Things to Do in Asia

Rajpath, or King’s Way, is a grand boulevard running through the heart of New Delhi from Rashtrapati Bhawan through India Gate and on to the National Stadium. The 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) stretch of road, considered one of the most important in India, is home to some of Delhi’s top attractions, making it a perfect starting point for a walking tour of the new city.

Designed by British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens (also responsible for India Gate), Rajpath was meant to offer an uninterrupted view of the new city from the Viceroy’s palace, today the residence of the President of India.

Get a taste of the local flora and fauna at Kuala Lumpur’s Forest Reserve Institute of Malaysia (FRIM). At over 3,775 acres, FRIM holds hundreds of plant species and both regenerated and secondary forest.

Visitors hike along shady trails past a river and waterfall cutting through the forest, as well as the remains of an old Orang Asli settlement. The Dipterocarp arboretum is a collection of living trees for botanical reference, and the Bambusetum features 30 different species of local bamboo.

The more adventurous may want to explore some of the four jungle tracks: Keruing Trail, Rover Track, Engkabang Trail and Salleh Trail, all of which pass through some of most spectacular secondary forests in Malaysia.

Also a highlight is the Canopy Walk, allowing up close exploration of the rainforest’s treetops. Canopy Walks are limited to 250 people per day and are closed Monday and Friday.

The UNESCO World Heritage–listed Red Fort (Lal Qila) traces its roots back to the middle of the 17th century, when Mughal Emperor Shahjahan moved his base from Agra to Delhi. For the two centuries that followed, this gargantuan sandstone complex served as the royal residence of the Mughal Empire. Today, it’s one of the city’s most popular attractions, often visited in tandem with nearby Chandni Chowk.

 

The Basics

One of the best-preserved architectural sites in Delhi, the Red Fort provides a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of India’s former Mughal Empire. Highlights of this octagonal complex include the Diwan-i-Aam, where emperors and prime ministers once addressed the public, plus the Mumtaz Mahal, which hosts a Mughal history museum, complete with six halls full of artifacts ranging from old manuscripts to astronomical tools. Don’t miss the Diwan-i-Khas, a small hall full of decorated archways and topped with regal chhatris (domed canopies).

The Red Fort is a highlight on most group and private sightseeing tours of Old and New Delhi, many of which also include stops at the nearby Chandni Chowk market, India Gate, and the Jama Masjid. Evening tours may include admission to the Red Fort sound and light show along with dinner.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The Red Fort is huge, spanning over 120 acres (49 hectares). Make sure you set aside at least two hours for your visit.
  
• The complex is wheelchair accessible, featuring wide pathways and limited steps.
  
• Wear sunscreen and bring a hat or a parasol, as much of the fort is uncovered and open to the elements.
  
• The Red Fort is closed on Mondays.
  

 

How to Get There

The Red Fort is located in bustling Old Delhi, just north of the Jama Masjid, on the western banks of the Yamuna River. It’s right next to the Lal Qila metro station on the Violet Line of the Delhi Metro and about a 10-minute walk from the Old Delhi Railway Station. Most visitors arrive by car or metro or as part of a guided tour.

 

When to Get There

The Red Fort is open throughout the year, Tuesday to Sunday, from sunrise to sunset. The best time to visit is in winter, when the weather is comfortably cool. If your Delhi trip coincides with the sweltering summer season of May and June, consider arriving early in the day when temperatures are at their coolest and crowds are smallest.

At the site of Mahatma Ghandi's cremation in 1948 is a memorial. In black marble, surrounded by lawn and with an eternal flame burning, Raj Ghat remembers the man who is known as the Father of India for his tireless and pacifist work to reclaim India's independence from Britain. The memorial has the words 'He Ram,' which translates as 'O, God,' said to be the last words spoken by Ghandi after his assassination. Every Friday, the day of his death, a memorial ceremony is held.

'Raj Ghat' loosely translates as 'Kings Bank' and Ghandi's memorial is not the only one here. There are also many others to India's Prime Ministers since independence, including Indira Ghandi, similarly assassinated, and Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India.

Tokyo’s Rainbow Bridge, a suspension bridge spanning Tokyo Bay to connect Shibaura Wharf and the Odaiba waterfront area, is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, particularly at night. The bridge was completed in 1993 and was painted all in white to help it better blend in with the Tokyo skyline. During the day, solar panels on the bridge collect and store energy to power a series of colorful lights that turn on after sundown and give the bridge its name.

If you’re planning to spend a morning or afternoon at Odaiba, Tokyo’s futuristic “New City” filled with shopping and arcades, check to see if the pedestrial path across the Rainbow Bridge is open. If so, you can walk across in less than 30 minutes with excellent harbor views along the way. From the various observation platforms you can spot Tokyo Tower, the Kanebo building and Skytree.

Hong Kong and its surrounding islands have plenty of sleepy fishing villages and secluded beaches, but if you’re looking for a more upscale beach resort experience, you’ll find it at Repulse Bay. Primarily a high end residential area, Repulse Bay also has a crescent-shaped white sand beach -- one of the best on Hong Kong Island -- with a roped off area for swimming and a shopping and dining venue inside the Repulse Bay Tower.

Some of the beaches on Lantau and Cheung Chau Islands are nicer and quieter, but Repulse Bay scores extra points for its proximity to the city. In just a 20-minute bus ride from Central you can be soaking up the sun in Repulse Bay. To ensure a quieter beach experience, avoid the central portion of the beach where tour buses from the Mainland tend to unload; opt instead for eastern portion. You’ll find grocery and convenience stores in the area where you can buy supplies for a picnic lunch, but expect prices to be higher than if you stock up in the city before coming.

The Reunification Palace is an important site of political and cultural significance, built by the French in 1868 to mark the newly established colony of Indochina.

In 1945, it briefly became the headquarters for the Japanese after their defeat of the French. In 1962, two Vietnamese rebel pilots bombed the palace - the president survived but the palace did not. He commissioned a new one to be built.  It was renamed Independence Palace and the design became a Modernist icon.

In 1975 the palace was the symbolic site of the triumphant liberation of Saigon. Vietnam was then reunified; since then the building has been known as Reunification Palace.

Today it is a working government building as well as having areas open to the public. Tour the private quarters, the president's former office and the War Command Room. You get a real sense of what happened here and  its importance in Vietnamese history.