In the shadowed heart of Ubud stands Pura Dalem, a temple steeped in ancient power and shadowed secrets. One of the area’s most formidable sacred sites, it pulses at the centre of the local spiritual life, a place where worship, dark rituals and otherworldly performances unfold. Its moss clad stone carvings depict guardian spirits and fearsome deities, whispering of life, death and the unseen forces that linger at the edge of perception.

In the heart of Batuan village stands Pura Puseh Desa Batuan, one of Bali’s oldest and most spiritually charged temples. Founded in 1020 AD and recorded in Balinese historical texts for over a millennium, it is rooted in something far older, believed to have been built atop a megalithic stone circle, echoing the ancient power of Stonehenge, where ancestral rites were once performed.

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.

The origins of Pura Besakih are veiled in ancient legend, its story whispered through centuries beyond recorded memory. For more than a thousand years, this sprawling temple complex has stood as the spiritual heart and the “Mother Temple” of the whole island. Perched nearly a kilometre above the sea, on the jagged southwestern flank of Mount Agung, it commands a breathtaking view and an air of sacred power.

Carved into a rugged cliff above the sacred Pakerisan River, this ancient hermitage and unique archaeological site offers a rare glimpse into Bali’s pre Hindu past. Hidden from view, it shelters mysterious megaliths, silent echoes of a time long before Hindu-Buddhist influence shaped the island.

Rising from the heart of Ubud, Gunung Lebah Temple was founded in the 8th century by the Indian priest Rsi Markandeya as a sanctuary for meditation and spiritual retreat. Nestled at the confluence of the Wos and Pakerisan rivers, where their waters merge to form the sacred Campuhan, the site hums with serene energy, surrounded by forests rich with medicinal plants believed to heal both body and soul.

Hanuman, the fierce Monkey King, prowls through the shadowed corners of Balinese myth, a figure both revered and feared. Far beyond a mere symbol of strength, he embodies a primal force, wild, untamed and relentless in his pursuit of justice. In Bali’s ancient Hindu-Buddhist tapestry, Hanuman’s presence evokes a raw energy, one that bridges the mortal world with darker realms where gods and demons wage eternal war.

Once the jewel of Siam, Ayutthaya now lies in silence, its streets soaked in blood and its temples crumbling under the weight of history. Execution grounds, ruined chedis, and desecrated monasteries bear witness to the brutal fall at the hands of the Burmese army, where kings, monks, and nobles met violent ends. The shadows of the city are said to whisper with the voices of the betrayed and the slain, a restless reminder that even in ruin, Ayutthaya’s dark legacy refuses to f

Tucked away on Sóc Sơn Mountain, roughly 30km's north of Hanoi, Thành Chương’s Viet Palace is far more than a museum or art gallery, it is a cultural time capsule and a living work of art, meticulously crafted by the celebrated contemporary Vietnamese painter Thành Chương.

The village of Jatiluwih offers a living testament to the ancient harmony between humans, nature and the divine. Overlooked by the brooding silhouette of Mount Batukaru, Bali’s second-highest volcano and a sacred site in its own right, Jatiluwih’s name translates to "truly beautiful," a title it lives up to with dramatic sweeps of emerald-green rice terraces that ripple across the landscape.

In the black veins of Balinese and Javanese mythos, no figure evokes more dread than Calon Arang. Her story isn’t just about sorcery, it’s about what happens when society pushes a woman too far and she decides to burn the world down rather than be erased by it. She was no mere witch, she became the storm of death incarnate. The widow of Girah and the devourer of life.

Founded in 962AD during the Warmadewa dynasty, Tirta Empul is one of Bali’s most sacred temples, located in the cool highlands of Tampaksiring near Manukaya village. Its name, which means "holy water spring," is derived from a natural spring that bubbles up into the temple’s central pool and continues to feed the nearby Pakerisan River. This revered site is dedicated to Vishnu, the Hindu God of Water and Preservation

Just 12 kilometres off the southeast coast of Bali lies Nusa Lembongan, a compact gem in a trio of islands that make up part of the Lesser Sunda chain, born from volcanic origins. Though it spans only 8 square km's, the island is a place of striking contrasts and natural beauty. Bright coral reefs encircle the island, while soft white beaches and weathered limestone cliffs shape its edges.

Dating back to 1297, Chiang Mai’s oldest standing temple, Wat Chiang Man, was originally founded by King Mengrai as a royal encampment during the construction of his new capital. As the first temple within the city walls, it soon became a central hub for the emerging Lanna Kingdom, hosting religious ceremonies, political gatherings and significant social events, intertwining both spiritual devotion and civic life at the heart of the city.

Dewi Danu rules the highland lakes while Dewi Sri dwells in the fertile lowlands, yet their powers meet within Bali’s sacred subak system. Waters from the mountains descend through canals to the rice fields, where temples serve as ritual gateways, transforming the flow of water and the growth of grain into a divine exchange between earth and goddess.

On Bali’s southeastern coast, Goa Lawah Bat Cave Temple stands out as a powerful spiritual site where myth and nature collide. With thousands of bats roosting above its shrines, this atmospheric temple offers a raw glimpse into the island’s ancient traditions.

Cat Cát Village lies in the misty mountains of northern Vietnam, known for its cascading waterfalls, terraced hillsides and narrow stone paths that wind through the valley. The landscape, shaped by water and cloud, gives the village a magical atmosphere that draws travellers seeking both beauty and stillness.

Located at the base of Mount Shaoshi in Henan Province, the Pagoda Forest at Shaolin Temple is a sacred necropolis within the broader monastery complex. With its origins tracing back to 618 AD during the Tang Dynasty, the forest is home to over 240 stone and brick pagodas, each serving as a tomb or memorial for esteemed monks, abbots and martial art masters.

Tucked into the vibrant heart of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, Kuanxiangzi Alley is a rare remnant of Qing Dynasty urban design, its origins reaching back over 300 years. Established in the late 17th century, the alley was constructed over an ancient military garrison and gradually developed into an elite residential area.

Shaped by both chance and design, one of Bali’s most unexpected natural wonders is Kanto Lampo Waterfall. Unlike the island’s ancient cascades that have poured down jungle cliffs for centuries, this waterfall is a relatively recent creation. In the early 2010s, adjustments to a local irrigation system redirected water across a rocky cliffside and over time the flow carved its way over volcanic stone, giving rise to the unique cascade we see today.