10 of the world's most beautiful heritage sites you ought to visit

A heritage site is an integral part of a country’s historical, cultural or physical significance and serves as an important aspect of that country’s legacy. It is not only imperative for the country’s tourism, but is also an irrevocable source of inspiration and life. Here are ten of the top heritage sites of the world you ought to visit. (Image courtesy: Reuters)

A Chinese couple kiss as they visit the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China is ranked as the world's top heritage site according to the Global Heritage's Saving Our Vanishing Heritage" report, with total site visitors of 24,200,000 and total revenues of INR 1,84,03,78,00,000. (Image courtesy: Reuters)

A tourist walks in Beijing's 600-year-old Forbidden City. Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor has total site visitors of 18,000,000 and total revenues of INR 1,22,35,20,00,000. (Image courtesy: Reuters)

A visitor admires the facade of the Celsus Library built in AD 135 in the ruins of ancient Ephesus near Selcuk, 70km (43 miles) from the western Turkish coastal city of Izmir November 18, 2006. Ephesus has total site visitors of 3,500,000 and total revenues of INR 36,45,07,00,000. (Image courtesy: Reuters)

The holy Sikh shrine of Golden Temple is illuminated on the 343rd birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh in the northern Indian city of Amritsar January 5, 2009. Amritsar has total site visitors of 5,500,000 and total revenues of INR 29,31,35,00,000. (Image courtesy: Reuters)

Angkor Wat temple is reflected in a pond January 23, 2010. Angkor has total site visitors of 2,500,000 and total revenues of INR 27,78,41,00,000. (Image courtesy: Reuters)

A view of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco March 24, 2008. Machu Picchu has total site visitors of 2,400,000 and total revenues of INR 24,47,04,00,000. (Image courtesy: Reuters)

Tourists look at the 3200-year-old Abu Simbel temple during a daily sound and light show, on the eve of the anniversary of pharaoh king Ramses II's coronation, at the upper reaches of the Nile, around 1264 km (785 miles) south of Cairo. Abu Simbel has total site visitors of 2,000,000 and total revenues of INR 20,39,20,00,000. (Image courtesy: Reuters)

Tourists stand in front of the historic Taj Mahal in the northern Indian city of Agra. Taj Mahal has total site visitors of 2,400,000 and total revenues of INR 18,35,28,00,000. (Image courtesy: Reuters)

A cave complex is seen near the site where 2,000-year-old Hellenstic-style wall paintings are being restored in Siq al-Barid in Beidha, nicknamed Little Petra", about five km (three miles) away from the rock carved city of Petra, southern Jordan August 30, 2010. Petra has total site visitors of 1,600,000 and total revenues of INR 17,12,92,80,000. (Image courtesy: Reuters)

People look at the strip of light on the sculpture of a serpent on the north (left) side of the Mayan pyramid El Castillo (The Castle), in Chichen Itza, in the southern state of Yucatan, Mexico March 21, 2009. The pre-Hispanic city of Chichen-Itza has total site visitors of 2,600,000 and total revenues of INR 15,80,38,00,000. (Image courtesy: Reuters)