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Sukabumi

Sukabumi is a region in Western Java, Indonesia. It has a plethora of tourist locations, from mountain national parks to waterfalls, beaches, viewing hills and a UNESCO geopark.

Understand
The city of Sukabumi is located in the southwest of the province of West Java, about 75 km south of national capital Jakarta and 75 km west of provincial capital Bandung, as the crow flies. The independent city (kota) of Sukabumi is surrounded by the regency (kabupaten) of Sukabumi. The capital of the regency is Pelabuhan Ratu on the south coast.

The history of the city of Sukabumi and the surrounding region is closely related to the development of plantations for coffee, tea, and rubber during the colonial time. The city is just south of the volcano Mount Gede and the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park.

Sukabumi Regency is the second largest regency in Java, after Banyuwangi Regency.

Get in
The nearest airports to Sukabumi are in Jakarta and Bandung. From both these cities, travelling to Sukabumi usually takes more than 3 hours.

By car
Sukabumi is along National Road 3, also known as the Southern Java Route, between Pelabuhan Ratu to the west and Cianjur to the east. To get to Sukabumi from Jakarta, you can take the toll road to Bogor and then the trunk road further south to the town of Cibadak, where this road connects to the aforementioned National Road 3. Driving from Jakarta to Sukabumi takes 2h 30m if traffic conditions are good, but often much longer because of major traffic congestion, especially in the Greater Jakarta area. From the other side, from Bandung, the drive (via Cianjur) takes at least 2 hours, but usually about 3 hours.

By bus
serves a range of buses from various destinations. There are frequent buses to and from various terminals in Jakarta, including Kampung Rambutan terminal in East Jakarta. A one-way ticket is commonly Rp25,000 for an economy class bus with airconditioning. The journey will take about 3-5 hours, depending on traffic conditions. During weekends and holidays, there is usually significant traffic congestion, and the journey may take longer.

If you travel from Bogor, the most common and practical transport is a Colt (referring to a Mitsubishi L300/Colt minibus). These minibuses exclusively serve the Bogor-Sukabumi route. You can hop on to a Colt either at Baranangsiang Terminal or at the Botani Square shopping mall (which is where the DAMRI buses from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport arrive). A one-way ticket Bogor-Sukabumi with a Colt is Rp20,000. The journey will take about 2 hours.

From Bandung, there are highly frequent buses from several bus companies from Bandung's Leuwi Panjang bus terminal (usually with a stop in Cianjur). The bus will cost you about Rp30,000. The journey will take about 2-3 hours.

There are also frequent buses to and from Pelabuhan Ratu at the Indian Ocean coast (Rp25,000). From other cities the buses are not as frequent. However, there are at least two buses per day from major cities in Central Java such as Semarang, Solo, and Yogyakarta. One-way tickets on these long-distance services are about Rp150,000. Travel times are commonly in the range of 10 to 15 hours (depending on traffic and number of stops on the way).

By train
In the middle of the city is. The station is served by three daily trains to and from Bogor (about 2 hr 15 min, economy and executive class), and three daily trains to and from Cianjur (about 1 hr 30 min, economy class only). In Bogor, trains to Sukabumi depart from Bogor Paledang railway station, which is about 200 metres from the central Bogor railway station (where trains from Jakarta arrive).

Get around
Mostly poibts of interest are natural, but several locations can only be accessed easily by car. The rest should be accessed by motorcycle or on foot.

A common way to get around in Sukabumi is by angkot (public minivan). Angkots follow a fixed route (there are various routes throughout the city and surrounding areas), but there is no fixed schedule and there are no fixed stops. To get on, simply raise your hand. To get off, simply shout "Kiri!" to the driver, so he will pull over on the left (Indonesian: kiri) side of the road. The price of an angkot ride within the city is usually about Rp2,000 to 5,000. It is best to ask a local which angkot route to take, and how to recognise the location you want to get off.

Other options to get around include ojek (motorcycle taxi) and delman (horse carriage).

Eat
Sukabumi culinary culture is not that different from other cities in West Java. It is mostly of a Sundanese style, but there are several typical traditional dishes in Sukabumi which are very famous, such as Mochi, Bangket, Pavinder cake, Martabak Bandung and nutmeg candy. Sukabumi Chinese food such as Mie goreng is also worth a taste.

Drink
You can't find drink easily in this area, and you are not allowed to drink in public, otherwise you'll get arrested by Police. You can get drink in some modern hotels, bars, and cafes in the city.

In Sukabumi city
If you need to stop overnight in Sukabumi town, there are some cheap places available not far from the bus terminal, just ask the people around, or ojek drivers near the bus station who will be happy to transport you there for Rp5,000-10,000. Expect to pay around Rp50,000 for room with a basic fan (air conditioning is not needed anyway, as nights in Sukabumi may be quite cold).

Go next

 * Nearby beaches along the Indian Ocean coast: Pelabuhan Ratu, Cimaja, and Sawarna.
 * Or into the mountains to Mount Gede Pangrango National Park.

title: Sukabumi


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Sukagawa

Sukagawa (須賀川) is a city in Fukushima Prefecture.

Tourist information sites

 * The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.
 * The city government's official site has a Japanese-only tourism section.

By train
Sukagawa is situated on the Tohoku Main Line, with regular trains running to Tokyo (via Shirakawa) in the south and Sendai (via Koriyama) in the north. The fastest way to get to and from Tokyo is by catching a Shinkansen (bullet train) to Koriyama and then changhing to a local train for the trip to Sukagawa.

By plane
Sukagawa is home to the only airport in Fukushima prefecture.

See

 * Sukagawa Peony Garden is one of the world's largest of such gardens. The best time to see the Peonies is in May.
 * Midorigaoka Park is located on top of a hill, and is the site of the annual Taimatsu Akashi (torch festival).

Do
One of the most spectacular festivals held every year in Sukagawa is the Taimatsu Akashi (torch festival). The festival has a 400-odd year history, and was started to commemorate the defense of the city against an attack by a feudal lord. In order to ward off their would-be attackers, residents constructed a number of giant torches and set them alight on top of a hill. The festival includes a parade, during which the 10m long torches are carried through the streets of the town, before finally being erected on top of Midorigaoka park and then set alight. Torches are constructed and/or sponsored by local schools and businesses, whose students or employees later carry them in the parade.

The festival is free and takes place on the second Saturday of November every year. The parade generally starts around midafternoon, culminating in the erection and lighting of the torches from about 6 or 7pm.

Access to the festival is free, and there are usually free buses available from outside the station to Midorigaoka park.

Go next

 * Koriyama
 * Kagamiishi
 * Tamakawa
 * Hirata
 * Ten-ei
 * Ishikawa
 * Yabuki
 * Izumizaki
 * Shirakawa

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

title: Sukagawa


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Sukamade

Sukamade is turtle conservation area in East Java, Indonesia.

Understand
Sukamade beach is about to southwest of Banyuwangi. It is a natural, quiet, beautiful place and part of the 50,000-hectare Meru Betiri National Park.

Almost every night of the year, turtles appear on Sukamade beach to lay eggs. It is clearly a globally important site and one which is protected 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by the over-worked park rangers. Some eggs are taken by the rangers to protect them from predators, both human and other animals. These are incubated in the safety of the park hatchery and the youngsters are released to the ocean on the very beach from where the eggs were laid. There are similar beaches within the park boundary but it seems to be Sukamade that the turtles prefer.

The stability of the turtle population has been helped by a careful system of tagging and monitoring, as well as the use of the special hatcheries. Watching these giant creatures emerge from the surf and struggle-up the beach to lay their eggs on a moonlit night is a unique and unforgettable experience, and one which is certain to ensure Sukamade's ever-growing profile. This is certainly off the beaten track and requires some effort to reach but it is very worthwhile indeed.

History
The Meru Betiri National Park came into being in 1982 but Sukamade has had a turtle conservation facility since 1972. Since then, nearly 3,000 turtles have been tagged here. Records show that the Dutch first found this beach in the 1920s.

Landscape
Lush coastal tropical forest including fringing mangroves with some more open savannah-like areas. The beaches are stunning with white sand and big waves.

Flora and fauna
At Sukamade Beach: green sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, olive ridley turtle and the occasional leatherback.

The wilderness jungle of the surrounding Meru Betiri National Park is probably the last hope for a surviving Java tiger. The only recent evidence though has been footprints and faeces and your chance of seeing one is as close to nil as to be irrelevant. Some of the rangers believe the tiger is already extinct while even the most optimistic estimates put the population in low single figures.

Other mammals present in the park include banteng, leopard cat, wild pig, muntjac and Java rusa deer. There is also a diverse and varied birdlife.

Climate
Tropical and not noticeably different from elsewhere in Java. It rains a lot from December through March when the rivers (which are always difficult to cross) may prove to be impassable and the way in very difficult to negotiate.

National Park Office
Meru Betiri National Park Office: Jl Sriwijaya 53, Jember 68121, East Java, Tel/Fax: +62 331 321530, E-mail: meru@telkom.net

Get in
Sukamade can be approached from Banyuwangi to the northwest or from Jember to the north-east.

This journey requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle or large truck for the last 50 km. Hiring a driver and guide guided in Banyuwangi with a suitable 4 x 4 is certainly the most comfortable way. The roads are very rough and several rivers need crossing via fords (there are no bridges) - a regular road car will not make this.

You should aim to stay at least one night at Sukamade, take in the beauty of the beach and understand the place. That being said, visitors do day trip from Banyuwangi (returning very late at night as you need to be on the beach in the hours of darkness for the full turtle experience). Expect to pay a driver about Rp 400,000 per day for his services and the car. Petrol will be extra.

An alternative is to approach from the village of Kalibaru, 60 km east of Jember. From here, stay at the splendid Margo Utomo Homestay (see lodging below) and they will organise to get you to Sukamade by truck.

Travellers on a tight budget can try the following:
 * Take a bus from Jember to Glenmore (about 30 km).
 * Bus from Glenmore to Jajag (about 25 km).
 * Bemo from Jajag to Pesanggaran (about 20 km).
 * Take the daily truck from Pesanggaran market at 13:00 to Sarongan and finally Sukamade. There is only one truck each day and if you are going to miss it, stay at Jajag and continue the following day as there is absolutely nowhere to lodge in Pasanggaran.

