Neuschwanstein Castle, soaring above the clouds in the Bavarian Alps

The US national parks are vast areas where the landscapes have been preserved almost in their original state. In this article, we have compiled a list of the ‘big five’ most iconic places in the country: from the mist-shrouded forests of the Great Smoky Mountains to the deep gorges of the Grand Canyon.

Neuschwanstein Castle, situated in the Bavarian Alps, is considered one of the world’s most recognisable architectural landmarks.

The Taj Mahal is not merely India’s most famous landmark, but one of the most perfect architectural masterpieces in the history of humankind. This snow-white mausoleum, built on the banks of the River Yamuna on the orders of Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, has been astonishing visitors for several centuries with its perfect symmetry and beauty.