All over Asia there are sites with deeply sacred significance. From the overwhelming visual spectacle of gilded temples to the profound serenity of towering mountaintops, these places can elicit a powerful response in anyone who visits, and not only those with religious conviction. Our Destination Specialists have picked out some of their favourite spiritual spaces where you can take time to pause and reflect.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
If asked to name a famous archaeological site in Asia, many people instantly think of Angkor Wat. This magnificent monument, the largest temple complex in the world, is heavy with spiritual history. Since being listed as a UNESCO heritage site, has been painstakingly restored in some places and undergone meticulous conservation in others to ensure it remains an inspiration for generations to come. Watch the sun rise over the temples before the crowds gather, or take to the sky for an alternative perspective.
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Camp among temples, Siem Reap
Finding the kind of tranquillity that Cambodia’s grand temples seem to demand can be impossible at the bigger sites, awe-inspiring as they are. For a more personal experience, you can head deeper into the jungle to where the remote temple of Preah Khan of Kompong Svay sits, frozen in time and reclaimed by nature, waiting to be explored. Camp right by the templewhere, without any light pollution, you can bathe in a sea of stars as night falls. Wake early as the sun rises above the ruins, and wander among the silent stones to your heart’s content.
Tak Bat in Laos
Each morning, before dawn breaks, the residents of Luang Prabang quietly make their way to offer alms to the Buddhist monks as they leave their pagodas, in recognition of the sacrifices and values of monastic life. This iconic event is called Tak Bat and has become extremely popular as a ‘must-see’ for visitors, so much so that tourist interest has begun to threaten the event itself. We recommend abstaining from close photography or actual participation in this highly sacred religious ceremony. Instead, talk to your guide about witnessing it from a respectful distance.
Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon
Towering over its relatively low-rise surroundings, the gilded dome of the Shwedagon Pagoda seems to glow against the horizon. Its elongated pinnacle is topped with its own star - a diamond-encrusted orb which magnifies the first and last rays of the day’s sun. Each evening, the temple provides a meeting point for local people who come to pray at the surrounding shrines, and you can wander around the pagoda soaking in the atmosphere. If you wish to go inside make sure you wear clothes that respectfully cover your legs and arms, and prepare to enter the temple barefoot.
Monastery stay in Taiwan
To begin to gain a deeper understanding of Buddhist practice, you can embark upon a mini-retreat with an overnight stay in a monastery. Fo Guang Shan is Taiwan’s largest monastery, and many visitors make a pilgrimage there to see the world’s biggest Buddha statue that watches over the complex. Your guide for your overnight stay will be a resident monk or nun, and you will be able to talk, meditate and take your meals with the residents, as well as finding a little personal peace as you wander through the grounds.
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