HOA revised

ISLAMIC

Iwan - Open-fronted porch facing a court.

The Mosque of Ibn Tulun - The mosque retains its original character despite several restorations. It is built in brick but is faced with stucco in which friezes are incised. The mixture of several forms of ornamental detailing found separately at Samara suggests not only that the mosque wasessentially an Iraqi building, but that it was built by craftsmen from theAbbasid capital who had arrived in Egypt only a relatively short time before.

The Great Mosque of Malwiya, Samarra - Although started by his predecessor, it is regarded as the work of the Caliph Al-Mutawakkil, who also built the nearby mosque of Abu Dulaf. The mosque consisted of an immense walled courtyard planned on a ratio of three to two, 155 m × 238 m (510ft × 780 ft), surrounded by four aisles except on the south side where nine aisles form the prayer chamber. The internal structure of mud-brick piers and timber pole-joisted roofs has long since disappeared, but the massive brick outer walls remain, buttressed at intervals of 16m (52ft) by half-round towers.

Madrassa of Qaitbay - The ultimate achievement of architectural development in Cairo. It survives completely and has been fully restored. A slender minaret reduces from the square to the octagon and then to the circle and an open colonnade on which stands the high-shouldered dome, the form of which is echoed by the dome over the tomb itself. The picturesque aspect of the asymmetric exterior is heightened by the striated facing, whose colors are picked up in the elaborately banded inlaid decoration of arches, friezes, and cresting. The external surface of the dome is deeply carved with bars intertwined with floral arabesques.

Minaret - Tower from which a call to prayer is made.

Gur-i Amir, Samarkand - The building was unfinished when Timur died, to be buried in the tomb which dominates the funerary complex. The group includes a tomb, a madrassa, and a caravanserai. An abnormally high drum is surmounted by a high-rising, bulbous dome said to have been rebuilt to satisfy an emperor with a passion for impressive height. The wall surfaces faced in ceramics and marbles and the vault itself in gold and blue patterned inlay are magical and complete.

The Dome of the Rock - A building central and crucial to the whole history of the architecture of Islam stands in the center of the Temple Mount. It began in 688 and the Prophet's Mosque and the Kaaba are among the most important Muslim shrines.

Islam, or submission to the will of Allah, is the second-largest religion in the world, with around 1.9 billion followers. Allah translates as "the God", meaning the one true God and the same one worshipped by the Christians and Jews - correct statement.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque - Mosque has one main dome, six minarets, and eight secondary domes. The design is the culmination of two centuries of Ottoman Mosque development. It incorporates some ByzantineChristian elements of the neighboring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture and is the last great mosque of the classical period. The architect, Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa, synthesized the ideas of his master Sinan, aiming for overwhelming size, majesty, and splendor.

Caliph - The successor to the prophet military, judicial, or spiritual leader of Islam.

Great Mosque of Seville - The Patio Naranjos and Giralda Tower are the only remains of the former mosque. The mosque was converted for Christian worship and was used from 1248 to 1401 before it was torn down for the current cathedral to be built.

Riwaq - Colonnade or arcade in a typical mosque.

Tomb of Ismael the Samanid, Bokhara - The tomb is a relatively small domed mausoleum, constructed in elaborately decorated brickwork within and without. Shaped and cut bricks are used in relief to form complex patterns. The building is an almost perfect cube, battered back externally, on which is superimposed a hemispherical masonry dome.

Ghurid Minaret, Jam - Isolated but well preserved in a rocky valley in central Afghanistan. It stands with a height of sixty-five meters tall and consists of a tapering cylindrical shaft on a 9-meter octagonal base which is still partly buried. The decoration on the shaft of the minaret consists of calligraphic relief in brickwork, alternating with geometric patterning of a Kufic inscription in turquoise tiles.

Great Mosque of Mecca - The mosque houses the Kaaba and the center of the Islamic faith.

The Minaret of Samarra - The mosque's minaret or place from where prayer is called--is a conical tower with a spiral ramp. Its shape is heavily influenced by a certain kind of Mesopotamian ziggurat. One of the most famous minarets, it is 52 meters tall and 33 meters wide.

Calligraphy - Like other Islamic decorations, is closely tied to geometry. All the letter proportions are mathematically determined. Inscriptions are commonly utilized as a frame along and around major architectural elements such as gateways and cornices. The Islamic emphasis on repetition, balance, symmetry, and pattern formation is exemplified by these designs. Combined with optical effects such as balancing positive and negative areas, as well as sophisticated use of color and tonal values.

Muezzin - The caller who summons the faithful to prayer.

Giralda Tower - It is a 104.1 meters (341.5 feet) tall minaret of a mosque that stood on the site of today’s cathedral during the period of the Almohad rule.

Paradise Garden - These spaces provide respite during summers to the people. It displays water features like large marble fountains and ponds adorned with lotuses and lilies. These are often having a quadrilateral layout.

Mihrab - Niche oriented towards Mecca.

Kiblah - Axis oriented towards Mecca.

The Great Mosque, Qairouan - The building has slightly pointed horseshoe arches carried on capitals of Corinthian derivation. The gored dome is carried on cusped squinches. An important precedent was set in the theprayer-chamber which has a T-shaped plan where a central nave intersects the transverse aisle against the kiblah wall. The giant, square tapering minaret with its recessed stages as well as the incorrect southward orientation of the building itself reflect eighth-century Syrian origins.

Minbar - Raised platform for ceremonial announcements in a mosque.

Muqarnas - It resembles stalactites or honeycombs and becomes the 3D sculptural ornamentations that often appear as a part of vaults. The underside of domes, pendentives, arches, vaults, squinches etcetera usually host these architectural elements.

Kalyan Minaret - The last surviving fragment of the Kara-khanid era mosque was built by Mohammad Arslan Khan in 1127, predating the Mongol conquests. Standing tall at 45.6 meters, this unlikely survivor of the city's early days—which so astonished Genghis Khan that he refused to order its destruction—continues to serve as the centerpiece of the city 

The Dome of the Chain - It covers the summit of Mount Moriah “Furthest Sanctuary” from which the Prophet is believed to have been carried on a night-ride to heaven to receive fundamental revelations. Its high timber dome was carried on a stone arcade of pointed arches on Corinthian columns alternating with marble-faced piers. Surrounding arcaded aisles are set out on an octagonal plan. From the outset, the interior was richly finished in glass mosaic and quartered marble. Pierced marble and ceramic lunettes fill the window openings, which once had iron tracery.

