Top 10 Tallest Buildings Of The World

10. Jin Mao Tower (Shanghai)
The Jin Mao Tower is 10th tallest skyscraper of the world. Jin Mao Tower literally “Golden Prosperity Building” is an 88-story landmark supertall skyscraper in the Lujiazui area of the Pudong district of Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. It contains offices and the Shanghai Grand Hyatt hotel. Until 2007 it was the tallest building in the PRC, the fifth tallest in the world by roof height and the seventh tallest by pinnacle height.

Top ten highest skyscrapers of the world, this list is ranked by structural height as vertical elevation from the base to the highest architectural or integral structural element of the building.
9. Trump International Hotel and Tower (Chicago)
The Trump International Hotel and Tower is 9th highest building of the world. The Trump International Hotel and Tower, also known as Trump Tower Chicago and locally as the Trump Tower, is a skyscraper condo-hotel in downtown Chicago, Illinois. The building, named after real estate developer Donald Trump, was designed by architect Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Bovis Lend Lease built the 92-story structure, which reached a height of 1,389 feet (423 m) including its spire, its roof topping out at 1,170 feet (360 m). It is adjacent to the main branch of the Chicago River, with a view of the entry to Lake Michigan beyond a series of bridges over the river. The building received publicity when the winner of the first season of The Apprentice television show, Bill Rancic, chose to manage the construction of the tower.

8. Guangzhou West Tower (Guangzhou)
Being 8th highest building Guangzhou West Tower is an extremely tall public building. The energy efficiency evaluation of its façade should be different than that of ordinary public buildings. Based on the national code GB50189-2005, “Design Standard for Energy efficiency of Public Buildings”, typical meteorological yearly data for Guangzhou were used and revised according to architectural character of Guangzhou West Tower. The energy efficiency design of a single skin facade and active airflow curtain wall was analyzed by a dynamic energy simulation tool and modified weather data. The payback period of initial investment in the facade system was evaluated based on simulation results. In addition, the results confirm the façade system scheme of Guangzhou West Tower.

7. Willis Tower (Chicago)
Willis Tower, formerly named Sears Tower, is a 108-story 1,451 feet (442 m) skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois. At the time of its completion in 1973, it was the tallest building in the world, surpassing the World Trade Center towers in New York. Currently, Willis Tower is the tallest building in the United States and the fifth-tallest freestanding structure in the world as well as the fifth tallest building in the world to the roof. Although Sears’ naming rights expired in 2003, the building continued to be called Sears Tower for several years. However, in March 2009 London-based insurance broker Willis Group Holdings, Ltd., agreed to lease a portion of the building and obtained the building’s naming rights as part of the agreement. On July 16, 2009, at 10:00 am Central Time, the building was officially renamed Willis Tower.

6. Nanjing Greenland Financial Center (Nanjing)
The Nanjing Greenland Financial Center is a 89-story, 450 meter (1500 foot) tall skyscraper being constructed in Nanjing, China. The tower is the fifth tallest building in the world and second tallest in china behind the Shanghai World Financial Center.The 72nd-story observation floor, at 287 meters (940 feet) off the ground, will offer a panoramic view of the city of Nanjing as well as the Yangtze River, the Ningzheng Ridge mountains and two nearby lakes.


5. Petronas Towers (Kuala Lumpur)
The Petronas Twin Towers (also known as the Petronas Towers or just Twin Towers), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia are twin towers and were the world’s tallest buildings, before being surpassed by Taipei 101. However, the towers are still the tallest twin buildings in the world. They were the world’s tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004 if measured from the level of the main entrance to the structural top, the original height reference used by the US-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat from 1969 (three additional height categories were introduced as the tower neared completion in 1996).

4. International Commerce Centre (Hong Kong)
International Commerce Centre is a 118 floor, 484 m (1,590 ft) skyscraper under construction in West Kowloon, Hong Kong; as part of the Union Square project built on top of Kowloon Station. The development is owned and jointly developed by MTR Corporation Limited and Sun Hung Kai Properties, Hong Kong’s metro operator and largest property developer respectively.

