Basket Of Fun: Travel

Summers are here and so are the vacations. Most people visit their relatives in this part of the year, but mostly they remain in cities which are hot polluted and noisy. What if you could feel a soft cool breeze making its way past you, blowing your hair, refreshing your senses? well for as long as you are in these cities you can only imagine these things...

Well, here we are with our blog that will show you some amazing and chilly places which you should visit in summers and the best part is that while you will get closer to nature, these destinations are totally budget friendly and you should visit them with your family and friends.

Manali, Himachal Pradesh

Manali, at the northern end of the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh, is a hill station situated at a height of 2050m in the Himalayas. Situated on the Beas river and near its source, it is a popular tourist spot for Indians in summer and a magical, snow-covered place in winter. A staging point for a number of treks (Beas Kund, Chandrakhani Pass) and sports such as white-water rafting, Manali is also on the road to Ladakh via the valley of Lahaul and Spiti and the Rohtang Pass which is the main attraction near Manali.

Known For: Solang Valley | Rohtang Pass |Adventure Activities in Manali

Gangtok- Dzongu, Sikkim

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, has a lot of places to visit that make you go wow. Nathula Pass, Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir, and Changu Lake are simply wonders. These places are a little away from and a lot higher than Gangtok, but each moment of this trip will be worth it. The Saga Dawa festival is one of the most important festivals for the people of Sikkim which celebrated in May. The festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm in the capital city of Gangtok. Festivity occurs across Gangtok in the form of processions, prayers, and extending alms to the needy. The customs and rituals, carried out in remembrance of the Buddha, are said to bear fruits for the observers in the future.

Known For: Nathu La Pass | MG Road, Gangtok |Rumtek Monastery

Ooty, Tamil Nadu

Located in the mountainous range called the Nilgiris ("Blue Mountains"), it draws swarms of tourists every year. The weather is quite pleasant at a mean of 15-20°C around the year, dropping to lows of 0°C during winter. The landscape is marked by rolling hills covered with dense vegetation, smaller hills and plateaus covered with tea/coffee gardens, and eucalyptus trees. Many portions of the hills are preserved as natural reserve forests, and special permits will be needed to camp in noncamp sites. Auto touring the surrounding countryside is certainly a must do.

Known For: Nilgiri Mountain Railway | Ooty Lake |Ooty Rose Garden

Shillong-Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya

The beautiful mountains of this region are a joy to watch. Shillong in itself, is a really beautiful town, the capital of Meghalaya as well. Located in undulating pine-covered hills, the city has a milder climate than tropical India. Home to several waterfalls, it is also known as the Scotland of the East. It is perhaps the only place in India where taxi drivers themselves sit on someone's lap and drive. Here, even the traditional societal roles of a man and woman are reversed, with women doing most of the business. Scenic viewpoints, caves en route to Cherrapunjee, views of Bangladesh from both Cherrapunjee and Mawlynnong, Asia's cleanest village. These are just some of the things that will make your jaw drop.

Known For: Umiam lake | Elephant falls | Wards Lake |Sweet falls | Butterfly museum

Mount Abu, Rajasthan

Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan, situated very close to the Rajasthan-Gujarat border, in the Aravali hills. Monsoon season is the best time to go to Mount Abu. During rains, the complete beauty of this place can be experienced due to the lush green surroundings which makes it a major tourist spot within the state. The most important attraction, however, is undoubtedly the Dilwara temples, which are the most stunning pieces of architecture in the country. One can also take part in the famous Summer Festival of Mount Abu that takes place in June every year. This two-day festival showcases an array of classical and folk music performances that highlight the live culture and tribal life of Rajasthan.

