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Karakoram Highway

The Karakoram Highway (often abbreviated to KKH and sometimes transliterated as Karakorum) is the highest paved international road in the world; it connects Western China and Pakistan. It is one of the very few routes that cross the Himalayas and the most westerly of them. Historically, this was a caravan trail, one branch of the ancient Silk Road. From 1959 to 1979, the Chinese and Pakistani governments built a highway. The name is derived from the Mongolian for Black Range, when the Mongols had their great empire, and was adopted later by their descendants, the Mughal Empire, who ruled India for many centuries.

The highway has become an adventure tourism destination and ranked as the third best tourist destination in Pakistan by The Guardian newspaper. It is the highest border crossing in the world, at an elevation of over 4,800 metres (roughly 16,000 feet) in the Khunjerab Pass at the border. For comparison, Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in Western Europe, is 4810 m and Mount Whitney, the highest point in the 48 contiguous US states, is 4421 m.

It may be the ultimate challenge for the devoted cyclist. There are organised bicycle tours, and several books about bicycling this route. Although as travel to Pakistan has declined because of terrorist attacks, the number of tours has fallen. It is a trip that is possible to undertake independently, although consideration should be given to the heat and altitude if travelling unsupported.

The border is not open for cyclists. Instead, you can board the bus in either Tashkurgan (China) or Sost (Pakistan). From the Pakistani side you can cycle up to the pass, but not over it. You will have to return to Sost to take the bus!

Understand
The highway runs roughly north-south across the Karakoram mountain range and through the Khunjerab Pass at the border. In Pakistan, it runs from Abbottabad to the border through the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. After the border, it runs across part of China's Xinjiang province to Kashgar.

Its construction was started as a joint project of the two governments in 1959 and completed in 1979; the highway was opened to the general public in 1986. About 800 Pakistanis and 200 Chinese workers lost their lives, mostly in landslides and falls, while building the highway.

In China, the KKH is known as the "Friendship Highway". Due to its high elevation and the difficult conditions in which it was constructed, it has also been called the "Eighth Wonder of the World".

Prepare
The Karakorum Highway or KKH is a two-way all-weather road in Pakistan, except for the Khunjerab Pass which is closed from January through to April due to heavy snow. Landslides that can block the road for hours or more are common at some places during the monsoon season (Jul-Sep).

Some parts of the highway, e.g. the areas between Besham and Chilas in Pakistan and the desert areas on the Chinese side, are very hot during summer; the temperature can reach 45°C (113°F).

Taken together, these factors mean that the KKH is best travelled in the spring or early autumn.

You can travel by simply any means, cycle, buses, bike, car but the most used method is hopping on to vans which is affordable as well convenient. Some say it is one of the scariest roads in the world because of the potential steep falls of hundreds of metres off the unprotected road edge on one side with unstable mountains on the other side that are likely to cause landslides during harsh weather. Sometimes the road gets so narrow in some places that only one vehicle can pass at a time, while the other waits on the very narrow edge of the road. You'll see lots of wrecked heavy vehicles. Most of the treks are located on the Pakistani side.

If you wish to use the highway to cross borders, get the visa of the other country beforehand; otherwise, entry at the border will not be granted. Entry will not be granted to those on cycles. You must be transported on a motorised vehicle, so take a bus from a nearby town to cross this frontier.

Road condition
The state of the highway itself varies considerably over its 1300 km length. The road from Hassan Abdal starts off in good condition, however by the time the highway starts to climb in to the Kohistan district it deteriorates significantly. From roughly Besham to Chilas the road hugs the side of the river valley, with the raging Indus river below. The road is narrow and bumpy and is being actively worked on in places, with large and high consequence drops just off the edge of the road. Traffic travels at high speed, and accidents are common. Care should be taken on this section if you are driving or cycling. Work is being done as part of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor to upgrade this section of the KKH, so the quality and width of the road should improve in the coming years.

After Chilas, the road surface dramatically improves and is mostly smooth asphalt or concrete all the way until the China border.

The highway on the Chinese side is generally good, although as of 2019 there are frequent and irritating road excavations to contend with after Tashkurgan. The landscape is also more plateau like on the Chinese side, so you mostly lack the perilous cliff edge situations you find on the Pakistani section.

Get in
The Pakistani section of the highway officially starts from Hasan Abdal, 50 km northwest of Rawalpindi, while the Chinese section starts from Kashgar, a major city in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The Karakoram Highway is officially known as the N-35 in Pakistan; and China National Highway 314 (G314) in China.

Although the highway starts in Hasan Abdal, the usual jumping off point is Gilgit. In fact you can jump in from anywhere between. If you want to start from Gilgit, you can take a PIA flight from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan to Gilgit, the flight is simply unforgettable as the plane flies around Nanga Parbat as well as around K2, and you can see 82 peaks of Pakistan that are over 7,000 m.

For those wishing to start the journey from Hasan Abdal, take Pakistan's longest highway N-5 — which runs between the southern city of Karachi and the northwestern city of Peshawar — or the Grand Trunk Road; both pass through Hasan Abdal. The nearby major city is Rawalpindi. Air-conditioned buses bound for major cities such as Peshawar or northern cities of Abbotabad, and Mansehra are plentiful and can drop you at Hasan Abdal but charge full fare, whereas non-aircondioned buses and vans leave at intervals of no more than an hour from Rawalpindi. Some may not be very comfortable. A bus journey from Rawalpindi may take not more than 1 hr.

Go

The itinerary is presented here from south to north because the majority of KKH falls in the south.

Hasan Abdal
The historical town of Hasan Abdal is the starting point of KKH and the only town of the Punjab that is on the highway. It is where the two famous historical roads, Grand Trunk Road and KKH meet each other.

The town has Gurdwara Panja Sahib, one of the holiest places in Sikhism and a popular pilgrimage site for Sikhs who visit the town from all over the world especially during the Besakhi season.

Taxila
20 km to the east of Hasan Abdal is the fascinating ancient settlement of Taxila. It is one of the most important archaeological sites of South Asia and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taxila is on the Grand Trunk Road and is worth visiting. It makes a great side trip with plenty of accommodation and eating options available as well having a direct road connected to Haripur.

Haripur
The land of Pashtun, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, starts here as well the ascending to hilly area. Haripur is some 30 km north of Hasan Abdal and 40 km north of its nearby town of Taxila. The town can be reached either from Hasan Abdal or Taxila but of the two routes to Haripur, the one from Hasan Abdal is mostly used by buses due to its wideness and is more convenient.

Havelian
Some 25 km north of Haripur is the town of Havelian, the original starting point of KKH. Other than road, Havelian is the only place on the KKH inside Pakistan served by train station as well. A non-air-conditioned train Hazara Express calls daily. Train originates from Karachi and through various major cities in Punjab reaches Havelian.

Abbotabad
Abbottabad is a city in the Hazara region of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in northeastern Pakistan

Kaghan Valley (alternative)
Balakot > Kawai - Shogran > Paras - Sharan > Khanian - Kaghan > Naran > Babusar Pass >

Major town on the highway that was a historically important stop on the Silk Road, and nowadays serves as the administrative capital of Gilgit-Baltistan. This is a good place to stock up on supplies and get some rest. It is well connected with its airport and has bus connections to most places in Gilgit-Balitistan, as well as further afield such as Islamabad and Kashgar.

Capital of Hunza, with many accommodation options and the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative list site of Baltit fort.

The ancient capital of Upper Hunza (Gojal) is a fairly small town on the KKH. Some historic buildings can be seen in the old town, and the backdrop of large mountains is impressive (especially the views of Tupopdan). There are several hiking options here, including to the Gulmit and Ghulkin glaciers.

Formed by a landslide in 2010, this 21 kilometre lake submerge a section of the KKH for 5 years. Now a series of tunnels have been build adjacent to the flooded valley bottom. Caution should be taken as although the road is in good condition, the tunnels are sometime unlit. The longest is 3.3 kilometers, so cyclists should be especially careful. The lake itself has a striking turquoise colour and there are tourist attractions on the northern shore.

A small village at the foot of a huge glacier. With the best views of the iconic Mount Tupopdan, Passu is certainly worth a visit. The famous Glacier Breeze cafe and the Paasu suspension bridge are also worthy attractions.

The final town on the Pakistani stretch of the KKH. Here you will need to get your exit stamp and organise transport in to China.

Here lies the Pakistan - China border at an altitude of 4693m. The scenery along the KKH between here and Sost, through the Khunjerab National Park, is incredibly dramatic, although the pass itself can be a little underwhelming. It is not possible to cross the border here if you are on foot or bicycle, you must return to Sost and get a bus.

Stay safe
The Karakoram Highway lies in one of the safer parts of Pakistan, but expect inhospitable terrain. The more you go north, the safer it becomes, especially between Gilgit and the border pass. South of Gilgit, the population becomes increasingly Pushtun-dominated and is likewise influenced by the situation in the rest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in particular the area around Abbotabad. If you're very much concerned about your safety, it is advisable to directly fly from Islamabad to Gilgit or Skardu and focus on the upper reaches of the KKH.

General unrest, displeasure with the local police, government or local politics can sometimes create localised issues and difficulties below Gilgit. Watch everyone else, see how they are reacting. With care and common sense, the valley and area is stunning visually, has friendly locals who are relaxed and are keen to interact with you. Near Karimabad there are troops stationed and visible, whilst further up the valley, there appears to be just local police.

Mind altitude sickness. Many people get symptoms already if sleeping at 2,500 m without acclimatization, while 3,500 m is regarded very high altitude in this context, carry an oxygen mask if you have chronic respiratory conditions or when you feel unwell.

Beware of Avalanches and landslides. Before thinking of going on the trip, check local reports and avoid adventuring if it rains or snows heavily. Extra caution is required in the winter. Carry a first aid kit just in case of an accident and obey suggested speed limits, which change with the season or weather events. Winds can be very strong and frigid, so carry a lot of warm clothing.

In Pakistan, they drive on the left, but in China on the right.

title: Karakoram Highway


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Karakorum

 * For other destinations with the name "Karakorum", see Karakoram.

Kharahhorin (also spelled Karakorin, Karakorum, and Kharkhorin) is a city in Central Mongolia, about 300 km west of Ulaanbaatar as the crow flies. Locals call it Har Horin or Harhorin. Karakorum and its surroundings have been the location of many imperial capitals throughout history, including that of the Uighur Khaganate (9th century), the Mongol Empire (13th century) when Marco Polo visited, and later on, the Northern Yuan. Karakorum is the closest city to the site of the imperial capital of the Mongol Empire.

Understand
While the Mongols were primarily nomadic peoples who didn't establish permanent settlements, Karakorum eventually became the site of the imperial ordu (literally a "collection of traveling tents" but later used by Mongolic and Turkic peoples to refer to settlements) where the main Khan held courts and received tributes. Since the vast majority of the "buildings" that made up the imperial ordu were felt or animal skin tents that could easily be moved, there aren't many physical remnants of buildings.

