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Gunung Leuser National Park

Gunung Leuser National Park is a large Indonesian national park covering 950,000 hectares in northern Sumatra, straddling the border of the provinces of North Sumatra and Aceh.

Understand
The village of Bukit Lawang is in the park 90 km northwest of Medan. It is most famous for being one of the last places in the world where one can see orangutans in the wild. Bukit Lawang is situated at the eastern side of Gunung Leuser National Park. As Bukit Lawang is near Medan, it can get crowded during the weekend, especially during the public holiday period (June-beginning of July). Try to avoid the weekends (full guesthouses, large and numerous trekking groups).

Make your plans to go for either half a day trekking or a full day trekking as a miminimum to see the Orang Hutans and other wild animals in the forest

Ketambe village is another option — quiet, not crowded, wild. There is a research station at Ketembe. It is not open to the public.

History
The park is named after one of its highest points, the 3,381-m Mount Leuser (Gunung Leuser). The Gunung Leuser National Park was originally created as a wildlife reserve.

Along with the two other National Parks (Kerinci Seblat and Bukit Barisan Selatan) on the island, it comprises the UNESCO World Heritage site of 'The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra' (status since 2004).

Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
In 1973 a Swiss organization set up an orangutan rehabilitation centre in Bukit Lawang (Bukit Lawang literally means "door to the hills"). The purpose of the centre was to rehabilitate orangutans released from captivity. The rangers at the centre teach the orangutan all the necessary skills to survive in the wild. After an intense period of quarantine, readjustment to the natural habitat and reintegration into the (semi-)wild population, the orangutan is released back into the jungle. All orangutans released are still monitored by the rangers and they still provide them with supplementary food at the feeding platform until they become fully self-reliant.

In the years after the arrival of the rehabilitation center more and more tourists found their way to Bukit Lawang and it became one of the most popular destinations in Sumatra. The feeding center was closed several years ago. All orangutans from the center have been slowly released to the wild. Now you can only see orangutans in the wild while guided trekking in the national park.

The Flood

A flash flood hit Bukit Lawang on 2 November 2003. Described by witnesses as a tidal wave, the water was approximately 20 meters high, as it came crashing down the hills, wiping out everything in its path. The disaster, which was the result of illegal logging, destroyed the local tourist resorts and had a devastating impact to the local tourism industry. Around 400 houses, 3 mosques, 8 bridges, 280 kiosks and food stalls, 35 inns and guest houses were destroyed by the flood, and 239 people (5 of them tourists) were killed and around 1,400 locals lost their homes. Bukit Lawang was re-opened in 2004.

For many villagers the trauma of losing family, friends and their homes has taken a long time to come to terms with. The people were facing unemployment and homelessness. It has been a long road to recovery and an especially hard task to rebuild a town with only limited financial assistance from the government. However the people in Bukit Lawang are survivors and the new village is taking shape and more and more businesses are opening again.

Especially the young generation is hoping to rebuild the village in more sustainable way than before and they are very aware of the importance of preservation of the fragile ecosystem they live in. They can use all the support they can get and the income of tourism will help them in realizing their ideas for a brighter future for Bukit Lawang.

Landscape
Part of the Barisan mountain range lies within the park. The highest peak, and the park's namesake, Gunung Leuser can be climbed. Much of the park is steep and inaccessible.

Flora and fauna
Seeing the orangutans is a magical experience. About 10,000 live in this area. In Bukit Lawang, you can usually see them near the rehabilitation centre and at the feeding platform during the morning and afternoon feeding sessions. In Ketambe, you can go to 1- to 7-day treks into the jungle.

The best experience is an encounter in the jungle where there are many semi-wild and wild animals. The wild orangutan can be difficult to spot unless you go deep into the jungle. There are also white and black gibbons that make an amazing noise calling out to each other, and Thomas Leaf monkeys. If you are lucky, you may be able to see hornbills, toucans, moon snakes, monitor lizards.

Since there are very few (hundreds) still alive, it is very improbable that either the Sumatran Tiger or the Sumatran Rhinoceros will be encountered, although footprints and droppings have been reported. If you really want to see a tiger, you have to go deep, and be patient (waiting for weeks).

For elephants, go to Tangkahan or near Ketambe, where you can trek further into the jungle to try and spot wild elephants.

Climate
During the wet season, October to March, expect rain at least daily, towards the late afternoon and early evening. Intensity varies, but invariably the monsoonal rains always arrive. Climate is always very humid, so pack a lot of drinking water if you are trekking.

By plane
Medan holds the nearest big airport for accessing the region.

For Ketambe or hiking Gunung Leuser, you could fly to Kutacane from Medan (30 min) or Banda Aceh (on Wednesdays and Fridays).

First of all, consider the huge ecological footprint of taking a plane! Going by bus may be a better choice if you want to save the forests.

The flights fill very quickly so make sure you book as soon as you can. Note also that the airline flying is on a contract basis and from time to time when the contract finishes there are times when there are no flights until a new contract is signed.

From Kutacane you'll need to continue by road (with labi-labi).

By bus

 * From Bukit Lawang - Medan - a one-way bus fare on large, non air-conditioned buses from Medan (Pinang Baris Bus Terminal) to Bukit Lawang, 86 km by road to the north-west, was Rp 20,000 per person (in 2015), 3-4 hours. There should be buses every 30 minutes, but sometimes some are skipped. Back to Medan, you can take a minibus (Rp 12,000 per person (2008)) or a large bus (Rp 10,000, but they might ask for more). They alternate every 15 minutes from Bukit Lawang Bus Terminal.
 * From Kutacane - Medan - the companies BTN and Karsima run several public minibuses a day (and one overnight) between the two (7 hours, Rp 50,000, 2011). They leave from their ticket offices. They usually go via Berastagi where you can flag them down or hop off if you wish to make the detour.
 * From Ketambe - Banda Aceh - there is a company that runs public minibuses directly, through the mountains (16 hours, Rp 220,000, 2014).
 * From Kutacane - Lake Toba - there is one company that runs public minibuses to Sidikalang (6 hours, Rp 100,000, in 2014), there you will change bus to Pangururan (2 hours, Rp 20,000, in 2014), finally to TukTuk (2 hours, Rp 15,000, in 2014).
 * To Ketambe from Kutacane - take a local mobil from the station by the market in Kutacane (about 1 hour, Rp 15,000, 2014).

Another option is to take a taxi from the airport or hotel in Medan to Pinang Baris (no more than Rp 50,000). Do not get off at the big terminal: tell your driver to go on, just a bit past there is a bakery called Mawar. From there you can get a minibus (max Rp 20,000) or the big coach (max Rp 15,000). The big coach is government-run but minivans are private. They will stop many times along the way and in Binjai (about 40 minutes from Medan) they may stop for half an hour to fill up. The last stop, where you get off, is normally the bus terminal in Gotong Royong, a village 5 minutes from Bukit Lawang. From here you can get a becak (motorbike/sidecar/tuktuk type thing) for Rp 10,000. This should drop you at the national park office in Bukit Lawang and you can then find your guest house.

There are many drivers offering minivans from the Belawan ferry terminal direct to Bukit Lawang, bargain hard. Expect to be shifted minivan at least once (in Medan). Prices vary between Rp 60,000 and 70,000 all the way to Bukit Lawang. The extra cost should outweigh the hassle of getting into Medan, finding the bus station, then finding a hostel in Bukit Lawang (especially if you arrive during a torrential downpour). The driver will usually recommend a family or friend's hostel.

You can go by tourist bus (minivan 5-7 persons;) from Parapat (Lake Toba; Rp 130,000/person) or Berastagi to Bukit Lawang. Tickets can be bought at local tour agencies; but sometimes they run the vehicle as speed driver; to reach the arrival place; just check it out and made a good decision for the transportation

By car
From Bukit Lawang - Medan - If you prefer the convenience of an air-conditioned transfer - a private car can be arranged for airport or your Medan hotel pick-up. Many Bukit Lawang hotels will arrange this service for you in conjunction with an accommodation booking. If you are a little more adventurous car rentals are also readily available in Medan for approximately Rp 350,000 a day

Get around
The villages consist of little more than the guesthouses, a few local residences and the odd shop or cafe. You can walk around but there's not much to see or do!

 * To Tangkahan from Bukit Lawang - it is about 2 hours by motorbike over dirt roads. Rates for arranging guides to drive you by motorbike to Tangkahan from Bukit Lawang were Rp 220,000 for 3 motorbikes and 3 guides to drive the bikes there and take them back. The rainy season can make sections of this route impassable. In Bukit Lawang in 2007 there were two guides, Romi and Wanda, who did jeep trips down to Tangkahan.
 * To get to Kedah from Ketembe you must go via Blangkejeren. It takes about 3 hours.

Fees and permits
Permits need to be arranged at a PHPA office before entering the park. The fee is Rp 150,000 per person.

In Bukit Lawang this can also be paid at the orangutan feeding ground. The permit should be included in all treks and jungle activities, but check with the guide to be sure.

In Ketembe your guesthouse may ask for your passport to register you with the authorities. If you have copies of your passport (including the visa page) you can give them those instead.

