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Chittagonian phrasebook

Chittagonian (চিটাইঙ্গা / চাটগাঁইয়া ৱাশা) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the people of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarban & Khagrachhari in Bangladesh. It is not mutually intelligible with Bangla and it has its own grammar, phonology and vocabulary. That's why it is considered by linguists to be a separate language. It is estimated to have 14 million speakers, United States and other countries. According to the status of Top 100 Languages by Population by Ethnologue, Chittagong ranked 75th of the world.

Grammar
Chittagonian grammar is similar to that of Bangla, with significant variations in inflectional morphology (prefixes, suffixes, particles, etc.), and some variation in word order. Like related languages of the eastern subcontinent, Chittagonian is a head-final language, with a subject–object–verb basic word order. Like Assamese (Ôxômiya) but unlike Bengali (Bangla), Chittagonian has preverbal negation. This means that the negative particle will precede the verb in Chittagonian, where the corresponding Bangla version would have a negative particle following the verb.

Bangla: Ami jabo na

Chittagonian: Añi no zeiyum

The following is a sample text in Chittagonian of the Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (by the United Nations):

দ়ারা ১: বিয়াক্ মানুশ ইজ্‌জত এদ্দে অ়কর্ ই়শাফে আজাদ্ আর্ ও়ঁৰাইন্‌না অ়ইয়েরে ফ়য়দা অ়য়্। ই়তারাত্‌তু আহল্ এদ্‌দে বিবেক্ আস়ে; এ়তল্‌লায়্ এজ্‌জন্ আরেজ্‌জনর্ ও়ঁৰারে ৱেইয়র না৴ন বেৱার গরন দরহারি। — Chittagonian in the Chittagonian alphabet

Dàra ek: Biàk manush izzôt edde òkor ìshafe azad ar òwainna òiyere foyda òy. ìtarattu ahôl edde bibek asè; ètollay ezzon arezzonor òöware bèiyôr nān bebàr gôrônnan dôrhari. — Chittagonian in transcription, faithful to pronunciation.

Clause 1: All human free-manner-in equal dignity and right taken birth-take do. Their reason and intelligence is; therefore everyone-indeed one another's towards brotherhood-ly attitude taken conduct do should. — Word to word gloss.

Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience. Therefore, they should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. — Translation.

Classification
Chittagonian is a member of the Bengali-Assamese sub-branch of the Eastern group of Indo-Aryan languages, a branch of the wider and more vast Indo-European language family. Its sister languages include Sylheti (Cilôţi), Bengali (Bangla), Assamese (Ôxômiya), Oriya, the Bihari languages, and also less directly all other Indo-Aryan languages such as Hindi. Like other Indo-Aryan languages, it is derived from Pali, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European.

Vocabulary/Lexis
Like Bangla, most of the vocabulary of Chittagonian is derived from Sanskrit. It also, like Bengali, includes a significant number of imported words from Arabic, Persian, and Turkish, as well as, to a lesser extent, Portuguese. In addition, English words are widely used in spoken Chittagonian, just as it is in almost all other Indian languages, as a result of the legacy of the British Empire. Although much of the vocabulary of Chittagonian Bengali is the same as standard Bangla, there are several distinguishing features. The contribution of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish words to Chittagonian Bengali is far greater than that to standard. This is because Chittagong was a port city that was open to traders from Arabia, Persia and Turkey since ancient times, naturally absorbing their words. This is also meant that Chittagonians were amongst the first to convert to Islam and consequently, as Muslims, they were further influenced by Arabic, Persian, and Turkish vocabulary, as these were the languages spoken by the Muslims of the time, especially the traders. Among Europeans, the Portuguese colonists were amongst the first to reach Bengal, and Chittagong as a port city, was for a time under the administration of the Portuguese. This has meant that there is a larger proportion of Portuguese loanwords in the usage of Chittagonian speakers than that of standard Bengali speakers.

Sounds/Phonology
Fricatives Chittagonian is distinguished from Bangla by its large inventory of fricatives, which often correspond to plosives in Bangla. For example, the Chittagonian voiceless velar fricative [x] (like the Arabic "kh" or German "ch") in [xabar] corresponds to the Bangla voiceless aspirated velar plosive [kʰ], and the Chittagonian voiceless labiodental fricative [f] corresponds to the Bangla voiceless aspirated bilabial plosive [pʰ]. Some of these pronunciations are used in eastern dialects of Bangla as well.

Nasal vowels
Nasalization of vowels is contrastive in Chittagonian, as with other Eastern Indic languages. A word can change its meaning solely by changing an oral vowel into a nasal vowel, as in আর ar "and" vs. আঁর ãr "my". Below are examples of Chittagonian phrases that include nasal vowels. How are you (Bengali: তুমি কেমন আছ?): -তুঁই কেন আসো? Tñui ken aso? / অনে কেন আসন ? Ône ken ason? I am fine (Bengali: আমি ভাল আছি।): -আঁই গম আসি। Añi gom asi. I am not fine (Bengali: আমি ভাল নাই।): -আঁই গম নাই । Añi gom nai. I am not feeling well. (Bengali: আমার ভাল লাগছে না।): -আঁত্তে গম ন লা৴র। Añtte gom no lār. I will play Cricket (Bengali:আমি ক্রিকেট খেলব।): -আঁই ক্রিকেট ক়েইল্যম । Añi kriket kèillom । I don't want to eat anymore, I am full (Bengali:আর খেতে ইচ্ছে করছে না, পেট ভরা।):-আঁত্তে আর হ়াইত মনত ন হর, ফেট ৱরি গিয়্যই। Añtte ar hàito monot no hor, fet bòri gioi. Where are you (Bengali: তুমি কোথায়?): -তুঁই হন্ডে? Tñui honde? What's your name (Bengali: তোমার নাম কী?): -তোঁয়ার নাম কী? Tñuar nam ki? My name is _(whatever your name is) (Standard Bengali: আমার নাম নয়ন।): -আঁর নাম নয়ন। Añr nam _(whatever your name is). I miss you (Bengali: তোমার অভাব অনুভব করছি): -তোঁয়ার লাই আঁর ফেড ফুরের। Tñuar lai añr fed furer. I miss you too.(Bengali: আমিও তোমার অভাব অনুভব করছি): -তোঁয়ার লাইঅ আঁর ফেড ফুরের। Tñuar laiô añr fed furer./-আঁত্তেঅ তোঁয়ার লাই ফেড ফুরের। Añtteô Tñuar lai fed furer. I love you (Bengali: আমি তোমাকে ভালবাসি): -আঁত্তে তুঁয়ারে বেশি গম লা৴য়। Añtte tñure beshi gom lage. Where are you going (Bengali: তুমি কোথায় যাচ্ছ?): -- তুঁই হন্ডে যর? Tñui honde zor? Where are you from? (Bengali: তুমি কোথা থেকে আসছ?): - তুঁই হত্তুন আইশ্যু ? Tñui hottun aishshu? Where do you live? (Bengali: তুমি কোথায় থাক?): -- তুঁই হন্ডে ত়াহ ?Tñui honde tàho? I live in _(where ever you live) (Bengali:আমি সুলতান মাস্টার বাড়ী, বেঙ্গুরা, বোয়ালখালি তে থাকি।): - Añi _t(where ever you live) tàhi. I'm sad. (Bengali: আমার মন ভালো নেই।): - আঁর দিল গম নাই। Añr dil gom nai. Chittagong is in my heart. (Bengali: হৃদয়ে চট্টগ্রাম ।):সিটাঙ আঁর হইলজার টুঁ৴রো। Sitang añr hoilzar tñūro.

Word Order
Chittagonian word order is subject - object - verb.

( ই়তারা হামত যার গুই ।) Ítara(They)  hamót(to work) zar gui(go).

Writing system
Chittagonian is being written in Bengali script and Latin script.

Basics

 * (Assalamualaikum)

 How are you?  (I'm) fine.
 * (Ône kên ason?) (formal)
 * (Tñui kên aso?) (informal)
 * (Tui ken asos?) (Used with close friends and younger relatives)
 * (Añi) gom (asi).

Good morning.
 * (Shubò beinna) (formal)

 Good evening.
 * (Shubò àzuinna). (formal)

Good night.
 * (Shubò rait). (highly formal)
 * birbijja

(wet)

What is your name?
 * (Ônor naam ki?) (formal)
 * (Tñuar naam ki?) (informal)
 * (Tur naam ki?) (When asking a child)

I'm ______ .
 * (Añi ______)

My name is ______ .
 * (Añr naam ______).

Nice to meet you.
 * (Ônor lo deha oiyene gom leigge.) (formal)
 * (Tñuar lo deha oiyene gom leigge.) (informal)
 * (Tur lo deha oiyene gom leigge.) (When speaking to a very young person/ younger family member)

Please.
 * (Mērbani gori) (formal)

Thank you.
 * (Shukria) (formal)

You're welcome.

(Khosh amded)  Please don't mind.
 * (Kisu mono no goirgun) (formal)
 * (Kisu mono no goirgo) (informal)

Yes.
 * (Òy), (Ji).

No.
 * (Ji na) (formal)
 * (Na) (informal)

A little.
 * (Ekkana)

'''Excuse me. (getting attention)'''
 * (Sāi ekkana)
 * (Owa) (Both getting attention and finding someone while passing by)

 When addressing someone...
 * (Bodda) (when addressing a man of similar age)
 * (Bobbu) (when addressing a lady)

 I love you
 * (Añi tñuare mōbbot gori)

I like you
 * (Añi tñuare foson gori)
 * (Añttun tñuare gom leigge)

 I'm sorry.
 * (Maaf goirgun)

 I'm very sorry.
 * (Añi beshabeshi sorry)

 I made a mistake.
 * (Añi ekkan bùl gori feilli)

Forgive me.
 * Añre maaf goirgun (formal)
 * (Maf goirgo). (informal)

Goodbye
 * Hòda àfez
 * (Ta-Ta) (Informal)

See you soon
 * (Abar shōre dehà òibo)

Problems
Problem(s)
 * Mushkil

I can't speak Chittagonian (that well).
 * (Añi) sitainga (Eille gom gori) hoit nofari.

Do you speak English?
 * Ône ki Ingreji hōit faron na? (formal) Tñui-ki Ingreji hōit faro na? (informal) Ingreji hō na? (Informal)

Is there someone here who speaks English?
 * Ende honikka ason na, ziba Ingreji hōit faron?

Help!
 * Basōn! Modot goron!

Can you help me?
 * Ône ki añre modot gorit fariban na?

Look out!
 * Sāiyo!
 * Ùshiar!

I don't understand.
 * (Añi) buzinnofarir. (Añi) buzit nofaillam. (Añi) no buzilam. (Añi) nō buzi.

Where is the toilet?
 * Tattihàna-wo honde? bathroom honmikka?