The region around Karakorum was the site of capital "cities" for numerous nomadic polities, including the Göktürks, the Uighur Khaghanate, and the Xiongnu, before becoming the site for the Mongol capital. William of Rubruck, a Flemish missionary, visited the site in 1254 and left accounts of the city and of the Khan, which are the best extant primary sources describing what the city was like. By the time the Mongol Empire was partitioned into four quadrants (the Golden Horde, the Ilkhanate, the Chagatai Khaganate, and the Empire of the Great Khan/Yuan Dynasty China), Kublai was the Khan who ruled over Karakorum, but after the defeat of Song China the capital was moved to Shangdu (the Xanadu of Marco Polo's travels) in China proper and Karakorum became nothing more than a simple provincial administrative center before fading into myth and obscurity. Karakorum was later decisively destroyed by Xu Da, a Ming-era general who took control of the town and destroyed it purely out of spite.

Karakorum, being the seat of Mongol political power during the height of the empire, was most likely the site where Tibetan Buddhism was introduced to Mongolia proper. The Erdene Zuu Monastery in/near Karakorum is the oldest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, and was built by reusing stones from the ancient site of Karakorum.

By bus
Microbus from the Dragon Bus station in Ulaanbaatar. The Dragon Bus station is on the west side of UB, along Peace ave. Check the bus schedule inside. Outside will be small Korean minivans; usually, there is a sign in the front window. Look for KharKhorin or Harhorin. It is about a 6-hour drive with one stop for lunch and bathroom breaks.

There are also tour companies that ply the route from Ulaanbaatar to Karakorum. Karakorum can easily be visited on a 2- or 3-day trip from Ulaanbaatar (depending on if one wants to stop and visit the many national parks between the cities) as part of a guided tour.

See

Do

 * Anyone who's interested in steppe history and/or the history of the Turkic peoples should visit Khar Balgas to the northwest of the city. Here was the ancient capital of the Uighur Khaganate, and across the river a short distance are the Orkhon inscriptions, which contain the earliest recorded Turkic writing.

Eat
During the summer, there are several restaurants in the shopping area. The white hotel between Erdene Zuu Monastery and the shopping area, on the North side of the canal serves meals.

Several small cafes were open during the day near the container shopping area 1.5km west of the Erdene Zuu monastery.

Sleep
There are several Hotels, guest houses and ger camps.

Go next
Get a shared car or jeep, or minivan to Ulaanbaatar, Hujirt, or Tsetserleg from the east side of the Container marketplace in the middle of town.

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

title: Karakorum


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Karakul

Karakul is a small village on the Pamir Highway surrounded by a large crater lake. It sits on a desolate high plain. If you are coming from Kyrgyzstan beware of possible altitude sickness.

There is a rest house for truckers that will serve a hearty dinner; it's cheap but don't go expecting it to be pristine clean.

Get in
You can find private cars going from Murghab to Sary-Tash and even to Osh (or vice versa), crossing the village. If you take one of those cars expect to pay US$10 per person (and maybe double for Osh). Most of the time those cars will be full of people (and full of people in Tajikistan means about 10 people in a small car), so its better if you have your own transportation or you booked something before. But you can ask the locals from the guest houses for a car and maybe they can help you to find a car (which probably will cost you more than usual). Locals know that Karakul is remote and there is no easy transportation, so be ready to bargain their prices for transportation, starting in US$100 just for 150 km.

If you plan to hitchhike make sure you have plenty of time, even in summer. There are no more than 5 - 10 cars passing by Karakul and most of the time they are not going to anywhere far from the village.

See
The lake

Eat
You can find basic meals asking in the few guest houses around the village; fried eggs, jam, rice, bread and tea. If you are lucky you can get a soup with some rice and veggies.

You can buy very basic stuff to cook in the local shops of the village, but bear in mind that you will only find potatoes, onions, rice, bread and pasta. The shops are quite hidden between the mud houses, and probably you will have to ask the locals (if you can find them) for the location of the stores (magazin in Russian).

Drink
There is a pump at the end of the village (if you are coming from Kyrgyztan), but you should filter the water. If you want to minimize the chances of getting severe diarrhea (no jokes) filter the water you get from pumps all over the Pamirs. There is no bottled water for sale in Karakul, nor in Murghab.

Sleep
There are several guesthouses for the few travelers who show up every summer. Right in front of the road there is a cheap guesthouse (US$5 per person per night). You can see the main wall of the white guest house with a "guesthouse" sign written y blue letters.

If you look around the village (it’s quite small) you will find a few more houses where you can sleep.

You can camp near the lake if you wish. Many cyclist and budget travelers camp there with no major issues.

Go next
There is no public transportation from Karakul to anywhere. But you can find cars going in both directions; to Sary-Tash in Kyrgyzstan and to Murghab.

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Karamay

Karamay (克拉玛依; Kèlāmǎyī) is a city in Xinjiang Province in China. It is famous as an oil base for drilling in the surrounding desert. The oil industry contributes to the city's wealth which is evident in the clean and spacious streets.

Get in
Buses and taxis leave from Urumqi regularly. The trip is approximately three hours by taxi and four by bus. Taxis are about ¥100 per person. There are also flights to and from Urumqi.

title: Karamay


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Karasjok

Karasjok is a town in Finnmark in Northern Norway. It is the capital of the Sami people in Norway, and home to the Sámediggi, the Sami parliament.

Understand

Karasjok sits in the interior of the wide Finnmark county. The observation site there holds most of the record low temperatures in Norway, for instance the coldest ever recorded is -51,4°C. Even in the month of May -23°C has been recorded, and in August -9°C. Annual average is -2.4°C. Summer months are usually pleasently warm however with a July average 13.4°C. There is very little precipitation, annual average is around 300 mm making it one of the driest areas in Europe.

Get in
Karasjok is on Eseksen and road 92. The former takes you in from Narvik and Lakselv or from Tana, the latter from Enontekiö and Kautokeino or from Inari and Karigasniemi.

By plane
The nearest airport is at Lakselv

By bus

 * Lakselv - takes about 1 hour. Connecting bus from Nordkapp, Hammerfest, Alta and Tromsø.
 * Tana - takes about 3 hours. Connecting bus from Vadsø, Vardø and Kirkenes.
 * Karigasniemi, Finland - takes about 20 minutes. Connecting bus from Inari, Ivalo, Saariselkä, Sodankylä and Rovaniemi. The route is operated by Eskelisen Lapinlinjat.

Get around
The town is small and possible to see by foot. For the surroundings some vehicle is needed unless you are a wilderness backpacker.

Do

Eat
Restaurant in the hotel, meals probably available also at some other lodgings.

Go next

 * Kautokeino in the middle of the Finnmarksvidda plateau.

title: Karasjok


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Karategin

Karategin is the central province of Tajikistan, home to the capital. It is now known as the Rasht Valley (Russian: Раштская долина; Tajik: Водии Рашт).

Cities

 * — the country's capital and largest city is home national institutions like museums and government buildings
 * — a town of 9,000 people on the right bank of the Surkhob River, 185 km from Dushanbe
 * — known for its Soviet-era replica of a historical fortress
 * — at the centre of a major rice-growing region, it is home to the largest aluminum plant in Central Asia
 * — hosts a prison for those convicted of terrorist crimes, mainly associated with membership in Islamic extremist groups

Understand
During the 1992-1997 Tajikistan Civil War, the region was a stronghold for forces opposed to the Tajik government and became the site of numerous battles.

Get in
Dushanbe Airport is the country's main international Airport. It receives flights from Moscow, Istanbul IST, Urumqi (China), Frankfurt (Germany), Dubai, and Delhi.

See
Dushanbe, as the nation's capital, has most of the sights: museums, mosques, theatres, a botanical garden, and a zoo.

The fort of Hisor, residence of the Bukharan governor, is a reconstruction of a fortress said to date back to Cyrus the Great and to have been captured 21 times.

title: Karategin


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Karatsu

Karatsu (唐津市) is a city in Saga Prefecture, Japan.

Understand
Karatsu, like many other municipalities in Japan, is actually the result of a merger of smaller towns and villages from the surrounding area, which occurred in 2005. Genkai was the lone holdout of this merger, owing to its nuclear power plant. Karatsu, formed from the Japanese word roots 唐 kara (China, or continental East Asia in general), and 津 tsu (port), signifies its historical importance as an ancient trading port between Japan with China and Korea.

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

Talk
In addition to Standard Japanese, the local dialect (Karatsu-ben) is also understood by most. It is actually a bit closer to the Hakata dialect than that of the rest of Saga prefecture, but Saga-ben is also understood.

Korean language signage exists, but sparsely.

Get in
Saga prefecture's own airport is located south of Saga City, and as a result is much less convenient to Karatsu than the international airport in Fukuoka.

From Fukuoka International Airport, take the Fukuoka City Subway Airport Line to its terminus, Meinohama, and transfer to the JR Chikuhi Line. Travel time from Hakata is ~84 minutes (~68 minutes if you catch a Rapid Chikuhi Line train (not labelled as such; departs Meinohama at 09:47, 10:47, 17:51, and 18:50)). Some trains will run all the way from the airport to Nishi-Karatsu station without requiring transfers.

The Oteguchi Bus Terminal is the main bus hub in Karatsu. It's less than a ten minute walk from Karatsu Station (take the north exit and walk straight, turn right at the T-intersection in front of city hall.

Karatsu is also serviced by a ferry, which links it to Iki island in Nagasaki prefecture. From there, it's possible to catch another ferry onward to Busan, Korea by way of Tsushima, also part of Nagasaki. The ferry terminal is in Oshima, roughly a 20-minute walk from Nishi Karatsu Station. Busses also run to the ferry terminal.

Get around
For the most part, trains aren't a viable way to see most of Karatsu, busses are a better bet. The best way, however, is under your own power: basic bicycles are available for hire at Arupino (white building with a blue dolphin on it next to Karatsu Station), and cars can also be rented from several locations.

For car rentals, the tourist information center at Karatsu station seems to have better rates than the Toyota place down the street; a yellow-plate car (seats 4) rents for about ¥6800/day, with an additional ¥1050 for insurance. At least one of the employees speaks pretty good English.

Do

 * Karatsu Kunchi Held during November 2-4 each year, this three-day festival is Karatsu's most famous. 14 floats (known as hikiyama in Japanese) are drawn through the city by people from the various neighborhoods.
 * Hamasaki Gion Festival In mid-July the city lights up with many floats to celebrate what citizens hope to be a good harvest.

Buy

 * Karatsu Pottery - Karatsu-yaki is one of the most prized among collectors of Japanese ceramics. The most convenient store selling them is Arupino (building with a dolphin on it), located adjacent to Karatsu Station.  The pottery is on the second floor.
 * Squid buns (ika manjū), which come in white and black varieties, or the unusual-looking squid dumplings (ika shūmai)

Eat

The town of Yobuko is famous for live squid (活イカ katsu-ika or 生イカ nama-ika), which can be eaten as sashimi, or pulled right off the not-entirely-dead body.