Fees and permits
Rp 150,000 per person plus Rp 50,000 at the weekend surcharge per non-Indonesian. This charge includes parking and the services of a ranger to point you in the right direction. It is also possible to negotiate a little extra and have the ranger as your guide (recommended).

Get around
Once you have reached Sukamade, walk.

See

 * Four different species of sea turtle lay eggs on the beach here and every night of the year there are turtles to see. If there is a preferred time to visit it would be at a full moon and the attendant high tide. To watch a turtle laying her eggs here is a once in a lifetime experience.
 * The hatchery facility. Young turtles of all four species are incubate here and released back to the ocean safe from predators. See the youngsters at the hatchery and learn about the process.
 * Coffee and Cacao plantations which are close to the beach.
 * Teluk Hijau is a fabulously attractive bay nearby with cliffs abutting a white sand beach.

Do

 * Make a generous donation. The park rangers are very dedicated and work extremely hard to protect the turtles. They are up against it as poaching still occurs and turtle eggs are still for sale illegally in East Java. A key issue is that there are just not enough rangers to cover to such a large area. This is a really worthy effort and one which any visitor should support generously.
 * Stay at least one day and explore the park. There is diverse range of birds and mammals to be seen and the beaches are just stunning.

Eat
If you are staying at Wisma Sukamade, basic meals are available. Not such a bad thing to bring some food in with you.

Drink

 * Kopi Luwak (literally: civet coffee) is made from coffee berries which have been ingested by civets and then passed undigested in their faeces. It is said to have a distinctive and smooth taste. The rangers at Sukamade should be able to find you some. A number of agencies advise against its consumption due to the allegedly cruel conditions under which the civets are kept in captivity.

Camping
Camping is very possible at Sukamade. Ask at Wisma Sukamade for the best sites and sources of fresh water.

Go next

 * Banyuwangi for the Ijen Plateau and onward to Baluran National Park.
 * The Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park.

title: Sukamade


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Sukhothai

Sukhothai (สุโขทัย) is a small city (population 14,000 in 2019) in Lower Northern Thailand, 427 km north of Bangkok. Its attraction lies in the ruins of the ancient city Sukhothai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name translates as "the dawn of happiness".

History
Ancient Sukhothai was the first capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom, a long arc of territory that ran through what is today's Laos and western Thailand as far as the Malay states. The kingdom was established in 1238 by Phokhun Si Intharathit, the founder of the Phra Ruang dynasty. It was the state that eventually had the greatest influence on the later Siamese and Thai kingdoms. Traditional Thai history has it that Ramkhamhaeng the Great, the third ruler of the Phra Ruang dynasty, developed the capital at Sukhothai. He is also venerated as being the inventor of the Thai alphabet and being an all-round role model for Thailand's politics, monarchy, and religion.

Today
The province's temples and monuments have been restored and the UNESCO-listed Sukhothai Historical Park covers a wide area with numerous sites. Other interesting places include Ramkhamhaeng National Museum, Ramkhamhaeng National Park, Sri Satchanalai National Park, and The Royal Palace and Wat Mahathat.

Climate
While enjoyable all year, Sukhothai is most comfortable during the cooler weather of Nov-Feb.

By plane
Bangkok Airways has daily flights from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Sukhothai Airport (THS), which then continue on to Lampang (LPT). Fares from Bangkok start from 1,700 baht (1 hour 20 minutes), from/to Lampang: from 1,100 baht (around 40 minutes).

Air Asia has daily flights from Bangkok Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to Phitsanulok airport (PHS). You can book a combined ticket with Air Asia to travel from DMK to Sukhothai. This consists of the flight (1 hour), transfer to ground transport (30 minutes) then the road trip Tharaburi Resort in Sukhothai (1 hour 40 minutes).

By train
Take the (express) train (7 hr from Bangkok or Chiang Mai) to Phitsanulok and go by bus from there (1 hour). A tuk-tuk to the bus station costs 60 baht.

By bus
Sukhothai only has a small bus station, but the old and new city can be easily reached from all points. The bus station is out of town and should cost you 50-60 baht to get into town by tuk-tuk (40 mototaxi). From the new city bus station it costs 15 baht via the local shuttle to reach the new city center.

From Bangkok
There are direct buses from Bangkok Mo Chit Terminal (at least hourly 07:00-13:30, some in the afternoon, every 30 min 20:00-22:30, see schedule). The journey takes 7-10 hr, including some stops at bus terminals of major cities on the way.

First class air-con buses are operated by Wintour Travel (378 THB) and Phitsanulok Yanyon Tour (from 328 THB).

From Chiang Mai
Buses from the main bus terminal take about 4 hours. The cheaper 2nd class buses make many stops and take about 5 hours and a half (Wintour: 195 baht as of May 2017).

From Mae Sot
Minibuses run regularly from the station behind the market. The journey takes about 3 hours, passing through Tak on the way. 130 baht.

From Phitsanulok
Be clear about whether you want Old Sukhothai or New Sukhothai as there are buses to both (and they don't go to both destinations).

Air conditioned buses operate approximately every hour from the main (No 1) bus terminal 06:00–18:00 and take about 1 hour for the 58-km trip. These can be crowded or virtually empty. 39 baht.

Minivan from main (No 1) bus terminal stops in both New Sukhothai bus terminal and in Old Sukhothai just outside Ramkhamhaeng National Museum. 100 baht to Old Sukhothai (2023).

If you're feeling rich you can get a direct tuk-tuk. It costs 1,000 baht from the train station (one of the fixed prices posted on a sign in front of the station).

Get around
It's an easy 15-minute walk from the into New Sukothai town along a dirt path in front of the bus station (although the tuk tuk drivers will tell you that it is not possible to walk). To find it, exit the front of the station and walk straight (west) for a few meters until you reach the shops in front of the station. There will be the  leading off to your left (south) that passes by some fields and houses. Follow the path for 350 m and you will hit a concrete road; continue straight along this road for another 320 m, where you will reach "No. 4 Guesthouse". Turn right and after 200 m you will hit Jarodvithi Thong (Charodwithitong), the main street with many guesthouses.

Tuk-tuks will try to get 600 baht out of you for a trip to the Old City (main ruins) some 15 km out of town. The correct price is 300 baht and this is for at least a couple of hours. When you have seen the part you are at and want to move further in the same area, the driver takes you there. 600 baht is a fair price for a full day.

Scooters can be rented from Chopper on Prewet Nahkon Alley, just behind near the bridge of New Sukhothai. The bikes are pretty new and well maintained. Rates are 60 baht for 1 hr, 250 baht for the day (return at 20:30), 300 baht for 24 hr.

Purple #1 songthaews run the length of Charodwithitong Rd and also serve the bus station. Without the shortcut, the trip is 3 km and should cost 10 THB.

Songthaews to Old City
Large blue songthaews to Old Sukhothai leave from the Bus Station (look for the "Market - Old City" bus stand) and well recognisable roadside on Charodwithitong Rd, approximately opposite of a 7-Eleven (there is a bus stop sign), about 200 m west of the bridge. They stop right outside the entrance to the central zone of the historic park. These songthaews also have a stop (bell ring) button installed above seats, you can press it to let the driver know that you want to be dropped off earlier. Fare is 30 baht (as of March 2024, painted on a board on the bus).

On the return blue Songthaew trip tell/check with the driver where you want to get off as some drivers ”adapt” their route.

See
Sukhothai Historical Park (Thai: อุทยานประวัติศาสตร์สุโขทัย) (14 km to the west of New Sukhothai). This was the capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom from 1238 to 1438 and contains many ruins from that period. Its importance has been internationally recognised and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old city is a popular tourist attraction, and the site has seen much restoration since the 1960s. It is well maintained, exceptionally clean and well furnished with vendors, though with only a minimum of touts. The heavy restoration is worth noting, since with some ruins and Buddha figures it can lead to a feeling that it is a little over-sanitised, especially in the central zone. The other zones are much less "restored" and trips down unmarked tracks can lead to ruins in their untouched state.

The whole site covers an area of approximately 70 km2 (~27 square miles) and contains 193 ruins. The park is divided into 5 zones namely: Central, Eastern, Southern, Western and Northern Zones. The central zone contains the majority of the ruins and a museum. Maps are free at the ticket office. Every zone has an entrance fee of 100 baht each, but the combined ticket for all the zones is not available anymore as of January 2020. Admission to each of the zones is 100 baht for Westerners and 20 baht for Thais. Vehicles cost extra, bicycles 10 baht, motorbikes 30 baht. The park is open daily from 06:30 to 19:30 (21:00 on Saturdays).

It is feasible to walk around the central and northern zones in 6 hours or so. There is also a 60-baht guided tour by electric tram available. The best way, however, to see the ruins is by bicycle. These can be rented from a shop opposite from the main park entrance.

The best time to see the ruins is mornings when it's a little cooler and before the buses arrive, at noon when they have lunch, or after 16:00.

Also, if photographs are important, remember most Buddhist temples face east designed to be approached from the east so after midday you are more likely to be taking pictures into the sun.

Some review sites have reviews of the different temples where the reviewer has got muddled and is clearly not writing about the same temple the review is for. You would not be aware of this until after visiting the temple or not aware at all if you skip the temple. Use caution with such reviews.

Sukhothai Historical Park (Central Zone)
The Central Zone of the Sukhothai Historical Park contains about 22 monuments enclosed inside a rectangular walled complex. The north and south walls are 2000 m long while those on east and west measure 1600 m. The walls are punctured by four gateways on each of the four sides. ,, , The East Gate (Kamphaeng Hak Gate) is the most accessible of the four gates. The central zone of the Sukhothai Historical Park contains several other monuments of lesser importance ,,, and .

