*21*Goslar

Goslar is an ancient town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located at the northwestern foot of the Harz Mountains. The Old Town of Goslar, together with the nearby Rammelsberg Mine were UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1992.

Goslar was founded in the year of 922 by the Saxon King of the time, Henry I. The discovery of silver and copper ore deposits was the main factors Saxon emperors establishing their administration there. However, research shows that Goslar actually has a rich history well dated back to Neolithic era.

For centuries, Goslar was lauded as the Christianity centre in Germany. There are altogether 47 churches, chapels and monasteries decorating the skyline of this historic town. Because of this, Goslar was also referred to as the “Rome of the North”. Besides Christianity buildings, another piece of important architecture in Goslar is the Kaiserpfalz or the Imperial Palace. This palace is of a typical Romanesque architecture. One can also choose to explore the nature with the nearby Rammelsberg Mountain a popular destination. Rammelsberg Mountain has a rich mining history and was closed down recently in 1988. One can also visit the Rammelsberg Mining Museum. This is a clip showing impressive architecture in Goslar.

*19*Protaras

I do not know much about Cyprus, and I bet the same happens to most of the readers here. Cyprus is an island country situated in the eastern Mediterranean. In fact, it is the third largest island in Mediterranean Sea. The island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area.

One of the most popular resorts in Cyprus is Protaras. The resort of Protaras is located on the south east coast of Cyprus, in the Famagusta district. Protaras is well known for its lovely gold sandy beach in Fig Tree Bay. Fig Tree Bay features the best beach on the island in the name of Blue Flag Beach. One can engage in its vast range of water sports ranging from boat paddling to jet skiing.

*18*Petra

Petra is an archaeological site as well as an ancient city in Jordan, in the south western of Asia. Named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Petra is renowned for its rock carvings on the cliffs. Although Petra was first established sometime around the 6th century BC, the site remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when it was discovered by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. In December 6, 1985, Petra was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

It was believed that the carvings were done by the Nabataeans, an Arab nomadic tribe who settled here more than 2000 years ago. You can enter the city from the east. The entrance is a narrow gorge of 3 to 4 meters wide and over 1 kilometer in length called the Siq (literally means “the shaft”). At the end of the narrow gorge stands Al-Khazneh (Treasury). Al-Khazneh is a massive façade with 30 meters in width and 43 meters in height, carved out of the rock surface. A little further from the Treasury is en-Nejr (theatre).

Here is a little tip on when is the best time to see Petra. The perfect time would be either early to mid morning or late afternoon. During these hours, the sun enhances the amazing natural colors of the rocks, good for photographing.

*17*Ardmore

Ardmore is fishing village in County Waterford, on the south coast of Republic of Ireland. It is believed to be the oldest Christian settlement in Ireland, with its rich religious history began in the 5th century with the arrival of Saint Declan.

Today Ardmore is a popular seaside resort. It has several nice beaches nearby, namely the Main Beach, Goat Island, Ballyquin, the Curragh, and Whiting Bay. Hill above the village offers a fantastic view of Ardmore Bay. On the hill too one can find a well preserved 12th century round tower and the ruins of St. Declan church. The following clip shows the landscape of Ardmore.

*16*Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie is a city as well as the National Forest Park within it in the northwestern part of Hunan Province in China. Zhangjiajie was named after a small village located within its bounds. In 1992, Wulingyuan Scenic Area, consisting of Zhangjiajie, Suoxi Gully, Tianzi Mountains and Yangjiajie was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Zhangjiajie covers a total area of 3,600 square kilometers. The area is distinguished by its karsts landforms of more than 3,000 quartzite sandstone pillars and peaks, many of them over 200 meters high. Between the peaks lie ravines and gorges with streams, pools and waterfalls and some 40 caves. Among the most popular are Baofeng Lake, Huanglong Cave and Longwang Cave. Video below was taken while walking around in the scenic area as well as on the cable car. The scenery is absolutely beautiful and stunning!

*15*Phang Nga Bay

Located approximately 75 kilometers north east from Phuket, Phang Nga Bay is a bay in the beautiful Andaman Sea with a total surface area of 400 kilometer square. It was declared as a national park since 1981.

Phang Nga is a shallow bay with 42 islands. It was said that one could walk from Phuket to Krabi when sea levels were low some 10,000 years ago. The area is made up of hundreds of limestone landforms which include limestone cliffs with caves and collapsed cave systems. These limestone landforms all have unique shape. Some look like camel hump and saw tooth while others look like animal horn. One of the most famous such landforms in Phang Nga Bay is the Koh Tapu (‘Koh’ means island and ‘Tapu’ means nail respectively in Thai language). Koh Tapu is about 20 meters tall and takes the shape of a nail. This island is also known as James Bond Island, which is the filming location of the 1974 James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun”.

