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Belo Horizonte

Belo Horizonte is Brazil's sixth largest city and the capital of the state of Minas Gerais. With its orderly grid plan and tree-lined avenues, it's a pleasant metropolis. For travelers, it's a good stopping point on the way to the beautiful colonial towns such as Ouro Preto and Tiradentes.

Understand
Founded in 1897, Belo Horizonte (or simply "BH" (beh-ah-GAH) to locals) is a little over a century old. With a metropolitan population reaching more than 5 million (edging out Salvador), it was built as a planned city to take the place of Ouro Preto as the state's capital. Its layout features square sections delineated by broad avenues, intersected diagonally by smaller streets.

The city lies in the center of the Minas Gerais state, and was intended to bring together the many parts of this very diverse state.

Climate
Belo Horizonte is located at 852 meters (2,795 feet) in altitude and therefore temperatures rarely reach extremes of cold or heat. Maximum temperatures typically reach 29°C (84 °F) in summer and 25°C in winter (77 °F), and the average low in winter is 15 °C (59°F). The rainy season is in the hottest months, between October and March. During these months, thunderstorms are almost daily, with long periods of continuous rain and can flood some parts of the city, causing inconvenience. Due to the Serra do Curral mountains, there is rarely a very strong wind in the city.

By bus
BH is a major national hub for bus travel. There are two intercity bus stations:

When departing from BH, check beforehand, from where your bus departs from.

Approximate travel times from other capitals:
 * Brasília - 10 hours
 * Rio de Janeiro - 7 hours
 * São Paulo - 8 hours

By plane
BH is served by two airports:

By car
You can safely drive to Belo Horizonte from major Brazilian cities, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Vitoria. You have to pay toll on the roads from Rio de Janeiro and from São Paulo. All major car rental companies can be found in Brazil. You can also drive from/to the historical cities of Minas Gerais, like Ouro Preto, Tiradentes, Diamantina, São João del Rey, Mariana and others. The roads and the city of Belo Horizonte are GPS mapped. Be sure that the GPS contains the latest version of the maps.

By train
Belo Horizonte is one of very few Brazilian cities with a scheduled long-distance train service. A daily morning train operated by mining giant Companhia Vale do Rio Doce takes around 12 hr to get to Cariacica's Pedro Nolasco station, which is one bridge hop away from Vitória, the island capital of Espírito Santo state. As of Jan 2019, tickets cost R$ 105 for first class (executiva) and R$ 73 for second class (econômica). The central station,, is located in the city centre on ''Av. dos Andradas''.

On foot
If you plan to get around the city center on foot, you might want to take a map. Because the city grid is laid out with both ordinal and diagonal streets, it is very easy to take a wrong turn. Also, the land where the city was built has plenty of hills, so one should wear comfortable shoes to go up and down the streets. At night, stay on the main avenues and streets for safety, because it can be dangerous.

By bus
BH is well served by buses. The SC buses circulate through the downtown area; others serve outlying neighborhoods.

To pay the bus tariff, you can use cash, or the electronic billing card (Cartão BHBUS). For the tourist, its recommended to use cash. As of 2014, you can buy a rechargeable bus card with the onboard agent or the driver for R$12. You can recharge it on some BRT stations, BHTrans offices or even into some buses.

From 2016, the bus tariff is R$3.70 (or R$ 2.65 for some feeder lines or specific lines)

The buses are color-coded:
 * Blue buses go from one region of the city to another, via the city center;
 * Lemonish-and-gray normal and articulated buses are from the municipal BRT service. Usually, they link some specific stations to some region of the city, and are feed by the yellow or green buses, as well. These buses have air conditioned system, and a little more of comfort.
 * Yellow buses are called "circular" (or SC) buses - they circulate within a single city region, and unlike other bus lines, travel in a roughly circular route. Stay on long enough, and you'll eventually loop back to where you originally boarded;
 * Orange buses go from one region of the city to another, without going through downtown (there are very few of these lines). It also serves for the Orange minibuses as well (as known as "Suplementar")
 * Green buses serve BHBUS bus stations, going from a BHBUS station to downtown and then back or connecting two different BHBUS stations.
 * Grey buses (can be identified by the SE prefix in line number), are the special executive service, and it's a more expensive buses, that circulate through some specific regions. These lines have free Wi-Fi and Air Conditioned system.

Some companies sometimes use temporary replacements buses with the wrong color, so even thought the colors can help, always pay attention to the line number.

If you are outside the downtown area (and wish to go there), take a blue bus headed in that direction. As there is no bus map, remember its number to find your way back. Keep in mind that the return route may be on a different street than where you got off. Check BHTrans-Ônibus official website of the city hall BHTrans which may not be very functional when it is off the air, if this occurs the best alternative is the BHTrans website, plan your trip by consulting the route and the bus schedule from Belo Horizonte.

The buses are complicated and are excruciatingly slow and crowded during rush hours. Don't go anywhere by yourself without properly planning your itinerary first.

By train
The Metrô. snakes through the city, from Eldorado northeast to Vilarinho, tangential to the north side of downtown. Lagoinha Station is near the rodoviária (bus station), Gameleira Station is near the ExpoMinas Convention Center and Minas Shopping Station is near the Mall of the same name and Ouro Minas Palace Hotel. Unfortunately, unlike subways in developed countries or in São Paulo, the Metrô lines, even though connecting the two biggest cities in the metro area, Belo Horizonte and Contagem, do not cover most of the city and outside the stations can be dangerous (true for São Paulo's). New lines have been planned and when completed will connect downtown to Pampulha and Savassi, the two most visited neighborhoods.

By taxi
Taxis inside the safe are generally considered very safe (if a bit expensive).

The main taxi companies in Belo Horizonte include Hutaxi, Jo Taxi, Intertaxi, Pitangui and Protaxi. Most cabs in Belo Horizonte are painted white - however, starting from 2012, there are some so-called "special" cabs which are black (and are marked as such). Inside the city, all cabs work with taximeters. However, in case of travelling to the countryside or others states, the fare can be discussed.

There are also radio taxis such as Coopertramo ((31) 3454-5757) which can be booked and the fare discussed beforehand. It's a common way of getting from the airport to the city and the other way around. They have booths in Confins airport. Their cars are all dark blue.

By e-hailing
Belo Horizonte is covered by some e-hailing services, Uber being the largest of them. Notable e-hailing services in the city, are:

 * Uber (covers neighboring cities, like Contagem, Betim and Confins Airport as well)
 * Cabify

By car
You can rent cars at the Confins Airport or at Pampulha Airport. All major car rental companies, like Localiza and Hertz have booths at the airports. It is a long drive from Confins airport to downtown Belo Horizonte. Be sure to get a GPS with new maps, since there were some modifications on main avenues for the World Cup. You can also rent a car at other places around the city.

See
Note that a lot of places including museums, the parque municipal and the Mangueira park are closed on Mondays.

 * Pampulha - This 1940s neighborhood has some of the highlights of Brazil modern architecture, including the São Francisco de Assis Church, designed by the famous architect Oscar Niemeyer (designer of the United Nations building in NYC and also Brasilia, Brazil's capital) . The building is not shocking by itself, until you realize it was meant to be a church. Not surprisingly, the Catholic Church refused to consecrate it for more than one decade. Next to the church, there's the Parque Guanabara, an amusement park that is small, but worth visiting. In Pampulha lies the world-famous Iate Tenis Clube, founded along with the Pampulha Architectural Complex designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Invitations to the club can be bought at the place (they are free if you know someone affiliated to the club). The Pampulha Modern Ensemble is listed as a world heritage site.
 * Mineirão Stadium - One of the largest and newly renovated stadiums in Brazil, where several matches from the FIFA Federation Coup (2013) and FIFA World Cup (2014) were played including the infamous 1-7 semifinal loss in Brazil v Germany. It is located at Pampulha neighborhood.
 * Mangabeiras Park - This is an amazing place for nature lovers, a place where the Cerrado mixes with the Atlantic Forest, this is a great visit for children and family.
 * Praça da Liberdade - A beautiful palm tree-lined square, sidelined by interesting buildings from the 19th century, including the seat of the State Government, and a curvaceous (yes, you can use this word to describe an Oscar Niemeyer building) edifice from the 1960s. Also museums and a Planetarium (you can get tickets for free)
 * Alta Vila Tower - Located in the district of Nova Lima, (Belo Horizonte city Metro area), this tower offers a spectacular view of Belo Horizonte and its surrounding mountains. On the main floor is the Hard Rock Cafe - Belo Horizonte.
 * Parque Municipal - An oasis of green right in the centre of downtown. Based on French parks, it has small lagoons where you can rent a boat or feed the ducks. It has the Casa Maluca (Crazy House), the Casa dos Pneus and a small amusement park - three places where children always like to play.
 * Museu de Ciencias Naturais - Take the Metro to the Gameleira station, go NW to the PUC campus, and turn right. Diverse mollusks, whales, and Brazilian forest animals. A new exhibit is under construction. Admission: R$3.
 * Museu de Ciencias Naturais - Take the Metro to the Gameleira station, go NW to the PUC campus, and turn right. Diverse mollusks, whales, and Brazilian forest animals. A new exhibit is under construction. Admission: R$3.

Do

 * Watch the sunset at Parque das Mangabeiras.
 * See the metropolitan area illuminated at night by visiting Praça do Papa, in the Mangabeiras district (recommended for those with a car).
 * Take a seat in one of the many bars scattered throughout the city. There is a myth that Belo Horizonte is the city with the most bars per capita in the country. The motto is "If there is no sea, let's go to the bar"
 * Sit down in a square and strike up a conversation.
 * If you have a few days available on your trip, visit Serra do Cipó National Park . 100km from BH, it is a great place for camping, mountaineering, trekking, caving and other extreme activities. With a good tourist infrastructure, it is also suitable for those who like to rest close to nature. Access via the MG 10 highway.

Events

 * Arraial de Belo. To celebrate the June festivals, a type of typical Brazilian party, this traditional contest chooses the best typical dance group. The event takes place annually in June and July and is accompanied by great craft fairs and typical foods that take place in various parts of the city.
 * Axé Brazil. Largest Bahian music event outside Bahia. It happens every year at the Mineirão Stadium, usually in March or April. In 2010 it will be on April 9th and 10th.
 * Comida di Buteco. Gastronomic festival held annually, where several bars in the city compete with dishes created by themselves. It is a great opportunity to taste good dishes and meet a lot of beautiful people, as during this period the bars are packed with festival lovers. The event usually takes place between April and May.