 * Look on Asaichi-dōri (朝市通り) for any number of restaurants, including a Manbō branch. (From Karatsu Station or Nishi-Karatsu Station, take a bus to Yobuko Asaichi-dōri.)
 * Look on Asaichi-dōri (朝市通り) for any number of restaurants, including a Manbō branch. (From Karatsu Station or Nishi-Karatsu Station, take a bus to Yobuko Asaichi-dōri.)

Go next

 * Genkai
 * Imari
 * Arita
 * Takeo
 * Itoshima
 * Fukuoka
 * Taku
 * Ogi
 * Saga

title: Karatsu


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Karatu

Karatu is a dusty little town that lies on the gateway to Ngorongoro Crater in Northeast Tanzania.

Understand
People here are accustomed to seeing tourists and many of the children will run up to a foreigner and ask for a pen. Learning the local greetings can get you far when it comes to being hassled. A simple saitaa will cause both shock and joy.

Get in
From Arusha there are three options to get to Karatu. In Karatu all transports leave from the

Get around
Karatu is a sleepy small town. Everything can be done by foot. Because of the pedestrian paths besides the main Arusha road walking is safe and comfortable.

Do
In Karatu it is easy to hire a car with a driver for a self-made excursion into the nearby Ngorongore Crater. All lodges and hotels can help you to arrange a car. It should not cost more than US$160 or TSh 250,000, including a 4WD car, driver and gas.

Buy
There are three banks in town. All with attached ATM. The entrance fee for Ngorongoro (TANAPA card) can only be paid in the Exim Bank. Ask for the opening hours.

There are many stalls and small shops that sell vegetables, spices, Tinga Tinga paintings and carved wooden ornaments.

The Iraqw people hold a market on the 7th and 25th days of each month where vendors sells handicrafts, livestock, food, spices, clothing, household goods, and pottery.

Eat and drink

 * Street vendors sell local snacks such as fried cassava, chapati (fried flat bread), and fried bananas.
 * There are several coffee plantations in the area, so you can try the local brew.
 * You can also try beer from local breweries, but be arugula of hygiene standards.
 * There are several coffee plantations in the area, so you can try the local brew.
 * You can also try beer from local breweries, but be arugula of hygiene standards.

title: Karatu


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Karauli

Karauli is a district and town in the state of Rajasthan. An old princely-state, it has an old fort and several palaces with some very attractive frescoes and jaalis. Although off the beaten track, it is well worth a visit.

Understand
Situated in the golden triangular of India (Delhi/Jaipur/Agra.) A remote ancient town, a devotional city, a blend of warm royal hospitality, a serene rural environment that is Karauli, your new destination in Rajasthan.

Karauli was officially founded in 1348 AD by the Yaduvanshi Rajput, Raja Arjun Pal. This holy city was originally known as Kalyanpuri, after the local deity Kalyanji. Legend has it that the princely state of karauli (18 Gun salutes) was established by Raja Bijal pal Jadon, The 88th descendent of lord Krishna, as far back as 995 AD.

The ruling family of karauli are considered the descendents of Lord Krishna, The Yadav Rajput, The city is home of Shri Madan Mohanji, the deity of lord Krishna, worshiped by millions of followers from Rajasthan & rest of India. Kaila Devi, popularly known as Mahalakshmi, (The goddess of wealth) holds an important place among the fairs of Rajasthan. The fair is held at the village of Kaila in Karauli dist in the month of Chaitra.

Karauli is situated on the Million Dollar rout also known as the golden triangular of India.

Get in
Karauli is just 55 km from Mahuwa, the midpoint on the well known Jaipur–Agra Highway. It is 180 km from Jaipur, 182 km from Agra, 110 km from Bharatpur, 100 km from Swaimadhopur (Ranthambore), 140 km Gwalior, and  290 km from New Delhi.

The nearest railway station is Gangapur City, which is 30 km away and Hindaun, which is 29 km away.

Train Connection – From Delhi Departure from Delhi                Frontier Mail                 Janshatabdi Dep From Delhi                            0755                                1315 Arrival at Hindaun                            -                                    1632 Arrival at Gangapur City              1220                                  1715 Arrival at Sawai Madhopur           1310                                 1750 For Delhi Dep from Sawai Madhopur          1250                                  0714 Dep From Gangapur city              1355                                 0755 Dep From Hindaun                         -                                      0830 Arrival at Delhi                              1900                                 1235

See
(₹650 per pax Min ₹4 Pax) (Time Duration = 5hours)
 * Karauli City Palace – The 600 year Karauli old city palace was built in the 14th century by the royal family and a magnificent city palace in 1635 AD.  The fort and the city palace remains the official residence of the royal family of karauli till 1938 AD. At that time a much more modern Bhanwar Vilas palace was built by Maharaja Ganesh pal Deo Bhadur. Red stone ramparts surrounded the walled city with bastions for security. Till date the city was boasts of six gates and eleven posterns.  The city palace of Karauli is the 18th century building which is a treasure trove of architecture, stone carvings, gorgeous jail work, glass inlay work, classic paintings with elaborated ornamented stucco work and frescoes.
 * Kaila Devi National Park (Project Tiger). Is named locally after the famous Kaila Devi Temple it is situated 25 km from Karauli city. The park is also a part of the project tiger and it's a buffer zone to Ranthambore National park.  The typical feature of the sanctuary Numerous Khos or deep gorges breaking the ground. These several hundred feet deep Khos inside the Khos there is rich and dense forest which shelters and rests a lot of wild animals.  Kaila Devi Highland forest undergoes unbelievable dynamic changes with season, its all lush green during the monsoon. The ground cover turns into carpet of bright ststras color after the monsoon. The forest canopy is mix of various hues coppery being predominated till late winter.  The river Banas touches the western tip of the sanctuary, while the river chambal flows along the south – east, forming a natural boundary.  Among mammals Chinkara, wild bore, jackal can be seen very commonly in morning and late afternoon. Leopard, Sloth bear, Hyena, wolf and sambhar sightings can be seen and of course tiger continues its secretive existence.
 * Timangarh Fort. Take a jeep safari to The Timangarh Fort named after the King Timanpal Timan Garh is a famous historical fort situated near Karauli Timan or Tisman was a very powerful Ror ruler in the second century AD. This is the same Tisman who ruled over Ujjan and is recognized by present-day historians  at a distance of around 40 km from Karauli. The fort is believed to have been constructed in 1100 AD, and destroyed in one of the attack thereafter. The fort was renovated in 1244 AD by King Timanpal of Bayana. The fort is renowned for it's collection ancient ashtadhatu (eight metals) and stone idols carvings. The amazing art work visible on the temple yards and walls is an example of the expertise that prevailed in the region. The Fort is touched upon by the Sagar from one side and stands witness to the innumerable dips the local villagers have dived in hopes of acquiring the Paras (the wishing stone) stone believed to be sunk at the bottom of the lake, and some villagers still hopes to find the paras stone which is believed to be still somewhere in the lake.

 * 1&2 Nights Iternary
 * 1 DAY = arrival by noon. Lunch.

After lunch Walk or go by camel cart to see the 600 year old city where one can see local handicraft shops like lacker work, bangle making, wooden toys, bamboo items, traditional sweets etc. being made. Then go to see the 500 year old city palace full of frescos, fine stone carvings & paintings. Before returning to the hotel guest can also visit the famous lord Krishna temple (Madan Mohan ji) which is in the city palace campus for evening arti. (₹150 entry ticket inclusive of camera fee for city palace if time left they can see the 600 year old step well and the nearby villages. (Time Duration = 4 to 5 hours.)
 * 2nd day = Breakfast. Or (Before Breakfast Yoga can be arranged at the city palace Terries, from where one can also view the sun rise) then Tours around the campus see the vintage cars. Organic dairy. Organic farming. Horses. Visit the campus charity school for poor family children and handicraft workshop run by our N.G.O (Time Duration = 1hour 30 min)

 * Take a tour of the water conservation projects been done in the nearby villages by our N.G.O. (Duration = 3 hours)
 * River Chambal is 35km from karauli Chambal crocodile safari can be arranged (₹1200 per pax min 4pax) (Duration = 5 hours)
 * There is a lake 7km from Bhanwar Vilas which also has crocodiles & migrate birds. High Tea or lunch could be arranged (House guest can go by jeep, cyclling or by vintage cars).

Do

 * Fairs. In karauli Annual Cattle fair is held where one can witness sale of camel, horses, buffaloes etc. cattle fair is held between FEB – March.  Kaila Devi religious fare is also held in karauli between March – April and Sept – Oct

title: Karauli


text:
Karavali

Karavali (also known as Canara, Kanara or Kannada) is Karnataka's coastal region. It is the transitional zone between Konkan and Malabar coasts.

Cities

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Other destinations

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Understand
The coastal parts of Karnataka was called Canara or Kanara by European traders. There are many theories among historians as to how the name Canara came about, but the commonly accepted one is that it was a corruption of Kannada, which in turn came from the Kannada dynasty that was ruling the place when the Portuguese stopped. The British took over the region in 1799, split the region into North Canara and South Canara, and made the former a part of the Bombay Presidency while the latter was made part of the Madras Presidency. After independence in 1947, the two districts were reorganized into the Mysore state which later became Karnataka. They now got the indigenous names Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada. In 1997, Udupi district was hived off from Dakshina Kannada.

In common with Kerala, this region has a mythology about its origin. Parasurama, an avatar of Vishnu, flung his axe into the sea, asking it to recede. There is some controversy over why exactly he flung said axe, the version accepted in this region says that he wanted to land that was not created by Brahma for his penance.

Talk
Tulu is the regional language. Other common languages are Konkani, Kannada and Havyak Kannada.

By plane
Mangalore International Airport is the only airport serving Karavali.

By car
NH 66 (formerly NH 17) connecting Kochi with Mumbai is the main mode of entry. The scenery along the drive is beautiful. You can see lush coastal greenery and the occasional beach. Unfortunately, much of this highway is undivided, and in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts, speeding private buses make it hazardous to drive on. Worsening the problem is that the project to turn this highway into a 4-lane divided highway has been in progress for ages and is likely to take years more, which means that you are apt to run into road diversions due to construction activity at random intervals.

Road connectivity with the rest of Karnataka is provided through four ghats, or mountain passes. These are the Subrahmanya, Charmadi, Shiradi and Agumbe ghats. The National Highway 48 connects Bangalore to Mangalore through the Shiradi ghat. The ghat roads are in a perpetual state of disrepair, and monsoons make the problem worse. They are dangerous to drive on because of rash driving. On the plus side, the view is absolutely stunning.

See and do
Karavali is famous for its beaches, rivers, temples and forests. Beaches in Mangalore, Karawar and Gokarn are very famous. Temples in Dakshin Kannada, Kumta, Gokarn, Dhareshwar, and Murdeshwar are very attractive. The Gokarn is famous among foreign visitors.

