Skardu in Pakistan, Baltistan

 Pakistan - Baltistan  Comments Off
Jan 312013
 

Introduction :
Skardu is the capital town of Baltistan in Pakistan and is one of the major tourism spots in the country. Skardu shares it borders with province of Xinjiang in China and Kashmir in India and sits at an altitude of 2500 metres on a mountainous region that includes four of the fourteen highest peaks in the world. Main attractions include the Kharpocho Fort, Satpara Lake, Kachura Lake, Shigar Valley and the Deosai National Park which has an average elevation over 4000 metres.

Overall view of the Skardu Town
Overall view of the Skardu Town

Kachura Lake
Kachura Lake

Unreal scenery at the Satpara Lake
Unreal scenery at the Satpara Lake

History :
The people living in Skardu are known as the Balti people and are of Tibetan descent. The region came under the control of Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century and begin to adopt Tibetan and Indian Buddism. Regligous artifacts were erected and Lamas were an important part of life in Skardu. European travelers started to trek the region during the mid 19th century and it soon became a popular camping site for mountaineers due to its strategic location near the 2nd highest peak in the world, K2.

Hills and flowers at the Deosai National Park
Hills and flowers at the Deosai National Park

Shangri la Lake and Resort view
Shangri la Lake and Resort view

Getting there :
The nearest international airport to Skardu is at the Islamabad International Airport(ISB), This is followed by transit to the domestic airport of Skardu (KDU) or a road trip along the Karakoram Highway, however the road trip takes almost 24 hours while the domestic transit only takes an hour. An important thing to note is the high altitude levels, the average elevation at the Deosai National Park is overall 4000 metres and will feel really different from the town. You are strongly advised not to run or perform any vigorous activites.

Grand Canyon in USA, Arizona

 USA - Arizona  Comments Off
Jan 302013
 

Introduction :
The Grand Canyon sits in the USA state of Arizona and is currently managed by the Grand Canyon National Park and two of the native American Indian tribes namely the Hualapai Tribal Nation and the Havasupai Tribe. The canyon measures 446km in length and has a depth over 1800 metres and is one of the largest canyons in the world. The is the result of 2 billion years in the geological history of Earth as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels through layers of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted. Today, it is considered as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The formation of the Canyon ranges from 17-70 million years ago.

Aerial view of the Grand Canyon
Aerial view of the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon National Park

Really scenic view of the Canyon
Really scenic view of the Canyon

History : The Pueblo people of a native Amercian culture were the first to settle in the Grand Canyon that dates back to more than 10,000 years ago. In 1540, the Spanish soldiers explored into the area but there was little interest in the Canyon until the late 19th century where mining began to take place. The first settlements along the rim of the Canyon came during the 1880s. It soon became more well known as a tourist attraction that became more profitable than mining.

Hotel built at the southern rim of the Canyon
Hotel built at the southern rim of the Canyon

Spectacular view at the Southern Rim
Spectacular view at the Southern Rim

Trees at the Grand Canyon
Trees at the Grand Canyon

Getting there :
The nearest international airport to the Grand Canyon is the Sky Habor International Airport (PHX) and is 375km from the Grand Canyon. This can be followed by a 5 hour drive or a transit to Flagstaff Pulliam Airport(FLG) which is 130km from the sountern rim of the Canyon.

Machu Picchu in Peru, Cusco

 Peru - Cusco  Comments Off
Jan 302013
 

Introduction :
The Machu Picchu is situated in Peru, 80km northwest of Cusco and stands 2430 metres above sea level in the middle of a tropical mountain forest. Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary and also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 and was voted as one of the new seven wonders of the world in a worldwide internet poll. Today, it is the main archaelogical site in America and the integration of the architecture into the surroundings had many consider it one of the most beautiful places in the world. The Machu Picchu covers some 325 square km / 32500ha in a scenic mountainous forest of the Peruvian part of the Andes mountain range.

A scenic view of the Machu Pichu with the surrounding mountains of forest
A scenic view of the Machu Pichu with the surrounding mountains of forest

A closer view into the ancient city
A closer view into the ancient city

A closer view into the ancient city
Resident buildings in the site

History :
Machu Picchu was built around 1450 during the peak of the Incan Empire by Emperor Inca Pachakuteq who ruled the empire from 1438 to 1471. It was abandoned by the Incans over 100 years later as a result of the Spanish conquest around the area. Research have shown that there is a possibility most of the inhabitants died from smallpox just before the Spanish army arrived. American explorer Hiram Bingham made public the existance of the Machu Picchu to the outside in 1911 lead by Melchor Arteaga during the Yale Peruvian Expedition.

The Temple of Three Windows
The Temple of Three Windows

The Temple of the Sun
The Temple of the Sun

Close up view of Intihuatana
Close up view of Intihuatana(The Hitching Post of the Sun)

Getting there :
The nearest international airport to Machu Picchu is the Cusco airport(CUZ). Please take note there is no roads leading to Machu Picchu. Reaching there by train or trekking the old Inca trail which is around 39.6 km and begins from Q’oriwayrachina.

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