The Golden Temple

The Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab India

 The Golden Temple, also called Sri Harmandir Sahib (meaning Temple of God), is a Sikh Gurdwara, built by the fifth guru of the Sikhs, Guru Arjan Dev. The temple was constructed from 1588 to 1604, when it was completed with the installation of the sacred religious text, the Guru Granth Sahib.

After Afghan attacks in the mid-eighteenth century destroyed parts of the temple, it was rebuilt in 1764. In the early nineteenth century, the building was decorated and covered in gold by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, earning the temple its nickname the Golden Temple.

 There are four entrances to the temple, symbolizing the openness of the temple, which welcomes people from all directions and ways of life. The Golden Temple is a holy place for Sikhs and a place of worship.

The Golden Temple is surrounded by a lake called the Sarovar, which contains Amrit, holy water, (also referred to as immortal nectar). Inside, are shrines to past Sikh Gurus, saints, martyrs and various historical decor. The Golden Temple is visited by more than 100,000 people every day.

Ajanta Caves in India

 Ajanta Caves in India

The Ajanta caves were once used as a Buddhist monastery, with hundreds of teachers and students. The caves were constructed in two phases, the first beginning around the second century BC. The second phase took place in the fifth century AD, and saw some modernization of the existing caves as well as the creation of temples and many of the paintings and carvings, as decoration became more popular. After this, the caves were abandoned and mostly forgotten until in 1819, when British hunters found them.

Tourists visit these thirty remaining caves and the nearby Ellora caves to view the religious art and wall murals inside the caves. The caves house living areas, stupas, carvings and paintings.

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Milford Sound is a fjord carved out by a glacier, which created a narrow inlet, lined by steep cliffs and waterfalls. Milford Sound’s natural wonder has drawn millions of tourists to take in its awe-inspiring beauty, making it New Zealand’s top tourist destination. Wildlife sightings can include dolphins, penguins, seals, and glow worms.

Visitors to this fjord often take a boat ride along the water, but alternatives include bus tours, canoe or kayak rides, and an underwater observatory to view sea creatures and black coral. To experience Milford Sound in a completely different way, visitors can take a plane or helicopter ride around the area, which allows for views of the glaciers and mountains. Hiking the Milford Track is another popular method of viewing Milford Sound, but the trek will take about four days.

Windsor Castle, England

Windsor Castle, England – The official residence of the Queen of England

The magnificent 900-year-old Windsor Castle is the official residence of the Queen and the world’s largest working castle. It was built by William the Conqueror.

The state apartments in particular house some of the rarest collections of art and paintings in the world. The works of legends of the stature of Rembrandt, Rubens, Holbein and Dyck adorn the parapets, and are nicely complimented by stunning British furniture and chinaware.

The St. George’s Chapel built by Edward IV is a great piece of Gothic architecture. The St. George’s Hall too is a wonderful place to visit, which has been fully restored post the 1992 fire. Every year, the Queen resides at Windsor Castle for a month during the month of Easter. The Queen also resides here during the month of June for a week to attend the Order to the Garter as well as the prestigious Royal Ascot Race.

As far as state visits are concerned, the Windsor Place is the ultimate venue where the Queen hosts the traditional State Banquet at the grandiose St. George’s Hall. It is a scene to behold. The manner is which foreign Heads of State are driven to this magnificent Castle in regal horse drawn carriages where a spectacular military guard of honor awaits the dignitary. The majestic St. George’s Chapel does not owe allegiance to the archbishop though prayers and services are conducted.. Instead, the chapel is directly under the sovereign.

Being a working castle, there are quite a few people belonging to the exclusive Castle Community who reside within the castle’s premises. For instance, the titular head of the castle community, the castle constable, Governor and Dean of the Castle to name just a few are residents of the castle.

Apart from witnessing the magnificent royal décor in the interiors of the castle, visitors can also see the grand spectacle of “changing of the guards” that takes place every day from April to June and every alternate day from July to March.

Most visitors to the castle are intrigued by the riveting Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House. It is an amazing doll’s house which is all of six feet high and the interiors are stacked with chinaware, glassware, skillfully embroidered linen, mini furniture, etc.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial in USA

Mount Rushmore National Memorial at South Dakota,USA

The Mount Rushmore National Memorial on Mount Rushmore is located near Keystone in South Dakota, USA. It is one of the most iconic monuments representing the United States internationally. Set against the impressive granite background of the Black Hills the huge sculptures of America’s four iconic United States presidents – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln – stand out in a rare display of historic grandeur.
These 60-foot high carvings, 500-feet feet up the hills, were sculpted by the well-known Danish-American Gutzon Borglum and later by his son, Lincoln Borglum. The Mount Rushmore Memorial covers 1,278 acres and is about 5,725 feet above sea level.

