An desert oasis blossoming rich civilisations and cultural heritages - Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas) 1343; Majlis, a cultural and social space 01076; Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices 01509; Al Aflaj, traditional irrigation network system in the UAE, oral traditions, knowledge and skills of construction, maintenance and equitable water distribution 01577; Falconry, a living human heritage 01708; Arabic calligraphy

Former glorious capital of Vijayanagara with unrivalled sculptures - Group of Monuments at Hampi 241 Chariot near Vitthala temple What and Why Hampi ( Hindi : हम्पी) was the capital of the Vijayanegara Empire (Sanskrit: विजयनगर साम्राज्य) and reached its zenith during the 14th century when it was the second largest city in the world, after Beijing (Chinese: 北京) . As a result it developed rapidly in terms of culture and religion and was considered the richest and most prosp

One of the earliest cultural boulevards of Europe - Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a landscape of Arts and Sciences 1618; Mediterranean diet 00884 Plaza de Cibeles What and Why The Paseo del Prado is the main north-south axis of Madrid , and is characterised by a densely tree-lined boulevard. The boulevard is the main tourist landmark for the city residents with a few world-class museums along the way: the Prado Museum ( Spanish : Museo Nacional del Prado ) , the Thyssen-

Universal symbol and cradle of Greek antiquity civilisation - Acropolis, Athens 404; Mediterranean diet 00884 Acropolis What and Why Stepping into the Acropolis of Athens ( Greek : Ακρόπολη Αθηνών, Akrópoli Athinón ) is like being teleported back in time and it is one feeling that you can experience when you are there. The Acropolis is an ancient citadel built on top of a rocky hill which has become synonymous as the cradle of Greek and western civilisation, and much herald

Birthplace of Apollo and Artemis - Delos 530 Delos lions What and Why Delos ( Greek : Δήλος) , in spite of its current size, barrenness and lack of water, was surprisingly a major political focal point during the classical antiquity period . The island was a major commercial and trading centre from the 2nd century BCE till the 1st century CE, due to the belief in Greek mythology that the island was the birthplace of the twins Apollo (Ἀπόλλων, Apollōn ) , god of the sun, mu

Once the largest city on Earth, now the largest temple in the world - Angkor 668; Sbek Thom, Khmer shadow theatre 00108 Angkor Wat What and Why Angkor ( Khmer : អង្គរ) is simply one of the most important archaeological and cultural sites in Southeast Asia , and possibly the world. It is a graceful representation of the powerful Khmer Empire (ចក្រភពខ្មែរ) , and was possibly once the largest city on Earth during the 11th to 13th century, housing more than 1 million populatio

World's largest Buddhist temple of superlatives - Borobudur Teminple Compounds 592; Gamelan 01607 Borobudur dawn view What and Why Borobudur Borobudur is simply a world wonder and no other words better suit this! To me one of those mouth-opening moments when one sees it with your own eyes! Dating from the 7th century, this is one of world's truly great ancient monuments. Borobudur is the single largest Buddhist structure anywhere on Earth, and the temple shows some of the

Masterpiece Hindu temples built during the 10th century CE - Prambanan Temple Compounds 642; The Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta and its Historic Landmarks 1671; Indonesia kris 00112; Indonesian batik 00170; Gamelan 01607 Prambanan Temple Compounds What and Why Prambanan ( Indonesian : Rara Jonggrang ) is a complex of tall Hindu temples ( candi ) dedicated to Trimūrti (Sanskrit: त्रिमूर्ति) , the triple personified supreme diety of Hinduism: Brahmā (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मा) th

6,000 year-old megalithic burial mounds with astronomical precision - Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne 659; Irish Harping 01461 Boyne valley tomb What and Why Brú na Bóinne is a prehistoric human settlement near the town of Drogheda ( Irish : Droichead Átha ) for the past 6,000 years. One of the most important features of the sites are the magnificent tombs of the Neolithic or Late Stone Age , which demonstrates that this site must had been

Hilltop mediaeval town with one of the most beautiful cathedrals - Historic City of Toledo 379 Toledo What and Why Toledo stands out from other European cities for being a confluence of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures, and is hence nicknamed the 'City of the Three Cultures', and it becomes as a result a heritage city with extensive cultural monuments. The city was also the royal residence of the Holy Roman Emperor (Latin: Imperator Romanorum ) Charles V (Dutch: Karel

