Allan Merin asked:




With its wide selection of tourist attractions, the Philippines is an ideal site for sightseeing tours. Home to colorful festivals and exquisite natural wonders, this Southeast Asian nation has a lot of visual treats to offer for travelers.

There are notable tourist spots to visit throughout the country’s more than 7,000 islands. This is a testament that the Philippines ranks among the top nations offering an impressive selection of sightseeing attractions. Though internationally famous for its white sand beaches, this predominantly Catholic republic also boasts of delicate colonial architectures and breathtaking natural sceneries in almost every town.

Here is a guide to some of the best sightseeing destinations in the Philippines.

Manila

Manila is not only the country’s capital but also the center of cultural heritage. Explore the Philippines’ rich Spanish legacy with a trip to Intramuros (Walled City), which was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century. Inside the compound, you can find old places of worship such as the San Agustin Church and the Manila Cathedral. Other points of interest in Intramuros are Fort Santiago and Casa Manila. Also, never leave Manila without visiting the Luneta Park, where a statue of national hero Jose Rizal is erected.

Corregidor

Take a trip down memory lanes by visiting Corregidor, an island that served as an important defense fortress for American and Filipino soldiers during World War II. Some of the attractions in this historical place include the Pacific War Memorial, the Battery Way, the Mile-Long Barracks, and the Malinta Tunnel. It takes a shade over an hour to reach Corregidor from Manila, where day and night tour packages are available.

Baguio

Its unique attractions have made Baguio a renowned sightseeing destination in northern Philippines. Dubbed as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, the city is home to a dozens of scenic spots such as The Mansion, Burnham Park, Session Road, Camp John Hay, and the Baguio Botanical Garden. While plying the dizzying Kennon Road, have your camera ready for some spectacular countryside views.

Legazpi

Legazpi, the provincial capital of Albay, is one of Bicol region’s top tourist destinations. This first-class city is home to the world’s famous Mayon Volcano, which is known for its perfect conical shape. The year 1814 is said to be the volcano’s worst eruption. A remainder of this grim past can be found at the Cagsawa Ruins Park.

Banaue

Another premier tourist destination in the northern region is Banaue. This town of more than 20,000 people is the site of the Banaue Rice Terraces, a 2,000-year-old man-made leveled surfaces carved into the mountains of Ifugao. Don’t be surprised if gaze in wonder once seeing this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bohol

Aside from its pristine beaches, Bohol is widely known for the Chocolate Hills. These unusual geological formations are scattered in the towns of Carmen, Batuan, and Sagbayan. The dome-shaped hills are actually limestone covered with green grass. Bohol, which is located in the Central Visayas region, is also famous for a tarsier sanctuary and the Sandugo Festival.

Local Philippines is your travel buddy. We have information about the destinations, how to get there, what to do while in the area and more! Destinations in the beaches or in the mountains, destinations under water, destinations right at the middle of the urban hub, name it and Local Philippines will most likely feature it.

Caffeinated Content for WordPress

Wolfgang Jaegel asked:


Republic of India, a sovereign South Asian country, is the seventh largest country by geographical area. India is the second most populous country and most populous democracy in the world.

The southern part of the India is surrounded by Indian Ocean, the west by Arabian ocean and the east by Bay of Bengal. With a coastline of over 7000 kms, it is bounded by Pakistan in the west, China, Nepal & Bhutan in the north-east and Bangladesh & Myanmar in the east.

India is home to Indus valley civilization, vast empires and historic trade routes. Well-known for its cultural wealth, India is the birth place of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism – four major religions in the world.

This federal republic consists of twenty-eight states and seven union territories. Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, and Chennai are the four major metros in the country. There are several other cities which attract tourists all over the world including Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Cochin, Thiruvanthapuram, Agra, Jaipur and Pune.

India is home to Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders in the world and premier sites of India. This architectural beauty is one of the most visited sites in India by tourists. Built by three of the greatest Mughal emperors, Agra Fort is also a major tourist spot in India.

The construction of this fort began in 1565 by Akbar and completed by the time of Shahjahan. The fort has massive double walls with four gateways. The fort consists of palaces, courts, gardens, mosques, baths and gracious pavilions.

There are several tourist attractions around the country. The city of Cochin is famous for its port and Chinese fishing nets, locally know as Cheena vala. The second largest monastery in Asia Tawang is situated on a hill top in Arunachal Pradesh. Another major attraction is the wall built by Rana Kumbha which is running up and down the Aravali hills in Rajasthan.

The wall consists of 34 fortresses and it resembles the Great Wall of China. Many if the temples India has musical stone pillars in which the central part of the pillars produces notes similar to that of Xylophone.

The Hindola Mahal, also known as swinging palace, in Mandu in central India has a peculiar design. It looks like a powerful fort with strange leaning sidewalls making an illusion that the entire structure is swaying. Mandu, the major fortified city of the medieval world, is situated in India.

