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Mamallapuram

Mamallapuram (மாமல்லபுரம் Māmallapuram), also known as Mahabalipuram, is a tourist town 60 km south of Chennai on the east coast of India, famous for its stone carvings.

Understand
Mamallapuram dates back to the Tamil Pallava dynasty in the 7th-9th century. The structures here, mostly carved straight out of granite, are among the oldest existing examples of Dravidian (South Indian) architecture.

Today's Mamallapuram is purely a tourist town and one of the major attractions around Chennai. The East Coast Road has made it easily accessible - just about an hour from the city. Unfortunately, the entire strip is now a mess of restaurants, resorts, amusement parks, people, discarded plastic and chaotic traffic. At one time you could see the Bay of Bengal almost all the way to M'puram, but now there is so much development that the ocean is glimpsed only as you get close to M'puram.

Mamallapuram itself was getting run down over the last decade with very patchy efforts at keeping the monuments preserved. This has changed in the last few years with the Shore Temple being included in the UNESCO heritage project. The surroundings have been made much nicer, but, there has been a lot of wind and water erosion on the temple carvings with many of them having undergone loss of detail over the years. Sort of too little, too late, but still, better than nothing.

Be prepared to fight your way through clutches of beggars, guides, snakes charmers and so on, all of which are an essential part of the experience and not to be frowned upon. The whole thing would be bland without them. A nuisance, but harmless.

By bus
Buses arrive in the centre of town from CMBT and Tiruvanmiyur in Chennai and from Kanchipuram. There are direct buses from CMBT, but you can take any bus that has ECR written on the front. The ECR bus, which can be picked up at Tiruvanmiur, is the most economical way of getting to Mamallapuram from Chennai, costing less than ₹40 (1 hour). The ECR bus will drop you about 2 kilometres outside of town, and rickshaws will be outside waiting (can be bargained down to ₹30). You can also catch the ECR bus from Pondicherry for ₹65 (2 hours).

To get to the ECR from Triplicane, walk to Kamarajar Promenade running parallel with the beach. Walk to the beach side of the road and head to the nearest bus stop. Take bus SP19 or SP19x to Tiruvanmiyur (₹15). The ECR bus stop is 30 meters before the Tiruvanmiur stop.

By taxi
A taxi from Chennai will cost ₹600-₹800 one-way ($15–20) though the rates are likely to be higher based on the season, cab operator. Visitors outside Chennai, even Indian nationals and most definitely from Overseas are likely to be asked for higher rates. To or from the airport will cost ₹800-₹1,200 and will take one hour off peak and 1 1/2 hours peak time. Please negotiate the cab fares at the beginning of the journey and remain firm if the operator asks for more.

By car
The drive from Chennai on the East Coast Road is, by Indian standards, a wonderful experience: it is one of the few toll roads in India and maintained well. That said, it's still only one lane per direction with no divider, so overtaking tends to be hair-raising and high-speed head-on collisions are all too common. The road runs parallel to the coast of Bay of Bengal making it a scenic driveway, although you will not see the sea until the last few miles. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami wreaked havoc around here, so you will see shanty-towns built for affected fishermen and much of the greenery has been swept away.

Get around
It is easy to get around the town on foot, though bike rental is also available. It is relatively a small city and all points of interest are close to each other. Paid parking areas are available near the Shore Temple and the Five Rathas.

You can also hire a cab (non-a/c) for about ₹150 for 2 1/2 hours, during which you will be taken to all the major tourists spots in Mamallapuram.

See
For visiting all three sites the Shore Temple, cave temples and the Five Rathas you need to buy entry tickets. One can buy tickets online at https://asi.payumoney.com/quick/mam or by scanning the QR Code displayed at entry gates of tourist places and then paying through mobile wallets. The ticket counter closes at 5:30PM and entry to the attractions ends at 6PM. A combined entrance ticket to the Shore Temple and the Five Rathas costs ₹600 for foreigners and ₹35 for Indian citizens. Local guides, who speak multiple languages, are available for around ₹600 for a tour of all main attractions.

Rath Temples
These temples are carved out of a rock rather than carved into a rock (Cave temples).

Cave Temples
The cave temples are carved into a rock.

Structural temples
The structural (free-standing) temples at Mamallapuram have been built with cut stones as building blocks, rather than carved into a rock (cave temples) or out of a rock (ratha temples).

Rock reliefs
Reliefs are carved on rocks or boulders.

Lighthouse
Note: Old and new light houses provide views across the area to the sea. There are several unfinished temples nearby, and the December 2004 tsunami exposed more previously submerged temples.

Do

 * Bike trips around Tamil Nadu's countryside can be organised by travel agencies in the town.
 * Chill on the sandy beach
 * Surf, a restaurant at the entrance of the town, provides the following facilities:
 * Boat rides to in the Bay of Bengal with lifeguards.
 * Fishing trips to the sea.
 * Turtle walk at the sea shore.
 * Trekking  to a hill nearby.
 * The price for the above activities are slightly more than they should be. For example, a boat ride with lifeguards for 45 minutes is ₹280/- per head.
 * Several yoga camps are organised on a daily basis.
 * Solaman at Sakthi Yoga offers 1½ hour drop-in classes for ₹150 per person. Classes are offered three times a day: 7AM, 9AM and 4PM.
 * Mamallapuram is known for its orphanages which often invite tourists to visit them (and donate). Many of them are affiliated to religious missions. So please be aware of this and inquire before donating.

Learn
Local sculptors in the main street leading to the sea (after the Tina Shell View Lodge) teach stone carving. You will learn how to sculpt a simple locket, and the longer you stay, the more complicated things you'll be able to do. For a simple locket at least 5 hours are needed. For ₹100 a day you can learn/work as long as you like everyday (the result is yours of course).

Buy
Stone sculptures made by local artists. You can see them on their work (and also learn it yourself, see ). You can save a lot of money if you buy sculptures in small side roads and not in the main road.

Eat

There are lots of food stands in the centre serving large portions for next-to-nothing prices. Look specifically at the road leading down the Shore Temple from the bus stop, early in the morning at breakfast time.

Mamallapuram is famous for its coconuts, which are available from hawkers around all major sites.

Clustered around Othavadai Street and Othavadai Cross are restaurants catering primarily to tourists, which serve generally undistinguished Western food. Your best bet is often fresh grilled fish (which you can usually select yourself) served with french fries or salad.

Drink
Many restaurants serve beer though it may not be on the menu, usually Kingfisher but sometimes 'Bullet' (slightly higher alcohol content). Prices of beer are generally ₹130-150 (premium-strong) per bottle at cost and sold at ₹250 (if you ask) in restaurants.

No government-run TASMAC wine shop is available in town; to buy alcohol you must drive around 2 km out from Mamallapuram to the TASMAC Elite near the ECR road junction of Mahabalipuram town.

Mid-range

Stay safe
India's first nuclear reactor and much of its nuclear research program is just down the beach in Kalpakkam. Don't wander into restricted areas.

Most restaurants close by 11PM and the town is basically dead after that. Loitering around very late at night is not too safe.

Be careful when getting into the sea. There can be sudden dips and the sea often gets very rough and unsafe.

Nearby

 * The Eagle Temple — a short bus ride from Mamallupuram brings you to the spectacular Eagle Temple. Take it easy on the climb up, as it's a long way, but the views are worth it.
 * Thirukalukundram — This town is home to the famous Hindu Vedagiriswarar temple complex (Eagle temple).

Go next

 * Covelong and Muttukadu
 * Pondicherry (Puducherry) — Mamallapuram is a good stopover if you are making a trip from Chennai to Pondicherry by road.

title: Mamallapuram


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Mamanuca Islands

Mamanuca Islands are a group of tiny islands west of Viti Levu in Fiji.

Understand
The Mamanuca Islands consist of more than 20 islands. At high tide seven of them are completely inundated. These islands offer coral reefs, crystal clear waters, and palm fringed sandy beaches.

Islands
Islands in the Mamanuca chain, not all of which are inhabited, include:

 * Amunuca
 * Beachcomer
 * Castaway
 * Eori
 * Kadavulailai (a/k/a Bounty)
 * Kadomo
 * Male
 * Malololailai
 * Malolo
 * Mana
 * Manu
 * Matamanoa
 * Modriki
 * Monu
 * Monuriki, an uninhabited tiny island, is very much off the beaten track. The movie Cast Away was shot on this island.
 * Nautanivono
 * Navadra
 * Navini
 * Nomatu
 * Oalito
 * South Sea
 * Tavarua
 * Tavua
 * Tivua
 * Tokoriki
 * Treasure
 * Vomo
 * Vomo Lailai
 * Yanuya

From Nadi International Airport

 * Flights on a helicopter (Island Hoppers) or float plane offer the fastest, and most expensive, way to reach the islands.

From Denarau Marina
The marina is a 20-minute drive from Nadi Airport. One can generally catch a free bus from any of the major resorts near Nadi or from the airport to Denarau Marina. If you aren't sure, ask the front desk; they can probably call the bus for pick up. Port Denerau is the location of some of the largest and most expensive resorts on the main island, including the Sheraton, Hilton, Westin, and Radisson Hotels.

 * Large, luxury catamarans from South Sea Cruises with seating for approximately 200 people take several hours to reach your destination, depending on which island is your destination. They are often air-conditioned lounge with food and drinks available for purchase. There are three daily departures: 9:15AM, 12:15PM, 3:15PM.
 * Water Taxis (Seafiji) also service the islands in small aluminium boats. They are good for groups going to the same destination.

Get around
South Sea Cruises have a resort connections service. There are two modern vessels providing transfers to your Fiji Island resorts in the Mamanuca Islands. Each vessel has a "Captain's Lounge" where you can book reserved seating and travel in greater comfort. These lounges are air conditioned and include refreshments en route. South Sea Cruises ferries depart Denarau Marina several times a day and are very efficient.

Eat
It won't surprise anybody that Fiji's cuisine features a lot of seafood. However, it may surprise those not familiar with Fiji's history that it also includes numerous Indian dishes introduced by Indian labourers brought over in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Kokoda is a Fijian delicacy similar to ceviche or Hawaiian poke. It consists of pieces of raw fish marinated in lemon juice and coconut milk, often accompanied by pepper, onion and tomato.

Rourou soup is a smooth and creamy soup made from blended taro leaves and coconut milk.

Fresh tropical fruit is also popular on the islands, including plantains, papaya, mango and pawpaw.

Drink
Coconut milk!

Stay safe
The Mamanuca Islands are small and secluded, isolating them from much of the theft or other crimes committed in Fiji. The most prevalent dangers come from the environment. Wear plenty of sunblock, do not walk on or touch the coral reef or sea creatures inhabiting it, and be cautious of when and where you swim as large waves or undertows are possible.

