Top Ten Tourist Places to visit near Chennai

Chennai has been the home for many sacred temples and many beautiful sight seeing places. If you are deciding to spend your holidays here make sure that you have a long one because we have tourist places in Chennai andtourist places around Chennai.

Top ten tourist places to visit near Chennai

Mahabalipuram :

Located at a distance of 55kms, is the world famous town of Mahabalipuram and this town has a lovely seaside view. Going 15kms further we find Tirukkalikundram a pilgrim centre with a hilltop temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Covelong:
This is a place which makes one experience the entire history of Tamil Nadu as a whole. It’s full of fort, churches, mosques and a lovely beach. The Fort has been converted now into a luxury beach resort

Kanchipuram:
Along with Chennai and Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram forms the famous Golden Triangle of the Coromandel Coast. Kanchipuram finds its place on the global map because of the wonderful craftsmanship of the Kanchi weavers, the makers of what is perhaps the finest silk fabric in the world. This spectacular temple city is one of the seven sacred cities of India.

Tirupati:

Tirupati is considered to be the abode if the legendary Lord of Seven Hills and has one of the most famous shrines in the country

Crocodile Bank:
Located near  Mamallapuram, Romulus Whittaker runs this crocodile breeding and research centre. We find here several species of Indian and African crocodiles and alligators which are bred in captivity.

Vedanthangal:

it is one of the largest bird sanctuaries in India. It is a park with lake which is visited by over 1,00,000 migratory birds every year mainly during Nov and Dec.

V.G.P Golden Beach Resort:

It is a very famous beach resort not just with the localities but also with the tourists.

Vandalur:
The Anna Zoological Park located here is the largest in South Asia with a rich variety of different species of mammals, reptiles and birds.

Pondicherry:
This town has been immensely influenced by the French and is famous since Sri Aurobindo once lived here. It has many churches, museums etc which are good for sightseeing.

Rameswaram:
This conch shaped island in the Gulf of Mannar is a holy spot for Hindus and is located near Madurai.

Kanyakumari:
The land’s end of India to view the spectacular sunrise and sunset at the beach. The temples here are among the places of interest.

Tourist attraction in Chennai is full of surprises. Hope you will enjoy the city and will have a nice trip.

4 most places to be visited in hyderabad

My journey to Hyderabad started in the last week of December, 2011. It was a rainy day and I was accompanied by two friends. Braving the semi-heavy rain, we reached the Chennai Central station in the evening from where we were to get a train to Hyderabad. The journey started at around six in the evening. As it was a rainy day, nothing much could be seen of the countryside. In fact, it got dark pretty quickly. We were scheduled to reach the Secunderabad station at around 4 am. Our talk was accompanied by some tea and pakkodaas, until we fell asleep.

We reached exactly at 4 am as per schedule. On reaching there, we were picked up by a friend who took us to the place where we were to be accommodated. It was the Youth Hostel of Secunderabad, just off the Hussain Sagar Lake. In fact, from the terrace of the hostel, the lake could be clearly seen.

After freshening ourselves, we started off with the intention of sight-seeing for which we had come. Luckily it was a sunny day. We were guided by the friend who showed us the city by means of local city buses to help us get the extra fun a traveler should get. We had only that day to see all we can in the city.

The city, in the beginning, felt like a part of the middle-east to me. The culture of the people was completely different. It was for the first time that I was in a metro city and I was seeing niqab and hijab-clad women and girls heading for their offices and colleges. The hijab had always been a sign of oppression for me. But, women cannot be forced in a metro city! After all, how can it be that so many women and girls dress this way in India? After all, Hyderabad is a part of the biggest democracy in the world, India, and not the middle-east or Afghanistan! Thus, I was forced to believe that the women had taken it up on their own choice!

Birla Temple in Hyderabad/Wikimedia

The very first monument we visited was the Birla Mandir-

The Birla Mandir, located in south end of Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad, stands atop the Kala Pahad, the twin hillock of the Naubat Pahad. The temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara (Vishnu), is constructed with white marbles from Rajasthan. “Kausalya supraja Rama poorva sandhya pravartate…”, the chanting mantra to awake the Lord, is sung every morning at around 5.30 am. And as for the evenings, they are melodious; sweet melodies of cuckoos and the kirtans of Annamayya, Tyagaraja and Ramadas at the backdrop of the orangish-red sky can relieve any one from the tensions of day-to-day life. From the extreme top of the temple, the entire urban Hyderabad can be seen, which is a breath-taking sight.

The second stop was the old-city of Hyderabad. Of course, when we speak of the old city we talk of the Charminar-

The famous Charminar

Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the 5th ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, built Charminar in 1591 shortly after he had shifted his capital from Golkonda to Hyderabad. He built this famous structure as a sign of the elimination of a plague epidemic from the city. He is said to have prayed for the end of a plague that was ravaging his city and vowed to build a masjid (Islamic mosque) at the very place where he was praying. He wanted it to be open for all people of all religions.

Charminar was given to a contractor called Sanamvenkata Balaya to construct and today one can see the city as evidence of the prayer being answered. The Mosque was called as Charminar because of its four minarets.

The structure was constructed from granite, lime, mortar and, some say, pulverised marble. Initially the monument with its four arches was planned in such a way that when the fort was opened one could catch a glimpse of the bustling Hyderabad city as these Charminar arches were facing the streets. There is also a legend of an underground tunnel connecting the palace at Golkonda to Charminar, with the intention of being an escape route for the Qutub Shahi rulers in case of a siege, though the exact location of the tunnel is not known.

