The Latgale region is nicknamed ‘the land of blue lakes’. Approximately 1,200 lakes speckle Latgale’s landscape making it an attractive destination for anyone who enjoys outdoor adventures including kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding or other forms of paddling.
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Aiming to cycle around the lake inside of four hours while pausing along the way to view the landscape, birdlife and artworks proved a challenge. We underestimated. With the benefit of hindsight — now that I’ve climbed those hills on the northern shore — I’d pack a picnic and make a day of it. Kielder Castle, the various hides and artworks mean there’s plenty to spent time at along the way.
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The Piece Hall, in Halifax, is the United Kingdom's only remaining 18th-century cloth hall...When the sun shines, it’s no exaggeration to say that the Piece Hall has an appearance akin to a Mediterranean piazza.
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We live in the age of the selfie but visitors to Buddhist temples should not turn their backs to statues of Buddha to take photos. “It is seen as disrespectful to Buddha,” said Luxman, on how Buddhists regard tourists snapping pictures of themselves at temples. Some temples display signs that discourage visitors from taking selfies by statues, though photography is widely permitted at religious and historic sites.
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India’s most southerly state, Tamil Nadu, is home to 46 kilometres (28.5 miles) of railway that, since July 2005, has the distinction of being a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway opened in 1899. It twists up from Mettupalayam, on the hot and dusty plain, into the lush countryside and altitude-induced coolness of the Nilgiri Hills.
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After most of the De Stijl artists died, it grew out to be one of the most important art movements in the 20th and 21st centuries.
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Penshaw Monument, arguably Sunderland’s best-known landmark, resembles a Greek temple. As you stand on Penshaw Hill you might quietly wish the weather was more like Greece’s.
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After touching down in Ljubljana, you might be tempted to hire a car, board a train or travel by bus. However, one of the most rewarding ways of exploring Slovenia is on foot to explore trekking and walking in Slovenia.
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The coastal city of Mahabalipuram, 60km (40 miles) south of Chennai, is a popular spot with backpackers and culture lovers touring southern India. Locals know this place as Mamallapuram and it’s a place that I’ve grown fond of, visiting several times in recent years.
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After a brief look around I head next door to view the Honours of Scotland, the country’s crown jewels. First used together for the coronation of Mary Queen of Scots in 1543, the shining sceptre, crown and other symbol-laden artefacts are displayed behind heavy-looking security glass. King Charles II was the last monarch to be crowned using the Honours of Scotland.
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