Top 10 Beautiful Temples

Temples around the world fascinate with their extraordinary architecture. No wonder: the designers have put their hearts and souls to honor deities. Take a look at these beautiful sanctuaries and visit them once in the region.

10. Gawdawpalin Temple, Bagan, Myanmar

The pagoda was built between 12-13th centuries. The temple is used for meditation and other Buddhist rituals.

9. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE

A contemporary temple’s exceptional beauty is supposed to unite religion, historical and modern values with architecture and art. The mosque also unites the world, thus the construction materials were used from all around the globe.

8. The Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China

The taoist temple was built in 13th century and was visited by the Chinese emperors. The complex and its yard is a favorite spot for meditation and even exercises.

7. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City

The largest church in the world among others was designed by Renaissance genius Michelangelo. The church enchants with its greatness and beauty. St. Peter is buried here, according to the Catholic tradition.

6. St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow, Russia

The impressive Russian Orthodox church was built in 16th century. The beautiful architecture is supplemented with colorful towers, that attract attention.

5. Wat Rong Khun, Chiang Rai, Thailand

The magnificent contemporary Buddhist temple will be fully finished in 2070 only. However, the brainchild of artist Chalermchai Kositpipat already looks stunning.

4. Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar

The golden pagoda honors Buddha and rises to a 98 meters height. Among its religious relics are hair from the head of Buddha.

3. Sri Ranganathaswamy, Srirangam, India

The unusual Hindu shrine is the most important temple to Vishnu. Colorful building’s architecture is a fine example of Dravidian style.

2. Prambanan, Central Java, Indonesia

The Hindu temple was built in 9th century and dedicated to the Trimurti: Brahmā, Vishnu and Shiva. The walls are all covered with impressive carvings, telling the religious stories.

1. The Harmandir Sahib, Punjab, India

The Sikh temple, built in 16th century, is also known as the „Golden Tmple“. Marble, gold and precious stones were used to build it by the lake, where Buddha and Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, used to meditate.

from: http://www.placestoseeinyourlifetime.com

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Top 15 Most Beautiful Buildings Around The World

Hey there fellas, how are you today? Are you ready for something different? Today we are gonna show you list of 15 of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Take a look!

Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE

 

Catherine Palace, Outside St. Petersburg, Russia

 

Christian Dior Store, Omotesando, Tokyo

 

Great Mosque, Djenne, Mali

 

Gresham Palace, Budapest, Hungary

 

Institute for Sound and Vision, Hilversum, The Netherlands

Mont St. Michel, Normandy, France

 

Nelson-Atkins Museum’s Bloch Building, Kansas City, MO

 

New Norwegian Opera and Ballet, Oslo, Norway

 

Sagrada Família, Barcelona

 

The Bauhaus, Dessau, Germany

 

The Golden Temple, Amritsar, India

 

The Guggenheim, Bilbao, Spain

 

Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan

 

Wat Rong Khun, Chiang Rai, Thailand

from:http://www.youramazingplaces.com

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15 CITIES to Visit in 2015

From special events to grand new openings, there will be a lot going on in 2015, in the world’s major cities and in some other urban destinations that you’ve probably never heard of. So if you’re wondering where you should go this year, consider these places celebrating milestones and anniversaries, new attractions and lots of buzz: 

1 | MILAN

Milan lost a little of its allure over the last decade, but hosting the World Fair in 2015 may put it back on the travel radar. Expo 2015 takes place in the city between May 5th and October 31st, with the theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life,” and that’s a great excuse to see the recently-cleaned-up Duomo and to head next door to one of the world’s most lavish shopping destinations, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
-SEE THE MILAN CITY GUIDE»

2 | VILNIUS

In 2015, Lithuania is more attractive than ever for European travelers, since it’s officially adopting the euro as its currency. But even those outside the eurozone will want to discover the capital Vilnius, with its well-preserved World Heritage center, filled with baroque architecture. Think of it as a much smaller and less crowded alternative to other Eastern European capitals like Prague or Budapest.

3 | VIENNA

2015 is the 150th anniversary of the opening of Vienna’s Ringstrasse, a circular boulevard lined with monumental architecture. All throughout the year you’ll catch several related events in the city, and in May it’s hosting this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, one of the world’s most-watched televised events.
-SEE THE VIENNA CITY GUIDE»

4 | BAKU

It’s time you’ve heard of the Azerbaijani capital, and 2015 may be the year. Baku is hosting the very first European Games, something like an European Olympics, with several sports competitions attracting over 6,000 athletes to the city in June. Other reasons to visit this fast-changing capital include striking modern glass towers and a fascinating Old Town on the World Heritage list.

