Rann of Kutch (Gujarat, India) The desert is not always a waste. Head for the 18,000 sq km area in the north of Gujarat to find out how much of a waste it isn’t. The Great Rann was originally an extension of the Arabian Sea, closed off by centuries of silting

When in Athens, do as millions of other tourists do: begin your tour at the Acropolis. In fact, go one better than thousands of them by being there by 8am: you’ll beat the coach loads of cruise-ship tourists who begin arriving by 10 and swarm u

Disbelief registers quickly on most people’s faces when I tell them that India has an active volcano. Well, the truth is that India does have volcanoes. And, historically, the most active volcano along the volcanic arc extending between Sumatra and Burma is India’s very own Barren Island. With reported eruptions dating back to 1787, we have known the volcano’s existence

Dress & Attire As in any society, how you dress affects your experiences. Your fashion choices make a statement about your intentions and these statements are subject to cultural in-terpretation. Though a small segment of urban India has been exposed to and often accepted new fashion directions, most Indians hold a more conservative view.

LOCATION: State Karnatka, India What can you say about a place where the local deity is a wandering spirit who wears outsized sandals? And a region so wild that the milestones are painted yellow and green for fear of ma

This road is not child’s play, but it will take you past some aftermost spectacular scenery in India. Because it’s a strategic road, it’s tended round the clock, but there are always sections that are broken, crisscrossed by glacial streams or blocked by landslides. This makes an SUV the only sensible option. Also

Barcelona, the home of 1888 Worlds Fair and 1992 Olympics, the capital of Catalan region-a culture branded for its unique amalgam of Spanish and French mode of cooking. Known for its affluent culture and heritage, the city of Barcelona nestled on the shore of Mediterranean is of profoundly entrenched in the past.

• India occupies only 2.4 percent of the Earth’s landmass but has over eight percent of the world’s known wildlife. • The Easter Himalayas are endemic to 3500 species of higher plants, 20 species of reptiles, 25 endemic species of amphibians’ and a rich fauna of insects. • Of the eight species of turtles found

Pont d’Avignon, France This bridge was built in the 12th century. It was made famous by the song “Sur le Pont d’Avignon” (On Avignon Bridge). Bridge of Sighs, Venice, Italy The Bridge of Sighs was designed in 1560. It connects the Doge’s Palace with the city jail, and prisoners who had been sentenced to death had to cross the bridge to reach the jail. Its name is said to come from their sighs of despair.