The Best Museums of the World

Below are the museums who made in the list of what was considered the best based on their size, fame and type of priceless arts and antiquities they safeguard for you to see and insure the future generations can see also.

Tokyo National Museum
Tokyo, Japan

Established in 1872, this is the oldest museum in Japan. It houses the famous Japanese art and weaponry as well as the large collection of Greco-Buddhist art.

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Louvre
Paris, France

It is the most visited museum in the world. Its exhibits includes ancient egyptian artifacts, classical Greek and Roman art and medieval Europe. It houses a lot of painting including the very famous Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci

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Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Billbao, Spain

The museum is constructed as a twisting titanium clad which made the museum an art itself. It draws a lot of attention when it was finished contstructed in the 1990's. The museum exhibits the works of both local and international artists.

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Vatican Museums
Vatican City, Rome

Most famous for its spiral staircase, the museum has also Raphael Rooms and of the course the very famous Sistine Chapel. Exquisitely designed by Michael Angelo and was believed to be his crowning achievements in painting.

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Uffizi Gallery
Florence, Italy

This is one of the oldest museums in the world. It is housed in the Palazzo degli Uffizi which was constructed to be used as offices by the Florentine Migistrates in 16th Century. The museum contains a wide collection of Renaissance art wroks

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Hermitage Museum
St. Petersburg, Russia

Founded in 1764 by the Catherine the Great, this museum has a massive collection of art and culture of more than 3 million items collected around the globe. It has priceless works of Rembrandt, Da Vinci, and Michael Angelo.

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Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York, USA

The gothic style building was opened in 1972 housing more than 2 million collections of human history aroound the world

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National Palace Museum
Taipei, Taiwan

This museum has the largest collection of ancient Chinesse artifacts in the world. The museum gives you a flash back of Chinesse history and impressive engineering and innovation of which some where used today like the compass, medicine and gun powder.

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Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam, Netherlands

This is the most pretigious museum for Dutch Golden Age. It has wide collections of paintings from famous painters like Vermeer and Rembrand.

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Museo Nacional de Antropologia
Mexico City, Mexico

This museum contains archaelogical artifacts from the pre-Columbian heritage of Mexico. The museum has exhibits like giant stone heads e Olmec Civilization and the famous Stone of the Sun.

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Prado Museum
Madrid, Spain

This musuem feature the best collections of European art from 12th Century to early 19th Century. The famous work of Velazquez are being shown here as well as the works of some Italian masters.

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Museum of Modern Art
Manhattan, USA

Considered as the most influencial of modern art in the world, this museum houses some of the works of Picasso, and the very famous Van Gogh's Starry Night. The museum is designed like a maze of glass windows that allows viewing in many angles.

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British Museum
London, England

Established in 1973, it has a wide collection numbering to more than 7 million objests, detailing human's history. It has the famous Rosetta stone and has a lot of mummies next to Egypt.

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Egyptian Museum
Cairo, Egypt

The home to at least 120,000 Egyptian relics and antiques. This museum has the famous tomb of Tutankhamen and 27 other mummies of Pharaohs. It has also a vast collection of heiroglyphs, papyrus and coins used in ancient Egypt.

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Pics courtesy of Google images and Touropia

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Most Famous Festivals in the World

Want to go to places where the good times literally go? This list is just right for you. It doesn't happen everyday though but one thing's for sure, you'll have fun. Below is the list of the most famous festivals celebrated around the world. Don't be left out.... Check them out.

Burning Man
Nevada, USA

Held in the middle of the Nevada dessert, the flat plains become a wide place for exhibit of out of the box art and other mayhem like concerts and mind wrecking activities. The festival culminates with the burning of a massive, builiding sized effigy. No worries were to stay, it's close to Vegas where there are a lot of hotels and celebration happens everyday.

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Oktoberfest
Munich, Germany

Not for the kids and the kids at heart. This fest is for beer drinkers. Well suited for people who are cholesterol carefree. This festival doesn't actually happen in Ocotober only. It starts end of September and ends at the first week of October. There are also live bands and parades but who cares when you're drunk?

