Welcome to Kielce
Situated midway between Kraków and Warsaw, Kielce became part of the Russian Empire as a result of Poland's eighteenth-century Partitions, and to this day looks very different to the Habsburg-influenced cities of southern Maopolska. Like most tsarist garrison towns, Kielce was laid out along a single main street, creating a 2km-long central boulevard with no real focal point – never mind a main Rynek. The town is nevertheless a pleasant and laid-back place in which to stroll, especially in spring and summer when the main strip fills up with café tables and promenaders. With a trio of absorbing museums and an ensemble of relaxing parks, it's as fine a place as any to break your journey.
For obvious reasons, Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram is still often referred to by its colonial name: Trivandrum. Most travellers merely springb...
The holy hill of Tirumala is, on any given day, filled with tens of thousands of blissedout devotees, many of whom have endured long journeys to see t...
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Once the Andhran capital and a signifi cant Buddhist centre, Amaravathi is India’s biggest stupa (Indian/foreigner ₹5/100; h8am- 6pm), measuring 2...
Vijayawada is a busy, rapidly growing city and an important port at the head of the delta of the mighty Krishna River. It’s bustling, but it’s als...