3. Shanghai World Financial Center (Shanghai)
Shanghai World Financial Center is a super-tall skyscraper in Pudong, Shanghai, China. It is a mixed use skyscraper which consists of offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and shopping malls on the ground floors. Park Hyatt Shanghai is the hotel component containing 174 rooms and suites. Occupying the 79th to the 93rd floors, it is the highest hotel in the world, surpassing the Grand Hyatt Shanghai on the 53rd to 87th floors of the neighboring Jin Mao Tower.

2. Taipei 101 (Taipei)
Taipei 101 also known as the Taipei Financial Center, is a landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building was the tallest building in the world (with occupiable floors) until it was surpassed in height by the Burj Khalifa on July 21, 2007. The skyscraper was officially the tallest building until the opening of the Burj Khalifa on the 4 of January 2010.

1. Burj Khalifa (Dubai)
Burj Khalifa formerly known as Burj Dubai, is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and the tallest man-made structure ever built, at 828 m (2,717 ft). Construction began on 21 September 2004, with the exterior of the structure completed on 1 October 2009. The building officially opened on 4 January 2010. The building is part of the 2 km2 (490-acre) flagship development called Downtown Burj Khalifa at the “First Interchange” along Sheikh Zayed Road, near Dubai’s main business district. The total cost for the Burj Khalifa project was about US$1.5 billion. The tower’s architecture and engineering were performed by Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill of Chicago. Adrian Smith, who worked with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill until 2006, was the chief architect, and Bill Baker was the chief structural engineer for the project. The primary contractor was Samsung C&T of South Korea, who also built the Taipei 101 and Petronas Twin Towers.

10 most expensive dogs in the world

the world's 10 most expensive dog breeds

10– Akita


The Akita Inu is a Japanese breed of large dog. Named for Akita Prefecture, where it is thought to have originated, it is sometimes called the Akita-ken based on the Sino-Japanese reading of the same kanji
Price : $1,500 – $4,500

9 – Bearded Collie

The Bearded Collie, or Beardie, is a herding breed of dog once used mainly by Scottish shepherds, but now mostly a accepted family buddy.
An average Bearded Collie weighs 40–60 pounds (18–27 kg) and is 20–22 inches (51–56 cm) tall.
Price: $1,000 and $5,000


8 – Pharaoh Hound

The Pharaoh Hound is the national pursue of the Mediterranean nation of Malta. Its local name is Kelb tal-Fenek in Maltese, which means "rabbit hound". The dog is the traditional hunting buddy of Maltese outdoorsmen.
It stands between 21 to 25 inches at the withers and weighs between 40 to 60 lbs. Males are typically larger than females.
Price: $2,500 – $6,500

7 – Tibetan Mastiff

The Tibetan Mastiff (Do-khyi) is an very old breed and type of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) originating with nomadic cultures of Central Asia.
Price : $2,200 – $7,000.

6 – Rottweiler


The Rottweiler is a medium to large size breed of domestic dog that originated in Rottweil, Germany. The dogs were known as "Rottweil butchers' dogs" (German: Rottweiler Metzgerhund) because they were used to herd livestock and pull carts laden with butchered meat and other products to market.
Price : $2,000 – $8,000

5 – Chow Chow

Chow chow is a breed of dog that was developed in China, where it is referred to as Songshi Quan, which literally means "puffy-lion dog".
Price : $3,000 – $8,500

4 – English Bulldog

The good Ole English Bulldog or ‘British Bulldog’ as it’s known in the UK
Price: $2,500 – $9,000

3 – Samoyed

The Samoyed dog takes its name from the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia. An alternate name for the breed, especially in Europe, is Bjelkier. These nomadic reindeer herders bred the fluffy, white dogs to help with the herding, to pull sleds when they moved.
Price: $4,000 – $11,000


2 – Cavalier King Charles Spanie

The world’s one of the most expensive dogs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed of Spaniel-type dog, and is classed as a toy dog by most kennel clubs. It is one of the most popular breeds in the United Kingdom. Since 2000, it has been growing in popularity in the United States. It is a smaller breed of spaniel, and Cavalier adults are often the same size as adolescent dogs of other spaniel breeds. It has a silky coat and commonly an undocked tail. The breed standard recognizes four colours (Blenheim, Tricolour [black/white/tan], Black and Tan, and Ruby). The breed is generally friendly, affectionate and good with both children and other animals.
Price: $1,000 – $14,000 .

