Latest news with #MumtazMahal
Daily News Egypt
14-07-2025
- Daily News Egypt
Taj Mahal: Not just India's crown jewel, but humanity's timeless treasure
In the heart of Agra—a city steeped in history and echoing with tales of empires past—stands a monument that transcends time, culture, and even death itself. The Taj Mahal, often hailed as the most beautiful building ever created, is more than just a mausoleum; it is a poem in marble, a testament to eternal love, and a masterpiece that continues to captivate millions from every corner of the globe. For us in Egypt, whose soil breathes the grandeur of ancient civilizations and monumental architecture, the Taj Mahal resonates with a familiar sense of awe—a shared human endeavour to immortalise beauty and devotion. My journey began in the vibrant streets of Delhi, where the rich tapestry of culture and history unfolded before me. From bustling markets to serene gardens, the city thrummed with an energy both exhilarating and overwhelming. After soaking in Delhi's sights and sounds, I travelled to Agra, eager to behold the jewel of Mughal architecture. First Impressions of the Taj Mahal Upon arriving in Agra, I felt a surge of anticipation. Stepping into the sprawling Taj Mahal complex, I was immediately struck by the sheer scale and perfect symmetry that define this architectural wonder. The vivid red sandstone of the main gate, the Darwaza-i-Rauza, offered a dramatic prelude, framing the pristine white marble mausoleum that shimmered like a distant mirage. Passing through the archway, the Taj Mahal revealed itself in its full glory—an ethereal vision that took my breath away. The perfectly manicured gardens, divided by reflecting pools that mirror the monument flawlessly, guide the eye toward the central dome, creating an illusion of floating grace. Though photographed countless times, nothing truly prepares you for the profound emotional impact of witnessing it firsthand. The Love Story Behind the Monument At its heart, the Taj Mahal is a deeply human story of love and loss. Commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Arjumand Banu Begum—known as Mumtaz Mahal—the monument is the embodiment of his grief. Mumtaz died in 1631 while giving birth to their 14th child, leaving Shah Jahan devastated. Vowing to build a mausoleum so magnificent it would have no equal, he dedicated over two decades, from 1632 to 1653, to bring this vision to life. Mumtaz Mahal was far more than a consort; she was a trusted advisor and confidante. Her death transformed Shah Jahan, driving him to create a memorial of such splendour that her memory would be enshrined forever. Architectural Brilliance The Taj Mahal's architecture is a harmonious synthesis of Persian, Islamic, and Indian styles, blending grandeur with delicate artistry. Constructed entirely of translucent white Makrana marble, the monument seems to change hues with the light—from a soft pink at dawn, to a dazzling white at midday, and a golden glow under moonlight. This shifting palette lends it an almost otherworldly aura. Intricate floral motifs and elegant calligraphic inscriptions, meticulously inlaid with semi-precious stones like lapis lazuli and turquoise, transform its surfaces into a jewelled tapestry. Each detail is a miniature masterpiece. The four minarets that stand at each corner lean very slightly outward—a deliberate design choice so that, in the event of an earthquake, they would fall away from the central dome. This subtlety reveals the advanced engineering and foresight of Mughal architects. Symbolism and Spirituality Beyond its architectural brilliance, the Taj Mahal is steeped in symbolism. It is said to represent a vision of Mumtaz Mahal's house in Paradise, reflecting the Mughal tradition of a garden tomb as an earthly echo of the divine. The garden's layout—divided into four equal parts by water channels—mirrors the four rivers of Paradise, embodying the classic charbagh design. As I wandered through the gardens, I was reminded of Egypt's ancient funerary complexes, where monumental construction sought to achieve immortality. The inscriptions on the Taj Mahal speak of the soul's journey and the promise of eternal beauty, echoing themes deeply familiar to my own cultural heritage. The Construction Marvel Building the Taj Mahal was an extraordinary feat, mobilising around 20,000 artisans and craftsmen from India, Persia, and Central Asia. Though Ustad Ahmad Lahori is often credited as the chief architect, the monument was the result of a remarkable collaborative effort. Transporting marble and precious stones over great distances required ingenuity and resilience, often relying on elephants and bullock carts. The sheer scale of the endeavour, combined with artistic mastery, reflects the resources and ambition of the Mughal Empire. Preservation Efforts Today, the Taj Mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and continues to draw millions of visitors each year. Yet its very popularity also threatens its delicate beauty. Pollution from nearby industry poses risks to the marble's luminous sheen. In response, the Indian government has introduced measures including restricted vehicle access and the promotion of electric transport to help protect this irreplaceable monument. A Shared Human Legacy As I departed Agra and continued my journey to Bengaluru, the memory of the Taj Mahal lingered—a timeless embrace of love and artistry. For an Egyptian, used to the imposing pyramids and temples of millennia-old civilisation, the Taj Mahal offered a different yet equally powerful narrative. It reminds us that across continents and centuries, humanity has always strived to build monuments that speak to our deepest emotions, aspirations, and devotion. The Taj Mahal is not merely India's crown jewel; it is a treasure of humanity—an eternal embrace carved in stone, forever inviting us to bear witness to the enduring power of love and beauty.
