UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Göbekli Tepe is the most ancient site of humans practising religion. Schmidt called it the first human-built holy place. The religion originated here. - Göbekli Tepe Turkey - World’s oldest temple? - Travelure ©

With no water supply, no heating facility, and no provision for cooking, these tiny houses advocate traditional simple living. This spartan lifestyle continues to define the Church Town, even now. - Sweden’s best-preserved Church Town, Gammelstad - Travelure ©

Snake-like, it slithered along the undulating mountain ridge. Between relentless long stretches, watchtowers provided relief. But, only to the eyes. Not an easy stroll. - The Great Wall of China - Travelure ©

A water channel with fountains that opens out into an enormous reflecting pool, leads you from Darwaza-i-rauza to the Taj. This pool does what humans couldn’t - duplicate the beauty of Taj in its reflection. - The Taj Mahal Agra India - Travelure ©

On this graceful epochal edifice of the Bridge Tower, it was a pity to see the terrible repair work. Despite regal decorations, the refurbishing seemed more an overhaul that a careful restoration. Still, UNESCO rightly lumped the bridge with the Old Town Centre of Prague to inscribe it on its World Heritage Sites List in 1992. - Charles Bridge Prague Czech Republic - Travelure ©

Ayutthaya today is a historical park. What remains of this former capital tells a tale of glory and gore. While there, spare a thought for the fact it is a site of mass murder, rape, and enslavement of Siamese people. - UNESCO Heritage Site Ayutthaya Thailand - Travelure ©

I grew up in the 1960s and 70s. At the height of the cold war. Before Gorbachev was the leader of Russia. The two oft-heard terms in the news were the ‘Kremlin’ and the ‘White House’. These hallowed precincts would smack out statements that affected world politics and economy. - Kremlin Red Square Moscow Russia - Travelure ©

Let’s travel to that landmark where our planet comes full circle. And, East meets West. Beyond establishing the relative location of places on our planet, it provides the basis of relative time across the globe. I talk of the Prime Meridian. - Royal Observatory Greenwich London - Travelure ©