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Karimunjawa

Karimunjawa is a chain of 27 islands north of Semarang, off the coast of Central Java, Indonesia, that has been designated as a national marine park.

Understand
Karimunjawa consists of 27 small islands, the main ones being Karimunjawa, Kemujan, Menjangan Besar and Menjangan Kecil.

Since 2016, there has been 24-hour electricity in most places on Karimunjawa Island, though some other islands may receive as few as six hours per day.

Orientation
Most facilities for travelers are found on the largest island, also called Karimunjawa. The main settlement is at the southern end of that island. It is where ferries dock and most services are to be found. Accommodation is scattered across the island.

Travel out to the furthest islands in the archipelago will take two or more hours depending on the type of boat used.

Climate
Tropical. It is very hot here in the dry season (approximately April to October) and wet and humid in the rainy season (December till March).

History
According to a local legend, Karimun means not clear or obvious, because in clear weather the islands can be seen from the coast of mainland Java, but not clearly.

Karimunjawa was first settled by Sunan Nyamplungan, the son of Sunan Muria, one of the Muslim Saints (Sunan) who introduced Islam to Java.

Karimunjawa is more famous than Bali (who was only a base for pirates for long) since centuries. The island has been known by navigators worldwide as a haven on the trade roads trough java sea to Borneo or Spices Islands and can be found under different names (Tortuga, Chirimao, Carimon jawa...) on all antique portulans and maps of the area.

Historical sources relate the discovery of the Archipelago by Chinese Army sent by emperor Kubhilai Khan in 1293 (they named it CHI-LI-MEN), followed by Ottoman Turkish navigators in 1403, Portuguese, Dutch, French (Bouguinville), and English. Archeological researches have found porcelains from the Ming dynasty.

Many Yachtmen stop now in Karimunjawa on their way from Australia to Thailand or the China sea or back.

Landscape
Mostly low-lying islands with sandy beaches. There is some fringing mangrove around Kemujan. The highest point as Bukit Gajah at 506 meters.

Flora and fauna
One can find various kinds of sea animals, like turtles, sharks, and fishes, in the watery territory of Karimunjawa. On land, there are birds, deer, monkeys and snakes. Entrance to the natural forest requires a National Park guide.

Talk
Javanese is the most common language of communication between local residents, with Indonesian widely used and understood as the national language. English is not widely understood, so knowledge of some Indonesian is recommended.

By boat
There are regular ferries from Jepara, Semarang and Kendal, except during the monsoon season from December to February when the waves may be too high for a day or two. There was a severe case on December 31, 2014 when about 500 tourists could not go back to Java due to 3.5-m-high waves and the ATMs ran out of money after 3 days, because some of the coal cargos also landed to avoid high waves and its crew also used the ATMs. Cash for at least 5 days should be prepared, because vendors still have their merchandise.

See also Weather wave forecast from Indonesia (only available in Indonesian – search “Prakiraan Tinggi Gelombang” (aka “Wave Height Forecast”).

From Jepara

All boats are only operational if the waves are none to medium.

Double-check latest schedule before travel.

From Semarang
The state-owned, PELNI provides two ships to go to Karimunjawa, KM. Lawit and KM. Kelimutu. The cheapest fare is Rp 90,000. You may check the schedule in the PELNI office Semarang Branch or by PELNI app.

There is also a fast boat, ''KMC. Kartini'' from Tanjung Emas Port.

Be aware that PELNI boats are using north island pier.

By plane

 * There are direct flights from Jakarta to Karimunjawa and flights via Semarang. The second option is considered to be cheaper.
 * There are direct flights from Jakarta to Karimunjawa and flights via Semarang. The second option is considered to be cheaper.
 * There are direct flights from Jakarta to Karimunjawa and flights via Semarang. The second option is considered to be cheaper.

Get around
On Karimunjawa and Kemujan islands you can rent cars or motorcycles. Boats are available to get to the other islands. It might be a good idea to book a rental car before you arrive in Karimunjawa because there are few cars.

Fees and permits
Entrance ticket to Karimunjawa National Park to pay on arrival (at pier after boat offboarding, keep ticket):
 * Mancanegara (Wna) Foreign Tourist
 * Weekdays Rp 150,000
 * Weekends Rp 250,000
 * Wisatawan Nusantara (Wni) Domestic Tourist
 * Weekdays Rp 5,000
 * Weekends Rp 7,500

Some charges for natural tourism activities in the National Park:
 * Snorkeling: weekday Rp 15,000/day
 * Scuba diving: weekday Rp 25,000/day
 * Wildlife observations: weekday Rp 10,000/activity
 * Tracking, hiking, climbing: weekday Rp 5,000/day

See
Beaches and beautiful coral reefs.

Diving & snorkelling

Diving and snorkelling. There are many interesting spots for diving like Taka Panyawangan and Gosong Cemara. There are some shipwrecks that attract fish and divers alike.

Hiking
You can also go hiking around the island to find many places where there is a beautiful panorama.

Mangrove trekking
It's unclear if still possible. Some report main site has closed.

Buy
The best known handicrafts in Karimunjawa are its wood carvings, and many shops sell them.

Many people also go to Karimunjawa to find the dewandaru plant, believing it can prolong life.

Karimunjawa cuisine

 * Bakso ikan ekor kuning, a fish ball soup.
 * Lontong krubyuk, a rice cake with chicken, cabbage, tofu, and bean sprout in a brown soup.
 * Tongseng cumi, squid in a sweet and spicy gravy.

Food stalls
Surrounded by sea, Karimunjawa offers lots of seafood. Fresh fish and prawns are staples in the island diet. Restaurants are located within hotels. Other eateries, or warungs, provide decent cheap food like fried rice, fish, or an assortment of veggies. Be flexible and you'll do fine.

Drink
There are no clubs and only one lounge bar, the Cumibar. It is difficult to find alcohol, but it can be found at Breve Azurine (Cumibar & Lumba Beach Snack Bar), the Eat & Meet restaurant and The Happinezz hostel. A beer costs about Rp45,000.

Bottled water can be bought readily. At meals, seasonal fresh fruit juice is a treat (mango, orange, avocado). The whole coconut drink is very common with a reasonable price of Rp10,000-20,000.

Sleep
There are various kinds of accommodation, from four star hotels to homestays and campsites.

Mid-range

Stay safe
For beginner snorkelers, it is recommended to wear a life jacket.

Go next
In practice, the only option is to go back to the mainland of Java: either by ferry to Jepara, Kendal or Semarang, or by plane to Surabaya.

Reference

 * Tempat wisata di Indonesia

title: Karimunjawa


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Karjat

Karjat is a village in Maharastra. The river Ulhas originates in Karjat and flows westward. If you want to visit Karjat then the rainy season is best for you as Karjat has got such wonderful & beautiful waterfalls. You can enjoy one of them.

Get in
Karjat is from Mumbai and is easily accessible by road and train.

Get around
Lots of 8-seater auto-rickshaws (Tam-Tam) around the town take you to your destination. Walking is the best idea to explore this town.

See and do
Farming is a major occupation here. You can visit these farming fields and can learn about the culture.

Mountains
Karjat has many mountains. The undulated green plains and the hilly terrains emerging from the Karjat plains make this place a much-sought destination for adventurous tourists trekking. Karjat is one of the starting points for various treks in the Western Ghats, one of which is Rajmachi. A rickshaw ride from Karjat Bridge will take you to Kondivde village or Khandpe village. From Kondivde it takes 15 minutes to walk to Kahndpe village. Khandpe village forms the base of the Rajmachi trek. It is a 7 km ascend to the Rajmachi village (about 2.5 hours). After about 45 minutes from the village one reaches Kondhane Caves. A beautiful waterfall covers the caves; it is an experience to see the huge waterfall from within the caves. Rajmachi village forms the base to trek to two forts - Manarajan (also known as Manoranjan) and Srivardhan, which are adorned by a beautiful lake and a temple. One can also view waterfalls from the small tableland of Rajmachi.

Buy
Craft things, pots, etc are the materials you can buy in Karjat that villagers make.

Eat and drink
Small eateries around the village and in the station.

Stay safe
Many college groups visit Karjat in the rainy seasons. In the rainy season, you have to be more careful as waterfalls are dangerous here. slippery on greenery is there so be cautious while walking. Also, watch out for pieces of glass in water as many men drink in the waterfall and throw their bottles in the same. Especially girls have to stay safe because peoples drink here and being safe here is a little tricky.

Go next

 * Matheran

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Karjat


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Karkala

Karkala is a small town about 60 km from Mangalore. It was a major center for Jainism during the Maurya and Vijaynagar empire and still holds remains of the architecture of that period in the form of Chaturmukha Baskadi and Bahubali statue. The lake Rama Samudra graces the town amid these architectural marvels and large black rocks add to the beauty of this piece of land, hence the Sanskrit name Karkala. It is part of the Tulu Nadu region and has several Hindu temples. St. Lawrence's Church in Attur is also a popular tourist destination.

