The Phahurat Market is also known as Bangkok’s Little India, and is the focal point of Indian life in the area. The locals are mainly Sikhs who settled here at the turn of the 20th century to trade textiles. Now, it’s a fun place to shop for Indian food, fabric, clothing, and accessories.
Mysore Palace (Mysuru Palace)—the former home of the Wodeyar family, who ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399 until India’s independence—is an architectural marvel with equally stunning interiors. Though a fire destroyed most of the palace at the end of the 18th century, it was restored in 1912, and today is among the most visited attractions in India.
Known mainly as the port where ferries and some fast boats depart for Lombok, the little town of Padangbai (also written Padang Bai) is now a destination in its own right. Attractions center on diving and snorkeling, but the Balinese town also makes a good base for reaching both Tulamben and Penida/Lembongan.
Ho Chi Minh City’s Jade Emperor Pagoda is considered to be one of the city’s finest temples. It’s dedicated to the Taoist Jade Emperor Chua Ngoc Hoang, but Buddhist elements can also be seen. Its nickname is the Tortoise Pagoda, because of the many tortoises that live in the grounds. It’s a must-see attraction in HCMC.
Part of the Forbidden City during the Qing Dynasty, this 10th-century park is one of China’s oldest, largest, and most important ancient imperial gardens. Situated in the center of Beijing, the 171-acre (69-hectare) garden features a temple, bell and drum towers, a white pagoda, pavilions, lakes, and the intricate Nine-Dragon Wall.
Big, brash, and bold, Patong is a high-energy resort on the west coast of Phuket, Thailand. Patong Beach, a deep stretch of white sand on a crescent bay, holds natural charms. But many head here for the restaurants, cabarets, dance shows, Thai boxing matches, and the loud and lively nightlife that draws travelers young and old alike.
The Varanasi Ghats are sets of stairs that descend from the city down the banks and into the waters of the holy Ganges River. There are just under 100 individual ghats lining the river’s edge in this region, their steep steps making access to the river possible during both the wet and dry seasons.
Officially called Galtaji but usually referred to as Temple of the Sun God or simply the Monkey Temple, this temple complex of many names was built in the 18th century. Multiple storied water tanks, known as kunds, lead up to the main temple, with rounded roofs and pavilions typical to Rajasthan’s architectural traditions.
Topped with a vast white Buddha seated on a lotus leaf, Long Son Pagoda (Chùa Long Sơn is one of Nha Trang’s signature sights. Stairs lead up the leafy hill past temples, a prayer hall, a Chinese-influenced mosaic dragon screen, and a reclining Buddha. It’s not unusual to hear monks and nuns chanting.
Head to Khao San Road to immerse yourself in the heart of Bangkok’s budget backpacker scene. Explore a road packed with budget and mid-range hotels, bars and nightclubs, travel company offices, markets, and other tourist facilities. It’s a convenient place to base yourself while staying in Bangkok, or to head for a meal and nightlife.
Located in the Dongcheng District, Beijing’s Pearl Market (Hongqiao Market) is the place to go for anything pearl-related. The largest pearl market in the country, it sells the gems in nearly every size, shape, color, quality, and price imaginable, as well as a range of other goods, including clothing, electronics, and even seafood.
Cham sculpture is Indian-style sculpture that draws on religious and mythological themes, originating from the coast of central and south Vietnam between roughly 192 and 1697 C.E. At the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, housed in an attractive colonial-era building, visitors can learn about this art form and the civilization from which it stemmed.
Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, also known as the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, houses the embalmed body of the revolutionary and dictator who was the founding father of the People’s Republic of China. The Soviet-style structure and the sculptures in front of it are one of the dominant features of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
Located in Koh Samui, Wat Khunaram is a functioning temple in the southern portion of the island. It’s most famous for the mummified remains of former abbot and monk, Loung Pordaeng, which have been displayed in a vertical glass casket since his death in 1973. It’s a popular, if unusual, attraction with both locals and visitors.
Stretching almost 2,000 meters (6,562 feet from the coastal town of Vinh Moc to a beach overlooking the South China Sea, the Vinh Moc Tunnels were dug in the late 1960s to serve as a live-in bomb shelter for more than 60 families. These families lived their lives underground, some on and off for up to six years.
