TRAVEL SPECIAL... Scotland. The must visit destination for 2017

Scotland. The must visit destination for 2017



Explore the country's rich culture, natural beauty and endless mysteries

There are a hundreds of ways to spend a holiday in Scotland. Tourist attractions range from charming castles and fascinating museums to botanic gardens and friendly wildlife parks. But that's not all -the country has a stunning variety of coasts, mountains and lochs just waiting to be discovered.

Scotland's history is fascinating and complex, stretching back thousands and thousands of years.Visitors can stand in the shadow of ancient standing stones, enjoy the peace of a solitary abbey , or delve below the ground to find long-forgotten streets. With centuries of fascinating history , there is so much to uncover when exploring Scotland's past.

SCOTLAND'S CULTURAL SPIRIT

There are so many things that make Scotland distinctively unique tartan, bagpipes and castles often come first to mind! A performance by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a favourite for international visitors. 220,000 people flock to Edinburgh Castle throughout August to witness their spectacular evenings of music, ceremony , theatre and dance. The performances are a true global gathering and showcase not only Scotland's culture and talent, but include musicians and performers from every corner of the globe. From 4-26 August 2017, this year's show celebrates the history, heritage and colour of Scotland's global family both near and far.

SCOTLAND IN FILMS

Scotland's spectacular landscapes and stories have been immortalised in cinemas. The famous flying car and train chase in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets features the historic Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Highlands. Visitors can experience a similar magical journey with their own trip on the Jacobite steam train.

Starring Daniel Craig as 007, Skyfall sees the secret agent returning to his Scottish roots, with the main part of the action taking place at Bond's family home, Skyfall Lodge, which is located in awe-inspiring Glen Coe. Twenty five Bollywood films to date have been shot using Scotland's epic landscapes and intimate settings as a backdrop to love stories and dramas over the last few decades, including the iconic `Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' which is celebrating its 20th anniversary of release next year.

THE HIGHLANDS

Visitors will witness majestic mountains and mysterious lochs as they journey through the beautiful region of the Highlands. Whether it's exploring Britain's largest National Park, witnessing dolphins off the sandy coast, or standing in the shadows of Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK there is so much to see and do.

There's a haunting air of mystery that cloaks the Highlands, and the region's turbulent history has left behind some of the most beautiful and romantic castles in the world. From Dunvegan Castle on Skye and Brodie Castle in Moray to fairy-tale like Dunrobin Castle -they really are as magnificent as people say! Loch Ness, one of Scotland's most famous landmarks, is a must-visit location. Not only is it one of Scotland's deepest freshwater lochs, but home to the mysterious Loch Ness Monster.

FOOD

Scotland's world-class food is delicious, thanks to unspoiled natural habitats and pristine water found throughout the country .

SCOTLAND VR

People across the world can now instantly walk through the prehistoric village of Skara Brae in Orkney, soar over Edinburgh Castle like a bird, journey into the depths of The Hollow Mountain of Ben Cruachan and experience the Northern Lights ­ all from the comfort of their own home, with the release of a new virtual reality app from VisitScotland. ScotlandVR is a virtual travel experience, and the tourist board's first step with interactive virtual map technology, that allows people wherever they are in the world, to be fully immersed in this soulful destination. ScotlandVR

app is available for all Android and Apple users and will effortlessly educate, and onward inspire people to book a holiday to Scotland. ScotlandVR is now available to download from Google Play and Apple Stores.

For more information, visit http:www.visitscotland.comapp

FLYING TO SCOTLAND IS EASY NOW

Scotland couldn't be easier to fly to with one stop connections to either Glasgow or Edinburgh from all of India's major cities with Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates Airlines, Turkish Airlines and British Airways.