Why Interesting Facts About the Grand Canyon?

The Grand Canyon is one of the world's most famous natural wonders and is a favourite attraction to visit for tourists. Before going to visit the attraction, it might be an idea to get to know the site a little better; why not wow your friends and family or simply other tourists with these titbits of information on one of the world's greatest natural wonders?

The Grand Canyon is Arizona's number 1 tourist attraction. This is not particularly surprising considering the widespread fame of the canyon, but with places like Monument Valley and the Four Corners monument to compete with, the Grand Canyon has surely earned its position at the top.

At 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide it is one of the Natural Wonders of the World. The huge gorge is joined on the list by other natural wonders such as the Aurora Borealis, Mount Everest and the Great Barrier Reef.

Only 10% of visitors enter the North Rim. This part of the canyon still gives visitors spectacular views of the canyon but the more familiar vistas of the South Rim draw in the larger numbers.

The Grand Canyon Skywalk was completed in 2007 at a cost of $31 million. This is located on the West Rim and allows visitors to walk out on the glass-bottomed platform. The Skywalk does have amazing views, but unfortunately cameras are not allowed on it, so some people leave the Skywalk feeling disappointed. For the best views of the canyon it would be more advisable to take a helicopter ride and perhaps incorporate the Skywalk into that trip.

Humans lived in the Grand Canyon around 4,000 years ago. Those who have travelled deep into the canyon discovered a number of caves, and in these caves were artefacts that proved there had been human existence long ago. Animal figurines that were a few inches tall were found, and they were made mostly from willow or cottonwood twigs.

The canyon is populated by 5 Native American tribes: the Hopi, Navajo, Havasupai, Paiute and Hualapai tribes. The ancient tribes live around the canyon area and some are happy to integrate with tourists, showing visitors all about the history of their ancestors and the cultural practices that have been passed down through the ages.

Getting Acquainted With The Routes And Lines

There are a good number of options to commute from one destination to the other. Depending upon the location and needs, traveling by railways can be a quite pleasant option. Traveling in sheer comfort amid the beautiful scenic backdrop is an incomparable experience and can only be provided by a train journey. This has been one of the best modes of public transport and continues to be the same till date. The present-day trains run on the latest fast track technologies, making the journey more comfortable, enjoyable and less time consuming. The high speed trains are capable of covering miles in a few hours with the help of this latest technology. Moreover, the reservation process has also been made hassle free in order to further enhance level of convenience.

Seeing the ever increasing popularity of railway transportation and to cater to the increasing needs of the passengers, more number of service providers are coming into picture. Merseyrail is one such popular name in the world of railway transportation, mainly centered at Liverpool. It is the official name of the national rail network, which has been leased for a period of 25 years (till 2028). The current Merseyrail network includes five pre-existing lines and a couple of new lines as well. These rail lines mainly include Mersey Railway, Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, Wirral Railway and Great Western Railway, Cheshire Lines Committee Railway, and the London and North Western Railway. Some of the operational paths, upon which the entire network operates, are listed below in this article.

Northern Line
This is one of the main original lines that are fully controlled by Merseyrail. This rail line operates from Hunts Cross through Brunswil Station. There are a good number of services that operate in this part of Liverpool. Regular trains run every 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday. A five minute halt at each station of this section is kept in order to make it easy for the boarders and those who have to leave. Connections to various other parts like Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria and Wigan Wallgate are also provided by this line.

Wirral Line
This is among the two initial commuter lines that were once controlled by Merseyrail. This line is mainly centered on the Merseyside region. Liverpool and Wirral peninsula are connected through the Mersey Tunnel with the help of this well managed line. This line further reaches out to the West Kirby, Ellesmere Port and New Brighton. A number of historic rail networks have been amalgamated in order to form this new network and connect the entire allocated region.

Enjoy Guide to Mahabaleshwar Hotels, Attractions and Things to Carry

Mahabaleshwar is located in the majestic Western Ghats of Maharashtra. Situated at the altitude of 1372 meters, Mahabaleshwar is the tourists' paradise in western India. The cool climate and amazing monsoons make Mahabaleshwar the perfect getaway for tourists looking for a refreshing change from their hectic routines. If you are planning a trip to Mahabaleshwar, then just booking a room in one of the hotels in Mahabaleshwar is not enough. You need to become familiar with the tourist norms of this hill station for an unforgettable trip.

Location

The biggest hill station in Sahyadri range, Mahabaleshwar is 227 km and 115 km away from Mumbai and Pune respectively. Mahabaleshwar is 47 km away from Satara, which is the nearest district. Naturally, the best way to reach to Mahabaleshwar is by getting to one of these cities. From there, you can either take a bus or rent a car. Once in Mahabaleshwar, getting around is not difficult at all. You can easily get a taxi or bus to get around the popular tourist spots in the city. If you have booking with popular hotels in Mahabaleshwar, chances are that you might get discount holiday packages that include the expenses of sightseeing.

Mahabaleshwar hotels

All budget, deluxe and luxury hotels in Mahabaleshwar are bustling with tourists throughout the year. So, bookings a room in advance is mandatory for the best accommodations. All the hotels offer exceptional accommodation for groups as well as couples. A lot of hotels including government cottages are excellent for backpackers or groups of trekkers.

Attractions

Any time of the year is suitable to plan a trip to Mahabaleshwar. However, March to May is the peak season, while June to September witnesses heavy monsoons. Natural attractions and panoramic views of Mahabaleshwar are plenty. Trips are conducted every 2-3 hours to various sightseeing spots in Mahabaleshwar. You can also visit the nearby tourist destinations like Panchgani, Tapola, Pratapgad Fort and Kshetra Mahabaleshwar temple. Kshetra Mahabaleshwar is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and also the origin of five important rivers in Maharashtra.

Amongst many views of mountains and valleys following are the must-see points in Mahabaleshwar:

• Arthur's Seat
• Babington Point
• Bombay Point/Sunset Point
• Kate's Point
• Lingamala Falls
• Lodwick Point
• Venna Lake
• Wilson's Point

Things to carry

• The basic things to carry while travelling to Mahabaleshwar depend on the season. However, carrying sufficient warm clothing like sweaters, socks, and hand gloves is a must in winter. While raincoats, umbrellas, jackets or hoodies are required during rainy season.