Buzz
These intricately beautiful and impressive structures are known to very few.
1. Palace of the Parliament, Romania
As the largest, most expensive, and heaviest civilian building in the world, the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest is a rare wonder few know of. Built in 1984, this neoclassical-style building has 12 floors (plus 8 underground), with 3,100 rooms and a total area of 330,000 m2.
The construction cost of this building was 3.3 billion euros. The carpets on the main floor were woven along the wide corridors during construction. Weaving them outside then bringing them in was impractical due to the large area.
2. Great Mosque of Djenne, Mali
Constructed in 1907, the Great Mosque of Djenne is the largest mud brick building in the world. The entire structure is built from sun-dried mud bricks and mortar made from mud or gypsum. It is considered one of the greatest achievements of Sudano-Sahelian architecture and was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.
The three towers of the mosque are adorned with palm tree trunks. The harsh summer in North Africa causes the mud cracks to widen and weaken the structure. Before the rainy season arrives, locals gather and apply a new layer of clay.
3. Derawar Fort, Pakistan
Derawar's majestic 40 watchtowers stand tall in the Cholistan Desert along with a fortification system forming a defensive line 1,500 meters long and 30 meters high.
Many are unaware of this structure, even the majority of Pakistanis are unaware of its existence. It's not surprising: to reach the fort, tourists must hire a guide with a 4-wheel drive vehicle from the city of Bahawalpur across the Cholistan Desert to the fort. Here, visitors must have the permission of the prince to enter.
4. Chand Baori, India
Chand Baori in Rajasthan is a well that is approximately 30 meters deep with double staircases leading down to the azure blue water. With 3,500 steps, Chand Baori is one of the deepest and widest wells of its kind in the world.
Built by King Chanda of the Nikumbha dynasty around 800 - 900 years after the Common Era, Chand Baori's design is both practical and artistic. Due to the structure of the well, the bottom is much cooler than the surface, a wonderful relief amidst the scorching heat of Rajasthan.
5. Stari Most, Bosnia-Herzegovina
This historic bridge was constructed from 456 stone blocks in 1566 by architect MimarHajrudin. Stari Most is located in the city of Mostar and spans the Neretva River.
With a width of 4 meters, length of 30 meters, and height of 24 meters, it is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Bosnia-Herzegovina and also a prime example of Islamic architecture in the Balkans. Locals here have a tradition of leaping from the bridge into the icy waters of the Neretva River to demonstrate their courage and swimming skills.
6. The Great Wall of India
Surely, everyone knows about China's Great Wall, but few know that India also has a similar structure.
India's Great Wall, also known as Kumbhalgarh, is located in Rajasthan and is the second longest wall in the world, second only to China's famous structure. Some sections of the wall are as thick as 4.5 meters, stretching 36 kilometers with 7 large gates.
RanaKumbha, a Rajasthani prince, ordered the construction of the wall in 1443 to protect his fortress. According to legend, he couldn't complete the construction despite trying every means. Ultimately, the prince sought spiritual advice and was advised to make a sacrifice. Someone volunteered, and today, the main entrance gate stands where that person departed, and a temple is erected at his burial site.
The wall was expanded in the 19th century and now houses up to 360 temples and shrines inside, yet this remains an architectural treasure few know about worldwide.
7. Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Iran
This is a masterpiece of Safavid architecture located in the Naghsh-iJahan Square, Isfahan. This elegant and sophisticated structure was built around 1603-1619 under the reign of Shah Abbas I.
This mosque stands out for its lack of minarets or inner courtyard, perhaps because Sheikh Lotfollah was not a public structure but served as a prayer place for the harem.
The dome is adorned with color-changing stone tiles throughout the day, from cream to pink. Inside the mosque, visitors are mesmerized by the intricacy of the mosaic artwork on the walls and the stunning ceiling. Sunlight streaming through the high windows creates a striking harmony between light and shadow.
According to Zing News
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Reference: Mytour Travel Handbook
MytourMarch 6, 2015
