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Madagascar

Madagascar is a country in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. It is known for its particularly unique wildlife and flora. Madagascar split from India approximately 88 million years ago, and as a result of its long isolation it is home to a massive number of unique plant and animal species, with over 90% of its wildlife and 80% of its plants found nowhere else on the planet.

Cities

 * - the capital and usually called Tana by locals.
 * (also commonly known as Fort Dauphin)
 * (also commonly known as Tulear)
 * (also commonly known as Fort Dauphin)
 * (also commonly known as Tulear)
 * (also commonly known as Fort Dauphin)
 * (also commonly known as Tulear)
 * (also commonly known as Fort Dauphin)
 * (also commonly known as Tulear)

People
Despite its proximity to Africa, language and DNA studies show that the people of Madagascar are predominantly ethnically Austronesian; their ancestors between 350 BCE and 550 CE. Later, around 1000 CE, migrants crossed the Mozambique Channel and arrived from East Africa, and were followed by Arabs, Indians, and Chinese immigrants. The Malagasy way of thinking, as well as their appearance and fashion style, is a mixture of cultures.

Madagascar is part of the African Union, but was suspended from the organization from 2009 to 2013. There was political turmoil in Madagascar in 2002 and again between 2009 and 2010, which led to a decrease in tourism, but the situation was resolved to the satisfaction of the international community with the adoption of a new constitution in 2010 and presidential elections in 2013 that were judged to be free and fair. Any continuing political issues seem likely to be debated peacefully with words and not coups or other drastic actions, for the foreseeable future.

Madagascar is home to 18 ethnic groups, but the largest and predominant group are the Merina of the central highlands.

Ecology

Due to its uniqueness some ecologists refer to it as the "eighth continent".

Madagascar is home to nearly 15,000 plant species, with highlights including the massive and ancient baobab trees, the unique spiny forests of the south, over 800 species of orchids, and the dwindling rain forests. Human activity, particularly the fires used for agricultural purposes, have damaged the environment, and since the arrival of humans approximately 90% of the island's original forest has disappeared.

Animal life on the island is equally impressive, in particular the more than 100 species of lemurs, nearly all of which are rare or threatened. The island is home to over 300 species of birds, approximately 260 species of reptiles, and a massive number of amphibians and insects.

The eastern, or windward side of the island is home to tropical rainforests, while the western and southern sides, which lie in the rain shadow of the central highlands, are home to tropical dry forests, thorn forests, and deserts and xeric shrublands. Madagascar's dry deciduous rain forest has been preserved generally better than the eastern rainforests or the high central plateau, presumably due to historically low population densities.

Holidays

 * January 1: New Year's Day
 * March 29: Martyrs Day
 * Easter (variable)
 * June 26: Independence Day (celebrates independence from France in 1960)
 * November 1: All Saints Day
 * December 25: Christmas

Climate
The climate is tropical along the coast, temperate inland, and arid in the south. The weather is dominated by the southeastern trade winds that originate in the Indian Ocean anticyclone, a centre of high atmospheric pressure that seasonally changes its position over the ocean. Madagascar has two seasons: a hot, rainy season from November to April; and a cooler, dry season from May to October. There is great variation in climate owing to elevation and position relative to dominant winds. The east coast has a sub-equatorial climate and, being most directly exposed to the trade winds, has the heaviest rainfall, averaging as much as 3,500 mm (137.8 in) annually. This region is notorious not only for a hot, humid climate in which tropical fevers are endemic but also for the destructive cyclones that occur during the rainy season, coming in principally from the direction of the Mascarene Islands. Because rain clouds discharge much of their moisture east of the highest elevations on the island, the central highlands are appreciably drier and, owing to the altitude, also cooler. Thunderstorms are common during the rainy season in the central highlands, and lightning is a serious hazard.

Antananarivo receives practically all of its average annual 1,400mm (55.1 in) of rainfall between November and April. The dry season is pleasant and sunny, although somewhat chilly, especially in the mornings. Although frosts are rare in Antananarivo, they are common at higher elevations.

Read

 * The Eighth Continent: Life, Death, and Discovery in the Lost World of Madagascar by Peter Tyson. Extensive descriptions of Madagascar's wildlife, as well as lots of details about Malagasy culture.
 * The Gardens of Mars: Nadagascar, an Island Story by John Gimlette. More of a focus on the spectacularly complicated and bloody history of the island's people.
 * The Bradt Guide to Madagascar

Tourist information

 * Madagascar Tourism website

Talk
The entire island speaks one language: Malagasy, an Austronesian language. "Malagasy" refers to both the language and the people of the island. Because the island is so large, there are many different dialects. The Merina dialect is the "Official Malagasy" of the island and is spoken around highlands of Antananarivo. Most Malagasy, however, speak Merina across the island. Attempts by foreigners to learn and speak Malagasy are liked and encouraged by the Malagasy people. Today, Malagasy is the daily language spoken by 98% of the population in Madagascar, and since 1972, Malagasy has been used as the language of instruction in some schools. As an Austronesian language, Malagasy is more closely related to languages spoken in maritime Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands than to other African languages.

French is the second official language of Madagascar, and most individuals encountered in parks and other touristy areas will speak fluent French.

English is increasingly common and many hotels and parks will have at least a few English-speaking staff. Italian, German, Spanish and Japanese are understood to a lesser extent in areas where tourists are likely to visit.

Some basic Malagasy vocabulary that will help relate to the Malagasy people (there are many different regional versions of the Malagasy language across the country):

Visa
Visitors from most countries can obtain a Madagascar tourist visa upon arrival in Madagascar (information accurate as of March 2020).
 * For stays of up to 14 nights €10
 * For stays of up to 30 days US$37 or €35.
 * For longer stays of up to 60 days US$45 or €40.
 * The Antananarivo airport visa on arrival counter was no longer issuing 90-day stays as of November 2018.

You must pay for the visa with cash: in US dollars or euros. They also ask for an address of your first night stay.

You can get a 30 day visa extension 80.000Ar at the Immigration Office at the ministry of the Interior five minutes from Carlton Hotel in Antananarivo or at the commissariat of police offices around Madagascar. The maximum stay on a tourist visa is 90 days. After 90 days, you can go to Reunion or Mauritius then come back.

Vaccination
Prior to your trip, you should ensure that your routine vaccinations are up-to-date; these include polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, MMR and typhoid (check with your doctor). If you are travelling through a country where yellow fever is present then you will be required to show proof of vaccination for yellow fever before you will be allowed entry into Madagascar.

By plane
International flights to Madagascar generally either go to Antananarivo or Nosy Be. Air Madagascar ("AirMad") is the national carrier and offers flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle, Marseille and Guangzhou, Other airlines serving Madagascar:
 * Airlink South Africa provides daily flights from Johannesburg.
 * Air France offer flights from Europe, North America, South America via Paris Charles de Gaulle.
 * Air Austral offer flights to Antananarivo, Nosy Be, Toamasina from Paris, Marseille, Bangkok, Chennai, Johannesburg, Mauritius, Seychelles. Flights transfer on Reunion Island.
 * Air Mauritius from Europe, Asia and Australia via Mauritius.
 * Kenya Airways operates regular service from Europe, North America, Asia and Africa via Nairobi.
 * Turkish Airlines from Europe, North America, South America and Asia via Istanbul has some low fares but have two stops via Mauritius and Istanbul
 * Ethiopian Airlines from Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Asia via Addis Ababa.
 * Comores Aviation fly from Moroni and Anjouan
 * EWA Air fly from Mahajanga, Antsiranana, Nosy Be to Mayotte.

Expect to pay around 40 000 Ar to get to Tana by taxi, but drivers might easily ask for 60 000 Ar. Otherwise you can get to the Ivato town nearby and take a taxi-be (a local shared taxi bigger than a van) for around 600 Ar. Because you must also buy a seat for your luggage, it will cost 1200 Ar.

By boat
The only regular link used to be between Toamasina on the east coast and Mauritius via Reunion. This service has been suspended since December 2014.

By plane
Tsaradia Airlines (part of Air Madagascar) serve many destinations throughout the country, and provide a much faster option than driving given the poor state of many roads. Tsaradia airlines is notorious for changing flight schedules and cancelling flights. While the airline will provide you with a hotel and book you on the next available flight in the case of a cancellation, don't book tight connections and always confirm your flight time the night before.
 * Airfares are not cheap anymore - a one way ticket between Tana and Nosy Be will cost anything from 703093 Ar
 * Tsaradia Airlines tickets can be booked on its website.

Passengers who arrive in Madagascar on a long-haul flight with Air Madagascar no longer get a 25% discount on Tsaradia Airlines.

By train
As of 2023 Madarail operates only one service, a 9-hour trip between Moramanga (115 km east of Antananarivo) and Ambila Lemaitso on the east coast. The railway dates from the colonial period, so breakdowns are frequent due to poor maintenance, and the line may be closed for several weeks.

By car
Madagascar's roads are almost all of very low grade (with the exception of 2 routes leading out of Tana). Many roads are studded with potholes and are quagmires in the rainy season. Travel by road will almost always take much more time than you would normally expect. Hire of a 4WD vehicle can reduce this problem but the cost will be higher but still very cost effective if you are not travelling alone and able to split the rental fee between the members of your group (at least US$70/day/car as of October 2014). In nearly all cases a car rental will include the cost of a driver and his accommodation, but verify when booking your rental; most companies will not rent a car without a driver, and in many cases the driver can act as your guide and translator as well.

By taxi-brousse
Taxi-brousse, or interurban shared taxi, is the way most natives travel around the country. There are three major modern roads in the country: RN7 from Tana to Toliara, RN2 from Tana to Tomasina (via Brickaville) and RN4 from Tana to Mahajanga. Trips between those towns take about a day whereas traveling between Tana and Taolagnaro, a south-eastern coastal town, would take about 3 or 4 days due to the condition of the road. Travel is cramped and don't expect air conditioning. Expect dust to be a problem in the dry season. Travel by taxi-brousse is guaranteed to test one's patience and sanity, but there is quite possibly no better way to meet and interact with the locals and experience Madagascar as the Malagasy do.

