Skip the crowds and discover Lombok and the Gili Islands, Indonesia: turquoise snorkelling, Mount Rinjani treks, Sasak villages and empty white-sand bays. Just a short hop east of Bali, across the Lombok Strait, lies an island that many travellers fly straight over - and three tiny specks of sand off its northwest coast that reward anyone who slows down. Lombok and the Gili Islands offer the classic Indonesian dream of white beaches and warm reefs, but with fewer scooters, lower prices and far more elbow room. If Bali's Kuta feels like a theme park, Lombok's version of the same name is a mellow surf town facing empty bays. This is where you come to swim with turtles at dawn and still have the water to yourself. Why Lombok is worth the detour Lombok is the larger, quieter neighbour, home to the Sasak people and their own Muslim-majority culture, cuisine and weaving traditions. Its interior climbs to Mount Rinjani, Indonesia's second-highest volcano, while the south coast is a string of horseshoe bays with barely a beach club in sight. The three Gili Islands - Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air - sit just offshore and share one glorious rule: no cars or motorbikes. You get around on foot, by bicycle or in a cidomo, a small horse-drawn cart. The result is a rare kind of quiet, broken only by lapping waves and the clink of glasses at sunset. Top things to see and do Start in the water. The reefs around the Gilis are famous for green and hawksbill turtles; the shallows off Gili Meno and the aptly named Turtle Point on Gili Trawangan almost guarantee a sighting on a snorkel. Off Gili Meno you can also swim over the "Nest," a ring of submerged human statues that have become an artificial reef and a diver's favourite photo. On the mainland, the south coast is the surprise. Tanjung Aan is a double crescent of pale, pepper-corn-textured sand; nearby Selong Belanak is a gentle beach ideal for first surf lessons, while Mawun and Mawi draw the more experienced. Further southeast, Pink Beach (Pantai Tangsi) gets its blush from crushed red coral. Inland, serious walkers tackle multi-day treks to Mount Rinjani's crater rim and the turquoise Segara Anak lake, usually starting from the villages of Sembalun or Senaru. If a summit push sounds like too much, the twin waterfalls near Senaru - Sendang Gile and the more hidden Tiu Kelep - make a rewarding half-day. To understand the island's heart, visit the traditional Sasak village of Sade near Rembitan, where thatched homes and ikat looms show a way of life older than tourism. Best time to visit Lombok has two seasons. The dry season, roughly April to October, brings reliable sunshine and calm crossings - peak months are July and August, when the Gilis are busiest. The wet season, November to March, is greener and cheaper, with short, heavy downpours and occasionally choppy boats. Diving and snorkelling are good year-round, and if you plan to climb Rinjani, aim for the dry months, as the trekking route typically closes during the rains and around the turn of the year for safety and maintenance. Getting there Most visitors fly into Lombok International Airport (Zainuddin Abdul Madjid), near Praya in the south, with direct connections from Jakarta, Bali, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. From Bali, fast boats are the popular route: services leave from Padangbai, Sanur, Serangan and Amed and run directly to Gili Trawangan and Gili Air. If you're starting on the Lombok mainland, boats to the Gilis leave from Bangsal harbour in the northwest. Between the three islands, cheap hopping boats shuttle back and forth through the day. Where to stay Pick your island by mood. Gili Trawangan is the liveliest, with beach bars, dive schools and a walkable strip. Gili Air strikes a balance - laid-back but with good cafés and restaurants - making it a favourite for couples and longer stays. Gili Meno is the smallest and sleepiest, best for honeymooners and hammock afternoons. On the mainland, base yourself in Kuta Lombok for easy access to the southern surf beaches, or in Senaru or Sembalun if Rinjani is your goal. Local tips Carry cash. ATMs on the Gilis are limited and unreliable, so bring enough Indonesian rupiah from the mainland or Bali. Remember that Lombok is largely Muslim: dress modestly away from the beach, especially in villages, and be considerate during Ramadan. Choose reef-safe sunscreen to protect the coral you came to see, and don't miss the food - try ayam taliwang, Lombok's fiery grilled chicken, and plecing kangkung, a punchy water-spinach salad, ideally at a warung rather than a resort. Lombok travel, Gili Islands Indonesia, beaches beyond Bali, Mount Rinjani trek, Gili Trawangan snorkelling, Kuta Lombok beaches, Sasak culture, Indonesia island guide

News National

0 8 0

Trump's Board of Peace announced a $2.45bn Gaza recovery plan at the UN General Assembly, funding 66 programmes as reconstruction stalls. US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace has set out a $2.45bn (£1.85bn) plan to begin repairing Gaza, announcing the figure at a board meeting held on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York. The money is to be split among 66 separate programmes and spent over a six-month window, targeting housing, diesel-powered electricity and the clearing of waste, alongside other pressing shortages. Board members acknowledged the sum falls far short of what is needed. Donors have promised roughly $18bn, but only $280m has actually been transferred. The board puts the price of rebuilding Gaza in full at about $71bn spread across the coming decade, and it offered no timetable for when physical reconstruction might start. The announcement lands almost a year after Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire, and with Trump's wider plan to end the war largely frozen. The central obstacle remains the question of Hamas's weapons. The group has said it will surrender its arms in return for a staged Israeli pullback from the 60% of the territory its forces still hold. Israel has taken the opposite position, demanding that Hamas disarm completely before any withdrawal takes place. While the two sides remain locked in disagreement, fighting has not stopped. Israeli strikes hit Gaza on an almost daily basis, and conditions for the 2.1 million residents remain severe. Kushner concedes 'delays on different things' Jared Kushner, who sits on the Gaza Executive Board and is Trump's son-in-law, was candid about the programme's slow pace, telling the meeting it had run into "different delays on different things, for whatever reason". He framed the gathering as a signal of intent rather than a report of results. "The goal of today was really just to show you that we're really fully committed to doing it," he said. US envoy Steve Witkoff, also in New York, struck a more upbeat note, pointing to what he called "real progress" over the past year. "All of the hostages are home. There is a ceasefire, imperfect as it may be, but it still exists," he said. "Humanitarian efforts have achieved historic results, with billions of dollars donated and pledged to meet urgent needs and support the long work of recovery." Beyond raising money, the board faces a stack of unresolved problems: protecting the people who would carry out the work inside Gaza, rebuilding the territory's internal administration, and bridging the gap between Israeli and Palestinian officials. Speaking at a separate briefing on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said several governments had come forward with financial commitments and that the board was "looking for more that will participate in that". Ordnance and tunnels before rebuilding Michael Eisenberg, an Israeli-American member of the Board of Peace, laid out the practical steps he expects to come first. Speaking to the BBC's Newshour, he said the ground has to be made safe before anything can be built. "Because it's a war zone, you need to remove unexploded ordnance. And then there are still hundreds of kilometres of tunnels underneath Gaza which need to be destroyed as well," he said. Only after that, he added, could residents turn to "housing, or better sanitation, or other things". Warnings about the fragility of the truce have already come from within the board itself. In August, its high representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, took aim at both Israel's continued air strikes and the conduct of Hamas. He cautioned that if the ceasefire agreed last October were to fall apart, it would mark "a point of no return" for the region. The human cost since the truce took hold underscores those concerns. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, at least 1,408 Palestinians, among them more than 300 children, have died in Israeli attacks in the period since the ceasefire began. For now, the $2.45bn package represents an opening move rather than a rebuilding effort under way. With pledges outpacing actual payments by a wide margin, no start date fixed, and the core dispute over Hamas's disarmament unresolved, the board's central message was one of commitment rather than concrete progress on the ground. Gaza recovery plan, Board of Peace, Trump Gaza, Jared Kushner, Gaza reconstruction, Hamas disarmament, UN General Assembly, Gaza ceasefire

