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Bahamas

The Bahamas, or The Bahama Islands, is an archipelago consisting of many islands in the Atlantic Ocean east of Florida. The country is made up of about 2,000 islands if you include the cays, which are small islands that are formed on coral reefs. Not densely populated, the Bahamas is renowned for its natural beauty, unique culture, and is a popular tropical vacation destination.

Understand
The name of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas is derived from the Spanish for "shallow water". Though country's name is pronounce "bah-HAH-muz", a person from the Bahamas is called "bah-HAY-mee-an" (Bahamian).

History
Arawak Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador Island in 1492; see Voyages of Columbus. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. The Bahamas were also infamous as a pirate nest with some even trying to form a pirate Republic. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its location, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the U.S., and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the U.S.

Culture
The official language spoken in the Bahamas is English. The populace is predictably friendly and more religious than one might expect: the Bahamas have one of the highest ratios of churches per capita in the world, with Baptists being the largest single group. Local newspapers will reveal religious references by elected officials in a manner that exceeds what would be found in the United States. This devotion does nothing to prohibit the activities of visitors nor is it intended to. There is a very "libertarian" attitude about personal morals.

Festivals
The biggest event in the Bahamian calendar is Junkanoo, a street carnival held on Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year's Day (January 1). Junkanoo groups "rush" through the streets of towns, especially Nassau, wearing spectacular yet disposable costumes of crepe paper and playing distinctive Junkanoo music, which combines African rhythms with loud brass and cowbells, fusing them together in a medley that veers on cacophony but is exceedingly dancable. The costumes, made from scratch every year, are disposed of on the streets as the party ends and make a great free souvenir to bring home!

Music
There are many types of music known in the Bahamian culture but the four most prevalent forms of music are Calypso, Soca, Junkanoo and Rake and scrape. The music of the Bahamas is associated primarily with junkanoo, a celebration which occurs on Boxing Day and again on New Year's Day. Parades and other celebrations mark the ceremony. Groups like The Baha Men, Ronnie Butler and Kirkland Bodie have gained massive popularity in Japan, the United States and elsewhere.

Calypso
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago during the early to mid-20th century. This form of music has spread through many parts of the Caribbean, mainly the Bahamas.

Soca
Soca is a form of music which involves dance and originated from calypso music. It began by combining the melodic rhythmic sound of calypso with firm percussion and local chutney music. Soca music has grown in the 21st century, and has been developed primarily by musicians from various Anglophone Caribbean countries including Trinidad, Guyana, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, United States Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica and Belize.

Rake and scrape
Rake and scrape music comes from the musical traditions of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and is characterized by the use of a saw as the primary instrument. It was brought by immigrants from those islands from the 1920s to about the 1940s, who settled on Cat Island, and elsewhere. Rake and Scrape is traditionally used to accompany the Bahamian Quadrille and the heel-toe polka all relics of the initial mixture of Africa and Europe. Many of these Turks and Caicos Islanders became some of the most famous musicians in the Bahamas. Many eventually moved back to their homelands, bringing with them junkanoo. Turks and Caicos are now the second home for junkanoo.

Climate
Tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream. Hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage. It can be cool if trade winds shift.

During summer months, temperature in the Bahamas rarely goes above 90°F (32°C). The normal climate during winter is mild with temperatures around 60°F (16°C). The Northern and Western islands, Grand Bahama Island, Great Abaco, Andros and Eleuthera are somewhat cooler than the southern islands. The Bahamas hurricane season runs from June to November, and rain storms are expected during this period.

Geology
The Bahamas archipelago are in fact the tops of banks that were formed some time between 90,000 and 120 years ago from coral reef formation. The well known pink sand beaches of the Bahamas get their vibrant appearance from the fractured pieces of seashell combined with the sand.

The highest point in the Bahamas is Mount Alvernia on Cat Island, which is 63 m (over 200 ft) high.

Wildlife
Wildlife in Bahamas contains various species. Many different breed of crabs can be found on the beaches. Hermit and Cardisoma guanhumi are two of the land crabs to be noted frequently in the island. The wild horses of Abaco are famous in The Bahamas.

During a tour of the Bahamas, tourists can come across various other species including the Bahamas Hutia, numerous frogs, rocky raccoon, snails such as Cerion, cicada, blind cave fish, ants and reptiles.

Bahamas wildlife features a wide range of amazing birds. Parrots and pigeons are two of the most common and popular birds found in The Bahamas.

The Bahamas is also home to numerous aquatic life. Sharks, manatees, dolphins, frogfish, angelfish, starfish and turtles can be viewed in the waters surrounding The Bahamas. Apart from numerous species of fish, tourists can spot several types of worms also.

Terrain
Long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills. The highest point is Mount Alvernia (63 m), on Cat Island. Grand Bahama Island features breathtaking white sandy beaches, beautifully clear turquoise blue waters and plenty of lush, tropical foliage. Andros features the third longest barrier reef complex in the world with plenty of underwater organisms.

Electricity
Officially 120 V 60 Hz, which is identical to the U.S. and Canadian standard. Outlets are North American grounded outlets, identical to standard U.S. and Canadian wall outlets. Occasionally non-grounded outlets may be found, which do not accept the third, round pin present on grounded plugs, and require an adapter. Older North American outlets may not be polarized (with one slot wider than the other). Otherwise, adapters are available which accept a polarized plug and adapt it for use with a non-polarized outlet.

Government
The Bahamas is an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The political and legal traditions of Bahamas closely follow the British ones, owing to their Commonwealth membership.

The country has a parliamentary form of democracy and regular elections are held. The Bahamian senate consists of 16 members, who are appointed by the Governor-General. The Governor-General also appoints the Chief Justice on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Privy Council of the United Kingdom serves as the highest appellate court.

The local government districts in Bahamas elect local councils for town planning, business licenses, traffic issues and maintenance of government buildings. Lower level town councils are also accorded minor responsibilities in some large districts.

Visitor information

 * Tourism website

Cities

 * - Capital
 * Bimini
 * Bimini
 * Bimini

Other destinations
Several cruise lines operate private island retreats in the Bahamas. Disney Cruise Line owns Castaway Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line owns Great Stirrup Cay, Princess Cruise Line owns Little Stirrup Cay, Carnival Cruise Line owns Half Moon Cay, and Royal Caribbean owns Coco Cay. To visit these islands you usually have to be a passenger on the cruise line that owns the island.

Dolphin Encounters is an all natural seawater dolphin facility with Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins and California Sea Lions located on Blue Lagoon Island (Salt Cay), a private island retreat and tourist attraction 5 km (three miles) from Nassau, Bahamas.

Entry requirements

Foreign nationals of the following countries/territories do not require a visa to visit the Bahamas: American Samoa, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Chile, China (People's Republic), Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Eswatini, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gambia, Galapagos Islands, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR (HKSAR passport or CI), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea (Republic), Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montserrat, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norfolk Islands, North Macedonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Pitcairn Islands, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Marten, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, San Marino, Sao Tome & Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tahiti, Tanzania, Tokelau, Trinidad & Tobago, Tonga, Turkey, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Virgin Islands (both US and UK), Western Samoa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Visitors do not need to complete the customs form.

If you require a visa to enter the Bahamas, you might be able to apply for one at a British embassy, high commission or consulate in the country where you legally reside if there is no Bahamian diplomatic post. For example, the British embassies in:
 * Al Khobar
 * Amman *Belgrade *Budapest
 * Guatemala City
 * Helsinki *Jakarta *Jeddah
 * Kyiv
 * Moscow
 * Phnom Penh
 * Prague, *Pristina
 * Qatar
 * Rabat
 * Riga
 * Riyadh
 * Rome
 * Sofia
 * Tallinn
 * Tashkent
 * Vienna
 * Warsaw and *Zagreb accept Bahamian visa applications (this list is not exhaustive). British diplomatic posts charge £50 to process a Bahamian visa application and an extra £70 if the authorities in the Bahamas require the visa application to be referred to them. The authorities in the Bahamas can also decide to charge an additional fee if they correspond with you directly.

Travellers returning to the United States from the Caribbean must display their passport to get back into the States. This applies to minor children as well as adults. US immigration pre-clearance facilities are available at Nassau and Freeport.

It is illegal to import a firearm or ammunition into the Bahamas or to possess a firearm in the country without appropriate permission. Tourists who arrive by private boat need to declare their firearms to customs and leave them aboard.

By plane
The largest airports in the Bahamas are at the capital Nassau, on New Providence, and Freeport, on Grand Bahama. Smaller airports are scattered throughout the other islands. The Bahamas has six international airports the largest being the Lynden Pindling International Airport on the west side of Nassau.

For those who own a pilot's license: as the first country to accept Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) Pilot license from the US, flying in on your own plane may be a great option. It would not only provide you with great scenery throughout your flight into the Bahamas, but also become the most convenient way to get around those islands. The same privileges and limitations as if you are flying in the US apply.

By boat

The Bahamas are a popular port of call for cruise ships plying the Caribbean. The capital, Nassau, on New Providence Island is one of the world's busiest cruise ship ports, and is well served by ships that originate from Florida. Freeport on Grand Bahama Island is a growing destination as well.