Taxi-brousse is by far the cheapest way to travel, but do not expect to leave or arrive on time. Indeed, the drivers wait for their 15 seats small buses to get full before leaving, therefore a few hours delay is never excluded. However, during the trip it allows you to admire the breathtaking landscapes Madagascar holds. Destinations to most national parks and towns can be reached from "Antananarivo", drivers will happily drop you off en route to their final destination.
 * Cotisse Transport is one of the best ways to get around, to/from Mahajanga, Morondava, Fianarantsoa, Toamasina.
 * Besady Plus buses leave on time, whether full or not. The provide free wifi and go between Antananarivo and Nosy Be via Ambanja. and from Antananarivo to Sainte Marie via Toamasina . The tickets include sea transfer.

By taxi-be
In Tana, the cheapest way to get around is by taxi-be, or big taxi, which is a bit larger than a mini-van. There is one aisle with seats to fold down so they can cram in even more people. During peak season, buses run frequently. Prices are around 600 Ar, as of November 2018, the 183 which is one of the buses going to Cotisse Transport costs 400 Ar.

By boat
If you are looking for an unusual holiday, a yacht charter to Madagascar might be a good choice.

For those who would like to bareboat, a “guide” is usually included in the price of the yacht charter. Although obligatory, he comes with the price and is essential for the multitude of services he will provide. He will prepare the food, recommend anchorages, know where to fish and refill the water tanks. He will speak the local language and have an established relationship with the local people. He will protect the boat from theft when you leave it to explore on land. The guide lives completely on the exterior of the boat and does not require a cabin. A yacht charter to Madagascar is a bit of a “Robinson Crusoe” adventure. Once you embark, you will not be able to stock up provisions again and must live off the fish and seafood you will catch for yourself (or with your guide). So take great care with your provisioning list.

This problem can be avoided by chartering one of the crewed catamarans. The boats are designed for stability so sea sickness is not really a problem. The crew prepare the boat with linen, food and drinks before your arrival -basically these boats are like a personal floating hotel. Depending on which boat you choose you could receive excellent service and food and suggestions of where to go and what to do. Choose your catamaran carefully as there are some really old ones in service- make sure the crew can speak your language.

By bicycle
Madagascar is a great place to tour by bike and staying in small towns and villages along the way gives a real sense of what the country is all about. A mountain bike or heavy duty tourer at least is required as the roads can be in poor to terrible condition. In the rainy season on the east coast the main north-south road can become impassable, possibly leading to a two-day walk - over soft sand in one section - this is not an easily rideable route. Generally there is little to no traffic which makes cruising around a great pleasure. The people are amazingly friendly and you'll be greeted with crowds of children shouting 'Vazaha' in every village.

There are few or no facilities for cyclists, so be prepared to camp rough (ask if it is somebody's land and never too near a family grave) or sleep in very basic guesthouses. Likely you will be invited to stay in people's houses. Bring a spare tire, puncture kit, chain, brake or gear cable, derailleur and all the tools you need.

See

 * Sites from the Merina Kingdom can be seen across different parts of Madagascar.
 * Sites from the Merina Kingdom can be seen across different parts of Madagascar.

Do
Most people visiting Madagascar do so for the wildlife, and there are a number of national parks and private reserves scattered throughout the country. Some are easier to reach than others - the dual Andasibe-Mantadia National Park area is a few hours from the capital via a paved road, while other parks require days of driving and trekking to explore.

Scuba diving and snorkeling is exceptional in Nosy Be, and is also possible in other areas like Toliara. Be aware that the nearest hyperbaric chamber lies across the Mozambique Channel, and that outside of Nosy Be scuba equipment may not be up to expected standards, so exercise caution and be careful to minimize risks when diving. The condition of corals varies from pristine at Nosy Tanikely to completely destroyed elsewhere, and depending on time of year the visibility may exceed 30 metres, or may be reduced to zero by the outflow from rivers, which, due erosion caused by deforestation, can turn the ocean brown. In the far north near Diego kitesurfing and windsurfing are exceptional between April and November when a constant 30 knot-wind makes the area one of the best surfing spots in the southern hemisphere. Kayaking and deep sea fishing are always rewarding water activities.

The Rainforests of the Atsinanana is made up of six national parks along the eastern coast of Madagascar; Marojejy National Park, Masoala National Park, Zahamena National Park, Ranomafana National Park, Andringitra National Park and Andohahela National Park.

Money
Local money is the Malagasy ariary, denoted by the symbol "Ar" (ISO code: MGA). Ariary banknotes come in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 Ar.

The ariary is subdivided into 5 iraimbilanja, making it one of only two non-decimal currencies, but travellers will never have to deal with this minuscule unit of currency.

There are ATMs in larger cities and bigger towns where you can withdraw ariary cash with Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Maestro, Union Pay. Diners club, American Express, Discover card. The withdrawal limit is (usually 400,000 Ar). ATMs are frequently en panne due to connection problems or other technical difficulties. Carry a US dollar or euro emergency reserve with you.

BFV Societe Generale & BOA-Bank of Africa ATMs have a withdraw fee of 8000-10200Ar per withdraw for overseas bank cards. All other ATM networks in Madagascar have no withdraw fee at this time.

The Seven ATM networks in Madagascar are:
 * AccesBanque ATMs take Mastercard, visa card, Union Pay. (no withdraw fee)
 * BGFI ATMs only take visa card. (no withdraw fee)
 * BMOI ATMs take only Visa card. (no withdraw fee)
 * BOA-Bank of Africa ATMs take only Visa card.
 * BNI ATMs take Mastercard and visa card. (no withdraw fee)
 * BFV Societe Generale ATMs take Mastercard, Visa card, Maestro, Union Pay, Diners Club, American Express and Discover cards.
 * MCB-Mauritius Commerce Bank ATMs take Mastercard, Visa card, Diners Club and Discover cards. (no withdraw fee).

Credit cards are accepted by many hotels, restaurants and shops in Antananarivo and Nosy Be, You may have too pay an extra charge for the credit card commission, which ranges between free and 8%.

Occasionally, hotels and other services used by travellers are quoted in euros. Generally, payment in the local currency is expected but euros are usually also accepted. If you wish to pay in euros, clarify the conditions at which the euro price is converted to avoid that a very bad exchange rate is applied.

For changing money, as of June 2023, locals will not recommend going to a bank, but rather use the services of a money changer. Money changers are usually ambulant. Ask the receptionist of your accommodation or an expatriate living in Madagascar to recommend you one. Usually, the money changer will come to your hotel for the transaction. You get better rates for large denominations of euros and US dollars and UK pounds and rates are better in Antananarivo than in provincial cities.
 * Socimad exchange has a bureau de change (open 24 hours TV) at the Ivato airport, and one in downtown (Lalana Radama 1).

Shopping
Vanilla and other spices are cheaper in Madagascar than in Europe or elsewhere, and the quality (especially of vanilla) is very good.

Tipping
Tipping is a matter of much confusion in Madagascar, and is made more confusing because expectations are different when the customer is a foreigner instead of a local. In restaurants and bars you should leave a tip equivalent to ten percent of the total bill. Locals will generally leave far less. If someone helps you with your bags consider a tip equivalent to US$1 per bag. In taxis, rounding the bill upwards is more than sufficient. If you have a private vehicle with a driver, tipping the equivalent of US$10-13 per day is considered extremely generous, while US$5-10 per day is normal for standard service. A good tip for a park guide is approximately US$7-10 per day. Individuals who clean hotel rooms are sometimes not given a salary, so consider leaving a few dollars in the room when you depart (many hotels will have a tip box in the lobby that can also be used to tip the entire staff). When in doubt about how much to tip, consider that even a doctor or university teacher may be making less than 200,000 Ar per month, and remember that in remote areas your tip may set expectations for travelers who follow you, some of whom may be researchers or aid workers with limited funds available (as of October 2018).

Eat
The cheapest way to get a meal is to eat at a "hotely". A plate of rice, laoka (malagasy for a side dish accompanying rice) like chicken, beans or pork, and rice water costs about 3000 Ar (2020). For 1000 Ar extra you can get a small glass of homemade yoghurt.

Bananas (hundreds of varieties) and rice cakes (Malagasy 'bread') are staple 'street food' and available everywhere. Coffee is very good, usually hand-made by the cup and served very sweet with condensed milk.

Steak-frites is available in restaurants in the larger towns.

Supermarkets
There are supermarkets all over Madagascar. The four biggest supermarkets chains are Super U, Score, Leader price and Supermaki. All four Western style supermarket chains are well stocked. There are many leader price & Super U-branded goods but also some more local produce (veg, spices, etc.) Super U is slightly cheaper and has many stores in Antananarivo, Mahajanga, Toamasina and Antsirabe.

Drink
There is no safe tap water so be prepared with bottled water, which is usually easily obtainable. The only other option is ranon'apango (RAN-oo-na-PANG-oo) or rice water (water used to cook rice, which will therefore have been boiled). It's particularly important to plan ahead if visiting rural areas. It is worth taking with you some chlorine tablets, which can be used to make the local water drinkable.

In towns, roadside drink stands, stores and bars are plentiful. Most sell a range of drinks including bottled water, Fanta, Coca Cola and Madagascar's beer, Three Horses Beer (THB). You can also try the bubblegum flavoured 'Bonbon Anglais', which is to South American Inka Cola, although it may be sold as 'limonade' - leading you to think it may be lemonade.

Home brewed rum, and creme de coco, is also available in many flavours.

Sleep
Lodging quality varies dramatically throughout the country, from dorm-style rooms to luxury five-star resorts. In most places room prices will be quoted per room, although many luxury resorts quote prices per person. Insect nets and private bathrooms are provided in nearly all of the more upscale lodging, although in lower-priced establishments you may need to provide your own bug net. There are backpacker hostels in a few places with prices from US$5.

Learn
Learn some Malagasy. The single best thing you can do to have a fun and safe trip is to speak the local language. There are a number of guidebooks you can buy to learn Malagasy, or alternatively you can ask someone to teach you. Just a few words will make all the difference.

