Leh Ladakh
1. Ladakh has the largest telescope in Asia:
If you ever heard that โgods live in the mountainsโ, it is true. The Indian Astronomical Observatory in Ladakh boasts the largest telescope in Asia at an astounding height of over 4500m. This makes Ladakh a hub for stargazers and astrophotographers! It is Indiaโs first robotic and the worldโs largest telescope. It is located in the remote village of Hanle.
2. It is a land where gravity fails:
The Magnetic Hill, or the so-called โgravity hillโ is a hill that literally pulls you upwards. Interested to know the science behind it? Well, the hill is actually a downhill road. The surrounding slopes are carved out in such a way that it creates an illusion of an uphill road! It is located on the smoothly constructed Srinagar-Leh highway. You can also visit Indus Zanskar Conference, Hall of Fame and Gurudwara Patthar Sahib while you are on your way.
3. It has the highest bridge in the world:
Located between the meandering Dras and Suru rivers, the Bailey Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. It was originally made by the military to migrate quickly through the rivers during wartime. A hydro-electric dam is situated to the left of the bridge while there is a lake on the right.
4. It is a land of the rare twin-humped Bactrian camels:
When in Ladakh, be ready to be greeted by numerous rare twin-humped Bactrian camels flocking the fascinating Nubra valley. These twin-humped Bactrian camels are a native of the Gobi desert. Another interesting thing about these camels is that they can survive in up to lowest temperature as nearly as -40 degrees.
5. It is a land of peculiar practices:
Do you know that if you blow conch or seashells in Ladakh, you can call as many as 120 lamas at once? As an interesting response to the conch call, these lamas assemble every day at the Karsha Monastery for lunch! If a monk has to call his fellow monks for the morning prayer, he would simply blow a conch signifying the start for the pra
5 Interesting Facts About Jaisalmer fort.
1) History of Jaisalmer.
The city was founded in the 12th Century by Maharaj Rawal Jaisal who later established his kingdom in the same place. Jaisalmer is named after Maharaj Rawal Jaisal. Later, he built the Jaisalmer Fort on the Trikuta Hill which has now become one of the most popular heritage sites. The fort walls guarded the entire city until Ala-ud-Din Khilji attacked and captured it in the 13th century and managed to hold it for nine years. Jaisalmer played a major role as the gateway to Persian countries, encouraging a flourishing trade during medieval times.
2) World Heritage Site
A visit to the Jaisalmer Fort provides one with an unforgettable experience. The fort is one of the largest desert living forts of the world and the second oldest fort in Rajasthan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort is also known as Sonar Quila or the Golden Fort as it is made of yellow sandstone. The fort offers accommodation options as well, within its mighty walls. Popular attractions like the Raj Palace, Jain temples, Laxminath Temple and the four gateways โ Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol, Bhoot Pol and the Hawa Pol, are located within the fort.
3) Beauty of Great Indian Thar Desert
The Thar Desert is the worldโs ninth largest tropical desert.The word โthulโ is the source of the desertโs name, the Thar. It covers more than 200,000 km of land and forms a natural boundary between India and Pakistan. The Thar Desert in Jaisalmer plays a significant role in tourism, attracting tourists from all around the world. Here, you can also enjoy the experience of desert camping, camel safari, and desert ecosystems.
4) Haunted Trail
There is an abandoned village named Kuldhara about 15 km away from Jaisalmer. Prosperous clan of Paliwal Brahmins established this village in the 13th Century. Their trading skills and agricultural knowledge were quite famous. But one night all the villagers of Kuldhara vanished into the dark without any trace. It is also believed that they cas
10 Facts of Amber Fort, Jaipur.
If you are planning to visit Amber Fort while on Jaipur Tour, then obviously you are familiar with the truth that it is the most attractive place in Jaipur. But only few of the people are aware about the interesting facts of Amber Fort. Then, see below to find some amazing facts before going on Amber Fort.
1. The more attractive palace in the Amber Fort is Palace of Mirrors i.e. also called the Sheesh Mahal.
2. Amber Fort can be visited with the composite ticket, using this you can visit 3 more places in a same day i.e. Nahargarh Fort, Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar.
3. Amber derived its name from Amba Mata which was the potency and goddess of the Minas category people.
4. Most amazing and interesting thing in the Amber Fort is elephant ride on the foot of the hill.
5. There is a secret tunnel of 2 Km at Amber fort that connects it to the Jaigarh fort.
6. Amber palace is the most romantic palace among all the other Rajput Palaces.
7. Most attractive thing is โMagic Flowerโ which is fresco carved in marble and has 7 unique styles of fish tails, a hooded cobra, a tail of lion, trunk of an elephant, a scorpion and a cob of corn.
8. Maota Lake shows the reflection of the Amber Fort that makes it beautiful like a magic castle in the fairy land.
9. The most striking entryway is the two-story Ganesh Pol brightened with mind boggling sketches and fragile jali screens.
10. Fort is situated at Amber which is 11km away from Jaipur. Previously, Amber Fort was the capital of the Kachhawa Rajputs.
