Built entirely of interlocking pieces, construction of this Chinese Muslim house of worship required zero nails.

This retro, UFO-like structure is a remnant of the Soviet-era circus.

Time capsule of a museum, in which the Soviet Union remains alive and kicking.

A boulder carved into the shape of the cosmonaut's head.

This Soviet statue is based on a piece of propaganda that's been elevated to national myth.

This Soviet-era athletic and recreation facility is the highest ice skating rink in the world.

Beatlemania is still going strong... at least in Kazakhstan.

In Kazakhstan, a colorful cathedral with many lives once survived the most powerful earthquake in the region.

This sprawling market is a one-stop shop for traditional Kazakh foods, from mare’s milk to sheep’s head.

Nicknamed Kazakhstan's Grand Canyon, this natural wonder lies east of Almaty near the Chinese border.

The lovely lake that was naturally dammed, then naturally destroyed, then unnaturally saved.

A brilliant turquoise lake in the mountains.

Submerged trees jut ghost-like out of an idyllic turquoise mountain lake.

The mysterious empty cupola behind the monumental arch points to an ancient prophecy of Delhi.

India's first open-air public art district sits in the heart of the country's capital.

Ancient traditions and surreal birdwatching come into sharp relief along one of the world's most polluted rivers.

A favorite haunt of Delhi's politicos and intellectuals, this old-school coffee shop was shut down under Indira Gandhi's Emergency.

An ancient iron pillar in Delhi that seems to be rustproof.

Modest by day, illuminated majestically at sunset.

A blooming house of worship for the masses.

A startling, centuries-old subterranean marvel hides in plain sight.

Dedicated to the life of a brave woman soldier.

An imperial fortress city that incorporated cultural elements from the entire Mughal empire, only to be abandoned the year it was finished.

A heritage structure designed in 1882 honors a Parsi philanthropist.