A real-life fairy tale: the world's most impressive temples (Part 2)

Regardless of religion (Christian, Orthodox, Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim) these shrines have stood the test of time and retain their splendor and mystery.

1. Karnak Temple (Egypt)

In the ancient city of Thebes, a religious complex was erected, the history of which dates back four thousand years. The construction of this monumental structure required two millennia of effort and dedication of generations. This temple is considered not only the oldest in the world, but also symbolizes the spirit of cooperation between successive generations of Egyptians. These communities worked tirelessly over the centuries to honor their diverse pantheon of deities, and they succeeded in creating what we recognize today as one of the most iconic temples in history.

2. Lotus Temple (India)

The jewel of Indian Delhi, also known as the Bahai House of Worship. Built between 1980 and 1986, its exterior resembles a semi-enclosed lotus flower with 27 marble-clad petals. The central hall of the temple can accommodate up to 2,500 people. Together with nine ponds and numerous gardens, it covers an area of 10.5 hectares.

3. Borobudur (Indonesia)

The largest in the world, this Buddhist temple, also called the "city of a thousand statues" because of the numerous Buddha figures in its niches, is located in the heart of the jungles of Java. The construction of Borobudur dates back to 780-830 B.C., although the world did not learn of it until 1814, when the English lieutenant occupying the land sent his best architect to search for the sacred site, which was covered in rubble when he found it. The temple had to be partially rebuilt because its religious and architectural significance had been damaged by weather and volcanic eruptions.

4. Shwedagon (Myanmar)

The religious complex is located in Rangoon, the old capital of Myanmar. The stupa, known as Shwedagon Paya, is the most sacred stupa in the Buddhist world. The temple, covered in gold, stands on a hill and is up to one hundred meters high. This centerpiece is surrounded by 64 pagodas and 4 temples.

5. Churches of Gereme (Cappadocia, Turkey)

Two thousand years ago, the eruption of Mount Erciyes caused more than 20 thousand kilometers of the earth's surface to be covered with soft rock. After excavations were found Christian churches, the oldest of which date back to the VI century. In them you can see perfectly preserved Byzantine frescoes. The names of the churches are among the simplest: the Church of the Apple, the Dark Church or the Church of the Snake, and their number is innumerable.

The "open-air museum", where most of the churches of Cappadocia are concentrated, is 1.5 kilometers long. It is the fourth most visited open-air museum in the world. In 1985, UNESCO inscribed the Göreme National Park and the cave monuments of Cappadocia, of which the churches are a part, on the World Heritage List.

6. Tiger's Nest Monastery (Bhutan)

If abysses open channels of communication with deities, then the Tiger's Nest Monastery in Bhutan is one of the most privileged among the gods. This Buddhist temple, built in 1692 at an altitude of almost a thousand meters above sea level and located in the secluded corners of the mountain, boggles the human imagination.

Legends say that Guru Padmasambhava came to the cave located on the back of a tigress. There he meditated for three years, trained a couple of disciples and earned the title of the father of Bhutanese Buddhism. This temple is the most important in the region and receives pilgrims from all over the world who flock here to worship and pray to the Guru, the country's most important deity.

The impressive pattern of their red-gold roofs, in complete contrast to the misty and ghostly surroundings, is hard to forget. The Tiger's Nest Monastery is home to monks, but it is said that they can only live within its walls for three years and rarely go outside.

7. Church of St. George (Ethiopia)

The local Orthodox believe in the myth that the churches at Lalibela in Ethiopia were built by the angels themselves. They were excavated and molded by order of the King of Lalibela in the 12th century with the intention that this complex of churches would form a new Holy Land, as they could not make pilgrimages to the Holy Land of Jerusalem. A total of 11 temples were built here. All of them are carved in the ground and connected by underground passages. The Temple of St. George is the most famous of them all. It is carved into the ground and has the shape of a cross. The Temple of St. George is the only one that was built separate from the others.

8. Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

The temple dedicated to the Buddhist cult is one of the most famous examples of religious architecture in the world. It is a gigantic fortification with cone-shaped towers decorated with filigree. The temple actually consists of three levels. Three rectangular galleries connect around the 65-meter high main tower. Along the way, you will come across many amazing sculptures dedicated to deities. Angkor Wat has been a place of mass pilgrimage for many years.

9. Sheikh Zayed Mosque (Abu Dhabi)

The Sheikh Zayd Mosque, located in the UAE, is only the eighth largest mosque in the world, but despite its place in the ranking, its surface area is comparable to five soccer fields.

This beautiful mosque with 82 domes and four minarets each 100 meters high, which combines different Islamic styles of construction, will certainly not leave any visitor indifferent.

In addition to its white and elegant architectural appearance, the philosophy of Sheikh Zayd Mosque is curious. The shrine was begun during the presidency of the late Sheikh Zayed in 1990, in an effort to immortalize a place that unites the cultural diversity of the Islamic world, historical and modern values of architecture and art. Sheikh Zayd's remains rest forever in the gardens of this impressive mosque.

The mosque's lighting system adjusts the brightness of the domes according to the phases of the moon, giving their already impressive beauty a dynamic celestial hue. This detail emphasizes the technological innovations used in the construction of the structure and its intention to harmonize with the natural environment in a respectful and meaningful way.

10. Shah Mosque (Iran)

This temple was part of a grand building plan when the capital of the Persian Empire was moved to Isfahan in 1598 to have more favorable land for cultivation and to get away from their worst enemies, the Ottomans. The imperial bazaar, palace and this mosque were built here, which is the greatest example of Persian architecture and a must-see if you plan to explore Iran. The Shah Mosque, though not the largest in the city, has become a major attraction for visitors due to its privileged access from Imam Square, where stores and green recreational areas are located.