World's Beautiful Places must Visit Before Die
1.Jammu & Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. In the seventeenth century the Mughal emperor Jahangir
set his eyes on the valley of Kashmir. He said that if paradise is
anywhere on the earth, it is here, while living in a houseboat on Dal Lake.
"Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast." If
there is ever a heaven on earth, its here, its here, its here. In Jammu
and Kashmir the most important tourist places are Kashmir, Srinagar, the
Mughal Gardens, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Jammu, and Ladakh. Some areas require a special permit for non-Indians to visit.
Before militancy intensified in 1989, tourism formed an important
part of the Kashmiri economy. The tourism economy in the Kashmir valley
was worst hit. However, the holy shrines of Jammu and the Buddhist
monasteries of Ladakh continue to remain popular pilgrimage and tourism
destinations. Every year, thousands of Hindu pilgrims visit holy shrines of Vaishno Devi and Amarnath which has had significant impact on the state's economy. The Vaishno Devi yatra alone contributes 475 crore to the local economy annually.
Tourism in the Kashmir valley has rebounded in recent years and in
2009, the state became one of the top tourist destinations of India. Gulmarg, one of the most popular ski resort destinations in India, is also home to the world's highest green golf course. The decrease in violence in the state has boosted the states economy specifically tourism.
It was reported that 7.36 lakh tourists visited Kashmir in 2010
including 23,000 foreigners. In 2011, the number of tourist arrivals in
Kashmir touched the mark of 10 lakh.
2.The Dubai Fountain - World’s Largest Dancing Fountain
Set on the 30-acre Burj Khalifa Lake, at the center of the Downtown
Dubai development in Dubai, the Dubai fountain can shoot 83,000 liters
of water at any moment and water jets as high as 240 feet into the air.
Illuminated by 6,600 lights and 25 colored projectors, the 900 feet long
fountain can seen from over 20 miles away.
The Dubai Fountain
performs daily accompanied by a range of classical to contemporary
Arabic and world music. The performance repertoire including Sama Dubai;
Baba Yetu, an award-winning song in Swahili; the Arab world’s
top-selling dance number Shik Shak Shok; and the signature piece of
world-renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, Con te partiro (Time to Say
Goodbye).
When the fountain was inaugurated in 2009, it had two
types of shooters - super shooters, which shoot water under more
pressure up to 240 feet in the air, and extreme shooters, which can
shoot water under the most pressure to 420 feet in the air.
Because it
takes a lot of time to build up enough pressure and energy to shoot
water that high in the air, the super shooters are used the least during
each show. The extreme shooters were used only once during the opening
ceremony, after which they were disabled and no longer used in the
shows.
3.Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore, a granite batholith formation in the Black Hills in Keystone, South Dakota, United States. Sculpted by Danish-American Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln Borglum, Mount Rushmore features 60-foot (18 m) sculptures of the heads of four United States presidents: George Washington (1732–1799), Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), and Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) The entire memorial covers 1,278.45 acres (2.00 sq mi; 5.17 km2) and is 5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level.
South Dakota historian Doane Robinson is credited with conceiving the idea of carving the likenesses of famous people into the Black Hills region of South Dakota in order to promote tourism in the region. Robinson's initial idea was to sculpt the Needles;
however, Gutzon Borglum rejected the Needles site because of the poor
quality of the granite and strong opposition from Native American
groups. They settled on the Mount Rushmore location, which also has the
advantage of facing southeast for maximum sun exposure. Robinson wanted
it to feature western heroes like Lewis and Clark, Red Cloud, and Buffalo Bill Cody, but Borglum decided the sculpture should have a more national focus and
chose the four presidents whose likenesses would be carved into the
mountain. After securing federal funding through the enthusiastic
sponsorship of "Mount Rushmore's great political patron", U.S. Senator Peter Norbeck,
construction on the memorial began in 1927, and the presidents' faces
were completed between 1934 and 1939.
Upon Gutzon Borglum's death in
March 1941, his son Lincoln Borglum
took over construction. Although the initial concept called for each
president to be depicted from head to waist, lack of funding forced
construction to end in late October 1941.
