text:
Ton Sai

Ton Sai is a beach in Krabi Province, Thailand, offering a combination of inexpensive accommodation and great rock climbing routes that make it popular with both backpackers and climbers alike. Compared to neighbouring Rai Leh and Ao Nang it's relatively rough around on the edges; in particular, the beach gets unsuitable for swimming and becomes quite rocky as the tide goes out. But this only happens for about ten days a month. The rest of the time the beach is suitable for swimming.

Understand
Current (2023) Tonsai is separated into two parts. Most of the beach front is used by a site where a large luxury ressort was planned, but never actually built. Only a small part is now used by the pricey Tinidee Hideaway Tonsai Beach. Still, the whole area is surrounded by a concrete wall. Next to it is the Tonsay Bay Resort with two restaurants, some shops and a beach bar. All the resorts which were on the beach front until 2014 were moved up the hill behind the wall. There is one main road starting on the north-western beach going there. However, the path going through the Tonsay Bay Resort is connected to the upper road as well by a security gate, which is almost always open.

If you want to listen to the constant buzzing of long tail boats racing between Aonang Beach, Railay Beach and Tonsai Beach this is the place for you.

Get in
There's no easy overland access to Ton Sai, so all visitors arrive by boat. There is however a difficult trek that will take 1.5 hours from Ao Nang, but its not recommended when you are carrying luggage, and people using this route are regularly attacked by gangs of wild monkeys. There is a half-hour trail from east Rai Leh, also not recommended when carrying luggage, but without gangs of wild monkeys to worry about. At low tide, there is a somewhat difficult scramble between the north end of West Rail Leh Beach through to Ton Sai's easternmost stretch of beach. Rai Leh is a five minute longtail ride, necessary at high tide, while longtails from Ao Nang to Rai Leh will also stop at Ton Sai. Boats between Ton Sai and Rai Leh generally don't run at night.

If you're arriving at Krabi bus station you will need to get a songthaew to Ao Nang Beach. The daytime price is 60 baht. From Ao Nang, share or charter a boat to Ton Sai. Boats run frequently from Ao Nang Beach to Ton Sai. But only when enough people have gathered and the boat is full with 10-12 persons. In high season it takes around 20 minutes to fill a boat depending on the time of the day. In low season it usually takes longer. Tickets cost 100 baht at the ticket kiosk at the east end of Ao Nang Beach, where Ao Nang Rd first meets the beach; at the west end of Ao Nang Beach; or at the Wan Sai Restaurant on Nopparat Thara Beach (east end). The price almost doubles after 18:00.

Alternatively, hire a boat and make a deal with the boatman. Expect to pay the price of 10 tickets if you want the boat all by yourself.

The boat ride from Ao Nang Beach to Ton Sai takes 10 minutes and is very scenic.

There are three ways to move between Rai Leh and Ton Sai on foot:

1) At low tide you can walk around the rocky outcrop which separates Ton Sai from Rai Leh (20 min).

2) At high tide, go to the south end of Ton Sai Beach, walk the obvious path at the end of the beach, through the forest, up and over the rocky outcrop. You'll pop out on the north side of Rai Leh West (20 min).

3) The least-used option is a longer trail through the jungle. Walk away from the Ton Sai Beach along the road where all the bungalows and resorts are. When you get to Wee's Climbing School turn (east) and continue on the road up hill. Eventually you'll pass all the bungalows. Continue on the path and you will eventually pop out on Rai Leh East near the Diamond Cave area (50 min). Although longer, this trail is smoother and easier to walk than the shorter one.

None of these options is possible at night without a flashlight/torch, and the jungle paths can be slippery and treacherous after the rain.

Alternatively hire a kayak and sail around (10 min).

Get around
The only way to get around Ton Sai is on foot. The beach and the main road act as the primary thoroughfares for the area. It may take five minutes or less to cover the entire area. During heavy rains, the dirt road becomes muddy and treacherous.

Do

 * Playing with fire -- Ton Sai could well be the world centre for fire tricks: light something on fire, twirl it in the air, that's the basic idea. Many climbers can be found on the beach on their off days practising on the beach.
 * Share or charter a boat to nearby islands. Chicken Island is good for snorkelling.
 * Rent kayaks from one of the bungalow operations along the beach and paddle around to Rai Leh or the beautiful Phra Nang Beach.

Rock climbing
The primary draw for visitors, with Ton Sai offering as many routes as Rai Leh, and hosting a number of climbing schools and guide companies.

 * If you want to climb independently, it's easy to either rent gear from one of the shops, or bring your own. Shops usually give you a package consisting of a guidebook, 14 quickdraws, a 60 m rope, 2 harnesses, 2 chalk bags and 2 pairs of shoes. This usually costs around 800 baht. Its also very easy to meet people if you're looking for a partner, so don't be afraid to just turn up alone but do be careful about who you climb with.
 * Almost all the routes are sport climbs on limestone rock, and are usually well-protected. Because of the proximity of the sea, the bolts tend to rust, so its worth sticking to new or rebolted routes. There are some climbs that are entirely protected by slings and sometimes these are worn through, so bring some extra slings or buy some. You can also buy an excellent guidebook for the whole of Thailand at any of the climbing shops. It has dates and safety ratings for each climb, which is very useful. Beware of local copies with inaccurate info.
 * The climbing is often athletic and overhanging. The rock quality varies depending on the crag, but its usually excellent and the rock formations are very impressive, lots of stalactites. There are some fantastic multi pitches, and you are rewarded with brilliant views from the top. Some of these can be climbed with one 60 m rope, some of them need two. Some of the hardest climbs are concentrated along the beach, which also makes a great bouldering spot because the sand is soft to fall on. There is also a good bouldering cave that stays nice and dry if it rains.
 * The best time to climb is probably during the winter months when its cooler, but it can get crowded, especially at Christmas. The rest of the year its either very hot or raining, and many places shut down in low season. However there are often windows of beautiful weather during the monsoon and the rock usually drys quickly.
 * The climbing is often athletic and overhanging. The rock quality varies depending on the crag, but its usually excellent and the rock formations are very impressive, lots of stalactites. There are some fantastic multi pitches, and you are rewarded with brilliant views from the top. Some of these can be climbed with one 60 m rope, some of them need two. Some of the hardest climbs are concentrated along the beach, which also makes a great bouldering spot because the sand is soft to fall on. There is also a good bouldering cave that stays nice and dry if it rains.
 * The best time to climb is probably during the winter months when its cooler, but it can get crowded, especially at Christmas. The rest of the year its either very hot or raining, and many places shut down in low season. However there are often windows of beautiful weather during the monsoon and the rock usually drys quickly.

Buy
There are very few shops in Ton Sai, and they are pricey (by Thai standards) as everything is brought in by boat. It's probably best to bring everything with you or make a trip to Krabi, which is a much larger town with better choice. However there are a few mini-marts selling cold drinks, snacks, phone credits, and some tacky clothes, similar to the ones at Rai Leh.

Eat
There are several restaurants and bars on the beach and most bungalow operators have restaurants as well. Many do not have electricity during the day, meaning that unless they are careful with food storage you'll end up with a nasty case of food poisoning. Normally there is electricity from 18:00-06:00 during low- and mid-season. During high-season there is electricity for most of the businesses.

The street vendors make fantastic authentic Thai food. Try the mango with sticky rice or som tam (papaya salad). Cheap too!!

 * Capote's Pyramid. (on the upper main road). Mexican dishes with a Thai twist, BBQ on weekends and burgers with buns from a bakery.
 * Capote's Pyramid. (on the upper main road). Mexican dishes with a Thai twist, BBQ on weekends and burgers with buns from a bakery.

Drink
There are several bars on the beach, several of which (oddly enough) feature non-stop reggae music. You can even chill out with a "special" coffee or tea. A popular climber's hang out is Ton Sai Roof, at the east end of the beach, where the routes begin at the foot of Freedom Bar, another hot spot with glorious views of both the rock and the whole bay.

Also be sure to check out Small World Bar, right in the middle of the loop, where there is amazing nightly fire and slackline entertainment and a super relaxed atmosphere with great staff.

Sleep
All accommodation other than the two modern resorts is set off of the beach and tends to be of the bamboo bungalow variety, and a little more rustic and certainly more affordable than at Rai Leh. Rubbish piles and noisy generators are common nuisances, but as Ton Sai has no mains electricity it is a necessary nuisance.

Go next

 * Ao Nang
 * Rai Leh
 * Krabi Town
 * Ko Lanta
 * Ko Phi Phi
 * Phuket

title: Ton Sai


text:
Tontitown

Tontitown is in the Ozarks region of Arkansas.

Understand
Tontitown, on the edge of Springdale, is a historic Italian-American community that to this day sports a number of locally well-known Italian restaurants.

Buy
Tontitown is known today for three things: Amazing Italian food, tons of great flea markets, and Hanna's candle outlet. Enjoy!

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

title: Tontitown


text:
Toodyay

Toodyay (pronounced "two-jay") is a farming town 85 km east of Perth in the Wheatbelt Region of Western Australia, with a population of 1362 in 2021. It's an easy day trip from the city and the main attraction is its well-preserved Victorian buildings.

Understand
19th century Perth expanded north and south, but the Darling Scarp to the east was a barrier in horse-drawn days. In 1830 Europeans found their way up the Avon valley into the area known by the Noongar Aboriginal people as "Duidgee", which perhaps means a fertile place. It was certainly good enough for farming, with a Mediterranean climate as the scarp draws rainfall, so a settlement grew up called "Newcastle." Many of its labour force were convicts, with a depot where they were housed and allocated to farms. The first settlement was floodprone so in the 1860s it relocated to its present site. The town lock-up in 1861 became one of many escape scenes by the bushranger Moondyne Joe (1826-1900), who got away on the horse he'd been locked up for stealing, along with the magistrate's brand new saddle. The railway arrived in 1887, a spur of the narrow-gauge line to Northam. This carried passengers, freight such as timber, and misdirected mail intended for Newcastle, New South Wales (a valuable ormolu clock being the prize example). In 1910 the town was persuaded to change its name to Toodyay, and its original site became known as Old or West Toodyay.

