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Chieti

Chieti is an ancient and medium-sized town (2015 pop. 51,945) on the Pescara River, near the Adriatic Sea, in the Abruzzo region of South Central Italy, 200 km northeast of Rome. It's a commercial and industrial center.

Known as the town of the chamomile for its tranquility, it offers a wide range of monuments, traces of its glorious and articulated past, but also a delicious urban park, two archaeological museums, and scenic views on Pescara valley, Gran Sasso and Majella mountains.

Understand
Chieti is the capital of the Province of Chieti. The town lies on a crest along the Pescara River a few kilometers away from the Adriatic Sea, with the Maiella and Gran Sasso mountains in the background. It has a fine Romanesque cathedral (11th century), a 14th-century tower, and a university. The order of the Theatine Brothers (founded 1524) takes its name from the ancient Roman town.

The town is divided into two parts: Chieti Alta (that means “Upper Chieti”) and Chieti Scalo. Chieti Alta is the old hill town, while in Chieti Scalo, there are business activities, factories (items manufactured locally include textiles, clothing, fabricated metals, and construction materials), a station and the local university. In addition there also interesting little rural frazioni, such as Brecciarola.

Climate
The climate is genuinely Mediterranean, with influxes from Adriatic Sea (which is 10 km far from the town) and from Majella massif (about 25-30 km), moderate temperatures, and small daily temperature variations. The hottest month is July, while the coldest one is January. In winter the weather can get unusually hot due to foehn winds from the southeast, while winds from the northeast can bring intense snowfalls, with the snow depth that can reach one meter. In summer due to the African anticyclone the daily temperature can exceed 35 °C (95 °F), accompanied by high humidity. Thanks to its exposition, Chieti is among the windiest Italian towns, so summer and spring temperatures are mitigated. The thunderstorms can be vigorous, because the precipitations are relatively consistent and concentrated in few days of the year, especially in winter and autumn.

History
Traces of Paleolithic settlements dating back to  850,000 – 400,000 years ago were found at Madonna del Freddo's fluvial terraces, while Chieti's hill has been inhabited since 5000 BC.

The town occupies the site of the Roman Teate Marrucinorum, which became the chief town of the Marrucini after the construction of Via Valeria, and of which ruins remain. It was part of the Italic League during the Social Wars, then it was erected municipium in the 1st century BC. During the Roman Empire, it flourished, with the emergence of important families and monumental buildings, but then it was sacked and almost destroyed by Germanic peoples.

Chieti was part of the duchy of Benevento (7th century) under the Longobards, who made it the seat of a powerful county, fell to the Normans (1078), and thereafter belonged to the kingdom of Naples. In 16th century Chieti hosted important archbishops, like the future Pope Paul IV. The 17th century was a period of economic stagnation, but some churches were extensively renovated thanks to the convents. In the 18th century Chieti flourished again under the House of Bourbons, and was enriched with a great number of palaces.

The 19th century was the period of the Italian Unification and of great technological innovations, such as a new aqueduct and the railway station. During World War II, it was declared an open city (like Rome), and was not extensively bombed, so it welcomed many refugees from the near towns and villages.

By plane
Chieti has no airport, but is about 12 kilometers from Abruzzo Airport

By train
Chieti, specifically Chieti Scalo, is crossed by the Rome–Sulmona–Pescara railway, and has two railway stations.

Motorways

 * Autostrada A25 Roma–Pescara: the main road from Rome.
 * Autostrada A14: the second longest Italian motorway, which runs from Bologna to Taranto boarding the Adriatic Sea.

Other roads

 * Raccordo autostradale 12: it runs from Chieti's frazione Brecciarola to Pescara.
 * Strada statale 5 Via Tiburtina Valeria: named after the correspondent Roman road built around 286 BC on this same path.
 * Strada statale 81 Piceno Aprutina: it connects Chieti with Teramo.
 * Strada statale 656 Val Pescara-Chieti: a fast way to reach A25 and A14 motorways from Chieti.

Get around
You can use the Chieti's public bus and trolleybus system, provided by Società Unica Abruzzese di Trasporto and La Panoramica, but you can also visit the town center by foot, because it is small and there are many restricted traffic areas, such as the main street (Corso Marrucino) and the urban park (Villa Frigerj). It can be difficult to visit the town center by car due to the traffic limitations and the limited number of parking lots.

Ancient Roman ruins
There are some archeological ruins of ancient Teate Marrucinorum, including a theatre, an amphitheatre, thermae and a temple (which was used as a church with the name of SS. Pietro e Paolo). However people are rarely allowed to see also the interior spaces of these monuments.

Do
Under the church of SS. Pietro e Paolo and the adjoining houses are extensive substructures (in opus reticulatum and brickwork) of the 1st century CE, belonging to a building erected by M. Vectius Marcellus (probably mentioned by Pliny, H.N., II., 199) and Helvidia Priscilla. There are also remains of large reservoirs and of an ancient theatre. New excavations are under way on the site of the former Campo Sportivo.

Buy
The ideal place for shopping and visiting the authentic character of the town is the town center, in particular Corso Marrucino.

Eat
Among the local plates there are sagne a pezze, tajarìll fasciule e cotiche, 'ngrecciata, pallotte cace e ove.

Stay safe
The chances of your experiencing an act of violence in Chieti are among the lowest in the nation, so using common sense is more than adequate. The main natural hazards are earthquakes (the risk is moderate), floods (in some areas in close proximity to Pescara River), landslides and wildfires (especially in some areas surrounding the town center).

It is important to follow all the street rules walking or driving, and, in the town center, respect the restricted traffic areas, in which only the residents are permitted to enter by car.

If you need to contact the emergency services, call 112 (police), 118 (ambulance) or 115 (firefighters).

Stay healthy
The climate is Mediterranean, with hot summers and sometimes consistent snowfall in the winter, so be prepared.

The most important hospitals in Chieti are:
 * Ospedale "Santissima Annunziata", via dei Vestini: public hospital with emergency department
 * Casa di cura "Giovanni Spatocco", via Giovanni Amendola 93: private clinic

Go next

 * The beach tourism is developed in the seaside resorts of coastal towns, such as Francavilla Al Mare, where a lot of inhabitants of Chieti have their vacation properties.
 * In Abruzzo some old villages, places of worship and castles are well-known touristic attractions.
 * Abruzzo is appreciated for the mountain tourism and the ecotourism. In the region there are 17 active ski resorts, three national parks, a regional park and 38 protected areas.

title: Chieti


text:
Chieti (province)

Chieti Province is in Abruzzo Region of Italy.