Imam - The man who leads the congregation in prayer.

Sober and Dignified - Among the choices are Islamic Architectural characters except,

Sahn - Cloistered or arcaded courtyard in a typical mosque.

Suleymaniye Mosque - A large building, its dome has a diameter of 26 m (85 ft) and a height of 52 m (170 ft) The lead-faced domes, softly contoured but of powerful shape, are terminated in outward-surging eaves which contrast markedly with the lean elegance of the minarets. Internally, the ceramic panels are sparse but perfect. White calligraphic inscriptions on blue grounds are surrounded by intricate borders, and the great, glowing windows of colored glass are carried in grilles of carved stucco typical of Ottoman work.

Fawwara - It is usually put in the center of the mosque's courtyard for the worshipers to perform their ritual washing before prayer.

Jali - A decorative screen is a common component in Islamic architecture that controls the quantity of light that enters a room.

Liwan - The prayer hall in a typical mosque.

Mosque of Selim II - The complex is huge and measures 190 x130 meters and is composed of a mosque, two symmetrical square madrasas, and there was a row of shops and a school for learning the recitation of the Quran located to the west and added during the reign of Sultan Murad III. The mosque's nearly square prayer hall is approached through a porticoed courtyard, making the central block of the complex rectangular. The approach to the northfaçade of the mosque is dramatic: the aligned gates of the outer precinct wall and forecourt focus the eye upwards toward the dome, which could also be seen from a distance.

Arabesque - Refers to floral motifs created by combining lines and vegetal elements, which can be flowers, leaves, or tree branches. Decorative patterns can be found covering surfaces on buildings like mosques, as well as items like ceramic tiles and glassware. The Islamic emphasis on repetition, balance, symmetry, and pattern formation is exemplified by these designs. Combined with optical effects such as balancing positive and negative areas, as well as sophisticated use of color and tonal values.

Great Mosque of Córdoba - Islamic mosque in Spain, which was converted into a Christian cathedral in the 13th century. The original structure was built by the Umayyad ruler ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān I in 784–786 with extensions in the 9th and 10th centuries that doubled its size, ultimately making it one of the largest sacred buildings in the Islamic world. The ground plan of the completed building forms a vast rectangle measuring 590 by425 feet (180 by 130 meters), or little less than St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Dikka - Reading desk in a typical mosque.

The Great Mosque of Damascus - The first known minarets in Islam, however, were the extant towers of the Great Temple which became the mosque. It was traditional and symbolic in the early years of Islam that the principal church of a city which had resisted the Muslims should be taken over as the congregational mosque.

Alhambra - A distinct among Medieval palaces for its sophisticated planning, complex decorative programs, and its many enchanting gardens and fountains. Its intimate spaces are built at a human scale that visitors find elegant and inviting. It was built by the Nasrid dynasty (1232-1492)—the last Muslims to rule in Spain. Muhammad ibn Yusuf ibn Nasr (known as Muhammad I)founded the Nasrid Dynasty and secured this region in 1237. He began construction of his court complex on Sabika hill the following year.

Dome - The Islamic Architecture adopted this element as one of its primary features after getting influenced by the model of the pre-existing Byzantine domes in Ottoman architecture.

Maqsura - Box or wooden screen near the mihrab, which was originally designed to shield a worshipping ruler from assassins.

Great Mosque of Esfahan - A complex of buildings that centers on the 11th-century domed sanctuary and includes a second smaller domed chamber, built-in 1088, known for its beauty of proportion and design. The central sanctuary was built under the direction ofNiẓām al-Mulk, vizier to the Seljuq ruler Malik-Shāh, probably between 1070 and 1075. It stands at the south end of the courtyard. Its large brick dome is supported by 12 heavy piers.

Geometric pattern - The Islamic emphasis on repetition, balance, symmetry, and pattern formation is exemplified by these designs. Combined with optical effects such as balancing positive and negative areas, as well as sophisticated use of color and tonal values.

Mosque - Any house or open area of prayer in Islam. It could also be used as a school, a place for transactions, storage for treasures, place for hearing official notices.

The Mosque of the Prophet - The courtyard of the Muhammad in Medina, Arabian Peninsula, was the model for later Islamic architecture. The home of Muhammad and his family was a simple structure, made of raw brick, which opened on an enclosed courtyard where people gathered to hear him. In 624 Muhammad decreed that prayer be directed toward Mecca.

INDIAN

Jami Masjid, Fatehpur Sikri - Built by Akbar in A.D. 1571. It covers a rectangular area measuring 542ft X 438ft, with a large courtyard, originally entered by gateways on the north, south, and east. Of these, only the eastern orKing’s Gateway has remained unaltered by subsequent additions. It is one of the largest mosques in the country. The mosque follows the conventional plan form with a central courtyard surrounded by cloisters on 3 sides and the sanctuary on the western side. The sanctuary façade consists of a large rectangular front in the center containing a spacious alcove, with a pillared arcade on each side to form the wings.

Meenakshi Temple - It is one of the most famous Hindu temples in Madurai dedicated to Goddess Parvati, known as the spouse of Lord Shiva. The earliest temple at Madurai was likely constructed in the 7th century C.E., but the temple complex we experience today is largely the work of the Nayak dynasty in the 16th and 17th centuries. They enlarged the complex and redesigned the surrounding streets following the sacred tradition of the Vastu Shastra(Hindu texts prescribing the form, proportions, measurements, ground plan, and layout of architecture). The temple is a prime example of Dravidian architecture—a style of Hindu architecture common in the southern states of India. Characteristics of Dravidian architecture often include covered porches on temples, tall entry gate towers on two or more sides,many-pillared halls, and a water tank or reservoir for ritual bathing.

Shikhara - It is the spire or tower over the temples. It was inspired by the clad peak of the Himalayas.

Nagara - Style of temple architecture that became popular in northern India. In North India, it is common for an entire temple to be built on a stone platform with steps leading up to it. Another unique characteristic is that it does not usually have elaborate boundary walls or gateways. Thegarbhagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower.

