The great sphinx of Giza

It is a symbol that has represented the essence of Egypt for thousands of years. Carved from the bedrock of the Giza plateau, the sphinx is truly a mysterious marvel from the days of ancient Egypt. The body of a lion with the head of a king or god has come to symbolize strength and wisdom.

Because of the changing desert terrain, the body of the sphinx has been buried several times over the past several thousand years. Most recently in 1905, the sand has been cleared away to expose the magnitude and beauty of the sphinx. The paws themselves are 50 feet long while the entire length is 150 feet. The head is 30 feet long and 14 feet wide.

Although the head of the sphinx is badly battered in some places, traces of the original paint can still be seen near one ear. The nose was the unfortunate victim of target practice by the Turks in the Turkish period. It is often assumed that the nose was shot off by Napoleon’s men, but 18^th century drawings reveal that the nose was missing long before Napoleon’s arrival.

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Jama Masjid the largest mosque in India

 Jama Masjid in Delhi is the largest mosque in India. It stands across the road in front of the Red Fort. It is one of the last architectural works of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The mosque was built in red sandstone and marble by more than 5000 artisans.

The masjid was completed under the supervision of Saadullah Khan the prime minister of Shah Jahan. The masjid has three gateways, four towers and two minarets. The main entrance was used by the emperors. 

The tower of Jama Masjid was made up of five distinctive storeys. Each one of the storeys has projecting balcony.

The first three storeys of Jama Masjid towers are made of red sandstone and the fourth one is made of marble. The Masjid is covered with intricate carvings and has verses inscribed from the holy Koran. The main prayer hall is made of high arches and marble domes.

Do pay a visit here when you are in India.

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Visit the Tower Bridge in London

Tower Bridge has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894. It is one of the finest and most recognizable bridges in the world. It is the London Bridge you tend to see in movies and on advertising literature for London. Tower Bridge is the only Thames Bridge which can be raised. Its middle section can be raised to permit large vessels to pass the Tower Bridge. Massive engines raise the bridge sections, which weigh about 1000 tons each in just over a minute.

It used to be raised about 50 times a day, but nowadays it is only raised 4 to 5 times a week. The Tower Bridge is 60 meters long with towers that rise to a height of 43 meters.

Do make a visit to this place when you next visit London.

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Bali the island in Indonesia

Bali is one of more than 17,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago. The island is home to 4 million people. This place has been one tourist attraction with spectacular beaches with great surfing and diving. Eight percent of international visitors to Indonesia visit Bali and Bali alone.

Bali is a wonderful destination with something new for everyone. Bali can get very crowded in July and August and again at Christmas and New Year. Australians visit here during school holidays in April, late June and late September. The domestic tourists visit here during national holidays. Bali can be surprisingly quiet and good discounts on accommodation are often available.

Bali’s best known attractions are its countless Hindu temples. There are many interesting scuba diving sites around Bali. Warm waters, crowds of young backpackers, cheap living and reliable waves keep Bali near the top of world surfing destinations. There are a number of reputable white-water rafting operators in the Ubud area and the rafting is of good quality in the wet season.

Sport Fishing is popular activity in the island. Trolling, jigging and bottom fishing can be very rewarding. Many companies provide adventure activities such as Paragliding at Nusa Dua, Mountain Cycling in the hills of Ubud or downhill cycling from Bedugul and Kintamani, Jungle Trekking, Bungy Jumping on the beach in Seminyak, Horse Riding in Seminyak and Umalas and Hiking in the rice fields near Ubud and many other places in the hills.

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Windsor castle in England

Windsor castle is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world and is one of the official residences of the Queen. It was originally built by William the Conquerer in the 11th Century and has seen many extensions and fortifications by English monarchs over the years.

 The State Apartments are open to the public and art lovers will be impressed by a collection of some of the finest paintings by Rembrandt, Canaletto and Gainsborough. Visitors can also view George IV's private apartments which are some of the most lavishly decorated rooms in the castle.

The Drawings Gallery displays changing exhibitions of material from the Royal Library at Windsor Castle alongside a selection of treasures from the Royal Library.

