First of all, a very happy new year to all of you. With welcoming of 2020, I hereby bring my most awaited blog of Moscow. Most of the people believes that this is an extremely dangerous city to visit. However, in my opinion, this is untrue and just because of the way it is portrayed.
With its name deriving from the Moskva River on which it sits, Moscow is a major political, economic, cultural and scientific centre, with great global influence due to its economic power and population. It is also the seat of power of the Government of Russia which is centred at the Moscow Kremlin, while also boasting several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Here are some of the must visit attractions you can't afford here -
Bolshoi Theatre is a historical theatre established in 1825 that is known for its ballet and opera performances. If you are not interested in the arts, you can still opt to choose a guided tour of the theatre which will take you to the 6–tier auditorium elaborately decorated with crimson and gold embellishments. This theatre is easily accessible from the Teatralnaya Metro Station which is located on the Line 2 also known as Zamoskvoretskaya line.
Please be informed that you are allowed to take photos of everything except rehearsals.
No trip to Moscow is complete without visiting the iconic Red Square. It was a market square where Soviet Leaders could flex their military muscles. Here, you can find many of the city's most important landmarks such as walls of the Kremlin, GUM Shopping Centre, the State History Museum and the mausoleum of Vladimir Lenin who is known as the founder of Soviet Union.
On Red Square, St. Basil's Basilica is one of the most beautiful Russian Orthodox monuments. It is also known as "Pokrovsky Cathedral" or "The Cathedral of Intercession of the Virgin by the Moat". This Cathedral means to Russians the same as the Eiffel Tower to the French, being an honorable symbol of their past, present, and future.
This is something you can't afford to miss when you are in Moscow. One of the most beautiful shopping mall in the world, GUM departmental store was constructed in 1812. For shopping purposes, this mall is too expensive for a normal tourist but you can roam around the premises. This mall looks extremely beautiful in the night as well.
With its cultural and historical significance, Kremlin is one of the most visited sights of Russia. There are two entrances to the Kremlin, however neither of these are accessible from Red Square. The main entrance is located through the Kutafya tower and is where most visitors queue to enter. The second entrance is much less used, however can be found through the Alexandrovsky gardens. This second entrance is the quickest entrance to the Armoury chamber and the Diamond Fund.
The Kremlin may be geographically small, but it is condense and culturally enormous. I would recommend dedicating at least half a day to visiting the Kremlin, especially if you plan on entering the cathedrals and palaces inside.
(The weather turned very bad when I took pics of Kremlin)
GUM is definitely not for shopping, but for eating. The most famous is GUM ice cream which is worth to try. It comes in various flavors like vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, cherry, melon & the most famous lavender.
Tsar Cannon and Bell
The Tsar Cannon forms part of the artillery collection in the Kremlin. Once located on Red Square, it now stands in Ivanovskaya Square in the Kremlin. Don’t miss the Tsar bell which is equally as imposing and symbolic.
This is all about what you can do in one day in Moscow to utilize it fully. All these places are nearby and easily accessible from the metro. Once you reach there, you can walk among the different described places. Do not forget to walk on the Red Square in the evening when the view is beautiful with lights. It is a lifetime unique experience with lots of memories to take.
Moscow is not just about Kremlin and I will share with you other places as well in my next blog. Till then, goodbye and take care. See you on the road sometime !!