Top 10 Vehicles Cemeteries

Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard

At this expansive ship yard in Bangladesh, hundreds of ships are left to rot and eventually be cultivated for scrap metal. The yard employs thousands of Bangladeshi citizens but is notorious for its unsafe working environment and poor health records (the yard is full of lead, arsenic and toxic mud). One estimate claims that one fifth of the world's discarded ships end up here. The yard is such a desolate and strange sight that they even shot a scene for the "Avengers: Age of Ultron" movie there.

Arizona Bone Yard

Found in the middle of the Arizona desert is one of the largest aircraft storage locations in the world. With more than 4,200 aircrafts (valued at around $35 billion) left out in the desert elements, the Arizona Boneyard has become famous for its eerie sights — you can even take a tour of the grounds!

New York Motorcycle Graveyard

Once upon a time in Lockport, New York, an abandoned warehouse was filled to the brim with old motorcycles. A man only known as Kohl cultivated a huge collection of the vehicles before selling them all in 1997 and passing away in 2002. After that, the warehouse was condemned by the authorities and many of the bikes were sent away to be used for scrap metal and spare parts — but not before photographs of the collection went viral and allowed many motorcycle fans to seek out the collection and buy some antique spare parts.

RAF Folkingham

RAF Folkingham is a former Royal Air Force station located about 120 miles north of London. It's utilized today to store hundreds of vehicles that are used to source spare parts. Some of the vehicles here date all the way back to the days of World War II — caterpillar bulldozers, fuel bowsers, cranes, tractors lorries and armored vehicles among them. One of the DUKW amphibious vehicles on the site was even used in the D-Day landings.

Chernobyl Vehicle Graveyard

Due to radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986, many unusable vehicles have been sitting abandoned in huge vehicle graveyards for years. Rassokha is the name of the largest vehicle cemetery found in the Ukraine.

Barry Scrapyard

In the year 1955, the British Railways decided to dispose of a large portion of old vehicles they owned. With around 650,000 wagons and 16,000 steam locomotives on the way out, many of the trains were sold to private scrapyards just to get rid of them quickly. One of these small yards was the Woodham Brothers scrapyard in South Wales. Many of the steam locomotives here were left out in the open and eventually became a tourist destination due to its strange sights. Individuals interested in antique steam trains began coming from all over to witness and preserve the vehicles. Many still remain at the scrapyard.

Nouadhibou Abandoned Shipyard

Nouadhibou is the second-largest city in the very poor country of Mauritania. Although the country is struggling financially, the port of the city is still one of the best places for fishermen in the world. Starting back in the 1980s, local citizens used to leave their unwanted vessels in the shallow area of the bay. Over the course of time, larger ships from all over the world would appear in the dumping grounds, too. The biggest ship found here is the United Malika, which was washed ashore in 2003. The government has said that they're planning to use the abandoned ships to create an artificial reef in farther out waters, but the country has yet to witness any actual action from these talk

Soviet Submarines On The Kola Peninsula

In the northern part of Russia in the Nezametnaya Cove sits abandoned Soviet military submarines from as far back as the early 1970s. The Soviet shipyards didn't actually disassemble old submarines, instead choosing to leave them in the Kola Peninsula.

Chatillon Forest Car Graveyard

Although this location was cleared back in 2010, it still merits a spot on this list because of just how spooky it was. This small Belgian town was home to over 500 vehicles covered in the decaying elements. Most believe that the cars originated back to World War II when American soldiers left their cars instead of paying to ship them back to America upon the war's end

Train Graveyard in Bolivia

The Salar de Uyuni located in the stretch of Andes in Bolivia is the largest salt plain in the world. Over a century ago, a railway network was built to accommodate the growing mining industry. Decades later, though, the railroads became unused after the mining economy collapsed. Abandoned steam trains still exist, sitting out to rot in the sun and heat of the desert.

Source: https://www.odometer.com

Atamasthana (The Eight Sacred Sites) in Anuradhapura Sri Lanka.

Sri Maha Bodhiya - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Lord Gautama Buddha is considered as the Greatest Human Being appeared on earth. The esteemed one achieved the eternal bliss of Samma Sambodhi or the Enlightenment, ending the continuous circle of Samsara, the existence. This wonderful event took place 2600 years ago seated with his back against under an Esathu tree by the river Neranjana in the Buddhagaya, India. As the ascetic Siddhartha attained the Sambodhi Gnana under the shade of the Esathu tree, this highly venerated tree came to be known as the 'Bodhi'.

The southern branch of this sacred tree in Buddhagaya was ceremoniously brought to Sri Lanka by Arahant Sangamitra Maha Theri in 236 BC, with the patronage of Emperor Dharmashoka. King Devanampiyatissa planted this Bodhi tree in his royal park 'Maha Meghavana Udyanaya' in Anuradhapura, under the guidance of Arahant Mahendra Maha Thero. Since then, this highly sacred Bodhi comparable to the living Buddha dwells there shining with glory. The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi of Anuradhapura is the oldest living tree of the whole world with a written history.

