New York

Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest and longest bridges in the United States; it stretches over the East River and connects Manhattan and Brooklyn. The construction of this bridge lasted from 1869 to 1883 and was the first suspension bridge built with steel wires.Brooklyn Bridge is 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m) in length, and until 1890 was the longest suspension bridge in the world.

The designer of this monumental bridge was John Augustus Roebling who did not live long enough to attend the opening of the bridge. Today, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the world’s most beautiful bridges and one of the largest engineering endeavors of the 19th century.

It is definitely one of the most popular sights of New York City. Quite a few Indian movies have been shot here. A walk across the bridge is a must do activity.

The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of the New World, is located on the island of liberty or Liberty Island in New York Bay. 

Americans received this magnificent statue from the French in 1885, in celebration of 100 years of independence. The giant statue was disassembled into 350 parts, then packed in 214 crates and shipped by boat to New York. The designer of the statue was Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi. The famous sculptor also created the statue of the Marquis Lafayette for city of New York, which is now located on Union Square. The internal frame for the Statue of Liberty was designed by the famous Gustav Eiffel.

The statue represents a young woman in a dress and robe, who in her right hand is holding a torch. In her left hand she holds a book, tabula ansata, upon which is inscribed the date of American Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom, “July IV MDCCLXXVI” i.e. July 4, 1776. The woman is wearing a crown with seven spikes. Each spike symbolizes one of the world’s seas.

Visitors can buy grounds only, pedestal or crown tickets. It is recommended to make reservations in advance by visiting the website. It’s a very unique experience to go inside the crown for wonderful views on New York City and Hudson River. Another way to enjoy the magnificent monument and the city skyline is by taking the Staten Island ferry. It can be boarded at Whitehall Terminal (4 Whitehall Street New York NY 10004)

Times Square is definitely the most famous intersection in Manhattan. It is formed by crossing of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and extends from 42nd to 47th Street. It got its name in the early twentieth century, when the daily newspaper “The New York Times” moved into the skyscraper now known as One Times Square. Before that, the square was named Longacre Square. In the mid seventies this square was a quite dangerous poorly lit place and was not advised to stay out on the streets after nightfall. This “dark age of Times Square” is now ancient history and now you can find lively night life till the wee hours of the morning.

Times square is considered to be the center of the global entertainment industry. It is home of many Broadway Shows. You can score a good priced ticket for the same day show at various ticket booths on the square.

Wall Street is a major street in Manhattan in New York City. It is one of the major centers of economic life in the United States. It stretches east from Broadway to South Street on the East River, through the historical center of the Financial District. It was the first permanent headquarters of the New York Stock Exchange. In time, the name Wall Street became the name of all area surrounding this headquarter. Several important financial institutions are stationed in buildings that are located on this street. Among them are: NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX, NYMEX, and NYBOT.

Wall street is also the home of the Charging bull sculpture. The bronze statue has been featured in many Indian movies and a very popular spot to get your picture taken.

If you want to visit one of the most popular tourist sites, the Empire State Building is probably the safest choice. The view from the 86th floor is breathtaking. You get a 360 degree view of the New York City. Surely you will not be the only ones visiting this magnificent building, so be prepared to wait in line. To avoid the crowds, perhaps it would be best to come at half past eight in the morning or at lunch or dinner, from Monday to Wednesday. Tickets are expensive, but really, what you see is worth every cent invested. 

The building is lit up with different colors to honor the special occasion or someone. To check today’s lights, visit their website. To get a nice night view, you can take round trip to Staten Island aboard the free Staten Island ferry. The views from the decks of the ferry are breathtaking, something not be missed.