Charminar Chowrangi Roundabout. Karachi, Pakistan

This vibrant rotary also reigned on the Roundabout Appreciation Society’s top global listing in 2015.  Bahadurabad Chowrangi placed Pakistan as the only South Asian country in the aforementioned ranking. Featuring a replica of the Charminar Mosque of Hyderabad, India, the traffic circle boasts a stunning rendition of one of the most recognised monuments in the world.

The original mosque dates back to the 16th century, and was designed by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah to mark the end of a plague that had torn through Hyderabad at that time. Today’s stunning imitation was constructed in 2007, and further celebrates its predecessor’s architectural and symbolic glory.

Nestled amongst the cacophony of rushing vehicles and bustling markets, it transcends the mundane functionality of being a standard road application, to become a beautiful landmark that has caught global attention. A cultural investment, it cost five million rupees to construct, the equivalent of almost sixty-thousand pounds.

Image provided by en.wikipedia.org