Argentina’s Train to The Clouds

Tren a las Nubes or Trains to Clouds is located 4,000 meters above the sea level in the Andes. Its name “Train to The Clouds” derives from the several clouds that are often seen under bridges and around slopes. It’s starts its journey from the City of Salta in Argentina, at an altitude of 1187 meters, passes through the Valle de Lerma, which enters the Quebrada del Toro and finally finish his journey at the La Polvorilla viaduct ( Almost 4,200 meters). Its official name is Ferrocarril Belgrano and it is reached at highest peak at the final stage of La Polvorilla Viaduct bridge that is 70 m over a river bank, a little after the stop at the charming town of San Antonio de los Cobres, where time seems to have stopped. Train to clouds is one of the highest railways in the world. The journey is calculated approximately 16 hour’s trip, and train travels 217 Kilometers and climbs a staggering 3,000 meters. The beautiful journey of train crosses 29 bridges, 12 viaducts, 21 tunnels, swoops round two massive loops and two switchbacks. In its way, it crosses a road that takes to the clouds, with plenty of time to relish very different and changing an unforgettable cultural and landscaping experience.  

American engineer Richard Fontaine Maury laid down the route, who was actually leading the project. He designed a singular system well supported by bridges, viaducts, tunnels, spirals and zigzags. The gorgeous zigzags permit the train to climb the mountain by driving back and forth parallel to the slope of the mountain. Richard didn’t use funiculars or cogwheels that are usually used on steep slopes, in its place relying on switchbacks to gain height. The purpose behind the construction of “Train to the Clouds” was originally to serve the borax mines of the area, mainly transporting goods from the coast of Chile through the Andes Mountains to northwestern Argentina. 

Trains to Clouds get noticing by tourist in 1970’s. The train usually leaves early in the morning from Salta city, passes Lerma Valley, then Toro Ravine and, to end with the big territory of the Puna. The train normally takes only two stops, almost at the end of the trip. The first one is at San Antonio de los Cobres, an old town with low-built houses and a tiny market. At this place tourist can take picturesque stalls giving handicrafts, items of clothing and souvenirs to take home from the train trip. However the 2^nd stop is much spectacular (The End of the Route) is the La Polvorilla viaduct. The curved viaduct is 224 meters long and 70 meters high from the valley. 

The train beautifully glides across the viaduct and stops before reversing back, poised for the return journey. Upon the final destination, travelers can get off the train, feel the pure and cold air on their faces, and walk slowly in order to get their bodies used to the altitude and take memorable pictures. The trip back to Salta is completed in the dark and reaches Salta just before midnight. The journey takes a whole day. The train has a dinning-car, medical services, audio, video and bilingual guides. There is also the possibility of returning by bus, in which case it is possible to spend more time at San Antonio de los Cobres and pay a visit to the little village of Santa Rosa de Tastil. The whole roundtrip covers 269 miles, at an average speed of 21 miles per hour.

Ranu Kumbolo Lake Indonesia

Kumbolo Lake can see from hill, located at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level. The volcano Bromo has a distance from lake is approximately 12 KM while, volcano Semeru has a distance of approximately 7 KM. Therefore; journey is too difficult towards lake, you’ve to walk about four to five hours and cross the challenging terrain and trip strenuous enough. When you’ll arrive at Ranu Kumbolo, a definite fatigue seemed to break even with a charm and beauty and you’ll feel. The blend of evergreen trees, shrubs, blue sky becomes a reflection of its own and offers a calm and peace in the area. The beautiful Ranu Kumbolo as a refreshing oasis, natural blend of fresh green and lake views, guaranteed to remove any kind of sense of fatigue, and splendid cool atmosphere, airy conditions. Ranu Kumbolo Lake truly deserves to be a perfect place for relaxation, especially the weather at night the temperature reaches -10 degrees Celsius.

At day time, sunrise will add to your sense of awe, panoramic sunrise is very good-looking and captivating, the golden color of the light the sun reflected off the surface of the lake. No one denies the majestic beauty of Ranu Kumbolo Lake, as very few photographers who’re able to capture the beauty of this lake.  For those who like to hike, Ranu Kumbolo is the right stop to get ready their adventure. Moreover, the Lake is also providing a hut for hikers and there is camping ground to sleep over. Also, there is an ancient monument that standing on Ranu Kumbolo. Local people believe those monuments were already existed since Majapahit Empire. Fresh air, clear water, cool atmosphere is the perfect thing that the visitors can get while spending time in these wonderful lakes. Forget the daily routines, sweep away the burdens, Ranu Kumbolo is the perfect place to recharge your body and soul.

Perhaps you’d never miss this heaven on earth, because Ranu Kumbolo Lake is amazing from every side, particularly from Tanjakan Cinta. It is gorgeous savanna with very tidy green-yellowish grass all around. The Lake looks like it’s been regularly gardening by the Mother Nature. The lake has a turquoise view with very abundant fresh water. No one allowed swimming in the lake, even peeing or throwing dirty & un-hygiene stuff into the Lake.  In some distinctive occasions, it is a beloved place for pre-wedding photo session. The place is perfectly romantic for honey moon.

Source: Charismatic Planet

The Kalyan Minaret Uzbekistan

Bukhara is one of most attractive and legendary cities of world, where Kalyan minaret is a minaret of the Po-i-Kalyan mosque complex in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. It is most prominent landmarks in the city, which had been captured and destroys several times and restored again. Anyone can get general idea of the city by having upstairs in the Kalyan Minaret situated in the territory of Pio-Kalyan complex. The beautiful minaret actually is designed by Bako, and it was built by the Qarakhanid ruler Muhammad Arslan Khan in 1127 to summon Muslims to offer prayer five times a day. It is made in the form of a circular-pillar baked brick tower, narrowing upwards. 

The minaret is 149.61 ft high and the body of the minaret is topped by a rotunda with 16 arched fenestrations, from which the muezzins summoned the Muslims in the city to prayer. The minaret is also famous as the “Tower of Death” because until as recently as the early twentieth century criminals were executed by being thrown from the top. This is most remarkable sightseeing of Bukhara, which was served as a lighthouse for the caravans going through a desert. 

The Minaret has real greatness, when forces of Genghis Khan entered in the ancient city destroying everything on their way, the great commander's cap fell when he had raised the head to look round the minaret. He said: "Such great that forced me to take off the cap!" Genghis Khan gave credit for its superiority and didn't destroy. There is a brick spiral staircase that twists up inside around the pillar to the rotunda. The tower base has narrow ornamental strings belted across it made of bricks which are placed in both straight and diagonal fashion. The frieze is covered with a blue glaze with inscriptions. 

In the ancient war times, the warriors normally used the minaret as a watch tower to observatory the enemies. The Kalyan Minaret is still dominates the skyline of Bukhara, surprising all who see it with its wonderful and flawless shape. The minaret is famous, and startlingly recent, use was for public execution, where those condemned to die were thrown from the rotunda at the top to the stone courtyard below. The last recognized execution took place in the late 1920,s during the Russian Revolution. If you’re travelling to Bukhara Uzbekistan, then spare lot of time for sightseeing, and we’d be sure you wouldn’t want to miss out the top attractions of Kalyan Minaret.  

Source: Charistmatic Planet