March 2012 Issue Ahmedabad Based 1st Travel e-mag
Travelloholic Travel. Explore. Share.
Celebrating Swiss - This Season
Be a Travelloholic
―The world is a book; those who don‘t travel read only pages.‖ Said by St. Augustine. Traveling is adding new flavors in life in the form of happiness, joy, enjoyment and fun‘‘. It is about discovering new culture, thoughts, language and colors of life. ‗We are traveling and so we are growing‘… Get connected with Travelloholic magazine and explore the unseen and seen places in a new way as never did before. Our tag line Says Travel. Explore. Share, so we would like you to be a part of our magazine, now you have chance to share any Travel Experience in form of Story, or any unseen place which is not famous and very little population know about it, but have a fantastic experience for one and can at least be visited once. We also have different flavors where your contribution will be accepted for upcoming issues of our magazine, i.e. ‗Travel Slap‘, ‗Naughty Traveler‘ and Anti-Traveler‘. Travel slap: any negative journey experiences where you were head with difficulties and problems. Naughty Traveler: any naughty experience of a trip. Anti-Traveler: any experience of a satisfied Person who do not like to travel.
Get Subscribe For Free Visit : www.travelloholic.com Published by: Travelloholic Digital Media Edited by: Manish Asnani Designed by: Prashant Patil
Did you Missed the Earlier Issue of Travelloholic Travel Magazine October 2011 Ko Phi Phi Don Amazing Thailand can be explored visiting Ko Phi Phi Island, Be ready for a virtual exploration if you are going to read.
Jambughoda Conversation with the nature at Jambughoda can be felt if you are ready to talk to nature
Dholavira The most ancient city of Asia; A place built 5000 years ago. Excited ?
November 2011 Ladakh Super Natural Beauty on the paradise called Earth. Ladhak is one of the place still uncovered by many travel freaks.
Zainabad The real Kutch experience where you can enjoy peace with interesting sight seeing spots
Seychelles Unexplored Paradise; collection of 115 inner and outer islands, if you are a water lover, this place is for you
December 2011 Jordan Ancient Wonders, Modern Luxuries: Favorite with those who follows
Rann Utsav The Celebration of Life, unique manifestation of varied cultural ethos of the region. Opportunity to explore white Rann
Himachal Pradesh Mini Switzerland. Unlock facts of cool winds; Khajjiar, Chamba, Dalhousie.
We have saved memories for you have some glimpse here January 2012
Japan The Land of Rising sun Ages ahead in tourism freaks the place. Tourist gets attracted from the beauty of technological world
Explore Indian Forest Adventure vs Nature. Are you ready ?
Heritage city —uniquely Heritage Interesting Stuff Second Best adventure – Summit of Stok Kangri February 2012
Maldives
Always Natural
come face-to-face with some of the most incredible beaches in the world
A Beautiful Scenery Matheran The only hill station where vehicles are banned
Kerela
the cool blue Arabian
Sea on the west and the marvelous western ghats.
Editorial ‗Tribute‘ to Kodak! Photographer‘s who has been shooting for almost thirty five years will surely agree with me to join hands together appreciating Mr. Eastman for whatever he has done for the industry as a whole. Kodak invented film and the first consumer cameras, and was responsible for bringing photography in reality. Kodak‘s cameras and film were a revolution in themselves and transformed the way we have all discovered our world through our family albums, magazines, and motion pictures. The technology we see today is made possible because of Kodak, It was Eastman Kodak who gained information and knowledge which gave a step of rise to other companies to bring a new phase today in the field, it is hard to think and believe that one of the bluest of blue chips; Kodak shares sold at close to $1 when they announced for bankruptcy. So let's pay our respects to Eastman Kodak who made it possible to capture the moments for future to showcase a long.
The royal ‗We‘ This issue is very much special for us as is the result of first ever demands from travelloholic people to explore Switzerland. We have tried to cover almost of the beauty of Switzerland and let me be transparent with you; this was the toughest job for the team to bring in certain information about the places, but we have taken an upmost care that you will enjoy the most. I really want to thank Mr. Farhan Tauheed for this help and support.