Better roads snaked out from Perth in the 20th century, and in 1966 a standard gauge railway reached Toodyay along a new route up the Avon valley, so the narrow-gauge line closed. These put the town within commuting distance of Perth, and within a day-trip for city dwellers. Toodyay is now a mixed commuter, and agricultural community, its 19th century elements are well-preserved, sitting next to newer developments. The Visitor Centre is on Piesse St opposite the supermarket, open daily 9AM-4PM.

Get in
By road follow Highway 50 Toodyay Road northeast from Perth and reckon an hour. Only fit hardy cyclists should attempt it, as the hills are long and steep, and the cars and trucks don't expect to see bicycles on their narrow race track. The main highway then turns south to Northam, where it joins Hwy 94 away east to Kalgoorlie and Norseman. Eastlink WA is expected to run through Toodyay when it's constructed, but the freeway construction will only commence in 2024 with no completion date as of 2023.

Buses don't run through Toodyay.

Trains from Perth East and Midlands take an hour to Toodyay, for a return fare of $22 in 2023. The Prospector runs M-Sa around 7AM from Perth to Toodyay, Northam, Merredin and Kalgoorlie, plus an afternoon run M F Su. The Merredinlink runs M W F around 9AM to Toodyay, Northam and Merredin. The Avonlink is for city commuters, so it runs M-F early morning from Northam via Toodyay to Perth Midland and sets off back towards 6PM.

is just a platform halt with no facilities at the west end of town. There is ramp access to the platforms.

West Toodyay 3 km up the line is also shown as a station on Google Map, but it's just sidings and a switch to a disused branch line.

Get around
Town is small and everything is in walking distance, so midweek you could visit by train without needing a car.

See

 * St Stephen's opposite Connor's Mill was one of the first buildings in the new settlement, completed in 1862. A small redbrick Gothic design, it's Anglican and still in use.
 * Toodyay Miniature Railway is just west of St Stephen's. It remains closed in 2023.
 * is the wooded hillside just south which houses the town reservoir. There's a memorial and native garden planted in honour of James Drummond, the colony's first botanist. Old military installations are a World War I shooting range and a World War II signals bunker. There are picnic sites and toilets.
 * is on the road north to Bejoording and Bindi-Bindi. It was completed in 1857.
 * is the wooded hillside just south which houses the town reservoir. There's a memorial and native garden planted in honour of James Drummond, the colony's first botanist. Old military installations are a World War I shooting range and a World War II signals bunker. There are picnic sites and toilets.
 * is on the road north to Bejoording and Bindi-Bindi. It was completed in 1857.

Do

 * What's on? Read the Toodyay Herald.
 * Feed the emus: those at the Holiday Park don't mind if non-guests also feed them, in return for which they pose for selfies. Bring finely chopped fruit or veg or buy pellets from the vending machine in the park. And keep the dog in the car.
 * Toodyay Racecourse is two miles south of town beyond Pelham Reserve and has occasional races, with the main meeting in September. However the course facilities are in poor repair and it may not be able to continue.
 * Golf: the nearest course is in Northam.
 * Toodyay Music Festival was in March, but it was cancelled in 2022 and 2023 and its future is uncertain.
 * Moondyne Festival is when folk gussy up in period costume and re-enact the escapades of Moondyne Joe. No dogs. It's on the first Sunday in May, with the next on 7 May 2023.
 * Fibre Festival is about the locality's wool products, with the next on 4 June 2023, 10AM-3PM.
 * Avon Descent in August is a two-day 124-km race down the river from Northam through Toodyay to Bayswater in Perth, with powerboat, kayak, ski and SUP categories. Various qualifying or seeding events are held in the run up, with the Northam to Toodyay Paddle in July covering the first 30 km.
 * Toodyay Food Festival is timed to coincide with Avon Descent passing through town.
 * Toodyay Agricultural Show is held in October on the north riverbank. The next is probably on 7 Oct 2023, tbc.
 * Toodyay Car Show in November has been on hold since 2019, and the 2023 show is not confirmed.

Buy

 * IGA supermarket is on Piess St opposite the railway station, open daily 7AM-7PM.
 * Dunnings Roadhouse is the filling station at 143 Stirling Terrace, open daily 7AM-5PM.
 * Farmers Market is held on Gugulja Park next to St Stephen's. It's 9AM to 1PM on the third Sunday of the month.

Eat

 * Smokey Doughs is a pizza and kebab takeaway by the IGA, open Th-Sa noon-8PM, W Su 4:30-8PM.
 * Smokey Doughs is a pizza and kebab takeaway by the IGA, open Th-Sa noon-8PM, W Su 4:30-8PM.

Drink

 * Freemasons Hotel (below) is your best place for a beer.
 * Coorinja Winery 5 km south along the main road produces mostly red wine with some sherry. No tours, but the shop is open F Sa M 10AM-3PM.

Connect
As of Jan 2023, Toodyay has a patchy 4G signal from Telstra, but nothing from Optus or Vodafone, and no signal on the approach roads. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Northam southeast is a larger town with several heritage buildings and old military installations.
 * Clackline south is a much smaller agricultural town, that sits on the Great Eastern Highway.
 * Head north through Goomalling to join the Great Northern Highway all the way up to Mount Magnet, Newman and Port Hedland.

title: Toodyay


text:
Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve

Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve (formerly Toorsa Strict Nature Reserve) is in the Haa district in western Bhutan.

Understand
This reserve covers an area of 650 km² and is a reserve without human settlements.

It borders Sikkim and Tibet to the west and is connected to Jigme Dorji National Park via a "biological corridor".

Landscape
Jigme Khesar contains the westernmost temperate forests of Bhutan, from broadleaf forests to alpine meadows and the small lakes of Sinchulungpa, at altitudes ranging from 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) to 4,800 metres (15,700 ft).

Flora and fauna
This diverse ecosystem is home to various endangered species such as the Tibetan Snow Cock, Red Panda, Snow Leopard and Rufous Necked Hornbills.

There are mountain evergreen deciduous forests, mountain deciduous forests that shed their leaves in winter, mountain coniferous forests, tropical meadows, alpine and subalpine meadows, subalpine and alpine scrub and shrubs.

The White Poppy is endemic.

See

 * The lakes of Sinchulungpa
 * The dzong in Haa

Buy
The town of Haa (Ha, Has) on the banks of the Haa Chu River, has a small bazaar.

title: Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve


text:
Toowoomba

Toowoomba (also referred to by locals as "Woombie" or "T-ba") is a regional centre in Queensland, 127 kilometres WSW from the City of Brisbane and 90 kilometres west of Ipswich. With a population of 142,163 (2021), Toowoomba is Australia's largest inland city that is not a planned city (i.e. not Canberra).

Understand
It's 130 km west of Brisbane on the escarpment of the Great Dividing Range; travel time is approximately 90 minutes by road. After Canberra, Toowoomba is the second largest inland city in Australia.

By plane

There are few passenger flights operating from the airport. Services include:
 * QantasLink operates direct services to Sydney. There are 2 flights on weekdays and 1 flight a day on weekends.
 * Regional Express (REX) operate services from Brisbane to Toowoomba and onwards to the rural towns of St George, Cunnamulla, Thargomindah, Charleville, Quilpie, Windorah, Birdsville, Bedourie, Boulia and Mount Isa.

Airport transportation

 * Rental car companies are represented at the airport. Given this is not a major airport it may be advisable to reserve a vehicle in advance.
 * Taxis are available from the airport into Toowoomba City however considering the considerable distance from the CBD, commuters should expect at least a A$50 fare.
 * No public transport services exist for the airport.

By train
Toowoomba does not have frequent rail services – it is not at all a popular means of getting into the city. Queensland Rail's Westlander service passes through the city twice a week on its journey between Brisbane and Charleville. Travel time by train between Brisbane and Toowoomba is approximately 3.5 hours, making the train journey substantially longer than the 90-minute trip by car or bus.

 * The westbound service departs Brisbane at 7:15PM on Tuesday and Thursdays, travelling through the night to arrive in Toowoomba at 11PM.
 * The eastbound service departs Toowoomba at 7AM on Thursday and Saturday, arriving in Brisbane at 11:30AM.

The east bound service descends down the Toowoomba Range in the early morning, offering excellent views of the rugged landscape.

By car
There are three main ways to get into Toowoomba from the south, though there are some additional highways coming from the north and northwest. They include:
 * From Brisbane, it's about an hour and a halfs drive west via the A2 Warrego Highway and the A21 Toowoomba Connection Road from Brisbane.
 * From Stanthorpe, it's about 1 hour 45 minutes drive north for via the A3 and A15 New England Highway, and is also the route that you'll need to take if you're coming from Armidale or Tamworth.
 * From Goondiwindi, it's about a 2.5-hour drive northeast via the A39 Gore Highway and the A139 Toowoomba Athol Road, and the route you'll need to take if you're coming from Victoria or Central NSW.

By bus
Regular bus services are available between Toowoomba and Brisbane and Toowoomba and towns to the west.

 * Greyhound Australia operate frequent services between Toowoomba and Brisbane with some services connecting to Brisbane Airport. Greyhound also operate less frequent services between Brisbane and Charleville via Toowoomba.
 * Murrays Coaches operate services between Toowoomba and Brisbane and onwards to the towns of St George and Chinchilla. Some services connect through to Brisbane Airport.
 * Crisps Coaches operate services between Toowoomba and Warwick, and onwards to Stanthorpe and Moree.

Get around

 * There are two taxi companies operating in Greater Toowoomba: Garden City Cabs and Yellow Cabs. Both companies have very reasonable metered fares compared to capital cities.
 * Silver Service is a lesser-used taxi service that offers fully qualified drivers and is often regarded as a pricier but better service.
 * A limited bus service operates in Toowoomba, with 6 bus routes covering the city. For the most part frequencies are hourly, increasing slightly for the AM and PM peak period. On Saturdays some routes are less frequent and others do not operate. No routes operate on Sundays. Information on timetabling and fares is available from the Queensland Government website.

By car
Getting around Toowoomba by car is the most convenient option, as with almost every regional city with a population fewer than 200,000, public transport options are severely limited.

There are three major roads that traverse and connect Toowoomba.
 * The A21 is no longer one single road, but a series of roads that make up the old A2 Warrego Highway. A21 starts at Helidon Spa just before when the A2 Warrego Highway becomes a motorway, heads up towards East Toowoomba, winds its way through the CBD, and then heads west back toward the A2 Warrego Highway where it continues west.
 * The A3 New England Highway traverses Toowoomba in a north-south direction, also passing through the CBD.
 * The A139 Toowoomba-Athol Road connects Toowoomba to the locality of Athol about 10 kilometres southwest. It makes up the road of what used to be the A39, before it got rerouted towards the Warrego Highway on the new bypass.