Communes
Altino, Archi, Ari, Arielli, Atessa, Bomba, Borrello, Bucchianico, Canosa Sannita, Carpineto Sinello, Carunchio, Casacanditella, Casalanguida, Casalbordino, Casalincontrada, Casoli, Castel Frentano, Castelguidone, Castiglione Messer Marino, Celenza sul Trigno, Chieti, Civitaluparella, Civitella Messer Raimondo, Colledimacine, Colledimezzo, Crecchio, Cupello, Dogliola, Fallo, Fara Filiorum Petri, Fara San Martino, Filetto, Fossacesia, Fraine, Francavilla al Mare, Fresagrandinaria, Frisa, Furci, Gamberale, Gessopalena, Gissi, Giuliano Teatino, Guardiagrele, Guilmi, Lama dei Peligni, Lanciano, Lentella, Lettopalena, Liscia, Miglianico, Montazzoli, Montebello sul Sangro, Monteferrante, Montelapiano, Montenerodomo, Monteodorisio, Mozzagrogna, Orsogna, Ortona, Paglieta, Palena, Palmoli, Palombaro, Pennadomo, Pennapiedimonte, Perano, Pietraferrazzana, Pizzoferrato, Poggiofiorito, Pollutri, Pretoro, Quadri, Rapino, Ripa Teatina, Rocca San Giovanni, Roccamontepiano, Roccascalegna, Roccaspinalveti, Roio del Sangro, Rosello, San Buono, San Giovanni Lipioni, San Giovanni Teatino, San Martino sulla Marrucina, San Salvo, San Vito Chietino, Sant'Eusanio del Sangro, Santa Maria Imbaro, Scerni, Schiavi di Abruzzo, Taranta Peligna, Tollo, Torino di Sangro, Tornareccio, Torrebruna, Torrevecchia Teatina, Torricella Peligna, Treglio, Tufillo, Vacri, Vasto, Villa Santa Maria, Villalfonsina, Villamagna

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

title: Chieti (province)


text:
Chifeng

Chifeng (赤峰; Chìfēng; Mongolian: Ulaɣanqadais) is a city and prefecture in Inner Mongolia Province in China.

title: Chifeng


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Chihuahua

Chihuahua is the capital of the state of Chihuahua in Northern Mexico. The colonial center of Chihuahua is beautiful and pedestrian friendly. The centro has museums dedicated to Pancho Villa (a major folk hero in the north of Mexico), another museum about the national mint, government palaces, and historic churches as well as luxurious mansions and villas.

Chihuahua is famous for Norteño food (a form of Mexican cuisine), a delicious if not particularly heart healthy cuisine that makes liberal use of beef, flour, cheese, and chiles. There are also good dining and lodging options for the visitor and a lot of fun cantinas for male travelers (women usually aren't welcome in them).

Understand
Chihuahua has a population of about 880,000 (2017). The predominant activity is light industry.

The capital of the state of Chihuahua, it is a large prosperous city in the center of the state. The outer areas of the city, while affluent by Latin American standards, don't likely hold a lot of appeal for the average tourist.

Chihuahua's natives are friendly and helpful and don't show any resentment towards visitors like you might expect to experience in Mexico's more southerly cities.

Climate
The city is at high latitude and at relatively high altitude, meaning it will get cold here during the winter. It even snows once or twice a year. During the summer, temperatures can reach 40°C. Wear light, fresh, and comfortable clothes. Autumn is a particularly pleasant time of the year to visit the area.

Talk
Spanish is the common language of Mexico. In academic and professional circles, English and French are also spoken. Additionally, because this is north Mexico and a lot of the people living here have worked and lived in the U.S. at some point in their lives, it is usually quite easy to find someone who can speak English.

By car
Four hours south of Juarez/El Paso by expressway, it is an easy drive. There are no major towns between the two cities but there are roadside diners to break up the journey.

By train
Chihuahua used to be the start of the famous Copper Canyon railway linking Chihuahua with Los Mochis, called "CHEPE"; however the train now starts and ends in Creel, which is 3½–4 hours by bus from Chihuahua.

Get around
Taxi, rideshare (Uber), or bus are the ways to get to places you can't walk to.

See

Chihuahua is a great tourist destination; a Professional Bull Riding championship, concerts, art and international festivals take place all year-round, but mostly on mid-October, you will find the city and its people very charming and down to earth.

Even though Chihuahua suffered a massive destruction of colonial buildings during the 1970s in order to widen the main streets and avenues in the downtown, it stills preserves some valuable monuments from the 19th and 20th centuries. Some of the most impressive pre-revolutionary residences in the city are on Avenida Zarco.

Buy
Cowboy boots, yee-haw! You will never in your life find a place with higher density of shops selling cowboy boots, and you'll find them in colors you hardly knew existed. Go nuts, you know you want them!

Eat
Be careful! The best chiles rellenos in the world, served on a flour tortilla. The seeds are not removed, making for a fire in your mouth that is unsurpassed.

Drink
Chihuahua is home to an ever-growing number of small craft breweries.

Budget
The cheap sleeps in Chihuahua are all found east of the cathedral, between Calle Libertad and Victoria.

Stay safe
Northern Mexico, especially the state of Chihuahua, has experienced a sharp increase in violent drug-related crime since 2007. Chihuahua is much safer than Ciudad Juárez but still has had its share of cartel killings in the last two years. Most killings have specifically targeted drug dealers and their families, and tourists have rarely been affected by violent crime. Avoid bars and nightclubs that cater to a criminal element. Military checkpoints may be set up in the city and the roads around the city. Always stop at these checkpoints.

Connect

 * Cibercafe Canaco, Av. Cuauhtemoc 1800 3rd floor, 1416 0000.

Dialing code for Chihuahua City: 01+52+(614)+Phone Number

Emergency phone numbers

Radio Patrols: 060

Red Cross: 065

General emergencies: 066

International Operator: 090

Tourist Security: 01 800 201 55 89

Go next

 * Copper Canyon - trains depart from Creel station early in the morning, around 4 hours by bus from Chihuahua.

title: Chihuahua


text:
Chihuahua (state)

Chihuahua is a state in Northern Mexico. It is known for its great deserts, its snow-capped mountains and ravines covered with alpine forests, which make it well-suited for ecotourism. It also has mining towns and colonial cities that were of great importance to the history of the country.

Regions
The state is composed of desert plains in the east, and mountainous land (the Sierra Madre) in the west. A subsection of the Sierra Madre, the Sierra Tarahumara is considered by many to be the most rugged landscape in Mexico.

Cities

 * — the state capital, a modern city with a historical center
 * — cool little village in a side canyon of the Copper Canyon, an historic silver mining town
 * — backpacker mecca, gateway to the canyonlands, station for the Chepe Copper Canyons train
 * — the most important settlement in the territory of the Tarahumara or Raramuri nation in the center of the Sierra Tarahumara
 * — largest border city between Texas and Mexico
 * — a lumber town north of Creel on the edge of the Sierra. The canyon to the west of town besides being beautiful and a great area for hiking is also filled with numerous ancient cliff dwellings of Pueblo Indians
 * – a town on the U.S. border across from the city of Presidio, Texas

Other destinations

 * — with Basaseachic Falls, Mexico's second highest waterfall
 * — one of the great natural attractions of Mexico. Beautiful scenery, hidden waterfalls, and timeless canyon villages
 * — erosion created this rock-climbers' paradise in the forest between Chihuahua and Juarez
 * — a U-shaped lake, surrounded by unusual rock formations, and a fragrant pine forest, about 14 km south of Creel
 * - archaeological site (a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site) near the town of Casas Grandes (a designated "Pueblo Magico")
 * — a dramatic geologic feature near Ojinaga in the area contiguous with Big Bend National Park across the Texas border

Understand
Chihuahua is a vast area, the largest state in Mexico. Its area of 245,000 km² makes it roughly half the size of Spain or about the size of the UK. Transport costs can add up quickly in such a large rugged region.

Although Chihuahua is primarily identified with its namesake, the Chihuahuan Desert, it has more forests than any other state in Mexico, aside from Durango. Due to its variant climate, the state has a large variety of fauna and flora. The state is mostly characterized by rugged mountainous terrain and wide river valleys.

The Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, part of the continental spine that also includes the Rocky Mountains, dominates the state's terrain, and is home to the state's greatest attraction, Las Barrancas del Cobre, or Copper Canyon, a canyon system larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon.

On the slope of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains (around the regions of Casas Grandes, Cuauhtémoc and Parral), there are vast prairies of short yellow grass, the source of the bulk of the state's agricultural production. Most of the inhabitants live along the Rio Grande Valley, and the Conchos River Valley.

Talk
A basic understanding of Spanish, while not necessary, will make your visit much smoother and more enjoyable. Those traveling in tour groups are often accompanied by an English-speaking guide.

Tarahumara living in remote areas will often speak only their native language and very limited Spanish. There are also other areas where Mennonites live and their own language (based on German and Dutch) is used: for instance, Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, where the largest Mennonite community is.

By plane
Major airports are found in the cities of Chihuahua and Juarez, and in El Paso , just across the border from Juarez.

From the United States

 * Ports of entry from Texas are located at El Paso-Juarez and Presidio-Ojinaga.
 * Entry from New Mexico is possible on NM Route 11 south of Columbus at Puerto Palomas.

By bus
Long-distance buses from U.S. cities usually cross the border at El Paso and arrive at, located on Blvd. Oscar Flores 4010 in Juarez.

Juarez is a major bus station with several first-class and smaller second-class bus lines serving the city of Chihuahua and other destinations in bordering states.

Get around
Chihuahua is a vast land of desert and wide open spaces. Distances between towns can be long and public transit more limited than in populated areas.

A car is your best bet for getting around Chihuahua. The Chihuahenses bus line (part of Grupo Senda) operates throughout the state. The Chepe train is the best way to travel from the city of Chihuahua to Creel, Divisadero, or west to Los Mochis and the Gulf of California.

See

 * Ancient cave-dwellings, at Paquime (near Casas Grandes) — inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
 * Mennonite colony around Cuahtemoc - The largest in the world. Well known for a variety of farm products, especially its cheeses and apples.

Do

 * Rock-climbing and rappelling in the states many canyons and rock formations.

Buy
Chihuahua is not as well known for its crafts and artisans as some of the southern states that are generally preferred by tourists. But western wear (boots, hats, and shirts) as well as saddles and tack are of high quality and fairly priced. Finding appropriate sizes may be a challenge for some visitors.
 * Pottery - Pottery made in the pueblo at Mata Ortiz is considered to be some of the best in the world.
 * Cheese made by the Mennonites in the north of the state should also be tried and is famous throughout Mexico and the Southwest United States.
 * Vanilla and tequila are good values and are worth taking home.

Eat

 * Burritos with various fillings.
 * Caldo de oso - Spicy dish with chilies and fish.
 * Empanadas de Santa Rita - Stuffed with pork fried with onions, almonds, raisins.
 * Gorditas de cuajada - Small corn tortillas covered with butter, sugar, cinnamon, and egg and cooked in an orange leaf.
 * Machaca con huevo - Traditional scrambled beef and egg dish served with flour tortillas.
 * Quesadillas - Tortillas grilled with white cheese and salsa.

Drink
Some travellers report that tap water here is safe, but still most tourists play it safe and buy bottled water.

Beer is the most popular drink by far and is widely available throughout the state. Small artesanal craft breweries can be found in a few small towns, and there are several in the capital city of Chihuahua. Craft breweries include Casa Cervecera Bolívar, Cerveceria Local, and El Gardenia.

Mezcal is a distilled spirit made from various types of agave. Tequila is the most famous type of mezcal, but there are other types often made using more complex processes and using agaves with distinctive flavors. In Chihuahua, a type of mezcal called sotol is made. There are various distilleries in the state, including some, like Los Magos, within the capital city of Chihuahua. Sotol distilleries in Chihuahua include Ocho Cientos, Hacienda Chihuahua, Sotol por Siempre, and Los Magos.

Drinking sotol is similar to a light (silver) tequila. Both tend to be clear with a bright flavor. Sotol expresses itself with a pine like aroma and flavor. Sometimes, sotol is sold as reposado or anejo, which indicates that it has been aged and may have a more mellow, rounded character. Hacienda Chihuahua sells some cream sotol, including a coffee flavor.

Stay safe
The canyonlands are intolerant of incompetence. This a harsh, rugged land with a dry climate that sees wild temperature extremes. Know your limits and abilities. Don't go out into remote areas alone. The money spent to hire local guides is nearly always well-spent. Guides can introduce you to the people living back in the remote barrancas. They can also explain the cultural history of the area and some are quite familiar with the flora and fauna of the area (note there is little remaining wild fauna other than birds).

There are military checkpoints throughout remote sections of the state. Most soldiers are young but polite, all are heavily armed. There are also narcos in most remote sections of the Sierra Tarahumara. They are also heavily armed. Guides will know which sections should be avoided.

The greatest danger is probably the terrain itself. The mountains aren't especially tall, but are very steep and rugged. It is easy to twist an ankle or break a wrist out here. Medical services are few and far between. Travel in large groups usually isn't practical because of the limited supplies available in the backcountry. Rather, the preferred mode of travel would be to form small self-supporting groups.

Go next
Take the time to continue south to Durango, another overlooked destination in the north of Mexico. Going east, you can explore the state of Coahuila. Further south is Zacatecas, one of Mexico's most attractive cities.

title: Chihuahua (state)


text:
Chikballapur

Chikballapur is in the state of Karnataka, India.

Understand
Chikballapur is about 57 km north of Bangalore, India. The north-south National Highway NH-7 goes through the town, functions as the Main Street of the town, and is locally known as Bengaluru-Bellary Road or BB Road.

According to the 2001 Census, the population of the town was approximately 55,000. In 2007 January, it was estimated that the population of the Greater Chikballapur Area (GCA) was approximately 100,000. The town provides all central place functions to be expected of a town of that size in a developing country.

By bus
The buses operated by the State Transportation Department (KSRTC) and Private operators. There are regular and reliable buses running between Bengaluru and Chickballapur. Travel time is about two one and half hour. During peak hours there are buses almost every ten minutes. Regular and reliable the buses.

By train
There is a passenger rail connection between Bengaluru and Chikballapur. The frequency of trains is less. The train takes longer and runs at a scheduled time whereas buses are available at virtually all hours of the day and most of the evenings and nights.

If you are travelling as a group, take the train, not as a mode of transportation, but as a platform for picnic and partying in general. Samosas and pakodas (fritters) never taste as good as when there is the rolling Indian countryside in front of you.

Get around
Walking is the best mode of transportation for those who like it. The air is clean. Take a beige umbrella, not the black one. Have a nice cotton Tilley-style hat with a wide brim. Walking around on the streets and paths of the Greater Chickballapur Area (GCA) is not the same as parading in the lobby of Helmsley Place in Midtown Manhattan.

Auto-Rickshaws are available. No metered one exists yet. Patiently negotiate the price before you get in. Local people are very helpful and may negotiate a good price for both parties.

Drivers in buses run by private operators are very solicitous. The bus driver will drop you off wherever you want. No special consideration necessary. The bus drivers in State run buses will tell you to take a hike.

Taxis are available. You have to negotiate the price before you board the vehicle. Please seek the assistance of a local in negotiating the price. A daily rate is also available in addition to the round trip rate.