Most island groups have customs and immigration available for those arriving by yacht. The customs fee for a private yacht is $150 for 35' and under and $300 for over 35'.

Royal Caribbean has their own island in the Bahamas called Coco Cay. This island is leased by Royal Caribbean, rather than being fully owned such as Disney's ownership arrangement for Castaway Cay. It is strictly for Royal Caribbean cruisers. The island has 25 little shops for souvenirs and their own private beaches, as well as water games in the middle of the clear crystal blue ocean. They have a bbq and main picnic area with the cruise employees as well as the people that Royal Caribbean hire to live and work on the island. Royal Caribbean is busy all year round because of the hot climate in the Bahamas, that they have frequent travelers through all the months of the year.

Disney's Castaway Cay, formerly known as Gorda Cay, is a privately owned island near the island of Abaco, close to Sandy Point. This island differs from most of the leased cays in the fact that it is privately owned by The Walt Disney Company and has its own dock so that tendering is not necessary. Castaway Cay has separate areas for families, teens an adults. The island also contains a fiber optic network which connects to the ship.

A regular passenger ferry operated by Baleària Caribbean runs daily between Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Freeport or Bimini in the Bahamas, both are above $170 for single trips as of Sep 2022, and much more for return trips. If you want to go Island Hopping in the Bahamas finding the right map or boats can be very difficult. You need to jump on a mailboat if you want to travel by boat from Newport to Nassau. A good map with all island hopping ships and mailboats can be found on Ferrygogo.com. FRS Caribbean's Miami-Bimini service ended in August 2019.

Bahamas Shuttle Boat offers round-trip cruises to Freeport starting from US$73 + tax (presumably not intended for one-way travellers).

By plane

 * Bahamasair offers a comprehensive network radiating out from Nassau and covering most population centers. However, fares are expensive, frequencies are low, planes are small and the airline is notorious for extensive delays, and many travellers in a hurry opt to charter planes instead.
 * Western air offer flights to a number of destinations within the country, often more frequent and punctual for the destinations they serve and offering relatively flexible ticketing.

By bus
Nassau/New Providence have a system of buses called jitneys, discussed in the Nassau article. Bus travel on the other islands (with the exception of Grand Bahama) is very limited.

By boat and yacht
The best way to see the Bahamas is by private yacht or sailboat. If you don't have that option, there are some limited public transit options:

 * Mail boats serve almost all populated islands in the Bahamas, and are amongst the cheapest way to reach many areas, though be warned that many passengers find them slow and not very comfortable. They generally run from Nassau to each island once per week, but are notoriously unreliable, and can be delayed for days at a time. The government apparently no longer has an official online schedule of the mail boat routes, but for an example that may or may not be correct, you can check the undated schedule on this third-party website. For up-to-date information call the Nassau Dockmaster's Office, or better, ask locally about the specific route you need. Two of the major companies are The Mailboat Company and Munson Shipping.
 * Bahamas Ferries runs between several of the major islands. It's known for being a bit more expensive but much more reliable than mail boats.
 * Pinder's Ferry Service runs between Freeport and the Abacos twice daily (round trip $100).
 * Windward Islands -, a yacht charter company, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to crewed yacht in the Bahamas (starting Abaco).

Talk
English is the main and official language of the Bahamas. Tourist resorts may have staff who can speak other languages, including Spanish, French, German, and, less frequently, others.

See

 * Lucayan National Park and Port Lucaya in Freeport
 * Dolphin Cay on Paradise Island
 * The Thunderball Grotto in Exuma
 * Flamingos, iguanas and other tropical wildlife.
 * Fort Fincastle, the Old Town and the Pirate museum in Nassau

Do
Diving: The "shallow seas" of the Bahamas lie over extensive submerged limestone platforms, with high points here and there just breaking the surface to form an archipelago. The climate is good for diving year-round, and hurricanes seldom strike. All the inhabited islands have local diving, and some have extensive inland cave systems. Nassau on New Providence is the base for liveaboard cruises.

Money
The local currency is the Bahamian dollar (B$), but it's tied to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio and US dollars are accepted everywhere at par. There is thus no need for Americans to change money, and many tourist-oriented businesses will even give change back in US$. Keep an eye out for the famous (but now rare) three-dollar note and 15-cent coin, both made to ease the 1966 transition from British pounds to dollars, $3 being roughly equivalent to £1 and $0.15 approximating a shilling at the time.

Coins of the Bahamas are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 15 and 25 cents. Banknotes of the Bahamas are issued in denominations of 50 cents (B$$1/2$), 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Bahamian dollars.

Shopping
There is very little made in the Bahamas, but some luxury goods can be purchased at a bargain. Salespeople in the straw market have a very direct but often humorous manner of negotiating the price of a product. A sense of humor is greatly appreciated in this island nation. Conch pearls are harvested in the Bahamas, but they are incredibly rare and expensive.

Beware of purchasing Cuban cigars. The vast majority of "Cubans" for sale in the Bahamas are counterfeit, and any that come in a box with a glass lid are guaranteed fakes. Only buy cigars from reputable and dedicated tobacconists, do not buy on the street, in the market, or from rinky-dink combination cigar/liquor shops. Real Cubans cost upwards of $30 per cigar. If the price is $10, it's 100% fauxhiba. If you do plan to buy cigars, some online research may assist you in identifying authentic Cubans.

Eat

As you'd expect in an island nation, seafood is very popular. The national dish is conch (pronounced "conk" with a hard K), a type of mollusk, served deep-fried ("cracked") or raw with a twist of lemon, and as elsewhere in the Caribbean, the classic accompaniment is peas and rice.

Ordinary meals can be purchased for anywhere from $5-25 a plate. Authentic island food can be found at the Fish Fry, a collection of small open air restaurants where many locals hang out. Meals can be had for about $8. Sunday night the locals flock to this area for some authentic Bahamian nightlife. You can find fast-food chains such as KFC or McDonalds, especially in the downtown areas, but as it is a highly touristed country, you can find many nice restaurants serving many different cuisines. Most restaurants serve American or British food, though you can easily find the normal island flair, especially during the Fish Fry during June. A 15% service charge is added to the bill at most establishments; additional tips are optional.

Service is distinct from the American standard. There is a concentration on the customer at hand. You are expected to patiently wait your turn. At fast food restaurants the server will take care of only the first customer until they have left the service area. Don't expect to be in a hurry even at a fast food establishment.

Service in the Bahamas takes place at a relaxed pace. Travelers can expect a leisurely pace to their meal. Expect polite, if slow, service at most establishments.

Soda
Soda can be pretty pricy in the hotels, and you will find it only on a soda tap if you are in a good restaurant; otherwise, you will usually get it in a can. The cheapest way to get this would be to go to a local "Food Mart."

"Goombay Punch" is the local soda. It has a pineapple flavor and is what the locals call a "Sweet" soda versus a cola. It is sold in cans at all grocery stores and also available in almost every Bahamian eatery.

Non-alcoholic malt beverages are also very popular. The primary brand of choice is Vita-Malt.

Beer
Kalik is the national beer of the Bahamas and is always served at "all-inclusive" resorts. There are three rather distinct types: "Kalik regular" which has 4% alcohol and a smooth refreshing taste, "Kalik Light" which has been often compared to a Budweiser is a light lager which delivers the same great taste as the regular kalik but with a lower alcohol content and less calories, "Kalik Gold" has 7% alcohol, though very potent it has an excellent taste, which gives you an extra feel of the island. Guinness is also very popular.

A new beer is available -- called Sands. It can be obtained at many resorts and in the local liquor stores. It is a similar style product to Kalik. Sands is now readily available in both regular and light.

Imported beer can be incredibly expensive in the hotels but is not overly priced in bars and liquor stores. Cases of beer are available in a variety of Duty Free liquor stores.

In Freeport, the Port Lucaya Marketplace and Marina has many bars offering two Kaliks (and some other brews) for $5.

The drinking age is 18, however it is weakly enforced and teenage drinking is common.

Hard liquors
The Bahamas has a lot of liquor stores in relation to the population of the country. You can find liquors stores downtown, in the hotels, the port lucaya marketplace and as you continue to tour the island, if you may not be sure of exactly where one may be located please feel free to ask for assistance.

Rum
Rum is the liquor of choice in the Bahamas. Local brands like Ron Ricardo rum, Ole Nassau Rum and Fire in the Hole Rum are as cheap as you can get ($2-$10 a bottle) and come in a variety of styles (light and dark) and flavors (coconut, mango, pineapple, etc). Unfortunately, Bacardi closed their plant back in 2007 (it's all made in Puerto Rico now) and tours of distilleries are no longer available.

The best-known local cocktails are the Bahama Mama, a fruity mix of tropical juices with coconut rum and a dash of grenadine syrup, and the Goombay Smash, made from rum, apricot Brandy and pineapple juice. The locals are more likely to stick to rum & coke or perhaps a Dark & Stormy (rum with ginger ale).

Sleep
Accommodation on the Bahamas is expensive, and there is virtually no backpacker/hostel-type lodging. The cheapest hotels start at around US$70, and most hotels cost US$200-300/night, with the very best resorts easily pushing up above US$500. Deals may be available in the summer off-season though.