8 Facts of Udaipur Fort...
1) Capital of Mewar
Maharaja Udai Singh of Sisodia dynasty founded the Udaipur city. The capital of the kingdom was shifted from the Chittorgarh to Udaipur.
2) City of Lakes
Udaipur is popularly known as the 'City of Lakes'. The city has an interconnected lake system which helps in the regeneration of ground water and regulates the climatic conditions. Fateh Sagar Lake, Jaisamand Lake, Lake Pichola, Lake Badi and Doodh Talai Lake are some of the famous lakes here.
3) World's Most Romantic Hotel
Lake Palace or Jag Nivas in the Lake Pichola is now a heritage hotel run by Taj group. It was once a summer palace of Sisodia rulers. It is voted as the most romantic hotel in the world and in India.
4) Kumbhalgarh Fort
Kumbhalgarh Fort built by Rana Kumbha has the longest wall which is second only to the 'Great Wall of China'. Kumbhalgarh Fort one of the prominent forts built by the rulers of Mewar. Kumbhalgarh Fort is now situated in Rajasmand district. It once belonged to Mewar Kingdom.
5) Asia's Second Largest Artificial Lake
Jaisamand Lake or Dhebar Lake is considered as the second largest artificial lake in Asia. It was constructed during the rule of Rana Jai Singh. Jaisamand Lake consists of 7 islands and a largest dam. The lake was built while constructing a dam for the Gomti River.
6) The Palace Built Over 400 Years
The City Palace of Udaipur is a huge complex of palaces. It was started in 1553 by Maharana Udai Singh II. Many other palaces were built by several kings inside the City Palace area. Hence, the City Palace is said to be built over a long period.
7) Land of Zinc and Copper Mines
Rajasthan is one of the prominent Zinc and Copper mining destinations. It is said Udaipur was a major mining site from the medieval times.
8) Sahastra-Bahu Temples
Sahastra-Bahu Temples are now famously known as 'Sas-Bahu' temples. Historical records say, that Sahastra Bahu means 'Vishnu with 1000 arms' but the local stories suggest a different tale. Sas-Bahu means 'mother-i
Greece, Athens
Greece, the southernmost of the countries of the Balkan Peninsula. Geography has greatly influenced the countryโs development. Mountains historically restricted internal communications, but the sea opened up wider horizons. The total land area of Greece (one-fifth of which is made up of the Greek islands) is comparable in size to England or the U.S. state of Alabama.
15 Facts Of #Greece, Athens.
1) The official name of Greece is the Hellenic Republic.
2) Greece is located in southeast Europe, close to both Africa and Asia.
3) In 2011 the population of Greece was around 11 million.
4) The capital and largest city in Greece is Athens. Other major cities include Thessaloniki, Patras and Heraklion.
5) Around two thirds of the Greek population live in urban areas.
6) Greek is the official language spoken in Greece.
7) Greece is a member of the European Union and uses the Euro as its currency.
8) Greece is a developed country with a high standard of living. Important industries include the service sector, agriculture and tourism.
9) Greece is a popular tourist destination and home to over a dozen World Heritage Sites.
10) Greece features thousands of islands, including destinations such as Santorini and Mykonos.
11) Greece is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe.
12) The highest mountain in Greece is Mount Olympus, it has over 50 peaks with the highest reaching 2917 metres (9570 feet).
13) Ancient Greece is said to have laid the foundation for Western civilization, having a large influence on the Roman Empire and European culture.
14) The Olympic Games originated in Ancient Greece.
15) Athens most recently hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 2004.
ROME, ITALY
12 Interesting Facts About #Rome
All roads lead to Rome, right?
Rome, the โEternal City,โ brims with ancient history, from the Colosseum to the port of Ostia Antica to majestic Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel. Because of its history, art, architecture, and beauty โ and perhaps its gelato and pasta! โ Rome is one of our most popular cities.
Here are 12 interesting facts about Rome.
1) Modern Rome has 280 fountains and more than 900 churches.
2) Nearly 700,000 euros worth of coins are tossed into Romeโs Trevi Fountain each year. The proceeds are donated to Caritas to help those in need.
3) The Romans had built a road network of 53,000 miles by the early fourth century. Each Roman mile was about 4,800 feet and marked by a milestone, giving birth to the saying โAll roads lead to Rome.โ
4) In Ancient Rome, only free-born men were allowed to wear togas, a sign of Roman citizenship. Women wore stolas, the female version of togas, made from linen.
5) The mascot of Rome is a she-wolf that cared for brothers Romulus and Remus, the mythological founders of Rome.
6) Rome became the capital city of unified Italy in 1870, taking the title from Florence.
7) Law in Rome allows cats to live without disruption in the place they were born. Wild cats can be climbing the walls of the Colosseum, and sleeping among the ruins of the Forum.
8) Women in ancient Rome dyed their hair with goat fat and beech wood ashes. The most popular colors were red and blond.
9) The first ever shopping mall was built in Rome between 107 and 110 AD by Emperor Trajan. It sold a wide variety of goods and grocery items.
10) Romeโs first university, La Sapienza, established in 1303 AD, is the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world.