Stay safe
Madagascar is a fairly safe country. You must, however, respect some simple principles:

The centre of Antananarivo should be avoided, as well as the Ankato area, Avenue de L'Independence, Ambohijatovo, Analakely, Bohorika, Isoraka, Ampasamandinika, 67ha, Isotry and the area around the military barracks. Elsewhere in the country, Nosy Be, Toamasina (Tamatave), Mahajunga, Ankarana, Isalo, Montagne d'Ambre Nature Reserve, Tuléar and Batterie Beach, and the RN 7 and RN 27 roads are particularly to be avoided.
 * Don't walk around at night in Antananarivo (other cities are pretty safe).
 * Don't exhibit signs of wealth (cameras, jewels).
 * Similarly, always carry small notes. Paying with large denomination notes shows off your wealth, can insult the seller because they will not have change, and opens you up for becoming a target for crime.
 * Keep an eye on your belongings when using public transport or visiting markets where numerous pickpockets swarm.
 * Learn the Malagasy word for thief, "Mpangalatra" which is pronounced "Pun-gul-ah-tra". If someone is trying to rob you in a busy market area scream this. The fact that a vazaha is screaming thief will unsettle the thief and alert the people near you to help.
 * Always listen for the words "vazaha" or "vazongo" when spoken in low tones. If you hear these words be aware that someone is talking about you, for better or for worse!

Like any other developing country, there are a lot of beggars. This is sometimes uncomfortable for tourists, but these people should be respected nonetheless. They are, predictably, attracted to foreigners and will not hesitate to ask for a hand-out. If you don't want to give, a simple "Non, merci" or "Tsy Misy (tsee-meesh)" (I have nothing) will do the trick. If they persist, try shouting "Mandehana! (man-day-han)" (Go Away!) It is recommended not to give money, but other useful items, such as a banana, a piece of bread, etc. It is usually accepted with gratitude, and if the beggar is a child, he will run away with a smile on his face. It is imperative not to encourage begging - in Madagascar the people do not really believe in getting something for nothing and will invariably offer you something first. For example a chameleon to photograph.

Stay healthy
Visitors to Madagascar should be aware of a vast number of health concerns. Diseases such as the plague, which are almost unheard of elsewhere, still occur in Madagascar. Drinking water is almost never safe for foreigners; treated or bottled water should always be used, and salads or dishes containing unpeeled fruits or vegetables should be avoided. While the AIDS epidemic has not reached the devastating level found in many southern African countries, it is widely assumed that the incidence of AIDS is underestimated and rising, so you should take no risks and avoid unprotected sex in all cases. When swimming, beware of the possibility of human waste in the water, which can cause cholera, typhoid, and a number of other diseases. Leeches and tropical parasites are also a concern.

Research malaria prophylaxis options, and follow through. If you are not taking any prophylactics, be sure to always use a mosquito net for sleeping, and apply mosquito repellents once dusk sets in. On-skin repellent (only repellents containing ~40% DEET are effective, such as NoBite, or Azeron Before Tropics) is good but should be used in combination with on-clothes repellent (i.e., NoBite). The clothes repellent is odorless approximately an hour after application, and clothes can be washed up to 4 times before it needs to be re-applied. If you wear long-sleeve clothing treated with the repellent and apply on-skin repellent to the skin parts not covered, you will be very safe against mosquito bites and can skip the prophylaxis with its notorious side effects. Take the repellent issue seriously, though, as it's very easy to fall into a more 'relaxed' mode after you've spent some time in the country.

Areas inhabited by humans will invariably have large populations of stray dogs. Avoid stray dogs, and although bites are rare, if bitten seek medical assistance promptly as rabies is not unheard of.

Remember that Madagascar is in the tropics and take precautions against sunburn and heat exhaustion seriously. Wear lots of sunscreen and keep hydrated. A cloudy day does not mean you won't get burnt.

Respect
Everyday life in Madagascar is regulated by numerous fady (taboos) which vary from one region to another. They can forbid foods (lemur, turtle, beef), wearing clothes of a particular colour, bathing in a river or a lake, etc. Observance of "Fady" is mostly limited to rural areas, as tourists will most likely not encounter this problem if they stay in the main towns. However, there are Fadys in places such as Antananarivo but most vazaha are exempt.

Fady are attributed to ancestors, to whom Malagasy adopt a respectful attitude whatever their religion. It is safest to respect these prohibitions and not violate them, even if you feel they don't make sense. Inform yourself about local fady when you arrive in a new place.

When addressing anyone older than you or in a position of authority (e.g. police, military, customs officials), use the word "tompoko (toom-pook)" the same way you would use "Sir" or "Ma'am" in English. Respect for elders and authority figures is important in Madagascar.

Do not ever take photos of a tomb without permission. Always ask permission before taking photos. Also, if you go to a remote village or hamlet it is fomba or tradition that you first meet with the head of the village if you have business in the village. Meeting this person can save you a lot of time if you have work to do there.

Connect
International phone calls and 4G Internet via data can be done via cell phone companies such as Airtel, Orange or Telma they work off prepaid phone cards. International phone calls using Telma to Europe cost 900 Ar per minute. There are also Internet cafes in the major cities and most large towns. Electricity may be erratic. Many areas have either mandatory shutdown hours or rationing. It's best to bring an openline smart phone and buy a SIM card when you get to Madagascar. It's also useful to have a powerbank. Most hotels now also have Wi-Fi.

You can also easily buy a SIM card from anyone of the cell phone companies and get a data plan. The process is fairly easy compared to other countries and SIM cards can be bought directly in the airport with the whole activation and buying process being done in less than 10 minutes. As of December 2018, a 12GB data plan good for 30 days is 75 000 Ar.

Do not expect a data connection everywhere on the island, but when you do have data connection, the fast 4G network is fairly impressive. Telma sell their SIM cards for 500 Ar. Orange sell their SIM card for 2000 Ar.

A stamp for a postcard to anywhere in Europe costs 1100 Ar.

title: Madagascar


text:
Madain Saleh

Madain Saleh (مدائن صالح, also Medain Saleh, Meda'in Saleh or Hegra) is a large archaeological site in Hejaz, Saudi Arabia.

Understand
A Nabataean city hewed out of rock in the same style as Jordan's far more famous Petra, Madain Saleh has been a since 2008, and would be a top tourist draw in any other country than Saudi Arabia. With the introduction of tourist visas by the Saudi government in 2019, it has now become easier for foreigners to visit.

Get in
Entry to the actual archeological sites of Madain Saleh is only possible by participating on an official tour organized by the official government tour agency Experience Al Ula. Tickets can either be bought online in advance on their website, or by visiting their official ticket office in the Winter Park Visitor Center, a public park and parking lot about 5 km north of the Old Town of Al Ula. The Winter Park Visitor Center is also the meeting point and departure point of all tours going to all important sightseeing sites, including Madain Saleh.

Visitors are then being put into a tour group and headed by bus to the Madain Saleh Visitor Center, the actual entrance of Madain Saleh, about a 16-km bus ride north of the Winter Park.

The regular guided Day Tour to Madain Saleh (SR 95 per person) usually takes about 3 hours, and includes the most important archeological sites such as Al Diwan, the Tombs of Jabal AlBanat, the al-Khuraymat Tombs and the iconic Tomb of Lihyan, Son of Kuza.

While the quality of the English-speaking guide and their knowledge meets high standards, it's important to note that the regular Hegra Day Tour may appear a bit rushed to visitors. This is specifically relevant to visitors who want to take their time for pictures or to explore the individual tombs. Alternatively there are other tours customized to inidividual visitors such as the Hegra Vintage Land Rover Tour or Hegra Night Tour.

By plane
The nearest airports are Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdul Aziz Domestic Airport in Al-Ula (50 km) and Medina (300 km, and yes, the city is open to non-Muslims).

By car
The nearest town of any size is Al-Ula (or Al-Oula), 22 km away from Madain Saleh. Saptco runs direct buses to Al-Ula from major towns including Jeddah (8 hr) and Riyadh (13½ hr).

Get around
If you are staying at one of the fancy hotels, you will most likely get arranged a transport to the Winter Park Visitor Center and to all the other relevant locations in the region.

If you are travelling independently, it's highly recommended to get around by rental car. Most of the sites, including the Winter Park Visitor Center, have large parking lots and are designed for individual car drivers in mind as well.

There is also a free golf cart shuttle service operating between the Northern and Southern Parking Lot of the Old Town of Al-Ula. Just hop on one of these golf carts driven by friendly ladies and they will be bring you there within about 3 minutes.

See

Eat
Most of the upper-class hotels in the region have their own exquisite inhouse restaurants. Alternatively you can also look for rather tourist-oriented (and accordingly expensive) restaurants and cafés in the Old Town of Al-Ula.

If you have your own means of transport or if you are staying there in the first place, you could visit the more local and cheaper restaurants in the New Town of Al-Ula (2 km south of the Old Town), where all the regular locals go eat. There is a wide selection of Western-style fast food, Arabian-style rice dishes, Shawarma and Kebab, Yemeni cuisine and other restaurants.

Sleep
Staying overnight at Madain Saleh is not allowed, so most visitors sleep in the vicinity of the Old Town of Al-Ula or in one of the resorts scattered around. Prices for accommodations in this part are being considered very high (also for Saudi Arabian standards), and there is almost no selection of budget hotels.

Budget
If you plan to sleep in your own car, caravan or camping equipment, the staff at the Winter Park Visitor Center recommends spending the night in front of the iconic Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil),

Stay safe
Al-Ula/Madain Saleh is as safe as the rest of Saudi Arabia. However, three French nationals were killed in the area in 2007, presumably by terrorists. Since then the region is considered safe though, and annually the inflow of tourists is increasing dramatically.

