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Kudus

Kudus is a city in northeast Central Java in Indonesia.

Understand
Kudus has two main claims to fame. The first is as the cradle of Islam in Java. It was in the then port towns of Kudus and Demak to the west, that the nine religious leaders arrived, who introduced Islam to Java. They are now referred to as the Wali Songo, and are revered as saints.

The second claim to fame is as Indonesia's capital of the clove cigarette, kretek. The town is home to one of the biggest brands, Djarum, employing 75,000 workers.

Get in
The nearest airport and railway station are in Semarang, 1-2 hours to the west.

A Semarang taxi should be willing to take you to Kudus if picking you up either at the airport or railway station in Semarang.

If travelling in by bus from the west, the buses depart from Terboyo bus station on the eastern side of Semarang.

Road travel from Surabaya to the east will be around six hours.

By ojek
Using ojek (motorcycle taxi) is more flexible to go to tourists or public objects.

By ride-hailing app
There are some online ride-hailing apps such as Gojek. You may choose to go by motorcycle or car.

See

 * Old Town - also known as Kauman
 * Kretek (clove-scented cigarette) factories
 * Kretek (clove-scented cigarette) factories

Mountaineering
Hiking to Mount Muria peak (1,700 masl) via Rahtawu village.

Buy

 * Jenang — this palm sugar and coconut milk confection is the gift of choice for visitors wanting to take something back for family or friends. There are a plethora of small stalls clustered around the mosque, selling religious paraphernalia, but also jenang.
 * Soto Kudus spices — if you wander in to the maze of streets to the side of, and behind the mosque, you may see signs offering the spices for Soto Kudus, for sale. You'll get a little twist of paper with enough ground spices for one dish. Sauté onion and garlic in a splash of oil, add the contents of the wrapper, and cook until smelling delicious. Add meat or vegetables of your choice, enough stock to cover, and simmer until done. That's probably how the recipe goes. Grease it up with some coconut milk if you have any. Remember, no beef please, but buffalo is OK if you have it.

Eat
The dish which bears the town's name is Soto Kudus, a soup served with rice. This is the local version of the generic dish that is found across the archipelago in a myriad of local varieties. In Kudus the meat tends to be chicken of buffalo. There seems to be a local presumption against eating beef from cows, perhaps in recognition of the town's pre-Islamic Hinduism. The spicing for the soup is heavier with the warm notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, reminiscent of the curries of south Asia.

Drink
Try local wedang (hot drink).
 * Wedang pejuh, is made from pomelo, ginger, lemongrass, and also sweetened condensed milk.

Connect
The telephone area code of Kudus is 0291.

Go next

 * East
 * Pati
 * Rembang
 * Surabaya
 * North
 * The mountain village of Colo lies on the slopes of Mount Muria around 45 minutes drive north of Kudus. Garden restaurant Waroeng Keboen Iboe is a pleasant escape from the heat of the lowland plains.
 * Jepara
 * South
 * Grobogan
 * West
 * Demak, once the center of Demak Sultanate.
 * Semarang, capital of Central Java.

title: Kudus


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Kuelap

The fortress of Kuelap (or Cuélap), associated with the Chachapoyas culture, consists of massive exterior stone walls containing more than four hundred buildings near Chachapoyas city in Amazonas.

The structure, situated on a ridge overlooking the Utcubamba Valley in northern Peru, is roughly 600 meters in length and 110 meters in width. It was likely built to defend against the Huari or other hostile peoples. Radiocarbon dating samples show that the structures construction started in the 6th century AD and occupied until the Early Colonial period (1532-1570).

Get in
There are kombis daily & taxis from Chachapoyas to Kuelap. Most leave from their respective stations 2 to 3 blocks from the main square.

You can also walk up the hill from Tingo. It takes a couple of hours but is very scenic.

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

title: Kuelap


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Kufri

Kufri is a tiny hill station in Southern Himachal Pradesh, India.

Understand
Kufri has a population of around 1,100.

By bus
It should be possible to catch a bus at least hourly to Kufri from Shimla's IGMC Bus Station.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Shimla, which has flights to Delhi, Dharamshala and Kullu. Chandigarh has better options though.

Major airlines including Air India and Air Deccan operate flights to Delhi, Jammu, and Mumbai. Most of the flights to Mumbai require a stop-over in Delhi.

Do

 * Snow trekking
 * Rappling
 * Go-karting
 * Skating

Buy

 * Apples
 * Apple Juice
 * Apricot Jams

Drink
Fresh juices made from local fruits and sugarcane.

Sleep
There are lots of options from dormitories to luxury resort hotels. Online booking is the most convenient way to reserve a room. Alternatively, the tourist office can supply a list of hotels, and you can phone or trek over a reserve a room in person.

Connect
The area dialling code for Kufri is 0177. From overseas, dial +91 177 XXX-XXXX. There are plently of STD/ISD booths. The amount is calculated on a digital meter, and is paid after the call. A short STD call will cost you around ₹10.

title: Kufri


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Köýtendag Nature Reserve

Kugitang Nature Reserve is in Lebap Province, Turkmenistan, near Kerki.

Understand
The Kugitang Nature Reserve is on the west slope of the Kugitang Stanto Mountains on the border to Uzbekistan. It covers an area of 27.140 ha. The name Kugitang (Koyentag in Turkmen) means 'almost impassable mountains'. The area was declared nature reserve in order to protect the unique ecosystem of the mountain range and the rare capra falconeri, a wild mountain goat included in the Red Data Book of Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).

The most striking feature of the Kugitang Nature Reserve is the Dinosaur Plateau with more than 400 footprints of dinosaurs, about 150 million years old. The footprints were left by a dinosaur species called Magalosauripus in the Jurassic period.

History
The Kugitang Nature Reserve was created nature reserve in 1986.

Landscape
The highest mountain of Turkmenistan Air Baba (3137 m) is situated in the nature reserve. The area constists of a great number of deep canyons. The Hodjachilgazbaba Canyon is 28 km long and the walls of the Daraya Canyon are up to 600 m high.

Flora and fauna
The upper parts of the mountains are covered by walnut, maple, juniper ans wild grape forests. The nature reserve was established for the protection of the wild mountain goat (called Markhor in Turkmen). It is reported that their number has increased to 500 after the creation of the reserve. There are also about 300 mountain sheep (Arkhar in Turkmen), 100 wild cats. Occasionally Persian leopards have been seen in the reserve.

Climate
Average annual precipitation is about 400 mm, rising up to 800 mm on the top of the mountains. Mud floods and land slides may occur in spring.

Get in
Turkmenistan Airlines operates flights from Ashgabat to Turkmenabat (Chardjou) daily. Flying time is approximately 1 hour.

You will need to ask a travel agent to organise the trip, who will get you the border zone permit and provide a driver.

Stantours offers a 6-day trekking tour to the Kugitang Mountains starting in and to Ashgabat and ending in Turkmenabat. After a one hour flight from Ashgabat to Atamyrat (Kerki) and a three-hour car ride you will climb to the Dinosaur Plateau, visit the Grotto of the Forty Maidens at Kyrk Gyz Gorge and camp in the Gozel Gyzer Canyon. On the next day you will hike to the Maydan base camp and watch wildlife. Then you will ascent the Ayrybaba, the highest mountain in Turkmenistan (3,137 m). After a visit of the Kugitang Caves you will camp on the Lake Koytenkol and finally return by car to Atamyrat (Kerki) and by train to Turkmenabat.

It is about 6 hours by car from Turkmenabat to the reserve.

Fees and permits
You will need a special permit in order to visit a nature reserve, and it will be necessary to apply for it through a travel agent well in advance.

See

 * Hodjachilgazbaba Canyon, 28 km long
 * Daraya Canyon with walls up to 600 m high,
 * Aira Baba peak, highest mountain of Turkmenistan, 3137 m,
 * Um-bar Depe Canyon with a waterfall 28 m high,
 * Plateau of Dinosaurs with more than 400 footprints of dinosaurs on a steep limestone slope. The largest of these footsteps has a diameter of 80 cm. According to the legend the footprints were left by elephants used by the armies of Alexander the Great. The footprints were left on the bottom of a shallow lake. When the lake dried up, the footprints baked in the sun. Later, a volcanic eruption sealed them in lava. The giant dinosaurs were accompanied by smaller ones whose footprints are similar to a human foot.
 * Kainar Baba sulphur spring
 * Kyrk Gyz Cave (Forty Girls Cave), one of the most revered pilgrimage shrines in Turkmenistan.
 * Kaptykan (Kap Kutan) Cave, part of the most extensive network of limestone caves in Central Asia. The caves were already mentioned by the Greek geographer Diodorus Siculus They were used by smugglers in the 18th and 19th centuries and explored by Soviet geologists Yalkapov and Maltsev. The first hall of the Kaptykan Cave is known as 'Father Christmas and Snow Maiden' because of the two huge figures formed by the stalactites and stalagmites.

Go next
Turkmenistan Airlines operates flights from Atamyrat (Kerki) to Ashgabat daily except Mon. Flying time is 1 hour 50 minutes.

It is about 6 hours by car from the reserve to Turkmenabat.

title: Köýtendag Nature Reserve


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Kuinre

Kuinre is a village of 930 people (2021) in the Dutch province of Overijssel. In this beautiful old town you can find the ruins of an old castle in the forest "Kuinderbos".

Understand
Kuinre, believed to have been founded around 1100 AD, was a separate municipality until 1973, when it became a part of IJsselham, which in turn merged into the municipality of Steenwijkerland in 2001.

Kuinre is a former coastal town with a very rich history. Back in the days of the Zuiderzee, Kuinre's harbour was one of the most important ports of the Zuiderzee. After completion of the Noordoostpolder Kuinre became landlocked unlike almost all of the other old coastal towns of the former sea; companies, shops, and fishermen went out of business. Nowadays you can still see and visit the old harbour completely landlocked.

From Amsterdam, Almere, Heerenveen and Sneek
To get to Kuinre by car, use the A6 highway, which connects to the A7 between Heerenveen and Sneek in the north, and the A1 near Naarden in the south. Use exit 15 on the A6 (Emmeloord), to turn onto the N351 driving away from Emmeloord. You'll soon find yourself on a T-intersection, where you should turn left to stay on the N351. Following this road will take you directly to Kuinre.

From Enschede
To get to Kuinre from Enschede, use the A35 followed by the N35 to head west. Once the N35 meets the A28 in Zwolle, turn right heading for Meppel. Near Meppel, on Knooppunt Lankhorst, head onto the A32. After some driving, use exit 8 and turn left on the roundabout onto the N351. Follow this road through Wolvega until eventually you reach Kuinre.

title: Kuinre


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Kukup

Kukup is a town in Pontian District, Johor, Malaysia. It consists of Tanjung Piai, the southernmost point of mainland Asia.

By road
Go towards Pontian Kecil town. From JB turn left, from Batu Pahat proceed, to south direction. Travel for about 20 km before reaching Kukup town. Proceed on for about 2 kilometers before you reach Kukup Laut where you can find the ferry terminal to Tanjung Balai in Indonesia.

By bus
You can take a bus service from Larkin Bus Terminal in Johor Bahru to get to Kukup. It costs about RM17/pax.

By taxi
You can hail a taxi from Johor Bahru to get to Kukup. Most of the taxis do not use meter so you have settle the price before boarding the taxi. It is very easy to get a taxi in Malaysia especially Johor Bahru and Kukup.

