A place of ancient lore and mysterious legends, it should come as no surprise that many of the world’s strangest natural and man-made landmarks call the Asian continent home. From enigmatic temple complexes to natural wonders that seem like heaven and hell on earth, those who travel to Asia can visit some of the most intriguing and awe-inspiring sites in the world. While some of these sites are must-dos on most travel lists, others are relatively obscure. |
Angkor
Most people are aware of Angkor Wat, the beautiful temple complex located within Cambodia, but this temple is actually only a part of the larger Angkor complex, the seat of the Khmer Empire. Angkor literally translates as "capital" in the Khmer language and while the complex is covered in vines and trees today, at one point it was domed with gold and encrusted with jewels, signs of the empire's wealth. |
One of the richest descriptions of what Angkor was like during its heyday comes from a Chinese diplomat named Zhou Daguan, who visited the capital in 1296. His travel memoir describes Angkor as the seat of a wealthy, exotic and colorful empire and is one of the few surviving contemporary accounts of the area. The heyday of Angkor ended in 1431 when the already-in-decline capital was sacked. |
Chocolate Hills
In the Bohol Province of the Philippines are more than 1,200 beautiful hills that cover nearly 20 square miles. While the majority of the year these hills are a verdant green, during the dry season the grasses on these hills change their leaves and give them the appearance of giant mounds of chocolate rising up from the countryside. One of the top tourist destinations and a site of pride for the province's residents, these chocolate hills are amazing to witness. |
The view of these hills during the dry season are what brings tourists to the area, but many archaeologists are far more interested in what lies underneath the hills in the limestone karst. At one point, these hills were under shallow seas. Fossils of marine life including foraminifera, coral, mollusks and algae dating back millions of years can be found in the karst. Many of them are again coming to the surface as rains erode the limestone hills. |
Erawan National Park
Home to terraced waterfalls, and massive caves that have ties to Buddhism and ancient religions, this park is not only a place filled with natural wonder but is considered one of the most important religious sites in Thailand. The park was founded in 1975 and is one of the largest and most visited national parks in the country. The park gets its name from its beautiful blue waterfalls, called Erawan because they are said to resemble the three-headed elephant of Hindu myth. |
Even more amazing than the natural wonders of this park may be what lies beneath the surface of the park. Erawan is home to several caves. Named Wang Bahdan, Ta Duang, Pratat, Reua and Mee, these five cave rooms can be explored. Inside the Ta Duang cave visitors can find cave paintings done by early humans while the Reua cave was once used as an ancient burial ground. Additionally, there are beautiful formations inside all five of the caves. |
Hells of Beppu
Located in a wonderland of hot springs, these eight jigoku - literally translated as "hells" in Japanese - are a nationally-designated Place of Scenic Beauty, despite their hellacious appearance. While many of the hot springs - or onsen - located around Beppu are used for bathing, these hot springs are only for viewing. Of course, it would take a very brave person to dive into some of the red-tinged waters of these springs. |
A zoo surrounds the Yama Jigoku or mountain hell while hot geothermal geysers shoot out of Tatsumaki Jigoku, the spout hell. These geysers erupt every half hour for six to ten minutes. Of course, the most famous hell is the one with blood-red water known as Chinoike Jigoku or “the blood pond hell.” The majorities of these hot springs are located within the city’s Kannawa district, though the Chinoike and Tatsumaki Jigokus are found in the Shibaseki District. |
Huanglong Valley
The Huanglong Valley in China’s Sichuan province is home to one of the most scenic areas of the country with beautiful travertine terraced hot springs making their way down from the Minshan mountain range near Chengdu. These colorful pools are just part of a diverse ecosystem including snowy mountains, waterfalls and forests that are home to some of the most unique flora and fauna in China. Additionally, this area has connections to one of the most important figures in Chinese lore. |
The serpentine path of these travertines gave them the traditional Chinese name Huanglong, which means “yellow dragon.” The yellow, hornless dragon of Chinese myth is one of the most important creatures in Chinese mythology and is said to determine when the sun rises and sets, the change of the season and the weather. This dragon also gave the Chinese the tools needed for writing and is said to be an ancestor of the Chinese people. It was this dragon that was adopted as an imperial symbol. |
