Malaysia

Malaysia has a wide range of tourist attractions. The sheer diversity of tourism destinations is astounding. These include the high-tech city of Kuala Lumpur, tropical island of Langkawi, colonial hill stations of Genting and Cameron Highlands, numerous pristine beaches, National Parks, and the world's oldest tropical rainforests. Malaysia has the potential of catering to tourist of every hue and it truly lives up to its tag line of Malaysia Truly Asia.

Important places to visit :

Kuala Lumpur
To describe Kuala Lumpur is like opening a book that has various exciting chapters. Yes, this only global city of Malaysia appears blessed with colors of modernism along with rich heritage. Though formally KL spans over an area of 244 sq kms, its plush precincts virtually get bigger to embrace the entire world. Kuala Lumpur is situated at the confluence of Sungai Gombak and Sungai Klang, and probably, that's how it got its name, which literally means 'muddy confluence' in Malay language.

Kelantan
Kelantan-literally meaning "Land of Lightning"-is an agrarian state with lush paddy fields, rustic fishing villages and casuarina-lined beaches. Located in the northeast corner of the peninsula, the charms of Kelantan are found in the vitality of its culture and its remote, unsullied beauty. Kelantan offers plenty of opportunities for tourists such as river cruises, river rafting, bird watching and jungle trekking.

Malacca
Malacca is a quiet seaside city located on the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia facing the Straits of Malacca, about 147 km from Kuala Lumpur. Malacca is a wonderful repository of its cultural heritage. Its colonial past is evident in its Portuguese architecture, where as on the streets, Chinese influence is most visible. Most of the businessmen here are Chinese. Over the centuries, the Chinese and local Malay cultures in Malacca intertwined, eventually producing a completely unique society-a mosaic of different cultures.

Negeri Sembilian
Negeri Sembilian literally means "Nine States". It is so called because it comprises a federation of nine states. Located on the southwest corner of Peninsular Malaysia, Negeri Sembilan encompasses an area of 6,645 sq km and a 48 km long coastline.

Penang
Penang, literally meaning Island of Betel Nut, is famous for its natural scenic beauty. Also known as the 'Pearl of Orient', Penang entices visitors with its warm seas, golden beaches, lush greenery and delicious cuisine

Perlis
Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia. The state is famous for its serene unspoilt beauty, rustic rural scenes and verdant paddy fields. The expanse of verdant paddy fields makes the landscape appear like a huge canvas of brilliant green or gold, depending on the season.

Sabah
Sabah is a tropical paradise located at the northeast corner of Borneo. In ancient times it was known as the "Land Below the Wind" because it lies below the typhoon belt. Sabah attracts visitors with its scenic beauty, rugged landscape and cultural diversity.

Sarawak
Sarawak-the largest state of Malaysia-is better known as the land of fabled White Rajahs, the hornbill and the orangutan. Located on the northwestern shore of the island of Borneo, Sarawak is a preferred tourist destination for those seeking culture, nature and adventure tourism. The rainforests of Sarawak are home to the richest and most diverse ecosystem of the world.

Terengganu
Terengganu is one of the three east coast states on Peninsular Malaysia. Terengganu is the repository of Malaysia's cultural heritage and is home to the lilting Gamelan and the mesmerizing "Ulek Mayang" dance. It is a serene state, with numerous small villages, quiet roads, and secluded islands and beaches.

Maldives

Maldives is more like a string of beautiful low lying coral islands, located in the Indian Ocean. For the water sports enthusiasts and for those who love to indulge in the sun, Maldives is an absolute paradise. Apart from these there are many other tourist attractions at Maldives, which have for years wooed the tourists to this destination. Many of the islands also boast of having enormous lagoons which are added attraction of the place.

The Maldives is well known for its beautiful underwater coral gardens and the dazzling white sandy beaches. Thousands of tourists from around the world visit Maldives to make their holiday a fabulous one and is therefore a famous tourist destination. Apart from the famous stunning marine life, Maldives has several other popular tourist destinations.