Virupaksha Temple - The oldest Hindu shrine within the imperial site and still in active worship today, which predated Vijayanagara rule but was enlarged in 1509–10 for Krishnadevaraya’s coronation. Virupaksha, a form of GodShiva, was the patron deity of the Vijayanagara kings. The enclosed temple complex has an east-facing, 160-foot-high entrance tower (gopura); many Hindu temples face the direction of the rising sun, making the east side the typical entry for devotees.

Hoysaleswara Temple It is a Shiva traditional temple situated inHalebidu or Dwarasamudra in Karnataka and literally known as Halebidu temple. The temple was built by King Vishnuvardhan of the Hoysala Empire in 1121 AD and made of soapstone. The twin temples have two shrines dedicated to representing the masculine and feminine form of Shiva with lingam. The design and decoration of the temple were made by famous architect Kedoraja.

Medhi - It is the upper passage in a stupa.

Sidi Sayyid Masjid - Built The mosque was built in 1510-1515 and is the last building of the style to show any marked originality. The mosque illustrates a departure from conventional mosque design in that it is composed entirely of arcades of arches. It has 8 square piers supporting the arches from the interior of the mosque. Walls are composed entirely of perforated stone screens which have given the building a worldwide reputation. One of the subjects shown in the tracery is the 'palm-and-parasite' motif.

Ashokan pillar capital at Vaishali, Bihar, India - One of Ashoka’s first artistic programs was to erect the pillars that are now scattered throughout what was the Mauryan empire. The pillars vary from 40 to 50 feet in height. They are cut from two different types of stone—one for the shaft and another for the capital. The shaft was almost always cut from a single piece of stone. Laborers cut and dragged the stone from quarries in Mathura and Chunar, located in the northern part of India within Ashoka’s empire.

Jagati - Is a term used to refer to a raised surface, platform, or terrace upon which the typical Hindu temple is placed?

Taj Mahal - Mausoleum complex in Agra, western Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (reigned1628–58) to immortalize his wife Mumtaz Mahal (“Chosen One of the Palace”), who died in childbirth in 1631, having been the emperor’s inseparable companion since their marriage in 1612. In its harmonious proportions and its fluid incorporation of decorative elements, it is distinguished as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a blend of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles. Other attractions include twin mosque buildings (placed symmetrically on either side of the mausoleum), lovely gardens, and a museum.

Lakshmana Temple - The first of several temples were built by the Chandela kings in their newly created capital of Khajuraho. The central deity at this temple is an image of Vishnu in his three-headed form known as Vaikuntha who sits inside the temple’s inner womb chamber also known as garbhagriha.

Akbar’s Tomb - Built The scheme of the mausoleum is on a grand scale, its perimeter walls enclosing a large square garden, while the tomb structure situated in the center of the enclosure is a square in the plan of 320 ft side and over 100 ft high. In the middle of each side of the enclosure is a gatehouse, three of which are false doorways added for symmetry and the southern being the main entrance. The main gateway is a minor monument, with pleasing proportions and bold inlaid ornamentation along with 4 graceful white marble minarets, one above each corner.

Alai Darwaza - Built by the second Khilji Sultan AlauddinKhilji, in 1311 AD, it is the main gateway at the southern end of the Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque, located within the Qutub Minar Complex in South Delhi. It is an extension to provide an entry pathway to the courtyard of the Quwwat-Ul-Islam Masjid

Pietra Dura - Muslims under religious injunction avoided the use of human figurines rather they opted for geometrical patterns (arabesque), floral patterns, inscriptions in various styles, inlay on marble also called,

Mandapa - Is a term to refer to a pillared outdoor hall or pavilion for public rituals.

Karli, Maharashtra - Pinnacle of Hinayana Chaitya construction measuring 124ft by 46.5ft by 45ft. At the front is simha stambha, a 50 ft tall free-standing pillar on both sides of the façade, detached to evoke reverence Each stands on a wide rock cylinder base, 16 sides shaft, fluted abacus, above the capital, and a harmika pedestal. Behind is a vestibule, front made of the rock-cut screen with triple entrance and clerestory.

Chaitya - Ancient structures were influenced by the ascetic lifestyle of the Vedic period and the tendency of hermits to retire in solitude. Buddhist shrine or prayer hall with a stupa at one end made for large gatherings of devotees and made in rock-cut due to permanency of structure.

Vihara - They were the residential places of the Buddhist monks. The main hall was entered through a doorway, leading to an assembly hall, dining chambers, and meditation cells. The walls depict figures of the Buddha and are often excavated from solid rock central pillared chamber or quadrangle surrounded by a verandah.

Humayun’s Tomb - One of the earliest extant examples of the garden tomb characteristic of Mughal-era architecture, situated in Delhi, India. In 1993 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. A landmark in the development of Mughal architecture, it was commissioned in 1569, after the death of the Mughal emperor in 1556, by his Persian queen Hamida Banu Begam. It was designed by Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas. The structure inspired several other significant architectural achievements, including the Taj Mahal.

Harmika - The square railing encircling the pedestal in a stupa.

Provincial Style - In this style of architecture which lasted for a period of two-hundred-and-fifty years, they created buildings with locally available materials, combining the regional styles with the typical Muslimfeatures such as domes, arches, the minarets, and the mihrabs. Initially, they constructed on the ruins of Hindu, and Jain temples, and later they derived their own style in building art.

Taj Mahal - Mausoleum complex in Agra, western Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (reigned1628–58) to immortalize his wife Mumtaz Mahal (“Chosen One of the Palace”), who died in childbirth in 1631, having been the emperor’s inseparable companion since their marriage in 1612. In its harmonious proportions and its fluid incorporation of decorative elements, it is distinguished as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a blend of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles. Other attractions include twin mosque buildings (placed symmetrically on either side of the mausoleum), lovely gardens, and a museum.

Gol Gumbaz - The mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah. It is one of the largest single chambers ever built. Externally, the building is a great cube with a turret or tower attached to each angle, with a large hemispherical dome covering the whole. The effect of the building is derived from the fine proportions between its various elements, especially between the cubical part below and the domed part above.

Agra Fort - It was established by the Mughal emperor Akbar and, in its capacity as both a military base and a royal residence, served as the seat of government when the Mughal capital was in Agra.

