Most Mysterious Places: Asia

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. 

From an architectural marvel constructed to honor an ancient king to a dangerous road that winds its way through a giant, naturally-formed cave to amazing waterfalls and chocolate hills, there are numerous sites in Asia that seem like something out of this world, or at least something created in fiction. However, these sites are real places and will provide some of the most amazing memories for anyone who visits them.

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. 

The Khmer empire was founded shortly after 800 AD by King Jayavarman II announced his independence and declared himself a god-king. The first capital of his empire was Hariharalaya - known now as Rolous - but construction on Angkor as a new capital began between 1113 and 1150 AD by King Suryavarman II, who wanted to establish a temple-palace complex to further cement his god-king status. His son Jayavarman VII further added to the complex, but changed the temple from one of the Indian god Vishnu  to reflect his conversion to Buddhism. This would lead to conflict among the Hindus and Buddhists of the Khmer Empire after his death.

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. 

The majority of people left, though the Buddhist temple at Angkor Wat remained until natural disasters and political strife drove the rest of its residences away. Today, Angkor is a UNESCO World Heritage site and remains an active archaeological site for those hoping to find out more about the Khmer Empire. The area is also so important to modern-day Cambodia it appears on the country’s flag and serves as a national symbol. Religious shrines and Buddhist worship have also returned to the site, and many of the people who live around the area have now become part of the tourist industry that surrounds Angkor. Visitors tend to come to the area following the rainy season, and late June to October is considered the best time to visit.

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. 

In addition to the rich, chocolatey color of these hills, visitors often remark about the conical and symmetrical shape of the rounded hills. The grass-covered limestone domes generally reach between 98 and 164 feet in height though the largest hill reaches 390 feet. While the area around these hills are surrounded by beautiful flatlands cultivated into terraced rice patties, the hills themselves are mainly covered with grass and ferns. The limestone hills were believed to have been formed during the Late Pliocene to early Pleistocene eras, approximately  2.58 million years ago.

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.

As a result, the Chocolate Hills are considered one of the largest and greatest examples of marine fossils. This erosion has also given way to some amazing caves and natural springs in the hills.Of course, scientific legend is not as interesting as the four legends that locals believe explain the origins of the hills. One believes the hills are the result of two feuding giants throwing rocks at each other while a second involves the tears of a giant who could not overcome the death of his mortal love. The following two legends indicate the hills are the results of a giant who defacated either because villagers angered with his plundering poisoned him or as an attempt to loose weight and impress a woman.

Erawan National Park

The Erawan waterfalls for which this national park is named are said to resemble a mythical elephant and are a popular swimming destination.

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.

There are seven major waterfall sites scattered throughout the park, which can take several hours to visit trekking through the parkland. I can take anywhere from three and a half to four hours to visit the pinnacle of the main seven-tiered waterfall for which the park is named. These magnificent waterfalls are found throughout the heavily forested park, as are a wide variety of wildlife species. Wild elephants, boar, gibbons, sambar deer, Indian muntjac, and a wide number of birds, pheasants and peacocks call the national park home.  Of course, as 75 percent of the land is covered with thick forest, spotting one of these wild animals might be hard.

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.

In addition to the caves and waterfalls, the park is home to a peculiar hill named Khao Nom Nang, which literally translates to mean "female breast mountain" in reference to what locals believed the hill resembled. The rising limestone hill is easily accessible through walking and hiking trails that meander throughout the park. The top of the hill also provides a wonderful view of the park and valleys below.

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.

Each of these eight hells has a name that describes its features or what people believed it resembled. The vibrant, boiling blue waters of Umi Jigoku gave it the name of the “sea hell” and is decorated with large lotus flowers. The Onnishibozu Jigoku was named after the mud bubbles that emerge from its waters, which some believed resembled the bald heads of monks. Shiraike Jigoku is the white pond hell and features milky white waters and a nice garden. Crocodiles inhabit the Oniyama Jigoku or monster mountain hell while the Kamado Jigoku - cooking pot hell - has long been used for cooking and features a demon statue.

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.

Visitors to these hells and the natural saunas created by the geothermal activity around the area have created a highly profitable tourism industry for beppu. While the majority of the hells are too hot for humans to venture into, visitors buy food - including puddings - baked by the hot springs. Those who really want to take a dip in some boiling water can do so in one of the traditional public baths, saunas and ryokan - hot spring resorts - located throughout the town.

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. 

Thousands of years of change have created the unique landscapes in this valley, which range from snow-capped mountain peaks down to travertine hills and thermal pools. Many of the landmarks in the area have whimsical names such as the Marvelous Flying Waterfall, Flying Waterfall on Lotus Platform, Washing Cave and Seven Mile Golden Sand. THe multi-colored ponds are the biggest attraction to the area and were created by calcium carbonate. There are more than 2,300 of these ponds in eight groups, some much larger than others.