Go next

 * Khaybar — around 217 km south-east of Al-Ula, is a ruined ancient city with a fortress on a hill, overlooking a surreal volcanic terrain. It is being developed as a tourist day tour spot, and cannot be visited independently. There are day tours planned departing from Al-Ula.
 * Train Wreck at Hadiyyah Fort / Hejaz Railway — around 170 km south-east of Al-Ula, is an impressive ruined train station with a derailed steam locomotive train from the First World War. It is fenced off tightly and not accessible by foot, most likely being developed as a tourist day tour spot.
 * Jubbah — about a 445-km car ride north-east of Al-Ula, is famous for its ancient petroglyphs and rock carvings. It can also be reached as day trip from the more accessible city Hail.
 * Medina — about a 330-km car ride south-east of Al-Ula, is commonly referred to as the "cradle of Islamic culture and civilisation". It is Islam's second holiest city. Non-Muslims are allowed to visit the city, with exception of entry to the Great Prophet's Mosque.
 * Yanbu — about a 360-km car ride south of Al-Ula, is famous for its Red Sea scuba diving options and petrochemical industry.

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

title: Madain Saleh


text:
Madang (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Madang:

Papua New Guinea

 * Madang (province) — a province in Papua New Guinea
 * Madang (town) — a town in Madang (province)

title: Madang (disambiguation)


text:
Madang-Morobe

Madang and Morobe are two provinces of Papua New Guinea, making up for the north eastern part of New Guinea, and is home to some of the highest mountain peaks in the country, and has a large number of volcanoes.

Cities

 * — claims to be the prettiest city in the South Pacific but this should be taken with a pinch of salt; nevertheless it has some fine scuba diving, attractive carvings to buy, a picturesque harbour and good quality accommodation
 * — a pre-war goldrush town. You can still pan for gold. Eight river dredges used for prospecting were abandoned and some can still be seen. Now a major forestry center.
 * — Papua New Guinea's second city and main economic hub; beginning of the Highlands Highway
 * — another goldrush town that was site of important World War II battle in 1943; home of the Wau Ecology Institute and beginning of the Black Cat Trail to Salamaua

Understand

Madang has a good range of things to do and see and is arguably PNG's main tourism destination. The province has a population of over 365,000. It has mountain ranges interrupted by river valleys and fertile plains. There is a dry season from May to September but the wet season is not oppressive. On the coast temperatures go up to 35 °C but in the mountains it is much cooler.

Mt Wilhelm, the highest mountain in the country, lies at the border of Madang and Chimbu provinces. Mountain ranges run through the province, with waterfalls cascading hundreds of metres. Despite logging and agriculture (sugar, livestock, cocoa and copra) there is still much pristine rainforest. The major river is the Ramu, which is navigable by dugout or motorised canoe. The RamuNico nickel mine has attracted considerable controversy with its plans to dump large quantities of tailings in the sea.

The coastline of Madang is volcanically active. Manam Island has been erupting from 2004 to 2020. The crater of the imposing Karkar Island can be visited. Numerous species of bird, including birds of paradise, are found in Madang. The province also has huge butterflies. Madang plays host to many different tribes and up to 200 different dialects are spoken.

Morobe
Huon Gulf is the area on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea occupied by Morobe Province, which has a population of close to 600,000. The province, which is drained by the Markham River, has 171 languages. Tok Pisin (pidgin) is the lingua franca. The province gets much of its income from the importance of Lae as a port that exports produce from the Highlands, but the Markham Valley in the province is also an important agricultural area. Oil exploration and mining are growing in importance and there is a timber industry in the Bulolo area.

Huon Gulf offers spectacular scenery, accessible diving spots, and a range of climates from sub-alpine and alpine to tropical. The Province's jungles and forests offer over 1,000 species of birds and mammals, including the Raggiana Bird of Paradise, the Cassowary, a flightless emu-like bird, and the tree-kangaroo. Over 15,000 species of plant have been identified and there may be many more.

The Province has many battlefield relics from World War II, with submerged shipwrecks, aircraft and artillery. It receives many visitors from Japan.

Madang
There are coastal roads running north and south of Madang but the only road that provides access with the rest of the country is the Ramu Highway which links up with the Highlands Highway connecting Lae with Goroka.

 * Air Niugini has daily flights to Madang from the capital Port Moresby, as well as flights from several other centers in PNG.
 * PNG Air has flights from Mt. Hagen and Wewak.

Morobe

 * Air Niugini has several daily flights to Lae from the capital Port Moresby, as well as flights from several other centers in PNG.
 * PNG Air has flights from Port Moresby, Mt. Hagen and Goroka to Lae and three-weekly flights from Port Moresby to Bulolo.

Lae can be reached from the PNG Highlands by the Highlands Highway. There are no coastal roads but Lae can also be reached from Madang by taking the Ramu Highway that follows the Ramu River and connects with the Highlands Highway to follow the Markham River down to Lae.

Morobe
Apart from the Highlands Highway, road connections are limited in Morobe, with the exception of a road that branches off the Highlands Highway to the left to go up to Wau and Bulolo. The road is good from Lae to Nadzab airport. Public Motor Vehicles ply the Highlands Highway and the Wau-Bulolo road and are a relatively inexpensive, although not particularly safe, form of transport.

Madang

 * Ohu Butterfly Conservation Project. 45 minutes inland from Madang. You can wander freely through the Conservation Area. It has been planted with flowering shrubs to attract butterflies and encourage them to reproduce. There is also good birdwatching and impressive waterfalls. One guest bungalow is available for visitors.
 * Balek Wildlife Sanctuary. This is 20 min along the Ramu Highway from Madang city. Apart from its wildlife, it is famous as a location for the film Robinson Crusoe. It is centered around a sulphur spring that bubbles out of a cave in a limestone escarpment and is a nesting or breeding ground for a wide variety of birds, animals, eels and fish. There is tropical rainforest as well as local plants and flowers.
 * Kar Kar Island. 30 km off the coast and 60 km NNE of Madang this is an impressive oval-shaped volcanic island with a population of around 50,000. The volcano is still active and the latest eruptions occurred in 1978. It has two nested calderas and the inner one still smokes. The cone can be visited. Although not a tourist destination the island reportedly has spectacular diving and attracts dive trips from Madang. The only commercial accommodation, Kar Kar Island Hideaway, has two bungalows on the beach in the middle of a working plantation. Phone: 853 7481; Fax: 853 7473.
 * Manam Island. 200 km NW of Madang, this island was evacuated after volcanic eruptions in 2004. The eruptions have continued up to 2020, but the people have now returned.

Morobe

 * The Huon Tree Kangaroo. The Huon Peninsula (nicknamed by geologists as the champagne cork because of the rate of growth of its mountains) is home to one of PNG's seven species of tree kangaroo. Also known as the Matschie's Tree Kangaroo, some can be seen in the Rainforest Habitat in Lae. To see them in the wild will require a hike to 2000 m. In 2009 the YUS Conservation Area was established to protect the habitat of the kangaroo in the northern part of the Huon Peninsula. YUS includes three rivers, Yopno, Uruwa and Som, after which it was named.

 * Salamaua. — coastal area 35 km south of Lae, involving a one-hour boat trip, that has been popular with expats since before World War II, when it was a thriving port. Beautiful spot just waiting for someone to build a hotel. Right now there is just a small guest house, the Salamaua Haus Kibung. The bay has tropical reefs, and several wrecks from World War II close to the coastline, which make for excellent diving.

Madang

 * Diving. An undiscovered area as far as diving is concerned. Between May and November visibility is usually very good. In Hansa Bay there are wrecks of 35 Japanese ships, some in quite shallow water.
 * Village Stays There are several villages near Madang that have guesthouses. Hobe Village and Haya Village offer 25 Kina/night stays. Contact the Madang Visitor and Cultural Bureau for more information. For Hobe Village, which is a 30 -minute minibus ride from Madang, contact Joel Laleg 7692-4039 or Rassol Laleg 7271-7987. A village stay includes birdwatching and Japanese hideouts from World War II.

Morobe

 * The Black Cat Trail. This goes from Wau to Salamaua. It was used before World War II during the goldrush and during the war some of the bloodiest battles were fought along it. The scars of the war remain and live mortars, munitions, plane wrecks, and huge bomb craters can be seen. The trek should take four to five days. It is tough 8-9 hours walk each day, with hospitality in villages that have little other contact with the outside world. There is an abundance of wildlife and magnificent flora and fauna. The trail is almost always followed from Wau to Salamaua, allowing you to reach Salamaua on the last day with a recuperative rafting trip down the Francisco River. Treks are organized by PNG Trekking.
 * The Bulldog Trail. Although this trail is rich in history it is only now being commercially developed and the villagers along the trail have had little exposure to trekkers to date. Following their defeats at Buna and Kokoda, Japanese forces fell back to Lae. They then ventured south towards Wau, looking for another route to Port Moresby. There was fierce fighting between Lae and Wau with Australian troops being supplied by porters carrying food and munitions to Wau from Port Moresby along the Bulldog Trail. This trek is for experts only and can be organized by PNG Trekking.

title: Madang-Morobe


text:
Madang

Madang is a town in Madang Province on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. In 2013 it had a population of almost 30,000. The town is said to be one of the prettiest towns in the South Pacific. It is a pleasant and laid back town and likely the best place to begin your PNG visit. PMVs can get you to the highlands on a spectacular bit of highway and ferries can get you to Wewak.

Get in
National airlines fly in and out of Madang on a regular schedule, including jet aircraft. There are many flying fox colonies in the town and the airport closes at 5PM to avoid plane collisions with them at dusk.
 * Air Niugini has daily flights from the capital Port Moresby, as well as flights from several other centres in PNG.
 * PNG Air has flights from Mt. Hagen and Wewak.

By road, Madang can be reached from Lae, PNG's second city and from all the major Highlands centers.

 * Boat Slow boat from Wewak or other destinations.

Get around
Many "buses" (typically minivans or trucks where you sit in the back on a bench) connect to nearby towns. You can catch them at the central bus station near the market. Each vehicle has a number to indicate its destination. You can also flag down any passing vehicle with the right number. Vehicles are typically crowded. Passengers will be intrigued and interested if you join them this way if you're obviously visiting.

There are many boats visiting its port, so there are likely options for water travel also.

It is almost impossible to get around Madang township after 6PM. There are no taxis, and it is not advisable to walk around the town after dark. If you need to be somewhere else for dinner or drinks (apart from your hotel), make sure you pre-arrange a driver to take you there and pick you up. Therefore, plan to spend most evenings at your hotel or resort for dinner and drinks.