Jama Masjid, Mandu - Built Started by Hushang Shah and finished by Mahmud I in A.D. 1440. The mosque covers a square of 288 ft side, prolonged on the eastern front by another 100 ft by a projecting domed entrance hall and a wide flight of steps. There are also two subsidiary entrances to the north, one for the priests and the other a private entrance for the zenana. Being raised on a high plinth enables the front side of the basement to contain a series of arcaded chambers to be used as a serai.

Anda - The spherical dome symbolized the infinite space of the sky in a stupa.

Sun Temple at Modhera - The temple which dates to the early eleventh century, and was built by Raja Bhimdev I of the Solanki Dynasty in 1026is an example of the Nagara style of the temple in this region. The influence of the woodcarving tradition of Gujarat is evident in this temple. Pillars that recount the ancient stories, scenes from Mahabharata and Ramayan (epic Hindu literature) are intricately carved, raised, and erected on the large platform; the temple appears majestic with its grand structure. This mesmerizing work of art is another example of man-made magnificence which amuses people from all over the world.

Antarala - Is a small antechamber or foyer between the garbhagriha (shrine) and the mandapa.

Lomas Rishi Cave - One of the man-made Barabar Caves in the Barabarand Nagarjuni hills of Jehanabad district in the Indian state of Bihar. This rock-cut cave was carved out as a sanctuary. It was built during the Ashokanperiod of the Maurya Empire in the 3rd century BC, as part of the sacred architecture of the Ajivikas, an ancient religious and philosophical group of India that competed with Jainism and became extinct over time.

Brihadeshwara Temple - It is the earliest granite temple in the world. It was built by Chola Emperor Rajaraja I between 1003 and 1010 AD. The vimana tower above the sanctum sanctorum is one of the tallest in South India at216ft. This temple is one of the greatest specimens of Chola architecture. The temple complex is rectangular in shape. There are five main sections: the sanctum with the towering superstructure (Sri vimana), the Nandi Hall in front(Nandi-mandapam), and in between these the main community hall (mukhamandapam),the great gathering hall (mahamandapam), and the pavilion that connects the great hall with the sanctum (ardhamandapam).

Kandariya Mahadev Temple - It is estimated that this temple has about 870sculptures, with a one-meter height each. The entrance has a staircase and porch that is adorned with garlands chiseled out of a single stone. The whole plan of this temple is somewhat like Lakshman and Vishwanath Temple; with all rooms arrayed from east to west and balconies on the south and north. On the inside is the deity of Lord Shiva, holding a trident and snake, with the deities of Vishnu and Brahma. The seven fearful protector goddesses include Brahmi seated on a swan of Brahma; Maheshwari with three eyes seated on Shiva's bull Nandi; Kumari; Vaishnavi mounted on Garuda; the boar-headed Varahi; the lion-headedNarasimhi and Chamunda, the slayer of demons Chanda and Munda.

Bedsa - Measured 45.5ft by 21 ft, with an exterior consisting of two rock-cut columns between pilasters acting as vestibule to the screen. It has a vase-shaped base- an octagonal shaft and carved capitals. The Pillars support the main beam of the roof

Stambha - The next development of Indian--Buddhist structures was the free-standing monolithic columns erected over sites selected because of their sacred associations. They were stone objects. It consists of a circular column or shaft slightly tapering towards the summit (monolithic). On top of this shaft is the Persepolitan bell or the inverted lotus-shaped base. Above this is the abacus on top of which rests the crowning sculpture. These three portions were carved out of a single stone (monolithic).

Sopana - it is tthe stairway in a stupa.

Taj Mahal - Mausoleum complex in Agra, western Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (reigned1628–58) to immortalize his wife Mumtaz Mahal (“Chosen One of the Palace”), who died in childbirth in 1631, having been the emperor’s inseparable companion since their marriage in 1612. In its harmonious proportions and its fluid incorporation of decorative elements, it is distinguished as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a blend of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles. Other attractions include twin mosque buildings (placed symmetrically on either side of the mausoleum), lovely gardens, and a museum.

Vesara - Combination of Nagara and Dravidian style of temple architecture styles.

Garbhagriha - The part in which the idol of the deity in a Hindu Temple is installed or placed.

Mughal Style - The style of this period is a unique blend of Indo-Islamic and Persian styles with Turkish influences. The buildings were excellent and remarkably symmetrical in form and uniform in pattern with intricate ornamentation.

Chatra - The stupa is usually crowned by a triple umbrella called,

Taj Mahal - Resting in the middle of a wide plinth 23 feet(7 meters) high, the mausoleum proper is of white marble that reflects hues according to the intensity of sunlight or moonlight. It has four nearly identical facades, each with a wide central arch rising to 108 feet (33 meters)at its apex and chamfered (slanted) corners incorporating smaller arches. The majestic central dome, which reaches a height of 240 feet (73 meters) at the tip of its finial, is surrounded by four lesser domes. The acoustics inside the main dome causes the single note of a flute to reverberate five times.

Vedika - The enclosed railing in a stupa.

Kondane Caves - Same as Bhaja, except archway, which is part of the stone that measures 66ft by 26.5ft by 28ft. It has an archway more finished and curved with a central pillared hall. It has 23 by 29 columns in colonnades, with cells on three sides.

Stupa - Dome-shaped structures are used to house sacred relics of the monks and are hence also known as “Relic-shrines”. Earth materials are covered with stones or bricks. The plan, elevation, and basic structure are all derived from the circle.

Dravida - Style of temple architecture South India was pioneered by the Pallavas who reigned in parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and northern Tamil Nadu until the ninth century. In the South Indian temple, the word ‘shikhara’ is used only for the crowning element at the top of the temple which is usually shaped like a small stupika or an octagonal cupola—this is equivalent to the amalaka and kalasha. The front wall has an entrance gateway in its center, which is known as a Gopuram.

Gopuram - The huge tower at the entrance of a temple. It serves as the gateway to the temple complex. It is one of the most prominent things in a temple.

Imperial Style - The style of this period is also called the early Indo-Islamic style. The existing buildings were converted into mosques with the elements of ruins from Hindu temples. The palaces were elaborately decorated and embellished with arches and domes. Floral patterns and other Hindu motifs were used widely.

