The continent of Asia boasts thousands of majestic architectural marvels that are a testament to the continent’s rich and illustrious culture and history. These wonders range from centuries old temples and kingdoms to trailblazing skyscrapers that reach for the skies. That is why tourists from all over the globe travel to Asia, visiting different major cities and countries, to get a glimpse and take in the beauty of these amazing structures and monuments.
If you are a big fan of architecture, or just interested in seeing these marvellous sights, you should definitely take a trip to one of Asia’s wonderful countries. To help you in choosing your next holiday destination, here is a list of the best architectural wonders that the continent of Asia has to offer. A gentle reminder that this list is based on my knowledge and opinion and is of course subjective, and the best way for you to know and enjoy the true beauty of these sites is by visiting them to experience it for yourself.
TAJ MAHAL
First on the list is considered to be one of the world’s enduring monuments and grand gestures of pure love, the Taj Mahal. Found in Agra, India is one of the most ambitious architectural marvels ever designed in the world and one of the country’s most visited tourist landmarks. The colossal structure was commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahah, in memory of his third wife and his greatest love as seen in historical records, Mumtaz Mahal. It is an immense ivory-white marble mausoleum built by over 20,000 artisans under the guidance and the design of a board of architects led by the emperor’s court architect, Ustad Ahmad Lahori.
Taj Mahal means “Crown Palace” and is in fact the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tomb in the world. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, it was considered as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”, truly an unparalleled grandeur that depicts the sheer opulence of an era. The Taj Mahal showcases the design traditions of Indo-Islamic architecture incorporating early Mughal architecture, becoming the forefront of the intricate architectural style and regarded as one of its best examples, a symbol of India’s rich history.
The imposing marble dome that surmounts the tomb is the structure’s most spectacular feature, often called an onion dome because of its shape, decorated on top with a lotus design which accentuates the height of the dome. The minarets, which are the tall slender towers that are found on the four corners of the site, are more than 40 metres each and display the designer’s penchant for symmetry. The emperor instructed that a great number of his semi-precious stones be inlaid into the white marble of the main mausoleum, which then made the structure sparkle like a jewel in the moonlight, making the structure to be true to its name as the “Crown Palace”. Tourists would tell stories about how the Taj Mahal has a lie of its own that leaps out of the marble, truly a masterpiece of art and science in an era called the Mughal Period.
ANGKOR WAT
This next destination is for scholars and tourists who are fond of studying about ancient civilizations and historical monuments. Angkor Wat is a temple comlex located roughly five kilometres north of Siam Reap, a modern Cambodian city. It served as the seat and capital of what once was known as the Khmer empire, one of the largest, most prosperous, and most sophisticated kingdoms in the history of Southeast Asia that ruled, from the early 8th century up until the early 13th century, much of what is now known as Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
The word “Angkor” means “capital city” in the language of the Khmer, while the word “Wat” means “temple. Initially it was designed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the gods Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu, with religious motifs derived from Hinduism scattered throughout the structure. However it was considered as a Buddhist site by the end of the 12th century. The construction of the capital took place over 28 years. Angkor Wat lost its significance around the 13th century but it was never truly abandoned, but it fell gradually into a state of disuse and disrepair.
In 1992 the Angkor complex, which included Angkor Wat, was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site and was immediately added to the list of World Heritage in Danger.
Throughout the ensuing years, with the diligent efforts of restoration, Angkor was removed from the danger list around 2004. Now Angkor Wat is one of the most important pilgrimage shrines in Southeast Asia, along with Borobudur in Indonesia and the Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar. A visit here would surely let you witness an ancient magical, spiritual place.
BURJ KHALIFA
If cutting-edge and modern is more up your alley this next skyscraper will surely inspire and excite you. From the City of Gold known as Dubai we get to witness a massive architectural marvel known to the world as Burj Khalifa. This colossal tower, with a total height of 2,722 feet and more than 160 stories, has been the tallest building and structure in the world since its inauguration in 2010, taking the title from the previous holder of the status, Taipei 101. Now that’s three times as tall as the Eiffel Tower in Paris,France and nearly twice as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City, USA.
Burj Khalifa was envisioned and designed by the firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill with a team led by American architect Adrian Smith, the same firm that designed another previous record holder of the world’s tallest building, the Sears Tower in Chicago. Bringing the tower to life required a fusion of visionary ideals and solid science to back it up, with that the project broke and amassed more than one world records aside from being the tallest in the world it is also the tallest free-standing structure in the world, with the world’s highest occupied floor and the highest outdoor observation deck in the world at that time, and a lot more.
One of the best times to visit Burj Khalifa is during New Year’s Eve, since an annual event known to many as Emaar New Year’s Eve is held here. The celebration shows one-of-a-kind and awe-inspiring fireworks accompanied by a sound and light show choreographed by The Dubai Fountain. The elevator experience here is also surely one-of-a-kind since the time that the Burj Khalifa elevator takes to reach the observation deck on the 124th floor is only one minute, that means that the elevator speed is 10 metres per second, making the elevators among the fastest in the world. Now that is an amazing experience for sure.
LOTUS TEMPLE
Last on the list but surely not the least is the sacred Baha’i House of Worship, the Lotus Temple. This temple is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the national capital, found sheltered in the heart of South Delhi, far away from the commotion of the bustling Chandni Chowk. The Lotus Temple is one of the eight Houses of Worship of the Baha’i.
One of the most amazing and unique facts about this temple is that it is open to everyone, and I mean every single one of us, regardless of the person’s religious background, gender and other similar distinctions. Once inside the prayer hall of this marvellous structure guests and pilgrims are allowed to chant prayers and scriptures of any religion. Upon entering the complex you could see verdant turfs dominating the landscape helping set a solemn and calming atmosphere for the holy site.
The Lotus Temple is circular in shape with nine sides and nine entrances, this is inspired by the reverence of the Baha’i faith in the mystical properties of the number nine. The temple is also encircled by nine ponds as well. A lot of tourists and visitors agree that the temple’s beauty is best appreciated from its exterior, however what’s remarkable to see in the interior is how this cavernous white enclosure has no visible pillar nor beams to support, topped with a glass roof to let the natural light in giving a more solemn vibe.
FINAL THOUGHTS
And that’s our list for today! I hope you get the chance to visit at least one of these magnificent and awe-inspiring architectural wonders on your next holiday getaway. If you are looking for something to play while travelling you might want to check spingenie.com out. Have a fun adventure!