The bazaars surrounding the Charminar are also bustling. Herein, one can find a wide variety of products, ranging from bangles to books and from CDs to pearls. “Pearls” are the actual specialty of the city. While purchasing them, a lot of bargain needs to be done. The cost of the pearls can range from mere Rs. 100 to several thousand! Islamic population here wears the niqab, the hijab, caps, Pathan suits; Islamic perfumes are also readily available. Never to forget, that if anyone is looking for some delicious and inexpensive biryani, this is the exact part of the city you are to be in.

A huge and magestic structure lies just next to the Charminar. Yes, this is the Mecca Masjid-

Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad/Wikimedia

Makkah Masjid was built during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Qutub Shah, the 6th Qutub Shahi Sultan of Hyderabad. The three arched facades were carved from a single piece of granite, which took five years. More than 8,000 workers were employed to build the mosque. It is said that Muhammed Qutub Shah himself personally laid the foundation stone of the ‘mosque’.

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, the French explorer, in his travelogue wrote about the Mecca Masjid, “It is about 50 years since they began to build a splendid pagoda in the town which will be the grandest in all India when it is completed. The size of the stone is the subject of special accomplishment, and that of a niche, which is its place for prayer, is an entire rock of such enormous size that they spent five years in quarrying it, and 500 to 600 men were employed continually on its work. It required still more time to roll it up on to conveyance by which they brought it to the pagoda; and they took 1400 oxen to draw it”

Being a girl, I was not allowed into the mosque for not being in proper attire to be within the premises. Thus, I took a picture of the mosque from within the Charminar.

It was afternoon. We had some local Hyderabadi Biryani in haste, as we were to rush towards Golconda fort. By around 2 p.m., we were on our way.

Golkonda is the name of the ruined city of south-central India and capital of ancient Kingdom of Golkonda (c. 1364–1512). It is 11 km west of Hyderabad.

Golconda fort in Hyderabad

The most important builder of Golkonda was Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah Wali, the fourth Qutub king. The fortress citadel of Golkonda, was rebuilt for defense from invading Mughals from the north. They laid out Golkonda’s splendid monuments, now in ruins, and designed a perfect acoustical system by virtue of which a hand clap sounded at the fort’s main gates, was heard at the top of the citadel, situated on a high hill. The kingdom of Golconda stretched over the Telangana region and some parts of present day Karnataka and Maharashtra. The fort has many places within it to see. Some mosques, beautiful gardens, high cliffs, etc.

Hyderabad is a beautiful city to be in. In fact, I could cover only a few important tourist attractions due to lack of time. Other tourist spots worth mentioning are the Lumbini Park, Hussain Sagar Lake and Ramoji Film City (a city within a city).

Hyderabad is a city of pearls, biryani, kebabs and monuments. The only precaution one needs to keep in mind, however, is that anything related to communalism and the political situation in the middle-east should never be discussed in public. Issues related to the Telangana region should be avoided in discussions. Once, these precautions are taken, Hyderabad is a paradise to be in; a place harbouring everything a human being needs.

Hyderabad

Hyderabad is the capital of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It was founded on the banks of Musi River by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, Sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, in 1590. The city, named after the king's wife Hyder Mahal means 'The City of Hyder'. After India's independence in 1947, Nizam overtook Hyderabad after five days of police action. Later, the Nizam signed the Instrument of Accession to the Indian Union before which the city was integrated into the Indian Union as a state. The state got its first democratic government and for eight years, the city remained as a separate state within the union. On November 1, 1956, the territories of the State of Hyderabad were divided and the city and its hinterland were brought under Andhra Pradesh. The city later became the capital of the new state of Andhra Pradesh. It is now one of the most developed cities in the country and is also a part of the twin cities -Hyderabad and Secunderabad. 

Area & Location: Being in the Telangana region of Andra Pradesh, Hyderabad is located in the center of Andhra Pradesh. Lies on the Deccan plateau, the city is located 541m above sea level. The city occupies an area of 260 sq. km. Situated at 17.366º Latitude North and 78.476º Longitude East, the city has a population of 6.1 million making it the sixth largest metropolis in India and 40th largest metropolitan area in the world. 

Tourist Attractions: The city has many culturally and historically important places that draw in plenty of tourists. 

Transportation: Shamshabad Airport is the main airport that serves the city. The city has a light rail transportation system known as MultiModal Transport System (MMTS). This connects the city with other parts of the state. Secunderabad Railway Station, Hyderabad Railway Station and Kachiguda Railway Station link the city with various parts of the country. The city also has an extensive road network that leads the city to other neighboring states. The largest state transport undertaking in the world Andra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation is the main pubic transport in the city besides, auto rickshaws and taxis.  
Hotels:The city has variety of hotels that serve mouth-watering delicacies for nominal price. Sheraton Kakatiya Hotel & Towers, Taj Krishna, Hotel Viceroy, Fortune Katriya, Taj Banjara Hyderabad, Best Western Amrutha Castle, Green Park, Taj Residency, Park Inn Aditya, Hotel Golkonda and Tara are the famous hotels that are excellent in quality and service. Main famous dishes like Hyderabadi Biryani, Khubani ka Mitha represent the city. The city also has many sweet shops that serve traditional sweets. 

