Just 28 kilometers from the Pakistan border in the state of Punjab, Amritsar in all its splendour and golden glory can be found. This bustling city full of bazaars, sights, sounds and smells is the spiritual capital of the Sikhs.
Amritsar gained its name meaning “Holy Tank of Nectar of Immortality“ from the body of water surrounding the magnificent Golden Temple, the most sacred site for Sikhs. While Armirtsar may not be a household name to many travellers, it should be and is well worth adding to your India itinerary.
The Golden Temple is covered in 400 kilograms of glistening gold, surrounded by a serene sarovar (pond), and home to one of the biggest community kitchens (langar) in the country that serves up to 50,000 people a day. This giant kitchen is staffed by volunteers who churn out roti, rice, daal and vegetables to all who wait. The institution of the Sikh langar was started by the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, whose intention was to uphold the principle of equality between all people regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed, age, gender or social status.
Though visitors make a beeline for the temple, the old-world character and charm of the city is also alluring, not to mention the quality of Punjabi food on offer – butter-drenched paranthas (Indian flatbread), dahi-balla and aloo-tikki (deep-fried savouries), Makki di roti and sarson da saag, and butter chicken are home grown favourites that must be sampled.
For a truly authentic and immersive experience you can actually stay in the dorm inside the temple. Bedding is basic and is by donation. For a dose of good karma why not pay it forward and volunteer in the largest communal kitchen in the world.
If there’s a better place in the world to practice yoga than India’s Rishikesh, we’d like to see it.
Set at the foothills of the Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand, Rishikesh is not only one of the most sacred cities in northern India, it’s also the birthplace of yoga. Rishikesh has seen a steady stream of devotees since the Beatles’ John and Paul put down their guitars and spread out their mats here in the late 1960s.
Often referred to as the yoga capital of the world, the tranquil forested slopes in Rishikesh are dotted with ashrams, temples and luxurious spa resorts. Whether you’re a novice or looking to improve your techniques under expert tutelage, this is the place to get bent into shape.
Where to go to perfect your downward dog and sun salutation? There’s plenty of ashrams to choose from. Parmarth Niketan is the largest in Rishikesh, Sivananda Ashram has free yoga and meditation classes daily, Omkarananda Ganga Sadan specialise in Iyengar yoga, and Phool Chatti was founded in the 1800s so has stood the test of time.
For those who have overstretched, tweaked a muscle or are just looking for a traditional medicine to heal their ailment, Rishikesh is also home to several Ayurvedic treatment centres. Ask at your ashram for recommendations.
If yoga doesn’t balance your chakras, Rishikesh is also great for adventure sports enthusiasts, with activities like white water rafting, bungee jumping, canoeing, mountain biking and rock climbing all on offer. Plus, it’s the starting point for treks several pilgrimage centres.
It’s known as Japan’s island of gold, not only because it was the country’s main source of the precious metal but also because it is a microcosm of the past. The culture on Sado was formed in three waves: the first – the aristocratic culture – was due to forced exiles; the second – samurai culture – was a response to the goldmine; and the third – merchant culture – was thanks to Sado’s location in the physical centre of the Japanese archipelago.
The old town of Shukunegi was the base for merchant culture in Sado. As the gold mine was flourishing, this village thrived as a port of call for ships travelling from Osaka to Hokkaido. Those living there made out very handsomely, at one stage taking in a third of all money made in Sado. Once the port was moved from Shukunegi to Ogi, five kilometers away, those who built the ships started living here and the area has been preserved in that form to this day.
The village is very dense with more than a hundred houses packed together, and as soon as you enter you can really get a sense of what it must have been like to live here in times gone by. The vast majority of buildings, however, are still lived in, with a few even open to the public. Inside they are exquisite with no expense spared. You can see how they were expanded from one to two floors, with lacquer walls and large hand-painted fusuma sliding doors. The ship carpenters’ skills did not go to waste.
The stunning Pacific Islands aren’t just synonymous with paradise – they are paradise! Well, that is if you consider clean, white stretches of sand being lapped by warm azure-blue water and fringed by tropical forests to be paradise. Then there’s the small villages full of friendly locals, amazing wildlife and almost constant sunshine. But it has got to be the warm, relaxing atmosphere that really makes the Pacific Islands such a heavenly place – it invigorates the soul and even the most stressed-out person can’t help but feel relaxed and pampered when visiting.
