Exotic Manali Himachal

Somewhere in the vast expanse of the snow-capped Himalaya, 6,000 feet above sea level, lies the stunningly beautiful riverside town of Manali. It's the perfect place for romance and adventure. The world renowned tourist attraction Rohtang Pass is frequently called the 'honeymoon couples paradise' Honeymoon couples huddle close for warmth and intimacy; children, invigorated by the cool mountain air, prance gaily; young adventurers head out in search of heart-stopping thrills; locals, in colourful mountain gait, shuffle to work... Slowly, as the chilled air permeates the senses, you succumb to the magic of the mountains. In this idyllic town, you don't really have to go anywhere to do sight-seeing. There's hardly a place that doesn't have a view of a stupendously beautiful mountain or the cool, clear waters of the pebble-strewn river Beas. Popular excursions just add to your experience of the Manali magic.

The fresh green meadows of Solang Valley, the high-altitude road to Rohtang Pass, the pristine valleys of Lahaul and Spiti, the hot springs of Manikaran, ancient temples and humming Tibetan monasteries are just some of the attractions of this beautiful place. The landscape lends itself to an incredible range of outdoor sports such as river rafting, paragliding, zorbing (which is rolling downhill inside a huge plastic orb), skiing, trekking, and mountain-climbing. Of course, the humble walk becomes an experience in itself in the thick wooded groves of deodar, pine, sal, rhododendron, oak, fir and birch. Evenings are a good time to descend into the Manali marketplace, a motley montage of curios, kitsch and food. From charming Tibetan shops to touristy trinkets, and Tibetan momos to Lebanese, Japanese and Italian food, Manali is a delightful blend of cosy and cosmopolitan.

Places of interest

HADIMBA TEMPLE (1 km): Built in 1553 with a superbly crafted four tiered pagoda roof, it is famous for its exquisitely carved doorway.

MANU TEMPLE (2 km): This is dedicated to the sage Manu situated at old Manali. VASHISTH (3 km): Well known for its hot springs. There are old temples dedicated to the sage Vashisth and to Lord Rama. MONASTERIES: There are three recently built Tibetan monasteries at Manali.

JAGATSUKH (6 km): The one time capital of Kullu. Here are old temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and to Sandhya Gayatri. The Arjun caves are just ahead.

SOLANG VALLEY(14 km): In a picturesque setting this has good ski slopes and picnic spots. TOWARDS THE ROHTANG PASS: On the road to Keylong is the Nehru Kund (6km) which is a clear water spring scenic spot named after the Late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.

Kothi (12km) is a picturesque village and has a thrilling view of the deep gorge through which the Beas swiftly races. The beautiful Rahalla falls (16km) are at at altitude of 2500m.

A crucial link on the old trade route and still the gateway to trans Himalayan Lahaul, the Rohtang Pass is at height of 3978 m.

CLUB HOUSE: The Club House with its comprehensive facilities that include a roller skating rink, an auditorium, billiards rooms, a library, a bar and restaurant makes wonderful outing for the day.Bungee jumping is also provided.

CAFE JUNIPAR: Himachal Tourism also runs the Juniper cafe and Chandratal restaurants at Manali.

Ranbir Singh Rana is a certified Guide for Himachal Pradesh.
Leads All type of Manali Tour Packages, adventures tour, cultural tours in Kullu Manali, Shimla, Dharmshala and Dalhousie For more Detail please Visit http://www.manalipackagetour.com/.

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Belize, More Than Just a Exotic Beach Holiday Destination

Belize a hidden pearl in Central America is a lush exotic paradise with waving palm trees, beautiful white sand beaches, a Caribbean vibe and a coast littered with many tropical islands. This is the destination that the few people who are aware of Belize, have pictured in their mind. In Belize there is definitely much more to explore. Belize is home to unspoiled Jungles filled with wildlife, enormous Mayan pyramids and one the most famous diving spots in the world The Great Blue Hole, a favourite diving spot of the famed Jacques Cousteau!

Formerly known as British Honduras, Belize became a fully independent nation in 1981 and is Central America's only English speaking country. Being able to communicate in English to practically everyone in the country is very convenient. Although it should be said that anyone who prefers to speak Spanish, will have no problems to get around. Especially in the Northern part of Belize you might have an easier time to get around knowing the Spanish language.