See

 * Wild monkeys: gibbons, orangutans in the rainforest near Ketambe
 * Bat Cave near Bukit Lawang
 * Elephant Camp at Tangkahan
 * Various waterfalls in the jungle
 * Landak river

Do
The number one reason to go to Gunung Leuser National Park is for a trek, whether that's mountain trekking or trekking to spot wildlife.

Trekking
A jungle trek is a must. Seeing the orangutan in the wild may be one of the best experiences you will have in your life.

It is not permitted to go unaccompanied into the jungle. There are plenty of good and reliable guides around so take your time to get to know some of them, have a chat, make your choice and prepare for a great adventure. Ask questions and ask them if they follow the rules and do not feed orangutans or any other wildlife. Ask if they will actually be your guide or if they will pass you on to another group. It has happened that travellers pay their money and get sold off and end up in a group of 10 people. Ask how many people will be in the group.

It is a good idea to ask for information at the guest houses... if anything goes wrong or you are not happy you can complain to them. And they have a reputation to keep up.

A fixed price for Bukit Lawang jungle treks is €55 per day. A 2-day trek including rafting is €90 and a 3-day trek including rafting is €120. Prices in Ketambe are generally cheaper starting at Rp 350,000 per person per day for group trips. It is illegal to pay for services in Indonesia in a foreign currency, despite many of the guides stating their prices in euro.

In Bukit Lawang it has happened quite often that some guides have fed orangutan some human food during a trek just to coax the wild animals to pose for tourists. Several orangutan have gotten sick or died for this reason. You should never get close to or call or feed any of the animals, even if your guide irresponsibly tells you it is OK.

Even though sightings of the orangutan and other wildlife can never be guaranteed, when following the instructions of your guide the chances are favorable.

Another hero is the Thomas Leaf Monkey. Such a wonderful creature that leaps into air with wild abandon as they move from tree to tree. Their mohawk hair styles and faces filled with millions of years of character really make these little guys stand out.

If you want to go on a multiple day trek make sure you are fit and in good condition. The humidity coupled with the intensity of grade of the hills makes for some hard work. The reward at the end of your jungle adventure is a late afternoon paddle in the river back to the village.

Everyone who is planning to go on a jungle trek is asked to refrain from any physical contact with the orangutans. Getting too close to an orangutan increases the risk of passing on disease and viral infection, which jeopardizes the orangutan's chances of survival and in turn the health and survival of the wild orangutan population in the entire area. All guests should keep at least 10 meters away and move away if an orangutan approaches. The motto of any jungle adventure should be take only pictures, leave only footprints.

Another popular past time activity is tubing. When tubing one uses an inner tube to float down the river. Tubes can be rented at various stalls along the village and expect pay around Rp 10,000 per tube. Be careful on the water because currents are strong.

You can also visit the bat cave for Rp 10,000 (make sure to take a flashlight), make a stroll around the rice fields and rubber plantations, visit some of the social projects (like the Children's Home on the way to the bat cave), visit the Friday market or just hang out with some of the locals and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.

Wildlife trekking
A wide range of treks into the jungle looking for wildlife are available in Bukit Lawang, Ketembe and Tangkahan. There are many tours from 1 to 3 days (sleeping in the jungle) but more or less can probably be arranged too.
 * Bukit Lawang - it's highly recommended to do a trek with one of the official rangers from the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre as there can be problems with guides feeding the orangutans to ensure tourists get a sighting.
 * Ketembe - you will see real wild living orangutans (in Bukit Lawang the orangutans are all rehabilitated semi-wild), monkeys and many kind of birds. It's not uncommon to see other mammals such as gibbons, barking deer, civet cats, binturong, mouse deer and leopard cats. There are also Sumatran elephants, tigers and rhinos, but these are incredibly rare to see. On a 2- to 3-day trip you can go to a natural hot spring inside the jungle and camp over there. The treks are not very strenuous as the emphasis is on finding wildlife not hiking. On a longer trip (7-10 days) you can go deeper into the jungle and look for some shy tigers or explore remote jungle wilderness. (Prices: Rp 350,000 per person per day, 2014)
 * Kedah - there is jungle trekking around Pucuk Angkasan. Guides: Mr Jally and Pak Umar.
 * Tangkahan has about 7 elephants and very few tourists. Guides there charge Rp 180,000 for guided jungle treks, though just seeing the elephants is very cheap and rides on the elephants are negotiable.
 * Elephant trekking through the jungle in Tangkahan

Mountain trekking
These are all multi-day treks.
 * Gunung Leuser - the best starting points are the villages near Blangkejeren. The trek from Kedah to the Gunung Leuser peak and back takes 10 days in total. Guides charge Rp 350,000/day/person. Since the trek is about 70% in alpine regions, you will not see too much wildlife, but exciting flora. For wildlife you better choose a trek to Gunung Angkosan (2 days) or to upper Alas valley (4 days).
 * Gunung Kemiri - the best starting point is Ketembe.

River activities

 * Tubing in Bukit Lawang
 * Rafting along the Alas River, Ketembe
 * Bathe in hot springs in the jungle near Ketembe

Roundtrips around Sumatra
After your Bukit Lawang adventure you can also explore other parts of the island like Lake Toba or Berastagi. Discover Sumatra specializes in organising tailor-made trips.

Buy
In Bukit Lawang during the low season not all shops are open on weekdays, however in the weekend there are several small shops that sell the locally made coconut necklaces and clothes. Also there is a small shop selling bamboo souvenirs, like key chains, picture frames, etc. There are also a few shops that sell wood carvings and at the beginning is Genta's batik shop, selling traditional batik paintings.

There are only very small shops in Ketembe selling not much more than packets of biscuits and bottles of water. Buy everything you need in Kutacane or elsewhere.

Eat
All of the guesthouses have restaurants, usually with both Indonesian and Western food available. When trekking, your guide should provide all your food.

Drink
Guesthouses sell a range of drinks and when trekking your guide should bring enough water but you may wish to check this. At sunset a great place for a Bintang is the terrace at the Eco Lodge. The friendly folks there will serve you up a cold beer and you can watch the colours change over the town and river below.

Lodging
Arranged by your guide when wildlife trekking.

Camping
Arranged by your guide when wildlife trekking.

Backcountry
Your guide should cover all your requirements for accommodation in the jungle, even right down to leech socks if required. Make sure you take enough dry clothes as it's so humid nothing will dry once wet.

In the Kutacane region the electricity supply can be a bit variable so don't leave charging your camera until the morning you head out to the jungle!

Bukit Lawang
In order of position up the pathway by the river in Bukit Lawang.

Ketambe
All the guesthouses are very similar, have restaurants and can arrange tours. They are all along the main road and offer accommodation in wooden bungalows with bathroom from about Rp 70,000 for a very basic room.
 * Ketambe Gurah Guesthouse, https://ketambegurah.wordpress.com/, This ex-governmental Eco Resort is the only one that sits right in the Gunung Leuser Park and is now run by a very lovely family; it is located approx. 1 km after the village on the left side. Wildlife of all sorts are visible within the close area and/or from the balcony. The chalet sits close to the Alas river and offers spacious rooms (cold shower, no A/C). This accommodation was built several decades ago and is getting run down. It looks like the jungle is starting to take it over!
 * Ketambe Gurah Guesthouse, https://ketambegurah.wordpress.com/, This ex-governmental Eco Resort is the only one that sits right in the Gunung Leuser Park and is now run by a very lovely family; it is located approx. 1 km after the village on the left side. Wildlife of all sorts are visible within the close area and/or from the balcony. The chalet sits close to the Alas river and offers spacious rooms (cold shower, no A/C). This accommodation was built several decades ago and is getting run down. It looks like the jungle is starting to take it over!
 * Ketambe Gurah Guesthouse, https://ketambegurah.wordpress.com/, This ex-governmental Eco Resort is the only one that sits right in the Gunung Leuser Park and is now run by a very lovely family; it is located approx. 1 km after the village on the left side. Wildlife of all sorts are visible within the close area and/or from the balcony. The chalet sits close to the Alas river and offers spacious rooms (cold shower, no A/C). This accommodation was built several decades ago and is getting run down. It looks like the jungle is starting to take it over!
 * Ketambe Gurah Guesthouse, https://ketambegurah.wordpress.com/, This ex-governmental Eco Resort is the only one that sits right in the Gunung Leuser Park and is now run by a very lovely family; it is located approx. 1 km after the village on the left side. Wildlife of all sorts are visible within the close area and/or from the balcony. The chalet sits close to the Alas river and offers spacious rooms (cold shower, no A/C). This accommodation was built several decades ago and is getting run down. It looks like the jungle is starting to take it over!
 * Ketambe Gurah Guesthouse, https://ketambegurah.wordpress.com/, This ex-governmental Eco Resort is the only one that sits right in the Gunung Leuser Park and is now run by a very lovely family; it is located approx. 1 km after the village on the left side. Wildlife of all sorts are visible within the close area and/or from the balcony. The chalet sits close to the Alas river and offers spacious rooms (cold shower, no A/C). This accommodation was built several decades ago and is getting run down. It looks like the jungle is starting to take it over!
 * Ketambe Gurah Guesthouse, https://ketambegurah.wordpress.com/, This ex-governmental Eco Resort is the only one that sits right in the Gunung Leuser Park and is now run by a very lovely family; it is located approx. 1 km after the village on the left side. Wildlife of all sorts are visible within the close area and/or from the balcony. The chalet sits close to the Alas river and offers spacious rooms (cold shower, no A/C). This accommodation was built several decades ago and is getting run down. It looks like the jungle is starting to take it over!
 * Ketambe Gurah Guesthouse, https://ketambegurah.wordpress.com/, This ex-governmental Eco Resort is the only one that sits right in the Gunung Leuser Park and is now run by a very lovely family; it is located approx. 1 km after the village on the left side. Wildlife of all sorts are visible within the close area and/or from the balcony. The chalet sits close to the Alas river and offers spacious rooms (cold shower, no A/C). This accommodation was built several decades ago and is getting run down. It looks like the jungle is starting to take it over!