Talk
Tulu is the primary language of the local Hindu and Jain communities. Other languages spoken are Kannada and Konkani.

Get in
Karkala lies on the Udupi-Dharmasthala route. It also links Karavali to Ghatta through the Karkala-Hebri-Agumbe-Theerthahalli-Shivamogga route.

See

 * Gomateshwara statue situated on top of a hill Gomata-betta, it is 44 feet tall-second only to that in Shravanabelgola. Archeological society of India has estimated its time somewhere in 14th century A.D.
 * The Venkataramana temple is famous for the "Lakshadepostava" and the "Maharathotsava" that is conducted annually. The idols of Lord Venkateshwara are marvelous pieces of art. It has a small link with the famous temple of Tirupati Balaji. That's why it is known as Paduthirupati too.
 * The Veeramaruti temple situated opposite to Sri Venkataramana Temple is famous for single stone 16 feet height Hanuman Statue.
 * Ananthashayana temple Another temple worth visiting.The statue of Lord Vishnu in this temple resembles that in Thiruvananthapuram.
 * St Laurence Church is an old Catholic church at Attur, 5 km from Karkala. The pond there is miraculous and the miracle idol of infant Jesus also notable.
 * St Laurence Church is an old Catholic church at Attur, 5 km from Karkala. The pond there is miraculous and the miracle idol of infant Jesus also notable.

Do

 * Do visit Ramasamudra lake, Attur Church, Chaturmukh Basadi, Taluk stadium.
 * For the best view of Western ghats and Kudremukh Range visit S.K. border point on National Highway 169 via Bajagoly and Mudar.
 * Also visit the numerous temples in and around Karkala.

Buy
Pickles, jackfruit, coconut oil, sweets and savouries. Also, minor forest produce like dalchin and soapnuts.

Eat
Traditional Jain and Konkani food! A meal at Hotel Sagar is a must. The food in Hotel Sagar is good and comparatively inexpensive.

Drink
Tender coconut.

Sleep
Hotel Prakash, Hotel Suhaag, Hotel Swagath, etc. For better options shift to Moodbidri, Udupi or Mangalore.

Go next

 * Udupi
 * Dakshina Kannada
 * Kudremukh National Park
 * Shringeri
 * Horanadu

title: Karkala


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Karkaraly National Park

Karkaraly National Park (Kazakh: Қарқаралы мемлекеттік ұлттық табиғи паркі) (Russian: Каркаралинский государственный национальный природный парк) is a protected reserve and national park in the Karaganda Oblast in the Central Highlands of Kazakhstan. The park headquarters are in the city of Karkaraly, 244 km east of Karaganda.

History
On March 1, 1884, the Karkaraly Forest was established. In 1889, construction began on many of the parks cordons: Bedaik, Koktobe, Ayushat, Tulkebai, Tonkurus and others. From 1910 to 1913, the House of the Forest Warden, the parks most famous building was constructed. It is known for its interesting architecture. Pre-Bolshevik Revolution, all former forest cottages were allotted to army troops, Karkaraly Cossacks, and to local people. The Kent and Karkaralinsk forest cottages were part of the Karkaralinsk forest treasury and were state property. After the October Revolution, the entire forest area became part of the state forest fund. Having undergone several administrative changes in 1947, the Karkaraly Forestry Department was organized. In the beginning of the 1990s, work began on the creation of the national park. On December 1, 1998 resolution number 1212 was passed, transforming the area into the Karkaraly National Park. The primary goal of the national park is the protection and restoration of the natural area within the park boundaries.

Landscape
The total area of Karkaraly National Park is 112,120 ha. Of this 44,339.5 ha are forested. The park territory is divided into 4 areas: Mountain Forest - 25576 ha Karkaraly Forest - 23846 ha Kent Forest - 40,901 ha Baktuh – 21,797 ha The park has 22,243 hectares where all forms of economic activities are forbidden. The park has 89,877 hectares where all economic activities under strict control are allowed. Near the park are two other protected areas: Bektauata National Preserve – 500 ha Beldeutac National Preserve - 44,660 ha

In the Paleozoic Age (250-300 million years ago), this area of Kazakhstan was an inland sea. The water retreated 1.2 to 2 million years ago, when the ancient Paleozoic shield was cracked by granite. The area lifted and created the Kent and Karkaraly Mountains. The rocks and cliffs have been here ever since and for many thousands of years the untamable steppe wind and precipitation has sculpted the rocks into unique shapes.

People have lived in the Karkaraly area since ancient times. The earliest archeological finds connected with ancient people dates back to the Paleolithic (or Stone) Age. Archeological sites from the Bronze Age have been investigated more often. There are over 30 archaeological sites (from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age) of burial mounds and ancient settlements within the park boundaries. Some of these are the best discovered sites from these periods in Kazakhstan.

Flora
The park has over 700 species of plants and is home to 80% of all flora found in central Kazakhstan. Five plant species are listed in Kazakhstan’s Red Book of protected species: Kyrgyz Birch (Betula kirghisorum SAV.-RYCZG) Smooth Sphagnum (Sphagnum teres (Schimp.) Angstr.) Thin Poppy (Papaver tenellum) Spring Pheasant's Eye (Adonis vernalis L.) Karkaraly barberry (Berberis karkaralensis Kornilova et Potapov) However, in total, there are 28 rare or disappearing kinds of flora in the park.

The forests within the park are made up of pine, birch, poplar, willow, and juniper trees. 71.3% of the wooded area in the park are pine trees. Birch forest occupies 10% of the wooded area and aspen forest take up 2%. The underbrush of the park includes Cossack’s juniper, Tatar’s honeysuckle, and other plants. Shrubs occupy 34% of the total area of the park. There are 87 kinds of medicinal, oil bearing and alkaloid plants in the Karkaraly Mountains. Because of drought and high winds, 2,525 hectares of the Karkaraly forest were burned by forest fires in 1997-1998. After the fire, the park worked very hard on planting new trees and restoring the forest to its original state. A nursery in the Kent mountains provided the saplings for the re-vegetation project. Fire prevention standards were implemented and the following year 164 hectares were destroyed from 18 separate fires. In 2003, only 84 hectares were burned.

Fauna
There are 153 species of birds in the park. 11 of these species are in Kazakhstan’s Red Book of Protected Species [1]. They are: Golden Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Booted Eagle, Saker Falcon, Eurasian Eagle-owl, Dalmatian Pelican, Black Stork, Whooper Swan, Swan Goose, Pallas's Sandgrouse.

Of these, the Imperial Eagle, Saker Falcon, Dalmatian Pelican are protected internationally under the IUCN Red List. The park also has the Lesser Kestrel, which is protected internationally under the IUCN.

The park has 46 species of mammals, including the Wolf, Red Fox, Corsac Fox, European badger, Wild Boar, Red Deer, Siberian Roe Deer, Moose, Argali, Eurasian linx, 3 species of bat, Pallas's Cat, and many others. The argali and Pallas’s Cat are protected under Kazakhstan’s red book of protected species. Argali are the largest species of sheep in the world. The argali in the national park are one of six subspecies of argali living in Kazakhstan. In the Karkaraly National Nature Park the highest numbers of argali are in the Kent Mountains and in the neighboring Beldeutas Natural Reserve.

Climate
Spring: Spring in Karkaraly begins in mid-March and lasts until the end of May. During this short period the air temperature rises to an average of 15 °C. Snow cover in open areas begins to melt quickly, but in shady canyons the snow may last until the end of May. When snow melts there are numerous streams, small waterfalls, and dry riverbeds that fill with melt water. The surrounding nature also begins to wake up: the birds and animals arrive. The primrose, tulips, and other flowers begin to arrive. In May, the trees are covered with young leaves and the forest is filled with even more birds. Within the spring months, May is the most enjoyable

Summer: In Karkaraly, summer begins in early June. The overall average air temperature for the summer months is 18 °C, and in the daytime the air warms up to an average of 25 °С (on hot days to 37 °C). The hottest month of the year is July. Rainfall in the summer usually comes in the form of showers and thunderstorms. The beginning of summer is characterized by the abundant flowering of plants. In the middle of summer, berries begin to ripen (strawberries, stone berry, raspberry, strawberry, currant), and edible mushrooms are abundant. The summer months are considered the most comfortable time of the year to visit Karkaraly.

Autumn: Autumn is the most vivid and colorful season in the national park. It starts in mid-September and lasts until mid-November. The weather is particularly good in September, as a temperatures begin to drop. In October, there is a possibility of a freeze and there is an increase the number of cloudy days, with possible rain. In the first half of October the average daily temperature falls below 10 °C. By the end of October all the migratory birds fly south. The forests in the park are saturated with colors. Many mushrooms can be found during this time of year. In late autumn, most wild animals are changing the colors of their coats and preparing for winter. In the autumn months, the most comfortable months are September and early October.