The last one doesn't traverse Toowoomba, but connects the outer suburbs, the A2 Warrego Highway is Toowoomba's only motorway, mostly two lanes in each direction, but not a very convenient route in getting around Toowoomba. The motorway is perhaps one of the most scenic as it passes through mountainous terrain (and no other motorway in Australia outside the ACT goes through this kind of terrain), but it is tolled – as of early 2024, the tolled motorway costs $2.71 for cars and $1.36 for motorcycles, but only if you pass under the New England Highway. Otherwise, it's free to use.

See

 * Picnic Point, a beautiful outlook on the edge of 'The Range'.

National parks
There are no national parks "in" Toowoomba, but there are plenty of national parks in the LGA. Surprisingly, unlike most other parks in the state, the state government has invested in a lot of money in bushwalking trails, facilities, barbecue areas, picnic areas etc.

Historic sites

 * Spring Bluff Railway Station, a former railway station with excellent gardens and picnic areas.
 * Toowoomba Railway Station Building

Do

 * There is a tourist drive around the City, there are distinctive signs that mark this route.
 * Visit the Sunday Markets at the Toowoomba PCYC
 * Visit the Sunday Markets at the Toowoomba PCYC

Festivals
The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is hosted by the city in late September each year. Commencing in 1949 the Carnival capitalises on the city's reputation of being the 'Garden City'. While there are many events that make up the carnival period, Toowoomba is known for its annual garden competition and the carnivals street parade.

Buy

 * Toowoomba has a very spread out and lively city centre, brimming with small shops and cafes. There are also many shopping centres littered through the suburbs, two notable ones being Grand Central in the City and Clifford Gardens in Newtown.

Budget
Toowoomba doesn't have many budget restaurants, but there are plenty of fast food chains that are there if you're on a budget.

Drink

 * Due to Toowoomba's large student population, there are a number of clubs and nightclubs in the city centre itself, they are mostly in the eastern half of the CBD area.

Sleep
Toowoomba has a large number of hotels and motels due to its strategic location on the crossroads of 3 major highways. You will see these as you drive through the city.

title: Toowoomba


text:
Topeka

Topeka is the capital of Kansas. Visitors come to see the Kansas Museum of History, Topeka Zoo, and Renisch Rose Gardens. The metropolitan area is rich in history and highly favored by nature. In 2019, it was home to 125,000 people.

Understand
Topeka, located in Shawnee County, serves as the capital of Kansas. It lies on rich sandy loam river bottomland where Native Americans lived for many years using the excellent fords on the Kansas (Kaw) River. Among the first permanent settlers were three French-Canadian (Pappan) brothers. They married three Kanza (Kansas) Native American sisters and established a ferry over the river in 1842. A grandson from one of the marriages was Charles Curtis, the only Vice-President of the United States to be of Native American descent. (Charles Curtis served with President Herbert C. Hoover from 1929 to 1933.) In the 1800s, Topeka served as a gateway west for pioneers traveling on the Oregon Trail or by railroad.

Topeka is home to the highly acclaimed Kansas Museum of History where you'll step back in time and learn all about the land that is Kansas. Relive the history of Kansas through exhibits, videos, and programs.

Old Prairie Town at Ward-Meade Historic Site overlooks the Oregon Trail's ferry site across the Kansas River and includes the original Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad depot from Pauline as well as a turn of the century town, botanical gardens, and dinners served by hosts in period dress.

Topeka was an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement, particularly with the fight for the desegregation of schools. The Monroe School is the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic site where visitors gain an understanding and appreciation for the role of this decision in the Civil Rights Movement.

Gage Park houses the Topeka Zoo, Renisch Rose Gardens with over 6,500 plants, offering 400 varieties, and a 1908 Carousel that houses a 1909 Wurlitzer organ. Tour the Combat Air Museum, the Capitol Building, and the Governor's home, Cedar Crest. First Presbyterian Church, built over 112 years ago, is the site of a unique presentation of Tiffany windows. Louis C. Tiffany came to Topeka in 1911 and produced these windows. First Presbyterian Church is the only church west of the Mississippi River to have all Tiffany windows. Visit Heartland Park, a state-of-the-art motor sports complex. The Topeka area has an abundance of campgrounds and lakes, as well as hiking and biking trails.

Local information

 * Topeka City Council website

By plane
There is no commercial airline service to Topeka as of January 2020.

 * Billard Airport is a small airplane airport.
 * Forbes Field is a small airport which once hosted very limited commercial flights.
 * Kansas City International is the closest fully functional commercial airport.  A shuttle service can take you to Topeka from Kansas City.

By train
Amtrak has a stop in Topeka which is served by the daily Chicago-Los Angeles Southwest Chief line. Be aware that trains from Chicago and Kansas City, MO arrive at around 12:30AM and trains from Los Angeles arrive at around 5:20AM.

By car
Travelling by car is the easiest way to enter, exit and move around in Topeka.

Highways include:
 * Highway 24 gives four lane access from the east and two lane entry from the west.
 * I-70 gives controlled access from the west.
 * Highway 75 gives two-lane access from the south and controlled four lane access from the north.
 * I-335 (Toll) gives controlled access from the southwest.
 * I-70 (Toll) gives controlled access from the east.

By bus

 * Greyhound Bus Lines stops at 600 Southeast Quincey Street next to Southeast 6th Avenue in downtown.
 * jeffersonlines, runs to Kansas City, . The same line is serviced by Greyhound.

By car
Most of the streets in Topeka are laid out in a grid pattern. North/south streets are named and most east/west streets are numbered. South of the river the street numbers increase as you travel southwardly, and the opposite on the north side of the river. Popular streets running through the city are Wanamaker Rd., Topeka Blvd., Gage Blvd., 6th St., 21st St., and 29th St. Be aware that the grid pattern slants around downtown due to the layout of the original city being different than the rest of the suburbs.

Topeka has a controlled access bypass, I-470, travelling through the southwest side of town. This makes for easy access to shopping centers and connects the major highways going into and out of Topeka.

By bus
Topeka Metro is the public bus system that runs through most of the main streets. . The bus fare costs $2 per trip. A card that is good for 10 rides costs $18. A pass that is good for 31 days costs $50. Buy cards and passes at the Quincy Street Station at 820 SE Quincy Street or at any Dillons store. You can catch or transfer to most buses at this station too.

See

Do

 * Bowling alleys are popular in Topeka. There is a bowling alley in most areas of the town.
 * Movie Theaters are located at West Ridge Mall and on the north terminus of Wanamaker Road
 * Movie Theaters are located at West Ridge Mall and on the north terminus of Wanamaker Road
 * Movie Theaters are located at West Ridge Mall and on the north terminus of Wanamaker Road
 * Movie Theaters are located at West Ridge Mall and on the north terminus of Wanamaker Road

Eat
Topeka has the variety of chain restaurants like most modern American cities. Locally owned restaurants are scattered through town. Most small shopping centers will have one or two small, locally owned restaurants. Wanamaker is the popular street for most chain restaurants.

Recommended locally owned or small chain restaurants:

Drink
Topeka has a few locally owned coffeehouses, but several coffeehouses in the area buy their coffee from a medal-winning local roaster, PT's Coffee Co. PT's also has a coffeehouse of their own.

Recommended locally owned or small chain baristas:

Stay Safe
As far as crime goes, Topeka is generally a safe city, but some areas around downtown (not including the downtown core) and on the eastern side of the city are best avoided at night. As long as you follow common sense, you will be safe in Topeka. Despite its bad reputation in Kansas, most of the crime in Topeka is gang-related, so a traveler is highly unlikely to come across any sort of serious danger.

Being in Kansas, it is important to be well aware of the weather in Topeka. During the spring and summer months, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in general are possible, while the winter can bring blizzard conditions. All weather warnings will be broadcast by local radio stations, and most people will get an emergency alert on their smartphone. Furthermore, during a tornado warning, tornado sirens will be sounded throughout the city, which are easy to hear from basically anywhere. When in doubt, ask the locals, but a good rule of thumb during tornadoes is to get on the lowest floor of the building and as far away from windows as you can.

Go next

 * Lawrence is 30 minutes east of Topeka along I-70 (Toll). A scenic (and cheaper) route to Lawrence from Topeka is along US Highway 40.  The Amtrak train system connects Topeka to Lawrence.  Lawrence is home to University of Kansas.  Lawrence is a small college town with a vibrant social scene located around Massachusetts Street. Massachusetts Street is also the site where John Brown fought during the Bleeding Kansas battles.
 * Perry Lake is 30 minutes north east of Topeka along US Highway 24. It is the third largest lake in Kansas.  Perry Lake features watersports, hiking and camping opportunities.
 * Manhattan is an hour and a half west of Topeka. Take I-70 West to KS-177 North.  Manhattan is home to Kansas State University.  Near Manhattan is Tuttle Creek Reservoir.

title: Topeka


text:
Top End

The Top End is the northern, tropical part of Northern Territory, home to the northernmost city in Australia and lots of salties.

Cities

 * — the Northern Territory tropical capital city
 * — a small regional town about 3 hours south of Darwin, gateway to the majestic Katherine Gorge and the Mataranka Hot Springs

Other destinations

 * — experience the world's oldest living culture first hand in landscapes virtually untouched since the dawn of time
 * — relax in the warm, crystal clear Mataranka Hot Springs, close to Katherine
 * — this World Heritage area sets the scene for outback adventure travel, Aboriginal culture and nature activities
 * — spend as long as you like exploring lush monsoon forests, unusual rock formations and waterfalls, just a 1.5 hour drive from Darwin
 * — the amazing Katherine Gorge, in which you can walk, swim, canoe, boat or fly
 * — the Northern Territory's second largest national park, encompassing spectacular ranges, escarpments, gorges and eucalypt woodlands

Understand
The Top End of Northern Territory is a tropical area, home to Kakadu National Park, the second largest national park in Australia. It contains the highest concentration of Aboriginal rock art in the world and amazing nature and wildlife. A perfect example of Top End living can be found in Darwin, with its relaxed lifestyle and warm weather all year round. A colourful history and fascinating cultural mix make it the perfect place to experience culinary delights or wander through some of the weekly markets.