See
The popular Nandi Hill Tourist Destination is about 22 km south of downtown Chickballapur off State Highway 74 and the link road. It is about 15 km to the foot of the hill and the winding road with exciting hairpin bends to the top is about 7 km. There is an excellent botanical garden on the plateau at the top with a perimeter pathway that offers spectacular views of the surrounding country. The two State of Karnataka Guest Houses and Hotel Mayura provide good lodging facilities including Western style bathrooms. The restaurant in Hotel Mayura offers a good menu while the other "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant offers some food. There is a modest "Guest House" where Mahatma Gandhi stayed that has become something of a pilgrimage centre and provides concrete evidence of Gandhi's simple life. Some may enjoy the ambience of the Yoganandishwara Temple. The wireless Police Control Room is there for emergencies. Buses run regularly between Bangalore and the top of Nandi Hill. At less regular intervals, with the patience of Job, one can take a bus from Chikballapur to the top of Nandi Hill.

The Ranganatha Swamy temple, or Rangasthala as it is locally known, about five km west of downtown Chikballapur, off the State Highway to Gauribidanur is well worth a visit. The stone statue of Vishnu is simply splendid. The black stone sculpture carved in the Vijaynagar style is best viewed when there are no other visitors to the temple. The temple priest is more than willing to accommodate a special viewing for a small consideration offered to the deity. Please respect the religious sensibilities, but go there for sheer artistic splendour.

The Heritage Primary School in Kandavara, about two km south of downtown Chikballapur on State Highway 74, may be of interest to history buffs. Bharata Ratna Mokshagundam Vishweshwaraiah did his primary schooling in the U-shaped 1845 building. The Dwaraknath Reddy Ramanarpanam Trust (DRRT), under the leadership of Anita Reddy, rehabilitated the building in 2006. An effort has been made to create a modest interpretive center in one of the classrooms. A native son of Kandavara, Mr. Narayana Swamy Katari, who retired as the Chief Secretary of the State of Karnataka in 1967, went to the same primary school.
 * Nandi- At the foot of Nandi Hills is this place with "Bhoganandishwaraswamy Temple",it is a Wonderful Place.(A Must visit)
 * Muddenahalli- The home town of Sri M.Visveswaraya(Sir.MokshaGondam Visveswaraya), the architect of modern Karnataka. Muddenahalli is just a few Kilometers from Nandi Hills. The house of this genius is now a museum.(A Must visit)
 * Paapagni- The Panchanandikshtra. Visit it is Only 3 km from Chikkaballapur.
 * Chitravati- Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple on NH 7, 3 km from the city.

Do
Trekking, mountaineering, and rock climbing are the best things to do in Chickballapur.

There are five hills locally known as Pancha Giris (literally "five hills"), about 15 km south of Chikballapur, including Nandi Giri, Chandra Giri, Indra Giri, Brahma Giri, and Hema Giri. Also, there is a sixth hill known locally as Kalavaara Hill or Skandagiri.

 * Nandi Hill, along the face known as Tippu's Drop, is good for vertical scaling as long as no one expects it to be comparable to the El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in California.
 * Kalavaara Hill is very good for camping overnight at the top. On a good day, you will literally be above the clouds and see the clouds roll by.  Knowledgeable people hike up the hill on a moonlit night and tell others that all those who can must do so.
 * Pandava Hill and Kaurava Hill, named after the legendary fraternal enemies of Mahabharatic fame, about 11 km north of downtown Chikballapur, are also very good for mountaineering.

For those who want to attempt rock climbing, please take everything with you, including the kitchen sink, because you will be alone with your companions. The redeeming value of "taking it with you" is that you can take it back with you as well.

Local people are very friendly and helpful. If there are women in the climbing team, they may even offer you a hot drink that they call coffee.

There is hardly any public transport, just like the rest of India. You can either take motorcycle or rent a car. Parking fees should be less than or at most ₹50. The locals are known to exploit any unsuspecting stranger, so beware of fraudulent parking area manager, fraudulent guides and vehicle thieves. In fact, the village at the bottom of the hill is known as Kalwarahalli Betta (Kalwara=Thieves, Halli=Village, Betta=Hill). There has been many reports of engine, carburetor, helmet or even petrol theft. Thieves pretending to be guides will charge you ₹300 to ₹800 for walking through a straight road for some 100 meters. Some will take you at the top of hill as well for 50/person (they may ask more) but the best adventure is to find your own way. They are probably in cahoots with the police so simply avoid them. Go in groups of at least 5 people and get sticks which will help you to climb hill and also protect you from any animals(monkeys). Remember to get light torches (1 per person at least) during night.

Since some people fell down the steep hill while drunk, night trek is sometimes not allowed. You should find out about that beforehand. If you are not against working around the system, you can mostly maneuver around the couple of police grunts by going through the fields and directly head on to the trek without much problem.

Buy
Greater Chikballapur Area is not known for unique folk art or any other touristy item worthy of mention. Although Chikballapur is known for silviculture, it is difficult to find silk scarves or anything like it for gift-giving.

For those tourists who suffer from withdrawal symptoms if they do not buy something every day of their travel, the best option is to ask locals for a craft store.

Eat
It is best to stick to vegetarian food when you are in the Greater Chikballapur Area (GCA). There are a couple of non-vegetarian hotels namely Shreyas, Alankar Paradaise, Golden Bar and Restaurant. Among these Golden Bar and Restaurant is the renowned one located in NH 7 and offers variety of North Indian and South Indian vegetarian and Non Vegetarian Dishes along with Hot and soft drinks.

The two best restaurants in Chikballapur are the ones that are part of the two hotels on National Highway 7. The hotels are called Shanthi Sagar and Brindavan. Both have outdoor seating. Both serve only vegetarian food. The food on offer is very good and the service is excellent, in both places.

 * Hotel Sandarshini - in Chikkaballapur on the main Bangalore-Hyderabad highway NH-7 (B.B.Road),
 * Hotel Truptisagar - in Chikkaballapur on the main Bangalore-Hyderabad highway NH-7 (B.B.Road),
 * Hotel Shantisagar - in Chikkaballapur on the main Bangalore-Hyderabad highway NH-7 (B.B.Road),
 * Chats - Visit Pappu's Paanipuri Chat Centre, Basavanagudi Road, Chikkaballapur. (A must Visit),& also visit Balaji Panipoori in O.M.B.Road for Best Taste.
 * Hotel Sowmya - (Lodge & Restaurant)in Chikkaballapur on the main Bangalore-Hyderabad highway NH-7 (B.B.Road),

Fresh fruit, if you know how to select, can be a treat. The precautionary rule applies: wash/rinse even fruits with skins, with the boiled water from your bottle. On a warm day, in the shade of a leafy tree, the fruits can be absolutely refreshing, especially accompanied by a cool fruit juice box. For those who are picky about cool fruits, there is no substitute for cooling the warm fruit in the picnic cooler.

Drink
The best drink in the Greater Chikballapur Area (GCA) is fresh tender coconut that is available in several places sold by vendors who carry them around on their bicycles. Sometimes, the tender coconut pulp inside can be delicious but the taste depends upon the season and when the coconut was harvested.

It is best to avoid bottled water altogether, for a variety of reasons. If you are nice, someone will bring tap water to a rolling boil for 90 seconds, cool it, and serve it you. You can then fill your water bottle with the boiled water for the day. Please bear in mind that hot water is not the same as boiled water. Some people seem to prefer hot water and all it is just water heated to a warm temperature. Many a Westerner has befriended a bathroom for three days, confusing the two.

Alcoholic beverages can be bought in Chikballapur at the appropriate stores. You may be better off buying the beverages in Bengaluru and transporting them with you.