Places of Attraction:Hyderabad has a handful of places to be visited and that too must visit places. The number of historical and cultural architectures makes the city a world famous one. Also, tourists from various parts of the country reach the City of Pearls to purchase pure pearls for which the city is famous. Charminar - the major landmark in Hyderabad with four graceful minarets, Falaknuma Palace, Golconda Fort, Salar Jung Museum -the largest one-man collection of antiques in the world, Makkah Masjid - a stone-built mosque, Birla Planetarium, Chilkur Balaji, Nehru Zoological Park - among the largest in Asia, Husain Sagar - man-made lake, Public Gardens of Hyderabad, Purani Haveli - the official residence of the Nizam, Chowmahalla Palace, Snow World, NTR Park and Birla Temple are the famous as well as interesting places to be visited in the city. Besides this, the light and sound show that depicts the history of the city really enthralls the audience. 

ISKCON temple tirupathi

ISKCON temples need no introduction, and there are plenty of them all over India now. I have visited quite a few of them, and though I have passed by the one at Tirupati on every one of my visits, I have never felt like entering it. Tirupati to me is a city of ancient temples, and they are what attract me, no matter what their condition. I have never been enthusiastic about the newer ones, though I must admit that this one is beautiful! Maybe I should visit this temple next time just to take some photos! Meanwhile, if you want to know more about this temple

Tirupati, not being a big city, has volunteer devotees (seventy brahmacaris), most of them from materially lower-middle income sections of society and not very highly trained or educated backgrounds. This is in contrast to ISKCON Chowpatty where the brahmacaris have higher material educational backgrounds. To have highly qualified devotees like Chowpatty world wide is a difficult thing, so the devotee care model at Tirupati is another option for upcoming temple communities with relatively scarce resources available. These programs at Tirupati have been going on for a long time very smoothly, and both ashramites and congregational devotees are growing in strength and quality. All devotees are happy and the book distribution program remains a top priority.

Kanipaka vinayaka temple

Andhra Pradesh is rich in historical monuments. It posseses many holy temples with architectural beauty, which attract large numbers of pilgrims and tourists from inside and outside the country.

In Chittoor district are two sacred places not only for Andhra Pradesh but also for India. Tirupati and Tirumala here is Lord Venkateswara, who is also worshipped as `Balaji' by the north Indians. Tirumala lies in the midst of the Seshachalam hills, which are 2,000 feet above the sea level. It has also worldwide importance as a major tourist centre. 

Srikalahasti is also a famous pilgrim centre and the temple here is dedicated to Lord Siva known as Vayulingam and considered as Dakshina Kasi.Apart from those two temples there is another famous temple in chittoor district that is Sri Vara sidhi Vinayaka Temple which is significant for its purity and rich heritage.

This historic temple is in Kanipaakam in Irala Mandal, Chittoor District. It is about 11kms from Chittoor town.

Kanipaka vinayaka temple located near Chittor in Andhra Pradesh is one of the most prominent and famous temples in India. The main deity in this temple is lord Ganesha. In Hindu community, Lord Ganesha is generally worshiped first in all aspects of their work. Likely, Kanipaka vinayaka swamy templewas built in 11th century by the Chola king Kulathonga – I, later it was expanded further in 1336 by the Emperors of Vizianagarm dynasty.

Kanipaka vinayaka swamy temple is generally called as naturally oriented temple which means this idol is not made by humans and it has been originated naturally by the grace of god.

Legend of Lord Venkateswara Swamy

During the Kali Yug, rishi Kashyap along with others began to perform a Yagna on the banks of river Ganges. Narada Muni visited and asked who the Yagna was being performed for and what was being asked. 

Unable to answer this simple question, the rishi’s approached Sage Bhrigu to find the answer to the question. For the correct answer of, who the sages should be performing Yagna for? Saint Bhrigu visited the Trimurti. First to be visited was Lord Brahma in Satyalok.



Sage Bhrigu found Lord Brahma, reciting the four Vedas eulogizing Lord Narayana, Saraswati was attending to him. Lord Brahma did not notice Bhrigu. Thus, deciding Lord Brahma was unfit for worship, Bhrigu left for Kailasa, the dwelling of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was spending time with his wife Parvati and did not like Bhrigu's intrusion and tried to destroy him. The sage cursed Lord Shiva and left for Vaikuntam.

At Vaikuntam, Lord Vishnu relaxing with Sri Mahalakshmi also did not notice him. This infuriated the sage and he kicked the Lord on His chest.



Lord Vishnu realizing his mistake apologised immediately and pressed the sage’s feet to assuage the pain caused to Bhrigu's leg from kicking him. Sage Bhrigu had an extra eye in his foot that gave him the power to defy the Deva’s. Under the pretext of the apology Lord Vishnu removed the extra eye from the foot of the sage, hence also removing his false egotism. Sage Bhrigu then decided that Lord Vishnu was the most supreme of the trimurthis and the yagna be dedicated to him. Mahalakshmi in the meanwhile angered by her Lord apologising to Bhrigu, who she felt was wrong, left Vaikuntam and refused to return.




Legend of Sri Varahaswami

Before this event, when the whole universe was filled with water and the Earth was submerged in it, Lord Vishnu had assumed the form of a white boar (Sri Varaha) to lift the Earth from the water. He killed the demon Hiranyakshap who opposed him in rescuing the Earth.



