When thinking of Chennai, visitors call to mind Tamil culture and Kollywood films. Perhaps they picture Fort St. George, imagine themselves watching a cricket match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, or dream of attending the Madras Music Festival. Few tourists stop to think about the city’s plants and animals. Yet, Chennai boasts numerous parks and wildlife preserves that are open to the public and provide unique insights into the regions natural resources.
To truly get a feel for Chennai’s natural wonders, visit Guindy National Park. Chennai is one of only a few cities in the world with a national park inside its borders. Though small as far as national parks go, Guindy provides a sanctuary from the increasingly modern city surrounding it. The park is home to diverse species of foxes, monkeys, snakes and deer including many endangered species. One special feature of Guindy National Park is the Guindy Snake Park. Housing species of pythons, cobras, and vipers as well as other reptiles. The Snake Park is an important source of antivenoms. There is also a special Children’s Park with birds and animals.
Arignar Anna Zoological Park is also know as the Vandalur Zoo. This sprawling preserve includes an elephant safari and a lion safari as well as an aquarium and a house of nocturnal animals. It is the largest zoo of its kind in Asia and also features a number of endangered species. The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust is a center for preserving endangered species of crocodiles. It provides a home and breeding program for both salt- and fresh-water crocodiles and alligators as well as turtles, gharials, and snakes.
Chennai also has a Botanical Garden which showcases the vegetation and flowers of the region. There is even a fossilized tree trunk in the garden that is twenty million years old.
In addition to the wildlife, visitors may want to check out the various cultural and historic sites throughout the city. There are a number of 5-star hotels Chennai that offer easy access to all the city’s attractions — including the incredible foods of the Tamil region and of other regions of India.
Madrid is a diverse and exciting capital city. The third most populous city in Europe, Spain’s capital is known for its blending of modern, urban energy with traditional architecture and style. Visitors will find attractive weather year-round and incredible Spanish cuisine. Madrid is proud of its history and has preserved a number of sites, such as those in the Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor.
The name “Madrid” has several origin theories. One legend suggestes the city was originally named “Metragirta” or “Mantua Carpetana” after its founder, Ocno Bianor. Bianor was a son of the King of Mantua and Tuscany. A competing theory argues that Madrid was originally named “Ursaria” from the Latin for “Land of Bears.” Since the Middle Ages the bear has been an icon of the city along with the Madroño or strawberry tree.
The most likely theory dates the origin of the name back to the second century B.C.E. At that time the Roman Empire had a settlement on the Manzanares River known as “Matrice” which referred to the intersection of the settlement and the river. When Islamic forces conquered the territory in the 7th century they changed the name to “Mayrit” for the Arabic word “Mayra” meaning “giver of life” (another reference to the river) combined with the Ibero-Roman suffix meaning “place” which was “it.” This evolved to “Matrit” and then to “Madrid.”
When visiting Madrid, travelers will want to soak in some of the beautiful architecture the city has to offer. Check ou the Royal Palace, the Teatro Real Opera House, and the Cathedral de la Almudena for starters. The Alcala Gate is another popular destination as is the Las Ventas bullring. There are a number of five star Madrid hotels available as well as traditional hostels. Be sure to sample the many local restaurants as well as the many taverns, pubs and bars that make Madrid’s nightlife famous.
With one of the largest seaports in the Arabian Sea, Mumbai has maintained its importance to India’s trade and commerce throughout the colonial and has remained a major force since India’s independence was declared in 1947. Formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai is the second largest city in the world and a major center of commerce, entertainment and finance for India. Visitors to this exciting metropolis will find a number of cultural and historical sites that celebrate the city’s rich heritage. One of the most iconic sites in Mumbai is the Gateway of India.
The Gateway is located in South Mumbai, an area encompassing Nariman Point, Fort Colaba, Tardeo, marine Lines, and Malabar Hill. This is the oldest section of the city and is one of the prime tourist destinations. In additon to the Gateway, South Mumbia is host to the majority of Mumbai’s galleries and museums. There are also numerous upscale restaurants, bars, and five star Mumbai hotels. The Gateway is situated on the waterfront in South Mumbai’s Apollo Bunder area.