India.com
12-07-2025
- India.com
Which is world's most beautiful building? It is built on 42 acres, attracts millions of tourists every year, it is…, located in…, not Burj Khalifa in Dubai
New Delhi: When we talk about beauty then our mind starts wandering from one person to the other, one flower to the other, one object to the other, and from one building to the other. What we perceive as most beautiful might not appeal to someone else and vice versa. Nevertheless, we witness many competitions to nominate and declare only one entity out of a bunch. For instance, we have Miss Universe, Miss World, and Most Beautiful so and so! Which building is named 'Most Beautiful Building in The World'? Here, we will talk about a structure, a building that has officially been declared the 'most beautiful building in the world' and it is in India. It is an architectural marvel that attracts millions of tourists every year. An epic timeless symbol of love, it is none other than the Taj Mahal, crafted of pure white marble. It is named as the most beautiful building in the world by Time Out, a global authority of travel and culture. Taj Mahal tops a list of 24 most beautiful buildings in the world, shortlisted by Time Out travel editors. What is Taj Mahal? The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. The tomb is the centrepiece of a 17-hectare (42-acre) complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall. Construction of the mausoleum was completed in 1648, but work continued on other phases of the project for another five years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653. When was it designated UNESCO World Heritage Site? The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being 'the jewel of Islamic art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage'. The Taj Mahal is a major tourist attraction and attracts more than five million visitors a year. In 2007, it was declared a winner of the New 7 Wonders of the World initiative. The Taj Mahal and its setting, surrounding grounds, and structures are a Monument of National Importance, administered by the Archaeological Survey of India. What are 7 fascinating facts about the Taj Mahal? Taj Mahal is taller than Delhi's Qutub Minar. The Taj Mahal is 73 m high, while the Qutub Minar stands at 72.5 m. There are more than 10 replicas of the Taj around the world. The colour of Taj Mahal keeps changing throughout the day as it basks in diverse shades as the sun ascends and descends. Use of precious stones. The Taj Mahal is adorned with more than 40 types of precious and semi-precious stones, including pearls, diamonds, emeralds and sapphires, among others. Over 1000 elephants were used Elephants played an important role in building the Taj Mahal. Nearly 1000 elephants were used to transfer the construction material from one place to another during that time. It took around 20 years to complete the Taj Mahal and about 20000 workers were employed in the construction work.