There are approximately 25,000 islands dotting the Pacific Ocean, and these are divided into the three primary groups of Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. We say approximately, because there are possibly some still to be discovered, and many are so remote that they haven’t yet been fully explored. So unless you want a Cast Away experience, you’re better off sticking to the larger, inhabited islands.
The best and most accessible region for visitors from Australia is Melanesia, which contains Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. And the best way to get there? Via a cruise ship with Carnival Cruise Line, of course. Here’s why you should experience the Pacific Islands on a cruise at least once in your life…
The name Fiji is probably one you’ve heard before, and that’s because the tropical oasis is one of the region’s most visited destinations. Having said that, its popularity does not take away from its pristine beauty and relaxed island vibes. Fiji is made up of 333 spectacular islands, each boasting beautiful beaches, amazing diving sites and colourful reefs, as well as smiling locals and all the mod-cons you’d expect from a luxury resort island.
There are so many things you can explore along the shores of this nirvana-like paradise, such as…
– Dive or snorkel among a rainbow of soft corals
– Take a longboat to visit Nailililili Historical Village
– Explore beautiful Taveuni Island with its lush forests and spectacular volcanic mountain
– Experience the fascinating island culture during a live show
– Take the plunge on a river rafting expedition
– Relax in a natural thermal pool
JOURNEY TO VANUATU
This scattered archipelago of more than 80 islands is the place to go if you want to combine adventure with relaxation. You can hike up an active volcano one minute, then come back down for a swim and a drink of kava with the local ni-Van people the next.
With stunning beaches, rugged rainforests, unbeatable diving spots (a few with shipwrecks!) and so much more, you’ll always find something to do in Vanuatu.
If you’re on a Carnival cruise, you can also…
– Experience Vanuatu’s ancient culture during a village visit
– Get the adrenaline pumping on a flying fox adventure through the Emerald Forest
– Try out zorbing at Wet ‘n’ Wild Adventure Park
– Enjoy a horseback safari
– Embark on a snorkelling trip to discover spectacular marine life
– Lounge under cool, cascading waterfalls (image the photos!)
Imagine an unspoiled tropical paradise with picturesque scenery and beaches that would make any professional photographer weak at the knees. Now add in a healthy dose of French culture and you’ll get some idea of what New Caledonia is like. Another destination that offers plenty of action, it’s also home to a UNESCO World Heritage-listed lagoon, plus many more natural wonders.
Make sure you also…
– Relax on the white-sand beaches of the Isle of Pines
– Visit Lifou’s phenomenal forest and secret grotto
– Enjoy a guided Segway tour in Forest Parc
– Take a fun Zodiac ride to Duck Island
– Try stand-up paddle boarding at lovely Kuendu Beach
– See Noumea via the popular yellow Tchou Tchou train
DO IT ALL!
If that sounds like the makings of your dream holiday, you’ll be glad to know these experiences are available on a Carnival South Pacific cruise. In fact, you’ll also have more than 45 activities to choose from while you’re onboard, including mini golf, dive-in movies, a waterpark, Camp Ocean for the kids, plus a variety of bars for the adults to enjoy.
Carnival Splendor is now sailing from Sydney to the Pacific Islands. Join us on a cruise for an experience like no other!
For an island that’s only 1.5 metres above sea level and has a perimeter of two kilometres, Yubu has a lot going for it. Sitting just 500 metres from the eastern coast of Iriomote Island in Okinawa, Yubu formed when sand flowing from Iriomote’s Yonara River and picked up by the sea’s current settled here. Its lush landscape is home to a subtropical botanical garden, butterfly house, cafe and incredible ocean views. But the most memorable part of a visit to Yubu is the ride there.
To access Yubu, you’ll have to hop aboard a cart, which is then pulled through the water – it never gets any deeper than an adult’s knees – by a buffalo. The journey takes 15 to 20 minutes – the timing is greatly dependent on the temperament of the ox – and features a performance by the cart driver on the sanshin, a traditional Okinawan stringed instrument.
The buffaloes and their drivers share a bond, as they’re paired up for the entirety of their careers. This is the perfect way to witness man and animal working together, making the experience all that more special.
Want to know more about what to do while you’re in Okinawa? Check out the feature stories on Okinawa’s wild side and the Yaeyama Islands.
