Nestled on the coast of the beautiful island of Phuket is the bay of Kata. Just lying to the south of the famous Karon beach, Kata is known for its white sand beaches with crystal clear waters that is flanked by beautiful palm trees. The beaches are well known to be family beaches and have a number of beach resorts dotted along the beach. The beach is a hot spot for surfers from the months of May to October as Kata’s beaches have some of the best waves for surfing.
The Kata beach is the best place for people looking to enjoy the sun. Tourists throng the beach from November to April mainly for the sun. You could grab a chill beer and take a stroll along the white sand of the beach-it definitely is an experience! The beach is split into two regions- Kata Centre which is closer to the Karon beach and Kata South which has a number of resorts and shope where you could buy some souvenirs.
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Khao Lak is a resort town located just about hundred kilometers off the resort town of Phuket in Southern Thailand. The resort town is was noted for being the most hit place in Thailand in the aftermath of the 2004 earthquake that rocked South Asia. Khao Lak is all about beauty and it is a beautiful line-up of villages along the coast that have a number of waterfalls and other places of spell bounding beauty. The entire region relies mainly on agriculture and tourism for its revenue.
The Chong Fah Waterfall is about ten minutes east of Bang Niang and is great when visited on a hot day. The Lampi waterfall is a thirty minute drive from Khao Lak and offers some picturesque views of the mountains in the region. The Khao Sok National Park offers a number of activities like trekking, visiting waterfalls and canoeing in the rivers. The Similan Islands that are just near Khao Lak should be checked out as they have some of the best diving spots in Asia.
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Situated about 37 kilometers to the North of Colombo is the picturesque lagoon town of Negombo. It is located in the Negombo lagoon about seven kilometers from the Bandaranaike International Airport and hence it is well connected to most of the South Asian cities. The town’s main source of income is tourism and fishing as it has been a fishing port for many years. The town was an important trading post for Portuguese and Dutch traders.
The town has a number of places of visit including the Dutch fort that was constructed way back in the year 1672 and the Dutch canal that runs for about a hundred kilometers through the town. Negombo also has a number of unexplored beaches of exquisite beauty and some beautiful cathedrals with a touch of the Portuguese architecture. It is due to this reason that the town has often been referred to as “Little Rome”. The Buddhist temple at Kelaniya which is believed to have been visited by Buddha is another important place that should be checked out.
(Image courtesy of S Baker)
Phuket has some of the best beaches in the world with clear waters and white sands. The 540 square kilometer island of Phuket has some of the finest beaches of the world and is the definitely a paradise for people who love the sun and the sea. Located to the South west region of the island, Karon beach is one of the beautiful beaches in the Phuket island. The beach has some great places to swim, however, care should be taken when you visit the place during monsoon season as the sea might be unpredictable most of the times.
The Northern side of the Karon beach has a number of boutiques that deal with beautiful handicrafts and other memorabilia while the Southern side has a number of resorts and other art galleries. These art galleries are places where many budding Thai painters have their work displayed. It is a must for art lovers when you visit the beach. The beach is perfect for a quiet stroll in the evenings and shopping for some handicrafts in the boutiques.
(Image courtesy of M0les )
Located at about 56 kilometers from the capital city of Colombo is the resort city of Waikkal. The sun drenched city lies flanked by the coconut trees and the blue colored sea. The city located to the north of Colombo is a one and half hour drive from the capital city and a twenty minute drive from the BIA Airport. The city is known to be a bustling center for fishing activity and is the perfect destination for people looking to take a break from the usual hustle and bustle of life.
The Dutch canals that extend along the city for a distance of about 130 kilometers is a good sight to watch and you could ride along the banks of the canal. The Coconut Research Institute is yet another place that you should check out if you love the tropical fruit. You could also go for a ride in one of the catamarans and check out the local Sinhalese cuisine at one of the restaurants. Waikkal is just the place for a tropical vacation in SriLanka.
