Havana. Charming. Budapest. Legacies `50, AED 7, $5. March The great Meenakshi Amman Temple beckons all

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1 KERENG March 2014 `50, AED 7, $5 Charming Havana Budapest Legacies Madurai The great Meenakshi Amman Temple beckons all Jaipur Historic forts and bustling markets, that s the pink city Kufri A small hill station with oodles of snow and solitude

2 Cover photo: Vintage cars regarded as symbols of Havana s pop culture parked in a street in the city 50 cover story Grand Old Havana Bored of the same old destinations in Europe and Asia? Then step into the Americas. The Latin American nations may seem unappealing to those who re enchanted by the regal splendour of Europe, but Cuba is a Caribbean beauty and its capital Havana is even more beautiful. A trip all the way to this city wouldn t be in vain and it s sure that the city and its people would have won you over Unreeling the legacy of Budapest Hungary has always been a tempting place for tourists. Its capital Budapest has a long lost heritage and legacy rich enough to leave you glassyeyed and wonderstruck. Budapest is not just a fascinating city; it s a place where history peeks at you from every street 34

3 60 The Crowning Glory of Madurai The Tamil epic Silapathikaram extolled the glory of the city of Madurai and the virtue of the legendary Kannagi who burned it down in her fury. Today, Madurai is more than just that, it s one of the most sought-after pilgrimage centres of South India owing to the great Meenakshi Amman Temple located in the heart of the city Into the Wild by Rathika Ramasamy 10 Travel News 12 Events Calendar 14 Unique Festivals 15 My Shot 19 Theme cruises in vogue 28 Discover the charm aboard Theme Cruises, a rising trend in the cruise industry Myriad hues at the Dubai Shopping Festival 30 Catch the spectacular shades of the Dubai Shopping Festival Daisy spectacle in Adelaide 38 Stunning daisy fields across Adelaide welcomes all Stories told in stone 40 Lepakshi gains its fame from the three shrines dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Veerabhadra and is not to be missed if you re into archaeology Thus Spake the Shots: Lakshadeepam 44 The best of Mughlai cuisine at Karim s 46 Tuck into the best of Mughlai cuisine at Karim s, the ever popular non-vegetarian food joint in Delhi Style & opulence aplenty 66 Stylish and classy, The Leela Palace, Chennai welcomes all those who love to indulge in the best stay possible Of silk and everything Thai 70 Thailand s fine quality silk attracts fashion buffs who want nothing but the best 24 The Hundred Shades of the Pink City Jaipur is a bustling city which attracts plenty of tourists all year round. With ancient forts, remnants of the erstwhile kingdoms, crowded markets and a culture that seems untouched by time, Jaipur is most likely to attract you and it s one trip that you would not forget in a hurry 73 Travel Apps for you This time Travel Kit, brings you handy apps to help make your journey hassle-free 74 Musings on Manali Manali s charm is nothing short of magical and once you come here, you d be reluctant to leave 78 Back to nature in Dhampus Dhampus, a village far removed from the turbulences of the city exudes an old-world charm that attracts one and all 81 An ideal place for massage and treatments Ayurmana Spa offers the best spa treatment to relax you 84 A snowy holiday at Kufri Shimla s own Kufri assures you a snowed in holiday with your family and friends 88 Exploring the untouched Paniyeli Poru At a time when most of the well known destinations are blemished by man-made wonders, Paniyeli Poru is a rarity. 91 From the Tourism Director s Desk 92 Revival of the past The Heritage Museum in Tripunithura offers you a rare insight into the beauty of erstwhile Cochin through its palm leaf manuscripts and rare photographs 96 Photo of the Month 98 Hazardous handcycle ride Seth McBride and Kelly Schwan are travellers like no other and one would be forced to applaud their resilience to survive against all odds

4 Heritage cities Budapest Unreeling the legacy of Budapest With the idea of exploring the heritage city, I set off for Budapest in Hungary along with a team of photographers. A scenic destination with plenty of historical treasures, and listed among the world s heritage sites by UNESCO, Budapest draws people from far and wide. My first impression of the city was that it was something like a magic box that leaves visitors stunned. But my perception of the grand city has changed of late and now I promise you that your journey won t be wasted if you re into the historical and heritage sites. The city lies on the banks of the Danube which not only carries with it a fertile soil, but also a rich civilization. Budapest has the remains of monuments such as the Roman City of Aquincum and the Gothic Castle of Buda which has had a considerable influence on the architecture of various eras. According to my photographer, it is one of the world s exceptional urban landscapes and illustrates the great periods in the history of the capital city and the heritage walk through the city gave us an excellent photo opportunity. Budapest is a combination of three cities, Buda, Obuda and Pest and by the time it was listed as one of the world s largest heritage sites, these three cities came as one entity. The World Heritage Site here has three parts such as Buda Castle Quarter, Banks of the Danube, and Andrássy Avenue. While focusing on the heritage walk, our destination was Buda Castle Quarter which holds the city s medieval sites- Buda Castle and the remains of the original Roman town Aquincum. The Banks of the Danube and Andrássy Avenue consist of the Parliament and the suspension bridge, and Opera House, Millennium Park and the 34 travel & flavors March 2014

5 The monuments and historical buildings in the lovely city of Budapest speak volumes about its rich civilization and heritage, and most of these are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites Lakshmi Narayanan The city park ice rink in Budapest, Hungary

6 Thus spake the shots Lakshadeepam The festival of one hundred thousand lamps 44 travel & flavors March 2014