The 10 Most Imposing Temples of Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptians were very religious people and they build these temples to worship primarily to honor their gods and goddesses. Even Pharaohs during their reign were associated with these deities! These temples symbolize Egypt great religious, political and cultural influence on the modern world. Read on to learn some interesting facts about these imposing Ancient Egyptian temples.

Medinet Habu

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Medinet Habu or the “City of Habu” in Arabic, refers to a huge temple complex located at Luxor, across the River Nile. The centerpiece of the temple is the well preserved Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III, a massive 150 meter long structure enclosed by a huge mud-brick wall. The temple precinct is about 210 m by 300 m, housing more than 7,000 square meter of decorated inscriptions across its walls. A migdol (a fortified gate-house) serves as the main entrance to the temple.

Temple of Kom Ombo

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The Temple of Kom Ombo sits on a high dune along the River Nile in the town of Kom-Ombo, between Edfu and Aswan. It was built under the reign of Ptolemy VI about 180 BC. The double Kom Ombo temple was built to serve two Egyptian gods at the same time; on the left side is a temple dedicated for Haroeris and on the right side is the temple for Sobek. The temple shows symmetrical or identical architectural design including two entrances, two courts, two colonades, two hypostyle halls and two parallel sanctuaries.

Colossi of Memnon

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The Colossi of Memnon are twin statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III in a seated position, stood imposingly across the River Nile at Luxor since 1350 BC. The Colossi, about 23 meter high and weigh about 700 tons each, were fashioned out from blocks of quartzite sandstone. In its day, these two gigantic statues guard the outer gates of Amenhotep III mortuary temple in Thebes. Unfortunately, nature has continually stir damages on the statues, nevertheless, the Colossi of Memnon are still impressive.

Temples at Philae

The beautiful island of Philae is home to the Temple of Isis. The first temple was built around 370 BC and construction continued up to the Roman Empire. In 100 AD, Roman Emperor Krajan constructed the Trajan Kiosk, a river passageway into the Temple of Isis. By 535 AD, Emperor Justinian ordered the total closure of the temples of Philae. When the Aswan Dam was built in the 1960s, the waters of Lake Nasser, started engulfing the island. Between 1972 and 1980, UNESCO spearheaded a campaign to save the island. The temple was literally broken down to pieces, each stone numbered and was e-erected on Egilica Island. It was reopened to the public in 1980!

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Amazingly Spectacular Architecture: Breathtaking Temples and Structures on Cliffs

Here’s a list of the most impressive structures located on cliff sides and top of cliffs.

For sure, construction of these structures is simply superb and incredibly hard and difficult.

1.) Fortune Celebration Temple: Mount Cangyan – China

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Mount Cangyan, which literally means “Green Cliff Mountain”, is a scenic area in Jingxing County in the province of Heibei, China. This site is particularly famous for its combination of natural mountain scenery with historical and spectacular man-made structures.

Fortune Celebration Temple is the most famous building complex on Mount Cangyan. It was built during the Sui Dynasty. Structures located in the complex include the Bridge-Tower Hall, the Buddhist Canon Depository and the Bridge-Tower Hall. Beneath the bridge a stone staircase with more than 360 steps leads up to the summit. Some scenes in the movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” were shot in Cangyan Shan.

2.) Gake Kannon Temple: Chiba, Japan

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The Gake Kannon is an impressive temple located in Tateyama, Chiba in Japan. The temple was constructed in 717 CE making it almost 1,300 years old. Gake Kannon or Kannon’s Cliff Temple is built on an almost vertical cliff of a rock, towering over Funakata town and Tateyama Bay.

3.) Swallow’s Nest Castle: Aurora Cliff, Cape Ai Todor – Ukraine

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Swallow’s Nest is an impressive castle constructed in 1912 near Yalta. This castle, which is situated on top of the 40 meter high Aurora Cliff, overlooks Cape of Ai–Todor of the Black Sea in Ukraine

Swallow’s Nest is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Crimea. This decorative castle of Neo-Gothic design was built between 1911 and 1912.

4.)Taktsang Palphug Monastery: Paro Valley – Bhutan

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Taktsang Palphug Monastery or more popularly known as Paro Taktsang is a magnificent building built in the Cliffside of the upper Paro Valley in Bhutan. This remarkable Himalayan Buddhist sacred site and temple complex was first constructed in 1692 making it more than 300 years of age. It is also known as The Tiger’s Nest.

5.) Hanging Monastery: Mount Heng – China

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One of the most spectacularly built temples in the world is the Hanging Temple or Hanging Monastery. This architectural masterpiece located in Mount Heng in Hunyuan, Shanxi Province. The historic Hanging Temple is the major tourist attraction in the Datong area.

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Giethoorn: A Charming Town in Netherlands with No Roads!

A village with no roads! Yes, there exists a village in Netherlands that have no roads, but instead use boats as its main transportation to get in and out of the place. Read on to know more about Giethoorn – the Venice of the Netherlands.

Founded around 1230, Giethoorn often called the Venice of the Netherlands, is a lovely town in the Dutch province of Overijssel. This town is divided into two parts, where the old village prides itself of having no roads, and the main transport is through waterways (canals). Around 7.5 canals (about 1 meter deep) encompass the whole village. There are about 50 wooden bridges that link several thatched roof houses.

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The canals are quite narrow, so residents and visitors alike move from one place to another on “whisper boats.” These electric motor driven boats can carry a maximum of 8 passengers.

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Fast becoming a popular tourist destination, the town has several restaurant serving excellent regional cuisine, Belgium waffle, and well-brewed coffee including the De Lindenhof, a farmhouse restaurant and De Molenmeester one situated in a mill.