1 – German Sheppard 

The German Shepherd Dog, also known as an Alsatian is a breed of large-sized dog that originated in Germany. The German shepherd is a relatively new breed of dog, with its origin dating to 1899. As part of the Herding Group, the German Shepherd is a working dog developed originally for herding and guarding sheep. Because of its strength, intelligence and abilities in obedience training it is often employed in police and military roles around the world.
Price: $3,000 – $24,000

World’s 7 Best Cities to Live

From Asia to the U.S. and Europe, there are hundreds of cities that constantly attract new residents, thanks to low crime rates, quality of life and many other factors. Spending the past few years moving from one city to another, I’ve had my fair share of scouting for new nesting ground. Having picked up a trick or two on where’s best and where’s not, here’s my own list of 10 best cities to live based on my own likings and experiences.

1. Melbourne, Australia

This vibrant city at the Southern end of Australia is a treasure trove of beaches, seaside esplanades and quirky antique shops. Edgy urbanites co-exist with aboriginal culture in a city that grooves with urban culture. Melbourne is just an hour away from the Great Ocean Road, a stretch of coastal cliffs bursting with wildlife and hiking trails. The Grampians mountain range are also just several hours’ drive away. It’s definitely my favorite city in Australia, just be careful, you might never want to leave.

2. Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona: progressive, new-age, explosive and colorful. The hip crowd can hang around the beach at Barceloneta, while the artistic ones can mingle around works of Gaudi. Barcelona, best experienced on a hop on hop off Barcelona bus tour, is a sprawling city with the conveniences that every cosmopolitan city has, yet it has completely come to its own.
Spain might not be ranking tops in the European ranking of infrastructure or GDP, but everyone who’s been there knows about the immeasurable quality of life. The three most important things in life for the Spaniards – cerveza (beer), siesta and fiesta.

3. Singapore

Coming in at number 1 in Mercer’s 2009 Worldwide Infrastructure Ranking, Singapore is definitely one of the best places to live in Asia. There’s not just low crime rate, but also excellent connection with the world, good career opportunities, high standard of living and a cosmopolitan lifestyle. Urbanites who like living in a metropolis will definitely appreciate the vibrant nightlife and entertainment establishments available. Being a bilingual nation also helps a foreigner get by easily.

 

4. Prague, Czech Republic

One of my favorite cities in Europe- Prague is cheaper than most west European countries, but has equally stunning architecture, historical monuments and rich culture. In terms of security and stability, it is also on par with its neighbors. The weak currency makes cost of living here much lower as well- an important point to consider when relocating. The proximity to neighboring Germany and Austria also make it a good base to explore the area.

5. Dubai, UAE

Ranking as the top Middle Eastern city in the quality of life index,  Dubai has been an expatriate-hub in the recent years. Plenty of friends looking to work abroad are seeking out opportunities in Dubai and it looks like they’re doing better than before. Quoted as ‘the fastest growing city in the world’, Dubai is now home to the tallest building, largest man-made marina and the most luxurious hotel in the world. Adventure seekers can also head out to nearby sand dunes to surf in the sand.

6. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is the most influential city in the whole of South America, despite its economic debacle in 2002. Stretching from old neighborhood like San Telmo to the swanky riverside zone of Puerto Madero. the city holds on to its history and culture like no other. Littered with gorgeous architecture, melancholic tango bars and antique shops, Buenos Aires is reminiscent of Europe, yet completely its own. A unique place to live and smell culture, this is the perfect place to live for art lovers who seek a bohemian lifestyle.

7. Seattle, U.S.

Surrounded by magnificent mountain range, Seattle is said to be one of the best residential cities in the U.S. Being the 13th largest metropolitan area in the States, it’s neither too big nor too small. Temperatures are also milder here, which means comfortable winters and summers. There’s a vibrant music scene and plenty of outdoors options from boating to hiking. For housing costs, check out Seattle property management.

