Bethesda Terrace and Fountain

Bethesda Terrace and Fountain is the the heart or center of the central park. Its an icon for the park. It is really the jewel in the New York city's crown.

It is located in mid park area at the level of 72nd-73rd street. It is located just south of the lake at the northern end of The Mall.

This place is the main tourist attraction and most of the tourists visiting the central park come here too. Nearly every tourist with a camera get's photographed in front of the monuent.

The sculpture at the top is called as Angel of waters and symbolizes the water purification and healing powers.

Beneath the angel are four small statuses of child like figures, around a central pillar. The fountaion is located at the lower level of Bethesda Terrace. The terrace also has an upper level. Both levels are connected to each other by three set of stairs. Two on the side and one central.

The central stair is southern than the two others.

The terrace is the hub of different recreational activities. Various musicians and artists can be found performing here specially during the tourist season.

The Ramble

Ramble is like a jungle in the middle of the city. It a 36 acres of forest and vegetation, initially designed as to let nature do the rest. It turned out to be very successful.

It is located in the mid area of the park at the level of 74th to 79th street. It is hugged by the lake on the southern side and has the wild-life corridor and Belvedere Castle on its north.

You can virtually get lost in its curves and slopes, specially in the summer due to heavy vegetation.

If you really like wilderness or want to get the taste of a jungle in the middle of one of the worlds most busiest cities, this is the place.

Hundreds of species of birds are found in this area and its one of the top bird-watching sites in united states

Turtle Pond

Turtle Pond is small pond located in mid part of the Central Park at the level of 79th and 80th street. It fits very well into its location. It located just south of the Great Lawn and to the north of the Belvedere Castle. Towards it east is the King Jagiello monument and Shakespeare Garden and Delacorte Theater are towards its west.

It wasnt actually part of the original design of the central park but emerged as a small pond and slowly became home to different animals, birds, insects and plant species.

Most prominent among them are forgs, Dragonflies, fish and water birds but the most unique are the turtles. So the pond was named after them.

The Pond greatly adds to the beauty of the great lawn and Belvedere Castle.
The view of the pond form the castle is amazing.

King Jagiello Statue Central Park

King Jagiello was ruler of Poland and Lithuania. He was member of Jagiello Dynasty that ruled Poland, Lithuania and Hungary during 14th-16th centuries. That era is described to be the Golden Age of Poland.

The monument is located in the mid of the central park at roughly at the level of the 80th street.
It is located to the east of the turtle pond, south east to the great lawn.

It is one of the most magnificent works of art in the central park. It is very detailed and unique among all other central park's monuments

The Pond

The Pond is a roughly U shaped water body located in the south east corner of the central park.
it half encircles the Hallet Nature Sanctuary. It is located near the Grand Army Plaza entrance, in the south east corner and the Artist's Gate on the south border of the park. The pond has Gapstow bridge over its northern part. Various Species of water birds can be found on the waters of the pond.
In the winters the water freezes, giving it a totally new look. The arched Gapstow bridge and the view of the pond form it, adds to the beauty of the pond.

Belvedere Castle

Belvedere Castle is located in the mid central park. It was built on the vista rock. Its the one of the most beautiful structures in the central park. It has turtle pond and Great lawn to its north and the The Ramble on its south. Delacorte theater is towards its northwest. Shakespeare garden and Sweedish Garden/Marionette theatre are towrds its west.
Its not only a good elevated point to observe the central park and mid town Manhattan, but also serves as a weather station

Weather instrument on the Belvedere Castle Tower

Steel Globe at Columbus Circle

columbus circle globe

Towards the northwest of the central monument of the Columbus Circle, there is a big steel Globe mounted on a steel tower. Its is made up of concentric steel bars forming the main structure with steel plates cut into the shape of the 7 continents of the world. There are three outer steel rings represnting the three axis.

Artist's Gate, Central Park

The Central Park, New York City has many gates, which are named after frequent potential visitors like Hunter's Gate; Boys and Girls Gate; Artists Gate; Emigrants Gate; Explorers Gate; Inventors Gate.
Artist's Gate is on of those gates. The name gate may not be best suited because there are not actual gates which may open or close. It is located at the south border of the central park, on the 59th street at the level of the Avenue of the Americans, the 6ht avenue of Manhattan. If you stand in the middle of the gate, you can appreciate the beautiful panoramic view of the Avenue.

Avenue of Americans, 6ht avenue; view from the Artist's Gate

Its the entrance to main drive way of the south central park.

If you enter the park form this gate you can go to the Pond located to your left. You can also have beautiful view of the pond from the 59th street sidewalk to the left of the gate.

Out side the gate on the 59th street you can see many Horse-Drawn Carriages parked. You can also see small shops on the sidewalks selling beautiful sketches and pictures of Manhattan.

