The Taj Mahal is probably the most instantly recognisable and famous building in the world. It is located on the banks of the River Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It was built as a tomb for Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved wife of the fifth Mughal emperor Shah…
Category: Other Places
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat
The Sultan Qaboos is the largest mosque in the country of Oman. It is located in the nation’s capital city, Muscat. Plans for the mosque date back to 1992 when the late Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said Al Said directed that the country should have a Grand Mosque. Following a competition held in 1993,…
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
This mosque is located in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. It is the largest mosque in the country, with a capacity of over 40,100 worshippers. It is a key place of worship for the daily Islamic prayers. There is a smaller replica of this mosque in the city of Surakarta, located…
Jumeirah Mosque, Dubai
This mosque is located in Dubai in the Emirate of Dubai. It was built between 1975 and 1979 and was a gift from the then ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rasheed bin Saeed Al Maktoum to his son and heir Sheikh Mohammed bin Rasheed Al Maktoum. It is located in the Jumeirah District along the Persian…
1st – 5th October, 2019
Following on from my trip to the Philippines, I headed to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia for a few days before flying back to the UK. I had already visited KL back in 2013, but wanted to revisit for more exploration! KL is a big city but so much easier to get around than Manila and…
22nd – 30th September, 2019
For my main vacation for this year I decided to head back to the Philippines. I planned to stay in Manila and also Puerto Princesa on the island of Palawan. I was going mainly to catch up with friends but also to do a little more exploring as I didn’t really see much of Puerto…
Thean Hou Temple, Kuala Lumpur
This temple, located on Robson Heights in Kuala Lumpur is dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess, Mazu. Thean Hou which translated means Queen/Empress of Heaven was an official title conferred on Mazu in 1683. It is customary never to pray to her using that title during emergencies since it is believed that on hearing them,…
23rd – 26th August, 2019
Spent the August Bank Holiday weekend down in London so I could attend a performance by the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms. I have done this over the past few years always enjoy the weekend as the weather has always been rather kind. This year was…
Safdarjung’s Tomb, Delhi
This tomb was built in 1754 in the late Mughal Empire style for the Nawab Safdarjung. The mausoleum was constructed in marble and sandstone. Safdarjung, who was the Nawab of Oudh was made prime minister of the Mughal Empire when Ahmed Shah Bahadur ascended the throne in 1748. The tomb was the last of the…
Qutb Complex, Delhi
This complex is a collection of monuments and buildings from the Delhi Sultanate at Mehrauli in Delhi. It embraces the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque of Qutbuddin Aibak and the Qutb Minar. Also to be found in the complex are the Tomb of Iltutmish, the Alai Minar, Alai Darwaza and what is believed to be the Tomb of…
Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi
This mausoleum for the Emperor Humayun is the first mature example of Mughal architecture on the sub-continent. It represented a leap in Mughal architecture, and together with it’s Charbagh garden, typical of Persian gardens but never before seen in India, it set a precedent for subsequent Mughal architecture. This then reached it’s zenith with the…
Cathedrals and Churches I've Visited on my Travels 