Travel Darbar By Inder Raj Ahluwalia

It’s a mountain that rises in splendid isolation from the Judean Desert. And it unfolds a saga that though true, belongs as much to folklore as to history books. For tourists today it is just another site, but it is also a symbol of sacrifice for an entire nation. Having a tour guide like Avihai Tsabari had several advantages, not the least of which was his desire to share information in advance with everyone around. Yet he’d chosen to stay quiet on this one, which had got me thinking. It was bright and sunny the day we dropped by. Located on the western shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest and among the most desolate regions on earth, Masada not only features stark natural beauty, but is also the site of one of history’s most dramatic moments. Nineteen centuries ago on this gaunt plateau, a group of freedom fighters pitted against the might of ancient Rome decided to kill themselves rather than surrender. It was a dramatic last stand. The summit had been fortified by King He...

It was a quiet, no-fuss entry into a quiet, no-fuss city! I’d arrived from Taipei, courtesy the Taiwan High Speed Rail, and the 96 – minute ride – with a stop at Taichung – was ‘smooth as flowers’. The High Speed Rail network is a marvel of Taiwan’s engineering prowess, and the super-fast trains literally glide across the country. My brief visit made one thing amply clear. Kaohsiung is a city of substance. My hotel,  The Splendor Kaohsiung,  provided a perfect setting. Taiwan’s highest building until overtaken by Taipei 101, the hotel is still the highest in the country, and the view from its Tuntex 85 Skytower is truly stunning. While three corners focus on the sprawling city, one presents a pristine view of the calm, pale blue sea and Kao Port. The Skytower’s got it all – telescopes, seating, signages, and a refreshment counter. All I had to do was get into a special elevator to be whisked up for the visual treats. My city exploration was a continuation of the treat....

                                                                                                              It's easy street in more ways than one. Lazy weekends starting with the aroma of freshly-brewed coffee and croissants over the Sunday papers at a downtown café, followed by a stroll under clear blue skies along one of Australia’s finest Victorian era boulevards. Then seeing pristine, grand local architecture; foraying into Austra...

A silver necklace of sand along the blue of the ocean, it does what it was always meant to do. Bask in the bright sunshine and unfold its myriad charms. There is a certain savoir foire in this town that begins where the Atlantic Ocean ends. To say that it’s a rather special place is to state the obvious, but it is special. Biarritz was made for holidays! It was the whales and not the elegant 19 th Century ladies who were the first sea-bathers here. A tiny fishing port in the Middle - Ages, it saw dramatic change with the new craze for sea bathing. The Empress Eugenie exalted the town, turning it into Europe’s most fashionable resort. Converging here were the crowned heads of the entire continent, to throw themselves into the waves and into an endless round of sophisticated soirees, romantic promenades and glittering balls.  Following them were the stars of the arts and high society who played hard on the green grass of the golf courses and the green baize of the gam...

In a way, it turned out to be exactly as advertised. Grim, sinister, hauntingly scenic, it loomed up on the horizon, squatting on a gently rolling hill, waiting to tell its story. As if by design, we got the ‘perfect’ backdrop. It was cold and gray, with a fine drizzle and just a hint of sleet. And the wind was the way winds often tend to be. Cruel! I’m convinced that much of the site’s charm stems from its complete isolation, so loaded with suggestion.   And its strong, indelible historical link with harsh, dark days far gone by, when primitive man strove to sustain himself in difficult conditions.   The topography and setting could well be the prop for a Shakespearean tragedy. The monument squats all by itself- a bit awkwardly I think - on the top of a gentle incline, commanding fine views of the valleys and meadows of Wiltshire downland.   Mysterious and desolate,   it reveals the remains of a prehistoric monument that wa...

Capital of Thailand from 1350, and a power centre for over 400 years till its ravage and destruction by Burmese invaders in 1767, Ayutthaya today is a restored, priceless Thai relic. Ayutthaya’s heydays in the 17 th Century saw it become the most fabulous city in the Orient, a centre of pomp and glory, with fabulous temples built by its people in honour of their Gods, and palaces for their royalty. The buildings were constructed on a grand scale, set amidst landscaped gardens, and given definite shapes, all of which testify to a well-developed architectural flair. Today, restored ruins tell the story of those bygone days of glory. Today, visitors find a rare sense of space here that’s soothing both to the mind and body, and the effect of the overall vastness is enhanced by the comparative lack of vehicular traffic and complete silence. Replete with attractions, a city tour is as educative as it’s interesting. The restored ruins still show their rough, rugged beauty t...

There’s this cultural diversity that hits you smack in the face. As a European cultural and intellectual hub, the region is closely associated with the work of great thinkers and doers. Luther; Wieland; Herder; Cranach; Dix; Feininger; Van de Velde; Gropius…! The names trip off rather easily. Then there are the myths and legends, exemplified in elaborate facades; impregnable fortresses; and romantic castles to be found on almost every hill. The fact is that there is a fortress in every village, and romantic castles and medieval fortresses – over 400 in all - proliferate all over the state. The most famous, and the landmark of the town of Eisenach is Wartburg Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Erfurt; Weimar; Eisenach; Jena; Gotha; Altenburg; Meiningen…the Thuringian towns are bursting at the seams with history, tradition, heritage, culture, and leisure diversions. Along with fascinating museums, historic festivals and medieval markets bring life back to the old wal...