Falling on 24th October this year, Diwali is one of the biggest festivals in India. It works as a great unifier since everybody gets into the festive spirit with religious rituals, sweets, celebrations, gifts and of course, bursting crackers! Diwali is a time for families to come together in this celebration of life. This Diwali why not witness the grandeur with which this auspicious occasion is celebrated in other cities. 

1. Varanasi 

Experience Diwali celebrations on a grander scale at Varanasi. Start with a bath in the holy Ganges and have a ball, exploring the bustling bazaars where everything from traditional clothes to sweets are sold. Take a sunset boat ride and watch the glimmering lamps against the backdrop of the religious recitals and chants by the river. The festivities culminate with a superb display of firecrackers. If you stay back for some more time in Varanasi, you can also participate in the Diwali of Gods or Dev Deepavali which is celebrated here as a part of the iconic Ganga Mahotsav Festival.

2. Amritsar

Amritsar is another great place to visit during the revered occasion of Diwali. It is celebrated together with Bandi Chhor Divas, which is a big festival for Sikhs and commemorates the return of Guru Hargobind Ji, the 6th Sikh Guru, from his imprisonment. There are special prayers or kirtans held throughout the city and the Golden Temple looks stunning when illuminated. You can also enjoy the cool weather, the beautiful sarson (mustard) fields and the infectious enthusiasm of the locals. Dig into the scrumptious local cuisine that will have you licking your fingers in no time!  

3. Jaipur-Udaipur

You should definitely witness the breathtaking celebrations in Jaipur which start right from Dhanteras. The Nahargarh Fort and other popular landmarks offer amazing views of the lighting that encompasses the entire city and also the fireworks. Not only this, the city bazaars brim with musicians playing folk favorites and some really meticulously made lamps and other artifacts. Indulge in the finest Marwari cuisine and shop for attractive souvenirs and handicrafts on your sojourn through Jaipur. 

4. Kolkata 

Goddess Kali is worshipped in Kolkata and you can witness the unique and detailed offerings to the Goddess including meat, fish, flowers, and sweets. The entire city comes alive with dazzling diyas, candles, and lamps, and you can also see some amazing fireworks at almost every street corner. It is this time when Kolkatans get over their post-Puja hangover and celebrate anew! You can also take a tour of the famous Kali Puja pandals in the city or visit the biggest religious shrines like the Kalighat Temple or Dakshineswar Temple, where Goddess Kali is worshipped by thousands of devotees. 

Diwali 2022 : Best Destinations to Visit in India

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Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, and it’s no secret that the most beautiful places in Switzerland are filled to the brim with a lot of charm. It seems to have a storybook landscape, bringing a sense of awe to many travelers visiting this country. 

As individuals explore each destination, they often find that they are gorgeous and don’t compare to anything they have ever seen. With so many incredible sights, destinations, towns, and cities, it can be hard to pinpoint what the prettiest place in Switzerland is, but we have attempted to do just that!

A fusion of Italian, French, and German cultures but still with a strong identity of its own, Switzerland makes an alluring travel destination. The landlocked European country is known for its attractive cities, it’s apre-ski chic and famously idyllic mountain scenery complete with cuckoo-clock houses and bell-adorned cows – Switzerland is still a place where you can imagine Heidi skipping through the Alpine meadows!

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European Extravaganza : Switzerland

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Autumn's colour palette of reds, oranges, yellows and golds sweeps across the countryside from the end of September, through October, November and into early December. From spectacular woodlands to hills, arboretums and waterways, discover the best places in the UK to see autumn colour.

Forests and woodlands are an obvious place to start. It's hard to beat the sense of magic that you get when you walk beneath the kaleidoscopic canopies of oaks, beeches, birches and sycamore. Look for chestnuts on the floor and squirrels and jays in the branches above. British parks, arboretums and gardens are also great places to visit in October and November, with many boasting statement trees that come into their own at this enchanted time of year. Britain is one of the best places in the world to see the falling autumn leaves as they change from bright green to a kaleidoscopic spectrum of red, orange and yellow. 

Grasmere in UK is often called the jewel of the Lake District — and it's easy to see why. During the autumn months, why not take a walk around the glistening lake and soak up the glorious changing colours. This lakeside stroll has fairly level ground, and should only take around two hours to complete.

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Dazzling Autumn Colors : United Kingdom

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Shillong  Autumn Festival is a well-known festival in India. This festival is one of those that mark the onset of fall season. It is mainly celebrated in Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya. This is a cultural extravaganza that reflects the rich culture of the nation. The festival acts as a great platform to display the culture of the place and get transformed into a center of fun and frolic for tourists.

