Xi'an Terracotta Army

The Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang never did things in halves. Not satisfied with building the Great Wall, he spent his final years roaming the fringes of his kingdom seeking an elixir for immortality. And when he ironically died during his quest, his body was returned to the capital near Xi'an and buried in a massive underground, city sized mausoleum.

Thus wrote the historian Sima Qian, almost a century after Qin Shi Huang's grandson was overthrown and the Han dynasty was established in 206 BC. Nobody knew how authentic the account was until some peasants digging a well found Qin Shi Huang's guardians in the afterlife: three massive rectangular vault containing more than ten thousand life sized terracotta warriors in battle formation.

The Terracotta Army is renowned for its shockingly human attributes and features; each of the artifacts is different - from the hairstyles, facial expression, postures and clothing.  The individualism is such that you can't help but feel they are real people who got fossilized by some natural disaster. This is especially true in places where the excavations are incomplete; giving the impressions that the earth is gripping on to their half buried busts.  Even the horses are so finely sculpted that archaeologists have been able to identify every single breed.

At the end of it, there is just one lingering question, will they excavate a life sized statue of Qin Shi Huang who is leading the ten thousand warriors.

If you are planning to visit the monument, the best bet would be to search for online bus tickets from the city center. There are also numerous agencies that do bus ticket booking to the spot.

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Bus Ticket Booking in India

In a tiny state that is packed to the hilt with multiple beachfront, it is actually surprisingly easy to escape the touristy crowds and find your  secluded spot of beach paradise.  This is especially easy in the southern part of the state, by far one of the least developed in area in South Goa where you have miles of secluded beach stretches to fulfill all your Robin Crusoe fantasies.

The best part about Southern Goa is that within minutes of commute from even the most frenzied of resorts, you're sure to find a blissfully secluded stretch of beach. From Colva, move north to the charming villages of Betelbatim and Majorda where a handful of 5 star properties has actually  managed to keep cramped up small-scale developments at bay.  These stretches are occupied by sea birds, solitary swimmers and the rare beach shack serving fish curry lunch, lime soda and chai. If you are on a budget, the best way to reach Goa is to make an online bus tickets booking from Bangalore

Drive past Benaulim and Cavelossim and  south of the River Sal at Mobor and you'll discover virgin golden sand stretches where gypsy fisherfolk haul in their catch. This is also home to the famed Blue Whale beach shack where you can feast on fresh seafood and wash it down with a pint of cold beer.  

From Morbor, head south across the lazy Sal on a ferry to arrive at the tranquil magnificence of Agonda Beach. This is a truly stunning beach that is as amazingly picturesque as it is quiet with a turtle center in the middle that protects the endangered Olive Ridley eggs. Agonda Beach is not the best place for a leisurely swim as the shelves drop steeply at high tide but few places can beat it for a romantic sunset walk. Make sure you compare fares with multiple sites before making your bus ticket booking to Goa

The star of southern Goa is undoubtedly Palolem with its stunning bays that manages to retain their charm despite the mushrooming of numerous beach shacks.  From here travel to the laid back Patnem – the termination point for Goa's beach development. Further south is Galgibag, a small patch of land that is home to numerous dolphins, sea eagles and Olive Ridley turtles.

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