The Bahamas charge a Service Fee or Resort Fee to every person staying overnight. Hotels collect the fee of $18 per night per person and a $6 per person one time bellhop fee. This is an addition to the rate of the room and is not optional and cannot be waived. Often tourists first hear about this when checking into their hotel for the first time.

The Bahamas Government levies a Hotel Guest Tax which is payable by each guest. This tax is 10% of the hotel rate, it submitted monthly to the Bahamas Government by the hotel operator.

Hotels in the Bahamas may levy a number of other charges upon guests in addition to the standard bill, including; gratuities-maid/bellman), a hotel 'Levy' (Promotion Board), cable, telephone, water & sewerage, energy surcharge, pool/towels.

Most hotels and resorts in the Bahamas are found in New Providence (Nassau) and neighbouring Paradise Island. The rest of the country remains rather off the beaten track for tourism, and places like Eleuthera, despite being 100 miles (160 km) long, has only three hotels.

Learn
School attendance in the Bahamas is required between the ages of 5 and 16. Out of the 210 primary schools, 158 are operated by the government and the remaining 52 schools by private owners. Many non-Bahamian colleges in the country also offered higher education.

The University of the Bahamas is the main institution that offers post secondary education in the country with several schools including and undergraduate business school, an undergraduate social science. Other tertiary educational institutions in the country include Success Training College, Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute and Nova Southeastern University. The University of the West Indies also has a campus in the Bahamas.

There are also some international universities that offer programs in the country such as the University of Miami's MBA programme.

Work
In most cases non-citizens may not work within The Bahamas. There are exceptions for those possessing skills not available from a Bahamian, as well as migrants of Creole descent who may or may not be in the Bahamas legally. The employer must show legitimate proof of strenuous searching for a suitable Bahamian prior to applying for a work permit for the foreign candidate. However any ordinary position that does not require any specialized skills will not readily qualify as an employment opportunity for a foreigner. Should a foreign national apply for a position as a maid or anything along that line of employment, they would definitely be denied the occupation. This line of employment shows no necessary skills that a Bahamian could not possess.

Tourism is the main industry followed by banking.

50 percent of the national GDP is generated by tourism.

Stay safe
Visitors should exercise caution and good judgment when visiting The Bahamas. Violent crime is a problem in cities, including sexual assaults on tourists, and safety in more rural areas may vary (worth asking locally).

Swimming hazards
It's natural to want to spend much of your time in the Bahamas swimming in the ocean, but it's necessary to take some basic precautions. Currents can be very strong, especially when swimming off a boat at anchor. Sharks are also worth being aware of - the entire Bahamas is a designated national sanctuary for sharks, meaning that it's illegal to kill them, and so they're present in relatively large numbers. Most sharks are unlikely to hurt you, but avoid swimming in marinas, where bull sharks often hang out to score fish scraps, unless you have local advice that the specific marina is safe to swim at.

Penalties
Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offences. Persons violating Bahamian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Police enforcement is aggressive in tourist areas, as drug dealers are known to frequent areas where tourists congregate. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in the Bahamas are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.

Stay healthy
The adult HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has reached 3.0% or 1 in 33 adults.

Tap water is generally potable, but bottled water is recommended for visitors.

Respect
Bahamians are good-natured but do not suffer fools gladly.

title: Bahamas


text:
Baharampur

Baharampur (Bengali: বহরমপুর BAW-hoh-rawm-poor), also spelt Berhampore, is a city in the central region of West Bengal, India. Bengali writer Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote his epic, Anandamath, sitting beside the bank of river Bhagirathi here in Baharampur. Nowadays, Baharampur sees few tourists.

This article also covers Cossimbazar, a flourishing river port during the heyday of Murshidabad. The Roy zamindar family settled at Cossimbazar and made a fortune by trading in silk.

By train
Baharampur and Cossimbazar are served by and  railway stations respectively. Both stations are on the Ranaghat–Lalgola line of the Kolkata Suburban Railway. Other than local trains, there are three express trains from Kolkata to Baharampur, namely Bhagirathi Express, Hazarduari Express and Dhano Dhanye Express.

By bus
Get into any private or government bus from Kolkata (Esplanade) going to or via Baharampur. Volvo bus service is also available for the Kolkata-Baharampur route.

Do
Hang around in the riverbank in the afternoon and go for drive on riverside road.

Visit the oldest Ramkrishna Mission's (Sargachhi) satellite centre in Baharampur.

Baharampur hosts an International Theater Festival every year between October and December.

Buy
Also, lots of cottage industry can be observed, which make lot of hand crafts items.
 * Kitchen utensils and homewares made of Kansa (a copper alloy). Khagrai Kansa is said to be the best in India.
 * Snake Charmer's flutes.
 * Murshidabad Silk.

Eat
When you bite it, you will get to the syrup in the middle.
 * Chhanabora is a delicious dairy-based sweet (chhana-> uncompressed panir, panir being cheese).

 * A great variety of mangoes are available. This is because they were specially planted by the Nababs (Muslim emperors of Murshidabad) from different areas in India and beyond. Among the most delicious varieties in town are Kohinoor, Rani and Khosba.
 * A sweet called khaza, made from sesame, is also very popular.

Drink
There are a number of liquor bars on the outskirts of the city.

Go next

 * Murshidabad — About 24 km from Baharampur
 * Tarapith — A Hindu pilgrimage site. Best known for the Maa Tara Temple built by Sadhak Bamakshyapa. It is a major Hindu pilgrimage centre, and several thousand devotees visit the temple every day.

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

title: Baharampur


text:
Bahariyya

Bahariyya is an oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt. It is 370 km from Cairo, the closest of the five western oases, and it serves as a staging post for reaching the others.

Understand
Bahariyya's main fertile strip, centred on the town of Bawiti, is about 90 km long by 40 km wide. This is separated from the secondary oasis of El Heiz by a strip of scenic Black Desert, while further south lies the even more dramatic White Desert. Near Bawiti, the Valley of the Golden Mummies has revealed hundreds of burials with gilded face masks, and thousands more probably remain to be excavated. Large dinosaur bones have also been discovered, such as the fearsome Bahariasaurus, thought to be a type of allosaurus.

Bahariyya does not have an airport and never quite gained a railway. In 1916 a British narrow-gauge military railway was built at remarkable speed from the Nile valley towards Bahariyya, to counter-attack Senussi troops from Libya who'd occupied the western oases. It had to stop short at the sand dunes of Abu-Muharriq (more poetically known to the Brits as Blockhouse 6), whence camels took supplies the last 50 km onwards. The Senussi retreated as swiftly as the railway advanced so it achieved its strategic goal. After 1919 it did not have a military use nor (unlike the similar line built to Kharga) a commercial use. So, it fell into decay.

Bahariyya has a hot desert climate, 40 °C and above in summer and 10 °C in winter, and almost zero rainfall. Like the other oases, all the area's supply is “fossil water” from the bedrock aquifer, a non-renewable resource.

By bus

From specific destinations:
 * Cairo – Upper Egypt Buses run 3 or 4 times a day from Cairo Turgoman Square. 350 km/6 hr (including a rest break) to Bawiti in Bahariyya. LE100. Some buses continue to Farafra Oasis—these formerly continued to Dakhla Oasis, but it is not known if this link is still running in 2020.
 * Farafra Oasis – Likewise the bus to Cairo starts in Farafra.

By road
The road to Bahariyya is asphalt and suitable for standard vehicles. Especially with a group, it may work out better to hire a microbus or taxi privately. You will find them around the bus station.

A dirt track goes west from Bahariyya to Siwa. It is being upgraded to asphalt and buses used to run this way. The road is closed in 2019 by the military, or least foreigners are not allowed to go that way.

Get around
The sights are strung out along the highway and you need a vehicle to reach them. A standard car will do for all except the White Desert, where you need 4WD to explore the dirt tracks. These are well-pisted and signed so you don't need expedition-grade vehicles or skills provided you stick to the tracks.

See

 * Bawiti has three mosques—all central:
 * the Friday Mosque
 * the modern el-Mutawi Mosque, and
 * el-Bawiti Mosque with the tomb of the town's founder Sheikh el-Bawiti.

 * Ain el-Hubaga – Opposite the museum is the start of an ancient aqueduct system that remained in use into the 20th century.
 * Ain el-Hubaga – Opposite the museum is the start of an ancient aqueduct system that remained in use into the 20th century.

 * Several other sites in Bawiti remain closed. As of 2020 these include the Ibis Galleries, the Temple of Hercules and the Hill of Sheikh Subi.

Do

 * Hot springs – Several springs bubble out of the ground at 40°C and above, laden with minerals. So, you might expect a major spa industry here, but there is not one. Springs you can visit yourself are clustered northeast of Bawiti:
 * Biʾr Ramla ("sand spring") – 2 km away
 * Biʾr en-Naqba ("pierced spring") – 3 km away
 * the sulphurous Biʾr el-Maṭar ("airfield spring") – 7 km away
 * Biʾr el-Ghaba ("forest spring") – 11 km away, and
 * Biʾr es-Sīqām – 1 km east of Mandisha.

