Match These Countries To The Tourist Attractions They're Known For
- by Arun Pundir
- – on
- in Lifestyle
Traveling, they say, is a balm for the soul and for the senses. Meeting new people, exploring new cultures and seeing the historical and modern sights of the world is perhaps the greatest learning experience anyone can ever have. And the world is fairly bursting with beauty and beautiful things to see. There are old ruins and monuments that resonate with the glorious human past. There are wonders of nature so sublime enough to take our breath away. And then there are all the technological marvels of today’s world, enough to elicit wonder and awe because of the sheer human mind power they exhibit.
They all come with their individual kinds of beauty. And all tourists that flock to them tend to have their own individual likes and dislikes. Some of us are pure history buffs, happy to be at home in ruins and old building of significance. The ones with kids tend to look for kid-friendly entertainment. The thing is; the world is so huge that we do not even know about half of the beautiful things it has to offer. Like these very popular tourist attractions.
Many of us would not know the countries or cities they are in, or what their formal and official names are. Some of us do not even know what these tourist attractions are all about – so trying a hand at this quiz could lead to more knowledge, and definitely more inspiration to travel.
Name the "Windy Palace" and the city of India it resides in.
This palace of the breeze is made of red and pink sandstone. Its architecture was and still is a marvel – in scorching summers it lets the cool winds pass through to create a lovely ambiance in the palace. It was built in 1799 and its façade looks like a honeycomb of a beehive. The five-level building has 953 small windows decorated with elaborate and ornate latticework, and it looks rather out of place with the modern city it resides in.
Name this famous monument of Paris.
Most tourists throng the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre when in Paris. But this is perhaps one of the most important monuments in the city of love, that proudly honors all those who died in battle to protect their country during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic war. Not to be confused with a similar monument that stands at the western end of the Louvre, this one stands tall at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle.
Name this monument in India under which an Emperor rests in peace.
Commissioned by the Emperor's first wife and chief consort Haji Begum in 1569-70, this fantastic piece of Mughal architecture still stands proudly in Delhi - the capital of India. It is close to the Dina-Panah citadel aka the Old Fort of Delhi, in the lap of which the National Zoological Park of Delhi resides. It's strange to believe that this monument actually houses the bodily remains of a man that once ruthlessly ruled most of India after his predecessor Babar invaded this primarily Hindu country.
Which famous city is this Mosque-Church named after?
This mosque-cathedral is often regarded as one of the most exquisite pieces of Moorish architecture – and has a somewhat convoluted history. Once upon a time, a small church of St Vincent stood at the site. Then when the Moors invaded, a great mosque was constructed. When the place finally returned to Christian rule, this monument was converted back to a Roman Catholic Church. It may be known as a mosque-church, but for now, only Catholic Christians have the right to pray inside; though the Moslems have been lobbying for their rights as well.
Name this important monument, and the city it resides in.
It may be America’s cradle of Liberty, but the name is as French as it gets. In the colonial era, it was merely pronounced as the funnel house! This was the place where great leaders roused the US population to freedom, which is why it is a famous stop on the Freedom Trail. For those who know their history well, it’s an easy enough guess since this is one building that has been of import since 1743.
In which city of Russia does the Church of the Spilled Blood stand?
This very famous and violently named church was built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was fatally injured by rebels in 1881. It was built for long years between the years of 1883 and 1907, with all the gigantic costs being funded by the imperial family. That said; this church was hardly ever used in prayer and when it was, it held only memorial services for the great czar Alexander II. In 1970, it even functioned as a museum and is an important tourist attraction today.
In which region does the Palace of Versailles lie in France?
Call it what you may, but this was the place where all the great French kings lived before the French Revolution put an end to their opulence. It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and houses famous attractions like the Hall of Mirrors, the famous gardens, and even a beautiful opera theater. Many believe it to be in Paris, in actuality, it’s about 14 miles southwest to the city of love.
Which two states do the Great Smokies sit astride?
These are the blue-tinged mountains of fame that most people love to take pictures of. While their name isn’t particularly romantic, they are called so because of the dense fog that perpetually seems to enclose them. And the fog and smoke plumes are a result of the vegetation literally exhaling volatile organic compounds that tend to freeze at the altitude and hang around like fog. A subrange of the Appalachian mountains, they are rich in populations of the black bear and salamanders.
Which South Dakota city is home to Mount Rushmore?
When a historian decided to carve something into the rock faces of South Dakota to promote tourism, little did he know how far out his idea would turn from the original. And how famous it would ultimately become! Initially, American West heroes like Red Cloud, Buffalo Bill and Lewis and Clark were supposed to be carved in, before it turned into the faces of the leaders we see today.
What is the name of Jordan's Rose City?
A city of great historical and archaeological significance, it was once known to its inhabitants as Raqmu. Getting to it isn’t an easy task since it’s only approachable via a .75 mile-long gorge called the Siq. Tourists emerge out of the Siq right in front of what is called the Khazneh – believed to be the mausoleum of the Nabatean King Aretas IV. The Nabateans were basically nomadic Arabs that solidified this city’s trade importance. Geographically, this city lies in a valley flanked by mountains that lie close to the Dead Sea.
What was the Angkor Wat originally built as?
Angkor Wat lies in Cambodia and is the largest religious monument in the world – lying on a site 402 acres big. Its purpose when built was a little different from the Buddhist temple it slowly converted to by the end of the 12th century. It was so commissioned by Khmer King Suryavarman in the city of Yasodharapura, now known as present-day Angkor. Dedicated to a particular God which was a break from tradition, the complex is a perfect example of the classical lines of Khmer architecture.
Which famous monument in Paris holds the purported Crown of Thorns?