Eat
While the cuisine of the Karavali region might seem at first glance to be similar to South Indian cuisine, specifically Karnataka cuisine, it has some distinctive features of its own. Karavali cuisine is dominated by coconut and fish, as you might expect from the fact that the region is on the coast. Coconut is added to virtually every dish here, and coconut oil is the primary medium of cooking. While this will do no good to your cholesterol level, coconut adds a distinct taste and thickness to most dishes. In this and in many other aspects, the cuisine has more in common with Kerala, with which it shares a coastline, than with the rest of Karnataka. Another characteristic feature of Karavali cooking that is similar to the Kerala style is the extensive use of steaming. There is a theory that this is because this region had close links with China and Southeast Asia and the technique was imported from there.

The staple food of Karavali, in common with most of South India, is rice. Apart from white rice, parboiled rice is popular here. The poor family's meal is the Ganji, which is a rice gruel, made with parboiled rice, with only salt for taste, usually consumed with pickles on the side. If this sounds similar to the Kanji or Tamil Nadu or the Congee of East Asia, that's because it is the same thing. In earlier times, it used to be consumed for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But now, it has been relegated to a dish to be had only when sick.

Breakfast
Like the rest of South India, you will find that this region eats idlis and dosas for breakfast. But skip those and try out some breakfast dishes found here rarely found elsewhere. Among them is the version of idli called moode in Tulu (other languages in the region have other names) It is best made in moulds of kedige leaves that give it a distinct flavour. If you've been to Kerala, it may remind you of the puttu, but the taste and texture are different. Another steamed breakfast option is the pundi gatti - a rice-based spin on the idli that is called kadubu elsewhere in Karnataka.

Try the Neer Dose, the counterpart of the dosa, prepared with rice. Thinner and crispier, it is usually eaten for lunch along with chicken curry - it is one half of the famous Kori rotti, but for vegetarians, it is a good breakfast, eaten with chutney as well. Other variations of the rice pancake with red chilli added, often with lots of vegetables, are also common.

The Shevige, or rice noodles, is another dish that must not be missed. The South Indian upma is called uppittu here and is naturally made with a lot more coconut than you will be used to. Finally, avalakki or flattened rice, prepared with a masala that is unique in this region, is a light, but tasty breakfast choice.

Lunch
Lunch and dinner in this region usually comprise rice with wet and dry curries. The South Indian sambhar is called huli in Kannada or koddelu in Tulu. The thing that will strike you when trying out the huli in Karavali is that it is thicker because coconut is added.

Other spins on the sambhar that you must try here are the Menaskai and Majjige Huli, also called Kodakyana in Tulu. In the former, conflicting flavours - sour, sweet, hot and sometimes bitter - are mixed to make it a tasty concoction. Can be made with any sour or bitter vegetable or fruit, most often with bitter gourd, mango or pineapple. The Majjige Huli or Kodakyana is a dish where the sambhar is overloaded with buttermilk to give it a nice sour taste.

Karavali cuisine makes excellent use of leafy vegetables. They are used as the main ingredient for curries, they are used to wrap around the main ingredients to add flavour while steaming, they are added to flour and made into pancakes, and banana leaves are also used as plates to serve food on! Among them, special mention must be made of the Basale or Malabar Spinach, which is found in very few regions, among them Karavali. Basale huli is a delicacy you must try when you are here.

Other vegetables characteristically used in Karavali cooking are raw bananas. The banana tree is in fact a source of many other ingredients - the banana flower and the stem also make their appearance. Pumpkins, especially the variety that is ash coloured and native to the region are also a delicacy here. This region is also known for a variety of eggplant (known locally as "brinjal") that is green in colour. It has a milder taste than the purple-coloured one. The "Matti gulla" variety found only in Udupi should not be missed.

Fruits
During summer you must try the mango, both raw (February/March) and ripe (April/May). The number of varieties is large, and the number of preparations that can be made out of mangoes is even larger. Try the rasayana, a squash made from ripe mangoes and jaggery, or the mambala, dried mango pulp made into sheets, for distinctively Karavali versions.

The jackfruit is another awesome fruit that has its origins in this region. It ripens during the summer. Its raw form is used as a vegetable. The ripe fruit can be eaten uncooked (preferably mixed with honey) or made into a wide variety of preparations, including a steamed sweet dumpling and a fried snack. A cousin of the jackfruit is the breadfruit which is even less known, but is arguably tastier when cooked as a vegetable - only the raw version of the fruit is consumed.

The variety of banana that is available in this region is probably unequaled anywhere else. Once you're done with sampling the elakki bale (literally, cardamom banana, so called because it tastes like the banana has been flavoured with cardamom) or the pachhe bale, (literally, green banana, but it is not actually green) you will find the normal Cavendish banana boring. Also make sure that you try the Nendra bale - it is quite difficult to digest uncooked, so it is eaten after being heated for a bit on a pan, but it is delicious.

Dessert
If you haven't yet had your fill of coconut for breakfast and lunch, you'll find that sweets and desserts have enough of it to satisfy your craving. Try the coconut burfi or the eeradde. The latter is a dumpling stuffed with coconut and jaggery, steamed within a leaf. While holige is a sweet famous all over Karnataka, the kai holige is the variant made with coconut you must sample here. And if you've had your fill of coconut and want to try other things, try the halvas of Mangalore - in wheat, dry fruit and banana variants.

Snacks
Special mention must be made of the patrode. It is made with Colocasia leaves (locally called kesuvu leaf). On these leaves, a paste of rice flour and spices is applied. The leaves are rolled and then steamed. The result is amazingly delicious. Patrode can be found, not just in this region, but also up north, in Konkan, and in Gujarat. You may get an itchy sensation in your neck after eating it, but you'll survive. Leftover optrode can be cut up and stir-fried and made even tastier.

Fried snack items include banana chips fried in coconut oil, the chakkuli, a variant of the murukku, the kodubale, and the sonte. Grab packaged varieties of these from one of the many shops that sell them, and they will last for months.

Drink
Tender coconut is the main source of liquid required to get rid of heat and humidity. Soda sharbat and ragi malt are equally famous.

Stay safe
While you visit the beaches of the Arabian Sea, Take care not to go far from the sea shore, At many beaches the sea is deep at the shore side and also strong waves may pull you into the sea. The jungles of the Western Ghats have venomous snakes and wild animals.

Go next

 * Goa — if you have planned your itinerary along the west coast, then Goa is the obvious destination.
 * North Karnataka

title: Karavali


text:
Karawaci

Karawaci, also known as Lippo Karawaci, is a planned community (new town) west and southwest of Tangerang, in the Greater Jakarta metropolitan area, in Indonesia. It serves as a satellite town for nearby Jakarta, with huge residential areas as well as shopping malls and recreation facilities.

Understand
Karawaci is a company town built from ground up for Lippo, a giant Indonesian conglomerate with interests in everything from property to banking. By Indonesian standards it's a near-utopian corporate suburb that looks like a misplaced chunk of Singapore, with spotless, leafy streets devoid of hawkers, corporate towers and golf courses. This town is quite popular among Koreans. 40% of Lippo Karawaci residents are Koreans that work around Tangerang.

Get in
Karawaci is to the west of Jakarta (at the edge of its sprawl), directly off the Jakarta-Tangerang highway. Lippo Karawaci is located 30 minutes drive from Jakarta. It is also close to Anyer Beach and Carita Beach (about 2½ hours drive). It takes 3½ hours drive to Bandung, and 2 hours drive to Puncak mountain resorts.

See
If you like nature, you can jog or even bike along the pedestrian in the early morning, and it's refreshing because the air is still clean and cooler than Jakarta. If you like shopping, check the shopping section. If you like sports, check the facilities of Imperial Aryaduta Country Club. If you like foods & hang out, enjoy yourself in Benton Junction, Coco Walk, etc. If you prefer to be quiet & relax, have fun in Celebrity Fitness Yoga Classes.

Do

 * Imperial Aryaduta Country Club. A Balinese-style country club
 * Speedy Karting. Drive go-karts like a pro.
 * Clubs. Indulge all your hobbies, from snooker, art & craft, painting, biking, etc.
 * Celebrity Fitness. An energetic & fun fitness center. They also have sauna & steam room.
 * Cinemaxx Maxxbox Lippo Village. A great place for movie mania with choices of regular, Ultra XD, Gold and Junior cinemas.
 * The Premiere. A sophisticated luxurious deluxe cinema.
 * UPH Central Library. A 3-story library with a cozy atmosphere.
 * Timezone. A family entertainment center (arcade/amusement) targeting the whole family.
 * Amazone. An amusement center targeting kids & teenagers, as well as adults.
 * Various Bookstores. You've just to name it. Lippo Karawaci has lots of bookstores for you to unwind yourself. From small bookshops such as: Juniper books & Open books (in Supermall Karawaci) to mega bookstores such as: KInokuniya, Gramedia, and Times bookstore. If you're book lovers, you'll love these places!
 * Various Bookstores. You've just to name it. Lippo Karawaci has lots of bookstores for you to unwind yourself. From small bookshops such as: Juniper books & Open books (in Supermall Karawaci) to mega bookstores such as: KInokuniya, Gramedia, and Times bookstore. If you're book lovers, you'll love these places!

Buy

 * Matahari. The local branch of the department store chain.
 * Hypermart. A huge hypermarket that sells A to Z.
 * Gramedia bookstore. A perfect getaway for book lovers, but with a limited selection of English media.
 * Ace Home Center. One stop shopping from hardware to BBQ; a branch of Ace Hardware USA.
 * Index Furnishings. An IKEA look-alike shop.
 * Debenhams. A famous department store from England.
 * E-Center. Electronic & Computers' heaven.
 * Batik Keris. Home of the Indonesian traditional's art & craft, including batik & wayang.
 * Times Bookstore. A cozy & relaxing bookstore that sells all kind of books, from children to adults. One of the biggest Times Bookstore in the world!
 * Kinokuniya Bookstore. A Japanese chain bookstore that sells various books, including English and Japanese.
 * Mu Gung Hwa. A truly Korean supermarket.
 * Hanil Mart. Another Korean supermarket.
 * Hanil Mart. Another Korean supermarket.