See
For information when you arrive: Madang Visitor and Cultural Bureau, 852-3302.

Many visitors come to Madang for the fine Scuba diving available in nearby waters. Others to see a pretty, small, relatively safe PNG town that is a wonderful place to walk around and explore. The shoreline around the town has many small sandy swimming spots with grass, large trees and shade.

It is a great town to relax and recuperate. Large stores have most amenities the traveller will need, as well as a lot of local items that are interesting to see and try. Local residents are curious but reserved around travelers, but are usually friendly and helpful when approached.
 * Coastwatchers Memorial. This is a working lighthouse on Madang Harbor. The coastwatchers were people, mainly Australian, who stayed in New Guinea after the Japanese invasion and, together with local helpers, reported on the movements of Japanese ships and planes, at great personal risk.

Do
In the center of Madang is a busy local market. People come daily from the PNG Highlands with produce to sell and load up with goods to take back with them at the end of the day. A wide variety of fruits and vegetables are available.

Outside of Madang are many small villages. Many of these offer tours and will show you local customs and their way of life. The people are extremely friendly and a tour is highly recommended. Any of the hotels in town can organise this for you for approx US$25/person for an afternoon including all transport.

Krangket Island is a short boat trip from Madang with boats leaving every half hour from the small boat terminal. The trip takes 5 mins and costs 2 kina. Two picturesque villages are located on the island with nice hedges and gardens. There are no roads on Krangket. Accommodation is also available on the island (Krangket Lodge) for 80 kina per night.

North Coast There is an old WWII Japanese airfield which is now pretty much completely covered by Jungle. There is a lot of old plane wreckage and bomb craters still scattered around the place, including a large reasonably well-preserved Mitsubishi 'Betty' Bomber.

Also on the north coast are some very pretty little missionary stations, most with beautiful views and also a lot of World War II history. A tour is recommended. The cost is around US$40 for half a day out of the Madang Resort.

Village Stays There are several villages near Madang that have guesthouses. Hobe Village and Haya Village offer 25 Kina/night stays. Contact the Madang Visitor and Cultural Bureau, 852-3302 for more information. For Hobe Village, which is a 30 minute minibus ride from Madang, contact Joel Laleg 7692-4039 or Rassol Laleg 7271-7987. A village stay includes birdwatching and Japanese hideouts from World War II.

Buy
There isn't a lot to buy that you can take home with you. At least not typical tourist trinkets. In the villages they will offer you pottery to buy or local crafts.

There is a local market open everyday except Sunday, but this sells mainly fruits and vegetables. Some people sell a few bags, necklaces, t-shirts etc.

The Madang Resort and Madang Lodge also have their own onsite craft shops. These are probably the best places in town and are reasonably priced.

Eat
There are not many restaurants outside of the few hotels who serve both guests and people passing by. The golf club serves meals and drinks though its weekday daytime hours can be limited. Some stores sell a limited selection of local 'fast' food. You may be able to find someone to sign you in as a guest to the members-only boat club that is a favorite of local business people and ex-pats.

The usual cautions apply for visitors eating in developing countries. Places catering to tourists are clean, the food is fresh and the water safe to drink. Seafood and produce are plentiful. Fresh coconuts are easy to buy and provide a refreshing drink. Ask someone for help, and they'll quickly brandish a large knife seemingly from nowhere and expertly cut it open.

Sleep

 * Krangket Lodge is located on the opposite side of Krangket island to the boat drop off and takes around half an hour to walk (ask someone in the village to show you the way). The 'lodge' is actually two bungalows situated away from the villages on the corner of the island. Each bungalow has three single beds. They are a pretty basic set up, however, do have water, electricity, cooking gas, cutlery, plates, and cooking utensils. No food is available on the island so you need to bring it in from Madang. The bungalows have their own small private beach and look back towards Jais Arben and the mountains beyond. An experience.
 * Krangket Lodge is located on the opposite side of Krangket island to the boat drop off and takes around half an hour to walk (ask someone in the village to show you the way). The 'lodge' is actually two bungalows situated away from the villages on the corner of the island. Each bungalow has three single beds. They are a pretty basic set up, however, do have water, electricity, cooking gas, cutlery, plates, and cooking utensils. No food is available on the island so you need to bring it in from Madang. The bungalows have their own small private beach and look back towards Jais Arben and the mountains beyond. An experience.

title: Madang


text:
Madawaska (Maine)

Madawaska is a small town along the United States - Canadian border in Maine. This article also covers the nearby town of Grand Isle.

By plane

 * Northeastern Maine Airport in Presque Isle is the nearest commercial airport to Madawaska, with service to Newark.
 * Northeastern Maine Airport in Presque Isle is the nearest commercial airport to Madawaska, with service to Newark.

By car
Take the U.S. Highway 1 in northern Maine.

It is across the river, with international border crossing, from Edmundston, New Brunswick.

title: Madawaska (Maine)


text:
Maddalena archipelago

The Maddalena archipelago (Italian: arcipelago di La Maddalena or arcipelago della Maddalena) is a group of islands in the Straits of Bonifacio between Corsica (France) and north-eastern Sardinia (Italy) next to the shores of the famous Costa Smeralda.

Understand
The largest island is Isola Maddalena, on which sits the archipelago's largest if only town, La Maddalena . The other six islands, in order of size, are: Caprera, Spargi, Santo Stefano, Santa Maria, Budelli and Razzoli. The islands of Maddalena and Caprera are connected by a bridge. Only Maddalena, Caprera and S. Stefano are inhabited.

It is a popular tourist destination especially among boaters. In 2006 it was placed on the tentative list for consideration as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The archipelago's territory is a designated national park, the Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena (see also at the parks.it). Permits issued by its managing body to enter protected zones of the park and exercise various recreational activities, like sailing, sport fishing, scuba diving, etc. (check for the visitor's information).

History
The archipelago have a strategic value and were the object of a dispute between the maritime republics of Pisa and Genoa in the 13th century and subsequently were abandoned for a long period before being colonised again by Corsican shepherds and by Sardinian settlements in the 18th century. Napoleon Bonaparte, Admiral Nelson and Giuseppe Garibaldi all have historical links with the area.

Santo Stefano still hosts a NATO naval base, but U.S. ships left in 2008.

Landscape

A product of India slamming in to Asia and Europe millions of years ago, these islands are mainly jagged rock that form steep cliffs and high peaks with amazing views all around.

The island of Budelli is particularly renowned for its Spiaggia Rosa (Cala di Roto) with pink sand which were featured in the film Il deserto rosso (Red Desert) by Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni. Tourists used to bottle up the sand and over years it began to disappear, so the local government marked it off limits, only to be seen from a boat.

Climate
Windy relatively cold winters, amazing autumns and springs, hot summers.

By boat
Frequent ferries by Delcomar and Maddalena Lines (in season up to every half an hour) connect the town of La Maddalena with the port of Palau in Sardinia. The ride lasts about 15 minutes.

By bus
Two bus lines run around the islands of La Maddalena and Caprera, which are linked to each other by a bridge.

By scooter
Several shops on the harbour front will rent bikes and scooters to passing tourists. Among them, Mega motors (via Amendola 2, every day from 09:00 to 19:00) is run by two friendly sisters and offers bikes (€15/day) or scooters (€25-60/day depending on power and time of year). Discounts start at the second day of rental and prices drop strongly between high (July–August) and low seasons.

La Maddalena island
La Maddalena is a small charming town.

Caprera island
The island known for being the final resting place of the Hero of Two Worlds Giuseppe Garibaldi, who built there his famous Casa bianca (White House) during his last years in exile. Today the house is a museum and open to the public.

Do

There are many beautiful beaches and coves, the best ones being usually off-road and only accessible via unpaved trails. The closest one to the village is that of Tege, about 2 km west of town.

The best beaches are usually on La Caprera (cala Coticcio, Testa di Polpo) and will require a 5–10 minutes easy hike to reach. On Maddalena, Trinita is definitely worth a look.

Buy
There is a Dettori supermarket next to the Admiralty, on via Principe Amedeo.

Eat
It worth trying a su zimminu (aka zuppa alla maddalenina) -- a spicy seafood soup, a roasted wild rabbit, fainé pancakes made of chickpea flour, sebadas—a roasted pastry (close to ravioli) with sweet melted cheese and lemon peel.

 * Il Ghiottone is a tiny restaurant on the harbour with a set menu that consists of the day's catch. With ten tables only, it is best to book in the morning and see what will be on offer.

Drink
Club Natica, Re Artu, and Bar 54.

Lodging
On the south-western side of the island there is a small gulf (a "cala" in Italian) named "Cala Francese". This once was a French granite mining site, this granite has been used for making, among other things, the base of the Statue of Liberty in New York City. You can find a residence, run by a local family, near the now closed mine: Cala Francese Residence.

Camping
The island has two campsites. La Villagio di Camping Maddalena, which is in walking distance of Maddalena the town, has facilities for tents and caravans, and has a bar, a restaurant with an excellent pizza oven and grill, and a mini-market. The other camping village is further to the north of the island.

Stay safe
The island is very safe, and theft is not a serious concern.

Go next
Unless you have a private boat, take a ferry back to Palau.

title: Maddalena archipelago


text:
Madeira

Madeira is a sub-tropical archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and is an autonomous region of Portugal. The archipelago is made up of two populated islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, and two groups of unpopulated islands called the Desertas and Selvagens Islands. Geographically in Africa, it is an ultra-peripheral region of the European Union. It is perhaps best known as the birthplace of the Portuguese football (soccer) player Cristiano Ronaldo.

Known worldwide as the Islands of eternal spring, Madeira, "Ilha Jardim" (Garden Island) or "Pearl of the Atlantic", has a mild climate throughout the entire year.

Madeira is 500 km from the African coast and 1,000 km from the European continent, a 1½-hr flight from mainland Portugal and about 4 hours from central Europe.