Important places to visit :

Male
The capital of Maldives is a small island which is about 1Km long and 1/2 Km wide. This busy city is the ideal place for shopping and finding the best souvenir to take back home. It also has a museum and tombs of legendary saints which shows the great history of Maldives.

Islamic Centre
The Islamic Centre opened on November 1984, acts as a major tourist attraction of Malé, because of its location near the main jetty of Malé and due to the beautiful architecture of the mosque. The magnificent golden dome of the mosque is also evident on the skyline of Malé. The Center’s Grand Friday Mosque, Masjid-al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu-al-A’z’am, is the largest in the Maldives, accommodating more than 5000 prayers.

Hukuru Miskiy – Grand Friday Mosque
One of the most historic mosques in Maldives was built in the 15th century by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar. He built the mosque along with a minaret or munnaru from where muezzin calls the faithful to attend prayers. Hukuru miskiy is made of blocks of coral engraved with exquisite designs. Wooden panels inscribed with Arabic prayers can be seen displayed inside the mosque. More coral craving is found on the tombstones of heroes, sultans and nobles – in the cemetery outside the mosque. Hukuru Miskiy continues to be a functional mosque as well as a must-visit tourist destination in Maldives.

Medhu ziyaarath
This shrine for Abul al Barakaath yusuf al Barbari who is responsible for converting Maldivians to Islam in 1153 AC, can be found opposite to the Hukuru Miskiy.

National Museum
The national museum is considered as the main attraction in the small city of Male’. This museum is found inside a glorious public park named Sultan’s Park. It houses ancient exhibits of the sultans’ belongings, Thor Heyerdahl’s, archaeological discoveries and stone carvings along with items of historical and cultural interest from both the Pre-lslamic and Islamic eras of Maldivian history. The very interiors of the museum – retained from the days of the Sultanate – adding to the attractions.

Mohammed Thakurufaanu Memorial Centre in Utheem
Haa Alif. Utheem , the memorial centre of boduthakurufaan along with other monuments and landmarks. Mohamed Thakurufaanu’s tomb was built in the compound of the Bihuroazu Kamanaa Miskiiy, in the memory of the greatest hero of the Maldives has seen, Sultan Ghaazee Muhammad Thakurufaanu. He liberated Maldives from Portuguese after defeating Sultan Ali Vl in 1558. (1st of Rabeeu’l Awwal in Islamic month) This day is marked today as the National Day.

Tomb of Ali Rasgefaanu
Sultan Ali VI, or Ali Rasgefaanu, is buried on the very spot fell, on the Western shore of Male’. His enshrined tomb still remains as he was killed during a Portuguese attack, dying a martyr’s death. Martyr’s day, a public holiday, has been devoted to him.

Felivaru Fisheries Complex
The fish canning factory in Felivaru attracts a lot of tourists in Lhaviyani Atoll. It was opened in 1978, as the first fish canning factory and still process canned tuna for both exporting and to sell locally in Maldives. The canned tuna fish manufactured in Felivaru is recognized for its well-maintained quality.

Nepal

Nepal’s acronym of Never Ending Peace And Love, does well to characterise this nation of good natured and accommodating people; a land of majestic Himalayan scenery comprising eight of the world’s ten highest mountains, including Mt Everest: the uppermost place on earth at 29,029ft (8,848m).

Nepal is well endowed with glorious scenery - verdant terraced valleys, rushing rivers and ice-blue lakes that originate in the ’abode of snows’, or Himalayas. The uplifting sight of soaring mountains is a magnet for mountaineers and trekkers, offering some of the greatest challenges and most scenic walking opportunities on earth. Its diverse terrain offers tremendous opportunities for adventurous activities, and although mountain climbing and trekking are the most popular, there is also superb white water rafting on steep mountain rivers, as well as elephant-back safaris or tiger tracking in the Royal Chitwan and Royal Bardia National Parks situated within the jungles of the southern Tarai belt.

