The Great Buddha of Kamakura, Japan

Once a capital region for about 100 years, Kamakura is one of the best talked places to visit for the foreigners. The main attraction is the big statue of Amitabha Buddha (阿弥陀仏 Amida Butsu in Japanese) which is 13.35 meter tall weighing 121 ton. It was built around 1423 circa with the collection of funds from devotees and well-wishers without any state support. It is cast in bronze with elaborate use of the joints which can be observed by visiting interior of statue.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura
(Photo credit: Dr Pralhad Uprety)

Located in Kamakura city in Kanagawa Prefecture, it is 1.5 hour drive from Tokyo Station and 1.5 km west from the Kamakura railway station. The entry to temple complex requires fee and one can even enter the interior of the statue by paying extra fee inside the temple complex. The statue was covered previously but the 1495 tsunami swept away  the temple structure and since then it is open to the sky to these days. It is said that with the fall of the area as capital status (capital was shifted to Kyoto) it did not get the state fund for reconstruction.

It is one of the national treasures in Japan and she is trying to list it in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Wishing  all the best in her efforts!!!!!.

Wonder from Peru- Machu Picchu

Wonder of World: Machu Picchu of Inca Empire in Peru

There were  several independent civilizations in different parts of world with different level of art, culture, belief and religion. Inca civilization in South america was one of the  advanced  and developed civilizations. Before being colony of Spanish invaders in 1500s they had good and prosperous life. Because of the military superiority and internal weakness, Spanish could crush them and made whole South America the colony for several hundred of years. In the due course the entire culture was devastated with the suppression of their belief system and forced conversion to Christianity. Macha Pichu was in the high land area without knowledge to Spanish and hence remained untouched. Only in 1911 American historian Hiram Bingham brought notice to outside world about this nice monuments. Since then it has became tourist attraction of Peru. It was listed as World heritage site in 1983. Relieved that such a masterpiece remained untouched by the destroyer of human civilization.