Our look at burial sites both famous and extraordinary in opulence and sheer scale ups the ante with mausoleums that rank as some of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. Sometimes, we simply forget that the original intent of these grandiose structures was to memorialize the dead.
Mausoleum of Khomeini, Tehran, Iran
Though the former Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Musawi Khomeini, was a rather incendiary figure in the West, his homegrown popularity was evident upon his death in 1989, when construction began on a massive mausoleum complex. The landmark is still not complete, with several additions left to the eventual 20 km2 memorial.
The stately, serene burial site of Mustafa Kemal Atat?rk, founder and first president of the modern Republic of Turkey, is a rather visible landmark on the Ankara cityscape. The hero of Turkey’s War of Independence was such a transformative figure that his mausoleum consistently draws annual visitors well into the millions.
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Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, Inner Mongolia, China
This entry warrants a rather large asterisk. As most people know, the remains of Genghis Khan have never been found, much to the dismay of the proud people of Mongolia. While the search will no doubt endure for decades to come, at least a fabulous mausoleum in the infamous warlord’s honour awaits him in Inner Mongolia.
Hamilton Mausoleum, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland
For years, members of the Dukes of Hamilton’s family have been laid to rest in a spectacular family crypt in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The mausoleum is so big in fact, that you can arrange to tour the interior. The most notable feature? The echo effect in the inner sanctum apparently, which is reported to last longer than in any other man-made structure on the planet.
Mazar-e-Quaid, Karachi, Pakistan
The most famous and iconic landmark in the massive metropolis of Karachi is an architectural feat of epic proportions. The Mazar-e-Quaid, or National Mausoleum, was built throughout the decade of the 1960s and honours a beloved hero and founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The sprawl of the royal burial complex known as Imogiri in Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia, is a sight to behold. The first graveyard site dates back to the 16th century, with subsequent rulers of central Java, up to the present day, spread out over several sections within the mausoleum complex.
Qianling Mausoleum, Qian Country, Shaanxi Province, China
More than a one hour’s drive outside of the ancient Silk Road city of X’ian, the Qianling Mausoleum provides the province of Shaanxi with yet another historic burial site. This time for the Tang Dynasty however, which dates the site to the late 7th century. With underground murals and numerous stone statues of exceptional quality, the mausoleum has yet to be fully excavated.
Lenin’s Tomb, Red Square, Moscow, Russia
While many chide the rather sober and austere simplicity of the granite mausoleum known as Lenin’s Tomb in Red Square, the structure is more than just a Soviet-era hunk of stone. The famous landmark actually borrows from Egyptian and Persian architecture and since 1924, has drawn millions to view the iconic communist revolutionary’s corpse.
While not a mausoleum in the traditional sense, like many on this list, the original intent of the Great Pyramid of Giza, in the estimation of many experts, was to intern royalty. Though the sarcophagi were empty upon discovery, the fact that the pyramid was a burial site is clear.
From Ancient Wonder to Modern Wonder, the Taj Mahal is simply the most famous mausoleum in the world, without one iota of doubt. The spectacular complex is a world treasure and masterpiece of architecture that has no peer. Exactly what the 17th century Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan had in mind when he had the Taj built as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
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