The Victoria River is the longest river in the Northern Territory and is the lifeline to some of the biggest cattle stations in the NT. The region is also home to "Coolibah Station" where the reality series Keeping up with the Joneses was filmed. Its captivating landscapes stimulate a deep connection to the land and its people.

Culture

More than 50 nationalities make up Darwin's 100,000 population, including the area's traditional landowners, the Larrakia Aboriginal people. The cultural and culinary benefits of such a melting pot are best experienced at Darwin's weekly markets, variety of restaurants and through the annual calendar of festivals and other Darwin events.

In Kakadu Aboriginal guides enjoy teaching visitors about the daily aspects of their culture on various tours of the park. However the Bininj/Mungguy culture has its own set of social behaviours and customs, which are considered good manners. Show respect by not entering restricted areas. They may be sacred sites, ceremonial sites, burial grounds or even someone’s home.

Talk
English is the most common language spoken in the Top End. Hundreds of different Aboriginal languages are spoken by the indigenous peoples, including Yolgnu Matha in Arnhem Land, which is the second most spoken language in the NT after English. The Top End is very close to Asia and has a large Asian culture (including language and food) that is most seen in Darwin.

Get in
Regular interstate domestic flights arrive into Darwin.

From South Australia, driving north you can take the Explorer’s Way (Stuart Highway) from Adelaide through Coober Pedy into the Northern Territory. Travel along the Victoria Highway as it winds past immense escarpments split by the mighty Victoria River. Gregory National Park protects the area's colourful scenery featuring grassy plains, boab trees and majestic gorges carved out of sandstone escarpments.

The famous Ghan train travels from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs and Katherine and The Inlander from Queensland.

Get around
By car is the best, and possibly the only way to get around.

See

The Top End has some world-famous natural and cultural attractions that can’t be missed. The Victoria River, affectionately known as "The Vic" is the backbone of the region. The Vic is a lifeline for pastoral properties; a guardian angel for Aboriginal heritage; a tour guide for recreational pursuits. As protective as The Vic can be she can also be unrelenting in her domain. In flood her power is awesome; in arid times she demands survival.

 * Aboriginal Rock Art Sites There are three main art sites to explore in Kakadu National Park independently or on a tour - Ubirr, Nourlangie Rock, Nanguluwur
 * Aboriginal Rock Art Sites There are three main art sites to explore in Kakadu National Park independently or on a tour - Ubirr, Nourlangie Rock, Nanguluwur
 * Aboriginal Rock Art Sites There are three main art sites to explore in Kakadu National Park independently or on a tour - Ubirr, Nourlangie Rock, Nanguluwur

Itineraries

 * Savannah Way. The Savannah Way is a collection of linked outback roads and highways that form a spectacular touring route traversing northern Australia from Cairns to Broome. Whilst the majority of the Savannah Way is sealed there are large sections of unsealed, but well maintained gravel highways. A large four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended.
 * Darwin. A week in Darwin gives you time to visit the city attractions, before heading down the track to Litchfield National Park for an overnight adventure, then spend a day learning about Aboriginal culture on the Tiwi Islands.
 * Kakadu. With a week up your sleeve, start a comprehensive tour of Kakadu and its surrounds at Mary River National Park. Take a wildlife cruise and fish at Corroboree Billabong before delving into Kakadu's waterfalls, wetlands, cultural centres and Aboriginal rock art sites.

Do

The Top End offers the visitor an amazing array of activities to immerse yourself in, from the adventurous to the more subdued. Most tours leave from Darwin. Whether it’s a 4x4 trek in the National Park, desert discovery, nature watching, fishing or cruising the mighty Vic, hiking and bushwalking, scenic flying, photography, experiencing the wet season and its thunderstorms or sipping your favorite beverage at sunset, the region offers an experience for you. The escarpment country is beautiful and in the wet season waterfalls flow straight off the escarpment.

You can take a scenic helicopter flight with Coolibah Air from the Victoria River Roadhouse over the escarpment, Gregory National Park, the mighty Victoria River and Coolibah Station; home to 'The Joneses' a family who have become recent television stars after a reality documentary based on their life on the station called Keeping up with the Joneses aired on national television. The Victoria River is a mecca for fishing and produces some of the Territory’s best and biggest Barramundi. “Barra” can be caught all year round but the best time is on a neap tide, between the months of March and late May - coinciding with the end of the monsoon season called the “Run-off”.

If travelling the Buntine Highway be sure to stop in at the Top Springs Motel for a cold beer, enjoy a real outback meal, and have a yarn with a local. Top Springs is located at the junction of the Buntine and Buchanan Highways, 291 kilometres south of Katherine. The Top Springs Motel is located on the Savannah Way drive and is a fantastic rest stop with an awesome reputation as a colourful outback pub. The Top Springs Hotel is in the heart of cattle country and a good base for four-wheel-drive adventures on the way to Gregory National Park and the Victoria River Region.

Further west is the small township of Timber Creek. Fishing is Timber Creek's biggest drawcard however Max's Victoria River Cruises is a must do experience when travelling through Timber Creek.

Gregory National Park sits at Timber Creek's doorstep and covers an area of around 13,000 square kilometres. The Park features spectacular escarpment landscapes, prolific wildlife, ancient boab trees and significant remnants of Aboriginal and European history. There is also an extensive network of four-wheel-drive tracks in the Park.

Situated 170 kilometres west of Timber Creek is the Keep River National Park, which is a photographer's dream, the Park encompasses towering sandstone landforms that radiate a myriad of colours at sunrise and sunset. The area is best explored on foot, following well-marked bushwalking trails. There are two camping areas in the Park with barbecues, tables and pit toilets.

Fishing in the Northern Territory is world class and there are many diverse fishing habitats on offer. Most tours leave from Darwin, Arnhem Land is home to some truly adventurous fishing spots.

 * Jim Jim Falls This majestic waterfall is a sight to behold at the end of a challenging four-wheel drive track in the southern escarpment country of Kakadu National Park.
 * Merl This site in northern Kakadu National Park is perfect for campers who want to enjoy a famous sunrise or sunset at Ubirr. It's also an ideal base for bushwalking along the East Alligator River. There are showers, toilets and a generator zone. Camping fees are collected on site.
 * Merl This site in northern Kakadu National Park is perfect for campers who want to enjoy a famous sunrise or sunset at Ubirr. It's also an ideal base for bushwalking along the East Alligator River. There are showers, toilets and a generator zone. Camping fees are collected on site.

Eat

Make sure you take in the culinary delights of multi-cultural Darwin while in the Northern Territory. There’s a great range of outdoor eateries, exotic local produce and a diversity of culinary choices on offer.

Great eating areas in Darwin include:
 * The local markets for something cheap made on the spot.
 * Fannie Bay offers some great pub-style food or seafood.
 * Darwin CBD is brimming with restaurants, cafes and pubs – classy or casual but always relaxed.
 * Cullen Bay has a barrage of seafood choices and expansive harbour views.
 * Grab some picnic-style take away at Stokes Hill Wharf.
 * Head to Parap for Chinese, Mexican or gourmet goodies.
 * Kakadu National Park Basic food is available at the sporadic rest stops and museums throughout the park.
 * The Top End of Australia is also famous for its Aboriginal bush tucker. The billabongs, woodlands, sandstone escarpments and coastal beaches provide a rich source of food and medicines used by Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years. What we know as "bush tucker" is a multitude of plants and animals that are used in a variety of ways to best extract their nutritional and medicinal values. The different environments of the tropical north feature plants endemic to each habitat, as well as some that thrive across the entire region.

Drink
The Northern Territory is famous for its legendary outback pubs. Every small town has somewhere you can drop by to chat with the local characters or learn some history. For some more sophisticated nightlife, head to the numerous clubs and bars in Darwin and check out some local music at Brown’s Mart.

Please note, within certain areas of the Northern Territory, there are restrictions on the consumption of alcohol in public places. More information on specific restrictions can be found at the Tourism Northern Territory website:

Stay safe
Much of the Top End is the Australian 'Outback.' Be prepared and plan your trip before you start it. Plan fuel stops and always carry extra fuel as on some highways fuel and towns can be up to 800 kilometres apart. It is advised to carry a satellite phone or HF radio for emergencies if leaving the major roads. Water and food are also very important. If you become stranded in the outback stay calm and stay with your vehicle so emergency services are able to locate you. If you have communication devices use them. Mobile (cellular) phone coverage is limited to the regional centres.

Stay safe

 * Emergency Call Devices [ECD] are available in some remote locations. Instructions on use are written on the ECD. These are for emergency calls only. See maps for locations.
 * First aid Lie the person down in a cool shaded area. Give them water in small quantities at a time (creek water is alright if you have no other water). If the person cannot keep the water down, or does not recover quickly, seek medical assistance. Contact the medical centre at Jabiru on 8979 2018.
 * Swimming Due to the risk of estuarine crocodiles, don't go swimming unless you know it is safe.
 * Some of the most poisonous snakes in the world live in this part of Australia, but luckily they are all very shy and are very rarely seen, let alone confronted. These species include the Taipan, Death Adder, and King Brown. They are seldom active during the day, hunting at night. DO NOT hike off any trails after dark.
 * Feral animals may be seen, some of which may pose a threat if harassed. Asian Water Buffalo and Wild Horses can cause serious injury or death if they charge.
 * What to Wear During the heat of the day, you will be most comfortable in loose covering clothing, which is cool but protects you from sunburn and insect bites. Use sunscreen and wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses. Mosquitoes can carry viruses such as the Ross River virus, so if they are biting, use a repellent.
 * Dehydration Early symptoms include feeling thirsty, excess sweating, headache, dizziness and nausea. If dehydration continues, it can result in seizures, a loss of consciousness and even death. To prevent dehydration limit your activity to the cooler parts of the day (mornings and late afternoons) and drink plenty of water. Most people need between 4 and 8 litres of water per day so start drinking water early (coffee, tea and alcohol don’t count!). For every hour you walk, carry at least one litre of water per person.
 * Flash Flooding Please be aware of possible sudden rises in the levels of waterways, which can quickly cut off the return route from some riverbeds. Fast flowing water can be deceptive, creating strong currents and dangerous swimming conditions.
 * Driving Hints Top End roads can be hazardous. Plan ahead and allow sufficient time for travel. Slow down! Roads can become slippery in the wet. During the dry, dust from other vehicles can obscure your vision. When using 4WD tracks, put your vehicle into 4WD. Read your vehicle instructions: many vehicles need their front wheel hubs physically locked, before engaging 4WD from the driver’s seat. At flooded crossings read the signs, look at depth markers and observe how quickly the water is flowing, before deciding whether to cross. Sometimes it is safer to wait until the water recedes. Remember crocodiles may be present. In the event of fires, make sure you park your vehicle in cleared areas rather than in flammable long grass. Use vehicle headlights if driving through heavy smoke, and drive slowly. If stopping, park well off the road and use hazard lights. Do not park on bridges or causeways at any time. Always check road access before going on a journey along remote roads. Watch out for wildlife. Every year hundreds of native animals are killed or injured on our roads. Drive slowly, look well ahead for animals on the road, and try to avoid driving at night. Sound your horn to alert wildlife on the road. Look carefully for large feral animals such as horses, pigs and buffalo.