The Great Stupa, Sanchi - The oldest stone structure in India was built by emperor Ashoka. The structure is solid brickwork and is 36.60M in diameter, and 16.46M high.

Torana - The gateway in a stupa.

Annamalaiyar Temple - The breathtaking temple complex is dedicated to Shiva. There are numerous intricately adorned shrines and halls within the entire temple complex which is also considered as one of the largest temple complexes in India. Do make it a point to see the splendid eastern gopuram(tower), which is one the tallest temple towers in India as it stands 66 meters tall, and the gorgeous thousand-pillared hall that extends serenely in the temple complex.

CHINESE

Famen Temple Pagoda - The Pagoda is also known as "the Real Spirit Pagoda", is famous for the fact that it houses a finger bone of Sakyamuni, and the Temple and its stupa enjoyed the reputation of being the "forefather of pagodas and temples in Central Shaanxi". It’s a brick octagon pagoda of 13 stories, 47 meters in height.

Huanqiu Altar, Temple of Heaven - Also known as the Circular Mound Altar, is an empty circular platform with three levels of marble stones. Vivid dragons were carved on the stones to stand for the emperors. The number nine stands for power as well as the emperors in ancient China. Balusters and steps are either the sacred number nine or its multiples. In ancient times, the emperors burn offerings for Heaven on a stove on the platform.

Gate of Heavenly Purity - Also named Qianqingmen, the gate is on the central axis divides the Forbidden City into two parts, the Outer Court, and the Inner Court, therefore, serving as the main entrance to the imperial household. It was established in 1420 and rebuilt in 1655. Five bays wide, three bays deep and sixteen meters high, it is a structure with a single-eave roof, resting on the 1.5-meter-high white marble base of Buddhist-style building surrounded by carved stone balustrades.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda - The Pagoda of the attic-styled square pagoda of brick imitating wood structure consists of the base, the body, and the finial. The whole pagoda is about 65m high with the height of the base being 4.2m and the finial being 4.87m.

Tower of Buddhist Incense, Summer Palace - It is the main building of the Summer Palace complex, built halfway up the front of Longevity Hill. Empress Dowager Cixiwent there every month to worship Buddha. The 41-meter-high pavilion is a Buddhist temple for royal families to worship the Buddha in Qing Dynasty. It has 8stories, was propped up by 8 huge wooden pillars. The design and decoration inside are fabulous.

Since Chinese aesthetics were very consistent and existed within a cohesive system of art, Chinese architecture followed the same standards as paintings, sculptures, and even music. Symmetry and Balance are two of the most important characteristics of this aesthetic. – CORRECT

The Forbidden City - An imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing (Peking), China. Commissioned in 1406 by the Yongle emperor of the Ming dynasty, it was first officially occupied by the court in 1420. It was so named because access to the area was barred to most of the subjects of the realm. Government functionaries and even the imperial family were permitted only limited access; the emperor alone could enter any section at will. The 178-acre (72-hectare) compound was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987 in recognition of its importance as the center of Chinese power for five centuries, as well as for its unparalleled architecture and its current role as the Palace Museum of dynastic art and history.

The Temple of Heaven - Also known as Tiantan Shrine is one of the most brilliant ancient architectures in China. It is also an outstanding masterpiece of classic imperial buildings throughout Chinese history. The site was firstly built in 1420 by Yongle Emperor, then expanded by the subsequent emperors of both the Ming and Qing dynasties and had served as the holy place for emperors to pay homage to Heaven and to pray for a year of a rich harvest.

Huangqiongyu Hall, Temple of Heaven - Also known as the Imperial Vault of Heaven, is smaller with only one circular gable and one level of marble stone base compared with Qinian Hall. It is the place to enshrine the worshiping tablets of Gods. Inside the hall are pillars and a vault decorated with beautiful paintings and carvings. Outside is a circular wall – Echo Wall which can transmit sounds over long distances with 65 m in diameter.

Dabei Hall, South Putuo Temple - Also known as the Hall of Great Compassion, worshiping the Thousand-Hand Kwan-yin, is built in Qing Dynasty. It's situated on the high platform behind Daxiong Hall, with nearly 30 stone stairs between them. The main hall is an octagon shape, and the structure is very delicate and tight, like a spider web.

The Marble Boat, Summer Palace - Erected in 1755, it is the only Western-style structure in the park, inlaid with colorful glass windows and wheels, and paved with colored bricks.

Siheyuan  - Architectural style, emphasizes the privacy of living space. Most residential buildings in China are courtyard-style residences, but there are differences between the north and the south.

Qinian Hall, Temple of Heaven - Also known as the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, is the most magnificent building in the Temple of Heaven. It is a wooden triple-gable circular pavilion that is 38 meters high with a three-level marble stone base. The ancient emperors prayed for good harvests here. There are 28 pillars propping up the hall. The inner 4 pillars are large and stand for four seasons. The middle 12 pillars represent the twelve months. The outer 12 pillars indicate 12 periods of a day.

17-Arch Bridge, Summer Palace - 8 meters wide and 150 meters long, the structure is the largest and longest bridge in the Summer Palace.

9 Bays - Governed by building regulations limiting the dimensions and number of columns for Ancient Chinese buildings, what is the typical number of columns for an Emperor’s Palace or residence? 

Huguo Temple Pagoda - First called Kaibao Temple Pagoda, its name changed during the Ming Dynasty. The color of the pagoda is like iron, so it is also known as Iron Pagoda. The structure is a 13-story hexagonal tower that stands 55.08 meters high.

The Garden of Virtue &Harmony(Deheyuan), Summer Palace - It was built as a theater for Empress Dowager Cixi. The three-story theater stage is the biggest and best-preserved wooden stage in China. Famous Beijing opera actors of the Qing Dynasty would come to perform for the Empress Dowager and the stage was regarded as the"Cradle of Beijing Opera".

Ming Tombs Pai lou - A pai lou of 6 columns, 5 arches, and 11 superstructures, it is built entirely of white marble, and its stone columns are engraved with dragons, lions, unicorns, and other mythical animals to display the power and dignity of the imperial house. Majestic and simple, it measures 28.86 meters wide and stands 14 meters high in the middle, one of the greatest of its kind in the country.

Tianwang Hall, South Putuo Temple - Also known as the Hall of Heavenly Kings situates at the forefront of the central axis and worships Maitreya Buddha.