Sukhothai Historical Park (North Zone)
Located on the northern side of the central zone this zone contains about 10 scattered monuments out of which Wat Phra Phai Luang and Wat Si Chum are the most visited. The northern zone of the Sukhothai Historical Park contains several other monuments of lesser importance ,, and

Sukhothai Historical Park (West Zone)
Located west of the central zone and is approachable by the Or Gate it contains more than a dozen monuments scattered over a large undulating area. The wooded foothills were thought to offer an ideal spot to practice the Buddhist way of life and open the mind to dhamma. Entrance 100 Baht, they may not check for tickets if entering from the OR gate side (cycling clockwise from Central Zone) The western zone of the Sukhothai Historical Park contains several other monuments of lesser importance ,, , and

Sukhothai Historical Park (South Zone)
Unlike the northern and western zone the southern zone is more compact and has lesser number of monuments. The southern zone of the Sukhothai Historical Park contains couple other monuments of lesser importance

and

Sukhothai Historical Park (East Zone)
Like the south zone the east zone also contains a handful of monuments. The monuments are scattered along the road leading to the Kamphaeng Hak Gate (East Gate) of Sukhothai Historical Park. The eastern zone of the Sukhothai Historical Park contains couple other monuments of lesser importance.

and

Outside Sukhothai Historic Park

 * Central Zone: It contains 11 ruins in 3 km2, interspersed with moats, lakes and bridges to some island-bound ruins. Mat Mahathat is one of the most spectacular, with a large seated Buddha figure set amid the pillars of a now-ruined sala, and a central chedi flanked by two standing Buddha figures. Wat Sra Sri also has a large chedi and Buddha figure, but is reached by a bridge to the island. There are some nice views from the other side of the lake.
 * West zone The West zone is a hilly and forested area that contains over a dozen little visited monuments. The area is west of the walled old town between the road to Tak (Route 12) and the road through the Or gate in the ancient Western city wall. Spread out over an area of several kilometers, it contains mostly small monuments in the forest and on hill tops, most of them a single stupa or other structure. In the days of the Sukhothai empire the area was known as Aranyika. Monks studied the Tripitaka and practised meditation in forest temples. An ancient stone inscription mentions that Ramkhamhaeng, the third King of Sukhothai, visited the area regularly to pay his respects to a Buddha image, believed to be the standing Buddha image of the Wat Saphan Hin.
 * North zone Wat Phra Phai Luang contains the remains of a number of buildings plus a large prang with stucco reliefs. More impressive is Wat Sri Chum, which contains a massive seated Buddha figure peering through an opening in its enclosure. Look for a stairway on the left as you enter the enclosure; it leads up and behind the Buddha image, though the passage is not always open. Only if you want to have a close look for Wat Phra Phai Luang you need to pay.
 * West zone The West zone is a hilly and forested area that contains over a dozen little visited monuments. The area is west of the walled old town between the road to Tak (Route 12) and the road through the Or gate in the ancient Western city wall. Spread out over an area of several kilometers, it contains mostly small monuments in the forest and on hill tops, most of them a single stupa or other structure. In the days of the Sukhothai empire the area was known as Aranyika. Monks studied the Tripitaka and practised meditation in forest temples. An ancient stone inscription mentions that Ramkhamhaeng, the third King of Sukhothai, visited the area regularly to pay his respects to a Buddha image, believed to be the standing Buddha image of the Wat Saphan Hin.
 * North zone Wat Phra Phai Luang contains the remains of a number of buildings plus a large prang with stucco reliefs. More impressive is Wat Sri Chum, which contains a massive seated Buddha figure peering through an opening in its enclosure. Look for a stairway on the left as you enter the enclosure; it leads up and behind the Buddha image, though the passage is not always open. Only if you want to have a close look for Wat Phra Phai Luang you need to pay.

Festivals
Phor Khun Ramkhamhaeng's Day Festival (or King Ramkhamhaeng the Great Memorial Fair (งานวันพ่อขุนรามคำแหงมหาราช) Phor Khun Ramkhamhaeng's Day Festival, annually held on January 17. It honors of the Great King of Sukhothai Kingdom. In this day, people will visit the Monument of Phor Khun Ramkamhaeng the Great for praising Phor Khun Ramkhamhaeng. People will make merit and present food to a Buddhist priest. At night, there is merrymaking and many shows that all people can enjoy. There are fireworks, too.

Song Nam Aui Than Festival Song Nam Aui Than Festival is annually held on 12 April, Songkran Ceremony in the SriSathanalai Historical Park. It exhibits the Buddha image procession from Wat Phra Prang to the Historical Park for people who want to pour the water over the Buddha image.

Si Sachanalai Ordination Celebration Si Sachanalai Ordination Festival is called by Thais as "Buat Chang Hat Siao", held annually during 7–8 April at Ban Hat Sieo, Si Sachanalai District. It features a spectacular procession of ordination candidates in colourful costumes on the backs of some 20-30 decorated elephants.

Sukhothai Loi Krathong and Candle Festival The tradition which was founded in Sukhothai on the banks of the Yom River several hundred years ago derived from traditional Tai beliefs common to communities living along the banks of a river or waterway. It has become a need to worship and supplicate the Khongkla to avoid bad luck, to worship the gods in the Brahmin tradition, or to revere the Buddha's footprint. The celebrations are normally held in November. Sukhothai's Loi Krathong is held annually on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month at the Sukhothai Historical Park. The Krathongs, or floats, have been made in the form of lotus. There is also a reference, in the Sila Charuek, to candle lighting and playing with firework in a grand festival believed to be similar to the candle lighting and firework as practiced in the current Loi Krathong Festival. In this festival, there are Nang Nopphamat procession, exhibitions, lighting of lantern at the historical site, Loi Krathong, fireworks over all waterways, and a Krathong competition.

Phra Mae Ya Homage Paying Fair and Sukhothai Red Cross Fair (งานสักการะพระแม่ย่าและงานกาชาดจังหวัดสุโขทัย) This is held at the beginning of February every year around the Sukhothai City Hall, Nirakasem Road, Tambon Thani. A procession paying homage to Phra Mae Ya, a local sports competition, an exhibition, a local handicraft demonstration and entertainment, are held.

Si Satchanalai Elephant Back Ordination Procession (ประเพณีบวชพระแห่นาคด้วยช้างของชาวหาดเสี้ยว) A traditional ceremony of the Thai Phuan, citizens of Ban Hat Siao, Si Satchanalai Elephant Back Ordination Procession or Buat Chang is held annually during 7–8 April at Ban Hat Siao, Si Satchanalai District. The 7th is the crux of the event, when a procession takes place. On the 8th features a spectacular procession of ordination candidates in colourful costumes on the backs of some 20-30 decorated elephants. The ordination ceremony includes head shaving, bathing, and dressing up candidates, as well as, elephants. The procession is held around the village and the Si Satchanalai District Office.

Songkran and Mueang Sawankhalok Festival (งานประเพณีสงกรานต์และเทศกาลเมืองสวรรคโลก) This takes place during 11–15 April annually on the bank of the Yom River, in front of Wat Sawang Arom, by the Yom River, and at the Stadium of the Sawankhalok Municipal School. The procession of Miss Songkran, the Sawankhalok Food Festival, ceremonies of giving alms to monks and bathing rituals for Buddha images and monks are performed in the festival.

Songkran Festival (งานประเพณีสรงน้ำโอยทาน สงกรานต์ศรีสัชนาลัย) An annual celebration of the Thai New Year is held during 12–13 April at Si Satchanalai Historical Park, Si Satchanalai District; this festival carries forward Sukhothai's tradition. It was mentioned in the famous stone inscription “The Sukhothai people are generous, abide by precepts, and always give charity”, which is believed to be inscribed during the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great of the Sukhothai Kingdom. The highlights of the event include the elephant procession, offering rituals to pay respect to Phra Suea Mueang, the tutelary spirit and kings from the Phra Ruang Dynasty, Miss Songkran beauty queen contest, local sport competitions, and cultural performances.

Hae Nam Khuen Hong Festival (งานประเพณีแห่น้ำขึ้นโฮง) This is organized annually during 18 – 19 April at the plaza of Chaopho Mueang Dong Monument, Tambon Ban Tuek, Si Satchanalai District. The ceremony is held to honour “Muen Nakhon” or “Chaopho Mueang Dong”, the establisher of Dong City. He was talented and courageous, as well as specialized in catching elephants and utilising them in war. Later, he was executed to prove his loyalty to King Tilokkarat. Then, the villagers organized a ceremony to pay homage to Chaopho Mueang Dong by preparing a more-than-50-elephant parade wonderfully decorated, passing the village to pay respect to the shrine of Chaopho Khao Mung and onward to the plaza of Chaopho Mueang Dong Monument to pay homage to Chaopho Mueang Dong.

Khao Luang Winning Day (งานวันพิชิตยอดเขาหลวง) This is a yearly event that Sukhothai province has organized for tourists and the local people to climb up to the summit of Khao Luang in the Ramkhamhaeng National Park, Khiri Mat District. The event is held around November every year.

Do

 * Rent a bike and explore the ruins of Old Sukhothai (walking will kill you).
 * Visit the park at sunrise and admire the Buddha figures in the orange glow of the morning sun.
 * Pay a visit to the ruins at Si Satchanalai Historic Park, 55km from New Sukhothai. Few tourists, great sites, quiet. Bike rental at entrance.
 * Cycling Route along the Orchards Some visitors enjoy cycling around the orchards and tasting a variety of fruits like pomelo, santol, sapodilla, coconut, star fruit, various kinds of bananas, as well as the tasty and fleshy plum mango (Bouae Macrophylla) with its chicken-egged size.
 * Cycling Tambon Ban Tuek Community of Si Satchanalai District. This is a small and peaceful community filled with trees, paddy fields, and scenic mountain ranges, while tourists can enjoy the traditional life of fruit growers. Different types of fruits grown along the hilly terrain include longkong, langsat, mangosteen, durian, banana, pomelo, rambeh, and rambutan.