Mount Rushmore has become an iconic symbol of the United States, and
has appeared in works of fiction, and has been discussed or depicted in
other popular works. It attracts over two million people annually.
4.Easter Island
Located 3,700 km (2,300 miles) off the west
coast of Chile, Easter Island is the world's most isolated inhabited
island. It is also one of the most mystifying places on Earth,
possessing a history that remains as unclear as it is evocative.
Easter
Island's tiny land area (only 117 sq. km.) and remarkable isolation
make its discovery and settlement an event that seems as unlikely as it
was mysterious. The original settlers seem to have been Polynesian,
although there is substantial evidence that they were joined by a South
American people early in the island's history. The island's native name,
Rapa Nui, is Polynesian. Isolated for centuries from the outside world,
the people of Rapa Nui developed their own distinctive culture, a
culture perhaps best known by the moai, huge figures carved of volcanic
rock. Hundreds of these sculpted monoliths dot the landscape, some in
imposing rows, others toppled, broken, and scarred by violence. Scholars
have been able to reconstruct some of the tragic history that lies
behind the disintegration of Rapa Nui culture, but many important parts
of the puzzle-including how and why the moai were built-remain
uncertain.
The first Europeans to stumble upon
the tiny island were the Dutch, under the command of Admiral Jacob
Roggeveen. Roggeveen made landfall on Rapa Nui on Easter Day of 1722,
thus providing Easter Island with its modern name. Easter Island
remained only slightly less isolated over the ensuing centuries,
although it did attract the malevolent interest of Peruvian slave ships
during the 19th century. Despite these depredations, the majority of
Easter Island's population is still composed of descendants of its
original inhabitants Even today, their distinctive language and cultural
traditions give visitors a glimpse of an ancient lifestyle.
All
of the residents of Easter Island live in the town of Hanga Roa, and it
is an easy day's drive from town around the island in search of moai
and ahu (the rectangular stone platforms which moai were mounted on).
One of the most famous sites on the island is Rano Raraku, where 70 moai
seem to rise from the earth. The remains of over 150 other figures lie
in a nearby volcanic crater, where the rock for the moai was extracted.
It is still unclear how the moai were moved from these rock quarries to
other parts of the island.
The restored village
of Orongo offers another Easter Island mystery. The village sits in a
spectacular setting, between the volcano of Rano Kao and a sheer cliff
drop-off. Rocks found at the village contain 150 carvings showing
figures with a man's body and a bird's head. Anthropologists believe
they were part of a religious cult, but the details on the "Bird Man"
are still obscure.
5.Rio de Janeiro
Welcome to the
Cidade Maravilhosa, or the Marvelous City, as Rio is known in Brazil.
Synonymous with the girl from Ipanema, the dramatic views from Christ
the Redeemer atop Corcovado mountain, and fabulously flamboyant Carnival
celebrations, Rio is a city of stunning architecture, abundant museums,
and marvelous food.
As you leave the airport and head to Rio's beautiful Zona Sul
(the touristic South Zone), you'll drive for about 40 minutes on a
highway from where you'll begin to get a sense of the dramatic contrast
between beautiful landscape and devastating poverty.
In this teeming
metropolis of 12 million people (6.2 million of whom live in Rio
proper), the very rich and the very poor live in uneasy proximity.
You'll drive past seemingly endless cinder-block favela, but by
the time you reach Copacabana's breezy, sunny Avenida Atlântica—flanked
on one side by white beach and azure sea and on the other by
condominiums and hotels—your heart will leap with expectation as you
begin to recognize the postcard-famous sights. Now you're truly in Rio,
where cariocas (Rio residents) and tourists live life to its fullest.
Enthusiasm
is contagious in Rio. Prepare to have your senses engaged and your
inhibitions untied. Rio seduces with a host of images: the joyous bustle
of vendors at Sunday's Feira Hippie (Hippie Fair); the tipsy babble at
sidewalk cafés as patrons sip their last glass of icy beer under the
stars; the blanket of lights beneath the Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf
Mountain); the bikers, joggers, strollers, and power walkers who parade
along the beach each morning. Borrow the carioca spirit for your stay;
you may find yourself reluctant to give it back.
