text:
Shivanasamudram

Shivanasamudra is the location of a hydroelectric project in Karnataka, but more pertinently it is also home to a few lovely waterfalls.

Understand
The Shivanasamudra falls are formed on the Cauvery river. A little distance before the falls, the river splits into two, forming an island. The two streams fall down to the same point and flow downstream. The two falls are called
 * Gagana Chukki (90 metres)
 * Bhara Chukki (69 metres)

The two falls are really majestic during the monsoon season.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Mysore.

By train
The nearest railway station is in Mysore, at a distance of 60 kilometers.

By bus
The two falls are not well connected by bus. Buses ply regularly to Kollegala from Bangalore as well as Mysore. From Kollegala, one can hire a cab or autorickshaw to reach the falls. However, the buses to Kollegala can be crowded and hiring a cab from Bangalore or Mysore is advisable.

On road
There are two ways to reach Shivanasamudra from Bangalore. From Bangalore, you can drive along the Bangalore Mysore highway till Maddur. Immediately after Maddur Bus station, take a left towards Malavalli. Keep going further straight from Malavalli and you'll reach Shivanasamudram. This route would take around 135 kilometers and the road is good up to Maddur, after which, the road condition deteriorates. However, this is the best road to reach Shivanasamudra from Bangalore. A non-stop journey would take approximately 3 hours from Bangalore.

Alternately, one can reach Malavalli from Bangalore via Kanakapura. Take the Kanakapura road from Bangalore which is in good condition. Immediately after Kanakapura, the road branches into two. Take the road which is slightly to the right to reach Malavalli. The left branch leads to Sangama, Makedattu and Chunchi falls. The stretch from Kanakapura to Malavalli is not in good condition and road repair work is in progress at some places. After reaching Malavalli, take a left turn to go to Shivanasamudra. It is advisable to avoid this route and take the Bangalore-Maddur-Malavalli-Shivanasamudra route instead, as the roads in that route are in better condition.

See
Gagana Chukkii falls can be seen from two sides. If you reach Gagana Chukki from the side which does not have a Dharga, then go to the Malavalli Kollegala road, cross the bridge over Cauvery and take a left deviation to reach Madhyaranga. Madhyaranga has a Ranganatha Swamy temple.

At every point where the river Cauvery splits to form an island, there is a Ranganatha Swamy temple - the first one at Srirangapatna (referred to as 'Adi Ranga'), the second one here at Shivanasamudram (referred to as 'Madhya Ranga') and the third at Tiruchi (referred to as 'Antya Ranga').

A couple of kilometres from here you can find 'Darga' and you can see Gagana Chukki from the other side, with Cauvery to your left. Bhara Chukki is with in a kilometer distance from here.

Do
There are 2 falls about a km apart. The first one is Gagana Chukki and has a Dargah near it. The water flow here is quite rapid and it is dangerous to swim here, especially during monsoon season when the river is in its fullest.

The second falls is called Bhara Chukki. If the conditions are right (not too much water) then you can walk/trek all the way down to the falls and have a nice swim. Locate a nice shallow area and wade in.

Buy
Enroute, on the Bangalore Mysore Expressway, you'll pass through Channapatna, the town famous for wooden toys.

Eat
At Gagana Chukki falls there is a small restaurant called Jala Darshini. There are a lot of restaurants in Maddur which also serve the famous 'Maddur Vadas'. The Bangalore Mysore highway also has a lot of eateries and dhabhas. The Kamath Lokaruchi is one such restaurant famous for variety of traditional Karnataka food.

You could also take a deviation to Kollegala, which is a town with reasonably good eating places. Kollegala is around 15 kilometers after you cross the bridge on Cauvery on your way to Bhara Chukki

Drink
There are a lot of local wine shops enroute to Maddur from Bangalore.

Sleep
Apart from a couple of homestays, there aren't any private hotels and lodges to stay.
 * Gaganachukki mayura stands right next to the Gaganachukki waterfalls. The food is good with more than 10 rooms.
 * A private home-stay called Georgia Sunshine Village is a nearby option to stay.
 * Nandana Organics farm , is another option to stay. Small single home facility at an active agricultural site. They are known to organize star gazing sessions with telescopes and cameras.

Stay safe
In Gagana Chukki, the river flows over a lot of rocks and the water flow is quite rapid. It is best to avoid the temptation of getting into the water here as the flow can be deceptive at times.

At Bhara Chukki, select a safe place as there are no lifeguards around.

On the way to Bhara Chukki (just after the Sri Ranganatha temple) some cheats try to illegally collect parking fees for vehicles. This parking fee is actually for the near by temple and not for the falls, hence you do not have to pay. Also, this point is almost 6 km ahead of the actual Bhara Chukki falls! Just ignore them and zoom past. The roads to these places are in extremely bad condition.

Go next

 * Talakadu is around 30 km from Bhara Chukki falls.
 * The famous Chennakeshava temple of Somanathapura is 20 km from Talakadu.
 * Nanjangud
 * Chamarajanagar
 * Biligiri Rangana Hills (BR Hills)
 * Melukote
 * Mangalore
 * Male Mahadeshwara Betta (MM Hills)
 * Kolar
 * Pandavapura

title: Shivanasamudram


text:
Shivpuri

Shivpuri is a city in Madhya Pradesh in India.

By train
Shivpuri is well connected to a number of Indian cities by train including Delhi (400 km), Gwalior (100 km), Bhopal (300 km), Indore (400 km).

By bus
Shivpuri is also well connected to the rest of India by bus. You can reach Shivpuri from cities such as Delhi (400 km), Gwalior (100 km), Bhopal (300 km), Indore (400 km), Jhansi (100 km).

By plane
Shivpuri has an airport with a flying training school, however there are no regular passenger flights. The nearest airport is in Gwalior, which is 100km away.

See
Shivpuri is a very exciting place. It was the summer capital of Scindia dynasty. It is famous for its national park, wildlife sanctuary, fort, Chattris and natural springs.

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

title: Shivpuri


text:
Shiyan

Shiyan (十堰 Shíyàn ) is a city in Northwest Hubei Province, central China.

Get around
Cheap way: From the Wudang Shan train station to the mountain you can take the Green Express bus that is usually right out side. If it is not there the local bus will pick you up at the main street. You will want to go East (turn right off the small road). Some of the local buses will stop in the Wudan town center in which case you need to transfer busses going the same direction. Your final stop is usually marked by a line of taxis, and a big white gate. From the gate you need to buy a ticket to come up the mountain. Once on the mountain buses are free. Taxi: A taxi driver will ask you for ¥60 to take you to the Gate. It should not be hard to talk them down to ¥30, or even 10 if they are desperate that day.

From Shiyan City A bus from Shiyan to Wudang Mountain is ¥10. If you ask around "wo (wo in wonder) yao (ou in out) qu (sounds like chew) wudangshan"

Do
Study Kung Fu. Wudang Kung Fu is one of the two most famous styles of Chinese martial arts. There are many schools to choose from. You can study for a day or for years.

Si Shifu 司师父 If you are interested in learning fighting techniques this is one of the best schools on the mountain.

Purple Heaven Palace School If you are interested in learning Taiji for the sake of motion and beauty, this is one of the best schools.

Eat

 * 1) Gexian Rice Vinegar (葛仙米醋): Gexian Rice Vinegar in Shiyan is a local specialty seasoning, known for its natural fermentation and unique production process.
 * 2) Lao You Bing (老油饼): A traditional snack in Shiyan, it is a pan-fried and deep-fried pastry, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a delightful aroma.
 * 3) Gexian Mountain Roast Duck (葛仙山烤鸭): Gexian Mountain is a famous scenic spot in Shiyan, and the roast duck here may use local seasoning methods, offering a unique flavor.
 * 4) Gexian Mountain Stewed Chicken Soup (葛仙山炖鸡汤): Named after Gexian Mountain, this stewed chicken soup may use local herbs and seasonings, providing a nutritious and flavorful experience.
 * 5) Three Gorges Grilled Fish (三峡烤鱼): Located in the Three Gorges region, Shiyan's grilled fish may feature fresh local aquatic products, prepared with a unique cooking method for a delicious taste.
 * 6) Gexian Mountain Red Sugar Ba Ba (葛仙山红糖粑粑): This is a local traditional snack, made with red sugar and glutinous rice, resulting in a sweet and chewy treat.

Drink
The Shiyan' rice wine (十堰米酒) in Shiyan is a traditional local beverage.

Sleep
Hotels on Wudang Mountain are by and large very expensive. The Wudang Hostel  however has beds for only ¥40 a night. Otherwise, you can pitch a tent for only ¥10. The hike to the hostel is long, but the 73 year old farmer who lives down at the hostel hikes up every day (with vegetables to sell). The hostel is located on the grounds of an abandoned temple, along a beautiful hiking trail. It also has a good restaurant frequented by local farmers: Breakfast ¥15, Lunch ¥35, Dinner ¥35.

Go next
NAN YANG

XIANG FAN

YICHANG

title: Shiyan


text:
Shizuishan

Shizuishan (石嘴山) is a city in Ningxia Autonomous Region.

Understand
Shizuishan is the most important industry city of Ningxia. The city is near Helan Mountain. In the mountain several big coal mines are found. After that many coal and power factories were built in the previous 40 years.

title: Shizuishan


text:
Shizuoka

Shizuoka (静岡) is the capital city of Shizuoka prefecture in Japan's Chubu region. In 2005, Shizuoka absorbed the neighboring city of Shimizu (清水).

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

Get in
Shizuoka is a stop on the Tokaido Main Line and Tokaido Shinkansen Line between Tokyo and Osaka, and on the Tomei Expressway.

By plane

Buses run from Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport to the Shizuoka train station in about an hour at a cost of ¥1000. While the airport was built right over the Tokaido Shinkansen line, there is no train station serving the airport.

The nearest major airports are Haneda and Narita Airports in Tokyo, and Chubu International Airport in Nagoya. It takes approximately two hours to reach Shizuoka from Haneda or Chubu on the fastest train services, a little longer from Narita.

