India has so many festivals and each one is unique and offers something special. It can be difficult to decide which festivals to put on your itinerary when you’re making your travel plans. This month we are focusing on some of the best Indian festivals that celebrate and feature women and girls. Teej, the monsoon fasting festivals for women Teej …
India is a feast for book lovers. With an oral literature dating back millennia, India has a long and proud history of poetry, sacred texts and story-telling arising from India’s diverse language and cultural heritage. In more contemporary times, Indian writers have developed an international reputation for works written in English. Indian authors have regularly featured in the awards lists …
The Tourism Council of Bhutan proudly proclaims that Happiness is a Place and Bhutan is well known as a country which takes happiness very seriously. The Bhutanese Gross National Happiness measure has been studied by economists around the world and Bhutan is proud to say that ‘the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal’. Understanding how important the concept …
The Kingdom of Bhutan is a tiny sovereign independent country, located in the heart of the eastern Himalayas. It is tucked between the two giants of Asia, the Tibetan Region of China to its north and the vast plains of India to its east, west and south. Westerners call it the last Shangri-La. Bhutanese call it Druk-Yul, the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Bhutan is one of the few countries that escaped colonization and so remained independent throughout its history. Bhutan stayed in self-imposed isolation for centuries and therefore has a unique culture deeply influenced by Buddhism with a rich and varied heritage and traditions. It embarked on a planned modernization only in the early 1960s. Through its enlightened policy, Bhutan maintains a pristine environment with a rich biodiversity. Bhutan’s development policy is based on the philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH). The Kingdom opened its door to controlled tourism only in the early 1970s. Now is the time to experience the last Shangri-La!
Sri Lanka is increasing in popularity as a travel destination as word gets out about everything this tropical paradise has to offer visitors. This large island just to the south-east of the Indian subcontinent was once joined to the mainland via a formation known as Adam’s Bridge, Rama’s Bridge or Rama Setu. In Hindu mythology it was constructed during the …
India is blessed with the legacy of hundreds of palaces and royal forts. With multiple royal dynasties across its long and complex history, India offers the opportunity to see how the truly rich have lived over millennia in this land of contrasts. These days many of the former royal residences have been transformed into upmarket hotels where paying guests can …
China is so vast that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed at the thought of planning an itinerary that captures the essence of the country and its people. One way to meet the challenge is to focus your plans on a limited geographic area that boasts some of the most iconic China experiences. You don’t need to look further than Beijing …
India and Asia offer some of the most compelling spiritual destinations for travelers and pilgrims. Sacred sites, shrines, temples, and religious communities attract worshipers and day-trippers alike. Some locations are holy sites for multiple religions or have been occupied by successive religions over millennia. In many countries, religion and spirituality is everywhere, deeply embedded into every aspect of daily life. In Japan …
When you travel to India you will be overwhelmed with the variety of arts and crafts you’ll see, and the distinct regional differences in cultural traditions which inform these practices. Buying arts and crafts in India supports local makers and helps keep communities economically viable. You may even be able to have some hands-on fun and learn how to make …