News National

0 6 0

Plan a trip to Darjeeling, West Bengal - the heritage toy train, hillside tea estates, Kanchenjunga sunrises, momos and the best season to visit. Perched at around 2,000 metres in the eastern Himalayas, Darjeeling is where West Bengal tilts up toward the snow line. The town spills down a ridge in tiers of tin roofs, colonial churches and market lanes, all of it wrapped in tea gardens and, on clear mornings, watched over by the third-highest mountain on Earth. It is a place built for slow travel: a mug of first-flush tea, a rattling narrow-gauge train, and the long wait for the clouds to part. Why Darjeeling earns the journey The name is shorthand for tea, but the appeal is broader. This was the British Raj's favourite summer escape, and the legacy shows in the Planters' Club, Gothic-spired St. Andrew's Church and the promenade of Chowrasta, the flat hilltop square where locals gather at dusk. Above all, Darjeeling offers a rare, intimate view of Kanchenjunga (8,586m), whose serrated white ridge floats above the town when the weather cooperates. Add the UNESCO-listed railway and a working tea industry you can walk into, and you have a hill station that rewards curiosity as much as rest. Top things to see and do Ride the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the 'toy train' that has hauled passengers up the mountain since 1881 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The steam-hauled joy ride from Darjeeling to Ghum - India's highest railway station - loops through the famous Batasia Loop, where the track spirals around a war memorial with the mountains behind. For sunrise, join the pre-dawn convoy to Tiger Hill, southeast of town, where Kanchenjunga catches the first light and, on exceptionally clear days, you can pick out Everest far to the west. Back in town, tour a tea estate such as Happy Valley, one of the oldest gardens, to see plucking and processing up close. Visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the adjoining Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, home to red pandas and snow leopards, both on the same leafy campus. Round it off with the Peace Pagoda and the working Buddhist monasteries at Ghum, and a cable-car ride on the Darjeeling Ropeway over the valley's tea slopes. Best time to visit Darjeeling has three broad seasons. Spring (March to May) is arguably the sweetest: mild days, blooming rhododendrons and the prized first-flush tea being picked. Autumn (October to November), just after the monsoon, delivers the crispest air and the highest odds of an unobstructed Kanchenjunga. Winter (December to February) is cold and sometimes foggy but quiet and atmospheric. Avoid the monsoon (roughly June to September), when heavy rain and landslides can close hill roads and keep the peaks hidden for days. Whenever you come, pack a warm layer - mountain evenings are chilly year-round. Getting there Darjeeling has no airport or mainline station of its own; you arrive via the plains and climb. The nearest airport is Bagdogra (IXB), near Siliguri, with flights from Kolkata, Delhi and other Indian cities. The nearest major railhead is New Jalpaiguri (NJP), also at Siliguri, served by trains including the Darjeeling Mail from Kolkata. From either point it is a scenic three-to-four-hour drive up the mountain by shared jeep or taxi, following the Hill Cart Road alongside the toy-train tracks. Purists can board the narrow-gauge train for part of the ascent, though the full ride is slow - treat it as the experience, not the commute. Where to stay Base yourself near Chowrasta and the Mall, walkable to cafes, viewpoints and the market, and closed to most traffic. Options range from heritage properties like the Windamere on Observatory Hill, all fireplaces and colonial charm, to mid-range hillside guesthouses and budget lodges tucked into the lanes below. For something quieter and more scenic, several tea-estate bungalows and homestays on the outskirts let you wake up surrounded by the gardens, though you'll rely on a car for town. Local tips Eat like the hills do: momos (steamed dumplings) with fiery chilli sauce and a bowl of thukpa noodle soup are staples, and the local bakeries turn out surprisingly good cakes and cheese. Buy tea directly from an estate or a reputable town shop, and ask whether you're getting first flush, second flush or autumnal - they taste genuinely different. Mornings offer the clearest mountain views, so plan sightseeing early and save shopping for the afternoon cloud. Finally, altitude and steep lanes make the town more tiring than it looks; give yourself a day to acclimatise and walk slowly, the way Darjeeling intends. Darjeeling travel guide, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Darjeeling tea estates, Tiger Hill sunrise, West Bengal hill station, Kanchenjunga views, things to do in Darjeeling, how to reach Darjeeling