By train

 * The Tokaido Shinkansen runs one Hikari train per hour which stops at Shizuoka (and pauses for about 5 minutes while faster Nozomi trains barrel through the station). It is one hour from Tokyo (¥6350), 50 minutes from Nagoya (¥6350), 90 minutes from Kyoto (¥10240), and 1 hr 45 min from Shin-Osaka (¥10880) using this train.
 * All-stopping Kodama trains take a bit longer, and the same prices are charged for normal reservations. However, you can take advantage of the Puratto (Platt) Kodama Ticket (Japanese), which offers a discount for Kodama services if you purchase at least one day in advance. You get a reserved seat and a coupon for a free drink (including beer) which can be redeemed at a "Kiosk" convenience counter inside the station. With this ticket a trip to Shizuoka costs ¥4600 from Tokyo (90 minutes), ¥4600 from Nagoya (80 minutes), ¥7600 from Kyoto (2 hr 15 min) and ¥8100 from Shin-Osaka (2½ hr). Kodama trains run once an hour from Shin-Osaka and Kyoto; twice per hour from the other cities. All Kodama trains can be used, except for early morning departures.
 * Standard local trains from Tokyo take about 3 hr 15 min at a cost of ¥3350, requiring at least one change of trains at Atami or Numazu.
 * Wide View Fujikawa limited express trains make several daily round-trips to Shizuoka from Kofu on the Chuo Line. The ride, in train cars with larger windows, costs ¥4620 and takes about 2 hr 15 min.
 * Hamamatsu can be reached by either Shinkansen (30 minutes) or regular JR (1½ hours).

You can ride all of these trains for free with the Japan Rail Pass.

By bus
From Tokyo, JR/Shizutetsu Sunpu Liner buses run every 1-2 hours from the Shinjuku Highway Bus Terminal (Busta Shinjuku), arriving at the Shizuoka train station in 3 hours (¥2930). These buses make a 20-minute rest stop at the Ashigara Service Area on the Tomei Expressway.

Some buses between Tokyo and Nagoya only stop at the Shizuoka interchange of the expressway, on the outskirts of the city. Local buses run frequently to Shizuoka station from another bus stop close to the interchange in 15 minutes.

Overnight buses run from Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

Get around
The Shizutetsu train line runs from Shin-Shizuoka station in the Cenova shopping mall to Shin-Shimizu station. It is worth noting that none of the stations are integrated into the JR train system. However, Shizutetsu Buses do operate service from Shizuoka station to the Cenova mall. Shizutetsu buses can be used to get anywhere in the city.

Do
There is a rotenburo (unisex communal bath) for those brave enough to try it in beautiful surrounds on the coast called Fujiyoshi Onsen.

Buy
Each Saturday there is a flea market at the shrine in central Shizuoka. The vendors sell mainly Japanese knick knacks such as tea sets, lacquerware and the like. You can haggle about 30% off their asking prices without working too hard, or try for more if you`re especially stingy.

Eat
Near the port, we can eat fresh fish, such as sushi.

Drink
Shizuoka Cola is a unique locally made tea-flavored cola, using Shizuoka's famous tea.

Go next

 * Mount Fuji, the iconic Japanese volcano
 * Fujieda
 * Fujinomiya
 * Kawanehon
 * Yaizu
 * Shimada
 * Kakegawa
 * Numazu
 * Shibakawa

title: Shizuoka


text:
Shizuoka (prefecture)

Shizuoka Prefecture (静岡県 Shizuoka-ken) is in the central Chubu region of the main Japanese island Honshu.

Understand
Shizuoka is a sprawling prefecture covering a large chunk of the Pacific Ocean coastline between greater Tokyo and Nagoya. It's a reasonably modern creation (1868) by Japanese standards, merging together three historically distinct areas. Western Shizuoka was once the province of Tōtōmi-no-kuni (遠江国), also known as Enshū (遠州), which you'll still see in many company names and placenames in the area today. The eastern part of the prefecture was once the province of Suruga-no-kuni (駿河国), while the Izu Peninsula was its own province, Izu-no-kuni (伊豆国).

Geologically, Shizuoka lies at the point where three tectonic plates (Philippine Sea, Okhotsk and Amurian) collide, with iconic Mount Fuji marking the spot. The prefecture is thus very mountainous and volcanically active, with plenty of hot springs to explore. In addition to Fuji, major mountains include Mt. Hakone (箱根山), Mt. Amagi (天城山) on Izu, and Mt. Akaishi (赤石岳).

Tourist Information Site
Explore Shizuoka is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Enshū (Western region)

 * - the largest city in the prefecture, known as the "City of Music", and home to a vibrant Brazilian community
 * - home to some of the best wind-surfing in Japan.
 * - home to some of the best wind-surfing in Japan.
 * - home to some of the best wind-surfing in Japan.
 * - home to some of the best wind-surfing in Japan.
 * - home to some of the best wind-surfing in Japan.
 * - home to some of the best wind-surfing in Japan.
 * - home to some of the best wind-surfing in Japan.
 * - home to some of the best wind-surfing in Japan.

Suruga (Central region)

 * - the prefectural capital
 * - famous for Yakisoba (Japanese stir-fried noodle)
 * - at the foot of Mt. Fuji, it has summer resort because of the cool climate.
 * - at the foot of Mt. Fuji, it has summer resort because of the cool climate.

Izu Peninsula

 * — hot springs, surfing beaches, wasabi fields and more
 * - seaside hot spring resort a short hop from Tokyo
 * - the home of famous hot springs of Shuzenji, nicknamed "Little Kyoto of the Izu Peninsula", that has many tasteful ryokans with Japanese gardens.
 * - the home of Izu-Nagaoka hot springs and many historical spots in former Nirayama Town (that has been merged into Izunokuni City)
 * - it is nicknamed city of water in Japan with fountain of meltwater from Mt. Fuji. It is also famous for the Mishima Taisha.
 * - the southernmost city in Izu Peninsula.

Other destinations

 * — the less used Fujinomiya route to the iconic mountain starts in Shizuoka

Talk
The dialect in Western Shizuoka is known as Enshū-ben (遠州弁).

By plane

 * Chubu Centrair International Airport, outside of Nagoya is the nearest major international airport with flights from a variety of locations in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. There is a direct shuttle bus from the airport that runs to Hamamatsu and Iwata for around ¥3000.
 * Chubu Centrair International Airport, outside of Nagoya is the nearest major international airport with flights from a variety of locations in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. There is a direct shuttle bus from the airport that runs to Hamamatsu and Iwata for around ¥3000.

By train
Shizuoka is primarily served by the JR Tokaido Main Line and the Tokaido Shinkansen between Nagoya and Yokohama.

See

 * Castles and castle ruins in Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Kakegawa and other locations
 * Izu Peninsula - A beautiful coastline full of resort towns.
 * Mount Fuji - The iconic beauty rests near Gotemba and can be seen from many parts of the prefecture, as far away as Lake Hamana.
 * Sand dunes in Hamamatsu and Omaezaki.
 * Wildlife parks such as Fuji Safari Park near Gotemba or the Atagawa Tropical and Alligator Garden in Higashiizu.
 * The wobbly, Indiana Jones-like suspension bridges of the Sumatakyo (Kawanehoncho)

Do

 * Climb . There are Fujinomiya Trail in Fujinomiya, Gotemba Trail in Gotemba, and Subashiri Trail in Oyama-cho.
 * Ride a steam engine and cog railway. The Oigawa Railway operates one of less than a handful of steam locomotives left in Japan. Catch the train from Kanaya Station one stop west of Shimada and take it to Senzu deep in Kawanehon-cho. From there you can catch a bus to Okuizumi Station and catch the cog railway (which was built to support the construction of dams on the Oigawa) as far north as Ikawa, at the foot of the Southern Alps. Both train rides are especially beautiful during sakura season (there is a 1km section of track called the "sakura tunnel") and autumn leaf season.

Eat

 * Local specialties include eel, turtle (suppon), and melons.

Drink

 * Shizuoka is famous for green tea.
 * Decent nightlife can be found in Hamamatsu and Shizuoka.

Go next

 * Yamanashi Prefecture
 * Kanagawa Prefecture
 * Aichi Prefecture
 * Nagano Prefecture

title: Shizuoka (prefecture)


text:
Shkodër

Shkodër (Albanian: Shkodra) was the capital city of Albania for centuries until 1915 when World War I broke out. Now it is the second largest city in Albania with 135,612 people.

Understand
Nowadays, Shkodër has experienced a face lift as streets and buildings were renovated, a promenade opened and a new bridge built over the Buna River. Shkodër is 30 minutes away from the beach or 2 hours away from the mountains.

Furthermore, it seems that Shkodër is the bicycle capital of Albania—the chaos of bicycle going in any imaginable direction and the reckless driving of cars can make you dizzy.

History
Queen Teuta's Illyrian kingdom was based here in the 3rd century BCE. The Ottomans besieged it in 1473 and 1479, and lost 14,000 and 30,000 men in these raids, respectively. Shkodër changed hands with Montenegro numerous times during World War I. Shkodër was badly damaged in a 1979 earthquake.

Get in
As in the rest of Albania, there is no bus station per se. Instead, there are a few gathering points for buses/furgons scattered around the city.

To Montenegro
From Ulcinj (Montenegro), buses cost €5 or 700 lek (plus €1 if you have baggage) and leave at 06:00, 07:00, 12:30 and 16:30. If they are not available, you can take a taxi to the border at Muriqan (€10) and after crossing the border, take another taxi to Ulcinj (€8). However, the return ticket from Shkodër to Ulcinj costs €5 and buses leave at 09:00 and 16:00 from the city center fountain.

From Podgorica there are 4 daily buses to Shkodër (10:00, 13:00, 16:00, 23:45).

Minibuses to/from Hani i Hotit (the Montenegro border on the way to Podgorica) run from around 300 lek. Taxis for this journey cost €15.

To Kosovo
Buses from Gjakova go at 06:00 directly to Shkodër via the highway from Prizren.

Get around
Finding your way round Shkodër is complicated by the fact that all of the roads have been renamed, and some of the old names have even been re-used in different places! All roads have got new road signs. Since all the maps and guides (including this one) give the old names, finding your way round is a bit like being in a parallel universe.

There are some public buses running inside city. There is also infrequent bus to the nearby village of Shiroke.

By bicycle
Shkodër is the bike capital of Albania, because it's flat. This is a heritage from the Hoxha era. Bicycle can be rented for around 300 lek and are good to reach the lake, the castle and Ura e Mesit, the old Roman bridge.

See

 * Shkodra 0Shkodra Final 25.jpg
 * Shkodra 0Shkodra Final 25.jpg
 * Shkodra 0Shkodra Final 25.jpg
 * Shkodra 0Shkodra Final 25.jpg
 * Shkodra 0Shkodra Final 25.jpg
 * Shkodra 0Shkodra Final 25.jpg
 * Shkodra 0Shkodra Final 25.jpg

Do

 * Football: KF Vllaznia Shkodër play soccer in Kategoria Superiore, the top tier. Their Loro Boriçi Stadium (capacity 16,000) is central in town.
 * Lake Koman ferry is a breathtaking trip across Lake Koman from Koman to Fierze, where you can move on to Bajram Curri or further to Kosovo. Take a furgon in the morning 06:30 from the second roundabout down Marin Barleti about 500 m away from the city centre. If you are at the center-most place (the one in front of the hotel Rozafa) before 06:00, you can shout "Koman" and people will guide you through the correct furgon or call the furgon driver by phone that he picks you up.
 * Football: KF Vllaznia Shkodër play soccer in Kategoria Superiore, the top tier. Their Loro Boriçi Stadium (capacity 16,000) is central in town.
 * Lake Koman ferry is a breathtaking trip across Lake Koman from Koman to Fierze, where you can move on to Bajram Curri or further to Kosovo. Take a furgon in the morning 06:30 from the second roundabout down Marin Barleti about 500 m away from the city centre. If you are at the center-most place (the one in front of the hotel Rozafa) before 06:00, you can shout "Koman" and people will guide you through the correct furgon or call the furgon driver by phone that he picks you up.

