THE MOST AMAZING TEMPLES IN THE WORLD

(BY-GAURIKA SHARMA)

Over the course of history, humanity has done great things in the name of religion. Some of those accomplishments  include creating places of worship where divinities from every different belief system can be worshipped. Asia is hands-down the continent with the most majestic scared temples, but as you peruse this list of 30 incredible temple to visit, you’ll see that there are breathtaking holy monuments in every corner of the world.

 

WAR PHRA KAEW, THAILAND

Located within the grand palace in Bangkok, Thailand, Wat Phra Kaew is home to the country’s most holy statue the Emerald Buddha. Despite the name, the statue was sculptured in jade around the 15^th century and measures just 66cm high. At the entrance to the chapel of the Emerald Buddha, you can see six pairs of imposing demon guardians, who make sure that no evil spirits enter the temple.

 

TODAI-JI, JAPAN

The gem of Nara, Japan, Todai-ji Temple is the largest wood construction in the world, a feat that earned it a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Impressive architecture aside, the temple also houses an immense bronze Buddha statue that’s worth the trip.

BAGAN TEMPLES, MYANMAR

The Bagan plains are home to not one but thousands of temples scattered majestically across the city of Bagan, Myanmar. As one of Asia’s richest archeological sites, the temples of Bagan lend themselves to several days of exploration: In fact, your admission ticket is valid for three days. You can visit the Bagan archeological area on foot, bike, horse or even hot air balloon, if you’re looking for a truly unique experience.

 

HARMANDIR SAHIB, INDIA

Better known as Golden Temple , Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, India, is the holiest site in Sikh religion. The monument sits in the middle of a holy pool, and the upper parts of the monument are overlaid with gold foil. You can enter the temple by crossing a long marble bridge. The building was constructed at a lower level to indicate that all disciples and visitors are welcome, no matter their social status or beliefs. The same goes for the holy pool, which can be entered from four places.

 

MAHABODHI TEMPLE COMPLEX, INDIA

The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India, has a special significance for Budhists, because it marks the spot where Buddha attained enlightenment over 2000 yrs ago. You can still find a bodhi tree on the site, a descendant of the tree under which Buddha reached enlightenment.