Kutacane
If you arrive too late for onward travel, there are a handful of options in the town.

Stay safe
Some guides can get quite flirtatious/annoying with the girls during trekking trips esp in Bukit Lawang so team up with a larger group during a hike if travelling as a single female or pair. It is perfectly safe for female travellers here but do dress to the conservative standards of the area for your own safety. Don't wear bikinis or tight fitting and low cut t-shirts. Solo female travellers who seek a bit of reassurance should check with the guesthouses and arrange to go trekking with other travellers. Green Hill and Sam's Bungalows have good reputations for solo travellers. Any woman who experiences sexual harassment in any form in Bukit Lawang should report the incident immediately to the Guides Association at +62-813-70730151 (Bahrum the leader). Also make sure you get a photo of the guide as well.

When travelling down the river rapids on the rubber tyres, do not go past the bridge. There are narrow drains and sharper rocks the closer you get to the village.

Keep your villa doors and windows closed when you are not around, the long tailed macaques like to get inside and raid your belongings for food.

Unbranded or unfamiliar branded or even unsealed bottled liquor or alcohol is best to be avoided as it may be too harsh for you and you might be end up hospitalized.

Go next

 * From Bukit Lawang, Tangkahan could be an interesting delve further into the National Park. Otherwise head back to Medan for connections elsewhere.
 * From Ketambe, you could go on to Kedah to switch from wildlife trekking to mountain climbing.
 * There are regular buses from Kutacane to Medan which pass through mountain town Berastagi (home to Sibayak and Sinabung volcanoes). Or change direction and head up to Banda Aceh.

title: Gunung Leuser National Park


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Gunung Mulu National Park

Gunung Mulu National Park (Taman Negara Gunung Mulu) is in Sarawak on the island Borneo, near the border with Brunei.

History
Archaeological evidence from excavations in Cave of the Winds indicate that the cave was used for burial between 1500 and 3000 years ago. In 1977-78 the Royal Geographical Society/Sarawak Government organized a major expedition and survey of the area. An account of the expedition results, environment and biota was published in July 1982 in The Sarawak Museum Journal.

In 2000 UNESCO inscribed Gunung Mulu National Park on the World Heritage List. Today it is one of Sarawak's most popular travel destinations.

Landscape
Named after the 2,377m Mount Mulu (Gunung Mulu), the park is famed for its limestone karst formations both above ground and underground. The massive cave systems, which contain the 12 million cubic meter Sarawak Chamber (the world's largest), are still in the process of being mapped. Clearwater Cave at 151 km (Feb 2007) is the 10th longest cave in the world. The limestones belong to the Melinau Limestone Formation and are estimated to be 4000 to 5000m thick. In the south-east of Mulu Park sandstones are dominant. The hightest relief in the region (Gunung Mulu) is located in these sandstones.

Mulu's landforms are outstanding examples of erosional processes on both of these rock types (limestones and sandstones).

Among the most remarkable karst features are the world's finest example of a karst collapse (The Garden of Eden) and the sharp pointed bladed limestone Pinnacles, some of which are 45m high on the northern end of Gunung Api. There are also numerous examples of cone karst and tower karst. Another interesting feature of the landscape is the drainage through deeply incised gorges (Sungai Melinau at Melinau Gorge and Sungai Medalam to the north) in the limestones.

By plane
Gunung Mulu National Park has a small airport just outside the national park boundary. Most tour operators pick up passengers from the airport and bring them to their respective accommodations. Independent travellers can either thumb a lift from these operators or take a boat ride to Park Headquarters.

MASWings provides the rural air services links, which includes flights in and out of Mulu.
 * To/from Miri: Twice daily flights, leaving Miri at 09:20 and 14:35 and leaving Mulu at 10:10 and 15:25. Flights cost RM84 one way before taxes and surcharges and journey time is about 30 minutes. No advance purchase discount. There are also two Twin Otter flights per week between Miri and Mulu, leaving on Wednesdays and Sundays. Fare is RM69 one way before taxes and surcharges and journey time is 35 minutes.
 * To/from Kota Kinabalu: MASWings runs one flight daily between Kota Kinabalu and Mulu via Miri and direct.
 * To/from Kuching: MASWings runs one flight daily between Kuching and Mulu direct.

Flights in and out of Mulu are often delayed or cancelled because visibility is often affected by the weather. Plan connections to and from Mulu accordingly.

From Airport to Mulu Park HQ, either take minivan (cost RM 5-6 per person each way) or walk for 1.5 km. Directions are signposted.

By land
This option is for the adventurous. In fact, by land is a bit of a misnomer because this option usually requires a combination of going by road, boats and maybe even some hiking. If you are staying at any homestays or within the park, do not take the RM5 taxi ride: it is under one kilometer away. You can walk to the park junction road in 5 minutes and then it is another 500 m to the park entrance. Only take the ride if you are staying at Mulu Resort as it is another 1.5 km down the road.
 * To/From Miri: You need to go by road to Kuala Baram along the Miri-Brunei border road (see Miri page for bus connections), then taking a boat up the Baram River to Marudi. Here, you have to take a series of boats up the Tutoh River to reach Gunung Mulu National Park. The Miri-Marudi leg can also be cover by plane. See Miri page for flight details.
 * To/from Limbang: This option basically requires you to hike the Headhunter's Trail. See details of the trek under the "Do" section below. There are no longer flights between Mulu and Limbang.

By river
It is possible to reach Mulu by river. From Miri travel by road to Kuala Baram. From there take scheduled river ferry to Marudi. From Marudi take river ferry to Long Terawan (does not operate daily). From Long Terawan charter a long boat to travel up the Tutoh river to Mulu. The whole journey can take from one to several days depending on the connections.

Fees and permits
To get into the park you must register at the Park HQ office and buy the five-day-pass for RM30 per person (they will give you a bracelet to wear during your stay). A new five-day pass must be bought after the previous one expires. There are no single-day passes. To enter any caves you must have a Licensed Park Guide or join a guided group (fees starting from RM20 per person).

Get around
There is only one road in Mulu. It runs from Royal Mulu Resort to the settlement of Batu Bungan, passing Mulu airport (approx 5 km). There are very few vehicles.

To get around you can travel by longboat on the Melinau river which runs along the northern boundary of the park, and on the Tutoh river into which the Melinau flows.

The park maintains a network of trails to the key sites. The most frequently used trails are plankwalks. Other trails are cemented, or improved with gravels. Some trails (Mulu summit trail) are wild and a guide is needed just to find them.

It is common to hire a guide during your stay in the park. Guides will take care of transportation, accommodation, food and guide you through the jungle. It's strongly recommended to use only Licensed Park Guides. It's for your safety and security. Upon payment you shall receive invoice from the guide all included listing the services.

See
Most visitors come to Mulu for the caves, but there are also good jungle and mountain trekking options in the area. Guides are obligatory for all cave visits and most treks.

Trekking
The national park has three climbing treks:

Adventure caving

 * Turtle Cave (Beginner; Swimming required)
 * Lagang Cave (Beginner)
 * The Garden of Eden (Beginner; Swimming optional)
 * Racer Cave (Intermediate)
 * Stone Horse Cave (Intermediate)
 * Clearwater Connection (Advanced; Swimming required)
 * Sarawak Chamber (Advanced)

Book adventure caving plans at least 3-4 weeks in advance due to the limited availability of guides. There are no cancellation fees trips canceled more than one day in advance.

Advanced caves require prior caving experience of more than 3 hours in a wild cave, or require completing one of the Intermediate caves.

Canopy Skywalk
With its 480 m of elevated walkway, Mulu's Canopy Skywalk is the world's longest tree based canopy walk.

 * Walk from Clearwater Cave to Park HQ via Moonmilk trail
 * Trekking to the Pinnacles
 * Trekking the Headhunters' Trail
 * Trekking the Summit
 * Viewpoint (best at sunset) at Bukit Pala (there is a track just behind where it parks the Marriot bus before that hotel), you can walk 2 km from the park entrance or ask a boatman to take you the Marriot pier and walk from there 50 m.
 * See millions of bats leaving at the same time the Deer and Langs Caves everyday from 17:00. Free.

Buy
Carry enough cash. There are no ATMs anywhere in Mulu. While Park HQ accepts cards, the Park Cafe and most other places do not accept card. Park HQ offers cash-back with a 2% service fee, but it is limited to a small amount (approx. RM100). The Royal Mulu Resort offers cash-back for higher amounts, but charges 5% service fee for Resort guests, and 10% service fee for outsiders.

The Penan community of Batu Bungan sell handicrafts (beads, rottan and basketware) some of which (but not all) they make themselves.