Cities

 * – Island capital and largest city in Madeira, home to tourist resorts, gorgeous panoramas, and local color.
 * — town, home to one of the only working sugarcane mills / rum distilleries on Madeira.
 * — The "chamber of the sea lions" is a town near Funchal.
 * — second biggest city on Madeira. Includes:
 * — beach village in the northeastern corner of the island
 * — a separate island to the northeast
 * — town
 * — city and home of the Madeira airport
 * — town, home to its colorful historic thatched houses
 * — city and home of the Madeira airport
 * — town, home to its colorful historic thatched houses

Other destinations

 * — The "Wild Islands", part of the Madeira autonomous region, make up an archipelago near Spain's Canary Islands. The islands are a natural reserve populated only by scientists, and normally off limits for visitors.

Understand

The Madeira (muh-DAY-ruh, /mɐ.ˈdɐj.ɾɐ/) Islands are just a short trip from Europe (more or less 4 hours from UK), to a destination where you can combine holidays by the sea, in the mountains or in the city.

Discovered early in the 15th century by the Portuguese navigators João Gonçalves Zarco, Tristão Vaz Teixeira and Bartolomeu Perestrelo, Madeira was an important waypoint on the Cape Route, and is today an autonomous region of Portugal.

Madeira is a popular destination for tourists of all ages. Its constant mild climate – temperatures – keeps the spring on Madeira all year round. The levadas, an ingenious system of stone- and concrete-lined watercourses distributing water from the rainy north to the dry south, help flowers and crops flourish all year. That's why this island is called the Garden in the Atlantic. The maintenance pathways for these water canals provide wonderful level trails for hiking in the mountains—up to —and through the tremendous landscape.

Get in
Madeira has the same immigration laws as the rest of Portugal, and is therefore part of the Schengen Area.

By plane

If you drive to or from the airport by (rental) car, ask for directions to the parking area you need; there are seven, and they are badly signposted. Note that some smaller rental companies operate from sites near but not at the airport, and provide transport between terminal and depot.

By boat
There are no ferries from any mainland, the only way to transport cargo is by booking containers.
 * Cruise ships port here.

By bus
Bus timetables are very confusing as they do not include clear route details. Pay special attention to any footnotes for your route listed on the schedule, as holidays or school days can change the presence of the route.

Tickets can be bought from the driver, who can provide change. For extra-urban buses, fare varies by distance traveled so tell the driver your destination and he'll give you a transfer if necessary. If you'll be taking the bus often, multi-day bus passes are available from most bus companies, but they are limited to one operator, so only useful if you'll by staying in the same general part of Madeira.

There are three bus companies on Madeira.

 * Within the city of Funchal, Horarios do Funchal (yellow buses) operates lines no 20/21 Funchal - Monte, line no 29 Funchal - Camacha, no 56 Funchal - Santana (via Ribeiro Frio), no 77 Funchal - Santo Antonio da Serra (via Camacha and Sitio Quarto Estradas), no 81 Funchal - Curral de Freiras and no 103 (Funchal - Arco de Sao Jorge (via Faial, Santana and Sao Horge).
 * Connecting the west side of Madeira, Rodoeste (grey/white with red stripe) operates lines no 3 Funchal - Estreito de Camara de Lobos, no 6 Funchal - Arco de Sao Jorge (via Encumeada), no 7 Funchal - Ribeira Brava, no 80 Funchal - Porto Montiz (via Calheta and Prazeres), no 96 Funchal - Jadrim da Serra (Corticeirias), no 139 Funchal - Porto Moniz, no 142 Funchal - Ponta da Pago (via Prazeres) and no 148 Funchal - Boa Morte.
 * Connecting the east side of Madeira, S.A.M. (green or white buses) operates lines no 23 Funchal - Machico (Espressbus), no 53 Funchal - Faial (via Airport), no 113 Funchal - Canical (via Airport) and no 156 Funchal - Marocos (via Machico, changes bus at Machico).

All Rodoeste and S.A.M. buses converge in the center of Funchal.

By taxi
Lots of taxis are available in Madeira offering all sights and locations in a round trip for fixed prices.

By boat

 * There is a car ferry between the main island and the island Porto Santo in the north-east of Madeira, two hours one way, about €25 for an adult per journey: Ferry Service Funchal-Porto Santo

By car
Driving in Madeira is not for the faint-hearted. A few main routes marked "Via Expresso" or "Via Rapida" (VE and VR on maps) are well-maintained, reasonably straight and level, thanks to a large number of tunnels, bridges and viaducts. All other roads are narrow and often steep. If a member of your group really enjoys the challenge of driving up ceaseless-seeming hairpin bends up mountains against oncoming traffic and usually with a sheer cliff face on one (or both) sides, then you may wish to consider hiring a car. Otherwise, it is best not to attempt driving on most of the island and instead to use buses and taxis. Of course a holiday based on public transport is less flexible, but for a driver with less than 100% confidence many of the roads are tiring, stressful and even dangerous. No one should feel ashamed relying on the local bus, taxi and tour drivers (who after all are much better used to this kind of road). If you do decide to drive, then renting via the Internet is usually cheaper than walking-in. Free parking space in Funchal is severely limited: those marked with an M are only for residents, so you have to pay for parking garages.

By tour
Some of the popular hikes, like Pico Ruivo, Levada das 25 Fontes and Levada do Caldeirão Verde are not reachable by public transport, but served by various tour companies, although that often includes a guide for the walk, adding to the cost of transport. Apart from being safer than self-driving, this might still turn out cheaper than car rental, at least for solo travellers. The company Picotransfers offers transport only tours at about €30 per destination, mostly for the Pico Ruivo hike in non-pandemic times. This comes with the added benefit of allowing a one-way hike from Pico do Arieiro via Pico Ruivo to Achada do Teixeira, as they can drop you off in one place and pick up in the other, as opposed to you with your rental car, where you have to walk the same way back to the parking spot.

Talk
English is as common as in mainland Portugal, although people will always appreciate it if you try and learn a few words of Portuguese. Note that the Portuguese spoken in Madeira tends to be heavily accented.

See

 * Levadas An impressive system of aquaducts built between 1461 and 1966 to bring water from the mountains to farmland.
 * and The second and third highest peaks in Portugal.
 * — One of the world's highest ocean cliffs, in Câmara de Lobos.
 * Jardim Orquídea Orchid garden.
 * Fireworks on New Year's Eve The biggest fireworks in the world (Guinness world record 2007). Best places to see the fireworks include the tip of the marina of Funchal, on a cruise ship and Pico dos Barcelos (on the side where you can see the Funchal's marina).
 * Miradouro means viewpoint. Splendid views of the island can be seen from various viewpoints, including, Pico do Arieiro, , , Monte.
 * Madeira Skywalk - The Skywalk is a 2-minute walk from Village Cabo Girão.
 * Miradouro means viewpoint. Splendid views of the island can be seen from various viewpoints, including, Pico do Arieiro, , , Monte.
 * Madeira Skywalk - The Skywalk is a 2-minute walk from Village Cabo Girão.
 * Madeira Skywalk - The Skywalk is a 2-minute walk from Village Cabo Girão.

Do

 * Hiking to Pico Ruivo from Pico do Arieiro (2½ hr) or Achada do Teixeira (1 hr). You can reach both starting points by car, but a public bus could only bring you up to 4 mi downhill from Pico do Arieiro. After hiking up to Pico do Arieiro along the road you might not have enough energy or time left for the moderate to difficult 5-hr round trip hike to Pico Ruivo and back, but the first hour on the trail offers the best views anyway. If you must get to Pico Ruivo and don't have a car, consider a group tour or transfer. Be flexible with the date, as the weather on the mountain can be dangerous.
 * Surfing The Atlantic offers waves for moderate to experienced surfers. Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar are the most popular surfing places.
 * Canyoning in Madeira is great for beginners and pro's alike. Abseiling down high waterfalls and jumping into crystal clear pools of fresh water is something you shouldn't miss.
 * Whale and dolphin watching. Various companies offer daily boat tours starting at €30-40, bookable online or from touts at the harbour, often with guaranteed sighting, meaning a free second trip in the rare event that the first one was unsuccessful.
 * Water activities, including fishing, sailing, snorkelling, scuba diving.
 * Nature activities, including birdwatching and horse riding.

Work
Madeira is famous recently among digital nomads, especially in cities like Ponta do Sol.

Buy

 * Madeira wine, of course. Available in many varieties in all supermarkets and specialist shops.

Drink
Madeira wine is a fortified wine prized equally for drinking and cooking. There are four major types of Madeira: Malvasia (also known as Malmsey or Malvazia), Bual (or Boal), Verdelho, and Sercial, the latter two being drier.

Poncha is the most traditional drink of Madeira.

Sleep
See individual city articles for listings. Those below are mostly outside towns.

Stay safe
Emergency Service telephone number is 112. Some police in Funchal have red armbands, this signifies that they speak another language other than Portuguese, mainly English and German. Crime figures for Madeira are very low.

Connect

 * Internet - In some of the larger towns and cities on Madeira there is public free Wi-Fi Internet access sponsored by the Madeiran government. You'll find a 2-m-tall white and blue board telling you that Wi-Fi is available. There is free access in the airport terminal. Some bars and cafés offer Internet access too.

title: Madeira


text:
Madeira Beach

Madeira Beach is a city in Pinellas County, Florida.

title: Madeira Beach


text:
Madera

Madera is a city in Madera County in California's San Joaquin Valley.

Understand
Madera is often considered the gateway to the Sierras. Boasting a vibrant Latino community, Madera is also home to many factory farms and almond groves.

Climate
Winters have cool weather, but summer temperatures are quite unbearable for most travelers.

Get in
Getting in via a car, Amtrak or Greyhound are your options for getting to Madera.

By road
Take Highway 99 from either North or South until you are halfway between Fresno and Merced (both of which are in the State of California).

By train
Take Amtrak to Madera, but do it in the daylight for your health. That way, you can enjoy a scenic trip through the Delta and beyond, and just when you think you can't go any farther, don't fall asleep, you will have reached Madera.

By foot
It's best not to get around the town on foot: the size of the town makes this impractical, and this is probably not safest, especially at night.

By car
Most drivers in Madera don't have car insurance. This means that, if their car crashes into yours or your car crashes into theirs, they don't have an insurance company that will pay for the damage.

