Dekho Apna Desh
Dil se! Pyaar se! Samman se!
Uttarakhand, known as the Land of the Gods, boasts unparalleled natural beauty. This state is home to numerous renowned Hindu and Sikh temples. It is famous for its spiritual sites, adventure tourism, and breathtaking landscapes.
Nainital is known as The City of Lakes, while Mussoorie is called The Queen of Hills with Hidden Gems. Haridwar is primarily famous for the Ganga Aarti, whereas Kedarnath, Badrinath, and Rishikesh hold immense spiritual significance. The Jim Corbett National Park offers thrilling tiger safaris, while the Rajaji National Park near Rishikesh, a tiger reserve, is home to elephants and leopards. The Govind National Park in Uttarkashi is a habitat for the elusive snow leopard.
Uttarakhand is home to Roopkund, a mysterious glacial lake at an altitude of 16,499 feet, where hundreds of ancient human skeletons have been discovered. Chopta, often referred to as the Mini Switzerland of India, is located here, and nearby Tungnath houses the world’s highest Shiva temple. Almora is home to one of the world’s oldest Shiva temple complexes, Jageshwar Dham, which consists of 124 ancient temples. The Kasar Devi Temple, also near Almora, is situated in a magnetic field zone. The Valley of Flowers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is another gem of Uttarakhand. The Nag Tibba Trek is an offbeat trekking route loved by adventurers, and the state is also a popular destination for river rafting. Interestingly, Uttarakhand is the birthplace of the world-famous Chipko Movement, which pioneered environmental conservation.
The Harela Festival, celebrated especially in the Kumaon region, is dedicated to agriculture and nature conservation and marks the onset of the monsoon season. The Butter Festival, similar to Holi, is an exuberant celebration where people play with butter and buttermilk.
When it comes to food, Uttarakhand offers unique delicacies like Bhatt ki Churdkani, Aloo ke Gutke, and Jhangora Kheer.
Uttarakhand is much more than just Char Dham, Nainital, or Mussoorie. It is a land of ancient temples, rare festivals, and rich traditions. So, when are you planning to visit this culturally distinctive state?
Oh! I didn’t know this…
Yosemite National Park is a national park in California, USA. It is famous for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, and rich biodiversity. The park is home to three of the ten tallest waterfalls in the world. It is also known for its giant sequoia trees, which are the largest living organisms on Earth today. Interestingly, their seeds are as tiny as oats!
One of the most famous trees in Yosemite is the "Grizzly Giant", the oldest sequoia tree in the park and one of the largest trees in the world. Its massive trunk and resilience to centuries of climatic and environmental changes make it truly unique. Modern dating techniques estimate its age to be approximately 2,995 years and its weight around 3,700 tons.
Yosemite National Park has over 800 miles of hiking trails and spans approximately 1,200 square miles, though only a small portion has been explored by humans. The park experiences heavy rainfall in winter, while the summer season is hot and dry.
Yosemite Valley was formed by glaciers. Nearly a million years ago, glaciers here were about 4,000 feet thick. They originated at high elevations and gradually moved down through river valleys, carving Yosemite Valley into its present U-shape. This valley is home to Yosemite Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in North America, standing at 2,425 feet. The best time to see this waterfall in its full glory is during spring (May–June), when the maximum snowmelt occurs.
One of Yosemite’s breathtaking phenomena occurs during sunset when the rock formations of El Capitan and Half Dome appear to glow like fire. The Horsetail Fall is particularly famous for this effect—when sunlight hits the waterfall at just the right angle, it appears like molten lava gushing down the cliffs, creating a magical illusion. Thousands of visitors gather at Yosemite Falls to witness this rare natural spectacle.
In 1903, a presidential camping trip helped promote the expansion and protection of Yosemite National Park. One of its iconic landmarks is the Ahwahnee Hotel, which holds great historical significance. The park’s first residents referred to themselves as Ahwahneechee. Interestingly, the U.S. Army was the first to protect this national park.
For the 1932 Winter Olympics, Yosemite was considered as a venue, leading to the construction of an 800-foot snow slide, a large ice skating rink, toboggan runs, and multiple ski jumps.
If you too wish to visit Yosemite National Park, join us on our American Splendours or Best of USA & Canada tours and witness this extraordinary natural wonder!
Finding Joy in Everything…
I have been booking tours with Veena World since 2018. My wife passed away in 2017, and since then, I have been traveling alone. I have always loved traveling, but due to my job and family responsibilities, I couldn’t do it earlier. Now, I have decided to travel as much as possible, and I follow through on that decision.