Eat
Lunch or dinner meals at the Park Cafe run around RM20 per person (without alcohol), and RM49 with alcohol. Breakfast is typically included if you are staying at Park HQ.

Tap water is potable, however it is a good idea to boil it if possible.

 * Cafe Mulu, Park HQ. Basic but a little pricy local eats.

Lodging
It is so easy to stay outside the park at Mulu. All guesthouses and homestays are within 500 m walking distance and offer camping from RM5 and dorms from RM15.

Mulu Backpacker Homestay is the first dormitory you will find (when you get out of the airport turn right and walk for 150 m). Bed + great breakfast for RM20 a night.

D'Caves Homestay and store was a wonderful choice (after Mulu Backpacker). They provide water for boiling to avoid stacking up plastic bottles. They were very helpful and the husband is head of security for the park, you feel very safe and at home here. Camping on their property is permitted for RM5 a night.

At the Park HQ there is lodging for visitors in several categories: All options include a breakfast coupon (RM16 value) for a choice of one of 5 set breakfast options at the Park Cafe.
 * Garden Bunglow, with air-conditioner, en-suite bathroom, and patio, from RM232 twin share.
 * Longhouse Rooms, with air-conditioner and en-suite bathroom, from RM180 twin share.
 * Dormitory, 21 beds with fan and shared bathroom, RM50 per night.

A short distance downstream of Park HQ there is:
 * Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa, offers upclass lodging for visitors with many of the basic amenities one would need.

Opposite Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa across the river is: Amenities like mini mart, cafeteria, hot spring and plenty to explore around the area for picturesque. Personalize package to suit individual needs - ranging from relaxing 4 show caves to walk to Limbang Head Hunter trail which experience is valueless and priceless.
 * Mulu Village, 4-bed and 2-bed rooms with attached toilet.

 * Benarat Lodge, Stay at Benarat Lodge or Benarat Inn as the lodge provides you with full board and lodging for RM150 per night. This includes your meals at Sungai Pala Cafe or packed lunch according to your itinerary. Benarat Lodge/Benarat Inn RM180 per night (room + breakfast for 2).

Just outside the Park, near the Park HQ, the third group of houses along the river has beds for only RM20 per night. Very basic but if you are on a tight budget it is much cheaper than the resort.

Cope
Laundry services in Park HQ are around RM2-3 per article of clothing, and take 24 hr. There is no coin-operated laundry service, or by-weight laundry service near the park. If you choose to wash your clothes, expect them to take at least 2 days to dry outside due to high humidity and frequent afternoon/evening showers. Dry-fit clothes are an excellent idea since they dry quickly and are well suited for the sweltering (and often wet) caves.

There is (spotty) cellphone coverage for MAXIS/Hotlink customers near Park HQ. Cellular data connections are extremely slow and unreliable. Cellular data is much more reliable near the airport. There is almost no cellular coverage deeper inside the park. Prepaid Hotlink top-up cards can be purchased at the airport cafe for a 20% mark-up.

Internet wifi (RM5 = 1 day password) can be bought at the Park Reception.

Stay safe
In April 2016 a female tourist was hassled when walking alone around 19:00 outside the park. Be careful and don't accept offers from strangers.

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

title: Gunung Mulu National Park


text:
Gunung Palung National Park

Gunung Palung National Park is in West Kalimantan of Indonesia.

Understand
This is one of the national parks in Indonesia where you can see wild orangutans.

History
Mount Palung was first protected in 1937 as a forest nature reserve covering 300 km2. In 1981, the size was increased to 900 km2 (350 sq mi) and its status raised to a wildlife reserve, and on 24 March 1990 the area became a national park.

Landscape
The park covers a large area so there are low-lands and hills, but the centerpieces of the park are the Gunung Palung mountains.

Flora and fauna
Dense vegetation with numerous species.

Orangutans, gibbons, red monkeys, hornbills, wild boars, snakes, lizards, turtles, fish, and all sorts of insects.

Climate
As the park is close to the equator, it's hot and humid. Two seasons: rainy and dry.

Get in
One can join an organised trip or travel independently.

Travelling alone
You still need to buy a park permit from one of the offices in Melano, Ketapang, or Sukadana (smallest but closest to the park). Then, one needs to arrange transportation to one of the park access points (e.g., close to Sukadana) via ojek (motorbike) - about Rp50,000.

Travelling in an organised tour
Organised trips (packages) are offered by Nasalis Tour and Travel and can be arranged at any of the park offices. The packages include the entry fees, the camera fees, transportation to and from the park, guide and porter, accommodation at one of the sites the company operates, food and water. The package does not include mosquito nets, sleeping bag/blanket or any camping equipment such as knife, or flashlight. The guide might not speak English very well.

Pontianak-Melano-Sukadana
From Pontianak, travel by boat to Melano. In Melano, hire a motorbike (ojek) to Sukadana (approximately 30 minutes).

Fees and permits

 * Entrance Permit (International Tourist): Rp 10,000/one entry/person
 * Entrance Permit (Domestic Tourist): Rp 1,000/one entry/person
 * Digital camera (International Tourist): Rp 25,000/unit
 * Digital camera (Domestic Tourist): Rp 2,500/one entry/person
 * Video camera (International Tourist): Rp 100,000/unit
 * Video camera (Domestic Tourist): Rp 25,000/one entry/person

Get around
On foot only.

See
Wildlife (incl. orangutans), jungle vegetation, and some beautiful waterfalls. One of the trails starting at Lubuk Baji leads to Batu Bulan, a nice panoramic view of mountains across a valley which is especially stunning during sunrise.

Do
Hiking and nature observation.

From Lubuk Baji three clearly-marked trails lead out into the jungle. Each trail forms a loop and takes about 2 hours (depending on the physical abilities of the hiker; the trails pass some quite demanding terrain). The system of trails is being expanded (at least two new trails are being considered). The trails can be navigated independently, however, having a guide definitely helps in spotting wildlife.

Lodging
There are three sites operated by Nasalis: Lubuk Baji, Batu Barat and Riam Berasap.

Lubuk Baji is a basic hut built in a clearing in the forest and has a very clean stream passing by. The micro-climate of the place is less humid than some other parts of the forest. To get to Lubuk Baji, one needs to hike for about 2 hours uphill through some demanding terrain. Do not bring stuff you don't need.

Camping
Possible.

title: Gunung Palung National Park


text:
Gura Humorului

Gura Humorului is in Southern Bukovina. The town itself is less interesting than Sighisoara or Brasov, but it is very close to the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina, which are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. The scenery around Gura Humorului is very beautiful as well.

Get in
It is well connected to Suceava with both bus and train. Bus and train stations (autogara and gara) are very close to each other and they are next to the centre. See CFR for train schedules for the whole country. There is a link for an English version in the lower right corner.

Get around
It's a small town and you can get around on foot. Taxis are an inexpensive option at around 2 lei per kilometer.

Do

 * If you want to get online, there is an Internet café just in front of the train station. It costs 2 lei/hour.

Buy
Try to locate Letitia Orsivschi from Vama (about 20km west of Gura Humorului). She paints eggs in traditional patterns with hot wax. She does this all free hand with a single horse hair brush. Her work is very impressive and very inexpensive to purchase. She does not speak English, but does speak French. Email address: letitia_orsivschi@yahoo.com

Also try to find Radu Bircea. He is a fantastic local painter. He does not speak English either, but does speak Russian.

The front desk staff at the Best Western Hotel can probably help you locate either Letitia or Radu. The staff at the town museum might also be helpful.

Eat

 * Restaurantul Moldova - you will see on the right while walking from the main square (where the huge Best hotel is) towards the bridge. It's a good restaurant making some traditional Romanian dishes. Inside there is a small stand giving touristic information. They also plan trips for the surrounding Painted monasteries.
 * Hilde's - take a taxi or ask the locals, the food is traditional and fabulous

Drink
In the city center go to "La Bomba" a quiet little pub/pizza place. Relatively cheap, as beer starts from 4 lei (approx. 1 euro)

title: Gura Humorului


text:
Gurugram

Gurugram, formerly known as Gurgaon (गुड़गांव), is a suburban city of India's capital Delhi, just outside the National Capital Territory, in the state of Haryana.

Understand
Not long ago a sleepy suburb of Delhi, Gurugram now boasts over a million inhabitants, slick office complexes housing companies ranging from Accenture to Xerox, and more shopping malls per square mile than anywhere else in India. Alas, the infrastructure is still struggling to catch up with the boom and there's plenty of dust and traffic jams, but it's still an exhilarating glimpse into the India of the future.

Climate
Gurugram has the typical north Indian climate, almost the same as that of Delhi: expect cold, foggy winters, drenching monsoons and scorching hot, dusty summers. Winter runs from early November till mid-February; usually January is the coldest month. In winters, temperatures may even drop to 2 °C. Fog on winter nights can last up to 7 hours. In March and April the temperature is pleasant. The summer starts in May and goes till July, with temperatures exceeding 40 °C at times. The heat is broken by the monsoon in mid-July, which pours rain until mid-September.

By plane
Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is just across the border of Gurugram, making it easily accessible for recreational and business travellers.