Varaha Kshetra was formed when Lord Vishnu decided to stay on Earth in the form of Sri Varaha for some more time to punish the wicked and protect the good.

Lord Vishnu leaves Vaikuntam

At the departure of Mahalakshmi, Lord Vishnu also left Vaikuntam broken hearted and took shelter in an ant-hill under a tamarind tree on the Venkata Hill.



Taking pity on Lord Vishnu, Brahma and Mahesh took the forms of a cow and its calf to serve Him. Surya, the Sun God convinced Mahalakshmi to change her form and sell the cow and calf to the Chola king, so that they can serve Lord Vishnu, who resided in the vicinity.


The king of the Chola acquired the cow and sent them to graze on the Venkata Hill with his herd of cattle. The cow then found Lord Vishnu and fed him daily. Unable to yield milk back at the palace the cow was noticed by the Queen, who then sent the cowheard to find out the reason. Hiding behind a bush he discovered the cow feeding the anthill and decide to destroy her with his axe.


Lord Vishnu came to the rescue and took the blow and saved the cow. The cowherd on realizing his mistake died of shock.


The cow returned, frightened, bellowing and covered with blood to the Chola King. Curious the king followed the cow back to the place of the incident.


Lord Vishnu rose again from the ant-hill and cursed the King turning him into an Asur (Demon) because of the fault of his servant. When the king revealed his innocence the Lord unable to take his curse back gave a boon that the curse would end after Lord was adorned with Kireetam by Akasa Raja at the time of His marriage with Sri Padmavati.
Lord Vishnu stays in VarahKshetra
Lord Vishnu decided to stay on in Varaha Kshetra, and asked Sri Varahaswami for a site for his stay. When this was granted, Lord Vishnu ordained that any pilgrimage to his own shrine must be preceded by a bath in Pushkarini and darshan and puja of Sri Varahaswami.



Legend of SriKrishna and Devaki
Yasoda the adopted mother of Sri Krishna was unable to witness his marriage with Rukmini and this saddened her deeply. Sri Krishna made a promise to fulfill her desires when she will be next born as Vakuladevi. In his next avatar as Srinivasa was served by Vakuladevi who was the servant of Lord Varahaswami, when he sent her to serve Lord Srinivasa.

Lord Srinivasa’s meets Padmavati
The Chola king was re-born as King Akasa Raja who ruled over Thondamandalam. Akasa Raja had no heirs hence he ploughed fields, as part of a sacrifice to get a child. The King found a female child in a lotus in the field and adopted her. She was named Padmavati as she had been found in the Lotus.



Princess Padmavati grew up to be a beautiful maiden. Once she was in the garden picking flowers with her maids when Sage Narada approached her. He convinced her he was a well-wisher and took her palm to read her future. He foretold that she was fated to be the wife of Lord Vishnu himself.



At this time Lord Srinivasa, hunting a wild elephant in the forests, followed the elephant into a garden, where Princess Padmavati and her maids were picking flowers. The sight of the running elephant scared the Princess and her maids. But the elephant on reaching them immediately turned around, saluted the Lord and disappeared into the forest.



Lord Srinivas, who was on horse saw the scared maidens and stopped to appease them. They accosted him with queries about his birth and parentage. He, in turn, was informed that the princess was Padmavati, Akasa Raja’s adopted daughter. When Srinivasa expressed his interest in her, Padmavati’s maids threw stones and him and chased him away. His horse was left behind.



Lord Srinivasa returned repulsed by the maids but started pining for his love. When Vakula devi asked the cause, he declared that unless he married Princess Padmavati, he would never feel good again. Then Vakula devi requested him to tell her about the pricess. The Lord then recounted the story of Padmavati’s previous birth and his promise to wed her, which goes as follows
The legend of Padmavati

In olden times, Goddess Lakshmi, in the form of Vedavati, was staying in an ashram in the forests. Ravana, the lord of Lanka at that time tried to tempt her. In anger, Vedavati put a curse on him that she would be the reason for his death.



To prove that she spoke true words, Vedavati engulfed herself into the fire, but the fire god Agni himself rescued her. Vedavati was taken to his house and entrusted to his wife's care. In the absence of Rama and Lakshmana, when ravana was about to abduct Sita from Panchavati, Agni intervened and offered Vedavati to Ravana as the real Sita. Ravana was fooled into believing that Vedavati was Sita.



Ravana took Vedavati to Lanka, whilst Agni took the real Sita to his home and requested his wife Swahadevi to take care of her. After the Killing of Ravana, Agnidev presented the real Sita in front of Rama.



Sita mentioned to Rama that Vedavati had suffered in Ravana’s hands for 10 months in Lanka for Sita’s sake. Sita asked Rama to also accept Vedavati as as his wife. But it was not acceptable for Rama, as he had pledged to marry only once during his life time. But he promised to wed her in her next birth as Aksa Raja’s daughter Padmavati, when Rama himself will incarnate as Lord Srinivas.

Lord Srinivasa’s marriage to Padmavati

Vakuladevi on hearing Srinivasa’s Story of his promise to marry Vedavati in her next birth as Padmavati, realised that Srinivasa would remain unhappy unless he married Padmavati, She decided to go to Akasa Raja to arrange for the marriage. Meeting the maids of Padmavati returning from the Shiva Temple, she learnt that Padmavati was also pining for Srinivasa.



