Sunday, October 24, 2010

Lock of Love

Locks of love are the padlocks fixed by loving couples, on to a fence or a pole or metallic chain/string alongside some wall etc at a public place, to symbolize their eternal love. A couple would hang a padlock after inscribing their name or initials on it and throw the key away so that their love is locked forever. Some couple use two inter-twined locks, each lock bearing their name/initials. Besides lovers, often family members and close friends also put such locks at these places, to lock their relationship forever.

The tradition probably originated from China where the love locks can be seen at several locations alongside the Great Wall of China and also in many temples and on the steps/paths leading to sacred peaks.

The tradition has spread around the World and is now quite prevalent in South Korea, Japan, Guam, Italy, Hungary, Latvia, Russia, USA etc.

Juyongguan, Sanbu and Badaling sections of the Great Wall, being close to Beijing, are the most popular sections of the Great Wall and thousands of locks of various sizes, attached to the rows and rows of steel chains along the wall, can be seen at these places.

The watch towers at these places are occasionally used as a venue for weddings. Loving couples announce their love for each other as they hang their lock, and then they throw away the key, in the hopes that their love will last for as long as the Great Wall stands.

I have tried to locate and placemark as many places as I could find on the World Wide Web. I am sure the romantic readers will now try to find more such places.

Here are some photographs taken at these locations;
Great Wall, Juyongguan, China


Image from Panoramio is by irish craptock
Great Wall, Sanbu, China


It may be worth noting that often family members and close friends, not necessarily lovers, also put such locks at these places, to lock their relationship forever.

Great Wall, Badaling, China


Image from Flickr is by Alieh
President Richard Nixon during his historic journey to China visited this portion of the wall alongwith his wife, on February 24, 1972.

Mt. Hua, Huashan, China
It is one of the, Five Sacred Mountains of Taoism. The mountain is famous for steep peaks which are very difficult to climb.


Image from Panoramio is by Liu Hongshi liuhs

Puning Temple, (commonly called the Big Buddha Temple) Chengde, China



Mt. Putuo, Putuoshan Island, China


Image from Picasaweb is by Andrew

Mt. Tai, Taishan, China
The route to the peak of Taishan (Mt. Tai) has many temples. These temples and the railings along the route are the favourite spots for the loving couples to lock their lock of love.


Image from Panoramio is by Sam Mintonye
This image of lovelocks was taken on way to the peak of Taishan (Mt. Tai)



This image was taken near the famous Confucius Temple located on a peak of Mt. Tai

Wulingyuan Scenic Area, Zhangjiajie





The path is leading to, reportedly the highest natural bridge in the world, often called heaven's gate.



Image from travelblog.org is by Cheuk
This one was taken at a nearby area.

Keila-Joa, Estonia
On the railings of a pedestrian bridge near the waterfall.


Image from Panoramio is by Duke1999

Two Lovers' Point, (Puntan dos Amantes) Tumon Bay, Guam


Image from Flickr is by chotda

Szinva Terrace, Miskolc, Hungary


Image from Panoramio is by FedorTamas

Pics, Hungary


Image from Panoramio is by Antissimo



Image from Panoramio is by Bal�zs S�ndor

Tata, Hungary


Image from Panoramio is by Napsugi

Bruneck (Brunico), Italy


Image from Panoramio is by doc.pl(Gdansk)

Ponto Vecchio, Florence, Italy


Image from Panoramio is by Pietro Rapisarda



Image from Panoramio is by Pietro Rapisarda

Ponte Aragonese, Ischia, Italy


Image from Flickr is by Underpuppy

Parco Sempione, Milan, Italy


Image from Flickr is by Andrek

Napoli (Naples), Italy






Image from Panoramio is by Santhat

Via dell'amore, Riomaggiore, Italy



Ponte Milvio, Rome, Italy




Image from Panoramio is by psetron
The condition of the pole due to overload can be clearly seen in this photo.



Image from Panoramio is by gianni loperfido
The photo shows the present arrangement, where in locks are put on a chain and not on the lighting pole.

Siracusa-Ortigia Bridge, Sicily






Riga Park, Riga, Latvia


Image from Panoramio is by alex_walker

Luzhkov bridge, Moscow, Russia



N Seoul Tower, Seoul, S Korea


Image from Panoramio is by Meditation
The lovelocks have almost blocked view beneath.

Lovelock, Nevada, USA





Image from Panoramio is by mitrom



Image from Panoramio is by mitrom
If there is any mistake, I apologies in advance. Please let me through this forum or by e-mail the correct name so that I can rectify the mistake.
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