6. The Cape Winelands
About 40 km to the east of Cape Town, lying in the shadow of a continuous belt of Cape fold belt mountains,
lies a series of generous valleys known as the Cape Winelands
– a collection of historic towns, little hamlets and Cape Dutch
farmsteads that provide well-regarded South African wines to the world.
These mountains create an incredible scenic backdrop for a myriad vines,
but they are also one of the reasons wines do so well here.
Their
geological compositions provide unique soil conditions that directly
effect the character of wine.
 |
| Famous For its wines |
The boundaries of this municipality, which covers an area of 22,289 square kilometres (8,606 sq mi), coincide roughly with the boundaries of the geographical area that has been known since the early days of the Cape Colony as "The Boland". In Afrikaans Boland means "up land" or "the higher land" or "the land above" (i.e. in contrast to the low coastal areas of the original Dutch
settlement at the Cape). However, the term "Boland", as originally
used, was a loose concept, with no defined borders (cf. the informal but
not meaningless terms "The Sahara" or "The Rocky Mountains"). The
Boland is generally mountainous, with range after range of beautiful and
isolated sandstone peaks reaching towards 2000m but also has broad,
fertile valleys that are home to some of the country's finest vineyards.
The region has a Mediterranean climate.
Summers are hot and dry and winters cool and damp, with snow on the
peaks during August and September. The extent and diversity of the
geographical features here are truly marvellous. There are so many
peaks, ranges, escarpments, valleys, cliffs, rivers, pools, waterfalls,
screes, canyons, springs, forests, caves and other natural features that
no person could visit all of them in a lifetime.
7.Torres del Paine
Soaring almost
vertically more than 2000m above the Patagonian steppe, the granite
pillars of Torres del Paine (Towers of Paine) dominate the landscape of
what may be South America's finest national park. Before its creation in
1959, the park was part of a large sheep estancia, and it's still recovering from nearly a century of overexploitation of its pastures, forests and wildlife.
Most
people visit the park for its one greatest hit but, once here, realize
that there are other attractions with equal wow power. We're talking
about azure lakes, trails that meander through emerald forests, roaring
rivers you'll cross on rickety bridges and one big, radiant blue
glacier. Variety spans from the vast openness of the steppe to rugged
mountain terrain topped by looming peaks.
Part of Unesco's Biosphere Reserve system since
1978, the park is home to flocks of ostrich-like rhea (known locally as
the ñandú), Andean condor, flamingo and many other bird species. Its
star success in conservation is undoubtedly the guanaco, which
grazes the open steppes where pumas cannot approach undetected. After
more than a decade of effective protection from poachers, these large,
growing herds don't even flinch when humans or vehicles approach. The
puma population is also growing, and huemul (an endangered Andean deer)
have been spotted in Valle Frances.
When the weather is clear, panoramas are
everywhere. However, unpredictable weather systems can sheath the peaks
in clouds for hours or days. Some say you get four seasons in a day
here, with sudden rainstorms and knock-down gusts part of the hearty
initiation. Bring high-quality foul-weather gear, a synthetic sleeping
bag and, if you're camping, a good tent. It is always wise to plan a few
extra days to make sure that your trip isn't torpedoed by a spot of bad
weather.
The crowning attraction of this 1810-sq-km park
is its highly developed infrastructure, which makes it possible to do
the whole 'W' hike while sleeping in beds, eating hot meals, taking
showers and even drinking the random cocktail. It's essential to make
reservations ahead of time.
If you want to sleep in hotels or refugios (rustic shelters),
you must make reservations in advance. Plan a minimum of three to seven
days to enjoy the hiking and other activities. Guided day trips on
minibuses from Puerto Natales are possible, but permit only a glimpse of
what the park has to offer.