News National

0 7 0

Seven Democratic senators pressed President Trump to hold firm on Taiwan's defense as Xi Jinping visits the US and a $14 billion arms package hangs in limbo. A group of seven US senators on Tuesday called on President Donald Trump to keep firm on Taiwan's defense and resist Chinese pressure to soften American support, issuing their appeal just before Trump's scheduled talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in Washington. All Democrats, the lawmakers warned that Trump must not allow Beijing to gain the upper hand during the visit. "We can't let President Xi leave stronger than when he arrived. That is not diplomacy, it's weakness," the senators wrote in a joint statement. Xi is in the US until Friday on a trip that includes his first stop in New York in 11 years. According to reports, arms sales to Taiwan, artificial intelligence and the war in Iran are among the topics the two leaders plan to raise. The statement was signed by Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, Defense Appropriations ranking member Chris Coons, Appropriations Vice Chairwoman Patty Murray, Armed Services ranking member Jack Reed, Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim. The senators described Beijing as a rising danger, saying "the People's Republic of China presents a greater threat to American security and prosperity than ever before." They pushed Trump to cut off China's access to advanced chips and manufacturing gear, to demand that Beijing stop backing Russian President Vladimir Putin's campaign in Ukraine, and to challenge Xi over Chinese support for Iran. They also faulted the administration's approach to Taipei directly. "The Chinese military continues its pressure campaign against our vital democratic partner Taiwan as President Trump has retreated from longstanding security commitments," the statement said. The $14 billion package on hold The timing matters because of two weapons deals. In December last year, Trump signed off on an $11 billion package for Taiwan, the biggest single approval on record. But after a trip to Beijing in May, he said a further $14 billion in sales had been paused. Xi is expected to lean on Trump to shelve the deals entirely during their meeting this week. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense signaled it intends to keep the sales moving. Deputy spokesman Chiao Fu-chun (喬福駿), speaking to reporters in Tainan during a media tour, said Taipei would stay in regular touch with Washington to carry out the transfers as scheduled. He framed regional security as a shared goal, calling stability in the Indo-Pacific a "common interest of democratic nations." "The US government and Congress have repeatedly expressed their support for Taiwan's ability to defend itself," Chiao said. "We will continue to maintain close contact with the US Department of Defense and continue to promote the implementation of arms sales according to plan." President William Lai (賴清德) has backed Trump's demand that US partners raise their own defense spending. The US remains Taiwan's leading source of weapons, though the island also builds its own hardware, including submarines, fighter aircraft and long-range missiles. At the State Department, Chinese-language spokesman Jakob Lengacher told Voice of America that US policy toward Taiwan had not shifted. He said Washington still backs Taiwan's participation in international bodies such as APEC, opposes any one-sided move to alter the "status quo" by either side of the Taiwan Strait, and remains focused on keeping the region peaceful and stable. A Coast Guard vessel bound for Manila In a separate development, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said its vessels will sail to the Philippines in October next year, marking the first time a Taiwanese maritime law enforcement ship has made such a visit. The ships will carry the words "Taiwan Coast Guard" during the trip. The agency also confirmed it had handed over one of its retired patrol boats to the Philippines, an unusual transfer of a decommissioned vessel to a country with which Taiwan has no formal diplomatic ties. An official noted that the CGA's civilian, non-combat character makes it useful for managing sensitive situations without triggering diplomatic friction. The planned voyage stands out against a long gap in such contact. The last time a Republic of China navy ship made a comparable visit to the Philippines was in 1974, shortly before Manila severed official relations with Taipei. Taiwan arms sales, US senators Taiwan, Trump Xi Jinping meeting, Taiwan defense, China Taiwan tensions, Coast Guard Administration Philippines, William Lai, US Taiwan policy