The idea of creating the sculpture was the brainchild of Doane Robinson, a well-known South Dakota historian. Robinson believed that a mammoth carving on the Black Hills in South Dakota would attract much tourist interest in the state. He worked with John Boland, President Calvin Coolidge, Congressman William Williamson, and other leaders to secure funding. Needles was the site initially suggested to house these mammoth monuments. Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor, however believed that Mount Rushmore was a better choice due to its excellent quality granite. Robinson had initially envisaged it to feature local western heroes such as Lewis and Clark, and Buffalo Bill Cody but once again Borglum stepped in and suggested that the sculpture be given a Pan-American focus.

Construction work started in 1927, and the sculpture was completed in 1941. Gutzon Borglum’s death in March 1941 left the sculpture to an uncertain fate but his son Lincoln Borglum took over till the end of work in October 1941. Nearly three million visitors are known to visit Mount Rushmore annually.

The construction of the sculpture at Mt. Rushmore cost $989,992.32 in all. The cave behind the sculpture is called the “Hall of Records” and was initially intended to house the historic relics associated with the monument but could not be completed due to lack of funding. Mount Rushmore has been over seen by the National Park Service since 1933, even as the sculpture was being constructed

Shedd Aquarium in Chicago

Shedd Aquarium in Chicago

Shedd Aquarium is home to more than 25,000 fish and over 32,000 creatures in total, from about 1500 species including fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects. With about 2 million visitors annually, Shedd has been the most visited aquarium in the country multiple years, and is a major attraction in Chicago. Shedd became the first inland aquarium with a permanent saltwater fish collection after shipping millions of gallons of salt water from the Atlantic waters of Florida.

Major exhibits at Shedd Aquarium include a miniature version of the Amazon River and its jungles. Animals that are part of this exhibit include anacondas, rays, and crocodiles, which are found in the wilderness of the Amazon.

The Caribbean Reef is represented in its own exhibit, which houses a green sea turtle, a moray eel, rays, and sharks. The oceanarium features an aquatic show, starring Pacific White-sided dolphins and Beluga whales, with sea otters and sea lions.

Historic Centre of Macau in China

Visitors at the Historic Centre of Macau in China

Macau is a port city with an unique history and modern mix of cultures. Once a Portuguese colony, Macau was under Portuguese administration from the mid-sixteenth century until 1999, when it fell under Chinese rule. Macau had been inhabited by Chinese fishermen and seafaring merchants, who established fishing villages. Portuguese traders arrived and settled in the port as part of its trade route, making Macau a prosperous port town. A population influx in 1949 brought many Chinese refugees, and Macau then became a Chinese territory administered by Portugal. Today, the city of Macau is considered a Special Administrative Region of China, and displays a fusion of cultures coexisting and connecting.

The port of Macau is an important and long-lasting point of international trade – the trade of goods as well as culture. The Macau Historic Centre exhibits the merging of East and West, with architecture, technology, and culture influenced by both the Portuguese and Chinese inhabitants. Its streets are European, yet Asian, a development of something entirely unique to Macau.

Two zones in the Historic Centre, with about 25 historical buildings with architecture influenced by both Portuguese and Chinese styles were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Visitors to the Historic Centre of Macau can take the Macau Heritage Walk circuit to view examples of some of the earliest Western architecture in Asia, including styles from the Renaissance, Baroque, and neoclassical periods. Though these are in Western style, they incorporate characteristics from Chinese culture, including Chinese murals. Temples and homes in the Chinese style are also found in the historical city center.

The Guia Fortress, which includes a fort, a chapel, and a cemetery, were built around 1622 to 1638. The lighthouse on site is the oldest lighthouse in South China.

Other notable historical sites include several churches, including the ruins of Saint Paul’s church, though the façade is all that remains. The A-Ma Temple, situated in Barra Square, is a Taoist temple that may have contributed to the name of the city Macau. Dom Pedro V Theater was the first Western theater in China, constructed in the neoclassical style. The Moorish Barracks are also neoclassical design, featuring verandas and granite work. Macau Historic Centre includes several town squares, a library, many churches, and historical homes.