Winter: Winter in Karkaraly is cold and snowy. Negative temperatures are recorded from November to March and sustained cold weather lasts an average of 135 days. During this period, the daytime temperature does not usually rise above 0 °C and nights are usually very cold. In January–February, the temperature drops to an average of – 20 to -30 °C. In abnormally cold years, the temperature can drop to - 49 °C. The snow cover reaches heights of 50-60 cm, and in drifts up to 1 meter or more. During the winter, locals and tourists enjoy cross-country skiing on the roads and in the forests.

Get in
The only way to access Karkaraly is by road.

By car
The city of Karkaraly is reached by road from the city of Karaganda. Karkaraly is 244 km east of Karaganda. Road signs out of Karaganda are in English. The trip usually takes 2.5 to 3 hours in a car. There is only one place to purchase gas (petro) between Karaganda and Karkalaly (45 minutes into the trip, in the town of Botakara).

Taxis can be rented near the Karaganda bus station. There is no schedule, but taxi drivers will wait until there is a full car before leaving. The price for a taxi (with full car) is approximately 1,200 som Taxis usually do not have seat belts.

By bus
Regular buses travel between Karaganda and Karkaraly. The trip costs 800 some and will take approximately 4 hours. But times can be found at the Karaganda bus station or at the bus station's website.

By plane
There is no air access to Karkaraly. The closest airport is in Karaganda, which has regular flights to Astana, Almaty, and other national airports. Upon reaching Karaganda, you must either rent a taxi or take a bus.

By train
There is no train access to Karkaraly. Karaganda is accessible from Astana and Almaty. Upon reaching Karaganda, you must either rent a taxi or take a bus.

Fees and permits
Many areas of the park are off limits without a permit. Inquire at the park's headquarters, in the city of Karkaraly, about which areas you can visit. Russian or Kazakh language skills are needed, as there are no English speakers in the park staff (Feb 2011).

The mountains surrounding Karkaraly are open and free to explore. If you travel by car to the hotel complex, Shaktior, you will need to pay a small fee to enter the park. Some areas of the Kent mountains, southeast of Karkaraly, are closed to tourists without purchasing a permit and using a park tour guide. Inquire at the park's headquarters about these services.

By foot
The mountains surround Karkaraly and many attractions are within walking distance of the town. If you wish to sleep in the hotel complex Shaktior (7 km outside of town), taxis and buses can be found. If you wish to sleep at the hotel Tac Bulak, you will need to take a taxi.

If you wish to see the Kent Mountains, you will need to purchase a tour package from the park administration. They will use their transportation to guide you. Advanced notice of a week is needed for this.

Because the town is at the base of the mountains, traveling by foot is possible and a car is not needed.

By car
Having a car will open up more possibilities but you should check with the park administration as to where you are able to go, and how much the permit for entering areas will be.

See

 * Lake Baceen The 3-km hike from town is worth it alone, but the lake is truly unique. The lake is surrounded on all sides by granite cliffs, which makes a "basin" look.
 * Lake Shaitankol or "Devil's Lake". This is the most popular tourist destination in the park. Located 5 km from town, this lake provides scenic views and a lake surrounded on 3 sides by rocky out-croppings.
 * Bolshoy Palatah or "Big Chamber". This stone grotto in the mountains above town offers scenic views of the valley and town.
 * Trie Pesherah or "Three Caves". This cave, approximately a 30-minute walk from town offers insights into past cultures. The cave can be muddy inside, but the area is beautiful and the hike is worth it.

Do

 * Boulder hopping The mountains around Karkaraly are very rocky. Weather and time have created many unique shapes.  Walking around the mountains will be very enjoyable and offer wonderful views.  Rocks can be very slippery when wet.
 * Hiking The trails system in the park is not very advanced. Some trails are overgrown or appear to dissipate. Trails maps are not reliable. But the most popular trails are clearer, though not without its confusion. Account for this when you plan. Cell phone range (Beeline and Active) can be reached on most mountain tops, but not within the forest.
 * Photography The unique rock formations, the "hidden" mountain lakes, and the pine forest offer great opportunities for photography.
 * Camping Camping is allowed within designated camping areas. Check with the park administration about regulations on fires and camping. Tents, sleeping bags, and pads can be rented from the park administration for a small fee. All are basic gear but will suffice for simple camping trips.

Buy
Souvenirs are hard to come by. For the park, souvenirs can be purchased at the Nature Museum 3 km outside of town. Hand-carved wooden bowls with Kazakh designs can be purchased here, but they are often out of stock.

Eat and drink
Karkaraly has small stores and several cafes.

Sleep
There are two hotels in Karkaraly. Both are basic and the cheaper rooms have communal bathrooms. The best hotel in the area is Tac Bulak, 3 km outside of town, where there is always hot water and meals are included. Other options are at Shaktior, a hotel complex 7 km from town.

Connect
The park administration can be contacted through their website. The park staff does not know English. They only know Russian and Kazakh.

title: Karkaraly National Park


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Karkonosze National Park

Karkonosze National Park is a national park in the Sudetes in Dolnośląskie, Poland. It lies on the border with the Czech Republic. It was made in 1959 and covers an area of 5951 ha. The Karkonosze National Park is a very popular hiking destination among locals and foreigners alike.

Fees and permits
A one-day individual ticket to the park costs 6 zł (3 zł reduced). A three-day individual ticket costs 15 zł (7,50 zł reduced).

title: Karkonosze National Park


text:
Karlštejn

Karlštejn is a town approximately 20 km west of Prague best known for Karlštejn Castle. It is the most visited and one of the most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic. Construction of the castle was completed in 1365 under the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. There is a national forest around the castle with some very nice hiking. Nearby in the village of Svatý Jan Pod Skalou you can visit a beautiful monastery including the 'holy cave' that it was built upon.

Understand
While Karlštejn is one of the most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic, it is also the most exploited by the tourist industry. The village below the castle is filled with tacky souvenir stalls, very expensive restaurants, and to complete the carnival an 'erotic city' porn shop. You can make your visit a lot more enjoyable by taking 12-km or 20-km hiking trips in the unexploited forests of the Český kras protected area around Karlštejn, hopefully relieving you of some of your unease after visiting the Castle.

Get in
From Prague you can take a commuter train (line S7) from the main station (Hlavní nádraží) or the Smíchov station. Journey takes 40 minutes and return ticket from the main station to costs 99 Kč. If you travel in a group of two people or more, ask for a group discount. First person in a group pays 99 Kč as usual, but second pays 69 Kč, and each extra person pays only 50 Kč.

Most of the time, trains run every half hour, you can pick them up either in Srbsko, Beroun, or in Karlštejn. If you are in Svatý Jan Pod Skalou, you can hike to Srbsko (8 km), Beroun (5.5 km), take a taxi to the Beroun train station, or take a direct bus to Prague (every two hours on weekdays, four a day on weekend). Check the bus schedule at the bus stop or ask at the restaurant.

Coming by car is also an option, a reasonably sized is available at the river.

Another option is doing a relatively flat bicycle track from Prague, alongside the Berounka river. Start at Zbraslav, from there follow the bicycle route 8100 into Černošice, and route 3 afterwards.

Get around
Everything is within walking distance. When you arrive at Karlštejn you cannot actually see the castle, turn right at the station exit, walk 200 meters then turn left over a bridge into the village, or just follow the flow of tourists and you'll get there. The village starts about 500 m from the train stop, the castle is a short (but slightly tiring) half kilometer hike up a large hill

For those who don't want to walk up the hill to the castle it is possible to take a taxi (100 Kč per way) or a horse-drawn carriage (150BKč per way) from the car park.

The castle
All of the tourists aside, the itself is really impressive. Once you arrive at the castle you can enter within the walls for free but access to the inside of the castle requires paying for a guided tour (220 Kč). There are several tours in different languages during the day. Call in advance to determine the exact times. There is also a 70-minute tour option that visits other rooms, including the Chapel of the Holy Cross, but remember to make a reservation. You can buy tickets online.

Unless you are particularly interested in Ancient Holy Roman Empire history you may want to take only the 50-minute tour, or limit yourself to walking on the castle parapets, enjoying the view and reading the outdoor information boards with the castle's history. This will give you more time for hiking to which is a bit more authentic Czech experience.

The castle is closed on all Mondays, even during the high season.

Svatý Jan Pod Skalou
The name of this monastery translates to "Saint John under the rock", which is quite an apt description for the monastery. The monastery was built on a natural spring at the base of a 100 m sheer cliff (the cliff being crowned with a large cross). Prior to the monastery being built a "saintly" hermit took up residence in a deep cave next to the spring where he "fought great battles with satanic spirits." The monastery is open daily, donations are requested at the door (but not obligatory). Don't miss the little door directly opposite from the main entrance, this is the entrance to the 'holy' cave. The cave contains five large rooms, all of which have been modified for religious purposes. One part becoming a crypt, another having a large altar, others for saintly relics, etc. Before entering pick up one of the laminated explanation papers laid out on the pews next to the door. They are done in all of the major European languages and explain what each room in the cave was use for. Outside the monastery if you look around you'll find the natural spring located in a small grotto just around the corner from the Monastery entrance. The spring water is drinkable and quite tasty.