By boat
Kukup houses the Kukup International Ferry Terminal, with ferry services to Tanjung Balai Karimun, Indonesia.

Eat
Most water chalets in Kukup provide up to 4 meals per day, inclusive of the famous BBQ seafood buffet for dinner. This includes Sambal Sotong (Spicy squid), clams, sambal stingray, barbequed pork, fish and chilli crab.

Go next

 * Pontian Kechil
 * Iskandar Puteri

title: Kukup


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Kuldīga

Kuldiga (Kuldīga) is a picturesque town on the Venta River in the Kurzeme region (formerly Courland) of western Latvia. Its old town was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.

Understand
With the smaller Alekšupīte River running through its old town centre, it is known as "The Latvian Venice". Indeed the river flows alongside the walls of many of the town’s houses. Like Ventspils, Kuldīga's streets are all made of various kinds of cobblestone.

Local authorities aim to make the old town of Kuldiga an important international tourism destination, to attract domestic and foreign tourists and contribute to the sustainable development of the town. The tourism resources of the town are based on its historical and cultural heritage and the Venta River which is one of the largest and most picturesque rivers of Latvia.

The historic and architectural heritage of Kuldiga is well preserved. In the park near the Kuldiga district museum fragments of the stone wall and the cellar of the first Kuldiga castle, built in 1242 by German knights, have been preserved. Later Duke Jacob’s castle (ruined in 1701) was situated there as well. Today it is a sculpture park. The old brick bridge across the Venta, built in 1874, is one of the longest of its type in Europe.

The Old Town Hall was built in the 17th century. The cellar of the building was the first prison in Kuldiga. The oldest wooden building in Courland was built in 1670 near the Town square on the banks of the River Alekšupīte.

The town square was an old assembly place for people. Traditional cultural heritage is part of everyday life in Kuldiga with textile workshops and celebrations of national festivals. There are also more contemporary events such as the annual running competition on the Alekšupīte (River of Aleksis) and the ‘naked people run’ over the historical bridge on the Venta River at Midsummer night.

Get in
There are several daily buses, taking 2-3 hours from capital Riga and frequent bus connections from nearby Ventspils and Talsi. Check 1188.lv for details.

Get around
Most of Kuldīga's attractions are within walking distance.

Only the sand caves are 4-5 km north of the Ventas River bridge. You might want to try hitch-hiking there, but people can be hesitant to take you along the way, because it is mostly families and couple going there. Alternatively, take a local taxi, which usually are available near bus station ("Maxima" or "Rimi" supermarkets)

See
Most of the main attractions are close to each other and easily reached by foot, except for the sand caves.

Go next

 * Check out the nearby attractions of the Kurzeme region.
 * Alsunga – A tiny but proud village just about 20 kilometers away, most known for its unique folklore and "sklandrauši" (carrot cakes), a famous snack in all of Latvia. Recipe has not changed from medieval times, usually sold by street vendors in the village streets in summertime.
 * Jurkalne – A beautiful white-sand beach with high shore. Spectacular sunset over the Baltic sea, excellent for summer camping and kids.
 * Liepāja – Named "the city of wind", and the southwestern most city of Latvia. Famous for its sandy beach, numerous music events, and the largest organ in the world. It features modern architecture and a long history along with the formerly secret Soviet military neighbourhood of Karosta (literally: War Port).
 * Ventspils – A modern and artistic sea resort city in the north-west part of Latvia, has many things to see, and is one of the tidiest places in the region. A long-stretching beach and recreational park provide everything for a relaxing holiday week or weekend. It gets its prosperity from the huge ice-free port, which is the busiest port in the Baltic states, and the oil transit business.
 * Saldus – An important cultural, educational, business and trade centre that boasts a very active cultural life, with local musicians, poets, painters and artists. It is home to a music school (1946) and an art school (1984).
 * Tukums – A town some 70 km west of Riga. Not that exciting, but known for its affinity with roses and the Rose Festival, as well as the nearby Cinevilla, a dummy city and now theme park.

title: Kuldīga


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Kuldur

Kul’dur Nature Park is in the northwest part of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast on the southern slope of the Lesser Khingan range, with mountains and hills ranging in elevation from 280 to 1001 m.

The territory includes the upper Kuldur River basin down to its confluence with the Karadub and Karagai Rivers. The town of Kuldur is within the park’s boundaries, five resort complexes, a metal beam factory and a railway station, Brusit. The park covers 36,700 hectares, of which 35,300 are covered by forest. Wetlands and marshes cover less than 3% of the territory.

Flora and fauna
The vegetation is characterized by a diversity of communities: dark coniferous forests, larch forests with dwarf Arctic birch (Betula nana) and shrubs, spruce/fir forests with Korean pine, Korean pine/broadleaf forests in the south, birch/aspen communities, willows and alder, and also grassy meadows and mossy swamps. In the vicinity of the town of Kuldur one finds the border between the boreal and East Asian biomes, and associated high species diversity: Japanese yam (Dioscorea japonica), iris, Daurian lily (Lilium dahuricum), Siberian ginseng (Eleutheroccus  senticosus), shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla  fruticosa) and twenty more Red Book species.

The park’s fauna is also diverse, with four zoogeographical types represented. Boreal species include brown bear, waxwing, three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus), viviparous lizard (Lacerta vivipara), Siberian newts, burbot  (Lota  lota), swallowtail  (Papilio  machaon) and others. Mountain areas are inhabited by Angara-type species such as ermine (Mustela erminea), red vole  (Clethrionomys rutilus), Siberian jay  (Perisoreus infaustus), willow tit (Parus atricapillus), and also Okhotsk-Kamchatka species like musk deer (Moschus moschiferus), sable, nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes),  crossbill  (Loxia curvirostra) and pine bunting (Emberiza leucocephala). At the same time, Amur-type fauna can be found in the valley broadleaf forests: Himalayan black bear (Solenarctos thibetanus), yellow-throated marten, Ussurian wild boar  (Sus scrofa ussuricus),  Machurian wapiti  (Cervus elaphus xanthopygus), Manchurian hare (Lepus brachyurus mandschuricus) raccoon-dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), Eastern blue magpie  (Cyanopica cyanica), Amur chicken-snake  (Elaphe schrenki), Amur grayling (Thymallus dahuricus) and others. The intermingling of these four zoogeographical zones creates an unusually high diversity of species with rather low numbers of each one. The territory also includes thermal hot springs.

title: Kuldur


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Kulim

Kulim is a city of 272,000 people (2010) in Kedah. Bordering Penang in the west, Kulim is an ever-developing district where the Kulim Hi-Tech Park, the first high technology industrial park in Malaysia that was established in 1996, is situated.

Understand
The name for the town, ‘Kulim’ was derived from trees that was ubiquitous in that region (scientific name: Scorocarpus Borneensis Becc) The kulim tree is a plant that is present in Malaysian and other ASEAN rainforests. is the third largest town in Kedah after Alor Setar and Sungai Petani.

Kulim still maintains shop houses that were around since before the World War II. The city also famous for its industrial parks like the Kulim Hi-Tech Park.

By road
Kulim can be accessible from the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway. Butterworth-Kulim Expressway is connected to the North-South Highway.

From the North-South Highway, exit at Persimpangan Seberang Jaya (EXIT 163). At the roundabout, go towards Kulim direction. You will be in the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway. Exit Persimpangan Lunas after the second tol plaza of BKE.

From Penang, after crossing the Penang Bridge, go towards Seberang Jaya direction. Then, exit at Persimpangan Seberang Jaya (Exit 163). At the roundabout, go towards Kulim direction. You will be in the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway. Exit Persimpangan Lunas after the second tol plaza of BKE.

By plane
There is no airport in Kulim. However, there are plans to build an airport in Kulim by the year 2020. The nearest airport to Kulim is the Bayan Lepas International Airport in Penang, which is about an hour drive from Kulim.

By train
There is no railway station in Kulim, because the railway track does not pass through Kulim. The nearest railway station to Kulim is in Bukit Mertajam, which is about 15 minutes drive from Kulim.

Get around
As elsewhere in Malaysia, the town is connected with a good road system. Taxis are widely available for hailing.

Do

 * Drive along the Kulim Hi-Tech Park. A beautiful high technology park with wonderful nature views.
 * Food Hunt : Kulim is famous for its multicultural food. Head to Lunas to try the Duck Rice or to Paya Basar for the spicy Indian food. Other famous foods found in Kulim are Mee Goreng (in Kulim town), Cendol (in Taman Saroja) and Char Kuay Teow.
 * Hiking : Hike the highest peak in Kedah, Gunung Bintang.
 * Play golf at Kulim Hi-Tech Golf Park and Country Resort.
 * Go fly a kite at Kulim Lake Garden.

Events and festivals
Cultural Center.
 * January
 * 3rd-15th - Thai Pongal: Tamil (South Indian) harvest festival celebrated by the local Chitty (Tamil/Malay) community. The festival corresponds to the winter solstice, and is traditionally dedicated to the Sun God Surya. It marks the beginning of the northward journey of the Sun from its southernmost-limit, a movement traditionally referred to as uttarayana. The festival coincides with that known as Makara Sankranthi which is celebrated throughout all of India as the winter harvest. Celebrated at the Kulim Hindu Sabha, and organized by the Kulim Hindu Youth Organization. The day preceding Pongal is known as Bhogi (often celebrated on the 14th), and is marked by discarding old things (sometimes in bonfires!), focusing on new belongings, and cleaning, painting or decorating houses. It is similar to Holika in northern India.
 * January/February
 * Varies by lunar calendar - Chinese New Year: Local celebrations center on Kulim Guan Yin Temple, and include a giant lion dance.
 * February
 * Thaipusam: Hindu festival honouring Lord Muruga including a parade concluding at Kulim Nattukkottai Nagarthar Sri Thandayuthapani Temple
 * April
 * Vaisakhi : Gurdwara Sahib Kulim host this festival.
 * May
 * Vesak: Celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama, the historical Buddha. Persatuan Buddhist Kulim organize special parade with decorate car on that day.
 * July/August/September
 * Theemithi : Hindu festival featuring walks over hot coals at Sri Maha Muthu Mariamman Devasthanam (Sera Estate temple), Sri Muthumariaman Temple (Merah Estate Temple) and other Hindu temples across kulim. Each temple has their own day for the festival. Usually the festival will be held on Friday.
 * November
 * Deepavali or the Hindu Festival of Lights: Hindu celebration of the triumph over good over evil. Head to Paya Besar during this festival month for fell the real taste of Deepavali.
 * December
 * Christmas Day: Church Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus host this festival

Eat
Kulim's cuisine reflects the Chinese, Nyonya, Malay and Indian ethnic mix of Malaysia due to directly influence by Penang state (the food capital of Malaysia), but also shows some influence of Thailand. The famous foods are Kelang Lama Laksa, Lunas Duck Roaster, Yam Rice, Curry Wan Tan Mee, Chicken Leg Wan Tan Mee, Curry Mee, Hokien Char, Prawn Mee (Hokian Mee), Loh Mee, Kuey Teow Teng, Duck Egg Char Kuay Teow, Glutinous Rice Cendol, Chee Cheong Fun, Ice Kacang, Chai Koay, Tom Yam, Stem Fish, Yau Char Kuai, Zhap Chai, and many more.