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Mardi Gras
New Orleans, USA

Happens in the famous Bourbon Street were beads are thrown over the people gathering below, drinking and trying to get out of their old self. The Mardi Gras has also parades and events for people to enjoy located around New Orleans. I've seen a video of this once where the police loses control and the people resulted to chaos and tried to steal things from sorrounding stores. My of my... This is supposed to be a religious event.

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International Jazz Festival
Montreal, Canada

LFor 2 weeks every July, Montreal's downtown core is transformed into a hotbed of jazz, with stages dotting many major intersections. The streets a turned into concert halls and bands around the world performed around the huge crowd

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International Film Festival
Cannes, France

Held every May since 1939, this festival is being flocked by thousands. It is being held in Cote d'Azur. There is a competition between films... (more like the Oscar) but the International Film Festival is a city event were people have lot of stuff to enjoy around other than waiting who's winning what.

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South by Soutwest
Austin, USA

Also known as SXSW, this festival began in 1987 to promote local acts but now it is a big festival everyone in Texas is looking forward too because not only local bands and labels perform here but big acts too. Right now Austin helds the record for the city with the most number of music halls because of this.

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Carnivale
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This festival is held every February or March and it has but one theme, SAMBA!!!. The colors the costumes, the floats are all crazy plus matched with street dances with infectious music that could keep you grovin.

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Love Parade
Germany

Began in 1989 this event is held every August in the Ruhr area of Germany. This festival has been immitated in different countries but still nothing beats the original. This festival turns the street into a massive dance party. Love parade is about carefree Euro style of fun.

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Fringe Festival
Edinburgh, Scotland

Probably the longest festival in this listing because it is being held for 3 weeks. WOW!!!! But why???? it is because more than 200 shows are being held every festival from musical, comedy, opera, dance to acrobatic are being shown. There is just something for everyone. The admission are very cheap also.

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Festival of San Fermin
Pamplona, Spain

Known with its famous "Bull Run".... Yup. The bulls are unleashed to chase down the people in the streets. Men put themselves in a situation where they will have a frantic dash for their lives against the raging bulls. Some for adrenaline rush while oithers are just for plain stupid bragging rights. This festival is being held every July to commemorate the Patron Saint of Pamplona. There are also other events with the traditional folkloric stuff and climaxes with the big run.

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Pics courtesy of Rates to Go

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Famous Lost Cities

 Once a city of grandeur and prosperity and some is a hiding place away from colinizers and conquerors but now it is nothing but a ghost town. Empty and shook with silence. Below is the list of the famous lost cities in the ancient world. Relieve history and visit this places to give you a feel on walking on what was once a CITY.

Petra
Jordan

Carved in the mountain walls by the Nabataean Arabs in 6th Century BC, this construction was a thing of wonder. Upon entrance to the city, you will be greeted by a 1 km narrow entrance specially designed to identify and easily secure intruders. Inhabitants slowly abadoned the place during the Roman empire because of the change of trade routes and earthquakes that damaged their water supply

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Chichen Itza
Mexico

This city is built by the Mayan Civilization. Its famous attractions were the pyramids that were temples for the Mayan gods and ball courts for a deadly sport. According to Mayan chronicles, the city was invaded by the Mayapans (another tribe) and that they followed the prophecy of no survivors that results to the lose of inhabitants in the city.

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Derinkuyu Underground City
Turkey

This underground network has 11 floors reaching to a depth of 85m and rooms for up to 50000 people plus livestock. This place was believed to have been a Christian hideout from Roman persecution.

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Machu Picchu
Peru

This city was built by the Inca's in 1400 AD. The buildings are designed in classical Inca Architecture. The city is located in the mountains of Peru at 2400 m above sea level. Conquestadors with small pox infected the inhabitants and wiped out the population

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Angkor
Cambodia

The city has many beautiful structures and temples including the Angkor Wat. The population decline after a successful invasion of invaders from Thailand.

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Pre-Roman Carthage
Tunesia

The home of Hannibal, not the psycho killer but the warrior who is the arch enemy of the Roman empire. The city was burned down during the Punic War.