Nepal has many attractions, but the essence of the country is its smiling, friendly people with their heartfelt palm-pressed greetings, and together with its inspiring scenery, this beguiling kingdom is a place where one visit is usually not enough to satisfy the captivated traveller.

Important places to visit & Things to do

Bouddhnath Stupa
It is the largest Stupa in Asia. It is a fortress for Tibetan Lama Buddhism in Nepal. The white pagoda is 36 meters tall. It is sited on the ancient travel route between Bihar and Tibet. Historians believe that the Stupa was built in the fifth century, though there is no proof to such claims.

The Durbar Square
It is one of the many heritage sites listed with the UNESCO. The square is the crucial point of social and religious activities in Nepal. There are numerous temples, statues, palaces and shrines built by the kings of Nepal. It is a major tourist hub. All the major tour packages of Nepal include this site. Some important monuments worth visiting here include the Kala Bhairav temple, the Taleju temple, the Kumari temple and the Jagannath temple.

Phulchowki
Situated at an altitude of 2758 meters, Phulchowki is a major hiking spot. There is a Buddhist shrine on top of the hill.

Krishna Mandir
A master work of architectural amalgamation, this temple is a must visit. The structural design of the temple is a splendid mix of Indian and Nepalese architecture. This temple of Lord Krishna is the only structure in Nepal with 21 spires. It is entirely made of stone. Krishna Mandir is one of the major tourist attractions in Nepal.

Nyatapola Temple
This five storey Pagoda was built by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1702 AD. The temple stands on a platform consisting of five terraces. Each terrace has a pair of figures squatting on the top, namely two wrestlers, two lions, two elephants, two griffins and the tigress and the lioness commonly known as the baghini and shinghini. It is considered one of the tallest pagodas in south Asia.

Surya Vinayak
An ideal picnic spot, the temple of Lord Ganesha has been built in a manner to catch the first rays of sunlight.

Mount Everest
Majority of tourists come to Nepal to live their dream of seeing the Mount Everest and some of them more extreme, of climbing the mountain. It is a hub for trekkers, mountaineers and rock climbers.

Museums in Nepal
Nepal is home to many museums and galleries that showcase the ancient art and architecture of the country. Bronze and brass museum, Natural history museum, National art gallery and the national museum are some of the must visits.

Wild life
Nepal boasts some rare flora and fauna. It is home to many national parks including Rara national park, Chitwan national park, Sagamatha national park and Makalu Barun national park.

Philippines

Philippines the second-largest archipelago in the world, with over 7000 tropical islands, the Philippines is one of the great treasures of Southeast Asia. Often overlooked by travellers because of its location on the ‘wrong’ side of the South China Sea, the Philippines rewards those who go the extra distance to reach it. And because it’s off the beaten path, the Philippines is a great place to escape the hordes who descend on other parts of Southeast Asia. First and foremost, the Philippines is a place of natural wonders – a string of coral-fringed islands strewn across a vast expanse of the western Pacific. Below sea level, the Philippines boasts some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling, including wreck diving around Coron and swimming with the whale sharks off Donsol. Above sea level, it has a fantastic landscape with wonders enough to stagger even the most jaded traveller: the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, Banaue & the Rice Terraces and fascinating reminders of the islands’ history in places such as Samar & Leyte and Vigan. And if you’re after palm-fringed, white-sand beaches, try laidback Sipalay or flat-out party town Boracay.

Singapore

Singapore got its name from the Sanskrit word “Singhapura” which means “the lion city.” It is one of the most attractive tourist destination for people across the world. It is a unique nation in the oriental world with a great treasure of riches in all its folds.

