Seceda, a peak in the Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy

Beauty with an edge. Seceda, Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy

Italy's Dolomites don't just tower; they enchant, turning every trail into a story. Fondly known as the 'Pale Mountains,' the Dolomites derive their name from dolomite—a carbonate mineral. Set in the northern Italian Alps, the range spans over 1,200 square kilometres and boasts 18 soaring peaks that rise above 2,500 metres. These mountains feature sheer cliffs, lofty walls and a maze of narrow, winding valleys. Amid the dramatic landscape of the Dolomites lies one of its most spectacular peaks, Seceda, featured in today's image. With a height of over 2,000 metres, it offers the highest panoramic viewpoint in Val Gardena, a scenic valley in the province of South Tyrol.

While the Dolomites command awe with their jagged heights and Alpine charm, halfway across the globe, India's Aravalli Range speaks of ancient resilience. One of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, it dates back to the Proterozoic era (2.5 billion to 541 million years). Stretching for about 670 kilometres in a south-west direction, it begins near Delhi, winds through southern Haryana and Rajasthan and ends in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Its highest peak, Guru Shikhar, rises to 1,722 metres on Mount Abu.