The 8th-centuryat Paharpur is the second largest single Buddhist monastery in the south of the Himalayas. Located northwest in Bangladesh, it is considered as, by far, the most astounding archaeological site in the country, covering around 11 hectares of land. The monastery’s walls are built of burnt bricks and are adorned with well-preserved terracotta bas-reliefs. A small museum holds a representative display of the domestic and religious objects and relics found during several excavations. The monastery was made a World Heritage Site as a tribute to the Pala dynasty which reigned over Bengal and Bihar from the middle of the 8th century.
In the easternmost part of Brunei is the Temburong District which houses the Ulu Temburong National Park (formerly known as the Batu Apoi Forest Reserve). This national park boasts of Borneo’s untouched lowland rainforests, revealing a magnificent diversity of flora and fauna. Wooden boardwalks and suspension bridges allow visitors easy access within the forest and a canopy walkway offers a birds-eye view of the surrounding forests. Ulu Temburong is only accessible by boat and tourists can take water taxis from the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan to the main town of Bangar in Temburong District. Tourists need not to worry about where they should stay since accommodation is available at the Ulu Temburong National Park Headquarters. Booking of accommodation can be made through travel agents in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Stepping into the lively and bustling indoor Crawford Market (officially known as the Mahatma Phule Market) will surely give any tourist a real taste of what India has to offer. The market is one of South Mumbai’s most well-known markets and is the last outpost of British Bombay. The market got its name from the first Municipal Commissioner of the city, Arthur Crawford. It used to be the city’s wholesale produce market before it was moved to New Bombay. Today, the market has been the haven for locals and tourists shopping for fruits, vegetables, meat, as well as imported items like cosmetics, household and gift items, etc. Norman and Gothic architectural styles portray the edifice while bas reliefs and an ornate fountain inside the market were designed by Lockwood Kipling, Rudyard Kipling’s father. Located south of the market is the J. J. School of Art where famous author and poet Rudyard Kipling was born.
The Gateway of India is a famous monument in Mumbai, India built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay in 1911. The majestic yellow basalt arch measures 26 meters high and is derived from the Islamic architectural styles of 16th-century Gujarat. It was officially opened on December 4, 1924 and has become a popular emblem of the city. The gateway is also a prime gathering spot for locals and tourists in the evening and on weekends. There are several photographers, balloon sellers, vendors and even snake charmers in the vicinity and tourists can enjoy a view of the Arabian Sea while exploring the area. Statues of the religious reformer Swami Vivekananda and of the Maratha leader Shivaji astride his horse can also be found near the gateway.
The Chocolate Hills of Bohol is a well-known tourist attraction of the Philippines. It has been declared as the country’s 3rd National Geological Monument and has been proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Chocolate Hills is an unusual geological formation composed of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills of almost similar sizes, spreading over an area of more than 50 square kilometers. The Chocolate Hills got its name from the hills’ green grass that turns into a brown shade during the dry season. The Chocolate Hills can be viewed from a government-owned and operated resort/viewing station called “Chocolate Hills Complex” located in Carmen, Bohol. The Complex has a restaurant, a hostel with swimming pool and an observation deck (210 feet or 64 m above the ground) where tourists can get a perfect view of the hills.
Tourists who are in search of an extraordinary trip can visit one of Hanoi’s top tourist attractions, the Le Mat Snake Village. Le Mat is an ancient village belonging to the Viet Hung commune which has become famous for its snake-catching and breeding vocation (hence the name “Snake Village”). Located 15 minutes east of Hanoi, the snake-catching profession of the villagers has been said to be a tradition passed down from father to son. Snakes normally thrive in stagnant pools of water like marshes around Le Mat villages and in the neighborhood. This tradition of snake-catching in Le Mat was almost lost gradually since the second half of the 20th century and one major factor was that snakes have no longer played an important role in the daily eating and drinking activities of the modern people. Still, tourists are always welcome to try out snake specialties served by many restaurants along the village path.
Situated in south-west Sri Lanka, Sinharaja Forest Reserve is the country’s most important primary tropical rainforest and is declared as a World Heritage site, being one of the largest and oldest lowland rainforests in the world. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of these trees are considered rare species. The reserve is also home to Sri Lanka’s endemic wildlife and houses over 50% of the country’s endemic species of mammals and butterflies, different kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians. Tourists are advised to plan their visits between January and April when rains are only in the afternoons.
The Victoria Harbour has become a major tourist attraction due to its astonishing panoramic night view and skyline. Situated between the Kowloon Peninsula and the Hong Kong Island, spectators flock at evening to different surrounding places such as the Victoria Tower on the Victoria Peak, the piazza at the Culture Center and the promenade of Tsim Sha Tsui in order to get a great view of this world-famous site. More importantly, the Victoria Harbour is considered as a natural focal point of territory and is a very important geographical element for the city people. Hence, due to its significance and popularity, local traditions and festivals are normally held at the Victoria Harbour.