Theater and Dance

 * Campanha de Popularização do Teatro e da Dança (Campaign to populize Theatre and Dance). Theater and dance pieces by large groups from the Minas Gerais art scene. The campaign is already traditional and takes place every year, in January and February.
 * Festa da França (Feast of France). Carried out by the community and the French consulate to commemorate the 14th of July (Date of the Fall of the Bastille). The event includes the sale of typical French wines, food and products, as well as cultural presentations. Occurs in the month of July.
 * Festa Tradicional Italiana (Traditional Italian Feast). Annual event that promotes integration between Brazilians, Italians and Italian descendants. The party has shows and stands with typical food and products. It takes place in the second half of May and is promoted by ACIBRA MG
 * Festival Internacional de Teatro (International Theater Festival). FIT is a biennial event, in even years, that brings theater groups from all over the world to Belo Horizonte. The presentations take place in various parts of the city, both in theaters and on stages set up in streets, squares and parks. FIT takes place between the months of June and August.
 * Expocachaça. Fair of one of the most traditional products in Minas, cachaça. Concurrent with ExpoAgro, Expocachaça offers visitors a wide variety of brands from the best producers in the state available for purchase and tasting. The event takes place between May and June at the ExpoMinas convention center.
 * Mines Tchê. Fair of typical Gaucho products held annually in Belo Horizonte. It takes place in April, usually at Serraria Souza Pinto, an event space in the capital.
 * Pop Rock Brazil. Big Pop and Rock music festival. It happens every year, in the 2nd semester.
 * Savassi Festival. Annual Jazz Festival that takes place in July, with concerts in various parts of the city.

Buy

 * BH Shopping. BH's oldest and largest shopping malls, with shops, a food court, movie theatre and games. It's in the Belvedere area and close to Nova Lima road.
 * Shopping Del Rey. Another of BH's oldest and largest shopping malls, with shops, food court, movie theatre and games.
 * Minas Shopping. Among the largest shopping malls, with shops, a food court, movie theatre and games. Metrô station nearby.
 * Diamond Mall. A very refined (and usually expensive) shopping center.
 * Pátio Savassi. Also very refined (and usually expensive) shopping center, in the heart of Savassi.
 * Mercado Central, Av. Augusto de Lima and R. Curitiba. A large, traditional indoor market founded in 1929 where you can find tofu, whole grains, cheese, meat, herbs, traditional foods, religious articles, fruit, live birds, pots, souvenirs and lots of other stuff. It's one of the most visited places in the city.
 * Hippie Fair, Av. Afonso Pena in front of the Municipal Park. Opens every Sunday, from 08:00-14:00. This artesian fair is one of the largest in the country and offers everything from crafts to jewelry, furniture to souvenir, clothing to food. Receives from up to 100,000 people every Sunday. Definitively worth the visit.

Eat
Minas Gerais is renowned for its cuisine across Brazil, and is the origin of many famous foods such as pão de queijo (small baked roll made with cheese and cassava flour) and feijoada (black bean and meat stew). Like elsewhere in Brazil, restaurant food is typically served in some variation of a buffet.

Mid-range
For a good sample of traditional mineira food, here are some options:

For great international food, here are some options:

Drink

 * People from BH are famous for their love of bars. The central Savassi neighborhood has dozens of bars. Also, at São Lucas neighborhood, on Contorno Avenue, you will find "Sociedad Pub", one of the best Pubs in town (Contorno Av., n.3849). The city is widely known (although without any confirmation) as the city with most bars per capita in the world. Some clubs that charge a cover are overrated and expensive.  The outdoor bar scene is the authentic Brazilian experience. Good places to look for a bar:
 * Avenida Prudente de Morais
 * Rua Marília de Dirceu (follow it while it becomes Rua Curitiba and then Rua São Paulo—yeah, that's how streets work in Belo Horizonte)
 * Rua Pium-í crossing with Rua Passatempo
 * Avenida Fleming (only if you are in the Pampulha region)
 * You may know it only as an ingredient in vitamin pills, but here you can get fresh acerola puree in orange juice squeezed before your eyes. This is called a vitamina with good reason. The fruit is perishable and is stored on ice. Other fruits prepared the same way are abacaxi (pineapple), açaí, banana, and mamão (papaya).
 * Although Savassi is the place to go on Friday and Saturday nights, Trevo Five Place (close to the Hard Rock Cafe) is a great spot on Thursday nights. The dancing is great however the environment is not for the cautious.
 * The state of Minas Gerais is famous for their cachaça (distilled spirit similar to rum made from sugarcane juice). It is the main ingredient of the famous caipirinha cocktail, but Brazilians enjoy drinking it straight as well.
 * Another great drink is a sweet tasting wine-like substance called pronounced "catuaba".
 * If your looking for some dancing and clubbing visit naSala . For sure the best nightlife in town. Expect to meet beautiful people.

Sleep
Major high-rise hotels are generally on Av. Afonso Pena or at Savassi neighborhood, while mid-range and budget accommodations are clustered around the train station.

Stay healthy
To keep hydrated, drink bottled water or water from drinking fountains, usually located at malls.

Tap water provided by COPASA (sole provider for the city) is regarded as fully potable (filtered, sterilized, PH controlled and fluoridated), but it is important to note that due to historical unreliability of water supply in Brazil, the vast majority of buildings have water tanks, so even if it is provided by COPASA, if you are unsure of the sanitary conditions of the building water tank, you should avoid drinking it before filtering, boiling or ozonizing it.

Even though bottled water in Brazil is labeled as “mineral water”, you should be careful and use good sense when buying it. Cases of tap water and untreated water being bottled and labeled as “mineral” are not uncommon. Always check the color of the water, the general aspect of the bottle and the seal. Some Brazilians are used to untreated water but it is very likely that tourists will have serious issues with it, including diarrhea, vomits, fever, headaches and muscular pain. It is usually safer to drink COPASA tap water then bootleg bottled water.

Free healthcare is widely available, but waiting times may be long (even on minor emergencies), for non urgent cases go to the free “Posto de Saúde” near where you are staying (there are plenty all over the city). Private hospitals usually have faster service and better facilities and you can pay your treatment with either cash or with your insurance. Check with your insurance company the hospitals and clinics covered beforehand. If you have any allergies or known health problems, it is wise to learn some Portuguese words to describe it as it is very likely most of the hospital staff won’t speak English except for more qualified MDs, nurses and social workers. Although you might not see any initial difference, nurses are divided into “college nurses”, “technical nurses” and “auxiliary nurses”. You are more likely to find an English speaker among the college nurses (they are called Enfermeira or Enfermeiro and usually act as sector supervisors in a hospital).

Belo Horizonte can get very hot during summer, so avoid staying out in the sun for too long, specially between 10:00 and 15:00. Even though it is not on the coast, sunscreen is advisable, especially if you have light skin.

Public restrooms can be found at malls and public buildings. A small fee may apply. Also, bars and restaurants are required by law to have a restroom available to its customers, but even if you are not buying anything, just ask nicely and they will let you use it.

Smoking in Belo Horizonte is banned from closed buildings. This includes malls, restaurants, bars (except if you are sitting outside), clubs, public buildings, airports and others. Smoking has been increasingly regarded as a bad habit and even on the sidewalk people might get annoyed by it, so it is best to smoke privately or away from non smokers.

Stay safe
When crossing the street, watch for motorcycles, which can appear out of nowhere and sometimes ignore stop signs. At some intersections with divided streets, you can cross only one side at once.

Minas has both the military police (polícia militar) who are the enforcers of the law at street level, however not linked to the Brazilian Military and the civilian police (polícia civil) who conduct further investigations like the British CID. Most officers don't have a knowledge of basic English. The uniform of the Minas Gerais state military police is brown.

The emergency number (by which you can reach the military police) is 190.

The city has its own police, the Municipal Guard, the uniform is blue and officers are found in parks, near monuments, schools, hospitals.

The city suffers from crime related to drugs. Avoid walking alone at night or carrying expensive electronics such as cameras, notebooks, iPods or jewelry. It is not uncommon to be mugged at traffic lights or walking during the day or night. Tourists can be easily identified by bad guys as people who carry electronics carelessly and seem to be always wondering where are they going. Be discreet.

If someone mugs you, don't resist. You could be killed.

By net

 * MP Games, Rua dos Inconfidentes 868, between Pernambuco and Paraíba, Savassi. You can bring your laptop.

Wifi is readily available in many bars and restaurants throughout the city.

By phone
The area code for Belo Horizonte is 31. The code for Oi, the phone company that runs most of the phone booths in the city, is also 31. So to call Belo from outside using Oi, you dial 031 31 and the desired number, for example: from São Paulo to Belo, dial 03131 xxxx-xxxx. But to make a local call, you don't have to dial 31 at all, just the eight digits. Sometimes, it depends, because there are many other cities surrounding Belo, with the same area code, so you might be dialling the long distance code, using 31. Dialing from or to Ouro Preto, to or from Belo, you need to dial 03131 xxxx-xxxx.

There are other long distance companies codes available, which can be used to make calls, such as Embratel (21), Intelig (23), which provides long distance calls with suitable rates, to or from Brazil, and to other countries.

Cope
Belo Horizonte has a good network of hospitals. The main hospital area of the city is located downtown, close to the Municipal Park, where it is possible to find lots of healthcare institutions such as hospitals, clinics, and laboratories.

Drug stores
Araújo Drugstore - +55 31 3270-5000

Onofre Drugstore - +55 31 3115-1515

Pacheco Drugstore - +55 31 3489-1300

Droga Raia - 0800 774 4040

Free rescue and ambulance service
This can be requested by a free call to one of two institutions: SAMU (the acronym for the health emergency service) - Phone: 192 or Fire Department - Phone: 193.