St George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. It is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the senior order of British Chivalry established in 1348 by Edward III. Within the chapel are the tombs of ten sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I. More recently the Queen Mother was buried here.

If you have the energy for the 200 steps, you can take the Conquer the Tower Tour for stunning views of the castle and the surrounding area.

Windsor Castle is a working palace and may be closed for State functions so visitors are advised to check opening times before they visit.

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Miami Seaquarium in United States

 

The Miami Seaquarium is a 38 acre oceanarium located on the island of Virginia key in Biscayne bay in Florida, United States. It is the longest operating oceanarium in the united states. It remains open throughout a week and the working hours is from 9.30 am to 6 pm.

The seaquarium is a fun place for children to see their favorite ocean animals. Shows are scheduled throughout the day the best of which are the Flipper dolphin Show and the Killer Whale and Dolphin Show. You can observe the vibrant coral reef fish, rescued manatees, sharks, crocodiles, huge sea turtles, parrots, serpents, deer and more. The seaquarium program gives adults and older children to swim and interact with dolphins.

The dolphin shows are very fascinating. People enjoy the show very much. The Annual Pass is worth if you plan to return atleast once during the year. You can purchase tickets for visiting here online. The dolphin swim is famous here.

If you want a chance to swim with dolphins then this is a great place to do it. Participants must be atleast 5 years old. The dolphin swims are very famous so you need to schedule in advance.

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Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is located on the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean in Monterey, California. It has an annual attendance of 1.8 million visitors. The aquarium benefits by a high circulation of fresh ocean water which is obtained through pipes which pump it in continuously from Monterey Bay.

The largest tank in the aquarium is a 1,200,000 US-gallon which features one of the world’s largest single-paned windows. Sealife on exhibit includes stingrays, jellyfish, sea otters and numerous other native marine species. The Aquarium is one of very few in the world to exhibit both bluefin and yellowfin tuna. The aquarium does not house mammals other than otters.

The aquarium exhibit great white sharks, Penguins, Seahorses and Jellyfish. Marine research is conducted on great white sharks, sea otters and Pacific tuna.

Do pay a visit to this place.

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Visit the Langkawi Island in Malaysia

Langkawi is an island in the Andaman Sea some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. On June 1, 2007, Langkawi Island was given a World Geopark status by UNESCO. Three of its main conservation areas in Langkawi Geopark are Machincang Cambrian Geoforest Park, Kilim Karst Geoforest Park and Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park.

The Kilim Karst Geoforest Park is rich in wildlife. Tourist may see hairy nosed sea otters, brown winged kingfishers, monitor lizards and swimming macaque monkeys. One of Langkawi’s natural beauty spots is the Pirate Lagoon just outside the river.

There are two island areas the Southern Islands with heavy tourist population and north east one which is without tourist traffic.

Some of the most popular beaches are Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah, Burav Bay, Pantai Kok and Datai Bay.  The Langkawi Cable Car takes visitors up to the peak of Gunung Mat Chinchang where the Langkawi Sky bridge is located.

You can reach their via ferry from Kuala Perlis or by flight from Kuala Lumpur.

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Disney Land the attraction for millions

The southern California theme park is the cleanest and most enjoyable theme park in the world. Walt Disney wanted to create a place where parents and kids could do things together. Disneyland offers plenty of chances to stay together. Most rides are on the gentler side and you will also find shows, parades and daily fireworks in summer.

You can watch your kids having fun in Disneyland. We like Disneyland for its cleanliness and friendly employees. Unlike other area theme parks, they don’t have extra-fee attractions thar raise your cost.

People who like the big fast thrill rides may find Disneyland too tame and some of them think it is too small.

Next door to Disneyland is California Adventure which is a separate theme park with a growing collection of rides based on animated films.

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BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a traditional Hindu temple. It is a place of worship, learning and community service. The temple was built using Bulgarian limestone and Italian Carrara marble. Stones were shipped to India where they were hand-carved and then shipped to London to be assembled like a giant jigsaw puzzle. It is possible to take a tour of this beautiful building. The tour includes lunch at the vegetarian restaurant and transport to and from central London.