Since Shkodër is the city of the bicycles, cycling from the city centre to Shiroka's lake and around of it, it is always a great choice, especially if you enjoy nature. There are shops near the city centre which will rent you a bicycle for 100 lek per hour (as of July 2022).

Buy

 * "Skënderbeu" Kognak
 * Locally made souvenirs such as rugs located in Zogaj village or at the Artisan's Bazaar (Albanian: Pazari i Artizanatit) at Shkodër's entrance.
 * Tregu i Madh (The Big Market): This is one of the most well-known markets in Shkodër. Here you can find a wide range of food products, clothing, shoes, cosmetics, and daily-use items.
 * Tregu i Ri (The New Market): This is a new and modern market that offers a fresh and daily shopping experience. You can find fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh meat and fish, and other food products.
 * Tregu i Vjetër (The Old Market): A traditional market in the old neighborhood of Shkodër. Here you can find handmade items, used clothing, antiques, and other unique items. The items you can find in these markets include:
 * Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: Including a variety of local and imported produce.
 * Clothing and Shoes: Including everyday wear, shoes, and fashion accessories for all ages and tastes.
 * Handmade Items: Including traditional clothing, home textiles, carpets, handicrafts, and many other unique items.
 * Antiques and Cultural Artefacts: Antiques and old cultural artifacts can be found, which are of interest to collectors and history enthusiasts.
 * Antiques and Cultural Artefacts: Antiques and old cultural artifacts can be found, which are of interest to collectors and history enthusiasts.

Eat

 * Carp fish in Shiroke village
 * Sheqerpare - desert
 * Lakra turshi - pickled cabbage

Lots of dining options are available on the main pedestrian street - Rruga Kolë Idromeno. There are also some nice restaurants and pizzerias on the promenade near Buna River Old Bridge (Rruga e Molos street).

 * 1) Tradita Geg & Tosk: Offers a blend of traditional Albanian cuisine and authentic atmosphere. You can try traditional fish and meat dishes.
 * 2) Ambasador 2: Is well-known for its excellent cuisine and pleasant atmosphere. It offers a wide range of fresh and delicious dishes.
 * 3) Besa: Another good option to try traditional Albanian cuisine in a beautiful setting. Local specialties are highly regarded.
 * 4) Kulla e Ajkërës: If you want to experience authentic mountain cuisine, this is a good choice. The restaurant offers delicious traditional mountain dishes and a stunning view of nature.
 * 5) Era e Kolonatit: A family-friendly restaurant, offering a wonderful atmosphere and a wide range of traditional Albanian and international dishes.

Budget

 * Zogaj Fishermen Boats.jpg

Cafes
Shkodër is famous for its numerous patisseries where you can eat delicious sweets, and it's possible to come to Shkodër for this alone.

Drink
Local beers "Korça" or "Tirana", Zadrima Winery and the famous Albanian spirit called Rakija made of different fruits.

Go next

 * Albanian Alps.
 * Ulcinj, Montenegro
 * Gjakova is worth it for the journey alone, through the gorges on Lake Koman.
 * Theth is approximately 72 kilometres away from Shkodra and also with the road trip can take longer around 3 or 4 hours depending on road conditions and traffic
 * Puke is approximately 47kilometres away from Shkodra and offers a beautiful blend of mountainous nature.
 * Deja`s Ford is a town and a municipality in Shkoder country, northwestern Albania.its so near with Shkodra

title: Shkodër


text:
Shoalhaven

The Shoalhaven is a large rural region in the state of New South Wales south of the Illawarra.

Cities

 * - Quaint town, very popular with tourists.
 * – on the Beecroft Peninsula, home to a rather interesting "tunnel".
 * including the towns of Huskisson and Vincentia
 * – twin-towns and the regional centre of Shoalhaven
 * - including the beachside community of Mollymook
 * - including the beachside community of Mollymook

Other destinations

 * - Small coastal village.
 * - Small coastal village.
 * - Small coastal village.
 * - Small coastal village.
 * - Small coastal village.
 * - Small coastal village.
 * - Small coastal village.
 * - Small coastal village.
 * - Small coastal village.
 * - Small coastal village.
 * - Small coastal village.

Understand
The Shoalhaven is, after Greater Sydney, the most popular tourist destination in New South Wales.

The most well-known part of the Shoalhaven is the Jervis Bay area. The area is approximately 160km along the coastline, including 109 beaches, which allegedly possesses the whitest sand in the world, as well as pristine natural Australian bushland. The Shoalhaven area is home to numerous species of native Australian flora and fauna.

The small Jervis Bay Territory was excised from New South Wales as part of the process of federation, and is administered separately with a Federal Police Force and housing a naval base and military airport. The commonly visited parts of the bay and the main townships are still in New South Wales.

Get in
Access to Nowra, the gateway of the Shoalhaven, is via the Princes Highway or via the train (note that this is the end of the line and there are NO train lines south of Bomaderry until you are well inside Victoria).

The local bus connects you from the train station in Bomaderry to Stewart Place in Nowra. If the bus isn't around it is only a 10 minute walk across the bridge veering right at the Information Centre. For those who require the Nowra Information Centre is just over the bridge on the southern side on the left. Open 7 days.

Get around
There is a public transport network available within the Shoalhaven area and you can find bus timetables at the train station and at Stewart Place. Stewart Place is also the stop for interstate buses travelling up and down the coast. The most well known of these is Premier Motor Service

Rent a Cars at $48 per day are available to explore the adjacent coast through the Riverhaven Motel on the south side of the bridge. An indication of public transport costs in the area it is $9 one way for a bus ride to Huskinsson.

See
Shoalhaven has some of the whitest beaches anywhere in the world and is often compared with the Whitsundays Islands, Jervis Bay and Currarong. It may not compare with Cape Le Grand National Park in WA, but it's still very white.

For those that are interested in planes and military aviation, the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Nowra may be of great interest displaying numerous aircraft and helicopters such as the GAF Jindivik, which is a pilotless target aircraft.

Do

 * Visit one of the many beaches
 * Explore some of the tiny rural townships
 * Water sports on the Shoalhaven River

Eat
There is a large variety of food you'll find in larger towns such as Nowra, but outside of Nowra, variety is almost non-existent. As most towns in the region are coastal or near-coastal, most towns will have at least one good fish and chips shop, usually near the town's most popular beach.

title: Shoalhaven


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Shodoshima

Shōdo Island (小豆島 / Shōdo-shima) is an island in Kagawa, Japan. It is the second largest island in the Seto Inland Sea.

Understand
The name Shōdoshima literally means "island of small beans". There are 2 towns on the island: Tonoshō (土庄) and Shodoshima Town. Along with Teshima, the island comprises Shozu District in Kagawa.

Shōdoshima is famous as the setting for the 1954 antiwar movie Twenty-Four Eyes (二十四の瞳 / Nijūshi no Hitomi). The movie is based on a book written in 1952 by Sakae Tsuboi (1899-1967), who was born on Shōdoshima.

In 1908, the island became the first in Japan to successfully cultivate olives. Olive trees proliferate on the island and olive-related merchandise is quite popular with tourists.

Shōdoshima is also known for its soy sauce, wild monkeys, and beaches.

Shinto legend
According to Shinto legend, Shōdoshima was one of the first islands created by the gods.

Tourist Information Site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

By boat
Shōdoshima can be reached by boat from Uno Port in Tamano (90 minutes, ¥1,230), Shin-Okayama Port near Okayama (70 minutes, ¥1,050), Kobe (3.5 hours, ¥1,990), Himeji (100 minutes, ¥1,520), or Takamatsu on the island of Shikoku (60 minutes, ¥690 for ferry or 30 minutes, ¥1,170 for a speed boat).

List of ferries to Shodoshima is available online (Japanese).

By bus
Shidoshima Olive Bus operates various routes around the island.

By bicycle
There are many places that offer bicycle rental. A list is available online (Japanese).

By car
The Shodoshima Skyline Road runs for 10 km along the mountains in the interior of the island. It begins at a gorge near the monkey park and leads to the Kankakei Gorge. The road offers great views of the island and the Seto Inland Sea.

See
Dobuchi Strait is a straight between Maejima Island (location of Tonsho Port) and Shodoshima Island. It is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the narrowest straight in the world, at only 10m wide at its narrowest point, making it look like a canal.

Shodoshima 88 Temple Pilgrimage
Like the island of Shikoku, there is a pilgrimage route that will take you to 88 temples. The route begins near Sakate Port and runs clockwise around the island. It takes around 2 weeks to complete the pilgrimage on foot.

Buy
There are 6 convenience stores on the island that have ATMs.

Go next

 * Tamano
 * Okayama
 * Kobe
 * Himeji
 * Takamatsu

title: Shodoshima


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Shoreham-by-Sea

Shoreham-by-Sea is a town in West Sussex, England between Worthing and Brighton. It is the seat of Adur District which includes the parishes of Coombes, Lancing and Sompting.

By train
is just north of the town centre and is served by Southern services from London Victoria, Brighton and Portsmouth.

By plane
The nearest large commercial airport is London Gatwick.

(Shoreham Airport) opened in 1910 and is the oldest operating commercial airport in the UK. The airport is also notable for its art deco terminal building.

Connect

 * As of Feb 2023, Shoreham and its approach roads have 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, and 5G from Three.
 * Shoreham-by-Sea history portal

Go next

 * Brighton
 * Worthing

title: Shoreham-by-Sea


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Shoreline

Shoreline is a suburb just north of Seattle, in King County.

Understand
Shoreline is one of Washington's newest cities, incorporated in 1995. However, the name dates back to the '40s when a school district was created, whose boundaries stretched from "Shore to Shore" (Puget Sound to Lake Washington) and "Line to Line" (the old Seattle city limit of 85th St. to the Snohomish County Line). Though the modern borders of the city do not stretch to Lake Washington, due to Lake Forest Park to the east, the area kept the "Shoreline" name.

Get in
Interstate 5 crosses north and south through shoreline.