Eat

 * Cafe Taman Permata. Lies on Taman Permata Sport Club, 5 minutes from Supermal. A lot of choice on the menu, from seafood to Nasi Ayam Semarang. Open 17:00-23:00.
 * Cafe Taman Ubud, behind Ruko New Asia. Open 18:00-23:00, various food stalls with tents.
 * Taman Sari, Opposite Supermal Karawaci. Open 10:00-22:00. Serving various food in an ethnic environment.
 * Benton Junction, Alongside the Supermal Karawaci. Open 07:00 (selected venues) to 00:00. Numerous restaurants & cafes to choose, from: Coffee Bean & Tea leaf, Lau's Kopitiam, Istana Nelayan, Batavia Kitchen, Daichii, etc.
 * International Food Hall, inside Supermal Karawaci. Open 10:00-22:00. Variety of restaurants & cafes, such as: McDonalds, Icyblue, Texas Chicken, Saboga Bakso Tahu, Yoghberry, Fiesta Steak, Yogen Fruz, Shokuyoku Teppanyaki, Sederhana Bintaro Padang Food, Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks (Halal), A&W, MM Juice & Noodles, Bakmi Gang Kelinci, Bakmi GM, KFC, Solaria, Red Bean, Wendy's, Hoka Hoka Bento, Pizza Hut, Takigawa, Cing Wan, Ta Wan, Hanamasa, Ichiban Sushi, Starbucks, Ya Kun Kaya Toast Cafe, Sour Sally, JCo Donuts & Coffee, Chewy Junior, Rice Bowl, Secret Recipe, Imperial Kitchen & Dimsum, MOS Burger, Grazia Cafe, Penang Village, BreadTalk, Jesslyn Cakes, BreadLife, Clairmount, etc.
 * Coco Walk, inside Supermal Karawaci and facing the streets. Open 10:00 to 23:00. Another hang-out place for food lovers. You can find trendy restaurants, coffee shops, bookshops, and small outlets in this spot, such as: Dante Coffee, Oh La La Bistro, Jitlada Thai Restaurant, Yong Tau Foo Singapore, The Pancake Parlour of Australia, Kazoku Japanese Restaurant, Waroeng Kampoeng Indonesian Restaurant, Rotiboy of Malaysia, Steak 21, Duta Suara Music & Cafe, OpenBooks Coffee & Books, QbiQ Coffee & Donuts, Simply Sugar Cane & Healthy Drinks, Red Bean Chinese Restaurant, RyouZen Sushi & Teppanyaki, and so on.

Drink

 * UNO Restaurant & Bar, in Menara Matahari, near the University of Pelita Harapan complex, Lippo Karawaci. Has live music daily. Open 10:00-00:00.
 * RJ's Bar, in Imperial Aryaduta Hotel. A funky sport-addict bar that hosts international football/soccer match nightly. Open 18:00-02:00.

Study

 * University of Pelita Harapan. An elite university with more than 10,000 students. The university is located opposite of Supermall Karawaci. This university is equipped with hi-tech facilities.
 * Maple Leaf Tutors. Full service tuition center concentrating in primary and secondary tuition for students in the Lippo Karawaci area. For more info contact darin.bicknell@gmail.com or call +62 813 1855 1306.
 * Sekolah Pelita harapan. A National Plus Christian School that has about 1,000 students. The school is built in 1993 and it is the building in Lippo Karawaci. The school is under the IBO System.

Stay healthy

 * Siloam Gleneagles Hospital. A 5-star facilities hospital with some well known doctors.
 * Jade Leaf Reflexiology. Located in Supermal Karawaci. A perfect place to unwind and relax.
 * D'relax spa & reflexiology. Located in Permata Sport Club. A splendid journey to peace of mind.

title: Karawaci


text:
Karbala

Karbala (Arabic: كربلاء) is a city in Southern Iraq. It is considered one of the holiest cities in the country.

Understand
Karbala is one of the holiest cities in Shi'a Islam. In the Battle of Karbala, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Husayn was slain. To pay respects to the martyr Husayn, Shi'a Muslims visit the Imam Husayn Shrine, the biggest tourist attraction in Karbala, every year during a pilgrimage called Arbaeen.

Get in
Most travelers enter the city by bus or by car as the city does not yet have a functioning airport. Due to its religious importance, cities all across Iraq has regular bus services. The entrance to the city is well protected and check points are working hard on every single car that gets into the city. There are one or two trains each week from Baghdad and Basra. Extra trains are available on special occasions.

The Downtown Area is closed off and the entry of vehicles into the area of 1.5 km around the holy shrines is forbidden except for security, the shrines' personnel and residents. Anyone else who wants to get in must put their car in a parking and get in either via the holy shrine buses or on foot.

By plane
A new dedicated airport is under construction, but as of late 2020 it is unclear when it will open. The nearest major international airport is in Baghdad.

See
There are also a lot of religious places around the Holy Shrines of Imam Hussen and Abu Al-fadhl Al-Abbas.

Outside the city
The areas around Karbala are rich in heritage and archaeological sites. A few sites have at least basic services for tourists, while you are left on your own when visiting others.

Do
Visit the Imam Husayn & Abbas shrine.

Buy
You can buy khak-e-shifa. Some Shi'a Muslims consider it sacred and miraculous, and claim diseases can be treated with it.

Eat
The restaurants are spread all around the city, especially downtown, and you can find whatever you desire of halal food at suitable prices.

Stay safe
See the warning on the Iraq article for information about the security situation.

Go next

 * Najaf, another holy city in Iraq, with the Shrine of 'Ali.

title: Karbala


text:
Karditsa

Karditsa (Greek: Καρδίτσα) (Population: 56.747 (2011)) is a city in Thessaly.

By plane
The closest airport is Volos airport, situated in (Nea Anchialos ), about 95 km W from the city. There is a bus connecting airport and Volos bus station. Buses are waiting to pick up travelers after a plane lands, the cost form the airport to Volos Bus station is 5 €. Then you have to get another bus or Train from Volos to Trikala.

By regional coach
Interurban coaches ("KTEL" buses) are by far the most convenient way to travel around Greece, as well as for intra-regional travelling. There is frequent bus service from Athens Liossion Station to Karditsa, as well as from Thessaloniki bus terminal "Macedonia" to Karditsa.

By train
Trains (OSE) connect Karditsa to other cities in Greece. Travelling with ordinary trains can be cheaper, although a little bit slower, whereas choosing a fancy faster Intercity train will cost the same amount of money, or even more than a KTEL bus.

Go next
Koziakis Mountains - 35 km northwest of Karditsa, see Trikala

Plastira Lake - 20 km southeast of Karditsa

title: Karditsa


text:
Karelia

Karelia (Karelian and Finnish: Karjala) is a region in Northwestern Russia, known as the country of lakes. It has a strong cultural connection with Finland, with the ethnic Karelians closely related to the Finns. Much of the Finnish national epic Kalevala was collected here.

Cities

 * (Karelian: Petroskoi) — the capital and largest city of Karelia, with a fine collection of neoclassical architecture and a summer hydrofoil service to Kizhi
 * (Karelian: Šuomua) — a town on the White Sea, at the mouth of the White Sea–Baltic Canal
 * (Karelian: Imbilahti) — a small town on the northern shores of Lake Ladoga
 * (Karelian: Kalevala, formerly Uhtua) — a small town and a region, renamed in 1963 for the Finnish national epic, some of which was collected here
 * (Karelian: Kemi) — a small town on the coast not far from Solovki with a spectacular 18th-century wooden cathedral
 * (Karelian: Kondupohju) — an industrial town on Onega, the Murmansk Railway and the Blue Highway
 * (Karelian: Koštamuš) — a large town built as a Finnish-Russian cooperation from 1977–1985 for iron ore mining, functions also as a dacha-style resort mostly for Finns every summer and hosts a yearly summer chamber music festival
 * (Karelian: Lahdenpohju)
 * (Karelian: Anus) — a small historic town near the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery; the only town of size in Karelia where ethnic Karelians constitute a majority
 * (Karelian: Karhumägi) — a town on Onega and the White Sea–Baltic Canal, site of mass murders under Stalin and battles during World War II
 * (Karelian: Pitkyrandu)
 * (Karelian: Poventsa) — small town, here begins Belomorsko-Baltiyskiy Kanal (White Sea-Baltic Channel)
 * (Karelian: Puudoži) — town at the end of the Blue Highway.
 * (Karelian: Segeža) — town on Lake Vygozero (part of the White Sea–Baltic Canal) and the Murmansk railway
 * (Karelian: Sortavala) — the marble canyon of nearby Ruskeala Park is beautiful, the city of Sortavala has interesting architecture, having been the Finnish showcase of functionalism and Carelianism.
 * (Karelian: Suojärvi) — town at the Kostomuksha railway junction

Other destinations

 * — the largest lake of Europe.
 * — lies in the northern portion of the lake and is famous for its monastery.
 * (1,220 km²) is at the lake's northern shores, by Sortavala.
 * — second-largest lake in Europe.
 * Ancient drawings, hammered in the rocks (in the Pudozhsky District). These, together with petroglyphs a little south of Kem (in Belomorsky District), were in 2021 inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
 * island — famous for its beautiful wooden church and other buildings, the whole architectural ensemble of Kizhi island is a

Understand

Karelia borders Finland to the west, Murmansk Oblast to the north, the White Sea to the northeast, Arkhangelsk Oblast to the east, Vologda Oblast to the southeast, and Leningrad Oblast to the south.

Karelia is known as "the country of lakes." One quarter of Karelia's surface is covered by water including about sixty thousand lakes. The second-largest lake of Europe, Lake Onega, is located in Karelia. The largest lake of Europe, Lake Ladoga, is shared between Karelia and Leningrad Oblast. Wherever there is land, there are dense forests covering the ground.

Karelia has a strong cultural connection with Finland, and the Karelians, after whom the republic is named, are a Finno-Ugric group very closely related to the Finns. Much of the Finnish national epic Kalevala was collected here. The border between Sweden (which Finland was part of) and Russia has crossed the lands of the Karelians since medieval times, being moved several times (see Nordic history). The parts Finland lost to Russia in the Second World War are still a bit of a sore spot for many Finns. Much of the Karelian population was evacuated to Finland when the area was ceded to the Soviet Union. Tourism from Finland was common until the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and there was significant Finnish support for projects supporting the Karelian language and culture.

After the Finnish civil war of 1918 and after the Great Depression of 1929, many Finns, including Finnish emigrants to North America, moved to Karelia, simply for work or also for building a greater future. They became communities of their own and contributed significantly to development of the region. During this time Petrozavodsk (Finnish: Petroskoi) grew from some 20,000 to some 50,000 inhabitants. Many Finns also moved to Kondopoga (Kontupohja) and Uhtua (since 1963: Kelevala). The Great Terror of Stalin in the late 1930s hit the Finnish population in the Soviet Union hard and little of the communities remained afterwards.

Talk
Everybody understands and speaks Russian, although many are bilingual in Karelian, Finnish, or, on a smaller scale, Veps (a third Finno-Ugric language). These three languages are also officially recognized. A traveller could get by with only knowledge of Finnish, as many local ethnic Russians understand a good deal of the language.

Basic English is widely understood by young people; Swedish is also relatively popular.

Karelian is the native language, spoken here since the Iron Age and recognised as a minority language. It is a Finnic language closely related to Finnish (although not the same as the Karelian dialects of Finnish). Karelian is endangered, spoken in Karelia by some 14,000 people and by some 9,000 as mother tongue. Karelian is also known to some degree by 30,000 people living in Finland, mostly descendants of those evacuated after World War II. There are a few main dialect groups of Karelian, all nowadays written with the Latin alphabet.

