India’s Mayurbhanj District in Odisha and the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh were listed among TIME Magazine’s list of “World’s Greatest Places of 2023,” which is highlighting 50 extraordinary destinations across the globe to explore.
- The Mayurbhanj and Ladakh have been selected for their ‘rare tigers and ancient temples’, and ‘adventures and eats’, respectively.
About Mayurbhanj:
i.It is mentioned as the only place on earth to spot the exceedingly rare black tiger.
ii.Simlipal National Park in Mayurbhanj is home to over 40 mammals including Asian elephants and Bengal tigers.
iii.The magazine mentioned the Mayurbhanj Chhau, a captivating dance festival on UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Intangible Cultural Heritage list will take place on a much larger scale in April 2023.
About Ladakh:
i.Ladakh, the farthest-flung part of North India was mentioned as having astonishing alpine landscapes with Tibetan Buddhist culture.
ii.In 2023, India designated its first Dark Sky Reserve, in Hanle village, about 168 miles southeast of Ladakh’s capital, Leh. The village has roughly 270 clear nights annually, making it ideal for astronomical splendor. The reserve spans 414 sq. mi. (Square Miles ) and envelops much of the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
Additional info:
i.The list includes 50 ‘far-flung and familiar spots’ from Giza and Saqqara in Egypt to the gastronomy hot spot of Dijon, France.
ii.Sustainable tourism practices are being enforced by some of the destinations to protect their natural beauty.
iii.The Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia is moving toward allowing only one foreign visitor per local resident.
iv.Backdrop: In its first list of the World’s Greatest Places of 2022, TIME Magazine named India’s Ahmedabad (Gujarat), and Kerala.
Recent Related News:
According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), 3 new Cultural Sites in India Sun Temple, Modhera, Gujarat, Vadnagar – A multi-layered Historic town, Gujarat, and Rock-cut Sculptures and Reliefs of the Unakoti, Unakoti Range, Unakoti District, Tripura, have been added to the provisional list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
About Ladakh:
Lieutenant Governor – Brigadier B.D. Mishra (Retired.)
Wildlife Sanctuary – Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary
River – Indus River [Origin (Mansarovar lake, Tibet)]
