A week in this motley land is all you need to fall in love with it for a lifetime
A week in this motley land is all you need to fall in love with it for a lifetime
Many years ago, a friend visited Israel and returned with fascinating tales. Since then, this country has been among the top three on my bucket list. I waited patiently, planning and plotting various ways to get here, but nothing seemed to work. ‘Wait for your call,” a wise friend once said. And then suddenly, an opportunity came along. A month later, I found myself at Ben Gurion International Airport, approximately 19km to the southeast of Tel Aviv, all set to explore and experience all that was in store.
1. Haifa
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Hello, Haifa
Though my stay at Haifa — Israel’s third largest city and second largest port — was a short one, I left the place with the image of the beautiful Baha’i Gardens standing tall. The wonderfully manicured Gardens are a sight to behold. Do watch out for the opening and closing time before you visit. If you’re looking for a place to capture a picture-perfect shot of the tiered Gardens, make your way to Sderot Ben Gurion (Ben Gurion Boulevard). As the sun goes down, the street comes alive. Among the many eateries here is Douzan Restaurant that serves some delicious fare.
2. akko
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A walk through history
Akko (Acre) is a history buff’s paradise. Among its outstanding features are the walls that surround the old city. Today, occupying the site of the Crusader cathedral is the Ahmed el-Jazzar Mosque, built in 1781. Underneath Ahmed el-Jazzar’s citadel is the Crusader City historic site. Here, you’ll find a series of gothic-vaulted halls, which were once headquarters for the Crusader armies. The Crusader Tunnel, discovered in 1994 by a local plumber, has proved to be a major attraction for tourists. Before you leave the city, walk down the souk, which showcases some great artworks as well as souvenirs.
3. Rosh Hanikra
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A love story between the sea and rock!
Rosh Hanikra was definitely one of my favourite pit stops on this trip. These gorgeous grottos are on the border between Israel and Lebanon. The cavernous tunnels, formed by the sea hitting the soft chalk rock, have a mystical quality to them. While in the earlier days a rail line was the access to the place, today, it can be accessed by a cable car, which is said to be the steepest in the world.
4. Adir Winery
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Wine world
The wine industry in this region is booming thanks to the right soil and climate. Among the ones you can visit is Adir, which is at the heart of the Upper Galilee region. After a small tour of the winery, settle down for a wine-tasting session. Do try the Plot 98 Blush and Plot 98 Red.
5. safed
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Mystical tales
Safed, which is the highest and one of the four holy cities of the country, is home to a large Kabalistic community and is a renowned centre of Kabbalah. According to legend, the city was founded by a son of Noah after the Great Flood. Today, this one of the popular tourist destinations. Its high elevation allows locals and tourists to enjoy warm summers and cold winters. Take your time in walking on the cobbled streets, which are home to a number of wonderful art galleries. You can also shop for knick-knacks and souvenirs here while snapping the artfully done alleys.
6. Sea of Galilee
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Sea of Galilee
My next stop is the wonderful city of Tiberias, where I’m introduced to the brand Cofix, an Israeli coffee shop chain that provides great coffee at affordable prices. Luckily, I stayed at Rimonim Galei Kinnereth Hotel, which is right by the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus walking on water at the Sea of Galilee is one of the miracles recounted in the New Testament. Around mid-morning, I found myself hopping on a boat for a ride, before heading to take a look at the Ancient Galilee Boat, also known as the Jesus Boat, which is an ancient fishing boat from the 1st century AD. This wonder was discovered on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee in 1986. It is housed at the Yigal Allon Museum in Kibbutz Ginosar.
7. Dead Sea
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Float away
You can’t be in Israel and not make a visit to the Dead Sea. Located approximately 427 metres below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth. Slather some mud from the banks and then wash it off to experience the most natural beauty product that’s around. After you are done floating to your heart’s content, check out the products made from mud from the banks of the Dead Sea, which are available here.
8. Jerusalem
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There simply are no words to describe what one feels when stepping foot in Jerusalem. With a history of over 3,000 years, this city has changed form many times. Sites that are extremely important to Jews Christians and Muslims are found here, with each holding a claim over one quarter. The Armenians, who were the first to adopt Christianity as their faith as a nation, hold the fourth quarter. I head to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which has two of holiest sites in Christianity — the site where Jesus of Nazareth was crucified and Jesus’s empty tomb, where he is said to have been buried and resurrected, after a brief walk. Every year, millions walk along the Via Dolorosa, a street within the Old City of Jerusalem, which is believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion. Every step I took here is etched in my memory forever.
9. Western Wal
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Navigating through the cobbled street, I reach the Western Wall or the Wailing Wall. The term Western Wall and its variations are mostly used in a narrow sense for the section traditionally used by Jews for prayer. It has been called the ‘Wailing Wall’, referring to the practice of Jews weeping at the site over the destruction of the temples sacred to the community.
A unique practice here sees visitors writing their wishes on a piece of paper and placing it within the cracks of the wall. My guide informs me that more than one million notes are placed here each year. Officials collect these twice a year and bury them on the nearby Mount of Olives. As the night falls, I reach the Tower of the David for an audio-visual show before returning to my hotel to come to terms with this overwhelming day.
