Borobudur - UNESCO World Heritage

By Peter Vanderlans

In 1991 the Borobudur was added in the UNESCO world Heritage list. Regardless if you are interested in architecture, religion or culture, it's impossible to ignore the achievement of the builders of the Borobudur, which is one of the wonders of Asia.

The Borobudur was build in the 9th century. Imagine a tropical kingdom were people mostly lived from agriculture and trade. Most of the land is still jungle with the twin volcanoes Sundoro-Sumbing and Merbabu-Merapi, and two rivers, the Progo and the Elo nearby.

When a pilgrim starts the journey, the goal is to reach a form of enlightenment when reaching the top. This requires a certain mindset but it is certainly true the monument has an effect on you.

When in 1991 I visited very early in the morning, I was mostly alone. It seldom happens you will have the Borobudur for yourself. Most visitors go directly to the top of the monument but in fact it is far more rewarding to walk the corridors and walk through darkness into the light of the open air at the top where the Buddhas under their stone stupas keep an eye on you.

It's not an easy life people have here. The volcanoes are active and the jungle is full with dangerous animals. The king is like a god. Tools used are basic. And then the king says he wants to build a monument. It seems an impossible task.

Although few know it, the original name of the construction has been lost in time. It was Sir Thomas Raffles who wrote down in a book about Javanese history the name Borobudur. It means "nearby village of Bore. Some suggest Budur has links to Buda, the Javanese word for ancient. Others suggest Budur comes from Javanese term bhudhara: mountain.

Whatever the origins of the name are, even today the Borobudur is an impressive monument. When I visited in 1991, I was amazed by the colossal building which represents a 3 dimensional mandala, simultaneously representing the Buddhist cosmology and the nature of mind.

The idea is to walk in, and follow the corridors to the top level. It's about 5 km total distance. As with all Buddhist constructions, temples, stupas etc, you have to walk clockwise. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kamadhatu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness).

Peter van der Lans is a Dutchman who lives these days in Sitiawan Malaysia. After years of traveling, he cycled from Holland to Malaysia, stayed a months in the Middle East, a year on the Indian Subcontinent and 2 years in China plus a year in the UK, he settled himself in Malaysia.

Sitiawan was the perfect place to write a website about Pangkor Island in Malaysia. Later he wrote www.bicycle-adventures.com, an ongoing project about his journeys on bicycles. A third website: www.yangshuo-travel-guide.com he recently build. In the years in China, he lived in Yangshuo and he thinks he can tell the story about this pretty little town in China.

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Peru Travel: Top Historic UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Peru

By Tim Anson

History and culture buffs will have the perfect vacation by traveling to the top historic UNESCO World Heritage Sites throughout Peru. Visit a wide variety of cities during your trip to Peru and learn about the extensive history of cities throughout the different regions, from Lima to Arequipa and all the way to Cusco, visit these three historical sites on your Peru trip.

An UNESCO World Heritage Site is selected by a committee of 21 countries who determine the best that humanity and nature have created. All World Heritage Sites must be of exceptional universal value and should be honored and preserved for future generations. Peru is home to 11 World Heritage Sites, a mixture of historical and natural wonders, all of which should be visited on your Peru vacation. If you are looking to experience the best of Peru's cultural and historic cities visit one of these World Heritage sites during your travel to Peru.

Peru's capital city, Lima, is the gateway to the rest of the country, as almost all travelers will travel through the city to reach their next destination. However, Lima offers more than a hub for transportation; it is a historically rich city and a food lover's paradise. Known as the "City of Kings" this beautiful city was the former colonial capital of the region. Lima was of great importance in the formation of the New World during the 18th century and provides a great example of the architecture from a Spanish colonial town. Visit the historic city center while visiting Lima during your Peru travel.

The beautiful region of Arequipa allows travelers to experience city life and beautiful scenery all in one place. Head south from Lima to the "White City," Arequipa, throughout the city colonial buildings, churches, and mansions are crafted from a volcanic stone, sillar, which is a magnificent pearly white. This beautiful craftsmanship is an integration of European and native styles, and is a main reason it was declared a World Heritage Site. The beauty of the city's architecture and buildings is only highlighted by the city's gorgeous weather and landscapes. Sitting at the base of the Misti Volcano the city is nestled in the green hills of rich farmland and Inca agricultural terraces, and provides a beautiful and unique destination for your Peru holiday.

