16 Temples That Have Survived the Sands of Time
Temples are not only architectural marvels but living history of culture and devotion. These sacred sites have stood through generations, seeing time push forward through generation after generation across the world. They endure natural disasters, wars, and neglect, telling hints of the ingenuity, and faith that formed them.
Every structure has a story to tell about civilizations that have long since passed. Let’s look at some of these amazing temples that have lasted through the centuries.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument ever built. This Hindu Buddhist temple built by the Khmer architect in the 12th century is one of the Hindu intrigues. Its clear on bas reliefs show scenes from Hindu epics and its towers symbolize the five peaks of Mount Meru, the center of the universe in Hindu mythology. For all its centuries of overgrowth and abandonment, Angkor Wat still serves as a symbol of Cambodia’s heritage.
The Parthenon, Greece
A beacon for classical architecture, the Parthenon perched on Greece’s Acropolis in Athens. The fourth-century BCE temple was dedicated to Athena, which was the city’s patron goddess. The optical illusion in its design is what makes this temple awe-inspiring because its columns lean slightly inward to appear perfectly straight from a distance. Surviving wars and explosions, the Parthenon still attracts millions wondering its timeless beauty.
Borobudur, Indonesia
Borobudur rises majestically from the jungles of Java at a height of 50 meters. The Final resting place for thousands of Maya elite, this stepped pyramid is covered with over 2,600 relief panels, the largest narrative sequence in the world. Borobudur is a massive mandala designed as a metaphor for the way to enlightenment. Rediscovered under volcanic ash in the 19th century, and most recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s a draw for the pilgrim as well as the curious traveler.
Stonehenge, England
For centuries, Stonehenge has fascinated the imaginations, though its purpose is a mystery. This prehistoric stone circle was built almost 4,000 years ago and is often linked to ancient rituals as well as astronomical observations. It was aligned, scholars believe, to track the solstices. Time and erosion conspire, but its enduring mystery continues to hold nearly a million people each year in thrall.
Karnak Temple, Egypt
A monumental temple, Karnak in Luxor was dedicated to the gods of old Egypt. Its sheer scale is mind-boggling: constructed over 2,000 years by pharaoh after pharaoh. Most awe-inspiring of all is the Hypostyle Hall which has three hundred and thirty-four towering pillars, some ninety feet high. It is not only a temple, it is a huge story of Egyptian history carved in stone.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is more than a temple, it’s an entire city, high in the Andes. This mountaintop maven, rising up from the valley below into the sky is one of the Inca Empire’s gold needle masterpieces from the 15th century and includes terraced fields, intricate stonework, temples including the Intihuatana (said to have been an astronomical clock), and more. Machu Picchu has already become a must-see on the bucket lists of adventurers and historians having been rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.
Hagia Sophia, Turkey
Once a Byzantine cathedral, an Ottoman mosque, and now a museum turned mosque, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is that site that has epitomized the history of architectural evolution. Its massive dome is built to float on light streaming through its windows and was built in 537 CE. The story of cultural fusion is told through centuries old blend of Christian mosaics and Islamic calligraphy.
Prambanan, Indonesia
A Hindu temple complex in central Java, Prambanan, is almost as grand as Borobudur. Located in Dadeldhura, it was built in the 9th century and its towering spires are dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Ancient legends still speak the carvings on the panels in great detail telling us episodes from Ramayana. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have not yet stopped Prambanan from being a site of worship and celebration.
Temple of Heaven, China
Beijing’s Temple of Heaven is as elegant as it is symbolically and symmetrical. It is a building from the early centuries of the 15th century, which was used as a sacrificial place where emperors, in particular, prayed for good harvests. A triple-gabled roof, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is a Ming dynasty masterpiece. It’s also an early example of ancient Chinese knowledge of acoustics and geometry.
Guatemala, Tikal
More than 1,200 years ago, Tikal was a bristling Mayan city, hidden deep in the Guatemalan rainforest. Temples IV of its pyramids tower some 130 feet above ground with fantastic views of the jungle canopy. Tikal’s possible long history is only partially uncovered beneath the surface, where archaeologists estimate we’ve seen only a fraction of the site so far.
Ellora Caves, India
Ellora Caves is a stunning collection of rock-cut temples of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. One such of the most famous is the Kailasa Temple, carved out of a single monolithic rock in the 8th century. Experts are still puzzled by it, it’s a feat of engineering. All of these are a snapshot of ancient Indian artistry and devotion.
Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand
Thailand’s spiritual heart is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or Wat Phra Kaew. This 18th-century temple is located within the Grand Palace in Bangkok and is home to a revered jade Buddha statue. Thailand’s finest artwork is decorated with intricate murals and the golden pagodas.
Horyu-ji, Japan
One of the oldest wooden buildings in the world is Horyu-ji, in Nara. A centerpiece of Buddhist culture in Japan built between the 7th century. In a golden hall and pagoda the temple reflects early architectural styles of East Asia and through photography is a window into a bygone era.
Abu Simbel, Egypt
Ramses II carved twin temples into a mountainside high above the fertile land of Nubia, which are engineering marvels. The sun shines on the inner sanctum of the larger temple twice a year when it aligns perfectly with the sun. Arguably, a shining example of early precision and modern ingenuity is relocated in the 1960s to prevent submersion for the Aswan Dam, Abu Simbel.
Ta Prohm, Cambodia
Ta Prohm is one of those temples famous for its cinematic appearance as it is one of the temples that embrace nature and history together. Its walls are embraced by giant tree roots creating a surreal-looking landscape. It was a Buddhist monastery built in the late 12th century. For all its worn condition, Ta Prohm is entrancing to the visitor.
Temple of Hercules, Jordan
The Roman-era Temple of Hercules is a relic from the 2nd century overlooking the ancient city of Amman. While all that remains are fragments, including an enormous hand that could belong to a statue of Hercules, living on the site remains an amazing window into the caliber of Roman engineering, and the extent of its cultural footprint in the area.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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