Sun Moon Lake, situated in Nantou County’s Yuchih Township, in the center of Taiwan, and is the island’s largest lake. It is a beautiful alpine lake, divided by the tiny Lalu Island; the eastern part of the lake is round like the sun and the western side is shaped like a crescent moon, hence the name “Sun Moon Lake”.

Its crystalline, emerald green waters reflect the hills and mountains which rise on all sides. Natural beauty is enhanced by numerous cultural and historical sites. Well-known both at home and abroad, the Sun Moon Lake Scenic Area has exceptional potential for further growth and recognition as a prime tourism destination.

Its beauty is created by the combination of mountain and water scenery, and its 760-meter elevation helps give the impression of a Chinese landscape painting with mist-laden water and clearly defined levels of mountains. The constant changes of mists and moods on the lake make it impossible to comprehend in a single look, and thus, visitors like to linger here.

The beauty of the lake, from dawn to dusk and from spring and summer to autumn and winter, exudes an aura of enchantment regardless of whether it is bathed in sunlight or shrouded in mist. Consequently, viewers never tire of looking at in admiration and amazement.

In the early morning the surface of the lake is covered by a thin veil of mist. When the sun rises over the mountains the obscuring mist lifts slowly to reveal the lake's true countenance, with its surface reflecting images of mountains and trees as chirping insects and singing birds lend their voices to the enchanted scene. At dusk the colors of the setting sun paint the lake a sparkling gold, transforming it into a crystal fairyland. As the curtain of night falls the lights and reflections ripple with the waves and cooling evening breezes waft in, giving rise to fascinating imaginings of fairy spirits sprinkling fairy dust on the water.

If you want to discover the many faces of Sun Moon Lake, take a stroll along its shores and let your soul be moved by its inexhaustible beauties. You can also ride a bicycle along the road circling the lake, and soak up the tranquility and peace of nature. Or you can board a boat and cruise over the waves as you take in the glories of the mountains and waters. If you want, you can rent a rowboat and savor the scenery at your leisure.

Due to Earthquake :
Taiwan’s Sept. 21 earthquake, which struck the area in 1999, caused severe damage to the Sun Moon Lake Scenic Area, at the time under the administration of Taiwan’s provincial government. The park has since been reorganized as a National Scenic Area. Significant increases in human and capital investment inflows and the promotion of various special programs and events centered on the Scenic Area have been instrumental in attracting tourists, helping the area emerge from the shadow of the earthquake and setting Sun Moon Lake firmly back on the path to becoming an international tourist destination.

Sun Moon Lake, rich in both natural scenic beauty and cultural landmarks, is like a lustrous pearl – radiant from whatever prospect you choose. Whether a first time visitor or a regular traveler to this part of Taiwan, you are always welcome at Sun Moon Lake!

When you come to Sun Moon Lake, slow down your hurried travels, stay, and relax for a few days. Here, the beauty of nature will make you want to keep coming back!

Pochampally, a village in Andhra Pradesh is today renowned worldwide for its beautiful weaves. The world knows this quaint town for its spectacular Ikkats. Spread over a charming part of the Deccan plateau, Pochampally is the largest centre for Ikkat. Tucked amid the beautiful hills, this is a result of the Bhoodan movement by Acharya Vinoba Bhave(1951) wherein land was donated by the erstwhile zamindars towards community welfare. Hence the name 'Bhoodan Pochampally', which is in fact the first village to be created by this movement. The place has been declared a Model Village due to its cleanliness and civic amenities.

The growth of crafts in society is a sign of the cultivation of sensitivity and the stirring and mellowing of humanism. It stands for man's endeavour to bring grace and elegance into an otherwise harsh and drab human existence. Actually, man's elevation from gross animal existence is marked by his yearning for something beyond the satisfaction of mere needs and creature comforts. It is the yearning that found natural expression in crafts.

- Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay

Crafts do not grow in isolation. They are basically in the service of the society. Society's culture can be measured from the arts and crafts it lived with. Arts and crafts find unhindered patronage and wide appreciation in a society that has been elevated to great cultural heights. Such society establishes values and norms that give the guidelines of life to all its members, rich and poor. Artists and craftsmen in such society exist as an integral part of it and crave to achieve excellence and reach to perfection in their work.

From the law-books, the Niti-Shastra, from the writings of Manu and Kautilya, we learn the responsibility of the state and the public to protect and patronize the artists and craftsmen. The system of taxation makes it compulsory for society to foster and support the artist and craftsmen Matsya Purana mentions that every home should have a door frame in carved wood as a sign of welcome to visitors.

This tradition of carved wooden frames and carved wooden balconies supported by brackets of animals, birds, and human forms is a part of architectural design of homes, palaces and temples as well as other community places built all over India.

There are many palaces, temples and private homes in Maharashtra, in which we see plenty of intricate and charming woodwork. In places like Pune, Wai, Satara, Nasik Chandwad, Palshi, Paithan there ar Wadas (havelis) full of excellent wood carvings. Several temples in Konkan (Sindhudurg), in places like Achre, Kunkeshwar, Sawantwadi, Aakeri have pillars and projected beams very intricately carved by the local craftsmen.

