Six in the cities

When in Amsterdam... Visit a secret attic

Everyone knows about Anne Frank’s hiding place on the Prinsengracht, which is not to be missed. But few know about one of the city’s other hidden treasures: Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (translated as ‘Our Lord in the Attic’). Built in 1663, in what’s now the red-light district, the narrow confines of this canal house’s attic pack in a cathedral complete with a two-storey altar, a confessional, a chapel and an organ. It was built during the Dutch ban on public Catholic worship at the time of the Protestant Reformation.

Where: Museum Amstelkring (Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40; Tel: +31 20 624 6604; www.museumamstelkring.nl)

Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun & public holidays 1-5pm.

When in Beijing… Fire a very big gun

What better way to wind down after a hard day in the office than by blowing something away using live ammunition. Air rifles? Pah. In Beijing’s China North International shooting range, a former army barracks about an hour north of the city centre, you can go crazy with everything from handguns to Uzis and even anti-aircraft guns. Bring your own earplugs – this could get noisy.

Where: China North International shooting range (Nankou Mafang Changping District; Tel: +86 10 6977 1368; www.bfshoot.com)

Opening Hours: Daily 8.30am-4.30pm.

When in Bucharest… Go fishing

Looking for a nice catch? Then get your fishing gear ready, because Raduta Lake near Bucharest is one of the best ponds in Europe. Whether you’re a carp fan, or drooling for a sheatfi sh steak, this is the place to be. At weekends the place is packed with fishermen of all ages. If you’re not the chatting type, find a quiet place and enjoy the solitude. Otherwise, the merest hint of eye contact and you’ll leave with a best friend at the end of the day, a stomach full of palinca (the Romanian version of whisky) and a head filled with someone’s life story. You can find the lake 40km from Bucharest, on the road to the town of Calarasi.

Website: www.radutalake.ro

When in Delhi… Step back in time

To understand the difference between old and New Delhi, go first to Connaught Place, planned and executed as the centre of the new city in the 1930s. Goggle at the colonnaded, shuttered arcades. Jump on the Metro and ride until Chandni Chowk or Chawri Bazar. Exit the air-conditioned tube and step straight into the 17th century.

Website: www.delhimetrorail.com

When in Moscow… Drink in the culture

Fifteen minutes’ drive from the Kremlin, Winzavod is a former winery (hence the name) converted into an art space, where the hippest galleries are gathered in one place. There are also studios, a voguish clothing store and a stylish café. Whenever you turn up, there’s a chance to see another opening or a visual art festival. You might even find yourself joining an outdoor party in the warmer months; otherwise, wrap up warm, since large, unheated rooms can get pretty cold in late autumn and winter.

Where: Winzavod (4th Syromyatnicheskiy Lane 1, Building 6; Tel: +7 495 917 4646; www.winzavod.com)

When in Mumbai… Celebrate the elephant god

Ganesh Chaturthi marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god of auspicious beginnings. During the ten-day festival (the start date shifts between late August and mid-September), families mark icons of the deity on a map. It guides you from house to laboratory, from factory to mansion, while some neighbourhoods erect pandals (tents) in which gigantic statues of Ganesha are enthroned, some three storeys high. The idols are immersed in the sea or in lakes after one and a half, three, five, seven or ten days. While they’re in residence, the statues are treated to live music and films late into the night – or at least as late as noise regulations permit. The revelry on immersion days can get hectic, with crowds spraying colour and dancing in the streets. Watch from a balcony above a major location if you’re not ready to be swept up by the crowd, but remember to sample a modak – the elephant god’s favourite confection – at a more peaceful pandal.

Where: Lalbaug, Girgaum Chowpatty, Dadar and across the city.

When: 11 Sep 2010