Notre Dame is a Catholic cathedral built in Paris, France, between 1163 and 1345. Notre Dame is an exemplary work of French-Gothic architecture that was the first ever building to make use of the flying buttress as supports on the outside walls. 69 metres high, the Notre Dame contains a rose window stained glass and […]
Once, a quail, a monkey and an elephant lived near a banyan tree. The three would often have arguments. One day, the three friends decided that every time they argued they would listen to the oldest person among them. However, none of them knew one another’s age. The elephant said, “When I was a baby,
Once, a giant tree grew in the forest. Many birds lived on this tree. Their leader was a wise bird. One day, the leader saw two branches rubbing against each other and then some smoke rising. The wise leader called a meeting of all the birds. There, he told them that the tree they were
Once, the Bodhisattva was born as a baby quail. His parents would bring him food, feed him and look after him. One day, a fire broke out in the forest. All the birds flew away, but the baby quail’s parents stayed with the baby, as he could not walk or fly yet. Finally, the fire
There was a monk who understood the language of all animals. One day, he was walking by the riverbank. Just then, he saw a fisherman cast a big net into the river. Peering into the water, the monk saw a big fish following its pretty wife. The husband was so lost in its beauty that
Once, the Bodhisattva was born as a scholar and mastered all the scriptures. He became a monk and had 500 disciples. One day, while the Bodhisattva was passing through the forest with his disciple Chandaka, he saw a hungry tigress about to eat her own cubs. Feeling pity for the cubs, the Bodhisattva decided to
The Arc de Triomphe I’Étoile is a monument built in Paris, France, between 1806 and 1826. One of Paris’ most iconic monuments, the Arc de Triomphe was built to commemorate and honour the soldiers who fought and died in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. 50 metres in height the Arc was designed in a
A wicked hermit was living as a guest in a rich man’s house. One day, the rich man had to hide a box of gold coins. Thinking that the hermit had no interest in wealth and worldly pleasures, he buried the gold coins in the hermit’s room. But when the rich man left, the hermit
Once, a wise monk had 500 followers. One of them loved pets so much that he even adopted a poisonous snake and kept it in a bamboo cage. The followers named the snake ‘Bamboo’ and the pet lover was called Bamboo’s father. When the monk came to know about his pet, he advised Bamboo’s father
One day, the king’s gardener saw a young deer in the royal pleasure garden. When the gardener told the king about it, he became curious. He asked the gardener to catch it. The gardener brought some honey, which he then smeared on the grass. Soon enough, the deer started eating the grass and developed trishna
The Buckingham Palace was built in Westminster in 1703. The Buckingham Palace was originally known as Buckingham House, which was built for the Duke of Buckingham. Only in 1761, did King George-III acquire it as Queen Charlotte’s private residence. In 1837, with the ascension of Queen Victoria, the Palace was enlarged and became the London
Once, a rich man became a monk. He retired to the forest and started practising Samadhi. Soon, he had 500 followers. His assistant was a disciple, who was always smiling. One day, the monk and his disciples went to live in the royal garden. When it was time to return, the king requested the head
Indra was the King of Heaven. Ugly gods called Garudas or Asuras also lived in Heaven. Indra wanted to remove these bad spirits from Heaven. Thus, he once invited them to a party and tricked them to go to a lower world. When the Asuras realised what Indra had done, they declared war on him
Once, Ananda the Blissful lived in a village of thirty families. He taught the villagers Pancha shila (five moral precepts). The people listened to him and followed him. Soon crime disappeared from that village. However, the village head was not pleased. As everyone became Ananda’s follower, the village head had no importance. So, he went
St. Paul’s Cathedral is an Anglican Cathedral built on Ludgate Hill, London, between 1675 and 1708. St. Paul’s Cathedral is considered one of the most identifiable and famous sites of London. Situated at the highest point of London, the Church was designed in the English Baroque style of architecture. 111 metres in height, the dome