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OUR PLANET'S LANDMARKS

OUR PLANET’S LANDMARKS:
I started this series of posts on my blog in October 2018. It has been running ever since, one post every Sunday at 9 pm. You may find some of these posts of interest to you. If you do, kindly leave a comment on the one you liked. Thanks!

Hell's Gate or Gate of Death, Birkenau - Travelure ©

Auschwitz – Homage to the WW-II Holocaust Victims

‘The plunder of human beings was complete. They chose the healthy ones for a slow death through overwork, exhaustion, and starvation; while the others were straightaway shot, or gassed.’ - Auschwitz - Homage to the WW-II Holocaust Victims - Travelure ©
Lal Qila or Red Fort Delhi India - Travelure ©

Red Fort or Lal Qila Delhi India

UNESCO inscribed Lal Qila on the world heritage list in 2007 as it marks the “Zenith of Mughal Creativity”. Lal Qila’s innovative planning, architecture, and landscaping influenced later buildings and gardens in Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan, and further south. - Lal Qila or Red Fort Delhi India - Travelure ©
Archaeological site of Gobekli Tepe - the oldest temple in the world - Travelure ©

Gobekli Tepe Turkey – World’s oldest temple?

Göbekli Tepe is the most ancient site of humans practising religion. Schmidt called it the first human-built holy place. The religion originated here. - Göbekli Tepe Turkey - World’s oldest temple? - Travelure ©
This article featured in Jetwings International - Travelure ©

Sweden’s best-preserved Church Town, Gammelstad

With no water supply, no heating facility, and no provision for cooking, these tiny houses advocate traditional simple living. This spartan lifestyle continues to define the Church Town, even now. - Sweden’s best-preserved Church Town, Gammelstad - Travelure ©
Imposing watchtowers dot the wall - Travelure ©

The Great Wall of China

Snake-like, it slithered along the undulating mountain ridge. Between relentless long stretches, watchtowers provided relief. But, only to the eyes. Not an easy stroll. - The Great Wall of China - Travelure ©
The picture postcard Taj! - Travelure ©

The Taj Mahal Agra India

A water channel with fountains that opens out into an enormous reflecting pool, leads you from Darwaza-i-rauza to the Taj. This pool does what humans couldn’t - duplicate the beauty of Taj in its reflection. - The Taj Mahal Agra India - Travelure ©
Illuminated Charles Bridge at blue hour - Travelure ©

Charles Bridge Prague Czech Republic

On this graceful epochal edifice of the Bridge Tower, it was a pity to see the terrible repair work. Despite regal decorations, the refurbishing seemed more an overhaul that a careful restoration. Still, UNESCO rightly lumped the bridge with the Old Town Centre of Prague to inscribe it on its World Heritage Sites List in 1992. - Charles Bridge Prague Czech Republic - Travelure ©
Lord Rama temples in Ayutthaya are sprinkled with Buddha statues today - Travelure ©

UNESCO Heritage Site Ayutthaya Thailand

Ayutthaya today is a historical park. What remains of this former capital tells a tale of glory and gore. While there, spare a thought for the fact it is a site of mass murder, rape, and enslavement of Siamese people. - UNESCO Heritage Site Ayutthaya Thailand - Travelure ©
Blue hour view of the Kremlin from Red Square - Travelure ©

Kremlin Red Square Moscow Russia

I grew up in the 1960s and 70s. At the height of the cold war. Before Gorbachev was the leader of Russia. The two oft-heard terms in the news were the ‘Kremlin’ and the ‘White House’. These hallowed precincts would smack out statements that affected world politics and economy. - Kremlin Red Square Moscow Russia - Travelure ©
The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London. This building houses the original instruments used by the 1st Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed. - Travelure ©

Royal Observatory Greenwich London

Let’s travel to that landmark where our planet comes full circle. And, East meets West. Beyond establishing the relative location of places on our planet, it provides the basis of relative time across the globe. I talk of the Prime Meridian. - Royal Observatory Greenwich London - Travelure ©
Golden-domed Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem - Travelure ©

Old City of Jerusalem Israel

The narrow lanes lined with petty trade and souvenirs. Manned by folks as old as the place. Bustle and buzz of a beehive. Canopied shop fronts forcing dim bulbs to light up a bright day. And I was a character in French Orientalist Charles Theodore Frere’s ‘The Souk’. - Old City of Jerusalem Israel - Travelure ©
Across the Golden Horn, to the right, you can see the Historic Areas of Istanbul - Travelure ©