By plane
As of 2014, the only flights to Karelia from outside are from Moscow (Domodedovo) 5 times a week and from Saint-Petersburg 2 times a week to Petrozavodsk (Besovetc). The timetable changes often though.

By train
There are several trains to Petrozavodsk from Saint Petersburg (7 hours; both overnight and day-time, departing from Ladozhsky railway station) and from Moscow (16 hours, overnight). Trains that go through main Karelian transport corridor: Svir–Petrozavodsk–Medvegjyegorsk–Belomorsk, are almost always bound to Petrozavodsk or Murmansk. The most popular, long-known and comfortable trains are 15/16 Moscow–Saint-Petersburg–Murmansk "Arktika", 17/18 Moscow–Petrozavodsk "Kareliya" (bypassing Saint-Petersburg), 5/6 Saint-Petersburg–Petrozavodsk (evening trains that runs 5 hours to Petrozavodsk without stops), 657/658 Saint-Petersburg–Petrozavodsk (overnight), 21/22 Saint-Petersburg–Murmansk (arriving to Petrozavodsk from Saint-Petersburg just after midnight and leaving back very early in the morning). There are several more trains from both capitals, some often seasonal or extra services. Seasonal and extra services trains, as usual, are more close to the traditional Russian and less comfortable style.

Other trains to Kareliya run only several times a week and ofter are seasonal, or on and off. As of 2014, the following routes are operational: Minsk–Murmansk (pass Petrozavodsk south Tu Sa, north Tu Th). Saint-Petersburg–Sortavala–Kostomuksha (leaves Saint-Petersburg W F, arrives to Saint-Petersburg Th Su), and Murmansk–Vologda (starts from Murmansk F Su, from Vologda W F).

By bus
Petrozavodsk is connected by buses with Joensuu in Finland (from Joensuu Th–Su at 16:00, from Petrozavodsk Th–Su at 06:00, transfer tickets to Finland buses are available), Saint-Petersburg (4–5 times a day), Cherepovets through Tikhvin (from Cherepovets F at 07:30), Vologda through Voznesenje ferry (from Vologda M Sa at 08:10), daily from Vytegra through Pudog, and on Tu F Sa from Vytegra through Voznesenje. There are also buses from Saint-Petersburg to Pudog, Pitkyaranta and Sortavala. Complete timetables (subject to change) are on Petrozavodsk bus station site.

By car
By car there are two main routes to Karelia: through M-18 from Saint-Petersburg (from Moscow you can get to M-18 bypassing Saint-Petersburg through A114 Zuevo–Volkhov–Novaya Ladoga), and by M-8 and R-5 from Moscow via Vologda. An alternate route is via R-37 Lodeinoe Pole–Vytegra and then on to R-5 (this route is informally called Arhangelsk trakt), but this route contains enough unpaved stretches. Most Karelian roads (other than M-18) are in a bad state, rather bumpy (this includes Karelian part of R-5, though not Vologda region part), and often include unpaved stretches.

There are border crossings from Finland, in very sparsely populated areas: (Суоперя) between Kuusamo and Kestenga,  (Люття) between Kajaani and Kuhmo and Kostomuksha, and  in Tohmajärvi/Vyartsilya (Вя́ртсиля) between Joensuu and Sortavala. The latter was quite busy until 2023, with a million passages a year.

Get around

Most public transport in Karelia runs along part of bus and train routes from Saint-Petersburg to Murmansk: on M18 from Olonets, and by rail from station Svir' near Podporogye further north through Petrozavodsk, Kondopoga, Medveg'yegorsk, Segezha, Belomorsk and Kem'. M18 runs to the west of most of those towns, with distance of 3 to 20 km from them.

Other relatively popular bus routes are to Sortavala (through Olonets, or via more direct route through A121), Suoyarvi and Spasskaya Guba. There are quite a number of suburb buses, starting from Petrozavodsk.

Apart from these routes transport (including buses to Kostomuksha and Pudozh among others) is quite scarce, and the number of local buses is small.

To get to Valaam you'll have to get on public or private boat from Sortavala. To get to Kizhi in navigation period, you can get on boat or hydrofoil from Petrozavodsk or Velikaya Guba village. In winter there may be an occasional connection to Kizhi via cushioncraft or helicopter from airport "Peski" in Petrozavodsk. Sometimes there may be a helicopter to Pudozh, or in summer a boat to the opposite shore of Onega, not far from Pudozh.

There is a wide border zone towards Finland, for which a special permit is needed.

See

 * Valaam Monastery of the Finnish Orthodox Church was built on an island of Ladoga, but was evacuated during war with the Soviets in the 1940s. The monks fled with their icons and rebuilt Valamo close to Heinävesi, a bit west of Joensuu. The monastery is visited by many Finns, Orthodox or not, and is featured in most tourist guides as well. Pilgrims come to see the ancient icons from the old Valamo monastery.

Itineraries
The Blue Highway runs from Mo i Rana on Norway's Atlantic coast across Sweden and Finland and then via Sortavala and Petrozavodsk to Pudozh on Onega's eastern shore.

Do
There is quite some forest and waterways where you can hike or paddle. In some areas you may be able to find tourist businesses arranging tours, whitewater adventures and the like.

Stay safe
Most of the republic is very sparsely populated. Away from the main roads you will have to manage mostly on your own.

Go next
The Solovetsky Islands and Monastery on the White Sea are nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site in Arkhangelsk Oblast and can be reached by boat from Karelia.

Trains head north from Petrozavodsk to Murmansk.

title: Karelia


text:
Karghilik

Karghilik (叶城; Yèchéng) is a city in Xinjiang Province in China.

By bus

 * Kashgar - takes about 4 hours
 * Khotan - takes about 5 hours
 * Urumqi - takes about 25 hours
 * Yarkand - takes about 1 hours

Go next
Tibet is accessible via the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway but not for foreigners. The town of Ali, Tibet is 1100 km away and takes between 3-5 days of high altitudes, freezing temperatures and possible fines by the PSB at the border. For those foolhardy enough to travel this route, the road starts 6 km east of Karghilik. Not long after you arrive in town, you will have all kinds of touts offering to drive you to Ali for ¥300-1,000. You might be riding in a car, the back of a truck or, if you are lucky, the back of a bus. Be sure that you are prepared - cash, since the ATM's in China are few and far between, warm clothing, food (nothing that needs to be cooked) and water for at least 5 days, since you do not know what will be available along the way, and, for safety precaution, something to overpower either a man or animal should something be needed.

title: Karghilik


text:
Kargil

Kargil is a town in Ladakh, India. It's an important transit hub of Ladakh, with roads leading from here to Leh, Srinagar, and Padum in Zanskar. One of the two capitals of Ladakh, and the capital of Kargil district, it is still a small town. While interesting in many ways due to its historic position on the caravan routes, nothing of this is visible to the casual visitor. It is notorious with travellers as a necessary stop between Central Ladakh, Zanskar and the Kashmir Valley.

The town is famous due to the Kargil War, when the town and surrounding areas were shelled by Pakistan-based militants.

This article also covers Dras, the coldest settlement in India and a stopover town between Kargil and the Zoji La pass.

Get in
Kargil has direct bus connections with Leh, Srinagar, and Padum. Shared Jeeps make a faster, more expensive alternative to the buses, they leave from near the Bus depot, on main Bazaar.

Most people passing through Kargil are going from Leh to Srinagar, or vice versa, and have booked a through ticket. Be sure to do this if at all possible. For people coming from elsewhere in Ladakh, or going to Zanskar the bus station is chaotic and it can be confusing to get a ticket. The ticket office is down a small pedestrian lane in an unmarked large stone building. There are normally a couple of buses parked in front, a couple minutes' walk from the bus depot.

Get around
Kargil is small enough to walk from one end of town to the other easily.

See and do
There are nothing much to see or do within Kargil. The general area around Kargil has pleasant scenery and would make for nice walks.

Mount Nun expedition
is a stunning mountain peak. With an elevation of 7,135 m, it is the highest peak in the Zanskar Range of the Himalayas. Mount Nun is also known as Kun Nun, which means “white snow” in the local language.

Mount Nun is a popular destination for mountaineers and adventurers. The Mount Nun expedition is a challenging journey that requires high levels of fitness, technical climbing skills, and a lot of mental and physical preparation. The climb is not for the faint-hearted, and those attempting it should have prior experience in mountaineering.

The journey to Mount Nun begins in the town of Kargil, which is the closest town to the mountain. From here, climbers will embark on a 1-day trek to the base camp of the mountain. The trek is arduous, passing through rugged terrain, steep valleys, and rocky terrain. The trek offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, glaciers, and valleys.

Once climbers reach the base camp, they will have a few days to acclimatise to the altitude and prepare for the climb. During this time, climbers will be required to undertake short hikes and training sessions to get accustomed to the terrain and conditions of the mountain. Climbers will have to negotiate steep ice walls, rocky terrain, and difficult crevasses. The climb to the summit typically takes around 5-7 days, depending on weather conditions and the pace of the climbers.

The summit of Mount Nun is a rewarding and unforgettable experience for those who make it to the top. Climbers will be able to see the Himalayan ranges, glaciers, and the stunning beauty of the Zanskar valley.

Buy
Kargil has no souvenir shops, although you might visit one of the music shops selling locally produced folk music.

Eat and drink
There are a plenty of decent restaurants of the Dhaba variety around the Main Bazaar. The Tibetan restaurant on the third floor of a building in the main street offers pleasant and inexpensive Tibetan dishes, such as Momo and Thugpka.

Kargil is a good place to stock up on trekking food, better than Padum for dry fruit and fresh veggies. Don't miss the dried apricots, and fragrant tandoori naan.

As a conservative Muslim town, there are no bars. Tea is available in any of the dhabas.

Sleep
For a city where it's necessary for so many to spend the night, accommodation is of very low quality and poor value. For the price of a beautiful double room in Leh, here you will get a dirty, dark box. There are enough places to choose from and finding a bed is not a problem; follow the signs all around the bus depot and main bazaar. A sleeping bag is useful, as the bedding is unlikely to be clean in even the more expensive places.

 * Izhar Palace This rather run-down place near the bus station offers bedding on the floor in a dormitory with very warm blankets (a must in Ladakh) for ₹50.

Respect
Remember this is a conservative Muslim area, and it would be inappropriate for men or women to wear shorts. Women should particularly avoid tight or revealing clothes.

Also, visitors should avoid any raising any political discussion in public on issues like Hindu-Muslim riots; whether Kashmir should be a part of India, Pakistan or a separate state; or any other topic that might hurt the sentiments of either Hindus or Muslims.

Go next

 * Lamayuru – small village with a Buddhist gompa, on the way to Leh
 * Zanskar

title: Kargil


text:
Kargopol

Kargopol is a historically important town in Arkhangelsk Oblast. It is a convenient base for exploring Kenozersky National Park and is a destination in its own right for its traditional wooden architecture.