Restaurants

 * Wen Xi Dim Dum
 * Dao Xiang Dim Sum
 * Honey Bakery and Cafe
 * Rashidah Bakery and Cafe
 * NurHas Rest
 * Lemon Tree Cafe (旺角美食)
 * Lemon Tree Cafe (旺角美食)

Drink

 * Todi - fermented young coconut. It's a bit of an acquired taste, but it's a popular choice amongst certain local communities because it's relatively cheap.

Sleep

 * Tune Hotel Kulim, nearby KLC Shopping Mall Website: www.tunehotels.com/our-hotels/kulim
 * Rose N Lily Motel, nearby Honda Showroom Website: www.seriimpianainn.blogspot.com/2011/03/rose-n-lily-motel.html
 * Sri Impiana Inn, nearby Tesco Kulim Website: www.seriimpianainn.blogspot.com/2011/03/rose-n-lily-motel.html
 * Merak Motel, Kelang Lama (nearby Hi-Tech Kulim) Website: www.kulimmerakmotel.blogspot.com
 * Kulim Inn, Website: www.mpkk.gov.my/web/guest/kuliminn
 * Merak Motel, Kelang Lama (nearby Hi-Tech Kulim) Website: www.kulimmerakmotel.blogspot.com
 * Kulim Inn, Website: www.mpkk.gov.my/web/guest/kuliminn
 * Merak Motel, Kelang Lama (nearby Hi-Tech Kulim) Website: www.kulimmerakmotel.blogspot.com
 * Kulim Inn, Website: www.mpkk.gov.my/web/guest/kuliminn

Go next

 * Langkawi
 * Sungai Petani
 * Penang
 * Alor Star

title: Kulim


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Kulithalai

Kulithalai is a town on the south bank of River Cauvery in India. It houses the famous Shiva temple 'Kadambar kovil' (a Thevara sthalam). A taluk headquarters of Tamil Nadu, Kulithalai is a big town on the railway between Tiruchirappalli and Karur. From here one can visit Ayyarmalai Rathnagiri Eshwarar hill temple (also known as Vaatpokki) 6km away.

Get in
It is well connected by bus every 5 minutes from Trichy the nearest big town. All the buses going to Coimbatore, Karur, Erode stop there and it is only a 40-minute drive watching the beautiful Cauvery on your right and the railway line on your left amidst plantains and paddy fields.. It is so green you might feel like driving up and down again.

Get around
Mookombu is located about 20 km (towards Trichy) from Kulithalai. It is a lovely picnic spot with a lot of water. Kollidam river divides from River Cauvery here. There is a big dam here.You can walk through the dam and take a look at the fast flowing water.

Loads of temples around and it is the perfect place after your retirement. If you want to taste post retirement life, you should visit and stay there for a week minimum. Lots of temples around and it is well connected by train to Bangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Erode, Trich, Mysore, Mangalore and Kashmir.

See
Place for Akanda Cauvery (Wide Cauvery). Nice to walk and spend evening time on the river sands. Good experience of the country side. One can enjoy a walk on the long bridge connecting Kulithalai with Musiri across the river Cauvery.

There are very few places to visit in Kulithalai, so big city people may not be comfortable for long here. You can come just to relax for an afternoon. The Manathattai Agraharam has two good old temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. The places near the bus stand have some good old temples as well. You can also visit the Rathna Girishwarar temple, in Aiyarmalai 5 km away from Kulithalai and well connected by road.

Kadambavaneswara Shiva temple is situated on the bank of the Cauvery.

Many other Temples are on your route to Trichy. Thirupparai Thurai - Temple, Ramakrishna mission, Thapovan - Ashram. Jeer Puram, Sirugamani & Perugamani, Gunseelam (other side of Cauvery).

Buy
There really isn't much to buy here except vegetables from the market. There is a weekly market for fresh vegetables. There is a hotel named "Srinivasa Cafe" near Court will provide you with a delicious and homely vegetarian meal. The most important thing in Kulithalai that you can get is fresh betel leaves and jasmine.

Sleep
Better get in to Trichy for stay (34 km). '''water facility is better than other towns here. Here is no demand for water. So we observe 24 hours water.'''

title: Kulithalai


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Kullaberg

Kullaberg is a nature reserve in Höganäs municipality in southern Sweden.

Understand
Kullaberg is a nature reserve in the Kullabygden region in Scania. It is known for its climbing possibilities - one of the few places to climb in Scania, nice hiking, and a golf course. It's also home to a controversial series of giant driftwood sculptures, and their related micro-nation, Ladonia.

Flora and fauna
Parts of the park are off limits part of the year because of rare birds nesting in the area. There are usually signs put up but you might want to check in the center before you start hiking in the area.

By car
Kullaberg is 1½ - 2 hours drive north of Malmö. From Helsingborg it is little less than 1 hour.

By bus
Take the bus to Mölle and walk from there.

By foot
From Mölle, follow the signs and walk up the hill.

Fees and permits
Entering Kullaberg by car is free.

Get around
There are three parking lots where you can park your car. After that the only way to get around is on foot.

See

 * Nimis and Arx - Gigantic beach art structures built by Lars Vilks with wood found on the shore. Ladonia (Swedish: Ladonien) is a micro-nation, proclaimed in 1996 as the result of a years-long court battle between the artist and the local authorities  over the  two sculptures.  As Nimis' existence is not sanctioned by the state, it can be a bit difficult to find. There are no official sign posts, nor is it marked on maps. It lies a few kilometres northwest of the town of Arild and somewhat farther from the town of Mölle, and can only be reached on foot following a well-worn path with yellow "N"s painted on trees and fences. The path begins as an easy stroll past Himmelstorp, a well-preserved 18th-century farmstead that sells teas, ices etc, but quickly becomes a steep and rocky climb down to the coast.
 * Lighthouse - A very picturesque lighthouse is located at the parking lot furthest away.
 * Caves - There are several caves in the nature reserve, the most wellknown are Silvergrottan (Silver cave) and Visitgrottan (Visit cave).
 * Information Center - There is an information center where you can learn more about the history and nature of Kullaberg. The entry is free but it is not impressive.

Climbing
The climbing in Kullaberg is the most well-known in Scania. Read about it here.

Golfing
There is a golf course. Be careful not to hit the climbers.

Hiking
Kullaberg has lots of scenic views and is very beautiful to walk around in. There are well-marked trails along the northern and southern shores, with a number of connecting trails across. The trails are fairly easy, although you should keep track of your children as the drops are significant at times. The Blue trail is significantly harder with a lot of ups and downs to hike, although it gives you some very beautiful viewpoints.

Diving
There are several diving schools in the region which will let you take your diving certificate just off the shore of Kullaberg.

Eat & drink
There is a large hotel at the first parking lot where you can eat and drink. Food is affordable starting at 90 kr. Beer prices are similar to the rest of Sweden.

There is also a kiosk where you can buy candy and drinks.

Lodging
Stay at hotel Rusthållargården in Arild, close to Kullaberg. You can stay at the hotel in the nature reserve or at a hotel in Mölle.

Camping
Camping is not allowed in the nature reserve.

Not far from Mölle there is a camping site which also has cabins and huts you can rent.

Stay safe

 * Be careful when hiking in the area, about once a year someone falls from a cliff and gets hurt pretty badly.
 * Also be careful when climbing in the area, 5 climbers have lost their lives when climbing in Kullaberg since the 1960s.
 * Several paths and hiking trails cross the golf course, a golf ball to the head can be fatal so please watch for golfers before you cross the course.

title: Kullaberg


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Kullu

Kullu is a small hill-station in Himachal Pradesh, India. It is situated some 40 km. before on way to Manali.

Understand
Kullu is famous for its Dussehra festival. The major sources of income of here are tourism and agriculture. Around Kullu, many tourists visit Manali and Manikaran. The local language of Kullu is Pahari.

By road
Luxury buses are available everyday from Chanderlok Building, Janpath, Delhi, charges are approx. ₹1000. The state deluxe, semi-deluxe and ordinary buses are much cheaper than private buses. Local tourism buses are available from all inter-state bus terminals in North India.

Get around
There is an intra-town bus-system, which will take you to all the important places at very nominal prices. Local taxis can be hired easily. Also, you can rent motorbikes from the local shops and enjoy a ride in the mountains.

See

 * Rohtang Pass
 * Solang Nala
 * Vashishth Hot Water Springs
 * Manali
 * Hidimba Mata Temple
 * Mannu Temple
 * Old Manali
 * Buddhist Montessori's
 * Nagar Castel
 * Rorik art gallery
 * Hamta Pass
 * Chanderkhanni Pass
 * Malana Village
 * Jana Falls
 * Bhekhli Heights
 * Bijlimahadev
 * Kais Dhar
 * Raghunath Temple
 * Manikaran
 * Kasol
 * Bhuntar
 * Bajaura Temple
 * Jalori Pass
 * Soja
 * Siyolsar Lake

Do

 * Skiing (In winters only)
 * Rafting
 * Rock climbing
 * Para-gliding
 * Trekking
 * Mountaineering
 * Jeep Safaris
 * Bike Safaris
 * Angeling

Don't
If planning for a trek up the beautiful mountains, don't forget to hire a local guide. As the local customs and laws are quite strict and you might land up in trouble if unknowingly you offended any of their laws. Touching their property, temple or trespassing can be considered an offend and can attract a fine of few hundred to few thousand rupees (₹). Don't pluck apples from trees or steal them from little kids selling them. In short, don't commit any theft here. Don't jump in jungles, any small move can lead you into deep valley.

Buy
Local handicrafts and shawls are a must buy.

Buy only from reputed shops. Rates of local vendors are cheaper than showrooms but demands identifying skills for shawl fiber and material. There is a big fare during dushera and there is special discount during Dushera festival. but you have to bargain and you don't get any guarantee of the items purchased out of the authorized showroom.

Must buy fruits from Kullu. They are cheap and fresh too.

Eat

 * Eat fresh trout from River Beas and dimsums from a MO-MO corner.
 * The Spice House restaurant at Himalayan Hamlet Kullu offers multi cuisine specialities with a host of local delicacies.
 * Shobla International They offer excellent local cuisine and all sorts of other cuisines.
 * Apples are famous in Kullu

Sleep

 * Hotel Kasol
 * Hotel Shandela 01902252426,9418388208
 * Hotel Vaishali
 * Hotel Shandela 01902252426,9418388208
 * Hotel Vaishali
 * Hotel Vaishali

Go next

 * Manali - another very good tourist spot.
 * Manikaran - A religious tourist spot. Famous for hot water springs. Surprising to note that hot water springs are only few feet away from river Beas having chilled water. Sometimes one can feel the floor of the temple hot on walking as spring water flow underneath.
 * Rohtang Pass - Major attraction among tourists. Pass at a height of.

title: Kullu


text:
Kulmbach

Kulmbach is a city in Franconia. Its main claim to fame is a high brewery density, which albeit much diminished with economic consolidation was historically quite remarkable.

By plane
Nuremberg Airport is the closest airport with scheduled flights

By car
Kulmbach is easily accessible on the autobahn A70, approximately 90 km north of Nuremberg and 40 km south of Hof.

See
There are regular guided tours of Kulmbach from April through October every Saturday at 10.00 meeting at Tourist Information Kulmbach. There are also themed tours, historic cellar tours, night watchmen tours, or special tours for children.

