Travel Guide | CSTCTD.org

The airport which is easily one at the highest elevation is in Leh which is the Capitol of Ladakh. As the aircraft descends into this beautiful countryside one feels closer to the heavens and truly one with the clouds. The cold air outside grips you and you want to get back into the cozy cocoon of the aircraft for a split second, but then you are here to see this beautiful and amazing country too. Carrying and wearing appropriate clothing is very important if you want to enjoy your stay here.

Leh is 3505 meters above sea level and is neighbor to Jammu and Kashmir. What draws ones interest immediately is the sprawling palace made of mud brick which is almost in ruins. This is the hub of the Tibetan Buddhist culture with its colorful gompas. Apart from the attraction of its scenic beauty, Leh is also a popular hiking locale. Surprisingly there are many tourists visiting right throughout the year and the town is full of Kashmiri craft and Tibetan restaurants. Once affected by the war between India and its neighboring countries this is now a tranquil town and a very calm and pleasant place to relax. The Namgyal Tsemo Gompa and the palace are two of the most popular tourist spots in Leh. The pristine mountains look close enough to stretch out your hand and touch and are a magnificent sight during sunset.

The wonder of being at this small town which is surrounded by dessert on one side and the Indus vegetation on the other surpasses all other things. A short but meaningful stay is definitely the outcome.

like the monks who are clad is saffron robes, the atmosphere in Thailand is of peace and tranquility. The Thai people are gentle and religious and their temples or wats are found all over the country. In fact they number almost 30,000 and are all magnificent in their glory. Every building or house has a small decorative house outside which has garlands and flowers adorning it and candles and incense burning at these shrines. These are spirit houses which are supposed to house the spirits of the territory which have been displaced from their original place of living by the concrete houses.

The wats or temples are worth seeing and the best amongst them is Wat Phra Kaeo. This temple is a part of the Grand Palace and is one of the oldest places in Bangkok and is on the banks of the river Chao Phraya. On the other hand is the vibrant night life in Bangkok. The tourist can see a diverse culture here and enjoy it all during his stay.

The city of Bangkok is quite unlike other cities of Thailand, and is abuzz with traffic and the streets are full of vendors and selling barbequed chickens and water melons. The floating markets and spas which rejuvenate you are some of the specialties of Bangkok. The best way to travel in this traffic is by tuk-tuk which is a three wheeler that can carry passengers.

Shopping is any tourists delight here and they can shop in the most elegant malls or in the streets markets. From designer wear to imitation jewelry, everything is available here. It is good to be able to bargain here as you can bet down the prices quite a bit. So from the ancient charm to the modern hustle and bustle, you can find it all here in Bangkok.

Goa lies on the South West Coast of India on the Arabian Sea. The 105 km coastline of Goa has some of the loveliest beaches in the world. These Beaches have become a tourist’s haven and people from all over the world flock to them for vacations and even long jaunts. Some of these world famous beaches are Palolem, Betul, Colva, Harmal, Baga, Calangute, Anjuna and Vagator.

This was Portuguese territory for over 4 centuries, and now, though it is more than 4 decades since they have left, Goa is still very westernized and more so than all the modern major towns in India. The lifestyle of the Goan’s is very bohemian and they are very easy going in their daily routine. Most of them have a siesta time in the afternoon and the evenings are filled with fun. Some of the things that they are very enthusiastic about are food, music and dance. The Goan cuisine is extremely tasty and most Goans are excellent cooks. Their favorite drink is a locally brewed one called Feni which is made from cashew nuts or coconuts. Most locals are used to it but the outsider has to cultivate a taste for it.

Goa is a land of 5 languages and many cultures. It is famous for its wonderful churches and the most famous in the St. Francis Xavier Church which has the body of the saint in a glass casket. There are Christians, Hindus and Muslims living in peace and harmony in this city. Most people are very religious and also respect other religions. The staple food of Goa is fish and rice.

Goa can be reached by air, train, boat and road.