Top 10: World’s Most Wanted Criminals on basis of Apr 2010



These are considered the worst of the worst. From terrorists to crime lords and maybe even an illegal weapons dealer (I dunno, haven’t written that far yet) these guys are wanted on an international level.

10. Omid Tahvili- Crime Boss

Don’t be fooled by his jovial, happy-go-lucky photograph. Born in Tehran, Iran,Omid Tahvili is the kingpin of an Iranian organized crime family in Canada. Tahvili’s family is connected to various international crime organizations. In April 2008, he was listed as one of the world’s most wanted fugitives.

9. James “Whitey” Bulger- Crime Boss

In 1999, Bulger was added to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The alleged leader of the Winter Hill Gang, a Irish-American crime family, he is currently wanted for racketeering, murder, conspiracy to commit murder, extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion, money laundering, conspiracy to commit money laundering and narcotics distribution. In October 2007 he became wanted by Interpol.

8. Joseph Kony- Human Rights Violator/Dictator Wannabe

Joseph Kony is the head of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a guerrilla group that is engaged in a violent campaign to establish theocratic government in Uganda. Contrary to Christian teachings however, the LRA earned a reputation for its actions against the people of northern Uganda.
Estimates state that the LRA has abducted an estimated 30,000 children and displaced 1.6 million people since its rebellion began in 1986. Currently Kony is wanted internationally for Human Rights violations and is hiding in a jungle somewhere in Africa.

7. Felicien Kabuga- Bankrolling Genocide

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda issued an international arrest warrant for Kabuga in August 1999. He was charged with genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, and complicity in genocide.
According to June 2008 reports by a blogger calling himself African Press International (API), Kabuga was in hiding in Oslo, and might be seeking to turn himself in. So far there has been no real luck in locating him.

6. Matteo Messina Denaro- Mafia Boss

Matteo Messina Denaro is a Sicilian mafioso. He is thought to be one of the new leaders of Cosa Nostra replacing Bernardo Provenzano who was arrested in 2006. He has been a fugitive since 1993.

5. Dawood Ibrahim- Terrorist/Mafia Boss

Dawood Ibrahim is accused of an illegal empire. After the 1993 Bombay bombings, Ibrahim became India’s most wanted man.It is thought that Ibrahim maintains close links with al-Qaida’s Osama bin Laden.
The United States declared Dawood Ibrahim a “global terrorist” in 2003 and pursued the matter before the United Nations in an attempt to freeze his assets around the world and crack down on his operations.
It’s not just the U.S. that’s after him either- Indian and Russian intelligence agencies have implicated Ibrahim in several other terror attacks, including the November 2008 Mumbai attacks.

4. Alimzhan Tokhtakhunov- Organized Crime and Figure Skating Fixing

One of the biggest crimes associated with this guy is his name…WOW. Alimzhan Tursunovich Tokhtakhunov is a businessman and suspected criminal.
ATT (It’s just easier that way) is accused in relations with organized crime and bribing of figure skating judges in the 2002 Winter Olympics. His nickname is “Taiwanchik.”

3.Joaquín Guzmán Loera – Crime Lord

Joaquín Guzmán Loera nicknamed “El Chapo” is a Mexican drug lord who heads the drug trafficking organization referred to as the Sinaloa Cartel. He became Mexico’s top drug kingpin in 2003 at the age of 46.

2. Alfonso Cano- Guerrilla Leader

Colombia’s Administrative Department of Security issued warrants through Interpol to 179 countries for Cano.There is also a reward of up to US$500,000 for any information leading to the arrest of the FARC leader. The RARC-EP is a group of Colombian rebels responsible for distention and several score of human rights violations.

1. Osama bin Laden- World Enemy #1

Wanted by the US since 2001 in connection with a whole shopping list of various terrorist activities, bin Laden is World Enemy #1. It is thought that he is in hiding in Afghanistan or possibly Pakistan. The harsh truth is he could be in Akron, Ohio for all the stumbling that’s been going on finding this guy.