Get around
Shoreline's street grid is continuous with Seattle's, and is generally easy to navigate. There are a few common points of confusion: similarly-named 15th Ave NW and 15th Ave NE are both major north-south streets a few miles apart, and the street along the northern boundary straddles the county line, making it simultaneously 205th St (King County) and 244th St (Snohomish County).

title: Shoreline


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Short Hills

Short Hills is an unincorporated area in New Jersey, United States.

Understand
Short Hills is in Essex County, about 20 miles from Manhattan.

By plane
Newark Airport, in Newark, NJ, is approximately a 20-minute drive from Short Hills.

LaGuardia Airport, in Flushing, NY, is approximately a 50-minute drive to Short Hills.

By Train
If you are coming from New York City, the easiest way to get to Short Hills is by train. You can take it from Penn Station straight into Short Hills, which is about a 45- minute ride. The train is the easiest way in from the city. If you are farther then New York City you can always take the Amtrak from anywhere on the east coast to Newark Penn Station which is about 15-minutes from Short Hills.

By Bus
There is an hourly bus from Penn Station to Short Hills, which is about an hour long and only costs around $5.

Get around
Short Hills is a pedestrian-friendly town. It is small enough that you can walk from one edge of town to the other in about an hour and half. If you don't feel like walking you can take a car or bike.

See
Downtown Short Hills- The downtown part of Short Hills is called Millburn. Although this may be confusing, it is the same town. There are many things to do in Millburn. You can eat at a range of restaurants from pizza places to hibachi places and everything in between. There are plenty of parks as well that you can check out such as Taylor Park in the heart of the downtown area. Hartshorn Arboretum- The arboretum is a large sanctuary of wildlife with many paths and is very beautiful in any season. Also, there is a lodge there to learn more about animals and see some interesting exhibits. It is a great place to take your kids if they are interested in nature. The employees are very nice. South Mountain Reservation- The reservation is right in downtown Short Hills. It is a huge reservation spanning through 5 towns. If you walk your way to the top of the reservation you will be able to find yourself with a view of the whole downtown of Short Hills. Also, at night you will get a spectacular view of New York City. New York City- Take the train, which is less then one hour from the big apple. You can see all the extravagant NYC sites such as Time Square where you where you will be when you get off the train.

Buy
Short Hills Mall- One of the most popular destinations in New Jersey. The Mall at Short Hills is known for its high-class luxurious stores such as Cartier, Brooks Brothers, Polo, and many more. Also, it has an array of restaurants from seafood to steakhouses. Another plus is the celebrities you may run into such as Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Snooki, and Kirsten Dunst. Anchors include Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Indigo Books & Music. Livingston Mall- The mall is just a town over and less then five minutes away. It has many stores for children such as Gamestop and toy stores. Also, it has a great food court for cheap eats. Downtown Short Hills- Downtown Short Hills has many great places to shop such as Go! Calendars, Games & Toys, fashion from furs to elegant rugs. Anchors include Macy's, Lord & Taylor, Sears, Old Navy, and Barnes & Noble.

Eat
Legal Seafood- Located in the Short Hills Mall, it is one of the best seafood restaurants in the town. With a very elegant atmosphere, the food is great with a great price, and the service is quick and nice, nothing beats this place for seafood. Joes American Bar & Grill- Located in the Short Hills Mall, it is one of the best places to grab a steak or a burger. There is sometimes a wait, but it is definitely worth it for the warm bread and juicy meats you will soon be devouring. Benihanna- Benihanna is one of the best hibachi places in town. Although it is slightly expensive, the food that you will be served along with the show they perform while the cooking of your food, every dollar will be worth spent. Samauri Sushi- If you are looking for a great sushi place, look no further. Samauri Sushi is a great place to eat. Located in the heart of downtown Short hills, you can spend a night on the town after eating amazing sushi.

Drink
Martinis- This chic place in downtown Short Hills is a great place to stop and get a drink and some good food. Also, it has a place to eat in the back so you can take your kids as well if you choose!

Sleep
Hilton Short Hills- Located across the street from The Mall at Short Hills, this is a very elegant hotel.

title: Short Hills


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Shorzha

Shorzha (now Shoghakat) is the name of a village and a peninsula on the eastern shores of Lake Sevan in Armenia.

Understand
Shorzha is on the distant shore of Lake Sevan, with some very nice views and shoreline. For many years, people have come here for quiet, relaxation and contemplation. The party crowd sticks to the opposite shore and peninsula, known as Kghzi. The hills and shore are great for hiking, camping and swimming. They even say the cold waters of the lake are a bit warmer on this side. The border with Azerbaijan can be relatively close, depending on where you are, so check your maps before marching due east!

Landscape
The rolling hills gently descend to the shore.

Flora and fauna
There are numerous wildflowers which bloom in the hills throughout the year. Some bloom in showy group displays in the spring, while others are subtly blooming in the grasses and meadows. Foxes and other animals are common.

Get in
A painfully slow train ride can get you from Yerevan to Shorzha. Other public transportation exists, though it is not very frequent to this sparsely inhabited area. Taxis from Yerevan or the town of Sevan can bring you as well. Renting a car (with or without a driver) are also worth considering, especially if you want to head over to Chambarak and continue along the beautiful road to Berd from there.

Fees and permits
Part of the area is a national preserve and requires permits to visit, but this requirement seems to have never been enforced. The boundaries of the preserve are not marked, so in general visitors need to be extra sensitive if they leave the roads and hike or camp in the countryside.

Get around
Bike, car or boat.

Sleep

Lodging. There are a few good options, but some fill up months in advance for the summer months. Many places shutter their doors during the off season. In this area, it's best not to count on just showing up and finding something.

Camping. You can camp just about anywhere you like in the area, from beach to mountaintop, but be sensitive to the environment in this sensitive protected area.

Backcountry. There are no fences, so you can hike as far as you like. Be sensitive to the plants and animals, and avoid the border with Azerbaijan.

Stay safe
The village of Shorzha has a tiny clinic, but you should watch for snakes and other dangers as the facility may not be able to treat you, and a real hospital can take time to reach.

title: Shorzha


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Shoshone (California)

Shoshone is in California southeast of Death Valley.

Eat

 * Crowbar Café and Saloon. The only café in the village: quite typical.

Go next

 * Death Valley - north and west.
 * Mojave National Preserve - south.
 * Las Vegas - east.

title: Shoshone (California)


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Shravanabelagola

Shravanabelagola is a village famous for its impressive Jain temple. It is located in Hassan District of Karnataka.

Understand
Shravanabelagola is a Jain pilgrim destination located in the Hassan district of Karnataka state, Southern India, at an altitude of about above sea level. The town is wedged between two rocky hills- Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri. It is at a distance of It is 11 km from Channarayapatna, 52 km from Hassan town, the headquarters of the Hassan district and 157 km from Bangalore. There are good roads from Bangalore and Mysore to Shravanabelgola. The town's municipality has existed for the past 70 years.

There is a tank in the midst of this town called Belagola. In Kannada (the state language), "Bela" means white and "kola" means the pond, an allusion to the beautiful pond in the middle of the town. Shravanabelagola is a holy place for Jains. Their Guru is residing here in a Mutt. There is a Sanskrit Patashala to study Sanskrit and Shastras.

This town has got some historical references, which add to the importance of this place. According to the tradition of the Jain Bhadrabahu, one of the Sritakavalli as the successor of Vardhamana (Mahaveera) passed away here in a cave on Chandrabetta or Chandragiri hill, while leading a migration to the South from Ujjain due to a 12-year famine, which he had predicted.

There are ancient monuments in and around Shravanabelagola. There are monuments of rare excellence and skill got executed by the illustrious Gangas and Hoysalas who had profound sense of duty and ardent devotion to religion. The finest monuments are found in two sacred hills, Vindhyagiri and the Chandragiri.

Talk
A number of languages are spoken around here that reflects the cultural diversity of Karnataka. Kannada is the official state language but Hindi and English are also widely understood, so communication shouldn't be much of a problem.

Get in
Shravanabelagola is 146 km from Bangalore and 11 km from Channarayapatna. Hassan 57 km, Mysore 83 km, Arasikere  63 km.

By plane
The nearest airport is at Bangalore (157 km), regular flights of Indian and Jet Air connect Bangalore to the main areas of the country.

By train
Shravanabelagola has regular trains from Bangalore and takes approximately 2 hr 30 min. Nearest major station is Hassan (57 km). Taxi, buses or cars are the best options from Hassan.

By bus
Buses are available from Channarayapatna every half an hour starting from 5:30AM.

Shravanabelagola is well connected by road from all important towns in Karnataka. You can get here from Mysore, Bangalore or Hassan. There are frequent buses, but you will have to change over at Channarayapatna. There are no direct buses to Shravanabelagola. Local transport from Channarayapatna includes auto rickshaws, private cars and buses. From Bangalore you can hire a taxi or bus to reach the main town, the route is simple. After taking NH-4 from Bangalore, once you cross Nelamangala, take a deviation towards Mangalore on Mangalore-Bangalore highway (NH48). Just follow this road until Hirisave from where you will see router marking which leads to Shravanabelagola. Hirisave is 18 km from Sharavanabelagola, if you are using Google maps for navigation, then it will ask you to go further from Hirisave and then take a left: This route is not good. It is recommended to take deviation from Hirisave to reach Shravanabelagola.

Private vehicles are also available to go to Shravanabelagola from Channarayapatna. It is advisable to visit Shravanabelagola through Channarayapatna only, because of the lack of direct buses to Shravanabelagola from Hassan city.

There are KRSTC buses from
 * Hassan to Channarayapattana
 * Channarayapattana to Shravana Belagola

Get around
Autorickshaws are a good way to travel from one place to another.

“Dolis” built of a comfortable cane chair carried by four men for a tour over the hills. The timings are from morning 6:30AM to 11:30AM and afternoon 3:30PM to 6:30PM. If you are traveling with old persons who need these "dolis", it is advisable to reach early as the number of "dolis" are limited and the "doli" bearers are employees of the trust there. The booking for the "doli" has to be done in the Tourist Reception & Information office and is on a first-come, first-served basis. The staff is very courteous. The rate for one round trip is ₹400 (July 2012). Each "doli" trip is for 1½ hours and they charge ₹50 extra for every additional 30 minutes. The maximum time for a trip can only be 2½ hours even with extra time.

See
The town is small and you can easily walk between the major attractions. The biggest question is how much time you have, and how interested you are in history, the Jain religion, wandering or relaxing in nature. Many people seem to visit and only see Vindhyagiri, however Chandragiri is just as if not more interesting save the lack of a statue. It may be worth counting on one day for Vindhyagiri, one day for Chandragiri, and one day for the other temples and departure.