Time Out
25-06-2025
- Time Out
It's official: This epic Indian monument to love is the world's most beautiful building
The eye perceives beauty, but this building in Asia strikes straight at the heart. India's Taj Mahal, an ivory white marble monument to love, has just been named the most beautiful building in the world by Time Out. It tops a list of 24 most beautiful buildings in the world, shortlisted by Time Out travel editors to celebrate striking and inspiring architectural gems across the world. We've featured centuries-old monasteries and futuristic art galleries, but taking the cake: what we'd consider the most romantic gesture of all time. Built between 1632 and 1653, the Taj Mahal was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan after the death of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Besides the poignant love story behind it, the Taj Mahal is admired as a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture, featuring an immense Persian-inspired dome, four free-standing minarets similar to those found in Islamic mosques, and calligraphy and floral motifs reminiscent of Islamic art. It's also really easy on the eye, with perfect symmetry from every angle, only enhanced by a reflection pool that leads up to the Taj Mahal. Three other buildings from Asia were included in our ranking. At No. 12 is the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the house of the Parliament of Bangladesh in the capital, Dhaka. It was designed by the world-renowned architect Louis Kahn, who incorporated local materials, such as concrete and marble, to create a powerful structure. Vast geometric openings punctuate this imposing facade to allow natural light to flood the interior space – creating the depth and texture Kahn so admired in ancient architecture. Next, Vietnam's Bát Tràng Ceramic Community House in Hanoi is ranked No. 15. Situated in a village renowned for its pottery, this elegant, tiered structure is designed to resemble interlocking potters' wheels. Seven upside-down domes with skylights create a light-filled space for public events, with floors stacked above providing spaces to showcase the pottery crafts and techniques that define the village. At No. 24 is Enryaku-ji, a Tendai monastery in Kyoto, Japan. It's considered one of the most important monasteries in Japan, as it was founded in 288 by Saicho, the monk who introduced Tendai Buddhism to the country. Most of the temple buildings you see today were rebuilt in the early Edo Period, after an attack by Oda Nobunaga (one of the three great unifiers of Japan) destroyed most of the original structures in 1571. Today, you can wander through forested trails to visit the main Todo area, the Saito area, and the Yokawa area. The most beautiful buildings in Asia, according to Time Out: Taj Mahal, India Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Bangladesh Bát Tràng Ceramic Community House, Vietnam Enryaku-ji, Japan
Time Out
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The 8 European buildings named among the world's most beautiful
What would you say are humanity's most impressive creations? Sure, there are exquisite paintings and genius musical compositions, but the best of human creativity can also come in the form of some seriously impressive (and beautiful) architecture. To showcase the most show-stopping pieces of architecture and design on the planet, Time Out has just produced a list of the world's most beautiful buildings. Our 24-strong list celebrates beautiful buildings the world over, while exploring the moving inspiration behind them and the mind-boggling engineering that made constructing them possible. Claiming first place was the Taj Mahal, which was built as a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, the late wife of Emperor Shah Jahan and took 22 years to construct (talk about grand gestures, eh?). However, eight buildings from all over Europe were included in our ranking. The first European entry went to Hallgrímskirkja, a modernist and expressionist Evangelical-Lutheran church in Iceland, which claimed second place on the worldwide list. While its appearance is rocket-like, designer Guðjón Samúelsson took inspiration from Iceland's moody, rugged landscape, with the sloping edges to the church's façade mimicking cooled lava, and its white concrete finishing nodding to the snow-capped peaks behind Reykjavik. At number 10 is The Twist in Norway, a remarkably striking feat of engineering where a 90-degree-rotated bridge doubles as an art gallery, right in the heart of Kistefos Sculpture Park. Maggie's Centre in the UK comes in at number 19 – an innovatively designed space full of nods to nature, which was designed for cancer patients. The oldest entry for Europe is Rome 's legendary Pantheon, which dates back to 118-128 AD and features the largest unreinforced concrete dome on the planet. But it's not just the engineering that makes this facet so impressive. Every year on April 21, the 'oculus' of the Pantheon (that's the hole in its summit) casts light on a grill above the entrance and illuminates the entire courtyard. Pretty cool, right? These are the most beautiful buildings in Europe, according to Time Out Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland Fondation Louis Vuitton, France Trinity College Library, Ireland The Twist, Norway Sagrada Familia, Spain Pantheon, Italy Palmenhaus at Schonbrunn Palace, Austria Maggie's Centre, St James's Hospital, UK Did you see that Italy has been named the 'ultimate' solo adventure destination for 2025? Plus: .