Hiking
A trip to Karlštejn starts with a trip to the castle, which was the seat of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. The 50-minute tour is delightful, and well worth the time. There is a lovely and picturesque hike available to the Svatý Jan Pod Skalou monastery through the Český Kras protected area (Bohemian Karst or Czech Karst in English). While at times rugged (it actually is 12 km, and not the 8 km marked), it is more than doable for those who are in good shape and have the proper equipment. It begins at the castle walls (look for the red markings near the trailhead at the castle walls).

A caveat: the hike is likely to be too challenging if you are not in good physical condition and lack proper hiking shoes. Specifically, the path meanders through forest, stream, several steep uphills, some slippery rocks and tricky downhills. There are numerous locations during the hike where you have no cellular service.

Another thing to remember is that the path markings while clear after some experience reading them, first appear rudimentary, so always follow the red markings on the trees. The green trail marks also are fine--they track the red markings until approximately 1km before the monastery, and there is a clear sign marking the turnoff to the monastery.

Once you arrive at the monastery (which closes at 16:₩0), you have the choice to take another hike to the town of Srbsko or to Beroun, where you catch the train back to Prague. The hike from the monastery to Srbsko actually is 8km, and not 5km, as indicated. The yellow signs purportedly indicating the path to Srbsko are nearly impossible to find. For the hike from the monastery to Beroun train station just follow the same red marks, it's 5.5 km and easy to find. There are two train stations in Beroun. The red marks lead you to the right one to take the train back to Prague. Alternatively, if you call a taxi from the local restaurant in Svatý Jan Pod Skalou (75 m from the monastery, on the right), this is a 12-km hike, punctuated by round-trip train rides and taxis. If you choose to hike to Srbsko, be prepared for an all-day, 20-km hike. If you do decide to hike to Srbsko (and assuming you can find the yellow signs), the Srbsko train station is directly across the blue bridge. There is no place to purchase tickets. Those can be purchased on the train, however. The town of Beroun is closer to the monastery and larger; tickets can be bought at the train station here.

Rock climbing
Some of the best rock climbing near Prague is in Srbsko and Svatý Jan Pod Skalou.

Abandoned quarries
For the more adventurous, there are also several open pit limestone quarries, reachable by foot in about 3/4h from the castle. Entry is officially prohibited to public, but viewing is normally possible from the footpaths. and are the most impressive/visited ones. The pits are partially filled up with water, but swimming there can be risky - both due to dangers and possible fines. The pits are connected by an extensive system of shafts and galleries, but most of them are locked. However the owner company organizes official tours of the tunnels during weekends.

Buy
Karlštejn has shops selling Czech garnet, Bohemian crystal, tasteless t-shirts, wares from local blacksmiths, etc.

If you want to buy food for hiking there is a small village-style grocery store about a third the way up the hill. It is on your left (heading up the hill). Don't buy any food, drinks or water from the small shops at the base of the village. They have extremely over inflated prices, a bottle of water costs 45 Kč (normal price is 12 Kč).

Eat and drink
Around the castle there are plenty of expensive restaurants but you'd be best to avoid them. If you are not planning on hiking and want to eat in Karlštejn, your best option is to get on the red marked trail (trail head is right next to the entrance in the castle walls at the top of the hill, marked with a red and white square marker usually painted on a tree or wall), walk down the trail (going down hill) about 300 m, you'll come to a road on which there is a nice authentic Czech pub.

In Svatý Jan Pod Skalou there is a very nice pub 75 m from the monastery. The prices are reasonable, the beer is good and the food is very Czech.

Sleep
If you want to camp, there is a very crowded campsite near Karlštejn but it is not recommended that you stay here. If you hop on the train and go one stop further down there is a very nice campsite in the village of Srbsko (about 5 km from Karlštejn) with a little outdoor restaurant serving traditional 'klobasa' and other Czech camping foods. You can also walk to the campsite along the Berounka river.

Go next

 * Beroun
 * Křivoklat
 * Prague

title: Karlštejn


text:
Karlovac

Karlovac is a city in the northwest Croatia, 45 km southwest of Zagreb with a population of approximately 60,000.

Understand
The town is located at the junction of 4 rivers is stunning. Almost everyone knows Karlovac as the city on four rivers. In fact, only three flow through the very city and the fourth, the river Dobra, is a bit on the outskirts - Dobra. Of course, natives will talk about the fifth river – the one made of beer.

The town plan is unique as the historic town center is in the shape of a 6-point star and was constructed in the 16th century as a fortification against the invading Turks double of the back cush pink centre pocket.

By bus
Buses to/ from Zagreb (50 minutes) about every half hour from a bewildering number of operators. The bus station is on the western side of the town centre.

By train
The main is to the north of the town but rather more convenient is which is across the road from the bus station. About every 1-2 hours with 1 hour journey time.

Train times & prices from here

By car
A trip by car on the A1/A6 takes only about 20 minutes from Jadranski Bridge.

Get around
The best way to get around is by bicycle.

See
There are a few museums and a fortress on Dubovac hill with great views of the town.

 * Rivers & beaches: Korana, Mrežnica, Kupa, Dobra. In summer river banks are turning into shy beaches and are great for whole day activities.
 * Rivers & beaches: Korana, Mrežnica, Kupa, Dobra. In summer river banks are turning into shy beaches and are great for whole day activities.
 * Rivers & beaches: Korana, Mrežnica, Kupa, Dobra. In summer river banks are turning into shy beaches and are great for whole day activities.
 * Rivers & beaches: Korana, Mrežnica, Kupa, Dobra. In summer river banks are turning into shy beaches and are great for whole day activities.

Buy
There are not many shopping options, but there are many grocery stores.

Drink
Karlovac is the home of Croatia's most famous brewery, Karlovačko, which is a must try.

Budget
As in the case with most of Croatia, rooms are available in private houses.

title: Karlovac


text:
Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary (also known as Karlsbad, its German name or Carlsbad, its English name) is a historic spa town in West Bohemia, in the western Czech Republic. It's famous for its mineral springs and its gorgeous Belle Epoque architecture.

Understand
Karlovy Vary, meaning "Charles' Bath", was named after Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, who founded the city in 1370. It is famous for its hot springs and its colorful and whimsical architecture. For these reasons, it was a popular tourist destination starting in the 18th century with guests including Tsar Peter the Great, Emperor Franz Josef I, Beethoven, Goethe, Wagner, Brahms, Leo Tolstoy, and Karl Marx. Tourism ground to a halt during World War I and the city never fully regained its former glory. After World War II, the largely German-speaking city was cleared of its inhabitants and replaced with Czech settlers. Czech remains the major language today but the signs of German culture and heritage are still very evident. The three spa towns in West Bohemia – Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně – are known as the West Bohemian Spa Triangle, and all three are part of the "Great Spa Towns of Europe" UNESCO world heritage site shared with eight other cities around the continent.

The town, along with Prague, was the filming location of many scenes identified as being in Montenegro in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale.

Tourist information

 * Karlovy Vary Tourism website

By bus
Student Agency operates hourly buses from Prague's Florenc and Dejvicka stations 05:00-20:00. The trip takes 2 hours and costs 155 Kč for adults. FlixBus also offers near hourly service, for roughly €10.

Other bus companies also run services from Prague's Florenc station but they are more expensive and not as comfortable as Student Agency's buses. Czechshuttle.com offers daily transport between Karlovy Vary and Cesky Krumlov, among other places.

By train
Karlovy Vary is well connected to the regional and long-distance train network. The vast majority of trains in Karlovy Vary Region are modern and very comfortable. Also, some of the railways are quite scenic. When planning your journey, use journey planner IDOS. For more details see Rail travel in the Czech Republic.
 * Prague: 3 hr 10 min, long-distance Rx trains on line leave Prague Main Train Station every 2 hours, 7 times a day, trains on this route are slower than buses, however, you can experience the diverse character of the Czech Republic: industrial areas in North Bohemia and scenic sections like Lovosice - Ústí nad Labem or Kadaň - Karlovy Vary. SuperAction ticket costs from 159 Kč, Ordinary ticket costs 331 Kč.
 * Nuremberg: 2 hr 40 min, 1 change, regional RE trains on line depart from Nuremberg Main Train Station every 2 hours, in Cheb you have to change to long-distance Rx train on line, 5 times a day. First Minute Europe ticket costs from 235 Kč, Basic international fare ticket costs 981 Kč.
 * Dresden: 3 hr 30 min, 1 change, long-distance EC trains on line leave Dresden Main Train Station every 2 hours, in Ústí nad Labem you have to change to long-distance Rx train on line, 6 times a day. Includes scenic sections like Dresden - Ústí nad Labem or Kadaň - Karlovy Vary. First Minute Europe ticket costs from 235 Kč, Basic international fare ticket costs 746 Kč.