At the end of 2011, a raging fire burned over
40,000 acres. The fire took weeks to contain, destroyed old forest,
killed animals and burned several park structures. An international
visitor was charged with accidentally setting the fire while trying to
start an illegal campfire. The hiker denied setting the fire but paid a
US$10,000 fine and agreed to help with reforestation efforts. Chile
has since enacted a stricter 'Ley del Bosque' (forest law) to protect
parks and Conaf has started to actively remove visitors found breaking
park guidelines. The affected area, mostly between Pehoé and Refugio
Grey, is essentially the western leg of the 'W' trek.
Be conscientious and tread lightly – you are among hundreds of thousands of yearly guests.
8.Marrakesh
From the moment you
arrive in Marrakesh, you’ll get the distinct feeling you’ve left
something behind – a toothbrush or socks, maybe? But no, what you’ll be
missing in Marrakesh is predictability and all sense of direction. Never
mind: you’re better off without them here.
Start at action-packed
Djemaa el-Fna and head north into Marrakesh’s maze of souqs, where
Berber tribes once traded slaves, gold, ivory and leather, and where
modern tourists scour people-packed alleys for carpet bargains and babouches.
If you look carefully, you’ll also spot a number of creative new
boutiques and galleries. They signify the evolving face of the medina as
a new generation of craftsmen and artists try to connect the city’s
hankering for modernity with its traditional craft heritage.
Beyond
the souqs, the medina is an ideal place to explore private palaces and
riad mansions, many of which now provide the city’s most atmospheric
accommodation. But it’s worth leaving the old city occasionally for
dinner, drinks and art galleries in the ville nouvelle (new town), mountain bike rides in the palmeraie (palm oasis) or horse-riding and weekend retreats in the Agafay Desert and Ouirgane.
9.Everest Base Camp
You’ll be smitten by Nepal, a country of
hospitable people, beautiful scenery, and a large variety of cultural
traditions.
This blend of outdoor adventure and cultural exploration is a
great way to experience the Himalayan Mountains - the world’s most
impressive mountains.
Our carefully crafted
itinerary ensures proper acclimatization, allowing you to fully enjoy
one of the world’s great treks and the easy walk up Kala Pattar. You'll
experience:
- Base camp living, spending a night at camp and meeting Everest climbers
- The infamous Khumbu Icefall up close and personal
- Stunning views from 18,000-foot Kala Pattar
- Friendly Sherpa people
- Mountain Madness-style hospitality, including our private food service and the best teahouses in the Khumbu
Discover
why this has become one of our most rewarding journeys and a Mountain
Madness Classic, first developed more than 25 years ago by our founder
Scott Fischer.
- Over 25 years' experience in Nepal
- Private food service with a wide variety of traditional and Western meals prepared by our cooks
- Luxurious hotel accommodations in Kathmandu's Yak-n-Yeti
- Kathmandu cultural tour
- Yak support allows you to carry only your daypack
- Hand-selected teahouses
- Highly skilled professional Western and Nepali guides
- All-inclusive price
Many
Maharajahs of India ruling various princely states took the initiative
to build their own lines whereas many had their heir apparent built
miles of narrow gauge lines where they could play with their personal
toy trains. Even as Maharaja of Vadodara built his then son and the
present Maharaja of Vadodara a fully functional toy train, Maharaja of
Gwalior used to proudly flaunt his silver model train chugging along the
center of his banqueting table to the dignitaries and officers of East
India Company. 
Current
salons of the train are designed to recreate the same old panache of
the personal carriages of Indian Maharajahs. Each of the cabins
including the dining coupes is suffused with nostalgia of past grandeur.
Quaint décor fused together with the contemporary amenities create an
aura of sheer opulence and 5 Star pampering inside the cabins of
Maharaja Express.
The
journeys of Maharajas Express have even been compared to that of
legendary Orient Express of the West in refinement and luxury. From
every modern amenity which money can buy to eco-friendly technologies
and services, every aspect of an elegant train journey has been looked
into with meticulous diligence.
Lounge, Observation Car and Treasure Chest