Jaipur, nicknamed as the Pink city is located in the Indian state of Rajasthan and is the state’s capital too. The city is considered to be the first well planned Indian city located in the sands of the Thar desert of India. It is called the pink city due to the fact that the buildings were painted so to imitate the redstone architecture of Mughal cities. The city was founded in the year 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.
The city has a number of places to visit including forts, palaces, temples and other monuments. The Amber fort complex that was built as a hybrid between the Hindu and Islam architecture and the Jaigarh fort which houses what is claimed to the be the largest cannon in the world is located here. The Nahargarh fort offers some spectacular views of the Man Sagar lake and also houses the Mahavendra Bhawan palace. The City palace with the Hawa Mahal and the Jal Mahal which is seated in the middle of the Maan-Sarovar lake are perfect examples of Rajput architecture. The Jantar Mantar which was one of the astronomical observatories was built in 1727 and is visited by a number of tourists throughout the year.
(Image courtesy of mckaysavage)
Literally meaning Field of a Thousand Generations, Chiyoda is a special ward in Tokyo city and houses several important buildings including the Supreme Court and the Imperial Palace among others. Other than being just Tokyo’s administrative center, Chiyoda is also credited for being an important place among tourists. The Imperial Palace, surrounded by moats and high walls is the official residence of the Japanese Imperial family and is the most visited place here along with the Imperial palace East Gardens which are open on all days except Mondays and Fridays.
The Chidoriga-fuchi Moat located to the Northwest side of the Imperial garden is the most prominent cherry-blossom sites attracts thousands of visitors daily. The Yasukuni War temple is one that is dedicated to the people who lost their lives during the second world war and is worth a visit. The Yushukan war memorial with its war memorables is located adjacent the war temple and should not be missed!
(Image courtesy of Hyougushi)
Sprawling along the shores of the Black Sea along the Southern border of Russia is the resort city of Sochi. The city lies beautifully on the shores of the Black sea with the Caucasus Mountains in its background. It is also claimed to be the longest city in Europe and finds special mention as a UNESCO World Heritage site and a subtropical resort. The city is flocked by millions of tourists each years and is well connected with most of the European cities.
The city is known for its scenic beaches with sandy, pebbled beaches with the beauty of the Caucasus Mountains. It is also known for its numerous cathedrals and other places of interest. The Vorontsov Caves at Kudepsta is noted for its large cave hall and is visited by several tourists. Another important place of interest at Sochi is the Akhshtyr Gorge which has a 160 meter long cave that has remains of humans who lived as early as 30000 years-definitely a must visit!
(Image courtesy of Vokabre)
Lying as a group of islands in the Micronesia region of Oceania is the island group of Palau. Palau is located just to the Southeast of Philippines and is a whole group of tropical islands waiting to be explored by tourists. Only a few of these islands are inhabited and Babeldaob Island is the largest of these. Koror is the only airport in the island that connects to other cities in SouthEast Asia.
Anyone who visits the island must not miss out the Jellyfish lake that you’ll find in Rock islands. The lake is home to millions of weak stinger jellyfishes and snorkeling is perfectly safe here. Palau has some of the world’s best diving spots and Blue corner and German Channel are some of them. You can also have a tour organized if you want to check out all the World War II battle fields on these islands. Diving lovers will definitely have the best holidays of their life here!
(Image courtesy of LuxTonnerre)
Located in Central Java of Indonesia is the Hindu temple complex of Prambanan – a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is known to be the largest Hindu temple complex in South East Asia and it was built around the 9th century by rulers of the Mataram or the Sanjaya dynasty. The place is located near the city of Yogyakarta which has an airport and is well connected.
The temple complex has more than 237 temples but most of them are in ruins now. The Candi Prambanan is the most visited temple and the largest one here. It is dedicated to the three main deities of the Hindus-Candi Siva,Candi Brahma and Candi Vishnu. Most of the temples in Prambanam are off limits to touristers these days due to security issues. You should also check out the Candi Lumbung and Candi Bubrah, which are Buddhist temples located near these temples. The Candi Sewu is another Buddhist temple complex with intricate relief work and beautiful designs that is located about a kilometer from the Hindu temples.
(Image courtesy of ^riza^)