Also, regional trains operate on railway lines nr. 140 (Klášterec n/O - Karlovy Vary - Cheb), 141 (Merklín - Karlovy Vary), 142 (Johanngeorgenstadt - Karlovy Vary) and 149 (Mariánské Lázně - Karlovy Vary). Railway routes to Johanngeorgenstadt and Mariánské Lázně are pretty scenic as line 142 leads through Ore Mountains and line 149 through Slavkov Forest.

All long-distance and most regional trains arrive at, which offers modern facilities. Although, all trains from Mariánské Lázně and some other regional trains terminate at This station is on the western edge of the city centre next to the intercity bus station.

By plane
If you're arriving from a place not connected to KLV, it will likely make more sense to fly into Prague. Other airports in reasonable geographic proximity include Nuremberg, Leipzig/Halle and Dresden. Out of all of these, Prague offers the most comprehensive selection of destinations, and is the hub of Czech flag carrier Czech Airlines.

Get around
The town can comfortably be covered on foot, but a car or motorcycle is useful for exploring the surrounding areas.

Bus travel is very cheap. A week ticket for 220 Kč also gives you a trip on the Diana funicular. A ticket can be useful if you need to make trips up and down the river for whatever reason.

Sports

 * FC Slavia Karlovy Vary. Third tier football.
 * HC Energie Karlovy Vary. Top tier ice hockey.
 * HC Energie Karlovy Vary. Top tier ice hockey.

Eat
Karlovy Vary is famous for its spa wafers. They come in various flavors and are best when warm. The wafers are sold at street stands in Karlovy Vary, and can also be purchased at grocery stores throughout the Czech Republic.

Drink
Jan Becher invented the liquor that bears his name (Becherovka) in Karlovy Vary. However, it is an acquired taste.

Some establishments on the river charge twice the price of places 20 m or more off the main drag, so shop around for a place to drink.

Connect
As of Sep 2021, Karlovy Vary has 4G from O2 and T-Mobile, and 5G from Vodafone. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Go next

 * Prague
 * Loket
 * Cheb
 * Plzen

title: Karlovy Vary


text:
Karlshamn

Karlshamn is a city in the Blekinge province of southern Sweden.

Get in
Karlshamn is connected by railway, and the nearest major stations are Kristianstad to the west and Kalmar to the east.

DFDS Seaways provides a few places for passengers on their near daily service to Klaipeda in Lithuania, on board ro-ro freight ferries. The journey takes around 15 hours.

See

 * Axel Olsson's statue of Karl-Oskar and Kristina

 * The Cultural Centre, Vinkelgatan 8. Historic buildings of Swedish punsch factory, the silver forge, the art gallery, the print workshop and merchant houses converted into a museum.

Do

 * Kreativum Science Centre, Strömmavägen 28.

Sleep

 * Hostel Karlshamn, Surbrunnsvägen 1C, tel. +46 454 14040. Double 420 kr.

title: Karlshamn


text:
Karlskrona

Karlskrona, archaic spelling Carlskrona, is a city in Blekinge in southern Sweden. While the city has 37,000 inhabitants (2021), around 60,000 live in the municipality, Karlskrona kommun. The town hosts a naval base and is the largest city in the county of Blekinge. The old shipyard, the naval base's oldest constructions, and the three churches on Trossö island are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Understand
The city was established as a naval base in 1680, during the reign of King Karl XI, after whom the town is named (Karlskrona: Karl's Crown). King Karl XI was tired of having his fleet constantly frozen up in Stockholm during the harsh winters and was therefore looking for a port further south. This was at the height of the Swedish Empire and there were grand plans to eventually develop Karlskrona into a new Swedish capital.

However, the city was built according to a plan by Erik Dahlbergh and the settlement did not begin in earnest until the late 1680s. The shipyard soon became Sweden's largest industry, employing 1,100 people in 1711. By the mid-17th century, more than 10,000 people lived in the town and about 2/3 of the workforce was employed by the Crown. At this time, Karlskrona was the third largest city in the kingdom. Karlskrona's strategic location gave it the right to engage in foreign trade. Gustaf III invested in an increase in the naval fleet, which boosted Karlskrona's good economic status. In 1790, the city burned and the boom turned into economic stagnation. The town plan did not change significantly. At the end of the 19th century there were major changes in the naval fleet with the gradual transition to more modern warships. The arrival of the railway (Carlskrona-Wexiö Railway, CWJ) and industrialisation contributed to the greatly increased prosperity. In addition to the increase in population and general economic prosperity, this was also reflected in the planting of trees along the main streets, creating avenues that are still partly in existence. Military dominance has now been replaced by increased civilian industrial influence, including in the telecommunications industry.

The town centre lies 5 km south from the mainland on the island Trossö.

By train
Direct trains runs at least every two hours from Copenhagen via Malmö and Kristianstad. From Kalmar, Gothenburg or Stockholm a change of trains in Alvesta, Emmaboda or Hässleholm is required. Ticket can be bought from SJ. The station, is found at the northern end of the city centre.

By plane
Karlskrona-Ronneby Airport is approximately 30 km from Karlskrona centrum. Blekingetrafiken operates an airport bus (Flygbussen) between Karlskrona and Ronneby airport, which is convenient and cost-effective. It leaves Karlskrona 80 minutes before the take-off times of flights to Arlanda and Bromma. The bus stops at several places in central Karlskrona, at the Hospital/Bergåsa, at Nättraby E22, at Hjortahammar junction and at Listerby. The bus costs around 95 kr for adults and 45 kr for children.

By bus
Long-distance buses are available from Stockholm and Malmö.

By ferry
Stena Line runs ferries two times a day from Gdynia, Poland (day trip for a passenger with bike costs around 500 kr and takes 11 hours). The port,, commonly known as Polenterminalen, is on the nearby island of Verkö. Local bus #6 connects with the city centre.

By bus
There is a large local/regional bus network connecting Karlskrona Centrum with other regional locations. Bus fares are typically 20 kr for adults.

By ferry
There are also boats/ferries to many islands within the archipelago, and it is possible to cruise around the archipelago for between 1½ and 3 hours in the summer months. Adult fare is 20 kr, youth (<19 yr) is 15 kr.

Sleep

If you leave early for Poland with a Stena Line ferry, you may consider spending last night in tent wild camping on Verkö island.

Day trip to Aspö
Take the large yellow Aspö ferry from Karlskrona Harbour (near the bridge to Stumholmen) to Aspö (30 min) and spend the day enjoying the rugged island beaches, tiny shops and old military fort.

The ring road around Aspö is about 6 km long and, in addition to the beaches and fort, Aspö also hosts a small yacht club and a number of summer cottages. Amenities are rather sparse even in the busiest summer months, when there are only a few basic places to eat and stay. In the winter months (i.e. outside the June to August period), the only place to buy things is the local ICA supermarket and most (if not all) other things will be closed.

The ferry is part of the Swedish road system and so is free for vehicles, bicycles and foot passengers in both directions.

Ronneby
Ronneby is an old spa town with a spectacular park and forest 30 minutes by train from Karlskrona.

title: Karlskrona


text:
Karlsruhe

Karlsruhe is a city on the Rhine in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. It is in the north of the Black Forest, close to the French border. Karlsruhe is famous in Germany for both hosting two federal courts and being a major hub for science and technology. With 300,000 people, Karlsruhe is the largest city within 60 km. It is not usually visited by tourists from abroad, but is a relaxed and pleasant city to work and study in.

Understand
The city was founded in 1715 by Margrave Karl Wilhelm von Baden. The city was laid out on the drawing board. It consists of a central circle, containing the castle, and streets running towards the castle as radial "spokes". This pattern is still visible today. Due to the fan-like layout, Karlsruhe is known as the "fan city" (Fächerstadt).

The Rhine valley, where Karlsruhe is located, is the warmest part of Germany because it is only about 115 m above sea level and there are mountains in the east (Black Forest) and west (Vogesen). Therefore, Karlsruhe has more sunny days than many other parts of Germany.

There isn't a lot of tourist traffic to Karlsruhe. Tourists generally tend to gravitate towards the cities of Heidelberg (50 km to the north) and Freiburg (100 km to the south), with their well-preserved old towns. It's a shame though, as Karlsruhe's radial layout is one of the best early examples of New Urbanism, and is really a joy to explore. Maybe that's a benefit to travellers who do venture there as the number of visitors is low enough to be sort of a novelty for the locals.

Karlsruhe is home to the two highest federal courts of Germany, the Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court) and the Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Court of Justice). Because of this and other administrative facilities, Karlsruhe has a reputation as a city of civil servants.

