Asia attractions

Serene, spiritual, and off the beaten path, Pura Luhur Batukaru was the state temple for the kings of Tabanan. Batukaru Temple nestles high above sea level in the jungled foothills of west Bali. A series of tiered shrines, including a striking 7-roofed shrine, help create a mystic air, as does the general absence of tourists.

Completed in 1727, likely on the site of an older bamboo structure, the Baclayon Church was the hub of Spain’s first colonial settlement on Bohol—and 200 slave laborers were forced to build it from coral stone. An earthquake in 2013 badly damaged both the facade and the watchtower, and the marks of the 2018 restoration are visible.

Originally built in 1395 by the first Joseon king, Gwanghwamun Gate is the main gate to Seoul’s Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of the five Joseon Dynasty palaces. After being destroyed twice by fire and war, the gate that stands today was rebuilt in 1968 using concrete and steel instead of the original granite.

The Grand Canal is the longest and oldest man-made waterway in the world, once covering 1,115 miles (1,794 kilometers) from Beijing to Hangzhou. Dating from the fifth century BC, this engineering marvel is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some sections are still in use today.

Situated in northeast Guilin, beautiful Fubo Hill (Fubo Shan) sits half in and half out of the Li River, causing the passing water to swirl and lending it its other name: “Wave-Subduing Hill.” With a height of 695 feet (213 meters), Fubo Hill offers spectacular views of the city and river views from its summit.

Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, which merges South Asian, Gothic, and Mughal architectural elements, the Ashan Manzil (Pink Palace) is one of Dhaka's most standout buildings. This 19th-century structure is fabulous to view from the outside, but it's worth heading inside to check out the royal ephemera showcased in some of its 23 rooms.

Situated on the banks of Ourem Creek in Panaji, Goa's capital city, the charming neighborhood of Fountainhas is dotted with charming old homes dating back to the mid 19th century. Fontainhas occupies land that was reclaimed in the 18th century and gets its name from the natural springs situated at the edge of the area.

A true lost world, Jomblang Cave is a collapsed sinkhole that’s part of a cave system that runs through Gunung Kidul, outside Yogyakarta. Visitors are lowered around 165 feet (50 meters) on a rope and then hike down a tunnel to the Grubug Cave, which is flooded with rays of sunlight. Some claim the sunken forest is prehistoric.

Spread across 240 acres (97 hectares) full of plants and flowers, not to mention dozens of types of birds, the sprawling Lalbagh Botanical Gardens is one of Bangalore's best green spaces and a big part of how the city got its nickname: the Garden City. It's as popular with locals and tourists alike and is a great place for a morning jog.

When Malaysia laid out the lakeside Putrajaya, they designed it as a modern garden city. The 35-acre (14-hectare) Taman Warisan Pertanian (Agriculture Heritage Park) is one of its gardens. You can discover crops from rubber and palm oil to tea, coffee, cacao, herbs, spices, and tropical fruit—and then savor them in the food court.

Home to a colonial-era hill station, the monsoon forests of Bach Ma National Park center on Bach Ma, or White Horse Mountain, which rises 4,757 feet (1,450 meters). Waterfalls, crumbling villas, hiking trails, and a wealth of wildlife, including pheasants, langur monkeys, and muntjac deer, make a magnetic spot to spend a day—or longer.

The largest of Hoi An’s five assembly halls—historic meeting places for the city’s Chinese merchants—Phuc Kien Assembly Hall (Fujian Assembly Hall is an architectural feast and among the highlights of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Town. A National Monument, it’s home to a temple, shrine, and a tree-lined courtyard.

The Hakone Open-Air Museum spans a 200-acre (80-hectare) site within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, and is dotted with fascinating sculptures. When it opened in 1969, it was Japan’s first open-air museum; now its collection includes more than 1,000 sculptures, with about 120 on permanent display. Pieces by Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, and Constantin Brâncuși are among the works displayed.

One of several pink beaches in Komodo National Park, Pink Beach (Pantai Merah Muda) is a sandy cove on Komodo Island that’s probably the isle’s top attraction after the dragons. While edited photos often overplay its color, the beach does have a rosy tint, particularly at the shoreline, courtesy of tiny fragments of scarlet marine organisms that mingle with the pale sands.