By bicycle
This issue reflects the problems with getting around by foot or car: safety, size of the town, and insurance.

Go next

 * Sacramento — Route 99 North. About 2 hours 15 minutes away.
 * Los Banos — Route 99 North to 152 West. About 55 minutes away.
 * Fresno — Route 99 South. About 10 minutes away.
 * Yosemite National Park — Route 145 East and Route 41 North. About 3 hours away.

title: Madera


text:
Madera County

Madera County is in California. The western half of the county is in the San Joaquin Valley, the eastern half extends across the Gold Country into the Sierra Nevada mountains.

San Joaquin Valley
The following Madera County cities are in the San Joaquin Valley:

Sierra Nevada
The following Madera County cities are in the Sierra Nevada:

 * — a small resort community along the north shore of the Bass Lake reservoir

Understand
Madera County lies at the geographic center of California, and was formed in 1893 from the southern portion of Mariposa County. "Madera" is Spanish for "wood" and is named after the county's first industry, which included a massive log flume built in 1876 by the California Lumber Company and used to move timber many miles from the mountains down to the railroad.

Get in
The primary north-south route through the county is California State Route 99, traversing the eastern side of the Central Valley from just north of the Grapevine up to Sacramento before ending in the northern part of the state near Red Bluff.

Go next

 * - Madera County's western neighbor is located entirely within the San Joaquin Valley. Most travelers will likely just take advantage of the county's hotels and other amenities, but there are a few attractions worth considering.  The Castle Air Museum in Atwater is home to over 50 planes, while the Merced National Wildlife Refuge hosts thousands of waterfowl during winter months, including huge flocks of snow geese and sandhill cranes.
 * - Located north of Madera County, Mariposa was the largest county in California at the time of statehood in 1850, but later ceded land that formed twelve other counties. Today it maintains a relatively small footprint in the Sierra Nevada foothills, but has kept one of the state's treasures: Yosemite National Park, home to impossibly tall granite cliffs, remote alpine wilderness, and an iconic valley.
 * - Madera County's northern neighbor was one of California's original counties at the time of statehood, and today offers a glimpse into the region's gold mining and logging history, as well as numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation. Portions of Yosemite National Park lie in the county, and with limited parking and lodging inside of the park, the YARTS shuttle system makes the county's towns an option to consider for park visitors.
 * - Located northeast of Madera County, remote and expansive Mono County is a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. It is the eastern gateway to Yosemite National Park, home to the Old West ghost town of Bodie, and Mammoth Lakes is a favorite winter skiing getaway.  The gigantic Mono Lake is perhaps the county's premier attraction, a stopover for millions of migratory birds and thousands of tourists who explore its alkaline waters and bizarre tufa formations.
 * - Madera County's neighbor to the south, sprawling Fresno County is home to Fresno, California's fifth-largest city, and vast agricultural areas. The eastern side of the county is mountainous, featuring the remote wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park, which attracts visitors to its giant sequoias and unspoiled meadows that lie at the crest of the Sierra Nevada range.

title: Madera County


text:
Madesimo

Madesimo is a village in Sondrio (Province) in the Lombardy region of Italy. It was formally known as Isolato. The community of Madesimo is split into 3 frazione: Isola, Montespluga, Pianazzo and Madesimo village.

Get in
The only way to get in is by road on the SS36 or Via Spluga which runs all the way from the Swiss border to Lecco on Lake Como from where the SP51 runs to Milan and the nearest airport. Therefore, a car is more or less essential to visit the town.

The Splugen pass is usually closed between November and April. If the pass is closed, Madesimo can only be reached from Chiavenna.

There is a good bus-and-train connection from Milan and Bergamo and from the Milan airports.

There is a "taxi share" scheme that provides a taxi from the airport to the village as well.

By car
The area around the Madesimo area is quite vast and mountainous. In winter time, winter tires and/or snow chains may be required.

Ski
Madesimo is part of the Valchiavenna ski area (1550-2950m) with 58 km/36 mi of slopes. As such, it is one of the smaller ski resorts in the Alps. It is quite popular amongst Italians but less well known in other European countries. In weekends it is usually very busy with locals. However, on weekdays it can be very quiet even during holidays because of the Italian holiday system.

To access the ski area, it is not necessary to drive all the way to Madesimo. You can leave your car in Campodolcino (1000M), from where an underground funicular (Madesimo sky express ) will bring you all the way up to Motta at 1700m. From Motta, you can access the whole ski area.

The parking in Campodolcino is free on weekdays and it is possible to rent skis and buy a ski pass at the valley station of the funicular.

During winter time roads may be entirely blocked with snow, so to reach some of the frazione may require a set of touring or cross country skis.

Do

 * Snowmobiling: As a popular ski resort for both tourists and locals to the area, Madesimo offers various experiences that provide tourists with the opportunity to experience the winter sports of the Alps and one of these options is snow mobiling. One can take advantage of this through the use of Team Extreme: a snow mobiling company local to the Madesimo area. During the last few years more and more people have made a point of becoming part of Team Extreme. In accordance with local laws and regulations, the snow mobile tours are based on safety restrictions and offer families, as well as individuals (Private Tours are available), an enjoyable experience. each trip takes place along prepared tracks which meander along the Andossi ridge linking Madesimo with its neighbour Montespluga.
 * Other than individual outings on snowmobile, there are also possibilities of group excursions along with an escort who will provide all the necessary support. The tracks follow the slopes of valley sides and are suitable even for the inexperienced ‘pilot’. Importantly the sign-posting and well-maintained trails guarantee the safety of all concerned.

Connect

 * Scuole Di Sci: A highly-professional team is on hand to teach either beginners, those who wish to improve technique, or anyone interested in becoming more competitive in snow sports. The school also offers instruction in the most recent of winter sports’ innovations such as snowboarding and ensure that visitors can enjoy the ski areas in Valle Spluga in safely. This team of 60 qualified ski instructors boasts a range of specialities ranging from National Instructors, to coaches, to snowboard specialists, to ex-competitors, as well as those qualified to work with the handicapped. The head-quarters is in the centre of Madesimo and has two further outposts at Motta and a ski school in Arlecchino for younger children.
 * telephone: +39 0343 53049
 * Fax Machine: +39 0343 54155
 * www.scuolascimadesimo.org

 * Autonoleggio taxi Albiniano Carmine: A taxi service that provides tourists with both individual transport as well as minibuses for large, group excursions. Services run from all relevant airports to key destinations within the area.
 * Telephone. +39 0343 50126
 * Cellular Phone. +39 329 2150632 - +39 338 6095975
 * albiniano@virgilio.it

 * Ciocca Giovanni: Local taxi service with a local base. However, other forms of transport are available for personal transport on a national and international scale or cars with up to 8 places plus driver, or with minibuses that range from 9 to 19 seats plus the driver or a large tour bus which has the seating capacity of for 36 people.
 * Telephone: +39 0343 34377
 * Cellular Phone: +39 338 8332068
 * cioccafrancesco@libero.it

 * Nettuno Viaggi Di Giannini Stefano: A locally based taxi service which allows for both local and long-distance travel. This company owns and operates 4 minibuses which seat up to 8 people: an ideal situation for small tour groups.
 * Telephone. +39 0343 53117
 * Cellular Phone. +39 347 6851515
 * Fax Machine: +39 0343 56325
 * info@nettunoservice.com

Go next
At the end of the Via Spluga is the Splugen Pass, which, at 2113m, is quite a feat of road building, taking into account the spectacular hairpin bends on the way. The Swiss-Italian border lies on top of the pass.

title: Madesimo


text:
Madha

Madha is an exclave of Oman that is completely surrounded by the Fujairah emirate of the United Arab Emirates.

Understand
Madha has 2,500 inhabitants. Its borders were only agreed on in 1969 between the UAE and Oman. Though it is 75 km2 in size, people live only in the area called New Madha.

Get in
Madha is almost directly on the coastal road between the Musandam Peninsula and Muscat. Madha has an airport but no scheduled flights from Oman Air.

There are no border controls between Madha and UAE, but bring your passport just in case, and make sure your car insurance covers Oman.

Get around
The main town of Madha is small so you can walking but to explore the enclave including wadis, dams, villages, a waterfall hike, etc, you should have a car.. Otherwise, the main road will allow you to drive through the village in about five minutes.

Eat
Consider bringing a picnic lunch (and plenty of water) with you from Fujairah.

Sleep
Fujairah is the next city that offers accommodation options for travellers.

Connect
Omantel runs a mobile network and UAE providers should work as well.

Go next

 * Sharjah and Fujairah are next door

title: Madha


text:
Madh Island

Madh Island is a group of several fishing villages and farmlands in northern Mumbai. Madh Island barely is nearly a peninsula since as only the small Malad creek, bounded by mangroves, cuts it off from the mainland near Aksa. At low tide, one can almost walk across the beach from Dana Paani beach in Erangal village to Aksa beach.

Get in

 * Bus service (#271 to Malad and #269 to Borivili )
 * Autorickshaw from Malad
 * Ferry service from Versova

Sleep

 * The Retreat
 * The Resort

title: Madh Island


text:
Madhupur

Madhupur is a city in Deoghar district of Jharkhand. It is considered a health resort because the water there is said to cure digestion ailments. Historically, many notable people, particularly from Bengal, owned a house in Madhupur. Amongst them was Sir Asutosh Mookerjee. His younger son, Uma Prasad Mookerjee, the writer famous for his travel books spent time there. Their house Ganga Prasad Bhaban is still there.

By rail
Madhupur is 294 km (via main line) from Howrah. It is on the Howrah-Delhi main line. There is a branch line from Madhupur to Giridih (32 km away). Vidyasagar (Karmatanr), associated with the memory of Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, is 24 km from Madhupur on the main line towards Kolkata. For timings etc. check with Indian Railways.

Get around
Cycle rickshaws and tongas are available for local transport, and you can find a car or taxi easily.

Or you can take a bus from Madhupur bus stand near the Madhupur Railway station and visit nearby places like Sarath, Palojori, Dumka, etc.

