By Neeta Lal
Serbia, a small country on the Balkan Peninsula, is way above its weight in terms of tourist attractions: from the lyrical landscape to the cultural heritage.
But what gives gravitas to this nation of seven million people is their past. Occupied by the Huns and Ottomans and ravaged by the First and Second World Wars and the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s, this was the land of turmoil and tragedy. There is a lot to see in modern Serbia, both the scars and the splendor of the past – from the atmospheric capital Belgrade to 15 towering peaks that are a patchwork of excellent ski routes, to five national parks and winding wine routes.
The ruins of imperial Roman palaces, a tower made of human skulls, weapon-made chandeliers in Ruzica Church, and historical sites associated with 17 Roman emperors – the list goes on. Here are six Serbian attractions:
St. Sava Church
If there is one place you need to visit in Belgrade, this is it. The Church of St. Sava smiles down on the city like a benevolent deity and is the second largest Orthodox church in the world. Located on the Vracar Plateau, it features granite and marble clad walls, emerald green domes anointed with gold crosses, and gilded interiors with stunning frescoes.
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Built on the site where the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sinan Pasha burned the relics of St. Sava, the construction of the church (1935-89) included raising the 4,000-ton central dome to its current height. Its beauty and its challenging construction inevitably invite you to compare it with the other stone masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona.
Sremski Karlovci
Only an hour’s drive from Belgrade is one of the most beautiful cities in Vojvodina – Sremski Karlovci. As soon as you step inside, you have the feeling that you have strolled into a postcard. Baroque and neoclassical buildings, lush parks and outdoor art mimick the elegant Prague and Budapest neighborhoods. Every building, house and street in Sremski Karlovic whispers history.
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As a Serbian cultural pot in the Middle Ages, it attracted the rich of Europe. The St. Nicholas Church with its poetic frescoes and the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity next door are a must see. The cathedral’s baroque doors date from 1768 and protect one of the oldest organs in the world.
Wine route
Serbia is full of wine routes where you can stop, eat and drink along the way, with friendly local people in company. Learning about the land’s winemaking techniques and terroir, where velvety merlots, sauvignons and chardonnays are grown, is a bonus. Fruska Gora is a popular wine region where Riesling is produced.
The Smederevo Wine Route with the glittering Danube attracts passing oenophiles from all over Europe. Morava is known for its Sauvignon production. In Tarpos, a sun-drenched family-run winery in the village of Vrbica, we will have a three-course tasting of house wines with fragrant mushrooms, dry pumpkin-stuffed plums, pickled peppers and a crispy salad.
The Ultimate List of Destinations: Take a trip to India’s 10 Heritage Sites this summer
Bond with family and friends
India has always valued its enduring fame in terms of culture and history. From man-made wonders to natural wonders, the country offers a variety of breathtaking attractions that should be high on every traveler’s list.
Travelyaari, the leading online platform for bus tickets, gives an insight into the handpicked locations of the 10 top 10 world heritage sites listed by UNESCO.
Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh
The Taj Mahal is located on the right bank of the Yamuna River in a huge Mughal garden that covers almost 17 hectares in the Agra district of Uttar Pradesh. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Construction began in 1632 AD and was completed in 1648 AD. The mosque, guest house and the main gate to the south, the outer courtyard and its cloisters were added subsequently and completed in 1653 AD.
Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim
Khangchendzonga National Park is located in the heart of the Himalayan Mountains in northern India (Sikkim state) and encompasses a unique variety of plains, valleys, lakes, glaciers and spectacular snow-capped mountains covered with ancient forests, including the world’s third highest peak, Mount Khangchendzonga.
(Image: www.knpsikkim.in)
The Jantar Mantar, Rajasthan
The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is an early 18th century astronomical observatory. It contains a set of around 20 permanent main instruments. They are monumental examples of well-known instruments in masonry, but in many cases they have specific properties. They were developed for the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye and embody various architectural and instrumental innovations.
Humayun’s tomb, Delhi
This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural importance as it was the first garden tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several significant architectural innovations that culminated in the construction of the Taj Mahal.
Sweet with brandy
From multi-tier shopping malls to quaint craft stores selling handcrafted goods, there is plenty to blow up your Serbian dinars. Meat specialties, alcohol, honey and jams, which are sold in attractive vintage bottles, ensure good purchases. Likewise lively wool with Serbian folk motifs and traditional delicacies such as ajvar (paprika spread) or slatko (canned fruit).
Vintage perfumeries sell homemade scents that resemble Ittar, with delicate floral and herbal notes. If you want to bring home the true spirit of Serbia, a bottle of rakija is the place for you. The taste of this robust fruit brandy – made from grapes, plums, apricots, peaches or figs – will linger on your palate long after your Serbian stay is over.
Bite into cevapi
Serbia’s food reflects Turkish, Oriental and European influences. The tables moan with steaming grill plates, kebabs and grilled fish and game meat. Cvapcici or Cevapi – juicy sausages made from minced / grilled pork, beef or lamb – are taste bombs.
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There are many types of sticky cheeses – from nutty cerium (made from goat’s milk) to zlatar (white brine cheese) and pule (made from Balkan donkey milk).
Museum hopping
Serbia has over 100 state and private museums, one more charming than the other – the elegant National Museum, the Museum of African Art and the Railway Museum in Belgrade; the old foundry museum in Kragujevac; and a Match Museum in Novi Sad, which houses hundreds of matchboxes from over 50 countries.
The Museum of Yugoslavia in Belgrade has more than 200,000 artifacts depicting the fascinating history of Yugoslavia.
(The author is a Delhi-based journalist.)
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