10 Most Amazing Temples in the World

More than a quarter of all people in the world belong to Eastern religions, which include Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism. These people worship in temples, which are architecturally as diverse as the religions are different from each other. From the ancient ruins of Ankor Wat to the distinctly modern Wat Rong Khun, there are hundreds if not thousands of amazing temples in the world.
I have long been fascinated by the temples and sacred sites of Eastern religions. After doing an article on some amazing churches from around the world (10 Divinely Designed Churches), it’s only right that we do a follow up on the ten most fascinating temples in Asia. Here they are, in no particular order:

Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Tiger’s Nest Monastery, perched precariously on the edge of a 3,000-feet-high cliff in Paro Valley, is one of the holiest places in Bhutan. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche [wiki], the second Buddha, flew onto the cliff on the back of a tigress, and then meditated in a cave which now exists within the monastery walls.
The monastery, formally called Taktshang Goemba, was built in 1692 and reconstructed in 1998 after a fire. Now, the monastery is restricted to practicing Buddhists on religious retreats and is off-limits to ordinary tourists.

Image: Leo Palmer Photography

Image: Douglas J. McLaughlin [wikipedia]

Wat Rong Khun

Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Rai, Thailand is unlike any Buddhist temples in the world. The all-white, highly ornate structure gilded in mosaic mirrors that seem to shine magically, is done in a distinctly contemporary style. It is the brainchild of renowned Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat.
Actually, the temple is still under construction. Chalermchai expects it will take another 90 years to complete, making it the Buddhist temple equivalent of the Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona, Spain!

Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple. Image: majorbonnet [Flickr]

Wat Rong Khun, from a distance. Image: AraiGordai [Flickr]

Details of the temple roof. Image: AraiGordai [Flickr]

The ornately detailed arches. Image: Alicia Lim [Flickr]

Buddha sculpture, gilded with mosaic mirrors. Image: majorbonnet [Flickr]

The hands of hell want your change. Image: pim [Flickr]

Prambanan

Prambanan is a Hindu temple in Central Java, Indonesia. The temple was built in 850 CE, and is composed of 8 main shrines and 250 surrounding smaller ones.

Nearly all the walls of the temple are covered in exquisite bas relief carvings, which narrate stories of Vishnu’s incarnations, adventures of Hanuman the Monkey King, the Ramayana [wiki] epic and other legends.

Though not the biggest temple in Indonesia (Borobudur is larger – see below), Prambanan makes up in beauty and grace for what it lacks in size.

Prambanan’s main complex. Image: Rosino [Flickr]

Six of Prambanan’s eight main shrines. Image: kashikar [Flickr]

Prambanan at night. Image: Tierecke [Flickr]

Bas-Relief at Prambanan. Image: Jungle_Boy [Flickr]

Shwedagon Pagoda

No one knows exactly when the Shwedagon Paya [wiki] (or Pagoda) in Myanmar was built – legend has it that it is 2,500 years old though archaeologists estimate that it was built between the 6th and 10th century.

Now, when people say "golden temple" they usually mean that the structure is golden in color. But when it comes to the Shwedagon Pagoda, golden literally means covered in gold! In the 15th century, a queen of the Mon people donated her weight in gold to the temple. This tradition continues until today, where pilgrims often save for years to buy small packets of gold leafs to stick to the temple walls.

As if all that gold wasn’t enough, the spire of the stupa or dome is covered with over 5,000 diamonds and 2,000 rubies (there’s even a 76 carat diamond at the very tip!). And oh, the temple housed one of the holiest relics in Buddhism: eight strands of Buddha’s hair.

Shwedagon Pagoda and its golden stupa. Image: Dust Mason [Flickr]

Shwedagon Pagoda at night. Image: M.Bob [Flickr]

Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven [wiki] is a Taoist temple in Beijing, the capital of China. The temple was constructed in 14th century by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (who also built the Forbidden City) as his personal temple, where he would pray for good harvest and to atone for the sins of his people.

The Temple’s architecture is quite interesting: everything in the temple, which represents Heaven, is circular whereas the ground levels, which represent the Earth, are square.