Churches

 * , with an exterior dating back to the 15th century. The interior was remodeled in a neo-Gothic style around 1878.

Castles

 * Steinenhausen.JPG

Breweries
There are two main breweries in Kulmbach, the small Kommunbrau Brewery and the big Kulmbacher Brauerei.

Memorials

 * In front of the Altem Friedhof (Old cemetery) is the Ehrenmal f die Gefallenen (Memorial to the Fallen). In front of the town hall stands a statue of Hans von Kulmbach, actually Hans Suess, a painter, draftsman and graphic artist.

Events

 * There is a spring market in March.
 * In April or May there is a public celebration (Volksfest) at Schwedensteg.
 * The annual Bierfest (Kulmbach Beer Festival) begins on the last Saturday in July and continues through until the first weekend in August. Getting accommodation might be a bit difficult at the time of the Bierfest, but not impossible, if you're early enough with for reservations.
 * The Alstadtfest (Old Town Festival) takes place on the first weekend in July and is organised by the restaurants, bars and pubs in the old part of the town.Kulmbach Altstadtfest.JPG
 * Every other year odd-numbered years), Kulmbach hosts one of the world's largest model figure shows, Internationale Zinnfigurenbörse. Thousands of miniatures from exhibitors and retailers from around the world are on sale and display. Also visit the German Museum of Miniatures inside the Castle Plassenburg. Founded in 1929, the museum has more than 300,000 individual pieces.

Hiking
Kulmbach is located in between the hiking areas of Fichtelgebirge, the Frankenwald, Obermain and Franconian Switzerland. There are also wonderful walks and short hikes in and around Kulmbach at any time of the year, especially the Hans Edelmann Ringweg around the city with very beautiful views.

Kulmbach is located on the Burgenweg (Castle Trail). This 88-km long hiking trail runs from Bayreuth to Lauenstein, via Kulmbach, Kronach, Teuschnitz, and Ludwigsstadt. It leads to the Plassenburg, Rosenberg Fortress in Kronach, and Lauenstein Castle.

Buy
The farmers' market in front of the town hall takes place every Wednesday and Saturday 07:00-12:00, selling fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, sausages and flowers.

Eat
Best of Kulmbach are fried sausages (Bratwurst) and beer.

Drink
Kulmbacher Eisbock, ice bock, is a dark, tasty beer speciality with 9% alcoholic content. Overall Kulmbach is famous for its beer and several breweries still operate in town, though diverse factors have lead to a consolidation and reduction of independent breweries, with many either bought up by bigger companies or driven into bankruptcy.

Go next
Visit Bamberg to see the medieval town and try the local smoked beer (Rauchbier) or to Bayreuth, is famous as the host of the Richard Wagner Festival, furthermore the Markgräfliches Opernhaus is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Weblinks

 * https://www.kulmbach.de/xist4c/web/Town-Hall_id_13355_.htm (en) - Official Kulmbach website

title: Kulmbach


text:
Kulpsville

Kulpsville is a town in Montgomery County in the state of Pennsylvania.

title: Kulpsville


text:
Kulusuk

Kulusuk is a town on the island of Kulusuk in Greenland.

Understand
Meaning "the chest of a black guillemot" in Greenlandic, Kulusuk is one of the largest towns in Eastern Greenland, with a population of around 310.

Get in
Icelandair has one daily flight from Reykjavik, as well as offering day tours all-inclusive of airfare from Iceland. Air Greenland has service to Nuuk as well.

The airport has a duty-free shop and a small souvenir store where one could get their passport stamped for free.

Get around
There are few vehicles in Kulusuk. Walking is a good way to see the town, and bicycles can be hired at Hotel Kulusuk.

Hotel Kulusuk offers free airport transfers. If you're not staying there you may have to walk from the airport to town, about a 40-minute walk

Connect
There is mobile phone coverage around Kulusuk and Tasiilaq and some more places in the area. Greenland is not part of the EU, so roaming prices are much higher than in the EU. See also https://telepost.gl and your telephone operator.

Go next

 * Tasiilaq - A larger settlement only accessible by boat or helicopter ride from Kulusuk

title: Kulusuk


text:
Kumai

Kumai is a city in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Get in
Pelni ships travel from Surabaya to Kumai approximately once every two weeks. It is also possible to fly to Pangkalanbun and take a taxi or ojek (Rp 50.000 / Rp. 20.000 respectively) to Kumai.

See
Kumai is the jumping-off point for Tanjung Puting National Park, famous for its orangutans. It is easy to hire a guide (which is required for park entrance) in the city, for approx. Rp. 150-200K per day.

Do
The best way to see the park is to hire a boat for a few days. Hire the boat locally will save you a lot of money. it is very relaxing and pleasant to see the park that way.

Eat
There is no special food in Kumai, due the fact that Kumai is accumulated from some various ethnic in Indonesia such as Maduranese, Javanese, Bugis, Banjar, Dayak, etc., For those people love Banjar Food, there is Ayayan Restaurant which have special Soto Ayayan and Sate Ayayan, made of Ayam (chicken) and soto is like soup. For those people love Javanese Food, there is a special place for this: Jawa Timur Restaurant at Pangkalan Bun, and Tempe Ayam Penyet located close to Pelindo III Kumai - Adrian Bocahe Ngguyu Resto.

Drink
No alcohol is available in the city and there is no nightlife of any kind. You can find Bingang beer for Rp. 40.000 if you're willing to take a 10 km trip to the nearest "karaoke" (brothel) joint.

Sleep
- Losmen Aloha: 30K rooms, small, fan, shared bathroom.

- Losmen Kumara: 25K rooms, small, no fan.

- Hotel Garuda: 40K rooms, medium size, fan, private Indonesian-style bathroom (no shower or hot water)

title: Kumai


text:
Kumamoto

Kumamoto (熊本) is the capital of Kumamoto prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. It is notable for the impressive Kumamoto Castle.

Understand
The city is home to about 730,000 people.

Kumamoto originally meant "turn of road/river" with a different kanji used (隈本). In 1607, Kiyomasa Kato, the founder of the castle, changed the kanji to stronger looking 熊, which means "bear". The city's nickname is Mori no Miyako (capital of the forest).

Kumamoto suffered from two large earthquakes in April 2016. The earthquakes were notable for causing damage to one of the city's major tourist destinations, Kumamoto Castle. The main keep of the castle reopened in June 2021.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a good multilingual guide site.

By plane
Can be reached by shuttle buses that make a one-hour jaunt into the town (¥670).

If arriving at Fukuoka Airport, there is a highway express bus service (named Hinokuni-go) that will bring you to Kumamoto for ¥2000 and takes roughly 2 hours. Alternatively you can take the subway to Hakata Station and take the JR Kagoshima Line (see below).

By train
Kumamoto is a major stop on the Kyushu Shinkansen. Trains run several times per hour from Hakata station in Fukuoka (40–50 minutes, ¥4990) and Kagoshima (50–60 minutes, ¥6760). Hourly Sakura services connect Kumamoto to stations on the San'yo Shinkansen: Hiroshima is about 1 hr 45 min away (¥12970), Okayama 2 hr 30 min (¥16230) and Osaka 3 hr 20 min (¥18020). Faster Mizuho services also run during the morning and evening hours, but these are not valid for foreign tourists travelling with a Japan Rail Pass.

From Tokyo, Kumamoto can be reached by train (a combination of Nozomi and either Sakura or Tsubame) in as little as 6 hours. Japan Rail Pass users can travel from Tokyo to Kumamoto in 7 hours using a combination of Hikari and Sakura trains.

Local trains from Fukuoka take 2½ hours to reach Kumamoto (change in Omuta) at a cost of ¥2,070.

In addition to the central station, JR operates a second at Kamikumamoto just to the north, near the Fujisakidai baseball ground. Streetcars into the city centre also connect from here.

By ferry
If you're coming from Nagasaki, the ferry may be preferable. One ferry route involves travelling via Shimabara. Take the JR line from Nagasaki city through to Isahaya then switch to the private Shimabara line. It is not JR but don't exit the ticket gate to get there, it is tucked away on Platform 0. You can buy your tickets from the drivers on the train. Two ferries depart towards Kumamoto from different ports along this line but the most convenient is likely the one from Shimabara Port direct to Kumamoto Port. Walking maps from the stations to the ports are scrawled at each train station. After a rather scenic 30-60 minute cruise, you'll have to take a bus to actually reach central Kumamoto city (about one hour).

Allow about 4 hours for all these connections unless you carefully plan it using one of the big transport books at JR Nagasaki's ticket counter. The entire trip should only set you back roughly ¥2500, most of which goes to the Shimabara train company despite being the shortest leg. English-language signage along this route is minimal. Incidentally, the final Kumamoto-bound ferries depart at 8PM daily, but one of the trains to Shimabara arrives a few minutes after that so don't get caught out.

Get around
A fairly extensive bus system and a simple two-line tram system keeps Kumamoto City and some of its neighboring towns well connected. City day passes are valid on the buses and trams.

By tram
One tram line runs from Kumamoto Station and the other from Kami-Kumamoto Station. They meet near the downtown area and run east to Kengun Machi. One trip costs ¥150.

By bus
Buses run fairly regularly from stops through Kumamoto City. The new main bus terminal is the Sakuramachi Bus Terminal (桜町バスターミナル). It opened in 2020 embedded in a shopping center that has a pleasant roof garden.

By bike
Kumamoto is a comfortable city to ride around. For reference, it takes about 30 minutes by get to Kumamoto Gakuen University from Kamikumamoto.

Specialities
There are some unique traditional foods in Kumamoto.
 * Karashi-renkon (辛子蓮根), deep-fried lotus root stuffed with mustard, is the most popular food for visitors. It's rarely found elsewhere in Japan.
 * Ikinari-dango (いきなり団子) is a famous sweet. This contains a slice of sweet potato and anko-bean paste. Visitors who come to Kumamoto buy it for a souvenir.
 * Basashi (馬刺し) is raw horse meat.
 * Taipi-en (太平燕), a noodle soup of Chinese origin.
 * Kumamoto Ramen (熊本ラーメン) is also famous.

Restaurants

 * The Dipper Dan nestled right next to Daiei is a popular ice cream and dessert parlor in Shimotori. Perhaps not as unique, but appears to be a local favorite.
 * Ringo no Ki is a cafe at Shimotori in downtown. You can eat apple pie and some breads. Coffee and tea are especially recommended. The coffee is made from rare beans, and the tea tastes and smells like apples.
 * The Dipper Dan nestled right next to Daiei is a popular ice cream and dessert parlor in Shimotori. Perhaps not as unique, but appears to be a local favorite.
 * Ringo no Ki is a cafe at Shimotori in downtown. You can eat apple pie and some breads. Coffee and tea are especially recommended. The coffee is made from rare beans, and the tea tastes and smells like apples.
 * The Dipper Dan nestled right next to Daiei is a popular ice cream and dessert parlor in Shimotori. Perhaps not as unique, but appears to be a local favorite.
 * Ringo no Ki is a cafe at Shimotori in downtown. You can eat apple pie and some breads. Coffee and tea are especially recommended. The coffee is made from rare beans, and the tea tastes and smells like apples.
 * The Dipper Dan nestled right next to Daiei is a popular ice cream and dessert parlor in Shimotori. Perhaps not as unique, but appears to be a local favorite.
 * Ringo no Ki is a cafe at Shimotori in downtown. You can eat apple pie and some breads. Coffee and tea are especially recommended. The coffee is made from rare beans, and the tea tastes and smells like apples.
 * The Dipper Dan nestled right next to Daiei is a popular ice cream and dessert parlor in Shimotori. Perhaps not as unique, but appears to be a local favorite.
 * Ringo no Ki is a cafe at Shimotori in downtown. You can eat apple pie and some breads. Coffee and tea are especially recommended. The coffee is made from rare beans, and the tea tastes and smells like apples.
 * The Dipper Dan nestled right next to Daiei is a popular ice cream and dessert parlor in Shimotori. Perhaps not as unique, but appears to be a local favorite.
 * Ringo no Ki is a cafe at Shimotori in downtown. You can eat apple pie and some breads. Coffee and tea are especially recommended. The coffee is made from rare beans, and the tea tastes and smells like apples.
 * Ringo no Ki is a cafe at Shimotori in downtown. You can eat apple pie and some breads. Coffee and tea are especially recommended. The coffee is made from rare beans, and the tea tastes and smells like apples.

