest city and major port, draws together all the colours and cultures that make up this island nation, condenses them into a patchwork of markets, gardens and buildings both humble and grand, and knocks them against a narrow slab of beachfront. 
Many visitors will appreciate Colombo’s colonial heritage, its fine dining and shopping opportunities, and the dash of urban buzz in an overwhelmingly rural country. Others will tire quickly of the diesel fumes and the modern buildings on Galle Rd, the city’s main artery. There are plenty of cultural and historical attractions in areas such as Fort, Cinnamon Gardens and Pettah.


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Gulmarg (India)

About 52km southwest of Srinagar, the pine-fringed meadow at Gulmarg – literally ‘Meadow of Flowers’ – is a busy ski resort in winter and a popular walking resort in summer. The Alpine landscape is a marked contrast to the flat, poplar-lined fields that cover the bottom of the Kashmir Valley, but don’t expect a quiet retreat. Gulmarg is packed with domestic tourists year-round and most of the meadow is given over to a golf course that doubles as a training slope during the ski season. 


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Tokyo (Japan)

Life in Tokyo moves at a well-oiled clip, with an energy that borders on mania and an obsession with newness that seems to make all ideas quickly obsolete. Fashions begin to fade almost as soon as they are plucked from clothes hangers, and keitai (mobile phones) are traded up for each latest technological advancement. But even while throngs of tech-savvy, smartly styled Tokyoites trot through subway stations, there is a traditional side to this hyperurban cosmopolis, which may not be immediately evident. 

Courtallam, Natadola Beach, Franz Josef Glacier

Courtallam, Tamil Nadu, India
Courtallam, the 'Spa of the south', is situated at an elevation of about 167m on the Western Ghats in Tirunelveli District.  It is an excellent health resort and is famous for its water falls. It has an interesting legend. Devotees believes that Lord Shiva sent saint Agastheya to the south to avoid imbalance due to the over crowding in the mount Kailas on his celestial wedding.

The Peraruvi (Main Falls), Chitraruvi (Small Falls), Shenbaga Devi Falls, Thenaruvi (Honey Falls), Anitharuvi (Five Falls), Pazhathotta Aruvi, Puli Aruvi (Tiger Falls), Pazhaya Courtallam (Old Falls) are not only a tourist spot but also a famous health resort. Every year June to September one can enjoy the fall season. It contains lot of herbs which are good for health. Courtallam water has medicinal properties since the water runs through forests of herbs and the water has therapeutic qualities to cure physical ailments. During the fall season thousands of tourists from far and near visit this place.

Courtallam temple is dedicated to Lord Thirukutralanathar (Siva). This temple contains many inscriptions about Chola and Pandya Kings. Less than a furlong from here is a small temple called Chitra Sabha. Chitra Sabha (Hall of Pictures) dedicated to Lord Nataraja and decorated with paintings of rural deities and devotees, Puranic stories and religious events. The Sabha is one of the five Sabhas, where Lord Nataraja is said to have performed the cosmic dance.


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Natadola Beach, Fiji
Gorgeous Natadola Beach is Viti Levu's best. Its vast bank of white sand slides into a cobalt sea, providing good swimming regardless of the tide level. If you want to snorkel, surf or windsurf, take your own gear. Natadola's strong currents often defy the brochures so instead of glassy, still conditions you may find sufficient churn for good body surfing. Take care; the varying conditions and undertow have caught out even experienced surf swimmers and readers have reported injuries. For non-swimmers Natadola is an utterly photogenic spot to zone out but watch your valuables as there have been reports of theft. 

Local villagers offer horse riding along the beach and sell green coconuts for drinking, and necklaces; unfortunately they can be pretty pushy. If you don't want to take them up on their offer issue a firm but polite 'no thank you' and put some distance between you and the car park. 


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Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand
The early Maori knew Franz Joseph as Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere (Tears of the Avalanche Girl). Legend tells of a girl losing her lover who fell from the local peaks, and her flood of tears freezing into the glacier.


The glacier was first explored by Europeans in 1865, Austrian Julius Haast naming it after the Austrian emperor. The glacier started advancing again in 1985 after a period of retreat.

The glacier is 5km from Franz Joseph village, the terminal face a 40-minute walk from the car park. Both Fox and Franz glacier faces are roped off to prevent people being caught in icefalls and river surges. The danger is very real, and in February 2007, two tourists were injured after being hit by falling ice when they ventured too close. Take a guided tour to get up close and personal.

Corbett National Park

Famous for wild population of tigers, leopards, elephants

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas is the majestic Corbett National Park. Home to a variety of flora and fauna, it is famous for its wild population of tigers, leopards and elephants. Corbett National Park was established in 1936, as the Hailey National Park. India's first national park and the first sanctuary to come under Project Tiger, Corbett supports a variety of vegetation making it the ideal habitat for the tiger and its prey.

