Friday, May 21, 2010

Neuschwanstein Castle Schwangau - Germany


Neuschwanstein Castle was built in a time when castles and fortresses were no longer strategically necessary. Instead, it was born of pure fantasy – a beautiful, romantic composition of towers and walls in the perfect setting of mountains and lakes. The combination of various architectural styles and intrinsic craftwork has inspired generations of adults and children alike.

Statues of Easter Island - Chile


Discovered on Easter Sunday, 1722 by Dutch explorer Jakob Roggeveen, this collection of 25 meter-high stone sculptures still puzzles historians and archaeologists as to its origins. It is believed that a society of Polynesian origin settled here in the 4th century and established a unique tradition of monumental sculpture. Between the 10th and 16th centuries, they erected the enormous stone figures, known as the Moai, which have long fascinated the entire world and endowed this island with a mythical atmosphere.

Sydney Opera House - Australia


When the Sydney Opera House was finished in 1973, this landmark building - in the true sense of the expression, - put the whole continent of Australia on the world map. This building does not imitate or reflect what we generally imagine an opera house might look like, indeed, it is a completely abstract interpretation. The ability to create abstract art only developed after the invention of photography in the late 19th century, when painters first began to experiment with an abstract, cubist interpretation of reality.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

The Pyramids of Giza - Egypt


The Pyramids of Giza, the oldest and only Ancient Wonder still standing, are testimony to perfection in art and design, never subsequently achieved. They were built by planners and engineers purely to serve their earthy rulers - who were also their gods. Philosophy did not exist at this time, and creation was not subject to any questioning. The pyramids are the purest of constructions, built for eternity.

Angkor Cambodia


Angkor is the most important monument of the south-east Asian Khmer Empire and the world’s largest sacred temple. Built during the reign of King Suryavaman, at the beginning of the 12th century, Angkor is noted for its intricate ornamentation and striking beauty. With its water moats, concentric walls and magnificent temple mountain in the center, Angkor Wat symbolizes the Hindu cosmos, with its oceans at the periphery and the Meru mountain at the center of its universe.

The Eiffel Tower - Paris, France


The creation of Gustave Eiffel, this magnificent steel tower has come to serve as a symbol of Paris, as well as of France itself. The structure is not only a landmark that is recognized all over the world, but is perhaps the most popular architectural achievement in the Western world. It was the tallest man-made structure in the world until the Empire State Building was constructed. The tower is visited by six million people every year.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Christ The Redeemer - Brazil


One of the largest countries in the world and the largest country in South America is Brazil. One of its major tourist attraction and one of the most famous architectural landmarks in the world, especially among Christians is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. It is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's former capital. This famous statue stands 38 meters (120 ft) tall weighs 700 short tons (635 tons), and is located at the peak of the 700 meters (2,300 ft) Concovado Mountain in the Tijauca Forest National Park overlooking the city. It is the tallest of its kind in the world. A symbol of Christianity, the statue has become an icon of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.

The Alhambra - Spain


Spain is one of the mightiest country in the world. It contains plenty of beautiful and historic landmarks. One of the most visited in the continent of Europe is The Alhambra. Literally, The Alhambra means "the red one"; the complete name is Qal'at al-Hambra, which means "The red fortress". It is a palace and fortress complex of the Moorish rulers of Granada in southern Spain. It was once the residence of the Muslim rulers of Granada and their court, the Alhambra is now one of Spain's major tourist attractions exhibiting the country's most famous Islamic architecture, together with Christian 16th century and later interventions in buildings and gardens that marked its image as it can be seen today.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Vatican Museum - Rome

When you visit the "City within a City", one of your major tourist spots will be "The Vatican Museums". It is located in Viale Vaticano in Rome, inside the Vatican City. Vatican Museums are one of the greatest museums in the world, since they display works from the immense collection built up by Roman Catholic Church throughout the centuries. The museums were founded in the 16th century by Pope Julius II. The Sistine Chapel and the Stabze della Segnatura decorated by Raphael are on the visitor route through the Vatican Museums.

Statue of Liberty - New York

One of the most visited places in the world is New York and when one visits New York, the Statue of Liberty is surely included in the itinerary. Liberty Enlightening the World, commonly known as the Statue of Liberty is one of the most popular landmarks in the world. Worldwide, the Statue of Liberty is one of the most recognizable icons of the United States and was, from 1886 until the jet age, often one of the first glimpses of the United States for millions of immigrants after ocean voyages from Europe. Visually, the Statue of Liberty appears to draw inspiration from the Colossus of Rhodes.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Taj Mahal - Seven Wonders of the World

Let the splendor of the diamond, pearl and ruby vanish like the magic shimmer of the rainbow. Only let this one teardrop, the Taj Mahal, glisten spotlessly bright on the cheek of time...

Location:
Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra, one of the most powerful cities in the medieval world. Agra is a part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, in the northern region of India. It is a part of the great northern plains and is situated on the west bank of river the Yamuna. Agra is 204 km south of Delhi.

Legendary Saga:
An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, Arjumand Banu. The Taj Mahal is one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage and the jewel of Muslim art in India. Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed at a cost of 32 Million Rupees.

Elegy in Marble- Taj Mahal:
Taj Mahal means "Crown Palace" and is in fact the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tomb in the world. The architecture is stunning and the unique mughal style combines elements of Persian, Central Asian, and Islamic architecture. Most impressive are the black and white chessboard marble floor, the four tall minarets (40 m high) at the corners of the structure, and the majestic dome in the middle. If observed minutely around the archways, the lettering of the Quran verses appears to be uniform, regardless of their height.
The impressive pietra dura artwork includes geometric elements, plants and flowers, mostly common in Islamic architecture. There is a high level of intricacy involved in artwork when one realizes that a 3 cm decorative element contains more than 50 inlaid gemstones. The Taj Mahal is inspired by love and shaped to perfection, it immortalizes one man's love for his wife and the splendor of an era.


Agra Fort
The Agra Fort was bulit by Akbar in Red Sandstone. The fort worked both as a military strategic point as well as the royal residence. The Diwan - i - Am, the Diwan - i - Khas, the Khas Mahal, the Palace of Mirrors, the Pearl mosque, the Nagina Masjid, the Garden of Grapes, and the Fish Pavilion are the other monuments in the fort complex.

Akbar's Tomb:
Sikandra/ Akbar's tomb, 10 km north of Agra lies Akbar's tomb, in Sikandra. Named after the Afghan ruler Sikander Lodi, Sikandra is the final resting place of Emperor Akbar.