Time Out
20-06-2025
- Time Out
The 24 most beautiful buildings in the world
1. Taj Mahal, India When was it built? 1632-1653 You might think you've made some romantic gestures in your time, but few acts of love can compete with those of Shah Jahan. After the death of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Mughal Emperor commissioned the building of an appropriate mausoleum for her, and what it resulted in, 22 years later, was the Taj Mahal. It's thought the building's beauty was inspired by hers, and English poet Sir Edwin Arnold reportedly said that the palace was 'not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passion of an emperor's love wrought in living stones.' 2. Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland When was it built? 1945-1986 Reykjavik's Hallgrimskirkja might look like a rocket, but it is in fact a striking Evangelical-Lutheran church, and the largest place of worship in Iceland. Its façade nods to both modernist and expressionist architectural styles, but Guðjón Samúelsson, the building's lead designer, was inspired by the country's robust landscape. The sloping sides of Hallgrímskirkja's face resemble cooled lava, and its white concrete finishing enables it to blend with the mountainous backdrop. 3. The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt When was it built? 2550-2490 BC We couldn't curate a credible list of the world's most beautiful buildings without including some of the oldest, most stoic structures of all. Built (presumably) using a system of rams, sledges, ropes, leavers and rollers, the Pyramids of Giza were tombs for the pharaohs of Egypt's Old Kingdom to prepare them for life as gods after their death, and given construction began on the Great Pyramid more than four millennia ago, they've certainly stood the test of time. 4. Fallingwater, USA When was it built? 1936-1939 Surrounding ourselves even with just little hints of nature is good for our wellbeing, but Fallingwater, an extraordinarily-designed 1930s house, takes that to a whole 'nother level. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the building to be a weekend home for the Kaufman family. Featuring cantilevered terraces that protrude into the lush greenery, Fallingwater intertwines with the stunning surroundings of Bear Run Nature Reserve, cleverly built over a babbling waterfall (hence the name). The interior, built around a fireplace, features rocks cutting in from the outside. The entirety of the house is enveloped in the constant sound of ever-falling water. 5. Ad-Dayr in Petra, Jordan When was it built? First century AD Also known as the 'Rose City' because of the rose-red hue of the surrounding sandstone, Petra's outstanding beauty and unique architecture (buildings are half-built and half-carved into the rock face, with an innovative water management system enabling a population to settle) have earned it a worthy place as one of the eight wonders of the world. Ad-Dayr, the Monastery, is one of the ancient city's most-visited and most famous monuments. At 48 metres high, it's Petra's tallest stone façade. 6. Fondation Louis Vuitton, France When was it built? 2007- 2014 You might not think it at first glance, but Frank Gehry's 2014 masterpiece is inspired by classic, late nineteenth-century greenhouses – the kind that appear elsewhere on this list. The building's shape resembles a futuristic-looking ship ornamented with twelve glass sails – a structure Gehry apparently imagined as a 'magnificent vessel that symbolizes France's cultural vocation'. The sails are interspersed with white blocks known as 'icebergs' and its fragmented appearance is a nod to Gehry's signature deconstructivist architectural style. 7. Trinity College Library, Ireland When was it built? 1712-1732 Ireland 's largest library is so much more than a massive collection of books (though there are around 6 million printed volumes shelved here). Its 65-metre main chamber, called the Long Room, is an imposing, handsome space which has gradually been added to throughout the decades to house more and more books. It started as a single-story, plaster-ceilinged space and has since been built up to feature barrel-vaulted ceilings and an upper gallery, resulting in this famously moody, gothic reading room. 8. Great Mosque of Djenne, Mali When was it built? Thirteenth century, rebuilt in 1907 If you've never seen a mud-brick building before, start off strong with this majestic mosque, which is the largest example of this kind of architecture on the planet (and a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It's made of sun-baked earthen bricks which have been coated in sand, earth-based mortar and a coat of plaster. However, Mali's climate isn't kind to this kind of material, so every year the Crépissage de la Grand Mosquée takes place, an annual event where the local community come together to replaster the building – typically the women gather river water and the men gather clay and make plaster. 9. Nasir Ol Molk Mosque, Iran When was it built? 