Akasa Raja and queen Dharanidevi anxious about the health of their daughter, Padmavathi, learnt Padmavati was in love with Srinivasa. Brihaspati was consulted and gave the verdict that the marriage was in the best interest of both the parties.

Unhappy about the wait and unsure of the result Srinivasa assumed the form of a lady fortune-teller and come into the streets of the capital telling fortunes. Padmavathi's maids saw and called her to meet their Queen.



Queen Dharanidevi personally invited the old fortune teller to Princess Padmavati’s room. The old fortune teller advised the queen that Padmavati’s hand be given to Lord Srinivasa in marriage and that when Vakuladevi approaches them the consent be given to the marriage.



Taking the advise of Brihaspati and the old fortune teller, Akasa Raja decide to give his daughter’s hand in marriage to Lord Srinivasa, when VakulaDevi came with the marriage proposal. The palace purohits were asked to fix a muhurat for the wedding.



All the Gods approve the marriage while Kubera lends money to meet the expenses of the marriage. Lord Srinivasa, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva started the journey to the residence of Akasa Raja in his vehicle Garuda.



The wedding took place with all pomp and show with full rites in the presence of all Devas. Lord Srinivasa wedded Padmavati, thus blessing Akasa Raja.

About 6 months after this celestial union, MahaLakshmi finds out that her husband has remarried and comes to see him in anger. It is believed that the Lord Turned to Stone on encountering Mahalakshmi and Padmavathi. Lord Brahma and Shiva appeared before the bewildered queens and explained the purpose behind the sequence of events and Lord Vishnu’s desire to be on the 7 hills for mankind’s emancipation from the perpetual sufferings of Kaliyuga. Goddesses Lakshmi and Padmavathi also turned into stone idols conveying their wish to be with their Lord forever. Mahalakshmi accompanies him on the left side while Padmavathi rests on the right side of his chest.

Thondaman brother of Akasa raja had a dream, in which the lord asked him to build a temple in his memory TirumalaVenkateswara Temple on the seventh hill, named Venkatadri for Lord Srinivasa.

Santiago and Central Valley Santiago and Central Valley

The country’s capital Santiago, located in the central valley, is surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Andes. South America’s most modern metropolis, diverse and cosmopolitan, still offers a colonial atmosphere due to historical buildings, plazas and downtown barrios such as pretty Bellavista.
Close to Santiago on the eastern mountainside, several world-class ski resorts are available during the winter, and on the coast there are numerous attractive cities and charming towns including Vina del Mar with its precious gardens, and the historical port city of Valparaiso. The central region is also known for its vineyards. Chilean wine is recognised internationally and complements the national cuisine of abundant seafood perfectly.


Santiago
Currently considered one of the best destinations to go this year, Santiago is a city that promises excellent gastronomy, world-class Santiago hotels options and an incredible selection of cultural activities that you can do during day while enjoying the spectacular mountain landscape that surrounds Chile’s capital.
Santiago is a dynamic and hip city with a growing cultural offer that’s also centered in quality and variety. Also you can find excellent Santiago Hotels as Le Reve located in the neighborhood of Providencia.
Places you can't miss are:


Museo de la Moda: A privately funded museum located in the district of Vitacura that specializes fashion. It has a permanent collection of 10.000 pieces of different fashion elements that range from clothing to objects and even memorabilia (typically 800 objects are featured in an exposition). Here you can see 1960´s suits that belonged to The Beatles, a jacket and hat from Elvis, a scarf used by Jimmy Hendrix, a dress worn by Princess Diana in 1981 and awards and items that belonged to different rock stars.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (MNBA):  For a more traditional look of Chilean and world art, with expositions that feature colonial art with a religious theme, a collection of Spanish paintings from the XVII and XX century and some works by Chilean surrealist painter Roberto Matta.


Alonso de Cordoba Street: In the capital’s exclusive and prestigious street Alonso de Cordova you can see top fashion stores, art museums that present modern, classic and experimental art –they also tend do night events- and of course, high level cuisine restaurants, where you can taste and eat delicious dishes accompanied by Chilean red or white wines from the Central Valley.
 
Bellavista Neighborhood:   The area of Bellavista neighborhood is an old part of the city named "La Chimba", which is located at north of the Mapocho River. The district is placed at the foot of Cerro San Cristobal and has many attractions as the artistic and intelectual life, placed in a residential area, mixed with shops, restaurants and handcrafts centers.
Concha y Toro Neighborhood:   Is an enviroment of Santiago, which has the charm of a past of opulence and splendor, and the liveliness that day after day crosses in its buildings and streets, where the residential, commercial and educational uses coexist.


Valparaiso
Neruda said that if we walked around all the stairs in Valparaíso we would have gone around the world. Certainly, in this emblematic port located on the central coastal zone of Chile, stories brought from all the oceans are woven into its history. As are its cultures, legends and architecture. It has been the urban protagonist of Chile since the 16th century and its historical center was declared Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO in 2003. Today this area is principally dedicated to tourism.
Valparaíso is mysterious, meandering and rustic continues Neruda. It invites the traveler to come and discover the city, to get lost in its streets, hills and neighborhoods. Today the city is populated with museums, art galleries, restaurants and quaint “boutique” hotels from which you are able to witness the most beautiful and enigmatic views of the ports.