Known For: Dilwara Temples | Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary | Nakki Lake

Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh

Pachmarhi is a city in Madhya Pradesh. It is the only hill station in the central region of India. It is situated in the Satpura range and is 3500 ft above sea level. Pachmarhi comes under the Hoshagabad district and is called 'Satpura ki Rani'.Pachmarhi is a tourist retreat; its elevation from the sea level and the forests of the Satpuras, with their streams and waterfalls, are picturesque and home to much wildlife. Pachmarhi lies within the Pachmarhi Biosphere Preserve, created in 1999 to link two forest reserves and Satpura National Park into a larger wildlife conservation area. It also has Dhupgarh -- the highest point in Central India. Pachmarhi also has a lot of cave paintings in the forests, some of which have been dated to be as much as 10,000 years old.

Known For: Bee falls | Jata Shankar caves | Pandava Caves

Munnar-Thekkady, Kerala

Munnar is a beautiful hill station and was the summer resort of the British. Tourists come here to see the vast tea plantations of the area. The town itself is typically Indian with the usual shops, guest houses and is really beautiful and traditional. It is a good place to stay to see the surrounding countryside. Munnar is famous for its tea plantations, many of them started by the British. The "Kannan Devan" brand of Tea from the Tata is cultivated and processed here. The strobilanthus ("Neelakurinji"), a blue flower which blooms only every 12 years, is found in this region. It bloomed last in September 2018. The Eravikulam national park is one of the main tourist attraction, where you can find the endangered species of Nilgiri Tahr.

Known For: Blossom Park | Mattupetti Dam | Echo Point | TATA Tea Museum | The Eravikulam national park.

Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh

Kinnaur, also known as ""Land of God"" is about 235 Km from Shimla and is known for its serenity and beauty of the lush green and rocky mountainscape having Satluj, Baspa and Spiti river snaking through it. Sarahan, a beautiful hamlet located near Kinnaur, is situated at an average height of 2165 meters above sea level. It comes under the Shimla district and is famous for its apple orchards, pine forests, slate-roofed houses, and small streams. Bhimkali Temple Complex, Bhaba Valley and Bird Park are some of the major attractions here.

Known For: Reckong Peo | Kalpa | Sarahan

Bir, Himachal Pradesh

Bir is a town in the eastern end of the Kangra District in Himachal Pradesh with a friendly, relaxed Indian population and a large Tibetan (Khampa) community. It is home to several educational institutions, monasteries, and nonprofit organizations (NGOs), and is becoming a popular off-the-beaten-path destination for meditation courses, volunteering, and ecotourism. Bir Billing is a popular destination for adventures sports such as paragliding, treks and also as the town for meditation.

Known For: Paragliding in Bir Billing | Hand gliding |Nature Walks and meditation at Sherab Ling Monastery

Leh Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir

Traveling in Leh without professional guidance is like shooting for the moon while being too busy gazing the stars. There are various giants offering customized packages that are tailor-made to suit your needs. A land like no other with a superabundance of attractions to visit and phantasmagoric and fabulous landscapes, amazing people and culture, Ladakh is truly a heaven on Earth.

Known For: Shanti Stupa | Nubra Valley |Tso Moriri Lake

THANKYOU!!

If you found this article helpful then please share, comment and follow our blog for more such stuff...

No comments

This is our next blog for the foodies who love food more than anything, here we present you top food festivals that you should visit if you are crazy for food...One of the major things to explore in every destination is its food! The type of cuisine changes every few hundred miles, offering something diverse and all the more finger licking on your platter every time....

Pizzafest

Location: Naples, Italy

eat different kinds of pizzas at Pizzafest

Every night during one week in September, Napoli's Lungomare Caracciolo area becomes a pizza village with 500,000 visitors who consume more than 100,000 pizzas of every kind.The best pizzerias in Naples serve the 50-odd historic versions with classics Napolitana, Margherita and Marinara taking pride of place.The attractions vary from the stiffly contested World Pizza-Making Championships to the simple enjoyment of a hot pizza Vesuvio under the shadow of the real volcano.

Oktoberfest

Location: Germany

drink beer to your heart's content at Oktoberfest

Come, be part of the world’s greatest celebration of beer with million other beer lovers who flock to Germany every year for Oktoberfest. From the finest of brews for you to chug, spill, and bathe in, to culinary delights like bratwurst, pretzels, and roasted meats, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Along with the amazing variety and quantity of beer you get here, the festival also lets you enjoy some tasty dishes.