 * Dig deeper into Egyptian history. The sights mentioned on this page might interest any tourist, but there's much more for archaeologists to explore. The German description of Bahariyya (on sidebar left) runs to 32 pages of documentation.
 * Big expeditions – Any out-of-town excursion gets marketed as a "safari", accurately enough since that is just the Arabic word for a journey. And it gets labelled an "expedition" if it drives out of sight of the main highway for long enough to spread a rug on the ground and serve coffee - again accurately, if it is properly prepared for all that might befall amidst axle-busting rocks and no mobile signal. But Bahariyya is also the usual departure point for full-on expeditions, for instance to Gilf el-Kebir, the remote southwest corner of Egypt bordering Libya and Sudan. These last 2-3 weeks and need to be very robust and self-sufficient, led by people who know the terrain and techniques. Glamping they're not.

Buy

 * Bawiti has a scattering of little grocery stores, the largest is Abu Ala on main street, open 24/7.

Eat
Almost all the eating places are on the main road through town, but Oasis restaurant and coffee shop (open 24 hours) is on the southern bypass.
 * Bakar is the most convenient for east side of town, open daily 5PM–midnight.
 * Cafe Ouled Rached central on main street does enjoyable food. Open 24/7.
 * Baraka is west of centre where the roads fork for Siwa and Farafra. Open 24/7.
 * Abu Helmy is a little further along the Siwa road, and the most convenient for Qasr neighbourhood. Open 24/7.

Drink

 * Mint tea is always a good choice in these regions.

Sleep

 * All the hotels offer excursions or safaris into the desert, so it should not be beyond them to offer you a pick-up from the bus stop.

Stay safe
See the warning on the Egypt article for information on the security situation in the region.

Go next

 * Siwa – The next oasis west—a long way west. From there you can reach the Med coast at Marsa Matruh.
 * Farafra – The next oasis south, about a 90-min drive. The main sight is White Desert, which you can easily reach from Bahariyya.
 * Dakhla Oasis – If you can find transport onward from Farafra.
 * Kharga Oasis – You can loop through from Dakhla and back to the Nile valley at Asyut.
 * Cairo – Or just go back.

title: Bahariyya


text:
Bahawalpur

Bahawalpur (Bhawalpur, Bhawulpore; Punjabi, Urdu: بہاولپور) is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the capital of the district of the same name and anchors the 11th most populous metropolitan area in Pakistan.

By plane

Bahawalpur is one of the safest cities in Punjab. It has its own airport which connect all major cities in Pakistan. PIA operate in Bahawalpur to Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. A new airport is also built near the old airport and it is expected that international flights will operate at the new airport.

By train
Bahawalpur is connected with all major cities of Pakistan by train.

By car
From Lahore you can travel on KLP road.

By bus
Bus services are available throughout Pakistan. Bahawalpur has a very beautiful Daewoo Bus Terminal. You can catch a daewoo bus, from any big city like Karachi, Rawalpindi or Lahore and come to Bahawalpur directly.

Renting a car with driver (for about US$30 per day) is the best way to move around though you can use local transport as well. But to see things around Bahawalpur you will need a car.

See

 * Advance permission from the Army is required to visit the Darbar Mahal.
 * Advance permission from the Army is required to visit the Darbar Mahal.

Do

 * Bahawalpur Golf course
 * Derawar Fort is a beautiful desert tourist place for safari. It runs the off-road Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally or also known as "TDCP Cholistan Jeep Rally". The rally starts near the Derawar Fort in Ahmadpur East Tehsil.

Buy
You can buy local tie/dye clothes (Chunri) from the local markets. Silver jewellery is also very pretty. Handmade closed sandals (with embroidery) called khussas are also available at affordable prices (about US$5 for a pair). To shop for clothes you can visit Outfitters, Crossroads, Riverstone and Boom Fashion.

Specialties
Sohn Halwa: Sohn Halwa is the most special sweet dish of Bahawalpur. You can buy most delicious and fantastic Sohn Halwa mixed with dry fruits and nuts from certain old halwa maker shops.

Sleep

 * Hotel one - This 2-star hotel near airport is probably the best hotel in Bahawalpur.
 * New Bahawalpur Hotel, Inside Ahmad Puri Gate, Shahzadi Chowk. Single room Rs 350.
 * New Bahawalpur Hotel, Inside Ahmad Puri Gate, Shahzadi Chowk. Single room Rs 350.

Stay safe
Follow a conservative dress code and try to dress as locals. It is better to have someone from the city as a guide. In the case of an emergency, call police by 15 from any landline phone. As of May 2023 your hotel will arrange a police escort if you wish to leave the hotel - you may have to specify your itinerary in advance and wait for the police to arrive. If you found yourself in serious trouble and need any type of emergency rescue or help then feel free to dial 1122. The name of the emergency service is "Rescue 1122".
 * Ambulance Access To get an ambulance in case of an emergency, dial 115 from any landline or cellphone.

Go next

 * Ahmadpur Sharqia
 * Hasilpur
 * Khairpur
 * Tamiwali
 * Yazman

 * Cholistan Desert of Bahawalpur - You can make an interesting excursions from Bahawalpur, a half day trip (no four-wheel drive vehicle required) to Derawar Fort (Qila Derawar), through the semi-desert of Cholistan.

Best to take a guide for Derawar fort - although with a GPS and a pre-planned route you could self drive. You also need permission from the present Amir of Bahawalpur to get inside the fort. The drive takes two hours on a sealed road through fascinating barren landscape. The Cholistan Desert covers 26,000 km2 (10,000 sq miles) and extends into the Thar desert to India. The whole area was once well watered by the river Ghaggar, now called the Hakara in Pakistan, and known in vedic times as the Sarasvati. All along the 500 km (300 miles) of the dried-up river are over 400 archaeological sites. Most of these date from the Indus civilisation, 45,00 years ago, and are clustered round Derawar Fort, the only perennial water hole in the desert.

There is very little to make out today. The desert has an average rainfall of 12 cm (5 inches) a year, and there is very little civilisation. The underground water is brackish. The few people of the desert dig artificial wells in the troughs between the sand hills and use camels to draw the water up.

 * Fort Darawar- Derawar Fort (Qila Derawar) is in good condition, its walls are intact and still guarded by soldiers in fezes. Its age is unknown. The tombs of the Amirs of Bahawalpur are also at Derawar, decorated with attractive blue glazed tiles contrasting with the ochre landscape. Some of the cannons which were used times ago by the Army of Bahawalpur are also kept in this fort.

title: Bahawalpur


text:
Bahía Blanca

Bahía Blanca is a port city located in the south-west of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, by the Atlantic Ocean, and is seat of government of Bahía Blanca Partido. It has a population of about 300,000 inhabitants according to projections for 2020, and is colloquially often simply called Bahía by locals.

Understand

Founded in 1828, Bahía Blanca is the most southernly of Argentina's classic big immigrant cities and has the largest port south of Buenos Aires. While it isn't a very popular tourist destination, it is worth a visit because of its beautiful centre with several Art Nouveau buildings from the late 19th and early 20th century, for its museums and the picturesque (although a bit run-down) port neighborhood of Ingeniero White.

Bahía Blanca is an important traffic junction and considered the entry point for the Patagonia region which starts at the Colorado River, about 100 km south of the city. If you travel further south, it's a good idea to stop here for your essential buys as prices are still cheap and begin to rise from here on. There are several beaches in the area, with Monte Hermoso and Pehuen-Có being the most popular. Also, you can easily reach the beautiful mountain region of Sierra de la Ventana from here.

Bahía Blanca has a large university and is thus an important student city with an interesting cultural and night life, including a traditional opera house. Its important sea port with a depth of 45 feet (15 mt) is kept constant upstream almost all along the length of the bay, where the Naposta Stream drains. The port area is also an industry hub with mainly petrochemical factories. Bahía Blanca has a reputation to be a pretty conservative city, which may be related to its significance as a major centre for military operations, with Argentina's main military port and an important air base.

With some minor suburbs, the city forms the larger Greater Bahía Blanca urban agglomeration. The city's name (White Bay in English) is due to the typical colour of the salt covering the soils surrounding the shores. The bay, which is actually an estuary, was seen by Ferdinand Magellan during the first circumnavigation around the world on the orders of Charles I of Spain, in 1520, looking for a canal connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean all along the coasts of South America.

Get around
Local buses use the SUBE card which you can buy and charge at several kiosks in the city. The card is the same one used in Buenos Aires and several other major Argentine cities, so if you charged it in another city, you can use the credit in Bahía Blanca, too. A map of the lines and timetables can be found at the website of the municipal government.

Taxis and Remises (private cars with drivers) are plenty around, fares are very similar to other Argentine cities. While unregulated ride hailing services are not permitted, there is a taxi app, Taxi Ya Bahía Blanca.

The city center is very well explorable by foot. An interesting walk visits first the surroundings of Plaza Rivadavia with the historic buildings and then follows the Alsina street up to the theatre and Avenida Alem, the gastronomy hub. For a longer walk, follow Sarmiento from Alem to the NE. At the railway crossing you can find a nice park area, and continuing about 600 m NE you reach a hill with a nice view of the city.