This very famous tourist attraction in Paris is a medieval cathedral and considered a beautiful example of French Gothic architecture. While many go to it because of the religious significance it holds, still others go to marvel at its stained glass and naturalism sculptures. In 1790, this cathedral was badly destroyed during the French revolution with many of its religious imagery desecrated by the radicals. Two massive restoration projects – one in 1845 and the other in 1991 restored it to its former glory.
In which region of Peru is the Machu Picchu located?
The Machu Picchu is a 15th century Inca stronghold sitting on a mountain ridge some 2,430m above sea level. It was built around 1450 but later abandoned during the times of the Spanish conquest, and many believe it to be the fortress of the Inca king Pachacuti. The whole citadel was built in Inca style with dry-stone walls and it remained hidden from outside eyes till American Historian Hiram Bingham got it international exposure in 1911. Restoration work has been on for long to restore it to its former beauty.
Name this famous tourist attraction of Australia.
Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, this tourist attraction was opened to the public in 1973 and it basically houses many performance venues. Each year, this beautiful building hosts more than 1500 acts, with an audience of more than 1.2 million. Not all go to see the performances though because some 8 million people visit this attraction annually – such the fame of this building’s layout and architecture. In 2007, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and truly, is a building to marvel at.
Name this famous attraction and the city it is located in…
This is a 3,300 feet pier located on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Other than having spectacular views of the waterways, it houses more than 50 acres of gardens, shops, restaurants as well as stuff for the whole family to do. Footfalls lie in the range of some nine million on an annual basis, so yes, expect this place to be crowded on weekends and holidays. Dinner cruises are common, as is the new Ferris wheel put in in 2016 after the old one went defunct.
What is the formal name of the Zócalo in Mexico City?
Bang in the middle of Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, lies the main square where people have been gathering for centuries. It has existed from the time of the Aztecs when Mexico city was called Tenochtitlan. It has been called different things like the "Main Square” or the “Arms Square” but is mostly referred to as the Zócalo. This is not its formal name, but what’s in a name when it’s a place this important in the shaping of the past, present, and future of Mexico?
Where is this famously forbidden place located in the world?
This palace complex has housed emperors and royal families and was both the ceremonial and the political center of the country it resides in for 500 years. Construction started in 1406 and was completed in 1420 and even at that time – this highly populated country managed to make some 980 buildings over 180 acres of prime land. It was declared as a World Heritage site in 1987 and receives an average of 15 million visitors annually. Architecture wise, it’s as traditional as it gets.
In which Japanese city is the Meiji Shrine located?
The Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine so built in the name of the holy spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. The shrine does not house their mortal remains which in turn are at the Fushimi-momoyama, south of Kyoto. An iris garden where the emperor liked to visit was chosen, and the construction was done in traditional Nagare-zukuri style.
Name this holiest shrine so located in Rome.
An Renaissance church in Vatican City, the design of this church lay on four very able shoulders: Donato Bramante, Carlo Moderno, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and of course, Michelangelo. It has great religious significance despite it not being a mother church of the Catholic church, and nor a cathedral of the Diocese of Rome. Yet, it is one of the holiest shrines in the history of Catholicism simply because it is known as the greatest of all churches in all of Christendom since it is the burial site of the chief apostle of Jesus.
Name this Disney theme park and the city it lies in.
The entrance to this theme park is the “Mediterranean Harbor”. From there on you can explore six more themed ports, each with a Disney theme to it: American Waterfront, Lost River Delta, Port Discovery, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast, and of course, Mysterious Island. This is the first Disney theme park in the world to reach a big milestone of 10 million guests – and it managed to do in less than a year – 307 days to be exact. Its holds the record of the fifth most visited theme park in the world as well.
Where is Lotte World located?
Lotte World has the world’s largest indoor theme park but more things as well. It has hotels, restaurants, and shopping as well as sports facilities and movie theaters. It also has an outdoor amusement park called Magic Island which is an artificial island made inside a lake and linked by the monorail. It is open all year long with no holidays and receives a footfall of more than 7 million visitors each year, and has been featured in many movies and music videos.
In which city of India is the Taj Mahal located?
The Taj Mahal literally means the Crown Palace – and it’s well worth its name. An ivory-white marble building, it is the mausoleum so commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his wife and eternal love, Mumtaz Mahal. For a symbol of love, it was one expensive construction, costing some $500,000 way back in the 17th century. The construction employed 20,000 artisans who labored for 11 years for the main building, and some 10 years more to complete the project in entirety.
What is another name of the Colosseum in Rome?
The Colosseum may be an oft-visited tourist attraction today, but in the days of yore – it housed violent entertainment. Today, there’s a museum dedicated to Eros on the upper floor of the outer wall, and a part of the arena flooring has been re-floored and repaired. Beneath the Colosseum, there exists a network of subterranean passages that once transported gladiators, slaves and the wild animals they were pitted against. It was built of travertine, tuff and brick-faced concrete and has withstood the ravages of time at least partly.
What is the Spanish name of this under-construction church in Barcelona?
The "Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family" was consecrated in 2010 by the Pope and thus proclaimed as a minor church, but not a cathedral. The construction of this church was started in 1882 by Villar and after his resignation, Gaudi took over. The latter devoted his entire life to it but when he died at the age of 72, this church was only one-quarter complete. Basically, this church has spent all its life being constructed and it is thought that the last nail would finally be in place by 2026.
Where is the “Red One” located in Spain?
Originally made as a small fortress in AD 889 on the remains of some Roman ruins, it was built into a grander version in the mid-13th century by the Emirate. In 1333, the sultan, Yusuf I converted it into the royal palace. By 1482, the Christian Reconquista had taken place and this beautiful palace became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella. This is the place where Christopher Columbus received the royal stamp of approval for going on a world discovery trip, in a manner of speaking.