Bacon Festival

Location: Sacramento, California

Yes, you heard it right! There is a festival in the world that is solely dedicated to bacon. The world goes gaga over bacon, so you have no excuse to not visit one of the best food festivals around the world. The meat-loving population of the world can go crazy hogging on dishes like bacon gelato, bacon salad, bacon ramen and bacon tater tots.Chefs cook the meat right outside on the street from organically fed hogs -- factory farm animals aren't allowed -- and their dishes are accompanied by local craft beers.There's even a Kevin Bacon tribute band on the third night of the January festival.

Salon du Chocolat

Location: Quito, Equador

treat yourself to an endless range of chocolates at Salon du Chocolat

Are you a fan of chocolates and fashions alike? Then you must head to taste some high-quality chocolates produced in Ecuador and attend the Salon du Chocolat festival in Quito.Ecuador produces more high-quality chocolate than any other country, and this is the best place to get a choc hit in the tasting sessions and cookery classes. The festival lets you relish the taste of the finest of chocolates, and watch a fashion show with models wearing dresses made of…any guesses what? About 15,000 visitors are expected at the mid-June event but the climax occurs on the final day, when the winners of the various awards are announced, including everybody's favorite, the chocolate sculpture competition.

Dumpling Festival

Location: Hong Kong

enjoy authentic dumplings at the Dumpling Festival

Does your mouth starts to water when you think of steamy and juicy dumplings? If yes, then this festival is just for you. Savour the taste of zongzi dumplings – glutinous rice with different fillings wrapped in bamboo, lotus or banana leaves – on the fifth day of the fifth Chinese lunar month. Engulf yourself in a sea of dumplings and the amiable hospitality of the Chinese people. By far the most spectacular activity that takes place is the dragon boat race -- a sport now so popular that it has its own international federation.

National Cherry Festival

Location: Traverse City, Michigan

eat countless cherries at the National Cherry Festival

Traverse City, Michigan, has been closely associated with the cherry ever since a Presbyterian missionary planted a cherry tree in 1852.Miraculously, the tree survived harsh winters and thrived.Today Traverse City's orchards supply three-quarters of America's cherry crop and are declaiming this statistic with aplomb.Take a flight to the town’s Cherry Capital Airport, stay at the Cherry Tree Inn, be part of the Cherry Bomb Lacrosse Tournament, cheer for the girls’ rollerblade team called the Toxic Cherries, witness the Cherry Parade, and crown a Cherry Queen. With so much ‘cherry-ness’ to enjoy, there’s no reason why not to visit this international food festival.

Herring Festival

Location: Hvide Sande, Denmark

gorge on fresh herring at Herring Festival, one of the best food festivals around the world

Herring Festival is one of the unique cultural food festivals around the world. Each April, schools of herring swim into the Ringkobing Fjord in Denmark to spawn in its sheltered waters. And when they do, it’s party time for fishermen, and for scores of people coming into the town to now enjoy platters of pickled, filleted, fried, fish-caked, and baked herring! There aren’t many food festivals around the world serving this delicious fish. So, make sure you don’t miss this one! Amazingly there's also a fashion show demonstrating the latest couture for outdoorsy, waterproof and presumably smell-resistant clothing.

Vegetarian Festival

Location: Phuket, Thailand

eat vegan cuisine at Vegetarian Festival

The biggest event occurs on the island of Phuket, where the faithful hang lanterns outside temples and march through the streets beating drums to drive away evil spirits. By far the most impressive spectacle at the September/October event is the sight of devotees deep in trance walking on hot coals, bathing in hot oil or piercing their body parts.They seem immune to pain, believing that they're protected by the gods they're channeling.