Numbers

 * 0 : Shuinno
 * 1 : Êk
 * 2 : Dui
 * 3 : Tin
 * 4 : Sair
 * 5 : Fñas
 * 6 : Sò
 * 7 : Shaat
 * 8 : Ashto
 * 9 : Nô
 * 10 : Dôsh
 * 11 : Êgaro
 * 12 : Baro
 * 13 : Têro
 * 14 : Soiddo
 * 15 : Fondro
 * 16 : Sholo
 * 17 : Shôtoro
 * 18 : Adàro
 * 19 : Unnish

 * 20 : Bish
 * 21 : Ekus
 * 22 : Bais
 * 23 : Teis
 * 30 : Tirish
 * 40 : Sollish
 * 50 : Fônsaish
 * 60 : Shait
 * 70 : Shottor
 * 80 : Ashi
 * 90 : Nobboi

 * 100 : Êk sho
 * 1000 : Êk àjar
 * 10,000 : Dôsh àjar
 * 1,00,000 / 100,000 : Lakk
 * 10,00,000 / 1,000,000 : Dôsh lakk
 * 1,00,00,000 / 10,000,000 : Kuti

Time
Time
 * অক্ত Ôkto

Clock time
9:45
 * Fone Dosh ta

10:00
 * Dosh ta

10:15
 * Show-aa-Dosh ta

10:30
 * Share Dosh ta

Week (shôfta)
Monday
 * Shombar

Tuesday
 * Moñlbar

Wednesday
 * Buitbar

Thursday
 * Bishudbar

Friday
 * Shukkurbar

Saturday
 * Shonibar

Sunday
 * Rōibar

Gregorian calendar
In everyday life, most Chittagonians use the Gregorian Calendar.

 * January : জানুয়ারি (january)
 * February : ফেব্রুয়ারি (february)
 * March : মার্চ (march)
 * April : এপ্রিল (april)
 * May : মে (may)
 * June : জুন (june)
 * July : জুলাই (july)
 * August : আগস্ট (aagost)
 * September : সেপ্টেম্বর (september)
 * October : অক্টোবর (october)
 * November : নভেম্বর (november)
 * December : ডিসেম্বর (december)

Chittagonian calendar
Boishak: বইশাক় (Bôishakh) Joishtho: জেট়/জের (Jyôishţhô) Ashar: আশার Shōn: শ৴ন Bàdo: ৱাদঅ Ashin: আশিন Hati: হাতি Ôñn: অঁ৴ন Fūsh: ফু৴শ Mag: মাগ় Fōn: ফ়৴ন Soit: সইত

Colors
black
 * Hala

white
 * Shada

red
 * Lal

pink
 * golabi

orange
 * Hoñla

yellow
 * Òloidda

green
 * Hñosso

blue
 * Nila

purple
 * Bayuni

Directions
here
 * ende

there
 * ènde

(on/to the) right
 * dain (mikka)

(on/to the) left
 * bam (mikka)

(on/to the) north
 * utur (mikka)

(on/to the) south
 * doin (mikka)

(on/to the) east
 * fug (mikka)

(on/to the) west
 * fosim (mikka)

straight
 * uzu/shida

in front
 * sammodi/mundi

behind
 * fise fis mikka/barisdi

Go (___).
 * (___) zon. (formal) (___) zo.

Turn around (___).
 * (___) Gùron. (formal) (___) Gùro.

Keep going (___).
 * (___) Zaat tàhon. (formal) (___) Zaat tàho.

Stop (___).
 * (___) Tìyon. (formal) (___) Tìyo.

Lodging

 * Do you have any rooms available? : হনঅ রুম ৱারা ফন যেইবোনা? (hono room bàra fon zeibona?)
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : এক/দুইজনর লাই দর হত? (Ek/Duijonor lai dor hoto?)
 * Does the room come with... : রুমত কি ... আসেনা? (Roomot ki ... asena?)
 * ...bedsheets? : বেশ্যিট (besshit?)
 * ...a bathroom? : উগ্যো টাট্টিহ়ানা? (uggo tattihàna?)
 * ...a telephone? : উগ্যো টেলিফোন? (uggo telephone?)
 * ...a TV? : উগ্যো টিভি? (uggo tv?)
 * May I see the room first? : আঁই কি রুম্মো আগদি সা৴ইত্তাইজ্জুম না? (Añi ki roomwo agodi sāittaijjum na?)
 * Do you have anything quieter? : ইবাত্তুন নিমাতারা রুম আসেনা? (Ibattun nimatara room asena?)
 * ...bigger? : (ইবাত্তুন) ডঁ৴র? ((Ibattun) dñōr?)
 * ...cleaner? : ইবাত্তুন সা৴ফ? (Ibattun saaf?)
 * ...cheaper? : ইবাত্তুন অ়স্তা? (Ibattun òsta?)
 * OK, I'll take it. : টিগাসে, আঁই ইবা লইয়ুম। (Tigase, añi iba loiyum.)
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). : আঁই_____ রাইত ত়াইক্কুম। (Añi _____ rait tàikkum.)
 * Can you suggest another hotel? : অনে কি অইন্য হনঅ ও়টেলর নাম হইত ফারিবান না? (Ône ki oinno hono òtelor nam hoit fariban na?)
 * Do you have a safe? : অনত্তুন শিন্দুক/সেফ আসেনা? (Ônottun shinduk/safe asena?)
 * ...lockers? : লকার? (locker?)
 * Is breakfast/supper included? : নাস্তা/রাইতুর হ়ানা উ়দ্যো? (Nastaa/raitur hàna ùddo?)
 * What time is breakfast/supper? : নাস্তা/রাইতুর হানা হটা বাজে? (Nastaa/raitur hàna hota baze?)
 * Please clean my room. : রুম্মো সা৴ফ গরন? (roomwo saaf goron.)
 * Can you wake me at _____? : অনে কি আঁরে _____ -টার ই়ক্কা জাগাইত ফারিবান না? (Ône ki añre _____-tar ìkka zagait fariban na?)
 * I want to check out. : আঁই সেক আউট গইত্তম সাই। (Añi sek out goittom sai.)

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? :অনে কি আমেরিকান/অস্ট্রেলিয়ান/কানাডিয়ান ডলার লন না? (Ône ki American/Australian/Canadian dollar lon na?)
 * Do you accept British pounds? : অনে কি ব্রিটিশ ফাউন্ড লন না? (Ône ki British found lon na?)
 * Do you accept euros? : অনে কি ইউরো লন না? (Ône ki Euro lon na?)
 * Do you accept credit cards? : অনে কি ক্রেডিট কার্ড লন না? (Ône ki credit card lon na?)
 * Can you change money for me? : অনে কি আঁর তরফত্তুন টিঁয়া ভাঁইত ফারিবান না? (Ône ki añr torfottun tñia bàñait fariban na?)
 * Where can I get money changed? : আঁই হন্ডে টিঁয়া ভাঁইত ফারি? (Añi honde tñia bàñait fari?)
 * Can you change a traveler's check for me? : অঁনে কি আঁর তরফত্তুন উগ্যো ট্র্যাভেলার্স সেক ভাঁইত ফারিবান না? (Ône ki añr torfottun uggo traveler's sek bàñait fariban na?)
 * Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : আঁই হন্ডে উগ্যো ট্র্যাভেলার্স চেক ভাঁইত ফারি? (Añi honde uggo traveler's sek bàñait fari?)
 * What is the exchange rate? : বিনিময় দর হত? (Binimoy dor hoto?)
 * Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : অটোম্যাটিক টেলার মেশিন (এটিএম) হন্ডে? (Automatic teller machine (ATM) honde?)

title: Chittagonian phrasebook


text:
Chittenden County

Chittenden County is in Northwest Vermont. It is by far the state's most populous county, being home to roughly 25% of its residents. Half of the 10 most populous municipalities in Vermont are in Chittenden County, including the top 4.

Regions

 * Urban Core — The urban core is comprised of the cities of Burlington, Winooski, and South Burlington. This is the most densely populated part of Vermont.  Most of the attractions are located in Burlington, but there are some good restaurants in South Burlington and Winooski.  South Burlington is mostly nondescript sprawl right now, but Winooski has a pleasant and growing city center.
 * Inner Ring Suburbs — The towns of Colchester, Essex, Williston, and Shelburne are predominantly bedroom communities for Burlington. The village at the center of Shelburne is picturesque and is home to the renowned Shelburne Museum.
 * Rural Areas — The rest of the county is predominantly rural with some scattered villages. It is a suburb of Burlington since most residents commute there for work, but it is not densely populated.  The terrain changes from farmland to rolling hills to mountains the farther you get from Lake Champlain.

Cities

 * : the county seat and largest city
 * : Vermont's fourth largest municipality.
 * : Railroad-oriented village at the center of Vermont's largest town
 * : Small town with quaint villages, and a gateway to the mountains of Underhill and Bolton
 * : Small riverside town known regionally as a dining destination
 * : Small town home to the Shelburne Museum.
 * : Vermont's second largest city
 * : Rapidly growing suburban town home to one of Vermont's largest shopping areas.
 * : Quirky city just north of Burlington home to a large African and Himalayan immigrant community.
 * : Quirky city just north of Burlington home to a large African and Himalayan immigrant community.

Understand
Chittenden County is the only part of Vermont that could really be considered urban. People from out of state may be surprised that it does not fit the bucolic rural image they hold of Vermont. Don't be surprised if you encounter a traffic jam or two. The area is definitely worth a visit, especially Burlington. However, Chittenden County is considerably different from the rest of the state. Some Vermonters don't really consider it to be part of Vermont. If you have time, be sure to explore the rest of the state.

By car
Chittenden County is served by I-89, U.S. 7, and U.S. 2. It is about 2 hours from Montreal and 3 hours from Albany and Boston

By train
There is an Amtrak station in Essex Junction.

Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express Train connects Burlington to Albany and New York City.

By plane

 * Burlington International Airport, Airport Drive, +1 802 863-1889. Flights arrive daily via several carriers from as far away as Chicago and Orlando.  Travelers from farther afield will have to make a connection in a larger city. There are non-stop flights to Burlington Airport from the following cities (some cities may be seasonal or only offer service certain days of the week): Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Toronto and Washington.  Several car rental companies are located at the airport and taxis will take you pretty much anywhere you want to go.  There is also CCTA bus service to downtown Burlington.

By bike
If you have strong legs, you may want to do this as the scenery is quite pleasant. There are many bike paths, and motorists are usually pretty accommodating. There are a lot of hills.

By public transportation
CCTA has pretty good coverage of the urban parts of the county. Most bus routes run every half hour with some running every 15 minutes at peak times. You can get to some of the outlying towns using commuter service or CCTA's Link service, but they only run during morning and evening rush hours and could leave you stranded somewhere if you miss the last bus.

By taxi
Possible, but be prepared to pay through the nose if you want to go anywhere outside of Burlington.

By car
This is the easiest way to see the rural parts of the county. Traffic in Burlington and its immediate suburbs can be bad at times, but people from major cities won't find it too bad.

