5 Days Trip To Las Vegas, Zion National Park, And Grand Canyon

Getting to Vegas from Fargo was one of the easiest in 2008. There were quite a few low-cost deals to Vegas on the weekends - fly down on a Friday and head back on Sunday evening. Now, things have changed but you still do get pretty good deals once in a while. If I remember well I got an under-100 deal for a ticket. It was our grad school friend's meet and we planned 5 days at a rented Villa, located close to the Vegas downtown.

Day 1

The first day was much spent relaxing, hanging out in the villa, and catching up with everyone. The villa was well-equipped with a full pantry, a great bar, a pool room,  and a backyard swimming pool. The rooms were pretty, cozy and comfortable. 

Airbnb home we rented for our stay

Day 2

On the second day, we headed out for Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon. We took a tour bus. It was January but I thought, Vegas being a desert wouldn't get too cold. I was wrong! While I packed light clothes, good for summer, it turned out a miscalculation. My jacket from Fargo was my savior. In fact, it was snowing at Grand Canyon. The snow-covered Canyon looked gorgeous, a lot different from the usual pics I had seen of it. Trekking was not allowed due to bad weather conditions. We visited the viewpoints only.

The Hoover Dam, named after the 31st President of the USA, Herbert Hoover is counted as one of the 7 industrial wonders of the world. It provides water and electricity to many Cities in three states - California, Nevada, and Arizona

The Hoover Dam is considered a feat because of its scale, location, and the time it was built. It was a massive project for the time when the US was going through the great depression. Built on a rough terrain and the rough waters of the Colorado River which used to flood parts of Southern California and Arizona before the Dam was constructed

The Grand Canyon, covered in mist!

In winter, the snow-covered canyon has an entirely different aura

This canyon is a part of the Colorado River basin and is famous for its geological formation as a result of billions of years of arid-land erosion. The canyon explosion layers of soil strata that data back to Proterozoic and Paleozoic Era

Aerial View of Hoover Dam from Google Earth. It was the highest dam in the world when completed in 1935. Standing tall at 726 ft (221 m) almost 60 stories high above the Colorado River. It is still listed among the largest dams in the world though not the highest.

Aerial View of Lake Mead, the largest man-made lake (640 sq. km) in the US. It is the reservoir formed by building the Hoover Dam

Statistics of water and power distribution from Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. Southern California consumes a major chunk of the water and power allocated. In recent years, Lake Mead's water level has gone down drastically, probably due to temporary drought or more serious aridification. This alarming condition has led to reduced allocation of water to the three states

The course of the Colorado River Via the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, and down south toward Mexico

Day 3

On the third day, we headed for Zion National Park. This time we rented cars. The drive to the park was beautiful.

Scenic drive on the way to Zion National Park

Checkerboard Mesa, Navajo Sandstone summit at a height of 6520 ft and above, in Zion. Zion National Park is a colorful geological formation of exposed layers of sedimentary rock dating back to as old as the Mesozoic era 

Checkerboard Mesa viewpoint. It was an interesting climb on layers of eroded mountain. It was named by Preston P. Patrow, the 3rd Superintendent of Zion. The name was coined because of the summit's 'checkerboard appearance formed by horizontal cross-bedding of ancient sand dunes and vertical cracking due to the expansion and contraction of sandstone in winter' - Source: information board in Zion

Fort Zion is a game and gift shop with a small petting zoo in the town of Virgin on the way to Zion

Day 4

On the fourth day, we hopped the casinos at the strip and downtown and some of my friends went for the Cirque-du-Soleil show at MGM Grand.

Map of the Las Vegas Strip along a stretch of South Las Vegas Boulevard which has some of the biggest casinos and hotels in Las Vegas. About 14 hotels are among the top 30 largest hotels in the world.