By train
The northeastern part of Gurugram is served by the Yellow Line of the Delhi Metro, which runs from NH-8's IFFCO Chowk crossing along MG Road over the border towards Qutub Minar, Saket and straight to Connaught Place. Travel time is about 50 minutes, with tickets ₹25 one way.

Gurugram also has a small rail station on the Delhi-Jaipur railway line, but it only receives about five trains a day. The station is near The colony bhim Garh Kheri Part 2.

By bus
DTC and Haryana Roadways buses runs down National Highway 8 in Delhi. Buses to Gurugram can be best boarded at Dhaula Kuan (on the Inner Ring Road). Alternatively, there is a small dedicated Gurugram-bound bus terminal at Karol Bagh near the unmissable 100-foot Hanuman statue, a five-minute walk west of Jhandewala Metro station or a short cycle rickshaw ride (₹10) from Karol Bagh metro station. Buses cost ₹22 one-way.

Also Haryana Roadways, Mewat and Kamal (Private buses) runs from Sarai Kale Khan to Gurugram Bus Stand whole day. Also there is frequent service of DTC buses between Gurugram Bus Stand to Badarpur Border via Mehrauli and Khanpur.

By road
National Highway 8, now an eight-lane expressway, connects Delhi to Gurugram and Jaipur. Travel time is under 30 minutes in optimal conditions, but is regularly jammed during peak hours. The road is additionally still victim to water logging in heavy monsoon rains.

Get around
The Rapid Metro Gurugram connects Delhi Metro's Sikanderpur station with the "Cyber City" office district to the north, and Golf Course Road to the south. Trains run every 6 minutes or so, the fare is reasonable (usually below ₹35) and you can use Delhi Metro's smart cards.

Starting from the bus stop "IIT Gate" south of the IIT flyover of the Outer Ring Road in Delhi you can get all day and night (because of 24-hr service for call centres) jeeps and cars with yellow plates carrying you for ₹10 (Aug 2007) to places like the Bristol hotel or the IFFCO chowk. Sitting in these cabs at peak times means to use the normal back bench of a car with 3 to 4 other people and without AC, but at off times you travel in the comfort of a taxi for only ₹10!

Other than that, the main option is cycle rickshaws, who are notoriously mercenary. The fare is supposed to be around ₹20 per head for a distance of 1.5-2 km, but it's not unheard of to be asked for 10 times this amount.

There are some intercity mini-buses which go from Gurugram Bus Stand (near Police Lines) to Mall region and ahead on the MG (Mehrauli-Gurugram) road, which costs ₹20 per head. Ladies don't need to worry about traveling in these buses as more often than not, the conductor ensures that the lady gets a seat.

Taxis and rental cars are available online. Popular mobile app based aggregators like Uber and Ola are also plentiful and usually work out cheaper.

Do
See movies

Other activities

Buy
Shopping malls abound in Gurugram, mostly along the central thoroughfare of Mehrauli-Gurugram (MG) Road. The best way to get there is via private mini-buses from Gurugram Bus-stand near Jain Temple and say "Mall". A one-way ticket costs ₹5.

Splurge

 * K2, MGF Plaza 3F, MG Road, . The two K's stand for "Korea" and "Karaoke", the mainstays of this hip red-and-black Korean-run restaurant-lounge. Catering largely to Delhi's small Korean expat community, the food is authentic (they even have beef!). ₹300-500.
 * K2, MGF Plaza 3F, MG Road, . The two K's stand for "Korea" and "Karaoke", the mainstays of this hip red-and-black Korean-run restaurant-lounge. Catering largely to Delhi's small Korean expat community, the food is authentic (they even have beef!). ₹300-500.

Drink
Most of Gurugram's nightlife spots are tucked away — where else? — on the top floors of malls.

Sleep
Demand far outstrips supply in Gurugram and prices are terribly inflated; it's hard to find any halfway decent bed for the night for under ₹14,000. If comparing prices in Gurugram and Delhi, remember that Delhi hotels charge tax on the rack rate, while Haryana (Gurugram) hotels don't.

Splurge

Manesar

Go next

 * Delhi - just a short hop away
 * Jaipur - Rajasthan's fabled "pink city", a 5-hour drive down NH-8
 * Noida - Another rapidly developing city in the National Capital Region, around 1½ hour drive from here.

title: Gurugram


text:
Gurugram Division

Gurugram Division (Punjabi: ਗੁਰ੍ਗਾਓੰ ਦਿਵਿਸਿਓਂ), formerly known as Gurgaon Division, is part of the state of Haryana in northern India.

Cities

 * — Delhi's burgeoning shopping and IT suburb
 * — a city with several attractions such as the Raja Nahar Singh Palace
 * — a city in a forest region with a beautiful temple on a hilltop
 * — the largest city, just south of Delhi
 * — an educational hub of India with many universities and colleges
 * — a city that is home to Rewari Heritage Steam Locomotive Museum

Other destinations

 * — area populated primarily by the Rajpoot community

See
District headquarter Mahendergarh at Narnaul. There are many historical monuments related to Mugal Ruler Akbhar and his Navratna Birbal. Monuments names are Birbal ka Chhatta, Jal Mahal etc.

title: Gurugram Division


text:
Gurnee

Gurnee is a village in Illinois. It sits at the midpoint between Chicago and Milwaukee. It's best known as the home of the Six Flags Great America amusement park, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago water park, the Gurnee Mills shopping mall, and a Great Wolf Lodge location. As such, Gurnee sees over 23 million visitors every year.

By car
Interstate 94, a north-south artery linking Chicago and Milwaukee, runs right through Gurnee. Gurnee is also accessible via US 41, US 45 and Illinois 21.

By train
Two Metra lines serve Gurnee, albeit indirectly. The Union Pacific North Line between Kenosha and the Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago serves Waukegan, and the North Central Service between Antioch and Chicago Union Station serves Grayslake. Washington Street links the two stations, with Gurnee in between.

By bus
Several Pace bus lines serve the Gurnee area, including the 565 which runs from the right near the Metra station in Waukegan all the way to the Gurnee Mills area.

By plane
Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the closest airport to Gurnee. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is the next closest.

Get around
Grand Avenue, which is part of Illinois State Route 132, is the main strip of the town. Six Flags Great America and the Gurnee Mills Mall are both located on Grand. Washington Street is the other primary east-west thoroughfare.

Eat
Gurnee has a wide variety of chain and local restaurants and eateries.

title: Gurnee


text:
Guruvayoor

Guruvayoor (Malayalam: ഗുരുവായൂർ) is one of the most sacred and important pilgrim towns in India. This temple-town is extremely famous for its large Sree Krishna Temple, believed to one of the 108 most divine Vishnu temples of world. The town is in Thrissur district, about 102 km from Kochi. Apart from pilgrimage, a few tourist delights are available here.

Understand
Guruvayoor Temple is one of the largest and most famed temple in Kerala at national level, attracting more than 5 million devotees annually. The presiding deity is Lord Vishnu, in form of Sree Krishna (8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu). Hindu mythology says the Lord Krishna used to worship an idol of Lord Vishnu at his palace in legendary Dwarka island. However Krishna knew that, soon after his death, his palace island would wash into seas. He instructed the Deva Guru (Heavenly Saint) Brihaspati and Vayu Deva (Wind God) to take his favourite idol, once Dwarka gets submerged and place it in some other place, where devotees can worship. As instructed by Lord, Guru and Vayu took away the idol, when Dwarka was sinking and was hunting a place to the idol. Soon they would a sacred place where they wished to place the idol. However a Shiva temple existed in that area, making it difficult to place the idol nearby. Soon on Guru's invocation, Lord Shiva appeared and agreed to move his temple from the sacred place, to install the divine idol. As Guru and Vayu placed the idol and erected a temple in its honour, the place came to known as Guruvayur.

There is a large Shiva temple at Mammiyur, within a kilometer from the main temple, where the original Shiva temple was relocated.

Guruvayur was a royal temple under Kozhikode's Zamorin times. After annexation of Malabar into British presidency, the temple became part a private trust, headed by titular Zamorin ruler and Chief Priest of temple, who were known for their rigid orthodoxies. This resulted in rigid and cruel discrimination based on caste and creed. In 1930s, calls for equality and social reformation started across Kerala and large number of congressmen assembled at Temple gate protesting against the regime of caste discrimination for temple entry, which resulted in closure of temple in 1931. The temple soon was stormed by a group of revolutionaries ending the centuries-old practice of social discrimination. Soon the Madras Presidency nationalized the temple and agreed to allow people of all castes and creed within Hindu fold, to enter the temple, which started the social renaissance in Kerala's caste ridden society of 1930s. Today, the temple is under control of Government of Kerala, managed under Guruvayur Devasom (a semi-constitutional temple trustee body). Non-Hindus are strictly debarred and several rigid dress code is in place.

Talk
The official language of the city is Malayalam, which is also the language of locals. However, Most signboards in the city are bilingual in Malayalam and English and in temple premises, Tamil is used additionally. In addition to Malayalam and English, most shopkeepers and tourist guides can understand and speak Tamil.