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Pompeii
Italy

Built by the Romans, this city was the cultural center and vacation destination for Roman high society until the city was destroyed in 79 AD by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius

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Memphis
Egypt

Built by the Egyptians in the mouth of the Nile river, this city was the center for trade, religion and royalty. Multiple foreign invasions including those of Alexander The Great let to its demise

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Teotihuacan
Mexico

Builders of this city is still a mystery. It is still under debate who built it. The city contains the largest pyramids in the precolombian era. The collapse of the city is believed to have been caused by an internal uprising since burns were noticed in the ruins of the elite class

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Mosque City of Bagerhat
Bangladesh

Formerly known as Khalifatabad was founded by a Turkish general. It has 50 Islamic monuments and the 60-Pillar Mosque, constructed with of course 60 pillars and 80 domes. The picture of the mosque is on the right.

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Holiest Places on Earth

Everywhere you go you see churches from different religions. Places of worship of different faiths. Places where you can contemplate in peace. But do you know which of these are considered the most holy of all? A place which is the mother of all worshiping sites? Check the list below and if you have budget and time, I strongly suggest you visit them or at least the holiest place of the religion you are currently practicing.

Ka'ba
Saudi Arabia

The Ka'ba (Arabic الكعبة; also spelled al-Ka‘bah or Kaaba) is a small building shaped like a cube that is made of granite. This builiding houses the mysterious black stone which is considered holy in the Islam Religion. The Ka'ba is located inside the courtyard of al-Haram Mosque in Mecca.

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St. Peter's Basilica
Rome

St. Peter's Basilica (Italian: San Pietro in Vaticano) is the largest church ever built and is the holiest site for Christian Catholic Religion. In front of the church is the very famous St. Peter's Square. It has two beautiful fountains and an obelisk, which dates from 13th-century BC Egypt and was brought to Rome in the 1st century to stand in Nero's Circus

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Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Israel

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, known as the Church of the Resurrection (Anastasis) to Eastern Orthodox Christians is the holiest Christian site of the world. It stands in a site where Jesus was crucified (Calvary) and the tomb (Sepulchre) where He was buried. The exterior facade of the church at the east side where built by the Crusaders.

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Church of St. Mary of Zion
Ethiopia

The 17th-century Church of St. Mary of Zion in Axum which stands next to the chapel that houses the Ark of the Covenant. The design of the church has a Syrian influence. Its interior has different murals and paintings while its exterior is like a fortress to protect it from thieves and robbers.

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Temple Mount
Israel

The Temple Mount (Hebrew: Har haBáyit) or Noble Sanctuary (Arabic: Haram esh-Sharif) is a elevated plateau in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is currently governed by Wagf, a Supreme Muslim Religious Council. This place is quite unique because it is the only place I believe that is holy for Jews, Christians and Muslims. For Muslims, it is the site of the Prophet Muhammad's journey to heaven described in the Qur'an and Christians revere it as a place frequently visited by Jesus

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Golden Temple of Amritsar

India

The Harmandir Sahib (or Hari Mandir) in Amritsar Punjab, is the holiest shrine in Sikhism. The most famous and sacred part of the Golden Temple complex is the Hari Mandir (Divine Temple) or Darbar Sahib (Court of the Lord), which is the beautiful golden structure at the center of a large body of water. The gold-plated building features copper cupolas and white marble walls encrusted with precious stones arranged in decorative Islamic-style floral patterns.

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Al-Masjid Al-Haram
Saudi Arabia

Al-Masjid al-Haram ("The Holy Mosque"; also known as al-Haram Mosque, Haram al-Sharif, Masjid al-Sharif and the Haram) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is the holiest mosque in the world and the primary destination of the Hajj pilgrimage. The mosque complex covers an area of 356,800 square meters and can accommodate up to 820,000 worshippers during the Hajj.

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Western Wall
Israel

The Western Wall (Ha-Kotel Ha-Ma'aravi) in Jerusalem is the holiest of Jewish sites, sacred because it is a remnant of the Herodian retaining wall that once enclosed and supported the Second Temple. The sides of the Herodian monumental ashlars have been carved with such precision that they rest perfectly against and on top of each other, without mortar.

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Pashupatinath Temple
Nepal

Pashupatinath, or Pashupati, is a Hindu temple on the banks of the Bagmati River in Deopatan. It is dedicated to a manifestation of Shiva called Pashupati (Lord of Animals). It attracts thousands of pilgrims each year. The temple is barred to non-Hindus, but a good view of the temple can be had from the opposite bank of the river.