Go next

 * Red Centre - the heart of Australia
 * Alice Springs - lots of gaps, gorges and rock formations
 * Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - home to Australia's most famous natural icon
 * Tennant Creek - remote outback town
 * Kimberley - great wilderness with much of its history drawn on its pearling industry

title: Top End


text:
Topoľčany

Topoľčany is a small town in Western Slovakia with a population of about 30,000, lying 100km north-east of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.

Get in
There are numerous bus and train connections from Bratislava. See Schedules in Slovakia

By bus
There are buses going at least every hour during the daytime from Bratislava's main bus terminal, AS Mlynske Nivy. The fare is approximately 6 EUR and the journey takes about 2 hours.

By train
There is a regular direct train connection running between Bratislava's main railway station (Hlavna stanica) and Topolcany twice daily, in the morning and in the evening. The fare is approximately 6 EUR and the journey takes about 2 hours.

Do
Cycling - there are 4 cycle routes around the town stretching in the direction of the Povazsky Inovec mountains. Each of them has different sign color. The route map can be found in front of the church in the main town square.

Go next

 * Tríbeč mountains - protected forest area in close proximity to the town

title: Topoľčany


text:
Topock

Topock is a town in Arizona near the western border with California. The Colorado River is about 5 miles away and Topock has access through a marsh. Topock is on historic Route 66.

Get in

 * By car: Route 66 or Interstate 40
 * By train: Amtrak's "Southwest Chief" passes through the town but does not stop; the closest stations are Needles and Kingman.

Get around
There is no taxi service in the village; you will need a motorcar. Boat launch ramps are available at the former Topock Marina. Watercraft are available for rental.

Sleep
Topock has no hotels. Try Needles, California.

title: Topock


text:
Toppenish

Toppenish is a town of 8,900 people (2020) in the Columbia River Plateau region of Washington State. Toppenish calls itself "the city of murals". More than 75 murals adorn its buildings. The historically accurately murals depict scenes of the region from 1840 to 1940. The city also hosts horse-drawn tours and annual art events.

Go next

 * Yakima
 * Yakima

title: Toppenish


text:
Topsail Beach

Topsail Beach is a city in Pender County, on the North Carolina Coastal Plain. Topsail Island is halfway between Wilmington and Jacksonville, NC (about 25 miles from either city). Topsail Island consists of three island towns: Surf City, Topsail Beach, and North Topsail Beach.

Get in
Most visitors come by car.

By plane

 * Holly Ridge Airport (for small aircraft),.

Albert J. Ellis Airport, Jacksonville,.

 * Wilmington International Airport, Wilmington,.

Get around
You'll need a car to get to the island of course, and most probably to get around during your stay. There is a well maintained bicycle path that runs from Surf City to the southern end of the island.

Do
First and foremost, enjoy the beautiful white sandy beaches and the blue ocean waters. Topsail Island is known as a fisherman's paradise because of its rocky ocean floors. Visit here all year around, because each season brings something special to your vacation needs.

Sleep
Rentals are a popular lodging option.

title: Topsail Beach


text:
Topsfield

Topsfield is a town in Massachusetts with a population of about 7,000 in the 2020 census.

title: Topsfield


text:
Topsham

Topsham is a town of 3,700 people (2011) in Devon in England's West Country. Formerly a major seaport, the town is now of interest for its architecture, scenery and proximity to nature reserves for wading and migrating birds, such as RSPB Bowling Green Marsh on the Exe Estuary, the whole of which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Understand
Topsham is a part of Exeter, but used to be a town in its own right, and most locals to the area consider Topsham separate and distinct from Exeter. Before the arrival of the railway, situated as it is on the Exe estuary, it was a busy port concerned with fishing and shipbuilding and the import and export of goods of all description.

Topsham has become a desirable and high-value residential location. In the 21st century development has expanded into the 'Topsham Gap' – greenfield land between Topsham and Exeter.

Get in
The M5 motorway crosses the Exe estuary just north of Topsham. Exit 30 is a couple of miles away. From Exeter there is a rail link running down the Exe estuary to Exmouth. Topsham has its own railway station. There is a frequent bus service from the Quay into Exeter.

Get around
Topsham is small enough to walk everywhere.

See
On a sunny day, it's enough just to stroll around. Take a turn to the end of the Strand, as far as the Goatwalk. Venture up some of the side streets, perhaps Higher or Lower Shapter Street. If you choose Monmouth Street, walk as far as Monmouth Avenue on the left and cross the bridge over the road which once was the spur rail link to the Quay. Walk a few yards and find your way into White Street, where many of the fishermen used to live. Follow it back to the shore. Stroll along the Underway where, near the spot where the fishermen used to dry and repair their nets, you might like to climb the steps to St Margaret's Church. Or go further, past Trout's boatyard to the ferry. Make your way out to Fore Street and do a little window gazing.

Do
Sit and enjoy.

 * Walk

Buy

 * Antiques - on the Quay is a large warehouse converted into an antiques market.

Eat
For its small size Topsham is littered with a number of great eating venues. With an ever growing reputation for quality and the number of dining options.

In 2006, Topsham was judged Best Small Town for Food in the Western Morning News annual food awards. The Georgian Tearoom once won the 'Best Tearoom / Cafe in Devon' award, the Galley Restaurant 'Best Restaurant in Devon', La Petite Maison (since closed) 'South West Restaurant of the Year', Denley's Essence of India the 2007 Exeter Curry Chef award, and Oliva the Devon Life Restaurant of the Year award.

Go next

 * Exeter — the big city. North to the centre. Forget the car: use the train or bus.
 * Exmouth — a traditional seaside place. South away. Use the train.
 * Lympstone — a pretty place about miles away downstream. Another former port and fishing village. Use the train.

title: Topsham


text:
Topslip

Topslip is located near Pollachi in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, at an altitude of 800 feet from the sea level on the Anamalai mountain range. It is a part of the protected Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. Topslip is blessed with a gentle altitude, salubrious climate and a variety of flora and fauna. Its picturesque location and fabulous scenery has made it a popular location for several movie sequences. It stands majestically with Green Spread Mountains and forest all around. It is a Project Elephant sanctuary and a Project Tiger sanctuary. The local administrative control is with the Forest Range Officer under supervision from the Wildlife Warden at Pollachi.

Get in
All visitors to Topslip need a permit issued by the Wildlife Warden office of the Forest Department at Pollachi. Residents are exempt from permit. Visitors without a permit may be turned back at the check post. Wildlife Warden (Wildlife Warden Office, 178 Meenkarai Road, Pollachi, Ph: 04259-225356)

By plane
Coimbatore airport is the nearest international airport to Topslip - approximately 97 km (via Pollachi). International flights to Singapore, Sharjah are available by Scoot, Air Arabia and Sri Lankan Airlines. Domestic airlines fly to Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and other Indian cities.

By bus
There are only two buses from Pollachi to Topslip everyday. They leave Pollachi bus station at 6AM and 3PM. The same bus returns to Pollachi at 8AM and 6PM.

By car
As there are only 2 buses per day, hiring taxis will be the viable option, especially if you are planning to get off now and then, take pictures and enjoy the scenery. Though there are lots of tourist taxis and buses, it may not be easy to get one during peak seasons. It is advisable to book your cab in advance and ask your tour guide or cab driver to pick you from Coimbatore Railway station, Airport, Bus terminus or Pollachi Bus Terminus.

 * aadityatravels,covai@ 09944003594,8281573822.vehicles available in hour, km, day rental basis. ₹1500 per day with 150 km free
 * aadityatravels,covai@ 09944003594,8281573822.vehicles available in hour, km, day rental basis. ₹1500 per day with 150 km free

Talk
Tamil is the most prevalent language but basic English is understood.

Do
Topslip is a place where one can do nothing and come away fresh! The more adventurous can go on forest treks hoping to spot anything from the Indian Bison, several varieties of deer, wild boar, wild elephants, Asiatic wild dogs, sloth bear and the elusive tiger. Most animals are nocturnal visitors and therefore a night ride arranged by the forest department is highly recommended. There is an elephant training camp which is worth a visit.

Many tourists recommend the elephant safari as it meanders through the forest: lookout for the nilgiri langurs! Though wildcat sighting is rare. However, there is plenty of fauna. Topslip is an ornithologists delight: there are nearly 250 species of birds in the Karian Shola area, but be warned, the dreaded King Cobra is never far off!

 * Trekking
 * Van Safari
 * Elephant Safari

Eat

 * Forest Canteen provides very spartan food. You will be able to buy soft drinks and bottled water. No alcoholic beverages sold. Food is very limited. It is better to pack your food from Anamalai as food is prepared only in limited quantity in the forest canteen. Also, you may not find options to choose from.

Drink

 * Alcohol is strictly banned.

Sleep
There are no private lodges or accommodations. The Forest Department rents out limited self furnished and self-catering accommodation. Caretakers for these accommodation will be willing to act as chefs for a fee. All accommodation can be booked only at Pollachi at the Forest Office and cannot be claimed without prior booking.

Go next

 * Parambikulam
 * Valparai
 * Pollachi

title: Topslip


text:
Top Station

Top Station is in Kerala.

Understand
Top Station is located on the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is wonderful place on the edge of Kerala's prime tea growing region from which tea was transported down to Munnar and beyond.