See
Most indoor attractions are located in the urban and suburban areas, however rural Chittenden County is full of scenic views of mountains, fields, forests, and Lake Champlain.

Do

 * Underhill State Park You can hike Mt. Mansfield from trails that begin in the park.
 * Underhill State Park You can hike Mt. Mansfield from trails that begin in the park.
 * Underhill State Park You can hike Mt. Mansfield from trails that begin in the park.

Buy
Urban and suburban Chittenden County draw large numbers of Canadian shoppers looking to take advantage of lower prices and taxes. Everything from boutiques and farmers markets to shopping malls and big box stores can be found here. The largest shopping areas are Downtown Burlington, the University Mall in South Burlington, and Taft's Corners in Williston.

Stay safe
Even though it's more urban than the rest of Vermont, Chittenden County has very low crime. Winter weather is the biggest safety issue a traveler is likely to encounter. The eastern part of the county near the mountains can have very different weather conditions than in Burlington. It could be overcast in Burlington while parts of Jericho and Underhill could be experiencing blizzard conditions.

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

title: Chittenden County


text:
Chittoor

Chittoor is a city in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the headquarters of Chittoor district

Chittoor, very close to the revered temple of lord Balaji or Venkateswara at Tirupati, is also close to two eminent wildlife sanctuaries and the famous Horsley Hills, a famous hill resort named after W.D Horsley.

Situated in the valley of the Ponni river, Chittoor is a market for grain, sugarcane, and peanuts. Its industries include oilseed and rice milling. Jaggery from Aragonda area, a small town near Chittor is famous throughout the country. Chittor is a major place for producing hatcheries and mangoes. The city is surrounded by mango and tamarind groves, and cattle are bred in the area. A district administrative centre, Chittoor was a British military post until 1884.

By bus
From Chennai: Take Route No:144 bus from Chennai Koyembedu Bus Stand (CMBT) or Lalbagh train to Katpadi. There will be plenty of buses from Katpadi to Chittoor. Try to take a government bus as the private buses stop at too many places during the route.

From Bangalore: Take any KSRTC (Karnataka State Transport) bus from Bangalore Bus Stand (Majestic) going to Tirupati, Nellore, Vijayawada and Guntur. Get down in CTR. Take any APSRTC (Andhra Pradesh Transport) bus (Bangalore Majestic) going to Tirupati, Nellore, Vijayawada and Guntur. Get down in CTR. Don't take the private bus "Kalasipalya" as there are too many stops.

From Hyderabad: Take Kesineni (Volvo), Deepna, JBT, TTS travels by bus from Ameerpet X roads which usually runs everyday, APSRTC buses (7 buses) from MGBS and train is VENKATADRI express starts from Kachiguda at 8:05PM and reaches Chittoor by morning at 9AM.

From Tirupati: APSRTC buses ply every 10 minutes to and from Chittoor (72 km).

From Vijayawada, Vizag and Machlipatnam: Take any APSRTC or private bus going to Bangalore. Get down in CTR. Two APSRTC buses one in morning and one in evening starts from Vijayawada to Chittoor and by train you can catch Sheshadri, Hatia, Sabari, or the KK Express to reach Chittoor.

Kanipakkam: 12 km from Chittoor. For the devotees' convenience there are direct buses to Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Bangalore, Chennai, Nellore and Ananathapur.

See

 * Church in church Street
 * Darga near Srinivasa theater
 * Deer Park
 * Forest Reserve
 * Masonics Chittoor Sports Stadium
 * Nutrine Confectionery---Now Godrej and Hersheys Foods
 * Sugar Factory

Temples

 * Ardhagiri Anjenaya Swamy Temple, Aragonda 20 km from Chittoor
 * Durgamma Gudi, Greamspet
 * Eswar Temple, Eruvaram
 * Hanuman Temple, near Ponniyamman Temple street
 * Lakshmi Narayana Swamy Temple, Vepanjeri 12 km from Chittoor
 * Muthyalamma Temple, Thenabanda
 * Ponniamma Gudi
 * RamulaVari Gudi, Bazaar Veedhi
 * Sai baba Temple, Kattamanchi
 * Shirdi Sai Baba Temple which is at kattamanchi
 * Subramanya Swamy Temple on Hill
 * Varasiddi Vinayaka Swamy Temple, Kanipakam 9 km from Chittoor is a very powerful temple in Andhra Pradesh, the lord Vinayaka is swayambu ("self-manifested") and is known to be famous for doing justice.
 * Venkateswara Temple, Thangal
 * Venkateswara Temple, Near Govt Hospital
 * Vinayaka Temple, Ram Nagar Colony

Theatres

 * Ananda
 * Chanakya, a/c dts
 * Gurunatha, a/c dts
 * MSR MovieLand, dts
 * Raghavaa, a/c dts
 * Srinivasa, a/c dts
 * Sri Venkateswara
 * VijayaLakshmi, a/c dts
 * Vivekananda

 * Chanakya, VijayaLakshmi, Raghava, and MSR are nice theatres to watch movies.

Trekking

 * Bodi konda - Its near Ramnagar colony and the best landmark to locate is Kings School.It is a great hill to climb.
 * Chase pillar - It is 2 km from B.V. Reddy school in konga reddy palli. It is a very beautiful place to trek. On the way you can see a lake on the hill. This Chase pillar was built by British people in 18th century. On the way to chase pillar we can see camp areas built by British people.b.v.reddy is one of the best schools in town.
 * Puligundu - It is 17 km from Chittoor, on the way to Penumur. This is a tall and huge rock, and it is a challenge to climb this rock. This rock is 2.5 km from Penumur. Penumur is also one of the historical villages.
 * Turtle Neck Hill - It is in Durganagar Colony, Greamspet. The rocks at the top of the hill formed like Turtle Neck.
 * Yelampalli forest - It is 20 km from Chittoor near Aragonda. People go hunting of white pigs and some wild animals in the forest.

Walking

 * There is a walking trail inside Chittoor town.This trail is inside a redsandalwood forest. It is worth walking there. It is near Mesanicals ground.
 * Kannan College Grounds. Very big ground for morning pleasant walk

Buy
Mango pickles of all varieties. Pala Kova

Eat

 * Bans 4 Seasons Coffee Shop. Contact No.09704771333. website: www.bansc.in
 * Five Star Hyderbadi biryani center(N.V) in high road beside J.B.T office near old bus stand.
 * Gopal Naidu Hotel - Opposite Darga (Near Darga Circle), Very good for tiffen items in morning. its very tasty and nice
 * Hotel Ajanta(V)
 * Hotel Alankar(N.V)
 * Hotel Lakshmi Vishnu Bhavan(V), Near Chandana Ramesh Shopping Mall.
 * Hotel Menaka(N.V)
 * Hotel Sindhu Towers(N.V & V), Opposite the Railway Station Entrance.
 * Hotel Vishnu Bhavan(V), Near Chandana Ramesh Shopping Mall.
 * Lakshmi Saraswathi Depot in OTK road is good for milk products.
 * Nandini Restaurant(V), High road. (Quality Food)
 * NPS(N.V), near MSR junction. It is also famous for biryani.
 * Pratap Restaurant(N.V), Opp to old BusStand which is very good for non-veg ( The best hotel in CTR) which is maintained for past 2 decades. (Good quality with less price) (Sunday Holiday)
 * Sri Valli Bhavan(V), Pure Vegetarian Hotel.
 * Opposite to Old Bus Stand you find a Coffee Bar which is famous for Lemon Tea.

Drink

 * Bans Spiritz Bar & Restaurant (3star). Cell No. 09704771333
 * Blue Heaven restaurants, Church street
 * N.P.S bar and restaurant, Kongareddypalli opposite the Chittoor tennis club
 * N.P.S bar and restaurant, Naidu buildings
 * Nandi bar and restaurant, beside MSR Movieland theater
 * Nirmala bar and restaurant, Palamaner Road
 * Mayuri bar and restaurant, Bye pass road, Reddigunta

PlayGrounds

 * Kannan college ground

Sleep
All sorts of lodging facilities ranging from modest hotels to luxury suites at star hotels are available
 * Prabha Grand Inn (Luxury Hotel) +91-8572-233133
 * Alankar Hotel and Lodge, Vellore Road
 * Chandra Residency, Sundarayya Veedhi.
 * Hotel Prithvi, Near RTC Bus Stand.
 * Lakshmi, Beside Sindhu towers opp to railway station entrance.
 * LGB Towers, Kattamanchi.
 * Pratap Lodge previously known as RajBhavan Lodge, Sundarayya Veedhi.
 * Sindhu Towers, opp railway station entrance.
 * Sri Rama Deluxe Lodge, Muthu Maistry Street Near Old Busstand Chittoor 08572–232769, 234869.
 * Sri VINAYAKA Lodge, Sundarraiah Street.
 * Sri Rama Deluxe Lodge, Muthu Maistry Street Near Old Busstand Chittoor 08572–232769, 234869.
 * Sri VINAYAKA Lodge, Sundarraiah Street.

Go next

 * Ardhagiri
 * Kailasakona
 * Kanipakam
 * Saibaba Temple
 * Bangalore
 * Kolar
 * Talakona Waterfalls
 * Thalakona
 * Thangal
 * Vepanjeri
 * Vinayaka Puram

title: Chittoor


text:
Chittorgarh

Chittorgarh, also spelled Chittaurgarh, is in the southern part of Rajasthan, lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgharh District. It is 112 km from Udaipur and 182 km from Ajmer. The city served as a capital to the Sisodia clans of Rajputs of Mewar for a long time. The district is a famous tourist destination for its massive fortress, claimed to be the largest of all Rajput forts, and has witnessed the legendary tale of Queen Padmini's act of jauhar that fascinates many historians and travellers.

History
Historically, the Chittorgarh fort was built by the Maurayans in 7th century A.D. Some accounts say that the Mori dynasty was in possession of the fort when Bappa Rawal, the founder of the kingdom of Mewar, seized Chittorgarh (Chittor Fort) and made it his capital in 734 AD. Some other accounts say Bappa Rawal received it as a part of the dowry after marriage with the last Solanki princess.

The first attack was by Alauddin Khilji in 1303 A.D., who was enamoured by the beauty of Padmini of which he had only heard. Rani Padmini preferred death to abduction and dishonour and committed Jauhar (an act of self-immolation by leaping into a large fire) along with all the other ladies of the fort. All the men left the fort in saffron robes to fight the enemy unto death. Chittorgarh was captured in 1303 A.D. by Alauddin Khilji, Sultan of Delhi who led a huge army. Elderly people then had the responsibility to raise the children. It was recaptured in 1326 A.D. by the young Hammir Singh, a scion of the same Gehlot clan. The dynasty (and clan) fathered by him came to be known by the name Sisodia after the village where he was born.