The temples in the town are inferior by comparison to those on the mountains, but probably worth seeing regardless. They are found on a north–south road one block east of the pond that dominates the town. If you are unclear how to get there, just turn left at the bottom of the main steps to Vindhyagiri or ask a local for 'Jain Math' which will take you to one end.

Vindhyagiri

The hill is about above the ground and is one solid rock. It must be climbed barefoot. Most tourists use the 'main steps' from the town consisting of a dual flights of about 660 steps to the top, cutout in the rock. People of all ages climb these steps, however they are steep and it can be a hard climb. In summer the rock can get hot, so you may wish to wear two pairs of socks to protect against the heat. There are two sets of steps at this main stairway: one set to go up, and one set to come down. Palanquin bearers carry you up on a chair for ₹150 (one way). It will take about 2 hours to finish darshan and come back downhill.

The second, equally good but much less used (and therefore more peaceful) set of stairs are on the western side of the hill. If yoh want to circumambulate the hill prior to climbing, the suggested direction is clockwise. It is easy to find the road and impossible to get lost.

The 17 m (58 ft) high monolithic stone statue of the Lord Gommateshwara, also referred to as Bahubali is located above this hill which is called Vindhyagiri or Doddabetta or Indragiri hill. It is estimated to weigh approximately 80 tons. The stone statue was installed and consecrated by Chavundaraya, the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief who served under the successive rulers - King Marasimha II, Rachamalla IV and Rachamalla V of the Talakad Ganga Kingdom in 981 AD. The base of the statue has inscriptions in Kannada and Tamil, and the oldest evidence of written Marathi, dating back to 981 AD. The inscription praises the Ganga king who funded the effort, and his general Chavundaraya, who erected the statue for his mother.

This statue is considered to be the world's largest monolithic stone statue. It is carved beautifully from a single block of rock with accurate sense proportion and expression. Gommata has curly hair in ringlets on the head and long, large ears. His eyes are open as if viewing the world with detachment. His facial features are perfectly chiseled with a faint touch of a smile at the corner of his lips and embody calm vitality. His shoulders are broad, his arms stretch straight down and the figure has no support from the thigh upwards.

There is an anthill in the background which signifies his incessant penance. From this anthill emerge a snake and creepers which twine around both his legs and his arms culminating as a cluster of flowers and berries at the upper portion of the arms. The creepers encircling the arms and legs are artistic and beautiful.

The nude, north-facing, upright stone sculpture of Bahubali (Lord Gommateshwara) in the posture of meditation known as Kayotsarga, symbolizes renunciation, self-control and subjugation of ego as the first steps towards salvation. The digambara (nude) form of Bahubali represents the complete victory over earthly desires and needs that hamper spiritual ascent towards divinity. The entire figure stands on an open lotus signifying the totality attained in installing this unique statue. The statue is simple, stylish and splendid.

On either side of Gommata stand two tall and majestic chauri bearers in the service of the Lord. One of them is a yaksha and the other one is a yakshi.

These richly ornamented and beautifully carved figures complement the main figure. Carved on the rear side of the anthill is also a trough for collecting water and other ritual ingredients used for the sacred bath of the image. Around the statue is an enclosure of a pillared hall where one can find 43 images of Thirthankaras in different cloisters. There is also a figure of a woman called Gullakayajji sculpted with a good built and wearing exquisite ornamentation, typical of the sculptures of the Ganga period.

There is also the Brahmadevaru temple atop the hill. Besides these there are the Odegal Basadi, Chowwisa Thirthankara Basadi, Chennana Basadi, Tyagada Brahmadevaru Kambha, Akhanda Bagilu and Gullakayajji.

Odegal Basti (Trikuta Basti)
The Odegal Basti is so called because of the odegal or stone props used for strengthening against its basement walls. In the literary works the temple is known as the “Trikuta Basti”. It's the only Trikutachala (triple shrine) at Shravanabelagola. This Basti or temple is also known as Trikuta Basti because it has three cells facing different directions. It has a fine granite structure of the Hoysala period with a plain exterior. It consists of three cells and three open sukhanasi with a common navaranga and a mukha mantapa.

The navaranga pillars are cylindrical in shape and the central ceiling has a lotus pendant. The main cell contains a fine figure of Adinatha with a well carved prabhavali, flanked by male Chamara bearers; the left cell has a figure of Neminatha and the right a figure of Shantinatha. Adinatha or Vrishabhanatha was the first among the twenty four Jinas. He is also known as Purudeva. He was the father of Gommata. In the three sanctums are beautiful images of Thirthankaras carved in schist. The Temple is datable to the 14th century.

The legend
According to Jain legend, Bahubali was the second of hundred sons of Rishabha, the first Tirthankara and king of Podanpur. When Bahubali's older brother Bharatha challenged Bahubali for his lands and wealth, the two ended up in a personal duel to settle the matter. Being much stronger, Bahubali could easily defeat or even kill his brother, but at the last moment he realized the futility of their fight and the unrighteousness of him fighting his brother for such material matters. Following the transformation of his mind, he renounced his kingdom and all other worldly pleasure, and took to a life of meditation. At first held back by his own ego and anger towards his brother, finally he gained "Keval Jnana", of Absolute Knowledge, the highest form of knowledge that a soul can attain. Bahubali thus became an example of the ideal man, who has overcome selfishness, pride, jealousy, and anger. A chastened Chavundaraya then made it mandatory that Mahamastaka Abhisheka be performed every 12 years for Lord Bahubali.

It is conjectured by most people that Gommata was the other name of Chavundaraya, his deity or master (Eswara) was Bahubali. Therefore, Gommateshwara means Gommata's master (Gommata's Eswara).

Mahamasthakabhisheka
Mahamasthakabhisheka, or the head anointing ceremony of the Lord Gommateshwara Bhagawan Bahubali, is performed once every 12 years in Jain dharmic cycle as part of ancient and Indian tradition. Today the ritual Mahamasthakabhisheka of Gommateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola is in memory of the first consecratory bath prathista abhisheka performed to the statue by the Ganga Prime Minister Chavundaraya and his guru Achaiya Sri Nemichandra Siddhantha Chakravarthi, under the inspiration of Chavundaraya's mother Kalala Devi. The last Mahamasthakabhisheka was held in 2018.

On the eve of the event, scaffolding is constructed to help the priests and devotees to go to offer worship. Worship is done in accordance to Jain Agama. Hundreds of people and tourists participate in the rituals held over a period of twelve days. The statue of Lord Gommateshwara gets poured by 1008 kalashas (painted earthen pots- coloured in ceremonious style) of water, milk, butter, ghee, curd, sugar, almonds, tender coconut, sugarcane juice, rice flour, turmeric paste, jaggery, banana paste, kashaya (herbal concoction), shrigandha (sandal paste), chandana (coloured sandal paste), ashtagandha (8 varieties of sandal paste), saffron, marigold flowers, and precious stones, culminating in a spectacular shower of flowers from a helicopter. The wealthy devotees offer bids for the kalashas, to obtain them and perform Abhisheka.

It has become customary to offer the first opportunity of worship to the ruler of Mysore who is held in great reverence. This ritual is rare and it is done for the peace and prosperity of mankind.

Chandragiri
Shravanabelagola occupies a significant place in the Jain legacy of Karnataka, for being the place where Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan dynasty, became a Jain ascetic after relinquishing his throne. The place where Chandragupta breathed his last is named Chandragiri (Chikkabetta). It is a small hill is located opposite to the Vindhyagiri hill. It has memorials to numerous monks and shravakas who have meditated there. Chandragiri also has the tomb of Chandragupta Maurya. Steps have been cut out in this hill and the ascent is not different from Vindhyagiri. It is steep and hard to climb.

There are several monuments of interest. They are;
 * The Cave of Bhadrabahu: the sacred feet of Sritakavalli are being worshipped even now. It is said that Chandragupta Maurya worshipped those sacred feet till his last days.
 * Kuge Brahmadevara Kambha: at the top of the pillar is seated the image of Brahma over it.
 * Shantinatha Basadi:
 * Bharateshwara:

To the north of Shantinatha Basadi:
 * Mahanavami Mantapa:
 * Parshwanatha Basadi:
 * Manasthambha Basadi: A beautiful pillar with image of Jain seated in a small mantap with Gopuram. It is believed that this pillar was constructed in the 17th century by a Jain merchant by name Puttaiah.
 * Kattlae Basadi: to the left of Parshwanatha Basadi and in fact this is the biggest of all the Basadis on this hill. Here one finds the image of Adinatha Thirthankara and also of Pampavathi in the Kaisale.
 * Chandragupta Basadi: it is north of Kattalae Basadi. This is perhaps the smallest of all the Basadis. The beautiful workmanship of architecture found in this monument relates to the 12th century.
 * Shasana Basadi: because of the inscription in front of it, it is called like that. It has got a Garbhagruha, Sukhanasi and Navaranga. All are dedicated to the worship of Adinatha and Gomukha and Chakreshwari, the Yaksha and Yakshi.
 * Majjigana Basadi: dedicated to worship of Ananthanatha, the 14th Thirthankara.
 * Chandraprabha Basadi: to the west of Shasana Basadi, it is dedicated to the worship of the Eighth Thirthankara, Chandraprabha. The images of Shyama and Jwalamalini, Yaksha and Yakshi are to be found.
 * Suparshwanatha Basadi: seven-headed serpent is carved over the head of the image.
 * Chavundaraya Basadi: this Basadi is said to have been got constructed in 982 AD by Chavundaraya as per inscription. It is dedicated to the worship of Neminatha Swamy, the 22nd Thirthankara. The monument reveals workmanship of the Ganga and the Hoysala periods.
 * Yeradukatte Basadi: it is opposite the Chavundaraya Basadi. The image of Adinatha is found inside with Yaksha and Yakshi.
 * Savathigandharvana Basadi: it is dedicated to the worship of Shanthinatha, the 16th Thirthankara. The inscription on the pedestal of the image states that this Basadi was constructed by Shanthaladevi, the queen of Vishnuvardhana, in 1123 AD.
 * Tyerina Basadi: Resembling a Ratha.
 * Shanteshwara Basadi:
 * Iruve Brahmadevara Temple: the image of Brahma is carved out of a solid rock on a miniature scale.
 * Kanchina Pond and Lakki Pond: These are ponds.

Some other important temples are;
 * The Bhandara Basadi: dedicated to the worship of 24 Thirthankaras. It is named after Treasure of Hoysala king Narasimha. It has garbhagruha, Sukanasi and navaranga. The image in Indian dancing pose is beautifully carved.
 * Akkana Basadi: dedicated to the worship of Parshwanatha, it is constructed in Hoysala style. There is beautiful architecture inside the temple.
 * Sidhantha Basadi: in this Basadi located to the west of the enclosure to Akkana Basadi were secured books relating to the Jain Sidhantha, in a dark room.