See
Spherical 360°-pano of Aleksandr Kopachev.
 * Kargopol and Kenozersky National Park

Do

 * Hiking in Kenozersky

Buy
The traditional craftwork known as Kargopol toys (Каргопольская игрушка) are small figurines of people, Centauri Polkan and Paradise birds Sirin.

Go next

 * Kargopol is en route from St. Petersburg to Arkhangelsk

title: Kargopol


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Kariba

Kariba is a town on the shore of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe.

Get in
Kariba is 365 km from the capital city Harare. There are many buses from Kariba to Harare.

Do

Lake Kariba is a great place to fish and enjoy the wild life that visit the shores of the worlds largest man made lake. One of the most popular ways of travelling along the lake is on a houseboat. Houseboats tour companies travel along the river giving you an opportunity to fish and enjoy the wild life that drinks along the banks of the river.Tiger fish and bream are the two most popular fish found in the lake. Houseboat tours can take up to five days with evening spent camping on the shore of the lake.

Go next

 * Mana Pools National Park

title: Kariba


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Karijoki

Karijoki (Swedish: Bötom) is a municipality in Southern Ostrobothnia in Finland, located 25 km from the coast and 90 km south-west of Seinäjoki. With only around 1,500 inhabitants it is a small place, but it gained fame when a Neanderthal cave (called the Wolf Cave) was discovered in 1997.

Get in
Karijoki is 14 km inland from the Lålby crossroads of E8 (national road 8) in Kristinestad. From the east the road (663) comes in from Kauhajoki. There is also a road from Teuva in the north and from Isojoki in the south.

 * Coaches on the long-distance Turku–Pori–Vaasa–Oulu service may connect to buses to Karijoki, at the Lålby crossroads of national road 8.
 * Buses from Kristinestad (line 162, 20–30 min, €7/3.50), some 6 times daily on schooldays.
 * Buses from Seinäjoki with transfer in Kauhajoki (2 hr) some 2 times daily in schooldays.

By taxi

 * Keskustaksi, Taksini: see Southern_Ostrobothnia
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

See

The cave was formed as a result of erosion and it is estimated to be more than 2.6 million years old. In the interglacial period, between ice ages, it was filled with sediment layers that remained untouched unlike the rest of the area. The cave is 116.5 meters above today’s sea level. The ceiling of the cave is quite low; the highest spot is 2.2 meters high and the entrance is only a little bit over a meter high. The size of the cave is not precisely determined because it is still partially filled with sediment layers but it is estimated to be over 400 m2. It is very exciting to stare at inside and give place to the imagination, travel back 100,000 years ago. It is possible to get an idea of the size of the cave at the opening but safety precautions prevent visitors from entering the cave.

In 1998 the archeological excavations were started. The drilling was stopped in 2000 when temperature changes created a danger of the cave collapsing. The ceiling of the cave was reinforced, allowing the work to continue again. Although, because it’s such a vulnerable spot the investigators preferred to postpone the excavation until the research systems improve so nothing precious would be ruined. Expertise from different fields participate in the enduring investigation, among the participants are the Geological Survey of Finland, the National Board of Antiquities, and the University of Helsinki’s Dating Laboratory.

As mentioned before, inside the cave were found traces of human life from over 120,000 years ago, before the Ice Age covered the land for the next thousands of years. There was found burnt rock which gave certain evidence that fire was burned there, also many diverse stone tools. The techniques used to make these artifacts were the classic techniques used by Neanderthal to shape rocks which research dates back 130,000–115,000 years ago. Therefore, it is basically a fact that the Neanderthal inhabited this cave.

This is a unique attraction, there is nothing like it anywhere else in the Nordic countries. The terrain around the Wolf Cave is abundant with signs of the Ice Age and the cave itself is the oldest known human dwelling in Finland. The study of the Wolf Cave is an enduring task and rewriting the history of habitation in the Nordic countries.

Sleep
See list at Karijoki web pages.

title: Karijoki


text:
Karimabad

Karimabad (aka Baltit) is the capital of Hunza Valley in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan.

By car
Karimabad is 100 km drive from Gilgit. Most people arrive by road: it takes almost 2 - 3 hours to reach Hunza from Gilgit. The main bus stand is on the Karakoram Highway (KKH) 'Aliabad'. There are booking agents in town for long distance buses & jeeps along the KKH. The journey from Islamabad can take as long as 24 hours.

By airplane
Gilgit Airport is small and has 45-minute flights to Islamabad on Pakistan International Airways (PIA). It is 2.3 km east of Gilgit.

By bus
From Kashgar (China) there is a ¥270 regular bus service to Hunza via Sost crossing over the Khunjerab Pass (about 5000 m high). Across river Hunza at Sost, there is a village called Khuda Abad. People usually do not stop at Khunjerab Pass, they just carry on their journey to Sost with the bus. From Sost, you can do a number of activities around like trekking in the valleys, or drive to Hunza-Karimabad (2 hours), where the Baltit Fort is standing. The Khunjerab Pass is open from May 1-Dec 30, but closed in winter.

 * To China: Thrice-weekly bus service was scheduled to begin crossing the border from Gilgit, Northern Areas, to Kashgar, China, and road widening work was scheduled for 600 km of the Karakoram Highway. There were also plans for one daily bus in each direction between Sust and Taxkorgan in the border areas of the two countries.
 * To Islamabad: Via the Karakoram Highway, popularly known as the Silk Road.
 * To Gilgit: Via the Karakoram Highway, popularly known as the Silk Road.

By plane
Pakistani International Airlines has at least one daily flight from the capital Islamabad to the nearest major airport, in Gilgit three hours south of Karimabad. All flights, however, are subject to weather clearance, and in winters, flights are often delayed by several days.

Get around
Private vehicles are normally used as local transport. Renting jeeps is also a common way of moving around. You can go to nearby cities on buses and by air.

See

 * Ruby mines
 * Spectacular sceneries
 * Rock carvings
 * Spectacular sceneries
 * Rock carvings

Do

 * Karakoram Air Safari is the scenic air journey offered by PIA
 * Mountaineering, trekking and hiking: The area is ideal for mountaineering, trekking and hiking. Permission for mountaineering and trekking for restricted zone is issued by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of Pakistan, Pakistan Sports Complex, Kashmir Highway, Aabpara, Islamabad (Telephone: 92-51-9203509). Fishing permits are issued by the Fisheries Department at Gilgit and Skardu.
 * Fishing at Lakes. Fishing permits are issued by the Fisheries Department.
 * Biking
 * Walking
 * Hike to Ultar meadow through the steep canyon above the main town that can be seen behind Baltit fort. Great views of the area can be enjoyed, especially of the imposing Lady Finger peak high above the town. As of July 2019, floods have washed away the path on the right hand side of the canyon, therefore it is advisable to hire a guide to show you the way.

Eat
There are many places serving food along Karim Abad Rd, especially between Zero point and Baltit fort. Most hotels will also serve food.

Budget

title: Karimabad


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Karimnagar

Karimnagar is a district of the state of Telangana in Southern India.

Regions
Karimnagar is in the state of Telangana. Its headquarters are in Karimnagar city, a fast developing city with many famous monuments which are in ruins. Karimnagar is one of the 20 most developed districts in India. The famous temple of Lord Raja Rajeshwara Swamy is in Vemulawada, the temple of Lord Kaleshwara-Mukteshwara Swamy is in Kaleshwaram, and the temple of Veera Hanuman is also in this district.

Cities

 * - Very famous pilgrim centre of Lord Laxmi Narasimha with lot of temples on the bank of the sacred river Godavari. Famous for astrologers, poets, Vedas. A must-visit place.
 * - This area has Upper Manair (Normal) project in Karimnagar district. This water used by 3 Mandals to cultivate at least 100,000 acres of land.
 * - Coal mines are situated in this region falling under the godavari belt
 * - Famous for its textile industry
 * — Lord Shiva's temple
 * — the "City of Granites" is a major educational and health hub for the northern districts of Telangana
 * - Famous for Veera Hanuman Temple.
 * - Famous temple Sai Baba
 * - Very famous for paddy industry. Manair project flows in this region. Due to this, this area has a bigger number of rice mills and people grow up rice crop. Famous Ramaswamy and Hanuman temples are in this place.
 * - Famous for Narasimhaswami Temple.
 * - This town is also referred to as "Manchester of India" due to its rapid industrialisation. Some of the industries are NTPC, SCCL Coal Mines, FCI, Kesoram Cements, AP GENCO Powerplant, BPL Power (Project under execution)
 * - Famous for its textile industry
 * - Famous for Venkateshware Temple (organized by Salvagi.krishna).

Other destinations

 * Ranipuram is a Village nearest to the City, which will lead you to the rural culture of Telangana.

 * Kothapally is the nearest town to the City.

Talk
Probably you would be happy to listen a different accent of Telugu - Mostly widely spoken language in Andhra Pradesh. That is what they call it as Telangana - a language that is a mixture of both Telugu and Urdu. The language is influenced by the rule of Nizams (Muslim kings) in the Telangana region. Urdu is also widely spoken.

By car
Karimnagar has some of the best roads in Telangana. It is a major road junction in Telangana. It is connected by very good roads with the nearest cities like Warangal and Nizamabad and towns like Ramagundam, Mancherial and Kamareddy.

By bus
It has one of the biggest and busiest bus stations in Telangana. It is connected to the state capital, Hyderabad, by Rajiv Rahadari. There are frequent buses from Hyderabad to Karimnagar (once every 10 minutes).

By train
Though Karimnagar is equipped with a railway station, the expansion program is still underway. If you want to come to Karimnagar by train, you can either get off at Warangal (80 km) or Kazipet (80 km) and get a bus from there. Alternatively, you can get off at Ramagundam (70 km) or Peddapalli (40 km) and get a local train which operates from Sirpur Khagaznagar to Jagitial via Ramagundam, Peddapall and Karimnagar. The train runs twice a day and takes longer than by road. So, strong advice is to take a bus from any of the stations mentioned above.

See
To see in Karimnagar are many picturesque locations.

 * Lower Manair Dam
 * Deer Park
 * Nampally Gutta
 * Ujvala Amusement Park
 * Manthani Reserve Forest
 * Crocodile Conservation Park Manthani
 * State Museum
 * Elgandala Khilla
 * Mallareddypet Waterfalls
 * karimullah shah sahab dargah
 * aarapally ki dargah
 * Haati ki khabar
 * green square plaza
 * Old pump house at Bypass Rd to Hanman Temple
 * Qamar Villa

Do

 * You must visit the oldest theatre: thirandaz theatre.