By the 16th century, Mewar had become the leading Rajput state. Rana Sanga of Mewar led the combined Rajput forces against the Mughal emperor Babur in 1527 A.D., but was defeated at the Battle of Khanua. In 1535 A.D., Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat, besieged the fort, causing immense carnage. It is said that again just like in the case of Jauhar led by Padmini in 1303 A.D., all 32,000 men then living in the fort donned the saffron robes of martyrdom and rode out to face certain death in the war, and their women folk committed Jauhar, led by Rani Karnawati. The ultimate sacrifice for freedom, Jauhar was again performed for the third time after the Mughal Emperor Akbar captured Chittorgarh in 1568 A.D.

Chittorgarh is also famous for its association with two very widely known historical figures of India. The first is Meera Bai, the most famous Hindu spiritual poetess whose compositions are still popular throughout North India. Her poems follow the Bhakti tradition and she is considered to be most passionate worshipper of lord Krishna.

Chittorgarh remains replete with historic associations and holds a very special place in the hearts of Rajputs, as it was a bastion of the clan at a time when every other stronghold had succumbed to invasion. The fort and the city of Chittorgarh also host the biggest Rajput festival, "Jauhar Mela". It takes place annually on the anniversary of one of the Jauhars (though not the one by Padmini which is most famous). This festival is to commemorate the bravery of their Rajput ancestors and all three Jauhars which happened at Chittorgarh. A huge number of Rajputs, which include the descendants of most of the princely families, do a procession to celebrate the Jauhar.

Climate
The climate of Chittorgarh is quite dry and parched. The summer season extends from April to June and is quite hot. The average temperature in summers falls between 43.8°C to 23.8°C. The winter season lasts from October to February. Chittorgarh weather in the winters is pretty cool. The temperature averages around 28.37°C to 11.6°C. The monsoon season falls during the months of June to August.

As far as climatic conditions of Chittorgarh, Rajasthan in monsoon are concerned, there is only slight rainfall that averages around 60 cm to 80 cm. The best time to visit Chittorgarh is between September to March.

By plane
The nearest airport is the Maharana Pratap Airport at Udaipur, about 90 km from Chittorgarh.

By train
Chittorgarh is well connected by rail to other cities and towns of Rajasthan and India. The Chittorgarh railway station connects Chittorgarh to cities such as Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota, Udaipur, and Delhi. In addition to this, you also have the option to travel by the Palace on Wheels luxury train.

By road
The completed Golden Quadrilateral highway system will pass through Chittorgarh, connecting it to much of the rest of India. Also crossing the East West Corridor (Express Highway). The Chittorgarh is situated at National Highway No. 76 & 79, both the Highways are crossing at Chittorgarh

Rajasthan roadways (RSRTC) provide a very good service for visiting areas around Chittorgarh. Numbers of private bus services are available in Chittorgarh, connecting all major cities in India. There are regular bus services from Chittorgarh to other cities in Rajasthan and India. Bus services operate for Delhi, Mount Abu, Jaipur, Indore, and Ajmer.

Get around
Much of the district, particularly the Chittorgarh Fort, lends itself leisure to explore and trek.

By bike
Rent a bicycle to explore the magnificent fort. It is a fairly tough climb up to the fort, but once at the top it is mainly flat. You can climb to the top of this tower and from the top, the view is outstanding.

By auto-rickshaw
Alternatively, have a tour by auto-rickshaw costs around ₹125-150, which includes waiting time. You should work out the waiting time in advance. Auto-rickshaws for a tour of the fort can be arranged at the tourist office.

See
Many of the historical sights are in ruins and within the fortress compound. It takes approximately 3 hours to see everything. If you are planning a full-day tour in the area, a morning visit to the fort followed by visiting some of the nearby attractions makes a good itinerary.

Chittorgarh Fort
The fort (Admission Fee: ₹40 for Indian nationals, ₹600 for foreign tourists), plainly known as Chittor, was the capital of Mewar and is today situated several kilometres by road south of Bhilwara. Today it's one of the hill forts of Rajasthan inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It sprawls majestically over a hill 180 m (591 ft) in height spread over an area of 280 ha (692 ac) above the plains of the valley drained by the Berach River. A winding hill road of more than 1 km (0.6 mi) length from the new town leads to the west end main gate, called Ram Pol, of the fort.

Within the fort, a circular road provides access to all the gates and monuments located within the fort walls. The fort that once boasted of 84 water bodies has only 22 now. These water bodies are fed by natural catchment and rainfall and have a combined storage of 4 billion litres that could meet the water needs of an army of 50,000. The supply could last for four years. These water bodies are in the form of ponds, wells and step wells.

The fort has seven gates (in the local language, gate is called "Pol"), namely the Padan Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jodla Pol, Laxman Pol and the main entry gate of Ram Pol (Lord Rama's Gate). All the gateways to the fort have been built as massive stone structures with secure fortifications for military defense. The doors of the gates with pointed arches are reinforced to fend off elephants and cannon shots. The top of the gates have notched parapets for archers to shoot at the enemy army. A circular road within the fort links all the gates and provides access to the numerous monuments (ruined palaces and 130 temples) in the fort.

Chittorgarh Fort is a large space, and visitors may find it useful to compartmentalise the different sections.

Excursions
Some of the popular destinations around Chittorgarh that would spice your stay at Chittorgarh. Rent a car or buy a ticket from conducted travel agents to explore the outskirts of Chittorgarh.

 * Barolo (140 km from Chittorgarh) - This town is worth visiting, because of the group of ancient temples situated here especially the ruins of the famous temples of Babaroli.
 * Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary (25 km from Chittorgarh) - The wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 50 km2. near Bassi village and house to panther, wild boar, antelopes and mongoose. Migratory birds also visit the sanctuary. For entry into the sanctuary, prior permission is to be obtained from the District Forst Officer, Chittorgarh.
 * Bijolia (50 km east of Chittorgarh) - The place has three ancient Central Indian-style temples. The Undeswara Temple has a yoni and linga in the inner sanctums, and some excellent carvings.
 * Deogarh (125 km from Chittorgarh) - The 16th century fort near Pratapgarh, is famous for the palaces, their murals and Jain temple.
 * Menal (90 km from Chittorgarh) - One of the excavated area consists a group of well-preserved 12th-century temples.
 * Nagri (20 km from Chittorgarh) - One of the most important townships of the Mauryan era situated on the banks of River Bairach. The place which flourished during Maurayan and Gupta era now consists excavations and ruins unearthened.
 * Sanwariyaji Temple (40 km from Chittorgarh) - The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, situated on the Chittorgarh - Udaipur highway. This is not a very old structure and is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre.

Do
The prime tourist attraction in Chittorgarh is the fort of Chittogarh, which is located on a steep hill beside the main township. The chhatris or memorials of Jaimal and Kalla which mark the spots where they fell while bravely defending the fort during a siege in 1586 speaks for the valor of Rajputs. Rana Kumbha Palace is an important spot and it is believed that Queen Padmini had performed jauhar in one of its cellars. The Archeological Museum, the Singa Chowri Temple, and the Fateh Prakash Palace and Museum adjacent to Rana Kumbha Palace are worth visiting. The Victory Tower or Vijay Stambh is one of the main tourist attractions of the fort. The Tower of Fame or Kirti Stambh is another important monument. It was built in 12th century and is dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain Tirthankara (spiritual leader).

To feel the existence of Rani Padmavati, stroll down the marble gallery of Padmini Palace, also watch the reflection of yours on the crystal clear water of the Pond inside the Palace.

Fairs and festivals
Jauhar Mela [Annual Fair. February - March]: The fort and the city of Chittorgarh host the biggest Rajput festival called the "Jauhar Mela". It takes place annually on the anniversary of one of the jauhars, but no specific name is given to it. It is generally believed that it commemorates Padmini's jauhar, which is most famous. This festival is held primarily to commemorate the bravery of Rajput ancestors and all three jauhars which happened at Chittorgarh Fort. A huge number of Rajputs, which include the descendants of most of the princely families, hold a procession to celebrate the Jauhar. It has also become a forum to air once views on the current political situation in the country.

Buy
Chittorgarh has many bazaars that sell various items including metalwork, fabrics, Thewa jewelry, leather shoes and handmade toys. Thewa jewelry is made up of golden designs that are later embedded in glass. Some of the best places to shop around are Sadar Bazaar, Rana Sanga Market, New Cloth Market, Fort Road Market, Gandhi Chowk, and Station Circle. The Akola printed fabrics that are made from vegetable dyes is one of the major draws and is available only in certain parts of India.

Eat
There are many roadside local joints to eat. Some of the most popular places to eat are:

Drink
Most of the bars belong to the high end hotels in the town. Visitors can visit these bars to enjoy the night time.

Stay safe
The heat in Chittorgarh can be torturous and one would need sufficient sun protection such as shades and caps. It would also do to bring along a sunscreen lotion for those with delicate skin to avoid heat burn. Wear a strong pair of shoes while climbing the Chittorgarh Fort to avoid getting hurt and spraining your ankles.

The monkeys at the fort generally do not harm anyone but always keep a safe distance as they are unpredictable creatures. Besides be careful while resting under a tree as some monkey sitting above might just drop their excreta on you!

The fort is massive and hiring bicycles would ensure that your exploration of the place is not as tiring. One could get lost in the fort, so make sure that you travel in groups and with local guides.

Hospitals

 * Janani Hospital
 * Mp Birla Hospital
 * Maa Gayatri Hospital
 * Mewar Orthopedic Hospital
 * Sawaliyaji Govt. Hospital
 * Pearl Hospital And Research Center, PHRC
 * Rajasthan Hospital
 * Mewar Hospital
 * Dr Khabya Heart Care Hospital

Go next

 * Ajmer - An ancient town, 191 km from Chittorgarh is famous among the spiritual and religious sects for the shrine of Khwaja Ajmer Sheriff and the only Brahma temples by the banks of Lake Pushkar.
 * Bhilwara - The administrative city of Mewar region, 58 km from Chittorgarh. The city contains some of the exquisite neolithic temples that adorn the Nagar style of architecture.
 * Bundi - An ancient town 140 km from Chittorgarh inhabited by local tribesmen famous for its historical fortresses and kunds (holy wells).
 * Jaipur - The capital city of Rajasthan, 318 km from Chittorgarh also known as Pink City is the house of magnificent forts and fortresses and the splendid Hawa Mahal.
 * Udaipur - The princely state of Mewar (pre independence), 113 km from Chittorgarh is famous for its lakes and palaces. A current tourist favorite, especially for up-market Westerners.

title: Chittorgarh


text:
Chiusi

Chiusi is a city in the Val di Chiana region of Tuscany, Italy. It was one of the twelve cities of the Etruscan League. In 391 BC it was besieged by the Gauls, which led to its decline as an Etruscan center. It later became a Roman province, and in 89 BC its people were given Roman citizenship. In the Middle Ages the city declined, in part because of its support for Siena in its battles with Florence. Today, however, it is a flourishing town, with excellent communications.