By plane
The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport at Kochi (87 km). Or, passengers can use Calicut International Airport at Kozhikode, about 100 km away. A large helipad at Guruvayur, enables helicopter transportation from Cochin and Kozhikode airport. An aerodrome and heliport is under consideration at Guruvayur, to cater to the growing number of pilgrims

By train
Gurvayoor town has a small railway station, where only few inter-city passenger and one inter-state passes. Equally convenient to take the train up from Thrissur which is a major railway station where almost all trains bound to Kerala stops and then take a taxi (approx ₹300) to Gurvayoor.

By bus
Its pretty easy to get a bus from near the Thrissur railway station (KSRTC Central station) or private bus from Shakthan Thampuran Bus Stand, to get connections from other parts of Kerala. A few buses of SETC of Tamil Nadu connects the town with Coimbatore and Palani.

KSRTC bus from Guruvayoor to Mysore and Bangalore KSRTC informations from Guruvayoor

By car
Guruvayur is connected rest of country with NH 17 (Mumbai-Kochi highway) and several state highways connect the town to Kozhikode, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Palakkad, etc.

Get around

 * Guruvayur is a small town, which can be accessed by foot. The entire town is structured around the Guruvayur temple, which is also the major commercial center. Taxis and autorickshaws are available at nominal rates. Be sure you fix your price before getting into one or else there is a chance of the drivers fleecing the passengers, especially westerners. There are no intra-town bus services, however most of the inter-city buses stops at various suburbs of the town.
 * Traffic snarls can be very serious because of many devotees coming at the same time. Sometimes traffic can come a stand still for three or four hours.

Sree Krishna Temple
The entire town of Guruvayur rose to international fame because of the popularity of the Great Krishna temple, thus the temple and its surrounding temples are the prime attraction. Nearly 6-10 million devotees visit annually and it is one of the richest temples in South India.

About the temple
The temple is believed to have been constructed by Lord Parasurama (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) himself, on request of gods. The original temple was just the sanctum sanatorium. The other complexes were later built by various kings and other rich men, as gratification of their devotion to the presiding deity.

The outer ring of the temple was constructed by the Great Zamorin King Manadeva Varma of Kozhikode, one of the celebrated devotees of Guruvayurappan (as the presiding lord is known), with traditional Kerala architecture. The first layer of the inner ring and the extensive mural works were one of the oldest parts of the structure, commissioned by 4th Pandyan King in AD 52, after being cured of snake-bite poison.

The sanctum sanatorium is the oldest structure and believed to have been constructed by Lord Parasurama. Archeologists estimate the complex to be at least 1000 years old. The sanctum sanatorium is unique, as the structure itself has 3 layers inside, something not seen in other places. The original idol is placed inside the third layer. The idol is a larger representation of Lord Vishnu, but often represented as a baby form of Krishna, with the help of sandal sculpting. Nearly 100 golden lamps light the inner sanatorium.

Apart from the main deity, 4 smaller temples are located inside the main complex. While sanatoriums for Lord Ganesh and Lord Sree Padmanabha (Royal deity of Travancore in Trivandrum) are located inside the inner layer of the temple; sanatoriums for Lord Ayyappa and Goddess Parvathi are located in the outer layer.

Offerings and Pujas
The main offering of Guruvayur is Thulabharam (Scale) where the offerer gives various items according to his body weight, determined by weighing himself on a scale with an equivalent amount of offering in other side of scale. The lord's favourite items are yellow bananas (Kadali variety). Other items like butter, ghee, sugar, and Thulsi leaves, are also offered in amounts equal to the weight of the offerer. Some rich people offer in terms of gold or coins, but this is rare.

The second most important offering is performances of Krishnaattam. Krishnaattam is an exclusive art-form, unique to Guruvayur temple, not performed elsewhere. The art-form is the precessdor of Kathakali, hence the costumes looks similar. 10 stories of Krishna's life are adapted in this highly Sanskritzed dance-drama. The art-form was composed by Zamorin Manadeva Varma in the 14th century, which later inspired the composition of Kerala's celebrated art-form Kathakali. Krishnaattam is performed daily in evenings throughout the year except in the monsoon month of July. Prior bookings are needed have performances of the art-form in one's name and performances are done outside the temple, thus allowing anyone to watch the art-form.

Other major offerings to the lord, which will be returned are Paal Payasam (Milk Dessert), Bananas, Sugar, Avial (Flatten rice), Sandal balls, Butter and Unniappams.

Morning breakfast, afternoon feast and dinner are free to all devotees and provided to anyone who assembles at Ottupura (temple dining hall) on a first-come-first-served basis.

Do
Being a small temple town, reglious activities tops the list.

Festivals

Cultural

 * Watch training classes for Krishnaattam performers at Krishnaattam Academy or try a hand in painting of Kerala murals at the Institute of Mural Paintings.
 * Watch training classes for Krishnaattam performers at Krishnaattam Academy or try a hand in painting of Kerala murals at the Institute of Mural Paintings.

Shopping
The East Nada (Gate) and West Nada are major commercial alleys with several shops sellings traditional Kerala handicrafts, souvenirs, lamps, brasswares, paintings all related to Hinduism. Apart from handicrafts, Guruvayur is famous for its large unique variety of savories especially the supersize Guruvayoor Padappadams, Murukkus, sweets, etc.

Guruvayur is also one of the largest centers of devotional music centers, with dozens of music stores selling several records of chart-busters devotional albums and audio/video CDs.

Eat
The temple town is known for its pure vegetarianism. Around the temple one can find plenty of pure vegetarian restaurants. The cuisine is mostly South Indian. Most restaurants serve good ghee roast dosa. Finding a non-vegetarian food stall or bar is extremely difficult like any other Hindu pilgrim town, though its not banned.

Drink
Tap water is generally safe, as Guruvayur Devasom authorities have installed several water purification plants across the temple, to provide safe drinking water to devotees. Being a major pilgrimage town, almost all bottled water brands as well as soft-drinks brands are easily available. Coffee and Tea vending machines are found at main places and all restaurants serves some of the best filter coffees in the state. Tender coconut water (Karikku) is also easily available and several juice bars provides freshly squeezed juices.

Sleep
Be it free room or service apartment or budget hotel or posh luxurious resort, Guruvayur has all within its 12 km² of town limit. Being a temple town, that attracts more than 6 million annually, accommodation is never an issue. Guruvayur Devasom has 4 major accommodation types for temple devotees. Central reservation: +91-487-255-6-100, 255-6335, 255-6799, 255-6347, 255-6365

Go next
Once you are done with all the temple visits, head to Chavakkad Beach around five km from Guruvayur. A beautiful quiet beach during the day. To watch the fishermen bring in their catch get to the beach around 5PM, an awesome sight with a zillion fish on display on the beach itself.

title: Guruvayoor


text:
Gush Etzion

Gush Etzion is a group of Israeli settlements in the West Bank between Bethlehem and Hebron, about 950 meters above the sea level. It has a rich history dating from the 1920s and 30s to recent times. An area full of natural springs, green hills, desert views, amazing landscapes and unforgettable sunsets, besides a small population and an even smaller number of tourists.

Understand
Some attempts at Jewish settlement were made between 1927-1947 in the area, but during the Israeli independence war all the settlements were abandoned or destroyed. The renaissance began after the Six Day War in 1967, when the Israelis captured the area. A majority of the population are Orthodox Jews (many of the smaller settlements entirely so), and the area is known in Israel for its high proportion of immigrants from English-speaking countries.

Gush Etzion lies along the Jerusalem-Hebron highway, on the beautiful mountains of Judea, surrounded by vineyards.

The settlements of Gush Etzion can be mainly divided into two groups:
 * The main bloc, where the settlements of Bat Ayin, Alon Shevut, Kfar Etzion, Rosh Zurim, Elazar, Migdal Oz and Neve Daniel are. These are mostly small villages of 500-3,000 people each. Some are farming communities, while others are more suburban.
 * The town of Efrat, an American suburb-style settlement with 9,000 residents. Like Amman, Bath, Istanbul, Lisbon, Moscow, Rome, San Francisco, Seattle and Yaoundé, Efrat is built on seven hills. The city is shaped like a snake, and has two entrances at its northern and southern edges.

Climate
Gush Etzion lies at an altitude of 900 meters (nearly 3,000 feet) above sea level. This makes its climate somewhat cooler and drier than most other places in Israel (but similar to Jerusalem, where the altitude is about 700 meters). Summer is hot but with low humidity. Winter is cool to cold and frequently rainy. Snowfall and below-freezing temperatures are quite rare, one or two days a year at most.

Talk
Although the official language in Israel is Hebrew, many people in Gush Etzion aren't fluent Hebrew speakers. English-speaking tourists have no problem speaking with Efrat's residents, since there are a lot of native English speakers. Even those who aren't will know sufficient English to guide you.

Aside from English, you might also bump into French and Spanish speakers.

By plane
Ben Gurion International Airport is Israel's main entry point for the international traveller. From the airport, the cheapest way to Efrat is to take the 485 bus to Jerusalem (see Jerusalem article), and then to take a local bus to Gush Etzion. If you have more money, then take a taxi from Jerusalem to Gush Etzion. If you have even more money, take a taxi directly from the airport to Gush Etzion. Hitchhiking (described below) can be difficult if you have a suitcase.