Get in
By taxi, hiking or local bus from Munnar. One hour 32 km. Trip departing every ½ hour.

By local bus from Kodaikanal. 3 hour trip.

Get around
Walking a short steep trail is the only way to the best observation point.

See
Walk to Observation Point from Anita's tea stall at the bus stop. It is a short but steep walk to the spectacular viewing area at Top Station. The rewards all come at this summit, where the air is crisp and the views sheer and dramatic. The craggy laterite peaks of the Western Ghats, the rolling plains and immaculately laid-out tea plantations are all around. one can see Kambam Valley, Tamilnadu to the east, Kundala Valley.

Do
Trekking in Chinnar forest.

Buy
Fresh locally grown spices including cardamom, vanilla, pepper, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg.

Eat
Pack a lunch in Munnar or take your chances at a tea stall.

Drink
Local teas served attractively in several variations. You can find tea factories on your way and many of them has outlets where you can enjoy tea.

Locally made alcohols are also available illegally. But better to avoid them as they are not at all safe.

Sleep
There are no hotels. All of the area is reserved forest. Therefore you will not find many shops as well. You would want to go back to Munnar before night as there is a chance that elephants might block your way back to hotel.

title: Top Station


text:
Toranmal

Toranmal is a hill station in North Maharashtra in India.

Understand
Occupying the highest part of the Satpudas, Toranmal is a hill station and the only place of its kind attracting tourists. It is nearly 145 km from Dhule the district headquarters. Toranmal enjoys a salubrious and cool climate even during the hot season. It is a long, narrow land with a height of 1036 metres above sea level.

By plane
Nearest airport is Aurangabad.

By train
Nearest railhead is Nandurbar, 76 km. on Surat-Bhusawal line of Western Railway. A more convenient railhead is Dhule, 128 km.

By car
Mumbai-Toranmal via Dhule Shahada, 510 km. Dhule-Toranmal, 128 km.

State Transport buses play from Dhule, Nandurbar and Shahada to Toranmal.

See

 * Yashwant Lake A large, beautiful, and natural lake.
 * Sitakhai Valley About 1.5 km away there is a valley called Sitakhai where in a wall like formation could be seen standing erect.
 * Echo Point
 * Temples There are two temples dedicated to Gorakhnath and Nagarjun, where a fair is held on Mahasivratri day. Toranmal also has historical importance as it was the ancient capital of the Mandu dynasty.

Sleep
The government has set up fully furnished holiday camps and a restaurant for the visiting tourists.

title: Toranmal


text:
Torba

Torba is a province of Vanuatu. It consists of the northern Torres and Banks island groups.

Understand
Torba is an off-the-beaten-track region of Vanuatu, which has kept its islands in pristine condition. Most of the islands are full of white sandy beaches, coral reefs tropical rainforests and fresh seafood.

Get around
Water taxis connect the islands to one another. The smaller islands of Torba can be easily explored by foot.

Do
Many islands offer diving and snorkelling to explore the coral reef.

Sleep
Instead of established international hotel chains, Torba has locally owned homestays and bungalows scattered throughout each major island.

Stay safe
Cyclones in Torba are frequent as are earthquakes, though the magnitude of the earthquakes has tended to be low and not very destructive.

title: Torba


text:
Torbat Jam

Torbat Jam is a city in Khorasan,Iran.

Understand
Torbat-e Jam is the birth and burial place of the renowned 11th century mystic Sheikh Ahmad Jami. The city is in fact named after the great mystic.

By bus
There are several buses per day from most cities in eastern Iran.

See

 * Robat-e Sangan
 * Khajeh Azizollah Mosque
 * Shah Qassem Anvar Mausoleum
 * Noor Mosque
 * Abouzar Bozjani Mausoleum
 * Noor Mosque
 * Abouzar Bozjani Mausoleum

title: Torbat Jam


text:
Torbay

Torbay is a seaside suburb on the North Shore of Auckland in New Zealand. It has few attractions of its own, but is close to the beaches of Long Bay and Browns Bay, as well as sporting its own Waiake Beach.

By car
From Auckland, head north on State Highway 1 (Northern Motorway) and take the Oteha Valley Road off-ramp. Turn right and follow Oteha Valley Road to the traffic lights. Follow the AA signs through to Torbay. Distance from Auckland CBD: approx 30 km.

By bus
Auckland Transport is the local bus operator. Regular buses from Long Bay, central Auckland and Albany Megacentre travel throughout Torbay.

Go next

 * Follow the North Shore Coastal Walk to Browns Bay or Long Bay.

title: Torbay


text:
Torfhaus

Torfhaus is a small village in the Harz mountains of central Germany.

Understand
Torfhaus is a popular tourist village in the mining town of Altenau in the Harz mountains of Germany and lies at a height of about 800 m above sea level.

This small settlement consists mainly of restaurants, youth hostels, ski huts and large car parks. It is the highest place in Lower Saxony.

By internal combustion engine
The B 4 federal road, which is a major traffic route, runs from Brunswick to the north via Torfhaus to Braunlage and on into the South and East Harz.

See
The main attraction is the landscape around the area.

The river Radau rises east of Torfhaus on the Torfhaus Moor (also Radauborn Moor). The Radau is a river in the German state of Lower Saxony and is a right tributary of the Oker.

It rises at around 800 m (2,625 ft) in the Harz mountain range, in a bog known as the Torfhaus Moor (also Radauborn Moor) east of the Torfhaus village in the municipality of Altenau. The river flows northwards through the Radau valley that it has carved out and feeds the 23-m-high Radau Waterfall south of Bad Harzburg immediately next to the B 4 federal road. The artificial waterfall was constructed as a tourist attraction in 1859 on behalf of the Duchy of Brunswick State Railway, which had operated the Brunswick–Bad Harzburg railway line since 1841. After passing through Vienenburg, the Radau discharges into the Oker river northeast of the town.

In the Middle Ages the Radau was used for the rafting of logs and wooden palettes stacked with peat. To that end the river was dammed by 6 raft locks. The goods to be rafted, that had previously been dropped in the river, were transported downstream with the additional weight of water.

Do
It's a skiing and winter sports kinda place.

Go next

 * Bad Harzburg
 * Schierke
 * Clausthal-Zellerfeld

title: Torfhaus


text:
Torgiano

Torgiano is a town in Umbria, 10 km southeast of Perugia. It is mainly famous as the headquarters of the wine producer, Lungarotti and for its wine museum, which should not be missed by anyone interested in wine.

Get in
Torgiano is slightly to the east of the E45 highway. From the direction of Rome take a right turn after passing Deruta. There are several ways of reaching it from Perugia but the easiest is to follow signs to the E45, direction Rome, and then follow signs to Torgiano.

Bus Line E012 goes from Piazza Partigiani in Perugia to close to Torgiano.

Understand
Torgiano is an important winemaking town and was the first winemaking area in Umbria to obtain the Italian wine certification mark (Denomination of Origin or DOC). It is an uncrowded place and an attractive village to just stroll around.

See

 * Wine museum (MUVIT). Set up by the Lungarotti family in 1974 | the museum contains a wide range of wine-making equipment including a giant 17th Century press which was in use until the museum was set up. The 3000 plus exhibits go back to Etruscan and Roman times, with numerous amphorae on display. The importance of the area around Torgiano as a major ceramic centre is also well reflected in the exhibits. There are also many books and other documents on the subject of wine. Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 31 Summer: 09:00-13:00, 15:00-19:00; Winter: 09:00-13:00, 15:00-18:00. €4.50
 * Olive and Olive Oil Museum. Also owned by the Lungarotti Foundation. Via Garibaldi, 10. Same opening hours as the wine museum. Combined ticket for the two museums €7.00 Official website

Sleep

 * Le Tre Vaselle Resort&SPA. Also owned by the Lungarotti family, this is a famous five-star hotel with an excellent restaurant. Via Garibaldi 48, Torgiano Tre Vaselle web site.
 * Poggio alle vigne, charming farmhouse with a good views of the surrounding vineyards. Via del Colle, 46 - Brufa - Torgiano (PG) - Telefono +39 075 982994, Poggio alle vigne web site
 * Poggio alle vigne, charming farmhouse with a good views of the surrounding vineyards. Via del Colle, 46 - Brufa - Torgiano (PG) - Telefono +39 075 982994, Poggio alle vigne web site
 * Poggio alle vigne, charming farmhouse with a good views of the surrounding vineyards. Via del Colle, 46 - Brufa - Torgiano (PG) - Telefono +39 075 982994, Poggio alle vigne web site
 * Poggio alle vigne, charming farmhouse with a good views of the surrounding vineyards. Via del Colle, 46 - Brufa - Torgiano (PG) - Telefono +39 075 982994, Poggio alle vigne web site

Go next
Torgiano is a relaxed and interesting location to base yourself for trips around the many fascinating towns of Umbria. It is within easy reach of Perugia, Assisi, and Gubbio.

title: Torgiano


text:
Toritto

Toritto is a town in the province of Bari (BA) in the Italian region of Apulia (Puglia), Italy.

Get in
The easiest way to reach Toritto is from Bari (the capital city of Apulia), where there is an international airport. Train connection is by "Appulo Lucana" railroad network which has station in Piazza Moro in the center of Bari. The train reaches the station of Toritto in twenty minutes.

Get around
By foot: many trulli and beautiful masserie. By Train: in a few minutes Bari, Altamura, Matera, the National Park of Alta Murgia. By bike: the touristic village of Quasano.

See
Toritto has a very nice historical center with an important Norman tower and several nice roads and squares, Notable is "Via Ettore D'Urso" which has very large pavements because in ancient times almonds were laid there to be dried in sunshine. At a few miles from Toritto there are two archaeological sites of international importance, unfortunately not well known: the Peucet city of IV Century B.C., dominating a big Lama (dried bed of river) and the impressive "Grotta di San Martino". Another notable place is the Pulicchio, a huge cave with no ceiling which has produced an incredibly rich eco-system. Totitto is famous for its enchanting masserie "a pignon", a stone farmhouse, built with the same technique as trulli. It is one of the few places where masserie have been built in that way, because usually in Apulia tufa is used to build them. The "a pignon" style makes the masserie in Toritto to have a very archaic look. This gives an appearance of mystery and secrecy which has produced, like in Scotland, many stories about ghosts and giant reptiles. Of course no evidence of such pretty creatures has ever been produced.