By road
Chiusi is easily reachable by road. From Rome it is just over half-way to Florence on the A1 Autostrada.

By train
There are regular trains to (short for Chiusi - Chianciano Terme) from Rome and Florence.

The hilltop portion of Chiusi is 2 km from the station and, since some of the road has no sidewalks, you should take either a bus or taxi if you need to get there.

By bus
If you are going to or coming from another Tuscan town, see Tuscany for more info on bus service.

Local and interurban buses all seem to stop by the railway station (Chiusi C.T.). You can buy bus tickets at the newsstand within the railway station. The bus stops are to the left of the station doors facing town. The orange local buses stop near those doors while the blue interurban buses are further to left. Keep in mind that a blue interurban bus might serve your local stop as well as an orange local bus. The bus stops serve both directions of travel, so check the destination sign or confirm with the driver.

The website for Siena Mobilità (http://sienamobilita.it/orari.html ) has bus schedules (orari) for local routes in Chiusi. Click the tab Servizio urbano Chiusi. Also check the tab Servizio extraurbano as there are several interurban routes that also serve Chiusi.

Buy
The hilltop portion of Chiusi (around Via Porsenna) is a quaint but somewhat sleepy town. Stores seem to have short opening hours. On Wednesdays, all fruit, grocery and delicatessen shops seem to be closed for the entire day.

Go next

 * Cetona - is a medieval village just southwest of Chiusi after you cross the A1 Autostrada.
 * Montepulciano - is a hilltop town located north of Chiusi. There is bus service from Chiusi. See Tuscany for info.

title: Chiusi


text:
Chiusure

Chiusure is a small hamlet about halfway between the towns of Buonconvento and Asciano, on a road that winds through the Crete Senese in the province of Siena. The area around Chiusure is filled with majestic cypresses and has arguably one of the finest views in all of Tuscany.

Understand

The hamlet of Chiusure developed around the ancient church, Sant’Angelo in Luco, which already existed in the 8th century. Bernardo Tolomei founded the Benedictine Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore in 1319 and Antonio di Meo Tolomei, a member of a noble family that owned estates in the surrounding area, acquired the village of Chiusure in 1333, and gave the land and houses to the villagers.

Many visitors come to Chiusure to see the great views of the Crete Senesi. Others come to see the abbey. But the main excitement in summer now is the new Amant programme, wherein artists take up residency in Chiusure.

By car
The best access is by car, and when one reaches the town there is parking available on the roads around the town, as well as at the abbey. Chiusure is 30 minutes south of Siena by car on the via Cassia (SR2) to Buonconvento, a very pretty drive, or via Asciano on the SP438. In both cases, you will take the SP431 for the rest of the way until you see a sign for a turnoff to Chiusure via the Strada Provinciale del Pecorile (SP60). Chiusure is between Buonconvento and Asciano - 6 km from Asciano and 8 km from Buonconvento.

By bus
SITA runs one bus on Linea 109/ A daily from Siena, leaving Porta Ovile at 13:58 (winter) or 14:12 (summer) and Porta Pispini at 14:01 (winter) or 14:14 (summer) and arriving at 14:50/15:05. However, the only bus returning to Siena from Chiusure leaves at 06:55 (regardless of season) and arrives at Porta Pispini at 07:44, thereby necessitating a night's stay in or very near Chiusure.

By train
A local train runs to the stop in Asciano which is called “” (Asciano - Monte Oliveto Maggiore); another train goes to. Then one can take a taxi (Cassioli, +39 0577 71 82 73 in Asciano; Lorenzetti, +39 0577 80 60 94 or Tistoni, +39 333 3584410 in Buonconvento).

On foot
If you have thoughts of hiking through the Crete Senese, plan carefully. The region is a semi-desert, without shade. Make sure to take plenty of water, especially in hot weather, and use a lot of sunscreen.

See
The Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore (Italian: Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore), an active monastery built in the 1300s which most famously includes beautiful frescoes by Luca Signorelli - Michelangelo's teacher - in the Cloister. There are also frescoes by the Sienese painter, Antonio Bazzi, called "Il Sodoma" ("The Sodomite"). After you've seen those, it's worth looking at the fine intarsial woodwork in the Choir.

The abbey sits approximately 110 metres below the hamlet on the hillside. It is a 1-km drive or a steep 1,600-step walk to the abbey from the centre of town, and if you climb down, you also have to climb back up, which is challenging on hot summer days. So if you are coming from the hamlet, you may prefer to take a short drive if you have a car. However, if you are coming from Asciano or Buonconvento, as most visitors do, you can drive right up to the abbey's parking lot if you have a car or walk uphill from the bus stop.

Do
The beauty of the views in the area and the cypress-laden hills around the monastery encourage quiet contemplation and appreciation of nature. The Amant programme has brought artists, authors and poets for a three-month studio residency in Chiusure since 2020, adding a new vitality to the village.

Buy
In the abbey, there is a souvenir shop at the bottom of the hill and an operating cantina. They sell wine and olive oil produced on the Monte Oliveto Maggiore property as well as many other natural remedies produced by the Benedictine monks in Orte.

In the town of Chiusure, there is a small grocery shop and cafe run by Lucia Gorelli and her husband.

Mocine Winery is 4 km from town on the road to Asciano. Mocine produces 25,000 bottles of wine annually and while selling in the area, also exports globally.

Eat
The town of Chiusure has a little restaurant called Paradiso which is open for lunch and dinner and serves classic Tuscan fare. There is also a restaurant on the edge of Chiusure called La Terrazza Osteria Pizzeria. La Torre Restaurant is at the abbey and is open every day but Tuesday.

There are a number of other great spots to eat in the area including the Canonica at Castiglion del Bosco between Buonconvento and Montalcino; the Castello, and Osteria Delle Crete in San Giovanni; and Amor Divino in Asciano.

Drink
The monks at the abbey produce wine and an herbal liqueur called Flora di Monteoliveto. It is for sale in the Liqueurery (Liquoreria) at the abbey and can also be ordered for delivery within Italy on the abbey's website.

Go next

 * Siena - if you didn't come from Siena in the first place, it is the most obvious place to go next.
 * Orvieto - if you'd like to see a masterpiece by Luca Signorelli, visit the Duomo in the picturesque small Umbrian city of Orvieto.

title: Chiusure


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Chlong

Chlong (sometimes spelled Chloung) is a small town in Eastern Cambodia. It serves as a regional centre for the surrounding villages.

By road
From Kampong Cham there is a dirt road connection (mostly in good condition) along the Mekong. Take road 223 up to Stung Trang where you can cross the Mekong by ferry to continue on road 308. That way Chlong is about 70 km from Kompong Cham. Share taxis to Chlong don't run along the Mekong but use NH7 and then road 73.

From Kratie head south on road 308 which is partly sealed, partly dirt road in good condition. There are share taxis to running along this road. Chlong is about 30 km from Kratie.

By boat
With the improvement of the roads, fast boats along the Mekong River between Kratie and Kampong Cham no longer run on a scheduled basis. Alternatively you might find a slow (cargo) boat that can drop you off at Chlong.

Get around
There is a ferry service over the Mekong.

Sleep
There are two guesthouses in town. One is next to the market. The second one is a few hundred metres from the market just off the street to Kratie.

title: Chlong


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Chloride

Chloride is a self-proclaimed "living ghost town" in Northern Arizona.

Understand
Dating back to 1862 and once a silver mining boomtown (hence the name, from "silver chloride") with 2000 residents, the mining pretty much dried up by 1944 and most of the town along with it. Chloride today hosts about 250 people, many retired, and subsists on a trickle of tourism. If you want a taste of the Old West without any tacky commercialism, this just might be your ticket.

Get in
Chloride is off Highway 93, north of Kingman, Arizona on the road to Boulder City and Las Vegas. Turn at mile marker 53 onto Mohave County Route 125 and drive for four miles.

Get around

Chloride can comfortably be covered on foot.

See
There is a mine shaft open to tourists on odd days. The desert landscape is fairly beautiful and quite serene, and provides a perfect backdrop to this little piece of Americana. There are no other major tourist attractions.

title: Chloride


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Choachí

Choachí is a small town east of Bogotá, in Cundinamarca. It is 1923 meters above sea level, much lower than Bogotá and hence with milder weather.

Understand
The road leading to Choachí is the main reason to visit. Beautiful Andean views from your departure. Also, since the road leaves Bogotá right from downtown, you avoid the horrific traffic going to the towns north and west of Bogotá.

Get in
From Bogota to Choachi, it takes about an hour driving over a mountain pass with superb views. The road is paved but has some large pot holes you need you to drive around and many road side stalls offering food and drink.

If you use a locally acquired GPS it may also route you Bogota-Ubaque-Choachi. This is also scenic but has a long stretch of mud track that is easier with a 4WD vehicle.

For COP$7,000, you can take a small charter bus. The buses do not leave from the main bus terminal in Bogota - do not go there. You will have to find a bus station on Avenida Calle 6 at Av Caracas, across from a police station.

Get around
Walking should suffice to see town. The hot springs are on a dirty road and a cab ride is in order for most tourists.

See
Main plaza, clean and quiet.

Do
Hot Springs are available at Termales Santa Mónica. Sunday entry is COP$20,000 for adults. Hotel and restaurant services available.

Drink
There is an abundance of small restaurants and bars along the main street. Leaving town towards Bogota there is also a BBQ restaurant with clay oven and excellent views over the valley and mountains.

title: Choachí


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Chobe National Park

The Chobe National Park, in the northeast of Botswana, near the borders to Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia, is famous for its vast variety of wildlife. It is named after the Chobe River which forms the northern boundary of the park.

It is the third largest national park in Botswana, covering an area of.

Landscape
Located in northern Botswana, Chobe National Park attracts thousands of visitors every year due to its fame as one of the largest game concentrations in the country. This wildlife sanctuary also boasts the largest elephant population in Africa. Chobe National Park is the most diverse and third largest park in Botswana, and was the first national park in the country created in 1968. The northern regions of the park are characterized by the Chobe River riverfront and its floodplains. Marshlands including the Savuti and Linyanti are other distinct regions within the park. The Savuti Marsh is fed by the Savuti Channel which irrigates the area unpredictably in an otherwise dry landscape.

Flora and fauna
Chobe has one the greatest concentration of elephants of any national park in Africa. They are most visible during the dry season when they congregate around the water sources, especially the Chobe river.

You can see 4 of the Big 5 in Chobe: elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo - but not rhino, since they were moved from the park in the 70s to save them from poaching. There have been rumours about reintroducing them to the park, but as of 2022 no announcements have been made if it will happen. Since the pandemic the lion population of the park has increased a lot and according to staff in the park, it has been increasingly common to be able to see them, although no guarantee of course. Chobe has a multitude of antelopes, including the rare sable, as well as other commonly seen safari animals from large to small such as giraffes to warthogs.