Horse-Drawn Carriages Parked on 59th Street

STATUES AND MONUMENTS

Jose de San Martin statue:

Jose de San Martin statue

José de San Martín (1778-1850) also know as osé Francisco de San Martín Matorras, was a south american libeartion leader. He was an Argintine general and played important role in independece of spanish south america from Spain. He is regarded as national hero in Argentina. Together with Simón Bolívar and Jose Julian Marti, San Martín is regarded as one of the Liberators of Spanish South America

Simon Bolivar Statue:

Simon Bolivar Statue

Simón Bolívar (1783-1830) also known as Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar Palacios y Blanco was a south American leader and liberator who along with San Martín and Jose Julian Marti is regarded as one of the Libeartors of Northren South America, from the Spanish rule.
His direct actions resulted in indepnedence for Colombia, Venzuala, Peru and Ecuador.

Jose Julian Marti Statue:

Jose Julian Marti Statue

José Julián Martí Pérez (1853-1895) was a Cuban leader and National hero. He who along with San Martín and Simón Bolívar is regarded as one of the Libeartors of South America, from the Spanish rule.

Christopher Columbus Statue

Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy. He went to sea as a young boy, and spent most of his life at sea.

Columbus knew the world was round. He believed that by sailing west, instead of current route east around the coast of Africa, he would the East and the Spice Islands.He moved to Portugal trying to get money to support his journey. He eventually got support from Ferdinand and Isabella, the king and queen of Spain.
Columbus was actually looking for America. He was looking for a shorter route to the far east. There he would find valuable silks and spices. Christopher Columbus Map carved in Wood Columbus actually landed on a small island in the Bahamas which Columbus named San Salvador.
Columbus thought he had landed on the Spice Islands near India. This is why he named the people he met Indians.
Columbus died in 1506 still believing that he had found a new route to the East Indies.

William Shakespeare Statue

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was and English poet and playright.

Shakespeare was born in the village of Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire. Shakespeare's father, John Shakespeare, came from a family of yeomen, and he gained many prestigious positions in the community. Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden, came from an ancient family of landed gentry. The family's financial situation was well off. Not much information is known about Shakespeare's youth, although undoubtedly he was educated in the local school, where he studied Latin and Greek, among other subjects, during a school day that often lasted from dawn to dusk.

Shakespeare's first exposure to the theater probably occurred when he was young. As a child his father probably took him to see plays when traveling troupes of actors came to town, although that was not often.

Shakespeare was married to Anne Hathaway in 1582, when he was 18; she was 26, eight years his senior. The exact wedding date is uncertain, but the marriage certificate was issued on November 27,1582. Anne was the daughter of a respected yeoman farmer. William and Anne had their first child, Susanna, in May of 1583. This was followed by the birth of twins, Hamnet and Judith, in January of 1585. Most historians believe that Shakespeare was not often around his family in Stratford after that because historical records show him in London during the following years.

The first written reference to Shakespeare's existence in London occurred in 1592, when Shakespeare was in his late twenties. He seems to have been fairly well established in the theatre by that point, since the reference, written by another playwright, hints of jealousy at Shakespeare's success.

With his two patrons, the Earls of South Hampton and Pembrooke, Shakespeare rose quickly in the theater as both an actor and an author. He joined the Lord Chamberlin's Men, an acting company which was protected by the Queen, becoming a shareholder and senior member in 1595. Because of his success in London, he was able to purchase New Place, the largest and most elegant house in his home town of Stratford, when he was in his early thirties (1597).

In addition to his popularity as both an actor and playwright, Shakespeare became joint owner of the famous Globe theater when it opened in 1599. His share of the company's management added heavily to his wealth.

Shakespeare's financial success in the London theatre enabled him to retire and return to his home in Stratford around 1610. He lived there comfortably until his death on April 23, 1616 (it is popularly believed that he died on his birthday). He is buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Though Shakespeare is most closely associated with the Elizabethan period, his career can be categorized as both Elizabethan and Jacobean, as several works were completed after James I became king in 1603.

The above shown statue was created by John Quincy Adams Ward and is part of literay walk located near the central park mall

Sir Walter Scott Statue

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) was a writer and poet, a born storyteller and master of dialogue, one of the greatest historical novelist.Walter Scott was born in Edinburgh, as the son of a solicitor Walter Scott and Anne, a daughter of professor of medicine. An early illness - polio - left him lame in the right leg.
Famous titles include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, The Lady of The Lake, Waverley, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor.
This Sculpture was created by Sir John Steel and is part of the literary walk of the central park.

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Robert Burns Statue

Robert Burns (January 25, 1759-July 21, 1796) is the national poet of Scotland. Since they were first published, his poetry and songs have never been out of fashion. Translations have made him a classic in other languages. In households where books have been few, an edition of Burns's poetry has often stood on a shelf with the Bible. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "The people who care nothing for literature and poetry care for Burns." With their writing Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott created an enduring Scottish identity at a time when the Scots might have been entirely absorbed into a general British culture. In particular, Burns preserved the Scots tongue in literary form. The most loved figure in Scottish history and literature, his birthday, January 25, is the annual occasion of "Burns Night" festivities. He is celebrated by the Unitarians of Scotland as a religious forbear.
This statue was created by Sir John Steel and is located on the central park mall and is part of the literary walk.