With so many sights blinding the eyes, it's easy to forget that the whole place goes veggie for nine days.It might seem as though it's the same carnivore-friendly dishes on restaurant menus, but the cooks use soybean and protein substitute products instead of meat.They say food festivals favour only the meat-lovers. We say different! Join the frenzy at this nine-day Thai celebration with colourful parades, music, and the best of vegan dishes! You’ll be surprised to see how the whole town goes vegan for these nine days amid a range of dishes made out of vegetables, fruits, soybean, and protein products. Even non-vegetarians will fall in love with this international food fest!

National Street Food Festival

Location: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, India

eat spicy and savoury street food at the National Street Food Festival

This will surely bring a smile to the faces of all those street food lovers. From savoury chaat, oily chhole kulcha, sweet and tangy bhalle papdi, to spicy gol gappe, there’s no end to the kind of food one can have on the streets of Delhi. And once every year, all these amazing street delicacies are brought to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to the delight of all foodies in the capital!

The Most Weird Food Festivals Around The World

There are some of the food festivals around the world that are very unique and strange. But they are also very interesting to know about and to attend also. Here are a few such festivals:

Giant Omelet Celebration

Location: Bessieres, France

have an enormous omelet at Giant Omelet Celebration

Prefer omelets in breakfast? How about one that’s bigger than your house? According to legend, Napoleon had once ordered every egg in town be broken to prepare a giant omelet after he had enjoyed his own! To this day, Bessieres carries on the tradition where chefs come together to prepare a 15,000-egg omelet for the people of Bessieres, usually on Easter.

Bugfest

Location: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Ever had bugs served in your plate for lunch? Here’s a festival that is totally dedicated to bug-dishes and they exhibit a variety of both – bugs and the dishes prepared with them. Oh yes! It’s exactly what you think it is! Would you like to attend the Bugfest if you ever visit US around the time when this festival is on?

Olney Pancake Race

Location: Olney, England

Women in Onley have been running a 400-yard annual pancake race since 1445 while holding pancakes in cast iron pans, a tradition that has now become one of the most amusing world food festivals! And, of course, you get to eat those delicious pancakes once the race is over and the winner is announced!

Monkey Buffet Festival

Location: Lopburi, Thailand

witness the amusing Thailand Monkey Buffet Festival

No, this festival DOES NOT provide you an unlimited supply of monkeys for eating. This is one of the most amazing (as well as amusing!) food festivals around the world where the animals eat and the humans watch! With our sneaky little friends going crazy amidst the sea of 400 kg of food laid out before the temples of Thailand, the scenario can get wilder than the Hatter’s tea party!

No comments

Our world is full of weird, amazing and funny places. Some of these places are a result of years of natural happenings while some others are formed by human acts, but all over, they are a form of beauty with weirdness, and you should surely visit these places......

Lake Natron

Location: Tanzania

Looking for the weirdest places on earth? How about this terrifying lake? Animals that die in this African lake are turned into statues, through calcification. The presence of huge volumes of sodium bicarbonate ensures they turn into mummies. And because of the high alkaline collection, the lake looks red in color. This is the reason why this lake is also known as the ‘Petrifying Lake’. In spite of all these conditions, it is grazing ground for the Lesser Flamingos. Fancy a dip? Don’t even think about it!

Salar De Uyuni

Location: Bolivia

Located in the Potosí and Oruro departments, this is the world’s largest salt pan. And when a thin film of water gathers on the surface it is also the world’s largest natural mirror. The best sight of this space can be observed from the central Incahuasi Island. Salar De Uyuni is the remains of a prehistoric lake that dried off and left behind void space of bright-white salt, rock formations, and cacti-islands. This place harbors large flocks of beautiful pink flamingos that can be seen grazing in the water. The best time to visit this place is in the months of July and October.

Die Rakotzbrück

Location: Gablenz, Germany

The Die Rakotzbrück bridge constructed in the 19th century is famed for its unique construction accuracy, with the bridge and its reflection merging into a complete and perfect stone circle, no matter where you see it from. Spooky! Probably this is why the bridge is also known as the ‘Devil’s Bridge’. It seems that the makers of the bridge emphasized more on its aesthetics than its utility. Both the ends of the Rakotzbrücke have thin rock spires installed, to make it look like natural basalt columns, which commonly occur in many parts of Germany.