Go next
Head to the Yasawa Islands, one of Fiji's most stunning regions. The remote Yasawa Islands group consists of a chain of 20 ancient volcanic islands. Four of these islands have dramatic elevations with summits just short of 600 m above sea level. The pristine white sandy beaches and dramatic monoliths surrounded by crystal-clear lagoons provide a beautiful environment in which to relax or enjoy the many activities on offer. Approximately 30 resorts are spread through the islands and most resorts provide basic accommodation and meals with access to natural and cultural sites.

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

title: Mamanuca Islands


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Mamaroneck

Mamaroneck is a town in Westchester County in New York.

Understand
"Mamaroneck" usually refers to the Village of Mamaroneck. The village is split between the town of the same name and the town of Rye. The town also contains the village of Larchmont, which has its own article, and additional land called the unincorporated area.

Mamaroneck is a largely suburban bedroom community along the Long Island Sound.

Get in
Your best bet is to drive in unless you are just visiting the strip along Mamaroneck Avenue. Unless there is a major event going on, parking can easily be found. The other major alternative is to take Metro North Railroad's New Haven Line to the Mamaroneck station. It is about 35 minutes from New York and the fare is $14.50 round trip off peak. The train station is on the man drag (Mamaroneck Avenue) about three blocks from the water. Westchester County also operates Bee-Line buses. Routes 60 and 61 stop in Mamaroneck.

Get around
Getting around the downtown can easily be done by walking. Otherwise, driving is your best bet. Taxis are easily available.

Eat
There are many good restaurants along Mamaroneck Avenue.

title: Mamaroneck


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Mamirauá

Mamirauà National Reseve is in Amazonas of Brazil.

History
The Mamirauá ecotourism programme offers a series of activities, including excursions with local guides in channels, lakes and trails inside the forest; visits to local villages at the rivers margins, in order to interact and get to know the Amazonian population and their way of life, and also the unique opportunity to contribute to a pioneer conservation project.

Climate
Hot and wet tropical climate

Do
A rich aquatic flora and fauna, and a paradise for fishing sport.

title: Mamirauá


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Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park is a United States national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kentucky's Caves and Lakes region. It preserves the world's longest known cave system, with over of caves, visitable only by guided tour. While the caves are the highlight of the park, there are also extensive hiking trails and other outdoor activities. The park was established in 1941 and draws nearly two million visitors annually.

History
The cave is approximately 15 million years old. Humans have been visiting the cave for approximately 4,000 years, although it was only discovered by Europeans in 1797. Through 1816 the cave was mined for nitrates, used in gunpowder, but after the War of 1812 ended, it was sold and cave tours became popular. With nearly 200 years as a tourist attraction Mammoth Cave is one of North America's oldest tourist destinations.

Landscape
Mammoth Cave, by far the world's longest known cave system, is the heart of the South-Central Kentucky karst, an integrated set of subterranean drainage basins covering more than 1,050 square kilometers – 400 square miles. Atop this labyrinth is a biologically diverse set of ecosystems inextricably interlinked with the ecosystems underground. This physiographic province, with Mammoth Cave National Park at its core, was declared an International Biosphere Reserve in 1990.

Flora and fauna
Mammoth Cave National Park is home to over 70 threatened, endangered or state listed species. More than 130 species are regular inhabitants of the caves. These species are divided almost equally among three classes of cave life: obligate cave dwellers known as troglobites, facultative species which can complete their life cycle in or out of caves (troglophiles), and those that use caves for refuge (trogloxenes). The park has cave species and biotic cave communities that are among the most diverse in the world.

Because of its diverse array of landscapes and habitats, the park contains an extraordinary 1300 species of plants.

Climate
Kentucky has a moderate climate, characterized by warm, yet moist conditions. Summers are usually warm, and winters cool. An average 46 in (116 cm) of precipitation falls during the year, with spring being the rainiest season.

The inside of the cave typically stays moderately cool year-round, about 54°F (12°C) in the summer.

Get in
Most visitors access the park from two roadways which have interchanges with Interstate 65, one near Park City, Kentucky (KY 255) and the other near Cave City (KY 70). KY 70 also enters the park from the west side of the park, near Brownsville. No entrance fee is charged.

No public transportation is available. The nearest commercial airports are in Louisville and Nashville.

Fees and permits
There are no fees to enter the park, but all cave tours require a paid ticket.

Get around
Cave tours depart from the park visitor center.

No public transportation is available in the area, including taxi service.

Cave tours
During the summer it is possible to explore a tiny part of the cave without a ranger, but all other areas of the cave require a ranger guide. Besides the year round tours, there are many others that are offered seasonally. It is best to check the park website, or contact the park directly for exact tours offered during your planned visit. In the summer, reservations are strongly recommended as tours sell out quickly, but at other times of year it is usually possible to sign up for a tour when you arrive at the park. Remember that the park is on Central Time (same as Nashville, one hour behind Louisville).

Other activities
The park offers a tremendous number of hiking trails, as well as options for boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, and general recreation.

Buy
Within the park there is a gift shop at the visitor center, and a store at the hotel offering gifts, snacks and basic supplies.

Eat
A restaurant is at the Mammoth Cave Hotel. This is the only public food service within the park. Outside of the park, fast-food restaurants are found in Cave City (McDonald's, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Long John Silver's, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen), and family-style restaurants. More dining options are available in Glasgow 25 miles east of the park and in Bowling Green 40 miles south of the park.

Drink
Edmonson county is "dry," although Barren County have voted to allow liquor sales county wide. Cave City, Glasgow, and Bowling Green are the nearest cities to the park where full liquor sales are permitted.

Sleep
Motel and camping facilities are available in the park. National chain motels can be found in nearby Cave City and Park City. There are cabins available and bed and breakfasts minutes from the park.

Camping
Mammoth Cave National Park has several camping options.

Backcountry
Backcountry camping is permitted in thirteen designated campsites and within 100 feet (30 m) of the Green River. A free backcountry permit is required and can be picked up at the park headquarters. The maximum group size is limited to 8 people and the length of stay cannot exceed 14 days.

Stay safe
In the warm weather months the ticks can be ferocious in the backcountry. If camping overnight during this period, consider using permethrin treated clothing or bring along some DEET based insect repellent at the very least.

Go next

 * Nashville, the home of country and gospel music (including the Grand Ole Opry), is about 75 miles (120 km) south of the park on I-65.
 * Louisville is the home of the Kentucky Derby, the world's most famous horse race. 80 miles (130 km) north of the park on I-65.
 * Bowling Green is the home of the factory where the Corvette sports car is manufactured, the nearby National Corvette Museum, and the Lost River Cave. 28 miles (45 km) south on I-65.
 * Barren River Reservoir State Resort Park features extensive boating and fishing on a man-made reservoir. A lodge and large campground are in the park. From Mammoth Cave, take KY 70 to Cave City, KY 90 to Glasgow, then south on U.S. 31-E to the park, about 20 miles (32 km) from Mammoth Cave. The park is home to the annual Glasgow Highland Games, one of the largest Scottish athletic evens in the nation.
 * Lexington, the "Horse Capital of the World" and home to many Thoroughbred horse farms. 100 miles (160 km) northeast; take I-65 north to Elizabethtown, then the Martha Layne Collins Blue Grass Parkway east to Lexington.

title: Mammoth Cave National Park


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Mammoth Lakes

Mammoth Lakes is a resort town next to Mammoth Mountain which is a popular skiing destination. Mammoth Lakes is in the Eastern Sierra region of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. In 2020, it had a permanent population of 7,200 people.

Understand
The Sierra Nevada mountains are a popular snow skiing destination. For Californians living in Los Angeles, Mammoth Mountain is the easiest resort to get to from Los Angeles.

The Town of Mammoth Lakes serves one main function: a place for these hordes of Los Angelenos to stay. Condos, motels, hotels, and restaurants fill this small town to serve the flood of winter visitors. In summer, the flood stops and rents plunge, making Mammoth an affordable base to explore the region.

Climate
At 8000 ft of elevation, the city stays naturally cool during the region's summer heat waves. Nearby Bishop routinely heats to 105 F while Mammoth tops out around 84 F.

By car
Nearby US 395 brings visitors from the south (Los Angeles and Bakersfield) and the north (Reno).

From the San Francisco Bay Area, Highway 120 (Tioga Road) from Yosemite is the quick route, but is passable only in summer and early fall. Interstate 80 and US 50 provide cross-mountain access during the winter months, subject to icy conditions and closure due to blizzards.

By bus
The Eastern Sierra Transit Authority (ESTA) operates a bus to and from Lone Pine in California and the Reno Nevada Greyhound Bus Station that stops at the Mammoth Lakes McDonald's on Route 203, once northbound and once southbound each day (the bus also stops at the Reno/Tahoe Airport). The same authority operates a route to Mammoth Lakes from the Lancaster, California Greyhound Bus Station also once northbound and once southbound each day (the bus also stops near the Inyo Kern Airport).

Get around
Between the city of Mammoth Lakes and the Mammoth Mountain resort, a bike will do fine in summer. Frequent trams run between the town and the slopes during the winter, with outside racks for skis and snowboards. For everything else, you need a car.

Do

 * Ski & snowboard (fall, winter and spring, depending on precipitation). Most years the ski season extends until July 4th. One of the top-ranking ski and snowboarding resorts in the United States.
 * Mountain biking (summer only). The ski resort will carry your bike up to the top of the mountain so you can coast down it. Rentals available.
 * Fish. The many lakes in the lake basin just west of the city (and north of the mountain) are popular. Boat rentals available.
 * Hike (summer only). To beautiful and amazing locations such as Rainbow Falls and Devils Postpile. An easy 3.5-hour hike.
 * Horseback Ride (summer only). Various of tours through beautiful remote areas.

Go next

 * Bodie an old ghost town from the gold digger era
 * Mono Lake a natural basin in the middle of the mountains
 * Yosemite National Park
 * Manzanar, the site of an Internment Camp for people of Japanese ancestry during World War II.
 * The White Mountains and their ancient bristlecone pines.
 * Devils Postpile National Monument is a short bus ride from the Mammoth Mountain ski resort.

title: Mammoth Lakes


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Mamoudzou

Mamoudzou is the chief town in Mayotte, with a population of 71,437 in 2017. It's on the main island, Grande-Terre, looking across a 2 km channel to the other island, Petite-Terre, which has the airport.

Understand
Mamoudzou was a collection of half-a-dozen villages and sugar plantations that grew together from the 1860s, as this was the obvious landing point from the capital Dzouadzi, and one of the few expanses of flat land in this rugged terrain. And it grew and grew, until in 1977 it was made the provisional capital, though it took another ten years for all the government functions to transfer here. This status was "provisional" pending the signing of a decree, which nobody got around to doing, so Dzouadzi is still the de iure capital.

