Dubrovnik

            Under communism Dubrovnik became part of the Socialist Republic of Croatia and Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 1979, the city joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

  

            The walled city of Dubrovnik, once the capital of the wealthy seafaring Republic of Ragusa (13581808), `plays' King's Landing, the capital of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms, as imagined by George RR Martin in his series of high fantasy novels, A Song of Ice and Fire in the TV adaptation. For GoT fans, Dubrovnik quickly became an important destination after some im f portant scenes were shot here, including the gruesome fight scene between the Mountain and Prince i Oberyn. And along with that came i hordes of curious `Thronies'.

            Dubrovnik as a destination doesn't need the additional pull that Game of Thrones GoT brings with it. With its pristine beaches, the bluest water you've ever laid your eyes on, stunning sunsets, medieval architecture, fresh-off-the-boat seafood and a UNESCO World Heritage tag to boot, Dubrovnik is one of the mostvisited cities in Croatia.

            One of the best preserved walled cities in the world, Dubrovnik has a charm that's as old worldly as they come. With a rich shipping past that rivalled that of Venice--the Adriatic Sea separates Italy and Croatia--Dubrovnik was a city known for its wealth and thalassocracy.

            Game of Thrones has given the walled city known for its redtiled rooftops, a new buzz and its economy a fillip. Several GoTthemed walking tours have come up, and can cost up to 240 kuna--the local currency --in peak season. Such is the interest in the series' locations that the tourist board has recently put a Game of Thrones map on its website. The show adds $10 million to Dubrovnik's tourism revenue and is attracting new visitors. Like me.

            But what's most interesting is that it's an affordable destination. A much weaker curren cy--one kuna is currently equiva lent to `9.50 as against the euro which is a whop ping `72--means you can have a Euro pean holiday at a discount.

            Over my eight days in Croatia, I chose to cover Zagreb--that's where most international carriers are likely to drop you--Spilt, Hvar and finally ended my travels in Dubrovnik. The best way to travel there is on a bus, and you can easily get one from the Split harbour.A stunning drive--that takes you through a nine-kilometre stretch in Bosnia complete with a border security check--primes you for what awaits you in the walled city.

            Most visitors enter the Old Town through Pile Gates. The outer gate of Pile Gate, a stone bridge with a wooden drawbridge built in 1537 is what greets most visitors ¬ the main city tourist information centre, bus and taxi stop is right opposite it. The inner gate, that dates back to 1460, opens into Dubrovnik's main promenade, or Stradun as it's called.

            It's easy to see why the production crew thought Dubrovnik could become King's Landing. Its fortified battlements, great gates, drawbridges, cobbled pathways, baroque buildings and medieval monuments look straight out of the pages of novels.

            This historic Croatian city is no stranger to spilt blood. The city has been under attack numerous times, last in 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence, when the Old Town suffered serious damage. Of the 824 buildings there, almost 70 per cent were struck by shells.

            Dubrovnik's walls sustained 111 direct hits and there were 314 more on its baroque buildings and marble streets.

            Enamoured by the Old Town's medieval charm, I chose to stay within the walled city, with one of the locals. Sadly, today, less than 500 locals stay in the historic centre, as most have moved to more comfortable, modern apartments in Lapad.

            While staying in the walled city means climbing lots of stairs that can leave even the fittest breathless, it is an experience worth investing in, especially if that means a bedroom with the view of Minceta Tower, the high est point on the two-kilometre city walls. A m home-cooked Croatian meal of chicken pasta and zucchini seared in olive oil and orange liqueur for dessert was com pensation enough for the punish ment that my calves suffered.

             One of the best things to do in Dubrovnik is to take a walking tour of the walls. The two-hour walk will reward you with Instagram-worthy views ¬ the blue sea on one side and the trademark red-tiled roofs of the town on the other. Make sure to do this before the sun gets too strong.

            After you've got your breath back, treat yourself to a gelato. The Croats love their gelato, just as much as their Italian neighbours.

            Eating in Croatia doesn't require you to wrack your brains as most streets sell burgers, pizzas and hot dogs. But if you're willing to spend some time, and a little money at a restaurant, then you could treat yourself to some rarely-seen dish es in India like a grilled octopus sal ad. Or try one of the traditional Balkan pastries like burek (filled with minced meat or cheese) or krumpirusa.

            Dubrovnik has enough charms up its streets to keep the seeker in you satiated. You can catch a recital at the St Saviour Church, which withstood the earthquake of 1667 and is today a fine example of the Old Town's Renais sance architecture.Or quench your thirst with water from Onofrio's Fountain, one of Dubrovnik's most famous landmarks. Right next to it is the world's third-oldest monastery.Franciscan Monastery has been in operation for over 700 years and anyone with an ailment can still walk in to buy medicine. The Stradun, with its polished--and at times slippery--limestone pathway and the clock tower on one end, is the vantage point to people watch, especially when the sun sets.

          

          Another must-do on the list is a visit to the peacock-inhabited island of Lokrum. Known for its Botanical Garden and a deserted Benedictine monastery, founded in 1023, Lokrum offers magnificent views of the Adriatic Sea and is a quick boat ride away. Enjoy a quick dip in the Dead Sea, a small salt water lake, take a walk among the olive groves and then enjoy a crispy cold beer and pizza at the island's only restaurant. And a peacock may just decide to give you company.

            While 48 hours may be enough to cover all the sights and attractions of Dubrovnik, the walled city holds secrets and treasures that deserve more time.

How to Reach :-

By car :           Before you decide to travel to Dubrovnik by car you need to ensure that you have a valid driving licence, vehicle registration document, and a green card (certificate of insurance). You should know that the roads in Croatia during summer time tend to be overcrowded especially on border crossings. Please note that allowed alcohol blood level content in Croatia is 0.0, and everything above is punishable by law.

            If you choose to drive then the recommended way is to follow the autobahn to Split and from Split continue to Dubrovnik following the Adriatic coast road which is single-carriageway and closely follows the coastline. The view and feel along this Adriatic road is miraculous although the road may be strenuous for those not used to driving. The trip from Split to Dubrovnik takes about 3,5 to 4 hours drive. If you are not up for driving, you can always load your car onto a ferry in Rijeka or Split.

By Bus :          Dubrovnik is connected by bus lines with all larger cities in Croatia and other important cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. There are also regular lines with some cities in Germany and Italy.

By Ship :        Dubrovnik is connected with a regular ferry service with Bari, Korcula, Island of Hvar, Split and Rijeka. Many other cruiser ships have regular calls to Dubrovnik. The trip from Rijeka to Dubrovnik takes about 24 hours.

By Plane :       The easiest and most affordable way to get to Dubrovnik is to fly. There is a number of companies that offer cheap seasonal flights to Dubrovnik so you better keep an eye out and compare prices wisely before you decide.

            Dubrovnik Airport is located in Cilipi and is about 18 km (12 miles) outside the city. To get to Dubrovnik you either go by taxi, aero-company organized bus, or you can arrange a transfer service.