There are many religions with a following of well we don’t know but it’s a registered religion. Nonetheless, places of worship have been around since the beginning of time. Today we have a look at some of the most incredible places still in use or empty but still resplendent.
Jetavanaramaya, Sri Lanka
Located in Sri Lanka is this beautiful stupa or Buddhist reliquary Monument. It used to be the world’s tallest and was built by King Maja Sina in the 4th century. Tiger’s Nest monastery high up on the edge of a cliff in peril. Valley is Tiger’s Nest monastery where legend says Guru Rinpoche or precious master flew onto the cliff.
While riding a tigress and spent four months meditating in the cave reports differ on the length of time. He spent in the cave but suffice to say it was a really long time. This beautiful monastery was built in 1692 and underwent reconstruction in 1998 after a fire ravaged through the rooms.
Prambanan Temple, Indonesia
This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in the 9th century AD and is the largest temple dedicated to Shiva in Indonesia. Shiva was one of the three great Hindu divinities. The other two being Vishnu and Brahma. Temple consists of two hundred and forty temples and is the second-largest site in Southeast Asia.
Gawdawpalin Temple, Myanmar
This is the second tallest temple in Bagan Myanmar and is majestically built in the 12th century. The building has a hollow temple which is a structure devoted to meditating worship and other Buddhist rituals. An earthquake damaged large parts of the temple in 1975 and a lot has been spent on restoring the structure since then.
Sri Ranganathswamy Temple, India
One of the most important Vishnu temples in the world. Remember we mentioned Vishnu’ earlier one of the main Hindu divinities. This temple is in Tamil Nadu India spread across 156 acres. This temple is home to 21 different towers of which the main capita or tower is plated with gold. There are 39 pavilions, 50 shrines, the hall of 1000 pillars and several bodies of water inside.
Wat Rong Khun, Thailand
This Buddhist temple in Thailand is one of the most recognized in the world. The plaster has small pieces of mirror mixed into it which gives off a magical shine. The last update mentioned was that the temple was still under construction and it would take a further 90 years to complete.
Thatbyinnyu Temple, Myanmar
This is another temple found in Bagan also referred to as the omniscient. It was built in the 12th century. Its name translates to omniscience the word used to describe how Buddha was when he entered the temple and how he left enlightened. This was also affected by the 1975 earthquake that affected the Gaja Pauline temple.
Temple Of Heaven, China
Beijing is home to an ancient temple that was built between 1406 and 1420. The judging Emperor renamed it the temple of heaven during the 16th century and added more buildings to the ever-growing site. It was renovated during the 18th century and has remained the same ever since. The temple buildings span across 2.73 kilometers squared and are made entirely of wood without a single nail. There is a beautiful park surrounding the temple which is open daily.
Medinet Habu, Egypt
You must use your imagination here but you can certainly see how beautiful this structure must have looked in its heyday. It looks like a giant sandcastle today but it’s really the mortuary temple of Ramses the third. The second Pharaoh of the 20th dynasty. There are places inside the remains that depict the defeat of the Sea. Peoples during the reign of Ramses the third the site was originally built in 1490 BC.
Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar
This jaw-dropping temple goes by a few names including great Dagon pagoda and the golden pagoda. This temple is one of the most popular in Asia as legend says that Buddha gave eight of his hairs to be enshrined in the temple. There are other relics in the temple from later Buddha’s. It was built 2,500 years and has gone through several renovations since then. There is one main stupa which is impressive, to say the least, and it’s surrounded by 64 smaller equally impressive ones. The main stupa is gold-plated and there are parts encrusted with diamonds and semi-precious stones. This area is not open to the public.
Borobudur, Indonesia
There’s a lot of mystery surrounding this beautiful temple. Discovered in the 19th century by Dutch occupiers of Indonesia hidden in the Java jungles. There are 2700 relief panels and hundreds of Buddha statues said to be the world’s largest Buddhist temple. Borobudur was abandoned during the 14th century. It underwent extensive renovations between 1975 and 1982 and is still used as a place of worship and pilgrimage today.
Golden Temple, India
The golden temple goes by a few names including Darbar Sahib or Harmandir Sahib. This is one of the holiest sites in India and is visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year. Lord Buddha was said to have meditated here however there was no lake surrounding it then it was surrounded by thick forests. The temple is covered by gold foil the temple does not discriminate against any religion and is open to everybody. The golden temple is home to the largest free kitchen in the world.
Abu Simbel, Egypt
This temple was constructed by Ramses ii the 3rd pharaoh of the 19th dynasty of Egypt. Construction began in as1 and the temple was cut into the cliff. The temple was built in celebration of Ramses’ victory against the Hittites at Kadesh battle in 1274 BC. Thought to be the largest chariot battle ever. The temple was dedicated to several ancient Egyptian gods including em on and taw. There are two main temples with a smaller one is dedicated to the Egyptian queen Nefertari Ramses’ favorite wife.
Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, India
This is a huge tourist draw cart in new Delhi. Because even if you’re not there for religious reasons there’s a water show that will totally blow your mind. It’s one of the largest Hindu temples in the world that spans 59 acres. The temple opened in 2005 and its name means the forever home of the Supreme God. Inside the temple are 20,000 statues of divine Indian figures. There are 10 gates into the temple to indicate the goodness comes from every direction. There’s a theater, a food court, lifelike robotics, and the exquisite lotus garden. It’s a must-see if you’re ever fortunate enough to head to India.
St. Basil Cathedral, Moscow Russia
This Russian Orthodox Church is one of the most recognized in the world. Its thanks to Ivan the Terrible that it was built as he wanted to celebrate his victory over the Kazan Khanate. The cathedral comprises of nine churches connected by galleries and tunnels. It’s uncertain who the architects of the Cathedral is. But it’s widely accepted that it was designed by architects Varma. The Terrible ordered the architects to be blinded once the building was completed. So they could never replicate anything as beautiful again.