Chobe is additionally known for its abundance of birds due to its varied watery landscape. There are over 400 species of birds recorded within the park. Over the summer wet season, Chobe is home to various migrating species like bee eaters. Along the riverbanks, there are many aquatic birds such as the African fish eagle, herons, storks, and many more.

Climate
The park has a distinct wet and dry season, the wet being from December until May. As with much of Africa the animals may migrate further from the permanent water sources during the wet, and therefore are easier to view during the dry.

Get in
There are a multitude of tours operating from Kasane and from both sides of the falls at Victoria Falls and Livingstone. The Sedudu Gate to the south of Kasane is the most common access point into the park. From September-April, gate times are from 06:00 to 18:30. During the summer season from October-March, gate times are from 05:30 to 19:00.

The closest airport is Kasane Airport which is minutes away from the Sedudu Gate. Kasane Airport has regularly scheduled Airlink and Air Botswana flights to Johannesburg and Gabarone. The larger Victoria Falls airport about 1.5 hours away will have more frequent direct connections to other regional cities.

Tours and transfers operating from Victoria Falls will take you to the common river border between Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. A short boat crossing puts you in Botswana, only five minutes drive from Kasane and the Safari lodges. Alternatively, tours will bring you over the land border at Kazungula.

Fees and permits
Park entrance fees apply. Additional fees for driving in your own vehicle and for campsites. Children under 8 have free entry. The following entry fees as of March 2023: Entry and vehicle fees are often included with the tour price if you are on a guided tour.

Get around
Main methods of getting around are by safari vehicle or boat. The roads are not paved and carved through the landscape by bulldozers. Roads are extremely sandy when dry and muddy when wet. A 4-wheel-drive properly equipped vehicle is essential if you want to drive yourself. There is a one-way system for getting around the park near Kasane. Read the signs at the entrance. No driving off road is allowed.

The day-tours are often half a day on land and half a day by boat. Boats go along the Chobe River between the park and Namibia. The boat trip will allow you to see some crocodiles and elephants at close quarters. The boat operators tend to keep their distance a little more from the hippos. You can expect to see a far greater variety of wildlife on land. There is an abundance of safari-vehicles that will drive you around from Kasane or the safari lodges.

Other remote parts of the park in the south may require access by bush plane to small airfields.

See
Chobe is home to vast herds of elephants - estimated to be around 50,000 in the region. These are the Kalahari elephants and are the biggest in Africa but often have broken tusks, this is due to the lack of calcium in their diet which renders them brittle. Quite commonly you will see these elephant herds drinking and playing by the Chobe riverfront and the surrounding floodplains. Other animals also frequent the river as a consistent source of water. The park is known for its many bird species with the variety of riverine and marshy landscapes. Look for the iconic fish eagles by the trees lining the riverside as well as many other water birds such as storks, plovers, and kingfishers.

All the other large animals are present except rhino which have been removed to sanctuaries due to poaching.

Do
Guided tours are the best way to view wildlife, as tour guides are highly trained professionals, capable of spotting wildlife most people would never notice. A boat tour along the Chobe River is perfect viewing for both birds and animals looking for a drink. Sunrise and sunset boat tours are especially picturesque.

Buy
Kasane is the most accessible nearby town to buy anything for your time within the park or for souvenirs.

Eat
There are basic picnic areas in the park to bring in your own food and drink, but otherwise there are no facilities within the park that sell food and drink.

Sleep
Most visitors stay either nearby in the town of Kasane or come to Chobe on a day trip from Victoria Falls. There is only one permanent lodge within the park with other accommodation options either being camping sites or via seasonal and mobile tented safari through the park.

Backcountry
There are some designated camping areas in the park, though it is highly recommended to not do so without a guide. Even then take some vigilance to assure safety.

Stay safe
The animals in the park should be respected at all times. Never try to interact with the wildlife.

Chobe National Park is situated in the malaria zone. Consult with a doctor about appropriate prophylaxis.

Go next

 * Drive to the Victoria Falls at the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Distance is about 60 km.
 * Go south into the Okavango Delta.

title: Chobe National Park


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Chocó

Chocó is a department in the Pacifica region of Colombia known for its large Afro-Colombian population.

Understand
It is in the west of the country, and is the only Colombian department to have coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. It contains all of Colombia's border with Panama. Its capital is Quibdó.

Chocó has a diverse geography, unique ecosystems and unexploited natural resources. However, its population has one of the lowest standards of living of all departments in Colombia.

In 2005, the ethnic composition of the department was 82% Afro-Colombians, 12% Amerindian or Indigenous, and 5% Whites and Mestizos.

title: Chocó


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Chochołów

Chochołów is a village in Małopolskie Province in southern Poland, on the border with Slovakia. It has an array of old wooden houses along its main street.

By public transport
There is no train or bus connection to Chochołów. The nearest stations are in Zakopane.

Get around
Chochołów is small enough to discover on foot or by bike.

See
Most people come to visit Chochołów for its wooden houses dating back to the 19th century. These houses are regarded as great examples of the original architecture in the area.

Drink
Nightlife and drinking establishment are basically non-existent in Chochołów. For a night out, the nearest places to go to are Zakopane and Nowy Targ.

Go next

 * Zakopane
 * Tvrdošín in Slovakia

title: Chochołów


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Chocorua

Chocorua is a village within the town of Tamworth in Carroll County, New Hampshire. It is located in the general area where Routes 16 and 113 meet, south of Mount Chocorua and a mile north of Chocorua Lake.

Understand
Mount Chocorua is commonly known in the area as the "Matterhorn" of the White Mountains due to its triangular summit. Chocorua Lake at the southern base of the mountain is among the most beautiful lakes in the White Mountains. Tourists often pull off Route 16 and stop to swim and take pictures of the lake with the mountain in the background.

New Hampshire's first Poet Laureate, Paul Scott Mowrer, lived in the village of Chocorua with his wife, Hadley Richardson, who had been the first wife of Ernest Hemingway.[citation needed] It is the place of death of William James, philosopher and founder of experimental psychology in the United States. It is the location of the vacation home of Robert I. Rotberg, President of the World Peace Foundation.

title: Chocorua


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Choeng Mon

Choeng Mon (เชิงมน) is a small beach resort on the north coast of Ko Samui, between Chaweng and Bang Rak (Big Buddha).

Understand
East of the airport turn-off is Choeng Mon. Choeng Mon is made up of a series of bays featuring white sandy beaches. Although only about 15 minutes north of Chaweng and 5 minutes from Big Buddha, the intervening coastline has kept the beaches quiet and the waters clean.

Choeng Mon Beach is on a small but magnificent bay of the same name. It features wide sandy beaches with a rock formation on one side and a small island you can paddle out to on the other.

It's is very family-friendly area, and being dominated by a handful of upscale resorts, relatively pricey. Inexpensive accommodation is virtually non-existent.

Get in
Choeng Mon is northeast of Samui Airport, about 15 minutes away by car. However, it does not lie under the flight path, so it's still nice and quiet.

Choeng Mon is not on the main island loop road, so red songthaews (Ko Samui's pickup truck buses) are a comparatively rare sight. Taxis loiter around the main hotels, but Grab may be a more affordable option, or consider hiring a car or motorbike for the duration of your stay.

Get around
Orienting yourself in Cheong Mon is simple enough: there's a crescent-shaped 500m long beach running from west to east, and a main road (Highway 4171) set back about 100 meters away from the shore. All the larger resorts are in this strip between beach and road, while most other businesses are along the main road. The area is small enough that you can easily get around on foot.

See
There are no sights as such in Choeng Mon. The closest point of interest is the Big Buddha, 5 minutes away by taxi at Bang Rak.

Do
Cheong Mon is known for its water sports. If you want to try a kayak, you can paddle all the way to the islets of Ko Fan Noi and Ko Fan Yai which sit just offshore at the eastern end of the beach. During low tide, you can even wade across to Ko Fan Yai; just don't stray above the high-tide mark, since most of the island is occupied by the zealously guarded Cape Fahn resort.

For snorkeling, there is some coral both at the western end of the beach (past Kimpton) and around the Ko Fan islets. However, when the wind is blowing from the east, the water gets choppy and visibility plummets to near-zero. Scuba tours tend to head out to Ko Phangan and Ko Tao.

If you feel like doing nothing, beaches at Cheong Mon are perfect for lazing the afternoons away since there is not a lot going on outside the resorts. There are also many identikit beachside massage tents with a uniform rate of ฿300/hour. Head to the main road to shave ฿100 off the asking rate, or try a hotel spa if you'd prefer to pay ฿3000/hr instead.

Buy
Shopping opportunities in Choeng Mon are pretty much limited to the

convenience store on the main road.

Eat
There are quite a few eating places in Cheong Mon, both Western and Thai. Resorts attract a foreign clientèle, a fact which is reflected in the food and entertainment offered in the resort's restaurants. Thus the Thai cuisine served won't be too spicy. However, do expect traditional Thai dancing and numerous Filipino bands expertly playing covers of Western pop standards.

Restaurants on the beach tend to charge a premium for the views and mediocre food, you'll get much better value by walking over the main street. If you're really on a budget, there are also a few scattered local stalls serving up 20 baht grilled chicken and the like.

Drink
The nightlife is relaxed, best bet is to have a drink in the beach-based restaurants.

Sleep

Choeng Mon is dominated by a handful of fancy branded resorts, bookended by Kimpton Kitalay at the west end and the Melia at the east end. However, the resorts have a reasonably low profile (no concrete monoliths here) and cheaper rooms can still be found on the side streets. Many older budget and midrange operations closed down for good during the COVID pandemic.

Go next

 * Bang Rak — just across the peninsula, home to the Big Buddha and not much else
 * Bophut — another family-friendly beach on the north coast
 * Chaweng — the largest and busiest beach in Samui, just south of Choeng Mon

title: Choeng Mon


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Chofu

Chofu (調布市 Chōfu-shi) is a western suburb of Tokyo, and the main draws are Jindaiji Temple and Jindai Botanical gardens. These twin attractions are next to each other, making a reasonable day trip from central Tokyo. Beyond these two, Chōfu feels like the suburb that it is, particularly on the weekends when the train platform is crowded with parents and their children.

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

The city has info pages in English on Guidoor.

Get in
Chōfu is 15 minutes and ¥280 from Shinjuku. From Shinjuku station, take the Keio line's special express (特急) or semi-special-express (準特急) train. Chōfu is the second stop.

Chofu Airport has flights from the Izu Islands.

Get around
To get to Jindaiji Temple and Jindai Botanical Gardens, it is reasonable to take a bus. On the north side of the station, take bus number 34 (leaving from bus stop 14), or bus numbers 05, 06, 31 or 56 (leaving from bus stop 13). Only bus number 34 goes directly to Jindaiji Temple; the latter four stop only at "Jindaiji Iriguchi," it is a short walk to the temple from there. All five buses go to Jindaiji Botanical Gardens, fare ¥210. It is 2-3 km from the station to Jindaiji Temple, so walking or taking a taxi is possible.