Spotted Lake Khiluk

Location:Northwest of Osoyoos, British Columbia

Spotted Lake Khiluk is the most mineralized lake in the world. The lake is spotted with 365 separate pools arranged in a strange mosaic-like pattern. Each of these spots holds a unique and highly concentrated chemical content and is said to cure different diseases. Definitely one of the nicer strangest places in the world.

Eternal Flame Falls

Location: New York, US

The Eternal Flame Falls is a quaint waterfall located in Shale Creek Preserve, which is a section of Chestnut Ridge Park in Western New York. A small item at the waterfall’s base emits natural gas. Interestingly, it can be lit to produce a flame. This flame is visible all year round. It can be extinguished and must occasionally be re-lit. The flame is fueled by natural gases and burns bright right under a waterfall.

Caño Cristales

Location: Colombia

In the summer months, this Colombian river turns red. Actually, the river bed is covered by a unique species of plant, and that is what turns red. Another one of those mysterious places on earth underwater. The river is commonly called the “River of Five Colors” or the “Liquid Rainbow”. It has been called the most beautiful water body on Earth. You can make a time lapse here of the water cascading down the rocks.

Blood Falls

Location: Antarctica

Amidst the unending whiteness of the snow, Blood Falls provides a creepy relief. The water is red in color due to the presence of huge amounts of Iron. Definitely makes the list of the strangest places in the world. According to Forbes, the mystery surrounding Blood Falls has been solved. According to the researchers of University of Alaska, the red coloring is due to “oxidized iron in brine saltwater, the same process that gives the iron a dark red color when it rusts.”

Sea Of Stars

Location: Maldives

Bioluminescent sea plankton that shines bright blue during the night makes the sea area at Vaadhoo Island look like the Sea of Stars. The sea of stars of Vaadhoo Island Maldives attracts millions of tourists every year. The tourist footfall seems to be only increasing after the sea was featured in far and few Bollywood and Hollywood films. The Maldives is listed as one of the cheapest destinations in the world, so what’s stopping you from seeing this sight?

Nelson Lakes National Park

Location: New Zealand

Do you get extremely excited about jungle safaris and walking tours of the national park in general? This one might just surprise you with its quirkiness. There is an interesting Blue Lake at the Nelson Lakes National Park. What’s so weird about it? How about the fact that this is a lake so clear that you can see all the way to the bottom, and can’t even make out the depth. Go ahead, visit it. We dare you. Don’t blame us for your mind being blown to smithereens.

Crystal clear waters of blue lake in New Zealand

Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain

Location: Peru

Covered in wide lines of pastel blue, intense red, green, pink and yellow. There are currently no scientific explanations for this phenomenon. Often referred to as Vinicunca or Montaña de Siete Colores, Rainbow Mountain is a colorful peak in Peru. It is extremely difficult to reach, we will not lie. But the strenuous effort is worth the trek. The sights that you will behold from the top of the mountain will dazzle you. Are you ready to do this?

Image result for Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain

Crooked Forest

Location: Poland

Came across any oddly-shaped pine trees outside Nowe Czarnowo near the town of Gryfino, West Pomerania? Welcome to the most bizarre place on Earth. Very few people visit this region, so why you happened to be there is a mystery in itself. In an otherwise normal forest in Poland, full of straight trees, there is this collection of curved trees, for which there is no scientific explanation. One of the world’s weirdest places, indeed.

Dead Sea

Location: Jordan

Can’t swim? No problem! The Dead Sea, a salt lake, will ensure you can float without any effort, due to the high volume of salt and other minerals in the water. The Dead Sea is 10 times as salty as the ocean, with a salinity of about 34%. Just a disclaimer, if you open your eyes while in its water, it will sting quite a bit. It is inhospitable. Interestingly, in the Greek Era, it was inhabited by savage tribes. Visit the site to know more awesome facts.