Drink

 * Timeless is a cafe (not a chain) with an exceptionally nice old style atmosphere, usually playing jazz. It is on the right when you exit the Kamitori shopping mall. They have an international selection of coffees (though espresso could be added) and some European style cakes that are worth trying.
 * Pronto is an Italian-style coffee shop located in (again) Shimotori. Aside from coffee, the selection includes various alcoholic beverages, pizza, and desserts.
 * Sinh to is a stylish cafe looking down onto Shimotori street from the 2nd floor.
 * Jeff's World Bar is a popular hang out with English speakers. This is the main expat bar in town. It is usually crowded on Friday and Saturday. It is located south of the Shimotori shopping area. It's about a block from the Daiei Department store. It's on the second floor, so you have to look up to see the sign.
 * The Ginza district comprises many bars and clubs of the western style, it runs parallel to Shimotori, though be warned the area also houses some of the city's seedier attractions.

Budget
Being a large city, Kumamoto has its fair share of alternative sleeping options for the non-discerning traveler willing to camp out anywhere.

Mid-range
There are a tonne of business hotels scattered around the city with most clustered either near the JR central station, or in the nightlife district in and around Sun Road, Fuji and Ginza. Some even have outlets at both. Follow the neon signs.

There are a couple of further business hotels located in and around the central bus terminal (about two blocks from the nightlife district) including a hotel upstairs in the bus plaza itself, and a Dormy Inn directly opposite.

Go next
Travelers would probably not want to spend too long in the city, and may prefer to enjoy the wide range of natural surroundings within easy reach of the city.

 * Aso highland area, with an immense caldera, numerous hot spring resorts, fine hiking courses, and an active volcano to look down into.
 * Amakusa, a chain of islands off the west coast of Kumamoto, and not far from the south coast of Nagasaki (to which ferries run regularly).
 * Hitoyoshi which is famous for hot springs.
 * Takamori is also interesting for Yuusui tunnel.
 * Yatsushiro is famous for igusa, the material used to make tatami mats.
 * Uki is comprised of the former towns of Matsubase, Misumi, Ogawa, Shiranuhi, and Toyono.
 * Misato is famous with 3333 stone steps, the longest set in Japan.
 * Siki no Sato Park has hot springs and kangaroos. What more can you ask for?
 * Shimabara/Mt. Unzen, Nagasaki- you can take the express ferry from Kumamoto Port and be there in 30 minutes. You can see Shimabara Castle and the onsens of Mt. Unzen.
 * Takachiho in adjacent Miyazaki Prefecture is easily accessed by bus from Kumamoto. Services run once in the morning and once in the evening every day.

title: Kumamoto


text:
Kumamoto (prefecture)

Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県 Kumamoto-ken) is a prefecture on the island of Kyushu, in Japan.

Tourist information site
Kumamoto Tourism Guide is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site. The black bear (kuma) at the top-left corner is the prefecture's official mascot and Manager of Sales and Happiness, Kumamon. You will see him often in Kumamoto - in fact, he is the only wild bear living in Kyushu, so don't waste your money on anti-bear equipment.

Cities

 * - Prefectural capital with one of Japan's grandest castles
 * beaches, relaxed lifestyle, and grim history on the western islands
 * - which is famous for hot springs. There are many other places to visit too. Nature at its best
 * - coastal town infamous for an industrial pollution disaster
 * Mitsu Greenland adventure theme park
 * - hot springs everywhere
 * the second biggest city in Kumamoto prefecture.
 * the second biggest city in Kumamoto prefecture.

Other destinations

 * highland area, with an immense caldera, numerous hot spring resorts, fine hiking courses, and an active volcano to look down into.
 * - one of Amakusa islands, the nearest to the mainland
 * - now part of Yamato Town
 * - now part of Yamato Town

Get in
Aso-Kumamoto Airport.

Eat
There are several unique traditional foods in Kumamoto prefecture. First, karashirenkon is one of the most popular foods in Kumamoto. This is lotus root with mustard stuffed into the holes, covered with soybean and wheat flour, and fried. Second, basashi is also popular as traditional food of Kumamoto. It's raw horse meat, and people in Kumamoto eat it with soy sauce and ginger. In addition, takana, a type of vegetable, is one of the specialties of Aso, and there are many types of seafood in Amakusa. Furthermore, Kumamoto is famous for boiled pork-rib (tonkotsu) ramen noodles. People sometimes form a line to eat it in front of the shop.

Ikinaridango is famous sweet in Kumamoto. It contains a sweetpotato and anko. Then they are covered with a dough made from wheat flour. When you bite it, you'll find the contained a sweetpotato has a light, dry texture. "Ikinari" of ikinaridango means "sonomama"- "as it is" or "just like that" in Kumamoto area. It also called Ikinaridago or Ikinarimanzyu. It costs ¥80-100. You should try it once!

Go next

 * Kagoshima (prefecture) is south of Kumamoto.

title: Kumamoto (prefecture)


text:
Kumano

Kumano (熊野) is a city in Mie Prefecture in Japan.

Understand
Kumano is a remote vacation location unspoiled by tourism and ripe with natural beauty. There are many sections of the ancient pilgrimage route throughout Mie and Wakayama but there is only one Kumano City. One of the rare chances to see an ancient Japan filled with mountains, rice fields, rock formations, an endless coastline, older residents who make up the majority of the town strolling the streets of the same city their grandparents and their grandparent's grandparents used to stroll.

Once a year this little town becomes a madhouse when it hosts the Kumano Hanabi Taikai fireworks festival, one of Japan's biggest fireworks displays, taking on much more people than the town was ever meant to handle.

Tourist information sites
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site and an additional English/Chinese site.

Talk
People from Kumano speak a specific dialect that may sound to the untrained ear like a variation of Osaka dialect. While the older residents may be a bit hard to understand, they'll still be proud to try and help you with the little English they know. Pamphlets from the tourist office may be obtained in English.

Get in
Kumano's main train station, Kumanoshi (熊野市), is on the JR Kisei line. The Nanki Limited Express trains from the north run 4-5 times daily from Nagoya, and local trains run from Taki. From Wakayama, transfer at Shingu.

Get around
A few buses run throughout the city and local trains can get you to the few Kumano stations that are situated along the coastline. For better freedom and time management, it is recommended to come with a car.

Buy
Kumano has some great gift shops right outside the station selling unique rock carvings from a black stone native to the area, homemade jewelry, fireworks postcards, and all the mikan cell phone straps you could want.

Eat
No one can leave Kumano without trying the mikan, locally grown mandarin oranges! When they're in season, you can simply big a large bag off of a farm stand on the street for a few hundred yen.

Stay safe
Except for a few drunken business or older men who may wander out at night, Kumano is more or less a safe city. The kind of place where if you accidentally drop your wallet, a few seconds later a nice old women will be chasing after you with them so grateful for the chance to give it back!

Go next

 * Mihama - Mihama town, 15 minutes to the south, is known as the town where you can pick mikan oranges all year round; this is true, as the seasons of the different mikans which grown in this town just barely cover the entire year. Get off at Atawa station and head to the Pine shopping center for a stand with fresh mikan oranges, juice, and a souvenir shop inside. Or just drive the backroads and marvel at all the orange trees.
 * Shingu, about 40 minutes to the south, the first city you'll come to in Wakayama and home of one of the Kumano Taisha Shrines. There are also some castle ruins not far from the station, just pas the Okuwa grocery store.
 * Owase, about 30-40 minutes north
 * Shimokitayama
 * Kihoku
 * Kiikatsuura
 * Kushimoto
 * Totsukawa
 * Taiki

title: Kumano


text:
Kumanovo

Kumanovo is a city with about 105,000 people located in the northern part of Eastern North Macedonia. Located in the middle of a long valley 35 km to the northeast of Skopje, Kumanovo is one of North Macedonia’s larger cities. It is populated by Macedonians, Albanians, Roma, Serbians, Turks, and others.

Understand
Kumanovo is named after the Cumans, a Turkic speaking people who immigrated to the area in the 12th century, escaping the Mongol invasion of Hungary, where they settled in the prior centuries.

Kumanovo today is a modernizing town, where new offices, houses and restaurants are constantly being built. It is well-outfitted with sports grounds, theatres, internet cafes and eateries, and is especially famous throughout the country for its nightlife.

Get in
Kumanovo is on the east-west crossroad in North Macedonia. The major road from Serbia to Greece and from Bulgaria to Albania passes near Kumanovo.

By plane
The Skopje International Airport is located only 17 km away from Kumanovo.

By bus

 * Eurobus - international coach operator that has almost daily buses from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Slovenia. Stops in the major cities Skopje, Tetovo, Ohrid. Prices from €70.
 * Eurobus - international coach operator that has almost daily buses from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Slovenia. Stops in the major cities Skopje, Tetovo, Ohrid. Prices from €70.

Get around
Cheapest and most effective way to get around Kumanovo is by taxi. Some affordable and comfortable companies include DeLux taxi, Speed Taxi and other similar ones.

Public transport in Kumanovo is not well organized, but you still will be able to find buses and minivans to all suburbs leaving the center every 30 minutes.

Events

 * Kumanovo Jazz Festival
 * Days of Comedy Festival - it features comedies from several Macedonian theatres and from neighbouring Serbia and Bulgaria.
 * Kumanovo STREETS Festival - Typically in early July

Buy
Shopping in Kumanovo can be a diverse experience.

Clothes
There are shops such as Springfield, Replay, Van and Nike as well as modern shopping centers. Also there are a few designers working in Kumanovo out of which the most popular is Aleksandar Rashkovich

Eat
Of course Kumanovo has many more options for dining out. The prices are relatively cheap and the food offered contains the finest Macedonian and international cuisine.

Pizza places: Aktuelle, Laguna, Arbesha, Manos, Gino (Tus)

Local Balkan restaurants known as "Kafana" that mainly serve barbecue: Baba Cana, Adzi Trajko, Batko Gjorgjia and many more

While in Kumanovo try the famous "Kumanovo sudzuk" - a sausage produced in Kumanovo and available at all barbecue places.

Drink
Numerous cafes and bars are at your disposal in Kumanovo.

-Nama Café: located on the main square, it is a new cafe, quite big, with space, a nice place to take a coffee, chatter with friends or enjoy a good meal.