By train
Trains come in hourly from across the country via Beit Shemesh to "Jerusalem - Malha" station. You can get off at one of two stops:
 * Jerusalem-Malcha - the last station on the train line. Getting off here, you can walk to the adjacent bus stop, where all the Jerusalem-Gush Etzion buses stop (see below). If you prefer to hitchhike, take the 31 or 32 local buses to the trempiada (see below).
 * Beit Shemesh - this can be quicker, because you avoid the slow (42 minutes long) but scenic ride through the mountains to Jerusalem. However, the only bus from here to Gush Etzion is the 409 which runs only 4 times per day in each direction.

By bus
There are numerous bus routes from Jerusalem (near the Central Bus Station) to Gush Etzion. They are generally armored, so you do not have to worry about possible sniper fire targeting Israelis in the West Bank. The fare from Jerusalem is always about ₪7. Some of the more important routes are as follows:
 * 380/381/382 - runs down route 60 (the main north-south road in Gush Etzion and the West Bank as a whole) on the way to Hebron, stopping at each junction along the way. It is the most frequent route (several times an hour), and the fastest, if your destination is close to route 60. However, most places in Gush Etzion are not in walking distance. Efrat's southern entrance is 5 minutes walk from road 60, but most of Efrat is not within walking distance of the southern entrance. The only settlements that are adjacent to the road are Elazar and Alon Shevut.
 * 361/362/364 - go into all the small settlements west of route 60. This can make for a long nauseating ride if you're towards the end of the route. Looking out the window rather than at your phone can help with the nausea. Frequency is about hourly.
 * 367/369/377 - runs the length of Efrat. Frequency is about hourly.

Besides the Central Bus Station, these routes stop at the Malcha mall and the trempiada (the southernmost intersection before leaving Jerusalem, in the Gilo neighborhood, officially known as Tzomet HaMinharot) before leaving Jerusalem.

Until 2017, these routes had numbers in the 160s (such as 160 and 167), so don't get confused by references to the old numbers.

By thumb
If you don't have a car, the fastest, cheapest and easiest travel option is hitchhiking, or in Israeli English, "to catch a tremp". Any time between 6am and 1am, you're likely to be picked up by a kippah-wearing, smiling nice guy which will take you for the 12-20 minutes ride to Gush Etzion.

The main hitchhiking hub is in the southern exit from Jerusalem, a place called "Tzomet HaMinharot", or informally the trempiada. Get on any Jerusalem local bus that reaches the Gilo neighborhood (buses # 30,31,32,71,72), and ask any of the passengers for directions to the Trempiada.

You will notice a large group of people waiting on the other side of the road. That's who you're looking for. The rule is first come - first serve, so don't push. On the other hand, don't be too soft. The tremps will stop in the bay, and the driver will announce his destination.

There are two entrances to Efrat, so drivers to Efrat will say which one they'll be entering from, the southern entrance ("Efrat Darom") or the Northern Entrance ("Efrat Tzafon"). Another common destination is Tzomet HaGush, the road junction at the center of Gush Etzion. From here you can get another tremp to a specific settlement, although many Israelis consider it unsafe to hitchhike here (in the past, it has been the site of kidnappings and shootings by Palestinians). But you don't need to risk this: if you wait a bit longer at the Jerusalem trempiada, someone will likely come for your specific settlement.

When you enter the car, say "Todah" (Thank you), buckle up, and switch your cell phone to vibrate. Try not to talk during the ride, unless the driver initiates the conversation - they might not enjoy a stranger's background noise during their daily commute. When getting off, make sure you took your belongings, and thank the driver once again. There is no need to pay him/her.

From Beit Shemesh, hitchhiking is easiest, but the 409 bus also runs several times a day.

Get around
Within each settlement, walking is the best option if you don't have a car. The only exception is Efrat, which is very long and narrow, so hitchhiking or taking an (infrequent) bus may be more effective.

Between settlements, it is unsafe for visibly Jewish people to walk unarmed. Also, the distances between settlements are often large. Hitchhiking (from within a settlement) is a safer and faster option. The bus is even better, when it comes.

See

 * Herodium - a hill shaped like a truncated cone (758 m. above sea level) built as a fortress palace by King Herod the Great.

Do

 * Natural Springs All around the area, many people enjoy the natural springs Gush Etzion has to offer. Most popular springs are the Palestinian village of Ein Sajma (near Bat Ayin) and En Chaniya (on the road from Gush Etzion to Jerusalem via Wallajeh road). For more information- ask the locals!

Eat
Efrat has a range of basic restaurants: There are a few places to eat.
 * Gavna Restaurant In the forest near Bat Ayin, a dusty road (follow the signs) leads you to a nice wooden construction, built by two brothers from the nearby settlement. With an amazing panoramic view by day and a great atmosphere and music by night, this is a fantastic place (though quite expensive) to enjoy a good dinner.
 * Burgers Bar, which serves burgers and other meaty dishes.
 * The Bagel Place, serving American style bagels
 * Angel's, which is a bakery and coffee shop.
 * Two different pizza shops, offering pizza and ice cream.

Stay safe

 * Never exit from a ride in the middle of the road. The only safe option is to exit inside a settlement, after you've passed the security checkpoint. The only exception is Tzomet Gush Etzion, where it's easy to take a ride to Kfar Etzion, Efrat, Alon Shevut or the southern side of the area.
 * Don't enter a car while a person sits in the back seat, but you're being offered the front seat. Otherwise you may end up kidnapped by a militant group.
 * Get to know the locals. They will tell you about the safest places to go, and will sometimes even take you to the tourist spots themselves. This will prevent you from strolling around and straying into a military camp.

Go next

 * Hebron
 * Jerusalem

title: Gush Etzion


text:
Gustavia

Gustavia is the capital and largest town of Saint-Barthélemy, in the Caribbean.

Understand
Gustavia is the main town of the island of St. Barthelemy (also known as Saint Barths). It was named after King Gustav III of Sweden. St. Barts was a French possession originally, and the area was called Carenage after the shelter it provided to damaged ships. Gustavia was founded after Sweden bought the island from France in 1785. The island was sold back to France in 1878.

There was never any hope of lucrative sugar plantations in St Barths. It was too dry, too steep, too rocky, and, finally, too small. Unsuitable for agriculture, the island was never coveted as a prize during the colonial wars of the 18th century.

The place did, however, have a serviceable harbor, and this allowed the town that grew around it, Gustavia, to play a key role in that intermittent conflict, a role that was to presage much of its future.

As a free port under Swedish rule, Gustavia served the useful purpose of providing a trade and supply center for the various warring factions. When a sea captain captured a prize or raided a settlement, he could sell the booty in St. Barths, and at the same time resupply his ship. Overflowing warehouses surrounded a harbor packed with ships from many nations, and a mercantile and architectural tradition was established that has lingered to the present day.

Today, the town has adjusted itself to satisfy the increasing number of visiting tourists. Restaurants, boutiques, and gift shops now line the busy streets.

Get in
Visitors can reach St Barts by commuter airlines, e.g., flying from St Martin. Pilots must be certified as proficient to use the modest runway under less than optimum winds.

Ferries run regularly from Marigot on St Martin. With any appreciable wind, crossings can be quite rough.

Small- to medium-sized cruise ships, such as Oceania’s Insignia, sometimes call on Gustavia. Most must moor outside and tender their passengers to and from the harbor through moored yachts of all sizes. Most tenders dock within easy walking distance of downtown.

Get around
Taxi cabs are available. The city is small and walkable, but not necessarily disabled accessible. See the main St. Barts article information on other rental options.

Buy
As a key destination for the "beautiful people", the town (and island) offers many ultra-deluxe stores, with prices to match. Merchandise often comes from major European designers and brands...clothing, wines, etc. Even souvenirs carry premium prices. Some items may be found nowhere else in the Caribbean.

Eat
Gustavia has quality restaurants serving American, Italian, Swedish, French and other types of food. Most restaurants have a 10-15% service charge in addition to steep prices for superbly-prepared dishes. They must use all-imported ingredients except for seafood.

title: Gustavia


text:
Gustavus

Gustavus is a city in Southeastern Alaska. It is the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park.

Understand
The town is best known as the gateway to Glacier Bay. The small community (population 450) is located at the mouth of the Salmon River, on the north shore of Icy Strait just 50 miles northwest of Juneau. Incorporated in 2004, the city of Gustavus has a mayor and city council. Many residents are self employed in tourism and service/retail businesses, as well as fishing, power generation and aviation. Glacier Bay National Park employs over half of the residents of Gustavus. Others work for the state or for the Chatham School District.

In the past early settlers called the town Strawberry Point. The U.S. Postal Service renamed the town in 1925. The first successful homestead patent was issued in 1923, although settlers were present here as early as 1917. Historically, the area was used by the Tlingit people for seasonal harvesting and smoking of salmon.

The town encompasses 29.2 square miles of land and 10 square miles of water. The area's maritime climate is characterized by cool summers and mild winters. Summer temperatures range from 52 to 63 degrees; winter temperatures range from 26 to 39.

The geology of the area was influenced by glaciers and ocean. As the glaciers that covered the area 200 years ago have receded, the land in Gustavus has risen quickly – over an inch each year. Land that once was within the tidal zone is now high and dry. Where grasses once predominated, spruce trees now tower.

By road
There is no road leading into Gustavus from outside Glacier Bay National Park.

