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Golden Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha Temple, Thailand
Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is located in the heart of Bangkok within the grounds of the Royal Palace. The temple was built to house the famous emerald Buddha statue. Within the temple complex is a large stupa, Phra Si Rattana Chedi, covered in millions of gold leaves. Later, this stupa became the resting place for deceased kings.
Shwedagon Golden Pagoda, Myanmar
This is considered the most sacred temple in Myanmar, housing four treasures: the staff of Buddha Kakusandha, the water filter of Buddha Konagamana, a piece of clothing of Buddha Kassapa, and eight strands of hair of Buddha Siddhartha Gautama. The main pagoda of the temple reaches a height of 98 meters, entirely covered with thin sheets of gold crafted by artisans using traditional techniques.
Harmandir Sahib Temple, India
Located on an artificial island in Punjab, India, the Harmandir Sahib temple is the holiest temple for Sikhs worldwide. Built over 27 years, it is surrounded by a sacred pool. Aside from its white granite base, almost the entire temple is covered in gold leaf, adorned with intricate and artistic carvings and reliefs. It is also considered the most heavily gold-plated structure in the world.
Unlike other enclosed religious structures, the Harmandir Sahib temple is always open to visitors; however, people must follow certain rules, such as removing their shoes outside, being given a headscarf, and washing their feet in an outdoor pool before entering the main temple area.
Kinkakuji Temple, Japan
Kinkaku-ji (also known as the Golden Pavilion) is located within the grounds of Rokuon-ji Temple, a cultural heritage site of the ancient capital of Kyoto. Kinkaku-ji has three floors reflected in Kyoko Pond (Mirror Pond), with the two upper floors magnificently covered in gold leaf. The walls of the upper two floors are also covered in gold leaf, shining brightly, hence the name Golden Pavilion.
The Golden Pavilion is a valuable spiritual symbol and a historical Buddhist monument of Japan. In 1994, the temple was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Dome of the Rock Mosque, Israel
Built around 690 AD, it is believed that this is where the Prophet Mohammad ascended to heaven on a winged horse. The mosque has an octagonal base and a circular dome in the Byzantine architectural style.
The dome, originally covered with tiles, was rebuilt in 1964 with a metal roof gilded with real gold by the King of Jordan, who appealed to the Arab world to contribute funds. The dome has become the most dazzling symbol in the Jerusalem sunshine.
Church of the Annunciation, Russia
The Annunciation Cathedral, located within the Kremlin complex, is famous as a place of worship, penance, and royal wedding ceremonies in the past. The most striking feature of the cathedral is its nine gilded domes, adorned with solid gold crosses, and the bronze doors leading into the cathedral are also gilded.
Inside, the floor is entirely paved with agate-colored quartz, creating a truly eye-catching effect.
St. Mark's Basilica, Italy
This magnificent religious structure is located in San Marco Square, Venice, Italy. The church has over 500 columns made of various expensive stones such as granite and alabaster, arranged both inside and outside the church.
The most striking feature of the church is the ornate gilded panels covering the entire interior, earning St. Mark's Basilica the nickname "Golden Church." In front of the upper windows are four gilded bronze horse statues, each weighing 875 kg.
The church's main attraction is its collection of the oldest gilded mosaics. Among the most famous are the "Apostles and the Virgin Mary" mosaic next to the main entrance and the "Ascension of Christ" in the central dome, which draw many visitors who stop to admire them.
