More than a quarter of all people in the world belong to Eastern religions, which include Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism. These people worship in temples, which are architecturally as diverse as the religions are different from each other. From the ancient ruins of Ankor Wat to the distinctly modern Wat Rong Khun, there are hundreds if not thousands of amazing temples in the world.
I have long been fascinated by the temples and sacred sites of Eastern religions. After doing an article on some amazing churches from around the world (10 Divinely Designed Churches), it's only right that we do a follow up on the ten most fascinating temples in Asia. Here they are, in no particular order:
Tiger's Nest Monastery
Tiger's Nest Monastery, perched precariously on the edge of a 3,000-feet-high cliff in Paro Valley, is one of the holiest places in Bhutan. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche [wiki], the second Buddha, flew onto the cliff on the back of a tigress, and then meditated in a cave which now exists within the monastery walls.
The monastery, formally called Taktshang Goemba, was built in 1692 and reconstructed in 1998 after a fire. Now, the monastery is restricted to practicing Buddhists on religious retreats and is off-limits to ordinary tourists.
Image: Leo Palmer Photography
Image: Douglas J. McLaughlin [wikipedia]
Wat Rong Khun
Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Rai, Thailand is unlike any Buddhist temples in the world. The all-white, highly ornate structure gilded in mosaic mirrors that seem to shine magically, is done in a distinctly contemporary style. It is the brainchild of renowned Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat.
Actually, the temple is still under construction. Chalermchai expects it will take another 90 years to complete, making it the Buddhist temple equivalent of the Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona, Spain!
Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple. Image: majorbonnet [Flickr]
Wat Rong Khun, from a distance. Image: AraiGordai [Flickr]
Details of the temple roof. Image: AraiGordai [Flickr]
The ornately detailed arches. Image: Alicia Lim [Flickr]
Buddha sculpture, gilded with mosaic mirrors. Image: majorbonnet [Flickr]
The hands of hell want your change. Image: pim [Flickr]
Prambanan
Prambanan is a Hindu temple in Central Java, Indonesia. The temple was built in 850 CE, and is composed of 8 main shrines and 250 surrounding smaller ones.
Nearly all the walls of the temple are covered in exquisite bas relief carvings, which narrate stories of Vishnu's incarnations, adventures of Hanuman the Monkey King, the Ramayana [wiki] epic and other legends.
Though not the biggest temple in Indonesia (Borobudur is larger - see below), Prambanan makes up in beauty and grace for what it lacks in size.
Prambanan's main complex. Image: Rosino [Flickr]
Six of Prambanan's eight main shrines. Image: kashikar [Flickr]
Prambanan at night. Image: Tierecke [Flickr]
Bas-Relief at Prambanan. Image: Jungle_Boy [Flickr]
Shwedagon Pagoda
No one knows exactly when the Shwedagon Paya [wiki] (or Pagoda) in Myanmar was built - legend has it that it is 2,500 years old though archaeologists estimate that it was built between the 6th and 10th century.
Now, when people say "golden temple" they usually mean that the structure is golden in color. But when it comes to the Shwedagon Pagoda, golden literally means covered in gold! In the 15th century, a queen of the Mon people donated her weight in gold to the temple. This tradition continues until today, where pilgrims often save for years to buy small packets of gold leafs to stick to the temple walls.
As if all that gold wasn't enough, the spire of the stupa or dome is covered with over 5,000 diamonds and 2,000 rubies (there's even a 76 carat diamond at the very tip!). And oh, the temple housed one of the holiest relics in Buddhism: eight strands of Buddha's hair.
Shwedagon Pagoda and its golden stupa. Image: Dust Mason [Flickr]
Shwedagon Pagoda at night. Image: M.Bob [Flickr]
Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven [wiki] is a Taoist temple in Beijing, the capital of China. The temple was constructed in 14th century by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (who also built the Forbidden City) as his personal temple, where he would pray for good harvest and to atone for the sins of his people.
The Temple's architecture is quite interesting: everything in the temple, which represents Heaven, is circular whereas the ground levels, which represent the Earth, are square.
