Things to Do in Washington Dc

With its colorful onion-shaped domes, St. Basil’s Cathedral may be one of the most iconic sights in Moscow, if not in all of Russia. Finished in 1561, the cathedral sits on one end of Red Square and marks the geometric center of Moscow. For 40 years after its construction, it was the tallest building in the city, eventually surpassed by the Ivan the Great Bell Tower.

St. Basil’s actually consists of 10 separate churches. When the building was first constructed, eight side churches surrounded the main Church of Intercession. A 10th church was added in 1588 over the grave of the local saint, Basil. While the cathedral was built to celebrate the capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible, its side churches were designed to represent major events in Russian spiritual life in the second half of the 16th century.

The cathedral was confiscated from the Russian Orthodox community during Soviet times and now operates as a division of the State Historical Museum. It has been part of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square UNESCO World Heritage site since 1990. Today, visitors can stroll through the galleries connecting the many churches while marveling at frescoes, oil paintings and Russian icons, many of which date to the 16th and 17th centuries.

This legendary Greek Orthodox St. Catherine Monastery is one of the oldest places of worship in the world.

Founded in the 4th century, the monastery stands on the site where Moses saw the burning bush. When you visit, it’s possible to see a living descendant of that very bush.

The walled monastery complex includes a fortress, chapel, the 6th century Church of the Transfiguration and monastic buildings. The monastery was never attacked, so its famous library of rare manuscripts, priceless icons, reliquaries and artworks is complete.

Towering 2,285 meters (7,495 feet) above the monastery is Mount Sinai. For many, the trek to the summit is a highlight of a visit to the monastery, either by following the camel trail or climbing the Steps of Repentance. At the top you’ll be rewarded by spectacular views, plus the knowledge that you are standing on the spot where Moses received the Ten Commandments.

Srirangapatna (Srirangapatnam) is an island in the middle of the sacred Cauvery River. This is a place of great historical, cultural and religious significance. This was once a capital of the Kingdom of Mysore during the rule of Tipu Sultan and the site of many important historical buildings.

Once a fortified city, the remains of Tipu’s Fort can still be seen today. The fort is a complex housing several important monuments and buildings. It is from here that Tipu Sultan launched an assault against the British and an obelisk marks the place where he died in battle. Near one of the gates of the Fort is the Jama Masjid, the mosque built by Tipu Sultan in 1787 when he ascended to the throne of Mysore.

Just outside the fort set in lush gardens, the Gumbaz was built by Tipu Sultan in the 18th century as a mausoleum where his father Hyder Ali, the former sultan and ruler, and mother Fatima Begum were laid to rest, and later Tipu Sultan himself. Another popular attraction is Daria Daulat Bagh, Tipu Sultan's summer palace.

The majestic Sri Ranganathaswamy temple dominates the town and is an important pilgrimage center for Vaishnavites, Hindu worshipers of lord Vishnu. This important temple was built during the 9th century and is dedicated to lord Vishnu in his form as Ranganatha, Vishnu reclining on the serpent.

St. Croix keeps its distance from the other two U.S. Virgin Islands, with a distinct identity and thriving industry which leaves it less reliant on tourism. Nonetheless there is more than enough to interest beach bums, history buffs and even gourmands.

There are numerous excellent beaches here, ranging from busy tourist magnets to secluded south coast spots where it’s just you and the palm trees. The whole coastline is famed for its diving opportunities, dotted with wrecks and wreathed by reefs.

Christiansted, the largest community, is a charming town with vivid traces of the Danish colonial adventure. Both there and the west coast town of Frederiksted offer some of the best dining in the Virgin Islands. Saint Croix’s local flavors include excellent mangos, goat stew and the ubiquitous Cruzan Rum.

Located in the middle of Singapore’s Chinatown sits the country’s oldest and most popular Hindu temples. Built in 1827, the Sri Mariamman Temple resembles the colorful Dravidian style of the temples of South India, and many of the temple’s worshippers are South Indian immigrants and their families.

The ornamental entrance tower of the temple, covered in colorful sculptures of deities and mythological beings, has become one of Singapore’s most recognizable landmarks. Within, you’ll find a main shrine area dedicated to the goddess Mariamman, a member of the Hindu pantheon known as a healer. Freestanding shrines surrounding the main prayer hall display statues of many secondary deities.

Admission to the temple is free, but if you plan to take photographs, you may be asked to provide a small “donation,” though this isn’t always enforced. If you visit the temple in late fall, you might get lucky and catch the annual fire walking ceremony, one of many festivals and events hosted by the temple throughout the year.

The Church of St Charles Borromeo, or Karlskirche, is the finest baroque church in Vienna and was built between 1716 and 1739, after a vow by Karl VI at the end of the 1713 plague. It was designed and commenced by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and completed by his son Joseph. Although predominantly baroque, it combines several architectural styles.