Greece will limit daily visitors to its famous Acropolis next month in an effort to control crowding.
20.07.2023 - 12:15 / edition.cnn.com
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In many travelers’ minds, Mongolia conjures images of vast plains, nomadic gers, desert landscapes and one of the most famous warriors of all time, Genghis Khan.
Though the famed first khagan of the Mongol Empire died in 1227, his legendary pursuits continue to reverberate across this beautiful land. The country’s most important annual event, the Naadam festival, is no exception.
Nowadays it’s the event of the year, a nationwide celebration of sports and arts attended by thousands of Mongolians and a hot draw for international tourists, too. Given its popularity, travelers looking to experience this one will want to start looking ahead to July 2024 now.
Here’s a quick guide to the action and how to see it.
The event is often referred to as “Eriin Gurvan Naadam” – which translates to “Three Manly Games.”
Mongolian native Buyandelger Ganbaatar, country director of tour company Nomadic Expeditions, tells CNN that Naadam actually has over 2,000 years of history and it was originally a means of preparing for war, as Mongolia-dwelling tribes regularly raided each other.
“Naadam means ‘games’ in the Mongolian language and it includes three main competitions, Mongolian wrestling, archery and horse racing,” he explains.
Karakorum: Mongolia’s ancient capital is a cultural delight
It’s also the largest gathering in Mongolia, with 21 provinces all taking time off to celebrate their traditional nomadic culture and heritage, “from the capital city of Ulaanbaatar to the remote towns of the Gobi.”
The main official event takes place July 11-13 in the capital city, in Ulaanbaatar’s National Stadium.
“During the festival, it is possible to see pride, joy and happiness on every face,” says Ganbaatar. “Naadam has become (part of) the national identity of Mongols.”
It wasn’t until 1921 that Naadam was officially declared an annual national holiday in Mongolia.
For hundreds of years though, this trio of events – archery, horse riding and wrestling – was believed to have been integral to building important skills for the region’s nomads as well as Mongolian soldiers.
According to some historical accounts, in the early 13th century, after Genghis Khan defeated his enemies and ruled over the Mongol tribes, he held the games as a celebratory event.
Providing evidence of this, the Stele of Genghis Khan – a stone dating back to the 1200s bearing the first known Mongolian script – depicted a nobleman named Yesunge who managed to shoot a target with an
Greece will limit daily visitors to its famous Acropolis next month in an effort to control crowding.
If you’re heading to one of Greece’s biggest tourist attractions later this year, make sure you are aware of the new visiting rules.
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Madeline Diamond, Ciara Appelbaum, Frank Olito, and Lindsay DeMunno contributed to an earlier version of this report.
Casper is the second-largest city in Wyoming. In the least populated state in the country, that translates to just under 60,000 people. But don’t let the population size fool you. This centrally located city is a paradise for outdoor lovers that also has a thriving urban center, a diverse economy, and a rich historical and cultural heritage.
Whether you’re planning a trip to Disney, next year’s spring break, or just a lovely vacation in tropical Florida, think about leaving the car at home to try out Brightline, Florida’s high-speed train service. Launched in 2018, this rail service that’s easily recognizable thanks to its bright yellow trains (hence the name), takes you from Miami to Orlando via the west coast of Florida in style, comfort, and record time.
Everybody knows the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Skye. But what about the other 6000-odd British Isles? Yes, we did say 6000. From the chunky Shetland Islands in Scotland’s far north to the sunny Isles of Scilly slung out from the coast of Cornwall, the British Isles are made up of islands of all shapes and sizes. Pick the right one and you could even have it all to yourself.