Mausoleums – can be seen all over the world. They were built at different times, but the architectural prototype was ground burial structures of the pre-Muslim time – naus-dakhma (literally «place of displaying the bodies of the dead»). These buildings have undergone a long evolution, and as a result, they formed into a square shape or an inner square, inscribed in a circle with a dome or a covered vault. In this review, we have collected the most famous and incredible mausoleums that are impressive regardless of the year they were built..
1. Complex Mahabat Makbara
India
Along the busy road in the center of the Indian city of Junagadh, you can find a rather little-known but truly stunning architectural landmark. The Mahabat Makbara complex is a mixture of Gothic architecture and Islamic ornamentation and remains, in fact, one of the least unraveled mysteries of India. This striking structure is the mausoleum of s, one of the main advisers at the court of Nawab Mahabat Khan II of Junagadh. The construction of the complex with yellow walls began in 1878 by Mahabat Khan and was completed in 1892 by his successor, Bahadur Khan. As a result, a beautiful building was born with intricate carvings on the internal and external facades, with beautiful arches, French-style windows, columns and shiny silver doorways..
2. Lenin’s Mausoleum
Russia
Lenin’s Mausoleum, located on Red Square in the center of Moscow, currently serves as a resting place for Vladimir Lenin. His embalmed body was put on public display there shortly after his death in 1924. Two days after Lenin’s death, architect Alexei Shchusev received an order to build a structure suitable for public viewing of the body. First, a wooden tomb was erected on Red Square near the Kremlin wall, and then in 1930 the body of the leader «moved» to the new mausoleum of marble, porphyry, granite and labradorite.
3. Taj Mahal
India
The Padishah of the Mughal Empire Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in Agra, India in memory of his beloved wife, who died in childbirth in 1631. It took 15 years to build this white marble mausoleum-mosque with its shady gardens. Today, the structure is considered one of the most beautiful buildings of all time.
4. Tomb of Rufina Cambaceres
Argentina
In 1902, a 19-year-old Argentine woman fell into a coma right at her birthday celebration. She was soon pronounced dead and buried, and a few days after the funeral, workers heard screams emanating from Rufina’s grave. When the grave was opened, the girl was found really dead, but at the same time there were scratches on her face, and on the inside of the coffin lid there were traces of attempts to open it. Subsequently, Rufina’s mother built for her daughter a grand Art Nouveau tomb with sculpted orchids..
5. Pyramidal tomb of William Mackenzie
England
In the cemetery of St. Andrew’s Church in Liverpool, you can find the 5-meter pyramidal tomb of the British engineer and builder William Mackenzie. Local legend has it that Mackenzie is allegedly walled up sitting at a table with a winning combination of cards in his hand. Being an avid gambler, he lost his soul in poker to the devil and decided to be buried in an unconventional way, so as not to go to hell after death..
6. Pyramid of Nicolas Cage
New Orleans
Actor Nicolas Cage has long been known for his eccentric behavior, both on screen and in the real world. It seems Cage plans to continue his eccentricity beyond his death, given that he acquired a pyramid-shaped mausoleum in the famous New Orleans cemetery. Three-meter stone pyramid decorated with an inscription in Latin «Omni Ab Uno», which translates as «Everything from one».
7. Tomb of Enrique Torres Belon
Peru
Along the Peruvian dusty road between Lake Titicaca and the former Inca capital of Cuzco lies the quiet town of Lampa. Founded in the 16th century, the Spanish colonial outpost is known for a more modern quaint tomb located near the historic church. Tomb of Enrique Torres Belon – a whimsical mausoleum of bones topped with an aluminum replica «Pieta» Michelangelo. The otherworldly structure is literally completely decorated with human skeletons and hundreds of skulls exhumed from the city’s cemetery and crypt under the church. There is a black marble cross at the bottom of the tomb, which highlights the eerie shadows cast by the wall «decorations».
8. Bulletproof glass, alarm systems, Wi-Fi
Mexico
At first glance, Jardines del Humaya in Culiacan, Mexico looks like a pretty ordinary cemetery, but the deeper you go into the cemetery, the more you get the impression that it is some kind of rich suburb. It is home to the world famous mausoleums of some of Mexico’s most ruthless drug lords. Even after death, members of the Sinaloa cartel love to flaunt their way of life by building artsy mausoleums in front of them that cost much more than the average family home. Many are equipped with modern amenities that many Mexicans can only dream of, such as 24/7 air conditioning, living rooms, bedrooms, fully equipped kitchens, bulletproof glass, alarm systems, and Wi-Fi so family and friends can comfortably «visit the deceased».
nine. «Beverly hills dead»
Philippines
Death is not the end of the luxurious lifestyle of some of Manila’s wealthy Chinese residents. They are buried in the Chinese cemetery, which is a real small neighborhood, where many of the graves are the size of mansions and are equipped with all modern conveniences. Fully functioning kitchens, luxurious bathrooms and velvet bedrooms for relatives to visit the dead can be found here..
10. Humayun’s tomb
India
The mausoleum, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it is the first tomb garden in the Indian subcontinent. It was this mausoleum that inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the famous Taj Mahal. Humayun’s Tomb Garden is also called «Mughal dormitory», since more than 150 members of Humayun’s family found rest there.
For all those who are interested in ancient and unusual architecture, we have prepared a story about 10 mysterious ancient structures that are impressive.