Since our contemporary architecture is totally changed and has no place for any carvings or others crafts, the craft of wood carving gradually disappeared and with that vanished all our craftsmen.When we probe into the cultural history of Maharashtra of the last three hundred years, we come across very interesting accounts of our crafts and craftsmen which have been meticulously recorded in gazetteers and reports of various collectorates during the British rule. Our crafts were shown in several exhibitions in the Western counties and they were highly praised. George C. M. Birdwood published his book, 'The Arts of India' in 1880, in which he had given plenty of information about, the then prevailing crafts in Maharashtra. Several crafts mentioned by him are not being executed today. But some major which have survived or have been revived and handed down to the present generation of craftsmen were also going through a difficult period due to lack of patronage, because under the British rule, the lifestyle of patrons of arts and crafts was also undergoing a great change.

George Birdwood had paid high tributes to the craftsmen of Maharashtra as he had given several examples of their crafts in great detail. It is very interesting to know that the Thakurs and Katharies of Matheran Hill were imaginative craftsmen who could design ornaments. Birdwood records. "Mr. W.G.S.V. Fitz Gerald sent to the Annual International Exhibition of 1872 a collection of grass ornaments worn by the wild Thakurs and Katharies of Matheran and the Western Ghats of Bombay, which had been made by Dr. T. Y. Smith, the accomplished Superintendent of that hill station, and by the side of these grass collars, necklaces, bracelets, anklets and girdles, were exhibited also examples of the gold jewellery of thick gold wire, twisted into girdles, bracelets, anklets, necklaces, and collars worn all over India and which are fashioned in gold exactly as the Matheran ornaments are fashioned in grass."

Named after the famous astronomer of Orissa, Samant Chandra Sekhar this modern planetarium conducts daily shows explaining both in English and Oriya various planetary positions, configurations and other astronomical phenomena through moving projectors. Lectures in astronomy and astrophysics are organised from time to time to inculcate the love for science in the common people by initiating them to the mysterious world of stars and planets. Shows are normally held in the afternoon. The planetarium remains closed on Mondays.

Once the royal residence of Emperor Akbar, the museum houses a rich repository of the Mughal and Rajput armour and exquisite sculptures. Akbar improved and extended the fortification of the city, when he come to pay homage at the sacred shrine of Garib Nawaz. Its main entrance faces Naya Bazaar and is provided with balconies on both the sides.

The Maharana Pratap Sagar reservoir in Kangra district with its 42 km length and 2 km breadth, offers a variety of activities in close collabration with the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports. Year long activities include swimming, water-skiing, surfing, kayaking, rowing, canoeing and sailing. Three levels of courses are conducted - beginner, intermediate and advanced. The Maharana Pratap Sagar (Pong Dam) is 5 km from Talwara. Similar activities are also available on the waters of Gobind Sagar near Bilaspur, the Chamera lake near Dalhousie (Chamba) and the Pandoh lake on the Mandi-Kullu National Highway.

River-rafting or white-water rafting as it is also called is swiftly making Himachal a focus for the sport. For a torrent of adrenalin to gush through every vein and surge over every muscle you can race over the State's river rapids in an inflatable rubber dinghy. Sport is now being held on the Sutlej near Shimla on the Beas near Kullu, the Ravi near Chamba and Chandra in Lahaul. Possibilities are also being explored on the river Spiti. This sport takes a break during winter and during the monsons.

Chandigarh , the city beautiful has great potential to encourage sports tourism as a part of visitor's itinerary. Chandigarh Tourism in collaboration with different sports federations and academies plans to promote Chandigarh as a sports destination by hosting a number of international sports events like cricket, Golf, tennis and hockey tournaments.

Chandigarh and the whole tri-city area, has a great scope for sports tourism especially Golf Tourism. The infrastructure available in this city is rarely found in cities in the country. There are three courses in and around chandigarh to play golf - The Chandigarh Golf Club, Panchkula Golf Club and Chandimandir Golf club and a fully integrated golf driving range called the CGA Golf Range exist here. Chandigarh Tourism along with Chandigarh Golf Association has held two golf tourism tournaments to promote golf tourism already.

Situated in the heart of Leisure Valley, CLTA Tennis Stadium has excellent Tennis infrastructure along with facilities of board and lodging. CLTA's facilities are set in natural surroundings and a pollution free environment.

Chandigarh has a beautiful cricket stadium which hosts a number of international cricket matches.

Chandigarh is set to promote a lot of sports - Golf, Cricket, tennis, Hockey and baseball.

It is located in Dibang Valley district and is a sacred heritage of the Idu Mishmis. It is a symbol of past glory and indicate the high standard of civilisation that once prevailed around Bhismaknagar. Bhismaknagar must have been a strong hold of the Chutiyas (12th-16th centuries) but the excavations has been throwing new light on its much earlier antiquities. Bhismaknagar stands for what is best in the tribal and Aryans way of life. It speaks for the Catholic spirit of the ancient Indians and the contribution made by the Idus to the synthetic fabric of Indian culture. Today Bhismaknagar has become the nucleus of a renaisance a determination of a sturdy race to revive its traditional culture, while accepting everything that is progressive.

When to visit : During the period, November to Feb.

How to reach : By Bus/Taxi from Tinsukia. (about 100 Kms)