Built to commemorate a visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India in December 1911, the Gateway of India wasn’t actually completed until the end of 1924. It is constructed from reinforced concrete and yellow basalt. The central dome rises 26 meters high and has a diameter of fifteen meters. Though designed in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style, the structure includes elements of the 16th century Muslim Gujarat style. In addition to the dome, the Gateway includes four turrets and intricate basalt latticework.
In colonial times, the Gateway of India was the first structure visible to tourists arriving at the city by boat. In 1948, the last British regiment departed through the Gate, marking the ceremonial end of British rule. Today, visitors pass through the Gateway to reach the water. Boats offer harbour cruises and trips to the Elephanta Caves. There is also shopping to be had. Visitors to the Gateway can purchase carved items, brass, silver, pottery, and scarves here.
Kolkata offers a unique experience to visitors. As the third largest metropolis in India and the former capital under British colonialism, Kolkata was more commonly known as Calcutta. While the city is expanding and modernizing, there are still many examples of the dramatically beautiful colonial architecture to catch the imagination. With over fifteen million residents, the streets are crowded but the people are the friendliest of India’s mega-cities and proud of their city’s contribution to the arts and sciences.
During colonial times, Kolkata provided major contributions to india’s scientific, and industrial sectors. It also became a leader in education and culture, fostering philosphers, poets, writers, and artists, including Nobel Prize winners. It is believed to be the birthplace of modern Indian literary thought and artistic movements. As the capital of the state of West Bengali, it is also the proud center of Bengali art forms, including poetry, music, dance, theater, and film.
While Kolkata offers some of the best India food in the world, showcasing Bengali dishes, it is also home to numerous restaurants oferring world cuisines. In fact, much about the city is Western, modern shopping malls and office buildings, five star Kolkata hotels, and many English street names.
Visitors will find a variety of attractions to explore while in Kolkata. The Victoria Memorial, the Indian Musuem, and the Marble Palace are popular tourist destinations. Other sites to visit include St Paul’s Cathedral, Dakshineswar Kali Temple, and the National Library. Sports enthusiasts may want to check out the Edn Gardens cricket stadium, the Calcutta Racetrack, or the many fine golf courses in the city.
Mallorca is commonly known in the West as Majorca. This popular Spanish island is known for its wonderful beaches and amazing weather. Visitors will find plenty of ways to relax and enjoy a visit to Mallorca, whether reclining on the sand, visiting traditional villages in the island’s interior, or dancing the night away in a trendy club. And take time to enjoy the incredible food offered throughout the island. The island is home to over 2400 individual restaurants featuring local cuisine as well as foods from around the world.
The island is known for combining savoury and sweet ingredients in their fish and meat dishes. Pork and vegetables are the primary ingredients, though there are many seafood offerings as well. Sobrassada is a favorite ingredient. This spicy pork sausage is made locally and can be found in a variety of dishes or simply served alone on a piece of bread. Other favorite pork dishes include aufegat, blanquet, libritos, and rostit.
As this is Spain, you’ll find lots of paella, especially seafood varieties, on Mallorca. However, soup is arguably the most popular dish on the island. Featuring meat or fish, soups range from broths to thick stews. Mallorca is known for thick, dry soups with vegetables and cabbage as well as the main protein. These local specialities also contain slices of bread soaked in paprika, garlic, broth, and tomatoes.
Breakfast on the island usually includes the famous ensaimada or try eggs fried over sobrasada and covered in a sauce of vegetables and milk. Almonds are one of the island’s largest crops and can be found in a variety of foods, especially desserts. Gato is an almond cake usually served with almond ice cream. Other desserts to try include Garrometes del Papa, Turron and Geixonera de Brossat.
In addition to sun and food, Mallorca offers great shopping and plenty of outdoors activities such as hiking, sailing, and cycling. With the ever-growing influx of tourists, hotels range from 5 star hotels Mallorca to trendy resorts and smaller inns.