Consulates

 * 🇷🇴 Romania

Go next
Hostels and private rooms are available in the following towns. All of them have direct connections by intercity bus from Belo Horizonte. For more details, look into the 'Get In' section of any of the destinations:

in the south-east:

 * Ouro Preto – 100 km. With its unique beauty and precious streets, houses, churches and historic buildings. It was the first Brazilian city to be named a World Heritage Site. The town has the richest ensemble of Baroque buildings in the America. Ouro Preto is one of the most popular travel destinations in Brazil.
 * Viçosa – 220 km. It is a city that attracts many people from Brazil and other countries due to scientific-academic events that take place around universities, totaling approximately 500 events annually. Its population is mostly made up of young people, which gives the city its own dynamic, in addition to the large number of parties that take place during the week.

in the west:

 * Brumadinho – 50 km. In the botanic park Inhotim are lagoons and all kinds of palm trees. It has galleries and pieces from various contemporary artists. The nearby Serra da Moeda is a place for extreme sports.
 * Divinopolis – 120 km. The highlights are the Lake of Roses and the beach at Carmo do Cajuru.
 * Capitólio – 280 km. It has become a tourism destination due to its beautiful waterfalls and clear water rivers. The Furnas Canyon is the main attraction with its stone walls enclosed by a lake formed by a dam. The nickname for the city is "Queen of the Lakes".
 * Passos – 380 km. It's near Capitólio and also at the Furnas Canyon. Passos is famous for its good parties, which include shows, bars and night clubs.

in the south:

 * São João del Rei – 190 km. It is the largest of the colonial mining towns in Minas Gerais. There is a steam locomotive to the nearby town of Tiradentes.
 * Lavras – 240 km. In the Ecological Park Quedas do Rio Bonito are swimming pools, walking trails, a tree climbing circuit, a gazebo overlooking the entire park, zip line and a lagoon with pedal boats. You can make a tour on the funnel dam.
 * Juiz de Fora – 270 km. The presence of immigrants – especially from Portugal, Italy, Germany, Syria and Lebanon and more recently China – throughout its history has given the city a cosmopolitan spirit and diverse cuisine. It's a gay-friendly city. It's nickname is "Manchester Mineira". From there to Petrópolis.
 * São Thomé das Letras – 310 km. It is a tourist city, known for its stone buildings, natural jungle, waterfalls, caves and its mystical climate that attract people from all over the world. Mystics seek the city as a refuge to meditate and seek the peace the that city offers.

in the north-west:

 * Uberlândia – 540 km. A very modern cosmopolitan city, the second largest city in the state. It offers its visitors delicious cuisine, historic districts and trips to numerous waterfalls. From there to Brasília

Belo Horizonte is an entryway to more of the country's most important colonial towns. Private rooms are offered in:

 * Congonhas - 83 km
 * Tiradentes - 194 km
 * Diamantina - 290 km

title: Belo Horizonte


text:
Beloit

Beloit is a city of 37,000 people (2018) in Southwest Wisconsin. Its downtown is anchored by a core of historic buildings and the Ironworks office and industrial campus. Beloit's riverfront park system, mainly Riverside Park, extends north of the downtown along the east bank toward the Town of Beloit.

Understand
Beloit lays claim to such inventions as the speedometer, Korn Kurls, and John Francis Appleby's twine binder. Korn Kurls, which resemble Cheetos, was the original puffed cheese snack.

History
Twelve men in Colebrook, New Hampshire created the "New England Emigrating Company" in October 1836 and sent Dr. Horace White to find a suitable region of Wisconsin in which to settle. The level fields and the water power of Turtle Creek and the "unlimited gravel" in the area around what is now Beloit fixed the site of the intended village and farms. White purchased the land. At the same time as the Colebrook settlers, six families from Bedford, New Hampshire arrived and settled in the region. They said that the Rock River Valley had a "New England look", which made them feel at home. The village was platted in 1838 and was planned with wide streets which built on the New England model.

Beloit was founded as New Albany (after Albany, Vermont) in 1837. The name was changed to Beloit in 1838. The name Beloit was coined to be reminiscent of Detroit.

By car
Interstates 39, 43, and 90 serve Beloit.

By bike
To get to Beloit by bicycle from Chicago, take the Union Pacific/Northwest METRA from Ogilvie Station to Harvard, Illinois ($7). At Harvard, make a right onto W. Diggins Street/Ramer Road; 1.5 mi. Enter the bike path from Ramer Road at Lawrence Road. Take the bike path to its terminal at Maxon Road; 2 mi. Take a left on Maxon Road/Right on South Oak Grove Road; .5 mi. Make a right on IL-173 (careful: no shoulder); 2.3 mi. Make another right on Boone/McHenry County Line Road; .5 mi. Enter Long Prairie State Trail; 14.4 mi. Enter Stone Bride Trail (crushed limestone); 4.5 mi. Make a left on a bike trail and follow it until it ends; .5 mi. Take a right on the Hononegah Bike Trail and follow it to a second wooded section; 2 mi. Turn right onto a bike trail that leads into Kelly-Meyers Park, follow the road to the front of the park, and turn left out of the park. Turn right in one block on the Dorr Rd. bike trail and follow it until it ends; 3 mi. Right at Elmwood Avenue/Lathrop Terrace; 1 mi. Left at Wheeler Avenue; .25 mi. Right at Gardner Street; .25 mi. Left at Park Avenue; .25 mi. Enter Beloit at Turtle Creek bridge/Wisconsin state line.

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

title: Beloit


text:
Beloretsk

Beloretsk (Russian: Белоре́цк) is a city in Bashkortostan, Russia.

Get in
Your point of entry to Beloretsk is likely to be Ufa or Magnitogorsk, both of which have air and rail connections with the rest of the country. It will take you an hour's car ride from Magnitogorsk or 3 hours from Ufa (the road from Ufa is more picturesque)to get to Beloretsk.

Do

 * Skiing. One of the most attractive ski resorts in Bashkortostan is Mratkino, in the city of Beloretsk. It attracts mainly by its nature's beauty and low rental costs, as well as taxi fees, apre-ski and restaurant capacities.

title: Beloretsk


text:
Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park

Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park (Belarusian: Белавежская пушча) is in the Brest and Hrodna regions of Belarus.

Understand
Belovezhskaya Pushcha (Polish: Puszcza Białowieska) is a primeval forest which straddles the Polish/Belarusian border. The Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park covers the Belarusian part of the forest. Mammals such as Bison, Wild Boar, Elk and Wild Horses inhabit the forest, which was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 (extended in 1992).

The park is rarely visited by tourists due to a lack of facilities and infrastructure, the Białowieża National Park, which covers the Polish part of the forest, may prove easier to access.

History
The Belaya Vezha Forest (Puszcza) has been known as a protected area since the 15th century when the Grand Dukes of Lithuania turned it into their hunting resort. The Polish kings who took over the forest continued the exploitation of the forest resources conducting particularly large-scale hunting tours. They also established factories that produced tar and tar oil.

Logging started in the late 16th century and at the same time royal edicts were issued aiming to preserve the population of bison (zubr) and other species. In 1795 Katherine the Great allowed hunting of all animals except for zubr and very soon the population of many species decreased while bears and beavers were totally exterminated. Bialowieza Puszcza was divided into areas that were given to high-ranking Russian officials. A devastating fire of 1811 and the Russian-French War of 1812 affected the forest, too.

In 1888 Bialowieza Puszcza became a property of the Tsar Family and hunting activities were stepped up. A hunting palace was built in Bialowieza Town (nowadays a Polish territory).

During the First World War the German occupants established several timber works to cut precious types of trees and built about 300 km of narrow-gauge railroad to facilitate the logging. As a result, 4.5 million m³ of trees were transported to Germany - about the same volume as had been produced in the forest since the 16th century.

In 1939 the Soviet authorities that took over Western Belarus established a State Reserve. The second German occupation during World War II didn't harm the forest much because Hermann Goering, a close associate of Hitler, wanted to turn it into a model hunting reserve of the Third Reich.

After World War II the new Soviet-Polish border divided the Bialowieza Puszcza into Polish and Belarusian parts. The latter was converted into a hunting reserve for the top ranks of the Communist Party in 1957. The secrecy kept the wide masses away and contributed to the development of the flora and fauna. Guest infrastructure was built and developed over the years.

In 1991 the Hunting Reserve was reorganized into the State National Park Belovezhskaya Puschcha. A year later it was included into the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Landscape
The deep forest is similar to that which covered most of central Europe until the 14th century.

Flora and fauna
Mammals such as Bison, Wild Boar, Elk and Wild Horses inhabit the forest. The forest is also known for its ancient oak trees, some over 600 cm in trunk diameter and thought to be over 450 years old.

Visa-free entry from Poland
Visitors from most countries need a visa to enter Belarus. However as of June 2015, the Belarusian government allows foreign visitors into the park visa-free for three days. You should pre-book a tour, fill in an online form and enter through the.

By bus
Shuttle buses Brest - Kamenets - Kameniuky

Departure from Brest 7:00, 12:30, 17:00 (minibus) 8:00, 14:30 (bus)

Departure from Kameniuky 08:20, 14:10, 18:50 (minibus) 06:20, 10:00, 16:15 (bus) Bus station inquiry: 114 (Russian speaking only)

By car
From Brest – take Brest-Kameniuky Highway (Р83) – 65 km.

From Minsk – take Minsk-Brest (M1) Highway till the turn to Zhabinka Town (P7) and then turn to Kamenets and on to Kameniuky Village (P83) – around 380 km.

From Minsk – take Minsk-Brest (M1) Highway till the turn to Slonim Town (P21) and then turn to Kamenets and on to Kameniuky Village (P83) – around 380 km.

See
The National Park Headquarters at Kamieniuki has a zoo and a museum.

Lodging
There is a hotel at the National Park Headquarters at Kamieniuki

title: Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park


text:
Belper

Belper is a town in the Amber Valley of Derbyshire, 7 miles north of Derby, with a population in 2011 of 21,823. It's been industrial since medieval times, thanks to nearby deposits of ironstone, made into nails and other ironware. It also became a textile town and its mills are part of the UNESCO Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. It's by no means picturesque but it's close to attractive countryside in the Peak District west and north.

By train
Belper is on the mainline between Derby and Chesterfield/Sheffield, although it is only served by one main line train per weekday. It is also served by the Derwent Valley line between Nottingham, Derby and Matlock. Trains run roughly every hour - see www.thetrainline.com for timetable details. The station is unmanned but you must buy tickets from the machine on the Derby bound platform to any destination. (If you join at a station like Derby with a booking office you must buy your ticket beforehand.)

By bus
There are regular bus services to Derby, Nottingham, Manchester (a long but beautiful journey on TransPeak) and other local towns. For Ashbourne, change at Derby or take the less frequent direct service; for Nottingham, change at Derby.

By car or cycle
Belper is on the A6 and close to the A38. Major roads lead to Chesterfield, Nottingham, Derby, Matlock and Ashbourne.

Get around
Shanksie's pony is fine for the main part of town, but pack an extra bottle of pop if you're pushing a buggy or wheelchair from the river to St John's Chapel (especially if you go up Long Row - it's steep and cobbled). Park in the Derwent Street or Coppice car parks (free), Bridge Street, Field Lane and the River Gardens (all pay and display). Some on-street parking is also available.

See

 * A number of other walks also exist around the town.
 * A number of other walks also exist around the town.
 * A number of other walks also exist around the town.

Eat
There are Iceland, Morrisons and Co-op grocery shops within walking distance of town, and several sandwich and cake shops for a quick snack.

Drink
Belper is home to over 30 pubs.
 * White Peak Distillery makes whisky and gin, and offers tours. It's at Ambergate 3 miles north of Belper.
 * White Peak Distillery makes whisky and gin, and offers tours. It's at Ambergate 3 miles north of Belper.

