The following images present seven wonders of the world, all of them spectacular and impressive architectural masterpieces. Perhaps they aren’t as well known as the Great Wall or the Taj Mahal, but it’s definitely worth including them in the list of places that you must visit once in a lifetime.
Based on the results of a Quora survey, the publication Brightside.me recently compiled a list of the seven most spectacular tourist attractions in the world which have never reached the fame they deserve. Here they are:
1. The Great Mosque of Djenné, Mali
The Great Mosque of Djenné, Mali, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lies alongside the river Bani, and is known as the greatest clay and adobe building in the world. The impressive building bears the visible imprint of the Sudani-Sahelian architectural style, and it was built in the thirteenth century from materials such as shale, clay, wood and straw.
2. Chand Baori (India) – the fountain with 3,500 steps
Fountains with steps are a specific architectural construction almost exclusively specific to India, and Chand Baori is definitely one of the most impressive and largest fountains in this part of the world. Located in the village of Abhaneri, near Jaipur, the fountain has 3,500 steps arranged on 13 floors, and it goes down 30 meters underground. It was built between 800-900 BC by King Chanda of the Nikumbha dynasty as homage to Hashim Mata, the goddess of joy and happiness. Being located in an arid environment, the initial purpose of the well was to accumulate water during dry periods. The fountain has a unique shape of an upside down pyramid, and the temperature at the base of the fountain is 5-6 degrees lower than on the surface.
3. Palace of Parliament (People’s House) in Romania
Located on Arsenal Hill, the Palace of Parliament proudly bears the title of being the largest administrative building in the world, both in surface and weight. The imposing building is 84 meters tall, it has nine surface and nine underground floors, and it is considered the most expensive administrative building in the world. No less than 700 architects and about 20 000 workers participated in the construction of the Parliament Palace.
4. Stari Most (Old Bridge) in Bosnia and Herzegovina
With a length of 20 meters, a unique arc of a height of 29 meters and two towers placed at its ends called Helebija and Tara, Stari Most or Old Bridge is definitely a unique building in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Designed by Mimar Hayruddin, a disciple of the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, Stari Most is a magnificent example of Islamic architecture in the Balkans. The construction began in 1557 on the orders of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and lasted for nine years. The bridge crosses the river Neretva, connecting the two parts of the city of Mostar.
5. Fort Kumbhalgarh, India
Known as the Great Wall of India, Fort Kumbhalgarh is the second largest in the world after the Great Wall, stretching over a length of 36 km. It is located in the region of Mewar, Rajasthan State, on the crest of a hill situated at 1100 m above sea level. The impressive building was built in the fifteenth century by Rana Kumbha, and it was subsequently extended in the nineteenth century. The fort is equipped with front walls of a thickness of approximately 4.5 meters and seven fortified gates. This spectacular fort houses 360 ancient temples, and has been included in the UNESCO world heritage list.
6. Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Iran
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is one of the most beautiful mosques in Iran, built in the Safavid dynasty’s architectural style. Under the guidance of chief architect Shaykh Bahai, its construction lasted 16 years, and it was originally intended to serve as an abode to Sheikh Lotfollah, a Shiite scholar of Islam. Considered an artistic jewel, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque impresses with its gold and white paintings decorating the dome, as well as with the wonderful ornamental stalactites and mosaics.
7. Derawar Fort, Pakistan
Located in the Punjab region of Pakistan, Derawar Fort impresses visitors with its massive walls with a circumference of 1500 meters and a height of 30 meters. The fort was built in the 9th century BC in honor of the ruler Rawal Deoraj Bhatti.
