Thursday, December 18, 2014

TRAVEL SPECIAL ............Take the fitness route! Walk on a heritage path

TRAVEL SPECIAL Take the fitness route! Walk on a heritage path




How many of us think walking can be a great exercise? This vacation, take fitness on to the roads in your own city to discover a past era:
ON THE ROAD
Heritage walks that take tourists to the heart of the city bring alive the history of the town too. The popular route in Chennai begins from Fort George Walk that extensively covers all the attractions of this 370-year-old fort, while the Mylapore-Santhome Walk focuses on Chennai's oldest neighbourhoods. Anna Salai, arterial road is famous for heritage walks as it starts at the Cooum Creek and ends at the Kathipara Junction in Guindy. 

CITY OF RICH HUES

Walking tours in and around historic sites in Jaipur is a great way to acquaint tourists with the city. Take a stroll down to the centres of arts and culture. Most walking tours start from Roop Niwas Bagh and end at Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh. On the way, you can see artists performing traditional dance, musicians playing folk music and street food vendors selling their wares. At the end of the tour, make a quick dash to the souvenir and jewellery store. 


ETHNIC VIBE
The best way to learn about a city is by walking on its streets that are diced with history. Take a guided Heritage Walk around the old city of Ahmedabad, which is conducted by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. The tour begins at the Swaminarayan Mandir in Kalupur then it takes tourists through various pols, havelis, Hindu and Jain temples, various sites including the famous Manek Chowk, and ends at the soulful Jama Masjid at the centre of the city. 


ARTSY TALES
Join a group of heritage enthusiasts as they make their way around the Mumbai University, Fort, Churchgate, Colaba and other historic areas of the city. The guided walk, starts at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus then to D.N.Road to Flora Fountain, moving towards Kala Ghoda with its many Gothic buildings and numerous art galleries and then to Oval Maidan and the High Court building. Apart from tourists even locals take a walking tour to the much-adorned parts of the maximum city.
CLICKING THROUGH
Recently a Heritage Walk was organised by INTACH (Indian National trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) and Namma Bengaluru Foundation at Gavipura in Bangalore. Every month, a motley group of people walk through the streets of the city, learning about history, culture and more along the way. Forts, palaces, silk-reeling units, temples, tanks, markets, mosques, gardens, churches and lots to more. And after the walk, head out to enjoy the throbbing eateries of Bangalore.



ETTR 141204

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