Around Shravanabelagola there are beautiful monuments of Hoysala style particularly in Jinanathapura and Kambadahalli. The monuments of Shravanabelagola are a display of artistic excellence, architectural genius and intense devotion to religion.

Do
Main thing to see are the temples. No other major activity to do here though. The temple it self takes up most of your time.

Make sure you take a camera along, these historic monuments and sculptures make interesting visual delights and are worth capturing. The guides that you get at Belur and Halibidu are ok. Some part of what they tell you is made up but the other part is actual history.

Buy
The local market at Shravanabelagola is quite colourful with its collection of restaurants, bakeries, ATM centres, fruit and vegetable vendors, stationary shops, curio shops, medical store, etc. All in all, the market is well established and provides everything that is essential.

Eat
The delectable southern Karnataka cuisine is an inseparable part of the state. The southern Karnataka plateau covers the districts of Bangalore, Rural Bangalore, Hassan, Kodagu, Kolar, Mandya, Mysore and Tumkur. Here, the range of cuisine is quite varied. The ingredients, flavors and the tastes of its cuisines are distinctive and versatile.

Some typical dishes include Bisi bele bath, piping hot rava idlis, dosas, sheera, Jolada rotti, Chapati, Ragi rotti, Akki rotti, Saaru, Huli, Vangi Bath, Khara Bath, Kesari Bath, Davanagere Benne Dosa, Ragi mudde, and Uppittu.

A typical Kannadiga Oota (Kannadiga meal) includes the following dishes in the order specified and is served on a banana leaf: Uppu (salt), Kosambari, Pickle, Palya, Gojju, Raita, Dessert (Yes, it is a tradition to start your meal with a dessert - Paaysa), Thovve, Chitranna, Rice and Ghee.

 * Mess — The Jain Mutt, which is a short walk from the main entrance, serves free meals of pure Jain food. It may not be a great spread but the food is delicious and served in clean "thalis" — hot rotis, two vegetable curries, sambar and rice. For those who want a better spread, extremely delicious home-made Marwari /Jain food is available 20-25 steps away from the main gate entrance. The arrangement is in the rented house of a Rajasthani family settled in Sharavanbelgola for over two decades. Address is: Suranga Jain, Jain Matt Road, tel: +9902440395.
 * Small stores and street food — Along the road that connects the bus station with town on the northern end of the pond are a number of small sit-down restaurants with limited fare. Opposite these are street food.
 * Raghu Restaurant — Hotel Raghu on the main street has a clean and efficient restaurant on the ground floor with flawlessly attentive service. They serve most South Indian dishes including poori, idli, vada and masala dosa for breakfast (daily availability varies) and Kanadiga Oota (i.e., 'meal' or thali) during lunch times and dinner. ₹60.

Drink
Make sure to carry a bottle of water while you do the climb. There are no shops up the hill.

Freshly harvested tender coconut is sold in stalls at the foot of the hill. Drink refreshing “Tender Coconut Water” after the decent to rejuvenate. Coconut water is the clear liquid inside young coconuts (fruits of the coconut palm). A very young coconut has very little meat, and the meat is very tender, almost a gel. Coconut water has long been a popular drink in south India.

Alcohol
Shrvanabelagola is a sacred town to Jains so drinking is strongly discouraged so as not to offend local sensibilities. The locals, however, have a couple of watering holes in the newer (don't get your hopes up!) part of town, which is east of the middle of town. Just keep walking until you see a big fork in the road with a huge tree, there are two little Indian dive-cum-liquor stores there.

Sleep

Good hotels are also available at Channarayapatna (13 km away) and at Hassan (52 km away). At Hassan you can stay at:

Go next

 * Krishnarajanagara Paddy field paradise
 * Dharmastala - Belur - Halibeedu - Shravanabelagola would complete a brief Heritage tour of southern Karnataka. They call Belur, Halebidu and Shravanabelagola as the triangle eloquence in stone and are nominated to be UNESCO World Heritage centers.
 * Dharmastala is a renowned pilgrimage destination where Manjunatha Swamy temple is situated.
 * Belur (Kannada: ಬೇಲೂರು) is a historic town in Hassan district of Karnataka state
 * Halebidu is a town in Hassan district of Karnataka. It is famous for its Hoysaleswara temple which is listed as one of the world heritage centers.
 * Bangalore— Karnataka capital. Bangalore, officially known as Bengaluru, is one of the most hip and happening cities in India and also a major center of the I.T. industry
 * Mysore - Second largest city in Karnataka, known for its peaceful vibe.
 * Karkala - To see statue of Gomateshwara. Also Venur where another statue of Gomateshwara is nearby to Karkala.

title: Shravanabelagola


text:
Shreveport

Shreveport is the largest city in Northern Louisiana, part of the twin city metro of Shreveport-Bossier City, and is considered the principal city in the three-state region known as the "Ark-La-Tex." It has about 188,000 residents (2019), and is in the area of the state designated as the Sportsman's Paradise. Many lakes and rivers are in the area and offer recreational activities. The surrounding area is also a contrast from points in southern Louisiana, in that the landscape is marked by rolling hills and pine forests, being an extension of the Texas region known as the Piney Woods.

Understand
Shreveport is also known regionally as a gambling center, due to the number of casinos and racetracks that operate in the area. Despite the fact that Shreveport has a reputation for gaming, there are multiple opportunities for arts, culture, and learning in the city, with a collection of museums, art galleries, symphonies, colleges and universities, in addition to several fine dining opportunities that bring a mix of regional and international cuisine to Louisiana's third-largest city.

One thing that often goes unnoticed is that Shreveport was the capital of Louisiana during the Civil War from 1863-1865.

Public airport transportation
SPORTRAN, the Shreveport area's public bus system, has a stop at the airport. This is also considered a transfer point for multiple bus routes in the area. The bus stop is directly outside the doors to the baggage claim. Routes 7 & 13 connect to the Downtown Transfer Station, and from there, take Route 20 to connect to hotels, casinos, and points downtown.

For those staying at nearby hotels around the airport and west of the Inner Loop (I-220/LA-3132), most have free airport shuttle service. However, in many cases, it is necessary to contact those hotels directly to arrange for the shuttle to pick up, as flights at Shreveport are more infrequent than at airports in larger cities.

Private airport transportation
Taxis are available from the airport and there are usually between 2 and 4 vehicles waiting outside the terminal. The pros are that a taxi can get you to more points in the Shreveport-Bossier City area than public transportation, but the cons are the considerably higher price. A taxi from the airport to downtown Shreveport or Bossier City is anywhere from $15 to $25. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft also have a presence in Shreveport, and drivers can usually be at the airport in less than 5 minutes if none are close by. When exiting the terminal, it is necessary to walk right and go to the edge of the building, as the Shreveport Regional Airport has specifically designated areas for Uber and Lyft services. Wait near the Uber/Lyft signs on the curb for a driver after requesting a ride.

By car

 * Interstate 20, an east-west route between Dallas and Jackson, Mississippi, passes through Shreveport.
 * Interstate 49, a north-south route between Texarkana and Alexandria passes through Shreveport. The portion of this highway that passes through downtown is still under construction and you will need to take Interstate 220 and Louisiana 3132 (the Shreveport Inner Loop) to connect between the two section of I-49.

By car
The city is easy to navigate by car and one part of the city can easily be accessed from another via Interstates 20 & 49. In addition, there is an Inner Loop (I-220 and LA-3132) surrounding the city. Clyde Fant Parkway runs along the riverfront and links the downtown area with the southeastern part of the city around LSU Shreveport and the shopping areas of South Youree Drive.

By bus
Shreveport, like many other mid-sized cities in the Southern states, does not have a well developed public transit system. Most city residents prefer to get around by their own personal cars or motorcycles. That said, the city public transit network will get visitors to most major destinations and attractions in the city.

SPORTRAN

 * Shreveport's public transit system serves the majority of Shreveport, as well as a variety of areas in Bossier City. Most hotels in town will have a bus stop somewhere nearby. All routes in Shreveport connect at one of two transfer points: the, at the corner of Texas Avenue and Murphy Street, and the , located at the corner of W. 68th Street and St. Vincent Avenue. If travelling between downtown Shreveport and the southern half of the city, you will likely use both transfer stations. Tickets are relatively inexpensive, with a single ride ticket being $1.50. An all day pass costs $3.00. For visitors planning to be in the city for an extended period, SPORTRAN does offer monthly passes.

See
The mansions along Fairfield Avenue give a glimpse into the city's history. The city is located in a region once rich with oil, and the mansions were built by those made wealthy by the industry during the 1920s and '30s.

Casinos
There are two casinos located on the Red River in Shreveport. Sam's Town and Eldorado are located on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway in downtown Shreveport. Just over the Red River in Bossier City are four other casinos.

Festivals

 * Mardi Gras. This is much larger than one would expect outside of New Orleans, as the city streets are filled with many thousands of tourists during this season. The two largest Krewes are Gemini and Centaur, and their parades run throughout much of the city. Mardi Gras takes place on the two weekends in mid to late February.
 * Mardi Gras. This is much larger than one would expect outside of New Orleans, as the city streets are filled with many thousands of tourists during this season. The two largest Krewes are Gemini and Centaur, and their parades run throughout much of the city. Mardi Gras takes place on the two weekends in mid to late February.

Golf
Shreveport offers many golf courses to choose from challenging everyone from amateur to pro. While many of Shreveport's golf courses are within the confines of Country Clubs that require annual membership or special invitation to enter, there are a handful that can be entered for a nominal fee.

Outdoors

 * Cross Lake is an 8,575-acre lake located in Northwest Shreveport. Moss covered cypress trees line the banks of this open lake popular for fishing and recreational boating. Supporting waterfowl, alligators and an abundance of wildlife. There are many access sites, several commercial facilities, and two public parks.
 * There is an 18 hole Frisbee Golf Course located on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway on the riverfront about a mile outside downtown Shreveport. The 15-acre park also contains lots of picnic areas. Bordering the frisbee golf course is Veterans & Freedom Park, a 23 acre park honoring those who have given their lives in the line of duty.
 * The Red River Bicycle Trail is an 8-mile paved trail off of Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway that follows along the edge of the Red River from downtown Shreveport to the Charles and Marie Hamel Memorial Park. It offers a beautiful view of the river and surrounding areas for both bicyclists and walkers alike. It also passes other recreational areas including the Frisbee Golf Course and Veterans & Freedom Park.
 * There is an 18 hole Frisbee Golf Course located on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway on the riverfront about a mile outside downtown Shreveport. The 15-acre park also contains lots of picnic areas. Bordering the frisbee golf course is Veterans & Freedom Park, a 23 acre park honoring those who have given their lives in the line of duty.
 * The Red River Bicycle Trail is an 8-mile paved trail off of Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway that follows along the edge of the Red River from downtown Shreveport to the Charles and Marie Hamel Memorial Park. It offers a beautiful view of the river and surrounding areas for both bicyclists and walkers alike. It also passes other recreational areas including the Frisbee Golf Course and Veterans & Freedom Park.
 * The Red River Bicycle Trail is an 8-mile paved trail off of Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway that follows along the edge of the Red River from downtown Shreveport to the Charles and Marie Hamel Memorial Park. It offers a beautiful view of the river and surrounding areas for both bicyclists and walkers alike. It also passes other recreational areas including the Frisbee Golf Course and Veterans & Freedom Park.

