St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral is a church that is located at the top of Ludgate Hill in London, United Kingdom. It is the highest point in the City of London. Present St Paul's Cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the late 17th century. The original church was founded in AD 604 in the same place, but the church was burnt down in the Great Fire of London in 1666. After the Great Fire of London,  many buildings were rebuilt. St. Paul's Cathedral is one among them. Now it is a popular site in the City of London.

Characteristics of  St Paul's Cathedral:

• It was the tallest building in London between 1710 and 1962.
• It has iconic and largest dome.
• It has English Baroque Style.
• It is the second biggest church building in United Kingdom in term of size.

Architecture of St Paul's Cathedral:

Wren took ten years for drawing its structure. After that, its construction work took next 40 years. In other words, work of this building was continuing in the life-time of Wren. The building of St Paul's Cathedral has two stores of ashlar masonry. It is approximately 110 ft high. It also has finest stone carving and statues on it.  Its dome is an architectural masterpiece because of its excellent exterior and interior designs.It hold two towers. The south-west tower hold one clock and four bells whereas north-west tower has 12 bells.

Events takes place here: 

St Paul's Cathedral is a busy working church because here many events takes places along with payer, music and everyday services. Some of them are mentioned below :

• Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria
• Wedding of Prince Charles
• Celebration of 80th birthday and the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II
• Funerals of Lord Nelson
• Peace services 

Watch St. Paul's Cathedral in the following Video

 When St. Paul's Cathedral brunt down?

References

Creative Blog. (n.d.) . Why you must visit these 20 famous buildings before you die. Retrieved from http://www.creativebloq.com/architecture/famous-buildings-around-world-10121105


St Pauls Cathedral from West adj. (2007). Picture of St. Paul's Cathedral  [Image file]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:St_Pauls_Cathedral_from_West_adj.JPG

St. Paul's Cathedral. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Paul%27s_Cathedral

Way2GoGuides. (2009, September 21). An introduction to the Way2GoGuide travel guide to St Paul's Cathedral [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYtj79gJRrs#t=41

Golden Temple

Golden Temple is a shrine place of Sikhs. It is located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. It is also known as the Harmandir Sahib. It was built by fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev in sixteen century. The meaning of Harmandir Sahib is the Temple of God. It is made of gold that is why it is also known as the Golden Temple. The purpose of its construction was to make a central place of worship for Sikhs. It is a famous place in the world because of the philosophy behind the construction of it. It is a Sikh temple but  it welcomes people of all regions without any discrimination of caste, sex, and religion.

Architecture of Golden temple: 

 

It has Sikh architecture because it was designed and built by Sikh Guru Arjan Sahib. Its construction work  started in December, 1588 and finished in September, 1604. It is constructed in the middle of holy tank that is known as the Sarovar.  After finishing the construction, Guru Arjan installed Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Granth Sahib is a holy text book that was written by Sikh Gurus. Moreover, Guru Arjan hired Baba Budha Singh as its first Granthi. Granthi is a designation to give the reader of Sikh holy book (Guru Granth Sahib).

Harmandir Sahib grabs 40.5ft square in the middle of tank. It has three-stories and the whole building made from gold. It has four doors in all directions. Each door is decorated in Artistic Style. In the middle of this building, Guru Granth Sahib placed and recited every day. This building has a dome on the top in lotus shape which gives it classical look.

Here are some restrictions before entering into the Harimandir Sahib. Visitors must:

• Remove shoes,
• Wash hands and feet before entering,
• Cover head with cloth,
• Not consume any alcohol, non-veg, and cigarettes.

 

Dining Hall:

 

It has a big dining hall where people of all walka of life sit down  in a queue and eat regardless of cast, sex or religion. More than 10,000 people every day eat  free meals from here. This meal is also called "Guru ka Langar".

Festivals at Harmindir Sahib:

The birthdays of all ten Gurus of Sikh are celebrated here along with other religious festivals such as Diwali, Lohri, and Holi. Baisakhi is one of the greatest festivals which takes place here every year in the second week of April. It is a special festival for Sikhs because it is the birthday of their religion.

