Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites await from Kolkata: the Sundarbans mangrove delta with its swimming Bengal tigers, and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a 610mm steam line climbing to 2,200 metres.
Three UNESCO sites within reach of Lahore: the Mughal fort, Shalamar Gardens, and the fortress of Rohtas — spanning 500 years of South Asian history.
Kazan and its surrounding region hold three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Kremlin’s unique Orthodox-Islamic ensemble, the medieval Islamic centre of Bolgar, and the fortified island-town of Sviyazhsk.
The Golden Mountains of Altai, UNESCO-inscribed in 1998, lie 350–700 km southeast of Novosibirsk via the legendary Chuysky Trakt highway — snow leopard habitat, glaciated peaks, and the frozen burial site of the 2,500-year-old Ice Maiden.
Mandalay is the gateway to Myanmar’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the 3,500-temple plain of Bagan and the ancient Pyu walled cities, the oldest urban culture in the region.
Laos has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites — and all are reachable from Luang Prabang: the historic town itself, Vat Phou’s Khmer temple, and the enigmatic Plain of Jars.
Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites lie within reach of Chiang Mai: the 13th-century royal capital of Sukhothai (298 km south) and the Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest Complex.
Lake Baikal — the world’s deepest, oldest, and most biodiverse freshwater lake — lies 70 km from Irkutsk. One UNESCO site, endlessly different across seasons.
Five UNESCO World Heritage Sites lie within a day’s drive of Kandy — from the sacred tooth relic at its centre to Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Galle Fort.