The best way to savor the beauty of Phang Nga Bay is to take on sea canoeing there. The following clip shows the exotic Phang Nga Bay sea cave canoeing.

*15*Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil after Sao Paolo. It was the capital city of Brazil until the transfer of the capital to Brasilia in 1960. Rio de Janeiro was discovered by Portuguese explorer Gaspar de Lemos on January, 1502 in which the city was named Rio de Janeiro (literally means “River of January in Portuguese language).

The city was nicknamed “The Marvelous City”, as it is a city that knows how to entertain, day and night. Perhaps the most famous local landmark of Rio de Janeiro is the giant Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado Mountain. This statue was recently named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Rio de Janeiro boasts of having the sea, the lagoon and the forest in the middle of the city. Two of its hotel lined tourist beaches are Copacabana and Ipanema. Besides sea, sun and sand, Rio de Janeiro also boasts the largest urban forest in the world in the name of Tijuca Forest. One can also take the cable car up Sugar Loaf Mountain for more spectacular views on the city.

*14*Chamonix

Chamonix is a small town in eastern France, at the foot of Mont Blanc. Lies at an altitude of 1,035 meters above the sea level, Chamonix is a popular winter sports resort in France and Europe. In fact, the town hosted the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics ever.

Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe. It holds a special allure for mountain climbers all over the world. It is the heaven for winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding. Other activities such as mountaineering, hiking, paragliding and rock climbing are also popular here.

Besides its winter activities, Chamonix is also famous for its cable car ride up to the Aiguille du Midi, a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps. Constructed in 1955, it was the world’s highest cable car for 2 decades. One could reach the summit of Aiguille in about 20 minutes via cable car from Chamonix where a panoramic view awaiting. The video shows skiing fun at Chamonix Mont Blanc.

*12*Cancun

Cancun is world renowned tourist resort which is located in Mexico’s easternmost state of Quintana Roo, on the Yucatan Peninsula. The hotel zone of Cancun is shaped like a “7” with bridges on each end connecting to the mainland of Mexico. The region surrounding Cancun is sometimes known as the “Mexican Caribbean”.

Being the most popular destination on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, Cancun is well known for its turquoise waters and white sandy beaches. One can engage in activities such as snorkeling, canoeing and even swimming with the dolphins and many more in Cancun. Cancun is also the gateway to the Riviera Maya, a famous archeological district in Mexico.

11*HAWAII

Hawaii is an archipelago located in the central of Pacific Ocean. It is the 50th state in the United States. It is southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan and northeast of Australia. Among hundreds of islands in the archipelago, the eight largest and main islands are Hawaii (also known as the “Big Island” to avoid confusion with the state as a whole), Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau and Kahoolawe. Honolulu on the island of Oahu is the capital.

Once prospered in the whaling, sugar and pineapple industries, Hawaii has now become increasingly popular among the local United States and foreign tourists. What one must do in Hawaii? You could go hiking, surfing, kayaking, swimming with dolphins, whale watching and snorkeling just to name a few. The following clip shows how fun is it to surf in Hawaii.

*5* Voyageurs National Park

International Falls, Kabetogama, Ash River, and Crane Lake, Minnesota

Voyageurs has some of the oldest exposed rock formations in the world, shaped by at least four periods of glaciation. This rugged terrain is part of the southern part of the Canadian Shield, and most of its shoreline is only accessible by boat.

Along with rock formations, at Voyageurs you can see bogs, beaver ponds, swamps, islands, migratory birds, many lakes and the north woods, a rich forest ecosystem. The park got its name from the French-Canadian canoe-men of the same name, who were known to travel the Great Lakes in canoes made of birch bark. This park is ideal for water sports, fishing, camping, and exploring the north woods.

*10* El Yunque Rainforest, Puerto Rico

Located in eastern Puerto Rico, El Yunque is a mountainous, semi-tropical rainforest with many rivers, waterfalls, pools and streams that provide a sanctuary for wildlife, including the Puerto Rican Parrot, lizards, crabs and tree frogs, and plant life like giant ferns, orchids and bromeliads.

*9* Napa Valley, California

This California wine country offers breathtaking views of expansive vineyards, rolling hills, and green, lush countryside -- some of the most serene settings in the United States.

*8* The Florida Keys and U.S. 1

Traveling down U.S. 1 from Key Largo to Key West, you are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. The stunning views of the water, with nothing to obstruct the view (the highest point is 18 feet above sea level), lends the surreal feeling of walking on water and the humbling experience of just how big and powerful the oceans are.