Buy

 * Khanom Kliao (ขนมเกลียว) Snacks of Sukhothai made from wheat flour and egg, seasoned with salt and pepper, and made it into a twist shaped-dough. Fried until crispy and further glacé. It has a sweet taste and is available everywhere.
 * Sangkhalok ceramics (เครื่องสังคโลก) These replicas arguably look as good as the originals.
 * Thung Luang terra cotta (เครื่องปั้นดินเผา) of Khiri Mat District come in unique patterns. The products include flower pots, vases, basin, water jar, lamps, with perforated decorations of animal figures like frogs, bullfrogs, and dogs.
 * Butter-baked Banana (กล้วยอบเนย) A well-known snack of Khiri Mat District, it resembles another local sweet called Khanom Rang Nok made from sweet potato. This butter-baked banana snack is made from slicing raw banana horizontally, left to dry for half a day, seasoned with salt, deep fried, adding sugar, and giving it a good stir. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and add butter. This product is available everywhere.
 * Local Snacks: Khanom Phing, Thong Muan, Thong Phap, Thong Tan (ขนมผิง ทองม้วน ทองพับ และทองตัน) Famous crispy snacks of various shapes: square, round tube, and thick roll.
 * Fried peanuts (ถั่วทอด) of Si Samrong District, also called "200-year fried peanuts", are a tribute to a technique which has been inherited for many generations. The recipe is a mixture of rice flour, wheat flour, eggs, coconut milk, salt, pepper, chopped wild yam, which are then deep fried.
 * Ancient gold reproductions (ทองโบราณ) of Si Satchanalai District are entirely hand-made by skilled workers. These replicas of the Sukhothai style products include necklaces, wristlets, bangles, earrings, rings, etc.
 * Ancient silver reproductions (เงินโบราณ) These replicas are entirely hand-made with distinctive skill. They are available at all silver shops in Si Satchanalai District.
 * Hat Siao fabric (ผ้าหาดเสี้ยว) comes with nine beautiful patterns woven with the use of a supplementary weft technique, done by the descendants of Thai Phuan, who migrated from the north of Vientiane in Laos.
 * Marble products (ผลิตภัณฑ์หินอ่อน) The marble products from Amphoe Thung Saliam - Thoen include tables, chairs, flower pots and alarm clocks.

Eat
Sukhothai has its very own specialty noodle dish simply called Sukhothai noodles. They are a blend of Thai rice noodles (khanom chin) mixed with crispy pork, garlic, green beans, coriander, chili, and peanuts in a broth flavored with dark soy sauce.

New Sukothai

Mid-range

Medical
Sukhothai town has one main government hospital,. Another large government hospital called Srisangworn Sukhothai Hospital, is in Si Samrong District, 22 kilometers distant. Ruam Phaet Sukhothai Hospital is the only private hospital in the province and is across from Sukhothai Hospital.

Go next

 * Kamphaeng Phet — historic town
 * Si Satchanalai — Sukhothai's twin city
 * Bangkok Despite two large signs detailing explicitly the bus schedule with class and prices, 3 different bus compagnies (WinTour, Transport and another one) explained us that no 2nd class buses are running anymore. Only 1st class and VIP buses. They claimed that the sign was wrong, then that it was old, until finally somebody said that ALL the 2nd class buses are broken down! It seems tourists are now charged first class prices (310 baht) vs economy class (240 bath) - at least I did. Each companies have buses running every hour. The ride takes 7-8h depending on the traffic and stop multiple times until Mo Chit 2 (Chatuchak) in Bangkok. Or minivan to Phitsanulok and train to Bangkok.
 * Chiang Mai For 230bht from the bus station you can take a bus. First in the morning is 6h30.
 * Mae Sot to the Myanmar border. Minibuses leave the Sukhothai Bus Station 09:15, 10:15,14:15 & 16:15 (3½hr travel time) ฿196 (Jan 2020)
 * Ayutthaya there are government buses at 13h, 15h and 18h

title: Sukhothai


text:
Sukhumi

Sukhum (Abkhaz: Аҟəа /Aqwa/, Georgian: სოხუმი, Russian: Сухум) is the capital and principal city of Abkhazia. It has for the better part of the last century been famous throughout the former Soviet Union as a prominent subtropical beach resort, complete with palm trees, botanical gardens, and citrus plantations, backed by the high alpine peaks of the Greater Caucasus Mountains.

You can easily see Sukhum's urban sights in one afternoon; spend the rest of your time on the beach or doing day trips to northern Abkhazia. The region is relatively small, so Sukhum is a good base from which to explore.

Understand
First settlement was founded here in the second and early first millennia BC by local Colchian tribes. Later in the mid-6th century BC it was replaced by the Milesian Greek colony of Dioscurias. It remained one of the Roman (and later Byzantine) strongholds in Caucasus up until being sacked by the Arabs in 736. Afterwards restored and flourished during the reigns of Abkhazian and Georgian kingdoms in the 12th–13th centuries. However, it fell to the Turks about 1570, when they built new fort here. In the late 18th century it became a capital of independent Abkhaz kingdom. Short after that in 1810 Abkhaz kingdom signed a treaty with Russian Empire to become part of it. Sukhum was a centre of the 1992–1993 Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, and thereafter was severely damaged, and the local ethnic Georgian community was ethnically cleansed from the city.

Get in
If you enter Abkhazia with a travel permit issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, you'll need to visit Sukhum, as this is the place where (if you require a visa) you will have to exchange your permit for a proper visa. The consular service is located at the ground floor of the Ministry of Repatriation on ul. Sacharova 33 (from 09:00, lunchbreak from 12:00). Visit the consulate first to establish if payment is required (e.g. for UK nationals the entry permit may be sufficient). If required, then pay your visa fee ($10 for 10 days) at Sberbank, Lakoba Ave. (opposite no. 37, 09:00-17:00) before returning to the consulate as you will need the receipt in order to obtain the visa.

By train
The direct sleeper train from Moscow has departures at least twice a week with more connections added during the holiday seasons. Departure time from Moskva Paveletsky station is 17:20, arriving in Suhkumi 13:07 two nights later. A local train also connects with the Russian summer resort of Sochi across the border, journey time is 5 hours. There are no train services from Georgia.

By bus and marshrutka
Regular services connect Sukhum with the Russian border (2 hr 30 min, hourly), and much rarely with a few towns in Southern Russia. If you are coming from or going to Georgia, you should pick a service from/to the South Abkhazian town of Gali, where marshrutkas and taxis go to the Abkhazian military checkpoint at Inguri bridge, leading towards Zugdidi, Georgia.

Long-distance coaches and marshrutkas going in east bound direction depart from the square in front of the Railway station. Including the ones going to Southern Russian cities, Russian border (Psou), Gagra (2 hr), Gudauta, New Athos (30 min, ₽50), Pitsunda.

Marshrutkas heading south and westward depart from the central market (Rynok), incl. Dranda, Gali, Ochamchira (1 hr, ₽80).

Get around
Most can easily be done on foot; bookshops sell quite decent maps.

Frequent marshrutkas and lesser frequent trolleybuses ply the roads. To get to the bus/train station ("voksal") take any marshrutka/trolleybus going to the central market and then board trolleybus #1 or #3.

There are three trolleybus routes:
 * №1 Central Market ("rynok") - Noviy rayon. Via train station.
 * №2 Central Market ("rynok") - Kashtak. Via city center and then further southward along city coast line.
 * №3 Central Market ("rynok") - Zheleznodorozhniy Posyolok. Via train station

See

Although some of the major sights of the city were destroyed by the war, Sukhum's principal attraction remained intact: an almost tropical climate with beaches, mountains, lakes, palm trees and of course the warm welcoming of locals, always mixed with a curiosity towards westerners. Russian tourists invade the seaside during the summer; the influx of new money permitted the reconstruction of the main sites, and progress, albeit slow, is visible everywhere.

 * Old Soviet buildings and remnants of war: for those who seek for this, Sukhum is a paradise. Among all the abandoned, destroyed and sadly dilapidated buildings that you still find literally everywhere, the most famous one is indisputably the gigantic old government building of the Abkhaz Autonomous Republic (two corners westwards from the Botanical gardens), sacked and burnt out two decades ago. The railway station at the western edge of the town is also worth a look; the huge building, nowadays a burnt-out shell, seems to have had enough space for all the travellers of an entire metropolis like Moscow. It has been replaced by a much smaller, reconstructed building to the west of it.
 * Old Soviet buildings and remnants of war: for those who seek for this, Sukhum is a paradise. Among all the abandoned, destroyed and sadly dilapidated buildings that you still find literally everywhere, the most famous one is indisputably the gigantic old government building of the Abkhaz Autonomous Republic (two corners westwards from the Botanical gardens), sacked and burnt out two decades ago. The railway station at the western edge of the town is also worth a look; the huge building, nowadays a burnt-out shell, seems to have had enough space for all the travellers of an entire metropolis like Moscow. It has been replaced by a much smaller, reconstructed building to the west of it.
 * Old Soviet buildings and remnants of war: for those who seek for this, Sukhum is a paradise. Among all the abandoned, destroyed and sadly dilapidated buildings that you still find literally everywhere, the most famous one is indisputably the gigantic old government building of the Abkhaz Autonomous Republic (two corners westwards from the Botanical gardens), sacked and burnt out two decades ago. The railway station at the western edge of the town is also worth a look; the huge building, nowadays a burnt-out shell, seems to have had enough space for all the travellers of an entire metropolis like Moscow. It has been replaced by a much smaller, reconstructed building to the west of it.
 * Old Soviet buildings and remnants of war: for those who seek for this, Sukhum is a paradise. Among all the abandoned, destroyed and sadly dilapidated buildings that you still find literally everywhere, the most famous one is indisputably the gigantic old government building of the Abkhaz Autonomous Republic (two corners westwards from the Botanical gardens), sacked and burnt out two decades ago. The railway station at the western edge of the town is also worth a look; the huge building, nowadays a burnt-out shell, seems to have had enough space for all the travellers of an entire metropolis like Moscow. It has been replaced by a much smaller, reconstructed building to the west of it.
 * Old Soviet buildings and remnants of war: for those who seek for this, Sukhum is a paradise. Among all the abandoned, destroyed and sadly dilapidated buildings that you still find literally everywhere, the most famous one is indisputably the gigantic old government building of the Abkhaz Autonomous Republic (two corners westwards from the Botanical gardens), sacked and burnt out two decades ago. The railway station at the western edge of the town is also worth a look; the huge building, nowadays a burnt-out shell, seems to have had enough space for all the travellers of an entire metropolis like Moscow. It has been replaced by a much smaller, reconstructed building to the west of it.
 * Old Soviet buildings and remnants of war: for those who seek for this, Sukhum is a paradise. Among all the abandoned, destroyed and sadly dilapidated buildings that you still find literally everywhere, the most famous one is indisputably the gigantic old government building of the Abkhaz Autonomous Republic (two corners westwards from the Botanical gardens), sacked and burnt out two decades ago. The railway station at the western edge of the town is also worth a look; the huge building, nowadays a burnt-out shell, seems to have had enough space for all the travellers of an entire metropolis like Moscow. It has been replaced by a much smaller, reconstructed building to the west of it.
 * Old Soviet buildings and remnants of war: for those who seek for this, Sukhum is a paradise. Among all the abandoned, destroyed and sadly dilapidated buildings that you still find literally everywhere, the most famous one is indisputably the gigantic old government building of the Abkhaz Autonomous Republic (two corners westwards from the Botanical gardens), sacked and burnt out two decades ago. The railway station at the western edge of the town is also worth a look; the huge building, nowadays a burnt-out shell, seems to have had enough space for all the travellers of an entire metropolis like Moscow. It has been replaced by a much smaller, reconstructed building to the west of it.

