Nilgiri Mountain Railway: steam travel in South India
India’s most southerly state, Tamil Nadu, is the home to 46km of railway that, since July 2005, holds the distinction of being a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Places to visit
The Golden Chariot: South India’s luxury train
The Golden Chariot is south India’s answer to the Palace on Wheels; this is a luxury train transporting tourists in five-star comfort between sites of cultural and historic interest.
Bowes: the County Durham village that inspired Charles Dickens
Bowes, in upper Teesdale, has a surprisingly rich history for a quiet English village. One of Bowes claims to fame is that, during the 1830s, it provided Charles Dickens with the inspiration for aspects of Nicholas Nickleby.
Bangalore Firewalking Festival, India
There has to be some sort of trick to firewalking, surely people don’t really walk across hot ash wearing no protection on their feet; this was my supposition as I headed towards Bangalore’s Cantonment district and the annual Sri Drowpathy Amman Fire Walking Festival.
Munich Oktoberfest: a celebration of Bavarian heritage
Every year, 2000 Oktoberfests are celebrated around the world but, of course, the one that they all seek to emulate is the original, held in Munich.