Tranquebar - Revisiting the Scandivanian Legacy of Denmark at India's Southernmost Tip

 Important Note:

1. Check the COVID 19 travel restrictions of the place online before undertaking your sojourn.
2. Kindly note that the Distance of places, Prices, Hotel rates, Temperature, and other figures may change according to the conditions prevailing at the time of your visit. There may even be short cuts and extra conveyance available that you can avail of when traveling locally. Tourists must conduct their own research before traveling and take due diligence on rates & distances from authorized online sources. All the facts and information provided in relation to the place is for my own personal use and collected from different online sources and collated together. For more details, Click this link DISCLAIMER.

"The bygone times leave in its trail eternal memories of heritage structures and customs". 

    [Picture Credits: "Fort Dansborg at Tranquebar, built by Danish Admiral Ove Gedde, in 1620." by Eagersnap, Wikipedia is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 ] 

Think of colonial powers that ruled India, and the Big 3 always come to the fore - British, Portuguese, and the French. Not many are familiar with the Scandivanian connection to India. Yes, the Danes, native of Denmark ruled some parts of India for a considerable period of time - more specifically at the start of the 16th century (1620-1845). 

The Danish East India Company merchants and ships arrived from 1616 onwards and dropped their anchors on the Coromandel coast(Tamil Nadu), Balasore(Orissa), Andamans, Sri Lanka, Puducherry(Karaikal coast), Surat(Gujarat), Cochin(Kerala) and Serampore(Hooghly, West Bengal) for the lucrative trading business of spices - chiefly Cardamom, pepper, and cinnamon. The Southern coast of India also witnessed the French connection in all its glory, at Puducherry. Even today, you will find tree-lined avenues of French designs in Puducherry which is a delight to watch.

Although they ruled a few places in India, the Danish East India company left behind a stunning architectural trail that consisted of golden pink-hued forts, whitewashed churches, baroque houses, and majestic trading centers, colonies, and warehouses. 

The two significant trading ports which bear strong testimony to Danish presence were - Traquebar in Tamil Nadu and Serampore in Hoogly, West Bengal. The Danes were full-bodied traders and merchants and their intention on setting foot in India was to establish trading outposts that linked all the way to Denmark. 

Ilha De Calma (Calm): The Stunning. Tranquil and Delightful Island of DIU( Daman ) in Gujarat

Important Note:

1. Check the COVID 19 travel restrictions of the place online before undertaking your sojourn.
2. Kindly note that the Distance of places, Prices, Hotel rates, Temperature, and other figures may change according to the conditions prevailing at the time of your visit. There may even be short cuts and extra conveyance available that you can avail of when traveling locally. Tourists must conduct their own research before traveling and take due diligence on rates & distances from authorized online sources. All the facts and information provided in relation to the place is for my own personal use and collected from different online sources and collated together. For more details, Click this link DISCLAIMER.

  [Picture Credits: "Diu - gate to the Diu Town " by User:Aotearoa, Wikipedia is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0)]

"Don't get fooled by the size" is an oft used adage. At times, the smallest work of art hides mesmerizing tales of intrigue and beauty. 

It is said that wherever the Portuguese ruled, there remained a glorious legacy in the form of gigantic monuments, splendid churches, majestic forts, and wondrous heritage structures. Being a naval might during the colonial times, the Portuguese were quite familiar with the sea, and beaches. Right from Kerala, Goa, Alibaug, Sri Lanka, Ambon (Indonesia) to Daman, Diu, the Portuguese left behind an incredible and indelible trail of stunning architecture. Many of the structures still stand testimony to the Portuguese architectural skills.  

Today, I will be covering DIU, the 'Mysterious Isle of Calm' or 'Island of Calm' as the Portuguese called it, which is situated in Gujarat, India. It has achieved the moniker due to its unspoiled coast and low frequency of tourists, which is not the case anymore. Rapid constructions and infrastructure developments coupled with aggressive promotions by Diu Tourism have brought it to worldwide acclaim. 