Cusco, the heart of the Inca Empire is also full of history, culture, and scenery, and is the first stop on most Machu Picchu tours. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1983, the city of Cusco has retained its charm through centuries of transformation and provides a display of the Inca's unrivaled craftsmanship. The architecture throughout the city is a diverse mixture of Inca and colonial styles, the latter from the Spanish conquest which led to the demise of the Inca Empire. This mixture ensures that around every corner travelers will get a glimpse into the intriguing yet tortured past of the city. Cusco was declared a World Heritage Site based on the criteria that it "bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared." The city does just that, Cusco is a lasting testament to the Inca Empire, and should be discovered on every Peru vacation.

Discover the history of Lima, Arequipa, and Cusco on your Peru vacation through the top historical UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

This article about the top UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Peru was written by a travel expert at Peru For Less who specializes in helping you organize best value Machu Picchu vacation packages and fully customizable Peru tour itineraries.

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Top 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to Visit on Train Holidays to Europe

By Anna Copeland

Train holidays to Europe are all about seeing fantastic sights of the natural landscape, and as you can imagine there are a fair few of these to see on the continent. However, if you really want to see some amazing sights then you should check out these three incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are definitely worth a visit during a rail trip across Europe.

1. Giant's Causeway, Ireland

Although not strictly part of mainland Europe, this is certainly worth a slight detour at the beginning or end of your trip. The Giant's Causeway is one of the most impressive natural phenomenons in the world. These 40,000 basalt columns in County Antrim in the north east of Northern Ireland were formed during a volcanic eruption millions of years ago. The largest reach up to 12 metres in length, and they create a unique and spectacular sight. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, and is now a nature reserve.

There are lots of legends attached to the area, the most common of which is that Fionn mac Cumhaill built it to cross to Scotland to fight his nemesis Benandonner, although there are many variations of the story. Make sure you check out the Giant's Boot, the Organ and the Giant's Eyes when you visit during your train holidays to Europe.

2. Mount Athos, Greece

Mount Athos is another incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site that you might want to visit during train holidays to Europe. Known as the Holy Mountain, the site in Macedonia consists of 20 monasteries and is a semi-state in itself. Visits to the mountain are heavily restricted and visitors require an entrance permit first. It's also only permitted for males to enter.

Mount Athos is more like a fantasy landscape with its steep, forested slopes, caves harbouring hermits, beautiful forest, wildlife, clear waters and picturesque gardens. If you're lucky enough to visit during your train holidays to Europe then it could well prove to be a highlight.

3. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

The Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the most beautiful spots in Europe. The main feature of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is its 16 colourful lakes of different shades of green and blue, which change colour depending on the minerals in the water and the level of sunlight. It is situated halfway between Zagreb and the coast and is one of the most popular attractions in Croatia, and well worth visiting during your train holidays to Europe.

The lakes are connected by waterfalls, which creates a beautiful, dreamlike ambience. If you're lucky, you may even get to see some of the wildlife of the park, including bears, wolves and many species of birds. It's open all year and there are lots of hiking trails to enjoy.

Visit the Most Amazing Places in Europe

Train holidays to Europe provide you with the opportunity to see some fantastic places, and few can be more impressive than the UNESCO World Heritage Sites described above. Make your holiday really special by trying to visit at least one of these incredible places next time you go on a train trip across the continent.

Anna Copeland is the Marketing Manager for The Danube Express, which specialises in train holidays to Europe. The Danube Express has a range of exclusive train holidays to Europe travelling across countries like Poland, Hungary and Turkey.

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8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites for River Cruises

By Stephen J Quinn

On Rhine cruises you can see the Cologne Cathedral, which was started in 1248 but left incomplete, until building work was finished in 1880. It's one of the most visited landmarks in Germany, towering above the city and often used as a pilgrimage site for many Christian worshippers.

Close to Cologne is the town of Bruhl, home to the Augustusburg Castle and the Falkenlust hunting lodge, resident of the prince-archbishops of Cologne and an impressive site. Visitors can see the connecting Schlosspark gardens while you explore the 18th Century buildings.

Staying on the Rhine there is the Rietveld Schroder House in Utrecht, now a museum open to visitors and originally a unique house built by Gerrit Rietveld, an example of De Stijl architecture. It is home to some amazingly contemporary concepts for a house built nearly a century ago, hence its nomination as a heritage site.

