New Delhi:
World Heritage Day is an international day singled out each year to observe the marvels and wonders of heritage sites and monuments. When we think of heritages we are constantly reminded of the pictures of The Pyramids, Machu Picchu, Acropolis, Stonehenge and the likes. What we don’t know however is that beyond the history books lies an art of perfection crafted out by the human hands long ago that are lesser known and celebrated.
As of now, the UNESCO identifies 878 World Heritage sites and below are five of heritage sites that are lesser known:
Leshan Giant Buddha: Believed to have been constructed by a Chinese monk, Haithong and his followers in 713, Maitreya Buddha was carved from a cliff face where the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers meet, in southern Sichuan, China. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, it is the largest stone Buddha in the world, at 71m tall and 28m wide.Â
Monte Albán: A site that offers a unique flashback of the Zapotec history and culture, Monte Albán is located in the mountain range of southern Mexcio. It is also believed to be one of the earliest pre-Columbian Mesoamerican sites ever found, dating back to at least 500BC.
Lalibela: Located in the rural town of Ethiopia, this heritage site consisting of 13 churches is believed to date back as early as 1200’s has been carved completely from rock directly into the ground.
Ellora Caves: Located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, India. It is one of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple cave complexes in the world, featuring Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments, and artwork, dating from the 600-1000 CE period.
Aldabra Atoll: Declared a world heritage site in 1982, Aldabra Atoll, the world’s second biggest coral atoll is uninhabited, isolated and home to the world’s largest population of giant tortoises.