The warm beer in Chikballapur has given a new meaning to the English warm beer. The medicine-like English beer is usually at 21 degrees Celsius whereas warm beer in Chikballapur can be at 30 degrees plus Celsius. Please cool it in your picnic cooler basket with ice cubes before tasting.

Many in Chikballapur have a different concept of chilled white wine and room temperature red wine. Please manage your temperature preference with the help of a good picnic cooler. The same rule applies for all soft drinks that are readily available in Chikballapur.

Please do not use the ice cubes bought in a store in your liquor. It is quite a nuisance to boil water, cool it, freeze it into cubes, and then take it with you in a separate plastic bag. Sometimes accepting nuisances now can save you a lot of grief later. People who disregard this recommendation will come to regret their special affinity for bathrooms. Humour aside, Hepatitis ought to be a consideration before going excessively native.

Sleep
There are two hotels on the west side of National Highway 7, almost adjacent to each other, about 2 km south of downtown Chikballapur. They are called: Brindavan,Soumya and Shanti Sagar.

Both hotels are good establishments but neither has Western-style bathrooms. Requests to both managers to install at least three rooms with Western-style toilets has so far gone unheard. It is a puzzle why Hotels that aspire to serve Western clients on their way to Puttaparthy, Sai Baba's principal headquarters, do not want to install Western-style bathrooms.

Stay safe
Don't take any guides or local person's help as they may ask around ₹1,000 as the real adventure will be only when you find the path to hill yourself. If you really want them, you can bargain. They will demand around ₹100/person but you can easily get the deal with ₹50/person. There is a temple (Papagni matt) at the bottom of the trek. Go to the right side of the temple, take immediate left and go further for 100 m on plain path before the trek starts to rise up. Remember to take left from planes into a very narrow path to hill. There are arrows all around on rocks which will let you know you are on track.

At the top there are a couple of makeshift shops selling eggs, tea, noodles and cigarettes. These are not available during the night trek.

Try to haggle with independent sellers, who otherwise mostly charge 3-4 times the original price. Avoid the typical 'I am hungry' appeal to your emotions by under-aged children (who are selling food, by the way).

Go next

 * Tumkur
 * Bangalore Rural

title: Chikballapur


text:
Chikhaldara

Chikhaldara Marathi: चिखलदरा is a city in Vidarbha, Maharashtra.

Understand
Chikhaldara is a lovely hill station located in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra,India. This place is the only hill station in the region and hence also known as 'Kashmir of Vidharbha'. The town is situated on the plateau in Satpura Range of mountains which lies at the border of states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Being a hill station it is pleasant almost throughout the year. In winter, the nights can get a bit chilly though.

The best time to go to Chikhaldara is post-monsoon. It is truly spectacular at this time of the year with lush greenery, waterfalls and the lake full with water.

Get in
Chikhaldara is well connected to other major cities. There are regular buses from Paratwada & Amravati to Chikhaldara. Reaching here, one also can hire a taxi to reach Chikhaldara. By Road: Paratwada-Chikhaldara, 30 km. Amravati-Chikaldara, 90 km. Mumbai-Chikaldara, 763 km. Nagpur-Chikhaldara, 230 km. By Air: Nearest airport is Nagpur, 230 km. By Rail: railway station Amravati 90 km and Badnera 95km

Hill Station Points

Do
Boating, horse riding, photography, jungle safari, tracking, etc.

There are many spectacular places in and around the town. Chikhaldara is situated in Melghat-Kolkas Wildlife Sanctuary and also Project Tiger, hence affording an excellent opportunity for nature lovers and wild life photographers. Semadoh and Dhakna are two places where one can enjoy a jungle safari and tiger spotting after getting registered at the Forest Department Office. Gypsies and safari guides are also available at these places.

Buy
Handicrafts, wooden toys, herbs and plants, khava-Rabdi (a type of sweet).

Connect

 * Melghat Project Tiger has established a major T.I.C. (Tourist Information Centre) in Amravati, Semadoh, Harisal, Gullarghat, and Chikhaldara.

title: Chikhaldara


text:
Chikmagalur

Chikmagalur, officially Chikkamagaluru (Kannada: ಚಿಕ್ಕಮಗಳೂರು), is a city in Karnataka, known for its coffee plantations and Bababudan Giri ranges.

Understand
Chikmagalur city (Chikkamagaluru district) is at the foot of highest mountain range in Karnataka. The life-supporting rivers of Karnataka and other states - Tunga, Bhadra, Hemavati, Vedavati, Yagachi originate in the Western Ghat hills of the district.

The district is a great attraction to all kinds of people - trekkers, pilgrims, travellers and tourists. This area is famous for the coffee estates in the vicinity and also known as the Coffee Belt of the South.

By plane
Mangalore airport, 170 km Bangalore airport , 250 km.

By train
Passenger trains are available from Shimoga and Kadur at a distance of 40 km.

Arrivals and departures from Chikkamagaluru Railway Station
 * Train Number 56271: Shivamogga-Chikkamagaluru Passenger-Departs Shivamogga at 18:15 and arrives Chikkamagaluru at 21:30 [via; Kadur Jn]
 * Train Number 56272: Chikkamagaluru-Shivamogga Passenger-Departs Chikkamagaluru at 06:30 and arrives Shivamogga at 09:30 [via; Kadur Jn]
 * Train Number 56277: Chikkamagaluru-Yeshvantpur Jn Fast Passenger-Departs Chikkamagaluru at 07:30 and arrives Yeshvantpur Jn at 14:15 [via; Kadur Jn]
 * Train Number 56278: Yeshvantpur Jn-Chikkamagaluru Fast Passenger-Departs Yeshvantpur Jn at 15:15 and arrives Chikkamagaluru at 22:20 [via; Kadur Jn]

By bus
Chikmagalur is located on the highway from Hassan towards Shringeri and has regular Luxury as well as ordinary buses from Bangalore. Regular ordinary buses connect Chikmagalur to Mysore, Hassan with a single services to Kozhikode. Buses from interior Karnataka towards Mangalore too pass via Chikmagalur and hence, ordinary buses connect Chikmaglur regularly to Dharmastala, Mangalore, Shimoga, Davangere and Sringeri.

By car
You can drive to Chikmagalur comfortably by road from Hassan60 km, which is again 185 km from Bangalore.

By taxi/car rental
You can hire a taxi or rent a car from Bangalore to visit Chikmagalur. Out station car rental companies charge for a minimum of 250 km/day @ a fare/km rate + driver charges (BA/TA: Boarding Allowance Travel Allowance). The fares depend upon the type of car you are looking for. It is advisable to rent cars from reliable and established car rental operators.

By autorickshaw
Drivers don't go by meters. They fix a charge for the place you want to go; bargaining is up to you. The more your attire and luggage announce that you are a tourist the greater the chance of drivers ripping you off.

By taxi
Tourist cabs are the best choice in case you want to tour the city all day or visit nearby places like Kemmannagundi. Costs are about ₹10 per kilometre.

Do

 * Camping
 * Fishing
 * Kayaking
 * Trekking

Buy
There are plenty of ATMs available, but you should exchange money before you arrive at Chikmagalur.

Connect
Post offices are available in Basavanahalli, Vijayapura, MG Rd and the General Post Office (GPO), at the end of MG Rd. BSNL mobile services are available at most places of this region.

