religious

St. Mary's Cathedral

james.bell — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:17:47 +0100

Cnr College & Cathedral Streets,
Sydney.

St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney is the largest catholic church in Australia and is one of the biggest in the world. It is found near Hyde Park and has become one of the icons of the city, measuring over 100m long.

This cathedral was built in 1868 and it has a Gothic architectural style with two towers which were completed in 2000. The baptistery is one of the main features within the church building, along with the stained glass windows which were all made in England. Underneath the cathedral is the crypt where the archbishops of Sydney are buried.

There are guided tours of the church on Sundays at 12 p.m. If you do visit the cathedral make sure you see the crypt which has a beautiful marble floor.

Sydney Guide

Sensō-Ji

james.bell — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:14:10 +0100

2-3-1 Asakusa,
Tokyo.

If you want to discover the traditional Tokyo and escape the infinite skyscrapers which crowd the city, you should go to the Asakusa where you can wander through the old streets, temples and shops.

Sensō-Ji Temple, also known as Asakusa Kannon was built in 645 AD and is the oldest temple in Tokyo. Each year, around 20 million people visit the temple which was dedicated to the god Kannon and has become one of major tourist attractions in the city.

The main entrance to the temple is via Hozomon or Treasure Gate. The area around the temple is very commercial and there are lots of kiosks and markets where you can buy Japanese biscuits known as osembe, Japanese scarves which are tried around the forehead and are called hachimaki, and souvenirs.

In Sensoji Temple you will be able to see a huge censer, O-koro. According to the tradition, the fumes from this censer strengthened the weak and cured illnesses. If you have time you should also go to the Demboin garden which is near the temple and is an oasis of tranquillity and spirituality.

Tokyo Guide

Sensō-Ji

james.bell — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:14:10 +0100

Tokyo Guide

Wat Phra Kaew -The Temple of the Emerald Buddha

james.bell — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:16:58 +0100

Na Phralan, Phra Nakorn,
within Gran Palace, Bangkok.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is considered the most important Buddha Temple in Thailand. It is located in the historic centre of Bangkok, inside the Grand Palace and displays a sculpture of a jade Buddha which dates back to the 15th century.

The statue sits on top of a platform and is dressed in different outfits throughout the year. It has a suit which it wears to celebrate important rituals in the presence of the King of Thailand which is said to bring luck to the whole country.

This temple is decorated with statues and pagodas and there are guided tours of the temple in English which explain the history of the building.

Bangkok Guide | Temples in Bangkok

Wat Pho – The Temple of the Reclining Buddha

james.bell — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:08:59 +0100

Thai Wang Road and Maharat Road,
Bangkok

Wat Pho is the largest temple in Bangkok and is home to a colossal sized, gold plated, reclining Buddha, measuring 46m long and 15m high. Within the grounds of Wat Pho there are about 1,000 Buddhas which originate from Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, two Thai cities.

Each year, thousands of visitors come to see the world's largest reclining Buddha in Wat Pho and make a wish by placing a coin in one of the pots on the walls of the temple. Or, if you want to try a Thai massage, you can have one at the temple massage centre.

Bangkok Guide | Temples in Bangkok

Wat Traimit - The Temple of the Golden Buddha

james.bell — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:59:11 +0100

661 Chaoren Krung Road,
Bangkok.

Inside Wat Traimit Temple in Bangkok is the largest solid gold Buddha in the world which weighs 5.5 tonnes and is 3m tall, and originates from the former capital of Thailand, Ayutthaya.

It is believed that the golden Buddha was built during the 13thcentury and it was covered in plaster to prevent thieves from stealing it. The plaster coating was so realistic that many forgot what was hidden below it, and so the golden Buddha remained hidden for a number of years.

When it was moved during 1960s part of the figure was chipped revealing the gold treasure beneath and so today, many tourists come to visit Wat Traimit Temple which houses the famous golden Buddha.

Bangkok Guide | Temples in Bangkok

Wat Saket – The Temple of the Golden Mountain

james.bell — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:43:03 +0100

Between Boriphat Road and Lan Luang Road,
Bangkok

The Temple of the Golden Mountain is a temple built during the Ayutthaya era and restored by King Rama I around 1800 and was used for cremation ceremonies. It hosts Buddha relics and is famous for its golden mount which is one of the most impressive features in the city. There are 318 stairs which lead to the dome of the temple, but it is well worth the climb as the views from the top are spectacular.

Each November the Loy Kratong Festival is held at the temple and there are processions up the Golden Mount which is wrapped in red cloth to celebrate the carnival.

Bangkok Guide | Temples in Bangkok

Wat Arun – The Temple of the Dawn

james.bell — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:31:19 +0100

Arun Amarin Road,
Bangkok

Wat Arun is located on the shore of the River Chao Phraya and dates back to 17th century. It is very easy to see this temple from afar as its highest tower is 79m and is decorated with coloured ceramic tiles.

Wat Arun was originally home to the Emerald Buddha before it was moved to Wat Phra Kaew Temple in 1785.

The best time to visit the temple is between October and May as there is a light and sound show held in the evening at the temple.

Bangkok Guide | Temples in Bangkok

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

sonia.chaves — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:02:50 +0200

Parvis du Sacré Coeur, Rue du Chevalier-de-la-barre, 35
Paris

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Paris is located on the highest part of Montmartre. It was built between 1875 and 1914 in memory of those who died during the Franco-Prussian war; however, the church was not consecrated until 1919 when the First World War ended.

It is built in the form of a Greek cross and its most important feature is the 80m high dome. The building also houses the largest mosaic collection in the world and is renowned for its bell known as, the Savoyarde which is the one of the heaviest that exists today.

There is a funicular which runs from the bottom of Montmartre to the base of the Sacré Cœur. From the dome of the cathedral you will see panoramic views over the whole city of Paris which make the visit worth the effort.

Paris Guide | Historical Buildings in Paris

Id ul Fitr Muslim Festival 2009

javier — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:45:32 +0200

Id ul Fitr 2009 : 21 September

The Id ul Fitr is one of the most important Muslim festivals in India and is celebrated in Delhi at the end of Ramadan after one month of fasting. This day is also known as the sweet Id as many people cook typical pastries such as sevaiyyan. These are shared among families and friends during the festival.

Find cheap flights to Delhi with eDreams.

Delhi Travel Guide | Events and festivals in Delhi