It would take you at least 90 minutes to drive from Darwin to the Lodge at Dundee, the bar at the local holiday park in this remote, seaside town. In one of Airborne Solutions’ helicopters though, you’ll be ordering your first icy beer in a mere 25 minutes having taken in some pretty speccy views of the NT coastline along the way.
And that’s just the beginning of your day on a seven-hour Heli Pub Crawl that takes in five memorable Top End establishments. Interesting locals with tall tales, some of the country’s more colourful publicans and even a wildlife encounter – one of the stops is Goat Island Lodge on the Adelaide River, where Casey the Croc often comes for a feed – are guaranteed.
Start stretching and warming up because this Grasshopper Adventures cycling tour through India’s largest state, Rajasthan, will require some serious pedal power. You’ll kick things off in Jodhpur with a leisurely two-wheel cruise through the Blue City and a tour of the ancient Mehrangarh Fort, before riding onwards to the likes of Rohat, Jojawar, Ranakpur and Udaipur. Grand palaces, ancient forts, remote villages and bustling spice markets will make keeping your eyes on the road a tough ask, as will the Rajasthan landscape as it evolves from desert and farmland to lush valleys and wooded forests.
While the back roads of rural Rajasthan are mostly flat with little traffic, there are a few days of hill riding that should get your heart pumping. We hear the views are worth it though.
Slightly north of the town of Dahab, you’ll come across this popular dive site in the Red Sea. Even if there wasn’t a cluster of buildings on the stretch of beach that meets the desert announcing you’d arrived, you’d still notice it on approach. Just metres off the shore and surrounded by a shallow reef, this is one patch of seriously royal blue.
The reason for the eye-catching change of colour is an underwater sinkhole more than a hundred metres deep. There’s an abundance of coral and marine life on the walls of the hole, making it a very inviting spot for divers and snorkellers. But don’t be fooled by the calm conditions if you’ve strapped a tank to your back. Plenty of divers have come unstuck here, trying to go far deeper than they should to find the underwater arch that leads to the open ocean.
Set sail from Reykjavik on Le Boreal, a luxury expedition cruiser servicing a maximum of 199 passengers. From Iceland you’ll head into frosty waters accompanied by a stellar team of experts, ranging from historians and naturalists to a photo coach. Over the course of the journey, you’ll visit the tiny capital of Nuuk in Greenland, explore the spectacular fjords and towering icebergs in Zodiacs, watch for wildlife and discover the region’s Viking history.
While the landscape is awe-inspiring, you’ll be equally enthralled by the people you meet in remote communities and tiny villages along the way. When the day is done, sit on the balcony of your stateroom and enjoy the excellent international fare in the two restaurants.
Interested in Buddhism? Looking to inject more meaning into your life or have a little existential itch that just won’t quit? You can do all this and more in India’s Bodh Gaya, the birthplace of Buddhism.
The town of Bodh Gaya in Bihar, in East India, bordering Nepal and divided by the River Ganges is the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) and is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world.
So how did all of this come about? One day the sheltered young prince decided to wander outside his privileged and palatial quarters and was shocked when he saw intense suffering and decay. His response was to abandon his riches in search for truth and enlightenment. After several years of searching and meditation, it is believed he attained nirvana in Bodh Gaya to become Buddha (the enlightened one). The rest, as they say, is history.
Today, pilgrims and tourists flock to the tranquil 2,500-year-old city to soak in its spiritual ambience, retrace the footsteps of Buddha, understand his philosophies, pay homage or attend one of the many Buddhist workshops.
Head to the Dungeshwari Caves (also known as the Mahakala Caves), located 12 kilometres northeast of Bodh Gaya. It is here Lord Buddha meditated for six years before he attained enlightenment. Six years? Think about that for a moment. Most people can’t sit still for six seconds.
Situated 40 kilometres from Bodh Gaya is a cluster of four caves know and the Barabar Caves: Karan Chaupar, Lomas Rishi, Sudama and Visvakarma. Carved from granite rock, they are said to have been constructed by emperor Ashoka for the use of Ajivaka ascetics.
Scattered within the ruins of one of the greatest education institutes in history and located on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nalanda is the resplendent Nalanda University.
No trip to Bodh Gaya would be complete without visiting the famous Bodhi Tree. Situated next to the Mahabodhi Temple, it marks the spot where the original Bodhi tree once stood, under which the meditating Prince sat for more than a month before he attained enlightenment.
The ultimate question is will you find what you’re looking for in Bodh Gaya? There’s only one way to find out!
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