Random Windows Spotlight images

Virupaksha, an intricately constructed Hindu temple, is the focus of our image and one of the cultural treasures of Pattadakal, a historic site in southwestern India. Nine Hindu temples, and one Jain temple, are clustered within the 13-acre complex, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Sandstone from the Malaprabha River valley provided most of the building materials here, and because it's softer when freshly quarried, the artisans at Pattadakal were able to create the intricate reliefs that decorate seemingly every square inch of the temples. This kind of sandstone hardens after a time, and resists erosion, so more than a thousand years later the sublime beauty of Pattadakal remains a stunning testament to faith.

Punta Cana is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean country. Located at the Dominican Republic's easternmost tip, the place is well known for its gorgeous beaches, luxurious resorts, and lush green surroundings. Some of the well-liked attractions include Playa Macao, adventurous Scape Park, and picture-perfect Bavaro Beach.

Rivers may not be the first thing you think of when you see this image of an arid desert and its fantastically eroded rock formations. But this region of the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria was once part of the 'Green Sahara' during the African Humid Period, a time when the northern part of the continent was covered in forests, lakes, and rivers.

Tassili N'ajjer, the name of the national park where our image was taken, translates to 'Plateau of Rivers,' and indeed it was this fertile landscape that allowed human settlement of the area. Evidence of these ancient cultures remains: The national park protects many notable prehistoric paintings and rock carvings. And it looks like nature contributed artwork of its own here in Tassili n'Ajjer—highly eroded rock pillars stand as a kind of monumental sculpture garden under the blazing Sahara sun.

Dubai boasts the world’s tallest building, man-made islands, gigantic shopping malls, and some two million residents who depend on desalinated seawater and air conditioning to live in its sizzling, dry climate. Despite harsh environs here at the southeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, this largest city in the United Arab Emirates has seen incredible economic and architectural growth in the past few decades.

And when all these people need to get around, they take Sheikh Zayed Road, seen here. Most of the gleaming skyscrapers that rise from the desert floor are along this route, overlooking the Persian Gulf like something out of a science-fiction film. The highway also connects the city to the Palm Jumeirah, a massive artificial archipelago shaped like a gargantuan palm tree.

The capital and largest city in Uruguay, Montevideo is perched on a peninsula that juts out into the River Plate. The city was established in 1724 by Spanish soldier Bruno Mauricio de Zabala as a strategic move amidst the Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the Platine region. Today, music, theater, and the arts are part of the city's rich cultural life, including everything from elegant old theaters and cozy tango bars to modern beachfront discos. Originally opening in 1856, the Solís Theatre is Uruguay's most important and renowned theater. The Plaza Independencia separates Ciudad Vieja from downtown Montevideo with the Gateway of The Citadel on one side and the beginning of 18 de Julio avenue on the other. Visitors can take a break at a host of pavement cafes along Peatonal Sarand while sipping on a café con leche. For travelers who need a break from sightseeing, the Currasco neighborhood is home to the city's most beautiful beaches.