Most Popular Hill Stations in India

　　People from all parts of world come to India to visit its mesmerizing natural beauty. Especially the hill stations of India are so popular that thousands of people visit India every year to spend their holidays. The hill stations of India prove to be a heaven for the people suffering from frustrating scuttle and pollution of cities. Not only the foreigners but locals of India rush towards the hill stations to get rid of roasting heat in summer season. Here brief description of some of the most popular and highly recommended hill stations is given in order to guide the holiday seekers.
1. Shimla

　　Shimla is capital of Indian state Himachal Pradesh and located at a height of 2196 meters. It is a well developed hill station having all the facilities of a modern life having a maximum temperature of 25 degree centigrade during summer making it one of the most visited places. Winters are much colder there due to frosty winds that come from upper Himalayas. Shimla is the best place to spend holidays for the people who love adventure. The reason is that here in Shimla you can enjoy trekking, skiing and fishing. A well-established golf course is also located in Naldehra. Other places to see in Shimla include:
Lakkad Bazar: In Lakkad Bazar you will find everything made of wood or engraved out of wood. The items made of wood include key chains, toys, jewelry boxes, walking sticks and planters. You can buy an attractive wooden item to present it as a gift to your loved ones back at homes.
Tara Devi Temple: It is a marvelous temple which makes the visitors spell-bound with its magnificent views.
St. Michael’s: It is a Cathedral and a stained glass master piece. Being one of the best cathedrals in India, it portrays faith, modesty, hope and tolerance.
You can also visit Institute of Advanced Studies and the fantastic Ridge in Shimla.
2. Manali

　　Another hill station of India is Manali that is well-liked by the people of India and foreign persons as well. Here some of the attractions include:
Hadimba Temple: It is a four-storey temple which is famous for its caved entrance.
Jagatsukh: It is another temple in Manali that is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Kothi: It is a quiet and beautiful place to visit in Manali providing you with beautiful sceneries. This place also provides you attractive views of snow covered mountains.
Other attractions in Manali include Rahala waterfalls, Solang Valley, Vashist Hot Water Springs and Temple and Rohtang Pass.
3. Darjeeling

　　Darjeeling is known as the queen of hill stations as it provides the visitors a chance to enjoy beautiful scenes, fresh and pleasant air and hospitality of generous people. Attractions in Darjeeling include:
Botanical Gardens: This is a place having striking and elite collection of Himalayan plants, flowers and orchids. This garden is also featured with a green house.
Chowrasta: It is a shopping place in Darjeeling. From this place, you can get pleasure by seeing the views of beautiful mountains covered with snow. There are also some temples here which are worth-seeing.
Natural History Museum: Here the attractions include estuarine crocodiles and special collection of butterflies. Various stones are also exhibited in the museum in their mineral appearance.
Senchal Lake: It is an attractive place near tiger hills. It has become a picnic place for tourists. This lake also supplies drinking water to Darjeeling.
Other attractions are Zoological Gardens, Passenger Ropeway, Observatory Hills, Kurseong, Dhoom Gompa etc.
4. Nainital

　　This hill station is famous for its beautiful lakes. There are also some historic temples and peaks in Nainitai that add to its beauty. Attractions in Nainital are:
Sattal: It is a group of lakes providing natural beauty and astounding views.
Ranikhet: It is a resort which is famous for its cleanness and attractive pine trees.
Some other must see places include Kausani, Kilbury, Kainchi, Bhimtal and Khurptal.
These were four most famous and popular hill stations of India which are worth-seeing for their natural beauty and splendor.

Let’s have a look on where to go in Sydney and what to see.

　　Sydney is included in some of those places in the world which are famous for its tourists’ attractions and holiday destinations. There are a lot of places in Sydney which will fill your heart with immense delight. So get ready to know about the most attractive places in Sydney. I am sure that after reading this article you will definitely plan a tour to Sydney. Let’s have a look on where to go in Sydney and what to see.
1. Darling Harbor
Darling Harbor is located in the center of the city. There are a large number of restaurants, cafes’ and hotels located here in darling harbor. Other tourists’ attractions include:
Paddy’s Markets: Here in these markets, you will enjoy doing a lot of shopping. The items sold in these markets include fish, fruits, vegetables, gifts and clothes.
　　Chinese Garden of Friendship: As its name suggests, Chinese Garden of Friendship gives you a chance to have a deep look into the Chinese culture and traditions. The garden has exclusive features including Dragon Wall, Twin Pavilion and The Tea House providing you customary Chinese drinks, tea and other refreshments.
　　Sydney Aquarium: It is located on the eastern side of Darling Harbor. Here you can find a large variety of sea life including 6000 fish. Its exciting features include see-through glass tunnels where you can see sharks swimming above you. It will be definitely a unique experience you can ever have in your life.
　　Sydney Wild Life World: It is a wild life park exhibiting reptiles, butterflies, koalas, rain forests and much more.
　　Other attractions in Darling Harbor are:
Powerhouse Museum
Star City Casino
Sydney Entertainment Center
The LG IMAX Theatre
Australian National Maritime Museum
2. Opera House Sydney
Sydney Opera House is a great place to visit especially at night. It is actually a performing art center in Australia. For tourists’ entertainment, there are restaurants, bars, cafes and retail stores. It also has a recording studio. Performance venues and facilities in Sydney Opera House include:
The Concert Hall
The Opera Theatre
The Studio
The Playhouse
The Forecourt
　　3. Sydney Harbor Bridge
It is a steel bridge having a height of 456 ft being the tallest steel arch bridge. The Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House are located just close to each other and have become an icon for Sydney. On the New Year’s Eve the celebrations on Harbor Bridge are worth-seeing. Fireworks are displayed in different patterns. So the best time to visit Sydney is when the New Year is heading.
　　4. Taronga Zoo
It is one of the world’s finest zoos having both Australian native and international animals brought from all over the world. There are almost 2600 animals in this zoo. It is an amazing place to visit for kids and elders alike. The animals in the zoo include some very unique animals like water rat, pacific black duck, feathertail glider, ghost bat and red kangaroo to name a few.
　　5. Bondi Beach
It is the most well-known and famous beaches of Sydney. It has become a must see place for the tourists providing them with cafes, restaurants and bars. Its other attractions include lifesaving clubs, Bondi Icebergs and commercial area providing stunning scenes of the beach.