Do
Walking in a beautiful landscape, full of almond and olive trees; visiting archaeological sites; horse riding on the Murgia hills; learning how to cook astonishing almond cakes by local ladies; learning the making of cavatelli pasta; attending post-graduate summer courses at the local branch of the Italian Institute of Philosophical Studies; chatting with very friendly people in the square "Vittorio Emanuele"; attending a training program in the summer camp at the local Archeoclub, association for archeological studies.

Buy
The almonds of Toritto are considered by experts among the best in the world. Local ancient varieties are "Antonio Devito" and "Filippo Cea", with a strong and anyway balanced taste which makes such almonds at the top for high pastry art. Some of the most important confectioners shops in Europe buy such local almonds, the best expression of a unique terroir. Also, organic extra-virgin olive oil is available from local farmers.

Eat
Almond cakes are among the best in the world. You can contact the Prasidium of Slow Food "Almond of Toritto" to get name of pastry makers.

Drink
Local wine is very good, made by the grape varieties Troia and Aglianico.

Sleep
There are B&B and agritourisms. You can find them calling at the numbers in "Contact"

Connect
The praesidium of Slow Food "Almond of Toritto" is glad to provide you any information. Call +39 330767075 or send a fax to +39 080-5617833.

Go next
Toritto is an ideal starting point to visit the National Park of Alta Murgia. Matera, Bari, Ruvo di Puglia, Altamura, Gravina di Puglia can be reached a few minutes by car or by train.

title: Toritto


text:
Torla

Torla, or Torla-Ordesa, is a municipality in the Aragon region of Spain. Torla is a gateway to the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park in the valley of Ordesa, and to Valle de Broto. It is home to about 300 people (2018).

Understand
Torla is in the glacial valley of the River Ara, after the confluence of the valleys of Bujaruelo and Ordesa. The Ara is said to be the only river of any importance in Spain that is not dammed by the human hand throughout its 70-km course to its confluence with the River Cinca in Ainsa.

Get in
Torla borders France but lacks a road connection with it. It can only be accessed by the N-260 from Broto or from Biescas through the port of Cotefablo (1,423 m). In summer, when access to the valley of Ordesa in Torla is restricted for private vehicles, buses are arranged through the park to climb to the meadow of Ordesa.

There is aminibus with a luggage trailer from Ainsa or Sabiñanino.

Get around
There are Land Rover trips into the National Park (Ordesa) if you don't want to walk. Cars are not allowed up to the park except in winter but there are regular buses from the large car park below the village and the ticket allows a break to see the Park Centre on the way up.

Eat
The restaurants here are more expensive than elsewhere in the area.

title: Torla


text:
Torna

Torna is a hill fort in Western Maharashtra; southwest of Pune City. The base village Velhe is around 50km from Pune. The hill has an elevation of 1403 mts. above sea level, making it the highest hill-fort in the district The Pune Satara Highway forks of at Nasarapur. One should take that Nasarapur road to reach the Fort.

Get in
To get to the Torna, one has to first reach the base village called Velhe. From Swargate bus station in Pune, take a state transport bus with route 'Swargate - Velhe - Ghisar'. This bus will drop you at Velhe in around 1hr 45mins. It will be good to start in early morning for the fort. 6.30am bus will be very good option to reach early to the fort.

Once you reach the Velhe, ask for Torna fort way. Once you start climbing the fort, you should reach the fort within 2hr 30mins with an easy pace.

Get around
You have to climb the fort by yourself. Climb is of medium difficulty. Be careful if you attempt the climb during the rains, since the slope is a mixture of rocks and earth, and it can end up getting dangerously slippery. In such situations, climbing rope should be brought along, and at least one member of the climbing party should have basic knowledge of how to use ropes to climb safely.

See
On the fort you could see various places like, Zunjar Machi, Budhla Machi, Kokan darwaja, Kothi Darwaja, Bini Darwaja, Menghai Goddess temple, Toranjai Goddess temple, Sadar.

Fort could be seen within 2 hours.

Eat
There are no hotels etc on the fort. At the base of the climb you could have something to eat at the local shop, but the type of food is limited, and it is best to bring your own food. The climb to the top can be tough for some people, so bringing along nutritious food is highly recommended.

Drink
There is no source of drinking water on top of the fort, so it is strongly advisable to bring drinking water, energy drinks, glucose drinks to avoid fatigue.

Sleep
There are no hotels to stay on the fort, however in the Mengai temple, 10-15 people can stay. However trek gets over within 6 hours, so mostly you do not need to stay on the fort.

Contact
There are no lodges, hotels or other places to stay at Torna or its nearby areas. Torna is, hence, best done as a day-climb, where the descent is completed before the last state transport bus leaves for Pune.

Mobile phone networks are either extremely weak or non-existent in this area. A phone may randomly pick-up a signal once on top of the fort, but it rarely lasts for more than a minute or two. It is advisable to inform someone of your whereabouts prior to leaving for Torna, so that any emergency does not leave you stranded.

Go next
From the base village Velhe you will get Maharashtra State Transport buses every one hour. Last bus is at 5pm. Apart from ST buses, local Jeep-Taxies are available till Nasarapur.

There are a few vehicle operators who ply their 8-10 seaters from Velhe village to the highway, from where a state transport bus can be taken back to Pune. These operators, however, will charge much more than you would end up paying if you took a state transport bus back to Pune.

title: Torna


text:
Tornado safety

 * For the place in West Virginia, see Tornado (West Virginia).

In some parts of the world, especially in the United States, tornadoes – sometimes called "twisters" – can pose a danger to travelers.

Understand

A tornado is a spinning column of very low-pressure air, which sucks the surrounding air inward and upward. They generate high winds (often 100-200 miles/hour) and can lift heavy objects into the air, carrying them as the tornado moves. They begin as funnels descending from storm clouds, and become "tornadoes" when they touch the ground. Unlike hurricanes, tornadoes develop very quickly, giving little advance warning that one is coming (minutes at most), but they are also very short-lived, likewise lasting only a matter of minutes each. They frequently occur in clusters, with several tornadoes striking an area around the same time.

Compared to a cyclone (hurricane or typhoon), a tornado is much more concentrated. While cyclones are generally at least dozens of miles across and sometimes hundreds, it is quite rare for a tornado to be even one mile wide.

About 1,000 tornadoes are reported each year in the US, but only a small percentage of those touch down and strike buildings. Also, less than 30% of the tornadoes that occur are significantly powerful (EF2+). Most deaths occur to occupants of mobile homes and cars. Tornadoes can occur any time during the year, but they are most frequent in the spring and early summer, in thunderstorm weather. Keep in mind that as a short-term visitor, the odds of you being in the wrong place at the wrong time to face a tornado are quite small, regardless of when and where you travel. But it's good to be prepared.

The area where tornadoes occur most frequently is dubbed "Tornado Alley". Tornado Alley is in the Great Plains region of the United States. It includes north Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and eastern South Dakota. But tornadoes can develop anywhere cool dry air and warm moist air intermix, and powerful tornadoes happen fairly often in the Midwest, the South, and to a lesser extent the Mid-Atlantic. The western side of the US experiences tornadoes too but with far less activity than the eastern half of the US. The area with the second highest likelihood of tornadoes occurring is the South America Tornado Corridor, an area covers the south and part of southeast of Brazil, Uruguay, central and northern Argentina and southern Paraguay. Tornados can happen in other countries as well. In fact, the Netherlands has the highest rate of tornadoes for its small land area. Canada experiences tornadoes too but less extreme and frequent than the States. Most of them occur in southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and sometimes southern Ontario and Quebec. Tornadoes do not occur in arctic areas, due to cold weather year round.

Prepare
Despite their rapid development, tornadoes do not strike entirely without warning. Meteorologists can identify conditions right for tornadoes to develop, and the U.S. National Weather Service issues two main alerts for them (with confusingly similar-sounding names):

 * Tornado Watch - This indicates that conditions are right for tornadoes, but none has been observed. Monitor conditions and listen for further alerts.
 * Tornado Warning - A tornado or funnel cloud (a precursor to a tornado's touching down) has been spotted or is indicated by radar. This is when tornado sirens may begin. Seek shelter immediately.  When a powerful tornado is headed for a densely populated area, the NWS issues a Tornado Emergency to stress the severity.

At latest when you get a tornado watch alert, check where to take shelter. In tornado areas there are often dedicated safety rooms in or near rural homes and mobile home parks, and when there is none, you should make a plan for the safest place available.

Listen

Some local areas have tornado sirens and lights, especially in Tornado Alley and other regions where tornadoes are a seasonal occurrence. If you hear what sounds like an air raid siren, this is probably a tornado siren sounding, and you should seek shelter immediately. Many communities periodically test these systems at a set time, such as at exactly noon on a weekday of the first week of each month, so check the time and the skies (tornadoes do not develop in sunny weather) before panicking. (Most communities will skip these tests if the weather is stormy, to avoid causing undue alarm.)

Heavy rain and hail can hide a tornado from view. This is especially likely in the more humid regions of the southern and eastern US. Tornadoes will also be very difficult to see at nighttime, unless backlit by frequent lightning. The roar of a tornado (similar to a freight train or a jet aircraft taking off) may be the only sign that one is approaching.

Watch
There are some specific signs that a tornado is developing or likely:

 * Debris - If you see a cloud of debris being swept into the air in the distance, that could mark the position of a tornado even if you don't see the funnel cloud.
 * Green Clouds - Green clouds are normally seen when there is a large amount of ice in the clouds. This is an indication of hail and could be a warning that a tornado is likely.
 * Hail - Hail will sometimes occur. The larger the hail the more likely that there may be a tornado associated with the storm.
 * Rotation - If you see rotation in the clouds (not just a swirl of wind near ground level, which is an entirely different phenomenon), that may indicate the presence of a tornado or the possibility of a tornado developing.

Day or night, A loud continuous roar or rumble which doesn't fade in a few seconds like thunder or a train could indicate a tornado.

Stay safe
In the event of a tornado, please forget that you're a camera-wielding tourist. Don't try to snap photos to document your big adventure. Don't try to retrieve your luggage. Just get yourself to safety immediately.

Get in!
The safest place to be is in a storm shelter or safe room built specifically for tornado safety. In tornado areas these are found frequently in or near rural homes and mobile home parks. The most important thing is not to panic. Stay calm and find the safest area you can get to quickly.