Karlsruhe has a large and renowned technical university (KIT) as well as several other colleges. The presence of the technical university has promoted the city somewhat in the world of Free and Open Source Software: Karlsruhe was the home of LinuxTag until 2005. Karlsruhe also hosts some of the major internet companies of Germany.

Tourist information

 * Karlsruhe Tourism

By plane

 * Frankfurt airport is Germany's biggest airport and is served by all major carriers that operate in Germany. It has a direct ICE high speed train connection to Karlsruhe (1 hour).
 * Stuttgart airport is reachable by train in one and a half hours.
 * Stuttgart airport is reachable by train in one and a half hours.

By car
Karlsruhe has several exits from the A5 autobahn, approximately 130 km south of Frankfurt. The autobahn A8 joins the A5 just south of the city, connecting to Stuttgart 80 km east.

By bus

The bus station is at the south entrance of the train station. You can buy tickets for a couple of international destinations inside the train station.

By bicycle
There are long-distance cycle routes connecting Karlsruhe with the surrounding cities, such as Heidelberg and Pforzheim. It is especially convenient travelling along the Upper Rhine Plain between the cities of Mainz and Basel.

On foot
A lot to see in Karlsruhe is along Kaiserstraße. Because all the streets radiate outward, Marktplatz (market square) is a great place to start a walking tour of the city. If you go up or down Kaiserstraße, you will find a great variety of shops and restaurants on both sides of the streets. If you go towards the Palace (right in front of you if you're on Marktplatz), you can visit the city museum inside the castle, or the park right behind it, where the people of Karlsruhe congregate to picnic, play sports, and relax on nice days. Go farther and you can take a walk into "Hardtwald" forest which has a lot of trails right near the city center. Go south from Marktplatz and you will soon come upon "Ettlinger Tor" shopping mall and "Staatstheater" theatre. Exploring on foot allows you the opportunity to go down the alleys and smaller streets in Karlsruhe where you can find a wonderful variety of shops, kneipes, and restaurants.

By public transport
Karlsruhe has an excellent public transport system called Karlsruher Verkehrsverbund (KVV) (Karlsruhe Area Mass Transit Authority). It is mostly built on tram-trains (Stadtbahn). This allows trains to run on tram tracks within the city or on railway tracks to serve the surrounding region. An overview of the entire transport network can be downloaded here: KVV-Liniennetzplan Schiene

A single ticket for a trip within the city limits costs €2.50 for adults, €1.40 for kids. A day ticket (valid until 06:00 the next day) for one person costs €6.40 (Citysolo) and for up to 5 persons €10.60 (Cityplus).

Most tickets have to be stamped upon entering a tram and controllers are quite frequent. In particular, for longer distances outside of Karlsruhe buying the right ticket can be a bit challenging, but in front of the main train station as well as at Durlacher Allee 71, you will find KVV offices that will be happy to assist you. The KVV office on Marktplatz closed at the end of January 2024.

Trains operate late into the night, in particular on weekends, but almost every line stops for a few hours every night. Schedules and maps are posted on virtually every station.

By bicycle
Rental bikes are available all-year round from Nextbike. A mobile phone is used to rent a bike and it can be 'returned' (again, using the mobile phone) at any inner city corner. During the summer, spring and autumn rental bikes are available throughout the city from the service Call a bike. A mobile phone is used to rent a bike and it can be 'returned' (again, using the mobile phone) at any inner city corner. Renting a bike costs no more than €0.08/min or €9.00/day.

See
A list of museums can be found on the city homepage. The city lists Karlsruhe's cultural heritage in a database.

 * Durlach. Now a part of Karlsruhe, it is much older (first mentioned in the 12th century) than Karlsruhe itself and has a charming medieval town-center. It can be easily reached by tram 1 in a quarter of an hour. A word of advice: calling an inhabitant of Durlach a "Karlsruher" is asking for trouble. From the Turmberg (tower hill), you have a nice view over the city and the Rhine valley.
 * Kombilösung. This controversial project refers to the combination of a tram tunnel in Kaiserstraße and a road tunnel in Kriegsstraße, allegedly the solution (Lösung) for public transport capacity problems in Karlsruhe. There is an information pavillon near the Staatstheater, and in the coming years there will be lots of construction in the city. Not a sight as such, but interesting for public transport geeks.
 * Durlach. Now a part of Karlsruhe, it is much older (first mentioned in the 12th century) than Karlsruhe itself and has a charming medieval town-center. It can be easily reached by tram 1 in a quarter of an hour. A word of advice: calling an inhabitant of Durlach a "Karlsruher" is asking for trouble. From the Turmberg (tower hill), you have a nice view over the city and the Rhine valley.
 * Kombilösung. This controversial project refers to the combination of a tram tunnel in Kaiserstraße and a road tunnel in Kriegsstraße, allegedly the solution (Lösung) for public transport capacity problems in Karlsruhe. There is an information pavillon near the Staatstheater, and in the coming years there will be lots of construction in the city. Not a sight as such, but interesting for public transport geeks.
 * Durlach. Now a part of Karlsruhe, it is much older (first mentioned in the 12th century) than Karlsruhe itself and has a charming medieval town-center. It can be easily reached by tram 1 in a quarter of an hour. A word of advice: calling an inhabitant of Durlach a "Karlsruher" is asking for trouble. From the Turmberg (tower hill), you have a nice view over the city and the Rhine valley.
 * Kombilösung. This controversial project refers to the combination of a tram tunnel in Kaiserstraße and a road tunnel in Kriegsstraße, allegedly the solution (Lösung) for public transport capacity problems in Karlsruhe. There is an information pavillon near the Staatstheater, and in the coming years there will be lots of construction in the city. Not a sight as such, but interesting for public transport geeks.
 * Durlach. Now a part of Karlsruhe, it is much older (first mentioned in the 12th century) than Karlsruhe itself and has a charming medieval town-center. It can be easily reached by tram 1 in a quarter of an hour. A word of advice: calling an inhabitant of Durlach a "Karlsruher" is asking for trouble. From the Turmberg (tower hill), you have a nice view over the city and the Rhine valley.
 * Kombilösung. This controversial project refers to the combination of a tram tunnel in Kaiserstraße and a road tunnel in Kriegsstraße, allegedly the solution (Lösung) for public transport capacity problems in Karlsruhe. There is an information pavillon near the Staatstheater, and in the coming years there will be lots of construction in the city. Not a sight as such, but interesting for public transport geeks.
 * Durlach. Now a part of Karlsruhe, it is much older (first mentioned in the 12th century) than Karlsruhe itself and has a charming medieval town-center. It can be easily reached by tram 1 in a quarter of an hour. A word of advice: calling an inhabitant of Durlach a "Karlsruher" is asking for trouble. From the Turmberg (tower hill), you have a nice view over the city and the Rhine valley.
 * Kombilösung. This controversial project refers to the combination of a tram tunnel in Kaiserstraße and a road tunnel in Kriegsstraße, allegedly the solution (Lösung) for public transport capacity problems in Karlsruhe. There is an information pavillon near the Staatstheater, and in the coming years there will be lots of construction in the city. Not a sight as such, but interesting for public transport geeks.
 * Durlach. Now a part of Karlsruhe, it is much older (first mentioned in the 12th century) than Karlsruhe itself and has a charming medieval town-center. It can be easily reached by tram 1 in a quarter of an hour. A word of advice: calling an inhabitant of Durlach a "Karlsruher" is asking for trouble. From the Turmberg (tower hill), you have a nice view over the city and the Rhine valley.
 * Kombilösung. This controversial project refers to the combination of a tram tunnel in Kaiserstraße and a road tunnel in Kriegsstraße, allegedly the solution (Lösung) for public transport capacity problems in Karlsruhe. There is an information pavillon near the Staatstheater, and in the coming years there will be lots of construction in the city. Not a sight as such, but interesting for public transport geeks.

Do

 * There are various smaller theatres. A list can be found on the city homepage.
 * Football:
 * Cycling: The city has developed a 20 point plan to become the cycling city in Germany. Many bike lanes and good direction signs for cyclists are a visible mark. However, the activists of VCD and ADFC will be able to point out weaknesses and dangerous spots.
 * There are several man-made lakes in towns around (10–20 km) Karlsruhe, e.g. Epplesee in Rheinstetten (no BBQ allowed!) and in Weingarten and Untergrombach. Going by bike is a flat one-hour trip by bicycle, and swimming combined with a barbecue is a nice thing on a hot summer day.
 * There are several man-made lakes in towns around (10–20 km) Karlsruhe, e.g. Epplesee in Rheinstetten (no BBQ allowed!) and in Weingarten and Untergrombach. Going by bike is a flat one-hour trip by bicycle, and swimming combined with a barbecue is a nice thing on a hot summer day.