Seven Wonders Of The World

The New7Wonders Foundation announced the list of the modern seven wonders of the world on July 7, 2007, in Lisbon. The results were based on a worldwide poll in which about a 100 million people cast their votes. Of the ancient wonders of the world only the Pyramids of Egypt survive and have been named as an Honorary Candidate. These are must-see holiday travel destinations for anyone.

The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá, Mexico

The El Castillo Pyramid is an ancient Mayan temple built using precise astronomical calculations. It is a step pyramid of four sides, measuring 60 meters on each side and rising to a height of 24 meters. On each side there are 91 stairs leading up to a temple platform. The total number of steps is 365 steps – one for each day of the year.
On the Spring and Autumn Equinox, a magical play of light and shade takes place. The edges of the terraces cast a single shadow on the north staircase, creating the illusion of the feathered serpent Kukulcan or Quetzalcoatl descending from the temple to the serpent’s head at the base of the pyramid. This phenomenon occurs at the rising and setting of the Sun on Equinox.
Best time to visit: December, January, February

Christ The Redeemer, Brazil

The statue is located on top of the 700-meter high Corcovado mountain and overlooks the magnificent vista of Rio de Janeiro. White sandy beaches, bays with bobbing yachts, towering skyscrapers, Sugar Loaf mountain and also hills and forests create a fabulous view from the top. With hands outstretched, the statue seems to embrace its surroundings. About 39 meters tall and 30 meters wide, the statue was inaugurated in 1931 and remains a powerful symbol of Brazil’s Christianity.
Best time to visit: September, October

The Roman Colosseum, Italy

It is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of Rome. Completed in 80 AD, the Colosseum was the largest amphitheatre of the Roman empire and the grand stage for gladiatorial contests and animal hunts. Some of the contests involved the use of elaborate sets and were immensely popular with the local population. With a seating capacity of 50,000, the Colosseum runs 189 meters long and 156 meters wide and covers an area of 6 acres. A total of 80 entrances ensured that crowds could enter and exit with incredible ease.
Today the Colosseum remains an icon of Roman engineering and architecture.
Best time to visit: April, May, September, October

The Taj Mahal, India

Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in childbirth. It took 20,000 workers 22 years to build the mausoleum on the banks of the river Yamuna in Agra. The Taj houses Mumtaz Mahal’s grave, and Shah Jahan was later laid to rest beside her after his own death. The style of architecture is Mughal and reflects Persian as well as Hindu influences. Built entirely in translucent white marble, it is decorated with delicate motifs and with inlaid with precious stones. The beauty of this monument is unparalleled.
Best time to visit: October to March

The Great Wall of China

The Wall is not a single continuous wall but rather a series of separate walls measuring a length of about 8,500 kms. Construction of the wall began in the Qing dynasty in 221 BC. Fortification and extensions continued in the next millennia but it wasn’t until 1368 AD during the Ming dynasty that major extension recommenced. The older wall is made of rammed earth while the modern wall was built using stones and bricks and is as a result much stronger.
The Wall was built to protect the Chinese Empire from the Mongolians and other invaders. After Mongolia was annexed during the Ming dynasty, the construction of the wall ceased. Best time to visit: May, September, October

Petra, Jordan

The ancient Nabatean kingdom had Petra as its capital. Hidden by massive sandstone mountains, Petra served as the centre of caravan trade routes and hence flourished through trade. Approaching Petra from the east, make your way through the Siq, a one-kilometer long narrow, dark gorge formed by a split in the sandstone rock. At the end of the Siq, you will get the first dramatic glimpse of the Treasury through a narrow opening.
The façade of the Treasury, or Al Khazneh, is carved out of the rose-coloured sandstone mountain cliff. Rising to a height of 40 meters, the Treasury is remarkably well preserved because it is protected from the elements by the rock cliffs. Further ahead are an amphitheatre, various tombs and the Monastery.
Best time to visit: January to May

Machu Picchu, Peru

Located at a height of 2,450 meters in the Andes mountains, Machu Picchu is spectacularly located between two mountains. Built between 1460 and1470 AD, it was inhabited for about a century before being abandoned. Although known to the locals, it was never discovered by the Spanish Conquistadors and came to light in 1911 thanks to Hiram Bingham of Yale University.
Around 1,200 people, mostly priests, women and children, lived in Machu Picchu. There are about 140 structures surrounded by terraces used for growing crops. The main structures are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun and the Room of the Three Windows. The architecture is classic Inca involving stones cut into blocks and placed together without mortar. The stones are so tightly placed that not even a blade of grass can pass through.
Best time to visit: April and May