5 | PARIS

You may have been there before, but there’s always a reason to return to Paris. This year it’s the anniversary of the opening of the world’s first restaurant, serving as a reminder that France still makes the most delicious cuisine. And then there’s the brand-new Louis Vuitton Foundation, in a spectacular Frank Gehry-designed building, hosting contemporary art exhibitions.
-SEE THE PARIS CITY GUIDE»

6 | DUBAI

A new year always brings new skyscrapers and new over-the-top attractions in Dubai. In 2015 that’s the Palazzo Versace Dubai, a palatial hotel by the Dubai Creek. But even if you can’t afford to step inside it, you’ll still want to head to this gotta-see-it-to-believe-it city for another rather recent attraction, the Miracle Garden, the world’s largest flower garden.
-SEE THE DUBAI CITY GUIDE»

7 | WASHINGTON D.C.

2015 marks the 150th anniversary of the end of the American Civil War, and the best place to get an American history lesson is always Washington DC. But there’s yet another major reason to visit the American capital this year -- it’s unveiling the new National Museum of African-American History and Culture -- and it’s also the 150th anniversary of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, with special events at Ford’s Theatre.
-SEE THE WASHINGTON D.C. CITY GUIDE»

8 | ISTANBUL

Hagia Sophia is one of the world’s architectural marvels, and in 2015 it’s celebrating 80 years since it was turned into a museum. Make this the year that you visit the wonders of the city that’s so grand, it’s in two continents.
-SEE THE ISTANBUL CITY GUIDE»

9 | BERLIN

You heard a lot about the Berlin Wall in November of 2014, when the world remembered 25 years since the fall of the wall that divided the city, the East and the West. There will be more celebrating in 2015, especially since this is the 25th anniversary of the German Reunification. Expect special events in October, but there’s plenty to see and do in the capital city throughout the year, especially around the work-in-progress that is the treasure-filled Museum Island.
-SEE THE BERLIN CITY GUIDE»

10 | AMSTERDAM

One of the world’s most intriguing artists, Vincent van Gogh, died 125 years ago, so Amsterdam is remembering one of its most famous figures throughout the year -- and not just at the Van Gogh Museum. This year is also a year of SAIL Amsterdam, a major maritime event taking place every five years, with tall ships from all over the world moored in the city, and opening for visits. It’s happening in August, but before or after that you’ll still find plenty to see and do around the wonderful canals.
-SEE THE AMSTERDAM CITY GUIDE»

11 | BRISTOL

England’s sixth-biggest city is this year’s “European Green Capital” so there will be eco-friendly conferences and events throughout 2015. You may fly there directly or make it a train trip from London. You’ll want to explore the streets where Banksy got started, and see why this has been named Britain’s most liveable city.

12 | PILSEN

You’ve probably never heard of it, but this major beer-making Czech city is a big destination in 2015 -- it’s been named this year’s European Capital of Culture (together with Mons in Belgium). Expect a rich calendar of cultural activities, including the city’s medieval buildings transformed into canvases for cutting-edge audiovisual projections. And this year will also be when the bells of the gothic St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral will be heard for the first time since WWII (the originals were melted down by the Nazis), adding to the reasons why you should make this your alternative to Prague.

13 | SINGAPORE

This island city-state is an Asian melting pot, and in 2015 it’s celebrating 50 years of independence from Great Britain, while hosting the biennial multi-sport Southeast Asian Games. Be sure to visit the futuristic Gardens by the Bay opened in 2012 next to the iconic Marina Bay Sands, and see the grand opening of the new National Gallery, incorporating two monumental buildings to showcase local art and culture.

14 | HAVANA

Mark our words: Havana will soon be one of the most popular destinations in the Americas. Everyone will want to see this stuck-in-a-timewarp city before modernization finally arrives after a possible lifting of the American embargo. This rundown-but-beautiful city is also lively and romantic, with a look and feel not found anywhere else -- think colonial monuments and vintage cars crossing the streets.

15 | NEW YORK

This will be a big year for the Big Apple, with the opening of the observatory at the One World Trade tower and of the new Whitney Museum of American Art designed by Renzo Piano in the Meatpacking District. And there’s still curiosity over the recent 9/11 memorial and museum, not to mention the city’s continuously buzzing food scene, which this year includes Ralph Lauren’s first restaurant in town, the Polo Bar.

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The Top 10 Most Beautiful Cities in the World

Need some travel inspiration? Can't decide where to go? How about one of the world's most beautiful cities? If you're looking for a destination with urban pleasures but also with natural and man-made beauty, consider one of the cities below. They offer a combination of magnificent architecture and breathtaking vistas; art and nature in perfect harmony. If you want to make a list of the top places to see before you die, start with these beautiful cities: 

1 | VENICE

Among those who've seen it in person, the conclusion is unanimous: Venice is the most beautiful city in the world, and the only one that can truly be described as unique. Each building is a work of art, with their beauty enhanced when reflected on the canals that cross the city. Its magical scenery is fascinating and breathtaking at first sight, evoking the feeling of entering the setting of a real-life fairy tale. It's perhaps even unfair to all other cities to call Venice a city, as it is a place unlike any other, that no other can compare to, or ever be like.
-SEE THE VENICE CITY GUIDE»