Tourist Attraction:

 

It is the biggest tourist spot in Punjab. Sikh people not only from India but also from all over the world come here to pay their obeisance. Thousands of people who belong to other religions come here as well.

Which one thing do you like most about Golden Temple?

1. It welcomes all religions.

2. Its building.

3. Dining System.

   I am waiting for your comments

References

Harmandir Sahib - Photo 1002. (n.d.). Inside view of Harmandir Sahib [Image file]. Retrieved from http://travelcie.com/view/india/harmandir-sahib

Harmandir Sahib. (2014, February 26). Retrieved February 26, 2014 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmandir_Sahib

Harmandir Sahib. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://sgpc.net/golden-temple/index.asp

Hundreds of people in the communal dining hall in Guru-Ka-Langar - See more at: http://www.adventuresofagoodman.com/golden-temple-free-kitchen-amritsar/#sthash.CP9V4hA1.dpuf

Hundreds of people in the communal dining hall in Guru-Ka-Langar. (2014). Golden Temple free kitchen [Image file]. Retrieved from http://www.adventuresofagoodman.com/golden-temple-free-kitchen-amritsar/

Sri Darbar Sahib Asr. (2012). Outside view of Harmandir Sahib [Image file]. Retrieved from http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/India/North/Chandigarh/Chandigarh/photo786759.htm

Hundreds of people in the communal dining hall in Guru-Ka-Langar - See more at: http://www.adventuresofagoodman.com/golden-temple-free-kitchen-amritsar/#sthash.CP9V4hA1.dpuf

Colosseum Rome

Colosseum is the largest Amphitheatre in the world. It is also known as Flavian Amphitheatre. It is located in the center of the city Rome, Italy. It was built by Roman Empire. Construction of the Colosseum began in 70 AD under the rule of Vespasian and completed in 80 AD under the eye of his successor and heir Titus. Between 81 and 96, further modifications were done by Domitian. These three emperors are known as the Flavian Dynasty, so the amphitheatre was named Flavius in Latin.

 

Purpose of Construction:

Colosseum was built for entertainment. It holds 50,000 seats for spectators. These seats were secured according to social status. It was used for animal hunts, executions, gladiatorial, Mock sea battles, and dramas based on classical mythology. Later, it was used for housing, workshops, fortress, quarry and christian shrine.

 

Architecture of Colosseum:

It is considered as one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering. It is an elliptical amphitheatre that was built with concrete and stone.It is 189 meters long and 156 meters wide along with 6 acres of base area. The height of outer wall is 48 meters. The center arena is an oval 87 meter long and 55 meter wide. The arena was covering an underground structure that was called hypogeum. The hypogeum was connected by underground tunnels. Animals and performers were brought through these tunnels.

It was ringed by 80 entrances at ground level, 76 of which were used by ordinary spectators. The northern main entrance was reserved for the Roman Emperor and his aides. The rest of the three entrances were used by elites. Each entrance and exit was numbered and had a staircase. All four axial entrances were richly decorated than the other 76. A big portion of this building is collapsed due to earthquakes over the centuries.

 

UNESCO :

It was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.  Moreover, in 2007 New Open World Corporation (NOWC) organized a competition for new seven wonders of the world in which it was  included.

Tourist attraction:

 It is the biggest tourist attraction in Rome. Millions of visitors visit here annually. All Europeans below sixteen or above sixty-five are allowed to visit it for free, but other people have to pay to visit it.

Take a Video to the Colosseum

Who are allow to visit Colosseum for free?