See

 * Bahanno Bigha
 * Kapil Math
 * Sonar bungalow, good collection of roses
 * Baba Nayak Dham, Ganjobari
 * Kali temple at Pathrol
 * Kali temple at Fago, 4 km towards south
 * Bakolia jharana (waterfalls).

Do

 * You can visit the 'Madhupur Sadar Bazaar ' near the Railway Station and do some shopping.

Buy
The place is famous for its glorious Loha Shaka Pala (Bangles used in weddings).You can buy the famous Santhal handicrafts, garments, paintings and other handmade ethnic things, Friday cheap at its best. Try to make Friday part of your visit, it is the local 'haat baar' or market day when all the artisans from surrounding villages come and sell their ware. Good picks among them are hand beaten iron gardening equipment, hand beaten kadai wok. One more cute thing is a baby cooking toy kit made of burnt or sun-dried clay. they come in various sizes and complexities complete with a packaging of a closed date leaf basket. Very nice gift except that the kid who you want to impress may not really appreciate it as it fails to compete with today's glinting plastic monster trucks with LED s flashing.

Eat
Famous for Bengali sweets — in particular, chandrakala, kaju barfi and cham cham. The Rabari is supposed to be famous, and many have praised the local Chat, as a must try. Bardhamaan Mishtanno Bhandar is a must if you have a sweet tooth, The chanar moorki or sweet cottage cheese nuggets and kachori sabzee are way out. If you are staying in one of those holiday homes then the mishti walla will visit you in the morning with homemade sweets. You can't miss him he carries a bnaak which is a bamboo shoulder bar with ropes carrying 3 vessels on each side. Most holiday homes are equipped with basic cooking arrangements. Mostly all daily needs will come home like milk vegetables fish chicken etc.

Drink
Famous for its lassi (a drink made with yoghurt curds and sugar). The sattu sharbat is very tasty and healthy, but can only be found during the summer.

Sleep
Holiday homes are normally places of stay where one has to arrange for one's own food. They are generally meant for members only but some of them allow others to stay on payment when vacancies are available. Non-employees of the organisation can check if places are available.

There are various guest houses costing between ₹100 and ₹300, including Rajbari Rest House, Munu Guest House, Balaji Guest House, Moonlight Guest House, Apsara Guest House, Hotel Embassy, Agrasen Bhawan, Rai Hotel and Burdawan Guest House.

Go next

 * Bokulia springs, 8 km away, is a popular picnic spot.
 * Deoghar is 57 km from Madhupur.
 * Shimultala is 54 km from Madhupur.

title: Madhupur


text:
Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh (MP, Hindi: मध्य प्रदेश Madhya Pradeś) is a state in the plains of India. The name "Madhya Pradesh" means "central region", and  derives from its geographical position. It is one of the few states of India that is completely surrounded by other states, having neither a border with another country nor a coastline. To its north is Uttar Pradesh. To its west lie Rajasthan and Gujarat, to its south is Maharashtra and to its east is Chhattisgarh, a state that used to be a part of MP till 2000.

MP has been rather neglected as a travel destination, but in reality, it has a rich feast for those who seek prehistoric paintings, historic forts, religious erotica, or tribal culture. On the flip side, the tourist infrastructure is not very well-developed.

Cities
Here are nine of the most notable cities.
 * — the state capital

 * — home to the Marble Rocks, about which many have rhapsodised

 * — a city that is rich in history

 * — an historic city famous for the Gwalior Fort

 * — the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh

 * — ancient city in on the shores of the holy river Narmada and the tributary plains of the Hiran, Gour, Ken and Sone rivers

 * — a university city with a number of forts, temples, lakes and waterfalls

 * — a small town, home to the Sharda Mata temple (at Maihar) and peaceful surroundings

 * — city of Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple (Jyotirlinga) with many temples to visit

Other destinations

 * — among the best national parks of India where Asian tigers can be easily viewed

 * — a UNESCO World Heritage site noted for its cave paintings

 * — beautiful and well managed park containing a good number of wildlife species

 * — has forested hills and grasslands around Chandpatha (an artificial lake) that is home for a variety of deer, leopard and sloth bear. It provides a winter home for many migratory birds. Within the park stands the George Castle.

 * — this park boasts fossilized plants 40-150 million years old as well as scattered fossilized molluscs

 * — a national park and tiger reserve

 * — has various species of animals such as deer, wild gaurs and monkeys with infrequent sightings of tigers and lions

 * — part of the Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve, is a forested habitat for the tiger, leopard, porcupine and a large diversity of birds

 * — in the rugged terrain of the Satpura hills, this park habitat for a large diversity of animals.

Understand
Madhya Pradesh is the central part of India. Madhya Pradesh originally became a state on 1 November 1965. In 2000, the southeast portion of Madhya Pradesh was split off and became the state of Chhattisgarh. For the entirety of its history, the capital has been Bhopal. Madhya Pradesh has four other major cities in addition to Bhopal which are Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Ujjain. It is divided into many divisions, fifty districts and two hundred blocks. Before Madhya Pradesh was divided, the population was 60,385,118 (India census 2001). The geographical area is 4,434,459 km.

In ancient times Vairisimha II was the king and the capital was Ujjain. When King Bhoj became king he moved the capital to Dhar. During the independence war, Fort Dhar played an important part in the fight for freedom and produced many freedom fighters. Many tribes played an important role like the Bhils, Rajpurohit and Rajput.

Madhya Pradesh has many large tribes and castes. Tribal groups inhabit the Vindhya mountain range areas of the state. Probably the best-known local clan are the Rajputs, the traditional landlords in the area.

Madhya Pradesh, also called Green Malaw, is the breadbasket of India. Eighty percent of the population depends on agriculture. Wheat, corn, peas, grain, cotton and soybeans are the most important crops. Many dense forests are important resources of timber, providing bamboo, teak and sal. The state is also full of natural resources, including coal, iron and diamonds. The state is also well known for its handicrafts.

Talk
Hindi is the main language used. English knowledge can sometimes be found inside the cities. Do not expect anyone to speak English outside the main cities.

By plane
The main airports in Madhya Pradesh are:
 * — an international airport in Indore.
 * — a seasonal international airport in Bhopal.
 * — a domestic airport and an Indian Air Force base in Gwalior.
 * — a domestic airport serving Khajuraho and Chhatarpur.

By train
There are many ways to get into Madhya Pradesh by train. Of the hundreds of railway stations in Madhya Pradesh, some of the main are as follows:

See

 * Bandhavgarh National Park - Madhya Pradesh has the highest density of tigers in the world, and it's one of few places where you are almost certain of seeing a tiger in its natural habitat.
 * Khajuraho - Khajuraho is world-famous for its erotic Tantric temple complexes.
 * Satlok Ashram -There are 2 Satlok Ashrams in Madhya Pradesh. Satlok Ashram Indore (M.P) ,Satlok Aashram Betul

 * Gwalior Fort

Buy
Madhya Pradesh is known for its handicraft and clothing tradition, which include producing the famous Chanderi and Maheshwari handloom saris. Visitors can shop for these traditional textiles in local markets throughout the state, though the best places to shop for them are in the towns of Chanderi and Maheshwar respectively.

Eat

As elsewhere in Central India, you can have the delicacies of regional cuisines from all over India in Madhya Pradesh. Besides, local Central Indian cuisine (Malwi food) is delicious: local Poha, and Daal Baflae of certain places such as Ujjain Indore and Ratlam are delicious.
 * Ratlam is famous place for Namkeen Sev.
 * The street food of Indore is renowned, with shops that have been active for generations, famous for Butta Kees and even Sabudana Khichdi available around the clock. Do visit the Sarafa Bazar and Chappan Dukkan for the local delicacies available in the city and don't forget to enjoy the usal pohwa and pure desi ghee jalebies.
 * Bhopal is known for meat and fish dishes, such as rogan josh, korma, keema, biryani, pilaf, and kebabs. There is street named "Chatori Gali" in old Bhopal where one can find traditional Muslim non-veg fare such as Paya soup, Bun Kabab, Nalli-Nihari and other local specialities.
 * Gwalior is famous for chaat named as Bedmi (dal stuffed suji puri with aloo ki teekhi sabji), a favorite morning breakfast of gwaliorites, and also a famous sweet named Gajak (from Morena), famous in winter season, made up of Seasme and Jaggery, said to be very good for health also.
 * Dal bafla is a common meal in the region, consisting of a steamed and grilled wheat cake dunked in rich ghee which is eaten with daal and ladoos. The culinary specialty of the Malwa region of central Madhya Pradesh is poha (flattened rice); usually eaten at breakfast with jalebi.

title: Madhya Pradesh


text:
Madidi National Park

Madidi National Park is in the northwest of the La Paz Department of Bolivia.

Landscape
From snow-capped peaks in the Apolobamba range of the Andes to tropical lowland basins in the Amazon. The landscape includes an incredible range of ecosystems, from high altitude grasslands to clouds forests, lowland tropical forests to pristine lowland savannas. Madidi is part of a vast wilderness that includes neighboring protected areas in Bolivia and southeastern Peru.

Flora and fauna
Madidi is one of the most biologically diverse protected areas on the planet. The park is home to over 1,000 bird species, representing a whopping 11% of the world’s 9,000 bird species. Madidi contains large populations of Latin America’s most charismatic wildlife species: jaguar, spectacled bear, maned wolf, vicuña, giant otter, Andean condor and military macaw, among others. The newly discovered monkey species lives in Madidi and nowhere else.

Get in
The Madidi National Park can be reached from Rurrenabaque.

Be careful to choose a good tour and a good guide. Don't be the next to become disappointed. There are many tour operators and travel agencies with a wide range of tours and prices. And of course you can find really good quality. Quality and price are connected. But first of all you have to spend time on investigation. Ask for proper information and testimonials.

More information on tours in article Rurrenabaque.

Fees and permits
The entrance fee is mostly not included in the prices of the tour operators and was 125 Bs in June 2011.

Lodging
Some eco-lodges are found in and around the Madidi National Park. The oldest and best known is Chalalan Ecolodge in Chalalán on the Tuichi River. Another is the San Miguel del Bala Eco-Lodge on the banks of the Beni River, reached by boat 40 minutes up stream from Rurrenabaque.

title: Madidi National Park