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 ©
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 ©
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 ©
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 ©
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 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 ©
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 ©
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 ©
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 ©
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 ©
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 ©
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 ©
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 ©
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 ©
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 ©
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 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 ©
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 ©
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 ©
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 ©
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
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 ©
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 ©