If you happen to be in Kichijōji or Mitaka, rather than Chōfu, you can also take a bus to get to Jindaiji Temple and Jindai Botanical Gardens.

Buy
This suburban city offers many shopping options. Directly connected to the station is building A of Trie Keio Chofu shopping center. B (Bic Camera) and C (cinema) buildings are across the rotary. On the north side of the B building is a Parco department store and the Japanese version of Walmart, Seiyu. And on the south side, a Tokyu shopping complex is waiting for you.

Eat

 * Some restaurants offer fresh seafood from Izu Islands, transported by air.

title: Chofu


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Choibalsan

Choibalsan is the capital of Dornod province. (Mongolian: Чойбалсан) and the fourth-largest city in Mongolia. The name of the city was Bayan Tu'men (Баян Түмэн) until 1941, when it was renamed after the communist leader Khorloogiin Choibalsan. The city administrative unit's official name is Kherlen sum, with area of 281 km2. It is situated at the Kherlen River, at an elevation of 747 m above sea level.

Understand
The location has been a post on a trading route for centuries. In the 19th century it grew into a city, and became the economic hub of eastern Mongolia in the 20th century. After democratization in 1992, when the Russian workers left, large parts of the economy collapsed. Since then, the city has suffered from one of the highest unemployment rates in Mongolia.

The battle of Khalkhin Gol
An important battle was fought near the city in 1939, and the G.K. Zhukov Museum in the town is named for the Russian General who won it. Georgy Zhukov is famous mainly for actions during the Second World War, first commanding the defense of Stalingrad, then commanding part of the Red Army as it rolled west, and winning the largest tank battle in history near Kursk. However his first major victory, the one that put him on the road to senior command, was here. There is another Zhukov museum in Ulaanbaatar, commemorating the same victory, and a small one on the battlefield, but the one in Choibalsan is the main one.

In the late 1930s, "Manchukuo" (Manchuria) was a Japanese puppet state and Mongolia was very much in the Soviet sphere of influence; there was a series of border clashes. These ended when Zhukov, commanding a mainly Soviet force with some Mongolian troops, inflicted a severe defeat on Japanese forces.

Fighting around the Khalkhin River (Khalkhin Gol in Mongolian) started in May 1939, the Japanese made a major push in July but it was beaten back, and the decisive Soviet counter attack began on August 20. This was not a small battle; each side had well over 50,000 troops involved. Nor were they lightly armed; both sides had tanks, aircraft and artillery in play. The Japanese government admitted losing over 17,000 killed or wounded; the Soviets initially claimed to have inflicted 29,085 casualties on the Japanese, but later increased this to 61,000 for the official histories. The Japanese 23rd Infantry Division was surrounded and overwhelmed; all its men were either killed or captured.

This battle is not well-known in the West, but it was rather important since the crushing defeat greatly affected Japanese strategy. Khalkin Gol effectively settled a faction fight within the Japanese High Command; they all agreed that expanding the empire was a fine idea, but how? Before Khalkin Gol, the choice between those strategies was up in the air; afterward the idea of striking south dominated Japanese thinking. This made an enormous difference in the course of the war; arguably choosing to strike south was the High Command's greatest blunder. In particular, choosing that course made war with the US inevitable and led quite directly to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
 * "strike north" — expand into resource-rich Siberia and Mongolia, fighting only the Russians
 * "strike south" — expand into South East Asia, fighting both the US and the British Empire

It is of course impossible to tell, but it is at least conceivable that Japan might have done much better either by persisting with the strike north strategy or by avoiding war with either the Russians or the English-speaking powers, and just settling down to consolidate the enormous gains they had made in Korea and China in the 1930s.

The battle may also have affected events further west; Hitler and Stalin signed a non-aggression pact on 24 August 1939, just after Khalkin Gol, and Germany invaded Poland one week later starting World War II in Europe. Russia and Japan signed a ceasefire on 15 September, and two days later Russian troops moved into Poland.

Climate
Like most of Mongolia, the region is hot in summer but very cold in winter.

By plane
The city is served by Choibalsan Airport, which has a concrete runway and a new passenger terminal built in 2001. There is international service to Hailar and Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia, China and domestic flights to Ulaanbaatar.

By bus
By intercity bus. Buses leave daily from the Eastern Bus Terminal in UB at 08:00 and arrive in Choilbalsan at 23:00. These are old Russian buses since part of the road is unmaintained dirt. Stops to eat twice on the way. Stops a few more times at small stores where you can buy drinks, candy etc. The Bus Terminal is about 10 km east of the center of Ulaanbaatar. Return buses leave at 20:00 from Choibalsan. You need to buy a ticket a day or two in advance. The ticket is for an exact seat by number.

Buy
Choibalsan is said to have the only Chinatown in Mongolia.

Go next

 * Onon-Balj National Park. This wide park is home to Delüün Boldog, the alleged birthplace of Genghis Khan.
 * You can also travel to the city of Hailar in Inner Mongolia, China, which is more than 400 km east of Choibalsan.

title: Choibalsan


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Cholpon-Ata

Cholpon Ata is a summer resort on the northern shore of Lake Issyk Kul.

Understand
In summer it is quite crowded, full of wealthy Kazakhs, Russians and a few locals. With the beginning of autumn the city slows down and a lot of the hotels and restaurants close over the winter.

By bus
Several marshrutkas a day from Bishkek (3-4 hr, 370 som). They leave from both the Western and Eastern Bus Stations. You might have to interchange in Balykchy.

By taxi
A taxi from Bishkek takes 3-4 hr, for 1,500 som per car (Sep 2009).

By train
Or take the very cheap scenic train into Balykchy and a marshrutka from there.

By plane
In Tamchi, 15 km to the east is small airport serving for tourists in summer.

See
Enjoy the sights of the highest peaks of this part of Tian-Shan.

Do

Money
There are several ATMs in Cholpon Ata but most only take Visa card. For MasterCard head to the bank opposite UniCredit bank, by the eastern bus stop (going to Karakol).

Eat

Sleep
Many inexpensive guesthouses (from 300 som pp) can be found near the bus station if you just walk around and ask. One barely needs to book ahead, even during the summer or large events.

Go next

 * Grigorievskoe Trail – A beautiful trail into the mountains 30-40 km northwest of Cholpon-Ata.
 * Karakol – One of the gems of Issyk Kul with a wealth of outdoor and sports available, including the Altyn Arashan hot springs, Karakol Canyon, and the beautiful Ala Kul lake.

title: Cholpon-Ata


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Cholula

Cholula is a city in Puebla state, 15 km west of the city of Puebla. It is a mid-size city with a population of about 150,000. The Great Pyramid of Cholula is the largest pyramid on a platform in the world. The Spanish covered it with earth and imposed a church on its top. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in North America, having been founded around 500 B.C.

Understand
Cholula includes the smaller municipalities of San Andrés Cholula, San Pedro Cholula, and Santa Isobel Cholula.

Cholula is home to one of the main Mexican universities: the Universidad de las Américas de Puebla.

Get in
For a few years there was a nice tourist train from the Puebla town center into Cholula, but it unfortunately shut down in 2021.

By bus
There are two buses (about 40 min) running from CAPU the bus station in Puebla and one express bus (about 20 min) that runs from the Choula-Puebla bus station near the centre of Puebla (Autobuses Puebla - Cholula y Anexas, Av 6 Pte, across Mercado de Sabores), M$7.50 (pesos).

There are also collectivos that run from the corner of Avenida 5 Pte and Calle 3 Sur of Puebla to Cholula.

Another option is Estrella Roja buses that run direct from TAPO Bus Station in Mexico City, but there are only 4 a day (04:30, 08:30, 12:30, 16:30). M$82.

By taxi
From CAPU a taxi will cost you about M$90 to get to the zocalo of Cholula San Andres, if you take one from the centre of Puebla and have some bargaining skills you should be about to get one for M$60.

By car
Take the Recta, 10 km from Puebla to Cholula.

By foot
Most of the sights of Cholula can walked to in no time at all, the exception may be to Camino Real where most of the bars are located (opposite UDLA) about 25 min walk from the zocalo.

By bike
A large majority of the Cholulu's and the university students get around by bike, so if you are thinking a somewhat more long term stay, ask around the various bike shops you should be able to pick one up for M$400-500.

By bus
M$5, but for sightseeing you really only need buses to get in and out of Cholula.

By taxi
Tend to be more expensive than in Puebla, as the drivers are used to the cashed up UDLA students. But M$40-50 maximum should get you where you need to go around town.

By car
Be careful of the many one-way streets in and around the center of Cholula: they can be confusing to the first timers.

See

 * Cholula has more than 200 churches and the famous 365 chapels which hold parties almost daily.
 * La Quinta Luna is a 17th-century house in the Santa María Xixitla neighborhood, and a historic monument. It was converted into a boutique hotel, affiliated with the Hoteles Boutique de México. It was the home of an indigenous noble by the name of Juan de León y Mendoza, built with adobe walls and very high ceilings. The hotel contains seven luxury rooms, a meeting room, a library, a lobby and a restaurant, surrounding a central courtyard which has a garden. The lobby and restaurant are located in what was the chapel. The library area contains about 3,000 books and its roof is crossed by beams which were rescued during renovations to the building. The decoration is based on paintings by Federico Silva and Gerardo Gomez Brito, various pieces done in local onyx and a number of antiques from various places in the world. The lobby occasionally hosts small concerts.
 * Container City is a complex constructed from large shipping containers at the intersection of 12 Oeste and 2 Norte. 50 of these containers have been joined and painted with bright colors to create 4,500 m² of spaces used to house workshops, restaurants, galleries and other businesses. There are even a few homes made of the containers in the area.
 * Parque Loro is a petting zoo containing more than 400 animals, including endangered species like monkeys, tigers, jaguars, pumas, reptiles and miniature horses. It has an auditorium with animal shows. It also has a playground, an area for pre-Hispanic dance and an area in which visitors can have their picture taken with an animal.

Do

 * The Festival of the Virgin of the Remedies, the patron of the city, occurs at the beginning of September.
 * As a university city, Cholula has a tremendous number of nightclubs, bars, restaurants and coffee houses where Mexico's elite go to when not studying  these places can fit any budget yet due to so much competition between the venues, prices are usually very low.

Buy

 * Next to the pyramid there are train tracks that serve as an esplanade for a small handicraft market. There are also established shops to buy typical Mexican sweets and handicrafts.
 * The largest market in the city is the Mercado Municipal. It has conserved its traditional look with women seated on the floor selling seeds, flowers, herbs, and more. On Wednesdays and Sundays, this market is augmented by street vendors, which is called a tianguis, because on these days, people from the communities surrounding the city come to buy and sell. The market specializes in locally produced products, especially flowers, fruit, vegetables and others. There are also food stands preparing local dishes.
 * Another popular market with local food specialties is the Cosme del Razo, between Calle 3 Norte and Calle 5 Norte.