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest at the Temple of Heaven, Beijing.
Image: Saad Akhtar [wikipedia]
Close up of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, Temple of Heaven.
Image: star5112 [Flickr]
Details of the roof of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. Image: werklife [Flickr]
Ceiling of the Imperial Vault, Temple of Heaven. Image: Carol^-^ [Flickr]
Chion-in Temple
Chion-in Temple [wiki] was built in 1234 CE to honor the founder of Jodo (Pure Land) Buddhism, a priest named Honen, who fasted to death in the very spot. At one point in time, the complex had 21 buildings but due to earthquakes and fire, the oldest surviving building is from the 17th century.
Visitors to the Chion-in Temple must first pass through the largest gate in Japan: the two-story San-mon Gate. The temple bell is also a record setter: it weighs 74 tons and needs 17 monks to ring it during the New Year celebrations.
Another interesting feature of the Chion-in Temple is the "singing" floor of the Assembly Hall. Called a uguisu-bari or nightingale floor, the wooden planks were designed to creak at every footstep to alert the monks of intruders!
Chion-in Temple's Main Gate. Image: tgamblin [Flickr]
A building in the Chion-in Temple complex in winter time. Image: psychofish [Flickr]
Details of the Chion-in Temple roof. Notice a feudal family's crest stamped on the roof tiles, as a symbol of their patronage. Image: kuribo [Flickr]
Chion-in's Temple Bell. Image: Richard Seaman
The Nightingale Floor construction. Image: rygriffin333 [Flickr]
Borobudur
In the 19th century, Dutch occupiers of Indonesia found a massive ancient ruin deep in the jungles of Java. What they discovered was the complex of Borobudur, a gigantic structure built with nearly 2 million cubic feet (55,000 m³) of stones. The temple has nearly 2,700 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.
Until today, no one knows for sure when and why it was built, nor the reason for its complete abandonment hundreds of years ago. Some scholars believe that Borobudur is actually a giant textbook of Buddhism, as its bas reliefs tell the story of the life of Buddha and the principles of his teachings. To "read," a pilgrim must make his way through nine platforms and walk a distance of over 2 miles.
Aerial view of Borobudur. Image: Kenyon College
Image: hceebee [Flickr]
Image: elbisreverri [Flickr]
Image: susan catherine [Flickr]
The upper level of Borobudur. Image: kashikar [Flickr]
Inside each of the lattice stupa is a Buddha statue. Image: Jin Aili [Flickr]
A bas relief in Borobudur. Image: lizamber [Flickr]
Golden Temple
The Harmandir Sahib (meaning The Abode of God) or simply the Golden Temple [wiki] in Punjab, India is the most sacred shrine of Sikhism. For the Sikhs, the Golden Temple symbolizes infinite freedom and spiritual independence.
The site of the Temple began with a small lake that was so peaceful that even Buddha came there to meditate. Thousands of years later, Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism also lived and meditate by the lake.
Construction of the Golden Temple began in the 1500s, when the fourth Guru of Sikhism enlarged the lake that became Amritsar or Pool of the Nectar of Immortality, around which the temple and the city grew. The Temple itself is decorated with marble sculptures, gilded in gold, and covered in precious stones.
Golden Temple, from a distance. Image: Saurabh C [Flickr]
The Golden Temple of Amristar. Image: Saurabh C [Flickr]
The Golden Temple of Amritsar at night. Image: Saurabh C [Flickr]
Image: Saurabh C [Flickr]
Vishnu Temple of Srirangam
The Temple of Srirangam (Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple [wiki]), in the Indian city of Tiruchirapalli (or Trichy), is the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world (Ankor Wat is the largest of all temple, but it is currently non-functioning as a temple - see below).
The temple is dedicated to Vishnu, one of three Gods in Hinduism. Legend has it that a long time ago, a sage rested and put down a statue of Vishnu reclining on a great serpent. When he was ready to resume his journey, he discovered that the statue couldn't be moved, so a small temple was built over it. Over centuries, the temple "grew" as larger ones were built over the existing buildings.