Kyaiktiyo Pagoda
Buddhist holy sites rank among some of the most beautiful and mysterious destinations for anyone traveling through Asia, from giant Buddhas to reclining Buddhas to sacred trees and temples. While this destination doesn't outwardly depict the Buddha himself, it is a source of awe and natural wonder that is part of a scared Buddhist site. Myanmar - often still referred to as Burma - has some of the most beautiful and sacred Buddhist sites in the world, including the largest reclining Buddha in the world. However, the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda or Golden Rock Pagoda is one of the most serene and most revered sites in the entire country. This rock formation is considered sacred not because it is a natural anomaly but because of the sacred miracle practitioners believe holds this giant golden balancing rock to the larger mountain, keeping it from tumbling down and crushing everything in its path. |
While the golden rock is the main attraction at this site, there are also several shrines in a temple complex at the top of the mountain. The majority are devoted to Buddha, though there are also shrines to the nats or spirits worshiped in Myanmar alongside Buddha. For those who haven't come to worship, they can also visit the shops, restaurants and guest lodge constructed as part of the building complex at the top of the mountain. |
Rani Ki Vav
Considered one of the greatest wonders of India, the Rani ki Vav or Queen’s Stepwell is a marvel of architecture located in the town of Patan in India’s Gujarat providence. While the stepwell takes its name for a queen, it was actually built by a widowed queen to honor her late husband. The intricate architectural details and spiritual symbols have endured for generations and are what make this beautiful building all the more amazing. |
This structure is one of the most sumptuously ornate step wells ever discovered. The majority of these highly-detailed architectural elements and statues are dedicated to Vishnu in his various worldly forms. In addition to the god, several young and beautiful women have been carved into the walls and columns of the step well. Many of these women are believed to be celestial dancers accompanying the various forms and incarnations of Vishnu. |
Tianmen Shan
Tianmen Mountain National Park is home to a giant cavern once believed to be the Gateway to Heaven as well as one of the most dangerous, winding roads in the world. Considered the soul of the nearby city of Zhangjiajie, the cavernous hole in this mountain now holds a temple. The catch is to get up to the sacred site one must climb nearly 1000 steps. That is if they can stomach the curvy, switchbacking curves that take them up the mountainside in the first place. Regardless, tourists and pilgrims alike make the journey every day. |
These steps are not the only means of exploring the area. Motorists have to navigate winding mountain road that is about 6.8 miles of curves, ranging from 200 meters above sea level to 1,300 meters above sea level. It took eight years to complete the road and make the area more accessible. The road has 99 curves to symbolize the nine palaces of heaven, like the 999 steps taking visitors up to the temple. |
Trunyan
The islands that compose the nation of Indonesia are home to some of the most breath-taking and mysterious sites in the entire world. The island of Bali itself is considered one of the most beautiful and sacred within the country. It is on this island that the village of Trunyan is located, a village that has some very strange customs surrounding how the local dead are buried. |
The people of Trunyan do not follow the traditional Balinese belief of cremating or burying their dead. Instead, they lay them out in bamboo cages to decompose. The skulls and bones of these bodies are then laid out and displayed on nearby platforms. Of course the strange thing about this method of burial is that the decomposing dead emit no stench. The villagers attribute this lack of stench to a nearby Taru Menyan tree they believe covers the smell. The tree also gave the village its name. |
Yamadera Temple Complex
An important national historic site and Japanese Scenic Place of Beauty, this gorgeous Buddhist temple complex is a twenty minute train ride from the nearby Yamagata City and its peak is a 1,000 steps up the mountainside. This temple complex not only inspired revered Japanese poet Basho to write one of his most famous haikus but holds a repository of his work and artifacts. |
While the base of the mountain is an easy five minute walk from the train station, visitors probably should fortify themselves at the many restaurants and shops located at the base of the mountain before attempting the long climb up to the top. It takes roughly thirty to forty-five minutes to hike up the mountainside to main upper temple grounds, though there are plenty of natural sights and some temple buildings to visit along the way. |
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