We offer one of the best boutique hotels Valparaiso, the Zerohotel or the Casa Higueras Hotel that have an outstanding view to the Pacific Ocean and the Andes.
Places you cannot miss are::


Cerro Alegre: Situated right over the port, it currently has the highest concentration of tourist activity. It can be reached by picturesque elevators, along with El Peral and Concepción, up to their colorful walk ways surrounded by imposing architecture and beautiful old houses. Among these is el Palacio Barburizza, today a museum, constructed in 1916, that displays a fabulous collection of paintings. Quaint streets peppered with cafés, restaurants and art galleries.


Plaza and Iglesia La Matriz: Neo-classic temple constructed in 1873, it stands in the original site where the first chapel in Valparaiso was built in 1599. It has a Cristo de la agonía sevillano that dates back to the 17th century.
The port: Highlighted by the spectacle of the cranes loading the freighters, you are able to board a small boat which will take you around the bay of Valparaiso. It’s an opportunity to appreciate one of the most beautiful views in the city.  


There are several Handy-craft shops, traditional food in Caleta Portales (a well-known cove) and don’t forget to visit La Aduana, the national monument constructed in 1854.
Museum La Sebastiana (The house of Pablo Neruda): The famous Chilean poet adored the city and acquired a magnificent residence in the port in 1959 on el cerro Bellavista (Bellavista hill). The house was enriched with its eclectic architectural contributions and unique decoration, filled with “poetic objects”. Today there is also an exhibition room and cultural center. Less than 100 kilometers from Valparaíso is the location of Isla Negra, the principal house/museum of Neruda.


Viña del Mar: Beachside city and adjacent to Valparaíso, its’ beautiful, busy beaches extend towards the north to Reñaca and Con Con.
The night life is one of the attractions on offer, especially in summer, as well as the international casino. A little further north is Zapallar and Cachagua, the most exclusive beaches in the region.


UNIQUE OCCASIONS
New Year: On December 31st, Valparaíso offers a spectacular Fireworks display at midnight which envelops the entire bay with its lights. If you wish, you are able to rent a power boat in advance from the Prat pier, so you can see the pyrotechnics from the water.
Viña del Mar Music Festival: In the second or third week of February, at the beautiful amphitheater in La Quinta Vergara, this festival brings together popular international music stars.  
 
SKI
Within the mountain we must mention the winter sports. Chile has been highlighted internationally as one of the best places to practice them. Two hours drive from Santiago, we have the well known Portillo (hosted the World Championship), 2800 mts. height. Less than half an hour drive from Santiago, Valle Nevado, 3025 mts. tall, with an unquestionable quality of snow, and an exceptional climate, 80% of the time are sunny days with snow powder.
For adventurous, at high altitudes in the Andes Mountains is the ideal and special place to practice Heliskiing also out off piste skiing with excellent snow quality.


COLCHAGUA, CASABLANCA and MAIPO VALLEY
These three valleys are large producers of award-winning Chilean wines, whose prestige is known today as Urbi ET Orbi. Colchagua, in the southern- central zone of the country, is known as la “tierra de huasos” (land of the cowboy). It is renowned for its excellence, the interesting Colchagua Museum in Santa Cruz, the heart of the valley, displays exactly how rooted this region is in Chilean culture. Its immense expanses of vineyards and fabulous cellars which today are open to the public have developed into a “tourist wine route” which includes a trip around the countryside. Many of the homesteads on these properties have been transformed into wonderful “boutique” hotels, in addition to specialty stores where you can find handmade gourmet products created from the best quality fruit. With the marvelous landscape of the Andes Mountains in the background, it’s sure to be a visit that will surprise and guide you to the path of enological and gastronomical delights.


Similar experiences can be discovered in the Casablanca Valley, between Santiago and rustic Valparaiso, as well as in the Maipo Valley; close to the capital.


Places you cannot miss:
Maipo Vineyards: Within this valley, near Santiago, the first wineries in the country were founded, many of which receive visitors. Tours may be organized to visit the following wineries; Cousiño Macul, Pérez-Cruz, Haras de Pirque, Concha y Toro, Portal del Alto, Santa Carolina, Santa Rita, Undurraga, Tarapacá, Terra, Huelkén, Carmen and many others.
Concha y Toro Residence and Park: Though it is not possible to access this wonderful residence (dating from 1875) tucked in Pirque in the foothills of the Maipo Valley, you are able to appreciate a magnificent view from the Concha y Toro winery. The latter was founded by its owner, Mr. Melchor Concha y Toro. It is worth visiting the cellars and hearing their entertaining stories. In the surrounding area, you can get to know Pirque and see the Rio Clarillo National Reserve.


Colchagua Vineyards: What is most impressive is the grade of sophistication offered to tourists by various wineries; from museums, hotels and restaurants, to swimming pools and even cable cars, as is offered at Santa Cruz. There are wineries with luxurious facilities, such as Casa Lapostolle, others of refined tradition like Viu Manent. A visit to this valley will surely be an unforgettable experience. Tours can be organized from Santiago: Santa Cruz is 2 1/2 hours away, while San Fernando only 2 hours.
Other vineyards in Colchagua: Bisquertt, Casa Silva, Cono Sur, Caliterra, Emiliana, Estampa, El Huique, Hacienda El Araucano, Las Niñas, Laura Hartwig, Los Vascos, Luis Felipe Edwards, Montes, Montgras, Macaya, Neyen, Ravanal, Santa Cruz, Santa Helena, Santa Rita, Siegel, Sutil, Viu Manent and the Errázuriz-Ovalle Vineyard.