While there are few cycleways, a visit by bike isn't the worst option as traffic isn't too heavy in most parts of the city. There are private bicycle rental services.

See

Many buildings are grouped around Plaza Rivadavia, a good spot for taking photos in the city center, with the municipal building adjacent. All museums are free of change, although the Ferrowhite Museum requests a small contribution.

The Puerto Ingeniero White neighborhood lies about 7 km south of the centre and is home to the commercial port of the city. It is served by several bus lines (Line 500 has best frequencies) and has two museums and interesting port architecture.

Another interesting sight in the outskirts of the city is the Naval Aviation museum at Comandante Espora airbase, about 8 km east of the centre, which can also be visited by bus (line 517).

Do

Buy
Bahía Blanca is a good shopping city with reasonable prices. It has a pedestrian mall west of Plaza Rivadavia, in Drago and Alsina streets, and also many shops in the streets east and south-east of the Plaza.

Eat
Most options are located around Plaza Rivadavia and in adjacent streets, with higher-tier restaurants and bars grouped in the Avenida Alem street near the theater, north of the microcentre.

Drink
There are many night clubs around in the city centre, with also some options in the Ingenerio White neighborhood. A number of nice bars can be visited in the Avenida Alem street. Club opening hours are 11:00PM to 04:00AM. It is prohibited to sell alcoholic beverages (including beer) in grocery shops after 10:30PM.

Go next
Bahía Blanca is the gateway to the Patagonia region but also to a number of interesting, not so well-known beaches and mountain regions.

 * Monte Hermoso is a growing seaside resort at the Atlantic Ocean, about 100 km east of Bahía Blanca. The beaches are sandy with rocks in some places which add to the scenery. It is visited by people from all over the country and becomes pretty crowded in summer, offering all necessary services and also a lot of night life. Several buses per day (Plaza and El Villarino lines, as of 2020) reach this town from the bus terminal.
 * Pehuen-Có is a very quiet seaside resort, about 80 km south-east of the city. It is notable for its location in a forest-like park with many trees and shady streets, not unlike Cariló, which is much more expensive and touristy. It has all basic services and some gastronomy, the beaches are sandy with occasional rocks. Nearby Pueblo Darwin (2 km west) is even quieter, with a big camping ground and only essential services.
 * Sierras de Ventania is a mountainous region beginning about 40 km north of the city, with the highest peaks of Buenos Aires province (up to 1239 m at the Cerro Tres Picos) and excellent trekking opportunities. One of the main sights is the Cerro Ventana mountain, with a window-like rock formation near the peak which gave the name to the whole region. Sierra de la Ventana is the main gateway and resort town, with many hotels and other accommodations.
 * Viedma, 250 km. south, is located at the Negro River and already a typical Patagonian town with about 60,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of Río Negro Province and forms a "twin city" region with smaller Carmen de Patagones, the oldest settlement in Patagonia, with interesting historic buildings. In the surroundings you can visit the big beach of Balneario El Cóndor, which has also a big parrot colony (animals belong to the Cyanoliseus patagonus species). A coastal road, the Camino de la Costa, starts in El Cóndor (ask conditions as it may become blocked by dunes!) and visits interesting places at the coast like the small but picturesque La Lobería seaside resort with a sealion colony, the big sandy beach of Bahía Creek with Argentina's biggest dune area. If going by car, charge fuel and make all buys in Viedma because there are no petrol stations and only very basic services west of El Cóndor (at least until San Antonio Este).

title: Bahía Blanca


text:
Bahía de Kino

Bahia de Kino is on the Sea of Cortez about from Hermosillo in the state of Sonora, Mexico. The tourist economy booms during the summer when residents of Hermosillo flock to the beaches to escape the extreme desert temperatures inland.

Understand
There are two distinct towns here. Old Kino (Kino Viejo) is a fishing village. While it has a few motels and at least one RV park, it is not where most tourists stay or play. The new village (Kino Nuevo) is a strip of (wonderful) beach about a mile further down the highway. Here the beach is lined with villas and low-rise condos. The winter tourists are gringos and summer tourists Mexicans from Hermosillo. The new part of town is very comfortable for gringos and very safe. The old part has good old-style simple restaurants and basic shopping. No supermarkets or Walmarts here!

About 6,000 people live in Bahia de Kino (2010). The economy is based primary on fishing and associated services. During the winter a small but vibrant population of Americans and Canadians - mostly retired - live in RVs and modest homes in Kino Nuevo and Kino Viejo.

History
The coast and hinterlands are all part of the traditional territory of the Com Ca'ac/Seri people. At the beginning of the 20th century small groups of Mestiso fisherman - mainly from Baja - would camp intermittently on the northern end of the long beach. Visitors to the area in the 1920s report that there were two semi-permanent settlements; one at the north end of the beach and another at the present-day location of Kino Viejo. In the mid-1950s the dirt track to Hermosillo was replaced by a paved road. A rich aquifer was discovered at about the same time about 25 km (15 miles) inland. Bahia De Kino has been growing steadily ever since.

Landscape
Bahia de Kino's sandy beach is one of the town's attractions. The beach is easily accessed every block via public access ways. To the south of town is the Santa Cruz estuary/lagoon then the coastline veers to the west to Punta San Nicolas. To the north west of town the coast is an interesting mix of rocky headlands and sand/gravel coves. Views of Isla Tiburon to the west abound. Interesting peaks with magnificent views all the way across to Baja dominate the landscape to the east and north. To the south flat desert scrubland continues all the way southeast to Estero Tastiota about 64 km (40 miles) away.

Topographic maps are available from the INEGI (the Mexican equivalent of US Geographic Survey) offices in Hermosillo.

Flora and fauna
Many birds nest in Bahía de Kino during the spring and summer. Birds often encountered include: Brown Booby, Blue-footed Booby, Frigate Birds, Brown Pelican, and Orioles. Alcatraz Island is protected and it is against the law to set foot there due to the unique population of birds, which is continually being monitored and studied. You can most effectively view the bird population from a boat. During nesting season, especially, please be careful to avoid disrupting the birds.

Climate
Bahía de Kino is part of the Sonoran desert. Winter temperatures are pleasant though winds from the north can make things feel chilly. Strong winter winds can be a concern in December, January and February. Mid-October to mid-November as well as March and April are ideal times of year to visit. Summer - July, August, September - is hot and surprisingly humid. An air conditioned room is a must during those months.

Get in
The closest airport with scheduled airline service is in Hermosillo, which is 110 km (about 2 hours by bus, or you could rent a car). Travelers from the United States could cross the border at Nogales and take a bus to Hermosillo, where they can take a bus to Bahia de Kino, rent a car, or take a taxi.

Get around
Like every city in Mexico, Bahía Kino has bus service that will take you wherever you need to go. The bus runs approximately once every hour in each direction from sunrise till sunset. The streets are navigable, though often unpaved, so bring your car should you want to explore.

Do
Jump off of the pier.

The fishing is fantastic!

Walk the beach.

Talk to fisherman about the health of fish populations and/or hear harrowing tales of making a living off the sea. Better yet, offer to pay their gas and spend a morning out learning about what it takes to be a professional fisher.

Take a kayak/canoe to the quiet waters of the La Cruz estuary, now protected as a RAMSAR site. See Rosette Spoonbills and Reddish Egrets! Ask at Islandia Marina about where to rent kayaks.

Snorkel the north point.

Visit the Seri Museum in Kino Nuevo. Alejandrina, the curator, is very knowledgeable.

Climb the peaks behind town (the view to Baja is worth it).

Visit the protected Midriff Islands (all those islands you see from Kino). They are called "Mexico's Galapagos" for a reason. Ernesto Hinojosa and Cosme Damian Becerra are both excellent guides who speak reasonable English. They can arrange permits through the local CONAMP (park service) offices.

Drive the 26 km (16 miles) to the Seri community of Punta Chueca. Don't be put off by the trash: the Seri have a fascinating story to tell. They (and the Tarahumaras of the Copper Canyon area) are the ONLY indigenous communities not conquered by the Spaniards. The baskets and carvings are excellent. Want to camp on Isla Tiburon? You'll need permission from the Seri Governor's office located near the school.

Visit the Prescott College Center for Cultural and Ecological studies at the end of the road in Kino Nuevo. Come prepared with questions about flora/fauna and local cultures. Resident researchers include a marine mammal specialist, a coastal bird research team, and various fisheries experts. The center has established weekly environmental education classes for kids in the local primary and secondary schools and has helped local kids start ecology clubs in Kino Viejo and Punta Chueca. Everyone at the center is bilingual.

Arrange to spend a day volunteering with the local Grupo Tortugero, a group of local fisherman involved in tagging and monitoring sea turtles in Estero Santa Cruz just south of town. Local conservation at its best!

Visit the fire station. These guys pay to be firefighters/rescue professionals.

Bahía de Kino has a vibrant new park in Kino Viejo where you can play pick-up soccer, bring the children to a playground, or visit the travelling circus.