The Wave

Location: Arizona, US

The Wave is a sandstone rock formation located near the northern border Arizona shares with Utah. It is a dreamlike world of swirling colors and psychedelic patterns. The rock formations are said to be from the Jurassic era. In an effort to preserve the natural beauty and integrity of this natural site, there are no signages for hikers. You have to find your way in and out of this site. Sounds like a challenge. Who is up for it?

Al Naslaa Rock Formation

Location: Saudi Arabia

There are many natural occurrences that can bewilder the traveler. This is one of them. This little slice of perfection. See the uniform slit between the flat faces of these two standing stones? Al Naslaa is one of the most photogenic petroglyphs in the area. Its natural shape is a big mystery that no one has been able to solve yet. Make sure you embark on a holiday to Saudi Arabia to catch a sight of this natural structure.

Image result for Al Naslaa Rock Formation

Fingal’s Cave

Location: Scotland

As a rule, caves are round in shape with round rocks, right? Wrong! Take a look at these symmetrical square caves. These caves are situated on the uninhabited islands of Staffa in Scotland. Except for researchers and scientists, people don’t usually visit these caves. But you can still look at this photograph and admire the bounties of nature. Doesn’t this strike as beautiful to you? The cave has a large entrance and is filled by seawater.

The Doorway Railway

Location: Vietnam

The Doorway Railway of Hanoi is a railway line passes inches away from the doorsteps of shops, through the residential neighborhood and commercial area of Hanoi. There’s a street in Hanoi, Vietnam where a speeding train passes straight through twice a day. If you’re in the way of the train, you are supposed to press tight into the adjoining wall or duck into a nearby cafe to escape being killed. You can feel the iron resonate against your skin. Sounds terrifying, right?

Monolith Of Uluru

Location: Australia

This is a single rock. One single, gigantic rock, which is a mountain in itself. With a height of 348 meters and a circumference of 5.8 miles, this is the world’s largest rock and one of the weirdest places on earth. While the rocks surrounding it eroded, it stood its ground to become the longest surviving Monolithic rock structure. If this rock doesn’t inspire you to keep hustling in life and staying true to all the promises you made to yourself, we don’t know what will.

Travertine Pools

Location: Turkey

A group of small pools that result from calcium carbonate deposits. Looks cold, but these are actually pools of warm water, fed by an underground spring. The area is immensely famous among the locals and the tourists alike for the carbonate mineral left by flowing water, which lends this natural site the name “cotton castle”. This place in Turkey is a sight to behold and we recommend you to stop by there on your trip to the region.

The Giant’s Causeway

Location: Ireland

The result of an ancient volcanic eruption, these are perfectly straight rocks jutting out of the sea. Around 60 million years ago, this place was subjected to intense volcanic eruptions. As the lava cooled and the smoke enveloping the region disappeared, people found pillarlike structures jutting out. They were amazed and began researching the origin of the Giant’s Causeway. To date, scientists are perplexed by the firmness of these rocks.

Lencois Maranhenses National Park

Location: Brazil

Lencois Maranhenses National Park is a protected area in Brazil. There is a reason why this place has a special status in the country. Although it deceptively looks like a desert, this national park of Brazil has many small pools bordered by the sandy dune-like structures. Have you ever come across white sand dunes on your desert trips? If your answer is no, pack your bags and head to Lencois Maranhenses National Park.

Image result for Lencois Maranhenses National Park

Red Beach

Location: China

Red beach is famed for its red-hued sand. It is a renowned tourist attraction. The place receives a tourist footfall of tens of thousands of people each year. The tourists seem to be in love with this place. Every year in autumn, The Red Beach in Tianjin, China comes alive with Suaeda salsa, a red colored plant that thrives well in salt water. The entire beach blooms red, leaving only thin strips of sea visible. Make sure to come here with your friends and get a photograph for your Instagram.

Did you like our post on the weirdest places in the world, if yes than comment below....

No comments