In India, summer vacation means a family trip to Shimla or Nainital or Mussoorie or Manali or anywhere cold. People from all over India visit hill stations especially in May and June. Not just because of the kids’ vacation but also because scorching heat and humid weather (special northern region) make everyone want to leave the city and find some relief in the hilly areas. In Delhi NCR, recently maximum temperature recorded reached 50 degrees. Where will the man hide from the Sun?

Who would not wish to spend some calm days amidst the high hills and cold weather in the month of June?

via: Through the Eyes of a City Mouse

And why not? –with such escalating heat and torturing the Sun everyone wants to hide from the sun. And this is why tourists have flooded the colder regions like never before. But this has caused problem not just to the locals but also for themselves.

This is no surprise that places like Shimla have become overcrowded that even hotels are forced to put up banners to plead tourist to not to come to Shimla for a while. Shimla is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the summer season.

via: Times of India

Every year thousands of people come to Shimla and Nainital daily to have a splendid vacation. But this time, the maximum number of tourists swarmed to Shimla and Nainital that they had to return because of overcrowding in the Hill station. How often do we get to hear that?

Overcrowding resulted in so many problems to so many levels.

via: Twitter

It left the roads jammed with too much traffic, most of the hotels are fully booked and ceased to take any further booking. Parking places are full in a way that any vehicle entering Shimla has to go back to the respective city. Now, at these consequences who would wish to respite in such an overcrowded place.

To reduce the congestion in the peal season, Nainital tourist administration has decided to stop the entry of the tourists till the parking is full. Only that can help them manage traffic problems.

It is not only this year, but this is also the story of the hill station every year.

via: Traveldglobe

People flood in a huge number that locals find it hard to manage the day to day life. Last year this time Shimla faced severe water crises. It causes inconvenience to both the tourists and the locals. There was no water in the entire Shimla for eight straight days. Seems like there is a thing called too much tourism.

via: Save the Hills

This is not just the case with the most popular destination like Shimla, Nainital or Manali. The congestion, non-availability, and overcrowding have become major issues even in the remote hamlets like Kasol.

People used to go to Kasol to find solace for the hustle-bustle of city life.

via: Medium

To find oneself amidst the lush green trees and dense forests. But now, maximum people flood in all the time in order to party. Roads of such quiet places are no more remained quiet. We can spot SUVs honking and congesting roads. People making a mess and throwing trash almost everywhere.

We believe remote places like Manali, Kasol, and other hamlets should be left for trips that bring peace and not “fun” and stuff. Let some roads be less traveled, let some paths be unpaved.

Well, seems like how to manage too much tourism is yet a question or maybe a new challenge for the governments.

Residing in the southwest region of the Pacific Ocean and near the center of the water hemisphere, New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places on the earth. Other than picturesque landscape, a few valleys, and some dense woods, it is also home to over 100 mountains. Every year tourist and inland adventurers love to explore scenic mountain ranges of the region. Be it cold weather or harsh snow storms, for adventure lovers, all that matters is an adventure.

Once they step their foot out there is no turning back, mainly because after climbing beautiful mountains only thing that eyes behold is breath-taking picturesque view. So pack your bags and check out these best mountain ranges to conquer on your next expedition.

In the same light, we have come up with 10 best and highest mountains ranges of New Zealand that should be in every adventure lover’s wish list for sure.

1. Mount Cook

via: Wikivoyage

Located in Aoraki National Park, Canterbury Region, Mount Cook is named to be the highest mountain standing at the height of 12,218 ft. it is one of the favorite destinations for most of the adventure lovers. Climbing season said to be from November to February.

This is also be noted that Mount Cook is also notorious as one of the deadliest peak.  Some fatal accidents have been recorded while completing the summit. Well, no risk has ever stopped an adventurer as every challenging thing sure comes with a challenge.

2. Mount Tasman

via: Adventure Consultants

Rising as the height of 11,473 ft. Mt Tasman is known to be the second highest mountain in New Zealand. It is also the nearest neighbor of Mt Cook. View from the peaks of this mountain is equally breath-taking.

3. Mount Dampier

via: Bob McKerrow

Located in the Southern Alps, Mount Dampier is another neighbor of the highest mountain, Mt. Cook. Standing 11,290 ft. high it is undoubtedly the third highest mountain of New Zealand. Mount Dampier also means ‘long sky’, well it seems to define the view from its peak by itself.

4. Mount Sefton

via: Alpine Recreation

Located about 12 kilometers from south of Mount Cook, in the Southern Alps, Mt Sefton is 10,338 ft. tall. There serenity and beauty of the Mount Sefton is indescribable during the sunset. With Tuckett Glacier flowing in the below valley Mt Sefton is the 4th highest mountain in New Zealand.

5. Mount Aspiring

via: Trover

Well, this is one is out of the Aoraki ranges. It is known to be the second highest mountain (outside of Aoraki, Southern Alps). Adventure lovers like to trek its peak to have a serene view of the glacier the foothills.

6. Mount Earnlaw

via: Wilderness Magazine

Also known as Pikirakatahi, Mount Earnlaw is located in New Zealand’s South Island. Afar view of this mountain looks so splendid that one would not believe its eyes. It is hard to tell whether we behold a superficial, painted landscape or an original first-hand view of this antediluvian mountain.

