The legendary Khyber Pass in Pakistan

One of the most talked about mountain passes in Pakistan is the Khyber Pass. It is famous for its tough people and all the stories of invaders who enterred India from the west thru this pass. Khyber pass is situated in the Sulaiman range of hills which form the western barrier of Pakistan. The hills dip down here, leaving a passage sometimes as broad as 1 ½ kms (1 mile) and sometimes as narrow as 16 meters (42 feet). The Pass begins near Jamrud Fort 18 kms 11 miles) from Peshawar and extends beyond the border of Pakistan at Torkham 58 kms away from Peshawar. At Torkham PTDC (Pakistan tourism development corporation) has a Motel-cum-Information.





Khyber Railway: It threads its way through 34 tunnels crossing 92 bridges and culverts and climbing 1,200 meters. The British built it in 1920 at an enormous cost of Rs. Two million. Two or three coaches are pulled and pushed by two 1920 model steam engines. At one point, the track climbs 130 meters in less than a mile by means of the famous Changai Spur, a section of track shaped like a "W" with two reversing stations.

 hundreds of years, great camel trains traveled through the Khyber Pass, bringing goods to trade. These merchants brought luxury silks and fine porcelain objects from China to the Middle East.The Khyber Pass today has two highways one for motor traffic and the other for the traditional caravans. A railway line also travels to the head of the pass. This was built in the 1920s. Whilst we are touring the Khyber Pass we will visit Peshawer and stay at one of the cities excellent hotels. Peshawar is the gateway to Afghanistan, which is situated at the mouth of the Khyber Pass. Peshawar is the capital of the North-West Frontier Province. The name Peshawar means High Fort in Persian. During its history, the city was one of the main trading routes on the ancient Silk Road. A trip to Peshawar is not complete without visiting The Khan Club , which is a hotel from a by-gone era. The hotel has been fully restored and the result is magnificent. It is located in the oldest and most historic part of Peshawar. Each room has its own ‘jeweled’ theme. Wherever you meet the famous Pathans of the North West Frontier region they will greet you with their overwhelming hospitality.

Your Guide to the Ultimate Road Trip to the Emerald Isle!

A complete guide to organizing your trip to Ireland, planning your driving routes, accommodation, maps and entertainment. Experience the freedom of a driving holiday in the world's most ideal self-drive destination. Wide range of tours and tips provided.

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How to Plan a Caribbean Fun Vacation

Never before revealed information. Discover how you can get a break by taking a vacation in the Caribbean. Find out how you can plan your vacation, where to go, what activities are available, the best places and time to go, how to save money.

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Dana

The little village of Dana perches on a shelf of the mountainside that drops down into the Wadi ‘Araba rift. The single approach road ends at the beginning of the village, and from there narrow paths - barely wide enough to walk in - run between the houses, whose flat roofs provide an easy venue for social communication. Built of stone and wood, and plastered with mud, the houses blend perfectly with the landscape.The site has been occupied since ancient times, settlers drawn here because of its three abundant springs and good grazing. The spring’s still water the carefully made terraces on the hillsides, which are filled with all manner of fruits and vegetables. The village we see today is of Ottoman origin, its houses recurrently restored to keep them habitable. But by the 1980s Dana had virtually died for many residents had moved to a new village, Qadisiyyah, by the main road on the plateau, seeking jobs at the cement factory. In the I 990s electricity was brought, and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature restored some houses and initiated income-generating projects - making preserves from the crops, and designing and making silver jewellery. These developments have brought many villagers back to their old houses. When the outstandingly beautiful Dana Nature Reserve was created in the wild sandstone mountains on the other side of Wadi Dana, the villagers found more employment opportunities and became a vital part of its wildlife conservation mission.

India Travel & Tourism

One of the world's oldest civilizations, India is today a large, modern country. Because of its size and geographical diversity, it is truly a land for all seasons and all tastes. From some of the world's oldest and most beautiful monuments to serene lovely beaches, majestic mountains, attractive rivers, India has it all. It has something for every kind of tourist - the nature lover, the cultural tourist, the sports enthusiast. India has become a popular tourist destination with thousands of people visiting the different parts of India each year. It has much to offer to travelers and tourists. It is a land of hills,rivers, plateaus, plains, beaches, deltas and deserts. It also houses many luxurious hotels and resorts to cater to its booming travel and tourism industry. India offers a luxury travel to its travelers and tourists. Cruise from picturesque nature sites to the architectural wealth in this beautiful land. Almost all the cities in India have some or the other attractions. Some of the major tourist destinations in India are Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala, Delhi, Orissa and Maharshtra

Tight squeeze: Capsule Hotel, Osaka Japan

Much like drinking sake, singing karaoke or haemorrhaging yen, a night in a capsule hotel is a quintessentially Japanese experience. It wasn’t exactly recommended in my guide book, but it is cheap, unforgettable and answered any questions regarding my susceptibility to claustrophobia.

Osaka, where I only intended to stay one night, seemed like as good a place as any to experience the confines of what my guide book described as a ‘spacious coffin’. After wandering hopelessly back and forth through one of Osaka’s liveliest districts, a spruiker outside a sushi restaurant took pity and in true Japanese fashion departed his post and walked me to my destination, the Kapsel in Osaka.

Upon entering the foyer I removed my shoes and was shown towards a large wall of very small cupboards and choosing cupboard number 281, I locked my shoes away and took the key to the reception desk.

My capsule would cost me 2500 yen for the night and after paying this and handing over my shoe cupboard key, I was issued with a numbered velcro wrist band, with an attached barcode and key and a set of printed instructions in English that explained how a capsule hotel worked.

Obama Hotel Loves Barack Obama

Should Barack Obama be elected president, one of the first place he should visit overseas is Hotel Sekumiya in the Japanese town of Obama.
ABC News reports the people in Obama are crazy for Obama, the senator.:
Obama's name graces posters hung in the main hotel. Headbands and T-shirts with drawings of the candidate's face will be available soon. Local confectioners are designing Japanese-style sweet bean cakes with Obama's portrait on them.
But their obsession has nothing to do with politics. They just like his name!
And the town is hoping that Obama will be elected president to elevate their town's tourism. (Obama means "Little Beach" in Japan) One woman said:
"If he becomes popular, I'm hoping this whole region will get recognition."
Could there be a Hotel Obama in the future?