Top 5 magnificent palaces of the world

New Delhi: Our world has been a junction of various cultures, values, ethnicity and much more. Since the beginning of human kind, the world has witnessed various kings, emperors, rulers and dictators in almost every part.The emperors used to flaunt their royalty by building up the lavish and magnificent palaces.Some of the most beautiful places in the entire world have been the abodes of kings and emperors.While some of them have been demolished or have deteriorated to a great extent, there have been a few which still amaze the onlookers with its grandeur.Here we present you the list of top 5 glorious palaces of the world: Topkapi PalaceLocated in Istanbul, Turkey, Topkapi Palace has served as a primary residence of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire for over 400 years.Comprising of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings, the palace was once a home to around 4,000 people.The construction of Topkapi Palace began in 1459 by Sultan Mehmed II the Conquest in 1453, and lived there until his death in 1481.The palace was originally called as the ‘New Palace' and got its name ‘Topkapi Palace' in 19th century.Declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985, Topkapi Palace contains important holy relics of the Muslim world, including Muhammed's cloak and sword. Summer PalaceLocated in Beijing, China, the Summer Palace is the the largest and most well-preserved royal park in China.A vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces, the Summer Palace is surrounded by Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake.Built in 1750, Summer Palace was initially a place for the royal families to relax, however it became the main residence of royal members in the end of the Qing Dynasty later on.Originally named as Qingyi Garden, Summer Palace was renamed after its first reconstruction in 1888.While the UNESCO declared it as a World Heritage Site in 1998, it also declared that Summer Palace a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value. Buckingham PalaceLocated in the City of Westminster, London, the Buckingham Palace is one of several palaces owned by the British Royal family.Originally built in 1705 by the duke of Buckingham, John Sheffield, Buckingham Palace was originally known as Buckingham House.King George III bought the house in 1761 and later asked the famed architect John Nash to turn the house into a palace in 1826.Queen Victoria was the first to reside in the palace.The residence and principal workplace of the monarchy of the United Kingdom, Buckingham Palace is also a home a number of staff members living here.The Palace also features the Queen Victoria Memorial right infront of the building. The memorial was built in 1911 and was designed by Sir Aston Webb.The palace has about six hundred rooms, including a throne room, a ballroom, picture gallery and even a swimming pool. Pena National PalaceLocated in Sintra, Portugal, Pena National Palace is is a Romanticist palace built on the top of a hill above the town of Sintra.Originally a monastery, Pena National Palace was was a small, quiet place for meditation, housing a maximum of eighteen monks.Ruined during the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755, King Ferdinand then set out to transform the remains of the monastery into a palace that would serve as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family.The commission to rebuild the Romantic style building was given to Lieutenant-General and mining engineer Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege who began the construction in 1842and completed it in 1847.A national monument, Pena National Palace constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th-century Romanticism in the world.Declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995, the Pena National Palace is also one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. Chateau de ChambordLocated in Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France, Chateau de Chambord is one of the most recognizable châteaux in the world.Considered as the largest château in the Loire Valley, Chambord was built to serve as a hunting lodge for Francis I.Though construction was repeatedly halted by financial problems, design setbacks and military commitments, the construction of Chambord completed in 28 years (1519–1547).One of the crowning examples of French Renaissance architecture, Chateau de Chambord has always been in a conspiracy regarding who designed it.For more than 80 years after the death of King Francis I, French kings abandoned the château, allowing it to fall into decay. Finally, in 1639 King Louis XIII gave it to his brother, Gaston d'Orléans, who saved the château from ruin by carrying out much restoration work.