Go next

 * Dakshina Kannada
 * Chikmagalur district
 * Hassan
 * Kemmannagundi
 * Kudremukha
 * Mangalore
 * Shringeri

title: Chikmagalur


text:
Chikmagalur (district)

Chikmagalur is a district in the Cauvery Basin region of Karnataka State, near Tamil Nadu.

Cities

 * — at the foot of highest mountain range in Karnataka, this area is famous for the coffee estates in the vicinity and also known as the Coffee Belt of the South

 * — a breathtakingly beautiful location because of the mountains embracing the village from all the three sides, it is popular with Indian tourists who come to visit the Holy Temple of Sri Adishaktyatmaka Annapurneshwari

 * — famous for the Shree Sharada Peetam, a Temple of the Goddess of knowledge, Devi Sharadamba, which was established in the 8th century CE

Other destinations

 * — a small village

 * — a hill station

 * — 600 km² of undulating mountains and tropical wet evergreen forest, and home to the Kuduremukha peak, which stands at 1894 metres above sea level
 * — a protected forest area

Talk
The Kannada language is spoken in this district.

Get in
Reachable by road or train from Bangalore. Bus journey takes 5.5 hr either via Kadur (NH206) or Hassan (NH48). Train journey takes almost 3-3.5 hr (till Kadur/Birur). As of 2006, there is no direct connectivity by train (a rail line between Kadur and Chikkamagaluru is under construction). One need to alight at Kadur/Birur and take bus to Chikmagalur for 40 km (45 minutes).

By bus
Buses are available from Mysore, Mangalore and Bangalore.

By train

 * Passenger trains are available from Shimoga and Kadur at a distance of 40km.
 * Arrivals and departures from Chikkamagaluru Railway Station
 * Train Number 56271: Shivamogga-Chikkamagaluru Passenger-Departs Shivamogga at 18:15 and arrives Chikkamagaluru at 21:30 [via; Kadur Jn]
 * Train Number 56272: Chikkamagaluru-Shivamogga Passenger-Departs Chikkamagaluru at 06:30 and arrives Shivamogga at 09:30 [via; Kadur Jn]
 * Train Number 56277: Chikkamagaluru-Yeshvantpur Jn Fast Passenger-Departs Chikkamagaluru at 07:30 and arrives Yeshvantpur Jn at 14:15 [via; Kadur Jn]
 * Train Number 56278: Yeshvantpur Jn-Chikkamagaluru Fast Passenger-Departs Yeshvantpur Jn at 15:15 and arrives Chikkamagaluru at 22:20 [via; Kadur Jn]

Temples

 * Amrutapura Temple in the village of Amrutapura, 67 km north of Chikmagalur.
 * Veera Narayana Temple is a well-known temple in Belavadi village approximately 30 km from Chikmagalur.
 * Veera Narayana Temple is a well-known temple in Belavadi village approximately 30 km from Chikmagalur.

Other attractions

 * Hebbe Falls, near Kemmannagundi
 * Hebbe Falls, near Kemmannagundi
 * Hebbe Falls, near Kemmannagundi
 * Hebbe Falls, near Kemmannagundi

Do
Camp and jungle safari at Bhadra Tiger Reserve,. Trekking at Kudremukh National park, Kemmannagundi, Ballalrayanadurga fort. Numerous waterfalls during rainy season

Drink
Filter coffee made from locally grown coffee beans.

Sleep
There are plenty of homestays and resorts in this district at various places.

Stay safe
Many places in Western ghat region gets flooded during rains. Fill the fuel tank of your automobile before going to remote villages as chances of getting fuel are very less. Wild animals like Elephant, Tiger and Gaur are present in this district and sometimes can be seen on roads. Drive carefully as many roads are narrow and curvy.

Go next

 * Dakshina Kannada
 * Udupi
 * Hassan
 * Shimoga
 * Lakkundi
 * Sirsi

title: Chikmagalur (district)


text:
Chikuma

Chikuma (千曲市 Chikuma-shi) is a city in Nagano. With a population of about 62,000, Chikuma is a small city by Japanese standards, and has urban areas mixed in among the forests, orchards and rice paddies. It's a great place to experience a different aspect of Japan than what you find in the big cities or on the regular tourist trail.

Understand
Chikuma City was formed in 2003 from the amalgamation of Koshoku City in its northern parts with the historic onsen towns of Togura and Kamiyamada in the south. This southern part of the city, known locally as Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, boasts numerous traditional ryokans (inns), ancient temples and shrines, seven public onsen bathhouses, a history of geisha entertainment that lives on today, and numerous natural features such as mountains, forest, hiking trails and picnic spots. In the west of the city, the areas known as Obasute and Yawata provide other historical and cultural attractions including the famous moon viewing rice paddies of Obasute and the Takemizuwake Shrine in Yawata. In the east of the city is the village of Mori, often called Anzu no Sato, or Apricot Village, because of the wealth of apricot trees that blossom profusely in spring.

Maximum daily temperatures average 15-20 °C in April, 25-31 °C in July, 18-21 °C in October, and 0-5 °C in January. Most years see 850 mm to 1100 mm of rain falling, with the winter months being the driest.

Tourist information

The association has a trilingual guide site.

By train
Chikuma has one JR station at Obasute on the Shinonoi Line, and four stations on the Shinano Railway: Yashirokokomae, Yashiro, Chikuma and Togura.

 * From Nagano, take the Shinano Railway from Nagano Station. There are trains about every 30 minutes. ¥330 to ¥390.
 * From Matsumoto, take the JR Shinonoi line to Shinonoi then change to the Shinano Railway. About 1 hour, ¥2,300.
 * From Tokyo, take the Nagano Shinkansen to Ueda (Nagano) and change to the Shinano Railway. The fare to Togura with an unreserved seat on the Shinkansen costs ¥6310 one way (about 2 hours)
 * From Osaka or Kyoto, take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya, then the JR Chuo Line and JR Shinonoi lines to Shinonoi, then take the Shinano Railway. The fare from Osaka to Togura with unreserved seats is ¥10,630 (about 4 hours), and slightly less from Kyoto.
 * From Niigata take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Takasaki, then the JR Nagano Shinkansen to Ueda (Nagano) and change to the Shinano Railway. The fare to Togura with unreserved seats is ¥10,740 (about 2½ hours). Alternatively, for ¥6,490, take the Shinkansen Max Toki to Nagaoka, the JR Limited Express to Naoetsu, the JR Shinetsu Line to Nagano, and then the Shinano Railway (4½ hours).
 * From Kanazawa or Toyama take the JR Hokuriku line to Naoetsu, then the JR Shinetsu line to Nagano, then the Shinano Railway. The fare to Togura with unreserved seats is ¥6,960 (about 4½ hours), while from Toyama it is ¥5,590 (about 4 hours).

By bus
Chikuma doesn't have its own bus station per se, but does have three stops which are served by intercity buses.

 * Yashiro (上信越道屋代), on the Joshinetsu Expressway, is the stop for buses from Tokyo. Alpico Bus company runs 15 buses per day between Shinjuku Station and Nagano, . 3 hr 20 min, ¥3,700 one way, ¥6,660 return.
 * Naganodo Koshoku Interchange and Naganodo Obasute parking area are both stops on the Nagano Expressway for buses from elsewhere.
 * From Kyoto, Alpico/Hankyu runs a night bus to Nagano . 7½ hours, ¥5,900 one way, ¥10,000 return.
 * From Osaka, Alpico/Hankyu runs 2 buses per day to Nagano, . 7 hours (day bus) or 8½ hours (night bus). ¥6,500 one way, ¥11,000 return.
 * From Matsumoto, Alpico/Meitetsu has 4 buses per day to Nagano . About 55 min.
 * From Nagoya, Alpico Bus has 4 buses per day to Nagano 4 hr 40 min, ¥4,500 one way, ¥7,000 return.