Do

 * Swim at the moderately well maintained pebble beach.

Buy
Since tourism returned to Sukhum, it's not difficult to find local momentos. Most souvenir stalls are located at the Sokhumi seaside and sell the usual kitsch such as you may buy at any Mediterranean resort, but some of the notable are Abkhazia flags, T-shirts, fridge magnets, photo books, home made honey. Abkhazian brandy, vodka and chacha (a local spirit) are also available everywhere and make good gifts.

Shops open M-F from 09:00 to 18:00, Sa till 14:00. The produce market operates on weekends. Small grocery shops are open till late night.

The city has several banks where you can exchange currencies. There are several ATMs in the city centre accepting Visa and Mastercard cards. It is also possible to withdraw cash from these cards at all banks’ counters for a 2% commission. Many tourist-oriented places, such as restaurants, accept credit and debit cards.

Eat
There is a fair share of restaurants in Sukhum, which cater mostly Russian or Caucasian style dining. Many of them are at the coast next to Hotel Ritsa; they are designed to cater Russian tourists, and while they are not exactly cheap on local standards (a diner with two courses and wine can cost up to €15-20), most of them are decent and reliable. Walk along the seaside and choose what you like most (and where you find a free table, which can be tricky during the summer). Some new openings are visible around the town, especially around the tourist-invaded botanical garden.

 * There is also an authentic cafe on the parallel street to pr. Mira, next to a bookstore. Authentic (Mokka type) coffee, great for breakfast.
 * There is also an authentic cafe on the parallel street to pr. Mira, next to a bookstore. Authentic (Mokka type) coffee, great for breakfast.
 * There is also an authentic cafe on the parallel street to pr. Mira, next to a bookstore. Authentic (Mokka type) coffee, great for breakfast.
 * There is also an authentic cafe on the parallel street to pr. Mira, next to a bookstore. Authentic (Mokka type) coffee, great for breakfast.
 * There is also an authentic cafe on the parallel street to pr. Mira, next to a bookstore. Authentic (Mokka type) coffee, great for breakfast.

Drink
Plenty of places along the coast. Walk along the coastline and take your pick. The places on the pier are great for a sundowner.

Home stays
Prices and quality vary, but in summer it's not always easy to find a decent home stay in Sukhum. Head for one of the several old ladies who work as housing agents behind their plastic tables at the Promenade, some 500 m westwards from Hotel Ritsa; they'll find you something. Another alternative is checking on Akirtaa street where a number of houses have signs advertising homestays. The longer your stay, the higher your chances are to find a good deal; looking for accommodation for one night can be a kind of nightmare. Expect to pay at least ₽700 for a double room.

Hotels
The big international hostelling sites are now allow to book Sukhum hotels, so no more problems with this. During summer having a reservation can be essential, as hotels can be fully booked weeks in advance. Prices vary, a central room in a nicely refurbished hotel can easily cost €100 (while a bed at a no-frills home stay cost so little as €4 per bed per night).

Connect
Internet can be found in restaurants with Wi-Fi and in a few Internet cafes.

There are 2 local mobile operators A-Mobile and Aquafon, both offer 4G networks. Foreign SIM cards usually do not work, with the exception of Russian branded operators MTS, Beeline, Megafon.

Cope

 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * South Ossetia

Go next

 * Auadhare – Abkhazian resort, 18 km from Lake Riza, at an altitude of 1,600 m, famous for its mineral springs and sulfide waterfall with sparkling water.
 * Gagra
 * New Athos (22 km) – A coastal town featuring orthodox monastery and ruins of the medieval city of Anacopia
 * Ochamchira (50 km)
 * Sochi, Russia – A big Russian resort in a picturesque area
 * Zugdidi, Georgia – Not very popular city with tourists, however many of them pass through it on their way up to Mestia in Northwestern Georgia

title: Sukhumi


text:
Sukkur

Sukkur lies on the west bank of Indus River and is the third largest city of Sindh.

Understand
When Arabs invaded Sukkur (Sindh) in the 8th century (712 A.D.), they found an extreme climate of hot and cold, and called it Saqar, which means intense. Sukkur is nicknamed Darya Dino meaning the gift of river, as without the Indus the city would be a desert. Sukkur has many attractions to keep the tourist busy. Alor (or Aror, Sukkur) held the status of capital under the reign of Musikanos, when Alexander invaded the region in 326 BCE. The Rai Dynasty built a huge temple of Shiva. Lloyd Barrage on River Indus consist of 66 gates and many more as Lansdowne Bridge Rohr, Tomb of Mian Adam Shah Kalhoro, Sadh Belo Temple on River Indus, Lab-e-Mehran, Ayub Gate, Masum Shah jo minar (Masum Shah), Sateen jo Aastan (Seven Sisters) and Shahi Bazar.

History
Sukkur has been an important strategic center and trading route from time immemorial. Alor (or Aror, Sukkur) held the status of capital under the reign of Musikanos, when Alexander invaded the region in 326 BCE. The ruins of this ancient town still exist, 8 km east of Rohri, in Sukkur district. The Rai Dynasty built a huge temple of Shiva. In 711 CE, the Arabs invaded Sindh, led by 17 year old Muhammad bin Qasim, and Sukkur (including all of Sindh and lower Punjab) became part of the Umayyad Caliphate.

Later Mughals and many semi-autonomous tribes ruled over Sukkur. The city was ceded to Mirs of Khairpur between 1809 and 1824. In 1833, Shah Shuja (a warlord of Kandahar, Afghanistan) defeated the Talpurs near Sukkur and later made a solemn treaty with the Talpur ruler, by which he relinquished all claims on Sindh. In 1843, the British (General Charles James Napier) defeated the Talpurs at the battles of Miani and Dubbo near Hyderabad. Sukkur, along with the rest of Sindh, was under British rule until the independence of Pakistan in 1947. The (current) district of Sukkur was constituted in 1901 out of part of Shikarpur District, the remainder of which was formed into the Larkana District. Sukkur saw a significant socio-economic uplift after the 1930s, when the British built the world's largest barrage here on the Indus River. The predominantly Muslim population supported the Muslim League and Pakistan Movement. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs fled to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Sukkur.

By plane
Sukkur Airport is a domestic airport situated about 8 km away from the city centre of Sukkur. Sukkur Airport ranks as the second main operational airport in Sindh, after Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. PIA operates direct flights from Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.

By train
Sukkur is served by Sukkur railway station as well nearby Rohri railway station and has railway connections with almost all the major Pakistani cities and towns. Majority of the trains both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned travel into Sindh make brief stop at nearby railway station of Rohri which makes Rohri a very important and busiest railway junction of the country.

If you're travelling from northern Punjab city of Lahore or Karachi with both speed and comfort as a priority, both the Pakistan Business Express and the Karakoram Express are good choices. They run daily non-stop between Lahore and Karachi and are faster than other trains, taking less than 20 hours travel time, because they make only few stops, whereas other trains make stops at every major station along the route and are usually delayed as well. Pakistan Business Express is a privately run business-class train and has LCD TV in its cabins and provides free high tea, dinner, breakfast and beverages throughout the journey. Tickets can be reserved online and can be collected via a home delivery option where you can pay for the ticket via cash on delivery. The Karakoram Express has both economy and air-con class accommodation.

Other than that, plenty of trains (both economy and air-conditioned class) run from other major big cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Faisalabad Multan, Qetta, and Rawalpindi on a daily basis as well but they're slow as they make stops at every major railway station along the way. Tezgam or Shalimar Express are best preferred for travellers from Punjab; Khyber Mail for travellers from the north-western city of Peshawar while both the Akbar Express (also known as Quetta Express) and Jaffar Express is recommended for journeys between Sukkur and western city of Quetta.

By road
Sukkur is situated on National Highway N-5, which originates from Torkham (Pakistan-Afghanistan border) and runs via Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, and Hyderabad on its way to Karachi. Sukkur is also connected via National Highway # N-65 (Indus Highway) originates from Quetta and runs via Sibi enter Sindh and travel up to Sukkur.

Buses from most major cities easily available for Sukkur. If coming from Karachi, you may want to travel with Pakistan's most popular and comfortable Daewoo air-conditioned bus, the one-way fare is Rs 1,500 and the buses runs throughout the day at one-hour intervals and the ride takes seven hours. The main bus stand is near Abad.

Get around
Rickshaws and Vans travel within city. Hire taxi from Sukkur Airport or anywhere in the city.

See

Eat

 * Sindhri Restaurant
 * Sindhri Restaurant
 * Sindhri Restaurant
 * Sindhri Restaurant

Drink

 * Dhood pati Chai Sindhri Hotel

Sleep
Keep in mind that most accommodation here is fairly basic.

Go next

 * Karachi
 * Khairpur
 * Nawabshah
 * Mothparja

title: Sukkur


text:
Sulawesi

Sulawesi (formerly Celebes) is one of the main islands of Indonesia, and the eleventh largest island in the world. With four spindly arms spinning outward, Sulawesi's spidery shape is easily recognizable.

This enormous island has much to offer the visitor from extraordinary unique cultures, to an under-explored mountainous hinterland, and several truly world class diving spots.

