About Washington
Washington, DC, lies within Washington state, surrounded by lush green rainforests, dormant volcanoes, islands and vibrant wildlife. This city has become synonymous with the White House due to being the centre of American governance. However, apart from the White House and the Capitol building, this city also has an important history since the struggle for American independence.
Places to visit in Washington
- The White House: If you only want to get some good snaps of the White House, then you will get the best views from Ellipse Park or Pennsylvania Avenue NW at Lafayette Square. However, if you would want to get a tour of the White House, then you have to book it through the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC. The approval process for this may take up to 3 months, and the tour fills up quickly. So, apply for the tour well in advance.
- United States Capitol and Capitol Hill: The Capitol is famous for being the House of Representatives and Senate seats. It is identifiable by its huge dome, which is based on the Dome of St. Peter’s in Rome. The interior is ornamented with frescoes and paintings. Especially noticeable are the rotunda under the great dome of cast iron with paintings of American history on the walls and the statues of the leading historical figures in the former Chamber of the House of Representatives.
- Lincoln Memorial: The Lincoln Memorial is possibly the most famous of all the memorials in Washington, DC. The 30-metre-tall Lincoln Memorial Building holds the statue of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, on a chair. The statue is slightly over 9 metres tall, weighing around 170 tons. The building also has two other chambers featuring the famous Gettysburg Address of Lincoln and his second inaugural address from March 1865.
- National Museum of American History: This Smithsonian Museum showcases a tremendous collection of more than 3 million objects related to American history. Covering three floors, its collections include George Washington’s uniform, Abraham Lincoln’s top hat, the original 15-star Star Spangled Banner flag, as well as scientific innovations of history such as Thomas Alva Edison’s first electric incandescent lightbulb and Benjamin Franklin’s original book press.
- Washington Monument: The Washington Monument obelisk was opened in 1888 to honour the first President of the United States, George Washington. Made of marble and granite, it is the tallest obelisk in the world with a height of 169 metres. Apart from clicking some nice photos, you can also go inside the obelisk and visit the museum deck near the top.
Washington Airport
Dulles International Airport, also known as Washington Dulles Airport (IATA code: IAD) is located 26 miles (around 42 km) west of the city centre of Washington DC, at 1 Saarinen Circle, Dulles, VA 20166. It serves the Washington metropolitan area. The airport is well connected by metro rail and bus services as well as rental cars and Washington Flyer Taxi Service to the city of Washington, DC.
The airport has an array of facilities which promise to cater to your every need. Apart from the shopping and dining areas that you can enjoy, there are international currency exchange counters, charging stations, airport lounges, free Wi-Fi, smart baggage carts, kids’ play areas, nursing rooms and pet relief areas. The airport also has Aerotrain facilities for moving passengers between the terminal and the midfield gates.