Vegas Strip as seen from McCarran airport

Entrance of Luxor Hotel and Casino. It is designed in the form of a huge Pyramid and the interiors are designed with an Egyptian theme

Leo the Lion is the mascot of MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer). In the past, MGM Grand was famous for its boxing matches and Lion habitat. When we visited Vegas in 2008, the Lions were still there. They were moved later to a ranch about 12 miles away. MGM Grand is the largest single-building hotel in the world and is the third largest hotel in the world with 6852 suites

With 7092 suites, The Venetian - Palazzo designated as the busiest hotel is the 2nd largest hotel in the world. It is designed like the City of Venice and much like the romantic city, exudes romanticism and luxuriance

Paris, Las Vegas is designed like Paris and has a half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower 

Roman-styled fountains in front of Caesar's Palace

Hard Rockers KISS at Hard Rock Cafe

The Colosseum at a restaurant in Ceasar's Palace which is designed after a Roman theme

Downtown Vegas' Fremont Experience along a stretch of Freemont Street which has the world's largest video screen

The 1375 ft long, 90 ft wide Viva Vision Canopy, is the world's largest LED canopy screen in Downtown Las Vegas with 16.4 million pixels. It is suspended 90 ft above Fremont Street.

Golden Nugget Casino has on its displays, the Hands of Faith golden nugget which is the largest, metal detected golden nugget. 

Freemont Street Experience Entrance

Day 5

On the fifth day, we lazed around at the Villa and packed up for the next day's early morning flight back.

5 Days On Road From Miami To New York

I started my trip from Dallas, where I lived then. I flew to Miami and joined three others who flew down from different parts of the country. The idea was to do an East Coast Drive from Miami to New York. We didn't stay at any hotels for the entire trip. Slept in the car, freshened up at the rest areas, and stopped by some of the beaches and cities along I-95. It took us 5 days including the flights. I flew back to Dallas from New York.  It was definitely a fun drive. More details later.

Historical Heritage Of Goa

Arambol beach

Goa is synonymous with beaches, parties, carnivals, and raging nightlife. It's a favorite weekend getaway destination for most in India. However, there's more to Goa than all the fun and frolic, It has a deep-rooted history which, perhaps, not many know. The discovery of petroglyphs at Ugalimal and Kazur in 1993 establishes Goa's history to as far back as the Mesolithic age (8000 BCE).

Petroglyphs of Usgalimal on the Banks of River Kushavati 

Goa's rich heritage includes rock-cut Jain and Buddhist caves and temples to southern and western-influenced Hindu temples and Roman-influenced catholic churches and convents.

In 1986, 7 Goan Churches and Convents  were included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since they "are outstanding examples of an architectural ensemble which illustrates the work of missionaries in Asia" - Source: UNESCO website 

(clockwise on the Map)

1. Chapel of St. Catherine of Alexandria 2. Church of Cajetan 3. SE Cathedral 4. Church and Convent St. Francis of Assisi 5. Basilica of Bom Jesus 6. St Augustine Tower (remains of St. Augustine Church) 7. Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

Goa's historical timeline:

8300 BCE,  Upper Palaeolithic to Mesolithic age

1200 BCE, Iron Age:

Between 322 and 185 BCE Mauryans ruled over this part of India. Mauryans were great patrons of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and the Ajivikas. Archeological excavations have brought into prominence many Buddhist caves, and Jain and Hindu temples all across Goa.

Between, 50 BCE, mid-1st century BCE and 250 CE Early 3^rd century CE (approx.), the Satavahanas ruled over Goa. The Satavahanas developed maritime trade with Coastal European countries. European-turned-Buddhists moved to India. Greco-Buddhist art and architecture thrived during this period.

Around the 4th century AD, the Bhojas took hold of Goa. They were patrons of Buddhism and Greco-Buddhist art and architecture.

Medieval period:

From the 10th to 14th century CE Kadambas ruled over Goa. They introduced the Kannada language to Goa

Between 1347 and 1518 Bahamani Sultanate took over Goa. They brought Muslim influence to Goa.

Between 1336 and 1646 Vijaynagar Empire brought back southern influence.