Editor – in – Chief Manish Asnani
March In this issue...
Cover Story 01 Switzerland
Destinitions 07 Lausanne For food, drinks and party
17 Glacier Snow. Snow. Snow
Travel Story
P01
45 Beginner‘s Delight -
Switzerland
Hampta Pass Jai Govind Meena
53 Ten essential things to
P03
Pilatus
Carry for Adventure trip to Himalayas in Winters Jai Govind Meena
More Stuff
P29
Fasnacht Celebration
National Day Celebration
37
Travel Article
41
Travel Toonz
55
Know Unknown
57
Switzerland Special — It‘s always Fun to be here.
01
Pilatus
03
Pilatus - one of the most scenic panoramic points in Switzerland. The name says it all - the "Golden Round Trip"- provides spectacular views and unforgettable memories of a day on Mt Pilatus, the dragon mountain. At 2,132m, the "dragon mountain"- commands glorious views of Central Switzerland - 73 alpine summits can be seen from here on a clear day. Do you want to experience this in the most spectacular of ways? Then spend a day on the "Golden Round Trip"-! Travel from Lucerne to Alpnachstad by steamer, and then continue on the steepest cogwheel railway in the world, travelling through the sheer Eselswand cliff face. Time for a short stroll on the "dragon mountain"-? Or maybe a longer walk? Whatever you choose, the view is free for all - discover the more than 900 different plant species and with a little bit of fantasy - maybe a friendly dragon. On the other side of the mountain, try out Switzerland's longest summer toboggan run, before taking the cable car down to Kriens, where the bus will be waiting to take you back to Lucerne.
You could admire Mount Pilatus from the centre of Lucerne, whether you stand in Hergiswil beneath its steep slopes, or whether you stand in Weggis, or in Eigenthal gazing at the rugged mountain chain towering behind the valley or at the Lido of Lake Lucerne ,the mountain always reveals its immense size and shape that varies from every location. Probably the best view of Lucerne and its surrounds can be seen on a clear day from atop Mt Pilatus. In summer there are many hiking and walking trails to explore which will amaze and delight the true devotees of these activities. For those of us who are less energetic, the view is more than enough to suffice, not to mention the cafe and of course the means of transport to get there. The trip to the Pilatus is itself an great experience with the historic paddle steamer, the steepest cogwheel railway, the impressive zigzag walking trail and the aerial cable car ride. 05
Lausanne for Food, Drink and Party Lausanne is a gourmet‘s dream. Food critics have been showering it with gastronomic accolades for decades. Hangout for drinks and pull a chair for your excitement food at your table in your favorite restaurant in Lausanne
Explore the old town of Lausanne and you will find the new way to see the city.
Are you an adventure traveler than get a chance to explore the Sauvablein Forest, Don't miss the freely accessible Sauvabelin tower from which you have a 360° view on the lake, the Alps and the Jura. At last Climb up the Cathedral Tower The view from the top of the Cathedral tower is well worth the climb. Vineyards and one of the prettiest landscapes can be explored in your journey. 07
Travel—Explore one of the safest city of Switzerland Cite This hill is the part of Lausanne's old town which goes back the furthest, and holds a lot of interest for travelers.
Ville Marche The medieval city of Lausanne grew up with outdoor markets arranged around several of the entrances to the old city.
Ouchy The incredible views of the lake and the Alps, and the cooler air in summer have make Ouchy a popular place especially in the summer months. There's a major cluster of hotels and restaurants around the port.
Walk Walking is a great way to get around Lausanne
LAUSANNE UNDERGROUND FILM & MUSIC FESTIVAL For five days the public can discover unscreened gems in underground film that‘s how cases uncensored and experimental works of independent directors, this festival is mostly celebrated in the month of October.