Watch every sunrise and sunset.

Buy
Ask around in Kino Viejo for Don Shemo, the local hat maker. From him you can buy a beautiful handwoven hat to keep the sun off of your face.

Many vendors sell Ironwood carvings. The Ironwood tree population has been devastated by this cottage industry. Much of what is now sold as Ironwood is actually cheap wood polished black with shoe polish. What little real Ironwood there is has been illegally harvested. The Seri indigenous community to the north of Kino has many Ironwood carvers who go to great lengths to harvest the wood sustainably. Buying directly from them supports sustainable use of this limit resource. Better yet, buy figures made from the local rock - just as beautiful and rock doesn't appear to be in short supply locally.

Eat
Seafood is the specialty here. From Ceviche to Tacos de Pescado, you won't run out of options from the sea. Try the chocolate oysters, which you can find with a snorkeling kit, or buy from street vendors such as Terri in Kino Viejo.

Drink
Mexican Coke in a bottle. You know, the kind made with sugar not high-fructose corn syrup. It's ubiquitous in Mexico and the bottles are reused for decades, so you produce no extra waste by drinking one.

Water out of the faucets is safe but very saline. Better to pick up bottled water.

Sleep
In Bahía de Kino there are mostly apartment complexes but some hotels exist. Be warned that during Mexican (and US) holidays, getting reasonably priced accommodation might be difficult.

Apartments
Departamentos Santos is an excellent place to become familiar with Kino Viejo and the local flavor. It is as you would expect for an apartment complex off of a dirt road in an underdeveloped city. Don't bring too many expectations and be blown away by the convenience, location, and hospitality of Félix Santos Flores. Félix will make your time pleasant by playing some cumbia and musica norteña while he works on his finances in the courtyard. A double room with cable TV and an A/C will run you M$400. Climb up the steep spiral staircase to the rooftop lounge for an amazing view of the city. There are a couple of pools on the property that you can enjoy.

Stay safe
Local ice is made from local water. People that come from first world countries may get travelers' fever but if you've been outside the U.S, Canada or the U.K. a lot, it will be very unlikely that you get infected.

Go next

 * Guaymas
 * El Desemboque
 * Hermosillo
 * Ures

title: Bahía de Kino


text:
Bahia

Bahia is a state in Brazil's Northeast region.

Cities

 * — the first capital of Brazil is home to a unique blend of indigenous, African and European cultures; its Carnival fun is famous, and the influence of African culture and religion is remarkable
 * — if your destination is Abrolhos, then you will start here
 * — a place of beautiful beaches and welcoming people, land of cocoa
 * — an island at the entrance of Todos os Santos Bay with 40 km of beaches and exuberant tropical vegetation
 * — it has amazing beaches and preserved areas of Mata Atlântica, an original tropical jungle
 * — the main attraction is the hydroelectri complex of three dams that provide power for much of Northeast Brazil

Other destinations

 * — archipelago off the coast of Bahia
 * — fantastic green filled canyons and mountains, and a waterfall so high that it doesn't hit the ground.

Understand
When the Portuguese first arrived in Brazil (April 22, 1500) they landed on the soil today known as Bahia. In Portuguese, the word "bay" is translated "baia". Salvador, Bahia's capital, was founded by Portuguese explorers in 1549. The city lays on a peninsula located in between "All Saints Bay" and the Atlantic Ocean. Every time people talked about Salvador, they referred to it as, "the province with the bay in it". Later on, the province would be officially named "The Province of Bahia" (the province of the bay). The spelling of the word "bay" (baia) was changed in order to make the province's name unique. Salvador-Bahia became Brazil's first capital back when the country was one of Portugal's colonies, and remained like that for 214 years (until it was transferred to Rio, and finally to Brasilia).

Talk
Bahians, like all Brazilians, speak Portuguese. The accent, however, is different from that of other regions of the country. Today due to tourism expansion there are some people who speak English in tourist areas and hotels, but since it is not widely spoken, if you do not speak Portuguese you would be wise to bring a small travel dictionary.

Get in
International Airports in Bahia:
 * Salvador, connecting flights to Lisbon, Frankfurt, Miami, Buenos Aires and Madrid.
 * Porto Seguro, connecting flights to Lisbon and Buenos Aires.

Domestic Airports with Scheduled Flights in Bahia:

 * Ilheus (IOS), with nonstop flights to Salvador, São Paulo, Campinas, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Seguro and Vitoria.
 * Vitoria da Conquista (VDC), with nonstop flights to Salvador, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte.
 * Barreiras (BRA), with nonstop flights to Salvador and Brasilia.
 * Ilha de Comandatuba (UNA), with nonstop flights to Salvador and São Paulo.
 * Paulo Afonso (PAV), with nonstop flights to Maceio.
 * Guanambi (GNM), with nonstop flights to Salvador and Bom Jesus da Lapa
 * Lencois (LEC), with nonstop flights to Salvador
 * Bom Jesus da Lapa (LAZ), with nonstop flights to Salvador and Guanambi.

By bus
Coach services are comfortable and cheap. Very useful to get around the state. It is sometimes ill-advised to travel at night. Highway robberies are possible. Inquire before travel.
 * Bomfim
 * Aguia Branca
 * Itapemirim
 * Real Expresso
 * Rota Transportes
 * São Geraldo
 * Cidade Sol

By plane
From Salvador airport there are connections throughout the state
 * Passaredo (Vitória da Conquista, Barreiras, Brasília and Ribeirão Preto).
 * Abaeté (Bom Jesus da Lapa, Guanambi and Barreiras).
 * Aerostar (Morro de São Paulo)

Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves

 * The Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves, a UNESCO World Heritage site comprising 6 sites in Bahia (mostly around Porto Seguro)

Two more are in the southern neighboring state Espírito Santo.

Itineraries

 * The Bay of All Saints, beautiful seen from Salvador, can also be seen from a tourist boat that makes a trip through the bay, passing several Islands. The largest island is Itaparica. It can be reached in about 1 hour by ferry from Salvador. The smaller passenger-ferry departs from near the Mercado Modelo to, while the larger car-ferry goes from about 2km North of here to Bom Despacho
 * On the Coconut coast the sea turtle preservation project at Praia do Forte is a very impressive sight.
 * In October, whales can be seen alongside the whole coast, but the marine reserve on the Whale Coast is the pinnacle.
 * In the Chapada Diamantina, the Fumaça waterfall and the caves are very impressive

Do

 * Trekking through the Chapada Diamantina. With a guide, stay with locals while hiking through the park for several days.

Eat

 * Acarajé - A ball of bean dough fried in dendê oil and filled with a spicy mixture
 * Moqueca - A fish stew, based in coconut milk, onions, tomatoes, peppers, and dendê oil.
 * Vatapá
 * Caruru
 * Xinxim de galinha
 * Bobó de camarão

Restaurants

 * Kimoqueca is a restaurant chain serving moqueca throughout the state
 * Carangueijo de Sergipe is a chain serving mostly seafood dishes. Present all over Bahia.

Stay safe

 * It is ill-advised to travel at night through the state, by car or bus: highway robberies are all too common.
 * Roads can be very bad outside the capital city

Go next

 * Espírito Santo — Although off-the-beaten path, the state south of Bahia has much to offer tourists. The capital Vitória's beautiful bay and bridge; Vila Velha's Convento da Penha (a 16th-century hilltop Franciscan convent); Guarapari's beaches and summer parties; the German-colonized town of Domingos Martins; Pedra Azul State Park's beautiful blue rock; and Itaúnas's dunes and forró (a Northeastern Brazilian dance); are some of the main attractions that should guarantee tourists a good time.
 * National Park Pau Brasil
 * National Park Marinho de Abrolhos
 * National Park Chapada Diamantina

title: Bahia


text:
Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park

The Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park is in the Cadiz Province of Spain.

Understand
It covers over 100 km², located between Chiclana de la Frontera and El puerto de Santa Maria on the Costa de la Luz, and consists of marshland, beaches, reed and sand dunes. It has many types of shrubs and bushes, and ocean pine.

Flora and fauna
It is a haven for wading birds, both residential and migratory. Species include Black-winged Stilt, Gannet, Solan Goose, White Stork, Cormorant, Curlew, Spoonbill, Flamingo, Tern, Sea Eagle and Avocet.

Do
Recreational activities include bird watching, sailing, windsurfing, and hiking.

title: Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park


text:
Bahia de Caraquez

Bahía de Caráquez is a resort town in Ecuador on a peninsula by the Chone River and the Pacific Ocean. While during the weekends most people head off to Canoa for their partying, around Bahía you can find many activities such as bird watching on the Isla Corazon, paragliding near the cliffs of Canoa, surfing, and many volunteer experiences also abound.

Get in
You can get to Bahia de Caraquez by bus from Quito (8 hours) or Guayaquil (6 hours). Coming from Guayaquil there is a 5 hour ride offered by at least two bus companies (Reina del Camino and Coactur) that stops in Jipijapa (a good point to get on/off to go to Puerto Lopez) and Portoviejo, the capital of the Manabi state.