Between 1489 and 1510 Adil Shah of Bijapur Sultanate made a second capital at Velha Goa (Old Goa)

In 1510, Vasco Da Gama landed in Calicut, eventually arrived at Goa, and established 450-year rule of the Portuguese in Goa. The Portuguese introduced Christianity To Goa. They built many Churches and Convents with Roman and catholic influence.

In 1961 Indian Army annexed Goa into Indian territory and created the Union territory of, Goa, Daman, Diu

In 1987 Goa gained recognition as an Independent state post the Konkan agitation.

As of 2023, there are 14 forts and remains of forts in Goa (marked in Yellow). Only Aguada Fort is included among the 21 historical heritage of national importance (The other 20 historical heritage of national importance are marked in Cyan. 14 of these are located in Old Goa,7 of which are UNESCO heritage sites)

Heritage Sites of National Importance in Velha Goa (Old Goa)

There are 51 heritage sites that are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India marked in blue, yellow, and cyan

St Augustine Tower

The Aguada fort

The Lamgau Caves

The Surla Mosque

The Mangueshi Temple

The Shantadurga Temple

The Beach Cottage we stayed at for Rs. 400 a day

Stepwells (Baolis) Of Delhi

Current list of existing, buried, or destroyed Baolis 
As per the last survey done by the Archeological Survey of India, there were 32 step-wells in Delhi, of which only 16 are existing today. Originally, there were at least 100 'Baolis' across Delhi as per old journals and books written by historians but there is no confirmed/official documentation of the same

The Lahorheri Stepwell, A16th century step-well was built by the Lodhi Dynasty
 A typical design of a stepwell
There is a main deeper well connected to the confined underground aquifer which supplies water to the tank. The well water was used for drinking. The tank water was used for bathing and washing

Agrasen ki Baoli, A 14th-century step-well was built by King Agrasen. 

Rajon ki Baoli (left) is a 16th-century stepwell built by Sikandar Lodi. Gandhak (sulfur) ki Baoli (right) is a 13th-century stepwell built by Sultan Iltutmish. This well was fed by a sulfur spring with curative properties

Purana Qila Baoli (left) is a 16th-century stepwell built by Ruler Sher Shah Suri. Wazirpur Gumbad Baoli (right) was supposedly built during the reign of the Lodi Dynasty between 1451 and 1526. The actual details are still unknown.

Feroz Shah Kotla Baoli is a 14th-century step-well, built by Ruler Firoz Shah Tughlaq. This is one of the differently designed Baolis in Delhi. Unlike the linear Baolis, this one was designed in a circular form and it was completely covered. The roof was destroyed over time and Baoli is inaccessible to visitors due to accidents at the site in recent years.

Built by Ghiyassuddin Tughlaq in the 14th Century the Tughlaqabad Fort step-wells were also different in design. These wells were squarish in structure with side access. About 14 wells were supposedly constructed in the fort of which only two remain. The east Baoli is closed to the public due to its dilapidated condition.

The Lal Qila Baoli was probably built by the Tughlaq Dynasty in the 14th century or earlier. It was reconstructed or renovated by the Lodis considering the workmanship it currently has and was later renovated again by the Mughals during the construction of the Red Fort.

The Nizammudin Dargah Baoli (left) was built in the 14th century by Ghiyassuddin Tughlaq. The Baoli is in use and is fed by some 7 underground springs.  The Arab Sarai Baoli (right) was built in the 17th century by Emperor Jehangir 

The Qutub Sahib Baoli (left) is a 13th-century step-well built by Sultan Iltutmish. The Pir Ghalib or Hindu Rao Hospital Baoli (right) is a 14th-century step-well built by Feroz Shah Tughlaq. Both are in the process of revival. They were in a horrible state as can be seen.

The oldest Baoli was supposed to have been in Anangtal behind Jogmaya temple, built in the 12th century or earlier. There are some ruins found in the forest area but without excavations, it will be difficult to say where the Baoli existed and how old was it. 

The Largest Baoli areawise in Delhi is Feroz Shah Kotla Baoli. The deepest Baoli existing Baoli is the Gandhak Baoli and the deepest dried-up Baoli is the East Baoli in Tughlaqabad Fort.