News National

0 13 0

Why They Want Paper Ballots and What the Supreme Court Has Said New Delhi: The debate over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) has returned to the national spotlight after a group of lawyers led by Supreme Court advocate Mahmood Pracha launched a campaign demanding that India return to the paper-ballot system. The lawyers' group recently approached the Election Commission of India and submitted a memorandum raising concerns about the existing EVM-based election system. The protesters are demanding that EVMs be removed from elections and that future elections be conducted using paper ballots. The development has renewed a long-running debate over election transparency, voter confidence, EVMs, Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), vote verification and the role of technology in India's electoral system. However, it is important to distinguish between a protest by a group of lawyers and a nationwide lawyers' strike. Current reports describe a protest campaign rather than a nationwide stoppage of court work. Lawyers Submit Memorandum to Election Commission According to reports published in September 2026, a group of lawyers reached the Election Commission's office and submitted a memorandum opposing the use of EVMs. Mahmood Pracha was reported to have led the group and spoken to the media outside the Election Commission. The lawyers' principal demand is the return of paper ballots for elections. They have also called for greater transparency and an open discussion involving Election Commission officials, engineers and technical experts on questions concerning EVMs. The protesters have said that their campaign is focused on the election system rather than any individual. What Are the Lawyers Demanding? The main demand of the protesting lawyers is: EVMs should be removed from the election process and paper ballots should be brought back. Their broader concerns include: Greater transparency in elections Stronger verification of votes Greater public confidence in the electoral process Discussion of EVM-related technical questions Greater scrutiny of election procedures A physical ballot system that can be directly counted These are the demands and arguments of the protesting group. They should not be presented as a finding by the Supreme Court that EVMs are fraudulent or that election results have been manipulated. Is There a Nationwide Lawyers' Strike? This is an important distinction for news reports. The current reports describe a group of lawyers protesting against EVMs. They do not establish that all lawyers in India have gone on strike or that courts across the country have stopped functioning because of the EVM issue. The protest should therefore be described as a lawyers' EVM campaign, protest or demonstration, unless a particular Bar Association separately announces a strike or court boycott. The Supreme Court has previously dealt with the broader issue of lawyers' strikes and court boycotts. In Ex-Capt. Harish Uppal v. Union of India, the Court held that lawyers do not have a general right to strike or boycott court proceedings. That legal position is separate from a peaceful demonstration concerning election policy. What Is Mahmood Pracha Saying? According to the reports, Pracha has argued that the Election Commission should consider removing EVMs and restoring paper ballots. He has also called for an open discussion involving election officials, engineers and technical experts. The protesters' argument centres on the principle that voters should have confidence that their votes have been properly recorded and counted. The campaign also raises wider questions about election transparency and the public's ability to independently understand and verify the voting process. September 17 Protest and October 10 Plan Reports said the campaign included a planned march in Delhi on September 17, 2026, followed by a proposed larger protest at Jantar Mantar from October 10. The organisers have described the October action as an indefinite protest unless their demands are addressed. The exact form and duration of any future demonstration can depend on administrative permissions and subsequent developments. Why Are Lawyers Opposing EVMs? The protesters' central concern is verification and public confidence. With an electronic voting system, a voter presses a button on the Ballot Unit and the vote is electronically recorded. VVPAT provides a paper trail associated with that vote. Those opposing EVMs argue that a paper ballot provides a physical voting record that can be directly handled and counted. They therefore believe returning to paper ballots would provide another form of transparency in the election process. However, this remains a policy position of the protesters, rather than an established judicial finding that India's EVM system is unreliable. What Is VVPAT? VVPAT stands for Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail. It is designed to provide a paper record corresponding to a vote cast through an EVM. After a voter presses the appropriate button, the VVPAT system generates a paper slip containing the relevant information. The voter can briefly view the slip through the designated viewing window before it falls into a sealed compartment. The purpose of VVPAT is to provide a physical trail that can be used for verification under election procedures. What Has the Supreme Court Said About EVMs? The Supreme Court considered petitions challenging aspects of India's EVM-VVPAT system in its April 2024 judgment. The petitions included requests for a return to paper ballots and demands for 100% counting of VVPAT slips in addition to electronic counting. The Supreme Court did not order India to return to paper ballots or require 100% VVPAT counting in every election. The Court retained the existing EVM-VVPAT framework while issuing directions concerning verification and safeguards. This is an important distinction when reporting the current lawyers' campaign. The fact that lawyers are now demanding paper ballots does not mean that the Supreme Court has ordered an EVM ban. Did the Supreme Court Declare EVMs Fraudulent? No such conclusion should be attributed to the 2024 judgment. The Court considered concerns about possible manipulation and the need for voter confidence, but the judgment did not establish that India's EVM system had been proven to manipulate election results. Therefore, news reports should distinguish between: Allegation:A protester or organisation raises concerns about EVMs. Demand:The protesters want paper ballots. Judicial finding:What the Supreme Court actually decided. Official position:What the Election Commission says about its procedures and safeguards. These are four different things. Why Is the Paper Ballot Debate Important? Paper ballots and electronic voting involve different administrative systems. A paper-ballot system produces a physical ballot that can be counted manually. However, large elections also require the printing, transportation, storage, security and counting of large quantities of ballot papers. EVMs were introduced to electronically record votes and facilitate election administration and counting. The debate therefore involves several competing considerations, including: Verification Security Transparency Counting procedures Cost and logistics Voter confidence Accessibility Election administration The current lawyers' campaign places particular emphasis on the first three issues. What Does the EVM-VVPAT Debate Really Mean? The controversy is not simply about a machine. At its centre is a larger question: How should a democratic election provide both secure voting and public confidence in the accuracy of the result? Those supporting the existing system point to EVM-VVPAT safeguards and established election procedures. Those campaigning against EVMs argue that paper ballots would provide a more directly observable physical record. The two positions should be reported separately rather than presenting either side's argument as an established fact. Is There an EVM Ban in India? No nationwide EVM ban is currently in force. EVMs remain part of India's electoral system. The current lawyers' movement is demanding that this system be changed and that paper ballots be restored. Their protest therefore represents a demand for a change in election policy, not an existing nationwide EVM ban. What Happens Next? The proposed October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar could bring the EVM issue back into national public discussion. The response of the Election Commission and any future court proceedings will also be important. Possible areas of discussion include: EVM verification VVPAT counting Paper ballots Election transparency Voter privacy Technical safeguards Preservation and verification of election records Whether the campaign expands beyond the current group of lawyers will depend on future participation and developments. EVM Protest: Key Facts Issue Current information Main issue Use of EVMs in elections Lawyers' demand Return to paper ballots Protest leader reported Supreme Court advocate Mahmood Pracha Election Commission Lawyers' group submitted a memorandum September 17 Reported Delhi protest/march October 10 Proposed Jantar Mantar protest Nationwide lawyers' strike Not established by current reports VVPAT Provides a paper trail associated with an EVM vote Supreme Court 2024 Did not order a return to paper ballots 100% VVPAT counting Not ordered for every election Nationwide EVM ban No Main debate Transparency, verification and voter confidence Conclusion The latest EVM controversy has brought election technology and paper ballots back into public debate. A group of lawyers led by Mahmood Pracha is demanding that EVMs be removed from India's electoral process and that paper ballots be restored. The group has approached the Election Commission and announced further protest plans. At the same time, India's existing election system continues to use EVMs along with VVPAT, and the Supreme Court's 2024 judgment did not order a return to paper ballots. The key issue going forward will be how India balances electoral security, transparency, independent verification and public confidence. For readers and voters, it is important to distinguish between a political or legal demand to change the voting system, a protest against EVMs, and an actual legal decision to prohibit their use. The EVM debate is continuing, and further developments around the proposed protests, Election Commission response and any new legal proceedings could shape the next stage of the discussion.