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.

 Surrounding this river of ponds is virgin forest that are home to some of China’s most wondrous creatures. The golden snub-nosed monkey native to the Sinchuan province calls this area home, but this small Old World monkey is often overlooked in favor of the forests' more popular residences: the Giant Panda. Because of the Panda's residence here and the beautiful scenery, the area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the Chinese government is notorious for demolishing natural wonders and not protecting its environment, this is one of the few regions they have opted to protect because of its significance. 

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.

According to myth, it is not a balance of gravity or physics that holds this rock to the side of mountain but a strand of Buddha's hair. The story says that Buddha visited a hermit who lived at the top of this mountain named Taik Tha and gave the hermit a lock of his hair. In turn, Taik Tha gave the sacred lock of hair to a local king with the instructions it be placed underneath a rock shaped like his head. The king found the golden rock at the bottom of the sea and then used the hair to perfectly balance it on the mountainside. About 980 feet from the rock is the boat used to convey it to the site, which according to legend was turned to stone.

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.

Those who do undertake the pilgrimage to Kyaiktiyo are said to be blessed with wealth and divine recognition if they make the trek from the base camp to the summit at least three times a year. Many of these pilgrims bring gold colored leaves or rocks to leave at the base of the formation. The peak of the pilgrimage season is between November and March when the golden rock changes color with the sun. One of the most important events for the site is the Full Moon Day of Tabaung in March, when 90,000 candles are lit around the temple and rock formation to honor Buddha. 

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.

It is believed the queen of this step well was Queen Udayamati, the widow of Bhimdev I, a king of the Solanki dynasty that ruled the Gujarat province from 960 AD to 1243 AD. The queen began construction of the step well about 1050 AD in honor of her husband and after her death, it was completed by her son Karandev I. Step wells are common throughout India and are ponds that transport water down a series of steps, often having water wheels and used for irrigations. Elaborate carvings and gardens commonly accompany these structures.

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. 

When the step well flourished, it is believed the water from the step well was also used to irrigate a wide variety of plans believed to have medicinal purposes in the ayurvedic medical tradition and belief of Hinduism. Some of the earliest descriptions of the step well date back to 1304 AD. The structure itself was almost lost by flooding of the Saraswati River but was uncovered in the 1980s. Archaeologists continue to excavate the area and in 2014, the step well was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

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.

Tianmen translates into "Sky Door" while Shan means "mountain" in Chinese. It was believed at one point this cavern was the gateway to heaven or the door to the sky where the gods lived. Those who climb the 999 steps up the mountain will reach a temple located within. The original temple was first constructed during the Tang Dynasty, approximately 618 to 907 AD, though a more modern temple with similar Tang symbols has since been reconstructed on the site. 

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.

More recent innovations include a cable lift - the longest in the world - that takes visitors to the peak of the mountain and a ski lift that provides amazing views of the mountain and surrounding scenery. Those who are even braver can venture the sky walk, a glass-bottomed cliff walk that allows visitors to creep around the curves of the mountains. While it may seem a lot of trouble to view a giant hole in a mountain, the views from this amazing site are not to be missed. 

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.

This village is nestled between a lake and the rim of a volcanic crater, the home to the original Balinese people who even predate the arrival of Hinduism to the island in the 1500s. While visitors are not allowed in the local traditional temple, they can see some of the traditional buildings in the village and a massive banyan tree that is believed to be ore than 1,00 years old. Additionally, visitors can also visit the town’s cemetery.

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.

There are many superstitions surrounding this burial ground. Women are not allowed to go into the cemetery when a dead body is present because local belief holds a woman being there when a corpse is present will lead to a natural disaster. The village is only accessible by boat but has recently become more of a tourist attraction because of its strange and macabre traditions. Donations can be made to the local temple or cemetery upkeep, which are probably more worthy causes than the goods many will try to sell tourists visiting the area.

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. 

Yamadera literally translates as “mountain temple” and is the popular name for the temple atop the mountain, which is actually named Risshaku-ji. The temple was founded about 860 AD by the priest Ennin, also known to the Japanese as Jikaku Daishi. He returned to Japan from China to found this temple and with him brought ritual fires that still burn in the temple. Much of the temple complex was destroyed by war during the 1500s and was largely rebuilt in 1543. The temple soon gained wealth and prominence.

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.

Once visitors reach the top, they can pay tribute at some of the many temples and shrines, take in the beautiful views or test their mettle by climbing even further to see the large statue of Amida Buddha. While not all of the temple complex is open to visitors, there is plenty to see and do at the summit. The temple is beautiful to view year round, though many say the spring and autumn offer some of the most interesting and scenic panoramas.

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