Remember the good old high school days when popularity was everything, we’ve given the same treatment to these tourist attractions and ranked them based on their popularity.
Tourism website, Travel + Leisure, have compiled a list of the top 50 tourist attractions based on the number of annual visitors. We here at KarryOn felt that we should take a brief look at these destinations so we could day dream about visiting them instead of doing actual work (I really hope our MD didn’t read that). Here is the back end of the extensive list.
50. Taj Mahal – Agra, India
Perhaps one of the greatest gestures of love in the world, and setting ridiculously high standards for men everywhere, Taj Mahal was by built Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the remains of his cherished wife. Estimated to have taken 20,000 people and 20 years to construct, this impressive structure of combined Indian, Persian and Islamic influences attracts over 7 million visitors annually. The Taj Mahal takes on different colouring at different times of the day, from a pinkish hue in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden at night when lit by the moon. They say the changing colour resembles the changing mood of females – in particular the Emperor’s queen.
49. Everland – Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea
South Korea’s largest theme park, which also houses a zoo and a waterpark, attracts 7.3 million visitors annually. It’s famous for its wooden rollercoaster the T Express, whilst only the 6th largest in the world, it’s the steepest. The first drop inclined at 77 degrees, so definitely not for the faint of heart.
47. Lotte World – Seoul, South Korea (Tie)
An enormous recreation complex that entertains 7.4 million visitors a year. It consists of the world’s largest indoor theme park which is open all year around, an outdoor amusement park called “Magic Island”, an artificial island inside a lake linked by monorail, shopping malls, a luxury hotel, a Korean folk museum, sports facilities, and movie theatres. It could take you days to take everything in when visiting this mammoth complex.
47. Hong Kong Disneyland – Hong Kong (Tie)
The smallest Disneyland style park in the world, but whatever Disneyland Hong Kong lacks in size, it makes up for in drama to dazzle its 7.4 million visitors. The night-time lighting around Hong Kong Disneyland is one of the most dramatic and ambitious at any Disney theme park. Park areas are lit with lanterns, special light fixtures, and fibre optics. Imagineer and Executive Producer of Hong Kong Disneyland Tom Morris said the special lighting is to impress Hong Kong residents, who are already accustomed to elaborate night-time celebrations. The landscaping at Hong Kong Disneyland features more plants and trees from more locations than any other Magic Kingdom style Disney theme park in the world. Park landscapers were able to make the most of the region’s tropical climate by bringing in foliage from other tropical regions to create lush scenery.
46. National Museum of China – Beijing, China
The museum, covering Chinese history from the Yuanmou Man of 1.7 million years ago to the end of the Qing Dynasty (the last imperial dynasty), has a permanent collection of 1,050,000 items, with many precious and rare artifacts not to be found in museums anywhere else in China or the rest of the world. It was established in 2003 and flanks the eastern side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. The museum’s mission is to educate about the arts and history of China. It boasts an attendance of 7.45 million annually.
45. Bourbon Street, New Orleans, USA
If nightlife is what you’re after you can’t go past the hustle and bustle of the infamous Bourbon Street, New Orleans. There’s booze, blues and burlesque on offer and plenty of mischief to be had on this street located in New Orleans’ oldest neighbourhood, The French Quarter. Oh and did we mention a little festival called the Mardi Gras which brings revellers by the thousands to participate in the city’s annual piss up.
44. Ocean Park – Hong Kong
The largest theme park in Asia, Ocean Park is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, animal theme park and amusement park, situated in Wong Chuk Hang and Nam Long Shan in the Southern District of Hong Kong. Ocean Park has grown to over 80 attractions and rides after the completion of a HK$5.5 billion Master Redevelopment Plan (MRP) begun in 2005. In November 2012, Ocean Park became the first theme park in Asia to win the Applause Award from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
43. Palace of Versailles – France
The Palace of Versailles is the central part of a complex that housed the French government, most notably its royalty, during the reigns of Louis XIV (France’s famed “Sun King”), Louis XV and Louis XVI. After the French Revolution in 1789, it stopped being a permanent royal residence. Louis XIV had a passion for fountains, and as much as a third of Versailles’ total building budget was spent on its water supply system alone. It was open to the public to attend royal gatherings or to just take a stroll around its elaborate gardens.
40. Pier 39 – San Francisco, USA (tie)
My fondest memory of America was the clam chowder and sourdough bread bowl combo, which really says a lot about me I think. I still dream of that chowder sometimes, but there are many other things to see and do at Pier 39. There are symphonic stairs, where you can create some music, street performers, a 7D movie theatre and of course, loads of Sea Lions, you can also take a tour of the notorious Alcatraz, it’s ok, I’m sure they don’t leave you in there.
40. Grand Palace – Bangkok, Thailand (tie)
Guarded by two imposing demonic figures, the sprawling complex houses ornate structures that speak to the grandeur of Thai architectural tradition and history. Built in 1782, the palace was commissioned by then-king Rama I, who founded Thailand’s Chakri Dynasty. It’s also known for being the home to the Jade Buddha – or the Emerald Buddha. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782. The king, his court and his royal government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925. The present monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), currently resides at Chitralada Palace, but the Grand Palace is still used for official events.