News National

0 6 0

Plan a trip to Havelock in India's Andaman Islands: Radhanagar and Kalapathar beaches, snorkelling at Elephant Beach, the best season and how to get there. Roughly 1,200 km off India's east coast, the Andaman Islands sit closer to Myanmar and Thailand than to the mainland, and their star is Havelock - officially renamed Swaraj Dweep. This compact island in the Bay of Bengal trades the crowds of the mainland coast for powder-white sand, glassy shallows and some of the clearest water in the Indian Ocean. It is the kind of place where you snorkel over a coral garden before breakfast and watch the sky turn orange from a beach shack by night. Here is how to make the most of it. Why Havelock stands out Many Indian beaches are for a stroll, not a swim; Havelock is built for the water. The reefs here are alive with parrotfish, angelfish, clownfish and the occasional sea turtle, and visibility often stretches beyond 15 metres. Radhanagar Beach, on the island's west coast, is regularly ranked among Asia's finest - a long, gently curving sweep of fine sand backed by rainforest, famous for its unobstructed sunsets. Because Havelock is small and largely traffic-free, you can cover its highlights on a rented scooter in a couple of unhurried days. Top beaches to explore Start with Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7) for that postcard sunset and safe, shallow swimming. On the eastern side, Kalapathar Beach is quieter and framed by dark rocks and leaning palms, best in the golden light of early morning. Vijaynagar Beach (Beach No. 5) runs along the island's main hotel strip and is handy for a lazy afternoon. The headline act for wildlife is Elephant Beach, reachable by a short boat ride or a muddy jungle trek from the main road - its house reef begins just metres from the shore. Snorkelling and diving Elephant Beach is the easiest snorkelling spot, with a shallow reef shelf ideal for beginners and families; operators supply masks, fins and life jackets. Serious divers come for the coral walls and sandy plateaus off Havelock, where sites suit everyone from first-timers doing a discover-scuba session to certified divers chasing bigger marine life. Sea-walking and glass-bottom boats offer a look at the reef for those who prefer to stay dry. Whatever you choose, book with a licensed operator, never touch or stand on coral, and skip the sunscreen chemicals that damage reefs - a rash guard does the job better. Best time to visit The islands are a year-round tropical destination, but the sweet spot runs from roughly October to May, when seas are calm and skies mostly clear - prime conditions for snorkelling and diving. The southwest monsoon, broadly June to September, brings heavy rain, rough water and frequent ferry cancellations, so it is best avoided if the sea is your main reason to come. December and January are the peak, cool-and-dry months, when accommodation fills fast and booking well ahead pays off. Getting there There is no way to reach the Andamans by road or rail - everything starts with a flight to Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair, the island capital, with direct services from Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Delhi and other Indian cities. From Port Blair, Havelock is a sea journey of about 1.5 to 2 hours. Air-conditioned private catamarans such as Makruzz, Nautika and Green Ocean are the fast, comfortable option and can sell out, so reserve seats in advance. Cheaper government ferries also run but are slower and harder to book from outside the islands. Note that foreign nationals no longer need a separate permit for Havelock, though rules can change - verify current requirements before you travel. Where to stay Havelock spreads its accommodation along the eastern beaches, particularly around Beach No. 3 (the jetty area) and Beach No. 5. You will find everything from simple beachfront cottages and backpacker huts to a handful of upscale eco-resorts tucked into the tree line. Staying near the jetty keeps you close to restaurants and dive shops; choosing a west-facing property gets you closer to Radhanagar's sunsets. Book early in peak season, and confirm whether your stay has reliable power and water, as both can be intermittent on the island. Local tips and what to eat Seafood is the reason to eat here: look for grilled catch of the day, fiery fish curry, tuna and coconut-laced prawn preparations at the beach shacks and small family kitchens. Two practical notes: carry enough cash, because ATMs are few and card machines unreliable, and download offline maps since mobile data is patchy. Rent a scooter to reach the quieter beaches on your own schedule, keep a torch handy for after dark, and respect the tides - lifeguards are limited, so ask locally before swimming at an unfamiliar spot. Havelock Island, Andaman Islands travel, Radhanagar Beach, Andaman snorkelling, Swaraj Dweep, Port Blair ferry, Elephant Beach Havelock, Andaman best time to visit

News National

0 9 0

Plan a trip to Istanbul, Turkiye with this guide to Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, Bosphorus cruises, when to go, how to arrive and where to stay. Straddling two continents across the Bosphorus strait, Istanbul is the only major city on Earth that sits in both Europe and Asia - and it feels every bit as layered as that suggests. Once Byzantine Constantinople and then the seat of Ottoman sultans, Turkiye's largest city stacks empires on top of one another: Roman cisterns beneath cobbled lanes, imperial mosques above a shoreline of ferry horns and simit sellers. For a first-time traveller from India or anywhere else, it is a rare destination where world-famous monuments, a legendary covered market and a scenic boat ride all sit within a single, walkable core. Why go Istanbul rewards the senses more than the checklist. Mornings begin with the call to prayer echoing between minarets; afternoons drift into the smoke of grilled fish sandwiches by the Galata Bridge; evenings glow over tea gardens with the strait shimmering below. It is deeply historic yet unmistakably alive - a place where you can trace 1,500 years of art in the morning and lose yourself in a buzzing bazaar by lunch. Add warm hospitality, an easy visa process for many nationalities and short flight times from South Asia and the Gulf, and it makes an ideal introduction to where Europe and Asia meet. Top things to see and do Start in the historic Sultanahmet peninsula. Hagia Sophia, built as a cathedral in the 6th century and later a mosque, remains the city's defining structure, its vast dome and shimmering gold mosaics still breathtaking after fifteen centuries. Directly opposite stands the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque), famous for the cascade of domes and the İznik tiles that give it its name. Nearby, the Basilica Cistern hides an eerie underground forest of columns, and Topkapı Palace opens up the private world of the Ottoman sultans, with harem chambers and treasury rooms overlooking the water. Then dive into the Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı), one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, a labyrinth of thousands of shops selling carpets, lanterns, ceramics and gold. For spice, tea and Turkish delight, the nearby Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) is smaller and more fragrant. Save an afternoon or sunset for a Bosphorus cruise: public ferries and tour boats glide past waterfront palaces, wooden yalı mansions and the two continents on either bank. Cross to the trendy Kadıköy district on the Asian side, or walk up to the Galata Tower in Beyoğlu for the best panorama of the old city. Fuel it all with a proper Turkish breakfast, a döner or köfte, and fresh baklava. Best time to visit Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are the sweet spots, with mild temperatures, thinner crowds and long, comfortable days for walking. Summer brings heat and peak tourist numbers, while winter is cool and sometimes snowy, though it lends the mosques and rooftops a quiet, atmospheric beauty. If you can, avoid the very middle of summer for outdoor sightseeing; shoulder seasons make the queues and the climate far kinder. Getting there Istanbul is superbly connected. The main Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side is a major global hub with direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and many Gulf cities, while Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) serves the Asian side. From IST, the metro and airport buses (HAVAIST) reach the centre, though a taxi or transfer is easiest with luggage. Once in town, buy an İstanbulkart, the rechargeable transit card that works on trams, metros, buses and the scenic ferries - the tram down to Sultanahmet is the simplest way to reach the big sights. Where to stay Sultanahmet puts you within walking distance of Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, ideal for first-timers and short trips. For a livelier, more contemporary base of cafes, rooftop bars and nightlife, choose Beyoğlu around İstiklal Avenue and Galata. Design-conscious travellers often prefer Karaköy or Cihangir for their boutique hotels and neighbourhood feel, while Kadıköy on the Asian side offers a local, less touristy stay with excellent food. Local tips Bargaining is expected in the Grand Bazaar - do it with a smile, and compare a few stalls before buying. Keep small change and consider carrying a scarf, as women should cover their heads and everyone removes shoes when entering mosques; visit outside prayer times to explore freely. Finally, skip the pricey dinner-cruise tourist boats at least once and ride an ordinary commuter ferry across the Bosphorus with a glass of Turkish tea - it is one of the great, cheap travel experiences anywhere in the world. Istanbul travel guide, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar Istanbul, Bosphorus cruise, things to do in Istanbul, best time to visit Istanbul, Sultanahmet, Turkiye travel