LUCERNE FESTIVAL – IN SUMMER Nature is the theme for this year‘s event that will feature some of the best classical music performances from the Lu c er n e Sym p ho ny Orchestra and its founder Claudio Abbado. Celebrations takes place in the month of August 09
Melchsee– Frut
11
Melchsee-Frutt is a mountain resort village in Switzerland. The village is located near the lake Melchsee, in the municipality of Kerns, canton Obwalden. The main attractions of this resort are skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking and rock climbing. The village is accessible by car, but with some time restrictions. The small holiday region of Melchsee-Frutt lies at the heart of central Switzerland, surrounded by lakes and mountains. The centre for tourism in this expansive region is the high valley of Melchsee-Frutt at an altitude of 2000 metres, with its traffic-free, family-friendly resort on the shores of the little mountain lake.
The Melchtal stretches from Kerns between the Sarnersee and Lake Lucerne southwards to the Stockalp, where a cableway gives access to the invitingly green, high valley of the Melchsee-Frutt. The sunny little village on the shores of the Melchsee has a children‘s zoo, play areas, camp-fire sites and various themed footpaths. Picturesque Melchtal, once a pilgrimage, is home to the Benedictine Monastery Convent of St. Niklaus von Flue, named after the hermit popularly known as Bruder Klaus. The huge sports complex in the Melchtal is geared primarily towards group travellers, clubs and schools. Nature trail: a 90-minute circular walk on the Bonistock provides an insight into the geological structure of the Melchtal and wonderful views across to the Titlis. Melchsee-Frutt wrestling and alpine festival: wearing drill trousers, the heavy weights in alpine wrestling compete in the sand against the imposing backdrop of the mountains, held in the month of August. Tips: Quite a demanding trail, needs good condition and good hiking shoes. The descent to StĂśckalp has parts which are very steep. The vertical up and down shown in the info is wrong. The correct figures are: 720m up - 1550m down
13
15
Glacier Who says snow can only be found in Winter? Not if you are at Glacier 3000 there you can find snow all year round with many exciting activities. The hike from Scex Rouge to Quille du Diable is open year-round, taking about an hour for beginner hikers. If you‘re up for a challenge, carry on further towards the Sanetsch Pass – the fivehour hi ke o ffe ri n g rewarding views of flowing water and ice, flora and fauna amongst steep cliffs.
Travel tip: Go for a Train ride to reach the destination, it will make your trip joyful. Consider breaking your journey with an overnight stay in Chur. Seven or eight hours is a long time to sit on a train, and you may enjoy the scenery more when you spread it over two days. 17
ALPINE COASTER Get on the world‘s highest bobsleigh track! The one km track lets you cruise down at a leisurely 40km/h, with brakes to determine your speed down the mountain. Highlights include a 520-degree loop, followed by 10 curves, six waves, three jumps and two bridges.
DOG SLED RIDE How many of your friends can boast of a sleigh-ride pulled by a team of beautiful Huskies? Now you can – the 400 meters ride across glacial landscape available three to four times weekly during summer, depending on weather and snow conditions.
SNOW BUS The specially designed sturdy vehicle takes up to 20 guests on a ride over the glacier, past ice-girdled peaks and snow-trodden paths, making for a comfortable and scenic 15 minute experience.
VIEW POINT From the Botta mountain station, climb the staircase to the top, where you‘ll be greeted with sweeping 360° views of gorgeous ice-capped peaks – from Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau to the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe.
FIXED ROPE ROUTE Put simply, you are first strapped securely to harnesses, before making your way precariously down the mountain sides. Recommended for daredevils, the 800 meter route begins on a relatively wide trail, before narrowing to a point where you‘ve to walk sideways, then climbing up, around and over to Gemskopf mountain.