Museums in Colchagua: In addition to the Colchagua Museum, the Lolol Museum located in Santa Cruz also, has one of the most complete collections of paleontological and archaeological artifacts, as well as Pre-Columbian art in Chile and Latin America. It was founded by San José del Carmen Del Huique some 50 Kms from San Fernando. Here you are able to appreciate an old homestead and see traces of the life on estates dating back to the middle of the 19th century. You can also visit the Lircunlauta Homestead Museum in San Fernando, (18th century). In Cunaco stands “Panpan vinovino”, a traditional restaurant, situated in an old bakery of a by-gone Hacienda, now with its own museum.


Casablanca Valley: Though the settlement of vineyards in this valley is significantly more recent than those aforementioned, today there is more than 4500 planted hectares. Thanks to its unbeatable location, just 75 kms from Santiago and 39 kms from Valparaíso, it receives numerous visitors. They also organize tours to learn about the different vineyards, such as Casas del Bosque, Catrala, Indómita, Matetic, Veramonte, Viña Mar, Emiliana and William Cole.

Patagonia

Few places in the world have captivated the imagination of explorers and travellers like Patagonia. Since Ferdinand Magellan sailed here many have settled, and yet this vast, remote region is still, for the most part, unexplored and largely uninhabited.
Patagonia's beautiful untamed landscape consists of narrow straits and steep-sided fjords rich in marine life, rugged mountains, harsh, windswept plateaux and glacial valleys. It is home to some of the most beautiful natural attractions in the world, from the granite towers of Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares national parks to the northern and southern ice fields with their enormous glaciers, the fiat pampa broken only by bluffs of multi-coloured sedimentary rocks and stunning emerald lakes and rivers.





Considering its size and variety of terrain, Patagonia is surprisingly easy to navigate. One of the most spectacular areas of Patagonia is the Lake District in Argentina which is broken into two regions; the Northern Lakes and the Southern Lakes.
The Northern Lakes, strung along the foot of the Andes, are bordered by both Chile and Argentina. Trekking is the best way to explore the area as this enables you to reach the sununit of many spectacular peaks in addition to seeing the wildfiower-strewn valleys and everything in between.





Within the Northern Lakes area lie a number of national parks – the Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, situated on the Chilean border and the oldest national park in Argentina, the Parque Nacional Los Arrayanes, which surrounds the picturesque port of La Villa, and the Parque Nacional Los Alerces, one of the least spoiled and most beautiful stretches of the Andes, named after its impressive and rare ancient alerce trees.
The Southern Lakes, stretching down to Los Glaciares National Park, also offer spectacular scenery, with the mighty Moreno and Upsala glaciers, and challenging trekking around Mount Fitzroy.
From dense woods to petrified forests, from deserts to shoreline, Patagonia offers something for everyone, literally from the heights of the Andes, down to what many consider to be the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia.


History

Patagonia is nature at its most pristine and desolate, a land of wonders at the end of the earth. This combination of opposites, of the inviting and the inaccessible, has both lured and deterred numerous peoples to and from the region.
Indians were Patagonia's first human inhabitants, tribes that adapted their cultures to the staunch challenges of the land. Of all these tribes, the most formidable, the most legendary, were the Tehuelche -- allegedly, a a truculent, gargantuan Indian race. Of course, when the first Europeans encountered the Indians, the Tehuelche proved shorter and more amenable than reputation suggested.
Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was the first European to reach Patagonia, stopping there briefly in 1520 during his voyage around the world. Dutch adventurers blazed Magellan's trail in the following years; in 1616, a Dutch navigator named the southernmost tip of Argentina Cape Horn after his hometown, Hoorn. But aside from a scant number of coastal settlers, few Europeans journeyed into Patagonia itself.
Finally, in 1850, a Welsh expedition ventured into the vast natural wealth and wasteland that comprise Patagonia. Members of this party were amazed at the extraordinary, almost otherworldly sights before them. The names the Welsh explorers gave to many of Patagonia's geographic locales -- the Island of Desolation, Anxious Point, Port Famine -- attest to their trepidations. The names they gave to animals, on the other hand, suggest the rapport that the Welsh formed with Patagonia. In particular, the Welsh had an affinity for small flightless birds, "Pen-gywns," that according to legend, were the resurrected souls of drowned sailors.
Today, Patagonia -- which occupies nearly a quarter of Argentina alone -- is home to a minute number of farmers and sheep ranchers. Most inhabitants live near the Colorado and Negro river valleys, where farmers grow alfalfa, pears, and apples. Still, sheep herds remain Patagonia's number one economic activity. Ranchers occupy wind-protected canyons, where their flocks of sheep have adequate room and food for grazing.

Chiloe

Chiloe is famous for myths and legends with roots in its native population but with some European influence. Even though the island was Christianized by Spanish conquerors (you can visit many of the Jesuit wooden churches all over the island) its inhabitants are also very superstitious. A singing, fair-haired beauty similar to the German Lorelei is called la pincoya. It is said that if she dances towards the coast the sea will bring a lot of fish. A ghost ship carrying the souls of wrecked sailors, similar to the Flying Dutchman, is called caleuche. And if someone tells you he or she was seduced in the forest, it might have been the fiura or the trauco, which is often blamed for venereal disease or an awkward pregnancy. A very pitiful figure is the invunche; as a baby his orifices, including his eyes, were closed and one leg was sewn to his back, so that he walks on three legs.