Collegiate

 * Centenary College Gentlemen & Ladies. Collegiate baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. The Gents & Ladies play September thru May.
 * LSU Shreveport Pilots. Collegiate baseball and basketball. The Pilots play September thru May and home games are played on the LSU Shreveport campus.
 * LSU Shreveport Pilots. Collegiate baseball and basketball. The Pilots play September thru May and home games are played on the LSU Shreveport campus.

Buy
A large shopping district has developed in the southern section of Youree Drive over the past decade. Many national chain stores and restaurants are located here.

More upscale boutiques and shops are located on Line Avenue, near the Pierremont area of central Shreveport.

Budget
Original Shreveport sites

Breakfast

Mid-range
Original Shreveport Sites

Italian

Mexican

Splurge
Cajun and Creole

 * Copeland's of New Orleans on the corner of Bert Kouns and Youree Dr.
 * Ernest's a New Orleans style restaurant, is located off the service road on Hwy 1 just south of downtown, and has a great view overlooking the Red River.

Italian

 * Bella Fresca is a high-end restaurant also located on Line Ave. near Superior Bar and Grill

Steaks

 * Superior Steakhouse on Line Avenue near the Pierremont Ave. is one of the best restaurants in town, and has one of the best wine lists in the city.

Boiled crawfish, while very popular in south Louisiana, are not as popular around Shreveport. There are a handful of restaurants and seafood markets in the Shreveport area where they can be purchased during the season (typically late spring to mid summer).

Nightlife and dancing
Downtown

 * Larry Flynt's Deja Vu Hustler Club, 202 Commerce St. +1 318 221-2638
 * Royalty Cigar & Hookah Lounge, 211 Texas St. +1 318 218-9083.
 * Sand Bar, 415 N Spring St. +1 318 212-1718

Sleep
There are numerous hotels around the downtown area and the Shreveport Regional Airport. The casinos have hotels near the downtown area (I-20 east). There are also a selection of mid-range and upscale hotels in the southeastern part of the city.

Crime
Shreveport ranks higher than the national average for every type of crime and in 2007 was rated in the top ten most dangerous metro areas in the nation. Common sense is suggested when visiting the city.

Some neighborhoods are more dangerous than others. In general, areas west of Downtown and Interstate 49 and south of Interstate 220 are more dangerous than other parts of the city. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. If it looks like the neighborhood is going downhill it might be best to turn around rather than drive through. It is not recommended to walk alone or in small groups after dark in the downtown district unless you stay in the well populated areas near the casinos and bars.

Go next

 * Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum, 2419 Main St Gibsland. The notorious Bonnie and Clyde were shot and killed a few miles south of Gibsland, Louisiana.
 * Driskill Mountain, is the highest point in Louisiana, and is located about one hour east of Shreveport. The mountain is located on private property, but the trail to the top is open to the public. The hike from the road to the top of the mountain is about one mile with about 100 ft of elevation gain.
 * Eddie G. Robinson Museum, +1 318 247-6337. This museum, about an hour east of Shreveport in Grambling, is dedicated to the life and career of the late Grambling State University head football coach, winningest NCAA Division I football coach. Opened in February 2010.
 * Eddie Jones Park, free, W-Sa 8AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. About thirty minutes southwest of downtown Shreveport, Eddie Jones Park features over 10 miles of mountain biking trails, five miles of horseback riding trails, and two miles of hiking trails. It is also home to Chimp Haven, and a Veterans' Cemetery.
 * Natchitoches, Louisiana is the oldest town in Louisiana, and is located just off of Interstate 49 about 45 minutes south of Shreveport.

title: Shreveport


text:
Shrewsbury

There is more than one place called Shrewsbury. The original and oldest of the places is the Shrewsbury in Shropshire, England.

United Kingdom

 * Shrewsbury (Shropshire), a town in the county of Shropshire in central England, United Kingdom.

United States of America

 * Shrewsbury (Massachusetts), a town in the Central Massachusetts region of Massachusetts, United States of America.
 * Shrewsbury (Pennsylvania), a town on the Mason-Dixon line which separated slavery from freedom in the Underground Railroad era

title: Shrewsbury


text:
Shrewsbury (Massachusetts)

Shrewsbury is a city in the Central Massachusetts region of Massachusetts.

By Car
Shrewsbury can be reached by car in a variety of ways. I-290 connects the town to the northwest and depending where you are going, you may want to use either exit 25 for Main St or exit 26 for Boylston St (Route 140). I-290 can also be used to reach the northern parts of Shrewsbury from the Massachusetts Turnpike via Worcester. You can reach the southern portion of Shrewsbury from the Massachusetts Turnpike using exit 96 for Millbury. Route 9 is a major state highway that runs directly through the middle of Shrewsbury, connecting the town to Worcester in the west and east towards MetroWest.

By Public Transportation
You can reach parts of Shrewsbury from Worcester using the Worcester Regional Transit Authority's Route 15 bus. This will take you across Lake Quinsigamond along Route 9 and up Maple Ave to Shrewsbury village. This bus will get you to most restaurants in Shrewsbury.

By Air
The nearest commercial airport is Worcester Regional Airport in Worcester, about 20-30 minutes away from most parts of Shrewsbury. Travel to and from the airport is mostly along city streets in Worcester so your travel time will depend greatly on time of day and traffic conditions. It has daily service to JFK International Airport in New York as well as occasional flights to destinations in Florida.

Understand
Shrewsbury is a town of 36,000 (in 2010) within Worcester County that serves as a mini hub along with Worcester for the region. It is chock full of restaurants, bars, and suburban neighborhoods. It also has a large Indian American population.

title: Shrewsbury (Massachusetts)


text:
Shrewsbury (Pennsylvania)

Shrewsbury is a town in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country region of York County, Pennsylvania. It is located four miles above the Mason-Dixon line (Pennsylvania-Maryland border). With approximately 3,500 people residing in Shrewsbury, it is a small suburban community with many farms and family owned or Amish farmers' markets. Its accessibility to Interstate 83 makes it very easy for travelers to reach many other Pennsylvania and Maryland locations.

Understand
Shrewsbury was first settled in part of a larger area known as Shrewsbury Township in 1739. As the village developed, it was incorporated as its own town in 1834. The largest ancestry group in Shrewsbury is from Germany, with 38 percent of residents today identifying with either German or Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. The town of Shrewsbury covers a mere 1.8 square miles, while the township covers 29 square miles. The township includes Shrewsbury, Railroad, New Freedom, and Glen Rock, and students attend the Southern York County School District.

The town has developed rapidly, with a population increase of 45 percent in the past 20 years. With nearly double the people, farms and pieces of land have been sold and commercialized with creation of strip malls and multiple shopping plazas. Although Shrewsbury is part of the York metropolitan area, most commuters travel south to Baltimore County for work.

By car
From Baltimore, take Interstate 83 North. Shrewsbury is the first exit when you cross into Pennsylvania, Exit 4 Shrewsbury.

From York, take Interstate 83 South. Shrewsbury is the last exit before crossing the Maryland line, Exit 4 Shrewsbury.

By plane
Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Baltimore,. About a 50-minute drive from Shrewsbury, BWI airport has many flight options available. There are also many rental car companies for travelers to choose from if they are driving North to Shrewsbury. Be careful of rush-hour flights because traffic can make the commute over an hour and a half from Baltimore to Shrewsbury on any given day. Take 195 West from the airport to Interstate 95 North for 2.1 miles. Take the I-695 North/Baltimore Beltway Inner Loop for 17 miles, and exit 24 to Interstate 83 North. Shrewsbury is the first exit once you cross into Pennsylvania, exit 4 Shrewsbury.

Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), Terminal One, #300, Middletown,. Smaller airport than BWI with less flight options, but is usually a shorter commute because there is usually less traffic than when coming from Baltimore. There are also many rental car companies to choose from. Take 283 West from the airport to Interstate 76 West (the PA turnpike) for 5 miles. Exit 242 takes you to Interstate 83 South. Drive for 36 miles to exit 4, Shrewsbury.

Get around
Rabbit Transit, Main Location: 1230 Roosevelt Avenue, York. . There are Rabbit Transit stops at many different places in Shrewsbury, including Shrewsbury Commons, Market Square, the public library, and the Markets at Shrewsbury. Service is reliable and can take you from Shrewsbury to other places around York County on 15 of their fixed routes. The Shrewsbury to York route is Monday-Friday, 6AM-7PM. Senior citizen and student discounts are available. Out of town adult one-way fare: $1.40. Unlimited adult day-pass: $4.25.

See
Mason-Dixon Line, at the Mason-Dixon Farm Market, 18166 Susquehanna Trail South. There is a concrete post that marks the border between Maryland and Pennsylvania in Shrewsbury, where slaves were made free after crossing into Pennsylvania during the Civil War. Farm market owners have stories to share about Underground Railroad houses and other slave stops between Maryland and Pennsylvania. Free to stand and take a picture with the concrete post marker.

Do
Charles Sweeney Memorial Park, Playground Avenue and Old Susquenhanna Trail. Call Borough building for more information or pavilion requests,. Baseball field, two basketball courts, playground equipment, three picnic pavilions, and other picnic areas.

Rail Trail, part of the York County Department of Parks and Recreation, 45 Cherry Street, Seven Valleys,. Bicycle, running, or walking trails that go from Bel-Air, MD to just short of Harrisburg, PA. Beautiful year round and free to spend the entire day on the trails. More secluded in the winter, lots of passer-bys during the rest of the year. No parking lot in Shrewsbury, but the Seven Valleys park office is just 10 minutes away.

Buy
Antique Center, North Main Street. Store hours vary, mostly 9AM - 4PM. Various antique and small boutiques that are locally owned and cherished. More than 10 antique shops carrying anything from furniture and jewelry to clothing and more modern day items. Heading east on Forrest Avenue off of Interstate 83, turn right at the third light on North Main Street. The stores are on both sides of the street and you can park on the side by meter.