Bahia can also be reached by boat. There is a cheap passenger ferry (it's USD0.30 for a ten minute ride) from San Vicente, or you can ride the vehicle ferry for free.

To get to Bahía from Quito: The only company that travels Quito-Bahía is called Reina del Camino. There are two kinds of buses; the executive and regular. The executive service is more comfortable and safer than the regular services. It costs only USD1–2 more and is well worth it.

Security is very high on these buses and you will be frisked before getting on. You are not usually allowed to take day packs on the bus for security reasons. Remember to take a sweater with you on the bus as the air conditioning can get very cold.

From Quito It is 7–8 hours to Bahía. You can do it during the day or night, by regular or executive service. There are two executive services per day. The executives leave Quito at 12:50 and 23:45. The regular services are at 10:30 and 23:30.

In Quito Reina del Camino has 2 offices: 1. Terminal Terrestre (the main Quito bus station in the old town) 2. 18 de Septiembre and Av Patria in the new town in the Mariscal area. (very close to the junction of Av Patria and 10 de Agosto.)

You can buy tickets for all services at 18 de Septiembre but the only service that actually leaves from there is the executive night bus at 23:00 (this is the 23:45 service mentioned earlier, but it leaves from here at 23:00 then travels to the main bus station, picks up passengers and leaves from there at 23:45). It is recommended that you get tickets at the 18 de Septiembre station as it is much safer and easier. Be careful with your belongings in the main bus station. Don’t be distracted! If you come from Quito on the day bus make sure you get a seat on the right hand side for great views.

Get around
As a small beachside town, there are few places in Bahia that cannot be reached in under 15 minutes on foot. The hospital is an exception, but may be reached by cab or the local bus.

As an "eco-friendly city," Bahia has numerous bicycle taxis that will ferry you from the bus station to the beaches or to the downtown area (USD0.50). Normal taxis are also common and typically will charge USD1 to get across town (this may have changed). There is one major bus route inside the town; it charges USD0.18 no matter where you get off. It can be boarded near the bus station - ask when you arrive.

Do

 * Chirije museum is built over an excavation on a hill. Here you find 3 sources of archaeological pieces. The first being all the pieces found by the archaeologists in controlled excavations. The second, being the pieces found by the staff on site and on the surface of the ground, and the third being the pieces found by all the travellers combing the beach. There are still many mysteries of the ancient past to be found in Chirije.
 * They were the most maritime of all cultures on the west coast of South America. They used Ecuadorian balsa wood and for thousands of years traded the mythical and sacred red thorny oyster, the Spondylus shell. The most demanded shell of all the Pacific was this bivalve that existed mostly in Ecuadorian waters. The sailors traded this shell in their routes from the territory of Ecuador all the way up to the lands that comprise Mexico in the north and Chile to the south, for gold, turquoise, lapis lazuli. The first contact of one of these sailing vessels was made when Francisco Pizarro's exploratory ships (Bartolomeo Ruiz was the captain) to the land of the gold, in 1526, and the design was drawn to the most perfect detail.
 * "This ship...seems to hold up to 30 tonnes, and the bottom is made of canes, as thick as posts. All tied up with rope made from something like hemp. And in the high parts, thinner canes, tied with this rope, where the people where in. All the items of trade were also on the higher part, because of it probably getting wet if it went on the bottom. There masts and antennas were made of very fine wood, and Sails as large as the ones we use on our ships." —Samano Account, 1526 (The first manuscripts of Accounts of the Conquest led by Francisco Pizarro)
 * A balsa wood vessel replica of first contact is found in Bahia de Caraquez Museum.
 * A balsa wood vessel replica of first contact is found in Bahia de Caraquez Museum.

Isla Corazon Tours
Isla Corazon (Heart Island) is a naturally heart-shaped mangrove island in the Chone River estuary. It is a nesting site for one of the Pacific's largest frigate bird colonies. During mating season, male frigate birds inflate a red sac on their throats and make loud, clicking calls. Local fishermen expanded the island through their mangrove restoration efforts and have since begun to offer canoe-led tours of the mangrove ecosystem. The island is now recognized as a National Wildlife Refuge and National Heritage Site.

Tours are offered directly through the local fishermen or can be arranged through E Ceibos Tours, Bahia Dolphin Tours (in Bahia) or Guacamayo Tours, with offices in Bahia and Canoa. Tours depart from Puerto Portovelo, a small village on the north side of the Chone River. To arrive from Bahia de Caraquez, take a boat taxi across the estuary to San Vicente. Then, catch a bus or taxi on the "via Chone" (route to Chone). Puerto Portovelo is just 7 km up the road. Bus rates average about 30 cents.

Take a trip to Rio Muchacho Organic Farm. They offer 1-3 day tours with activities including horse treck to howler monkey forest and waterfall, making chocolate and coffee from the bean, making necklaces, bowls, and rings from natural materials, and lots more. They also offer volunteer programs for the farm and ecoschools. You can get more information on Rio Muchacho or other tours in Ecuador at their office in Bahia which also sells fair trade items.

title: Bahia de Caraquez


text:
Bahia de las Aguilas

Bahia de las Aguilas on the southwestern coast of the Dominican Republic. Bahia De Las Aguilas (Bay of the Eagles) is one of the most beautiful and most isolated beaches in the Caribbean. It is near the southern end of the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, a few kilometers southeast from the town of Pedernales, or 320 km from Santo Domingo. Unlike most beaches in the Dominican Republic that have experienced an explosion of tourism, Bahia De Las Aguilas is completely isolated and has no construction near it. The bay is also considered part of the Jaragua National Park and its waters contain an abundance of wildlife, from a wide variety of fish to star fish and Caribbean lobsters. Fishing is illegal within the national park but is done on a small scale by the locals (hence the abundance of sea life). The nearest town is Perdenales, and there are a couple of small motels that are generally used by truckers. It is recommended that visitors making the 6-8 hour trip from the capital Santo Domingo, stay in the town of Barahona. From Barahona visiting Bahia De Las Aguilas can be done in a day.

It is not tourism-oriented as are other Dominican Republic sites: there are no luxury hotels, and you'll have to get to the beach either by boat, or with an all-wheel-drive vehicle through the National Park (either way it's a 15-20 minute ride). There are signs stating that you can't camp, but nevertheless, you can rent the tents or bring your own.

History
Bahia de las Aguilas is part of the Jaragua National Park (Parque Nacional Jaragua) in the Pedernales Province in the extreme southwest of the Dominican Republic. Established as a National Park in 1983, it is now a UNESCO-recognized natural reserve. The beach is recognized by many Dominicans as "the most majestic beach in the world".

Landscape
It is a great representation of the Hispaniolan Dry Forest Ecoregion's coast. The entire area is an extremely arid landscape, much like many parts of Arizona or Baja California. There are no palm trees as in much of the rest of the country, hence there is no shade and extreme caution should be taken against exposure to the sun.

Flora and fauna
On the way to the beach, if you're going through the park, iguanas and several species of cactuses are common sightings. There are many caves and water holes in the heavy coral rock formations.

Climate
Climate is semi-arid, as this part of the Dominican Republic is the driest. Skin protection is strongly recommended.

Get in
The road from la Cueva to the beach has been improved and while still being unpaved and steep in parts, it is now easy to go to the beach by any vehicle with high ground clearance or by walking a couple of miles (think carefully before attempting that).

You can also get to the beach with a boat at Cabo Rojo (Spanish for Red Cape or Point), which is near the entrance to the park. Once you get to Cabo Rojo, there's a restaurant called "La Cueva" (Spanish for "The Cave") that also has a few boats that will take you to the beach for a reasonable price. The ride takes about 10-15 minutes.

Fees and permits
The fee to enter the park is around RD$100. If you're getting to the beach via a boat, it will cost around RD$500-2000 per boat, depending on the number of passengers in the boat, usually including the park's entrance fee.

Get around
Once on the beach, you'll enjoy some of the whitest and softest sands on any beach in the world. Snorkeling is also highly recommended in Bahia de las Aguilas, although if you don't bring your own gear you will not find any there, as there are no stores or services.There is nothing but the beach, the bay and the surrounding extremely arid landscape, so caution is advised and drinking water should be brought along for the time spent. If arriving by boat, an agreed-upon pickup time will be made.

See
The millions of sea shells on the shore of the beach as well as the abundant sea life just feet into the water.

Do
Swim, snorkel, walk, explore. It is like going back in time and very likely that you will not encounter a single soul.

Eat
You can eat at a small restaurant near the entrance of the park (Cabo Rojo) for less than US$10 per person for a meal. The locals will go out, catch a fresh red snapper and cook it on the grill for you. There are also a couple of restaurants in Perdenales. A delicious local specialty is langosta a la criolla (lobster local style) with plantains and rice.

Drink
A soda drink, a bottle of water, or a Dominican beer usually costs less than US$3.

Sleep
There are no facilities in the park to spend the night.

Lodging
The nearest hotels are in the town of Pedernales. They're not luxury hotels, but have enough to be comfortable. Most hotels in Pedernales have A/C, hot water, cable TV, pool, 3 meals, etc., for less than US$40 per night per room.