By ferry
The Alaska Marine Highway began serving Gustavus at a new stimulus-bill funded new dock, on November 23, 2010. There is also a small boat harbor that has primitive privately maintained floats.

Get around
Gustavus has only one main road, linking it with Bartlett Cove in Glacier Bay National Park.

Do
Gustavus has a city hall, medical clinic, fire department, library, restaurants, churches, a grocery, taxi service, rental cars, a city park, a nine-hole golf course and a small boat harbor. The state-funded Gustavus School serves about 50 students in grade K through 12.

Eat
Both the Glacier Bay Country Inn and Gustavus Inn have restaurants.

Connect
Cell phone coverage is spotty, constrained by heavy tree cover, but the Gustavus Library is a free Wi-Fi hot spot.

Go next

 * Glacier Bay National Park

title: Gustavus


text:
Gustine

Gustine is a small town in Merced County in the San Joaquin Valley region of California.

Go next

 * Fresno - take 33 south to 152 east to 99 south, about 2 h away
 * San Francisco - take 5 north to 580 west to 80 west, about 2 to 3 1/2 h away, depending on traffic. Make sure to allow lots of time during peak hours and on Saturdays.
 * Monterey - take 33 south to 152 West to 156 West to 1 south, from 1 1/2 to up to 3 h away, depending on traffic. Make sure to allow a lot of time on Saturdays.
 * San Jose - take 152 west to 101 north, about 2 h away
 * Sacramento- take 5 north, about 1 1/2 h away
 * Santa Cruz- take 152 west to 1 north, about 2 1/2 h away with no traffic.

title: Gustine


text:
Guthrie

There's more than one place called Guthrie:

United Kingdom

 * Guthrie (Scotland) - in Scotland

United States of America

 * Guthrie (Oklahoma) - in the state of Oklahoma
 * Guthrie (Kentucky) - in the state of Kentucky
 * Guthrie (Texas) - in the state of Texas

title: Guthrie


text:
Guthrie (Oklahoma)

Guthrie is a city in the Frontier Country region of Oklahoma.

Understand
Guthrie's history is tied closely to the Oklahoma Land Run which commenced at noon on April 22, 1889. Within about six hours' time from when the cannons sounded, some 10000 people settled in a consolidated area that would become Guthrie.

From 1890 to 1907, Guthrie then served as territorial capital, and with earnest effort given to building and development, had the makings of an Eastern city. Partly because of that, it thence became the initial capital of the state of Oklahoma when it entered statehood, a position it held from 1907 until 1910, when that designation transferred to Oklahoma City due to the emerging commerce there.

Guthrie's historical downtown has been well preserved from the beginning, and as such the whole downtown sector is on the national registry of historic places with some 2000 buildings individually listed.

Also of note to Guthrie's colorful history was a shootout in 1898 by which an outlaw named "Little Dick" West of the Wild Bunch Gang died.

Historic District Sites

 * Walton-Derr House, 1517 W Noble Ave. Just an old house.
 * Walton-Derr House, 1517 W Noble Ave. Just an old house.
 * Walton-Derr House, 1517 W Noble Ave. Just an old house.
 * Walton-Derr House, 1517 W Noble Ave. Just an old house.
 * Walton-Derr House, 1517 W Noble Ave. Just an old house.
 * Walton-Derr House, 1517 W Noble Ave. Just an old house.

Do

 * Highland Hall, 1102 E Warner Ave. A relaxing park with pond and trails. Tel: +1 405-282-8400.
 * Oklahoma's International Bluegrass Festival, usually held the end of September or early October.
 * Pollard Theatre, 120 W Harrison Ave. An active performing arts center. Tel: +1 405-282-2800.

title: Guthrie (Oklahoma)


text:
Guwahati

Guwahati (Assamese: গুৱাহাটী Guvāhāṭī guah-hah-tih), previously Gauhati, is the capital and the largest city in the Indian state of Assam. Guwahati is one of the fastest-growing cities in India.

Understand
Excavations trace the origins of the city to around the 4th century and it was the capital of Assam until the 10th century.

The rapidly-growing metropolis has a population of 2.4 million in 2020, and encompasses an area of over, making it the largest city in the state and the region. It is the main centre for shopping, retail and business; attracting people from all over North-Eastern India as well as from Eastern Bhutan. The slow, meandering Brahmaputra River is a focal point of the city while the lush hills of the Shillong Plateau provide a verdant backdrop for the suburbs.

The pleasant environment, however, is somewhat tempered by the inadequate investment in the region, which is apparent from the low quality of roads. Still, despite the average infrastructure, private investors have been drawn to the city, and there has been something of a boom in the construction of shopping malls and high-quality condominiums, which has helped raise the economic profile of the city. The end of the decades-long insurgency in Assam has also helped in the economic boom of Guwahati.

This article also covers Dispur (দিছপুর Dichpur), Assam's seat of government. In 1973, Assam was reorganized to form the smaller states of Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram. Assam lost its capital, Shillong, to Meghalaya. A search for a new capital ensued and the choice settled on Dispur, then a suburb of Guwahati.

Climate
Guwahati's climate is subtropical. Summers last here from April to May, monsoons from June to September and winters from October to March. Temperatures here approximately range between 19°C and 26°C. 161.3 cm is the average yearly precipitation level here. Humidity is more than 80/90% often.

By train
Guwahati is well connected by train with all of India's major cities. It is served by two railway stations, and. The reservation office is 30 m north of Guwahati station, and at the third window, you can book a foreign tourist quota on trains originating from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) network. Tickets can also be booked on the Indian Railways website.

By car
NH-31, NH-37 and NH-40 pass through Guwahati. It is a 2- to 2½-hour drive via Rangia to the Bhutanese border town of Samdrup Jongkhar.

By bus
It is connected to all major cities of North-Eastern India by bus. There are overnight bus services for Dibrugarh, Kohima, Imphal, Itanagar, Siliguri.

By boat
Luxurious vessels with AC upper decks connect Guwahati to Dibrugarh, passing through Kaziranga and Tezpur.

By bus
Buses are the cheapest way of travelling around the city. Guwahati is well connected to most of its city area with local service buses, and there is an air-conditioned bus service between the airport and the city.

By auto
Compared to other cities in India, autos charge a hefty price for the ride. There is no meter system used by the autos, the auto driver will simply refuse to drive you if you insist on the meter, the best you can do is negotiate in advance (check with a local on what it should cost you). Small distance charges are high.

By ferry
If you can not go on the river cruise, at least cross the river on the ferry. Ferries provide transport to the local people - they leave the jetty at Fancy Bazar every half an hour and the round trip will take around 45 minutes. Tickets are ₹10, 1 way. It is a simple way to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Brahmaputra River.

Places of worship

Do

 * North Guwahati- Guwahati Ropeway, M. G. Road, Panbazar.
 * North Guwahati- Guwahati Ropeway, M. G. Road, Panbazar.
 * North Guwahati- Guwahati Ropeway, M. G. Road, Panbazar.
 * North Guwahati- Guwahati Ropeway, M. G. Road, Panbazar.
 * North Guwahati- Guwahati Ropeway, M. G. Road, Panbazar.
 * North Guwahati- Guwahati Ropeway, M. G. Road, Panbazar.

Buy

 * Handicrafts, of the north east and Assam are available in many shops in the city.
 * Handlooms & Handicrafts, the Assam Silk & Golden SIlk "Muga" is world famous. You will be fascinated to see the designs and colours of the local dress called "Mekhela - Chadar".
 * Malls. The city has several shopping malls. These are the major ones: Sohum Emporia, Sohum Shoppe, Guwahati Central, Central Mall, FBB, The Hub Mall, Vishal MegaMart, Big Bazaar, Pantaloons.
 * Tea Bags, of the north east and Assam are available in many shops in the city. Assams Green tea is world famous.
 * Tea Bags, of the north east and Assam are available in many shops in the city. Assams Green tea is world famous.

Budget
There are many good dhabas on the main roads, highways and at the outskirts of the city.

Drink

Guwahati is said to have the most wine shops.

Budget
There are many budget hotels around the station but only a few are licensed to accommodate foreigners.

Nearby

 * Resorts on Sonapur Road - The Sonapur Road (Guwahati-Nagaon Road, NH 37) has many dhabas that are within 10-15 km of the city outskirts (Khanapara). These resorts provide a good weekend break. Brahmaputra resort, Disang Dhaba in Tepesia are good for family outings.
 * Resorts on Sonapur Road - The Sonapur Road (Guwahati-Nagaon Road, NH 37) has many dhabas that are within 10-15 km of the city outskirts (Khanapara). These resorts provide a good weekend break. Brahmaputra resort, Disang Dhaba in Tepesia are good for family outings.
 * Resorts on Sonapur Road - The Sonapur Road (Guwahati-Nagaon Road, NH 37) has many dhabas that are within 10-15 km of the city outskirts (Khanapara). These resorts provide a good weekend break. Brahmaputra resort, Disang Dhaba in Tepesia are good for family outings.

Go next

 * Kaziranga National Park
 * Shillong — an old hill station established by the British and stepping point to Cherrapunji and further south. Meghalaya state transport provides several buses departing in the morning and also regular shared 7-passenger jeep service for ₹170 (more comfortable than the usual 10-pax Sumo) from the bus terminal south of the train station.
 * Tezpur

title: Guwahati