On both sides of its door are niches of various sizes containing gold-painted images of guardian deities.

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The Great Mosque of Kairouan
Tunesia

Every city in Tunisia has a Great Mosque, but the Great Mosque in Kairouan is the most important of all. It is the oldest Muslim place of worship in Africa and is commonly regarded as the fourth holiest site in Islam (after Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem). The exterior of the Great Mosque of Kairouan, with buttressed walls, is in the typically austere Aghlabid design, but the grand minaret indicates the buildings significance and the mosque becomes far more impressive upon entering.

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Salt Lake Temple
USA

The Salt Lake Temple is a Mormon temple located in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. It was the fourth Mormon temple to be dedicated and stands on a site selected by the Mormon prophet Brigham Young. Because of its historical significance and location at church headquarters, the Salt Lake Temple is the most important temple for Mormons, attracting many Latter-Day Saint pilgrims. It is also central to Salt Lake City, literally: streets are numbered according to their distance from the temple. The Salt Lake Temple is made of granite quarried from a canyon 20 miles south of Salt Lake City. Its six-spire design is based in the Gothic style, but the overall design is unique and symbolic.

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Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Thailand

The holiest shrine in northern Thailand, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (also spelled Wat Phratat Doi Suthep) was founded in 1386 under miraculous circumstances. Wat Doi Suthep is approached by a steep flight of 300 stairs flanked by green trees and guarded by 16th-century Naga (snake) figures. The temple is part of Doi Suthep National Park, a richly forested area supporting some 330 species of birds. The park also includes Phuping Palace and Mon Tha Than Falls, the later believed by some to contain evil spirits.

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Delos
Greece

As the birthplace of Artemis and Apollo, the Greek island of Delos (Greek: Δηλος; Dhílos, "Brilliant") was a major sacred site for the ancient Greeks. At its height, the sacred island was covered in a variety of temples and sanctuaries dedicated to a variety of gods. Today, it is a fascinating archaeological site. The ruins of ancient Delos extend north and south along the coast and consist of four main areas: the Maritime Quarter (next to the harbor); Theater District (southeast of the harbor); Sanctuary of Apollo (north of the harbor in the center of the site); and Lion District (north end of the ruins).

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The Prophet's Mosque

Saudi Arabia
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Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Arabic: المسجد النبوي) or the Prophet's Mosque is a great mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia. It stands on the site of a mosque built by the Prophet Muhammad himself next to his house and contains his tomb. As it stands today, the Prophet's Mosque has a rectangular plan on two floors with the Ottoman prayer hall projecting to the south. The main prayer hall occupies the entire first floor. The mosque enclosure is 100 times bigger than the first mosque built by the Prophet and can accommodate more than half a million worshippers
.

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Jokhang Temple
Tibet

Jokhang Temple ("House of the Lord") in Lhasa is the holiest site in Tibetan Buddhism, attracting crowds of prostrating Tibetan pilgrims and curious foreign tourists every year. It hosts the annual Great Prayer Festival, as well as all ceremonies of initiation for the Dalai Lama and Panchen Llamas. Tourists can only tour Jokhang Temple in the afternoon; the morning is reserved for pilgrims. The best way to experience the temple is to arrive at 8am to watch the pilgrims perform their devotions, then visit the interior in the afternoon.

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Eyup Sultan Mosque
Turkey

The Eyüp Sultan Mosque is the holiest site in Istanbul and one of the most sacred places in the Islamic world. Eyüp is a popular spot animated by the small bazaar nearby, crowds relaxing by the spray of the fountains, and little boys in blue and white satin celebrating their impending circumcisions. Unfortunately, it's a natural magnet for beggars as well.

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Varanasi
India

Varanasi (also known as Benares, Banaras, Kashi and Kasi) is a Hindu holy city on the banks of the Ganges River in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the site of the holy shrine of Lord Kasi Viswanatha (a form of Lord Shiva) and is one of the revered 12 Jyotirlingas (linga of light). It is considered the most sacred place for all Hindus, irrespective of denomination.

