The world is made of wondrous things. It is up to us to open our eyes and take in its beauty.
I have a dream; I want to see the world. Not just for the wonders it holds, but to ascribe my place in it. A lifetime is not enough to explore this beautiful planet we call home. But that does not mean we stop trying. Of course, there will be places I may never visit, but that does not deter my resolve.
The list of places I want to travel to, and the list of things I want to do, runs long. But here are the top 5 places I want to visit/things I want to do.
1) Northern Lights – Norway/Alaska
Also known as Aurora Borealis, the northern lights display the true beauty of nature. It’s one of the first spots on my bucket list that I want to cross off. It’s a light display in the skies organised by nature. There is no fixed time for it, and there is an open invitation to everyone on the planet to go watch it. Cosmic rays, solar wind and magnetospheric plasma interact with each other in the upper layers of our planet’s atmosphere to put up this wonderful and breathtaking show.
‘Aurora’, an ancient Roman deity, is the goddess of the dawn. Roman mythology believes she renews herself each morning to fly across our skies and announce the arrival of the sun. Her personification has also been used by William Shakespeare, Alfred Lord Tennyson and Henry David Thoreau in their writings.
Where can I go to view them?
The Northern lights are visible between the North Pole and the Arctic Circle, although they have been reported to have occurred as low as 35 degrees latitude north of the Equator. I would recommend travelling to Norway or Alaska to view them. There are a few places designated to viewing this phenomenon. Personally, I would like to visit Norway.
Lofoten Islands in Norway is your best bet to check out the Northern Lights. Tromsø and Svalbard Islands are ideal spots, too. Whitehorse in Canada and Fairbanks in Alaska also house observation sites. So do Reykjavik, Iceland, Kangerlussaq in Greenland and Jukkasjärvi in Northern Sweden.
This link is a helpful guide in planning a trip to view the lights.
When is the ideal time to go?
Northern lights, obviously, are viewed best during night. Winter in the arctic circle has shorter days and longer nights. So you will want to visit between the Autumn and Spring Equinox (September to March). The best time to go is between December and February. Viewing starts from 6pm and can go on till 4am. Your best chance is between 10pm and 1am. That is when the lights peak.
Anything else I need to bear in mind?
The weather is an important factor. Clear skies give an excellent view. Clouds and winds can sour your experience. Solar storms boost the chances of the Aurora’s occurrence, so you will want to keep an eye out for it.
2) Kailash-Manasarovar Lake – Tibet
The beautiful and heavenly Manasarovar Lake with Mount Kailash in the background offers a view, and an experience, like no other. Said to be the abode of Lord Shiva, the freshwater lake is situated 15,060 ft above sea level, which literally makes it breathtaking.
The name ‘Manasoravar’ has its roots in the Sanskrit Language. ‘Manas’ means mind and ‘Sarovara’ means lake. Hindu mythology states the lake was first created in the mind of Lord Brahma. Hence, the name. The lake has great significance for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. It is part of a pilgrimage trail for Hindus.
3) Indus Valley Civilisation Sites – Mohenjo Daro/Rakhigarhi/Dholavira/Kalibangan
The Indus Valley Civilisation holds a special place in my heart. Being one of the oldest civilisations in the world, the technology and urban planning was remarkably advanced. So much, that the flush system for toilets that we used today are based on the systems of this civilisation.
The sites belonging to this time are located across the Ghaggar-Hakra River Valley. The Vedas are said to have been composed during this period on the banks of the River Sarasvati. While some historians believe the river to be a myth, we find evidence of her existence in the Vedas and the paleogeographic channels of the present-day Ghaggar-Hakra River. The town-planning of the Indus-Valley Civilisation cities included the world’s first sanitation system along with a sophisticated drainage system.
Being one the world’s first civilisations, these sites inspire me to look at them closely. What did they know? Where did they come from? Why did they leave? Did the great river the Vedas talk about truly exist? I have visited Lothal, an Indus Valley Civilisation site. As I stood there looking at the, now, destroyed town, a number of these questions raced through my mind. As I looked out at the man-made dock, I was in awe of the abilities of these ancient people. People who overcame more than we ever will. We possess thousands of years’ worth of knowledge, while they probably only had a few centuries. Yet, they made fewer mistakes than we make today. A 3000 year old city was better planned than the one I live in.
Just standing in the spot where these great people walked once, gives me immense peace. It gives me a sense of hope; a sense of belonging.
4) Machu Picchu
I am a sucker for history. Built by the Incans, Machu Picchu is located near the Sacred Valley in Peru. It was built c. 1490 and then abandoned in the next century at the time of the Spanish Conquest. It lay lost and hidden, unknown to the world till 1911 when it was brought to international attention by the historian Hiram Bingham. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, Machu Picchu was voted as on of the new 7 Wonders of the World in a worldwide internet poll.
5) Cape Horn
The southernmost tip of South America! Located on the small, Hornos Island, Cape Horn is the southernmost point of the South American continent. Before the construction of the Panama Canal, ships were required to sail around Cape Horn to get from one side of the continent to the other.
The number of places to visit on my list are never-ending. But these five get top-priority. Some of the best views offered in this world are those offered by nature. Humans come, only after that. I travel, not just to look at the sights, but to feel one with nature, to feel a sense of peace. To feel my place on this planet; and to understand and explore the reason of my being here.
Paradise was always over there; a day’s sail away.
– J. Marten Troost
A Map & A Pin 
Chalo 😀
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We are going everywhere!!!!
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nice…..
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