Asia is full of popular destinations for all kinds of travellers – whether they’re looking for adventure activities, to party all night, to try authentic Asian food, or to visit some of the
historic ruins and temples.
It would be impossible to cover all of the amazing travel opportunities Asia has in one post,so we’re going to focus on some of the best ruins and temples you can visit. But with more temples than many other continents, it’s no easy task knowing which to visit first. Here are some of our favourites:
1. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Arguably the most famous, and popular, ancient ruins in Asia, the temples of Angkor stretch over some 400 square kilometers. Try and hire a bicycle so you can explore some of the less visited temples further out. Whatever you do, you can’t miss the largest religious building in the world – Angkor Wat. It’s not only a symbol of cultural, religious and symbolic values, but a place of architectural, archaeological and artistic significance and interest. Without a doubt, a must visit.
2. Lotus Temple, Delhi
The Lotus Temple isn’t ancient, but still deserves mention on this list as one of Delhi’s most-visit buildings. It only opened in 1986, but the lotus-shaped building has become iconic. Although it is a Bahai House of Worship, it attracts people of all faiths as a place for peace, meditation, prayers and study.
3. Taktsang Dzong, Bhutan
Some temples in Asia require a bit of effort on your part. Taktsang Dzong, situated on the edge of a 900-metre cliff, is one of those. From the nearest car park, it’s an up-hill hike for
around two or three hours. But it’s worth it. Taktsang Monastery has become an unofficial symbol of Bhutan. Unsurprisingly, when the original monastery (constructed in the 17th century) was destroyed in a tragic fire in 1998, the temple was painstakingly restored to its former glory.
4. Sukhothai, Thailand
Exploring ancient ruins and temples is one of the best ways of experiencing a country’s rich and fascinating history. The UNESCO world heritage site of Sukhotha, home to hundreds of ancient statues and ruins, is one of the best places to visit in Thailand.
5. Orchha, India
Many of the temples, palaces and ruins across Asia are consistently busy throughout the year. Despite many locations, like Angkor and Sukhothai, being expansive, people tend to horde around a couple of the most popular spots.
But last on our list, we’ve got somewhere beautiful you can visit without having to get up early to avoid the crowds. The town of
Orchha, in Madhya Pradesh, is home to impressive chhatris (large, temple-esque cenotaphs). Jon is Travelling explains it’s so quiet, when he and his partner were there,they had a whole set of riverside chhatris to themselves one night. It was so romantic, he
proposed. Definitely somewhere to add to your itinerary.
What temples and ancient ruins have you visited in Asia? Share your recommendations with us.
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