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest at the Temple of Heaven, Beijing.
Image: Saad Akhtar [wikipedia]

Close up of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, Temple of Heaven.
Image: star5112 [Flickr]

Details of the roof of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. Image: werklife [Flickr]

Ceiling of the Imperial Vault, Temple of Heaven. Image: Carol^-^ [Flickr]

Chion-in Temple

Chion-in Temple [wiki] was built in 1234 CE to honor the founder of Jodo (Pure Land) Buddhism, a priest named Honen, who fasted to death in the very spot. At one point in time, the complex had 21 buildings but due to earthquakes and fire, the oldest surviving building is from the 17th century.

Visitors to the Chion-in Temple must first pass through the largest gate in Japan: the two-story San-mon Gate. The temple bell is also a record setter: it weighs 74 tons and needs 17 monks to ring it during the New Year celebrations.

Another interesting feature of the Chion-in Temple is the "singing" floor of the Assembly Hall. Called a uguisu-bari or nightingale floor, the wooden planks were designed to creak at every footstep to alert the monks of intruders!

Chion-in Temple’s Main Gate. Image: tgamblin [Flickr]

A building in the Chion-in Temple complex in winter time. Image: psychofish [Flickr]

Details of the Chion-in Temple roof. Notice a feudal family’s crest stamped on the roof tiles, as a symbol of their patronage. Image: kuribo [Flickr]

Chion-in’s Temple Bell. Image: Richard Seaman

The Nightingale Floor construction. Image: rygriffin333 [Flickr]

Borobudur

In the 19th century, Dutch occupiers of Indonesia found a massive ancient ruin deep in the jungles of Java. What they discovered was the complex of Borobudur, a gigantic structure built with nearly 2 million cubic feet (55,000 m³) of stones. The temple has nearly 2,700 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.

Until today, no one knows for sure when and why it was built, nor the reason for its complete abandonment hundreds of years ago. Some scholars believe that Borobudur is actually a giant textbook of Buddhism, as its bas reliefs tell the story of the life of Buddha and the principles of his teachings. To "read," a pilgrim must make his way through nine platforms and walk a distance of over 2 miles.

Aerial view of Borobudur. Image: Kenyon College

Image: hceebee [Flickr]

Image: elbisreverri [Flickr]

Image: susan catherine [Flickr]

The upper level of Borobudur. Image: kashikar [Flickr]

Inside each of the lattice stupa is a Buddha statue. Image: Jin Aili [Flickr]

A bas relief in Borobudur. Image: lizamber [Flickr]

Golden Temple

The Harmandir Sahib (meaning The Abode of God) or simply the Golden Temple [wiki] in Punjab, India is the most sacred shrine of Sikhism. For the Sikhs, the Golden Temple symbolizes infinite freedom and spiritual independence.

The site of the Temple began with a small lake that was so peaceful that even Buddha came there to meditate. Thousands of years later, Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism also lived and meditate by the lake.

Construction of the Golden Temple began in the 1500s, when the fourth Guru of Sikhism enlarged the lake that became Amritsar or Pool of the Nectar of Immortality, around which the temple and the city grew. The Temple itself is decorated with marble sculptures, gilded in gold, and covered in precious stones.

Golden Temple, from a distance. Image: Saurabh C [Flickr]

The Golden Temple of Amristar. Image: Saurabh C [Flickr]

The Golden Temple of Amritsar at night. Image: Saurabh C [Flickr]

Image: Saurabh C [Flickr]

Vishnu Temple of Srirangam

The Temple of Srirangam (Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple [wiki]), in the Indian city of Tiruchirapalli (or Trichy), is the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world (Ankor Wat is the largest of all temple, but it is currently non-functioning as a temple – see below).

The temple is dedicated to Vishnu, one of three Gods in Hinduism. Legend has it that a long time ago, a sage rested and put down a statue of Vishnu reclining on a great serpent. When he was ready to resume his journey, he discovered that the statue couldn’t be moved, so a small temple was built over it. Over centuries, the temple "grew" as larger ones were built over the existing buildings.