The temple is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Since its opening in August 1995, the Mandir has attracted devotees and visitors from all over the world. Festivals are celebrated on a grand scale at the Mandir. Swaminarayan Jayanti, Ramnavmi, Janmashtami, Shivratri, Holi and Ganesh Chaturthi are all celebrated in a traditional manner. Diwali and Annakut are the grandest festivals of all, attracting thousands of people for darshan.

The Mandir is open from 9.00am to 6.00pm daily, 365 days a year. However, the Management reserves the right to close the Mandir without prior notice.

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The fabulous Sydney Harbour in Australia

Sydney was the location of the first European settlement in Australia. This natural harbor is where you can find the iconic Sydney Opera House and magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge. The best time of year to visit is New Year when you can witness the breathtaking sight of the world famous spectacular New Years Eve Fireworks.

Sydney Opera House is easily accessed on Bennelong Point and has become one of the classic symbols of Australia. The Opera House consists of one concert hall, two theatres, a playhouse, a studio, the Utzon room and the Forecourt as well as restaurant, a cafe and a bar.

Tours are given daily between 9am and 5pm. Sydney Harbour Bridge spans the central business unit of Sydney and the North Shore. It carries 7 lanes of traffic, 2 railway tracks, 1 footpath and 1 cycle lane.

Do pay a visit to this place.

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The majestic Buckingham Palace in London

Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837 and today is the administrative headquarters of the Monarch.

Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by The Queen, the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are open to visitors every year. For visitor information, please visit the Royal Collection website.

Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. In measurements, the building is 108 metres long across the front, 120 metres deep (including the central quadrangle) and 24 metres high.

The Palace is very much a working building and the centrepiece of Britain's constitutional monarchy. It houses the offices of those who support the day-to-day activities and duties of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh and their immediate family.

The Palace is also the venue for great Royal ceremonies, State Visits and Investitures, all of which are organized by the Royal Household.

Although Buckingham Palace is furnished and decorated with priceless works of art that form part of the Royal Collection, one of the major art collections in the world today. It is not an art gallery and nor is it a museum.

Its State Rooms form the nucleus of the working Palace and are used regularly by The Queen and members of the Royal Family for official and State entertaining.

More than 50,000 people visit the Palace each year as guests to banquets, lunches, dinners, receptions and the Royal Garden Parties.

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Yellowstone National Park

 Yellowstone National park in US is favorite to millions of visitors each year. For the active visitor the park has thousands of miles of trails from day hikes to backcountry explorations. The Yellowstone Park has five entrances. The North Entrance is the only park entrance open to wheeled vehicles all year. The West Entrance is open to track over snow vehicles. The other two entrances are the Northeast Entrance and Southeast entrance.

If you plan on visiting Yellowstone National Park for only a few days then the west Yellowstone would be a good base. From there it is only a short drive to the geyser basins, Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. If you want to have the full park experience then lodging at Old Faithful would be a good choice.

If you want to view the most wildlife then we suggest the Northeast Entrance and a short trip to the Lamar valley. The South Entrance is a great option if you have more time and want to visit Grand Teton National Park. The North Entrance is park headquarters and has full historic information on the park.

The Yellowstone National Park is fortunately very accessible with five main entrances/exits. A great way to plan your trip is to start from one end of the park and take your time and visit the must see attractions and end your visit through another entrance/exit.

The Yellowstone wildlife population is in a forever changing cycle. The wolves, elk and grizzlies are continuously under the spotlight.

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Singapore Botanic Gardens

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is the garden of beauty and relaxation for the average person. There were flower shows arranged and gardening festivals. The Gardens were given to the government to maintain and manage. The sights of the garden are breathtaking.

You will not regret taking time to spend on this Garden. You will find the entrance to the Gardens at the corner of Cluny Road and Holland Road. There is entrance charge for the National Orchid Garden. The charge for the Botanic Garden is free. The National Orchid Garden has beautiful landscaped walks. The orchids that grow here are gorgeous. You can stop at the gift shop and buy a hydroponic orchid to take home.

