Food trail of Rajshahi region of Bangladesh
Food trail of Rajshahi region of Bangladesh
Food trail of Rajshahi region of Bangladesh
Also see: Tour of Rasjhahi region, Bangladesh
The Rajshahi, Bogura, Naogaun, Joypurhat and Nawabganj districts of Bangladesh are adjoining to Malda and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal. These districts have a rich share of heritage and history.
The most well-known historical site of the region is the Somapura Mahavihara (locally known as Paharpur), a UNESCO Heritage Site. The region also consists of several other Buddhist Viharas along with a host of medieval-period mosques and temples with intricate terracotta ornamentation.
Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO) Convention, Kushinagar
6th Convention of ABTO 2023, Kushinagar
Familiarization (FAM) Trip of Kushinagar and Lumbini
Also see: FAM Trip of Kushinagar and Lumbini
Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO) was founded in Nalanda, Bihar in the year 2015. ABTO aims to promote Buddhist pilgrimage and tourism at a B2B level in South and Southeast Asia along with the Asia-Pacific region.
The association operates as a common platform for Buddhist Tour operators of the region and helps with tourism product development along with the promotion and marketing of Buddhist Religious sites.
Jim Thompson House, Bangkok – Intriguing tale of a silk tycoon
Jim Thompson House, Bangkok
Intriguing tale of a silk tycoon
Also see: FAM Trip of Thailand 2022
A winding lane guides visitors towards the Saen Saep canal (Also see: Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat) in Bangkok’s Siam locality. At the end of the lane, you can see a spacious plot of land adorned with numerous traditional Thai-style wooden houses.
The compound features water bodies and gardens in traditional Thai style, presenting a striking contrast with the concrete jungle that surrounds it. This is none other than the museum housing the private collection of James Harrison Wilson Thompson, the American architect and silk tycoon widely known as Jim Thompson.
Monsieur Raymond’s Tomb — Hyderabad’s French Connect
Monsieur Raymond’s Tomb
Hyderabad’s French Connect
A path meanders upwards past the TV tower in Malakpet, a suburb in south Hyderabad, leading to the tomb of Michel Joachim Marie Raymond (1755-98), or simply Monsieur Raymond. He arrived in India in 1775 and settled in Pondicherry.
Later, he served as a mercenary under Hyder Ali of Mysore and then served the Nizams of Hyderabad. Under Nizam Asaf Jah II, he rose to the position of French resident of Hyderabad. His British counterpart was the celebrated James Achilles Kirkpatrick, the principal character of William Dalrymple’s best-selling book White Mughal.
Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh – Fort, Mosques and more
Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh
Fort, Mosques and more
A medieval era bridge and a fort, along with half a dozen mosques with towering gateways. This is what that sleepy hamlet of Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh has to offer. According to historical records Jaunpur served as an independent sultanate under the Sharqi Dynasty (1394 and 1479).
Later it came under the control of the Lodis followed by the Mughals. Several of the Sharqi and Mughal structures have survived the test of the time and still tower above the modern cityscape of Jaunpur. What makes Jaunpur unique is the mosque architecture, probably found nowhere in the country.
Shahi Qila, Jaunpur – A citadel on the banks of Gomti River
Shahi Qila (Royal Fort), Jaunpur
A citadel on the banks of the Gomti River
A medieval-era bridge and a fort, along with half a dozen mosques with towering gateways. This is what that sleepy hamlet of Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh has to offer. According to historical records, Jaunpur was initially under the Tughlaq dynasty.
Later it gained independence and served as an independent sultanate under the Sharqi Dynasty (1394 and 1479). After which it came under the control of the Lodis followed by the Mughals.
Lal Khan’s Tomb, Varanasi – A forgotten tomb of a minister of Varanasi
Lal Khan’s Tomb, Varanasi
A forgotten tomb of a minister of Varanasi
Also see: Varanasi
Varanasi or Banaras or Kashi is an ancient holy city in India, known for its charming ghats, serpentine lanes, ancient temples and chatpata street food. Varanasi is a living heritage and is often considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Varanasi is a holy city in India, known for its charming ghats, serpentine lanes, ancient temples and chatpata street food, but the ancient city has something much to offer, which includes Mughal-style Islamic tombs, complete with domes and minerates.
Rajghat, Varanasi – The oldest part of one of the world’s oldest cities
Rajghat, Varanasi
The oldest part of one of the world’s oldest cities
Also see: Varanasi
Varanasi or Banaras or Kashi is an ancient holy city in India, known for its charming ghats, serpentine lanes, ancient temples and chatpata street food. Varanasi is a living heritage and is often considered as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Mark Twain
Beneras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together.
Pune University – Heritage Tour
Pune University
Heritage Tour
Also see: FAM Trip of Pune
At first glance, it looks like a castle straight out of medieval Europe, but it is not. This castle-like structure is actually a university and it is not in Europe but in Pune, Maharashtra, which is often considered as the education capital of India.
No surprise, the massive building with a towering bell tower was not built to be a University. It was, in fact, built to serve as a monsoon residence for the governor of British-era Bombay.
Pune Zero Stone, a failed conservation and landscaping project
Pune Zero Stone
A failed conservation and landscaping project
Also see: FAM Trip of Pune
The distance between Mumbai and Pune is 162 km but is it the distance between the respective airports or railway stations or some other landmarks of the city? Cities cover a large area so there is a need for an exact point from where distance needs to be measured.
Surveyors call this point zero point and they are usually properly marked with a zero milestone. The 162 km is the distance between the zero points of the respective cities. The Mumbai zero point is at the St. Thomas’ Cathedral while that of Pune is at the General Post Office (GPO) (Google map location).