[Source: srimahabodhi Web Site]

Ruwanweli Seya Dagoba - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Ruwanweliseya Stupa (Ruwanveli Seya Stupa), the foremost of the supremely glorious ancient living monuments of Sinhalese Buddhist Heritage at the city of Anuradhapura (a UNESCO World Heritage Site-Culture) was built by King Dutugamunu (161-137 BC), the Hero of the Nation, who hailed from Ruhuna, which was destined to give birth to most of the glorious heroes of the island nation of Sri Lanka from the ancient era to the modern day. Ruwanweliseya Stupa (Ruwanveli Seya Stupa) also called Maha Stupa (Sinhala: the great dagoba) or Ratnapali Stupa or Swarnamali stupa has been the most adored, most venerated among the great ancient stupas (dagobas) of Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura is replete with the ancient cultural monuments located in between the River Malwatu Oya and two great ancient man-made irrigation reservoirs called Tissa Wewa and Abhaya Wewa (Basawakkulama Wewa). These two ancient irrigation reservoirs, together with ancient Nuwara Wewa reservoir on the eastern flank of the River Malwatu Oya, extend the lifeline to the agricultural district of Anuradhapura.

The three main ancient stupas clustered south of the ruined Southern wall of Anuradhapura, namely Ruwanweliseya Stupa, Mirisavatiya Dagaba and Jetavana Stupa perfectly align with the celestial layout of Rigel, Mintaka and Bellatrix, three of the seven stars of the Orion constellation, which was associated with Osiris, the sun-god of rebirth and afterlife, by the ancient Egyptians (3150 BC-conventional Egyptian chronology).

And Anuradapura of Sri Lanka (SL Low gravity anomaly: -104m geoid), though far south of Bodh Gaya of Northern India, is only three and a half degrees west of it. Bodh Gaya, the location where Gauthama Buddha attained Supreme enlightenment, is considered Patavi Nahbi (Sanskrit: naval of the Earth), according to the Buddhist cosmology. Bodh Gaya’s antipode, on the other side of the world, that can be connected by an axis running through the very centre of the Earth, is the Temple of the Sun (referred to as the naval of the universe) of the Mayans (3114 BC Mesoamerican Long Count calendar) at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cuzco (Quechua, the Inca language: the navel of the universe) nearby Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Mayans.

Added to the inexplicable cosmological and geographical mysteries associated with Ruwanweliseya Stupa (Ruwanveli Seya Stupa), is the fact that locations for the construction of Ruwanweliseya and Mirisavatiya were determined by a couple of extraordinary circumstances. Still more astonishing is the sudden yet timely surfacing of precious metals and jewels at the beginning of the construction of Ruwanweliseya Stupa.

[Source:mysrilankaholidays Web Site]

Abhayagiriya Dagoba - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Abhayagiri Monastery in Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura established in the second century B.C., by King Valagamabau, during its glorious days, was not only complex of monastic buildings, but also a great seat of learning. Unlike orthodox Mahavihara monastery, Abhayagiri Monastery accommodated the intellectual discussion on various schools of Buddhist thought in addition to Theravada Buddhism, considered as the pure words of Buddha. The center of attraction of the monastery was Abhayagiri stupa, the second tallest stupa at Anuradhapura, also built by King Valagambahu (89-77 BC).

In the 5th century, the Chinese monk Fa-hsien visited Abhayagiri, the flourishing center of Buddhist studies. The monk lived 2 years at Abhayagiri Monastery copying Buddhist texts and took all copies to China. Fa-hsien also made written records of his life and times at Abhayagiri Monastery. In his memoirs, he wrote about the Tooth Relic, monasteries, stupas and statues of Sri Lanka.

[Source: lanka Web Site]

Jethawanarama Dagoba - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Jetavana Dagoba in Anuradhapura is the tallest stupa in Sri Lanka. It stands majestically at 400ft (122m) tall. And, it is also the tallest brick structure in the world. (Compare it with other brick monuments in Asia, namely the Qtub Minar in Delhi, India, and the unfinished Mingun Pagoda in Myanmar). Among the world's ancient structures, only two of the pyramids in Giza surpass it in height.

This monstrous stupa has a diameter of 367ft (113m), a testament to the engineering feat from 1,600 years ago. Archaeologists undertaking recent escavations discovered that its foundation is 252 feet deep (I previously reported it as 27 feet!), sitting on the bedrock. It stands of a square platform eight acres in extent.