Topped by 37 gilded spires, representing the 37 virtues, Wat Ratchanatdaram’s Loha Prasat shrine is a highlight of the Bangkok skyline. The name translates as “Iron Palace” because the 19th-century architects took inspiration from metal temples in India and Sri Lanka—but it was designed as a space for meditation.
A former fishing village, the seaside town of Mui Ne has evolved into a boutique beach resort that provides a convenient escape from the metropolitan madness of Ho Chi Minh City. In addition to a golden-sand beach, Mui Ne boasts vivid red and white sand dunes and the otherworldly Fairy Stream.
Located just west of Central, Sheung Wan is one of the hippest districts in Hong Kong. One of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, Sheung Wan is a vibrant mix of trendy coffee shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, boutiques, antique shops, art galleries, and creative spaces, as well as more traditional shops, markets, and temples.
Once a hub for trade with India, Gyantse is a city steeped in history with a culture and people still deeply rooted in tradition. Travelers who venture to this destination along the Nyang-chu River will find Buddhist temples, lively local markets, charming back streets, and Tibet’s largest stupa monument, Gyantse Kumbum.
One of the most recognizable symbols of Tokyo’s Asakusa district, the large red Kaminarimon, or Thunder Gate, gives visitors a grand welcome to Senso-Ji Temple. Standing 38 feet (11.7 meters) tall, the gate gets its powerful name from its more formal name, Furaijinmon, which translates as “the gate of the wind and thunder god.” All visitors to the 7th-century temple will see it or pass through it.
The Saigon River (Sông Sài Gòn), the fast-flowing main artery of Ho Chi Minh City, is flanked by both modern skyscrapers and rural villages that give insight into old Vietnamese traditions. Used by locals to escape the urban bustle, the riverbanks are dotted with picnic benches and greenery, making for a pleasant refuge from the metropolitan mania of Saigon.
Housed in the former Tao Nan School, the Peranakan Museum contains one of the world’s finest collections of Peranakan artifacts. Spanning three stories, its 800-plus items across nine galleries showcase different aspects of the unique Peranakan culture found in the former Straits Settlements of Singapore, Malacca, and Penang.
Built at the turn of the 17th century by Florentine sculptor Giovanni Battista Foggini, this red-stone church is one of the oldest in India. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While it's dedicated to the baby Jesus, many people choose to visit because the basilica holds the remains of St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa.
A popular stop between Singaraja and Denpasar, Gigit Waterfall is considered to be one of the most beautiful on the island. Easy to reach from the road, the falls have a drop of 131 feet (40-meter) into a picturesque pool where visitors can swim. There are actually three falls in the area—the other falls being smaller twin waterfalls. All are signposted from the road and reached by a short hike.
Topped by a gilded spire that can be seen from across Yangon, Shwedagon Pagoda is considered Myanmar’s most significant Buddhist landmark. Visitors mingle with locals visiting shrines, lighting candles, and praying in meditation halls around the central stupa. There’s a lot to see here, from religious traditions to gorgeous artwork.
Whether you’re looking for antique jewelry, freshly-caught fish, or factory-fresh designer brands, its likely that Phnom Penh Russian Market (Toul Tom Poung Market has a stall selling the goods. So-called because of the Russian tourists that used to frequent it, the market today offers a glimpse into local life in Cambodia’s capital.
One of three lakes within the crater of the long-dormant Bratan volcano, Lake Beratan (Danau Bratan) occupies about 1.5 square miles (4 square kilometers) of highland real estate. The star attraction is the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan water temple, but there are also some World War II–era caves, and boat rides on the lake are available.
The Mekong River, the 12th-longest river in the world at 2,700 miles (4,345 kilometers), is the main artery of Southeast Asia. Its flowing waters are the beating pulse for a region that includes the fertile Mekong Delta around Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City, the scenic hills of Laos, and the jungle-lined waterways of Thailand and Cambodia.
Originally built in 1302, Confucius Temple in Beijing is China’s second-largest temple dedicated to the great ancient Chinese thinker and teacher, whose influence is still felt today. The temple, which covers a space of 5.4 acres (2.2 hectares), also offers a peaceful sanctuary from the urban hustle and bustle.
Among the most stunning landmarks in the city, Bangalore Palace is one of many homes of the Wadiyar family, who ruled much of South India for centuries. Portions of this palace have been open to the public since 2005, though one of the Wadiyars still lives in a private wing of the gargantuan structure to this day.