Kawéni village at the north end of town is the oldest part, dating from the 14th century, but is now a large industrial zone. Its mangrove swamps were reclaimed and built over to create this.

The Tourist Office is by the ferry pier, open M-F 08:00-17:00, Sa 09:00-16:00

Get in
See Mayotte for flights to Dzaoudzi–Pamandzi Airport from Reunion, Comoros, Madagascar and Nairobi; also for ferries from Comoros. These all land on Petite-Terre, so you then need to take La Barge, the car ferry from Dzaoudzi, a 15 min crossing.

is the ferry landing point in Mamoudzou. Europcar have a rental office here.

Get around
There are no standard buses, and taxi brousse or "bush taxi" is the local transport. Their rates are fixed and (as of 2022) within town you pay a flat fare of €1.40 by day, €2.10 between 19:00 and 05:00. The longest trip you could make, from Mamoudzou to Bouéni in the south, costs €6.20.

Road discipline is erratic, so think twice about driving yourself.

See
The daily market is very colorful and bustling.

Do

 * Go on boat rides into the lagoon to watch dolphins and whales (seasonal).
 * Complexe de Kawani is the main sports facility, southwest corner of town. Cavani Stadium (capacity 5000) is multi-use and hosts the national football team. They're not affiliated to FIFA and just play friendlies against the other East African islands.
 * Course de Pneus is a tyre-rolling race, held in June over 1.8 km through the town streets. Participants have to dress up to an annual theme, and whack a tyre along with a couple of batons.

Buy

 * Commercial Centre Baobab is what passes for a shopping centre, south side of town. Limited selection and same high prices.
 * Sodifram supermarket near the ferry pier is open M-Sa 08:30-20:00, Su 08:30-12:00.

Eat

 * Along the harbour front or just inland are La Croisette, Auberge du Rond-point, La Renaissance Alpajoe, La Table du Senat, May'Food, Le Kamcham, Le Citron Vert, Le Boboka and Le Maki Gourmand.
 * A little way along the main road north are L'Orient Express, Hippocampe, Paris 13 and Haraka.

Drink

Bars include Le Mermoz within Caribou Hotel, Le Camion Rouge and Le Camion Blanc.

Connect
Mamoudzou has 4G from all Mayotte carriers, which extends along the ferry crossing and highway to the airport. As of Aug 2022, 5G has not reached these islands.

Go next

 * Transport on Grande-Terre radiates from Mamoudzou.
 * Petite-Terre is only a 15 min ferry ride.

title: Mamoudzou


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Manacapuru

Manacapuru is a city of 102,000 people (2020)  on the banks of the Solimões River in Amazonas. Manacapuru is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the Amazon, receiving a large number of tourists who visit the nearby beaches, lakes and streams, which have several jungle hotels.

Understand
This small riverside city promises to grow as an alternative harbour for all boat traffic upriver Solimoes, i.e., towards Colombia and Peru, as it saves you a few hours compared with Manaus. Also, it is still a genuine "jungle town", compared to the cityscape of the state capital.

The culture of Manacapuru is rich in traditions and folk festivals that are very appreciated. Due to the Cirandas Festival, which attracts a lot of tourists to the city, Manacapuru is known as the "Land of Cirandas".

In music, the highlights are ciranda and forró.

Get in
It is 93 km from Manaus by land. The main access to the city is through the Manoel Urbano Highway over the Jornalista Phelippe Daou Bridge.

Buses from Manaus every hour: R$ 15, 2 hours. Shared taxis at R$ 20 take you to the city limit, and can take you further into the city for an additional fee.

By car
The only highways in Manacapuru are
 * the AM-070, which connects Manacapuru to Manaus, Iranduba and Manaquiri; and
 * the AM-254, which connects Manaus to Novo Airão, passing through Manacapuru.

Access from Manaus is done mainly by the AM-070 where the Jornalista Phelippe Daou Bridge is located. The trip takes about an hour by car.

Get around
All walkable. Mototaxis at R$ 2.50 within the city. Taxis charge up to R$ 10.

See

 * Cais do Porto, in the center of the city, is one of the main tourist attractions. It is a historic and regional port.
 * The centenary Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré is the best-known postcard of Manacapuru. The building underwent several constructions, which improved and expanded the structure over time. The canoe-shaped altar in the church was used in the mass given by Pope John Paul II, when he visited Manaus in 1980.
 * The City Council, which housed the headquarters of the Executive Branch during the 1930s, the State Collector's Office and the Justice Forum. In 1976, the City Council of Manacapuru settled permanently in the building, causing it to receive the name Palácio Antero de Rezende; Colégio Nossa Senhora de Nazaré, whose works began in 1946 and were completed in 1951. Its architectural design has a lot to do with the European style.
 * The Restauração building was inaugurated on January 1, 1898. The name is a tribute to the conspiracy movement started around 1640 by 56 Portuguese patriots, with the aim of freeing Portugal from the yoke of Castile (1580-1640). Restauração stands out, historically, as being, for many years, the most important trading house in Manacapuru. After decades of abandonment, the old building in ruins became part of a new project, now in the hands of the Social Service of Commerce. It underwent an intense renovation, gaining modern colors and accessories, in a new historical context. After the re-inauguration, in 2003, it hpuses several social projects in place, such as music and theater. The building has a library, an art exhibition gallery and an amphitheater.
 * Also worth visiting are the Tourist River Terminal and the Tourist Service Center; Municipal Market, one of the oldest in the city; Culture house; Ingá Park; Miriti Spa and 16th of July Square.

Ecotourism
Ecotourism attracts thousands of tourists to the municipality. Among the city's natural attractions, the following stand out:
 * Manacapuru Ecological Reserve, with typical floodplain vegetation, with gigantic trees, such as the Sumaúma. It is characterized as a migratory and poultry production area, and is also one of the best places for sport fishing, due to the variety of fish such as piranha and aruanã. It has a floating hotel and a bird, alligator and bird observatory. It is located on the left bank of the Solimões River.
 * The Sahu-Apé Indigenous Community is also a natural attraction of the locality, where indigenous spices are found. Santo Afonso Island, on the Solimões River, is also a much-visited natural attraction.

Do

 * The Rio Negro Right Bank Environmental Protection Area is a 1,140-km² sustainable use conservation unit that controls use of an area of Amazon rainforest along the Rio Negro above the junction with the Solimões River.

Go next

 * Consider Nova Airao to get close contact with pink dolphins.
 * Along the highway to Manaus you can stop at one of several small beaches for a dip and a beer, and then hail the next bus.

title: Manacapuru


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Manado

Manado is the largest and capital city in, and main gateway to Northern Sulawesi (Sulawesi Utara), Indonesia.

Understand
The capital of the province, the former stronghold of the Dutch (called Menado during Dutch colonial times), and the cultural centre of the Minahasa people, for a long time Manado prospered through trade with the nearby Philippines, and the spice trade with the rest of the world. Alas, the bombings of World War II, and the suppression of a local insurgency in the 1950s flattened most of Manado's older buildings. While by Indonesian standards still relatively prosperous, most visitors will be rather less impressed and head straight to the islands and reefs of nearby Bunaken. Unlike much of the rest of predominantly-Muslim Indonesia, Protestant Christianity is the dominant religion in Manado.

Weather
Mostly sunny throughout the year, the wet season usually starts from September until March or April. During its hottest days, it can reach up to 32 °C. In the highlands of Tomohon, Tondano, Kawangkoan, it is cooler but sunny nonetheless.

Get in
Manado is quite far from the rest of Indonesia, and most visitors arrive by plane.

By plane

There are also frequent flights to Jakarta (Garuda, Lion Air 3 hr, from Rp 600,000) and Makassar (1½ hr). Other flights include Surabaya (east Java), Balikpapan (Kalimantan), Denpasar (Bali), Ternate (North Maluku), and Sorong (Papua).

A taxi from the airport to central Manado takes about 30 minutes and costs Rp 120,000 (bargaining may be necessary). There are also frequent mikrolets leaving from Terminal Paal 2 [paal doo-ah] costing Rp 6,000 that take about the same amount of time (Route Paal 2 - Lapangan, just past the gate of the airport, on main road). Grab has a pick-up zone but it seems gojek pick must be on parking.

Departure tax from Manado is Rp 100,000 for international flights and Rp 30,000 for domestic flights. The terminal has an internet cafe in the public area, and the standard array of restaurants (KFC, Starbucks, Es Teler 77) and gift shops inside, but note that there is nothing once past immigration.

If you need a waiting place (for example arriving at night and going directly to Bunaken with public boat at 14:00), you can either stay at baggage claim (free) or the Starbucks in public space next to International departure (own wifi, some power plug). Else, the public space (just after domestic baggage claim) is all outdoor. Didn’t see water fountain.

Get around
The main ways of getting around are ojek/ompreng, moped taxis that can be a bit scary, or with Mikrolets (mikros), the blue minibuses that you jump on just standing by the street. They all have a certain route, and within a day one should figure out how it works.

By taxi
There are several taxi operators here: Bluebird, Taxi Kokapura, Trust, Celebrity.

By Angkot (Angkutan Kota)
Also known as mikrolets or bemos. Angkot is the typical Indonesia's cheapest way of transportation inside the city. Most of cities in Indonesia have this Angkot, along with Manado. Angkot is a minibus of 8-10 passengers. The cost is charged on per trip basis, which is Rp 6,000 (as of Jun 2024). You may be asked to pay extra seat if your luggages occupy one. Just ensure to keep them on your lap.

Compared to angkots in other cities in Indonesia that have side-facing seats, the ones in Manado are fitted with all front-facing seats. Manadonese are known for being picky, and would only take the good-looking and full music angkots.

Example routes:
 * Pasar 45 - paal 2 (near public boat pier to bunaken - bus terminal)
 * Paal 2 to Karombasan (bus terminal - bus terminal)
 * Paal 2 - Lapangan (Bus terminal paal 2 - Lapangan/airport)
 * Wanea samrat - Coco samrat
 * Perkamil - pasar 45
 * Klapeng - ?
 * Paal 4 - Taas Banjer
 * Malayang - pasar 45

By ojek
Ojek is motorcab taxi (pronounced 'O - jack'). Ojek is also a typical cheap land transportation in Indonesian cities. In Manado, ojek rate is not fixed, and depends on the distance and is by negotiation. For a very short distance of approximately one kilometre, it will be around Rp 4,000.

By transportation-sharing app
Transportation sharing app like Grab and Go-Jek are already a commonplace in Manado. You can even take it to go to Tomohon (give the driver a little bit extra, considering the worst case that the driver needs to go back to Manado without passenger).