Yunhui Yuyu Archway - A well-preserved pai lou is the one in front of the main entrance to the Summer Palace Park. Built 200 years ago, it is composed of four columns forming three arches and carrying on top seven roofed ornamental units. Also known as the Glowing Clouds and Holy Land Archway. 

Longevity Hill, Summer Palace - 58-meter-high hill is the seat of some most important buildings of Summer Palace.

Double Eave Hip Roof - In the classic Chinese building code, this type of roof was exclusively reserved for major buildings in royal palaces, such as the hall of Supreme Harmony in Beijing Forbidden City.

Fengshui - An ancient concept that focuses on creating harmony between people, structures, and nature. This pseudoscientific rules span a wide spectrum of philosophies that date back to ancient China and have been passed down through many generations.

White Dagoba Temple - The pagoda is in 51 meters height with a brick masonry structure. The huge pagoda foundation is an octagonal double-floor Sumeru pedestal made of bricks and 2 meters high above the floor. Bevel square tower is in the center covers an area of 810 square meters achieves 9 meters high.

3 Bays - Governed by building regulations limiting the dimensions and number of columns for Ancient Chinese buildings, what is the typical number of columns for an ordinary citizens’ residence? 

Famen Temple - It is a famous Buddhist temple with a long history and became a Holy Land of Buddhism because the finger bone relic of Sakyamuni was placed in it.

Imperial Garden (Yuhuayuan) - Located outside of the Gate of TerrestrialTranquility. Constructed during the Ming dynasty in 1417, it is rectangular in shape and covers approximately 12,000 square meters. This was a private retreat for the imperial family and is the most typical of the Chinese imperial garden design.

Wenfeng Pagoda - The Pagoda also known as the Cultural Peak Pagoda in Fenyang, Shanxi - structure is 84.93 meters tall and has 13 floors. After a magnitude 6 earthquake in 1932, the pagoda began to tilt towards the east, and, further owing to the collapsible nature of the yellow earth, the structure now leans eastward 1.82 meters.

Sakyamuni Pagoda - The pagoda is also known as the Yingxian Pagoda, is the oldest full-wooden pagoda still standing in China. The pagoda was built in 1056 during the North Song Dynasty, measuring 67 meters tall and 30 meters in diameter, supported by a double-layered timber-frame structure, with 24 columns in the external supporting system and 8 columns forming the internal network. Both frames are further reinforced by timber bracings, beams, and short columns.

Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian) - This hall, measuring 210 by 122 feet (64 by 37meters), is the largest single building in the compound, as well as one of the tallest (being approximately the same height as the Wu Gate). It was the center of the imperial court.

5 Bays- Governed by building regulations limiting the dimensions and number of columns for Ancient Chinese buildings, what is the typical number of columns for an official or bureaucrat’s residence? 

Golden River (Golden Water River) - Beyond the Wu Gate lies a large courtyard, 460feet (140 meters) deep and 690 feet (210 meters) wide, through which runs in the abow-shaped arc. It is crossed by five parallel white marble bridges, which lead to the Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen).

Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen) - Lies the Outer Court, the heart of the Forbidden City, where the three main administration halls stand atop a three-tiered marble terrace overlooking an immense plaza. The area encompasses some seven acres (three hectares)—enough space to admit tens of thousands of subjects to pay homage to the emperor.

Hall of Celestial & Terrestrial Union - One of the three main palaces in the inner court of the Forbidden City. It was established in the reign of Jiajing(1522-1566) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and was restored twice in 1655 and 1669. It is a single-roof structure with a gilded bronze spherical pinnacle. Square in shape, it is three bays wide and three bays deep, smaller than the Hall of Central Harmony which is a similar architectural style. The name was adopted from the Book of Changes, meaning the union of heaven and earth, and peace and harmony of the whole nation in China

Suzhou Street, Summer Palace - Emperor Qianlong was keen on the prosperity of Jiangnan, so he built the imitated shopping street resembling Shantang Street. Eunuchs and maids in the royal palace acted as retailers when the emperor's shop on the street.

South Putuo Temple - Temple covers an area of 258,000 square meters. With a thousand-year-old history, the temple was first built in the late Tang Dynasty and was called Sizhou Temple.

Kunming Lake, Summer Palace - It is the body lake and covers more than 3/4 the entire size of Summer Palace. Three small islands sit in the lake standing for three holy mountains in ancient mythology legend.

Wu (Meridian) Gate - The imposing formal southern entrance to the Forbidden City. Its auxiliary wings, which flank the entryway, are outstretched like the forepaws of a guardian lion or sphinx. The gate is also one of the tallest buildings of the complex, standing 125 feet (38 meters) high at its roof ridge. One of its primary functions was to serve as a backdrop for imperial appearances and proclamations.

The Great Wall of China - An extensive bulwark erected in ancient China, one of the largest building-construction projects ever undertaken. The most extensive and best-preserved version dates from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644)and runs for some 5,500 miles (8,850 km) east to west from Mount Hu near Dandong, southeastern Liaoning province, to Jiayu Pass west of Jiuquan, northwestern Gansu province.

Horse headwall - In villages inhabited by ethnic groups, the density of residential buildings is relatively high, which is not conducive to fire prevention. The type of wall can cut off the source of fire in the event of a fire in neighboring residential buildings. It is also called the firewall.

Palace of Heavenly Purity - The smaller version of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. As it was deemed inferior to the Hall of Supreme Harmony everything within it is smaller than similar items in the superior palace. However, it is the largest palace in the Inner Court of Forbidden City, and it is superior to any other structures there. The structure was built in 1420 and rebuilt in 1798because of fire damage Ming emperors and the first two Qing emperors lived in and attended to daily affairs of state.

The Long Corridor, Summer Palace - Facing Kunming Lake, it's 728 meters (2,388feet) long. In 1992, it was recognized as the longest corridor in the world and listed in "The Book of Guinness World Records".

Songyue Temple Pagoda - The oldest existing large pagoda in China. Its structure and style are consummate among ancient pagodas and were constructed in 520 during the Northern Dynasties. The brick pagoda is the earliest multi-eave pagoda to be found thus far with a total height of about 39.8 meters and the diameter of the ground floor is 10.6 meters, including the walls, which are each 2.5 meters thick.

Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian) - Covering a total area of 580 square meters, it is a square structure built like a pavilion, each side of which is five bays long, measuring 24.15m. It has a single-eave roof with a gilded pinnacle gleaming brightly in the sun.

Octagonal Hip Roof - A traditional Chinese roof with 8facades, which could be either single or double eaves, is normally used on a major pavilion structure in a big garden or a larger Buddhist pagoda.

Summer Palace - Known as a world-famed royal garden that used to be called Qingyi Garden (literally translated as “the ripple garden”). With an area of 293 hectares, it mainly consists of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. There, you can find over 3,000 royal garden architectures with various styles, which is roughly divided into three areas, particularly the administrative, the residential, and the scenic area.

7 Bays - Governed by building regulations limiting the dimensions and number of columns for Ancient Chinese buildings, what is the typical number of columns for a prince’s residence? 

Round Roof - This is the most common roof style for garden pavilions.

Dougong - A system of interlocking brackets between the ceiling's column and crossbeam also helped disperse the structure's weight usually used in Ancient Chinese architecture.

Twin Stone Pagodas - Situated in Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou of Fujian Province, the pagodas rank the highest pair among Chinas stone pagodas. The East Pagoda also called “Zhenguo Pagoda”, is 48.24 meters high; the West pagoda, also called “Renshou Pagoda”, is 44.06m high. The pagodas are gems of ancient Chinese stone architecture and have become a landmark of the historic city Quanzhou.

Hip Roof - In the classic Chinese building code, this type of roof was reserved for public buildings of significance, such as meeting halls in royal palaces, or the chief prayer hall in big temples.

Pai Lou - Monumental, ceremonial gateway, and basic symbolic structure in Chinese architecture.

TIBETAN-NEPALESE

Swayambhunath Stupa - An ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. Also called the “MonkeyTemple” and is a religious site for both Buddhists and Hindus. Located at the center of Kathmandu, the stupa is situated atop a hill at 1,336 meters above sea level and is 77 meters from the ground. You must climb 365 steps to reach the top.

Gompas - A spiritual center where Buddhist ideas and beliefs are taught and where one leans to renounce their materialistic and sensual desires and cultivate the right attitude. Usually rectangular or square in plan, it has a central prayer hall furnished with a Buddha statue and benches that nuns or monks use to engage in prayers.

Mani Keshar Chowk - A palace in Patan, with three main courtyards(Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk, and Keshav Narayan Chowk) and many other structures– residential, temples, and sanctuaries. Most impressive is Mul Chowk – the central courtyard with Bidya Temple in the center.

Baka - A major feature of Tibetan architecture is the decoration of the windows. Despite their small size, Tibetan-style windows are framed black, which is called,

Palcho Monastery - The main monastery in Gyantse and ringed by mountains on its three sides. In 1436, Pelkhor-tsen (the prince of Gyantse) and Gendun Drup (recognized as the first Dalai Lama) began to build PalchoMonastery and it cost if 10 years to accomplish it. There is a nice coherent title of monastery and stupa because you can see stupa in the monastery and monastery in the stupa. It is the unique monastery where Gelugpa, Sakypa and Kadampa coexist, and you can get a fuller understanding of Tibetan Buddhist culture.

Stupa - Style of Nepalese Architecture originating in ancient India and are Buddhist in their concept and execution, designed as a tomb-like structure to house sacred relics. The shape is a representative ofBuddha, with the top of the spire symbolizing his crown, while his head is the square at the spire’s base and his body the hemispherical dome shape. His legs are represented by the four steps on the lower terrace at the base of his throne, while the four sides of the square base (harmika) are often painted with pairs of “all-seeing” eyes. The design is also believed to represent the five Buddhist elements – Earth (the square base), Water (the hemispherical dome), Fire (the conical spire), Air (the upper lotus parasol), Space (the sun and the dissolving point).

Vishwanath Temple - Built-in 1627 by King Narasimha of Lalitpur(r. 1620-61), this temple honors the god, Shiva; its name refers to Shiva as"Lord of All". In keeping with the erotic imagery common to Shiva temples in India, the roof supports are decorated with erotic carvings. A stone lingam is also enshrined inside the temple. Twin stone elephants guard the east entrance.

Pagoda - Features prominently in Nepalese temples, with multi-roofed structures and wide eaves which are supported by beautifully carved wooden struts. The roof is often topped by triangular spires which enclose an inverted bell while projecting windows are either latticed or grilled. A style of Nepal architecture evolved from the dome-shaped stupa which was used to store sacred relics and became a distinctive feature of Newari architecture. It was adopted across East and Southeast Asia and, over time, blended with the architecture of Chinese towers and pavilions.

Shikhara - A prominent feature of Nepal’s Hindu temple architecture. A tall curvilinear or pyramidal tower. It translates from Sanskrit as a “mountain peak” and usually exhibits a highly ornate exterior. Designed over the sanctum sanctorum where the presiding deities were enshrined and topped by a bell-shaped “alasha”, or sacred brass receptacle.

Newa - The Kathmandu Valley is also noted for this style of Nepal architecture, an indigenous style that has long been used by the Newari people in building everything from residential housing to chaitya monastery buildings. It is marked by impressive brickwork and wooden carvings, with the architect Arniko influential in its export across Asia.

Chyasim Deval Krishna Temple - The temple was built by Yogamati, the daughter of King Yog Narendra (r. 1685-1705), Yogamati, who constructed it as a memorial to her son Lok Prakash, who died of smallpox at the age of eight. It is built in the shikhara style, imported from north India and Bengal. The name of the temple means eight-sided, in reference to its octagonal plan.

Potala Palace - An immense religion and administrative complex in Lhasa, southern Tibet Autonomous Region, southwestern China. It is situated atop Mar-po-ri (Red Mountain), 425 feet (130 meters) above the LhasaRiver valley, and rises dramatically from its rocky base. contains 1,000 rooms including assembly halls, government offices, and temples, 10,000 altars and200,000 statues. Constructed of wood, stones, and mud bricks and fastened together without steel or nails, it covers an area of 41 hectares and is 13stories high. The roofs are covered with gilded bronze tiles that glitter in the sun and can be seen miles away.

Chorten - The equivalent of stupas in Tibet and Nepal.

