Declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1984, this is the oldest protected area in Ukraine. While it is the guardian of Europe's only grassland community, Festuca-Stipa, the reserve is also home to a variety of birds and animal species. As many as 300 species of birds reside in this park, making it one of the most breathtaking natural areas in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Karpats'kyi Biosphere Reserve includes five massifs and is a beautiful alpine area. The park is very popular with tourists for its innumerable archaeological sites, health resorts, sports facilities and lodges.

Stretching right across the western border of Ukraine, the Carpathian Mountains are excellent for skiing and snowboarding. The popular resorts here are Drahorbrat, Slavsko, Tysovets and Bukovel. While Drahorbrat is the highest ski resort with the most reliable snowfall, Bukovel is the only one of international standard.

The 1986 accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine was one of the most frightening episodes in history. It resulted in the release of radioactive material into the atmosphere, as a result of which over 300,000 families had to be evacuated from their homes in and around Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. This museum offers an insight into those who tried to curtail the meltdown and the effects that followed. This is a good place to visit with family if your kids are old enough to understand the powers and dangers of nuclear energy.

Crimea has seen so many rulers and occupiers that it is difficult to remember the exact number! But the continuous fight for this peninsula has led to it becoming a land with a rich and diverse history. Here, you will hear stories about all those who have left their mark on Crimea - the Greeks, Goths, Cimmerians, Huns, Mongols, Iranians, and even the Nazis, who tried their hand at ruling the peninsula during World War II. This is an ideal spot if you are looking for history, nostalgia and some breathtaking natural sights.

Over the years, cycling has gained immense popularity in Ukraine. Although its cities are not bike-friendly, there are plenty of parks and forests in and around Kyiv that are perfect for riding. In fact, Ukraine's countryside is ideal for long excursions - the roads are uncongested and quiet. What's more, you can take your bicycles on the trains, provided they are packed properly.

A storehouse of fascinating World War II artefacts, the museum is dominated by the massive statue of the Motherland (very similar to the Statue of Liberty). Housed in a Soviet-built structure, the museum has on display decommissioned tanks, which are symbolically painted with flowers, and another interesting statue called 'To the Fallen', which is essentially a memorial to all those who fought and died in the war. Most of the museum notes, however, are in Russian or Ukrainian.

The Kiev Pechersk Lavra or the Caves Monastery is a fascinating piece of history that dates back to 1051. A devout monk, the Venerable Anthony, is said to have settled in a cave on the banks of the Dnieper River where he was joined by his followers. When their numbers outgrew the caves, Prince Izyaslav and others from the Kievan aristocracy, who were frequent visitors to the Venerable Anthony, donated money to build a church and monastery. The monastery has continued to grow ever since. In fact, it is active even today and serves as a major centre of Orthodox Christianity.

Kyiv has been rated the most popular and beautiful area in Ukraine because of its resorts and recreational areas. With several health centres and clinics at one's disposal, tourists to the Kyiv oblast (region) can also look forward to some great climate amidst much wonderful natural splendour. A popular spot is Oleksandriya, a 200-year-old park in Bila Tserkva. Then there are the several archaeological sights that provide insights into the history and culture of the region.

The Shats'kyi National Park has as many as 23 lakes, including the largest and deepest one in the country, Lake Svityaz. In 2002, it was declared a biosphere reserve. While the Polis'kyi Reserve is 22 per cent swamp, the Yovorivskyi National Park is mostly forest, but not without a number of historical churches, monuments, and monasteries! To see an astonishing variety of geological formations with meadows and forests, you have to visit the Podil'ski Tovtry National Park. Its mineral springs and monuments attract several tourists ever year.

The beautiful and exquisite green and gold-domed St Sophia Cathedral was a very important centre for Soviet Russia. Dating back to the 11th century, it has seen so much damage and so many repairs over the years that today it is a mix of architectural styles from nine centuries! What is most striking is the cathedral's amazing collection of frescoes and Byzantine mosaics, which date back to its inception. The Cathedral's walls are replete with graffiti on political and historical events spanning centuries, which can be seen even today.

The Crimean Mountains are a great spot for outdoor activities. The Yalta Mountain Forest Reserve that extends along the Black Sea coast is replete with caves, waterfalls and grottoes. It is in the Karadag Reserve (a haven for rock hounds) that you will find Europe's only rocky shoreline massif from the Jurassic period. Ukraine's largest and most popular park is the Carpathian National Park. It houses the country's highest mountain, Mount Hoverla, and attracts trekkers and mountain climbers all through the warm seasons.

It's unlikely you will find a mention of this museum in any of the tourism guides or tours. Located on the outskirts of Kiev, the Waste Museum is a fascinating place to visit nonetheless. Like most other museums, the Waste Museum too is steeped in history, but in a most unusual way - the exhibits have all been recovered from garbage dumps!

The collection of exhibits began way back in the early 1950s when employees of Kiev's City Secondary Resources Plant came across interesting items that people had discarded during their work day. Luckily for us, they stored these things. The collection was eventually cleaned and sorted for display at the museum, which opened in 2007. Today, there are thousands of items on display, some of which are as many as 200 years old.

In fact, the museum has two sections - an open air one that visitors can browse through without a guide and another enclosed area, which houses the more fragile items. While all the items have been displayed in an easy-to-view manner, the arrangements do not follow any particular theme. So don't be surprised when you find religious icons alongside hand grenades, and an enormous anchor behind a 19th century French piano; or for that matter, an ornately carved sideboard that stores porcelain plates and dishes next to wooden barrels of all sizes, cribs, woven baskets, and farm instruments. Other items on display include a variety of paintings, musical instruments and carved furniture. Remember to ask the guide to turn on the old gramophone. He will, and love songs from the 1930s will fill the air!

A visit to this museum will also make you realise how far the world has progressed, technologically. Especially when you see the old irons that had to be filled with embers in order to heat them. There are also some of the very first vacuum cleaners and hair driers, besides a collection of radio transmitters, cameras and telephones. Then there is a corner dedicated to Lenin, which showcases a range of busts of him in front of a wall full of his portraits and flags of the USSR. Many of the articles on display are very valuable today, so it is but natural that collectors enquire about purchasing them. Unfortunately, however, none of the items are on sale.

While there is no clear reason why this museum is not promoted by the tourism agencies, it is certainly worth a visit if you have the time to visit Kiev and have a fascination for all things old. It is also a great opportunity to see how one man's junk is another man's treasure!