Monday, April 06, 2020

Monday, April 06, 2020

Favorite Temples and Mosques

Posted by Hippobean at 5:58 PM
In Hippo's travels:



1. Pre Rup - Siem Reap, Cambodia

An imposing staircase, lion temple guards and the view of the jungle from the top of the temple was magnificent. The Hippo is usually not much about Hindu temples as they have scary statues but this one had all the architecture without scary figures. The red clay was intense and brilliant in the early morning sun. The temple was small which she liked better.

Hippo's all time favorite. SmallTiger's favorite too.





2. Abdulaziz Khan Madrassa -
Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Just around the corner from our hotel the Abdullaziz Madrassa was the most colorful. It's so beautiful it blew the Hippo away.
Inside, we were able to see some of the cells of the students. They were quaint and cozy with 2 stories. Even the walls were decorated.

Most stunning of all the Islamic architecture.



3. Gur Emir Mausoleum -
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Timur's simple black stone sarcophagus, without decoration. A powerful message. Tiles and interior covered in deep blue and gold. The combo colors most befitted for a ruler.

The setting is among green trees, beautiful and serene. Illuminated at night.
I liked this mausoleum the most.



4. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque -
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Pure white, side halls with arches, interior domes with crystal chandeliers, prayer halls with mosaics, columns decorated with golden palm leaves, one continuous carpet covered the main prayer hall. Even the women ablution room was elaborately decorated.

The Hippo had found no other equal to this mosque. She was absolutely stunned.






5. Angkor Wat -
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Largest and the most sacred, its enormity is mind boggling. The quincunx, and it's perfect reflection on the moat, and oh the view of the 5 the towers from the causeway with heads of naga balustrade.
The inner temples, the corridors with symmetrical columns, Angkorian architecture, no parallel. Stunned.

"We'd always have Angkor".



6. Tirta Empul - Bali, Indonesia
Most beautiful Hindu Balinese water temple. Golden stupas with thatch tops that looked like mushrooms, brilliantly decorated temple columns and ceilings. White stone statues. Gorgeous, gorgeous.





7. Philae Temple - Aswan, Egypt
Hippo's first Egyptian temple and dedicated to a goddess.
Enormous pylons carved with figures of Isis. Stone columnade.
Impressive. Most impressive.
The first always the most impressionable.




8. Kok Gumbaz Mosque -
Shakhrisabz, Uzbekistan
Built by the ruler Ulugbek (Tamerlane's grandson) in honor of his father, Shakhruh. The name means 'blue dome', the most beautiful dome of all mosques.
Not the most elaborate dome but the beauty was its simplicity in light blue ceramic titles, with the an inscription in white tiles around the tholobate of the dome that displays a passage from the Koran: "Sovereignty belongs to Allah, wealth belongs to Allah."
Stunned by the simple beauty of the dome. Couldnt take my eyes off it.



9. Manu Ok Kaung Monastery -
Inwa, Myanmar
The Hippo first saw it online and got immediately hooked. The brilliant golden yellow of its walls and the maze of corridors and halls did not disappoint.
One of Hippo's most favorites.



10. Shwe Indein Pagoda -
Indein, Myanmar
Stupas, stupas and a thousand stupas everywhere, of every style, color and size. Ochre, golden, square and round bases with cone tops. Carved garudas on the stupa entrances. Blew me away.



Bonus:
Just because Hippo loved the giant faces. SmallTiger loved the giant faces too.
Banyon - Siem Reap, Cambodia



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