The world is full of places which have architectural significance and breathtaking natural beauty. This article will give you a list of the 10 best places to visit before you die. These places are scattered all across the globe. The locations are situated in countries as far and wide as India, China, Croatia, etc. Visiting these locations will not only whet your appetite for adventure but also give you an inkling of how much beauty there is in this world. If you wish to enrich your life by visiting diverse locations and outrageously beautiful places, then the list of places which follows is something you should never miss visiting.
1. The Taj Mahal, India
Located in Agra, India, this monument of Mughal splendour was constructed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to commemorate the death of his beloved third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This monument was built between 1632 and 1648 and it represents a combination of the eclectic Indian, Persian and Islamic architectural styles. This location is best visited during the cooler months of October and November.
2. Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Antelope Canyon is a location where nature is in full bloom. Located near Page, Arizona, this place includes two canyons namely Upper Antelope Canyon or The Crack and the Lower Antelope Canyon or The Corkscrew. This place is accessible only through permits and can be visited only through guided tours as flash flooding is a common occurrence here.
3. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
This location is apt for adventure lovers. With its quiet pools, small cascades, colourful lakes and tall waterfalls, this location is pristine in its beauty and therefore receives over one million tourists each year. This place is special for nature lovers who can enjoy long walks along its languid pathways and wooden footbridges.
4. The Great Wall of China
In spite of the fact that China has the Ming Tombs, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, the Great Wall of China still has its place among beautiful things to visit in China. The Great Wall is among the World Heritage Sites and forms an intriguing attraction for tourists visiting China. This is one of the greatest man-made wonders of the world.
5. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Blessed with the pristine beauty of the ocean, this location off the east coast of Australia, is the perfect place for scuba diving, snorkelling and swimming. This place consists of 900 islands and over 2,900 individual reefs. One can see a wide variety of marine life including the endangered sea turtle and dugong to schools of clownfish that swim through the colourful corals.
6. Milford Sound, New Zealand
This location was voted the world’s top travel destination in Trip Advisors 2008 Travelers Choice Destination Awards. Milford Sound plays host to thousands of visitors each year. This beautiful place can be best enjoyed by experiencing trekking, canoeing or undertaking an overnight cruise. Located in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island, this location is an extremely beautiful fjord.
7. Victoria Falls, Zambia
There are many beautiful waterfalls in the world but none of them gives the same experience given to a tourist standing on the viewing point near Knife-edge bridge, watching the waters of Victoria Falls fall down. This place is located on the Zambezi River in Southern Africa and fall from a height of 355 feet.
8. The Islands of French Polynesia
The Islands of French Polynesia are stuff dreams are made of. French Polynesia is a group of 5 islands namely the Society Islands, the Tuamotu, the Marquesas, the Australs and the Gambier Archipelago. These islands are so beautiful that a visitor here will feel he is in a dream. Here, crystal clear waters lap at palm-fringed beaches, which are full of surfers and revellers.
9. The Incan City of Machu Picchu, Peru
This is among one of the most recognizable landmarks along with it being located in an extremely beautiful place. Machu Picchu is 2,430 meters above sea level and it is surrounded by lush green forests of the eastern Andes and towering mountains. The dry stone walls, terraces and ramps here give the tourist a glimpse into 15th century Incan Empire. A visit to Peru just would not be complete without visiting this location.
10. Masai Mara and the Serengeti, Kenya and Tanzania
The long stretch of untamed African plains right from the Southern tip of Serengeti in Tanzania, to the northern edge of Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, is one of the most beautiful locations for a photographic safari. Each year, wild beasts zebra and Thomson’s gazelles migrate here in what is called The Great Migration. This event is one of nature’s greatest spectacle which should be on each one’s must-visit list before they die.