In this age of affordable flight tickets, instant gratification, social media, it is easy to forget that simple innovations like the internet, electric cars and mobile phones were unheard of just a few decades ago. And in similar fashion, if you deep dive into the archives of time, you'll realise the places you love the most have been revamped since – some for the better, others for worse. Here are some destinations captured 'then and now' that will startle you beyond belief.
Broad Street, New York: 1900s vs 2019
Did they really need to replace the brick structures with glass walls? SMH.
A quaint alley in York, England: late 1800s vs 2019
Apparently, this was the inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. Nicely done, JK Rowling!
Vienna: 1907 vs 2019
Away from the canals, hoodies and pants have replaced painted suits and top hats
Berlin Wall: 1989 vs 2019
Fun fact: the Berlin Wall has been down for longer than it was up. A simple picket fence has replaced the wall since.
Branderberg Gate, Berlin: 1945 vs 2018
The Battle of Berlin pretty much destroyed the entire city. Who could say these pictures are taken from the same spot?
Dubai Marina: 2000 vs 2020
They overdid it.
Hallstatt, Austria: 1910 v 2020
If the years weren't mentioned, could you really tell which was which?
Madras High Court, Chennai: 1905 vs 2020
More lawyers, more judges, more trees.
Taj Palace Hotel, Mumbai: 1907 vs 2018
Two pictures taken a 111 years apart and all I see is the invasion of the pigeon army.
Dubai: 1990 vs 2020
Seems like this emirate got a crash course in development.
Utrecht, Netherlands: 1982 vs 2020.
They converted the highway into a canal. The world needs more waterways!
Prague: 1910 vs 2020
Back in the days when 'Euro trips' were not a thing yet.
Singapore: 2000 vs 2020
Pretty sure coloured photography existed in 2000.
Taj Mahal, Agra: 1890 vs 2019
Wikipedia says the mosque to the Taj Mahal's right was constructed in 1643, but I'm not very sure judging by these pictures. Is it just the camera angles?
Bangalore: 1950 vs 2019
Traffic really is an urban concern in Bangalore...
The Golden Temple, Amritsar: 1983 vs 2020
Look closely and you'll see the little additions made in the last 30 years!
Eiffel Tower, Paris: 1889 vs 2020
The world's most iconic structure was constructed from 1887 to 1889 as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair. Job well done.
Commercial Street Bangalore : 1860 vs 2020
The cycles are the only things that have stuck around since then.
The Arctic: 1916 vs 2019
Newer boat, brighter jacket...and lesser ice.
While modern development has done wonders for people's livelihood and the global economy, we can all agree the environment has taken a hit. On a lighter note, amongst the gargantuan changes that these destinations have gone through, I really wish we could have protected some of the architecture – modern buildings are just boring structures consuming airspace.
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