The temple complex is massive: it encompasses an area of over 150 acres (63 hectares) with seven concentric walls, the outermost being about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long! The walls demarcate enclosures within enclosures, each more sacred than the next, with the inner-most enclosure is forbidden to non-Hindus.
The Temple of Srirangam is famous for its gopurams or entrances beneath colorful pyramids. The temple has 21 gopurams total, with the largest one having 15 stories and is nearly 200 feet (60 m) tall.
Temple of Srirangam, with its colorful gopurams. Image: licinivs [Flickr]
The largest gopuram of the Temple of Srirangam. Image: Subash Chandran [Flickr]
The carved pillars in the Srirangam Temple complex. Image: appaji [Flickr]
Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Bayon
Last but definitely not least is the largest temple in history and the inspiration to countless novels and action movies of Hollywood: Ankor Wat.
Angkor Wat [wiki] was built in the early 12th century in what is now Cambodia. The world famous temple was first a Hindu one, dedicated to Vishnu. In the 14th or 15th century, as Buddhism swept across Asia, it became a Buddhist temple.
The Western world's got a glimpse of Angkor Wat when a 16th century Portuguese monk visited the temple and eloquently described it as "of such extraordinary construction that it is not possible to describe it with a pen, particularly since it is like no other building in the world. It has towers and decoration and all the refinements which the human genius can conceive of." His words still rang true today.
Tourists visiting Angkor Wat usually also visit the nearby ruins of Angkor Thom and Bayon [wiki], two fantastic temples that serve as the ancient capital of Khmer empire.
Angkor Wat. Image: jpslim [Flickr]
The face of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara at Angkor Thom.
Image: Manfred Werner [wikipedia]
Bayon, which described by Maurice Glaize, an Angkor conservator of the 1940s, as "but a muddle of stones, a sort of moving chaos assaulting the sky"
Image: Charles J. Sharp [wikipedia]
Entrance to Bayon. That man on the bike is carrying coconuts. Lots and lots of coconuts. Image: therefromhere [Flickr]
The faces of Bayon. Straight out of Indiana Jones, man!
Image: Henry Flower [wikipedia]
Bonus:
Here are some more amazing temples and sacred places that just couldn't fit in the list above:
Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple
Potala Palace [wiki], built on top of the Red Mountain in Lhasa, Tibet, China was built by the first emperor of Tibet in 637 CE. The current palace was re-constructed in the mid-1600s by the fifth Dalai Lama.
The Palace consists of two main buildings, the Potrang Karpo (White Palace) and Portrang Marpo (Red Palace). It was the chief home of the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama until he was forced to flee to India when China invaded Tibet in 1959. It is now a state museum.
Potala Palace. Image: Press Club of Tibet
The White Palace. Image: vwsluk [Flickr]
Jokhan Temple [wiki] is the spiritual center of Lhasa and is considered the most important and sacred temple in Tibet. The temple was built in 642 CE and has since housed the single most venerated object in Tibetan Buddhism: a statue of Gautama Buddha [wiki], the founder of Buddhism.
The city of Lhasa has three concentric paths that pilgrims use to walk to Jokhang Temple. Many actually prostrate themselves along these routes in order to gain spiritual merit!
Jokhang Temple. Image: The boy with the thorn in his side [Flickr]
The courtyard of the Jokhang Temple. Image: polymerchicken [Flickr]
Two golden deers flanking a Dharma Wheel and a golden bell at the roof of Jokhang Temple. Image: satellite360 [Flickr]
Pilgrims prostrate themselves in front of Jokhang. Image: thriol [Flickr]
Varanasi
Varanasi in India is not a temple, but ais ctually a famous Hindu holy city, located at the banks of the Ganges River. It is, however, often called the "City of Temples," where almost every road crossing has a nearby temple. A center of pilgrimage (as many as a million pilgrims visit Varanasi each year), the city has links to Buddhism and Jainism as well.
