Tucked away in the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai, Wat Phra Kaew is a temple steeped in legend, royal heritage and spiritual significance. Once called Wat Pa Yeah or the "Bamboo Forest Temple," it was renamed after its association with the famed Emerald Buddha, now enshrined in Bangkok. Established as a royal temple during the Lanna Kingdom in the late 14th century, it stands as one of Chiang Rai’s oldest religious sites still in operation today.

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.

First established in the 17th century, Pura Batur is one of Bali’s most venerated temples, second only to Pura Besakih on the sacred slopes of Mount Agung. Perched at roughly 900 metres above sea level, this mountain sanctuary overlooks the dramatic caldera of Mount Batur, an active volcano steeped in myth and raw geological power.

Established in 1236 by an imperial chancellor with ambitions to rival Nara’s grand temples, Tōfuku-ji rose as a monumental testament to Kyoto’s spiritual and architectural aspirations. At its helm was Enni Ben’en (1202–1280), a revered monk fresh from China, where he had immersed himself in Rinzai Zen teachings. Under his guidance, Tōfuku-ji became one of Kyoto’s Five Great Zen Temples, an enduring symbol of Zen’s deep roots in Japan.

Nestled along the banks of the Perfume River in the southwest corner of Hué, King Minh Mạng’s funeral complex was the result of a grand vision and an extensive building program. Guided by the ancient practice of geomancy, which aligns structures with natural forces, the complex was designed to harmonise with the environment, blending the spiritual with the earthly.

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.

Nestled in the eastern highlands of Bali, in the quiet village of Ababi at the foot of Mount Agung, Tirta Gangga is a royal water palace steeped in beauty and spiritual reverence. Commissioned by the last Raja of Karangasem in 1946, this sacred estate pays homage to Balinese Hindu devotion. Its name, meaning “blessed water from the Ganges,” reflects its role as both a royal retreat and a site for spiritual purification and ceremonial bathing.

Founded more than 1700 years ago during the Han Dynasty, Huanglongxi began as a vital Silk Road trade settlement nestled on the banks of the winding Huanglong River in Chengdu. Legend says the town earned its name from a fierce yellow dragon that once guarded the serpentine stream weaving through its cobbled alleyways, a guardian spirit as mysterious and enduring as the town itself.

Bursting with an impressive collection of ancient cultural treasures, Eikan-dō is a sprawling complex of gardens and halls, most famous for its crimson maple leaves in Autumn. Established in 853 at the northern foot of Mount Higashiyama, this temple was a place of learning that nurtured the Pure Land sect it now belongs to.

Better known as the White Temple, Wat Rong Khu is a relatively modern Buddhist temple, a privately owned art exhibit and the creation of renowned Thai artist Chalermchai Khositpipat. Once just the forgotten ruins of an abandoned temple, this site has been transformed into a contemporary and visually striking landmark, as an offering to Lord Buddha in the hope of securing eternal life. Construction commenced in 1997 and is expected to be completed in 2070.