There are also a couple of small hotels in Barahona, and it is recommended that visitors from the capital Santo Domingo stay in Barahona, before venturing on to Bahia De Las Aguilas.

Camping
Camping on the beach is no longer allowed.

Stay safe
Watch out for cactuses in the park. Drinking water and sun protection is essential.

title: Bahia de las Aguilas


text:
Bahia de Los Angeles

Bahía de los Ángeles ("Bay of Angels") is a coastal bay on the Sea of Cortez along the eastern shore of the Baja California peninsula in the state of Baja California, Mexico. The town of the same name is at the east end of Federal Highway 12 about 68 km (42 miles) from the Parador Punta Prieta junction on Federal Highway 1.

This small town is headquarters for access to the many islands of this part of the northern Gulf of California, and noteworthy for the World Heritage Site designation by the United Nations.

By boat
During high season most people get here via private yacht or fishing boat. If you are yachting up and down the Sea of Cortez, Bahia de LA is an obvious place to stop and get off. You can get a cold beer, hot food and the mooring is good.

By car
The road from Highway 1 is good and is the other way to get in. It is a long trek in from Highway 1 though and there's really no trail there so not so many people do. The road is mostly used by trucks that bring in supplies to the yachters and fishermen.

By plane
There are several other primitive airstrips in the area. Like most primitive airstrips in remote areas of Mexico—extreme discretion is advised. Even local planes that are not carrying contraband may be armed and suspicious as protection against those who are (and the equally dangerous Federales).

Get around
Most restaurants, hotels and food stores are on the unnamed, 1-mile long main street that runs north-south along the Bay. Walking is one way for getting around Bahia, as there are no taxis or public buses.

There are two gas stations (Pemex) at the entrance of town. The next nearest gas station (to the north) is in the town of El Rosario, some 292 km north along Federal Highway 1.

See
Misión San Francisco Borja: The construction of buildings was begun in 1759. A stone church was completed during the Dominican period, in 1801.

There are two colonies of the California sea lion population, one on Isla Calavera near Isla Coronado known locally as "Smith Island", and Isla El Racito, within Ensenada El Alacran. The bay is also famous for its whale sharks with 20 to 30 visiting the area each summer.

25-30 km west of town are the prehistoric rock paintings of Montevideo, part of the Great Mural region considered to be one of the most important archaeological sites in Baja California. Known as Pinturas Rupestres de Valle Montevideo, they are estimated by some to be 10,000 years old.

Do
Bahia de Los Angeles is popular for activities such as kayaking, wind surfing, and tourism in addition to being a sports fisherman's paradise. Bahia is famous for its sport fishing. Sport fish from this region include Yellowtail (Jurel), Seabass (Cabrilla), Snapper (Pargo), Grouper, Sierra, Bonito and the occasional Dorado. Non-sport fish like Trigger, Barracuda and various others exist in abundance.

Hike 4.5 km in the mountains and see an old mine that is awesome

Sleep

 * Villa Vita
 * Guillermos
 * Casa Diaz

Camping: Sleep somewhere with walls and preferably with air conditioning. During various times of the year Westies (hot dry westerly winds) come boiling off the desert plateau and sweep across the town. 46°C (115°F) temperature with 130 km/h (80 mph) winds and 1% humidity at 03:00 is something everyone should experience... once.

title: Bahia de Los Angeles


text:
Bahir Dar

Bahir Dar, also spelt Bahar Dar, on the southern shore of Lake Tana, the biggest lake in Ethiopia, is the third largest city in the nation, after Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa, with a population of a quarter of a million. It's the capital of the Amhara region, dominated by the Amhara people, the Ethiopia's second largest grouping; the Ethiopian official language is Amharic. Bahir Dar is a clean and well-maintained city by African standards. Even the cheaper accommodation has neat, but basic, services.

By plane

In July 2021, adult 1-way direct trip from Addis Ababa were around 4377 birr ($102) for foreigners, or 2421 birr ($56) for Ethiopians and residents (or those who have flown Ethiopian internationally - note that you can get the discounted prices by simply booking a ticket, for instance a refundable Nairobi to Addis fare, for the near future).

By car
Bahir Dar is 555 km north-east by road from Addis Ababa, using national highway 3. It's 170 km south of Gondar via road 3, and 314 km east of Lalibela via Woreta.

By bus
The city is connected by daily buses from Addis Ababa and Gondar. Many private minibuses also run from Gondar and Addis Ababa. They often do not leave from the bus station but are instead arranged through your hotel or by local touts (who will find you before you find them!). The minibuses are more expensive but faster, especially from Addis Ababa. Try Selam bus or Sky bus for a more comfortable (and potentially safer) ride.

From Gondar, minibuses leave from a bus station near Azezo (July 2019) in the south of the town. You can take a local minibus to reach Azezo (10 birr) or a bajaj (200 birr). From Gondar to Bahir Dar, a bus should cost 85 birr and take around 3 hours.

To get to Bahir Dar from Lalibela by bus, take a dawn bus to Gashina (about two hours south of Lalibela) and change there to the Woldia - Bahir Dar bus, which passes through Gashina around 10:00. To get from Bahir Dar to Lalibela, take the dawn Bahir Dar - Woldia bus and catch the last Lalibela bus at Gashena, which passes through around 15:00.

By boat
A ferry service runs between Bahir Dar and Gorgora via Dek Island and villages on the lakeside.

Get around
Bajajs (three-wheel rick-shaws) are the most common form of transportation in the city. There are also blue minibuses, but few still exist as means to get around town. Bajajs are inexpensive and cost no more than two birr per line of road and 30-50 birr for a private charter.

See

Do

 * Cycling Bikes can be rented at Ghion Hotel.

Buy
Bahir Dar has a big and colourful market that is open every day. Saturday is the biggest day. Sunday has very few activities.

The local speciality is small footstools covered in goat hide. Find them along the road that runs from Ghion hotel to the main highway. They can apparently be "unstuffed" for travel.

There are many ATMs that accept MasterCard & Visa cards at Dashen Bank and Ethiopia Commercial Bank.

Eat

 * Tana Restaurant serves fabulous fish dishes cheaply.
 * Al-Hanan Muslim Restaurant, near the Dalot Pension, serves huge and tasty mutton dishes, even during Lent. Also a good place for an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. The owners are exceedingly nice and don't charge tourists extra.
 * Tana Restaurant serves fabulous fish dishes cheaply.
 * Al-Hanan Muslim Restaurant, near the Dalot Pension, serves huge and tasty mutton dishes, even during Lent. Also a good place for an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. The owners are exceedingly nice and don't charge tourists extra.
 * Tana Restaurant serves fabulous fish dishes cheaply.
 * Al-Hanan Muslim Restaurant, near the Dalot Pension, serves huge and tasty mutton dishes, even during Lent. Also a good place for an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. The owners are exceedingly nice and don't charge tourists extra.

Drink

 * There are many cultural night clubs throughout the city center.
 * There are a few Western music clubs, with Dream House and a bar above Friendship Cafe the most popular.
 * There are a few Western music clubs, with Dream House and a bar above Friendship Cafe the most popular.

Sleep
Prices are changing quickly.

 * Koriftu Resort is a nice getaway after roughing it around Ethiopia. One of the nicest resorts in Ethiopia with a complimentary massage for every night's stay. Good, but expensive, restaurant and a nice pool.
 * Dalot Pension, near the bus station, singles from 20 birr, modern, clean and convenient, best value in town.
 * Tana Pension. Rooms from US$2.50, the food is marvelous.
 * Tana Pension. Rooms from US$2.50, the food is marvelous.

Stay safe
Like many other cities in Ethiopia, Bahir Dar is generally safe and free of violent crimes.

You may encounter some hustlers around the shore of Lake Tana to get you rent a boat they may get a kick-back for. The boats on Lake Tana that take you to visit the monasteries have fixed rates. Make sure the self-appointed "brokers" won't get you charged a jacked up fee for the boats.

Connect
As of 2019, the city has only (relatively slow) 3G coverage. Hotel Wi-Fi is not always faster.

Go next

 * Gondar – to the north and the nearest big city, it has a complex of castles and palaces
 * Lalibela – to the west, its rock-hewn churches are a big attraction

title: Bahir Dar


text:
Bahla

Bahla is a fortified oasis town in Northern Oman, best known for its immense 14th-century fortress and for a unique style of pottery.

Understand
The fortress and the town are enclosed by the extensive remnants of a 12-km long fortified wall. Most buildings in the town are constructed of traditional mud brick, many of them hundreds of years old. The best view of the fortifications and the fortress can be had from just outside the western entrance, near the Jabrin junction.

Bahla is also known in Oman as Madinat Al Sehr ('City of Magic') due to its long association with djinn and sorcerers, an association continuing to the present day.

Read

 * Mandana Limbert, In the Time of Oil: Piety, Memory, and Social Life in an Omani Town. An in-depth examination of the many changes in Bahlawi life following the discovery of oil, based on the writer's year-and-a-half stay there in the late 1990s.

Get in
Bahla is bisected by Highway 21, about halfway between Nizwa and Ibri.

See

title: Bahla