Now you can find tourists not only from Gujarat but also from other states of India and even the world. It is located South of Gujarat's Kathaiwad peninsula, 64 km SouthEast of Veraval in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. '#Damao' or #Daman is the capital and administrative city of Diu. During its heydays, the island of Diu captured the attention of many colonial powers for maritime trade and was at the center of conflict between Gujarat's Sultans, Arabs, European powers, and Mamluks. Even the Kolis ruled over the city for a brief period. 

Maui : Picture-Perfect Postcard Adventure Island in the Evergreen US State of Hawaii

Important Note: 

1. Check the COVID 19 travel restrictions of the place online before undertaking your sojourn.
2. Kindly note that the Distance of places, Prices, Hotel rates, Temperature, and other figures may change according to the conditions prevailing at the time of your visit. There may even be short cuts and extra conveyance available that you can avail of when traveling locally. Tourists must conduct their own research before traveling and take due diligence on rates & distances from authorized online sources. All the facts and information provided in relation to the place is for my own personal use and collected from different online sources and collated together. For more details, Click this link DISCLAIMER.

                    [Picture Credits: "Kaihalulu Beach, Maui" by RustyGage, Pixabay is in the Public Domain, CC0]

Located in the lush green, volcanic active isle of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean lies the secluded gem of Maui (not secluded anymore :). Known for its deepest ocean, the Pacific region encloses within its cocoon some of the finest coastal gems like Atolls, volcanoes, tropical forests, lagoons, and other marine wonders, Hawaii being one of them. Maui is heaven incarnate with swaying and rustling palm trees casting its glory on the azure waters beneath. It is rated as the best island in the USA for 22 years by Conde Nast Travelers magazine. The golden divine beaches,  forested mountain stretches, and eternal sunshine make it an ideal place for a discerning traveler. It is here that you can pamper yourself at the many spas, immerse yourself at Luau organic farmers market, sip a swig at the Kula local distillery and dine on multi-ethnic cuisines.

The Hawaiin territory is renowned for its vibrant beaches, eclectic sunsets, and evergreen panorama and is replete with marine wonders and breathtaking sceneries. You can gauge the beauty of Hawaii from the numerous word-of-mouth praise stories of tourists and the ritzy beauty pageants held on its soil since the time it opened the economy to the outside world. In terms of area, Maui is the second-largest island in Hawaii & 17th in the US. Although Kahului island scores in terms of commerce and finance, Maui surpasses it with its unparalleled scenery. Wailuku is the seat and capital city of Maui island. Other lesser-known places on the bucket list of travelers are Kehei, Lahaina, Pukalani, Kula, Haiku, Hana & Makawao. 

[Picture Credit: "Maui " by Wrolandholst, Pixabay is in the Public Domain]

Many places are located alongside mountains, valley, beachside, and confers an amazing topography to the region. It is really blessed to be in Hawaii. 

Legend states that Hawaii's name is derived from Hawaii Ilona, an early settler on the island. You can find numerous peaks dotting the island of Hawaii, and the highest of them is the Haleakala, carpeting more than 70% of the island area. Even the Maui beach is not immune from the overlapping of volcanic rocks which zigzag on the shore. The climate of Maui is characterized by marked changes based on regions. 

[Picture Credits: "Maui, Hawaiʻi" by Tony Webster, Flickr is licensed under CC BY 2.0]

Macha Pichu - The Lost Ancient Wonder City of Inca Civilization in [Cusco, Peru]

Important Note: 

1. Check the COVID 19 travel restrictions of the place online before undertaking your sojourn.
2. Kindly note that the Distance of places, Prices, Hotel rates, Temperature, and other figures may change according to the conditions prevailing at the time of your visit. There may even be short cuts and extra conveyance available that you can avail of when traveling locally. Tourists must conduct their own research before traveling and take due diligence on rates & distances from authorized online sources. All the facts and information provided in relation to the place is for my own personal use and collected from different online sources and collated together. For more details, Click this link DISCLAIMER.

