Did You Know?

Did you know that Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Australia is a sacred site for the Indigenous Anangu people? This massive sandstone monolith holds great spiritual significance and is a symbol of ancestral beings and creation stories. Climbing Uluru is now discouraged out of respect for the Anangu people's cultural beliefs.

Did you know that Stonehenge in England is a mysterious ancient monument that has spiritual and astronomical significance? This prehistoric stone circle, dating back thousands of years, is aligned with celestial events such as the summer solstice. It is believed to have been a sacred site associated with rituals and ceremonies.

Did you know that Mecca in Saudi Arabia is the holiest city in Islam? Muslims from around the world travel to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The focal point of the pilgrimage is the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure located within the Masjid al-Haram.

Did you know that Angkor Wat in Cambodia is the largest religious monument in the world? Built in the 12th century, this vast temple complex was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu but later transformed into a Buddhist site. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and an important pilgrimage destination for Buddhists.

Did you know that Varanasi in India is considered one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and a significant religious center for Hindus? Located on the banks of the Ganges River, Varanasi is believed to be a place of spiritual liberation. It is a major pilgrimage site, and Hindus visit to perform religious rituals and cremate their loved ones.

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Discover The Mystical Splendor Of Angkor Wat: A Journey Through Time

Ancient Angkor Wat temple complex surrounded by lush greenery in Cambodia

While religion is in heated opposition to science in our times, back in the early 12th century, master builders for the Khmer Empire created the temple complex at Angor Wat, Cambodia, by combining the devotion of faith to the fusion of architecture and science. In order to honour and worship the Hindu god, Vishnu, this largest religious centre on earth was erected. But faith, like design styles, can be fickle and by the end of that century, Angor Wat had transformed to an amazing sacred place dedicated instead to Buddha.

Resplendent with attributes such as an outer enclosure, a wide moat, dozens of galleries an columned corridors, a library and temple, the site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. it is the seventh Wonder of the World, no surprise when you stand in awe of its design and structure, knowing how long ago it was built.

The temple is oriented to the west, unusual for religious places at that time, but the reason may be that it was originally intended as a funerary temple for a great leader or god. The site boasts five towers, believed to represent the five peaks of Mount Meru, regarded to be the residence of the gods.

Angor Wat has not been in active use as a religious centre since the late 15th century. It is thought that profound levels of monsoon rains damaged it beyond use and it was abandoned. Luckily, it did not fall to complete ruin.

Some damage was done to Angor Wat during the Viet Nam War in a shoot-out between the Vietnamese and the Khmer Rouge forces; bullet holes can be seen etched into the stone, damaging some of the precious reliefs that abound. Today, a preservation society helps to fund on-going restoration work at Angor Wat so that future generations may marvel at its size and beauty.