The first carved image of Lord Buddha lies in Mathura which was carved around 2000 years ago. The Indian Wild Ass, also know as Khur, is seen only in the salt desert of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh, is one of the most modern cities in India. The cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad together known as twin city. The cities are separated by an artificial lake named Hussain Sagar. Founded on the Musi River by the Qutub Shahi dynasty, Hyderabad is famous for the Charminar and the bazaars.

One of the world’s largest mosques in the world, Mecca Masjid is situated adjacent to the Charminar. Golconda Fort, Salar Jung Museum, Tombs of Qutub Shahi kings, Buddha Statue, Paigah Tombs and Hussain Sagar are some of the Hyderabadi places of historical interests.

Hyderabad is filled with several recreational centers some among them are Indira Gandhi Park and Nehru Zoological Park. Archaeological Museum, Birla Mandir Temple and Planetarium at Naubat Pahad, Ramoji Film City, St Joseph’s Cathedral, Health Museum, Chowmohalla Palace, Purani Haveli, Shilparamam Craft Village and Hi-tech city also attract tourists around the world. You can watch cultural and artistic performances regularly at the Ravindra Bharati Theater.

Hyderabad is home to Hyerabadi cuisine which is famous all around the world. Several trades, fairs and festivals are conducted through out the year in Hyderabad. An annual industrial exhibition is held during the months of January and February. The exhibition comprises colorful fair, displays textiles, machinery, handicrafts, and household utensils.

The Deccan Festival in February is accompanied with several cultural performances. Mrigasira Festival is another famous festival in India which consists of a unique feast to cure asthma. This is festival is held during the months of June-July. The Lumbini Festival is celebrated in the month of December.

Jose Maria Abada asked:

More than the usual- this is how the Philippine is positioned in the tourism block. The country is an archipelago and known officially as the Republic of the Philippines. This archipelago is located in Southeast Asia and holds the distinction of being one of only two predominantly Christian countries in Asia. The other country is East Timor. There are around 7,107 islands in the country and these islands host around 90 million people. This population based on 2008 estimates makes the country as the 12th most populous country in the world. For the traveler interested to know more about the country, it should be learned that the country has around 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide and these are the Filipinos who work in other country and one of the main reasons why the economy of the country is competitive.

According to 2008 estimates, the gross domestic product or the GDP of the country is pegged at over US$ 327.2 billion and this is considered as the 37th largest in the world. The name ‘Philippine’ traces a long history. This name was derived from the name of King Philip II of Spain in the 16th century. It was the initiative of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos to use the name Las Islas Filipinas or the Philippine Islands as his name for the islands Leyte and Samar. And the use of this name was in reference and in honor of the Prince of Spain.  A further examination of the name ‘Philippine’ will reveal that this has Greek roots and according to historians this was the name of the father of Alexander the Great.

The country is divided geographically into three groups:

•    Luzon

•    Visayas

•    Mindanao

And these three major island grouping is then sub-divided into 17 regions, another 81 provinces and 136 cities. The country also plays host to 1,494 municipalities and 41,995 barrios. The government also controls Sabah, North Borneo as asserted by Section 2 of the Republic Act Number 5446. Ecologically, the country is known as one of those countries which feature diverse flora and fauna. This feature of the country is one of the major reasons why the archipelago is one of the favorite places for travelers who seek to experience nature at its best. Another main reason why the country is always part of the list of preferred travel destinations is that the country is rich in natural resources and its scenic spots are panoramic and ready to comfort and to overwhelm the first-time visitors. The natural resources of the country are extensive and this can be seen in many areas like agriculture, forestry and minerals.

Talking about the archipelago is not complete without talking about its fertile and arable lands, the forests that host diverse flora and fauna and the panoramic coastlines. For those travelers willing to sample what the country has to offer over a limited amount of time, it is suggested that the interested traveler should focus on its culture, its beaches and its heritage. The unique Philippine culture will let the traveler experience the many festivals in the country- from Sinulog in Cebu to the Penafrancia Festival in the Bicol Region. The country has a number of festivals and these festivals will usually peak during April and May- the time for the country’s fiestas. Most of these festivals have links to the church and religious in nature.

Visiting the country without visiting some of its finest beaches is not suggested. Since the country boasts of around 7,107 islands and a coastline twice the length of the United States, you can really expect that the country will have some best beaches. Mere mention of the Philippine will evoke images of fine and white beaches of Boracay, Palawan and some of the more not-so commercial yet beautiful sands of other beaches. Some names that should be part of the plans of the traveler include Pagudpud, Mactan Island and Panglao. And speaking of heritage, the country is home to Ifugao Rice Terraces which is now part of the UNESCO Heritage List in 1995. Aside from this rice terraces, Philippine also plays host also to many old churches- baroque churches in Metro Manila and these are all considered as heritage sites that carry the country’s culture and history.