Secret Marvels of the World, Lonely Planet (1st ed. Aug. 17)

Featuring communist bunkers, burning gas craters and at least one sponge-rock fluorescent grotto built by Polish monks, this book reveals weird and wonderful sights that the crowds don't reach. We've all heard of India's Taj Mahal, but what about Karna Mata Temple, a temple teeming with rats, who are so revered that they enjoy A-list treatment with daily offerings of milk and fruit? It's no secret that visitors to Berlin can see parts of its infamous Wall still standing in the city. Not so many people know that segments of the wall have travelled all around the world, and can be found in Los Angeles, Japan and Iceland, to name but a few. Stonehenge is one of the UK's most popular tourist sites. So why not beat the crowds and head to Nebraska instead, where you can marvel at a Car Henge - a replica of the great monolith site construct entirely from vintage carsa .? This packed and fascinating title takes its readers on a journey through the world's lesser known marvels. Dive into an underworld of the planet's most surprising, fun, perplexing, kitsch and downright bizarre sights to explore human stories and mysterious happenings that you won't find in a regular guidebook. From eerie natural wonders to historical oddities and bizarre architecture, this is a travel companion for the incurably curious.