The Autumn Festival features several events like a fashion show, food and wine festival, flower shows, music performances, sports events, kite flying competitions, and other events. The festival also provides business opportunities for local artisans who display and sell various handicraft items during this festival. 

The Shillong Autumn Festival, is held on the banks of the enchanting Umiam Lake, and it is one of many festivals that mark the beginning of the new Autumn season. This is a cultural spectacle that symbolises the state's rich cultural legacy while also hosting prominent music performers from throughout the state and country, catering to music lovers of all genres. The festival also gives an opportunity for visitors to sample local foods and items like pickles, wines, crafts, and more.

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Shillong Autumn Festival 2022 : Celebrating Music With a Cause

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Right beside the sea, the beautiful Pondicherry – the French capital of India, offers some spectacular tourist attractions. Known for its urban architecture style, Pondicherry is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South India. 

White Town is the former French residential area in Pondicherry. Wide streets, old colonial buildings, French street names – everything is carrying an essence of the century-old history of the town. Those old residential houses and mansions are now converted into public offices, libraries, heritage hotels, vintage cafes, upscale shops, and boutiques. The glitter and glamour of the colonial era are long gone, but history is still preserved aesthetically. This is a collection of my best photos from the photo walk in White Town in Pondicherry.

The cheery bougainvilleas and brightly colored walls accompanying the brick-paved lanes of Pondy easily catch the imagination and brings an otherworldly feel. While the rest of the country is struggling to move ahead of time, this quaint little town is rather happy with its colonial ambiance and the laid-back lifestyle. It is a photographer's paradise..

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Photogenic Locations: Pondicherry

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Phuket has evolved into a bustling town full of attractions and entertainment venues. Even though the natural beauty of this place drives a lot of tourists, the buzzing nightlife in Phuket makes it a magnet to many. The areas surrounding the beach have the best options including discos, restaurants, sundowners and great gigs.

Phuket’s nightlife is extremely varied, even if it's best known for being a bit extreme. From wild nightclubs to quiet little beer bars and from dinner shows and sipping a cocktail at a beach bar, it’s all there for those who want it. Of course, Patong is the undisputed nightlife centre of Phuket. From 9 pm every night, the town is buzzing and doesn’t stop until the wee hours.

Kata and Karon have similar, if more modest, nightlife scenes while even Phuket Town boasts a few hopping clubs that cater mainly to locals. Bangtao Beach features classy hotspots but is otherwise a relatively quiet area. Lastly, Rawai, in the south of the island has rapidly developed into a party town.

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Liveliest Beach Party Destinations : Phuket, Thailand

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Women make up half of the world’s population and yet they are still largely excluded from politics and decision-making power. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global organization of national parliaments, released its latest annual Women in Parliament report just a few days before International Women’s Day on March 8, and it indicated that the world is not yet on track to achieve gender equality in politics by 2030. 

The good news is that women are steadily taking up more space in governmental leadership around the world, with more and more of them securing seats in national parliaments, and a good number of countries implementing parliamentary quotas to ensure fair representation of women. 

1. Rwanda

The East African country is leading the world with 61% of its parliamentary seats occupied by women. Chugong even referred to Rwanda as a role model for the country’s rate of women’s participation in the government. 

2. Cuba

With 53% of women taking up parliamentary seats, Cuba remains in the second spot for another year. It is one of two countries from the Caribbean to make it into the IPU’s top 10 — with Grenada not far behind at number eight — and was commended by the union for achieving and maintaining gender parity. 

3. United Arab Emirates

The third and final country on the list to have achieved gender equality in parliament — with 50% of parliamentarians being women, compared to just 20% in previous years — is the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The country made an impressive improvement, jumping from 85th in the world in 2019, to third in the world this year. This came as a result of President Sheikh Khalifa calling for women to occupy half the parliamentary seats in 2018. 

4. Nicaragua

The report revealed that the Americas are the most commendable global region when it comes to representation of women in politics. Not only does Nicaragua have a high number of women in parliament, women leaders have been instrumental in leading the resistance against the country’s dictatorship. 

5. New Zealand

With Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern re-elected as its leader, New Zealand’s parliament became one of the most diverse in the world, representing not only more women, but people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Ardern herself made history when she became the youngest female leader of a country in 2017; in the presidential election last year she faced off against another woman leader and member of parliament, Judith Collins.

Countries That Are Leading the World for Women in Politics

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