Enlightenment Stupa - Also termed as Stupa of the Conquest of Mara, this stupa signifies the time when Buddha under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gayaattained enlightenment. It is said that the demon Mara tried to tempt and attack him, but Buddha come out as the conqueror.

Harishankar Temple - A three-story structure dedicated to a half Vishnu, half Shiva deity. Its roof structure is carved with scenes of the condemned being tortured in various hells. It was constructed by Rudramati, the sister of King Yoga Narendra Malla (r. 1685–1705).

Krishna Mandir - The most important temple in Durbar Square, constructed in 1637. This temple has similarities to temples in Indian Sikharastyle and is adorned with exquisite stone carvings and 21 golden pinnacles. Temple has three floors – first is devoted to Krishna, second – to Shiva, and third – to Lord Buddha.

Boudhanath Stupa - The holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet with a diameter exceeding 100 meters (328 feet) and a wall-to-wall length roughly equaling a football field, is among the largest stupa in the world and certainly the biggest in Nepal. The ancient stupa is 36 meters above the street and dominates the skyline.

Boudhanath Stupa - One of the largest in Nepal and a major pilgrimage site as well as a tourist attraction. It is thought to have been built in the late 6th century CE by a king of the Nepalese Licchavi Kingdom and was enlarged and expanded upon later, most likely in the 14th century CE. As of1979 it was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Chapel of Jamba, Tashilhunpo Monastery - A five-story palace with two winding corridors below. It is a fieldstone-lined chapel with a height of 30 meters and an area of 862 square meters. In the chapel sits a gigantic statue of Maitreya, the future buddha. Based on the 3.8-meter-high lotus-shaped foundation, this statue is the largest and tallest bronze figure of Buddha in the world, 26.2meters high and 11.5 meters wide across the shoulder.

Bhimsen Temple - The temple is named after the strongman of Mahabharata, the god of trade and business. Temple is ornate and well kept, has three floors, and was built in 1680.

Jowo Sakyamuni, Jokhang Temple - The holiest object in Tibet, a life-size statueRinpoche which means” precious one” in the Tibetan language, adorned with jewels, is the heart of the Jokhang Temple.

Degutale Temple - A three-story structure (owing to its triple set of roofs) the temple stands upon a towering rectangular base, making it eight or nine stories in all. The structure was first built in the late 16th or early 17th century by King Shiva Simha Malla (r. 1583-1620) in honor of Taleju, the patron goddess of the Malla kings. His successor Lakshminarasimha Malla (r. 1620-41) added copper gilding to what was then a five-tiered structure. Sometime in the latter part of his reign, the building was destroyed by fire but was rebuilt very early in the reign of King Srinivasa Malla (r. 1661-84) with a more simplified three-level roof (perhaps like the design seen today).

Swayambhunath Stupa - The legend says that the stupa was self-created. When the Kathmandu valley was underwater, a big lotus emerged out from it from which rose a shrine. It has a conical spire in 13 diminishing tiers that symbolize the 13 Buddhist heavens with umbrella apex.

Gyantse Kumbum, Palcho Monastery - Standing 32 meters from the ground, it is the tallest stupas in Tibet and the only stupa of its kind in the Tibetan areas. The stupa base has 5 tiers in an octagonal shape. The stupa body shapes like a bottle tower – the higher, the smaller. All lintels are ornamented with beautiful relieves like elephants, lions, dragons.

Tashilhunpo Monastery - The largest monastery in Shigatse, the center of religion, politics, and culture in the Tsang region and the seat of Panchen Lama. Occupying an area of 150,000 square meters, the monastery is surrounded by3000-meter-long wall. The whole monastery was constructed against the background of the mountain, facing the sun. There are 58 sutra chapels and about3600 rooms.

Patan Durbar Square - A UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of three squares within Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. Its name translates to “palace” or “a court held by a prince”, is an important site for Buddhist and Hindu rituals, holy ceremonies, royal events, and kingly coronations. Within the inner complex of Durbar Square is the site of the Old Royal Palaces (referred to as the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex). The Royal Palaces used to house the kings of the Shah and Malla Dynasty, who ruled over the city until the 19th-century. The palaces have since been turned into museums. This square is laid with redbricks and surrounded by exceptionally beautiful buildings, mostly palace buildings, temples, statues, and old residential buildings. Most of the buildings are adorned with exquisite woodcarvings, which cover door portals, windows, roof struts.

Swayambhunath Stupa - An ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. Also called the “MonkeyTemple” and is a religious site for both Buddhists and Hindus. Located at the center of Kathmandu, the stupa is situated atop a hill at 1,336 meters above sea level and is 77 meters from the ground. You must climb 365 steps to reach the top.

Taleju Bhawani Temple - Built-in honor of the female royal deity. This goddess, who originated in South India, took over the role ofManeshvari—another goddess—at the beginning of the 14th century after her introduction by Harisingh Deva. The goddess served as the Malla kings' tutelary deity as her secret mantra was thought to ensure uninterrupted royal rule and was passed from one king to his successor only when death appeared imminent.

Lung-ta - Also known as wind horse which is both the subduer of evil & the vehicle of enlightenment. One roll of 25 flags strung together showing five traditional designs, every five times.

Lama - Tibetan Buddhists believe that compassionate teachers are reborn again and again, in each lifetime identified when they are children and invested with the office and prestige of their previous rebirth known as a,

Lotus Blossom Stupa - The stupa represents the birth of Buddha. It is said that at the time of his birth, he took seven steps in all four directions signifying love, joy, compassion, and equality. This chorten generally has four circular steps at the base and is decorated with designs of lotus petals.

Jhingati - The special clay tiles with metal gutter are used in Nepalese architecture structures.

Stupa of Nirvana - The stupa represents Buddha’s death and him achieving a state of true peace. This monument is undecorated and appears bell-shaped.

Jokhang Temple - Standing four stories tall, spread over an area of about 25,000 square meters in the heart of Lhasa, the UNESCO world Heritagetemple with its golden roof is an esoteric blend of local Tibetan elements with Nepalese, Chinese, and Indian influences. The spinning of prayer wheels, murmur of mantras, and humble prostrations of devout pilgrims all year long but especially at Losar during the Great Prayer Festival show the significance of this revered spiritual center of Tibet.