References

Colosseum aerial-back. (n.d.). Colosseum pretty place [Image file]. Retrieved from http://prettyplaces.net/colosseum/#_

Colosseum. (2014, February 21). Retrieved February 23, 2014 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum

Colosseum_Combat. (2014). The Colosseum had many fights to the death [Image file]. Retrieved from http://rothsteinsullivan.wikispaces.com/Rome+10

Inside the Colosseum 1, Best of Europe, 2007. (n.d.). Inside picture of Colosseum [Image file]. Retrieved from http://www.dudziak.com/picture.php/inside_the_colosseum_14121

Steves, R. (2013, May 29). Rome, Italy: The Colosseum [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaSbYIeqGWg


Tourists At The Colosseum. (2014). Tourists waiting in queue in front of the Colosseum [Image file]. Retrieved from http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-image-tourists-colosseum-rome-image21901956

Parliament Hill

The Parliament house of Canada is known as Parliament Hill. It is located in downtown Ottawa, ON. In 1841, when lower Canada (Quebec) and upper Canada (Ontario) joined in the form of provinces of Canada, at that time Queen Victoria chose the rough and ready lumber town of Ottawa for Parliament. This was a political safe site for the parliament. The Centre, East, and West blocks of the Parliament Building were built between 1859 and 1866.

On February 1916, Centre block of the building caught  on fire and many valuable books and seven lives burnt in it. On that time parliament shifted into nearby Victoria Memorial Museum. This museum now known as Canadian Museum of Nature. After this fire, Canadian people believed that their parliament needs a permanent house. Consequently, work of rebuilding the parliament house started and it was completed in 1922, but peace tower finished later in 1927.

Center Block:

In the Centre Block of the Parliament, Senators and Members of Parliament discuss national issues, mend old policies, and make new laws.The East and West blocks of parliament were built for public services.

East Block:

The Senate Chamber is located at the East side of the Centre block of the parliament. Here, Head of State meets parliament. The Names of formal governor generals are carved in the ceiling. Upper wall of the chamber has pictures that show the scenes of the First world war. Canada's flora and fauna's pictures are carved below them in stone and wood.

West Block:

The House of Commons Chamber is located at the west side of the Centre Block. It is decorated in green as the British House of Commons. The material used in wall and ceiling is representing Canada's rich heritage. Most of the time, members of parliament are debiting and voting on bills here.

The Library of  Parliament:

Library of Parliament is located at the end of the Hall of Honour. It is a domed room that has a white marble statue of young Queen Victoria. Architecturally, it is a masterpiece of work as it has a beautiful floor and walls. This library stores many unrepairable books, journals, periodicals, and newspapers.

The Peace Tower:

As I mentioned above construction of the peace tower was finished in late1927. It is a symbol that shows the commitment of Canada toward peace. There is a Memorial Chamber on the third floor that was built for the honour of Canadians who died in the armed conflicts. It also has an observation area and the carillon for the visitors.

Watch Video of Parliament Hill by click here

What is color of the House of Commons?

References

Ottawa-Parliament Hill-Bibliotheque-Interieur 01. (2013). Inside of the library [Image file]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ottawa_-_Parliament_Hill_-_Biblioth%C3%A8que_-_Int%C3%A9rieur_01.jpg

Parliament Hill. (2014 February 11). Retrieved February 18, 2014 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_Hill 

Parliament of Canada. (2012). The Parliament Buildings. Retrieved from http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/Publications/ParliamentBuildings/ParlBlgs-e.asp

Parliament2. (2003). The interior of the House of Commons in Canada [Image file]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Parliament2.jpg

Peace Tower,2012. (2012). Peace Tower, Parliament Hill, Canada [Image file]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Peace_Tower,_2012.jpg 

Photo of the fire. (2011). Parliament Hill after the fire of 1916 [Image file]. Retrieved from http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/edu/ViewLoitDa.do?method=preview&lang=EN&id=19289

Senate Chamber Panorama HDR. (2008). Inside view of Senate Chamber [Image file]. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/chocolatedisco/3127444266/in/photostream

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal means "Crown Palace. Taj Mahal is a white monument which is located in the Agra District in Uthar Pradesh, India. It was built by the order of fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahah for the memory of his third and favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal. Her original name was Arjumand Banu Begum.

The color of Taj Mahal changes from early morning to late night because it has a vast marble surface. In the early morning, its color changes from soft grey and yellow to pearly cream and dazzling white. During the night, it shines like a pearl.