19
International husky dog sledge race at Kandersteg
One of the Energetic team rushing to be at first Position
Kandersteg Kandersteg owes its development into a tourist destination to its good transport links at the northern e n t ran c e to the Lotschberg Tunnel. Kandersteg host's an annual Husky dog sledge race on its slopes, its a pretty big event and one can hear the dogs all the way from the train station. The city itself is very pretty too, one can see the rocky peaks with many rivers originating from lake Oechinensee. International husky race – every year it attracts numerous mushers with their huskies to Kandersteg. This race is usually takes place in the month of January and is one of the must see in Switzerland. So if you are planning to visit Switzerland look for the place for sure. 21
Montreux
23 10
Montreux is the most visited town on Lake Geneva and definitely well-known for its beautiful location in the southwestern part of Switzerland. The town is protected with cove of the lake, surrounded by landscaped vineyards and against the breathtaking backdrop of the snow-covered Alps. Travelling becomes more interesting due to Mediterranean climate, plants such as figs, almonds, mulberries, pines, cypresses and palm trees grow in here. The mildness of its climate makes Montreux and its neighboring villages a climatic resort all year round, thus earning it the name of Vaud Riviera for its lakeshore. Many people have been charmed by this town. There's something about Montreux which attracts travelers even though its like any other Swiss city, maybe its the energy, there's always something going on there and this time there was this street dancing competition. You can wish for a rain along with a rainbow at Montreux when you visit one of the most beautiful place at Switzerland. If you love photography this place is meant for you; get mysterious effect of adding colors to the scene.
Montreux Attractions: What to Do in Montreux: Montreux is all about relaxing and enjoying the countryside. For those into elegant spas, Raffles Le Montreux Palace should do nicely. Chillon Castle (or the Chateau de Chillon) is a stunningly beautiful, lakeside, eleventh century castle made famous by Lord Byron in The Prisoner of Chillon 1816. Take a walk on the Lakeside Promenade Fleuri, linking Montreux on a lakeside path that goes from Vevey to Villenueve. Take a ride on the lake on a "Belle Epoque" vessel.
MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL If you are a music lover and are planning to visit Switzerland in the month of July, you should not miss a chance to be in Montreux Jazz festival. The most prestigious festival of Europe; A historic event featured of blues, Jazz, and rock with wonderful music. More traffic of travelers are been observed in the month of July due to this festival. 25
Rocher-du-Naye Rochers de Naye is a beautiful mountain 2,042 metres (6,699 ft) above Montreux. The Rochers-de-Naye rackrailway reaches one of its most beautiful vantage points in western Switzerland. The peak boasts a panoramic view of the Swiss and French Alps. There are numerous activities to be done here such as hiking and sightseeing. There is also the Alpine Garden ―La Rambertia‖ which houses over 1,000 different mountain plant species from all over the world. Visitors can pay a visit to Marmot Paradise where friendly and curious marmots from Europe, Asia and America can easily be found. The popular restaurant ―Plein Roc‖, which offers a marvelous view of Lake Geneva, is reached through a tunnel and for a really special experience, visitors can opt to stay overnight in Mongolian yurts.
27
Fasnacht — Carnival, Time to celebrate !
Whatever the name the swiss people know how to celebrate the traditional festival and enjoy the most. Basel traditionally celebrates the largest events each year; overview of Fasnacht starts with smaller events and ends with biggest and renowned.
Celebration during Fasnacht carnival Ticino
Romandie
Zug
Fully
Brandons dePayerne
Lucerne
Bolzes
Zurich area
Berne
29
Fasnacht bear wants to eat, drink and to be merry —
And the whole city joins him.
31
Fasnacht is a old traditional festival but is celebrated with loads of fun — you cannot imagine what exactly is going on with different people when they turn up in different forms of celebration with colorful costumes , Get in action
Monster Parade — thousands of onlookers come to see mask people on streets
Ticino The most famous and highly traditional with a big mask procession, street performers and masked balls are observed in Ticino.
Zurich Area The Zurich area has no carnival tradition to speak off but it is observed roughly between Lucerne and Basel, many of the small towns and villages enjoy Fanacht carnival in their own way, music parades are been observed in large number. Be a child again, you will really enjoy celebration ones you join culture of the country. Fasnacht has a high degree of involvement for swi ss people, every age people enjoys tradition for whole week, if you miss Fasnacht you miss the beauty of Switzer-
Brandons de Payerne Held in the town of Payerne, official colours for 2012 fest was red and gold. 33
Face Painting, elaborate costumes and exuberant brands
Zug real party when everyone dress up
Children's event, when children dress up to enjoy at street
Traditional Nocturnal Parade. 35
National Day Celebration - Geneva
This is the only time fireworks are allowed in Switzerland, in fact there is a competition of fireworks for which many international pyro-technician teams participate. Swiss people wait for the day to come to celebrate — fun ! Switzerland celebrates its National Day 1 August, a time when families tend to get together and the Swiss return to their ―home‖ towns, which is not necessarily where they grew up, but the town where their family is registered. The Swiss celebrate their National Day locally, usually with parades of children carrying red paper lanterns and bonfires, music, speeches, and sometimes fireworks.