Historic residence of the King of Spain - Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid 318 El Escorial What and Why El Escorial is a massive and elegant Spanish royal sites ( Spanish : reales sitios ) and functioned as a monastery, basilica, royal palace, pantheon, library, museum, university, school and hospital throughout its time. Commissioned by Philip II ( Felipe II , né Felipe de Habsburg ) with the intention of demonstrating the power of Spain's ( España ) monarchy

A mosque? A cathedral? - Historic Centre of Cordoba 313; Fiesta of the patios in Cordova 00846; Mediterranean diet 00884 Mosque-Cathedral What and Why Cordova ( Spanish : Córdoba ) is an epicentre of cultural crossroads in Europe as it contains a mixture of the diverse cultures that have settled it throughout history. Very few cities in the world had the history and privilege to serve as the capital of a major Roman province, namely Further Hispania ( Hispania Ulterior )

Magical use of space, light, water and greens in a Moorish castle - Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada 314; Flamenco 00363; Mediterranean diet 00884 Alhambra What and Why Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located on a hilltop in Granada and was originally constructed as a small fortress in the late 9th century on the remains of Roman fortifications . The complex was then largely ignored until its ruins were renovated and rebuilt in the mid-13th century by th

Alms-giving during sunrise - Town of Luang Prabang 479; Khaen music of the Lao people 01296; Traditional craft of Naga motif weaving in Lao communities 01973 Alms-giving at Luang Prabang What and Why Located in the confluence of Mekong River (ແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ, Maenam Khong ) , Luang Prabang ( Lao : ຫລວງພະບາງ, Louangphabang ) is a remarkable city, so isolated from the outside world that it still possesses extremely well preserved architectural, religious and cultural heritages. In

Oppa Gangnam style! - Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty 1319; Arirang, lyrical folk song in the Republic of Korea 00445; Kimjang, making and sharing kimchi in the Republic of Korea 00881; Knowledge, beliefs and practices related to jang making in the Republic of Korea 01975 Gangnam style What and Why Gangnam ( Korean : 강남) , made famous by the hit song Gangnam Style ( 강남스타일 ) , is the current main business district of Seoul (서울) as a result of the rapid economic boom of Kor

An ultra-modern metropolis with a history of more than 2,000 years - Jongmyo Shrine 738; Changdeokgung Palace Complex 816; Royal ancestral ritual in the Jongmyo shrine and its music 00016; Kimjang, making and sharing kimchi in the Republic of Korea 00881; Knowledge, beliefs and practices related to jang making in the Republic of Korea 01975 Gwanghwamun What and Why Seoul ( Korean : 서울) is an ultra-modern city of stark contrasts. The city proper itself dates back to 18 BCE,

One of the most beautiful mediaeval European cities with a hint of former communist feel - Historic Centre of Kraków 29; Nativity scene (szopka) tradition in Krakow 01362 Old town square What and Why Kraków (pronounced /ˈkrakuf/) is always cited as one of the most culturally rich and beautiful cities in the world in various forum, so much so that its fame lands itself being the first batch of UNESCO WHS inscriptions in 1979. Banked on the Vistula river ( Polish : Wisła ) ,

The old salt mine with extraordinary salt rock sculptures - Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines 32 Saint Kinga Chapel What and Why The Wieliczka Salt Mine ( Polish : Kopalnia Soli Wieliczka ) , excavated since the 13th century, produced table salt continuously until 2007 and was one of the world's oldest operating salt mines. The mine is located in Wieliczka , which is a city just south of Kraków . Table salt, in the form of sodium chloride with brine welling up to the s

Two-route Mannerist pilgrimage park that gives its visitors an air of serenity - Kalwaria Zebrzydowska: the Mannerist Architectural and Park Landscape Complex and Pilgrimage Park 905 Basilica of Saint Mary What and Why Kalwaria Zebrzydowska park ( Polish : Sanktuarium pasyjno-maryjne w Kalwarii Zebrzydowskiej ) is a beautiful and serene Mannerist , or late Renaissance , architectural and park landscape complex and pilgrimage park, built in the 17th century as the Counter Refo

Mediaeval church with frescoes of long-lasting legacy - Boyana Church 42; Bulgarian Chitalishte (Community Cultural Centre): practical experience in safeguarding the vitality of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 00969 Boyana Church What and Why The Boyana Church ( Bulgarian : Боянска Ц ърква, Boyanska Tsărkva ) is a mediaeval Orthodox church built in the 10th century located in the Boyana district, apparently the most well-off area of Sofia (София, Sofiya ) . The church is