Being on of the smallest countries in this world, Belize is not as well known as some Central American destinations as for example Costa Rica. Belize is about halve the size of the Netherlands and slightly larger than the State of New Jersey. Surprisingly it is also one of the least populated countries of this world. With only three hundred thousand Inhabitants it is no wonder that Belize has stayed fairly unknown and unspoiled.

Belize is a multicultural rich nation with friendly people and a strong Caribbean vibe. It is a great destination for a nice relaxing holiday where you can relax on the beach, have a drink, enjoy the sunshine and take it easy! However Belize is not just a destination for the rich, enjoying luxurious exotic beach holidays. Even more it is a paradise for wildlife lovers and adventure junkies who are on a tight budget. Rafting, Kayaking, Zip lining through the jungle canopy, expeditions deep in to the wild, diving with sharks and exciting island survivals for those who are looking for something really different.

Belize's real beauty and excitement can be found further in land where most of the country is still covered by virgin jungle as far as they eye can see. Here remainders can be found of the ancient Mayan Empire. Rnormous pyramids surrounded by rainforest who over time have overtaken these lost cities. It is also here where you can venture in the jungle not seeing another soul for days where Jaguars, Tapirs, Peccary, Howler Monkeys, Morelet's Crocodiles and Macaws still thrive in good numbers.

Some call it the green hell but for the real adventurers and wildlife lovers it is a true paradise where you can wake up in your hammock under the jungle canopy opening your eyes and ears to an awaking world of roaring howler monkeys, over flying squawking Macaws and beautiful serenades of hundreds of tropical birds

Unfortunately not all is perfect in paradise and the beauty of Belize is threatened by loggers and poachers which have a serious impact on the environment and wildlife. Luckily there are many opportunities to join expeditions and volunteer abroad projects. These trips often go deep in to the jungle with the main goal to give the environment a sustainable financial value through responsible eco tourism and volunteerism. For locals the income through travels and volunteers is often the only alternative to the short term gain of logging and poaching.

For those who prefer the blue and underwater wildlife Belize will definitely not disappoint. By many acclaimed to be one of the best diving spots in the world, Belize houses one of world's largest intact coral reef systems. Second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, it is a divers paradise. With famous diving spots as the Great Blue hole, diving in Belize is an adventure not to be missed and a great destination to get padi scuba diving certifications.

For those who would like to do more than just observing the local marine wildlife there are many opportunities to help with the marine conservation of turtles, manatees and coral reefs systems.

One very different adventure trip Belize has to offer is the unique opportunity to join a ten day island survival experience. Participants first get extensively trained for days in the art of island survival. Following the training under supervision of professionals a helicopter evacuation is simulated at sea. After the simulated crash the participants swim to a nearby deserted island with the goal to survive with whatever means the island and surrounding sea provides.

Whether it is a luxurious beach holiday, a adventure trip or a volunteer experience Belize is country that should not be missed. It is a destination that has something to offer for everyone. For a country the size of Belize a responsible approach to travel is of outmost importance and key point to keep in mind for both the tourist and tour operator so that the unique blend of Belize can be preserved.

Patrick van de Velde (Founder of FRONTEERING TRAVEL SERVICES INC.) has had a passion for wildlife, travel and adventure since the day he could walk. Having travelled all over the world, he decided in 2006 to move to the suburbs Vancouver Canada.

A adventurer by heart he started up a volunteer experience program in some of the remote areas of Canada. His mission; to give opportunity to those who would like to volunteer with wildlife or like to help out indigenous communities. As part of his vision FRONTEERING aims to arrange volunteer abroad and adventure travel experiences in places less visited and unspoiled.

Having expanded to Guyana, The USA, Belize, Brazil and soon to Peru Fronteering's projects help with good causes in some of the last frontiers. Places where the need is greater, where there is more to lose and much more to gain if these last frontiers are sustained. To view our Fronteering volunteer opportunities and adenture trips visit: http://www.fronteering.com/

Join one of our Fronteering Volunteer Abroad projects and visit these last frontiers while they are yet unspoiled and hopefully through our combined efforts we can keep it that way!

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