37
39
Travel Article
The author is PhD student studying in EPFL University Switzerland. For more information regarding his photography visit.www.farhan-tauheed.com "....Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover...." -Mark Twain I arrived in Geneva on a cold rainy night of October. I wasn‘t impressed at first but I remember looking outside the window the next morning and was gaping in complete awe at the beautiful scenery in front of me. Autumn was in full swing at that time and I could literally see trees bearing purple and reddish leaves. Four years quickly passed by but even today I find myself in the same state of awe when I walk through the alpine trails. It was Switzerland actually that forced me to pick up my camera and then all I wanted to do was to capture the beauty around me for the world to
With time my passion for traveling grew and now every year I compile a long list of places I want to explore and then I try my best to achieve those travel goals. In this short article I want to share some of my travel experiences and some tips that I picked up while wandering in this scenic country.
Switzerland is a small country in central Europe and famously labeled as the most beautiful place on Earth, but there is more to it beside this label. In my opinion the best thing about Switzerland is the diversity of natural wonders packed in such a small place, within a drive of two hours the scene changes completely from plateaus to waterfalls and from lakes to rocky mountains. Even the cultural aspects change such as the language, cuisine and festivals. So why exactly is this place like the way it is? Well foremost reason is its geography. While in the north west the plains of Jura make up beautiful green plateaus, in the south we have the great mountain range of Alps where one can go skiing 365 days a year. Travelling in Switzerland is fairly easy as the public transportation is one of the world‘s best. However, 'planning' for travelling in this country is bit tricky. One can plan to visit famous cities in Europe like Paris or Rome by just booking the accommodation, note the sites of interest, pick the places where one wants to eat and that's about it. 41
Traveling in Switzerland doesn‘t work that way, the main reason is major cities are not the main attraction here but it‘s the places outside the cities where one needs to go. This requires extensive research to identify the scenery you would like to see and how to optimize your route. Do remember Switzerland is more than twice as much more expensive than any other European country, hence doing extensive homework before travelling here always pay off.
Here are some of my most favorite places to visit in Switzerland. In the north it‘s the city of Luzern because of the beautiful lake Luzern and the amazing views from surrounding mountains such as Pilatus. Zermatt in the south because of the amazing peak called Matterhorn. You might be familiar with this peak because it‘s the logo on the famous 'Toblerone' chocolate. In the central Switzerland, it is the area around Interlaken which consists of many amazing places such as Lakes of Grindelwald, Waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen, Oechinensee Lake and Melchsee Frutt Plateau. In the east, its Lausanne my home town, here I can never get bored of the lake Leman with the alpine background. And lastly but certainly not the least it‘s the city of Gruyere, which is like a mini Switzerland by itself, with everything such as lakes, mountains and castles all present in an area of few kilometers.
In recent years I have started taking photography more seriously. I maintain a website which has a small blog about my trip along with the best photos that I was able to take on that trip so do take a look. My trips are more photography centric now which is why I take great care of the time and weather of the location before I go. I mainly focus on landscapes photography, the good thing I find about this is that one does not need overly expensive equipment to take good landscape photos. However, reaching at the right place at the right time makes all the difference. While, luck can helps to some extent, taking consistently good photos requires comprehensive research about how to get to the prime spot when the light is perfect. Some small tips from my side would be to always aim to reach the location around the golden hour which is one hour -/+ the time of sunset and sunrise. Don‘t leave the location in case of rain because mostly it is the after rain conditions that make scenery dramatically vivid. Lastly, invest in buying a good tripod, it helps taking those long exposure shots. Hope you enjoy this month‘s issue on Switzerland and like my photos. See you on my website!