-Agora: located in “Garnizon”, Music Type: Alternative and rock

-Cube: located in the building called “Garnizon”, small but nice bar, Music type: rock

-Harisma: located in “Garnizon”, with free internet access, modern cafe

-Carigrad: Turkish style cafe, located in “Garnizon”, quiet and good ambient.

- Amnesia - disco playing mainly electronic music or Macedonian pop music

- Versaj - disco and club with interesting live performances from DJs and singers

- Tunel - a club with turbo folk music and Yugoslav pop music.

Sleep
Hotel Rim-Pariz - in the center of the town ; a small hotel easily connected with main town attractions Hotel Lav - Near the railway station

Go next

 * Skopje - North Macedonia’s capital city.

title: Kumanovo


text:
Kumaon

Kumaon or Kumaun (कुमाऊं Kumāū̃) is the eastern, less easily accessed, part of Uttarakhand, a state of India.

Cities

 * — capital and the largest city in Kumaon division. Nearby Kathgodam is surrounded by beautiful mountains.

 * — a hill station
 * — in Nainital district
 * — beautiful tiny hamlet in the district of Bageshwar offering magnificent views of the Himalayas
 * — an historical area of small villages, also called Drongiri, Dronagiri and Doonagiri
 * — a small city
 * — a Hindu pilgrimage town in Almora area
 * — a small town in Almora with scenic views of the Himalayas
 * — a small town made famous by Jim Corbett who penned the novel "The Man Eaters of Kumaon"
 * — a city
 * — one of the most popular hill stations of India, famous for its lake
 * — hill stations known for its smoky mountains, lake, paragliding and other adventure activities.
 * — a small village near Mukteshwar and one of the finest destinations for eco-tourism, situated in the cradle of the Himalayas
 * — a city close to the China, Nepal and Tibet border
 * — a hill station
 * — a hill station

Other destinations

 * — a wildlife sanctuary established in Binsar for the conservation and protection of the broad leaf oak (Quercus) forests of the Central Himalayan region and its wildlife: also has over 200 bird species

 * — a spectacular panorama of the jungle and its many species of birds, reptiles, flora etc.

Other destinations include Bhimtal, Sattal which are interconnected lakes in Nainital district. Chaukori and Berinag in Pithoragarh also provide majestic views of the Panchachuli peaks of the Himalayas.

Talk
The local dialect in this region is Kumaoni, but everyone can communicate in Hindi. Most traders and all officials speak English.

Get in
Haldwani in Nainital district is the gateway to Kumaon, which is about 290 km from Delhi. Daily bus services of Uttarakhand roadways and Uttar Pradesh roadways are available from ISBT Anand Vihar. Kathgodam is the terminal railway station of Kumaon which is well connected to the cities of Delhi, Dehradun, Howrah and Jammu. Lalkuan is another nearby railway station. From Haldwani every part of Kumaon is easily accessible by bus and taxis.

Pantnagar Airport )

Go next

 * Garhwal – the western part of the state

title: Kumaon


text:
Kumarakom

Kumarakom is a tourist village in Kerala in India. It is a cluster of small islands on the Vembanad backwaters. It houses the popular Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.

History
Kumarakom is on man-made land reclaimed from the vast Vembanad Lake. The name Kumarakom was derived from the deity of its oldest temple Kumaran. Kumaran's Akam or place became Kumarakom. The place was fertile and most suitable for cultivation of rice and coconut trees. This village was part of Vadakkancore kingdom. But in 1750 Marthanda Varma the King of Travacore conquered and annexed it to Travancore. The first Christian Church was built here in the year 1769 in the land granted by the King of Travancore.

The modern history of this exotic backwater village started with the arrival of the English farmer Alfred George Baker in 1847. He reclaimed 500 acres of Vembanad Lake and made garden land and paddy fields. He built the Baker House (also known as the History House). Mr.Baker was the beloved Kari Saipu (possibly an elision from Baker Sahib) of the locals. Four generations of Bakers lived in the house until 1962. It is reported that they spoke Malayalam, the local language, and even wore the "mundu", which is the traditional formal wear of the people of Kerala (a plain white dhoti, with golden silk lining). The Baker Memorial School in Kottayam, was started around 1825, by members of the same family. The Baker House itself was in ruins, until it was taken over by the Taj Group and restored into a luxury heritage hotel. (For an elaborate stdy visit www.kumarakomvillage.com, P.G.Padmanabhan- Kumarakom-An Insider's Introduction)

Landscape
Situated in the Kottayam district of Kerala, which is already known for its lush greenery, this exotic backwater village adds more than a sparkle to it. The landscape basically consists of a cluster of island villages in and around the large "Vembanad Kayal" backwater body (which is also, incidentally the largest in Kerala), with a plethora of branched bodies all lined by beautiful, thick, lush and peaceful greenery. A large number of coconut trees line the horizon to add the perfect tropical touch to the landscape.

With the onset of the monsoon rains, some time around June, the little streams and lagoons break their flow beds and irrigate the fertile land to an overwhelming cover of green. Shrubs, grass and bushes cover every available inch of land to provide a fantastic treat to the eyes with the morning dew and surface mist on the water bodies, spotted in colors with blooms of algae and lillies.

Flora and fauna
Kumarakom is home to a wide variety of tropical flora and fauna. An important point of interest is the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, where a significant number of bird species are known to make migratory visits. The park area covers around 15 acres and functions under the aegis of the government of Kerala. It was developed as a rubber estate by the English colonial entrepreneurs, and called "the Baker estate". One of the important migratory species is the Siberian crane. Other tropical species such as the egret, heron, waterfowl, ducks, moorhens and kingfisher are commonly found.

The Vembanad Lake, is home to many marine and freshwater fish. Varieties of shrimp, prawn and fresh water fish are boutiful. The "Pearl spot" fish is found in relatively lower numbers, and is a local delicacy.

Climate
Kumarakom enjoys a well-balanced tropical climate.The lowest and highest temperatures recorded are and. There is always a cool, fresh breeze, which makes even the warmest weather readily agreeable after sundown. The South West monsoon is from early June to early August. However, slight drizzles persist till early November. Average rainfall is 1100 mm per year.

By car
It is approximately 2 hours from the Cochin International Airport.

By bus
Buses and taxis are easily available at all times of the day from Kottayam and Cochin.

By train
via Kottayam (16 km)

By plane
via Cochin International Airport (75 km)

By boat
From Muhamma (near Alappuzha) to Kumarakom Jetty.

Do
The destination is most popular for its backwater boathouse rides. Rentals are relatively expensive, but well worth every penny if you can also get a good chef on board, who is well versed in exotic local cuisine. It would be well worth to research on reliable service companies and demand for a good chef, while making your booking.

It is a very lovely experience that you can enjoy with either a small or large group.

While having your boat trip through the backwaters make sure that you tell them to stop at R-block for the small toddy shops there provide very good and delicious sea food and toddy.

Eat
The local cuisine of Kerala is a large variety of lesser known delicacies of the most exotic genre. It is markedly different from cuisines from other parts of India, in its emphasis on non-vegetarian culinary and liberal use of a wide variety of spices. It is heavily influenced by the Syrian Christian taste buds. The local saying goes "If thou are in the land of rat snake stew, thou shalt choose the thickest piece". So do not hesitate to try even more exotic menus like frog legs, donkey stew, crane fry, which can be found in some of the more elaborate local toddy shops.

Some of the popular items are listed below:

 * Appam - A local bread prepared with fermented rice and coconut dough. It is slightly sweet and is an excellent combination with meat dishes (beef, pork or chicken) or stew.
 * Kappa - This is the local name for tapioca (a tuber). It is boiled with rock salt and then sauteed with grated coconut, onion, red chilly and curry leaves to make a solid meal commonly eaten with spicy fish or beef curries or roast.
 * Karimeen - Otherwise known as "Pearl Spot", this is probably the most exotic freshwater fish of them all. With its rich flavors, it is a culinary delight. Common dishes are "Karimeen Pollichathu" (a Kerala version of grilled fish, prepared with rich spices, wrapped in a banana leaf on burning coal), fry and curry (prepared either in chilly paste with a special kind of tamarind or with coconut milk or paste).
 * Seafood - The state of Kerala is popular for the large varieties of seafood including shrimp, prawn, crab and squid amongst others. It is difficult to find such varieties of spicy and exotic preparations of seafood anywhere else in the world.

Drink
Sip tender coconut. Refresh yourself with a sip of cool tender coconut and a scoop of its soft white flesh. Ask your tour guide to arrange for fresh madhura kallu (sweet toddy extracted from the coconut palm) and have it the Kerala way with exotic karimeen pollichathu (coal-baked freshwater fish), spicy pickles or kappa (cassava) and fish curry. Optionally, a visit to a toddy shop (locally known as a kallu shappu) can be a good experience. Toddy shops across the state are known to serve excellent spicy seafood, fish and all kinds of meat with matured alcoholic kallu.

Sleep
Without a doubt, the best option is hiring a houseboat for the true experience. A large number of companies offer board and tour on houseboats. Again, good research can save you bucks and a word of caution to insist on getting a good chef, for the true exotic Kerala cuisine experience. There is almost no equal to the peaceful boathouse ride in this piece of tropical paradise. The lazy morning glory sipping authentic Kerala tea, that one can experience is simply beyond words, of course, followed by a sumptuous breakfast, to venture into a busy day of doing nothing at all. It would be a wonderful day to start your day with appam and chicken stew.

Go next

 * Kottayam
 * Alappuzha
 * Cochin
 * Thekkady
 * Munnar
 * Ponmudi
 * Kovalam

title: Kumarakom


text:
Kumaranalloor

Kumaranalloor is a city in Kerala in India.

Get in
About 3.5 km from Kottayam along the Kottayam-Ernakulam route.

title: Kumaranalloor


text:
Kumasi

Kumasi is the main city of Ashanti-Kwahu region of Ghana. It is a vibrant city and the cultural cradle of Ghana. Kumasi is famous for its vast Kejetia market, the largest in West Africa, and for the traditional Asante buildings of the region, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Understand
Kumasi was established by the King Osei Tutu I with guidance from the priest Okomfo Anokye. The city is the home of the Ashanti King, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II (as of 2023), to whom Ashantis from all walks of life pay homage. The king presides over the traditional courts that some residents use instead of the official judicial system.

Prior to the British colonisation, Kumasi was the capital of the Ashanti Empire, one of the great civilisations of Africa. Once one of the most impressive pre-colonial cities in Africa, it was largely destroyed by the British in a series of wars at the end of the 19th century. Little remains today of its former glory.

The city has a population of over 3.3 million. The local language is predominantly Akan Twi.

Get in
Kumasi is a cosmopolitan city with a good road network and one can travel on local buses which ply predetermined routes or charter/hire taxis to take one to his preferred destination.

By plane
Flights from Accra to Kumasi are about 45 minutes long, limited on luggage allowance. Excellent way to get to Kumasi, preferred by most. Small planes, yet short trip.

By train
In 2019, the government signed an agreement to restore railway service to Kumasi from Accra in 2022, and also plans to restore service from Takoradi.

By car
Car rental in Kumasi is available at the lowest cost of about US$75-100 per day.

By bus
To travel by road to Kumasi from Accra you will need to allow 6 hours travel time. The STC bus service does not seem to be running anymore, or very sporadically; however private bus companies like VIP Jeoun (a Korean company) have taken over this route. Price is 25 cedis for a very comfortable and luxury bus (every row contains three seats; two on one side and one on the other), or 16 cedis for regular touring bus (4 seats in each row).