2 | PARIS

The Seine and the bridges that cross it, the grand boulevards, the monumental squares, the magnificent monuments, the charming streets of Montmartre -- these images of Paris confirm that it is indeed the most elegant and sophisticated of all cities. It has inspired practically every major world capital, with every city claiming its own Champs-Elysèes, and Place des Vosges becoming the prototype of residential squares throughout Europe. Sit at an outdoor café table or go on a boat tour of the Seine and see it all romantically flash before your eyes.
-SEE THE PARIS CITY GUIDE»

3 | PRAGUE

It is known as the city of the thousand spires because of its profusion of grand, beautifully-preserved historical monuments dating from practically every period in history. Those spires are best admired from the bridges that cross the Vltava River, especially from the magnificent Charles Bridge, or standing in the stunningly beautiful Old Town Square. Add the atmospheric alleyways and cobbled streets that lead to it, and you know that few other cities delight the senses as much as Prague.
-SEE THE PRAGUE CITY GUIDE»

4 | LISBON

Magnificently sited on a series of hills running down to the grand Tagus River, Lisbon is one of the world's most scenic cities. Beautiful unexpected views are found at every turn down its colorful, picturesque streets, and especially from strategically-placed viewpoints or terraces at the top of each hill. The city has an unpolished, seductive appearance; an effortless beauty with captivating details such as cobbled designs, tiled façades, and pastel-colored buildings blending together to give it a singular atmosphere now lost in so many other cities. In such a stunning place, it's no wonder that many of the world's great explorers questioned what other beauties lied beyond the horizon when they departed from here in the 15th century.
-SEE THE LISBON CITY GUIDE»

5 | RIO DE JANEIRO

There are those who say God created the world in six days and devoted a seventh to Rio. The city is indeed blessed with one of the most stunning settings in the world, making it the most naturally beautiful city in the world. Even if it was deserted of buildings and population, anyone standing at the top of the famous Sugarloaf Mountain or by the Corcovado statue would see one of the world's most beautiful landscapes. Green, tropical luxuriance mixes with the blue of the ocean and the brightness of the sand at the beaches, proving that this is indeed "the marvelous city" as locals call it.
-SEE THE RIO DE JANEIRO CITY GUIDE»

6 | AMSTERDAM

Each of the thousands of buildings that line Amsterdam's main canals can be classified as a monument, beautifully kept as apartments, offices, cafés, restaurants, and even brothels. All together they form an aesthetic uniformity that make the city one of the most charming in the world, a stunning place of bridges and bikes crossing canals, picturesque cobbled streets, and strikingly elegant architecture.
-SEE THE AMSTERDAM CITY GUIDE»

7 | FLORENCE

Florence is synonymous with the Italian Renaissance, known for the artistic heritage in its palaces and museum collections. Yet with all the beauty both inside and outside its palazzi's walls, it is the city as a whole that impresses the most. See it from Piazzale Michelangelo, a 19th century terrace overlooking the entire city, and you'll be looking at one of the most storybook-perfect cityscapes. You'll see its unspoiled skyline, the towers and domes of the heart of the city, its bridges, the hills in the distance, and the magnificent Duomo standing in the middle of it all. Few other places in the world will leave you as awestruck.
-SEE THE FLORENCE CITY GUIDE»

8 | ROME

The city standing on seven hills by the Tiber River is a treasure-trove of monuments among some of the most beautiful squares and classical architecture in the world. Because everyone visits Rome for its landmarks, its picturesque streets are often overlooked, such as those of the Trastevere district, filled with charming lanes, faded palazzi, and lovely homes decorated with flower boxes. It is on streets like those that Rome proves itself to really be eternal.
-SEE THE ROME CITY GUIDE»

9 | BUDAPEST

Split in two by the Danube River, Budapest is the result of the merging of three cities. Buda is the hill with the royal palace and an old town filled with baroque and gothic monuments looking over the mostly-19th century Pest, crossed by broad avenues lined with elegant neo-renaissance buildings. Admire its setting and remarkable architecture (including the stunning Parliament Building) from the monumental Chain Bridge, and step into the old town for some of the most romantic lanes you'll ever stroll through.
-SEE THE BUDAPEST CITY GUIDE»

10 | BRUGES

It's a small city, in a small country, hardly a metropolis, but huge on beauty. It's one of the world's best preserved medieval cities, filled with gothic and baroque monuments surrounded by an oval canal and extraordinarily romantic cobbled lanes. It's no wonder that it is one of Europe's most visited cities, helped by its location in the very center of the continent. It's an unmissable destination when in Brussels, and easily accessible from anywhere in central Europe. Its combination of gorgeous architecture and pretty, peaceful spots crisscrossed by canals make it one of the most magical sites to be experienced in the world.
-SEE TOURS OF BRUGES»
from: http://www.ucityguides.com

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