About Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa
Dubai presents a rich and beautiful culture, a vast history, deeply rooted Bedouin traditions and a unique style of singing, dancing, poetry and storytelling. Inhaling the sheesha pipe, haggling for the best deal at gold souks, staying at the most luxurious hotels on the planet, watching breathtaking sunset views from the back of a camel, exploring the old-world Bedouin culture and glitzing through fashion malls and indoor ski parks certainly present an unparalleled travel experience, but a lot of the excitement that a trip to Dubai offers also has to do with Burj Khalifa, one of the most popular architectural wonders on the planet.Hugging the sky at the southern end of Sheik Zayed Road, this Mission Impossible starrer boasts of being the tallest building on the planet. It took just 5 years for the builders to build a staggering 830m extravaganza and when they were finally done, they managed to shatter all existing records set by the tallest manmade structures around the planet. To put things into perspective, Burj Khalifa is twice as tall as the monumental Empire State Building in NYC.
The Architectural Legacy
Burj Khalifa was designed by the Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, who were also responsible for creating the One World Trade Center and the Willis Tower. It is particularly defined by its unique shape, which perfectly symbolizes the desert flower Hymenocallis. The building has a slender central core which is surrounded by three tiers that are arranged in a perfect Y-shaped plan. The tiers gradually give way to the central spire, forming a series of 27 terraces, and making the most of natural light at the same time. Such is the architectural legacy of this building that it’s actual height was one of the most closely guarded secrets of Dubai.
What to Do
The moment you enter this mammoth structure, you’re presented with an entirely different problem. While you’re outside, you’re so spellbound by its gravity-defying feat that you don’t account for everything that the world’s tallest building is home to. As you step inside, you realize that it has so much to see and do that you possibly couldn’t cover the entire area even after hours of exploration. The Burj Khalifa is home to 9 luxurious hotels as well as a beautiful fountain which has been inspired by none other than the one in Vegas. It is one of the best destinations for shopaholics as well. You can find some of the biggest and most luxurious brands here, and you always find new ways to burn a hole in your credit cards. And if you still have some credit left, take a break at the restaurant-bar located on the 122nd floor. Apart from the eating, sightseeing, shopping and window shopping, Burj Khalifa presents two exciting observation decks, one on the 124th floor and the other on the 148th floor. Bookmundi recommends you to grab a ticket to At the Top Sky, a VIP-like experience at the 148th floor observation deck, complete with an interactive screen that lets you fly to various city landmarks and refreshments. A less expensive option is to visit the 124th floor observation deck. Level 125 presents beautiful 360-degree panoramas of the city and is home to A Falcon’s Eye Experience, a tour that offers an entirely unique perspective into the city. Learn fun facts about the Burj Khalifa and capture scenes of the Dubai skyline in your memories forever.
The Best Views
The scale of this iconic creation is not easy to understand from up close. The further the distance between you and the building, the more you come to realize how tall and just how perfect it really is. Increasing the distance between you and the tower also highlights its slender tapering frame. Breaking All Records Burj Khalifa cost Dubai a total of 1.3 billion euros, which posts the cost of construction for a sq. m. of office space at a whopping $43000. Apart from being the tallest free-standing structure on the planet, it also boasts of having more floors than any other building in the world, the highest restaurant, the highest occupied floor, the highest mosque, the highest outdoor observation deck and the elevator which covers the longest distance!!!! The tower is also home to the very first Armani Hotel in the world. After all, you would expect nothing less from a city that specializes in superlatives.
Breathtaking Panoramas
The Burj Khalifa is truly a photographer’s dream, both from the outside as well as the inside. The best time to capture the landmark into your frames is during the daytime and after sunset, particularly during the ‘blue hour’. Bookmundi recommends you to travel to the 124th floor observation deck for capturing some of the most breathtaking photographs and also enjoying jaw-dropping views of the city.
Interesting Facts
- The Burj Khalifa is twice as tall as the Empire State Building and thrice as tall as the Eiffel Tower.
- The weight of the concrete used to construct the building is the same as that of 100000 elephants.
- The tip of the Burj Khalifa can be seen from a distance of 95 kms.
- The building has a total of 54 elevators that can travel at speeds of up to 40 mph. it also hosts the longest single running elevator which travels a total of 140 floors. It takes you just one minute to get to the 124th floor observation deck.
- The building’s name was changed to honor the ruler of Abu Dhabi at the last minute after he bailed out Dubai’s bankrupt wealth fund in the year 2009.