Eat
Some of the local specialties include Cholulteca soup, cecina with chili pepper strips and queso de canasta cheese, a type of edible larvae called cueclas, "tacos placeros," prepared with cecina, Bolivian coriander (pápalo), avocado, cheese and green chili pepper strips and "orejas de elefante" (elephant ears) which is an enormous tortilla with beans inside and salsa, tomatoes and cheese outside.

Drink
There is a locally produced hard apple cider called "Copa de Oro", a cold drink made of chocolate and water, whipped until foamy and served in wooden bowls with flowers painted on them, and "ponche," which in Cholula is a drink prepared with blue corn and milk.

Bars

 * Awasha - A horribly decorated place, but has extremely cheap drinks.
 * Bambukos - Famous for its one liter cocktails, good music and delicious food is served while students and tourists mingle with each other watching some football or simply making plans for the night. A typical cocktail averages US$4 and a big meal would cost the same. Most people order a copa de nada and a baguette.
 * Bombay  - This lounge is recognized as a landmark for the city, People gather at the small venue to listen to live DJs while drinking some well quality cocktails; it also works as a restaurant.
 * Chipilin - If you're hungry and thirsty and have very little money, Chipilin is the place to go. It is a botanero concept which means that they will feed you as much as possible while you are enjoying your drink. Very good traditional Mexican food is usually served.
 * Clamateria - Usually students come here to have a "Clamato" which is believed to cure hangovers. After that, a couple of beers is what initiates another day in Mexico's sin city.
 * Mandala - In Cholula's Container City, a very good spot to have some tea with vodka while smoking a hookah and having a great talk on their retro 1960s chairs. Recommended order is the Mandala Christmas or the vodka con pepino.
 * Pulque Para Dos - Some of Mexico's most important bands have gone to play concerts in this venue. Great place to drink "pulque", a native Mexican drink.
 * Siete Santos - A more alternative rock venue, where people gather in flocks to dance in the psychedelic decor.
 * Tiki - one of Cholula's most famous precopeo joints. Shares much of its menu with Bambukos, but has a salad bar and surf boards as tables.

Nightclubs

 * Classico - Bordering the city of Puebla, this extremely large and prestigious club is where the city's elite tend to hang out. A bit more expensive than the rest.
 * Roka - Cholula's largest night club, and becoming one of Cholula's best.
 * Tigre - One of Cholula's oldest night clubs. Not a very popular place anymore for the locals, but usually beginning each semester many international and juniors tend to go there to rock all night long.
 * Unit - Good music is played while locals have fun dancing the night away in the horribly decorated pink and green venue, but don't let it trick you, Unit is the best known place in Cholula.

Go next

 * Puebla
 * Iztacchuatl-Popocateptl National Park
 * Cuernavaca

title: Cholula


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Chomrong

Chomrong is a village in the Annapurna area of Nepal, and a popular overnight stop for those walking the Annapurna sanctuary trek. The village is spread over a hillside that has stunning views of the Annapurnas and Machupachare. Views are particularly good in the early morning.

Understand
Looking north from Chomrong, you see Annapurna and Machapuchare towering over the countryside. There are huge rhododendrons around the village bloom with bright flowers in season.

A huge staircase leads down to a river, where a bridge next to a slope that leads you towards Sinuwa. The steps are not of an even size, so returning to the village will be a strain.

Get in
The only way to get to Chomrong is on foot. There are no roads or air strips.

Get around
Just like getting to Chomrong the only way around is on foot.

See
The Himalaya of course. Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machupacharre are all visible from here.

Do
Relax after a hard day's trekking and eat chocolate cake at Chomrong Cottage.

Buy
There are shops that sell trekking supplies and a dispensary that stocks various pills and potions. Next to the chautara at the first cluster of hotels is a small souvenir shop selling the usual knick knacks and a clean drinking water station. Most hotels also sell filtered water.

Eat
All hotels have attached restaurants and like elsewhere in the mountains of Nepal the expectation is that you have your meals at the place you are staying.

Drink
The Himal bar and cafe seems to be the only independent watering hole in town it has a pool table down stairs. It is near the Lucky Guest House.

Sleep
Just before you enter Chomrong there are two hotels After another five minutes walk you get to the first group of hotels that get views of the Annapurnas:

From here it's a four- to five-minute walk to the next cluster of lodges and this is also the point where the staircase down to the river starts.

Go next
If walking towards the Annapurna Sanctuary the next village is Sinuwa about 1½ hours away.

In the opposite direction it is approximately 4 hours to Gandruk, 6-8 hours to the road at Nayapul and two days to Phedi.

title: Chomrong


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Chonburi

Chonburi (ชลบุรี) is both a city and a province in Eastern Thailand, 83 km or two hours from Bangkok. Chonburi, or "Mueang Chon", has been a popular seaside town of the eastern coast for a long time. It is also an agricultural site of economic plants such as sugar cane, cassava and Para rubber trees, as well as a location of the Eastern Seaboard Development Project and significant industrial factories.

Understand
From historical evidence, Chonburi has been settled since the Ayutthaya period. Originally, it comprised of many small towns such as Mueang Bang Sai, Mueang Bang Pla Soi, and Mueang Bang Phra. Later, King Rama V combined these towns together into Chonburi Province.

By car
There are many routes from Bangkok to Chonburi as follows:
 * 1) Hwy34, Bang Na-Trat to Chonburi.
 * 2) Hwy 304, Bangkok-Minburi, passing Chachoengsao province-Bang Pakong into Chonburi.
 * 3) Take the old route of Sukhumvit Rd, Hwy 3, passing Samut Prakan Province to the intersection of Bang Pakong District. Enter Hwy 34 to Chonburi.
 * 4) Take the motorway, Hwy 7, Bangkok-Chonburi-(Pattaya). Tel. 1193, +66 38 392001.

By train
From Hualamphong Railway Station, there is 1 daily train running to Phlu Ta Luang Railway Station in Chonburi. For further information, Tel. 1690, +66 2 2204444, +66 2 2224334 or Thailand State Railway.

By bus
The best way to get to Chonburi is to get a bus from the bus terminal of the Bangkok Airport Suvarnaphumi. A free shuttle bus orbits around the clock between the arrival terminal of the airport and the bus terminal. From the bus terminal it is 85 km to Chonburi and takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

From the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai), there are many air-conditioned buses to Chonburi from 05:00-21:00 every 40 minutes, Tel. +66 2 3919829. Second-class air-conditioned buses leave from 05:30-21:00 every 30 minutes. Tel. +66 2 3912504. Non air-conditioned buses leave Ekamai every 30 minutes from 05:00-21:00. Tel. +66 2 3912504. There are also air-conditioned buses leaving the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2). Air-conditioned buses take the motorway from 06:30-18:30. Tel. +66 2 9362852-66.

Additionally, there are private buses departing from the Southern Bus Terminal. Air-conditioned buses to Pattaya run daily along the Bang Na Trat route and stop at the Rot Rungrueng Company Ltd's air-conditioned bus terminal on Pattaya Nuea Rd. They leave from 05:30–18:00 every 2 hours. Tel. +66 2 8845582 or Pattaya Branch at Tel. +66 38 429877.

Eat

Food Vendors, Street Food in Thailand

Street vendors offer food that is cooked naturally by residents. Some restaurants tweak their recipe for tourists, but if you want a true taste of Thailand street vendors are recommended. Also very cheap and delicious.

Enterprising food vendors set up clusters of stalls, transforming major street corners, empty lots and alleys into lively food bazaars. Many are mobile, peddling from one area to another on tricycles and motorcycles with fixtures attached, or pushing mini-kitchens around on wooden carts. More modest are hawkers on foot, bearing filled baskets balanced on a wooden yoke upon one shoulder. Along the klong (canals) and waterways, sellers paddle their mini-shops from home to home, offering "boat noodles," curries over rice and an assortment of kanom (sweetmeats and snack foods).

Nibbling on street food is an inexpensive way to dine out in Thailand. You can fill yourself at lunch for 30 baht, and spend not much more for a hearty, well-balanced supper of several courses. A refreshing mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack can cost the same or less. But the low price does not indicate a low quality of food. In fact, a lot of street cuisine is very good and rivals some of the more refined gourmet restaurants, and the variety to choose from is immense, including many wonderful treats rarely seen on restaurant menus. Among these are traditional delicacies that are complicated to make and labour intensive that many street vendors are able to give owing to their specialisation in only one or a few items. They become experts at cooking their specialties, after having done it every day for years, and often become well-known and patronised in their area of the city.

Bangkokians are known to travel great distances in horrible traffic to particular corners of the city, where an "aunt" or "uncle," "grandma", or "grandpa" makes the best of this or that. Some of the city's most affluent citizens can be seen mingling with the crowds or sitting next to labourers in tattered clothes on rickety stools around well-worn tables. The vendors need no advertising other than their products, as news of good food spreads quickly in a culture with a highly cultivated sense of taste.

Consulates

 * 🇷🇴 Romania

title: Chonburi


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Chongjin

Chongjin (청진시) is a city is in the Donghae Coast region of North Korea.

Understand
This is North Korea's third largest city and called the 'city of iron' owing to its status as a major centre of heavy industry.

Get in
Chongjin is not part of most North Korean accompanied group itineraries but can be visited on customised tours.

By train
Chongjin is on the train line between Rason and the capital Pyongyang, as well as the southern city of Wonsan.

By tram
Chongjin has 11 kilometre of tramline.

By Trolley bus
There is a trolleybus network slightly more extensive than the tram-line.

Buy
The city is famous in the country for its processed squid.

Drink
Local drinking water is known to be untreated. Bottled water is the best choice. Some tourists have been hospitalized in North Korea after drinking the public water.

Consulates
North Korean cities don't usually have foreign consulates, however Chongjin's important port status means it has two.

 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇷🇺 Russia

title: Chongjin


text:
Chong Mek

Chong Mek (ช่องเม็ก) is a township in Isaan.

Understand
Chong Mek primarily functions as a border crossing between eastern Thailand and southern Laos. Vang Tao is the corresponding border town on the Lao side.

Get in
A taxi can be rented from the taxi counter at the Ubon Ratchathani airport or bus terminal at roughly 1,000 baht. The trip takes under an hour at a distance of 60 km. Buses (called rot tour or rot air by Thais) also make their way to Chong Mek from the bus terminal. Depending on the bus you may need to switch buses at Phibun Mangsahan.

Buy
Chong Mek was once a thriving market selling cross-border goods popular with Thai tourists. Most of the bustle has moved to the market in Mukdahan since the opening of the Friendship Bridge 2 in 2006.

Go next
Take a bus to Ubon Ratchathani (1.25 hours, 60 km) or cross the border into southern Lao and take a bus to Pakse (45 min, 45 km)

title: Chong Mek