Eat

 * If you have ever been to Karimnagar and missed mamaji jalebi, you have missed the true delicacy of Jalebi. Started in a small room and still exists to this day, is situated near Clock Tower in Karimnagar. Go for it and savor your senses.
 * Karimnagar's Raju Tea Stall is famous for its Tea, snacks (especially Samosa) and Badusha (a kind of sweet). It is known that Raju tea stall sells at least ten thousand cups of tea every day (i.e. someone or other orders tea every four seconds during working hours).
 * You will get good special biryani which you will find at the very famous hotel in Ramagundam near the railway station called Moiz hotel where you can find very good tea for relaxation
 * The Biryani of Peacock Restaurant is very famous and is a must try, it is opposite the bus stand, and the two hotels which are also famous for their "chai" are the Majid Ki Hotel and Hussain Cafe.
 * If you are in Karimnagar at the time of Holy month of Ramzan, you must have the "Dahi Bade" of Munnu which you will find at Sawaran Masjid after Asar prayer, and also at the famous Akbariya  Harees, which you find at Madina Masjid, Mukarrampura.
 * The other best place to eat out in Karimnagar is at Geeta Bhavan Udipi Hotel at Mukarrampura Chowrasta.
 * Yet another food item of Karimnagar is Kalyani (beef) Biryani which can be found at many hotels, most notable are the Shazia Hotel, Mukarrampura and the Taj Hotel, Karkhanagadda.

Drink
You will be able to all kind of drinks like cheap liquor to costly foreign liquors in town. If you go to rural areas will be get white liquor extracted from trees which are similar to coconut trees.

Stay safe
Be careful in remote places like villages. Just enquire about the situation there well before you start. Some remote places in Karimnagar are influenced by Maoists – generally they will not trouble passers-by or tourists.

Snakes are abundant in rural areas, so take care.

Go next

 * Bhadrachalam
 * Mantralayam
 * Karnataka
 * Raichur
 * Bidar
 * Hampi

title: Karimnagar


text:
Karimun

Karimun is a regency covering a group of islands in the Riau Islands province of Indonesia. Nearly all the population is concentrated on the main island of Karimun Besar ("Big Karimun"), also written Karimunbesar.

Karimun is just off the east coast of Sumatra, guarding the southern entrance of the busy Straits of Malacca. It lies west of Batam and to the southwest of Singapore and is the furthest west of the Riau Islands.

Its proximity to Singapore has made the islands quite affluent and busy. Its main town, Tanjung Balai is a bustling port town with a lot of commerce, boosted by tourists from Singapore and Malaysia. Note that it must not be confused with Tanjung Balai in North Sumatra province, a much larger city also known as Tanjung Balai Asahan and an international port. Like Batam and Bintan, Karimun is also listed as a Free Trade Zone area.

Visa
For details on visa requirements for visiting Karimun, please see the Indonesia page. Karimun's Tanjung Balai port is designated as a visa-free and visa-on-arrival entry point for the 7-days visa (that only costs US$10), as of 2014.

By boat
Karimun does not have an operational airport, so travellers' only option is to get in by boat from other islands. Karimun has good ferry connections with Singapore and Kukup in the southwestern tip of Johor, Malaysia as well as the other Riau Islands and the Sumatra "mainland".

Ferry terminals
There are two ferry terminals in Tanjung Balai. The main one (to Singapore, Batam, Bintan, Malaysia) is at the easternmost part of the island. The other one (to local destinations such as Kundur) is 500 m further towards the city center.

From Singapore
As of 2022, Sindo Ferry operates a single round-trip on even days only between Singapore's Harbourfront Ferry Terminal and Tanjung Balai. Tickets cost $53/96 one-way/return, not including the Tanjung Balai port fee of Rp 75,000 for foreigners. The journey time is about one and a half hours.

From Malaysia
Several companies operate frequent ferries between Tanjung Balai and Kukup, in the southwestern part of Johor.
 * MV Ocean Indoma ferries leave Kukup at 11:45 and 17:00. From Tanjung Balai, ferries leave at 09:30 and 14:30.

There is also a ferry service between Tanjung Balai and Puteri Harbour International Ferry Terminal, Nusajaya, Johor, Malaysia. There are four daily trips each way.

From the other Riau Islands
Numerous companies offer ferry services to/from Bintan, Batam and the other Riau Islands. There are also very frequent ferries (about every 30 minutes) to Selat Beliah, at the North-most point of Kundur island. 15 minutes and 20,000 Rp.
 * From Batam: Regular ferries link Tanjung Balai with Sekupang domestic ferry terminal on Batam. Many of these ferries originate from or are heading to the Sumatra mainland or Kundur Island. Tickets cost Rp. 70.000 one-way (excluding Rp. 1.000 port tax & Rp. 1.000 insurance)
 * From Bintan: Ferry company Arena operate regular ferries between Tanjung Balai and Tanjung Pinang, the main town on Bintan. The ferries also stop at Sekupang on Batam en route.
 * From Kundur Island: The Miko Natalia 3 links Tanjung Balai with Tanjung Batu, the main town on Kundur Island several times daily. Tickets cost Rp. 46,000 one-way before port taxes. Journey time is over one hour, longer if stops are made at islands along the way. The ferry continues its journey to Sekupang on Batam.

From the Sumatra mainland
Warning:This info may be confused with Tanjung Balai Asahan

Regular ferries link Sumatra port cities like Dumai, Pekanbaru, Selat Panjang (all in Riau province), and Kuaka Tungkal in Jambi with Tanjung Balai. Most of these ferries continue to Tanjung Pinang, the main town in Bintan, stopping at Sekupang on Batam en route.

From other parts of Indonesia

Many ferries (up to 10 a day) for the neighboring islands such as Kundur.

By mikrolet
The cheapest way to travel in Karimun is by mikrolet. These small minibuses run a fairly standard route and pick up and drop off passengers anywhere along the way. By the way, the locals call them "oplet". You can get almost anywhere in Tanjung Balai for Rp. 3.000. Tanjung Balai to Meral is 2.500rp. However, they do not run outside of the main city.

By bicycle
This would be one of the ideal ways to explore Karimun. There is a bicycle rental shop named ORDI along Jalan Ahmad Yani, which rents out mountain bicycles and has at least one electric bicycle available for rental. Alternatively, most of the ferry companies will take your bicycle for a SG$5 fee, so if you are coming from Singapore, just bring one over.

See

 * Vihara Bodhi Maitreya, Jalan A.yani
 * Baitul Karim Mosque, Tanjung Balai.
 * Klenteng Tua Pek Kong 大伯公庙, Jalan Athena Meral
 * Vihara Cetiya Vidya Sagara 朱王庙, Jalan Jenderal A. Yani, Meral. This Chinese temple was built in 1926.
 * Vihara Sasana Diepa 妈祖宫, Jalan Jenderal A. Yani, Meral.
 * Palawan Beach, a beautiful beach. There are many small restaurants under the palm trees, overlooking the sea. On Sundays and holidays, it is a popular destination for the locals. Renting a motorbike with driver from Tanjung Balai to Palawan costs around 100,000 Rp (2014), including about 2-3 hours on site.
 * Pongkar Beach, another nice and beautiful beach. It is very refreshing and relax place that you have to visit when you are in Karimun
 * Waterfall usually call Air Terjun, climbing to the top of the waterfall. Have a nice and clear water, barbecue at there, etc. Really fun
 * Pawai Jalan, twice annually, parade of the local Muslims on the eve of Hari Raya Idul Fitri and Hari Raya Idul Adha.

 * Jade Emperor Festival, an annual festival of praying to the Chinese Jade Emperor in Meral Kota. Visit Meral Kota at night on the 8th night of Chinese New Year to witness the local Chinese (Hokkien Clan) doing their praying to the Jade Emperor outside their houses with the younger ones enjoying their activity with firecrackers and fireworks.

Do
Stroll around Tanjung Balai, which is the main town on Karimun Island, and one of the busiest towns in the Riau Islands. You can walk around and explore on your own or you can take a mikrolet (small public bus) for Rp. 2,000.

To enjoy the rural lifestyle on a tropical Indonesian island, you need to get away from Tanjung Balai and go to some local kampung areas in Meral or Pasir Panjang.

Visit the Chinese temples of Klenteng Tua Pek Kong, Vihara Cetiya, Vidya Sagara and Vihara Sasana Diepa in Meral. Take your time to look at the temple drawings such as "General Xue and Lady Fan" and "Lady Warriors of the Yang Family".

Visit the "Air Terjun" (waterfall in Indonesian) which is not far away from Pantai Palawan. You can bath in the man-made pools built to capture the water flowing from the mountain. It's definitely refreshing.

Buy
Karimun's main department store is Indo A. Yani Swalayan & Dept. Store in Tanjung Balai. Pasar Swalayan means supermarket in Bahasa Indonesia. This 3 storey department store offers food, clothing, housewares, stationary and basic necessities. Not too expensive.

Padimas Department Store another shopping area in Karimun. Beside it, there is a game centre suitable for the families. Opposite it, is the ASTON Karimun City Hotel (formerly Hotel Padi Mas), which is reasonably priced. There is a new Village Cafe also. Cosy ambiance with reasonable priced food and drinks. A large Heineken beer cost Rp. 28 000 only. Do try their new menu. The Cafe is similar to the ones found in Singapore. Great place to chill out and relax.

You can obtain 250g Karimun Utama coffee (Kopi Karimun Utama) for Rp. 7.150 (Agent: Toko Utama, Jalan Nusantara No. 43, Tanjung Balai, Pulau Karimun. ), local produced Kerupuk, deep fried fish crackers, can be found at Bona Kerupuk Atom 50 and cost Rp. 7.000 per packet. This said, it is much cheaper in the Indo A. Yani Swalayan & Dept. Store.

Eat
Bakso, a meatball made from low quality meat is just as popular as nasi goreng. Both are sold from street side stalls, or push carts that make their rounds through the neighborhoods.

Several Chinese restaurants can be found along Jalan Trikora Laut (opposite Holiday Karimun Hotel). This is probably the central area for Teochew-style Bak Kut Teh. Noodles are also available.

The long stretch of open-air food and drink vendors that convenes outside the ferry terminal after 5pm is a great place to try out authentic, cheap Indonesian food.

Drink
Try Lasegar, an Indonesian refreshing soft drink for Rp3,500 per can. One can of Carlsberg beer costs Rp5,500. Try Sosro, an Indonesian refreshing tea, or Chinese traditional herbal tea @ Jl. Trikora no. 15 (next to kedai kopi Ahiang's coffee shop) only cost Rp2,000,-

Sleep
Most hotels are in the very center of the city. Prices are quite similar. Just avoid Paragon, a bit closer to the ferry terminal, but very old and dirty from inside.

Telephone numbers
The country code for Indonesia is 62. The area code for Tanjung Balai is 777.

Postal services
Post office (known as kantor pos in Bahasa Indonesia) in Tanjung Balai is open daily except Sundays and public holidays. Sending a postcard costs Rp5,000.

Go next
The nearest airport is on Palau Batam, so you'll need to head back there for domestic flights. For International flights heading to Singapore or Kukup (Pontian, Malaysia) would be the best option. International seaport tax is Rp60,000 (2014).

Connections by sea are limited to one Pelni boat per week and various fast boat services to different Sumatran ports.

title: Karimun