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Algiers Tourist Attractions, Algeria, Africa

Algiers Tourist Attractions, Algeria, Africa

Algiers is the capital as well as the largest city of the African country, Algeria, situated on the Mediterranean Sea in the north-central part of Algeria, sprawling over an area of 363 square kilometers and popularly called as El-Behdja or Alger la Blanche, meaning Algiers the White, indicating the lines of gleaming white buildings in the city.

Algiers is famous for its striking beaches, holding a strong and long historical background and renowned for its historical structures, especially for iconic mosques and churches. The geographical coordinates of Algiers are 36°46′N 3°13′E while its highest elevation measures 424 meters.

History of Algiers:

Algiers is a modified form of the Arabic word ‘al-Jazā’ir’ which means “The Islands”. The real history of Algiers begins with its foundation, was established by Bologhine Ibn Ziri in the year 944 who was also the founder of the dynasty of Berber Zirid–Sanhaja. Algiers also came under the Ottomans rule along with the rest of Algeria and under French in 1830 until Algeria become an independent country from the French forces in 1962.

How to reach Algiers?

Algiers hosts an international airport, located around 20 kilometers southeast of the downtown Algiers. The airport covers many destinations like Geneva, Istanbul, Beijing, New York, Montreal, Paris, Toulouse, Lille, Dubai and Frankfurt.

Airport taxis generally do not take more than 50 minutes and costs 1000 dinars or 10 euro to get to city center. Bus is inexpensive for airport travel, only 25 dinars.

Metro train is an additional option to get around Algiers along with the common modes like buses, taxis and rental cars.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Algiers:

The National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers is one of the important cultural centers of Algiers exhibiting the works of many renowned artists born in Algiers. Algiers is also the sports capital of Algeria.

Restaurants and shops are plenty, spread up all around Algiers with tourist favor facilities including accepting credit cards and arrangement of the vehicle.

Things to do in Algiers:

Visiting spa
City tours
Walking

Tourist places in and around Algiers:

National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers:

The museum showcases the rich culture of Algeria, especially fine arts, the National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers is situated in the heart of Algiers, surrounded by full of eye-catching greenery.

Casbah of Algiers:

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Casbah of Algiers is a historic part of the city packed with full of landmark structures, including the El Djedid Mosque and Great Mosque of Algiers. It can be explored best by taking a guided tour.

Bardo National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography:

Founded in 1920s, the Bardo National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography describes the complete prehistory and history of Algeria with well preserved artifacts. The museum is housed in a white colored building.

Maqam Echahid:

Memorializing the Algerian war for independence, the Maqam Echahid is a landmark monument structure featuring the shape of three erecting palm leaves. It was inaugurated on the 20^th anniversary of the Independence of Algeria in 1982. It is located at Chemin Omar Kechkar in Algiers.

Great Mosque of Algiers:

Situated near the harbor of Algiers at Boulevard Amilcar Cabral of Algiers, the Great Mosque of Algiers is an iconic historic mosque dating back to 1097. It holds a dignity of the second oldest mosque of Algeria following Sidi Okba Mosque in Biskra.

A list of the other attractive places in Algiers includes:

Notre Dame d’Afrique
Le Jardin d’Essai du Hamma
Kasbah of Algiers
La Grande Poste d’Alger
Jamaa El Kebir
La Rue Didouche Mourad
Le Port de Sidi Fredj
Jamaa El Jedid
Cathedrale du Sacre Coeur
Tombeau de la chretienne
Villa Abd-el-Tif
Kiffan Club
Bordj Tamentfoust
Musee de l’Armee
Ketchaoua Mosque

Ideal time to visit Algiers:

Algiers features Mediterranean climate and between April and October is the most popular and best time to visit Algiers.

Where to stay in Algiers?

Being the capital of Algeria, Algiers provides numerous star rated hotels with superior facilities and services to provide unforgettable hospitality services to tourists visiting the city year round. The prominent hotels in Algiers in Algeria are as follows:

Palace Appart Hotel
Sofitel Algiers Hamma Garden
Hotel Suisse
Safir Hotel Alger
Hotel Grand Adghir
Hotel ABC
Amsterdam Hotel
Hotel Dar El Ikram
Hotel Hammamet Alger
Roza Hotel
Hotel Sofiane
Albert Hotel
Grand Hotel Regina
El Marsa Hotel

Hotel el-Biar

The Keshava Temple Somanthapura – An Architectural Majesty

Keshava temple that was constructed in the 12^th century is known for its architectural creativity of the Hoysala Kings. Samantha a General officer during the rule of King Narasimha III took up the initiative of Keshava Temple. Hoysala had many splendid rock cut temples but only Keshava Temple is surviving at present.