News National

0 7 0

A first-timer's guide to the Swiss Alps: base yourself in Interlaken, ride to Jungfraujoch and the Lauterbrunnen valley, plus scenic rail tips and rösti. The Bernese Oberland is where most people picture Switzerland before they ever arrive: turquoise lakes, cowbells drifting across pastures, and a wall of glaciated peaks led by the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. For a first trip it is refreshingly easy to organise, because one small town - Interlaken - sits between two lakes and acts as the hub for nearly everything. You do not need a car, a guide or fluent German. You need a rail pass, a light jacket and a rough plan, and the mountains do the rest. Why the Bernese Oberland works for beginners Interlaken means "between lakes," and it lies on the flat isthmus separating Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, both an unreal glacier-milk blue. From here, narrow-gauge trains and cable cars fan out into the high valleys, so you can sleep at a comfortable low altitude and take day trips up to the snow line and back. The region is compact, signposting is excellent, and English is widely spoken. It is the classic soft landing into Alpine travel - dramatic scenery without the logistics of a remote trek. What gives the area its particular postcard-perfect look is the contrast: emerald meadows and wooden chalets in the foreground, and behind them the near-vertical north face of the Eiger. That single view, from around Grindelwald and Kleine Scheidegg, is the one most visitors remember. Top things to see and do The headline trip is Jungfraujoch, the "Top of Europe," reached by cog railway through a tunnel bored inside the Eiger. At the top you get a glacier station with ice tunnels, viewpoints over the vast Aletsch Glacier, and, often, real snow underfoot even in summer. It is expensive and busy, so treat it as a splurge and go early. For scenery closer to the ground, take the train to Lauterbrunnen, a valley of seventy-two waterfalls where cliffs rise sheer on both sides. Staubbach Falls plunges nearly 300 metres straight off the rock; it reputedly helped inspire Goethe. From Lauterbrunnen, ride the cable car and train up to Mürren, a car-free village with a jaw-dropping outlook toward the Jungfrau. On the other side, Grindelwald is the base for First, a ridge with a cliff-edge walkway (the First Cliff Walk) and gentle high trails. And do not overlook the lakes themselves: a boat across Lake Brienz to the storybook village of Iseltwald or the town of Brienz is a slow, cheap counterpoint to the mountain crowds. Scenic trains worth the ride Switzerland treats its railways as attractions in their own right. Beyond the Jungfrau line, the region connects to two of the country's famous panoramic routes. The GoldenPass Line runs west from Interlaken toward Montreux on Lake Geneva, climbing through Zweisimmen and Gstaad. Further afield but easily added, the Glacier Express links Zermatt and St. Moritz over the Oberalp Pass in a slow, all-day journey past gorges and viaducts. Even ordinary regional trains here are scenic, so you rarely waste a leg of the trip. Best time to visit July and August bring the warmest weather, open mountain trails and every cable car running - but also the biggest crowds and the highest prices. June and September are the sweet spot: wildflowers or golden autumn light, thinner queues, and generally reliable transport. Winter (roughly December to March) transforms the area into ski country around Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren. Late April and November are quieter but riskier, as some high routes and lifts close between seasons. Whenever you go, check the mountain webcams before committing to an expensive summit day - the peaks make their own weather, and a clear morning beats a clouded-in afternoon. Getting there Most travellers fly into Zurich or Geneva, both with direct train connections. From either airport, trains reach Interlaken in roughly two to three hours, usually with one easy change in Bern. Buy a ticket that suits your rhythm: a Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, boats and many buses and gives discounts on mountain railways, which adds up fast if you plan several excursions. Trains run frequently and famously on time, so tight connections generally work. Local tips For food, seek out rösti (a crisp pan-fried potato cake), älplermagronen (Alpine macaroni with potato, cheese and apple sauce) and, in cooler months, a shared cheese fondue or raclette. Meltwater from public fountains is drinkable, so carry a refillable bottle rather than buying water on the mountain. Two habits will save your trip: start summit excursions at first light for the clearest skies and shortest queues, and always keep a warm layer in your day bag. It can be a mild afternoon in Interlaken and near freezing at the top of the Jungfrau an hour later - that swing is the whole magic of the place. Swiss Alps first-timers, Interlaken travel guide, Jungfraujoch railway, Lauterbrunnen valley, Swiss scenic trains, Grindelwald First, Bernese Oberland travel, best time visit Swiss Alps