On the banks of the Ganges River in Haridwar, Northern India, Hari ki Pauri Ghat draws in pilgrims who come to pray and bathe in the waters, which are sacred in the Hindu tradition. It's a particularly popular spot at sunrise and sunset, during aarti ceremonies that include the ritual lighting of giant lamps accompanied by songs and prayers.

With its golden sands and clear water, Nang Yuan Island (Koh Nang Yuan) is the poster child of southern Thailand. Hike the rocky, forested landscape; swim and snorkel in crystalline water; or just relax in relative quiet. Nang Yuan sees only a fraction of the crowds that flock to its neighbors.

Hailed as the epitome of antique grandeur, the 200-year-old Tan Ky Old House pays homage to Hoi An’s rich architectural heritage. The beautifully preserved 18th-century house contains Chinese and Japanese artworks, dark-wood furniture, and watermarked walls that attest to the building’s ability to withstand Hoi An’s seasonal floods.

The Vidhana Soudha houses the legislature of the state of Karnataka and is the biggest legislative building in India. This imposing building is made of granite in a neo-Dravidian style with a few Indo-Saracenic architectural elements thrown in, such as its golden dome.

For some of Singapore’s most eclectic shopping, seek out the tiny Haji Lane tucked away in the Muslim Quarter. The narrow lane is lined with independent designer boutiques and vintage clothing shops catering to the young and hip. You’ll also find shops selling hard-to-find records and DVDs, quirky kitchenware, and even a yoga studio.

Built to protect fisherman and sailors, the 3rd-century Sumiyoshi-taisha (Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine) is Osaka’s most famous shrine. Renowned for its classic Japanese architecture and vivid red-and-white colour, the shrine

The Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima commemorates the atomic bombing of the city at the end of World War II, in August of 1945. The park sits just below the site of the bomb’s mid-air explosion and includes the UNESCO-listed Atomic Bomb Dome, the Peace Memorial Museum, and many smaller memorials dedicated to affected groups of people.

Dongbaek Island (Dongbaekseom), considered one of Busan’s most scenic places, isn’t really an island at all. The former island, now connected to the Korean mainland by a land bridge made up of accumulated sediment, gets its name from the abundant camellia (dongbaek in Korean) trees that grow throughout.

Just a stone’s throw away from mysterious royal tombs, a world-famous observatory, and a lotus-filled palace complex, the Gyeongju National Museum is the perfect starting point for any Gyeongju visit. Its treasure trove of artifacts brings thousands of years of Korean history to life and adds illuminating context to a city visit.

The City God Temple (Chenghuang Miao) is one of the main Taoist temples in Shanghai. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty, the temple has a rich history, which has survived its near destruction and renovation over the years. Still an active and lively temple, it’s a beautiful oasis within bustling Old Shanghai.

Named after Kamala Nehru, the wife of India's first prime minister, this park offers fantastic city views. It's an excellent place for an evening stroll and draws in families for its giant play structure shaped like a shoe (a nod to the nursery rhyme "There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe").

The Mini Malaysia & ASEAN Cultural Park offers replicas of Malaysian homes from across the country’s 13 states (as well as other countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region). Art and architecture enthusiasts will especially enjoy this park, and it provides a fun, educational outing for families.

The glittering blue waters of Inle Lake lie at the heart of the Shan Highlands, surrounded by verdant hills. Myanmar’s second-largest lake is a popular destination for intrepid travelers, who come to cruise the lake, soak up the scenery, and experience local life in the lakeside fishing villages.

Warorot Market is a feast for the senses, where stalls selling dried durian paste and exotic fruits stand cheek by jowl with vendors offering fluffy bath towels and Buddhist amulets. The indoor hub—a more authentic alternative to Chiang Mai’s night markets—is a great place to sample local delicacies and purchase handicrafts at low prices.

One of the highlights of Amber Palace, the Hall of Mirrors (Sheesh Mahal) is a beautiful room covered with mirror mosaics. Such halls are a typical feature in Rajasthani palaces and are designed to be particularly enchanting at night, when the reflection of candlelight creates a kaleidoscopic effect across the mosaic's surface.

Wat Suan Dok’s brilliant golden spire has stretched high into the skyline of the Northern Thailand city of Chiang Mai since the 14th century. The name roughly translates to "field of flowers," as the temple stands on a site that was once the garden of a ruling monarch just west of the Old City walls.