See

 * Modoinding. Agro-tourism place, where all kind of vegetables and spices come from, to supply the demands of east part of Indonesia, the area is about 900 to 1200 m above sea level.  The place is cool and you will find Modoinding valley with Moat Lake with Bukit Doa on the east, very beautiful place.  There is also Ambang National Park where you can see Golden Owl as favourite for bird watching activity.  About  from Manado.  You also able to stay in the community house, traditional Minahasan wooden house for Rp 200,000 a night for the small house with western toilet and shower.
 * Modoinding. Agro-tourism place, where all kind of vegetables and spices come from, to supply the demands of east part of Indonesia, the area is about 900 to 1200 m above sea level.  The place is cool and you will find Modoinding valley with Moat Lake with Bukit Doa on the east, very beautiful place.  There is also Ambang National Park where you can see Golden Owl as favourite for bird watching activity.  About  from Manado.  You also able to stay in the community house, traditional Minahasan wooden house for Rp 200,000 a night for the small house with western toilet and shower.
 * Modoinding. Agro-tourism place, where all kind of vegetables and spices come from, to supply the demands of east part of Indonesia, the area is about 900 to 1200 m above sea level.  The place is cool and you will find Modoinding valley with Moat Lake with Bukit Doa on the east, very beautiful place.  There is also Ambang National Park where you can see Golden Owl as favourite for bird watching activity.  About  from Manado.  You also able to stay in the community house, traditional Minahasan wooden house for Rp 200,000 a night for the small house with western toilet and shower.

Do

 * Day trip to Bunaken: Manado is famous throughout the region for its diving areas.  Bunaken is one of the well-known national marine park in Indonesia.  30 minutes boat ride.  See its Wikivoyage article for more information.
 * Day trip to Tangkoko Nature Reserve: home of tarsiers and macaques, about  from Manado.  1-2 hours ride.  See its Wikivoyage article for more information.

Eat
Manadonese food is famous throughout Indonesia for two things: the Minahasa eat absolutely anything, and the flavour of choice is very spicy. Sugar is used little if at all, with flavour added through lemon and herbs. Being Christian, the Minahasa also often marinate meat in alcohol and favour pork. More exotic protein options include cats, forest rats, fruit bats, and dogs, the last of which is the obligatory centrepiece of any wedding ceremony or Christmas feast. Classic dishes include:
 * ikan mas bakar rica, grilled spicy fish cooked in traditional style, using a piece of coconut shell as a way of cooking. Grilled together with chilli, that poured in the fish while cooking.
 * ikan mas goreng, fish fried till the soft bone is crunchy.
 * ayam rica-rica, grilled chicken topped with a fiery red chilli-and-onion paste
 * ikan mas woku balanga, fish simmered in herbs
 * babi tore, fried pork until crunched with a lot of chilli
 * perkedel milu, corn fritters
 * tinutuan (or bubur manado), a goopy porridge of rice, pumpkin, noodles and random vegetables; doesn't look very attractive, but it can be tasty and, for once, not spicy.
 * miedal, very similar to tinutuan (same sauce), but using noodles instead of rice.
 * biapong, a Chinese-style bun dumpling, what is called 'bao' in Chinese, is called biapong here. Different fillings are available.

Dutch settlement here has also brought in a few surprising influences, notably:
 * brenebon (bruine bonesoep), a rich red kidney bean soup, comes in two versions, savoury (as a side dish) and sweet (for desserts).
 * klappertaart, a western-style coconut cake.

Budget

 * Fresh grilled fish is served every morning in a small warung near the harbour dock to Bunaken. The place is very basic, but don't mind the look.  Just ask around for warung ikan bakar and hope someone helps you.

Drink
These two kind of drinks are made from Palm trees: Please drink responsibly, some locals have a bad habit of drinking irresponsibly. A major crime problem in town is caused by drunkards.
 * saguer,
 * cap tikus

There are also some coffee shops.

Sleep
Manado is Sulawesi's other bustling centre of business and tourism. And with demand to match, the prices here are higher than elsewhere in Sulawesi. However, if you are willing to pay up, luxury options that you haven't seen since Makassar are available here.

Mobile
There are three main providers of GSM cellular services in Manado: Telkomsel, Indosat/Satelindo, and XL (Axiata co). As per November 2010, Telkomsel provides EDGE, 3G WCDMA, 3.5G HSDPA. Indosat only GPRS, EDGE. XL up to 3G. High bandwidth cell service mainly works in the downtown area of Manado. All three carry Blackberry services.

Prepaid GSM SIM cards and CDMA RUIM cards can be cheaply purchased (approx US$1) at almost every supermarket along with their reload vouchers, ranging from Rp 5,000 to Rp 100,000.

Internet cafe
If you want to go online cheaply then go to Ocean internet cafe, at the 3rd floor of Samudera minimarket located in the Megamas shopping centre area on the Manado boulevard. The rate is approximately Rp 5,000 hourly, and the bandwidth speed is good. It is open from 10:00 to 22:00.

Go next

 * Bunaken National Park — a diver's paradise. Many small bungalows are available on this small but beautiful island.
 * Tangkoko Nature Reserve near Bitung — home of the big-eyed Tarsius monkey (the smallest monkey in the world).
 * Tomohon — a small city, surrounded by three active volcanoes: Mount Lokon, Mount Mahawu, and Mount Masarang. 45 minutes from Manado, Tomohon is a very nice place to stay for its cold climate (around 20 degrees Celsius).
 * Tumbak for snorkelling and diving, south of Manado and Tomohon.
 * Gorontalo to watch whale sharks, and then a boat ride to the Togian Islands.
 * Ambon — the centre of Maluku (what used to be the Spice Islands).
 * Ternate — a volcanic island with a vibrant city, beautiful lakes, several snorkelling spots, fortress, and sultanate sites. 1 hr by plane.

title: Manado


text:
Managua

Managua is the capital and largest city of Nicaragua. A city that saw the death of Sandino, the rise of the Somozas, and their fall from power at the hand of the Sandinistas, Managua is full of history and the closest thing to a metropolis Nicaragua has. Ever threatened by earthquakes, Managua mostly lost its historical downtown in a 1972 quake, but is slowly gaining yet another face through the urban renewal policies of the current government. While many visitors to Nicaragua try to limit their time in the capital, you should not make the same mistake, as its theaters, museums, monuments, and historical remnants are quite worthwhile, to say nothing of the nightlife.

Understand
With a population well beyond a million, Managua is the second biggest metro area in Central America and by far the biggest city and urban center in Nicaragua. Almost every fourth Nicaraguan is a Managuan and the city still grows rapidly through people moving in, making a person "born and raised" in Managua something of a rare sight. Managua is the undisputed commercial, political, cultural and religious center of the country and many new trends originate from here before they affect the rest of the country. The Managua focus of nearly all media (print and TV) is so staggeringly large, that an address without mention of the city is almost always meant to mean Managua by default in news or advertising.

Managua's location between the rival cities of León and Granada made it an ideal compromise site when the capital was relocated in the 1850s. While this decision seemed genius at the time, geology today indicates otherwise, as there is an active fault line right where downtown Managua used to be (before the 1972 earthquake knocked it down, that is). Managua's economy is based mainly on trade. The city is Nicaragua's chief trading center for coffee, cotton, and other crops. It is also an important industrial center. Its chief products for trade include beer, coffee, matches, textiles, and shoes. A very large natural lake is the city's most prominent geographic feature. Americans call it Lake Managua, but Nicaraguans call it Xolotlan (which is also the word you'll see on signs, official maps, etc.).

The city has seen the rise and fall of political powers throughout Nicaragua's history and suffered major earthquakes in 1931 and 1972. Since the 1972 earthquake, residential and business areas have been built on the outskirts of Managua, giving rise to urban sprawl on a massive scale. Managua has been dubbed the Venice of Central America because of its escalating use of drainage canals that can be found throughout the city.

Although it doesn't have the colonial beauty of León and Granada and travelers and expats alike love to complain about the dusty hot streets in the dry season (roughly November to mid May) and the mud and torrential canals in the rainy season (roughly May to mid November), Managua does have some things to offer for the tourist. So it might be worth to spend some time here and not head out on the first bus or plane you can get.

As you can see in the climate table above, Managua does not experience big changes in temperature, but it does have a pronounced rainy and dry season. The days at the end of the dry season in May are usually uncomfortably hot, often with a lot of humidity as the clouds of the coming rainfall gather. When the rain finally does come, it can be torrential and both the streets (most are not paved with asphalt but stones) and the makeshift canals throughout the city usually take a heavy toll from this first rainfall. During the rainy season, the aforementioned drainage canals (usually dry) can become vicious streams and many a thing, person or animal has fallen in them never to be seen again, so take care.

Residents of the city and of the department of Managua are called Managüas.

Budget
Nicaragua is one of Latin America's cheaper destinations. Its hotel, food and transportation costs are a fraction of its neighbors. Eating at local restaurants is extremely inexpensive, and for US$30, a meal for four can be served at these locations. Fast food are similarly priced to those in North America and Europe. High-end restaurants are relatively affordable compared to high income countries. Foreign cuisine, like French and Italian specialties, are served at high-end locations for a fraction of the price found in North American and European cities. However, things that are unremarkable or daily fare in Europe may be considered expensive specialties in Nicaragua. Transportation is equally affordable with bus trips for C$2.50 (córdobas) and taxi trips starting at C$20. While Managua also has cheap accommodation, it is one of a few cities in the country with luxury accommodation that may even scrape the four figures in dollars.

Get in
Managua is the transportation hub of the country so if you're traveling around Nicaragua you're pretty sure to pass through even if only to change buses or planes. Routes heading to the capital are often prioritized when it comes to repairs and upgrades but they also tend to be the most prone to congestion.

By car
The Pan-American Highway crosses Nicaragua. It is marked as Highway 1 throughout Nicaragua, as it is in neighboring Costa Rica or Honduras. From Tegucigalpa, Honduras to Managua is 370 kilometers and the drive takes about 7 hours. From San Jose, Costa Rica to Managua is 420 kilometers and the drive takes about 7 hours.

By bus
International buses connect Managua to most Central American capitals and southern Mexico. The buses are usually air-conditioned and in a good shape, however bring time and patience as the trips can take quite some time. As flights between Central American cities are expensive and there are no railroads to speak of, buses are often the best option unless you are more pressed for time than money. Reputable companies include: transnica ticabus and king quality. For routes schedules and prices see their websites.

There are direct bus routes from all major cities stopping at various points. The most important bus stations from a tourist point of view are Mercado Roberto Huembes (buses to the west and southwest), Mercado Israel Lewites   (buses to the north and northwest) and UCA (minibuses to short distance destinations see below)

Buses from Masaya, Granada, San Marcos and some from Jinotepe come in through the southeastern Carretera Masaya entrance and pass by the Centroamerica rotonda before going to either Mercado Roberto Huembes or UCA.

Buses from Jinotepe also come in through carretera Sur stopping by 7 Sur, a hub to go to via Carretera Nueva and Vieja Leon and C. Sur.