Sunrise at the Ganges River in Varanasi. Image: ironmanix [Flickr]
Temples are everywhere in Varanasi. Image: juicyrai [Flickr]
Pilgrims believe that bathing in the Ganges River will cleanse them of sins.
Image: Jackson Lee [Flickr]
Let me be the first to acknowledge that this list is woefully incomplete. There are countless amazing temples, monasteries, and sacred places of Eastern religions scattered throughout Asia.
If your favorite temple is not included, it is not a slight - I welcome your suggestion in the comment section below.
If you like the article abve, please check out:
» 10 Divinely Designed Churches
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» 5 Smallest Countries in the World
i also have a fascination with eastern temples.
for your info..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirupathi_Venkateshwara_Temple
wish you can redesign the 10 Temples to 11 temples or something like that.
brilliant list, they're all absolutely stunning.
those hands of hell are beyond creepy.
sl
I've been in the Temple of Heaven. It's a sight for sure, but more impressive I think is the Hanging Monastery in Datong, China, which seems to hang on a sheer cliff wall.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnlsloan/1051940712/in/set-72157601307321881/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnlsloan/1051082485/in/set-72157601307321881/
I have a few that I'd add to the list:
Man Mo Temple, Hong Kong Island
Wat Pho, Bangkok
Wat U-Mon, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Panom Rung, Buriram, Thai/Cambodian border
Phyang and Spituk Monasteries, Ladakh, India
Hopefully, you won't get the same bitter atheistic comments like you did when you posted about the Christian churches.
All religions seem to have that common thread - inspiring long-lasting beautiful works of art.
Claire @ http://travel-babel.blogspot.com
Incidentally, I chose Srirangam over Tirumala because it's far more colorful.
Indians are so touchy when it comes to their temples ;)
in Taiwan there are also many temples... not as famous as the ones you listed above
but it is worth visiting them as life in temple is very animated
Bye
I would like to mention two temples that I have been fortunate to visit and one of them belongs to the UNESCO Wold Heritage Programme (1)
1. Kiyomizu-dera, http://yaccyann.maxs.jp/kiyomizu/
2. Kinkakuji, http://k-kabegami.sakura.ne.jp/kinkakuji/e.html
For fotos, see the links. Those temples (one Buddhist, one Shintoist) are absolutely beautiful and deserve some mentioning.
*Few articles about temples do.
…actually, that’s not true.
MOST articles about temples do, indeed, give me an erection; but this one didn’t…
Good try, though.
http://www.pilgrimage-india.com/jain-temples.html
The Palitana temples should definitely have been in this list and Dilwara and Ranakpur are not far away.
anyway nice list and hopefully with so many suggestions you decide to publish Part II.
and clearly a labor of love. A few notes on Borobodur: actually, great
deal is known about it; scholars have researched it extensively for a
very long time. It was probably built around 800 CE. It is essentially
a three-dimensional mandala, wherein the pilgrim starts on the lowest
levels, receiving instruction on Buddhist principles through bas relief
wall carvings (for example, a carving of a person boiling a turtle for
food is followed by a carving of that person being boiled--i.e., karma
[the Buddhist principles of reaping what you sow], of compassion, and so
on.). As the pilgrim ascends the mandala, the message becomes less
worldly and more spiritual, until the top levels, when the only images
are sculptures of the Buddha. Walking Borobudur from bottom to top thus
emulates the process of reaching enlightenment through long striving:
first learning right living and gradually sloughing off the mundane as
one reaches enlightenment.
thank you for the info.
sunil
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.photoseek.com/greece/01GRE-43-36-VarlaamMonasteryMeteora.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.photoseek.com/greece/Meteora.html&h=497&w=325&sz=75&hl=en&start=12&um=1&tbnid=jiqM1iXFr0qJcM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=85&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmeteora%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dcom.google:en-US:official%26sa%3DG
I hope all is well, you seem very knowledgeable. I read through your blogs--very sharp indeed! Do you have a Doctorate in Divinity or Philosophy?
Anyhow, I was wondering if you could give some priceless advice. I am thinking of buying some good old Catholic theology books for some family members and loved ones, and well, I recently received an advertisement for this very interesting book called "Communicatio in Sacris: The Roman Catholic Church against Intercommunion of non-Catholics" by Mr. William J. DeTucci.