The Lakes of Singapore Botanic Gardens are beautiful. The gardens are surrounded by three lakes. There are over 50 hybrids of bougainvillea in the Garden. The intense colors of the ones you will see in the Singapore Botanic Gardens are like no others.

As you walk through the gardens you will notice the sculptures. The sculptures which are quite amazing are dedicated to the children of Singapore.

This is a perfect place to visit when you are in Singapore.

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About Guindy National Park

Guindy National Park in Chennai is situated within the city premises, on the ground extension of Raj Bhavan. Guindy National Park is ranked as the 8th smallest National Park of India.  Spread over 2.82 sq km of tropical dry evergreen forest along the Coromandel Coast, Guindy National Park was declared a forest reserve in 1810 and as National Park in 1978.

Guindy National Park is the natural habitat of a wide range of plants and animals, which is typical of north-eastern Tamil Nadu.

The tropical dry evergreen scrub and thorn forests of Guindy National Park have earned it the name 'the green lungs of Chennai'.

Guindy National Park is home to more than 350 plant species, 150 species of birds, 14 species of mammals and many species of amphibians and reptiles. It is also estimated that Guindy National Park is home to more than 60 species of spiders and butterflies.

About one-sixth of the park has been preserved as grasslands for blackbuck and spotted deer.  Some other species of mammals commonly spotted at Guindy National Park are jackal, small Indian civet, common palm civet, bonnet macaque, hyena, jackal, pangolin, hedgehog, common mongoose, three-striped palm squirrel, etc.

Grey partridge, quail, paradise fly-catcher, black-winged kite, honey buzzard, stone curlew, blue-faced malkoha, etc. are some of the birds spotted here. Migratory birds like garganeys, pochards, medium egrets, large egrets, night herons, pond herons, open-billed storks, etc. visit Guindy National Park every fall.

Rare and endangered species of tortoises, turtles, lizards and chameleons are also found at Guindy National Park.

Keywords – Guindy National Park, Forest reserve, Coromandel Coast, extension of Raj Bhavan.

Gliding in Parasail in Nepal

The experience about paragliding in Nepal is breathtaking. The programme mainly focused on the promotion of adventure tourism in Nepal including paragliding. Members of Nepalese community in Geneva and neighboring towns were also present in the programme.

The Government of Nepal attaches high priority to the development and promotion of tourism in order to establish this sector as a strong backbone of the national economy.

Highlighting that Nepal is gifted with unique geography ranging from hills to plain and round the year pleasant weather, ambassador Bairagi stressed that paragliding and other adventure sports could be one of the best way to benefit from the gift of Mother Nature that Nepal is blessed with.

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Bhojpur tourism

Gaya is the well known and world famed tourist spots that located in the state of Bihar. Gaya is the fabulous place that comprises hi-tech religious heritage and traditions, which exist for about hundred kilometers from the south of Patna. Truly speaking, Buddha Gaya is highlighted Buddhist shrine and also the best tourist spot and Gaya is the foremost holy place for the Hindus’. 

Lord Vishnu has given the boon for the people that those who and all visiting this place, Gaya, will surely get relief from their sins. Pilgrims, from all over the world, come here to present pinddhan at the Ghats along the banks of the river and execute all the rituals formally. 

According to Ramayana, when Lord Rama came to Gaya along with Goddesses Sita for pindadanam, Sita cursed the Falgu River subsequent to some defiance on the fraction of the river. The tradition states that on version of this annoyance, Falgu River lost its water, and the river is basically an immense enlarge of sand dunes.

Each and every year, the Buddhist people form all over the world receives the holy place Bodhagaya. Bodhi tree is highlighted destination in this fabulous place where highly believed that Buddha got enlightenment under this tree.  The famous destinations in Gaya are mentioned below.

• Akshayabat
• Bodhi Tree
• Vishnupad Temple
• Gurpa
• Mahabodhi Temple
• Pragbodhi
• Vajrasana
• Chankaramana
• Arimeshlochana
• Ratnagar
• The Mohanta's Monastery
• Different Stupas
• Sun Temple
• Pretshila Hill
• Brahmayoni Temple
• Surya Kund

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