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There are other good sites for visitors to check out such as In den coop’ren Duikhelm (a scuba diving museum, De Oude Aaarde (a fossil and crystal shop) and ‘t Olde Maat Uus(a restored 1800 farmhouse.)

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Taking a stroll to enjoy the place’ beautiful sceneries, visitors can cover the whole village in just an hour! Or you can stopped along the lakes and arrange a picnic or enjoy some relaxing live music at Blijburg, a nice beach-bar. Also, visitors can enjoy swimming, windsurfing or sailing.

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Amazingly Beautiful Buildings in a Small Island

Here’s a list of beautifully built structures in an island.

Amongst the most astonishing tourist attractions from all over the world are those located in an island. The combination of land and water elements makes a particular place awesomely beautiful and peculiar from the rest.

Lake Palace: Jag Niwas Island – India

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The ever beautiful Lake Palace, which is located on the Jag Niwas Island in Lake Pichola, Udaipur in India, is a luxury hotel of 83 rooms and suites. The structure is stunningly attractive for its white marble walls. This building, which was built on a natural foundation of 16,000 m2 rock, is formerly known as Jag Niwas.

Visitors of Lake Palace are transported by boats operated by the hotel. This wonderfully beautiful manmade structure has been voted as the most romantic hotel in India. Notable people who have visited ad adored the palace include Queen Elizabeth, Vivien Leigh and Jacqueline Kennedy.

Statue of Liberty: Liberty Island – USA

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One of the most recognizable structures in the world is the Statue of Liberty. This iconic landmark of New York City lies on the Liberty Island, a small uninhabited island in New York Harbor. This island with an area of 59,558 m² was officially named “Liberty Island” in 1956. Geographically, Liberty Island, which is the property of the federal government, is located completely within the boundaries of Jersey City, New Jersey.

Sydney Opera House: Bennelong Island – Australia

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One of the most famous and distinctive architectural feats of the new millennium is the creation of the Sydney Opera House in Australia. This very famous multi-venue performing arts center in Sidney, which is a recipient of the highest architectural award – Pritzker Prize, was built on the Bennelong Point which was originally a small tidal island called Bennelong Island.

Atlantis Resort and Casino: Paradise Island – The Bahamas

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The very beautiful Atlantis Resort and Casino is a resort and waterpark located on Paradise Island in Bahamas. Two luxury hotels are built on the island – the 600-suite luxury hotel named The Cove Atlantis and the 497-room Reef Atlantis. These hotels are amongst the most expensive in the world.

Notre Dame de Paris: Ile de la Cite – France

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The elegantly antique but beautiful Notre Dame de Paris is located on the Île de la Cité. This island is one of two natural islands in the Seine within the city of Paris. The other island is called Ile Saint-Louis. There are also other structures on the island which is the center of the City of Paris.

Boldt Castle: Heart Island – USA

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Who wouldn’t want to have a castle built on an island? One lovely castle built on an island is the Boldt Castle. It is located on Heart Island in New York in the Thousands Islands of the Sr. Lawrence River. The Boldt Castle including other structures and the Area as a whole are popular tourist attractions. There are 1,793 islands in the so-called Thousands Islands. The area, which is very popular for vacation, camping and boating, is considered as the “fresh water boating capital of the world”. There are also other spectacular structures on the island and neighboring islands.

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The World’s Most Awesome Natural Balancing Rocks

These geological formations known as balancing rocks may have taken millions of years to form and still being chiseled by erosion, to what are they today. Here is a list of these awesome natural balancing rocks from across the world.

It is a common knowledge that rocks are formed by erosion and harsh weather conditions. Surprisingly, the results come in spectacular shapes and for mankind to marvel. . Here is a list of these awesome natural balancing rocks from across the world.

Balanced Rock

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Balanced rock is one of the most popular rock formations at the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Located at Pike’s Peak Region, this 700-ton huge boulder which seems ready to topple but surprisingly its narrow pedestal manage to balance the rock formation for thousands of years. However, its narrow base had to bolstered with concrete to prevent visitors from testing the balance against their strength.

El Torcal de Antequera

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This spectacular karst rock formation is located in El Torcal Park Nature Reserve Antequera, Spain. Formed by erosion one hundred million years ago, the 17square km park is home to some of Europe’s unusual limestone landscapes. These amazing rock formations balancing rocks, towers, sculptures and gorges. The Natural Park Reserve was created in October 1978.

Chiricahua Balanced Rock

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The 12,984 acres Chiricahua National Monument is located about 58 km of Willcox, Arizona. It is a popular tourist destination well-known for its huge vertical rock formations including the 1,000 tons Balanced Rock, formed after a volcanic activity nearly 27 million years ago. The eruption produced ash and pumice deposits about 2,000 feet thick which eventually cooled off into rhyolitic tuffs (gray rock ). Then, erosion and corrosion began chiseling away at the rock to form massive stone columns, towering rock spires, craggy grottoes, and balanced rocks including the 1,000 tons Balanced Rock. The area was renamed on April 18, 1924.

Balancing Rock near Digby

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Dating back to the dinosaur age, the 30-foot high Balancing Rock in Digby, Nova Scotia has stood teetering at the edge of a cliff fighting against erosion for thousands of years. The last one standing after several adjoining huge columnar basalt were toppled down into the bay, the Balancing Rock attract visitors for a beautiful trail. Be one of those who were fascinated by its magical act, who knows, it may also someday topple into the water’s edge.

Read full article: The World’s Most Awesome Natural Balancing Rocks