The Upper Middle Rhine Valley, or the Rhine Gorge, is a 65km stretch of the Rhine that is designated a heritage site, due to its combination of natural beauty, varying species drawn in by the area's own microclimate, and rich heritage including various castles and towns along the banks.

The banks of the Seine in Paris are another section of river that UNESCO have recognised. It passes right through the centre of the city, lined by beautiful buildings and crossed by 37 bridges in the city alone such as the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in the city built originally in 1577.

The city of Budapest, including the banks of the Danube, are designated as a heritage site, including the Buda Castle Quarter, the castle complex of the kings of Hungary throughout history. Also picked out in the heritage site is Andrassy Avenue, which features neo-renaissance houses and mansions.

In Austria you'll find the Palace and Gardens of Schonbrunn, a fantastic palace and one of the biggest tourist attractions in Vienna. Formerly a mansion built in 1548, It includes beautiful French sculpted gardens, various sculptures, a fountain and more. The whole complex including the garden receives millions of visitors each year.

The Wachau is a valley in Austria that's been formed by the Danube, and designated as the Wachau Cultural Landscape heritage site. It runs for 40km between Melk and Krems, with Durnstein a particular attraction, the site where Richard the Lionheart was held captive by Duke Leopold V. Along the banks of the valley you'll see numerous intricate castles and monasteries.

I'd like to invite you visit the river cruise experts at http://www.rivervoyages.com.

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How to Protect World Heritage Sites

By Matthew Kepnes

There are many historical sites and places in the world that give us insight and evidence of the past civilizations. These sites help us learn about our ancestors, their living and culture. These sites can be called common or universal heritage of humankind and our World Heritage.

World Heritage Sites:

Any site, building, monument, city of physical, natural or cultural significance that can be called common heritage of all the humans on earth is World Heritage. As these places belong to all humans, the past, present and future generations equally so they must be conserved and protected.

Importance of these sites:

They can be called a legacy, for all humans, from the past civilizations. We must live in them today and also pass them on to future generations. These sites teach us about our past. They represent the great achievements of our ancestors and make us proud.

World heritage is universal heritage, and has religious, cultural and economic significance. They have exceptional value and importance for humankind from history, science and arts point of view and must be cared for.

Need To Protect:

Many UNESCO sites that stand today countenance threats, both human and natural. There is a list of thirty sites by UNESCO that are endangered. Some of the sites are facing deterioration, corrosion or destruction due to human made as well as natural causes.

There are many external factors responsible for damaging the world's heritage. Some of the external factors are climate change, nuclear weapons, armed conflicts, natural disasters, over-development/ urbanization and unchecked tourism etc.

With the growing strength of these external factors it is becoming more and more important to take proper measures to save and preserve these timeless achievements of humankind.

Protecting World Heritage Sites:

Importance of this cannot be denied. It is not only the duty of the government or the local population to look after these sites but it is the responsibility of every human. We must play our part through several means in protecting these sites.

1. Join a Community:

There are many communities and organizations in the world which are working to preserve and protect these sites. We can work with these organizations, travel agencies, government groups and local communities.

Important Communities for protecting world heritage include UNESCO and World Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism. We should join these communities to support their cause. We can also donate to different community funds that will help them protect world heritage sites.

2. Sustainable Tourism:

Another way to play our part is to pledge travel responsibility. Tourism can generate funds for the restoration of UNESCO sites but at the same time unchecked tourism can damage them seriously. We should not trash around at these places and visit world heritage sites in a responsible and sustainable way.

3. Increase Awareness:

We should communicate the importance of saving and protecting heritage sites. We should pass on the information we have and join hands to minimize the effects of different external forces on the world heritage sites.

4. Personal Efforts:

Local people are the first and best stewards of these sites. They must respond responsibly and efficiently towards preservation of world heritage sites in their area.

The listing of an endangered site increase awareness among people. If a site is facing danger of destruction or deterioration then the local people should increase awareness about it by drawing attention of individuals, groups and different communities towards it.

Conclusion:

No matter what is our reach, we should help protect these sites through several means like financial contribution, raising awareness, advocating the importance of UNESCO sites or drawing attention of the government institutions. Our Every step would count and help in protecting the world heritage sites.

Matthew Kepnes encourages travel to top historical sites and is an advocate for conserving world historical heritage. You can read about Historical Sites of the World including Machu Picchu on his website.

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