-Farhan Tauheed 43
Travel Story
Beginner’s Delight – Hampta Pass With Renok Adventure
- Jai Govind Meena Escape to the natural wonders of Great Himalayas, just south of Manali, for an unforgettable experience. Hampta Passtrek is the beginners delight in every way easy access, dense pine forest, beautiful meadows, adrenaline pumping river crossings and a high altitude mountain pass called Hampta. It got its name from the Hampta village and shepherds and villagers used this pass to enter in Lahaul Spiti valley of Himachal. This was traditional alternative route between Lahaul and Kullu Valley before the road was made over Rohtang Pass.
Hampta Pass is a moderate trek with a scope of mixing lot of other adventure activities to suit varying duration and interest of trekkers. It start from the Prini village and takes us to the majestic foothills of The Great Hiamalayas, the Pir Panjal Range which is the largest range of the lower Himalayas. Over this trek one will see different hues of nature as you gain altitude from thick green pine forest to awe inspiring view of Mt. Deo Tibba and Mt.Indrasan and their snaking down glaciers to the barren landscape of Lahaul and Spiti valley. The trail for the trek begins after you cross the hydel power project buildings, it takes you into the pine forest with occasional bunch of other trees like Maple, Walnut, Oak and Alder. After walking for sometime with a mild gradient you have to cross a beautiful nala over a wooden bridge can stop here for water and a photography break. This trail leads to a open meadow with river Hampta flowing on one side, here you will get the first view of Deo Tibba and Indrasan. On the other side of river you will see beautiful rock faces and above those there lies the manali lake. 45
This meadow is called Chikka and is the Camp for the day. Chikka has lush green grass so you will find some sheeps or grazing there, nestled in between of rocky mountain face and pine and maple trees. On one side Rani River is flowing and few small ponds and nice and flat camping places.
You can do campfire here for that team work is required go into the forest and collect dry logs of wood in further camps no wood is available. After having pitched your tent, traverse the meadow, climb the hill for height gain and have bonfire with the hot fantastic dinner.
47
After the excellent quality sleep, be ready for the next destination Balu Ka Gera which is about 4-5 hours gradual ascent from Chikka. Have a heavy breakfast start your day with a small walk and then crossing the river over the huge logs put by shepherds.
This is me!! Gendarme
Keep watching the Gendarme (mountaineering term which is a pinnacle of rock on a mountain ridge) right in front of you, keep walking on left bank of river. This entire walk will be through the rocks and boulders. On the way you will get some superb boulders to try your hands and hone your skills on bouldering. After few hours of walk you take a right turn and here come the thrill and chill the crossing of nullah. Take of your shoes and just take the plunge‌no only knee depth only. The water is icy cold so don‘t stay in water for too long. Now you are just halfway from your destination.
On one side you have superb rock face and river flowing beneath them and right in front of you valley full of snow and trees are left behind only small bushes. Walk along the river through boulder you will reach Balu ka Gera which means Heaps of Sand. This is flat ground with river flowing one side and a nice water stream just near the campsite. Its water will be used for drinking and for food. In the night from here you can try your hands on night photography of stars with snow clad mountains.
49
Next destination is Shea Goru after crossing the highest point of trek Hampta Pass
Todays trek would be moderately steep and then steep descent from the Hampta pass. While approaching the Hampta pass you can see some thewonders of mountains like Cornice formation, Glaciers and their snouts and of course snow along the way. Stay at Hampta for your lunch at an altitude of 14500ft and be ready to careful steep descent and wear your backpack in case you fall your backpack will save your back.
From top you will be able to see your campsite, it seems very near but it takes good two hours to reach there. Tall snow clad mountains surround you from three sides and the open side leads you to Sheagoru. Again you have the river flowing to your right. Choose a nice camp site close to the river and retire happily for the day after crossing Hampta Pass.
