Three Major Attractions of Lampang

Lampang is a beautiful city of Thailand which is also known as Nakhon Lampang. This city is famous as a transportation center but a few of you will know that it is also a wonderful place to visit. Yes it is. Lampang is a good place to travel in Northern Thailand. A visit to Lampang will definitely make your holidays in Thailand quite fascinating and wonderful. Here are some of its most important attractions.

Thai Elephant Conservation Center

In Thai Elephant Conservation Center, elephants are kept properly with great care and are provided with training. The elephants are trained to make them able to perform various activities to amuse visitors. Here elephants are not only trained for performing feats but also rides are offered for tourists. It is a great fun to see elephants in rainy season as they cover themselves with mud and become very happy when rain drops fall. Thai Elephant Conservation Center also does a great job of protecting baby animals from slaughter. These baby elephants are the main attractions of this place as they amuse tourists by accepting fruits and food from them. Here you can also view demonstration of logging techniques by elephants.

Ban Sao Nak

You can better call this place as house of many pillars which was built in 1895. This house is featured with designs in combination of northern Thai and Burmese architecture. The general structure of this place especially roofs show the traditional Lanna Thai décor but the main feature of this house is 116 pillars. You will also find a huge 133 years old tree in front of house which enhances its beauty rendering it a discrete ambience. Another attraction in this house is antiques collection which is shown here along with a souvenir shop which sells handicraft products. At Ban Sao Nak, special arrangements are made for a traditional Kantoke dinner. Wedding ceremonies are also held here where even dresses are arranged fro weddings.

Wat Phra Tat Chom Ping

Wat Phra Tat Chom Ping is a temple which shows shades of pagoda on the floor of its convocation hall. This temple features unique architecture as well as ancient grandeur of early century. This temple draws a large number of visitors to Lampang every year. This beautiful temple is a great attraction as its entrance arches, Pratu Khong, are decorated with beautiful designs. At the back, you will also see a Chedi made in Lanna architectural technique. It also contains a Holy Relic. Another Vihan is also at the back having stunning murals on wooden walls.

These were three main features and attractions of the city of Lampang. Visit this exciting city to have a wonderful time.

Places of Attraction in Verona

Located in Northern Italy, Verona is a major tourist’s attraction. It is popular because of its artistic heritage, shows and annual fairs. Verona has also been named as UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the historical buildings located in it. Verona is a fascinating city and offers tourists with some of the best attractions in the world including Roman Arena. Some of these remarkable attractions are described below:

Cathedral of Verona

Cathedral of Verona is dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta. It is one of the worth-seeing attractions of the city and consists of a number of buildings like a library, bishop’s house and cloister. The entrance of the church is quite appealing as it is double arched. Interiors are also fascinating and attract thousands of visitors. Current appearance of the church is actually the restoration which dates back to 15^th century. The interiors consist of a nave and two aisles which are divided by tall pillars made with red Verona marble. These pillars also support Gothic arcades. Having same style, first three chapels show the beautiful artwork done by skilled Veronese artists.

Casa di Giulietta

Casa di Giulietta is also known as Juliet’s house which is visited by a large number of tourists because of the fame of Juliet which was a character of love story written by Shakespeare. It is the most loved attraction in spite of the fact that Juliet is purely a fictional character. The main attraction of this building is the balcony on which Juliet is said to have spent many hours. Owned by Dal Cappello Family, this is a 12^th century building having Gothic doors and attractive paintings. If you ever get a chance to visit this building, don’t miss to see the bronze statue of Juliet standing in courtyard.

Arena di Verona

Having a capacity of 25000 people, Arena di Verona is the largest Roman amphitheatre in Northern Italy. It is famous world wide because of concerts and opera performances given here. It was constructed early in the first century AD. The round frontage of the building was actually made of pink and white limestone but after the earthquake of 1117, its stone was dug up to use again in other buildings.

