The Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur (completed 1010 CE) is a masterpiece of Dravidian (Southern Indian) architecture. Its towering pyramidal vimana, built entirely of interlocking granite stones without mortar, rises over 60 meters and is capped by a massive monolithic cupola.

Angkor Wat in Cambodia (built early 12th century) is the world's largest religious structure. Originally a Hindu temple mountain dedicated to Vishnu, it later transformed into a Buddhist site. It features a massive moat, three rectangular galleries, and five central towers representing the peaks of Mount Meru.

Borobudur in Indonesia (completed 9th century) is a massive Mahayana Buddhist temple structured as a single large stupa built over a natural hill. It consists of nine stacked platforms (six square and three circular) topped by a central dome, designed as a 3D mandala guiding pilgrims towards enlightenment.

The Alhambra in Granada, Spain (13th-14th century), is the pinnacle of Moorish (Islamic Spanish) architecture. It is renowned for its delicate, lace-like stucco carving, complex muqarnas ceilings, and serene courtyards (e.g., the Court of the Lions) where water channels dynamically integrate the interior and exterior.

A large religious complex features a massive square courtyard containing a central fountain. One wall of the courtyard contains a recessed, highly decorated niche, while a tall, slender tower stands at the corner of the complex.