Sleep

 * Lots of self-catering holiday cottages in and around town.
 * Lots of self-catering holiday cottages in and around town.
 * Lots of self-catering holiday cottages in and around town.
 * Lots of self-catering holiday cottages in and around town.

Connect
As of March 2024, Belper and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. 5G has not yet reached town.

Go next

 * Cromford
 * Ripley
 * Derby

title: Belper


text:
Belterra

Belterra is a small city in Pará.

Understand
Belterra was created by the Ford Motor Company after their campaign to grow rubber in Fordlândia failed.

Get in
Buses leave Santarém for Belterra several times a day. From Av. São Sebastião between Av. Barão do Rio Branco and Tv. Silvino Pinto.

See
The main attraction in Belterra are the houses left behind by the car company. They are American style houses from that time period and are mostly in good condition. Most of the houses are located on the main street, heading from the main square towards the river.

Sleep
Pousada Juvência offers single rooms for R$30 including breakfast.

Connect
There is a Bradesco ATM in town near the main square.

Go next
You can catch a bus from Belterra to FLONA Tapajós

title: Belterra


text:
Belturbet

Belturbet is a small town on the River Erne in County Cavan, with a population in 2016 of 1369. In Irish it's Béal Tairbirt, "mouth of the isthmus", and it grew up at a ford on the river. Boating and angling are the main reasons to visit.

Get in
Expressway Bus 30 runs every 2-3 hours from Dublin Busáras and Airport via Virginia,  Cavan and Butlersbridge, taking 2 hr 30 min to Belturbet, and continuing northeast to Enniskillen, Ballyshannon and Donegal Town. X30 from Dublin is nonstop between Cavan and Enniskillen, bypassing Belturbet, but you could change for Leydon's Coach, which runs twice M-Sa between Cavan, Belturbet and Enniskillen. The section between Belturbet and Enniskillen is joint-operated as Ulsterbus 58.

Belturbet is 123 km northeast of Dublin: follow M3 / N3 via Kells, Virginia and Cavan.

4 km north of Belturbet is the border with Northern Ireland in the UK, and N3 becomes A509 to Enniskillen, for routes to Sligo and Derry. The border is unpatrolled but you must ensure that your personal and vehicle documents are valid - the rules changed in 2021.

From Belfast follow A3 via Armagh and Monaghan towards Cavan, branching west on R197 at Gannon's Cross.

By boat, Belturbet is at the head of the navigable River Erne. This flows north into Lough Erne, which is connected by the Shannon-Erne Waterway to Carrick-on-Shannon and the entire Irish network, all the way to Limerick, Dublin and Waterford. See Waterways Ireland for current status of locks, moorings and so on, and see below for boat rentals.

Get around
You need a car to explore this scattered area.

See

 * or Market Square in village centre has pleasant 19th century buildings. Church of the Immaculate Conception (RC) just west is from 1868.
 * Belturbet island is a park west bank of the river. The grassy mound is all that's left of the Norman motte-and-bailey castle.
 * Belturbet railway station closed in 1959 and fell derelict. It's been restored as a museum, with the stationmaster's cottage converted into self-catering accommodation. These are all closed in early 2021.
 * Upper Lough Erne a few km north is in County Fermanagh but (with a bit of winding along the back lanes) Belturbet is a good base for visiting Crom Estate, Castle Balfour and Belle Isle Castle, with Marble Arch caves a bit further on.
 * is a medieval ruin with the 11.6 m stump of a Round Tower. After the dissolution the church was used by the C of I until 1820, and the cemetery is still in use.
 * is a small village on Woodford River, which is part of the Shannon-Erne Waterway. You might visit for boating or angling.
 * further along N87 has a Workhouse Museum. This grim institution opened in 1852 and had 70 inmates, with separate accommodation blocks for men, women and children. The workhouse closed in 1921 and the building was variously a school, dance hall, sports hall and bakery. It's derelict but a museum-cum-preservation society is still there, hours erratic. A "bawn" is a protective wall for livestock and "boy" means yellow, but there's nothing left of that.
 * south of Bawnboy offers meditation classes. If you're quiet you can look around.

Do

 * A town in which there is neither Papist nor Presbyterian; but, to supply that defect there are Sabbath-breakers, drunkards, and common swearers in abundance. - John Wesley the founder of Methodism, from a visit of 1760

 * Golf: Belturbet Golf Course is nine holes, southeast edge of the village. There's an 18-hole course at Slieve Russell Hotel, see Sleep.
 * Boat hire is available from ABC Boats at the Marina. They offer day-hire and extended cruises as far as Aghinver on Lower Lough Erne below Enniskillen.
 * Belturbet Festival of the Erne was traditionally in August. The last was in 2018 and it's not known if it will continue in 2021.
 * Belturbet Festival of the Erne was traditionally in August. The last was in 2018 and it's not known if it will continue in 2021.

Buy

 * Village stores are Gala (daily 07:00-21:00) and Centra at Erne Hill (M-Sa 07:00-22:00, Su 09:00-21:00). There's Spar at the filling station west side of the village.

Eat

 * Genesis at 18 Main St is a reliable Chinese, open daily 17:00-00:30.
 * Marco's at 16 Main St is a takeaway for fish & chips, burgers, pizza and other fast food. It's open M-Th 16:00-23:00, F Sa 15:00-23:00, Su 16:00-22:00.
 * Genesis at 18 Main St is a reliable Chinese, open daily 17:00-00:30.
 * Marco's at 16 Main St is a takeaway for fish & chips, burgers, pizza and other fast food. It's open M-Th 16:00-23:00, F Sa 15:00-23:00, Su 16:00-22:00.

Drink

 * Donohue's Whiskey Barrel is at 17 Main St.
 * Donohue's Whiskey Barrel is at 17 Main St.

Go next

 * Manorhamilton is the main village in the north of County Leitrim, with a medieval castle and prehistoric sites.
 * Enniskillen in County Fermanagh is between the navigable Upper and Lower Lough Erne.

title: Belturbet


text:
Belum Caves

Belum Caves is the second largest cave in the Indian subcontinent and the longest caves in plains of Indian subcontinent. Belum Caves derives its name from "Bilum", the Sanskrit word for caves. In Telugu language, it is called Belum Guhalu. Belum Caves is 3229 meters long, making it the second largest natural caves in Indian subcontinent. Belum Caves have long passages, spacious chambers, fresh water galleries and siphons. The caves reach its deepest point (120 ft from entrance level) at the point known as Patalganaga.

The site
Belum Caves is located at Belum Village in Kolimigundla Mandal of Nandyal district in State of Andhra Pradesh, India. Kolimigundla is situated 3 km from Belum Caves.

Formation
Belum caves was formed due to erosion in limestone deposit in the area by Chitravati River, millions of years ago. This limestone caves was formed due to action of carbonic acid — or weakly acidic groundwater formed due to reaction between limestone and water. The carbonic acid dissolved minerals in the limestone rocks in the area. The presence of river Chitravati in area for a long period of time enable a vast labyrinth of underground cave to form. Now Chitravati River flows almost 30 km south of Belum. Belum Caves are located on a flat agricultural field in Belum Village. There are 3 well like cavities in plain agricultural fields. The central cavity is the main entrance to the caves. However, the locals report hundreds of cavities in the area. The walls of the cave are very smooth as result of erosion by river.

Discovery
Even though the Belum Caves were known to the locals, the first records of Caves were mentioned in expedition report of Mr Robert Bruce Foote, in 1884. Thereafter, Belum Caves was unnoticed for almost a century thereafter till a German team headed by Mr Herbert Daniel Gebauer conducted detailed exploration of the caves in 1982 and 1983. The German expedition was assisted by the locals Mr B. Chalapathi Reddy, Mr Ramaswami Reddy, Mr Boyu Madduleti, Mr K. Padmanabhaiah, Mr K. Chinnaiah and Mr A. Sunkanna.

Historical importance
Belum Caves are geologically and historically important caves. There are indications that Jains and Buddhists monks were occupying these caves centuries ago. Many Buddhists relics were found inside the caves. These relics are now housed in Museum at Anantapur.

Archaeological survey of India (ASI) also found remnants of vessels, etc. of pre-Buddhist era and has dated the remnants of vessels found in the caves to 4500 BC.

Development of caves
The caves were used to dump wastes of nearby places till 1988. The local people of nearby areas, notably Retired Additional Superintendent of Police M. Narayana Reddy, residents of Belum Village like B. Chalapathi Reddy and others followed up Government of Andhra Pradesh to develop the caves as tourist attraction. Finally their almost two decade long efforts resulted in when Government of Andhra Pradesh declaring entire area to be protected zone. In 1999, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation took over the task of beautifying and maintaining the caves. APTDC sanctioned ₹75,00,000.00 to develop the caves. They have developed the pathways in around 2 km of the caves, provided soft illumination and created fresh-air shafts in the caves. At many places inside the cave, APTDC has installed bridges, staircases, etc. for easy movement. It has also created a canteen, washroom and toilet facilities near the entry point.

There is a giant Buddha statue near a hillock near the Belum Caves. The area of cave known as "Meditation hall" was used by Buddhist Monks. The relics of Buddhist period were found here. These relics are now housed in museum at Anantapur.

Distance from major cities/towns

 * 270 km from Bangalore
 * 320 km from Hyderabad
 * 420 km from Chennai
 * 106 km from Kurnool
 * 85 km from Anantapur (takes 180 minutes by bus)
 * 30 km from Tadpatri (takes 90 minutes by bus)
 * 60 km from Nandyal
 * 20 km from Banganapalle

Reaching Belum Caves

 * From Delhi  -   Catch Karnataka Expess train to Anantapur. From Anantapur, catch a bus to Tadipatri. Change bus at Tadipatri for Belum Caves. (3 hours journey from Anantapur to Belum Caves)
 * From Bangalore  -   Visitors from Bangalore can take a bus or catch a train to Anantapur. From Anantapur, catch a bus to Tadipatri. Change bus at Tadipatri for Belum Caves.
 * From Chennai  -   Catch a train to Kurnool or Banganapalle. From kurnool, one can catch a bus to Banganpalle. From Banganpalle, there are frequent buses to Belum Caves.

The cave can also be reached from Nandyal railway station, 60 km away on the Guntur-Bangalore section of South Central railway.