I was wondering if you have seen any book review on this book? I could not find anything on the author. It seems the book talks about the Role of Vatican II in the Modern World and how some Traditionalists have resisted many of the Modernistic teachings of Ecumenism, Religious Liberty, and the New Mass, as opposed to the old Latin Tridentine Mass. However, I also recently read Benedict XVI's Motu Proprio ( www.vatican.va), which seems to be give the Liberty of "Open Communion" to so-called Traditional Catholic Groups who dissent from Vatican II, i.e. Marcel Lefebvre's SSPX, Mark Pivarunas' CMRI, Clarence Kelly's SSPV, Br. Michael Dimond's Most Holy Family Monastery, the various Saint Benedict Centers, Jason Spadafore's Raphael Society, Patrick Taylor's Society of the Virgin Mary, and so many other Independent Bishops at Large)--all who promote Intercommunion Latin Mass Ritual, of course! I think the Spirit of Vatican II is really being recognized now by many of the Traditionalists who once followed Bishop Lefebvre in resisting Vatican II Conciliar Reforms, but since the Motu Proprio Latin Mass Ecumenism has been widely promoted and it has been "well received" by many of these same various Traditionalists Sects and also by many Liberal Bi-Ritual Bishops who offer both the Latin Mass and Ecumenical Modern Liturgies.
However, breaking the rule of judging a book by its cover, and only peaking its table of contents, it seems to me this book is an itchy reaction to this Neo-Ecumenism that both Greek and Latin Churches have been involved with. Not sure if you have read the book, or know of some theologian who has written a review? Here is the link to the contents that I browsed:
http://www.lulu.com/content/1431544
and also here:
http://www.vladcatholic.com
I would most greatly appreciate any book review that you or a theologian has done. This book seems to have positive merit in as much it claims to be "a Compendium of Roman Catholic Doctrine on the subject of Intercommunion with non-Catholics. This book produces the overwhelming theological consensus for the Dogmatic Teaching condemning Intercommunion with non-Catholics, putting together a treasury of Sacred Scriptures, Church Fathers, Doctors, Saints, Theologians, and Popes who have written on the matter."
However, I just wanted to verify that before I make my last minute shopping for this Christmas & New Year Season.
May God bless you all!
Kind regards,
Patty
But in MACEDONIA we have oldest temples so you must come to see what we have. Visit us in SKOPJE the capital city of MACEDONIA.
--------------------MACEDONIA---------------------
"ALEKSANDAR THE GREAT"
but im just an ordinary tourist..huhuhu!!!
grrgggggg!!!!!!!!!!
For me, the Drepung monastery just outside Lhasa is the epitomy of tranquility (for more details, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drepung_Monastery).
For that reason, I'd say it's my favourite. Thanks for the other comments, which have given me some ideas for future travel.
these people have not showcased any of magnificent jain temples located in at RANAKPUR(RAJASTHAN) , DILWADA TEMPLE(MOUNT ABU), GOPACHALPARVAT AT GWALIOR.
Thanks for a lovely collection of temples; your website is a real treat and clearly a labor of love.
Jobs in Pakistan
www.jobs-in-pakistan.dearlinks.com
i want add most important old city of Jerusalem
http://www.oldcityofjerusalem.com/
The Old City (Hebrew: ???? ???????, HaIr HaAtika, Arabic: ?????? ????????, al-Balda al-Qadimah) is a 0.9 square kilometre (0.35 square mile) area within the modern city of Jerusalem.[3] Until the 1860s this area constituted the entire city of Jerusalem. The Old City is home to several sites of key religious importance: the Temple Mount and its Western Wall for Jews, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Christians, and the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims.
Traditionally, the Old City has been divided into four quarters, although the current designations were introduced only in the 19th century.[4] Today, the Old City is roughly divided into the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter and the Armenian Quarter.