The temple complex is massive: it encompasses an area of over 150 acres (63 hectares) with seven concentric walls, the outermost being about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long! The walls demarcate enclosures within enclosures, each more sacred than the next, with the inner-most enclosure is forbidden to non-Hindus.

The Temple of Srirangam is famous for its gopurams or entrances beneath colorful pyramids. The temple has 21 gopurams total, with the largest one having 15 stories and is nearly 200 feet (60 m) tall.

Temple of Srirangam, with its colorful gopurams. Image: licinivs [Flickr]

The largest gopuram of the Temple of Srirangam. Image: Subash Chandran [Flickr]

The carved pillars in the Srirangam Temple complex. Image: appaji [Flickr]

Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Bayon

Last but definitely not least is the largest temple in history and the inspiration to countless novels and action movies of Hollywood: Ankor Wat.

Angkor Wat [wiki] was built in the early 12th century in what is now Cambodia. The world famous temple was first a Hindu one, dedicated to Vishnu. In the 14th or 15th century, as Buddhism swept across Asia, it became a Buddhist temple.

The Western world’s got a glimpse of Angkor Wat when a 16th century Portuguese monk visited the temple and eloquently described it as "of such extraordinary construction that it is not possible to describe it with a pen, particularly since it is like no other building in the world. It has towers and decoration and all the refinements which the human genius can conceive of." His words still rang true today.

Tourists visiting Angkor Wat usually also visit the nearby ruins of Angkor Thom and Bayon [wiki], two fantastic temples that serve as the ancient capital of Khmer empire.

Angkor Wat. Image: jpslim [Flickr]

The face of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara at Angkor Thom.
Image: Manfred Werner [wikipedia]

Bayon, which described by Maurice Glaize, an Angkor conservator of the 1940s, as "but a muddle of stones, a sort of moving chaos assaulting the sky"
Image: Charles J. Sharp [wikipedia]

Entrance to Bayon. That man on the bike is carrying coconuts. Lots and lots of coconuts. Image: therefromhere [Flickr]

The faces of Bayon. Straight out of Indiana Jones, man!
Image: Henry Flower [wikipedia]

Bonus:

Here are some more amazing temples and sacred places that just couldn’t fit in the list above:

Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple

Potala Palace [wiki], built on top of the Red Mountain in Lhasa, Tibet, China was built by the first emperor of Tibet in 637 CE. The current palace was re-constructed in the mid-1600s by the fifth Dalai Lama.

The Palace consists of two main buildings, the Potrang Karpo (White Palace) and Portrang Marpo (Red Palace). It was the chief home of the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama until he was forced to flee to India when China invaded Tibet in 1959. It is now a state museum.

Potala Palace. Image: Press Club of Tibet

The White Palace. Image: vwsluk [Flickr]

Jokhan Temple [wiki] is the spiritual center of Lhasa and is considered the most important and sacred temple in Tibet. The temple was built in 642 CE and has since housed the single most venerated object in Tibetan Buddhism: a statue of Gautama Buddha [wiki], the founder of Buddhism.

The city of Lhasa has three concentric paths that pilgrims use to walk to Jokhang Temple. Many actually prostrate themselves along these routes in order to gain spiritual merit!

Jokhang Temple. Image: The boy with the thorn in his side [Flickr]

The courtyard of the Jokhang Temple. Image: polymerchicken [Flickr]

Two golden deers flanking a Dharma Wheel and a golden bell at the roof of Jokhang Temple. Image: satellite360 [Flickr]

Pilgrims prostrate themselves in front of Jokhang. Image: thriol [Flickr]

Varanasi

Varanasi in India is not a temple, but ais ctually a famous Hindu holy city, located at the banks of the Ganges River. It is, however, often called the "City of Temples," where almost every road crossing has a nearby temple. A center of pilgrimage (as many as a million pilgrims visit Varanasi each year), the city has links to Buddhism and Jainism as well.

Sunrise at the Ganges River in Varanasi. Image: ironmanix [Flickr]

Temples are everywhere in Varanasi. Image: juicyrai [Flickr]

Pilgrims believe that bathing in the Ganges River will cleanse them of sins.