To go to the mountains in the north, the Rio San Juan region in the southeast or the Caribbean coast, buses leave from Mercado El Mayoreo.

By car
As can be expected of a city of two million (and growing), Managua has serious issues of traffic congestion. This is not helped by taxi drivers and motorcyclists often driving reckless next to the suicidal and the occasional home-made horse carriage (that given the levels of congestion is not any slower than a car) clogging the streets. Almost all traffic lights see street vendors during the day selling everything from water to newspapers. Keep an eye on your belongings and close the windows if possible, as theft through open windows does occur.

Driving directions in Managua are a bit odd and can be confusing until you get used to them. The major earthquakes and subsequent political upheaval have left the city without a consistent and clear street address system. Although the government has made attempts to address (no pun intended) this problem, directions are given relative to landmarks and distances. Most addresses are given based on landmarks and with the directions al lago - north, (towards the lake) arriba/abajo (east/west; literally "up" or "down") and al sur/a la montaña (to the south/to the mountains). To make things even more confusing, sometimes the former location of a landmark or some thing that no longer exists is referenced as in "de donde fue..." (i.e. "from where ... used to be"). For example, to instruct a taxi driver to drop you off at Casa Ben Linder, the directions are "en barrio Moseñor Lezcano, de donde fue el Banco Popular, 2 al lago, 2 arriba", which means, "in the Lezcano neighborhood, from where People's Bank used to be, 2 blocks towards the lake and 2 blocks east." Not even all taxi drivers know all landmarks and as GPS systems are a bit overwhelmed by this system of addresses, sometimes the best you can do is write down a route description. That said, if google maps (or whatever you're using) knows the physical location of the place you're looking for it gets the route the same way as everywhere else.

By bus
Managua has an extensive public bus system, whose route density and service frequency would far surpass most US or Canadian cities, however it lags behind most European cities and overall public transit is worse than in Central American peers like Panama City or San José and there are no plans to introduce either "bus rapid transit" or any rail based option in the foreseeable future. There is no night bus service. Service starts early in the day, buses on many routes already running (and often full of people!) around 05:00. An unofficial interactive online map of the city's public bus routes, created by volunteers, can be found here; the site also has a downloadable map in PDF format. While buses have a reputation of being dangerous (even among Nicaraguans not living in Managua) you should be fine during daylight hours, but keep an eye on your belongings.

Unlike other Nicaraguan cities, buses in Managua are identified by route numbers; unlike most public transport systems around the world, an information placard carried by a Managua city bus would typically only include the route number, and not the names of the route's end points. At the bus stops one could also often see a sign with the numbers of routes serving it, but no additional information.

As of 2016, a single-trip fare is just C$2.50.

Besides the city buses proper (numbered routes), commuter buses that run between Managua and neighboring cities can be used to travel to points along their routes. For example, there are no city buses south of some point on Carretera a Masaya, but you can get a ride along this road on a Masaya- or Granada-bus (mostly originating/terminating at UCA or Roberto Huembes Market); typically, you'll be charged C$10.

 * No. 110 goes from mercado Israel Lewites (buses to León) to mercado Roberto Huembes (buses to Granada), passing on the way by the UCA, where microbuses leave for Granada, León, Masaya and other cities.
 * Buses to Granada, Leon, Jinotepe, Masaya, and Chinandega are also available at UCA (Universidad Centroamericana). Several city buses connect through UCA as well (102, 103, 105, 110, 111, 114, 119, 168).
 * No. 266 runs to the airport (and beyond, to Zona Franja [the Free Trade Zone]) along the Carretera Norte from the Mercado Oriental area. From other parts of the city, one can take any bus that goes to the eastern part of Carretera Norte (such as 105 or 114), get off at the bus' last stop that's still on the Carretera (typically, La Subasta), and then take an airport-bound bus (such as no. 266 or a commuter bus to Tipitapa). Watch for the airport terminal on your right; it's hard to miss, or ask the driver (or the driver's assistant) in advance to stop there. It's only a short walk across the parking lot from the bus stop to the terminal entrance.

By taxi
There are two forms of taxis in Managua: Collectivos and Privados (Collectives and Privates).

 * Collective taxis work similar to buses: they pick up passengers on the route that you travel on. Usually this means that 3-4 passengers ride in a car with a common or similar destination. This is the fastest transport available in Managua, the cost is also friendly given that the fare is split evenly among the riders. However, collective taxis are also risky given the fact that organized crime has flourished in this transportation sector because of fixed passengers. In other words, drivers already know who they pick up and thus mug the one extra passenger. This crime, however, is not common, but it is the one with the highest chance of being mugged.
 * Private taxis are the most popular option among tourists. The taxi is yours and picks up no one along the way. The fastest service in Managua also is the most expensive. These taxis have the most space and the most personal protection. If you have cargo, ensure that you hail a taxi that has a trunk. Not all cars are equipped with one.

Unlike other Nicaraguan cities, taxis are not bound to fixed rates; you'll have to negotiate a fare before you start your trip. Before getting into a taxi, take a look at the license (usually in the windshield or a side window) and the number-plate. Some Nicaraguans have taken to messaging the license plate number of the taxi they are getting in to a friend and it is certainly not a bad idea to do that as a precaution. Stay away from taxis without a license or when you perceive anything to be fishy.

By bike
While Managua is perhaps the least bikeable city in the country, it is the center of the embryonic beginnings of bicycle activism and advocacy with a critical mass ride dating back to 2011. Few dedicated cycle routes exist and many roads and roundabouts were designed for cars only, but cycling mostly avoids the insanity that is Managua traffic and the not entirely satisfactory buses and taxis.

On foot
Walking around Managua can be a frustrating experience. Few areas are designed to be walkable, traffic is heavy and in the dry season dust gets everywhere. There are some decent strolls to be had where downtown Managua used to be before the 1972 earthquake and the government has made an effort to revitalize the lakefront around Puerto Salvador Allende, but all in all, locals don't walk long distances when they can avoid it. Furthermore nothing is really close to anything, further complicating the situation.

See

Do

 * Gambling - There are many casinos, large and small throughout Managua. Star City has a number of locations. If you like to play poker, go to the Pharo's casino on Carretera Masaya. It has hold'em poker tournaments at night (when there's enough interest); $200 buy-in no limit table can be found a lot of nights, $50 tournaments. The nicest casino in Managua by far is Palms Casino just off of Carretera Masaya. Beware that casinos are said by police and regional security analysts to play a significant role in the regional drug trade and money laundering networks. This is unlikely to impact your personal safety at a casino, but does contribute to Nicaragua's security problems.
 * Play billiards - There are at least three good pool places if you're in a group, Pool8, and the two Time Off locations. All are downtown. Time Off has excellent snacks.
 * Catch a movie - You can catch good Latin American movies some Wednesdays at 19:00 at the theatre near Art Cafe (a bar) near the Parque de las Palmas. The Art Cafe is near Hotel Beneficial Las Palmas and is within walking distance to the hotel.

Buy
If you do not have the time to go to Masaya for handicrafts, go to the Mercado Huembes where you will find everything from souvenirs to hammocks, and paintings. Ask anyone how to get there.

Eat

A good breakfast is Leche Agria - a homemade yogurt-like drink. Look for signs advertising it in store fronts and pulperias. Put a little salt on it and eat it with tortilla.

 * Casa del Cafe for good coffee and breakfast. Four locations, one in Los Robles, one on the second floor of Metrocentro, one in Galerias Santo Domingo and one after the security check at Augusto C. Sandino International Airport.
 * Sushi Itto, in case you have a craving. Three locations, one in Carretera Masaya (in Plaza Familiar), one in Galerias Santo Domingo, and one in Plaza Caracol.
 * La Cueva del Buzo - great seafood freshly caught. Must go if you can afford it.

Drink

 * Toro Huaco, in the Zona Rosa across from the Picoteo. Outdoor restaurant bar that is comfortable with large groups. Sit under the stars on clear nights. Open mike night on Thursdays for joke-telling is good night to get to know the Nicaraguan sense of humor. Owner speaks English fluently.
 * Music Lounge, 2 blocks north of the Texaco in Altamira. Outdoor/indoor music bar that plays a range of music. Nice lighting and atmosphere. Show up with friends.
 * El Caramanchel, Del Hospital Militar, 3 cuadras al Norte. cultural bar with a good mix of foreigners and Nicas.
 * HipaHipa. Exclusive Club on Carretera Masaya. Entrance can be C$150, parties W F Sa.
 * Moods, in Galeria Santo Domingo located on Carretera Masaya. Fanciest and Hippest disco in Managua. Entrance can be C$150-300, parties W-Sa.
 * Broder, in Zona Rosa. Disco with entry fee up to C$150, parties Th-Sa.
 * Arribas, in Zona Rosa on top of Broder. A good atmosphere, sometimes live music.

There are tons of bars in the area south of the big BAC building downtown, find an abandoned place called Lacmiel and head east to find this zone.

Mozara, C$180 entrance fee, open bar till 14:00 Saturdays

There are also a few bars and restaurants around Zona Hippos. Woody's has good wings, Pirata's is a popular local restaurant/bar and Tercer Ojo is a more upscale resto-lounge with fusion cuisine. This area is west of the traffic light at Hilton Princess and La Union supermarket.

The Zona Rosa is an area with bars and restaurants that has sprung up in what was once a mostly residential area. It is located south of the BAC building. Highlights include Pharaoh's casino, Casa del Cafe, bars east of Lacmiel, la Casa del Baho restaurant, and Hipa Hipa bar.