1876-1888 If you're looking for beauty in the minute details, seek out a mosque. Shiraz's Nasir Ol Molk Mosque, appropriately nicknamed the 'Pink Mosque', is a stellar example. Its crowning jewel is the prayer room, which is flooded with kaleidoscopic colour at sunrise, dreamily illuminating the walls' many intricate mosaics. But the mosque's exterior is just as impressive, with beautifully decorated pastel-hued tiles embellishing the entire building. 10. The Twist, Norway When was it built? 2016-2019 Ever been to an art gallery that doubles as a bridge? Well, head to Kistefos Sculpture Park in Norway, and you can. This stunning feat of infrastructure and architecture is appropriately named The Twist, and consists of a beam that rotates 90 degrees to connect the banks of the Ranselva River. Inside, the innovative use of light creates three different galleries: visitors are greeted by floor-to-ceiling glass on the north side, which offers panoramic views; a sculptural section with a slice of ceiling light in the middle; and a tall, moody space on the south side. 11. Sagrada Famila, Spain When was it built? 1882-today (due to be completed in 2026) They say good things take time, and more than 140 years after construction began, the work on Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece is nearly (like really nearly) done. The Sagrada Familia is scheduled to be finally complete by spring 2026, which would mark 100 years since its architect's passing, and it looks like all the waiting will be worth it. From the building's strange, Gothic-slash-Art Nouveau stylings to the intensely vibrant stained glass windows, the tree-like columns to the 'magic square', it's a unique melange of texture, colour, light and detail. 12. Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Bangladesh When was it built? 1961-1982 Bangladesh's National Parliament House isn't beautiful in the dainty, romantic, classical sense, but you can't deny its impact. It was designed by world-famous architect Louis Kahn, originally to house the governmental quarters of East Pakistan until Bangladesh gained independence in 1971 while the building was still being constructed. Now, it stands as a symbol of democracy. A trademark of Kahn's designs is the manipulation of light – he believed natural light could transform a buildings' interior in a way no material means could – which is why the modernist façade features vast geometric holes. 13. Pantheon, Italy When was it built? 118-128 AD Whether you ponder the Roman Empire occasionally or daily, the Pantheon, which translates from Greek to mean 'honour all gods', stands as a monumental example of the ancient realm's engineering and design prowess. Its unreinforced concrete dome remains the largest of its kind on the planet, on top of being perfectly proportioned – the 43.3 metre diameter is the exact same distance as from the ceiling to the floor. Oh, and the hole in its summit – the 'oculus' or 'eye of the Pantheon' – casts a striking lighting effect on April 21 every year, when the midday sun hits a metal grill above the doorway and completely illuminates the courtyard outside. Stunning, eh? 14. Palmenhaus at Schonbrunn Palace, Austria When was it built? 1880-1882 A whole load of steel and glass might not sound like a particularly elegant mix of materials, but in Vienna, that combo has resulted in this exquisite greenhouse which dates back to the nineteenth century. Palmenhaus sits in Schonbrunn Palace's Dutch Botanical Gardens, and, despite its dainty-looking structure, it houses three different climates and 4,500 different plants. The central pavilion has a Mediterranean climate, the north side caters to cold-weather species and the southern one is tropical, and they're all connected by tunnels. 15. Bát Tràng Ceramic Community House, Vietnam When was it built? 2021 Bát Tràng, an ancient village nestled in the Gia Lâm district of Hanoi, has always been known for its pottery – the name literally translates to bowl workshop, after all. However, despite the village's age (it's been around since the eleventh century), one of its newest buildings is one of its most striking – the Bát Tràng Ceramic Community House. Insight from villagers, local artisans and pottery experts informed the design of this place, a bold, tiered structure which references the shape of potters' wheels. 16. Museum at Eldridge Street, USA When was it built? 1887 This building isn't only beautiful thanks to its Moorish, Gothic and Romanesque features, its striking windows and its grand façade, but also because of all its history. Originally built in 1887, when the US was experiencing a window of mass immigration and New York 's Lower East Side became the most densely populated Jewish community in the world, Eldridge Street Synagogue was the first in America to be purpose-built by eastern European immigrants. It was a proud display of their newly-found religious freedom, and though the population using it gradually declined, a generous restoration project, under which it became Museum at Eldridge Street, has restored it to its former magnificence. 