News National

0 3 0

A traveler's guide to Hampi, Karnataka - its boulder-strewn ruins, top temples, best season, how to arrive and where to stay near the Vijayanagara relics. Few places in India collapse time quite like Hampi. Spread across a surreal landscape of giant granite boulders and the green ribbon of the Tungabhadra River, this UNESCO World Heritage Site in northern Karnataka was once Vijayanagara - the dazzling capital of a 14th-16th century empire that traders compared to Rome. Today its temples, bazaars, palaces and stepped tanks lie scattered over roughly 40 square kilometres, half-swallowed by rock and scrub. You can spend two days here and still feel you've only scratched the surface. Why Hampi is worth the detour Hampi rewards curiosity in a way few ruins do. There are no velvet ropes over most of it; you clamber over the same stones that once carried processions, coronations and elephant parades. The setting is the other half of the magic - sunrise turns the boulders gold, and sunset from a hilltop over the river is one of South India's great quiet spectacles. It suits history buffs, photographers, boulderers and slow travelers alike, and because the site is so vast, it rarely feels crowded once you step beyond the main temple. Top things to see Start at the Virupaksha Temple, the towering, still-active shrine to Shiva whose gopuram dominates Hampi Bazaar - it has been in continuous worship for centuries and even has a resident temple elephant. From there, head to the Vittala Temple complex, home to Hampi's signature image: the exquisitely carved Stone Chariot, and the famous musical pillars that ring when tapped. Don't miss the Sasivekalu (mustard seed) and Kadalekalu (gram) Ganesha monoliths, and the giant Lakshmi Narasimha statue nearby. Cross into the royal core to see the Lotus Mahal, a graceful Indo-Islamic pavilion, and the imposing Elephant Stables with their domed chambers. The Queen's Bath, the stepped Pushkarani tank, and the Hazara Rama Temple with its intricate mythological friezes round out the royal enclosure. For the best perspective on it all, climb Matanga Hill at dawn or Hemakuta Hill near the bazaar for sunset. A coracle (round basket boat) ride on the Tungabhadra is a lovely, low-key way to see riverside shrines. Best time to visit Hampi lies in a hot, dry region, so timing matters. The most comfortable window runs roughly from October to February, when days are warm but manageable and evenings pleasant - ideal for long hours of walking among the ruins. The monsoon months bring green to the surrounding paddies and a fuller Tungabhadra, but can interrupt outdoor plans. Avoid the peak of summer (April-May), when the exposed granite radiates fierce heat. If your dates are flexible, ask locally about the Hampi Utsav, a cultural festival that lights up the ruins with music and dance. Getting there Hampi has no station of its own; the gateway town is Hospet (Hospete), about 13 km away, well connected by train to Bengaluru, Hubballi and Guntakal, and by bus across Karnataka. The nearest airports are at Hubballi (the closest) and Bengaluru (larger, more international connections but a longer road journey). From Hospet, local buses, autos and taxis run to the site. Once in Hampi, the classic way to explore is by bicycle, moped or hired auto-rickshaw - distances between clusters are too far to cover entirely on foot, but short enough that a moped makes a full day easy. Where to stay Hampi splits into two moods. On the temple (south) side near Hampi Bazaar, you're steps from Virupaksha and the main monuments; accommodation here leans toward simple guesthouses and heritage-adjacent stays, and this area suits those who want to be inside the archaeological zone. Across the river, the Virupapur Gaddi (Hippie Island) side is greener and more laid-back, with rice fields, easygoing cafés and budget cottages - a favorite with backpackers, though river-crossing timings can limit late movement. For more hotels, restaurants and reliable transport links, many travelers base themselves in Hospet and day-trip in. Local tips Go early. The site opens with the cool of the morning, and starting at sunrise means you beat both the heat and the tour buses. Carry water, sun protection and sturdy shoes - the terrain is uneven and shade is scarce. Hiring a licensed local guide for at least the royal enclosure transforms the stones into stories; the layers of history are easy to miss on your own. For food, seek out simple South Indian staples - a crisp dosa or idli breakfast, banana-leaf thalis at midday - and note that the temple side is largely vegetarian and alcohol-free, in keeping with its sacred character. Finally, treat the ruins gently: climbing on carvings and shrines is discouraged, and Hampi's fragile beauty is exactly why it has lasted six centuries. Hampi travel guide, Vijayanagara empire ruins, Hampi Karnataka, Virupaksha Temple, Vittala Temple stone chariot, things to do in Hampi, Hampi best time to visit, Hampi Hospet

News National

0 8 0

CEO Chris Kempczinski says McDonald's expects flat customer traffic and persistent inflation to define the restaurant industry going forward. McDonald's Chief Executive Chris Kempczinski said on Wednesday that the company no longer views weak customer traffic and stubborn inflation as a passing storm, but as the standard conditions the restaurant industry should plan around. Speaking on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street," he said he has urged his own leadership team to drop the language of hardship entirely. "One of the things I've talked to our team about is we need to stop talking about that being a difficult environment, and just say that is the environment," Kempczinski said. "Because I think, as we look out forward, we're not expecting things to change." The comments mark a shift in tone for an executive who has spent years describing the market for burgers and fries as a "challenging environment" in his updates to investors and analysts. The pressure shows up in the company's numbers. McDonald's posted growth of only 0.8% in U.S. same-store sales during its latest quarter, with fewer people visiting its restaurants across the country. Customers are dining out less often and resisting steeper menu prices as their household budgets absorb rising bills for fuel, food and other essentials. The softness runs well beyond a single chain. Restaurant operators polled by the National Restaurant Association reported falling customer counts in all but one month between August 2025 and July 2026. To pull people back through the doors, McDonald's and competing chains have relied heavily on discounting. Beef Costs Nearly Double Guests are not the only ones squeezed by higher prices. Operators, including McDonald's franchisees, have watched the cost of key ingredients climb sharply. Kempczinski said the price of beef has almost doubled over the past five years in the company's largest markets. Spending on wages and on building new locations has also risen, cutting into profit margins. "Across the board, we're seeing that inflation is sticky," he said. "It's sticky, not just in the U.S., but around the world." Chasing Rivals' Customers With the operating backdrop unlikely to ease, the company's strategy centers on winning business away from competitors rather than waiting for demand to recover. "The biggest thing that you need to do in an environment like this is you have to be able to earn share," Kempczinski said. "You have to be able to actually grab growth from your competitors." He acknowledged that McDonald's may still need to raise prices, but said it would move cautiously to avoid pushing diners toward other options. Kempczinski repeated the company's view that it lifted prices too aggressively in the years following the Covid pandemic, a mistake it does not want to repeat. Kempczinski and other senior leaders were set to lay out more of the chain's plan to expand its market share at an investor day scheduled for Wednesday. McDonald's, Chris Kempczinski, restaurant industry inflation, same-store sales, beef prices, fast food traffic, McDonald's investor day, menu price increases