51
Ten essentials to carry for Adventure trip to Himalayas in Winters
Any adventure trip to Himalayas requires preparedness, but in the winter when weather is harsh and days are shorter, your margin of error is even smaller. Here are some tips from the experts for staying safe and getting rescued when things go wrong:
IT’S NOT “JUST A DAY HIKE.” Day hikers should dress and pack as if they are going on an overnight backpacking trip. Be prepared to deal with Harsh and always changing weather conditions Chief ranger Chuck Young is the father of an 18-year-old mountaineer and constantly delivers him the same message: ―Plan for the worst.‖
The Ten Essentials – Plus. ―The Freedom of the Hills,‖ written by experts from The Mountaineers of Seattle in 1960, was updated for the eighth time in 2010 and lists the following as the 10 essentials:
1.
Navigation: Map and compass and the skills to use them
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Sun protection: Sunglasses and sunscreen
Insulation: Extra clothing
Illumination: A headlamp or flashlight and extra batteries
First-aid supplies
Fire: Fire starter and matches or a lighter
Repair kit and tools including a knife
Nutrition: Extra food
Hydration: Extra water
10.
Emergency shelter 53
Travel toonz
55
Known Unknown is An Informative service initiated by Nirav Jadav and Jay Ajudia.
BE AWARE ―We don't see things as they are; we see them as we are.‖ -
Anaïs Nin
Giant Hand in the Desert Deep in the Atacama Desert inChile emerges a giant sculpture of a hand. A popular photo spot for tourist visiting the Atacama. The hand was constructed at an altitude of 1,100 meters above sea level. The work has a base of iron and cement, and stands 11 meters tall. The sculpture was inaugurated on March 28, 1992. The sculpture is located about 70 kilometers to the south of Antofagasta, Chile. The artist behind Mano de Desierto, The Hand of the Desert is the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal.
―World‘s Largest Cave‖
It‘s amazing that there are still places like this still out there waiting to be explored. British caving teams have just recently explored the world‘s largest cave passage in the heart of the Vietnamese jungle. Called Hang Son Doong (Mountain River Cave) it is believed to be almost twice the size of the current record holder. Son Doong has replaced the Deer cave in Malaysia to become the world‘s largest cave.
57
―Door to Hell‖
The Door to Hell, is situated near the small town of Darvaz in Turkmenistan. Thirty-five years ago, geologists were drilling for gas when then encountered a very large cavern underground filled with a poisonous gas. They ignited the gas expecting it to burn off in a few hours. The gas is still burning to this day. Its 60 meters in diameter and 20 meters depth have not been caused by volcanic activity or a meteorite impact. This crater was created sometime in the 50‘s when the Soviets were prospecting for natural gas in this area and it‘s been burning since then.
Massive Man Made Holes
One of the world‘s biggest holes is located in Russia. The giant hole is actually a diamond mine in Eastern Siberia near the town Mirna. It is 525 meters deep and 1.25 km in the diameter. Mirna‘s open pit diamond mine closed operations in 2004 after nearly 50 years. According to bizarre reports air traffic has been suspended due to the ―suction above the hole‖ reporting of extreme downdrafts over the pit.
―If You want to join this service then send a request mail on Know.Unknown@solution4u.com and for more Information follow us on www.facebook.com/Know.Unknown 59
Advertise with us
―We are traveling so we are growing‖ Would you like your brand to go along? Reach out to all those travelloholic people
Write us at mail@travelloholic.com
Read our magazine Online Log on to: www.travelloholic.com
Come back with stories and Images and will provide you platform to be a share@travelloholic.com
Contributors: Manish - Edit Prashant - Design Nidhi Jain - Travel Toonz Jay Ajudia - Know Unknown Nirav Jadav - Know Unknown Farhan Tauheed - Switzerland Photos Jai Govind Meena - Stories Manish Asnani - Content Farhan Tauheed - Article Switzerland Content - Switzerland Tourism
Disclaimer
The information on the magazine is not intended as advice and Travelloholic disclaims any liability for information or result thereof.
Travelloholic does not necessarily endorse, support, sanction, encourage, verify or agree with the content, comments, opinions or statement made on the magazine or website linked by any entity or entities. Information, Products and Services offered, sold or placed on magazine by other than Travelloholic belong to the respective entity or entities and are not representatives of Travelloholic