17. Santuario de Las Lajas, Colombia When was it built? 1916-1949 Plenty of buildings come about out of necessity, but others are built in order to honour or remember, and it's the latter that led to the creation of this imposing Colombian Basilica. Perched on a 40-metre-high bridge over the Guáitara River, the site has been a pilgrimage destination since the eighteenth century, when it's thought a woman and her daughter witnessed an apparition of the Virgin Mary. Between 1916 and 1949, flying buttresses, pointy arches and ribbed vaults were constructed to replace the previous smaller shrine, giving the site a refreshed neo-gothic grandeur. 18. Museum of Old and New Art, Australia When was it built? 2011 If you want a building that's not just going to welcome you, but will actually take you on a journey, look no further than MONA. It's nestled into Triassic-period sandstone cliffs, around a 40 minute ferry ride from Hobart along Australia 's Derwent River, and its design is peculiar, but pretty darn cool. The whole idea was to not detract from existing properties in the area, so lots of the museum's exhibition spaces are dimly-lit, subterranean rooms, and there's also an art conservation area and theatre on site. Pharos is the newest part of the building, which was opened back in 2017, and it's accessible via two different tunnels. 19. Maggie's Centre, St James's Hospital, UK When was it built? 2020 Hospitals tend to be uncomfortable places characterised by too-bright strip lighting and unnervingly squeaky surfaces, but not at this Maggie's Centre. The charity has striven to build personal environments to support cancer sufferers and their families, and this space is comforting and stunning. Enormous, mushroom-shaped forms grow from the floors to form the tiered roofs, and the stems are deep enough to contain loos and lifts. The space is decorated with mostly natural materials – think cork-topped tables, resin floors and cascading potted plants. 20. Baháʼí Temple of South America, Chile When was it built? 2007-2016 Forget what you know about temples – this stunning place of worship in Chile is a striking deviation from tradition. The Baháʼí Community is a religion based on unity among all people, and this temple, with its nine gleaming glass veils, frames an airy, accessible place for worship that can accommodate 600 individuals. From inside, the dome's peak lets in light that's captured between the glass and translucent Portuguese marble on the building's interior. At sunset, the light fades from white to silver to ochre to purple. 21. Futuna Chapel, New Zealand When was it built? 1959-1961 Hidden away in the Wellington suburb of Karori is what is widely considered by the architecture community to be the most significant of New Zealand 's twentieth-century buildings. Futuna Chapel is a beautiful little space, originally commissioned by the Society of Mary, a Catholic religious group. Inside, you'll find marvellous displays of light over the floor and walls through the pretty stained-glass windows, wood, layers, a load of texture and plenty of sharp angles. 22. Komera Leadership Centre, Rwanda When was it built? 2022 This community and education hub near Lake Ihema in eastern Rwanda is a stunning recent build that thoughtfully incorporates its environment (known as vernacular architecture). Its name means 'to stand strong, and to have courage', and there are woven eucalyptus screens and brick patterns throughout the building, which are inspired by local 'Imigongo' artwork – a style thought to have originated in Rwanda several centuries ago. 23. National Holocaust Monument, Canada When was it built? 2017 It's our collective duty to learn from the past, and commemorating dark chapters in our history with such stark monuments is one way to encourage that vital introspection. Technically entitled 'Landscape of Loss, Memory and Survival', the details in Canada 's National Holocaust Monument have been thoughtfully designed to ensure it lives up to its name. The building's structure centres around six triangular volumes that form the Star of David, and it's organised around two planes – one ascends, pointing to the future, and the other descends into a space which features murals and photographs of the Holocaust to ensure it's not forgotten. 24. Enryaku-ji, Japan When was it built? 788 Kyoto has its fair share of temples, but Enryaku-ji is one of its prettiest. It's perched on top of Mount Hieizan in Kyoto's eastern mountain range, and the wider complex at one time comprised nearly 3,000 subtemples. It was founded by Saicho, a monk who introduced Tendai Buddhism to the region way back in 778, but after an attack by Japanese daimyō Oda Nobunaga in 1571 (who was trying to unite Japan), most of the original buildings were destroyed. Now, the majority of the ones left date from the Endo period, and they're clustered in three main areas: Todo; Saito and Tokawa.
