World’s most colourful cities to celebrate the festival of colours

March 26, 2016
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1.       Mauritius –
Gold 
Mauritius is
synonymous with long, luxurious holidays on its beautiful powder white beaches
with sparkling turquoise waters. If you manage to move yourself away from that
comfy lounger under the golden sun, there are plenty of things to do in
paradise island. Shop duty free in Port Louis, introduce

yourself to giant
Amazon lilies at its beautiful botanic gardens, visit Creole mansions for a
trip back into the colonial history of Mauritius, walk through rolling tea
plantations and dig into sumptuous street food which is a blend of all the
cultures that make this colourful island. Also plan a trip to Chamarel – a
village in the south, to explore the multi-hued geological phenomenon known as
‘The Coloured Earth.’And if you still need a push to head to Mauritius, here’s
the final nudge: Indians do not need a visa to visit Mauritius for up to 90
days. How is that for a ‘golden’ opportunity!

2.       Dubai –
Yellow
All reference to size
is taken quite seriously in Dubai, where you will come across the largest, the
tallest and the biggest of every possible structure. So once you are adequately
wowed by all things huge, proceed to another Dubai specialty, the shiny malls.
You can also enjoy some great views from the observation deck on the 148th
floor of the Burj Khalifa, there is lots of fun and games at the Wild Wadi
Water Park and some wildlife time at the Dubai Dolphinarium. And when you think
you can head to the beach to rest your eyes from all the glitz, remember that
the sun and sand in Dubai are a lovely shade of yellow too.  While you need a visa
to visit Dubai, getting one is fairly simple and takes only 3-4 working days.
3.       Hong Kong –
Crimson
Hong Kong – the
quintessential city that never ceases to amaze. Behind the smooth glass and
grey metal of its numerous skyscrapers is a traditional crimson fabric
interwoven with its Chinese roots and colonial past.
Discover a city that
offers a great family vacation with its theme parks, street food, exciting
night life and huge shopping malls which encourage shoppers to go a little
berserk! Not just that, the country’s over booked cultural events calendar can
keep you quite busy.
In all the back to back action, keep in mind that the
skyline glittering with multi-coloured lights and the city look absolutely
spectacular from the pulsating Tsim Sha Tsui promenade and Victoria Peak –
remember to stand still for a while to take in the views. Shhhhhh! And here’s more reason to head eastward, no visas are
required to visit Hong Kong for up to 14 days.
 
4.       Toronto –
Blue
With nearly 200
ethnicities and about 150 spoken languages making up multicultural Toronto, it
is very easily a top contender for the most colourful city title.
Essential
Toronto is to be experienced under the blue sky of the summer months – locals
harvest as much of the sunshine as is physically possible by invading every
outdoor space – be it a bar, a pub or a restaurant; alfresco dining is how
Toronto rolls. Join the sun soaking lot on pretty sidewalks as you head to top
attractions.
For starters, the CN Tower with high altitude thrills, a revolving
restaurant as well as a light show at night! Also make time for a visit to the
Casa Loma – a museum and another Toronto landmark; the mecca of ice hockey at
the Hockey Hall of Fame; or just take a break from the city and head to the
Toronto Islands, where the clear blue skies meet the sparkling sapphire of Lake
Ontario.
 
5.       Tokyo – Pink
 Walk into Tokyo and
then flow with it. That is the only way to experience this busy jigsaw of a
city teeming with people. Choose to explore Tokyo in April, when the cherry
blossom season is in full swing.
Set aside the crazy side of Tokyo – with its
gadgets, cute mascots, trendy fast fashion and everything ultra modern- and
head to its serene gardens where the pink of the cherry blossom rules for about
two weeks every year.
The Zen gardens with their still ponds and tree lined
paths redefine the colour pink for a Tokyo first timer. You will need to
apply for a visa to experience this colourful springtime wonder, but it takes
just 3 days to process one.
6.       Bunol – Red
Visit Bunol in August
for the La Tomatina festival – one of the largest street parties in the world
and probably the only one that involves tomatoes! It is also what has made
Bunol a tourist hot spot.
If you get the time from taking the all-pervasive red
tomato slush off yourself, go to the centre of the town to see the landmark
castle-fortress Castillo de Bunol. You will need to apply for a Schengen visa
if you are thinking of being a part of this messy red party. La Tomatina
festival in all its slushy glory.
7.       Dublin –
Green
Start getting to know
Dublin with beers from the rooftop bar at the Guinness Storehouse. Proceed to
Kilmainham Gaol for Ireland’s story. Then there is the Dublin Castle, St.
Patrick’s Cathedral and Croke Park to be explored.
But come March 17th, and the
city will turn into all shades of green for the annual St. Patrick’s day
celebrations. Everything from the parade to the people and buildings are
dressed up in green for many days of continuous partying. Green all the way at
the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
8.       Amsterdam –
Orange
Do the art and
history circuit of Amsterdam, along with of course, its beer trail. Visit the
Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House and the Rembrandt House Museum for a taste of
the city’s rich history. Go also to the Royal Palace of Amsterdam.
Get the
Heineken Experience by visiting the former brewery complete with a tasting. And
when a soccer match is on- see the city turn into a bright shade of orange. The
‘Orange’ fan appears in large numbers and takes over all available space as a
display of support. Orange coloured streamers give them company. You will need
to apply for a Schengen visa to visit this beer and soccer heaven.
 9.       Paris – Red, Blue and White
Museums, churches,
more churches and even more museums – Paris is a culture junkie’s dream. If you
want a break from The Louvre, Notre Dame de Paris, The Basilica of the Sacred
Heart, Montmartre and the Musee d’Orsay, there is always the Eiffel Tower and
Disneyland Paris too.
It is after all this that your romance with the city will
begin – once you step into the backstreets for an exploration, or after you
have sat on a bench on Champs Elysees – just to watch the world go by. That is
when you will be completely wrapped up in the red, blue and white colours that
make Paris. Apply for a Schengen visa to cross Paris off your bucket list.
 10.   Santorini – Blue and White
A Santorini holiday may be summed up as wine, views and
sunsets. You can really take advantage of your location by hiking from Fira to
Oia – to better the best views ever!
Once you’ve been left speechless by
enormity and magnificence of the it all, there are the beaches, the pretty
countryside to explore, some outdoor cinema, lots of swimming in hot springs
and volcano boat tours too.
A quintessential Santorini experience is a quiet
outdoor meal – look into the distance as the blue rooftops merge with the
sparkling azure of the Aegean.
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