Sigiriya (Lion’s rock) is an ancient rock fortress rising 370m straight up over the plains of north central Sri Lanka. It’s also is the home to vast palace ruins. The flat topped rock formation makes it very distinct and within the area water gardens, terraced gardens, frescoes and inscribed poems known as ‘Sigiri graffiti’ can be viewed.
Sigiriya is a popular tourist destination and despite its age, the splendour of the palace still furnishes a stunning insight into the ingenuity and creativity of its builders. The upper palace on the top of the rock includes cisterns cut into the rock that still retain water. The moats and walls that surround the lower palace are still exquisitely beautiful. UNESCO declared Sigiriya a World Heritage Site during 1982.
Tansen is not only a medieval hill town but it represents a typical traditional Nepalese town. It’s located in the Palpa district and became an important trade route between India and Tibet (now occupied by China). Newari traders and artisans famous for their metal and dhaka (cloth) industry would stop in Tansen’s market centre to sell their goods. Tansen was also submitted to the UNESCO Tentative List during 2008.
Tansen is situated at an altitude of 1372 meters overlooking the Kali Gandaki River and surrounded by hills and mountains of the Himalayan region. The town itself is too steep for cars and made up of narrow, winding lanes which adds to its charm.
Long regarded as the ultimate in luxurious holidaying, the Maldives comprise an archipelago of 1,190 ancient coral islands fringed with white sandy beaches and lapped by the bath-warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
Originally formed by volcanoes, the underwater reefs surrounding the Maldives support more than 1,000 species of fish and other marine creatures – ranging from tiny fan-like coral structures to sharks and manta rays. The unique structure and rich abundance in marine life has ensured the Maldives reliably appears on lists of the world’s best dive sites.
In the Maldives diving holidays frequently take place on special live-aboard boats. These give divers access to the remoter atolls and, with up to four dives a day included in the price, can provide good value for money.
Other divers choose to base themselves at a particular resort and take day boats out to the various dive sites. However, with 644km of coastline and 200 inhabited islands, choosing a particular resort can vex even the most decisive of divers.
As a rough guide, stay on the western side of an atoll between May and November, as the visibility is better and life more varied on the reef. Divers arriving between December and April should opt for the eastern side of an atoll.
South Ari atoll and North Male atoll provide divers with the chance to feast their eyes on turtles, sharks, schools of game fish and the brightly coloured reef dwellers that inhabit the steep drop-offs known in the diving world as ‘walls’.
Some of the most popular dive sites for beginners include Banana Reef on the south-eastern side of North Male atoll and Maaya Thila off the North Ari atoll. Expect to see white-tip reef sharks, batfish, eagle rays and barracudas.
More experienced divers may choose to explore the protected marine park at the southern end of the North Male atoll. Known as Lion’s Head, this wall dive is subject to strong currents that attract large pelagic species such as tunas, giant barracudas grey reef sharks, napoleon wrasses and turtles.
Other popular spots for caching glimpses of gray, silver- and white-tip reef sharks are Rasfari and Cocoa Corner off the North Male atoll. Both are suited to more experienced divers.
To book an unforgettable holiday in the Maldives with some of the most remarkable marine life on the planet, planet diving holidays in the Maldives promise an unforgettable time.
El Nido is an isolated travel destination in the Province of Palawan. It’s also referred to as the Philippines ‘last frontier’. El Nido is approximately 420 kilometres south-west of Manila and is reached by air from Manila. Boat services are regular to the outlying islands of Palawan.
Some of the key highlights of the area include Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Sites, El Nido Marine Reserve Park, the spectacular limestone cliffs, isolated coves and lagoons.
Lagen Island and Miniloc Island are the home of the beautiful El Nido Resorts. Both these resorts are very popular with international visitors and honeymooners, offering first class accommodation in a serene destination.
One great reason to visit this travel destination is for its sheer beauty. I read a statement whilst researching this post, it read “God spent a lot of time here making it perfect!”
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