The Isla Grande of Chiloé is South America's largest island and among its most striking cultural anomalies. Divided by the gentle peaks of the Coastal Range, Chiloé's eastern and western coasts are two worlds apart. To the west is a wilderness of endless beaches, dune habitat, and temperate rainforests, much of it protected in one of Chile's most forgotten national parks. To the east are the scattered islands of the Chiloé archipelago, sheltered from Pacific storms, intensely cultivated, home to a traditional culture of subsistence farmers, fishermen, and craftsmen.


The Jesuit order made this corner of the earth their special responsibility, erecting schools and over two hundred elegant wooden churches, nine of which are protected as national monuments. A rich mythology - populated by strange trolls, sea monsters, and eerie ghost ships - is yet another mark of Chiloé's singular history. 
Today, Chiloé balances wild, unbridled nature with one of South America's most remarkable traditional cultures. Renowned for its seafood, its woolen handicrafts, and the warmth of its people, Chiloé is still a largely unknown destination for walking and biking, fishing, paddling and birding. 
The town of Castro, characterized by its fleets of yellow fishing boats and distinctive palafito houses built on stilts above the tides, is easily accessible and provides a full range of tourist services. The charming islands of the archipelago, meanwhile, can only be visited by boat or kayak.



Historical Description


In the 16th century the inhabitants of the Chiloé archipelago followed a sedentary way of life, based on a mixed farming and fishing economy. Spanish navigators had discovered the Archipelago by the mid-16th century, but colonization did not begin until 1567, when Martín Ruiz de Gamboa founded the towns of Santiago de Castro and Chacao on the Isla Grande de Chiloé.


The Spaniards were impressed by the mild, receptive character of the local people. The universal encomienda system was applied, whereby the indigenous people paid tributes to the Spanish crown by working for the settlers in return for food and religious instruction. There were occasional native revolts, of which the most serious occurred in 1712, occasioned by the harsh treatment of the natives by the encomenderos of the time, who accused the Jesuits of having inspired the revolt, which was brutally repressed.


Missionaries had arrived with the first settlers, from the orders of St Francis and Our Lady of Mercy. Following an exploratory visit in 1608, the Society of Jesus began sending its members to initiate the process of evangelization that was to shape the cultural features of the Archipelago and to result in the building of the churches that figure in the present nomination.


The Jesuit strategy was encapsulated in the Peripatetic Mission. Annual tours were made by groups of Jesuits setting out from their College in Castro during the temperate months. They spent a few days at each of their missions according to a planned schedule; the missions had been founded close to the shore so as to permit these tours to be made by boat. While there they would attend to the spiritual and material needs of the communities. At first these missions were not permanently inhabited, but over time the Jesuits began building chapels and lodgings for their members, constructed by the local community using local materials and techniques. They appointed laymen, chosen from the leading families, to serve as fiscales, to care for the church and its cemetery and to minister to the basic spiritual needs of the community. 


This was in the Jesuit tradition, which encouraged active development of their own social and religious life by indigenous communities. By the end of the 19th century over a hundred churches had been built; between fifty and sixty survive to the present day.


Pirate raids were a feature of the 17th century, and the Spaniards living in the towns began to desert them in favour of greater security in the countryside. By so doing they took over the lands of the indigenous people, increasing racial and cultural assimilation between the two groups. The majority Chilota group in the Archipelago is the result of this process of interbreeding (mestizaje). Christianity was embraced by the natives whilst the Spaniards adopted the local language, Veliche (now extinct), for communication. The Spaniards also adopted the way of life of the local people, engaging in fishing and agriculture and using their technologies.
When the Jesuits were expelled in 1767 their work was continued by the Franciscans, who appreciated the value of the Jesuits' work and actively continued it. They used the Peripatetic Mission as the basis for the creation of nine centres, each with its own area of work. This was to become the present parish system, created in 1840.


Despite the efforts of the Spanish colonial power, the towns became no more than administrative centres, and by the time colonial rule came to an end there were no more than five towns (villas) in Chiloé. The strategic importance of the Archipelago was recognized, however, and it was dependent on the Captaincy General of Lima rather than that of Chile. The military garrison was stationed in the fortress of San Carlos de Ancud, founded in 1768.


The Chilota population was deeply loyal to the Spanish Crown. When the struggle for Chilean independence began in 1810, Chiloé became the headquarters of the Spanish operation to recover Chile and Peru. Although this failed, Chiloé remained a Spanish enclave after Chile finally won its independence in 1818; it remained the last toehold of Spanish rule in South America until it was incorporated into the new Republic eight years later.
Chiloé enjoyed a period of prosperity in the 19th century. Its ports were visited by ships travelling south and its timber was a major export. This came to an end at the end of the century, as a result of the opening of the Panamá Canal and the over-exploitation of the islands' cypress and larch trees. During the first half of the 20th century the economy also suffered from serious problems in agriculture and stockbreeding. As a result there was substantial Chilota emigration southwards, to Patagonia and the Magallanes Straits area. At the present time the economy of the Archipelago is developing on the basis of the controlled industrial exploitation of the natural resources (timber and fish) and traditional agriculture and fishing.