Main sections of Belum Caves

 * Simhadwaram — Simhadwaram means lions gate. It is a natural arch of stalactites formed in the shape of a lion’s head;
 * Kotilingalu Chamber - This section contains stalactite formations which are akin to shiva lingams. This section has thousands of such stalactite giving it a surrealistic look. It has one huge pillar formed due to stalactite and stalagmite joining together.
 * Patalaganga - It is a small perennial stream which disappears into the depths of the earth. This stream flows from the southeast to northwest. It disappears and is believed to be heading towards a well at the Belum village, located 2 km away from the caves.
 * Saptasvarala Guha or Musical Chamber - Saptasvarala Guha means chamber of seven notes. The stalactite formations in this chamber reproduce musical sounds when these are struck with a wooden stick or knuckles. This section was opened to the public in 2006.
 * Dhyan Mandir or Meditation Hall - This section is near to the entrance. An interesting formation at Meditation hall looks like a bed with pillow to recline. The local legend has it that in ancient times many sages use to live here. This section was used by Buddhist Monks. Many relics of Buddhist period were found here which are now housed in museum at Anantapur.
 * Thousand Hoods - This section has amazing stalactite formations shaped like hood of Cobra. The stalactite formations on the ceiling looks as if thousands of cobras have opened their hoods.
 * Banyan Tree Hall - This section has a huge pillar with stalactites hanging from the ceiling. This gives a look of Banyan Tree with its aerial roots when seen from below. The locals call it "Voodalamari" since it looks like a Banyan Tree with its aerial roots hanging from the branches.
 * Mandapam - This is a huge area inside the cave with magnificent stalcite structures on the sides giving it a look of a hall with pillars.

Entrance to caves
The tourists are charged an amount of ₹65.00 for entrance. Foreign Tourists are charged ₹300.00 per person for entrance. APTDC has installed electronic gates at entrance. After passing through the gates, one can reach the caves by a metal staircase installed by APTDC.

The entrance pit was originally smaller than what one sees today. It has been broadened as part of development of the caves to install the staircase to allow visitors to descend and ascend easily.

The entrance is like that of a Pit Cave. from the ground you can only see two pits side by side and third pit a little further away. After descending around 20 meters by the stairs from the entrance, the caves become horizontal. The first section one enters is called Gebauer Hall named after Speleologist Mr H. Daniel Gebauer, who had explored and mapped the caves in 1982-1983. The path to Gebauer Hall leads below the second opening, which lies next to the main entrance.

Awards to APTDC for Belum Caves

 * In, 2003, APTDC won the prestigious "National Tourism Awards" instituted by Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India, for its initiatives in developing and promoting Belum Caves.
 * Belum caves was also adjudged the best destination award 2002 at the Tourism and Travel Fair held in Bangalore in 2002.

Sleep
APTDC runs Punnami Hotel in vicinity of Belum Caves. The only accommodation type offered is a 32 bed dormitory. The charges for dormitory accommodation is ₹40.00 per person. This hotel is planned to be upgraded in future. APTDC also runs a restaurant and a small shop at the entrance to Belum Caves.

Nearest towns are Tadipatri (30 km) and Banganpalli (20 km) where one can find hotels to stay. There are no other place nearby where one can find a restaurant or any sort of eating joint. It is advisable to carry a bottle of drinking water when visiting the caves since it get very hot and humid at certain sections.

Kurnool (106 km) and Anantapur (85 km) are other places to stay and these places have good hotels. Both of these places are well connected by road and train.

Go next
Kolimigundla (3 km from Belum Caves) has a Vijayanagar era Swami Laxmi Narayan temple situated on a hillock. This temple is visible from Belum Caves also.

Tadipatri has two Vijayanagar era temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu respectively.

Gandikota, referred to as the Grand Canyon of India.

title: Belum Caves


text:
Belum Temenggor Forest Reserve

Belum-Temenggor is in Perak of Malaysia.

Understand
Belum Temenggor is the largest rainforest in the Malay Peninsula. It is believed to have been in existence for over 130 million years making it one of the world’s oldest rainforests, older than both the Amazon and the Congo. In the heart of the forest lies a manmade lake covering 15,200 Hectares which is dotted with hundreds of islands. Belum-Temenggor is still relatively low key in regards to tourism making it easy to enjoy the tranquility of the jungle and increasing your chances of spotting wild animals.

History
The Orang Asli (native aborigines) were the first inhabitants of the Malay Peninsula, and many of them were traditionally nomadic or semi-nomadic. Semi-nomadic Orang Asli can be found today on the islands of Temenggor. They live in their traditional way in bamboo huts, hunting small mammals using blowpipes, fishing and gathering plants and honey from the forest.

Conservation
As with all of Malaysia's rainforest, government sanctioned deforestation for logging and agriculture is one of the main contributors to environmental decline in Belum-Temenggor. The Malay peninsula has lost over half of its natural forest cover since 1950.

The comparably small amount of forest left in the Malay peninsula is still being cut down by government approved logging companies. Illegal logging also persists adding to an already problematic situation. It is anticipated that, at present rates of deforestation, more than 50% of Malaysian forest species will become extinct, many of them endemic to this area. When the depleted areas are replanted it is usually with exotic commercial species in monocultures.

There are many NGOs and lobby groups trying to educate the Malay people and influence government policies, focusing on short term gains and destroying the ecosystem is detrimental not only to our environment but to future economic development.

Poaching activity continues in the area with arrests made and poaching camps and snares uncovered frequently.

Due to the relatively low numbers of local residents and tourists, litter is not too prevalent. When visiting this beautiful forest, please help with conservation by leaving nothing behind other than footprints.

Landscape
Belum-Temengor is centred by Tasik Temengor (Temengor Lake), stretching 75 km, the lake is surrounded by dense rainforest, mountains, waterfalls and dotted with hundreds of islands.

Flora and fauna
Fauna

Belum-Temenggor's relatively untouched forest is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna including 14 of world's most threatened mammals including the Malaysian tiger, Asiatic elephant, Sumatran rhinoceros, white handed gibbon, Malaysian sun bear and tapir. Other animals that also roam freely include seladang, wild boars, numerous species of deer, pythons and cobras.

Belum Temengor is ideal for bird watcher with over 300 avian species including the hornbill. It is the only existing forest where you can spot all 10 species of hornbill that inhabit Malaysia consisting of the white-crowned hornbill, bushy-crested hornbill, wrinkled hornbill, wreathed hornbill, plain-pouched hornbill, black hornbill, Oriental pied hornbill, rhinoceros hornbill, great hornbill and helmeted hornbill.

Flora In the forest you can find 3,000 species of flowering plants, including 3 species of Rafflesia, the world's largest flower.

Climate
The temperature in Belum-Temenggor ranges from 20°C to 35°C depending on the time of year, peaking between July and August. The rainy season lasts from mid-November until January. There are cool breezes from the lake and intermittent showers almost all year round.

Get in
Belum Temenggor is intersected by the East West Highway running from Butterworth to Kulim to Gerik and then on to Kota Bharu. The main access point for accommodation and sights is the boat jetty at Pulau Banding.

By bus
Buses run from Kuala Lumpur to Gerik where you can get a fixed rate taxi to Pulau Banding public jetty for RM 50. Alternatively if coming from Ipoh, Penang, Kota Bharu or any other destinations using the East West Highway you can ask the bus driver to stop at the Pulau Banding jetty, though you will have to pay the full fare for the journey.

Fees and permits
Belum-Temenggor, although inhabiting the same area, is split into two separate reserves. Royal Belum State Park and Temenggor Forest Reserve. The Royal Belum State Park boundary starts at the very north of Temenggor lake (Tasik Temenggor) and is protected by the local army base. Permission for entry is granted by the park authority and takes 10 days for processing. A guide is essential for visitors wishing to explore the park.

Temenggor Forest Reserve encompasses the majority of the lake and its surrounding area, starting from the south of Royal Belum State Park. There is no park fee and no approval is needed to enter.

Get around
The majority of the sights and activities lie in and around Temenggor Lake. Almost all the accommodation options in the area will provide pick up from the jetty to their respective islands and transport to the areas of interest. It is also possible, if solely interested in a day trip, to arrange boat tours of varying lengths from the jetty.

Do
Eco-tourism is what this area is all about and there are many excellent attractions in the area including;
 * Jungle treks and wild animal tracking
 * Animal spotting at the salt licks. These are natural mineral deposits where wild animals, including Elephants and Tigers, go and lick for their nutrients. There are wildlife viewing huts called bumbungs that overlook the areas.
 * Bird watching, at its best from August to October when it is possible to spot flocks of literally thousands of Hornbills of all 10 Malay species.
 * Visit the protected site of the Rafflesia (the world’s largest flower).
 * Visit the local Asli tribal village and experience their traditional way of life.
 * A trip to the jungle watchtower high above the canopy offering spectacular views.
 * Kayaking, swimming and various other watersports.
 * Sport fishing
 * Trips to some of the many waterfalls feeding into the lake.

Sleep
There are few options for accommodation around Lake Temenggor. Some large hotels are situated on the mainland adjacent to the public jetty and alongside the main highway. Others are situated on private islands on the lake itself, allowing better access to the nature and wildlife.

Lodging
Belum Eco Resort – located on a secluded island. Offering accommodation options to suit all budgets, including private chalets, shared dormitories and houseboat. 3-day, 2-night packages and à la carte pricing is available. Tel: +60 5 281 0834     Email: [sales@belumecoresort.com.my]

Stay safe
Visitors with limited mobility are not advised to participate in jungle treks as trails can be slippery and uneven. When in the jungle it is essential to be with an experienced guide as wild animals can be unpredictable. The most dangerous aspect of the area is the water. If you are not a confident swimmer, always wear a life jacket.

Go next

 * Butterworth

title: Belum Temenggor Forest Reserve


text:
Belur

Belur (Kannada: ಬೇಲೂರು) is a historic town in Hassan district of Karnataka state.

Understand
Belur is a historic town with beautiful, famous temples, some dating to the times of the Hoysala Dynasty (11th-13th centuries). It sits on the banks of the river Bhadra, that originates close to this place, and forms the junction of the Hassan - Chikmaglur and Arsikere- Mudigere highways, a.k.a Charmadi Ghat, which acts as a substitute road for descending towards the Western Coast of Karnataka.

Talk
Kannada is the official state language but English is also widely understood.

By plane
The nearest airport is Mangalore.

By bus
Well connected to all important cities of Karnataka. Regular buses connect Belur to Hassan (37 km) Halibeedu (16 km) Arsikere (60 km) Dharmastala (98 km) Bangalore (224 km) Belgaum (424 km) Chickmagular (27 km) Madikeri (136 km) Mysore (155 km) Shimoga (122 km) and Shravanabelagola (87 km).

