There are many beautiful places on earth which makes it impossible to let go of one's travel urge. The natural landscapes are a tempting sight but there are numerous man-made constrctions that will leave you dazed.
While it is not easy to pick and rank these marvels in a particular order, we bring you images of some of the most incredible examples of architectural craftsmanship.
Tiger's Nest Monastery, Paro District, Bhutan Bhutan's most sacred shrine, the Tiger's Nest Monastery, is built on a rock which is 2,600 feet above the Paro valley. Breathtakingly attractive, the entire complex looks quite precarious and is built around a cave.
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain Having consumed 40 years of the veteran Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, this Gothic art Nouveau cathedral is still incomplete and is expected to be ready anytime between 2017 and 2026.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey Originally designed to serve as a church, Hagia Sophia or the 'Holy Wisdom', was used as a mosque and now stands as a museum. This domed monument is an architectural wonder and is an epitome of Byzantine architecture, which remained the largest cathedral on earth for about a thousand years before Seville Cathedral took over the title in 1520.
Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE An awe-inspiring sail-shaped hotel, Burj Al Arab is an iconic building that has 60 storeys with powerful diagonal braces. The highlight of this hotel is its 600-foot tall atrium – the world's tallest - that reveals itself once you step inside.
Gresham Palace, Budapest, Hungary Hit by the WW II, this magnificent building is now a Four Seasons Hotel that absorbed sum of $125 million for its restoration. The hotel lobby features a radiant glass covered shopping arcade now. Earlier, it was a get-together place for Budapest's elite.
The Guggenheim, Bilbao, Spain Imbibing a complex architecture with a titanium-clad exterior, this gleaming museum will stun you beyond belief. Designed by Frank Gehry, this building is a work of fine art that reflects the late 20th-century thinking.
Nelson-Atkins Museum's Block Building, Kansas City, MO Whenever you will say think-out-of-the-box, this is the first thing that will strike you. The sequence of lustrous boxes with frosted glass stands calmly on the green lawn and looks unbelievably beautiful after the sun set. The underground galleries get a striking effect when the sunlight filters through them.
Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia Australia's most popular building is a multi-venue performing arts center and is an icon of the country's technical and creative achievement. The building is a dramatic work of 20th-century architecture with soaring shell-shaped sails that sit atop a huge red granite platform. It is located at the end of Bennelong Point and is the focal point of the Sydney Harbour.
The Golden Temple, Amritsar, India A combination of Hindu and Muslim architecture style, the Golden Temple is a popular Sikh shrine that welcomes all and sundry with open arms. It looks even more splendid with the lake amplifying its reflection and lights adding to its glory at night.
The Institute For Sound And Vision, Hilversum, Netherlands Stunning and captivating, this huge media collage is the work of a talented graphic artist, Jaap Drupsteen. The building is nothing but a four-sided mural with images from Dutch television directly shown on cast glass.
Wat Rong Khun, ChiangRai, Thailand The white contemporary Buddhist temple is purity personified. Featuring ornate sculptures and a Golden Buddha sitting inside to bless you, the place is sure to leave you dumstruck once you pass through its shrine.
Christian Dior Store, Omotesando, Tokyo Christian Dior Store, Omotesando, Tokyo
