Historic Sites Attractions In Maghera

KUFRI IS BEAUTY OF SHIMLA

Kufri is beauty of Shimla.
This region remained obscure from the rest of the world until the British 'discovered' it in 1819.The region around Shimla including Kufri was once a part of the Kingdom of Nepal until the area was ceded to the British Raj as part of the Sugauli Treaty. Kufri is a small hill station in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh state in India. It is located 13 km from the state capital Shimla on the National Highway No.22.
The name Kufri is derived from the word kufr meaning lake in the local language.
The highest point in the surrounding region, Kufri has a Himalayan wild life zoo which hosts rare antelopes, felines and birds including the Himalayan monal, the state bird of Himachal Pradesh. During winter a meandering path through the potato plantations turns into a popular ski track.
Kufri Fun World, an amusement park to enjoy the whole day. This park is an excellent destination for family to make a memorable day, is equipped with various rides, pools and world's highest go-kart track. Huge number of children, teenagers and adults visit this place.

Magilligan Point - County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Lough Foyle Ferry sailing point - Magilligan point has its own history and is a great viewing point across Lough Foyle. It is part of the British army firing range and part of nature reserve - also is close to Magilligan Prison. From the area/beach - there are great views across to Moville and Greencastle. Well worth a stop - as part of the Causeway Coastal Route.

Magilligan point is a peninsula that lies in the northwest of County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, at the entrance of Lough Foyle. The name Magilligan comes from MacGilligans country which formed a major part of the barony of Keenaght and is situated within Causeway Coast and Glens district (

The Magilligan Point guards the mouth of Lough Foyle and is also home to Lough Foyle Ferry and Martello Tower which has been beautifully restored but is actually locked. Heading to this place means that you are willing to have a short walk by the beach in order to enjoy the good weather - according to when you are visiting :-) - or else to spot the bird and sea life.

The most interesting thing about visiting Magilligan Point in Northern Ireland is considered the tower which - according to history - is believed to be built in order to stop the French invasion, and thus one of the main reasons why tourists tend to come to this place is actually to see that tower.

Martello towers, which are also referred to as Martellos - are those small defensive forts built back across the British Empire in the 19th century and most of them were coastal forts. The reason why they are believed to be built in order to stop the French invasion is the fact that when they were built, it was the time of the French Revolutionary Wars. The way these towers were built back in time, helped with invasions due to their strong structures and the way they were built, but now most of them are considered historical monuments and attractions that people visit in order to enjoy what the old people used to build and were good at.

Visiting the Magilligan Point needs a plan - or an advice - which will get you through this trip happy and safe. First of all, be assured that food and drink are found there and that you could easily find a bar there to serve you with what you want - toilets are there too! At the beginning of the trip, you will park where it is adjacent to the boundary of Magilligan Nature Reserve. After you park and get inside through the kissing gate, you will view the Martello tower straight ahead. Access inside the military firing range is restricted, so all what you will be doing there is walking around the place and viewing the tower from the outside - maybe taking a couple of pictures of the place as well.

Magilligan Point is considered an important attraction in Northern Ireland for the Martello Tower mainly, but let's all agree that visiting the place in general is a different kind of experience which is not the same like all those other historical spots that one visits in Northern Ireland.

Londonderry, where Magilligan Point is situated in Northern Ireland, is the second largest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth city in the island of Ireland - which is also known and referred to as Derry. This city gained the London prefix after it was granted a Royal Charter by King James I to reflect the funding of its construction by the London guilds. Londonderry is close to the border with County Donegal (

Visiting the Magilligan Point means that you are going to be in Londonderry - or Derry - and this also brings us to the point where we should mention some of the other attractions of this city and some of the landmarks which one should visit and come across. From those which we suggest to the people visiting Londonderry anytime soon for the Magilligan Point, one could enjoy the walls of the city since Londonderry is considered the only walled city in Ireland, going to the Tower Museum which carries different shipwrecks inside, passing by the Guildhall which is the most famous building in the city ( seeing the city from the Peace Bridge ( coming into St. Columb's Cathedral, or else enjoying other general things like a traditional experience, getting to know more about the village, or else attending an open-air art or even attending the Halloween in the city (

Northern Ireland is a magical place where one could move from one city to the other and still manage to come across different places to visit from which one will also learn about lots of new things related to history (

Have you ever been to Londonderry? Have you ever visited Magilligan Point and seen the Martello Tower? Share with us your experience in Londonderry city and tell us more about the places you have visited and enjoyed there.

Sightseeing in Ireland: Winter 2009.

Asher kindly takes me to see the view from Windy Gap, Co Mayo. I'm sure it was breathtaking.

Hillsborough Fort Co Down

A remarkable place of vast proportions.
It's an Artillery fort built in 1650 by Colonel Arthur Hill - the Hill family built the village of Hillsborough starting with the fort. Remodelled in the 18th Century for feasts and entertainment.
Hillsborough Fort lies just outside the village of Hillsborough in County Down. Set in the beautiful Hillsborough Forest Park and built on the site of the old Magennes stronghold, the Fort was founded in 1630 by Peter Hill and completed around 1650 by Colonel Arthur Hill.
Certainly one of the Historic Houses of Northern Ireland, the Fort consists of a square enclosed by an earthen rampart with outer stone facing. The stone facing rises above the rampart level to form a parapet wall. It was constituted a Royal Fort by Charles II.
William of Orange spent several nights at the Fort on his way South to the Boyne in 1690.
The building’s historic significance is still marked in the 21st Century by the “Hillsborough Old Guard”, a local society which keeps the tradition of the fort alive through re-enactments and events. There is an official Bugler of the Hillsborough Fort Guard (historically the keepers of the Fort) who plays at ceremonial events.
Whilst Adults will ‘get’ the history of the location, kids will love the freedom they can experience in the vast grounds in front of the fort, making it a great family attraction in Northern Ireland. Despite the impression that the location is far from the rest of civilisation, the fort is just metres away from the pleasant centre of Hillsborough, with its restaurants, shops and cafés, and of course, Hillsborough Castle, the official Royal Residence in Northern Ireland.

Christmastime in Newry, North of Ireland- 2010

A selection of some photographs I had taken during the 'Big Freeze' of 2010 in and around Newry. There are a few other festive & various snaps of joviality, lol