By car
The road from Mangalore via Dharmastala- Mudigere to Belur- is a very beautiful ghat road, with many water falls, lovely hill side views and numerous tea estates. This route is a windy mountain road and appropriate time should be budgeted for it. It can pose a safety risk, so when driving, stay alert and focused throughout the ride

If you are driving your car from Bangalore (233 km, about 4hr 40min): There is a parking fee to park your vehicle (or taxi) in front of the temple - which is valid for the day (true for both temples- Belur and Halebedu).
 * Start from Bangalore Railway Station, take the Tumkur Road National Highway No.4 and head for Yeswantpur and reach Nelamangala (30 km from Bangalore)
 * At Nelamangala turn left on National Highway (NH) 48 and head towards Kunigal (44 km from Nelamangala)
 * From Kunigal continue on NH48 and reach Chennarayapatna (30 km from Kunigal)
 * From Chennarayapatna continue on NH48 until you reach Hassan (40 km from Chennarayapatna)
 * From Hassan take the State Highway (SH) 57 and drive to and reach Belur (40 km from Hassan)

If you are returning from Belur/Halebidu back to Bangalore, then you can consider stopping over at Shravanabelogala to see the giant Bahubali statue.

By train
Nearest railway station is Hassan (37 km) which is connected to Bangalore, Mangalore and Mysore. Chikmaglur (18 km) is connected to Bangalore and Shimoga.

Get around
The sites are difficult to reach by public transportation.

Karnataka State Tourism Department (KSTDC) runs a Belur, Halebidu, and Sravanabelagola tour from Bengaluru and Mysuru daily April-June and Sept-Nov, and four times a week the rest of the year. There are also tours run by private operators departing almost every day.

KSTDC uses a luxury four-seats-across bus while the private companies use small, bumpy (especially if sitting in the back) minibuses. Both the private company and KSTDC tours pick you up at your hotel. If you want to book the KSTDC tour make sure you book on a weekend as the Volvo buses are only available on Sat and Sun. On all the other days Non AC buses ply to these places.

See
The following temples are open daily 7:30AM-5:30PM. Inner Sanctum of main deity is closed from 10AM-11AM, 1PM-3PM, 5PM-5:30PM. Many government-approved tour guides can be hired to show around the temple for ₹125-250.

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

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

Buy
As you exit the temple you may be approached by vendors stalking you to try and sell various books, trinkets and other souvenirs.

You get some nice bronze and stone statuettes that you can buy as souvenirs. There is nothing much to shop about in this temple town.

Eat

 * Ragi mudde (Kannada: ರಾಗಿ ಮುದ್ದೆ)] is a wholesome meal in Karnataka and it is mainly popular with the rural folk of Karnataka.
 * Avarekaalina Saaru and raagi mudde are very famous in Hassan. Also, avarekaalina saaru tastes good with all kinds of rotis and chapathis also.
 * Puliyogare (Kannada: ಪುಳಿಯೋಗರೆ)] is a south Indian rice preparation usually eaten as a snack. Puli means sour taste and Ogara means rice in Halegannada, thus Puliyogare translates as sour tasting rice. Puliyogare is also known as Huli anna or Tamarind rice in some parts of Karnataka.
 * Sakre Pongal- freshly harvested rice and jaggery ('palm sugar') are put to boil in pots the out is bubbly mixture. Served hot-Enjoy Sakre Pongal.

Drink
It is customary to serve coffee to visitors. The best coffee beans in India are grown in Karnataka and in Hassan & chikmaglur District.

Sleep

Good hotels are also available at Hassan:

 * Hotel Amblee Palika, Hassan Tel:66307.

Go next

 * Dharmasthala - Belur - Halebidu - Shravanabelagola would complete a brief Heritage tour of southern Karnataka. They call Belur, Halebeedu and Shravanabelagola as the triangle eloquence in stone and are nominated to be UNESCO World Heritage Centers.
 * You can go north and to Chikmagalur (27 km) (3000–3500 ft ASL) - Coffee plantations and forests combine to give a feel that is a little different to Coorg. The area is less populated and plantations are larger, surrounded with hills, forests and river streams.
 * You can go south to Madikeri- also known as Coorg or Mercara, travel via Shimoga. At Medikeri you can go to Talakaveri and Nagarhole National Park, they are both must see places.
 * You can go east towards Bangalore (224 km)– Karnataka capital. Bangalore, officially known as Bengaluru, is one of the most hip and happening cities in India and also a major center of the I.T. industry
 * Enroute you can visit Halebidu, Hassan and Shravanabelagola.
 * You can go west towards Mangalore a port city and the headquarters of Dakshina Kannada district in the coastal region of Karnataka State in India.
 * En route to Mangalore you can visit the famous Dharmastala which is 98 km away. Dharmastala is a renowned pilgrimage destination where Manjunatha Swamy temple is situated.

title: Belur


text:
Belvedere (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Belvedere:

Canada

 * Belvedere - a neighbourhood in the north-east of Edmonton, Alberta

United Kingdom

 * Belvedere - a suburban area in London/South East

United States of America

 * Belvedere - a small town adjacent to Tiburon in Marin County, North Bay (Bay Area), Bay Area (California), California

 * Belvedere - in North Augusta, Aiken County, South Carolina

title: Belvedere (disambiguation)


text:
Belvoir Castle

There's more than one place called Belvoir Castle.

Israel

 * Belvoir Castle (Israel) -- a ruined Hospitaller castle inside a national park above the Jordan Valley

United Kingdom

 * Belvoir Castle (England) - a castle in Leicestershire, near the town of Grantham

title: Belvoir Castle


text:
Belzoni

Belzoni is a small farming city in the Mississippi Delta.

By car
The main roads into Belzoni are Highway 49 West (which runs north of Yazoo City, to Indianola) Highway 12 East (from Hollandale) Highway 7 South, and Highway 3 South of the city.

By bus
Greyhound bus lines stop in the city (typically en route from Yazoo City on the Delta Bus Lines). Bus schedules vary, so be very flexible with your schedule if this is your mode of transportation. Also, bus service is limited, so you will not find a ticket office or an enclosed bus stop in the city.

By train
The closest train station is at Greenwood which is about 34 miles (about 55 kilometers) northeast of Belzoni: Amtrak's web page has details. There is no public transit system in the Delta region of Mississippi (or the entire state of Mississippi), so you should either consider arranging transportation prior to your visit, or rent a car at one of the regional airports if you are flying into Mississippi. In the city of Greenwood, you can rent a car at Enterprise Car Rental if you require transportation, but it would be wise to make a reservation in advance.

By plane
The closest commercial airport from Belzoni is the regional airport in Greenville (approximately 50 miles / 80.46 Kilometers northwest of the city). There is a private municipal airport with two runways just three miles (4.5 kilometers) south of the city on Highway 49 that is well suited for small single engine aircraft.

Get around
It's a very small farming town deep in the Mississippi Delta region, but attempting to see the city by foot might be a little too much for most people. Typically, you would have to travel about the city by car. Be aware, there is not a public bus or a taxi service in this small town.

See
Cotton, soybeans, and catfish farms as far as the eye can see. There's a few other interesting sights to take in that many people are not aware of.

Buy
Belzoni is a small farming town, and most of the population earn their living from cotton, soybeans and catfish. There's really not much to buy here, but you might be able to purchase some catfish souvenirs during the annual festival. Mostly people in the area visit the city for the catfish festival, and some blues music enthusiasts may drive by to get a glimpse of the small Delta town looking for a juke joint.

Eat
You cannot go wrong with staples of fried catfish, baked biscuits, and boiled turnip greens.

Drink
There is not a beverage that is unique to this area, but you should try the sweet tea if you'd like. Be prepared to drink tea that is typically by far much sweeter than you may be accustomed to. Those who do not like extremely sweet tea may want to ask for unsweetened tea, and just add sugar to their tastes.

Sleep
There are not any national chain hotels in or nearby Belzoni. There used to be a couple of small family owned hotels, but most people visiting this area tend to stay either in Indianola, Greenwood, or Yazoo City for overnight lodging.

Stay healthy
During the warmer months of the year, you should seriously consider using mosquito repellent with a high DEET concentration. This may help reduce the opportunity of becoming infected with the West Nile virus West_nile_virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes. In the Delta region, mosquitoes are awful during the summer months.

In the event you require emergency medical attention, there is a very small county hospital (government owned) in the city. The hospital is called Humphreys County Memorial Hospital, and it is located at 500 Ccc (no that is not a typo) Road (nearby the intersection of Rose Drive and Virginia Street). Determining on the severity of one's illness or injury, it is not unreasonable to expect the patient to be transported to the nearest full-size hospital located at Greenwood, called the Greenwood Leflore Hospital. The hospital in Greenwood is about an hour's drive away from Belzoni.

Go next

 * Indianola
 * Greenwood
 * Yazoo City

title: Belzoni


text:
Bembridge

Bembridge is a village in the Isle of Wight.

Understand
Bembridge is a large village on the eastern end of the Isle of Wight. It has a vibrant local community, and a mix of tourism and other types of business. Unlike many other areas of the Island it has not got overrun with tourist facilities, though it is still a popular holiday area.

There is a large harbour, with pontoon berths for visiting boats, and a number of lovely beaches.

There are five pubs in the village, all serving food, a good Chinese restaurant / takeaway, and a number of cafes.

There are numerous B&Bs in the area, and hotel accommodation at Bembridge Coast Hotel, and The Windmill Inn. There are also campsites and caravan parks.

The village is home to the islands only remaining windmill, a National Trust property, open from April to October

Get in
Served by buses.

Has an airfield for those arriving by private aircraft.

Berths for boats in the harbour.

Get around
The village is small enough to walk around, but there are also local taxi firms.

Do

 * Walk along the coastline, exploring rock pools.
 * Have an ice cream and watch all the activity on the Solent.

Buy
Local crab and lobster.

Eat
Any of the pubs - see below

title: Bembridge


text:
Bemidji

Bemidji is a city in Minnesota. It is the unofficial home of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.

By car
Bemidji is a beautiful, medium sized city with interesting people. Coming into the city from the south along Highway 71, visitors become immediately aware that they are in a city and not one of the many towns along the way. The highway enters the city to the east, allowing the traveler a view of the town along the main thoroughfare "Paul Bunyan Dr." The prominence of the character shows as you pass the statue of the character on the right of the road, at the lake front access to Lake Bemidji. The old downtown district is to the left of the highway. A rectangular area is home to numerous shops and restaurants that cater to the city's tourist trade. The lake stretches to the north and is lined with large homes and access points and provides a wonderful view. The main road through town makes a left, leading to the major commercial center of town.

By train

 * Amtrak Service from nearby Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

Do

 * Fishing and hunting

Learn

 * Bemidji State University
 * Concordia Language Village

title: Bemidji


text:
Benalla

Benalla is a town in Victoria in the High Country region along the Hume Freeway corridor.

Get in
Benalla is a short diversion off the Hume Freeway between Wodonga and Melbourne.