My name is Shivajirao Chavan, and I live in Kolhapur. I book my tours through Dream Holidays, Veena World’s sales partner in Kolhapur. As a senior citizen, all my tours have been with Seniors’ Special groups. Veena World offers single occupancy options, ensuring that even solo travelers feel included in the group.
I have travelled across many states—North East India, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, covering Dalhousie, Mussoorie, Nainital, and Jim Corbett. In Rajasthan, I have explored Marwar and Mewar. Additionally, I have traveled to Nepal and Bhutan.
My first trip within India was a 12-day tour to Assam and Meghalaya, which was an incredible experience. Veena World’s professional tour managers are exceptionally well-prepared. They provide insightful information about the destinations and take great care of every guest with a personal touch.
I have set a goal to visit every state in India. I still want to see Rann Utsav, Ujjain, Mandu, Amritsar, and the Wagah-Attari Border. Additionally, I have made a vow to explore all five continents—Asia, Europe, America, Africa, and Australia. I had planned a Europe tour in 2020, but due to the pandemic, I had to cancel it. Now, I am determined to visit Europe and embark on more international tours. I want to see everything possible!
Every year, I go on five to six Seniors’ Special tours. I believe that if we don’t enjoy what we have earned throughout our lives, it all goes to waste. I admire the discipline in foreign countries, and traveling abroad offers so many new experiences. At the same time, India has so much beauty to explore as well.
I want to see the entire world, so I book a tour whenever I feel like it. After all, there is joy in everything—you just need to find it. Traveling brings me happiness, and in this journey, my trusted partner is always Veena World!
- Shivajirao Chavan, Kolhapur
Private Holiday Ideas
Stay at a Theme Park with Veena World Customized Holidays
"Essel World mein rahunga main! Ghar nahi jaunga main!"—this jingle from the '90s perfectly captured our hidden desires. After all, who would want to leave a theme park? With Veena World Customized Holidays, you can actually stay inside some of the world’s most exciting theme parks. Let’s explore a few such incredible options right here in Asia!
The closest Disneyland to India is Hong Kong Disneyland, where you can enjoy a magical dining experience with your favourite Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, and friends. If your little princess dreams of dressing up like a Disney princess, she can do just that at the boutique here!
We all love getting cakes designed with our children’s favourite characters, but how about an entire room decorated in their favourite theme? At Hong Kong Disneyland, you can stay in the Kingdom Club Cinderella Suite or the Frozen-themed Suite for an unforgettable experience!
Another popular Disneyland in Asia is Tokyo Disneyland in Japan, where your little hero can step into the world of imagination by staying at the Toy Story Hotel—a dream come true for young fans.
Beyond Disneyland, another globally famous theme park is Universal Studios. In Asia, you can visit Universal Studios Singapore and Universal Studios Japan (Osaka). Universal Studios Singapore offers thrilling zones like Hollywood, Sci-Fi, Ancient Egypt, Minion Land, and The Lost World, while Universal Studios Japan takes the experience up a notch with Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
At Universal Studios Osaka, don’t miss the chance to dine at 'Broomsticks', inspired by Harry Potter, or the 'Cookie Kitchen', based on the adorable Minions!
Who doesn’t love LEGO games? If you’re a LEGO fan, you’ll be thrilled to know that LEGOLAND Malaysia is an entire amusement park dedicated to LEGO! It features a LEGOLAND Theme Park, Water Park, SEA LIFE Aquarium, and LEGOLAND Hotel, where you can meet your favourite LEGO characters. You can even raft down a lazy river on a LEGO raft or participate in an exclusive LEGO building session with a Master Builder!
Other fantastic theme parks in Asia include Everland in South Korea, VinWonders in Vietnam, and Genting SkyWorlds in Malaysia.
So, why just imagine when you can actually live in your dream world? Celebrate an extraordinary holiday at one of the world’s top theme parks with Veena World Customized Holidays!
Midnight Sun
The Midnight Sun is a fascinating geographical phenomenon that occurs in the polar regions. During certain times of the year, the sun does not set, and night never falls. This natural wonder can be witnessed from the Earth's North and South Poles. In the Arctic region, it can be experienced from May to July, while in Antarctica, it occurs from late November to late January.
This spectacular event can be observed in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Russia, Alaska, and Canada. During this period, the sun shines 24 hours a day, making activities like hiking, boating, and fishing highly popular.
At midnight, the land is bathed in a soft and warm glow, creating breath-taking landscapes, perfect for photography. The never-setting sun also attracts tourists from around the world. Events such as Sweden’s Midsummer Festival and Norway’s Midnight Sun Marathon celebrate this incredible occurrence.
Would you like to witness this magical phenomenon? Join us on a Midnight Sun Tour and experience the wonder for yourself!
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