Get around
The tro-tro station in the city centre offers the widest range of destinations. The disadvantage of this tro-tro station is that it is extremely chaotic and that it is right in the city centre: getting out of the city is often problematic due to a plethora of traffic jams. If you can't find your tro-tro, ask one of the tro-tro mates or one of the ticket sellers. The destinations are posted on signs above the bus station.

Another alternative is to catch a tro-tro from the ring road instead. This saves you the hassle of navigating through the Kumasi traffic jams.

See

Do

 * A tour of the Palace grounds explains the history of the Ashanti people and the significance of the Ashanti cultural history.

Adae Kese Festival
The Adae Kese Festival is a very important, albeit rare, celebration of the Ashanti's. It is held in a large open space in Kumasi. The festival is normally well attended and embraced by Ashanti's from all walks of life. The Adae Kese celebrations are magnified forms of Sunday Adae festivals, celebrated every six weeks in accordance with the Akan calendar which is based on a cycle of 42 days and nine months in a year. Invariably, the last Akwasidae festival is set aside for the celebration of Adae Kese.The public celebrations take the form of a colourful durbar of chiefs and queen mothers presided over by the Asantehene. It involves the display of cherished regalia and paraphernalia accompanied by traditional drumming and dancing as well as firing of musketry amidst pomp and pageantry.

The Adae festival is a continuous demonstration of faith in the vision and heritage of the Asante Kingdom, which has existed since the introduction of the Golden Stool in 1700. The festival is also to commemorate and re-enforce the independence of the Ashanti people and an occasion to re-affirm each state's loyalty to the confederacy instituted in the aftermath of the Ashanti war of independence fought against the Denkyeras between 1697–1699. It provides a platform for the King to meet and share his thoughts with his sub-chiefs and subjects and also reward deserving ones.

Buy
Kente fabric strips, glass beads, Ashanti sandals, batik – pretty much everything under the sun at the Kejetia Market.

Eat
The Noble House Hotel serves excellent Indian and Chinese food. Prices are higher than the average Ghanaian restaurant: expect to pay GH₵30–40 for a curry, some rice and a drink. Noble House has the same owners as the Heritage Restaurant in Osu, Accra. Other options with local cuisine include: African Pot and Grill and Mukyia Delight Cafe & Restaurant.

For an unforgettable dinner, try Maame Serwaa Chop Bar. They serve fufu With fish soup and you eat by hands. Of course only ghanaian eat here. You eat alfresco in a quiet road.

Drink
Vic Baboo's (Prempeh II Rd) is not the most atmospheric place in town, but it had an impressive cocktail menu. It is a place to meet backpackers, expats and volunteers. The menu features a variety of different Indian, Chinese, Continental, and fast food dishes. The lassi and milkshakes are especially good, staff are friendly and it has a homely atmosphere.

Stay safe
There are safe guides in hotels. Be mindful of pickpockets at the Kejetia Market.

title: Kumasi


text:
Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam is a town in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. The town is popular for the Betal Leaf Combination (Vettrilai Cheeval) and for the thick-strong coffee. Nearby Darasuram is famous for Airavatesvara Temple, a.

Understand
The town is bounded by two rivers - " River Cauvery" on the north and "River Arasalar" on the south. Kumbakonam gets its name from the deity Lord Aadhi Kumbeswarar. A traditional representation of South Indian culture, the town is known for its temples, intricately carved panchaloha idols, exquisite brass wares especially lamps and silks (Kanchipuram and Kumbakonam are the very well known silk producers). The place, like many other sacred places has a unique festival known as the Mahamaham festival. The festival celebrated once in twelve years coincides with the entry of Sun and Jupiter into constellation of Aquarius and Leo respectively. People from all walks of life have a dip in the Mahamaham tank along with the presiding deities of the town.

'''Kumbakonam is full of temples. Every street, road, locality has a prominent temple.''' Better read some literature on them before your visit them. The Sankara Matam and associated institutions preserve and represent all that is great about the Hindu ancient scholarly tradition.

Some of India's world renowned scholars and intellectuals hail from Kumbakonam including the genius mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. The Town High School and the Kumbakonam Arts College are the grand old centres of education with the latter built on the banks of River Cauvery (kaveri) sometimes referred to as the Cambridge of South India.

It has an excellent road link to all the navagraha temples (gods representing nine planets).

The town which was originally a religious town become an industrial center during last quarter of the 19th Century and early period of 20th century. Predominance was gained for Silk Industries and Metal manufacturing.

The major supplier of silk sarees to the Indian market is the Kumbakonam silk industry.

All the South Indian Brass Pooja articles and utensils are manufactured in Kumbakonam and these articles are manufactured nowhere in South India other than Kumbakonam. Kuthuvilakku and Statues are the famous articles. Stainless Steel utensils are manufactured.

Brass ornamental Lamps (Kuthuvilakku) are also manufactured in Naachiyar Kovil. It is near by Kmbakonam just 8 km towards Tiruvarur.

By plane
The nearest airport is Tirchy Airport. Kumbakonam can be reached from Airport by Bus which will take 3 hours travel.

By bus
Kumbakonam is well connected to all the major towns and cities. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka state transport corporations operate buses to Kumbakonam. A highlight in Kumbakonam is its central bus stand, which is served with AC waiting halls and waiting shades. This was the first full AC bus stand in India.

From Chennai the city is 6-8 hours of travel by bus. There are excellent bus services provided by both government and private travel services. For more comfortable travel it is better to choose a private travel service. From Tirchy it's about 90 km and about 40 km from Thanjavur.

By train
Kumbakonam is connected through the "Main Line" from Chennai Egmore to Tiruchirapalli, bifurcating at Villupuram and is one of the important stations on the section. Regular dailies are available to Chennai, Bangalore, Mysore, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tiruchendur, Rameswaram and Coimbatore. There are also direct tri-weekly trains from Tirupati and weekly trains from Bhubaneswar, Ayodhya and Varanasi.

By auto rickshaw
The cheapest mode of hired transport. Autos ply to small towns in and around Kumbakonam (less than 10 km). As with any other town in Tamil Nadu, negotiate the price before making the trip.

You can negotiate an auto for half-day or full day rates for the nearby places and temples within Kumbakonam. Charges range from 500/- to 750/- approximately for half-day, depending on the places you need to visit. For a 1.5 days I paid ~₹900/- in total.

By taxi
There are two prominent taxi stands in the town. One near the bus stand and the other near town hall. As with any tourist place, the prices are hiked up once they know you are from out of town. For the Navagraha trip, one can base the trip from Kumbakonam. It takes 1.5 days to cover the 9 temples. Taxis charge approximately ₹10 per km. For covering 250 km, one can pay ₹2,500, including driver charges

It's a good idea to check with locals on the average fare for autos and taxis.

Eat
There are lots of budget restaurants in Kumbakonam. Although food in general will be tastier all around the city, it might not be hygienic. Check out the hotels around as some also have good restaurants. Hotel Raayas is better for Non Vegetarian and if you are after some quality Parottas and tasty Non-Veg, Hotel SHANMUGA seems to be the place as it is the LOCAL'S Favourite. Hotel Meenatchi Bhavan, Archanas and Venkatramana are all good for a veggie.

Sterling Resorts provide excellent food for the rich. But if a simple home style food of the local cuisine is what you want, try out one of the 'mess'.

Drink
Coffee. You'll be missing the essence of the trip if you didn't taste the coffee here. Kumbakonam filter coffee is one of the best in India.

Sleep
There are quite few good hotels that one can stay in. It is better make an advanced reservation to save time from running around to find a good place, especially when you have the family with you.

Go next

 * Gangaikonda Cholapuram
 * Konerirajapuram - an ancient Chola temple about 1/2 hour drive off the Kumbakonam Karaikal road. The world's tallest bronze Nataraja is housed in this temple, the statue is bigger than that at Chidambaram.  There are also ancient inscriptions and frescoes from various periods in Tamil history.  Well worth a visit.
 * Rajaghiri
 * Thanjavur
 * Thiruvaiyaru
 * Vaitheeswaran Koil

title: Kumbakonam


text:
Kumbhalgarh

Kumbhalgarh is a city in the Rajsamand District of Rajasthan, 102 km west of Udaipur.

Understand
This is a quite unique and an interesting destination, which attracts tourists from not only all over the country but also all around the globe for its massive citadel built in 1443 AD, and for the wildlife sanctuary nearby.

By plane
The nearest airport to Kumbhalgarh is Udaipur. This is an important domestic airport, 85 km from Udaipur city, which is served by regular flights from several airlines from cities like: Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai.

By train
Due to the hilly terrain, there are no railway stations in the region. The nearest railway stations would probably be Falna, which is around 80 km to the east of the Kumbhalgarh. From there, it is possible to get a taxi. Read below. Falna is part of the Mumbai-Delhi corridor so it is surprisingly well-connected to most major cities.

By car
The most convenient way to reach Kumbhalgarh is to book a private cab from Udaipur en route to Nathdwara and Haldi Ghati (covering a distance of 102 km in 1 hour 38 minutes approximately).

It is possible also to reach Falna via a train and negotiate with a taxi cab just outside. Depending on negotiations, it will cost around ₹2500-4000 for a day trip to Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur and then back to the train station.

The place might be a bit crowded on weekends and holidays, especially during monsoons. Traffic jams are common close to the fort entrance. On such days, it is wiser to park downhill closer to the Maharana Pratap circle than trying to drive all the way up and risk getting stuck in traffic on a narrow mountain road. From the circle, the fort is just 1-2 km uphill.

By bus
Buses to go to Kumbhalgarh can be found from Udaipur.

Get around
Kumbhalgarh is a great hunt for photographers and people who have an inclination for jungle safari. Trekking to Kumbhalgarh Fort is a great excursion. It is the second most important fort of Rajasthan after Chittorgarh.

Other attraction is the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, spread across 578 km² in area and at an altitude of 500 to 1,300 m.

Fort Kumbhalgarh
One of six forts in Rajasthan inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is on the banks of Banas River; the bulbous [Kumbhalgarh] fortress was one of the least-known yet historic citadel, took 15-long years for Rana Kumbha to build. And, what a stupendous creation of man containing a domed palace along the 36 km long winding walls that defended the citadel from series of battlements and second-only to the Great Wall of China.

The fortress is guarded by seven lofty gates as you climb the steep walls which are wide enough for eight horses to march abreast. For years, though she served as impregnable hideouts to Mewari rulers during crisis and stands as a wary sentinel but it was a mammoth task for Rana Kumbha and his men to make such a creation stand to its ground.

In fact, the most interesting part to any Rajasthani fortress is the associated folklore or legends mix with history and Kumbhal-garh is nothing short of it. In 1443, when the king started the construction the structure eventually crumbles to ruins by the sunset until a spiritual preceptor address the king to offer human sacrifice but voluntarily done. The king sent out word, but, as can be expected, no one volunteered. But one day, a pilgrim (also considered to a soldier from the commandment) volunteered and been ritually decapitated. The sacrifice was necessary to ensure that the battle walls being constructed by Rana Kumbha would be strong enough to withhold the sieges. Today the main gate of the fortress, Hanuman Pol contains a shrine and a temple to commemorate the great sacrifice.