Castelvecchio

Castelvecchio which is also known as “Old Castle” was built in 1354-56 and served to protect Verona from invading armies. This castle belonged to Verona’s medieval family named della Scala family. In 1925, this castle converted from a military fortress and now it houses a museum. The museum boasts of the work of Pisanello, Tintoretto and Veronese along with jewelry, weapons and sculptures. The castle is also visited by people to see the signatures of Italian architect Carlo Scarpa. He made these signatures when he was in charge of renovating the museum between 1959 and 1973.

Basilica San Zeno Maggiore

It is the one of the most attractive churches of Verona and a fine example of Romanesque structural design. This beautiful church is devoted to the benefactor saint of Verona, Saint Zeno. It is believed that his ashes are conserved within basilica. Basilica is featured with a large rose window which is also known as “Wheel of Fortune”. The attractive frontage of this church dominates the large square in front of building. Interior of this church is also splendid and remarkable having fresco-clad walls. Church’s fine bronze doors are also worth-seeing.

These were some of the most prominent places to see in Verona but the list of Verona’s attractions is not limited to these sites only as there is a lot more to see in this wonderful place.

Most Beautiful Beaches of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is just like a paradise for beach lovers who want enjoy waves and have fun in sun. These beaches not only provide you beautiful natural scenes but also facilitate you to enjoy different beach sports and water activities including scuba diving, parasailing and surfing. If you also want to enjoy your holidays at some of the most beautiful beaches of world, consider visiting following beaches of Sri Lanka.

Bentota Beach

This famous beach is situated at the junction of Bentota River and sea. Beach lovers and sports freaks from all over the world come here as it is a popular water sports destination where you can enjoy windsurfing, catamaran rides and water-skiing. If you are going there for swimming, then the best time to visit this beach is between months of October and April. Sea is safest for swimming at this time of year. Bentota Beach is also capable of capturing hearts of visitors by its beautiful scenes. On one side of Bentota beach, there are warm blue waters of Indian Ocean while on the other side, there is a slow moving river having sapphires waters. To have a memorable stay here at Bentota Beach, a large number of hotels are also located here making you feel cared.

Negombo Beach

Negombo Beach is a popular tourist attraction and is world famous for its fine dining options and lively night life. Restaurants in Negombo Beach provide you with a unique dining experience with seafood and Swiss dishes. Names of some popular restaurants are:

• Seafood
• Alt Saarbrucken
• Blue Moon
• Silva’s Beach Restaurant and Bar

Bars and clubs are also located here for enjoying night life to its fullest. Some names include:

• Rudis Bar
• Golden Beach Hotel
• Club Tropicana
• Don’s Beach

Negombo Beach is also a shoppers’ heaven because it has many stalls. You can find anything in these stalls ranging from hand painted shirts to handiwork items and basket ware.

Unawatuna Beach

This popular beach is ranked among twelve best beaches in world. This is the best place in the world for listening melodious sound of waves and diving deep into blue waters. Facilities of swimming and diving are provided here. Within the reach of the beach, there is a coral reef which serves as a base for snorkeling. Underneath the shades of palm trees, there is Unawatuna Beach Resort which is a standard sized hotel providing all facilities. The most beautiful feature of this beach is golden sands and calm turquoise sea making it even more stunning.

Beruwela Beach

Bereuwela Beach is an ideal location for spending holidays as here you will find long stretch of golden beach having beautiful palm trees and offshore islands. Coral gardens of this beach attract divers and snorkelers who can enjoy other water sports as well including fishing, diving and sailing. Other attractions at beach include a fascinating fishing harbor, the Kechimatal Mosque along with a lighthouse that is located on its offshore island. Some other attractions nearby this beach are turtle hatchery and elephant sanctuary. In this sanctuary, you can also get pleasure from elephant rides. Guesthouses and hotels are also located here for the convenience of travelers. Names of some popular hotels are:

• Tropical Villa
• Club Palm Garden Hotel
• Neptune Beach Hotel

Hikkaduwa Beach

This famous beach is located 98 KM away from Colombo and is known as a paradise of coral reefs. It is the best beach to de-stress yourself if you are stressed due to busy routine of life. On the coast of Hikkaduwa, you can find a coral sanctuary which is a large but shallow body of water enclosed by a reef. Multicolored corals are used to decorate this reef and it provides home to a number of colored and beautiful fishes. Different species of fishes and large turtles are also found on this beach. Hikkaduwa Beach is also a special place for shoppers as shops at this beach sell jewelry, antiques, masks, gems and other items.