There are also bars and restaurants in the new "Zona Viva" in Galerias Santo Domingo

Stay safe

 * Nicaragua has made considerable strides in terms of providing police presence and order throughout the country. Crime is relatively low, and the country has been historically ranked as the safest country by INTERPOL and has been ranked as one of Latin America's top 5 safest countries by the Vision of Humanity project. However, starting in 2008, reports of low-level gang violence began coming in from Honduras and El Salvador. The National Nicaraguan Police have been successful in apprehending gang members and reducing organized crime.
 * Remain alert at all times in Managua. Although gang activity is not a major problem in Managua nor Nicaragua, caution should be exercised. Travel in groups, or with someone trusted who understands Spanish.
 * Avoid using foreign currency in local transactions. It is best to have the local currency instead of having to convert with individuals on streets or non-tourist areas. Banks in Nicaragua require identification for any currency conversion transactions, it is best to use ATM machines that dispense the local currency. When using ATM machines, take precautions and be aware of your surroundings. Make sure you are in a well-frequented area and ensure that the ATM has not been altered in any way. Some thieves alter ATM machines with chips that can steal credit card numbers and personal information. This type of crime is rare, but an increase in foreign tourism has stimulated the increase of this crime. Make sure that you monitor your credit card or debit card transactions via online banking. Any suspicious transactions should be reported immediately.
 * Traveling around Managua is relatively simple, but as in any major city, exercise basic caution. When traveling to the Mercado Oriental, go in groups and avoid the use of chains, necklaces and other valuables. Although police officers are available in and around the market, the market tends to be very full and thus it can be hard to find any person who steals your valuables. Be cautious around the outskirts of downtown, the area between MetroCentro and the BAC building. Several muggings have occurred around this area. The area around the Tica Bus Station is unsafe for tourists by the Nicaraguan police due to the high volumes of people moving around. If you must go, take a taxi to and from there.
 * When traveling around the city of Managua or around Nicaragua, there are several transportation alternatives. Popular options include buses and taxis, both of which have different rider standards and different precautions.
 * Buses in Nicaragua tend to be old school buses that transport people and goods to market. These are colloquially called Chicken buses. Much like the Argentine collectivo, it uses the honor system on travelers and charges based on the distance one travels. It is relatively the most inexpensive option, allowing tourists to travel to major tourist attractions and other destinations. However, these buses can be extremely crowded and tight in terms of space. An overhead rack tends to be provided for the storage of bags and other items, but keep your bags at hand, in you sight, at all times. If you are carrying something valuable and fear the potential loss of theft of it, put a lock on your bag. Don't carry large sums of money in their pockets. On crowded buses (especially during rush hour), thieves can rob you without you noticing. In addition, do not wear any expensive jewelry on the bus. It can be taken from you without your notice due to the high volumes of passengers that board buses. Buses in local urban and interurban routes are not air-conditioned, so ensure that your window is open (provided you are seated).
 * There are also Express Buses in the form of mini-vans. These buses provide express inter-city transport at a higher price compared to the standard local Chicken Bus. This form of transport is also cost-friendly, but extremely tight in terms of space. Tourists cannot carry any heavy cargo. Small purses and bookbags are fine, but exercise the same caution as you would on a Chicken Bus.
 * When riding taxis, close the windows. Leaving windows open allows you to be robbed while in the car and exposes you to beggars and other service providers. Most tourists consider this a nuisance, and so do locals. Air conditioners do not always work on street-hailed cars. In any case, radio-dispached cars are readily available (particularly from resorts and hotels) and offer the same amenities luxury car services offer at roughly the same price as their North American counterparts.

Embassies
A full directory of foreign embassies is available at the city government's site. While there is no single "diplomatic district" in Managua, many foreign missions are located fairly close to each other in Colinas, a neighborhood of large, well landscaped villas, a few blocks east of the km 8 - km 9 marks on Carretera a Masaya. A few others are around km 4-5 of the same Carretera a Masaya.

Some embassies are listed below, in English alphabetic order:
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇨🇴 Colombia
 * 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
 * 🇨🇺 Cuba
 * 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇭🇳 Honduras
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next

 * León - The second largest city in the country, León is the intellectual center of Nicaragua, with the oldest university, largest cathedral and excellent museums. At nearby Cerro Negro, you can experience the thrill of volcano boarding in a moonlike landscape.
 * Granada - Located at the foot of the impressive volcano Mombacho, Granada is the oldest colonial city on the American continent, with beautiful colorful and picturesque buildings and churches. It is situated on Lake Nicaragua, the second largest lake in Latin America, where you can tour of the Granada Isletas archipelago with many tropical birds and monkeys.
 * Masaya - The third largest city in Nicaragua. Masaya is center for indigenous crafts, and it is famous for its artisan market. Just outside the city you will find Volcán Masaya, featuring a smoking, active volcano, were you can watch the crater fumes rise to the sky.
 * Pueblos Blancos - A cluster of indigenous villages in the mountains above Masaya, each with its own artisan specialty. Do not miss San Juan de Oriente, with its famous pottery workshops.
 * La Laguna de Apoyo - An amazing beautiful lagoon that is over 3 km wide at an elevation of 400 meters. The water is crystal clear beneath an impressive 200-m-tall jungle covered volcanic rim. Swimming, sailing, kayaking and scuba diving is recommended.
 * Ometepe - In the center of Lake Nicaragua (19th largest in the world), to grand volcanoes raises impressively over the water, on the island of Ometepe. A beautiful and wonderful place for ecoturism, hiking, horseabck riding, kayaking and swimming, either in the lake or in the crater lake at the top of the Maderas volcano.
 * Caribbean Coast - Daily flights are available to Nicaragua's Atlantic coastline, where tropical reefs and small offshore islands offer a very different view of the country. Highlights are the English speaking city Bluefields, the pristine Pearl Lagoon and the two Corn Islands.
 * Pacific Beaches - For swimming or some of the best surfing on the American continent, head to one of many beaches on the Pacific Coast. The most popular destination is San Juan del Sur, which is surrounded by many unpopulated beaches with world class surfing waves, such as Popoyo, Madera, Majagual and Marsella. Closest to Managua are the beach towns of Masachapa, Pochomil, Pochomil Viejo and Montelimar, the latter being the home of the Montelimar Beach Resort. Further north you find the popular beaches of Las Peñitas and Poneloya, and the more secluded off-the-beaten-track beaches of Aposentillo, Juiqilillo, Padre Ramos and Mechapa.
 * Caribbean Coast - Daily flights are available to Nicaragua's Atlantic coastline, where tropical reefs and small offshore islands offer a very different view of the country. Highlights are the English speaking city Bluefields, the pristine Pearl Lagoon and the two Corn Islands.
 * Estelí and the Northern Highlands - with beautiful mountains, rivers lakes and national parks, ecological coffee farms and the Somoto Canyon.

title: Managua


text:
Manalapan

Manalapan is a city of around 34,000 people in Monmouth County. This community is 15 mi (24) from the Jersey Shore and 45 mi (72 km) southwest of New York City

Understand
The name "Manalapan" comes from the Lenape word for land of good bread or good land to settle upon.

Manalapan Township is primarily a suburban area and was originally formed by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 9, 1848, The area was created from existing portions of Freehold Township.

Englishtown was formed as a borough from portions of Manalapan on January 4, 1888, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.

Yorketown is an unincorporated area located within Manalapan Township.

The Battle of Monmouth was fought in Monmouth Battlefield State Park, which is in Freehold Township and Manalapan.

By plane

 * Old Bridge Airport Public-use airport located 9.26 km (5 mn) south of the Old Bridge CBD in Middlesex County. The airport is privately owned and situated next to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

The City is served by several nearby international and domestic airports

 * Newark Liberty International Airport.

 * John F. Kennedy International Airport.

 * LaGuardia Airport.

 * Philadelphia International Airport

 * Atlantic City Airport  provides some minor domestic service.

Please see the New Jersey article for more detailed information on these airports and services.

By train
While there is no designated station for this particular township, the nearest train station, by distance, is Aberdeen-Matawan, which runs along the North Jersey Coast Line towards New York City/Hoboken and Bay Head. The station situates on the intersection of Main Street & Atlantic Avenue in Matawan, New Jersey, approximately 10 miles/23 minutes away from the northern township border between Marlboro and Manalapan.

By car
U.S Highway 9, New Jersey Turnpike, Route 33, Garden State Parkway, Route 527

 * U.S. Route 9 is in the northeast
 * State Route 33 passes through near the southern part of the township.
 * County routes 522 and 527 traverse the municipality.
 * County route 537 follows the southeast border of the township.

Other major roads provide access to the area.

 * Garden State Parkway is in bordering Old Bridge
 * Interstate 195 is in bordering Millstone Township.
 * New Jersey Turnpike Interstate 95 is in East Windsor Township (Exit 8) and bordering Monroe Township (Exit 8A).

By bus
New Jersey Transit drop-off location Union Hill Road or Gordon’s Corner Rd

Do

 * Manalapan Under the Stars An annual community celebration featuring rides, concerts, fireworks, and other activities. Held at the Manalapan Recreation Center.
 * Manalapan Under the Stars An annual community celebration featuring rides, concerts, fireworks, and other activities. Held at the Manalapan Recreation Center.

Sleep
There seems to be no places to stay here; try Freehold or Old Bridge.

Stay safe
The city and surrounding area has a rising crime rate. Use care and common sense especially if moving about the district at night, on your own or in areas in which you may easily become disorientated.

Manalapan Township has a police department.

Connect

 * Monmouth County Library

Go next
New York City can be easily reached through U.S. Route 9 North, following the signs. Public transport regularly services passengers toward New York City through bus lines: 139 (regular service between Lakewood and New York City Port Authority Bus Terminal, or "PABT"), 132 (same as 139, but express between Gordon's Corner Road and Old Bridge), and 130 (express between PABT and Union Hill Road Park & Ride in the neighboring Marlboro Township).

Middletown Township

Homdel Township

Crawford Hill the former site of a radar facility, is the county's highest point at least 380 feet (116 m) above sea level. The top portion of the hill is owned by Alcatel-Lucent and houses a research laboratory of Bell Laboratories.

The Locust neighborhood of Middletown Township

Highlands

Atlantic Highlands

Ocean County

Monmouth County a mecca of boating and fishing. Its waterways include several rivers and bays

New York Harbor

Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

Manasquan Inlet

Manasquan River, a bay-like body of saltwater that serves as the starting point of the Intracoastal Waterway.

 * Middlesex County, New Jersey is to the northwest
 * Ocean County, New Jersey is to the south
 * Millstone Township is to the immediate south
 * Burlington County, New Jersey is to the southwest
 * Mercer County, New Jersey is to the west
 * Richmond County, New York is to the north
 * Queens County, New York is to the northeast
 * Marlboro Township is to the immediate northeast
 * The Atlantic Ocean lies a short distance and several counties to the east
 * Freehold Township is to the immediate east

Gateway National Recreation Area The Sandy Hook section of this recreation area is within Monmouth County.

title: Manalapan


text:
Manali

Manali is a city of about 11,000 people (2023) in Central Himachal Pradesh. A staging point for a number of treks (Beas Kund, Chandrakhani Pass) and sports such as white-water rafting, Manali is also on the road to Ladakh via the valley of Lahaul and Spiti and Rohtang Pass, which is the main attraction near Manali.

Understand
Manali, at the northern end of the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh, is a hill station at a height of 2,050 m (6,398 ft) in the Himalayas. Situated on the Beas River (Vyaas in Hindi) and near its source, it is a popular tourist spot for Indians in summer and a magical, snow-covered place in winter.

Weather
The minimum temperature ranges between -15 and -5 °C from October till March. December, January and February are coldest months. For the rest of the year the minimum temperature would be between 15 and 20 °C.

Climate
The climate in Manali is predominantly cold during winters, and moderately cool during summers. The temperatures range from 4 °C (39 °F) to 26 °C (68 °F) over the year. The average temperature during summer is between 4°C (39°F) and 15°C (59°F), and between −15°C (5°F) and 05°C (41°F) in the winter. Monthly precipitation varies between 31 mm (1.2 in) in November and 217 mm (8.5 in) in July. In average, some 45 mm (1.8 in) of precipitation is received during winter and spring months, increasing to some 115 mm (4.5 in) in summer as the monsoon approaches. The average total annual precipitation is 1,363 mm (53.7 in). Snowfall often takes place between November end and early February. The weather in Manali is not stable.