Cities

 * (Ujung Pandang) — capital of the South and Sulawesi's largest city
 * — main port town in the north which is the gateway to excellent diving spots
 * — capital of Gorontalo province, an incredible marine tourism city.
 * — capital of the north and the gateway to Bunaken
 * — capital of the Central Sulawesi
 * — capital of the West Sulawesi
 * — capital of the South East Sulawesi
 * — gateway town to Tanah Toraja
 * — cool, fresh town in the northern highlands
 * — pleasant little lake-side transit town on the way to Ampana

Other destinations

 * — island group in the north with world-class diving
 * — forest park in the north near Gorontalo which is home to tarsiers and much other wildlife
 * — marine park with some of the world's best diving
 * — important forested national park in the central highlands which is home to some 77 endemic bird species and some remarkable megaliths
 * — highlands famed for their elaborate burial rites
 * — home of the tarsier, the world's smallest primate
 * — diving destination way off the beaten track
 * — a marine national park, yet more world-class diving

Understand
From the point of view of biodiversity, Sulawesi is part of Wallacea, a transitional ecosystem between the East Asian and Australasian ones, identified by both the WWF and Conservation International as a global conservation priority area. The name commemorates the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, who travelled through the Malay Archipelago from 1854 to 1862, age 31 to 39, setting up bases on Makassar and Manado, to collect specimens for sale and to study natural history. He noted the differences in mammal and bird fauna between the islands either side of the now-called "Wallace line". West of it, Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Borneo share a mammal fauna similar to that of East Asia, including tigers, rhinoceros, and apes, whereas those from Lombok and eastward are mostly populated by marsupials and birds similar to those in Australasia. Sulawesi shows signs of both.

History
Human beings have been living in Sulawesi for at least 39,900 years, as archeologists determined in 2014 that a hand stencil painted in Leang-Leang cave in Southern Sulawesi dates to at least 39,900 years ago. The island almost certainly formed part of the land bridge used for the settlement of Australia and New Guinea.

In Central Sulawesi there are over 400 granite megaliths, which various archaeological studies have dated to be from 3000 BC to 1300 AD.

The first Europeans to visit the island were Portuguese sailors in 1525, sent from the Moluccas in search of gold. The Dutch arrived in 1605 and were quickly followed by the English, who established a factory in Makassar. In 1905 the entire island became part of the Dutch state colony of the Netherlands East Indies until Japanese occupation in World War II. Following the transfer of sovereignty in December 1949, Sulawesi became part of the federal United States of Indonesia, which in 1950 became absorbed into the unitary Republic of Indonesia.

Religion
Sulawesi's tough terrain, massive size (174,600 km²) and great marine traditions, have combined to cause a wildly divergent set of peoples and cultures, speaking eight major languages and professing Muslim, Christian, Hindu and animist beliefs (not to mention various mixes thereof).

Islam is the majority religion in Sulawesi. The conversion of the lowlands of the south western peninsula in South Sulawesi to Islam occurred in the early 17th century. Most Sulawesi Muslims are Sunnis.

Christians form a substantial minority of about 19% on the island. Christians are concentrated on the tip of the northern peninsula around the city of Manado and around Poso in Central Sulawesi. The famous Toraja people of Tana Toraja in Central Sulawesi have largely converted to Christianity since Indonesian independence.

Though most people identify themselves as Muslims or Christians, they often subscribe to local beliefs and deities as well. It is not uncommon for Christians to make offerings to local gods, goddesses, and spirits.

Sulawesi has been plagued by Muslim-Christian violence. The most serious violence occurred between 1999 and 2001 on the once peaceful island, with heavy involvement of Islamist militias such as Laskar Jihad. Over 1,000 people were killed in violence, riots, and ethnic cleansing that ripped through Central Sulawesi. In 2003, 13 Christian villagers were killed in the Poso District by unknown masked gunmen. And in 2005 three Christian schoolgirls were beheaded in Poso by Islamic militants. Riots erupted again in September 2006 in Christian-dominated areas of Central Sulawesi. In 2017, militant Islamic guerrillas are no longer a problem, as the head of the guerrillas was shot dead in 2016 and the rest of the group number no more than 10. As a result, people no longer fear or support them.

By plane
Sulawesi's main port of entry is Makassar's Sultan Hasanuddin Airport, which has frequent flights throughout the archipelago. Manado's airport acts as a secondary hub, with some interesting connections eastward to Halmahera and Papua. Both airports are international airports with visa-on-arrival facilities, with international flights to Kuala Lumpur from Makassar, and to Singapore from both airports.

Other airports with direct flights from Jakarta include those of Kendari, Gorontalo, and Palu.

By plane
The sheer size of Sulawesi and the poor state of its roads make plane the transportation method of choice. Flights radiate out from Makassar and Manado to all points on the island.

By bus
The Trans-Sulawesi Highway stretches about 2,000 km from Makassar to Manado. Despite the grandiose name, the road is narrow and twisty and can be dangerous for drivers who are unfamiliar with the territory.

Itineraries
The area around Tana Toraja is a fascinating one and well worth a visit. The Torajans are Christians but still maintain strong connections to their Indigenous culture and religion. Locals welcome visitors to take part in their elaborate funeral ceremonies which are interesting but involve animal sacrifices and are not for the squeamish.

Buy
Ikat weaving is Sulawesi's best-known craft, with different styles all around the island.

Eat
Sulawesi cuisine is quite varied, but the best-known is Manadonese cuisine from the north, an interesting mix of Dutch influences, incredibly spicy chillies and unorthodox ingredients like bat and dog.

Stay safe
Previously there were riots with bombing and guns in Poso area, Central Sulawesi. Tension also happened in Southern Sulawesi and South East Sulawesi, but with no violence. Northern Sulawesi is generally calm. After some years battling the insurgency group in the jungle of Poso area, the head of insurgency group, Santoso (Abu Wardah) was shot in July 2016. There is no more violence in Sulawesi; nowadays all of it is safe. But awareness is still needed in the Poso area, because about 5 insurgents are still alive, although not active anymore.

Go next

 * To the west, Borneo.
 * To the north, Philippines.
 * To the east, Maluku Islands.
 * To the south, Nusa Tenggara.

title: Sulawesi


text:
Sulemania

Sulemania (Kurdish: سلێمانی) was founded in 1784 by Ibrahim Pasha Baban, a Kurdish prince, to be the capital of his principality. Since then it has been Iraqi Kurdistan’s cultural capital and home to philosophers, poets and writers. Its importance is not limited to Iraq, but for the whole of the Kurdistan region, which also encompasses parts of Turkey, Syria and Iran.

Slemani, as it is also known, attracted many Sorani-speaking Kurdish linguists and writers, and here Sorani literature was developed. These writers and poets are today revered with statues and busts in many parks and squares around the city.

The local population are known for being more open-minded and tolerant than in the rest of Kurdistan, Something that will surprise you in Slemani is that women seem to be more independent. In the Arab world, women tend to seem quieter, overshadowed by their male relatives when in public, and never start a conversation with a stranger.

The city is often described as a “cosmopolitan gem” and “a place to be discovered”. It still has many places of interest, the heart of the city is the old town, which despite the name looks rather modern and it is as deliciously chaotic as any medina in Morocco. The old town is dominated by a large open bazaar, which occupies several blocks. It is a marketplace selling mainly food, vegetables and clothes and is buzzing from early morning to late afternoon. Right in the middle of all this is the Grand Mosque, which is open for visitors. In the area there are many small family run restaurants serving simple, tasty and inexpensive food.

By plane
Security is tight at the airport. Only approved taxis can get near the terminal. A small bus takes other passengers to and from the roundabout at the airport entrance. Initial security screening takes place here.

By taxi
It's easy to find a shared taxi between major cities. A shared taxi from Erbil costs ca. 15,000 ID.

See
Sulaimaniya has a great view from outside, above the mountains around it (Goizha, Azmar, Piramagrwn and Baranan). The city is in the phase of transition from a usual city to a tourism city in every sense of the word.

Do
There is a bowling centre, Azadi park and other places to visit.

Buy

 * The Zara supermarket (Go to the East end of Salm Street, where the gate to the bazaar area is, and then 300 meters North, uphill. Or go to Southeast corner of Azadi park. In either case, look for a large silver dome on top of its building.) has appointed itself as the source for Western products. They don't have much, but they are more likely to have something else than other stores.

Drink
Alcohol is not very hard to find, with many restaurants serving it and bars at the hotels. Spirits such as vodka are popular.

Coffee
Coffee is not popular in Suli, and tea is generally a better bet. The local taste is for instant coffee, and the coffee section of a grocery store will be dominated by MacCoffee and Nescafe. Coffee beans generally come only as little bricks of Turkish coffee, 200 grams roasted dark and ground fine. If you don't want 1/4 cardamom, check the package to ensure it’s 100% coffee.

Sleep
Sulaimaniya has some fine international standard hotels with all the expected facilities.

Go next
Erbil is a 2-3 hour drive away on good roads. To find a shared taxi, go to the new Terminal called Garage of Baghdad, which is located in Tasluja west of Sulemania. A seat in a full taxi will be around 15,000 IQD (Sep 2022).

title: Sulemania


text:
Sulina

Sulina is a town in the Danube Delta in Romania, on the Black Sea. The easternmost point of the European Union, the city lies on the Danube river as well as on the Black sea coast. It is a small fisherman city and summer resort.

Understand
Sulina had a vivid history. Due to its strategic position on the Black Sea, Sulina port was one of the most important ports on Danube. It housed the seed of European Danube Commission (C.E.D.) and was the first duty-free zone in Europe in the 19th century. It was also a starting point for British explorers who were mapping the delta in the 19th century. Many of the sites from that time still exist, not all in a good shape, but giving a glance of previous glorious times.

By boat
There are no roads to get to Sulina, so the waterways are the only way to get from mainland Romania. If you are traveling by car, it is wise to leave your car in secure parking lot in Tulcea harbor. Price is around 10 lei per day. There is a way to get your car in Sulina, but, it is very expensive and not practical. There is nowhere where you can use your car in the city.

From Tulcea there are two boat options: slow ferry operated by state company NAVROM, or any of the many speed boat companies. NAVROM ferry trip takes more or less about 4 hr. Tickets can be purchased in Tulcea port or online, one way or return. There's no need to buy tickets much in advance; those ferries can take around 200 passengers. Departure time from Tulcea is once a day, at 13:30 and from Sulina at 07:00. Price for one way ticket is around 45 lei.

There are many speed boat companies doing Tulcea - Sulina - Tulcea transport. They have small boats, that can transfer not more than 20 passengers. Reservation, one day up front is very recommendable. Journey takes 90 min. Price is 60 lei for foreigners, 50 lei for locals. Earliest one is at 08:00, and the last one is at 16:00 (in the summer at 18:30).

By rail
To reach Tulcea, it is very easy with the train or bus from Bucharest or Constanta. Check trains timetable and price for as well as bus timetable and price. Getting train tickets online will give you 5% discount on the price.

