Ancient architecture always fascinates us. When it comes to Temples, we always get emotionally attached to it and seek more information about it.
Here is a list of some beautiful temples which are not only a place for prayers but they are all architectural masterpieces.
- Ranakpur Jain in Pali, India
Regarded as one of the holiest sites in Jainism. The 24 pillared halls and 1,444 columns of this marvelous temple in Ranakpur are hand-carved completely from amber stone. Local lore claims a Jain businessperson started the construction of the temple in 15th century after experiencing a divine vision. Each pillar tells a different story with unique creatures and motifs etched into the intricate architecture.
- Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Rai, Thailand
Celebrated Thai artist Chalermchai Kosipipat designed and funded the site, built on the ruins of a Buddhist temple, to honor Buddha’s purity while doubling as an eccentric art piece that opened in 1997. While the façade’s mosaics and sculptures are completely white, the interiors burst with color thanks to a set of murals..
- Borobudur Temple
The mind-blowing Borobudur Temple on the Indonesian island of Java is the world’s largest Buddhist monument, measuring 765 feet by 765 feet. Littered with more than 500 statues of the Buddha and countless relief sculptures, this temple is a treasure trove of medieval Indonesian art, heavily influenced by Indian religious sculpture and design.
- The Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China
An elaborate tower built just outside the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven came about in the early 15th century under the rule of the Yongle emperor. The magnificent structure served as the main venue for emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to host yearly prayer ceremonies for good harvests and atonement. Interestingly, each colorful pillar inside the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests has its own story or symbol, from representing the four seasons to embodying the solar terms, but they all come together to represent the 28 Mansions of the Moon in Chinese astronomy.
- Kōtoku-in Temple in Kamakura, Japan
The Giant Buddha of temple of Kōtoku-in Temple in Kamakura, Japan was built in the 13th century. It used to be housed in a great hall of the temple but the hall was destroyed between 13th & 15th Century. Kamakura is close enough to Tokyo to make it an easy day trip. There is a wealth of Buddhist Temples and Shinto Shrines in the city. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Shwezigon Pagoda
The Shwezigon Pagoda can be found close to the former royal capital of Bagan. It is a remarkable complex of more than 10,000 Buddhist structures. There are more than 2,000 surviving Buddhist temples and pagodas scattered across a dusty landscape. This creates a remarkable spectacle that is best seen from the sky.
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- The Temples of Abu Simbel in Abu Simbel, Egypt
Pharaoh Ramesses II commissioned the two massive rock temples at Abu Simbel as a way to showcase his divine nature and pay respects to gods Ra-Horakty and Ptah, goddess Hathor, and his wife, Queen Nefertari. The four colossal figures seated at the entrance of this sandstone structure represent Ramesses with an etched image of Re-Horakhty above the doorway. Some scholars believe the temples date back to 1264 BCE after the pharaoh’s victory at the Battle Kadesh, while others believe it came about later in 1244 BCE after the Nubian Campaigns of Ramesses and his sons.
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- The Harmandir Sahib, Punjab, India
The Sikh temple, built in the 16th century, also known as the “Golden Temple”, is a place of great beauty and sublime peacefulness. Originally, a small lake in the middle of the forest has been a meditation retreat for wandering mendicants and sages since deep antiquity. The Buddha has spent time at this place in contemplation. Two thousand years after Buddha’s time, another philosopher-saint came to live and meditate by the peaceful lake. This was Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion. After the passing away of Guru Nanak, his disciples continued to frequent the site; over the centuries it became the primary sacred shrine of the Sikhs.