By car
The nearest highway interchanges are Koshoku IC, at the north end of town, and Sakaki IC, a few kilometers south of town. Both are connected to the city via Route 18.
 * From Tokyo, exit the Joushinetsu Expressway at Sakaki IC (total travel time 2½-3 hr)
 * From Kyoto or Osaka, take the Meishin Expressway to Komaki Junction, then the Chuo Expressway to Okaya Junction, then follow the Nagano Expressway, exit at Koshoku IC. About 5 hr from Kyoto or 6 from Osaka.
 * From Kanazawa, Toyama, or Niigata take the Hokuriku Expressway to Joetsu junction then follow the Joshinetsu Expressway to the Koshoku IC (3 hr from Niigata, 3½ hr from Toyama, 4½ hr from Kanazawa)
 * From Nagoya, take the Chuo Expressway from Komaki Junction towards Tokyo. At the Okaya Junction, turn on to the Nagano Expressway, exit at Koshoku IC (total travel time 2-2½ hours)

By bus
Chikuma City Council runs an extensive local bus network connecting various parts of the city and stopping at all the railway stations. Most lines run less than once per hour, so be sure to pick up a schedule if you are going to be relying on them. The main routes are:

From Yashiro Station

 * No. 1-2 : Chikuma Station, Togura Station, Kamiyamada, Yawata and Inariyama
 * No. 3 : Anzu no Sato, Chikuma City Council Office (only some buses).
 * No. 5 : JR Obasute Station via Inariyama and Yawata
 * No. 6 : Inariyama and Oodahara

From Chikuma Station

 * No. 4 : Yashiro Station, JR Obasute Station

From Chikuma City Council Togura branch

 * No. 7 : Kamiyamada, Togura Station and JR Obasute Station
 * No. 8 : Goka and Togura Station.
 * No. 9 : Togura Station

By train
The Shinano Railway runs through the city along the east side of the Chikuma River. Stations from north to south are Yashirokokomae, Yashiro, Chikuma and Togura. Fares between these stations range from ¥190 to ¥240.

By bike
The Chikuma River valley is quite flat and is great for getting around on a bike. Bikes can be hired from Kamesei Ryokan. A cycle path goes along the west side of the river from the northern to the southern end of the city, providing excellent views of the river, various neighbourhoods, and the surrounding mountains. Plenty of other sights and attractions also are accessible by bike.

Onsen
Soak up the atmosphere and steam away your worries at one of the public bathhouses:

Hiking

 * Climb Mt Kamuriki (冠着山) (1252m). From the Kamiyamada Culture Hall intersection in Kamiyamada, drive west on Route 498 (which is called Manyou-dori in the town). Go up the steep hill past Zenkouji Daihankan Temple (善光寺大本館). When you get to the top of the saddle, ignore the road on the left, and veer to the right, towards Lake Hijiri (聖湖). After about another 500 m to 1 km there is a guide map and car park on the right. If you have 4WD, follow the track to the left of the guide map for another 500 m. Otherwise, hike up the track following the Mt Kamuriki (冠着山) signs. It is 1.1 km from the first car park, and takes about 20 minutes. If you take a torch, climb up in late afternoon, enjoy the sunset and night views far out across the Zenkouji plain to Nagano City and beyond, and climb down in the dark.
 * Climb Mt Mitsumine (三峰山) (1131m) on the boundary of Chikuma City and Omi Village. To get there, take route 498 out of Kamiyamada. Follow the signs to Lake Hijiri (聖湖). After about 9 km you should see the lake. Turn right and follow the road along the south side of the lake. Park opposite the war museum. Look for a track going up the hill through the camp ground. It is a 15-minute hike to the top, where there is a lookout platform and you can reward yourself for your efforts with an ice cream from the cafe. Hike back down, or take the ropeway (chair lift), or, better still, buy a ticket and descend via the giant slide down the hill.

Cycling

 * Tengu Park Hill Climb. From the Imai intersection on route 18, follow the signs to Togura Juku Kitty Park (戸倉宿キテイーパーク). There is a serious hill climb up through the cherry trees, and past the giant goblin (Tengu) statue. At the top of the park is a pavilion with good views. Keep following the road up to the saddle, then ride down into Mori Apricot Village. Total distance is about 10 km and may take 1-1½ hours.
 * Otawara Hill Climb. From the Inariyama (稲荷山) intersection on route 403, ride west and southwest until you get to the start of route 390 at Kuwabara (桑原). Turn right into route 390 and follow it up the hill until you reach Tabara Shrine (田原神社). Turn left at the shrine and head back down the hill. Turn left when you reach route 403 again to return to Inariyama. Total distance is 33 km and may take 3 to 4 hours.
 * Obasute Mountain Loop Hill Climb. Start from the Yawata Tsuji intersection on route 77. Ride west on Route 340 until it joins route 403. Follow 403 to the left. Keep going on 403 past Lake Hijiri and all the way to the Honmachi (本町) intersection in Omi Village (麻績村). Turn left onto route 12, then left on to route 55. Stay on route 55 through the tunnel and down the hill to route 77 at Kamiyamada. Total distance is about 41 km and may take 3 or so hours.
 * Obasute Mountain Loop Hill Climb. Start from the Yawata Tsuji intersection on route 77. Ride west on Route 340 until it joins route 403. Follow 403 to the left. Keep going on 403 past Lake Hijiri and all the way to the Honmachi (本町) intersection in Omi Village (麻績村). Turn left onto route 12, then left on to route 55. Stay on route 55 through the tunnel and down the hill to route 77 at Kamiyamada. Total distance is about 41 km and may take 3 or so hours.

Local specialties

 * Sarashina Yaki Pottery - tinted blue with a pigment made from apple wood ash
 * Obasute Masamune Sake - made from rice grown on the famous moon-reflecting rice terraces of Obasute Mountain
 * Onsen Manju - a popular sweet bean paste pastry

Connect
The area code is.

Go next

 * Yamanouchi - home of the famous hot-spring soaking snow monkeys.
 * Sakaki
 * Chikuhoku
 * Ueda
 * Joshinetsu Kogen National Park - which includes Shiga Kogen, Japan's largest ski resort, host of 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic Giant Slalom, with 21 interlinked ski fields and over 70 lifts.
 * Matsumoto - home of the famous black castle, whose gardens and views are a delight in spring and autumn
 * Hakuba - some of the best ski fields in Japan and great summer hiking along the spectacular northern alps
 * Azumino - Spice up your life with a visit to one of Japan's most famous wasabi farms
 * Nagano - Take a pilgrimage to Zenkoji Temple

title: Chikuma


text:
Chikushino

Chikushino (筑紫野) is a city in Fukuoka prefecture.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site. with integrated machine translation.

Get in
Trains can be caught from Tenjin or Hakata.

See

 * Futsukaichi Onsen (二日市温泉)
 * Mt. Houman (宝満山)
 * Mt. Tenpai (天拝山)
 * Tatsuiwa (竜岩) campsite

Go next

 * Dazaifu
 * Kiyama
 * Chikuzen
 * Onojo
 * Kasuga
 * Fukuoka
 * Iizuka
 * Ogori
 * Kurume

title: Chikushino


text:
Chikwawa

Chikwawa is in Malawi.