Cinemas
The Schauburg and the Kino im Prinz-Max-Palais are independent cinemas which occasional show movies in their original language. The other cinemas tend to stick to the usual German-dubbed fare.

Eat
What to eat (if you want to try something typical):
 * Flammkuchen: A thin pizza-like dish. The base is very thin and crispy and usually rectangular rather than circular. The traditional topping is cream cheese, onions, and bacon, but there are many variants.
 * Käsespätzle: A short German pasta in a heavy cheese sauce. Unlike in Swabia, Käsespätzle here is by default vegetarian.
 * Gebratene Maultaschen: similar to a large meat filled Ravioli.
 * Wurstsalat: A side dish of shredded sausages often made with mayonnaise and onions.
 * Hackepeter: Raw minced meat with fresh onions and bread. You don't get this very often (but for example at Vogelbräu).
 * Yufka Döner: A kind of döner but a wrap is used instead of proper bread. Sold in dozens of places it is probably the cheapest way to get a complete meal.

Budget
All these are in the city centre:

Drink
Like other cities in Germany, Karlsruhe has a few regional brands of beer, of which Hoepfner is the most famous. It is also worth exploring the microbreweries scattered around the city, such as the Vogelbräu, Wolf Brauerei and the Badische Brauhaus, all of which have seasonal specialities.

Buy
Most shops are located in the pedestrian zone in the Kaiserstraße. At Ludwigsplatz, near Kaiserstraße, there are various open-air cafes where the shopper can relax. Some of the more expensive boutiques and shoe shops are also located in this area.

In the south of the Marktplatz, at the end of the pedestrian zone, is a big shopping mall called "Ettlinger Tor". Definitely an alternative to the Kaiserstraße, especially when the weather is bad.

Stay safe
Karlsruhe is maybe one of the safest cities in Germany especially the centre of the town. There are a lot of police officers walking and driving around, mainly because of the important courts. Maybe some suburbs should be avoided at night (Oberreut, Neureut and Daxlanden (not really)), but otherwise, one will feel safe in this city.

Connect

 * Thalia - A bookstore in the main shopping street (Kaiserstraße 167) has some internet terminals in the uppermost floor
 * Gelbe Seiten  - This quite stylish bar/cafe close to Ettlinger Tor (Karl-Friedrich-Straße 22) has free WLAN, one internet computer; offers a nice selection of drinks&cocktails and some simple food.
 * Kaffee Schiller - Has free WLAN and a few computers to use. You also get good coffee, cakes and some simple (but good) food. Its close to the main shopping street and the university. (Kronenstr.30)
 * An extensive (but German) list of further locations can be found here.

Religious services

 * St. Stephan , Erbprinzenstr. 16. Sa 17:30; Su 09:00, 11:30, 19:00; M Th F 17:30, W 12:00. Confessions Sa 15:30-17:00.
 * Unsere Liebe Frau, Marienstr. 80 (from central station 800 m direction NE). Su 10:15; Tu 15:00; Th-F 18:30
 * St. Michael, Barbarossaplatz (from central station 1000 m direction west). Sa 18:00; Su 11:15, 16:00 (Croat.); Tu 08:00; W 07:45; Th 18:00
 * St. Elisabeth, Südendstraße 39 (from central station 1400 m direction NW). Su 09:45; Tu 18:00; W 07:45; Th 18:00
 * Deutschsprachiger Muslimkreis (German-speaking Muslim circle), Kaiserpassage 10 (from central station 1400 m direction center).
 * Chabad of Karlsruhe Jewish Synagogue and Center that holds services on Friday nights (varying times), Saturday mornings and on Jewish holidays 10:00.

Go next

 * Ettlingen — the neighboring town
 * Bertha Benz Memorial Route — follow the tracks of the world's first automobile journey (Mannheim - Pforzheim/Black Forest - Mannheim) back in 1888, leading right through Karlsruhe-Grötzingen
 * Baden-Baden
 * Heidelberg
 * Stuttgart
 * Freiburg
 * Paris — the French TGV high speed train gets you there in as little as 2 hours and 31 minutes

title: Karlsruhe


text:
Karlstad

Karlstad is the largest city of Värmland in Sweden. It was founded by King Karl IX in 1584, and is located where Klarälven river flows into Lake Vänern, the largest lake in Europe outside Russia. If it isn't raining, it is a cute little town.

Karlstad has a university, and is also known for the expression Sola i Karlstad (The Sun in Karlstad). Originally referring to a beautiful girl working in one of the restaurants in the city, nowadays the expression also refers to its reportedly sunny weather.

By plane
Getting between Karlstad and the airport will set you back about 250 kr if you take a taxi. Airport taxis can be ordered on. A cheaper option is to take the bus for 60 kr, however you must order the bus in advance on. An even better way for the one that don't mind walking a bit is to walk down to the main road (about 1-2 km) and just take the bus. The name of the bus stop is Hynboholmsmotet.

A better way for international travellers heading for Karlstad is to fly to Oslo airport (Gardermoen) and travel to Karlstad from there by train or bus (3-4 hours).

By bus
A good alternative to the train are buses, with services by Swebus Express and Säfflebussen .

You can also go to Karlstad directly from Stockholm's Arlanda Airport with NettBuss.

Get around
The town centre is all walkable, so if you're coming to see the town there is no need to hire a car.

There is a very efficient local bus service Karlstadsbuss (especially to the university), but if you want to travel beyond the suburbs then a car is still the best way to go.

See

 * Town centre. A mix of attractive, yet solid traditional Swedish buildings plus some modern ones.

Do
Walk beside the river, or the lake. Karlstad is best treated as a base to access the natural areas beyond.

The city is also a city of sports:

 * The World Rally Championship  visits Karlstad in the early weeks of February for the annual Uddeholm Swedish Rally. Spectating that rally will give you a chance to visit the small towns in Värmland and to see the forest under a fresh blanket of snow. Be aware that rental cars and seats on Skyways out of Karlstad can be sparse during Rally time.

 * During the winter the city have an ice hockey team in the highest division in Sweden.  Bandy is a sport played on ice with sticks and a small ball but rules similar to football (soccer). In Karlstad you also find good Curling teams.

 * During the summer athletic events also take place.

Buy
There are plenty of shopping opportunities in the town centre, especially on Drottninggatan, Västra Torggatan and Östra Torggatan. Nothing you can't find everywhere else in Sweden though.

In the western outskirts of the city at Bergvik you will find another main shopping area. Several shops including garments and electronics as well as smaller restaurants serves not only the local area but also the region and is popular among visitors from Norway as prices in Sweden are mostly considerably lower than in Norway.

Market days at main square Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Local produce and crafts.

Eat
There are plenty of restaurants in the town centre, especially on Stora Torget (the main square).

Go next
Find a spot beside Lake Vänern and have a picnic or a barbecue, such as Skutberget.

If you are interested in Swedish literature, you can visit Alsters herrgård and Mårbacka, where two well-known Swedish authors (Gustaf Fröding and Selma Lagerlöf) used to live and where there are museums nowadays.

If you travel by car Rottneros Park is a beautiful park with manor house, gardens and lots of statues an hour's drive away. Only open summertime.

title: Karlstad


text:
Karnack

Karnack is a small village in the Central Piney Woods region of Texas. It is the birthplace and childhood home of Lady Bird Johnson, the former First Lady to U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. It is also the gateway to the Texas portion of Caddo Lake, the largest naturally formed lake in Texas.

By car
Driving is the best means of getting into Karnack. Public transportation does not come through this area. There are two state routes that run through the small community.

 * Texas Highway 43, coming from Marshall or Atlanta. In Marshall, TX 43 connects with Interstate 20, which goes to either Dallas or Shreveport.
 * Farm Road 134, coming from Jefferson. This connects with US Highway 59, heading north towards Texarkana and the Arkansas state line.

By boat
If you have your own boat, you could come into Karnack via the nearby community of Uncertain. The other launching points on Caddo Lake, the towns of Mooringsport and Oil City, are on the Louisiana side. It is highly advisable to acquire a local Caddo Lake map prior to attempting to navigate the confusing array of boat trails that are on the Texas side. There are dozens of trails and an unguided boater could easily get lost.

Get around
Despite the community's small size, it is not suitable for walking as there are very few sidewalks; plus, most things to see and do are spaced out far enough that walking would not be convenient. Personal vehicle is the best method of getting around Karnack.

Do

 * Watch a sunset on the shores of Caddo Lake or Big Cypress Bayou
 * Rent a cabin or cottage on the lake
 * Row your kayak up and down the Big Cypress Bayou from Mill Pond to Backwater Jacks.

Buy
Shopping is very limited in this area. Even basic essentials are scarce. Gasoline cannot be reliably purchased here and it is recommended to leave Jefferson, Marshall, or Atlanta with a full tank of gas. For basic essentials, there is a single chain discount store, which is the only retail option in town.

