Christ the Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; considered the largest Art Deco statue in the world and the 5th largest statue of Jesus in the world. It is 39.6 meters (130 ft) tall, including its 9.5 meters (31 ft) pedestal, and 30 meters (98 ft) wide. It weighs 635 tones (625 long,

700 short tons), and is located at the peak of the 700-metre (2,300 ft) Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city. A symbol of Brazilian Christianity, the statue has become a picture for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and was constructed between 1922 and 1931

Angkor Wat

This is very old city in Cambodia was the center of the Khmer empire that once ruled most of Southeast Asia. This empire went extinct, but not before building amazing temples and buildings that were regimented by the jungle for hundreds of years. Though Angkor Wat is packed with tourists, it’s still breathtaking to see. And the temple regions to the north and south see far fewer tourists than the main temple group. Though admittedly, some of them are simply piles of stone rubble now.

The best time to visit is early in the morning before the tour groups arrive and stay late. The most popular temples are Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Phrom, and Angkor Thom and they always have crowds. In order to really know-how the temples, you’ll need to purchase the three- or five-day pass.

I didn’t make it to Angkor Wat this trip but I was there in 2008. I had hoped to go back – not because the ruins are different, or because I wanted to deal with the larger crowds. No, I just wanted to take pictures with a better camera. But since I didn’t get do that, I still wanted to show you the wonders and beauty that is Angkor Wat. Fortunately, photos of it are timeless, even if the lenses that take them change. The ruins don’t change. Even though these photos won’t win any awards, they’ll give you a sense at how incredible and breathtaking the place is. Enjoy!

Acropolis

Acropolis means “elevated city” in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel. For purposes of defense, early people naturally choose eminent ground to build a new settlement, normally a hill with precipitous sides.

In many parts of the world, these early citadels became the nuclei of big cities, which grew up on the surrounding lower ground, such as modern Rome.The word acropolis, although Greek in origin and associated mainly with the Greek cities Athens, Argos, Thebes, and Corinth (with its Acrocorinth), may be applied generally to all such citadels, including Rome, Jerusalem, Celtic Bratislava, many in Asia Minor, or even Castle Rock in Edinburgh. An example in Ireland is the Rock of Castle.

Washington, D.C

Our nation's capital, Washington, D.C., is the main location for learning about our national government and how it functions. At the U.S. Capitol, children can see how our senators and congressmen craft bills that are voted into law, or visit the U.S. Supreme Court, where visitors may watch the justices hear and vote on cases with national implications.

However, this district also is a treasure trove of American history. At the National Archives and Records Administration, visitors can see the original documents that shaped the basis for the American government: the Charters of Freedom, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the announcement of Independence.

The Smithsonian Institution alone covers more topics than you can assimilate in a single visit: American history, American Indian history, air and space, arts and industries. The material is so vast it fills 19 museums and galleries, as well as the National Zoological Park.

Then there are the memorials and monuments that honor many of our great leaders, along with the many men and women that gave their lives in service to our country. Many of these attractions are located along the National Mall, although several more are spread throughout the city. And, of course, there's the White House, where the president lives and conducts business.

Of special note: Although not based in U.S. history, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum should be included on every family's route. At this museum, kids will get a deeper considerate of the persecution and murder of the Jewish people in Europe before and during World War II.

Ajanta and Ellora Caves

Surprisingly carved into hillside rock in the middle of nowhere are the Ajanta and Ellora caves. There are 34 caves at Ellora dating from between the 6th and 11th centuries AD, and 29 caves at Ajanta dating back to between the 2nd century BC and 6th century AD. While the Ajanta caves are rich in paintings and sculpture, the Ellora caves are renowned for their extraordinary architecture. The most far-fetched thing about these caves is that they were crafted by hand, with only a hammer and chisel.

. Fatehpur Sikri

A city that was once the proud capital of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century, Fatehpur Sikri now stands deserted as a well preserved ghost town. It was abandoned by its occupants after only 15 years due to insufficient water supply. Constructed out of red sandstone, Fatehpur Sikri is full of regal palaces and courtyards. You can almost feel yourself being elated back to medieval times here.

 The Taj Mahal

TheTaj Mahal  looms fairytale-like from the banks of the Yamuna River. It's actually a tomb that contains the body of Mumtaz Mahal – the wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. He had it built as an ode to his love for her. Dating back to 1630 AD, theTaj Mahal is made out of marble and took 22 years and 20,000 workers to complete. One of the most attractive things about it is the way its color appears to gradually alter in the changing light of the day.