Jordan proposed the Old City to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site List in 1980.[5] It was added to the List in 1981.[6] In 1982, Jordan requested that it be added to the List of World Heritage Sites in danger.[
They were amazing, especially Borobudur. It was big and wide.
And there is also one place I visited in Bali named Tanah Lot where they have a religious place for Hindu people in Bali. It's really beautiful especially if you see them in sunset.
here is the link you might check the place in Bali:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_Y6cAsrJqtbA/RqeDPdSpdVI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/LOsLOFlEswg/s1600-h/Tanah+Lot+4+v2.JPG
I wish i could visit Indonesia again :(
Michelle
Iowa
please do research first and then put details.
Actually there are lots of hindu temples that are more famous and beautiful.
1)Madhurai - the oldest and architecturally best temple dedicated to supreme Lord Shiva and Mother Goddess.. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madurai_Meenakshi_Amman_Temple
2)Sabarimalai - the jungle temple dedicated to Ayyappa- Lord Shivas son
3)Palani - the simplest and modest hilltop temple
4)Trissivaperoor Vadakkumnathan Temple - The cental temple in Kerala dedicated to Lord Shiva
5)Vaikom Mahadevar Temple
6)Kumbhakonam temple
7)Rameswaram Temple
8)Konark Temple
Please do visit these temples and upgrade your blog and see the differences
http://www.sacredsites.com/asia/india/tiruvanamalai.html
Thank you for such a great post.
Regards,
Colin Jensen
http://www.colinjensen.co.uk/blog/
this is an amazing list.really really beautiful temples.
of all these i have visited just 3. the Harmandir Sahib is the one i visited most and liked most too. that place is pristine. the vibration one feels while walking towards it around the sarovar(lake) is beyond compare.
its architecture has more to it than what meets the eye.
its got 4 major doors to the complex signifying that one may come from anywhere, be of any religion to enter, but the actual entry to the temple is 1. this implies, no matter who you are and where you come from, God is one, the final destination is one.
-joban singh
good pics too
i'm an American but i prefer India the most ancient country.
east or West india is he best.
A monolithic structure carved top down. Construction took nearly 3 generations (100 years), and is intricate in terms of architectural design.
I've just returned from Bhutan and visited the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest). One just has to wonder how they even imagined building a monastery in that location!! It's truly amazing!
I am from south india. i thought only india have beautiful temple in the world but now i accept world have much more place. i like all temple
Childish comments from a few
"Idiot"
"sloppy research"
"gives me a hard on"
Please ignore the twelve year olds and
keep up the good work.
i thimk we have to add the akshardham new delhi...............which is recently made.....
and as u know that there are thousand on temple in cambodia not only bayond, angkorwatt, and angkortom. but also have Preah Vihear, Preah Kan, and it alot and also amazing, U should research more, about the old culture country in the world
wat about in south india temples n history bout thats temples??? n wat the india government do wit raja raja cholan temple in tamil nadu??? remember that the oldest temple about 1000years is periya kovil(temple) its in tamilnadu n where is the statue of raja raja cholan???? n y india government never keep this statue(raja raja cholan) inside the peria kovil temple????? raja raja cholan is the best n num 1 worior in the world.... history never die. every person must search about the great worior raja raja cholan in tamilnadu n u will find out which temple is most oldest temples n who is the best worior in INDIA? who build angkorwat? hw hindu people from india(southindians) go to cambodia n hw they make n build hindu temple in cambodia?(angkorwat) . this is very important news n we must find out about this history.
my dream and aim is to run for temples(of any religion)till my last breath.iam very happy to know that there r many people who spare some precious time of them in knowing about the amazing and the mysterious places on our earth.i wish many of u surely know about the history behind these temples and stories in the hindu mythology.
can any one of u will please be guiding me in my trips by telling about the places,....i am only eighteen,.... next month,iam planning to visit taminadu, i need ur help bcauz, its my first trip, plz...someone be my partner and i can withstand anything during the trip.
dis is my email id:g1patnaik@gmail.com and my mobile no.8801953451.
and the photoes r stunning and catching.
it's not ancient but worth to look at :)