Markets at Shrewsbury, 12025 Susquehanna Trail, Glen Rock, +1 717-235-6611. Open Thursday from 9AM-5PM, Friday from 9AM-7PM, and Saturday from 8AM-5PM. Can be seen from Interstate 83 between exit 8, Glen Rock, and the Shrewsbury exit. Different vendors including region-unique foods such as fruit, vegetables, meat, corn, candies, and other treats. Also Amish furniture made in Lancaster County, PA, crafts, Penn Dutch structures, and more with new vendors adding every week. Probably the largest attraction in town where travelers can get a little taste and feel of everything. Heading east on Forrest Avenue off of Interstate 83, turn right at the third light onto North Main Street, following for 5 miles to the markets on your right.

Market Square, at main the intersection on South Main Street. Includes more restaurants, tanning, nails salon, banks, a liquor store, and more. Across the street from CVS Pharmacy and two gas stations. Heading east on Forrest Avenue off of Interstate 83, turn left at the third light onto South Main Street, following for one mile to the market square intersection.

Mason-Dixon Farm Market, 18166 Susquehanna Trail South, New Freedom, +1 717-235-4338. Hours vary with season; usually Monday - Saturday, 9AM-6PM. Fruits, vegetables, hay, manure, mulch, landscaping, Christmas trees, and more. The She's Got Crabs' Shack works out of the parking lot in the summer, selling fresh crabs from Chesapeake Bay crabbers. Heading east on Forrest Avenue off of Interstate 83, turn left at the third light onto South Main Street, following for seven miles to the farmers' market on your left.

Shrewsbury Commons, Shrewsbury Commons Avenue. Shopping plaza that can be seen from Interstate 83, including many fast food and other restaurants, Wal-Mart Supercenter, the UPS Store, and more. Heading east on Forrest Avenue off of Interstate 83, turn left at the first light into Shrewsbury Commons shopping center.

Shrewsbury Square, Mount Airy Road. Shopping plaza that can be seen from Interstate 83, including more fast food restaurants, Giant grocery store, hair salon, eye doctor, Hallmark, and more. Heading east on Forrest Avenue off of Interstate 83, turn right at the first light onto Mount Airy Road, and the Shrewsbury Square is on your right.

Stonebridge Plaza, Wolfe Road. Shopping area that can be seen from Interstate 83, including restaurants, Gold's Gym, Home Depot, and more. Heading west on Forrest Avenue off of Interstate 83, turn left at the first light across the bridge and into the Stonebridge Plaza shopping area.

Sleep
Shrewsbury only has one hotel, which is located in the Stonebridge Plaza. There are motels off the exit before and the exit after on Interstate 83 if travelers would like to seek cheaper locations. Most people traveling in and around Shrewsbury have family nearby; for those familiar with the area, the Bed and Breakfast that used to exist on Main Street was closed a couple of years ago.

Hampton Inn, 1000 Far Hills Drive. From Interstate I-83 take Exit 4, Shrewsbury. East onto Rt 851 (towards Stewartstown). Turn left onto Wolfe Rd in the Stonebridge Plaza. Take the first left onto Far Hills Drive, and the Hampton Inn is on the left. Phone: +1 717-235-9898. Fax: +1 717-235-9897. Check-in time at 3PM, check-out time at 11AM. Can be seen from Interstate 83. As the only hotel in town, there are always lots of people coming and going, so travelers should almost always plan to book their stay in advance, especially in the summer. There's a complimentary breakfast with good service, and an indoor swimming pool that is very clean. Current price is listed as $111/night.

Connect
Shrewsbury Borough Municipal Building, 35 W Railroad Avenue, 717-235-4371. Open Monday - Friday, 8AM-4PM. Information about the town, services, and local government. Public computers, phones, and maps available for travelers.

Paul Smith Library of Southern York County, 80 Constitution Avenue, +1 717-235-4313. Open Monday - Wednesday, 10AM - 8PM, Thursday - Saturday, 10AM - 5PM, closed on Sundays. Free Internet and Wifi available, information about the town, children's programs, and town services directory.

Go next
Nearby destinations that are suitable for day trips include:

York, PA: Explore the unofficial, first capital of the United States and the original Harley-Davidson manufacturing factory. (15 miles, approx. 20-minute car ride)

Harrisburg, PA: Explore the Capital of Pennsylvania. (42 miles, approx. 50 minute car ride)

Hershey, PA: Explore Hershey Park and other chocolate town attractions. (50 miles, approx. 50-minute car ride)

Lancaster, PA: Explore Amish country. (40 miles, approx. 45-mintue car ride)

Baltimore, MD: Explore Inner Harbor and enjoy Maryland blue crab or other fresh seafood. (40 miles, approx. 45-minute car ride)

Washington, D.C.: Explore the nation's Capital. (80 miles, approx. 1½-hour car ride)

title: Shrewsbury (Pennsylvania)


text:
Shrewsbury (England)

Shrewsbury (Welsh: Amwythig) is the county town of Shropshire in England. It is a very traditional market town, with a lot of mediaeval architecture and feel to the town. Historically, Shrewsbury was a vital town in the wool trade with Wales. Due to its extremely good strategic geography, it was used as a garrison town and was part of the "Ring of Iron" of Edward Longshanks. It was the birthplace of naturalist Charles Darwin.

Understand
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, which is a large and rural county in what is known as the Welsh Marches. The border with Wales is only 9 miles away and there is considerable Welsh influence in the county. As Shrewsbury is the largest town anywhere near most parts of Mid Wales, you may hear Welsh spoken in the streets by some shoppers and daytrippers from over the border. The town even has a Welsh name, and many other towns in Shropshire have Welsh names as well as their English ones.

The correct pronunciation of the town's English name is subject to considerable debate, with some advocating "Shrooze-bury", and others preferring "Shroze-bury". A Latin name for the town, "Salopia", is also often used to refer to either Shrewsbury itself or Shropshire.

The population of the town is 77,000 (2021). It is not the largest town in Shropshire, that is Telford.

 * Visit Shrewsbury tourist information

By train
There are frequent trains from London Euston to Birmingham where there are connections to Shrewsbury.

Shrewsbury acts as an interchange for many rail lines, including the beautiful Heart of Wales line and Cambrian Coastal line and Shrewsbury is easily reached by rail from most of England and Wales. There are frequent services to Manchester, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Crewe, and other services to Chester, Wrexham, Aberystwyth, Swansea, Pwllheli and Cardiff.

The famous Heart of Wales Line runs between Shrewsbury and the seaside city of Swansea, passing through some of Wales' most spectacular scenery and picturesque towns during its 3 hr 40 min journey.

By car
Access via the M54 from the West Midlands conurbation, then the A5 from Telford. On-street parking is available in the town centre, but it is extremely limited and expensive, therefore Park & Ride schemes operate, which enable the visitor to park outside the town in a large car park, and take a bus costing £2 return per person (children under 16 are free; students of the local college £1, holders of the English concessionary bus pass £1 after 9:30AM), into the town centre. The park & ride bus goes all round the town centre, and has stops outside most attractions, shops, etc. Park & Ride car parks are located at Meole Brace (to the south of the town), Harlescott (to the north), and Oxon (Shelton, to the west). The park and ride service does not operate on a Sunday or bank holidays. There are several cheaper carparks run by the council near the town centre; there is a map and guide to charges available. There is also an NCP car park on Wyle Cop, although this is more expensive than the council car parks.

By bus
Shrewsbury is served by the London - Aberystwyth (route 409) and the London - Shrewsbury (routes 410 and 420) coach services (operated by National Express).

There are various local bus services, mainly linking Shrewsbury with the suburbs and other towns and villages in Shropshire and the surrounding area. No local buses run on Sundays or bank holidays.

Get around
There are Park and Ride services from Oxon, Harlescott and Meole Brace to the town centre and back (see above). Other bus services go from the in the town centre to places in town and further out in the county.

Cabs are available at the train station on Castle Gates. There are numerous local taxi companies.

Roads inside the town centre are busy. There are many car parks a short distance away from the town centre available, e.g. St Julian's Friars, Abbey Foregate and Frankwell (see above).

Further out

 * is a village in a landscape convulsed by 19th century lead mines.
 * is a village in a landscape convulsed by 19th century lead mines.
 * is a village in a landscape convulsed by 19th century lead mines.

Learn
Shrewsbury is home to Shrewsbury School, a public school, where Sir Philip Sydney, Charles Darwin, Michael Palin, John Peel, Nick Hancock and Michael Heseltine were educated. It is on a large commanding site ("Kingsland") just south of the town centre overlooking the loop of the Severn. The school was once located in the town centre, in the buildings that are now the main county library on Castle Street. Opposite it on the other side of the river is Shrewsbury High School, a private mixed (formerly girls) day school. However the vast majority of the town's resident children attend one of the town's seven comprehensive schools.

For further education, Shrewsbury Colleges Group occupies two sites in the town center - named Welsh Bridge Campus and English Bridge Campus, after the bridges they are located next to. Both of these campuses take on the sites of older secondary schools, both in fact containing nationally protected buildings. The college attracts students from many surrounding towns, including Oswestry and Telford. College students can be seen all around the town center on college days, or in the town's train station.

The University Centre Shrewsbury offers a small range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses, accredited by the University of Chester. International students are welcomed from around the world. Shrewsbury Colleges Group also provides various Higher Education courses, in the form of HNC and HND courses.

Drink
As a historic town Shrewsbury is well-endowed with traditional pubs serving various beers including real ales, many of which are Shropshire-brewed.
 * Hencote Vineyard 2 miles north of town also has a restaurant and glamping lodges.
 * Hencote Vineyard 2 miles north of town also has a restaurant and glamping lodges.
 * Hencote Vineyard 2 miles north of town also has a restaurant and glamping lodges.
 * Hencote Vineyard 2 miles north of town also has a restaurant and glamping lodges.
 * Hencote Vineyard 2 miles north of town also has a restaurant and glamping lodges.
 * Hencote Vineyard 2 miles north of town also has a restaurant and glamping lodges.
 * Hencote Vineyard 2 miles north of town also has a restaurant and glamping lodges.
 * Hencote Vineyard 2 miles north of town also has a restaurant and glamping lodges.
 * Hencote Vineyard 2 miles north of town also has a restaurant and glamping lodges.
 * Hencote Vineyard 2 miles north of town also has a restaurant and glamping lodges.

Stay safe
Shrewsbury is comparatively safe relative to towns of a similar size; there is rarely a noticeable police presence in the town. Friday/Saturday evenings in the town centre are typical of any modern British town; night life activity is focused in the Claremont St/Bridge St and Raven Meadows area. Visitors should exercise caution when visiting The Quarry area at night.

Go next
Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby

 * Telford
 * Oswestry
 * Wem
 * Welshpool

title: Shrewsbury (England)