Qatar's oldest market can trace its origins back more than a century.

The shallow, salty inlet was a safe haven for 19th-century pirates.

The building is a gigantic piece of art inspired by the shape of a desert rose.

One of the holiest Shi'i shrines in Iran honors the life and death of a learned noblewoman who became a saint.

Marked by the hand of the explorer Henry Morton Stanley.

This 17th-century structure is a beautiful testimony to traditional Persian architecture

Named after a legendary garden called Eram in southern Arabia, built by order of Shaddad, an Arab king who wanted to compete with Paradise.

Long before air conditioning, Persian architects found an ingenious way to cool off.

This ancient burial site is believed to be one of the first earthquake-protected structures in the world.

A dreamy mausoleum honors Persia's most famous poet.

A historic trade hub teeming with gorgeous architecture, colorful goods, and vibrant designs.

The fire inside this temple has burned for more than 1,500 years.

17th century mosque for Shah Abbas' harem.

The ancient necropolis houses the immense rock-cut tombs of four Persian kings.

Putrefaction plateaus in Iran, where the dead were sent for decontamination before going to their final resting place.

A spectacular rainbow of stained glass makes the "Pink Mosque" one of the most beautiful in Iran.

The palace of the King of Kings, burned by Alexander the Great.

The nation’s first institution dedicated to the conservation of Bhutanese textiles.

This Himalayan airport provides one of the most difficult landings in the world.

This 17th-century Bhutanese monastery is ensconced in Buddhist legend.

This colorful overpass is one of Bhutan's longest suspension bridges.

This penis-focused monastery is dedicated to Buddhism's "Divine Madman."

The largest and, arguably, most scenic fortress in Bhutan.

Strange, gentle beasts resembling goat-cow hybrids roam within this patch of forest.