See

The lagoon to the north of the town

Do
Visit the lighthouse for 5 lei. Open the double door at the top to access the open air terrace. A 36-month renovation of the lighthouse started in 2018.

Stop in at the multinational cemetery (free). It's divided into Christian, Muslim and Jewish sectors, and has many nationalities represented. Poles, Turks, Greeks, English, Germans, French, Italians, Romanians, Bulgarians and many others lived in Sulina back in its heyday. It's also the resting place for the Royal princess and prince of Moldova, and has a pirate grave too.

Take one or more boat tours around the delta. Tours last from 2h up to whole day, depending on the tour. There are many companies advertising on the promenade. The best way is to book your tour with your accommodation for couple of reasons. Many of them don't speak English at all, so you might get into an all-Romanian tour; if you get lucky you can get someone who will translate it for you on the boat. Another reason is not to be overcharged.

Spend the day exploring the delta with canoe or kayak. Rent one or take a guided tour.

Spend the day relaxing on the beach. There is a part of the beach with lounges, umbrellas, beach bar and a small fast-food place. Aside from that part, there is a wild beach, one of the best preserved wild beaches on Black Sea coast, with many birds and wild horses wondering around.

Party on the beach in summer nights. Sulina beach bar and nearby club are very popular during summer nights. Club is open from Thursday - Sunday and beach bar is open every night. It's very easy to reach from the city with taxi (cost 10 lei per car, one way).

Buy
Sulina has one big supermarket on the river promenade, and a couple more small shops on promenade and 2nd street. There is also one meat shop. They are very well equipped. Payment options are cash (Romanian Lei only) or credit card (Visa and Mastercard mostly, not so much American Express). If you want to buy fish, the best way is to cross with the small boat on Prospect island (crossing point is near Hotel Perla, one way cost 1 lei). When you get there, you will see a bridge on your right side. Cross the bridge and the first building there is the fish market. Getting there early (before 08:00) gives you a chance to buy good, fresh fish. Prices are from 6 lei up.

There are two banks operating in the city, CEC Bank and BCF Bank. They are also exchange offices. CEC Bank requires a valid travel document for exchanging currency, while BCF Bank requires valid Romanian ID only. They close on every weekend and national holiday. There is also a post office in the city center. Exchange rates are a bit lower than the ones in Constanta or Bucharest. There are also 3 ATMs in the city centre.

Eat
There are quite a few restaurants in the city, but try first to get a meal in one of the few homestay places. Locals will prepare for you a full lunch or dinner, three meals course with fish soup, grilled fish and traditional Romanian side dishes. The experience is priceless and the meal is unbelievable good. Price range is between 60 - 90 lei and must be reserved one day in advance.

Restaurants have good menus, and prices are very reasonable. If you are a breakfast person, keep in mind that breakfast in the restaurants is served until 10:00 There aren't many (if any) fast food joints in the city. Hot dogs are available, but nothing more so far.

title: Sulina


text:
Sulkava

Sulkava is a town and municipality in the South Savonia region of Finland, surrounded by Lake Saimaa and divided in two parts by Lake Saimaa's main watercourse, between the main Saimaa basin and Pihjalavesi. Like much of South Savonia, Sulkava is a summer cottage region: the municipality is said to double its population during the holiday season.

In the 18th century the international border between the Kingdom of Sweden and the Russian Empire divided the parish in two. The parts are connected by the spectacular Vekaransalmi Bridge, completed in 2019.

Like most of the Finnish Lakeland, Sulkava is surrounded by Lake Saimaa, which is very scenic and clean. Boating is very popular, and boats are available for rent.

Sulkava is most known for hosting Finland's greatest rowing event, the annual Sulkava Rowing Race (Sulkavan Suursoudut), held in July with thousands of rowers. The main class in the race is the "church boat", now standardised to 14 rowers plus helmsman, formerly used to get to the church services.

Understand
Sulkava is a small rural town, with some 2,400 inhabitants in 2022. The centre hosts two supermarkets, a marina, some restaurants and even an EV charging station, but outside the direct town center (and the small village of Lohilahti), Sulkava is a rural place.

The city of Savonlinna, many multiples larger, is only some 30 minutes away by car. This means that many services are not available in Sulkava, as locals will simply drive to Savonlinna for anything complicated.

Sulkava is a tourist destination during the summer, getting most popular during the Finnish holiday season from early June to mid-August. Visiting in, say, January, you will find most services outside of the necessities closed.

Get in
From highway 5, turn to Savonlinnantie (road 14) towards Savonlinna, the nearest city. After 3,6 km, in Juva, turn to Sulkavantie (road 434, later 436 and 435), which after 34 km passes 2 km north of Sulkava centre. From Savonlinna, drive north-west on highway 14, turn to Sulkavantie (road 435) after 17 km, in Kallislahti. After 17 or 21 km more, turn towards Sulkava.

By taxi

 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

Sulkava Rowing Races

The main races are with long boats traditionally used for rowing to the church. The ones used have 14 rowers + helmsman, with fixed or moving seats. Also rowing boats for 1–6 persons, canoes and kayaks participate (some series Finnish championships). The main long boat races (60 km) are held on Friday and Saturday, other races (30 and 60 km) on Saturday, a rowing journey Saturday–Sunday with overnighting in tents (70 km).

Participants need to register early, especially if you need to rent a boat.

Go next

 * Rantasalmi
 * Savonlinna

title: Sulkava


text:
Sullia

Sullia is a city in Karnataka state, India.

Get in
Sullia is about 85km from Mangalore (Mangalore is head quarters of Dakshina Kannada district). It is 330km away from Bangalore. You can reach Sullia via Mysore or via Hassan and Puttur. You will get buses from almost all major places of Karnataka to Sullia. There is no railway facility to Sullia.

Get around
The best mode of travel is local buses, private service vehicles. Both government and private bus stations are located nearby. Many times you will hear loud voices quoting your destination (Example :Guthigar, Bellare, Puttur). Just approach them, they will lead you to the appropriate vehicle which travels to your destination. On the contrary, government buses shall flee in designated times and you have find timings at enquiry counter located in Government bus station (locally called as Bus Stand).

See

 * Thodikana Shri Mallikarjuna Temple
 * Devaragundi Falls
 * Bantamale. A wonderful place for trekking. 20km from the taluk center
 * Kukke Shree Subrahmanya Temple. A historic temple
 * Panja The place where Koti Chennaya (historic characters famous in local folklore) lived
 * Mogarpane Masjid Hazrath Valiyullahi Mambili Thanghal
 * Kumara Parvatha - Highest peak in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. A trekker's Paradise, it's about 14 km steep climb. The entrance to it is just behind the Kukke Shree Subrahmanya temple.
 * Banta male A trekker's Paradise.
 * Sri Chennakeshava Temple Sullia.

Eat
Inside KSRTC bus station Good vegetarian options
 * Samudra restaurant
 * Sri Lakshmi restaurant opposite ksrtc bus station. Good fish curry.
 * Santrupthi Hotel You get very good vegetarian options.

Drink
The best natural drink Tender Coconut is available in summer. Its hardly ₹10 (USD=0.3). Also plenty of tiny tea shops offer you tea, coffee etc just for ₹2 (USD=0.03)

 * Kalmadka. Local bar.

title: Sullia


text:
Sully

Sully (Welsh: Sili) is a village in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Get in
Cardiff Bus's 94 bus runs twice an hour each way between Cardiff and Barry. Sprint Transport also run the 88 bus once an hour in each direction between Barry and Penarth, stopping at Penarth Esplanade for the pier, walks on the shale beach and ice cream. Tickets on the two services are not interchangeable.

Go next

 * Penarth
 * Barry

title: Sully


text:
Sulmona

Sulmona is a secluded and somewhat overlooked small city in Abruzzo. Surrounded by imposing mountains at about four hundred metres above sea level, it doesn't feel like it has 25,000 inhabitants. It is close to the ski resorts of Roccaraso and the beaches around Pescara. Sulmona is one of the oldest towns in Abruzzo, with many buildings from the Middle Ages or earlier. It is well known for being the native town of the poet Ovid.

Get in
Sulmona is very well connected to Rome, Pescara and other cities in Abruzzo, via train, bus and autostrada.

By train
The train across the mountains from Rome (via Tivoli and Avezzano) is spectacular and slow, perfect for checking out the scenery. There are about six trains daily from Rome Tiburtina station (first at 07.51, last at 18.38) which take about 2 hours 45 minutes.

About ten Trenitalia trains run daily from Pescara Centrale station (first at 04.50, last at 21.00) which takes about an hour. .

By bus
The quickest way from Rome is to take the regular buses to and from Rome Tiburtina bus station which takes around two hours. There are also ARPA buses from Pescara and L'Aquila.

By car
Driving from Rome takes about 1.5 hours along the Autostrada A25 (Roma–Pescara). The roads are excellent and traffic light most of the time, but be prepared for traffic getting out of Rome. The toll will cost around €9 all the way (pick up a ticket going out of Rome, hand the ticket to the booth at the Sulmona exit).

It's possible to drive from pescara in less than 1 hour.

When parking it's best to avoid the old town and park just outside. There is a good car park next to the fire station (follow signs to the 'Vigili del fuoco' from where it is a short walk up to the old town.

Get around
There are local buses that go to and from the station into town, and to the surrounding towns (buy tickets in the tabacchi outside the station or in the centre). Buses don't run on Sundays.

When arriving by train is possible to walk to the centre in about 15 minutes (turn right out of the station). There is usually a taxi or two waiting for the train, if there is not then try phoning from the taxi phone outside the station. It's not unusual to be offered (or to ask for) a lift in someone's car up to town.

For private car or bus hire there is a friendly and English speaking company called Vedaviaggi that can take various sizes of groups around the area.

See
Santa Chiara monastery - Museum of Modern Art and a collection of embroidered clothes worn by priests.
 * Cattedrale di San Panfilo. Dating from 1075 this cathedral shows layer upon layer of architectural renovations after successive earthquakes.
 * Piazza XX Settembre. One of the main squares of the city, bustling with people during the early evenings. A bronze statue of the Roman poet Ovid takes up the centre of the square.
 * Piazza Garibaldi The largest square in the town, featuring a large Baroque fountain and the location of weekly markets on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
 * Palazzo Annunziata Palace and a museum complex depicting the city's Roman history.
 * Chiesa di SS. Annunziata. Beautiful Baroque architecture with exquisite interior.
 * Church of Santa Maria della Tomba is a beautifully restored church constructed in the location of a pagan temple for Jove, the 14th century Porta Napoli.
 * Aqueduct is a striking part of the main square and dates back to 1256.