By bus
Manali is about from Delhi and there are buses connecting the town with Delhi, Shimla, Dharamsala and Leh. For service from Delhi to Manali, tickets and reservations can be made at the Inter State Bus Terminus as well as at the Himachal Tourism office on Safdar Hashmi Marg near Mandi House in New Delhi. Privately owned Volvo buses offer 60% cheaper ticket prices than the government owned Volvo buses. The approximate travel time from Delhi to Manali is 14 hours; from Ambala to Manali is 10 hours; and from Kulu to Manali is 1½ to 3 hours. Volvo buses—which depart at around 5PM and reach at 9-10AM next day—are available from Delhi and is the best option in terms of comfort and value for money to reach Manali but you need to book these in advance. Some hotels will book your Volvo with WiFi connection and personal LED screen along with their hotel package.

By private taxi
If hiring a private taxi, ensure that the driver has experience driving in hilly regions and does not have the habit of drinking alcohol. Also make sure the driver has done the trip at least once before and knows all roads. Also make sure that the driver is used to drive for long hours. Many operators turn off air-conditioning during the majority of the hill journey, or demand to be paid extra if asked to. Best to confirm this prior to booking. If you are going to Manali through Chandigarh-Ropar-Kiratpur-Bilaspur-Mandi-Kullu highway, then your driver would need to drive on hilly roads for at least 6 hours. The expected price is somewhere around ₹3000 to ₹4000/day for an Indica hatchback or a bigger Innova car from Delhi. To get the best deals on cabs, look for cabs that came one-way from Manali/Kullu to drop tourists at Delhi. These cabs (usually with HP01K registration plates) offer 60% cheaper fares, as they've been paid fully by the previous customer. Also, you can find them at parking station near Majnu ka tilla/ New Aruna Nagar.

By train
The nearest Broad Gauge Rail Head is Chandigarh (310 km). Ambala Cantonment en route Chandigarh is on the Delhi - Amritsar and Delhi - Jammu main lines and is well-served by rail, but you will need to travel to Ambala to get a bus for the 10 hour ride to Manali. Jogindernagar and Kalka are other, less preferable, rail heads for Manali.

The nearest Broad gauge station is Kiratpur Sahib in Punjab near the city of Nangal. It lies in Ropar district of Punjab. The station lies on the Ambala Cantt - Una route of Indian Railways. From here you can easily get buses for Manali.

By plane
The nearest airport is Bhuntar (Kullu) Airport ; Tel: +91 1902–265037, 265603), 50 km from Manali, 10 km from Kullu, about one hour away. Air-India has a morning flight from Delhi operated by Alliance Air.

Delhi is the nearest international airport, 560 km away from Manali. That airport is well connected to major cities in India as well as cities abroad.

Get around
There are various ways of getting around in Manali, if you are not already travelling with your own vehicle. Most tourists hire a taxi (various kinds available), which takes you around to all the sight seeing spots in and around Manali (Rohtang, Manikaran, etc.) It costs about ₹1800 per day, or little over ₹3000 if you book together for 3 days (in the peak season). Dress for Rohtang cost around ₹150 for each set including boots and ski set will cost you around ₹200. These detail are mentioned at a board at Mall Road. Be sure to bargain.

The second most common way is to hire a motorbike. There are many places where you can hire a motorbike (easy to find if you ask around), and is the most common mode of transport for foreigners. Cruiser bikes like Bullet, Royal Enfield Himalayan, and sport bikes from Honda, Bajaj, Yamaha, are easily available, though Bullet is the most commonly seen one on the roads. Rates hover around ₹800-1500 per day in the peak season, but much discounted at other times. A good place worth a look will be in Bike Rentals Manali office in Vashisht 9816044140, have a good selection of Royal Enfields and Pulsars. Also 'Tinku' Bike mechanic near old Manali bridge is an honest shop for bike rentals.

Public transport is not so good. There are cheap bus services, but they are not so frequent. Yet, if you are going to stay for a long time, it is better to know the times and use them, as other modes of public transport and exorbitant compared to bus. For e.g., auto rickshaws take ₹200 from Manali Mall Road to Solang Valley, while the bus will cost you just ₹10. The buses are not punctual specially because they seem not have a written schedule. The best option is to ask about timing at the bus terminal. Buses starts to run at 7-8AM. Frequent a bus can be cancelled or late. You can get in and out almost at any place on the route; just wave at the driver.

Public bus routes
 * Kullu - Manali. Price ₹60. Every 15 min
 * Manali - Naggar. Every 1½ hr
 * Manali - Solang. Every hour

See
There are several beautiful places that you can visit around Manali. You can either use your own vehicle or Hire local taxes. There are even buses are running frequently to these places except Rohtang Pass, Hadimba Temple etc. with very less cost. Below is list of places with detail expalnation.

There are some interesting temples of Tibetan Buddhist lineages located between old and new Manali.

Kothi:

Kothi is at the bottom of Rohatang Pass. It is a beautiful and photographic village where tourists can capture different thrilling views of the deep gorge through which the Beas swiftly runs. This is an amazing place to experience the natural beauty of high altitude mountain.

Do

 * Get your photos clicked with either rabbits or yaks (near the Hidimba Temple). It will cost about ₹10-20 for a single photo.
 * One can also enjoy paddle boating in a fun park near Hidimba temple.
 * River rafting, skiing, zorbing, trekking, snow scootering, and river crossing. One of the best adventure companies is the High Himalayan Adventure, based in Vashisht village.

 * Paragliding- Paragliding is quite popular in Manali, especially in the peak season. The scene is located at Solang Valley. There are multiple levels, starting from the basic 1-minute flying for ₹450 (the most common), progressing to a more fun 5-minute flight for ₹1500. But the ultimate is the half an hour flight for ₹2500, for which they take you up almost halfway to Rohtang, and bring you back to Solang all the way by paragliding. In such a long flight, wind plays a big role, and sometimes it is not possible to fly all the way to Solang, something to keep in mind while going for it. Generally, later in the day you go for it, better are the chances you will do the whole flight. However, before you decide to paraglide in Manali, have a look at the "Stay safe" section of this article.
 * Rock climbing- there are some fabulous routes, however, go with a reputable company that can provide you suitable gear, otherwise this can become a dangerous sport. Look for the bright orange building across from Pizza Olive. The company also does abseiling trips, in which you can swing down into 9 tiers of a waterfall using rock-climbing equipment. Another contact is Dave Morahan (9805346007) who takes you to all kind of rock climbing trips for all difficulty levels, and is quite skilled himself.
 * Bookworm in NAC Market behind the bus stand has books including travel literature, Indian Himalaya maps, postcards and coffee table books.
 * Early morning walks as Manali are best enjoyed before the town wakes up.
 * Go camping. Camping in this town is one of the most incredible experiences to have. You can camp at the alpine meadows, pine forests, by the lakes, or the base of snowy mountains. Beas River, Tirthan Valley, Solang Valley, Bhuntar, Sarai and Kothi village are some of the most scenic camping spots.

Trekking:

 * Deo Tibba Base Camp Trek: This trek is a technical trekking trail in Manali. This trek is a famous trek among the experience climbers. This trek gives a magnificent view of Deo.
 * Friendship peak Trekking: This is one of the majestic mountains in the beautiful valley of Kullu. This mountain is situated at around 5289 m above the sea level. Best way to go for this trek is from Beas Kund and Dhundi.
 * Hampta Pass Trek: This trek is one of the most famous trekking trails in the Manali region. This trek is suitable for those who have some prior trekking experience and are reasonably fit. This trek passes through lush forests and eventually to scree and pebbles.
 * Himalayan Caravan Adventure: Offer you an array of adventures from off-beat safaris, less-known but more-interesting trekking paths, rock climbing, canyoning, white water rafting, paragliding, skiing & snowboarding etc. www.himalayancaravan.com
 * Brighu Trek : Brighu is very good place to trek. A lot of tourist heavily enjoy this trek. Mostly 2-3 day is enough for this trek. Local people often visit Brighu because it really memorable place.

Buy
Keychains, name plates, etc. which are customized to ones own message are worth buying as mementos. Also you can get your name carved on a single grain of rice. One can also visit Manali Market to buy woolen stuff like sweaters, pull overs, shawls, and blankets. Hippie clothes and jewellery can be found in Old Manali.

 * Chingu. Local shops are aplenty selling chingus (a type of blanket) claiming to be warm in winters and cold in summers. Be wary of these. They will show you parcel ready chingus. Do not fall prey to them.
 * Fruit products, honey and apricot oil at Himcoop Juice Bar Manali are also something local produced in the valley. Jam from Himcoop taste like real fruit due to high contents of fruit pulp and apricot oil is good for joint pains and also general massage.

Do not buy saffron (kesar), musk (kasturi), or shilajit from street vendors; most of these products are fake. Buy from government-authorized shops only.

Eat

 * The Himalayan Gothic Castle in Manali, Himachal.jpg

Drink
The locals drink two kinds of alcoholic beverages: Lugdi (plains) or Chang (Himalayan), a kind of crude beer made from fermented rice or barley and Sharab (plains) or Arak (Himalayan), an alcoholic drink distilled from Lugdi/chang. Arak can also be made from jaggery or apples or any other fruit.

It might be an interesting experience to visit a local home when the ladies make arak (quite regularly). You can sit in the fields where the ladies make it, have hot water from the distilling to wash with and "test" the product at frequent intervals.

Because there are apple orchards all around Manali, it's often possible to find apple cider. Besides this, there is alcohol available in bars, larger restaurants and the larger hotels.

Kullu-Manali Valley is known as fruit bowl of India. Himcoop Juice Bar at The Mall Manali is one of the well known corner shop since 1972 selling 100% Natural Apple Juice and fruit drinks made from local fruits besides some syrups known as "Fruit Crush" to carry home to prepare fruit drinks after diluting with fresh water. Himcoop Juice Bar is on the Main Mall as one of the corner shop next to Temple.

Budget
As of May 2023 it is still definitely possible to get a comfortable room with a great mountain view for around ₹800. Bargaining is a must if you're a foreigner and coming without an online booking, to avoid pushing the prices further up.

