The story came out yesterday that the Taj Mahal, one of India’s most popular attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage site, could be in danger of falling down.

Some concerned groups believe that because the river under the building’s foundation is running lower, the wood beams supporting is are beginning to disintegrate.

What I think is strange is that no one has actually been allowed to go down there and take a look, so it’s a lot of speculation right now. You’d think they’d at least want to take a peek, right?

Seeing this story first made me think of the big, melting chocolate palace that Willy Wonka built, but then I thought of a building I saw while traveling that did come down: Christchurch Cathedral.

Christchurch Cathedral, post earthquake

Many buildings were lost in the earthquakes that struck Christchurch, New Zealand, last year, but that was the one I could picture in my mind most clearly, and the one that made me the saddest to see covered in rubble. (Side note: They’re temporarily replacing the fallen church with a cardboard cathedral. Sustainable, cheap and versatile.)

Earthquakes can’t really be predicted, but many popular travel destinations have had to reduce the number of visitors they allow in order to preserve them from human abuse (like the Inca Trail) or have at least thought about it (Angkot Wat).

So what sites do you want to see while you still can?