5 jaw-dropping attractions in the world made of pure GOLD! (one is in India)

Gold, one of the most expensive, or let’s say, the most expensive ‘thing’ right now, has always meant more than money to humans. But back in those days, there was a time when this ‘pricey’ element was more than a political statement and a devotional offering. It was an aesthetic choice and some of the attractions in the world are made using ‘gold’. On the planet, you’ll find architectural marvels which are guided with gold or gold-plated things.
On this note, let’s have a look at five top attractions in the world which have gold connection. Read on to know more about these gold places:

Do you know, Wat Traimit Buddha holds the Guinness Book of World Record as the largest solid-gold statue in the world. Not many must be aware of the fact that Bangkok is home to the world's largest solid gold Buddha statue. known as the Phra Phuttha Maha Suwanna Patimakon, this (roughly) 5.5 tonnes statue was discovered in the 1950s. This Buddha statue is the true example of what we call truly “made of gold”! Imagine experiencing the statue in person! A priceless and memorable experience.

Pha That Luang is the great stupa set in Vientiane. It is also Laos’s national symbol. What makes it stand out is the spire that’s covered in gold leaf! The complex’s scale and the deep cultural reverence it commands make Pha That Luang more than an architectural spectacle — it’s a living emblem of Lao identity, restored several times and still regilded to preserve its glowing appearance. As with many great “gold” monuments, the luminous surface is both an artistic finish and a statement of spiritual value.

Harmandir Sahib is Amritsar’s and India’s one of the most revered attractions. The Golden Temple is the country’s iconic shrine and the spiritual heart of Sikhism. The upper sanctum and dome of the Harmandir Sahib are covered in gold plating. The gold work we see today mostly dates to the 19th-century. It was done under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It is a sacred site whose finish is dominated by 24-karat gold leaf and plating. Plan an early morning visit or choose evenings, these are golden periods.

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is counted among Southeast Asia’s most shining examples of gold attractions. The main stupa is plated with thousands of gold plates. It is crowned with an umbrella which is studded with gems. It creates a skyline-dominating golden beauty that is visible across the city! Simply dazzling. The pagoda actually looks like a mountain of living gold! Extremely richly and embedded in local devotional life.

Kinkaku-ji is Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion which is globally-recognised for its stunning reflection in a calm pond and for being covered in gold leaf on its upper stories. The building we see now is a post-war reconstruction. The shimmering exterior is not solid gold but layers of delicate gold leaf applied to wood — an ancient technique that gives the pavilion its luminous, almost unreal quality. Visit at sunset or under a light drizzle for the most dramatic reflections and photographs.