Eat
There are only a small handful of dining establishments around Karnack. Most marinas and lodging may offer food, otherwise it may be necessary to bring your own, or commute to Jefferson for dining options.

Another excellent option would be to catch your dinner out on Caddo Lake! The lake is well known for bass, catfish, crappie, and sunfish. If camping, a good local experience is a pan-frying catfish over a campfire near the lake. For the authentic East Texas experience, use pine for firewood.

Sleep
All lodging in Karnack will come in the form of rental cabins and old homes, save for one motel. Almost all rentals will be 2 to 5 miles northeast around the unincorporated village of Uncertain. The exception to this is the cabins for rent inside of Caddo Lake State Park.

Telephone

 * The local area codes for Karnack are 430 and 903. Before the 903 area code was overlayed with 430, it was as simple as dialing the 7-digit number, if calling a local number on a landline. With the overlay, it is now necessary to dial 1 + area code + phone number to dial out. For cell phones, simply the area code and phone number will dial.
 * Cell phone service in this region is very poor . The cell phone provider that sees the best service is AT&T. The other provider that sees marginally reliable service in Karnack is Verizon. Meanwhile, T-Mobile and Sprint service is completely non-existent in this area. Regardless of your provider, be prepared to not have cellular service while around Karnack, Uncertain, or the Caddo Lake area in general.

Internet

 * There are no local internet cafes or public places where the internet can be accessed. The nearest public libraries are in Jefferson or Marshall. If visiting or staying at Caddo Lake State Park, there is marginal public Wi-Fi signal around the park headquarters building, as well as the cabins and campgrounds. Many local lodges and marinas are starting to offer Wi-Fi to overnight guests.

News

 * The newspaper for nearby Marshall, the Marshall News-Messenger, can be picked up from Circle S Country Store. In addition, the Longview News-Journal and the Shreveport Times are also available.
 * Television news broadcasts from KTBS (ABC), KSLA (CBS), and KTAL (NBC) stations in Shreveport are the most commonly received in this area.

title: Karnack


text:
Karnal

Karnal is a city of 287,000 people (2011) in the National Capital Region (NCR) in Haryana. The city associates itself with Karna, the great donor and warrior and of one of the major characters of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. The city has built a large statue in his honour.

By road
The Grand Trunk Road (GT Road) also known as NH-1 runs right through Karnal (The city of Daanveer Karna of Mahabharat). It's 125 km from Delhi and approximately the same distance from Chandigarh as well. You can catch a bus/taxi from Chandigarh and Delhi.

By bus
You can catch a bus to Karnal from Inter-State Bus Terminus, Kashmere Gate in New Delhi. Karnal is 125 km from Delhi. Traveling from Delhi to Karnal by a bus takes normally 2 to 3 hours depending on the traffic conditions in city range of Delhi. by chandra

By train
Train to Karnal can be taken from either New Delhi Railway Station or from Old Delhi railway station, and Hazrat Nizzamuddin railway station as well. Train takes 2-3 hours to reach Karnal from Ambala/Delhi/Chandigarh depending on the train class.

See

 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.
 * Nirmal Kutia: A famous shrine dedicated to saint Baba Nikka Singh Ji Maharaj, visited by people of all faiths. Aarti in the evening (7-8PM everyday) is worth attending. Special celebration occurs on Sundays, festivals. It lies in front of District Courts Karnal.

Drink

 * Any road side dhaba

title: Karnal


text:
Karnala Bird Sanctuary

Karnala Bird Sanctuary is a protected wildlife park in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, around 50 km from Mumbai. It is a major attraction to the visitors of Mumbai, Thane and other nearby towns. About 100,000 domestic tourists visit the sanctuary every year. Karnala is a paradise for bird watchers.

Understand

Karnala is a refreshing break from the big city. People come here to watch the birds and wildlife, to picnic and to trek.

Just a short drive outside Mumbai on the Mumbai-Pune Highway to Goa is the densely forested Karnala Bird Sanctuary, a pleasant surprise away from Mumbai's concrete jungle. Karnala is a tiny sanctuary, barely 4.8 km2, home to over 150 resident bird species and about 37 types of avian migrants.

Landscape
It is in the mountain range of the Western Ghats. It is surrounded by many hills and is a trekking paradise. Climbing Karnala can be a great experience for trekkers. Trekking can be dangerous in the rainy season so it can be done in the rest of the year. While climbing the fort you come across many species of birds in nature. River Patalganga is towards the east of the fort. Greenery covers and surrounds the fort of Karnala. While you are enjoying the sanctuary, spare a thought for preserving its ecology and tranquillity.

Flora and fauna
Vegetation typifies moist deciduous forest and is characterised by species such as koshimb, mango, nana, kulu, kalam, asana, umbar and teak in the top canopy. The ecological conditions of the tract favour a large variety of bird population. The forests are also ideal as a harbourage to wild animals. A casual walk through the forests is an unfailing source of joy, with the list of bird-song ringing in the air.

The sanctuary abounds in bird life and during the migrating season from October to April. The sanctuary is home to over 222 species birds of which 161 are resident species, 46 are winter migrant species, three are breeding migrants, seven species are passage migrants and five species are vagrant. Though Karnala is principally a bird sanctuary, many other interesting forms wildlife like wild boar, the four-horned antelope, the muntjak and the common langur also occur here. The sanctuary is also home to 114 species of butterflies.

Climate
Karnala has two distinct seasons from the point of views of the bird-watcher. At the onset of rains, one can see the paradise flycatcher with its fairy-like white streamers, the shama or the magpie robin and the malabar whistling thrush which are some of the most melodious avian songsters. A variety of other birds is also seen nesting in the forest.

In winter, the migrants take over and the pattern of bird life changes. The migrants include a variety of birds such as the blackbird, the blue-headed rock-thrush, the bluethroat, the red breasted flycatcher, the ashy minivet, the black headed cuckoo-shrike and a host of others.

Monsoons are very severe in this part of the world. So you can avoid them during June–August. Best time to visit: October to April.

By car
Karnala Bird Sanctuary is 60 km from Mumbai, on the Mumbai-Goa Highway, NH-17. This is a 2-hour drive via Thane Creek and Panvel. You can hire a taxi from Mumbai or Pune and it shouldn't be very expensive.

By train
The trains on  lines stop at Panvel,  from the sanctuary; from here you can catch autorickshaws, taxis and buses. From Panvel regular buses and autorickshaws (6 seaters) going towards Pen will drop you at Karnala, but the frequency is very less after 6-7PM. The fare is around ₹10.

By bus
MSRTC buses run from Mumbai Central to Karnala.

Fees and permits
Entry fees vary depending on age and nationality. The entry fees for Indian citizens are ₹30 for adults and ₹15 for children. The entry fees for foreign citizens are ₹60 for adults and ₹30 for children.

Parking fees also vary depending on vehicle. The parking fee for a two wheeler is ₹25, while the parking fees for a light wheeler and a bus are ₹100 and ₹150 respectively.

There are also charges for using cameras. Non-video camera charges are ₹100 for Indian citizens and #200 for foreign citizens. Video camera charges are ₹250 for Indian citizens and ₹500 for foreign citizens.

Get around
There are two ways up, one is an easy and other is bit difficult. People who are doing the trekking for the first time can go for the easy way. More experienced and adventure-loving ones can go by the difficult path.
 * Easy - Move left from the entrance, One can take this path, which starts from the water pump house. Follow the arrow marks displayed on the trees.
 * Difficult - Move right from the entrance. This path can be taken from man-made steps near the entrance, which leads directly to the forest.

Buy
There are no shops!

Eat
Food is available at the base which leads to the pathway to the fort. Water, cold drinks, complete thali-veg, egg and non-veg, poha, tea, coffee, bhajiyas are available.

Drink
Take all the Drinking materials from the base. As there is no water available on the Hill/Fort. During the summer it is advisable to take lots of water along, as it may cause dehydration because of the heat.

Rain water gets accumulated at the bottom of the fort, which is available throughout the year and may or may not be hygienic.

Take lots of drinking Water along with you during the summer trek.

There are many water tanks on top which do not have good water, but there is a water tank cut in the rock, almost behind the fort. If you walk around the pinnacle from the left you reach a small cliff. The water tank on the right side has good clean water throughout the year.

Lodging
There are many hotels and resorts located near the sanctuary. There are two government rest houses inside the sanctuary area. However, it is better to stay in nearby cities like Navi Mumbai, where good hotels are available. Many resorts are also available in the park vicinity but they may be expensive.

Camping
Try to avoid camping at this site. A lot of problems tend to occur during camping.

Stay safe
There have been a few rare incidents of looting here, so it's better to go with a group. The top pinnacle has huge honeycombs. If you are with kids be careful. Don't wait till after 5PM, it could be dangerous due to wild animal attacks. Beware of these animals like leopards.

Go next

 * Matheran

title: Karnala Bird Sanctuary