Ambalangoda Beach

You can not afford forgetting Ambalangoda Beach while planning a trip to Sri Lanka. Situated 85 KMs from Colombo, this beach is the best place for celebrating and organizing family picnic. Various beach sports can also be played here including cricket and volleyball. I will also suggest you to try your luck in fishing.

Most Popular Hill Stations in India

People from all parts of world come to India to visit its mesmerizing natural beauty. Especially the hill stations of India are so popular that thousands of people visit India every year to spend their holidays. The hill stations of India prove to be a heaven for the people suffering from frustrating scuttle and pollution of cities. Not only the foreigners but locals of India rush towards the hill stations to get rid of roasting heat in summer season. Here brief description of some of the most popular and highly recommended hill stations is given in order to guide the holiday seekers.

1. Shimla

Shimla is capital of Indian state Himachal Pradesh and located at a height of 2196 meters. It is a well developed hill station having all the facilities of a modern life having a maximum temperature of 25 degree centigrade during summer making it one of the most visited places. Winters are much colder there due to frosty winds that come from upper Himalayas. Shimla is the best place to spend holidays for the people who love adventure. The reason is that here in Shimla you can enjoy trekking, skiing and fishing. A well-established golf course is also located in Naldehra. Other places to see in Shimla include:

Lakkad Bazar: In Lakkad Bazar you will find everything made of wood or engraved out of wood. The items made of wood include key chains, toys, jewelry boxes, walking sticks and planters. You can buy an attractive wooden item to present it as a gift to your loved ones back at homes.

Tara Devi Temple: It is a marvelous temple which makes the visitors spell-bound with its magnificent views.

St. Michael’s: It is a Cathedral and a stained glass master piece. Being one of the best cathedrals in India, it portrays faith, modesty, hope and tolerance.

You can also visit Institute of Advanced Studies and the fantastic Ridge in Shimla.

2. Manali

Another hill station of India is Manali that is well-liked by the people of India and foreign persons as well. Here some of the attractions include:

Hadimba Temple: It is a four-storey temple which is famous for its caved entrance.

Jagatsukh: It is another temple in Manali that is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Kothi: It is a quiet and beautiful place to visit in Manali providing you with beautiful sceneries. This place also provides you attractive views of snow covered mountains.

Other attractions in Manali include Rahala waterfalls, Solang Valley, Vashist Hot Water Springs and Temple and Rohtang Pass.

3. Darjeeling

Darjeeling is known as the queen of hill stations as it provides the visitors a chance to enjoy beautiful scenes, fresh and pleasant air and hospitality of generous people. Attractions in Darjeeling include:

Botanical Gardens: This is a place having striking and elite collection of Himalayan plants, flowers and orchids. This garden is also featured with a green house.

Chowrasta: It is a shopping place in Darjeeling. From this place, you can get pleasure by seeing the views of beautiful mountains covered with snow. There are also some temples here which are worth-seeing.

Natural History Museum: Here the attractions include estuarine crocodiles and special collection of butterflies. Various stones are also exhibited in the museum in their mineral appearance.

Senchal Lake: It is an attractive place near tiger hills. It has become a picnic place for tourists. This lake also supplies drinking water to Darjeeling.

Other attractions are Zoological Gardens, Passenger Ropeway, Observatory Hills, Kurseong, Dhoom Gompa etc.

4. Nainital

This hill station is famous for its beautiful lakes. There are also some historic temples and peaks in Nainitai that add to its beauty. Attractions in Nainital are:

Sattal: It is a group of lakes providing natural beauty and astounding views.

Ranikhet: It is a resort which is famous for its cleanness and attractive pine trees.

Some other must see places include Kausani, Kilbury, Kainchi, Bhimtal and Khurptal.

These were four most famous and popular hill stations of India which are worth-seeing for their natural beauty and splendor.