[Picture Credits: "Macha Pichu Peru" by Diego Delso, Wikipedia is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0]

If there is one place that truly depicts Peru and its famed culture, it is the Macha Pichu historical site. Located at an altitude of 8000ft on a mountain ridge, between the Peruvian Andes mountains and the Amazon basin, this 15th century Inca citadel is truly a breathtaking Inca masterpiece that is surrounded by staggering zigzag terraced fields for farming. Its location along pristine waters and surrounded by towering and gigantic Andean peaks is truly awe-inspiring. 

Macha Pichu is the mysterious place in the cloud forest which the ancient historians mentioned ages back.  

The correct geographic location of Macha Pichu is in Eastern Cordillera>Cusco Region>Urubamba Province>MachaPichu district>in South Peru. This breadcrumb trail is shown to help first-time visitors so that they don't lose their way. Macha Pichu is located in the famous Peruvian Andes mountains of South America above the sacred valley, some 80kms NW of Cuzco. The roaring Urubamba river crosses the Macha Pichu region along the sacred valley creating a grand canyon which is nothing short of a spectacle. The region is blessed with a tropical mountain climate, where you can also enjoy river rafting activities along the Urubamba River. 

The material for its construction was extracted from the banks of the Urubamba river, some 30kms from the site. Historians and archeologists are puzzled about how the Incas transported the stones without any heavy machines during those times. Speculation was rife that it was built during a previous cult that existed there who used already scattered stones from there or may have been constructed by the hand of aliens. But no one is sure of the truth.

Archeologists are of the opinion that the Macha Pichu region was constructed as a royal estate for Inca emperor Pachacuti. A spectacular icon of Inca heritage, Macha Pichu was shrouded in mystery and untouched even during the Spanish Conquest till it was discovered by American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911 which catapulted it to international acclaim.   

The outer facade was built using polished white dry stones which provided the structure a rugged exterior. 

Angkot Wat Temple Complex - The Heart and Soul of Cambodia in South East Asia

Important Note: 

1. Check the COVID 19 travel restrictions of the place online before undertaking your sojourn.
2. Kindly note that the Distance of places, Prices, Hotel rates, Temperature, and other figures may change according to the conditions prevailing at the time of your visit. There may even be short cuts and extra conveyance available that you can avail of when traveling locally. Tourists must conduct their own research before traveling and take due diligence on rates & distances from authorized online sources. All the facts and information provided in relation to the place is for my own personal use and collected from different online sources and collated together. For more details, Click this link DISCLAIMER.

[Angkor Wat at Sunrise]
[Picture Credits: "Cambodia-2638B - Angkor Wat" by Dennis Jarvis, Flickr is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0]

Angkor Wat was originally constructed as a Hindu temple and a capital city dedicated to the God Vishnu by Khymer King Suryavarman in the first half of 12th century. 

But by the end of the 12th century, it was considered a Buddhist site. Theravada Buddhism gained popularity by that time, and maybe the reason for the change. Angkor Wat is the most popular tourist and heritage spot in Cambodia located in the Siem Reap region in Northern Cambodia, around 5-6 km away from the temple complex. 

There are other temples in the vicinity which I will cover later, one of them being the location for the iconic film 'Tomb Raider' shoot. This sprawling temple complex is considered a 7th wonder in the world due to the remote location and massive area, which is around 400 acres. In ancient times, it was a prosperous and fertile city having a population of around  1 million people. It also achieved the sobriquet as the 'City of temples' due to numerous temples in and around the vicinity of Angkor Wat. It was also called 'Praha Vishnuloka' in ancient times and regarded as a sacred dwelling of Lord Vishnu. At times it was thought to be a 'Jetavana' garden of Buddha, similar to the one in Magadha, Bihar, India. 

There was a deep cultural connection between India & Cambodia right from 1 Century BCE. This is reflected in Sanskrit inscriptions found on the temple walls, resident brahmin priests, pottery findings, the discovery of Brahmi script, similar astronomical calculations, Gupta style architecture, and worshipping of deities Hanuman and Shiva.