Somanthapura

Somanthapura situated on the banks of river Cauvery is a village known for its serene beauty. The major attraction of this place is the Keshava temple. Somanatha who was a commander during the rule of Hoysala dynasty got this temple constructed. Both religious and cultural activities are given equal importance.

The Temple

It’s a wonderful temple engraved of rocks. It has got a beautiful borderline with interesting adorned campus and a large gate that welcomes all the visitors. You get see the temple which is placed upon an elevated platform in the shape of a star. The temple holds a beautiful art of sculptors. Inscriptions on the rocks portray some scenes of the Hindu mythology. Complete upper row of the temple walls is carved with the images of Lord Vishnu. At the entrance you can find 3 different holy places and 3 sanctums for 3 Lords that is adorned with interesting inscriptions and sculptors. The chamber located in the South is for Lord Venugopala that holds a hugs statue of the Lord Venugopala on a platform. Sanctum in the north is of Lord Janardhana with which has a huge idol of Janardhana and the central hall is for Lord Keshva. Initially it had a statue but later due to some disaster it got demolished. In order to attract the tourists some pillars of exclusive artwork is placed here. The upper part of the sanctums has obscure rock carvings that can be viewed from far distant.

From the above description of the temple it shows the hard work of the architects of the olden days who held both in combination the holy spirits as well as culture and tradition of the people. It showcases beautiful stonework and architecture of ancient Hindu mythology embraced elephants that are considered to be a bearer of the universe. One can say that this temple represents the entire universe.

Chamundi Temple Mysore – Temple of Royalty

South India is known for its ancient artistic temples that represent its culture and tradition. One of the famous temples of Mysore is the Chamundi Temple that is situated on Chamundi Hills. Deity in this temple is Goddess Chamundi or Chamundeshwari.

The description of the temple

The main attraction is the Dravidian style of architecture through out the temple. Quadrangular structural pattern of the temple, the carvings on the pillars of the entrance all this comes under typical Dravidian art that gives a beautiful look for the temple. A huge pyramid style structure welcomes you at the entrance. You will find complicated designs done on the gateway. The temple has also got silver plated doors that hold many mythological figures done with great patience.

At first you get to see Lord Ganesha, the devotees stand in long queues in order to touch the footprints of Goddess Chamundi that is placed at the entrance of the temple. As you enter the temple you can find a beautiful sanctum on upon which you can find the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari. Goddess Chamundeshwari is worshiped with immense devotion and is believed to protect the entire city from any disaster. An additional attraction to all these is the statue of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III facing the idol representing immense devotion he had for the Goddess.

The festivals celebrated in the Temple

Dasara is the main festival celebrated at this place. Takes place for almost 10 days with many ceremonies and spectacular traditional shows done here. At this point of time you get see devotees coming from different parts of the state, senior priests chant Vedic mantras all through the day in front of the deity. Rathothsawa is another attraction of this festival where a huge number of devotees indulge themselves to pull the wooden chariot that was presented by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar. Here even culture and tradition is given importance as you can find many artists performing during the festival that represents Indian ethnicity. Religion, devotion, culture and tradition all these catch the attention of devotees and make them desperate to visit this place.

Biligiri Ranganna Temple – The Union of Nature and the Divine

Hill range of Karnataka called Biligiriranga hills or known as BR Hills is famous for its serene beauty and Biligiriranga Swami Temple. A place that holds blue sky, green mountains and blue lakes that creates a perfect picturesque for nature lovers. Located in the midst of Western and Eastern Ghats you can find a unique variety of flora and fauna.

You can find many unusual species of plants and animals in the thick forest of BR Hills. Apart from the sanctuary point of BR Hills it is also known for the Biligiri Ranganna Temple.

The Biligiri Ranganna Temple:

Location: Situated in Chamarajanagar District of Karnataka on the ‘White Cliff’ the highest peak of the BR mountain range.

History: It was constructed at the ages of Lord Ram and Lord Parashurama found in the epic of Ramayana. It is said that the temple was built at the place where Lord Ram and Lord Parashurama was praying Lord Ranganatha and Sage Vasista installed the deity of this temple.

Description: Temple is beautifully placed on the top of a rock face and the stone pillars have beautiful messages carved that are associated with ancient facts. You also get see the artistic carved figures of Goddess Saraswati, Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman and others mentioned in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Lord Ranganatha and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped here where people stand till the Pooja is completed. The deity of this place is worshipped under three names Srinivasa, Venkataswara and Ranganatha. Thousands of people stand in a long queue for to reach the temple and see the idol.

Festival associated with the temple: Ideal time to visit the temple is during car festival that takes place once in 2 years. People of that place get together and celebrate this festival with great devotion and enthusiasm.

How to reach the temple?

Accessing Mysore is an easy task and BR Hills is about 82kms from Mysore main town. You can find private and government buses to this place from different parts of the state. So please don’t miss this place if you turn up to Mysore.