News National

0 4 0

G7 foreign ministers urged Iran to stop supplying the Houthis and condemned attacks on Saudi Arabia as fighting displaces over 120,000 Yemenis. The foreign ministers of the G7 nations have called on Iran to halt its weapons supplies and backing for the Houthi movement in Yemen, in a joint statement released as world leaders gathered for the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York. The ministers of the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States issued the appeal after meeting on the sidelines of the summit. In the same statement, the group denounced Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia in the sharpest possible terms and warned that the recent flare-up in fighting between the Iran-aligned movement and Saudi-supported government forces endangers energy supplies across the region and around the world. The ministers pressed the Houthis to halt every military operation, drop all threats against civilian vessels, and rejoin negotiations in earnest. The warning follows a sharp deterioration on the ground. Thousands of people have fled Yemen over the past several days after the Houthis captured stretches of the country's Red Sea coast, including areas close to the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The narrow waterway serves as an entry point to one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes, giving the fighting there wider economic significance. The G7 described the movement's conduct as a reckless spiral that could deepen the conflict, disrupt global commerce and destabilise the world economy. The ministers also pledged continued backing for Yemen's internationally recognised government and restated their support for the country's unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Iran has long rejected accusations that it arms the Houthis, insisting its assistance is limited to political support. The G7 appeal arrived just before Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was scheduled to address the General Assembly. Air strikes and missile fire As the diplomatic pressure mounted, the Houthis leveled their own accusations against Riyadh, charging that Saudi air raids had struck civilians across territory the group controls. The Houthi-run Saba news agency reported that a pre-dawn attack on a residence in the Red Sea port of Mokha on Tuesday left six people dead, among them two children and a woman. Saba also said nine detainees were killed when an attack hit a prison in al-Hazm, in Jawf province, late on Monday. The Houthi health ministry reported additional deaths, saying two members of a single family died in a strike in Jawf on Monday and that one person was killed in Taiz. The Saudi-led coalition backing the Yemeni government had not responded to the claims. The violence has run in both directions. Government-aligned outlets reported that a Houthi missile struck a market in the Mudaribah wa al-Ara district of Lahj province, wounding civilians roughly 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the edge of Houthi-held ground. Verified surveillance footage captured a projectile slamming into a busy area filled with people and vehicles, setting off a powerful blast as crowds scattered through clouds of dust and smoke. There was no immediate response from the Houthis. More than 120,000 displaced The United Nations estimates that the abrupt intensification of combat along Yemen's Red Sea coastline has forced more than 120,000 people from their homes. The wave of displacement has accompanied a rapid Houthi advance; earlier this month the group had already taken control of most of Yemen's densely populated areas. The combination of a widening front, threats to shipping near a strategic chokepoint and mounting civilian casualties has pushed Yemen back toward the centre of international attention. With the General Assembly under way, the G7 statement placed the war and Iran's alleged role in it directly on the agenda of the gathering in New York. G7 Iran Houthis, Yemen war, Bab al-Mandab Strait, Houthi Saudi Arabia attacks, UN General Assembly, Yemen displacement, Red Sea shipping, Masoud Pezeshkian

News National

0 9 0

A practical seven-day Sri Lanka route linking Kandy's Temple of the Tooth, the scenic hill-country train and the palm-fringed beaches of the south coast. Sri Lanka packs an improbable amount into a small teardrop island: a sacred hill capital, cloud-wrapped tea estates threaded by one of the world's great train rides, and a warm southern coast lined with fishing harbours and old fort walls. A week is enough to trace a single clean arc - Kandy, then the hill country, then the beaches - without spending your holiday packing and unpacking. Here is how to make those seven days count. Why this route works Most first-timers try to see everything and end up on the road for hours. This itinerary moves in one direction and downhill: fly into Colombo, head straight to Kandy in the central highlands, ride the train south-east into tea country, then drop to the south coast for the last stretch. Each leg has its own character - culture, then scenery, then sand - and the transitions themselves, especially the train, are part of the trip rather than dead time. Kandy and the highlands Kandy, the last royal capital, sits around a man-made lake ringed by forested hills. Its heart is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), which enshrines a tooth of the Buddha; time your visit for one of the daily *puja* ceremonies, when drummers play and the inner chamber opens. Walk the lake loop at dusk, browse the covered market, and set aside a half day for the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, famous for its avenue of towering palms and a giant Javan fig. If you have an extra morning, the Buddhist cave complex and hilltop views around the area reward an early start before the heat builds. The hill country train The Kandy-Ella railway is the reason many people come to Sri Lanka at all. The line climbs through Nanu Oya (the stop for Nuwara Eliya, a misty former British hill station) and grinds slowly past emerald tea terraces, waterfalls and eucalyptus forest. Sit on the right-hand side heading south for the best valley views, and don't be shy about standing in an open doorway where locals ride the breeze. Base yourself in Ella for a night or two: hike the gentle Little Adam's Peak at sunrise, walk out to the photogenic Nine Arch Bridge to watch a train curve across it, and refuel on *kottu roti* - chopped flatbread stir-fried with vegetables, egg and spice - at a roadside spot in town. The southern beaches From the hills it is a few hours down to the coast, where the pace slows further. Anchor yourself around Galle, whose Dutch-era Galle Fort is a walled headland of cobbled lanes, cafés and ramparts made for a sunset stroll. Nearby beaches each have a flavour: Unawatuna for easy swimming, Weligama for beginner surf lessons and the iconic stilt fishermen, and Mirissa as the launch point for morning whale-watching trips in season, when blue whales and sperm whales pass offshore. For something quieter, continue east to the wide, sleepy sands around Tangalle. Best time to visit Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so the coasts trade seasons. For this west-and-south route, the drier, sunnier window generally runs from roughly December to March, which also lines up with prime whale-watching off Mirissa. The hill country is cool and can be misty year-round - pack a light layer for Nuwara Eliya and Ella even when the coast is hot. Shoulder months on either side of the peak season often mean fewer crowds and greener tea slopes. Getting there and around Most visitors fly into Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo, well connected to India, the Gulf and Southeast Asia. From there, a hired car with driver is the most flexible way to link Colombo, Kandy and the coast, while the scenic middle leg is best done by train - book hill-country tickets in advance, as reserved seats sell out. Tuk-tuks handle short hops in every town, and app-based ride hailing works in the bigger centres. Local tips Order rice and curry at least once as locals eat it - a spread of small vegetable, lentil and coconut *sambol* dishes around a mound of rice - and try hoppers (bowl-shaped fermented pancakes) for breakfast, ideally with an egg cracked into the centre. Carry a scarf or sarong to cover shoulders and knees at temples, where you'll also remove shoes and hats. Finally, resist over-scheduling: the train runs on island time, and the best moments here - a doorway view, a fort-wall sunset, a plate of kottu - tend to be the unhurried ones. Sri Lanka itinerary, Kandy travel guide, Kandy to Ella train, Sri Lanka hill country, southern Sri Lanka beaches, Nine Arch Bridge, Galle Fort, one week in Sri Lanka

News National

0 6 0