House
If you are in a house, get away from the windows (which will probably shatter) and go to the lowest floor. If there is a basement, go there and get under something such as a bench or table. If there is no basement, go to a center room with no windows, such as a closet or bathroom. If in the bathroom, lie down in the tub. Crouch down and if you have some padding such as a mattress to protect you from flying or falling debris, put that over you. Do not waste time by trying to save property.

Tall building
Go to the lowest floor or center of the building away from windows and close to an interior wall. Crouch down and cover your head. Do not get in the elevator; you'll be trapped if the electricity goes out, and there's always a chance that the lift mechanism will give out if the roof is damaged. If you're not too high, use internal stairways to reach the ground floor or basement. Stairwells are probably one of the safer places to seek shelter in such circumstances anyway (i.e. no windows, sturdy construction).

Get out!

The least safe place to be is inside something the tornado can pick up; you're actually better off outside.

Mobile home
If you are in a mobile home and there's a tornado warning, you should seek out the nearest storm shelter or protected building. People morbidly joke that mobile homes and trailers must somehow attract tornadoes because they are so often shown on TV as twister disaster areas; the serious truth is that their vulnerability is why they make for the most sensational news clips. Studies have shown that a mobile home is the worst place you can be during a tornado; the broad sides of the structure are like a sail in the wind, and there's nothing to hold them in place. It may sound counterintuitive, but you should leave the mobile home and get in a ditch, culvert, or drain pipe, low to the ground. If you are staying in a trailer park, ask management if there is a tornado shelter close by – in advance. These may be cellars or sturdy buildings.

Car
If you are in your automobile and you see a tornado coming, don't try to out-run it; tornadoes can easily outrun a car driving into a 100-mph headwind. Your safest option is to leave the car and get in a sturdy building. If that is not available, get out of the car and get in a low area such as a culvert, drain pipe or ditch. If you are staying in your car, attempt to drive at right angles to the tornado to get out of its path. If the tornado does not appear to be moving left or right, chances are it is coming straight for you. A car is probably safer than a mobile home (less wind-catching surface to drag it into the air), but it's still safer to get out and hunker down low. The best option is to find a ditch to lie flat in, and cover up.

After a tornado
Watch out for sharp objects and downed power lines. Do not stand in water where there are power lines down. Stay out of heavily damaged houses and buildings as there may be a danger of collapse. Lighters and matches should not be used as there may be a danger of gas leaks. Remain calm and wait for instructions from local emergency personnel.

title: Tornado safety


text:
Tornio

Tornio (Swedish: Torneå) is a city in Finnish Lapland, by the border to Sweden.

Tornio is mostly a summer destination or a place to visit for extensive shopping. While it may be a good place to view the northern lights, many things are closed during the winter – without necessarily being advertised as such.

Understand

Having been established in 1621 Tornio is by far the oldest city in Lapland. Today the city has approximately 21,000 inhabitants (2021). Tornio forms a unique economical zone together with the Swedish town Haparanda; the border between the countries is hardly visible. Tornio-Haparanda golf course is probably the only 18-hole golf course on Earth located in two countries, and the nation border runs right across the modern market square. The town lives strongly from border trade.

The famous Lapin Kulta brewery was established in 1873 but was closed in August 2010, and nowadays this famous brand is made in southern Finland. In 2016 brewing was restarted by Tornion panimo in the same building. The biggest employer in the Tornio area is the Steel company Outokumpu. Their huge steel mill is about 8 km south of the town centre. Tornio steel mill is not only the world's largest integrated stainless steel mill, but also the largest individual consumer of electricity in the Nordic countries. Its employment impact for the region is estimated at almost 8,000 people.

Get in
Tornio lies by the border, next to Haparanda, at the junction of the roads E4 through Sweden and E8 between Turku in south-western Finland and Tromsø in north-western Norway. E75 from Helsinki in the south and Utsjoki in the north passes not too far away.

If arriving from Sweden, check Haparanda and notice the time zone difference. Also Norway uses CET.

By car
From most of Finland you will arrive along either the E8 or the E75, at least the last leg by the former.

E8 comes down from the north along the Swedish border. E4 comes down via Inari and Rovaniemi and joins E8 in Keminmaa 15 km south from Tornio.

E8 comes up from the south by the coast via Vaasa, while E4 keeps inland until before Oulu. Oulu also has some significant roads from the east.

From most of Sweden, E4 via Haparanda is the obvious choice, although there are other options.

By train
In season VR has a night train from the south to Kolari, stopping in Tornio. The station is named Tornio-Itäinen ("Tornio East"). More trains (those to Rovaniemi) stop in Kemi, 30 km away, where you can transfer to bus. The Haparanda station in Sweden is 3 km from the centre of Tornio, with a few trains from Luleå. The overnight trains from southern Sweden terminate in Luleå, with an express coach for the last stretch.

By bus
From Finland, check Matkahuolto for timetables and fares. There are direct bus connections from Oulu and Rovaniemi to Tornio.

From Sweden, check Länstrafik Norrbotten and Resrobot. Check also for Haparanda, as the bus station is just across the border. A direct express coach connection from Stockholm to Tornio is offered by Tapanis buss, ticket from Stockholm 870 kr. There are also direct coaches from Luleå to Haparanda.

From most of Norway the easiest route is through Sweden. From Troms and Finnmark, there are connections via Rovaniemi, some of them only in summer. There should be a service via Utsjoki year round. Eskelisen Lapinlinjat is the main operator.

By plane
The nearest airport is Kemi-Tornio 20 km from the centre, where Finnair runs scheduled flights from Helsinki. From there you'll have to continue with by bus (see Matkahuolto); the nearest bus stop from Kemi airport is named Kemi lentoasema th. Oulu airport is farther away, but the fares are usually cheaper and flights more frequent. From Sweden, fly to Luleå and take the bus to Haparanda-Tornio travel centre.

Get around
The city is small; you can get everywhere by walking. It is also easy to visit Haparanda in Sweden by foot (the border is barely noticeable).

Local transport is available. See route map. There is a route planner for local transport trips.

Demand-responsive service traffic is designed especially for those residents who have difficulty traveling on public public transport or who live outside public transport services. Call-driven service traffic complements the local traffic in the city of Tornio and is open to everyone. The ride is ordered from the driver on the previous visit or at the latest on the working day preceding the need for transport.

By taxi

 * Smartphone app: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi
 * Smartphone app: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

See

Do

The hot summer days can also be spent swimming in the cool Tornio river, lake Karsikkojärvi or in the beautiful island of Seskarö.

Connect
Tornio and its approach roads have 4G from all Finnish carriers, which extends a few km across the border into Sweden. You should also pick up Swedish networks here. 5G has not reached Tornio.

Go next

 * The Swedish town of Haparanda is situated at the other side of the border.
 * In the other direction the city of Kemi is less than half an hour away by bus or car.
 * To the north is Tromsø, Norway via Kilpisjärvi along the Tornio River, or Nordkapp, Norway via Rovaniemi and Ivalo on another route.

title: Tornio


text:
Torno

Torno, is a town in Lombardy, on the Italian-Swiss border. It sits at the southern end of Lake Como.Torno with its 1250 inhabitants slopes gently down along its headland that juts into the Lake of Como, some 7 kilometers (4,5 miles) from Como along the provincial road leading to Bellagio. Whether arriving by lake or by road one is struck by the intricate beauty of the township's ancient buildings and dwellings as they climb from the lakeshore culminating in the upper tightly-knit part of the village (il Borgo), and it's satellite agglomerations of Rasina, Piazzaga and Montepiatto further up and along the hillside.

Understand
There are many things to see and do in and around Lake Como, whether relaxing at one of lidos (beach area) dotted around the lakeside, people watching from one of the many cafes, exploring some of the quaint towns and villages, sightseeing around the exquisite villas and gardens or for the adrenalin junkies, perhaps paragliding from the top of a mountain is more your thing! There are also activities for the children too, various water sports to try, mountain biking or Jungle Kids in Bellagio where they can climb amongst the treetops. There is something to be found for everyone!

Get around
Arriving by (public) boat at Torno, one lands at the characteristic lakeside harbour and its open square surrounded by dwellings, restaurants, hotels, pubs and the façade of the Santa Tecla church. Winding one's way uphill on half-hidden lanes and passageways one can pay a visit to the Municipal Villa - Villa Zita - (Pro Loco info-centre) and its surrounding public park. Pushing on across the provincial road to Bellagio, one can proceed uphill through the mediaeval maze of stairways, passages, alleys and by-ways of the township's upper part (il Borgo), eventually crossing over the highway again (downhill, this time) into the complex of buildings surrounding the main parish church of San Giovanni with its shrine containing il Santo Chiodo (the Holy Nail). From San Giovanni there is a footpath parallel to the lake leading to the entrance gate of the park surrounding the famous historical Villa Pliniana (Pliny's Villa).

From Piazza Piazza Enrico Caronti 11, following the red arrows to the “strada regia” and the signs to Molina, Piazzaga/Massi avelli you will take the path along a mule track, along which you can find views on the lake, a Roman stone arch and rich wildlife. You will then get to a stone bridge on a stream. Keeping to the left and you will head towards the “massi avelli”, erratic boulders where tombs have been dug. You then continue on the path to Piazzaga. It is a total of about 30 minute walking, and eventually push on as far as the borough Montepiatto (literally: Flat Hill) with its natural monument: la Pietra Pendula - the Suspended Stone. For those who enjoy traditions, local flavours and culture the various civic associations of Torno organise a number of community activities all year round.

Eat
Depending on where you are eating, the prices can range from €5 for a good pizza to €25 for a 3-course meal in a restaurant. However, again it depends on whether you are in a top-notch restaurant where the price can escalate to over €50 per person or whether you are eating somewhere with good food but without all the frills!
 * Hotel Ristorante Vapore, via plinio 20 Torno, Co. 031 419311

Sleep

 * Tornolago, flats, studios and villas, are located in Torno, in the heart of a truly romantic spot on Lake Como.Via de benzi 17 Torno, Como..
 * B&B Bellavista, There are two big comfortable bedrooms and a private bathroom completely separate from the rest of the house, and a delightful garden with panoramic views over the lake. 031 309884 - 339 1222765

title: Torno