The Jetavana Dagoba is part of the 3rd century Jetavanamaya, or Jetavana Monastery, which was the residence for 3000 monks. The monastery was founded by King Mahasena (276-303AD), the first in a line of great tank builders of ancient Lanka. The site is also called Jethawanaramaya Dagoba, after the stupa and the monastery. The compound is almost perfectly square, with entrances at each cardinal direction.

The area where the Jetavana monastery stands was once known as Nandana Pleasure Grove. It got the title Jotivana, which means "the place where the holy one made the true doctrine shine forth", because it was here that the Buddhist Saint Mahinda preached the essence of the Buddha's teachings. The name Jetavana is of course derived from the Pali Jotivana.

Lowamahapaya - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

King Dutugamunu after completing the construction of the Mirisawetiya dagaba came to know the propaherc made by Arahath Mahinda that he would built Ruwanweliseya and Lohaprasada.

The king had built a nine storeyed building like a place of the gods,partioullarly making it resemble the assembly hall of the deities in the Kawantissa .Their Lohaprasada became the Uposatha house or the meeting hall of the Mahavihara monastery where Bhikkus generally assembled on poyadays for vinaya purposes. The construction of this building was popularly attributed to king Dutugamunu.But according to tradition the original Lowaprasada was built by king Devanampiyatissa. 

The Tika made this clear as it mentioned that Dutugemunu had built the prasada after the old one had been removed.This proves that the king had built a new building on the spot where the old Lohaprasada had stood.

As mentioned in the Thupavamsa the plan of the building was prepared on the model of a celestical palace called Sudharma The expenses of the construction was borne by the king himself as a measure of obtaining the merit for himself, and no work had been allowed to be done without payment. As described in the Mahavamsa the building was 150 feet high and had me self same width and length. The whole building consisted of 1000 rooms. The roof was covered with plates of copper and men it derived its name “Lohaprasada” It is said that the building was adorned with pearls and several other precious stones. It had four entrances.

Lankarama Dagoba - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Lankarama Monastery is located to the south of the Abhayagiri Monastery and east of the Bulankulama man-made tank. Lankarama Dagoba, known Mani Somarama meaning “the monastery of Soma” in Sinhalese, was built by King Valagambahu in celebration of the return of Somadevi, who was captured and taken to southern India by the marauding Dravidian Army. Having regained his kingdom from the Dravidian invaders, king secured the release of his queen too. It is believed that Lankarama was the nunnery of the Abhayagiri Monastery.

Lankarama Dagoba is another vatadage (circular relic house) in Sri Lanka: in its days of glory, Lankarama had 88 stone columns, in three concentric circles, surrounding the dagoba that held up a circular roof. Today only a few of the carved stone pillars can be seen around the renovated dagoba. The renovated dagoba measuring 38 feet in diameter is set up on a platform 10feet in height and 132 feet in diameter. Four flights of steps from the cardinal directions take the devotees to the platform 10 feet above the ground level. The four vahalkadas (front entrances doorways) no longer exist. Among the ruins are few damaged Buddha statues and stone tub for washing feet before entering the sacred terrace, the platform.

[Source: lanka Web Site]

Mirisawetiya Dagoba - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Mirisavatiya Dagoba is one of cluster of sites we will be visiting in a ride along the banks of the Tissa Wewa reservoir. The area is pleasant to stroll along too. Mirisavatiya Dagoba, which is identical to & only slightly smaller than the celebrated & adored Ruwanweliseya Stupa, is almost across the road from the Tissa wewa Rest House. Surrounded by the ruins of monasteries on three sides, the dagoba is only a kilometer to the east of Sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree. The site still remains largely unexcavated.

This was the first monument built by the hero of the nation, victorious King Dutugamunu of Ruhuna (161-136 BC) after his consecration, enshrining an ornate kunta (scepter) which contained a sacred relic of Buddha. The scepter which was left implanted here in the bank by the king when he visited the tank could not on his return be pulled out from the ground by any means. The dagoba was constructed herein following this incident which was taken as an auspicious sign. King Dutugamunu went on to build Ruwanweliseya Stupa too.

Thuparama Dagoba - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

In a beautiful woodland setting north of the Ruvanvelisaya Dagoba, the Thuparama Dagoba is the oldest dagoba in Sri Lanka – indeed, probably the oldest visible dagoba in the world. It was constructed by King Devanampiya Tissa in the 3rd century BC and is said to enshrine the right collarbone of the Buddha. Its ‘heap-of-paddy-rice’ shape was restored in 1862 to a more conventional bell shape and to a height of 19m.

The slender, capital-topped pillars of the surrounding vatadage (circular relic house), perhaps the dagoba’s most unique feature, enclose the structure in four concentric circles. Impressions on the dagoba pediments indicate the pillars originally numbered 176, of which 41 still stand. Although some Sri Lankan scholars believe these once supported a conical wooden roof, there is no archaeological evidence or precedent for this theory.