The palace at the top of the cliff, known as Badal Mahal is a two-storied structure divided into two interconnected distinct portions, i.e. the Zanana and the Mardana Mahal and elaborately decorated with oil paintings. The Zanana Mahal is provided with stone jalis which facilitated the queens to see the court proceedings and other events in privacy. (Most of the rooms are being restored by the Government of India and thus, found to be locked, the views over the walls to the jungle covered hillsides and across the deserts of Marwar towards Jodhpur, are simply stunning.)

Close to the fortress as you climb down the plains is the Neelkanth Mahadeo Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The 6-foot high stone Lingam (the symbol of Shiva) is the only deity in the area still being worshipped and maintained by the locals. A legend says that Rana Kumbha was said to be so tall that as he sat for his prayers on the floor of the temple, his eyes were on level with the deity! It is said that the king was about 9 feet tall. He never began a day without performing prayers to this deity himself. What an irony that he was beheaded by his own son, as he prayed. It is easy to get lost in time as you stand on the walls of this fort, listening to the stories of its legendary king – the king who gave his name to this area, and who lives on through his deeds long after his tragic demise.

Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Sprawled in an area of 578 km², Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary encircles the massive fort of Kumbhalgarh. This wildlife park has imbibed its name from the same fort.

Broadening across the Aravalli Range, Kumbhalgarh sanctuary covers parts of Rajsamand, Udaipur and Pali districts. The sanctuary makes home to many endangered species of wild-life. The sanctuary provides natural abode to many creatures like wolf, leopards, sloth bear, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, Sambhar, Nilgai, Chausingha (the four-horned antelope), Chinkara and Hare. In fact, Kumbhalgarh is the only sanctuary of Rajasthan, where you can trace wolf engaged in its activities.

This sanctuary inhabits more than forty wolves in number. In the summers, one can easily find pack of wolves strolling around water sources in the sanctuary. If you find your interest in birds, then here you can see a nice variety of birds too. In the park, you can see Grey Jungle Fowl, which is usually inhibited. Peacocks and Doves also gain attention by their own charm. Apart from this, birds like Red Spur Owls, Parakeets, Golden Oriole, Bulbul, Dove, Grey Pigeons and White Breasted Kingfisher are traceable near the water holes.

Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary also enjoys a variety of flora including many trees and plants having herbal qualities. You can also take a safari trip to enjoy the natural habitat of these birds and animals. Every year, Kumbhalgarh draws many a tourists towards itself for its natural beauty.

Do

 * Foot trekking and horse safari organised by local tour operators are proving to be very popular in Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary. A typical safari route enters the sanctuary from the Kumbhalgarh Fort and cutting across the sanctuary it reaches Ghanerao, and then borders an old abandoned road. On this road, one can sight Chinkaras, Neelgais, four horned Antelope and many birds.
 * Take a day trip to Ranakpur Jain Temple - the world renowned state of the art temple, built in 15th century.

Buy
Shopping at Kumbhalgarh is not something that you could call a pleasing experience. There is rarely anyone who really shops at all at Kumbhalgarh. Rather than shopping it is more of a place where people come to relax and admire the beauty of the nature. It is advisable to shop at Udaipur, which is the nearest city to Kumbhalgarh and is only of the most important tourist destinations at Rajasthan.

Eat
Maruti Restaurant in Nand Complex serves original Kathiawadi cuisine. Try the Undheu, which offers as many 15 vegetables cooked together over the coals in an earthen handi Periyar in Ambrosia Complex serves cuisine from all four South Indian states both vegetarian and non-vegetarian delights. Picasso at the Ambrosia Complex is good for multi-cuisine, especially for kebabs. The studio kitchen is entertaining. Mirch Masala on Race Course Road gives you the typical Punjabi 'dhaba' experience Lazeez in Vishwas Colony is good for Mughlai food, particularly the biryani.

Sleep
It is better to halt at Udaipur and make a day trip to Kumbhalgarh. There are hardly any decent places to stay at Kumbhalgarh. However, you can find accommodation in one of the following hotels.

Go next

 * Haldighati
 * Nathdwara
 * Udaipur

title: Kumbhalgarh


text:
Kumbo

Kumbo, also known as Kimbo, is a city in the Northwest Highlands of Cameroon.

Understand
Kumbo, also known as Kimbo, is the second-largest city in the North West Province of Cameroon and the capital of Bui Département. Kumbo is the capital city of the Nso Kingdom of the Nso people.

See

 * The Musa Heritage Gallery  is a museum also known as "The Grassfields Museum" was created in 1996, in memory of Cameroonian artists Daniel Kanjo Musa and his elder son, John, to preserve wood sculptures created by these departed artists. Over the years, Mus'Art has been expanding to diversify its collection. Among the 400 objects and works of art exhibited, visitors can admire carved masks, wood statues and other objects made by the Musas. There are other objects collected from the grass-fields, such as traditional musical instruments, hunting gadgets, metal works, bamboo objects and pottery. Temporary exhibitions are also sometimes proposed.
 * The Fon's Palace -Inner courtyard of the Nso' Fon's Palace in KumboSeat of the paramount chief of the Nso people (Sehm Mbinglo I), this place is the heart of Kumbo social and cultural life. It is composed of several traditional buildings decorated with wood carvings, around two courtyards where the Fon uses to sit and receive his people or his advisers. In the middle of the first one, stands a statue of Ngonso, the legendary first queen of the Nso people. Around the palace, other traditional buildings are also decorated with wood carvings. They are the seats of the sacred societies in charge to help the Fon in his task : the Ngwerong society and the Nggiri society. A mosque was built next to them, although most of Nso people are Christians.
 * Built in the 1950s, Kumbo Cathedral is constructed entirely from stones. The Cathedral is located at the top of the square hill, dominating the town's landscape.

Do
There is a famous annual horse race which takes place at the Tobin Municipal Stadium organised by the Ministry of Youths and Sports.

Buy
The Mbve market is the main market in Kumbo selling products from the region, Cameroon, Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

title: Kumbo


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Kumejima

Kumejima (久米島), or simply Kume (久米), is an island in Okinawa, Japan, about 100 km west of the main Okinawa Island.

Understand
The island is administered as one municipality, Kumejima Town.

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

By plane
has daily flights from Naha on Japan Transocean Air and Ryukyu Air Commuter (35mins one way, ¥10,000). During the summer months of July and August, Japan Transocean Air also operates once a day flights direct to and from Tokyo's Haneda Airport.

By ferry
The Kume Shosen runs twice daily from Naha's Tomarin Port to Kumejima's Kanegusuku Port (departs 8:30am and 2:00pm, approximately 3.5 hours, ¥6,450 roundtrip). The morning ferry daily stops at Tonaki on the way, adding 30 min to the journey.

Get around
Kumejima has an inconvenient but affordable bus system that runs around the entire island. There are also a few car rental companies located at the airport and ferry port. Some shops around town also offer bicycles and moped scooters available for rent.

Do
Kumejima offers various water and outdoor activities from scuba diving, snorkeling, ocean kayaking, boat tours, and other water sports.

Hatenohama Tours

 * Kumejima Marine Sports, 098-985-8648
 * Kumejima Kaiyoreja Kyodokumiai, 098-896-8418

Ocean Kayaking and Water sports:

Please see Sleep for Eef Beach and Kume Island Resort contact information. Both resorts offer water sport activities.

Yearly events

 * Kumejima Hari Races (Okinawan Boat Races): held on the first weekend in May
 * Kumejima Matsuri (Festival): held on the first weekend in August; features live traditional Okinawan music and dance, as well as special guests from all over Okinawa; food booths, competitions, prizes; Kumejima's main event of the year
 * Kumejima Marathon: held on the fourth Sunday of October; http://www.kumejima-marathon.com/

Buy
There are a number of souvenir gift shops (omiyage) selling local favourites from Kumejima Miso Cookies, various Kumejima salts, Kumejima tsumugi, Okinawan pottery, and Kumejima's Kumesen.

Eat
Most restaurants will have almost the same menu, specializing in local Okinawan cuisine such as Okinawan Soba, various champurus, and fresh local fish specialities.

Drink
Kumesen: Kumejima's famous awamori (Okinawan sake) offered at most restaurants

Go next
Kume is the end of the line: the only way out is to go back to Naha.

title: Kumejima


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Kumenan

Kumenan (久米南町 Kumenan-chō) is a small town in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

Tourist information site
The city government's official site has a Japanese-only tourism section.

By train
If you're coming from far away, take the Shinkansen to Okayama. From there, the JR Tsuyama Line runs to Kumenan, 40 min, ¥740. If you're coming from Tsuyama, take the JR train heading towards Okayama, 20 min. Trains run about once an hour. Stations in Kumenan are: Koume (神目), Yuge (弓削), and Tanjoji (誕生寺).

By bus
Long distance connect to the nearby cities of Okayama or Tsuyama. See those listings for details.

Get around
If you're connecting to local stations, the trains are only minutes apart. However, the town is sprawling, so a car might be handy. Taxis are also available. Getting a bicycle and enjoy the landscape as you bike through town is highly recommended.

Do
A great way to visit town is strolling along the dusty back streets of Shimoyuge, the main street of Kumenan's Yuge area. The area is an older part of Kumenan with rundown homes and shops. Most of the stores appear to be closed, with lights shut off and doors closed, even during the afternoon, but don't be fooled—owners and their families often live behind their stores and only emerge when customers arrive. Observe the architecture of traditional rural Japanese storefronts and houses. While not well preserved, the buildings offer a glimpse of life here—a slow, unhurried pace that is glaringly different from the modern, cosmopolitan cities of Japan.

Buy
Locally grown muscat grapes and peaches are famous throughout Okayama, and Kumenan is one of the best places to buy fresh produce. Other fruits to try include mandarin oranges, strawberries grown in greenhouses, and apples the size of soccer balls! Try the local supermarkets or small grocery stores. Better yet, inquire about purchasing the fruits directly from a farmer, where you may get a better deal. The fruits in Kumenan are fresh, sweet, and thoroughly enjoyable.

If you happen to run into the local bread lady, who sells freshly baked breads and pastries from the back of her van, make sure to check out the bags of red bean paste buns, whole loaves of sweet bread, individually wrapped chestnut, custard, or chocolate cream rolls. If you crave savory items, the pizza toast, sandwiches, and meat-filled pastries are all delicious.

Tea ceremonies are an important part of Japanese tradition and culture, and there is one delightful store in Kumenan that specializes in tea and tea ceremony. Near the Yuge train station, the unassuming store is outfitted with dozens of varieties of tea, exquisite clay or porcelain tea kettles, small sets of tea cups, trays, different strainers, and more tea-related instruments. Set into the tatami mat floor is an old-fashioned stove where water is boiled. If you have even the slightest interest in tea, be sure to stop by this place.

Drink
There are no bars or clubs in Kumenan, but most restaurants and all grocery stores serve alcohol. Also, there are several beer vending machines around town. The best thing to do is buy some alcohol, arrange a get-together with several Japanese friends who are fond of drinking, and enjoy a summer backyard barbecue together.

Sleep
Homestays are the best way to experience life in Kumenan. While English-speaking people in the town are rare, almost everyone is kind, generous, and helpful. Kumenan townspeople are, for the most part, welcoming and curious about foreigners.

Go next

 * Tsuyama
 * Nagi
 * Okayama
 * Misaki
 * Kagamino
 * Shoo
 * Mimasaka
 * Akaiwa
 * Maniwa

title: Kumenan