 * Footloose Camps, +91 8800763430. Hamta Valley, 9 km from the Mall Road. Backpacker hostel and campsite costing ₹500-900 per bed.
 * Blue Guest House, Castle Road Naggar, Brahman Kothi, Naggar, Kullu Manali, +91 9817287347, +91 9816421109 (Mrs. Lata Sharma), +91 9816377076 (Mr Chander Shekhar Sharma), hot water, CTV, view of Kullu Valley and Beas River and roof-top restaurant. This is a family-run guest house and the couple is very courteous. The guest house costs ₹200-500 per night and is on the way up, about 0.5 km before the Castle. Manali is 30 min by local bus.
 * Blue Guest House, Castle Road Naggar, Brahman Kothi, Naggar, Kullu Manali, +91 9817287347, +91 9816421109 (Mrs. Lata Sharma), +91 9816377076 (Mr Chander Shekhar Sharma), hot water, CTV, view of Kullu Valley and Beas River and roof-top restaurant. This is a family-run guest house and the couple is very courteous. The guest house costs ₹200-500 per night and is on the way up, about 0.5 km before the Castle. Manali is 30 min by local bus.

Stay safe
Manali is a safe city but during seasonal time a surge of visitors keep visiting this beautiful place and some transients exploit this opportunity for their own benefits. Best be exercise caution if in a crowd.

If you get lost and don't have enough directions get around the city then just ask for Mall Road (Manali town centre). From there you can easily head to any destination of your choice.

Don't exchange currency in illegal market. Always ask for receipt after doing currency trade with exchange dealer. There is a Western Union office on the Mall Road.

A word of caution about paragliding in Manali. Many pilots of these parachutes are un-trained and obtain licences in the usual way any licence is obtained in India. Many a tourist visits the Lady Willingdon Mission Hospital with broken bones, sometimes protruding out, after accidents. Some para-gliders crash into innocent bystanders who end up with spinal injuries and paralysis. Serious, complicated cases with multiple organ injuries and heavy blood loss are stabilized to the extent possible and referred to either Chandigarh or Shimla. Sadly, some don't make it. Blood availability is very very limited in this hilly area. So think very carefully before deciding to paraglide in Manali.

Women should avoid going into small lanes and by-lanes after it is dark and make sure that you are not wearing any jewellery while walking on the streets. There were two reported rapes of tourists in 2018 alone.

Go next
Travelling northward from Manali is the breathtaking region of Lahaul and Spiti across the Rohtang Pass. The highway crosses the pass and forks at Gramphoo (12 km) the left one goes to Lahaul and is the Manali Leh highway and the road on the right leads to Spiti via Kunzum La. The Rohtang pass also marks the boundary between the fertile Kullu valley with its lush greenery and the sparse vegetation Lahaul and Spiti. The Ladakh, Zanskar and Changthang areas further on are even more barren.

 * Beas Kund - It is named after the sage (Rishi) named Beas and this tiny lake is situated at upper Solan valley, which is a heart of summer and winter games in Manali.
 * Deo Tibba - It is one of the peaks set back in valley of Manali. It is famous among trekkers who have substantial mountaineering knowledge.
 * Friendship Peak - Friendship peak is located in Beas Kund region of Manali, facing other different kinds of peaks such as Shiti Dhar, Hanuman Tibba and Seven Sisters. It is the only peak in Himachal where no royalty needs to be paid to IMF.
 * Hamta Pass - At a height of 4,268 m, Hamta Pass is made of various snow bridges which pass over Hamta Stream. It is highly renowned trekking base and as a part of trek, visitors can also explore Bara Shirgi Glacier.
 * Purola - It lies in the state of Uttrakhand and leads to almost identical geographical location of Yamunotri. There are ample transportation facility available to reach Purola.
 * Indrasan Peak - After crossing Hamta Pass one will find Indrasan Peak (Throne of Indra)

title: Manali


text:
Manama

Manama (Arabic: المنامة, transliteration: al-Manāma) is the capital and largest city of Bahrain with an approximate population of 200,000 people (2020) in the city. The urban area is home to 635,000, roughly 40% of the country's population.

Understand
Manama emerged as the capital of independent Bahrain after periods of domination by Portugal and Persians. Today, it is a modern capital with an economy based on the sales promotion industry as crude oil takes a less pronounced role in the economy.

Climate
Unsurprisingly Manama and Bahrain has an arid climate, with little rain (most of it falling during the winter months) and high temperatures during much of the year. During the summer daytime highs around +40°C can be expected, during the winter the mercury generally approaches +20°C.

History

The Bahrain Island has been inhabited since around 3000 BC, and has been an important trading point ever since. Back then, it was the site of the Dilmun civilization, of which world heritage listed burial mounds remain, mainly around the city of A'ali just southwest of Manama.

In the first millenia the island went by the names of Awal, Mishmahig and Tylos and was ruled by several empires from around 700 BC onwards - the Assyrian, Babylonian, and different Persian empires. The inhabitants converted to Islam in 628, and towards the end of the 7th century the first Khamis Mosque was built at the western outskirts of today's Manama. The mosque that today stands there is the third.

The first records of a town by the name Manama is in a manuscript from 1345. Around that time, the island was a tributary of the Kingdom of Hormuz and the island's capital Bilad Al Qadeem (today a suburb of Manama) had became a centre of religious scholarship and pearl fishing. Buildings related to pearling in the adjacent island city of Muharraq comprise another of the country's three world heritage sites.

In 1521, the Portuguese who at the time controlled the spice trade along the Cape Route took possession of the island and set up a fort at the western outskirts of present-day Manama. The Portuguese fort, going by the name Qal'at al-Bahrain is the third world heritage site in Bahrain, and the only one administratively in Manama. Bahrain was reconquered by Persians (the Safavid Empire at the time) in 1602.

In addition to pearling and trading, also agriculture trived; orchards, date palms, barley and wheat was grown. Pearls was however the main export product that brought wealth to the island. Persian rule continued until 1783, when the Arab Bani Utbah tribe invaded and set up Bahrain as an independent kingdom. This was followed by almost a century of unrest with the governments along the coast fighting each other and a civil war between the island's co-rulers in 1842. In 1862, Manama consisted of ruins and pearl fishermen's shacks - the port was closed and its merchants had moved elsewhere.

Now the British, who had an interest in safeguarding the routes to the Raj, made Bahrain into a protectorate in 1861 as part of the Persian Gulf Residency, with Manama as its capital. With peace and safety guaranteed, the pearl trade grew rapidly again. But so did the British influence. After WWI, in 1919, Bahrain was made part of the Empire. Administrative reforms were made, and in practice the British ran the country. Pearling was replaced with oil industry in the 1930s, which proved important for the British war effort a few years later. The airport which had been opened in 1927 served as the airbase RAF Muharraq during WWII and until Bahraini independence.

As in many parts of the world, after the war voices were raised for independence from Western colonial overlords. Increasing protests after the Suez Crisis led to the British withdrawing from Bahrain in 1971, at the point which Bahrain became independent. Up until then, Manama was a much smaller town than it's today but it changed in the 1970s with a construction boom where the surrounding towns and villages were incorporated into Manama. This also led to a large influx of construction workers from the Indian subcontinent, soon outnumbering the native Bahrainians. Also land reclamation was used to create land that could be easily built on.

Over the following decades, Manama developed into the Gulf state metropolis it is today with a number of financial institutions, albeit it's much smaller than Kuwait, Doha, Abu Dhabi or Doha and it also doesn't have a flag carrier whose jumbojets can be seen on all major airports of the world. As such it's less of a destination where people stop over for a few hours or a day on their trip between, say, Europe and Australia, but rather a place that you travel to as the main destination, to get a glimpse into Middle Eastern culture.

Tourist information

 * The tourism section of the website of the Capital Governorate

 * Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority

Get in
All roads in Bahrain lead to Manama, so see the main Bahrain article for details. is in the adjacent city of Muharraq.

By bus
Bahrain Public Transport operate a network of bus routes across the city, with route A1 linking the airport and Manama every 20 minutes.

As of September 2019, a paper single ticket bought on the bus costs 300 fils, or there is a "pay as you go" option using a Go Card (card price 500 fils, sold at ticket machines including at the airport, then load with credit up to BD 50 maximum, but note that credit you load is not refundable) which reduces the fare for a single trip to 250 fils and offers a daily cap of 600 fils. Transfers are not offered (a fare is charged on each bus), and there are no discounts for children, students or elderly people.

Weekly passes (BD 3) and "monthly" 28-day passes (BD 12) are available, but these can only be issued on a Personalised Go Card sold at bus terminal ticket offices, not the anonymous card sold at ticket machines.

By taxi
Taxis are expensive. Extra charges are added to fares starting from the airport (BD 2) and any hotel (BD 1). Always use the meter or you will, guaranteed, get ripped off. A ride to the central parts of city will cost around BD 5-6.

By car
Renting a car is far less costly than paying for taxis, but beware of driving styles you might not be used to in your home country. Manama is a small city on a small Island, you won't get lost for very long. Make sure to buy a map: it should cost BD 0.50-1.00.

See

Do
Manama is a getaway for Arabs and expats residing in Arab countries where alcohol is banned. Tourists, particularly Saudis and residents of Saudi Arabia, come to Bahrain mainly for the nightlife.

 * Ice Skating The only ring in town is located at the Fun-land centre along the Marina corniche.
 * Ice Skating The only ring in town is located at the Fun-land centre along the Marina corniche.
 * Ice Skating The only ring in town is located at the Fun-land centre along the Marina corniche.
 * Ice Skating The only ring in town is located at the Fun-land centre along the Marina corniche.
 * Ice Skating The only ring in town is located at the Fun-land centre along the Marina corniche.
 * Ice Skating The only ring in town is located at the Fun-land centre along the Marina corniche.
 * Ice Skating The only ring in town is located at the Fun-land centre along the Marina corniche.

Shopping malls

Eat
Restaurants in Manama run the gamut from cheap shawarma joints to 5-star restaurants.

Budget
Cheap restaurants abound in the Adliya district.

Drink
Manama has a busy nightlife by Gulf standards. The main districts are Adliya, Hoora, Juffair and Business District. Many places to drink are in hotels (see the Sleep section below).

Budget

Embassies

 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇵🇰 Pakistan
 * 🇹🇷 Turkey
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next

 * Muharraq with world heritage listed places related to the history of pearl diving.
 * Burial mounds from the Dilmun culture from the 4th century BC onwards, also on the world heritage list, are to be found around Bahrain but mostly around A'ali, some 10 km southwest of Manama.
 * Hawar Islands Are a group of islands situated off the west coast of Qatar in the Gulf of Bahrain of the Persian Gulf. In 2002, Bahrain applied to have the Hawar islands recognised as a World Heritage Site, due to its unique environment and habitat for endangered species. This site is home to many wildlife species and a very interesting place for birdwatchers and divers. Hawar Islands used to be one of the settlements of the Bahraini branch of the Dawasir who settled there in the early 1800s and on the main island of Bahrain in 1845 in the areas of Zallaq and Budaiya.
 * Saudi Arabia is just across the King Fahd Causeway — if you have the visa, of course.

title: Manama