Top 10 Temples in Southeast Asia You Must See

It may take decades to get acquainted with the entire cultural and religious heritage of Southeast Asia - it is so rich. Therefore, we have chosen the most remarkable temples recommended for visiting in the first place.

This building is less than 20 years old, but its impressive architecture leaves no one indifferent. Most often, Wat Rong Khun is simply called the White Temple. This Buddhist complex is located in northern Thailand, near the city of Chiang Rai.

The White Temple was designed by millionaire Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat and built with his own funds, making it even more unlike other government-sponsored temples.

The artist plans to devote the rest of his life to improving the complex, the construction of which began in 1997.

The Temple of Literature is dedicated to the Chinese philosopher Confucius and is more significant for philosophy than for religion. The complex has five courtyards, and the building itself copies the temple in the city of Qufu, which is the birthplace of Confucius.

But the Vietnamese Temple of Literature is also interesting because in 1484 116 stelae were erected on its territory in honor of 1307 graduates of the three-year royal examinations, which were held by the Le dynasty. To date, 82 steles with the names and birthplaces of exemplary graduates of ancient times have been preserved.

Pura Besakih is located on the paradise island of Bali, right on the slope of the Agung volcano, and is represented by 23 separate Hindu temples. Every year about 70 religious holidays are celebrated in the temple.

Besakih Temple was built over 1000 years ago, but in 1917 a tragedy happened: the temple was almost completely destroyed by a volcanic eruption, and its reconstruction dragged on for many years. In 1963, there was another volcanic eruption, but, fortunately, the lava flow passed only a few meters from the temple, and he survived.

This Buddhist temple is located in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. Its name is translated from Thai as "Temple of Dawn". You can visit it if you cross the Chao Phraya River on a ferry.

The temple is famous for its 79-meter pagoda, decorated with ceramic tiles and multi-colored porcelain, which begins to glow as soon as the sun rises. To visit this wonderful temple, foreigners will have to pay 50 baht (a little over 100 rubles).

The Buddhist "Temple of the Golden City" is located in the city of Luang Prabang in Laos. The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Xieng Thong was built in 1560, the Tripitaka library was added to the temple in 1880, and the drum tower was added in 1961. The building of the temple is the embodiment of the classical temple architecture of Luang Prabang, when the slopes of the roof literally descend to the ground due to their curved shape. The walls of the temple on the outside are decorated with mosaics depicting various birds and animals, while inside they are decorated with wall paintings. In addition, the temple houses a very rare reclining Buddha statue.

Four churches located in Manila, Santa Maria, Paoai and Miagao were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1993. These churches played an important role in the spread of Christianity in the Philippine Islands. During the reign of Spain, they were not only religious, but also political centers, which also determines their significance for history. And the Church of St. Augustine in Manila, moreover, is the oldest existing church in the Philippines - its age is more than four hundred years.

Pha That Luang is considered one of the most significant architectural monuments of Laos and acts as a national symbol of the country. It is believed to have been built as early as the 3rd century BC, but Pha That Luang acquired its present form in the 16th century. The temple is the site of the Great Stupa Festival which lasts for three days during the full moon of the 12th lunar month (November). Today, the temple houses the residence of the Laotian Buddhist patriarch and, unfortunately, only the courtyard of the complex is available for tourists to visit. However, even there there is something to see.

Located in the Gombak area, 13 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur, this cave temple system is the most famous Hindu temple outside of India. The caves formed about 400 million years ago and are now not only an important place for pilgrims, but also one of the most popular attractions in Malaysia.

The most important Temple Cave can be reached by a steep staircase, which has 272 steps. Also in this complex, a kind of art gallery has been created, where many statues are located. In addition to well-equipped caves with deities, there are others that are not ennobled, where it is better not to meddle without special equipment.

In this medieval city (or rather, in its surroundings), you can find the remains of more than 2200 Buddhist temples and pagodas! From the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries, this area was the capital of the Dynastic Kingdom, and it was during this time that a large number of temples, monasteries and pagodas were erected. It makes no sense to talk about each object separately - everything will be confused in your head anyway. So just enjoy the general panorama and stunning views of the sunrise from here.

Angkor Wat is known throughout the world as the largest religious temple complex of all time: its area is about 200 square kilometers. From the Khmer language, the name Angkor Wat is translated as "City of Temples".

Located five and a half kilometers from the city of Siem Reap, the temple complex is the most popular place among tourists traveling in Cambodia, and is also depicted on the flag and coat of arms of the country. Because Angkor Wat faces west, like most other Khmer temples, historians believe it acted as a burial temple.