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View Requirements >- Indian Visa Requirements to Visit the Elephanta Caves
- Brazilian Visa Requirements to Visit the Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves
- Zimbabwe Visa Requirements for a Safari in Mana Pools National Park
- Kazakhstan Visa Requirements to See the Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly
- Vietnam Visa Requirements to Visit Hoi An
Archive for the ‘World Heritage Site of the Week’ Category
Indian Visa Requirements to Visit the Elephanta Caves
November 20th, 2010
About an hour off the coast of the city of Mumbai, a small island in the sea if Oman is home to a series of stunning temple-caves. Nobody is quite sure who carved the Elephanta Caves of Elephanta Island, other than the fact that they worshiped the Hindu god Shiva. In fact, according to Wikipedia the local legend is that the caves "are not man-made," but rather were carved by heroes from Hindu epics or perhaps by a powerful demon who was devoted to Shiva.
More down-to-earth theories credit the kingdom of the Konkan Mauryas or the Kalacuris. Whoever built them, the caves themselves are amazing. Surrounded by lush, tropical foliage, the caves form a cool, dark, retreat. Inside, intricate carvings and statues loom in the shadows. Unfortunately, many of them were damaged when the Portugue
Brazilian Visa Requirements to Visit the Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves
November 14th, 2010
Brazil is an amazing country. There are so many unique places to visit, it's almost impossible to narrow it down to a specific destination. This week, we're taking another look at Brazil as part of our UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Week series. This week's featured World Heritage Site is the Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves.
The Atlantic Forest was once an enormous forest that blanketed the entire Atlantic coast of Brazil, extending inland even into Paraguay. However, it has been extensively logged and burned to provide land for agricultural use such as sugar cane farming. Now, the once-great forest has shrunk to just a few pockets, providing shelter to primate species like the marmoset , the lion tamarin and the woolly spider monkey. Other residents include the maned sloth
Zimbabwe Visa Requirements for a Safari in Mana Pools National Park
November 7th, 2010
This week's featured UNESCO World Heritage Site is Mana Pools National Park, the most famous wildlife park in Zimbabwe.
Located along the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, Mana Pools is named for the four large permanent pools formed by the river. The permanent water supply makes the park a magnet for large animals during the dry season, including elephants, hippos, water buffalo, lions and cheetahs. The water may look inviting, but it's probably best to avoid the temptation to go for a swim: UNESCO notes that "An important concentration of Nile crocodiles is also to be found in the area."
Interesting fact: oranges and other citrus fruits are forbidden inside the park because elephants love them so much. If you've ever worried about bears while camping out in the US, imagine having t
Kazakhstan Visa Requirements to See the Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly
October 31st, 2010
Tucked away in Kazakhstan's Tamgaly Gorge, surrounded by high grasslands called steppes that have nourished nomads and their herds for millenia, is an incredible collection of petroglyphs.
The petroglyphs in Tamgaly, today's featured UNESCO World Heritage Site, date back to the Bronze Age in most cases. However, since the site has been continuously inhabited, some were carved as recently as the early 20th century. The carvings are definitely worth a visit for anyone interested in archaeology.
Here's how UNESCO's website describes them:
"The dense and coherent group of petroglyphs, with sacred images, altars and cult areas, together with their associated settlements and burial sites, provide a substantial testimony to the lives and beliefs of pastoral peoples of the central Asian steppes
Vietnam Visa Requirements to Visit Hoi An
October 24th, 2010
This week's featured UNESCO World Heritage Site is a gorgeous example of a Southeast Asian trading port dating back to the 15th through the 19th centuries. During those years, Hoi An was a famous port of call for traders searching for silk, spices, porcelain, traditional Chinese remedies, tea and other goods. Eventually, many merchants from China and Japan came to live in Hoi An full-time and brought their families.
The city ceased to be an important trading port after the 19th century, when silt made the Thu Bon River impassable for large ships. Now, it's a beautifully preserved tourist town, with shops and hotels surrounding a traditional city center. The historic area, called Hoi An Ancient Town, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. The UNESCO website calls it "an outsta