See

 * Majete Wildlife Park

Eat
Nsima

Stay safe
This is a very friendly area. Crime is low but you should always take usual precautions whenever visiting somewhere new.

Go next
Most travelers heading toward Chikwawa will most likely start their journey, or at least head through the city of Blantyre. A little-known stop along the drive from Blantyre to Chikwawa, just 20 km south of Blantyre, is "Fisherman's Rest" -- a privately owned nature & game reserve, tea house, gift shop, and resthouse.

To get there, simply follow the Chikwawa Road (M1) south from Blantyre for 20 km to Mirale. As you begin to go down the escarpment the lodge is signposted on the right, followed by the park entrance 200 metres further down the road.

The nature reserve is open sunrise to sunset and accessed by foot. Wildlife includes several species of antelope, kudu, impala, nyala, bush buck, grysbok and duiker. The lodge and cottage hosts up to 12 residents where a swimming pool and gorgeous view, as well as food service or self-catering are available.

Contact details: http://www.fishermansrest.net / enquiries@fishermansrest.net / Phone: 08836753 /

title: Chikwawa


text:
Childersburg

Childersburg is a small town in Metropolitan Alabama near the Desoto Caverns and the Talladega Raceway.

Do

 * - located in Childersburg

title: Childersburg


text:
Childress

Childress is a city in the North Central Plains of Texas.

Get in
Childress is on US 287 halfway between Amarillo and Wichita Falls. US 83 also passes through the town, connecting with Wellington to the north and Paducah and eventually Abilene to the south.

Buy
Antiques are really the only unique thing to shop for here.

Sleep
As Childress is a convenient stop between Dallas and Amarillo, there are a number of hotels along US287, within town referred to as Northwest Avenue F.

Go next

 * Finch Ranch near Memphis, just a few miles northwest.
 * Lake Childress and Baylor Lake are twin lakes 12 miles west of town which have camping, fishing, boating, and a playground.
 * Copper Breaks State Park is about 40 miles southeast of here.
 * Wellington, with its historic theater house, is about 30 miles north on Hwy 83.

title: Childress


text:
Childs

Childs is a tiny hamlet in Orleans County, New York. Located just north of the county seat of Albion, Childs is near the center of the county and has just enough activity to make it worth considering as a jumping-off point for a tour of the region.

Understand
At the intersection of two state highways, Childs has plenty in common with other small hamlets scattered throughout Western New York. However, few hamlets have what Childs has: a top-notch restaurant in an old stagecoach stop, comfortable bed-and-breakfast-style accommodations, and a unique museum complex steeped in history.

The hamlet was first known as Fair Haven, so named by founder John Proctor, who hoped to establish a thriving village at the most significant crossroads in the area. He might have succeeded, except that five years later, the Erie Canal was routed less than three miles to the south, through Albion, which became the county seat.

Even without the canal, though, Fair Haven remained a popular stagecoach stop along the Ridge Road, thanks to the tavern built in 1824 on the northwest corner of the intersection. Before long, a church, several houses, and a one-room schoolhouse were constructed using the plentiful cobblestones left behind by retreating glaciers. A prominent graduate of the cobblestone schoolhouse was Henry Childs, the State Supreme Court justice for whom the hamlet was later renamed.

Today, the Ridge remains a major arterial route, though it carries cars and trucks rather than stagecoaches, and the old tavern is still in use as a modern-day watering hole. The school and the church are the centerpieces of The Cobblestone Museum, which aims to preserve that unique style of architecture for future generations.

By plane
The nearest airports with scheduled passenger service are Greater Rochester International and Buffalo Niagara International, 40 and 60 minutes by car from Childs respectively.

By car
This is by far the easiest way to get to Childs. The town sits at the crossroads of New York State Routes 104 and 98. Route 104, Ridge Road, is a two-lane highway that traverses Western New York from Niagara Falls to a spot northwest of Syracuse. The Ridge was once an old Indian trail, and before that the shoreline of a prehistoric Lake Ontario. Route 98, Oak Orchard Road, begins in the Southern Tier near Salamanca, then makes its way north through Batavia and Albion, before ending just short of the Lake Ontario shore, at Point Breeze.

By bike
Childs is an easy enough detour off the Erie Canalway Trail: just turn north at North Main Street in Albion and continue for two and a half miles along an easy, flat, and wide-shouldered roadway to the crossroads at the center of town.

By other means
In short: more hassle than it's probably worth. The nearest Greyhound station is 20 miles away in Batavia, and the nearest passenger rail station further still (Rochester); public transit from either of those places to Childs is nonexistent. You could take an Uber or Lyft the rest of the way, but fares out here in the sticks are steep, and availability often sparse.

Get around
Childs is a small hamlet, and therefore everything is within easy walking distance, although the schoolhouse is about a quarter-mile down 104, and there are no sidewalks.

See and do

 * The First Universalist Church was built in 1834 in the Federal style and is the oldest building in the complex—and also claims to be the oldest cobblestone church in the country. It serves as the headquarters for the museum and houses the museum gift shop in its basement.
 * The Ward House was erected around 1836, probably as a parsonage for the church next door. Once owned by publisher Horace Greeley (of "Go west, young man" fame), the house has been furnished and decorated in a style befitting a late 19th-century home.
 * The one-room District No. 5 Schoolhouse, a Greek Revival structure from 1849, is a popular destination for fourth-grade classes learning about local history. It's actually a wood-frame building, with the cobblestones only serving as a veneer rather than being structural.
 * The blacksmith shop, print shop, harness shop, and farmer's hall are not cobblestone buildings, but they represent other types of structures that were in use in rural communities in the 1800s. Each has been outfitted with the tools of the corresponding trade or, in the case of the farmer's hall, agricultural implements of all types. These buildings are not part of the standard guided tours, but can be added by request if you have an additional hour.
 * The brick house (built in 1836) between the convenience store and the church houses the museum's Resource Center and is not part of the tours. But if you want to do research into cobblestone architecture, the wealth of information within is available for your perusal, by appointment.
 * The brick house (built in 1836) between the convenience store and the church houses the museum's Resource Center and is not part of the tours. But if you want to do research into cobblestone architecture, the wealth of information within is available for your perusal, by appointment.

Buy
The Fair Haven Inn has a small gift shop adjacent to the parking lot it shares with the Village Inn, and the Cobblestone Museum gift shop is in the church's basement. If you need gas or other convenience items, Crosby's Mini Mart is on the northeast corner of the intersection.

Eat
The Cobblestone Museum is a great attraction, but it's not the only reason to make the trip to Childs. You can also get a great meal here, giving you double the reason to stop by.

Drink
The Village Inn offers a full bar, while Crosby's Mini Mart has beer available by the case.

Sleep
Childs' central location in the county makes it a great place to rest your head between fishing jaunts or daytrips to Rochester or Niagara Falls.

Connect
Businesses and homes in Childs have mailing addresses in Albion, ZIP code 14411. The area code is Rochester's, 585.

Go next

 * Albion — traveling just three miles south on Route 98 gets you to the county seat and largest village in the county, with its Historic Courthouse Square
 * Waterport and Point Breeze — taking Route 98 north to the lake will put you at Point Breeze, the mouth of the Oak Orchard River; it and the hamlet of Waterport are popular spots for fishing and boating

title: Childs