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Wat Phra Kaew
Thailand

Wat Phra Kaew ("Temple of the Holy Jewel Image"), also spelled Wat Phra Kaeo and commonly known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is located on the ground of the Royal Palace in Bangkok. It is the most revered Buddhist shrine in Thailand. Central to the temple is the Emerald Buddha, a dark green statue standing about 2 feet tall. No one is allowed near the statue except the Thai king, who conducts rituals at the temple throughout the year. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha sits within the grounds of the Bangkok Grand Palace, surrounded by walls more than a mile long. Inside, it contains some of the finest examples of Buddhist sculpture, architecture, painting, and decorative craft in Thailand.

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Holy Trinity Lavra
Russia

The Holy Trinity Lavra or Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra (Trinity-Sergius Monastery) is the spiritual center of Russian Orthodox Christianity. Founded in 1345 by St. Sergius of Radonezh and containing his relics, Holy Trinity is located in the city of Sergiyev Posad (formerly known by the Soviet name Zagorsk) about 45 miles northeast of Moscow. The heart of Holy Trinity Lavra is the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Troitsky sobor), built in the 1420s and distinguished by its gleaming-white exterior topped with gold domes. It contains the revered holy relics of St. Sergius in its southeast corner.

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Abydos
Egypt

For the Ancient Egyptians, Abydos was one of the holiest sites in the world. As the cult center of the god Osiris and gateway to the underworld (believed to lie under the nearby hills), it was a popular place of pilgrimage and burial. The main monument at Abydos is the Temple of Seti I, built around 1300 BC by Seti and his son Ramses II. It is especially notable for its fine reliefs, considered among the best of the New Kingdom. The site of Abydos is huge, and includes a number of ruins and mounds around the edge of the desert. Most visitors, however, stick to the grand Temple of Seti I because of time and police restrictions.

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Mt. Kailash
Tibet

Mt. Kailash or Mt. Kailas (Tibetan: Gang Tise or Gang Rinproche; Chinese: Gangdisi Shan) is a sacred mountain for four faiths: Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and followers of the indigenous Tibetan religion of Bön. Next to the mountain are two sacred lakes. Mt. Kailash rises to 22,028 feet (6,714 m) in one of the highest and most rugged parts of the Himalayas. Made of black rock, the symmetrical peak has a distinctive diamond-like shape with four steep facades. The south face has a vertical gash across its horizontal layers, creating the appearance of a swastika - an ancient symbol of good luck in this part of the world.

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Mt. Agung and Pura Besakih
Indonesia

The volcanic Mt. Agung (Gunung Agung) is holiest mountain on the island of Bali in Indonesia. It is also home to the important Mother Temple of Besakih, the largest and holiest temple in Bali. The great Mount Agung rises to an altitude of 3,148 meters (10,308 feet) in eastern Bali. Perched on its slopes about 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) in altitude is the holy Besakih Temple, Mother Temple of Bali.

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Mother Church of Christian Science
USA

The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, also known as the Mother Church, is the world headquarters of the Christian Science faith, founded in 1875 by Mary Baker Eddy. The Christian Science complex in Boston incorporates a variety of buildings, including the original Mother Church (1894), the larger extension (1906), and an impressive urban plaza with reflecting pool designed by I.M. Pei (1960s). The windows' subject matter is interesting - instead of the more typical apostles and biblical stories, they emphasize the themes of healing, resurrection and women's religious leadership. The center of the Rose Window features Eddy's Science and Health rendered in stained glass.

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Mahabodhi Temple
India

The Mahabodhi (Great Enlightenment) Temple is a Buddhist stupa located in Bodhgaya, India. It is the most sacred site in Buddhism and visited regularly by both Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims (many Hindus honor the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu). The central tower of Mahabodhi stands 180 feet (54 meters) tall. The brickwork on the outside of the temple depicts scenes from the life of the Buddha. Inside the temple is a colossal image of a seated Buddha touching the earth with his right hand (a gesture known as the earth-witness mudra. In this temple you can also find the most sacred tree in Buddhism, the Bodhi Tree.

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Sanctuary of Apollo
Greece

Located amidst breathtaking scenery in central Greece, the Sanctuary of Apollo at Ancient Delphi was the most important sacred site in the Greek world. Revered as early as 1500 BC, the sacred precinct was home to the famous Oracle, in which the god himself counseled his people through the mouth of an intoxicated priestess.

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Pics and List Courtesy of Sacred Desitinations

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