6 places of worship from around the world with brilliant architecture

The world is filled with architectural marvels today. From the colossal skyscrapers in the United States to the museums in Paris and other countries that decorate the cities and towns, architecture has been flourishing through and through. There are buildings made entirely of a glass facade, and there are churches so grand that the carvings over them feel unreal. And so, giving a tribute to brilliant architects, here we mention 6 places of worship that are architectural marvels.

A church that has been in construction for over 140 years now, the Sagrada Familia is a true architectural marvel. It is the epitome of Gothic architecture and blends in Art Nouveau styles as well. The Sagrada Familia’s facade details different biblical stories, and the spires look like they are reaching the heavens. There are also kaleidoscopic stained-glass windows that give a beautiful reflection of sunlight inside the church. It is assumed that Sagrada Familia will be completed by 2026.

India’s pride, the Akshardham temple, is another architectural marvel that has no competitors. It is modern, has ancient elements, there are exquisite carvings and even new-age programs inside the temple to engage the audience. It was constructed using pink sandstone and white marble, and both on the inside and outside are carvings of deities, dancers, flowers, animals, and other beautiful things.

Paro taktsang isn’t just a temple with architectural beauty, but also the sheer courage of the human hand and mind. It is located on the edge of a cliff in the Paro Valley, Bhutan, and a devotee has to climb steep rocks to reach the main temple.
The temple is a wooden structure, painted in colours of white, yellow, red, and more, and the lush greenery all around perfectly compliments it all. There are carved balconies, prayer halls, golden spires, climbing floors, and much more to evidence the architectural brilliance.

The Las Lajas Sanctuary in Colombia is a gem of neo-Gothic architecture, built in one of the most unusual locations, a canyon! It is a blend of natural beauty and the human mind, and as you walk towards the building it feels like you are walking through a simple bridge, going possibly into a train station (a rather beautiful one), but soon you are greeted with the Sanctuary. It is constructed above the Guaitara river, and the church is connected to the opposite side of the canyon by a bridge. It has tall spires, classic tinted glass windows, and of course, minimal colours all over that are pleasing to the eyes.

Another temple that made it to the list is the Meenakshi Amman in Tamil Nadu. Simply put, it is the perfect blend of colours and one of the very rare examples where a palette of different shades comes together perfectly. The temple is famous for its gopurams which are covered with thousands of colourful carvings od deities, animals, divine figures, and much more. It is also said that inside the temple there are over 33000 sculptures and carvings that mesmerise the devotees.

The Wat Rong Khun, or the White Temple, is in Thailand and it is a complete wonder of architecture with the most surreal and unique design. It is a Buddhist temple that enchants people, and the unique spirals and designs keep them mesmerised. The temple was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, a brilliant architect, artist, and devout Buddhist who wanted the temple to be all white to symbolise the purity of Buddha and Buddhism.