11 ) Rome has a museum dedicated entirely to pasta.
12) St Peterโs basilica inside Vatican City is the largest church ever constructed.
Venice, Italy a Beautifull place.
Venice, Italian Venezia, city, major seaport, and capital of both the provincia (province) of Venezia and the regione (region) of Veneto, northern Italy. An island city, it was once the centre of a maritime republic. It was the greatest seaport in late medieval Europe and the continentโs commercial and cultural link to Asia. Venice is unique environmentally, architecturally, and historically, and in its days as a republic the city was styled la serenissima (โthe most sereneโ or โsublimeโ). It remains a major Italian port in the northern Adriatic Sea and is one of the worldโs oldest tourist and cultural centres.
Since the fall of the Venetian republic in 1797, the city has held an unrivaled place in the Western imagination and has been endlessly described in prose and verse. The luminous spectacle of ornate marbled and frescoed palaces, bell towers, and domes reflected in the sparkling waters of the lagoon under a blue Adriatic sky has been painted, photographed, and filmed to such an extent that it is difficult to distinguish the real city from its romantic representations. The visitor arriving in Venice is still transported into another world, one whose atmosphere and beauty remain incomparable.
Today Venice is recognized as part of the artistic and architectural patrimony of all humanity, a fitting role for a city whose thousand-year economic and political independence was sustained by its role in global trading. The situation of the city on islands has limited modern suburban spread beyond the historic centre; its framework of canals and narrow streets has prevented the intrusion of automobiles; and its unmatched wealth of fine buildings and monuments dating from the period of commercial dominance has ensured a keen and almost universal desire for sensitive conservation. This concern for conservation is now extended not just to the cityโs monuments but to the very city itself, as rising water levels and subsidence of the land upon which Venice is
Venice, Italy
10 Facts About Venice
Venice, known also as the โCity of Canals,โ โThe Floating City,โ and โSerenissima,โ is arguably one of Italyโs most picturesque cities. With its winding canals, striking architecture, and beautiful bridges, Venice is a popular destination for travel.
Here are 10 facts about Venice you probably didnโt know.
1) Venice is known for its bridges. There are 417 bridges in Venice, and 72 of those are private.
2) Houses in Venice are numbered according to districts, not streets, making it difficult to find addresses, even for postmen. The rule of thumb is to look for a monument, shop, or landmark in close proximity.
3) There are about 350 gondolas and 400 gondolieri in Venice. On average, gondolas are 11 meters long and weigh around 600 kilos.
4) In 1608, the Council of Ten approved wearing masks only during the carnival. Those who broke the law were heavily punished. Punishments ranged from two years in prison to public beating and binding to the pillar of shame.
5) There are 177 canals in Venice. The S-shaped Grand Canal is the biggest and splits the city in two.
6) The San Marco bell tower, or campanile, was built in the 12th century and collapsed in 1902. The tower was rebuilt to be exactly the same as the previous one. It is 98.6 metres tall, making it the fifth tallest bell tower in Italy.
7) Venice is sinking at the rate of 1-2 millimeters a year.
8) The population of Venice has decreased from 120,000 to 60,000 in the last 50 years. Some experts believe Venice could be a ghost town by 2030 with only tourists visiting by day.
9) The first woman in the world that graduated was born in Venice in 1646.
10 ) The first public casino in the world was opened in Venice in 1638.
10 Fun Facts about the Burj Khalifa
1. The Burj Khalifa height is a staggering 828 meters (2716.5 feet) tall, soaring over Dubai. Itโs three times as tall as the Eiffel Tower and nearly twice as tall as the Empire State Building. Laid end to end, its pieces stretch over a quarter of the way around the world. Itโs cloud-piercing height is certainly one of the most impressive facts about Bruj Khalifa.
2. Aside from holding the world record for being the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa holds six other world records. The Burj Khalifa is also the tallest freestanding structure in the world, has the highest number of stories in the world, has the highest occupied floor in the world, has the highest outdoor observation deck in the world, has the elevator with longest travel distance in the world, and has the tallest service elevator in the world.
3. One of the most mind blowing Burj Khalifa facts is how much the materials weigh. To put things in to perspective, the weight of the concrete is equivalent to 100,000 elephants. The total weight of aluminum used on the Burj Khalifa is equivalent to that of five A380 aircraft.
4. Burj Khalifa fun facts that you can truly applaud are its sustainability and reuse of resources. Every year 15 million gallons of water are collected sustainably. The water is used for irrigation to water the landscaping and plants, for the cooling system and to supply the Dubai Fountain.
5. Some Burj Khalifa trivia about the elevators: the building has the longest single running elevator, which is 140 floors. The Burj Khalifa elevator speed is 10 meters per second, making the elevators among the fastest in the world. The Burj Khalifa elevator time to reach the observation deck on the 124th floor is only one minute.
6. One of the lesser known and more interesting facts about Burj Khalifa is that the tip of the sphere of the Burj Khalifa can be seen from up to 95 kilometers away.
7. Fairly known Burj Khalifa information is that at the peak of construction, 12,000 w
