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    Pak Ou Caves, Laos
    The Pak Ou Caves have been visited by the Lao People since more than a thousand years. The caves are located at the banks of the River Mekong. The people are thought to have been worshipping a river spirit in the ancient times. After the spread of Buddhism throughout Southeast Asia, the caves became an important center for Buddhist pilgrims. If you happen to be on a holiday in Laos, make sure you take a visit here. On stepping foot in the caves, you will be surprised by a spectacular sight – the caves are adorned with thousands of statues of Buddha, large, small, mid sized – there are statues all over. Tham Ting – the lower cave . . . Tham Ting is the lower cave, and this is open to the air. The cave can be reached by climbing for a bit from the banks of the river. The good visibility in the caves makes the wonders of  [...]
    Posted at June 29th, 2011 in Buddhist Temples
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    Dargah Sharif, Ajmer
    Dargah Sharif, or the “Holy Shrine” is among the most significant Muslim shrines in India. Dargah means a shrine built over the tomb of a revered saint. The Dargah Sharif is considered sacred by both Muslims and Hindus, and is the tomb of Khwaja Moin – ud – din Chisti, who was a Sufi saint from Persia and worked hard for the upliftment and service of the downtrodden and poor. The Dargah is home to a huge entrance that has silver doors. The Mughal Rulers revered the Dargah and rulers from Humayun to Shah Jahan had participated in its architecture. The actual tomb of the saint is covered by a marble screen and a solver railing. The tomb itself is made of marble and has a gold plated dome. The annual Urs, or the death anniversary of the saint is observed for six days in the memory. When he was a hundred and fourteen years  [...]
    Posted at June 22nd, 2011 in Other Sacred Sites and Religious Art
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    Basilica of Our lady of Guadalupe
    The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is known by a number of alternate names, such as La Villa de Guadalupe, the Basilica de Guadalupe, New Basilica, La Ville de Guadalupe. It is situated at the boundaries of Mexico City. The Basilica is one of the most important places of Christian worship. It is one of the most significant pilgrimage locations for Roman Catholics. It is among the most visited religious spots in the world. Our Lady of Guadalupe is dedicated to the vision of the virgin that was said to have appeared to St Juan Diego, a convert from Aztec religion, in the sixteenth century. As related by popular sources, the Saint was on his way to his hometown from the city and had the vision of Our Lady of Guadalupe on 12 t h Dec, 1531. The Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan and addressed him in Nahuatl Language. Virgin Mary was  [...]
    Posted at June 15th, 2011 in Churches
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    Bodhgaya Temple – The Road to Enlightenment
    Bodhgaya is one of Buddhism’s most significant pilgrimage locations. The town has a notable position in connection with the origin of Buddhism and Gautam Buddha himself. It was here that Buddha is believed to have attained Nirvana or enlightenment. This is situated within the Mahabodhi temple complex. Bodhgaya was known previously as Bodhimanda, the literal meaning of which is “the ground beneath the Bodhi tree”. There are other names such as Uruvela, Sambodhi, Mahabodhi and Vajrasana also used to refer to this site. Along with Lumbini, Sarnath and Kashinagar, Bodhgaya is one of the four sites in India that are most important in connection to Buddhism. The UNESCO declared the Mahabodhi temple site a world heritage site in 2005. The History of Bodhgaya . . . The history of Bodhgaya is interesting. The Gautam Siddhartha, heir  [...]
    Posted at June 8th, 2011 in Buddhist Temples
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    Tarsus, Turkey
    Tarsus, Turkey is famous for its biblical association. It is the birthplace of St Paul the Apostle. The town is visited by a number of tourists and pilgrims. It is situated in the Cilicia prefecture, and is situated about twenty seven kilo meters from Mersin, which is in the east. St Paul the Apostle is said to have declared his pride for the city. At the time of his arrest in Jerusalem, he proudly said, “I am a Jew and a citizen of the city of Tarsis, Cilicia.” Tarsus has been a major trading port ever since 2300 BC. The city was home to none other than Cleopatra and Mark Antony in the 1st century BC. The city is a significant location for not only Christians, but Muslims as well. Apart from the archaeological significance, Tarsus is also known for being the once home of several cultures, including Roman, Byzantium and Ottoman. Tarsus  [...]
    Posted at June 1st, 2011 in Other Sacred Sites and Religious Art
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    Temple of Poseidon, Cape Sounion
    Cape Sounion is where the ancient Greek Temple of Poseidon is situated. According to the Greek mythology, Poseidon is the god of the sea. The shrine is perfectly located at a scenic coastal location. The temple of Poseidon is situated at the southern edge of the Attica peninsula. The temple is situated on the steep cliffs of the promontory that has the Aegean Sea surrounding it on three sides. There were two ancient temples in the city, one for Poseidon and another for Athena, of which only the foundations are to be seen. The Temple of Poseidon had been a great assistance to sailors in the ancient times. The axe shaped site is one of the best destinations for tourists who come here to enjoy the natural beauty and the architecture of the religious ruin. According to the precepts of ancient Greek religion, the elements of nature such  [...]
    Posted at May 25th, 2011 in Greek Temples
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    Tanah Lot
    Tanah Lot is a religious destination in the island of Bali, Indonesia. “Tanah Lot” is a phrase that is the Indonesian equivalent of “Old land”. The tourist location is one of the most popular in the country not only because of its religious significance, but also for the amazing natural beauty of this region. The Tanah Lot is situated in Tabanan regency, which is located close to thirty kilo meters from the Denpasar Town. The place has a temple built, which goes by the name “Pura Tanah Lot”. The rock temple is situated atop a rock that has sea water continuously washing it. The Pura Tanah Lot Temple can be seen only when the tide is low, as when it rises, a large rock blocks the temple. The temple dates back to the 15th century and was erected by a monk of the name of Niratha. The monk came across the beautiful area  [...]
    Posted at May 18th, 2011 in Other Sacred Sites and Religious Art
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    San Luigi dei Francesi
    It was Pope Clement VII, when he was Cardinal Giulio di Guiliano de Medici, that gave the order for the San Luigi dei Francesi to be constructed in 1518. The church was built as a seat for his cardinalship as well as to benefit the French community of Rome. The church came to be built at the asking and using the donations of Catherine de Medici, wife of King Henry II of France and also great niece to the Cardinal. She wanted a church built for the French in Rome, and donated funds. There was a tiny church at the site of San Luigi dei Francesi, known as Santa Maria, which was possessed by Medici family. This church was in turn previously home to the Baths of Agrippa and the Baths of Nero. Santa Maria served the French community for quite some time, and also had an infirmary hospital on the site of the church. Cardinal Guilio appointed  [...]
    Posted at May 11th, 2011 in Churches
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    Santa Maria Della Salute
    The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute ( Basilica of St. Mary of Health ),  is referred to commonly as just La Salute, is among the biggest churches in the city of Venice and is a minor basilica by status. It is located prominently at the crossroads of the Bacino di San Marco and the Grand Canal on the lagoon. Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is an octagonally shaped building that has a hundred thousand wooden piles in its make up. The Salute is built of marmorino ( marble dust covered bricks) and Istrian stone. The Basilica has a huge number of symbolic aspects related to Santa Maria. R crown is represented by the dome, while the womb by the cavernous interiors, and the eight sides of the octagon the eight points of the star. General Information . . . Names – La Salute Santa Maria della Salute; Location – Venice,  [...]
    Posted at May 4th, 2011 in Churches
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