The Aniva Lighthouse on a rocky island in the Sakhalin Region

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.

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.

The Lofoten Archipelago in north-western Norway is a place where conventional notions of Arctic landscapes are completely overturned. In this article, we’ll journey to the edge of the earth to find out why the Lofoten Islands never experience extreme cold, how old fishermen’s huts have become iconic accommodation for travellers, and why photographers from all over the world flock here.