*7* Mount Fuji, Japan

Japan's highest mountain, at 3,776 meters, is a favorite place to watch the sunrise, so it's not uncommon for hikers to climb all through the night and early morning to reach the summit in time. As its near-perfect shape suggests, Mount Fuji is actually a dormant volcano (it last erupted in 1708) that is regarded as a sacred mountain.

*6* Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), Tanzania

Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), Tanzania

Covering some 8,300 square kilometers, the NCA is a unique blend of wildlife, natural landscapes and archaeological sites. It has volcanoes and rifts, a crack in the earth's crust that can result in steep cliffs, over 20,000 large animals, and the volcanic Ngorongoro crater, 7,264 feet above sea level.

*5* Blue Mountain Peak, Jamaica

The highest point in Jamaica at 7,402 feet, from which you can see much of the island, as well as Cuba and Haiti. The mountains are surrounded by a mist, giving them their blue hue, and are home to vast numbers of butterflies, birds and flowering plants. They're also located in the heart of Jamaica's coffee country, which grows the world-famous Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee.

*4* Arches National Park, Utah

Home to the most natural arches in the world, Arches draws visitors to its stunning balanced rocks, fins and pinnacles, sandstone arches and other rock formations, located in a "high desert," 4,085 to 5,653 feet above sea level.

*3* Ninh Van Bay, Nha Trang, Vietnam

Ninh Van Bay, Vietna

This bay, overlooking the South China Sea, is still relatively untouched and very private. Its beach is accessible only by boat, and the bay is known for its coral reefs, white sand, rock formations, streams and scenic mountains in the background.

*2* Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Located in south Kauai, Hawaii, Poipu Beach is a collection of beaches with golden sand and gentle surf, perfect for swimming, snorkeling and relaxing. Depending on where you are, you can experience water only inches deep (Baby Beach), incredible snorkeling with tropical fish, Hawaiian Monk Seals, and further up the coast Spouting Horn, a spout of seawater forced 50 feet into the air by a lava tube.

*1*TAJ MAHAL

ACCORDING TO MY GRADING I PLACE TAJ MAHAL ON THE TOP POSITION WHERE BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS ARE CONCERNED.

For centuries, the Taj Mahal has inspired poets, painters and musicians to try and capture its elusive magic in word, colour and song. It is one of the most flawless architectural creations of the world. Since the 17th century, travellers have crossed continents to come and see this ultimate memorial to love, and few have been unmoved by its incomparable beauty.

Taj Mahal stands in the city of Agra, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of the Yamuna River. It was built in the memory of the beautiful Arjumand Bano Begum, who won the heart of a Mughal prince. She was married at 21 to Emperor Jahangir’s third son Prince Khurram and stayed loyally by his side through good times and bad: in the luxurious royal palaces of Agra as well as the transient tents of war camps.

In AD 1628, Khurram became king after a bloody battle of succession: he took the name Shahjahan or “King of the World” and showered his beloved begum with the highest titles. She became Mumtaz Mahal, the exalted of the palace and Mumtaz-ul-Zamani, the exalted of the Age. But Mumtaz Mahal was not destined to be queen for long.

In 1631, Shahjahan went on an expedition to the south and, as always, Mumtaz Mahal accompanied him. But she died in childbirth at Burhanpur. She had borne Shahjahan fourteen children, of whom four sons and three daughters survived. When Mumtaz Mahal died, she was just 39 years old. Shahjahan was inconsolable and contemporary chronicles tell of the royal court mourning for two years. there was no music, no feasting, and no celebration of any kind.

Epitome Of Love -Taj Mahal
Shahjahan, who was a passionate builder, now decided to erect a memorial to his queen in pristine marble that the world would never forget. The site selected for the tomb was a garden by the Yamuna river, unshadowed by any other structure. The garden had been laid by Raja Man Singh of Amber and now belonged to his grndson, Raja Jai Singh. By a royal firman, Shahjahan gave Jai Singh four havelis in exchange for the garden. The site was also chosen because it was located on a bend in the river, and so could be seen from Shahjahan’s personal palace in Agra Fort, further upstream.

Construction Of The Mausoleum - Taj Mahal
Work on the mausoleum began in 1633 and 20,000 workers laboured for 17 years to build it. The most skilled architects, inlay craftsmen, calligraphers, stone-carvers and masons came from all across Indian and lands as distant as Persia and Turkey. The master mason was from Baghdab, an expert in building the double dome from Persia, and an inlay specialist from Delhi.

Yemen sent agates, the corals came from Arabia, the garnets from Bundelkhand, onyx and amethyst from Persia. Mumtaz Mahal’s final resting-place was ornamented like a queen’s jewel-box.