Benalla has an airport, but there are no commercial scheduled flights.

NSW Trainlink services between Sydney and Melbourne stop here, as do V/Line services from Melbourne to Albury, making a total of five trains daily in each direction. V/Line also operate coach services to Bendigo or Adelaide via Shepparton, and Mulwala via Yarrawonga.

Get around
Local public transport within the town consists of a bus service operated by Benalla Bus Lines. The service consists of two loop routes that run hourly, with more services during peak times, and only on weekdays. Tickets for 2 hour, daily, weekly and monthly periods are available and all are also sold at concession rates (half price). The single ticket covers both lines.

Benalla Taxis operates a local taxi service which operates 24/7, bookings can be made over the phone (+61 3 5762 3333) and a taxi rank is available on Carrier Street near Bridge Street in the CBD.

Go next

 * Shepparton

title: Benalla


text:
Benalmádena

Benalmádena is a town of 68,000 people (2018) on the Spanish Costa del Sol. It consists of three parts; Benalmádena Pueblo, Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmádena Costa. The most worth visiting of these is Benalmádena Costa with its long stretch of sunny beaches, a lively nightlife and excellent cuisine.

It is approximately 15 km southwest of Malaga and merges with Torremolinos, just northeast of it, along the coast.

Understand
The Benalmadena coast (Spanish: Benalmàdena Costa) is the southernmost portion of Benalmádena, this is the strip along the Mediterranean Sea. There are many hotels, bars, and of course beaches, and the Puerto Marina is here. The Puerto Marina is an open-air shopping mall, marina, and on-the-water (literally) condominium complex. Don't expect to find many people here when there's daylight, but after 22:00 the crowds appear. Next door to the shopping portion which surrounds the harbour, there is a complex containing Benalmádena's nightclubs. Arroyo de la Miel is the central section of the municipality. It is the home to many Britons, and its main street is lined with British pubs. English speakers will be at home here, but you will also have ample opportunity to practise your Castillian, or even more specifically, your Andaluz.

By plane
The closest airport is Malaga airport, which is along the coast, just a few minutes by train or car. You can get a taxi from outside Terminal 2 where there is a taxi rank. A taxi from Malaga Airport To Benalmádenatown centre is around €29

By train
Benalmadena can be reached by the frequent, inexpensive, and comfortable air conditioned trains which run along the coast from Malaga to Fuengirola, with a station at Malaga Airport. The station at Benalmadena is in Arroyo de la Miel, with taxis and buses to take you to all parts of the town.

By bus
Benalmadena is integrated in Malaga Metropolitan Transport Consortium. The following bus routes:

By taxi
If you come out of Terminal 3 at Malaga Airport follow the signs for the taxi rank, Then what you do is you wave at the person in charge they then will guide you to your taxi and you tell your taxi driver the location of your hotel. They then will ask you to pay for the taxi ride.

Get around
There is a local bus service, the Orange buses, which costs €1.1 per person per journey operating within the town limits. It runs up to Benalmadena Pueblo via Arroyo de la Miel starting from both ends of the coastal road. Times are posted on the Orange Bus Stops. The Portillo buses, green and cream, run along to coast from Malaga right down to Estapona and from Benalmadena to Malaga or Fuengirola costs €1.2 per person. Taxis cost €5.5 per trip within the town limits during the week and €8 on Sundays; they can take up to 4 people. This place is hilly with several roads having the Cardiac Hill nickname so buses and taxis can be a valuable health aid.

See

 * Benalmadena Marina. The inner part is surrounded by shops, cafes, bars and apartments and is nice to walk around.

Do

 * Boat trips. Some of these include dolphin watching.
 * Cable car to top of mountain. An excellent trip. You can get there on the Sightseeing Tour Bus which tours the town on a one-hour round trip and you can get on and off at any place. Get off at Tivoli World for the cable car trip to the top and then if you're up for it, a short steep walk to the peak of the mountain where the views are beautiful. The Birds of Prey exhibition on the mountain is inclusive with the cable car price (13 euro) and is a fascinating show with eagles, vultures and owls showing off their skills.
 * Tivoli World - Theme park near the centre of town.
 * Costa Party Catamarans operate luxury sailing catamarans and their English speaking crews are fabulous. The best boat trip, takes place daily from 10:00, out to sea looking for wild dolphins.
 * Costa Party Catamarans operate luxury sailing catamarans and their English speaking crews are fabulous. The best boat trip, takes place daily from 10:00, out to sea looking for wild dolphins.

Eat

 * The Atrium - a fine restaurant on Avenida de al Constitución, where a nice meal will cost €10-15 per person. There is a wide variety of dishes, and excellent recipes. It is spacious, having rejected the Spanish tendency to cram as much as possible into the smallest space. You will feel as though you're dining in England or the United States, but the recipes bring the best of Spanish raw materials to your table prepared as nouveau cuisine.

Drink
The Harpenny Bridge is a great bar to watch football. As you guessed, it is an Irish pub and they do amazing variety of whiskeys and spirits. They also are one of the only bars around allowed to sell black vodka.

Also Monkey Business, (in front of Hotel Riviera). A great place for drinks and fun. The food is great and bar staff are Irish so there's always great craic.

Sleep
There are many lodging options in Benalmádena.

Stay safe

 * Xanit Hospital which is a privately run hospital is located in Benalmadena should the need arise.

Go next
Tours are available from almost everywhere in Benalmádena and lots go to Malaga, Marbella, Ronda, Estepona, Algeciras, Cadiz, Sevilla and Gibraltar (UK).

Be aware that if you decide to go to Gibraltar, you will need a passport or ID to get in. Some countries may require visas, although uncommon.

title: Benalmádena


text:
Benapole

Benapole is a border town in Southern Bangladesh. It is the most commonly used crossover when travelling between India and Bangladesh.

By bus
Most people use the long-distance air-conditioned bus services that run between Kolkata and Dhaka, with a change of bus in Benapole. Shyamoli and Greenline have offices here and Haridaspur. For bookings see the Kolkata and Dhaka articles.

In Benapole, the bus stop is about 2 km from the border crossing. From there buses head to Jessore (Tk 30, 2hour) and beyond.

If you have booked the bus from Kolkata to Dhaka, it will take 4-5 hours to reach Haridaspur, which is commonly known as Petrapole. The bus operators have their own rest houses, but their staff is not cordial and these toilets are dirty. Before going to Immigration please be sure that it is mentioned by Bangladesh High Commission that entry/exit is by road at Benapole. The Bangladesh visa is stamped and other entries are handwritten, so be careful about any overwriting/cutting. If you find this when you collect your visa, please ask them to make an initial/signature and stamp over the overwritten part. Otherwise you are likely to be in trouble at the border. Customs people and immigration people at both the sides are cordial compared to their counterparts at the India-Pakistan border at Wagah. You may find that the Bangladeshi officials are better behaved than the Indians, who may demand bribes. This is less likely if travelling via direct bus. Customs usually do not present problems, except perhaps for Bangladeshi citizens returning home.

By train
Alternatively, from Kolkata there are local trains from Sealdah station, taking around 3 hours to reach Bangaon. The border is beyond this station. Local buses may exist but good luck finding them. However, autorickshaws and rickshaws will take you from Bangaon station to the border.

Get around
You're here to do one thing: walk across the border. On the Bangladeshi side, you can walk the 2km to the bus stop or take a rickshaw for Tk 5.

On the Indian side the bus stop is near the immigration office. As you step out of the immigration office to the official moneychanger's stalls, there may be people sitting around who can arrange a taxi to Kolkata. The price starts at ₹ 900, but is usually more.

Do
Get your passport stamped - The Indian side is fairly normal as far as land border crossings are concerned. Your passport will change hands several times, and should finally result in a stamp, which doesn't take too long. The Bangladeshi side, however, is another story. Staff seem to have been hired an hour before you arrive - try not to laugh when they ask which visa in your passport is the Bangladesh one. On either side you may be asked for baksheesh by the passport stamper or a boy who grabs your passport and shuttles it between the various officials or the many men who offer to fill your forms in for you. This is not normal for an Indian border crossing, and is entirely avoidable - present your passport yourself, and say 'no' firmly if asked for a bribe. If you're on one of the A/C direct buses then the bus company collects all passenger's passports before the border and facilitates the stamping.

The process is better than it once was. The Bangladesh side is simpler than the Indian side where you wind you way through a complex building to get the various stamps. On the Bangladesh side, you will enter one office, be asked to sit while you passport is examined and stamped.

While leaving Bangladesh by road, you have to pay a departure tax of 300 Taka. If you are travelling by one of the direct buses, the bus company will usually collect the amount from you and pay it for you. If you are travelling independently, pay it at the little branch of Sonali Bank next to the immigration office. It seems to be open as long as the border crossing is open.

If you arrived by air to Bangladesh, make sure that you have a "change of port" certificate which allows you to leave by land, otherwise you will find yourself being turned back at the border. Change of port certificates are available from the visa office in Dhaka and take about 4 hours to produce. Sometimes you might need to insist here that the office really does provide these certificates and demand that you need one.

Buy
Money changers are much more plentiful on the Indian side. They usually offer decent rates, but may try to make up for it in other ways - count the cash you give and receive carefully, and do the math yourself on your phone.

Eat
There are a handful of food stalls and dhabas on both sides of the border serving local Bengali food, and a couple hotels on the Bangladesh side have restaurants.

Sleep
If you must sleep at the border it's best to do so on the Bangladeshi side.

title: Benapole


text:
Benaulim

Benaulim is a village with 13,000 people (2011) on the beach in Goa. A popular seaside resort in South Goa district, it is renowned for its balmy weather, golden sands, and palm-fringed beaches. It also houses the Don Bosco Animation Centre.

Get in
It's about 27 km from Dabolim Airport and 5 km from Madgaon Railway Station. It's easily accessible by all modes of transport.

Get around
You can walk everywhere between the beach, the shops and the hotels, but if you would like to explore you can hire your own scooter, or take a rickshaw from the crossroads.

Eat
Any number of restaurants line the beach front, and dot the road near the crossroads, all offering delicious fresh fish, and the occasional curry classic. Can ask anyone to be directed to these restaurants.

Sleep

Internet

 * New Horizons, 1595, Beach Road, Vuzavaddo
 * G.K. Tourist Centre, House No. 1596, Vasvaddo, Ph 2771608

Go next
Maria Hall is the main junction to catch a bus going either to Colva (which is to the North of Benaulim or to Cavelossim / Mobor (which are to the South of Goa). You can reach Benaulim by buses going to Colva or Cavelossim, they all pass through Benaulim.

