Mysterious Stonehenge !!!

Is it a burial site, a place of worship, a healing site, an astronomy calendar to keep track of the Sun and the Moon or an alien landing site ???  Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, located in Wiltshire county, 90 miles west of London, Stonehenge draws millions of visitors from all over the world, every year. 

The stones in Stonehenge are arranged in 2 concentric circles  and 2 horseshoe shapes. The outermost  circle of stones is usually visible in all the ground level photos. The stones used are called Sarsen stones and Bluestones ranging in height from 13 feet to 24 feet, weighing from 25 tons to 50 tons. The stones are believed to have been transported from quarries 50 to 100 miles away. 

Information Brochure from "English Heritage", an organization which maintains the Stonehenge.

The larger outer circle is made up of  2 stone pillars and a lintel on the top.

Stonehenge has created lot of interest among archaeologists. Surrounding the Stonehenge many burial sites have been unearthed. In addition, Stonehenge is aligned with the exact direction of the Midsummer Sunrise and mid winter Sunset. Here are some funny interpretations of the Stonehenge:

Aliens visiting ???

One theory on how the Stonehenge might have been built :))

We may never learn the actual reason the Stonehenge was built and who built it. How did the builders move 50 ton stones from 100 miles away? With our recent (200 years of) advances in engineering and technology, we tend to think that our ancestors were incapable of building such super structures (like the Stonehenge, Machu Picchu,  the Easter Island statues and many ancient temples in India) and try to come up with theories on how they could have completed such engineering marvels. I think this is a mistake :) I am slowly but surely starting to believe that many cultures around the world were much more advanced in knowledge than we are today!!! 

Beautiful Bath !!!

One of the many reasons I enjoy traveling is, invariably I end up learning at least a teeny bit of the history and the culture of the place and the country I visit.  On the short 3 days trip to UK (on the way to India), we spent a day visiting Stonehenge and Bath. I was surprised to know that Bath is a Roman town!!! Built in the 7th century, the Bath Abbey stands majestically at the center of the town. The Abbey has a long history, had been rebuilt few times and displays some very unique architectural features. 

Bath Abbey

The Abbey: Take a closer look. On either side of the entrance, angles climb the Jacob's Ladder!

Angels climbing the Jacob's Ladder. I have heard the phrase Jacob's Ladder many times!
There is a movie by that name, a toy and even a flower.
Though it is a biblical reference, this is the first time I am seeing it built like this.

The Abbey's Nave.

The ceiling of the Bath Abbey is very unique with its fan-like structure. I thought it is for aesthetics but learned that it is an architecture to support heavy ceilings.

 Closeup of the Fan ceiling.

                                    
It was fascinating to learn that Julius Cesar had invaded Britain twice and the Romans had occupied Britain from 43 AD until 410 AD. Once the Romans found out about the natural hot springs in the area, they built a bath house around it. The Bath house building has a museum and many artifacts from the Roman era.

Roman Bath House.

Bath is also the town where the famous author Jane Austen lived. Some of her novels feature Bath and its famous land marks. There is a Jane Austen Center and Museum located within 5 minutes of walking from the Abbey. A bunch of ladies dressed up as Jane Austen characters were crossing the street. As I waved at them with my camera in my hand, they stopped and posed for this shot :)















With the Abbey on one side, the Roman Bath house on the other and surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and shops, the Town Square is the perfect place to take a break, have an ice cream and watch people.

Live music and singing at the Town Square!

The Pulteney Bridge across the Avon river in Bath.

This bridge reminded me of the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge in  Florence, Italy. You can see a photo of the Ponte Vecchio bridge in this post. Just 90 miles west, Bath is a very unique town, steeped in history and provided a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of London.