Historic Areas of Istanbul Turkey

Straddling two continents, and between two seas, Istanbul enjoys a unique position. A European and an Asian side. A natural strait - Bosphorus - separates the two. Earlier going by the names Byzantium and Constantinople, it is home to over 15 million people. - Historic Areas of Istanbul - Travelure ©
My breakfast fare in Orkida - Travelure ©

Gaziantep Turkey – A UNESCO Gastronomy Creative City

In one room, over a dozen traditional chefs were at work. They were creating sheets of white flour, thinner than muslin. The room had a haze of flour. The rolling pins were a yard and a half long. These sheets were being sheared off the pins in delicate layers. And all this, happening on a table over 25 feet long! - Gaziantep Turkey - A UNESCO Gastronomy Creative City - Travelure ©
Floating Mosque, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo - Travelure ©

Proboscis Monkeys in Sabah Borneo

The joyous exclamations of successful captures punctuated the combined clickety-clack of our cameras. But the light was fading fast. The monkeys were slowing down... - Proboscis Monkeys in Sabah Borneo - Travelure ©
View of the gardens behind - Travelure ©

Eiffel Tower Paris France

You are born a deer with a lifespan of a mere 20 years. Along the way, you turn into a tortoise with a lifespan of 130 years and counting. Pray, you can only be Eiffel Tower! - Eiffel Tower Paris France - Travelure ©
Bastions and wall of Galle Fort - Travelure ©

Galle Fort Galle Sri Lanka

A few metres inside the fort, I found myself on a crossroads. I realised I had to be my own guide. I spotted a lighthouse. Being a sea lover, I chose to go that way. - Galle Fort, Galle, Sri Lanka - Travelure ©
Central Park, as viewed from the Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Building) - Travelure ©

Central Park New York City

It may now be a back-up water source, but it remains the crown jewel of the park’s expansive layout. Out of Central Park’s 315 hectares, it covers 43 hectares. Its perimeter is 2.5 kilometres. - Central Park New York City - Travelure ©
The triple-gabled Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in Temple of Heaven - Travelure ©

Temple of Heaven Beijing China

In the cool shade, I spotted a couple of sexagenarians. They were facing each other. Clasping each other’s arms, they moved in tandem. Their moves resembled part dance, part hand combat. A few seconds and I realised it was their morning workout - Tai Chi. - Temple of Heaven Beijing China - Travelure ©
Skulls break the monotony of a tibiae wall at the Catacombs Paris France - Travelure ©

The Catacombs Paris France

Insides of the Catacombs felt like a wine cellar. Cool, damp, and dark. Knowing what lay ahead made it eerie too. A short walk later we saw the first stack. Of human bones. - The Catacombs Paris France - Travelure ©
Really how tall is the World’s Tallest Building Burj Khalifa Dubai? To understand that, have a look at this image of the city of a 100 skyscrapers.

World’s Tallest Building Burj Khalifa Dubai

Khalifa means ‘leader’. An apt word to describe a structure that has broken most world records for architecture. Tallest. Highest. Longest. First. Most. These are only some of the superlatives used for this magical creation. The reason why I call it magical is that you can watch the sunset from the base of the building. Then, get into an elevator right to the top, and watch the sunset all over again. - World’s Tallest Building Burj Khalifa Dubai - Travelure ©
Gurukul children after their morning yoga session on a Ghat in Varanasi

Varanasi – The Grand Dame of India

For Hindus, Varanasi is a teleport to heaven. The belief is when you travel from here, you carry no baggage of Karma. You also achieve Moksha or freedom from the cycle of life and death. Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats are the portkeys. From here, the cremated rise to the heavens to join their ancestors... Varanasi - The Grand Dame of India - Travelure ©

Humayun Tomb New Delhi India

If Humayun Tomb were a man, he would be a 449-year old trendsetter. Affluent, disciplined, able-bodied, mature, suave, big-hearted, and attractive. Let us see why. - Humayun Tomb New Delhi India - Travelure ©
Simbel Wonder - Abu Simbel Egypt - Travelure ©

Simbel Wonder – Abu Simbel Egypt

In the 1960s, a team dismantled Abu Simbel into large stone blocks. Those blocks were then transported from their original location to a sandstone cliff - Simbel Wonder - Abu Simbel Egypt - Travelure ©
Aerial view of the World Peace Pagoda at Pokhara

Pokhara – The Jewel of Nepal

Yet, not all places in the Himalayas offer it all. But Pokhara? Well, it presents it all. Wrapped as a neat bundle. Complete with icing. And cherry topping. So, calling it our planet's landmark will not be wrong. - Pokhara - The Jewel of Nepal - Travelure ©

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