Story of Taj:

Mumtaz Mahal had a very deep and intense lovewith Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan also had great trust for her. He gave her his imperial seal, the Muhr Uzah. Mumtaz devoted some time in the river side garden because she had affection with plants. This was the reason to build a garden with the monument. She was traveling with him during all his military campaigns. In 1631 AD, she traveled with Shah Jahan despite of pregnancy. She died after the birth of her thirteen children in  Burhanpur.
Mumtaz Mahal took four promises from Shah Jahan before she died. Construction  of Taj was one among them. Consequentelly, Shan Jahan started planning to build the Taj.

Architecture of Taj:

Taj Mahal is situated at the right bank of the Yamuna river. It is a Indo-Islamic architecture that incorporated many traditions, forms and symbolism of both Hindu and Islamic Architecture. Construction work of Taj began in 1631 AD and completed in 1648 AD.  More than 22 thousand workers, architectures, and cave cutters came together to complete it.

The mausoleum is completely made by white marbles. Tomb was a central point of this large structure. The Tomb has a big dome which is a masterpiece of work. A large Mughal garden with fountains built in the front of Taj which enhances its beauty. Four Minarets are set at the corners of the mausoleum to complete the architecture composition. Minaret is a traditional element of mosques. On the West and East side of the Taj, a mosques and a guest house built with red marbles. The Mosque and Guest house are identical in structure. The Taj has excellent interior design with different types of stones and marbles.

 

UNESCO-World Heritage:

The taj Mahal is a master piece of art. It became a UNESCO world heritage in 1983. It was cited as "The jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage."

Taj Mahal visitors:

The taj is a big tourist spot in India. Every year, 7 to 8 million tourists visit Taj. More than 0.8 million people come from overseas in India to visit it. Most of visitors come during the winter season from November to February.

Watch Video of Taj Mahal

Do you like to vote for the Taj?

1. Yes

2. No

References

Me at TM. (2009). Visitors outside of the Taj Mahal [Image file]. Retrieved from http://breathedreamgo.com/2009/09/what-it-means-to-breathe-dream-go/

Mumtaz Mahal. (2012). This is a Mughal painting depicting Mumtaz Mahal [Image file]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mumtaz_Mahal.jpg

Shah Jahan. (2012). Picture of a Mughal emperor Shah Jahan [Image file]. Retrieved from http://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.ca/2012/02/great-loves-in-history-shah-jahan.html

Smithsonian Channel (2012 November 7). Secret of The Taj Mahal: More than an Architecture Masterpiece [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7yNMyLcL2U

Taj Mahal. (2014, March 7). Retrieved March 8, 2014 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal

Taj Mahal 2012. (2012). Southern view of Taj Mahal [Image file]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Taj_Mahal_2012.jpg

Taj-Mahal-Interior. (n.d.). Inside of the Taj Mahal [Image file]. Retrieved From http://globetravelblog.com/?attachment_id=3161


UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (2014). Taj Mahal. Retrieved from http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/252

Historical Buildings

History is very important  because it connects us to the past. Without history, the world seems like a tree without roots. Everything has a different history according to place, time, and environment. Historical buildings are a good way to preserve history.

A historical building is a link between past and present. Historical buildings preserve our past, culture, traditions, customs, lifestyles and so on. A number of historical buildings are available all over the world. Each historical building contains some unique history regarding to people, environment, life style, and work. Some famous historical buildings of the world are the Taj Mahal, parliament hill, Red fort and so on.

 

Historical buildings are the heritage for a nation because they represent not only history but also culture, value, architectural work, etc. It is a good source to generate revenues as well. Every year thousands of visitors travel around the world to visit these historical buildings. Politically, it also helps to improve the relationships between countries when visitors of one country come in another country. It gives the information about different cultures.

 What is you opinion about historical buildings? They should be preserved or not?

References

Parthenon. (2013). Parthenon is one on the most important building in Greek history [Image file]. Retrieved from http://www.placesfortour.com/category/greece-attica/

Usen, N. (2014). Aren't Nigerians Tought to Forget their History? [Image file]. Retrieved from http://risenetworks.org/2014/01/08/arent-nigerians-taught-to-forget-their-history/