Singapore is dotted with historical buildings, museums, islands, tropical lush landscapes and the thrilling parks that have a lot to offer especially to the children. The zoological and botanical gardens add to the uniqueness of the island. Night Safari, Jurong Bird Park, Sentosa Island and Singapore Zoo are the most visited sights among many others.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has number of cities that are significant from the tourism point of view. They offer a myriad of opportunities to the tourists. Each city is unique in its own sense. Some are known for their historical importance, some are pilgrimage centers, some are famous for their breathtaking natural beauty and Ratnapura is famous as the gem center of Srilanka. Each city has well developed tourism infrastructure and welcomes tourists with open arms. Go and explore this beautiful island nation and enjoy the wonderful hospitality of its people.

Important places to visit :

Anuradhapura
is an ancient city, located at a distance of 206 km from Colombo. The city is in northern Sri Lanka and is the capital of North-Central province. Anuradhapura was established in 4th century BC. It was the first capital of Sri Lanka and remained so until 8th century AD. Anuradhapura is an archaeologist's delight and contains several monuments of historical importance. The city is considered very sacred by the Buddhists and is home to the largest dagobas in Sri Lanka. A dagoba is a dome enshrining sacred relics or the bodily remains of the Buddha, or articles used by Him like the alms bowl and other objects of veneration. It is built in different sizes on a pedestal with a spire on top crowned with a pinnacle. The earliest dagobas had a stone umbrella on top of the dome in place of the spire.

Places to See
Sri Maha Bodhi Tree, Thuparma Dagoba, Ruvanveli Dagoba, Jetavana Dagoba, Abhayagiri Dagoba, Samadhi Buddha, Isurumuniya, Mihintale, Awkana, Kuttam Pokuna

Colombo
the capital of Sri Lanka-is the largest city and main port of Sri Lanka. It is also the commercial and financial center of Sri Lanka. A bustling metropolis, the city is an attractive blend of old and new. It has the lazy charm of the bygone era combined with the verve and vivaciousness of a modern city. Colombo is an ideal location to start the Sri Lanka sojourn.

Places to See
The Fort, Pettah, Galle Face Green, Slave Island, Mount Lavinia, Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, Dehiwala Zoo, National Museum, The Viharamahadevi Park, Wolvendaal Church, Hindu Temples

Dambulla
is a small town located at a distance of 19 km from Sigriya on the Sigriya-Kandy road. Dambulla has over 80 caves in the surrounding and some of them have been used by the monks as meditation locations. Major attraction is the Dambulla Rock Temple consisting of five cave temples dating back to the 1st century BC. The temples contain many statues and paintings. Hindu statues are believed to be of the 12 century AD and the latest paintings are of the late 18-century.

Galle
located 116 km to the south of Colombo on the southwest corner of the island-was founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South-East Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and South Asian traditions. Galle has been declared a World Heritage City by the UNESCO

Places to See
Dutch Fort, Dutch Museum, Koggala, Dutch Reformed Church, Ahangama / Midigama

Kandy
a major tourist destination-is also known as the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. Nestled in the hills at an altitude of 488 m, it is located at a distance of 115 km from Colombo. Kandy has a rich history. It was originally known as Senkadagala pura after a hermit named Senkada who lived there. Many of Sinhalese people call it Mahanuwara meaning the Great City. The name Kandy was derived by the colonial rulers from the word Kanda in Sinhala, meaning a hill. Kandy was the stronghold of the Sinhalese kings, who promoted and protected the local culture until the city fell to the British in 1815.

Places to See
The Temple of Tooth, Gadaladeniya Temple, Peradeniya Gardens, Peradeniya Gardens, Lankatilaka Temple, Knuckle Mountains, Hanthana Mountains, Udawatte Kele, Hindu Shrines, Buddhist Temples

Nuwara Eliya
situated in the central mountains at an altitude of over 6000 feets-is the premier hill resort of Sri Lanka. Overlooked by Mt. Piduratalagala, the highest peak of Sri Lanka, Nuwara Eliya's literal meaning is the City Of Light.