 * Canacona
 * Margoa
 * Karwar
 * Anshi National Park
 * Gokarna

title: Benaulim


text:
Benbecula

Benbecula (Gaelic Beinn Na Faoghla or Beinn nam Fadhla) is an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, with a population of 1300 in 2021. The name is a medieval mispronunciation: "pen" meaning flat land turned into "ben" for mountain, which it doesn't have. "Becula" means "of the fords" — the island is separated from North and South Uist by channels that you can wade across at low tide, and that are nowadays connected by road. The main settlement is Balivanich (Baile a' Mhanaich) next to the airport.

Grimsay the island just north is linked by the main road, a stepping stone on the way to North Uist.

Grimsay is also the name of an island to the southeast, parted by a channel so narrow you'll hardly notice as the road crosses; both names seem to indicate "green island". This road has been extended to Eilean na Cille, "island of the church", of which nothing remains.

Understand

The island is predominantly Gaelic-speaking — English is universally understood — and Roman Catholic. The main road cuts north-south across the boggy interior, while the airport, settlements and amenities straggle along a loop of road along the west coast. Always a poor prospect for arable farming, in the 19th century Benbecula was turned over to sheep and sporting estates, and much of the population was ruthlessly evicted. The island developed rapidly anew in the 20th century for military bases and missile ranges, gaining its airport and other facilities, the road causeways, and many ugly buildings. This means that most visitors use it to fly in, but skip on quickly elsewhere. It's not notably scenic, but its lochs and beaches are tranquil and deserted.

In 1746 Bonnie Prince Charlie (1720-1788) was cast up here, a fugitive after the collapse of the Jacobite Rebellion; Flora Macdonald disguised him as an Irish maid and got him away to Skye. Another famous visitor was Hercules (1975-2001), a tame grizzly bear that in 1980 was being filmed for a Kleenex commercial when his tether broke and he ambled away. There was no sight of him for 24 anxious days — "Have any of the Irish maids' costumes been taken?" — but then he was spotted and tranquillised. Being used to cooked food, Hercules had eaten none of the island's many fish, sheep or chickens, and had lost 95 kg, half his weight. He went on to appear in the James Bond film Octopussy, met Margaret Thatcher and caddied for Bob Hope at Gleneagles. He was buried at his owner's home in Clackmannanshire but in 2015 was re-interred at Langass, North Uist.

By road
Benbecula has long been linked to North and South Uist and doesn't have its own ferry port. The road across the causeways A865 is well clear of the sea and passable in all tides and weathers except for the worst Atlantic storms. To the north it crosses to Grimsay then North Uist, where Lochmaddy has ferries from Uig on Skye (linked by bridge to the Scottish mainland). The road continues north to end on Berneray, which has ferries from Leverburgh on Harris, connected by road to Lewis.

To the south A865 crosses to South Uist, a long island with Lochboisdale near its south tip - this has ferries from Mallaig on the mainland (in winter sometimes from Oban instead). The road continues to cross onto Eriskay, which has ferries from Barra.

Buses run regularly across Benbecula (see "Get around") and connect with the ferries. Buses W10, 16 and 17 run M-Sa along the chain of islands, integrated with ferries so you can travel in a day between Stornoway on Lewis and Castlebay on Barra. Only one service per day plies the entire route, but Benbecula being central has more connections, with four connections from Stornoway, six from Tarbert on Harris, six from North and South Uist, and three from Barra.

Get around
You need your own wheels to get around Benbecula and the Uists. No bike hire here, see the listings for North and South Uist.

Buses run six times M-Sa down the causeways from Berneray and North Uist onto Benbecula then onward to South Uist and Eriskay. The route through Benbecula is along the main road causeway via Grimsay to Gramsdale, turning onto the west coast road B892 past the airport and Balivanich village, then south through Nunton and Linaclate to rejoin the main road at Creagorry. On Grimsay the bus normally transits by the main road, but it will loop the island lane on request.

Car hire is available from Car Hire Hebrides (tel +44 1851 706500 their Stornoway office) and Ask Car Hire (+44 1870 602818), both based at the airport.

A car hire office on any of the Western Isles will be relaxed about you visiting other islands in the chain, and may allow drop-off there, but will not permit the car to go to the mainland.

See

 * Grimsay is the low-lying island to the north, nowadays a stepping-stone for the road to North Uist. Until the bridge was built in 1960, you either got here by ferry at high tide or sploshed across the North Ford channel at low tide, but not in between. The quiet loop of lane around it is a pleasant cycle ride. This lane connects to the smaller Fraoch Eilean (Heather Island) just north. There is no bridge to Ronay to the east, uninhabited since 1931.
 * is an odd structure from the Iron Age: stone cubicles radiate from a central hearth. There are few signs of domestic use and perhaps it was a ritual site.
 * Dun Ban is an artificial islet, east end of Loch Horneray, half a mile southeast of the wheelhouse.
 * are near the start of the causeway to Grimsay and North Uist. There's one large stone and ten smaller ones in a circle some 30 yards across. An ornately carved Pictish stone (now in the National Museum in Edinburgh) was found here: an important find, as evidence of Pictish culture in the Western Isles is rare. Free, 24 hours.
 * Balivanich watertower is a brutalist upside down cone on stilts outside the airport, built in 1970 to serve the RAF station and no longer in use.
 * Teampall Chaluim Chille 200 yards south of the road past the airport was a medieval church dedicated to St Columba, now little more than a heap of stones.
 * is the best preserved of Benbecula's dozen or so Iron Age brochs. It's on an islet in Loch Dun Mhurchaidh, linked by a sturdy causeway. It's been partly built over by a 17th-century village, long abandoned.
 * (Airidh Na H-aon Oidhche) is the intriguing name shared by a series of ancient sites across the Western Isles. This one is a Neolithic chambered cairn which has been partly built over by shielings (shepherds' huts). The common feature of these sites is shielings associated with Gaelic folk-tales, perhaps where wide-eyed shepherd boys were warned of the underworld creatures that would emerge to carry them off, if they didn't eat up all their porridge and say thank you.
 * is the best of the long sandy beaches around the west coast. It's accessed from the main road at Nunton / Baile nan Cailleach.
 * is the end of the B-road across southeast Benbecula, Grimsay (south) and Eilean na Cille. It's just a slipway for small fishing craft. Wiay is the low uninhabited island seen to the east.
 * is the end of the B-road across southeast Benbecula, Grimsay (south) and Eilean na Cille. It's just a slipway for small fishing craft. Wiay is the low uninhabited island seen to the east.
 * is the end of the B-road across southeast Benbecula, Grimsay (south) and Eilean na Cille. It's just a slipway for small fishing craft. Wiay is the low uninhabited island seen to the east.

Do

 * Golf: Benbecula GC is on the airfield, 4359 yards, par 62, visitor day ticket £25.
 * Hebridean Way is a way-marked hiking and cycling trail the length of the Outer Hebrides. Northbound, Stage 5 for hikers starts from Liniclate near the causeway from South Uist. It follows the shore to Nunton then cuts inland east (bypassing the main village) to ascend Ruabhal, then north to join the causeway. Cyclists simply stay on the west coast road to reach the causeway, which crosses Grimsay to Carinish on North Uist.
 * Fishing: mostly trout fishing in the many small lochs.
 * Snorkelling & freediving: you can have instruction and kit hire for around £75 a head, though half the point of these activities is that you can unroll your wetsuit from the back of the car and plunge in anywhere.
 * Surfing is possible on Benbecula, but the breaks are better on Lewis.
 * Liniclate Sports Centre is within the school, which also hosts the museum. The fitness centre is usually open to the public, the pool and games hall are open after school hours in term-time and after midday out of term.
 * Eilean Dorcha is a music festival at Linaclate, on the southwest coast near the causeway to South Uist. Camping is available nearby; the ferries have an amended timetable and shuttle buses run from the ferry terminals. The next is probably on 25-27 July 2024, tbc.
 * Eilean Dorcha is a music festival at Linaclate, on the southwest coast near the causeway to South Uist. Camping is available nearby; the ferries have an amended timetable and shuttle buses run from the ferry terminals. The next is probably on 25-27 July 2024, tbc.

Buy

 * Bank of Scotland is by the roundabout entrance to the airport, open M-F 10AM-3PM. It has an exterior free ATM.

Eat

 * Chinese Takeaway is in Balivanich behind the Stepping Stone, open W-Sa 11AM-8PM. It's hit-and-miss.
 * The Airport Cafe (see above) is generally open whenever the airport is active, non-passengers welcome, and there's free parking by the terminal.
 * The Airport Cafe (see above) is generally open whenever the airport is active, non-passengers welcome, and there's free parking by the terminal.

Drink

 * The Low Flyer in Balivanich is the only stand-alone pub on Benbecula. Drouthy, run-down, and temporarily closed in 2023.
 * Distillery: North Uist Distillery is at Nunton Steadings two miles south of Balivanich. They make gin and whisky.
 * Hotel bars: The Dark Island Hotel and Isle of Benbecula House Hotel have public bars, see Sleep.

Sleep

 * Mornay B&B is at Aird HS7 5LT, half a mile south of the supermarket.
 * Otter's Edge or Shell Bay is a camping and caravan site in Liniclate between Borve guesthouse and Dark Island Hotel. It has good facilities and is open mid-April to mid-September.
 * Orcadia Guest House is in Liniclate HS7 5PJ.
 * Self-catering cottages are dotted around the island, including some called "guest house" that no longer run as B&Bs.
 * Otter's Edge or Shell Bay is a camping and caravan site in Liniclate between Borve guesthouse and Dark Island Hotel. It has good facilities and is open mid-April to mid-September.
 * Orcadia Guest House is in Liniclate HS7 5PJ.
 * Self-catering cottages are dotted around the island, including some called "guest house" that no longer run as B&Bs.
 * Self-catering cottages are dotted around the island, including some called "guest house" that no longer run as B&Bs.
 * Self-catering cottages are dotted around the island, including some called "guest house" that no longer run as B&Bs.

Stay safe
Midges! Midges, midges, midges! They're a real nuisance in summer, in silent pesky clouds, and even if you don't see them, you'll find lots of bite marks later. Think twice about camping if you react badly to bites. The only sure repellent is a strong breeze... and close that door before they all get in.

The other hazards here are likewise natural: weather, soggy moors, seas that can quickly turn rough. So it's standard advice about stout footwear and warm clothing, as if Captain Obvious was squiring your Auntie Morag.

Go next

 * North Uist is an island with similar low terrain, prehistoric remnants, and a haunting emptiness as its population was evicted. It has ferries to Skye, and the road north crosses to Berneray for ferries to Harris.
 * South Uist is a long island with similar coastal terrain plus an eastern spine of hills. It has ferries to Mallaig on the mainland, and the road south crosses to Eriskay for ferries to Barra.

title: Benbecula