Eat

 * Il Vecchio Muro Ristorante Pizzeria - good pizzas at a reasonable price - Via Manlio D'Eramo, 20bis, 0864 50595.
 * Ristorante Clemente - the 12 samples of Abruzzo antipasto is a meal in itself, friendly service, no English spoken - Vico Quercian 5, 0864 52284.
 * Il Vecchio Muro Ristorante Pizzeria - good pizzas at a reasonable price - Via Manlio D'Eramo, 20bis, 0864 50595.
 * Ristorante Clemente - the 12 samples of Abruzzo antipasto is a meal in itself, friendly service, no English spoken - Vico Quercian 5, 0864 52284.

Connect
The Sulmona Tourist Office is located inside the Annunziata di Sulmona building on Corso Ovidio. They are friendly and have free Wi-Fi. +39 0864 210216.

comune.sulmona.aq.it

Go next

 * Walking, hiking, cycling, mountain biking, skiing in the local hills and mountains
 * Day trip to the beaches of Pescara
 * Regular local buses to Bugnara, Introdacqua, Pacentro and Scanno for exploring other hilltowns and hiking - timetables at the Info Centre, tickets from the tobacconist, find out which side of the main park the bus will leave from - there are two bus-stops one on each side.

title: Sulmona


text:
Sultan Bathery

Sultan Bathery, also spelled Sulthan Bathery and previously known as Sultan's Battery, is a town of 27,000 people (2011) in the Malabar region of Kerala. The place is famous for its Jain temple.

Understand
The town in olden days served as a military post of Tipu Sultan and the Sultan had a battery placed here, hence the name Sultan Battery. The town was previously called Hennaradu Peedike (Twelve Shops). The town is at an altitude of 930 m.

Sultan Bathery is almost exactly halfway between Mysore and Kozhikode.

Get in
The nearest airports are at Kozhikode and Bangalore. The nearest railway stations are at Kozhikode and Mysore. You can drive to Sultan Battery from Mysore, Ooty and Kozhikode.

From Mysore and Kozhikode, Sultan Bathery is reachable by bus in around 3-4 hours.

Sultan Bathery is the biggest transport hub of Wayanad district. It is located near the border with the Karnataka state. There is a major Kerala Transport Depot in Sultan Battery. Most of the long distance buses to Kozhikode, Ooty and Bangalore start from this depot. The town also has two smaller bus stations for local travellers.

Main routes

 * Bangalore-Mysore-Gundalpet-MuthangaForest-Sultanbattery.256 km (The best roads are in this route)
 * Sultan Battery-Kolagappara-Kakkavayal-Muttil-Kalpetta-Chundale-Vythiri. 35 km (Main Wayanad Road)
 * Ooty-Gudalur-Devarshola-Sultan Battery. 92 km
 * Kozhikode-Thamarassery-Vythiri-Kalpetta. 70 km.
 * Malappuram-Nilambur-Vazhikkadavu-Gudalur-Sultanbattery. 120 km

Get around
Autorikshaws charge ₹15 per km and buses are even cheaper at ₹7 for three km.

Taxis can be hired. Jeeps or any four-wheel drive vehicles would be good to negotiate the tough terrain.

Cars can be rented for as cheap as ₹1800 a day with a driver. The rate is even cheaper if you rent without a driver.

See

 * Banasura Sagar Dam (pictured in article banner) - It is the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest in Asia, and an ideal starting point for hikes into the surrounding scenic mountains.
 * Banasura Sagar Dam (pictured in article banner) - It is the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest in Asia, and an ideal starting point for hikes into the surrounding scenic mountains.

Eat
Kerala food is available in restaurants. European food is available in resorts and home stays only.

Bamboo rice (called Mulayari by locals) can be found in Wayanad. These are seeds of the Bamboo plant, richer in protein than rice and wheat, but tasting like rice. Bamboo rice payasam stalls can be spotted near Edakkal caves walkway. Bamboo is said to yield seeds after a long span, so it is said that harvesting bamboo rice is a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience.

Home-made chocolates and local Wayanad tea and coffee are also sold in many places. Shops near Edakkal caves offer many options such as spiced versions.
 * Bamboo Mess Restaurant, near private bus station signal, Sulthan Bathery. Delicious kappa biriyani.

Buy
The place is known for spices, tea and condiments and for the local handicrafts.

Stay safe

 * The eastern hills of Kerala are vulnerable to attacks from an Indian communist group called Maoists. They once attacked the ticket counter of Silent Valley National Park, Mukkali.  As the Maoists are armed and dangerous, be careful when you trek in lonely areas.
 * Leeches are common in the hills. Carry some table salt to dislodge the leeches.
 * Monkeys can be a nuisance, especially at places like Lakkidi viewpoint. Be careful and keep your car windows closed, and food items hidden.

Go next

 * Gudalur
 * Kalpetta
 * Kozhikode
 * Mananthavady
 * Meppadi
 * Mysore
 * Ooty
 * Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary – 16 km to the east, home to large population of elephants, and other wildlife, including some tigers

title: Sultan Bathery


text:
Sultanpur (Uttar Pradesh)

Sultanpur is in Uttar Pradesh.

Get in
By bus or train Sultanpur is well connected to all city\towns of Uttar Pradesh.The distance of Sultanpur is 135 km from Lucknow and 145 km from Varanasi.Major modes of travel include the state transport buses, private buses and jeeps/cars for hire. The on-hire vehicles are a good idea, as they are fast and convenient, though they require fair amount of bargaining.By Rail Sultanpur is a major junction in the Northern Railway sector, on the Varanasi-Lucknow line/Allahabad-Faizabad Line. As a result, most of the trains pass through Sultanpur. A train journey to Lucknow is of about 3 hours

Get around
Moving around within the city is limited to auto-rickshaws, and cycle-rickshaws for short journeys. They charge anywhere from ₹10 to ₹20, but it's advisable to fix the rates before taking a seat. Sultanpur also has a larger three wheeler called tempo, which is by far the cheapest travel mode within the city.

See

 * Aditya Birla Temple — (50 km towards Jagdishpur)
 * Kadu nala Wild Park — (now in CSM Nagar)
 * Kalpvriksha — (near Paryavaran Park)-A holy Tree according to Hindu Manyata
 * Paryavaran Park — (1 km From Bus station)

Buy

 * Beauty Products from Chowk

Eat

 * Chaat at Faizabadi Chaat Centre
 * Sweets @ Madhuvan Sweets
 * South Indian, Chinese @ Cool Corner, Super Market

title: Sultanpur (Uttar Pradesh)


text:
Sultanpur National Park

Sultanpur National Park is in Haryana state of India.

Understand
An hour's drive from the bustling capital city of India, Delhi, Sultanpur National Park and Bird Sanctuary is a heaven for birdwatchers.

History
Sultanpur area on the Farukhnagar Gurgaon road was a low-lying marshy area which used to get inundated during monsoons. The collected brackish water attracted a large variety of animals and aquatic plants which in turn attracted migratory as well as a variety of resident birds. Earlier this was a favourite hunting grounds of the rich and famous around Delhi and the rulers of the small principalities in the area excelled in the sport of waterfowl hunting. Dr. Salim Ali, the doyen of Indian Ornithology is largely responsible for converting this hunting grounds to a Bird Sanctuary. He was a frequent visitor till the last days. It was officially declared a bird sanctuary in 1971, thanks to the keen interest of Dr. Ali. In 1991, the sanctuary was upgraded into a national park.

Landscape
The area is on the verge of the semi-arid zone around Rajasthan. Though of late, due to poor monsoons and depletion of groundwater, part of what used to be a vast sheet of water, has dried up into a grassy land, the lake has sufficient amount of water in the winters to attract large number of migratory birds.

Flora and fauna
The resident bird population include Gray and Black Franklolins, Hoopoe, Indian Roller, Drongo, Paddyfield Pipit, at least five variety of larks, three types of egrets, Purple Sunbird, Kingfishers, Lapwings, Indian Courser, Bushchats, Indian and Magpie Robins, Prinias, Black Kites, Shikra, Marsh Harrier, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Black Shouldered Kite, Sarus Crane, Comb Duck, Spotbilled Duck, Cormorants, Night Heron, Spotted Owlet and two types of parakeets.

Migrants includes almost all common ducks who visit Northern India, including, Teal, Gaganey, Northern Shoveller, Pintail and Brahminy Duck. Various species of storks, ibis and Spoonbills are also commonly seen in the park.

Other migratory waterbirds like sandpipers, plovers, Black-winged Stilt, Green Shank, and Red Shanks, also visit this Sanctuary in good numbers. Summer Migrants include Asian Koel, Cuckoos, Golden Oriole, Bee Eaters, and others.

The Sanctuary has a lot of resident Neelgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus Pallas) besides some jackals, porcupines and mongooses.

Climate
Sultanpur has the typical North Indian climate of harsh summers (up to 46 °C) and cold winters (low of 0 °C). Rainy season is short, from July to then end of August.

Get in
Sultanpur is 47 km from Delhi and 16 km from Gurugram. Indira Gandhi International Airport is the nearest airport. Gurugram is conveniently reachable by using the Delhi Metro Rail Network. Bus service from Delhi to Gurugram are also available, however, the city buses are crowded and inconvenient. It is better, however, to hire a taxi from Delhi to Sultanpur or to drive down.

Fees and permits
Entrance fee is ₹5 per adult (12 above), ₹2 per child and ₹40 for Foreigner. Still cameras are allowed for ₹25.

Get around
The Park is open during winters from October to February. There are raised paths all around the park. A leisurely walk would take over one hour.

Do
An early morning walk is a must for anyone interested in birdwatching. The best season for this would be November to Februaury when winter migratory birds visit the park. Summer is also a pretty good time to visit since a number of resident bird species along with nilgai, monitor lizards and jungle cats can be seen. However, the park remains closed from June to October for breeding.

Sleep
The Haryana Tourism Department runs a decent resort with good rooms in the park area.

Stay safe
Conditions can be very foggy during the winter months, thereby making the drive there unsafe.

title: Sultanpur National Park