Perched at the edge of Hanoi’s scenic West Lake, Quán Thánh stands as one of Vietnam’s most venerable Taoist temples. Believed to have been founded during the reign of Emperor Lý Thái Tổ in the 11th century, the temple was originally built to honour Trấn Vũ, the feared & revered Taoist deity known as the “Guardian of the North".

Relatively young compared to many of Japan’s ancient temples and shrines, Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingū) holds deep symbolic and national significance. Completed in 1920, it was constructed to honour the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his beloved consort, Empress Shōken. Emperor Meiji (1852–1912) presided over one of the most turbulent and transformative periods in Japanese history, overseeing the end of the Tokugawa shogunate and the rapid modernisation of the nation.

Lumpini Park was established in 1925 by King Rama VI, who sought to create a space for learning and leisure in what was then the outskirts of Bangkok. While a museum never fully came to life, the space evolved into Bangkok’s first public park, named after Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal, reflecting the king’s emphasis on cultural heritage and Thai identity in a rapidly modernising world.

Standing proudly at 1175 metres above sea level, on the peak of Mount Lempuyang, this ancient temple complex is among Bali’s oldest and most revered, believed to predate most Hindu temples on the island. Although there is some confusion about the site’s exact age, the establishment of temples here stretches back at least a millennium.

Located in the dusty outskirts of Phnom Penh lies Choeung Ek, the most infamous of Cambodia’s killing fields. Once a peaceful longan orchard, it now stands as a site of incomprehensible horror and grief. While over 300 killing fields have been identified throughout the country, Choeung Ek alone bore witness to the execution of more than 17,000 men, women and children during the Khmer Rouge regime.

Kanto Lampo Waterfall is a striking example of how nature and human intervention can merge to create something unexpectedly beautiful. Unlike the ancient waterfalls that have thundered down cliffs for millennia, Kanto Lampo is a relatively recent formation. In the early 2010's, changes to the local irrigation system inadvertently redirected water flow, which began to spill over the terraced cliffside near the village of Beng.

This relatively modern monastery and temple complex was established in 1975 by a Vipassana Abbot named Ajahn Jamnian, who was in search of a secluded and tranquil place for deep meditation practice. Drawn by the natural serenity of the area, he found this remote forested location ideal.

Famous for its thousands of vivid orange torii gates, Fushimi Inari is an ancient Shinto head shrine and a designated World Heritage site, located in the southeastern part of Kyoto. Dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice, prosperity and foxes, the shrine dates back to the 8th century and remains one of Japan’s most iconic spiritual landmarks

Often hailed as the “Gateway to Heaven,” Tianmen Mountain stands as one of China’s most breathtaking natural marvels. Perched above the city of Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province, this majestic peak rises to 4,980 feet above sea level. From its lofty heights, visitors are rewarded with sweeping panoramic views of rolling valleys, jagged cliffs and pristine forests that have remained untouched for centuries.

In ancient times, this area was a fertile swampland, rich in natural resources and home to a thriving population of wild elephants. These gentle giants, long regarded as sacred beings and powerful symbols of royalty throughout Southeast Asia, roamed freely across the land, their presence deeply influencing the spiritual and cultural identity of the region.

Built around 1190AD during the reign of the powerful King Jayavarman VII, Bayon stood at the symbolic heart of Angkor Thom, the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire. From a distance, the temple may appear as little more than a chaotic pile of stone, but step closer and it transforms into a breathtaking showcase of Khmer "baroque" architecture.

Built in honour of its namesake Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom and learning, Pura Taman Saraswati is a graceful water temple nestled in the heart of downtown Ubud. This sacred site blends spiritual reverence with classical Balinese aesthetics, offering a peaceful retreat just steps away from the town’s busy centre.

The Shaolin Monastery was founded in 495AD during the Northern Wei Dynasty by Emperor Xiaowen to accommodate an Indian monk named Batuo. But it wasn’t until a second Indian monk, Bodhidharma arrived around 527AD that the legends really began. Bodhidharma, considered the father of Zen Buddhism, is said to have meditated in a cave near the temple for nine years, facing a wall until he achieved enlightenment.

Wat Chiang Man is the oldest temple still standing in Chiang Mai. Founded in 1297, it was originally established by the medieval King Mengrai as a royal encampment while overseeing the construction of his new capital. As the first temple built within the city walls, Wat Chiang Man quickly became a hub for both spiritual and civic life, hosting key religious ceremonies, political gatherings and important social events at the heart of the emerging Lanna Kingdom.

The Reed Flute Cave, or Ludi Yan as it is known locally, has a fascinating history that stretches back over 1200 years, beginning during the Tang Dynasty. This 180 million year old karst cave complex, located in Guilin, has long been a symbol of natural beauty and historical significance. Its geological formations are a breathtaking testament to the slow, steady power of time, yet its human history is just as remarkable.

Carved into the rugged rock face of a ravine above the banks of the sacred Pakerisan River, this ancient hermitage niche is a remarkable archaeological site that offers a glimpse into Bali’s pre-Hindu past. Hidden discreetly in the quiet hamlet of Sawan Gunung, the site shelters a collection of pre-Hindu megaliths, silent remnants of an era long before the arrival of Hindu-Buddhist influence on the island.

Established in the 8th century by the Indian priest Rsi Markandeya, Gunung Lebah Temple was built as a place of meditation and spiritual retreat. Its location at the confluence of the Wos and Pormin rivers, where they merge to form the sacred Campuhan, was chosen for both its tranquil setting and the potent healing properties of the surrounding flora.

Tucked away in the misty northwestern hills of Kyoto, the secluded temple of Adashino Nenbutsuji rests in quiet solemnity. Surrounded by bamboo groves and age-old trees, it is both picturesque and profoundly haunting. In antiquity, this hillside was a final destination for the forgotten dead, those who passed with no family, no mourners and no names.

Commissioned during the reign of King Saen Muangma in the twilight of the 14th century, this ancient royal monastery is one of Chiang Mai’s most hallowed temples. It was conceived not merely as a place of worship, but as a towering tribute, a sacred reliquary meant to enshrine the ashes of the king’s father, the revered King Ku Na. The centrepiece was to be a monumental stupa, ambitiously imagined to rise “as high as a dove could fly.” But fate intervened.

Agung Padangtegal Temple is one of the primary temples located within the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud, Bali. Established in the late 14th century, the temple serves as a key spiritual site for the local community, dedicated primarily to the worship of Hindu deities and various ancestral spirits. It is considered the main temple of the forest complex and plays a central role in religious ceremonies.