Jim Corbett Wildlife National Park is a majestic place for nature and wildlife lovers. In this wildlife park you can choose the option of Elephant Safari or Jeep Safari. The park is situated on the bank of Ramganga River. Forests of Sal are very famous for this area. In this park thrive more than 600 birds, 50 mammals, and 25 reptiles. It is also very famous for elephants and tigers. More commonly seen wildlife includes the wild elephant, langur monkey (black face, long tail), rhesus macaque, peacock, and several type of deer including chital (spotted deer), sambars, hog deer and barking deer. There are also crocodiles, the odd-looking gavial or gharial, monitor lizards, wild boars and jackals. Leopards (referred to as panthers in India) are occasionally seen. The Jim Corbett Wildlife Sanctuary is also a bird-watcher’s paradise, and since the creation of the Kalagarah Dam on the Ramganga River, large number of waterfowl have been attracted here.

Once a popular hunting ground of the British, this 201 square mile park was named in honor of the late Jim Corbett, the legendary hunter-naturalist turned author and photographer who most of his years in this area had contributed in setting up the this park. With the help of the World Wildlife Fund, Project Tiger was launched in Corbett National Park in 1973 and it is one of the first such tiger reserves in the country.

Flora: The varied topography comprises hilly and riverine areas, temporary marshy depressions, plateaus and ravines. The lower areas are almost completely populated by Sal trees. In the Jim Corbett National Park are found 110 tree species. 

Major Wildlife Attractions

Corbett is a haven for tigers as well as its prey, which include four kinds of deer, wild boar and some lesser-known animals. Leopards are mostly found in the hilly areas of the park. Some nocturnal cats found here are the leopard cat, jungle cat and fishing cat. Sloth bear is found in the lower regions of the park while the Himalayan black bear is seen in the higher hills only. The dole or wild dog can be seen in the southern areas of the park along with the Jackal.

Some of the smaller residents of the park are Himalayan Palm Civet, Indian Gray Mongoose, Common Otter, Blacknaped Hare and Porcupine. Elephants are among the main attractions of Jim Corbett Park. Along the Ramganga River shores, one can spot the long-snouted, fish-eating Gharial, Crocodile and the ‘Mugger’ Crocodile. Also seen on the rocky hillsides is the Ghoral or Goat Antelopes. The Langur and Rhesus Monkeys are well distributed through out the park and warning the whole Jungle with alarm calls when they see either a tiger or leopard from tree-top perches.

Other Attractions

Ramnagar: Situated in the rich farm belt of Terai, on the southeastern fringes of the great forests, the busy market town of Ramnagar is the main administrative centre for Corbett National Park and Project Tiger. Ramnagar makes a fishing base camp. At Lohachaur, 15-kms north along the River Kosi, good anglers are in with a chance of landing the legendary Mahseer, a redoubtable battling River Carp. Permits to have a go must be sought from the Project Tiger office in Ramnagar. Most resorts also arrange all inclusive fishing trips.

Wildlife Viewing: Chital, Sambar, and various other deer species find refuge in the Savannah grasslands known as the Maidan, behind the campsite to the south, tigers are occasionally drawn in looking for prey. Two hour elephant rides explore this sea of grass, rarely penetrating far into the deep jungles beyond. Try to convince your Mahout or elephant driver to venture in, as they can be quite magical. Come at dusk or dawn; in the heat of the day you probably won’t come across much more than deer among the tall grass. Tiger-sightings are few and far between, but you may be rewarded with fresh pug marks.

Jeep Safari in Corbett: Jeeps Safari, is the most convenient way to travel within Corbett National Park, and can be rented for the park trips from Ramnagar, from the KMVN Tourist Lodge and other travel agencies. One bus each day goes to Dikhala from Ramnagar, stopping at the Forest Rest houses en route. Banking and other important tourist facilities are available at Ramnagar and Lucknow.

Note: Bring binoculars, remain quiet, and don’t wear bright colors or strong perfumes.

Best Time to Visit: The best visiting season of Corbett is from November 15 to June 15. Corbett remains closed between June 16 and November 14, when the monsoons flood the river beds and cut the fragile road links.

How to get there

Air: Phoolbagh, Pantnagar at a distance of 50-kms is the nearest airport. Delhi at a distance of 300-kms is the nearest international airport.

Rail: Ramnagar is on the broad gauge track from where the road transport options have to be availed to reach the park. For faster trains and connections to other parts change at Moradabad.

Road: Dhikala is 300-kms from Delhi, 145-kms from Lucknow and 51-kms from Ramnagar. The route from Delhi spans Hapur-Murababad-Ramnagar. The turn off is some 7-kms beyond Muradabad to the left, marked by a small board. The route from Lucknow spans Bareilly–Kichha–Rudrapur–Doraha–Kashipur. Ramnagar is served by frequent buses to and from Nainital and Ranikhet, 112-kms north. Buses arrive every half hour or so after the eight hour trip from Delhi; Delhi Transport Corporation runs a semi deluxe service, and most of the alternatives are pretty basic.

Entry Inside The Corbett National Park: Visitors are advised to reach the gate half an hour in advance to complete the formalities for entry into the park.