7. Mount Tapuaenuku

via: Wilderness Magazine /Photo: Ray Salisbury

Calling its name sure twists the tongue, Tapuaenuku translates as “footprints of the rainbow”. Believe it or not, the view around the mountain is as rare as a rainbow. Situated in the northeast of New Zealand’s South Island this mountain provides vivid natural view and total satisfaction to the adventurers.

8. Mount Tutoko

via: Adventure Consultants

Mount Tutoko is the highest peak in the Fiordland National Park, New Zealand. The beauty of this mountain is hard to describe in words, standing at the height of 8934 ft., covered in glacier this mountain range looks scenic in all its glory.

9. Mount Maunganui

via: NZ Herald

Located in the eastern side of Tauranga harbors Mount Maunganui is visitors’ favorite during the sunrise or sunset. Maunganui means “caught by the sun” and we can say that the mountain so stands true to its name. Rays of the sun glisten on the icy waters and give a breath-taking view from the peak of the mountain.

10. Mount Alfred

via: Lost in the Midlands

Hikers like to trek this mountain the most, mainly because of the view it provides. You can stand at the top of this mountain and aim to conquer the next one in the sight. This is the beauty of the mountain, it encourages you to never stop the adventure in life.

Located in the eastern part of the Himalayas, Bhutan is undoubtedly a remarkable place on the earth. Surrounded by exquisite environmental beauty; amidst of lustrous greens, this Buddhist country has a lot to inspire the other countries. Not just it’s distinctive on the terms of beautiful, scenic natural habitation, Bhutan holds too much to stand apart and above when it is compared to the rest of the world.

After all, it is the only country that measures its success by not the “national production” per se, but by the “national happiness”. No wonder why this country makes a difference!

Here we untold a few fun facts about this mesmerizing country that tell us how it is distinct than the rest of the world and might entice you to pick it as your next travel destination.

1. No Traffic Lights

via: Florin Bora

Well, it may leave you stunned but the country has almost no traffic lights. The capital city Thimpu still has manual traffic police that regulates the traffic. And to be precise, neither the country has any heavy traffic jam problem nor the people are willing to break traffic rules. A smooth and safe road culture prevails the paths of this nation.

2. The country measures Gross National Happiness, indeed

via: YouTube

In 1974 the King of Bhutan introduced the notion that this Buddhist country should measure its wealth with the happiness of its people. We know that the country is dedicated to its people when it replaces GDP (Gross Domestic Production) with GNH (Gross National Happiness).

It clearly shows that Bhutan has a very egalitarian approach to build up the society where every individual is given equal rights and opportunities.

3. It is the first or the only carbon negative country in the world

via: YouTube

Another wonderful factor about picturesque Bhutan is that it is the one and the only country that is ‘carbon negative’. The country’s law makes it mandatory that at least 60% of the area must be covered with forests. And to no one’s surprise, Bhutan manages to have about 71% of its area covered with forests.

Where the counties like Canada introduced “Carbon Tax” on its citizens due to the increase of global warming, Bhutan rather absorbs more Carbon dioxide than producing it. Sure this nation has better goals than others!

4. Bhutan has the highest number of unclimbed mountains

via: Flickr Photo by Michael Foley

Where in the other part of the world countries, let’s say counties like Nepal, welcome tourists to conquer high mountains. Bhutan doesn’t really encourage the Mountaineers, and this is why it has the most unclimbed mountains and perhaps unpaved paths, too.

It won’t be entirely incorrect to say that Bhutan is a place that really doesn’t seek much interest in national tourism. People there rather pay more heave to conserve their lands and mountains to maintain the true beauty of the country.

5. The Phallus concept of Drukpa Kunley (The Devine Mad Man)

via: Jessie on a Journey

Tibetan monk Drukpa Kunley came with his own unique techniques to preach Buddhism to the people of Bhutan. He is the sole reason behind the pictures of Tiger and Phallus found on the walls of the temples or shrine or houses all over Bhutan. Drukpa Kunley convinced the people of Bhutan that drawing Phallus or male genital on the walls help fight evil. It keeps evil away and people safe. Drukpa Kunley is commonly known as The Devine Mad Man.

6. Plastic Bags are banned since the 1990s

via: Statesman Journal

This is one of the very inspiring rules that Bhutan adheres by. Where the entire world is gaining its conscious now for banning the use of plastic bags, Bhutan took the initiative as early as in the ’90s. People in Bhutan used to wash their few possessions of plastic bags in order to reuse them. This environmental friendly act sure contributes to the entire world a lot.

7. Bhutan’s work uniform is its nation dress

via: BhutanForYou

Another truly inspiring fact about people of Bhutan is they wear their traditional national dress while they are on work. I am sure there is no other country on the earth that does the same. Isn’t it a great way to showcase respect and dedication towards both nation and work?

8. Smoking is prohibited in public areas

via: KyivPost

Though we all see no smoking signs boards every now and then around us but do we follow? -Well, people in Bhutan do. Smoking in public is a punishable offense in Bhutan and one can be jailed if found having a puff out in the public.